Hong Kong: Election promotional activities set The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau announced that it will set up a promotional booth themed Night Vibes District Council Election at the Waterfront Carnival in Wan Chai for three consecutive nights starting today. The goal of the booth is to reach out to the public face-to-face about the benefits brought by the improved district governance system and the reformed District Councils in a lively way. The objective is to encourage the general public as well as individuals who are dedicated to district services, patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong to actively participate in the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election. The booth will feature an interactive game and briefing, with promotional pamphlets and souvenirs distributed, to allow citizens to learn more about the District Council Election and matters related to the improved district governance system. A check-in spot will also be set up for people to take photos. Apart from explaining that the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election is the first large-scale city-wide election being held after the reform of the district councils and improving the district governance system, the bureau stressed that it is of particular significance. It pointed out that the Government will proactively go into the community to help the public understand that improving the district governance system is related to the well-being of the citizens, so that they can support the new system and cast their votes on the polling day. The bureau will launch a series of District Council Election into the Community publicity activities starting from late October to promote the new District Councils and encourage the public to actively participate in the election. This story has been published on: 2023-10-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Cultural exchange crucial in BRI cooperation 13:25, October 21, 2023 By Zhang Yuying and Qian Jiayin ( Global Times Foreign journalists appreciate Xian Fang Yi, a rectangular wine container from the Shang Dynasty (c.1600BC-1046BC) at the Poly Art Museum in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Qian Jiayin/GT Cultural exchange is crucial for partner countries in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), representatives of the first Silk Road Global News Awards winners agreed on Friday after they paid a visit to the Poly Art Museum in Beijing, emphasizing that international cooperation cannot be reached without mutual learning among civilizations. The museum aims to promote the outstanding traditional culture and art of the Chinese nation and to rescue and protect precious Chinese cultural relics lost overseas. During the visit, the guests explored national treasures and experienced the vitality of the millennia-old cultural heritage of the BRI in the museum. Chinese bronze artifacts dating back over 3,000 years were exhibited there, which are unparalleled in the world, with magnificent and mysterious patterns on them. "I've been impressed because it's a very big culture and civilization. These artifacts are very old, and cannot be found in Europe," Branko Zujovic, a Serbian journalist from Pecat Weekly, told the Global Times while visiting the museum. Zujovic added that he prefers the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and has great respect for that period of Chinese history, as well as the artifacts. Foreign journalists appreciate an exhibition of ancient Chinese Buddhist statues at the Poly Art Museum in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Qian Jiayin/GT Additionally, there were over 40 stone-carved Buddhist statues from the 5th to 8th century, demonstrating the prosperity and connectivity of the ancient Silk Road, as well as the integration of Eastern and Western civilizations. "Buddha interested me most, as well as the development of Buddhism in China," Executive Director of the Center for the Promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Faruk Bori told the Global Times. "This visit gives me an opportunity to learn first-hand, not from second or third sources," he said. Exhibition of ancient Chinese bronze art at the Poly Art Museum in Beijing Photo: Qian Jiayin/GT While speaking highly of Chinese culture, both winners noted that cultural exchange is essential for international cooperation and for partner countries to jointly build the BRI. "If we don't know each other, only fear and prejudice can be created," said Bori , stressing that through mutual learning, more similarities among different cultures can be explored. "I lived in China for about five years, and what I see of this country in reality is totally different from what I see in the Western media," said Zujovic, highlighting the importance for younger generations from both China and Serbia of visiting each other's countries. "In this way, our youth can share good news and voices about China from abroad, and it's the best way to invest in the future," he said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The American Department of the Treasury announced lately sanctions against ten key members of Hamas, operatives, and other financial facilitators. The sanctioned individuals are based in Gaza but also in Algeria, Qatar, Sudan, and Turkiye. The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamass financiers and facilitators, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. The American sanctions target in particular members managing Hamas investment portfolios. They target, among others, a financial agent based in Qatar close to Iran as well as those responsible for a cryptocurrency base located in Gaza, the treasury department said in a press release. These investment networks are run by the highest-ranking members of the Hamas leadership and allow them to live in luxury while Palestinians in Gaza face very difficult economic and living conditions, the department of the Treasury added. To date, Treasury has targeted nearly 1,000 individuals and entities connected to terrorism and terrorist financing by the Iranian regime and its proxies, including Hamas, Hizbollah, and other Iran-aligned terrorist groups in the region. The sanctions provide for the freezing of all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has joined other Western officials in warning that the risk of regional spillover from the Israel-Hamas war was real after US and other international forces in the region faced increasing threat of attacks. We have seen the Arab streets fill with rage all across the region. So, the risk of a regional spillover is real, the European Commission chief said, adding that Iran, Hamas patron, only wants to fuel the fire of chaos. Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Von Der Leyen also said dialogue between Israel and its neighbors must continue. Her warning comes after US forces in the region had faced increasing threats and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks, most recently on Thursday evening. A US navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea also intercepted three missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen Earlier, Von der LeyeE sought to defend her recent trip to Israel by positing that there is no contradiction in standing in solidarity with Israel and acting on the humanitarian needs of Palestinians. Despite the upcoming referendum in Chad, the opposition in the landlocked Sahelian country still faces arrest, intimidation, and threats even one year from the bloody repression of protest against military rule. Following the death of Chads long-time leader Idriss Deby Itno in April 2021, his son, young and at that time three-star general, Mahamat Idriss Deby, was proclaimed president by the army. Now, a constitutional referendum is scheduled for 17 December, which is due to set the stage for free elections and a return to civilian rule. Deby had initially pledged elections would be held within 18 months of his takeover, but last October, he pushed that back two more years. Thousands of Chadians poured out onto the streets in protest, with at least 50 protestors having died under police and army gunfire, according to figure released by the junta. However, the opposition and NGOs said the true figure from police and army gunfire was far higher. Hundreds of youth and opposition figures were arrested, although some managed to flee abroad. Now, fast forward one year and 72 young activists have recently been arrested at the headquarters of the Les Transformateurs political party and were since detained at a secret location. We, the demonstrators from 20 October (2022), we are living with the fear in our hearts of being arrested or kidnapped, said Djimrangar Ngueto, who runs an association for the victims of Black Thursday. Nothing has changed for a year, the rulers have even clenched the hand they claimed to be holding out, Ngueto added. Any rally or demonstration has been systematically banned by the military authorities. Chads transitional government should respect basic principles of political plurality as it prepares the ground for a new constitution, said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. The Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit was held in Cape Town this week (17-19 October), with a high-level ministerial panel addressing the future of African mineral resource development, as the continents mineral reserves gear up to power a global energy transition. The Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit, organized by Energy Capital & Power, serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. Held alongside the African Energy Week 2023 conference, the high-level event offered delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders. Mining ministers and senior government officials from South Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe united to outline transformative visions for their respective critical minerals sectors and efforts to attract foreign partnerships and cement the continents geopolitical position as a global minerals hub. The high-level panel sought to explore the future of Africas minerals economy in light of growing demand for clean energy technologies and mounting pressure to decarbonize existing mining activities and maximize resource efficiency. It also focused on how sustainable practices, localized supply chains and integrated mining operations will help secure critical minerals supplies of the future. Africas mining ministers emphasized the urgency in establishing value-added industries to mining activities, with countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zimbabwe having implemented raw mineral export bans to encourage investment in domestic mineral processing capabilities. To that end, panelists discussed how local governments can incentivize investment across the entire mining value chain, with a view to stimulating job creation and skills development. Morocco has called for a political solution and an inclusive dialogue to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, and reaffirmed readiness to provide all the necessary support to help the brotherly country overcome this difficult period and build a future of peace, stability and prosperity that meets the aspirations of its people. Speaking Friday before the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the AU and the UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, underlined that the kingdom, firmly convinced that violence and destruction are never a solution, advocates dialogue to restore trust and promote reconciliation between communities. We therefore call for an immediate end to violence in Sudan to guarantee the security of civilians and create the necessary conditions for the resumption of dialogue and peaceful negotiations to preserve the unity and sovereignty of this brotherly country, the Moroccan diplomat stressed. In this regard, he called on the Chairperson of the AU Commission to continue to use his good offices to step-up the resumption of dialogue between the various stakeholders. We urge all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and endeavor, in a spirit of calm and compromise, to find a solution worthy of Sudan that will preserve its stability, unity and territorial integrity, Arrouchi underlined. The diplomat reaffirmed that the Kingdom is ready to provide all the necessary support to help the brotherly country of Sudan overcome this difficult period and build a future of peace, stability and prosperity that meets the aspirations of its people. He added that supporting Sudan to reach a political solution should be guided by an assessment of the vital needs of the Sudanese people. This implies a holistic approach that considers the peace, security and development dimension to establish a solid basis for a lasting solution. We hope that all parties involved in the conflict will respond positively to this call and take immediate measures to end the ongoing hostilities and ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan, the Moroccan diplomat said. Morocco remains committed to the option of peace and is willing to engage in international mobilization to end the tragic and dangerous situation in Gaza. The remarks were made by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita who represented King Mohammed VI at the Peace Summit hosted this Saturday by Egypt. Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, remains committed to the option of peace and the importance of achieving stability, prosperity, and progress for all peoples, said Bourita, who emphasized the readiness of the Kingdom, in coordination with all partners, to engage in international mobilization to end the tragic and dangerous situation in Gaza. Morocco, under the leadership of the King, President of the Al Quds Committee, wishes for this summit to convey five main messages to the international community, Bourita said. The first message is a call to reduce escalation, cease the shedding of blood and military aggressions, and spare the region the horrors of a conflict that risks obliterating any remaining chances for peace and stability. The second message focuses on the pressing need to protect civilians and not target them, in accordance with the principles of international law, international humanitarian law, and common human values. The third message concerns the obligation to facilitate the rapid and smooth delivery of humanitarian aid in sufficient quantities to the benefit of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. The fourth message pertains to rejecting all solutions and ideas aimed at displacing or deporting Palestinians from their territory and endangering the security of neighboring countries. The fifth message relates to the imperative of launching a genuine peace process leading to a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds as its capital, living side by side with the State of Israel. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres who is taking part in the Peace Summit called for a humanitarian ceasefire to end the nightmare prevailing in Gaza. We must act now to end the nightmare, launched UN boss Antonio Guterres. The Gaza Strip, now under complete siege by Israel, needs a massive delivery of aid, he added. All 30 countries and world and regional organizations attending the Peace Summit are calling for reducing escalation in Gaza, protecting civilians, opening security corridors, and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid. Actually, a first convoy of humanitarian aid, coming from Egypt, entered Gaza on Saturday, desperately awaited by its besieged inhabitants who lack everything. The aid left Egypt aboard 20 trucks, according to the UN, via the Rafah crossing, the only gateway to Gaza not in Israeli hands. This hug is more bear than it may appear. Photo: GPO/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images On Thursday, the Israeli family of hostages held captive by Hamas told a news outlet how mistreated they felt by Benjamin Netanayhus government. Adi Leviathans sister, Judith Raanan, and nine other relatives had been missing since the Hamas terrorist attack two weeks ago. No one talks to us, he said. Weve not been invited to a meeting with the prime minister. Its lucky that they have American citizenship and that they have someone to trust. Israeli families are completely lost. On Friday night, just 48 hours after Joe Bidens lightning visit to Israel, Hamas released Judith and her daughter, Natalie, both American-Israeli citizens. It felt like a miracle to Israelis, who are stuck asking, where is Bibi? The prime minister has rarely been seen in public since the start of the war on October 7, taking the better part of three days to formally address the nation. It is perhaps due in no small part to the vicious anger heaped on members of his government who have shown their faces at funerals and hospitals. Biden, in contrast, met with families directly affected by the Hamas attack, who welcomed him like a savior. Israeli highways from north to south were adorned with huge banners with the message THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. In Tel Aviv, bumper stickers reading WE JOE, festooned with Israeli and American flags, seemed to appear on every car out of nowhere. Speaking to Israelis, Biden exuded care and wisdom. Shock, pain, rage an all-consuming rage. I understand, and many Americans understand, he told the traumatized nation, which lost more than 1,400 citizens to Hamass surprise attack. You cant look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers, your grandparents, sons, daughters, children even babies and not scream out for justice. Justice must be done. But I caution this: While you feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. It is not only Bidens empathy that has endeared him to the public, but also the feeling that, finally, there is a grown-up in charge. The U.S. quickly dispatched two aircraft-carrier groups to the region after Biden offered a one-word warning to any country or group looking to exploit Israels vulnerability: Dont. The Israeli government has appeared to mostly dither over the same period, most recently about the expected ground invasion of Gaza. They are also accused of failing to address the needs of the families of some 200 hostages, let alone over 300,000 Israelis displaced from the countrys war-ravaged south. Bidens visit included a significant material component. Like Secretary of State Antony Blinken days before, the president participated in a lengthy, intense meeting of Netanyahus war cabinet, which ended in a scenario unthinkable mere days ago: humanitarian aid poised to enter Gaza before Israeli troops do. Of course Biden doesnt trust Netanyahu, said Alon Pinkas, Israels former consul general in New York. Trust in Netanyahu is actually zero. He deeply mistrusts Netanyahu. Pinkas, who has advised several Israeli prime ministers, said while Biden genuinely loves Israel, he is also aware that reckless decisions could adversely affect American interests, which is why Biden and Blinken came to try to prevent the spread of the conflict. Biden is doing so by wrapping Netanyahu in a bear hug, the catchphrase most commonly heard on airwaves over the past week describing the American presidents embrace. It is also an expression of nervousness about who, really, is running things in Israel. On Thursday night, Michal Rabinovich, the usually laconic host of Channel 11s nightly news show, asked culture minister Miki Zohar, Is Biden the man really in charge? Zohar, one of Netanyahus closest advisers, replied, You should ask the prime ministers spokesman that question. After the tense exchange, the usually cool, detached Rabinovich said, Youre just as a fig leaf. A poll published Friday which is the first major survey of Israelis since the conflict began showed that 80 percent of Israelis believe the prime minister should accept responsibility for the calamity that has befallen the country, including 69 percent of Israelis who voted for Netanyahus party, Likud. Tom Nides, who served as the Biden administrations ambassador to Israel until July, said the presidents embrace had three aims. To show that we have Israels back. To send a very strong message to Hezbollah and Iran: Dont screw with us. And, more complicated, to show empathy for the innocent Palestinians who are going to get killed and have been killed that is why he pushed today for opening the humanitarian corridors. Biden is trying to send a message beyond Israel that superpowers dont bluff, Nides said, pointing to the request that Congress authorize billions in emergency assistance for both Israel and Ukraine. When he told Putin not to go into Ukraine, he organized NATO for the first time in a long time to collectively send a message to Russia. If Im sitting in Iran now, Nides said, and wondering if this is a game, Id realize he means it. Be careful with Joe Biden. Netanyahu has long frustrated American presidents. In 1996, after meeting Israels brash new prime minister, an enraged President Bill Clinton asked his advisers: Whos the fucking superpower here? In the months before the war, Biden was busy defending Israeli democracy from a different threat: Netanyahu himself. The prime ministers yearlong push for a sweeping judicial reform would have done away with judicial review and secured almost unfettered power for the longtime Israeli premier, who is on trial for corruption. The White House has no illusions about Netanyahus political standing, political limitations, and his personal limitations in responding to an event like this, a Washington official familiar with the bilateral relationship told me. In happier times, the two leaders enjoy mentioning that they have known each other for 40 years, the official noted. So of course, theres a lot of awareness, but to some extent, it doesnt matter. Were working as partners. Its just that Biden is the senior partner. A House with nobody home. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images With the removal on October 20 of Jim Jordan as House Republican Speaker-Designate (the GOP conferences nominee to become Speaker), replacing previous House Speaker-Designate Steve Scalise, who in turn sought to succeed actual House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, theres absolutely no way to tell who if anyone will be able to muster the 217 votes necessary to seize the slippery gavel that McCarthy was forced to relinquish on October 3. The list of possible aspirants keeps growing: The list of House Rs running or entertaining a bid for speaker this next is growing... gonna be a LOT of phone calls this weekend. Just a few: -Hern -Mike Johnson -Bergman -Meuser -Arrington https://t.co/tEYTM3yLBW Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 20, 2023 Since any five House Republicans can veto any of these would-be Speakers, the proliferation of possible candidates is likely to breed enough dissension to veto them all. Maybe a combination of embarrassment and exhaustion will force the squabbling congressmen to agree on someone, but even then, the availability of a motion-to-vacate-the-chair (the device used to defenestrate McCarthy) could make the next Speakers tenure breathtakingly short. The extreme instability of the situation means it may be a good idea to look at what would happen if the House is Speakerless for an extended period of time. Technically the House has a Speaker Pro Tem, Patrick McHenry, placed in that position by his close friend McCarthy to ensure someone would be in place to oversee the election of a successor. So far McHenry has resisted any talk of expanding his powers beyond that extremely limited role, and more to the point, the same conservatives who dumped McCarthy (not to mention backers of other would-be Speakers) are sure to block any back-door accession to power by the former Speakers sidekick. In theory a small group of Republicans could cut a deal with Democrats to empower McHenry or some other Speaker Pro Tem (or even an actual Speaker), but this kind of betrayal would produce an explosion among conservatives that would paralyze the House even more than the absence of a permanent presiding officer. So barring some unforeseen development, a Speakerless House will be unable to undertake any legislative activity whatsoever. This is a completely unprecedented situation. Yes, there have been periods when the death or resignation of a Speaker left the chair unoccupied. And long before it took McCarthy 15 ballots to win the job at the beginning of a congressional session, an antebellum Congress took 44 ballots to make William Pennington its presiding officer. But vacant Speakers chairs have always occurred between or at the beginning of congressional sessions, not months into an interrupted work schedule. So there will be consequences. Fortunately, much of what the House might be doing if it was a functioning legislative body wont be missed. Because the Senate and the White House are controlled by Democrats, most House business during this session has either involved partisan messaging bills that wont get within a million miles of becoming law, or completely noncontroversial symbolic and housekeeping measures that can wait or simply go undone. Committees can still meet (assuming their members arent constantly on the floor or in conference meetings trying to name a Speaker), but cant issue subpoenas or accept or refer any legislation. The one critical piece of business that the House must deal with is annual appropriations, the measures required to authorize all but the most essential government spending. Right now the federal government is operating under a stopgap spending bill which was the immediate cause of McCarthys demise after he negotiated it with the Biden administration and Senate Democrats and then passed it in the House with more Democratic than Republican votes. It expires on November 17. Even if there is a Speaker by then the House wont have time to enact (and negotiate with the Senate) the individual appropriations bills conservatives have insisted on instead of the larger omnibus bills customarily used to keep the government running. And its hard to imagine the next Speaker signing onto another stopgap measure given what happened to McCarthy. Without a Speaker or some sort of special bipartisan arrangement, a government shutdown on November 17 is certain, and the government will remain shut down until such time as the House can conduct business again. Aside from the government operations covered by the stopgap spending bill, there are emergency appropriations regularly entertained by Congress, usually at the presidents initiation. In his televised address on October 19, Joe Biden made it clear he would be asking for quick action on additional aid to Israel and Ukraine, and the White House subsequently indicated it wanted new funding for certain domestic priorities, including the border security needs that are a subject of sharp contention between the two major parties. None of this can happen with the House unable to act, and again, any special arrangement to consider one legislative item but not another could be wildly controversial within the fractured House Republican conference. Its tempting to say that a Speakerless House might not be that different from a House theoretically operated by a powerless Speaker, which is what Kevin McCarthy ultimately became. But appearances matter, and the disarray House Republicans display to the world by their inability to choose a leader will at some point begin to affect their electoral prospects for 2024. Lets say Republicans decide the stakes in who controls the House are so high that they are willing to risk the spectacle of a Speakerless chamber, or they find ways to deal with the most urgent items of business with no more than a temporary figurehead in the chair. The gridlock could drag into 2024 with a new set of fiscal deadlines and untold emergencies arising at home and abroad. The only absolute deadline is the end of this Congress in early January of 2025. You have to figure, however, that a leaderless House Republican team would not fare well in the 2024 elections. So their warring tribes will have to make peace before a frustrated public finally decides just one party is primarily to blame for the dysfunctional arrogance and myopia they perceive in Washington. An Auburn-based agency focused on public relations, content creation and digital marketing is celebrating its 15th anniversary by partnering with the Auburn Student Veterans Association. TRINDGROUP is contributing its public relations, marketing and design experience and tools to promote Operation Iron Ruck and support the veteran population that serves on the TRINDGROUP team and the veteran workforces of their clients. Each year, the ASVA partners with the Campus Veterans Association at the University of Alabama to host Operation Iron Ruck to raise awareness for the growing veteran suicide epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 143 veterans died by suicide in Alabama in 2021, surpassing the national veteran and civilian averages. Held before every Iron Bowl since 2018, Operation Iron Ruck is a three-day, 151-mile hike between the two schools with participants carrying 22-pound ruck sacks and 22 nameless dog tags to honor the 22 veterans that die by suicide every day, in hopes of raising awareness. Now TRINDGROUP is offering their services to help spread the word about the project, and according to a press release from the agency, it was the ASVA that reached out to them. TRINDGROUPs collaboration with the Auburn Student Veterans Association goes beyond mere professional assistance. Its a genuine contribution to our community and mission. Their expert guidance has been pivotal in enhancing the impact of Operation Iron Ruck and the causes close to the hearts of veterans. TRINDGROUPs support is more than technical; its emotional and deeply appreciated, solidifying their role as true champions for veterans in our community, Program Coordinator at the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center Curtis Pippin said. According to the Operation Iron Ruck website, the event will begin on Nov. 22 and the fundraising goal for this year is $25,000. Founded in 2008 by Jesse King and Kevin Smith, both graduates of Auburn University, TRINDGROUP started as a creative boutique agency focused on helping local businesses in the area before making the change to an industrial-market focus in 2016. The company now works with small, medium and large business in a variety of fields such as marine, water, aquaculture, engineering, oil and gas. In serving its clients in the industrial field, TRINDGROUP has a team of experts with public relations, strategic marketing, brand development, website and graphic design backgrounds working to find the best ways to grow the brands and enhance the agencys knowledge of the market. The growth that TRINDGROUP has experienced over the past 15 years is truly something special. Our team does a phenomenal job collaborating with our clients to contribute to client successes. The TRINDGROUP team is a wonderful collection of expertise, unique personalities and most importantly colleagues who enjoy working with each other. That is what I am proud of the most, King said. In celebrating the 15 years of growth and success, the agency is partnering with ASVA to bring greater awareness to the mental health issues veterans are facing in the United States. For TRINDGROUP, the most exciting part of their milestone anniversary is having the opportunity to give back to their community by investing in the success of ASVA. To celebrate 15 years of TRINDGROUP, the agency wanted to make an impact in their community by finding a philanthropy they were passionate about. They knew their teams skillset would be of value to a community partner in need of public relations, marketing or design, the release said. The veteran workforce is significant to the success of many TRINDGROUP clients. Being able to support a local veteran organization and support its initiatives is a wonderful combination for TRINDGROUP. PHOTOS: Operation Iron Ruck 2022 Over the last year, the U.S. has been ramping up its natural gas production, with plans to develop several more LNG facilities in the south of the country. But it seems like its not the only country to have major gas ambitions, as Canada continues to work on a massive new export facility. Canada has long been planning to become an LNG exporter and thanks to the new development, its ambitions are ever closer, with the potential of supporting North Americas dominance in the global gas industry. Oil industry leaders in Canada have long pushed for the construction of an LNG export facility to ensure the countrys position in the global energy market, as the demand for crude, particularly Canadas carbon-intensive oil sands, begins to wane. The global shift away from Russian gas supplies has left the door open for alternative producers and exporters. The CEO of Canadian oil major Enbridge, Greg Ebel, stated: Natural gas is a critical component in so many different regions of the world and will continue to do so as part of our sustainability goals, as part of backup for renewables . . . More and more people want to have a better lifestyle and that means cheap, affordable, secure energy And, inevitably, for decades and decades to come, that is going to involve natural gas and oil. Canada is the worlds fifth-largest oil and natural gas producer, with its gas output increasing over the last decade. The countrys gas sales volumes are expected to rise to around 21 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day by 2030, an increase from 17.5 bcf per day at present. However, its export market has lagged behind other gas-producing countries. Ebel believes that Canadian gas exports could replace coal used in other countries to help lower emissions. He said, Even with the U.S. expansion, theres still plenty of room for Canada to be a serious player. Canada is now setting its sights on becoming a major LNG exporter in the coming years. LNG Canada, a joint venture of Shell, PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and Korea Gas Corporation has been developing Canadas first LNG export facility in British Colombia. The group announced in June that the projects construction was more than 80 percent complete and they were preparing for it to commence operations. It is expected to have a production capacity of 14 million tonnes a year, with the potential for expansion in the future. Once the facility is completed, the plant will include a natural gas receiving and LNG production unit, a marine terminal with the capacity to accommodate two LNG carriers, a tugboat dock and LNG loading lines, as well as LNG processing units, storage tanks, a rail yard, a water treatment facility, and flare stacks. The first phase is expected to begin shipments in 2025, which will be followed by the development of a second phase to double annual capacity to 28 million tonnes. The project was originally planned as a way of transporting large quantities of methane gas from Canada to Asia. However, following the Russia-Ukraine war, and the rush to find alternative gas supplies, the multibillion-dollar project has evolved differently. The facility is now being developed to have two units to convert methane into a liquid form for shipping. The facility will use hydropower to run the turbines that cool the gas to liquid form, aiming to reduce carbon emissions. But this will require the installation of hundreds of kilometres of new transmission lines to reach the plants remote location on the northwest coast. LNG Canada has been in discussions with the province and BC Hydro, a state-owned power corporation, about managing the sites hydropower needs. The CEO of LNG Canada, Jason Klein, stated All the parties understand that further electrification of our industry will benefit B.C. and the Premier has been quite clear and consistent that he wants to see progress made on this file. The construction of Canadas first LNG export facility could support the rapid development of U.S. natural gas capacity to propel the North American region to the top of the LNG chain. Over the last year, several oil and gas majors have announced new LNG projects aimed at solidifying U.S. energy security and providing a new gas supply chain in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russian energy. However, the U.S. has been criticised for approving so many LNG projects that are far from completion, with first production years away, meaning it could contribute to long-term carbon emissions and compromise the governments climate pledges. There is great enthusiasm within the Canadian oil and gas industry around the construction of the countrys first export terminal. This development could help Canada to play a major role in the expansion of North Americas LNG supply chain. However, the new gas project calls into question some of Canadas climate pledges, with the risk of spurring a longer-term reliance on fossil fuels, as the expansion of the facility could take place well into the next decade. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In a surprise development, center-right businessman Daniel Noboa defeated leftist lawyer Luisa Gonzalez last Sunday to become Ecuadors youngest-ever president. The election, triggered by incumbent president Guillermo Lassos decision to dissolve Ecuadors National Assembly to avoid impeachment, was marred by an unprecedented level of violence. In a tragic first-time-ever event in Ecuador, a presidential candidate, anti-corruption campaigner Fernando Villavicencio, was assassinated just days before the first voting round in August 2023. Noboa, who will assume the remainder of Lassos term of 17-months, until May 2025, has his work cut out for him with a catastrophic security crisis and flailing economy weighing heavily on Ecuador. When Lasso took office as president in May 2021, Ecuador was locked in a deep sociopolitical crisis fueled by civil dissent due to a spiraling cost of living, a waning economy and deteriorating domestic security. Those events along with the fallout from Lassos neoliberal economic reforms, which caused the cost of living to spiral higher, and growing environmental damage in the Amazon by Ecuadors oil industry sparked violent antigovernment protests during 2022. The protests severity forced state-controlled Petroecuador to declare force majeure, sharply impacting Ecuadors economically crucial oil production and exports. The ongoing impact of the economic and political crisis gripping the Andean country caused oil production to decline and the hydrocarbon sector to stagnate, further impacting an already vulnerable economy. By mid-October 2023, Ecuador was lifting just under 485,000 barrels of oil per day, which is substantially lower than pre-pandemic production of 540,000 barrels and significantly less than Lassos goal of lifting output to 600,000 barrels per day. Indeed, on taking office, Lasso pledged to lift Ecuadors oil production to one million barrels per day but was forced, multiple times, to lower that target as infrastructure outages and anti-oil industry protests sharply impacted output. There are signs that a recovery for Ecuadors oil industry is a long way off, boding poorly for the countrys petroleum-dependent economy. Heightened insecurity and a long-running political crisis are deterring foreign energy investment. Petroleum products are Ecuadors main export, generating $13 billion of revenue during 2022, which accounted for nearly 35% of all export income that year. Oil rents are responsible for 6% of the Andean countrys gross domestic product and generate around a third of government revenue. This reliance on petroleum leaves Ecuadors fiscally fragile economy vulnerable to movements in oil prices and falling hydrocarbon output. Declining petroleum revenues are hitting the Andean countrys economy hard at a time when the tiny country of less than twenty million is stricken by a deep-set crisis that is destroying a decade of progress. Economic growth since the pandemic has been muted, with the IMF reporting that 2022 GDP expanded by 2.9% and forecasting it will expand by a mere 1.4% in 2023. A weak economy, as well as rising poverty are also responsible for the surge in crime and violence. The fallout from those events is being magnified by the severe security crisis roiling Ecuador, where the considerable profits from cocaine trafficking are fueling a surge in violence. In a mere five years, Ecuadors homicide rate has surged nearly fivefold from 5.7 murders per 100,000 people in 2018 to 25.9 murders per 100,000 head of population in 2022. This, sadly, is a record high for Ecuador, a country once celebrated for its relatively low levels of violence in a volatile region where many neighbors are wracked by conflict, It is the fourth highest murder rate in Latin America, higher than even Mexico which is marred by conflict between various drug trafficking cartels. Public displays of violence in Ecuador are rising with the gruesome display of corpses hanging from bridges in the largest city Guayaquil and the murder of gangland players by hired gunmen in the streets. Ecuador, which is sandwiched between Colombia and Peru, the worlds largest producers of cocaine, emerged as a key South American transshipment hub for the narcotic because of its large Pacific ports and porous borders. The amount of cocaine flowing into Ecuador is surging with it reported that the volume of seizures for 2022 grew threefold when compared to 2020 to over 77 metric tons. While the massive inflow of cocaine into Ecuador is the primary driver, a combination of weak state institutions, a flailing economy, a series of never-ending political crises, and corruption are allowing the narcotics trade to flourish. President-elect Noboa, the son of Ecuadors wealthiest man, banana baron Alvaro Noboa, has proposed a contradictory mix of policies to tackle Ecuadors economic and security crises. This includes expanding social programs to reduce poverty and improve education while introducing a hardline crackdown on crime and reforming Ecuadors notoriously corrupt prison system. Noboa plans to create a new national intelligence agency reporting solely to the president, and expand the Ecuadorean militarys role in fighting crime. The president-elect will also build maximum security prison ships to hold the countrys most dangerous prisoners offshore and install militarized surveillance systems in poor neighborhoods. It will take a considerable investment to implement those ambitious plans, which is difficult for Ecuadors already fiscally constrained government. Key to boosting Quitos finances is rebuilding Ecuadors economy and putting the country back onto a trajectory of growth. To do this, Noboa will need to reevaluate the economically crucial oil industry with a view to implementing the policies required to attract greater foreign energy investment in upstream and downstream operations, which will bolster production. This also includes addressing many of the environmental concerns related to industry operations in Ecuadors Amazon basin, where oil spills, flaring and other environmentally damaging activities have been commonplace. The growing backlash against the oil industry saw Ecuadorians vote, in a recent referendum, to ban oil exploration in the 2.5 million acre Yasuni National Park. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The 35-year-old Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict could finally be coming to an end after last month's lightning offensive by Azerbaijan to retake Nagorno-Karabakh and the subsequent exodus of the region's Armenian population and dissolution of its de facto government. The fate of the Karabakh Armenians had long been the main sticking point in the peace talks underway since 2021. Now that that issue has been resolved, however crudely, and the sides have vowed to recognize one another's territorial integrity, it might seem that a conclusion could be at hand. But things aren't that simple. Apart from the actual content of a peace deal chiefly border delimitation/demarcation and the opening of transit links the sides are at odds over who should mediate. Up to this point there have been two separate tracks of negotiations, one mediated by Russia and the other by the European Union with U.S. help. Now, after Azerbaijan's takeover of Karabakh, Armenia is more dissatisfied than ever with its nominal strategic partner Russia and is increasingly positive on the West. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, has been expressing distaste with Western mediation and calling for a regional solution to the conflict, one that could involve Russia, Turkey and Iran, or, perhaps, just Georgia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had been due to meet in the presence of European mediators on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Granada, Spain, on October 5. But Aliyev backed out. The presence of France, an ally of Armenia that has offered to sell it defensive weapons, and the exclusion of Azerbaijan's strategic partner Turkey were the reasons, his advisor later explained. Pashinyan went anyway, and talked Armenia-Azerbaijan peace with President Charles Michel of the European Council, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. Those four released a joint statement afterwards expressing commitment to the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, and the two countries' mutual respect for one another's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement also emphasized the importance of "strict adherence to the principle of non-use of force and threat of use of force." Concerns persist in Armenia that Azerbaijan could invade in order to force the establishment of a transit corridor, and the EU wants assurances from Baku that it won't do so. A few days later, Armenia decided to skip a meeting of leaders and foreign ministers of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members in Bishkek. Aliyev criticized the move, as supposedly a separate meeting was to be held between Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian foreign ministers on the sidelines of the event. "We perceive the mediation of the Russian Federation with gratitude because Russia is our neighbor and ally, as well as Armenia's ally. This country is located in our region, unlike those who are thousands of kilometers away. Naturally, the history of relations between our countries presupposes the mediation of the Russian side," Aliyev said while receiving security council heads of CIS state members. "Now, this invites the question: does Armenia want peace? I think not, because if it had wanted peace, it would not have missed this opportunity. The Armenian prime minister flies six hours to Granada and participates in an incomprehensible meeting there, where Azerbaijan is discussed without actually being present, but he cannot fly for two to three hours to Bishkek. He has other important things to do," Aliyev added. After Aliyev met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on October 13, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed a similar view. "Baku has a very constructive position on this [signing a peace treaty], while Yerevan has not quite decided yet," he said. The rift between Armenia and Russia further widened when Pashinyan told the European Parliament on October 17 that Russia was trying to topple him. "When the 100,000 Armenians were fleeing from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, our security allies not only failed to help us, but were publicly calling for a change of government, overthrowing the democratic government in Armenia," he said. Russian state media the following day quoted a "high-ranking" Russian official as calling Pashinyan's statement "provocative" and suggesting Armenia could suffer the same fate as Ukraine, which Russia has waged full-scale war against for the past 18 months. "We see that there's an attempt to turn Armenia into a Ukraine number three. If we consider that Moldova is Ukraine number two, Pashinyan is going by leaps and bounds down the path of [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky," the unnamed official said. Exclaves complicate border talks When Armenia and Azerbaijan finally begin delimiting their common border, one of the more difficult issues is likely to be that of exclaves - the tiny islands of each country's territory that are surrounded entirely by the other's. During the First Karabakh War in the 1990s all of these villages, most of which are actually far from Karabakh, were abandoned and taken over by the surrounding power. There are three Azerbaijani exclaves in Armenia and one Armenian exclave in Azerbaijan. There are also several bits of territory contiguous with contiguous with each country that the other sliced off during the first war. After Pashinyan signed the statement affirming Azerbaijan's territorial integrity in Granada, Aliyev told European Council President Charles Michel by phone on October 7 that eight villages of Azerbaijan were "still under Armenian occupation, and stressed the importance of liberating these villages from occupation." ADVERTISEMENT Asked by Armenian Public TV about this claim in an interview on October 10, Pashinyan did not comment directly but said that Azerbaijan has likewise been occupying several Armenian villages since the 1990s. "We proposed a solution to that issue back in 2021 and said let's decide what the delimitation map is, and pull back the troops simultaneously from the border line according to that map. These are very important nuances," he said. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry in response said that Baku does not occupy any Armenian villages and suggested that Pashinyan was making that claim in order to justify Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani villages. (In June Pashinyan appeared to acknowledge the validity of Azerbaijan's claims on at least one village currently controlled by Armenia.) Another issue that will need to be addressed in the border talks is the presence of Azerbaijani troops deep inside what's generally regarded as Armenian territory. Azerbaijan has made several incursions into Armenia since the 2020 war and currently holds an estimated 215 square kilometers of its land. By Heydar Isayev via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil prices ended the week in the green for the second week in a row as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to worry markets. Crude oil prices ended the day on a down note after Israel agreed to delay its planned attack on Gaza following pressure from the United States. But across the week, crude oil prices are still trading upthe second week in a row for price gains. The WTI crude oil benchmark was trading down $0.35 (-0.39%) at $89.02 per barrel near 5:00 pm ET as the market digested the news that Israels movements against Hamas would wait. Brent crude oil was trading down $0.13 (-0.14%) at $92.25 per barrel at that time. For the week, however, both benchmarks were trading up as traders weighed the possibility that Iran could get dragged into the war between Israel and Hamas. This time last week, WTI crude was trading at $86.35almost a full $3 below current pricing. Brent crude was trading at $90.89 this time last week. Tempering todays prices was news that the United States would lift sanctions on Venezuelas oil industry in exchange for the Maduro regime agreeing to hold elections next year. The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued general licenses authorizing transactions involving the oil and gas sector and removed the ban on secondary trading, the Treasury Department said this week. Meanwhile, the United States also said it planned on buying another 6 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reservesbut at a price point significantly lower than current market prices. Crude oil prices also received a boost this week from U.S. crude and product inventory draws. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: NORFOLK, Neb. Norfolk police are investigating after a body was found inside a chimney at an apartment building Thursday. Around 6:15 p.m., police were notified of a possible body inside a chimney at 1414 S. Third St., Capt. Michael Bauer said. Officers, as well as Norfolk Fire and Rescue personnel, gained access to the chimney and removed the body. The person has not yet been identified, and an autopsy has been scheduled, Bauer said. Bauer said in a press release that the police divisions initial investigation indicates the death was the result of an accident, but police are reviewing all avenues. Two apartment tenants spoke to the Norfolk Daily News on the condition that they not be identified. The first tenant said the chimney where the body was found runs through the center of the apartment building. Recently, he and his landlord went to the basement after tenants complained of a foul odor. There was blood dripping down the walls where the chimney is, the tenant said, and the two thought perhaps an animal had become stuck and died. On Thursday, the landlord asked a maintenance worker to further investigate the odor. The maintenance employee smashed in a wall in the basement and found the deceased person. The first tenant said he helped his landlord install a camera system at the building earlier this year. The two had to drop cables down the chimney chute during the installation. He explained that the only way to get to the chimney through the outside would be to use a ladder to get to the roof of a nearby bar and then use a ladder to get from the roof of the bar to the roof of the apartment building. The top of the chimney is then another 7 feet above the apartment roof, he said. Accessing the roof from the inside of the building would be possible but difficult, the tenant said. It would require a person to get through a number of sealed doors and then through an attic. It likely would take two people to gain access to the roof from the inside, he said. A second tenant said that he noticed a bad smell a few weeks ago and that an abundance of flies had been swarming in the building. The odor later subsided, the man said, leading him to believe that there was a dead animal nearby. But the overbearing fly presence did not improve, he said, prompting the landlord to look into the source of the problem more thoroughly. The man lives on the basement floor of the building, and emergency personnel had to break through one of the walls of his apartment unit to retrieve the body, he said. The second tenant also explained that it would be difficult for somebody to gain access to the roof from the inside, leaving himself and other tenants puzzled about the situation. Somebody either had the time to ... explore and figure it out, the man said. Or if someone went up there (from the outside), he would have had to take a ladder with him. And there would still be a ladder up there, which there isnt. The three-level structure, according to Realtor.com, was built in 1912 and most recently was purchased in 2015 for $201,000. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon left a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Friday feeling exonerated after a majority of his fellow GOP members voted to drop Jim Jordan as the partys nominee for speaker. Bacon voted against Jordan in all three speaker votes this week, with the Ohio Republican steadily losing support in each round. During a Friday conference after the third vote, Republicans voted 112-86 to remove Jordan as their speaker nominee. Although Bacon said he took no glee in Jordans defeat, he also said he felt exonerated that a majority of his colleagues agreed with him that Jordan was not the right choice for speaker. Now Republicans are left without a clear candidate who can assemble the near-unanimous support from their party that is needed to win the speakership in a closely-divided House of Representatives. Bacon said a small pool of candidates has already emerged, but it is unclear how that pool will change before the House votes again next week. Now youre seeing the floodgates open, Bacon said. Bacon said the potential GOP candidates for speaker currently include Reps. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mark Green of Tennessee, Jodey Arrington of Texas, and Austin Scott of Georgia. Bacon did not indicate which of these candidates he would support. While there has been some talk about Bacon seeking the post, he confirmed he is not planning to do so. He said he doesnt believe he would get enough votes because of his track record in working across the aisle on bipartisan deals, and said he believes House Republicans are more inclined to elect someone who sticks more within party lines. I can tell the appetites not there right now, Bacon said. Some Bacon critics called him out earlier this week after he said Jordan should give up his speaker bid, noting previous statements where he said Jordan would make a good speaker. Bacon attributed this to a Democrat spin, saying that when he made those statements, he was supporting Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. I was trying to be polite, he said. Bacons main criticism of Jordans bid was focused on his loudest supporters, which included a small group of hard-right House Republicans who were largely behind the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker earlier this month. He said this groups efforts created the current stalemate. However, Bacon also said he didnt agree with some of Jordans policies and positions, including his refusal to certify the 2020 presidential election results. He said he also didnt like that Jordan would not support a bill that temporarily averted a government shutdown, and said Jordan was one of the representatives who held up debate on the federal budget. Now that Jordan isnt the leading speaker candidate, Bacon said he wants House Republicans to return to their previous system of electing a speaker. This involves debating like hell behind closed doors on the possible candidates, voting by secret ballot on a nominee, and then having everyone in the party unite behind that nominee on the House floor. Bacon said this process was broken when the same small group of Republicans refused to support Scalise even though he was the majoritys pick to become speaker after McCarthys ousting. That prevented Scalise from having enough votes to win the seat when the full House voted. Republicans then voted to make Jordan the nominee. If Jordan had been the partys initial nominee, Bacon said he probably would have voted for him. However, he found what happened to Scalise offensive. You cant reward bad behavior, he said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., likely faces a tough re-election battle in a competitive Omaha-area district next year, but he said his race was secondary on his mind during his controversial votes against Jim Jordan to be the next speaker of the House. Bacon drew outrage from some hard-right conservatives after he voted against Jordan on all three recent votes for speaker. Jordan, an Ohio Republican backed by about 90% GOP House members as well as former President Donald Trump, fell short on each vote and ultimately was dropped Friday as the partys nominee to run the House of Representatives. Bacons right-wing critics, both at home and nationally, complained bitterly that Bacon was ignoring the wishes of his constituents. But Bacon said he believes that people in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha, were probably split 50-50 on Jordan. The 2nd District runs more purple compared to the rest of deep-red Nebraska, making it less hospitable to politicians who take extreme partisan positions. Bacon has won the district four times, but some of his victories have been narrow. Meanwhile, the Omaha-based district provided an Electoral College vote to Democrats Barack Obama in 2008 and Joe Biden in 2020. UNO political science professor Randall Adkins estimated that the district is among the nations top 30 most competitive districts. The margins are always going to be close, Adkins said. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, was first elected in 2016. He is likely to have a rematch next year against State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. The two faced off in the 2022 midterms, where Bacon narrowly defeated Vargas by fewer than 3 percentage points. To win in his district, Adkins said Bacon needs to appeal in the general election to voters who are registered nonpartisan, even if he is unlikely to draw much support from Democrats. And, in fact, Bacon has campaigned on his expressed desire to work across the aisle with Democrats in Congress. Republicans in deeper-red districts have less concern about the general election, since their races are often essentially won in the GOP primary, and they can stake out more partisan positions. But thats not as true in the 2nd District or in some other swing districts represented by some of the Republican lawmakers who withheld support from Jordan. Vargas has been critical of Bacons role in the speaker debate, saying that Bacon twisted himself in knots and is playing more partisan D.C. games with our lives, according to a social media post Thursday. No matter who the GOP settles on for speaker, theyll still push for extreme reproductive health restrictions, Social Security cuts, & fail to address the gun violence in this country, Vargas said in a Wednesday post. And make no mistake: Don Bacon will stand right with them. Amid the voting over Jordans bid for speaker, some hard-right Republicans held a small protest outside Bacons Omaha office. Adkins said he doesnt believe Bacon risks losing Republican support in a general election because of his anti-Jordan votes, but he does face the possibility of a primary challenge from the right. Bacon said he thinks he would have voted the same way even if his district had been more strongly Republican. His opposition to Jordan, he said, had less to do with his reelection campaign and more to do with his principles. He said he was offended when Jordan supporters broke from tradition and refused to support Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., when he was the GOPs first nominee to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Scalise wound up withdrawing. Had Jordan received the majority of votes over Scalise in the GOPs initial secret-ballot vote to pick a nominee, Bacon said he probably would have backed Jordan on the floor when the full House voted something he thought Jordans backers should have done for Scalise. But when that didnt happen, he didnt want to give in to a small group of GOP hard-liners who were insisting on getting their way. I couldnt be walked on like that, Bacon said. Bacon said he also disagreed with some of Jordans past positions, including Jordans refusal to certify the 2020 presidential election results. More recently, he said, he didnt like that Jordan voted against the bill that avoided a government shutdown at the end of September. During the week, some of Jordans supporters waged what Bacon described as a bullying campaign. House Republicans like Bacon who didnt support Jordans candidacy were subjected to a barrage of calls that included harassment and threats, he said. Even Bacons wife was targeted, and he said the harassment reached the point where his wife slept with a loaded gun. One disturbing voicemail to her came from an anonymous caller who threatened to nonviolently stalk and molest her due to Bacons actions. Were not like the left, we arent violent, but were gonna follow your ass to every appointment you have, everything you f***ing do, the caller told her. It took several days before Jordan publicly denounced such harassment, and Bacon said that angered him and other lawmakers who were receiving the calls. Its a shame that we got to this point, Bacon said. Currently, there isnt a clear candidate who has the votes to win the speakership. Bacon said the House is scheduled to vote again next week, and there is already a pool of five to six candidates, though he didnt say which one he favored. Now youre seeing the floodgates open, Bacon said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 CHICAGO 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 had 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 doesn't 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. 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 museum's chief curator of Dutch and German baroque paintings. Retrieving a long-lost painting "is actually a very rare moment for us," Ebert said. "It's 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. Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair 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. 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. New York Daily News 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 minimize 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. 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 Makola Shop Mall in Accra gutted with fire on Saturday destroying over 200. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said they got to the scene 23:26 but had challenges accessing the fire. According to them, the place was locked up so they were able to bring the fire under control at 04:00 hours. Less than two minutes they were here, 23:26 they were here, and they realized that the fire was beyond the ordinary, that is it has really gotten to a fully developed stage so immediately. So the officer in charge called for multiple pumps. So in all we used nine firefighting appliers including one RTC pick-up, you know the place is locked with a padlock so we needed equipment that we could cut the padlock and access the fire. So we were able to bring the fire under control in 04:00 hours,Dep. Director of Operations of GNFS, DO1 Kofi Forson narrated to Starr News. However, they are yet to investigate and know what might have caused the fire. But, during a visit to the market, Mayor of Accra Elizabeth Sackey advised shop owners to take fire education seriously to avert future occurrence. Source: Starrfm.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 #EndSars is once again the most-used hashtag on social media in Nigeria, on what is the third anniversary of a notorious shooting incident during a protest at a tollgate in Lagos. People are reflecting on the fortnight-long protests in which tens of thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets condemning police brutality, after a video had gone viral of a man allegedly being killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars). A violent crackdown on the #EndSars protests in October 2020 saw dozens of civilians killed. The government later disbanded Sars, but instances of police brutality continue in Nigeria. Some 15 people remain in detention for their role in the 2020 protests, according to the rights group Amnesty International which is calling for their release - and says that some have not been tried, and many face "trumped-up charges". Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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 from taking and eating them after they were slaughtered. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has rescheduled his campaign tour to the North East Region. The Vice President, who had earlier scheduled to be in the Region between the 21st and 22nd October, 2023, had to review his itinerary to allow Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong start his campaign tour of the North East Region which is scheduled within the same period. The Assin Central MP and NPP Presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, will start his campaign tour of the North East Region tomorrow, October 22, covering three constituencies; Chereponi, Yunyoo and Bunkpurugu, on the first day. He will then proceed to Yagaba, Nalerigu and Walewale on 23rd October. In view of this, Dr. Bawumia has chosen a different date to embark on his tour. The tentative dates for the Vice Presidents visit are 29th and 30th October, 2023. A detailed itinerary of the Vice Presidents tour will be published as soon as the dates aforementioned are confirmed. 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 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: St Emillion is one of many different wines made in and around Bordeaux. Credit: Domenico-de-ga / wiki, CC BY-SA It's harvest time again for most of Europe's wine growing regions and grapes are being picked from the UK in the north to Sicily in the south. The grapes are then sorted and pressed to make the best juices possible. These juices will then be fermented in a choice of barrel, be that oak, concrete, clay or stainless steel, to make wine ready for blending and bottling in the spring. The harvest determines the vintage, with variation in weather leading to changes in the appeal of the wines. Colleagues and I have published new research which examines this variation, looking at how quality is affected by temperature and rainfall. Quality is assessed in spring, when the wine is finished in the barrel ready to be bottled. The French refer to this stage as en primeur (the first), and at this time a futures market forms where speculators and commercial buyers can purchase wine in advance. En primeur was started by Bordeaux wine merchants in the 1950s as a post-war method of providing money to financially struggling chateaus while the wine was still being bottled. This phenomenon has since spread across Europe. During this period, wine merchants and critics make their assessments of the vintage. These assessments speak to both the character and the quality of the wine. The character aspect of reviews come in the form of tasting notes like fruits, velvety mouth-feel, and hints of spices to finish. The quality aspect is rated numerically in the form of a score, comparing the quality of this year's wines to both previous and other local wines. These scores vary annually with both climate and weather changes, as well as from vineyard to vineyard. Wines produced from the same type of grape can still vary by soil type, microclimate or vinification (winemaking) choices. Some wine merchants and critics choose to score the wines by region, others by individual bottles of wine. What makes Bordeaux better We wanted to use these scores to explore how wine quality is changing with variation in annual weather, and thus gain a glimpse into the potential future for wine. We chose to do this in Bordeaux, the wine producing region surrounding the French city of the same name, where climate impacts have already been felt through earlier ripening and harvesting, increased water-related stress, and variation in wine quality. Bordeaux is also perfect because of the scale of en primeur, with thousands of chateaus all taking part and being rated by a small number of high-profile critics. Our results show that higher quality wine is made in years with warmer temperatures, more winter rainfall (and less summer rainfall), and earlier, shorter growing seasons. Climate change is expected to make these conditions occur more frequently, suggesting thatwith caveatsBordeaux wines will potentially become stronger, more rounded, and generally better in the years to come. The Bordeaux wine region We can see this general trend in the annual variation in critics' scores for the wines of St-Emillion, for example. One of Bordeaux's 37 specially-defined wine regions known as "appellations", St-Emillion, is famed for its high-quality wines and celebrated vineyards, with high values often associated with them. If we examine one of the top chateaus from this area, Chateau-Figeac, we find that its highest rated years in the past decade2016, 2019, and 2022all had high temperatures and low rainfall in July and August, but also higher rainfall in the November-January before. Alexa Boulton, commercial director at Chateau-Figeac, told me that: "with climate change this type of year comes more often and therefore great vintages come more often". Climate change also means more extremes This all sounds very positive, but the caveats are quite important. Most notably, with increased climate change comes an increase in extreme events. Late frosts, extreme droughts and strong rain and hail during flowering and fruiting are all increasing in frequency in Bordeaux and can wipe out an entire year's grapes. This means no wine at all from some locations, a potentially wine-changing event. We may have already seen this in 2020, when a dramatic April storm swept across Bordeaux, showering vines in hail and wiping out "up to 100%" of grapes on some vines while leaving others almost untouched. This hail is one potential reason for the slightly lower quality in many chateaus' 2020 vintages when compared to the 2019 vintages, despite high winter rainfall and summer temperatures. Our findings apply far beyond Bordeaux. The UK, for instance, is on the cusp of producing great red wines yet is still impacted by changes in the weather. My friend Natasha Rompante is an English wine maker, she told me that "2020 was a hot year which made for a great vintage where we unusually achieved ripeness for both white and red wines". However 2021 was a different story, with suspected climate change-related increases in temperature and humidity leading to widespread disease and loss of fruit. Rompante points out that "some vineyards lost up to 90% of their crop". The combination of temperature and rainfall is vital, with the right heat and water, at the right times. As the global climate changes, so too will our wines. Our research has shown which weather conditions make better wine and this, with some potentially devastating caveats, could suggest a positive future for wines in Bordeaux. Whatever happens, developing our understanding of the links between climate, vine and wine is vital to ensuring long-term success for wines everywhere. 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: Hurricane Norma is approaching Mexico's Pacific coast. Hurricane Norma on Friday once again strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Pacific coast. The hurricanewhich at one point was a Category 4 out of five on the Saffir-Simpson scaleis 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. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain This week, we reported on the totality of the universe. We reported on some other subjects, as well, but since they're obviously encompassed by that first thing, enough said. Object occluded People across the western U.S. last Saturday reported that one thing temporarily blocked another thing from view. The larger and more distant thing, normally visible in the sky, was briefly obscured by the smaller and closer thing. To better understand this phenomenon, hold an object in your hand at arm's length at an angle that obscures a more distant object across the room. Totality comprehended Researchers at The Australian National University produced what they call the most comprehensive view of the universe ever created. Their Zillow floor plan of all reality is a fairly simple chart depicting two plots: The first shows the temperature and density of the universe as it expanded and cooled; the second shows the possible mass and size of all objects in the universe. The chart includes no-go zones, one where general relativity prohibits objects from becoming denser than black holes. Another is a zone in which matter enters a fuzzy state of quantum uncertainty and objects can't be defined. So basically, it's just a set of constraints. But I can see how placing constraints on the entire universe might make a cosmologist feel pretty big and strut around like a big shot. The paper discusses Planck-mass instantons, the smallest mass a black hole can have without entering the zone of quantum uncertainty. They write, "The Hawking temperature of an instanton is the Planck temperature. Thus, we have assumed that the initial conditions of the universe are that of an instanton. Instantons seem to be an essential ingredient for quantum cosmology, and their study is an active field of research that is beyond the scope of this paper." Bludgeon immortalized Five hundred millennia ago, human ancestors developed a tool now called an Acheulean handaxe for cutting meat, chopping wood and digging. Jagged, ovular stones, they are shaped first by hard hammerstones, which broke off large flakes from the rock core, followed by the removal of smaller flakes. Variants have been found worldwide, wherever Homo erectus hung out and bashed things. Prior to the Enlightenment, people thought they were formed naturally, and the earliest textual references to them date to the 1500s. But researchers at Dartmouth and the University of Cambridge have identified one of these sweet babies in an oil painting from 1455. "The Melun Diptych," painted by Jean Fouquet, comprises two panels: On the left are two guys, and on the right, the Virgin Mary and her child surrounded by angels. The handaxe is depicted in the left panel, resting on a New Testament in the arm of Saint Stephen, representing his death by stoning. It had never been previously identified as an Acheulean handaxe, but in 2021, Steven Kangas, a senior lecturer in the Department of Art History at Dartmouth, had the opportunity to show two anthropologists an image of the left panel and they agreed that it resembled a handaxe, ultimately confirming it via three analyses. Boy good If you're ranking dog breeds, golden retrievers have to be in the top five in terms of sociability, temperament and utilitythey'll help carry groceries in from the car and even prefer to hold their own leash on a walk. They just like carrying stuff. When he heard the doorbell ring, my sister's golden retriever Hudson would run to the door with a present for visitors, usually a dog toy covered in slobber. Goldens may also contribute to a better understanding of human cancer. Unfortunately, for reasons not completely understood, golden retrievers have a 65% chance of dying from cancer. Now, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have published a study in which they looked for genes associated with longer life. They found expression of gene HER4 in goldens with long lifespans; it is a member of a family of human epidermal growth factor receptors important in human cancer, and it may mitigate against the genetic predisposition to cancer in goldens. Co-author Robert Rebhun said, "If we find that this variant in HER4 is important either in the formation or progression of cancer in golden retrievers, or if it can actually modify a cancer risk in this cancer predisposed population, that may be something that can be used in future cancer studies in humans." Shareholders awful For the last 40-odd years, economists have been punching us in the throat with an ideology emphasizing the infallibility of the market in driving social progress. So it stands to reason that we should use market-based interventions to reduce oil and gas production, right? Haha, checkmate, environmentalists, divestment from fossil fuel holdings by small investors is almost immediately canceled out by mega-shareholder buys, according to a new report from the Center for Climate Crime and Climate Justice at Queen Mary University of London. Among its findings, 25% of the investors studied who made significant reductions in either BP or Shell increased their holdings in the other company. And it argues that the enormous increases in market capitalization and and share price for the two companies shows that divestment campaigns in general are not making their intended impact. The report, titled "Beyond Divestment," argues that the ineffectiveness of divestment of BP and Shell shares should motivate governments to pursue other interventions that actually scale back production. 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: The Conversation When wildfire smoke turns the air brown and hazy, you might think about heading indoors with the windows closed, running an air purifier or even wearing a mask. These are all good strategies to reduce exposure to the particles in wildfire smoke, but smoky air is also filled with potentially harmful gases. Those gases can get into buildings and remain in the walls and floors for weeks. Getting rid of these gases isn't as simple as turning on an air purifier or opening a window on a clear day. In a new study published in the journal Science Advances, colleagues and I tracked the life of these gases in a home exposed to wildfire smoke. We also found that the best way to get rid of the risk is among the simplest: start cleaning. The challenge of smoke particles and gases In December 2021, several of my friends and colleagues were affected by the Marshall Fire that burned about 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado. The "lucky" ones, whose homes were still standing, asked me what they should do to clean their houses. I am an atmospheric and indoor chemist, so I started looking into the published research, but I found very few studies on what happens after a building is exposed to smoke. What scientists did know was that smoke particles end up on indoor surfacesfloors, walls, ceilings. We knew that air filters could remove particles from the air. And colleagues and I were just beginning to understand that volatile organic compounds, which are traditionally thought to stay in the air, could actually stick to surfaces inside a home and build up reservoirsinvisible pools of organic molecules that can contribute to the air chemistry inside the house. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are compounds that easily become gases at room temperature. They include everything from limonene in lemons to benzene in gasoline. VOCs aren't always hazardous to human health, but many VOCs in smoke are. I started to wonder whether the VOCs in wildfire smoke could also stick to the surfaces of a house. Tracking VOCs from smoke and other sources. Tracking lingering risks in a test house I worked with researchers from across the U.S. and Canada to explore this problem during the Chemical Assessment of Surfaces and Air, or CASA, study in 2022. We built on HOMEChem, a previous study in which we looked at how cooking, cleaning and occupancy could change indoor air. In CASA, we studied what happens when pollutants and chemicals get inside our homespesticides, smog and even wood smoke. Using a cocktail smoker and wood chips, we created a surprisingly chemically accurate proxy for wildfire smoke and released small doses into a test house built by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST's house allowed us to conduct controlled chemistry experiments in a real-world setting. We even aged the smoke in a large bag with ozone to simulate what happens when smoke travels long distances, like the smoke from Canadian wildfires that moved into the U.S. in the summer of 2023. Smoke chemistry changes as it travels: Particles become more oxidized and brown, while VOCs break down and the smoke loses its distinctive smell. How VOCs behave in your home What we found in CASA was intriguing. While smoke particles quickly settled on indoor surfaces, VOCs were more insidious. At first, the house took up these smoke VOCson floors, walls and building surfaces. But once the initial smoke cleared, the house would slowly release those VOCs back out over the next hours, days or even months, depending on the type of VOC. This release is what we call a partitioning process: During the smoke event, individual VOC molecules in the air attach to indoor surfaces with weak chemical bonds. The process is called adsorption. As smoke clears and the air cleans out, the bonds can break, and molecules "desorb" back out into the air. Collecting air samples throughout the test house. Credit: John Eisele/Colorado State University We could watch this partitioning happen in the air by measuring smoke VOC concentrations. On surfaces, we could measure the weight of smoke VOCs that deposited on very sensitive balances and then were slowly released. Overall, we concluded that this surface reservoir allows smoke VOCs to linger indoors, meaning that people are exposed to them not just during the major smoke event but also long after. Why worry about VOCs? Smoke VOCs include well-known carcinogens, and high levels of exposure can induce respiratory and health problems. While smoke VOC concentrations in our test house decreased with time, they remained persistently elevated above normal levels. Given that VOC concentrations from other sources, such as cooking and cleaning, can already be high enough in homes to harm health, this additional long-term exposure source from smoke could be important. Further toxicology studies will be needed to determine the significance of its health effects. A scientist takes samples while running an air purifier in the test house. The results show the air purifier helps while its running, but only for gases in the air. Credit: John Eisele/Colorado State University How to clean up when smoke gets in So, what can you do to remove these lingering smoke gases? We found that air purifiers can remove only some of the VOCs that are in the airthey can't clean the VOCs on your floors or in your walls. They also work only when they're running, and even then, air purifiers don't work particularly well to reduce VOCs. Opening windows to ventilate will clean the air, if it isn't smoggy or smoky outside. But as soon as we closed windows and doors, smoke VOCs started to bleed off the surface reservoirs and into the air again, resulting in an elevated, near-constant concentration. We realized that to permanently remove those smoke VOCs, we had to physically remove them from surfaces. The good news is that cleaning surfaces by vacuuming, dusting and mopping with a commercial, nonbleach solution did the trick. While some remediation companies may do this surface cleaning for you after extreme exposures, surface cleaning after any smoke eventlike Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into homes in 2023should effectively and permanently reduced smoke VOC levels indoors. Of course, we could reach only a certain number of surfacesit's hard to vacuum the ceiling! That meant that surface cleaning improved but didn't eliminate smoke VOC levels in the house. But our study at least provides a path forward for cleaning indoor spaces affected by air pollutants, whether from wildfires, chemical spills or other events. With wildfires becoming more frequent, surface cleaning can be an easy, cheap and effective way to improve indoor air quality. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. MOREAU Candidates in Moreau will square-off on the ballots this November in a hotly contested match which could paint a very different picture for the towns future. This may be the most important election that they ever vote in, said Jesse Fish, who is running for town supervisor. Youre either going to get another two to six years of what youve had, or youre going to have change. Fish said what spurred him into the running was his dissatisfaction with how the towns water department, of which he was superintendent for 13 years, was restructured after his retirement. But he soon became concerned that the water department restructuring was symptomatic of a larger administrative problem. I went to the meetings for 13 years, and for the last six years I saw how people were treated when they came in with a problem and talked to the supervisor, Fish said. I dont like the way (the current supervisors) tactics are, I dont like the way things are being done, I just dont like the smell of the whole thing. Current town supervisor, Todd Kusnierz is also running for re-election. He drew on his 22-year experience as an elected official to explain his desire to remain in office. Theres a lot of exciting things going on in Moreau, its an exciting time, he said. During my tenure as supervisor Ive actually cut the town tax rate by over 13% at the local level. Kusnierz said. He also pointed out that as the chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, We reduced the county tax-rate last year by about 5% and in the budget Im about to release is going to reduce it another 8%. This makes Saratoga County the lowest taxed county in New York State, he said. Biochar Fish said hes firmly against the Biochar project which is currently under review at the federal level. Although Saratoga Biochar won permission to build its factory on the Moreau Industrial Park site, it faced a lot of backlash. I dont like Biochar, I dont think it was right that they brought that to the community, something of that nature that serious, without talking to the people and letting them know what was going to be going on, he said. Fish said there may not be much that can be done to stop the progress that has already been made through the towns planning and zoning board in bringing Biochar to the Moreau Industrial Park, which he maintains was remiss in its duties. They didnt do their due diligence. They were afraid to stand up against the supervisor, he said. And what other options are there, Im not sitting behind that desk right now, I cant tell you. Thats a promise that people want that I cant make. Kusnierz, who has been a staunch supporter of the Biochar project, said there is a false narrative being circulated by the opposition that with different leadership, the Biochar project could be stopped. That tells me right there that they have a fundamental disconnect on how the process works, he said. The town board plays no role in that decision and town board members are precluded from being involved. Kusnierz explained that as part of the checks and balances of local government, the planning and zoning board is required to follow a strict set of criteria when considering new projects such as Biochar. Planning boards cannot make decisions based on emotions. They have to make it based on the letter of the law and local codes and regulations, he said. The bottom line is if a project falls within the confines of what is appropriate through zoning and local regulations they cannot rule against it. Sewer line Kusnierz said he views the sewer project as an extension of his time serving as the director of the senate standing committee on agriculture where he said he worked to protect the states natural resources. The sewer is part of that. Making sure we have environmentally friendly systems for waste disposal, versus putting it in the ground, is a big component of that, he said. Kusnierz counts the sewer project as a win for his time as supervisor, stating that the town was authorized to spend up to $16 million, but through grants and other cost-cutting measures, the final cost to the town is set to be around $6 million. We were able to basically position the town for generations to come by utilizing a project that would tie us into the county where, essentially, the town of Moreau will be able to control its own destiny within Saratoga County instead of going outside the boundaries of the county into Glens Falls. Fish feels that the new sewer line is a waste of tax-payer dollars, and that the towns relationship of sending its wastewater to the city of Glens Falls was intentionally damaged. Glens Falls sharpens their pencils, and they call up and say, Look, youre in a spot, well make a deal with you, you can buy all the capacity you want for X amount of years for four dollars and some change, Fish relayed. (The supervisor said) Screw you were going to Wilton. To me, thats not dealing fair with a neighbor thats been pretty darn good to you over the years. Despite his ardent disapproval of the sewer line, Fish said that would simply be a headache he would have to inherit if elected. We cant stop the line from going to Wilton, its on its way that one is sticking the town with $6 million. Their final word In closing, Fish said he hopes to bring a brand of pragmatic straight-forwardness to the role of town supervisor. I will get you an answer, whether you like it or you dont. Ill get you an answer to your question, he said. And youll be treated with respect. You wont be called the town drunk. You wont be told that your taxes are controlled by me. You wont be told things like that. Kusnierz doubled down on his record, and said he hopes to continue serving as best he can. Ive really enjoyed all my years in public service. I think Ive served honorably and have represented the town in a noble way, he said. We just have so much to offer here, and I enjoy being an ambassador for not only the town of Moreau, but for Saratoga County and bringing industry, businesses, and people into the area. Clarification: In this article, it was stated that Moreau Town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz has been a staunch supporter of the Biochar project. That project is planned for the Moreau Industrial Park. After the story was printed, Supervisor Kusnierz wrote The Post-Star in an email: I have never said I support Biochar. He has said that he supports economic development of the Moreau Industrial Park. SOUTH GLENS FALLS The Village Board of South Glens Falls approved and earmarked $100,000 to repair street lights on the the Hudson River Bridge that connects Glen Street in the city of Glens Falls and Main Street in the Village of South Glens Falls. The lights on the northbound side of the bridge is the jurisdiction of the village while the city controls and has recently upgraded the southbound side. Village officials were unable to reach an agreement with the contractor that completed the Glens Falls project a few years back. Since then, Highway Superintendent T.J. Chagnon has presented the board with proposals from other contractors, willing to inspect the lights and present the village with an estimate for repairs. At the boards Sept. 20 meeting, Trustee Harry Gutheil said he had reached out to Hour Electric in Fort Edward, which has a contract with Warren County that the village could piggyback off of to get an assessment of the work needed. They recommend they send two guys out, about a days labor, see if theres power to each unit and all, and give us an assessment, Gutheil said in September. I think its a worth-while investment to find out more about what we got there. I think Ive been saying that for the past three or four years now, Chagnon agreed. At the boards Oct. 4 meeting Chagnon presented the board with the findings of the investigation that each light pole be completely replaced. (The contractor) made a recommendation of replacing everything from the fuse box, including the fuse box, up the pole and then purchase of the new light fixtures, Chagnon said. At the Oct. 4 board meeting, Chagnon said the estimate was $100,000, and with that, Trustee Tony Girard was able to make a motion to move that amount out of the villages unappropriated fund balance, and into a capitol reserve fund specifically for bridge light repair and maintenance. At the boards meeting Wednesday, Oct. 18, Chagnon said hes working with the contractor to generate a list of specific materials needed in order to get the repairs underway. The bridge was built in 1962-1963. The Post-Star at the time called it the first and most important gateway to Warren County. ATLANTIC CITY The resort is preparing to roll out an expanded drone program it says will help first responders better monitor the beaches and ocean to keep visitors safer next year. Beginning in the spring, beachgoers may see drones flying above them more frequently, as the Beach Patrol performs more flights to assess safety, fire Chief Scott Evans said. The city currently has nine drones, which are shared among several departments, including the Beach Patrol and Public Works. Firefighters and police also have access to the devices, which range between $3,000 and $30,000. The pricier drones are fitted with stronger cameras and technology, and are better able to fly in windy conditions, Evans said. "This is something that's going to be able to give us quicker intelligence, something that'll be able to give us real-time situational awareness," Evans said of the program's expansion. The new practice comes as public safety agencies continue implementing drones as an emerging technology. About 1,400 U.S. police departments are flying drones in some form, according to a recent report from the American Civil Liberties Union. Officials on Tuesday demonstrated how the city plans to implement the drones to keep their beaches safe. The demonstration was held in partnership with the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park in Egg Harbor Township. Second aviation research building designed for post-COVID workers The second building in the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park has been designed for workforces with some work-from-home employees, officials said at the groundbreaking Thursday. "It offers people in public safety much more of a perspective of what's going on in a particular location at that time," NARTP President and CEO Howard Kyle said. "It also brings in other features, such as the ability to zoom in on certain areas or specialize on certain features." So far, the city has trained 28 drone pilots, Evans said. About 40 will be certified once the latest round of training is completed. Evans said as the program expands, the drones will be used to observe the beaches when lifeguards are not present, flying in the morning and evening hours. The drones also will make lifesaving efforts more efficient by dropping flotation devices to struggling swimmers. The devices next year also will be equipped with speakers, allowing first responders to communicate with crowds of people from above. The beach-flight simulations are part of an ongoing series of emergency management training sessions that began in 2017 in Cape May County, according to the NARTP. The exercises are planned to continue, featuring local and other first responders, including the U.S. Coast Guard in early 2024. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In 2019, a mosquito bite helped derail Timothy Ades life. In August of that year, he began to complain of severe, debilitating headaches. Over-the-counter medicines did nothing to ease the pain, and a trip to the hospital resulted in a diagnosis of migraines. His wife, Jennifer Ade, was not convinced. She pushed for more tests, she said, especially after Timothy developed a serious fever and had a seizure. Eventually, she got an answer. Timothy had eastern equine encephalitis, a viral illness caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. The disease is rare, extremely serious, and impacts humans and horses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30% of people with EEE die from it, and many more have ongoing neurological problems. In a recent interview, Jennifer Ade said it was an extraordinary one-two punch that led to Timothys symptoms, with a bite from a tick that caused Rocky Mountain spotted fever, combined with the mosquito-borne encephalitis, which led to swelling in Timothys brain. We dont know where he got the mosquito-borne illness, Jennifer Ade said. We dont know where he got it or how long he had it. Mosquitoes are now emerging earlier in the spring and surviving longer into the fall, with close to an additional month of mosquito activity in the Atlantic City region. Data from the science and news group Climate Central found the mosquito season near Atlantic City is now 23 days longer on average than it was in 1979. A warming world may bring additional problems with mosquitoes. Linwood mosquito tests positive for West Nile virus A mosquito sample collected from Linwood has tested positive for West Nile virus, Atlantic County officials said Thursday. Scientists and health experts are concerned that a changing climate may allow more mosquitoes of disease-causing species to move north, potentially bringing with them maladies formerly seen only in tropical climates. Higher temperatures and favorable humidity in previously cold and inhospitable regions could mean mosquitoes grow faster and live longer. Warmer temperatures might also speed up virus reproduction in infected mosquitoes, allowing them to spread diseases more quickly. A 2019 study estimates that within the next century, about a billion more people in the world may be exposed to mosquito-borne diseases. Scientists expect to see an uptick in EEE cases, which are often recorded in Eastern states and along the Gulf Coast. According to the CDC, there were eight cases reported in New Jersey between 2003 and 2022. A map outlining reported cases shows 22 in Florida and 22 in Michigan during the same period. Keeping track In a basement office, Patrick McGrath peers into a microscope, looking for the tiny telltale signs that will allow a positive identification of the mosquito remains on a glass slide. McGrath is an identification specialist with the Atlantic County Office of Mosquito Control. Along with biologist Michael Gus Gustray, his job is to keep track of what mosquitoes are present in the county, from the harmless to the annoying to the few that are dangerous. A mosquito bite has long been a metaphor for a harmless inconvenience. No one will miss the fraction of a milliliter of blood drawn in an average mosquito bite, and it might take more than a million bites to lose enough blood to die. Special mosquitoes are being bred to fight dengue. How the old enemies are now becoming allies Preventing dengue fever has long meant teaching people to fear mosquitoes. Now scientists are promoting a potentially more effective way to control the disease with the help of mosquitoes themselves. But the tiny flying pests do kill, spreading a variety of diseases. Worldwide, mosquito-transmitted diseases account for more than 700,000 deaths a year, earning them the CDCs title of the worlds deadliest animal. Diseases like yellow fever and dengue infect millions of people around the globe, presenting serious problems in tropical areas. In Atlantic and Cape May counties, the primary concerns are West Nile virus and EEE, each transmitted by infected mosquitoes and causing potentially deadly diseases in this region. In September, Cape May County announced that testing found West Nile in two mosquito collections, including one close to the county zoo in Cape May Court House. At a third location, the county found EEE. Knowing that West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis are here in the county is a good reminder for people to protect themselves against mosquito bites, said Kevin Thomas, the county health officer. Mosquitoes can bite at any time of day and are particularly active during the early morning and early evening. To protect yourselves, you can wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and use mosquito repellent when outdoors during these times, Thomas said. It is also important to eliminate standing water on your property that may serve as a habitat for mosquitoes and keep window screens in good repair. Doug Abdill, the superintendent of Atlantic Countys anti-mosquito efforts, said his county has seen indications of La Crosse encephalitis this year, another mosquito-borne viral illness. Let skeeters feed on you for science? Welcome to front lines of mosquito control Working on the front lines of mosquito control can be a prickly job for volunteers who give scores of the insects a chance to feed on their blood. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. There are many types, including those spread by mosquito bites. It can cause headaches, fatigue, stiff neck and other symptoms. In some cases, encephalitis may cause confusion, seizures and even death. There have also been instances of Zika in the region, a mosquito-spread virus that can cause birth defects if spread from mother to fetus. And while there have been reports of other diseases more prevalent in tropical areas, officials say those were travel-related, meaning the bite occurred away from the region before a traveler returned and showed symptoms. Species spreading McGrath and Gustray say there are 63 different species of mosquitos in New Jersey, and 40 of those have been found in Atlantic County. The two keep a lookout for new species, as changes in climatic conditions and habitat will affect where and how the different species can survive and thrive. In some instances, an increase in the range of a particular mosquito species may also increase the range of a disease. As temperatures warm and rainfall patterns change, some species may find new areas. Those could include species of mosquitoes that serve as vectors for diseases, potentially bringing dangerous viruses. Things are working their way north, said Matthew Diem, assistant superintendent of the Cape May County Mosquito Control Commission. The Asian tiger mosquito, first detected in Texas in 1985, has continued to expand its range north due to milder winters. This invasive, striped mosquito feeds aggressively during the day and carries equine encephalitis, West Nile and other viruses. It can reproduce in a tiny amount of water a puddle in an old tire or at the bottom of a potted plant can be enough. They got here, and theyre not going to leave, Diem said. West Nile virus found in mosquito from Birch Grove Park in Northfield A mosquito sample collected from Birch Grove Park in Northfield tested positive for West Nile virus, Atlantic County officials said Friday. Malaria worries At one time, malaria was a leading cause of death in the United States. Fever from malaria killed about 10,000 Union Army recruits during the Civil War. By the 1950s, malaria was said to have been eliminated in the United States, even as it remained a serious concern worldwide. But like Zika and dengue, malaria infections continue to arise in New Jersey, at about 60 cases a year. In most instances, they are determined to have been contracted by travelers outside the state, but that is not always certain. In September 1991, a 29-year-old woman arrived at her doctors office with chills, a fever, headache and a rash. The Sicklerville, Camden County, resident was not identified by name in an article published soon after in the New England Journal of Medicine. She had not traveled, and reported frequently being bitten on her patio. Another patient, a 9-year-old from Monmouth County, also got sick from malaria that year. The report found it was likely that both contracted the disease from mosquito bites in New Jersey, even though there had been no documented cases of transmission in the state for 30 years. The authors recommended that surveillance of mosquito populations continue. This year, in late June, the CDC warned of new instances of malaria transmission in the United States, in Florida and Texas. While there are hundreds of millions of cases of malaria each year, primarily in Africa, about 2,000 cases were diagnosed in the United States each year, mostly among travelers. Of those, maybe 300 experience severe symptoms, and five to 10 died each year. The CDC called on doctors to consider malaria in diagnoses when someone has a fever, and to treat malaria as a medical emergency when it is found. Atlantic County schedules multiple mosquito ground spays for Thursday night The Atlantic County Mosquito Control has scheduled multiple ground sprays for portions of Absecon, Pleasantville, Linwood and Somers Point. Real world impacts Jennifer Ade recalled how she and her husband enjoyed their backyard in Atlantic County on warm evenings. Jennifer was usually the one to decide to head inside as mosquitoes began to take their bloody toll. I always say Im the sweetest because Im the one getting bit, she said. The bites just didnt seem to bother her husband as much. He worked with the Weymouth Township Public Works Department and enjoyed the outdoors in his free time. Now 46, Timothy has difficulty walking and suffers from short-term memory loss. Jennifer said it would be impossible for him to perform the physical labor of his old job, and the couple rely on a home health aide. Jennifer said she tries to remain positive, but her husband has found it extremely difficult to adjust to his new limitations. It has destroyed our lives, she said. The adventures of the governments and private companies creating a new offshore wind energy industry in America are continuing and far from finishing. The favorable conditions before the pandemic have crumbled in the face of higher costs for financing, for sourcing components and for securing needed approvals. That is wrecking plans for projects. Yet there is also a sign that the necessary adjustments to current market conditions will include fixing a major mistake made by East Coast states at the start. Unfortunately, so far New Jersey officials are sticking to their outdated plan to be the first to put wind turbines into the Atlantic, which could make residents overpay for this clean energy. At the start of summer, the New Jersey Legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy sweetened the financing for the first wind farm, off Atlantic City, by allowing rsted to keep federal tax credits possibly worth $1 billion that were to be passed through to ratepayers. Soon after, rsted announced Ocean Wind 1 wouldnt start producing power until 2026, a year later than planned. The Danish company said Maryland and Delaware projects would be modified to make their finances acceptable to the company. This month a provision of the tax-break deal with rsted was made public when it was approved by the N.J. Board of Public Utilities. It requires rsted to provide a $100 million guarantee (with the money in escrow) that Ocean Wind 1 will be operating by December 2025 a month before Murphys last day as governor. rsted and fellow developers BP and Equinor sought relief from New York officials for the windfarms theyve agreed to build off Long Island, asking to renegotiate pre-pandemic contracts that now wouldnt allow them a profit. The N.Y. State Public Service Commission unanimously refused, saying that would be too costly for the state and its ratepayers. The companies are considering withdrawing and possibly forcing New York to start over on its offshore wind plans. Many business plans were dashed by the pandemic and its effects. The great effort of creating a new U.S. industry was sure to come unhinged. Recently Avangrid terminated its agreement to supply offshore wind energy to Connecticut utility companies because of increased costs. The company agreed to pay $16 million in penalties. We have urged coastal states to use the reset to pursue better approaches to tapping the offshore wind resource that would cost electricity customers less. We were glad to hear this month that three New England coastal states Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are doing exactly that. Their governors have signed an agreement to collectively solicit new proposals for offshore wind projects, using a multi-state approach for more buying power and lower costs from economies of scale. The three states together are seeking new bids on providing up to 6 gigawatts (6,000 megawatts) of offshore wind power. In a joint statement, their governors said the collaboration of the states has the potential to procure clean energy from offshore wind together at more competitive and affordable rates. Exactly so. Five years ago we urged East Coast states to take such a regional approach to lower costs for ratepayers. Then-CEO of rsted Henrik Poulsen had told us regional cooperation was unlikely because governments always insist on everything sort of being local. Its an equation thats very difficult to solve without the whole technology becoming much more expensive. We are unapologetic about making this point repeatedly since then. The initial costs of offshore wind to states and their ratepayers are substantial, but developed efficiently its electricity should be price competitive even with natural gas. Taking more time to organize a multi-state approach itself could also save money. Economies and markets are still normalizing and should become more favorable to creating a U.S. offshore wind industry in a few years. Even the publicity payoff for politicians wont diminish, but they must let the economics determine the schedule, not their political ambitions. Eeshwari Jedhe EKA Mobility, a Pune-based leading electric commercial vehicles and technology company, has taken a significant step towards bolstering urban sustainability by handing over 10 state-of-the-art 1.5-tonne electric garbage tipper vehicles to the Pune Municipal Corporation. This collaboration represents a remarkable advancement in environmentally conscious waste management practices for Pune. The vehicles were handed over on Saturday in the presence of Ajit Pawar,Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Punes Guardian Minister, Chandrakant Dada Patil, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Textiles and Parliamentary Affairs Maharashtra, and other political leaders and government officials. EKA Mobilitys electric garbage collection vans had successfully completed trials for several months with PMC before handing over the current fleet. 1. Zero-Emission Operation 2. High Payload Capacity 3. Noise Reduction 4. Extended Range 5. Advanced Safety Features. 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 The choice came down to whether or not Madison Russo, accused of stealing donations by lying about having cancer, would have to live with the felony theft conviction on her record. Russo, now 20, of Bettendorf, pleaded guilty as charged in June to a single count of first-degree theft as part of an agreement with the Scott County Attorneys Office. As part of that plea, the state agreed to recommend a prison sentence of up to 10 years but that the court suspend the sentence in favor of probation. Russo was given a 10 year suspended sentence and three years probation, meaning she will not have to serve the prison term if she completes probation successfully. At the sentencing on Friday, Andrea Jaeger, Russo's attorney, recommended she receive a deferred judgment. Deferred judgements involve the authorities removing the conviction from defendants record if they meet conditions set by the court for a given period. District Court Judge John Telleen did not accept Jaegers recommendation. It would not be remotely just to defer judgment in this case, Telleen said. He sentenced Russo to the probation, including providing restitution. The sentence also included 100 hours of community service. Underlying the theft charge are allegations that Russo duped donors into believing she had various ailments and cancer diagnoses. Authorities allege she accepted at least $37,303 from hundreds of GoFundMe donors who gave to Russo because she claimed to have cancer. Authorities also accused her of accepting private donations. The Eldridge Police Department investigated the case. In an initial news release about the investigation, the department said Russo made the cancer claims openly, including to a media outlet, a podcast, on social media and on a GoFundMe page. She also had a speaking engagement at St. Ambrose University. During the investigation, people with medical experience identified discrepancies in the information Russo posted online, the department said. Her medical records, obtained by subpoena, show that no medical facility in the Quad-Cities region has diagnosed Russo with any kind of tumor or cancer. During her statements at sentencing, Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham said Russo had already presented the monetary restitution, and that it was set to be repaid upon completion of the 20 year olds sentencing. Russo made a statement to the court Friday before Telleen sentenced her. She said the lie began because her family was having problems and Russo tried the story as a way to draw them together, but then it spiraled out of control. Russo apologized for her actions and said if she could take them back, she would, and she wanted to make amends. After the hearing, Russos mother, Peggy Russo said everyone who knows her and her children knows they had a good life growing up. Once a child turns 18, though, the choices they make are theirs, Peggy Russo said. Peggy Ohl, of the Dr. Brent Ohl Strong Pancreatic Cancer Support & Awareness Endowment Fund, and Rhonda Miles, of the Nikki Mitchell Foundation made victim impact statements during the sentencing. Both women talked about losing someone they loved to cancer Ohl, her husband, and Miles, her friend. They described founding their organizations to help other people with cancer. They also described spending their time, and their organizations resources, on Russo. A plea agreement is dependent on the acceptance of the court. In Russos case, the court deferred that acceptance pending the creation of a presentence background report on Russo and until after the sentencing proceedings. Telleen said Friday that he did not see any purpose to rejecting the plea agreement to seek a stiffer sentence for Russo, but he also had to consider deterring such crimes in the future. He said that, though she was making the monetary restitution, Russos actions would have a chilling effect on people donating to causes in the future. The presentence investigation into Russos background revealed good things about Russo, Telleen said. She was not abused. She was active, she had friends and she had done well in high school and was doing well in college. He said he thought she was a good candidate for probation and that Russo was unlikely to reoffend. I doubt you will ever commit a crime like this again, the judge said. But once she began to lie about having cancer, she continued to take actions in support of the charade, the judge said. She could have stopped at any point. It did not stop until you were caught, Telleen said. CAMBRIDGE Members of the Henry County Board on Thursday voted 15-0 with one abstention to approve a resolution for a two-year moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines in the county. Board members Jan May, Jill Darin, Joe Garrity and Jim Thompson were absent; member Dan Crippen abstained because he works for a company that is likely to do work for Wolf Carbon Solutions of Denver, Colorado, that is seeking permits for a CO2 pipeline to traverse Henry County. Patrick Byerly of Wolf Carbon Solutions said the firm was planning on getting permit applications approved and ordering equipment in 2024 and planning on construction in 2025. He said the firm would make sure to look at draft regulatory rules and ensure their work is compliant. Board member Tim Yager was the most vociferous in opposition to the pipeline, noting it would go through his property. "Ethanol plants can figure out a way" to sequester their carbon, he said, adding that the county has $8 million in general fund cash reserves it could use in a court fight. "I'm prepared to go all the way," he said. Otherwise, board members expressed some support and some indecision regarding the prospect of CO2 pipelines. The resolution states that the county board is "very concerned about the safety and well-being of its residents, and feels a two-year moratorium is necessary to allow the Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration, the federal agency responsible for determining the safety of carbon dioxide pipelines, to complete their upgraded standards to ensure the safest pipeline to be constructed." Speakers during public comment referred to a CO2 pipeline rupture in Mississippi in which over 200 people were evacuated and 45 were hospitalized, of which one-third were emergency responders. Kevin Conrad of rural Cambridge said he wanted to keep his farmland as pristine as possible. He noted the county wouldn't receive any tax money from the pipeline. Joyce Blumenshein of the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance talked about how CO2 pipelines operate at higher pressure than other types of pipelines. In case of a rupture, "you have eight to ten minutes to get yourself to where there's enough oxygen to survive," she said. She likened the pipelines to a permanent, ticking time bomb and noted CO2 has no color and no odor. On the other hand, Don Ropp, of Colona, said 38 trains a day go through Colona and pipelines are "by far" the safest mode of transportation. He said he has worked on pipelines for decades and people "don't even think" about pipelines carrying substances through Davenport. William Johnson of rural Geneseo said he had "no qualms whatsoever" about the pipeline going within a few hundred yards of his house. "We have to step up and be stewards of the land," he said. "The Europeans have been doing it for 10 years. We are supposed to be leaders of the free world, why aren't we doing this?" However, farmer Monte Bottens of rural Cambridge said there are serious problems with the pipelines cutting through farmers' drainage tiles, some of which were put in 175 years ago. David Zimmerman of Boston, Illinois, and Big River Resources LLC said pipelines are needed because the future of the ethanol industry and of corn prices is at risk. He said if the firm were to get rid of CO2 by other means, it would take 400 more rail cars per month or 1,500 more trucks. Saying he wasn't sure the board would get "smarter" the second year of the moratorium, board member Mark Burton proposed amending the resolution to a one-year moratorium. That vote failed with 10 no votes to five yes and one abstention. Those voting in favor were Burton, Brian Corkill, Marshall Jones, Kathy Nelson and Tim Wells. Unrelated to the Henry County vote, Navigator CO2 Ventures announced Friday it was cancelling its proposed Heartland Greenway pipeline, which was expected to cross through Iowa and into Central Illinois, including a small spur that was planned to extend slightly into Henry County. The company said it made the decision based on "the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved," especially in South Dakota and Iowa. In other business the Henry County board voted 14-2 to approve the fiscal year 2024 budget with board members Tim Wells and Dan Crippen voting no. They both pointed out that the board has the power to lower the tax rate even more than it has in recent years. Finance committee chairman Mark Burton acknowledged that equalized assessed valuation is going up faster than the county's tax rate is going down, resulting in higher county taxes. Burton noted there are six pages of capital maintenance projects on the books for the coming year. "We've got a lot of capital projects planned," he said. "We'll keep looking at it; nobody wants higher taxes." The states producing the most carbon dioxide emissions States Producing the Most Carbon Dioxide Emissions Globally the US ranks 2nd in total and per capita carbon emissions US CO2 emissions continue to decrease despite population and GDP growth 15. New Mexico 14. Alabama 13. Arkansas 12. Texas 11. Oklahoma 10. Iowa 9. Kentucky 8. Nebraska 7. Indiana 6. Montana 5. Louisiana 4. Alaska 3. West Virginia 2. North Dakota 1. Wyoming Local farmers are taking advantage of any good weather they can get in a wetter than normal October as harvest continues. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of Sunday, Oct. 15, Iowa farmers had harvested 74% of the soybean crop and 42% of the corn crop. Illinois farmers had harvested 61% of that states soybean crop and 52% of the corn crop. Scott County farmer Robb Ewoldt said Wednesday that all of his soybeans have been harvested and that he has about 40% of his corn harvested. It rained us out about 1 p.m., Ewoldt said of the storm system that passed through Wednesday. You always have some weather that holds you up in the fall so this is nothing new. We got rained out last Wednesday (Oct. 11) and then we got 3 inches of rain on Friday (Oct. 13) and we were back in the fields on Monday. Im not going to complain, the rain helps me out with the cow herd, Ewoldt said. The creeks are pooling and that gives us about a week to a week-and-a-half of water, which means I dont have to haul water which makes for more work but doesnt make me any more money. Due to some timely rains as well as good farming practices and improved seed genetics, Ewoldt said his crop this year is rivaling last year when he averaged 250 bushels an acre on corn and 70 bushels an acre on soybeans. The rains came at the right time, he said, and genetics have something to do with it, but Im going to give credit to myself and the shape our soil is in as compared to 20 years ago based on current farming practices and what it was back then. Were seeing the fruits of our labor and excites me to do more. Rock Island County farmer Tom Mueller said Wednesday that all of his soybeans are harvested and he is 15-20% done with corn. Its always good to have the soybeans out once you get past the middle of October, Mueller said. Harvesting soybeans is much more particular weather wise. If you have to you can pick corn in the drizzle. Not so with soybeans. Ag prices are down from last year, Mueller said. In June of 2022, corn averaged $7.38 a bushel, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. That same month soybeans averaged $16.40 per bushel. December corn settled Friday at 4.95 , down 9 cents a bushel on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange while November soybeans settled Friday at 13.02 , down 13 cents a bushel. Corn was averaging $5.73 per bushel in August, while soybeans were average $14.10 per bushel, according to NASS. Corns just been in a spiral it seems like for the last two months, Mueller said. It tries to push up the $5 mark, yet it has been hanging under $5. We thought that report that came out showing that they lowered projected yields by another bushel an acre might pick things up, but theres a lot of acres of corn and we still have a pretty good size carry over. One of the items affecting prices is the low levels of the Mississippi River south of St. Louis, Mueller and Ewoldt said. With the Mississippi River low, tow companies arent loading barges to their capacity, which has raised barge prices. Christi Kilroy, Public Affairs, Chief, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi, said Friday that the Corps is working with our partners to mitigate drought impacts on commerce, recreation and delays of goods and services. This week, 14 dredges are operating on the Mississippi River and eight of the dredges are working the low-water emergency, Kilroy said. What would help alleviate the low river levels some timely rains in the Ohio and Missouri river valleys, the two largest watersheds feeding into the Mississippi River, she said. We would need a bunch of water in the Ohio River Valley and the Missouri River to raise our levels here, Kilroy said. The Mississippi River was low last year, she said, but we were able to keep it open. The Mississippi is quite wide here, Kilroy said. The depth is the important part. Depending on what the barges are carrying they may not be able to load them to the same capacity if the water were deeper. There may be delays if were dredging a particular part of the river, she said. But once were done dredging, we move to the side to let the traffic pass north and south. We then move to where were needed next. At 3 p.m. Friday, the Mississippi River at Vicksburg was at minus 1.34 feet. There is a lot of exposed bank at Vicksburg, Kilroy said, but the river is far from dry. Senior Service Hydrologist Matt Wilson of the National Weather Service, Davenport, said that while one may see a minus 1.34 feet at Vicksburg, that does not mean the Mississippi River has dried up. Some of the National Weather Service gauge locations were surveyed in the late 1800s, Wilson said. The Corps of Engineers went through in the 1920s and 1930s and did some surveys for gauges of their own and is on a different system than the National Weather Service. During the surveying for the National Weather Service gauges, each survey team was able to choose its own local zero datum, an arbitrary elevation that the surveyors set as their zero for that location. When they were doing the surveying, a lot of the times they attempted to have that be roughly the river bottom, or the bed of the river, Wilson said. But over the years the river bottoms changed. In some places they got lower and in other places they got higher and in some places its been scoured out really deep. The Corps of Engineers dredges to keep a 9-foot river bottom, he said, so the river bottom has been dug out. We never want to change the local zero datum because thats our historical record, Wilson said. "Its also why in the Quad-Cities you see, for example, maybe 12 feet at LeClaire but 20 feet at Lock and Dam 15 at Rock Island. Food prices fall on world markets but not on kitchen tables 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. If plans go accordingly, the new Edison Academy will be open for students by August of 2024. CAMBRIDGE Members of the Henry County Board on Thursday voted 15-0 with one abstention to approve a resolution for a two-year moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines in the county. Board members Jan May, Jill Darin, Joe Garrity and Jim Thompson were absent; member Dan Crippen abstained because he works for a company that is likely to do work for Wolf Carbon Solutions of Denver, Colorado, that is seeking permits for a CO2 pipeline to traverse Henry County. Patrick Byerly of Wolf Carbon Solutions said the firm was planning on getting permit applications approved and ordering equipment in 2024 and planning on construction in 2025. He said the firm would make sure to look at draft regulatory rules and ensure their work is compliant. Board member Tim Yager was the most vociferous in opposition to the pipeline, noting it would go through his property. "Ethanol plants can figure out a way" to sequester their carbon, he said, adding that the county has $8 million in general fund cash reserves it could use in a court fight. "I'm prepared to go all the way," he said. Otherwise, board members expressed some support and some indecision regarding the prospect of CO2 pipelines. The resolution states that the county board is "very concerned about the safety and well-being of its residents, and feels a two-year moratorium is necessary to allow the Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration, the federal agency responsible for determining the safety of carbon dioxide pipelines, to complete their upgraded standards to ensure the safest pipeline to be constructed." Speakers during public comment referred to a CO2 pipeline rupture in Mississippi in which over 200 people were evacuated and 45 were hospitalized, of which one-third were emergency responders. Kevin Conrad of rural Cambridge said he wanted to keep his farmland as pristine as possible. He noted the county wouldn't receive any tax money from the pipeline. Joyce Blumenshein of the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance talked about how CO2 pipelines operate at higher pressure than other types of pipelines. In case of a rupture, "you have eight to ten minutes to get yourself to where there's enough oxygen to survive," she said. She likened the pipelines to a permanent, ticking time bomb and noted CO2 has no color and no odor. On the other hand, Don Ropp, of Colona, said 38 trains a day go through Colona and pipelines are "by far" the safest mode of transportation. He said he has worked on pipelines for decades and people "don't even think" about pipelines carrying substances through Davenport. William Johnson of rural Geneseo said he had "no qualms whatsoever" about the pipeline going within a few hundred yards of his house. "We have to step up and be stewards of the land," he said. "The Europeans have been doing it for 10 years. We are supposed to be leaders of the free world, why aren't we doing this?" However, farmer Monte Bottens of rural Cambridge said there are serious problems with the pipelines cutting through farmers' drainage tiles, some of which were put in 175 years ago. David Zimmerman of Boston, Illinois, and Big River Resources LLC said pipelines are needed because the future of the ethanol industry and of corn prices is at risk. He said if the firm were to get rid of CO2 by other means, it would take 400 more rail cars per month or 1,500 more trucks. Saying he wasn't sure the board would get "smarter" the second year of the moratorium, board member Mark Burton proposed amending the resolution to a one-year moratorium. That vote failed with 10 no votes to five yes and one abstention. Those voting in favor were Burton, Brian Corkill, Marshall Jones, Kathy Nelson and Tim Wells. Unrelated to the Henry County vote, Navigator CO2 Ventures announced Friday it was cancelling its proposed Heartland Greenway pipeline, which was expected to cross through Iowa and into Central Illinois, including a small spur that was planned to extend slightly into Henry County. The company said it made the decision based on "the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved," especially in South Dakota and Iowa. In other business the Henry County board voted 14-2 to approve the fiscal year 2024 budget with board members Tim Wells and Dan Crippen voting no. They both pointed out that the board has the power to lower the tax rate even more than it has in recent years. Finance committee chairman Mark Burton acknowledged that equalized assessed valuation is going up faster than the county's tax rate is going down, resulting in higher county taxes. Burton noted there are six pages of capital maintenance projects on the books for the coming year. "We've got a lot of capital projects planned," he said. "We'll keep looking at it; nobody wants higher taxes." Although certain groups are statistically more likely to find themselves in violent family or intimate partner relationships, local law enforcement and victim advocates remind the public during Domestic Violence Awareness Month that it can happen to anyone, its complicated, and its usually behind closed doors where the emotional and physical damage is done. Anybodys capable of it, said Pennington County Sheriffs Office Training Manager Tony Verchio. There were more than 1,800 domestic violence cases in Pennington County last year. Women in general and Native Americans are more likely to experience domestic violence. Nationally, 25% of women and 14% of men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some point during their lifetimes, according to the CDC. Those numbers are more than doubled for Native Americans. Over 55% of Native American women and over 43% of Native American men experience physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the National Institute of Justice. When law enforcement responds to domestic violence calls, they face unpredictability, heightened emotions, and gray areas. Verchio said sheriffs deputies are trained to manage their own emotions and make sound judgment based on facts and scene cues as they sort through a call. Both the Rapid City Police Department and the PCSO provide additional domestic violence training on top of what recruits receive at the law enforcement academy in Pierre. We try to separate people so that we can figure out whats going on, Verchio said. Oftentimes the suspect will try through nonverbal communication to intimidate the victim to not say anything. Ruth Torala, a victim advocate who works for WAVI (Working Against Violence Inc.) at the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, explained the power of a look in a violent relationship. You will see people who use threats to try to control someone, whether its a direct or an indirect threat, Torala said. Sometimes it could be a look thats shot across the room that we know what that look means between the two of us, but no one else is really even going to understand. Once law enforcement is able to separate the parties, conduct interviews and gather information from the scene, they decide whether they must make an arrest and who to arrest. When we respond to those domestic violence situations, if we can determine that an assault occurred, its one of those unique cases in state law where we are mandated to make an arrest, Rapid City Police Lt. Kevin Moser said. If law enforcement determines there was an assault, they have to then determine who the predominant aggressor was. Thats not always the most injured person. We have to take a look at trying to determine who the predominant aggressor was. Who was the one who had the most active role in increasing the level of violence to where someone actually got assaulted, Moser said. Verchio gave the example of a hypothetical victim who has been through this cycle enough times to know its common, and the suspect gets in their face and threatens them and before (the suspect) can assault them, maybe the victim hits them. Moser said its not always easy to sort through domestic violence situations, but law enforcement does what they can to make the right determination. Sometimes, we might not always be right. But at the very least, were getting the two separated for the evening, Moser said. Sometimes separation isnt what the victim wants, and that can add an element of volatility to a circumstance where law enforcement is required to make an arrest. Torala explained there is whats called a honeymoon phase after an incident of assault, and the relationship is temporarily calm and seemingly positive. Sometimes that honeymoon phase starts before we get there, Verchio explained. There might be evidence of an assault, but you have a victim who doesnt want law enforcement to rock the boat because everythings going well. They dont want that person arrested. You go to a domestic violence situation and you never know when or [if] both parties might turn on you, Moser said. Theres a common anecdotal idea among law enforcement that domestic violence calls are some of the most dangerous for officers or deputies to respond to. Of the 60 law enforcement officers who were killed in felonious non-accidental incidents across the United States in 2022, six were while responding to a domestic or civil disturbance. In 2021, seven of the 70 felonious officer deaths were while responding to a domestic or civil disturbance. Although other circumstances tend to lead to more law enforcement deaths such as ambushes Moser said the unpredictability of domestic violence situations causes officers to have a heightened sense of awareness. The unpredictableness is probably what I think lends most credence to that being a dangerous type of environment, Moser said. Domestic violence not always physical Torala has spent about 17 years working for WAVI more than half of that time coordinating with law enforcement. She explained that domestic violence isnt just physical and doesn't always involve law enforcement. Some people think that domestic violence is only physical abuse, and it's not, Torala said. That might be a component, but in the years that Ive been doing this work, Id had people who Ive worked with that theyve never been physically hurt." The central elements are power and control. That can include emotional, verbal, psychological, financial and spiritual abuse. You could have somebody who's very emotionally abusive to you and treats you horribly and tells you what a horrible person you are. That's domestic violence, Torala said. It may not necessarily rise to the level of what it would require for law enforcement to be called to make an arrest depending upon what's happening in that particular moment. But it's still domestic violence, based on our definition of what it looks like. Torala said that, on average, a victim leaves an abusive relationship seven to nine times before they leave for the final time. Every relationship always starts out really, really well, Torala said. If we had a very negative experience at the beginning, chances are you're not going to go out on a second date with them. Its that image of the person someone met in the beginning that often keeps them coming back to an unhealthy situation. We put a lot of time and energy into all of our relationships, whether theres domestic violence present or not, and we as people want to make them work. So were going do everything we can to make them work, Torala said. You always have to get to that point where you know that you've done everything you can to make it work before you make that decision to walk away. For family and friends, it can be difficult to watch a person stay in a violent relationship, but Torala said the best thing to do is to be supportive and educate yourself on what domestic violence looks like. Trying to run in and save them is probably not going to work, Torala said. WAVI, which is a resource center and domestic violence shelter, can be reached at 605-341-3292. Some other resources in the Black Hills include Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) in Custer, which can be reached at 605-673-4357; Where All Women Are Honored in Rapid City can be reached at 605-791-2392; Cornerstone Women's and Children's Shelter can be reached at 605-721-7860; the Crisis Intervention Shelter Service in Sturgis can be reached at 1-800-755-8432; and Artemis House in Spearfish can be reached at 605-642-7825. The 6th annual Bitterroot Empty Bowls Luncheon will be at St. Francis Pastoral Life Center on Saturday, Nov. 4. Robin Ireland, president of Empty Bowls in the Bitterroot, said the luncheon has a great impact. Food insecurity in the Bitterroot Valley is as high as it ever has been and this is a way that caring member of our community can support the local programs that help feed the hungry, Ireland said. We usually raise $5,000 and distribute the donations to our local food banks in Darby, Hamilton and Stevensville and The Community Meals Program in Hamilton. Ireland said the community luncheon touches her heart. It always hits me the most when the doors open up at 11 a.m. for the first seating and the smell of soup wafts out into the foyer where folks line up with their tickets in hand anxiously waiting to pick out their bowl and see what soups they will be tasting, she said. The soup selections are extraordinary every year and we really appreciate the continued support of the local restaurants in donating their time and culinary talents to our luncheon. Restaurants participating this year are: Bitterroot Brewery, BJs, Bouilla, A Thaiger, Coffee Cup, Stock Farm, The Edge and Trapper Creek Job Corp. This year, we have invited the community to be involved in creating bowls and table decorations, Ireland said. It has been really fun to engage with the public in making bowls and vases. As a result of this community outreach program, there will be some beautiful hand-built bowls to choose from, in addition to the 200-plus bowls that have been thrown on the wheel by Clay Works! members. She said thanks to a generous grant from the Power of Change program sponsored by Ravalli County Electric, some of the bowls offered this year will be glazed with some interesting new glazes. Bowls can also be selected from the front window at Clay Works! studio with a $20 donation. We would like to thank, in advance, Clay Works! for the continued support with our program and use of their studio for making and storing bowls, St. Francis Church for the use of their wonderful facility for the luncheon, the Knights of Columbus for their generous support in the kitchen, Ireland said. We also thank the generous community members who come for lunch and to show their support to the important cause of making sure people are fed. Tickets for the Empty Bowls luncheon are $30 and are on sale now at Clay Works! studio and at Chapter One Book Store. The 6th annual Bitterroot Empty Bowls Luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at St. Francis Pastoral Life Center located at 411 S. 5th St., in Hamilton. Kathmandu, Nepal, October 21, 2023: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has already been in the spotlight due to questions about the constitutional validity of the appointment of its office-bearers and the perceived ineffectiveness of its operations, has also faced similar type of credibility questions by the Accountability Watch Committee (AWC). The AWC has raised concerns regarding the government's recent initiative to amend the Bill related to the NHRC in light of the imminent downgrading threat it faces. The bill tabled in the parliament is questioned in home and abroad by the human right agencies. The one after another concern raised by the international agencies has raised credibility questions over the national human right watchdog, NHRC. The appointment made by the erstwhile CPN UML Chairman KP Oli-led government was questioned due to the reason of appointing sans of constitutional process. SHORT PUMP Bon Secours wants to build two outpatient surgery centers in Short Pump and Midlothian for a combined $31 million, but a competing proposal could derail the health system's plans in western Henrico County. The nonprofit health system has proposed a $14 million cardiac catheterization center in Short Pump and a $17 million general surgery center on the campus of St. Francis Medical Center in western Chesterfield County. But a Northern Virginia-based practice, Virginia Heart and Vascular Center LLC, has proposed a similar cardiac facility in Henrico. The proposals kick start a months-long process in which the health department will consider merits of the projects, including whether the surrounding community needs them, their costs and whether a new proposal would hurt an already existing service. State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton makes the final decision. Health systems have moved quickly to locate in the growing and wealthy population of western Henrico. Bon Secours already operates a freestanding emergency room in Short Pump just a few hundred yards from the Goochland County border. HCA Healthcare is planning a medical office building and imaging center across the street, and down the road, Virginia Commonwealth University Health has a five-story clinic nearby that treats various specialties. Next to the Short Pump emergency room at 12320 W. Broad St., Bon Secours wants to build a one-story, 13,000-square foot building. The health system already owns 21 acres in the vicinity. The facility would have 12 full-time employees and would open in the summer of 2025. Partnering with Bon Secours is a North Carolina-based developer that specializes in ambulatory surgery centers, Compass Surgical Partners. Bon Secours would own 51%, and Compass would own 49%. Together, they secured financing from First Citizens bank in the form of a 10 year loan. It's expected that 700 patients would visit the center each year, bringing $11 million in revenue and $9 million in costs its first year. Bon Secours' parent company, Bon Secours Mercy Health, lost $1.2 billion in operations in 2022, as patient revenue declined and the cost of paying employees increased. During cardiac catheterization, a tube is guided through a blood vessel to the heart, where doctors can test the heart's pressure or conduct treatment, such as opening an artery. It's become increasing common to conduct such procedures in an outpatient setting, Bon Secours said. Bon Secours' competitor, Virginia Heart and Vascular Center, has proposed a similar facility at 8007B Discovery Drive near Henrico Doctors' Hospital. Its cost to build is just $2.5 million a factor the health department considers. Further details of the company's proposal were unavailable Wednesday. In Midlothian, Bon Secours wants to build a two story multi-specialty outpatient surgery center with two operating rooms. The $17 million building would go up on the campus of St. Francis Medical Center at 13701 Bon Secours Drive. It's unclear if there is any opposition this plan or competing applications. A spokesperson for the state health department did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Like the Short Pump facility, the surgery center would be co-owned with Compass Surgical Partners and financed by First Citizens Bank. Its services would include general surgery, vascular care, pain management, orthopedics, ear, nose and throat treatment and more. Bon Secours said it would alleviate the crowded surgical center inside St. Francis, which operates at capacity. St. Francis, which has 130 beds, is undergoing a 55-bed expansion due to open early next year. Moving the procedures to an outpatient setting increases efficiency and lowers costs, the health system said. The new center would have a staff of 14 and open in 2026, a year after Short Pump. The health system expects 1,500 patients to visit each year. Western Chesterfield is another area experiencing growth. The county grew 16% between 2011 and 2021, among the highest rates in the Richmond area. Richmond artist Willie Anne Wright is 99 years old. A well-known photographer and painter in Virginia, but not yet elsewhere, Wright is having her first career retrospective at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Willie Anne Wright: Artist and Alchemist opens today at the VMFA and will be on view, for free, through the spring. The VMFA recently acquired more than 230 photographs and 10 paintings by Wright. This (exhibit) is very special. Its the first retrospective at a major museum to examine this beloved Virginia artists remarkable 60-year career, chief curator Michael Taylor said. Born in 1924, Wright was raised in Richmond and attended the College of William & Mary, where she studied psychology and audited art classes. After college, she married and raised three children. She did not pursue art seriously until 1960, when she enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Richmond Professional Institute, now known as Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was mentored by its founder, Theresa Pollak. While initially focused on painting, Wright shifted to pinhole photography in 1972. Her lensless photography and pinhole photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally. I think mainly I like to try different things. Most of my work is based on my life experiences. And just having fun, I guess, Wright said in a video interview featured in the show. The exhibition includes 69 photographs and nine paintings by Wright. The exhibit charts the trajectory of her career, starting with her pop art paintings of The Supremes to her evocative pinhole photographs of women. Her work examines pop culture, feminine identity, the pull of history, and the shifting cultural landscape of the American South from the 1960s on, Taylor said. The exhibit was curated by VMFA curator Sarah Kennel, who has curated exhibits on photographer Sally Mann and others. Kennel said she was fascinated by Wrights art and her history with the VMFA, which began collecting Wrights work early in her career. Working on this exhibition has been a revelation, Kennel said. Wrights fascination with the changing role of women in contemporary society ... really ground so much of her art. Art that foregrounds women as subjects (such as her work depicting) The Supremes, the bathers, the beachgoers and pregnant women. And it also shows women as agents of their own destiny. Wrights color photographs are particularly striking and innovative. They are vivid and colorful, playing with perspective and landscape. There is a series on pools and women lying by water. Wright was one of the first artists to make direct positive Cibachrome prints with a pinhole camera. Willie Anne needs to be recognized as a pioneer of color photography and pop painting. She truly is someone that other museums now need to collect and collectors need to realize her place in the history of art, Taylor said. This is about legacy. Its about securing Willie Annes legacy for the future, he said. The free exhibit is on view through April 28 at the VMFA at 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. PHOTOS: Unveiling of Kehinde Wiley's 'Rumors of War' at the VMFA in Richmond -- HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES -- 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE01 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE02 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE03 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE04 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE05 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE06 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE07 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE08 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE10 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE11 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE12 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE13 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE14 20191211_MET_WILEY_AWE15 Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of War Rumors of war 20191211_MET_WILEY_DH01 20191211_MET_WILEY_DH02 Can an employer legally discipline or terminate an employee and/or rescind a job offer over remarks supporting the recent terrorist actions of Hamas against Israel? The short answer is yes. Private sector employers dont have to consider whether an individuals statements are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. The First Amendment has no application in the private sector. As long as the employer is consistent, and can articulate a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for its decision to terminate or rescind an offer (and comments incompatible with the organizations values fall into that category), there is no law preventing the termination in Virginia. Other states have local laws that apply to after-hours activity; Virginia does not. Public sector employers must consider the First Amendment protections. When making a decision on whether to discipline or terminate for actions or words, employers should consider whether the statement was made on a matter of public concern and as a citizen not an employee. They should also consider whether the interests of the public sector organization to run an efficient operation outweigh those First Amendment rights. Most of the time the answer is yes, and the employer can legally terminate or discipline without violating the First Amendment. There are many examples of this happening. A New York hospital swiftly announced the termination of Dr. Dana Diab, an ER doctor, after she posted Zionist settlers getting a taste of their own medicine following the Hamas attacks on Israel along with images of the terrorists raiding an Israeli music festival. Shortly after being made aware of the post, the hospital announced on X, formerly known as Twitter. We are deeply sorry for the hurt and offense these comments have caused. These views do not represent Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health and go against our core values. The team member is no longer employed with Northwell. Law firm Winston & Strawn announced it had rescinded a prestigious summer associate job offer it had made to NYU law student Ryna Workman for statements they made as the president of NYU Law School Bar Association (Workman is reportedly nonbinary and uses the pronouns they/them). In Workmans message to the student bar association after the attacks on Israel, Workman expressed their unwavering and absolute solidarity with Palestinians in their resistance against oppression toward liberation and self-determination. Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life. This regime of state-sanctioned violence created the conditions that made resistance necessary. I will not condemn Palestinian resistance. Workman went on to condemn what they described as the violence of apartheid, settler colonialism, military occupation and trapping thousands in open-air prison, among other comments condemning and blaming Israel. Winston & Strawn posted on LinkedIn that it had rescinded the offer, referring to Workmans comments as inflammatory and saying that the statements profoundly conflict with its values as a firm. Winston & Strawn went on to express support for Israel, the firms Jewish colleagues and families, and to condemn the Hamas attacks. It said, We look forward to continuing to work together to eradicate antisemitism in all forms and to the day when hatred, bigotry and violence against all people have been eliminated. Our strength lies in our unity, empathy and shared humanity. On Oct. 7, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee issued a statement cosigned by 33 other Harvard student organizations stating, We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. Billionaire CEO Bill Ackman posted on X that he had been asked by a number of CEOs if Harvard would release a list of members of each of the Harvard organizations that issued the letter so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members. Ackman added, One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists. Prestigious law firm Davis Polk told The New York Times that it had rescinded three offers to students who attend Columbia and Harvard, largely due to their affiliation with groups that posted statements condemning Israel for the attacks, but also said it was reconsidering two of them because the students contended they were unaware of and didnt approve of the statements. To protect all employees, employers should immediately take a stand against the rising antisemitism we are witnessing in society and among our work colleagues and prospective employees. Antisemitic comments cannot be tolerated, and anyone expressing these sentiments should be removed from the workplace; expressing support for the actions of Hamas is antisemitic. Employers also should not tolerate disparaging remarks made against Palestinian Americans who are not affiliated with and do not support Hamas. 5 tips for managing workplace burnout What is workplace burnout? Connect with friends in your industry Approach your boss Set a defined schedule Take small breaks during the day Create space for fun and self-care After enduring the unthinkable loss of one child, a Dinwiddie County couple are doing their best to grapple with a rare disease that afflicts another child. Corey and Britney Danets 8-year-old son, Jaxon, is battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy, also known as DMD. Even though the genetic disorder leaves Jaxon with an uncertain future, he still maps out big plans and big goals for himself and his family. Hes told us about all the trucks he wants; hes already planned how our houses are going to be, said Britney, 27. Hes so positive with it. Jaxon, who said he wants to be a police officer when he grows up, can be shy at times, but still manages to display a bright smile around others. He does not let anything get him down, Britney said. He just goes with the flow; I wish I had his strength, to be honest. A tragic loss The Danets have had to find additional strength while dealing with multiple ordeals surrounding their children. In 2019, the couple lost their 4-month-old son, Laine, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. That was tough, Britney said. That was not anything parents should have to go through. Jaxon was 4 at the time of Laines death. The Danets went on to have a daughter, Cecilia, who was born in March 2022 and is affectionately called CC. A few weeks later in April 2022, Jaxon was diagnosed with DMD, placing the life of another Danet child at risk. Corey and Britney struggled with feeling like crappy parents, wondering if Laine also had an underlying condition and wondering how they did not catch Jaxons disease sooner. As far as we knew, (Laine) was a happy, healthy baby, Britney said. With Jaxon, Im like how did I not know that he had a terminal illness? As a mom, you want to fix it all and, when you cant, it sucks. Arriving at a diagnosis After breaking his ankle around age 2, Jaxon displayed limitations with his movement that were noticed by his parents as well as his gym teacher. He also had frequent constipation issues. The Danets suspected their son was dealing with an ongoing issue perhaps the result of a fractured growth plate but could not pinpoint the answer. During a seven-year checkup, Jaxons pediatrician referred him to an orthopedist, who suspected that Jaxon had a form of muscular dystrophy after examining his calves. From there, Jaxon was referred to a neurologist at VCU Health, who ultimately diagnosed him with DMD. DMD is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and damage. Some patients experience heart and lung problems, although that is not the case for Jaxon. He is prone to broken bones, however, having already broken his femur, heel and wrist from various falls. Currently, there is no cure for DMD. The life expectancy of those with DMD typically ranges from late teens to early 20s, although some have lived into their 30s. It was kind of like a kick in the gut, Britney said. I questioned God like why my kid? Why anyones kid? Even walking is a struggle for Jaxon, which means he often needs assistance with daily living tasks such as taking a bath or using the restroom. Things that are normal for most people, its not easy for him to do, said Corey, 28. Thats why he plays with games because he cant play with other kids. While Jaxon is not able to play tag, climb trees or ride bikes, he does enjoy playing with Legos as well as video games like Call of Duty and Minecraft. He receives homebound instruction through Sutherland Elementary School, but his parents are planning to have him attend school in-person for two half-days each week to get him out of the house. DMD is a genetic disorder that mostly affects males but is passed down through female carriers. Britney is a carrier of the gene, which surprised her since none of the other males in her family had the disorder. When I got the test results, Im like this is a shocker, she said about her carrier status. I wasnt expecting that. Jaxon also experiences temper issues as a result of his condition. You just kind of have to take yourself away from the situation and let him have his moment, Britney said. As a parent with a child with a terminal illness, you never want to tell them no. Jaxons parents are working to find the balance between being permissive and punishing him if needed. He has his good and bad days, Corey said. Its hard because you want to create a respecting kid. Its a fine line, but he still gets in trouble. Corey and Britney speak openly with Jaxon about DMD so that he can understand as much about his illness as possible and also help ease his frustrations about getting injured easily or not being allowed to play. As for the fight against DMD, a number of clinical trials are being conducted to combat the disorder, and the Danets hope to get Jaxon approved for one of them. In June, the Food and Drug Administration approved a gene therapy treatment for DMD, although it is currently limited to 4- and 5-year-olds. Help from the community The Danets are facing a number of challenges with Jaxons condition. The family is looking to upgrade Jaxons manual wheelchair to an electric one, but their current home and vehicle are not equipped to accommodate a larger unit. With a growing list of needs, Jaxon is receiving support not only from his family but also from friends of the family and even strangers. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $12,000 for the Danets medical and home expenses. Numerous individuals and organizations have stepped up, including churches, motorcycle clubs, Sutherland Elementary, a local body shop owner and a local Ruritan service club. Peter Adler, aka Pete the Ramp Guy, took his team to the Danets home to build a ramp for Jaxon. Earlier this month, CarCruiseFinder held a car cruise to raise funds for the family. Weve had so many people just constantly going above and beyond, Britney said. Weve had an outpouring of love from people who barely know us, but I consider them part of our village because they want to help. As time has progressed, Corey and Britney have learned to face the reality of their situation and are taking things day by day. We laugh; we cut up, Britney said. These are the cards we were dealt so we make the best of it. The best of it includes providing their son with memorable experiences. Jaxon has enjoyed trips to the beach and Legoland as well as Disney, which was arranged through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We want Jaxon to have the best life possible that he can have, Britney said. We try to make him comfortable and do the best things for him. A comfortable life is what Jaxons parents have decided to focus on, rather than dwelling on the length of his life. Were not aiming for quantity over quality, Corey said. We want him to have fun. 180 dramatic weather photos from the RTD archives MANASSAS Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, was writing notes to voters during an interview at a coffee shop here when a young man from Fairfax County approached and asked her to pose with him in a photograph. Roem, who had been talking about her efforts to relieve traffic congestion and improve safety on nearby Route 28, paused for the photograph, but then learned that the mans girlfriend lived just a few blocks away. She quickly gave him a handwritten note with details on where his girlfriend could vote in an election that will determine whether Roem moves to the Senate after three terms in the House of Delegates and will help determine which party controls the Virginia General Assembly. Each note includes her personal cellphone number for constituents to call. Always act like youre running for mayor, she said she reminds herself. Now in her third House term, Roem is running against Republican Bill Woolf, 43, of Gainesville, in the newly drawn Senate District 30, which includes the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, but is dominated by surrounding Prince William County. Both candidates are lifelong Prince William residents. Thinking local isnt hard for Roem, 39, a resident of the Manassas area who knows the community well after almost a decade covering crime, politics and land use for a weekly newspaper in Prince William before her first election to the House in 2017. She was among 15 Democrats who flipped Republican-held seats in the first of three successive blue-wave elections in reaction to then-President Donald Trump. Democrats briefly gained control of the House in 2019 before losing it two years later. Roem is also the first transgender member of the General Assembly. She is counting on her track record of constituent service, legislative experience and political independence to withstand a high-dollar push by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Republicans to win back an area of Northern Virginia that the GOP once controlled. If we were having this conversation in the late 90s, wed be talking about solid red Prince William, said Mark Rozell, political scientist and dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. In a swing district election, Rozell said, connecting to the community is absolutely key. The new Senate seat leans Democratic, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, while two new House districts in western Prince William are considered competitive. Both House districts voted for Youngkin in 2021, while the new Senate district narrowly favored former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, according to VPAP. With Trump out of office for now the blue wave is probably over, said Al Alborn, an independent community columnist in Prince William. Youngkin has invested heavily in all three races through his Spirit of Virginia political action committee, which has given $150,000 to Woolf, $100,000 to Lovejoy and $75,000 to Stirrup since Sept. 1. The governor also appeared with Woolf, a former Fairfax County police detective and director of the office for human trafficking in the Trump administration, earlier this month at a fundraiser at the Fairfax County Country Club that former Del. Tim Hugo, D-Fairfax, helped to arrange. Hugo, whom Youngkin appointed as chairman of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority this year, represented a portion of Prince William before losing his seat to Democrat Dan Helmer in 2019. The Republican Commonwealth Leadership PAC, formed by House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, has spent big money in both House races in Prince William, giving $470,000 to Stirrup and $260,000 to Lovejoy just since Sept. 1, according to VPAP. All told, Gilberts PAC has donated $704,000 to Stirrups campaign and $289,000 to Lovejoys, according to VPAP. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said the Senate race represents a referendum both for Roem, after three terms in the House, and Youngkin, who is trying to gain control of the legislature for the final two years of his term if he does not run for the presidency, as some Republican donors have urged him to do. The governor has been very effective about recruiting candidates ... and remains very effective in putting money in their pockets along the way, Farnsworth said. Thats less of an issue for Roem, who has a 2-to-1 advantage in fundraising over Woolf, with more than $1.4 million raised to his $704,000. She has received more than $100,000 each from the Clean Virginia Fund and Sonjia Smith, the wife of Michael Bills, the multimillionaire founder of the Charlottesville-based advocacy group. But money isnt the only advantage Roem has in the race, according to Alborn, a Libertarian with friends on both sides of the party aisle. She is very popular and incredibly effective as a delegate, he said. Woolf has run on fighting crime, reducing traffic and giving parents more control over their childrens education, which is a signature issue for Youngkin. The biggest issue is restoring common sense to the commonwealth, he said in a telephone interview. He has endorsed Youngkins proposal to bar most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and threat to the mothers life. Woolf did not mention Roems transgender identity during the 15-minute interview, but faulted her for opposing legislation proposed this year to ban transgender athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identities. The Senate killed the legislation, as it did another bill that would have required school staff to notify a students parent if the student identifies as transgender or wants to use pronouns that are inconsistent with the students birth sex. Roem said the Republican-controlled House passed the bill in an election year, even though House Republicans had blocked similar legislation introduced in 2017 by Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, an outspoken conservative whom she defeated later that year. I never apologize for my identity to anyone, she said, predicting that what she called transphobic attacks against me would backfire in the election. However, the twin pillars of her campaign are much more basic: Fixing Roads. Feeding Kids. Roem has had 41 bills pass the assembly with bipartisan support and no gubernatorial vetoes, and she said 12 of them were about providing food to children in schools. One, adopted in 2020, resulted in Manassas and Manassas Park schools offering free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of family income, through a federal program that is no longer optional for qualifying school divisions. Locally, she has bucked party leaders by opposing construction of the Route 28 Bypass because she said the project would demolish more than 50 homes in Prince William without relieving traffic congestion in that area. Woolf faults Roem for continued congestion on Route 28, which he said is no better than it was six years ago. Roem, a former member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, said thats not true, citing her vote to widen the major commuter route from three to six lanes at Centreville in Fairfax while providing more opportunities for mass transit. She also obtained $24.5 million to fund the phased construction of innovative intersections on a 2.1-mile stretch of Route 28 in Prince William, which she said will improve safety and relieve congestion. She said memories of her mothers two-hour commute from Manassas to her job near Washington Dulles International Airport is what has led me for the last six and a half years to prioritize fixing Route 28 as my top issue. It remains my top issue. Woolf also faults Roem for opposing Youngkins proposals to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries and provide a temporary holiday from the state gas tax. She said she opposed legislation passed last year to eliminate the states share of the grocery tax because it will cost Virginia $190 million for transportation over two years. She said temporarily suspending the gas tax, which failed, would not have guaranteed lower prices at the pump. Roem said shes happy to let voters judge her record. My district is my compass every time Im casting a vote in the General Assembly, she said. PHOTOS: Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address 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 Lopez Obrador proposes protected area for Riviera Maya land due to refusal of agreement Riviera Maya, Q.R. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has raised the possibility of declaring Playa del Carmen land as a Natural Protected Area due to refusal of agreement. On Friday, Lopez Obrador proposed that the 2,400 hectares of Vulcan Materials (Sac-Tun) land in Playa del Carmen be declared a protected area since the company remains reluctant to agree to its sale. This alternative would proceed before the end of the administration and would be accompanied by a compensation payment if the American company remains reluctant to agree to the agreement with the Government of Mexico, which seeks the preservation of the ecosystem in one of the places with the greatest natural wealth in the country, such as the Riviera Maya, he said. I want to tell all Mexicans here that I am not going to leave without resolving this, and the best way to resolve it is to declare a protected natural zone, everything, and to pay them in accordance with the law, the corresponding compensation, he said during his Friday Presidental press conference. If there is no response from them, if they do not want to help, that will be the decision. We are going to wait, just before I leave, the 6 or 7 billion pesos are going to be deposited in a court and we are going to issue the decree to allocate the entire area to environmental protection. Nothing will be able to be built. It will be to preserve this reserve, he added during his morning press conference. Lopez Obrador reiterated that the lands are part of the tropical forest, have archaeological vestiges and underground rivers that were highly damaged at the hands of foreigners, after a permit granted in previous six-year terms was perpetuated. It is a bank of materials that is destroying the jungle, that was improperly given permission to exploit these materials that they take, they take the gravel to improve the roads in the United States, but we are talking about Quintana Roo, he pointed out. The president reaffirmed that Mexico is an independent country and prioritizes the care of its territory. At the same time, Lopez Obrador says he respects the law and the terms of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada (T-MEC). I have already said it several times, it is already known that Mexico is not a colony, it is not a protectorate, it is an independent country, so what we are proposing is we are going to defend the territory. We cannot continue allowing unpunished destruction, he said. Lopez Obrador said he has sought dialogue with directors of Vulcan Materials with the aim of negotiating the purchase of the land and creating an ecotourism complex in the area affected by the irrational extraction of sand and gravel. However, the American firm does not respond to the proposal, to the assessment made by the Institute of Administration and Appraisals of National Assets and to the letter from President Lopez Obrador, sent through the Mexican ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragan. The truth is the proposal, the appraisal, I sent them a letter. I asked the ambassador and, arrogance, they had no response for three months. We insisted again and now they say that they are being threatened. No, it is no threat, he explained. In July, the Government of Mexico offered to purchase the 2,400 hectares of land from Vulcan Materials for 6.5 billion pesos. Missing Felipe Carrillo Puerto corn farmer found alive Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R. A four-day search for an elderly corn farmer in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto has been deemed successful. The elderly man was found alive by a search team early Friday morning. The 74-year-old farmer was located deep in Mayan jungle by a group of men who had been looking for him since October 16. His family reported him missing after he went to check on the fields but did not return. Isabel Chuc was last seen at his home in the town of Filomeno Mata on the night of October 14. He had been missing nearly six days by the time he was found. National Guard, Civil Protection, Mexican Army, Municipal Police and State Police were part of the search team. He was located several kilometers from his plot of land. The search team found alive and well with a mild case of dehydration. Santa Fe School of Advanced Research returns 60 archaeological pieces to Mexico Mexico City, Mexico The Government of Mexico has received 60 archaeological pieces of Mexican origin from the School of Advanced Research in Santa Fe. The pieces arrived at that American institution between 1941 and 1972, several of them through a private collector According to the opinion of the INAH, they come from the Mexican Central Highlands, Oaxaca and Nayarit, and from the western and northern regions and date from between 200 BC and 1200 AD. On Friday, the Government of Mexico, through the Consulate in Albuquerque, received the restitution of 60 archaeological pieces of Mexican origin, voluntarily delivered by the School of Advanced Research (SAR), located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. According to a preliminary opinion through experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the majority of cultural assets come from the Mexican Central Highlands, others from Oaxaca and Nayarit as well as the western and northern regions and date from between 200 BC and 1200 AD The archaeological pieces arrived at the SAR between 1941 and 1972, several of them through a private collector. Not knowing with certainty the legal origin of the pieces, the SAR decided to return these objects of heritage to the people of Mexico. A total of 60 pieces will be returned to Mexico. Photo: SRE October 20, 2023. At the delivery ceremony, Consul Norma Ang Sanchez thanked the head of the Registry of the SAR Indigenous Arts Research Center and head of Projects, Jeniffer Day, for her initiative to voluntarily return the pieces to the Mexican nation. Likewise, she highlighted that this act demonstrates the commitment and ethics of institutions such as the SAR in the protection of cultural heritage. In the near future, the 60 archaeological pieces will be repatriated to Mexico for delivery to the INAH authorities. The Government of Mexico reaffirms its commitment to actively participate in strengthening national and international legal frameworks for the protection of cultural heritage. Private collectors abroad, who currently have pieces that are part of Mexicos heritage, as well as auction houses, are invited to join in the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage and to return them for study, conservation and dissemination since they are objects that bear witness to the identity and memory of the native peoples of Mexico. Search for boat and three on board continues off coast of Mahahual Othon P. Blanco, Q.R. A search continues for a boat and three people who went missing Tuesday. The trio were reported missing after heading out in a boat from the island of Banco Chinchorro. Banco Chinchorro is an island directly off the coast of Mahahual in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco. The two men and one woman boarded a boat off Banco Chinchorro Tuesday. They were heading for the mainland to shop for supplies. They have not been seen since. In a news briefing, the FGE said the Attorney Generals Office of the State of Quintana Roo (FGE) reports that it opened an investigation after the disappearance of three fishermen on the high seas in the Banco Chinchorro area. It should be noted that the Attorney Generals Office, in coordination with the SEMAR and the Port Captains Office, carry out the search actions for these people. According to the report, the three people were sailing aboard Aurora de la Manana. Those on board the vessel were reportedly bound for Mahahual to buy groceries, but they failed to arrive. A waiting family member on the mainland said he assumed they delayed the trip due to bad weather. Relatives went to authorities Friday in search of help to locate the missing couple and the worker who accompanied them. The missing have been identified as couple Jose Guadalupe Cetina Martin, Cristina Lizama Martin and a worker, Jose Morales Hernandez. The Secretary of the Navy and a group of fishermen have been searching since early Friday morning. Tabasco subject nabbed after Playa del Carmen citizen catches him breaking into parking lot cars Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A Tabasco man was captured on the run in Playa del Carmen Friday after being reported for breaking into vehicles. Municipal Police of Solidaridad were patrolling an area of Colosio when they were flagged down by a citizen. The person asked police for help, pointing to the fleeing man who was reportadly breaking into cars and stealing interior content from a public parking lot. After catching up with the man, he was seized with two backpacks, two laptops and various stationery, computer and tools items, police reported in their statement. Municipal officers proceeded to arrest a man who identified himself as 33-year-old Abraham N from Tabasco. The subject and the seized items were made available to the State Attorney Generals Office for the corresponding legal purposes. BLACKSBURG Approximately 100 people attended a protest in support of the Palestinian cause near the Virginia Tech campus Friday. The protest was, according to organizers, somewhat spontaneous, only having been suggested less than two days before the event, and involved several on campus groups, including the Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine and the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Protestors began gathering at the corner of College Avenue and Main Street in Blacksburg, slowly at first due to rain, but filling the corner as the weather cleared. The official protest began at 4 p.m., with participants marching between College Avenue and Alumni Mall. The protesters were led in chants, without a megaphone for the first half-hour, with leaders shouting slogans like, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, and Israel, we know you. You imprison children too. Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, attacked Israel Oct. 7, coinciding with a Jewish holiday. The attack left hundreds of Israeli civilians dead, including women and children, and led Israel to announce a state of war and to prepare for a military invasion of the Gaza Strip, where the Iranian-backed Hamas is based. Nearly 200 civilians remain hostages. The protestors in Blacksburg were told before marching not to react or fight back if approached by counterprotestors or angry citizens, but the two-hour protest went by without major incident. Some passers-by flashed a middle finger at the protestors, some passed honking and waving Palestinian flags. A spokesperson for the protestors, who asked not to be named for fear of backlash from Virginia Tech administration, said that they hoped the message of the protest would not be lost in the reporting on the event. We dont want our protest to be perceived as something that, we are celebrating terrorism, or we are condoning the acts of Hamas, the spokesperson said. This is about the unfairness that our people have been subjected to, and the constant justification that Israel can do whatever it wants to do, in the name of self-defense, to our people. Several protestors mentioned fear of being identified by name when speaking to the press, citing recent events at Harvard University and at the University of Virginia, where students and faculty were punished for being vocally pro-Palestinian. Bikrum Gill, an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech, was more explicit in why the protests are important at the university specifically. When our president, Timothy Sands, released a statement, he could not even say the name of Palestine, Gill said, referencing the president of Virginia Tech directly in a speech to protestors. When people like Sands, and like President Joe Biden refuse to mention Palestinians, they are speaking Palestine out of existence. Sands statement, issued Oct. 11 included: The horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel have claimed the lives of over 1,000 peaceful civilians including more than 20 Americans injured thousands, and devastated communities. We grieve with the families and friends of those killed, injured, and taken hostage, and extend our sincere condolences in this time of pain and loss. Burruss Hall will be illuminated in blue and white tonight to honor the lives lost and express our hope for those injured and held hostage. After the speech, Gill spoke about Sands statement, and the problems he sees with it. Timothy Sands released a statement condemning Hamas, and it made reference to Israelis killed, but nothing about Palestinians killed, no mention of Palestine, Gill said. What we want to see is a more evenhanded statement, to recognize Palestinian deaths, and to recognize the reality of the conflict. This is not a two-sided conflict, and for him to start the conflict two weeks ago is a problem. The Blacksburg protest officially ended at 6 p.m., with participants moving on to Goodwin Hall for a potluck and fundraiser benefitting Palestine. That event was followed later by a Night of Remembrance for those whove died in the Palestinian territories. Speaking about the turnout for the protest, and the relative lack of counterprotest, the spokesperson for the protest said they believed it was a sign that opinions on the conflict were shifting in the U.S. I think slowly, we are shifting to a more neutral stance, the spokesperson said. Even though our side is not being covered as much, people are beginning to wake up and see what Israel has been doing for the last 75 years. The situation between Israel and Hamas and whats happening in Gaza Strip has heightened tensions in the United States. On Thursday at Virginia Tech, the Jewish community held a peaceful solidarity walk to support those held captive by Hamas. Localities across the New River Valley hosted the eighth regional New River clean-up event entitled, Fall into the New in late August at various locations. The regional event builds off the success of award-winning clean-up events championed for the last two decades by a Giles County-based community group, ReNew the New, according to a news release from the New River Valley Regional Commission. Since 2016, the regional ReNew the New Clean-up events have made a significant impact on the watershed. To date, over 3,000 people have removed more than 45 tons of trash and 1,500 tires from 64 miles of the New River, according to the release. This year, in partnership with the New River Conservancy, ReNew the New expanded north into West Virginia just beyond the state line. Students from Concord College (Athens, W. Va.) along with community members helped to gather over 175 tires from the three mile section. This years ReNew event was definitely one of the absolute best in the events 23 year history, said Chris McKlarney, Giles County administrator, in the release. With the expansion into West Virginia our dream of consistent, organized cleanup efforts, along with equipping the next generation to take care of this river that we all love, is becoming a reality. Continuing, he said: As we have learned over the years, it takes a community to pull this off. The ReNew the New team is looking forward to future participation across the watershed, according to the commission release. The success of these events comes in large part from active support of public and private partnerships across the region, according to the release. Representatives from local governments, local businesses, advocacy groups, student organizations, and citizens meet quarterly as part of the New River Watershed Roundtable. The Roundtable helps to coordinate and plan for these events, along with discussion and coordination of other regional watershed priorities and initiatives, according to the release. - The Roanoke Times You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Hurricane Norma makes landfall near Mexico's Los Cabos and Tammy hits tiny Barbuda in the Caribbean Hurricane Norma made landfall near the resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexicos Baja California Peninsula on Saturday and has weakened to a tropical storm while moving over land Letters to the Editor: A question of history, and money; A stress-free party; Ambulance contract questioned; What is really going on with ambulance contract? Just over five weeks after all five justices of the South Carolina Supreme Court issued resounding statements on the importance of open court proceedings even if they differed on the consequences of a circuit court judges failure to follow openness requirements another state circuit judge held a secret hearing at which the defendant pleaded guilty to the murder of two Florence police officers and the attempted murder of five others in 2018. Despite the notoriety and public interest in the case, there was no public notice of the hearing: the docket for the case against Frederick Hopkins Jr. is sealed, and other proceedings in the case have also been held in courtrooms closed to the public. Circuit Court Judge Eugene Griffith Jr., who is presiding over the case, also issued an order barring those involved in the case from discussing it outside the courtroom. The unannounced plea hearing was held in Aiken County rather than in Florence County, where the crime occurred. While the public and press were excluded, family members of the victims were notified and present at the hearing. Just a few weeks earlier, the South Carolina Supreme Court released its opinion explaining its earlier brief order vacating the early release of convicted murderer Jeroid John Price, a process that was entirely sealed. Press reports about the release led the Supreme Court to order on April 20 that all records relating to the case be unsealed and on April 26 to issue its order revoking the release. In the Sept. 6 decision explaining the April 26 order, the three-judge majority held that the sentence reduction was improper because the process was done in secret, and the judge had not sought any alternatives to closure, as required by U.S. Supreme Court and South Carolina Supreme Court precedent. While the dissenting opinion by Justice George C. James Jr. argued that the early release should not be vacated, it agreed with the majority on the open courts issue. There is certainly unanimity in this Court that any court should exercise great care and discretion before closing proceedings or sealing any portion of a court record, James wrote. In its landmark ruling Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court held that we are bound to conclude that a presumption of openness inheres in the very nature of a criminal trial under our system of justice, and that such openness was required in both federal and state criminal cases by the First Amendment. Closure must be justified by specific findings of harms that would be caused by an open proceeding, and the closure must be only what is absolutely necessary to prevent that harm. Absent an overriding interest articulated in findings, the court held, the trial of a criminal case must be open to the public. PHOTOS: Hopkins sentencing hearing In South Carolina, where both the state constitution and a specific statute require open courts, the state supreme court has held that (e)xclusion of the press and public from judicial proceedings is a drastic measure calling for a careful weighing of interests affected. Thus the court has adopted the closure requirements outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court, and even includes them in a rule for civil cases. It is unclear whether Judge Griffith undertook this analysis in sealing the entire case against Hopkins. The closures were previously justified by the need to keep jurors from being exposed to evidence that might not be admissible. But this reasoning does not explain the need for closure of the entire docket, and of the hearing at which Hopkins pleaded guilty. Unfortunately, it seems that the message the South Carolina Supreme Court sent in its strong support for open courts in its ruling in the Price case needs more reinforcement at the local level. Dalondo Moultrie is the assistant managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail him at dalondo.moultrie@seguingazette.com . In case you didnt know, Mission: Impossible Dear Reckoning, Part One isnt a standalone film. Theres a second part that may or may not come out next year, depending on the actors strike. That means if you jump too soon, youll be watching nearly three hours of a thriller that doesnt have an ending. For star/producer Tom Cruise, its an opportunity to do more stunts, hang in James Bonds world and dig around ancient ruins like Indiana Jones. Getting marching orders from a cassette player, no less, his Ethan Hunt is charged with finding a key that could enable the Entity (as the Artificial Intelligence don is called) to level the world as we know it. In more locales than a Cunard cruise ship, Hunt reassembles his team (which includes Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames) to help seek and destroy. Naturally, he has a bevy of women to help or hurt. Paris (Pom Klementieff), one of the latter, chases him around the streets and alleys of Rome in a Hummer. Complicating matters? Hes handcuffed to a potential partner (Hayley Atwell), who has to share driving duties. Also in the mix: Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby, two love interests who figured into earlier Missions. They get a chance to square off with the baddies and (in one instance) try their hand at Hunts handiwork masks. Its a nifty throwback to the television series but there are also several character actors who look like they jump from one CBS procedural to another. The real calling card and thats where this gets dicey is Cruises ability to run, jump and parachute throughout his quest for the keys and the answer. He does marvelous work but when hes fighting atop a train, we get the feeling this isnt something original, its just a stunt that Hollywood can do well (thank you, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). Director Christopher McQuarrie knows how to maximize Cruises appearance. He just shouldnt go back to the same wells all the time. While Dead Reckoning manages to tap into a futuristic problem (shades of Hollywoods writers and actors strikes), it doesnt pinpoint a single villain. Like too many recent films, it doesnt want to alienate potential audiences. So it plops the bad guys in a nebulous world where billionaires thrive and the rest of us are left to deal with the property they destroy. That keeps the story unfocused and prompts the stunt show. Dead Reckoning entertains no doubt about it but it didnt need to reach so far so often just to keep the clock ticking. MILFORD, Iowa The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Saturday it's looking into a gunshot injury that occurred at the Spring Run Wildlife Management Area one mile east of Lower Gar Lake. According to the Iowa DNR, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office received a report at 8:17 a.m. that an individual was injured while hunting for waterfowl with friends. "The victim was located in the Wildlife Management Area and airlifted to Avera Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The condition is unknown at this time," the Iowa DNR said. Agencies responding to the incident included: The Iowa DNR, Dickinson County Sheriffs Department, Milford Police Department, Milford Fire Department, Arnolds Park Fire/Rescue, and Lakes Regional Hospital. Through 1:15 p.m., Saturday, the Iowa DNR was asking area residents to "avoid the tract Northeast of 210th Street and 240th Avenue of the Spring Run Wildlife Management Area." STORM LAKE, Iowa A positive case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, has been confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County. A news release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship did not identify the flock owner. A department spokesman said approximately 50,000 birds will be destroyed. It's the first case of the highly contagious viral disease reported in Iowa since March, when a backyard flock of mixed species in Chickasaw County tested positive. The most recent Northwest Iowa case was found in a Buena Vista County commercial turkey flock in January. Bird flu swept across the state in the spring of 2022, then again in the fall and early winter. At at least 30 cases were confirmed last year in Iowa flocks, including commercial turkey and chicken facilities in Buena Vista, Osceola, Cherokee, Sac and Ida counties. Recent cases in Minnesota and South Dakota promoted Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig last week to urge Iowa poultry producers to remain vigilant for signs of the disease in their birds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the recent bird flu cases do not present a public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. Producers who suspect bird flu in their flocks are advised to contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305. IOWA CITY U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, stood on the bed of a bright-red truck and defended voting against Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the hard-right chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to be the next speaker of the U.S. House a move she said spawned credible death threats against her. Meanwhile, a slate of candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination focused on national security and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group. Miller-Meeks held her third annual Triple MMM Tailgate on Friday evening in Iowa City. The event featured seven candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Miller-Meeks, who voted for Jordan on the first ballot Tuesday but subsequently voted against him, cast her vote Friday for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. Miller-Meeks reported she received death threats Wednesday after voting against Jordan, and other anti-Jordan House Republicans also reported death threats and threatening calls. I am never going to quit fighting for Iowa, and I am never going to quit fighting for this country," Miller-Meeks said to a crowd of hundreds of supporters. "So if you think you can intimidate me, go suck it up, buttercup!" Miller-Meeks defended her vote and voting record, including voting against an agriculture appropriations bill because it cut vital supports for Iowa farmers, including to U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that support rural broadband development and funding for foreign animal disease preparedness. She said she did not support shutting down the government because she didnt want veterans pay to be stopped. Seven presidential candidates followed her speech, asking Iowans for their support in the GOP caucuses on Jan. 15. Heres what they had to say. Ron DeSantis Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeated his calls to deny Palestinian refugees entry into the United States, and criticized students protesting Israels actions in response to the attacks, calling them Hamas supporters. He vowed to revoke student visas and deport foreign nationals who support Hamas. We are not going to allow the left-wing in this country to have hundreds of thousands of Gaza strip refugees deposited in the United States of America, DeSantis said. That is not our role. We dont want to import the pathologies of the Middle East here. The Arab countries should handle any refugees that are needed in that region. DeSantis called for a renewed effort to strengthen national security by creating stricter policies at the southern border, including authorizing the use of deadly force on Mexican drug cartels. Vivek Ramaswamy Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, complimented DeSantis for his decision to charter emergency flights from Israel to assist U.S. citizens fleeing the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ramaswamy said he respects the Florida governors choice to arrange those flights, and said he and his wife have made a similar choice to charter a flight through their charitable organization, evacuating 200 Americans from Israel. While he condemned the actions of Hamas as barbaric and morally wrong, he cautioned Israel against an ongoing, potentially imminent ground invasion of Gaza in order to prevent what he sees as mistakes made following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks in the United States. He said the United States spent more than $6 trillion on military expenditures following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks, only to see the Taliban retake control of Afghanistan and an anti-American regime in Iraq that is not vulnerable to Iranian incursion. He said Americans were told to shut up, sit down, go along following Sept. 11 and called for Israel to not make the same mistakes. Some people will ask, is that anti-Israel? No, no, no, Ramaswamy said. This is the most pro-Israel thing we can do, as a friend, to say, learn the lessons from the mistakes we made 20 years ago in this country, to make sure that we together dont repeat them again. Nikki Haley Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, who held a town in Cedar Rapids Friday afternoon before heading to the Miller-Meeks fundraiser, emphasized her foreign policy credentials. In the wake of the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, Haley called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finish the Palestinian militant group. Haley told the crowd, both in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, the United States needs to pursue three goals when it comes to the Middle Eastern conflict. Support Israel with whatever they need whenever they need it, Haley said. Eliminate Hamas, not weaken them eliminate Hamas. And do everything we can to bring our hostages home. Haley celebrated the announcement Friday that Hamas had released two Americans who had been held hostage in Gaza. Its the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted. Two prayers were answered, Haley said, but said President Joe Biden should not give the Hamas any leniency for the release of the American hostages. Haley said the United States needs to do more to support Israel, by providing military aid as well as pulling government funding from universities with students and staff who hold protests in support of Palestinians. Haley criticized Bidens approach to the withdrawal from Afghanistan and a recent prisoner exchange deal with Iran, saying they have emboldened Americas adversaries. Ryan Binkley Texas pastor Ryan Binkley said the national debt threatens future generations, and that Republicans need to update messaging to represent the changing country and be more involved in discussions on health care and education. I think the Republican Party has kind of lost our way, Binkley said. I think we all recognize that we are in a broken place. Not only can we not elect a speaker of the House, our party is divided. We are so much broken in our messaging and what we represent, and I really believe this: We have to remember are the party of financial stewardship. Binkley touted his seven-year plan to balance the budget and begin paying down America's debt. The plan focuses on reducing nondefense discretionary spending; preventing waste, fraud and abuse; and saving Social Security. Tim Scott South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott denounced Bidens response to the Israeli-Hamas conflict and called for an urgent response to aid Israel, stating he hopes the response comes with some Israeli-American hardware. Scott described protests happening across the country against Israels response in Gaza as antisemitic. And vowed, if elected, he sign into law legislation he introduced to revoke federal student aid to colleges or university that say its OK to spread terrorism on our campuses. The senators proposal came after some students and professors at colleges including Harvard and Columbia University released statements supporting Palestinians and condemning Israels actions against the population. "Let's condemn Americans for their hate-filled response," Scott said. Doug Burgum North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said there were major domestic issues impacting national security that are overlooked. We cant have national security without food security, energy security and border security, he said. Earlier in the day, during an interview on Iowa PBS Iowa Press, Burgum said he believed the president could play an important role in resolving the internal disputes among U.S. House Republicans in nominating a speaker. You know who loves the fact that the Republicans cant get their act together and lead? The Democrats, Burgum said. They love what were doing, because this is all helping them in 2024. And we dont have either side thats actually working to try to solve the issues for the American people. Asa Hutchinson Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he is the only candidate with a law enforcement background, having worked as a federal prosecutor and with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency giving him credence to take on border security and the fentanyl crisis. In 2003, then-President George W. Bush appointed Hutchinson as the undersecretary for border and transportation security at the newly established Department of Homeland Security. While at the department, Hutchinson led an effort to reform border inspections through the use of biometric technology and continued to oversee the reorganization of border agencies into a unified inspection force. Now, you can look at what I did, and youll say, well, you didnt get it perfect, Hutchinson said. But it looks perfect compared to what Joe Biden has done. Hutchinson his experience serving under Bush following the Sept. 11 attacks will help him aid Israel in its war against Hamas. He criticized Ramaswamys comments on the conflict, saying that this is not a time of ambiguity. What voters had to say Bill Montag, 50, of Coralville, said he remains undecided as to who he will support in the caucuses, but was impressed with both DeSantis and Haley. He said he values Haleys foreign policy experience and DeSantis views on border and national security. The attacks on Israel were a disgrace, and I agree with everyone that Hamas needs to be removed from Earth. They need to be taken out, Montag said. It doesnt mean that all the Palestinians are bad, obviously. But its hard for us to give aid directly to Gaza (because) its essentially giving aid to Hamas, as much as the Palestinian people need it. I think we have to stand with Israel. He said hes also looking for a fiscal conservative who has a plan to cut federal spending and balance the budget. Dawn Coffman, 69, of Williamsburg, who attended Haleys town hall in Cedar Rapids, said she, too, is weighing whether to caucus for DeSantis or Haley. I was totally sold on DeSantis before, but then Ive listened to (Haleys) position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Shes a little bit more aggressive and outspoken, and I like that. Asked about former President Donald Trump, the current Republican front-runner who did not attend Fridays tailgate, Coffman said she feels Trump is too polarizing to win in the general election and beat Biden. I think he bring a lot of baggage, she said. I think he got a lot of things done (as president), but I dont think hell get anything done if hes president again. I think hell be tied up in legal entanglements. She said she feels now is the opportune time for DeSantis and Haley to break out from the rest of the pack and put a dent in Trumps support. Of the two, she said she likes Haleys hawkish foreign policy. I dont want her to back down. In 1888, the Cooper School in Sioux Citys Greenville neighborhood opened its doors to excited children. Cooper School (on the corner of South Fairmount and Leech Avenue) shared an identical building plan as the former Everett School on the west side. In the 1920s and 1930s, Cooper School was one of 15 elementary schools in Sioux City that underwent aggressive renovations and modernizations including indoor plumbing. Cooper School welcomed children for 92 years. Today, the old school building is the home of the Community Action Agency of Siouxland (and has been since 1981). CAA is determined and dedicated every day to building partnerships, promoting school readiness for children and families, and alleviating the causes and conditions of poverty. Today, as in 1888, children are still the highest priority of the nearly 150 diligent and compassionate staff working in this old school building (and in nine other Head Start locations in Sioux City). Jean Logan knows a lot about reasons for, and strategies to overcome, poverty. She is the energetic, wise, and effective executive director of Community Action Agency of Siouxland. She will tell you, By connecting families to the right resources in the short term, we have been able to provide positive, long-term changes for their future. Poverty in Sioux City and Woodbury County? Yes, indeed. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population are below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over. According to the U.S. Census, nearly one in six children under the age of five in Woodbury County live in poverty. Additionally, nearly half of children in single parent households live in poverty. The Community Action Agency of Siouxland has been serving Woodbury County since 1971. The story begins in 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his first State of the Union address, made this notable proclamation: Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope - some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity. "This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress and all Americans to join with me in that effort. "It will not be a short or easy struggle, no single weapon or strategy will suffice, but we shall not rest until that war is won. The richest Nation on earth can afford to win it. We cannot afford to lose it. Poverty is a national problem, requiring improved national organization and support....Very often a lack of jobs and money is not the cause of poverty, but the symptom. The cause may lie deeper in our failure to give our fellow citizens a fair chance to develop their own capacities, in a lack of education and training, in a lack of medical care and housing, in a lack of decent communities in which to live and bring up their children. In August of that same year, the Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law by Johnson, creating the nationwide Community Action Network and impactful programs like Head Start, Job Corps, and VISTA. Johnson said, "The Act does not merely expand on old programs or improve what was already being done. It charts a new course. It strikes at the causes of poverty, not just the consequences of poverty. The Community Action Agency of Siouxland has been relentless and effective in the war on poverty, serving thousands of children and adults every year, providing these and other community services: Head Start/Early Head Start preschool programs, both classroom and in-home based, are offered for free to eligible families serving prenatal mothers to children up to age five; -- A first point of contact for resources and connections to assist with utility, rent, food, household items, and other crisis assistance; the only area food pantry open 40 hours a week offering non-perishable food, frozen meat, hygiene items, cleaning products, and diapers; -- Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program helps qualifying households pay a portion of their primary heating costs; --- Financial assistance to registered day care providers for serving nutritious meals; nutrition education for registered day care providers; -- Child Care Nurse consultants provide on-site consultation, training and support to child care businesses, both in-home and at centers; a home visiting program called Family Development and Self Sufficiency dedicated to building partnerships with families to alleviate the conditions that cause poverty by building on their strengths of resourcefulness and resilience; -- Weatherization programs to make homes more energy efficient by installing items such as insulation, furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators; and every December CAA partners with faith-based groups, businesses and individuals, to share gift-wrapped gifts with over 700 children. A new book worth reading is The Poverty Paradox: Understanding Economic Hardship amid American Prosperity by Mark Robert Rank. The author encourages all to look beyond the traditional explanations and convenient myths about poverty, namely that people in need are inept and irresponsible. Advocacy for more just economic and political responses are in order. Alleviating the causes, consequences, and conditions of poverty must be a continuing priority for our community. The Community Action Agency of Siouxland responds quickly when a family or individual is in crisis, thus avoiding costly long-term problems, with the highest priority of helping people achieve permanent self-sufficiency. President Johnsons words of sixty years ago are still a call to action for today. This requires advocacy, partnership, persistence, and hard work. This happens at the very old school building at South Fairmount and Leech Avenue. Go and see. Stop in and learn more from our amazing neighbors who work there! Take Action. David Halaas has a commitment to community involvement, recently serving on the boards of Leadership Siouxland, SafePlace, the Sioux City Public Library and currently on the board of trustees of the Sioux City Public Museum. He is the pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA in Sioux City. In 2005, when Israel decided that occupation wasnt working and withdrew from the Gaza Strip, including the displacement and eviction of thousands of Israelis from Gaza, it left the entire area to the Gazan Arabs. The Gazan people then chose the Iranian backed terrorist group, Hamas, as its leadership. Israel was rewarded with rocket fire and invasion through tunnels, actions which have continued periodically ever since. Israel must always retaliate (which it does by carefully by calling on the residents to move out of the Hamas hiding places and warning of upcoming strikes) but never starts any of the conflicts. Now, Israel has to rescue hostages and eliminate the future Hamas threat. If the Arabs of Gaza would choose leadership that is dedicated to making their lives better rather than being committed to the elimination of Israel and driving the Jews into the sea (armed struggle per their Charter), I believe there could be peace very soon. Same with the West Bank and PLO. Israel wants only to live in peace with its neighbors. Proof? Egypt and Jordan both fought against the creation of Israel in 1948. Subsequently, both nations realized that peace was more important than killing the Jews and treaties were established between Israel and both countries. Since then, there have been no hostilities on those borders. Please, people of Gaza (and West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran), choose different leadership and enjoy the life you deserve without being oppressed by brutal leaders. -- Michael Potash, Sioux City Keeping up with Trumps court schedule is a dizzying task, since he faces two federal trials, a criminal trial in Georgia, and two separate civil and criminal trials in New York. (Oh, and hes running for president.) To make things easier, well be recapping the biggest Trump trial news at the end of each week. This week, as the former president continued to appear in court for his New York fraud trialin which hes accused of overinflating the value of his real estate empiretwo of his former attorneys, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, agreed to consequential plea deals in separate criminal cases out of Georgia. 1. Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro took plea deals Two of Trumps former attorneys accepted plea deals for charges brought by Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis in her 2020 election subversion case, on the eve of their respective trials, which were set to begin on Friday. Powell was charged with six misdemeanors related to conspiring to intentionally interfere with Georgias election process and racketeering, while Chesebro pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of conspiracy to file false documents. Powell admitted to being involved with a scheme to access voting equipment from rural Coffee County, Georgia, and then copying data from those machines in hopes of proving the states election was rigged against Trump. Her plea deal includes six years of probation, a $6,000 fine, and an apology letter written to Georgia residents. Chesebro, who was a major player in coming up with the fake electors scheme (heres a quick refresher of what that was), will also serve probation for five years, pay $5,000 in restitution, and write an apology letter as part of his plea deal. He will also serve 100 hours of community service. But the biggest news here: Both Chesebro and Powell agreed to testify against their co-defendants at future trialsyes, that includes Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Trumps Gag Order Is Crafted Perfectly to Withstand a First Amendment Claim Read More Its an enormous about-face for both of them, from initially pleading not guilty in the Georgia case when charged and each paying a $100,000 bond. They both also tried to have their cases dismissed, but that failed. Chesebro and Powell have become the highest-level known cooperating witnesses against Trump. In case you missed it: Jeremy Stahl broke down how bad its likely to be for the former president and former federal prosecutor and defense attorney Robert Katzberg explained how the cooperation agreements blow a major hole in one of Trumps previewed defenses. 2. A Trump Organization executive takes the stand Patrick Birney, a financial operations executive for the Trump Organization, testified in Trumps ongoing New York fraud trial that he was told by his boss, Allen Weisselberg, that Trump wanted his net worth to be boosted in the companys financial statements. (Weisselberg is the former financial officer for the Trump Organization who spent five months in jail for tax evasion.) Those financial statements, which are created annually and given to banks and insurance companies, are at the heart of New York Attorney General Letitia James case against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on Friday, Judge Arthur F. Engoron fined the former president $5,000 after violating a gag order that was issued earlier this month banning Trump from publicly speaking about any court staff. It was prompted after Trump posted about Engorons law clerk, Allison Greenfield, on Truth Social, where he claimed that she was Sen. Chuck Schumers girlfriend and that she was running the New York attorney generals civil lawsuit against him. Though Trump deleted this post off Truth Social, it remained on his campaign website until Thursday, 17 days after the gag order was issued. 3. Jack Smith rails against Trumps immunity claim While Trump is hoping to dismiss the federal indictment accusing him of unlawfully interfering in the 2020 election because he was president and should be absolutely immune from prosecution, Smith has weighed in on the matter in no uncertain terms. Advertisement Advertisement In a lengthy court filing, the special counsels prosecution team wrote that the implications of the defendants unbounded immunity theory are startling, arguing that it would essentially place presidents above the law. The filing also noted that Trump used the prospect of this very prosecution by the Justice Department as his reason to argue why he could not be put on trial by the Senate during his 2021 impeachment trial, claiming that the Senate could not convict a president who had already left office and that the proper jurisdiction was the criminal courts. In fact, 30 Republican senatorsincluding GOP leader Mitch McConnellare cited in Smiths filing as lawmakers who agreed with Trumps argument at the time, believing it was best to deflect any legal responsibilities to the criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Well, now that time has come and federal prosecutors are pursuing charges against Trump, this time not for inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol (what was charged in the impeachment case), but for scheming to subvert state and federal election processes. The principle that no one is above the law underlies the universal consensus that a president may be subject to criminal prosecution at some point, wrote federal prosecutors. 4. Trump was hit with a gag order Judge Tanya Chutkan finally did what many experts have been predictingshe hit Trump with a gag order that prevents him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, and court staff involved with his federal election interference case. She declared that Trumps presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their job. Advertisement The gag order was initially requested by special counsel Jack Smith, who argued that Trumps habit of disparaging people publicly online on Truth Social and at campaign rallies could intimidate witnesses, taint the jury pool, and fuel threats of violence. The former president has been posting statements attacking Smith, Chutkan, and other judges and prosecutorsbasically anyone involved in legal proceedings against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps unsurprisingly, Trumps legal team immediately appealed Chutkans gag order. While Trump was attending a separate criminal trial in New York, he told reporters that Chutkan took away my right to speak. 5. Cannon criticizes Jack Smiths strategy in Mar-a-Lago case Down in Florida, where Trump is facing a federal case over his handling of classified documents, Judge Aileen Cannon last week railed against the special prosecutors strategy during a conflict-of-interest hearing for defendant Waltine Nauta. (If you need a recap of what exactly Nautas role is in this case, look no further.) The hearing, known as a Garcia hearing and routine in criminal cases, is meant to help defendants understand potential conflicts of interest their attorneys may have so they can consider whether they want to keep or replace them. Advertisement Smiths team of prosecutors raised new objections over whether Nautas attorney Stanley Woodward should be allowed to question Trump Employee 4Yuscil Taveras, an IT worker at Mar-a-Lagobecause Woodward has previously represented him. Notably, when Taveras had Woodward as his attorney, he told investigators he hadnt heard any conversations about deleting surveillance footage that was requested by federal authorities. But after prosecutors emphasized the risks of lying in a federal case, Taveras replaced Woodward with a public defender, recanted his initial testimony, and admitted he had in fact been asked to delete surveillance footage. (Prosecutors agreed not to charge Taveras.) But when federal prosecutors asked whether it was fair to allow Woodward to question Taveras during Nautas trial, Cannon became frustrated. She said they were wasting the courts time, since they should have raised these arguments in filings ahead of the hearing, which would have allowed both sides to come prepared to discuss any objections. Cannon ultimately postponed Nautas conflict-of-interest hearing. Cannon is a Trump-appointed federal judge, and her earlier decisions around the federal governments classified documents case have cast doubt on her ability to handle this specific Trump case fairly. TikTok can be a powerful tool for businesses. And the platform is also supporting small businesses through a new grant program. Learn about this and other small business grant opportunities in the list below. Creciendo con TikTok Grant TikTok is teaming up with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to offer the Creciendo con TikTok Grant, supporting latino small businesses across the country. The $200,000 program will provide cash awards of $5,000 to 40 Latinx small businesses. The program aims to reward eligible business owners who have demonstrated perseverance, resourcefulness, hard work, and vision while serving their communities. The deadline to apply is October 23. Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here Duke Energy Foundation NKY Small Business Grants The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Duke Energy Foundation to provide grants to local businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans. Eligible businesses can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. To qualify, businesses must have 50 employees or fewer and be Duke Energy customers in Boone, Campbell, or Kenton counties. Businesses can use funds for various upgrades, including site adaptability and beautification, technology improvements, and hiring expenses. The deadline to apply is October 31. Redmond Small Business Resiliency Grants Redmond, Washington and OneRedmond are teaming up to offer grants to businesses that faced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of $5,000. To qualify, businesses must be located within Redmond ZIP code 98052, be a for-profit business, and have ten or fewer employees or be a sole proprietor. The program plans to award 100 grants using a lottery system, which will be performed by a third-party organization. The city plans to select and notify applicants in November and notify recipients by December 1. Montana STEP Grants The Montana Department of Commerce is allocating $800,000 in federal grant funding to a grant program designed to help small Montana businesses compete in international markets. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and is part of Commerces State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). Through the program, eligible Montana exporters can apply for grants of up to $10,000, which can cover up to half of the project costs for export-related activities like trade show exhibition fees, market research, international compliance testing, or foreign language translation. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $30,000 in STEP grants per year. Made in Maui County Festival Grants Mauis Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is supporting Maui small businesses that were negatively affected by wildfires over the summer by covering costs associated with participation in this years Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival on November 3 and 4. The organization is providing $65,000 in grants, which will cover the $450 booth fee for eligible vendors at the event. Small Business Deals Black Entrepreneurs Day The fourth annual Black Entrepreneurs Day will take place at New York Citys Apollo Theater with a free global livestream on November 1. As part of the event, the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant will award more than $200,000 in grants to Black-owned businesses. The deadline to apply for grants during this years event has passed. But this is an annual event with more grants likely to be awarded in future years. Theres also still room for companies interested in sponsoring or supporting the event. Starting your own Etsy printables business is easier than you might initially think. Selling printables on Etsy is a great way to make passive income through sharing and creating creative items. If you are interested in learning how to sell printables on Etsy, this article is for you. What Are Printables? Printables are digital products that users can download and print themselves rather than ordering a paper or physical product. Printable ideas can include digital planners, printable wall art, printable games, candy bar wrappers, greeting cards, and even seasonal printables such as gift tags. You can offer many types of products to make money online through your Etsy shop. Can You Make Money Selling Printables on Etsy? Starting a printables shop on Etsy can be a great way to earn passive income and run your own business. You can make money whenever someone downloads your Etsy stores printable products. Sell Your Business Drive Traffic to Your Website Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Advertise Your Business Here Why You Should Sell Printables on Etsy There are many reasons why Etsy is an excellent option for a printables business. However, if you are considering whether it is a good business idea to sell digital downloads, here are a few reasons why you should: Easy to run: An Etsy store for printables can be very profitable and does not require a lot of effort to run once you have added a few product listings. Time: Creating printables does not take that long, especially if you are an experienced graphic designer and you can price competitively to drive sales. Effort: Once you create the printable item, all you need to do is list it on Etsy. You earn money every time someone purchases and downloads the product, making it a solid stream of passive income. How to Make Printables to Sell on Etsy The process of creating printables is relatively easy, and you do not need a lot of tools to get started. Here is how to make printables to sell on Etsy. 1. Identify a design The first step is to identify the design you would like to create. For example, do you want to create printable digital art or functional items such as baby shower games, gift tags, planners, or other items? You can get ideas by looking at top-selling printables and Youtube tutorials to see what is popular. Small Business Deals 2. Take an Etsy printables course Depending on the type of digital download you want to create, you can find Etsy printables courses to help you get started with the right tools to make your products. 3. Download the right programs If you are ready to start selling printables, you will need specific programs. To create printables for your Etsy shop, you will need programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. These programs will help you create your printables and make any necessary edits and adjustments. 4. Make your printables You can start making your printables using free commercial use fonts and other free tools, such as stock photos, icons, and more, to create printables that you can sell in your new shop. Task Description Identify a design - Decide on the type of printable you want to create, such as digital art, games, or planners. - Research popular printables on Etsy and gather design ideas. - Consider checking out YouTube tutorials for creative inspiration. Take an Etsy printables course - Depending on your chosen printable type, enroll in an Etsy printables course. - These courses often provide valuable insights and tools for creating high-quality printables. Download the right programs - Acquire necessary software like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. - These programs are essential for designing and editing your printables effectively. Make your printables - Start creating your printables using your chosen software. - Utilize free commercial use fonts, stock photos, icons, and other design elements. - Craft visually appealing and functional printables that cater to your target audience. How to Sell Printables in an Etsy Shop Many Etsy sellers make money selling printables, and their Etsy shops offer a wide variety of products. You can get started selling printables on Etsy with the following steps: 1. Register for an Etsy shop Setting up a seller account on Etsy is free, and you will need to add an Etsy shop name to start selling digital downloads. Once thats done, your Etsy shop is ready to go! 2. List your products Once your Etsy shop is set up, you can start to add product listings. Bear in mind that there are Etsy fees associated with each product listing as well as each sale. You can list as many digital file products as possible with your Etsy business. 3. Optimize your listings When setting up your Etsy printables business, you should consider best practices for Etsy search engine optimization for your listings. That means ensuring that your listings have the right Etsy SEO, including product listing titles, descriptions, and other elements. In addition, you can look at different sellers to see how they optimize listings for Etsys search function. Tips for Making and Selling Printables on Etsy To successfully sell digital products, here are a few. tips to help you make more money 1. Promote your Etsy shop Once you have set up product listings, its time to start making a name for yourself among printable sellers. You should promote your business as an Etsy seller on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to encourage people to buy and download your digital files and build awareness about the business. 2. Set up Etsy ads Etsy does have options for paid advertising to drive more sales, including featured listings and other tools. You can use the ads to appear as a top result on the Etsy app and on the desktop for specific keywords. 3. Create themed printables Printables designed for specific occasions are more profitable, so consider adding event-specific type printables. This can include games for bachelorette parties and baby showers, and even adding a few ideas can help boost sales. 4. Check any commercial license requirements To ensure you can continue selling printables on Etsy and are not using copyrighted material, its crucial to do your due diligence that every creative element you use that is not created by you has the appropriate permissions for commercial sales. Tips for Making and Selling Printables on Etsy Insights Promote your Etsy shop - Utilize social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to establish an online presence and attract potential buyers. Building a brand and engaging with your target audience can boost sales and foster a community of supporters. Set up Etsy ads - Invest in Etsy's paid advertising features, including featured listings and promotions. Strategic use of these tools can help your printables stand out in Etsy search results, increasing visibility and potential sales. Create themed printables - Tailor your printables to specific occasions or niches, such as holidays, weddings, or hobbies. Addressing seasonal trends and customer preferences can expand your product range and attract a diverse customer base. Check commercial license requirements - Ensure compliance with copyright and licensing regulations when using third-party elements. Verify that you have the appropriate permissions for commercial use to avoid legal issues that could jeopardize your Etsy business. Customer Engagement Strategies for Your Etsy Printables Business Utilize Social Media: Create profiles on popular social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to showcase your printables, interact with potential buyers, and build a following. Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested customers and send them regular updates, promotions, and newsletters to keep them engaged and informed about your latest printables. Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your Etsy shop, as these reviews can help build trust and credibility among potential buyers. Customization Options: Offer customization services to allow customers to personalize your printables to their liking, attracting a broader audience. Customer Support: Provide excellent customer support by promptly addressing inquiries, concerns, and issues, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your printables and reach a wider audience through their endorsement. Seasonal Promotions: Create seasonal printables or special discounts for holidays and occasions to drive sales during peak times. Feedback and Surveys: Gather feedback from customers through surveys or polls to understand their preferences and improve your offerings. Blog and Content Creation: Maintain a blog or website to share informative content related to printables, crafting, and design, positioning yourself as an industry expert. Legal Considerations for Your Etsy Printables Business Copyright and Licensing: Ensure that you have the appropriate rights to use any graphics, fonts, or elements in your printables. Understand copyright laws and licensing agreements, and either create your own content or obtain licenses for commercial use. Commercial Use Policies: Clearly communicate your policies on the commercial use of your printables. Specify whether customers can resell, redistribute, or use them for commercial purposes, and outline any restrictions. Intellectual Property: Protect your own intellectual property by trademarking your brand name and logo, if applicable. Monitor your designs to prevent intellectual property theft. Taxation and Reporting: Familiarize yourself with tax regulations in your area and keep accurate records of your earnings and expenses. You may need to collect and remit sales tax depending on your location and the digital products you sell. Privacy and Data Protection: If you collect customer information, ensure that you comply with data protection laws, such as GDPR or CCPA, by obtaining consent and safeguarding customer data. Returns and Refunds: Establish a clear return and refund policy for your digital products. Define the circumstances under which customers can request refunds and the process for resolving disputes. Disclaimers: Include disclaimers in your product listings to clarify the intended use of your printables and any limitations or warranties associated with them. Business Structure: Consider whether you want to operate as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or another business structure. Each has its own legal implications, so consult with a legal professional for guidance. Contracts and Agreements: If collaborating with other designers or freelancers, create written contracts outlining responsibilities, payment terms, and rights to ensure a smooth working relationship. Local Regulations: Be aware of local business regulations, such as business licenses or permits, that may apply to your Etsy printables business. What Printables Make the Most Money on Etsy? The best-selling printables on Etsy include original designs such as art prints and watercolor art, as those are unique designs that customers can easily print themselves for their homes or as a gift. Is It Worth Selling Digital Downloads on Etsy? Selling digital products on Etsy can be worthwhile as it is a way to make passive income through graphic design. However, once the digital files are listed on Etsy, sellers do not have much to do except manage the shop and optimize their listings to attract more customers. What Is the Best Software for Making Printables? Programs used to create printables include software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other tools available in the creative market that can elevate your design. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Privacy policies, particularly website privacy policies, have become essential for every business website. They give your customers peace of mind by letting them know exactly how and why you collect and use their personal information. Moreover, they are required by law in most countries and states. What is a Website Privacy Policy? A website privacy policy is a critical component that most online businesses incorporate. It represents a commitment to the protection of user data and assures visitors of the websites intentions and actions surrounding their personal information. Definition : A website privacy policy is a written document hosted on your site that specifies data handling practices. It clearly communicates what type of data is collected, why its collected, and how its used, establishing a framework of transparency for visitors and customers. : A website privacy policy is a written document hosted on your site that specifies data handling practices. It clearly communicates what type of data is collected, why its collected, and how its used, establishing a framework of transparency for visitors and customers. Main Goals of a Privacy Policy : Transparency : Ensure that visitors have clarity regarding their datas collection and usage. Trust-Building : Foster trust by showcasing your businesss commitment to privacy and data protection. Legal Compliance : Adhere to international and local data protection regulations, avoiding legal repercussions. Business Integrity : Highlight the ethical practices of the business, which can enhance reputation and customer loyalty. : Potential Pitfalls of Not Having a Privacy Policy : Legal Ramifications : Many regions require businesses to have a clear privacy policy. Non-compliance can lead to fines and lawsuits. Loss of Consumer Trust : Visitors may be wary of websites that dont clarify their data usage, leading to decreased engagement and sales. Operational Challenges : Without clear guidelines on data use, businesses might face internal confusion, leading to data mishandling. Competitive Disadvantage : Many consumers prioritize their privacy. Without a clear policy, a business may be at a disadvantage compared to competitors that emphasize data protection. : Benefits and Risks of Website Privacy Policies The table below provides a summary of the benefits and challenges of website privacy policies: Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Sell Your Business Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here ries Benefits of Having a Privacy Policy Risks of Not Having a Privacy Policy Purpose - Transparency - Trust-Building - Legal Compliance - Business Integrity - Legal Ramifications - Loss of Consumer Trust - Operational Challenges - Competitive Disadvantage Consumer Relations - Enhanced customer trust - Clear communication with users - Increased loyalty - Distrust from visitors - Miscommunication or lack of communication - Potential loss of business Operational Clarity - Clear internal data guidelines - Streamlined data management processes - Internal confusion - Potential data mishandling Competitive Edge - Ethical advantage - Compliance attractiveness - Falling behind competitors - Potential legal non-compliance notices Heres a word from Flux Academy about how to easily add a website privacy policy to your online business that you can check out after reading: Website Privacy Policy Example You may want to see what one looks like before writing a privacy policy for your website. Most privacy policies include a few key sections. These include information collection practices and how that information is shared or used. They also include details about how users can control the use of their information. And they incorporate cybersecurity or cookie policies. Your website privacy policy may vary depending on how you use customer data. But check out this basic example. And you can see what a simple privacy policy might look like: Small Business Deals What Information We Collect and Use We collect and access information that you provide voluntarily. And we alone own this information. We will not sell or rent it to any third party. We only use your information as a means for contacting you directly. Or we may use it to delivering products and services. We may also use it to better tailor offers to you in the future. We may use your information to contact you in the future with special offers or updates to our privacy policy. However, you possess the option to opt-out or unsubscribe from this communication at any time. How to Access and Control Your Information You can also opt-out of our communication system at any time. Simply contact us via phone or email. Contact us to find out what information we have collected from you. Then change your personal data. Or you can ask us to delete your information from our database. You can also express other concerns. Security and Cookies We use cookies to collect information about visitors so we can better tailor offers on our website to your preferences. You have the option to block access at any time. Any section of our website that collects sensitive information, such as payment details, is encrypted for your protection. We also take steps to protect your information offline. Only employees that need your information for payment verification purposes are able to access it. If you have concerns about this policy, contact us via phone or email. Website Privacy Policy Generators Of course, your privacy policy should look a bit different than that example based on your specific data collection and use. To create a description that is suited to your specific business, you might consider using a generator. Here are a few of the options. Free Privacy Policy Generator. Free Privacy Policy Generator is a no-cost tool that allows you to quickly create a custom description for your site. Just answer a few quick questions about your business and it will generate a text that is compliant with the most common privacy laws. Free Privacy Policy Generator is a no-cost tool that allows you to quickly create a custom description for your site. Just answer a few quick questions about your business and it will generate a text that is compliant with the most common privacy laws. TermsFeed. TermsFeed offers a wide array of policies for everything from websites to mobile apps and even SaaS platforms. You can select the one that most closely describes your business and make sure it complies with all the relevant laws. TermsFeed offers a wide array of policies for everything from websites to mobile apps and even SaaS platforms. You can select the one that most closely describes your business and make sure it complies with all the relevant laws. Termly. Termly can help you generate a variety of different policies, including privacy policies, terms of use, disclaimers and cookie consent forms. Termly can help you generate a variety of different policies, including privacy policies, terms of use, disclaimers and cookie consent forms. Shopify. Shopify offers an option thats made for ecommerce sites. If you sell on the platform or have your own product based site, you simply fill in a few details and come out with a compliant policy. You dont even need a Shopify account to use it. Website Privacy Policy Templates You might also consider using a privacy policy template. This allows you to simply fill in blanks or customize parts of an existing text. Its important to find one thats relevant to your business and compliant with all of the necessary privacy laws that relate to your business. Here are a few to consider. Termly. Termly offers a downloadable privacy policy template that you can use to fill in your own information. This is a basic format that can be customized to nearly any type of business. Termly offers a downloadable privacy policy template that you can use to fill in your own information. This is a basic format that can be customized to nearly any type of business. Upcounsel. Upcounsel is a legal services provider that offers a fill-in-the-blank option for websites that use user-generated content. The site also goes into detail about what is required in a privacy policy and why every business needs one. Upcounsel is a legal services provider that offers a fill-in-the-blank option for websites that use user-generated content. The site also goes into detail about what is required in a privacy policy and why every business needs one. Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau offers a fairly general sample that you can edit to suit the needs of your specific business. The Better Business Bureau offers a fairly general sample that you can edit to suit the needs of your specific business. Legal Templates. Legal Templates offers a free and fairly lengthy privacy policy template. The site also includes some insights about customizing your own policy and making it work for your business. Website Privacy Policy Updates You should look over your privacy policy at least once per year or whenever you change your data collection or sharing practices. Its also essential for you to update your policies whenever a major change to a privacy law affects your business. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation was implemented in 2018 for all businesses that collect data from customers across the EU. This meant that every business that operated within the EU or with customers from the EU during that time frame needed to update their policies to comply with the new law. Flora Virginia Norris, 89, of Ridge, Maryland passed away on October 13, 2023, at St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown, Maryland. She was born on January 14, 1934, in Washington D.C. to the late Raymond Crawford Taff and Laura Ann Naomi Funk Taff. The majority of Flora's life was spent in Ridge, Maryland where she was a faithful part of the community on many levels. Flora graduated from St. Michael's School and was also a devoted parishioner of St. Michael's Catholic Church. On June 28, 1952, she married her beloved husband, Joseph "Jerry" Norris. Together they celebrated almost 67 wonderful years of marriage and were blessed with two sons. Flora enjoyed many hobbies but one of her favorites was all the years she spent playing softball for the American Legion. Also, she joyfully served with the Ladies of Charity and was proudly a part of the American Legion Auxiliary. Flora loved to travel, especially to Ocean City and to Florida where she would spend time with friends. Being married to an avid fisherman and crabber, Flora would tirelessly work when he came home with a catch to make her famous crab cakes for many friends and family. Flora is survived by her son, Thomas Raymond "Ray" Norris of Orange, VA; her sister, Ethel McKay of St. Inigoes, MD; her grandchildren: Karrie Powell, Jackie Lewis (Billy), Joshua Norris (Morgan), Kathleen Lam (Zeke) and Jeanine Norris; 25 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter; and many extended family and friends. In addition to her parents and loving husband, she is preceded in death by her son, Joseph Robert "Robbie" Norris; her daughter-in-law, Susan Norris; and her siblings: John Taff, Teddy Taff, Loren Taff, Dutch Taff, Jean Nickel, and Tish Young. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Flora's many friends who so generously reached out and cared for her in these final years. A special thanks to Paula McKay, her great niece, for the way she lovingly served in countless ways. Family will receive friends for Flora's Celebration of Life on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Reverend Peter Giovanoni at St. Michael's Catholic Church 16566 Three Notch Rd. Ridge, MD 20680. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Thomas Powell, Jordan Powell, Drew Powell, Will Lewis, Ezekiel Lam, and Aaron Gutierrez. Memorial contributions in Flora's name may be made to The Department of Aging and Human Services, Re: Home Delivered Meals P.O. Box 653 Leonardtown, MD 20650. (Photo : ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)) Police tape blocks off the area after a man shot four people in a building in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 3, 2023. One person was killed and three were injured in the southern US city of Atlanta on Wednesday when a gunman opened fire inside a building, police said, in the latest gun violence to hit the country. A University of Michigan-Flint student met a deadly end when she was shot and killed after being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend. The suspect, identified as her former partner, subsequently took his own life using the same firearm, as per Mail Online. Missing Michigan-Flint Student Killed by Ex-Boyfriend Gina Nicole Bryant, 25, a dedicated student at the University of Michigan-Flint, lost her life to domestic violence. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office reported that her ex-boyfriend tragically killed her 26-year-old, Dr. Justin Wendling, in La Salle, Illinois, on October 13, 2023. Gina's untimely death sent shockwaves through her community, leaving her friends and family grappling with a profound loss. Gina's best friend, Charlotte Jolly, expressed the family's heartbreak in a Facebook post, saying, "It's with a heavy heart that we write this post. The family has suffered an unspeakable and tragic loss due to domestic violence." Gina's disappearance raised concern among her co-workers when she failed to return from her lunch break on October 12. They began receiving unusual text messages from her phone, prompting the Macomb County Sheriff's Office to investigate her whereabouts. What they discovered was a harrowing tale of domestic violence and tragedy. The investigation revealed that Wendling was waiting for Gina when she returned home for lunch. Surveillance footage captured Wendling leading her to his car at 1:42 p.m. on that fateful day. The following day, he made a distressing call to his parents, confessing to killing Gina and expressing his intention to take his own life. Wendling's parents promptly alerted the authorities, revealing his location in LaSalle, his hometown. Tragically, surveillance footage and witness accounts from a truck stop in LaSalle confirmed that the suspect shot and killed Gina around midnight on October 13. Wendling fled to Bettendorf, Iowa, where he ended his life as local officers approached his vehicle. Gina and Wendling had been in a relationship for approximately 11 months, residing together in Grand Blanc Township. However, in late September, Gina's mother and sister moved her out of the apartment after she disclosed that she had been enduring months of abuse at the hands of Wendling. Gina's oldest sister, Angelica Gintner, shared fond memories of her. She described Gina as "a very beautiful, down-to-earth, giving woman" who could brighten anyone's day with her smile and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Meanwhile, Dr. Justin Wendling was a medical resident at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township, according to New York Post. Read Also: Hospital Strike in Gaza Kills Hundreds; Records Highest Death Toll Hospital's Compassion and Gina Bryant's Journey The hospital responded to the tragedy with a statement, offering emotional and spiritual support to its staff and providers during this difficult time. Spokeswoman Christine Gleason assured that the hospital was fully cooperating with law enforcement. Gina's academic journey was marked by ambition and dedication. She attended the prestigious International Academy in Oakland County, where she met one of her best friends, Courtney Pefley, who remembered her as a remarkable and caring friend. Gina graduated cum laude from Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights in 2016 and subsequently pursued her education at Grand Valley State University, earning her degree in 2020. At the time of her tragic passing, Gina was enrolled in the accelerated bachelor of science nursing program at the University of Michigan-Flint. Nursing school dean Cynthia McCurren expressed her sorrow in an email to Gina's colleagues and faculty, emphasizing the devastating impact of her loss on the community. McCurren described Gina as an "extraordinary young woman with much ahead of her." This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of the increasing prevalence of domestic violence cases. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham urged the public to be vigilant and supportive, stating, "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. Please, do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation." The tragedy of Gina Bryant's life being cut short by domestic violence is a stark and sad reminder of the urgent need for awareness, intervention, and support for those affected by abusive relationships. Her memory serves as a call to action to work collectively to prevent such devastating incidents and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals facing domestic violence, ABC12 News reported. Related Article: US Vetoes UN Resolution Calling for Pause in Israel-Hamas Conflict To Allow Humanitarian Aid @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/over-80-nobel-laureates-families-petition-for-release-of-child-hostages-in-gaza-1114371614.html Over 80 Nobel Laureates, Families Petition for Release of Child Hostages in Gaza Over 80 Nobel Laureates, Families Petition for Release of Child Hostages in Gaza Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, joined by Nobel Prize laureate Professor Daniel Kahneman and family members of the Israeli hostages, is set to deliver the petition to US Ambassador Robert Wood. 2023-10-20T21:22+0000 2023-10-20T21:22+0000 2023-10-20T21:22+0000 world hamas israeli-palestinian conflict children hostages gaza strip gaza strip /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0d/1114164370_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_21f2a57d53efff1b8f13604229ccc184.jpg "Let us not surrender to the moral exclusion of the world. The act of holding young children in captivity constitutes a war crime, a grievous offense against humanity itself. Our moral call is resolute: Let The Children Go," the petition signed by 86 Nobel Prize winners said. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, joined by Nobel Prize laureate Professor Daniel Kahneman and family members of the Israeli hostages, is set to deliver the petition to US Ambassador Robert Wood. Wood will subsequently deliver it to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The petition says that Hamas abducted hundreds of Israeli soldiers and civilians during the assault, including children ranging from 6 months to 18 years old. This comes after a large-scale attack by the Gaza-based Palestinian movement Hamas on Israel earlier this month, which led to thousands killed and injured on both sides. In response, Israel declared a state of war with Hamas, imposing a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, affecting water, electricity, and food supplies. 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 hamas, israeli hostages, children taken hostage, gaza strip, israeli-palestinian conflict, signed petition https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/possible-developer-of-ragnar-locker-ransomware-detained-in-france--1114372429.html Possible Developer of Ragnar Locker Ransomware Detained in France Possible Developer of Ragnar Locker Ransomware Detained in France The operation took place in three countries from Monday to Friday. The organized crime group is suspected of having carried out cyberattacks on 168 international companies around the world since 2020, according to the statement. 2023-10-20T22:27+0000 2023-10-20T22:27+0000 2023-10-20T22:27+0000 world europol eurojust ransomware crime cyber crime organized crime /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104498/21/1044982127_0:339:5124:3221_1920x0_80_0_0_16202fa0be9e361bdc297e0c2ea05534.jpg "An international operation coordinated by France, with the support of Eurojust and Europol, has dealt an important blow to the Ragnar Locker ransomware group At the end of the action week, the main perpetrator, suspected of being a developer of the Ragnar group, has been brought in front of the examining magistrates of the Paris Judicial Court," Eurojust said in a statement. The operation took place in three countries from Monday to Friday. The organized crime group is suspected of having carried out cyberattacks on 168 international companies around the world since 2020, according to the statement. In September 2022, a Portuguese newspaper reported that the personal data of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and a number of other government officials had been published on a darknet by Ragnar Locker. The hacker group was also responsible for a cyberattack on the TAP Air Portugal carrier. 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 ragnar locker ransomware, france, eu agency for criminal justice cooperation, eurojust, europol https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/qatar-reportedly-led-negotiation-with-hamas-that-resulted-in-release-of-2-us-hostages-1114372292.html Qatar Reportedly Led Negotiation With Hamas That Resulted in Release of 2 US Hostages Qatar Reportedly Led Negotiation With Hamas That Resulted in Release of 2 US Hostages US President Joe Biden confirmed earlier on Friday that Hamas released the two women and thanked Qatar, as well as Israel, for their partnership. 2023-10-20T22:13+0000 2023-10-20T22:13+0000 2023-10-20T22:37+0000 world israel palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict hamas hostages qatar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114372135_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c87b20999fe530479e69e964c9e73eef.jpg US President Joe Biden confirmed earlier on Friday that Hamas released the two women and thanked Qatar, as well as Israel, for their partnership on what is the first instance of hostage release since the start of hostilities on October 7. Hamas said the release was on "humanitarian grounds," as media reported that one of the women the mother suffered health issues. The negotiation with Hamas was led by Qatar and contributed to by the US, the newspaper said. It also cited several statements by Israeli officials in local media saying that the decision to release the women was made by Hamas unilaterally, and the Jewish state did not offer anything in exchange. The women, identified in the media as Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie, were handed over by Hamas to Israel via the Red Cross, though the details of the complete transfer remain unclear, according to the report. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that ten other US hostages remain unaccounted for. He added that US diplomats at the embassy in Israel expect to meet with the two released Americans very soon.On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and seizing 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. The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides. israel qatar Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hamas, us hostages, palestine-israel conflict, gaza strip, qatar, us, president joe biden, red cross https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/afzalov-appointed-commander-in-chief-of-russian-aerospace-forces-says-source-1114377750.html Afzalov Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Russian Aerospace Forces, Says Source Afzalov Appointed Commander-in-Chief of Russian Aerospace Forces, Says Source Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov has been appointed commander-in-chief of Russia's Aerospace Forces, a source familiar with the situation told Sputnik. 2023-10-21T08:17+0000 2023-10-21T08:17+0000 2023-10-21T08:17+0000 military sergei surovikin russia ukraine russian aerospace forces general staff /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106240/72/1062407230_0:21:1770:1017_1920x0_80_0_0_93f6bb72dda8b645d1811058ebfe4004.jpg Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov has been appointed commander-in-chief of Russia's Aerospace Forces, a source familiar with the situation told Sputnik.His predecessor in this post was Army General Sergei Surovikin.Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov is a graduate of the Pushkin Higher Military School of Air Defense Radio Electronics. In 2000 he graduated from the Air Defense Military University and in 2010 from the General Staff Military Academy. In July 2017, he was appointed Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Eastern Military District. In August 2018, he received the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Aerospace Forces. In December 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel-General. Afzalov was already commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces when Surovikin commanded the joint grouping of troops and forces in the zone of the special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/russian-aerospace-forces-equipped-with-kinzhal-missiles-begin-patrol-airspace-over-black-sea---1114284453.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 aerospace forces, commander-in-chief, colonel-general viktor afzalov https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/antagonism-toward-israel-on-historic-uptrend-amid-migrant-influx-says-ex-us-senator-1114374662.html Antagonism Toward Israel on Historic Uptrend Amid Migrant Influx, Says Ex-US Senator Antagonism Toward Israel on Historic Uptrend Amid Migrant Influx, Says Ex-US Senator "Antagonism toward Israel is on an historic uptrend; soon, the influx of migrants will overwhelm traditional support for Israel," the former politician said. 2023-10-21T03:35+0000 2023-10-21T03:35+0000 2023-10-21T03:35+0000 world israel palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict hamas gaza strip gaza strip refugees migrants /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/12/1114300252_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_ac6e01dfa6409427421e5b9f23bf5f2d.jpg "This passionate outpouring of support for Hamas, both in the US and in Europe, was a clear wakeup call for supporters of Israel. If globalists continue forcing western nations to accept waves of immigrants, Israel is likely to face diplomatic isolation within ten years," Black said. Black believes that before the Hamas attacks, the world had nearly abandoned the long-held plan for a two-state Palestinian solution. "But President Biden resurrected it by referring to the plan during his speech in Israel. Many world leaders have also resumed their support for the two-state plan for Palestine," he said. "The attack forced Saudi Arabia to indefinitely abandon the idea of normalizing relations with Israel." Black also pointed out that the military activities of Israel against Gaza prompted global protests in support of the people of Gaza and Palestine. On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and seizing 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. The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides. israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, palestine-israel conflict, hamas, gaza strip, refugees, migrants, virginia state senator richard black https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/biden-on-tightrope-as-global-opinion-turns-against-israels-siege-of-gaza-says-ex-senator-1114374823.html Biden on Tightrope as Global Opinion Turns Against Israel's 'Siege' of Gaza, Says Ex-Senator Biden on Tightrope as Global Opinion Turns Against Israel's 'Siege' of Gaza, Says Ex-Senator "More importantly, global opinion is turning against Israels siege, which has already killed more than twice as many Arabs as the Israelis lost. Biden is on a tightrope," the former senator told Sputnik. 2023-10-21T03:41+0000 2023-10-21T03:41+0000 2023-10-21T03:41+0000 world us politics joe biden gaza gaza strip israel palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict judaism islam /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 "Gaza is totally blockaded, without food, water, electrical power, communications, or medical supplies. Some are questioning how long Israels reprisals can continue before becoming excessive under the Law of Land Warfare," Black said. "More importantly, global opinion is turning against Israels siege, which has already killed more than twice as many Arabs as the Israelis lost. Biden is on a tightrope." Black went on to say that Biden now faces a sharp clash between two of the Democrat Partys most important blocs: Muslims and Jews. "Their stark divide is a daunting political challenge for him," Black said. Black pointed out that while in Israel, Biden tried to appeal to the two opposing factions. Besides, Black added, Biden said he would provide Gaza with $100 million in humanitarian aid and said the US was arranging for relief supplies to cross from Egypt into the Gaza Strip. "To satisfy major Jewish donors, the president must permit Israel to wage an unrestrained siege campaign for as long as possible," Black said. However, Black pointed out, the siege will undoubtedly lead to the starvation, death by thirst, and aerial slaughter of thousands of Palestinians, most of them civilians. "While the siege rages, the president must appear sympathetic toward innocent Palestinians in order to assuage the rising anger evident in pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupting around the world," he said. Considering boosted military assistance to Israel, Black thinks, that "war hawks" hope this conflict will trigger a vast new Mideast war. Black also said the attack by Hamas gives neocons a chance to burnish their tarnished prestige. "They hope to expand the war into Iran, Lebanon, and Syria, despite reliable intelligence that none of these were complicit in the attack by Hamas," he added. "Indeed, US intelligence showed that they were taken completely by surprise." On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and seizing 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. The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides. gaza 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 biden, us president joe biden, us foreign policy, israel-palestine conflict, gaza strip, us public opinion of biden https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/biden-says-hamas-attack-meant-to-disrupt-effort-to-normalize-israel-saudi-ties-1114374003.html Biden Says Hamas Attack Meant to Disrupt Effort to Normalize Israel-Saudi Ties Biden Says Hamas Attack Meant to Disrupt Effort to Normalize Israel-Saudi Ties "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said on Friday as quoted by a reporter in the White House press pool. "Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel." 2023-10-21T02:31+0000 2023-10-21T02:31+0000 2023-10-21T02:31+0000 world hamas saudi arabia saudi arabia israel palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/01/1113845468_0:0:2938:1654_1920x0_80_0_0_41d4acb96a8acf52b3c4cf9f57f4396c.jpg "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said on Friday as quoted by a reporter in the White House press pool. "Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel." Earlier this week, Biden said that the process of normalizing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not dead but will take some time. According to Biden, the Saudis, the Emiratis, and other Arab nations understand that their security and stability is enhanced if there's normalization of relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia reportedly ended the normalization talks after the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out on October 7, although Biden has insisted that a deal is still possible. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his Sunday meeting with Blinken emphasized the need to rein in Israels retaliatory response to Hamas attacks and stop its military operations and siege on Gazas civilian population. saudi arabia 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 joe biden, us foreign policy, hamas, israeli-saudi relations, israeli-palestinian conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/biden-speech-on-aid-to-israel-ukraine-embodied-america-last-policy-says-ex-us-diplomat-1114373322.html Biden Speech on Aid to Israel, Ukraine Embodied 'America Last' Policy, Says Ex-US Diplomat Biden Speech on Aid to Israel, Ukraine Embodied 'America Last' Policy, Says Ex-US Diplomat Biden's nationally broadcast speech seeking broad support for stepping up already huge levels of US aid to Ukraine and Israel was another unthinking, reflexive expression of the globalist mindset, says ex-US diplomat. 2023-10-21T00:53+0000 2023-10-21T00:53+0000 2023-10-21T00:53+0000 us politics joe biden biden administration americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114344136_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fcaaa3141670771d2ff47e0979cd36a3.jpg President Joe Biden's nationally broadcast speech seeking broad support for stepping up already huge levels of US aid to Ukraine and Israel was another unthinking, reflexive expression of the globalist mindset that has been destroying the US economy and society over the past several decades in pursuit of crazed international goals, former State Department diplomat James Carden said. The US president said he was requesting that Congress fund renewed supplies of weapons and other aid to President Volodymyr Zelensky's regime in Ukraine and he was linking that goal with pushing through a parallel enormous increased aid package to Israel as it prepares to invade Gaza to eliminate Hamas. However, Carden pointed out that Biden paid no attention to the out of control crime, security, economic, social and drug crises now sweeping the United States. Biden spent no time at all addressing the sufferings of the domestic communities that have been destroyed over the past three decades by free trade agreements, endless wars and an open border policy that has flooded the country with fentanyl and opioids which are killing what little remains of their communities, Carden said. The almost-81-year-old president gave no hint of new thinking, moderation, compromise or flexibility in his address, Carden added. Biden's comments "validated George Kennan's view that the United States is similar to one of those prehistoric monsters with a body as long as this room and a brain the size of a pin," Carden added. The Biden administration is requesting from Congress funds in the amount of $106 billion, primarily for the defense needs of Ukraine and Israel, but also for strengthening the United States' position in the Indo-Pacific and for operations on the southern US border. Of the total sum, the administration is requesting more than $60 billion for Ukraine. 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 president joe biden, joe biden, us foreign policy, ukraine, israel, us politics, us funding ukraine, us funding israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/canadian-lawmakers-call-on-trudeau-to-back-ceasefire-in-gaza--1114373843.html Canadian Lawmakers Call on Trudeau to Back Ceasefire in Gaza Canadian Lawmakers Call on Trudeau to Back Ceasefire in Gaza The letter, which was signed by more than 30 parliamentarians from the Liberal, NDP, and Green parties, also stressed the need to abide international law in responding. 2023-10-21T02:25+0000 2023-10-21T02:25+0000 2023-10-21T02:25+0000 world justin trudeau justin trudeau canada israeli-palestinian conflict hamas palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/17/1112820034_0:0:3074:1730_1920x0_80_0_0_bb74404bc41ed27ce55301bbc441f013.jpg "Canada has long been a voice for peace. The longer this conflict goes on, the more innocent civilians will pay with their lives," the lawmakers wrote in a letter released on Friday. "We demand that Canada join the growing international call for an immediate ceasefire. Canada must act before more innocent children are killed." The letter, which was signed by more than 30 parliamentarians from the Liberal, NDP, and Green parties, while condemning the October 7 Hamas attack that killed innocent civilians, also stressed the need to abide international law in responding. The Trudeau government has said Canada supports a two-state solution but also believes Israel has a right to defend itself. On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and seizing 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. The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides. canada 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 canada, israeli-palestinian conflict, gaza strip, ceasefire plea, canadian lawmakers, hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/donetsk-peoples-republic-shelled-by-ukraine-23-times-in-past-day-1114373158.html Donetsk People's Republic Shelled by Ukraine 23 Times in Past Day Donetsk People's Republic Shelled by Ukraine 23 Times in Past Day "Over the past 24 hours, the office reported 23 cases of fire by Ukrainian armed units," the office said on Telegram. 2023-10-21T00:36+0000 2023-10-21T00:36+0000 2023-10-21T00:36+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia donetsk donetsk people's republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0a/1114060817_0:235:3071:1962_1920x0_80_0_0_bec31d0cd5308cc67ae00d6a5c941f32.jpg "Over the past 24 hours, the office reported 23 cases of fire by Ukrainian armed units," the office said on Telegram. It said Ukrainian troops had fired 76 rounds of various ammunition. The office said one civilian had been wounded over the past 24 hours in Donetsk. A total of 36 shelling attacks by Ukrainian troops were registered in the previous day. ukraine russia donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, donetsk people's republic, russia's special military operation in ukraine (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) The White House logo is displayed in the Press briefing room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 31, 2020. The White House was compelled to remove a photograph of President Joe Biden meeting with US special forces in Israel because it revealed their identities. It has been reported that a small group of US special forces is present in Israel to guide the potential rescue of numerous hostages, including Americans, who are being held by the terror group Hamas in Gaza. Biden's Israel Visit Photo Showing Special Forces An image of President Joe Biden shaking hands with special forces operators during his visit to Israel caused quite a stir. The photo was initially published on the official White House Instagram page, where it remained for several hours, attracting thousands of likes and comments, as per Daily Mail. However, the image raised concerns as it appeared to violate Department of Defense rules, which typically mandate the blurring of elite units' identities in officially released photographs. The standard practice within the Pentagon is to conceal the identities of special forces operators, whether they are engaged in training or deployed on missions. This anonymity is essential to protect the individuals involved and the security of their operations. In the photo in question, the special forces operators, unshaven with beards, were seen wearing camouflage attire with American flags on their arms as they shook hands with President Biden. The encounter occurred during an event where the president met with Israeli medics who had responded to the recent attack by Hamas on October 7. It resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children. The now-deleted White House Instagram post included a caption, "In Israel, President Biden met with first responders to thank them for their bravery and the work they're doing in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks." This caption emphasized the president's visit to express gratitude and support for the Israeli first responders who had acted heroically in the face of adversity. The White House later acknowledged the error and apologized for inadvertently revealing the faces of the special forces operators. A White House spokesman said, "As soon as this was brought to our attention, we immediately deleted the photo. We regret the error and any issues this may have caused." The blunder did not go unnoticed in the political sphere, with Republican Representative Diana Harshbarger describing it as "gross incompetence." Read Also: Biden Admin Urged to Crack Down on Hamas Crypto Usage Security, Discretion Questions Surround Special Forces Incident The incident raised questions about the security and discretion surrounding such special forces operators. Regarding the presence of these special forces operators in Israel, a Pentagon spokesman offered limited information, stating, "We are providing planning and intelligence support to the Israelis regarding hostage recovery. That's about the extent of what I can provide right now." Separately, a Pentagon official explained that the US had deployed personnel as part of a broader assistance package to support efforts related to hostage recovery. This support included military personnel providing advice and consultation on hostage recovery efforts. The White House has acknowledged the presence of a 'small handful' of US hostages among the more than 150 individuals being held by Hamas in Gaza. While the US is actively working to locate these hostages, the White House clarified that there are no plans or intentions to deploy US troops to participate directly in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This incident involving the release of the special forces operators' identities brings the delicate balance between transparency, national security, and operational secrecy to the forefront. The decision to reveal their faces during President Biden's visit sparked controversy, raising concerns about the potential risks of such disclosures. It is worth noting that this is not the first time special forces' identities have been unintentionally exposed in a public setting. In 2018, during President Donald Trump's administration, a video was posted on social media showing unblurred footage of Navy SEALs who had been deployed to Iraq. This incident, like the recent one, ignited debates about the appropriate level of transparency and security in such matters, Times Now Navbharat reported. Related Article: New York AG Calls for Evidence Review After Key Witness in Trump Civil Fraud Trial Accused of Lying Under Oath @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/hamas-says-planned-to-release-2-more-hostages-but-israel-allegedly-declined-offer-1114394080.html Hamas Says Planned to Release 2 More Hostages, But Israel Allegedly Declined Offer Hamas Says Planned to Release 2 More Hostages, But Israel Allegedly Declined Offer The Hamas movement in Palestine said on Saturday that they had planned to release two more hostages without conditions but that proposal was rejected by Israel. 2023-10-21T20:30+0000 2023-10-21T20:30+0000 2023-10-21T20:30+0000 world gaza strip israel hamas palestine 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/14/1114372135_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c87b20999fe530479e69e964c9e73eef.jpg "Last night we notified the Qatari brothers that we will release Nurit Ishak and Yohevid Efshitz on humanitarian grounds, without any conditions. However, the occupation government rejected this proposal," the movement said in a statement. On Friday evening, the Israeli government confirmed the release of two US citizens from captivity in the Gaza Strip. 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. The blockade was later eased to allow trucks with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Thousands of dead and injured have been reported on both sides as a result of the escalation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/bidens-106-bln-war-chest-will-pass-because-no-ones-going-to-vote-against-aid-to-israel-1114392392.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 hostages in gaza, hamas hostages, israel declines hostage offer, israel attempts to get hostages https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/indian-imports-of-russian-raw-diamonds-hit-5-year-high-in-august---statistics-1114376912.html Indian Imports of Russian Raw Diamonds Hit 5-Year High in August - Statistics Indian Imports of Russian Raw Diamonds Hit 5-Year High in August - Statistics India bought $215 million worth of raw diamonds from Russia in August, the highest value since March 2018, when it imported $481 million worth of Russian gems, according to data from the Indian Commerce Ministry analyzed by Sputnik. 2023-10-21T05:18+0000 2023-10-21T05:18+0000 2023-10-21T05:18+0000 world russia alrosa india diamonds diamonds /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15607/25/156072583_0:156:3460:2102_1920x0_80_0_0_fa28d57c4d2b0a98d7d03314746a1d05.jpg Indias diamond imports from Russia quadrupled in August month-on-month, or 9% year-on-year, as the industry mulled a halt in supplies to avoid a glut. The purchase raised this years total to $863 million, up 29% from 2022. Indias Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council said in late September that Russian diamond producer Alrosa had agreed to pause raw diamond exports to India for September and October. The Indian gem trade body asked other diamond-mining giants to halt supply for two months from mid-October after seeing a drop in demand for finished diamonds in the United States and China. India accounts for about 90% of the worlds diamond cutting and polishing. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230327/western-attempts-to-hinder-russian-diamond-exports-contradict-industry-interests-moscow-1108822867.html 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 russian raw diamonds, diamonds from russia, russian gems https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/iran-compares-israel-to-daesh-after-unintentional-idf-strike-on-gaza-church-1114387198.html Iran Compares Israel to Daesh After 'Unintentional' IDF Strike on Gaza Church Iran Compares Israel to Daesh After 'Unintentional' IDF Strike on Gaza Church An annex of the ancient Gaza-based Church of Saint Porphyrius was hit by four Israeli missiles on Thursday, killing up to 18 people and burying dozens more under the ruble. The Israeli military said the strike was meant for a nearby Hamas command post, and that the church was not the target. 2023-10-21T13:30+0000 2023-10-21T13:30+0000 2023-10-21T13:49+0000 world hossein amir-abdollahian mohammad baqeri bashar assad middle east gaza israel iran hamas israel defense forces (idf) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/15/1114387024_0:131:2500:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_572bacae0690bdf363b75f5d0a0e94b8.jpg Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has compared Israel to the worlds most notorious terrorist group over the IDFs missile attack on a Christian church.Completed in the year 1160 and named after the 5th century bishop of Gaza of the same name, Saint Porphyrius Church is the oldest continuously used church in the Gaza Strip, and is situated in the heart of the historic part of Gaza City.Israel acknowledged its responsibility for Thursdays strike on one of the churchs campuses, with the IDF saying in a statement Friday that the incident is under review, and that the military could unequivocally state that the church was not the target.Gaza is home to three churches Saint Porphyrius, which is Greek Orthodox, the Gaza Baptist Church for Evangelical and Protestant Christians, and the Roman Catholic Holy Family Church. All three have been providing shelter to Gazas residents over the past two weeks amid unrelenting Israeli air, missile, and artillery strikes. Gazas Christian community is estimated to consist of as few as 1,100 believers, but the churches have accepted people of all faiths and denominations during the crisis.Separately, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem operates the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The hospitals cancer treatment center suffered damage in an Israeli rocket strike on October 14, which injured four hospital staff. The hospital was hit a second time on October 17, killing up to 471 people. The Gaza Health Ministry blamed Israel for the attack, while Tel Aviv and Washington claimed the blast was caused by a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket.Officials from Iran, Israels main regional archenemy and geopolitical adversary, have been outspoken in their condemnation of Tel Avivs military operations in Gaza, which followed in the wake of the October 7 Hamas surprise attacks into southern Israel after months of rising tensions.On Thursday, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian compared the escalation of the 75-year-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict to a powder keg ready to explode. Separately this week, Iranian top military commander Mohammad Baqeri warned that the crisis could escalate into a regional conflagration if attacks on Gaza dont stop. The warnings come amid feverish efforts by some Israeli and US officials to manufacture consent for war against Iran on the pretext of unsubstantiated claims of Iranian support for Hamas.So far, Tehran has not taken the bait to escalate, and has instead joined Russia, China, Turkiye, and other nations in calling for a ceasefire, and slammed the US for vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution Wednesday calling for humanitarian pauses in the fighting.Iran knows a thing or two about fighting jihadist extremists, sending hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force advisors to Syria in 2012 to save the Assad government from a CIA-backed dirty war, which involved the provision of billions of dollars in cash, arms, and training for jihadists flocking to Syria. From 2014 onward, the IRGC assisted in the formation of Iraqs so-called Popular Mobilization Forces amid the international campaign to defeat Daesh.The efforts of the IRGC and its late commander Qasem Soleimani, who was murdered in an unprovoked US missile strike in 2020, have been widely credited with helping to defeat Daesh, al-Qaeda*, and other terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, and saving the countries Christian, Yazidi, and Kurdish communities from the scourge of terrorism.* Terrorist groups outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/the-forgotten-minority-the-gaza-strips-ancient-and-dwindling-christians-population-1114353606.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/us-elites-need-middle-east-war-to-preserve-regional-hegemony---economist-1114326355.html gaza israel iran 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 israel, iran, gaza, strike, church, attack, daesh, isis, foreign ministry, conflict, crisis, escalation, palestine Turkiye to Send Humanitarian Aid to Egypt With Medicines for Gaza Residents - Ministry Turkiye will send a plane with medicines and medical specialists to Egypt on Sunday to help refugees from the Gaza Strip, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Saturday. "To provide aid to Gaza, a plane belonging to our Presidency is leaving tomorrow morning for Egypt with medicine and medical consumables. There will be a physician group consisting of 20 specialists on the plane Our expert team of 20 persons will identify with the Egyptian authorities the medicines, medical consumables and devices needed by the people of Gaza," Koca said on X. The minister added that the Turkish medical specialists would also carry out "the feasibility works for our field hospitals to be established at El-Arish Airport and Rafah Border Gate." "Simultaneously with these activities, we are planning to send the medicines, medical consumables and medical devices in the list of needs previously submitted by the Egyptian Ministry of Health to El-Arish Airport with our 3 cargo planes," Koca said, adding that later, Ankara will send the field hospitals and ambulances. Three young Palestinian sisters from Gaza leave the West Bank occupied by Israeli troops to go to Jordan across the Jordan river January 23, 1968. The movement of Palestinians from the West Bank of Gaza to Jordan in January 1968 was not a mass exodus or displacement like the Palestinian refugee crisis of 1948 but rather a result of complex political and military developments during that period. In the late 1960s, the West Bank was under Israeli military occupation following the Six-Day War in 1967, and tensions in the region were escalating. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was gaining prominence as a resistance organization, and there were sporadic clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces. The specific events that prompted some Palestinians to flee to Jordan in early 1968 are related to the conflict and Israeli military actions in the West Bank and Gaza. These actions included military raids, curfews, and crackdowns on Palestinian activists, which led to a sense of insecurity and fear among some Palestinian communities. As a result, some Palestinians may have chosen to leave the West Bank and Gaza for Jordan, seeking safety and refuge from the ongoing conflict and Israeli military operations. It's important to note that not all Palestinians in these territories left, and many remained in their homes despite the difficult circumstances. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/pentagons-crafty-plan-ukraine-to-receive-frankenstein-air-defenses-from-us-1114355508.html Pentagon's Crafty Plan: Ukraine to Receive 'Frankenstein' Air Defenses From US Pentagon's Crafty Plan: Ukraine to Receive 'Frankenstein' Air Defenses From US The Pentagon has greenlit a new air defense project custom-tailored for Kiev. According to US media reports, Ukraine will receive anti-aircraft missile systems produced in an unusual manner by the US defense industry. Sputnik reports on what Washington has in mind. 2023-10-21T10:08+0000 2023-10-21T10:08+0000 2023-10-21T10:08+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine us ukraine washington kiev pentagon ukrainian armed forces buk ronald reagan igor korotchenko /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0e/1105436450_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ac73fea2aefe6176dd10e7562cfa5be2.jpg The Ukrainian military is experiencing a serious shortage of anti-aircraft defenses. This is because of the Russian forces' use of long-range Lancet kamikaze drones, and the Russian Aerospace Forces deployment of precision-guided glide bombs, which have greatly thinned the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' frontline air defenses. To protect infantry and equipment, Kiev has been forced to move its air defense systems closer to the front, where they can fall prey to cheap Russian FPV drones.Consequently, Kiev's requests for advanced air defenses from its Western patrons have become increasingly urgent. The armed conflict that has broken out in the Middle East has exacerbated the problem. Israel asked for help from the US on the first day of hostilities. The Pentagon is on the horns of a dilemma - whether Israel or Ukraine is more deserving of its support. The latest rhetoric would suggest that Washington is more inclined to help Tel Aviv, with Ukraine left scrambling for whatever scraps are left.Old 'Monsters' for the FrontlineAccording to one major international news agency, the US Department of Defense believes this approach will quickly provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with some much-needed air defense capabilities. This, in turn, will prepare the Ukrainian army for the winter campaign.In this way, Washington hopes to achieve three goals at once: it will load its defense industry up with orders for "FrankenSAMs", get rid of obsolete explosives, and demonstrate "support for its ally" to the world.A Reagan-Era Veteran MissileAccording to the media, the Pentagon is working on three projects as part of the FrankenSAM program. The first is almost finished: Ukraine will initially receive a ground-based short-range air defense system with AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, according to the news agency's source. Without going into detail, the source explained that the chassis, launchers, radar and other equipment for the system will be provided by the US and its allies. This, the media outlet noted, will help "meet Kiev's vital air defense needs" and tackle related issues.Washington announced the delivery of Sidewinder missiles in August, after the release of what was then its latest military aid package. This raised many questions, as the missile is of the air-to-air variety. Ukrainian fighter jets still in service are not capable of firing it without significant modifications to their on-board electronic systems, and the first F-16s for the Ukrainian armed forces are not expected until next spring at the earliest.The AIM-9 Sidewinder is the grandfather of a weapons system that entered production in 1956 and has undergone several upgrades over the years. The forthcoming short-range air defense version of the system will be equipped with the 9M variant, introduced in 1983 and actively used during Operation Desert Storm. The period of most extensive production coincided with the years of this conflict.In the early 2000s, this modification was replaced by the more advanced AIM-9X, with the Reagan-era AIM-9M variants stored away. It's unknown how effective these 30-year-old missiles will be against modern Russian aircraft, but the fact is that the US has enough of these munitions to supply Ukraine for months.Americanized BukThe second offspring of the FrankenSAM project will be an air defense system based on early versions of the Soviet Buk missile system. The Americans plan to modernize Ukraine's remaining inventory of these systems to accommodate outdated AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles, which were also introduced in 1956.It's known that the "Buks" will be modified to use the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow ship-based variant of the missile. It seems to be easier to adapt a naval version for land-based launches than an airborne one. Also, similar adaptations have been made before. In the early 1990s, the Pentagon provided Taiwan with 500 RIM-7 missiles modified for ground-based launch. But during exercises in 2012, three of Taiwan's Sea Sparrows malfunctioned and crashed into the sea, prompting Taipei to stop using the missiles.It's unlikely that the American Sparrow arsenal has miraculously become more reliable over the past 11 years. It's also unclear whether these missiles will pose a greater threat to Russian aviation or to the Ukrainians themselves in the area where Ukrainian air defenses are deployed.The same question applies to the third known component of the FrankenSAM project. The Pentagon is working on the modernization of the HAWK medium-range surface-to-air defense system, which was introduced in 1959. Ukraine already operates several of these systems, but no reports on their success have been published by Ukrainian command.However, improvised air defenses can be effective. The Yugoslav experience in 1999 demonstrated this when an outdated Serbian S-125 system successfully shot down a state-of-the-art American stealth fighter, the F-117.Furthermore, the FrankenSAM project is unlikely to be an attempt to move away from the Ukrainian issue and gradually cut off military supplies.The FrankenSAM project is likely to be a temporary fix. The US is at present actively reviving its defense production to replenish depleted stockpiles - its own, Ukraine's, and those of NATO allies. The purpose of these makeshift anti-aircraft missile "monsters" is to buy the Ukrainian military time until factories are operating at full capacity. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/white-house-asks-congress-for-106bln-to-support-ukraine-israel-us-border-other-matters-1114364008.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/us-to-lead-coalition-of-countries-workin-with-ukraine-to-develop-its-air-force---pentagon-chief-1114105848.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230417/report-us-to-sell-taiwan-400-anti-ship-harpoon-missiles-to-repel-chinese-invasion-1109607447.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231007/russian-air-defense-systems-destroy-ukrainian-s-200-missile-flying-to-crimea-1114008576.html ukraine washington kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Andrey Kots https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0d/1113345217_428:0:2132:1704_100x100_80_0_0_572c3cfc2b7e5fdab0f340359bd4760b.jpg Andrey Kots https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0d/1113345217_428:0:2132:1704_100x100_80_0_0_572c3cfc2b7e5fdab0f340359bd4760b.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 Andrey Kots https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0d/1113345217_428:0:2132:1704_100x100_80_0_0_572c3cfc2b7e5fdab0f340359bd4760b.jpg frankensam, ukraine, sam, russia, nato, proxy war, frankenstein, united states, air defense https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/pm-justin-trudeau-exits-canada-mosque-to-shouts-of-shame--booing-1114384845.html PM Justin Trudeau Exits Canada Mosque to Shouts of 'Shame!' & Booing PM Justin Trudeau Exits Canada Mosque to Shouts of 'Shame!' & Booing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got a generous dose of booing during a visit to a mosque in Toronto on October 20. 2023-10-21T12:56+0000 2023-10-21T12:56+0000 2023-10-21T12:56+0000 world canada justin trudeau palestine-israel conflict mosque israel hamas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/11/1097399207_0:191:2963:1857_1920x0_80_0_0_cc762bea1a48b9b16d904d7ffdb5bcc2.jpg Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got a generous dose of booing during a visit to a mosque in Toronto on October 20.In a video that has gone viral on the Internet, people gathered inside the mosque are heard exclaiming shame on you and take your people and go, insisting that the Canadian PM not be allowed to speak at the podium. According to local media, Trudeau addressed those inside the place of worship, thanking them for allowing him to pray alongside you in this difficult time. Earlier, the Prime Ministers Office confirmed that Justin Trudeau had paid a visit to the International Muslims Organization of Toronto on Friday to show his support to those impacted in the Muslim community from the horrific events in the Middle East. However, both worshippers inside the mosque and protesters flanking the street outside were urging the prime minister to advocate for a ceasefire in the Palestine-Israel conflict.On social media, people reacted to the video by slamming the Canadian PM for double standards, announcing full support of Israel against Hamas / Palestine, and still pretending to be a friend of Muslims.This comes after dozens of Canadian lawmakers from multiple political parties urged Justin Trudeau to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Trudeau government has said Canada supports a two-state solution, but also believes Israel has a right to defend itself."Canada has long been a voice for peace. The longer this conflict goes on, the more innocent civilians will pay with their lives. We demand that Canada join the growing international call for an immediate ceasefire. Canada must act before more innocent children are killed," the lawmakers wrote in a letter released on Friday.The letter, which was signed by more than 30 parliamentarians from the Liberal, NDP, and Green parties, while condemning the October 7 attack by Hamas, stressed the need to abide by international law when retaliating.Furthermore, several prominent Canadian Jewish organizations called on the PM to retract and clarify his earlier remarks pertaining to the fatal blast at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of Palestinians taking shelter there from pummeling by Israels retaliatory strikes on the enclave.On Tuesday, a missile hit the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, causing a massive blast in which more than 500 people were killed, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza. Hamas blamed the explosion on an Israeli strike, a narrative that was rejected by the Israel Defense Forces, which said the hospital had been hit by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.Trudeau, when questioned by reporters, appeared to give credence to the claims the blast was the result of an Israeli airstrike, saying in French that it was not legal, and adding that it was absolutely unacceptable."Canadian elected officials, the media, and other influencers have a responsibility to verify facts before commenting, particularly during times of war," the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, B'nai Brith, and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/canadian-lawmakers-call-on-trudeau-to-back-ceasefire-in-gaza--1114373843.html canada 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 palestine-israel conflict, hamas attack, canada's prime minister justin trudeau https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/russia-repels-10-ukrainian-attacks-in-krasny-liman-direction-in-past-24-hours---mod-1114387448.html Russia Repels 10 Ukrainian Attacks in Krasny Liman Direction in Past 24 Hours - MoD Russia Repels 10 Ukrainian Attacks in Krasny Liman Direction in Past 24 Hours - MoD The Russian armed forces have repelled 10 attacks by the Ukrainian military in the Krasny Liman direction over the past 24 hours, with Kiev losing up to 100 servicepeople in this direction as a result, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. 2023-10-21T12:21+0000 2023-10-21T12:21+0000 2023-10-21T12:21+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian defense ministry russia ukraine donetsk people's republic donetsk region attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/1c/1112937708_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_566700cabc7a1b46731f2395053fe7bf.jpg "Coordinated actions of the units of the central group of forces, strikes of army aviation and artillery fire enabled [Russian troops] to repel 10 attacks by assault groups of the 24th, 51st, 53rd, 110th mechanized brigades and the 1st special brigade of the Ukrainian army in the Krasny Liman direction," the ministry said. In addition, the Russian army destroyed up to 140 Ukrainian military in the South Donetsk direction, the ministry said. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces repelled three attacks by the Ukrainian army, destroying up to 20 servicepeople, as well as a UK-made FH-70 howitzer and a US-made M119 howitzer, the ministry added. Moreover, in the Donetsk direction, Kiev lost up to 260 servicepeople killed and wounded and a US-made M777 howitzer, the ministry said. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces repelled five attacks in the Kharkov region and the Lugansk People's Republic, with Kiev losing up to 50 military, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/donetsk-peoples-republic-shelled-by-ukraine-23-times-in-past-day-1114373158.html russia ukraine donetsk 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 ukrainian attacks, russian defense ministry, krasny liman direction https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/russian-military-mulls-creating-special-units-armed-with-mini-attack-drones---report-1114378265.html Russian Military Mulls Creating Special Units Armed With Mini-Attack Drones - Report Russian Military Mulls Creating Special Units Armed With Mini-Attack Drones - Report The Russian Armed Forces are reportedly actively discussing the possibility of creating separate units armed with attack mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 2023-10-21T10:17+0000 2023-10-21T10:17+0000 2023-10-21T10:17+0000 russia russian armed forces uavs drones unmanned aerial vehicle lancet military military & intelligence ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/15/1114377885_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_3328928d3b9ff2881a2bdd0fd0f24ab3.jpg The Russian Armed Forces are reportedly discussing the possibility of creating separate units armed with mini-attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).There is an ongoing active discussion about creating separate units or attached units armed with mini-attack drones, which will allow to standardize the use of this type of weapon, increase its distribution in the troops and enhance combat effectiveness, an informed source told Sputnik.It was added that in particular, there are plans to unify the tactics of using such mini-drones, as well as standardize the training of drone operators.Drone warfare has been taken to an unprecedented scale amid the Ukraine conflagration. Mini-attack UAVs - mostly civilian quadcopters adapted for dropping grenades on the enemy or delivering hollow-charge shells to target armored vehicles - have become one of the newest areas of combat operations of Russias forces in the special military operation zone. Such drones are utilized successfully by the hundreds, the source said, adding:Russias Ministry of Defense, military correspondents, and individual units have been actively publishing video footage showing the use of mini-quadcopters modified for combat purposes targeting the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the special op zone. The classic version of this type of weapon involves dropping grenades for an automatic grenade launcher or ordinary hand grenades from a Mavic-type quadcopter.Another common option is an FPV (First Person View) drone with a cumulative warhead from a rocket-propelled grenade of an RPG-7 portable, shoulder-launched, anti-tank, rocket-propelled grenade launcher. In this case, the drone, together with the grenade, hits the enemys armored vehicles with cumulative ammunition. Such weapons, while inexpensive, are nevertheless capable of successfully obliterating the most protected and durable of enemy combat vehicles on the battlefield, such as tanks.The special operation in Ukraine has significantly transformed the vision of the place and role of certain weapons systems and military equipment in the Russian military, according to Denis Fedutinov, a leading Russian expert on unmanned aircraft. He noted that, to a large extent, this applies to small-sized multi-rotor systems, both reconnaissance and reconnaissance-strike, which had previously been underestimated. He added that feedback from the battlefield has been reaching the military leadership, prompting adjustments to the use of systems that have shown their effectiveness in practice.The expert also pointed out the need to adjust the procurement system for such UAVs, taking into account the experience accrued amid the ongoing special operation.As the Ukrainian Army drags on its futile attempts to reinvigorate a counteroffensive that has wrought huge losses in manpower and equipment for the Zelenksy regime, Kievs military has been facing a formidable opponent in Russia's state-of-the-art Lancet loitering munition/kamikaze attack drone, capable of performing surgical strikes on the enemy. The Russian Army uses Lancet drones in the special operation zone to target various Ukrainian military assets such as howitzers, air defenses, multiple launch rocket systems, as well as command and observation posts, and congregations of troops. Furthermore, a new modification of Russias Lancet kamikaze drone is capable of hitting targets at a considerable distance, posing a threat to air bases of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), as US military news outlets have recently reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230920/russias-cutting-edge-lancet-kamikaze-drones-put-ukraines-air-bases-in-striking-range-1113514330.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/russian-spetsnaz-operator-explains-how-drones-are-changing-modern-warfare-1113985689.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230924/russias-modified-lancet-drones-may-prod-ukraine-to-rearrange-its-military-assets---report-1113619231.html russia 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 russian armed forces, russia's special military operation in ukraine, units armed with attack mini-unmanned aerial vehicles, uavs, russia's kamikaze drones, drone attack, russia's lancet kamikaze drones, lancet loitering munition/kamikaze attack drone https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/twenty-trucks-with-medical-supplies-cross-into-gaza-strip---egyptian-red-crescent-1114381613.html Twenty Trucks With Medical Supplies Cross Into Gaza Strip - Egyptian Red Crescent Twenty Trucks With Medical Supplies Cross Into Gaza Strip - Egyptian Red Crescent Twenty trucks with medical supplies and food for residents of the Gaza Strip have gone through the Rafah checkpoint on the border with Egypt, with their cargo handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Egyptian Red Crescent said on Saturday. 2023-10-21T09:24+0000 2023-10-21T09:24+0000 2023-10-21T09:24+0000 world palestine-israel conflict gaza strip egypt palestine red crescent middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/15/1114381222_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_46abe845bd3b62e5e0965816fc57b977.jpg "Twenty trucks carrying medical supplies and medications crossed the Rafah checkpoint and were handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent," the Egyptian branch of the humanitarian organization said in a statement. The checkpoint was closed after the trucks entered the Gaza Strip, media reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231020/over-80-nobel-laureates-families-petition-for-release-of-child-hostages-in-gaza-1114371614.html gaza strip egypt 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 gaza strip, egyptian red crescent, medical supplies China-Australia economic, trade cooperation to benefit both countries, world: ambassador Xinhua) 13:33, October 21, 2023 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." (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (C) departs Manhattan Federal Court after an arraignment hearing on March 30, 2023 in New York City. Federal prosecutors added a foreign bribery charge to the list of crimes that Bankman-Fried is already facing. The indictment accuses the FTX founder of directing $40 million in bribes to Chinese government officials to unfreeze assets related to his cryptocurrency business. The New York fraud trial of Sam Bankman-Fried has provided new insights into the abrupt collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, shedding light on the bitter rivalry between Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao, CEO of rival exchange Binance. A year ago, FTX and Binance were significant players in the cryptocurrency sector, collectively holding nearly 46% of the spot trading market share. Crypto Titans in Clash According to Fortune, both Bankman-Fried and Zhao were prominent figures in the industry, with Bankman-Fried gaining recognition for his efforts to promote digital assets through sponsorships and lobbying. However, FTX's sudden collapse in November last year sent shockwaves through the crypto markets. Bankman-Fried now faces fraud charges, accused of embezzling billions of dollars from his customers. Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, including private notes from Caroline Ellison, CEO of Bankman-Fried's trading firm Alameda Research. These notes revealed Bankman-Fried's concerns about getting regulators to take action against Binance. The trial also disclosed how a leaked balance sheet in November 2022 exposed Alameda's risky reliance on FTT, a crypto token issued by FTX. A tweet from Zhao, stating that he would liquidate millions in FTT, triggered a chain reaction leading to the downfall of FTX. Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, as part of a fundraising campaign aimed at rescuing the company, serious allegations have been made against Zhao, the head of a rival exchange. Based on these documents, Zhao is accused of managing a corporate raid to remove the competition. In a recent development, Bankman-Fried, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency industry, has made serious allegations against Binance. To Bankman-Fried, Binance has been involved in a public relations campaign to undermine FTX, a competing cryptocurrency platform. One of the claimed tactics employed by Binance includes leaking FTX's balance sheet to a crypto news outlet. These accusations have raised concerns and sparked a new wave of discussions within the industry. The source of the leak had been a longstanding question in the crypto community. Bankman-Fried had previously hinted at Binance's involvement in attacks against his companies but had not made explicit public accusations. The trial has unraveled the complex relationship between the two executives in the cryptocurrency market. Initially, Zhao, an early investor in FTX, was willing to collaborate with Bankman-Fried, recognizing his expertise in covering markets and taking risks that Binance avoided. Read Also: NYC Subway: 'Mentally-Ill' Man Casually Pushed Woman Into Moving Train FTX, Binance Ties The relationship between Bankman-Fried and the individual in question turned sour due to Bankman-Fried's increasing political influence within the United States' cryptocurrency sector. Bankman-Fried's involvement included testifying before congressional committees, advocating for cryptocurrency legislation, and making political donations to support candidates. Accodring to Financial Times, Zhao had his share of clashes with regulators worldwide, as they raised concerns about Binance's compliance and consumer protection. Bankman-Fried's rise as a crypto leader led to suspicions that he prioritized his company's interests over those of the broader crypto sector, including Binance. Ellison's testimony revealed the extent of the deteriorating relationship between FTX and Binance. Bankman-Fried had hoped that a regulatory action against Binance would cause Binance customers to move to FTX, but this scenario did not materialize. Former FTX executives speculate that Bankman-Fried's lobbying campaign against Binance triggered Zhao. In November 2022, Zhao tweeted that Binance would sell hundreds of millions of dollars worth of FTT, which it had received as payment when it sold its equity stake in FTX back to Bankman-Fried. According to Ellison, Bankman-Fried viewed the decision to buy out Binance's $2 billion stake in FTX as essential to protect FTX from Binance's actions. Zhao's tweet on the same day contributed to a decline in the price of FTT and a surge in customer withdrawals from FTX. This panic exposed a shortfall in FTX customer funds. After failing to secure capital to rescue FTX, Zhao agreed to buy the exchange but later backed out, claiming due diligence revealed mishandling of customer funds. FTX subsequently filed for bankruptcy Changpeng Zhao has denied attacking FTX, stating, "A tweet can destroy no healthy business." Related Article: Sam Bankman-Fried's Top Engineer Received Multi-Million Dollar Loan, Reveals FTX Exec's 'Flashy' Spending @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/unwinnable-from-the-beginning-two-thirds-of-us-believe-afghan-war-was-not-worth-it---poll-1114373006.html 'Unwinnable From the Beginning': Two-Thirds of US Believe Afghan War Was Not Worth It - Poll 'Unwinnable From the Beginning': Two-Thirds of US Believe Afghan War Was Not Worth It - Poll The survey, funded by a US media outlet and the University of Chicago, showed that 66% of Americans now believe the countrys 20-year war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting. 2023-10-21T00:24+0000 2023-10-21T00:24+0000 2023-10-21T00:37+0000 americas us afghanistan war afghanistan us forces afghanistan us troops in afghanistan poll opinion poll us military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103362/73/1033627380_0:0:3888:2188_1920x0_80_0_0_12a891764f6a1b7562d41e9189ff8396.jpg Amidst political dysfunction and a major crisis of institutional legitimacy in the United States, Americans are now beginning to question the role of the countrys military in the world as well.Thats the finding of new poll released this week regarding Americas recently ended war in Afghanistan.The survey, funded by a US media outlet and the University of Chicago, showed that 66% of Americans now believe the countrys 20-year war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting. The results represent an increase from a similar poll two years ago which found 62% of Americans held this belief.I dont think it was worth us staying over there, said Justin Campbell, 28. Campbell said he was unhappy the Taliban was back in power in the Middle Eastern country, but he acknowledged the US never had broad support there.The survey polled Americans about four proposed goals put forth by American leaders during the USs long occupation of Afghanistan. A plurality of respondents only believed that one of them had been achieved, with 46% saying people in Afghanistan responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks had been brought to justice.Pluralities of Americans said the war had failed to create a functioning Afghan government, eliminate the threat of so-called Islamic extremists in Afghanistan, or improve opportunities for women and girls in the country.The poll comes amidst proposed military funding for US ally Israel after the October 7 surprise attack there by Hamas. On Thursday, during a rare address, US President Joe Biden argued for support for Israel as a matter of US security. Israel has long been a close US ally, assisting in military training for allied governments in Latin America and other regions. americas afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us politics, war, afghan war, us war in afghanistan, 9/11, poll https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/us-concerned-by-canadian-diplomats-departure-from-india-1114373603.html US Concerned by Canadian Diplomats Departure From India US Concerned by Canadian Diplomats Departure From India "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," Miller said in the statement on Friday. 2023-10-21T01:23+0000 2023-10-21T01:23+0000 2023-10-21T01:23+0000 world india canada us-canada relations new delhi foreign policy foreign policy foreign policy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/09/1e/1089553859_0:231:1920:1311_1920x0_80_0_0_a6eab9ae72c2188021f7a536ee513343.jpg "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," Miller said in the statement on Friday. The United States has urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence, the statement said. Canada paused the operation of its Consulates General in three Indian cities following the withdrawal of more than 40 Canadian diplomats amid a diplomatic row over the murder of a Sikh activist. On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after their diplomatic immunity was threatened. According to the statement, India intended to carry out "a unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities" of Canadian diplomats. The Canadian governmental website states services are paused at the Consulates General of Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. All services can be obtained at Canada's High Commissioner's office in New Delhi. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Ottawa was examining credible allegations linking Indian officials to the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The activist, who was shot by two masked men in the Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18, campaigned for the creation of an independent Sikh state in India called Khalistan. Following the incident, Canada expelled a high-ranking Indian diplomat allegedly linked with Indian foreign intelligence. In response, the Indian authorities ordered a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country. The Indian Foreign Ministry later urged its citizens planning to visit or currently in Canada to exercise extra caution in view of the growing anti-India activities. canada new delhi 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 foreign policy, canadian foreign policy, india foreign policy, india-canada relations, new delhi, 1961 vienna convention on diplomatic relations, canadian diplomats withdrawn from india, hardeep singh nijjar https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/us-official-to-visit-riyadh-doha-on-efforts-to-disrupt-hamas-finance-support-1114374256.html US Official to Visit Riyadh, Doha on Efforts to Disrupt Hamas Finance Support US Official to Visit Riyadh, Doha on Efforts to Disrupt Hamas Finance Support Nelson will also co-chair a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a multilateral body created to strengthen cooperation among seven countries. 2023-10-21T02:43+0000 2023-10-21T02:43+0000 2023-10-21T02:43+0000 world us treasury saudi arabia qatar hamas palestine-israel conflict gaza strip /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114334008_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fc0ec3e72f4f7dd839dec74104eab67f.jpg "Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha, Qatar from October 23 26, 2023 to further US efforts to deny Hamas and other terrorist organizations the ability to raise and move funds for their violent acts," the release said on Friday. While in Riyadh, Nelson will also meet with key Saudi national security official, the release said. Nelson will also co-chair a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a multilateral body created to strengthen cooperation among seven countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, the release noted. In Doha, the release said Nelson will meet with senior Qatari officials to discuss countering terrorist financing. Nelson during both stops will also discuss the facilitation of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, according to the report. saudi arabia qatar 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 us treasury, saudi arabia, qatar, hamas, executive committee of the terrorist financing targeting center, gaza strip https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/us-officials-fear-for-abraham-accords-future-amid-gaza-crisis-1114391443.html US Officials Fear for Abraham Accords Future Amid Gaza Crisis US Officials Fear for Abraham Accords Future Amid Gaza Crisis The explosive new round of violence in the three quarters of a century-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict has potentially served to hasten regional geopolitical realignments, with Saudi Arabia putting normalization talks with Israel on hold, and Iran and Americas Arab allies uniting in condemnation of the IDFs actions in Gaza. 2023-10-21T16:24+0000 2023-10-21T16:24+0000 2023-10-21T16:40+0000 world middle east joni ernst crown prince mohammed bin salman israel iran gaza hamas riyadh hezbollah /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/13/1114327532_0:87:3071:1814_1920x0_80_0_0_62ac197d930a1673a9aaf1bad299323c.jpg US officials are growing weary that the fallout from the raging Palestinian-Israeli crisis may seriously undermine the Abraham Accords architecture put in place by Washington to reach a lasting, US-favorable normalization and peace pact between Israel and the Arab World to focus on the purported threat from Iran.It just really was difficult for us to face the next day knowing that, where we thought we were making advances, now its probably going to be on hold for just a bit, the lawmaker, who was in Riyadh for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on prospects for Saudi-Israeli normalization on the day Hamas launched its operation, said.The surprise escalation, which prompted Israel to launch an unrelenting campaign of artillery, air and missile strikes into Gaza, prompted Riyadh to freeze normalization talks with Tel Aviv. Instead, Crown Prince Salman took his first-ever phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to discuss the Gaza crisis. On Saturday at the Cairo Summit for Peace, Saudi Arabia urged the international community to take a strong stand to obligate Israel to respect international laws in Gaza.Speaking to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday, Salman condemned Israels heinous attacks on Gaza, and warned of the dangerous repercussions related to the conflicts potential escalation.Democratic lawmaker Mark Kelly, another member of the Senates Abraham Accords Caucus, downplayed the significance of the Arab Worlds rage amid the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, saying the accords are designed to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding, not ensure Arab support for the Jewish State.But the senators chain of logic isnt convincing, with observers pointing out that the crisis hasnt escalated so far due to, not in spite of, the measured reaction to Israeli attacks by Hezbollah and Syria, and from Iran, which has joined Russia, China, Turkiye, and other countries in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.Instead, US officials themselves have sought to escalate the situation, with hawkish politicians and lawmakers coming out of the woodwork over the past two weeks to accuse Tehran of supporting Hamas in Gaza, and a tough "response" against Iran.The Iranians are using Arab allies, namely Hamas and [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] and Hezbollah as their agents to foment this, theres no question about it, ranking Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee member James Risch told US media, claiming the potential Arab-Israeli rapprochement may have struck the match for the escalation.Irans leaders have defended Hamas operations against Israel, but denied any role or responsibility in the militant groups October 7 attacks, with Washington and Tel Aviv so far failing to present any evidence to the contrary.Supporters of the usurping regime, and even some people from the regime itself have said some nonsense over the past days and its still continuing. They have said the Islamic Republic of Iran is behind [Hamas] move. They are wrong, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said last week. Those who say what the Palestinians did was caused by non-Palestinians have not yet gotten to know the Palestinian people and make wrong calculations, he added.The Saudi-US alliance, which served as a key pillar in US calculations against Iran following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, has been upended by Riyadhs moves in recent months to seek more independence from Washington starting with the surprise China-brokered normalization pact with Tehran in March, and bookended by the kingdoms move to join the BRICS bloc in August.To date, just six countries in the 22-member Arab League have normalized relations with Israel four of them thanks to the Trump administration-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.The Biden administration made plans in 2021 to continue a process that began under Trump with the accords while securing achievements of its own through new deals, but has so far failed utterly to add any new countries to the peace process, much less make breakthroughs of its own. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/live-updates-israel-defense-forces-aircraft-striking-hezbollah-targets-1114375845.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/biden-on-tightrope-as-global-opinion-turns-against-israels-siege-of-gaza-says-ex-senator-1114374823.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221206/saudi-leaders-gave-us-three-demands-for-joining-abraham-accords-israeli-media-says-1105116440.html israel iran gaza 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 israel, palestine, saudi arabia, united states, arab world, normalization, rapprochement, talks, negotiations, realignment, ties, relations https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/us-sen-fetterman-rejects-former-staffs-calls-to-halt-israeli-violence-1114394220.html US Sen. Fetterman Rejects Former Staffs Calls to Halt Israeli Violence US Sen. Fetterman Rejects Former Staffs Calls to Halt Israeli Violence Senator John Fetterman rejected a letter penned by former staffers, demanding that he call for a ceasefire in Gaza 2023-10-21T21:37+0000 2023-10-21T21:37+0000 2023-10-21T21:37+0000 world john fetterman palestinians benjamin netanyahu palestine gaza israel hamas democrats senate /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/17/1107747889_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_14c54b2efcbbdf880702eb6a4746e7f6.jpg Opponents of Israels bombing of civilians in Gaza turned their attention to US Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) this week, calling upon him to support a ceasefire.We, former staffers of the Fetterman for Senate campaign, write this letter to you with deep grief and anguish over the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost over the past two weeks, the letter to the Senator began. The former staffers penned the message anonymously, in fear of openly breaking the powerful political taboo against criticizing Israel in the US.Additionally, activists protested at Fettermans office in Philadelphia on Thursday, also calling for a ceasefire. They claimed via a post on social media that they were expelled from the office. A spokesperson for Fetterman denied his staff had forced them to leave, but was unapologetic in rejecting the protesters demands.The thing about being a staffer is that no one elected you to represent them, said Adam Jentleson in a post responding to the staffers letter on the X platform, speaking for Senator Fetterman.The response from Fetterman comes amidst multiple failed efforts to convince allegedly progressive Democrats in the United States to support a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. A similar letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has also failed to achieve support for the measure. On Monday, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) declared she would support continued US funding for Israel.Israels bombing campaign in Gaza has killed 3,785 people so far according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.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 more mainstream force that might have successfully pursued Palestinian statehood.Israel has been engaged in violence against the countrys indigenous Palestinian Arab population since large numbers of Zionist settlers arrived in the territory to establish the settler colonial regime in 1948.That year, Zionists were given a green light by Western powers to establish Israel, wiping out more than 500 Palestinian villages and killing thousands of Palestinians as they sought to ethnically cleanse 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.Zionism is the ideology that Jewish people have a right to a state in the region they consider their historical homeland in West Asia. The ideology has guided the establishment and continuation of the modern-day country of Israel as well as the displacement and killing of Palestinian people in the territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231005/eleven-activists-arrested-outside-bernie-sanders-office-after-demanding-end-to-ukraine-conflict--1113940774.html palestine gaza 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 john fetterman israel, letter calling for ceasefire, peace protest https://sputnikglobe.com/20231021/weekly-news-wrap-up-biden-war-speech-belt-and-road-initiative-grows-house-gop-speaker-debacle-1114378830.html Weekly News Wrap-Up; Biden War Speech; Belt and Road Initiative Grows; House GOP Speaker Debacle Weekly News Wrap-Up; Biden War Speech; Belt and Road Initiative Grows; House GOP Speaker Debacle President Biden argued for more money for imperialist war in a Thursday night speech characterized as "awkwardly militaristic and threatening." 21.10.2023, Sputnik International 2023-10-21T04:14+0000 2023-10-21T04:14+0000 2023-10-21T11:29+0000 the critical hour radio iraq israel north korea donald trump jim jordan joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/15/1114378673_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_03306f18a896eab52bad1d7b42a2a178.png Weekly News Wrap-Up; Biden War Speech; Belt and Road Initiative Grows; House GOP Speaker Debacle President Biden argued for more money for imperialist war in a Thursday night speech characterized as "awkwardly militaristic and threatening." Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. The US finds it difficult to compete with China's worldwide Belt and Road initiative. Dr. Jack says the Chinese initiative is a significant challenge to dollar hegemony, the SWIFT payment system, the World Bank, and the IMF. He says that the World Bank is in disarray. Also, he says that the US influence in the Middle East has collapsed, and any US initiative in that region will fail.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist, and author of America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss President Biden's speech. In a Thursday night national speech, Joe Biden argued for another 100 billion dollars for war. Dan Lazare says that America is falling apart. He says there is a major housing crisis, and the wars are multiplying. Dan also says that Benjamin Netanyahu was a factor in the rise of the neocons in the US. He says that President Biden stands for an aggressive, militaristic foreign policy.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss his article, "US is is not ready for war with Iran." Scott Ritter says the President should look out for the American people, but they're not. He says there is no existential Iranian threat to the US or Israel unless Israel attacks Palestine. Also, the US is accustomed to getting away with murder in the Middle East, and the US has a right to do this because we are exceptional.Jim Kavanagh, whose work can be found at Jim' Kavanagh's Substack, thepolemicist.net, and Steve Poikonen, host of AM WakeUp & SlowNewsDay live on Rokfin & Rumble, come together to discuss this week's important news stories. The US Empire is embroiled in disastrous imperialist conflicts around the world. Our guests say that it was an infantile but dangerous speech from the biggest purveyor of violence in the world today.Ajamu Baraka, former VP Candidate of the Green Party, and Dr. Jemima Pierre, Professor at the Institute for the Study of Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, and an editor of the "Black Agenda Review," segment of the Black Agenda Report, come together to discuss this week's important news stories. Analysts describe President Biden's Thursday night speech as "awkwardly militaristic and threatening." Our guests argue that the rhetoric of the Biden administration has never matched reality. They also say that the President seems to be detached and mentally incompetent.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.com iraq israel north korea 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 radio, iraq, israel, north korea, donald trump, jim jordan, joe biden, The top two-year-olds in Atlantic Canada will meet on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22) in the Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The 14-dash program will start at a pushed back 2 p.m. post time due to expected heavy rains overnight and early in the morning. The first $17,500 Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes division for two-year-old fillies hits the track in race two. U No Peach (Ken Murphy) is the favourite in that dash for trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Hardcore Racing of Belfast, P.E.I. Chip Of Evil will look to add to her six wins and two seconds from eight lifetime starts in her $17,500 division in race six with Corey MacPherson in the seat from post five for trainer Eddy Doucette and owner Inarush Stable of Kensington, P.E.I. The final division for fillies is in race 10 with Goodmorning Nova riding a three-race win streak with rail control for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Dwane MacEachern and owners Melissa Banks of Summerside and Jason Williams of McNeills Mills, P.E.I. The $17,500 Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts starts in race four. Tobins Chester (pictured above) is favoured in that dash from post five for trainer/driver Jason Hughes and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Jackies Boy gets top call in his $17,500 colt division in race eight for owner/trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and driver Myles Heffernan Sr. In the last division in race 12, Merigo Magic (Adam Merner) is the morning line favourite with post four from the Melissa Rennie barn for local owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid and Derrick Cameron and partner Ian Walker of Mermaid, P.E.I. The $3,800 Preferred Pace lines up in race 13 with Twin B Tuffenuff (Barrieau) favoured off the rail from the Ron Matheson barn. To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park. (With files from Red Shores) This week's Rewind column is the regular monthly version of Picture Parade. This time Robert Smith has assembled a collection of great old photos of many top horsemen from the earlier days of Canadian harness racing. While these fellows originated in different areas of Canada, all of them shared something in common. They decided to participate in racing at U.S. tracks in order to further their careers at a time when that was considered the path to success. #1 - This driver of #8 spent many years at various U.S. tracks dating back to very early in his career. Here he is shown winning a race in 1973 and he was 33 years of age at the time. Our experts are likely to pick out a couple more as well. #2 - This photo is by far the oldest in this grouping, going back to the 1930's. This driver spent most of his career in the U.S. and raced annually on the Grand Circuit with some of the best horses of the day. If you made it to the front cover of Hoof Beats at any time in history you were doing pretty well. He had several sons who followed in his footsteps. Twenty-five cents got you a lot of good reading! #3 - This driver left Canada in the 1940's and soon started to enjoy unparalleled success. He is shown above winning a $50,000 race in 1948 which was quite an accomplishment back then. Can you name him? #4 - This fellow joined a long line of top horsemen who left their native Province and went on to achieve fame and fortune in the Land of Stars and Stripes. Who is he? #5 - This very accomplished driver started his career in his native Ontario but early in his 20's he began to spend the majority of his time at U.S. tracks. He is shown here answering questions at a driver's forum at Roosevelt Raceway 50 years ago. Who is he? #6 - These two gents started in Canada but both eventually made their way to the U.S. where they stayed. I think this casual photo was taken about 50 years ago. One fellow was from Quebec, the one on the left from N.B. #7 - These two fellows duel it out in a stretch drive I believe at Richelieu Park but they both did a lot of racing on the U.S. side. The picture is not as clear as some but I'm sure that some of our experts will solve their identity. The driver of #6 was actually from Quebec but I doubt he could speak much French. The pilot of #5 was an Ontario native who spent a lot of time in Montreal but I doubt that he was even close to being bilingual. Can you name them both or even one? #8 - This driver went to the U.S. very early in his career and made quite a mark to say the least. Name him if you can. #9 - This man did a lot of his early racing on the U.S. side and even won a really big race there in the mid 50's. He eventually came back to Ontario and raced for quite a few years. This photo was taken at Roosevelt in the 1960s. #10 - This driver shouldn't require too many clues. He was attached to a high class stable for a long time. Who is that fine looking gentleman on the left presenting an award? Name one or both, take your choice. Bonus Photo : Can you correctly identify the young driver pictured above? On this occasion he was being recognized after recording his 1,000th lifetime win in 1985. Also can you name the presenter who was a track official at this time and also a member of a noted Canadian racing family? Quote For The Week: The infamous Archie Bunker of TV fame was accused by his wife Edith of having a sibling rivalry with his brother. He replied by saying "Maybe I did but it was his fault, he sibbled more than I did." Blast From The Past A Day At The Fair: The above photo was taken in 1913 at the Montgomery County Fair in Dayton, Ohio. The fair's archives mention harness racing as part of the first fair held in 1860. There appears to be the odd automobile in the infield but it looks as though most people arrived by horse and buggy or via "Shanks' Pony." My late mother always said "Shanks' horses." Does anybody remember what that saying meant? (Photo: NCR Archive at Dayton History) Voting is the most sacred obligation of a citizen and the best way to protect our democracy. In Virginia, our task and our privilege is to exercise this hard-won right every year. In fact, your vote is more powerful in this off-year election. We are lucky Virginia has a wide variety of methods to vote. One can vote early at the Registrars office and avoid the crowds on Election Day. Before Oct. 27, one can request a mail-in ballot, no reason necessary. One can even register on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot. Voting is so easy and effortless in Virginia; dont pass up the opportunity. It is true that local and state elections affect us and our daily lives more directly and immediately than do national ones. As in our neighboring counties, Culpepers ballot is stuffed this year with a broad range of candidates for local and state offices. Lets look at our choices. The incumbent Culpeper County sheriff, who ran last time as a Republican, is under indictment on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering in federal court; yet he is running for re-election! The Republican Committee endorsed Joe Watson, who calls the office Constitutional Sheriff. Tim Chilton, on the other hand, comes from the well-managed and professional Culpeper Town Police Department, where he serves as deputy chief. Do we want to build or ban? This seems to be the choice among School Board candidates. Kelley Pearson, a former teacher and school administrator running in the Salem District, has 27 years experience as an assistant principal in the Culpeper school system and helped design Eastern View High School. She has earned the school board seat she seeks as a builder. She will be a strong colleague for Pat Baker, the incumbent running unopposed in the East Fairfax District. In the West Fairfax District, Matt Borja, who has been endorsed by former board member Michelle North, represents a new generations practical approach to education. Borja is an Eastern View graduate who is running for school board with a fresh, laser focused, perspective on how to enhance Culpeper Public Schools and support all Culpeper students. Do we want to build? is also a theme in the East Fairfax District for Board of Supervisor candidates. David Lee, a former educator, has significant management and professional experience. He also has a long record of volunteerism, such as teaching at the Literacy Council, serving on the Public Transportation Board and serving as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children. The Chamber of Commerce hosted a series of candidates forums this month. Visit Culpeper Media Network (culpepermedia.org) to view them. You will see Jason Ford, who has experience connecting job-seekers with training and employment, is well positioned to represent the 28th Senate District. He will advocate for kitchen table issues, including adequate funding for mental health services, excellence in education, affordable childcare, reproductive freedom and protection of the environment. As a candidate for the House of Delegates, Sara Ratcliffe believes government can be a force for good. She stresses that no one should have to choose between health care and the financial welfare of their family. She advocates for reproductive freedom and better access to mental health care. Sara believes in providing opportunities for life-long learning that will empower individuals for economic success. Both Ford and Ratcliffe were endorsed by Representative Abigail Spanberger. If everyone who voted for Spanberger votes for them, Virginia will have a pro-active centrist future. Read more about these candidates on their websites and cast your ballot during early voting or on Nov. 7th. This is the year your vote has maximum impact. Just vote! Nebraskas 2023-24 budget season ended this week as property tax rates were certified statewide. Youll get the final scores your gross property tax bills in December. Theyll go up noticeably for three similarly aged and valued sample homes in Scottsbluff, Gering and Terrytown. But those bills arent the last word on 2023 property tax burdens. A trio of state property tax credits if theyre all claimed will allow the owners of those homes to recover about one-fourth of their gross 2023 tax bills, according to the Star-Heralds final tax tracker analysis for this budget season. If all three were claimed in 2022 and are again this year, theyll almost totally cancel out a net tax increase for a home in Scottsbluffs Westmoor neighborhood and soften higher net tax bills for homes in Gerings Legion Park neighborhood and west Terrytown. The first and oldest credit, the Property Tax Credit Fund, will be immediately deducted on your December tax statements. Theyll knock off between 5% and 6% of the gross tax bills for the newspapers sample homes. For the other credits, be alert when you do your 2023 state income taxes this winter. Those credits let you deduct 30% of your 2023 K-12 school property taxes and 55% of your community college taxes, based on state senators most recent changes in May. Those credits will be worth between 20% and 21% of our sample homes gross tax bills. If you own property but dont owe any 2023 state income taxes, you can still apply for them as a refund. Note this well, however: If property owners dont claim their education property tax credits on their income tax returns, they wont get them at all. These three credits are separate from the much older total or partial homestead exemptions available to qualifying Nebraskans. Those must be applied for by June 30 each year in order to be received. The owners of the west Terrytown home received full homestead exemptions every year from 2019 to 2022. Information on whether any or all of the papers sample homes will receive 2023 homestead exemptions isnt yet available on Nebraska Taxes Online, operated by the Nebraska Association of County Officials. With that, lets review the final 2023 budget season scorecards for each of the Star-Heralds sample homes. Scottsbluff (Westmoor) All three homes are one-story, three-bedroom homes. The Westmoor and west Terrytown homes were built in 1959, and both have full basements. The Legion Park home, built in 1963, has a crawl space. The Scottsbluff homes taxable value jumped by 13.3% from its 2022 level, but its owners ended up with a gross tax bill just 4.8% higher after the eight local governments serving it finalized their 2023-24 budgets and tax requests. That increase will fall to 4.1% on the propertys December tax bill once the automatic Property Tax Credit Fund discount is applied. The state pays counties directly to cover the cost of that discount, which will trim 5.6% off the top of the homes gross 2023 tax bill of $2,586.74. If the Westmoor homes owners claim the school and community college income tax credits, its total state-funded tax break will be 26.2% of the gross tax bill. Its net tax bill would wind up at $1,907.88, just 0.3% ahead of 2022s net bill of $1,902.45. Gering (Legion Park) This years tax bill for Star-Heralds sample Gering home sits in the middle of the trio. But its facing the highest percentage tax-bill increase, even after factoring in the states tax credits. Budget season for this homes owners began with a 13.8% increase in their taxable value. That percentage fell only to 12.2% after Gerings governments finished setting budgets, leaving the home with a gross tax bill of $2,931.32. (Gerings city government and school district of course differ from those in Scottsbluff.) The Property Tax Credit Fund discount will trim 5% off the gross tax bill, reducing the Legion Park-area homes December tax-bill boost to 11.9%. If its owners claimed their education income tax credits last year and do so again this year, their final net tax bill would be $2,202.68. Thats 24.9% less than 2023s gross bill but 9.8% above last years net bill of $2,006.87. Terrytown (west) Except for their city government, Terrytown property owners are served by the same local governments as their Gering counterparts. The three cities have six governments in common: Scotts Bluff County, the Western Nebraska Regional Airport, the county agricultural society, the Western Community College Area, the North Platte Natural Resources District and Educational Service Unit 13. The owners of the Star-Heralds sample west Terrytown home started budget season with an 8.1% taxable-value increase, the lowest percentage among the trio the paper features. Budgets and tax requests by its array of governments yielded a 2023 gross tax bill of $3,177.19, 5.1% higher than in 2022. That percentage will drop to 4.8% once a 5% Property Tax Credit Fund discount is applied on the homes final December tax bill. If the homes owners claimed the education tax credits in 2022 and do likewise in 2023, their net tax bill assuming they didnt once again claim and receive a full homestead exemption would be $2,391.13, 2.5% higher than last years $2,333.46. Together, the three state tax credits would lop 24.7% off the Terrytown homes gross tax bill. Related Stories: (Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Former United States President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 by a New York judge for violating a gag order related to his civil fraud trial. A New York judge has fined former United States President Donald Trump $5,000 for allegedly breaking a gag order related to his civil fraud trial. In a Friday order, Judge Arthur Engoron said that Trump was given ample warning from the court regarding the possible repercussions of violating the gag order. The former president acknowledged that he understood and would abide by the order. Trump Fined for Violating Gag Order Engoron noted that simply issuing another warning for Trump was no longer appropriate, adding that the court was already way past the "warning stage." The judge issued the partial gag order on Oct. 3 for all parties involved not to speak about any court staff members. The decision was made after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform where he attacked the judge's clerk. The former president's post claimed she was a "girlfriend" to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and showed a picture of them together, as per CNN. Trump's post was removed from the social media platform immediately after issuing the gag order. However, it was not erased from the former president's campaign website. Engoron admonished the Republican businessman's attorneys in court for a "blatant violation" of the gag order. Judge Engoron also suggested that violations could result in the imprisonment of the former president. He added that he had learned that the subject post was never removed from the website and had been there for 17 days. He also said the post was only removed in response to an email. In a statement, Trump attorney Chris Kise apologized to the New York judge and said it was "inadvertent" that the post could stay on what he called a "back page" of the former president's campaign website. Judge Engoron's latest order only fined Trump $5,000 because it was his first violation and unintentional error. However, according to the New York Times, he warned the former president that any additional infractions would merit even harsher punishments. Read Also: Donald Trump Seeks To Appeal Judge's Gag Order Related to 2020 Election Subversion Case A Series of Legal Challenges In his gag order, the judge said he would not tolerate personal attacks on his staff, calling them "unacceptable." He forbade posts, emails, or public remarks about his staff members. The gag order was similar to what Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, a federal judge in Washington overseeing the election subversion case, issued. Chutkan's orders prevented Trump from making public comments that targeted her staff, special counsel Jack Smith and his employees, and any "reasonably foreseeable witnesses." However, the former president was still free to criticize his political opponents, the judges of the cases themselves, and the American justice system he has repeatedly described as rigging against him. However, Judge Chutkan temporarily lifted her gag order in the case on Friday to give Trump's lawyers time to prove why the former president's comments should not be restricted as the case heads toward trial. The former president's lawyers have argued that neither prosecutors nor the judge have been able to justify the gag order. They added that the Republican businessman has not "unlawfully threatened or harassed anyone," said the Associated Press. Related Article: New York AG Calls for Evidence Review After Key Witness in Trump Civil Fraud Trial Accused of Lying Under Oath @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Rotary Club of Greater Statesville hosted Rusty McLelland recently to learn more about The Gideons International. The organizations website (www.gideons.org) states that the Gideons International is an association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. McLelland, who many know from his family business, McClelland Shoes, is part of the North Camp in Iredell County for The Gideons International. He shared several stories of lives changed for eternity because of the influence of a Gideon. For more information about The Gideons International and to get involved, reach out to Ray Bunton at 704-876-4249. Iredell Health System was recognized as one of the 2023 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America by Healthiest Employers, an awards program created to honor people-first organizations that prioritize the wellbeing of their employee population. This is the second consecutive year Iredell Health System has been recognized. The top 100 companies were honored with this prestigious recognition because of their commitment to workplace wellness and their exceptional health and benefits offerings. Each company included on the list participated in the Healthiest Employers application process. The categories, scoring, and benchmarking were formed with the help of a national, non-biased group of representatives from the academic, medical, wellness, and business communities. The Healthiest Employers assessment is scored Rubric style on a 1-100 scale. The assessment comprises six categories of yes/no, multiple choice, and short answer questions, with each question totaling .25-3 points. The six categories are as follows: Culture and Leadership Commitment; Foundational Components; Strategic Planning; Communications and Marketing; Programming and Interventions; and Reporting and Analytics. To qualify for the national award, Iredell Health System was also scored based on an additional section called the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America, which scores essays and asks additional questions related to chronic conditions and workplace health. Iredell Health System understands that in order to provide high-quality care to others, it must first ensure the wellbeing and happiness of its employees. Iredell Health System encourages employee wellbeing through its wellness program, well-being and mental health education, and by offering an on-site chaplain to meet with staff when needed. We are so proud to be named one of the healthiest workplaces in America. When you look at how this ranking is created, it is really a sign of focusing on ones employees with programs, benefits and opportunities. This focus is extremely important and unwavering for Iredell Health System, and we are very pleased to be recognized for it, said John Green, president and CEO of Iredell Health System. Earlier this year, Iredell Health System also was recognized in the 2023 Healthiest Employers of Greater Charlotte, placing second among several companies with between 500-1,499 employees. Learn more Iredell Health System is looking for others to join its family and is hiring in several departments. Learn more by going to iredellhealth.org and clicking on careers. Domestic violence is a horrific crime that poses a real and constant threat to victims. At its most tragic, it can be fatal. Already this year, 57 North Carolinians have lost their lives to domestic violence homicides. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we shine a light on this crime that often occurs in the dark behind closed doors so that people who are in abusive relationships know that there is help available to them. As your Attorney General, and even before I took office, Ive worked to make sure that were keeping victims of domestic violence safe in North Carolina. I fought to make sure that the courts are accessible to people trying to leave abusive relationships, even during natural disasters. I fought to make sure that the state offers every person legal protection from their abuser, regardless of their sexual orientation or the type of relationship theyre in. Ive fought for changes to state law that reflect a better understanding of how abusers can trap and harm their victims. In 2019, my office launched a powerful and innovative initiative to expand the use of the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). LAP is a research-based checklist that law enforcement officers use to respond to domestic violence incidents. If an officer determines that a victim is at a high risk of being harmed, the officer immediately connects the victims with domestic violence service providers in their area. These providers can help give people the resources and assistance they need to get and stay safe. Ive seen LAP in action when I joined officers on a call, and watching it put to work to protect people showed me how arming our officers with this tool makes a difference. My offices Public Protection Section and the North Carolina Justice Academy, which my office oversees, along with the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, conduct LAP training with law enforcement and domestic violence service providers across the state. Already, law enforcement in several counties are using LAP. Earlier this month, I met with local leaders in Charlotte and learned about how theyve been using LAP to help victims. I am so grateful for their work and partnership and encourage more agencies across the state to reach out to my office to learn more about LAP. But this work is not enough. For victims of domestic violence, the threat of intimate partner violence is constant and affects every part of their lives. And this violence impacts people from all walks of life regardless of age, gender, race, where you live, or any other factor. We all have a responsibility to look out for the people around us our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers. Be on the lookout for signs of domestic violence, including physical abuse, emotional manipulation, financial exploitation, isolation, changes in a persons behavior and self-esteem, or intimidation and fear tactics. You can learn more at https://www.ncadv.org/signs-of-abuse. And if you or someone you know needs help, please visit https://www.enoughnc.org or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or online at https://www.thehotline.org. Together, we must do all we can to keep our people safe from this violence. At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Greater Statesville, Beth Trotter, District Rotary Foundation chair, discussed the impact that the foundation has had from the local Statesville community to the international community. She also discussed the foundations strategic initiatives and its history. Bill Wilson, Rotarian, along with his wife, Jean, were recognized by Trotter for their deep engagement through the years with the Rotary Foundation. Mr. Wilson is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Greater Statesville (1975) and has been awarded many honors and held many positions in that 48 year period. Some of these include past president, past district governor, Rotarian of the Year (2003), Paul Harris Society, major donor and Bequest Society. Probably the most prestigious recognition was being named to the Arch Klumph Society of the Rotary Foundation in 2008. At the recent meeting, Trotter recognized the Wilsons for being a part of the Foundation Circle in the Arch Klumph Society, which is one of the highest levels of giving in the foundation. The Rotary Club of Greater Statesville meets on Thursdays at noon at Twisted Oak. The club welcomes anyone to attend a club meeting to learn more about Rotary and its service to the community. A 26-year-old accountant convicted of embezzling funds of a retired relative for her personal use was given until the end of 2024 to reimburse more than $23,000 or face jail time in Floyd County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Circuit Judge Mike Fleenor issued the order as part of the sentencing of Melanie Dee Drayer while sticking to the recommendations of the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines, which called for probation instead of prison times. Commonwealths Attorney Eric Branscom recommended a prison term of at least five years behind bars as part of the sentence and five years of probation on each of the three convictions of embezzling, obtaining funds under false pretenses and exploiting the mental status of a victim. In testimony, Drayer said she worked as an accountant to handle the finances of the elderly woman, who was also a relative, and she said she continue to works as an accountant for an employer who is not yet aware of her felony convictions. That fact by the brought raised eyebrows from the prosecutor. Your employer doesnt yet know that their accountant is a felon convicted for misuse of a clients funds? Branscom asked. In a report to the court, Branscom said Drayer had made partial restitutions of some of thousands of dollars of stolen. He said that Drayer used checks, signed and cashed by her, through her power of attorney status and also used a debit card bearing the victims name to withdraw funds. The victim was in an assisted living facility, and Drayer controlled all use of the funds, Branscom said. In her testimony, Draper said she planned to pay just over $11,000 more toward restitution soon, and a final payment would be made later, she said. Jude Fleenor said the payments were too small and too late and said Drayer must pay the $11,000 this year and set a date for the final payment to be made by the end of 2024. Failure to meet either of the deadlines could being immediate jail time, the judge said in his ruling. Branscom, in his closing argument in the sentencing hearing, said Drayer had shown utter disregard for the health, safety and needs of the victim, who needed expert care and concern. Defense attorney Wade McNichols argued that Drayer was suffering herself, as part of what happened with the victim. Branscom, a frequent critic of Virginia sentencing guidelines, said the Commonwealth had failed to provide proper punishment of Drayer by their lax recommendations. In another matter, involving charges of mistreatment of pets and livestock, Judge Fleenor ordered more information regarding animal cruelty charges against Rita Diane Huff of Pilot. The civil charges are on appeal from General District Court and deal with dog attacks against livestock, Branscom told the court. Huff claimed the mistreatment of her animal came from the county, which is currently housing the livestock and dogs. She asked: Why cant I visit my puppies? Why cant I see, for myself, the mistreatment of them? Judge Fleenor signed an order for an investigation and presentation of the results to the court. Branscom said he would be meeting with Huff on the matter next week. Evergreen High School, Cascade Middle School and Burton Elementary School were placed under lockdown Thursday afternoon following reports of shots fired near McKenzie Stadium. Law enforcement responded at 1:08 p.m. to the campus on 18th Street in east Vancouver. Vancouver police had a boy in custody in connection with the incident by about 1:30 p.m. There were no known injuries, according to Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp. Investigators recovered several spent shell casings and a 9 mm semiautomatic firearm, Vancouver police said in a news release. Officers booked a 16-year-old boy into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of first-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm. Vancouver police said additional charges are pending. Investigators said they do not believe the suspect was a student at Evergreen High School. Roads were closed in the area while police and K-9 units investigated. Students were bused to the Evergreen Public Schools district office, 3413 N.E. LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive, north of the Firstenburg Community Center, where parents were originally directed. Evergreen Public Schools said it is cooperating with law enforcement and asked for patience during dismissal. Please know we take these situations very seriously, and the safety of our students is always a top priority, the district said. Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency dispatch center sent out a shelter-in-place alert to about 4,000 people who live within a 1-mile radius of the schools campus. The agency told people not to call 911 unless there was an actual emergency. Officials lifted the shelter in place around 2:40 p.m. The man accused of killing Vancouver mother and daughter, Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart, is scheduled to appear this afternoon in court on a new allegation of first-degree rape of a child involving the 7-year-old. Kirkland C. Warren, 28, of Vancouver, has already pleaded not guilty in Clark County Superior Court to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He also pleaded not guilty to a slew of domestic violence charges in another case with Melendez, 27, as the listed victim. He is being held without bail, and his trial is currently scheduled for Jan. 8. The mother and daughter were last seen the morning of March 12 with Warren, who had been barred by court order from having contact with Melendez in connection with the prior domestic violence case, according to investigators. Melendezs mother reported them missing March 18 after she couldnt reach them for their regular video chat session. Authorities found their bodies March 22 in a rural area east of Washougal. Investigators noted Layla was nude from the waist down when they found them. During the autopsy of her body, Clark County Medical Examiners Office staff took DNA swabs of her genitals and sent them to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for testing, according to a newly filed probable cause affidavit. On Oct. 18, detectives received the report back from the crime lab that showed male DNA was present on Laylas body that matched Kirkland Warrens DNA, court records state. The medical examiners office determined both Layla and Melendez died from gunshot wounds to the head. Warren is also facing charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in Jefferson County, Ark., Circuit Court for allegedly shooting a man in the head and leaving his body in a ditch in November 2017, court records show. He was out on bond in that case. In what turned out to be another interesting day in the artificial intelligence universe, this emerging technology touched diverse areas from policy making to medtech. The UK's AI Summit might be in trouble. After German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden too may skip UK PM Rishi Sunak's AI meet. In other news, three music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic AI for using their copyrighted lyrics to train its Claude chatbot. This and more in today's AI roundup. Let us take a closer look. UK's AI Summit in trouble German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with US President Joe Biden, are planning to skip the Bletchley Park gathering on November 1-2, Bloomberg reported as per anonymous sources familiar with the matter. French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida have yet to make a decision, leaving Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni as the only Group of Seven leaders, besides the host, who has confirmed their attendance at this point. Although there is still room for possible late additions, the absence of key world leaders diminishes the event's prominence as Britain endeavors to establish a global strategy for artificial intelligence. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is working to position the UK as a leader in both the development and regulation of this technology, which he has described as potentially "paradigm-shifting" but also requiring essential "guardrails" to manage associated risks. Music publishers sue Anthropic AI In a legal complaint filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, which is renowned as a music hub due to its association with Nashville, publishing companies Universal Music, Concord, and ABKCO have leveled allegations against Anthropic, an entity with backing from Amazon, reports The Register. These allegations include not only the unauthorized scraping of copyrighted song lyrics from the internet but also assert that Anthropic's technology, Claude, regenerates these lyrics upon request, often wrongly claiming authorship of well-known songs. The three publishers have compiled a catalog of 500 songs they contend Anthropic illicitly obtained through web scraping. This assortment spans from contemporary hits by artists like Beyonce to timeless classics from iconic musicians such as the Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Otis Redding, and numerous others that anyone who has enjoyed music over the past six decades is likely to recognize. International Conference on AI-driven advancements in intellectual property rights Rishihood University is issuing a call for paper submissions for the upcoming International Conference on AI-Driven Innovations in Research and Publications, as per ANI. Presented by the Ashok Goel Library at Rishihood University, this conference is slated to be held on December 1, 2023. Over the course of two days, the conference aims to serve as a prominent worldwide platform for in-depth discussions regarding the intersection of AI, Intellectual Property Rights, Knowledge Management, Research, and related fields. Those interested in participating can submit their papers until the deadline on October 30, 2023. Roche taps AI to find lung cancer patients Roche Holding AG's lung cancer drug, Alecensa, achieved a significant victory over standard therapy in a recent study. Now, the Swiss pharmaceutical company is using artificial intelligence to identify eligible patients, reports Bloomberg. Alecensa, administered post-surgery for lung tumor removal, reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 76% compared to standard chemotherapy. Roche's Chief Medical Officer, Levi Garraway, believes the drug could change the disease's course. However, finding suitable patients is challenging as the study focused on individuals with a rare genetic error called ALK, present in only about 4% to 5% of lung cancer cases. These patients tend to be younger, non-smokers and often go undiagnosed early in the disease's progression. To solve the problem, Roche will use an AI collaboration with Israeli tech company Medial EarlySign Ltd. to help doctors determine when to use CT scans. That will help find tumors before they spread and while needed surgery is still possible, said Charlie Fuchs, Roche's head of oncology and hematology drug development. Philippines armed forces bans use of AI photo generator apps Philippines Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said that AI photo generator apps can pose security risks in an order prohibiting military and defense personnel from using the apps, as per a report by Philstar. He cautioned about the potential of AI applications to generate counterfeit profiles by utilizing images gathered from the app's users. This fabricated data and information could be exploited for fraudulent purposes, including scams, identity theft, social manipulation, phishing schemes, and various criminal activities, including espionage. (Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images) Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan has lost the House speaker nomination after a third failed vote as the GOP struggles to elect a new leader. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has been removed as the GOP's House speaker nominee after a third failed vote where he got even less support from his colleagues. The development comes as there are several others who have joined the controversial race following the ousting of Kevin McCarthy from the position. In the third round of voting, Jordan had 25 Republicans vote against him, allowing him to only have 194 votes, which was far short of the required 217 to win the speaker race. Jim Jordan Loses House Speaker Nomination The lawmaker had previously indicated that was ready to push for more votes through the weekend in an attempt to secure the speaker's gavel. In an interview, he said that their plan over the weekend was to get a speaker elected to the House of Representatives as soon as possible in order to start helping the American people. Jordan also called on Congress to "get to work" and cited the crisis in the Middle East as well as the looming government funding deadline on Nov. 17. It remains unclear what the next steps would be for the House GOP conference as some lawmakers have expressed support for the idea of giving Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, as per Fox News. There have also been at least eight people who have emerged as potential candidates for the position after the removal of Jordan as nominee. Republican lawmakers are set to meet behind closed doors on Monday evening for a candidate forum before a conference-wide election via secret anonymous ballot on Tuesday. On the other hand, Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern of Oklahoma was one of the first GOP lawmakers to put his hat in the ring on Friday afternoon. He said that they need to unify quickly, adding that there needs to be a different type of leader who has a proven track record of success. McCarthy has also expressed his support of Rep. Tom Emmer, who currently serves as majority whip, to become the next House speaker. The lack of a speaker means that the House has remained effectively frozen for the past two weeks. Read Also: GOP Lawmakers Grill Biden's Israel Ambassador Nominee Jack Lew Over Work on Iran Sanctions GOP Struggles To Elect House Speaker Many Republican lawmakers left the closed-door meeting on Friday sounding more confused than ever regarding the path forward and who is best to elect as House speaker. Many others also expressed frustration at the situation and called for reflection after the collapse of Jordan's speakership nomination, according to CNN. A source close to Emmer said that the majority whip plans to run an "entirely positive" campaign for House speaker and will not attack his opponents in any way. He is supposedly betting that it would be a welcome change of style after weeks of infighting in a bitterly divided GOP where some lawmakers have also seen death threats over their speaker votes. Lawmakers have also started to feel that their colleagues are partially to blame for the outpouring of bile amid the House speaker race. After Rep. Drew Ferguson's family started to receive death threats over his vote for Jordan, he said that he would not support a "bully" for speaker, said the Associated Press. Related Article: Laphonza Butler Announces She Will Not Run for Dianne Feinstein's Senate Seat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Bryan school district Single Member District 2 is a large area that encompasses downtown and goes north along the Brazos County line, including some of Bryans most rural areas. Three people current Bryan school board president Julie Harlin, former Bryan city councilman Prentiss Madison, and Christasha Chrissy Ransome are vying to represent this sprawling district on the Bryan school board. Harlin, whose son attended Bryan schools K-12, is seeking a third term. She said the districts graduation rates have risen to over 90% and the CTE numbers have increased during her current term on the board. The Bryan school district received its highest rating ever (B+) from the Texas Education Agency last year and has had an A+ financial rating during her entire time on the board. Its really just about trying to support all of our students and move them forward in the ways that make sense for them, Harlin said. And it looks different for every child, but having all the opportunities that might be available to our students and ensure they graduate and are productive citizens and that they have not just career success, but life success. Madison, a Bryan native, graduated from Bryan High School in 1995. His parents also went to Bryan schools and graduated from Kemp High School in the 1960s. Madisons children have also gone through Bryan schools. Madison said he was successful at bridging the gap between the community and city during his time on Bryans city council from 2016-22 and believes he can do the same on the school board. Were running to make sure that BISD is being fiscally responsible with the taxpayers money and that the taxpayers would be proud of what BISD is doing in the coming years, Madison said. We want to make BISD one of those places that parents and teachers are not running from, but running to, so weve got some things to work on and I think we can get these things done in a short time. Ransome did not respond to multiple requests for interview from The Eagle. She is a 28-year-old education director for Keller Williams Realty, according to the Bryan school district. Harlin said if she was reelected for another term she would like to see the district to continue to expand its CTE offerings. Im a former high school ag teacher, so I know the difference those kinds of courses can make for students who may not be interested in going to college or may not be interested in going to college right away, Harlin said. Being able to come out with skills that improve opportunities for earning higher wages is really important. Communication is a key aspect Madison said hed like to emphasize if elected to the school board. He said hed like to see more transparency on how district money is spent and be able to better share why its spent with community members so they can understand processes. A lot of parents are tired of being brushed off, Madison said. And we encourage parent involvement, and I think teachers do too. I just think its on us getting more attention to the parents to kind of see what their kids are doing, what were trying to push students to do and be, and how they can be more involved. Harlin said she considers herself a leader on the school board. Prior to serving as president, she was vice president. One of the characteristics of high-performing school districts is a steady and stable board of trustees, so its disruptive when you change the leadership structure of a board, Harlin said. I hope that I have earned the trust of our community to continue in this important role. Being able to bring a unique conversation to the table was something Madison said he can do. Theres a lot of uncomfortable questions that need to be answered. Theres a lot of uncomfortable conversations that need to happen. And I think we can make those conversations and questions happen with the right board in there. I think Im bringing that to the table, Madison said. William Joel Bryan is running uncontested for Bryans at-large Place 6 position. Bryan is part of the family the town is named after. His great-great-great grandfather was the original William Joel Bryan. Bryan grew up here and graduated from Bryan High School in 1997. The Bryans moved back to town in 2018 and his three sons are currently in Bryan schools. Bryan said he wanted to get involved in local politics and felt this was a natural direction with his children currently going through school. Bryan said the school district can work to improve academic performance by providing competitive wages for employees and creating retention programs. He noted he hopes to see the district continue to provide CTE opportunities and be proactive in school safety, which he said is an evolving need and thinks the district has taken above and beyond measures in recent years. I think theres a lot of families that are coming into our community and one of the first things theyre going to look at is the academic performance of our school district, Bryan said. I think that we have made great strides in recent years to improve the overall performance of our school district, but theres certainly an opportunity to continue that trajectory and make it more attractive for families and students. 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 the House and Senate 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. Buckley 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 SB 1s 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 intraparty 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 dont think it means unbridled funds can continue beyond what weve 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 625,000 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 homeschool 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 2017, 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 children 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 backchannel 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 schoolage 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 homeschooled, 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. The unending drama surrounding the next Speaker of the House of Representatives took another turn Friday. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, announced Friday afternoon he is running for speaker, The Texas Tribune reported. Sessions, who served the Bryan-College Station area before redistricting for the 2022 election, confirmed his decision in an email. Congressman Sessions believes he can forge a positive path as a conservative leader who can unite the [Republican] Conference, a statement sent out by Sessions office said. During his congressional career, he has played a vital role in the Republican Party, in Texas and nationally, including a decade in Party leadership. As Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2009 to 2012, he led the Party to reclaim the House majority with an unprecedented net 63-seat victory in 2010. From 2013 to 2019, Congressman Sessions chaired the House Committee on Rules, where he revitalized and advanced the Republican agenda in the House of Representatives. Sessions wound up losing his seat in a competitive 2018 race to Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, before winning a the Brazos County-based seat in 2020. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed Friday in his third bid to receive a majority of votes to be named the next speaker. He was ousted 112-86 in a secret vote conducted after he received only 194 of the 217 votes needed to confirm him as speaker in the floor vote. 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, the Texas Tribune reported. Arrington and Williams said they had not yet made definitive decisions. Sessions, Arrington and Williams all had previously backed Jordans bid for speaker. Sessions and others will be heard at a candidate forum at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Voices For Children Holiday Drive is here Voices for Children is hosting its annual Holiday Drive, providing children in foster care with gifts for the holiday season. These children have been removed from their homes and have experienced abuse and neglect, according to a press release. Due to office renovations, the Voices for Children office is closed. As a result, the organization is changing the way the annual holiday drive is hosted this year. Instead of collecting and distributing clothing and toys at the office, Voices for Children is asking community partners donate gift cards in the amounts of $25 and $50 (Visa preferred). These will be distributed to the caregivers and volunteers to purchase gifts for the individual children. For those wanting to donate, Voices for Children is offering the following drop-off locations: Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mimosa Mercantile 212 S. Echols St. in Caldwell Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Harvest Coffee Bar, 101 N. Main St. in Bryan Nov. 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Polite Coffee Roasters, 800 S. Bryan Ave. in Bryan Nov. 3, noon to 4 p.m. at Classic Rock Coffee Co. and Kitchen, 129 E. Washington Ave. in Navasota Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Starbucks, 409 University Drive in College Station Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starbucks, 3985 Texas 6 in College Station Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mimosa Mercantile, 212 S. Echols St. in Caldwell Nov. 20, noon to 4 p.m. at Classic Rock Coffee Co. and Kitchen, 129 E. Washington Ave. in Navasota Gift cards can be mailed to Voices for Children at 115 N. Main St., Bryan, 77803 or purchased online at vfcbrazos.org/donate. Eagle staff report B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lessened its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 5.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 149,303 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,371 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $24,713,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 201,491,567 shares of the companys stock worth $31,231,193,000 after acquiring an additional 2,688,798 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 90,144.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 54,386,720 shares of the companys stock worth $9,607,414,000 after buying an additional 54,326,454 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 48,707,500 shares of the companys stock worth $7,532,525,000 after buying an additional 748,917 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 42,224,521 shares of the companys stock worth $7,458,962,000 after buying an additional 4,521,062 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,609,399,000. Institutional investors own 68.40% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 0.4 % NYSE:JNJ opened at $153.00 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $161.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $162.44. Johnson & Johnson has a 52 week low of $150.11 and a 52 week high of $181.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market cap of $397.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.36, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.55. Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.62 by $0.18. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 36.32% and a return on equity of 36.71%. The firm had revenue of $25.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.63 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.59 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 21st will be given a dividend of $1.19 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 20th. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.11%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.34%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on JNJ. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $195.00 to $186.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $178.00 price target on the stock. Atlantic Securities upped their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $167.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. TheStreet raised Johnson & Johnson from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research note on Monday, August 21st. Finally, StockNews.com cut Johnson & Johnson from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven 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 price target of $169.19. View Our Latest Stock Report on JNJ Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson In related news, VP Peter Fasolo sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.32, for a total transaction of $3,406,400.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 102,696 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,491,182.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider William Hait sold 14,698 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total transaction of $2,528,056.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,747 shares in the company, valued at $15,092,484. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Peter Fasolo sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.32, for a total transaction of $3,406,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 102,696 shares in the company, valued at $17,491,182.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Johnson & Johnson (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Consumer Health segment provides skin health/beauty products under the AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, DR. CI:LABO, NEUTROGENA, and OGX brands; baby care products under the JOHNSON'S and AVEENO Baby brands; oral care products under the LISTERINE brand; TYLENOL acetaminophen products; SUDAFED cold, flu, and allergy products; BENADRYL and ZYRTEC allergy products; MOTRIN IB ibuprofen products; NICORETTE smoking cessation products; and PEPCID acid reflux products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $186.64. EGP has been the topic of several research reports. BTIG Research raised their target price on shares of EastGroup Properties from $198.00 to $218.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $174.00 to $188.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $177.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $195.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of EastGroup Properties in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: Read Our Latest Report on EGP Insider Activity Institutional Trading of EastGroup Properties In other news, SVP Richard Reid Dunbar sold 1,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $181.25, for a total transaction of $290,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 17,288 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,133,450. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in EastGroup Properties by 783.3% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 159 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in EastGroup Properties in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP increased its holdings in EastGroup Properties by 3,380.0% in the 1st quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 174 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Group One Trading L.P. bought a new stake in EastGroup Properties in the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of EastGroup Properties in the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. 90.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. EastGroup Properties Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of EGP stock opened at $156.74 on Friday. EastGroup Properties has a 12-month low of $138.89 and a 12-month high of $188.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 0.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firms 50 day moving average is $172.96 and its 200 day moving average is $171.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.94. EastGroup Properties Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th were given a dividend of $1.27 per share. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. This is an increase from EastGroup Propertiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 28th. EastGroup Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 135.47%. EastGroup Properties Company Profile (Get Free Report EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for EastGroup Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EastGroup Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Airbus (OTCMKTS:EADSY Get Free Report) is one of 376 public companies in the Private households industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Airbus to related businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends. Profitability This table compares Airbus and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Airbus alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Airbus 6.27% 30.92% 3.23% Airbus Competitors -12.21% 7.34% 2.53% Dividends Airbus pays an annual dividend of $0.37 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Airbus pays out 29.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Private households companies pay a dividend yield of 1.4% and pay out 33.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Airbus $61.92 billion $4.47 billion 25.16 Airbus Competitors $12.63 billion $1.30 billion 12.35 This table compares Airbus and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Airbus has higher revenue and earnings than its peers. Airbus is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Risk and Volatility Airbus has a beta of 1.59, suggesting that its share price is 59% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Airbus peers have a beta of 2.37, suggesting that their average share price is 137% more volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.1% of Airbus shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 9.3% of shares of all Private households companies are owned by institutional investors. 4.6% of shares of all Private households companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations for Airbus and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Airbus 2 3 5 0 2.30 Airbus Competitors 1402 4107 4082 42 2.29 As a group, Private households companies have a potential upside of 1,472.16%. Given Airbus peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Airbus has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Summary Airbus beats its peers on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Airbus Company Profile (Get Free Report) Airbus SE engages in the design, manufacture, and delivery of aerospace products, services, and solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments: Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space. The Airbus segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial jet passenger aircraft; freighter aircraft; and regional turboprop aircraft and aircraft components, as well as provides aircraft conversion and related services. The Airbus Helicopters segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of civil and military helicopters; and provision of helicopter related services. The Airbus Defence and Space segment designs, develops, delivers, and supports military aircraft, such as combat, mission, transport, tanker aircraft, and their associated services; a range of civil and defence space systems for telecommunications, earth observations, navigation, science, and orbital systems; and unmanned aerial systems. This segment also offers missile and space launcher systems, as well as services around data processing from platforms, secure communication, and cyber security. The company was formerly known as Airbus Group SE and changed its name to Airbus SE in April 2017. Airbus SE was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Leiden, the Netherlands. Receive News & Ratings for Airbus Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Airbus and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE:GTY Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Thursday after JMP Securities lowered their price target on the stock from $39.00 to $33.00. JMP Securities currently has a market outperform rating on the stock. Getty Realty traded as low as $26.52 and last traded at $26.53, with a volume of 383152 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.49. Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Getty Realty in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $32.75. Get Getty Realty alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Getty Realty Institutional Investors Weigh In On Getty Realty Getty Realty Trading Up 0.3 % Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GTY. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Getty Realty by 1.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 585,653 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $16,762,000 after purchasing an additional 7,892 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Getty Realty by 7.7% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 15,914 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $456,000 after acquiring an additional 1,133 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Getty Realty by 56.8% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 22,011 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $630,000 after acquiring an additional 7,969 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of Getty Realty by 36.8% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 155,688 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,456,000 after acquiring an additional 41,905 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in shares of Getty Realty by 14.1% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 34,008 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $973,000 after acquiring an additional 4,193 shares in the last quarter. 83.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. The company has a quick ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 3.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firms 50-day moving average price is $29.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.00. The company has a market capitalization of $1.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.25, a P/E/G ratio of 8.11 and a beta of 0.88. Getty Realty (NYSE:GTY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.30). Getty Realty had a return on equity of 8.51% and a net margin of 39.48%. The firm had revenue of $43.66 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.09 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Getty Realty Corp. will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current year. Getty Realty Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 28th were paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.48%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 27th. Getty Realtys payout ratio is 124.64%. About Getty Realty (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Getty Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Getty Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock traded as high as $20.64 and last traded at $20.57, with a volume of 817907 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.58. The company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $1.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Liberty Energy had a return on equity of 38.86% and a net margin of 12.59%. Liberty Energys revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.78 earnings per share. Get Liberty Energy alerts: Liberty Energy Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.07 per share. This is a positive change from Liberty Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.05. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 5th. Liberty Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 5.81%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on LBRT shares. Atb Cap Markets upgraded Liberty Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Liberty Energy from $21.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Liberty Energy from $28.00 to $26.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Liberty Energy from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Liberty Energy from $21.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.35. Check Out Our Latest Report on Liberty Energy Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Ryan T. Gosney sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total value of $25,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 122,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,074,578. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Ryan T. Gosney sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total value of $25,500.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 122,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,074,578. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Christopher A. Wright sold 17,060 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.04, for a total value of $324,822.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,940,819 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,993,193.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 301,118 shares of company stock valued at $5,235,762 in the last three months. 3.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Liberty Energy Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LBRT. HGK Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Liberty Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $330,000. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY increased its stake in Liberty Energy by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 227,433 shares of the companys stock worth $4,212,000 after purchasing an additional 2,909 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new position in Liberty Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $1,787,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management purchased a new position in Liberty Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $978,000. Finally, CWM LLC increased its stake in Liberty Energy by 59.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,166 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 1,183 shares in the last quarter. 91.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Liberty Energy Price Performance The stock has a 50 day moving average of $17.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $15.11. The stock has a market cap of $3.53 billion, a PE ratio of 6.03, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 2.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.44. Liberty Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Liberty Energy Inc provides hydraulic services and related technologies to onshore oil and natural gas exploration, and production companies in North America. The company offers hydraulic fracturing services including complementary services, such as wireline services, proppant delivery solutions, data analytics, related goods, and technologies; and other services comprising design and pump diagnostic fracture injection test, DFIT and mini-frac analysis, and laboratory services, such as fluid rheology, surfactant, clay control, scaling and biocide testing. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Liberty Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Liberty Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KBC Group NV reduced its stake in shares of nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT Free Report) by 6.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 54,879 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,744 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NVs holdings in nVent Electric were worth $2,836,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVT. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in nVent Electric by 9.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,999 shares of the companys stock worth $383,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares during the period. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its position in nVent Electric by 36.8% during the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 11,498 shares of the companys stock worth $400,000 after acquiring an additional 3,093 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its position in nVent Electric by 15.4% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 43,511 shares of the companys stock worth $1,514,000 after acquiring an additional 5,807 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in nVent Electric by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 21,601 shares of the companys stock worth $768,000 after acquiring an additional 2,072 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in nVent Electric by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 61,657 shares of the companys stock worth $2,144,000 after acquiring an additional 5,879 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.76% of the companys stock. Get nVent Electric alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 1,519 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.21, for a total value of $83,863.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 20,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,124,406.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CAO Randolph A. Wacker sold 1,519 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.21, for a total value of $83,863.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 20,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,124,406.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph A. Ruzynski sold 4,711 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.66, for a total value of $257,503.26. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 38,440 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,101,130.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. nVent Electric Trading Down 1.6 % NYSE:NVT opened at $47.39 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. nVent Electric plc has a 1-year low of $32.01 and a 1-year high of $58.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.42 and a beta of 1.32. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.47. nVent Electric (NYSE:NVT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.09. nVent Electric had a return on equity of 16.85% and a net margin of 15.14%. The business had revenue of $803.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $809.05 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.57 EPS. nVent Electrics revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that nVent Electric plc will post 2.9 earnings per share for the current year. nVent Electric Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th will be given a $0.175 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 19th. This represents a $0.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.48%. nVent Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.74%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NVT has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price target on nVent Electric from $69.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. William Blair initiated coverage on nVent Electric in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on nVent Electric from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Seaport Res Ptn reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of nVent Electric in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on nVent Electric in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set a buy rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $61.75. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NVT nVent Electric Company Profile (Free Report) nVent Electric plc designs, manufactures, markets, installs, and services electrical connection and protection products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Enclosures, Electrical & Fastening Solutions, and Thermal Management. The Enclosures segment provides solutions to connect and protect critical electronics, communication, control, and power equipment; physical infrastructure solutions to host, connect, and protect server and network equipment; indoor and outdoor protection for test and measurement and aerospace and defense applications in industrial, infrastructure, commercial, and energy verticals; and metallic and non-metallic enclosures, cabinets, sub racks, and backplanes. Read More Receive News & Ratings for nVent Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for nVent Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sealed Air Co. (NYSE:SEE Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday after Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on the stock from $38.00 to $35.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Sealed Air traded as low as $29.16 and last traded at $29.49, with a volume of 44806 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $29.40. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Sealed Air from $41.00 to $37.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Sealed Air from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and cut their price target for the company from $59.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Sealed Air in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Bank of America upgraded shares of Sealed Air from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $61.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Sealed Air from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $49.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Sealed Air has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $43.55. Get Sealed Air alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Sealed Air Insider Buying and Selling at Sealed Air Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sealed Air In other news, CEO Edward L. Doheny II purchased 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, September 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $33.85 per share, with a total value of $338,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 658,360 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,285,486. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Insiders own 0.44% of the companys stock. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board boosted its position in shares of Sealed Air by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 7,060 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $282,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sealed Air in the 1st quarter worth about $207,000. Ieq Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 6,760 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $310,000 after acquiring an additional 987 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 96,858 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,447,000 after acquiring an additional 6,718 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sealed Air by 42.4% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 25,556 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,173,000 after acquiring an additional 7,609 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.45% of the companys stock. Sealed Air Stock Up 0.1 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.24, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $4.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.44 and a beta of 1.31. The stocks fifty day moving average is $33.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.61. Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The industrial products company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $1.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. Sealed Air had a net margin of 7.04% and a return on equity of 154.56%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.01 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Sealed Air Co. will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sealed Air Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.75%. Sealed Airs payout ratio is currently 29.85%. Sealed Air Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sealed Air Corporation provides packaging solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and NewZealand. It operates through two segments, Food and Protective. The Food segment offers integrated packaging materials and automation equipment solutions to provide food safety and shelf life extension, reduce food waste, automate processes, and optimize total cost for food processors in the fresh red meat, smoked and processed meats, poultry, seafood, plant-based, and dairy markets under the CRYOVAC, CRYOVAC Grip & Tear, CRYOVAC Darfresh, Simple Steps, and Optidure brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sealed Air Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sealed Air and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. (Photo : Kena Betancur/Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Indian government's crackdown on diplomats is making life harder for millions of people in both nations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the Indian government on Friday over its crackdown on diplomats. Trudeau said that New Delhi's efforts were making life much more difficult for millions of people in both nations. The Canadian prime minister's remarks were made after a decision to remove 41 diplomats from India following a threat to revoke their immunity. Canada-India Diplomatic Row The Indian government is furious that Trudeau last month suggested that Indian agents may have been involved in the June murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. In a statement, the Canadian prime minister said that the Indian government is contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy. He added that the situation is something that has had him very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent. Trudeau also said that the expulsion of his country's diplomats would hamper travel and trade as well as pose difficulties for Indians who are studying in Canada, as per Inquirer. There are roughly 2 million Canadians who have Indian heritage and India is by far the North American country's largest source of global students. Previously, the Indian Foreign Ministry rejected the idea that it had violated the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. The ministry released a statement where it said that the state of their bilateral relations, the higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in their internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. On Friday, the U.S. State Department expressed its support of Canada in the dispute over diplomats with India. The department's spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said that they have already urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate with the ongoing Canadian government investigation. Read Also: India's Supreme Court Rules Against Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions Threat to Diplomats' Immunity Trudeau noted that the Indian government's crackdown on diplomats has a very real impact on the millions of people who travel back and forth between the two nations. These travels include for education, family reasons, weddings, businesses, and for the growing trade ties between the two countries, according to Anadolu Ajansi. The Canadian diplomats in India had little choice but to get out of the South Asian country after the government's threat to their immunity. Trudeau's words against New Delhi were borne out by 24-hour lineups at the BLS International Office in the city of Brampton near Toronto. The BLS office is a service provider for the Indian government and since New Delhi has stopped issuing visas for Canadians, people who want to go the the Asian nation need to apply for an Overseas Citizens of India card. This is something that was not previously required for such travel. Government sources said that India has made it very clear that Canada's decision to cease operations in three consulates is unilateral and not related to the implementation of diplomatic parity. They added that there would be no impact due to the parity decision on Canadian diplomatic strength in their consulates in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh, said the Times of India. Related Article: Canada's Visas Suspended by India as Tensions Rise Over Murder of Sikh Activist @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Trust Co. of Virginia VA lowered its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 25,395 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 964 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Virginia VAs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,724,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Triasima Portfolio Management inc. raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.5% in the first quarter. Triasima Portfolio Management inc. now owns 4,563 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $500,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. TIAA FSB raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. TIAA FSB now owns 509,184 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $55,837,000 after acquiring an additional 38,760 shares during the period. Horizons Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 214.6% during the second quarter. Horizons Wealth Management now owns 453 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. Nvest Financial LLC boosted its position in Exxon Mobil by 5.6% during the first quarter. Nvest Financial LLC now owns 3,651 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 4.9% in the first quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 21,302 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,336,000 after purchasing an additional 1,003 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.53% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades XOM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Redburn Partners upgraded Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Bank of America lifted their price target on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Wolfe Research cut Exxon Mobil from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $139.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.22. Exxon Mobil Price Performance XOM opened at $111.08 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $444.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.89, a PEG ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $112.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $109.49. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 12-month low of $98.02 and a 12-month high of $120.70. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.00 by ($0.06). Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 25.82% and a net margin of 13.72%. The firm had revenue of $82.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.80 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $4.14 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 28.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.28%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 29.12%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben purchased 458,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 27,772 shares in the company, valued at $3,193,780. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben bought 458,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Exxon Mobil (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valley National Advisers Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 4.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 34,958 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,516 shares during the period. Valley National Advisers Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $3,750,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC now owns 6,220 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $647,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares during the last quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 17,393 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,865,000 after purchasing an additional 2,237 shares during the last quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC now owns 24,183 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,594,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 26,216 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,812,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 19.6% during the 2nd quarter. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,208 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $233,000 after purchasing an additional 362 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.53% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Exxon Mobil In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 27,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,193,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben bought 458,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $106.93 per share, with a total value of $48,973,940.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 27,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,193,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Price Performance NYSE XOM opened at $111.08 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 12 month low of $98.02 and a 12 month high of $120.70. The stock has a market cap of $444.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.89, a PEG ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 1.05. The companys 50 day moving average is $112.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $109.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.00 by ($0.06). Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 25.82% and a net margin of 13.72%. The firm had revenue of $82.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.80 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.14 EPS. Exxon Mobils revenue was down 28.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.28%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.12%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have issued reports on XOM shares. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $110.00 to $131.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Tuesday. They set an outperform rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.22. View Our Latest Report on Exxon Mobil Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Europol on Friday announced the takedown of the infrastructure associated with Ragnar Locker ransomware, alongside the arrest of a "key target" in France. "In an action carried out between 16 and 20 October, searches were conducted in Czechia, Spain, and Latvia," the agency said. "The main perpetrator, suspected of being a developer of the Ragnar group, has been brought in front of the examining magistrates of the Paris Judicial Court." Five other accomplices associated with the ransomware gang are said to have been interviewed in Spain and Latvia, with the servers and the data leak portal seized in the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. The effort is the latest coordinated exercise involving authorities from Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the U.S. Two suspects associated with the ransomware crew were previously arrested from Ukraine in 2021. A year later, another member was apprehended in Canada. Ragnar Locker, which first emerged in December 2019, is known for a string of attacks targeting critical infrastructure entities across the world. According to Eurojust, the group has committed attacks against 168 international companies worldwide since 2020. "The Ragnar Locker group was known to employ a double extortion tactic, demanding extortionate payments for decryption tools as well as for the non-release of the sensitive data stolen," Europol said. Adam Meyers, head of Counter Adversary Operations at CrowdStrike, described Ragnar Locker (aka Viking Spider) as "one of the first Big Game Hunting ransomware adversaries to leverage the threat of publication of stolen data to a [data leak site] to pressure victims." Ukraine's Cyber Police said it conducted raids at one of the suspected members' premises in Kyiv, confiscating laptops, mobile phones and electronic media. The law enforcement action coincides with the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance (UCA) infiltrating and shutting down the leak site run by the Trigona ransomware group and wiping out 10 of the servers, but not before exfiltrating the data stored in them. There is evidence to suggest that the Trigona actors used Atlassian Confluence for their activities. Just as the dismantling of Hive and Ragnar Locker represents ongoing efforts to tackle the ransomware menace, so are the initiatives undertaken by threat actors to evolve and rebrand under new names. Hive, for instance, has resurfaced as Hunters International. The development comes as India's Central Bureau of Investigation, based on information shared by Amazon and Microsoft, said it raided 76 locations across 11 states in a nationwide crackdown aimed at dismantling infrastructure used to facilitate cyber-enabled financial crimes such as tech support scams and cryptocurrency fraud. The exercise, codenamed Operation Chakra-II, led to the seizure of 32 mobile phones, 48 laptops/hard disks, images of two servers, 33 SIM cards, and pen drives, as well as a dump of 15 email accounts. It also follows the extradition of Sandu Diaconu, a 31-year-old Moldovan national, from the U.K. to the U.S. to face charges related to his role as the administrator of E-Root Marketplace, a website that offered access to more than 350,000 compromised computer credentials worldwide for ransomware attacks, unauthorized wire transfers, and tax fraud. The website, which went operational in January 2015, was taken down in 2020 and Diaconu was arrested in the U.K. in May 2021 while trying to flee the country. "The E-Root Marketplace operated across a widely distributed network and took steps to hide the identities of its administrators, buyers, and sellers," the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said this week. "Buyers could search for compromised computer credentials on E-Root, such as RDP and SSH access, by desired criteria such as price, geographic location, internet service provider, and operating system." In a related law enforcement action, Marquis Hooper, a former U.S. Navy IT manager, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison for illegally obtaining 9,000 U.S. citizens' personally identifiable information (PII) and selling it on the dark web for $160,000 in bitcoin. Alcoholism Note: For a schedule of meetings that address addictions in central Nebraska, call the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addictions at 308-385-5520. PRIME FOR LIFE! an eight-hour alcohol education class for adults ages 21 and older and/or youth ages 20 and younger, sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3402 College St. (in Main Street Station) (class times vary). The goal of this program is to reduce the incidence of alcohol- and other drug-related problems in adults and youth, and focuses on personal risk-reduction (choices) and self-assessment specifically related to alcohol. Class also offered in Spanish. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net. For a complete schedule of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meetings, call 877-226-3632; www.area41.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Back to Basics, noon, Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday; Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. FREEDOM GROUP, 10 a.m. and 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 388 N. Broadwell. Monday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Alano Group open meeting, 6:45 a.m., and Mens Stag Group, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Freely Given Womens group, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State St.; Mustard Seed, 7:30 p.m., G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second. ALATEEN and AL-ANON, 7:30 p.m., G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine. Tuesday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Afternoon Discussion, 5:30 p.m., St. Leos Catholic Church, 2410 S. Blaine; Better Sober Group, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State (Sacrament Annex); Speakers Workshop, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. AL-ANON, 7 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 518 W. State (use north doors). Wednesday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Big Book Study, 10:30 a.m. and Alano Group Womens, 6:30 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Fellowship Group, 8 p.m., Go Figure, 707 W. First; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second (Speakers meeting last Wednesday of month). AL-ANON, 9:30 a.m., Alano Club, Fifth and Broadwell Thursday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Big Book Study, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Solutions Group, 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 202 E. Pine in Alda; Never Too Late Group, 7 p.m., United Congregational Church, 405 E. Bismark. AL-ANON, noon, CHI Health St. Francis Alcohol/Drug Treatment Center, 2116 W. Faidley; 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. Friday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Alano Group open meeting, 5:30 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St.; Young Procrastinators, 8:15 p.m., St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 422 W. Second; Step Study, 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. AL-ANON, 10 a.m., St. Leos Catholic Church, 2410 S. Blaine; 8:15 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. Saturday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Resurrected Group, 8:30 a.m., Resurrection Catholic Church, 4130 Cannon Road. AL-ANON, 10 a.m., CHI Health St. Francis Medical Plaza treatment center, Conference Room C, 2116 W. Faidley; 10 a.m., Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 518 W. State (use north doors). Sunday ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Speakers meeting, 7 p.m., Alano Club, 1522 W. Fifth St. Drug addiction NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, noon and 8 p.m. daily, Unity Hall, 210 N. Wheeler. Meetings also at 6 p.m. Thursday, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, south door, 2201 N. Broadwell; 9:30 p.m. Friday, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, north door, 1515 S. Harrison; and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Messiah Lutheran Church, 122 W. Seventh. MARIJUANA EDUCATION CLASS, a four-hour class for youth and adults ages 12 and older sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3402 College St. (in Main Street Station). Class aims to help participants understand the dangers of the use and addictive nature of marijuana, legal and health risks associated with the use of marijuana, reduce the incidence of alcohol- and other drug-related problems, and assist them in seeking further help if needed. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net. Other addictions SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, 8 p.m. Tuesday, conference room B (lower level by elevators, enter through southwest entrance), CHI Health St. Francis Medical Plaza, 2116 W. Faidley. Information: John, 402-469-5056. CELEBRATE RECOVERY, a 12-step, faith-based support group, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, New Life Community Church, 301 W. Second, 308-384-5369; and 7 p.m. Thursday, Third City Christian Church, 4100 W. 13th St., free childcare; 308-384-5038. FREEDOM FROM SMOKING, classes offered by the American Lung Association at CHI Health St. Francis, available to anyone interested in quitting tobacco products. The program consists of classes over seven weeks three time a year at no cost; 308-398-5442. YOUTH TOBACCO EDUCATION CLASS, a four-hour class sponsored by the Central Nebraska Council on Alcohol and Addictions, 3204 College St. (class times vary). This class will assist youth ages 18 and younger in learning about the legal and health risks associated with tobacco use, addiction, and offer assistance in helping them move towards quitting. Fee charged; registration required; 308-385-5520; www.cncaa.net. Weight control, eating disorders TOPS NE 7, weigh-in, 5:15 to 6 p.m.; meeting at 6:15 p.m. Monday, First Christian Church, 2400 W. 14th. Information: Eunice Alexander, 308 384-7032. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a support group for people who want to lose weight. TOPS NE 605, 8:30 to 9 a.m. weigh-in, meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison St. Information: Connie, 308-379-0094. Mental health; depression FAMILIES CARE YOUTH GROUPS Kearney Youth Support Group ages 12-15 and ages 16-23; Grand Island Youth Support Group ages 13-23. These groups provide support to youth struggling with emotional, mental or behavioral health challenges. Open to anyone in the community in these age ranges. We will provide food, good conversation, wellness planning and strategies, games and activities. Contact Families CARE, 308-237-1102, or Karla S. Bennetts, 308-991-6099, for time, date and location. Pregnancy, parenting and families WATCH ME GROW, new parent and breastfeeding support, 10 a.m. to noon Monday, and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Grand Island Regional Medical Center third floor waiting room; free. Information: Tina Vettel, 308-675-4550. BREASTFEEDING BASICS 101, 6:30 to 8 p.m., third Thursday, Grand Island Regional Medical Center, first floor conference room; fee charged. Information/registration: Tina Vettel, 308-675-4550. HYPNOBIRTHING, alternative to traditional childbirth classes; five-week course offered two or three times a year. Information (including class times and fees): Lana McCoy, 308-390-0968 or realmccoy@charter.net PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASSES, for expectant parents, four-week sessions offered several times a year; fee charged. Information: Sylvia, 308-850-7005. DOULA LABOR SUPPORT, for more information or to set up an appointment, call Sarah Rose, 308-218-9533, or Jaydon Stuart, 308-850-8956. HYPNOBIRTHING, alternative to traditional childbirth classes; five-week course offered two or three times a year. Information (including class times and fees): Lana McCoy, 308-390-0968 or realmccoy@charter.net BABYCARE BASICS, a one-time class for expectant parents to learn about caring for their newborn, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September and November, CHI Health St. Francis conference room, 2620 W. Faidley. Information/registration: 308-398-5888. PREPARING FOR BREASTFEEDING, a one-time class for mothers-to-be, meets every other month at CHI Health St. Francis, 2620 W. Faidley. Both expectant parents and/or support people are encouraged to attend. EAT AT MOMS, 10 a.m. to noon (come anytime), Tuesday, Hy-Vee Club Room, 115 Wilmar Ave. A support group for breast-feeding moms who want to share their experiences; facilitated by a nurse specializing in breastfeeding. Babies welcome. Information: 308-398-6595. INFANT MASSAGE CLASS, a one-time class offered one Saturday a month (call for times and dates), R&R Therapeutic Massage Clinic, 2343 N. Webb Road. Designed to benefit a child by increasing circulation, digestion, elimination and enhances sleep. Classes are for parents or any family member of newborns, ideally between 2 and 6 weeks of age. Taught by licensed massage therapists. Fee charged; information: 308-389-9177. CHOICE FAMILY HEALTH CARE, Pap tests, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception provided, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 217 E. Stolley Park Road, Suite E. Information and appointments: 308-384-7625 or www.choicefamilyhealthcare.org. Cancer MULTIPLE MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP, for those diagnosed with multiple myeloma, 10 a.m., third Wednesday, G.I. Free Church, 2609 S. Blaine. Group provides support, education and caring for those diagnosed and their family members. Information: Arlene Preisendorf, 308-380-8526; or Dave Scharff, 402-649-7545. CANCER SURVIVORSHIP 101, a small, supportive group setting, helps individuals regain their physical, emotional and spiritual health after cancer treatment. Offered yearly by CHI Health St. Francis, starting the second week in March, the free nine-week holistic rehabilitation program is taught by specially trained nurses and mental health practitioners. Cancer Treatment Center, 308-398-5442. Other illnesses TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR DIABETES, a self-management diabetes program to assist in learning how to manage diabetes effectively with meal planning, exercise and medication; class schedule varies; 308-398-5565. DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP, offered by CHI Health St. Francis, designed for people living with diabetes and their families; 308-384-4660. STROKE SUPPORT GROUP, meets every other month at CHI Health St. Francis (next meeting is in July), and provides support, education and networking opportunities. Anyone affected by stroke or brain injury, including family, friends, and caregivers are welcome to attend. Contact Jennifer Niedfelt, jennifer.niedfelt@commonspirit.org, or Jessica Renee McCord, jessica.mccord@commonspirit.org, to be added to the email list and updates about the next meeting. Alzheimers disease ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP, 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday, the Heritage at Sagewood, 1920 Sagewood Ave. Group is designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers of people with Alzheimers or another form of dementia; Erica Long, 308-398-8005 or elong@heritage-communities.com ALZHEIMERS AND DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP, a support group for friends and family members who care for those with Alzheimers disease or dementia, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. first Wednesday, Grand Generation Center, 304 E. Third St. Information: Brenda, 308-384-1080. ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP, 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday, Faith United Methodist Church, 1623 Central Ave., Kearney; information, Gwen, 308-234-5600. Sponsored by the Nebraska chapter of the Alzheimers Association, the group is designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers of people with Alzheimers or another form of dementia. Local professionals will lead the sessions. Grief GRIEF SHARE, help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Trinity Lutheran Church, 212 W. 12th St. New 13-week sessions start several times a year (next series starts Jan. 12). Information: Eunice McCarty, GriefShare facilitator, 308-382-0753 or emccarty1955@gmail.com; griefshare.org PAWS FOR PEACE, a bereavement group for those dealing with the loss of a beloved pet, 1 p.m. Sundays, Meeting Room A, Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W. Second St. Information: Diane Best, 308-390-6598. Miscellaneous DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT GROUP, a group for those looking for empowerment and skill-building. This is a confidential and closed group. For meeting times and location, call 308-382-8250. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEMORY CARE, an informal support group for friends and family members of those with dementia, fourth Tuesday, CountryHouse Residences, 833 Alpha St. (next to Regency Retirement). Two times available: 1 to 2 p.m. (in person) or 5 to 6 p.m. (via Zoom). Learn tips and techniques, along with helpful resources, to help your loved one from the team at CountryHouse. Information: Brenda Wiltfong, 308-381-1988 or bwiltfong@countryhouse.net. GRAND ISLAND PFLAG, 7 p.m. second Tuesday, YWCA, 211 E. Fonner Park Road. Group is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their families and friends, through support, education and advocacy. PFLAG is not affiliated with any ethnic, religious or political group. Information: 308-390-6560. HASTINGS/SOUTH CENTRAL PFLAG, 7:30 p.m. second Monday, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Seventh and Marion Road, Hastings (check the Facebook page for event posting and meeting details); in person and Zoom hybrid. Informal coffee and conversation, 11 a.m. first Saturday, Blue Moon Coffee Co., 635 W. Second St., Hastings. MEN XCEL TOGETHER (MXT), a group of men gathering in a safe and non-judgmental place, mentoring other men to be become they best they can be, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Resurrection Catholic Church, 4110 Cannon Road. Information: email menxceltogether@gmail.com or check the website at menxceltogether.com A state-wide test of wastewater shows that Grand Island has the highest concentration of COVID-19 in Nebraska, by a wide margin. This is part of a trend where COVID-19 concentration in wastewater has been going up since the end of the summer. Wastewater monitoring is one tool used for determining the risk of COVID in our area. Teresa Anderson, health director for the Central District Health Department in Grand Island, said the increased numbers in the area is an excellent reason to get up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including a recently available booster shot. This is an ideal time to get a COVID booster, Anderson said, adding, We are thankful that hospitalization rates remain low. However, wastewater sampling can be an early warning system that tells us that we will see more cases. While its difficult to know exactly why Grand Islands COVID levels are so high, the onset of cooler weather typically signals an increase in spreadable viruses as people tend to be indoors more. While reports of influenza (flu) and RSV are low, COVID is making an active appearance. The last time COVID-19 activity was this high was in March of 2022. In addition to seeking a COVID booster, familiar precautions can be applied. These include thorough handwashing, staying home when ill, and maintaining distance from others who are not well. Well-ventilated areas reduce the risk of catching a respiratory virus. COVID home test kits can be ordered through the mail at no cost at: www.covid.gov/tests Additionally, this is an ideal time to get that annual flu shot. Wastewater sampling is provided as part of the National Wastewater Surveillance System. Plans are in place to expand sampling to include both influenza and RSV. Read the full report at www.cdhd.ne.gov. CDHD is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and offers COVID boosters at no out-of-pocket expense for those with and without insurance. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 308-385-5175. Curriculum & Instruction Montana to Implement DreamBox Math, Reading Plus Statewide for Grades 38 DreamBox Learning has been selected by the Montana Office of Public Instruction to provide its DreamBox Math and Reading Plus solutions to grades 38 statewide, according to a news release. The deal will give 30,000 students access to the curriculum solutions from DreamBox, which was recently acquired by Discovery Education; both are rated Strong by Johns Hopkins' EvidenceforESSA.org. DreamBox Math and DreamBox Reading Plus are designed to adapt problems and questions based on how each student learns alongside educator tools and resources to improve productivity and make personalized learning faster, the company said. The solutions complement educators use of Discovery Education Experience, which is also available to public schools statewide through Montana OPI. Learn more at DreamBox.com and DiscoveryEducation.com. Anaiya Whaley of Claflin University has received a $1,000 scholarship as a first-place winner of the 2023 National Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Title III Administrators Scholarship. Whaley is a senior mass communications and psychology major at Claflin and also a member of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College. She was the top finisher in Region V, which includes HBCU students in Florida and South Carolina. "This scholarship is truly an honor and testament that hard work and determination can lead to successful outcomes, Whaley said. I am grateful to Claflin University's Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College for supporting me during my scholarship application. I am thankful to the National Association HBCU Title III Administrators Scholarship, Inc. for creating scholarship opportunities for young, promising scholars, said Whaley, who plans to attend graduate school to study strategic communications. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and continue to make a positive impact in my community. This scholarship will help me cover graduate school fees. Whaley is a native of Orangeburg and a 2020 High School for Health Professionals graduate. Last summer, she was a Golin Fellow in the PRep School program that chose 14 rising college seniors from HBCUs and members of Divine Nine fraternities and sororities for fellowship positions in brand marketing and public relations. PRep School is an eight-week paid training and development opportunity that offers students professional experience working for a global public relations agency and some of the worlds most well-known brands and mentorship from top industry executives. Whaley also interned with NBCUniversals Universal Studio Group in Los Angeles and has received numerous scholarships and awards, including The LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship and the Betsy Plank Public Relations Society of America Scholarship. Whaley also was selected as a PRSA National Gold Key Award Winner and a ColorComm NextGen HBCU Ambassador. ColorComm, Inc. is a womens platform addressing diversity and inclusion across communications, marketing, advertising and media industries. The latest episode of Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is in partnership with the Tulsa World to introduce the story of the Osage Reign of Terror and the upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon. In this episode, show producer Ambre Moton is joined by two writers from the Tulsa World, Randy Krehbiel and Tim Stanley, to discuss the motives for the murders and detail some of the crimes and the environment of fear that the Reign of Terror caused in the Osage community. Read all of the coverage of the film Killers of the Flower Moon and related stories here. More episodes on the Reign of Terror and "Killers of the Flower Moon" How the Osage Tribe became rich before the Reign of Terror | Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles podcast In this season we introduce the story of the Osage Reign of Terror and its connection to the upcoming Martin Scorsese film "Killers of the Flower Moon." Episode transcript Note: The following transcript was created by Slack and may contain misspellings and other inaccuracies as it was generated automatically: Welcome to Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles, a Lee Enterprises Podcast. I'm Ambre Moton, the producer and editor of the show, filling in for Nat Cardona who's taking some well-deserved time off. If you haven't listened to the last episode introducing our latest topic, The Osage Reign of Terror. Go check it out before listening to this one. Today, we're continuing our look at the series of suspicious deaths in the 1920s of members of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Oil was found on the land that the Osage is had purchased, but the Tulsa World's Randy Krehbiel explains more. The story is that for a long, long time, Indians had known that there were these oil seeps. You know, we're seeing oil would seep out of the ground and it'd be in springs and things like that. But through most of the 1800s, there wasn't really a lot of use for that. Well, they they actually they would use it for like rim remedies and things like that. It was considered medicinal. And so, of course, it wasn't until the invention of things like kerosene lamps and the internal combustion engine that that oil became more valuable. And so the first the first commercial oil well in Oklahoma or what became Oklahoma, this was completed in 1897, just outside the Osage Reservation, just on the eastern edge of it. And a couple of years later, the first well then was drilled in Oklahoma and about that time. And so this was around, you know, around 1900. And that was about the time we were starting to see motor vehicles and and again, kerosene was already pretty popular. People tend to forget that the first use of oil as as we think of it today, was actually kerosene and to use in lamps and things like that. So anyway, that was in the early 1900s, around 1900. And by O 1905 or 1906, they knew they had, you know, quite a bit right around the time of World War One is when it really picked up from like about, you know, about the mid 19 teens through around 1929 was kind of the height of the oil boom. And the Osage nation, the Osage is actually had relative little control over their own affairs. Almost all of that was handled by what now is the Bureau of Indian Affairs or or by the guardians that were appointed. You know, a lot of a lot of them had somebody who was appointed to handle their business affairs because they were not thought to be competent to handle their business affairs. So a lot of that was out of their hands. And also, I think a lot of them, especially the older ones, probably didn't even really completely understand what was going on. But when they first moved there, they probably mainly wanted to just be left alone and and it pretty became pretty soon became apparent that they were not going to be able to do that. When did the Osage reign of terror really begin? There's not really a definite date. So the killers of the Flower Moon, basically the book follow the is a period from about 1921 to about 1929. But there were probably people dying as early as 1912, 1910 or something like that. And interestingly enough, I mean, similar type things were going on in the adjoining Muskogee Creek Nation. The Cherokees had some of that going on. It was a different situation because with the Osage, as they all when they started, they all had equal share. So any Osage was worth, you know, some some sort of money from their head. Right. Whereas with the Muskogee and the Cherokees, their mineral rights were tied to their individual allotment. So if you were if you were a member, one of those tribes that had a particularly valuable allotment, you could be targeted. And and so in some cases, you know, 19 six, 1907, 1908, there were people who were disappearing. Some of them turned up alive somewhere else. Some of them were never found. As far as the Osage, it really began to intensify. It seems like, you know, 19, probably around 1920. And that coincides with when the the the the the height of the boom. So, you know, the boom was really taking off in the late teens, early twenties. By the late twenties, I'm sorry, the late teens, early twenties, it was pretty well subsiding by the late twenties. A very quick reminder about the Osage as mineral rights, the original allotments of the mineral rights were divided into over 2200 shares, which were called head rates as people died, had babies, got married, etc. those rights began moving around and you had some people with multiple rights and some with fractional rights. Making things even more complicated was the ability to pass had rights to non-tribal areas. I spoke with Randi's colleague, Tim Stanley about the series of crimes that earned the name the Osage reign of terror. I am Tim Stanley, reporter here for the Tulsa World have been with the world for a little over 20 years, the reign of terror. I think that was a term that was probably coined maybe by a journalist. I'm not real sure of the origins of it, but I know it did appear in some of the newspapers of the time, but it was a reference to a series of murders that took place among Osage Nation tribal members in the early 1900s. Specifically, I think they date them or officially to like 1921 to 26, that a five year span. Of course, as we as David Grant in his book has pointed out, and as we also did in our series, the the exact years that this took place and the true number of victims probably were probably talking about a much larger span than just that five years. But the murders were, you know, committed by I mean, there was a conspiracy involved. But at the same time, there were a lot of people just individually taking the opportunity they saw to to cheat and exploit and white people taking the opportunity to cheat and exploit their Osage neighbors there in Osage County. But yeah, I just I mean, I think specifically the reign of terror and the word terror there refers to, you know, just how this atmosphere of dread and terror that that really materialized in Osage County. Among the tribal citizens. Thereafter, I think the first three or four killings, I mean, when it kind of became obvious that that these were connected and that potentially anyone who was a member of the tribe could be next. So, yeah, it was I mean, as reported in the newspapers at the time and as David Grann and others have chronicled, it was a time of heightened fear. You had many this was I mean, the electric light bulb in that at that time was still a relatively new innovation. But for a lot of the people, Osage tribal members living outside of the town of Pawhuska or some of the other towns, they lived in the countryside. And Grant describes this in his book that they began to put up electric lights on their properties at night in such a way that they just really are shown for miles around. And they were doing that really out of fear, out of what might be out there in the darkness. Of course, as as we would come to find out, it was less the danger that was out there in the darkness. For many of these folks. It was less what was out there as opposed to what was was inside and close to them. Many of the murders, as it turns out, were committed very sadly by people They trusted, people they knew, family members, close family members, spouses, people who who would then have access to their oil wealth, which was really the motive behind it all. How many victims were there officially? Officially, this is this is where it's interesting, the number that has been tossed around, you know, for years, even before the grand book was was 24. And where that. Which is a lot in a nutshell. That's definitely I mean, it should be eye opening, just as it is today. People know where that comes from. It's interesting, You know, the federal investigators at the time who investigated this case and ultimately, you know, brought charges that that number was one that they put out there. And I think their exact words were they believed that there were at least 24 victims. So they were even, you know, in their language, I think, leaving it open for more. But the 24, you know, that's that's the number that has sort of been, you know, considered official. But, you know, the problem with it, as you know, as we as would as we found out and in our own reporting and as has been reported, you know, my grand you know, the T4, you know, is probably well shy, well short of what the true number was. You know, the problem with the 24 is that and and it's given rise to so much speculation is in saying that there were at least 24 you know, federal investigators didn't give you give or provide a list of those 24. So all we've been able to do, you know, in retrospect, and that includes, you know, the tribal members who've looked into this, is sort of speculate at the top for themselves. Now, some of them are obvious. Three homicides that ended up, you know, charges being brought in that were investigated as homicides. But then you had many others that were just the circumstances were probably suspicious, but they were never investigated as homicides. It's just it's really in other words, it's really hard to come up with a definitive list of the 24 that, you know, federal investigators, you know, thought were were victims here. You know, you'll find lists out there where people speculate on who they might have been. And between those lists, some names or certainly they have in common. But yeah, they didn't they didn't do us any favors when they put that number out there all those years ago and then didn't bother to elaborate on on who that might be. All of them outside of the ones in their specific cases. I think the best thing you can say about it is it's more of a starting point. I mean, it's it's a number that was put out there by the people who investigated it. So it's worth considering. But the problem is we don't even know who the 424 were. And and we now have reason to believe that there were many more in addition to that, that was never made the list. So. So that's that's where the number comes from. And just a little background on it. I guess, unofficially, members of the Osage tribe, do they have another estimate for victims? And when we had a chance to sit down with some of the tribal officials and we talked to the chief Standing bear. Chief for Standing Bear, the principal chief. He said, you know, once there was a time many, many years ago, several decades, when when they were sort of informally talking about this just amongst themselves. And again, very informal, he said. But the number they came up with was I would have put it at well over a hundred killed for their oil wealth during that time span and that it would have been roughly 5% of the tribe's then population, which is pretty eye opening. And he said, you know, even then there were other some of the older members of the tribe who maybe had, you know, who were around even back at the time, who thought that estimate was too low. So, you know, so the tribe unofficially, based on that very informal internal investigation, you know, suggested or proposed well over 100, I mean, 100 compared to 24. So we're talking a death toll, you know, really far exceeding that original estimate. But as you know, Chief Standing Bear pointed out to us, there's just nothing there's no way to do anything with that. There's no way to to, you know, make it any more official than just that. It's pure speculation because that's all you can do, really. A hundred years removed from the events when the when the when the deaths were not necessarily investigated as homicides and when when all you've got or family stories or family suspicions. I mean, that's all you can do is speculate. I mean, it's nothing wrong with that. Speculation can be a good thing. And in this case, I think it is a good thing. But as he would say and remember, it is speculation. It's just it's something we can never know, unfortunately. The way people were killed, it wasn't the same. It wasn't everyone was shot or whatever. No, that would have that sure to have made it a lot easier. Right. From a from an investigative standpoint. But no, you could probably put them into categories. And that's, you know, the ones that were obviously violent and there were many shootings. There was a you know, as it's going to be vividly, I think, portrayed in the movie, there was a house that was dynamited and blown up. Three people killed in it. So those I mean, obviously, you know, those didn't take Sherlock Holmes to to know that you were dealing with homicides. But there were a lot of others, you know, that were just very quiet and just where the, you know, the homicide, if, in fact, that's what it was, just just wasn't obvious and would have taken some serious investigation and in most cases was not done. And in the article that you wrote about how the total number of victims, you know, we may or we will never know the total number of victims compared to what's officially on record. You talked about a few specific or wrote about a few specific stories. Is there anything about those that you'd want to share on the podcast? You know, it's difficult, you know, a hundred years removed to find people who can talk about it or family members that still remember. I you know, we I guess, you know, centrally or especially important to our story was, you know, an interview we did with former Osage principal chief Jim Gray, who is the great grandson of one of the one of the pivotal, pivotal figures, you know, in the whole story. And that was Henry Roan, who was one of the victims and who was a victim who ultimately it was his his slaying that that Hale and the others held accountable were charged for Henry, you know, ended up being a pivotal figure in the story. He was he was murdered, found, you know, shot in the head. He was one of the early murders. He was a he wasn't the first, but it was his that I think, as we mentioned, really, really sort of triggered the terror as we called it at that point, that people could really connect the dots and see that that somebody was out to get these tribal members. But yeah, I think the interview with with former Chief Gray about his his great grandfather was was critical to our story because, number one, I mean, Henry is is so important to the overall story but also just the insights that that Jim Gray could give a contextual understanding of the other forces at work in Henry's life and in helping or making him who he was at that point in his life. But yeah, I mean, he never you know, Jim Gray never had a chance to know his great grandfather. He just knew him through things that his mother would tell him about Henry, who was her grandfather. You know, we went to one of the interviews we did was with the former executive director of the Osage History Museum in Pawhuska, which is a sort of a repository there of a lot of tribal history and artifacts. So a wonderful place if you ever get a chance to go. But the former executive director of that is the lady still lives in that era area named Katherine Red Corn. She talked to us. She she was interviewed by David Grann for his book Killers of the Flower Moon and in it as as in our interview, you know, she talks about an exhibit that they did and there that really sort of, I think from David Grann's own recollections, really sort of launched him on this mission to write this book. And that was an exhibit of of photos from tribal members from the early 1900s, many of whom would have been caught up in this in the reign of terror when they first put this exhibit together. I think Grann came in later and he saw it and was moved by it. But the reason I mean, we want to talk to Katherine about that, because that was pivotal. But she has a family story that I think illustrates what a what a lot of a large number of families have been left to live with as far as questions about a relative's demise and not being able to know for sure whether it was connected. She she told us about, you know, her grandfather, a man named Raymond Red Corn, who died. And this is important. He died in 1931 of suspicious circumstances. And the reason that's important is that if he died in 1931 and his his death is connected to the reign of terror, well, that's you know, the official span was 1921 to 1926 that these killings took place. So if if his death was connected, it shows that they spanned not only farther than that, but end of the next decade. And, you know, we want to be careful with this because, as she said, you know, we really don't know anything for sure. But there there there's always been suspicions surrounding her grandfather's death and that he apparently, based on what things that he said at the time that were that have been passed on, he believed that his his wife at the time, in 1931, I believe, would have been his second wife was actually poisoning him. And he from what Catherine and others told us, you know, if you went over to his house during that time period, he would advise you, don't eat anything while you're here. Don't drink anything. You know, he clearly believes something was going on. And then and then what do you know? One day he dies and now he had had a protracted illness. He had been growing weaker. Well, the only thing we can say, you know, and it really is circumstantial, you know, case. But, you know, the the evidence does seem to fit the patterns of of other what we might call other poisonings. And one thing that makes this so difficult is, is some of these killings were were it was very obvious that they were homicides that you because they were violent. I mean, like with Henry who was shot in the head, I mean, there was no denying it. But with many, many others that that people in retrospect now, we believe, were suspicious. I mean, the cause was just not so obvious. And this was an era when when poisonings were very common, a lot of murders by poison. And depending on, you know, what the substance was and how it was administered, it could be very hard to detect. Now, they could, you know, if they did an autopsy and they did a what we now call a toxic toxicological do talks on it, they could determine that poison was present. They did have that. They did have that capacity. Then, however, you know, if if there was no obvious reason to do it and and you also were dealing with potentially corrupt authorities who were not inclined to look too closely, a lot of these a lot of these deaths were never investigated. We have to take a quick break. So don't go too far. The reign of terror did just that, created an atmosphere of fear in the Osage community. Fear of violence and fear that authorities weren't going to help, even if someone were to speak up. Randy explained how this fear impacted the investigations. The earliest? Well, it was called the Reign of Terror because people just lived in terror. They were afraid to to talk. And when the FBI came in there in 1923 to try and sort things out in their in their letters and reports and so forth, from that time, you know, they talk about how people are just terrified to talk and and they would not talk to outsiders at all. And in fact, is as is been talked about a lot with with this book and movie. They wound up putting some some men undercover to try and insinuate themselves into the community so they could get information. And because people were afraid if they if they told what they knew or what they thought and they were honest about it, they they'd be killed. And and this and this was true of a lot of other people in And, you know, I think Molly Burkhart, at one time, she told her priest that she was afraid. People just, you know, people, people who were not part of the and even some of them who were part of the these these organizations that were that were doing these things were afraid to talk about it. And sometimes they were afraid to talk about it because they were involved, too. You know, but but they often they were afraid to talk about it because of repercussions against themselves. And, you know, so again, you'd have people just go missing their bodies, you know, that that would turn out you know, they'd find them out in the in the oil field or or in a ravine or or you'd have one thing that happened a lot was was unexplained deaths. People would, you know, quote, get sick and die. And that happened with Molly Burkhart mother. And and at least and in one of her, at least one of her sisters, where they, uh, they called it like mysterious wasting disease and things like they didn't really have a name for it. And the FBI suspected the local doctor was in on it, that he that he knew what was going on. And he was, you know, making it worse or at least reporting it. Maybe taking kickbacks from the perpetrators. Well, yes, exactly. Some people some of these folks suffered from diabetes and they weren't being. Now, treating diabetes, I think in those days was probably a lot more difficult anyway. But they were not like, we're not helping it anyway. Mm hmm. And it you know, it was just. It... Was it was a time when you just had to, you know, be careful about every little thing you did and said. And this is where we wrap things up today. Thanks for listening to Late Edition, Crime Beat Chronicles. Hit that subscribe button so you don't miss. Our next episode will pick up with the investigation and who was held responsible- or not- for the murders during the Osage reign of terror. The New York Times rehired Soliman Hijjy, a Gaza journalist who was previously known for praising Hitler. The NY Times defended Hijjy and was rehired as a freelance videographer in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. NY Times Journalist Receives Criticisms In August 2022, the pro-Israel media watchdog HonestReporting shed light on Hijjy. His work was featured in the NY Times between 2018 and 2021. As reported in the Jewish newspaper Algemeiner, Hijjy's name has resurfaced in The NY Times' coverage of the rise of Hamas' dreadful attack on Israel on October 7. According to Fox News, Hijjy shared problematic posts about the recent Israel-Hamas war. He referred to the terrorist group Hamas' rocket fire toward Israel as the resistance. "We reviewed problematic social media posts by Mr. Hijjy when they first came to light in 2022 and took a variety of actions to ensure he understood our concerns and could adhere to our standards if he wished to do freelance work for us in the future," a spokesperson for the Times told Fox News Digital. The Times defended Hijjy and said he had maintained high journalistic standards and delivered important and impartial work at significant personal risk in Gaza during the conflict. Since October 12, Hijjy already had a byline and contributed to eight reports for The NY Times. Hijjy's recent work includes the NY Times' coverage of the hospital strike in Gaza this week. The NY Times and many other organizations reported that the attack was an Israeli airstrike, citing Hamas officials' false claims. Read Also: Church Inside Gaza Hit by Israeli Airstrike, Orthodox Churchmen Say Hijjy Praises Hitler The standards of the NY Times were questioned, including what the NY Times' specific criteria Hijjy stood by and how he covered the Israel-Gaza conflict fairly when he praised Hitler in the past. The spokesperson declined to respond to the comments about their criteria for hiring Hijjy. Israel's Ambassador said, "The @nytimes has just rehired a NAZI." The Ambassador told U.N. Gilad Erdan to think about it again. "We all saw how the NY Times immediately parroted Hamas' lies regarding the al-Ahli hospital (which Hijjy contributed to) and still refuses to retract these fabrications," Erdan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Erdan said that Hijjy was spreading Hamas propaganda. He criticized the NY Times for rehiring a Holocaust-praising terror supporter who actively stokes antisemitism. He also added that every Jew must understand that not reading or advertising in Hamas mouthpieces is an integral part of the right to self-defense. Moreover, Hijjy praised Adolf Hitler in a 2012 Facebook post, explaining how great Hitler was and wrote in Arabic. In a 2018 Facebook post, Hijjy shared a photo of himself with a caption that stated that he sympathized with Hitler during the holocaust. NY Times received a lot of criticism for hiring a Gaza 'Nazi' journalist and questioned its credibility. Russ Roberts, the president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, said it was a good day to cancel their subscription to the NY Times. Related Article: 'Superspreaders' of Israel-Hamas Propaganda on X Are Mostly With Blue Verified Badges: Research @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. October is Arts and Humanities Month. Gov. Gordon recently proclaimed: The state of Wyoming recognizes the significant contributions of arts and humanities in enriching our lives, fostering creativity, promoting cultural understanding and strengthening our democracy. Expression through the arts and understanding through the humanities benefit our people, our communities, and the state we love. Another statesman, 120 years before, understood this, too. President Theodore Roosevelt congratulated Wyoming for the building of that higher life. In 1903, President Roosevelt toured Wyoming for weeks. Besides the legendary ride from Laramie to Cheyenne on a gift horse from Douglas (Roosevelt renamed the horse Wyoming), he gave scores of speeches in places like Gillette, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Evanston, Laramie, and Cheyenne. Our 13-year-old state had a population of a mere 108,000 people in 1903. Yellowstone had already been designated as a national park, but it would be a few years before Devils Tower would become the first National Monument. The Reclamation Act, championed by Roosevelt, had recently passed, reclaiming the arid western lands for homemaking pioneers, ranchers, and farmers. All these themes were mentioned in his Wyoming speeches, where he was also proud to observe the natural, intellectual, civic, and cultural wealth of the state. At Evanston, Roosevelt proclaimed my belief in the future of the state is based in no small degree upon the way in which you are taking care that the next generation, like the present, shall be trained in mind as well as in body, and in what counts for more than mind or body in character. Wyoming must build the superstructure of the higher life moral, intellectual, spiritual or the mere material advancement will go for little. The humanities are the scaffolding of the superstructure of higher life. Literature, philosophy, history, ethics, religions studies and the arts provide the ideas, values, and narratives that shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. Our lives, our communities and our state are wealthier because of arts and humanities. Artistic expression and understanding through the humanities are important personally and civically. They create meaningful relationships, collaborations, and connections. They cultivate innovation, creative thinking and problem solving. They foster a marketplace of ideas and inspiration. Arts and humanities are not just the superstructure of higher life, they are the superstructure of our democracy. In 1965 a bipartisan Congress would pass the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act creating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens read the Act. The practice of art and the study of the humanities require constant dedication and devotion. From the Act sprung the National Endowment of the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. A few years later, state arts councils found homes in state governments and state humanities councils became independent non-profit organizations with close ties to their states. Wyoming Humanities Council was a national model for this non-profit structure more than 50 years ago. Historian T.A. Larson, one of Wyoming Humanities Councils founders, wrote in the second edition of History of Wyoming, Humanistshave brought their cultural traditions to bear on foreign policy questions, problems of the environment, the implications of technology, womens rights issues, pop culture, and social problems. The policy issues Larson outlined are still prevalent, albeit with different flavors. Foreign policy questions still abound with current wars in Ukraine and Israel. The environment and our connection to it is passionately debated with the BLM Rock Springs Draft Resource Management Plan. Artificial intelligence is threatening a world in which technology becomes the master. That status of women in the Equality State (and who can be counted as one) continue to be an important topic, especially considering that women make up less than sixteen percent of the Legislature. We either cringe or smile at the popular online theory Wyoming doesnt exist. Social problems, opportunities, and sources of inspiration are found within many communities across the state from Native Americans to veterans. In 2026, the United States will honor the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. States, including Wyoming, are gearing up for a multi-year celebration of this grand experiment in democracy. The commemorations allow for a reflection on the past and a look toward the future. That document was written for the future, justified by the grievances of the present, and inspired by the histories and thoughts of the ancient Greeks. The Declaration was a product of the humanities: philosophy, religion, art, poetry, history, language, civic discourse. It imagined and ultimately changed the course of human events. The first few lines of the Declaration, when in the course of human events, is a poetic allusion to a river. Roosevelt, speaking to a group of several thousand in 1903 at Laramie also used a river as a metaphor. The stream will not rise higher than the source he said. The government cannot in the long run, in a government of the people, be better than the average of the people. The humanities and arts raise us, our communities, and our democracy to new levels. As Gov. Gordon states in his recent proclamation, Let us embrace the power of the arts and humanities to inspire, educate, and unite us, fostering civic participation, mutual understanding and a thriving cultural landscape that reflects the true spirit of Wyoming. CHEYENNE Meetings of the state land and investment board (SLIB) usually held little drama in previous Wyoming administrations. In particular seeing the ve elected state ofcials deal with investments is not riveting stuff for most government watchers. Usually the matter to be decided by the governor, secretary of state, state auditor and state treasurer who sit on the board has been vetted by the treasurers ofce ahead of time. The reports are in the SLIB book for each meeting. The votes usually are a unanimous 5-0 Given the boards overall history it was a surprise to learn that there was a dust-up between two members at the SLIBs Oct. 5 meeting in Cheyenne. According to a video of that meeting (available through the Legislatures website) the issue was an agreement to hire a company, KKR, as a private state credit investment manager. The debate didnt come up until after the board adopted the agreement in a unanimous 5-0 vote. Although Secretary of State Chuck Gray had voted for the agreement, a short time later in the meeting he suddenly wanted to reconsider the vote. Apparently, having just read the agreement or supporting information, he decided the deal was an outrage. What he found was a paragraph shown on the video that said KKR does not to intend in to invest in any portfolio company engaged in acquiring property solely for the mining of coal or production of the distribution of coal-based energy. Siding with Gray, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Degenfelder said the provision also seemed suspect to her. Company officials said this insertion (there also was one on tobacco) was a risk issue. I assume the lawyers put that language in the agreement. Gray said that part of the agreement had not been mentioned during an earlier brieng by the state treasurers ofce. He was informed that the detailed information was in the materials delivered to all the board members before the meeting. Gray complained that the materials consisted of innumerable (he started to say thousands, but stopped at hundreds) pages that he lacked time to read given that he received them on the Friday before the Thursday, Oct. 5 meeting. He said that, moreover, he had other duties as well. Gray called for reconsideration of the previous vote approving the agreement. That motion to reconsider failed 2-3 with only Gray and Degenfelder voting to reconsider. Voting no was Gov. Mark Gordon, State Auditor Kristi Racines and State Treasurer Curt Meier. Gray objected and wanted another vote. The rules dont allow that. Forget it, Gordon told him. Gray kept pushing. He said this was something that did not come up at his briefing and he was very troubled. He also said that if the board members cannot have good faith conversations with the treasurers office about future investments it sets a troubling precedence Meier exploded. He complained to Gordon that this was the second time in the meeting Gray disparaged his office. He also pledged to record on Zoom every future briefing of Gray by his office Addressing Gray as sir, Gordon told the secretary of state that it was his responsibility to read the materials presented to board members and to understand them before the meeting. The spat continued briefly as the board moved on to recommend a proposed constitutional amendment to put caps on spending from two permanent funds. Gordon called a halt saying he did not want to get sidetracked by a tit for tat exchange. The recommendation was adopted 4-1 with Gray opposed. I would expect more 4-1 or 3-2 votes in the future from this board. And maybe more tit-for-tats too. Gray is a totally different breed of secretary of state from his predecessors. Their primary focus was on the responsibilities of the office to oversee well-organized fair elections and good behavior by Wyoming corporations. They did their due diligence expected from members on state boards and committees by studying the books before meetings. Gray generates lots of publicity over his extra curricular activities unusual for a secretary of state like trying to interject himself in a lawsuit uphold the states abortion law. He might spend more time reading the SLIB book and the materials. DECKER Petroleum and Marketing Company Ltd (DPMCL), based in Trinidad and Tobago, has written the US District Court of Delaware officially expressing its interest in acquiring the asphalt assets of Venezuelan oil refiner Citgo. 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. The report on the investigation into the death of WASA employee Kern Ettienne will be made public. 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. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) claims that this skin-disfiguring parasite could be endemic in Texas. Aside from this, health officials warned that this disease might be locally spreading across some U.S. states. The latest findings of the CDC are surprising since this skin disease is usually found in people who are traveling outside the country to subtropical and tropical climates. CDC Says Skin-Disfiguring Parasite Could Be Endemic in Texas According to NBC News' latest report, Leishmania is a parasite that leads to the skin-disfiguring disease called "Cutaneous leishmaniasis." Health experts stated that this skin parasite is transmitted to humans and other animals through bites of infected female sandflies. Between 2005 to 2019, CDC officials said that 1,222 Leishmaniasis cases among Americans were recorded. Most Americans infected with this alarming disease are said to be those who visited the Middle East, Latin America, Northern Africa, and Central Asia. However, the latest findings of the CDC revealed that 86 of these skin-disfiguring cases were found in people with no travel history outside the United States. Since the majority of these samples came from Texas, the health organization said that there's a high chance that the skin-disfiguring disease is endemic in this U.S. state. "We cannot say that it is exclusive to Texas, but from the samples that were submitted to CDC, the majority were from Texas," said CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria Senior Adviser Vitaliano Cama. Read Also: New Study Could Help Close Gap in Breast Cancer Deaths Between Black and White Women Parasite Could Be Spreading in Other U.S. States Newsweek reported that the CDC studied the DNA of the parasite that sandflies carry. Based on their findings, Americans infected with this skin disease contained a distinct strain of the parasite. Experts suggested that this is because the parasite is possibly adapting to spreading through local sandflies in the United States. With this information, the CDC suggested that Leishmaniasis is spreading locally in some U.S. states, such as Arizona, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. Scott Bernhardt, a Utah State University assistant professor of public health, explained that these northern states already have habitats that are ideal for sandflies, allowing these insects to increase their numbers. Now, CDC experts are concerned regarding the spread of the skin-disfiguring disease carried by sandflies. "We need to increase the awareness among clinicians, dermatologists, infectious disease doctors or general practitioners," warned CDC epidemiologist Dr. Mary Kamb. Related Article: Rhode Island: Tick-Borne Disease Kills 80-Year-Old Woman; Everything We Know About Powassan Virus @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hoping to instill the importance of history in its new, younger residents, a historic Tucson neighborhood will celebrate its birthday with a bash. The Jefferson Park neighborhood, bounded by Speedway and Grant Road and Campbell and Euclid avenues, will celebrate its 125 years with a community event Nov. 5. This neighborhood is getting more and more university people and younger families, but they dont know the history, said Joan Daniels, past president and member of the neighborhood association. If we dont share the history, then all these new folks wont understand it or preserve it. These neighborhoods around the university are iconic. Jefferson Park has about 900 homes, three churches and the International School of Tucson, formerly Jefferson Park Elementary School. In 1898, 28-year-old Anne Stattelman homesteaded the 158 acres of land that would become Jefferson Park, just north of the University of Arizona, according to the official homestead documents. The primary residence was a 32-by-32-foot home with five chicken houses and a barn, well and windmill valued at $1,500, in the area of Santa Rita Avenue and Linden Street. In 1899, she married Frank Lester, who was the superintendent of Mammoth Mines, and she rode in the wagons that traveled back and forth from the mines, sometimes carrying gold. In 1905, Lester recorded four street names with Pima County. One was Lester Street, named for her family and the other three, Seneca, Linden and Waverly, were named after the trees from Germany. The large home the Lesters built in 1920 still stands on East Lester St., near Mountain Ave. In the 1940s, after the war, veterans arrived in the Jefferson Park neighborhood to enroll at the university, and many homes, now with added carports, were built. The neighborhood today has a mix of single-family homes, both ranch-style and bungalows, along with mini dorms. The neighborhood received historic designation in 2012. The Nov. 5 celebration will be held at the International School of Tucson, 1701 E. Seneca St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be an auction with vintage items, food trucks, an Old Pueblo trolley and antique cars. The Arizona Historical Society will be on hand with displays. The event is free and open to the public. To learn more about the event and the neighborhood, visit jeffersonpark.info. The number of homicides in Tucson has dropped from last year but more cases this year involve young people, police data show. As of Oct. 13, there have been 59 homicides this year, a decrease from the 68 at this time in 2022. However, there are 12 open homicide investigations in the city where the alleged killer is a juvenile, said Lt. Adam Kidd, the Tucson Police Departments violent crimes section commander. There were five such cases at the same time in 2022, he said. There are a few overwhelming consistencies between this years homicides involving young people, Kidd said. Most started as armed robberies. In most cases the parties involved didnt know each other and the firearm in question was often a handgun, he said. I cant tell you why theyre committing these crimes, if its something at home (or) influences of a friend. I cant get into what is prompting them to commit these robberies, Kidd said. What I can say is that were working with a multitude of community organizations right now in a community violence intervention program. Prevention efforts Police hope the program will become a community violence intervention ecosystem, said TPD violence prevention coordinator Brittaney Petersen. That would involve building a coalition across the city to form comprehensive approaches tailored to the needs of Tucsonans. My position in the department is an acknowledgement that law enforcement alone cant stop violence, it will take all facets of our community, Petersen said. Everybody in this city is worried about violence and any loss of life, so I think (motivation) has come from the community, from within the city and the department. There are evidence-based, proven community violence intervention strategies that take a public health approach to gun violence (by) treating it as the social contagion that it is. Many members of our community have seen these strategies work in other cities and are looking to get them started here, she said. This ecosystem, while still in its early stages of planning, has been on the minds of Tucsons officers for a couple of years, Petersen said. She hopes it will bring community organizations, neighborhood associations, medical facilities and victims of crimes together with the goal of not simply ending violence, but ending the cycle of trauma that causes further violent crimes. The community violence intervention program will not be an effort headed by the Tucson Police Department, but rather will be led by and for community members, she said. My position is centered on community violence, so gun violence that happens outside of the home in public places. Its a relatively small number of people involved, whereas it affects entire communities with lasting individual and generational trauma, Petersen said. Nationwide, if youve been violently injured you have a 30% chance of being violently reinjured . Research shows that exposure to firearm violence, so if youve been a victim or witness, makes it twice as likely that an adolescent will commit a violent act within two years. It definitely affects us, police say The most recent homicide involving a minor occurred on Sept. 23. In it, an armed 12-year-old boy was shot and killed after police say he confronted two men who were both carrying firearms at the time at a gas station on East 22nd Street and South Pantano Road. One of the men, 54-year-old Dennis James Sherwood, was also killed in the gunfight. Days before that shooting, two teens were arrested in connection with the Sept. 18 killings of Bryan Antonio Torres and Emir Arreola-Morales, both 18. Jacob Sosa, 16, was arrested on Sept. 22 in Tucson, while Trystn Montoya, 17, was arrested by police in Clovis, New Mexico. He was awaiting extradition to Tucson while being held at the Lea County Detention Facility. Kidd said cases such as Sept. 23s hit close to home for his colleagues. It definitely affects us and affects the detectives on these cases, he said. The majority of the homicide unit have kids that are often around the same age. Its not something any of us take lightly or like investigating . Its definitely affected the department as a whole. This isnt something the department is going to be able to solve all on their own through arrests and prosecutions. This is going to take a large community effort to figure out what the root cause is and stop the cycle of violence, Kidd said. National trends Nationally, an uptick in violent offenses has been noticeable in recent years, partly due to a rebound effect as communities continue to slowly reintegrate socially after the pandemic, said Nicole McKenna, an assistant professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Theres been a general decline in violence (really since) the 1990s, especially for youths. We did see some pretty significant drops during the height of the pandemic, partially because everyone was in their homes. Part of this uptick were seeing is because were comparing extremely low levels in 2021 and 2022 (to now), McKenna said. Contextualizing it in the trends of pre-pandemic is also important. It is very interesting, definitely, that the types of crimes were seeing in youths increasing recently are violent offenses, specifically gun violence and homicides. Boys make up more than 90% of arrested and incarcerated youths, McKenna said. The majority of these offenders come from poverty, not just in terms of median household income, she says, but also in terms of unequal access to public resources. If we have a group of people living below the poverty line, then really close to those people there are also a group of people making a significant amount of money and are considered in a wealthier class. That divide of financial health and wellbeing also creates inequality, she said. Where money is filtered, where opportunities and resources are provided for different communities (are a huge factor). While incarceration rates for youths who come from minority backgrounds are higher than for those who come from white communities, McKenna says this is not because minority youths commit more violent offenses. Most of the time, these teens dont have access to public resources, legal representation, or enough financial capital, she said. (White youths) have more access to resources they could bring up as a protective factor, she said. Like if they get into a fight at school, their parents could potentially enroll them in programs or get them into therapy, and they have the money to do that, then they could be diverted out of the system rather than being processed through. McKennas research, she says, is primarily centered on experiences of trauma, whether it be family or community violence a child is witnessing. These experiences cause these kids to be victims themselves, which she says can lead to a host of different mental health issues, substance abuse and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Unfortunately a lot of the times, resources within the community are just not accessible to kids who we see make it into the system, she said. Between 80 to 95% of youth who are system-involved have experienced at least one type of pretty significant trauma in their life, so we just see this huge group of traumatized kids . Theres definitely a link between trauma and system-involvement. Incarceration According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, there were 2,250 juveniles incarcerated in adult correctional facilities across the nation in 2021, the most recent data available. Of those, 290 teens were in federal prisons. As of Oct. 16, there were 27 juveniles in the custody of an Arizona state prison, an official for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) said Thursday. As of July, the ADCRR says 17 of the 109 teens currently housed in juvenile detention centers are in Pima County. However, there is a clear distinction between detention centers and somewhere like the Pima County Adult Detention Complex, where 25 juveniles are housed in the juvenile wing, Kilo Hotel. Our juvenile population has been consistent. Twenty-five has been our average for the last few years. , said chief Scott Lowing, who presides over the jail. These 25 juveniles are all males, spending most of their days going through state-mandated schooling, doing chores and playing video games, which is dependent on their behavior. It doesnt matter if we have one juvenile or 50 juveniles, I still have to have a separate housing unit, Lowing said. (I would say) every single one of them is a violent offender. State law requires correctional facilities to separate juvenile inmates by sight and sound from the rest of the general population, Lowing says. For example, when juvenile inmates go to their mandated in-house schooling, have rec time, need to go to court or visit the medical wing, the jail is shut down almost in its entirety. When theyre arrested, theyre brought in through a different entrance than everyone else. There is some crossover but its only when we have to do our fingerprinting and (booking) photos, he said. Lowing says housing violent juveniles is a completely different undertaking typical adult offenders. In 2018, Arizona legislation SB1073 was passed, which went into effect earlier this year and requires juvenile cases to be reviewed every 30 days in court. Due to mandatory schooling regulations, the jail is also required to keep an isolated classroom on site, funding teachers as well as curriculum for offenders education. While its not required or mandated, juvenile inmates do have access to mental health-care services, including counseling. Statistics show juvenile delinquents are likely to end up back in custody. The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention found in 2020 that, while national averages are hard to come by based on varying state laws and norms, the rate at which a juvenile is rearrested within in one year of release was about 55% nationwide. When reviewing the same state studies, the office found that reincarceration rates for youth offenders averaged about 24%. However, McKenna says that based on national estimates, roughly 80% of youths who were incarcerated prior to turning 18 will not commit another crime after theyre 25. This is in large part due to the course of time it takes for the human brain to finish developing, she says. Sometimes individual factors like mental health or intellectual disability can come into play, but beyond those individual factors it really is so much more about how those individual factors react to, and engage in, the broader ecological system theyre a part of, she said. How your family responds to you, how your teachers at school respond to you, if you have a safe place to go, an adult to talk to, if you have something to do after school, if you feel like your education is valuable . Also, if broader society sees you as a worthy human being that is deserving of getting chances and believing in your future, she said. Its not necessarily some innate characteristic inside, its more how society has set them up for success or failure, and how theyve adapted to that. 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. Incumbents vying to keep their seats for another term in Tucsons upcoming general election have largely outraised their opponents, campaign finance reports show. A combination of public matching funds, political action committee buy-in and individual contributions have pushed the group of four Democrats ahead of their challengers. Mayor Regina Romero has raised the most money out of the candidates running for mayor and City Council seats in wards 1, 2 and 4, according to the latest report denoting campaign activity up to Sept. 30. Her receipts, when considering both contributions and public matching funds, totals $235,156. Tucson voters will decide the mayor and three council members who will serve for the next four years at the general election on Nov. 7. Ballots have already been mailed out, but drop-off ballot locations will be open through Election Day. Mayor Mayor Regina Romero, whos seeking her second term, has raised $120,681 in contributions on top of $114,475 through the citys public matching funds program, according to her latest finance report. The Democratic incumbent has brought in significant dollars from political action committees. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) and Chispa AZ, have contributed $126,087 and $35,031 to Romeros campaign, respectively, for campaign activities like canvassing and ad placements. The mayor reports spending $145,370 as of Sept. 30 on costs including rent and utilities for her campaign site and $20,000 for digital ads. The political action committee for AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, donated $1,000 directly to Romeros campaign. Republican Janet Wittenbraker reports raising $42,830, a combination of individual contributions and $25,740 in loans from herself. Her campaign has spent more than $25,000 on political consulting, signage and printing, among other expenses, according to her latest finance report. Independent Candidate Ed Ackerley reports raising $27,615 and spending $20,083 as of his latest campaign finance report. Most of the money came from individual contributions, while the candidate owes $6,705 in outstanding debts and obligations to his own advertising firm, Ackerley Advertising. Hes paid his own firm $1,071 for graphic design, postage and ads. Libertarian Arthur Kerschen has not raised any money for his campaign. The Pima County Libertarian Party, however, reports raising $14,831 and spending $11,622 as of Sept. 30. Only one other Libertarian candidate, Pendleton Spicer, is on the general election ballot. Ward 1 Democratic incumbent Lane Santa Cruz has raised $141,317 as of their latest campaign finance report a combination of $73,600 in contributions and $67,717 in public matching funds. The council member is seeking their second term. Three PACs have contributed to Santa Cruzs campaign, including Mijente, a national nonprofit supporting Lantinx and minority rights, which contributed $40,041 for mailers and canvassing in support of the candidate. The Working Families Party National PAC spent $37,808 on phone banking and mailers, while Rural Action Arizona spent $2,200 on Facebook ads for Santa Cruz. The candidate reports spending $107,623 of their campaign money on payroll for staff, canvassing and text blasts. Santa Cruzs Republican opponent, Victoria Lem, has not filed her latest campaign finance report due Oct. 16. Her latest report denoting expenses up to July 15 documents $2,810 in receipts and $85 in expenses. Ward 2 Current Council Member Paul Cunningham, a Democrat, reports raising $86,860 with $51,750 in contributions and $35,110 in public matching funds. The council member seeking a fourth term has spent $76,967, according to his latest campaign finance report. Cunningham has raised $3,000 from political committees: $1,000 each from the AFSCME People PAC, the Tucson Fire Fighters Association PAC and the Tucson Police Officers Association PAC. Republican challenger Ernie Shack has raised $6,008, according to his latest campaign finance report, while spending $2,398. However, his finance reports only list $4,813 worth of donations from seven contributors. None of the reports lists what Shack spent his campaign money on. Libertarian Pendleton Spicer reports raising $1,360 and spending $950. The majority of the campaign money is from individual contributions. Ward 4 Nikki Lee, current Ward 4 council member, has raised $42,046, broken down into $23,568 in contributions and $18,478 in public matching funds. The incumbent seeking a second term received $2,000 from PACs: $1,000 each from the AFSCME People PAC the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 99. Lee reports spending $26,373, largely on the payroll for her campaign staff. Republican Ross Kaplowitchs latest campaign finance report lists $5,252 in contributions and $2,608 in spending. The majority of contributions came from individual donors, while most of his campaigns expenses are for signage. Arizona will inject $5 million into its fight against housing instability, as well as to support families in need of civil legal aid, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Friday. An additional one million Arizonans will now be eligible to receive state funding for housing and other civil legal aid resources due to the increase in available support, as the income cap for a family of four increased from $37,500 to $60,000, the governor said in a news release. Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package which passed in 2021, will be distributed across the state into various nonprofits and legal funds, the release said. Pima County created its Emergency Eviction Legal Services program using COVID-19 relief money in 2021. The program helps provide legal services to low income residents facing eviction. As a social worker, I know how barriers to our justice system can be devastating for Arizona families, said Governor Hobbs in a written statement. The services provided by these organizations are critical to the strength and success of our state, helping families access the housing protection and other critical services they need. When were able to help more people in tough situations, we give them a better chance at being able to thrive and realize their full potential, she said. Anthony Young, executive director of Southern Arizona Legal Aid, is excited to continue expanding the organizations services to more low-income residents of southern Arizona. Were excited the governor is supporting what we call access to justice for all Arizonans, and the funding will go to support general legal services that address housing, domestic violence prevention, (and) access to preservation of income work that legal aid organizations do, he said. Were just proud and pleased the state of Arizona is now supporting general legal aid services and civil aide services for all Arizonans. We expect to expand our work to provide justice to more of our low-income residents in Southern Arizona, he said. Angie Rodgers, cabinet executive officer for the states Department of Economic Security, said in a written statement that this funding can help families stabilize with basic necessities, such as assistance with food or rent payments. These additional resources will give greater access for individuals with civil legal matters to get the help they need, she said Friday. Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education chief executive officer Kevin Ruegg believes this funding is a step towards equal access to justice for all Arizonans. This funding is an historic, first step towards increasing equal access to justice and will help keep Arizonans housed, keep families safe, and protect the rights of low-income families, she said Friday in a written statement. Upset with what he said are lies being told about his efforts to protect groundwater, the No. 2 Republican in the Arizona Senate is lashing out at a veteran House Republican who has for years bottled up various efforts to regulate rural pumping. In a memo to colleagues, Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said Rep. Gail Griffin misrepresented legislation he and Rep. Leo Biasiucci are trying to craft to let rural counties set up governing districts that could regulate how much water is pumped from the aquifers beneath them. Borrelli said the issues range from how these local groundwater stewardship areas could be formed, to who would sit on the panels. But he said Griffins latest action is just a piece of a larger problem. Various proposals to give local communities some control over groundwater pumping have died over the years as Griffin, a Sierra Vista Republican who chairs the House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has refused to give them a hearing. That has left rural communities, including those he represents, at risk, said Borrelli, a Lake Havasu City lawmaker. Western Arizona is completely unregulated, he told Capitol Media Services. And everybody wants to stick their straw in our district. This isnt a new complaint. Regina Cobb, a former House Republican who represented the same area of northwest Arizona for eight years, said she, too, found her proposals to help deal with a declining water table dying at Griffins hand. The issue is aggravated by massive pumping by new farms that have popped up in rural areas of the state in recent years the areas lacking rules about groundwater use. Once an area is depleted of groundwater, not just the farms will go away. Cities and towns and the rural residents who rely on that water will have nowhere else to turn. Liberal agenda What particularly galls Borrelli is that Griffin, in a memo distributed to county supervisors and others, said his proposal was crafted by the Environmental Defense Fund and is being advanced by radical out-of-state environmental organizations headquartered in New York and other elitist cities along the coasts. Rep. Griffin is attempting to portray me and this bill as part of a liberal agenda, he said. Borrelli, who describes himself as fighting those on the Left ... who want to chip away our freedom, said his draft proposal was based on input from Republicans and Democrats in rural areas. He said it includes language from everyone from mining interests such as Freeport McMoRan, to real-estate industry promoter Valley Partnership, to county supervisors, the Arizona Farm Bureau and rural water associations. He also said the claims Griffin made about his legislation this year were deliberately misleading. Griffin defends her analysis. She said it is based on a point-by-point review of the content in the legislation proposed by Borrelli and Biasiucci. Borrelli countered this was an initial version of his bill that was meant only to be a starting point. Its always a work in progress, he said. If a consensus could not have been reached, the measure would have died, he said. Instead, he said, Griffin chose to bury it in committee, before any work could be done, and then shoot at the preliminary version in claiming to county supervisors that the measure which she called the work of the Environmental Defense Fund could be abused to change the social, economic and political makeup of your district. Griffins power The death of this years legislation aside, Borrelli said theres the question of Griffin being the traffic cop at the Legislature who can stop any water bill from ever getting to the full House, an ability she has because House speakers who assign the bills choose to send it to her committee. That decision always falls to the speaker, said Biasiucci. But Cobb, who had her own bills shelved by Griffin for years, said speakers have the unilateral power to assign good water legislation to other committees, such as the House Government Committee chaired by Rep. Tim Dunn, R-Yuma. The leadership has to make a decision, Cobb said. But theyve chosen to put it in her committee and allow her to sit on it. Current House Speaker Ben Toma of Peoria, who assigned the Borrelli and Biasiucci bill to Griffins committee this year, declined to comment, even by text, saying he is on an anniversary trip to Romania. Borrelli said theres no reason to give that much power to Griffin, who represents much of southeastern Arizona, including Cochise County. I think she thinks that shes a water guru, and all things rural, he said. But Borrelli said that doesnt wash. Look, your county is different than my county, he said. I dont mess around in your county. And I ask the same respect. Borrelli said that means Griffin should not block local efforts to deal with their individual situations. Were trying to get something done in our county, he said. We have a lot already Griffin told Capitol Media Services there already are water conservation options for areas outside the states six Active Management Areas. Those six areas, including Phoenix and Tucson, have comprehensive regulations about the withdrawal and use of groundwater. She specifically cited 2007 legislation that allows counties, cities and towns outside those regulated areas to require new subdivisions to have an adequate water supply, defined as sufficient groundwater, surface water or effluent to satisfy the needs of the proposed use for at least 100 years. But she said supervisors in just two counties Cochise and Yuma adopted that authority. We have a lot already in statutes, Griffin said. She said the states Water Infrastructure Finance Authority continues to approve projects to increase water supply. We have lots of tools in the toolbox, she said. But that 2007 legislation, even if counties choose to adopt it, is nowhere near as rigorous as what is required in areas with Active Management Areas. The requirement for an adequate water supply is less rigorous than the assured water supply that must be proven before building in an AMA, including requirements to show the water is continuously and legally available. Mohave County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter acknowledged counties have the authority to adopt such a plan, but said that wont help many areas of the state. Its only applicable to residential, commercial, industrial, Lingenfelter said. It doesnt apply to agriculture. Agriculture from Middle East Its not like the farms causing much of the problem in his area have been around for years, Lingenfelter said. Agriculture from the Middle East and from California, they were here last, moving in to take advantage of lax water laws in rural Arizona and the inability of a county like his to do anything about it, he said. Its still the wild, wild West in Arizona, he said. You can construct and install as many wells as you want, as large as you want, you can pump as much water as you want. That last point is particularly critical, he said, making it impossible for local officials to know how much water they have. The one thing we have to have is certainty in our water planning, Lingenfelter said. We dont have that. Consider, he said, the Hualapai Valley basin, about 1,820 square miles stretching from Lake Mead to just south of Kingman, a city dependent on groundwater. The state Department of Water Resources designated it as an irrigation non-expansion area. But all that does is require monitoring of wells and assure there is no new agricultural use. It provides no ability to enact or enforce conservation requirements. Lingenfelter said DWR has computed that about 44,000 acre-feet of water comes out of the basin every year. An acre-foot is nearly 326,000 gallons, with various estimates saying that is enough to serve between two and three average households a year. Recharge, by contrast, is about 10,000 acre-feet a year. So we have a groundwater deficit every year of 34,000 acre-feet, he said. Sixty percent of that, DWR will tell you, is the corporate agriculture thats moved in over the last nine years. Imposing a requirement for a 100-year water supply that applies only to residential, commercial and industrial would further hand over the basin to agriculture, Lingenfelter said. We dont have a 100-year supply Cobb said its even more basic than that. She said adopting such a requirement makes no sense for her area of the state. We dont have a 100-year supply, or anywhere close to that, she said. Theres something else Griffin did not mention in touting the 2007 legislation as a form of relief for rural areas. She sponsored a bill in 2016 to allow cities in counties that have adopted such a rule to opt out if they meet other qualifications, like having a water-recharge program, adopting a water-conservation program, putting only low water-use plants on rights of way, and funding programs to replace high water-use plumbing fixtures. The bill was widely understood to help a developer who hoped to make an end-run around legal problems that thwarted its efforts to construct a 7,000-home development in Sierra Vista. Griffins measure got all the way to the desk of Republican Gov. Doug Ducey who called it a bad bill and said it would encourage a patchwork of water ordinances through our cities and leave our water supplies in peril. Ensuring the certainty and sustainability of Arizona water is a top priority, Ducey ssaid in his veto message. I will not sign legislation that threatens Arizonas water future. Biasiucci, like Borrelli, said he is frustrated with an inability to get proposals advanced to the full Legislature. All I care about is that, as a state, we position ourselves in a way that will allow us to have an adequate water supply for generations to come, said the Lake Havasu City Republican. That also means recognizing that one size does not fit all and that individual communities need the authority to come up with their own solutions, Biasiucci said. My district has different needs than Gails district, he said. And nothing will ever get solved until we sit down, understand the wants and needs of each district, and develop a plan that will work for everyone. Its not an easy thing to do. But its time we put our differences aside and get something done. Your well is going to go dry Cobb acknowledged the problem of enacting water regulation for rural areas is not limited to Griffin killing proposals in her committee. She said there is a belief among some lawmakers that there is a personal property right to groundwater. This is a myth we keep trying to dispel, said Kathleen Ferris, senior research fellow at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. She said the Supreme Court has said there is a property right to water once you pump it. But when its under the ground, it belongs to no one, Ferris explained. And its a public resource that the state may regulate under its police power. Saying people can pump what they want from underneath their land is akin to a neighbor setting up a trailer on their property but then running a line to someone elses property to tap their electricity, Cobb said. Even though I have a personal property right to put my trailer on there, I dont have a personal property right to take your electricity, Cobb said. Its the same thing with water, she said. And the person next to me cant get it because your well is going to go dry. Borrelli said thats what happening. Whats clear to me is that Arizona is the laughing stock of the world, he said. Saudi farms are exploiting groundwater in my district, Borrelli said. That is a specific reference to land owned and leased by the state to a Saudi-owned firm to grow alfalfa that is shipped overseas to feed dairy cattle, as Saudi Arabia prohibits the growing of such a water-intensive crop. Obstructionists at the Capitol would rather choose the deepest pockets who can drill the deepest wells over everyday Arizona residents, farmers and ranchers, Borrelli said. He noted that Griffin was doing more than just bottling up his water bill and previously those of Cobb when she was at the Capitol. He said Griffin is actively doing what she can outside of the Legislature to sideline any proposals. In fact, she has warned potential stakeholders not to engage with Mohave County on this issue, he said. Cobb said she does not understand why Griffin is so opposed to having each community or each groundwater basin area decide how best to handle its own problems. She will not take that at all, Cobb said. She said the way we have it is good enough and it doesnt need to change. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Arizonas Corporation Commission decided to review the solar power buyback rate. By a three-to-two vote, they decided to once again reopen an arrangement that was drawn up in 2017 after much effort and cost. That may not be a good idea. To summarize the reasons from the Chair and Commissioner Kevin Thompson, the idea is to stop non-solar households subsidizing solar households, and the way to do that is to let power companies lower the buyback rate to solar homes. That doesnt make sense. The buyback rate is what power companies like TEP pay for electricity from solar homes. Non-solar homes do not come into the picture at all. The commissioners are seeking to hand power companies a strong pricing hand against solar homes. How does that compensate any subsidy that may be owed to non-solar homes? Worse, the review of buyback rates might not be associated with power companies pricing, and they have been permitting price increases year after year. The likely effect of all that? Power companies, which dirty the air with coal-based plants, get their chance to charge everyone a higher rate and at the same time take solar homes to the cleaners. One compromise is that existing solar homes will continue to be grandfathered for a 10-year period. Lets do the math. The buyback rate can drop by about 10% per year. If you are among the grandfathered homes, your rate will drop, at the end of ten years, to whatever it is in that year not by 10%, but by much more than that, depending on when your 10 years ends. Installing solar without being grandfathered means the damage begins much earlier and is much worse. Either way, the power company will milk you. Or think of it this way. Individuals have put solar panels on their roofs and are willing to sell part of it back to the power companies. Apart from setting up the systems that can receive these kilowatt hours, power utilities have only a little cost in collecting that energy, most of it in depreciation costs. Households are not businesses. They are not looking for a profit. All they want is a fair deal, at least getting the same rates for their energy as do other sources that supply power to these utilities. Yet, these utilities want to keep changing the rules, shortchanging these households at every turn. As for the tax subsidy itself, the bulk of it is a federal tax rebate not an earmark for homes that cannot afford solar. No subsidy there. Among the greatest strengths of the American spirit is our capacity to be ingenious, to innovate, and do things first before anyone else. We take pride in being first to the Moon; we are proud of our leadership in building skyscrapers, assembly lines, highways, dishwashers and washing machines, bricklaying the list goes on and on. Each time, we overthrew old beliefs and technologies. Doing that won our nation respect the world over and made us strong. Arizona can build on that reputation and take the leadership in our nation and in the world with solar power. We have abundant sunlight and can use it to show the world that we can lead the way in saving our planet. One can be optimistic and hope that this strange decision can become a good one. If the Commission can recognize the sheer illogic of the subsidy argument and see the reality of the windfall gain to an obsolete form of energy generation, they could well be encouraged to change the rules in favor of solar generation: they could move the buyback rate closer to parity. I suspect the chance of that happening is pretty low. Wouldnt you agree? SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico's governor is traveling to Australia to attend a hydrogen summit in hopes of meeting with manufacturing companies that might have an interest in expanding to New Mexico. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's trip comes after New Mexico and its partners missed out on a $7 billion federal program meant to kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel across the United States. New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah had formed a coalition last year and jointly applied for $1.25 billion in federal awards to help finance eight different hydrogen projects in the region, including four in New Mexico. The Biden administration instead selected projects based in California, Washington, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has vowed to move ahead with her plans for building infrastructure that would support hydrogen for power generation and transportation, despite some opposition from environmental groups. The governor said in a statement Friday that hydrogen-related investments in New Mexico would bring higher paying jobs and more economic stability. The governor's husband, top Cabinet officials and business leaders will be part of Lujan Grisham's delegation for the Asia Pacific Hydrogen 2023 Summit. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida lawmakers will return for a special session to impose additional sanctions against Iran, express support for Israel and provide additional security to protect Jewish institutions in Florida, House and Senate leaders announced Friday. The session will also take up issues like hurricane relief, property insurance and providing more money for special needs students. Presidential candidate and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis supports brining lawmakers back to the Capitol to address the issues rather than wait for the January start of the annual session. Following the horrific atrocities committed by Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas against Israel, I am calling on the Florida Legislature to act swiftly to ensure our state does not send a penny to the Iranian terror state, DeSantis said in a news release. The four-day session will begin Nov. 6. The special session was called because Iran supports Hamas militants who attacked Israel two weeks ago, though no government worldwide has offered direct evidence supporting that Iran orchestrated the attack. Florida already has sanctions against companies that directly do business with Iran and six other countries of concern, including Cuba, China and Russia. The U.S. federal government has imposed sanctions against Iran for decades. The announcement comes after DeSantis made efforts to bring Floridians home from Israel, declared a state of emergency and sent airplanes loaded with supplies for the country. (Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 18: Protesters stage a demonstration in support of a cease fire against the Palestinians in Gaza in the Cannon House Office Building on October 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. Protests have erupted across the Arab world in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the looming threat of an Israeli ground operation. After Islamic Friday prayers, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the West Bank to express their outrage at Israel's actions in its war against Hamas. Escalating Gaza Conflict Sparks Arab World Protests The Gaza conflict, which began following an attack by Gaza's Hamas rulers on Israel in early October, has already resulted in the tragic loss of over 4,000 lives, primarily in Gaza. Israeli authorities claim that around 1,400 people have been killed, and 200 have been taken hostage. Israel's military strikes and calls for Gazans to evacuate the northern region of the strip have forced over a million people to flee the area. This has raised concerns about the potential displacement of millions of Palestinians, already registered as refugees due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Israeli officials have heightened these fears by suggesting that Gaza will undergo significant changes after Hamas is eliminated. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that the US is in talks with Egypt and Israel to establish a humanitarian corridor at the Egypt-controlled Rafah border crossing to facilitate the evacuation of Americans and other civilians from Gaza. The anger over Israel's actions in Gaza has prompted Egypt to authorize its first major nationwide protest in a decade. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near Cairo's Tahrir Square to support Palestinians. Similar protests also took place in other Egyptian cities. Hundreds of people in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, took to the streets to denounce the Israeli offensive. Many waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and flags representing the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its political ally in Lebanon, Amal. Some protesters burned the American flag in protest of US support for Israel. In Iraq, hundreds of demonstrators, primarily supporters of Iran-backed militias, held a sit-in at the country's main border crossing with Jordan. Others protested in Baghdad, near the fortified Green Zone that houses the US embassy. Jordan's capital, Amman, witnessed around 6,000 protesters marching supporting Gazans. Some chanted slogans urging Hamas to intensify its strikes on Israel, as per to CNN News. Read Also: Greta Thunberg Slammed for Displaying Octopus Toy in Pro-Palestine Photo Arab World Protests Show Rising Concern Over Gaza War These widespread protests underscore the growing anger among the Arab population and the frustration among regional leaders over the escalating conflict. The increasing Palestinian death toll and the perceived reluctance of the US to restrain Israel's actions have further fueled this anger. During his recent visit to Israel, US President Joe Biden pledged continued support for the country but cautioned against any attempts to reoccupy Gaza. Nevertheless, rhetoric against Israel has been particularly heated from the governments of Jordan and Egypt, two US-allied nations that share borders with Israel and were the first Arab countries to sign peace treaties with Israel. Amman and Cairo have expressed concerns about a potential plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan. While Israel has not officially announced such scenarios, these countries have warned that such a move could lead to war. In a significant move, Egypt's parliament authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take "necessary measures" to protect national security, secure the country's borders, and support the Palestinians. This authorization includes the possibility of waging war if needed. Sisi has voiced concerns that Israel's evacuation calls for over a million people from northern Gaza may be part of a larger plan to remove Palestinians from the entire region. He emphasized that this could result in the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, undermining the prospects of a Palestinian state. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that any attempts to displace Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan would be considered a declaration of war. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is complex rooted in historical disputes, territorial claims, and competing interests. As protests continue across the Arab world, there is a pressing need for diplomatic efforts to address the underlying issues and seek a sustainable solution that brings peace and stability to the region, Twin Cities reported. Related Article: Church Inside Gaza Hit by Israeli Airstrike, Orthodox Churchmen Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TEL AVIV, Israel President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the U.S. ally as concerns increase that the Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden's travel to Israel as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire and as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 141-square-mile territory to root out Hamas militants responsible for what U.S. and Israeli officials say was the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust. Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the U.S. is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and aid to the region. Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting Russia's invasion. Blinken made the announcement early Tuesday after more than seven hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials. Shortly after in Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that Biden would also go to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "We've been crystal clear about the need for humanitarian aid to be able to continue to flow into Gaza," Kirby said. "That has been a consistent call by President Biden and certainly by this entire administration." Meanwhile, truckloads of aid idled at Egypt's border with Gaza, barred from entry, as residents and humanitarian groups pleaded Monday for water, food and fuel for dying generators, saying the tiny Palestinian territory sealed off by Israel after last week's rampage by Hamas was near total collapse. Hospitals were on the verge of losing electricity, threatening the lives of thousands of patients, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes searched for bread. Israel maintained punishing airstrikes across Gaza as a ground invasion loomed, while Hamas militants kept up a barrage of rocket attacks and tensions mounted near the Israel-Lebanon border. More than a week after Israel cut off entry of supplies, all eyes were on the Rafah crossing, Gaza's only connection to Egypt. Mediators were trying to reach a cease-fire that would let in aid and let out trapped foreigners. Israeli airstrikes forced the crossing to shut down last week, and local media reported Israel struck the crossing again Monday. Israel evacuated towns near its northern border with Lebanon, where the military exchanged fire repeatedly with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. Speaking to the Israeli Knesset, Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah, "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," referring to Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah, which operates out of Lebanon. Soon after he spoke, the Knesset floor was evacuated as rockets headed toward Jerusalem. Sirens in Tel Aviv warning of incoming rockets prompted U.S. and Israeli officials to take shelter in a bunker, officials said. This has become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. At least 2,778 have been killed and 9,700 wounded in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority in Hamas' Oct. 7 assault. The Israeli military said Monday that at least 199 hostages were taken into Gaza, more than previously estimated. Hamas said Monday it held 200 to 250 hostages, including foreigners whom it said it would free when it was feasible. The head of Israel's Shin Bet security service, in charge of monitoring militant groups, took responsibility for failing to avert Hamas' surprise attack. As agency head, "the responsibility for that is on me," Ronen Bar said. "There will be time for investigation now is a time for war," he wrote in a letter to Shin Bet workers and their families. 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 Hundreds of background actors and crew members from Killers of the Flower Moon were reunited Friday at Cinemark Tulsa so they could take part in a red carpet experience and watch the shot-in-Oklahoma film together. This is an opportunity for the cast and crew to have their own premiere, Cliff Wofford said as attendees gathered outside the Cinemark to socialize and take photographs prior to seeing the film. Also, it gives you time to reflect on the Osage people and what they went through and to support them going forward and remember the people that are no longer with us. Extras, background players share their 'Killers of the Flower Moon' stories "Killers of the Flower Moon" experiences ranged from star encounters to happy moments to the realization that a tragic story was being told. Wofford said different tribes were represented at the reunion event, and they are united in support of a movie that is important to the Osage and all of Indian Country. Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, is based on David Granns best-selling book about serial murders of the oil-wealthy Osage in the early days of Oklahoma. Friday was the widespread release date for the film, and it was the day organizer Kelly Wilson chose for a reunion of participants. Four theater rooms were reserved for the event. We became a family on set, and we just wanted to come back together and honor the Osage and celebrate the work that took place over that summer, Wilson, a background actor in the film, said. Im not Native, but all my friends are Native. We all came together. It was just so amazing all ages and tribes and races to be able to tell the story. That was the most important thing, to be a part of telling the story. Many background actors and behind-the-scenes workers have stayed in touch, according to Wilson. When we wrapped, we were not ready to let go of each other. We became so close. Wofford indicated some people who worked on Killers of the Flower Moon continue to meet. He said he sees some of them about once a month. But the majority of them here, we hadnt seen in two years, he said, referencing the crowd at the Cinemark. While being interviewed, Wilson pointed out staff from the costume department who flew in from California. Some attendees wore apparel suited for the era of Killers of the Flower Moon. Dell Wilson wore old-school clothing with a twist his shirt was branded with a photo of himself in costume. Wofford described the background actors and crew members as the backbone of the film. He shared that Scorsese told them he couldnt have made the film without them. He said it was important to do something special for all of those people and not just walk away from the movie and then thats it. Wofford said he was on the set for at least a month, and his work included being a member of the Osage Tribal Council for a courtroom scene. Getting the opportunity to watch such artists as Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese was amazing, and to witness the amount of dedication that they offered to present this important movie was truly fascinating, he said. Wofford said he is Keetoowah but has Osage family. He said he had the opportunity to make many friends on the set, including people from the Osage Nation and other tribes. I feel really blessed to experience what goes into making a movie of this magnitude, and it has allowed me to also see the potential of other Indigenous filmmaking opportunities, too. I would like to see other tribal films being made throughout Indian Country where all tribes have a chance to tell their important stories. I am so grateful to the Osage Nation, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio for the opportunity to be a part of this. They were great to work with! The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today In a plea agreement, a Creek County man pleaded guilty Friday in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of his girlfriend. Chad Alan Hudgins, 34, admitted to committing second-degree murder in Indian Country when he shot Britney Smith in the head at his residence northwest of Bristow. A judge, should he accept the plea agreement, will sentence Hudgins to serve a prison term between 25 and 30 years. Smith, 28, was found dead inside Hudgins home on Dec. 18, 2021, by the property owner, who was checking on her welfare. She was covered with a blue blanket. A federal grand jury named Hudgins in a two-count indictment filed Feb. 8, 2022, charging him with first-degree murder in Indian Country and causing death by using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Smith was a member of the Cherokee Nation, and her death occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation, making Hudgins eligible for federal charges. A witness told FBI agents that Hudgins appeared at the witness Tulsa home during the early morning hours of Dec. 18, 2021, asking to speak to another resident there, according to an arrest affidavit. The resident told agents Hudgins appeared frantic when he barged into his room and asked for help. Hudgins drove the resident to his rural Creek County home and showed him Smiths body, still inside the home. I shot her, Hudgins told the resident, adding later that he didnt mean to, according to the affidavit. Witnesses told investigators that Smith had been in a volatile, off-and-on relationship with Hudgins for about 10 months prior to her death. A person checking oil wells in Creek County reported on Dec. 19 finding the burned-out frame of Smiths Chevrolet Equinox with the remnants of a child safety seat in the rear area of the vehicle. Police arrested Hudgins Dec. 22 in Chautauqua County, Kansas, on a warrant related to the killing, plus other charges. Prosecutors charged Hudgins on Tuesday with second-degree murder, one day after Smith indicated that he would plead guilty to that charge. Prior charges are typically dismissed at the defendants sentencing hearing. Second-degree murder carries a maximum statutory prison sentence of life in prison. A sentencing date will be determined later. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Barbara Hoberock Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Barbara Hoberock Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday criticized President Joe Bidens plan to nominate former Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill to the federal bench. Biden intends to nominate her to serve in the federal district court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, based in Tulsa. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. Stitt said he had serious concerns about the nomination, saying Hill had little, if any, experience as lead counsel in federal litigation. Furthermore, is the best choice an attorney general of a tribal government who has spent a great deal of time and resources actively suing the state of Oklahoma in an effort to overturn 116 years of statehood and working to strip the state of our authority to enforce laws? Stitt said. We already know where she stands on important questions facing our state as to who has jurisdiction to write speeding tickets and whether members of her tribe should be exempt from paying taxes that fund schools and roads. Hill had no comment on Stitts remarks. Stitt said the nomination raises many questions as to whether the appointment is based on qualification or on a broader Biden administration agenda to turn half of Oklahoma into several federally managed reservations. Stitt was referring to court cases that have given or could give the tribes greater legal jurisdiction. A 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma held that the reservations in the eastern part of the state were never disestablished for the purposes of prosecution of major crimes. Stitt has been highly critical of the ruling. Muscogee Nation member Alicia Stroble has a case pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court concerning the payment of income taxes by tribal members to the state. Stitt has been at odds with the tribes over compacts, including those governing tribal gaming. Hill served as the Cherokee Nation secretary of natural resources, deputy attorney general and assistant attorney general before becoming the tribes attorney general. From 2014 to 2015, she served as special assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Hill earned a law degree in 2003 from the University of Tulsa and holds a bachelors degree from Northeastern State University. U.S. Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., have praised her nomination. Stitt also has been criticized for his appointments to various posts. Most recently, the governor appointed Wes Nofire, a former member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, as his Native American liaison. Nofire made failed attempts at the U.S. Congress and to unseat Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Hoskin said Nofires term in office was marked by hostility toward Cherokee tribal sovereignty, a lack of understanding of the issues facing Indian Country and peddling of conspiracy theories. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. PAWHUSKA Thirty years later, bison still are making the world's biggest little postage stamp of land a bigger deal than ever. The Nature Conservancys Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, celebrating the introduction of 300 head of bison there 30 years ago this month, has more than survived. Its now home to a managed herd of 1,800 bison that thrive on a relative postage stamp of 40,000 acres, plus 11,700 acres of conservation easements that remain out of the more than 160 million-acre sea of grass that once stretched from Canada to Texas. Recently featured in a Ken Burns documentary, The American Buffalo, and providing stunning backdrops for the acclaimed just-released Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, more eyes on are Osage bison than ever before. For Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, an event Wednesday with about 100 people at the preserve headquarters marked a respite from an international movie promotion tour with Hollywood notables. He wasnt in London or Mexico City anymore, but the fact that international eyes, and no doubt future tourists, followed him home to the land of the Osage was lost on no one at the celebration. He seemed relieved to breathe the prairie air, share stories of the bison, and honor those whose influence brought the bison home. That included himself, as he was surprised by other honorees who received traditional Osage blankets. Standing Bear said the spirit of the Osage and the land is always with him, no matter where or what the conditions, so it is easy to share that spirit internationally. For the local crowd, he related tales of the wind on the Tallgrass ebbing and flowing with ceremonial dancers and a humorous bit about a herd of bison that photo-bombed a session with the five surviving chiefs, who stood for their photo as the bison moved in around them. Those are magical moments; if you just step back and accept them, you can see it, he said. Memories and wonder Standing Bears expression and those of others was rapt as Tulsa historian and Tallgrass Visions author James P. Rhonda relayed a personal story of oncoming hearing loss but shared an audible and indelible image of thunderous, primal, guttural prairie roars of thousands of bison heard by explorer Merriweather Lewis in the summer of 1806 and compared that to an experience Rhonda had a century later on the Tallgrass. The preserves first director and longtime spokesman, Harvey Payne, said the preserve is a success story created mostly by local people who, in some cases after initial objections, came to understand the value of that postage stamp of land and the majestic wildlife that could return to roam there. He said its touching that the preserve land and its facilities are all products of private donations. It is an example of private conservation funding at its finest, he said. From little school kids doing a class project and raising $25 or $50 and sending us a check with a touching letter to the biggest corporations, they all made this happen, Payne said. He often quotes Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, a guest for the first bison release, who then said, This is truly a gift from the American people to the American people. Jamie Williams, recalling his youth and the efforts of his father, Joe Williams, reminded celebrants that the man whose name lives on with the preserve was not interested in notoriety but was a quail hunter and admirer of nature who happened to have a particular knack for business and advocacy. Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma Director Mike Fuhr remembered his first arrival on the scene from Arkansas 19 years ago, a sunrise greeting surrounded by a herd of bison. It was a pretty neat start, he said. Of science and spirit While bison are a central focus of the preserve, Fuhr said the goal is researching and understanding a balanced system with the bison, grazing, fire, the elements and everything else, from birds and insects and plants to bison and climate. Preserve manager Tony Brown was one of the Pawhuska Elementary School children who attended the first bison release. He said he remembered having fun but was too young to understand what it was all about. However, he was hooked into a different study path when he returned to work as an Oklahoma State University chemistry student in the summer of 2004. Once you learn what you have and whats here, youre like, wow, this is pretty neat. This is something worth keeping. This is something special here, Brown said. Bison management has driven agriculture and soil science research through various burning and grazing regimes, and the preserves cowboys have learned to let the bison roam. We take a hands-off approach and let them do their thing, he said. The herd's health is good, and he estimated that, even with drought conditions, an average of 400 to 500 calves were born again this year. Osage elder Eddy Red Eagle, also recalling his experience at the first release, said the experience of living with generations of the bison is for the preserve now as it was for the Osage and their doctrine for centuries. They told us in the teaching, in the sharing: Just look at that just take a look at it. Study it; ponder on it; watch it; and then move along with it, and the bounty of Mother Earth will come your way, and you can move then into the future, he said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Sao Desiderio (Brazil) -- 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. Farmer Carminha Maria Missio poses for a picture in an agricultural field on her family's farm in Barreiras, western of the Bahia state, Brazil, on October 2, 2023. Photo: AFP 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. View of a fire in the Cerrado savanna in Barreiras, western of the Bahia state, Brazil, taken on October 1, 2023. Photo: AFP 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. Aerial view of the Acaba Vida waterfall, on the Janeiro river, in Barreiras, western of the Bahia state, Brazil, taken on September 24, 2023. Photo: AFP '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. Aerial view of a tractor working in an agriculture field in Barreiras, western Bahia state, Brazil, in the Cerrado savanna. Photo: AFP 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. A herd of cattle is seen at a farm, in Barreiras, western Bahia state, Brazil, in the Cerrado savanna. Photo: AFP 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. The Capao do Modesto village is seen in in Correntina, western Bahia state, Brazil, in the Cerrado savanna, which may be the most important place most people have never heard of. Photo: AFP 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." An irrigation system is seen on a farm, in Sao Desiderio, western Bahia state, Brazil, taken on September 28, 2023. Photo: AFP 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." Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, held high-level phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday afternoon as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. The phone talks demonstrated that the two leaders attach significant importance to the strategic partnership between Vietnam and France, the Party leader stressed. He hailed the success of the French government and President Macron in implementing reforms in many socio-economic fields to bolster the development of France, enhance its role in strengthening the EU, and contribute to joint efforts to cope with challenges facing Europe and other regions in the world. He expressed his thanks to France for supporting Vietnam over the past years, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. Trong also informed the top French official of Vietnams key achievements after more than 35 years of carrying out reforms, post-pandemic economic recovery, development goals by the middle of the 21st century, and its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and multilateralization and diversification of relations. He underlined the importance of peace, friendship, cooperation and compliance with the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter in addressing international issues, including ensuring peace and security in the East Vietnam Sea. He expressed his happiness over the significant growth of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership. Both sides have actively implemented the contents of the Joint Statement reached by leaders of the two nations during his France visit in 2018. Besides, he stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to the Vietnam-France strategic partnership and endorses Frances initiatives for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world. The two leaders also discussed some major measures to expand and enhance the bilateral cooperation. President Macron affirmed that France values Vietnams international role and position and the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, adding that France always accompanies Vietnam in implementing the country's strategic development goals. The top French official described the phone talks as an important event for the two leaders to discuss strategic orientations to promote bilateral relations over the next 20 years. Vietnam and France need to continue boosting political trust and people-to-people exchange, promoting cooperation in the fields of national defense and security, aviation, and energy transition, the French leader said. He pledged his support for Vietnams cooperation with the EU, including the execution of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and cooperation in seafood fishing. During the phone talks, the Vietnamese Party chief reiterated his invitation to the French President to visit Vietnam and the latter accepted it gladly. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam have detained a 14-year-old boy for allegedly fatally poisoning his father and grandmother in Cai Be District last weekend. The suspect is Pham Minh Qu., 14, and the fatal victims were Pham Thi P., 83, and Pham Van Y., 45. At the police station, Qu. confessed that he had been living with his mother and maternal grandparents in the same district since he was six years old, following his parents separation. In 2021, he left school and began working alongside his mother at his aunts fruit farm in the province. Qu. started sleeping over at his paternal grandmothers house about two or three years ago. His father, 45-year-old Y., had a habit of consuming alcohol, and on multiple occasions, when Qu. asked his father to refrain from drinking, he would respond with scolding him. Therefore, Qu. came up with a plan to kill Y. Around August, Qu. got to know N.P.D., a 39-year-old local resident, who possessed dog poison. On October 13, Qu. and his younger brother met D. to ask for an amount of poison to trap stray dogs. Then, around 11:00 pm the same day, Qu. put the poison in the powdered milk carton that P. and Y. often drank. At around 6:00 am on October 14, P. found her son, Y., dead. The family thought Y. died of a disease, so they did not report his death to the local authorities. At 10:00 pm on the same day, after drinking 100ml of powdered milk prepared by her daughter, P. immediately suffered a tightness across her chest and shortness of breath, vomited and died five minutes later. The family also thought that P. died of a disease, so they did not inform the local administration of her death. At 4:00 am on October 15, Pham Minh T., 55, another son of P., made 150ml of the powdered milk while attending P.s funeral but developed symptoms of headache, dizziness, and vomiting after drinking only 50ml of the powdered milk. His family rushed him to Trieu An-Loan Tram Hospital in neighboring Vinh Long Province. Doctors there diagnosed T. with milk poisoning and transferred him to Vinh Long General Hospital for further treatment. Subsequently, T. was transported to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in an extremely critical state, suffering damage to multiple vital organs, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart muscle. He required mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. It has been revealed that both P. and T. consumed milk from the same carton. This information was only reported to local authorities after T.s death. Currently, T. is in stable health and has been discharged from the hospital to rejoin his family. The Tien Giang Department of Public Security then instructed specialized teams to conduct a thorough on-site examination and autopsy to probe the case. Upon analyzing the findings from the samples collected at the scene and the investigation, they concluded that Qu. was linked to the incident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A project vying to become the tallest and largest hotel in Da Lat City, located in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, is facing potential demolition after the city Peoples Committee recently imposed a fine of VND110 million (US$4,482) on the investor for illegally building an extra 4,500 square meters. The Da Lat Peoples Committee imposed the VND110-million penalty on Khai Vy JSC, based in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, for its unauthorized construction at the Merperle Dalat hotel project on Friday. Apart from the fine, the authorities has instructed Khai Vy JSC to halt building the projects components that lacks a proper construction permit. The committee has also asked the company to liaise with relevant agencies for the necessary documentation and procedures to secure a construction permit and adjust the projects design in order to ensure that it aligns with regulations. The construction may be dismantled and the investor must fix the consequences within 90 days if the proposed design adjustment is not approved. A bird's-eye view of the Merperle Dalat Hotel project in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre The Merperle Dalat Hotel, situated on a land area spanning over 11,000 square meters at 1 Hung Vuong Street in Ward 10, Da Lat City, is a 10-story project aspiring to meet 5-star international standards upon completion. It is designed to offer 402 rooms and a range of accompanying amenities, making it one of the largest and tallest hotels not only in Da Lat City but also in the entire Lam Dong Province. Previously, the Da Lat authorities had documented that the hotel project had exceeded the permitted construction area at basement 2, basement 1, the first floor, and the roof deck by a total of 4,456 square meters. These violations occurred after a June inspection by the Lam Dong Department of Construction. In September, after the construction had exceeded the licensed area, the investor submitted a request to adjust the design to the Lam Dong Peoples Committee and the unauthorized construction was exposed. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Society -- As the northeast monsoon has arrived in northern Vietnam, most parts of the region and some locations in north-central Vietnam began experiencing chilly weather from Friday night, with temperatures falling to 19-22 degrees Celsius and below 14 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas, according to the national weather center. -- Police in Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam have detained a 14-year-old boy for allegedly fatally poisoning his father and grandmother in Cai Be District last weekend Business -- Vietnam Railways (VNR), the state-owned operator of the railway system in Vietnam, held a launching ceremony on Friday evening for a pair of high-quality trains, namely SE19 and SE20, on the Hanoi-Da Nang route to offer better travel experiences and woo more passengers. Politics -- Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, held high-level phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday afternoon as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet on Friday agreed to tighten economic development cooperation in border areas and materialize the one journey, three destinations tourism cooperation initiative between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. -- Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on Friday while in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Vietnam News Agency reported. World News -- 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, Reuters reported. -- China said on Friday it will require export permits for some graphite products to protect national security, springing a surprise with another bid to control critical mineral supply in response to challenges over its global manufacturing dominance, according to Reuters. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Israeli forces continued their severe bombing of the Gaza Strip overnight, killing hundreds of Palestinians. And finally, on Saturday, October 21, the first trucks carrying crucial humanitarian supplies entered the territory from Egypt. US President Joe Biden said on Friday, October 20, that he expected the first of 20 aid trucks to pass through Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt within the next 48 hours. Emergency Aid Trucks Arrive to Gaza After days of political haggling over conditions for delivering the assistance, witnesses say 15 of the 20 trucks have crossed into Gaza after being checked by the Palestinian Red Crescent and are waiting to make their way to beneficiaries in inhabited areas, as reported by Reuters. Previously, the United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel's siege has led to a shortage of food, water, medication, and fuel for the territory's 2.3 million residents. According to the UN, the Palestinian Red Crescent would receive and disperse the convoy's life-saving goods. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist party that runs Gaza, has claimed that the shipment contained some food and medication but no gasoline. Injured Palestinians, according to health professionals, are in danger because of a scarcity of fuel. Some healthcare facilities have halted operations due to a lack of fuel. With Israel conducting deadly bombardments of the enclave day and night, UN officials believe at least 100 trucks per day are required to meet essential, life-saving requirements and that any relief effort must be viable at scale. See Also: Hamas Releases 2 US Hostages for 'Humanitarian Reasons' - What We Know So Far Hamas Releases Two American Captives Prior to this, multiple sources indicated that Hamas freed two American hostages "for humanitarian reasons." Israeli authorities have confirmed that Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Evanston, Illinois, were among the freed captives. Reportedly, Hamas released the two women to the Red Cross. The two were freed due to Judith's poor state of health, as per Hamas representative. A statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, "The families headquarters congratulates the release of hostages from Hamas captivity. 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." This came after NBC News reported the previous week that Hamas was prepared to free its civilian detainees, including women and children. Hamas has admitted that they do not have all the captives and that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an allied militant organization, has some of them. In reaction to the prolonged fighting in Gaza and the imminent possibility of an Israeli ground operation, protests have erupted throughout the Arab region. Thousands of protesters across Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the West Bank went to the streets after Friday prayers to voice their anger over Israel's involvement in the conflict with Hamas. See Also: Church Inside Gaza Hit by Israeli Airstrike, Orthodox Churchmen Say @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The foul smell from a rubber latex processing plant has made life miserable for local inhabitants in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, prompting them to seek intervention from authorities. The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment on Friday announced the results of the analysis of wastewater samples taken from the plant, operated by Phuong Hau Company based in Loc Phu Commune, Loc Ninh District. The results showed that three out of six wastewater quality indicators had exceeded normal levels, including the biochemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and ammonia. The departments inspectorate is working to impose sanctions on the plant operator as per the prevailing regulations, said the official. Earlier, many local residents complained that the stench from the plant traveled a dozen kilometers and made the neighborhood increasingly stuffy. The bad smell has existed for a long time, which can put people of vulnerable groups at risk of catching diseases, a local man named L.R. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Besides the foul smell, the sewage discharged from the plant seemed to be contaminated, which turned black and had an awful smell, the man continued. According to L.S., another local man, local people had demanded immediate actions from authorities against the issue several times. We hope the plant will seek solutions to tackle the bad smell and treat the sewage before discharging it to the environment so as not to disrupt daily activities of the locals, S. said. A birds eye view of an area where sewage from the plant is treated. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre Tran Van Tien, vice-chairman of the Loc Phu administration, the rubber latex plant was put into operation in 2009. The plant operator had been booked twice for allegedly violating land use and environment-related regulations, Tien said. On October 3 this year, the said departments inspectorate and the Loc Phu administration inspected the plant. At that time, the plants sewage treatment system was confirmed to operate normally. The plant operator also took measures to reduce the bad odor emanating from the plant, but the measures had yet to be completely effective, according to the inspectorate. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tiny spaces for rent, loosely called sleep boxes, are mushrooming in Ho Chi Minh City, entailing a risk of fire, local police said. The demand for accommodations in the downtown area is always high, resulting in the boom of this model with each sleep box measuring several square meters, enough for a person to lie. Owners of these boxes seem to ignore renters safety. Sleep boxes at a six-floor building in Alley 413 on Le Van Sy Street in District 3 are offered at VND2 million (US$80.9) each per month, including electricity, water, and motorbike keeping service costs. Motorbikes are kept in a basement. Renters can enjoy freedom of time. Each floor has two rooms with each room accommodating eight to 10 sleep boxes. These sleep boxes are made of wood or iron frames. The lessor gives each lessee a key to their 'boxes'. Each sleep box, measuring about two square meters, is equipped with a socket and a small bookshelf. The remaining space is enough for a small mattress. There are shared areas for cooking and laundry. The owner of the building said many people are in need of such boxes as they are rare and cheap. A two-square-meter sleep box in a house in Alley 179 on Bach Dang Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre T., a university student, who rents a sleep box there, said he had searched for normal boarding houses in the neighborhood but they all cost over VND2 million ($80.9) each, so he decided to rent a sleep box which is cheaper and near his school. This is the central area. The rental for a normal rented room is high. I live alone, so I do not need much space. This [sleep box] costs only VND2 million and is near my school. In Ho Chi Minh City, with VND2 million [$80.9], [people] can only live [in boarding houses] in outlying areas, T. added. Sleep boxes are stacked together and stuck with ordinal numbers in an alley on Le Van Sy Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Contacting another provider of sleep boxes in Alley 179 on Bach Dang Street in Binh Thanh District, a young man introduced that upper sleep boxes cost VND1.9 million ($76.7) each per month, while the rental for each lower sleep box is VND2 million ($80.9), with electricity, water, and vehicle keeping service costs taken into account. The house has two floors with each floor including 16 two-square-meter wooden sleep boxes and a shared restroom and kitchen. Sleep boxes on the ground floor are for men and those on the first floor are for women. The owner asked renters to sign a one-year contract and made deposits before moving to the boxes. The house is not equipped with fire extinguishers and fire alarming systems. A new renter said the sleep box is stuffy but it is near her school and workplace and its rental is reasonable. When I came, I started to feel regret as the space was narrow and cramped. When I rented it, I did not care about the fire prevention and fighting system but now I feel unsafe. If only I rented [a room] that was slightly further but might be more convenient. A house in an alley on Le Van Sy Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City accommodates both wooden and iron sleep boxes. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Sleep boxes gather in the center of the city, such as Districts 1, 3, 10, Binh Thanh, and Phu Nhuan. Colonel Huynh Ngoc Quan, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City fire prevention and fighting and rescue police, said these spaces mainly serve low-income laborers and students. They are all tiny and fail to meet fire prevention and fighting requirements. They are dangerous as they pose a high risk of fire and explosion and violate the requirements in escape routes and corridors. Sleep boxes are far from escape routes and are mainly erected in small rooms. People inside will find it hard to escape in case of fires, Quan noted. Each iron sleep box measures some two square meters and is equipped with a socket, a small bookshelf, curtains, and a lock. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre A shared kitchen for those renting sleep boxes at a building on Le Van Sy Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre An area for washing clothes. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The climb to the peak of Lung Cung Mountain is nothing short of a picturesque view, encompassing stunning panoramic sights of the northern upland province of Yen Bai. Situated some 300 kilometers from Hanoi, Lung Cung Mountain, known as the roof of Mu Cang Chai a tourist district in Yen Bai Province. In mid-October, when the weather is cool, tourists flock to Yen Bai to conquer the 2,913-meter-tall mountain and freely admire the beauty of the northwestern region as it prepares for the bitter cold winter season. Lung Cung, one of Vietnams 10 highest mountains, is located in Nam Co Commune the most remote commune of Mu Cang Chai District. It is known for terraced rice fields, virgin forests, and wild and majestic waterfalls. Recently, Lung Cung began to emerge as a new destination for young people who have already visited Fansipan, Lao Than, and Ta Chi Nhu Mountains. The road to the mountain challenges even the most skillful riders in the region. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre After nearly six hours of travelling on the Noi Bai Lao Cai Expressway and National Highway 32, visitors to Lung Cung wind up in Tu Le Town, Mu Cang Chai District where they can enjoy the local specialty - steamed glutinous rice. Afterwards, visitors typically hitch a ride with local motorbike taxi drivers to make the 20-kilometer journey from the heart of Tu Le Town through the remote villages of Mu Cang Chai to Lung Cung Mountain. Though the road is tough, the landscapes along the route are worth the journey thanks to spectacular waterfalls rising above terraced rice fields. Stunning waterfalls on the way to Lung Cung Mountain. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Vegetation on the mountain is extremely diverse, with virgin, moss-covered forests housing many spieces of animals, such as monkeys and squirrels. Once at the mountain, the hike begins with a five-kilometer climb to a basecamp that sits 2,500 meters above sea level. Then, the next morning, the three-meter hike to make it to the summit by sunrise begins at 4:00 am. On winter days between November and February, the mountain is a good place for cloud hunting. After climbing the mountain for about an hour, Hau Chua La Waterfall exposes a stunning virgin forest. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre A waterfall rises above the forest. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Lung Cung is among the few mountains in Vietnam with a virgin forest. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Visitors pass through the forests. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Travelers to Lung Cung Mountain encounter many spieces of plants and animals along the route. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre A tourist walks through the forest on Lung Cung Mountain. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre A rest stop for travelers before they head to the peak of Lung Cung Mountain the next morning. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Tourists take a photo on the peak of Lung Cung Mountain. Although they fail to hunt clouds, they experience the imposing forests, mountain and waterfalls. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Seven will screen Ron Iddles: The Good Cop, which was commissioned by Foxtel, on Free to Air. The 6 part series, produced by CJZ, profiles cases from the man who put more murderers behind bars than any other homicide detective in Australia. Ron Iddles has often been referred to as the best homicide detective Australia has ever known, having solved 99% of the over 320 murder investigations he has investigated, spanned across 25 years in the homicide squad. Ron is an old-school cop who is tough, inventive and incorruptible. A man who solved the unsolvable with his head and his heart and a mantra of failure is not an option. Each episode takes us behind the scenes of one of Rons most challenging murder cases, with powerful insights from the victims families, his homicide colleagues, journalists, and even Rons informers and suspects. Many of these people have never told their story on television. Michelle Buckingham: Failure is not an option 16 year-old Michelle Buckingham went missing from Shepparton, Victoria in October 1983. A few weeks later, her body was found dumped on the side of the road at Kialla, on the outskirts of town. 8:30pm Sunday on Seven. Marc Fennell is building quite a reputation as an offbeat storyteller of unique, sometimes obscure, tales thanks to his podcasts and docos such as Stuff the British Stole and Framed. His latest work The Mission, which returns to the world of art, is a three part re-telling of a brazen 1986 heist that is so wild it could make for a movie. It centres around the grand yet incongruous Spanish monastery New Norcia founded by two Spanish Benedictine monks in 1846, 132km north east of Perth. The drone shots of this imposing, sprawling building already raise your curiosity. Why the hell is this little bit of Spain in the middle of nowhere? At its height there were 70 Benedictine monks living at the site, working, praying and as is suggested, converting a First Nations community to European Catholicism. Amongst its earthly treasures were some 100 religious oil paintings housed in an art gallery, some dating back to the 16th Century. That was enough to prompt an audacious robbery one day in 1986 when 26 paintings were brutally slashed from their frames. It was a crime the small town, and the state of Western Australia, had never seen before. In revisiting this tale Fennell speaks to several of the key players and media who were there to report it. They include John Skeffington, who headed up the newly-established Major Crime Squad of WA -the New Norcia case would be their very first. He was assisted by Det. Ken Gregson who, although having no art experience, tells Fennell, The word Desecration springs to mind for the way the works were slashed and ripped from frames. Alas, the amateur thieves, who bailed up an elderly caretaker during their operative, would also make their share of rookie mistakes. The grim tale begins to take on a comedy-of-errors as Fennell follows the path. It was the 80s after all, where security was not particularly sophisticated, before DNA profiling, and computer technology was still developing in policing. But the clues would send police interstate On a mission from God, Gregson recalls, amusingly quoting from The Blues Brothers. The doco written and directed by Corrin Grant (not to be confused with comedian Corrine Grant) draws upon archival footage as well as re-enactments to visualise its era. Other characters will thicken the plot of this yarn which looks set to wrap in its first 60 minute instalment -until it doesnt. Yes, theres more. Indeed the trail the filmmakers have extensively embarked upon will take them to several foreign territories. You cant make this stuff up, folks. The Mission twists and turns like a Tarantino caper and makes for very intriguing viewing. The Mission 8:30pm Tuesday on SBS. In this article, we will list and explore the 10 fastest Residency by Investment programs in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to our list of 5 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World. Residency by Investment (RBI) programs hold strong appeal due to their ability to provide individuals and families with increased global mobility and an elevated quality of life. By making substantial financial commitments or meeting specific eligibility requirements, individuals can secure residency or citizenship in a host country. This status frequently comes with the valuable perks of visa-free travel to various destinations, access to high-quality healthcare and education, and a more secure living environment. These programs offer investors not only attractive business prospects but also the potential for favorable tax benefits, ultimately promoting economic expansion and financial stability. RBI programs are especially attractive for those looking to secure a comfortable retirement or explore a different lifestyle, whether driven by a more favorable climate, cultural attractions, or other lifestyle factors. These programs often allow for family reunification, ensuring that spouses, children, and sometimes parents can enjoy the same advantages. Ultimately, RBI programs provide a pathway to a more prosperous and secure future for those who seek international opportunities and the benefits of a diverse and enhanced lifestyle. Our article 20 Best Residency by Investment Programs in 2023 gives a comprehensive overview of the top Residency by Investment programs available in 2023. RBI Programs & their Impact on Business Trends Residence by Investment programs have had a profound influence on business trends. Several prominent industries have reaped the benefits of these trends. In the real estate sector, countries with RBI programs have witnessed a surge in demand, as investors flock to purchase properties for personal use, rental income, or capital appreciation. Story continues According to Knight Franks The Wealth Report 17th edition 2023, private investors demonstrated a significant uptick in their investments, with a growth rate of 44% post the global financial crisis. The year 2021 witnessed substantial growth in global private investment, with an increase of 88%. The enduring appeal of commercial real estate persisted, even in the face of economic challenges. In 2023, 19% of survey participants expressed a keen interest in direct investments in commercial real estate, while 13% were actively seeking indirect investment opportunities, such as through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or debt funding. Additionally, 2023 was projected to be the strongest year for cross-border private capital since 2019, with almost 40% of respondents contemplating investments in commercial properties beyond their home country. Residence by Investment programs have not only boosted the real estate sector but have also catalyzed growth across various industries. Notably, the hospitality, construction, and infrastructure sector has experienced a remarkable upswing, driven by a growing influx of foreign residents and citizens. This surge has led to a proliferation of hotels, resorts, and leisure establishments to cater to their needs. Discerning investors seeking diversification in their portfolios might consider stocks such as CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH), CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI), and Ferguson PLC (NYSE:FERG). These companies span various sectors, offering exposure to construction, industrial machinery, plumbing and heating solutions, as well as industrial products and building materials. CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH) is a diversified building material company headquartered in Ireland. On September 25, the company declared the successful shift of its main listing to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Albert Manifold, Chief Executive of CRH, said: Today marks an important milestone in CRHs development which will enable us to fully participate in the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead for our business. CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) is an internationally renowned capital goods corporation that focuses on providing equipment and services for the agriculture and construction sectors. This company conducts its commercial operations through a range of renowned brands, such as Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, CASE, and New Holland Construction Equipment. On October 3, the company announced that it has expanded its involvement in high-tech harvesting by investing in Advanced Farm Technologies, a California startup specializing in robotic fruit harvesting. This partnership aims to drive innovation by collaborating on R&D and commercialization. Advanced Farm Technologies employs advanced technology like computer vision and machine learning to gently and efficiently pick fruit, day or night, reducing damage and labor. Their robotic system eliminates the need for ladders, easing the burden on farmworkers. Ferguson PLC (NYSE:FERG) is a multinational distributor specializing in plumbing and heating products, headquartered in England. On August 8, the company shared that it had successfully acquired three companies: Bruce Supply Corp., a plumbing distributor in the NYC Metro region; The Kennedy Companies, a distributor of piping and related products in the mid-Atlantic region; and S. G. Torrice, a distributor of HVAC equipment in New England. These acquisitions strategically enhance Ferguson's capabilities and presence in their respective markets. Ferguson has a proven track record of more than 50 successful acquisitions in the past five years, targeting the diverse landscape of small to medium-sized independent companies across North America. The three acquisitions were successfully completed in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year concluding on July 31, 2023, resulting in a combined annual revenue of around $450 million. Key Considerations for Residency by Investment Programs Consulting a trusted immigration firm is highly advisable when exploring Residency by Investment programs. Their expertise, experience, and dedication to due diligence can help individuals make well-informed choices that are aligned with their unique circumstances, ultimately safeguarding their investment and their future. The significant financial commitment, potentially running into millions of dollars, and the potential risks associated with political changes or instability in the host country demand a meticulous assessment of the program's viability. Furthermore, understanding the extent of citizenship rights, tax implications, and the potential return on investment is crucial for making informed decisions. A thorough evaluation of the legal and regulatory landscape, coupled with consideration of long-term goals and an exit strategy, is essential. Engaging reliable service providers and scrutinizing all documentation ensures a comprehensive understanding of the program and its implications, helping individuals make well-informed choices tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Let's now take a look at the fastest Residency by Investment programs in the world. 10 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World 10 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World Methodology To determine the top 10 fastest Residency by Investment programs globally, we assessed the typical application processing timelines. Our data sources included Investment Immigration, Immigration.UK, La Vida Golden Visas, Harvey Law Corporation, Lawyers Austria, Immigrant Invest, Nomad Capitalist, Global Citizen Solutions, and Sov Spot. The rankings are presented in an ascending order, with the fastest RBI program in the world securing the top spot. 10 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World 10. Malaysia Application Processing Time: 3-6 months Securing 10th place as the fastest Residence by Investment program, Malaysia offers residency through the Malaysia My Second Home Program (MM2H) and the Premium Visa Program (PVIP). The MM2H program caters to retirees and financially independent individuals, requiring a minimum age of 35 and financial self-sufficiency without employment. Applicants must invest MYR 1 million (about $230,000) and allocate an extra MYR 50,000, approximately $12,000, for each dependent spouse or child in a local fixed deposit account, to be maintained throughout their program participation. Conversely, the Premium Visa Program (PVIP) is designed for foreign nationals who seek extended stays in Malaysia without the need for permanent residency. This program offers flexibility for those wishing to experience Malaysia's culture and lifestyle for more extended periods, making it an appealing choice for those looking for an extended visit without the commitments of a full residence program. 9. Netherlands Application Processing Time: 3-5 months The Netherlands offers a Residence by Investment program for foreign nationals looking to invest in the country and obtain a renewable Dutch residence permit. Applicants must invest a minimum of 1.25 million, roughly equivalent to $1.45 million, in a Dutch company, a SEED scheme-eligible fund, a venture capital company, or a contractual joint venture focusing on Dutch companies. This program facilitates economic growth and cultural diversity in the Netherlands by attracting foreign investors to contribute to the nation's economy while enjoying the benefits of residing in the country. 8. Latvia Application Processing Time: 2-3 months The Latvia Residence by Investment program stands out as one of the swiftest and most competitive initiatives in Europe. It provides multiple avenues for foreign nationals to seek a residence permit in Latvia. These pathways encompass capital infusion into a Latvian company, the provision of a subordinated loan (deposit) in a Latvian bank, or the acquisition of government bonds designated for specific purposes, all of which enable eligible individuals to apply for residency. Some notable emerging market stocks that are seeing analyst and investor interest include CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH), CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI), and Ferguson PLC (NYSE:FERG). 7. Montenegro Application Processing Time: 2 months Montenegro typically offers one-year temporary residence permits, with the possibility of some legal exceptions. It is advisable to apply for an extension of your temporary permit at least 30 days before it expires. The property investment route is often recommended as the most straightforward and advantageous path to achieving residency, especially with Montenegro's thriving real estate market and the potential increase in property value due to pending EU membership. To obtain permanent residency in Montenegro, you must have legally resided in the country on a temporary permit for five consecutive years, possess a clean criminal record, and meet specific criteria, with real estate ownership being a preferred option. 6. Switzerland Application Processing Time: 1-4 months Switzerland provides a variety of residency-by-investment opportunities for financially independent individuals from non-EU/EFTA countries who are not employed in Switzerland. These programs enable investors to obtain a Swiss residence permit, granting them the privilege to reside and pursue education in Switzerland. Some notable stocks to consider in the construction and infrastructure sectors are CRH PLC (NYSE:CRH), CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI), and Ferguson PLC (NYSE:FERG). Click to continue reading and see the 5 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 10 Fastest Residency by Investment Programs in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. (Bloomberg) -- The war between Israel and Hamas has turned the spotlight on Egypts role as a regional powerbroker, potentially winning it Western support as it tries to escape a grinding economic crisis. Most Read from Bloomberg With long-held ties to Israel and a border with Gaza, Egypts stance is shaping up as key to the fate of any refugees and a sustained flow of aid for the besieged territorys 2 million residents after Israel cut off crucial supplies in response to Hamass deadly Oct. 7 assault. That opens up opportunities for the most populous Arab nation as it wrestles with its worst economic outlook in decades and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi prepares for elections in less than two months time. A host of domestic and regional considerations, however, are seen ruling out any refugee deal. The Israeli government has spoken to counterparts in several countries about Egypt temporarily housing Palestinians fleeing the violence in Gaza, according to officials with knowledge of the matter. Israel has suggested they could be moved to tent camps in the Sinai Peninsula funded by the United Nations and the US and then returned once military operations end, said the people. Its unclear if Israel has put the idea directly to Egypt. Clearly the hope on Israel and the USs side had been that Egypt would accept economic incentives, at a time when it is suffering an economic crisis, to allow Gazans into Egypt, said Mirette Mabrouk, director of the Egypt program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. Yet there is little to no constituency for going against decades of policy on not allowing Palestinian displacement, she said, while the inducements might wind up becoming a political liability, especially in an election year. Story continues All the same, multiple economists, bankers and investors Bloomberg spoke with this month in Morocco during annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank saw Egypt as likely to receive some economic backing, whatever its refugee stance. The crisis has reminded global players of the North African nations status as a regional linchpin, entrenching the idea its too big to fail. Egypt, which reached a deal with the IMF in December, is already in talks on boosting that rescue program to over $5 billion from $3 billion, people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg this month. Read More: Egypt Seeks to Boost IMF Loan Over $5 Billion Amid Currency Woes Its possible the IMFs key shareholders in the US and Europe may pressure the Washington-based lender to soften its requirements and move ahead with the program despite Cairos slow pace of reforms, according to Riccardo Fabiani, project director for North Africa with Crisis Group. Thats also because the current conflict serves to highlight the growing instability on all sides of Egypt, in Libya, Sudan and now in Gaza. It confronts the US and Europe with the need to ensure that Cairo remains a stable and reliable partner in the area that deserves external support, Fabiani said. There was evidence of that international focus on Saturday when El-Sisi hosted whats billed as a Summit for Peace in Cairo, with Middle East and European leaders in attendance. Diplomatic Onslaught The recent flurry of diplomacy centered on Cairo has marked something of a return to Egypts traditional role figuring prominently in every discussion over power politics across the region in the latter half of the 20th century. It rallied Arab forces and led the 1973 attack on Israel that triggered the Yom Kippur war, before the two countries signed a peace treaty and established full diplomatic relations in 1980, going on to become strategic allies. In the days since Hamas, which the US and Europe designate a terrorist group, launched its attack on Israel, El-Sisi has been courted by a succession of world leaders. US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the two countries enduring, strategic partnership in a call. Visiting Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised German-Egyptian unity in working to prevent a Middle East conflagration. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Beijing. The war underscores the important role Egypt has always played vis-a-vis security in and around Gaza, said Robert Satloff, executive director at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Thats not lost on European governments that woke up to Egypts importance as a regional gas producer after Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine last year. European officials visited to assess Egypts potential as a gas supplier with Israels help to supplant at least some Russian supplies. Those same governments are now courting El-Sisi for help in alleviating the pressure on Gaza. But he has rejected any suggestion Egypt host Gazan refugees, suggesting Israel should instead take in Palestinians to its Negev desert. They can transport Palestinians there until Israel implements its announced plan to destroy Hamas, he said Wednesday. Read More: Egypts Leader Says Israel Should Take In People Fleeing Gaza Egypt already hosts some 9 million refugees and other migrants from countries including Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. Opening a route for Palestinians may also present a new security risk in the Sinai peninsula, where the army has only just managed to get a handle on its fight with Islamist militants. Jordan has also refused to accept more Palestinians and its unlikely Egypt would become a regional exception and take in refugees many suspect may never be let back into Gaza. That would risk being seen in the Arab world as facilitating another mass displacement and betraying the Palestinian cause all Arab countries vocally espouse. Also, while Egypt could absorb a certain number of people, the domestic political consequences would be huge, said the Washington Institutes Satloff. The political leadership considers this a red line not to be crossed and would prefer to face worsening financial distress than accept a significant number of refugees. There is a precedent of sorts for Cairo winning favors as a regional war raged. Egypt secured forgiveness of half its $20.2 billion debt owed to the US and allies in 1991 one of the most generous incidences of debt relief creditor nations have granted in exchange for support for the anti-Iraq coalition during the Gulf war. The US wanted to reward Egypts President Hosni Mubarak for his pivotal role in lining up Arab nations against Saddam Hussein and to reimburse Egypt for heavy financial losses in the war. Egypt also sent armed forces to participate. Replicating that scenario would be difficult though. Back then there was general consensus that since Kuwait had been invaded, it needed to be supported, and while Egypts participation was not met with any great joy in military circles, it was not a particularly hard sell and the debt relief was an immense added incentive, according to the Middle East Institutes Mabrouk. Not so today, not least because Egypts commitment would not be comparable with its burden in 1991 when it was the second-largest source of manpower in the US-led coalition, and so it couldnt expect anything like a similar level of economic assistance, Satloff said. Way Out One way out of the dilemma may be for Egypt to offer Saudi Arabia a role co-leading the Palestinian issue for the Arab world in return for financial support, according to strategists. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aware of domestic anger at Israel, might welcome such an initiative to strengthen his regional profile, though he was absent from Saturdays summit. The fluid situation may offer Egypt other opportunities to take a mediating role that could be rewarded, Crisis Groups Fabiani said. For now, Egypt will try to play a constructive part in the hope that its contribution will be acknowledged by its international and regional partners and potentially rewarded economically, he said. --With assistance from Ethan Bronner. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Irish premier Leo Varadkar, like President Higgins, is prone to scolding Britain. Irish political leaders like Mr Varadkar did not at first after the October 7 slaughter of Jews call Hamas terrorist or emphasise Israels right to defend itself . Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire The phrase is based on American exceptionalism, the idea that the United States is so great and unusual that it is an exception to the norms and rules of countries. This label of exceptionalism, when applied to Britain after the UK left the European Union, implied that the 2016 Brexit vote was based on imperial delusions that British people think they are better than everyone else because of their one-time empire. The Irish premier Leo Varadkar has not, as far as I am aware, used the phrase British exceptionalism but, like the Irish president, Michael D Higgins, he is prone to occasional scolding of Britain. Earlier this month Mr Varadkar said: It does bother me to see the United Kingdom disengaging from the world whether its reducing its budget for international aid, whether its leaving the European Union and now even talking about withdrawing from the European convention on human rights. While Mr Varadkar softened his comments by adding, thats not the Britain I know, implying an affection for the British, he was still roundly criticised by many UK commentators who pointed out that, for example, Ireland is defended by the RAF. It has been so for more than 70 years under defence deals or understandings that have been largely secret presumably in part because it would be embarrassing for a country that proclaims its neutrality to admit that it cannot defend its own skies. When you examine such defence capabilities, and attitudes to it, you see how much Irish exceptionalism there is. The Republic of Ireland can buck norms that apply to other western or English-speaking nations and yet still enjoy a special relationship with the United States. It is not part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and US five countries that for a century have had a similar view on global affairs, forged in two world wars. Eamon de Valera infamously paid his respects to Germany on the death of Hitler in 1945, but I always think it is worth using a timeline to show how contemptible that was. Sharp folk like Winston Churchill knew Hitler was trouble shortly after he took power in 1933, but others should have done by the time of the murderous Knight of the Long Knives of Nazi rivals in 1934 or at least by the time of the anti semitism of Kristallnacht in 1938. For the obtuse, who did not grasp the implications of the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, then Poland, or even Norway, the Low Countries and France in 1940, did they not notice the Nazi blitzes of Britain in 1941? The deranged invasion of Russia? Story continues None of this, or then growing evidence of Nazi atrocities across Europe from 1942, altered the view of that anglophobe de Valera. As late as 1945 he seemed to think he was asserting his rigorous impartiality, gravity and statesmanship by recognising the demise of another European leader. Influential Americans from Roosevelt to Eisenhower noticed such Irish war attitudes. In fact I have a theory that gratitude in London and Washington to Northern Ireland for having been part of the vital war effort helped create a situation in which Stormont was ignored and allowed to do its own thing, which ultimately led to a unionist complacency that damaged our place in the UK. Even so, due to Irish exceptionalism, de Valeras vile gesture did not much damage warm Irish-American relations. The Republic is not in Nato. It will not even join the Commonwealth in fact polls suggest its citizens still will not join that friendly association if it is a price for a united Ireland. Ireland was once part of the UK with full representation at Westminster yet it will not join the Commonwealth when nations that suffered codified racial discrimination under the empire like India do. Laughably, Ireland joined the French equivalent, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, when it is not even French-speaking. The UK is a permanent member of the UN security council. It has taken leading roles in support of Ukraine and Israel in those country's darkest hours. President Zelensky said in the early weeks of the conflict when listing countries that supported his country: "Ireland well, almost". Only in the last couple of years has Ireland come anywhere near the UK in its foreign aid spending as a proportion of its wealth, and in defence it spends barely a tenth per capita of the UK. Yet when President Trump criticised European nations for not pulling their weight in defence expenditure I dont recall him citing Irelands choice to live under British, American and Nato strength while declining to reach into its pockets. Above all, Irish exceptionalism is apparent in its attitudes to Israel. It is one of the least friendly countries in Europe towards that small nation, yet Israels biggest ally, the US, never seems to care. Ireland did not at first after October 7 call Hamas terrorist or emphasise Israels right to defend itself. It later did so, but soon put its focus back on the need for Israeli proportionality after the blackest moment for Jews in 78 years and pressured the EU to do likewise. There are flashes of recognition that Irish exceptionalism can only go so far. In fairness the pro Russian voices in Ireland have not gained much traction. It is said that Sinn Fein did not join the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood in issuing scathing criticism of Donald Trump on his 2016 election because they saw big support for Mr Trump in Irish America. Does such concern about middle American thinking help explain why, as our journalist Adam Kula reported this week, the party is divided in whether or not to call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland to be expelled? Polling shows far more emphatic support in America for the idea that Hamas are terrorists even than in the UK, where more British people of all age groups agree than disagree with such a designation. Despite all this, London puts pressure on Israel-friendly unionists to share power with republicans who hesitate to condemn Hamas, amid background hints of a greater say for Israel-unfriendly Ireland if they dont. Ben Lowry (@BenLowry2) is News Letter editor Storm Babet hit the UK this week (Photo: SWNS) Understanding the ongoing challenge of being "good stewards of Gods creation ever-present", the church hierarchy wants to hear the views of as many of its members as possible on the issue of global climate change, through a dedicated online survey that has been set up at Assembly buildings in Belfast. The purpose of the survey, which can be taken at www.presbyterianireland.org, is to hear the views from a range of people within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland children, young people and adults to provide a baseline understanding of thinking, perceptions and positions currently within the denomination. The Rev Dr Allen Sleith, convener of the church's stewardship of creation task group, said the survey was an important exercise. The survey, along with other data, is just one part of the jigsaw, as we will also use the results from different focus groups to produce a report for our church's 2024 General Assembly. "This will help shape how Irish Presbyterianism can best engage with the issue of climate change and creation care. I would encourage our members to take time to look at the survey and take part in this important initiative. Dr Sleith, minister of Hillsborough Presbyterian church, added: While the conflicts raging in Ukraine and the Middle East dominate our current headlines, another crisis continues to loom large. This is the threat to our planet's well-being, particularly due to climate change, caused largely by human practices since the 19th century industrial revolution. "The effects of this are increasingly evident here at home, but in other parts of the world the impact is truly devastating, not least for our global partner churches and the communities they serve. The survey, which closes on October 31, looks at each respondents perception of, and attitude to climate change across a range of 21 multiple choice questions. There are also opportunities for further comment. It asks, for instance; "How concerned are you and what concerns you most about climate change'?" With nearly 800 responses so far, from about a third of Presbyterian congregations, the survey also asks if respondents have made changes in relation to their personal lives when it comes to climate change, buying locally sourced produce, for example, or made changes to the way they travel or consume energy, and what would hold them back in making changes to their lifestyle. It also asks what their congregation is doing. The survey follows a number of important recent initiatives that the Presbyterian Church has taken in relation to being encouraged and challenged to look at ways it can better look after the environment. In 2018, the church's general assembly passed a resolution commending its council for global missions stewardship of creation report on climate change. Dr Sleith said: I would encourage our members to complete the survey as a means of helping our denomination to care appropriately for the world that Christ came to redeem and transform. The government has expressed gratitude to Japan for helping bring back a group of Koreans from war-stricken Israel, a foreign ministry official said Saturday. Earlier in the morning, a Japanese Defense Force air tanker/passenger plane arrived in Tokyo from Israel, carrying dozens of its nationals, along with 18 Koreans and a foreign family member of one of them. The move was seen as reciprocation after a Korean military aircraft brought back 51 Japanese people, along with 163 Koreans, from Israel a week earlier. "Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed gratitude to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on behalf of the South Korean government for helping with the departure of 18 Korean nationals and a Korean descendant," a foreign ministry official said. While expressing her gratitude to the Seoul government for assisting with the return of Japanese nationals from Israel in a telephone call with Park last week, Kamikawa had pledged Japan's "proactive" cooperation in the event of a similar situation facing South Korean nationals amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to Seoul officials. The two countries plan to continue to cooperate closely for the protection of their nationals overseas amid the fast-changing international security situation, they said. (Yonhap) HCM CITY Industrial land rents are expected to increase by up to 10 per cent in the next two years in both the north and south thanks to growing demand from various industries, experts have said. Despite facing difficulties due to the economic slowdown, many investors have announced tentative plans to expand their business and investment. The latest quarterly Business Confidence Index from the European Chamber of Commerce Viet Nam's (EuroCham) shows Viet Nam's global investment appeal remains strong. A notable 63 per cent of surveyed businesses positioned Viet Nam within their top 10 FDI destinations, EuroCham said. VinaCapitals ongoing annual investors conference also clearly indicates the attractiveness of the Vietnamese market with nearly 100 delegates from around the world attending it. Don Lam, CEO and founding partner of VinaCapital Group, said: Its been three years since we were last able to host an in-person investor conference, and as we all know, the world has changed greatly since then. But one thing that hasnt changed is Viet Nams attractiveness for investment. Few countries have emerged from the global pandemic as strong as Viet Nam has, and we are excited for our guests to see and hear that the opportunities for investing here are as abundant as ever. Recently UK company Essentra Components announced plans to invest in Viet Nam. Scott Fawcett, its CEO, said: With more manufacturers moving into new territories as they look to diversify and become less reliant on one area, they need partners that can move with them and continue to offer the same level of service they are accustomed to. Our expansion into Viet Nam is a solution to that very problem and will give our customers the reassurance that service can continue without interruption. The company said with its advantageous geographical position and 17 free trade agreements with countries in Europe and the Americas, Viet Nam has become a strategic destination in the global supply chain, particularly in the manufacturing and industrial component sectors. Major corporations such as Apple and LEGO have already begun building primary production facilities in Viet Nam at a cost of billions of dollars. Cong Thuong newspaper (Vietnam Economic News) quoted Nguyen Van Dong, chairman of the Viet Nam Printing Association, as saying Viet Nam is an attractive destination for foreign investors, and many delegations from China and Thailand have been visiting to explore investment opportunities. Industrial property market With international investors flocking to the country, the demand for industrial land has been rising. A recent report by property consultancy CBRE said that in the first nine months of 2023 investors from China, Viet Nam, Japan, the US, and the European Union actively looked for industrial land, warehouses and factories, and accounted for 70-80 per cent of the inquiries it got. With Viet Nam continuing to strengthen co-operation with comprehensive strategic partners such as the US, South Korea and China in recent times, investors from these countries were expected to lead the demand for industrial real estate, it said. The occupancy rate at industrial parks in the south was 81.9 per cent as of the end of the third quarter, it said. There were significant transactions by Chinese and Japanese enterprises in industries such as chemicals, plastics, rubber, and electronics. In the north, the occupancy rate was marginally down from the end of the second quarter to 80.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 though up 0.4 percentage points year-on-year. It explained that this was because new industrial parks opened in Bac Ninh and Hung Yen provinces, causing supply to soar. The market saw large transactions by businesses in plastics, textiles and contact lenses, it said. The industrial land absorption rate was up 18 per cent at 700ha. Thanh Pham, associate director, research and consulting, CBRE Vietnam, said: "The net absorption for the country as a whole is expected to be higher in 2023, showing demand is recovering. We see a positive performance, especially in industrial land and ready-built factory segments. Demand for ready-built factories was mainly from industries such as garment, pharmaceuticals and electronics, she said. Demand for warehouse lease saw an impressive recovery from the previous quarter, with large transactions carried out by logistics enterprises, she said. Speaking about future trends, she expected developers and enterprises to focus on sustainable development and technology use. Green criteria are gradually becoming among the important ones in building factories and warehouses and manufacturing, spurring the development of green industrial parks. In the next two years industrial land rents are expected to increase by 6-10 per cent a year in both the north and south, according to CBRE. Rents for ready-built factories and warehouses are expected to see lower increases of 2 - 4 per cent. VNS SYDNEY The Vietnamese Party and Government treasure the Strategic Partnership with Australia, Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committees Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh has said. He made the statement during meetings with Australian officials while leading a high-ranking delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to pay a working visit to the country on October 16-20. Laying stress on the shared vision between the two countries amidst complicated developments in the region and the world, Anh said that stakeholders on both sides should bolster collaboration to enhance two-way trade and investment, and improve human resources quality in tandem with innovation. Tourism, digital transformation, energy transition, climate change response, sustainable development and supply chain are potential fields for enhanced cooperation, he said, adding both nations should work to effectively carry out the new-generation free trade agreements to which Viet Nam and Australia are members. At the meetings, Anh, Premier of New South Wales Chris Minn, and Australian ministers highlighted the sound Viet Nam Australia Strategic Partnership, with the political trust being promoted through exchanges of visits at all levels. They agreed that bilateral cooperation across economy, trade, investment, defence, security, education-training and health care has been developed into an extensive, practical and comprehensive fashion, bringing benefits to the people and businesses from both nations. They also spoke highly of the important contributions of the Vietnamese community in Australia to bilateral ties, noting pleasure with the two countries looking toward building the new relation framework to become leading economic partners. The Australian officials said Anhs visit is significant as both sides are celebrating their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, adding their Government attaches much importance to Vietnams role in its foreign policy and Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. They placed high value on the CPVs policies and development targets, and wanted to boost the Vietnam Australia Strategic Partnership into a stronger and more effective manner in the time to come. They also agreed with Anhs recommendations to step up bilateral cooperation especially in sectors of demand in both countries. During their stay in Australia, Anh had a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy, and Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney, and paid a working visit to Macquarie Group Limited. He also had a working session and delivered a speech at a roundtable conference on FDI attraction. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Saudi Arabia on October 20 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. The two PMs shared pleasure about the progress in bilateral cooperation over the years, which has benefited people in both countries. They pledged to work closely together to maintain and reinforce the sound relationship between VietNam and Laos, and transfer it to future generations. The special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos is a valuable asset, a rule for existence and development of both countries, a vital factor and important resource for national protection and growth in each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, they said. They reviewed the implementation of agreements between the Politburos of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, thus pointing out achievements and shortcomings, and seeking mechanisms towards stronger and more substantial cooperation. The two PMs concurred to push forward the implementation of the Viet Nam-Laos Strategic Cooperation Agreement for the 2021-2030 period, the Viet Nam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement for the 2021-2023 period, and the signed agreements and plans in various areas. They agreed on the need to continue increasing exchanges of delegations at all levels through all channels to reinforce the special and close political relations between the two countries, coordinating closely in ensuring social order and safety, and strengthening cooperation in security-defence and in prevention and combat of trans-border criminals, especially drug-related criminals. The two sides vowed to exert greater efforts to further promote bilateral economic cooperation and connectivity, while supporting each other in building an independent, self-reliant economy in association with practical, extensive and effective international integration. They agreed to focus on removing obstacles for key cooperation projects such as Vung Ang ports No. 1, 2, and 3, as well as projects connecting road and rail traffic in the East - West direction. PM Chinh and PM Sonexay Siphandone shared the belief that the operation of Nong Khang airport funded by Viet Nam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture JSC from May this year will contribute to increasing economic, tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchange between the two countries, becoming a symbol of the sustainable friendship and partnership between the two countries. PM Chinh congratulated Laos on taking the role of ASEAN and AIPA Chair in 2024, affirming that Viet Nam is willing to support Laos in successfully performing the role. PM Sonexay Siphandone said that his country will continue to coordinate closely with and support Viet Nam in regional and international issues. Responding to PM Chinh's invitation, the Lao PM said he will visit Viet Nam soon and co-chair the 46th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee in Ha Noi. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet have agreed to foster cooperation and connect the two economies, helping each other to develop an independent and self-resilient economy in association with deep international integration. At their meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 20, the two leaders informed each other about development steps in the bilateral ties, with political trust enhanced through meetings between senior leaders of the two countries. The two PMs agreed to effectively carry out the signed agreements, create more favourable conditions for investment and business activities of enterprises from the two nations, especially those in the fields of border trade and economic development in border areas. Besides, they concurred to join hands to concretise the One Journey, Three Destinations tourism cooperation initiative among Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam; create conditions for Vietnamese people in Cambodia to stably live and do business in the host nation, and promote people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, so as to nurture the affection and trust between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people. At the meeting, Chinh congratulated Hun Manet on his achievements in maintaining stability, boosting socio-economic development and improving living conditions of the Cambodian people. He also conveyed the regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other high-ranking leaders of Viet Nam to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, President of the Cambodian Peoples Party, and incumbent and former leaders of Cambodia. VNS RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had bilateral meetings with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on the occasion of his attendance at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia on October 20. PM Chinh and the Philippine President instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to step up the signing of an inter-governmental agreement on rice trade to enhance the proactive role of Viet Nam and the Philippines in rice production and export. The two leaders affirmed that the upcoming Viet Nam visit by President Marcos Jr. will generate a new impetus to further develop the extensive and effective relationship between the two countries, bringing tangible benefits to their people and making positive contributions to peace, security and stability in the region. The Vietnamese and Indonesian leaders also vowed to actively discuss measures to reinforce ties in the coming time. They will effectively implement the signed agreements and accelerate the early ratification of the agreement on delineation of exclusive economic zones, contributing to bringing practical benefits to their people. The two leaders affirmed their active coordination to boost trade cooperation, agreeing to assign relevant ministries to negotiate and move toward the signing of a long-term trade agreement on rice export, as well as expand the export-import of agricultural products to each other's market. PM Chinh congratulated Indonesia on its success as the Chair of ASEAN 2023. On global and regional issues, they vowed to continue working closely together at various global and regional forums, particularly at the United Nations and ASEAN, as well as in global and regional issues of shared interest. During their conversation, PM Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart discussed orientations to upgrade bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time. Speaking highly of the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP)s positive contributions, they agreed to instruct relevant agencies to study the possibility of establishing an association of both countries industrial zones, thereby improving the efficiency of VSIP operations using smart, green and sustainable models, and promoting the development of industrial-urban ecosystems. They also consented to jointly build a shared database between the two countries to facilitate the digital transformation process of both economies. On priorities and focuses of Viet Nam-Singapore economic ties, PM Lee recognised Viet Nam's huge potential in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power. PM Chinh thanked Singapore for licensing the supply of clean electricity from Viet Nam to the island state. The two sides also underlined the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges, including among youth from both countries, to raise mutual understanding and deepen the enduring friendship and connection between the two nations. VNS South Korea's top general visited a mechanized unit Friday to check its readiness and participation in an ongoing military exercise, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. JCS Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum made the inspection at the 7th Maneuver Corps' headquarters in Icheon, 56 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as the annual Hoguk exercise kicked off Monday. At the unit, Kim called for troops to be equipped with the highest level of operational readiness through realistic training, according to the JCS. He then visited the Army Aviation Command in the same city and instructed troops to strengthen response capabilities against unmanned enemy assets. "The on-site inspections were made to emphasize thoroughly maintaining a readiness posture to overwhelmingly and decisively punish any enemy provocation and aggression," the JCS said. This year's Hoguk exercise, which involves the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps., will run through Nov. 22. North Korea has previously reacted angrily to the exercise, calling it a provocation. During last year's drills, the North fired artillery shots into maritime buffer zones set under the 2018 inter-Korean military accord and ballistic missiles into the East Sea. (Yonhap) RIYADH Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman on the occasion of his attendance at the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit held in Saudi Arabias capital city of Riyadh on October 20. Meeting Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, PM Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to its cooperation with Qatar and considers the country an important partner in the Middle East. He expressed wish to welcome the Emir of Qatar to Viet Nam in November to push cooperation in trade, investment and labour. Viet Nam is ready to create favourable conditions for Qatari enterprises and investment funds, particularly the Qatar Investment Authority, to raise their investments in Viet Nam through diverse forms, he said. Emir Hamad al-Thani expressed readiness to remove any barriers to further cultivate Viet Nam-Qatar cooperation, especially in areas proposed by PM Chinh. Both sides agreed to establish joint working groups in potential areas such as digital transformation, renewable energy, infrastructure, and to sign agreements that facilitate the entry of citizens from both countries to step up bilateral ties in the near future. Talking with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Chinh suggested facilitating the exchange of high-ranking delegations, cultural exchange and tourism. He wished that UAE's investment funds would increase their investments in sectors of Viet Nam's need such as green transition, digital transformation and circular economy. The UAE President affirmed the priority to elevating comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam to new heights, adding that he will instruct the country's investment funds to actively explore opportunities in Viet Nam. On the occasion, both sides vowed to expedite negotiations and soon sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), beef up collaboration in potential areas such as digital transformation, data centre construction, innovation, sci-tech, and research in food security. Meeting Deputy Prime Minister of Oman Prince Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, the Vietnamese leader suggested that in the coming time, both sides continue facilitating visits at various levels and improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Committee and Political Consultation, as well as carry forward cooperation in trade to achieve a significant breakthrough in two-way trade turnover. Al Said said the Omani Government attaches importance to furthering cooperation with Viet Nam, especially in economy and investment. He consented to create favourable conditions and consider opening up the market for goods of strength while promoting collaboration in the Halal sector and enhancing the efficiency of the Viet Nam-Oman Investment Fund (VOI). Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in education and enhance exchanges between the younger generations. VNS RIYADH Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on October 20 as part of his visit to the Middle East country, where he also attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. Speaking highly of the bilateral relations, both leaders said that Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia hold huge potential and opportunities to further develop their friendship and cooperation for the benefits of the two nations' people. They held that it is necessary to consolidate the sound political diplomatic relations by increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels, open their markets and promote trade ties. Besides, they agreed to join hands to build a cooperation roadmap, define specific cooperation projects and areas as well as business opportunities between enterprises of the two countries, and strive to bolster collaboration between the two governments and businesses communities with a view to bringing the bilateral relations to a new high. Congratulating Saudi Arabias outstanding achievements to make the country become an important partner in the region and the world, Chinh suggested Saudi Arabias investment funds inject capital into fields that Vietnam is prioritising for development such as green economy, innovation, high technology, industry, and renewable energy. He also asked the House of Saud and the Saudi Arabian Government to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live and work in Saudi Arabia, making contributions to the development of the host nation as well as the friendship between the two countries. Mohammed bin Salman, for his part, affirmed that Viet Nam is a leading partner of Saudi Arabia in Southeast Asia, expressing his hope that his country will accompany Viet Nam in the future. He said he will direct Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund to expand investment in Viet Nam, especially in the fields of traditional energy and renewable energy. A world leading energy corporation of Saudi Arabia, which is investing and running business in Asia, wants to expand its investment to the Vietnamese market, he added. Chinh took this occasion to invite the Saudi Arabian leader to pay an official visit to Viet Nam in 2024 when the two countries celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The Saudi Arabian leader said he always wants to visit Viet Nam, and will arrange a trip to the nation next year. VNS HA NOI Fire prevention and fighting efforts have been significantly enhanced in many areas of Ha Noi following a tragic fire in a mini apartment in Thanh Xuan District last month, resulting in 56 deaths and 37 injuries. Apart from training in firefighting skills and optimising the effectiveness of public firefighting models, many residents and local authorities have invested in purchasing, building and installing additional firefighting, rescue, and disaster relief equipment to meet local needs, Vietnamplus.vn reported. Ba inh District is home to many old streets with narrow, winding alleys, only about 2-3m wide and hundreds of metres long, in which residents live and trade close together. In these densely populated areas, small alleyways present challenges to firefighters, as specialised firefighting vehicles often cannot access the scenes effectively. A prime example of these challenges can be found at Alley 515 on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Vinh Phuc Ward. This alley, measuring less than 3m in width, extends for over 200m and accommodates a residential population of more than 2,000 people. The confluence of a high population density and exceedingly narrow alleyways compounds the difficulty of firefighting and rescue efforts in the case of a fire emergency. Specialised firefighting vehicles struggle to manoeuvre effectively within these tight spaces, emphasising the necessity for alternative measures to ensure public safety. To address the need for swift and efficient firefighting within these narrow alleys, local authorities, in collaboration with the district's police force, have equipped these areas with many fire extinguishers and water hoses intended for public firefighting. Underground water tanks to aid firefighting Moreover, Ba inh District has introduced a forward-looking plan that involves constructing underground water tanks in communal spaces within these confined alleyways. These proactive measures are pivotal in bolstering the safety and preparedness of these communities in the face of potential fire hazards. An ongoing project to construct an underground water tank for fire prevention and firefighting is taking place in Alley 515. Thien Minh, a firefighting company, is overseeing the project, which involves repurposing a space previously owned by the Vinh Phuc Vegetable Co-operative. This area had gradually deteriorated and remained unused over the years. The project entails building an underground water tank with a capacity of around 80cu.m. The Thien Minh firefighting company is currently implementing expedited construction measures to put the underground tank into use by the end of October this year. In addition to the water tank, the company has been instructed to install high-capacity water pumps with strong pressure to meet firefighting needs in the residential area. According to Ta Nam Chien, chairman of the Ba inh People's Committee, there are 45 narrow alleyways in the district where professional firefighting trucks cannot enter. The district has laid out plans for the construction of 45 underground water tanks in these small alleyways. Where ground space is available, construction will be promptly initiated to ensure early utilisation, thereby contributing to the safeguarding of residents' lives and property, Chien said. Beyond the development of underground water tanks, the district is set to deploy large-capacity pump stations in residential areas with ponds and natural lakes to provide the most convenient water supply for firefighting. Witnessing the urgent construction of underground water tanks to prevent fires, Le Thi Kim Chung, a resident living in alley 515, said she had lived here for many years but had never witnessed a major fire. Nevertheless, in recent months, Ha Noi had experienced a series of blazes, leading to concerns among residents in the alley. They began to question how fire fighting and extinguishing would proceed if a fire broke out, especially when specialised vehicles couldn't access the narrow alleys. Learning about the Ba inh People's Committee's initiative to build the underground water tank for firefighting had brought her peace of mind. "The district's decision to build underground water tanks for firefighting in narrow alleys is a very creative and flexible approach, born out of the leadership's concern for safeguarding people's lives and properties," Chung said. "In particular, the building of underground tanks does not affect the living space of residents, so it is supported by many people. I hope the construction will be completed soon to put the water tanks into use." Technology application The district has dedicated around VN300 million to install 16 early fire detection warning systems. These cutting-edge systems offer a crucial advantage by swiftly notifying fire forces of potential fires within a mere 6 seconds, delivering precise location data via phone messages and calls. These systems boast direct integration with the fire prevention and fighting police force of Ba inh District. Lieutenant Colonel Truong Van Duong, head of the district's Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force, emphasised that these technological applications would improve firefighting effectiveness. The early fire detection warning systems would significantly reduce response time, ensuring that emergency teams could promptly initiate firefighting efforts rather than spending valuable time locating the source of the fire. It would contribute to mitigating the damages caused by fires and explosions, he said. In the near future, the district would intensify its awareness campaigns to encourage residents, businesses and local organisations to install early fire detection warning systems. Thanh Cong Secondary School is the first establishment to have one of these systems installed. Recently, many households in the capital city have been taking proactive steps to improve their safety, including adding additional emergency exits and installing exterior staircases on their buildings. They are also willing to invest a considerable amount of money in fire prevention and firefighting equipment for their families. According to Truong Thi Mi, a resident in Tay Ho District, each household is spending between VN5-20 million to purchase fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, escape ladders and smoke masks. She said this investment in protecting her family's lives was quite reasonable, adding that in reality, many people are willing to spend significant sums on clothing and footwear, yet they hesitate when it comes to acquiring fire prevention and firefighting equipment for their homes. "Everyone needs to alter their perspective to prioritise their own safety, rather than experiencing a fire and then feeling regret," Mi said. VNS BA RIA-VUNG TAU The Viet Nam Coast Guard and relevant forces have apprised some 1,000 fishermen in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau about how to prevent and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Officers of Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2 under the Viet Nam Coast Guard (VCG) Command on October 19 cooperated with staff from the Border Guards and Fisheries Sub-Department in the province to distribute more than 1,000 leaflets about IUU fishing, 150 books about the Law on VCG and 100 national flags to fishermen at Cat Lo Port in Vung Tau City. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhan Hau, head of ong Nai Province-based Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2, said the action seeks to help coastal localities fight IUU fishing in order to lift the yellow card warning of the European Commission (EC). It also provided fisherman information about the 2017 Fisheries Law, the countrys sovereignty over its sea and islands, sea laws, and the functions, duties and powers of VCG. It helps to ensure that fishing activities must comply with fishing regulations of Vietnamese law and international laws, contributing to conservation of marine resources and sustainable fisheries development, he said. A set of regulations coordinating the protection of aquatic resources and ensuring security and order at sea was signed between Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2 and the provinces Sub-Department of Fisheries on September 20. Accordingly, the two sides will regularly exchange information to help each other resolve related cases, organise the spread of information about Viet Nam's seas and islands, and popularise education on sea laws among the population. They will also coordinate organising patrols, inspections and law enforcement at sea; manage aquatic resource protection activities; and enhance professional skills. Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2 is tasked with monitoring the sea from Cu Lao Xanh in the central coastal province of Binh inh to Ha Tien City in the Cuu Long (Mekong) province of Kien Giang, including the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago. The division is also assigned to directly detect and combat violations of law, such as national security crimes, smuggling, and trade fraud at sea. Last month, it seized more than 260,000 litres of smuggled diesel oil from two offshore wooden fishing boats in the southwest coastal region of Viet Nam. VNS Visitors coming to Chau Doc during the flood season will better understand people's lives in the Western River region. Chau Doc is a large city of An Giang near the Vietnam - Cambodia border. This is a land of cultural interference of the Kinh, Cham and Khmer ethnic groups with rich nature, spiritual stories, and river life characteristics. September to November, flood season, is the best time to visit places in Chau Doc. The itinerary was suggested by Ly Thien Phong, a local tour guide, and experienced by a VnExpress reporter. Day 1 Morning Have breakfast with Chau Doc's famous snakehead fish noodle dish. The dish has a rich broth, fragrant with shrimp paste, lemongrass, chilli, garlic and the yellow colour of fresh turmeric. If you like to eat fish heads, you can order it separately. The side dishes are typical of the West, such as sesbania, water lily, bitter vegetables, banana ears, grated water spinach, and bean sprouts. Many diners eat roasted pork or pork rolls with it. Some reference addresses: Be Hai fish noodle soup, Chau Doc Co Nga fish noodle soup, and Roundabout fish noodle soup on Phan Dinh Phung Street. Each vermicelli bowl ranges from 25,000 VND to 30,000 VND, not including side dishes. Taking a boat on the Hau River to visit colourful rafting villages is the newest experience in Chau Doc. Since mid-September, thanks to a community project, 161 fish cages stretching over 1 km have been covered in colours such as red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple. Phase 1 has about 80 rafts completed. The rafting village is on the tour route to learn and experience the river life and culture of the Cham community in An Giang. You can stop to buy souvenirs, see how fish are raised, and experience fishermen's life. Another destination right near the boat harbour along the Hau River is the Basa fish monument. The project honours fish associated with life and praises the fishermen who domesticated fish and other aquatic products to bring about a prosperous life. Near noon, if you want to know what Chau Doc has, you must visit the central market. The market is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a wide range of items from food to souvenirs, traditional Khmer-style clothes or An Giang specialties. A highlight in the market is the eye-catching and "smell-catching" fish sauce stall. Have lunch at one of the famous restaurants with Western dishes. Some reference addresses include Bay Dong restaurant, Dong Que restaurant, and Hong Phat restaurant. Afternoon When coming to Chau Doc, you must attend Sam Mountain, with Ba Chua Xu Temple. This destination attracts tourists to An Giang, located about 5 km from the city centre. At the beginning of the new year and on the full moon or first days, this place is always crowded with visitors from all over. With a sacred and majestic space, the Ba Temple is a place to express the Vietnamese people's belief in Mother Goddess worship. The time you stay at Ba Temple depends on your needs, whether sightseeing or going to worship and other experiences. Late afternoon, watching the sunset from the top of Sam Mountain is the next experience. This place is considered one of the most beautiful sunset spots in the Mekong Delta because of its wide view and rice fields below. The road to Sam Mountain is steep but quite easy to go. You should be there before 4:30 p.m. to ensure you get the sunset. At the top of Mount Sam, visitors can experience mountain climbing and breathe fresh air. Have dinner at La Giang restaurant on top of Sam Mountain with a buffet menu, and return to Chau Doc. Take a night stroll around the city with My Van grapefruit sweet soup at the mobile sweet soup cart at the end of Trung Nu Vuong Street. This is a snack restaurant recommended by local people. The price of each dish ranges from 10,000 VND to 25,000 VND. Overnight at Victoria Hotel in the centre of Chau Doc city, with a direct view of the Hau River confluence, near Chau Doc market and convenient transportation. Day 2 Morning and noon Have breakfast in Chau Doc with noodles, fish sauce, or plain noodles at restaurants along Hau River Wharf and Chau Doc market. Depart for Tra Su cajuput forest. This is a "must-visit" place to visit An Giang, especially during the flood season. Travel time from Chau Doc city centre to the forest is about 30-40 minutes. Visitors will buy entrance tickets for 100,000 VND per person. There will be two forms of experience. If you don't have time or want to check in, you just need to buy an entrance ticket for 100,000 VND and 50,000 VND for a motorboat ride for about 30 minutes. If you love nature exploration, spend maximum time here, from morning to afternoon. You should experience walking on the longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam, leading into the forest's heart. It's best to walk the bamboo bridge once, then switch to a motorboat to go further and further in the forest. You can witness rare flora and fauna with your own eyes. You can ask the boat driver to stop to feel the quiet space. Go up to the observation deck to see the entire space of Tra Su Melaleuca forest with a 25 km telescope to have a more comprehensive view of this entire "valuable" forest of the West. The lookout tower is located within the premises of Tra Su restaurant, so stop here to enjoy lunch. Delicious and outstanding dishes include grilled snakehead fish, sesban ling fish hotpot, crispy fried ling fish, fish sauce hotpot, coconut tofu salad, and banh xeo. The restaurant is on a lush green campus, with tall sesban flower beds growing around. Afternoon Return to the Melaleuca forest by dinghy. After experiencing the motorboat and walking on the bridge, transfer to a dinghy; you will take a shorter trip, weaving into small canals. The afternoon is also when birds and storks return to the forest in large numbers. Sitting in a canoe and walking slowly will help visitors feel the peaceful nature of the Melaleuca forest. Return to Chau Doc City around 4:00 p.m. In addition to the above itinerary, tourists can choose alternative destinations such as Chau Phong Cham village along the Hau River, Chau Phong mosque, a textile factory, and Hang Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Tu). Also read: Dining place in Chau Doc 7 places to visit when you visit Chau Doc Tinh Bien Cai Rang Floating Market is floating again, international visitors are excited to visit The representative of China Transport Construction Group wishes to participate in investing in the construction of the North-South high-speed railway and many important traffic projects in Vietnam. This remarkable information was stated at the meeting between Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and Mr. Bach Ngoc Chien, Director of China Port Construction Corporation (CHEC), representative of China Transportation Construction Corporation (CCCC). Chinese enterprises want to build a North-South high-speed railway. According to information from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, on the occasion of attending the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit in China on the afternoon of October 19, 2023, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung had a meeting Working with Mr. Bach Ngoc Chien, Director of China Harbor Construction Corporation (CHEC), representative of China Transportation Construction Corporation (CCCC). According to the information portal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, representatives of the Ministry of Transport attended the meeting. At the meeting, Mr. Bach Ngoc Chien introduced an overview of China Transportation Construction Corporation (CCCC) and China Port Construction Corporation (CHEC) and the investment and business situation of China Transportation Construction Corporation (CCCC) in Vietnam. Mr. Bach said that in Vietnam, the group began operating in 1996 and has so far successfully implemented more than 20 infrastructure and energy projects such as the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway, Cai Mep Thi Vai port; Vinh Tan - Binh Thuan thermal power plant... and wind power projects. Also read: Breaking boundary space, solving infrastructure and logistics issues Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com Previously, in mid-September, on the occasion of attending the China - ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 20th China - ASEAN Trade and Investment Summit (CABIS) in Nanning City, Guangxi Province. , Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received leaders of many leading Chinese economic groups, including Mr. Tran Van - Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Railway Corporation (CREC), as well as Mr. Wang Xiaojun - Deputy General Director of China Power Construction Corporation (Power China). According to the notice released by the Government after the meeting, it can be seen that Chinese businesses are very interested in investing in developing Vietnam's infrastructure, roads, railways and energy, including the North-South high-speed railway project. Read more: Vietnam considers high-speed rail line Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com Vietnam encourages high-quality investment. Exchanging opinions with leaders of China Harbor Construction Corporation (CHEC) and representatives of China Transport Construction Corporation, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung highly appreciated the scale and achievements of the group's business investment activities in Vietnam and globally. Minister Nguyen Chi Dung introduced to the China Transport Construction Group some orientations, goals and development situation of Vietnam's main infrastructure sectors, including highways, railways, seaports, airports and energy infrastructure. Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that the Government of Vietnam has issued the Action Program for Infrastructure Development in 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050 and the National Electricity Development Plan for 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII). Vietnam encourages corporations with financial capacity, technology and high management level to participate in bidding for key infrastructure projects. Not only did he welcome the China Transport Construction Group's plan to expand investment and business in Vietnam shortly, but Minister Nguyen Chi Dung also pointed out limitations in some projects. Infrastructure development has been carried out by Chinese enterprises in Vietnam recently. On that basis, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung hopes that with the motto "share, cooperate, support, complement each other, win together", CCCC will not only be a major contractor but also a strategic investor. in Vietnam, sharing experiences, training human resources, and transferring technology so that Vietnam can develop and manage an effective and sustainable infrastructure system. Thereby contributing to concretizing the policy of cooperation and connection for infrastructure development that senior leaders of Vietnam and China had previously agreed upon. Director of China Transport Construction Corporation Bach Ngoc Chien sincerely thanked Minister Nguyen Chi Dung for the shared opinions and directions and pledged that CHEC commits to make greater efforts to participate in infrastructure development projects in Vietnam effectively. Mr. Bach Ngoc Chien also hopes that China Transport Construction Group can truly become a "bridge" of friendship between the two countries. SATURDAY, Oct. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Most people spend a lot of time on their feet, so its a good idea to take care of them. With proper care, you can minimize the stress your feet take on when holding you up and getting you around, an expert says. Common problems that people face include hammertoes, blisters, plantar fasciitis and bunions. Some of these are easily solvable, but others may need the involvement of a specialist, said Dr. Ronald Lepow. He is an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Foot issues are most often caused by friction and pressure. Choosing the correct shoe for daily activities can help. Your shoes should have a toe box that is wide and deep so that your toes can freely move. They should be breathable for sweat and odor control. People who have low or high arches may benefit from shoes with orthotic inserts. You can find your foots arch which is the area between your heel and the ball of your foot by placing your foot on flat ground and taking a photo to look at it. X-rays of the foot reveal what kind of foot arch you have along with the structure of the foot, Lepow said. If you are experiencing pain, knowing these two things will help dictate a care plan. Bunions can form at the big toe, causing the toe to turn inward. Some get bunions because they run in families. Others can get them from arthritis conditions. Pain and severity can increase with bad footwear. Lepow recommends that people avoid wearing shoes that constrict the foot. Opt for wide shoes and avoid high heels. You may need surgery if the pain continues, he added. Some people will also develop hammertoes. These happen when a tendon in the toe contracts and bends at the first joint, causing the toes to overlap and rub against each other. Hammertoes can lead to corns, blisters or calluses. Toe spacers or toe straighteners can help alleviate this problem, but theyre not a cure. And, of course, stinky feet can be a problem. This can be the result of sweaty feet or bacterial infections that form when coming into contact with bacteria at an unsanitary foot salon or on the ground, Lepow said. Athletes foot is a common infection. You may have itchiness between the toes and stinging skin that can blister. Nail fungus is another common infection, Lepow said. It causes discoloration of the nail. You may use an over-the-counter antifungal treatment. Keeping feet dry with socks made of moisture-wicking material such as Merino wool can prevent fungus from growing. Topical or oral antifungal medications may be prescribed for treatment of severe symptoms. Older adults may be at higher risk of foot issues. Osteoarthritis, common with age, can cause deformations of the joints. This allows bone spurs to form in the heel or other parts of the foot. Shoe inserts or alterations, cortisone injections, physical therapy and custom-made orthotics may help. If youre experiencing foot pain, visit a specialist so we can examine the pathology of your foot, Lepow said in a Baylor news release. This gives us a bigger picture of what issues you face and how we can best help you. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on foot hygiene. SOURCE: Baylor College of Medicine, news release, Oct. 17, 2023 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 brought 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 was 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 being 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 Aviations Last Ditch fly-in on the Wednesday evening it was pulled out of the hangar to start the engine, but it wouldnt perform. The investigation found the magneto switch was grounded out, so the switch that 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 to 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 for 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 were 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 was 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. The 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 an 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. [The full report on the 2023 Ala Doble fly in will is published here. 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.] WATERLOO City Council candidates in all seats are split on whether Waterloo should implement a city manager form of government. Candidates in the mayoral, at-large, second and fourth ward seats met for a debate on Thursday sponsored by the Black Hawk/Bremer League of Women Voters and the NAACP of Black Hawk County. City and school elections are Nov. 7. Everyone on the ballot was invited but at-large candidate Corey Holmes and Ward 4 candidate Josh Gramlich did not reply to the invite or attend the forum. The group was evenly split between those who believe a city manager would have more knowledge than any mayor elected, those who think a city manager would be able to run a city without having to be accountable to citizens and then those who hadnt made up their mind. Currently, Waterloo has seven council members: one for each of the five wards and two at-large members who represent the entire city. Mayor Quentin Hart oversees council meetings but is not a member and does not vote. He is considered a full-time mayor and there is no city manager. This is known as a strong mayor system. Of Iowas top 10 biggest cities, Waterloo and Council Bluffs are the only two that do not have a city manager. In the other eight cities, the city manager oversees the citys administrative leadership while the mayor performs ceremonial responsibilities and acts as a face of local government. There were talks of adding a city manager in the 1980s but the discussion has resurfaced again. The candidates adamant that the current system is working are incumbents Hart, Jonathan Grieder (who is currently representing Ward 2 but running for the at-large seat) and Ward 4 Councilmember Belinda Creighton-Smith. Grieder said that the idea of adding a city manager is an unequivocal no because it would add another layer of bureaucracy for residents with questions to be answered. Hiring some out-of-state expert for hundreds of thousands of dollars to come and tell us what the best practices are isnt necessarily the best thing for Waterloo, he said. It may not fit our culture, our traditions, our dynamics. Creighton-Smith has the same beliefs that the person running the city needs to be elected by the public and that the price just isnt right. I believe the mayor, the person who is responsible for the city, needs to be from the people, she said. Not only to be held accountable but to be able to understand (residents) issues, concerns and to be a part of the solution, as well. She also said that if councilmembers want to try to reduce property taxes, the city managers salary would go against that sentiment. Wayne Nathem, who is hoping to unseat Mayor Hart, said he sees both sides of the argument but is worried about how much it would cost to hire a manager and if the person would be familiar with the city, let alone live in the city. Nathem, along with all the other candidates, realize that the decision is ultimately up to the constituents, who could petition for a referendum that would ask voters if the city should hire a city manager. Current at-large Councilmember Dave Boesen, who is running for the Ward 2 position unopposed, said he is in total favor of bringing in a city manager who has a proven track record of running a city. Boesen said the position would help take some responsibilities off the mayors plate such as managing more than 500 employees and a $75 million budget. He said Hart is doing a good job in the role but if a new mayor is elected, that person would be thrown into the deep end of the pool. The only other candidate in complete favor of a city manager was at-large candidate Ashley Chappell. Hart said in his last eight years as mayor, hes consolidated the number of people he has to report to by creating division managers. He also said decisions arent only on him and that he has discussions with experienced department heads. Both at-large candidate Steve Simon and Ward 4 candidate Sarah Cherveny said they were unsure about hiring a city manager. Another recurring topic was if the potential council members would feel responsible for protecting marginalized residents. Every candidate said that they would. However, in Grieders closing statements he said that some of the candidates were being hypocritical with that answer. His closing statement came after Simons who said that he would not bring national divisive politics to the city government. Simon did not say what he was referring to explicitly but noted that, while door knocking, people told him that they fear a city councilman may once again bring up a proposal of some kind of city ordinance that will divide us. In the past year, many residents have said at council meetings that Grieders proposal to ban conversion therapy, which was signed into law and then eventually repealed after threats of litigation, was dividing the community. Staying a bit vague, Grieders closing statement seemed to rebut Simons. Its very clear tonight that we have heard from politicians who will promise you things like promising to protect everyone in the city, Grieder said. Then they will come out in that same forum and tell you no, were not going to do that because that makes some people uncomfortable. Grieder continued with his statement, again staying ambiguous, about who should vote for him. If you want someone whos been endorsed by some of the most divisive, former members of this council and other members of the community, Im not your candidate, he said. What do Iowans want? An inside look at what 20 Iowans say about their lives, government What Iowans want - Ryan Globe Chinese VP urges enhanced cooperation on energy transformation, innovation in Asia-Pacific region Xinhua) 13:38, October 21, 2023 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) By Jung Da-hyun A total of 6,223 foreign residents of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province were found to be behind in their tax payments and 59.2 percent of them were ethnic Koreans from China, according to the city government. Also, 571 Americans, 363 Chinese, 206 Canadians, and 185 Vietnamese residents of Seongnam just south of Seoul were behind in their tax payments. The cumulative tax arrears from these individuals amounted to 1.29 billion won ($952,000), representing 3.2 percent of total unpaid taxes in the city. This increase in unpaid taxes by foreign residents stems from a lack of awareness regarding tax obligations and language barriers, according to Seongnam officials. In response, the city dispatched integrated notices, Wednesday, of arrears in Korean, English, Chinese and Vietnamese, to 2,171 foreign tax delinquents with known addresses. Furthermore, Seongnam officials plan to distribute informative leaflets and banners in the four languages at the Foreigners' Welfare Center and Multicultural Family Support Center to raise awareness of arrears and encourage payments. For those who have repeatedly defaulted or owe substantial amounts of taxes, Seongnam city intends to take stronger measures, including the seizures of assets like vehicles and real estate. The city's strategy also involves sharing a list of delinquents with the Ministry of Justice, which may result in visa restrictions for non-compliant individuals. EU Observer: Lithuania wants to ban the export of nails, buttons, sewing needles and knitting needles to Russia. Such proposals for the 12th package of EU sanctions are part of Vilnius plans to destroy Russian industrial capacity. A year ago I was at a meeting with Chinese business circles in Moscow. We are chatting, and suddenly a message pops up on the phone with the news that the United States has adopted yet another anti-Russian sanctions measures banning the supply of elevators and related equipment to Russia. According to the authors of this decision, this measure should paralyze the construction industry in Russia. When I read this news to my Chinese colleagues, they were filled with Homeric laughter. They literally groaned and burst into laughter. After the sanctioned hara-kiri of the Japanese automobile industry on the Russian market, the most incredible dream of Chinese manufacturers came true, who in six months reconfirmed the truth a holy place is never empty. Its scary to imagine what kind of hysteria will begin among Chinese manufacturers of knitting needles and buttons if they learn about Lithuanias plans to destroy Russian industrial capacities. Where will Lithuania go with all this if such a decision is made? I dont know, they can put the inscription to the evil of Russia on their highway with buttons, nails, knitting needles and needles. WtR Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (14 20 October 2023) In the period from 14 to 20 October 2023 the Russian Armed Forces have carried out four group strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at the AFU missile and artillery weapons, military-technical hardware, production workshops of enterprises manufacturing weapons and military equipment, as well as accommodation points for Ukrainian servicemen, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries. As a result of the strikes, a storage warehouse for uncrewed boats, workshops for the manufacture of explosives, a workshop for the assembly of operational-tactical missiles, as well as units of the Azov Special Forces Brigade, foreign instructors, and mercenaries have been eliminated. In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces units have repelled 61 counter-attacks by AFU units. Aviation and artillery have launched attacks at AFU 25th airborne, 14th, 43rd, 44th, and 115th mechanised, 68 jaeger, 95th air assault brigade close to Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Timkovka (Kharkov region), Makeyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). As a result of the combat operations, the Russian Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. The enemy losses were more than 995 servicemen, 10 tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, as well as 18 field artillery guns. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems have repelled 18 attacks of assault groups of AFU 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades and the 12th Special Forces Brigade. The enemys casualties were more than 940 Ukrainian personnel, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and five guns. In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces units have inflicted fire damage on AFU 28th, 56th, 67th, and 93rd mechanised brigades combat groups near Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Maryinka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Over the past week, 25 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been repelled. The enemy losses were more than 2,065 servicemen, four tanks, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, and 28 field artillery guns. Aviation and Missile Troops have destroyed five depots with ammunition and hardware. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Russian units have captured more favourable positions and repelled two attacks by assault groups of AFU 58th motorised infantry, 72nd mechanised, 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were more than 1,010 servicemen, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, eight field artillery guns, and one MLRS. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces have carried out intensive defence, during which have repelled 10 attacks of the AFU units near Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were more than 475 servicemen, 11 tanks, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery guns. In Kherson direction, the enemy units have made unsuccessful attempts to capture bridgeheads on islands and the left bank of the Dnepr by AFU 36th, 38th marine brigades. As a result of preventive actions by the Russian forces and artillery fire assaults, AFU have lost up to 345 servicemen, 11 field artillery guns, 48 boats and 38 motor vehicles. Fighter jets and air defence units have effectively eliminated 12 aircraft (ten MiG-29, two Su-25 fighter jets) and two Mi-8 helicopters over the past week. Over the past 24 hours, air defence systems have shot down seven AFU MiG-29 aircraft. In addition, 314 Ukrainian UAVs have been destroyed, 35 HIMARS projectiles, five operational-tactical missiles, two S-200 converted surface-to-surface missiles, and six JDAM guided bombs have been shot down over the week. In total, 500 airplanes and 252 helicopters, 8,104 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,778 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,165 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,837 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,463 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR A new outreach program at Mayo Clinic Health System will offer Spanish language educational materials about breast cancer screenings and other health information as the provider aims to break down barriers to access. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many health organizations across the region are taking time to educate about the disease and raise support for those who face it. This year, Mayo launched its first-ever campaign in Spanish. In health disparities the gap is wide, but we try to break down barriers in any way we can and close that gap in any way we can, said Dr. Caroline Clune, who works in Mayo Clinic Health Systems Center for Breast Care. Mayo has worked to translate breast cancer and mammogram-related content to Spanish to make it more accessible. We collectively want to do our best to break down as many barriers as possible, said Dominique Smith, who is the head of Mayos radiology department in La Crosse. The health organization has taken to social media and other outlets to attempt to reach Spanish speakers and give them the opportunity to schedule mammograms directly in an entirely Spanish open scheduling program. Mayo staff are traveling to communities across the region with a mobile mammogram unit, limiting barriers that can be caused by a lack of transportation. Arcadia, which is the home to a large population of Spanish speakers, is one of the towns regularly visited, Smith said. Mayo provides Spanish language interpreters with the unit to make the process easier and more comfortable for patients. So far, Clune said the campaign has been met with appreciation. We want to break down any barriers that might exist to reaching any patient to offer screening mammogram, Clune said. We know that there are disparities in this country between many people, and one of the groups that we are hoping to really be available for and break down barriers for are non-English speaking patients. Screening mammograms are an important tool in the effort. For decades, mammograms have been proven to save lives, Clune said. Mammograms serve to detect cancer early. We know that early detection is key to survival for breast cancer. Clune said she encourages all women to talk to their doctors by age 35 about their specific breast cancer risk levels and that the average woman should start getting annual mammograms at 40 years old. I know a lot of patients are sometimes hesitant to come in and get a mammogram because of the discomfort, Smith said. We have made such great strides with not only the quality of imaging, but because the technology has allowed us to improve the quality, we've also been able to improve the comfort of the exam. It's nobody's favorite study, but most patients report very minimal discomfort when having a mammogram. MAYVILLE Elizabeth Schlaefer visits the Mayville library everyday with her grandson Owen and was in awe on Thursday visiting the new building at its dedication ceremony. It is wonderful, Schlaefer said. I love it. It is a beautiful library with wonderful lighting. The old library was great but this library is wonderful. The Ted & Grace Bachhuber Memorial Library, 234 N. John St., held its dedication ceremony on Thursday opening the new building up to the public and showing off the new space that was only a dream 20 years ago when the board first started talking about building a new library. The one-story, 18,000-square-foot library was constructed on the land behind the Mayville Limestone School Museum. The former library on Main Street was analyzed and believed to be too small and dated and in need of significant repairs. Ben Miller, director of library services for the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, attended the ceremony. We are incredibly excited at DPI to see a new library come into a community and we wanted to be here, Miller said. Libraries are the heartbeats of communities. This new library is so exciting, and while there is a lot of books in here, and you should check them out, literally, there is so much more than books that you can get out of your library. Libraries help communities by providing internet access, as well support for literacy skills support for businesses, job seekers and entrepreneurs, Miller said. Most importantly it is a place that the community can come together, learn together and grow together, Miller said. Grant Larson, the library board president, thanked those who helped to bring the library into existence including local businesses, individuals and the community in general. This started as a dream over 20 years ago, and I have had the pleasure of working with so many library board members who worked so many hours to bring this dream into the reality you see today, Larson said. Mayville Library director Jennifer Stasinopoulos said the library also has space for the community, including activity rooms and rooms that could be rented out for larger gatherings. We call it the living room because it should feel like the community living room, Stasinopoulos said. The library also has a small conference room for those who need to meet someone in a confidential environment, Stasinopoulos said. Where else can teens go to study if they dont want to buy something, Stasinopoulos said. We have four study rooms for teens or adults to use if their business is closed or they are traveling. We also have a teen space. Before we just had a pile of books called the teen space, but now we have the real teen space with gaming computers and comfy seating that is very inviting for them. The childrens area is also beautiful, Stasinopoulos said. There will be constantly things for the kids to enjoy, and it is a very happy space. There are many spaces upstairs to use, along with a 200-person meeting room downstairs, Stasinopoulos said. In addition, the upstairs meeting area will be able to be used when the facility is closed in the near future. Lacy Sterr, who attended the dedication with her family, agreed the library would be a great addition to Mayville. Its so big and open, Sterr said. The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. Close Mayville celebrates its new library Mayville celebrated the dedication of its new library on Thursday. Four Portage area first responders have received special recognition for their heroics in recent community tragedies. In addition to honoring first responders across Wisconsin last week, the state Assembly passed a resolution recognizing Oct. 17 as First Responders Appreciation Day in Wisconsin. On Tuesday, Rep. Alex Dallman, R-Green Lake, presented Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase with the First Responder of the Year Award from the 41st Assembly District for his over 30 years spent as a first responder and for his leadership in a local dairy plant fire as well as two other large fires at Portages waste processing plant. I am honored to present Chief Haase with the First Responder of the Year Award, Dallman said at the ceremony. His service and leadership to our community is unmatched and we are thankful to have him here in Wisconsin and in the Portage community. The First Responder of the Year award was established in 2019 to recognize the work that first responders do in their communities. Nominations were sought for first responders from the 41st and 42nd Assembly District who exemplify heroism, professional achievement or have notable lengths of service. County contemplates solar solutions Two large solar projects in Columbia County are of concern to residents who have a lot of questions they want answered, including how the proj It is an honor to be recognized as the First Responder of the Year on behalf of the countless men and women who serve our communities across the 41st Assembly District, Haase said at the ceremony. I want to especially thank my family, the Portage Fire Department staff, and all the volunteers who help keep our communities safe each day. On the Assembly floor the same day, Rep. Jon Plumer, R-Lodi, honored Deputy Blake Brandner and Lt. Mark Smit of the Columbia County Sheriffs Office as First Responders of the Year for the 42nd Assembly District for their heroism and quick actions in saving the life of a little girl in Portage from an opioid overdose last month. We owe so much to the first responders in our communities for keeping us safe and saving lives. It was a tremendous honor to recognize Deputy Brandner and Lt. Smit in the Assembly, Plumer said at the ceremony. A little girl is alive and well today because these two officers sprang into action and administered life-saving treatment. In addition to the First Responder of the Year awards, Lt. Ryan Armson, fire inspector for the Portage Fire Department, was named Fire Inspector of the Year by the Wisconsin State Fire Inspectors Association on Thursday, after being nominated by Haase for his diligent work in the Portage community over the last 18 years with the department. Ryan is a professional and has exceptional work ethic, always remembering to represent the department in a positive light, Haase said in his nomination letter to the Inspector Association. In a short period of time, Ryan has totally overhauled the inspection program, which I know is preventing fires in our community. It was a good week for area first responders, said Armson, who was surprised by his nomination and award at the annual awards banquet, which he attends every year. This is more of a lifetime achievement award that I never thought I would get this early in my career, Armson said. I didnt get into this career for the accolades or acknowledgments ... But I am honored by the award and also by the nomination from Chief Haase. Why wildfires and their smoke are getting worse | Across the Sky podcast Hazy skies have been common due to wildfires. Why is this happening and will it be more common in the future? We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The unidentified man's body was found around 1:30 a.m. at the south end of the park, near Galletti Way and Glendale Avenue. In this photo provided by the Government of Israel, Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages, as they return to Israel from captivity in the Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Hamas released the pair in what it said was a goodwill gesture late Friday, nearly two weeks after they were captured in a bloody cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. The Hamas attack sparked a war that is entering its third week, and Hamas is believed to still be holding some 200 people hostage. (Government of Israel via AP Photo) 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. Korea confirmed additional cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle at two local farms Saturday. The report comes one day after the country confirmed its first-ever case of LSD at a farm in Seosan, some 98 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The second LSD case was confirmed at a farm in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, where samples were taken from a milk cow showing symptoms of LSD, Friday. Another case was confirmed at a cattle farm in Dangjin, just north of Seosan, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. LSD is a highly infectious disease that causes skin lesions, fever and loss of appetite, often leading to a fall in milk production and even death. It affects cattle and buffalo via mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects. Under the country's health protocol, the government has cordoned off the affected farms, with the entire 92 head of cattle at the Pyeongtaek farm and some 40 cows at the farm in Dangjin set to be culled, according to the agriculture ministry. A standstill order is also in effect on all farms and related facilities within a 10 kilometer radius of the affected farms until 2 p.m. Sunday, the ministry said. The government plans to vaccinate some 53,000 head of cattle in areas near the affected farms, it added. (Yonhap) 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 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "fight until victory" in Gaza, signaling no pause in his military's bombardment and expected invasion of the enclave after Hamas released two U.S. hostages. The Islamist group Hamas which governs Gaza on Friday released Americans Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, who were kidnapped in its attack on southern Israel, Oct. 7. An image obtained by Reuters after their release showed the two women surrounded by three Israeli soldiers and holding hands with Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator for the captives and missing. 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." They were the first hostages confirmed by both sides in the conflict to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel and killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 200 others. "Two of our abductees are at home. We are not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people," Netanyahu said in a statement released late Friday night. "At the same time, we'll continue to fight until victory." Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said the hostages were released in part "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near Gaza for a planned ground invasion. Its bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than a million have been displaced, according to Palestinian officials. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said achieving Israel's objectives would not be quick or easy. "We will topple the Hamas organisation. We will destroy its military and governing infrastructure. It's a phase that will not be easy. It will have a price," Gallant told a parliamentary committee. He added that the subsequent phase would be more drawn out, but was aimed at achieving "a completely different security situation" with no threat to Israel from Gaza. "It's not a day, it's not a week, and unfortunately it's not a month," he said. Heavy bombardment Palestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. Israeli aircraft struck six homes in northern Gaza early on Saturday, killing at least eight Palestinians and injuring 45, Palestinian media reported. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said that Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought refuge. 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. Asked if Israel had so far followed the laws of war in its response, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated on Friday that Israel had the right to defend itself and make sure Iran-backed Hamas was not able to launch attacks again. "It's important that operations be conducted in accordance with international law, humanitarian law, the law of war," he said. "There will be plenty of time to make assessments about how these operations were conducted but I can just say from the part of the United States, this continues to be important to us." The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said more than 140,000 homes nearly a third of all homes in Gaza had been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed. 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, Wednesday, said he believed trucks carrying aid would get through in the next 24-48 hours. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the checkpoint on Egypt's side on Friday and called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and checks which Israel insists on to stop aid reaching Hamas to be quick and pragmatic. 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. Many Muslim states, however, have called for an immediate ceasefire, and protests demanding an end to the bombardment were held in cities across the Islamic world, Friday. In the occupied West Bank, where violence has flared since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager during clashes near the city of Jericho. (Reuters) Instagram Celebrity The Grammy-winning raptress made the concerning post after she fired back at a troll calling her a 'lazy Mexican as the said individual wrote on X, formerly Twitter, 'cardi the only mexican I know that dont work hard.' Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Cardi B has set the record straight after sparking concerns among fans with her recent tweet. Having left people worried with her suicidal post, the "WAP" hitmaker explained that she was just having "bad moments" when she said she wanted to end her life. "When I burst, I'm very outspoken," the 30-year-old when hopping on Instagram Live on Thursday, October 19. "When I get into one of my bad moments, I will literally curse everybody out, and I'll be f**kin' like, 'I want you to die. B***h, I wanna die. I don't give a f**k!' Because that's just how I'll be feeling in the moment." "I was just very overwhelmed yesterday. I was very sad," the wife of Offset added. "And, I don't know - I feel like I was just having such a good week, and then, when I got home, and I started paying attention to so much s**t that people were saying about me, and all the funny s**t about me I just started getting upset about it." Cardi made the post after she fired back at a troll calling her a "lazy" Mexican. The said individual wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "cardi the only mexican I know that dont work hard." Catching wind of the post, the femcee fired back, "Hope you and ur mom die." Cardi's response didn't sit well with many online users. "It's power in the tongue. Gotta be careful how you speak," one person argued, while another fumed, "SHE HOPES [SOMEONE'S] MOM DIES [IN FRONT] OF MILLIONS because she was called MEXICAN!? PSYCHOTIC." A different individual penned, "Keep wishing death on people and watch how it come back on you." Replying to the last comment, Cardi wrote, "Idgaf f**k y'all ...y'all can call me Mexican bring me down ,hurt my feelings talk s**t bout everything this why I don't release music." She then added, "I just want to put a bullet in my head." You can share this post! Cover Images/ROGER WONG Celebrity The actress made the remark during an appearance on the U.K.'s 'Jonathan Ross Show' in September 2012 as she recalled having dinner at a local Chili's restaurant while making the film 'Looper' in the United States. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Emily Blunt regrets making an "insensitive" comment during a 2012 interview. After a video of her calling a server "enormous" resurfaced online, the "Oppenheimer" actress issued a public apology in a statement shared with PEOPLE. "I just need to address this head on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12-years ago," the 40-year-old told the outlet. "I'm appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show." "I've always considered myself someone who wouldn't 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," the British star added. "And yet it happened, and I said it and I'm so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better." Emily made the remark during an appearance on the U.K.'s "Jonathan Ross Show" in September 2012. At the time, she recalled having dinner at a local Chili's restaurant while making the film "Looper" in the United States. Host Jonathan Ross then said, "If you go to Chili's you can see why so many of our American friends are enormous." In response, the "Jungle Cruise" leading lady replied, "Well the girl who was serving me was enormous." She went on to note that the server in question recognized her during her visit to the restaurant. Many have since slammed Emily. "Emily Blunt being blatantly fatphobic wasn't on my 2023 bingo card but here we are," one critic argued. Another fumed, "Ugh f**k Emily Blunt seriously was one of my fave actresses but turns out she's 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." You can share this post! Cover Images/Sandro Barbosa/INFphoto Celebrity According to his lawyer, the 46-year-old controversial rapper has decided to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, winding down his YE24 campaign apparatus. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kanye West is seemingly no longer having the desire to be the U.S. president. According to his lawyer, the 46-year-old controversial rapper has decided to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. "He's not a candidate for office in 2024," Ye's personal attorney Bruce Marks told Rolling Stone on Friday, October 20. The lawyer additionally noted that the 46-year-old hip-hop star, who used to do YE24 campaign on social media, will be "winding down his campaign apparatus." While Ye, who ran for 2020 presidential election, is known for often changing his mind, it seemed like this one is a final decision. A source told the news outlet that the possibility of him resuming his campaign was "beyond remote." Prior to this, it was said that Ye's campaign was filled with "dysfunction and malfunction from the beginning." Devin White, the rapper's former 2020 treasurer, compared his campaign to "building an airplane with no wings," adding, "It wasn't meant to fly." Back in 2020, Ye collected a minuscule 60,000 votes on the ballot in 12 states. He got his highest number of votes in Tennessee (10,188). Meanwhile, a recent report suggested that Ye's focusing on making new music as he's preparing a new album with Ty Dolla $ign. The Chicago native was also said to be planning to hold a big concert in Italy at RCF Arena near Reggio Emilia on October 27. However, he was forced to pause the plan following a number of criticisms after reportedly pissing off several groups of local veterans, who represent former partisans fighting against Adolf and the Nazis. "Given the fact that a rail strike was planned the same day, and that heavy rain is due it was thought prudent to postpone the event," a spokesperson told Daily Mail earlier this month. "Our aim is to ensure the safety and security of all and if there is a transport issue then the concert cannot go ahead safely." "And as it is open air, the heavy rain forecast would have also created problems," the spokesperson continued. "The organizers have been given an alternative date of October 27 and we are waiting to hear back if it is acceptable to them." You can share this post! Cover Images/M10s/TheNews2 Celebrity After welcoming his eighth child, son Deveraux, with his girlfriend Melanie Hamrick in 2016, the Rolling Stones frontman has admitted he's now more relaxed about raising children. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Father-of-eight Sir Mick Jagger has declared having kids is "fun." After welcoming his eighth child, son Deveraux, with his girlfriend Melanie Hamrick in 2016, The Rolling Stones frontman has admitted he's now more relaxed about raising children since becoming a dad again in his 70s. The 80-year-old rocker told the Guardian newspaper, "You get a bit out of practice [having kids], it's not like riding a bike. The more children you have, the more laissez-faire you get about them, to be honest. And it depends on the child, they have their own personalities and you can mold them to a certain extent, but you see their likes and dislikes and encourage them to do things they gravitate towards. It's fun to have children, at any age." However, Jagger admitted he wasn't always around to see his other seven children grow up because of his commitments with the Rolling Stones, but he was able to spend two years at home with Deveraux after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the live music industry. He added, "If you're working, and always away, you don't get to enjoy it [having kids] quite as much." "[When Deveraux was born] I wasnt working so much, so I was able to spend more time," he continued. "And then we had the lockdown, he's only six, and two of those years I did almost nothing [with the band]." As well as Deveraux, Jagger is also dad to daughter Karis, 52, with actress Marsha Hunt and Jade, 51, with his ex-wife Bianca Jagger. He shares four children with ex Jerry Hall, daughters Elizabeth, 39, and Georgia May, 31, and sons James, 38, and Gabriel, 25, as well as son Lucas, 24, with model Luciana Morad Gimenez. Hamrick previously revealed the couple plan to travel as much as possible with Deveraux until he has to be at school full-time. In an interview with The Times Magazine, she explained they want to live "just full nomad," adding, "We want to travel as long as we can until school gets us." She explained her son has a tutor who travels with them. He is also enrolled at a school in Los Angeles and goes to school in France when they are there. Hamrick said, "I enjoy this schedule. I don't want to be tied down. London's my favorite city, so hopefully one day in the future we'll end up based here, but until then, I'm going to just keep going." You can share this post! Cover Images/Michael Simon Celebrity After the daughter of David Foster claims that the 'Chicago P.D.' star had an affair with her then-boyfriend Chad, Hilarie stands by her 'sister' and 'One Tree Hill' co-star by calling the allegation 'hurtful.' Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Hilarie Burton sticks up for "sister" Sophia Bush amid Erin Foster's "hurtful" allegation that Chad Michael Murray cheated on her with the "Good Sam" actress during their relationship. Having faith in her former "One Tree Hill" co-star, Hilarie has clapped back at the "cringe" allegation made by the writer. Making use of her Instagram Story, the "Grey's Anatomy" alum wrote on Friday, October 20 along with a screenshot of an article detailing Erin's claims, "Ooof. Cringe. I got off my red eye flight home and multiple people had sent me this headline." Claiming that she "had a front row seat then," the wife of Jeffrey Dean Morgan begged to differ as saying, "This wasn't it." She added, "We were all told you'd broken up which is why our guy was perusing [sic] her." "Now this is being spun to make my sister look like a brazen harlot. And if she's anyone's harlot, it's mine!" Hilarie went on defending Sophia. She then tagged Erin to let her know that she would be "happy to discuss" the matter. "You also deserve the truth," she noted. "There are so many unnamed sources making claims about the woman I love, so f**k it. I'll be a named source," the 41-year-old went on declaring. "Lotta internet voices being nasty; and as the person who knows the real timeline? I would be laughable if it wasn't so hurtful." Hilarie Burton defended Sophia Bush against Erin Foster's claims Sophia had an affair with her then-boyfriend Chad Michael Murray. Erin dropped the allegation in a Thursday, October 19 episode of her "The World's First Podcast". She said, "He definitely did cheat on me with her in, like, a pretty egregious way. While we were living together." The daughter of David Foster, who began dating Chad in 2001, sarcastically added that it was "pretty cool." She then joked that she was "just barely" over the alleged infidelity, before stating, "I've moved on though. I'm over it now." It's unclear when Erin and Chad broke up. He met Sophia on the set of "One Tree Hill" in 2003 and they went public with their relationship later that year. They got engaged in 2004 and tied the knot in 2005, but their marriage was short-lived as they split after only five months of marriage. You can share this post! Cover Images/Mario Mitsis Celebrity The former 'Dynasty' star recalls the time she missed out on a role when she 'refused' to take a bath with a producer, but is glad that young stars don't have to face the same unwanted advances. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Dame Joan Collins missed out on a role when she "refused" to take a bath with a producer. The 90-year-old star is thankful the #MeToo movement has encouraged actresses to speak out about the sexual misconduct they have experienced in their careers because she hopes it means the new generation of aspiring starlets won't face the same unwanted advances. Speaking on "The Graham Norton Show", she said, "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. 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!" The former "Dynasty" star previously revealed she had hid in a wardrobe to avoid the advances of another Hollywood boss. Speaking on "This Morning", she said, "When I finally got my first audition for first big role at Ealing Studios. I would get on bus, train, then walk. One of the producers always used to try and catch me. And push me up against the wall, stroke my arm." "He was tall and smelly and horrible and I would push him away," she continued. "I wouldn't think this had anything to do with the part. One day he finally caught me. The wonderful dresser hid me in the wardrobe." But Joan has warned that modern men are "suffering from the rise of anti-maleness" as a result of the #MeToo movement, even though she supports the campaign. She said, "Sadly, I think that now young men are suffering from being labeled toxically masculine because of this rise of anti-maleness." Watch the full interview with Joan on "The Graham Norton Show" on BBC One on Friday, October 20 night. Also available on BBC iPlayer. You can share this post! Cover Images/Michael Simon Celebrity The 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star is highly criticized by many social media users, including one who tells her to 'pay your bills first,' after undergoing a vaginal rejuvenation procedure. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kim Zolciak has landed in hot water for getting a private part treatment amid her financial struggles. After undergoing a vaginal rejuvenation procedure, the star of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" was highly criticized by many social media users. The 45-year-old reality TV star received backlash via Instagram on Friday, October 20. In the comments section of posts about her getting the treatment, one Instagram user slammed her, "Had her water turned off with kids in her house but yet this seems important wtf," adding an angry red face emoji. Meanwhile, another chimed in, "Are you doing this pro bono? Isn't her house in foreclosure and they owe a million to the IRS.? Genuinely curious." A third made a reference to her estranged husband Kroy Biermann and blasted her, "PAY YOUR BILLS FIRST. If I was Kroy I'd be telling the judge SEE! SEE! Lmaooo." The comments did not stop there. A fourth believed that Kim is "fishing for a new man." "When your fishing for a new man, this is what you do. Lmao be a mom chill you don't need a man right away," the commenter penned. Kim was bombarded with the criticisms shortly after it was revealed that she underwent the treatment for her private part. on Thursday, October 19, cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Matlock uploaded a video of Kim talking about getting a "laser vaginal rejuvenation." In the clip, she said, "It's 6:30 in the morning. I'm headed in to have my surgery. I'm doing Renuvion, Morpheus8 skin tightening. Very, very excited about that." The former Bravolebrity went on to spill, "I'm also doing laser vaginal rejuvenation." On the reason why, she elaborated, "Obviously I've had six children, and I had them all naturally. So when I'm running or even when I sneeze I do pee a little bit, which bothers me greatly." Along with the footage, David wrote in the caption of the post, "Patient Story Coming Soon @kimzbiermann came to us to have some skin tightening using @renuvion and #inmode #Morpheus8 Body. After have multiple children naturally, she began to have relaxed muscles, which she decided to have Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation to stop her peeing whenever running or sneezing." Kim has been struggling with her financial condition amid her separation from Kroy. The former Atlanta Falcons athlete first submitted divorce papers in May amid reports suggesting that he and Kim owe $1.1 million to the IRS in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties from 2013, 2017 as well as 2018. In addition, the former couple owes the state of Georgia $15k for unpaid taxes from 2018. However, Kim and Kroy decided to give their marriage a second try in July. It only took around one month for Kroy to change his mind and file for divorce from Kim again in late August. Most recently, on Wednesday, October 18, the two were caught on camera arriving at an airport together. You can share this post! 20th Century Fox Movie The former Disney and Nickelodeon actor talks about his experience on the set of his latest feature film where he shares screen with Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer. Oct 21, 2023 AceShowbiz - Austin Butler is astonished that "The Bikeriders" got insurance for its dangerous stunts. The 32-year-old actor leads the fictional story about the rise of a Midwestern motorcycle club, inspired by the photography of Danny Lyon and his 1967 book "The Bikeriders", but Austin admitted some of the stunts were particularly scary. "There's such a trust as well, when we'd be in these groups of 40, riding bikes down a tiny road, and you're thinking, 'If anybody were to crash right now, all of us would go down' And we're not wearing helmets, riding through cornfields as fast as we can," he told Interview magazine. "I don't know how they insured the film, to be honest. And you're riding behind a picture car as well, it's kicking up pebbles in your face, so you're getting hit in the eyes with rocks. It was so visceral. To get to ride motorcycles through Cincinnati, through these cornfields, it was just amazing. You know what that feels like, where the wind is in your hair. You feel like you're mainlining God." The movie is an original story set in the 1960s following the rise of a fictional Midwestern motorcycle club. Seen through the lives of the members, the club evolves over the course of the decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang. It also stars Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer and Austin was shocked by how funny Tom was. He said, "It's the roaring engines and the smell of grease that we got to be around. It was nice to go to something that felt more independent and play in that space for a bit." "But one of the things I was thinking about earlier, when you were talking about that relaxation on set, was that Tom Hardy surprised me. I pictured him to be this grizzly bear, always serious. And really, he's one of the funniest people I've ever met. He'd be joking around until action is called, and then go into being the most intense guy I'd ever seen." "The Bikeriders" does not currently have a release date due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. You can share this post! Instagram Music The English new wave band explain why they never recorded a holiday anthem, admitting that making anthems for spooky holiday is far more appealing to them. Oct 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Duran Duran turned down an offer to do a Christmas single because they thought it was "corny." The "Ordinary World" hitmakers might be releasing the Halloween album "Danse Macabre" but don't expect them to put out a Yuletide collection anytime soon. "We were approached to do a Christmas single at one point. We thought it was too cheesy, so we didn't do it. I often say we should have said yes, because we'd still be getting a ton of royalties now. No, it was too corny. I can't imagine we'd do a Christmas album now," drummer Roger Taylor told Classic Pop magazine. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes added, "I celebrate Christmas the same as everyone, but it's not something close to my heart. In a strange, beautiful way, Halloween is dear to me. I love that it's a pagan celebration of craziness. As a kid, witches, black cats, demons and monsters were much more appealing than some big guy with a beard in a red suit." The "Wild Boys" hitmakers have put their spin on Billie Eilish's "Bury a Friend", "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads, with Victoria De Angelis of Maneskin, The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black", "Spellbound" by Siouxsie and the Banshees, and many more. It also features new versions of "Nightboat" and "Secret Oktober 31st". The record - which arrives in full on October 27 - is inspired by a pair of Halloween-themed shows in Las Vegas last year, where they donned ghoulish outfits and performed covers of "Spellbound", "Ghost Town" by The Specials, and "Super Freak" by Rick James. You can share this post! Air India Express, a brand of Tata Group, has unveiled a new livery and brand identity at a lavish event hosted at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The rebrand may be aimed towards bringing together the identities of Air India Express and AirAsia India. The latter of which was recently acquired by the Air India Group. Air India Express, which earlier had the motto Simply pricless, will now be Fly as you are, indicating the shift in the airlines marketing from price-focused to more experiential and premium. Moreover, the airlines branding debuted a fresh new aircraft in the fleet, the Boeing 737 MAX, which is a bold and major change. The airlines new visual identity includes an energetic and premium colour palette of Express Orange and Express Turquoise, with Express Tangerine and Express Ice Blue as supporting colors. In its visual transformation, the airline also redesigned its livery, taking inspiration from Indian tie-dye technique called Bandhani. It is said that the airline will be incorporating other such textile patterns in its livery to showcase the countrys diversity. Campbell Wilson, Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, also announced that Air India Group will take delivery of one new aircraft every six days on an average till the end of 2024. Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, spoke about the rebranding, saying, "The integrated Air India Express-AirAsia India entity will operate as Air India Express, with a modern, refreshed branding, positioned as 'New India's Smart Connector. Singh mentioned that sales, services, and distribution will now operate under the Air India Express branding. Additionally, he informed that the combined entity will roll out a new network covering domestic, Gulf, Middle East, and Southeast Asia regions. Air India Express has also unveiled a sleek and stylish new uniform for its cabin crew, embracing a fresh look that exudes elegance and professionalism. The primary colors of this attire are a captivating shade of Ice blue for the top, beautifully complemented by a sophisticated grey for the pants. The United States has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by the Hamas militant group, President Joe Biden said Friday, expressing his appreciation to Qatar and Israel for their assistance in their release. In a statement, Biden also highlighted the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining U.S. citizens among an estimated 200 hostages abducted by the militant group Oct. 7 when it launched a deadly surprise, multi-pronged attack on Israel. "Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel," he said. "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 two freed U.S. citizens are a mother and her daughter. The president stressed that the U.S. government has been working "around the clock" to free American hostages, noting that he has "no higher priority than the safety of Americans" in captivity around the world. Ten Americans still remain unaccounted for following the Hamas attack, officials said. In a press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Biden's pledge to do "everything possible" to secure the release of every hostage, while refusing to go into detail about the operations to free the hostages. "You will understand that because this is an ongoing effort to get Americans who are hostage in this moment in Gaza, I really can't go into any details about what we are doing and how we are doing it," he told reporters. (Yonhap) With China increasing scrutiny of foreign businesses operating in the country, WPP has come under the scanner of the Chinese Police in Shanghai, as per various media reports. The reports stated that the police has raided the offices of GroupM, WPPs media agency, in Shanghai and has been questioning its employees. One senior executive is said to have been detained by the police. The media reports stated that the Chinese police are investigating allegations of possible media broker activities, wherein media rebates were given to select agencies. Client funds were said to be used without the clients or the tax authorities being informed about it. Such corrupt practices and lack of transparency has been pointed out in several other cases across the Asia Pacific region, and specifically in China, by the World Federation of Advertisers. Following a competitive multi-agency pitch, Digital Refresh Networks (DRN), a 360 content solutions agency, has won the digital mandate of Nissin Geki Korean Noodles. The brand is the Indian subsidiary of Nissin Foods Holdings Co., the parent company of the renowned Top Ramen brand. The account will be functioned and managed creatively by the Mumbai branch of Digital Refresh Networks. DRN has been entrusted with integrated brand communication, online media strategies, comprehensive media planning and buying responsibilities for the brand. The team will work towards maximising product visibility and amplifying public awareness. Mr. Daisuke Okabayashi, Vice President, Marketing of Nissin Foods, expressed his confidence in the partnership by stating, "DRN exceeded our expectations with a deep comprehension of our brand's guidelines and presented a nuanced approach and market strategy towards our brand positioning. Their presentation demonstrated an impressive ability to fulfill our creative prerequisites, setting the stage for an interesting journey ahead. By harmonizing our creative and media strategies with DRN as a partner, we are poised to go full throttle and focus our efforts on the expansion of Nissin Foods' product market share within India's thriving instant noodles segment." Barin Mukherjee, CEO of Digital Refresh Networks, also added, "Nissin Foods presents us with a distinctive and exciting challenge for both of its brands that we eagerly want to tackle head-on. Their flavourful products, combined with our deep understanding of the intricacies of the local Indian markets, form a potent alliance. This partnership will showcase DRN's prowess, particularly in capturing the attention of younger audiences. We are committed to bridging the multilingual and age divides as we deliver seamless brand communication that celebrates the rich tapestry of languages and cultures within the Indian market. One that is bound together with the aroma of delicious food." Digital Refresh Networks is an AI-assisted content solutions company that is a pioneering force in the realm of digital strategy optimization, offering innovative solutions that span across various categories and industries. Their core mission is to transform businesses into brands. Headquartered in Mumbai with presence in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Indore, Digital Refresh Networks is dedicated to challenging conventional marketing norms in the digital space, recognizing that innovation is at the heart of the digital medium itself. The brand from Nissin Foods adds to their already robust repertoire of clients that include Adani Wilmar, Havells and Heidelberg to name a few. The 150+ strong workforce of marketers, strategists, storytellers, designers and coders who specialize in a comprehensive suite of services that encompass tailor-made digital content solutions. Their goal is to empower brands to not only communicate but also engage and cultivate lasting relationships with their consumers. Its that time of the year again for which Bengalis wait all through the year. The sight of the fragrant Shiuli flowers, the mesmerising magic of Dhaak, the blowing of the Shankh, the pulsating Dhunuchi Naach, the pandal hopping, the rustle of newly-bought silk sarees and Punjabis and of course, the gastronomic fare all announce that Maa Durga has come visiting her mother on her annual sojourn. The days from Shashthi to the grand Bijoya Dashami finds every Bengali return home to their roots, to celebrate Naari Shakti and immerse in traditions one has been brought up with. For every Bengali, Durga Puja begins with Mahalaya, when we wake up at 4 am to listen to Mahishasura Mardini by Birendrakrishna Bhadra as a cultural tradition and continues till Bijoya Dashami, when the Goddess bids farewell to her worshippers. The festival of Durga Puja is listed in the cultural heritage list of UNESCO and is a festival for all, celebrated with much fervour and joy. Nobody can deny the excitement, enthusiasm, and joy that Durga Puja brings with it days before it starts and when it finally arrives officially from Shashthi (which was yesterday), the happiness of people all over the globe knows no bounds. The positivity that the festival brings with it along with the eternal message of the victory of good over evil is contagious and people especially the Bengalis can't help but revel in the festive spirit with all their heart and soul. The festival brings a smile to the faces of all and once Ma Durga decides to come to her ancestral place with her children, she leaves no heart unfulfilled but fills them with absolute joy and hope in the midst of a fusion of art, music, food, and laughter all around. Like every year this year too, the City of Joy Kolkata is celebrating Durga Puja with much optimism, after two subdued years of celebrations and together people are indulging in celebrating the most awaited time of the year. Adgully travelled across the streets of Kolkata to get a feel of the Pujo festivities, what all are trending this year, and came up with these five things that are must-do during this time of the year. Lets explore the same: Pandal Hopping: Durga Puja is incomplete without hopping from one pandal to another and more so because its an artistic luxury to consume and witness. The hardworking artisans work all through the year to bring to life the authentic idols of the Goddess and the meaningful theme-based pandals which are priceless treasures. Friends, family, and relatives all visit these beautiful pandals together and cannot help but be in complete awe of them. Starting from the simple yet beautiful idol of Ma Durga to unique theme-based pandals such as this one pandal in South Kolkata portraying the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and the strong revolutionary women during those times such as Kadambini Bose Ganguly, Rani Rashmoni, and others, giving a powerful message of women empowerment and nurturing the rich history and cultural heritage of Bengal. Hopping from one aesthetic pandal to another is a joyous ride that Bengalis take part in together, thereby strengthening their ties with one another, infusing creativity in them, paying tribute to the artisans who worked day and night for them, and taking home a plethora of memories. Adda: Durga Puja is incomplete without a warm adda or conversation, sitting at pandals with old as well as new friends and celebrating the joyousness of the magical festival together. It's a festival to start a conversation with just anyone and cherish the positive aura around. The bonds formed during this time stay in the memory forever and are something to cherish for a lifetime. Like every year, this year too people are engaging in adda in pandals and children could be seen bursting artificial guns which are a key symbol of the onset of the festival. The joy in the eyes of the people be it a kid or an elderly person is unparalleled. Dressing up: Bright lights, decked-up streets, and beautiful Ma Durga idols are enough to make someone want to dress up to the best of their ability and Durga Puja does just that. Everywhere you go, you can see girls, and women dressed in unique, colourful Western and traditional wear and boys, and men matching the same vibe. This year too people are reveling in the joy of dressing up and traditional wear seems to be dominating the outfit choice for women. It's the best time of the year to celebrate 'Look Good, Feel Good' to its accuracy, otherwise how would you get the perfect Instagram-worthy shot? Scrolling through Instagram and Facebook is a different level of fun at this time of the year and instantly fills one with absolute joy to see pictures of people happy and smiling in colourful clothes, of enthralling pandals, and delicious food. Having Good Food: Food is defined to be a significant and major part of Durgotsav, where people bond over food and even start their food businesses in some cases. Either alone or accompanied by someone, food is the biggest companion of people during Durga Puja and can instantly imbue festive spirit in one. Be it mouthwatering phuchkas to delicious rolls, potato rings to scrumptious biriyani, food never disappoints one even if they are alone during Durga Puja. Who can deny the joy of having Maer bhog together at Maddox Square on Ashtami or Fish Kabiraji with Kasundi from Mitra Cafe on Nabami? Making Connections: Amid the captivating lights, delicious food, and mesmerizing puja pandals, the connections that people make during Durga Puja are something to cherish forever. Meet Raima Paul, a resident of Kolkata who has started her food outlet called Rastafari Chai Bari, along with her best friend after the lockdown period, being inspired by the famous political and religious movement Ras Tafari which began in Jamaica in the 1930s. Starting from designing the aesthetics of the food place to managing the accounts, she does it all alone with her friend. Stop by this place nestled in South Kolkata, if you ever want to have some authentic chai with fish fries. Rastafari has come up with a Puja special menu where you get Rolls, Biriyani, Momos, and Chinese combo, at really affordable prices. "We love cooking, we love chai as well, its my favourite thing to have. We generally don't focus on anything heavy, we focus on chai and dishes to have with chai. Unfortunately, I can't go for pandal hopping this time as we will be open till 3 AM. We got inspired by the DIY philosophy of Ras Tafari's revolutionary movement, and started everything by ourselves" said Raima Paul with a big smile on her face. GM Modular, India's leading electrical solutions for modern living is delighted to present its Durga Puja campaign ' Sharoda Anjali' on Unsung Heroes of Kolkata. This unique initiative is an episodic tribute to the unseen champions who work tirelessly to ensure every street of Kolkata is safe, joyous, and steeped in the festive spirit. Kolkata's Durga Puja, the grandest celebration of the year, is a testament to the city's vibrant culture and unity. Behind the scenes, there are heroes who make this celebration possibletraffic police ensuring security, pandits guiding rituals, social workers spreading smiles, dhakis creating rhythm, and idol makers crafting masterpieces. This campaign highlights the episodic series spotlighting the unsung heroes through emotional narratives, interviews, and captivating visuals. The campaign shed light on their dedication and passion, portraying them as the true embodiment of the Puja spirit. Commenting on the campaign, Jayanth Jain, CEO, of GM Modular said, We are thrilled to announce our Durga Puja Campaign on the Unsung Heroes of Kolkata.' This initiative is our humble tribute to the real heroes who make Durga Puja a memorable experience for all. Their stories are a testament to the resilience and unity of Kolkata. Korean beauty brands, with the promise of glass-like smooth, shiny skin, are making deep inroads into the Indian market in recent times. One such brand that has been capturing the attention of beauty enthusiasts across India is Laneige. The well-known South Korean skincare brand was launched by Amore Pacific in 1994 and entered the Indian market in 2018. Specialising in the science of moisture, Laneige has pioneered the field of top-rated Korean skincare. Their unique approach revolves around exclusive water-based ingredients that yield swift and remarkable results. Laneige boasts of an extensive product line-up, meticulously developed to address various skin concerns stemming from the stresses of contemporary life and exposure to environmental hazards. In conversation with Adgully, Mini Sood Banerjee, Assistant Director & Head of Marketing and Training, Amore Pacific Group, speaks at length about the key factors that set Laneige apart in the competitive beauty market, expansion plans for both retail and e-commerce channels in India, how is Laneige reaching its target audience in the Indian market, and much more. Korean beauty brands are currently trending, and consumers are increasingly opting for such products. What sets your brand apart in this competitive market? What are the key focus areas and priorities for your brand in the Indian market in 2023? Laneige is a part of Korean beauty giant Amore Pacific in India. Being a Korean beauty brand, Laneige leverages the growing popularity of K-Beauty trends in India. Its proficiency in delivering effective hydration solutions is a standout feature, appealing greatly to Indian consumers who seek products to combat dryness and maintain a nourished skin barrier. Laneige actively involves itself with its customer base by forming strategic partnerships with well-known influencers and engaging in cross-brand collaborations to boost e-commerce platform sales. This proactive engagement aids in broadening the brands reach and maintaining relevance in the dynamic Indian market. Laneige demonstrates a dedicated effort in comprehending and meeting the distinct needs of Indian consumers. The brand consistently adjusts its product offerings and marketing strategies based on feedback from the market and evolving trends, showcasing a strong commitment to delivering customised solutions. Do you have any upcoming innovative product launches in the pipeline? In October, we are introducing the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner, specifically crafted to provide profound hydration and bolster the skins natural protective barrier. Furthermore, were excited to present a refill alternative for this product, showcasing our dedication to sustainability and reducing our ecological footprint. This initiative, promoting eco-conscious choices and reducing packaging waste, is in line with our mission to support a greener, more environmentally friendly approach. Could you share your brands expansion plans for both retail and e-commerce channels in India? Laneige made its debut in India exclusively through Nykaa in 2018. As we approach our 5th anniversary in November, weve been fostering relationships with various e-commerce platforms, including the recent collaboration with Tira, where we jointly launched a special goodie bag to mark the introduction of Kiara Advani, Suhana Khan, and Kareena Kapoor as brand ambassadors for Tira Beauty. Furthermore, we have exciting plans for retail expansion in the coming quarter, we will be partnering soon with other beauty retail giants in India. Also, we are extending our stores with Nykaa Luxe. What are your insights into the expected growth and opportunities in the Indian beauty industry for the year 2023? Laneige is seeing an upward trend for this year as well and we are quite happy with the same. Indian consumers love Laneige as a Korean beauty brand. GenZ and millennials love our lip sleeping mask, lip balms and other water bank products and swear by it. There is 10-15% YOY growth and is really encouraging for the team. We are excited about the festive season and are looking forward to the same. Could you elaborate on the marketing strategies that your brand plans to implement to connect with Indian consumers effectively? For Laneige, we do multiple influencer marketing campaigns, since it really does well for us. Also, we do brand collaborations and curate perfect gifting boxes, which really entices customers and other fans of Laneige. We are very active on the digital front and our team is always doing some or the other online event or making some good and engaging content for our online users. How has the brand leveraged social media and influencer marketing to engage with its target audience in the Indian market, and what impact has it had on brand awareness and sales? Laneige India has strategically utilised social media and influencer marketing to establish strong connections with its target audience in the Indian market. Across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, Laneige India has curated captivating and visually appealing content that deeply resonates with its audience. Additionally, Laneige India has an established affiliate marketing program with influencers, conducting monthly activities. Actively collaborating with influencers for various e-commerce channel partners such as Nykaa Pink Friday sale, Amazon Prime Day sale, and Myntra sale, the brand tailors its influencer selection based on the platform and niche. For example, influencers with a significant and diverse audience are engaged for Amazon Prime Day sale, while those with a more luxurious following are targeted for Nykaa Sale. As part of collaborations, Laneige India often provides influencers with a PR box containing Laneige products. Moreover, strategic collaborations with other brands are also pursued. For instance, a recent collaboration with House of Candy was established for the launch of Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in flavours like Gummy Bear and Sweet Candy. These dynamic strategies showcase Laneige Indias commitment to leveraging social media and influencer partnerships effectively, further enhancing brand visibility and engagement in the Indian market. The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) and its anti-piracy arm, the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), join with Vidio in congratulating the West Java Regional Police for their action this week in arresting the individual behind a major piracy operation in Indonesia. Following a complaint by Vidio, on 16 October, the operator of the pirate sites PaseoTV and OkStream was arrested by West Java Regional Police. The sites were illegally streaming pirate content owned or licensed by Vidio, including the Premier League, Ligue Un and AFC. OkStream was one of the most popular pirate streaming sites in Indonesia, with millions of views every month. The owner and operator of the sites also operated a Telegram account that was used to share links to Paseo and OkStream sites. He now faces potential penalties of up to eight years in prison and a fine of up to two billion Rupiah (~US$126,000). Vidio has always been committed to being at the forefront of fighting piracy. Vidios piracy mitigation commitment requires collaboration not only with law enforcement and industry associations, but also cooperation with the public. Effective anti-piracy measures are critical for maintaining the integrity and sustainability of the content industry, said Gina Golda Pangaila, Senior Vice President, Legal Anti-Piracy and Government Affairs, Vidio. Indonesia has one of the best site blocking programs in Asia-Pacific, however site blocking is not sufficient alone to protect content, and action by local enforcement teams remains a vital component in protecting both the local content industry and consumers who are increasingly being targeted by pirates for the spread of malware, viruses and identify theft, said Matt Cheetham, the General Manager of CAP. CAPs research shows that social media and messaging platforms are the most popular forms of consumers accessing pirate content in Indonesia, and Telegram by some distance the most popular platform for this activity in Indonesia. Ninjacart, India's leading agri-platform, has taken a significant step to reaffirm its commitment to revolutionising the agri-tech sector and fostering financial security and growth opportunities across the entire agricultural value chain. Today, Ninjacart proudly unveiled its brand revamp, marking a pivotal moment in its mission to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all involved in the agri value chain. Ninjacart's brand revamp is more than just a cosmetic change. In addition to representing unity and growth, the updated visual identity represents the varying capabilities of Ninjacart ie. Legacy, Tech Capabilities, People, Domain & Industry Expertise, Partnerships, that come together to create value for its customers. The vibrant colour palette reflects nature's elements and the promising future of the agri community, emphasising interconnectedness in the food supply chain. The central message, "Behtar Kal ka Saathi" or "Partners for a better tomorrow," embodies the brands vision of creating "Better Lives for Every Agri citizen," showcasing Ninjacarts commitment to enhancing lives, creating opportunities, and promoting a sustainable, prosperous future for all in the value chain. This commitment extends to their affiliated brands: Ninja Mandi, which employs technology and innovation to drive growth in the reseller ecosystem; Ninja Global, serving as a dynamic hub for secure global trade, bringing together buyers, sellers, freight forwarders, and financial partners; Ninja Kirana, dedicated to fast-tracking the growth of small business owners, and Ninja Kisaan, focused on enhancing the lives of farmers through innovative solutions. With over eight years of dedication, Ninjacart's transformation from a fulfillment-centric business into a marketplace platform is now mirrored in our revamped brand focusing on commerce, credit, and more. In the campaign we are lifting the veil off the unsung heroes who run an invisible relay race every day to make sure delicious food reaches our plates. This film is a tribute to all the agri citizens who have trusted us in the past 8 years and have made us who we are today. said Hemanth Vasudevan, Head of Marketing, Ninjacart. "The rebranding reinforces our commitment as 'True Partners' for every agri stakeholder in the agricultural value chain, whether a farmer, trader, retailer, importer or exporter. We're dedicated to providing commerce, credit, and fulfillment opportunities, building stronger relationships with existing clients and resonating with potential partners who share our vision. Our mission is clear: to enhance lives, create opportunities, and foster a sustainable, prosperous future for all agri citizens through an efficient agri trade network. " added Hemanth Vasudevan. In the coming months, Ninjacart's brand will be readily accessible through a variety of online and offline platforms, including the revamped website, social media channels, and user-friendly apps. Ninjacart is committed to ensuring easy engagement with the brand. Furthermore, Ninjacart is expanding its presence in offline mediums, such as outdoor advertisements, print media, and industry events. In-market consumer activations will offer valuable opportunities for direct engagement with Ninjacart's new brand. Ninjacart's marketing strategy encompasses a comprehensive digital campaign that introduces the rebrand, highlighting the mission, tagline, and enhanced user experience. Targeted campaigns through DSP Networks will reach diverse audiences via multiple OTTs and category apps, extending the reach and impact of the rebrand. In the wake of this rebranding, Ninjacart is resolute in its mission to enhance the lives of agri citizens. As the brand moves forward, it will focus on expanding its reach, improving services, and nurturing a network that fosters a sustainable and prosperous agri sector in India and across the globe. Ahmedabad Crime ATS nabs man for helping Pak spy The accused spied on Indian defence personnel by sending them a tracking malware via WhatsApp The Gujarat polices 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 here, 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 Pakistans 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 persons 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 governments 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 Maheshwaris 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. Investigation has revealed that Maheshwari, a native of Pakistan who was granted Indian citizenship in 2005, had agreed to be part of the conspiracy ATS Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat Chicken-fried quail was the eye-catching entree when Guy Fieris Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives paid a visit to The Noble South in Mobile, Alabama. But we need to talk about that cornbread. See, the one recipe that the Food Network chose to share from that segment, in an episode that premiered on Friday, Oct. 20, is The Noble South Heirloom Cornbread. Scanning through the recipe, one stumbles across not one, but two potentially polarizing ingredients. It calls for a third of a cup of sugar and a cup and a half of mayonnaise. First up, the sugar. Chris Rainosek says it all goes back to the heirloom part of the heirloom cornbread. Im certainly aware of the great debate, of sugar versus no sugar in cornbread, Rainosek said. But what I will say is, ours is certainly not sweet. Its more for balance. We use this great heirloom cornmeal from Bayou Cora Farms. Its this mixture of yellow, blue, red corn, so our cornbread has a little different color, it has a super-savory flavor, and all that corn isnt necessarily just sweet corn. That cornmeal has more of a savory thing going on, so we felt like it needed just a touch of sugar to bump it up. Thats not something youre necessarily going to find in every supermarket. Bayou Cora Farms is a Baldwin County operation that traces its beginnings back across six generations to 1875. According to the history section on their website, that span includes a 24-year stretch where the only remaining stock of Bayou Cora corn was a one-pound bag stored in a freezer. That eventually was grown into bigger and bigger crops, and now Bayou Cora Farms uses it in a variety of products including grits, corn flour and fish fry mix. Ordered through the Bayou Cora website, it runs $5 for a 1-pound bag. Chris Rainosek, owner and chef at The Noble South, stands outside the Dauphin Street restaurant he opened in 2014.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Between the savory flavor of the cornmeal and the buttermilk used in the cornbread, Rainosek said, the sugar just evens things out. We cook it in pork fat, we have all these other things in there, said Rainosek. We push the salt kind of right to the limit of where we think it can go. We felt like it needed a touch in there just for balance, more so than to make it sweet. Ive never had anybody say, in the years weve been using that recipe and those ingredients specifically, that it is too sweet. I dont think it presents as sweet at all. As for the mayo, its not as unusual as you might think. And the logic is simple. Mayonnaise is basically eggs and oil, of which both are pretty common ingredients in cornbread or anything with a cakey texture, said Rainosek. That was the direction we decided to go. It worked well. I dont know if itll make it to the episode but I do remember Guy commenting on that as well. The red and blue granules speckled through the mix lend another distinguishing characteristic to the cornbread served at The Noble South, as Rainosek hinted. Its dark. So dark that a first-time visitor might wonder if it was burned. That, we do get pushback on every once in a while, said Rainosek. The color is more again from the mixture of corn thats in there because you have those darker red and blue kernels in the mixture. When its raw, when we get it, its not even yellow at all. Its grayish and has all these specks of red and blue in there. Thats really where the color comes from. How does all this unfold on the plate, and the palate? Very nicely. A slice of Noble South cornbread comes out on its own plate like a slice of cake, with no butter on the side, and you wonder if maybe thats an accidental omission. Despite the darkness, the crust is light. The first bite hits your tongue and the savory quality just bursts out even though, as youll note, the recipe doesnt call for any savory spices. You might find yourself instantly craving a pan of Thanksgiving dressing made with the stuff. Somewhere along the line, youll realize that you completely forgot about maybe wanting a pat of butter. Maybe thats because the mayo provides all the rich moistness you could want. Or maybe its because, as Rainosek revealed, they top the slice with a little butter and let that melt in as they warm it before serving. Its good stuff. And no, it doesnt come off as sugar-sweet. Weve got a little bit of acidity from the buttermilk, and then the super-savory corn, a little bit of sugar, the fatty richness from the pork fat, and then we get the crispy edges from cooking it in cast iron, said Rainosek. Hitting all those different marks is what we were looking for. Despite an Alabama Supreme Court ruling this week, a Madison nonprofit organization that hosts foster children still has further to go before its dispute with the Department of Human Resources is settled. Kids to Love has been denied foster care referrals from DHR since June after the state agency suspended placements due to serious violations of standards to be met by child placement agencies. DHR soon after tried to remove children from the organizations homes. Kids to Love was granted a temporary restraining order against DHR in September to stop the state agency from removing children without evidence of harm or unsafe conditions. On Wednesday, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld the restraining order following a DHR appeal. All new placements to Kids to Love, however, remain suspended. According to Kids to Love founder Lee Marshall, DHR has not been forthcoming about alleged violations and has not provided the organization with information necessary to redress any issues. I asked [DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner] if she would clarify and there was no response. I followed up asking again, asking for a meeting. No response. Weve had multiple lawmakers go to Montgomery on our behalf. We have followed every chain of command that we know to avoid getting to the point of filing a lawsuit. That was what we felt was our absolute last resort, Marshall said. Weve asked over and over, what can we do? We dont know of any deficit and if you can tell us what that is, we are ready to rectify it. But let us serve these kids, Marshall said. Marshall sent an open letter to Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday, ahead of the state Supreme Court ruling, calling for changes to leadership at DHR, namely Buckner, and asking the governor to rescind the current suspension on placements. My staff and I are fighting for the children of Alabama, and I cannot sit by and allow DHR to perpetuate further abuse of the children they are sworn to protect, Marshall wrote in the letter. This leadership has created a crisis in the state. It has cost children their lives, cost foster parents their lives, and cost tax paying citizens millions in every lawsuit lost because of incompetent leadership at the highest levels in State DHR. Kids to Love, founded in 2004 by Marshall, a former Huntsville television news anchor, operates foster care facilities and acts as a private child placement agency, according to its website. It also provides an array of other services for foster children, such as clothing and other items if needed. Every child it works with receives a Bible. In 2023, the organization said it surpassed $1 million in awarded scholarships to foster children for certification training, trade schools and college. According to Marshall, DHR told her only that Kids to Love had violated confidentiality by posting protected information about a child in their Meet our Kids posts. That child was not in our child placing agency; he was never placed with one of our foster families. That child was only involved in our Meet our Kids segment, said Marshall. And so, we removed that child from the website as soon as we received notification of it. So then our attorneys, you know, follow back up. OK, that has been removed. Now, can you open our homes? Marshall said DHR still would not lift the suspension after they removed the post, which she said contained information that was important for families to know if they were interested in adoption. The information in the post was sent by DHR, who had asked Marshall for help in publicizing that the child was available for adoption. They said that we were breaking confidentiality, even though everything that we were given they gave to us. What they sent was what weve printed or posted on our website verbatim, Marshall said. In a September hearing, a lawyer for Kids to Love said DHRs actions were arbitrary and capricious and did not have the best interest of children in mind. Ultimately, our allegations are that DHR has been acting in a manner of retribution towards the Kids to Love organization. And for a state agency to act in that manner towards a private charitable organization is atrocious and wed like that to end. While litigation continues, Marshall said she worries for the kids who dont have placements. We know of one situation where a young man slept on the floor at a county office for 21 days since our referrals were suspended and our homes were frozen, said Marshall. I dont know all of his situation. And I dont know if I would have had a family to meet that childs needs. But I can promise you this: had that director or worker called and said hey, heres my situation, we would have done everything we could to try to support; but our hands were tied. In a statement to AL.com about the courts ruling, DHR said, There is ongoing litigation and another side of the story to tell. Gunfire erupted in an east Birmingham neighborhood Saturday afternoon, leaving one man dead. Birmingham police late Saturday identified the victim as Aloysius Astrada Tobias Finn. He was 42 and lived in Birmingham. Police were dispatched at 3:24 p.m. to the 9100 block of 14th Avenue North on a report of a person shot. That area is off Zion City Road in the Airport Hills area. When officers arrived, they found Finn on the ground near two vehicles on a dead-end street. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities said another person heard the shots and found the victim wounded. A couple of vehicles were also hit by the shots. A possible suspect has been detained. Multiple friends and family members are gathered outside in what has been a somewhat tense scene. Several arguments have erupted outside the crime scene tape and one woman was hit with pepper spray after struggling with police. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Protestors are expected to descend on the Montgomery State Capitol today to demand justice for 39-year-old Stephen Perkins, who was killed by a Decatur police officer on Sept. 29. Organizers, including Perkins niece Brooklyn Gaiter, a student at Alabama State University, are specifically asking the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to release the body camera footage of the shooting and provide a fair and transparent investigation. Today peaceful protesters want justice for Steve Perkins. ALEA has been investigating for three weeks now without any arrest or updates on the case. Protesters want officers and the tow truck driver arrested, terminated and prosecuted for Perkins murder, Gaiter said. It will be a very peaceful protest, but we will be making our point as well to get justice for him and to release the body cam, because if we didnt have the ring camera, we wouldnt have anything. On the night of the shooting, the police said, officers went to Perkins home sometime after 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 29. Earlier that night, police said in a news release, Perkins had threatened a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his vehicle. The tow truck driver left, but returned with police. In the news release, police said that Perkins pointed a gun at one of them during the incident. Home security camera video captured by a neighbor suggests that Perkins was not aware of police presence as he came into his yard that night. The footage showed that a police officer started shooting at him immediately after shouting for Perkins to get on the ground. The city denied a public records request from AL.com seeking the bodycam footage as well as the officers personnel and disciplinary records. The officers name has not been made public. Police said the officer was on administrative leave. This week, one of Perkins lawyers was denied access to the footage by ALEA. The law enforcement agency said the attorney needs to fill out a form first before it considers allowing the viewing of the video, attorney Cannon Lambert, Sr., told AL.com Daily protests have taken place in Decatur since the shooting, leading to a number of arrests. Protest organizer Briona Watkins said she counted eight arrests for disorderly conduct during the weekend of Oct. 6, including one for cursing and others for stepping into the street, rather than remaining on sidewalks. Gaiter said shes heard from student groups at Tuskegee and Alabama State universities who plan to attend, and has also been in touch with organizers who have chartered buses from different parts of the state to take part in the protest. Had Joran van der Sloot not murdered her on a beach in Aruba on May 30, 2005, Natalee Holloway today would mark her 37th birthday. In a few months time, she will have been dead longer than she was alive. What would have been a day of celebration for her loved ones comes three days after it was revealed van der Sloot had confessed to bludgeoning the 18-year-old to death and dragging her into the ocean after she fought off unwanted sexual advances. The confession, accepted as true by her parents, seems to end a mystery that lasted more than 18 years when she vanished from a Mountain Brook High School graduation trip and grabbed the worlds attention. Natalee will be 18 forever in my heart, her mother, Beth Holloway, wrote in a federal court victim impact statement. That statement came as part of a guilty plea van der Sloot entered on charges he extorted Beth in 2010 with a false promise he would lead her to Natalees body in 2010 in exchange for $250,000. I think about what kind of doctor she would have become. She would be married. Have children. My grandchildren, her statement read. The Memphis native who moved to Alabama in 2000 was expected to attend the University of Alabama in fall of 2005. In high school, Natalee was in the National Honor Society, studied Spanish and was a member of American Field Service, which works with foreign exchange students. She had taken trips to Europe, Canada and some cruises. She planned to study premed that fall on an academic scholarship. In the Mountain Brook yearbook, Holloways senior quote came from the old Lynyrd Skynyrd song Freebird. It says: If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? For I must be traveling on now, theres too many places I havent seen. Legally declared dead in 2012, if van der Sloots confession is true, her remains will almost certainly never be found. Natalees father, Dave wrote that he believes what van der Sloot told investigators. We are convinced that a higher power will pronounce the ultimate judgment on this defendant and anyone else who helped him prevent us from bringing Natalee home, his statement read. In his confession, which he gave in addition to taking a polygraph, van der Sloot said she kneed him in the crotch after he tried feeling her up. He said he kicked her in the face, bashed her head in with a cinder block, and dragged her into the water before walking home. Beth Holloway told The Associated Press she recognized her feisty daughter in van der Sloots description of her kneeing him between the legs when he refused to stop. Yes, I said, Thats 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. Weve been searching so desperately for those answers, she said. Its hard to hear what he did, but its very victorious to finally be at the end of this nightmare. In court, van der Sloot said he is now a Christian. I would like to take this chance to apologize to the Holloway family, to apologize to my own family, to say I hope the statement I provided brings some kind of closure to everyone involved .. I am no longer that person I was back then. Van der Sloot is expected to remain in a Peruvian prison until 2043 for murdering 21-year-old University of Lima business student Stephany Flores Ramirez in his hotel room on May 30, 2010 -- exactly five years after Natalee died. Van der Sloot married a Peruvian woman in July 2014 in a ceremony at a maximum security prison and fathered a child while in prison. If he is freed before 2043, he will serve the rest of a 20-year sentence for extorting Beth Holloway in the U.S. Prosecutors in Aruba on Thursday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to send them records from its investigation of Joran van der Sloot after his confession. In Aruba, the statute of limitations for homicide is 12 years. However, whether that statute will prevent Aruba from charging him in her death cannot be answered with a straightforward yes or no, Ann Angela, a spokeswoman for Aruban prosecutors, said. It depends on several factors within the investigation. The Police Force, the Public Prosecutors Office of Aruba and other investigative entities will follow up on any serious leads that could solve the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. While there are no clear answers on whether he will face punishment for Natalees death, van der Sloots confession means weve finally reached the end of our never ending nightmare....Being over is better than closure, Beth said Wednesday. She was smart, and so accomplished, and I have no doubt she would have made all her dreams come true. She had real hope. The hope that filled her heart fills mine, and I will wake up every day remembering who she was, Holloway said in her impact statement to van der Sloot. You destroyed all of this. You terminated her potential, her dreams and her possibilities when you bludgeoned her to death I 2005, Holloway said. You took away my sons big sister. You changed the course of our lives and turned them upside down. You didnt get what you wanted from Natalee, your sexual satisfaction, so you brutally killed her....You are the one in Aruba no one wants to be, the black mark on the island, she said. I have no doubt she would have made all her dreams come true. She really would have, Beth Holloway said. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, said he is strongly opposed to a coalition government following the failed nomination of Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker of the House and his initial refusal to support the Ohio congressman. After Jordans nomination was first announced, Rogers told reporters on Oct. 13 that there was nothing that Jordan could do to earn his support. The Alabama representative reportedly told Bloomberg News that Republicans may have to work with the opposing party to elect a speaker. They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors, Rogers said, referring to GOP members who ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Were still the majority party, were willing to work with them, but they gotta tell us what they need. Rogers faced intense backlash for his comment, including by many members of his own party and in social media posts calling for his constituents to call his office. Now, Rogers, who ultimately ended up voting for Jordan, said he was proud to support the congressman from Ohio. Jordans bid for speaker failed Friday after losing three votes. House Republicans voted in a secret ballot after the 86-112 defeat on the House floor to remove Jordan as their nominee. I was proud to support conservative leader Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. America spoke last November - Republicans are in the majority in the House and we should elect a Republican Speaker with Republican votes. I am and have always been strongly opposed to any attempt to form a coalition government with Democratic support, Rogers said in a statement to AL.com. His office is also denying that there was ever any support for a Democratic coalition. And while Rogers hasnt signaled support for a new speaker nomination, his communications director said his choice ultimately will be a conservative Republican. Any storyline stating that Rogers was or is actively working with Democrats to elect a compromise Speaker is categorically false, Rogers Communications Director Carrie Cole added. Rogers made comments last week in frustration following a GOP meeting that were carried far and wide and misconstrued. There was never any intent on the part of Congressman Rogers to convey that he would help elect anyone but a conservative Republican for Speaker. Alabamas 2nd congressional district is poised to flip from a Republican stronghold to a likely Democratic seat after a long and surprising judicial battle wrapped up earlier this month over congressional redistricting. Only one vexing question remains: Where are the candidates? Nearly one month since qualifying began for the Alabama Democratic Party to run for a 2024 office, no one has offered up their candidacy for the new District 2 seat, despite public interest expressed by potential candidates from Huntsville to the Gulf of Mexico. No Republican has qualified either, making the race a mystery 20 days before the qualifying deadline ends for both political parties. I know there are candidates who have publicly expressed interest to run in the reconfigured District 2, said Deuel Ross, a civil rights attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, who was one of the attorneys to argue Allen v. Milligan before the U.S. Supreme Court that resulted in the new district lines. Candidates often wait until the last minute to apply. Indeed, all eyes are on the rush after Halloween to see who will toss their names out first to run for the congressional seat. The deadline to qualify is 5 p.m. on Nov. 10, for both Democrats and Republicans. The prospects for a Democratic pick-up in Alabama are high after the district was redrawn by a Special Master and solidified earlier this month by federal judges. The new District 2s voting-age population is 47.6% Black-45% white. The end result is that the new map, instead of six safe Republican districts and one safe Democratic district, will now have two districts where Democrats have a realistic chance to win -- Districts 2 and 7. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham has filed to run again for the District 7 seat. Alabama, since 1992, has only had one majority Black congressional district since Reconstruction and only three Black members of Congress have been elected from the state, all from Alabamas 7th congressional district Earl Hilliard, Artur Davis, and Terri Sewell. Cook Political Report rated the newly drawn 2nd District a +4 Democratic advantage, according to its latest Partisan Voting Index analysis provided to AL.com. That new score, based on past presidential race outcomes, represents a dramatic shift from a congressional district that was rated a +17 advantage for Republicans under the previous congressional map. In my opinion, theres a little bit of fear of jumping out first and certain candidates are feeling out the public sentiment by throwing their names out and seeing what the public response is, said Sheena Gamble, spokeswoman for the Alabama Democratic Party. Gamble said the candidates are in the process of qualifying to run for the congressional seat. She said there is no surprise that no one has come forward as a candidate. The party is keeping its slate of qualified candidates for the 2024 elections updated on its website. There is a lot of interest and certain candidates are trying to get their ducks in a row, Gamble said, adding that two candidates are imminent and could be known soon. Brent Buchanan, a GOP pollster based in Montgomery, said the qualifying period is only paid attention by political insiders. He said that most primary voters will not pay any attention to the races until just weeks before the primary elections on March 5, 2024. I would expect (Congressional District 2) to draw a number of Democratic candidates, but my guess is many of them are waiting for Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed to make a move, Buchanan said. Indeed, Reed is viewed as one of the favorites for the seat if he decides to run. Reed, the citys first Black mayor who was re-elected to a four-year term in August, told AL.coms Mike Cason recently that he was deliberating on the decision very intentionally. State Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile, who served as the Port Citys first Black mayor from 2005-2013, said he does not think candidates are waiting on Reed to make a splash first. He said that candidates who are seriously considering the race are testing support bases and looking at where they can get contributions from. Alabama congressional Map 3 recommendation Sept. 25, 2023 Jones said he anticipates the race to be expensive with campaigns having to dive into media markets in both Mobile and Montgomery, and perhaps beyond. The district now stretches into most of Mobile and northeast into Montgomery and to the Alabama-Georgia border in Russell and Barbour counties. The contest is drawing interest from candidates who do not live within the House districts boundaries including Birmingham area politicians like Rep. Juandalynn Givan, Sen. Merika Coleman, and Jefferson County Sheila Tyson. The U.S. Constitution does not have residency requirements to run for Congress other than someone has to live within the state. Also considering a run is Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, a Democratic state lawmaker from Huntsville who grew up in Bullock County, which is in the 2nd district. Bullock County is my home and many from the district have been reaching out to me, Daniels told AL.com on Thursday. Its very encouraging and I am humble that folks are reaching out. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, who is the incumbent congressman for District 2, could also run for the seat. He has said he is praying over his future political decisions and has not committed to whether he will run in District 2 or battle incumbent U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, in the redrawn and much more conservative Alabama Congressional District 1. Moore now lives in District 1. Jones said he believes there are at least seven or eight candidates kicking the tires to see if a run for the congressional seat makes sense. Alabama State Senator Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, is also seriously considering a run. State Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, has also expressed interest. A lot of people are interested, Jones said. Congressional seats dont come up a lot for Democrats. The opportunity doesnt present itself to Democrats. When you see something like this happen, naturally, you will have a number of people interested. State Treasurer Young Boozer told Birmingham-Southern College President Daniel Coleman in a letter that the college did not meet the minimum requirements for receiving a loan from a new program the Legislature established to keep the 167-year-old private institution from closing. Birmingham-Southern has disputed that and filed a lawsuit accusing Boozer of undermining the Legislatures intentions. The college has asked the court to order Boozer to disburse $16 million of its $30 million request this academic year. At a hearing Thursday, a lawyer for the attorney generals office who is representing Boozer told Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson that the state would file a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that Boozer has sovereign immunity. Birmingham-Southern has stressed the urgency of the need for the loan. Lawyers for the college told the court in the lawsuit that it would likely close after this semester if it does not receive the loan. Birmingham-Southern, which has 731 full-time students, 284 employees and about 17,000 alumni, said it needs the public funds as a bridge while it raises money from private sources. Boozers letter denying the loan is dated Oct. 13 but Birmingham-Southern officials say they did not receive it until five days later. It was post-marked Oct. 16 and sent via regular mail. In response to the loan application submitted under the Alabama Distressed Institution of Higher Education Loan Program, this is to advise you that Birmingham-Southern College does not meet the minimum statutory qualifications for receiving credit from the program, Boozer wrote. The loan request is denied. After a thorough review of the application and all supporting documents, it has been determined that Birmingham-Southern College cannot provide the State a first security interest in its collateral assets, Boozer wrote. Additionally, the institutions financial restructuring plan does not adequately provide for repayment of the loan. In its lawsuit, Birmingham-Southern asserts that it has pledged more than sufficient collateral to qualify for the loan. The Treasurers unlawful actions are arbitrary and capricious, in bad faith, beyond his authority, or in a mistaken interpretation of law, the college asserts. They are contrary to the plain language of the statute and violate the entire purpose the Legislature showed in creating the program. The Legislature passed the bill creating the Alabama Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program in May and Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law in June. Anderson has scheduled another hearing in the case for Wednesday. Read more: Architect of Birmingham-Southern bailout disgusted by states denial of funding A homicide investigation is underway Friday in Mobile after a 35-year-old man was found shot to death. Mobile police officers responded to the 7000 block of Smith Street around 9:27 a.m. Friday on a report of a male shot, said Cpl. Katrina Frazier. At the scene, officers found 35-year-old William Burton, who sustained a gunshot wound. Burton was pronounced dead at the scene, Frazier said. Police said they were not releasing further details on the homicide since the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the deadly shooting was asked to call Mobile police at 251-2087211. Anonymous tips may also be submitted via text at 844-251-0644 or by clicking here. Blog Archive: Nov 2023 (15) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) This is a guest opinion column For people who are already working to make ends meet, choosing between paying for medical visits and other critical needs like childcare, rent and groceries can be an impossible choice. But that is exactly what many people here in Alabama and across the country face when they cannot afford medical care. It is a system rife with out-of-control costs and it is time to confront them head-on. We need our elected leaders to take the necessary steps to help solve the causes that are driving up health care costs. No patient who leaves a doctors office should see an unexpected upcharge on their medical bill from a previous visit, but that is exactly what is happening for many health care consumers in Alabama. It starts with hospital consolidation. A recent article highlighting an analysis from the Physicians Advocacy Institute shows that nearly 70 percent of all doctors were employed by either a hospital or a corporation in 2021. The article goes on to say: the medical groups were associated with higher prices. And that is the problem. These new owners of physician practices are driving up costs through unfair medical billing. How does this happen? When a large hospital corporation takes over private physician practices and a patient goes in for a routine doctor visit at that practice, hospitals can charge higher prices for the delivery of care. The upcharge is solely based on new ownership of the location not on the care they received. It is a troubling trend brought on by large hospital consolidation, leaving patients with higher medical costs and exacerbating our nations grim outlook on the affordability of health care. Sherry Glied, the dean of the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, said, Private equity is like the system on steroids. Every time there is an opportunity for making money, [private equity] is going to move faster than everyone else. And consolidation is the way to do that. Shame on them for putting profit over patients. It is imperative that lawmakers take action to combat unfair hospital billing. Im glad to see that the Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR) proposed in the House and the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Act (SITE) proposed in the Senate are opportunities to crack down on unfair medical billing practices, creating a pathway for site-neutral payment policies that could reduce Medicare spending by a whopping $153 billion. The support of everyone in the Alabama delegation is necessary to move the FAIR and SITE Acts forward, especially leaders like Congresswoman Terri Sewell who sit on influential committees like the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. I look forward to a health care landscape in Alabama and across the country where more patients can focus on improving their health and that of their loved ones, not toiling over unfair hospital bills. The bipartisan work of our lawmakers can help bring costs down for patients through sensible fair billing reform. It is imperative that the work starts now. Alabama families, workers, seniors, and children are waiting to see the benefits of these much-needed cost-savings. Mallory Hagan was crowned Miss America in 2013 and now resides in Madison, Alabama 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. English News BRI cooperation ushers in heartening stories of the times Alwihda Info | Par pd - 17 Octobre 2023 For many countries, the development opportunities brought about by the BRI are unprecedented. Because of these unprecedented development opportunities, Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, has gained access to the sea, Croatians held grand celebrations on the day the Peljesac Bridge opened, Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina joined the public in cheering "Goodbye, mud!" at the opening ceremony of the Route Nationale 5A after a renovation project. The list goes on. By Guo Jiping, People's Daily The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) is slated to take place in Beijing from Oct. 17 to 18. Themed "High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity", the forum, to be held on the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, is set to bring together representatives from over 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations. Since it was proposed 10 years ago, the BRI has ushered in many heartening stories of cooperation of the times. British scholar Martin Jacques has pointed out that it is not an exaggeration to argue that over the decade of its existence the BRI has "changed the world". A review of the BRI cooperation in the overall context of global changes and development of the times can help better understand how it has changed the world. The BRI was proposed at a time when the deep impacts of the Global Financial Crisis continued to emerge, and the international community faced the common task of exploring new growth points and starting a new cycle of world economic growth. At that time, the foundations of global economic growth were unstable, trade and investment were sluggish, and economic globalization suffered setbacks while imbalances in development intensified. In an effort to help the international community jointly meet the challenges of the times and overcome obstacles to development through cooperation, China proposed the BRI, a solution full of Oriental wisdom. "The Belt and Road Initiative embodies our pursuit of common development. The Initiative aims to break development bottlenecks, narrow development gaps and promote the sharing of development fruits among countries. It envisions a community of common development where we work together through thick and thin for a shared future," Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out. Focusing on the fundamental issue of development, the BRI aims to realize economic integration, interconnected development, and the sharing of achievements through the alignment of development strategies, injecting impetus into global economic recovery. In June 2019, the World Bank released a special research report, which presented the concept of "Belt and Road Economics". According to the report, BRI transport projects, if fully implemented, could contribute to lifting 32 million people who live on less than $3.20 a day from moderate poverty, and are estimated to increase trade by as much as 6.2 percent for the world. Development is an inalienable right of all countries, not a privilege reserved for a few. However, the reality in recent years is that the global development gap continues to widen, and imbalanced development has become the biggest imbalance in today's world. The BRI has unleashed the development potential of developing countries and promoted balanced, coordinated and inclusive global development. It has helped many countries improve infrastructure, establish their own industrial systems, and solve long-standing problems such as power and talent shortages. Thanks to cooperation projects under the framework of the BRI, many countries have built their first expressway, first modern railway, first industrial park, among other key infrastructure facilities. A foreign scholar noted that the BRI has created development opportunities for countries in the Global South and changed the prospects for many developing countries. For a long time, some developing and least developed countries have become "forgotten corners" in the tide of economic globalization. The international community has increasingly recognized the need to reform the traditional global economic governance model and establish a new global development philosophy that is fair and inclusive. Upholding the aim of facilitating policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and closer people-to-people ties, the BRI has promoted connectivity over land, maritime, air and cyberspace. It has facilitated the building of high-quality, sustainable, risk-resilient, reasonably priced, inclusive and accessible infrastructure, promoting the orderly flow of production factors, efficient allocation of resources, and deep integration of markets. This has helped more countries better integrate into global supply, industrial, and value chains, making it an effective solution to promote healthy economic globalization and build an open world economy. For many countries, the development opportunities brought about by the BRI are unprecedented. Because of these unprecedented development opportunities, Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, has gained access to the sea, Croatians held grand celebrations on the day the Peljesac Bridge opened, Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina joined the public in cheering "Goodbye, mud!" at the opening ceremony of the Route Nationale 5A after a renovation project. The list goes on. The BRI has brought to the world a new type of economic globalization and a new model of global economic governance. The BRI is very timely and is a better benchmark for economic globalization, said former German President and former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Horst Koehler. BRI cooperation represents a new model of international relations and world trade that will make globalization fairer and more humane, pointed out former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Belt and Road countries to make sustainable achievements that benefit their posterity Finance Ministers' Meeting Seeks $30 Billion Boost for Water and Sanitation AI Beauty Ranking: The Most Attractive U.S. Presidential Candidates for 2024 Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News To break new ground of public communication, culture work in new era Alwihda Info | Par pd - 18 Octobre 2023 Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. Cultural development is the fundamental way to satisfy people's cultural and intellectual needs and to safeguard people's cultural rights and interests. By Ren Ping, People's Daily A national meeting on the work of public communication and culture was recently held in Beijing. The most important outcome of the meeting was that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formally put forward, which is of milestone significance in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in developing public communication and culture. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has maintained an accurate perspective on the trends of collisions taking place worldwide between different ideas and cultures, as well as of the profound changes in Chinese people's ways of thinking, putting forward a series of new thoughts, new viewpoints, and new assessments on cultural advancement. On multiple important international occasions, he has expounded on China's positions and plans on the culture of the world, the development of civilizations and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is summaries of the practical experience of the cultural advancement under the Party's leadership in the new era. It has enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories. It demonstrates that the CPC has reached a higher level in its understanding of the right way for the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. The 20th National Congress of the CPC drew an ambitious blueprint for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. According to it, China will build itself into a strong country in culture by 2035 with its cultural soft power growing much stronger. Culture is a country and nation's soul. Without full confidence in its culture, without a rich and prosperous culture, the Chinese nation will not be able to rejuvenate itself. Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. Cultural development is the fundamental way to satisfy people's cultural and intellectual needs and to safeguard people's cultural rights and interests. Promoting Chinese modernization is a pioneering undertaking unprecedented in history. It requires inspiring the confidence and fortitude of all Chinese people, and encouraging them to work together. A country will thrive only if its culture thrives, and a nation will be strong only if its culture is strong. The CPC's innovative theories for the new era have taken deep roots in the hearts of the people. Socialist core values have spread far and wide. The creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture continues to advance. Cultural undertaking and industries are booming. The online environment keeps improving. Cultural confidence among all Party members, ethnic groups and people across the country has increased markedly. The national spirit is more determined and upbeat. Full of confidence, the Chinese people are writing an impressive new chapter in China's development in the new era. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Belt and Road countries to make sustainable achievements that benefit their posterity Finance Ministers' Meeting Seeks $30 Billion Boost for Water and Sanitation AI Beauty Ranking: The Most Attractive U.S. Presidential Candidates for 2024 Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Like most Americans, Kash Patel grew up believing that the country was run as a democracy, with a government that honors the will of the people and is accountable to them. It was only much later, as an attorney and then as a senior advisor to former president Donald Trump, that he encountered and confronted what has come to be called the Deep State, people at the highest levels of government, business, and culture who subvert democracy to serve their own ends. In his recent book Government Gangsters: The Deep State, The Truth and the Battle for our Democracy, Patel describes the Deep State in broad terms as the politicization of core American institutions and the federal government. More specifically, this oligarchy includes elected leaders, journalists, business leaders, and NGOs with leftist ideologies. But its most entrenched and active arm comprises members of the unelected federal bureaucracy who think they have the right to rule America, not Congress or the president. Post Hill Press / fair use The agents of the Deep State operate through a series of networks, violating their oaths of office, weaponizing the law, and spreading disinformation for political or personal gain at the expense of equal justice and national security. He saw them in operation as the lead investigator of the Russiagate hoax. His book is not just the story of how he battled the leviathan, but also about how the Deep State can be defeated for good. Patel knows from where he speaks. In his 14 years as public defender and federal prosecutor, and later as a key Trump aide, he has had ample opportunity to trace the insidious machinations of the Deep State within the Department of Justice (DoJ), the FBI, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Security Council (NSC), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He has been inside the belly of the beast. During his stint at the DoJ, Patel saw selective prosecution and the unequal application of the law at work. Former CIA director John Brennan and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper, both of the Obama administration, were never charged with perjury for lying about NSA programs collecting data on citizens. But Steve Bannon, former Trump advisor, was charged with criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to depose before and submit documents to the January 6th committee. January 6th protestors were characterized as insurrectionists, locked up, and denied bail, but BLM-Antifa rioters were mostly exonerated. The DoJ refused to investigate Joe Biden and his family or bring charges against his son Hunter Biden though their influence peddling with foreign governments and taking cuts on business deals is well documented. The Deep State, in collusion with social media giants, worked to squelch these stories to secure the election for Biden. When the contents of Hunters laptop came to light, it was dismissed as Russian disinformation. In these and other instances, Patel saw the subversion of due process and the politicization of prosecutorial discretion. He also learned firsthand that to uncover the corruption and incompetence of the FBI, DoJ, or other agencies, and stand up to their pursuit of political optics rather than justice is to risk ones reputation. Prosecuting an ISIS operative, he found himself berated and unceremoniously thrown out by a judge for not wearing a tie when he rushed to court in Texas after a flight from Tajikistan. Though he was in the right, the DoJ did nothing to back him in the media. In 2017, he was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) as counsel on counterterrorism, and within a few months became senior aide to its chair, Devin Nunes. He played a prominent role in investigating RussiaGate, an attempt to falsely charge President Trump with colluding with Vladimir Putin to sabotage Hillary Clintons campaign. The charges were based on the Steele Dossier, so called because it was put together by Christopher Steele, a former MI6 operative who was then running a private business intelligence firm. Patel was the primary author of the 2018 Nunes memo in President Trumps defense. The memo pointed out FBI misconduct in applying to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court for a warrant to surveil a Trump campaign aide. The memo questioned the legitimacy and the legality of the application, which was based entirely on the Steele dossier. Patel found that the dossier had been paid for by Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee through a Perkins Coie attorney. None of this was disclosed in the FBI application. So, Russiagate was essentially a taxpayer-funded hit job by government operatives who hated Trump. Though Trump had not committed a crime nor obstructed justice, the hoax was kept alive for several years. None of the key players have been held to account. But though it damaged the country and undermined the presidency, Russia Gate, says Patel, served a useful purpose: it unmasked the Deep State. Later, at the NSC, Patel fought yet another attack on Trump. NSC staffer Eric Ciaramella, a career CIA analyst, had filed a whistleblower report that Trump was influencing foreign governments to interfere in the 2020 elections by investigating Biden. Ciaramella had left the NSC but seemed to be getting his information from his successor, Alexander Vindman, the director of Ukraine policy at the NSC. For his defense of Trump, Patel ended up being labeled Trumps back channel on Ukraine. At the DoD, Patel found that instead of following presidential orders with haste and abiding by the chain of command, swamp dwellers slow-walked orders, hid intelligence, leaked classified information and private communications to the press. Patel estimates that about 95% of the national security bureaucracy had donated to Clintons campaign. So, it is no surprise that declassifying the documents of Russiagate and the Clinton email scandal met with resistance. In fact, Patel marvels that Trump got anything done at all during his four-year tenure. Patel also uncovered the workings of an incestuous relationship the Defense Industrial Complex between senior military leaders, officers in charge of procurement of military equipment, and defense contractors. These players work to keep America engaged in military conflicts abroad, enriching each other in the process. Patel was disillusioned to find that Mark Esper, Trumps secretary of defense, was a major lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon and received significant payouts from the firm. Esper thwarted Trumps agenda for Afghanistan, refusing to draw down troops in Afghanistan, opposing a hostage rescue op, and preventing counterterrorism raids. Trump had set up conditions for withdrawal from Afghanistan that the Taliban should repudiate al-Qaida; that the U.S. would work with the Afghan government to run the country; and that our troops would keep Bagram airfield, a U.S.-built compound holding thousands of suspected terrorists and a launchpad for our special forces. This plan, supplied to the incoming Biden administration, was ignored. The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan a few years later has jeopardized American security. Patel was witness to a witch hunt mounted by the Deep State at the ODNI, where intelligence and security agencies abused unmasking and declassification processes to target Mike Flynn, a former general. Leftovers of the Obama administration went after him for telling the truth about the ISIS that it remained a threat and wasnt on the run as Obama was fond of proclaiming. They succeeded in thwarting Flynns appointment as Trumps national security advisor. The Deep State kept up its attack on Trump even after he left office. Under the pretense that Trump had kept classified documents, the FBI raided the former presidents home with the approval of Attorney General Merrick Garland. But shocking as its workings are, and powerful as it may seem, the Deep State, Patel writes, can be fought and defeated. Government Gangsters published with redactions after an eight-month delay as officials tried to block it is a testimony to that, besides being a tour dhorizon of the Deep States subversive omnipresence. With creditable even-handedness, Patel notes that though the Deep State may seem to be with the Democrats, the fight isnt partisan. If the Democrats, see it that way, he writes, they are striking a devils bargain, for at stake is the survival of the American Republic. Image: Post Hill Press / fair use Update: This post was corrected to fix an error about Mark Esper's role in the Trump administration. He was Secretary of Defense, not Secretary of State. On October 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel, Inbal Rabin-Lieberman, a 25-year-old security coordinator at the Kibbutz Nir Am settlement located near the Gaza Strip, saved lives because she had a gun. After the kibbutz came under attack, Inbal hurriedly opened the armory and distributed guns to the twelve-member security team. She caught the Hamas murderers unawares because they were not expecting to meet armed resistance. Lieberman killed five terrorists while the others gunned down twenty-five before the Israeli Defense Force arrived. Because of her actions, Nir-Am was the only settlement bordering the Gaza Strip that did not suffer Israeli casualties during Hamas attack. The number of Israelis killed in the terrorist attack is over 1,400. How many of those deaths could have been averted had more Israelis owned guns? Israel has draconian gun-control laws, worse than those in New York City. Only three percent (3%) of Israeli citizens own guns (compared to about thirty-two percent (32%) of U.S. citizens). The NY Daily News reports that less than one percent (about 0.5%) of New York City residents have legal handguns. Jews comprise approximately nine percent (9%) of New York City's population, the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel. New York City is trying ridiculously hard to keep guns away from the residents with its draconian gun safety laws including unconstitutional, vague, and broad no-carry zones. New York declared much of the city to consist of sensitive locations where legally permitted guns are outlawed. Times Square and Central Park will be gun-free sensitive locations. Gun-free meaning only those bent on murder and mayhem will be carrying a gun. The Hamas terrorists were able to get into Israel and kill innocent civilians despite Israel having one of the toughest border security systems in the world, whereas the United States has wide-open borders. Anyone, regardless of their affiliation and country of origin can enter the U.S. at will. Millions a year have been pouring in since January 2020. Is the United States becoming safer as a result? The Justice Department is now warning that terrorist threats were fast evolving in the U.S. and that 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. It is close to impossible to own a firearm as a private citizen in Israel. Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett says, Except during times of heightened terrorism anyone who would possess a firearm without being compelled to do so because of their job (soldier, police officer, etc.) is viewed by the general public as simply being mentally defective. Those same people are the first ones to ask if you sit next to them, if they know you are armed, when you get on Jerusalems Lite Rail. There is no Second Amendment in Israel. The Israeli gun lobby cannot gain traction due to a liberal/socialist-oriented populace. Politics rule. Citizens dont. Much of the opposition to gun ownership comes from the various womens movements. They point to deaths of women from firearms. Otherwise opposition against private ownership of firearms goes back to the founding of Israel. The second law passed by the Israeli Legislature (1949) was confiscation of all firearms and munitions. The average citizen has no right to own any type of weapon whatsoever, and doing so illegally will land him or her in jail for many years. In situations like these, selecting who gets to have access to firearms and who doesnt is the equivalent of selecting who gets to live or die. Yonatan Stern is the Cherev Gidon Israeli Tactical Training Academy Director. Cherev Gidon instructors are Israeli combat veterans with a mission to provide high-quality Israeli tactical shooting skills to American civilians. Firearms News reached out to Yonatan, This is a topic I am intimately familiar with. I moved out of Israel specifically because of its Bolshevik gun controls that denied me any right to defend myself or my family against heavily armed terrorists. I know first-hand how dangerous and deadly this terrible situation is. Israeli News reported in February that following a deadly terror attack in Jerusalem, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that, his government will loosen restrictions on private gun ownership in Israel and expand the licensing of weapons for thousands of civilians. Netanyahu justified the action by citing examples in which armed citizens or off-duty soldiers used their weapons to stop terrorists and save lives. David Codrea, in Firearms News reports that: While parallels to the situation in Ukraine are understandable enough to make with this new move to recruit civilians into the defense equation, the biggest similarity (and biggest mistake) is, both nations waited until the wolf was at the door to start the process. Our own Second Amendment presupposed an already armed and trained citizenry that could be mustered and deployed to match a professional military threat. And for their part, now that theyre armed and have experienced firsthand what is needed to fight tyranny, dont look for soon-to-be battle-hardened Ukrainians to give up their guns the next time peace pokes through the war clouds. Rabbi Raz Blizovsky, an activist who has been part of grassroots discussions concerning personal arms, told The Times of Israel, Firearm licenses for private citizens in Israel are typically only granted to individuals who can prove a need for extra security in their line of work or daily life. It's a "pity" that it took a devastating terror attack to wake up the country to the importance of personal protection for private citizens. I have been involved with groups that have been talking about this issue for years. During calm times, people dont do anything. Blizovsky told the Times he believes the atrocities committed by Hamas could have been avoided if more Israeli civilians had firearms. Never ever give up your guns, because the minute you do you become a helpless victim. You never know when something like an inhumane attack on the homeland will happen. We have open borders through which illegal immigrants pour in from the entire world. We are not just talking about refugees from Central America and Mexico. Deranged Middle Easterners are entering unfettered. What are their plans? Entire terror cells could be walking across the borders. Dont believe someone who tells you to give up your guns to make society safe. The Second Amendment allows us to keep and bear arms to keep us safe, not to take our arms to keep us safe. In the end, Stern said the Israeli governments restriction on civilian firearms ownership cost hundreds of civilian lives. That grave injustice should never be forgotten. Stern said: But what I'm talking about right now is the guilt of disarming a population in face of terrorism that is unthinkable and that is evil, and they're going to have to pay when their day of judgment comes. Whether it's in front of a judge or whether it's in front of God, each and every person who wrote those laws and who enforced those laws is going to have to pay for their responsibility for all that blood that was spilled because they disarmed those people and didn't give them the ability to defend themselves. In the end the Israeli governments restriction on civilian firearms ownership cost hundreds of civilian lives. And that grave injustice should never be forgotten. Nor allowed to be repeated in other countries. Image: Ralf Steinberger If Shakespeare had grown up in Gaza or Jerusalem, he would never have written a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, because names In the Mideast cast their own reality and even change reality. To understand the Mideast, dont use Shakespeare as a guide, and dont go to Harvard for politically correct but factually wrong appraisals from analysts who know precious little about Mideast languages and ways. Israeli General Nimrod Sheffer, ex-head of IDF Planning Branch, went on Israeli tv this week advocating that Israel talk to Hamas about a ceasefire and return of hostages. Almost all Israelis disagree with that thinking. General Sheffer, a pilot, rose to the top of the Israeli military pyramid. Along the way, he went to Harvard for graduate work, bringing the dovish, clueless Harvard mindset to the Israeli army, to IDF Planning Branch. That mindset -- relying mainly on high-tech and ignoring local facts of life -- failed miserably. Just as Al-Qaeda used box-cutters to humble America, Hamas used bulldozers to flatten Israels high-tech Gaza barrier. Many Israeli officers never thought primitive Hamas, like primitive Al-Qaeda, could be so calamitously successful. Studying your enemy is key. Paying attention to culture, history and language -- the Hebrew bible and the Arabic Quran -- is the first step to getting some regional common sense as well as strategic intelligence Terrorists from Yasser Arafat to Hamas and Al-Qaeda echo the anti-Jewish period of Muhammad, Islams founder, switching from the Children of Israel to the Jews -- al-Yahoud. When they do so, it means they are about to copy Muhammads even harsher actions from the later period of his life when three Jewish tribes in Arabia were evicted from Arabia, forcibly converted, or slaughtered. When Arafat spoke in a mosque in 1995 and recalled how Muhammad dealt with Arabias Jews, it was a clear sign he would break every agreement with Israel and try to conquer it militarily. Arafat tried to cover his tracks and hide his plans, but Hamas has never hidden its ultimate aims. Israels Left fell for Arafats lies. Israels secular Left saw Arafat and his Fatah group as a means to peace and, believe it or not, as a means to control Hamas. Israels Left had no time for religious or historical analysis. When Hamas took over Gaza in 2006, literally throwing Arafats people from tall buildings, it was a shock to the Israeli Left. It was also a shock for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who had encouraged Hamas participation in the Gaza elections, over the objections from hawkish Israelis. Those elections were one man-one vote-one time only -- the founding of the Hamas military state in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now admits that he himself bought into the U.S./Israeli Left mindset that Hamas would play by western rules. Interrogations this week of captured Hamas terrorists reveal that Hamas consciously encouraged this wishful thinking. That is the main reason for the calamitous Hamas terror attack on Israels southern settlements. Senior Israeli military officers for the last 15 years and many Israeli policymakers -- including Netanyahu himself -- believed they could placate Hamas by allowing Gaza workers into Israel and encouraging greater financial aid and materiel. It turns outs that all the cement went into Hamas command bunkers and terror tunnels. There are many ways to minimize the threat of Arab-Islamic terror. One is to call anyone who warn of the danger an Islamophobe -- as if they have a phobia, some unreasoning mental disturbance. Another way is to employ meaningless euphemisms constantly or constantly to see mirages of terrorist moderation. When you want to purify a bloodthirsty terrorist, you simply call him a militant. That is what the BBC, Reuters, UPI, AP, NY Times, CNN, and even Fox have done for years. When the militants actually act like terrorists, media outlets seem to suffer surprise. Militants stage sit-ins in college libraries. Terrorists cut off the heads of babies. Jimmy Carter and his State Department believed Irans ayatollahs were moderate in 1978 until they seized American hostages. Barack Obama came into office in 2009 trying to woo two of the worst Islamic terror concentrations in the world -- the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the ayatollahs. Obama went to Cairo where he weakened Egypts president, Hosni Mubarak, and helped destroy Egypts economy, playing footsie with the Brotherhood. Obama also bankrolled Iran with billions of dollars while he temporized on Irans nuclear bomb program. Much of the Mideast today is a shambles because of the wishful thinking and name-changing by presidents Carter and Obama. If you do not want to be surprised by a terrorist enemy, pay careful attention to his speech and his actions, because the terrorist often tips his hand by the way he speaks. Their most important speech and their most important actions occur when they think they are talking and planning actions among themselves. Both the PLO and Hamas have a covenant -- a guiding charter or constitution written in Arabic. The PLO pretended to change its charter, hinted it no longer wanted Israels destruction. This lie was swallowed by the U.S. State Department and Israeli leftists. Most Israelis and Palestinians, polls show, no longer believe this lie. thats why the Israeli Left -- particularly the Labor Party of Rabin and Peres -- now barely gets four seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Between 1993 (when the PLO-Israel accords were signed) and today, there were just too many attacks on Israel supported by the PLO-led Palestinian Authority. Israelis simply do not trust the PLO. The ironic thing is that most senior IDF general staff officers, groomed for years by Labor Party leaders and who tend to be left-leaning (including most directors of intelligence and planning branches) still support the PLO and the so-called two-state solution. So do many leading Israeli politicians (including right-of-center types like Netanyahu) who had convinced themselves that Hamas had moderated. Netanyahu on the Right and Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid et al on the Left all bought the narrative that Hamas had gentrified, that it built skyscrapers instead of terror tunnels. They thought Hamas was willing to swap ideology for money, to live alongside Israel. Sure, they said, Hamas launched some rockets, but it would never do anything serious. They were dead wrong. Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO head, is afraid of elections. West Bank or Gaza. He is seven years older than Joe Biden and sounds like he has marbles in his mouth. He would be overthrown in a heartbeat, maybe his last heartbeat, if Israel were not guarding him in Ramallah. He wont last a year in Gaza. This means that the Biden Administrations plans to push Israel into transferring a conquered Gaza to the hands of the PLO-led Palestinian Authority are doomed to failure. Thats just what we need: another failed state in the Middle East. Even if Israel destroys Hamas militarily and kills its leadership, the radical Islamist tendency will likely defeat the corrupt moderate PLO. Hamas passed its charter in August 1988, and it calls for the murder or expulsion of all Jews in Israel. One of its passages speaks very clearly: Our fight with the Jews is very extensive and very grave, and it requires all the sincere efforts. Hamass invasion-pogrom on October 7, where 1,500 people were murdered in a matter of hours, was definitely sincere, and it is time that Israeli, American and other analysts treat terrorist threats sincerely. Dr. Michael Widlanski is an expert in political communication, a former reporter and college professor who was the author of Battle for Our Minds: Western Elites and the Terror Threat (Threshold-Simon and Schuster). He was strategic affairs advisor in Israel s Ministry of Public Security, editing captured PLO documents. Earlier he advised Israeli negotiation teams at the Madrid and Washington talks in 1991-92. Dr. Widlanski was a visiting professor at Washington University in St. Louis in 2007-8 and at the University of California, Irvine in 2014, taught political communication for two decades at The Hebrew University and Bar Ilan University. Earlier he was a reporter at The New York Times and Cox Newspapers, war correspondent for Israeli Army Radio and Diplomatic Correspondent for Israel Television in English (IBA). Image: NASA Much is often said about Israel and the United States being natural allies, but that is usually not accompanied by much detail. There are many cultural ties, including religion, of course, and intriguing economic similarities, especially in their respective social instincts for entrepreneurialism, technology, and capital markets. Israel and the United States are also New World countries, formed in large part on the basis of religious and political freedom. At a current national security level, the two countries share a similar strategic threat from enemies at their borders and, in some respects, enemies internally. In the case of Israel, like the current United States, it was its southern border that was recently penetrated by invaders (at the Kerem Shalom checkpoint near Egypt, among other locations). Moreover, its northern flank, like in the U.S., is also exposed, and to its east looms a vast land mass of hostile interests that can encroach through an unstable Iraq, right up to Israels lines of defense. The U.S faces similar risks from the equivalent of a foreign sea power that can (and does) mass up and down its eastern Atlantic seaboard, and also along its entire western Pacific coast. Invasion access is abundant and maintaining security a constant responsibility. Both counties are surrounded by national security threats, and that includes the third dimension of airspace, including space. What both countries really share, however, is hatred from outside. It is a hate based in many ways on envy. Israel has many successes to claim, while also hosting a social culture utterly unlike its neighbors that surround it, who are still psychologically tied to customs and thought patterns rooted in centuries-old belief. This includes the treatment of women, for example, as well as the full panoply of human rights, law and economics, and their respective institutions. The U.S. is also similarly hated by much of the world. If you travel to Europe, you often encounter an attitude from western Europeans (interestingly, not generally from eastern and central ones) who harbor a contempt for American ways. If you travel still farther to parts of Asia, the state of mind there may be more pragmatic but also much more dangerous: China, unlike France and Germany, has possession of economic and trade power, combined with the military prowess and numbers, to overwhelm the U.S. With a weak if nonexistent commander in chief, the risk is radically heightened. (One can only imagine what Netanyahu was thinking as he saw Biden hobble down the stairs of Air Force One recently.) But the U.S. has also naively accommodated an internal political enemy that seeks to dismantle and replace much of its functions, while retaining merely some of its forms (its legal system is an example). What Israel and the U.S. do not have in common, however, is also instructive: leadership and resolve. Say what you may about Netanyahu, but if the U.S. were Israel, our southern border would likely be fully patrolled if not sealed, with the north carefully guarded. And if the border were breached and the U.S. has been breached his instinct might be to retaliate. Instead, the U.S. facilitates. The current U.S. instinct is also to accommodate in an unprecedented way: the thousands of illegal entrants who are being explicitly and illegally shipped into the U.S. interior daily are, in many ways, a silent Hamas that can accomplish the same goals, only in a more subtle if not insidious manner: a slow-kill assault on American culture and its security that has at the core of its political and private sponsorship a profound hatred of America, combined with envy and, perhaps ironically, a lust for its spoils, property, and symbols of prestige. Israel, on the other hand, retains a sharp instinct for self-preservation. The United States may have this instinct in a latent form, and as Edmund Burke once noted, colonial Americans could smell the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze. It may be the colonial spirit that can best tie the U.S. and Israel together because it is a spirit rooted in a strong culture of independence, along with resolve for combat. Both countries however, also run the risk of losing civilian control of their respective military dominance, while simultaneously fighting an internal domestic battle among political and other special interests that have divergent national ambitions, which can result in the loss of territorial, economic, and cultural sovereignty. America and Israel both share enemies, foreign and domestic, who seek to wipe them off the map. (Some of these enemies are consolidated within our own domestic national institutions. Our university system, for example, acts in significant ways as a network of political camps.) In both countries, international law and order is threatened by radical ideology seeking to both undermine social order, and weaken or even destroy national economies. Israels realpolitik and self-preservation cause it to undertake immediate self-defense. The U.S. must do the same: a joint U.S.-IL war on terror means the eradication of Hamas and all its manner and forms of sponsorship, and at the same time, the suppression and neutralization of a highly organized radical leftism embedded within the U.S. political party apparatus. The two terror sources can be seen as a combined threat that must be comprehensively uprooted as a precondition to regional stabilities and international law and order. Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO and author of the upcoming book Legally Blind concerning ideological effects on law and policy. He was an executive adviser with the aerospace and defense practice of Booz Allen Hamilton and has testified before the U.S. Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and studied with White House national security advisor W.W. Rostow at the LBJ School of public Affairs. Image via Picryl. Like other Americans, I watched President Bidens Thursday evening speech and came away scratching my head in wonderment. Evidently, he has a new speechwriter who has no grasp on history and doesnt like sobering albeit contrary facts. On the surface, I agree with much of what Mr. Biden said in his speech. He rightly labeled Hamass attack on Israeli civilians as horrific and evil. He promised an unprecedented commitment to Israels security as well. Thats all proper. On Ukraine, now 20 months into Putins war of choice, Biden labeled that fight as a brutal tragedy, which is marked by reports of mass graves, torture, rape, and thousands of Ukrainian children abducted into Russia. Mr. Biden is correct regarding the broader picture of instability on global security demonstrated by these wars. However, conveniently, Mr. Bidens speechwriter forgot that these outcomes are partially his administrations fault. However, I heard no accepting of responsibility for any of this mess in the Oval Office speech. Bidens failed 2021 withdraw from Afghanistan contributed to Putins assessment that the United States would not do what was necessary to stop a Russian assault into Ukraine. It wasnt until after the Russian attack into Ukraine that Biden got serious about helping Kyiv. Mr. Bidens weak foreign policy also contributed to the Mideast mess. Indirectly, he drained our insurance policy against Mideast tension our strategic oil reserves to the current 17 days by selling communist China our excess. And Mr. Bidens bankrupt energy policy crippled our petroleum industry to make space for his radical green energy agenda. Thus, we are vulnerable to the likes of energy producers like Iran and Russia. Also, resurrecting the Obama-era nuclear deal with Tehran emboldened the Islamists in Tehran and Bidens recent decision to pay $6 billion for hostages was a key signal of surrender another mark of Biden's weakness. The administrations China policy is arguably worse, if thats possible. Chinas President Xi has taken a measure of Mr. Biden and found him weak. Thus, Beijing has its eye on Taiwan, at the same time manipulating much of the world through its strategic levers like the Belt & Road Initiative. Mr. Xi has made no secret of the fact that he intends to resurrect the Middle Kingdom by remaking international order to favor totalitarians. Mr. Biden sits on his hands and watches. Further, thanks to Bidens open southern border policy, many of our major cities and the entire southwest region are overrun by illegals and among them many suspected terrorists and known criminals flooded into this country to rob us of our national security. Meanwhile, Biden is draining our arsenals of hard-to-replace weapons needed to secure our own future. Also, dont believe that money alone can quickly replenish our weapon stocks in time before the likes of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army takes advantage of American forces. Finally, Mr. Biden wants to throw more money $100 billion in new budget authority at problems he helped to create. This is atop our staggering $33-trillion budget deficit, which this spend-crazy president and his progressive Democrat party willingly embrace. God help us! Yes, Mr. Bidens Thursday evening speech included many things that needed to be said. But it is what he didnt say about his own malfeasants in office and playing fast and loose with facts about energy, our overwhelming national debt, his bankrupt border policy, and our drained arsenals that are destabilizing red flags. I fear the instability partially attributed to Mr. Bidens policies over his two and a half years in office have contributed to global instability. If we arent careful, the current series of crises will lead to a global war and the further implosion of America. Mr. Maginnis is a retired U.S. Army officer and the author ten books. The most recent is Divided We Stand: The Globalist Scheme for a One-World Government. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The House speakership has not been a happy thing for Republicans lately. While Nancy Pelosi was a raging leftist who successfully corralled her party and rammed through the leftist agenda (love her or hate her, she was effective), the same cannot be said for recent Republican speakers. John Boehner and Paul Ryan were RINOs. Kevin McCarthy was much more conservative, and for that he deserves credit, but he reneged on promises, especially about January 6. Since his ouster, though, its been one humiliation after another. Now, however, with Byron Donalds having thrown his hat in the ring, theres hope. Whether you think Matt Gaetz was bold to punish yet another Republican who failed to work for his base or an idiot to upset the status quo of a decent Speaker is a topic for another day. What we have today is a leaderless Republican party in the House and, given our slender majority, thats a problem. (Theres a larger problem, of course, which is that we have a leaderless Republican party in toto. Donald Trump should be that leader, but the schism between NeverTrumpers and conservatives is too big for him to fill that role.) Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan have both gone down in flames, victims of the Vichy Republicans in Congressand by that, I mean the people who are usually called RINOs. I prefer Vichy Republicans because this isnt your daddys Democrat party anymore. As the past few years, and especially the past week, have made clear, the Democrat party has morphed into a stone-cold socialist party that is determined to take over America. Democrats are conquerors, and those who side with them are no longer weak or greedy, theyre complicit. Image: Byron Donalds. YouTube screen grab. Now, though, we may have someone who just rode to the rescue: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla). Tonight, I am announcing my candidacy for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. pic.twitter.com/1wSwQYqoX2 Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) October 20, 2023 BREAKING NEWS: Byron Donalds is now running for U.S. Speaker of The House. pic.twitter.com/WfvrvYtmBe Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 20, 2023 Donalds is an interesting man. He grew up in Crown Heights and was raised by a single mother. In 1997, a year after graduation from high school, Donalds was arrested for marijuana distribution, although the charges were dropped when he was put into a diversion program. He also pleaded no contest to charges of trying to defraud a bank. Although his record was sealed and expunged, it lives on in cyberspace. Thus, Donalds seemed to be set on the path so common to young black men raised by single mothers: Drugs and crime. However, Donalds made different choices. He attended Florida A&M University and eventually graduated from Florida State University. Once out of college, Donalds did well in the financial world, moving from being a credit analyst to a commercial credit manager to an assistant vice president in a bank to a portfolio manager to a financial advisor for Wells Fargo. I believe in remorse, repentance, and redemption, and Donalds clearly followed that path. By this time, Donalds was a conservative. He got involved in the Tea Party movement and, from there, got into politics. He was eventually elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. In 2020, Donalds was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. His self-description during his campaign is great: Trump supporting, gun owning, liberty loving, pro-life, politically incorrect Black man. In addition, he supports economic freedom, nuclear power, less government in healthcare, and no Green New Deal. Hes outspoken in his belief that the 2020 election was gamed. Donalds has also shown himself to be adept at handling the media, in large part because he believes in the principles on which he was elected. Theres absolutely no doubt that Byrons support for Trump and disdain for the 2020 election results are anathema to the Vichy Republicans. On the other hand, theyd be absolute dodos to turn down the chance to elect the first black man to be Speaker of the House of Representativesespecially a black man whom the Republican base likes: Byron Donalds is officially running for Speaker. Let's make history, America. pic.twitter.com/rREsj16Q9A Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) October 20, 2023 Yes. Out of all of the announced candidates for Speaker, @ByronDonalds, is the best option. https://t.co/dU6EyycABP Alex Bruesewitz (@alexbruesewitz) October 20, 2023 Wait. He just endorsed Jordan as Speaker. I dont want a Minnesota Republican as Speaker. Its a SOLID liberal state. Make history GOP and select Rep @ByronDonalds of Florida. Force Dems to oppose the FIRST BLACK Speaker. Dare Republicans to oppose him.https://t.co/sSQkXXI0I7 David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) October 20, 2023 I supported @Jim_Jordan for our next Speaker. Unfortunately my votes for him on the floor and in conference to remain Speaker designate was not enough. I now support @ByronDonalds for the next Speaker of the House Cory Mills (@CoryMillsFL) October 20, 2023 And of course, it will make Democrat heads explode to have Republicans revisit their 19th century historywhen they voted for the first Black congressmenby voting for the first black Speaker of the House. Byron Donalds has made it clear that wants to be Speaker of The House. How soon before MEDIA outlets call him a White Supremecist? pic.twitter.com/rcP5zE4gK6 The Win Doctor (@Windoctorx) October 20, 2023 For Democrats, a vote for Donalds should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, as weve seen too often, too many Republican politicians have no brains. GB News, Great Britains ostensibly (if mildly) conservative counterpart to the BBC, is rapidly making itself a laughingstock of MSNBC proportions. First, the great Mark Steyn was effectively forced from the media outlet when it attempted to push Steyn into accepting a contract making Steyn legally accountable for anything he or his guests might utter that British regulators within the Orwellian Office of Communication (OfComm) might deem to be hate speech or wrong-think. Steyn has taken legal action against OfComm after it confirmed a previous episode breached the code. (The media watchdog took issue with an episode which aired on October 4 2022, and featured an interview between the Niche Canadian and Dr. Naomi Wolf, who made serious claims about the Covid-19 vaccine-- which, as we all know, is strictly verboten.) More recently, former BBC Chief Political Correspondent John Sergeant appeared on GB News to defend the BBCs appalling decision to not label Hamas a terrorist organization. And what, precisely, does the Beeb intend to call the bloodthirsty Hamas terrorists? Legitimately perturbed Palestinian nationalists? Mostly peaceful Mohammedan migrants? GB News is to journalism as The View is to, welljournalism. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License I am second to none in my disrespect for Greta Thunberg. Shes a creepy little mutant, the product of ardent socialist parents, who cured herself of a mental breakdown by terrifying the worlds youth with unfounded predictions of a climate apocalypse that can be cured only by giving her and her fellow travelers unfettered power (and cash). Given her background and affiliations, it comes as no surprise to learn that, in addition to her paranoia and megalomania, shes also a genocidal antisemite. What you currently see if you go to Gretas X thread is a photo of her with three other broken-looking young women, all of them standing on the side of those unfree Palestinians: Week 270. 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.#FreePalestine #IStandWithPalestine #StandWithGaza #FridaysForFuture Thread pic.twitter.com/0hVtya0yWO Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) October 20, 2023 For claritys sake, Ive corrected the photo: Climate change is a cult. Socialism is a cult. When you have emotionally disturbed young women caught up in both cults, they will show a suicidal ideation. But what about Greta? Shes siding with the people who torture children, rape women to death, decapitate infants, slice open pregnant womens bellies, and do it all while having fun, fun, fun. Then, they record these moments and either send them to the families of the victims (using the victims phones) or they proudly post them on social media. And keep in mind, of course, that the whole this is the Palestinians land is a lie cooked up in the 20th century, a combination of Islamic Jew-hatred, British bureaucrats hungry for power, and Soviet machinations with Yasir Arafat. Thats bad, but Greta is actually much worse than that. You see, the tweet above isnt what Greta originally sent out. Instead, she carefully included an octopus looking over her shoulder in the original tweet: Oh how cute. The antisemitic psychopath has thoughts. pic.twitter.com/LUHI1g7vKD JWF (@JammieWF) October 20, 2023 Ever since the phony Protocols of the Elders of Zion, one of the most recognizable antisemitic tropes is the Jewish octopus, with its tentacles stretching over the world. I take back my comment about what a stuffed animal has to do with anti-Semitism. There's no way that an octopus of all things just happened to be placed on her knee in the right way without it being intentional. This was completely intentional and any excuse to deny it is BS. pic.twitter.com/ZJ8lYhb7jO Leftism (@LeftismForU) October 20, 2023 Once her little nod to vicious antisemitism was exposed, Thunberg backpedaled furiously. Along with posting the cleaned-up photograph, Thunberg offered an explanation: 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 Do you believe her? I dont. There is no evidence that Thunberg has ever before been using stuffed octopuses for communication with autistic people. Instead, that traditional antisemitic symbol showed up for the first and only time in a tweet in which she sided with people who visited the most vicious attack on Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. Again, though, none of this is a surprise. She isnt the first socialist megalomaniac to dream of destroying Jews and, sadly, she wont be the last. On the day that Gallup reported bad news for the U.S. news media, the folks in the newsrooms lost their common sense over a hospital story. In a heartbeat they confirmed why the public doesnt trust them. Not good. And then the hospital story or should I say the fiction about the Israeli Air Force bombing a hospital in Gaza and killing civilians. So what's going on in those newsrooms populated by the best and the brightest? The New York Post has a good idea If people enter the U.S. illegally, the government will feed, clothe, and house them. This despite the fact that they have committed a crime to supposedly reach safety. The government will even fly them, at no personal expense, to other cities in the U.S. where they can start a new life. With Hamas and Israel fighting each other, hundreds of American citizens have found themselves caught in a war zone. They want to reach safety and return home to the United States. However, the U.S. government is telling these fleeing citizens that they will have to pay for the cost the government incurs to get them home. A citizen in Israel posted an e-mail he received from U.S. State Departments Consular Affairs Crisis Management System after he requested help leaving Israel. The e-mail notes the danger in the country, saying mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning. It also acknowledges that U.S. airlines arent flying to Israel and that citizens need to fly to another airport where they can get a flight to back to the U.S. This is not too surprising. CACMS also noted that it would be offering transit options to get citizens out of Israel. This is something most citizens would expect from the State Department during a time of crisis. However, the e-mail then drops a bomb. Departure assistance is provided via a loan from the U.S. government which requires travelers to sign a promissory note (an agreement to repay) prior to departure. In other words, during a war, the State Department is willing to help citizens, but only if they agree to repay the costs. So, come to our country illegally, and the federal government will pay your bills. Want to come to the country legally to escape a war, and you have to pay. Yitz Friedman, the communications manager at the American Accountability Foundation, and his wife were trapped in Israel after their flight was cancelled. They made it to the U.S. Embassy, expecting their government to help them. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), My wife and I have finally gotten ourselves on the way home to the US from Israel after days of fear and tremendous anxiety. Our original flight was canceled. While Poland, Hungary, Brazil, Romania, and other countries sent planes to bring their citizens home from the war zone, our government told us to fend for ourselves. I literally called our embassy asking for help and was essentially told to pound sand. Is this what it means to be an American abroad, Friedman wrote. He also noted that the U.S. government wasnt the only entity to abandon U.S. citizens. Almost all American airlines received taxpayer bailouts, and they were the first to abandon us. They were the first to cancel all flights, he added. Why is it our government continues to demonstrate through its actions that it couldnt care less about U.S. citizens? It wants to protect and care for non-citizens who break the law to be here. The Biden Administration needs to get its priorities straight. 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: Rakoon A former Hennepin County, Minnesota, prosecutor is suing her employer, alleging that she was a victim of sex discrimination and retaliation. Thats par for the course. Hennepin County is entirely Democrat, and Democrats dont always feel obligated to follow their loudly stated rules. The reason Amy Sweasys lawsuit matters to us is because George Floyd died in Hennepin Countyand depositions in Sweasys case make it very clear that the prosecutors always knew that Derek Chauvin and the other three police did not kill George Floyd: During her deposition, Sweasy also discussed a revealing conversation she said she had the day after Floyds death when she asked Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker about the autopsy. I called Dr. Baker early that morning to tell him about the case and to ask him if he would perform the autopsy on Mr. Floyd, she explained. He called me later in the day on that Tuesday and he told me that there were no medical findings that showed any injury to the vital structures of Mr. Floyds neck. There were no medical indications of asphyxia or strangulation, Sweasy said, according to the transcript. He said to me, Amy, what happens when the actual evidence doesnt match up with the public narrative that everyones already decided on? And then he said, This is the kind of case that ends careers. Of course, American Thinker readers have long known the truth about George Floyds death. Practically from the beginning, John Dale Dunn, M.D. wrote here that (a) none of the coroners information showed death from asphyxia or any other type of strangulation injury and (b) that what killed Floyd was his heart: He had severe heart disease. The disease, combined with stress, killed him. And the Hennepin County prosecutors knew this all along. Image: Derek Chauvin, an innocent man. YouTube screen grab. The other depositions from attorneys in the office show that the decision to prosecute Chauvin was purely political. The prosecutors feared the mob and were happy to go after the police. The politics behind the prosecution ratcheted up even further when Minnesotas governor, Tim Waltz, asked his Attorney General, Keith Ellison, to take over the case as special prosecutor. Once in place, while Hennepin County had only charged Chauvin with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter (despite knowing he was innocent), Ellison increased the charge to second-degree murderagain, knowing Chauvin was innocent. Sadly, prosecutorial immunity means that the corrupt individuals who put Chauvin behind bars for the rest of his life will face no consequences for their evil act. Thats what Tucker Carlsons video was ostensibly about. But what made his video more than just a news report of something the mainstream media also knew at all times and covered up is his interview with Vince Everett Ellison. Ellison was born into a family of sharecroppers in Tennessee but, because he had an intact family with both mother and father, and because his father worked hard and made something of himself in the insurance business, Ellison had a stable middle-class upbringing. He is proof that the system can work for blacks who work with the system. Tucker invited Ellison on to ask him where we go from here, having confirmed that Floyd died from natural causes and the prosecution was fraudulent. After all, as Tucker points out, Floyds death was a flashpoint for the Democrats racist conflagration, which was used to destroy American cities, game an election, and fundamentally break apart the racial comity that had arisen in America since the Civil Rights Movement. Ellison didnt answer that question directly. Instead, he went on the most awesome rant imaginable about how Democrats have demoralized and used blacks in America. Honestly, I fell a little bit in lovea purely intellectual, platonic lovelistening to Ellison speak. It was pure truth, spoken with raw passion and fire. One of the things that Ellison did was to push back against Martin Luther King. He didnt disrespect King. He simply said that King created the victim dynamic that still controls how the black community sees itself. This victim identity means that too many blacks cannot function independently of the allegedly beneficent Democrat party. Along the way, Ellison attacked hip-hop, public education, leftist churches, reparations, and a host of other things. Ive drained the life out of what Ellison said. You really must listen for yourself. Its wonderful: Everyone considers the Middle East and Eastern European conflicts "permanent." However, if the Arab-Israeli confrontation does not require proof of its longevity, the Russo-Ukrainian one is worth examining. The ongoing shooting war between Russia and Ukraine approaches its second anniversary. Nevertheless, it is viewed as simply a logical continuation of the deadly struggle between European civilization and the medieval armies of Tartars/Mongols from the Far East, known as Orda (sometimes called Golden Horde). That fight continued for centuries; in the process, the Orda established many vassal political entities. Some subordinates even survived until the present. For example, Russia is one of the remnants of the Orda (the name itself is hijacked from the term "Kievan Rus," the original name for the country nowadays called "Ukraine"). The origins of the Middle East and East European strife differ but there is a lot of focus on their histories as a solution. Yet they remain intractible. The reason is simpleall previous attempts to "solve" these disputes utilizing the historical narrative have failed spectacularly. Why not concentrate exclusively on the current state of affairs instead? Of course, from such a point of view, any potential remedy will probably be considered unfair by one or both parties, but it could be "the solution." Note that both feuds have one intriguing characteristic. On one side of the barricades are hydrocarbon-rich countries (Muslim states and Russia) and, on the other side, countries deprived of hydrocarbon riches (Israel and Ukraine). Moreover, the Ortho-Muslim side repeatedly weaponizes hydrocarbons to achieve their geopolitical goals. If Donald Trump manages to become Trump-47, he could laser focus on that clear distinction and implement an attractive (but certainly not "optimal" or "fair") enduring panacea to these "perpetual" squabbles. During phase one, Trump could deploy the Ortho-Muslim hydrocarbon arsenal against them and drown the world in hydrocarbons. The United States has such a vast supply of natural gas and oil that removing some government regulations can bring an abundance of reliable hydrocarbons to the world market. A decade or so of inexpensive American oil and gas will bankrupt the Ortho-Muslim producers. For phase two, Trump would direct phase one profits to create the New Manhattan Projectnot for nuclear fission (atomic bomb) but for nuclear fusion. The success of such an endeavor is highly possible. It is not guaranteed, but today's nuclear fusion knowledge is exponentially greater than understanding nuclear reactions at the beginning of the WWII-era Manhattan Project. Nuclear fusion already exists in natureit lights up the stars. It is also used by humans (in an uncontrolled, wild form) in hydrogen bombs. Taming nuclear fusion energy is the right task for Trump-47. The project's astronomic scale corresponds to Trump's construction, governance, and ambition caliber. Successful completion would achieve the desired planet-wide paradigm shift. Post-fusion, hydrocarbons will still be in demand but in microscopic quantities compared to today. It is known that most of the petro-dictators have wasted enormous hydrocarbon profits. Consequently, they will face a thorny dilemma: elementary physical survival or continued terrorism sponsorship. The described two-phase approach would starve the imperialistic ambitions of petro-terror nations. There is no escape; the new paradigm is that they cannot negotiate any settlement. A mere announcement of a Trump-magnitude fusion project would turn arrogant petro-theocracies increasingly polite, concessive, and cooperative. Ortho-Muslim states could not appeal to the United Nations or the Davos clique to stop dirt-cheap and clean fusion energy flow. Even China will abandon them. Russia, which lost a significant part of its industrial base in the post-Soviet years, will enjoy cold Siberian forests. Middle Eastern petro-kingdoms will continue to delight in hot sand. None of them would have the stomach or resources to attack their neighbors. From that perspective, Islam (and the Russian version of Orthodox Christianity to some degree) would finally enter the epoch of the much-wanted Reformation. In that, Islam would follow Western Christianity and Judaism, which have done it and brought them up to speed of civilization. The outlined proposal is more practical than the unnecessary visits of political celebrities to Israel or the non-stop pilgrimage of Western dignitaries to Ukraine. Israel and Ukraine do not need VIP visitors. They do not need extra armaments per se. They need Donald Trump to solve the problem once and for all. The late Soviet dissident and political prisoner Vladimir Bukovsky said, "I am prepared to make the following bet: If two cruise missiles were to be launched at Lubyanka [the KGB headquarters in Moscow], then the level of terrorism worldwide would drop by approximately 80 percent." Did he speak figuratively and really mean the two phases above? If so, genuine American dissident Donald Trumpunjustly prosecuted like Bukovskyis the one who can cut through multiple Gordian knots Gary Gindler, Ph.D., is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and a new science founder: Politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter/X. If our government does not respect the Constitution, we have no constitution. If the government refuses to stand behind the principles of free speech, the right to free assembly, the right to petition the government, the right to a speedy trial, etc., those rights dont exist. Instead, we simply have rule down the barrel of a guna gun held only in government hands. I thought of that when I read about Doug Mackey, sent to federal prison for seven months because he insulted Hillary voters, and Ryan Kelley, given an extra-long prison sentence on a misdemeanor because he didnt grovel sufficiently before his J6 hanging judge. Briefly, in the lead-up to the 2016 election, Douglas Mackey sent out some silly memes telling Hillary voters to vote by text. Only a moron would believe that. Theres no evidence that his memes had any effect whatsoever, other than saying that he thought Hillary voters were morons. Moreover, what he did wasnt original. Others have done it, too, including leftists. Nevertheless, the moment Biden entered the White House, the DOJ came after Mackey. The other day, he was convicted and sent to prison for seven months for telling an obvious political joke. Matt Walsh covers the entire episode in great detail in his video, and I urge you to watch it. (Its the very first segment.) A Trump Supporter Was Just Sent To Federal Prison For A Meme pic.twitter.com/2Nh2NtPMF5 The Matt Walsh Show (@MattWalshShow) October 19, 2023 In his monologue, Walsh calls out the Republican politicians who, almost to a man, have had nothing to say about the administrations open disdain for the First Amendment or for this miscarriage of justice. He thinks they dont care. I think so, too, but Id add one other thing: Theyre afraid. Theyve seen what the Biden administration is doing to Trump. They know that, once the socialists are in power, having been an elected representative of the people and exercising their own right to free speech is no defense when the Gestapo, KGB, or Stasi come calling. Mackey wasnt the only one who found himself a victim of the new regimes thought-crime police. Ryan Kelley showed up at the Capitol on January 6. He did not go into the Capitol. Like Ray Epps, he remained outside. Unlike Ray Epps, he didnt urge dozens of people to enter the Capitol. Instead, he said, They cant stop us all, and he supported another person moving around a metal bike rack, ripped a tarp, and took a photo of blood on the Capitol steps. If he were Antifa or BLM, he wouldnt even have gotten a ticket. But because hes a conservative, while in the midst of campaigning to be governor of the State of Missouri, Kelley, a father of five, found his home raided, at which time he was arrested in front of his wife and children. Kelley was just sentenced to 60 days in prisonon a misdemeanor! Were getting used to these sentences against people for daring to oppose the election outcome, something thats obviously allowed only if youre a Democrat protesting Trump. Theres one thing, though, that makes the sentence against Kelley exceptionally disturbing. The judge wanted Kelley to be broken: Of course, it was decided by Judge Cooper that Kelley, who has no criminal record, should receive a harsh sentence for his misdemeanor charge because, in his opinion, the former Republican candidate for governor did not show enough remorse for his non-violent crime. Kelley was sentenced by Obama-appointed Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who said he had some serious concerns that Kelley was truly remorseful, citing fundraising appeals Kelley made two years after the riot calling Jan. 6 an FBI set-up. He shouted into the already riled up crowd; he consistently beckoned the crowd of rioters forward, closer towards the Capitol Building and police; he supported another rioter as he was moving a metal bike rack towards the front of the mob on the Northwest stairs, towards those rioters who were closer to officers; and he took a photograph of human blood by the stairs, prosecutors wrote. The truth is, Kelleys biggest crime was not blaming President Trump for his actions. Kelley told the court, Its not his fault, the former president, for my actions that day. He did invite us there, but my actions are my actions, and I own those. When Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England in 1558, she ended decades of deadly religious persecution. That started with her father, Henry VIII, who persecuted Protestants when he was a Catholic. When he broke with the Catholic church and became a Protestant, he went after Catholics. When his son, Edward VI, became King, Edward continued to persecute Catholics. When Henry VIIIs daughter, Mary I, became Queen, she switched gears and began burning Protestants. Elizabeth stopped this cycle, saying, I would not open windows into mens souls. Our American judges are not supposed to make windows into mens souls. Kelley committed minor acts of vandalism and took responsibility for his acts. That should have been the end of it, but in the type of behavior were accustomed to seeing in despots, from British monarchs to all manner of socialist tyrants, Judge Cooper looked into Kelleys soul and decided he needed to be punished for his wrongful thoughts. Thats deeply un-American and should scare us all. One other thing: Could there be a better reason to get rid of judicial and prosecutorial immunity? Image: Federal judges if youre a Trump supporter (created using AI). Recent proposed solutions for healthcare are what systems thinkers call fixes that fail or backfire. They are like a doctor giving opioids to a cancer patient. Painkillers mask the symptoms but never get at the root cause of illness: the malignancy that is making health care unaffordable and unavailable. Following are some recently touted healthcare fixes followed by why they wont work. o AI cannot replace human clinicians, who are in very short supply California passes $25/hour for healthcare workers o Safety-net hospitals say they will close because they cannot afford $25/hour Expanding care for homeless, called a gamechanger o Who will provide the care? Individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRA) o Wont lower costs or make care more available Expand time for insurance enrollment o Will provide more people with insurance -- will not make care more accessible Stop-loss insurance for employers o Wont affect care o Physician shortage will limit effectiveness of virtual medical care These solutions ignore the root cause of healthcare system failure. In fact, they compound that failure. The root cause is lack of freedom: people are denied decision-making authority. Washington takes away their right to choose. Patients cannot decide what care is imposed on them, government does, as in mandatory COVID shots. Doctors dont decide what medications a patient should take, a pharmacy benefits manager does. Neither doctors nor patients choose procedures to be performed: an insurance company does. And all of the third-party decision makers follow rules and regulations established by Washington. Instead of having the personal freedom guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, Americans live under federal tyranny by proxy. Washington controls healthcare, the system, as well as individual health care through bureaucratic power over insurance companies, medical facilities and organizations, social media and news outlets, and even individual physicians. Agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH decide what information Americans are allowed to have, what care they get, when and if. With freedom comes responsibility. Yet many people believe health care is a human right. If so, government is responsible to provide that right, meaning that government chooses, thus taking away the individuals ability and responsibility to choose. The logic is unescapable, yet many continue to believe one can be free and still have a right to medical care, the personal service or work product of another person. When viewed through the lens of denial of health care freedom, the proposed solutions throw gasoline on a fire. Mandating care for homeless, increasing minimum wages, expanding insurance procedures, or implementing care-by-computer all further reduce individuals right to choose and thus make healthcare sicker, not better. Then, there is the money. Not only are Americans not free to choose their care, they are also not free to choose how to spend their money. Two fiscal facts explain why health care is unaffordable. The average American family will expend $32,065 on healthcare costs this year. More than 80 percent will go to insurance companies. They decide where that money goes, not the individuals. Between 31 percent and 50 percent of healthcare spending is diverted away from payments to healers or hospitals. That money goes to pay for healthcare BARRCOME: bureaucracy, administration, rules, regulations, compliance, oversight, mandates, and enforcement. As much as half of all U.S. healthcare spending -- more than $2 trillion -- produces no care! Federal government and insurance companies decide where healthcare dollars go, not the individuals who produced those dollars. Thus, the usual market forces -- buyers need to economize and inter-seller competition -- are distorted and suppressed. This explains why costs keep rising without limit and service is so delayed that Americans die waiting in line for care that never comes. The recently proposed fixes for healthcare will fail to fix. In fact, they will backfire by adding more federal BARRCOME and taking more money away from care. An effective solution addresses the root cause. Curing patient Healthcare requires restoring individuals right to choose and getting federal government out of healthcare. Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Decision Science; former Director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; and author of the multi-award winning book Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare: StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine. Image: OpenClipArt The New York Times' bedrock guide for reporting and disseminating the news is "All The News That's Fit To Print," which has been firmly affixed to their front page dead trees edition for over 120 years. And updated over 20 years ago to include the web version and other forms of social/electronic media. And so the NY Times obviously totally trusts Muslim Hamas terrorists (not militants) when they tearfully announced that the totally evil Israelis had bombed a hospital in terrorist Hamas-controlled Gaza, killing 500 people. And continued to believe Hamas and the "Palestinians" (sic) despite the Times' ever-changing headlines during the day. Yes, yes, the horror of war with its accompanying chaos, destruction, and death makes truth hard to discover. But not for the NY Times, which continued to vomit a variation of its initial headline based on Hamas' version of truth while ignoring the reliable truth from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) because well... it's Israel. You know, Israel. Jews. Whoops, back to the ever-reliable Hamas they go. When finally confronted with indisputable facts and information -- when even their media friends turn on them -- the NY Times reverts to the ever-reliable excuse that children have used since time immemorial, "It isn't my fault; s/he made me do it." "And besides, all the other kids did it too." "You never let me have any fun." As the NY Times' David Leonhardt blithely explains, this is all Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's fault. Duh! Of course! Slap palm to forehead while shrieking, "Why didn't I think of that!" Canadas accusations against India offer some insights into how the world might get some clarity about the Gaza explosion. Last month, Justin Trudeau, Canadas prime minister, suggested that Indian government agents had helped murder a Canadian citizen near Vancouver in a political attack. The course that story took offers some insights into how the world might get some clarity about the Gaza explosion. In todays newsletter, Ill explain -- and update you on the latest news from Israel and Gaza.... The aftermath of the Gaza explosion has been different in some important ways. Intelligence agencies released information much more quickly than usual, hoping to avoid what you might call the Trudeau problem. But they have not avoided it -- because they did not release the kind of information, like satellite images or videos, likely to clear up confusion and sway undecided people who are open to empirical evidence. There are reasons that officials are hesitant to do so. Releasing information can expose its source, like a spy or a hidden surveillance camera. Yet the stakes seem high enough that the side thats telling the truth could gain a huge diplomatic advantage through transparency. Blah, blah, blah, see not my fault, for some reason Israel doesn't trust me but Hamas does and Israel sneakily didn't disclose all its highly-secret methods and information that save their lives, while the always truthful and reliable Hamas did and besides all the other kids, The Wall Street Journal said the same thing too and so did the AP and Reuters and the BBC and the Los Angeles Times (no relation) and, and, and even the always reliable, always neutral Arabic Al Jazeera in English blah, blah, blah so why are you always picking on me? Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes, ears? Blaming me! You never let me have any fun! Sob, sob! Wah!" Image: New York Times Android comes with a handy dandy QR code reader installed. Its always at the ready when you need to scan a code. Being a QR code reader, you shouldnt really expect any added functionality from it. However, Google is looking to surpass expectations and add a new feature. According to a new report, the Android QR code reader will let you scan passes and health cards to add to Google Wallet. This is a neat feature, and it shows that Google wants to upgrade how you add cards to your Google Wallet. Just recently, we got the news that Wallet allowed people to scan barcodes to add cards. For example, if you have a gym membership card, you can scan its barcode to add it to your wallet. Its a way of adding cards to your wallet that arent on the pre-populated list of cards. Advertisement Advertisement The Android QR code reader will let you scan passes The latest beta version of the Google Play services (version 23.42) is now out, and it brings an update to the Android QR code reader. You will be able to add different passes to your Wallet along with smart health cards. In the beta, when you scan the QR code, it will detect if its the code for a smart health card or other card. Once it detects that its a specific kind of card, youll see a little Google Wallet panel pop up from the bottom with an add to Wallet button. When you tap on that button, youll see the Google Wallet app open with a picture of the card youre adding. On the bottom of the screen, youll see the Add button. Once you tap on that button, it will be added to your wallet. Right now, in order to use this feature, youll need to be running Android 13, have the latest beta version of the Google Play Services installed, and activate the appropriate flags. If you dont want to mess around with the flags, then youll just want to wait for it to hit the stable channel. Google has reached the halfway point of its antitrust case and will go on the defense. Attempting to convince judge Amit Mehta and the court that it isnt running an illegal monopoly with online search. Since the beginning of this case back in September the prosecution has alleged Google has engaged in monopolistic practices to maintain its dominance in the online search market. A big part of that has centered on Googles exclusive deals to companies like Apple. Wherein Google paid Apple large sums of money to make Google the default search engine on its iPhones and other devices that use the Safari browser. Googles rivals, including Microsoft and DuckDuckGo have issued statements that these deals make it nearly impossible to reach Googles level of market share. Noting that Google makes it unnecessarily difficult to change the default to something else. Advertisement Advertisement Google of course has asserted that users have a choice on what to use. And that they choose to use Google because they feel its better. Going forward, Google will present its defense that tries to back up these statements. Google will present its defense in the antitrust case next week Today marks the final day for the prosecution to showcase its claims that Google is running a monopoly. But Google isnt set to give its defense until next week. With that part of the trial beginning on October 26. Which is next Thursday. Once the defense starts, the trial will continue for another five weeks. Though judge Mehta wont make a final decision until sometime in 2024. The Justice Department can then make appeals if Google wins the case and Google will be able to do the same. Which means things arent likely to be finalized for quite some time. Especially with a monumental case like this one. The defense will likely revolve around many of the arguments Google has made so far. But there have been some revelations that could be hard to overcome. Emails from now CEO Sundar Pichai from back in 2007 referred to being the only search option on Apple devices as bad optics. Ex employees also described Google search as a benevolent dictatorship that forces advertisers to stomach costly changes. As Bloomberg notes, Google has some of its most difficult challenges in this case ahead of it. Google Messages just went through a notable redesign not too long ago. It introduced a new home screen with some menu items moved around. However, it seems that the company is not done making changes. According to a new report, Google Messages will have a camera icon on the home screen. The Google messages camera icon will make sending pictures easier When using Google Messages, youre likely to send a picture from time to time. If you need to snap a shot to send to your recipient, you have a few options. You can either go to the conversation, tap on the Add button, and access the camera. You could also go to the camera app, take the shot, go to the conversation, and select the image. Advertisement Advertisement Neither of those ways is particularly painful, but Google is looking to streamline the experience a bit. The company is going to update the Google Messages app to include a new camera icon next to the search button. Tapping on that button will bring you to the camera app. Once you take the picture you want, youll see the Select recipients UI pop up. This will let you send the picture right away. This will make sending pictures to your friends just a bit quicker and easier. One thing to note is that this feature has not rolled out yet. Were not 100% sure when Google is going to release it to the public. For the time being, when you take the picture, youll get the current Add recipient screen. Thats notable because Google is working on revamping that UI. Rather than being a little box that shows a few of your recent recipients, it will open in a full-screen mode that will show more recipients to add. Youll also be able to expand the list to show even more. We dont know when Google is going to come out with any of these changes, so youll just need to hang tight. X has come under fire for how it handles and deals with the spread of misinformation, but a recent study reveals some shocking facts. From the report, it becomes clear that the main source of social media misinformation on the Israel-Hamas conflict is X. Over the past few weeks, the platform has become the burrow for ill-meaning individuals spreading false news about this conflict. The accounts spreading this misinformation are mostly X Premium accounts. These accounts can push out disinformation to lots of users because of the privileges they enjoy as premium users. From the reports, netizens learn that about 74% of the misleading posts under consideration are from X Premium users. Advertisement Advertisement Premium users on X get a wider reach for their posts than regular users of the platform. So making a misleading post as an X Premium user will help promote it to more users on the platform. This premium feature which became available with Elon Musks Twitter takeover is now a weapon for spreading misleading information. By boosting X Premium accounts, the platform is helping spread misinformation Before Elon Musk took over Twitter and made it X, the users had access to the Blue subscription plan. With this monthly subscription plan, users could unlock tons of features like post edits and lots more. However, the verification of accounts was left to Twitter, as the platform only handed out Blue ticks to accounts it had verified. This made it possible for users to identify and follow reliable sources of information in various industries. After Elon Musk took over control of the platform, he started handing out Blue Ticks to random accounts for just $8 per month. Just like with the previous Blue subscription, X premium users also have access to tons of features that regular users dont have. Among the privileges these users enjoy is the fact that their posts reach a wider audience of users. With this privilege, ill-meaning users can afford to spread misleading information on issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to the study on this matter, other platforms also have misleading information on the Israel-Hamas conflict, but it mostly sprouts from X. The EU is already investigating X for its carefree approach to misinformation on its platform. Despite the investigations, X still plans to encourage users to freely share their ideas on various issues. This approach to the spread of information on X is not helpful, as it discourages checks and balances while encouraging the spread of misinformation. Sir Bobby Charltons death highlights the urgent need to find a cure for dementia, Alzheimers Research UK has said. The Manchester United and England hero a pillar of the Three Lions 1966 World Cup winning team has died aged 86, his family announced on Saturday. Charlton was diagnosed with dementia and the announcement of his condition was made public in November 2020. Charities have praised him for inspiring people off the field by being open about his diagnosis. Almost a million people in the UK are living with dementia and it is the leading cause of death, the Alzheimers Research UK charity said. It said there are no treatments available in the UK to slow, stop or prevent the diseases that cause dementia, issuing a call for action after Charltons death. Alzheimers Research UK chief executive Hilary Evans said: Our thoughts are with Sir Bobby Charltons family, and all those who loved him, following the tragic news that he has died with dementia. Sir Bobby was a hero and so many of us have great memories from his impressive career on the pitch. He will be greatly missed and we send his family our sympathies. Its absolutely devastating that Sir Bobbys final years were blighted by dementia, but unfortunately this is the case for almost one million people in the UK today. At Alzheimers Research UK, we are determined to change the ending for everyone affected by dementia by finding a cure, and the awful news about Sir Bobby highlights that we dont have a moment to waste. Alzheimers Society chief executive Kate Lee also offered condolences to Charltons family during this devastating time. She added: Bobby has been inspiring for so many, not just from his achievements on the pitch, but also through his openness about his dementia diagnosis, shining such an important light on the UKs biggest killer. We know through our Sport United Against Dementia partnership just how many people will hold precious memories of the 1966 World Cup team, and everything they achieved. Tributes poured in after Charltons death, with David Beckham calling him a national hero and Gary Lineker saying he achieved footballing immortality. In March it was announced that Ms Evans would co-chair the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission, launched in August 2022 to develop innovative research tools and increase the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia and neurodegeneration. The former EastEnders and Carry On actress, who died in 2020 aged 83, campaigned for funding to find a cure or a way to halt dementia after her own diagnosis with Alzheimers. Dame Barbara Windsor (Alzheimers Society/PA) Health Secretary Steve Barclay said Ms Evans would help bring together industry leaders, the NHS, researchers and families living with dementia in an effort to tackle the condition. The Government also pledged to double funding for dementia research to 160 million by 2024. A million people are predicted to be living with dementia by 2025, rising to 1.6 million by 2040. A spokesperson for the Dementia UK charity said: We are sorry to hear that Sir Bobby Charlton has died having lived with dementia for several years. We send our condolences to his family and hope they are receiving the support they need at this difficult time. By speaking publicly about how dementia has impacted their family, they have helped to raise vital awareness of the condition. The UK has called for Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and act with discipline in its military response to the Hamas attacks. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking at an international peace summit in Cairo, warned that the Israel-Hamas dispute must not trigger wider instability in the region. His comments came as a convoy of aid was allowed into besieged Gaza through the border with Egypt. Mr Cleverly said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The frontier with Egypt at Rafah was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the summit in Cairo (Egyptian Presidency Media Office via AP) At the Cairo summit, Mr Cleverly said: The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on October 7. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. With the prospect of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza to root out Hamas, Mr Cleverly said he had raised the need to protect civilians with Tel Aviv. He added: I have spoken directly to the Israeli Government about their duty to respect international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives in Gaza. Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military. He said the opposition of Hamas to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine showed we must ensure Hamas does not win, and that the Gaza conflict does not spiral into a wider war. He said: This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions, and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities, how divisive and polarising, the current situation has become. So we have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives. We must work together to prevent the tragic situation in Gaza becoming a regional conflict because that is exactly what Hamas wants. Trucks carrying lifesaving aid are beginning to cross at Rafah into Gaza. This aid is a lifeline for those suffering. But it cannot be a one off. The UK continues to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) October 21, 2023 ActionAid Palestine spokesman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Before this crisis began, around 500 aid trucks would normally cross the border every day providing a vital lifeline to millions of Gazans who were already facing a humanitarian crisis, she said. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development in the crisis when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were released following talks brokered by Qatar. Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. In Cairo, Mr Cleverly told the summit: We are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza and we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid which much which many of us have partially funded reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need. Meanwhile in the UK, thousands of people joined a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in London. Attendees held signs that read Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. Chants included Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. Thousands of Palestinian supporters are expected to converge on Downing Street on Saturday as diplomatic efforts intensify to allow access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure the release of hostages. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced following his meetings with Middle East leaders that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza should be reopening imminently and he had discussed how the UK could offer support on the ground to get aid into the besieged territory. Late on Friday it was confirmed by Israel that Hamas had freed an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 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 spokesman said. Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie have been freed (Government of Israel via AP) Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has said it expects 200,000 people to join what it claims will be the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history on Saturday. PSC director Ben Jamal said: They will be calling for an end to violence, to all attacks on civilians, and for our Government to end its complicity with the root causes of the violence Israels system of military occupation, colonisation and apartheid. Speakers at the rally in Downing Street will include Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack, UCU general secretary Jo Grady and RMT senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey. Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man has been bailed by the Metropolitan Police after being arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas at another 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. Speaking to broadcasters before returning to the UK, the Prime Minister said that getting aid trucks into Gaza was the immediate priority after meeting President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Egypt. 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. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held talks in Saudi Arabia (Saudi Press Agency/PA) Mr Sunak told broadcasters: When this crisis unfolded, one thing we have prioritised consistently is getting the Rafah crossing opening. Its been a feature of all my conversations, and Im very pleased that that will now imminently happen. He said: 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. 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. 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, and then the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip. 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. The Gaza Health Ministry said 4,137 people have been killed in the territory while Israel said more than 1,400 people in the country have been killed with 203 people being taken hostage into Gaza. The Queen has unveiled a sculpture of veteran Italian jockey Frankie Dettori at Ascot Racecourse to mark his farewell to Britain. Camilla, wearing a brooch which belonged to the late Queen, attended QIPCO British Champions Day at the Berkshire track on Saturday. She was assisted by members of the Greencoats, who have formed the ceremonial guard for royalty at Ascot since 1744, as she unveiled the bronze sculpture. The work, designed by artist and sculptor Tristram Lewis, depicts Dettori mounted on a horse and is located by the Grandstand Lawn. Ascot said it was cast by Fonderia Artista Artu di Gaetano Salmista of Florence and Pemburys Fine Arts to act as a permanent reminder of the jockeys unparalleled contribution to racing there. Camilla, wearing a green dress coat by Anna Valentine and a hat by Philip Treacy, spoke to Dettori and Mr Lewis after the unveiling. Dettori posed for pictures with the sculpture (John Walton/PA) Dettori had his first ride at Royal Ascot in 1987 and recorded 81 victories at the royal meeting and 229 winners at Ascot overall. In 1996, he rode all seven winners on the Saturday of the Festival of British Racing a precursor to QIPCO British Champions Day. The 52-year-old began his day of racing on Saturday with a thrilling victory aboard Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot, later winning the Champion Stakes with King of Steel on the final ride of his British career. He will now move to America. He said: Ascot has been everything to me my first Group 1 winner when I was 19 it is where it all started and concludes with nine Gold Cups, seven King Georges, 81 winners at Royal Ascot and hopefully some victories today. The Queen at Ascot (John Walton/PA) Its wonderful to be immortalised at such a great track, and to have your own statue while you are still alive, wow. Tristram Lewis has created a humbling tribute, and I would like to thank him, Ascot Racecourse and all those that have supported this impactful artwork. The idea for the sculpture was initiated in 2019, with the process beginning in December 2021. A UK foundry produced the first two-quarter scale casts, one going to the Jockey Club and the other being displayed at Royal Ascot in 2022 and 2023. Mr Lewis said: It was a real pleasure to be able to work on this project and bring it to life. Ascot holds a special place in my heart and Im hugely grateful to Sir Francis Brooke and everybody at the racecourse for their help along this journey. Frankie was great to work with, an incredibly professional model, and I am thrilled with the overall result. Frankie Dettori celebrates on Trawlerman after winning the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (John Walton/PA) Sir Francis, His Majestys representative and chairman at Ascot, said the piece celebrated Dettoris career at the track. Frankie has been such a huge part of racing at Ascot over the last 35 years and this unique sculpture will ensure a lasting tribute to his success is permanently in place at the racecourse, Sir Francis said. I am sure it will be hugely popular with racegoers in the years to come and we are extremely grateful to all the contributors for their support in making this happen, and of course to Tristram who has so expertly delivered the project from start to finish. During her visit to Ascot on Saturday, Camilla judged the Best Turned Out in the parade ring before presenting trophies for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as ideal for horse racing while riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four-day meeting there took place in 1768, with the race programme later referred to as Royal Ascot. Thousands of people have protested in support of the besieged Gaza Strip in London and other UK cities. The Metropolitan Police said up to 100,000 took part in a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday, with other rallies in Cardiff, Glasgow and Birmingham. Others protested outside the BBCs MediaCity headquarters in Salford, Greater Manchester, over its reporting of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians attacked in the October 7 incursion. Over 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Thousands gathered at Marble Arch in central London for Saturdays march, clutching signs emblazoned with Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. Chants included Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. A total of 10 arrests were made linked to the protests in London, the Metropolitan Police said. Five officers received minor injuries, the force said. The arrests were for offences involving fireworks, public order and assaulting an emergency service worker. Protesters attended a a pro-Palestine march organised by the Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Protesters also chanted from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, despite controversy around the slogans meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed that it is widely understood to call for the destruction of Israel. Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust have asked prosecutors to clarify if chanting the slogan is a criminal offence. However, those who defend the slogan describe it as a long-standing protest chant that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held a separate demonstration in central London on Saturday calling for Muslim armies to rescue the people of Palestine. The group of around 100 people stood on Balfour Mews, just off the street from the path of the main protest. Protesters condemned the bombing of Gaza (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Speakers addressed the crowd in Arabic and a large banner read Muslim armies, rescue the people of Palestine. In Salford, the BBC was accused of bias in its coverage of the conflict. Martin Odoni, from Eccles, who attended the rally, said: Im Jewish and every time Israel commits an atrocity it claims its doing it in the name of Jewish people. I think its my duty to come out here and show, actually, a lot of Jews do not support what Israel is doing. An awful lot of us are not Zionist at all. When theyre massacring Palestinians I more than dont approve, I utterly condemn it. On his criticism of the BBC, he added: Well, look at the headlines they put up. When Israelis are killed they say these Israelis were killed by Palestinians. When Palestinians get killed, its Palestinians died when Israel attacked. Theres a blatant bias in the way the BBC reports these events and somebodys got to tell them. The BBC has also been been criticised over its use of language to describe Hamas and its coverage of the immediate aftermath of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. BBC director general Tim Davie met the Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl and its chief executive Michael Wegier on Friday to discuss their outrage at Hamas being described as militants instead of terrorists. The Board of Deputies, which describes itself as the voice of the Jewish community in Britain, later 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. A BBC spokesperson said: Careful consideration has been given to all aspects of our coverage to ensure that we report on developments impartially and accurately. In amongst thousands of hours of news broadcasting, there will always be some errors and live reporting will always bring with it huge challenges, particularly when it is on the ground in the toughest of circumstances. Where we do get things wrong, we always hold up our hands as we did this week when one of our correspondents was wrong to speculate along with others about the cause of the al Ahli hospital explosion, even if he at no point reported that it was an Israeli strike. We have 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. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Dublin in a show of solidarity with Palestinians and against the actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip. Protesters gathered at the Garden of Remembrance before marching with banners and Palestinian flags to Merrion Square. It is the second weekend in a row that a large-scale demonstration in support of Palestinians has taken place in the Irish capital, while last week there was also a rally and march organised by the Ireland Israel Alliance (IIA) in support of Israel. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. Protesters in Dublin (Damien Storan/PA) On Saturday the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was opened to let aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the Gaza Strip. Zoe Lawlor, chairwoman of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, addressed the gathering in Dublin on Saturday. Take this immense energy and solidarity and channel it into action, she said. There must be an immediate ceasefire, the illegal siege of Gaza must be lifted and humanitarian aid allowed in. Crowds also turned out in Northern Ireland in a march organised by Belfast Stands with Palestine. Hundreds took part in the procession in the city centre to the BBC Northern Ireland headquarters. US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks names were booed by participants during the event. Fans get in the spirit before the World Cup showdown (AP) A man of Pakistani origin who had been living in India as a citizen for 17 years has been arrested by the countrys anti-terrorism squad on espionage charges. Labhshankar Duryodhan Maheshwari, 53, was arrested for allegedly helping Pakistani agents access an Indian SIM card, which they used to hack the phones of Indian defence personnels wards in Army schools, according to Indian media. While espionage between India and Pakistan has a long history, considering the complex geopolitical relationship between the two countries, Maheshwaris case stands out because he lived in India for 17 years, obtaining Indian citizenship in 2006. According to the Indian Express newspaper, Maheshwari arrived at Tarapur town in Indias Gujarat state in 1999 with his wife for fertility treatment and stayed on, establishing himself as a successful businessman. He applied for a long-term visa, and with the support of his in-laws, he established himself as a successful businessman, running a grocery store and renting out multiple stores and a house in Tarapur, defence sources told the newspaper. In 2022, he visited his parents in Pakistan and the agency believes he was cultivated by Pakistani agents during the processing of his Pakistani visa, the newspaper reported. After his return to India, the anti-terror squad [ATS] alleges, he facilitated the delivery of a SIM card registered in the name of a Jamnagar resident, Mohammad Saqlain Umar Tahim, to a Pakistan embassy contact. His arrest came on the back of specific intelligence from the Military Intelligence (MI) that Pakistani operatives were using an Indian SIM card to target Indian defence personnel. An unknown man connected with Ramwani (Maheshwaris cousin) told Maheshwari that his sister would get her visa, but she would also receive a SIM card in which she needs to activate her WhatsApp and send the OTP (one-time password) to him, Om Prakash Jat, superintendent of police, ATS, told The Indian Express. The man also told Maheshwari that after the visa process is done, and his sister goes to Pakistan, she needs to bring the SIM card with her. Maheshwari has been booked for espionage and under sections of the Information Technology Act. He was remanded to seven-day custody, the ATS said. By Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet during his visit to Israel, the U.S. president assured them: "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist." The politicians and generals gathered in the ballroom of the Tel Aviv hotel nodded in approval, according to a U.S. official knowledgeable of the closed-door remarks, even as Israel bombarded Gaza in retaliation for a devastating attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and with a ground invasion looming. Biden, who is of Irish Catholic descent, has used similar words in the past to profess his affinity for Israel. But the moment, which has not been previously reported, illustrates how Biden's decades as one of the leading "Friends of Israel" in American politics seem to be guiding him during a defining crisis of his presidency. It also underscores the challenges he faces balancing unwavering support for Israel with persuading Netanyahu - with whom he has a long history - to avoid worsening the civilian death toll and humanitarian meltdown in Gaza as well as complicating further releases of American hostages. "Biden's connection to Israel is deeply engrained in his political DNA," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator who served six secretaries of state in both Democratic and Republican administrations. "Whether he likes it or not, he's in the midst of a crisis he'll have to manage." Reuters interviewed a dozen current and former aides, lawmakers and analysts, some of whom said Biden's current wartime embrace of Netanyahu could afford the U.S. leverage to try to moderate Israel's response in Gaza. In their private session with aides on Wednesday, the two leaders displayed none of the tensions that have sometimes characterized their meetings, according to a second U.S. official familiar with the talks. But Biden did pose hard questions to Netanyahu about the coming offensive, including "have you thought through what comes the day after and the day after that?" the official said. U.S. and regional sources have expressed doubt that Israel, which vows to destroy Hamas, has yet crafted an endgame. Biden's alignment with the right-wing leader risks alienating some progressives in his Democratic Party as he seeks re-election in 2024, with a growing international outcry against Israel's tactics also casting some blame on the U.S. It also has prompted many Palestinians and others in the Arab world to regard Biden as too biased in favor of Israel to act as an even-handed peace broker. FORGED OVER DECADES Biden has partly credited his pro-Israel world view to his father, who insisted following World War Two and the Nazi Holocaust there was no doubt of the justness of establishing Israel as a Jewish homeland in 1948. Biden's awareness of the persecution of Jews over the centuries and a record high in the number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. last year could also help explain why Hamas atrocities committed in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel were so disturbing for the 80-year-old president, according to a former U.S. official. Entering national politics in 1973, Biden spent the next five decades forging his policy positions - iron-clad support for Israel's security coupled with backing for steps toward Palestinian statehood - as he served as U.S. senator, Barack Obama's vice president and finally president. His career was marked by deep engagement with the Israeli-Arab conflict, including an oft-retold encounter with Prime Minister Golda Meir who told the young lawmaker in 1973 on the cusp of the Yom Kippur War that Israel's secret weapon was "we have no place else to go." During his 36 years in the Senate, Biden was the chamber's biggest recipient in history of donations from pro-Israeli groups, taking in $4.2 million, according to the Open Secrets database. As vice president, Biden often mediated the testy relationship between Obama and Netanyahu. Dennis Ross, a Middle East adviser during Obama's first term, recalled Biden intervening to prevent retribution against Netanyahu for a diplomatic snub during a 2010 visit. Obama, Ross said, had wanted to come down hard over Israel's announcement of a major expansion of housing for Jews in East Jerusalem, the mostly Arab half of the city captured in the 1967 war. "Whenever things were getting out of hand with Israel, Biden was the bridge," said Ross, now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "His commitment to Israel was that strong ... And it's the instinct we're seeing now." While Biden and Netanyahu profess to be longtime friends, their relationship was frayed in recent months with the White House echoing Israeli opponents of Netanyahu's plan to curb the powers of the Supreme Court of Israel. PROGRESSIVE DISSENT The two now find themselves in an uneasy alliance that could be tested by an Israeli ground offensive. Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, in an interview with Reuters, expressed confidence that the "arc of time" in Biden and Netanyahu's relationship would enable them to work together. But in a veiled swipe, Graham, who spent years as Biden's Senate colleague, said it was "imperative" he set "red lines" to keep Iran, Hamas's benefactor, out of the conflict. Biden has warned Iran not to get involved but has not spelled out consequences. Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took around 200 hostages, including Americans, when they rampaged through Israeli towns. Israel has since put Gaza under siege. At least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza officials said. While Republicans have shown near-unanimity in endorsing whatever action Israel takes, Biden faces dissent from a faction of progressives pushing for Israeli restraint and a ceasefire. "President Biden, not all America is with you on this one, and you need to wake up and understand," Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, told supporters. "We are literally watching people commit genocide." But experts say Biden could gain ground among independent voters who share his affinity for Israel. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed stronger U.S. public sympathy for Israel than in the past, with support for Israel highest among Republicans at 54%, compared to 37% of Democrats. Younger Americans showed less support for Israel than older Americans. Biden, facing low approval ratings, and some fellow Democrats are also expected to be wary of running afoul of the main U.S. pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, a powerful force in U.S. elections. But the crisis has also stirred criticism of Biden for not devoting enough attention to the plight of Palestinians, whose hopes for statehood have grown ever dimmer under Israeli occupation. U.S. officials had said the time was not right to resume long-suspended Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, largely because of intransigence on both sides. "The administration's neglect of the issue is a key factor in where we are today," Khaled Elgindy, a former Palestinian negotiations adviser, said. Biden's "blank check" for Israel's assault on Gaza has "shattered, perhaps irreversibly, what little credibility the U.S. had left," said Elgindy, now at the Middle East Institute in Washington. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Suzanne Goldenberg) The US is experiencing a boom in semiconductor production after the passage of the CHIPS Act, but that progress could be impeded by a serious labor shortage in the industry. According to a July report from the Semiconductor Industry Association, an industry trade group, and Oxford Economics, there will be 85,000 new technical jobs in the industry by 2030. But the report's projections indicate that nearly 80% of those jobs could go unfilled. And crucially, one-third of the semiconductor industry workforce is foreign-born meaning that immigration hurdles are exacerbating the shortage. In July, Taiwans TSMC (TSM), which was scheduled to open its first plant in Arizona in 2024, announced that the semiconductor behemoth would be delayed another year due to a shortage of specialist workers. While we are working to improve the situation, including sending experienced technicians from Taiwan to train the local skilled workers for a short period of time, we expect the production schedule of N4 process technology to be pushed out to 2025, TSMC chairman Mark Liu said on the company's Q2 earnings call. The US semiconductor industry workforce was 33% foreign born in 2021. (Chart: Brookings) Many foreign-born skilled workers are already studying in the US, but current immigration laws make it difficult for them to stay. Its incredibly, incredibly hard to imagine that were going to be able to build the semiconductor industry in the future if we dont reform our immigration law, Todd Schulte, president of immigration and criminal justice reform advocacy organization FWD.us, told Yahoo Finance. A new analysis by FWD.us found that about 5,000 international students in the US will graduate in the next academic year with advanced degrees in semiconductor-related computer science and engineering fields. At least 4,000 of those students have expressed interest in staying in the US. If you need to build these semiconductor fabs, you need a particular set of workers, Schulte said. You can have that in the United States, or you can have that in other places here. The idea that jobs are a fixed entity that if they dont exist for one person, theyll exist for someone else it just isnt true. I think youre seeing that, he continued. Youve seen chip manufacturers saying, 'We need this workforce. We want to build in the United States for a lot of reasons here, but we need an immigration system that isnt built from the middle of the 20th century,' meaning an immigration system that allows our country to respond to the economic needs in the middle of the 21st century. An immigration system 'designed in the 1950s' Work authorization is a key challenge. For example, the US government allocates an H-1B visa to around 65,000 qualified individuals per year, plus an additional 20,000 for those with masters degrees. That cap has been in place since 2006. According to the American Immigration Council, if the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives more registrations than there are visa numbers available, the agency will run a lottery to determine who can file an H-1B petition. The agency selects more registrations than there are visa numbers available based on its projections of how many selected employers will file petitions and receive USCIS approval. Aside from limited slots, other immigration hurdles include slow processing times, regulations and paperwork, and the cost to sponsor a visa. A March 2023 report from Envoy Global, a global immigration services provider, found that 94% of companies would be willing to sponsor foreign nationals for a work visa if they encountered fewer challenges, while 80% of companies relocated employees to work remotely outside the US because of visa-related issues. "The last time we had a real substantial update for our legal immigration system [was] in 1990, Schulte said. "Thats prior to the end of the Cold War. Its prior to the advent of the World Wide Web. Its prior to the rise of China and India and a global middle class in so many ways here. We have an immigration system that basically was designed in the 1950s and '60s and tweaked in 1990 before so much of the economic needs we had today were clear." 'No option except' relaxing immigration policies Overhauling the US immigration system wouldn't just help the semiconductor industry: Research shows that it would be a boon to the overall US economy as well. According to Boundless, an immigration tech company, immigrants paid more than $330.7 billion in federal income taxes in the US in 2019 and over $492 billion in total taxes. The broader story is that over the past decade, the only reason that the US population has been growing is because of immigration, Greg Wright, a nonresident fellow at Brookings and associate professor of economics at the University of California at Merced, told Yahoo Finance. He added, Across the developed world, you see a population shrinking, particularly in southern Europe and Japan. There are countries that really have these problems with population decline and the inversion of the demographic pyramid. You could call it aging populations. The US has not really had that problem yet, but its only because of immigration. President Biden talks to workers during a visit to TSMC AZs first semiconductor fabrication plant in Phoenix, Dec. 6, 2022. (Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS) (Jonathan Ernst / reuters) Between 2005 and 2022, the US immigrant population grew nearly 30% to over 46 million people, according to the US Census Bureau. As of 2022, foreign-born Americans make up 13.9% of the overall population. Meanwhile, native-born Americans are having fewer kids, while many older individuals are aging out of the workforce, further widening the labor gap in the country. "It already is coming to a head, but people are going to realize theres no option except probably to relax immigration policies," Wright said. Talent retention and the CHIPS Act Without an overhaul to the immigration system, FWD.us's Schulte warned that prospective talent will choose places other than the US, especially in the semiconductor space, an industry that's increasingly becoming more in demand. After the bipartisan CHIPS Act was signed into legislation last August, companies invested $210 billion in more than 50 new semiconductor projects by the end of last year. "We are not going to be able to attract the top talent from around the world by default anymore," he said. "That was the case for a really long time. But if you look at what other economic competitors of ours have done in a lot of cases, they've modernized their immigration laws, their immigration system, in a way to try to compete with the United States." The US is home to seven of the top 10 semiconductor companies in the world by market cap, including the top company, Nvidia (NVDA). Taiwans TSMC (TSM) is second, while South Koreas Samsung is fourth. We are clearly at the cutting edge of a number of really potentially revolutionizing scientific efforts right now artificial intelligence, biomedical research building, clean energy, decarbonized economy, Schulte said. These are things that in different ways have the ability to transform the world for decades to come. To Schulte, the key question is whether the US can design a system that "allows us to have a workforce to be able to lead the world in education and innovation moving forward in these spaces." "I think that's what were really, really focused on trying to highlight is this wont happen by default," he said. Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and healthcare policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com. Click here for the latest economic news and indicators to help inform your investing decisions. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Unclaimed firearms that the state Attorney General says were donated illegally by the city of Phoenix to Ukraine are still in the United States, but an executive of the company handling the transaction said it's too late to stop the shipment now. Marco Gruelle, president of the logistics firm DT Gruelle Company Group LLC, said the firearms are at his Pennsylvania facility now and will be shipped to Ukraine this weekend. Told Friday that Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes found last month that the donation broke the law, Gruelle said that is a "shame." Although it's now debated that the contract complies with state law, Gruelle insisted the 599 donated firearms would be going to Ukraine. "These weapons will be going to the police forces of Ukraine in order to assist them against Russian aggression," Gruelle said. The company notes on its website that it and its affiliated nonprofit, DT Cares, send aid to Ukraine and a number of other countries where it feels help is needed. Gruelle's statements come on the heels of efforts by Republican lawmakers this week to hold the city accountable for the donation. They hoped to get the mayor and city council investigated for violations including "war crimes." Attorney General Kris Mayes. Armed with the Sept. 20 opinion by Mayes that Phoenix officials broke the law, three state House members took their complaint to Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who said she'd look into it. Told Friday that the guns were still in the United States, House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, said he would immediately ask Mitchell to file for an emergency injunction in court to stop the shipment. There was no word late Friday if that happened. "This is a gross and blatant violation of the law, and it is unbelievable how callous the city of Phoenix is being with regards to this illegal gun-trafficking operation," he said. He added later that Mitchell told him the office was working on his request. The county attorney's office didn't immediately respond to questions about the development. City rebuffed officials in plan to donate firearms Kate Gallego is the mayor of Phoenix. She is the second elected female mayor in Phoenix history. Phoenix officials signed the contract for the donation with DT Gruelle in July, a month after Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council approved an ordinance that allowed the deal. The shipment of guns included more than 400 9mm pistols, 62 12-gauge shotguns and more than 100 semi-automatic rifles that take 5.56mm or 7.62mm ammunition. The arsenal includes seized or recovered firearms that have gone unclaimed for more than 30 days. But state laws written by pro-firearm Republicans over the years clearly ban such a deal. A state law signed by then-Gov. Jan Brewer in 2013 mandates that cities and towns must sell such firearms to licensed dealers who will then sell them to the public. Another state law prohibits cities and towns from enacting any ordinance to donate or do almost anything with firearms that the state doesn't expressly allow. Leaders of some Arizona cities, including Phoenix, don't like that law and see it as antithetical to their goals of keeping guns off "the street." Phoenix Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari killed a city plan to sell 3,000 guns for $150,000 last December, saying at the time that "while state law currently does not allow us to destroy these firearms, I look forward to exploring creative alternatives with my colleagues" on the council. One of those creative solutions was to donate guns to Ukraine. But the June 28 approval of the ordinance appeared to violate those state prohibitions, catching the attention of two lawmakers. Rep. Selina Bliss, R-Prescott, and Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley. They informed the city in a July 3 letter that the ordinance should be repealed immediately. After failing to convince the city to halt the transaction, the lawmakers filed a formal complaint with Mayes in August. The Attorney General's Office investigation showed that the city took its time to address the issue. City Attorney Julie Kriegh responded to the lawmakers two weeks after their inquiry, saying Phoenix officials would respond in a week or so. Two weeks later, Kriegh said she would need another two or three weeks to respond. The city wouldn't divulge when the weapons would be shipped out of Arizona and ignored a request by the lawmakers for assurance that it wouldn't occur before the city responded to them. Finally, Kriegh told the two lawmakers she would meet with them on Aug. 17. "The city appreciates your concern and looks forward to resolving any issues," wrote Kriegh in her Aug. 16 letter to Bliss and Nguyen. City spokesman Dan Wilson told The Arizona Republic the weapons shipped to DT Gruelle on Aug. 17 the very next day. Nguyen sent three angry-faced emojis by text when told the city shipped the guns on the same day as his meeting with the officials. "You could not find a more criminally-intended bunch of people" than at the city of Phoenix, he said. Next steps remain unknown Despite her office's finding that the city broke the law, Mayes supports the Ukraine transfer and not the state law requiring the sale of unclaimed weapons. She stated in her investigative report that it "should not be construed as a rebuke of the public spirit underlying the citys desire to aid Ukraine or as an endorsement of the policy underlying Arizonas firearms disposition statutes. Nor should it discourage future support and donations to Ukraine or elsewhere that can be carried out in compliance with Arizona law." Mayes didn't investigate whether the city "knowingly and willingly" broke the law, telling The Arizona Republic through a spokesman that the lawmakers asked her only to investigate a violation of the state's preemption law, which bans municipalities from enacting laws more stringent than state laws. When a violation is found, the preemption law only calls the Attorney General to order the offending action stopped. By Sept. 20, when Mayes concluded her probe, the city had already shipped the guns out of state and repealed the ordinance. The Republican lawmakers hope the city will face consequences for breaking the law in the first place. Mitchell's office does have the power under state law to investigate an officeholder who "unlawfully holds or exercises any public office," as the lawmakers noted in a public statement about the controversy earlier this week. But according to Arizona State University law Professor Paul Bender, that law only applies "when someone usurps or unlawfully holds an office." Mitchell, in response to the lawmakers' request earlier this week for her office to investigate, told The Republic her office would "review laws that were cited and are applicable, and then we're going to take appropriate next steps. We haven't decided what those are going to be at this point. State law allows for a civil penalty of up to $50,000 to be levied on municipalities that break the law banning them from enacting ordinances to donate guns. But that applies only if the city committed the violation "knowingly or willingly," which the city denies. "Any claim the City Council knowingly violated the law is false and not supported by the facts," Wilson said. "The city made good faith arguments to support the ordinance. When the Attorney General ruled against those good faith arguments, the city acted quickly to come into compliance." Yet it may be a stretch to believe the city of Phoenix's legal team did not understand what they were doing. As city officials told Mayes office, they believed the donation was legal because it was similar to an aid shipment former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey sent to Ukraine last year. But that shipment didn't include any firearms, which are the main subject of the state laws the city broke. "The city of Phoenix consulted with multiple attorneys to draft the program and arrived at a different view than the state legislature, which is why Council passed the ordinance with a bipartisan, unanimous vote," said Gallego's spokeswoman, Arielle Devorah. She added that only a court and "not individual state legislators or even the Attorney General (can decide) whether an ordinance is lawful." Former Republican state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said he urges Mitchell to investigate whether the law was broken not just by city officials, but also by Mayes. "Unfortunately, Kris Mayes has really struggled to honor her oath of office when it conflicts with her partisan politics," Brnovich said. "It's disappointing that she appears more interested in protecting Democratic politicians than enforcing the law." Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern. Republic reporter Jimmy Jenkins contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why GOP lawmakers want Phoenix prosecuted for Ukraine gun deal A 23-year-old au pair was arrested and charged more than six months after two people were killed at a Virginia home, authorities said. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, of Brazil, is accused of fatally shooting Joseph Ryan, 39, at a Fairfax County home. His body was discovered at the residence just after 8 a.m. Feb. 24, Fairfax County police said. Another victim, Christine Banfield, 37, was found in the home with stab wounds to the upper body, police said. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Peres Magalhaes was charged with second-degree murder in Ryan's death. Detectives are still investigating Banfield's stabbing. No one has been charged in her death. An attorney for Peres Magalhaes could not immediately be reached for comment. Officers were called to the home following a 911 call about a woman who was injured, Police Lt. Erin Weeks said at a news conference Thursday. Peres Magalhaes had called 911 to report that "a friend of hers was hurt," Weeks said. A man, identified as Banfield's husband, then got on the phone and told the dispatcher "that an unknown male had entered his home and he had shot them," Weeks said. Investigators later learned that there were no signs of forced entry at the residence and that the husband was "outside of the home" when the crime took place, Weeks told reporters. Banfield was discovered in an upstairs bedroom, police said in their initial news release. Ryan, who was known only to Banfield, was found nearby. Weeks said the scene at the home was "horrific." Banfields husband has not been charged with initially lying to police. Weeks said police are investigating the motive. She said authorities have identified all people involved in the case and are following up on investigative leads. On Sunday past as I was preparing for worship and a time of prayer for peace in the wake of the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel, I was reminded of a book my church studied years ago, Healing The Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit. It was written in 2011 by Parker Palmer, founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Updated in 2014, the book offers practical solutions for creating peace, which is significantly important to Palmer as a Quaker and certainly important to our divided world. The particular quote from the book that seemed pertinent in our current crises was Palmers wisdom about what the human spirit does with suffering. Palmer writes, Violence is what happens when we dont know what else to do with our suffering. That applies on every level of life. When individuals dont know what to do with their suffering, they do violence to others or themselves. When nations dont know what to do with their suffering, as with the U.S. after 9/11, they go to war. I think its pretty evident by now that what we did in the wake of 9/11 only escalated our tensions with the Middle East and didnt reduce the threat to this country. Surely our suffering could have led to more creative actions and outcomes. Suffering and violence It is what I pray for the current situation in the Middle East, where the shocking hatred and brutality, loss of life, and destruction of property in a remarkably planned surprise attack has some parallels to 9/11. I pray that the suffering endured might lead to more creative actions and outcomes than in the past, our past and the past of Israel and the Palestinians. I am grateful that there has been some time and means given for civilians to escape this region that has profound significance for all involved parties. And while I realize that I do not begin to know or understand the deep-seated complexity of the tensions that are held between parties, I cannot imagine continued violence on either side is the answer. Rabbi Sidlofsky of Temple Israel invited the community to a time of prayer for peace on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, two days after the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas. I think of former President Jimmy Carter and his heart for peace in the Middle East. I remember reading about his work for peace in the Camp David Accords and his persistence and belief that an agreement could be reached. I remember his Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 2002 for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." I think of Carters age now and his medical condition as he is dying, and I believe that his heart is broken regarding the hatred and brutality demonstrated in this barbaric attack by Hamas, a radical militant group of Palestinians who do not represent the whole of the Palestinian people, but have ruled them for the past 18 years. Political solution The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, whose mission is Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. issued a statement on Oct. 8, the day after the attack, calling on the international community to respond with a robust and renewed peace process. It stated, There is not a military solution to the crisis only a political one. And already, while recognizing the rawness of the brutal attack by Hamas, people of influence and experience are writing about the viability of peace and prosperity in the Middle East as Hamas is neutralized. On Oct. 15, Time Magazine featured three longtime advocates for Mideast peace, from both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations, who believe that a silver lining could eventually emerge from the shocking invasion of Israel by Hamas and the tragic slaughter of over 1,300 civilians. Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, in a Times Magazine address to readers around the world, reminds us that not since the Holocaust have more Jews been murdered on one day. He reports of individuals who brutally died or were taken hostage, including Holocaust Survivors. And yet he finds the hope to say, I can tell you that from the depths, the light is clearest. From our darkest moments can arise Israel's finest hour. Israel will remain united and strong. This expressed hope is what we on a personal level can contribute to the waging of peace in the Middle East. The Editor-in-Chief of Greater Good Magazine, Jason Marsh, suggests that after donating to humanitarian organizations, the best thing we can do is guard against hopelessness. He writes, Actions for compassion, for understanding, and for peace, all require first knowing that another way is possible. The Greater Good Online Magazine has a number of helpful articles about promoting peace that I encourage you to explore. 'We can choose to alleviate suffering' When he received his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on December 10, 2002, Jimmy Carter concluded his Nobel Lecture with challenging words that he has lived out in his lifetime. The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes and we must. In these days after the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, many in this world have been guarding against hopelessness. We have been reminding ourselves and each other that another way is possible. Those of us who pray have been praying for those who grieve inconsolably, those who suffer without relief, those who despair. We pray for those in decision-making capacities for wisdom and discernment. We pray for those whose hearts are so hardened by hatred that they cannot acknowledge a common humanity to soften. Those who do not pray have sent positive energy, intentions, and love to those who most need it in these troubled times. I read recently that the United Nations has been attempting for decades to pivot from crisis management to its primary mandate which is to sustain international peace in all its dimensions. May we hold on to the hope that the UN can pivot to sustaining peace, believing ourselves that peace is possible, and doing all that we can to work for peace in a suffering world. The Rev. Candace McKibben The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister and pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Working for peace is path to reducing suffering in Mideast 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. 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. 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 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) 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. A charter captain saw a boat drifting on a North Carolina river, wildlife officials said, but there was no owner on board. The captain called the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission around 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, to report the floating vessel, a NCWRC spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. While there was no person on the boat, there was a puppy, a cellphone and a wallet, the spokesperson said. About an hour and half later, a group of boaters passed by and found a mans body in the marsh grass near White Oak River waterfowl impoundment, the spokesperson said. The body was later identified as David Fletcher Noe, 49, of Stella, a town near North Carolinas coastline. Family members told officials that Noe was out on the water that day testing out a repaired motor, the spokesperson said. Earlier that day, other boaters had seen Noe driving his boat on the river. Law enforcement determined there was no immediate indication of trauma to Noes body, officials said. McClatchy News submitted a request for Noes autopsy report to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Oct. 20, but it is not yet available. White Oak River is nearly 50 miles and runs through southeastern North Carolina and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Man goes missing taking trash to dumpster. His car found submerged in lake, cops say Body found after tugboat strikes object, capsizes on Alabama River, officials say Hikers end up lost on cold, dark and rainy trail without flashlights or map, cops say More than 19 million Americans joined an international earthquake drill on Thursday that encouraged people to drop, cover and hold on, a planned event that happened just a day after a quake rattled northern California. But millions more are at risk, said Mark Benthien, global ShakeOut coordinator and outreach director for the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California. The chances of an earthquake somewhere around the world are 100% every day, Benthien said. The Earth often shakes the ground across the nation and its territories. Hillsborough, North Carolina felt an earthquake on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That North Carolina quake was one of more than 150 earthquakes of at least a 2.0 magnitude across the continental United States in 19 states over the past week. At least 34 earthquakes of a 2.5 magnitude or higher occurred in Puerto Rico, 30 in Alaska and 10 in Hawaii in the last seven days. 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 Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Should you worry about an earthquake? No. Should you prepare? Absolutely. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the country, although they are less frequent in some places. People need to know and practice what to do, said Benthien. "We're trying to get people to be more self-sufficient, because in a big earthquake theres not going to be help from the neighboring city," he said. Theyre going to be impacted too. And when a big one occurs, its likely to trigger others around it. Are there more earthquakes than there used to be? It may seem like it, but that's because weve seen dramatic improvement in the quantity and quality of equipment that records seismic activity in the Earth, Benthien said. We have the ability to record smaller and smaller earthquakes, not just in California, but in distant locations where there arent any people, and even under the seafloor. In some respects, we owe improvements in earthquake forecasting to the Cold War, Benthien said. Seismometers were established in far-flung locations across the world as the U.S., Russia and China tried to monitor whether the others were conducting underground nuclear tests. As a college student, he once worked along a fault in Siberia and Mongolia. Apps alert phones when shaking is detected and social media also has contributed to the more frequent communication of earthquakes. People are feeling small earthquakes and posting about it, he said. So it seems like theres a lot more earthquakes happening, but its because theres a lot more earthquake information happening and happening more frequently. Its normal for seismic activity to temporarily increase or decrease, and neither positively indicates a large earthquake is eminent, according to the geological survey. The earthquake risk is growing, because of increasing human and economic exposure and the number of assets being built in high earthquake hazard areas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a report earlier this year. Although Alaska is the most seismically active state in the U.S., the risks and potential impacts are greater in California because it has the highest estimated potential loss due to earthquakes, according to the geological survey. Earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher in the 30 days prior to Oct. 20, 2023. Why do earthquakes occur? The Earths crust is like the shell of an egg. Its very thin compared to the planet. Like the shell of a hard-boiled egg breaks into pieces when you crack it, the earths crust is broken into large pieces or plates and those plates move around, Benthien said. The Pacific plate moves to the northwest at a speed of 3-4 inches a year, while the North American plate moves to the west-southwest at about an inch a year, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. The motion of the plates around the globe is the primary source of strain that leads to earthquakes. An alert from the MyShake app sent to Northern California residents after an Oct. 18 earthquake. Is that earthquake part of a cluster or swarm? Is it a foreshock or an aftershock? Major quakes are often preceded by smaller quakes, foreshocks, and followed by additional quakes, aftershocks, which can also be quite large. Earthquakes often occur in groups of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable mainshock, according to the geological survey. These groups are called clusters or swarms, terms sometimes used interchangeably, said Steven Sobieszczyk, a spokesman for the geological survey. A group of researchers at the University of Utah are studying the swarms of earthquakes that occur there. Many of the frequent earthquakes in the region are small, happening imperceptibly, but in surges, clustered in time and space, researchers Gesa Petersen and Kristine Pankow stated in a study published in July. The seismic groups strike a region over a short period of time and dozens have been recorded in Central Utah over 40 years. As many as 30, 40 or 50 events occur over a few hours and then it pauses. That occurs repeatedly, the researchers said. Of all the sequences of seismic activity in the region, 80% are swarms, the researchers said. The universitys seismologists are analyzing that data to try to determine their significance. Is advanced warning for earthquakes improving? That depends. In the way that people would like to know a day or a week in advance? No, Benthien said. But the probability of a significant earthquake in a specific area within a number of years can be calculated. For example, seismologists say it's likely the San Andreas will one day have a big earthquake, Benthien said. The chances of knowing in advance where an earthquake might occur in relation to an earthquake that just occurred, are increasing, Benthien said. For example, they know there will be aftershocks after big earthquakes, he said. When an earthquake happens, the best we can do is say, theres a 100% chance theres going to be aftershocks. Theres a 5% chance that it could be even bigger. The Statewide California Earthquake Center recently received a grant to establish a science "gateway" to improve analysis of rupture forecasts, which could provide information about the likelihood of having earthquakes of different sizes at different locations, and simulate the coupled evolution of earthquakes and faults for the first time. How realistic is the possibility of having an earthquake over a 9.0 magnitude? That depends where you live, Benthien said. An earthquake can only be as big as the fault line where it occurs, so you have to have a large, long fault to have a large earthquake. For example, in the 2015 movie San Andreas, with Dwayne The Rock Johnson, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles triggered a 9.6 magnitude earthquake in San Francisco. It can't happen, Benthien said. The fault isn't big enough. It would be unlikely for Southern California to have an earthquake of greater than 8.3 magnitude, the USGS said. Theyve had an earthquake as large as a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the past. A 9.0 or larger earthquake would only occur along a subduction zone, Benthien said. Those occur chiefly in coastal regions where an oceanic plate in the earths crust meets a continental plate along a tectonic plate boundary and slides beneath it. One subduction zone occurs in Alaska, where a 9.2 earthquake shook the Prince William Sound region in 1964. It remains the most powerful on record in North America. The quake and the resulting tsunami killed 131 people. A peak wave height of roughly 219 feet occurred at Valdez Inlet and waves were detected on tide gages as far away as Cuba and Puerto Rico. Subduction zones occur around the Pacific, in an area sometimes called the "Ring of Fire" for its earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It includes the Pacific Northwest, the area of the U.S. at greatest risk, and the west coast of South America, where the largest recorded earthquake in the world 9.5 occurred in Chile on May 22, 1960. What should you do during an earthquake? Actual shaking rarely causes injury. Injuries and death occur when walls and roofs collapse and glass and other objects fly or fall, especially when people try to move during the shaking, according to Shake Out. No matter where you are, don't move if you can avoid it until you're sure it's safe. When the shaking starts, ShakeOut advises the following: If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table and hold on to it until the shaking stops. If outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then drop, cover and hold on and stay until the shaking stops. If driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and keep your seatbelt fastened. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution, avoiding damage that might have occurred. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are earthquakes happening more? USGS on big quakes, how to stay safe The father of US hostage Natalie Raanan has described the release of his daughter by Hamas militants as the best day of my life. Ms Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith, 59, both US citizens, were abducted and held for two weeks by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel earlier this month. On Friday night, Hamas released mother and daughter, who were being held in Gaza, for humanitarian reasons. Speaking from Evanston, Illinois, Uri Raanan, 71, said he was left in tears by the release of his daughter, who he described as doing good ... very good. Uri Raanan speaks to the media following the release of his daughter (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Im going to hug her, it will be the best day of my life, he added. The Raanans 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. 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 racked 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. The mother and daughter had been visiting Israel from Illinois when they were taken captive. They were staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas launched its deadly raid, killing some 1,400 people and taking scores more hostage. Natalie with her mother Judith (Supplied) Israel says Judith and Natalie were among around 200 people taken hostage during the rampage, although Hamas claims the figure is higher. The pair were leased ahead of an expected ground assault by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza, which is facing a humanitarian catastrophe following days of heavy bombing. Gazas health ministry says more than 4,000 people many children among them have been killed since Israel launched retaliatory strikes, vowing to wipe out Hamas. Water, food and electricity were cut off in the densely populated territory, with thousands of Palestinians fleeing south after Israel announced an evacuation order for the north. The first trucks carrying aid to those stuck in the area were finally allowed to pass through Egypts Rafah crossing on Saturday morning. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tonnes of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. Palestinians are running short of food, medicine and water in the territory that is under an Israeli siege. The US embassy suggested such a move would enable foreigners to leave the besieged area. We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, it added. Ryan Russell was a self-described super healthy athletic dad of three who was enjoying personal and professional success. But then the mystery headaches began. They felt like severe migraines, he recalled. Starting in April 2022, the pattern would be similar every time: Russell, then 39, would drop his son off at school in the morning, work out and feel the pain coming on. About 20 minutes after leaving the gym, I would just start to get an incredible amount of pressure in my head. It would lead to these headaches and it would cause some vision issues tunnel vision, things like that, which was just really odd, Russell, who lives in State College, Pennsylvania, told TODAY.com in the summer of 2022. He sought out medical advice right away, but it took three doctors to figure out what was wrong. The first thought it might be an inner ear-related or COVID-related problem. The second wanted to try a holistic approach. Finally, the third doctor sent Russell to get an MRI. The scan showed three lesions on his brain. The diagnosis: glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer. More than 14,000 Americans were expected to be diagnosed with it in 2023, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. In October 2023, Russell's wife, Samantha, said he started hospice end-of-life care for terminally ill patients a week after his 41st birthday and 17 months after his diagnosis. "Our hearts are completely shattered," she tells TODAY.com. "This is an awful, death-sentence of a disease." Ryan Russell (Courtesy Samantha Russell) What is glioblastoma? The brain cancer can affect anyone, at any age the cause is unknown. Symptoms include persistent headaches, nausea, double or blurred vision, and changes in mood and personality. The disease comes with a grim prognosis: The five-year survival rate is less than 7%, the National Brain Tumor Society noted. Treatment is difficult because glioblastoma grows tentacles into the brain rather than forming a solid mass that doctors can target and remove. You look up what it is and thats a pretty brutal read, Russell said after his diagnosis. But he was determined to find all possible avenues of treatment, connecting with specialists at Duke University in North Carolina and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. In early May 2022, he underwent a craniotomy surgery to remove a piece of the skull to access the brain. Doctors cut out one of the tumors, with that one chosen because its removal would have very little impact on Russells motor skills, language and emotion. Samantha and Ryan Russell share a happy moment in 2022. Trying a personalized vaccine Russell was treated with chemotherapy and radiation, the standard of care. He also received a personalized vaccine, for which he traveled to Europe and paid out of pocket. That regimen began in December 2022 and lasted until May 2023. Each treatment involved four shots into his abdomen. The vaccine, made by a company in Germany, is not available in the U.S. because there havent been formal clinical trials in America for this particular shot, said Dr. Douglas Colkitt, a retired radiation oncologist in Sarasota, Florida, who has been consulting in Russells case. Its a form of immunotherapy: Tumors create what Colkitt called a force field that protects them from being destroyed by the bodys immune system, and glioblastomas have one of the fiercest force fields. That makes it very difficult for conventional chemotherapies to have anything but minimal benefits, he said. The vaccine approach takes cells from the tumor itself, plus certain cells in the blood stream, to create a personalized vaccine to help the immune system conquer the force field and destroy the tumor naturally, Colkitt noted. Results from German trials have been very encouraging, he said, citing a small study that found more than 80% of patients who received the vaccine made it to three years after diagnosis. There is, in my opinion, after much research, real hope for what is perhaps now the most difficult cancer in the human body to survive past a very limited window, Colkitt said. But the study sample was small, just over 30 patients, and U.S. clinical trials of similar vaccines have been less encouraging, he noted. Tumor vaccines for glioblastoma remain experimental, said Dr. Evanthia Galanis, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic's Brain Tumor Program in Rochester, Minnesota. They're available in the U.S. as part of clinical trials, but haven't met the efficacy threshold necessary for wider availability, she added. Progress in treating glioblastoma has been "very slow," with only one drug and one device approved in the U.S. in the last 15 years, Galanis said. The couple has been open with their three children about his diagnosis, though they dont call the disease cancer. Aggressive new tumors appear Still, Russell said he was excited and very hopeful about the treatment. He was able to stay in relatively good health for a while, with some side effects, most noticeably aphasia where he knows what he wants to say, but has trouble getting the words out. In June 2023, he began experiencing numbness on most of his right side, and an MRI showed two new tumors on his brain that were more aggressive than "the main stable tumor he has had all this time," his wife wrote in a blog that documents their journey. Another brain surgery followed to remove almost all of the new tumors. But shortly after he returned home from the hospital, his health started to deteriorate quickly, his wife says. He entered hospice in October 2023. Doctors said there was nothing more that could be done. Wed exhausted all treatment options, Samantha Russell adds. "So we went home and have tried to enjoy our time together as a family of five as much as possible. Lots of time to cuddle, snuggle, look at old pictures and tell stories." The dad, an associate professor of graphic design at Penn State University, has been able to finish a children's book titled "My Annoying, Irritating, Always-in-the-way Shadow," a project he began when he found out about his brain cancer. Russell always dreamed of becoming a published author, his wife notes. "Im just so proud that Ryan was able to take his sorrow and make something wonderful come out of it," she says. Ryan Russell (Courtesy Samantha Russell) The couple has been open with their three children about his diagnosis, though they dont call the disease cancer, and have emphasized theyre going to deal with it as a family. After his diagnosis, Russell was determined to focus on the big picture. Ive had the real luxury of being very successful in my life (but) I was always someone who was thinking about the next thing, and never celebrating, never enjoying what I was doing. And what this diagnosis gave me the opportunity to do was just re-prioritize and really start to think about: What is it that I want to do? he said in 2022. No more putting off till tomorrow because we dont know what tomorrow is. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drilled Joe Biden and looked to put space between the presidents woke agenda and his own brand of hard line conservatism that needs to occupy the White House over the next generation. He is the second GOP presidential nominee to host a public appearance in the region this year. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley held a rally at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in March. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., sat down with Fox News pundit Sean Hannity on June 20 for a network town hall, though the event was closed to media. GOP presidential candidates who have yet to visit the Grand Strand during the 2024 election cycle include: Doug Bugrum, North Dakota governor Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor Larry Elder, conservative talk show host Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas governor Mike Pence, former vice president Vivek Ramaswamy, tech entrepreneur Donald Trump, former president In 2020, Horry County delivered 120,000 Republican votes for Trump, second only to Greenville County. Horry County is a powerful voting bloc that most GOP candidates are not going to ignore. The math alone makes it a compelling place to campaign, Horry County Republican Party chairman Reese Boyd said. Campaigning in Myrtle Beach Oct. 20 during a swing across South Carolina to roll out his veterans coalition, the 45-year-old GOP presidential hopeful backed efforts by a local Moms for Liberty chapter to ban materials in Horry Countys public schools they deem to be sexually explicit. Parents have a right to know the curriculum thats being used in their kids schools, DeSantis said during a nearly hour-long speech. You can get whatever book you want. Heck, you can go and view Hunter Bidens laptop, I dont care. But dont bring it into the classroom with these young kids. The governors appearance in South Carolinas fastest growing county comes as its Republican Party recovers from months of infighting over who actually is running it. In April, Boyd was tapped to chair the party at a convention that featured a cameo by Donald Trump. Boyd was in attendance for DeSantis appearance, and he expects other potential top ticket Republicans to court Horry County voters. Mike Pence already planned an event here once, but had to cancel at the last minute due to the birth of a grandchild on that day; former Gov. Nikki Haley has been here and Gov. DeSantis visited with us today. I am hopeful that before the campaign is done well see all the major candidates come to Horry County, Boyd said. Although DeSantis didnt directly reference the local partys tumultuous year, he pointed to the U.S. Houses inability to pick a speaker as an example of why a strong Republican president is necessary. Its just like the gang that cant shoot straight. Theyre running around like chickens with their heads cut off, DeSantis said. And its kind of a synopsis of whats wrong with Washington. The sense that its all about drama. Its all about the theater of politics. DeSantis several times pulled from Donald Trumps playbook to attack journalists and lampoon Bidens physical fitness to an overwhelmingly white crowd of more than 200 at Ground Zero, a downtown Christian youth organization. Political tracking site FiveThirtyEight.com shows DeSantis lagging in South Carolina among likely GOP presidential contenders. As of Oct. 18, DeSantis was polling at 12.7% ahead of Scott but trailing Haley. Trump remains the favorite among Republican voters statewide, sitting at 46.6%. DeSantis also vowed to authorize lethal force against people with known ties to drug cartels, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border. We cant succeed as a country if every area is a crime-ridden hellhole, DeSantis said. He spent an earlier part of Oct. 20 meeting with hundreds at a Murrells Inlet VFW. Alyssa Bradley, a spokeswoman for the S.C. Democratic Party, said DeSantis has a record of hampering access to healthcare for veterans, including his refusal to expand Medicaid in his home state. DeSantis has spent his political career opposing support for veterans voting against federal funding for the VA, blocking affordable health care for Florida veterans, and putting MAGA culture wars above national security. South Carolina veterans see right through DeSantis for the failure he truly is, Bradley said. He departed the Oct. 20 event without fielding questions from reporters. A campaign staffer said he was behind schedule to make a flight. Wearing a Ron DeSantis T-shirt and ball cap, Joe Testa of Myrtle Beach said the governors focus on deregulation and border security made him the best choice for president among a crowded Republican field. Everything he stands for, the United States needs something like that now, Testa said. Hell win if he keeps standing behind saying what hes going to do. When it comes to ghost stories, Arizona claims a classic. The Red Ghost terrorized the Arizona frontier for a decade before the 20th century. The beast was tall, fierce, red as the fires of hell and ridden by a dead man. That sort of thing causes chills no matter what century. First sighted in 1883, the Red Ghost trampled a woman to death near Eagle Creek in southeastern Arizona. It destroyed a prospectors camp near Clifton and, another time, toppled teamsters wagons in the middle of the night. Terrified witnesses described its immense size. The only physical evidence left behind was large cloven hoof prints and tufts of red hair. What is the Red Ghost in Arizona? Finally, an upright and sober citizen spotted the beast while rounding up cows near the Salt River. He recognized it as a camel. But there was something peculiar about this dromedary. There appeared to be the skeleton of a man lashed to the back of the animal. Before the Civil War, the U.S. Army had employed camels as beasts of burden while surveying a wagon road across northern Arizona. The camels performed admirably but were also independent and cantankerous. Some were sold at auction, while others were turned loose in the desert. When a group of prospectors spotted the Red Ghost near the Verde River, they shot at it but missed. When the animal bolted, something fell to the ground. It turned out to be a human skull with shreds of flesh and hair still attached. Over the years, the Red Ghosts legend grew even as the body of its horrifying rider fell away in bits and pieces. The story finally came to an end when a rancher named Mizoo Hastings spotted a tall red camel in his garden and shot it. None of the skeletons remained, but the camels back still bore the scars from leather straps cutting into its flesh. Who the mysterious rider was a miner too weak to ride, a soldier on a dareno one knows. Forget Bigfoot: Arizona locals know to watch out for the Mogollon Monster Arizona's spookiest ghost stories Yet even though the Red Ghost rides no more, youll find plenty of other spooky tales for this Halloween season across Arizona. A tragic death haunts the Museum Club in Flagstaff Fashioned as a giant log cabin, this cavernous honky-tonk looms on Route 66. It was built by a taxidermist in 1931 to house his immense collection of stuffed dead animals, some of which remain today. Thats how the Museum Club earned its long-running nickname, The Zoo, and it can be a little disconcerting to catch a glimpse of glassy eyes peering at you from the shadows. Don Scott put the Museum Club on the map as a country music showcase after buying it in the 1960s. Scott, who had toured with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, enticed big-name stars like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings to perform. Sadly, Scotts ownership ended in tragedy. His wife Thorna tumbled down the stairs and died in 1973. Shattered by the loss, Scott shot himself in front of the fireplace two years later. Today, Thornas ghost is seen in dark booths and behind the back bar, where shes sometimes mistaken for a bartender by confused customers. Details: 3404 E. Route 66, Flagstaff. 928-440-4331, www.museumclub.net. London Bridge was rebuilt in Lake Havasu City with ghosts The original London Bridge spans a channel of Lake Havasu in Arizona. It was purchased, moved here and reassembled. As if Arizona didnt have enough ghosts, we seem to have imported a few more that traveled to Lake Havasu City with the granite bones of the London Bridge. A lot of residual energy came with the historic span since apparitions in Victorian clothing have been seen since the dedication ceremony in Lake Havasu City in 1971. A London bobby still patrols the bridge. A woman in black is seen reliving her suicide, leaping from the bridge but then vanishing before hitting the water. More than one paranormal investigation claims that Jack the Ripper is still attached to the bridge. All his heinous murders were committed within a mile of the bridge, and some theorize he might have used service doors and small passageways in the bridge to elude capture. Even the lights of London Bridge have a bloody past. The metal for the light posts is the melted-down canons of Napoleon Bonapartes army. Details:www.golakehavasu.com. 26 people died at the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone When it comes to body count, the O.K. Corral was a childrens playground compared to the Birdcage Theatre, where more than 140 bullet holes still decorate the walls. Its believed 26 people died on the floor of the Birdcage, a wild and wooly saloon that also served as a gambling hall, theater and brothel. Thats a lot of restless spirits left behind. Also housed in the building is Tombstones horse-drawn hearse, the Black Moriah, which hauled all but six of the corpses that now reside at Boothill Graveyard. Is it any wonder why paranormal shows so frequently feature Birdcage? Apparitions of cowboys and prostitutes have been seen; the sounds of carousing, the click of poker chips and footsteps across creaky floors are often heard. Some visitors claim to have been touched or shoved by unseen forces. Tour the historic Birdcage during the day on your own ($15), or take a nightly ghost tour ($35) if you dare. Just be prepared because part of each tour is lights out, and the veil between worlds suddenly seems thinner. Details: 535 E. Allen St., Tombstone. 520-457-3421, www.tombstonebirdcage.com. What's lurking in the stacks at Flagstaff Public Library? For years, Flagstaff Public Library staff have reported ghostly figures, disembodied voices, mournful wails and objects moving on their own among the aisles of books. The library inherited its ghost from the ruins of the old Emerson Elementary School, which once occupied the property. One possible source of the paranormal activity stems from a custodian who was said to have killed himself in the school basement. The basement is one of the ghostly hotspots, along with the teen and younger youth book sections. However, librarians' research turned up no evidence of a school janitor taking his life on the grounds. What they did discover was that in 1937, a woman named Marie Walkup murdered her four children and then took her own life. Two of the children were students at Emerson. Perhaps they remain in one of the only places they felt safe during their young lives. Details: 300 W. Aspen Ave., 928-213-2330, www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org. What's in the walls at Haunted Hamburger in Jerome? The Haunted Hamburger has been a Jerome favorite since 1994. When Eric and Michelle Jurisin were converting an old miners boarding house into a restaurant, they soon realized they werent alone. Disappearing tools and mysteriously slamming doors signaled a ghostly presence and led to the name Haunted Hamburger. After nearly three decades in business, the historic eatery is known for big, juicy burgers, expansive views and lingering spirits. Cans fly off the shelves, water turns on by itself, and the ghostly image of a woman occasionally shows up in photographs. Details: 410 Clark St., Jerome. 928-634-0554, www.thehauntedhamburger.com. Who's prowling Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson? C-130 Hercules cargo planes are lined up in a field at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., on May 14. More than 2,300 variants of the C-130 have been produced since 1954. AP Photo/MATT YORK Whats the point of having the worlds largest boneyard without a ghost? The storage area for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base serves as the final resting place for an estimated 4,400 military aircraft. So youve already got a pretty eerie scene with row upon row of warbirds standing silent in the desert. There are numerous reports from security police patrolling the grounds of a pilot dressed in WWII-era garb slowly walking among the aircraft. Perhaps he has one unfinished mission and is searching for his old plane. During those sightings, patrol headlights tend to blink off, and flashlights dont work as the pilot walks through the security fence and disappears into the night. Tours of the Boneyard are no longer offered to the public. Details:www.dm.af.mil. Halloween events in Phoenix for adults: Ghost tours, bar crawls, haunted houses Hear voices from beyond in the Dark Cell at Yuma Territorial Prison Over 33 years in operation, Yuma prison housed more than 3,000 of the Wests most notorious desperadoes. While no executions took place, 111 inmates died here, and 104 still sleep in cold graves just outside the old walls. When you visit the prison cemetery, cast an eye toward the Colorado River. On moonlit nights, a woman is sometimes seen wandering the banks of the river where she drowned more than a century ago, trying to save her daughter. Tour the prison, and dont be surprised if you hear convicts whispering to you from the shadowy cells. It's just a motion-activated recording to tell some of the prisoners' stories, but it will still make you jump. You may also feel a chill even in the Yuma warmth when passing Cell 14. Thats where John Ryan, imprisoned for crimes against nature died by suicide. The worst offenders were locked away in the Dark Cell, shackled to the floor for days or weeks at a time. Its a frightening prospect when you step inside the gloomy black space and almost immediately feel the rock walls close around you. Details: 220 N. Prison Hill Road, Yuma. 928-783-4771, www.yumaprison.org. Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona ghost stories: Jack the Ripper at London bridge, the Red Ghost As Jada Pinkett Smiths memoir brings ayahuasca into the chat, the owners of a Black-owned Ecuadorian retreat discuss the benefits of doing it with loved ones. Early in Jada Pinkett Smiths buzzworthy new memoir, Worthy, she paints a picture of what it was like to endure one of the most depressive periods of her life in 2012, soon after her 40th birthday. The actress revealed that, while in the depths of despair and contemplating suicide, ayahuasca helped pull her out of the darkness. After being introduced to the idea by son Jaden, Pinkett Smith said the plant medicine (or psychedelic, as many consider it) gave her a new deep willingness to live and resulted in a whole new world of healing, not just for her but her immediate family. According to her memoir, the Smith family, including Will and their three children Jaden, Willow, and Wills firstborn son Trey have participated in journeys together. While they are far from the first celebrities to openly discuss their adventures with Mother Aya, the Smiths are among the first to tout the psychedelic tea, legal mainly in countries throughout South America, as fun for the whole family. The psychedelic tea ayahuasca as prepared by the La Vida Divine Healing Institute. (Photo credit: La Vida Divine Healing Institute) Jhoselyn Gaddy, co-owner of the Ecuador-based La Vida Divine Healing Institute, said she thinks what the Smiths did is beautiful. Seeing what theyre doing, coming together, and how theyre utilizing different [healing] methods because everybodys not going to heal in a church or in a synagogue, she said. Some people are literally going to go to the jungle, and thats where it can happen for them. She added, Im glad that they are being vocal about it and telling how it helped them and can help other people. Jhoselyn, an Ecuador native, took over the La Vida Divine Healing Institute in 2020 with her wife, Courtney Gaddy (who goes by her last name); together, they have been hosting plant medicine retreats specifically geared toward people of color. As more and more people of color turn to plant medicine and other ancient spiritual practices, the pair sat down with theGrio to discuss ayahuasca, plant medicine, and its potential for groundbreaking healing. Below, with the help of Gaddy and Jhoselyn, we break down the ayahuasca, its potential benefits for people of color, and more. Left to right: Wives and co-owners of the La Vida Divine Healing Institute, Courtney and Jhoselyn Gaddy. (Photo credit: La Vida Divine Healing Institute) What is ayahuasca? Gaddy and Jhoselyn describe ayahuasca as a plant medicine, made when two ingredients (Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the hallucinogenic plant Psychotria viridis) are combined to form a tea, often described as tasting similar to licorice (though Pinkett Smith described the brew as foul-tasting). Consuming the tea is intended to induce a psychedelic experience often felt throughout the body that can result in epic emotional reckoning. The plants come from a vine native to the Amazonian regions of the world. Using ayahuasca for plant medicine is legal in countries primarily located in South America, including Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador. Its an ancestral medicine, meaning that it has been used for millennia, thousands of years, Jhoselyn said. She further explained that ayahuasca is known as a Master Teacher plant. That means that theyre also here to teach us about different ways of seeing ourselves, healing ourselves, but also teaching us about how to make better choices as a community and as a society. Plants have been here way longer than we have been and probably longer than we will be, she said. How does it work? Gaddy explained that no two people will have the same experience during a ceremony, as the ritual of consuming ayahuasca is called. Everyones experience is so unique to their own body and spirit and emotional needs, she said. Over the course of six, eight, or even 10 days, an individual will consume between one and three cups of the brew. The effects, which take roughly 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, can be intense. Practitioners can experience hallucinations or visions, hearing voices or messages, communing with ancestors or other spirits, including animals for Pinkett Smith, it was a black panther and ultimately, intense emotional reckoning. According to Jhoselyn, there is a purging effect as well. While visions of ancestors and meeting animal spirit gods arent guaranteed for everyone, almost everyone experiences some type of physical purging. Engaging in the ayahuasca ritual may cause one to vomit, shake, sweat, cry, or make other emotional utterances, such as laughing. In addition to the purge, Jhoselyn said most will also experience an internal dialogue. However, there are some cases, she said, where a person will seem very stoic and calm. Meanwhile, internally, they are working through a lot. For the most part, people do have some somewhat of an experience, whether its physical, whether its mental, whether its visual, emotional, or otherwise, she said. Who should do ayahuasca, and who shouldnt? Both Jhoselyn and Gaddy stressed that ayahuasca isnt for everyone. While it is a natural substance, serious health risks must be considered. Those with preexisting conditions of the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, or certain mental conditions should disclose those diagnoses before attempting a journey. Not every condition automatically rules a person out, but being upfront can help one make an informed decision before diving in. At Jhoselyn and Gaddys retreat, Jhoselyns background as a trained nurse helps her better guide ceremony participants. Beyond physical and mental conditions, theres also the condition of the spirit to consider. I think that only those who want to see themselves should actually come and do ayahuasca because it is like Pandoras box. You cant unsee it. You cant unhear it, said Jhoselyn. What are the benefits for people of color? Gaddy, who is originally from Baltimore, said depending on the experience, ayahuasca can be restorative for people of color. She noted that when a Black person goes to a white-hosted retreat, they may feel disconnected from the experience. Meanwhile, at retreats like La Vida Divine, people of color who need to work through racial trauma are in a safe space with guides who have firsthand knowledge of what theyre going through. Jhoselyn noted that La Vida Divine infuses the experiences of people of color in their practice in a variety of ways, including through food and music. Gaddy also said the institute, which offers more than one type of plant medicine experience, can help Black people release certain traumas associated with being Black by also reframing relationships with plants that can be triggering. Specifically, the institute has a section honoring different ancestral plants like cotton and tobacco. Coming from the States, anytime I saw cotton, naturally, I got angry, Gaddy recalled. However, after re-experiencing the plant in a non-violent setting with the choice to interact with it or not, her views of cotton changed dramatically. Its no longer painful for me because cotton is a sign of wealth. Its a representation of so many different things, and we can change the story and how we look at stuff, she explained. You can heal through different methods because its not just in the cup [of ayahuasca], she added. What are the benefits of doing ayahuasca with others? One thing Jhoselyn said many do not consider before trying ayahuasca is the aftermath. Considering how mind-altering and healing the experience can be, many might return to their everyday lives shell-shocked and surrounded by people still operating through their pain. It can be difficult to navigate relationships with those who havent had the experience, and some can fall back into old habits. Accordingly, the La Vida Divine Institute offers support not just during the retreat but also after practitioners have returned home. This, however, is why Jhoselyn and Gaddy praise the Smith family for exploring ayahuasca both individually and together. Experiencing ayahuasca as a unit can allow for an even deeper level of healing and connection and set everyone up for success afterward. Jhoselyn noted how no one knows us like our family units, who were there when certain instances of trauma may have developed. By taking the journey together, family members can address any pain that arises in the moment together, rather than one person doing all of the work by themselves. After all, she said, Nobody knows you like your brother, or like your sister, or like your auntie. Including family can ultimately make the work easier, and for many, there is much work to be done. Jhoselyn said ultimately, ayahuasca connects us back to the Earth and nature. It reminds us that we are actually of nature. If we are able to understand that nature is us, then a shift in how we are creating the world may actually happen, she said. Because I know for the majority of us, what we see right now reflected is a lot of whats going on inside. Its a lot of turmoil, chaos, sadness, fear, scarcity, all of that illness, she continued. Were seeing it reflected in nature because thats who we are. And so if we want to heal what we see, we have to heal what we are. Editors note: Neither Jada Pinkett Smiths memoir nor theGrio encourage the use of ayahuasca as a treatment for depression or a substitute for medical intervention. Those interested in exploring ayahuasca should thoroughly research, including speaking with medical professionals if needed. If you or someone close to you is contemplating self-harm, please contact SAMHSAs National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 for free and confidential information and support, 24-hours a day. Kay Wicker Kay Wicker is a lifestyle writer for theGrio covering health, wellness, travel, beauty, fashion, and the myriad ways Black people live and enjoy their lives. She has previously created content for magazines, newspapers, and digital brands. 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 Jada and Will experienced ayahuasca as a family. Are they onto something? appeared first on TheGrio. The police investigation into allegations of bribery during the election of senators by the House of Assembly is highly commendable. Police cannot fold their arms and do nothing about such serious allegations, flying back and forth that some Senate hopefuls or aspirants bid for votes during the recent elections. I was made to understand that certain aspirants who lost the elections have attacked some members of the House of Assembly for taking their money in exchange for an expensive and heartbreaking wild goose chase Those who were following news three decades ago will attest to the fact that bids for Senate posts occurred clandestinely. During this period, goats were offered to the members of the House of Assembly in exchange for seats in Senate. Stories about goats for Senate posts made front-page headlines in the countrys newspapers, mainly the Times of Swaziland (Eswatini). In fact, some members of the House, just like some voters in the general elections, monetised the seats by asking this question: If I vote for you what is in it for me? In SiSwati, they actually said: tinkhabi tiyaphekelwa (meaning we need a reward for voting for you). Since there was no action taken to cure or, at least, prevent this cancer, it has become an open secret that Senate votes were up for sale in Eswatini. The only notable difference in the 2023 Senate elections is that some of the aspirants took no prisoners. Pay me back or I chop off your head, this is what the bush knife wielding emaSwati who were sold a dummy during the Senate elections are reportedly saying when demanding their money back from some of the voting Members of Parliamen (MPs). In 2018, a former parliamentarian nursing hopes of a return to the 11th Parliament narrated to the media how she was sold a dummy, despite the fact that she had released E300 000 to legislators to vote for her. She lost the election and she was angry with her chief agent who pledged to distribute the money to at least 12 MPs, with each voting lawmaker taking home E25 000 in cash. She was taken aback when voting results were announced showing only three votes.This issue of the briber and bribed was never taken seriously through enactment of legislation to make Senate hopefuls campaign like the members of the House or put in gaol the contraveners of the Prevention of the Corruption Act of 2006. It was a different kettle of fish in the 2023 elections. On the face of it, there were 103 people who were directly involved in the 2023 Senate elections 34 candidates and 69 voting MPs. If we are to be fair, the police investigation into the bribery allegation is not, in terms of moral justice, expected to produce arrests of two people. A holistic investigation founded on policing principles should be robust, resulting in, at least, half of the House being questioned about their conduct during the elections. If the police investigation leads them to two or three MPs, that would be tantamount to a targeted enquiry. Targeted enquiries are marred by controversies because they are sometimes perceived in some quarters as politically motivated. Targeted probes or investigations contributed in part to the 2021 civil unrest. I will deal with this issue in the coming weeks. This is not the opportunity to get back at certain people. On the opposite, this is the time to cleanse the country from moral and political unrighteousness. Senate elections Act Its a pity that the Senate Elections Act is silent on campaigns by aspirants. Disappointingly, there are no legislated minimum qualifications for people interested in becoming elected senators. That was going to be the appropriate opportunity for the House of Assembly to go for the creme de la creme. Of course, that would have provided the Senate hopefuls with the platform to market their nation-building programmes before the full House. As it were, members of the House do not know who they are looking for. Instead, the highest bidder in terms of cash secures a seat in Senate. That is absolutely wrong because a cashless PhD holder or any professional who can make a difference has no chance to win the elections. Blame nation Therefore, brothers and sisters, without legislation to balance the political scales, we, as a nation, are also to blame for exposing the Senate aspirants to bribery. We should have influenced our MPs at tinkhundla level or previous Cabinets to ensure transparency in the voting system. Did we do that? Certainly not! On the other hand, the Elections Expense Act set standards for disclosure of funds for election campaigns. This is supposed to be easy or clearer for House of Assembly candidates to follow. It is in black and white, thank you very much. However, Senate hopefuls have no legal funding guidelines despite the fact that they are also expected to perform equally important duties in the Upper Chamber similar to those to be executed by the voting MPs. Section 12 (1) of the Elections Act provides that all funds provided by an association or group of persons or by any person for election campaign of a candidate, shall be paid to the candidate concerned and the candidate shall disclose the received funds in the returns for election expenses. It is provided that a candidate who fails to disclose funds received as required under Subsection (1) commits an act of prohibited practice. The campaigning candidates have an obligation to keep records on how they spend their money during the elections. Where are the records? I am talking to the 59 MPs from tinkhundla centres. We have to look into this issue from all perspectives. I know money was spent on voters, even before the primary elections. Let us be honest and fair here. Section 13 (1) states that, for the purposes of financial accountability under this Act, it shall be the duty of every candidate, and organisation which participated in activities referred to in Section 8 (2) to keep records. A candidate or organisation shall ensure the following: a. Donations consisting of goods or services are recorded in accordance with this Act; b. Financial statements required under this Act, together with an auditors report in a case of an organisation, are filled with the registrar. The registrar is expected to make guidelines prescribing the manner in which records shall be prepared and maintained and shall further provide a candidate with the assistance necessary for compliance with Section 8 of the Act. There is a penalty for not keeping the records. Section 14 (1) provides clearly that a candidate who, or an organisation that, is required under the provisions of this Act to disclose the amount and sources of funds intended to be used as election expenses and fails to disclose the funds, shall, in the absence of any reasonable explanation be liable to disqualification from participating in the election in the case of a candidate or revocation of permission in the case of an organisation. Of course it is provided in law that a person who was a candidate or voter may file an election petition challenging the nomination of a candidate or election of a candidate who contravened the requirement for the disclosure of funds for election expenses. He or she can file the election petition with the Attorney General (AG). I am aware that some MPs did not even know of the Elections Expenses Act of 2013. I can only call for a similar legislation for Senate hopefuls. This law must contain provisions on qualifications. Ordinarily, the Senate elections were meant for the House of Assembly to elect professionals to balance the composition of Parliament. The Senate elections are not a platform or process for the House of Assembly to elect Dig and Tom. This is the opportunity for the House to look for energetic and clued-up holders of Degrees, Masters and PhDs. If we do not follow this pattern, the elections, as it were, would scare investor confidence. Already, one investor called me to say he was considering selling all his businesses and relocating to his native country if an august House is shrouded in such condemnatory controversies or assertions. Poverty On a parting shot, the truth is underground. We, as emaSwati, need to do some mining to extract it from underground. Poverty and hunger played a part in corrupting the elections system. This should be adequately addressed by the government. Affected by hunger in particular, emaSwati have made it impossible or difficult for candidates to win elections without offering donations in the form of goods, blankets, etc. This trend has transcended to Senate. As they spend more money on financing their campaigns, they then recoup it from the Senate hopefuls, and this is absolutely wrong, smacking of total corruption in the process. We are looking forward to a fair approach and investigation into this issue. I am watching with keen interest. BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel said its aircraft struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Saturday and that one of its soldiers was hit by an anti-tank missile, in cross-border fighting that the Iran-backed group said killed six of its fighters. With the frontier region seeing its worst violence in years as Israel wages war against Gaza's Hamas militants, the Israeli military said it traded fire with Hezbollah in at least four different areas along the Lebanese border. The hostilities have forced residents on both sides to flee their homes. Israel's military says seven soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7. Hezbollah says 19 of its fighters have died, including the six on Saturday. The violence has also killed civilians and journalists, including one with Reuters. A security source in Lebanon said one Hezbollah fighter was killed in the Lebanese area of Hula, opposite the Israeli community of Margaliot, which Israel said was the target of an anti-tank missile attack. The Israeli army said it fired back. Hezbollah, which claimed attacks on Israeli military positions throughout Saturday, later said five other members were killed. Israel said its soldiers struck a cell attempting to launch anti-tank missiles toward the area of Shlomi, an Israeli town some 70 km (44 miles) from Margaliot. An Israeli soldier was severely injured after being hit by an anti-tank missile near the Israeli town of Bar'am, the military said. Two other soldiers were lightly injured in the incident, it added, without saying if they were also hit by the missile. Hezbollah and Israel's military have been trading fire at the frontier almost daily since Palestinian group Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated with fierce air strikes on Gaza. It is the worst escalation in violence along the Israeli-Lebanese border since a 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Sources have previously said Hezbollah's attacks were designed to keep Israel's military occupied without provoking a major war. Israel has said it has no interest in waging war and said if Hezbollah is restrained it will maintain the status quo. But rising tensions have raised concerns in the region and beyond about the risk of a wider conflict, as Israel makes preparations for an expected land incursion into Gaza. An Israeli army spokesperson said on Saturday its evacuation of the border town of Kiryat Shmona allowed the military to broaden its actions against Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Israel and Hezbollah both reported exchanges of fire on other points along the frontier on Saturday, including around Lebanon's Alma Al-Shaab and Israel's Hanita, an area where Hezbollah said it fired guided missiles and Israel responded. The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, which has a presence in southern Lebanon, said one of its members was killed in Saturday's fighting. (Reporting by Jerusalem and Beirut bureaus; Writing by Edmund Blair and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Ros Russell and Daniel Wallis) Dimitrios Kambouris On a rainy Friday afternoon at the New York Hilton in Midtown, around 800 attendees gathered together for the Breast Cancer Research Foundations annual awards luncheon. From ribbon pins to statement coats, the room was filled with pink (even the luncheons main course was dubbed the pink salad). Journalist Alina Cho, a breast cancer survivor, hosted the event and began with opening remarks before highlighting all of the great work that the foundation has been doing over the years. BCRF is the gold standard with a singular mission, to find a cure for breast cancer, she said. And who doesnt want that? The first honoree of the afternoon was Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, a Nigerian oncologist. She was given the Jill Rose Award for Scientific Excellence for her contributions to the field of breast cancer genetics and her work to address the cause of racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Dimitrios Kambouris Shortly after a brief dessert break, William P. Lauder presented designer Kendra Scott with the Sandra Taub Humanitarian Award for her commitment to breast cancer research and for empowering women through health, wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. Scott dedicated the award to her late friend, Holley, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer. She is why I am here today, Scott said. Holley is why I can say that weve donated $7 million and were just beginning. I can say with confidence that that number will only continue to grow until BCRF is out of business. Another highlight of the day was the announcement that October 20, 2023 was officially proclaimed Evelyn Lauder Day in New York City. BCRF was founded in 1993 by Lauder, and this recognition celebrates her long-lasting vision which has led to 30 years of lifesaving research advancements. And this year, BCRF awarded $60.2 million in yearly grants to over 250 researchers from around the world. The event concluded with a presentation of grant awards to several of the researchers who were in attendance. For an inside look at the 2023 awards luncheon, click through the gallery below. Kendra Scott and William Lauder receive honors. Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris Alina Cho gives remarks. Photo credit: Noam Galai October 20, 2023 was officially proclaimed Evelyn Lauder Day in New York City. Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris A ballerina, clad in pink. Photo credit: Noam Galai Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, the first honoree of the afternoon. Photo credit: Noam Galai The researchers. Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris You Might Also Like The race for Los Angeles County District Attorney wont be decided until next year, but the field is crowded and the outcome will determine the leadership of one of the nations largest and most closely watched prosecutorial agencies one whose practices have helped shape criminal justice priorities not only for Southern California but much of the country. That makes George Gascons re-election campaign significant, and his weaknesses have attracted a big field of opponents. Oddly, that may be the best thing he has going for him. Gascon came to office by defeating incumbent Jackie Lacey in 2020, a race that was misleadingly cast as a contest between progressive and old-school styles of prosecution. In that telling, Gascon was presented as the new breed of prosecutor and Lacey as a traditionalist. Neither label fit perfectly, but it was enough for Gascon to corral liberal support and edge out Lacey. His victory was heralded by some observers as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors. But the past two years have not gone well for Gascon, who has disappointed both as a progressive champion and as a manager. Immediately upon taking office, he announced significant policy changes, including dropping sentencing enhancements, eliminating cash bail and promising to review sentences in cases previously won by his office. He also pledged new scrutiny of police. The results in all those areas have been mixed, and Gascons timing also could have been better. His moves to rethink prosecutorial strategies arrived just as crime, particularly property crime, was increasing in Los Angeles. That put Gascon at odds with even some liberals on public safety priorities. His management only underscored those troubles. Take the issue of sentencing enhancements. Soon after taking office, Gascon announced to great fanfare that he was eliminating those enhancements, which tack on extra prison time for crimes committed with a gun or as part of gang activity, for example, and which he argued were racist. That understandably angered line prosecutors who had been using them for years and thought they were doing so to protect the public. Days later, Gascon backpedaled, restoring his offices support for enhancements in cases involving hate crimes, crimes against children and the elderly, and some other offenses. The result: Sentencing enhancements survived, and Gascon antagonized many of his most senior and veteran employees. No one was happy. Gascons difficulties at one point threatened to topple him. He faced a possible recall, and though that drive fell short of the signatures needed to put it on the ballot, the left did not exactly rally to Gascons defense. In last years mayoral race, Rick Caruso, who had supported Gascon in 2020, turned around and supported his ouster. Karen Bass, who won the race over Caruso handily, opposed the recall but with careful statements to distance herself from Gascons policies. Since taking office, she has continued to signal her unhappiness with Gascon. Indeed, Gascons alienation from the regions political leadership was recently highlighted by his pointed exclusion from a gathering of public safety leaders to discuss smash-and-grab robberies. Bass hosted that event and used it to announce the formation of a special task force to respond to those crimes. Gascon was not invited. Today, as Gascon faces re-election, he has a classic political problem: The right never liked him and the left has grown tired of him. One private poll that I reviewed recently found that 19% of those surveyed wanted Gascon to remain in office, compared to 52% who wanted him replaced. And that disapproval crossed all the major demographics: Republicans unsurprisingly said they would favor his departure, but so did Democrats, where 39% wanted him replaced and just 25% supported his re-election. Even self-described progressives broke narrowly against him, with 35% favoring his ouster and about a third supporting him. The remaining third was undecided. Those are devastating numbers for an incumbent. Former Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a dangerous and eccentric goofball, actually polled better one year out from his failed re-election. As with Villanueva, Gascons unpopularity has drawn the attention of critics, and a field of opponents now stands ready to take him on. Paradoxically, however, that has created a path for Gascon, if not necessarily to re-election, at least to a runoff. With more than a half-dozen announced opponents, its conceivable that candidates with low levels of support, 20% or so, could make the runoff. The March election is not a primary, so if any candidate did get more than 50%, that would be the end of it. But in this case, a runoff seems a virtual certainty given the size and makeup of the field, which includes four members of the DAs office, a former superior court judge, a former candidate for California attorney general and a former head of the U.S. Attorneys Violent and Organized Crime unit. Gascons best chance for survival probably rests on one of his more conservative challengers, Jonathan Hatami or Nathan Hochman, making it to the runoff. Hochman, for instance, is a Republican who ran for California attorney general, discovering in the course of that ill-fated campaign that California math makes it nearly impossible for a Republican to break through at the state level. The district attorneys office is nonpartisan, but Los Angeles is even bluer than California, and Gascons best shot to retain office would be to face a challenger he could credibly cast as a conservative. More threatening to Gascon, according to some observers, are the races two moderate Democrats, Eric Siddall and Jeff Chemerinsky. Siddall is a leader of the union that represents deputy district attorneys and has dogged Gascon from the beginning; he knows the office and its shortcomings. Chemerinsky is an experienced federal prosecutor with solid Democratic credentials and a family name he is the son of UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky that may help cement his relationship with liberals. If either Siddall or Chemerinsky made the runoff against Gascon, the contender would have ample room to find votes in the center, leaving Gascon with little space to expand his narrow base. Does that make the campaign a referendum on progressive prosecutors? Some media cast Gascons first race in those terms, but it was off-base then and more off now. Chemerinsky, for instance, supports many of the ideas that define progressive prosecutors across the country without carrying Gascons political and managerial baggage. In this case, the race seems as likely to turn on effectiveness as ideology, and that almost surely favors a challenger. Gascon may be replaced, but Los Angeles is unlikely to revert to a tough-on-crime conservative. Jim Newton is a veteran journalist, best-selling author and teacher. He worked at the Los Angeles Times for 25 years as a reporter, editor, bureau chief and columnist, covering government and politics. He teaches at UCLA and founded Blueprint magazine. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Los Angeles DA race a referendum on George Gascon Protestors said they wanted to send a message that they are fed up with Lough Neagh pollution Campaigners gathered in Belfast city centre on Saturday to call for urgent action to save Lough Neagh. Those attending the rally in Writers' Square said they were sending a message that they were fed up with pollution in the lough. Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, has been blighted by toxic blue-green algae since June. It supplies half of Belfast's drinking water and 40% of NI's overall supply. James Orr, director of Friends of the Earth in Northern Ireland, said Lough Neagh should be "our heartland". James Orr said the government's reaction is inadequate and Lough Neagh could see more toxic algae blooms in the future "The violence we are inflicting on Lough Neagh is far too serious - and the pollution isn't going away," he added. "The government's reaction is to have no reaction - it's condemning Lough Neagh to more toxic algae blooms in the future." Lough Neagh is home to the largest commercial wild eel fishery in Europe. A demonstrator holds a Lough Neagh 'headstone' at Saturday's rally Declan Coney, a former fisherman on the lough, he said those involved in the industry are unhappy with what is happening. "Fishermen have known this for 40-50 years. The algae has always been there - it's only since May this year, because the water is clear, that it's visible to the two eyes," he said. Declan Coney says fishermen have known about the lough's problems for decades Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair has previously said Lough Neagh's problems are complex and will take decades to resolve. The department said part of the solution is to review the impact of current policies. 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 Police have found the vehicle of the suspect who allegedly shot and killed a Maryland judge last week. The Washington County Sheriffs Office announced Saturday they discovered Pedro Argotes silver Mercedes in the area of Williamsport, Maryland about 8 miles away from where Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot at his home in the northern Maryland city of Hagerstown. Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of fatally shooting the judge. - Washington County Sheriff's Office Law enforcement officials have asked the public to be vigilant and on the lookout for Argote, described as a 49-year-old man who is 5 feet 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The sheriffs office said Sunday it had finished searching the remote and wooded area where Argotes vehicle was found, saying in a post on Facebook no further information indicates that Argote is still in the immediate area. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert previously described the Thursday killing as a targeted attack against Wilkinson and said Argote should be considered armed and dangerous. Argote allegedly fatally shot Wilkinson just hours after the judge ruled against him in a child custody case, authorities 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. He was found around 8 p.m. and 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. CNNs Nicki Brown, Celina Tebor, Sara Smart, Jennifer Henderson, and Holly Yan contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A mother-of-four who died with two of her children in an Israeli air strike on Gaza has been described as intelligent and kind by her family in Minnesota. Heba, 42, was killed when her family home was hit. An ocean away in Blaine, Minnesota her relatives were glued to social media, hoping to hear news of their safety. Instead, they were devastated to learn that in total, five relatives were killed. "Our life has come to a standstill," Jehad Adwan told the BBC, adding that he and his wife have been gripped with anxiety and grief since learning of the deaths. "No one is spared the trauma and suffering," he said. Several generations had lived in the housing complex that was home to about 30 people in Khan Younis, which is the hometown of his wife, Fatma Abumousa. Mr Adwan said their home was struck twice on Sunday. "It was very surreal, to see your hometown is being bombed in front of you, and you're sitting thousands of miles away, and you don't know whether your family is safe," he said. Heba, one of the victims, was Ms Abumousa's sister-in-law. She was an accomplished architect and author, Mr Adwan said. He described her as a "very highly educated, very kind woman". Her 18-year-old son, Hmaid, whom Mr Adwan described as "very brilliant", had just finished high school and was looking to study engineering in Germany. Hmaid was killed along with his youngest brother, seven-year-old Abdelrahman, who had just started first grade. Another nephew of Ms Abumousa's, five-year-old Yusef, was killed. Mr Adwan said he was playing with his cousins when the airstrike hit their home. Five-year-old Yusef was killed in the blast in Khan Younis on Sunday Hani, a cousin of Ms Abumousa's in his 40s, was also killed. Mr Adwan said he went to rescue his nephews after the first blast, and was killed by the second. Heba's two other children, 12-year-old Sham and 16-year-old Abdullah, were both seriously injured with shrapnel wounds to the back and the leg and are in hospital, Mr Adwan said. Yusef's siblings, two children aged 12 and eight, were also wounded in the blast. Some of the victims were relatives who lived in north Gaza, Mr Adwan said, but had evacuated south after orders from the Israeli army. The couple says they remain horrified as Israel continues its air campaign on Gaza. They have been glued to news coverage since the war began on 7 October, after Hamas broke out of the Gaza Strip and attacked Israeli civilians in nearby towns. Around 1,400 Israelis were killed in the attacks, officials said. In Gaza, health officials said more than 4,000 people have been killed so far as fighting between Israel and Hamas continues. Mr Adwan said the situation is made even more difficult by the lack of internet and power in Gaza, which has limited the amount of information the couple is able to get on their loved ones. Since hearing about the deaths, the couple has been feeling "a lot of anguish", he said, as Ms Abumousa was very close to the children that were killed. Hmaid, 18, had just graduated high school and was due to study engineering in Germany. He is among the five family members that were killed The couple has seen and lived through wars in Gaza in the past. Ms Abumousa, who moved to the US three years ago and is a lab technician by trade, worked in a Gaza hospital during the 2014 war. "It was a very hard time," she recalled. "But I think this time is at least one hundred times harder." Israel has said that its mission is to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But Mr Adwan said his family members are all innocent civilians who were indiscriminately killed by the Israeli army. "Hmaid, Abelrahman, Yusef, Heba, Hani and all the other kids that were injured belonged to no political party," he said. "Their only guilt is that they are Palestinian civilians." Mr Adwan said he does not have a lot of hope for a quick resolution to this conflict, which he said has been festering for decades. "What I really hope for is for the Palestinians to be recognised as a people, as human beings who deserve and demand freedom, who deserve to be treated equally like any other human beings on earth," he said. He has also criticised attempts by the US government to block a UN resolution for a ceasefire. The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the US wanted to let its own diplomatic efforts "play out". "There has to be a resolution for this, otherwise the cycle of violence will keep coming back," said Mr Adwan. More on Israel-Gaza war Experts say it's important to ask someone not just how much time they spend on the internet but how they feel when they're online. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images) (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images) Many of us have a hard time stopping when it comes to scrolling on our phones, and in some cases there are people who are even addicted to it. But how can you tell if the amount of time you spend online is an issue? Researchers from University of Surrey in the U.K. set out to find out by gathering nearly 800 participants and categorizing their online usage mostly using their smartphones into five groups, offering a new measurement of the internet addiction spectrum. According to the lead study author, the purpose of the investigation was to differentiate between using the internet in a problematic way, such as feeling anxious when not online, and actually being addicted to it. Heres what the researchers discovered and what two mental health physicians had to say about these findings. What the study says Not surprisingly, the younger the person, the more likely they are to be addicted to the internet. As for the statistics, the volunteers who were 24 years old and younger spent an average of six hours a day online, while those over the age of 24 were on their devices for approximately 4.6 hours each day. The authors did not find a direct link between gender and online behavior. What are the key findings The five groups that comprise the newly devised internet addiction spectrum are: Casual Users (14.86%): These individuals tend to go online for very specific tasks and shut down without lingering. They displayed no signs of addiction and were the least interested in trying out new apps. Average age: 33.4. Initial Users (22.86%): While these adults did not consider themselves to be addicted, they often realized that they spent more time online than originally planned. They reported being somewhat neglectful of household chores and were moderately interested in downloading new apps. Average age: 26.1. Experimenters (21.98%): The people in this group felt uneasy or anxious when they were offline, and those feelings disappeared once they logged on again. They were also more willing to use new apps and technology. Average age: Between 22.8 and 24.3. Addicts-in-Denial (17.96%): Those who fell into this category showed addictive behaviors, such as forming virtual relationships and ignoring responsibilities to spend more time online, while others regularly complained about their online habits. They did not admit to feeling uneasy when they werent connected and reported being quite confident using new technology. Addicts (22.36%): These individuals were well aware of their internet addiction and noticed the negative consequences this dependency has had on their lives. They are also the most confident group when it comes to trying new apps. The researchers also found that in all groups emotional experiences, meaning how the users felt when spending time on an app, strongly predicted future behavior when they interacted online. What experts think Sheela Raja, clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, tells Yahoo Life she found it interesting that the investigators developed a scale. Instead of saying that people were either addicted or not addicted, they found that they fall on this continuum. Elizabeth Lombardo, a clinical psychologist and author of Get Out of the Red Zone, noticed the compelling differences between two of the groups. While the Experimenters were not online too, too long, they were moody compared to the Addicts-in-Denial, she tells Yahoo Life. Yet even though the Addicts-in-Denial spent more time online, they did not report feeling anxious like the Experimenters, and I found this result a little surprising. Also, reading comments on Facebook or checking notifications on TikTok were not always considered pleasurable experiences. Depending on their age and where they are in the continuum, some of the people in the study [those who landed higher on the spectrum] were entertained but werent really enjoying themselves, says Raja. This speaks to the addiction aspect were doing something to stop the negative feelings from coming up, but were not necessarily having positive emotions. However, Lombardo points out that watching videos on YouTube or scrolling on Threads should not be automatically regarded as a problematic activity. The question should be how is someone feeling when theyre online, she continues. We know from old research that people can feel more depressed when using social media. But if we look at how people spend their time online, sometimes theyre happier if theyre learning something new or if theyre more engaged with others, for example, in a type of [online] support group. Why it matters The goal is not to delete your social media accounts but to form a healthier relationship with your devices, explains Raja. Heres how: 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 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 MBABANE In an incident that left even police officers shocked, a woman who had boarded a kombi was allegedly raped. The shocking incident is said to have happened last Thursday at around 6:30am. It is alleged that the woman had hitchhiked the vehicle while along the Mbabane-Ngwenya Road. The unsuspecting woman unaware, of the terrifying ordeal that awaited her, had accepted what seemed to be a harmless lift from the driver who had just returned from dropping off children who were attending school. The woman is said to have noticed that the kombi was empty and concluded that this was just an ordinary driver, who would drop her off at the Mbabane Bus Rank, but it turned out not to be the case. Instead, it was the beginning of a horrific ordeal. The incident took place during morning rush hour with commuters unaware of the heinous act occurring just a few miles away. It is alleged that when the woman boarded the kombi, the driver deviated from the main route and parked the vehicle.He is then alleged to have threatened her and proceeded to rape her. It is alleged that he raped her several times while inside the vehicle, despite that it was already daylight and people were passing nearby, unaware that a woman was being raped inside the vehicle. Forced After the woman was allegedly violently assaulted, she was forced out of the vehicle leaving her traumatised. The woman is then said to have informed members of the public about the incident but the said driver was long gone. Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, she reported the incident at the Mbabane Police Station and described the details of how she ended up being raped. Upon receiving the report the police immediately discovered that the kombi matched the description of one that was reported stolen and they launched a manhunt for the culprit. Police officers posted the stolen vehicle on Facebook so that the public could assist in locating it. When a photo of the vehicle had been posted, members of the public are said to have informed the police officers about the location of the alleged rapist. As investigations, progressed authorities received vital information that led them to Mpofu, a community near Buhleni, where the suspect was rumoured to be enjoying alcoholic beverages. The police wasted no time when they were given the exact location of the alleged rapist and swiftly apprehended him. This publication also gathered that the police were not as surprised when they nabbed the alleged rapist as it turned out that he was somebody they were already familiar with. It is alleged that the alleged rapist had previously been arrested on similar charges, but was released on bail. After being apprehended, it is alleged that he was later taken back to Mbabane for further interrogation. The alleged rapist, whose identity has not yet been disclosed by the authorities, is expected to appear in the Mbabane Magistrate Court on Monday. Efforts to obtain comments from the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati were unsuccessful, as her phone rang unanswered at the time of compiling this report. However, sources close to the matter confirmed that the police arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged rape. Stressed The sources further stressed that the suspect was out on bail for a similar offence, raising questions about the efficacy of the judicial system in dealing with repeat offenders of such heinous crimes. Noteworthy is that the kombi was being driven by a driver popularly known as bo malume, a term used to refer to drivers who transport children to school. The incident also highlighted concerns about the safety of children. Speaking on condition of anonymity parents expressed concern about how the driver was rehired to transport children when he was still out on bail for alleged rape charges. As fears grow of a wider conflict in the Middle East, the war between Israel and Hamas appears to be deepening the divide between the U.S. and its allies on one side and China and its partner Russia on the other. The divide has been apparent this week at the United Nations Security Council, where efforts to pass a resolution in response to the conflict were stymied by disagreements among members including the U.S., Russia and China, all of whom wield vetoes. As of Saturday, the conflict has killed more than 4,000 people in the Gaza Strip and 1,400 people in Israel, with at least 32 Americans, 19 Russians and four Chinese among the casualties. While President Joe Biden has emphasized U.S. support for Israel, condemning Hamass brutal Oct. 7 attack and backing restrained retaliation by Israeli forces, Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia have taken a different approach. In a broadly similar response, the two leaders have condemned attacks on civilians, urged a cease-fire and offered to mediate, while failing to explicitly condemn Hamas. Follow live coverage from NBC News here. A boy stands in the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 20, 2023. (Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty Images) Both have said the solution to the conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and in a meeting Thursday, China and Russia reaffirmed their shared position on the issue and said they were closely coordinating their Middle East policy. The fundamental reason the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached its current state is that the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people have not been protected, Chinas Middle East envoy Zhai Jun told his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Bogdanov, in Qatar, his first stop on a trip to the region. Theyre trying to keep their relationships stable, Robert Sutter, a professor of international affairs at George Washington University, said of China and Russia. But obviously theyre tilting away from the Israelis and tilting toward the Palestinians. China and Russia, who had already declared a no limits partnership weeks before Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, have only grown closer as their ties with the West have deteriorated. China, Russia (Chinese Embassy in Qatar / Xinhua via AP) China, which has supported Russias war politically and economically, sees Moscow as an important partner in its efforts to sell developing countries on Xis vision of an alternative world order less dominated by the U.S. and its democratic allies. The two countries strong ties were underscored this week by Putins appearance at a global gathering in Beijing for the 10th anniversary of Xis signature Belt and Road initiative. The trip was Putins first outside the former Soviet Union since an international arrest warrant was issued for him in March over the Ukraine war. Putins attendance was less about the initiative, which Russia is not part of, than showing he still has powerful friends, said Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University. Xi tried to show the greatest respect for Putin, Maslov said, adding that he put the Russian leader at the same line, the same level as himself. He noted that the two leaders entered the event at the Great Hall of the People side by side. Xi did not mention the Israel-Hamas conflict in his speech at the Belt and Road Forum. His officials have been more direct, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling the Saudi foreign minister last week that Israel had gone beyond the scope of self-defense and should stop its group punishment of people in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave from which Hamas launched its attack. Israel has expressed deep disappointment with Chinas response to the Hamas attack, in which whole families were slaughtered and an estimated 200 people, including children and older people, were taken as hostages. From an Israeli perspective, this was Israels 9/11 or even worse, said Gedaliah Afterman, head of the Asia Policy Program at the Abba Eban Institute for International Diplomacy in Israel, and the Chinese treated it as if its just another round. Any country that wants to play a role in the Middle East needs to have a more balanced approach, said Amir Lati, the Israeli consul general in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. We expect countries, especially countries that we see as friendly to Israel, to treat these horrific crimes as terrorism, he said, and we were disappointed with some countries that were more ambiguous about condemnation of these acts. Calling for a two-state solution is beside the point, Lati added, as it is not an idea that Hamas supports. An Indonesian child prays at a rally in support of Palestinians after Friday prayers on Oct. 13, 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images) China and Russia have refrained from condemning Hamas because they are waiting to gauge the response from Muslim-majority countries, Maslov said, not just from the major oil-producing nations in the Middle East with which they have deep economic ties, but also in other parts of the world such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Russia will join the opinion of the majority of Arab leaders, he said, adding that it would not want to inflame Islamic insurgents within its own borders, particularly those in the provinces of Chechnya and Dagestan. China, which has been accused of mistreating members of its Muslim minority Uyghur community, is nonetheless a longtime Palestinian supporter that recognized the State of Palestine in 1988. But it is also trying to balance relations with Israel, which it has full diplomatic ties with. Xi hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing in June, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been planning a trip to China this month before the war broke out. As Xi seeks to expand his global influence, he has tried to position China as a potential mediator in Ukraine as well as the Middle East, a region traditionally dominated by the U.S. Chinas approach to the region has always been very clear, said Wang Jin, assistant director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Northwest University in China. China does not look for proxies in the Middle East, does not seek to profit from the Middle East, and does not want to fill the so-called vacuum in the Middle East, he said in an audio message on the WeChat messaging app. This is Chinas way of thinking, which is different from the United States. Beijing scored a surprise diplomatic victory this year when it hosted talks in which Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations. Xi was also a strong backer of the expansion of the BRICS grouping of emerging economies, which is adding six members next year, including Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In apparent recognition of the strides China has made in the region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Beijing to use its influence to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading to other countries, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters after Blinkens Oct. 14 call with Wang, the Chinese foreign minister. But to be effective, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said this month, you have to stand for something. It remains to be seen if China has the ability to be a true mediator, where you have to speak the truth to both sides, he said at an event hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations on Oct. 11. This kind of real-world, practical diplomacy that the United States has practiced for a long time, you dont really see the Chinese doing that, Burns added. So I think theyre a little bit more distant from these problems than we are. Beijings relatively muted response to the war in Gaza so far is reflected in its state media coverage, which this week was eclipsed by coverage of the Belt and Road Forum, Chinas most important diplomatic event of the year. The story is nowhere, said David Bandurski, director of the China Media Project, an independent research group based in Taiwan. Chinese state media coverage of global affairs tends to emphasize Beijings diplomatic prowess and growing role in the world, but it cant really focus on Israel because its not really acting actively on the issue, Bandurski said. In the meantime, Washingtons decision to send two aircraft carriers to the region has changed the geopolitical situation, Afterman said. That was a very good surprise for Israel, and I think thats something thats been watched closely by other U.S. allies in the region, he said. It also sends a message to China that the U.S. is still very much present in the Middle East, he added. While China cannot compete with the U.S. when it comes to military force, Afterman said, it could use its relationship with different actors in the region to play a role in mediation and reducing tensions. China is well positioned to play a role on the humanitarian issue, and by that I mean securing the release of the civilian hostages that have been kidnapped to Gaza, he said. Both China and Russia, which is weaker in the Middle East than it used to be, appear to be trying to keep their options open as long as possible, Afterman said. Danny Elfman was accused in July of failing to pay a settlement to a woman for an alleged sexual assault incident. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press) 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. The death by suicide of a Florida woman triggered a wellness check on her 5-year-old twins, whose lifeless bodies were discovered Friday at home in an apparent homicide. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma announced the cascade of tragic events at a news conference later Friday, saying his detectives believe they have a "murder-suicide situation" on their hands. Witnesses reported seeing the woman, Catorreia Hutto, 31, drive to the "crest" of Lake Jessup Bridge in Oviedo at 8:45 a.m., stop, get out and jump. Her lifeless, floating body was pulled from the water later, Lemma said. murder suicide crime investigation aerial seminole county florida (WESH) Deputies then went to check on the twins at their home in Sanford, he said. The exact way the children died was a mystery, he said. The sheriffs office implicated their mother in its characterization of the case as a murder-suicide. No trauma or blood were apparent, Lemma said, and the twins appeared to be sleeping. The home is about 7 miles north of the bridge; the bridge is about 28 miles north of downtown Orlando. "If they did not check the vital signs," Lemma said of deputies who went to Hutto's home and found the pair, "they would not know they were deceased." Deputies found a gun on the ground with live rounds nearby, but it did not appear the children had been shot, the sheriff said. No empty or fired cartridge cases were observed, he said. A coroner's official said that an autopsy could lead to a conclusion about cause and manner of death for the children within 48 hours but that information might be sealed by detectives if they continue to investigate. Lemma identified the twins publicly even though authorities were reach their father, he said. He sheriff said Hutto acquired her home through the nonprofit group Habitat for Humanity, known for building houses and giving them to people whose income prevents them from buying them. NBC affiliate WESH of Orlando reported Hutto moved in a little more than a year ago. The home was sparsely appointed, with "not much food," Lemma said. Hutto was working for a temp agency doing clerical jobs, he said, and had last worked a few days ago. "The family might have been struggling financially," he said. Even so, there were no outward signs of rapid decline, he said, and there were no reports about the family on file with his office or the Florida Department of Children and Families. "Nobody that we know had any indication that she may be in this dire state," Lemma said. He said the twins' grandmother described their mother as struggling with lifelong depression. The Department of Children and Families did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The children's school district, UCP (Unlocking Children's Potential) Charter Schools, identified them as kindergartners in a statement to WESH. "The entire UCP community is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of two of our Seminole County school's kindergarten students and feel shocked by the circumstances," CEO and Superintendent Ilene E. Wilkins said in the statement. Neighbor Latoshia Reynolds told the station she wonders whether Hutto felt isolated. "I am absolutely heartbroken," she said. "I have empathy. I don't have to know her. I have a daughter of my own, and what first comes to be is that she may not have had anyone to reach out to." If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. 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 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 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. 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. Marvin Dunn, one of the victims, asked the judge on behalf of the other victims requesting mercy be shown to David Emanuel, not solely for him and his family, but to move on as a country. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) A 62-year-old white man convicted of attempting to run down six Black men at the site of the Rosewood massacre has been sentenced to a single year in prison. David Allen Emanuel appeared solemn and reserved on Thursday as federal Judge Allen Winsor delivered the sentence on six counts of hate crimes for attempting to run over Historian Marvin Dunn, his son and four other Black men who were surveying Dunns Rosewood property to build a memorial for the massacre. The judges sentence called for 12 months plus one day in federal prison for each of the six charges, which he allowed to run concurrently. The Justice Department had sought a substantial prison term of between five and six years. David Emanuel Sr. talks to his supporters outside of the U.S. Federal Court House in Gainesville, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Emanuel, convicted of attempting to run down six Black men at the site of the Rosewood massacre, has been sentenced to a single year in prison. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News via AP) Emanuel, a retired clam farmer in north-central Florida, must surrender to report to prison no later than noon on Jan. 2, the judge said. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release after the prison term ends. Rosewood was a Black town in Levy County, Florida, that was destroyed in 1923. Prior to the attack in September 2022, Emanuel shouted racial slurs at the group from his white Ford F-250, and demanded that the men leave the area, court records show. 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 mere inches. A jury convicted Emanuel over the summer. Im relieved this is all over with, and I think that its fair, 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. Dunn, 83, and his son sat somber on the opposite side, flanked by a handful of others. 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. This undated photo provided by Levy County Sheriffs Office shows David Emanuel. (Levy County Sheriffs Office via AP) 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. During the trial Dunn was on the verge of tears recounting how close Emanuel came to striking his son with his 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. More than 30 additional letters of support were submitted by Emanuels friends and family. There were also four advocates of Emanuel who addressed the court prior to sentencing. Cedar Key Police Chief Edward Jenkins, who is Black, told the court hed never had any negative experiences with Emanuel during their many encounters. 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. 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, said Johnson. Winsor was insistent 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. After the hearing, Emanuel and roughly two-dozen supporters congregated around his truck a white Ford F-250 donning a Confederate flag. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Florida man sentenced to 1 year in federal prison for trying to run over 6 Black men appeared first on TheGrio. France recognizes Young for his work to end racial segregation and paving the way for a fairer America. 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 countrys Legion of Honor. Ambassador Andrew Young gives remarks after receiving the French Legion of Honor medal in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) 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 Youngs 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. Thursdays 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 to 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. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post France promotes Andrew Young to rank of officer in the countrys Legion of Honor appeared first on TheGrio. San Luis Obispo County could reap the benefits of several new pieces of housing legislation. A total of 56 new housing bills cleared California Gov. Gavin Newsoms desk over the past two months, with standouts targeting affordable housing, security deposits and housing for middle-class residents. Krista Jeffries, lead organizer of pro-housing group SLO County YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard), said some of these bills have a chance to strengthen and expand existing housing laws into San Luis Obispo County for the first time. The direction that the state is taking is primarily taking the laws that have been proven to work in a lot of the inland areas ... and applying them to more projects and more areas, Jeffries said. Here are four housing bills with the greatest chance to impact San Luis Obispo Countys tight housing market. The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors hope a new housing policy could raise $1 million per year for affordable developments leaders first step toward addressing a sizable funding gap for such projects. Denser housing could be on the horizon Jeffries said Assembly Bill 1287 is the new law shes most excited about. AB 1287 supports more housing for Californias so-called missing middle by making changes to the states density bonus laws. Those allow developers to exceed the number of housing units allowed by zoning laws as long as some of the units are affordable. AB 1287 permits developers to apply for a moderate-income density bonuses in cases in which the developer has already included the maximum allowable number of low- or very low-income units in the project. The new law changes the definition of maximum allowable residential density the metric used to calculate how many units can be added using a density bonus by defining it as the greatest number of units allowed under the zoning ordinance, specific plan, or land use element of the general plan. Previously, existing density bonus laws defined this metric as the density increase over the otherwise maximum allowable gross residential density. AB 1287 also requires local governments to grant additional bonuses when developers promise to make 24% of the total units affordable to lower income households, 15% of the total units affordable to very low-income households or 44% of the total units affordable to moderate-income households. Under the law, local governments must grant four incentives or concessions to projects that include at least 16% of the units for very low-income households or at least 45% for people and families of moderate income. Theres a significant problem with creating housing that the people who make too much to qualify for low-income housing, but dont make enough to cover market rents, Jeffries said. AB 1287 will encourage both market-rate and tax-credit developers to produce homes for these households who are otherwise doomed to ever-increasing commutes. Artist Krista Jeffries stands in front of the painting she did for the selfie wall on the back of the First Class Seconds building located at 141 N. 6th St. in Grover Beach, in January 2020. New law could bring affordable housing to SLO County Coastal Zone Senate Bill 423 is less of a new law than expansion to an existing law, Senate Bill 35. Passed in 2017, SB 35 provides a streamlined approval process for multifamily infill housing projects in jurisdictions that are not on track to meet their Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals. In an Aug. 3 analysis, the Terner Center estimated that 156 projects were approved between 2018 and 2021 using the law, comprising more than 18,000 new housing units. That report called the law the streamlining method of choice for affordable housing developers, and now, it can apply to more parts of San Luis Obispo County than before. SB 423 moves the 2026 sunset date that was would have invalidated SB 35 a decade down the line until 2036, and makes several adjustments to the original law. Most importantly for San Luis Obispo County, SB 423 removes language in the earlier law that prevented these streamlined approvals for affordable housing projects from applying to developments in the Coastal Zone. Many of San Luis Obispos populated areas along the coast fall within the Coastal Zone, which extends three miles into the ocean and a few hundred feet to five miles deep inland. According to San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building maps of the Coastal Zone, Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and Oceano all fall fully or partly within the Coastal Zone boundaries. SB 35 has been almost solely responsible for tens of thousands of new homes, most of which are low-income apartments, Jeffries said. Theres no reason it shouldnt apply in the Coastal Zone, where our hospitality workers need places to live. Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and Oceano all fall fully or partly within Coastal Zone boundaries in San Luis Obispo County. Law rezones land occupied by religious organizations, schools Jeffries said local YIMBY members were particularly excited about Senate Bill 4, also known as the Yes In Gods Back Yard law. Authored by California State Sen. Scott Weiner, SB 4 expands the amount of land available for affordable housing construction in California by re-zoning land occupied by religious organizations and nonprofit higher education for residential use. Under SB 4, religious institutions and nonprofits can build affordable housing on their land without going through rezoning and discretionary approval. With the exception of manager units, all homes built using SB 4 must be affordable, though 20% of the units may be for moderate-income households and 5% of the units may be for the staff of the independent institution of higher education or the religious institution that owns the land. It also ensures the California Environmental Quality Act, a stumbling point for many housing projects in California, cannot stop these affordable housing projects on religious and nonprofit college property, according to the bill. About 171,000 acres of land could become available for affordable housing development through SB 4, according to an analysis of the law by UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation. As churches see declines in attendance across the board, SB 4 opens up thousands of acres of parking lots and vacant land so that faith communities can live out part of their missions in a very practical way, Jeffries said. No more high security deposits? Another new law has the potential to help tenants across California, including San Luis Obispo County. Starting July 1, 2024, California landlords are prohibited from asking for security deposits worth more than one months rent under Assembly Bill 12. Previously, landlords were permitted to charge as much as two months rent for an unfurnished unit or three months rent for a furnished unit as a security deposit. A full list of all 56 housing laws signed by Gov. Newsom can be found at the Office of the Governor of the State of Californias website. House Republicans ditched Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as their nominee for Speaker on Friday, thrusting the GOP conference back to square one and escalating the chaos that has ensnared the group for nearly three weeks. Jordan is the second Speaker nominee to be rejected by House Republicans. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who initially clinched the nomination over Jordan, withdrew his name from the race one day later after a number of Jordan supporters said they would not back him. The turmoil comes after eight Republicans and Democrats opted to depose Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as Speaker in a historic and stunning fashion earlier this month. Jordans repudiation underscores the deep and bitter divisions percolating through the GOP conference as it heads into a fourth week without a clear answer to the question: Who will be the next Speaker of the House? Here are five takeaways on Jordans dismissal and the race for the gavel. Can anyone get 217? Another topsy-turvy week looms as House Republicans aim to nominate a third Speaker pick. But it is not clear who, if anyone, can get to the number needed to clinch the gavel on the House floor 217 votes, assuming all members are present and voting, which allows for just four GOP defections. At least nine Republicans are already running or seriously considering a bid for Speaker. Those include House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) who McCarthy endorsed and Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (R-Okla.). But as the House comes up on three weeks without a Speaker, and members reflect on two failed nominees, there is plenty of skepticism that the fractious and slim GOP majority will be able to unify. Top Stories from The Hill Scalise and Jordan both won their nominations by a relatively slim margin, and Jordan lost 25 Republican votes on this third ballot. I can tell you this, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) told reporters on Thursday, There aint 217 votes for Jesus, Mary or Joseph in there on any subject. Also looming over the conference is the question of whether to give Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) more power to move legislation as a Nov. 17 government deadline inches closer, and wars in Israel and Ukraine add pressure to pick a Speaker. The House GOP this week rejected a proposal to empower McHenry, but the option remains if the situation becomes more dire. Supplemental, funding up the urgency Acting Sepaker Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) The war between Israel and Hamas and the looming government funding deadline have put added pressure on Republicans to coalesce around a new Speaker and get the House back up and running. Without a Speaker, the House is unable to conduct legislative business. That urgency, however, was kicked up a notch on Friday, when the White House unveiled a $100 billion emergency funding request that includes money for border security, Israel and Ukraine. The fast-approaching Nov. 17 shutdown deadline is adding fuel to the fire. McHenry sought to assuage concerns on Friday, telling reporters that committees are still able to work as legislative business remains at a standstill. On the national security front, we have fully constituted committees. Committees can still work, and they are working, McHenry said, noting that the chairs of the Intelligence, Appropriations, and Armed Services committees are all working. I want to thank the administration for their briefings on the supplemental request for national security, he said. Our committees are working with the administration. And the goal there for our committees is to be ready to respond legislatively once we have a duly elected Speaker of the House. And its my goal to be talking to you at this time next Friday as chairman of the Financial Services Committee. Anger felt on all sides of conference Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) House Republicans are heading into round three of the Speaker showdown with lots of bad blood. Scalise backers are frustrated that the Louisiana Republican was forced to withdraw from the race after Jordan supporters said they would not support him, and after Jordan did not immediately endorse him until later in the day. Jordan backers are now incensed at the conferences decision to dump the Ohio Republican in a secret ballot, and at Scalise backers for withholding support. And hanging over it all is lingering anger at the eight Republicans who banded with Democrats to oust McCarthy from his post a vote that set the current Speaker conundrum into motion. During a closed-door conference meeting on Thursday, McCarthy scolded Gaetz when the Floridian tried to interrupt the Californians remarks, telling Gaetz to sit down. What history will look at: The crazy eight led by Gaetz the amount of damage they have done to this party and this country in insurmountable, McCarthy said after the conference voted to not keep Jordan as the nominee, referencing those who voted to oust him. Im concerned about where we go from here, McCarthy said. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here On Friday, the Republicans who voted to boot McCarthy minus Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who has opposed Jordan wrote a letter to colleagues saying that they would accept a range of punishments for their actions if it meant lawmakers would unite around Jordan. Republicans, however, voted to dump Jordan before it came under any serious consideration. Lawmakers didnt take kindly to pressure Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) Jordan allies both inside the Capitol and in conservative media deployed a pressure campaign to try and convince those withholding support from the Ohio Republican to flip their stances. The strategy appears to have backfired. Holdouts doubled and tripled down on their opposition to Jordan. And the number of Republicans withholding support for Jordan grew over the three ballots. That millisecond when anybody tries to intimidate me is the moment where theyre, that I am, I no longer have the flexibility because I will not be pressured or intimidated, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who supported Scalise in all three rounds of floor votes, said Tuesday. Instead, a number of Jordan holdouts said they and their family members received threats, which sparked concerns on Capitol Hill. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) said she received credible death threats after she voted against Jordan, and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said his wife was sent threatening anonymous texts and phone messages. Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) said his family had received death threats. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) said the secret ballot allowed more Republicans to voice their opposition to Jordan, which ultimately led to him being dropped from the nomination. I think that the idea of having a secret ballot really made it possible for those people that didnt want their people back home to know who they voted for or who they didnt vote for, said Kelly, who refused to support Jordan. When you go to the secret ballot, then all of a sudden well nobodys ever gonna know. All the totals, I think, were surprising. It was overwhelming, he added. Jordan will return to fighting Biden administration Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Jordan, for his part, will remain chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and stay a prominent figure as the panel probes a swath of matters from the prosecution of Hunter Biden and former President Trump to the management of policies on U.S.-Mexico border. Im also going to go back to work, Jordan said after the GOP conference voted to not keep him as its Speaker nominee. We got several depositions lined up next week in the Judiciary Committee, work that we need to do for the American people in our investigative work. Special counsel Davis Weiss, who is overseeing the investigation into President Bidens son Hunter Biden, is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee next week. If the House GOP continues with an impeachment inquiry into Biden over his familys foreign business dealings an action that McCarthy had directed any impeachment articles would come out of Jordans committee and he would likely take a major role in it. Rebecca Beitsch contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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. MBABANE Swift action. The Government of Eswatini was forced to act swiftly in mitigating a graduation boycott resolution taken by the lecturers, following a salary payment dispute with management. The lecturers had an urgent meeting yesterday morning where they took a resolution to boycott the ceremony, after they were paid two-thirds (70 per cent) of their salaries on Thursday. The graduation ceremony today, as per tradition, is expected to be blessed by the presence of His Majesty King Mswati III. When effecting the two-thirds payment, the UNESWA management had indicated to the union representing the lecturers that this was necessitated by a lack of sufficient funds in the university coffers. These sentiments were confirmed by UNESWA Registrar Doctor Salebona Simelane in an earlier interview with the Eswatini News, just a few hours before management decided to pay the salaries in full.Sensing that this boycott resolution was likely to throw the ceremony into disarray, the 30 per cent balance of the salaries was quickly credited to the lecturers bank accounts yesterday afternoon at around 4pm. However, only lecturers using FNB bank accounts received the balance of their salaries, while the rest are likely to get their money on Monday at the latest. Proceedings However, information gathered is that, despite getting the 30 per cent payment, the lecturers, through their union, the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP), have instructed their lawyers to institute legal proceedings against the university for the decision to deduct monies from their salaries without consent. ALAAP Secretary General Mduduzi Shongwe confirmed these developments. He said while they appreciated that the university eventually relented by paying the remainder of their salaries, they were still not happy with the way the issue was handled in the first place. We were called to a meeting by the university management on Thursday, where they informed us that they could only afford to pay us 70 per cent of our salaries due to lack of funds. We responded that they should wait until we report back to our members but this never happened because hardly two hours after our meeting, the salaries, which were short of the 30 per cent, were still credited into our accounts. We were very surprised by this move and felt disrespected. We then had a meeting from 10am this morning (yesterday), where the lecturers took a resolution to boycott the graduation until their salaries were paid in full. To our surprise again, the remaining 30 per cent of the salaries was credited to our accounts later this afternoon, Shongwe said. Deducting Adding, he stated: Given how our monies were deducted, a decision was taken by the members that we instruct our lawyers to take the legal route against government. This is meant to set precedence so that in future, the university is not found deducting monies from our salaries without consent. Asked if the boycott resolution would now reverse given that their salaries had since been paid in full, Shongwe could not give a definite answer. That is not a decision for the union to make. We have to respect that members took a resolution to boycott the graduation and it should be up to them to reserve that individually. The tricky part is that not all of us have received the 30 per cent payment but only those using FNB accounts benefitted. The motivation behind the decision to boycott the graduation was the fact that members would not have transport to travel to and from the graduation ceremony. So, even now, some members still do not have the money to attend the ceremony. As a union, we feel the decision, whether to attend or not should now rest on the individual, Shongwe said. The UNESWA registrar was said to be locked in a meeting when efforts to get hold of him for a comment on the latest developments were made, even though he had confirmed in the earlier interview that the university had trouble paying the salaries in full.It is true that the university could only pay lecturers 70 per cent of their salaries due to budgetary constraints. This was not done intentionally to undermine them, but our financial situation compelled us to take that route. We are working around the clock to ensure that they get the remainder of their salaries, Simelane said at the time. Disagreement This is not the first time the UNESWA lecturers and management have been involved in disagreement on the issue of salaries, as recently, they engaged in a strike in a bid to force increment in their salaries. The strike action lasted for over a week and disrupted classes in the process. Some of the lecturers interviewed confirmed receiving the balance of their salaries, but declined to have their identities revealed for professional reasons. They however indicated that they were undecided on whether or not to attend the graduation ceremony today. UNESWA has over 350 lecturers in the university payroll and these include academic and non-academic ones. 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 Trudeau held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi The Indian government has rejected claims that it violated international law by asking Canada to recall two-thirds of its diplomats stationed in India amid rising tensions between the two countries. Canada recalled 41 of its 62 diplomats in India after what it perceived as a warning from Delhi indicating the possible stripping of immunity for its diplomats. Canada said the move was unreasonable and escalatory and a breach of the Geneva Convention. However, India has pushed back, saying that it simply sought parity in the number of diplomats between the two countries, without setting a specific deadline or publicly indicating the withdrawal of diplomatic immunity. "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. The statement emphasised India's desire for mutual diplomatic presence to be equal in New Delhi and Ottawa. India also accused these Canadian diplomats of interfering in Indias internal affairs. Their continued interference in our internal affairs warrants a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the statement said. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said this move will delay visa services in India and make life unbelievably difficult for millions of people. 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, Mr Trudeau said. Its 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. The move is part of an ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada after Mr Trudeau accused India of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. India, in turn, accused Canada of harbouring separatists and labelled the allegations of its involvement in the killing as absurd. India took diplomatic measures to express its displeasure over the accusation. The escalating tensions between the two countries have also invited statements from the US which has so far remained neutral. The United States government voiced its concern over the situation, urging India to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation. We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, he stated. The statement also called on India to adhere to international rules related to diplomats. Washington has said it took Canadas 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. Additional reporting by agencies The U.S. intelligence community believes that Iran is not currently seeking a direct war with the United States but that it is looking to ratchet up pressure on Israel and the U.S. through its proxies in the region, two congressional aides and a defense official told NBC News. Irans approach, however, raises the risk of miscalculation and an unintended regional conflict, the sources said. Provocative actions by Irans partners, including Hamas in Gaza and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, are also designed to shape Israels calculations as it prepares for an expected ground operation in Gaza. Tehrans efforts appear to be a bid to force Israel to limit the scope of the military campaign, the two congressional aides said. iran protest rally for gaza strip palestinians (AFP - Getty Images) Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas following a devastating Oct. 7 attack by the militants across the southern border that caught Israel by surprise and killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians. The Biden administration has said Iran was complicit in the Hamas assault as Tehran has armed, trained and financed the group for decades. On Thursday, a U.S. Navy ship in the northern Red Sea downed three cruise missiles and several drones launched from Yemen by pro-Iranian Houthi forces. The Pentagon said the missiles and drones might have been headed toward Israel. A senior Israeli official said, In my opinion, the Houthi missile attack would not have been executed without Irans green light. On Friday, two rockets were fired at U.S. targets in Baghdad, which a defense official said was consistent with actions by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. At least two drones targeted al-Tanf, a U.S. garrison in southern Syria, on Wednesday. The U.S. military shot down one of them, but the other struck the base, resulting in minor injuries among a small number of U.S. troops, according to the Pentagon. The U.S. is still investigating who was behind the drone flights, but initial indications suggested Iranian-backed militias launched the drones. The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria have launched numerous rocket and drone attacks on U.S. forces in recent years. Despite its relatively modest conventional military power, Iran has long cultivated armed proxies in the region to fend off adversaries, extend its political influence and make its enemies think twice before attacking Iran directly. Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, told CNBC on Wednesday that it was unlikely Iran would enter directly into the war between Israel and Hamas. But she added that there was a growing danger of an accidental conflict breaking out, especially along Israels northern border with Lebanon where Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces have clashed with Israels military. The risk of miscalculation is very, very high. The risk of one side or the other misinterpreting actions across the northern border and having that escalate is very real, Flournoy said. The Office of Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Sunday, President Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan said: We cant rule out that Iran would choose to get directly engaged some way. Speaking on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, Sullivan added: We have to prepare for every possible contingency. Thats exactly what the president has done. Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the BBC's headquarters in Belfast Pro-Palestinian protesters have held a demonstration outside the BBC's Belfast headquarters. A large crowd made its way to Broadcasting House in Ormeau Avenue from the City Hall. People Before Profit assembly member Gerry Carroll said the protest aimed to "challenge" how the BBC had covered the conflict in the Middle East. It is the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian events in NI and comes as demonstrations were held across the UK. The rallies took place two weeks after attacks launched by Hamas gunmen on Israel, in which at least 1,400 people were killed and 203 taken hostage. In response, Israel has launched air strikes on Gaza which Palestinian health officials say have killed more than 4,000 people. Protesters gathered outside Belfast City Hall before making their way to Broadcasting House Earlier on Saturday demonstrations were also held in Londonderry and Dublin. The Belfast demonstration was organised by Belfast Stands with Palestine. In a social media post, the organisation said the BBC was biased against Palestinians. The crowd chanted "BBC, shame on you", and booed when Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Rishi Sunak's names were called out. Along with Palestinian flags, some demonstrators carried placards with Sinn Fein logos. Banners from People Before Profit, the Socialist Party and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation were on display as protesters gathered at City Hall. There was a significant PSNI presence, with roads closed to facilitate the demonstration. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation had provided audiences around the world with coverage and first-hand testimony "of the atrocities committed by Hamas, and the suffering in Gaza". "We have made clear the devastating human cost to civilians living in Israel and Gaza, and the unprecedented nature of what has happened," the spokesperson added. "We have reported on the atrocities committed by Hamas in their assault on Israel and have heard many accounts from survivors of these attacks and family members of the victims, reflecting the trauma they are suffering. Large crowds attend Saturday's march in Dublin in support of Palestinians "Careful consideration has been given to all aspects of our coverage to ensure that we report on developments accurately and with due impartiality in line with the BBC Editorial Guidelines, which are publicly available." Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill attended a rally in Dungannon, County Tyrone, to express "solidarity with the Palestinian people". She called on the Israeli government to stop its bombing and blockade of Gaza, "the occupation, illegal settlements and apartheid". "The international community must step up and call for a full, immediate ceasefire," she said in a tweet. "This is not self-defence. It is oppression of an entire population." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was among those tho took part in Saturday's Derry event. It was organised by the city's Ireland Palestine Solidary Campaign branch. Catherine Hutton from the organisation said it wanted to send a message that "it's time for the [Israeli] occupation to end". "Right now what's happening in Gaza, I have never in my own lifetime seen anything like it," she said. She said she wanted the government to take action by introducing sanctions and holding Israel accountable "for war crimes and crimes against humanity that are taking place". Comedian Jon Stewarts show on Apples streaming service has been canceled due to creative differences and subject matter concerns, several people with knowledge of the decision said. The former Daily Show host and Apple TV executives decided to part ways, according to The New York Times, who first reported the cancelation. Taping for the third season of The Problem with Jon Stewart was set to begin within a couple of weeks. Members were informed about the shows fate on Thursday, the Times reported. Stewart informed members of his team that some topics in the upcoming season would include China and artificial intelligence (AI), which caused concern to the executives. The Hill has reached out to Apple for comment. One source told the Times that with the upcoming 2024 presidential election around the corner, there was potential for more disagreement. Although Apple gave the comedian creative control over the show, he became frustrated that the company was pushing back on the guest list and subject matter. Stewart, who stepped away from the Daily Show in 2015, wasnt a huge success off the bat with his new show. Over time he gained popularity with viewers and has been nominated for the outstanding talk series Emmy award. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the militant group Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes. Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the war began Oct. 7. Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israels military spokesman said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas. The war, which is in its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll has reached 4,385, while 13,561 people have been 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: ISRAEL STRIKES UNDERGROUND COMPOUND AT WEST BANK MOSQUE, MILITARY SAYS Israeli Defense Forces said a military aircraft launched a strike early Sunday on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The IDF said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been using an underground terror route beneath the mosque. One Palestinian was killed in the shelling, Palestinian Red Crescent said. Tensions have risen in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. ITALIAN PREMIER GOES TO ISRAEL ROME Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has made a trip to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, her office said. The meeting Saturday came after Meloni participated in a summit in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war. Meloni's office said that in her meeting she reiterated the right of Israel to defend itself under international law and to live in peace while also underlining "the importance of guaranteeing humanitarian access to Gaza and a prospect of peace for the region. Her office said she brought a message of solidary and Italy's closeness following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAKS WITH 2 FREED HOSTAGES WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has spoken on the phone with two freed Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. It was the first such hostage release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. Video of Biden speaking with them by phone was posted Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He told the mother and daughter that he was glad they had been released. Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said. Natalie thanked Biden for his services to Israel. Judith said they are in good health. Hamas said it released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Family members have said Judith and Natalie 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. ___ This item has been corrected to reflect that the video was posted Saturday, not that Biden spoke to them on Saturday. ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL INCREASE ATTACKS ON GAZA Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, Israel's military spokesman says. Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said. He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety. UN AGENCIES SAY MORE AID IS NEEDED CAIRO United Nations aid agencies said a first 20-truck convoy of assistance that reached Gaza Saturday was only a small beginning and far from enough. The agencies, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Program and others, said in a joint statement that more than 1.6 million people are in critical need of humanitarian aid. Vulnerable people are at greatest risk and children are dying at an alarming rate and being denied their right to protection, food, water and health care, they said. The agencies, which also include the U.N. population fund and UNICEF, called for a humanitarian cease-fire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza. Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more, they said. DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS SAYS GAZA HOSPITALS ARE OVERWHELMED CAIRO Doctors Without Borders says Gazas health care system is facing collapse. The global medical group said Saturday that hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and lacking resources amid continued Israeli airstrikes and siege following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. The groups warning come after Medhat Abbas, an official with the Gaza health ministry, said early Saturday that five hospitals has stopped functioning and two others were partly out of service. We recently made a large donation of medical stock, including medicines, narcotics and medical equipment to Al Shifa hospital, the main surgical facility in the strip, the group, known by its French acronym MSF, wrote on X platform. An nurse with the aid group in Gaza, Loay Harb, said that when the supplies were delivered to the hospital, she and others saw hundreds of people taking shelter and it was difficult to walk inside. PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE SUMMIT CAIRO Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for an international peace summit to bring about the end of the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking at a conference in Cairo on Saturday, Abbas reiterated his complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides. He also urged the release of all civilians, prisoners, and detainees, likely alluding to some 210 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, a government exercising semi-autonomous control in the West Bank. The government is deeply loathed among Palestinians, who view it as corrupt and collaborationist with Israel. Hamas seized control of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip in 2007 and enjoys a strong base of support in the West Bank. ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HIT SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip A barrage of Israeli airstrikes on Gazas southern city of Khan Younis near a U.N. school struck several residential buildings, prompting a frantic rescue effort as medics rushed several dead bodies and dozens of wounded Palestinians to the hospital. At the Hamouda family home seven people were killed and 40 others were wounded, survivors told The Associated Press at the scene of the attack. CAIRO SUMMIT CAIRO At a summit of world leaders in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war, representatives from Arab and European nations called for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and appealed for protection of civilians in the strip. Several Arab leaders, including Egypt and Jordan, took the opportunity to castigate the international community over its inaction and a double standard they said that the world displayed on the devastating Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza. The response of the world, the office of President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi said, displayed a shortcoming in the values of the international community in addressing crises. While we see one place officials rushing and competing to promptly condemn the killing of innocent people, we find incomprehensible hesitation in denouncing the same act in another place, it said in reference to fierce Western condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel and a weaker reaction to Palestinian suffering. The summit did not immediately produce any statements about the prospects of a cease-fire UN MONITOR SAYS MORE AID IS NEEDED JERUSALEM - A United Nations monitor says the 20 trucks of aid delivered to Gaza are just a tiny fraction of what is needed by some 1.4 Palestinians who have been displaced since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Normally, 500 trucks pass through crossings into Gaza every day. The 20 trucks that arrived Saturday were the first to arrive there in two weeks. Andrea De Domenico is the head of the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian Territories. He says UNWRA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is working the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization to direct the aid to those most in need. But he said it will be challenging to get aid into the hands of people who are not staying at U.N. facilities. The aid consists of canned food such as tuna, basic medical supplies, medicines, and water. He said the U.N. is pushing for an unimpeded flow of aid into the strip through the Rafah crossing, but that discussions of further aid are mired in deliberations between parties. If we dont stabilize the supply pipeline, Domenico said, we head toward catastrophe. DUAL CITIZENS CAN'T GET OUT OF GAZA RAFAH, Gaza Strip Palestinian Americans and other dual citizens rushed to southern Gazas Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday as 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered the besieged strip that has staggered under shortages of medicine and food. Even as embassies asked their citizens in Gaza to stand ready at the border, crowds of disappointed Palestinians holding American, Canadian, German and British passports waited hours in vain for at least fifth time this week. There is no opening of the crossing, and the suffering is the same, said U.S. citizen Dina al- Khatib. They communicate with us, but there is no change. With a humanitarian disaster brewing in Gaza, al-Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its is not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. IDF OFFICIAL: PRIVATE HOMES CAN BE LEGITIMATE TARGETS IF HAMAS MILITANTS ARE IN THEM JERUSALEM A senior Israel Defense Forces official says the military will try not to strike zones in Gaza where humanitarian aid is being distributed, unless rockets are fired from the area. Its a safe zone. We have a system which every time we decide that an area is a safe zone, we declare no attack in this area. We wont attack them, he told a group of foreign journalists. He added that the definition of what constitutes a legitimate target has changed, because the use of civilian infrastructure by Hamas turns a private home into a legitimate target. And anyone who supports that home is a legitimate target. He acknowledged that the IDF has attacked houses where there are civilians living among militants. Julia Frankel in Jerusalem. AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE DIE IN A HOUSE IN GAZA HIT BY AN ISRAELI STRIKE DEIR-AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip People searched for neighbors buried under the rubble of a house in central Gaza that was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Saturday. Witnesses said 12 people in one household died in the strike and five others were believed to be trapped. People clambered on slabs of concrete and twisted metal looking for survivors. A woman in a bloodstained headscarf was helped out of the wreckage. Men carried a body on a stretcher to an ambulance, and another man ran, carrying the limp body of a small child. Others helped lead away shocked-looking people covered in dust, including a boy with a bloody face. The house was some 200 meters (yards) from the Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. FIGHTING INTENSIFIES ALONG ISRAEL'S BORDER WITH LEBANON BEIRUT Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters exchanged fire Saturday in several areas along the Lebanon-Israel border as violence escalates over the Israel-Hamas war. Tension has been picking up along the border over the past two weeks following the Oct. 7, attack by the Palestinian militant Hamas group on southern Israel that killed over 1,400 civilians and troops. Israels strikes on Gaza since then have killed over 4,000 Palestinians. An Associated Press journalist in south Lebanon heard loud explosions along the border close to the Mediterranean coast. The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling hit several villages, adding that a car was directly hit in the village of Houla. There was no immediate word on casualties. An Israeli army spokesman said a group of gunmen fired a shell into Israel adding that an Israeli drone then targeted them. He added that another group of gunmen fired toward the Israeli town of Margaliot and a drone attacked them shortly afterward. Direct hits were scored in both strikes, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 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 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 I know they have absolutely no idea of what it was like almost 60 years ago, Laverne Greene-Leech says COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) In the spring of 1966, Laverne Greene-Leech, along with her best friend, Diane Hardy, and Barbara Turner Bankhead had just graduated from Hunt High School, where Black students attended the segregated school system in Columbus, Mississippi. That fall, the three 17-year-olds arrived at the Mississippi State College for Women, along with three graduate students Mary Flowers, Jacqueline Edwards and Eula Houser as the schools first Black students. On Thursday, the state unveiled a historical marker on the campus, now known as the Mississippi University for Women, honoring their journey. It was placed in Pioneers Plaza, beside Carrier Chapel during a ceremony. The marker is the result of a collaboration between the History Department at MUW and Chuck Yarboroughs history class at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. The Mississippi University for Women honored former students Diane Hardy, Barbara Turner, Laverne Greene-Leech, Jacqueline Edwards, Mary Flowers and Eula Houser who integrated the institution in the 1960s with a historical marker on campus on October 19, 2023, in Columbus, Mississippi. (Credit: The Mississippi University for Women) Greene-Leech said she and her friends never set out to make history, The Dispatch reported. We just wanted an education, she said. Greene-Leechs plan was to go to Mississippi Valley State, one of Mississippis three historically black colleges and universities. Hardy, however, planned to apply to MSCW just to see their reaction, Greene-Leech recalled. She and Turner decided to apply also, as a show of support for their friend. She said her parents werent too excited about that decision. They didnt think it was a good idea, she said. They were afraid for me. But they said, If this is what you want to do, well stand behind you. It didnt take long for the girls to understand where they fit into campus life, which was nowhere really. Students then were required to live on campus, but they told us there was no place for us to stay, so we went back and forth from home, Greene-Leech said. They had a cafeteria, but we werent allowed to eat there. We had to move off the sidewalks to let the white student pass. The social clubs that almost every student was a part of were off limits to them, as well. Greene-Leech said there were a few white students who were accepting, but it was a handful of teachers who made The W tolerable, at least for a while. The mental and emotional stress took its toll. Greene-Leech left The W after the first semester of her sophomore year. It was just too much, she said. Laverne Greene-Leech stands on the Mississippi University for Women campus in Columbus, Miss., Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (Deanna Robinson/The Commercial Dispatch, via AP) In 1973, she returned, but left again without finishing her degree. Greene-Leech went to work after that year, eventually landing at the Lowndes County School District, where she worked for 32 years, first as a library assistant, but for most of her career as the districts media director. Greene-Leech said she didnt give The W much thought for years. Slowly, though, she began to notice things changing. Gertrude Lewis and Marjorie Carter became The Ws first Black faculty members in 1970, and Black enrollment built steadily over the years. Male students joined the study body in the 80s. When I saw Black students and Black faculty members and later, the boys, I knew it was finally a school for all people, she said. That was when I was proud of The W and the part we played in it becoming what it is today. When she heard about plans to put up a historical marker, she said, she shed tears of joy. I was happy that we did play a little part in the story. I cried because I look at the institution and see what it has become, Greene-Leech said. Her only regret is that her lifelong friend Hardy will not be present for the ceremony. Hardy died in 2013. Still, she said shes eager to attend the ceremony and is especially excited to meet and talk to the students, many of whom are the same age she was in the fall of 66. I know they have absolutely no idea of what it was like almost 60 years ago, she said. It really touches me, what they did with this. It brought me to tears. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Mississippi University for Women honors first Black students with historical marker appeared first on TheGrio. Two Namibian trainee nurses are facing disciplinary action after they posted a video on TikTok of themselves dancing inside a health clinic. The two said they were celebrating after helping a patient successfully deliver a baby, local media report. Privately owned Welwitchia Health Training Centre said the dancing was "unacceptable behaviour" and summoned them before a disciplinary panel. The main students' union in Namibia has called for a fair hearing. Charmaine Keandra and Smart Muranda are seen in their nursing uniforms dancing in front of an empty patient bed. The Namibian newspaper reported the video was recorded two weeks ago in the health centre. "The patient was taken to the theatre, was operated on, and the baby was fine, and she [the mother], was also fine. After that, because we were happy, we decided to make a TikTok video," one of the students told the newspaper. The video, which has attracted hundreds of comments and been widely shared, has now been deleted by the student who posted it. In its letter, the Welwitchia health centre accused the two trainees of disobeying the student code of conduct and bringing the good name of the institution into disrepute. The Student Union of Namibia (Sun) has, however, accused the health institution of double standards, saying previously "nurses were seen on various platforms dancing Jerusalem challenge but none was dismissed". "Our understanding is that a happy nurse is a productive nurse, regardless of the code of conduct of the university," Sun president Benhard Kavau told the BBC. He said the two students should just be warned and informed about when to take videos, rather than being suspended. "The union is ready, should our demand not be considered, to litigate," Mr Kavau added. The students were appearing before the disciplinary committee on Friday, according to the union's leader. There was no immediate response from the institution when the BBC sought comment. MBABANE Having been recalled after lying idle at home for months, about 40 emaSwati had high hopes of being able to put food on the table. This was after they were engaged to offer cleaning services at the Royal Swazi Spa Resort in Ezulwini. The hopes were further motivated by the fact that they were to clean hotels that were to accommodate dignitaries from different countries, who had come to attend big national events. However, it has been over a month now and they have not been paid for the hard work they put in. The Royal Swazi Spa Resort, which is under Sun International, includes the Lugogo Sun and the Royal Swazi Spa hotels, a convention centre, restaurants, bars and a country club. It is currently part of an ongoing liquidation process, having been closed in 2021. However, it was recently reopened by government to accommodate dignitaries and guests who had come to attend the 55th Double Celebrations and they included former South Africa President Jacob Zuma and delegations from different royal households from the neighbouring country. At the two hotels, most of the guests who were accommodated were the members of the different royal households. The re-opening of the resort was, according to government at the time, due to that most accommodation facilities were already fully booked for the festive season. It meant that proper renovations and cleaning of both the rooms and premises had to be carried out. A local company, which trades under the name Contra Clean, was engaged to offer the cleaning services and this was allegedly done by Tibiyo Taka Ngwane. Tibiyo Taka Ngwane happens to be one of the major shareholders of the Sun Limited. Services Contra Clean, it was gathered, had for years been offering the same services to the Sun International hotels. It, therefore, recalled some of its casual workers who were sitting at home with no job to come and work. They are said to have worked for close to 20 days and were promised about E150 a day. This means that each one of them was entitled to close to E3 000. Speaking on condition of anonymity, in fear of victimisation, some of the affected casual workers said life was tough following that they have not been paid. When we were engaged to clean the hotels, we found most of the rooms a mess and toilets were blocked as they had not been in use for some time. We would work in shifts, some from 7am to 3pm and the night shift from 3pm to 11pm. We worked very hard and were of the belief that once the celebrations were over, we would all be paid, one of them said. They claimed that most of them were from the rural areas and had borrowed money for transport. We saw a week passing by without being paid. This surprised us. A second week passed and we tried to enquire and we were told that Tibiyo had not facilitated the payment. We were told that the person who was supposed to facilitate the payment had actually travelled to the United States of America as part of the delegation that accompanied His Majesty King Mswati III, another said. They said what then pained them was that other workers including waiters, chefs, receptionists and those responsible for housekeeping, were allegedly paid. According to the cleaners, they found this unfair as they had actually arrived earlier than the other employees. Encouraged Our boss encouraged us to do our best to ensure that the guests found the place proper. We, therefore, put in all the effort despite that the place was a total mess at the time. We would go to bed tired and it is sad that we still have not received a cent and this is the second month, an employee said. They detailed how life has been tough for them ever since the COVID-19 pandemic era, where they would now and again be forced to stay at home. When asked if they had received communication from the management of Contra Clean, the workers acknowledged that one of the managers would now and again share feedback on a WhatApp group that was created for them. Yes the communication has been there, but it has come to a point where we cannot be patient anymore because we are now confused and not sure of what is factual and not. We have even asked if it was possible for our boss to borrow money from somewhere so that we could be paid and the response we received was that the company has debts dating back to 2018 and is not in a good financial position, said another worker. They said they were aware that when it comes to tenders, payments usually took time to be made, but that they believe the company should have prepared itself for that. Tibiyo is a big organisation and probably has a lot of other payments to make before addressing our case, but our management should have known that, another one said. Meanwhile, challenges for casual workers engaged at the Sun International Management began way back in 2020. Devastating It was in March in the same year when it was announced that Sun International had resolved to shed casual workers and force permanent employees to take extraordinary leave as a desperate move to stay afloat, amid the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, it was said that the establishment had 194 permanent staff members with their casual utilisation made as per the business demand. During busy times, such as banquets, including the Kings Birthday, where close to 2 000 guests are catered for, there were normally 120 casual staff members utilised. Before the shedding of casual workers, it had been revealed that the three hotels had lost close to E5 million in two days, due to the developments of the COVID-19 virus. In June, it was announced that the effects of COVID-19 had resulted in the five companies under Sun International Management Limited being placed under provisional liquidation. The companies included Swazi Spa Holdings, which was operating Swazi Spa Hotel and Casino, Lugogo Sun and Ezulwini Sun. Liquidation means that the business is not able to pay its debts. It further implies that the business will cease to operate (generally as a result of financial problems). The other affected companies were Swaziland Spa Development Company Limited, Ezulwini Properties (Proprietary), Spa Financing Company Limited, Manzane Estates Limited, which have also been affected. The news of the liquidation came after Judge Cyril Maphanga granted an interim order placing the companies under the provisional winding up in the hands of the master of the High Court. The court appointed Lawyer Marisa Boxshall Smith as the provisional liquidator of the five companies, with all powers, direct and ancillary, to the joint winding up of the companies. Unanswered It has, however, been over two years and there has been no purchaser for the hotels. Instead, various entities have shown interest but ended up not taking over the ownership of the hotels. Efforts to obtain a comment from Tibiyo TakaNgwane Managing Director Absalom Themba Dlamini were not successful as his cellphone number rang unanswered for the better part of yesterday. An attempt was also made to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Home Affairs, by virtue of it being responsible for cultural events in the country including the double celebrations. The ministrys Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini said this was a matter between the company and its employees. It would be difficult for us to interfere since this is a contract between two people. In our ministry, there are processes that are followed up until payment agreements are reached. We regret that the employees are suffering. We do hope that the issue will be resolved, Dlamini said. 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. 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) 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. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Friday on the National Mall to unilaterally call for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas. The peaceful protest was organized by a variety of advocacy and civil rights groups and featured a plethora of speakers, including rabbis, community leaders and lawmakers, who addressed the crowd, which echoed chants such as cease-fire now and we will win peace. A prayer also took place before two congresswomen spoke. Protestors waved Palestinian flags, and held up signs that read stop the Gaze genocide and we cant bomb our way to peace. Several protestors voiced continued criticisms of President Bidens handling of the conflict and ripped his rare primetime Oval Office address on Thursday. It is abysmal, and its a literal repeat of his 1984 speech of him having to create an Israel in order to justify our investment in Israel, protestor Zeid Adiyeh said. It has nothing to do with religion. It has nothing to do with actual policies. He is literally a joke of a politician. Former Virginia State Delegate Ibraheem S. Samirah characterized Bidens speech as a use of extreme right-wing talking points. President Biden is parroting their talking points, not recognizing the majority of Americans want a cease-fire, the majority of Democrats want to not send any more aid to Israel, majority of independents do not want to send any more aid to Israel, Samirah said. And hes gonna cost us our democracy in 2024. Progressive Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only current Palestinian-American member of Congress, and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) addressed the crowd of protestors. Both lawmakers have been calling on Biden to work toward an immediate cease-fire. Not all of America is with the Oval Office right now or what Congress is doing, Tlaib said. The majority of them want a cease-fire. So wake up, wake up members of Congress, wake up Mr. President, wake up. It is time now for a cease-fire. Were out here showing that we are consistent in our love for all of humanity, all meaning all of humanity, Bush said. So we are calling for an end to the violence. Were calling out here for cease-fire. Before the protestors started marching towards the White House, they were given flowers. The permitted protest followed the one on Wednesday where over 300 demonstrators were arrested after flooding the Cannon House Office Building. During the speech on Thursday, Biden argued that U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars is essential to American national security. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy, Biden said during his address. Biden gave a warning for Hamas to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilian Palestinians because it was not allowed in over the last 10 days during which food and water ran out. 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, Biden said. The White House asked Congress on Friday for a roughly $100 billion emergency funding request that includes funds for border security, Ukraine, Israel and allies in the Indo-Pacific. The administration is seeking $14 billion to boost Israels defense and $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to address Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and other needs. The White House may have a tough time getting it through Congress, in part because there has been opposition to additional Ukraine funding by the House GOP, and also because the lower chamber is currently speakerless after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost the secret ballot on Friday. The election process that kicked off when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted more than two weeks ago has now restarted. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Tom Murray meets Titanic star Frances Fisher on the picket line (AFP via Getty ) Autumn has arrived in Los Angeles, but its still a toasty 29C outside Paramount Studios in Hollywood where, as of Saturday 21 October, striking actors will have gathered in force for 100 consecutive days. The picketers dont mind the heat, though. Last month, as temperatures soared to over 40, they continued to march on the hot tarmac outside the offices of Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros and others. The Sag-Aftra actors union and the association representing the major film and TV studios have failed to reach a resolution since actors went on strike in July, despite the best efforts of George Clooney who, among other stars, just offered to pay millions more in union fees to help end the strike. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is demanding assurances over the use of artificial intelligence, higher minimum pay rates and increased streaming residuals. Many expected the strike to conclude when the unions screenwriting counterparts the Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a deal with The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) last month, but negotiations broke down again on 11 October. The AMPTP suspended discussions because they were no longer moving forward in a productive direction, they said. There is plenty of movement on the picket line today, however. Passing cars honk their horns in a steady stream of sonorous support, a boombox blasts Superstition by Stevie Wonder and dozens of Sag-merchandise-clad picketers chant: What kind of power? Union power! Take away the picket signs and youd be forgiven for thinking that some kind of street party was under way. Were on Melrose, one of the biggest, busiest avenues in the city, with five lanes of traffic going in both directions. On the wide pavements, people are mingling, greeting old friends and dancing under the swaying palm trees that line the street. All the while, grinning volunteers dole out free water, Gatorade and crisps. Actor and Sag-Aftra strike captain Brendan Bradley outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles (The Independent) We call it Partymount because it has a different energy to other strike locations, Brendan Bradley, one of the strike captains who ensures the organisation and safety of the picketers, tells me. Its a total party, its also a little more intense. We have this five-lane traffic in front of us... it creates a really great tension and energy. Ive barely begun speaking with Bradley when a large white 4x4 breaks the picket line, blasting its horn as it careers through the studio gates. Bradley sprints off, clutching a GoPro strapped to his chest. This happens a couple of times a week, he tells me, slightly breathless, upon his return, I wear a bodycam so I can clip it out for the LAPD [Los Angeles Police Department] and report the traffic incident. The entrance to the studio has a pedestrian crossing, which picketers only use when the light is green. Were not preventing anyone from getting to work, Bradley says, were just reminding them: without us, their jobs are a little less convenient. Bradley is like many of the people protesting today: a jobbing actor with more than 100 screen credits to his name. When the strikes began, many commentators suggested that people like Bradley would be starved out immediately, as they were left out of work and unable to pay their bills in one of the most expensive cities in the world. What they didnt take into account was that jobbing actors have been preparing for moments like this their whole career. A lot of actors already had to work other jobs because we dont make enough to survive as actors, and were doing all this free work in auditions, Sarah Ramos, who starred in the US television series American Dreams and Parenthood, tells me. Actors are resilient. Many of the people here today have returned to their part-time jobs at restaurants and bars, or as babysitters, dog walkers and telemarketers. I think the reason why this strike and labour movement is so unique, says Bradley, is that people were already having to work a lot of side hustles to be able to participate in what is supposedly their full-time job. Actors have maintained a constant presence, picketing Hollywoods big studios (The Independent) Of course, what would a Hollywood strike be without a little star power? Im mooching around the free refreshments when my Sag contact returns with Frances Fisher, best known for her role as Ruth DeWitt Bukater, the haughty mother of Kate Winslets Rose in 1997s Titanic. Fisher is a Sag veteran with 24 years of experience on the unions national board and is part of the negotiating committee taking on the AMPTP. I ask her how the atmosphere on the picket line has changed from day one to day 100 has the early optimism begun to fade? She lets out a long drag of her cigarette and grips my shoulder, saying: We are not gonna let them break our spirits. The dual strikes by the writers and the actors the first time that has happened since 1960 have already cost Californias economy alone more than $5bn, according to governor Gavin Newsom. And the people outside Paramount today are not just actors, they are set decorators, production coordinators, editors and sound technicians. All of them rely on Hollywoods symbiotic relationships and so productions have shut down entirely. Theyre gonna lose so much money, Fisher warns of the film studios, with some hint of relish. They have already lost money. Theyve lost more money than the price of our package and the WGA package combined. With the 100-day mark passed, negotiation between the parties has become a game of chicken. Who will flinch first? Fishers hand lands on my shoulder again. Our chant: one day longer, one day stronger, as long as it takes. Sag-Aftra strong. Foresic examiners investigate a scene following a Russian poisoning attempt in Salisbury (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The British government has been accused of failing to address the rising threat of political poisonings in the UK after an A-Level student presented a report to the House of Lords highlighting its inaction. Labour peer Baroness Kennedy KC, who chaired the panel in the Palace of Westminster on Thursday, highlighted Sophia Browders revelatory research but added it was embarrassing for the government that a 17 year-old was having to point out its shortcomings. Sophia is the daughter of financier Bill Browder, formerly the largest portfolio investor in Russia before being declared a national security threat by Vladimir Putin in 2005. We were delighted to launch our new Young Thought Leaders Programme yesterday, with a report by A-Level student Sophia Browder. Joining us were @HelenaKennedyKC and Marina Litvinenko to discuss Sophia's paper - Poison: The Common Method of Political Transnational pic.twitter.com/pz8KrAEfg8 Henry Jackson Society (@HJS_Org) October 20, 2023 Ms Browder said she felt compelled to conduct this research following the case of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a friend of her fathers who has been poisoned twice allegedly by affiliates of the Kremlin. She studied 78 cases of political poisoning over the last 450 years, finding that instances of this form of extrajudicial killing had increased threefold in the last 70 years. Her paper accused the government and local authorities of being unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with what has become one of the primary ways of eliminating dissidents abroad. The accusations follow a warning from MI5 that such attacks could become another key way of carrying out terror attack that allows the regimes responsible to avoid responsibility. Speaking toThe Independent, Ms Browder said: At present the government doesnt have adequate protocols in place to address it. Sometimes its easier to come in without any preconceived notions and just look at the facts. Thats what I tried to do and Im sad to say that the issue of political poisoning is currently very real and at present the government doesnt have adequate protocols in place to address it. Bill Browder is a leading international campaigner against corruption in Russia (AFP via Getty Images) Asked if she believed the cases could rise further given Russias heightened anti-Western status following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she said it was highly likely. In her research paper, she called for tighter border control measures to prevent lethal poisons entering the UK in the first place, and the introduction of status cards that dissidents could carry to alert medics to their higher risk of poisoning if they do fall ill. Baroness Kennedy welcomed the teenagers research at the meeting. Politicians have been slow in responding to this threat and Sophias recommendations are sensible and not costly, she said. Her report is an invaluable tool for us. Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, who was killed after figures affiliated with the Kremlin poisoned him with radioactive polonium-210, said the report sent a very strong message to politicians who try to ignore the threat. Alexander Litvinenko at the Intensive Care Unit of University College Hospital on November 20, 2006 (Getty) Speaking after the hearing, Ms Browders father told The Independent he was among many living in London who have to face the uncertainty of being targeted. Putin has exponentially increased the use of poison to silence dissidents, opposition politicians and journalists, he said. Many, including myself and my colleagues, live in London and have to face the uncertainty of being targeted. It would help to know that the British government took this threat seriously and that we could be confident that there are protocols in place to deal with this. At the moment Im afraid there are not and its every man for himself. Sophias policy recommendations go a long way to addressing these issues. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Australia on Saturday for a rally in support of Palestine with calls for an end to Israels attacks. The rally took place in Australias largest city, Sydney, and saw an estimated 15,000 protesters marching with the Palestinian flag and demanding Israel stop bombing Gaza. The air and artillery strikes by Israel in the last two weeks in the narrow strip have already killed 4,100 people. Protestors chanted Palestine will never die and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Similar rallies were also held in other Australian cities, including Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. Today, we have come to tell the world that we stand on the right side of justice, campaigner Assala Sayara told the protestors to loud cheers, according to The Guardian. We stand on the side of humanity. One protester, Barbara ONeill, described Palestinians as my brothers and sisters, saying, They have been suffering genocide publicly and in a very high-profile way, according to the Associated Press. Several other protestors said they attended the rally because people had a right to know whats going on with the Palestinians and believed in the humanitarian cause. If they knew what the state of Israel has done and is continuing to do, they would support Palestine, Rally-goer James McGlone told AP. People demonstrate in support of Palestinians in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Sydney, Australia (via REUTERS) The assembly was given a last-minute green light after a previous rally against Israels actions ended up in a controversy, with some protestors chanting anti-Jewish slogans. A significant police presence was seen at the venue and organisers said they worked closely with authorities to ensure the march went on in peace. Last week, the premier of NSW was saying that there would never be another Palestine march in this state, protest organiser Fahad Ali said in a statement posted online. We fought against that and we won, so today were looking forward to a really successful, really wonderful event. However, the rally also received some pushback, with Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the top group for Australias Jewish community, said Saturdays Sydney rally incited more hatred in Australia and fractured fragile social cohesion. 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 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 ministers office and confirmed by Fletcher a day after the former correspondent went public and said on MSNBCs The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle that two members of his wifes 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. At 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. McGurk also said President Joe Biden just spoke with Natalie Raanans father and Judiths ex-husband in an emotional phone call from the Oval Office. 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 McGurk. We made very clear that were doing all we can to secure their safety, too. 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 a couple hours earlier, Fletcher said theres obviously a huge sigh of release 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 ministers 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 Ranaan. (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 ministers 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, Israels 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 TODAY.com 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 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. Editors Note: Khaled A. Beydoun is a law professor at the Arizona State University Sandra Day OConnor College of Law. He is the author of many books, including American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear. You can follow him at his socials at @khaledbeydoun. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. This is worse than after the Muslim Ban, than after 9/11, uttered Abed Ayoub, a lawyer and childhood friend, four blocks away from the White House and two decades apart from the day that changed everything. Khaled A. Beydoun - Marwan Thoaubi In between the prevailing custom of doom-scrolling and delivering bad news, Abed looked up with a stare that said everything. I knew that look well. Like him, Im an Arab, Muslim and American an amalgam of identities that conjures up pariah in the world we live in. But now, it means something different. At this moment, when the horror of mass death unfolds in Gaza and on screens we hold in our palms, our identity spells absurdity. We see ourselves in the people of Gaza. The accosted people there share our names, our faith, our culture and our customs. We have friends in that 140-square-mile open-air prison turned into hell on earth, including journalists who were sheltering at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital at the time of the deadly blast on Wednesday. But what we continue to see on our screens is still half a world away. On the other side of our terrestrial reality and this virtual insanity. Until this past week. A Palestinian boy was killed in Illinois, shared Abed. This sequence of foreign-to-domestic murder was a familiar one. Being American, like 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was, does not protect us from the stigma of being Palestinian or Arab, Muslim and from the Middle East. Rather, these latter identities keep the security blanket of Americanness away from us, rendering us foreign and, during times of crisis, terrorists. Wadea was stabbed 26 times last Saturday with a military-style knife by his familys landlord, a 71-year-old man whos been charged with murder and hate crimes, among other crimes. The attacker also stabbed Wadeas mother more than a dozen times. She lived. But what does that word even mean anymore? What does it mean for a mother who escaped war for the safety of an American suburb? What does it mean for Abed and I: an executive director of a civil rights organization and a law professor, standing at the crosshairs of American power and an Arab identity conflated with terrorism? What does living mean for millions of Arabs and Muslimswho call the United States home, burdened with the impossible task of proving their allegiance, over and over again, in response to bellowing demands that bury our humanity? It feels like we are living on borrowed time, like we were extended a contingent citizenship that can be stripped at any time, on account of events that unfold in America or on the other side of the world. Calling it Islamophobia would be a severe understatement. This existential ballad of being Arab or Muslim in America is far more onerous, far more absurd. It feels like an existence that has no exit. A play where our daily routine is waking up to the news of war, the stark images and videos of slain children, rolling timelines of shattered villages and the roaring demands to condemn Hamas. While this plot sounds a lot like novels from Jean Paul Sartre or Albert Camus, this is not fiction. This is our absurd reality. An absurd reality where we, in America, can only post on virtual timelines where the footsteps of suspicion stomp out our voices and censor our speech. Our names and nationalities, faces and faith brand us with the stain of collective guilt for crimes that we did not commit. Moments like this like the aftermath of 9/11 or the reckoning after former President Donald Trumps Muslim Ban in 2017 moved many to conceal their ethnicity or cover their faith, particularly women who removed their hijabs or young children who hid behind aliases. Hate crimes statistics skyrocketed after 9/11, and reached near proportions in the wake of the Muslim Ban. Wadeas death foreshadows that these figures may spike again, and descend on the heads of Arab and Muslim Americans shadowed by suspicion. But we cannot shed our bodies. These are the corporal vehicles that connect us to the victims cast as villains in Gaza. And the symbols that tie us to distant places where wars on terror were wrought yesterday and are certain to wreck more lives tomorrow. Muslims are only newsworthy when villains, never victims. I wrote those words, for the first time, as a law student weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks. I was much younger then, unprepared for what the world would come to be. But I knew then that it would never be the same. I typed those very eight words 20 years later in my book, The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims. In between the wide-eyed optimism of a young law student and the sobered worldview of an aging law professor, 9/11 and todays war serve as bookends for morbid middle passages for Muslims in America and around the globe as evidenced by the genocidal campaigns in China, persecution in India, hijab and abaya bans in France, and far more. The law and language of Islamophobia have been exported transnationally by an American war on terror that was first enforced on the home front, upon the heads of Arabs and Muslims like me whose citizenship was cast aside. Being American was no protection. Not then and definitely not now. The barrage of cold stares and commands to condemn terrorism, assignment of collective guilt and characterization of our dead children as collateral damage, not only strips us from the substance of citizenship, it renders us inhuman. People dont have ideas, wrote Carl Jung, Ideas have people. And the idea that conflates our skin with terrorism not only grips the imagination of people, but sinks into the very marrow of American gates of power. We must exist, whatever that even means anymore, within the very lines that divide our identities and sever us from normalcy. While I am in Washington and not Chicago, I can feel every one of those 26 stabs that plunged into little Wadeas body. While across American cities large and small, we see ourselves in the grieving parents forced to bury their dead children in Gaza. This is what it means to be us. Perhaps it is time that this country begins to see us. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Qatar played a central role in securing the surprise release Friday of an American mother and daughter held hostage by Hamas. Now that Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, are free, the hope is that the release of more captives by Hamas could lead to wider dialogue or mediation, aimed at averting a full-scale war, a diplomat with knowledge of the talks told NBC News on Saturday. There were ups and downs during the discussions, said the diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly. Ultimately the American mother and daughter walked free because negotiators were able to convince Hamas that the unconditional release of two hostages could serve as a confidence building measure. After the release of the two women, President Joe Biden thanked the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work, in a statement. Mamoun Fandy, the president of the London Global Strategy Institute, a think tank based in the British capital, said the successful hostage negotiation with Hamas allowed Qatar to show it is the hub of diplomacy in this crisis. Follow live coverage from NBC News here. The freeing of the two Americans is the latest in a series of diplomatic initiatives by the small, oil-rich Persian Gulf state. Qatar recently helped negotiate a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran, as well the release of four Ukrainian children from Russia. It also hosted peace talks with the Taliban before the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. But Qatars history of sheltering Hamas political leaders could complicate its effort to present itself to Israel as a mediator. Natalie Shoshana Raanan (L) and Judith Tai Raanan speak with President Joe Biden via cellphone (US Embassy in Jerusalem via AFP - Getty Images) Judith and Natalie Raanan had been staying on a kibbutz called Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, before they were captured by Hamas in its massive terrorist attack on Oct. 7. After 13 days in captivity, the pair were greeted at the Gaza border on Friday by Israeli Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch and taken to a military base where they were reunited with relatives. There are now hopes that if more hostages are freed, it could clear a path to wider talks about getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. The diplomat said that Qatar has been urging Hamas to free its hostages. The Israelis have been clear they are not willing to talk until all the hostages are released. So it may be better for Hamas to release them faster because that may lead to wider dialogue or mediation." But Eldad Shavit, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, cautioned that the release of the two hostages was probably a manipulation by Hamas. My assumption is that Hamas is conducting a military operation and also a political campaign, said Shavit, who has served senior roles in Israeli defense intelligence and the prime ministers office. He added that he thought Hamas was hoping to put pressure on both the international community and Israel "not to proceed with plans, military plans. Whether that will be possible is doubtful, according to Michael Horowitz, the head of intelligence at Le Beck International, a security and risk management consultancy. Many Israelis, given the killing of more than 1,000 civilians by Hamas in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, will argue that a full-scale ground invasion that ends with the complete destruction of Hamas is the only acceptable outcome. While Qatar was proving to be a key ally of the U.S. and fending off criticism related to their decision to keep hosting senior Hamas leaders, Horowitz said the images and testimonies of the attack were too fresh in the memories of Israelis. The best shot everyone has to lower the flames is to push for two parallel tracks, namely the release of hostages on one hand, and on the other the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid in Gaza, Horowitz said. This is a sensible strategy, though I would say the chances of avoiding some form of Israeli incursion are still low. Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he thinks its a mistake to liken the Russisa-Ukraine war to the war between Israel and Hamas. I think its a mistake to bundle the Israel discussion with the Ukraine discussion, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Jesse Watters on Fox News Friday. It is a gambit to avoid debate on the merits on either one. Ramaswamy was responding to President Bidens speech from the Oval Office Thursday, where he announced he would deliver a request to Congress for a $100 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other issues like aid for Taiwan and the border. I think it was incoherent and trying to talk about of both sides of his mouth, Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy questioned Bidens intentions with the emergency aid package since the U.S. is headed toward a government shutdown next month if Congress cant pass spending bills. Top Stories from The Hill The elephant in the room, Jesse, is that all of this spending is against the backdrop of being $33 trilling in the whole of national debt, Ramaswamy said Friday. In his remarks Thursday, Biden linked Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. The message from Biden was that support of U.S. allies is essential for preserving American leadership in the world. Ramaswamy said Biden should shift his focus to issues happening in the United States while examining foreign policy. Every one of those dollars, that $100 billion, you better make the case by cutting something here at home, he said regarding Congressional lawmakers who will debate Bidens aid package. Let the American people really understand that were not playing Fantasyland here. That $33 trillion national debt is real, Ramaswamy added. Dont be duped by Bidenomics on the economic argument. But dont be duped by this military homeland investment argument either. Bidens funding request comes as the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas approaches its third week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BOCA RATON U.S. Sen. Rick Scott will oppose the Biden administration plan to send aid to Palestinians, saying such humanitarian aid will be seized by the Hamas terrorist group. "I completely oppose giving money to Hamas. I completely oppose giving money to the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)," Scott said Thursday night after speaking at a Boca Raton synagogue. Hamas runs Gaza. Any aid that's going to go into Gaza, will go to Hamas. The Republican spoke just before President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office. In his remarks, Biden drew a sharp distinction between the Palestinian people and the Hamas terrorist organization. "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people," the president said. "Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them." U.S. Sen. Rick Scott speaks to Jewish leaders at a Boca Raton synagogue Oct. 19, about the Hamas attacks on Israel. Biden acknowledged the paramount importance of insuring "Hamas does not divert or steal" aid shipments and said that in his discussions with the Israeli and Egyptian leaders, he had "secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians" living in Gaza. A day earlier, during a speech in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden had also warned Hamas that diverting the aid instead of giving it to Palestinians would bring an end to the money. Scott was not convinced, adding that he opposed the use U.S. taxpayer money to supply aid sent to Gaza, saying it would indirectly subsidize the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO. Biden, on Hamas attacks: 'The world is watching': Biden condemns Hamas attacks, pledges support for Israel Scott, as have former President Donald Trump and Republican leaders, has also blamed the Biden administration for the attack, saying that the unfreezing of $6 billion worth of Iranian assets as part of the deal with Iran to release American hostages was a mistake. Iran wants to destroy every Jew they know. They want to destroy America. They want to destroy Israel, Scott said. Scott said that he believed the money was used by Iran to support terrorism by funding the attacks on Israel. White House officials, however, have sought to debunk such claims by noting that Iran did not have access to those funds and that there's no evidence they were used to finance the attacks. This month the Biden presidential campaign chastised Trump, saying he was "pushing dangerous misinformation about the crisis in Israel at a time when we should be standing together to support the country." A Biden campaign statement pointed to reports from Fox News that the $6 billion is in a secure bank account in Qatar, and the U.S. Treasury must validate "the bills of lading for the money" to be withdrawn, according to social-media posts by a Fox News reporter on X, formerly Twitter. The report said none of the frozen Iranian money could have been used by Hamas. Stephany Matat is a politics reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY-Florida network. Reach her at smatat@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rick Scott opposes Biden's humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza 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. Rishi Sunak has warned that the Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing a contagion of conflict across the Middle East. The Prime Minister, who visited Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks with key regional players this week, said the leaders agreed we need to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the war. He said his two-day visit to the region demonstrated that the UK stands in solidarity with them against terrorism and that there can be no justification for the atrocities committed by Hamas. I wanted to sit down with other leaders and talk face to face. Because in times of tension and division, its more important than ever to accelerate diplomatic efforts, he added. He said the opening of the border crossing with Egypt to allow an aid convoy into the Gaza Strip was an example of what could be achieved. The reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza is testament to the power of diplomacy, with the US, Israel and Egypt brokering an agreement to ensure vital aid reaches the Palestinian people. Were working closely with Egypt to ensure that the UK plays our part in ensuring those Palestinians get the food, water and medicine they so desperately need. The overwhelming view I got from everyone I spoke to this week was that we need to do everything possible to stop a contagion of conflict in the region. We need to keep our aspirations for a more peaceful and stable future firmly in our sights as we work together to defeat the evil of terrorism. Trucks with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) The Prime Ministers comments came after 100,000 people marched through central London in support of the Palestinian people in response to Israels siege of the Gaza Strip. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he wanted Britons trapped in Gaza to be able to leave through the Rafah crossing but acknowledged it was not yet safe enough to do so. Ultimately, we want to see the Rafah crossing safe enough that foreign nationals in Gaza are able to leave, he told the Sunday Times. We are only going to call British nationals forward when we are confident that there will be a long enough period for them to credibly, safely leave Gaza and we are not yet in that position. He said officials were working very, very closely with the Egyptian government, with the Qataris and other players in the region including Israel, of course to try and get to a situation where there is enough stability, for long enough, to give British nationals a credible opportunity to leave. At a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday, Mr Cleverly said Israel had the right to defend itself against Hamas in Gaza. But with the Israeli military preparing a ground offensive, Mr Cleverly said they needed to show discipline, professionalism and restraint in actions against Hamas. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who were kidnapped on October 7, Mr Cleverly said. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. (PA Graphics) Mr Cleverly said he had raised the need to protect civilians with the Tel Aviv government. He added: Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The frontier with Egypt at Rafah was opened on Saturday morning to let 20 trucks of desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. Hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egyptian Presidency Media Office/AP) ActionAid Palestine spokeswoman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground, she added. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Hamas said it released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatar government. Mr Cleverly said: We are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza, and we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid which much which many of us have partially funded reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need. A pro-Palestinian march organised by the Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) In London, pro-Palestinian protesters chanted from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, despite an ongoing controversy around the slogans meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed it is widely understood to call for the destruction of Israel. But the Metropolitan Police said while we can envisage scenarios where chanting these words could be unlawful such as outside a synagogue or Jewish school its use in a wider protest would not be an offence and would not result in arrests. Pumpkin patches are now in peak season. From pumpkin pie to pumpkin carving, pumpkins are a main attraction for fun fall activities for friends and family. Here's six pumpkin patches to check out within driving distance of Athens: Mitcham Farm - Free admission. 797 Macedonia Church Rd., Oxford. Hours are Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. Washington Farms - Free admission. 5691 Hog Mountain Rd., Bogart. Open weekends from 10 a.m. to dark. Randy's Pumpkin Patch - $1 per person, or $25 for 20 tickets. 1460 Lawrenceville Hwy., Lawrenceville. Open Monday through Thursday from 4-9 p.m., Friday from 4-10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Milledge Avenue Baptist Church - Free admission. 1690 S. Milledge Ave., Athens. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Big Sandy Creek Dairy - $8 per person. 4540 Bostwick Rd., Madison. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Kinsey Family Farm - Free admission. 7170 Jot-em Down Rd., Gainesville. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Six pumpkin patches to check out near Athens, GA The Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions on the Biden administrations communications with social media companies while a lawsuit targeting the governments efforts to combat online misinformation plays out. The courts move pauses rulings from a federal trial court and a conservative appeals court that severely limited the ability of the White House, the surgeon general, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FBI and a top US cybersecurity agency to communicate with social media companies about content related to Covid-19 and elections the government views as misinformation. A sweeping preliminarily injunction issued this summer by a federal judge in Louisiana effectively blocked a slew of federal agencies and administration officials from communicating with social media companies about taking down content containing protected free speech posted on the platforms. In agreeing to pause the rulings on Friday, the high court also said it would take up the case, though it didnt say when it would hear oral arguments in the dispute. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas said they disagreed with the courts decision to pause the lower court rulings. The upshot is that the Biden administration gets to keep on doing whatever its doing with regard to communicating with social media companies until and unless the Supreme Court rules against it on the merits, said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. In the five-page dissent, the conservatives criticized the courts decision to take up the case while it was still in an early phase and called the courts decision to pause the rulings highly disturbing. 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 the dissent. That is most unfortunate. Lawsuit targeted government efforts to curtail misinformation Missouri and Louisianas attorneys general, as well as several individual plaintiffs, filed the lawsuit last year, alleging that the governments efforts to combat online misinformation about Covid-19 and US elections amounted to a form of unconstitutional censorship. A sweeping preliminarily injunction issued this summer by a federal judge in Louisiana effectively blocked a slew of federal agencies and administration officials from communicating with social media companies about taking down content containing protected free speech posted on the platforms. A three-judge panel at the 5th US Court of Appeals scaled back the injunction in September, narrowing its scope to a few agencies that it said likely violated the First Amendment when they leaned on platforms to moderate some content. The court said the new injunction covered only the White House, the surgeon general, the CDC and the FBI. After the Biden administration turned to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs asked 5th Circuit panel to expand the scope of the injunction. The court partially granted the request in early October, adding the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as an enjoined entity. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Yagnishsing Dawoor in The Guardian: The Bengali-American writer Jhumpa Lahiris latest collection is an urgent and affecting portrait of Rome in nine stories featuring characters, both native and non-native, who inhabit the city without ever feeling fully at home. As one remarks, Rome switches between heaven and hell. Like Whereabouts, Lahiris previous book, this collection was composed in Italian and then translated into English. Lahiri self-translated six out of the nine stories, entrusting editor Todd Portnowitz with the remaining three. The translation is supple and elegant throughout; sentences gleam and flow, adding to the vividness and immediacy of these tales about buried grief, belonging and unbelonging, the meaning of home and the cost of exile. The characters, always unnamed, are sick and homesick; they worry about their bodies and they reminisce about past homes and past lives. Sometimes a parent, a friend or a child is remembered or mourned; always, a degree of guilt is involved. In The Procession, set during the festivities of La Festa de Noantri, a couple arrive in Rome to celebrate the wifes 50th birthday. The city, we learn, holds a special place in her heart; it was where she had studied for a year when she was 19 and where she had fallen in love for the first time. But peace will repeatedly elude her during her stay. Upsetting details accumulate. Morning light that startles like an electric charge; a chandelier that threatens to come crashing down. French doors that slam and shatter. A room that will not unlock. Another that brings to mind an operating theatre and a dead son. More here. Aid trucks have entered southern Gaza for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas two weeks ago but aid agencies have warned it is a tiny fraction of what is required to alleviate the humanitarian crisis there. There were cheers from aid workers at the Egypt border as the convoy carrying coffins and medicine passed through the Rafah crossing into the besieged enclave, which is also facing near-continuous bombardment from Israel in its war against Hamas. Gazas 2.3 million residents have faced what Israel has called a total siege as it steps up its assault on Hamas, whose cross-border attack saw 1,400 people killed and more than 200 people taken hostage. That has left supplies of fuel for power, water, food and medical supplies either running out completely or dwindling. After a week of intense negotiations between the US, Israel, Egypt and the UN, an agreement was struck for 20 trucks to make their way across the border on Saturday carrying critical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent to the Palestinian Red Crescent organisation. It comes as: The United Nations said the small convoy crossing the Egypt border was a drop in the ocean Unicef warned the delivery of water was a matter of life or death for children British foreign secretary James Cleverly urged Israeli military to show restraint to protect civilian lives in Gaza The trucks entered the southern area of Gaza, including the major towns of Rafah and Khan Younis where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the campaign of airstrikes and an evacuation order by Israels military, calling on residents to clear northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. The people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, told a peace summit in Cairo having visited Rafah on Friday to make a call for aid to be delivered. More than 200 aid trucks are said to have gathered in the area around the border. There I saw a paradox a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real-time, he said. On the one hand, I saw hundreds of trucks teeming with food and other essential supplies. On the other hand, we know that just across the border, there are 2 million people without water, food, fuel, electricity and medicine. Children, mothers, the elderly, the sick. Full trucks on one side, empty stomachs on the other. UN workers as trucks carrying aid arrive at the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt (Reuters) Aid agencies lined up to make clear that the current level of aid was nowhere near enough, as well as lament the lack of fuel being sent into Gaza. Juliette Touma, from the UNs Palestinian refugee relief agency, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the convoy was a drop in the ocean and that what civilians in Gaza really need is sustainable and continuous humanitarian access. Riham Jafari, advocacy and communications coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, said: We welcome any form of aid right now, but the level of aid being delivered into Gaza is a shameful insult to the millions of Gazans facing a humanitarian catastrophe. She added that hundreds of aid trucks a day would have crossed the border before the current conflict. The group said seven hospitals in the Gaza Strip were running out of fuel for generators, leaving incubators and life support machines unable to function. Ms Jafari added: Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or pump water from the ground. Were hearing stories every day of communities coming together to donate whatever fuel they have remaining to keep incubators going for newborns who are in a critical condition. British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta, who is working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said Gazas largest hospital, Al-Shifa, had run out of burns dressings on Saturday, meaning he could not properly treat children in need. The Israeli government has demanded to see proof that the aid deliveries are not seized or diverted by Hamas, before authorising further deliveries, and there is a suggestion that the next convoy may not enter until Monday. Palestinians walk by the buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City (AP) The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, said Cindy McCain, head of the UNs World Food Programme. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid. An illustration of the limited nature of the aid was provided by the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef). In a statement, it said that 44,000 bottles of drinking water merely enough for 22,000 people for one day were driven through the Rafah crossing as part of the 20-truck convoy. With one million children in Gaza now facing a critical protection and humanitarian crisis, the delivery of water is a matter of life or death. Every minute counts, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense not just for water, but for food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods and services. Unless we can provide humanitarian supplies consistently, we face the real threat of life-threatening disease outbreaks. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza also said the limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. There has been concern among aid agencies over the large-scale distribution of aid, with entire streets reduced to rubble by airstrikes. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office has said more than 140,000 homes nearly a third of all homes in Gaza had been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed. For those still in northern Gaza, the chances of aid are even more slim. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, said: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, reiterating that no fuel would enter the territory. The military said it was continuing to intensify strikes in the north of the enclave. Israeli soldiers work on a tank at a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip (AP) Gazas health ministry also said that Israels air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than a million of the besieged territorys 2.3 million people have been displaced. That death toll includes an explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital which the ministry says claimed 471 lives. Israel disputes that number, saying the toll was far less. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the fenced border around the small coastal enclave for a planned ground invasion with the objective of annihilating Hamas. Overnight, Israeli fighter jets struck a large number of Hamas terror targets throughout Gaza including command centres and combat positions inside multi-floor buildings, the military said in a statement. Gazas health ministry and Hamas media said dozens had been killed and injured by the strikes. Hamas said it fired rockets towards Israels biggest city, Tel Aviv, on Saturday in response to those deaths. The Israeli military reported a fresh salvo of rockets from Gaza against southern Israeli border communities before dawn. There was no immediate word of any casualties. Meanwhile, during the summit in Cairo, Mr Guterres said that Hamass reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people as he called for the protection of civilians and the sparing of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and UN premises, from the bombardment. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greets United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East (via Reuters) Mr Guterres pointed to the wider context of war, saying that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability. Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialised, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realised, he said. The summit in Cairo was aimed at trying to head off a wider regional war as well as discuss the situation inside Gaza, but assembled Middle Eastern and European leaders were expected to struggle to agree on a common position. Arab leaders at the summit condemned Israels bombardment of Gaza and demanded renewed efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement to end a decades-long cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land. We wont leave, we wont leave, he told the summit. The United States, Israels closest ally and a vital player in all past efforts towards Middle East peace, only sent the charge d'affaires of its embassy in Cairo. Israel was also absent, meaning expectations were low about what could be achieved. Demonstrators hold up flags and placards during a pro-Palestinian march in London (AP) British foreign secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday he had spoken to the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law and to preserve civilian lives in Gaza, and for its military to show restraint. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped, Mr Cleverly told the Cairo summit. We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. Having said that the convoy of aid to Gaza on Saturday should not be a "one-off, Mr Cleverly said the international community needed to work to prevent a regional conflict, saying it was what Hamas wanted. We have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives, Mr Cleverly said. We must, therefore, ensure that Hamas does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful coexistence wins. In the UK, tens of thousands of people joined a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in London. Attendees held signs that read Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. 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 A University of Delaware student and Eagle Scout was killed in a motorcycle crash near Dover on Tuesday, according to Delaware State Police. The victim, identified publicly Saturday as 18-year-old Ethan Statham of Dover was driving his motorcycle east on Hazlettville Road, east of Apple Grove Road, at 5:16 p.m. A red 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling west on the same road and attempted to make a left turn into the driveway of a private residence. The Dodge struck the front tire of Statham's black 2022 Kawasaki EX4 motorcycle, police believe, throwing the teen off of his motorcycle and onto the westbound lane of traffic. Statham was pronounced dead at the scene. The 57-year-old driver of the pickup was unharmed, police say. The crash was first reported Wednesday, but Statham's name was withheld until family could be notified. In an obituary posted online, his family wrote that Statham was an honor student at Camden's Caesar Rodney High School, an avid nature photographer and player of the French horn and mellophone, and one of the youngest to achieve Eagle rank in Scouts. Statham was working toward a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Delaware. The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the crash and asks anyone who witnessed the collision to contact Sgt. A. Mitchell by calling 302-698-8518.Reporter Matthew Korfhage can be reached at mkorfhage@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Motorcycle crash near Dover leaves University of Delaware student dead Makhachev celebrates beating Volkanovski in his defence of his UFC lightweight title Islam Makhachev knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round to retain his lightweight title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Russia's Makhachev, 31, dropped Volkanovski, 35, with a left high kick, causing the referee to stop the fight. The win concludes the pair's rivalry after Makhachev's narrow win in February. It also all but ends Australian featherweight champion Volkanovski's hopes of winning a second title. Volkanovski took the fight against Makhachev on 12 days' notice after Brazil's Charles Oliveria pulled out injured. "Thank you to Volkanovski. You have to turn out the lights to beat this guy," said Makhachev. "He will never give up. He will fight all five rounds, he is a real champion." In the middleweight co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev beat Kamaru Usman by majority decision in a compelling contest. Chechen-born Chimaev got the better of the grappling exchanges between the pair and is now in prime position to challenge middleweight champion Sean Strickland for the title. In his post-fight interview, Chimaev, along with a number of others fighters, called for peace and an end to the violence in the Israel-Gaza war. Makhachev emphatically closes Volkanovski rivalry Makhachev and Volkanovski's fight in February divided opinion among critics, with some believing Volkanovski should have declared the winner following a back-and-forth contest. The Russian said pre-fight there was no pressure on Volkanovski and he had taken the fight solely "for money" but the Australian argued there was pressure because the fight could represent his last chance at winning a second UFC title. There have only been four simultaneous double champions in UFC history, including Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo, with Volkanovski wanting to become the fifth to elevate his legacy among the all-time pound-for-pound greats. But in Makhachev, Volkanovski was facing the only person to have beaten him in 14 UFC fights with the Russian having won 12 consecutive bouts. Makhachev adopted a kicking approach in the early stages, landing to the legs and body, before the pair wrestled against the cage. Volkanovski avoided a takedown, but took a number of knees from Makhachev as the fighters clinched. The fight-ending moment would come shortly after their separation as Makhachev landed a left high kick, causing a stunned Volkanovski to fall, before following up with punches as the referee stepped in to stop the contest. Imposing Chimaev impresses again Chimaev has won all 13 fights of his professional career Like Volkanovski, Usman was a late replacement for the bout with Chimaev after replacing the injured Paulo Costa. The middleweight bout represented the 36-year-old's first since failing to regain the welterweight title against Leon Edwards in March, with Usman saying fighting Chimaev was a chance for him to "soul search". The unbeaten Chimaev, 29, has forged a fearsome reputation since making his UFC debut in 2020, winning all six fights with five finishes. And Chimaev carried his momentum into the Usman fight as he shot for a takedown early in the bout and completed it, outwrestling him throughout the round unlike any previous opponent in the UFC has been able to do. The second round saw Usman settle into the contest more as he kept the fight on the feet while landing a clean one-two, and he found more success in the third, stopping multiple takedowns and landing consistently with his jab and left hook. Chimaev secured another takedown halfway through the third, before Usman got to his feet, with the gripping contest ending with both fighters swinging punches. Following the bout, UFC president Dana White thanked Usman for stepping in on short notice, while Chimaev earns the opportunity to face Strickland for the title. Britain's Mokaev continues winning streak On the prelims, Britain's Muhammad Mokaev submitted American Tim Elliott in their flyweight bout, extending the unbeaten start to his career to 12. After a competitive two rounds, Mokaev, 23, secured an arm triangle in the third, causing former title challenger Elliott, 36, to tap out. Mokaev escaped a number of submission attempts during the bout and swung momentum in his favour with two eye-catching slams. The victory is Mokaev's fifth, with four finishes, since making his UFC debut last March, and moves him closer towards his goal of winning the title. Elsewhere on the undercard, fellow Briton Nathaniel Wood suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Tajikistan's Muhammad Naimov. The loss ends 30-year-old Wood's three-fight win streak since moving up to featherweight. 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. The US and its allies have been urging Israel to be strategic and clear about its goals if and when it launches a ground invasion of Gaza, warning against a prolonged occupation and placing a particular emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties, US and Western officials told CNN. In private discussions with their Israeli counterparts, Western defense officials have not tried to dissuade Israel from moving into Gaza with ground forces, the sources said. But they have emphasized that Israel should have clear objectives when it comes to degrading Hamas and seeking to avoid a long-term occupation of the Gaza Strip. Our advice to them isnt Dont do it, because we completely respect their right to go after Hamas and that means going after them wherever they are, a NATO defense minister told CNN. So its not Dont do it, but it is Think about what happens and have a strategy, not just a tactical maneuver. We expect Israel to act within international humanitarian law, but we understand that theyre dealing with an enemy here. President Joe Biden expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with 60 Minutes last week. While he said that taking out the extremists is a necessary requirement for Israel, Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas dont represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again. And on Wednesday, while in Tel Aviv, Biden warned in public remarks that wartime leadership requires clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path youre on will achieve those objectives. An Israeli official confirmed that these discussions with the US and other allies are taking place. A separate senior Israeli official said Friday that Israel is well aware of the humanitarian issues and is taking steps to address it in cooperation with the US government. Its Hamas who has turned the 2 million people of Gaza into a human shield. Earlier this week, Israels ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, told CNN that Israel has no interest in occupying Gaza, although Israeli officials have warned the operation there will be lengthy. Hamas is also believed to be holding over 200 hostages, who could be endangered if Israel invades. The group released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, on Friday. US officials dont yet have a clear sense for Israels intentions in Gaza and believe it will be difficult for Hamas to be eradicated entirely. At least publicly, Israeli officials have articulated their plans only in broad strokes, saying that the goal is to eliminate Hamas and its infrastructure. Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, go to the places where Hamas organizes, operates, plans and launches, Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said Sunday, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. To hit them severely everywhere, every commander, every operative, and to destroy infrastructure. In one word to win. In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out to debilitate Hamas with the last ground invasion into Gaza. While that war dealt Hamas a significant blow, it was a huge challenge, and Israel hasnt attempted another incursion since. Concerns about further inflaming tensions There is also a rising concern that a ground invasion could further inflame tensions in the region, officials explained, which heightened after a hospital blast in Gaza that Israel and Hamas have blamed on each other. The US has assessed that Israel was not responsible but has yet to conclusively identify a culprit. Protests have erupted across the Arab world in the wake of the hospital explosion, and a large-scale and seemingly indiscriminate Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could fuel further unrest, US and Middle Eastern officials told CNN. US troops have already been attacked multiple times in recent days in Iraq and Syria, with drones and rockets targeting coalition bases there. And Hezbollah the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon has threatened further action if Israeli boots step into Gaza. I think we all understand the importance of the information warfare spare, said one source familiar with US intelligence. Whatever they do, it needs to be thoughtful and deliberate. US officials also fear that a particularly bloody assault on Gaza could risk drawing Hezbollah, to the north, or even Iran into the conflict. Right now, multiple officials familiar with US and Western intelligence say, it appears that neither Tehran nor Hezbollah are particularly keen to intervene directly. But if there is a parade of images of Palestinians suffering under an Israeli assault, their domestic politics could shift. A senior US official told CNN that among the benefits of Bidens trip to Israel this week was that it buys us some time when it comes to a potential Israeli ground incursion. It was generally understood before the trip that Israel would not escalate in Gaza while Biden was visiting, the official said. The official added that the longer the Israelis hold off on this kind of military operation the better, because it allows Israel to plan more strategically and not respond as emotionally to the horrors of October 7. Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior intelligence analyst specializing in the region, told CNN that the good news is they (Israel forces) have taken the time. They didnt go immediately and launch a ground operation the next day. I think the president deserves some credit for buying time. But Panikoff added that any kind of ground operation wont be quick or easy, because urban warfare in such a densely populated area is a unique challenge especially in a place where Hamas is embedded with the civilian population. I dont think that necessarily the goal (of Bidens trip) was to prevent a full-scale invasion, he said. I think the goal was to show clear support (and) to understand Israels strategy of what comes after an invasion if Israel is successful in decimating Hamas. Whats the plan for governance in the Gaza Strip? CNNs Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 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 Peter Gonzalez "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Ive never been interested in going on cruises, Sir Richard Branson tells me on the first day of a cruise of the Greek Islands on the Virgin Voyages ship Resilient Lady in early September. I asked myself many years ago, why? And I just thought, there are a lot of people like me, he says. Ninety-five percent of the population hasnt been on cruises, and what I love and what the team at Virgin love to do is try to challenge ourselves to create something that caters to people who dont like what currently exists. Virgin Voyages With Virgin Voyages, the cruise line Virgin launched in 2020, Branson has done that. Although Virgin Voyages three boats (and a fourth set to launch in 2024), look like traditional mid-sized cruise ships, there is nothing traditional about them. There are no buffets, no children, and no dress codes. Branson, who tends toward casual style like linen shirts, shorts, and Hoka sneakers on the cruise, embraces the lack of formalityan extension of the atmosphere at his Necker Island retreat in the British Virgin Islands, where he spends much of his time. No Kids and No Buffets The 20 restaurants onboard, which include a stylish steakhouse and a Korean barbecue spot where diners are encouraged to take part in drinking games (to facilitate participation, complimentary soju is provided along with non-alcoholic beverages), are designed to resemble hotspots in New York and London. Virgin Voyages My image of cruises was buffets and people queuing up, and it didnt appeal to me, Branson, who is distinctly soft-spoken, says. I didnt enjoy flying on other peoples airlines before we started Virgin Atlantic, and it was the same thing. I think weve managed to create the kind of airline I would like to fly on and my friends would like to fly on, and we try to do that in any sector we move into. A Younger Crowd Embraces Cruising Virgin is entering the cruise industry at an opportune moment. According to a survey by the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association that was first cited by the New York Times, there is more interest than ever in cruising among millennials and Gen-X travelers. Seventy-seven percent of millennials and 73 percent of Gen-X travelers reported being interested in taking their first cruise. Of the 4,500 respondents who took their first cruise, 88 percent of millennials and 86 percent of Gen-X respondents said they plan to go on another one. It's easy to see why. Aside from the ease of simply unpacking once and visiting multiple destinations throughout the trip, cruising is fun, especially with elements that distinguish Virgins ships from other cruise lines. Peter Gonzalez The brands ships are inspired by yachts, Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu tells me. Our ships are like a big yacht, with a lot of small, intimate spaces, Saverimuttu says. On traditional cruise ships, youre looking at dining spaces that seat 1,000 to 2,000 people. Our biggest eatery seats 200, and each restaurant has a dedicated kitchen and executive chef. And unlike other cruise shipsboth large and smallall the food is made to order, so sailors (as Virgin Voyages passengers are called) never have to queue up for a buffet. alberto oviedo The audience, Branson says, is the young at heart. As an adults-only cruise line, the minimum age is 18, but passengers in their 70s and 80s were also onboard the Greek Islands cruise. The core age groups are travelers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Branson himself celebrated his 72nd birthday onboard a Virgin cruise in July 2022. A Delayed Launch for Virgin Voyages Branson admits the cruise lines launch did not go as planned. In February 2020, the first ship was set to make its debut in the U.K. port city of Dover. The Spice Girls, who were once on Virgin [Records], were meant to come launch it and never turned up, Branson says. I talked to Posh Spice and she said, Were being told, best not to go onto cruise ships. After Dover, the ship sailed to New York, where Jennifer Lopez was set to turn up for the American launch. J. Lo also didnt show. alberto oviedo It made me wonder what it was that was worrying them so much, Branson says, and then we realized this thing called Covid seemed to be worrying enough people for us to then send both ships back to Italy and mothball them for 18 months back in the shipyard. The Virgin founder says that despite the inauspicious start, he and his team would not give up. We had two beautiful ships and a wonderful team of people, he says. We just had to sweat it out. We got through it and here weve come out stronger for it. The Cruise Line's AccoladesOne Especially Loyal Customer Virgin Voyages has been racking up awards, including sweeping all five awards in Cruise Critic's large-ship category in 2023: Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Service, and Best Value-for-Money. It was also named the Best Large Cruise Ship cruise line in the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards earlier this year. Bold Man & the Sea Media And it has fervent fans, like Chris DeSalvo, who was on his 41st voyage in less than a year. In July, the mobile app developer celebrated his 40th birthday on another Virgin ship, Valiant Lady. He signed up for his first Virgin Voyage while living in Miami and saw Virgin ships in port there. Having only been on a handful of cruises before, DeSalvo says that the red woven hammocks on the ship's balconies (86 percent of cabins come with balconies, and their hammocks are created by Yellow Leaf, an organization that promotes women's empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand) first attracted him to Virgin Voyages. The free WiFi was another plus, since it would allow him to work from the ship. DeSalvo had such a great time that he booked another cruise, and another one, and so onadding up to around 220 nights onboard. He's also booked a spot on a six-week crossing from Dubai to Sydney later this year. As for Branson, he's planning to join another Virgin cruise in the Caribbean next summer, if not before. "I like to learn and I love starting things," Branson tells me. "I love learning about industries I know little about, and I love trying to change things for the better." With Virgin Voyages, that's what he's done. You Might Also Like Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results 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. Adam Shatz on the war in Gaza in the LRB: On 16 October, Sabrina Tavernise, the host of the New York Times podcast The Daily, spoke to two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. So, Abdallah, Tavernise said to Abdallah Hasaneen, a resident of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, who was only able to get a signal from his balcony, weve been talking about all of the air strikes that have been happening since last Saturday, and of course the thing that happened last Saturday as well was this very deadly attack by Hamas on Israel. How do you understand that attack? What did you think of that? You cannot just put people into prison, deprive them of their fundamental rights, and then see nothing in response, Hasaneen replied. You cannot dehumanise people and expect nothing ... I am not Hamas, and I was never a big fan of Hamas ... But whats happening here is not about Hamas at all. Tavernise (sheepishly): Whats it about? Hasaneen: Its about ethnically cleansing Palestinian people, its about 2.3 million Palestinian people. Thats why Israel, the first thing that it did was cutting off water and cutting off electricity and cutting off food. So this is not, never about Hamas. Its about our mistake to be born Palestinians. Tavernises second guest was a woman called Wafa Elsaka who recently returned to Gaza after working as a teacher in Florida for 35 years. That weekend, Elsaka had fled from her familys home, after Israel ordered the 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes and head south, warning of an impending ground invasion. Dozens of Palestinians were killed under bombardment while travelling along routes Israel told them would be safe. We lived through 1948, and all were asking is to have peace to raise our kids, Elsaka said. Why are we repeating history again? What do they want? They want Gaza? What are they going to do with us? What are they going to do with the people? I want these questions answered so we know. They want to throw us to the sea? Go ahead, do it, dont keep us in pain! Just do it ... Before, I used to say that Gaza is an open-air prison. Now I say Gaza is an open grave ... You think people here are alive? They are zombies. More here. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas, demanding global "action to end this godawful nightmare", AFP reports. Addressing a peace summit in Cairo as the war raged into its third week, Guterres said Gaza was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million people displaced. His remarks came just hours after a first contingent of aid trucks rumbled into southern Gaza, which Guterres said needed to be rapidly scaled up, with "much more" help sent through. The Palestinians need "a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed", he told the Cairo "Summit for Peace" which was attended by many Arab leaders. The UN Secretary General called for the release of all hostages and for a two-state solution to be reached. He said Hamass reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. People who burn themselves up in pursuit of survival rarely survive anyone or anything There is nothing bizarre about Jonathan Escofferys If I Survive You, a Booker Prize shortlisted book of interlinked short stories that focus primarily on poverty and race in America. Yet, from the moment I cracked the book open to the time I turned the last page over, there was something odd about the way I read it. Automatically, instantly, without a thought, I transferred the location of the book in my head and read it as stories primarily about poverty and identity in India. Because there is nothing in If I Survive You that I have not observed or lived side-by-side with in this country. The only things that were new to me were the details of the day-to-day lives of the characters and their inner monologues. Poverty, this book makes clear, is a universal experience. A poor person in one country lives the same kind of life as a poor person in another country, even if the GDPs of these countries are poles apart, even if one country is developed and the other developing, even if their cultures are beyond comparison. The main characters of If I Survive You are Trelawny, his older brother Delano, and their father. We meet Trelawny the books central character in the first chapter when he is a boy growing up as the only American by birth in his family of immigrants from Jamaica. Rather than grounding him however, the fact that he was born in America makes him the only member of his family with an identity crisis. The rest of them know who they are theyre Jamaicans working and living in America; they have a home to return to if thats what theyd like to do some day. But Trelawny is in his only home and has been confused since he was a kindergartner. On the one hand, his school makes him and all the other children aver their American-ness every morning assembly. On the other hand, Americans dont seem to think hes American. Thats partly or perhaps mainly because of the American obsession with race. Trelawny has plenty of Europeans in his ancestry, but he isnt White. He isnt Black either, in the sense of being a Black American. His skin colour is brown, but he isnt Hispanic. Hes from the Caribbean, but hes Anglophone, not Spanish speaking. In colour-coded America, hes an outlier in every direction. So he can belong to no commonly found group in any of his schools unless he fakes being part of one community or another, and he doesnt fit with his family either. This sense of never being one of us colours all of Trelawnys experiences, even long after he reaches manhood. Meanwhile, his contractor father cannot seem to understand Trelawny the way he understands Delano, while Trelawny cannot help feeling that there is nothing father-like about his father at all. And when father and younger son do try and get along, the results are so disastrous that Trelawny is kicked out of his home. With little money and only a car in which to live, Trelawny must do all sorts of odd jobs to survive, some of the better paying of which are beyond freakish. Theres the woman who wants a Black man to punch her in the face just for the experience of it. The couple who want a Black man to watch them get their kink on. Theres the job in a government-funded housing complex for indigent senior citizens where the main task is to ensure that the rent is always raised. Even when Trelawny finally acquires a degree and lands a teaching job at a private school, he cannot afford to buy the house his father offers to sell him for a price too good to be true. No matter what he does, no matter how many times he manages to claw his way to a place where he has options, every time Trelawny tries to dig himself out of the pit he was born in, the outcome is a nightmare and he understands that such an outcome is inevitable. In the last story in the book, he acknowledges this fact: It occurs to you that people like you people who burn themselves up in pursuit of survival rarely survive anyone or anything. Escofferys writing is so smooth that even though the book is a collection of interlinked short stories, it seems to have the continuity of a novel. And the directness of his tone makes If I Survive You utterly compelling. There are no vague metaphors here about poverty and its effects. Theres also no sense of victimhood because theres no space for suffering in the lives of Trelawny, Delano and even their father. Survival is the only thing on their minds, even if it kills them in the process. Kushalrani Gulab is a freelance editor and writer who dreams of being a sanyasi by the sea If I Survive You By Jonathan Escoffery HarperCollins India pp. 256, Rs 499 Common prayer with Primate Welby in Jerusalem's Anglican cathedral. Also a Caritas worker and her family among the dead in the Orthodox church of Saint Porphyrios. Fr Romanelli: "Many wounded in the bombing were taken to the Latin parish in Gaza. Together we continue to ask Heaven for mercy and mercy and for those in authority to stop this situation immediately". Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - They prayed together in the Anglican cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem, in these terrible hours for their communities. The leaders of the Christian Churches of the Holy Land met yesterday evening to ask God together for the gift of peace. The immediate opportunity was given by the sight of the Anglican primate Justin Welby, who immediately arrived in Jerusalem to show his solidarity with the young Anglican bishop Hosam Naoum after the explosion that hit the Al Ahli hospital in Ghaza on Monday evening, causing death and destruction. But on the evening of October 19th, the Greek Orthodox community of Gaza was also hit by the Israeli air force, with at least 18 deaths among the people who had sought refuge in the area of the ancient church of Saint Porphyrios, which many looked at as to a safe place. Already on 17 October - immediately after the deaths at Al Alhi hospital - the patriarchs and heads of the Churches had issued a statement in which, calling what had happened "a horrible crime" - they "implored" the global community "to take on the duty sacred to protect civilians and ensure that these heinous transgressions are never committed again." The embrace between Primate Welby and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III was the visible symbol of unity in pain between all communities. But Card. was also present at the prayer. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Custos of the Holy Land Fra Francesco Patton, and the leaders of all the other Christian confessions present in Jerusalem. The same unity also existed yesterday in Gaza, during the funerals of the 18 victims of the bombing of the church of Saint Porphyrios A massacre in which Viola, 26 years old, a local Caritas worker, also lost her life, and was killed together with her husband and their newborn daughter. In a note, Caritas Internationalis "strongly condemns the arbitrary and deliberate bombing of civilians and civilian infrastructure. We reiterate the call on all parties to cease fire, protect civilians, guarantee immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and respect the international law". Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Latin parish of the Holy Family, ahs been giving voice to the feelings of the entire Christian community is who remains stuck in Bethlehem due to the closure of the borders. But the life of the Latin parish continues in Gaza, through the ministry of the other priest Fr. Iusuf Asad, the Sisters of Mother Teresa and the entire community. Today in the Mass the liturgical memory of Saint Hilarion was remembered, the hermit of Gaza, disciple of Anthony, the great father of the desert: his once again scarred land was entrusted to his intercession. The massacre in Saint Porphyrius - comments Fr. Romanelli in a message - it was a hard blow for the entire population of Gaza. Christians continue to ask Heaven for mercy and mercy. They ask everyone to pray for them and for everyone and that whoever can do something, do what they can to stop this situation immediately . An Orthodox parishioner - continues the Latin parish priest of Gaza - asked me to distribute the photos that he himself took at the funeral. He, along with his wife and one of his children, were there during the bombing and came out safely. But friends and relatives lost their lives. Many wounded were taken to our parish of the Holy Family because there is not room for everyone in the hospitals. Several seriously injured people are in hospital." The parish community is in shock" concludes Fr. Romanelli. "They continue to pray and discern at all times what God asks of them. Having more than 50 children with disabilities, elderly people who are very sick and bedridden and, now, injured, makes the whole situation more critical. There are more than 700 people in the Parish. And they beg us not to stop praying for them to God Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary." Today's news: Qatari mediates release of two women with US citizenship among 200 Gaza hostages; Chinese authorities ban book on the last emperor of the Ming dynasty over online comparisons with Xi Jinping; Kuwait promises Philippines to resolve clash over migrants; Nagorno Karabakh refugees protest in Yerevan. PAKISTAN Three-time Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected in Pakistan today after four years of self-imposed exile in London to relaunch his party's campaign three months before general elections. THE 73-year-old Sharif had left for London in 2019 to receive medical treatment while serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption. His convictions are still in force, but on Thursday a court barred authorities from arresting him until a court hearing. According to his party, he aims to become prime minister again. Nawaz Sharif's return comes while his main rival Imran Khan remains in prison but remains hugely popular in Pakistan. PALESTINE-ISRAEL Hamas released two hostages last night - Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie - kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the October 7 assault. This is the first release of the more than 200 hostages held in Gaza. The two women, who have US citizenship, were handed over to the Red Cross, which then handed them over to Israel. Hamas presented the gesture as "unilateral", but Qatar expressly spoke of its role in negotiations with the United States. According to some sources, the expected opening of the Rafah crossing could take place today for the passage of the first humanitarian aid and the evacuation of foreigners. CHINA Chinese authorities have banned a book on the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen, after some online comments claimed that his analysis could also apply to the current leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. "Chongzhen: The Hard-Working Emperor Who Brought Down a Dynasty" by late Ming dynasty expert Chen Wutong recently disappeared from online bookstores, including the website of state-run Xinhua Books, with multiple searches for the book yielding no results on the main platforms. PHILIPPINES-KUWAIT In a meeting on the sidelines of an ongoing summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-sabah, expressed to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. his intention to resolve the issues that have put a strain on relations between the two countries. The crown prince also reportedly apologized to Marcos. In February, the brutal case of the maid Jullebee Ranara pushed the Philippine government to block the examination of the requests of first-time Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait. In an apparently retaliatory move, Kuwait then suspended issuing new visas to Filipinos starting in May, resulting in the repatriation of at least 815 Filipino workers. VIETNAM Police in Vietnam have arrested six people accused of violating mining regulations, including the president of a company at the forefront of building a rare earths industry that could challenge China's dominance in the sector. Vietnam's government is planning to auction off new rare earth mining concessions later this year, and those arrested include officials from at least one company, Vietnam Rare Earth JSC (VTRE), which was supposed to submit an offer. RUSSIA-CENTRAL ASIA The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, has proposed revoking the Russian passport granted to migrants, especially from Central Asia, who refuse to participate as combatants in the war in Ukraine. As humanitarian activists say, the passport is offered to migrants with many other promises of employment and compensation ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN A group of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh broke into the offices of the representation of the republic of Artsakh, suppressed and occupied by Azerbaijan, in Yerevan, demanding to meet President Samvel Sakhramanyan, who came out to meet the crowd and promised to organize a meeting open to all next week, warning that "our homeland is Armenia, and we must try not to endanger it in this delicate phase". by Stefano Caprio Kirill's appeal to all the heads of the Orthodox Churches against the ban on Russian jurisdiction of Orthodoxy in Ukraine sanctioned by the Kiev parliament has gone unanswered. While the sending of Metropolitan Tikhon to Crimea, the most contested front line, many are wondering whether this is yet another punishment or a possible ecclesiastic and political exaltation. While President Vladimir Putin tried to console himself with his "big brother" Xi Jinping in Beijing, after receiving some affectionate embraces from the ex-Soviet leaders in Bishkek, the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill (Gundjaev) has recently underlined his state of isolation both within the Russian Church itself and in the entire Orthodox world. After the Verkhovnaja Rada, Kiev's parliament, voted in recent days for a ban in Ukraine on the activities of the Russian jurisdiction of Orthodoxy, the UPZ Church, the patriarch launched a heartfelt appeal "to all the heads of the local Orthodox Churches and to a series of other religious leaders from around the world, also transmitting it to international institutions, to intervene in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, without receiving any declaration or promise of help. Moreover, even the spiritual guide of the UPZ itself, the almost eighty-year-old Metropolitan Onufryj (Berezovskij), remains in a position of painful detachment and silence, having long ago harshly criticized Kirill for his support for the invasion of Ukraine, and deferring to decisions of civil authorities in a spirit of obedience and sacrifice. Almost all the Ukrainian priests of this Church have stopped commemorating the Muscovite patriarch during the liturgies since last year, even if the historical ties with Russia remain indelible in the souls of many faithful and hierarchs, creating an ambiguity that is now unbearable after almost two years of war. Onufryj became a monk in 1970 in the Lavra of the SS. Trinity, the very one in which Kirill now celebrates his version of militant Orthodoxy by exhibiting the ancient icon of Andrei Rublev, torn from the museum case in which it was exhibited. The two have known each other since the time of Brezhnev, although Kirill, a year younger, was then in his native Leningrad, becoming bishop before the age of thirty to act as a testimonial for the "fight for peace" of the Soviet regime in all ecclesiastical and diplomatic assemblies around the world, obtaining recognition and praise even from the KGB security services. Onufryj instead respected the monastic silence in which he is still immersed, although in recent years he has been seeking an impossible balance between his old Russian friends and the new leaders of Ukraine facing the West. The patriarch today lashes out in an increasingly radical form against the "Ukrainian Nazis" who forced Russia to "defend the Russians of Donbass from genocide", and more generally to resist Western hegemony in the name of true faith. In recent days, on the occasion of the award ceremony of the Russian physicist Radij Ilkaev, Kirill went so far as to say that "Russia has remained a free and independent country thanks to nuclear weapons, created with the protection of Saint Seraphim of Sarov", to which he contributed this great scientist who directs a nuclear center decisive for the existence of our country, near the places of the saint. The center to which the patriarch alludes is located in Arzamas in the Nizhny Novgorod region, not far from the Diveevo monastery, the destination of the great pilgrimages to the remains of the saint canonized by Tsar Nicholas II shortly before the war with Japan in 1904-1905, in search of patriotic inspiration. At the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Onufryj was bishop in Ukraine, his native land, in the eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk, and was among the signatories of the request for ecclesiastical autocephaly, which accompanied the country's declaration of independence from Moscow . It was the beginning of Ukraine's history as a free state, and the Church was willing to accompany the civil institutions; the metropolitan of Kiev was Filaret (Denisenko), now ninety-four years old, who had been among the consecrating bishops of Kirill, only to later oppose him with an irreducible, personal and ideological enmity, which can certainly be cataloged among the historical and symbolic causes of the conflict between Russians and Ukrainians. Kirill had supported another candidate for the patriarchate in 1990, Aleksij II (Ridiger), whom he himself succeeded in 2009, while Filaret counted on the guarantees of the friends of the KGB who until then had controlled the life of the Russian Church, thanks also to the collaboration that was more or less forced by the hierarchs themselves, starting with Filaret and Kirill. When Denisenko proclaimed himself patriarch of Kiev in conflict with Moscow, the gentle bishop Onufryj was among those who remained faithful to the bond with the Russian Church, which granted "loyal" Ukrainians a certain autonomy without severing ties, the reason for the current political decision to close their almost 12 thousand churches in Ukraine, forcing them to disappear or join the new autocephalous Church of Metropolitan Epifanyj (Dumenko), Filaret's ex-secretary, left alone as "patriarch emeritus" with his faithful. The lack of reconciliation between Filaret and Kirill has caused such a profound division between Russians and Ukrainians, and also between the various internal factions of the Ukrainian Church, that it now appears impossible to reconcile, and beyond legislative decisions and war solutions, it will continue to torment the Ukrainian Orthodox for many more years. Yet there were those who worked to find a compromise until the end, when in 2018 the Patriarchal Synod of Moscow then expressed its condemnation of Ukrainian autocephaly sanctioned by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Among these mediators, Metropolitan Tikhon (Sevkunov), then still vicar bishop of Moscow and superior of the Sretensky monastery inside the historic KGB buildings in Lubyanka Square, stood out. Tikhon, now sixty-five years old, is one of the most prominent figures in the Russian Orthodox Church, known as the "spiritual father" of Putin himself, writer and director, and did everything possible to avoid the definitive fracture, even convincing the elderly Filaret to write a conciliation letter to the Synod, contemptuously returned to the sender by Kirill. The Muscovite patriarch therefore decided to chase Tikhon as far away as possible, and not being able to exile him to some remote Siberian eparchy, given the great influence he enjoyed, he sent him back to the metropolis of Pskov on the border with Lithuania, where Tikhon had become a monk as a young man , converting to the variant of Soviet-Christian orthodoxy. Since 2018, Sevkunov has continued to exercise this influence even from afar, also holding the position of head of the patriarchal department for culture, although maintaining a less striking profile; if before he did interviews and published books and articles with an incessant rhythm, from Pskov he limited himself to a few appearances and statements, which were always followed closely by the general public. Now Metropolitan Tikhon has been sent by Kirill to Crimea, on the hottest front line, and many are wondering to what extent this is yet another punishment, or rather a possible exaltation of his figure, on an ecclesiastical and political level . While Kirill needed to demonstrate his support for Putin's war, after decades of ideological and diplomatic slalom, Tikhon remained calm, intervening as little as possible, so no one could doubt his loyalty. As the authentic inspirer of his "spiritual son", Tikhon had publicly expressed his beliefs on the "imperial destiny of Russia" since the 1990s, justifying it with wide-ranging historical, theological and cultural rereadings, without invoking wars and invasions like many others Putin's ideologists, including Kirill. On March 18 this year, on the "sacred" anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, Tikhon appeared by surprise alongside Putin on a visit to the peninsula, praised by the local governor Sergei Aksenov as "one of the greatest intellectuals of Russia", evidently arousing strong resentment in the patriarch's soul. Taking leave of his faithful in Pskov in recent days, instead of directly celebrating himself as the "new apostle" of Crimea, the metropolitan slyly defined his move as "exile to the beaches of Kolyma", comparing the seaside region of Sevastopol to the concentration camps Stalinists in the cold of the great north, recalling that even Church fathers such as Clement of Rome and John Chrysostom had been sent into exile in the Crimea, and assuring that "my heart remains in the monastery of the Pskov Caves". Kirill's move, as often happened in his patriarchal government, rather than driving away his adversaries, made his own figure even more isolated and detestable, and not happy with this, he took another very controversial decision, liquidating another metropolitan, Leonid (Gorbachev), whom he himself had exalted in recent years by entrusting him with a number of roles, and above all that of exarch of the Russian Church for Africa. The exarchate was created in December 2021, on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine, as a consequence of another rupture at an ecclesiastical level, the one with the Greek patriarchate of Alexandria which historically has jurisdiction over Africans, while now it is considered schismatic from Moscow for aligning itself with Constantinople in recognizing Ukrainian autocephaly. Leonid recently complained that he was no longer able to manage the Russian-African churches as in previous months, and in response Kirill retired him, without explaining the reasons for the decision. However, everyone in Russia knows the close relationships that linked the metropolitan, a former Red Army soldier, to Yevgeny Prigozin's Wagner company, which dominated the entire black continent before his death last August 23rd. His removal therefore appeared to be Kirill's alignment with Putin's overcoming of the most warmongering extremisms, demonstrating at the same time his subservience to the Tsar and his inconsistency as a spiritual guide, capable only of evoking "metaphysical-nuclear" wars, but not of governing truly his Church, reducing it to an instrument of power games and the ideologies of the moment. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY IN YOUR E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. by Nirmala Carvalho The commitment of the Archdiocese of Mumbai to its mission, in an area of Maharashtra where more than 11% of the population belongs to aboriginal groups, traditionally on the margins of society. P. Malu: "We meet people in their situation, often walking on dirt roads, uphill to get involved in their lives". Crad. Gracias: "We proclaim the message of the Gospel with our lives". Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The archdiocese of Mumbai will celebrate World Mission Day tomorrow with an eye towards its mission in Raigad, a tribal area which geographically, economically and socially is the periphery of this local Church. A reality that concretely embodies the theme "Ardent hearts, feet on the move" proposed by Pope Francis in his message for this year's event. Raigad district is located south of Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra, and has a population of 2.6 million. About 11.58% of Raighad's population belongs to groups categorized as tribal, the majority of which are Katkari. The attention of the card. Oswald Gracias for the mission areas of the archdiocese of Bombay is demonstrated by his numerous pastoral visits to the pastoral area of Raigad: "I met tribals and migrants, villagers engaged with young people, the elderly and families, and I united with the clergy, religious and lay people in their work for education, healthcare, development and growth of these populations", the cardinal tells AsiaNews. About thirty priests, religious men and nuns operate in the missionary area; but alongside them the work of the laity is also fundamental. All the animators - teachers, health workers and social workers - have been trained and paid by the Archdiocese of Mumbai to carry out this service in the Raighad mission. They also tutor students attending local government schools. "Our mission is to meet people in their situation, often walking on dirt roads, uphill to get involved in their lives", Fr. tells AsiaNews. Godfrey Malu, assistant parish priest of the church of St. Francis Xavier in Mahad, where 23 Catholic families live. We go to every hamlet of the village to find out about their life, their way of life. The archdiocese of Mumbai has also appointed a Wadi Prerika (teacher and basic social worker) who meets and listens to girls aged between 15 and 24, tribal and non-tribal, in informal groups. The aim is 360-degree support: from issues related to menstrual hygiene and health protection, to growth in self-esteem and communication skills. She seeks to discourage the still widespread phenomenon of early marriage by encouraging families to give girls access to higher education and job opportunities for financial independence. We call on the entire village to meet so that everyone knows what needs to be done for their children's education. We simply make them aware of their lives that they have to work not to depend on other people but to educate their children", explains Fr. Godfrey Malu. Card. Gracias is considering a 10-year plan for the mission and has assigned a team to study the issue. In the Raigad mission he comments the people are poor, economically backward and not all are Christian, the staff of the Catholic Church is present in a vital way and works in this area with awareness programs and interreligious dialogue. The Church is involved in the new evangelization through the proclamation of the Gospel message with its own life together with other Christian confessions and among people of other faiths. As Pope Francis writes in his message: he himself is the living Word, which alone can make our hearts burn within us, illuminating and transforming them." There is a Ford dealership somewhere in Germany, where cars from the late 1980s and 1990s sit on the showroom floor, under a layer of dust, still sporting the protective plastic on the seats and less than 5 miles on the odometer. This dealership comes with quite a story. About two years ago, the Auto Retro team found some pictures online. They showed an old Ford dealership in Germany, full of cars from more than 30 years ago, but no one knew where it was.Later, they discovered that the photos were taken in 2010, but nobody could tell if the cars were still there. The Auto Retro team tracked down the place and took a 1,000-mile trip from the UK to Germany to see what is left of the place. They were surprised to see that everything was like in the photos from 13 years before.This Ford dealership closed in the mid-1980s, when it had a stock of over 300 cars. The owner continued to be an independent car dealer until he passed away in 1994. One year later, his family, who owns all the buildings of the dealership, sold most of the cars. Those left unsold were moved into the showroom, which transformed into a memorial to the owner.The widow kept everything in good condition, renovated the place, and did everything she could to keep the cars tidy. For a while, she even received visitors, until they started to steal parts from the cars exhibited in the showroom. From that moment on, she closed the doors to visitors, and people could only see them from outside.Beyond the glare of the window, there is an abandoned stock of brand-new Fords from the 1990s. A green Sierra features a single mirror on the driver's side, since the one on the passenger's side was optional. There is also a Sierra estate in the showroom. Right next to it, there is a Fiesta. Another Sierra, one in red, powered by a 1.6-liter engine, sits next to the window.Even though the cars have been sitting there since the 1990s, they hardly have a layer of dust on the bodywork. It is obvious that they havent been cleaned up for a while since we are dealing with an abandoned dealership. They still have the protective films on the badges, and, after all these years, the tires are not deflated. And all of them have plastic on their seats.The Ford Orion 1.6 DCL has a sticker on the front right window announcing that it was the new Orion itself, while the odometer shows 4 kilometers (2.5 miles).The widow of the former owner ended up in a care home, and the family does not exactly take much care of the former dealership. Nobody knows what will become of this place. Hopefully, Ford Europe will do something about these treasures on wheels and will give them proper exposure in a brand museum. In the pantheon of best-selling vehicles, the F-Series is king of the hill as far as the United States market is concerned. When it comes to unibodies, the most important of the bunch for the Ford Motor Company is the long-running Explorer sport utility vehicle. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Photo: Ford Q1 2023 through Q3 2023 deliveries totaled 138,132 units, which is a drop in the bucket compared to 573,370 full-size pickups delivered in this period. Be that as it may, the Explorer is more popular than the Escape and Bronco Sport alike.Unfortunately for owners and prospective customers, the Explorer is also notorious for being a favorite of the. The latest recall affecting the rear-biased utility vehicle comprises no fewer than 2,866 examples produced for the 2023 model year. Their problem is a blue rearview camera image displayed on the infotainment systems touchscreen when the gear lever is placed in reverse, a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard 111.Ford claims the root cause is get this improper heating during the wire harness manufacturing process. The supplier in question is a Kentucky-based company dubbed Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems. According to Ford, the Critical Concern Review Group was informed of this issue on August 31. A stop-ship order was issued, then Ford inspected the solder splices of newly built SUVs.Of the inspected population, 4.9 percent of Explorer vehicles were found to feature a loose solder splice. Even so, the Ford Motor Company isnt aware of any vehicle owner questionnaires or warranty claims relating to said problem. Instead of replacement harnesses, the document attached below reads that dealers have been instructed to repair any loose splices.Owners can expect to be informed about this recall in the period between November 6 and November 10 by first-class mail. The affected population was assembled at Ford Chicago Assembly Plant in the state of Illinois between August 1 and August 29 this year.It should be noted that only vehicles equipped with the standard rearview camera are called back. 2023 model year Explorer vehicles specified with the available 360-degree camera suite arent affected.Originally a body-on-frame affair with Ranger underpinnings, the Explorer turned unibody for the fifth generation in 2010 for the 2011 model year. But as opposed to its front-biased forerunner, the sixth gen is a rear-wheel-drive affair based on a platform shared with the Lincoln Aviator. Still a unibody, the Explorer can be had with either four- or six-cylinder turbocharged muscle in combination with the 10R60 10-speed automatic transmission.10R needs no explanation, whereas 60 is the estimated torque in metric (600 Nm or 443 pound-feet). The standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost makes 310 pound-feet (420 Nm), while the range-topping ST packs 415 pound-feet (563 Nm). As of October 2023, the 2024 model is priced at $36,760 (excluding the $1,595 destination freight charge). In an automotive world overrun by the indiscriminate love for all things crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, it is no wonder that the flames of passion for various passenger car segments are slowly dwindling. MPV EV In America, for example, there are so fewand station wagon models left out there you can almost count them using only your fingers, and you may not even need your toes for additional help. Even the once-beloved sedans are turning into an endangered species despite some attempts from European and Asian automakers to safeguard their survival. Hyundai , for example, is trying to reinvent the style with quirky stuff like the Ioniq 6. They are also selling the Elantra (plus Elantra Hybrid and Elantra N) and larger Sonata and Sonata Hybrid alongside the novel, but we heard the latter's days are numbered. Luckily, the Asian company has decided to go out with a bang, sort of speak.More precisely, earlier this spring, the South Korean brand updated the Sonata series with the mid-cycle facelift for the eighth generation, ensuring the mid-size sedan will go out with a fresh design and plenty of powertrain choices. Of course, it's going to be easy to recognize it from afar as it adopts the Kona-like LED light bar styling front and rear.However, the facelifted Sonata is not yet available in the United States, where the 2023 model year kicks off at $25,450 (very close to a Chevy Malibu's starting price of $25k), and the Sonata Hybrid can be had from just $3k more. Now, as we patiently wait for the arrival of the refreshed model to bid farewell to the series, what if we took a moment to dream about a ninth-generation Sonata?And there's no need to fall asleep trying to steer your subconscious in that direction, as we have a little help from the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. The good folks over at a newly-established FutureAutoVisions channel on YouTube are committed to "cutting-edge ideas that will shape the future of transportation" and recently came up with their vision for the next-gen Sonata.It's a daring idea, for sure, but the execution is far from flawless. More precisely, this is all due to the exaggerated use of AI-assisted software design as the resident pixel master cooked up no less than eleven different versions of a potential Hyundai Sonata successor. Logic dictates that one or two were more than enough, so we chose the second attempt as our favorite idea out of a total of eleven and never looked back.What about you? Which of these renderings is your favorite if any? And do you think Hyundai should conclude the Sonata series or give it one last chance at survival? Built as the ultimate expression of the luxury automobile, Fords 1956 Continental Mk II spurred a war that lasted over forty years, with General Motors Cadillac division on the other side of the V8 trenches. In response to the first post-war Continental, the Eldorado landed on Americas roads, putting the two posh marques in a rivalry that exuded excess and opulence. Not even the oil crises of the seventies and eighties could put a halt to this mutual hatred. However, neglect and oblivion dont look at price tags, exclusivity, or history; metal corrosion is indifferent to the badge it eats from. Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing After the personal luxury car became a thing in 1957, with the launch of the not-a-sports-car Ford Thunderbird as a response to GMs Chevrolet Corvette, Detroits Big Three went all-out against each other. Lincoln, Cadillac, and Imperial were the names of the day in the rarified heights of the rich-buyers realm, although only two really mattered. The Ford Motor Company division Lincoln waged an attrition war against the big-money Cadillac from General Motors. Chrysler was on the market, but not at the same level.By the mid-seventies, things became pretty clear for motoring America that, as far as status-symbol cars were concerned, Lincoln and Cadillac were in a class of their own. 1974 must have been a tremendous and miserable year at the same time for the automotive universe after the shockwave of the first oil crisis rippled through the fabric of the gas-burning paradigm. The oil embargo hit right after the carmakers began production for the 1974 model year, making it impossible for them to find a safe haven anywhere.But, like in any other period of human history, the rich didnt really feel the stingy geopolitical wars over the petrodollars. Lincoln was among the brands whose reputation prevailed over its gas-guzzling habits, making it immune to federal attempts to change Americas mind about personal luxury cars.Its Continental Mk IV land yacht registered its second-best year in sales for the third generation while passing a marketing milestone: it was the first Continental to surpass the $10,000 base price mark since the obscenely costly predecessor of 1956. Even so, the model moved over 57,000 units that year, vastly outselling its bitter rival, the Cadillac Eldorado, by nearly 17,000 cars or 42% of GMs division model production.Unlike General Motors, Ford opted for a more refined front-end look, with a narrow Greek Temple grille that slightly resembled Rolls-Royces unmistakable radiator cover. The car kept the personal luxury philosophy, sticking to the long hood, short deck styling, and retaining the fake spare wheel cover mold in the trunk lid.Lincoln bragged about its Continental Mk IV becoming a legend in its own time despite some hindrances from the government. No, the feds werent going after Henry Ford IIs luxury cars in particular, but heres what they did: a seatbelt interlock requirement.Picture the following scene: its 1974, and you buy a new car. You get in, stick the key in the ignition, and turn it. You expect the engine to rev into life. Instead, youre greeted with an eerie silence. Then you remember you must fasten your seatbelt. You go from step one, this time in the correct order: sit-seatbelt-key. Again, nothing. Because the front passenger has to do the same. It's not the sexiest of safety features perhaps thats why it disappeared the following year.Another safety-concerned trait was the 5-mph (8 kph) rear bumper (the front one had become mandatory in 1973). To disguise the shock-absorbing mechanisms that allowed the bumpers to resist said impacts, urethane panels covered the gaps between the body and the collision protections. Ultimately, the cars roofs had to withstand a weight equal to 150% of the vehicle's mass without collapsing.Naturally, all these requirements added weight to cars. In Lincolns case, the Continental MK IV grew to 2.4 tons and this was still a two-door personal automobile, not a full-size pickup truck. The extra load didnt help with fuel economy, either, not that the 460-cubic-inch V8 was a money saver. At 7.5 liters, the enormous V8 was an unsatiable ogre that evaporated one quart of gas every three miles. At 11 mpg (roughly 20 l/100 km), the Lincoln was not on the list of EPA award winners.However, even legends have it rough sometimes, and one example of a Lincoln Continental Mk IV from 1974 found itself abandoned in a yard around 2008. Born half a century ago, in October 1973, the luxury car slowly dwindled in importance for its owners until it ended up in the condition we see in the video.Rust has sunk its teeth in it, with the help of a lousy paint job on the hood and front panels, and the vinyl top lost the battle with the elements. However, the interior is in a much better state than the shell a solid proof of what $10,000 would buy in 1974. The boys from WD Detailing who performed the cosmetic refreshment on this Lincoln didnt check the engine to see if it runs or turns. Still, the engine bay looks nice enough to keep the hopes high.After the government decided to prick carmakers in the speed, fun, and emissions sectors, inaugurating the Malaise Era, cars lost their luster, horsepower-wise. The 460-cube big-block V8 delivered 220 net hp and 355 lb-ft (223 PS / 482 Nm) with the compression capped at 8.5:1 (down quite a bit from the 10.5:1 figure of the previous generation model). The transmission was a single-offer three-speed Ford C6 automatic. The shifter was placed on the steering column, giving the Continental Mk IV a six-passenger carrying capacity.This example featured In the video is a project worthy of restoration, provided that the next owner is willing to pour some cubic dollars over the Lincoln. The YouTubers didnt reveal the mileage or other details about the cars history, so its anyones guess whether this car will return to the road. "What if you are powered by light?" That's the question that Dutch luxury shipyard Oceanco tried to answer with one of the most spectacular superyacht concepts of recent years, Moonstone. Like the translucent gemstone, this superyacht reflects the surrounding environment, virtually allowing the owner to get a brand new yacht for every day of the year. 17 photos Photo: Oceanco/Van Geest Design (Composite) Aristotle who? Rather than the philosopher who endorsed slavery (in the 300s BC, that is), Aristotle Onassis was a Greek business magnate. Not only did he amass the largest private shipping fleet in the world, but he was also married to Jacqueline Kennedy from 1968 until his death in 1975. Photo: Treasure_Hunter on Bring a Trailer UPDATE As far as four-wheeled vehicles are concerned, this particular Aristotle had a thing for corner-carving exotics and plush land yachts. Over the years, he enjoyed the likes of a Lamborghini Miura P400S, a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, a Porsche 356, and a Mercedes-Benz 600 . In late 1967, the Greek magnate took delivery of a superb 330 GTC. More specifically, the 330 GTC before your eyes!This very car is up for grabs on Bring a Trailer as we speak. Categorized as a premium listing, the Fezza that Onassis drove sporadically for about a year is currently sporting a Montana title. How did it reach the US and what happened in the years since Onassis sold it to an Italian dealer in 1968?Glad youve asked! Milanese dealer M. Gastone Crepaldi shipped the car to Luigi Chinetti. This gentleman played a vital role in Ferrari s history, for Chinetti was appointed by none other than Enzo Ferrari as the Prancing Horses distributor in the United States market. He sold the first US-bound Ferrari a Tipo 166 MM Touring Barchetta to California-based Cadillac distributor and broadcasting magnate Tommy Lee in 1949.The 330 GTC spent a few years in the Empire State and the Keystone State, after which it was tucked away for almost three decades. The current owner purchased chassis number 10639 in 2020, and immediately tasked the Bobileff Motorcar Company of San Diego to restore the car.Dont even think that Bobileff did only a respray and treated the underbody with anti-rust coating. These guys did everything that was necessary including engine and transmission overhauls without spoiling the cars originality. A numbers-matching example of the breed, this 330 GTC ticks all the right boxes.Equipped with a vintage radio produced by the Germans at Blaupunkt, chassis number 10639 was returned to its former glory in August 2023. Stripped to bare metal, the two-seat gran turismo received welding repairs before a repaint in the oh-so-beautiful Cina Red it sported when new.Allegedly custom-ordered by Onassis, the front guard bar and rocker panel covers were refreshed as well. Pictured on Campagnolo alloys mounted with Michelin XWX rubber, the Fezza also had its disc brakes refreshed and brake booster rebuilt for extra peace of mind.Retrimmed in Nero Franzi leather, the interior also flaunts blue shoulder belts, a cream headliner, red carpets, and Veglia Borletti instrumentation that includes a five-digit odometer that indicates a little over 41,800 miles (67,270 kilometers). True mileage isn't known.With two days and 17 hours of time left on this fellow, bidding currently stands at $476,000 after 16 offers. According to available auction data, no fewer than four units of the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC were sold thus far in 2023. The least and most expensive of the lot hammered for $480,750 and $610,000, respectively, which means that chassis 10639 could easily fetch over $500,000.Sold for $615,000. JD Power has an interesting approach to monitoring consumers' stance towards automated vehicles. The data analytics, software, and consumer intelligence company partnered with the MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology (AVT) Consortium for a unique "Mobility Confidence Index Study." Consumers don't know what they don't know Photo: JD Power AV Confusing semi-automation to full-automation Photo: JD Power Photo: General Motors First-hand experience directly impacts confidence Photo: JD Power Photo: @d_bau13 via Twitter Photo: Zoox Basically, this is a helpful tool for the industry to understand what people understand or misunderstand about automated driving. Self-driving cars were hyped not too long ago as an imminent revolution, but the harsh reality is that society distrust is on the rise.The US Mobility Confidence Index (MCI) Study uses a 100-point scale to summarize the public confidence in self-driving vehicles from ride-hailing companies and fully-automated public transport.From the beginning, we should note that this is more of a survey, not a comprehensive big data study. Results are based on the answers from 3,000 vehicle owners who agreed to participate in this survey in July. In the previous years, there were 4,000 respondents.The Mobility Confidence Index was first assessed in 2019. Entities managing the study aim to understand "consumer viewpoints on automated vehicle comfort level, willingness to purchase, and roadblocks/enablers to acceptance."First, the survey had to address a fundamental issue: consumers don't know what they don't know. It probably sounds funny, but take a moment and try to answer as honestly as possible to the question: "How much would you say you know about fully automated, self-driving vehicles?"For instance, back in 2020, the study revealed that responders believed that they knew more than they actually did about automated vehicle () technology. It's almost the same with electromobility today, but let's not digress from the main topic.So, 66% of consumers endorsed "just some" or "nothing at all," while the rest of 34% chose to answer "a fair amount" or "a great deal." Those in the second category were mainly Gen Z and Gen Y male respondents young people usually "learning" about technology from social media influencers and online tech shows.Just to put things in perspective and to give you an idea of how the MCI works, you should know that respondents choosing the "a great deal" answer had a score of 77 on a 100-point scale, while those who self-rated knowing "nothing at all" had a score of only 22.Of course, there are more questions in the survey. Ultimately, the MCI results as an average from six MCI factors defining "consumer comfort with fully automated, self-driving vehicle modalities and consumer purchase intent."Back in 2019, the overall confidence score was rated at 36/100. In 2020, it dropped slightly to 34/100, then rose ten points in 2021 to 42/100. The MCI being under 50/100 simply indicates the large public's low confidence in this still-in-its-infancy technology.According to JD Power findings, in 2021, people saw the most benefits of automated driving in the transportation of goods sector, while the trust in fully automated self-driving cars and public transit was the lowest.Unfortunately for all the companies and start-ups buzzing about self-driving vehicles' benefits and pilot programs' optimistic results, the MCI dropped to 39/100 in 2022. Researchers concluded that deficiencies in consumer understanding persisted.More than half of the respondents classified driver-assist technologies as being fully automated . In fact, drivers must be actively involved in the driving task. This perception was primarily driven by Tesla's Autopilot system hype, mainly promoted on social media.While the industry created distinctive technical engineering descriptions like SAE Levels 2 and 3, they still don't align with consumer understanding. The different levels of automation and their expected vs. realistic capabilities create further confusion.As a result, consumer comfort with automation was considered highly overstated. The paradox is that people really believe they can benefit from automation, but in the case of vehicles, they still feel that humans should be in control.When asked, "What is the maximum level of automation you would be comfortable with?" those opting for the "Full-self driving" answer meaning features that completely relieve the driver of all control for the entire drive had the lowest percentage (12%).The majority (41%) chose the "Driver assist" answer features that actively help the driver while the driver remains in control. This means that many consumers accept the driver-assisted level of automation available today.Still, we cannot omit that 18% wanted no automation at all. Most of the blame is attributable to the fake dilemma that has gone viral in recent years what would the computer of an autonomous car choose between fatally injuring a pedestrian or a group of pedestrians?It's the same manipulating logic of the anti-vaxxers regarding the less-than-one-hundred-percent safety of COVID-19 vaccines. I could also discuss the deceiving " EVs' battery manufacturing-related pollution ," but again, let's not digress from our subject.Of course, we should also blame all those incidents involving Tesla Autopilot's reckless usage, resulting in several fatalities. Elon's cynical remark "You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs" didn't help either.The 2023 MCI declined two points from the previous year, down to 37/100. It's very close to the 2019 MCI (36/100), which is clearly bad news for the industry. Once again, the lowest level of trust is for self-driving cars and fully automated public transit.However, a new and critical insight could change the industry's approach this time. Consumers who actually used robotaxis in Phoenix or San Francisco have a much higher MCI score (67/100), almost double that of those who never experienced riding an automated vehicle.It's no surprise that Americans in the western part of the US are more familiar with automated vehicles, thanks to many companies deploying such programs. Brands like Waymo and Cruise are no longer strange to the Westerns, while Amazon and Domino's using automated vehicles for their delivery services is also praised.MIT's scientists concluded that "experience with automation appears to greatly improve confidence in the technology." They also warn the industry against aggressively promoting the technology : "Trust is built over time but eroded quickly."Because automated vehicle technology is still in its infancy, companies should "proactively educate potential users on the advantages and current limitations of vehicle automation systems." Well, we can all agree that marketing departments hardly use the "limitations" termThe main confusion for consumers resides in failed differentiation between lower levels of automation. While companies do indeed accurately define the activities people are allowed to do in a car using low-level automation systems, explanations are too technical and tend to be ignored.Lack of consumer-friendly language actually enables more risky driving. The study found that for users driving cars with low-level automation systems, it's simply normal not to pay attention to traffic and instead browse the internet, text on their smartphones, or even engage in conferences.It's simply confusing to tell someone that Level 2 and 3 systems nowadays allow for some kind of semi-automated driving. In the consumer's mind, there's no such thing as the car partially taking control of driving.A low level of automation is still perceived mainly as full automation, so many owners admit to doing risky things, even sleeping behind the wheel in traffic. "Hands off" is making "eyes on" futile for most drivers confused by the promises of increased assistance.This year, JD Power premiered a new study on self-driving cars, focused on services offering rides in automated vehicles: U.S. Robotaxi Experience Study. It's aimed at getting feedback from robotaxi riders but also from non-riders, people who had various interactions with robotaxis in their community.In the first category, we find mainly early adopters whose confidence in self-driving technology is rapidly growing. Almost half of them gained good trust after the first ride, and only 2% lost trust in robotaxi capability.However, current services offer a deficient level of satisfaction for riders in the most critical four attributes that drive consumers' interest in this kind of service. The cost to ride is too high; the service area coverage is unsatisfactory; accessibility for disabled passengers is far from comfortable; customer support during the ride must be largely improved.Consequently, 60% of the riders agreed that, based on their experience, robotaxis don't drive better than humans. Most issues come from abrupt and unnecessary stopping and various incidents, including collisions, that a human driver most likely would have avoided. Robotaxis are marginally better only at strictly obeying traffic laws and signs.Non-riders' reluctance is still very high. Only 27% of them are comfortable sharing the road with robotaxis. Over 80% of them would eventually use a robotaxi only after hearing the first-hand experience of close friends or colleagues.As 37% of the riders interviewed were in the "a friend told me" category, JD Power concludes, "it's imperative to ensure these first deployments are flawless" for consumer acceptance to grow rapidly. This kind of collides with tech companies' rush to deploy robotaxis as fast as possible.We should take this inaugural study with a grain of salt, as the respondents were only 408. They were consumers from Phoenix and San Francisco, where they used robotaxi services ("riders") or saw and observed such vehicles in action ("non-riders").For now, JD Power's findings lead to a harsh conclusion: self-driving technology "must be viewed as more than a novelty." Consumers' acceptance of both private passenger cars and ride-sharing or public transport vehicles that have the capability to drive themselves is "built on the promise of alleviating distracted driving, impaired driving, and collisions attributed to human error."Many experts don't expect automated vehicle technology's progress to meet consumers' high expectations until the end of this decade. While engineers are confident in their work, the large public's confidence is much harder to gain and, at the same time, very easy to dissipate.I really hope the industry keeps a wide-open eye on these studies from JD Power. For now, it seems that stakeholders' and investors' hopes are too high regarding people's acceptance of self-driving technology. Critics claim Apple is mostly a follower than the kind of company that keeps innovating, but the AirTag proves otherwise. Small trackers have been around for a while, but the Find My support and its wireless connectivity to nearby trackers turned the AirTag into a must-have device for many people. AirTags work by getting their power from a CR2032 battery that provides approximately six months of autonomy. It doesn't sport built-in Internet support but connects to nearby iPhones specifically to transmit its coordinates to the master account. The AirTag owner can see the location in the Find My network, and the information is updated as long as the device finds an iPhone in proximity to share new data.People are turning to AirTags specifically to track their belongings, but the concept evolved well beyond the one proposed by Apple when announcing the device.The iPhone maker said the AirTag would help monitor keys and wallets, but people have started using it for everything from pets to cars and motorcycles.Someone in Miami installed an AirTag into their premium electric bike, trying to make sure they'd recover the vehicle if it got stolen. The horrible scenario eventually happened, so a 46-year-old found the bike locked in a designated spot and decided to take it home.They cut the lock and ran away with the bike, not even thinking the vehicle might be equipped with a tracker. Well, it was, as the owner fired up the Find My application on their iPhone, contacted the police, and provided them with up-to-date location information.An officer who was on patrol spotted a homeless man with two electric bikes, one of which matched the description of the premium model that was reported a few hours earlier. He questioned the suspect, eventually finding burglary tools, including a hammer and a screwdriver, believed to be used for stealing bikes. The victim provided the police with a receipt of the e-bike, confirming the 46-year-old man stole the vehicle.The police arrested the suspect, who is now charged with grand theft, possession of burglary tools, tampering with physical evidence, and criminal mischief. According to a report, he's now held with a $16K bond.The AirTag saves the day again, but it's not always that easy. People whose vehicles got stolen claim that sometimes the police can't help, especially if their belongings are not in plain sight. The officers need a warrant to search homes or private property where the AirTag indicates a stolen belonging, sometimes giving thieves enough time to locate and disable the tracker. AirTags come with built-in stalking protection, sending notifications to nearby iPhones when it's moving with them. Thieves could, therefore, get alerts if AirTags are planted into the stolen vehicles. In the most secluded corners of Planet Speed hide some of the most radical car worshipers those with no tolerance for anything that doesnt run on reciprocating pistons. They dont use many words, instead preferring to express their feelings in cubic inches, pounds-feet, and smiles per gallon. Oh, and they wear wristwatches that only show quarter-mile times. Photo: YouTube/Lou Costabile Photo: YouTube/Lou Costabile Photo: YouTube/Lou Costabile These people will stop at nothing to show their devotion to a muscle car, even if that means blowing its engine off and going through a new set of tires every other weekend. Or frying a tranny seven days into ownership. This is no metaphorical exercise in logic but a true story with a certain George Burcar from Macomb, Michigan, as its main character.That happened in 1974, right after he bought his high school driver an American Motors Corporation automobile. However, his choice wasnt the Volkswagen-Beetle-rivaling AMC Gremlin but something less accommodating. This hint should give it away, as one other car in America offered limited one-row seating the AMX.Mr. Burcar didnt settle for any AMX but went all in and got the Big Bad muscle sportscar, with 390 cubic inches (6.4 liters) of a V8 and an optional Go Package. The car had the best of both worlds two seats, just like the Corvette, and the affordability of a bare-bone muscle. The 1970 AMC AMX fit the bill and checked all the boxes, so George bought one and never let it go since.Granted, he didnt abuse it past the point of no return, and he always took great care of its machine, following a wise piece of advice from his father. Burcar Senior suggested his son buy spare parts for everything, and his words paid off with dividends. The AMX were looking at in the video has been a constant restoration project since 1974, in a way.That is to say that George Burcar never let his car down and replaced whatever needed to be replaced as soon as it had to be fixed. Thats one reason why his AMC looks car-show-level good. That said, please note that Mr. Burcar also brake-torqued this AMX and snapped an engine mount. He isnt one of those armchair gearheads who buy a car, keep it in a controlled environment, and gaze at it.The 1970 AMC AMX is righteously regarded as the only real AMX the other American sportscar ever made. Launched in 1968, the two-seater automobile aimed at young, low-income buyers with a knack for stoplight adrenaline. At a base of $3,297, it was vastly more attractive than anything else on the market. The car didnt go up in price in 1969, and sales figures reflected it. In its inaugural year, the AMX moved 6,725 units. The following year, 8,293 sportscars with the Red-White-and-Blue badge left the factory.Things took a mild turn upward in 1970 when the price increased slightly the final-year model was now a $3,395 affair. But the AMX had undergone several profound transformations, with the standard 360 cubic-inch (5.9 liters) V8 producing 290 hp and 395 lb-ft (294 PS, 536 Nm). The optional plant was the biggest engine from AMC for that year, the AMX 390, which came onto the stage with the models introduction in 1968.However, in 1970, the four-barrel bog-block spitted out 325 hp and 420 lb-ft (330 PS, 570 Nm), second only to the nefarious Rebel The Machines 340 hp and 430 lb-ft (345 PS, 583 Nm). Mated to either a four-speed manual or a heavy-duty three-speed auto (like the hero of this article), the 1970 AMC AMX was a serious performer on the strip.Not so much in the sales race, since the model only managed to convince 4,116 customers to come up with the money for Americas other sportscar. The majority (2,533) of this almost invisible minority went for the optional powerhouse V8, the rumbling 390-CID signature V8 . In a non-mainstream fashion, the standard transmission was the four-speed manual, with the automatic going in only 901 of the 390-powered AMXs.Thats a rarity no matter how we look at it but then again, any AMC automobile isnt exactly commonplace. The Big Bad Blue example has been restored to a very high standard with almost 50 years of same-owner custody, the car is family, not transportation. The Go Package optional performance group added several goodies to the cars. The most striking of them is the twin-scoop hood and those blow holes arent just ornaments but functional air ducts that feed the four-barrel carburetor.Despite being built on an inch shorter platform than the Corvette (wheelbase-wise), the AMX came with a trunk not a very large one, as even the space-saving tire looks big in the cargo bay. It also had a safety windshield that crystallized on impact instead of shattering into lethal shards, and the Go Package added front discs on the power-assisted front brakes. The handling package, heavy-duty cooling, and twin-grip differential completed the performance upgrade.Unfortunately, like in so many other instances, plain, sensible carmaking plans dont turn out for the better, and the AMX was discontinued after just three model years. The name lived on with the Javelin-based versions, but adding a second row of seats nullified everything the original American Motors eXperimental idea car from 1966 the concept that served as the basis for the sportscar AMX stood for. When Dodge introduced the road runner in 1967 to mark the launch of its Road/Track performance sub-model, they used the Coronet as the catapult for the go-fast offer. Before you give the Fire at will! direct order to the firing squadron lined up in front of me, read on and learn how the Chrysler division played dodgeball (pun intended) with the other Mopar high-performance aspirant, Plymouth, and how one Dodge grew honey-making HEMI wings. Lets settle the quarrel about the opening line of this articles introduction: the Road Runner is a Plymouth model; there is no debate here. Launched in the fall of 1967 as a 1968 model, the car was a low-cost, low-option Mopar with a lot of punching power. And the recipe worked sales-wise people bought it for what it was.But in the same year (1967), the rival siblings from Dodge came with an equally performant offer (albeit not in the same price range): the R/T optional package for the Coronet. One of the advertisements for the newly introduced model (see it in the gallery) had the words road runner (written in all lowercase).However, by mid-year 1968, the bean counters at Dodge realized that the cheapo Plymouth was beating the Dodge hard in the corporate game of Show Me the Money. Carmakers are in their business to make the wherewithal, not have their names engraved in the eternal pantheon of tire-sublimating glory. So, Dodge took note of what was happening in the next room and came up with their own version of a go-fast, pay-low automobile.Since the Road Runner was shamelessly and simultaneously above and below the Coronet (high in sales, low in base price), Dodge brass decided it was time for a payback after Plymouth had ingeniously secured the Warner Bros name for its personal and exclusive use. Since both the Coronet and the Road Runner belonged to the B-body platform, Dodge played a clever portmanteau and released a Super Bee (Super-B) variant of the Coronet.Just like the Road Runner, it came with a supered-up 383 cubic-inch (6.3-liter) engine, and just like the first-year Plymouth RR , it offered the alternative powerplant in its absolute form: the road-shredding 426 HEMI. The copycat tactics extended to the body styles: 1968 Plymouth RR post coupe; 1968 Dodge Coronet Super Bee post coupe.In 1969, Dodge introduced the hardtop and the 440-6 engine, and this double punch hit sales figures with an uppercut that propelled production numbers to over three-fold those of the previous year, at 26,563. (We should remember that in 1968, the Super Bee arrived mid-season, hence the 7,841 domestic-market-sold examples).The fresh-for-the-year pillarless hardtop got the lions share with buyers rushing in like a bee to honey (pun unavoidable): 18,361 Super Bees came with the hollowed-out cabin perimeter, compared to the 8,202 classic, Grandpa Joes slant-six lookalike coupes. In a natural progression, accurately reflecting the ascending price curb, the 383 V8 was the workhorse of the sales effort for 1969. It was followed at a great distance by the biggest performance V8 available in the muscle car society of 1969, the mighty 440-CID (7.2-liter) Six-Pack Magnum . Lower still was the 426-cubic-fun HEMI: 256 units were built in total 165 leaving the assembly plant as hardtops.The HEMI coupe is the rarest of the pack, with 91 automobiles equipped with the powerfully expensive motor: 53 with the optional bullet-proof TorqueFlite automatic and 38 with the standard four-speed manual. The mathematical conclusion is that the three-pedal, four-on-the-floor Super Bee is the one to look for if Mopar is the answer to all wrench-turning questions.There is one available, should anyone be interested, and its been in hot demand in the last five years, being sold two times between 2018 and 2022. And its up for grabs one more time, for no small reason: matching numbers engine and transmission with the Super Track Pack option.Even though it started small, at a $3,183 base price, the HEMI added $848 nearly a quarter of the price, putting it right alongside the Charger. However, buying the 426 Elephant meant not just a big-block tremor with enormous power but a whole different car altogether.Stiffer suspension, sturdier leaf springs on the rear, power brakes, factory torque boxes (usually put on convertible cars, but the Coronet Super Bee had a sheet of metal over the cabin), and dual Ramcharger Air Induction hood scoops all came together with the emblematic motor. One brochure from 1969 described the dual air-grabbing ducts like this: The vent opens, and a sudden rush of cool, dense air is rammed through the carburetor. The engine gets the message loud and strong. You might say the Ramcharger turns a hot mill on by cooling it.The car we see here will go under the hammer in November in Las Vegas and has already been sold twice the last time in the summer of 2022 (also in the capital city of Nevada, for $165,000). The car has been restored to blueprint quality not once but twice, and the engine has been fully rebuilt.In 2018, after its second refurbishment (a three-year project), the odometer recorded 65,237 miles (104,966 km). The clock now shows 65,461 (105,327 km), and the selling dealer asks $219,850 for it. However, it will go under the hammer at the Mecum auction on November 9-11; well see if a new buyer is willing to cough up the money. Several automakers have announced their presence at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, and Toyota couldn't miss out on the action. Toyota Land Cruiser Se The Electric Crossover for the Urban Jungle Photo: Toyota Toyota EPU A Unibody Pickup With EV Power Photo: Toyota Toyota Land Hopper The Three-Wheeled Electric Personal Mobility Concept Photo: Toyota Toyota's JUU Electric Wheelchair, the NEO Steer, and Space Mobility Prototype Photo: Toyota The company has just taken to the World Wide Web to unveil a few concept cars, including one that could preview a Land Cruiser for the Urban Jungle and another that could offer a glimpse of a future unibody pickup.Looking like a futuristic Land Cruiser of smaller proportions, the all-new Land Cruiser Se is a three-row crossover with a zero-emission powertrain. It has boxy proportions reminiscent of the real thing, a minimalistic face with small Toyota lettering, and a bulky back end with a full-width light bar.According to the Japanese company, this study measures 5,150 mm (202.8 in) in length, 1,990 mm (78.3 in) in width, and 1,705 mm (67.1 in) in height. This makes it a bit larger overall than the Tesla Model Y. The space between the axles is 3,050 mm (120.1 in), and it offers seating for seven. It has a monocoque setup, and details surrounding the zero-emission powertrain have yet to be released.Another grand premiere for Toyota is the EPU. This show car is a pickup that probably previews a future production model set to take on the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. The EPU is 5,070 mm (199.6 in) long, 1,910 mm (75.2 in) wide, and 1,710 mm (67.3 in) tall, with a 3,350 mm (131.9 in) long wheelbase.It has a five-seat capacity, a monocoque construction, and a battery-electric powertrain that hasn't been detailed. The EPU has a futuristic design with a few traits that tie it to the Land Cruiser Se. And for what it's worth, it looks to be closer to production than the electric crossover concept mentioned above, though we could be wrong about that.Toyota has also provided a glimpse inside, where the electric pickup concept has a two-layer dashboard. It also comes with a dual-screen setup, minimalist air vents, and a few physical buttons, including the ones on the yoke-like steering wheel. It has a generous center console separating the front seats, and we can see numerous storage spaces to enhance its practicality.Do you know how almost the entire car world believed the Land Hopper is Toyota's name for an upcoming Ford Bronco Sport rival with boxy proportions aimed at the urban jungle? Well, it is not, as the company has also introduced it ahead of its Japan Mobility Show public premiere.Described as a "three-wheeled electric personal mobility concept," the study has two front wheels, one at the rear, and can be folded for easier storage, including in the trunk of a car. Toyota says it can be ridden without a driving license by those aged 16 or older or seniors choosing to give up their licenses, and it is 1,355 mm (53.3 in) long, 600 mm (23.6 in) wide, and 930 mm (36.6 in) tall.In addition to the battery-electric crossover and pickup studies and the Land Hopper, Toyota has also uncovered an electric wheelchair. It's called the JUU, utilizes automotive components, has electric motors, and can tackle stairs up to 160 mm (6.3 in) tall.Described as a concept that's "based on motorcycle handlebars," the NEO Steer integrates the throttle and brake pedals into the steering wheel. This component has a yoke-like styling, and a pedal-free floor space accompanies it, coming in handy to drivers with lower limb impairments.Rounding off the list of online premieres is the Space Mobility Concept. Described as a prototype by the car manufacturer, it is "an experimental vehicle for advancing development" aimed at "creating mobility for use on the moon and in outer space."It looks like a buggy from the future and uses four electric motors, one on each wheel. It can tackle boulders up to 500 mm (19.7 in) tall, can climb 25-degree slopes, and is a two-seater. Toyota says the Space Mobility measures 3,460 mm (136.2 in) in length, 2,175 mm (85.6 in) in width, and 1,865 mm (73.4 in) in height.As we already told you above, the Japanese automaker will display these concepts at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. The event will open its gates next week, on October 26, and will end on November 5. As usual, the Autoevolution team will cover all major premieres in real time, so you may want to keep an eye on our dedicated hub here.Now, before wrapping it off and moving on to the next story, which of these concepts would you like to see in production more? Is it the Land Cruiser Se crossover or the EPU pickup? Drop a line below and let us know. There are now more e-bikes on roads across the globe than ever, with more types than we can count. Some e-bike manufacturers design their products to resemble a motorbike rather than a bicycle one example is the Volcon Brat, a versatile EV engineered to go both on and off the beaten path. EV Photo: Volcon Photo: Volcon Photo: Volcon Volcon is an all-electric powersports company developing both two and four-wheeled vehicles. The company's mission is to enhance your outdoor experience, regardless of whether you use thefor work or adventuring.The Grun t and the Runt were Volcon's first off-road motorcycles, released in 2020. The Brat followed in 2022 as the company's first e-bike, built using the expertise of the two motorcycles. All Volcon vehicles are assembled in a facility near the company's home in Austin, Texas.At the core of the Brat is Volcon's exo-arch frame, the same design you'll find on the Grunt. And it indeed looks like a motorcycle if someone were to see you riding the Brat from afar, they'd probably think you're on a conventional, smaller motorcycle, maybe even a tiny cafe racer. You can also spot a slight resemblance to Super73's e-bikes Two models are available for the Brat: Black and Blue. Besides the color difference, the Blue Brat's handlebars are 1.17 inches (3 centimeters) taller and more swept back than the Black Brat's handlebars. Both models tip the scales at a decent 86 lb. (39 kg).A high-torque motor delivers up to 750 W of power to the wheels, enough to go wherever you need. The Brat is technically a Class 2 e-bike, meaning that it offers speeds of up to 20 mph (32 kph) with either pedal assistance or throttle. In this case, it's both.Four riding modes are available the first one maximizes your battery life and offers minimal assistance. Mode 2 is ideal for cruising urban landscapes, especially since the throttle is activated. The third mode will get you up to 20 mph, providing increased power delivery with medium acceleration.If that's not enough for you, the fourth mode, or the off-road mode will unleash the Brat's full power, with an upgraded top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). However, there's a slight catch: to unlock this mode, you'll have to download the Volcon app and complete a waiver.Powering the motor is a 48 V, 15.6 Ah removable battery, conveniently located on the down tube. Volcon claims that you'll be able to ride the Brat for up to 70 miles (113 km) in Mode 1 before running out of juice. In Modes 2 to 4, you get 30+ miles (48+ km). Furthermore, the manufacturer says the Brat is silent when sitting and makes little to no noise when ridden.It takes about 6-7 hours to fully charge the battery via Level 1 charging through a standard household outlet. What's more, according to Volcon, the Brat battery will maintain 60% or higher capacity for at least 500 charge cycles.This e-bike rides on 20" x4" low rolling resistance tires, which are suitable for mixed terrain use. But let's see what other components enable this EV to go off the beaten path.Of course, given the relatively high speed the Brat can accelerate to, Volcon equipped it with hydraulic disc brakes. You get an inverted telescopic adjustable fork at the front with a mono-shock suspension at the rear. Furthermore, shocks will also be absorbed by the e-bike's fat tires When dealing with sloped paths, you'll have to rely on the motor to help you pedal uphill, as there's a single gear available. What's more, if you want to hit the road during the night, the integrated LED headlight will light up your path, while other road users will be able to spot you via a bright brake light.Of course, just as with many newer e-bikes, you get to enjoy a connected experience. The Brat is equipped with a full-color display showcasing your battery percentage, speedometer, max and average speed, and more. You'll also get some info regarding the e-bike's status on the Volcon app.A neat feature worth mentioning is an integrated locking storage just above the battery, where the gas tank would be in a conventional motorcycle. It's essentially a tiny glove box, perfect for storing your phone. The best part is that you can even charge it via an integrated USB charger.So far, so good. Now, it all boils down to the final deal maker or breaker: price. The Volcon Brat is listed for $2,700 (2,547), but it's currently discounted to $2,500 (2,358). Some might say that's a high price, but I see it as a pretty good deal considering what you get. For instance, compared to the Super73-RX, a similarly equipped adventure e-bike, the Brat is almost half the price. Waze has received several controversial bugs lately, including a more streamlined reporting experience that no longer includes redundant options. Another change that happened lately could easily fall into the bug category, though it's unclear if this is an intended change or if the Google-owned company should start looking into a fix.Earlier this month, shortly after updating Waze , I noticed a change in the way I tell the application to configure a new route. Before the update, when I asked Google Assistant to set navigation to a destination, I always received confirmation. The step is critical because it helps me know for sure that I'm driving to the right destination.If something didn't work correctly, such as Google Assistant not getting the command correctly or finding more destinations with the same name (such as restaurants), Waze fired up a dedicated screen with the found results to let me pick the address where I want to go.The update changed this behavior due to what appears to be an attempt to continue this strategy of making Waze more straightforward from one end to the other. When I tell Google Assistant to configure navigation to a destination, it automatically does this to the first result it finds after performing the search. The confirmation step is missing, so I can no longer tell if the application sends me to the right address or not.To better understand how huge the difference is, imagine you want to go to a certain Burger King restaurant. You can tell Google Assistant to "set navigation to Burger King in Chicago" to use Waze without touch input. Without a confirmation prompt, Google Assistant looks for Burger King restaurants in Chicago and automatically begins navigation by default, it should get you to the closest location. When confirmation existed, Waze displayed a list of the found Burger Kings, letting you choose one with a tap on the screen.I originally believed I was the only one encountering the glitch (because that's a thing in the Waze world, where bugs come and go occasionally), but several users on reddit are now reporting the same behavior in their cars.Someone says it's a bug, and I really hope they're right. If Google wants this to make the intended behavior in Waze, removing the confirmation prompt and automatically starting navigation, using the application with voice commands becomes a huge pain in the neck.My only workaround now is to open the routes screen and see where Waze is taking me. Otherwise, I'd have to trust the navigation app blindly and hope it gets me to the right address. This is ridiculous, as everybody knows that the tiniest error could get you to the wrong destination, so fingers crossed for the whole thing to be just a bug. 21 October 2023 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijan's great victory in liberating its ancestral territory from barbaric invaders went down in history as the Holy Patriotic War. Having the full right to return the territories that originally belonged to Azerbaijan without violating international law, a chain wave of reactions and condemnation, propaganda, and hatred went through the world, and only by justice were those who congratulated Azerbaijan on its freedom from the shackles of black magic that had been haunting it for many decades. The world is beginning to rebuild, and a lot of attention from Western countries and organizations is focused on the Caucasus, and it is worth asking why now. The countries that have been silent in the world network for tens of years on the atrocities committed by Armenia in Azerbaijan, after which millions of people were forced to leave their homes and leave their land, have started to raise their voices of hatred and shout about "justice for Armenians" in response to the return by Azerbaijan, the root of its territories from the invaders. Today, the Middle East wars are breaking out at the same time as the war continues in the West, conflict after conflict, epidemics, and then disasters. Society has begun to forget that there is a global media controlled by a handful of people, and it is important to ask why one thing is covered and another is not. What is going on behind the scenes? The information war lasts for more than a century, if not more, and having in hand this source of power as propaganda of information, especially as it is controlled and guided, it is possible to do good deeds, and perhaps vice versa, and often use the last one. The wave of information hatred after the "bummer" of the West to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan has shifted to many coordinated actions and efforts on the part of Western powers, organizations of European countries, and other corrupt institutions to combat violence as well as for human rights, where in reality everything acts as a fiction for pressure and manipulation. Following pro-Armenian France, it was Spain, on 17 October seven factions of the Spanish parliament adopted a statement where they referred to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan as "Azerbaijan's unjustified attack, which is a threat to regional security and stability" and accused Azerbaijan of attacking the non-existent "Nagorno-Karabakh", I have already written how information works in the hands of immoral people. Further, the statement of the corrupt Spanish faction falsely states under the influence of substance that Azerbaijan refuses to implement the ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020, as well as does not comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice. "Spanish lawmakers demanded that Azerbaijan immediately stop military action, recalling that the country once ratified the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. They condemned the human casualties recorded on the Armenian side as a result of Azerbaijan's actions, expressing solidarity with the Armenian population of Garabagh. The statement said that the European Union can and should contribute to finding a lasting negotiated solution to the conflict. As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during his solemn speech in liberated Khankendi, 17 years of negotiations with mediators in the conflict gave zero results as well as long years of discussions and negotiations at the international level to achieve justice, to condemn terrorists and butchers of the separatist clan who committed genocide against Azerbaijanis, Khojaly genocide and many other atrocities to which the international bodies, having the right to them, turned a blind eye in order to prevent conflicts and bloodshed. How were they going to stop the conflict being involved in it? Only by freezing and prolonging it for many years to fulfill their nefarious plans to spread chaos and terror. The Spanish factions are not foolish, as they know that Azerbaijan did not violate the rights of Armenians and offered them to stay in Garabagh and reintegrate, but they know what Armenia violated, and they knew about it at the congress in Granada, not having fulfilled any of the signed agreements, not having withdrawn its troops from the Azerbaijani territory, not having stopped sowing land with mines, and to this day continues to delay the signing of the peace treaty. The Spanish Crusaders were followed by the Vatican on behalf of Pope Francis. The Catholic leader expressed full support for the Armenians of Garabagh in a "humanitarian crisis", where the Pope spoke out against cultural genocide, demanding the protection of "Christian monasteries and places of worship in Garabagh". Francis called on the world community to take concrete action to help "refugees" from Garabagh. The same song again, where they close their eyes, ears, and hearts to the deeds done by the clan of "crusaders" against the Azerbaijani people in support of the clan in Armenia. Time will come and the deeds done by the Vatican for centuries will come out. Azerbaijan has taken control of all the sacred places in the territory of Azerbaijan, where they will be brought to a better shape than they were before liberation. The Vatican knows too, and here is a reminder to them. The mosque in Aghdam, built in the 19th century, was destroyed and looted and then used as a pigsty by the Armenians. According to some official data, there are 403 historical-religious monuments in the occupied territories, of which 67 mosques, 144 temples, 192 shrines, 67 Muslim mosques (13 in Shusha, 5 in Aghdam, 16 in Fzuli, 12 in Zangilan, 5 in Jabrail, 8 in Gubadli and 8 in Lachin) were completely destroyed by Armenians. It is important to emphasize that 2000 monuments of Armenian history and culture, including 161 monasteries and churches, 591 khachkars (cross-stones), the excavations of numerous fortresses, castles, shrines, and other monuments have been preserved in the territories that came under Azerbaijani control. Shusha has eight state museums with 19,311 exhibits, as well as a private carpet museum and the Armenian Drama Museum that was built by Armenians after immigrating to Garabagh. ---- Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 11:30 (UTC+04:00) Khalil Rza Uluturk, an outstanding representative of Azerbaijani literature, philosopher and poet thinker, was one of the indefatigable mujahideen of Azerbaijan national-democratic movement. Rza was one of the best followers of the ideology of Turkism, Azerbaijanism and independence in Azerbaijani literature. Khalil Rza Uluturk is one of the poets who unlike many others realized his personality in poetry and his deeds in poetry, Azernews reports. Today marks the 91st anniversary of the birth of People's Poet of Azerbaijan Khalil Reza Uluturk Outstanding poet of Azerbaijan Khalil Rza Uluturk was born on 21 October 1932 in Pirabba village of Salyan district. Poets grandfather Khalil gave him his name. Khalil grew up in care and love. At the age of seven he started to study at secondary school No. 2 of Salyan district. School years became for Khalil a period of preparation for entering the world of fiction and the painful, romantic creative sphere of poetry. Reading oral folk literature, works of classical and modern writers inevitably awakened in him a strong desire to write and create. Khalil Reza sometimes tried to express in poetic language the events that worried and made him think since his youth. The first printed poem of Khalil Rza was published in the newspaper "Azerbaijan Pioneer" in 1948. Having entered the philological faculty of the Azerbaijan State University in 1949, the literary environment of Baku opened a wide road to his creative possibilities. Khalil Reza's active participation in the university's "Youth Day" events under the leadership of literary scholar Jafar Handa and later poet Bakhtiyar Vagabzade, as well as in the work of the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan, headed by People's Writer Mirza Ibrahimov, had a significant impact on Reza's formation as a poet. Khalil Reza, who graduated from Azerbaijan State University in 1954, began his literary activity in the magazine "Azerbaijanika" and attracted the attention of the literary community with articles and poems published in the press. In 1954, Khalil Reza was elected a member of the USSR Union of Writers. In 1957 his first collection of poems "Spring is near" was published. In August 1957, the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan sent Khalil Rza to Moscow for two-year higher literary courses at the Gorky Institute of World Literature. In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of poetry at the department headed by a prominent representative of Russian literature Pavel Antokolsky, Khalil Rza familiarised himself with the cultural heritage of the peoples of the world. After returning to Baku in 1959, Khalil Reza continued his postgraduate studies at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute. In 1984, although the poet's book "Streets are Longer than Life" and a collection of poetic works translated from the languages of the USSR under the title "Wreath of Brotherhood" were submitted by the society for the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR, this idea caused resistance of the ruling circles. In 1985, talented poet Khalil Rza defended his doctoral thesis on "Artistic creativity of Magsud Sheikhzade and actual problems of Azerbaijan-Uzbek literary relations". In 1986, he was awarded the title "Honoured Art Worker" for his services in the development of Azerbaijani literature. In the late 80s of the last century, when the people's liberation movement was growing, Khalil Rza's loud voice was heard all over Azerbaijan. On 26 January 1990, Khalil Rza was arrested by the USSR state security bodies and sent to Lefortovo prison in Moscow. Constant interrogations and harsh accusations could not break the poet's will, he continued his struggle for freedom even in prison. Isolated from the environment for 8 months and 13 days, the poet wrote "Lefortovo Diary" and more than 200 poems, poems and letters in the light of his fiery heart. On 6 May 1991, the poet was awarded the honorary title of "Laureate of the Turkish Nation Award". A year later he was awarded the honourable title of "People's Poet". Azerbaijan's national hero Tabriz Khalilbayli, son of national independence poet Khalil Rza Uluturk, is one of those brave men who fought for Azerbaijan's independence to cut off the hands that tried to strangle Azerbaijan in its cradle when he was a child. Heroism is not a matter of a few moments and seconds, heroism is embedded in a person's brain, blood and bones. Khalil Rza Uluturk, who loved his homeland and people more than life, who said: "We are the land of Turkestan, we are streams of zeal and strength", died on 22 June 1994 and was buried in the Walk of Honour. People's poet Khalil Rza Uluturk was awarded the Order of Independence (posthumously) for his special services to the national struggle of the Azerbaijani people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 15:25 (UTC+04:00) The Polish Film Festival, which will be held for the eighth time within the framework of cooperation between the Azerbaijan Cinematographers Union (ACU) and the Polish film festival "Vistula", continues, Azernews reports. The films will be shown at CinemaPlus Azerbaijan until 31 October. Within the festival, which started on 10 October, Azerbaijani viewers have already watched "Dangerous Gentlemen" by Maciej Kavalski, "IA" by Jerzy Skolimowski, "Baptism" by Jakub Skochen and other screen productions. The last film to be presented to the Azerbaijani audience within the framework of "Vistula" this year will be "25 Years of Innocence" directed by Jan Golubek. This film is based on real events and tells the touching story of Tomasz Komenda, who was innocently imprisoned for almost 20 years. As part of the festival, 6 Polish films will be screened at CinemaPlus Azerbaijan. Festival coordinator and project manager Janna Neka said: "The visit to Baku is of particular importance to us as we will be able to share a unique selection of Polish films with Azerbaijani audiences. We were looking forward to meeting Baku residents and enjoying the world of Polish cinema together. The Vistula Film Festival is the largest festival of Polish cinema, which takes place in dozens of cities around the world. The main goal of the festival is to create and strengthen intercultural dialogue and to promote international cooperation between film makers and actors. Our goal is to introduce local audiences to contemporary Polish cinema, as well as to popularise Polish cinema among representatives of the foreign film industry. We express our gratitude to the Azerbaijani Cinematographers' Union for supporting us in this work, and wish to cooperate in the coming years". --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 11:00 (UTC+04:00) October 21 marks the day of the liberation of the Minjivan settlement of the Zangilan district from the occupation of the Armenian armed forces. Three years have passed since one of the ancient settlements of Azerbaijan was liberated from the Armenian occupiers, Azernews reports. On October 21, 2020, along with Minjivan settlement, Babayli, Ucuncu (Third) Agali, Saril, Khumarli, Hajall, Khurama, Jahangirbayli, Turabad, Ichari Mushlan, Girag Mushlan, Malikli, Udgun, Baharli villages of the district, Balyand, Papi, Tulus, Tinli villages of Jabrayil District; Gejagozlu, Ashagi Seyidahmadli, and Zargar villages of the Fuzuli district were liberated from the occupiers. Azerbaijans glorious tricolor flag was mounted on the liberated territories. In line with relevant orders signed by President Ilham Aliyev on December 25, 2020, and June 24, 2021, a group of servicemen was awarded the For the Liberation of Zangilan medal. Tens of thousands of servicemen who showed personal courage and bravery and participated in military operations to liberate the district, including the Minjivan settlement, were awarded the For the Liberation of Zangilan medal. In addition, on November 8, 2020, a border post of the State Border Service was opened in the village of Minjivan. The state flag of Azerbaijan was raised there, and the Border Outpost Service began its combat activities. On April 26, 2021, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva visited the Minjivan settlement in the Zangilan district. Minjivan is located on the bank of the Araz River, on a plain. It was formed in 17951798 as a result of the resettlement of families from the village of Minjivan in southern Azerbaijan. In the XIX century, two villages, called Minjivan, were registered in Zangazur county. Minjivan was occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1993. Before the occupation, there were dwelling houses, schools, libraries, kindergartens, and a railway station on the territory of the settlement. After the first Garabagh War, Armenians destroyed all dwelling houses, schools, libraries, and kindergartens and dismantled the railway. The enemy sold a part of the rails and used the remaining part to build anti-tank fortifications. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 14:25 (UTC+04:00) "France does not respect human rights. As chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan supports and backs the countries fighting against colonialism," this opinion was expressed by MP Tural Ganjaliyev during a meeting with the delegation of New Caledonia held in the Parliament on 21 October, Azernews reports. "France is one of the countries that currently pursues a policy of colonialism. France exploits people and violates their rights. It is sad that an exploiting country wants to teach a lesson to others. This is ridiculous." says MP. Noting that Azerbaijan, as a country suffering from thirty years of occupation, supports those who fight against colonialism, the MP highlighted the international conference "Neocolonialism: violation of human rights and injustice" held in Baku on 20 October. MP said the conference will contribute to the fight against colonialism. T.Ganjaliyev noted that France causes suffering to the peoples of overseas territories and plunders their natural resources, stressed that this country does not respect the dreams of freedom and human rights of the peoples fighting for independence. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 13:25 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan Military History Museum hosted a round table "Wise leader, great strategist, victorious commander" dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the first election of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The event was attended by representatives from Defense Ministry's departments and institutions, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, History Institute named after A.A. Bakikhanov, media and public representatives, participants of the Patriotic War, as well as other guests. First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Motherland, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. Speakers at the event talked about the worthy successor of the Great Leader's political course, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who achieved rapid development in all fields during his twenty years of activity, worked with great confidence and determination to strengthen Azerbaijan's economic and military power, and international reputation. It was noted that under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief during the Patriotic War, Azerbaijan wrote its Victory Chronicle and demonstrated its power to the whole world. Today, the glorious tricolor flag of Azerbaijan is waving in all Azerbaijani cities and villages that were liberated from occupation after 30 years. Under the leadership of the head of state, the restoration and construction works are being successfully continued in the liberated territories. Then a documentary film was shown about the 20 years of statehood of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev. In the end, the soloists of the Army Ideological and Cultural Center named after Hazi Aslanov performed music pieces glorifying patriotism, and a photo was taken. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 17:55 (UTC+04:00) On 16 October in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, the 10th meeting of the working group on media and information issues of the Organization of Turkic States was held. One of the interesting discussions and plans was the creation of the Union of Turkic News Agencies and an international Turkic news channel, Azernews reports. Based on the results of the discussions, it is planned to hold the founding meeting on 9 November 2023 in Istanbul. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an intergovernmental organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. It is an intergovernmental organization whose overarching aim is promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states. First proposed by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2006, it was founded on 3 October 2009, in Nakhchivan. The General Secretariat is in Istanbul. Hungary, Northern Cyprus and Turkmenistan are observer states to the organization.During the 8th summit in Istanbul in 2021, the council reformed into an organization, with the name Turkic Council being changed to Organization of Turkic States. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 18:25 (UTC+04:00) During the training for "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk-2023" joint tactical exercises to be held in Azerbaijan, the special forces of Azerbaijan and Turkiye demonstrated high professionalism, Azernews reports. In the course of the next training for joint exercises, the Special Forces were put on alert in accordance with the assigned task and fulfilled various actions using protective features of the terrain and camouflage means. Overcoming obstacles that may arise on the battlefield, the group conducted a sudden assault on an imaginary enemys deployment point according to the plan. The enemys command and control points and communications centers were incapacitated, its manpower was neutralized. The training for "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk-2023" joint tactical exercises continues. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzv 21 October 2023 14:00 (UTC+04:00) The official opening ceremony of Baku Initiative Group's office took place on 21 October. Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, officials of the institution, local and foreign guests took part in the opening ceremony, Azernews reports. "The Baku Initiative Group has already started its official activities. Our struggle against neo-colonialism will continue," says Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, at the opening ceremony of the Baku office. Abbasov said that the group's activities will continue within the framework of international law: "As you know, Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement is coming to an end. But our struggle against neo-colonialism will continue". It should be noted that the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) was established by participants of the conference "Towards the total elimination of colonialism" on 6 July 2023 in Baku within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council Coordination Bureau. United Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The group supports the struggle for freedom of peoples in different parts of the world who are still suffering from colonialism in the 21st century. On 20 October, Baku hosted an international conference on "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice", organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG). It was attended by representatives of 14 countries and regions, including the overseas territories of France and Corsica. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 16:00 (UTC+04:00) "Baku Initiative Group will be an important level in our future work, we are happy and proud to be here," Secretary General of the People's Union for the Freedom of Guadeloupe Jean-Jacob Bicep told reporters, Azernews reports. "I thank Azerbaijan and Baku Initiative Group for this. This is a very important moment for us. I think this group will support us in our future work," Bicep adds. Also commenting for journalists "We have projects related to Azerbaijan. We have been working with the Baku Initiative Group for several months now." Head of the Martinique Freedom Party Luke Francis Carroll says journalists. "There are fraternal relations here. The aim of our alliance is to put an end to French colonialism. In addition, we have projects related to Azerbaijan. Our aim is to join forces with other colonial powers and make a joint move. Our friends in Azerbaijan are helping and will help us in our work. This gives us strength," says Carrol. The international conference "Neocolonialism: violation of human rights and injustice" organised by the Baku Initiative Group started yesterday in Baku. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, as well as French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe) and Corsica. The Baku Initiative Group (BTQ) was established by the participants of the conference "Towards the Total Elimination of Colonialism" in Baku on 6 July 2023 in the framework of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement chaired by the Republic of Azerbaijan. BTQ supports the struggle for the freedom of peoples in different regions of the world who are still suffering from colonialism in the 21st century. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 18:43 (UTC+04:00) Training is being conducted with the aircraft of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces involved in the "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk-2023" joint tactical exercises, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry. In accordance with the plan, the aircraft flying from the base airfields accomplished tasks on takeoff and landing, determining the coordinates of imaginary enemys ground targets, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and other actions. It should be noted that a significant number of military vehicles, artillery pieces and aircraft of various types of troops of the fraternal countries, as well as engineering equipment and small boats are involved in the exercises to be held in Azerbaijan on October 23-25. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 21:32 (UTC+04:00) "Armenia can become an important partner of Azerbaijan in the Middle Corridor project," Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Netherlands Rahman Mustafayev said at the conference "Middle Corridor - New Horizons for Europe" held in The Hague, Azernews reports. During his speech, the diplomat informed the conference participants about Baku's official position and its expectations from the project and stressed that the most important result of the project will be not only more efficient transport of goods between China, Central Asia and Europe, but also intensification of intra-regional cooperation along the entire route of the project. Ambassador also noted that the successful implementation of the Middle Corridor project will contribute to the development of co-operation between the countries of the South Caucasus. In this context, the Ambassador drew the attention of the conference participants to the fact that after the signing of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, Armenia may become an important partner for Azerbaijan and Georgia in the implementation of the project. It should be noted that the conference in The Hague, which gathered representatives of numerous business circles, government, media and expert community of the Netherlands, was organised jointly by the Embassies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkey in the Netherlands. Taleh Ziyadov, General Director of Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC, also took part in the conference and made a report. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 21:24 (UTC+04:00) The EU is committed to promoting lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, this was told in the joint summit held between the US and EU, Azernews reports, with reference to the statement. Following the meeting, a joint statement of the US-EU summit on several problems, including peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been issued. We remain committed to advancing a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity, said in the statement. Earlier, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that he had invited the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to take part in a trilateral meeting in Brussels before the end of this month. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 16:55 (UTC+04:00) TRT World has prepared a report on the international conference "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice" that took place in Baku, Azernews reports. TRT World notes that the conference was attended by representatives of the public and private sectors, officials, representatives of 14 countries and overseas territories that were in colonial dependence on France, as well as Corsica. Speakers at the international conference spoke about the current human rights situation in their countries. The conference participants touched upon such topics as French interference in the internal affairs of its former colonies, gross violations of human rights, and decolonisation. They supported the struggle for freedom of the peoples of the different regions of the world, which are still suffering from colonisation in the twenty-first century. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 20:21 (UTC+04:00) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that 20 trucks with food, water and medical supplies left the Egyptian Rafah crossing to the Gaza Strip, This was announced by Andrea Di Domenico, deputy director of HMKI's office in Palestine, Azernews reports. According to Deputy director , the operation to deliver aid to Gaza is headed by the Egyptian Red Cross Committee. However, Domenico noted that the aid would not be enough for 2.3 million Palestinians. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said after the cargo convoy left the Egyptian Rafah crossing for the Gaza Strip that there is a need for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. "We are constantly working to achieve this goal. I was at the Rafah crossing yesterday and I was faced with this contrast: on one side hundreds of trucks with food and necessary equipment, on the other side of the border, as we know, two million people without water, food, electricity and medicine....These trucks must move as quickly, safely and securely as possible from Egypt to the Gaza Strip," Guterres told the Peace Summit in Egypt. The UN secretary-general also called for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 October 2023 23:05 (UTC+04:00) The European Union has decided to introduce a new inspection system at the borders of the Union's countries, where visa stamps will be replaced by digital checks. EU representatives reached a consensus on the new system at a meeting of the Interior Council in Luxembourg, Dutch News, Azernews reports. The Entry-Exit System (EES) will be an automated registration system for UK and other non-EU travellers who don't require a visa to enter the EU. Travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel document at a self-service kiosk each time they cross an EU external border. It will not apply to legal residents or those with long stay visas. The system will register the traveller's name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be retained for three years after each trip. The EES is being introduced to bolster border security and identify travellers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area (90 days within a 180 day period). It will apply when entering all EU member states, apart from Cyprus and Ireland, as well as four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Entry-Exit System was originally slated to launch in 2022, but has faced multiple delays. The airline industry have supported the delays as they give more time for preparations to be made. Some media outlets are now reporting that the system won't be effective until 2025, though the European Commission has not confirmed this news. The EES is connected to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This new scheme obligates non-EU citizens who do not require an EU visa to gain travel authorisation to enter the bloc. The visa waiver will be mandatory for anyone wishing to visit the Schengen Area short term. ETIAS was originally set to be operational from November 2023, but the European Commission now states that it will come into force in 2024. The new Entry-Exit System and European Travel Information and Authorisation System will be a game changer for how the EU's borders are managed. It is hoped that the scanners will spell an end to the inconsistent passport stamping that non-EU nationals living in EU countries have experienced, while also providing enhanced security and detection of stolen identities. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Diana Lambert of EdSource is based in Sacramento and among other topics writes about teachers and teaching in California. By Emmy Griffin on The Patriot Post With the horrific attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas that left more than 1,400 Israelis dead, the West is distracted from its most formidable foreign adversary, China. The Chinese have neglected to condemn the actions of the Islamic terrorists and instead are focusing on the Israeli countermeasures being carried out against Hamas in Gaza. As with Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Xi Jinping chooses to align himself with the side that is anti-West and would put a strain on U.S. resources. This shouldnt be a surprise to anyone. The Chinese have long been voicing their ambition to take over Taiwan (or take it back, in their view), and the U.S. has been the deterrent from that particular aggression. Beijing has been biding its time, and now it has the added boon of a weak and feckless U.S. president; ergo, its aggression has been largely unchecked. Over the past two years, Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets have been coercive and risky in their behaviors toward U.S. fighter jets. More than 180 encounters with the PLA have resulted in antagonism and provocation on the part of PLA pilots. This is a significant acceleration in aggression. The Chinese have been accused of infiltrating and subverting various Western democracies all over the world. This includes such countries as the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even the U.S. The infiltration of U.S. lawmakers confidences such as Congressman Eric Swalwells (D-CA) relationship with a Chinese spy, and another was an aide to the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) have been the most high profile in recent years, but other measures of less visibility have been perpetrated as well. Emails have been hacked. Military bases have been trespassed upon. Chinese companies have been buying up American farmland. Chinese influence peddling is suspected in President Joe Bidens case as well. The espionage and influence of the Chinese is cause for alarm. In September, China decided to up the ante on tensions in the South China Sea. Taiwan reported that swarms of Chinese fighter jets were doing practice runs over the Taiwan Strait in staged attempts to block U.S. aid to Taiwan during the long prognosticated invasion. China also used the month of September to antagonize the Philippines and try to lay claim to several islands and shoals belonging to that island nation. This month, with the worlds eyes on Israel, China has taken the opportunity to solidify its alliance with Russia. Putin visited Beijing this week as part of Xis Belt and Road Initiative conference. The Belt and Road Initiative is Xis pet foreign policy project, and its a ruse for going into poorer third-world countries and economically enslaving them under the auspices of giving them infrastructure. This particular conference was an opportunity for the Russian dictator to visit his old friend and ally and discuss what was going on in the world and in the West. All the while, in the background of Chinas aggression and strong facade is the fact that its economy is crumbling under its feet. China has too much debt and its cities are rife with empty buildings. Furthermore, Chinas restrictive policies toward foreign businesses are driving away more economic opportunity. When Chinas economy is on the fritz, its usual solution is to go on the offensive against its neighbors. As the Middle East threatens to boil over, both Xi and Putin have declined to condemn Hamass acts but have called for a ceasefire. Their positions are clear: The attacks on Israel are yet another symptom of why the West needs to be out of power and the East should be the next global hegemony. It would be deeply unwise for the West in general and the U.S. in particular to take their eyes off China. St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange, Texas, shuttered on Oct. 12 not for a lack of trying. The hospital had been financially strapped for years, and there were several attempts to save it, Board President and Chair Dudley Piland told Becker's. One of those attempts came on Oct. 11, when closure notifications had already been submitted to the state and CMS. Quentin Whitwell, CEO of Progressive Health Group an Oxford, Miss.-based hospital management group with experience in the rural sector heard about the looming closure at St. Mark's. Hoping to save the hospital, he connected with the Hospital Center of Excellence, a nonprofit formed by five community members with the same mission. HCOE had been working for two months to secure enough funding to keep the hospital afloat, its chief strategy officer, Sam Wilson, told Becker's. They received commitments ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 from local high-net-worth individuals, including all five members of their own organization. They turned to nine local banks in search of a participatory loan to refinance the mortgage, though all nine declined, citing concerns with the regulators. They even brought concerns to the state of Texas, which agreed to make $1.125 million in grant funding available over the next two years $750,000 one year, $375,000 the next and increase Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10%. The nonprofit had secured more funding than had ever existed for the hospital, more than was needed to merely keep the doors open, Craig Moreau, CEO of HCOE, told Becker's. There was even money for new services: mental healthcare, noninterventional cardiology, dialysis. But the efforts fell just short of the board's demands. HCOE still needed a $1.5 million loan for a line of credit, and a new operator to slot in for Community Hospital Corp. the Plano, Texas-based consulting company that had been managing St. Mark's, and had one seat on its board. Then Mr. Whitwell offered the $1.5 million and Progressive Health Group offered to be the operator, and there was hope again. Representatives from PHG and HCOE collaborated on a presentation and called an emergency meeting with St. Mark's board, less than 24 hours from the slated closure. "It was a wonderful fit. It was an 11th hour find," Mr. Moreau said. "There was absolutely sufficient time to save the hospital." But the board could not agree. After discussing the proposal, they declined Mr. Whitwell's offer and decided to see the closure through. Mr. Piland did not expand on the board's reasoning, but said they took legal advice into consideration. One concern was that HCOE and Progressive Health Group did not have a contract. "There were just so many unanswered questions," Mr. Piland said. "We were unable to do our due diligence at the last minute before closure." The Oct. 12 closure was a devastating blow to the small community. HCOE data predicts an annual financial impact of up to $100 million for the areas it serves, Fayette and Lee counties. And rural hospital closures have been found to increase inpatient mortality by 8.7 percent, according to a 2019 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Mr. Whitwell is not ready to let the hospital go, he told Becker's Oct. 19 after a meeting with the county judge. "Progressive Health is in communications with local officials and concerned citizens to see what can be done to reopen the facility, and as soon as possible, before anything is compromised in terms of equipment, pharmaceuticals, supplies, etcetera," Mr. Whitwell said. "We are looking into what options are available. And we certainly are open to assistance to get that accomplished." "Every day that goes by with this hospital being closed is an eternity," he continued. "So the sooner the better. And the longer it's drawn out, the more difficult the hurt." Registered nurses have voted to unionize at St. Peter's Health clinics in Helena, Mont. The vote was 45-14 on Oct. 17 to join the existing Local #13 of the Montana Nurses Association, according to the Daily Montanan. It covers nurses with St. Peter's Medical Group at the Broadway Clinic and the North Clinic. Local #13 of the MNA is already representing acute care nurses at St. Peter's Health. "We are excited to have ALL nurses at St. Peter's be included in Local #13," St. Peter's Health clinic nurse Andrea Thies, BSN, RN, said in a news release shared with Becker's. "Nurses deserve to have their wages and benefits managed fairly. We look forward to re-building a trusting relationship with St. Peter's to better serve the people in our community." St. Peter's Health, in a statement shared with Becker's, said it respects the right of nurses to unionize and will work collaboratively with the union to negotiate a mutually beneficial contract. "We value our people, and we're committed to collaborations that will create positive change and a rewarding employee experience for our nurses and all of our team members at St. Peter's Health," the statement reads. The union vote followed an incident connected to the organizing efforts in which nurses' personal information was leaked. St. Peter's Health hired at least one union consultant, Edward Niles Commer, who is commonly referred to as Niles Commer, after nurses at St. Peter's Medical Group, both the Broadway Clinic and the North Clinic, filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Sept. 1 to hold an election to vote on whether to unionize. St. Peter's Health ended its contract with Mr. Commer after the internal leak of nurses' personal information. The health system, in a statement shared with Becker's on Oct. 4, described the incident as one "where a document containing sensitive information became accessible beyond the intended recipients. It is our responsibility to safeguard the privacy and well-being of our employees, and as such, we take full responsibility for this incident occurring." St. Peter's Health also confirmed it is no longer working with any third-party consultants, but said, "The more important issue is that this incident was inconsistent with our values." The organization is conducting an internal investigation and said it will "respond as appropriate based on the findings." Regarding the investigation, a spokesperson told Becker's on Oct. 19, "We will not be providing further comment on that matter to protect the privacy of our employees." Six of the nation's leading healthcare associations have penned new recommendations on sepsis care to CMS on behalf of U.S. hospitals, which face the loss of federal funding if they fail to meet new benchmarks. The revised recommendations that call for CMS to refine some of the rule's aspects were jointly written by experts from the Infectious Disease Society of America, American College of Emergency Physicians, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Society of Hospital Medicine and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists. The position paper, published Oct. 13 in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, points out that CMS's effort to develop a 30-day mortality electronic clinical quality measure (also referred to as eCQM) for sepsis is outdated and not quite in line with the CDC's recent Adult Sepsis Event surveillance metric. Aligning the two would "promote unity in federal measures, decrease reporting burden for hospitals, and facilitate shared prevention initiatives," the groups wrote in the paper. "These steps will result in a more robust measure that will encourage hospitals to pay more attention to the full breadth of sepsis care, stimulate new innovations in diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately bring us closer to our shared goal of improving outcomes for patients." The new rule, which was finalized by the Biden administration and finalized in August, aims to reduce sepsis-caused deaths, which nationally sits at 270,000 per year. It requires hospitals to adopt a model known as the Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock Management Bundle also referred to as SEP-1. Failing to adopt the new model or to meet the rule's outlined benchmarks would cost hospitals funding, but experts from these groups argue that the benchmarks are not the best metrics to measure progress in sepsis care. "Multiple studies indicate that SEP-1 implementation was associated with increased broad-spectrum antibiotic use, lactate measurements, and aggressive fluid resuscitation for patients with suspected sepsis but not with decreased mortality rates," the groups wrote. "Increased focus on SEP-1 risks further diverting attention and resources from more effective measures and comprehensive sepsis care. We recommend retiring SEP-1 rather than using it in a payment model and shifting instead to new sepsis metrics that focus on patient outcomes." The SEP-1 model is based on a practice that was introduced in 2015 that worked as a pay-for-reporting measure, and the new CMS rule turns the model into a "pay-for-performance measure by incorporating it into the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program," the position paper explains. It's something the American Hospital Association also spoke out against in an Aug. 17 letter. For now, hospitals have until 2026 to fully adopt the SEP-1 model. Hundreds of nurses who have asserted their innocence in the national degree scheme are still fighting to win back their licenses. The scheme involved selling more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas and transcripts from three now-shuttered nursing schools in Florida to aspiring nurses. About 37 percent of individuals who bought fake documents passed the NCLEX exam and presumably went on to secure employment at healthcare facilities. In January, 25 people were charged in connection with their alleged participation in running the scheme. Since then, a total of 20 defendants have been convicted or have pleaded guilty. In the wake of the scheme, many state nursing boards suspended the licenses of nurses with degrees from the implicated nursing schools. Numerous nurses who attended the schools maintain they are innocent, saying they attended classes, completed required coursework and did not pay for a fraudulent degree. Nearly 10 months after the scheme was unearthed, many are still trying to regain licenses. Iowa nurse Helena Dahnweih's license was revoked last month after a July hearing with the Iowa Board of Nursing. She recently filed a court petition seeking a judicial review of the board's decision, claiming she was a victim of the degree scheme and that she filed her license application in good faith, according to the Iowa Capitol Dispatch. In June, lawyer Joseph Lento told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was representing nearly 100 nurses across the country who say they were wrongly accused of buying fake degrees. Mr. Lento said he is preparing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of his clients. Nurses have expressed concern about securing future employment or having to pay to redo their nurse training. Others have returned to past roles as licensed practical nurses, where they make less money. Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., is requesting a revision of a city agreement that requires more than one-third of its employees to get to the hospital without cars, Palo Alto Weekly reported Oct. 18. The agreement between Stanford (Calif.) University and the city of Palo Alto was signed in 2011, according to the newspaper. The city would allow the university to build new hospitals and medical buildings as long as those facilities did not add traffic to major roads. More than one-third of employee trips to and from the hospital should not use cars, and by 2025, 35.1 percent of employees should be using alternative transportation methods, per the agreement. Stanford will have to pay $4 million to the city if it fails to meet the 2025 target, and $175,000 for each year it misses the annual target. The hospital took measures to meet the goal, providing all employees with Caltrain Go passes and expanding bicycle amenities and its shuttle services. It also offered a "guaranteed ride home" program and leased parking lots outside the city for "park and ride" programs. Stanford was exceeding the target set by the city every year until 2020, when COVID-19 struck. People were concerned about congregating for carpools, traffic disappeared and public transportation diminished. Workers rediscovered their cars, according to the newspaper. Ever since the pandemic, Stanford has been unable to hit its goal of 33% of employees using alternative transportation methods to commute. So far in 2023, only 25.6% of workers have been meeting the mark. The hospital is requesting that the city push the target of 35.1% from 2025 to 2028. If the agreement is amended, the $175,000 fines for each year the hospital has missed the mark would be waived. "Public transit systems have continued to operate at reduced levels of service," David Entwistle, president and CEO of Stanford Health Care, wrote in a letter to the city. "And the period of ongoing disruption to pre-pandemic routines has persisted and has deepened in its effects, as workers who must perform their jobs in person have continued shifting away from alternative modes of transportation." Becker's has reached out to Stanford University and Stanford Health Care for comment, and will update this story if more information becomes available. Jean-Claude Van Damme had to apologise after mixing up Belfast and Dublin in a hilarious TV interview. The Hollywood movie legend made the gaffe on Fridays Late Late Show. The Belgium native, who celebrated his 63rd birthday in Belfast on Wednesday, has been in Ireland launching his own Irish whiskey brand, Old Oak. He was among the guests on Friday nights Late Late, but appeared to get confused over which city he was in, mixing up Dublin, where the show is filmed, with Belfast. That prompted a humorous exchange with Kielty, who joked that Van Damme had possibly been indulging a bit too much on his whiskey before the show. Van Damme, best known for his roles in films such as Kickboxer and Universal Soldier, had presented Kielty with a bottle of whiskey. Kielty replied: Thats a very, very unwise thing to do on a Friday night. Im not going to lie, this could be a very, very short show, Jean-Claude. The conversation then turned to Van Dammes trip to Belfast to launch his whiskey on Wednesday, which he said had been great. 'My Dad is my hero', Jean-Claude Van Damme tells Belfast pub crowds Ive been here before in Dublin, years ago, for the opening of Planet. Then I was not here for a long, long time. I was in Los Angeles, Asia, South America. I travelled across the world and now Im back, here with you in Belfast, he said. At that point Kielty interjected, correcting Van Damme: Dont worry, thank God its not live. Realising his mistake, Van Damme corrects himself: In Dublin, sorry, sorry, sorry. He clarifies: So Im here then in Dublin, to cheers from the audience. Its because they gave me a schedule and I see Dublin, Belfast, Dublin, Belfast. Kielty joked: I know what you mean, youve come to Ireland and youre drinking your own whiskey, thats the problem. Taking out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, Van Damme added: Dublin and Belfast Jesus, what a mistake. He then asked Kielty if he was okay with the mistake, to which the Co Down presenter dead-panned: I would say its absolutely fine. That will not be in the newspapers tomorrow at all. In Belfast this week, Van Damme spoke of his childhood memories of sitting on his grandfathers knee as he drank whiskey while smoking cigars, something that has stayed with him over the years and led in part to his new business venture. When he was exploring launching his own brand, through associates he was put in touch with Co Londonderry native Kevin Carson and his Old Oak co-director and co-shareholder Ian Rowlands. Van Damme soon joined the team and now Old Oak, which is finished in a craft distillery just outside Belfast, has hit the market. Portadown stamp collector John Proctor on switching off from the busyness of life via his hobby and a rare occurrence that could prove lucrative. By Catriona Doherty Stamp collector John Proctor from Portadown who has been been collecting stamps for over 40 years, pictured holding his King George VI stamps. Picture by Peter Morrison The Armagh man has amassed countless stamps that are carefully displayed in 40 or 50 albums, hes a specialist in the Kings period from 1902 to 1952 and is a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London and the Portadown Philatelic Society secretary. First things first, is there a lotto-winning stamp out there awaiting discovery? Ive never heard of any, John (76) replies. It is possible. The more you know about your subject, the better you are prepared to see something. If I go to London to a stamp exhibition and I stop with a dealer, he may have stamps from all over the world, but he cannot know everything about everything. So if you are what I would call a specialist GB or Ireland collector, you probably know more about GB or Ireland than he does. So theres a possibility of maybe seeing something that he has missed. A common thing that increases the value would be something like an error on the stamp in the printing. And if you can see that, and maybe because of the volume of material that hes looking through, he doesnt see it, is a possibility. But that would be a rare occurrence it does happen, but its rare. John Proctor looks over his collection John, who is a member of the Portadown & District Philatelic Society, doesnt collect stamps in the hopes of financial gain, nor does anyone he knows. Its the interest, its the collecting, its the hunt; thats whats makes it for me, he says. I just find it relaxing. I had a fairly intense job. So I found when I come home, I could switch off. I could write up stamps, I could look forward to what post I had received, if theres any new stamps that I had acquired on eBay in recent times that I would need to inspect and write up. Its a switch off from normal life and you just close yourself in and concentrate on researching your stamps, finding out information, and writing them up and creating another page for your album. John Proctor showcases one of his finds Times have changed from when John was a boy, in relation to the methodology of stamp collecting. Years ago there would have been a large number of dealers in England mainly and they would have advertised in newspapers and comics and so on, he says. They would have posted you stamps, whats called on approval, and they would have sent you stamps and you would have examined them, and extracted and paid for whatever you wanted and then returned what you didnt want to them. They would have done that maybe on a monthly basis or something like that. That was then, in recent times that has transferred to online. There were numerous dealers in London or Manchester and they have all decreased over the years. In the past, there was a greater reliance on post and letters than today, which facilitated stamp collecting, so too did the release of commemorative stamps which were issued on a significant date such as an anniversary to honour a person, place or event. In the 60s, there were a lot more commemorative stamps issued, certainly by Great Britain, John says. Anthony Wedgwood who was in the Labour government, he was postmaster-general and he encouraged the post office to issue these stamps commemorating various situations and anniversaries that pertain to Great Britain. That increased interest in stamp collecting in the middle to late 60s, where there were a lot of stamps and relevant stamps issued, encouraged more collectors to come into it. A commemoration cover that dates back to 1932 In Johns experience, modern commemorative stamps dont have a great deal of relevance and arent readily available to purchase. We recently had an issue for Paddington Bear, John says. We would have issues for computer games, popstars, all sorts of things that really are turning off GB collectors by the hundreds. There are less and less collectors of GB material. And really what they were waiting for, sad to say, was a change in the reign from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles and it gives people a cut-off point. They say: Im going to collect Queen Elizabeth stamps, but thats my stopping point. A lot of people stopped in the year 2000. That was another cut-off point. John gives the example of the Dame Shirley Bassey set of eight souvenirs stamps which have recently been made available by Royal Mail. Its very, very difficult to obtain the stamps, he says. If you were interested in Shirley Bassey or her singing or had any interest in her at all, and went to the post office and asked to see the stamps or buy the stamps most likely you wouldnt be able to. They get a very small number of commemorative stamps in local post offices, and therefore you have to either have contact with a dealer or deal directly with the Philatelic Bureau in Edinburgh. Stamp collector John Proctor from Portadown who has been been collecting stamps for over 40 years, pictured holding his King George VI stamps. Picture by Peter Morrison Whilst some people collect stamps in relation to a theme such as art, sport, buildings, royalty or cities, others, like John, focus on a specific era. The starting point for many would be 1840 when the Penny Black was issued, he says. There would be people who collect Queen Victoria stamps, or they would collect whats called postal history. Thats letters and other matters that have been sent through what was called a post, but there were no stamps issued up until 1840. So anything before 1840 is considered postal history thats letters without stamps. And then there are people like myself, they collect whats called the Kings period, which is 1902 to 1952, I would specialise in that. You may be collecting mint stamps or used stamps. If you collect used stamps youre always looking for a better used stamp than maybe the one you have. And its not a matter of cost, you can look for something at 1 for five or six years, or you could be looking for something at 50 for five or six years. There are some items that are just difficult to get, but not totally expensive. John Proctor pictured with a commemoration cover that dates back to 1936 The future of stamp collecting in Northern Ireland is difficult to predict due to dwindling numbers. Its not the people have turned away from it, its that people of a certain age are passing away, John explains. There are not many, if any, young people coming into it in Northern Ireland, unfortunately. Theres a Portadown Philatelic Society, theres a North of Ireland Philatelic Society and theres a Belfast Philatelic Society, and a lot of the members would be common to each of those, but theyre all of a certain age now unfortunately and Im one of them and we just find it very, very difficult to attract younger members. I would go to London at least once a year to the major exhibitions. When you go there you would see a lot more younger people, late teens, early 20s, who seem to be interested in stamp collecting, but we cant seem to attract them here in Northern Ireland. Whist Johns family doesnt share his interest, he regularly connects with the 15 or so members of the Portadown Philatelic Society to talk stamps and share displays online. We would have one of the top if not the top philatelist in Ireland as a member of the Portadown and the North of Ireland [societies] and thats a chap called Desmond Quail. He would be a gold medal winner. So were very proud of him as being a member of our society. To connect with the Portadown Philatelic Society email John jjproctor@googlemail.com Incorporating voluntary work into your next beach holiday will create long-lasting memories Beach holidays have long been a Northern Irish tradition how readily the country flees the chilly conditions for golden sands, sun loungers and the obligatory bucket and spade. But I have a confession: despite many summers spent building sandcastles or spying on crabs scuttling along the shoreline, now, beach holidays leave me feeling idle. However, a recent trip to Floridas 26-mile-long Panama City Beach is encouraging me to rethink this opinion, primarily thanks to the local tourist boards adoption of voluntourism. Across the world, this rewarding concept sees visitors contribute positively to destinations vulnerable to overcrowding, poverty, political instability or, in the case of this northwest region in Florida, extreme weather. Here, in 2018, the mighty and unapologetic Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc, resulting in dozens of fatalities and an estimated $25bn (20bn) in damage. There was devastation everywhere: homes were flattened and almost a million trees fell across the panhandle of Florida, recalls my driver, Robin McNew, a veteran of the US Navy. Our resorts were full of law enforcers who came down here from all over the country to help. There was no electricity or street lights, so, after a certain hour, everything was dark, with curfews in place. It was a living nightmare. Domhnall planting sea oats Pros vs cons of voluntourism While many regions have warmly embraced voluntourism, some quarters view it with cynicism. Ive read discussions suggesting communities in developing countries, particularly, become overly dependent on foreign influence. However, as long as voluntourism is sustainable and sensitively executed, I feel a volunteers contributions can yield long-lasting results. Additionally, its an opportunity to immerse ourselves in new communities, make friends and witness first-hand the challenges others have faced. Listening to Robin describe the horrors of her beloved city leaves me both shocked and embarrassed. Before visiting, my knowledge of Hurricane Michael was modest. However, signing up for voluntourism allows me to educate myself about the resilience and fortitude of my hosts. At its core, voluntourism encourages people, young and old, to respect the world around them, especially vulnerable destinations, says Jayna Leach, senior VP and CMO of Visit Panama City Beach. Her team calls the initiative Stay It Forward, which ensures that the idyllic region a six-hour drive from Orlando can be enjoyed for generations to come. She adds that wildlife is abundant here, with sea turtles, dolphins, pelicans and the famous crocodiles and alligators calling the area home and, regardless of the sharpness of their teeth, they need protection from Mother Natures ire just as much as the human population. Planting sea oats in Panama City Beach Sowing the seed And so, joining a British and Irish delegation, I set up camp on a section of Mexico Beach. Incidentally, the sand quartz crystal from the Appalachian Mountains doesnt retain heat, which is ideal for feet big and small. While were armed with spades, our goal today isnt to build sandcastles, like the children nearby, but to plant sea oats, which play a critical role in coastal conservation. The morning sunshine, growing more omnipotent with every passing moment, oversees our efforts digging shallow holes and planting two bunches at a time. Resembling blades of grass, the sea oats mightnt look impressive, especially in their infancy, but coastal engineer Lisa Armbruster explains that they can withstand brief flooding from salt water during storm surges. The large root systems of sea oats anchor the dunes, so theyre extremely important in stabilising beaches, she says. The plants also serve the ecosystem by providing food for beach mice and birds. Emphasising their importance, she adds: In Florida, sea oats are protected by law, and its illegal to cut, harvest or remove them. Within half an hour, our efforts are complete. Even though it will take 30 days to fully see the fruits of our labour, immediately, the newly planted sea oats defiantly stand tall across the dunes, soldier-like, preparing to play their part in protecting Panama City Beach from any future storms. Planting sea oats in Panama City Beach Beyond voluntourism Jayna tells me that this beach renourishment is an ideal bonding activity for families and groups and that the response to the project has been incredible. Several communities across Florida have even reached out to her office, seeking guidance on introducing similar endeavours to their beaches. She invites visitors to Panama City Beach to also contact the tourist board, who will gladly assist and provide resources. Jayna is especially delighted to witness younger visitors embracing this philanthropic concept with brio. Children are our future generations, so starting the conversation about the environment at a young age is key. Their enthusiasm is incredible. They give us much hope for the decades to come. She also stresses that planting sea oats or pursuing another voluntary activity, like keeping the beaches clean is only one aspect of a stay in Panama City Beach. There are many fun opportunities for families to engage with nature here, including kayaking on Lake Powell or trekking through Camp Helen State Park. Shell Island St Andrews State Park features a protective jetty, which, along with the absence of currents, ensures the waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling. And if you want to venture further out to sea, Island Time Sailing offers catamaran trips to the heavenly Shell Island dont be surprised if you see a pod of dolphins leading the way. Yes, on the other side of Florida, millions of people are receiving adrenaline rushes from roller coasters, many of which are based on comic book superheroes. Here, visitors pursuing voluntourism are real-life superheroes, helping to protect Panama City Beach for future generations. Pacemaker Press 02-11-2023: Flooding: 'Apocalyptic' scenes in Downpatrick as businesses damaged. Picture By: Arthur Allison: PacemakerPress. The Main Street in Millisle is closed in both directions due to a road traffic collision on Friday evening. Police say motorists should expect delays and seek alternative main routes for their journey. There has also been a Northbound Road traffic collision in lane 2 of the M2 before Greencastle, causing long delays in the area. Meanwhile, many roads across Northern Ireland remain closed due to adverse weather-related conditions. In Downpatrick, the Department for Infrastructure say water Levels in the Quoile River have fallen to a level to allow pumping to commence on Friday evening in the Market Street area. Police, the NI Fire and Rescue service and Newry Mourne and Down District Council will assist with the operation and the public are asked to adhere to all temporary traffic management arrangements while the work is carried out and abide by road closures and diversions. Water levels will continue to be monitored to determine the impact of the removal of floodwater in Downpatrick. The Department and its multi agency partners would like to thank the public for their patience and assistance over the last few days and while the clear up continues. The list of roads closed due to the weather conditions on Friday evening is: Co Down Newry Road from Rathfriland Road Roundabout to Mayobridge closed due to flooding. Ferryhill Road, Newry closed due to a landslide. A2 Shore Road leaving Rostrevor closed due to a landslide. Local diversion in place. Mayobridge - Hilltown Road is now passable with care between Maybridge and Hilltown Killowen - The A2 Killowen Road closed due to the possibility of landslips - Rostrevor to Kilkeel traffic will be diverted via Rostrevor Hilltown Kilcoo Castlewellan Newcastle - Kilkeel. Allow extra time for your journey. Scarva - The B3 Legananny Rd has been closed between the Old Mill Road and Lisnagade Road following damage to a bridge - Road users are advised to seek an alternative route for their journey Newry - Camlough Road / Newtown Road closed due to flooding. Road users are advised to find an alternative route for their journey. Newry - Greenan Road, Poyntpass is closed from:- Rockmeeting Road to Blackridge Road. Please seek an alternative route for your journey. (20:26) Helens Bay - The Bridge Road has been closed due to flooding - Please seek an alternative route for your journey. Ballynahinch - Drumgiven Road closed from Creevyargon Road to Cahard Road due to severe flooding. Please seek an alternative route for your journey. B3 Ballynaskeagh Road Passable with care, verge collapsed at two separate locations. Being assessed, may require TTM/lights and closing of a lane to allow safe passage of traffic. River burst banks. Castlewellan : Magheramayo road Flooding Aughnacloy : Rehaghey road : culvert colapse and road slip Banbridge:- Riley street closed at the junction with Downshire Road at mini roudabout due to flooding. Please seek an alternative route for your journey. A27 Dublin Road, Castlewellan closed due to flooding. Is now re-opened A25 Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick is closed at the leisure centre and entrance to Rathkeltair Car Park. Robbery Road (closed due to flooding) Dunygarton Road (closed due to flooding) St James Road (closed due to flooding) Artifinny Road (closed due to flooding) Listullycurran Road (closed due to flooding) Newtownards Road, Bangor at Fire Station. Flooding A2 Newcastle Road North of Kilkeel. Bridge in dangerous condition. B3 Legannany Road between Loughbrickland and Scarva Damaged parapet wall. B3 Ballynaskeagh Road Passable with care, verge collapsed at two separate locations. U1225 Milltown Road, Waringstown Passable with care. U1268 Maygannon Lane, donaghcloney - closed due to flooding U4297 Rockmeeting Road - closed due to flooding Old Road, Maghaberry (closed due to flooding) River Road, Lambeg (closed due to flooding) A7 Belfast Road, Downpatrick between the Finnebrogue Road junction and the Belfast Road Roundabout, Downpatrick U0166 Inch Abbey Road, Downpatrick. Woodgrange Road Downpatrick has been close to flooding from the Loughinisland Road junction to the Drumcullen Road junction B180 Bryanford Avenue, Newcastle is closed for the Bryansford Road Roundabout to the Shimna Road junction due flooding. Pumping operation in progress at this location. Callan River burst banks. River Callan burst banks. C182 Derryscallop Rd closed. C172 Terryhoogan Rd closed close to A27 Aughlish Rd. Lagangreen Road between the Leapoges road and Black Bog Road Dromore is closed due to flooding Downpatrick: The C280 Quoile Road Downpatrick has been closed from its junction with the Old Belfast Road (A22) to Quoile Brae. U4037 Lagangreen Road, Dromore - closed this morning between Leapoges Road and Dromara Road / Black Bog Road closed due to flooding. The A25 Strangford Road, Downpatrick Road outside the Cricket Club is closed at the A22 Old Belfast Road junction The U174 Old Belfast Road, Saintfield has been closed due to flooding. C182 Derryscallop Rd closed. C172 Terryhoogan Rd closed close to A27 Aughlish Rd. Co Armagh C180 Cloveneden Rd closed near Cockle Hill junction carriageway collapsed road not safe for traffic Co Antrim Dunadry Rd and Steeple Rd at M2 bridge all closed Co Tyrone Michael Morrison, one of the nine people killed in the 1993 explosion A service to mark the 30th anniversary of the Shankill bomb will take place today. Nine innocent people were killed when an IRA bomb exploded in Frizzells Fish Shop without warning on a busy Saturday afternoon on October 23, 1993. Fifty-seven people were also injured in the blast, which happened after IRA men Thomas Begley and Sean Kelly wore white coats to pose as delivery men as they carried the bomb into the shop. Begley died in the blast while Kelly was given nine life sentences for his role in the attack and was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Terminally ill mother of 13 year old girl killed in Shankill bomb fears she will die before she gets answers The remembrance service will begin at 11.45am with a short parade from the Shankill Leisure Centre car park to the site of the bomb at Court Credit Union. It will be followed by a short religious service and the laying of wreaths and floral tributes during which a piper will play and a one minute silence observed to mark those who lost their lives. An open invitation has been issued on behalf of the Michael (Minnie) Morrison Foundation to those who wish to pay their respects. Michael Morrison, one of the nine people killed in the 1993 explosion Mr Morrison died in the blast which also killed his partner Evelyn Baird and her seven-year-old daughter Michelle. Other victims included John Frizzell, his daughter Sharon McBride, 13-year-old Leanne Murray, married couple George and Gillian Williamson, and Wilma McKee. We are hopeful that our community can attend and stand shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families and those who were injured in the bombing, a spokesperson for the anniversary support group dedicated to remembering the blast and its wider affects on the Shankill Road community said. The group said it is difficult to believe that the 30th anniversary is so close. On that awful day in October 1993, in the blink of an eye, nine innocent people were murdered when IRA terrorists wreaked murder and mayhem on the people of the Shankill by planting a no warning bomb on the counter of Frizzells Fish Shop. It said todays service will honour the lives of those murdered and remember those injured. A new memorial is to be unveiled and details of a new Living Memorial will be confirmed. On Monday, the date of the 30th anniversary, a service will also be held at West Kirk Presbyterian Church led by Reverend David Clawson. It will be attended by bereaved relatives, while representatives from the emergency services and first responder groups will also attend. Choirs from Belfast Boys and Girls Model schools will perform and attend the service which will also be addressed by Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Reverend Doctor Sam Mawhinney. At the end of the service a ships bell will be tolled each minute for nine minutes, each toll representing a life lost. Palestinian trucks line up on the Gaza Strip side of the border with Egypt to take humanitarian aid (Hatem Ali/AP) Aid has begun to flow into Gaza after the border crossing with Egypt was opened, with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly saying it was a lifeline for those suffering in the territory. But he said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been besieged and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Mr Cleverly, who was visiting Egypt on Saturday for the Cairo Peace Summit, said: Trucks carrying lifesaving aid are beginning to cross at Rafah into Gaza. This aid is a lifeline for those suffering. But it cannot be a one-off. The UK continues to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. Mr Cleverly will use the Cairo summit to emphasise the UKs call to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict spiralling into a wider Middle East war. ActionAid Palestine spokesman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Before this crisis began, around 500 aid trucks would normally cross the border every day providing a vital lifeline to millions of Gazans who were already facing a humanitarian crisis, she said. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development in the crisis when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were released following talks brokered by Qatar. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: I welcome the release of two US hostages in Gaza and thank Qatar for their leadership on this issue. Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie have been freed (Government of Israel via AP) Meanwhile in the UK the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has said it expects 200,000 people to join what it claims will be the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history on Saturday. PSC director Ben Jamal said: They will be calling for an end to violence, to all attacks on civilians, and for our Government to end its complicity with the root causes of the violence Israels system of military occupation, colonisation and apartheid. Speakers at a rally outside Downing Street will include Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack, UCU general secretary Jo Grady and RMT senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey. The worst hit area in Scotland during Storm Babet is now an improving picture, but there are still fears of further floods as a red danger to life weather warning remains in place. Forecasters have brought forward the end of the red warning in Scotland by six hours, but authorities remain braced for further flooding on Saturday afternoon amid the storm which has claimed the lives of two people north of the border. People in up to 100 properties across Angus in East Scotland have been rescued from their flooded homes, with some airlifted out, a local authority official has said. The alert for extreme rain during the storm now ends at 6pm, rather than midnight, and covers a smaller area than on Friday solely Angus and Aberdeenshire. Rivers in parts of Scotland hit by floods are expected to hit a second peak later, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned, as dozens of roads and several train lines remain closed. Jacqui Semple, head of risk, resilience and safety for Angus Council, said people were rescued from between 80 to 100 homes across the region. In Bridge of Dun, residents were airlifted out via helicopter, while in other areas those stranded were rescued by boats, including canoes. Members of the emergency services help local residents to safety in Brechin (Andrew Milligan/PA) No-one is now thought to be stranded. Ms Semple praised the response from those in Angus and elsewhere, saying offers of accommodation have come from the local area and further afield. She said: Fortunately the Met Office update and our Sepa update this morning is showing that we have an improving picture and the red warnings and our amber warnings they have been reduced in timescales to 6pm. So that means we are looking at definite improvements in our river levels. Were not out of the woods by a long shot. Theres still a lot of rain to come through, but less so, and there is still a lot of water lying right across Angus. Lots of water in the upper catchments that will still have to come down into our rivers. Three rest centres set up in Angus provided accommodation for some of those flooded out of their homes, with more than 50 at the one in Brechin. It remains open, with another in Forfar under review and one in Montrose now closed. A back garden on River Street in Brechin (Neil Pooran/PA) Searches continue for a man reported missing to police at 3am on Friday, said to have been trapped in a vehicle in floodwater in Marykirk, Aberdeenshire. Scotlands First Minister urged people to heed the red weather warning and evacuate if instructed. Humza Yousaf posted on X, formerly Twitter: A red weather Warning remains in place for Angus & parts of Aberdeenshire. Please comply with the advice being given, particularly if you are asked to evacuate, it is for your own safety. We continue to engage with local partners & emergency services to co-ordinate our response. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: Further rain is forecast to affect the flooded areas, particularly around Brechin but more widely across Tayside, Angus, Dundee and Aberdeenshire. There will be a second peak on large rivers, including the South Esk in Brechin and North Esk and we are also monitoring the River Don closely and there will be further surface water flooding. He said the peak in Brechin is not expected to reach the same levels as previously. Waves at Stonehaven Harbour during Storm Babet (Andrew Milligan/PA) As of 1pm on Saturday, Sepa reduced the number of severe flood warnings from five to three at Kinnaird/Bridge of Dun, Finavon and Tannadice and Brechin. Flood warnings and flood alerts were also reduced, to 18 and 12 respectively. Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council chief executive, said there was a low level of incidents overnight and the areass five rest centres have not been used that much. He told BBC Breakfast: We do have more of a concern though for the rest of the day, particularly around the River Don area, the Inverurie area, and Kintore, Kenmay. So were just working with other colleagues from Sepa to take a look in terms of what the flood levels are on the rivers, to see if we need to take any more action later today with residents there. Dozens of roads have been closed by flooding and fallen trees, including the A90 between Stonehaven and Dundee, the A9 between Tomich and Alness and the A92 near Cupar between Forgan roundabout and Melville Lodges roundabout. Angus Council said most roads are affected in the region. Network Rail Scotland said train lines between Aberdeen to Elgin and to Dundee remain closed due to the storm, as does Ladybank, Angus, to Perth. ScotRail said many other services were getting back to normal much more quickly than expected including services between Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness via Perth. It also said a limited service will be available between Perth and Dundee early on Saturday evening. David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: We know the impact the withdrawal of some train services has, but our first priority is always to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. We want to thank customers for their continuing patience and understanding as we make all possible efforts to inspect routes that are still closed for damage, before reopening them when it is judged safe to do so. Storm Babet has cut power from more than 33,000 customers in Scotland but the vast majority are now reconnected, energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said. As of 4.45pm, work was ongoing to reconnect 700 properties north of the border. 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 the Water of Lee, Glen Esk. The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamass bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount that aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days. Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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. Five hospitals have stopped functioning because of fuel shortages and bombing damage, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas. Israel said on Friday that it does not plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet late Saturday to discuss the expected invasion, Israeli media reported. Relatives of people kidnapped by Hamas militants hold pictures of their loved ones during a protest in Tel Aviv (Petros Giannakouri/AP) Israels military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the country planned to step up its air strikes starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of the war. We will deepen our attacks to minimise the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Mr Hagari said, repeating his call for Gaza City residents to head south for their safety. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas but has given few details about what it envisions for Gaza if it succeeds. Yifat Shasha-Biton, a Cabinet minister, said there was broad consensus in the government that there will have to be a buffer zone in Gaza to keep Palestinians away from the border. We need to create a distance between the border and our communities, she told Channel 13 TV, adding that no decisions had been made on its size or other specifics. Soldiers drive a military vehicle near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip (Francisco Seco/AP) The border crossing opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Joe Biden and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all of the captives from its attack, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes. Late Friday, Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first captives to be freed. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between the release and the aid deliveries. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 captives. On Saturday morning, an Associated Press reporter on the Palestinian side of Rafah saw the 20 trucks heading north to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave. The trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the UNs childrens agency enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organisation said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah were carrying medical supplies, including essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people, and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, said the head of the UNs World Food Programme, Cindy McCain. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid. Trucks with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip enter from Egypt (Fatima Shbair/AP) She added that some 400 trucks were entering Gaza daily before the war. The Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Rear Admiral Hagari said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory. US secretary of state Antony Blinken appealed to all sides to keep the crossing open for crucial aid shipments and warned Hamas to not take the aid. Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamass horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts, he said in a statement. As President Biden stated, if Hamas steals or diverts this assistance it will have demonstrated once again that it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers (Government of Israel via AP Photo) It will also make it hard to keep the aid flowing, he said. Mr Guterres, meanwhile, gave voice to growing international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamass reprehensible assault on Israel two weeks ago can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Two Egyptian officials and a European diplomat said extensive negotiations with Israel and the UN to allow fuel deliveries for hospitals had so far yielded little progress. One Egyptian official said they were discussing the release of dual-national hostages in return for the fuel, but that Israel was insisting on the release of all hostages. Hamas released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday for what it said were humanitarian reasons in an agreement with Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation that has often served as a Middle East mediator. A representative for the pair said they were staying with relatives in central Israel. The two had been on a trip from their home in Chicago to Israel to celebrate Jewish holidays, the family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting at least 210 others. (PA Graphics) US President Joe Biden has spoken on the phone with the two freed Americans, telling them he was glad they had been released. Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said. Natalie thanked Mr Biden for his services to Israel, while Judith said they are in good health. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years. Israel said on Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said on Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border. Israel issued a travel warning on Saturday, ordering its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza have erupted across the region. An Israeli ground assault would likely 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 killed during the Hamas incursion. Humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip at the Rafah border gate (Mohammed Asad/AP) More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion. The ministry says another 1,400 are believed to have been buried under rubble. The Hamas-run Housing Ministry said at least 30% of all homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged in the war. Hosting a summit on Saturday, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a ceasefire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which last broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. King Abdullah II of Jordan told the summit that Israels air campaign and siege of Gaza were a war crime and criticised the international communitys response. Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned, he said. Apparently, he added, human rights have boundaries. They stop at borders, they stop at races, they stop at religions. A summit was held in Cairo (Egyptian Presidency Media Office via AP) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for an international peace summit to bring about the end of the war. Speaking at the summit in Cairo, Mr Abbas reiterated his complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides. He also urged the release of all civilians, prisoners, and detainees, probably alluding to some 210 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Mr Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, a government exercising semi-autonomous control in the West Bank. The government is deeply loathed among Palestinians, who view it as corrupt and collaborationist with Israel. Hamas seized control of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip in 2007 and enjoys a strong base of support in the West Bank. More than a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and some appear to be going back to the north because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south. Party leader Long backs Sorcha Eastwood to win at next election after Question Time demolition Alliance leader Naomi Long is predicting the party can take Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons Lagan Valley seat in next years Westminster elections. The East Belfast MLA told a party conference in Enniskillen yesterday that after seeing Sorcha Eastwood demolish the DUP leader during a debate on BBC Ones Question Time, the DUP believe we can too. Mrs Long said: Anyone who watched Sorcha Eastwood demolish Jeffrey Donaldson with his own words on Thursdays Question Time can be in no doubt that Alliance can win that seat. Anyone who watched Jeffrey nervously drinking his water while she did, or heard the DUP attacks that focused intensely on Alliance at their conference last week, will be in no doubt that the DUP believe we can too. With boundary changes and party growth in places like east Belfast and the new South Belfast and Mid-Down constituency, there are significant opportunities, not only to retain the North Down seat but gain a team of Alliance MPs. The testy Question Time exchange between Ms Eastwood and Sir Jeffrey, footage of which has gone viral, was described as spicy by Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie. The Alliance MLA told the veteran Lagan Valley MP: We didnt like Brexit [but] we worked it and we made it happen. Do you know what? Our job is to govern, our job is to stand for election and do a job. If you dont want to do the job, get out of the way. But the DUP leader, who has been at Westminster for 26 years, replied: I took my case to the people in this constituency, as did Sorcha, and Sorcha can look down her nose at unionists all she wants, but I got a mandate from the people of this constituency to take the actions that I have taken. The politics of exclusion in Northern Ireland doesnt work, and it saddens me that the Alliance Party, of all parties, are now talking about exclusion, excluding people [and] that unionists should get out of the way. During yesterdays conference, the Alliance leader also called for an independent commission to bring in an infrastructure strategy for Northern Ireland for the next 25 years. Ultimately, without people with the right skills and with a passion and vision, our economy wont grow, and the same is true of the need for a plan for our infrastructure, which again is a key priority for Alliance, she said. Having a proper independent infrastructure commission to develop a 25-year strategy for infrastructure which is not just properly funded but designed to ensure net zero can be attained is essential. 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. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani waits for the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Lusail, Qatar, on Oct. 13. The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claim that a video shows Qatars emir threatening to cut off the worlds natural gas supply if Israel doesnt stop bombing Gaza. The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was evacuated on Oct. 11. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Those who oppose the proposed school district merger said at a forum Wednesday night that they worry about how future decisions will be made, and how this will affect students and the finances of five small rural towns in southern Berkshire County. The Berkshire Eagle won Newspaper of the Year for its March 8 and 31 daily editions. LANESBOROUGH A proposed $200 million senior community on the site of the Berkshire Mall could have a significant impact on those looking to rent or buy homes in the Berkshires. And while the path to redevelopment of the deteriorating, 16.5-acre shopping center will be lined with challenges, local officials say such a project would help address an ongoing housing crisis in Berkshire County. Joseph Jones, one of three managers of JMJ RE Holdings, which now owns the Berkshire Mall, announced the project Monday during a Select Board meeting. Previously, Jones and others at JMJ Holdings Corp., which is a separate company focused on cannabis, began pursuing an indoor grow operation for cannabis at the mall. Jones said the owners are now looking to the site as potential housing for senior care, including nursing, memory care and assisted living. The plan calls for redevelopment of the site demolishing the mall and leaving only the Target building standing and a $200 million investment in new construction. In his presentation, Jones referenced Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's 2019 mall reuse study, which identified "Senior Transitional Care Facilities" as among the possible future uses for the site. That report cites "an opportunity for the aging population in the Berkshires by creating a transitional living community." The perch on a hilltop between Route 7 and Route 8 is centrally located on a broad scale, although removed from a downtown. The inclusion of retail, services and expanded emergency services could bring some self-containment to the community, as well as flexibility for broader use should demographics in Berkshire County change, according to housing advocates and others. In the big picture, the region certainly needs more housing, Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, told The Eagle on Wednesday. The region certainly needs more affordable housing and senior housing. So it sounds like the potential with this new plan is to create something that will benefit the region in a significant way and will hopefully meet with a good deal of support from the community and the town and local officials. While Laura Brennan noted housing needs in the Berkshires run the gamut, she said adding any housing will be helpful. She is the assistant director and economic development program manager at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Overhousing in the Berkshires With its aging demographic, overhousing of seniors is common in Berkshire County. In that scenario, people remain in homes that may be larger than they now need, are more expensive than they can afford, and with problems that may be overwhelming to maintain. Overhousing both creates and adds pressure to the housing market in Berkshire County. If we can be responsive to that, then it helps all of us also be responsive to other housing seekers, at other points in their lives, Brennan said. Others echoed that sentiment. The fact that we have a shortage of senior housing in this region is keeping a lot of empty nesters in their homes, where they would like to probably be moving out and living in more desirable places and downsizing and not having a couple living in a two- or three- or four-bedroom home, said Jonathan Butler, president and CEO 1Berkshire. And that's actually creating more pressure on the real estate market. So, something like this is a good fit. Jones announcement could not have been better timed. On Wednesday, Gov. Maura Healey toured the state to announce plans to invest $4.1 billion to bolster affordable housing. During this week's rollout of the Affordable Homes Act, Healey was joined by Housing Secretary Ed Augustus, who specifically mentioned funding to create housing from malls. Eileen Peltier, CEO and president of Berkshire Housing, said Thursday she had already spoken with her team about reaching out to JMJ about its plan to create affordable housing. And honestly, we are in such a housing crisis that looking at nontraditional sites like that for housing development needs to be on the table right now, she said. I think this Affordable Homes Act really is opening up a lot of doors." Jones said Thursday JMJ was on board. If theres any way we can participate in that program to the betterment of Lanesborough and Berkshire County, were more than happy to do that, Jones told The Eagle. Brennan and Butler noted that supply chain issues could present challenges, causing construction delays. If the project is built incrementally, the labor shortage could also come to play. However, if built at a larger scale, he said, that would be less of an issue. The larger scale projects are definitely still attracting a lot of attention, he said. Brad Gordon, executive director and staff attorney of Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority, spoke to the sites location. I think it has to be done in a thoughtful manner so that the folks living there arent isolated, Gordon said, noting that transportation can sometimes become an issue for older people. When he approached the Select Board, Jones spoke of multifamily units as a part of the plan. CANNABIS STILL ON THE TABLE While the focus of the mall redevelopment has shifted from a massive indoor cannabis facility to housing and services for seniors, the company still hopes to retain a cannabis component to the project. JMJ Holdings has a signed community host agreement with the town of Lanesborough to cultivate, manufacture and conduct third-party transport of cannabis. It has also applied to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for permission to engage in those activities. Jones told the Select Board on Monday that he wanted to keep the host community agreement, but amend it to allow for outdoor growing. Language in the current agreement with the town specifies an indoor operation. Noting that odor has arisen as an issue with outdoor operations, Select Board member Michael Murphy said, I'm not sure how many seniors want to live next door to an outdoor grow. In fact, Lanesboroughs zoning bylaw specifically prohibits it. Chapter 165 Section 40, which deals with marijuana land uses, reads, Outdoor cultivation shall not be permitted. But Gordon, of the housing authority, said he believed an accommodation may be justified in this case. It's often hard to make the numbers work for housing development, he said. And so if that's an aspect of making the site work financially, Im supportive of that. Changing the bylaw would ultimately require a two-thirds majority at town meeting. There are workarounds, Jones told The Eagle on Thursday, though he conceded it may not be possible in Lanesborough. Murphy, who at one point worked in cannabis, acknowledged the current climate. The bottoms dropping out of cannabis, Murphy said. Everybody saw dollar signs, towns arent getting their impact fees, local taxes, whatever you want to call it, except for the traditional tax for recreational marijuana from dispensaries. He was generally supportive of JMJ's latest plan. They know some of the needs of this town, he said. And I think they're looking for an opportunity to deliver an opportunity to help the town, which in turn would help them, so I appreciate that. Do I think it's the right proposal? I think anything that develops that property is potentially the right proposal. We talk a lot in Lanesborough about the needs of our seniors," Murphy said. "I think building a place where seniors can live, seniors can get care, whether or not they live in Lanesborough, it's not a bad thing. STOCKBRIDGE A hotly debated property tax break proposal for local homeowners who live in town as their principal residence is off the table again. The 2-1 Select Board vote against adopting a residential tax exemption followed several years of often heated discussion about the state option. The board also rejected it at annual tax classification hearings in the fall of 2021 and in 2022. The plan has been adopted by at least 14 communities, all in eastern Massachusetts. They range from resort towns such as Provincetown and Nantucket to cities including Boston, Cambridge and Waltham. Many Stockbridge second homeowners and part-time residents, who own 60 percent of the towns residential properties, have opposed the measure as unfair because their real estate taxes would rise. But the idea found favor with some locals. Had it been approved, the proposed tax break could have shaved from 20 to 35 percent off full-time residents real estate bills. An estimated 660 of the towns 1,669 residential properties would have been eligible. So far this year, there have been 28 residences sold in Stockbridge at a median price of $677,500. That's a nearly 27 percent increase over last year, according to the Warren Group, which tracks all statewide sales. At last weeks annual tax classification hearing for the 2024 fiscal year, the Select Board approved continuation of a single tax rate for residential and commercial properties. Principal Assessor Michael Blay told the board that the towns estimated single tax rate will be $7.37 per $1,000 of property valuation, down from $8.14 last year. That would keep tax bills stable, he said. Town Administrator Michael Canales calculated that 984 property owners would see a decrease in their tax bills, while 550 would face an increase of less than $100. The remaining properties would see a larger tax increase. The average value of all residential properties in Stockbridge is $671,074, Blay said. Last year, it was $600,000. Adoption of the residential tax exemption would have sharply increased the tax rate for most property owners because the town is expected to need to raise the same amount for the tax levy, nearly $9.3 million. Selectman Patrick White, a supporter of the tax break proposal and the lone vote in favor, voiced concern over the towns affordability for year-round residents. We dont want the marketplace to destroy a well-rounded community, he said. I have no desire to overburden our seasonal residents, I just want us to work together to maintain the community we have against the tidal wave of changes that we face. White said that in the year 2000, the average home was worth $235,000 and the typical tax bill was $2,350. The current tax bill is around $5,000 for the average homeowner, White said, while the median household income has remained stagnant at $45,000 for the past 23 years as tax bills have more than doubled. Before the Select Board vote, long-time local resident John Hart pushed strongly for the tax break. Every single thing that comes to the advantage of people who live in this town permanently should be put on the table and instituted, he said. Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years. John Krol's records show more payments from the Animal Dreams account On Tuesday, John Krol sent emails, screenshots and records to The Eagle that he said were "undeniable proof" that he thought the Animal Dreams account number was his business account number. Those records instead led The Eagle to find five additional transactions by Krol's business on the Animal Dreams account. When Eagle reporting showed that John Krol directed payments from nonprofit Animal Dreams to his personal American Express card five times over the course of 2018 and 2019, he dismissed the coverage as a political hit-job while explaining the incident as an innocent mistake caused by a bank error. Observers could draw various inferences from the reports that ranged from innocent mistake to criminal behavior. The Eagle editorial board called on Mr. Krol, a candidate for Pittsfield mayor, to release a narrow range of banking and credit card documents. The editorial board believed the requested documents would be useful to help voters either substantiate Mr. Krols side of the story or demonstrate that a stronger explanation was required. Mr. Krol provided The Eagle with only some of the requested documents, and they wound up raising more questions than they answered. These materials showed that Mr. Krol had used the Animal Dreams account, of which he was a co-signer at the time, to attempt to pay his business corporate excise tax several times before he directed payments to his AmEx account. Attempt is the key word here. These four annual withdrawals between 2016 and 2019 of $456 each the minimum corporate excise tax payment for a business in Massachusetts were ultimately rejected when Animal Dreams director Stacey Carver noticed the excise tax payments on the nonprofits account and called the Department of Revenue to highlight that the account belongs to a nonprofit that shouldnt be paying corporate tax. Former president of Animal Dreams says John Krol 'stole' $6,800 from nonprofit; Krol says it's a banking 'mistake' Stacey Carver came forward to The Eagle this week with documentation text messages, bank statements, email exchanges that show five separate transfers from the Animal Dreams bank account into Krols American Express account. The withdrawals, ranging from $209 to $3,000, were made over the span of five months. Ms. Carver was the officer in charge of Animal Dreams at the time, and she came forward to The Eagle to expose the payments from Animal Dreams account to Mr. Krols personal credit card. But the attempted excise tax payments to DOR originated years earlier. Ms. Carver said that at the time she did not think to link those tax payments to Mr. Krol and his business, OneEighty Media. Ms. Carver has since confirmed with the DOR thats what happened. The voters in Pittsfield should consider the character of both mayoral candidates when deciding how to cast their ballots. We believe that the number of times that Mr. Krol misused the Animal Dreams bank account coupled with the dates of these defalcations can help voters decide how innocent Mr. Krols actions might have been useful information in judging his character. The Eagle asked Mr. Krol if the DOR had reached out to him or his accountant to communicate that the initial payments were rejected and to collect Krols excise fee, and he said, No, not that I recall. Mr. Krol also told The Eagle he does not recall his accountant saying anything about the issue, either. So was Mr. Krol aware that his business excise tax payment was rejected in 2016? If so, what was his theory of mind when using the same account in the subsequent three years? If not, how did the tax payments get resolved? And why start using that same nonprofit account that resulted in four consecutive rejected excise tax payments to then pay down his credit card several times between 2018 and 2019? If Mr. Krol does not recall, his accountants might. Up until 2016, Barry Clairmont was Mr. Krols accountant. The documentation provided by Krol that gave rise to the questions about the excise tax payments came from Mr. Clairmont. So, The Eagle asked Mr. Krol if he would authorize his former accountant Mr. Clairmont to release any communications from DOR and specify what, if anything, Mr. Krols accountant told him about the putative tax payments. Essentially, The Eagle was asking what Mr. Krol knew and when he knew it regarding the attempted tax payments from Animal Dreams account. When confronted with the request to release his accountant from confidentiality constraints, Mr. Krol at first verbally agreed. The next day, Mr. Krol reversed course and told The Eagle via email: No, you do not have my permission to talk to Barry Clairmont in regard to confidential issues involving my business or personal finances. If either Mr. Krols former or current accountant told him that tax payments they attempted to make from the account that turned out to belong to Animal Dreams were rejected before he directed AmEx to take money from that same account, Mr. Krols claim that he made an innocent series of mistakes in 2018 and 2019 becomes extremely suspect. Mr. Krol has the prerogative to insist that his accountants not speak to The Eagle. Its also his prerogative to try making this matter go away by refusing to talk about it at all with The Eagle; Mr. Krol has indicated this is his preferred path. But its a path that leaves voters in the dark. Mr. Krol might want to speak about it to the folks whose support hes seeking and who could become his constituents if hes elected mayor of a city with a nine-figure annual budget. As of now, voters can only infer whether Mr. Krols role in the multiple errant withdrawals from a nonprofit to his tax and credit card bills was an innocent mistake produced by a series of unfortunate errors, as he maintains, or something else much more serious negligent, reckless or possibly intentional, as Ms. Carver has claimed. We dont know, and wed prefer that voters be able to know instead of being left to infer about the fiscal acumen and character of an individual who could be their next mayor. As of now, though, the inference that voters are left to draw is that Mr. Krol believes more information from his accountants will not support his claim of innocent mistakes. It is ironic that shedding more sunlight on this issue might be harmful to the position of a candidate who ostensibly champions transparency. Whether Mr. Krol wants to push back against that inference with facts is also his prerogative. In a significant move towards the growth of the healthcare technology sector in India, Ireland-headquartered Medtronic had announced an investment of approximately Rs 3000 crore, earlier this year, to expand the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad. MEIC is Medtronics largest research and development (R&D) centre outside of the US. In addition, Medtronic is supporting the Government of Telanganas efforts to position Hyderabad as a global hub for healthcare technology research and innovation. In conversation with BioSpectrum, Divya Prakash Joshi, Vice President & MEIC Site Leader, Medtronic talks about the new investment and the future plans of MEIC. What prompted Medtronic to invest such a significant amount in expanding the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad? Medtronic's decision to strategically invest in the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad is driven by several key factors. Firstly, India's healthcare technology sector offers immense growth potential, and Medtronic recognises the country's importance as a global hub for innovation and talent. Hyderabad, in particular, has emerged as a thriving ecosystem for healthcare technology research and development, with a pool of skilled professionals and strong government support. By expanding MEIC in Hyderabad, Medtronic aims to leverage these opportunities and foster collaboration with local eco system and stakeholders to drive innovation and advance patient care. The investment reflects Medtronic's commitment to investing in India's healthcare ecosystem and delivering innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers. What are the major hiring plans in India in the coming times, and under what skill/expertise, especially with new emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries? Healthcare technology has primarily focused on engineering skills like electrical engineering or mechanical engineering but we are expanding to areas like digital and other aspects of software as the newer trends evolve. MEIC currently employs 850+ people, primarily engineers, and is expected to grow to 1500+ over the next 5-year period. With this expansion, MEIC aims to leverage the sizeable pool of diverse and skilled talent in India involving engineering, mobile apps, application and desktop software, cloud / web apps, data engineering, embedded software, product security, and cyber-product security. The investment will support in key healthcare technology areas like robotics, imaging and navigation, surgical technologies, and implantable technologies. and will create significant job opportunities across various niche skill sets like software, data engineering, product security, robotics, kinematics, etc. The team would continue to collaborate with global R&D units in surgical technologies, imaging and navigation, enterprise software IoT in Cardiac and Neuro implantables etc. iWith emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries gaining momentum, how does MEIC envision incorporating these advancements into its operations and offerings in India? Are there any specific plans to leverage these technologies to enhance patient care? Our collaborative approach with a focus on research excellence, and close alignment with Medtronic's global strategy ensure the delivery of innovative solutions that address critical healthcare challenges, improve patient outcomes, and drive Medtronic's growth in the global market. We recognise the growing importance of emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries in advancing patient care. And our team of 50 engineers played an important role in the launch of the Medtronic Hugo RAS system a robotic assisted surgery platform. The centre contributed to a wide range of areas, including software, hardware, systems engineering and quality. MEIC envisions incorporating these advancements into offerings in India by actively investing in research and development activities, collaborations with healthcare professionals in partnership with the commercial Medtronic India team, and partnerships with academic institutions and technology providers. What role does MEIC play in Medtronic's overall strategy for product development and global market expansion? R&D is part of Medtronics overall global strategy. Medtronic invested $2.7 billion in R&D globally in FY22. As Medtronic's largest innovation centre outside of the United States, in R&D and Quality & Regulatory, MEIC serves as a critical hub for innovation and collaboration working with 15 operating units, across technologies and across multiple global R&D units. The teams at MEIC are working on R&D that is mainly related to software and engineering to drive product development initiatives, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and enhance existing product portfolios. As announced, the investment of approx. Rs 3000 crore will be spent over the next five years on physical infrastructure as well as human and scientific capital. The centres expertise and capabilities contribute to the development of new healthcare technologies that meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers worldwide. MEIC's collaborative approach, focus on research excellence, and close alignment with Medtronic's global strategy ensure the delivery of innovative solutions that address critical healthcare challenges, improve patient outcomes, and drive Medtronic's growth in the global market. Dr Manbeena Chawla (manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com) 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 A UK national has been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a seizure of 3.2 million cannabis seizure in Co Louth four years ago. Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau officers intercepted a commercial haulage vehicle in Ballymascanlon, Dundalk on October 29th, 2019. Following a search, cannabis was allegedly recovered among a load of fresh vegetables. Advertisement Jonathan Doran (61), of Eyton Road, Telford, Shropshire, England, was arrested at Dublin Airport on Friday night after a warrant was issued previously. Gardai brought him to Ballymun Garda station and charged him with unlawful possession of cannabis, possessing it with intent to supply, and having drugs worth 13,000 or more at Ballymascanlon, Dundalk on the date of the seizure. He was held overnight pending his appearance before Judge William Aylmer at Dublin District Court on Saturday. Advertisement Detective Garda Fiona Connaughton told Judge Aylmer that the accused "made no reply to each charge". Defence barrister Kevin McCrave told the court: "Mr Doran is going to reserve his position in relation to a bail application." Judge Aylmer remanded the accused in custody to appear via video link at Dundalk District Court on Wednesday. Mr Doran did not address the court and is yet to indicate a plea. Mr McCrave gave the court a statement of his client's means, and the judge granted legal aid. There was no objection. Increasing payment fees by Visa are significantly impacting the Irish SME sector, according to construction company Home Project Centre (HPC). HPC group made the comments as they experienced a 134 per cent increase in card processing costs since October 2022. Advertisement As the company is part of the construction sector, they do not qualify for any consideration or rebates. The company's card processing costs increased from 170,966 to 400,472, representing an increase of 229,506 per annum. The company are calling for intervention to address the issue properly, as they claim "excessive card payment charges are hindering the growth and operations of Irish SMEs, particularly those in the construction sector." HPC Groups Finance Director, Sean McNamara, said, "Since the majority of our customers are mainly businesses, we are being hit with disproportionate increases in the cost of processing cards, more than 134 percent year-on-year. This is extremely unfair, and the cost increases have no basis in reality." Advertisement HPC Group is the second-largest building materials business in Ireland currently trading from eighteen stores with almost 400 employees. The group comprises of TJ OMahony a leading provider of building materials and DIY products and PH Ross who provides heating and plumbing suppliers as well as specialist operations covering groundworks, roofing and insulation solutions, timber and panelling products. In July 2023, HPC Group acquired the business of HandyHardware.ie, one of Ireland's largest tools, hardware, workwear, and safety product e-commerce platforms. Paddy Cosgrove, the Chief executive of Web Summit, has announced he will be resigning with immediate effect from the tech company. This follows several companies, such as Google, Meta, Intel and Amazon pulling out of the conference which will be held in Lisbon in November, following comments from Mr Cosgrave on Israel. Advertisement Following his comments, Mr Cosgrave issued an apology, in which he 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. Ultimately, I hope with all my heart that this can be achieved. Advertisement A Web Summit spokesperson said the event would go ahead as planned in Lisbon between November 13th and 16th. Web Summit will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible, the spokesperson added. Advertisement Actor Gillian Anderson has also decided to pull out of Web Summit. A spokesperson for G-Spot, the former X-Files actors drinks brand, said she had made the decision to withdraw from a slated appearance at the event because the brands values do not align. The company currently employs 200 people in its Dublin headquarters, and over 300 globally. Despite several withdrawals from the company by several major firms, it is understood staff's positions at the company is not under threat. The Web Summit was originally set up and held in Dublin before being moved to Lisbon in 2015. On Friday, a spokesman for the European Investment Bank said it is currently considering its participation in the event next month. The spokesman said the EU development bank, which has attended the Web Summit in recent years, had noted Mr Cosgraves initial comments as well as his apology. US president Joe Biden has said he thought Hamas was motivated to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalising relations with Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Mr Biden said at a fundraising event. Advertisement The US president indicated that he thinks Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on October 7th because, Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognise Israel, and were near being able to formally do so. Jerusalem and Riyadh had been steadily inching closer to normalisation, with Mr Biden working to help bring the two countries together, announcing plans in September at the Group of 20 summit in India to partner on a shipping corridor. Mr Biden had been working to bring the two countries together (Andrew Harnik/AP) Advertisement Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Mr Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September and told him: I think that under your leadership, Mr President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Advertisement The Saudis had been insisting on protections and expanded rights for Palestinian interests as part of any broader agreement with Israel. An agreement would have been a feat of diplomacy that could have enabled broader recognition of Israel by other Arab and Muslim-majority nations that have largely opposed Israel since its creation 75 years ago in territory where Palestinians have long resided. But talks were interrupted after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip where Palestinians live into nearby Israeli towns. Advertisement The October 7th attack coincided with a major Jewish holiday. It led to retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that have left the world on edge with the US trying to keep the war from widening, as 1,400 Israelis and 4,137 Palestinians have been killed. Hamas also captured more than 200 people as hostages after the initial assault. At least three civilians have been killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials reported. A man died as Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol from their stronghold at Ukraines largest nuclear plant, according to Ukrainian local governor Serhii Lysak. Advertisement Mr Lysak said that emergency services in Nikopol were working to assess the damage. Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early in the war, sparking intermittent fears of a radiation incident as shelling persisted near the site, often targeting Ukrainian-controlled settlements across the Dnieper River. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Advertisement Advertisement Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 21 October 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/fTCapAnT9f #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/rMukSoS2Xd Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) October 21, 2023 Advertisement Mr Vilkul added that the mans wife was taken to hospital with serious shrapnel wounds. Early on Saturday, Mr Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Mr Vilkul did not elaborate on the sites nature or whether it was linked to Ukraines war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian militarys fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rihs local airport. Advertisement In Ukraines frontline Kherson region to the south, one civilian was killed and another wounded as Russian forces launched mass shelling attacks, governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Saturday. In a Telegram post, Mr Prokudin said that Russian troops used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the province, striking some residential areas. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the frontline city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local governor Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Advertisement Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off waves of Russian attacks. Advertisement Mr Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the province. Russian troops on Friday launched a fresh offensive north of Avdiivka that has secured minor gains, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. An arrest warrant was issued in March for President Vladimir Putin (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP) The Washington-based think tank cited geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin military bloggers on the ground to support its assessment. Moscows renewed push near Avdiivka reflects the Russian military commands commitment to offensive operations in the area despite heavy materiel and personnel losses, the institute said. The Ukrainian General Staff on Friday claimed that Ukrainian forces had damaged and destroyed almost 50 Russian tanks and more than 100 armoured vehicles in the fighting near Avdiivka during the previous day. The claim that could not be independently verified. Oleksandr Shputun, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army unit fighting near Avdiivka, said in televised remarks that Russian military activity in the area had decreased slightly, possibly due to heavy losses. However, Mr Shputun acknowledged that Russian units continued to advance. Advertisement In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was taken to hospital with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. The governor of Russias southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces shelled two of the provinces districts with mortars and grenade launchers the previous day. According to govenor Vyacheslav Gladkov, no civilians were hurt. Elsewhere, a top Ukrainian presidential adviser reported that four Ukrainian children who were released from Russian captivity on Monday have been reunited with their families. According to the Telegram post by Andriy Yermak, a 17-year-old girl and three boys aged nine, six and three, were captured by occupying Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. Mr Yermak said one of the boys was transferred to an orphanage in southern Russia, while another was forcibly taken to Russian-annexed Crimea. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Moscow when it issued arrest warrants in March for President Vladimir Putin and Russias childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. State media in Kremlin-allied Belarus have also published reports on children arriving in the country from Ukraines occupied territories, ostensibly to join health recuperation programmes. Advertisement Restaurants are shrinking. In part, reducing the number of tables is a logical way to cope with a shortage of staff (and diners), but increasingly, its being done by choice rather than by necessity. When four of the five finalists for The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2024 Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year Award are running restaurants seating 40 people or fewer, it marks a shift in Sydney dining to smaller being better than bigger. Owner-chef Zachary Ng serves the dishes and pours the drinks at 10-seat Restaurant Ka. Rhett Wyman At Restaurant Ka in Darlinghurst, owner-chef Zachary Ng feeds just 10 people at the long red marble counter facing the kitchen. After a decade of working for Martin Benn at the renowned Sepia restaurant, he wanted to do something more personal that reflected both his Cantonese heritage and his fine dining experience. At Ka, he greets guests, takes drinks orders, and even shakes the cocktails himself. I taught myself by watching YouTube, he says. Scott McComas-Williams, executive chef of the Love Tilly Group hospitality outfit, oversees five of the smallest restaurants in Sydney Love, Tilly Devine, Dear Sainte Eloise, Fabbrica CBD, Fabbrica Balmain and La Salut. Typically, they are small, street-wise dining rooms or pasta shops, some tucked into the side of pubs; none holding more than 40 people. Advertisement This year, the group went for broke with the opening of the 120-seat Palazzo Salato in Clarence Street. What was previously the Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe is now a clamorous dining room where the private room holds the same number of diners as the groups first restaurant in a back lane in Darlinghurst. Jemma Whiteman, chef at Newtown wine bar Ante. Edwina Pickles In Newtown, Chef of the Year finalist Jemma Whiteman cooks over coal and wood, sending out sake-friendly dishes in a warm, jazz-fuelled bar reminiscent of the Japanese rekodo, or listening bar. While Ante seats only 30, she often cooks for 90 over the course of an evening. When Josh Niland opened his fish-focused restaurant Saint Peter in Paddington in 2016, he filled it with conventional tables and chairs for 34 diners. By 2020, he and his wife Julie took them all out and installed a single long Carrara marble bar for just a handful of diners. Their only view is of chefs expertly preparing their dishes, just a metre away. The intimacy and transparency, he says, was deliberate. I wanted to physically demonstrate that there is so much more to a fish than a fillet, he says. By cutting back the number of diners, we were able to refine and evolve what we did. It also offered opportunities to open other small businesses. Advertisement The next incarnation of Saint Peter, when it moves to the Grand National in Paddington in the first quarter of 2024, will seat 45 diners, with extra seats on offer in a more casual bar. A marble bar seating just a handful of people runs the length of Saint Peter. Wolter Peeters Finalists for Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year 2024 One chef feeds just 10 people, another has snacks that start at $7, and a thirds high-wire circus act of fine dining costs $400 a head. Welcome to the age of diversity, Sydney dining style. And the nominees are: Zach Ng, Restaurant Ka Advertisement Ka is a treasure hiding in plain sight behind a simple door in Darlinghurst. Zach Ng merges his Hong Kong upbringing with his Sepia training across eight courses, which peak at a show-stopping lacquered duck breast with plump, juicy pickled cherries. Josh Niland, Saint Peter, Petermen Josh Niland is on a relentless mission to open our eyes to the beauty of fish, from eyeball to tail. Each diner bears witness to original, wave-making thinking from a highly focused chef as he turns coral trout or Murray cod into gastronomic icons worthy of a religious cult. Clare Smyth and Alan Stuart of Oncore by Clare Smyth. Supplied Clare Smyth and Alan Stuart, Oncore by Clare Smyth Advertisement The dining experience at Oncore is a tour de force of theatricality, precision, consistency and attention to detail. Irish-born Clare Smyth, of Core in Notting Hill, was the first female chef in Britain to win 3 Michelin stars. With the extremely talented head chef Alan Stuart in the view-blessed Crown Sydney site, they are hitting the heights of Michelin starriness right here in Sydney. Scott McComas-Williams, Palazzo Salato, Ragazzi, Fabbrica, La Salut The executive chef of the Love Tilly Group heads up a bevy of tiny eateries (and one big one in Palazzo Salato), while still maintaining an emphasis on artisanal foods, hand-sliced salumi and worth-a-detour house-made pasta. Chef Scott McComas-Williams oversees several venues, including Palazzo Salato in Sydney. Edwina Pickles Jemma Whiteman, Ante Advertisement Haydens trajectory through his personal and public life was marked by paradox. He spent much of his life as a committed atheist, but at age 85, he was baptised a Roman Catholic, having declared he had been captured by a gnawing of the heart and soul to seek the meaning of life. He was long considered a man of republican bent a position he later denied but having served as governor-general, he took a monarchist stand during the republican referendum of 1999, and spoke of Queen Elizabeth II as a consoling figure when he felt isolated. Aged just 28, Hayden was among the youngest of Australian politicians when he entered the federal parliament as the member for the Queensland seat of Oxley in 1961. Bill Hayden with his wife Dallas in 2008. Credit: John Woudstra He retained the seat for 27 years before resigning in August 1988 to become Australias 21st governor-general. He served in the vice-regal role for a near-record seven years, second only to Lord Gowries nine years from 1936 to 1945. Loading Hayden served as federal opposition leader from 1977 when he replaced Gough Whitlam after Labor was heavily defeated in the election that year to 1983. His Labor Party colleagues, however, prevented him from leading the party to the 1983 election at which he believed he would have become prime minister. Instead, the party chose Bob Hawke to replace him as leader of the opposition as the election campaign began. It led to one of Haydens most famous quips: A drovers dog could lead the Labor Party to victory, the way the country is. A month later, Hawke, who was angered by the comment, led Labor to a decisive victory over Malcolm Frasers Coalition. Hayden, however, had long before earned his place in Australian political history when, as social security minister in the Whitlam government, he fought and won a long battle to establish Australias first universal health insurance system, Medibank now known as Medicare. Among other major reforms during that period, Hayden introduced the single mothers pension. He became treasurer late in the Whitlam governments period, replacing Jim Cairns. Though he served in that role for only five months before the Whitlam government was dismissed, Hayden is credited by former treasurer and prime minister Paul Keating as having laid the intellectual ground for the economic reforms undertaken during the Hawke-Keating government of the 1980s. Bob Hawke shakes hands with Bill Hayden after he unsuccessfully challenged Hayden for the Labor leadership in 1982. Credit: David Bartho The antecedents of those changes, those great reforms, began with the frameworks Bill Hayden brought to the frontbench, Keating said in the 2nd Hayden Oration delivered in 2017. Having lost his chance to become prime minister, Hayden became Australias minister for foreign affairs in 1983, a position he held until he resigned from parliament in 1988. Without Bill Haydens instinctive grasp of the relationship between facing our nation to the world and securing our prosperity for the future, the government in which he served might not have achieved the same degree of engagement in our region that still benefits Australia today, Albanese said. Bob Hawke, Jim McClelland, Bill Hayden and Gough Whitlam in the grounds of the Lodge on November 12, 1975, the day after Whitlams dismissal. William George (Bill) Hayden was born into the end of Great Depression on January 23, 1933, one of four children of George Hayden, then 52, and his wife, Violet (formerly Quinn), a young widow. Bill Hayden spent seven years as a policeman, a role credited for his insights into domestic violence. Credit: The family experienced hardship and poverty, and Haydens first year of life was spent with his family in a boarding house. Young BiIl Hayden completed high school in Brisbane in 1949, aged 16, thanks to winning a scholarship. He joined the Queensland Police Force in 1953 a move that saw him refused membership of the Communist Party of Australia, though in his much later years his views became progressively more conservative. Albanese attributed Haydens police experiences to one of his major social reforms. As a former police officer who understood that poverty too often trapped women in violent relationships, Bill introduced Australias first single mothers pension, Albanese said. Albanese said that through all the ups and downs of Haydens career, Bill Hayden never lost his sense of humour. Crucially, he never lost his faith in our partys capacity to change the country for the better, he never doubted Australias ability to make a difference in the world and the work he did in the service of these causes will never be forgotten, the prime minister said. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten described Hayden as a Labor giant who believed in a classless welfare system in which anyone who needed government payments was not stigmatised. Police are calling on the public for information about the suspicious death of an elderly Queensland man on Friday night. Emergency services were called to The Esplanade at Torquay, near Hervey Bay, on Friday night following reports of an assault. Paramedics were unable to revive the 75-year-old man, who died with serious injuries. Crews found an unresponsive 75-year-old with serious injuries. They tried to revive the man but he was declared dead at the scene. Police, who established a crime scene, asked anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or may have relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to report it to Crime Stoppers. 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. Mr Sowadas daughter Karin attended the auction and said while the result was outstanding, it was bittersweet. We were thrilled with the price, but money doesnt replace the memories of growing up in that house, she said. Ray White auctioneer James Hayashi at the Bronte sell-off. Credit: Peter Rae My mother was pregnant with me when they moved in, and that home has been such a rock for us. It was in the late 1960s that my dad built a dark room under the house, so photography was a big part of our lives. And when dad worked his magic in that room, we would stand beside him and he would talk about his photography and share stories about his journey to Australia via northern Africa. It was one of 764 auctions scheduled in Sydney on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 67.7 per cent from 495 reported results, while 108 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. Elsewhere, on an elevated block at Malabar, an old two-bedroom coastal cottage bound for the bulldozers at 136 Prince Edward Street fetched $5.1 million after a local man outbid five developers. Co-selling agent Ken Smith, of NGFarah, said the 613.4-square-metre block was $600,000 over the reserve, which was a suburb record for land value. The auction started with a developer bid of $4.3 million, then bids rose in $50,000 and then $25,000 increments before the buyer threw down $100,000 to clear out the competition. That took the price to $4.9 million and it left just two bidders, Mr Smith said. Loading It was an incredible result and its probably one of the best auctions Ive done all year. We had a big crowd there and you couldnt even move in the street. Mr Smith said the cottage had belonged to the same family for well over 60 years, and the new owner plans to knock it down and build his dream home. I actually sold the home next door to this one 28 years ago for what was then a record price of $680,000, Mr Smith said. Over at 31 Morshead Street in North Ryde a first home buyer paid $2.5 million for a four-bedroom duplex on a 352-square-metre semi-detached block. Selling agent Damian Kennedy of McGrath Ryde said the young woman paid $200,000 over the reserve and beat out three other active bidders, of which most were young families. She only inspected the home on Wednesday, and she just fell in love with the place, he said. She even started the bidding at $2.18 million which was quite strong considering our price guide was $2.1 million. From there, Mr Kennedy said bidding rose to $2.2 million and then $2,225,000, and a flurry of smaller bids brought the price to $2.45 million. Loading We thought it would stop there and the auctioneer began to call it and told the bidders it was now or never. That sparked the final two bidders to battle it out until the end, he said. The vendors have had that home since 2016 and they were just over the moon, they couldnt believe the result. Mr Kennedy said their agency had sold a nearby, similar duplex just two months ago for $2,285,000 which showed how much buyer sentiment had recently strengthened. There still isnt the flood of stock we were expecting to get, he said. A three-bedroom brick home at 29 Penrose Street in Lane Cove also fetched a strong sum at auction after a couple, who had been living with their children, paid $1.82 million after only joining the auction at the end. Selling agent Tim Holgate, of Belle Property Lane Cove, said a young couple kicked the bidding off at $1.48 million, with $50,000, then $20,000 bids thrown down until it slowed to $1000 increases. It was then that the buyers plated up a $20,000 bid to secure the single-level home. 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. People in Gaza celebrate in the streets after the cease-fire announcement. (Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) Starting Thursday, Israel's Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and military commanders hinted at a "soon-to-come" ground offensive in Gaza. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Gantz unveiled a three-phase plan for military operations in Gaza. That same day, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees received a notice from Israel to evacuate five of its schools in Gaza. These signals all point to an impending intensified ground assault. However, U.S. media reports suggest that both the U.S. and Europe are pressuring Israel to delay its ground offensive in Gaza, allowing time for Qatar to negotiate with Hamas over hostages. Later on Friday, Hamas released an American mother and daughter, the first hostages to be freed since the onset of this conflict. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 5,800 casualties on both sides. In an effort to prevent further escalation, Egypt plans to convene a peace summit on Saturday, urging both parties in the Gaza conflict to cease fire. Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE will attend, but invited European Union nations are divided on participation. While the EU officially supports Israel, emphasizing its right to self-defense, media leaks reveal that over 800 EU staff and diplomats have co-signed a letter criticizing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her "blind" support of Israel. Similarly, U.S. State Department staff are drafting a "dissent cable" to protest the Biden administration's stance on the Gaza conflict. Hostages Released by Hamas On Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the arrival of two hostages released by Hamas. The freed individuals, a mother and daughter from Chicago, were abducted by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7. A spokesperson for Hamas stated that the hostages were released for humanitarian reasons after mediation by Qatar, aiming to prove to Americans and the world that the Biden administration's accusations against Hamas are unfounded. After several days of negotiations, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the hostages were handed over to the International Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Qatar will continue dialogues with Israel and Hamas to seek the release of "all civilian hostages" from every nation, with the ultimate goal of restoring peace in Gaza. Israel estimates that Hamas has abducted at least 203 individuals during its early-month raids, including citizens from the U.S., UK, and France. Among them, over 20 are young people and children, and 10 to 20 are seniors over 60. Bloomberg, citing insiders, reported that the U.S. and European governments are pressuring Israel to delay its ground offensive in Gaza to buy time for the release of more hostages by Hamas. Israel's Combat Plan On Friday, during a meeting of Israel's parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Defense Minister Gantz disclosed Israel's combat plan against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Gantz clarified that the military operation aims to eliminate Hamas by targeting its military and governance capabilities. The operation is divided into three phases. The first phase involves airstrikes, followed by a ground offensive to eradicate armed forces and infrastructure, thereby defeating Hamas. Israel is currently in the first, and most intense, phase of the operation. The second phase will continue the combat at a reduced intensity to clear out scattered resistance. The third phase will establish new "security mechanisms" in the Gaza Strip, with Israel no longer responsible for its daily operations, creating a safer environment for Israelis and residents around Gaza. Internal Disagreements in the West As Israel's ground offensive in Gaza looms, Egypt plans to host a peace summit on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire from both sides. Leaders from major Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will attend the summit. However, Israel's main ally, the U.S., and Hamas supporter Iran will not participate. Regarding participation, European leaders have expressed varying stances. Leaders from Italy, Greece, and Cyprus will attend, along with European Council President Charles Michel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. French President Macron has yet to confirm attendance, the UK is sending Foreign Secretary Liz Truss instead of Prime Minister Sunak, and German Chancellor Scholz and European Commission President von der Leyen will be absent. Some European leaders are hesitant due to the draft declaration of the Egyptian peace summit, which calls for a ceasefire without mentioning Israel's right to self-defense or specifically criticizing Hamas. This week, the UN Security Council voted on a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. vetoed the resolution, criticizing it for not mentioning Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution, which also condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel, received affirmative votes from countries like France, UAE, and Switzerland, while the UK abstained. Despite the EU's official stance supporting Israel, divergent voices are emerging within European nations. Spain's Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra Urteaga, participated in a Madrid street protest, calling for Israel to halt its attacks on Palestinians. On Wednesday, Urteaga called for Spain to sever diplomatic ties with Israel in protest against what she termed Israel's "genocide" against Palestinians. She urged the Spanish government to initiate discussions within the EU to economically sanction parties committing "genocide." Within the U.S. government, similar sentiments are arising. An anonymous official told the Huffington Post that morale within the State Department is low due to the U.S. government's stance on the Gaza conflict. Staff and diplomats are preparing a "dissent cable" to protest U.S. actions regarding Gaza through internal channels. After the release of the two American hostages, Netanyahu stated that Israel will continue its efforts to free all hostages, "while we will continue to fight until victory." Israel's Future Plans for Gaza Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel and Egypt have maintained a long-term blockade. Israel controls Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, has erected a barrier wall on land, and controls the movement of people and goods through land crossings. Before the current conflict, only two of the original six land crossings between Israel and Gaza were operational. A limited number of Palestinians from Gaza could enter Israel for work in specified industries like construction and agriculture. Before 2010, Israel prohibited the entry of construction materials, industrial raw materials, infrastructure materials, and "luxury goods" like toys and chocolates into Gaza. Until the onset of this conflict, Gaza had only one power plant. While restricting Gaza's development of its energy infrastructure, Israel provides electricity and water to Gaza as a means of control. An Israeli official revealed in an interview with British media that as part of the third phase of Gantz's plan, land crossings between Israel and Gaza will no longer be open, and Gaza residents will no longer be allowed to work in Israel. Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter also suggested that after all combat ends, Israel could establish a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip to prevent Gaza residents from approaching the Israeli border. Insiders revealed that U.S. and Israeli officials are discussing future plans for Gaza, including establishing a transitional government supported by the UN and Arab nations. Israel's main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has proposed allowing the Palestinian Authority to regain control of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority currently controls the West Bank, but its control is limited due to the presence of various armed groups. Regardless of Gaza's future structure, Israel's current goal is to eliminate Hamas. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists and amassed Merkava main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and 300,000 soldiers along the Gaza border. After Biden's visit to Israel, Israel continued its intense airstrikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas strongholds and tunnel networks. On Thursday night, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza was damaged in an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of 16 Palestinians. At the time, at least 500 people were seeking refuge in the church. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society received a warning from the Israeli Air Force on Friday to evacuate the Holy City Hospital in Gaza. As of Saturday, the current conflict has resulted in the deaths of 4,385 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, with another 14,000 injured. On the Israeli side, 1,400 have died, with 4,834 injured. There has been an almost two-fold rise in the number of Indian weddings that took place across various star-category properties located across Oman this year, compared to the corresponding period last year, officials said. A representative of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman said Omani officials began communicating with Indian wedding planners many years ago to promote the Sultanate as a potential location for Indian couples looking to experience the warmth and beauty of the country as a wedding destination. Oman is closer and has better airline connectivity to India than other preferred destinations by Indian couples. It is also the perfect location for visitors coming from Europe and other parts of the world to attend Indian weddings, says Arjun Chadha, Country Manager India, Buzz Travel Tourism. Salalah, with its natural topography, global hospitality brands and seamless infrastructure, is among the most sought-after destinations perfectly suited for unique weddings, Chadha told PTI in Muscat. Among the coveted wedding locations are Alila Jabal Akhdar, nestled in one of the region's highest mountains, and Alila Hinu Bay, a beach property. They offer an awe-inspiring romantic backdrop in terms of nature. Alila Hinu Bay, a 45-minute drive from Salalah airport, offers its guests a true Arabian Nights' experience in the old coastal town of Mirbat. Hanadi Jawhari, marketing and communication manager of Alila Hinu Bay said, With its sophisticated design, the property carries a heavy influence of Omani architecture paired with its minimalist aesthetics that perfectly blend with the local climate and culture, including the spectacular Omani archway corridor creating a regal feel. "Many couples choose Oman for their wedding as it is a unique destination that offers warm hospitality and luxury that matches the Indian taste," she said. Puneet Singh, General Manager of Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort said, Jabal Akhdar caters to two main sets of clientele. During winter, which spans from September to April, we welcome European guests who typically spend a few days in Muscat, a day in the desert, and a few days in the mountains. In winter, the weather here is fantastic, making outdoor activities like hiking, exploring trails, and engaging in our signature activity, via Ferrata, very popular. Some guests simply unwind, relax, and enjoy our spa, pool, and dining options, Singh said. Also Read Understanding UNESCO World Heritage List, selection and global impact 41 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2023: All you need to know Iran's navy seizes oil tanker with 24 Indian crew members near Oman World Tourism Day 2023: Theme, history, importance, celebration, quotes Jaipur Heritage Mayor Gurjar back in office after court stays suspension Former PM Nawaz Sharif set to return to Pakistan after 4-year exile in UK LIVE: Crew module of Gaganyaan TV-D1 lands safely in Bay of Bengal Single-owner company proprietor not eligible for L1 foreign work visa: US Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop agreement with Saudi Arabia: Biden Biden requests $105 billion from US Congress for aid in Israel, Ukraine Among the many attractions in Oman is Muscat's oldest Muttrah fort, dating back to the 16th century. For the adrenalin-guzzled tourist, there is the option of snorkelling in the colourful coral reefs of the Daymaniyat Islands or camping under the stars in the Sharqiya Sands. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman conducted a four-city roadshow in India this year, starting with Delhi and concluding in Mumbai after similar shows in Jaipur and Kolkata. Chadha said the roadshow got an overwhelming response from the Indian travel trade. Oman's rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and thrilling adventure activities make it an attractive destination for Indian travellers, he said. With the growing interest in offbeat and experiential travel, Oman offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity that captivates the hearts of our travellers, he said. Wisps of frankincense smoke wafted through the bazaar as one plunged through the crowded Mutrah Souq of Muscat. The Frankincense is an integral part of Oman's culture and heritage. This aromatic resin is mostly used in incense and perfume and obtained from the bark of Boswellia genus trees. The Museum of the Land of Frankincense at Al Baleed in Salalah borders the ruins of Al Baleed Archaeological Park. Visitors can discover how trade with Frankincense and maritime strength ensured that the region flourished in the 12th century. The US has imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, the State Department said. In the designation, the US State Department said on Friday that the sanctions were being imposed as part of the global nonproliferation regime. "Today, we are designating three entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These three entities, based in the People's Republic of China (PRC), have worked to supply missile-applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme," the State Department said in a statement. China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has been the main supplier of arms and defence equipment to Islamabad's military modernisation programme. The three companies include General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. They were sanctioned for having engaged or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan. General Technology Limited has worked to supply brazing materials, which are used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines, and in the production of combustion chambers. Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd. has worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid propellant rocket motors and can be controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. has worked since 2019 to supply D-glass glass fibre, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth, all of which have applications in missile systems. Today's actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to act against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Also Read Pro Kabaddi League announces new dates for PKL 2023 auction; check dates Iran slaps 'retaliatory' sanctions on EU, British individuals, entities Iran blames US sanctions for causing environment, health problems Japan gets ready to shoot down North Korea spy satellite debris Pro Kabaddi auction 2023: Full list of retained players by all 12 PKL teams UNSC facing 'crisis of credibility,' says India in renewed call for reform Here's why Oman emerging as new choice for Indian destination weddings Former PM Nawaz Sharif set to return to Pakistan after 4-year exile in UK LIVE: Crew module of Gaganyaan TV-D1 lands safely in Bay of Bengal Single-owner company proprietor not eligible for L1 foreign work visa: US The United States is committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime by taking action to disrupt procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern, the US said. The sanctions come days after Pakistan conducted the launch of the Ababeel ballistic missile system. Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL) made detailed presentations on the activities proposed in the fair. Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal lauded industry bodies of the textile sector for their initiative in organising Bharat Tex 2024- the largest-ever textiles event. He was presiding over the curtain raiser event for the show at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi. Speaking at the event Shri Goyal emphasized that Bharat Tex 2024 Expo is not just an event but a testament to India's commitment to becoming a global textile powerhouse. With innovation, collaboration, and the Make in India spirit at its core, this expo is the embodiment of our 5F vision - Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, making products not just for India but for the entire world, he added. He also hoped that the marquee event, Bharat Tex 2024 Expo would propel the industry's growth and showcase India's potential as a mature, competitive global sourcing destination in the global textile industry. The Minister also launched the fair logo, website and video at the event. He urged the industry to use this event to highlight Indias global strengths, its sustainability initiatives as well as its strengths across the value chain.The marquee event Bharat Tex 2024 is scheduled to be held from 26-29 February 2024 at state-of-the-art, world-class iconic destinations Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan and Yashobhoomi at IICC, Dwarka, New Delhi. Over 2,00,000 sqm exhibition area be utilised for organising this magnificent textile event.Bharat Tex 2024 is envisaged to be the biggest textile event at the global level, with exhibitors and buyers from over 40 countries. Bharat Tex 2024 would be a comprehensive showcase of the entire textile industry value chain, from India's rich cultural heritage and textile traditions to the latest technological innovations. With over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors from 40 countries, this mega event would include knowledge sessions, seminars and conferences, CEO roundtables, B2B & G2G meetings, besides strategic investment announcements, product launches and collaborations that would redefine the textile industry on a global scale. Live demonstrations, cultural events, and fashion presentations will provide an exceptionally creative and engaging environment, providing insights into the realms of textile, fashion, sustainability, and style originating from the heart of India. Designer, as well as brand exhibitions, fashion shows, sustainability workshops and expert talks, shall be the other highlights of the event. Bharat Tex 2024 is being planned as a consolidated and unique platform to position and showcase Indias entire textile value chain and also highlight strengths in fashion, traditional crafts and sustainability initiatives.Bharat Tex 2024 would not be just an exhibition, but an immersive experience. The expo will be a unique platform to bring together leading players from the Indian and Global textiles sector, besides highlighting the numerous existing and emerging opportunities, robust infrastructure, attractive incentives, and other benefits available in India for global investors and buyers. It would also represent a unique platform for global investors and buyers to explore India's strengths as a global manufacturer and consumer market.The event is an industry-led initiative and is proposed to be organised jointly by the 11 Textile-related Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and other industry bodies. Shri Naren Goenka, Chairman Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Shri Bhadresh Dodhia, ChairmanThe curtain raiser event was attended by industry associations, textile sector industry leaders besides senior officers from the ministries.More information about Bharat Tex 2024 Expo is available at www.bharat-tex.com The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has begun accepting online applications for the January 2024 CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test) examinations. For the ICSI CSEET exams in January 2024, candidates can register online at icsi.edu or from the ICSI Smash Portal at smash.icsi.edu. On January 6, 2024, the CSEET January 2024 exams are expected to take place. Students must register for the ICSI CSEET tests in January 2024 by providing basic information, such as their names and educational backgrounds, paying the registration fee, and uploading any necessary papers. The CSEET 2024 January exam application deadline is December 15. To apply for the CSEET exam in January 2024, students must have passed the Class 12 exams or be scheduled to take them. Candidates who are ICSI foundation, ICAI, or ICMAI final qualified are excluded from taking the CSEET. They are qualified to enroll directly in the CS Executive program. Additionally, postgraduate students and graduates with a minimum GPA of 50% are qualified for direct admission to CS Executive programs. How to Apply for ICSI CSEET 2024 Step 1: Go to icsi.edu, the official ICSI website. Step 2: Click on CSEET 2024 registration under Online Services on the Home Page. Step 3: Select "Proceed" in the following box. Step 4: Complete the CSEET January 2024 application's details. Step 5: Review the ICSI CSEET 2024 application form and submit it. Step 6: Pay the CSEET 2024 application fee Step 7: Save the ICSI application on your computer for later use. Candidates will also need to provide specific papers while applying for the ICSI CSEET 2024, such as Class 10 pass certificates that serve as proof of dates of birth, Class 12 pass certificates, category certificates that qualify them for fee exemptions, identity documents, and scanned copies of their photos and signatures. IndiaSkills 2023-24 was recently introduced by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who also recognized the champions of the World Skills Competition (WSC) 2022. IndiaSkills 2023-24: What is it? About IndiaSkills 2023-24 is a competition for skill development that intends to encourage and improve the talents of people in a variety of fields, preparing them for regional, national, and international skill competitions. The WorldSkills competition is preceded by the IndiaSkills event. Participants who perform well at the national level of IndiaSkills will compete in WorldSkills on a global scale. Objectives Promotion of Employable Skills: The program emphasizes the significance of creating Employable Skills that are in line with Market Needs, boosting the acceptance of the workforce within the Industry. Addressing Skill Gaps: It tries to reduce the gap between degrees obtained and practical skills acquired by putting an emphasis on the mapping of skills required in the business. Integration of competences and Knowledge: To equip people to lead successfully in the 21st century, equal focus is placed on competences, applied knowledge, and hands-on training. What is the World Skills Competition? About Every two years, 86 member nations participate in the WorldSkills Competition, which is run by WorldSkills International. These contests provide an objective way to assess professional brilliance and act as a barometer for high performance. India's WSC 2022 Performance India competed in 50 talents and earned its highest-ever ranking, 11th place, with two silver medals, three bronze medals, and thirteen medallions. A wide variety of abilities, including hotel receptionist, mechatronics, mobile robotics, water technology, bakery, online technologies, and more, were included in the participation. Through the IndiaSkills Competition 2021, contestants from India were chosen, and they received training from WorldSkills India trainers and experts. Here is a quiz on IndiaSkills 2023-24 which will help you in all competitive exams: 1. Which Union Minister officially introduced IndiaSkills 2023-24 at New Delhi? (a) Anurag Thakur (b) Smriti Irani (c) RK Singh (d) Dharmendra Pradhan 2. What proportion of the Union Cabinet's approval of the dearness allowance rise for central government employees? (a) 4 Percent (b) 5 Percent (c) 6 Percent (d) 7 Percent 3. Who launched Apna Chandrayaan, an activity-based website portal, on Chandrayaan-3? (a) Narendra Modi (b) Dharmendra Pradhan (c) S. Somnath (d) S Jaishankar 4. Who is the first Telugu actor to win the Best Actor award at the National Film Awards 2023? (a) Nagarjuna (b) Vijay Deverakonda (c) Allu Arjun (d) Mahesh Babu 5. This year's "Ayurveda Day" will be held on what theme? (a) 'Ayurveda for One Health' (b) 'Ayurveda for Health' (c) 'Health and Ayurveda' (d) 'One Health One Ayurveda' 6. The minimum support price of wheat for the 2024-25 season has been raised by how many rupees, according to the Central Government? (a) Rs 150 (b) Rs 300 (c) Rs 400 (d) Rs 500 7. Who launched the fourth agriculture road map (2023-2028) in Bihar? (a) Draupadi Murmu (b) Nitish Kumar (c) Amit Shah (d) Rajnath Singh Answer 1. (d) Dharmendra Pradhan In addition to launching IndiaSkills 2023-24 in New Delhi, Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan also recognized the World Skills 2022 competition winners. In the international competition, India has earned the 11th spot. The World Skills Competition, which takes place every two years, is the biggest skills competition in the world. It is run by WorldSkills International, an organization with 86 member nations. (2) 4 percent The Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees will increase by 4%, while pensioners will receive dearness relief. Anurag Thakur, the minister of information and broadcasting, announced that it would go into effect on July 1 of this year. 67.95 lakh pensioners and 48.67 lakh central government employees will profit from this move. 3. (b) Dharmendra Pradhan Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, officially launched the website "Apna Chandrayaan" in New Delhi. There is a quiz about Mission Chandrayaan-3 that is available for pupils in schools. It was produced by NCERT. In addition, the Union Minister issued 10 unique Chandrayaan-3 modules. 4. (c) Allu Arjun Veteran actor Allu Arjun won the Best Actor prize at the 2023 National Film Awards. This honor was granted to Allu Arjun for the critically acclaimed movie Pushpa. In addition, Allu Arjun is the first Telugu actor to take home the National Film Awards' Best Actor trophy. The movie "Sardar Udham Singh'" has won the prize for best Hindi film. 5. (a) 'Ayurveda for One Health' 'Ayurveda Day' will be celebrated this year in 100 different nations. This year's celebration of this day will center on the idea of "Ayurveda for One Health." The Ministry of AYUSH will work with all other ministries in the nation to make this day a success. 6. (a) Rs 150 For the 2024-25 marketing season, the national government raised the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat by Rs 150 to Rs 2,275 per quintal. The minimum support price for wheat has increased by the most since 2014. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Modi, reached this resolution. 7. (a) Draupadi Murmu President Draupadi Murmu has introduced the fourth agriculture road map (2023-2028) in Bihar. The President stated that agriculture plays a significant role in Bihar's folk culture on this particular occasion. The economic foundation of Bihar is this. Since 2008, the Bihar government has been carrying out the agriculture road map. Nitish Kumar is now the Chief Minister of Bihar. Photo: The Canadian Press International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen The Canadian government announced today it will provide an additional $50 million for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring areas. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen issued a statement saying the government will ensure none of the money goes to Hamas, the militant group that launched a series of terror attacks on Israel two weeks ago. Hussen said the money will be used to provide the Palestinian population with food, water, medical assistance, protection services and other life-saving aid. The new funding is in addition to $10 million Canada committed last week for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Hussen made the announcement from Cairo, Egypt, where he is attending a peace summit with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly. In an earlier joint statement, the ministers said they plan to reiterate Canadas condemnation of the attacks while also highlighting Canada's concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is home to two million people. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest A woman's vehicle was reported damaged on S. Willow Street. A man, who said he was the fiance of the vehicle's owner, told police he believes someone set the vehicle on fire. H said the woman's daughter and her friend were in possession of the vehicle when it caught fire. He told police his fiance is in the hospital; however she wants to press charges if it is discovered the vehicle had been purposely lit on fire. * * * Police were flagged down at 740 E 12th St. by a man who said that someone on the bus had stolen his bag of clothes. Police met with the bus driver, who said the man had already been through all of the cargo compartments and was unable to locate his clothing. The man admitted that he possibly could have set the bag down outside of the bus and it may have been taken from the street. * * * A man on Union Avenue told police that at some time his vehicle's catalytic converter was stolen. There is no suspect information available. * * * A disorder prevention was requested on Central Drive. A woman told police she needed to get a few belongings out of her ex boyfriend's house. She said she would like to have police around, due to a previous disorder between her and a neighbor. The neighbor was seen for a brief moment taking in groceries; however, no words were spoken between the two. The woman was able to grab all of her belongings without incident. * * * Police observed a vehicle with window tint on the front windshield on Arlington Avenue/Robbins Street. The vehicle owner said that she bought the vehicle "as-is." Police informed her that it was still not permitted per Tennessee Law. The woman was given a verbal warning. * * * A woman told police while traveling south on Highway 153 coming off of Access Road, a gray Ford Escape with TN tag (given to police) was also traveling south on Highway 153. The woman said she merged in the lane in front of the Ford Escape and proceeded south. She said the Ford Escape passed her at a high rate of speed, then slammed on their brakes, then sped up again. She said when she got over into the other lane to pass the vehicle on the driver's side, the driver showed her a firearm. She said the driver was a white male and the passenger was a white female. The woman pulled off at the next exit, then called police. * * * A man on Grove Street Court at College Hill Courts told police he wished for them to ask several people to leave his apartment. He said he had allowed them to stay in the apartment, but now wished for them to leave. Police asked all of them to depart, but gave them time to gather their belongings. * * * An employee at Academy Sports, 2220 Hamilton Place Blvd., told police he noticed a white male wearing a white tank top and blue jeans walk out of the store wearing some boots he had not purchased. The boots were black Wolverines and cost $79.99. He said the man left in a green Toyota with GA drive-out tag. The vehicle made a left out of the parking lot and headed towards the highway. There is no other information on the man. * * * An anonymous caller inside of American Wings, 4011 Brainerd Road, told police an employee was just fired and was "cussing out" other employees inside American Wings. Police arrived and spoke with a manager, who said that the ex-employee was cussing her out and causing a disorder inside of the store after being terminated. She said that the employee was supposed to receive her last tip and leave the building. The two settled with each other and the ex-employee left the business without incident. * * * A woman on Gillespie Road told police a man there was out of control and needed to leave. She said that he was yelling and cussing everyone inside the home as well. Police spoke to the man and he said that the woman is always provoking him and he gets upset because he gets tired of it. The man was very loud and angry when police spoke with him at first, but eventually came to a talking level, after some time. He said he has lived at this address for approximately a year and has paid bills in the past, so police could not make him leave, but the two of them agreed to leave each other be for the rest of the night and let things cool down. * * * Security at Northgate Mall approached a man sleeping on a bench in front of the mall and told him to move along. They called police because the man got mouthy, and they wanted to make sure he got off the property, at least for the day. Police spoke with the homeless man and asked him to leave. He told police he was waiting on the bus and security got mad at him and yelled at him. The man did leave the property as asked, without further incident. * * * A woman on Campbell Street told police someone was actively kicking in the door to her apartment. Police found the front door secured, with no obvious damage. Police did not observe any kick or strike marks on the front door consistent with an attempted break in. The woman did show police the door frame on the inside of the residence had been broken in. She stated she did not see the damage occur, but assured police it was not damaged prior to the incident. Police inspected both the dead bolt and the door handle lock. Both were undamaged and the door was able to lock securely. She said during the incident, the door was locked and secured. Due to her statements being inconsistent with police findings, as well as a lack of suspect information, police cannot consider this an attempted break-in. Police instructed her to call back if she is able to provide further information. A neighbor from across the hall from her apartment informed police that she has a motion sensing camera that did not pick up any activity prior to police arrival. The Lee University School of Music will welcome the quartet enhake to present a concert and masterclass for this seasons Performing Arts Series. The concert will take place on Monday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall, and the masterclass will take place earlier that day at 5:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall. The performance, Lhistoire du tango, will feature selections from Angel Villoldo, Rosita Melo, Rodolfo Biagi, Astor Piazzolla, Sonia Possetti, and John Mackey. enhake has distinguished itself as a group with adventurous programming and performances with startling intensity. The groups name is from the Seminole (Creek) word for sound or call, and enhakes distinct sound allows it to be flexible with its repertoire, performing music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras in addition to contemporary masterworks. The quartet includes Katherine Decker, cello; Wonkak Kim, clarinet; Eun-Hee Park, piano; and M. Brent Williams, violin. They have toured on three continents and in some of the worlds biggest venues, such as Carnegie Hall, South Koreas Young-San Arts Hall, and the OK Mozart Festival. The group has had works written and dedicated to it by many famous composers including Libby Larsen, Peter Lieuwen, and Edward Knight. enhake has produced several CDs for the MSR, Naxos, and Emeritus labels, and these can be heard on NPR stations across the United States, Sirius XM, and public radio in Korea. enhake will be joined by Lee Universitys own professor of clarinet, Dr. Amy Humberd, for the concert. Dr. Humberd has appeared throughout the U.S. and Europe as a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician. She is a founding member of the Civitasolis Reed Quintet, a group dedicated to innovative performances and new music. She has presented at several national and international conferences, including the International Clarinet Associations ClarinetFest and the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 6 Conference in 2021 and the American Single Reed Summit in 2019. Dr. Humberd earned her Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Florida State University and a Master of Music and performers Diploma in clarinet performance from Indiana Universitys prestigious Jacobs School of Music. She also has a Bachelor of Music in music education and her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Lee University. The performance is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. For those unable to attend in person, livestream viewing will be available at https://leeu.live/. For more information about enhake, visit their website at https://enhake.org/. For more information about PAS or Lees School of Music, visit https://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/music/ or call 614-8240. County Mayor Weston Wamp, in a speech Friday, said he did not understand how the man charged with murdering Chris Wright was cleared to live in the public, urban setting of Patten Towers. He told members of the Civitan Club that Darryl Roberts had been arrested 66 times and never served longer than six months in jail. He also had a criminal record in North Georgia. There were no doubt failings at multiple levels, he said. He said of the 1,100 people in the county jail Friday, 594 have been arrested 10 or more times and more than 100 have been arrested more than 40 times. Its uncomfortable to know there are a lot of people in our community with big criminal records like Too Tall, County Mayor Wamp said. He said that Chattanoogas high violent crime rates are not necessarily in shared spaces like downtown or the Hamilton Place Mall area. He held that the fatal shooting of Chris Wright outside Patten Towers was abnormal, but hes increasing police patrols in shared spaces to calm impressions of insecurity. Perception is reality, he said. The county mayor said most county inmates serve 11 months and 29 days and need a better reentry program which will provide the single greatest return on investment by aiding the road to a productive future. He said he will bolster the prisoner reentry program with career-training programs in the fields of cosmetology, electrical, carpentry and welding. On another topic, County Mayor Wamp listed his support for relocating Moccasin Bend Hospital. He advocated relocating the state mental facility off the Moccasin Bend peninsula, relocate other nonconforming uses of the archeological site and turn the historical land over fully to the National Parks Service. He said it should become a Central Park-scale public park. County Mayor Weston Wamps strongest sentiment one year into his term is Chattanoogas need for what he called an entrepreneur renaissance. County Mayor Wamp spoke to the Civitan Club Friday at Adelles Creperie. He pledged to incent entrepreneurship, Chattanooga-based business ownership that employs neighbors and impacts over generations, he said. If theres one thing on which he and city of Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly can work together, its passion for entrepreneurship, he said. Economic incentives to bring in big developers or corporate giants, and the growth that comes with them, have their place, he said, but the county mayor wants to revive family businesses that anchor the city and become philanthropic legacies. He named the Lupton, McKee, Guerry, Maclellan and Patten families who established Coca-Cola bottling, Little Debbie bakery, Provident Insurance and Chattem and went on to support the local community in grassroots and homegrown ways. County Mayor Wamps modern model is the story of Access America Transport. The truck and railroad shipping company was founded in 2002 by Ted Alling in his early 20s. It logged sales in the hundreds of millions 10 years later, and in 2015 the Allings backed the founding of Chattanooga Preparatory School, the most ambitious experiment in Chattanooga, County Mayor Wamp said. The all-boys public charter school opened in Highland Park downtown in 2018. County Mayor Wamp seemed to challenge the local logistics industry to step forward again in entrepreneurship. Of cities nationwide, he said, Chattanooga has the highest percentage of its population working in the logistics sector, which he tied to Moccasin Bends place as a crossroads for trade and commerce for all human history. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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 Every day, thousands of kind-hearted people step up to care for animals in need. A couple from Canada is among one of those people, and they shared the story of how they came to rescue their dog, Ringo. According to a TikTok video uploaded by @iamchrisjames, Chris and Tatyana traveled to Italy for a vacation in September of 2022. While visiting a small town, they noticed a dog locked in a cage. At the time, they were unable to provide a home for the dog themselves because they had recently rescued three kittens they found on the side of the road and were due to head back to Canada. So, the couple informed a local animal rescue organization about the situation. A year later, they returned to the same location and discovered that the dog was still in the cage. They visited him daily to provide him with food and water and tried to find the dogs owners. When they reached out to the police, they were told that there was nothing authorities could do because the dog had most likely been abandoned. Days later, they finally managed to get him out of the cage. In the video, the dog appeared malnourished, and his fur was dirty and unkempt from sleeping in his own waste. The couple brought him straight to the vet, where they ran blood tests and examined the dog for a microchip, which he didnt have. After the vet, they went to a dog groomer, and he was able to have his first bath. The rest of the video documented the dog, who they named Ringo, having the time of his life going on adventures with them. Ringo transformed from an underfed, neglected animal to a happy, healthy dog with a brushed and clean coat. In the video, he can be seen sniffing the ground on a beach, sticking his head out of a car window, and listening to a guitar being played. Chris and Tatyana took him all over Italy, showing him as many places as possible. When their vacation was over, they brought him back to Canada with them after completing all the necessary paperwork. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. There are people who might be surprised to learn that quite a few older adults have broken some impressive world records, proving that age is just a number and its never too late to do something extraordinary. Recently, a 104-year-old woman from Chicago named Dorothy Hoffner set the Guinness World Record for becoming the oldest person to go skydiving. She broke the previous record for the oldest tandem parachute jump that was set last year in Sweden by a 103-year-old. Hoffner was born in 1918 and has experienced many major events in her lifetime, including her first skydiving attempt at the age of 100. Thats right, Hoffner has gone skydiving before, and sometime last spring, she decided that she wanted to experience the feeling of parachuting from a plane once again. So, on October 1, she was driven from her home at the Brookdale Senior Living Center in Chicago to a skydiving center. At first, she was not aware of the fact that she would be partaking in a record-breaking jump, but after Joe Conant, a caregiver at Brookdale and the person who introduced Hoffner to skydiving, looked into it, he invited Guinness World Record officials to attend. Footage of her skydive quickly drew the attention of media outlets across the nation, with reporters contacting her around the clock. When asked in an interview if she had been nervous at all, she claimed that there was nothing scary about it. She described the fall through the air as smooth, nice, and peaceful. About one week later, on October 9, Hoffner passed away. Her death came as quite a shock to those she was close with at Brookdale. Even at her advanced age, she remained active, continuing to engage in physical exercise and meeting new people. Hoffner was known as a warm and curious individual. According to Conant, she made the perfect dinner guest because of her compelling stories involving weekend trips across the country and adventures in Mexico and Germany. She was well-liked by the people at the senior living facility and referred to the caregivers there as her children and grandchildren. Hoffner never married or had children of her own, which she said allowed her to have more freedom. She spent her entire life in Chicago. She worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Co. and made 25 cents an hour when she first started the job. By the time she reached 104, she had spent as much time retired as she had been working. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. 2 American Hamas hostages released in Gaza are mother, teen daughter from Illinois Two American hostages, abducted by Hamas earlier this month, have been released, the Israel prime minister's office and White House announced. At least 10 Americans remain unaccounted for after the terror group's Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie, 17, were visiting southern Israel when they were kidnapped by Hamas, an Islamic terrorist group based in the Gaza Strip, on Oct. 7. Hamas reportedly abducted around 200 people and killed over 1,400 in the attack. The mother and daughter are said to be the first hostages to be released. The White House said in a statement Friday that the U.S. government, with the help of Qatar and Israel, secured the release of the two hostages but didn't specify how their release was secured. "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 White House statement reads. NBC News reports the hostages are related to the network's former Israel-based correspondent Martin Fletcher and live in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois. They were staying at Nahal Oz, a kibbutz close to the Gaza border, when they were abducted. Hamas confirmed the release in a statement. "A woman and her daughter holding American citizenship were handed over today in Gaza," the statement reads. While officials did not clarify who exactly negotiated the hostages' release, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had helped get them to the Israeli border. "The ICRC continues to call for the immediate release of all hostages. We are ready to visit the remaining hostages and to facilitate any future release following an agreement reached by the parties," the ICRC said in a statement. "While held in captivity, hostages must be allowed to receive humanitarian assistance and medical care. They must be given the opportunity to contact their families. Families separated from their loved ones endure agony no matter what side of the divide they are on. Upon release, the Raanans were received at the Gaza-Israel border by Israeli Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator for the captives and missing. They were then reunited with family at an Israeli military base, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson. During a press conference Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said "there are still 10 Americans that are unaccounted for and we know that at least some of them are being held hostage." "Every single hostage in Gaza has to be released," Blinken said. Uri Raanan, Judith's ex-husband and Natalie's father expressed relief and said he had been losing sleep over their safety. Raanan expects to see his daughter return to the U.S. by her birthday on Oct. 24. The father, who also lives in the Chicago suburbs, told The Associated Press that he spoke with his daughter by phone on Friday and was told that "she's doing very good." "Tonight, I'm going to sleep good," the 71-year-old father was quoted as saying. "[Natalie] sounds good, she looks very good, and she's very happy and she's waiting to come home." He also thanked President Joe Biden and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for their roles in securing the release. The Israeli government is still working to free more than 200 Israeli hostages, including at least 30 minors. It pledged continued efforts to "locate all of the missing and return all of the abductees home." "The Government of Israel, the IDF and the entire security apparatus will continue to do all they can, using any means available, to locate all those missing and bring home all the kidnapped," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Jeremy Bash, former CIA Chief of Staff, told NBC News that Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, is expected to question the Raanans for actionable intelligence. The U.S. and Europe are making efforts to pressure Israel to stall a ground invasion of Gaza to allow more time for hostage negotiations. Several countries, including Qatar, have been pressuring Hamas for the release of the hostages. 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!!"' GOP lawmakers urge Biden admin. to deport foreign nationals who support Hamas Nineteen Republican lawmakers sent a letter Friday demanding the U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security revoke the visas and deport foreign nationals who support Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was spearheaded by House Anti-Woke Caucus Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., according to a statement shared with The Christian Post. "We write to request information regarding the potentially unlawful presence on U.S. soil of non-immigrant foreign nationals who have endorsed terrorist activity," wrote the lawmakers, who noted that visas can be revoked under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) if their holders espouse terrorist activity or endorse a terrorist organization. Hamas has been a designated terrorist organization since 1997. The letter recounted the number of pro-Hamas protests that have roiled multiple college and university campuses since the terrorist group's Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 Israelis including at least 30 Americans. "Foreign students contribute much to our society, but individuals who advocate terrorist violence against civilians are not welcome here," the lawmakers wrote. "If a visa was issued before DHS uncovers evidence of a visa-holder's 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." Noting how 437,018 student F-1 visas and 315,065 exchange visitor J-1 visas were issued during Fiscal Year 2022, the lawmakers urged the secretaries to inform them by Nov. 7 whether they have reason to believe any such non-immigrant visa holders have "endorsed or espoused" support for Hamas. They also asked what steps each department is taking to revoke such visas and initiate deportations. In a statement, Banks warned that the U.S. has "already had a record number of illegal immigrants from terrorist-harboring nations." "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 both anything less betrays America's national security," he added. Duncan said that while the U.S. welcomes individuals worldwide to come to the country legally, "we specifically prohibit visas to anyone who supports terrorist regimes in Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)." "If you 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," Duncan continued. "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." "Hamas has killed Americans and is holding our fellow citizens hostage while visa holders celebrate in our streets. I refuse to sit idly by while terrorist supporters dance on the graves of Americans," the congressman added. The letter echoes a call from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who sent a letter to Mayorkas on Monday urging the deportation of any foreign nationals supporting Hamas, especially those on student visas. "The appalling explosion of anti-Semitism in the United States over the past few weeks should disturb anyone who shares American values," Cotton wrote. "While American citizens may have a First Amendment right to speak disgusting vitriol if they so choose, no foreign national has a right to advocate for terrorism in the United States." Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters on Friday that she supports deporting Hamas sympathizers from the country following a terrorist attack in Brussels earlier this week, according to Reuters. A clarifying moment for the West George Washington, the father of our country, envisioned an America where people of all faiths could enjoy peace. In 1790, he wrote to the synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island: May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. This image from the Bible by our first president was his ideal for the nation as a whole that we can live in peace and safety and not be harassed by our own government. Fast forward to today. Students at George Washington University protested against the children of the Stock of Abraham, as they chose Palestinians over Jews after the barbaric attacks in Israel on October 7th, 2023 a date that will live in infamy. Writing for The Daily Signal of the Heritage Foundation, Mary Margaret Olohon notes: George Washington University students held a Vigil for the Martyrs of Palestine on Tuesday evening where they mourned the Hamas terrorists killed attacking Israel.Organizers encouraged the students to bring posters, flowers, flags, and a mask or keffiyeh (Palestinian headdress) to hide their faces. This rally was held by the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. What is significant about this vigil is that it occurred on the Tuesday night (October 11) after the multiple attacks on Israel on Saturday. And, of course, this protest of solidarity on behalf of the Palestinians was just one of many throughout the country and throughout the West. All of these took place after the horrific attacks of Hamas, including beheading Israeli babies, on October 7th. In Australia, the anti-Jewish protesters actually chanted, Gas the Jews, echoing the Holocaust. Gary Bauer, the founder of American Values, wrote: The National Students for Justice in Palestine celebrated Hamass savagery by declaring the vicious attacks to be a historic win for the Palestinian resistance. The Islamic supremacist group also claimed that 180 of its 230 chapters issued some kind of statement supporting the attack. How does this radical organization, a Hamas front-group, have 230 student chapters across the country? For decades in the West, we have had tens of millions of Americans brainwashed and indoctrinated, even in some of our finest schools, into the notion of moral equivalency, where, supposedly, all things are relative. There are no absolutes. What Hamas does is justified because of what Israel has done earlier. Gary Bauer also notes the pro-Hamas antipathy toward Christianity, These student demonstrators, many of whom shouldnt be in America, also yearn for the day when they can celebrate the destruction of this country and our conquest by Islam. That is, after all, the ultimate goal, according to one top Hamas leader a world dominated by Islam with no Zionism and no treacherous Christianity. But thankfully, there is pushback against the pro-Hamas protesters. About 700 Hollywood stars, usually on the wrong side of every issue, decided to issue a joint statement in support of Israel those experiencing unfathomable levels of fear and violence. Harvard students who had declared for Hamas following the atrocities of October 7th are being denounced by Harvard ex-president Larry Summers and some Harvard donors. Its good to see that not everybody approves of what Hamas did in their surprise attack, killing peaceful citizens, including babies, children, and grandmothers. On Fox News last week, Laura Ingraham highlighted the Hamas Covenant of 1988. She let the viewer read the words on the screen, while refusing to dignify the message by reading them out loud. The Hamas Covenant 1988 includes these words: The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jews will hide behind stones and trees there is a Jew behind me come and kill him. Robert Spencer, director of Jihadwatch.org, told me that that statement comes from the sayings of Mohammed, known as the Hadith (Hadith, Sahih Muslim 6985). Dennis Prager, as Ive noted before, makes an interesting observation about the push to destroy Israel, whether talking about Hamas or any of their fellow travelers. The founder of PragerU said, There are a million hatreds in the world, but theres only one exterminationist hatred, and thats anti-Semitism. Anti-Semites dont dislike Jews. I wish that was all they did, you could live with this. You cant live with people who want to exterminate you. Hamas does not acknowledge Israels right to exist. Exterminationist hatred is the exact opposite of what Jesus declared in Israel 2,000 years ago, to this effect: Do to others as you would have them do unto you for this is a summary of the Law and the Prophets. This is a clarifying moment for the West: Will we call out barbarity for what it is? Brandon Lake, Katy Nichole snag top honors at 2023 Dove Awards; 'Goodness of God' earns 'Song of the Year' NASHVILLE Brandon Lake, Katy Nichole and Blessing Offor won top honors at the 54th annual GMA Dove Awards, while The Goodness of God by Bethel Church worship leader Jenn Johnson earned the Song of the Year award. This years awards, which honor the best in Christian music and media, were held at Lipscombs Allen Arena on Oct. 17 and hosted by Tauren Wells. Lake, who received 11 nominations, snagged the coveted Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year awards, along with Worship Recorded Song of the Year for Gratitude and Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year for Graves, a collaboration with hip-hop artist KB. Nichole, whose breakthrough hit In Jesus Name (God of Possible) set records on Billboards Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts, won New Artist of the Year. She received four nods, more than any other female artist. I felt the presence of God in almost all of the songs that I've put out, the 23-year-old artist told The Christian Post. I don't really like to put things out if I didnt have a personal experience, or I didn't have a personal moment with the Lord. My hope is that my relationship with Jesus will encourage someone else to have a relationship with Jesus. I just always pray that God moves. Offor won Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of The Year for Brighter Days and Short Form Music Video of The Year (Performance) for The Goodness with TobyMac. The artist told CP that whenever he pens a song, he has the goal of leaving an indelible mark on the heart of the listener. Brighter days aren't here yet, but they are going to be. There are going to be brighter days, he said. It's a waiting song; I always want to emphasize that to people. It's not a song about things being perfect. It's a song about holding out hope and believing that they will get better. That is the best truth you can ever share with anybody. They don't have to be perfect now for you to know that it's coming." Johnson, who performed and penned The Goodness of God along with Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram and Brian Johnson, told CP she believes the song resonates with so many because it reminds listeners of Gods presence amid dark times. It brings hope, she said. Other big winners of the night included: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who won "Gospel Worship Album of the Year" for Hymns (Live) and "Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year" for It Is Well; Lecrae for "Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year" for Church Clothes 4; TobyMac for "Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year" for Life After Death; Elevation Worship for Worship Album of the Year for LION: Live From the Loft; and Jason Crabb and Dylan Scott for "Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year" for Good Morning Mercy. Ellie Holcomb, who won "Childrens Recorded Song of the Year" for Sounding Joy, told CP shes passionate about instilling biblical truths in children at a young age. I grew up in the church and I'm so grateful for that. Some of the things that have stuck with me the most from being a kid are the songs that I sang My God is so big/ So strong and so mighty/ There's nothing my God cannot do. I thought, man, could it be possible that I could help start sowing seeds of truth, seeds of love, seeds of hope in little hearts and help little hearts carry around big truths? And that is my hope for all my kids' books, for all my kids' records, and for my music as well." "It's really beautiful, specifically for the children, to help their hearts know the sweetness and the tenderness of God at such a young age, she added. They're so open and ready to receive it. Yes, they teach me all the time about faith. For them to have that at a really young age is a gift for me, and I pray that it will be a gift. The Feature Film of the Year award went to Jesus Revolution, while the hit series following the life of Christ, The Chosen, won Television Series of the Year, a category it won last year as well. Chad Gunderson, one of the producers of The Chosen, told CP that viewers of all backgrounds and religious beliefs are drawn to the authenticity of the series. Obviously, we do our best just to make a good show. And that's what we hear from a lot of the nonbelievers out there that its a cool show, good characters, good writing, good production value and all those types of things. For that alone, we're getting a lot of people." "Within the faith community, we're showing an authentic Jesus, he continued. We're not showing this disconnected, holier-than-thou Jesus. He is the Son of God, and we portray Him as that. Its not like we ever shy away from the deity of Christ. But at the same time, He laughs, He cries, He jokes, and He does things that any man would do. Therefore, the disciples are just drawn to Him. And obviously, that draws our audience in. Performers at the event included Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, for King and Country, Jordin Sparks, Lauren Daigle, Blanca and Jekalyn Carr, Elevation Worship, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and Take 6, and Jason Crabb and Dylan Scott. TobyMac, GRITS, Hulvey and Social Club Misfits also performed. The two-hour awards show was taped in Nashville on Oct. 17 and aired exclusively on TBN and the TBN app three nights later, on Oct. 20, at 8 p.m. ET and again at 10 p.m. ET. 'Spearheading something historic': 'Domino Revival' pastors talk reaching millions, 'seeing fulfillment of prophecy' NEW YORK The new film The Domino Revival shows the trials and tribulations of pastors working in deliverance ministry at a "historic" moment in time when they can "reach the masses" through digital platforms where they encourage viewers to pray, fast and read the Bible. The film will be in theaters nationwide for one day only on Oct. 24 via Fathom Events and features Pastor Mike Signorelli, the founding pastor of V1 Church, along with other well-known revivalists who address the spiritual hunger gripping America, according to the film's synopsis. Isaiah Saldivar, a traveling minister who has 815,000 subscribers on YouTube and 214,000 followers on Instagram, is among the ministers featured in the film. The once self-described staunch atheist, who frequently shares how Jesus pursued him and called him into ministry, says he's seeing revivals breaking out both in person and online where people are sharing their accounts of healing. "For me, revival is when God shows up in a family, in a friend group, at work, at school," Saldivar said in an interview with The Christian Post at the film's premiere in Times Square earlier this month. "One person said revival is when God is tired of being misrepresented, He comes down and represents Himself. That's really what I see. A move of God in America is where God [says], we're going back to the book of Acts. We're gonna see the things Jesus did: preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, casting of demons. ... This is what Joel said, 'All flesh. I'll pour my spirit on all flesh' (Joel 2:28-32). "I was praying today, and I felt like God said, 'This is an all flesh moment. This is not about celebrities. This is about all people every tongue, every tribe, young and old, prophesying, dreams, visions and deliverance. And so, we're just seeing a fulfillment of prophecy, and it's exciting to be living in this time. Saldivar said he traveled for a decade to reach people in person, but through the use of social media, the number of people he can reach has grown exponentially. "It's incredible the amount of people we can reach. If you think about it, everyone's on their phone. Everybody's on social media, he added. I hear people say, 'I watch your videos every day in my living room.' We're going directly into people's living rooms, into people's homes and preaching the most powerful message in human history right to them. It's incredible the power of social media, Saldivar declared. We're reaching literally hundreds of millions of people with the Gospel message in this generation. And we're reaching people that would never step foot in a conventional church; they would never come to our churches, and we're reaching them online." The young adult minister who specializes in teaching deliverance said he and others are hearing people say they were healed during one of their live streams. "So we know God is not bound by time or space ... the fact that someone can be watching live in another country and get healed or delivered because God is everywhere, it's a beautiful thing. "We're not even trying; we're just preaching the Gospel, and people are getting filled with the Holy Spirit from across the world," Saldivar celebrated. "So it's crazy with the advent of social media and technology, the ability to reach the masses. What we're seeing right now in 2023 has never been seen in human history. We've never had this technology, and here we are. So we're going to look back in 50 years and go, 'Whoa, we were spearheading something that was historic." Pastor Alexander Pagani, an apostolic teacher who has a deliverance ministry, said revival remains the same regardless of whether it's digital or in person. "The foundations of revival have remained intact ... the preaching of the Gospel. But what digital does is we can go from one or two days in an event to have every day, non-stop for hours, the author of The Secrets to Generational Cursestold CP. People, they don't have to travel long and far to be part of a revival. They can get it right in their own homes, and it can be sustained. "Digital provides sustainment of God's presence, and I think that's an amazing thing, especially in this day and age, Pagani concluded. Along with Signorelli, Pagani and Saldivar, The Domino Revival features Julie Signorelli, Vlad Savchuk, Stephen and Jenny Weaver, Ryan Lestrange, Jeremiah Johnson, Mark Driscoll, Parker and Jessi Green, Leon Dupreez, Andy Byrd, Jacob Coyne, Shane Winnings, Craig Brown and Jonathan Stamper. Tickets for The Domino Revival on Oct. 24 are now available at Fathom Events. 18:27 | Lima, Oct. 20. Last Thursday, Parliament's Budget and General Account Commission approved the Executive Branch Draft Bill No. 5997, which authorizes supplementary credit worth over S/1.581 billion to finance, exceptionally, the economic reactivation and actions against El Nino Phenomenon, among other measures. The Cabinet member acknowledged that Peru is in a difficult situation. "Without any doubt, this is a recession, I have no doubt; what we want is to get out of this recession thanks to the supplementary credit," Contreras said as he entered Congress facilities to support said initiative. According to him, the supplementary credit is equivalent to a five-point boost to GDP. He added it is a properly-calibrated and fiscally-aligned stimulus, which will enable Peru to come out of recession. "It is what is going to get us out of this difficult context. At no time did we underestimate the situation; it was basically a very academic discussion that we deemed at the time as unnecessary, but the situation (now) is completely difficult ()," he explained. Peru has two major challenges In this sense, Minister Contreras stated that the two current major challenges are: 1. The country's economic reactivation. 2. Preparedness for El Nino Phenomenon. "These are the two central elements of this supplementary credit, which I hope can be approved today so as to make this last effort of the year and move the economy forward," he noted. Fight against poverty Moreover, the minister affirmed that the supplementary credit incorporates concrete measures for social protection and the fight against anemia. "Similarly, it has a very important current spending component, taking into account the execution and (the fact) that there are two months left (for the end of 2023)," he remarked. Evangelical group to spend about $40M mobilizing Christian vote ahead of midterms With less than two months until the midterm elections, a prominent Evangelical political advocacy nonprofit looks to spend upwards of $40 million to mobilize the Christian vote as Democrats and Republicans vie to take control of both houses of Congress this November. Timothy Head, executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, a social conservative national grassroots organization headed by longtime Christian activist Ralph Reed, estimates that his organization will spend between $36 million and $42 million on a nationwide effort to target Christian voters. The organization will reach voters from a precleared list using direct mail, phone messages and home visits. "We are engaged in 24 different states on the grassroots level," Head told The Christian Post in an interview. "For this election cycle, we'll actually hit 8.2 million doors in those 24 different states." The Nov. 8 midterm elections will determine which party controls both chambers of Congress for the final two years of President Joe Biden's first term. All 435 U.S. House of Representatives seats will be on the ballot and 35 U.S. Senate seats. Also up for grabs are 36 governorships and more than 80% of state legislative seats. Some states Faith & Freedom Coalition is focusing much attention on are Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California and Colorado. Of the aforementioned states, all but North Carolina have a gubernatorial election this year and all but Texas have a U.S. Senate race. Of those Senate races, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have Senate races classified by Real Clear Politics' senate election tracker to be toss-ups. "Those U.S. Senate races and then several of the coinciding governorships are our main focuses," Head said. The FiveThirtyEight Deluxe Model, which predicts the outcome of elections "based on polls, fundraising, past voting patterns" and the opinions of political experts, gives Republicans a 72% chance of taking control of the House of Representatives while giving Democrats a 71% chance of maintaining control of the U.S. Senate as of Sunday night. Republican control of one or both chambers would impact the ability of the Biden administration to enact its desired agenda into law for the next two years. The Faith & Freedom Coalition executive director predicted that the "U.S. House is probably looking at between a 30 and 40 seat pickup ... for Republicans." "Republicans will end up with between 28 and 30 governorships when this cycle is over," Head predicted. He categorized the battle for the U.S. Senate as a "jump ball at this point" that will come down to four races in Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, a nonpartisan group that "motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election," told CP that they are budgeting over $3.5 million to spend on this election cycle. My Faith Votes has a nine-state focus where they want "to see Christians engage," Yates said. Those states largely overlap with the states where the Faith & Freedom Coalition is focusing most of its efforts. Specifically, My Faith Votes is investing the most in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. "We've got a budget of $3.5 million that we're spending," Yates said. My Faith Votes held its fourth annual National Voter Registration Sunday on Sunday, two days before the annual National Voter Registration Day. "When I learned about National Voter Registration Day, I said, 'Well, that's great, but let's create National Voter Registration Sunday,'" Yates recalled. Although My Faith Votes is concentrating its efforts in certain states, National Voter Registration Sunday is a national effort. Yates said National Voter Registration Sunday is an opportunity to lead churches across the United States in "encouraging their congregations, their bodies of believers, to be involved and to be voting." My Faith Votes compiled a toolkit to assist churches that want to hold voter registration drives. "There's about 15 million Christians in the United States that aren't registered to vote," Yates said. Yates thinks some Christians may not be registered to vote because they believe that the separation of church and state means that they "shouldn't be involved" in the political process. He believes Christians failing to vote has negative consequences, such as "a "federal deficit above $30 trillion" and higher abortion and divorce rates. "Those are symptoms of a government that isn't prioritizing biblical values, and so I think there's an incredible amount of opportunity," he said. "When we vacate the public square, when we leave that, what we're doing is we're abdicating that to people who don't share our values. So in a sense the regulations, the policies, the laws that are established aren't representing biblical values. We're not talking about becoming a theocracy in America, but we do know that our values are good." Yates believes that the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overruled the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, is "absolutely motivating a lot of people who want to see continued access to abortion happen." "What we're seeing right now from a voter registration perspective is voter registrations for Democrats have really skyrocketed while Republican voter registration has not, and a large portion of the registrations for Democrats have been females in their 20s and 30s," Yates said. "I think Christians, especially those who are pro-life, need to recognize that they have a voice and that if that's a primary issue for them, then Dobbs wasn't a decision to sit back on our laurels if you will and do nothing or feel satisfied that the battle is over." Yates urged pro-life Christians to "show up." "If they want to know that their biblical values are being represented, they've got to vote this year," Yates concluded, adding "there's a lot of energy on both sides" of the abortion debate. Head of Faith and Freedom Coalition assessed the current political climate as having "fairly high" enthusiasm among Christian voters. Both Head and Yates cited concerns about crime as a prominent issue for Christian voters their organizations have spoken with. "By a small but significant margin, it's actually public safety and crime is the No. 1 issue so far in our phone and our door-to-door program," Head relayed. Head cited "significant upticks" in the concern Faith and Freedom Coalition is hearing in urban centers "about violent crime." He said the "violent crime uptick" becomes "a prevailing issue pretty quickly" in suburban areas due to the intensive media coverage. "So in suburban areas, for instance, crime has not risen. It's only in heavily urban areas, but suburban areas are obviously close to urban areas, and they're very aware of and frankly concerned about crime kind of diffusing into those suburban areas," Head said. "It's not uncommon actually to see when there's kind of a crime uptick in eight or 10 or 12 urban areas that the suburban areas across the country immediately become very aware and very concerned about that." Although homicides and rapes have decreased in some urban areas across the U.S. compared to 2021, a survey of 70 responding law enforcement agencies by the Major Cities Chiefs Association finds that violent crime has increased by 4.4%. The survey finds that the rate of violent offenses has greatly increased since before the pandemic began in 2020. Just under 237,000 violent crimes were reported in those cities during the first half of 2022, an increase of about 44,000 violent crimes from the first half of 2019. Yates agreed that "security, whether it's in our streets and just rising crime or if it's at the border," has emerged as a top concern for Christian voters. He also characterized the economy and abortion as key issues concerning Christian voters. In addition to National Voter Registration Sunday, My Faith Votes launched a "Write Now Campaign" to write "letters to other Christians in these battleground states encouraging them to vote." "Right now, we have about 500,000 letters committed as we've identified Christians in these states who are not voting consistently, and we're just sending them nonpartisan messages encouraging them to be involved and to vote," Yates said. My Faith Votes also has a "Because I Care" campaign to reach students at Christian colleges and universities. The initiative is a collaboration to help educational institutions encourage students to vote, many of whom would be first-time voters. Yates indicated that My Faith Votes will have a heavy footprint in media leading up to the election. "[W]e're going to be on radio. We're going to be on TV providing [public service announcements] encouraging the body of Christ to be voting," he said. The My Faith Votes website offers a resource called "My Voter Hub," which Yates described as "the most comprehensive set of resources for the Christian voter." The resource allows Christian voters to check their registration status, register to vote and access a "personalized online voter guide that covers every ZIP code in the United States from federal down to local elections." 'Domino Revival' Pastor Mike Signorelli hopes to see revivals 'cancel' Halloween this year NEW YORK Pastor Mike Signorelli, the founding pastor of V1 Church, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film The Domino Revival on Oct. 24 and is rallying Christians and church leaders to combat the darkness of Halloween by focusing on the salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Signorelli gathered leaders from across the nation for the films premiere in Times Square earlier this month and urged them to cultivate a spiritual awakening in their churches by showing them what God is doing in his own church. The Domino Revival follows Signorelli and other well-known revivalists as they address the spiritual hunger gripping America, as well as the battle for the soul of the nation, the film's synopsis reads in part. Signorelli spoke to the audience at the film's premiere, where he highlighted the many revivals happening among Generation Z nationwide. "It happened in Asbury" and several other universities where events were canceled to accommodate the movement, he said, celebrating the work of the Holy Spirit among the nation's youth and college-aged students. The deliverance minister homed in on this month's celebration of darkness and Halloween, to which he said, "I want to cancel Halloween this year." "I want to light this thing, and let's just go all out into revival. ... Let's cancel Halloween together! he said. The Domino Revival documentary features Signorellis journey into ministry and his upbringing. Other ministers and pastor's wives featured in the film include Julie Signorelli, Isaiah Saldivar, Alexander Pagani, Vlad Savchuk, Stephen and Jenny Weaver, Ryan Lestrange, Jeremiah Johnson, Mark Driscoll, Jessi Green, Parker Green, Leon Dupreez, Andy Byrd, Jacob Coyne, Shane Winnings, Craig Brown and Jonathan Stamper. While the film shows revivals happening nationwide, it also reveals the challenges these ministers and their families face. "I really feel like revival is just putting Jesus at the very center of your whole life, Julie Signorelli told The Christian Post at the red carpet premiere. It's at the center of your finances. Its that the center of your time. Revival is disruptive," she said. "So anytime you see a revival, you see multiple nights in a row, sometimes whole seasons, years, decades, connected to putting the things of God first. These are not services. This is not emotionalism. It's when everyone's family says, 'You know what, I'm putting the Lord first. And I don't care if it disrupts my finances, my time, my leisure, my hobbies, my Sabbath, I'm putting Him first.' Mike Signorelli added, "I've been saying revival is going back to the ancient paths. It's going back to the narrow path. We have this fake Christianity. We have this seeker-sensitive, wide road. But it's a narrow path. It's holiness. It's righteousness. It's surrender. It's sacrifice. Signorelli and his team told CP they've experienced increased spiritual warfare leading up to the film, so they've organized Spirit-led prayer meetings ahead of its release. Tickets for The Domino Revival on Oct. 24 are now available at Fathom Events. Hamas must be destroyed Israelis are no strangers to carnage. Having grown up in Israel during the Second Intifada a massive terrorist campaign I heard of a new terrorist attack on the news every few weeks, and often went to bed praying my family wont be blown up the next day while riding the bus (a favorite target of suicide bombers). One of my friends went into a restaurant with his extended family one weekend he had no idea a suicide bomber would claim most of his loved ones lives and leave him blind. But even for a nation accustomed to the horrors of war, Hamass recent massacre of innocent Israelis was a terror operation on a scale the Jewish state had never seen before. Hamas butchered 1,400 Israelis relative to the population, that would be equal to tens of thousands of American lives being wiped out. At the time of this writing, Israel is amassing 360,000 troops to invade Gaza, constituting the largest mobilization in 50 years. But even overwhelming military force cant achieve anything concrete unless its harnessed toward an effective grand strategy. Whats clear is that Israel cant afford to continue with its strategy of mowing the grass in which it retaliates to Hamass attacks without completely destroying the terrorist organization. This isnt an 18th-century-style European war where opposing empires can come together at the end of a war, shake hands, trade some overseas colonies, and then part more or less amicably. Hamas doesnt want peace, it wants dead Jews, as it proudly declares in its founding document. For decades, it has taken hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid and used these funds not to improve the lives of Gazas residents, but to purchase rockets and other weapons for its never-ending quest of murdering more Jews. Its impossible to make peace with such an enemy how can you negotiate with someone whose main peace condition is your total destruction? Israel, as others have pointed out, has no perfect options in this conflict. Israelis understandably dont want to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and regain control of more than 2 million Gazans who hate their guts. They also cant afford to ignore Hamass atrocity doing so would entail leaving innocent hostages to Hamass mercy, ignoring the death of so many Israelis whose deaths cry out for justice, and emboldening the murderers in Hamas and in other terrorist groups like Hezbollah to carry out more attacks in the future. The only alternative for the Jewish state is to launch a massive invasion of Gaza, and, while doing everything in its power to limit civilian casualties, destroy Hamass leadership and military force and dismantle the terrorist groups ability to ever launch another serious attack on Israeli soil. The American writer Robert Heinlein wrote, The noblest fate that a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and the wars desolation. Hamas turns the proposition on its head, using their home as a shield to guard their own bodies against the wars desolation. They wont fight out in the open because they know the Israeli Defense Forces would annihilate them. So, as usual, they use the bodies of their wives and children as meat shields, which explains why the terrorist group ordered Gazans to remain in the path of the coming Israeli offensive. Some have pointed out the flaws in this option. Sure, Israel might severely weaken Hamas, maybe even destroy it completely, but we cant know if an even worse terrorist group will arise out of Hamass ashes. While this is a valid concern, Israel has no other option. As we saw, the Jewish state cant reoccupy Gaza and it cant allow Hamass crimes to go unpunished. The only viable choice is to keep chopping off the Hydras heads. Israel must destroy Hamas, withdraw, and if another terrorist group comes to control the area, go back in and destroy it as well. As General William Tecumseh Sherman said: We can make war so terrible ... [and] make them so sick of war that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it. If Hamas really cared for its people, it would have laid down the sword long ago and invested in its peoples future. It could have had an excellent economic and diplomatic partner in Israel. Instead, it chose a path of murdering innocents and bringing the horrors of war to their own backyard. Its sad, but its reality. To paraphrase the ancient Roman statesman, Cato the Elder, the path is clear on what must be done: Hamas must be destroyed. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announces major Europe gathering to reinvigorate evangelism The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is preparing to gather Christian leaders from around Europe for a major gathering on evangelism. The European Congress on Evangelism will take place in the German capital of Berlin from 27 to 30 May 2025, with the expectation that 1,000 Christian leaders will attend from every European country and territory. It follows a long line of mission-focused gatherings in Europe, including the first World Congress on Evangelism that was held in Berlin in 1966, the 1974 Lausanne conference, and three strategic evangelism congresses in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986 and 2000. At the Berlin congress in 2025, it is hoped that church leaders will come away with renewed commitment to "bold and biblical proclamation evangelism", the BGEA said. Evangelist Ulrich Parzany, who spoke at the Amsterdam 2000 gathering 23 years ago, said, "In our challenging times Christians and churches must join hands for spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ all over Europe again. "I am looking forward to the upcoming European Congress on Evangelism and trust it will trigger enthusiasm and a fresh commitment to do so." Welcoming the announcement, Dr Hugh Osgood, president of the UK-based ministry, Churches in Communities International, said, "The church in Europe needs to rise up with fresh confidence. The European Congress on Evangelism will provide the inspiration, strength and confidence in the Gospel that will enable us to do this. Let's prioritise this opportunity to be together to advance God's kingdom." Speakers for the congress have not yet been confirmed but the theme will centre on Romans 1:16, which exhorts believers to be unashamed of the Gospel. Attendance is by invitation only, and is limited to those with European citizenship and whose ministry work is in Europe, the BGEA said. Dr Per Ewert, director of Swedish Christian think tank The Clapham Institute, said, "Europe in the 21st century is experiencing two parallel trends, a continued wind of secular individualism, and a growing opposition to this philosophy and its consequences for society and individuals. "It is vital to proclaim the Good News about Jesus Christ in a culture in need of a moral and spiritual foundation, peace and agape love." Christian leaders can register their interest in attending here. Israeli airstrike damages oldest church in Gaza sheltering Christians, Muslims (CP) 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. The Christian Post Pope Francis calls for global day of fasting and prayer for peace in Israel-Hamas conflict In a heartfelt plea for peace, Pope Francis has announced a day of prayer and fasting to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Holy Father, speaking at his general audience last Wednesday, declared, "I have decided to call for a day of fasting and prayer on Friday, Oct. 27th." This call extends not only to the Christian community but also to people of all faiths and those who hold peace dear. The vigil will be held at 6.00pm in St. Peter's Square, where individuals will join the Pope in an hour of prayer and penance, seeking peace for our troubled world. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, had previously urged for a global day of prayer and fasting, held on Oct. 17th, to beseech God for peace, justice, and reconciliation. Pope Francis emphasised the urgency of the situation, particularly in Palestine and Israel, stating, "The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate. Please, let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster." He added, "I urge believers to take just one side in this conflict: that of peace. But not in words - in prayer, with total dedication." As the conflict persists, the United Nations has reported a devastating toll, with over 4,200 lives lost and more than a million people displaced in just 10 days. The situation further escalated with an explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, leading to the tragic loss of many lives. While Hamas blamed Israel, the Israeli government has denied responsibility, pointing instead to Hamas. The Middle East has witnessed a surge of anger and condemnation, with calls for protests and even a proposed "day of rage." Within his address, Pope Francis pleaded, "The possible widening of the conflict is disturbing, while so many war fronts are already open in the world. May weapons be silenced, and let us heed the cry for peace of the poor, the people, the children." He concluded by saying, "Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem: It sows only death and destruction, foments hate, proliferates revenge. It cancels out the future." El Peru ejercera la Presidencia de @APEC en 2024. Conoce mas acerca de este importante foro de cooperacion y coordinacion que une a 21 economias del Asia Pacifico. #RumboAPEC2024 ?????? pic.twitter.com/lu1xXKzWke La Cancilleria lamenta informar que la connacional Margit Shnaider y su esposo, de nacionalidad argentina, quienes se encontraban desaparecidos desde los ataques del 7 de octubre pasado, han sido encontrados sin vida. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. U.S. and Israeli officials looking to the future of the Gaza Strip after dislodging Hamas have begun discussing possibilities, including potentially installing an interim government backed by the United Nations and with the involvement of Arab governments, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with US government deliberations. The discussions are still at an early stage and hinge on developments yet to unfold, not least of which would be success in an Israeli ground assault, according to the people, who asked not to be identified detailing private deliberations. And any such possibility would need buy-in from Arab nations around the region, which is by no means certain. Israeli officials have said repeatedly that they dont intend to occupy Gaza, but theyve also said that continued rule by Hamas is unacceptable after the Oct. 7 attack. The challenge of achieving both of those objectives has helped fuel US worries that Israel hasnt given sufficient thought to what comes after a ground assault. The US is also worried that a Gaza attack with no clear objective beyond ousting Hamas could fan the conflict into a regional war. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), in testimony submitted this week to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called upon Americas next Ambassador to Israel to advance U.S. interests by working to end Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan and encouraging Israel to join with the U.S. government and the American people in recognizing the Armenian Genocide. In testimony submitted by Programs Director Alex Galitsky, the ANCA explained that up to 70% of Azerbaijans arsenal is sourced in Israel, and that these weapons among them illegal cluster munitions, missile systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles played a central role in Azerbaijans subjugation and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the perpetration of war crimes against the Nagorno-Karabakh population, including targeting civilian infrastructure, churches, schools, and medical facilities, ANCA reports. As a party to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict resolution process, the United States has a responsibility to ensure that our military partners are not undermining long-term prospects for peace by pouring fuel on raging regional fires, stated Galitsky. He further stressed that the US must ensure that any Israeli military technology that is jointly developed with or subsidized by the U.S. is not used in a way that further undermines U.S. interests, promotes regional instability, or violates international law. Regarding the Armenian Genocide, the ANCA urged that Israel Ambassador-designate Jacob Lew impress upon the leadership of Israel, a nation of genocide survivors, the moral imperative of ending its denial of the Armenian Genocide and joining with the American people in honest recognition and remembrance of this crime. As US Treasury Secretary during the Obama Administration, Lew led a U.S. delegation to Armenia on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. The ANCA testimony went on to note that the U.S. Ambassador should raise with the Israeli government the growing number of violations of the rights of Armenians and other faith-based and ethnic groups in Jerusalem. According to U.S. State Department human rights and religious freedom reports, numerous cases of extremists spitting on and physically assaulting Christian clergy and pilgrims including Armenians. Such hate crimes need to be confronted wherever they take place, stated Galitsky. The ANCAs full testimony is available here. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Senator Leo Housakos has called on the Canadian government to impose sanctions against Azerbaijani government officials and enhance coordination with like-minded states. Around the world today, we are seeing the consequences of forgetting our past. We are repeating the darkest parts of our history, not just in Israel, but also in places like #Artsakh. PLEASE WATCH as I plead for the Armenian people not to be forsaken. https://t.co/MT1HAr25E2 Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) October 20, 2023 During his October 19 speech in the Canadian Senate, Housakos said that the indigenous Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh inherently possess the right to self-determination and remedial secession. The Senator said that Canada must participate in an international peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh to ensure the safety of Armenians as they return to their ancestral homes; provide substantial humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of innocent populations; and recognize the right to self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakhs Armenian population. On October 21, the Senator posted his speech on X and said: Around the world today, we are seeing the consequences of forgetting our past. We are repeating the darkest parts of our history, not just in Israel, but also in places like #Artsakh. PLEASE WATCH as I plead for the Armenian people not to be forsaken. Below is the transcript of Senator Housakos speech. Honourable senators, today we find ourselves facing a grave and urgent situation that demands our immediate attention and action. The Indigenous Armenian population living in the Republic of Artsakh, known by some as Nagorno-Karabakh, is currently enduring a crisis of unimaginable proportions. It is our moral duty to respond to their plight not just with words but with meaningful action. What we cannot do is continue to look away or bury our heads in the sand. Since the end of the 44-day war in September 2020, and particularly since December 12, 2022, when Azerbaijani government violated international agreements by blocking the Lachin corridor, a humanitarian catastrophe has been unfolding. This act severed Artsakhs only connection to Armenia and the outside world, cutting off vital supplies of food, medicine, natural gas, electricity and the internet. The consequences have been dire, leading to cases of famine, malnutrition and death. On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan escalated this crisis with brutal military force by shelling civilians and civilian infrastructure. This resulted in more than 200 casualties in just 24 hours, including children, women and elderly. Villages have been cut off, roads taken under Azerbaijani control, and the gruesome acts of violence have shocked those of us who are actually taking the time to watch. In just one week, more than 120,000 innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian catastrophe not only in Artsakh but also in Armenia, which has had to absorb these refugees almost overnight. Genocide Watch and the Lemkin Institute have classified this situation as genocide. Legal expert Luis Moreno Ocampo, former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, asserts that what happened in Artsakh amounts to genocide. Our own ambassador to the United Nations, the Honourable Bob Rae, called it a total failure of global diplomacy, forcible deportation and a potential crime against humanity. The Honourable Bob Rae was absolutely right, and one of the few who had the courage to stand up and call this out. Canada, guided by its commitment to the United Nations Responsibility to Protect, or R2P, has a moral obligation to intervene and protect populations from ethnic cleansing and genocide. This is a defining moment for Canada and, for that matter, democracies around the world. It is a test of our dedication to upholding the UN R2P commitment and supporting democracies like Armenia, Artsakh and so many that are under siege right now around the world. Our response must extend beyond mere words and expressions of concern. It requires concrete and meaningful action. It also sometimes requires sacrifice, such as diplomatic and economic sanctions against the Azerbaijani government officials; legal action against President Aliyev at the International Criminal Court; humanitarian assistance for genocide survivors in Armenia; and the recognition of the self-determination of the Indigenous Artsakh population. We must not repeat the mistakes of history. The Indigenous Armenian community of Artsakh, with a heritage spanning over 4,000 years, inherently possesses the right to self-determination and remedial secession. Canada must impose sanctions against Azerbaijan government officials and enhance coordination with like-minded states. Canada must participate in an international peacekeeping force in Artsakh to ensure the safety of Artsakh Armenians as they return to their ancestral homes; provide substantial humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of innocent populations; and recognize the right to self-determination of Artsakhs Armenian population. These actions require political courage and a commitment to establish procedures to get it done, and a real commitment if we believe in the international rule of law and human rights and democracy. Canada has an opportunity to lead on the global stage, to be a beacon of hope and justice, as we once were a few decades ago. We must regain our status as leaders not followers and leave a lasting legacy that reflects our commitment to democracy, freedom and human rights. Colleagues, democracy has never lived such difficult and precarious moments as were going through right now. I dont need to remind anyone in this institution that there are more countries that are not democratic than countries which respect democracy, international rule of law and human rights. Today, we are seeing tragedy unfolding in so many parts of the world. We see tyrant regimes like China putting the boot to the throat of the people of Hong Kong, threatening a vibrant democracy a beautiful democracy just over the Taiwan Strait just because they want to for their own political and economic ambitions. We see the treachery going on against the Ukrainian people by a brutal dictator called Russia. The truth of the matter is we have waited too long to call out Mr. Putin and to hold him to account. Thats why were suffering the consequences that we are today, and the people of Ukraine are suffering those consequences. Sanctions should have been placed on that brutal regime years ago before they went to Ukraine. The Indigenous people in Artsakh are being exterminated and thrown out of their homes just because they are Armenian. This is the second tragedy in a century. We stood up and gave gallant speeches in the House of Commons and in this chamber when we recognized the Armenian genocide. We said well stand steadfast so these tragedies never occur again. They are happening right now as we speak, but everyone has forgotten about them because there are so many crises to pick from; the media entertains us with them. There will be other crises that pile on because there never seems to be a resolve on the part of democracies to fight back against these tyrants with tangible actions, not just press releases of concern or Were monitoring the situation. Perhaps, after this tragedy, we can send a few million dollars in humanitarian aid its too late. These people are suffering those consequences, and a few million dollars announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to help these displaced people it is shameful to be honest with you; its embarrassing. What is happening in Israel today? We have a terrorist organization going against an Indigenous people and trying to brutally remove them from their homeland just because they are Jews. It amazes me how this movie replays itself over and over again. We never seem to learn from history that if you dont push back on dictators and tyrants, punch them in the nose and tell them were not going to accept this, they will continue to be emboldened and move the yardsticks forward. I want to draw attention to just one more crisis going on in the world and call on our government and those of western democracies to show some resolve. Just because the people of Artsakh and the people of Armenia dont have oil and gas, they shouldnt be less important to us than other regimes. The action we can take is obviously going to be a sacrifice on our side because a lot of these rogue countries if its China, Russia, Iran, Cuba or Turkey we do business with them. Were facing a crisis right now in Israel. Hamas didnt occur last week. Hamas has been supported by nations like Qatar from where we are importing hundreds of millions of dollars of their oil and gas. Were buying it in Quebec when I go to the gas pump. What do you think they are doing with the proceeds of that revenue? They are funnelling it to organizations like Hamas. Hamas has no food, water and medication for the Palestinian people in Gaza, but they have tons of rockets. They are not running out of rockets, are they? Why? We are contributing to that process. The people of Cuba are suffering, but we are still doing business in Cuba because its helping a few of our investors and a few of our companies are profiting from it. Right now, were still dealing with nations like Turkey, which has more journalists in prison than any other country on earth, but we close a blind eye to all this. Colleagues, if Im a little bit passionate about it, its because I really believe that we need to be consistent. If we do genuinely care about democracy, freedom, human rights and the cause of humanity, we have to stand up and fight for these values. It doesnt matter if its in Ukraine, in Hong Kong or in defending Taiwan or Israel, legitimately, we have to also defend the people of Artsakh who are being displaced. I remind every single person that when Adolf Hitler was sitting around the table with his final brutal solution, they asked him, If we carry on with this extermination of innocent people just because they are Jews, what is going to happen? Hitler said, Who remembers the Armenians? Right? That genocide happened only 25 years earlier. This is what is going on again. We are repeating history. We are forgetting these people again. I repeat: Why? Because they are surrounded by bullies and its a too much of an effort? I think we have to stand up as parliamentarians. We have to draw attention to this human tragedy. We have to take action and call on our governments. This cannot be resolved only by the Government of Canada. Every single western democracy that genuinely believes in democracy not just navel-gazing has to take action. It is called economic action, diplomatic action and even more if required to protect these innocent people in Artsakh. Today, they have been moved out of their homes, and no one around the world is talking about it. Thank you for listening to me on this Thursday afternoon. I thought these people needed to have a voice. Thank you so much. Dropbox said Friday that it's agreed to return over one quarter of its San Francisco headquarters to the landlord as the commercial real estate market continues to soften following the Covid pandemic. In a filing, Dropbox said it agreed to surrender to its landlord 165,244 square feet of space and pay $79 million in termination fees. Under the amendment to its lease agreement, Dropbox will offload the space over time through the first quarter of 2025. Since going remote during the pandemic three years ago, Dropbox has been trying to figure out what to do with much of the 736,000 square feet of space in Mission Bay it leased in 2017, in what was the largest office lease in the city's history. The company subleased closed to 134,000 square feet of space last year to Vir Biotechnology, leaving it with just over 604,000 square feet. In addition, Dropbox took a $175.2 million impairment on the office last year "as a result of adverse changes" in the market. That came after taking a $400 million hit in 2020. San Francisco's office vacancy rate stood at 30% in the third quarter, the highest level since at least 2007, according to city data. "As we've noted in the past, we've taken steps to de-cost our real estate portfolio as a result of our transition to Virtual First, our operating model in which remote work is the primary experience for our employees, but where we still come together for planned in-person gatherings," a company spokesperson told CNBC in an emailed statement. While the move provides a financial benefit to the cloud software vendor, it signals that demand for office space in the city remains weak and suggests more pain may be ahead for companies that signed big leases before the pandemic, when venture funding and public investors were fueling a tech boom. In addition to the remote work trend, the tech industry has been in downsizing mode since early 2022, with industrywide layoffs. Drew Houston, Dropbox's co-founder and CEO, announced in April that the company was cutting its headcount by about 16%. Dropbox's 2017 lease for the brand new headquarters was for 15 years. Private-equity firm KKR bought the property in 2021 from its original developer, Kilroy Realty Corp., for over $1 billion. "As a result of the amendment the company will avoid future cash payments related to rent and common area maintenance fees of $137 million and approximately $90 million, respectively, over the remaining 10 year lease term," Dropbox said in Friday's filing. A short walk away from Dropbox, Uber has been trying to sublease part of its headquarters. The San Francisco Chronicle reported last week that Microsoft-backed OpenAI is close to taking space there. Dropbox had tried working with its landlord to sublease space at the headquarters, but the real estate market deteriorated, finance chief Tim Regan, told analysts on a February earnings call. WATCH: Advance SF launches 'It All Starts Here' campaign for San Francisco Travelers are flocking to airport lounges in search of complimentary food, drinks and perhaps most importantly, a chance to relax away from the hordes of travelers at the gate. The problem: plenty of other travelers are, too. Armed with high-end rewards credit cards and fresh from years of big spending, more and more travelers are gaining access to airport lounges, turning what were once small, exclusive spaces for an elite few into a must-have stop for millions of passengers. The trend has posed both an opportunity and a challenge for airlines and credit card companies as they market luxury to the masses. The spaces have to be both exclusive and attainable for enough people. For top frequent flyers and certain credit card holders, standard airline lounge access is complimentary or discounted. Individual annual lounge memberships run between $650 and $850 for the major U.S. carriers, which have raised prices in recent years. Delta's new Sky Club at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport Benji Stawski / CNBC Delta Air Lines Sky Club lounges and the credit cards that grant entry to them became so popular that customers complained about the long lines and crowds at many locations. The airline in response curbed access for employees, instituted time limits and in its most controversial move yet, announced annual limits on visits for many credit card holders even stripping some credit cards of access altogether. But many customers complained about those changes, too, saying they were too strict. This week, Delta walked back some of the changes, highlighting how hard it has become to strike the right balance between exclusivity and access. "Any wait is too long, and we are doing everything we can to minimize that," Delta's chief customer experience officer, Allison Ausband, told CNBC last summer at the opening of a new, larger Sky Club at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. She said the lounges are "not a profit center for Delta by any means" but are an "investment that we're making in the premium experience for our customers." Delta executives have said that revenue growth for its premium products like business class has outpaced that of main cabin economy. More space Delta, United Airlines and American Airlines are racing to build more lounges and spaces and larger ones to fit high demand. They have also divided, or are planning to divide their lounges into different tiers. United, for example, opened a grab-and-go express club at its hub at Denver International Airport last year, for travelers making tight connections, which the carrier said could free up space in more full-service lounges. The carrier separately operates a network of Polaris lounges for travelers booked in its highest cabin class, usually on long-haul international routes. United Airlines Polaris lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport. Leslie Josephs | CNBC An aid convoy truck loaded with supplies is seen at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. A convoy of trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies such as food, water and medicines began entering Gaza from Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Saturday morning. Twenty trucks were estimated to have crossed from the Egyptian border, carrying supplies that the UN described as "the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza." Humanitarian agencies, however, have said the initial aid delivery is a "drop in the ocean" and policymakers have called for the sustained delivery of essential goods to meet the needs of those living in the besieged enclave. "The situation remains dynamic and fluid and the security environment is unpredictable," according to the U.S. embassy in Israel in a security alert to Americans, warning it could be chaotic and disorderly "should the border open." When Mark Cuban launched his first tech startup, he couldn't have known he'd end up a billionaire today. He was confident, though, that his sales pitch for the company a software startup called MicroSolutions would work. In a recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Cuban shared a 544-word excerpt of proposal he sent in 1989 to a law firm he hoped to land as a client, Dallas-based Jenkens & Gilchrist. In the proposal, Cuban wrote that his tool would be a great resource for attorneys looking to streamline their workflow by having information "immediately published electronically to the organization," as opposed to using notebooks. "Imagine being able to print or view a columnar report showing strategies by trial, with the opposing firm, judge and results!" he wrote. "The opportunities for a competitive advantage are limitless, as are the ability to demonstrate to current and prospective clients the power of the qualitative tools available." The pitch worked, he added. "And yes, we closed the deal. Basically, it was our version of Slack long before Slack," Cuban wrote in a follow-up post. "My big pitch back then was, 'Post once, published everywhere.'" The proposal relied on Cuban's No. 1 key for making a sale, which he learned at age 12 while selling garbage bags door-to-door: "You're not trying to convince people. You're trying to help them," as Cuban told GQ last month. "It's all about putting myself in your shoes," he added. "It's, 'I really think that this can be a better solution for you. And if I find you a better solution, will you do business with me?'" If Cuban could go back in time and tell his younger self one thing, it'd be to keep honing his sales skills, he noted in a TikTok video posted last year. "Once you learn how to sell, you can always start a business [because] you're an entrepreneur at heart," said Cuban. A year after sending his pitch to the law firm, Cuban sold MicroSolutions to now-defunct internet services company CompuServe for $6 million. He ultimately became a billionaire after his next startup, internet streaming service Broadcast.com, sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999. His current net worth is $5.2 billion, according to Forbes. Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank," which features Mark Cuban as a panelist. DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter! As technology reshapes business expectations, some leaders are embracing change and transforming their organizations for the future. Join the CNBC Evolve Global Summit on November 2 to hear strategies to adapt, innovate and succeed in this new era of business. Buy your ticket here. Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and president of this year's COP28 climate summit gestures during an interview as part of the 7th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA) in Brussels on July 13, 2023. United Nations representatives failed to secure a deal during late-night talks on how to implement a reparations fund for climate disaster recovery in developing nations. The "loss and damage fund" would call on rich countries to finance the recovery of climate disasters that have wrecked developing nations and set them behind on their sustainability goals. The commitment to establish the fund was one of the highlight announcements of last year's UN Climate Conference, or COP27, after a series of down-to-the-wire negotiations. Part of the agreement at COP27 was the creation of a Loss and Damage Transitional Committee, which would be in charge of negotiating the details on how to set up and operate the fund. The group was made up of representatives from developing nations like Pakistan, Egypt and Venezuela, as well as rich countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. The 24-member committee met four times over the past week to settle on official recommendations for how to implement the fund. Those recommendations have been in dispute over the past year and are due to be completed in time to be adopted at this year's COP28, which is set to take place at the end of November in Abu Dhabi. At the beginning of the fourth meeting, Sultan Al-Jaber, the director of COP28 and a United Arab Emirates minister, pressed the representatives to pick up the pace of their negotiations: "I don't want this to be an empty bank account. This committee has to deliver its recommendations." However, the talks slowed with representatives unable to reconcile their differences on how to operate the fund and who would pay for it. The fourth meeting bled into the late hours of Friday night and early Saturday morning, as committee members grew increasingly frustrated by the lagging progress. "I spent all day with a cold working on this, feeling like crap and I want to see it affected somewhere," Diann Black-Layne, an environmental director for Antigua and Barbuda, said at the meeting. The meeting ended with no solid resolution and a plan to set up a fifth meeting on the issue, as the COP28 deadline inches nearer. "What message do I take back home?" said Ali Waqas Malik, representing Pakistan. "You came empty-handed. There is nothing on the table. No recommendations." Cyclone Tej has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to transform into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. The storm on the Arabian Sea currently lies approximately 820 km east-southeast of Socotra in Yemen and 1100 km south-southeast of Salalah Airport in Oman. DD over SW Arabian Sea intensified into a CS Tej about 670 km E-SE of Socotra (Yemen).To intensify into SCS in next 12 hrs and further into a VSCS in subsequent 24 https://t.co/83HTlH6GHU cross Yemen Oman coasts bet Al Ghaidah (Yemen) & Salalah (Oman) around early mrng of 25 Oct India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 21, 2023 The Met Department has warned fishermen against venturing into the sea as the storms maximum sustained wind speed is expected to reach 89 kmph to 117 kmph. It further said that cyclones can occasionally change their trajectory. While IMDs predictions suggest a west-northwest movement, private forecasting agency Skymet Weather has indicated varying models. While a majority of models indicate a path towards the Yemen-Oman coast, some Global Forecast System models suggest a potential re-curvature, steering the system towards Pakistan and the Gujarat coast. Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad, told news agency PTI, Since the cyclone would move towards the west-northwest, it may not have any impact on Gujarat (which lies to the east). Weather in Gujarat will remain dry for the next seven days. However, authorities remain vigilant, recalling the unexpected shift observed in Junes Cyclone Biparjoy , which initially headed westward but later changed direction, making landfall in Kutch, Gujarat. State relief commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey reassured the public, stating there was currently no threat, adding the storm was heading away from Gujarat, according to a report in News18. The IMD also highlighted the development of a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, likely to intensify into a depression by October 22. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards initially and then recurve north-northeastwards towards the Bangladesh coast. This period, from October to December, is historically conducive for cyclone formation in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea due to warmer ocean temperatures. The Arabian Sea remained calm during the post-monsoon season in 2022, while the Bay of Bengal experienced two tropical storms, Sitrang and Mandous. Skymet Weather emphasised the uncertainty surrounding cyclones in the Arabian Sea, stating that their tracks and timelines are often unpredictable. Typically, cyclones in the Arabian Sea follow a path towards Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, Yemen, and Oman. However, occasional deviations lead them towards the Gujarat and Pakistan coastlines. From the Acropolis in Athens and St Mark's Square in Venice to the beaches of Phuket in Thailand, and beyond, you've probably noticed that most tourists are back visiting the usual bucket list destinations. An initiative from the United Nations World Tourism Organization could be part of the solution to spread the crowds and their tourism dollars beyond those well-trod places. UNWTO's third edition of its "Best Tourism Villages" list, released on Oct 19 at its General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, highlights 54 lesser-known, rural destinations around the world that are worth visiting for natural and cultural draws. But there's more to the selections: These are rural locations, each with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, where traditional activities such as agriculture and fishing still take place. More important, they've figured out how to draw a significant number of visitors without causing harm to their communities or the environment while finding innovative ways to protect them. Also read: Take Alquezar, a village in Aragon, Spain, which won a spot on UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages list in 2022. Located nearly three hours drive northwest of Barcelona, this historic inland enclave sits at the foothills of the Sierra y Canones de Guara Natural Park. Visitors can expect rugged mountain landscapes for hiking, caving and canyoning, as well as guided tours around the brick-walled town and through its narrow cobblestoned alleys. It was a village that was losing population, and tourism has allowed them not only to retain people but also to start seeing people interested in returning back to the village, says Sandra Carvao, who helps develop rural tourism as the director of tourism competitiveness at UNWTO. (Carvao spoke with Bloomberg while the 2023 list was still under wraps.) Its not about being the most beautiful in the world, she says about the Best Tourism Villages winners in general. Each one must have very interesting cultural and natural heritage, she explains. And they must take that further. Its about what they do with ithow they protect it, how theyve implemented social programs to have the community engaged, and how they are taking care of that community. In Alquezar, the governing body created a free child-care space that also operates outside normal working hours, including on weekends, to accommodate tourism staff, such as restaurant servers, hotel receptionists, tour guides and others who face varying work schedules common in the travel industry. At the end of the day, youre allowing the sector to developand you're allowing someone to have a job, because you're supplying them with a support network, explains Carvao. In Angochagua, a town two hours drive north of Quito, at close to 10,000 feet of altitude in Ecuadors Andean highlands, visitors find themselves immersed in day-to-day life with the Caranqui people. They can participate in cooking classes that highlight the tribes endemic grains and cereals, or try their hand at traditional embroidery practices and pottery making, among other activities. Visiting these places doesnt necessarily mean staying in local homes, either: Angochagua is home to the five-star Hacienda Zuleta, a working farm and estate with 19 rooms owned by the family of Galo Plaza Lasso, a deceased president of Ecuador. Behind the scenes, the community runs reforestation programs that restock native plants, along with training for tourism entrepreneurs. It also has a team of community guards and park rangers who participate in a regionwide initiative to conserve the paramo, a high-altitude ecosystem of forests and grasslands unique to the Andes. Competition to earn a spot on UNWTOs annual list of must-see tourism villageswhich has been published since 2021is fierce, given the way it propels destinations into the consciousness of international and domestic visitors. Carvao says previous winners have recorded noticeable gains in tourism after recognition; at least five have been incorporated into countrywide itineraries by such global tour operators as Intrepid Travel. This year, more than 60 of 159 member countries in the organization submitted a record 260 nominations. These were vetted by an advisory board of 30 experts from a wide range of relevant professional backgrounds. Submissions were judged on nine criteria, including their natural and cultural resources and how the villages work to conserve them; the priority their leadership gives to tourism; whether they engage in sustainable practices; and their infrastructure development. The 54 winners for 2023 range from a highland village in Indonesia to a mining town turned ski destination in Switzerland and an agricultural hamlet in Chinaalong with communities of artisans and musicians in nearly every corner of the globe. Find them all here, and read on for five memorable rural escapes that are easily accessible from major cities. Biei, Japan Two hours north of Sapporo on Hokkaido, Biei draws visitors with its summertime scenery of purple lavender fields, as well as poppies, marigolds, sunflowers and others. Rent an electric bicycle or drive to take in the views, but proceed slowly: This village is for lazy meandering amid colorful scenery. Sample lavender-flavored ice cream at Farm Tomita, where you can hike around flower fields, tour a range of traditional houses with floral displays and sample locally crafted, lavender-based scentsall proof of the amplified role the blooms play in local life. The villages winning approach, which brings a consistent stream of tourists, is in sustainable farming techniques: Locals use a crop rotation system that preserves the areas biodiversity and maintains soil fertility. A commitment to preserving popular geological features, such as the hot springs at Shirogane Onsen, are a bonus. Manteigas, Portugal A 3.5-hour drive north from Lisbon takes you to this idyllic mountain town where colorful houses (and the balconied Casa de Sao Lourenco hotel) punctuate a boulder-filled landscape thats carved with jaw-dropping hiking trails. What distinguishes Manteigas from other Alpine-style paradises is the local governments plan to augment the areas wool-producing heritage. The blankets, shoes and throws you can buy here are made with a local technique that makes for ultrasoft, durable, waterproof wares; shop for them at the Burel wool factory or during the newly minted Land Wool Innovation Week, which brings together weavers, shepherds and designers each spring. Paucartambo, Peru Most tourists leave Cusco directly after visiting Machu Picchu, but if youre in Perus Sacred Valley area in July, a day trip two hours north will lead to the tiny Andean village of Paucartambo. There, you can participate in a kaleidoscopic festival celebrating la Virgen del Carmen, which in Spain concerns nautical matters but in Paucartambo conflates the Catholic Virgin with Pachamama, or Mother Earth. More than a dozen folkloric groups don costumes and masks to parade down cobblestoned streets over the course of four days that usually begin on July 15. Visiting Paucartambo also brings a chance to meet the Qeros people, which some anthropologists consider direct descendants of the Inca; witness traditional hand-weaving practices they use to produce supersoft alpaca wool sweaters, shawls and ponchos. Tan Hoa, Vietnam Even if there were nothing around them, the extensive Tu Lan cave system would be worth the 1.5-hour flight from Hanoi: The largest such system in the world, its filled with towering calcite formations and otherworldly lakes that glow in neon colors. Aboveground are karst mountains and limestone cliffsalong with the village of Tan Hoa (population 3,000), where you can visit local homes for a farm-to-table dinner featuring dishes such as poi, a cassava flour-based rice dish with beans. Oxalis Adventure, a community-owned and -operated outfitter, offers day trips as well as packaged multiday tours, including overnights at its new Tu Lan Lodge and contemporary mountain cabins that hover over the hills on stilts. Caleta Tortel, Chile If youre up for an epic, multiday road trip in Chile, the 1,500-mile drive from Santiago down Carretera Austral offers one of the countrys most scenic routes. On reaching the end of the road (after tacking on a short ferry ride), youll find the coastal fishing village of Caleta Tortel in the southernmost Aysen region of Chiles Patagonia. (You can fly from Santiago to Balmaceda to shorten the drive.) Once you reach the top of the village, youll explore only on foot: A stay at this car-free community involves walking miles of wooden boardwalks and staircases that hover over the Baker River beside colorful timber homes on stilts and tranquil water views. Here, tourism is helping to preserve the way locals use woodworking to produce almost anything out of local timber. Meet local carpenters and watch them build wooden boats, then hop into one for a trip down the river. The village hosts an annual timber festival during the first week of February that celebrates its artisans with exhibits of their woodwork, barbecues and folkloric musical performances, all of which end in a community dance. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in Bucharest, Romania on 20-21 October 2023, adopted a resolution on The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijans attack and the continuing threats against Armenia, Ambassador-at-Large Edmon Marukyan said on X. The Council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party notes that: Azerbaijans blockade of the Lachin Corridor caused an ongoing humanitarian crisis for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The recent, unprovoked attacks by Azerbaijan resulted in civilian deaths and the ethnic cleansing of approximately 120,000 Armenians. Following ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan and unsuccessful mediation efforts, tensions threaten an invasion in Armenia by Azerbaijan. Believes That: Armenia shares strong cultural and religious bonds with Europe and seeks closer collaboration with Europe and the Western community. Azerbaijan is influencing Western and European nations by means of its oil and gas diplomacy. The international community failed to prevent ethnic cleansing of Armenians. Calls For: Increased EU economic aid to Armenia to support refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. The safe return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and the release of prisoners, captives including elected representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh. Deploying a UN peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenian population. Targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for multiple ceasefire and human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as an investigation for war crimes. Prohibiting hatred and ethnic cleansing of Armenians by Azerbaijan. Prohibiting the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. Condemning the inflammatory statements made by the Azerbaijani President and other Azerbaijani officials, threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia, including those in connection with the Zangezur-corridor. A comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including mutual recognition of territorial integrity. An intensified political and diplomatic cooperation of the EU with Armenia in the framework of the Eastern Partnership and by opening a path for Armenias EU-membership, ensuring its safety and peace in the region. Diversification of oil and gas supply to decrease Western dependency on Azerbaijan, Marukyan said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday the Indian governments 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. 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 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 Canadas 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 US 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. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have expressed interest in investing in the Maharlika fund after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. introduced the sovereign wealth fund, Malacanang said Saturday. In a statement, the Palace said the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) received "positive response" from leaders of Gulf countries on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia this week. Talking to reporters there, Marcos said he was "very encouraged and quite happy" by the reaction from other governments. "Gusto talaga nila na magkaroon, na tumulong at makilahok sating investment dahil naipakita naman natin na magandang investment talaga para sa kanila ito," he said. [Translation: They really want to help and participate in our investment because we have shown that it is really a good investment for them.] "I'm confident that once we get it operationalized, once we are able to start talking in detail with not only the investment funds but even private corporations and other governments as well, and that is, that is precisely the role that we have envisioned for, for the sovereign fund, the Maharlika Fund. And that is what the direction that it has taken," Marcos added. Before flying to Saudi Arabia, the president clarified that the suspension order on the MIF's implementing rules was only meant to improve its organizational structure. He said the MIF would be operational within 2023. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) The Davao City government on Friday claimed that the Happy Animals Club denied entry to a local sanitary inspector several times following complaints of alleged foul odor and loud noises in the animal shelter. "On the matter of the closure of the Happy Animals Club facility, CHO Environmental Sanitation Division Chief Luzminda Paig said over DCDR's Madayaw Dabaw broadcast that their unit has conducted a series of inspections at the Happy Animals Club to address complaints filed before their office and the Office of the Punong Barangay of Matina Aplaya," the city government said in a statement. "In all four instances that the CHO sanitary inspector visited the facility, he was denied entry," it added. The city government on Sept. 27 ordered the closure of the 1,000-square meter shelter, which houses more than 300 dogs and cats, after it allegedly failed to observe sanitary orders. But Happy Animals Club founder Ken Amante already denied the allegations when it comes to the cleanliness of their place, noting that it was the first time they received complaints from their neighbors. The animal shelter likewise refuted the city government's claim that it denied entry to a city official. "Instead of acknowledging the public outcry and promising to work towards a solution with us, the statement contains blatant lies: It says we denied city health inspectors entry. WE NEVER DENIED ENTRY TO ANY CITY OFFICIAL," the Happy Animals Club said in its latest post. The Davao City government said that authorities already reached out to the animal shelter regarding its intent for reinvestigation. "They duly received the letter and the office is awaiting their response," the city government said. "Pending their reply and the resolution of this matter, the decision on the facilitys closure in violation of City Ordinance No. 0291-17 under the Revenue Code of Davao City, particularly the rules and regulations on sanitation will remain as it is," it added. "This is to look after the health and wellness of the concerned constituents of the said area." In another social media post, Amante confirmed that the city health office already conducted another investigation. But he maintained that animal shelter will continue to appeal the closure order. "Make no mistake, those who want the shelter shut down are hoping that the outcry will die down, and this whole thing will blow over," said Amante. "I'm not going to let that happen. I will be posting appeal after appeal until the closure order, which is completely baseless, is reversed." The shelter is now padlocked and the last order given to Happy Animals Club was to leave and transfer all animals under its helm. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) The Philippines has placed Lebanon under Alert Level 3 as border tensions increased between Israel and Islamist group Hezbollah, the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Saturday. This means that Filipinos are urged to leave Lebanon. De Vega earlier said the Philippine Embassy in Beirut will advise Filipinos there about the voluntary repatriation program. "We are doing this because the situation is rather tense and we already have seen it years ago in 2006 when we had to repatriate Filipinos from Lebanon," he told CNN Philippines The Final Word on Friday. There has been an ongoing exchange of fire between the Israeli forces and Lebanon-based militants, which led to the death of some Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters. The conflict between the two started after Palestinian militants fired shots from Lebanon, hours after the extremist group Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7. The Israeli Defense Forces retaliated by attacking the Lebanese territory, which includes the areas controlled by Hezbollah. The latter then responded by firing missiles into Israel. About 3,000 Filipinos are in southern Lebanon, the Philippine government said. De Vega gave an assurance that there is enough budget to bring Filipinos home. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged Filipinos in Lebanon to consider going home due to rising border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. "We'd like all Filipinos in Lebanon to consider going home," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Friday. He added that "it's just a matter of time" before the Philippine government places Lebanon under Alert Level 3, which calls for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos there. RELATED: Clashes at Lebanon-Israel border raise fears of wider war "We are doing this because the situation is rather tense and we already have seen it years ago in 2006 when we had to repatriate Filipinos from Lebanon," De Vega explained. He said the decision is just awaiting the signature of DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo. There are about 3,000 Filipinos in southern Lebanon, according to the embassywith 67 living in the southernmost portion, bordering Israel. De Vega did not rule out the possibility that Alert Level 4 may be raised in Lebanon. "If there are actually deaths occurring already in Lebanon, we will raise it to Alert Level 4. Right now the situation is tense but there's no state of war yet in Lebanon." De Vega said the government has enough funds to fly Filipinos back home. He added that there is a contingency plan in place in Beirut, which includes communication and coordination mechanisms, evacuation scenarios, and preparation of essential supplies. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) The remains of one of four Filipinos killed in the Israel-Hamas war were repatriated on Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said. The body of the 49-year-old caregiver was the first to be returned to the country out of four Filipinos who were confirmed to have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict that began on Oct. 7. READ: DFA confirms 3rd Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas war The slain woman was the third Filipino confirmed to have perished during the bloody clash. DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said she was killed because she refused to abandon her elderly Israeli employer amid the unrest. "Ipinakita ng ating dakilang OFW [overseas Filipino worker] yung kabayanihan niya kasi ipinagtanggol niya at hindi iniwanan yung kanyang elderly na Israel employer," Olalia told the media. "Sinamahan niya kahit na meron siyang pagkakataon na umalis," he also said. "Naabutan sila ng mga terorista at yun nga sa kasamaang palad, isa siya sa napatay." [Translation: Our OFW showed her heroism because she did not leave her elderly Israeli employer. She stayed with them even though she had a chance to leave. Terrorists caught up with them and she was killed.] Her remains will be brought to Negros Occidental, where her bereaved family resides. The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said they would provide financial aid for the bereaved family. The remains of three other Filipinos are still in the war-torn nation waiting to be flown home. Meanwhile, 34 Filipinos have been repatriated to the Philippines from Israel, while no Pinoys in the Gaza Strip have been able to leave the Palestinian enclave, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The DFA has also raised Alert Level 3 in Lebanon, meaning voluntary repatriation for Filipinos there as tensions grow between Israel and Hezbollah. READ: DFA: Alert Level 3 raised in Lebanon Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) A group of young legislators said it is supporting the conversion of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a highly urbanized city. In a statement on Saturday, the National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan Chapter said it has signed a manifesto on Oct. 19 to convey its support for the citys possible transition. Bustos, Bulacan Councilor Marie Nina Nikkie Perez, the current chairperson of the National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan Chapter, is among the signatories. The group cited the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that cities with a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority, and with the latest annual income of at least 50 million based on 1992 constant prices, as certified by the Treasurer, shall be classified as highly-urbanized cities." Earlier, 23 mayors in the province of Bulacan showed their support for the citys conversion. The Commission on Elections has set the plebiscite for the conversion on Oct. 30 to be held simultaneously with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Beijing, China (CNN Philippines, October 21) Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an immediate end to the violence between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas before the conflict goes "out of control" and lead to a full-blown humanitarian crisis. Xi also said the "fundamental way out" of the hostilities is through the implementation of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. "The top priority is to cease fire and stop the war at an early date," the Chinese leader was quoted saying in state news agency Xinhua. "It is crucial to prevent the conflict from expanding or even losing control and causing a serious humanitarian crisis," he added. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also released a joint statement on Friday expressing grave concern over the war in the Middle East. "We urge for the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties and call for the full respect of International Humanitarian Law. We call on all parties to create safe, rapid, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian corridors," the ASEAN said. The regional bloc also condemned the killings of civilians without blaming a particular party. READ: DFA confirms death of another Filipino in war-torn Israel "We strongly condemn the acts of violence which have led to the deaths and injury of civilians, including ASEAN nationals. We reaffirm our support for a negotiated two-State solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace," it added. The ASEAN also called on parties to allow the creation of humanitarian corridors to allow the safe and unimpeded passage of ASEAN nationals fleeing from the conflict. During the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made two humanitarian appeals to Israel and Hamas. "To Hamas, for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. To Israel, to immediately allow unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza - the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children," he said. The UN chief also made a call for a humanitarian ceasefire. "I call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to provide sufficient time and space to help realize my two appeals and to ease the epic human suffering we are witnessing," Guterres said. The European Union and the United States warned about risks of the collapse for the Ukrainian economy in their statement released after the EU-US summit in Washington. October 21, 2023, 10:35 US, EU warn about threat of Ukrainian economic collapse STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: The United States and the European Union "remain unwavering in our long-term political, financial, humanitarian, and military support to Ukraine," according to the statement, Tass informs. "We recognize the urgency of ensuring that Russia does not succeed in collapsing the Ukrainian economy and of intensifying our efforts to help ensure assistance meets Ukraines highest priority needs," the statement reads. (CNN) 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. October is the witching month and with Halloween drawing closer, scammers have been busy victimizing people who are in search of products to make the holiday more fun. This weeks ConsumerAffairs-Trend Micro Threat Alert has identified at least 97,475 Halloween shopping-related scam URLs in the U.S. Thats a 20.67% increase compared to last year. The top five states being targeted the most in 2023 are California, Virginia, Oregon, Arizona and Texas. We are seeing a number of different scams being used to entice consumers into giving up their personal information or scamming them out of money, Jon Clay, vice president of Threat Intelligence at Trend Micro, told ConsumerAffairs. In the last two weeks, we have seen nearly 100,000 fake Halloween shopping sites luring shoppers looking for great deals. Clay says email scams using Walmart as a hook have also been detected. He says consumers should be cautious when online shopping or responding to a message that likely looks too good to be true. Speaking of Walmart, this weeks Alert found scammers pretending to be Walmart online support, informing victims they won a 65 Samsung 8K TV in a competition. To claim the prize, victims may be required to provide their personal and credit card information to the online support. The top five states being targeted the most (in order) are Texas, California, Virginia, Florida and New York. Here are some other scams on our radar screen: USPS Shipping Scam Scammers impersonate USPS to ask customers to provide delivery addresses and credit card information. The top five states being targeted the most are Texas, California, Florida, New York and Illinois. Funding Scam In this scam, the bad actors pretend to be the United Nations Fund Monitoring Unit and inform email receivers that they could get an ATM card with $25 million. If victims reply to scammers with their personal info, they can then claim this ATM card. The Trend Micro Research team found 788 logs on Oct 14. ACE Hardware Scam Scammers impersonate ACE Hardware, telling users that they have won the newest Craftsman Generator and asking them to join a loyalty program to share their credential info. The Trend Micro Research team detected 104 logs on Oct 15. As we head into the holidays, consumers should be especially vigilant against scams especially offers that seem to good to be true. If you should fall victim to a scam, heres how and where to report it. No one really knows when humans first mastered fire. Maybe we first started using flint to start fire 40,000 ago. Or maybe we first started using flint to start fire 400,000 years ago. Thats a huge difference and speaks to a huge hole in our knowledge about early humanity. Humans were using fire even before we ever started fires, thanks to fires that started naturally. We might have been messing with those a million years before we set fires ourselves. These early fire interactions came with their own challenges. Find out about them below, along with some dubious advice about letting insects bite you. 15 Proportional Punishment The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s were not the first witch trials in Massachusetts. Plymouth found one woman guilty of witchcraft earlier, but the only penalty was she had to pay a fine to the man on whom shed cast a spell. 14 Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol Staring in 1897, a Paris theater hosted live plays depicting scenes of graphic horror, such people stabbing each others brains. Patrons watched from private boxes because they tended to get visibly aroused. 13 Good News, Everyone Spiders are getting larger. City spiders, anyway evolutionary pressures have pushed spiders who live near people to grow bigger. This appears to be a good thing for the food chain overall. Advertisement 12 True Love In the 1930s, the Japanese public was interested in one high-profile murder, committed by a geisha. After killing her victim, Sada Abe cut off his genitals, then went on to routinely carry them with her, under her kimono. 11 Raisin Fraud The government has an official definition for raisin bread. It must contain a minimum level of raisins, naturally, and it also must contain a maximum level of egg, otherwise you must instead label it raisin and egg bread. Advertisement Advertisement 10 The Cape Town Zombie After a 2018 car accident in Cape Town, paramedics declared three people dead. All of them went to the morgue. Fortunately, just a few hours later, someone checked in on the bodies because it turned out one of them was still breathing. 9 Magic Pupa In the 1970s, Jim Henson had an idea for a movie called The Dark Chrysalis. Designer Brian Froud misheard the word chrysalis as something else and drew concept art of a crystal. The idea for The Dark Crystal developed from there. Advertisement 8 What Could Go Wrong? C-4 explosives are pretty explosive, of course, when you hit them with the right kind of shock wave. Otherwise, the stuff is remarkably stable. You can shoot C-4 with a gun, and it wont detonate. Advertisement 7 Your Big Nose You really dont have a good idea what your face looks like. Your conception of yourself comes from photos, and possibly selfies in particular, and the focal length of these shots creates an image different from what people see. Advertisement 6 That Burning Sensation According to one hypothesis, we developed as a species by sublimating the need to pee on fire. Men instinctively want to pee on sparks, due to the phallic impulse, but by holding back, they finally managed to tame fire. This idea is supported by no evidence. 5 This Is Your Life In 1995, an American game show surprised a Hiroshima survivor by bringing out the guy who dropped the bomb. This wasnt exactly a joyous reunion. The survivor did not know in advance that the Enola Gay pilot would be there, and he reacted with some distress. Advertisement Advertisement 4 YInMn Blue In 2009, scientists heated manganese oxide with other elements to a temperature of 1,200 degrees Celsius, in hopes of developing new electronics compounds. They didnt succeed at that exactly, but they did stumble up the most powerful shade of blue ever found. 3 A Man With a Destiny Leatherman tools are not named that way because they come in iconic leather pouches. They are named for the company founder, Tim Leatherman. Advertisement 2 Bug Surgeons In 19th-century Greece (and possibly thousands of years ago as well, according to vague historical record), doctors stitched wounds together by having live ants bite injured soldiers. Today, doctors say this is technically possible but a bad idea. Art brings tears to your eyes. Sometimes, its because you find it so moving. Other times, its just because its all so sad. Art is pain. Pain and death. Understand this, mourn and only then are you free to truly appreciate anything. 5 Michelangelo Hated Doing the Sistine Chapel So Much Behold, the Sistine Chapel, a complex work of art beside which all future magnum opuses must be compared. When you yourself devote time to a particularly elaborate embroidered cushion, and you consider taking a break for a beer, you ask yourself, Did Michelangelo break for beer when he painted the Sistine Chapel? He presumably did, many times, since painting the chapel took years, so you break for a beer, and we now forget where we were going with this. Snowdog/Wiki Commons Michelangelos a party dude. Frescoes cover every wall of the Sistine Chapel, but the most famous part of the chapel is, of course, the ceiling. Thats where we have The Creation of Adam, which is just one of dozens of scenes of Biblical figures and prophets. The problem with painting art on a ceiling, though, is its really hard. We dont just mean it takes artistic skill or creative vision. We mean its physically hard. One popular story has Michelangelo lying flat on his back while painting the Sistine ceiling, which sounds downright cozy, but he actually had to stand on scaffolding and face straight up. Try doing that for just a few minutes, then think about what it felt like doing that every day for years. Michelangelo At least he had something nice to look at during all this. I've grown a goiter by dwelling in this den, wrote Michelangelo, in a poem he penned about the experience. My nape falls in, fixed on my spine. My breast-bone visibly grows like a harp... My loins into my paunch like levers grind. My buttock like a crupper bears my weight... Come then, Giovanni, try to succor my dead pictures and my fame, since foul I fare and painting is my shame. Michelangelo didnt even consider himself a painter, by the way. He preferred sculpting and had been roped into this project against his will. Advertisement On the same page as the poem, he sketched himself painting the ceiling. Youll first notice Michelangelos flattering depiction of his own curves. Look next to goofy scrawls that he uses to represent the ceiling painting. It should tell you all you need to know about how much esteem he had for this work of his. Michelangelo Giant straight lines for hair, just like we drew when we were six. Michelangelo finished work on the ceiling when he was 37. Twenty-five years later, he came back and painted another fresco for the chapels altar wall, this one with more penises. Painting a wall is a vacation compared to doing a ceiling. Michelangelo Should have used paint rollers for the ceiling, its much more efficient. 4 A Whole Lot of Real People Died Alongside the Terracotta Warriors When the first emperor of China died in the third century B.C., the court made thousands of sculptures of warriors to accompany him in the afterlife. Constructing and burying these terracotta warriors took years. Then the endeavor was totally forgotten by history, until some random farmer looking to dig a well discovered the whole thing in 1974. Jmhullot/Wiki Commons He put his hands on his hips and said, Well well well. Advertisement Advertisement The whole complex is kind of creepy, in a these-mannequins-probably-come-to-life-when-youre-not-looking sort of way. But at least its not like they went and killed thousands of real people and buried them with the emperor, the way the old stories say emperors used to do, haha! Except, yes, a whole lot of people did die making these sculptures, which is why the emperors tomb is surrounded by mass graves. Check out the map of the complex below. Youve got the Terracotta Warriors, and the emperors tomb lies a mile away. Close by are graves of various people who died working on the project. Then we have a separate mass grave of people who also died working on the project but wore handcuffs and iron collars, which would make them prisoners sentenced to hard labor. National Museum of Oriental Art The other sections here are where things get really juicy. After the emperor died, one child managed to replace him on the throne, but it wasnt the oldest son. No, the next emperor, Qin Er Shi, murdered the oldest son, and we think weve found the slain bros remains buried here with a crossbow bolt still in the skull. Then, to make his claim to the throne extra secure, Qin Er Shi killed all his younger brothers as well. Theyre the section marked murdered princes. Advertisement But what if the First Emperor had any illegitimate children out there? What if he had any unborn illegitimate children (he was just 49 when he died and was having plenty of sex right up until the end)? To take care of that, Qin Er Shi murdered all the royal concubines. We believe they are the remains labeled here as mutilated skeletons. Either that or those remains were skeletal warriors who rose up and had to be defeated, but that would actually be the less horrifying alternative. 3 The Las Meninas Girl Had a Terrible Life The below artwork is a cropped version of Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, painted in 1656. It influenced centuries of paintings that followed it one time, Picasso did 58 different paintings based on this one, just for fun. That girl in the center is a princess, and several nieces assure us that being a princess is the greatest life possible. Diego Velazquez You get to wear fancy dresses and go to balls, and hold on, the niece is just fantasizing about being older. Advertisement Advertisement Shes Margaret Theresa of Spain, five years old at the time of the painting. Her father was the King of Spain, while her mother was the daughter of Maria Anna of Spain, the kings sister. Incest was accepted and indeed required for royalty in those days. Margarets mother was 14 when she married her 44-year-old uncle. Margaret Theresa married her uncle as well. Leopold I, the Holy Roman Emperor, was another of Maria Annas children. Since Maria Anna was Margarets aunt as well as her grandmother, Leopold was Margarets cousin as well as her uncle. via Wiki Commons The Hapsburg family tree was more of a family hedge maze. When you engage in incest, experts suggest birth control, for fear of bringing recessive genes together and producing offspring with nasty diseases, or at least unsightly chins. As Holy Roman Empress, Margaret Theresa was most definitely required to have children. She married at 15 and had her first child at 16; he died before he reached four months. She had her second child a year later this one would live to the age of 23 before dying after childbirth. Advertisement Margaret had her third child when she was 18. He died the same day he was born. She had her fourth child at 20; this one lived 14 days. Over the course of these five years, she also got pregnant two additional times, resulting in miscarriages. Then she got pregnant a seventh time, and this pregnancy killed her. She was 21 years old. via Wiki Commons She didnt deserve that, and were not just talking about her chin. We can blame Margarets tragic life and death on 17th-century customs and 17th-century science. She herself, however, blamed it on 17th-century Jews and therefore ordered all Jews expelled from Vienna, so maybe shes not the hero in this story. 2 FDRs Portrait Caught the Moment of His Death Unfinished works have their own special attraction. Consider, for example, the Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. He painted Washingtons head and shoulders, and that was pretty much all the time Washington was willing to spare and all the info Stuart needed. He never finished the portrait, but he used it as a model for other portraits he did of Washington without having to drag the guy back into the studio again. Gilbert Stuart No one knows that when sitting for this, George wasnt wearing pants. Advertisement Advertisement Franklin Roosevelt also had an unfinished portrait. On April 12, 1945, he sat down with painter Elizabeth Shoumatoff. It was quite a time in history, with World War II drawing to a close, but hed taken a few days off to visit the town of Warm Springs, Georgia. Hed gone to this retreat many times over the years for swimming (not a lot of kicking involved here, so he put all his energy into using his arms). The portrait wouldnt take long; this was no Sistine Chapel. Shoumatoff would paint him, then hed leave and attend a barbecue in his honor. But while sitting for the portrait, he suffered a stroke, which killed him shortly after. Elizabeth Shoumatoff She could have filled in the blanks later, but that would have ruined it. The painter captured FDRs final conscious moments. We catch peoples final moments on camera fairly regularly nowadays, due to our penchant for filming ourselves when we juggle chainsaws, but its less common to manage the same thing through oil on canvas. Advertisement The US and EU insist on the need to postpone the ground operation in Gaza, Bloomberg writes. October 21, 2023, 12:34 US, EU insist on delaying ground operation, Israel intends to eliminate Hamas STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to Cursor, this request is related to exhausting the possibilities of releasing the hostages through the mediation of Qatar. At the same time, according to Times of Israel, the country's Prime Minister's Office reported that Netanyahu had identified a goal - the elimination of Hamas. All talk of decisions to hand over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority or any other party is a lie, Netanyahu said. Dr Mohamed Muizzus anti-Indiaism has created a rather unnecessary geopolitical situation and presents a clear challenge to Indian influence The elections in Maldives, resulting in the victory of Dr Mohamed Muizzu, an overtly pro-China and unfortunately anti-India politician, is a stark reminder of how much has changed in Indo-Maldivian relations since the swash buckling Operation Cactus carried out by India on November 3, 1988. Thirty five years back, it was Indias surgical intervention that not only preserved democracy in Maldives but neutralised the coup d etat by Abdullah Luthufi and his hired band of Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries who was seeking to overthrow President Abdul Gayoom. Despite Cold War tensions in 1988 and a bitter domestic divide internally, the operation executed at the personal instance of Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi garnered critical international acclaim from the West, particularly from leaders such as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, both of whom commended Indias proactive response to prevent the subversion of democracy. Pro-China does not necessarily have to be anti-India. It is not a binary or a linear equation. However, in Dr Muizzus case, that is what it ostensibly it seems to be for the moment, going by reports in the public domain. Dr Mohamed Muizzus anti-Indiaism has created a rather unnecessary geopolitical situation and presents a clear challenge to Indian influence in the Indian Ocean our strategic backyard. India and Maldives share close ethnic, linguistic, cultural and commercial ties. The name Maldives derives from the Sanskrit word: mala (garland), and dvipa (island). Moreover, the official language of Maldives, Dhivehi, has strong ties to Indic languages such as Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil. When the Maldives became independent from the British on July 26, 1965, India was among the first countries to recognise the archipelago. In 1981, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Trade Agreement that cemented decades of commercial relations. Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the South Asian Economic Union (SAEU). During the unprecedented tsunami of 2004, India was one of the first responders to send relief to the Maldives. Under Operation Vaccine Maitri, Maldives was the first country to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a grant from India. However, hardline anti-India and Islamist elements in the Maldavian polity has used these ties to build an anti-India narrative. They have sought to exploit Indias benign presence in the Maldives and even politicised the well-meaning help and aid provided by India to the Maldives. These narratives can be traced back to 2010 and 11 when India gifted Maldives surveillance helicopters, and the two sides signed a defence cooperation agreement for joint surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The then Opposition led by people such as Abdulla Yameen criticised this agreement as an attempt by India to infringe upon Maldivian sovereignty, and enhance its hegemony over the island state. Similarly, in December 2012, a controversy was manufactured to oust GMR-GMIAL (GMR Male International Airport Private Limited) that had won a concession worth $511 million for 25 years for upgrading and operating the Male international airport. The obtuse basis that was made the ground for kicking out GMR was that a $25 airport development charge levied per person for using the airport was a tax and not a user fee and, therefore, illegal, since it had not been approved by the Maldivan Parliament. As a consequence of these various campaigns of calumny in 2013, Abdulla Yameen came to power and departed from the traditional pro-India stance that was virtually the default setting of Maldives. He furthered intensified the anti-India rhetoric in an attempt to whip up a xenophobic and jingoistic nationalist sentiments and consequently leveraged these manufactured narratives to increase proximity to Beijing. As a result, the Maldives became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and invited Chinese investment into the region to offset India. In 2018, when Ibrahim Solih replaced him as the President; he immediately rectified the wrongs done by his predecessor and sought to improve ties with India by initiating an "India First" policy. This policy prioritised India for economic and defence partnerships and was sensitive to Indias concerns regarding the growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean. In response, the Opposition coalition, which included the Peoples National Congress (the party to which Dr Muizzu belongs) and the Progressive Party of Maldives, launched a policy called the India Out campaign. The campaign aimed to remove Indian military presence in the Maldives, which, in reality, consists of a mere 75 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives to assist the operation of the Dornier aircraft and two helicopters gifted by the Indian government. Another aspect that fuelled anti-Indian sentiment in Maldives was the majoritarianism intrinsic to the DNA of the current ruling dispensation in Delhi. Maldives is a very conservative society with Islam as its state religion; therefore, instances of pro-Hindu and anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from India were used by the Maldivian Opposition coalition (now in office) to polarise society and build its voter base on an anti-Indian platform. Maldives is strategically important to India. It overlooks critical Sea Lanes of Commerce (SLOCs) connecting Asia with Europ and, therefore, serves as a crucial buffer to pre-empt the spread of Chinese influence from the South China Sea to the Northern Indian Ocean and beyond. Given that the Gwadar and Hambantota ports are already controlled by the Chinese, a pro-China Maldives could furthermore augment their access if not ability to project power in the Indian Ocean. This has clear implications on India's sphere of influence its Monroe doctrine. Unfortunately, Mohamed Muizzu is not making it easy, for India and by implication for himself, by walking his anti-India rhetoric. He reiterated his campaign bombast of removing Indian troops from the first day of taking charge and also stated that he would exonerate the anti-India former President Abdulla Yameen, who was then released from prison and placed under house arrest. Additionally, Dr Muizzus strict adherence to Salafism, a radical school of Islam, is at odds with the comparatively liberal Deobandi Islam and the permissive Sufi Islam that characterise the Muslim ethos of the subcontinent. Moreover, radicalism and extremist ideologies are finding increasing resonance among the youth in Maldives. Certain reports suggest that Maldives contributes the highest number of cadre per-capita to the ranks of the Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Consequently, India-Maldives relations are expected to face challenging times, and India can anticipate both an increased Chinese presence in its strategic backyard as well a greater proliferation of radicalism in its neighbhorhood. The funds of atheism would fuel the extreme frings of religion. It is, therefore, imperative that India deeply rethink its strategy qua the Maldives. An Aussie man has divided opinion with his unusual listing for a flatmate, in which he states the successful applicant will not be allowed to stay in his three-bedroom home on weekends. "Weekdays only. I'm not home on the weekdays so not only the room but the whole property is yours during the weekdays," the ad starts off. "However, once I'm home on the weekends, I don't want any housemates around. "So it's suitable for someone [who] spends the weekends elsewhere, like with their partner, parents' place, etc, and would like to enjoy their privacy on the weekends." An Aussie man has divided the internet after calling for a renter to share his home but vacate on weekends. Photo: Flatmates.com.au The man said the successful applicant would need to vacate the property every Friday evening for the weekend. He further stipulated the room, which has a queen-sized bed, wardrobe, heater, air-con and a private bathroom, was available to "anyone except couples" and was for a minimum six-month stay. The man said he flies out for work in regional South Australia early on Monday mornings and noted the property was close to the Adelaide CBD, public transport, schools and "much more". Aussies split over listing However, the listing got a mixed response after it was shared on Reddit. Some users predictably roasted the post with one saying, "Everything is on our doorstep! Including the local park where you can pitch your weekend tent!" But others didn't understand what all the fuss was about. "I actually don't see a problem with this," one Redditor responded. "I assume it's intended for someone who is doing FIFO-style work or lives regionally and needs a pad in the city for Monday to Friday or similar and will return 'home' each weekend. I assume the rental rate asked for is also in line with the reduced access to the property. It could be branded better though." Story continues Another wrote, "I don't get the reaction either. Might be a perfect arrangement for some people who work in the CBD during the week." A room is on offer in this Adelaide home, but only on weekdays. Photo: Flatmates.com.au Is it legal to force a housemate out on weekends? While the man's post ruffled feathers online, lawyer Chris Stone from the Legal Services Commission South Australia, told Yahoo News the proposed arrangement was "unusual" but "not illegal". He said essentially the housemate would be paying to house sit during the week and advised anyone thinking of entering into the arrangement to do so with "eyes wide open". "People can reach any agreement they want, of course," he said. "What strikes me is, who is this person going to find? Who would agree to do this and want to do this?" Mr Stone said any disputes wouldn't be covered by the Residential Tenancies Act and would need to be dealt with under contract law at a magistrate's court, which could prove costly should the case drag on. He urged both parties to form a carefully written contract clearly outlining the terms of the lease, particularly around splitting bills and what hours the housemate agreed to spend outside of the property on weekends. "It's a pretty small, niche market of people who this might suit," Mr Stone said. "Perhaps someone who is also a FIFO worker. The run-of-the-mill person who lives in Adelaide, this is not going to suit them if they're looking for somewhere to live or rent." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Last week, I said here: 'Israel's attack on Gaza is a mistake, mainly because it will probably not work, and because it will allow millions of people to start loathing Israel again. They cannot do this at the moment. As long as the memory of Hamas killers striding into peaceful villages and slaughtering unarmed civilians and even babies still lingers in the public mind, Israel will have the support of millions and most of its opponents will keep their voices down.' I did not realise how quickly my prediction would come true. As soon as Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, the superbly cynical global anti-Israel propaganda machine whirred smoothly into action. And Israel was transformed in a few hours from victim into villain. The Hamas murders are already starting to be forgotten. Yet maybe something may still be rescued. If the retaliation against Gaza cannot be undone, perhaps it can be reversed and halted. But is there any true statesmanship or political courage to be found in Israel? TERROR IN THE DESERT: Young Israelis flee during an attack by Hamas killers at a music festival two weeks ago This picture taken from Israel's southern city of Sderot shows a smoke plume erupting during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 19, 2023 Palestinians run for cover as tear gas canisters fall during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Nablus, 13 October 2023 According to Hamas, Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie were released for 'humanitarian reasons', sparking hope that more of the 200 people kidnapped during their raid of southern Israel two weeks ago would follow suit I do not myself join in the easy, modish condemnation of the Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu. He is an unusually intelligent and experienced man, one of the very few major figures in world politics who has actually been wounded in combat. This is perhaps the most profound form of experience available, in a world where most Western leaders have never faced anything tougher than a selection meeting or a university final exam. He must know he has not much time left at the top of Israel's political dunghill. Why then not crown his long career with a gesture to astonish the world? Why not say: 'We have seen enough blood. Nothing is to be gained by shedding more of it. In fact, we are sure that our enemies want us to do precisely that. We will cease to bombard Gaza, and will abandon attempts at a ground invasion which will, in truth, bring only grief, much of it to innocent people. Most will understand our national rage at what was done to us and our initial desire to hit back. But our considered response to the Hamas murders is to turn to the world and remind everyone in it exactly what Israel's enemies did on October 7. 'These murders and kidnappings were not, as their apologists claim, responses to oppression or maltreatment. They were vindictive acts of racist hate. They were driven by a high-octane version of a much wider anti-Jewish phobia which is still all too common in the world. It was this phobia which led to the desperate measure of creating a national home for the world's Jews, a place of last resort for those fleeing mass murder. The aftermath of the October 7 attack on the Supernova music Festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel, pictured on October 8 A large rally in support of Gaza and Palestinians takes place along the Avenue Habib Bourguiba heading to the French embassy in Tunis, October 21 2023 An Israeli army Merkava battle tank deploys with others along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on October 13, 2023 'It is this shameful and bigoted phobia which has stood in the way of general acceptance that Israel has as much freedom to exist as any other state. Look this hatred in the face. See what Hamas did on October 7. Look at those who have excused it or tried to offer apologies for it. And cease to help them. We in our turn will not please these fanatics by walking into the trap they have tried to set for us. We will seek out and punish known individual culprits. But we are not in the business of harming the innocent.' Just try it. The bombs and the missiles have not worked. Perhaps this will. Evil lurking behind dope lies One of the most thumping lies you will ever hear is the repeated claim by marijuana fans that legalising their poison will 'take it out of the hands of criminals'. When they first started saying it, it was plainly false. Legal dope would obviously be taxed. And criminals would try to undercut legal sellers, by avoiding that tax. Now news comes from Canada of the failure of its five-year-old marijuana legalisation scheme. Thousands of workers are being laid off as ambitious new dope companies fail. As anyone could have foretold, the criminal gangs, largely untroubled by defeatist police, can undercut the legal suppliers on price, because they do not pay tax. They can also ignore the pitiful attempts at 'regulation' which the legalisers always go on about. As Professor Michael Armstrong, of Brock University in Ontario, puts it: 'The big trade-off in legal cannabis is: how do you make the legal market attractive enough to get all the existing users to go with the legal weed, but not so attractive that you get a whole bunch of new users starting up.' Even the Canadian government, one of the most naive bodies in the universe, estimates that 33 per cent of the trade was still in the hands of crooks four years after legalisation. How can they be sure it isn't much higher? They can't. Meanwhile in California, another pioneer in legal dope, the Los Angeles Times has uncovered severe corruption in the granting of licences for cannabis businesses in the state. Once, the claim that legalising this pestilent, life-ruining drug would remove it from criminal hands was just ill-researched propaganda. Now it is a proven lie, and you should bear this in mind every time you hear anybody saying it. Evil always tries to advance behind a phalanx of lies, for otherwise people would see it for what it is, in time to defeat it. Call time on this absurd meddling This time next week, the clocks of this country will once again be allowed to tell the correct time, instead of madly fooling us into living according to the Berlin meridian. I and many other early-risers will no longer have to get up in the dark, and the evening will come on a little sooner. Idiots will claim that the change has deprived them of light, though the amount of daylight will remain exactly the same. The shortening and lengthening of the days is a natural process which would happen gradually and rather pleasantly if we did not engage in this pointless fiddling. The evenings have been drawing in for weeks. On September 23, sunset in London was at 6.59pm. Tonight it will be at 5.53pm. Next Sunday, after the clocks go back to where they should be, sunset will be at 4.39pm GMT. Why not just leave them there for good? Are we so ill-educated that we cannot see that this violent twice-yearly changing of the clocks has only one effect it forces everyone to go to work and school an hour earlier than they need to during the period when we are on Berlin (or 'Summer') Time? What for? What good does this do? We rightly want our food to be natural, organic, etc. Why then do we agree to have our time adulterated for months of every year? Turn off all the noise. Dial down the claims and counter-claims of the spin doctors, psephologists and strategists. Instead, imagine being on a winding Bedfordshire lane called Deadman's Cross they used to hang highwaymen from the nearby hill and in an unassuming but cosy 17th Century red-brick pub called The Greyhound. Last Thursday lunchtime, I popped in to take a break from my perambulation of polling stations in the Mid-Beds by-election. Gathered round the bar were three locals, Andie, Robbie and Boo. In 2000, when Vauxhall announced it was ending car production in nearby Luton, Andie asked on a whim if he could purchase the firm's seemingly obsolete manufacturing robots. 'Now I sell robots all round the world. We had a 7 million turnover last year,' he tells me casually. Robbie is a property developer. Boo a bricklayer. Last month, Sunak attempted to relaunch his premiership by repackaging himself as an agent of change. On Thursday, that rebranding exercise blew up in his face These three men self-made, middle-aged, robustly unwoke would once have represented the bedrock of British Conservatism. The constituency where we are sitting wasn't so much safe, as an impregnable Tory fortress. Not any more. 'I've had it with all of them,' Andie tells me. 'Rishi is OK. Yeah, he's rich but I haven't got a problem with that. But there's no difference now in any of them. Nothing changes.' Robbie had more parochial concerns. 'Our council is a nightmare. Getting something built around here is like a war. I'd be better off with Keir Starmer.' He laughs. 'Not that I trust a word he says.' Boo voted for Boris Johnson in 2019. 'I liked him. He made me laugh,' he explains. But now he has drifted back to abstention. 'I won't be voting for anyone,' he tells me, almost proudly. In the wake of Thursday's electoral double-whammy for the Tories, people have struggled to contextualise the scale of their defeat. 'It's Armageddon,' one Minister told me. But Andie, Robbie and Boo reveal the truth. The Tory base is not imploding. It's just slowly and inexorably ebbing away. Men and women who once voted Conservative on muscle-memory have had enough. They look at a party and politicians they used to take on trust and thought would speak for them. And now see nothing but a vacuum. YES, there were a significant number who switched allegiance last week. You could see it before you even spoke to them. As they walked towards the polling station there was something about their demeanour. It was confident and measured. They wanted to send a message. Fred Ash, a pensioner, was typical. 'I've always voted Tory, but it's time to change now. Partygate. That did it for me.' Nicole, a lawyer, said: 'I was a Tory member once, but I'm voting Labour this time. We need them out.' Keith Palmer, a builder: 'Always been Tory. Especially round here. But it's Reform [which emerged from the ashes of the Brexit Party] now. It's just the last decade. They just don't look or act like a Conservative Government.' There were also a significant number who didn't stop to chat the most I've personally experienced at a by-election. They rushed by hurriedly, heads down. Which may give Rishi Sunak a small cause for hope. The idea there is a 'shy Tory' factor that could be slightly overstating Labour's support in the polls. Starmer's weaknesses do not open the door for a Conservative fightback. They simply underline the extent to which people have decided 'it's time for anyone but the Tories'. Which means time is almost up for the Conservatives But it shouldn't give the PM too much hope. When Tory stalwarts are too embarrassed to admit they are voting Conservative in the heart of Bedfordshire, something is seriously amiss. Over the past few years we have lived through a period of unprecedented political turmoil, but this weekend we finally have clarity. Last month, Sunak attempted to relaunch his premiership by repackaging himself as an agent of change. On Thursday, that rebranding exercise blew up in his face. Just as it will blow up next week, and the week after. The voters could not have been clearer. If they want change, they'll choose Starmer. What they will not do is cast their ballot for a five-year extension of 13 years of Tory rule. Starmer's double by-election successes also mean some people need to rethink the consensus surrounding the Labour leader. All the caveats still apply: he does not enthuse people; he's seen as aloof and wooden; Britain still cannot quite relate to him. And until now, Tory MPs and Ministers have been clinging to this characterisation. But, in truth, it ought to be filling them with dread. Starmer is not the new Blair. His policy agenda to the extent he has one remains opaque. Last week, dozens of Labour MPs were queuing up to defy his stance on the Israel-Hamas war and again indulge their fetishisation of the pro-Palestinian movement. And it hasn't made the slightest electoral difference. Sunak's party is still being routed in its securest citadels. Starmer's weaknesses do not open the door for a Conservative fightback. They simply underline the extent to which people have decided 'it's time for anyone but the Tories'. Which means time is almost up for the Conservatives. The next few days will see some fevered speculation about one last, desperate throw of the leadership dice. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, will ready his letter opener for any new votes of no confidence. Boris Johnson will pull himself away from his memoirs long enough to gently remind the party he's ready to serve if required. But it will be a fantasy. The Conservative Party's reputation for sound governance is already shredded. Another change of leader would leave Britain looking like a banana republic. And as one Minister said: 'There are constitutional issues that need to be considered. If we try to change leader again, after a year, I think the King might start taking an interest.' Other Ministers advocate a dramatic and wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle. 'That really would be our last throw of the dice,' one told me. 'It's the one thing we have left that could change the narrative.' But again, this is crazy talk. If Tory strategists honestly think the voters are going to say, 'Have you heard? Andrew Bowie has replaced Gillian Keegan as Education Secretary. We were wrong about them all along,' they really have lost touch with reality. There is only one thing Sunak can realistically do now. Sit back. Pour himself a stiff non-alcoholic drink. And pray for something anything to turn up. The trouble is that has basically been the Government's strategy for five years. And the voters of Tamworth and Mid-Beds have delivered their verdict on it. There will be a few more twists and turns. Starmer will inevitably have a stumble. The polls will begin to narrow a little. A few disillusioned members of the Tory tribe will reluctantly revert. But the political path is set. Four years ago, I was sitting in a pub in the Red Wall seat of Bishop Auckland. It was General Election polling day and I could hear some regulars laughing among themselves. They were joking about the ludicrous idea of them voting for Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. For Andie, Robbie and Boo, and millions of others in what used to be the Tory Blue Wall, the idea of saving the Conservatives from its inevitable fate is now equally laughable. It may be in months. It may be a year. But one day soon, Sunak will walk out of No 10 for the last time. And the mocking cackle of the ghosts of Deadman's Cross will accompany him. Theres secrecy in the air. As the Sun and Mercury enter Scorpio, if knowledge is to become power, it must be explored and developed in private. When its shared, possibilities will reach their full potential. ARIES March 21 - April 20 Whats making you think you cant call the shots? Have you inadvertently abdicated responsibility and left someone else holding the reins of power? This week, you can take steps that put the reins into your hands. Be confident in your ability to affect whats unfolding. Your powers are greater than you think. Use them firmly but gently to move towards a beneficial conclusion. Do yourself a favour! Theres exciting news in your forecast. Call 0906 751 5601. TAURUS April 21 - May 21 Whats looming on your horizon? Magic, sunshine and happiness? Or are clouds of trouble forming? It depends what you focus on. Positive and negative factors exist. If you look one way, youll see reasons to worry. If you look the other, youll be filled with hope. This week brings reminders of why you need to focus on the good stuff. If you do, youll find it increases right before your eyes. In a week of celestial creativity, transform your life. Call 0906 751 5602. Oscar Cainer (pictured) says 'theres secrecy in the air' this week GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Even the determined need opportunities. You might be blessed with willpower, bright ideas and endless resources, but you still need an opening to instigate positive change. This week, as your ruler Mercury changes signs, you uncover a resource you lack. Youve already got willpower and ideas. Which means nothing can stop you taking advantage of the opportunities coming your way. Ive got so much more to tell you. For valuable insight, call 0906 751 5603. CANCER June 23 - July 23 The difference between an unfriendly argument and thoughtful debate doesnt always depend on the subject. Its much more likely to be a question of the style of discussion. Depending on how its expressed, the same phrase can have a very different impact. A history of dispute creates an expectation of challenge, making it hard for people to hear one another. Be as open-minded as possible this week. To hear how your life can change for the better, call 0906 751 5604. LEO July 24 - August 23 Its impossible for everything to go your way. This is partly because youre not sure what your way is! But some employ a psychological technique to help them make it seem like everythings going their way. They resolve to like whatever comes along. No matter what it is, they decide to be OK with it. As your ruler changes signs, if you accept whatever happens, youll have reasons to smile. Find out how to maximise your luck this week. Call 0906 751 5605. VIRGO August 24 - September 23 We often wonder why were doing what we are doing. To rationalise our reasons we act as if weve always planned things to be this way. Admitting otherwise might reveal a weakness. Youre worried youve embarked on something crazy. But youre experiencing a natural reaction to new situations. As your ruler moves into Scorpio, youll see why you were right to follow your instincts. This is going to be good. A four-minute call could change your life. Call 0906 751 5606. LIBRA September 24 - October 23 Were supposed to be able to tell the difference between the devil we know and the devil we dont. But its harder than it sounds. Devils are ingenious. They hide in all sorts of unexpected places. Just as you think youve spotted one, they change tactics, taking you back to square one. Fortunately, this week you can deal with both types and have some devilishly good fun too. Your forecast is the most fruitful call you could make. Call 0906 751 5607. SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 We dont like thinking about our own mortality. Yet the concept of living forever is equally scary. Since we must deal with the people we dont like as well as those we do, the thought of carrying on as we are now for the rest of time is unsettling! This week, as Mercury and the Sun move into Scorpio, treasure what youve got, while youve got it. Treasure whats changing, too. Its good. Ive got a special message which holds the key to your future. Call 0906 751 5608. As the Sun and Mercury (pictured) enter Scorpio, if knowledge is to become power, it must be explored and developed in private. When its shared, possibilities will reach their full potential, said Oscar SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 If you can plug into an energy source and recharge your batteries, why cant other people? Is it because you get there first and help yourself to more than your fair share? No. You need to tap into it to compensate for less-motivated folk. This week brings an abundance of energy and success. If you stand back, theres a chance someone will be inspired to support you. The future is waiting for you. When you get there, youre going to love it! Call 0906 751 5609. CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 In an ideal world, youd acquire as much knowledge and consult as many experts as possible. The problem is, none of this seems likely. And youre under pressure to achieve a lot in a short space of time. Yet with Mercury moving into Scorpio, as the pressure increases, your intuitive powers grow. By following your hunches, youll end the week in a much stronger position than you started it. Your week-ahead forecast is packed with important news. Call 0906 751 5610. AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 If youre feeling uncertain, thats understandable. And its OK. Positive progress doesnt always feel good when it starts. A sense of unease can provoke the kind of reaction we need when were pushed to our limit. Its when we dig deep that much-needed dramatic improvements occur. Even though it feels messy, youre creating space for something delightful to enter your world. Lift your spirits! Your latest forecast has life-changing news. Call 0906 751 5611. PISCES February 20 - March 20 Everyone does things they know they shouldnt. Weve all got secrets and bad habits. Im not suggesting that makes it OK. But right now youre judging your actions too harshly. This week, by being honest with yourself, youll find a way to move on from a situation you need to move on from. Then youll be able to focus on the positive aspects of your world. Theres a lot to enjoy and be proud of. Want to hear priceless information about your week? Call 0906 751 5612. Greggs is a firm favourite in the UK... but do Brits take its baked goods for granted? A Canadian has shared the moment he tried a Greggs sausage roll for the first time - and described the taste as 'unreal' and he would happily eat 'four a day'. The TikTok by Matt Giffen (@mattgiffenn) captioned 'the moment you've all been wating for' has amassed over 446,000 views. The Toronto native says it's been 'two years in the making' for his first bite, and he's been 'waiting for this moment' ever since he met his British girlfriend. He excitedly told viewers 'Guys, I'm about to have Greggs for the first time ever, words can't explain how excited I am right now,' as he ordered two vegan sausage rolls and one classic meat version. A Canadian has shared the moment he tried a Greggs sausage roll for the first time, where he said it was 'unreal' and he would happily eat 'four a day' Calling the sausage rolls 'beautiful,' he continued 'We've secured the Greggs. 'So when we walked into Greggs just now we asked for a vegan sausage roll and they didn't have any so he said 'oh, you have to wait ten minutes' so we gladly did because look at this.' 'The freshest Greggs sausage roll you have ever seen in your life.' Before tucking in, he explained 'Ever since I met Summer, you don't understand, I've been waiting for this moment right now. This is two years in the making for this bite. 'I'm afraid that the journey leading up to it's gonna be better than the treasure you know.' He began by tasting the vegan sausage roll and he laughed but didn't say anything, claiming he 'needs to try the other one' first. After taking his first bite of the classic version, he exclaimed 'The normal sausage is f***** unreal. I would eat four of these a day, this could f*** me up.' As for the vegan version, he was less impressed as he told viewers 'I don't know about the vegan sausage roll. The Toronto native says it's been 'two years in the making' for his first bite, and he's been 'waiting for this moment' ever since he met his British girlfriend 'I don't know if it's cooked enough or something. It's like paste, is it supposed to be pasty?' Matt's girlfriend Summer also gave her verdict, adding 'This is my seven hundredth millionth one so I still like it as much as I did yesterday but I do agree the meat one's better.' The Canadian concluded the clip by saying 'I feel like I could happily leave the UK now, thanks to Gregg'. One viewer commented 'Steak bake! Yum Yums! You missed the essentials,' to which the TikToker responded 'Had one the next day, was fire'. Other users added 'Greggs Pizza slice is actually elite' and 'The vegan sausage rolls are sooooo much better slightly warm or cold'. It isn't the first time Matt has filmed his reaction to trying to British cuisine - last month he tried a roast dinner for the very first time which he said was the 'greatest thing' he'd ever seen in his life. More recently he also gave a 2 meal from a London chicken shop a go, claiming he felt like he was in 'Top Boy'. The Spanish royal family looked cosy as they wrapped up warm to visit village communities this afternoon. Queen Letizia, 51, looked chic in a blue and green fitted sweater as she toured the communities of Arroes, Pion and Candanal. Meanwhile her eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 17, looked smart in a dark denim shirt with a cream pea coat, and 16-year-old Infanta Sofia chose a utility-style khaki jacket. The three royal women joined King Felipe to tour the churches of the villages, which have each been honoured in the Princesa de Asturias Awards. The family outing follows the awards ceremony last night in Ovieda, Spain, in which Hollywood royalty Meryl Streep was honoured. The Spanish royal family looked wrapped up for autumn as they toured three villages in the region of Villaviciosa 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. While Queen Letizia, 51, looked chic in a green and blue sweater, Princess Leonor, 17, opted fir a dark denim shirt and pea coat The future Queen of Spain glowed as she waved and smiled at well wishers who had gathered to see her During the visits, the Spanish royals took a look at some of the arts and crafts designed by community members Royal fans gathered to meet the Queen, King and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia Sister, Sister! Infanta Sofia (left) and Princess Leonor (right) beamed as they strolled along and appeared to be wearing near-identical white jeans Queen Letizia layered her sweater with a navy trench coat to wrap up in the chillier autumn temperatures Infanta Sofia put her arm around her father King Felipe as they watched a traditional dance in the village of Arroes Royal fans meet a future Queen! Princess Leonor, who is currently in military training, shook hands with people who had queued to meet her '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.' Yesterday, 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. 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 Meryl Streep greeted Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI while receiving the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award in Oviedo on Friday 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. 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. Queen Letizia, left, stands alongside her two daughters, Princess Leonor, centre, and Princess Sofia, during the prestigious event 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. Earlier this week, 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. 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. Queen Camilla dazzled in a green coat dress and hat as she put her best foot forward at the races this afternoon. The Queen, 76, paired the stunning ensemble with a pair of knee-length boots with a mid, block heel, and she paid tribute to the late Queen in her outfit. On her left lapel, Camilla donned a horse racing brooch, which features a diamond-encrusted steed being mounted by a jockey. The brooch was gifted to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth for her 90th birthday, and passed on to fellow horse-racing enthusiast Queen Camilla following her death. As she arrived at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire for QIPCO British Champions Day, the Queen smiled in a photo with world-famous jockey, Frankie Dettori. Queen Camilla dazzled in an emerald coat dress and matching hat as she arrived at Ascot Racecourse this afternoon Keeping her late mother-in-law close with the sweet tribute in her outfit, the Queen smiled as she walked into the racecourse to meet Mr Dettori and other racing officials. The brooch, commissioned by the Racing Post newspaper and made by Birmingham-based jewellers Alabaster & Wilson Ltd, marks a touching handover from one Queen to the other. The dazzling one-of-a-kind piece was made with three shades of gold, white for the horse, gold for the jockey and red gold for the reins and bridle. The Queen, 76, met with world famous jockey upon arrival at the Berkshire racecourse ahead of QIPCO British Champions Day The jockey brooch was gifted to Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday in 2016 and was commissioned by the Racing Post Queen Camilla and a winning jockey beam as he is presented with a silver dish at the Ascot racecourse Queen Camilla was tasked with handing out the winning trophy at the end of the day at the Berkshire racecourse The Queen's love of horse racing was clear as she beamed during the presentation ceremony at the end of the day The Queen chatted to other racing fans as the day got off to a rousing start Queen Camilla sported the late Queen Elizabeth II's jockey brooch, which was commissioned by the Racing Post for her 90th birthday Queen Camilla beamed at the presentation ceremony The Queen teamed up with King Charles's racing advisor, John Warren, to have a look at the best bets for the day The pair appeared to be deep in conversation as they discussed the order of the day Queen Camilla and John Warren appeared to be closely observing the happenings on the course As storms battered the UK on race day, the Queen had to use an umbrella during a downpour Camilla accessorised with an emerald leather handbag Not even the rain can stop her smile! Queen Camilla looked cheerful despite having to carry an umbrella The Queen looked elegant as she arrived at the racecourse, but was wary of the chilly weather in knee length suede boots Camilla and Frankie shared a joke at the beginning of the day The Queen's suede boots featured zip detailing and a block mid heel Camilla, who is renowned for her love of horse racing, beamed as she arrived at the Berkshire course The Queen, who is known by those close to her to have a rip-roaring sense of humour, appeared to leave Frankie Dettori in stitches It is not the first time this week Camilla has made a nod to the late Queen, as she debuted one of Her late Majesty's favourite ever headpieces to attend a banquet with King Charles on Wednesday evening. The Queen, 76, accompanied King Charles, 74, to Mansion House in the City of London, where the monarch took part in a ceremony steeped in history and dined with business leaders. As she arrived at the venue wearing a shimmering Bruce Oldfield gown, Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara for the first time since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The stunning diadem was first gifted to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck to mark her wedding to George V in 1893. Her late Majesty was known to be incredibly fond of the headpiece, and affectionately called it 'Granny's Tiara'. She wore the diadem during one of her first public appearances following the funeral of her father George VI, not long after she ascended the throne. It was recently revealed that Queen Camilla does her own make-up - and today she produced another showstopping look Upon meeting the Queen, Dettori took her hand and bowed It takes its name from the committee of women who raised money to create it. Made of diamonds set in silver and gold, it was topped by 14 pearls but they were replaced with 13 brilliant-cut diamonds . It is thought to have been one of Her Majestys favourites, as she was often seen wearing it, and is even pictured wearing it on some bank notes. Camilla is the third queen to have worn the tiara, which was a wedding present in 1893 for Queen Mary, who passed it on to her granddaughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, when she married in 1947. As the Queen proudly donned the sparkling headpiece for the first time this week, she chose a poignant occasion to wear it for the first time. Charles and Camilla took part in a Presentation of the Pearl Sword upon arrival at Mansion House, which is a tradition carried out by monarchs in the year of their Coronation since the 17th Century. The Pearl Sword, thought to have been given to the City of London by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, has approximately 2,500 pearls on its scabbard. After receiving the sword from the Lord Mayor, the King returned it, signalling the authority of the Lord Mayor in the Square Mile when the King is not present. The ceremony was carried out by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1953, the year of her Coronation, and also in the years of her Silver and Golden Jubilees; 1977 and 2002. Savvy shoppers have long headed to Iceland for its frozen food but it turns out it's also the place to grab the next cool look. Fashion giant Balenciaga's latest handbag, the Antwerp Tote, bears a striking resemblance to the supermarket's 'bag for life'. But while the Iceland shopper costs just 1.75, the designer version is predicted to set fashionistas back a whopping 1,000. Unveiled as part of the brand's summer 2024 collection, Balenciaga's leather bag features a berry print, a supermarket-style logo and a barcode on the front, as well as the same woven red handles as the Iceland bag. Iceland has already mocked the brand for copying its 'bag for life', which is sold at the checkouts. It posted a picture of the two bags on X, writing: 'Er, Balenciaga we did it first.' 'Ours doesn't cost the price of a small car, either,' it added. It's not the first time Balenciaga has used household items as inspiration for its collections. SLOPPY CHIC: Balenciaga's collection also features dressing gowns and hoodies BERRY SIMILAR: Iceland's 'bag for life' may have inspired Balenciaga's tote The brand previously released clutch bags shaped as crisp packets (costing 1,600), a tote almost identical to a Tesco carrier bag (1,024) and a replica of Ikea's blue shopping bag with a 2,000 price tag. Known for its wacky designs and accessories, Balenciaga also sold dirty, grass-stained jeans for 1,950 earlier this year. A Croc stiletto was even spotted on its runway in summer 2021, shocking critics due to its 515 price tag. The usual cost of a pair of Crocs is 30. The French fashion house has also been the subject of more serious controversy. In December 2022, it was forced to apologise for an advertising campaign featuring children holding teddy bears dressed in sexualised bondage clothing. Some of the brand's biggest ambassadors, including Kim Kardashian, cut ties with the designer afterwards. 'As a mother, I have been shaken by the disturbing images,' she told her Instagram followers at the time. However, the reality star appears to be working with the brand again, appearing as one of the models showcasing the fashion house's new collection at Paris Fashion Week this month. Here, experts share how parents can spot whether their child may be struggling More children than ever before are struggling with their mental health. But it can be tricky for parents to spot when a child is struggling from depression or anxiety and know what to do about it. Youngsters today are facing a 'unique set of pressures', including living through the Covid pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and 'global instability', says Stevie Goulding, senior manager for parents and carers services at the charity YoungMinds. James Emmett, regional clinical lead at Place2Be, a mental health charity for young people, warns the UK is 'seeing a sharp increase in diagnosable mental health conditions among children and young people'. One in six children in the UK are now suffering for poor mental health, equivalent to five in every classroom, according to charities up from one in nine pre-Covid. Here, Ms Goulding and Mr Emmett share how parents can spot whether their child may be struggling and how to help. More children than ever before are struggling with their mental health. But it can be tricky for parents to spot when a child is struggling from depression or anxiety and know what to do about it There has been a record growth in the number of children and young listed as having an 'open referral' with NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in England since the Covid pandemic Look for behaviour changes A change in behaviour is usually the first sign that a child or young person is feeling low, says Mr Emmett. 'They may eat too much or not enough, have problems sleeping, or stop doing things they normally enjoy,' he says. Ms Goulding adds: 'If you notice changes in your child's behaviour or if they appear persistently distressed, it could mean they're struggling with their mental health, and it's important to take their concerns seriously.' Give them the opportunity to talk Ms Goulding suggests parents try to talk to their child or teen about how they're feeling in a non-judgemental way. 'Remember, they might not want to open up at first. Reassure them you're there for them when they're ready to talk,' she says. WHAT IS DEPRESSION? While it is normal to feel down from time to time, people with depression may feel persistently unhappy for weeks or months on end. Depression can affect anyone at any age and is fairly common approximately one in ten people are likely to experience it at some point in their life. Depression is a genuine health condition which people cannot just ignore or 'snap out of it'. Symptoms and effects vary, but can include constantly feeling upset or hopeless, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy. It can also cause physical symptoms such as problems sleeping, tiredness, having a low appetite or sex drive, and even feeling physical pain. In extreme cases it can lead to suicidal thoughts. Traumatic events can trigger it, and people with a family history may be more at risk. It is important to see a doctor if you think you or someone you know has depression, as it can be managed with lifestyle changes, therapy or medication. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement 'Remind them it's ok for them to feel scared or unsure, and try to reassure them.' Don't force them to talk While giving children a chance to share their worries is vital, not all will want to talk. Mr Emmett says: 'It's important that adults don't force them to have a conversation they don't want to have. 'Parents and carers must make sure they're available but don't pressure them to talk. 'It can be really tempting to ask a lot of questions. 'But it's easy to slip into interrogation mode. Try to focus on the here and now and what would help moving forward.' Choose your moment Avoid discussing the underlying causes of your child's distress with them during intense moments, Ms Goulding advises. She says: 'While it's crucial to provide support, it can be more beneficial to address these topics when they're feeling calmer.' Ask how they're feeling Ask if your child notices when they feel more or less sad, for example, at school, or when they're with their friends and family, suggests Mr Emmett. 'Responding sensitively to your child's signals with concern and interest will help them learn you're there for them,' he notes. Ms Goulding says parents can acknowledge their child's feelings by saying something like: 'It's completely understandable that you're feeling'. She explains: 'This helps to reassure them their feelings are valid and it's ok to feel different emotions.' Remind them of obstacles they've overcome in the past When a child or young person gets overwhelmed, they forget just how much they've already dealt with in their lives. 'Tell them stories about how proud you were when they coped with certain moments in their life, such as an sitting an exam, or moving house,' says Mr Emmett. 'This will remind them of their resilience their ability to adapt to difficult situations.' Encourage them to stay active Physical and mental wellbeing are often linked. 'This means doing something active can be a great way to boost your child's mental health, and heading outside into green space can have even greater benefits,' says Mr Emmett. He suggests parents walk or cycle short distances with their child instead of going in a car: 'It's cheaper and will help the planet to be healthier too.' Model positive relationships Happy relationships between parents and significant adults lead to better mental and physical health for everyone, stresses Mr Emmett. 'By modelling positive relationships of your own, you can help your child to see what positive, healthy and meaningful relationships should look like and to recognise when friendships aren't positive,' he says. Remind them how they feel will change Your child might not be able to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel they're in. 'Reassure your child that how they're feeling is temporary,' says Ms Goulding. 'Things can change and they can feel better.' Discuss what help is available Talk to your child about the different sources of help that are available. These include helplines, text lines and online chat services. 'Reassure them it's alright to confide in others, as young people often worry about upsetting their parents,' says Ms Goulding. As well as YoungMinds parents' helpline (0808 802 5544) and Place2Be, other sources include a child's school, which will have a senior mental health lead. Additionally, GPs can refer your child to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, while Parenting Smart provides free advice for parents and carers of 411-year-olds on how to support their child's wellbeing and behaviour. There is also the free Shout 24/7 textline for anyone in crisis (text SHOUT to 85258). Despite the high price tags, most of the team couldn't tell the difference You'd think - or hope - a nearly $200 bottle of water that promotes itself as the 'Rolls-Royce of waters,' should be incomparable when up against the stuff that comes out of the faucet. But the DailyMail.com health team struggled to differentiate between the two during a blind taste test of six premium brands of water - some of which have become popular among celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jamie Foxx. Everyone who tasted the most extortionately priced $184 Bling H2O Original Water guessed it was tap water from the office kitchen sink or another cheaper brand like Poland Spring, which costs between $1 and $2. Senior Health Reporter Cassidy Morrison took one sip and immediately guessed it was the free stuff, saying 'I guess I don't have a discerning palette' when the truth was revealed. Emily Joshu, Health and Wellness reporter, thought she was drinking Bling H2O and said it was 'smoother than the other' waters and 'less intense.' However, it was revealed she was actually hydrating with the free stuff. Health reporters Luke Andrews, who thought Bling was tap water called it 'clean' and Caitlin Tilley said it 'tasted the nicest' but guessed it only cost $15 to $30 per bottle. When taking a sip of Poland Spring, a $1 bottle of water from the fridges of a convenience store, I described it as 'fresh and crisp' and tasting 'better than the others.' I deemed it to be the most expensive, though I only priced it at $20. Among the other waters were two sparkling options: one costing $8 and bottled in a way that made us think we were wine tasting at work and another that cost nearly four times that, running $29 and dressed up in a bottle more resembling a high-end champagne. Below, DailyMail.com reveals the other expensive bottles of water we put to the test and explains the difference between common types of H2O. Bling H2O The Original Water ($181 for 750 ml bottle) Bling H2O's water is slightly alkaline and 'pleasantly light with a delicately sweet note' Bling H2O's motto, 'Not for everyone...only for those who are bling' is reflected in its high price point and decadent bottles. While nearly $200 for a bottle of water seems outlandish, The Original is not even Bling's most expensive product, with a line ranging from $181 to $920 depending on its bottle design. Marketed as handcrafted alkaline water and the 'Rolls-Royce Phantom of all waters,' bottles of Bling H2O have been seen in the hands of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Jamie Foxx and Gabrielle Union. The water is harvested from a spring near Knoxville, Tennessee, on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is filtered no less than nine times and is bottled directly at the source before 'it makes its way to the upper class, upscale restaurants and hotels in the luxury bottle.' The water is slightly alkaline and 'pleasantly light with a delicately sweet note.' Both Nevas and Minus 181 waters come from sources in Germany Minus 181 Water ($46 for 681 ml bottle) Taking its name from the 181-meter drill plunged into the well to obtain the water, Minus 181 is harvested from northern Germany where it flows over deep rock shaped by the ice age. The water has been naturally filtered by the earth over centuries to create a pure and crystal-clear liquid chock full of minerals, according to the company. Minus 181 water is bottled untreated in glass bottles in a small factor directly above the fountain it's taken from. The artisanal spring it comes from makes the water soft and pleasant to drink and a good partner for delicatessen and aromatic foods. NEVAS Cuvee Carbonated Water ($28.99 for 750 ml bottle) Coming in a bottle that more resembles a high-end champagne, NEVAS water combines the water of two natural springs in Germany, claiming this leads to the best mineralization and taste. Both of the artisanal wells are hundreds of years old and give the water a high natural calcium content due to the layers of rock surrounding the sources. With its finely sparkling carbonic acid, NEVAS water offers an 'unforgettable, tingling drinking experience' and impresses with its 'unmistakable' taste and high quality, and has previously won an award for its taste. AQA FINELLI Natural and Gentle Fizz Water ($8 for 750 ml bottle) Billing itself as 'Germany's new concept water for upscale gastronomy, AQA FINELLI's water hails from the Taunus Nature Park in central Germany. The company says its water comes from artisanal springs and is bottled by hand close to the source. It contains some minerals, including calcium and chlorine, as well as bicarbonate, all of which give the water a soft and neutral taste and an 'unobtrusive sweetness.' Its gentle fizz water is carbonated by hand and gives the liquid a touch of fizz with very small bubbles, making the sparkling water 'an excellent companion at the table.' In bottles that look more like a chardonnay or pinot grigio, the waters will run you $8 each. AQA FINELLI waters are described as 'Germany's new water concept for upscale gastronomy' ST. LUAPI Natural Water ($3 for 750 ml bottle) At a much more reasonable price, this ST. LUAPI's natural water comes in a limited design edition of the 'Blue Beast' bottle and isn't just for drinking - it also 'complements your lifestyle.' The company said: 'This extraordinary, still mineral water will enchant your senses and take your thirst-quenching routine to a whole new level.' The water comes from a 'fascinating,' and one of the purest springs in Spain,' making it a true gift of nature.' It has a dry taste with an 'impressive' calcium concentration, as well as a touch of magnesium, and the company said 'this water is not only refreshing, but also health-promoting.' It added: 'ST. LUAPI was designed not only to satisfy your thirst, but also to complement your lifestyle. Our limited design edition Blue Beast brings the cool factor to your drinking pleasure. 'This product is intended not only for teenagers but also for young-at-heart adults who value quality, taste and style.' Poland Spring Water ($1 for 750 ml bottle) The widely recognized and familiar bottle of Poland Spring can be purchased in nearly any drug or grocery store. A familiar name and recognizable bottle, Poland Spring is readily available at virtually any drug or grocery store. Hailing from 'carefully selected springs across Maine,' Poland Spring comes from 100 percent natural spring sources, the company said. And just as it sounds, spring water in general comes from natural springs formed from an underground source and is the most common type of bottled water. This type of water is considered pre-purified because it has traveled through natural filters like limestone, sandstone and clay. Spring water is popular because it naturally contains traces of minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium, which play essential roles in bodily functions. The water source of Poland Spring is cold spring water flowing from glacial deposits during the Ice Age. The springs bubble up through sand and gravel, 'providing the perfect recipe for refreshing spring water.' Tap Water (Free) As its name implies, this water comes straight from your faucet and costs absolutely nothing. It is typically taken from a dam or river and supplied to homes through pipes. While it can be used for household tasks like watering plants or cooking, not all tap water is safe to drink and it needs to be tested to ensure it meets standards set by local water authorities. In the US, tap water is filtered to remove contaminants and is sometimes referred to as purified water. Junior doctors have agreed to talks with the Department of Health in an effort to bring strikes to an end. The British Medical Association revealed last night it will meet officials next week for a preliminary discussion that could lay the groundwork for negotiations in the coming weeks. But a new headline pay deal for this year would 'not be on the table' as the Government insists the current settlement is 'fair and final'. Junior doctors, which include medics below the rank of consultant, first went on strike in March in pursuit of a 35 per cent pay rise. They say their pay has been cut in real terms since 2008. The British Medical Assocation revealed last night it will meet officials next week for a preliminary discussion that could lay the groundwork for negotiations in the coming weeks In July, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said they would get a rise of 6 per cent, with an additional consolidated increase of 1,250. It meant they received an average rise of 8.8 per cent, with those in their first year of hospital training seeing their pay jump by 10.3 per cent. Industrial action by NHS staff has led to the cancellation of more than one million appointments since November, fuelling a rise in waiting lists which now stand at a record 7.75million. Responding to the announcement of talks on X, formerly Twitter, one user said: 'Please make it clear to them we are willing to continue with strike action unless a realistic route to FPR [full pay restoration] is offered. In this for the long haul.' A health department spokesman said: 'We are pleased the BMA... has agreed to enter talks in the hope we will find a resolution and end the dispute. 'We have been clear headline pay will not be on the table as doctors have already received a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we've accepted in full.' Consultants, who were awarded a 6 per cent rise but want more, have also been picketing and recently agreed to separate talks with ministers. An Aussie toddler has given over a million people a giant shock after proudly flaunting a surprise inhabitant inside his bug catcher. Kaila Renee Long shared the viral video of her three-year-old son, Dallas, bringing his small plastic bug catcher over to her, full of pride as he said, "look what I got. [A] spider". "Where's the spider?" Kaila Renee queries, because at first glance there only seems to be small beetles in the catcher. Then, without warning, a large huntsman spider that had been hiding at the top of the catcher appears curled snuggly under the toddler's hands. Dallas caught the spider in his bug catcher and brought it to daycare for show and tell. Source: TikTok "He has always loved bugs and all animals [so] I was not shocked. He has brought worse things into the house," Kaila Renee told Yahoo News Australia, the only one unfazed by the surprising reveal. "He was really wanting to take it in [to daycare] for show and tell. The kids were very excited to meet Skyder the Spider Dallas has named it". Audible gasps of horror follow spider reveal The spider appearing mid-video startled many on TikTok, who, unlike Dallas' mum, did not expect a spider of this size. "The way I just gasped," one person said. "I was absolutely the furthest thing possible from ready. My heart just aged 40 years," another shared. "'Wheres the spider?' *looks up to see massive huntsman* is every Australian's canon event," a third commented. Skryder the spider now lives with the family in a terrarium they are setting up. Source: Supplied Spider now lives in terrarium with family According to Kaila Renee, Dallas has always been a bug-lover and has caught giant grasshoppers, stick bugs and other insects which he has also taken in to his daycare before. Unlike other catches before though, Skryder the spider found a special place in Dallas' heart and he didn't want to let it go. Story continues "We have now set up a terrarium, as Dallas was refusing to let us release it," Kaila Renee said. The family are now getting bark and other supplies to make the perfect little home for Skryder. Do you have a spider story? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com 'Harmless' huntsmans are a common Aussie housemate It's not hard to guess that the spider is a huntsman based on how it looks and it's size. Mark Elgar, Professor in Evolutionary Biology and Animal Behaviour at the University of Sydney previously told Yahoo that huntsmans in Australia are generally big, dinner plate sized spiders that look like this. Most Australians in the comments quickly figured this out too. "Huntsmans are actually fairly harmless. They are just big and look scary. I would much rather have these in my house than other spiders," one commenter shared. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A hair-loss treatment taken by Donald Trump causes impotence and depression in one in ten men, according to one of Americas top prostate surgeons. Dr Edward Schaeffer, a consultant urologist who treated comic actor Ben Stiller for prostate cancer, says he does not recommend the drug finasteride for any man due to the common side effects that affect some patients permanently. The tablet, originally developed as a treatment for enlarged prostate, is now sold as Propecia and taken by millions of men across the globe, including the former president and various Hollywood stars, after it was proven to regrow hair. It works by blocking the male hormone testosterones conversion to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. High levels of DHT are believed to lead to hair loss by shrinking follicles on the scalp. Finasteride is not prescribed for hair loss on the NHS but, earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed the UK medicines regulators had opened an investigation into it amid a three-fold rise in reports of side effects such as depression, low libido and erectile dysfunction since 2020. Finasteride is not prescribed for hair loss on the NHS but, earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed the UK medicines regulators had opened an investigation into it Government figures also show that finasteride has been linked with at least 70 reports of patients suffering suicidal thoughts as a suspected side effect. The pharmaceutical firm which created finasteride, Merck & Co, has always denied links to serious long-term side effects, but also paid out millions of dollars to settle lawsuits with US patients. How often these side effects which have come to be known as post-finasteride syndrome occur is still fiercely debated. However, speaking to The Peter Attia Drive Podcast, Dr Schaeffer said he believed about one in ten guys will have appreciable issues with this. He adds: The side effects from this post-finasteride syndrome are real. The duration can be highly variable. Some people will stop the medication and theyll have resolution within a couple weeks, once the drug washes out. But there are people I know who have it permanently. Finasteride was first developed to treat enlarged prostates, but users soon saw hair-growth in tandem. When given in lower doses in studies, more than 80 per cent stopped losing their hair and 65 per cent saw it begin to grow back, often within months. Initial studies suggested the drug was safe for use in treating hair loss. About four per cent of those in the trial experienced temporary mental health problems and erectile dysfunction, which appeared to dissipate after they stopped taking the pills. But in the past decade there has been growing evidence that post-finasteride syndrome affects thousands who take the drug. In 2021, Reuters reported it had obtained court documents which showed US health watchdogs had received more than 700 reports of suicide and suicidal thoughts linked to the drug since 2011. And in March, this newspaper revealed the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UKs health safety watchdog, had opened an ongoing investigation into finasterides long-term effects. Case reports appear to suggest younger men are affected more, which drug companies have used to correlate that post-finasteride syndrome is, in reality, a mental illness such as depression. But Dr Schaeffer says older men experience it too, adding Its just they may be less interested in sex. He also argues that the severe side effects are likely due to the fact that finasteride lowers DHT levels in the body which comes from testosterone. Having that hormone around is critical for just about everything. When interiors stylist Hannah Ellis moved into her new home a huge 5,500 square foot section of a 17th-century hall in North Wales she knew she had a big job on her hands. 'The previous owners had been here a long time. They loved the property, but it was tired and needed a lot of work, plus fresh eyes to take it to the next level.' Her part of the hall includes both the gentry's rooms and servants' quarters. Despite having to renovate it during lockdown, while pregnant and with a toddler to look after, she was determined to bring it back to life. Her vision started with rejigging the downstairs layout moving the kitchen back to where she thinks it originally was, and removing walls to create a free-flowing space. Paint has gone a long way to making the house look luxe without too much outlay. The living room, for example, has been 'colour drenched' (the walls, skirting, architraves and ceiling are all one colour) in Bone by farrow-ball.com. The hallway's mandarinstone.com floor tiles complement the dark two-tone walls. 'They were originally painted in two textures, and I wanted the same vibe.' The prints are taken from a book she loves by the artist Harland Miller Other tricks include painting stripes between the rooms for a playful touch; turning an arch in the hallway gold for a glamorous glow and just before she gave birth adding a gold scalloped border in her daughter's room ('I was hanging off a ladder while massively pregnant,' she says, laughing). But perhaps her greatest achievement is her use, almost entirely about 70 per cent of reclaimed treasures. 'I love finding old pieces and creating a new home for them,' she says. Her hunt for such items has led to many adventures she had to drive to a service station in the mountains of North Wales to collect an antique metal mirror she'd found online for 30 ('I've seen them go for 1,000'). The vintage barrister bookcase in her son's bedroom was found while trawling the rambling home of a Facebook Marketplace seller. No scrap of serviceable material has gone to waste, either. An offcut from the kitchen's marble worktop has been smartly inset in the room's reclaimed shop-counter island to create a giant chopping board. The stately living room was once the hall's dining room. The parquet floor, plaster coving and lights which have been given new pooky.com shades are original features. The sofa is by love-your-home.co.uk and the rug is from sohohome.com Hannah splashed out on devolkitchens.co.uk cabinets and marble worktops, but saved money with a reclaimed wooden shelf that she has accessorised with vintage pots and jars from charity shops, auctions and Instagram sellers In the dining room the walls are painted Pickled Okra by johnstonespaint.com. The table and chairs are from Instagram seller @vintagefrenchfr. The rug is from Ebay One of the few new purchases in the house is Hannah's bed and mattress, both by loaf.com. 'You need a comfortable bed, that's a must,' she says. The painting is her work, but she loves to mix up art finds from local galleries, auction houses and art colleges. The bedside table is an Instagram buy Using a picture frame to get even squares, Hannah painted the bathroom floor in Oxford Stone and Dimity by farrow-ball.com. The walls are in Leather III by paintandpaperlibrary.com. The parasol lamp and screen are vintage. The shower wall tiles are mandarinstone.com 'I turned our den into a bit of a gentlemen's club where, of course, women are allowed,' Hannah says. The space feels casual, with an old butcher's trolley used for drinks and a lamp from Facebook Marketplace Spare planks of teak have been polished and used as bathroom shelves and a defunct radiator has been turned into a towel rail. 'If there's anything I can salvage and reuse, I will,' Ellis says. Of course, there are some new items in the house, including a bed and sofa. 'Old treasures save money and add character, but there are some things you need to spend on,' says Ellis. Four years in, the house is both grand and cosy. 'Were we crazy?' she wonders. 'Yes, in many ways, but also, we feel lucky to be the custodians of this piece of history. I really feel we've brought it back to life.' Follow Hannah's renovation at @half_a_hall WHAT'S THE STORY? Liga was founded in 2017 by Cornwall-based Jennie Elderkin after she struggled to find practical homeware that was also affordable and kind to the planet. WHY SHOULD I BUY? These coasters are made of cork gathered from the only species of oak with bark that regenerates after each harvest, making it a fully sustainable resource. Cork trees absorb 32 million tons of CO2 from the earth's atmosphere each year, helping offset the greenhouse effect. WHY SHOULDN'T I BUY? The cork is harvested in Portugal, so has to be exported to the UK. Liga was founded in 2017 by Cornwall-based Jennie Elderkin after she struggled to find practical homeware that was also affordable and kind to the planet. Coasters 14 for four, Liga, johnlewis.com THE EXTRA MILE Liga also recycles cork, planting one tree for every 100kg returned to it. The brand gives one per cent from each sale to two eco-approved charities, 1% for the Planet and marine conservationists Sea-Changers. MADE IN The UK. MADE FROM A mix of cork with recycled plastics. Coasters come tied together with an eco-band made from recycled paper. Packaging is fully recyclable. JOURNEY By sea and road. Our rating: 4/5 About time, they're the bane of my life! Where's your sense of technostalgia? My sense of what? Technostalgia. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you see a picture of a floppy disk or a Tamagotchi. I can assure you that I will never get fuzzy feelings over a barcode. You will. You'll miss them when they're gone. Industry experts say that barcodes will be replaced by QR codes at all main supermarkets within five years Where are they going? Industry experts say they'll be replaced by QR codes at all main supermarkets within five years. This is the beginning of the end. Good! They don't work when folded, which means I always have to take the halloumi to the customer service desk Very trying for you. but the staff can't read the numbers underneath because the type is too small and Do you realise what the barcode represents? Misery. I mean literally. Er, obviously a sort of linear representation of I've no idea. It's Morse code. Really? Really. Back in 1949, inventor Joe Woodland was trying to think of a way to scan groceries, so he drew Morse code dots and dashes in the sand on a Miami beach. As you do. Pondering the problem further, he pulled his fingers downwards from the symbols: thin lines appeared for the dots and thicker lines for the dashes. By 1973 retailers had agreed on an industry-wide barcode system. The barcode: dead at 50. I've outlived it! Sad, isn't it? So, the future is QR-shaped? It is, but there's growing unrest on X (formerly Twitter). Which QR codes are getting up people's noses the most? Many, including X user Alan Cleaver, are angry about the new-look postage stamps (for which they had to trade in old ones). These have codes attached to 'improve mail processing'. ONE MAN GOT A TATTOO OF HIS TESCO CLUBCARD QR What's the gripe? They appear to offer nothing to customers other than access to an animated video of some dancing sheep. I'm sorry, what's the thinking behind that exactly? Just what the tweets are asking. The Royal Mail website describes the clip (accessible only if you download their app) as an 'amusing short encounter'. Is it amusing? It's certainly short. Maybe it would be quicker to have the post delivered by dancing sheep? That's unlikely to be the marketing message that the Royal Mail is going for. What else is upsetting people? A tweet from millennial New York author Lane Moore last month, slamming restaurants for refusing to print their menus and insisting that diners use a QR code instead, has 3.6 million views and 130.8K likes. What does Moore say? 'Restaurants: I am begging you I don't wanna sit there and try to connect to wi-fi, try to get it to scan, try to get [it] to load, and sometimes I just wanna be off my phone. So just PRINT UR MENUS!!!!' She makes a strong point. Does anyone like QR codes? Dean does. Who is Dean? A Sussex scaffolder who got his Tesco Clubcard QR code tattooed on his arm last year. It works, by the way. So, is this a trend? TikTok videos for QR code tattoos have 7.2 million views. Are there any sensible reasons for adopting these things? They store far more information, work even if 30 per cent of the code is unreadable and can be about half the width of barcodes. I won't be scanning my stamps, though. I'm still baffled as to how Royal Mail thought dancing sheep would ease the introduction of QR codes. If the responses to Cleaver's tweet are anything to go by then you're not alone. People are asking tough questions. Such as? 'Have we been fleeced?' EATING OUT Searingly hot restaurant Mountain, in Londons Soho, scales new peaks of excellence, says Tom Mountain, the new restaurant from Tomos Parry, is all about fire. Of course it is. Show me a place where they arent searing everything from prawn cocktails to spotted dick over hand-hewn, copper-coppiced, sustainably sourced binchotan charcoal, and Ill show you a Pret. But Mountain is different. Parry didnt start the fire (it was always burning etc etc), but he certainly helped spark a raging London culinary trend, doing wonderful things to a Basque-meets- Wales menu of whole turbot, butter and potatoes at Brat in Shoreditch. Which he opened after wowing diners and critics alike at Kitty Fishers. Parrys Vulcan-esque mastery of the flames was matched only by his herculean obsession with the quality of his ingredients. Upon opening, it was hotter than a hammam in Hades. Still is. And here, at Mountain, hes done it again. Only this time, things are rather bigger. Situated on Beak Street in London's Soho, Mountain is sprawling, softly industrial and joyously noisy, says Tom The Soho site, once a branch of Byron, is sprawling, softly industrial and joyously noisy, with two open kitchens, an old-school downstairs bar and its own in-house butcher and baker. Sobrasada spiced pork with a low chilli growl is made for him in Majorca and comes grilled, sitting in a gleaming pool of its own fat, topped by a pert, pickled guindilla chilli. Pillowy flatbread is puffed up like an ad execs ego Eat with a billowing pillow of flatbread, puffed up like an ad execs ego (albeit a whole lot more appetising), and slathered with homemade butter. Raw scallops (hand-dived in Cornwall by a man called Fraser) are sliced paper-thin and mixed with delicate wisps of monkfish, all swimming in a peppery, punchy Sicilian olive oil. I forget the exact producer, but Parry knows him by name. I could listen to him talk ingredients, in that soft Anglesey burr, until the Jersey cows come home. Theres a purity and precision to the cooking, but a lavish generosity too. Spider crab omelette, slashed open at the table to reveal its oozing interior, has a winsome, ethereal sweetness, yet is gloriously rich too. Friesian beef sirloin, from an eight-year-old ex-milker, and cooked rare, has a deep, sonorous bellow of flavour, and glorious, buttercup-yellow fat. Whole John Dory, gently smoky, is flawless, both in freshness and technique. Blackcurrant ice cream (foraged, of course) doesnt so much cleanse as whistle across the palate. Everything here, from the service to the kitchen brigade, is seamless and assured. Mountain is not cheap, but it is spectacularly good. An instant London classic, from a prodigiously talented chef. About 60 per head. Mountain, 16-18 Beak Street, London W1; mountainbeakstreet.com DRINKS: Charlottes pumpkin pairings The often overlooked gourd presents endless possibilities, with gently sweet flavours that shine out in creamy and spicy savoury dishes: pair with aromatic whites (Chenin Blanc, Viognier) as well as Beaujolais and other fruity reds. For pumpkin-based puds, sweeter whites are a treat. L-R: AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2022 (13%), 16, swig.co.uk and Paul Mas Reserve Viognier 2022 (13%), 10, Tesco AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2022 (13%), 16, swig.co.uk. Old vines add to the flavourful character of this South African white: stone and tropical fruit notes with subtle herbs and crushed shells. Paul Mas Reserve Viognier 2022 (13%), 10, Tesco. From the sunny Pays dOc in southern France comes this enticingly peachy and peppery Viognier, with plumpness on the palate lifted by a fresh finish. L-R: Famille Bougrier Vouvray Demi-Sec, 2022 (11.5%), 10.50, thewine society.com and Cuvee des Vignerons Beaujolais (12.5%), 8.99, waitrose cellar.com Famille Bougrier Vouvray Demi-Sec, 2022 (11.5%), 10.50, thewine society.com. Pair this versatile, off-dry Loire Chenin Blanc, full of apricot and honeysuckle notes, with both sweet and spicy pumpkin dishes. Cuvee des Vignerons Beaujolais (12.5%), 8.99, waitrose cellar.com. With ripe strawberry hints and a pleasant gravelly finish, this is a quaffable Beaujolais to take the edge off visits from Halloween trick-or-treaters. Best lightly chilled. Customers struggling with high energy bills can get help from energy firms including grants of up to 1,500, free electrical goods and better insulation. The average home currently pays energy bills of 1,834 a year, but all suppliers have to give some support for certain customers, such as the elderly, vulnerable and those in fuel poverty, under government rules. The first step for someone struggling with energy bills is to speak to their energy firm. These firms have to try to set up an affordable payment plan under Ofgem rules, or review one already in place. Not for everyone: Much of the help available is targeted at the vulnerable and pensioners Energy firms can also offer help such as payment holidays and a review of any debt repayments. But they can also go further, with measures such as grants, replacement of old white goods and free help to make homes warmer. The larger energy firms tend to offer more extra financial help than the smaller ones. However, many of the details of this energy firm help is tricky to track down, and many have rigid criteria for who can apply. Additionally, all energy firms offer slightly different support. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of all the extra financial help available according to which energy company you are with, as well as details of firms planning to bring in this support in time for the winter. Help from individual energy firms British Gas British Gas has grants of up to 1,500, for both its own customers and those signed up to any other energy firm. Customers of British Gas can access this money through the British Gas Energy Support Fund, which opened on October 2. The fund can give grants to households struggling to pay energy bills, but they will have to meet the criteria. To be successful, you must: Be in England, Scotland or Wales Not have had a British Gas grant in the past 12 months Want the money to clear outstanding energy debt of between 250 and 1,500 for you or your household Be in, or face, fuel poverty, defined as spending at least 10 per cent of your income on energy bills Have already had help from a money advice agency To access these grants you will also have to show proof of income and spending, to meet the criterium about fuel poverty. Seeing double: British Gas runs two schemes to help both its own customers and those signed up to any other energy company If you are not a British Gas customer, you can still get grants of up to 1,500 through a different scheme the energy firm runs called the British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. To access this money, you must: Be in England, Scotland or Wales Not have had a British Gas grant in the past 12 months Want the money to clear outstanding energy debt for your household Not have more than 1,000 in savings Have already had help from a money advice agency You will also have to show proof of income and spending. You can apply for both grants on the British Gas Energy Trust website. EDF Energy Customers of EDF can access the firm's Customer Support Fund, which can write off energy debt for vulnerable customers and supply energy-efficient white goods, as well as freeze daily standing charges. To get access to this fund you must first get independent debt advice and then apply here. EDF will require details of your household finances and why you consider yourself or your household to be vulnerable. E.On Next Customers of E.On Next on low incomes can get up to 50 per cent knocked off their energy bills until March 2024. The energy firm launched its Winter Affordability Support Scheme in October 2023, which is open to its customers with lower incomes or with medical requirements. To apply, you must: Have been a customer of E.On Next by September 25, 2023 Have a smart meter or agree to get one fitted Pay energy bills via monthly direct debit or be on a prepayment meter You must also meet at least one of the following three criteria: Have a yearly household income of less than 19,000 and permitted to get the Warm Home Discount mentioned above, or have previously received the 'broader group' Warm Home Discount open to those of working age Have a yearly household income of less than 19,000 and spend more on bills than you are able to afford Have a yearly household income of less than 31,000 and medical needs such as a ventilator or dialysis machine If you meet these requirements but have no energy debt you can still apply to get 25 per cent off your E.On Next bills this winter. An E.On Next spokesperson said customers that access the scheme can also have energy debt written off at the end of March 2024. Additionally, the E.On Next Energy Fund pays grants towards bills, as well as other help such as replacement of old inefficient white goods and the writing off of debt for customers that cannot afford to pay their bills. You can access the E.On Next Energy Fund online. Good Energy Good Energy customers can get some of their energy debt written off if they contact the firm. Octopus Energy Octopus customers can apply for grants of up to 500 and have their standing charges waived by contacting the Octo Assist fund. You will need to share your financial details, including income and spending, to be able to get any grants or standing charges waived. The energy company can also offer to send experts to your home to work out ways you might be able to cut your energy use, and therefore bills. Ovo Ovo has a 40million fund going live on October 30 that can give energy bill reductions for all eligible customers as well as credit top-ups for those on prepayment meters. Last year Ovo also ran a hardship fund that offered grants to struggling customers too, though the scheme was pulled after the winter of 2022. Exact details of how this will work in 2023 should be available soon. Shell Energy Shell Energy customers can draw on a 20million hardship fund the firm set up to help pay energy bills. However, customers cannot apply for the fund directly. Instead, Shell Energy customers must contact the firm, who then look at their circumstances and decide if they should get any money from the pot. Customers can do this online. Octopus Energy has signed a deal to buy Shell Energy, which is meant to happen before the end of the year. Scottish Power Scottish Power has a hardship fund that can pay variable levels of grants to help with energy bills. To be eligible, you must be claiming Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. Otherwise you may qualify by having a low household income or have special circumstances such as losing income due to illness. From there, you must speak to a debt charity such as Step Change, who can then refer you on to Sigma Connected Support, that handle hardship fund payouts for Scottish Power. You can see more details on the hardship fund here. Why are energy bills so high? Since coming out of the pandemic demand for gas has gone through the roof, but supply has struggled to catch up. It has sent prices soaring and pushed up the cost of gas and electricity for both households and businesses. This has been compounded by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to shortages of gas and higher prices for gas and electricity. So Energy The energy firm has pledged to set up a hardship fund in time for this winter. Help from all energy firms In addition to the help provided by individual energy companies, there is also assistance provided by broad swathes of these firms. Warm Home Discount The Warm Home Discount is a 150 discount to energy bills, and is run by all energy firms with more than 1,000 customers - effectively all of them. It goes out to two groups: those who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and those on certain means-tested benefits. Households with a standard meter get the 150 as a rebate on their bills, while those with pre-payment meters get a voucher. Customers do not need to apply, as the Government tells energy firms which customers should get the money. Payments will be made between October 2023 and March 2024. Energy Company Obligation The Energy Company Obligation fits eligible homes with energy-saving upgrades such as insulation, better boilers and heat pumps. The scheme uses Government money and all medium and large energy firms have had to sign up to run it. These include British Gas, E, E.On, EDF, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy, Scottish Power, Shell Energy and more. To be eligible, you must like in a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below and be claiming one of the following benefits: Child Benefit Pension Guarantee Credit Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Income Support Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits) Universal Credit Housing benefit Pension credit saving credit You must also own your own home, or be a renter whose landlord has agreed to upgrade a let property. You do not need to be a customer of a participating energy firm to apply, as the scheme is open to all eligible households. The programme is now on its fourth version, called ECO4. If you are not claiming any of the above benefits, but are on a low income, you may still be able to get energy upgrades to your home through a sister scheme, ECO4 Flex. To qualify you will need to be in fuel debt that your energy firm is helping you with, or using a prepayment meter and unable to afford to top it up. A former Tavistock Trust doctor has said Britain could become a nation of chemically castrated children if trans and gender theory is allowed to fester unchallenged. Dr Az Hakeem worked at the Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust for 12 years and is the author of Detrans: When Transition Is Not The Solution, which was published this month. Now a Consultant Psychiatrist on Harley Street, he told MailOnline society is in an 'awful situation' when it comes to trans people - and it's even worse for those who realise they want to revert to their original sex. Such people are known as detransitioners, or detrans. It is unclear how many trans people who have a sex change detransition. Dr Hakeem said trans activists often claim it is one per cent, but this was 'made up'. Former Tavistock Trust Dr Az Hakeem (pictured) has said Britain could turn into a nation of chemically castrated children if trans and gender theory is allowed to fester unchallenged Dr Az Hakeem worked at the Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust (pictured) for 12 years He added the reality is that no one knows, because sex changes are 'the only medical or surgical intervention for which there is no follow-up data collected or follow-up studies'. He said 26 per cent of his patients at the Tavistock and Portman regretted transitioning. Dr Hakeem said: 'They are left in this situation of being adults with no genitals who the services don't want to see and the trans community disowns. 'Everyone is using the term trans but its an umbrella term. No one talks about transvestites. Dr Hakeem's book Detrans: When Transition Is Not The Solution, was published this month 'It's so unfashionable to be called transvestite so they lump them all as trans. 'The majority of trans are transvestites - that's more a fetish thing.' By saying trans, Dr Hakeem said, 'You're lumping [transexuals] together people who have fetishes - men who get excited about wearing women's clothes, and then men who fantasise about having a vagina and breasts.' He added: 'Kids are all identifying as trans or non-binary. 'It's become a new subculture. I was a post-punk goth. The current subculture is not a medical condition. 'They are not really trans, it's just the cool thing to do. When I was a teenage goth there was no goth identity clinic, luckily. 'We are castrating them chemically with puberty blockers. We think it's treatment but it's not the solution. 'It's an awful situation. 'The culture is one where people don't challenge someone who says they are a different sex. 'Increasingly organisations are going on with this narrative that people are born in the wrong body. 'No one is born in the wrong body.' Dr Hakeem hopes his book will give a voice to detransitioners but also 'allow people to think outside of this very rigid gender stereotype they are being given'. He has also aimed to dispel myths about gender identity, such as the existence of being born in the wrong body. He said: 'Another [is] if you don't affirm your child's gender they will kill themselves - that's not true. 'Anyone who has kids will know just how prevalent it ios for kids to sat "I'm trans, I'm non-binary". Dr Hakeem hopes his book will give a voice to detransitioners but also 'allow people to think outside of this very rigid gender stereotype they are being given' He said: 'Increasingly organisations are going on with this narrative that people are born in the wrong body. No one is born in the wrong body' 'A teacher has suggested because they're a tomboy, have they thought about being trans. 'The ideology has entered the system. A lot of people live in fear of their children coming home and saying "I'm trans". 'It's nonsense. 'If you have a four-year-old, they don't know much about anything. The danger is that we are having a nation full of castrated children.' He said the increase of kids identifying as trans was down to 'a mixture of societal pressure and reinforcement by organisation who have been indoctrinated'. Dr Hakeem said it was completely normal for a child to question their gender. However, instead of asking children why are thinking that, many people are simply agreeing with them, or 'affirming' their choice. He said: 'There's a big push for affirmation only. Affirmation is not therapy, it's a form of grooming. 'We cart them off to gender clinics and physically castrate them. 'Proper therapy is asking the child how they came to that conclusion, not just to say "yes you are [trans]". 'There's this myth that people are born in the wrong body.' He added that the existence of scores of different genders was 'nonsense'. 'It's not evidence based. They have captured schools, the police, universities. 'It's a bit like people in a cult. They believe it. They are not psychopathic, malicious people. 'They have been scared into believing his. If you're not with them you're against them. 'That's why you can't have a debate. 'They try and destroy you, get you cancelled, complain to your employer.' However, Dr Hakeem believes there is a way for everyday people to fight back against the wave of pro-affirmation ideology. He urged people to 'go back to believing in reality and common sense and science'. He said parents whose children claim to be trans should chat to their kids about having those thoughts rather than just telling them they are or are not trans. Songy and Press Hook said McKnight's claims are 'completely unfounded' and that they are 'prepared to launch a full legal defense' A lawsuit alleges Songy, also 37, made comments including 'squeeze tight and keep the baby in longer' during the 'campaign of gender-based harassment' Rachann McKnight, 37, claims she was fired from Press Hook while pregnant after she was 'cruelly and unlawfully gaslit' by her boss and CEO, Michelle Songy A pregnant PR executive was fired from her $120,000-a-year post at a New York City firm after her boss claimed she 'could not be trusted' because of her 'pregnancy brain', a lawsuit claims. Rachann McKnight, 37, alleges that she was fired by Press Hook after she was 'cruelly and unlawfully gaslit' by the company's founder and CEO, Michelle Songy, during a 'campaign of gender-based harassment'. McKnight alleges that Songy, also 37, made a series of harmful comments before she was fired, including 'squeeze tight and keep the baby in longer', court filings allege. She also told other staff 'no one else better get pregnant', it is claimed. Songy, who lives in a $2 million home in Atlanta, Georgia, is further accused of failing to support McKnight while she suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of sickness, during the pregnancy. In a statement to DailyMail.com Songy said McKnight's claims are 'completely unfounded' and that she and her company 'are prepared to launch a full legal defense'. Rachann McKnight (pictured), 37, claims she was fired from her executive role at a PR firm after her boss, Michelle Songy, said she 'could not be trusted' because of her 'pregnancy brain' Michelle Songy (pictured), also 37, allegedly told McKnight to 'squeeze tight and keep the baby in longer'. She is also accused in the lawsuit of failing to deliver promised salary increases McKnight, who lives in Brooklyn, New York City, joined Press Hook, a marketing and media relations firm, as chief of staff in September 2021. She was 'second in command' to Songy, an entrepreneur who founded the company a year earlier after selling her previous business to American Express. Her claims are outlined in a civil lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com, which was filed in the Eastern District of New York on October 11. The complaint claims that McKnight joined the company on a $120,000-a-year salary and was promised a $20,000 pay rise if she met certain targets. She was promoted to Vice President of Operations and People in November 2021 and promised another pay rise, this time to $160,000, but the lawsuit claims she never received any of the increases. McKnight was at first 'consistently praised' for her role and headed an accounts team of 15 employees, along with a sales team of three employees, and served as 'head of HR, finance and operations'. But things 'truly took a turn for the worse' in December 2021 when McKnight informed Songy of her pregnancy. 'After suffering two prior miscarriages, [McKnight] was cautiously optimistic and wanted to plan and prepare for the future, so she informed Defendant Songy who reacted, not with congratulations, but a look of horror,' the suit said. McKnight asked Songy about the firm's family leave policy and was 'curtly' told, 'we have none', according to the complaint. McKnight offered to formulate a policy as part of her HR role and Songy replied that she 'wanted to provide employees with the bare minimum time off required by law' of 12 weeks, it is claimed. The suit added: 'Simultaneously, Defendant Songy began her campaign of gender-based harassment against [McKnight] rife with invasions of [McKnight]'s privacy, degrading slurs about pregnant women and their bodies, disparate treatment in terms of pay, and exclusion from work functions all because of her status as a pregnant woman.' McKnight claims the first incident occurred in about January 2022 when Songy 'inexplicably informed other employees of the pregnancy' during a lunch, without her consent. The suit says: 'Songy blurted out 'just tell them already.' Because [McKnight] was still so early in her pregnancy, she was hesitant to share the news with others and she felt extremely uncomfortable about Defendant Songy's intrusiveness and lack of respect for her privacy.' In February, Songy allegedly 'nastily' told McKnight 'oh good, you look the same', a reference to the fact she had not yet begun to 'show'. At this time, McKnight had also started to suffer from severe sickness which impacted her ability to work. On one occasion, Songy and McKnight traveled to a work event in Nashville, Tennessee, and McKnight had to retire to her room early one evening because of the condition. Songy allegedly told her that in future, she should only 'come [on work trips] when you're fun and you can drink.' She also accused McKnight of scheduling more obstetrician-gynecologist appointments than necessary, the suit said. It added: 'Defendant Songy often liked to tell [McKnight] to 'squeeze tight and keep the baby in longer,' or threaten that she 'better not have this baby early,' implying that she wanted to get as much work out of [McKnight] as possible.' 'Defendant Songy also began to gaslight [McKnight] and question her abilities both via Slack and in person, by stating that [McKnight] could 'not be trusted' because of her 'pregnancy brain,' all while Defendant Songy continued to widen her scope of duties.' Songy also allegedly said that 'no one else better get pregnant' and told McKnight by Slack that she should accept a lower salary because of her 'impending maternity leave', it is claimed. McKnight further alleges that she was excluded from an 'executive retreat for upper level management' in Atlanta, George, in May 2022 and was later told by Songy: 'Well, you're pregnant, I didn't think you needed to come.' In a statement to DailyMail.com, McKnight said that Songy's alleged behavior left her 'disgusted by how a fellow woman in business could treat someone' The suit accuses Press Hook and its CEO, Songy (pictured), of an 'unfortunate refusal to treat pregnant employees with dignity, equality and compassion' McKnight, who lives in Brooklyn, New York City, joined The Press Hook, a marketing and media relations firm, as chief of staff in September 2021. She was 'second in command' to Songy During another meeting, Songy allegedly told McKnight: 'Oh good, you're not too big yet.' The suit says McKnight was fired in June 2022 after Songy sent her and two other employees and email stating they 'need to immediately take a pay cut, as the company was in desperate need to find an additional $50,000 a month'. The following day, Songy told McKnight during their weekly meeting, which was held by video call, that she 'cost too much money for someone who was going on a three-month vacation' - a reference to her upcoming maternity leave. McKnight responded that 'maternity leave is not a vacation' but was immediately told that 'Defendant Songy, along with the investors, had decided to terminate [her] employment effective immediately'. The suit alleges discrimination based on McKnight's pregnancy and illness, along with a breach of New York's human rights law, and a breach of contract. McKnight has suffered financial harm along with severe emotional, psychology and physical stress, according to the suit, which calls for a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages. A spokesperson for The Press Hook told DailyMail.com: 'Ms. McKnight's claims are completely unfounded. 'Press Hook is a small, women-owned business designed to help other small businesses gain traction and stand out in the busy media landscape. In accordance with our commitment to diversity, inclusivity and equal treatment, Press Hook, and Ms. Songy in particular, ensures the support of all employees without discrimination based on disability, pregnancy, or any other protected classes. 'We vehemently deny the allegations made in Ms. McKnight's complaint and are prepared to launch a full legal defense.' In a statement to Daily Mail.com, McKnight further claimed there was 'constant pressure to party, binge drink, and stay out at all hours' while at Press Hook. 'Once I became pregnant, Michelle made countless derogatory and offensive comments about my pregnancy, including about my physical size, the effect my hormones 'might have' on my work, and, at one point, she even asked if I had considered having an abortion,' she said. 'She cruelly questioned whether my unborn baby would have "problems or be slow like my other son" in reference to my older child's Autism diagnosis.' McKnight said that Songy's decision to sack her left her 'disgusted by how a fellow woman in business could treat someone'. 'I am bringing this lawsuit so that no other pregnant woman has to endure the cruel and unlawful treatment that I experienced at Press Hook,' she added. Kimberly A. Catala, a senior associate at Filippatos PLLC, the law firm representing McKnight, added: 'No woman should have to choose between becoming a mother and remaining employed. 'Press Hook's unlawful decision to terminate Ms. McKnight's employment while she was on the cusp of giving birth has ruined what should have been a joyous time in Ms. McKnight's life. Our firm will hold Press Hook and Michelle Songy accountable for their unlawful and abhorrent actions.' The first sirens sounded just after the break of dawn on Saturday, October 7. Streaks of light appeared in the sky. Rockets were falling on Israel. 'For many Israelis, this is a normal occurrence. This is something that they have lived through before,' says Natalie Sanandaji, a 28-year-old survivor of the Nova Peace Festival Massacre. 'I was in a state of shock from the moment I was woken up. I couldn't really comprehend what was happening. But a lot of the kids were trying to reassure me that it's because of the area that we're in - it does happen sometimes and it might just be a few minutes and then it'll stop everything will be okay. 'Nobody could have imagined how much this was going to escalate.' Slowly, festival-goers started to walk away from the 'fireworks' overhead, some jogging as the explosions moved closer. It was only when the music stopped that Natalie's group realised something was desperately wrong. Natalie Sanandaji escaped the massacre with a group of friends on Saturday, October 7, 2023 "These are the only photos I have from the festival. Obviously didn't have much time to take any other photos or videos since we were running for our lives." - Natalie Sanandaji, 28 Destroyed cars and personal items are still left scattered around the festival site, on October 13 An Israeli officer walks around a campsite at the festival near Re'im kibbutz on October 17 Natalie Sanandaji is a Jewish-American, born to Israeli-Iranian parents. She had visited Israel her 'whole life' - but never experienced feeling so close to danger. Now, she says, there is nowhere in the world she feels safe. On October 7, she and three friends were camping overnight at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering near Re'im, an event billed as a night of 'friends, love and infinite freedom' to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot with electronic music. On the first evening, nothing was out of the ordinary. But moments before dawn broke on Saturday, explosions appeared in the sky. 'We were woken up by one of our friends who came to tell us some rockets had been sent over. For many of her friends, this is normal. But this is not something that I am used to seeing.' Natalie told MailOnline many were still in the crowd dancing when the first salvoes of rockets passed overhead. For a time, it was not clear what was happening. Some festival-goers were seen walking away from the disruption. Others carried on, unaware. 'Many people who were in the crowd had told me that they thought the noises were coming from the music,' Natalie said. 'After a few minutes, we started to realise that the rockets just kept coming and kept coming and kept coming. Though first time I really realised how severe the situation was becoming was when they shut off the music. Security guards reacted quickly, at first telling guests to get down and cover their faces. As the missiles closed in, they told guests to pack what they could and evacuate as soon as possible. 'They were there until the end,' Natalie explained. 'Most of them had died, guiding us and trying to get us to safety.' 'Everybody started driving in one direction. There was traffic from so many cars being in such a confined space all trying to leave at the same time. 'Even at that point, in my head I was thinking, "okay, if it's just rockets, if they're not in our vicinity, we have the Iron Dome. Some scrap from intercepted rockets could hit our cars. But we'll be in our cars. We'll be okay. We'll get out of here. It might take a few hours because there's so many people, but we'll be fine." 'When we started driving in one direction, security started telling people to drive in another direction. That's when we realised that there must be something else going on other than just the rockets. 'Security started yelling at everybody "get out of your cars", "park your cars on the side of the dirt road and run!" 'I didn't understand why at first... and then we heard the first gunshots.' 'The scariest thing for me was running in a certain direction - thinking that you're running to safety - and then suddenly seeing dozens of other kids running in your direction and realising that they're running from a terrorist, that they are running from shooting.' Destroyed cars are seen at the party site near the Kibbutz Re'im on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Vehicles were abandoned after security guards told attendees to leave their cars and run Fleeing for their lives, people had no time to react when told the abandon their cars and run. Pictured: car keys are left in the ignition of a destroyed car at the festival on October 12 Charred and damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas militants at the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel on Saturday, October 7 Within moments, gunmen had entered the festival on motorbikes, in vans and by motorised paraglider and started shooting at the event's 3,500 attendees with Kalashnikov assault rifles. At least 260 people died in the massacre, many victims shot in the back as they tried to run. Countless were injured and many more taken back into Gaza as hostages. Natalie only knew that she had to keep moving. 'The security told us to pull over to the side of the road. "Being in the cars is making you too easy of a target - get out of your car and start running." 'As soon as we heard the first gunshots... I was there with three people, we were in the car together. We opened the doors and we started running for our lives. 'After that we just ran. I remember at a certain point there was a bit of a ditch. And we were contemplating if we should go into the ditch and hide, or if we should keep running. And we kept running. A lot of people that went into the ditch are not here today. Every decision we made ended up saving our lives. But we had... no one had any idea what decision to make. You just had to make a decision in that moment.' 'We ran for about four hours, on and off. In between the gunshots, anytime the gunshots would subdue for a little bit, we would say, "Okay, we're going to, we're going to walk a little slower, we're going to catch our breath." 'The scariest thing for me was running in a certain direction - thinking that you're running to safety - and then suddenly seeing dozens of other kids running in your direction and realising that they're running from a terrorist, that they are running from shooting. 'These were innocent children. We had nothing to protect ourselves. Imagine you're in an open field with nowhere to hide and they are coming at you from every direction. 'Kids were running in all different directions and you had to make a split-second decision on where to run, to where you thought it would be safe. 'And that decision would either save your life or get you killed or kidnapped.' The group of four continued to follow the road out of Re'im. Their last instruction from camp security had been to push on to the nearest town. For miles, they walked along the banks of short grassland and fields with little in the way of protection. 'The only time we had someone near us to guide us was about two hours in. We saw a police officer and his direction was to go in the direction of the sun. That was the direction the town was in.' The police officer walked with Natalie and her group for a while, armed only with a handgun. He explained he could not call for backup because Hamas had taken over the nearby police station. Over the radio, 'you could hear the terrorists yelling'. They could only keep moving. 'There was just an exodus of hundreds and hundreds of kids walking in the same direction. And then every time we heard gunshots, some people ran this way, some people ran that way. 'You're in an open field and there's almost nowhere to hide. It felt hopeless. It really felt hopeless. There's just simply nowhere to hide, there was nowhere to go. There's stories of some people that hid in drains, in trees and fields. A lot of those people... they ended up finding them and killing most of them. 'The ones that survived were the ones that hid under the dead bodies and pretended to be dead.' 'You're in an open field and there's almost nowhere to hide. It felt hopeless. It really felt hopeless. There's just simply nowhere to hide, there was nowhere to go,' Natalie said Journalists walk during a guided media tour on the ground of the Super Nova Festival in Re'im, Israel, 17th October 2023 Israeli soldiers surround a Palestinian who ran at them with a knife at the site of a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip Thursday, October 12, 2023 Soldiers rest as the sun sets at the Supernova Music Festival site, where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas militants near the border with Gaza, on October 12, 2023 Exhausted, Natalie's group eventually stopped to rest in the shade of a tree. Four hours had passed and they were still miles from the nearest town, an endless journey with no way to know how far they had gone. As they paused, they saw a large white van coming towards them. 'At first we thought it might be a terrorist so we fought to get up and run... but then we realised, "where would we run to? What would we do?"' The group could only wait by the side of the road. The vehicle pulled up and a man got out. He offered them a lift. They still had an hour to go. 'The people that risked their own lives to try to save us was incredible to see. I couldn't believe that these people were going out of their way to risk their lives to save all of us. If that man didn't come with his car, I don't think I would be here today. 'It's very hard for me to comprehend these stories that I am seeing now, every day, someone else that was kidnapped, that their friends and family had a little bit of hope that maybe they are still alive. Every day people are posting that they have been found dead.' Natalie and her friends were fortunate to escape to Patish, a nearby moshav. There, she says the town came together to help those still flooding in. 'They gave us food. They gave us shelter. We hid in their bomb shelters.' She described the horror parents were undergoing all the while as they acted quickly to take in more children. 'When the rockets started going off, all the children there were messaging their parents, telling them what was happening. To tell them that they were safe and trying to escape. 'Many people, after a while, couldn't get in touch with their kids anymore. Either their kids were kidnapped or killed. So a lot of people in the town were receiving lists of names of people that were at the festival that... weren't answering their family and friends anymore. 'And they were walking around reading off lists of names hoping that maybe somebody was saved and maybe somebody was in the shelter and then they could inform their families that they are okay.' Natalie managed to get in touch with her mother, who lives in New York. 'I honestly did not tell my mom where I was until after I got home safe because I couldn't stand the idea of her worrying about me about my life that way.' Soon after, Natalie made plans to return home, coming home via Athens. There, she contacted the press, feeling she needed to share her story. She said there is now nowhere she feels entirely safe, amid heightened reports of antisemitism globally. Anti-Jewish threats on Telegram surged 488 percent in the first 18 hours after Hamas' incursion, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The first four days of the conflict also saw antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom surge by more than 300 percent, according to Community Security Trust. 'I have a lot of friends in New York right now who are afraid to leave their homes,' Natalie said. 'I had a friend who tried to call an Uber and the Uber driver messaged her and asked her "Are you Jewish?" And then said: "if you are, I will kill you". 'It doesn't feel safe to be anywhere right now. The fact that I'm not in Israel doesn't make me feel safe. 'I'm incredibly scared for what's to come. Because everything that has happened so far is not the end it is only going to get worse and that's what scares me the most.' Destroyed cars and belongings left at the Supernova Music Festival site where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas militants near the border with Gaza, on October 12, 2023 Damaged cars are seen at the rave party site near the Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip border fence, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Mourners gather around the grave of May Naim, 24, during her funeral in Gan Haim, central Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Naim was among the 260+ killed by Hamas at the festival 'Everyone keeps telling me "it's so great that you're almost back in New York, you're almost home". But I don't feel safe going back to New York.' In spite of all she has gone through, Natalie's message to the world is to avoid the conflict descending into further unnecessary factional violence. She says she wants people to 'understand that we have the same common enemy' in Hamas, as distinct from the Palestinian people. '[Hamas] is a terrorist organisation that does not care though about the lives of Palestinian people, or any people,' she said. 'We have to come together against this common enemy.' 'I am seeing a lot of support online from a lot of countries, from a lot of governments, from a lot of people I know personally, from people I don't know personally. But I think there is still a lot of confusion as to who Hamas is, what they are doing. 'Especially as an Iranian Jew, just a year ago the Iranian government was killing innocent children in their own streets. And I feel that a lot of Iranians even don't realise that we are fighting against the same people. We need to come together and realise that we have the same common enemy.' 'I also want people to understand the fear that Jews are feeling all over the world, whether it's in London or Paris, or New York, or Israel. 'The things that I'm seeing that are happening in New York - I don't actually feel safe going home,' she said. 'Everyone keeps telling me "it's so great that you're almost back in New York, you're almost home". But I don't feel safe going back to New York. 'And that's the scariest part. 'That's the saddest part - that I don't feel safe.' Advertisement Fly-tippers are turning the UK into an 'open sewer' - with fewer than one in 500 litter louts ever being prosecuted last year. Analysis of Government figures by campaigners has revealed 0.2 per cent fly-tippers were successfully taken to court in 2022 for blighting Britain. Cash-strapped councils responded to more than one million incidents of illegal rubbish dumping with the epidemic costing the taxpayer around 392million a year. But only 1,959 fly-tippers were prosecuted by the police. And of those, just 20 were jailed, with 30 receiving community service while the rest were fined. Shockingly, councils only tried to punish eight per cent of the 1.09million incidents with fixed penalty notices - with just 13 per cent of all the fines dished out nationally ever actually getting paid, analysis by waste removal marketplace LoveJunk revealed. Liverpool City Council was branded the worst offender, having handed out just one fine for almost 19,000 fly-tipping offences recorded in 2021/2022, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) data showed. Second worst was Gateshead Council, which fined only one person out of the 5,644 offences recorded. Southampton City Council was third, issuing fines for two of the 9,999 total offences reported. Your browser does not support iframes. This huge 200-tonne pile of rubbish was illegally fly-tipped rural Congleton, Cheshire, in August prompting a police probe into the 'industrial scale' of littering Analysis of Government figures by campaigners has revealed 0.2 per cent fly-tippers were successfully taken to court last year (pictured is a fly-tip in Congleton in August) Fly-tipping has been practically decriminalised across Britain, with fewer than one in 500 offences being prosecuted last year The news has outraged eco-activists and prompted fresh claims the scourge of fly-tipping was essentially being decriminalised - despite a recent clampdown by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Poll Do fly-tippers deserve harsher penalties in the UK? YES NO Do fly-tippers deserve harsher penalties in the UK? YES 1068 votes NO 20 votes Now share your opinion John Read, founder of Clean Up Britain, said: 'It's terrible to say, but much of Britain looks like an open sewer. Litter lies everywhere, there were over a million fly-tips last year, our rivers are full of excrement and our roads littered with potholes. Is that really the hallmark of a first world country? 'This is a truly disgraceful state of affairs and reflects appallingly on the Government and, as far as litter is concerned, a sizeable section of our population too.' In a furious political broadside, Mr Read accused 'lazy' bureaucrats at Defra of being 'timid, unimaginative [and] lacking in innovation' when it came to dealing with fly-tippers. The illegal dumping of rubbish is a criminal offence that carries a fine of up to 50,000. However, it is rare for offenders to be charged the full amount. Mr Sunak this year vowed to clamp down on fly-tipping as part of his attempt to reduce the problems caused by anti-social behaviour. On-the-spot fines for those who fly-tip more than doubled in July from 400 to up to 1,000, as part of the PM's plan to try and eradicate fly-tipping. But Mr Read said punishments must go even further, with a minimum mandatory fine of 10,000 for fly-tipping to be imposed, with repeat offenders of mass fly-tips being hit with 50,000 penalties. This graphic shows the 10 worst councils in England for fining fly-tippers, by the ratio of fixed penalty fines dished out compared to the total number of illegal dumping sites reported Cash-strapped councils responded to more than one million incidents of trash being illegally ditched, in an epidemic that costs the taxpayer a 392million a year (file picture) But only 1,959 fly-tippers were prosecuted by police. And of those, just 20 were jailed, with 30 receiving community service while the rest were fined (fly-tip in Congleton is pictured) Demanding a 'no-nonsense' approach from Whitehall, Mr Read added those caught fly-tipping should also receive either penalty points on their licences, total driving bans or have their vehicles crushed. 'The Government needs to send a very clear and unequivocal message to fly-tippers,' he added, continuing: 'Fly-tipping will continue in the current epidemic proportions until the cost/benefit equation of being caught becomes far too prohibitive for fly-tippers. 'The Government must also ban the use of cash when people pay for waste to be disposed of by waste carriers. There needs to be a digital payments trail that can be traced back to every waste carrier, and this is impossible to do when cash is used for payment.' Fly-tipping offences have surged by more than 38 per cent since 2010, when just 820,000 incidents were recorded. Ten years ago about 70 per cent of fly-tipping incidents resulted in 'some kind' of enforcement action - ranging from fines, warning letters and prosecutions. Now the figure stands at about 46 per cent. Fly-tipping incidents on the country's waterways have increased by 76 per cent, recent data revealed. They have also nearly doubled on footpaths and bridleways. Environmental groups have reported incidents of repeated dumping in nature reserves and other UK beauty spots. In August, shocking footage revealed almost 200 tonnes of rubbish was dumped in rural Congleton, Cheshire, prompting a police probe into the 'industrial scale' of littering at the site. Fly-tipping poses a 'lethal threat' to wildlife and livestock, The Wildlife Trusts, responsible for running the country's nature reserves, said (file picture) Taxpayers spent an eye-watering 483 million clearing up fly-tips between 2007 and 2017 Fly-tipping also poses a 'lethal threat' to wildlife and livestock, The Wildlife Trusts, responsible for running the country's nature reserves, said. 'Fly-tipping is disgraceful and causes big problems for wildlife, as well as costing a fortune to clean up,' The Wildlife Trust's land use policy manager Barnaby Coupe said. 'It is heart-breaking whenever our nature reserves are targeted.' The Government insists the number of prosecutions in recent years has increased and that its new clampdown is having an impact. Court fines almost tripled from 621 in 2020/21 to 1,798 the following year. And enforcement action by councils increased 11 per cent from 455,000 to 507,000. But Mr Read said the figures showed fly-tipping is 'out of control and in a state of virtual unpunished anarchy'. 'There is no meaningful enforcement taking place by councils and the courts are being far too lenient with fly-tippers who have 'priced in' these derisory fines as part of their cost of doing business,' he previously said. A Liverpool Council spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our fly-tipping incident figures are higher than other local authorities because we include cases in alleyways, which many other councils do not. 'The data is from 2021/22 so does not reflect the work we have done over the last year, which includes a social media campaign to shame fly-tippers and highlight where we have issued fixed penalty notices to those responsible. 'We have also now recruited a dedicated enforcement team to investigate cases, which we are confident will drive up the number of fines issued.' A spokesman for Defra told MailOnline: 'Fly-tipping is a cynical crime which blights communities and undermines legitimate waste businesses. We are making solid progress with fly-tipping incidents down four per cent and fixed penalty notices up 58 per cent over the past year but we are determined to do more to tackle this pernicious activity. 'That is why we are awarding councils with grants to tackle fly-tipping, strengthening powers to detect and prosecute waste criminals, and planning to introduce new rules to crack down further.' By Praveen Menon SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum on Oct. 14 to constitutionally recognise its Indigenous people through the establishment of a representative body that can provide non-binding advice to the parliament. Here's what you need to know about Australia's Voice to Parliament campaign: WHO ARE AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia. They represent about 3.8% of its population. The more than 800,000 Indigenous people and their ancestors have inhabited the land for at least 60,000 years. They comprise several hundred groups that have their own histories, traditions and languages. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? Australia's Indigenous population plummeted after British colonisation began in 1788 as they were dispossessed of their land, exposed to new diseases, forced to work in slave-like conditions, and killed by colonisers. The marginalisation of Australia's First Nations people has continued until recent years. Aboriginal people track below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment. Their life expectancy is about eight years lower than non-Indigenous people. One in three Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families over 1910 to the 1970s in a bid to assimilate them into white society. The government apologised for the so-called 'Stolen Generation' in 2008. ARE OTHER FORMER BRITISH COLONIES BETTER? First Nations people in other former British colonies continue to face marginalisation, but some countries have done better in ensuring their rights. Canada recognises the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982. New Zealand's 1840 Treaty of Waitangi promises to protect Maori culture. The country also created Maori seats in parliament, allowing the Indigenous population to choose to vote for candidates for these seats or participate in the general election. Story continues Te reo Maori has been recognised as an official language and is used in schools, universities and public offices. HOW DID THE VOICE REFERENDUM COME ABOUT? Indigenous people began to be included in Australia's census figures after a referendum to amend the constitution in 1967, more than 60 years after it was established as a nation in 1901. In 2017, about 250 First Nations representatives gathered at the sacred monolith landmark of Uluru in central Australia and produced the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. The conservative government at the time rejected the call. In 2022, Labor's Anthony Albanese became prime minister and said Australians would have their say in a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. WHO IS FOR AND AGAINST THE VOICE? The latest opinion polls this month showed more Australians are planning to vote no in the referendum than yes. The referendum is one of Albanese's key issues and he has staked much of his political capital on it. Albanese's Labor Party, the left-wing Greens party, some independent lawmakers, several welfare groups, national religious and ethno-religious groups all support the referendum. But there are those who oppose it on both sides of the political divide. Independent Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe quit the Green party over concerns about the Voice proposal. She wants a treaty between the government and Indigenous people first, similar to what exists in New Zealand and Canada. The conservative Liberal Party and the rural-based National Party are against the proposal and are asking Australians to vote "No" in the referendum. The Liberals and the Nationals have a long-standing coalition agreement. A "No" campaign, or "Recognise a Better Way" campaign, has proposed to set up an all-party parliamentary committee to focus on the rights of native title holders instead of establishing a Voice to Parliament through a referendum. (Reporting by Praveen Menon in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Stephen Coates) King and Queen will pay a four-day State Visit to Kenya at the end of the month to celebrate the strong and dynamic partnership the countries continue to forge. But nearly a century ago, Charless disgraced great-uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales forged a few strong and dynamic partnerships of his own as he enjoyed a lengthy safari with the real-life characters from Out of Africa - with some with the morals of another film, White Mischief. In September 1928 Edward and his younger brother Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester left London for a three month Official Imperial Tour to East Africa. Edward was the darling of the Empire with hugely successful visits to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India as well as wildly popular tours of the USA, South America and Japan. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester is in the front seat as the royal brothers make their way through the streets of Nairobi in Kenya. With the Prince of Wales in the back seat is Lady Grigg, wife of the Governor of Kenya, with whom the royal brothers were staying White Mischief starring Greta Scacchi, right, dramatised the real life events of the 1941 Happy Valley murder case in Kenya. Edward was gratified to find the ex-pats shared his own louche outlook The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII, later Duke of Windsor), left, at Nairobi station in Kenya, during his visit with his brother Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1928 Tired of what he dubbed princing he was determined his visit to Kenya and Uganda would be a jolly from start to finish. To make the point clear, he deliberately left his formal dress uniforms at home. To his delight he found the Kenya ex pats enjoyed drinking, partying, and adultery as much as he did, and he quickly adapted to a riotous social life in Nairobi. Much of the partying centred around the Muthaiga Club, which was soon dubbed the Royal Waiting-Room as aristocratic women, most of them married, danced, swigged cocktails, and hoped to catch the eye of one or both princes. Karen Blixen played by Meryl Streep in Out of Africa said: The Prince is absolutely charming, and I am so much in love with him that it hurts. Even fun-loving Blixen was shocked that one of the royal party 'Lady Delamere behaved scandalously at supper, I thought; she bombarded the Prince of Wales with big pieces of bread ... and finished up by rushing at him, overturning his chair and rolling him around on the floor.' On another occasion Edward kept his entourage waiting for several hours when he disappeared with a certain blonde of easy virtue who was identified as the future aviatrix Beryl Markham who a few years later would fly solo from Europe to North America. Then on the night before he was due to attend an Armistice Day church service the prince escaped from Government House by shinning down a drainpipe before being arrested by a guard. After name dropping the king, he headed off to the club for another night of debauchery before sleeping off his hangover in the back of the royal Buick where he was spotted at 5.15am by the governors European milkman. If the Prince of Wales's visit plays a part in Out of Africa, what he found in Kenya is reminiscent, also, of another film, White Mischief, with its hedonistic portrayal of life among the ex-patriot elite in 'Happy Valley'. Written by James Fox and directed by Michael Radford the novel is based on the (real life) unsolved murder of the Earl of Errol in 1941. Some of the characters such as Lady Delamere had been there to meet the Prince of Wales in 1928. White Mischief became a hit movie starring Charles Dance and Greta Scacchi in 1987, just two years after the release of Out of Africa. Meryl Streep playing Karen Blixen who described Edward as 'absolutely charming' in the movie 'Out of Africa' in 1985 Actors Klaus Maria Brandauer, who played her husband Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke and Meryl Streep as Karen Blixon in the movie Out of Africa Baroness Isak Dinesen, known as Karen Blixen, the Danish author of Out of Africa. She is pictured on a 1920 safari Wearing a dress with embossed flowers on bodice and sleeves is Beryl Markham, famous British aviator British-born Kenyan aviator Beryl Markham in the 1930s Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out of Africa, the 1985 movie directed by Sydney Pollack Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, right, at tea in the bush camp near Kiu while on one of his hunting expeditions in East Africa. Pictured with Captain Anderson, the elephant-hunter, left, and Captain Denys Finch Hatton, Map of Africa showing the two different routes taken by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester when they cut short their trip to Kenya and central African after receiving news that their father, King George V, was ill The hedonistic lifestyle continued on safari, which was organised by Blixens aristocratic lover, the Honourable Denys Finch Hatton (played by Robert Redford in the film). He arranged for Edward to stay in five-star luxurious camps which boasted a grand piano, gramophones, freshly ironed linen sheets, a massive dining table groaning with four course dinners, crystal glasses, and champagne, and even an ice-making machine. Finch Hatton was a big-game hunter who was asked to ensure Edward saw and shot the Big Five a lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo. Edward had bagged two of them a lion and an elephant, before becoming disillusioned by the kill. To his credit he came under Finch Hattons increasingly anti-hunting influence. The two men developed a strong friendship and back in London Edward used his celebrity to highlight the devastating effect that tourist hunting with rifles at point blank range from cars was having on the wildlife. His address to the East Africa Dinner Club, led to a debate in the House of Lords and eventually paved the way for the founding of the Serengeti National Park. Less to his credit was his reluctance to return to London when the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, telegrammed him that King George was critically ill with a respiratory infection. Edward claimed this was no more than 'an election dodge' by Baldwin and refused to go. His private secretary, Alan Lascelles, shouted 'Sir, the King of England is dying, and if that means nothing to you, it means a great deal to me.' According to Lascelles, the prince spent the remainder of the evening in the successful seduction of a Mrs Barnes, the wife of the local commissioner. He told me so the next morning, after which he reluctantly agreed to head for London. George V rallied and Edward returned to East Africa for another safari with Finch Hatton a year later. This time the only shooting he did was with his 16mm cine camera, which helped pave the way for a new type of photographic safari. The prince even filmed aerial shots of animals from an aircraft. This time he camped with his latest girlfriend, Thelma, Lady Furness. The two had adjacent tents and their own fire at one end of the camp, where according to Thelma they enjoyed nights of rhapsody. Over forty years later two other royal siblings Prince Charles and Princess Anne headed for Kenya and their own safari. Once again there was time off from royal duties and Charles emerged from the jungle with a four-day growth of beard. Like his great uncle he too relished photographing the wildlife, snapping four of the Big Five only missing out on seeing a lion. Edward, Prince of Wales with Thelma, Lady Furness, at the midnight performance of the film 'Lily Christine' at the Plaza, Haymarket, London in 1932 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne on safari in the Masai Game Reserve on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya Prince of Wales and Princess Anne attend a formal event on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya Prince Charles at the end of his 10-days safari in Kenya pictured here at Laku Nakuru watching birds. With him is the park warden Joseph Mburuga In March 1977, Charles returned, camera in hand, for another photographic Kenyan safari. Unlike his great uncle whose hedonistic holiday was hardly mentioned by the British press, Charles found himself the quarry as nine London journalists and snappers formed a press caravan ready to greet him at Nairobi. The prince emerged from the undergrowth ten days later to find hed supposedly taken a mystery blonde with him. Unlike Edwards blondes this one was very much fictitious. Charles took it in good spirit and presented the journalist who had started the rumour with a home-made stuffed bird, complete with blonde wig, labelled mystery blonde. Australia is rushing towards becoming a cashless society but not everyone is ready to wave goodbye to physical currency - and there are good reasons why. The Covid pandemic supercharged a trend toward digital transatction that was already underway, with the use of digital wallet payments on smartphones and watches soaring from $746million in 2018 to more than $93billion in 2022. By the end of 2022 cash only accounted for 13 per cent of Australian consumer payments compared to 70 per cent in 2007. 'The shift towards a cashless society in Australia isn't just a possibility, it's already well underway,' RMIT Associate Professor in Finance Angel Zhong wrote recently in The Conversation. While Dr Zhong did not see banknotes disappearing completely, she believed they will become much rarer in day-to-day transactions. Australia is rapidly going cashless with digital payments being enthusiastically adopted, especially by younger consumers The use of digital wallet payments on smartphones and watches has soared from $746 million in 2018 to more than $93 billion in 2022 'The functionally cashless society is where we enjoy the convenience of technology - we don't have to go out with a bunch of cash, we can use our phone and smartwatch to make payments,' she told Daily Mail Australia. As more Australians embrace the treand a growing number of retailers are only accepting digital payments. Major banks continue to close branches, shrink ATM numbers and are even opening 'cashless' branches, citing a customer preference for online services. However, going electronic has its own sets of risks and could badly disadvantage some sections of the population. Here are the 10 major concerns of going cashless. 1. It can leave out older Australians or others not digitally connected Dr Zhong said the strongest adopters of digital payments were Australians aged between 18 and 29. 'Two-thirds of them use digital wallets,' she said. However, many older Australians still preferred to pay in physical currency with almost one in five classified as a 'high-cash user'. Dr Zhong said as Australia needed provide 'better support for other age groups to embrace technology, better literacy about systems in technology as well as financial assistance' for those struggling with the transition to digital payments. Those on lower incomes and new migrants also typically rely more on cash. The use of cash is shrinking in Australia with banks closing branches and ATMs and a growing number of retailers asking for digital only payment READ MORE: Expert issues grim prediction for when Australia will go cashless ahead of huge changes coming to Google and Apple Pay in Australia Advertisement 2. It relies on internet coverage and reliable connectivity Rural areas with slow internet can find digital transactions challenging. However a major Commonwealth Bank outage in July demonstrated the vulnerability of digital finance even in urban areas. Customers were left paralysed by the technical glitch and unable to access their accounts, transfer funds or use their cards to make purchases. Dr Zhong said governments needed to support investment in infrastructure that boosted internet coverage and speeds to smooth the way for the digital revolution. 3. Some areas of the cash economy will suffer Charity donations given on the street are dwindling because fewer people are carrying cash and the those who beg or busk for a living face the same problem, research conducted in 2020 found. 'While retailers and online merchants have benefited from cashless payment options, donation-seekers are left rattling an empty cup,' wrote University of Massachusetts' Spencer M. Ross and Auckland University of Technology's Sommer Kapitan. 'Aside from people carrying less cash, our research suggests another major reason is that people simply don't expect to see beggars or buskers with a swipe machine, or a QR code or Venmo symbol on their signs.' 4. 'Hidden' fees Digital transactions often attract a fee, which might not be obvious at the time of purchase. Warwick Ponder, the former executive manager of corporate affairs and communications at eftpos Payments Australia, told Daily Mail Australia that Paywave devices often levied a delayed credit surcharge. Mr Ponder advised customers to avoid tapping as much as possible, as there could be a significant period of time before the money deducted registers in their account. Banks also typically charge a higher fee for tap-and-go purchases than for EFTPOS, with only cash attracting no extra cost. There are often hidden fees in electronic transactions although eftpos is not as costly as tap-and-go in this regard 5. Hacking and scams It is estimated that Australians lost more than $2billion to online scams in 2021 - but the true figure could be much higher due to many incidents going unreported. Major cybersecurity breaches of Optus and Medibank last year also highlighted the risk of identity theft online. UNSW Institute for Cyber-Security director Nigel Phair told Daily Mail Australia that the nation 'has to do a lot better when it comes to cyber-crime'. ' The Australian Cyber-Security Centre said they had about 63,000 reports (of scams) last year, I reckon that's about a fifth of what the actual number is. 'The ACCC had about $2billion in reported losses from scams. I reckon that's nowhere near the right amount.' 6. Lagging legislation Regulation of electronic payments often lags behind technological and market innovations. Google Pay and Apple Pay are currently not subject to the same rules as credit cards and EFTPOS transactions. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is updating legislation to change this. 'That payments Act is actually out of date,' Dr Zhong said. 'We need to regulate to ensure that we have an industry-wide standard to ensure that consumers' wellbeing and security are protected.' 7. Losing the value of money and less social interaction Finance commentator Sarah Wells told Daily Mail Australia that children won't learn the true value of money and miss out on crucial social interactions if all transactions become digital. 'I believe it is better for children to use cash,' Ms Wells said. 'Giving a child $20 and taking them to a shopping centre or the movies helps them to learn to budget and helps them to make decisions by thinking more carefully. 'There's a responsibility in handing over money and such valuable social interaction - they learn to say "please" and "thank you" and look people in the eye.' 8. Loss of independent spending power Ms Wells also warned that having 'a cash-starved society' could be bad news for those whose finances are being controlled or denied by someone else. Ms Wells said young women who were fleeing domestic violence needed to be kept in mind when regulating digital payments. Women in these circumstances risk being tracked by an abusive partner or being cut off from their finances. 'We need to make sure we are not compromising the safety, education and experience of minority groups and young minds in our endeavours to legislate contemporary payment platforms,' she said. 9. Your spending can be tracked The loss of anonymity and privacy is a major concern for many who oppose a 'cashless society'. A change.org petition created by Elizabeth Hynton which rails against the 'discrimination' faced by those who used cash has gathered more than 5000 signatures. 'Cash is private,' the petition states. 'When one pays via credit/debit card, the Government knows: what one spends their money on, how much they spend, where one spends their money and when the purchase was made, which is an invasion of privacy.' Dr Zhong agreed that the concerns were valid. '(With) anything digital there is always a vulnerability it will be tracked,' she said. RMIT Associate Professor in Finance Angel Zhong says legislation in Australia is trailing behind developments in electronics payment 10. Loss of your and freedom of choice This is perhaps the over-riding concern of many who oppose the cashless society. The change.org petition argues that cash should always be an option. 'One of the hallmarks of a free society is freedom of choice ... not just what suits an organisation, but also what suits the customer!' the petition states. 'We can't go on forever using COVID as an excuse.' China presents a dystopian vision of how such control can be exercised, where people are subject to a social credit score that accrues or docks points depending on how desirable the individual's behaviour is according to the government. A bad social credit score can mean being blocked from buying items such as plane or train tickets. The Reserve Bank is currently examining the benefits of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) being introduced to to Australia, which would be a 'programmable' currency such as China's. Although the RBA has stated such a currency could improve the 'efficiency and resilience' of payments it said one was not likely to introduced any time soon. 'Given the many issues that are yet to be resolved, any decision on a CBDC in Australia is likely to be some years away,' the RBA said. Startling images have showed just how bad prostitution is in a small California town - with scantily-clad women taking over parking lots in search of work. Sex workers have been pictured prowling the streets of National City, just outside San Diego, leaving one mayor frustrated over the repealing of a law that banned street walking. Ever since Gov Gavin Newsom repealed the law banning loitering and street walking, this small city home to some of the US navy's most prestigious units has seen a huge increase in sex workers. DailyMail.com images show how women, either on their own or in pairs, are hanging around the parking lot, flicking their hair, and making eye contact with people driving past in cars. One woman, wearing a fluorescent pink outfit with her buttocks on display, walked with another woman whose jean shorts left little to the imagination. Startling images have showed just how bad prostitution is in a small California town - with scantily-clad women taking over parking lots in search of work Sex workers have been pictured prowling the streets of National City, just outside San Diego, leaving one mayor frustrated over the repealing of a law that banned street walking Women, either on their own or in pairs, were seen hanging around the parking lot, flicking their hair, and making eye contact with people driving past in cars The women, who paraded up and down the industrial street, were seen waving at passing cars until a police vehicle showed up. One woman gave a male driver a hand signal, at which point he pulled around the corner to a spot under a bridge and she skipped off to follow. When DailyMail.com spotted the six or so women in National City, they were approaching the windows of some passing trucks, before retreating again. Although Dalbergia Street is filled with industrial businesses and nearby naval bases, there are also pockets of residential housing on the street. National City is spiraling out of control, according to Mayor Ron Morrison, due to brazen prostitutes who have been gathering in the downtown area. Prostitution is illegal in the state of California, but Morrison believes that a new law decriminalizing loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution is responsible. Another law prohibits police from citing people suspected of soliciting sex based on appearances, allowing prostitutes to walk the streets in little clothing. Morrison told CBS8: 'Police cant literally go and talk to them because they dont have a right to talk to them because they are not doing anything wrong for loitering for prostitution. The women, who paraded up and down the industrial street, were seen waving at passing cars until a police vehicle showed up One woman stands in a parking lot in National City The women, who paraded up and down the industrial street, were seen waving at passing cars until a police vehicle showed up Morrison, pictured here, said that local government is now looking to find ways to combat the open prostitution 'Even if they are going out talking to someone in their car and sitting there when all they are wearing is less than a G-string.' California Governor Gavin Newsom approved Senate Bill 357 in July last year that brought about the changes, with it taking effect this year. Morrison showed the outlet pictures that he claimed show sex workers walking near Integrity Charter School, where parents drop their kids off. According to Morrison, officials are now actively looking to help businesses and hotels that have felt the effects of the prostitution. The non-partisan mayor also told Fox News that as soon as Democrat Newsom's pen touched the bill, prostitution began expanding in the state. 'The moment it was signed by the governor, boom, everyone knew the rules were out the window,' Morrison said. Prostitution is illegal in the state of California, but Morrison believes that a new law that banned old practices of making loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution illegal is responsible Although Dalbergia Street is filled with industrial businesses and nearby naval bases, there are also pockets of residential housing on the street When DailyMail.com spotted the six or so women in National City, they were going up to the windows of some of the passing trucks, before retreating again One woman faces a passing truck in the industrial area 'Those that are out there on the street, most of them are wearing less than what you would consider a scanty negligee. 'It is just flaunting in everybody's face. And so a lot of people are screaming, "Hey, you know, can't you get them on indecent exposure?"' He continued: 'And the problem is the way our laws read in this state. The definition of indecent exposure is as long as the genitals are covered. Anything else is fair game out in public. 'I was driving on one of the streets the other day, and there's this young lady standing there in the middle of the street wearing basically a G-string, and that was it, and a couple pasties. But she's right in front of my car, I couldn't move. 'So, I did ask her very politely, "Would you please move out of the street?" And she looked at me and says, "If you don't want to talk to me, you can go around."' Morrison also told Fox he thought some of the girls on the street could be underage. One woman is seen flicking her hair as she waits in the parking lot near the naval base National City is not the first place in the state to be hit by swathes of sex workers openly walking the streets One woman gives a gesture to a male driver in a truck Wearing short dresses parade around the industrial street Ever since Gov Gavin Newsom repealed the law banning loitering and street walking this small city home to some of the US navy's most prestigious units has seen a massive increase in sex workers The mayor said with prostitution now open on the streets, other crimes have followed including shootings and assaults - with a pregnant prostitute being kidnapped, beaten and raped just a few weeks ago. National City is not the first place in the state to be hit by swathes of sex workers openly walking the streets. Earlier this year, footage emerged showing women outside a Catholic elementary school in Oakland. Footage captured by ABC News's I-Team showed the women outside St Anthony's soliciting customers in cars parked outside the school gate. At the time, Rodney Pierre-Antoine, who oversees various Catholic elementary schools, including St. Anthony's, said: 'We don't want our students to witness the perils of human trafficking.' When asked by ABC's Stephanie Sierra whether police were patrolling the area outside the school on a daily basis, he said simply: 'They're present.' Pierre-Antoine also claimed that police have been unable to police properly due to the introduction of the bill. 'With the passage of the loitering bill, their hands are somewhat handcuffed,' he said. Community members, including the parish's Father Ghebriel Woldai told the channel the problems run deeper and an influx of pimps has also caused a spike in violent crime and confrontations between pimps and gang members. 'If there is a violent shooting, sometimes we experience those kinds, it scares me a lot,' Father Ghebriel said. 'We feel powerless, we just pray.' Dr. David Adesnik is a former Defense Department deputy director, director of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Iranian proxy forces Years from now, historians may look back on October 7, 2023, as the dark day that triggered an unescapable descent to global war. For from the moment Israel rose to its self-defense in answer to a savage Hamas terrorist attack, Washington DC must have recognized the awful potential of this conflict to engulf the entire region and perhaps, most terrifyingly, the world. Now, as a heavily armed, Iranian-trained terror army eyes a full-scale bombardment of the Jewish State from Lebanon, there is an undeniable nightmare scenario looming just beyond Israel's borders. It's a terrible chain of events kicking off with tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets raining down on Israel, provoking increasingly destructive rounds of counterattack and escalation, and pushing the small nation of 9 million to its breaking point. Drawn by the prospect of realizing their dark apocalyptic vision of the complete and utter destruction of Israel, the Islamist mullahs of Tehran activate their terrorist proxies from Syria to Iraq and beyond. U.S. forces across the Middle East are attacked. Urged by Iran, Syria's blood-soaked dictator Bashar Al-Assad's deploys his illicit chemical weapons stockpile. Oil trade is ground to a halt by the Iranian Revolution Guard chocking off the viral Strait of Hormuz. And the Islamic Republic itself unleashes hundreds of long-range missiles on Tel Aviv, straining missile defense systems and compelling America to enter the fray before all is lost. How this dreadful specter ends is anyone's guess. It's no wonder President Joe Biden has ominously warned, 'any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation,' to back off. 'Don't,' said the president. 'Don't.' The veiled threat was surely directed at Iran, as America deployed two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers - the USS Gerald Ford and USS Dwight D Eisenhower -to the eastern Mediterranean Sea along with the carriers' supporting strike groups. Years from now, historians may look back on October 7, 2023, as the dark day that triggered an unescapable descent to global war. It's a terrible chain of events kicking off with tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets raining down on Israel. (Above) Israeli tanks are stationed on the border with Lebanon That is a lot of firepower. The real question is whether Biden is prepared to use it and if an overwhelming show of American might alone will convince the Iranian puppet masters to restrain their agents of chaos. The alternative as it is detailed below is nearly unthinkable TERROR ARMY ON ISRAEL'S BORDER AWAITING SIGNAL TO STRIKE Skirmishes in the mountainous terrain of Israel's northern border with Lebanon have already begun. On Tuesday, Israeli forces said they killed four Hezbollah gunmen attempting to cross into Israeli territory. Later in the day, Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles across the border, injuring three civilians. For now, one cannot say whether these are preludes to full-scale assault or relatively inexpensive displays of solidarity with Hamas, but it is certainly all part of a plan. For decades, the revolutionary Islamist regime in Tehran has built a network of terror groups determined to grind Israel out of existence. It's called the 'ring of fire.' Hezbollah, an offshoot of the Sunni Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, formed in 1982 with direct support from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The group fought Israeli forces to a draw during a brief war in 2006, during which hundreds of Hezbollah rockets rained down on northern Israel, killing more than 40 people. In the years since, Hezbollah has aggressively rearmed. The group fought Israeli forces to a draw during a brief war in 2006, during which hundreds of Hezbollah rockets rained down on northern Israel, killing more than 40 people. (Above) An Israeli Arab man is rescued from the rubble of a Hezbollah rocket attack in the northern Israel coastal town of Haifa on August 6, 2006 Skirmishes in the mountainous terrain of Israel's northern border with Lebanon have already begun. (Above) The Israeli Defense Forces claims it has made new missile attacks against military targets of Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon 'Don't,' said the president. 'Don't.' The veiled threat was surely directed at Iran, as America deployed two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers - the USS Gerald Ford and USS Dwight D Eisenhower - to the eastern Mediterranean Sea along with the carriers' supporting strike groups. Israel estimates the group has stockpiled 150,000 rockets and mortars, several hundred of which are precision weapons that can hit within roughly 10 meters of their target. If the Lebanese terror army does enter the fray, Israel will be forced to contend with a ferocious two-front war, even as the bulk of its forces are in the country's south preparing for a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Israel's medium-sized air force would be stretched very thin by the strain, so warplanes launched from the two U.S. carriers in the Mediterranean would be extremely welcome. American involvement would bring with it an extraordinary array of satellite surveillance assets. That said, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran have spent decades learning how to hide from an enemy with advanced technology that controls the air. Airpower likely won't be enough to defeat a deeply dug in Hezbollah force, which may indicate why a 2,400-strong U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit is en route from Kuwait to Israeli waters. But that raises the worrying prospect of American boots on the ground U.S. lives in harm's way. ISLAMIST MULLAHS DANGLE BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT OVER TEL AVIV If Hezbollah does go all in, that is the point at which the war may begin to spread like wildfire. Iran itself could reinforce Hezbollah's effort by striking Israel with its own ballistic missiles, which number in the thousands and many of which can easily reach the Mediterranean. The causalities would potentially be catastrophic. More than four million Israelis live in the narrow coastal strip that extends about 25 miles to the north and south of Tel Aviv. Israel may not wait for Iran to strike, sending its warplanes to hit Iranian targets first, potentially including Tehran's nuclear program and missile launch sites. Iran has six times the land mass of the UK, so it would be difficult for Israel to strike ballistic missiles on (or under) the ground, especially since most launchers are mobile. Defense may be Israel's better bet and that would rely on Arrow missiles, a companion to Iron Dome, which protects against short-range rockets and mortars. However, Tehran's principal uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow are fixed in place, albeit well-defended. Israel could also hit targets like the missile production facility in Khojir, east of Tehran, or the Parchin military complex. Airpower likely won't be enough to defeat a deeply dug in Hezbollah force, which may indicate why a 2,400-strong U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit (above, a member of Marine Corps unit) is en route from Kuwait to Israeli waters. Iran itself could reinforce Hezbollah's effort by striking Israel with its own ballistic missiles, which number in the thousands and many of which can easily reach the Mediterranean. Iran has six times the land mass of the UK, so it would be difficult for Israel to strike ballistic missiles on (or under) the ground, especially since most launchers are mobile. (Above) A ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location in Iran Obviously, such a nightmare scenario would draw in the United States, though one might excuse Tehran for thinking that Biden will not allow himself to be pulled into another Middle Eastern war. For two and half years, Biden has paid Iran just to stay at the negotiating table, even as it moves closer and closer to producing weapons-grade uranium, the essential ingredient of a nuclear weapon. Yet if Tehran takes Biden's measure and decides to escalate, that may change the calculus in Washington. In addition to committing the U.S. Air Force to Israel's defense and potentially putting Marines on the ground, Biden might use the Navy to shut in Iran's exports, especially oil, severing critical financial lifelines. Strikes on Iranian military facilities inside the country are less likely, although the White House may signal that's how it would punish Iran for crossing certain red lines. SYRIA'S BLOOD-SOAKED ASSAD AND HIS ILLICIT CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE With Iran directly involved, an array of lesser proxies would likely join the fight. In addition to sending Hezbollah to fight on behalf of the Assad regime, Tehran also raised foreign legions consisting of thousands of Pakistani and Afghan Shiites to fight in Syria. These militias profess their ultimate objective is to destroy the Jewish state. Assad's own armed forces are a hollow shell of their former selves, but he would likely dispatch troops to the front, if only to distract attention from the deprivation and oppression Syrians continue to experience at home. For Israel, Syria's entry into the war also raises the question of whether Assad would deploy his stock of chemical weapons or give them to other members of the Iranian-led axis. Assad's (above, center) own armed forces are a hollow shell of their former selves, but he would likely dispatch troops to the front, if only to distract attention from the deprivation and oppression Syrians continue to experience at home. For Israel, Syria's entry into the war also raises the question of whether Assad would deploy his stock of chemical weapons or give them to other members of the Iranian-led axis. (Above) A Syrian child receives medical treatment after Assad regime forces allegedly conducted poisonous gas attack to Duma town of Eastern Ghouta in Damascuson April 07, 2018 Two years ago, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons suspended Damascus because of its refusal to allow inspections of the chemical weapons industry it claims to have dismantled. Another target of opportunity for Syria and Iran will be the roughly 900 U.S. troops in northeast Syria, where they are supporting local forces preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State. The Syrians, along with various Iran-backed militias, have consistently harassed these troops with mortar fire and drone attacks. One attack killed an American contractor in March, prompting retaliatory strikes by the U.S. military. And now, other U.S. forces in the region may find themselves under threat. 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State are already a target. U.S. TROOPS UNDER ATTACK IN IRAQ MAY ONLY BE THE BEGINNING Over the last 24 hours, a small yet unknown number of American troops were reportedly slightly injured in a spate of drone attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq. Iranian militias operating inside the country are happily claiming responsibility. Two armed drones reportedly hit the al Asad airbase in western Iraq, another drone targeting al-Harir airbase in the north was intercepted and destroyed before it could do any damage. The Iraqi government is nominally elected and sovereign, but Iran-backed Shiite militias take orders from Tehran while ignoring Baghdad's directives. Two armed drones reportedly hit the al Asad airbase in western Iraq, another drone targeting al-Harir airbase in the north was intercepted and destroyed before it could do any damage. In fact, the influence of Tehran and their militias are so great that the Iraqi government pays the militia member salaries and recognizes many units as official government forces. These militias are now threatening to create more chaos should Israel escalate its offensive in Gaza. They could ramp up strikes on U.S. forces, attempt to overthrow the Iraqi government, or both. Iran could also use Iraq as an additional launch site for missile strikes against Israel, potentially provoking Israeli retaliation further enflaming Iraqi public opinion. SAUDIA ARABIAN OIL FIELDS GO UP IN SMOKE? Earlier this year, Iran and Saudi Arabia patched up relations with help from China. That seemed to take off the table any prospect of Iran striking Saudi oil facilities amid a crisis. That risk became clear in 2019, when a suspected Iranian drone strike on Saudi processing plants temporarily took more than 5 million barrels a day of production offline. But with America in the war, oil facilities in multiple Gulf states would become attractive targets to Iran. That risk became clear in 2019, when a suspected Iranian drone strike on Saudi processing plants temporarily took more than 5 million barrels a day of production offline. (Above) Satellite image from Planet Labs Inc. shows thick black smoke rising from Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq in September 2019 Likewise, U.S. military bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are well within range of Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles. WORLD OIL SUPPLY STRANGLED, AS GULF BECOME BATTLEGROUND Lastly, there is a potential for the current war to spread to the Persian Gulf, which is a long and narrow maritime passage whose eastern shore belongs entirely to Iran. From January 2021 through July 2023, Tehran's forces harassed, attacked, or seized 26 foreign vessels in the Gulf many of them oil tankers. Roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, or one fifth of the world's daily supply, reaches customers via the Gulf. Just two days before Hamas launched its surprise attack, U.S. Navy ships came to the aid of a pair of tankers threatened by Iranian vessels. Just two days before Hamas launched its surprise attack, U.S. Navy ships came to the aid of a pair of tankers threatened by Iranian vessels. (Above) Iranian protestors set fire to the American and Israeli flags on October 18, 2023 To build leverage in a regional war, Tehran could block all seaborne traffic through Gulf, creating pressure on importing nations to side with Iran. This kind of widespread chaos is precisely what Joe Biden wants to avoid. With Hamas and Israel on the brink of a decisive battle for Gaza, the unavoidable question is whether Iran will commit all of its forces to the war, drawing in Israel's neighbors, triggering upheavals across the Arab world, and even roping the United States into the last thing it wants - war in the Middle East. One thing that may prevent escalation is a swift and crushing Israeli victory in Gaza. Another is a credible threat from the White House preferably with backing from key allies, such as the UK and France to severely punish those who seek to widen the war. Yet as the invasion of Ukraine illustrated, villains are more than capable of persuading themselves that their plans are brilliant. Kraft Heinz is on a mission to transform Lunchables to dominate the school cafeteria. The prepackaged meal kits, already a billion dollar business, will be served in some US schools as a lunch option this fall. The company estimated education food service is an untapped, $25 billion potential market, according to a quarterly report published in May. In order to meet federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program Kraft Heinz tweaked its turkey-and-cheese and pizza Lunchables to increase its protein content. However, the changed product, which increases its serving size, has resulted in elevated sodium in comparison to the retail version, the Washington Post reported. A cafeteria worker prepares Lunchables for lunch at Pembroke Middle School in North Carolina In order to meet federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program Kraft Heinz tweaked its turkey-and-cheese and pizza Lunchables to increase its protein content Making the iconic yellow meals eligible for school lunches is a deliberate strategy to target a new generation of consumers that it hopes will drive supermarket sales too However, Kraft Heinz said the brand is focused on cutting sodium, sugar and saturated fat, and recently reduced the salt and oil ingredients in its crackers. It also recently released a new line of Lunchables featuring fresh fruit that it intends to sell in grocery store produce aisles. Executives told the Wall Street Journal the company would likely offer a wider selection of Lunchables to schools in the future. The company has pitched the meal boxes, first introduced in 1988, as a way for schools to cut down their labor bill. Making the iconic yellow meals eligible for school lunches is a deliberate strategy to target a new generation of consumers that it hopes will drive supermarket sales too. 'The kids have it and then they go to retail and they see it,' the company's incoming chief executive Carlos Abrams-Rivera told the Wall Street Journal. '[It's] a penetration machine,' current CEO Miguel Patricio added. Consumers have long raised concerns about the level of salt and processing in Lunchables, but during the pandemic people tended to lean away from more natural products and back towards familiar big-name brands. The company has pitched the meal boxes, first introduced in 1988, as a way for schools to cut down their labor bill It said the brand is focused on cutting sodium, sugar and saturated fat in their future product offerings The move to serve Lunchables in student cafeterias has drawn pushback from some child-nutrition advocates, school-meal officials Kraft Heinz is on a mission to transform Lunchables and dominate the school lunch market The move has drawn pushback from some child-nutrition advocates, school-meal officials and parents who see the products as a step backward for school-meal programs. 'While it's brilliant marketing on the part of Kraft, we have sold out our kids for Kraft to build market share this way,' Barbara Whitaker, a mother from Washington state wrote in a letter submitted to the US Department of Agriculture. Some advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the addition of Lunchables to school menus is no more than a symptom of a broken system for feeding children. The Biden administration proposed new rules to limit the amount of sugar and salt in school meals earlier this year. Earlier this month the government also unveiled $30 million in grants to boost school nutrition in more than 250 small and rural communities. Kraft Heinzs focus on schools is part of an effort to boost its food service division which has been largely focused on restaurants and bars. North American food service accounted for 9 percent of Kraft Heinzs total sales last year, compared with 66 percent from retail, according to the company. Long term, Kraft Heinz is targeting organic sales growth of 5 percent in the food-service division, versus 1 percent to 2 percent from US retail. DailyMail.com can reveal that Joe Biden bought his six-bedroom Rehoboth Beach house in June 2017 for $2,744,001 cash It's Joe Biden's favorite place his summer home in Delaware where he has decamped dozens of times during his 1,000 days as Commander-in-Chief. As DailyMail.com revealed on Tuesday he has spent at least 300 of those days either in the country's second smallest state or on vacation. He bought the home at a time that it appeared his political career was over five months after his Vice-Presidency had ended he was well into his 70s and after all he had decided to forgo a 2016 run for the top job. But now that house in the tiny town of Rehoboth Beach could turn out to be a major embarrassment as Republicans continue their push to find business links between the 46th president and his son Hunter. DailyMail.com has discovered that then-private-citizen Biden, who had spent virtually all his adult life in public service, bought the home for slightly under $2.75million in cash. And making the transaction even stranger it was within weeks of a highly questionable text that Hunter had sent to Runlong 'Raymond' Zhao, an associate at Chinese oil giant CEFC asking to seal a deal worth $10 million a year. Joe Biden paid nealy $2.75million cash for his second property, DailyMail.com can reveal. The transaction was within weeks of a questionable text that Hunter Biden sent to Chinese associate demanding to seal a deal worth $10 million a year DailyMail.com can reveal that Joe Biden bought his six-bedroom Rehoboth Beach house in June 2017 for $2,744,001 cash The president's son was staying at the guest house of Biden's Delaware home when he wrote to Communist Party official Runloong 'Raymoond' Zhao on July 30, 2017, threatening him to follow his 'orders' 'I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,' Hunter wrote Zhao on WhatsApp on July 30, 2017. He then appears to threaten Zhao who he calls Z. 'Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand,' he writes at 9.45 am. 'And now means tonight,' he adds, apparently referring to time in Beijing, which is 12 hours ahead. 'And Z if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang or the chairman I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. He signs off emphasizing: 'Ok my friend I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father. I sure hope whatever it is you are doing is very, very, very important.' There is no proof that Joe Biden actually was sitting with his son, but metadata from photos obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunter's infamous abandoned laptop show he was at his father's main house, his Wilmington mansion, the day the text was sent. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee and one of the key figures leading calls for Biden's impeachment, said the all-cash house purchase is suspicious. 'The fact that Joe Biden purchased a luxurious beach house around the same time his family was receiving millions from a CCP-linked company raises many questions that need to be answered,' Comer told DailyMail.com. 'The House Oversight Committee will continue to follow the money trail to determine the extent of President Biden's involvement in his family's influence-peddling schemes and its impact on our national security,' Comer added. DailyMail.com obtained a photo of Hunter Biden outside his dad Joe's Delaware home the day he sent damning texts to his Chinese business partner The bombshell texts are just one of dozens of revelations two senior IRS staffers made in their sworn Congressional testimony Senator Ron Johnson, who together with Senator Chuck Grassley spent years investigating Hunter's shady foreign business activities, said the transaction 'underscores the imperative' of getting all the Bidens' bank records. 'The corruption of the Biden crime family has been obvious for years,' he claimed in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'This is just another piece of evidence that will probably be ignored once again by most of the mainstream media. It also underscores the imperative of obtaining all the bank records from all the Bidens who have benefited from Joe and Hunter's grifts.' The White House has denied the President was ever 'in business' with his son. But aides have recently stopped claiming that the two never spoke about Hunter's foreign dealings. Property records show Joe's six-bedroom second property was purchased on June 8, 2017 for $2,744,001 just seven weeks before his son's shakedown messages. No mortgage was registered with the sale, indicating Joe paid all cash for his second home. The Sussex County recorder has no records for a mortgage on the Rehoboth Beach property until December last year, when Joe and Jill opened a $250,000 line of credit secured against the property. His tax records from the time show he was beginning to make much more money than while he was Vice President, mostly from sales of his memoi, Promise Me, Dad, and lucrative speaking engagements by him and First Lady Jill Biden. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee and one of the key figures leading calls for Biden's impeachment, said the all-cash house purchase is suspicious First Lady Jill Biden and President Biden have spent much of their time at their summer home in Delaware and were seen relaxing on the beach in Rehoboth in August In 2017, the first year Joe was out of office after 36 years in the Senate and eight more as vice president, the couple declared an income of $11 million, and a further $4.58 million in 2018. At the time of Joes Rehoboth house purchase, local news site Delaware Online reported that it had been bought using part of their advance from a multi-book deal. But even if the money for the home came from the $11 million he and Jill earned that year according to their tax filings, there are still large discrepancies in the President's financial disclosures that remain unexplained. Joe was allegedly bribed by Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner Ukrainian gas firm Burisma, with $5million, according to information received by a trusted FBI informant An analysis published last year by DailyMail.com shows a $5.2 million discrepancy between his IRS filings and his Office of Government Ethics disclosures for the same period. Between 2017 and 2019 he and First Lady Jill Biden reported $16.5million in gross income on their federal tax returns, released by the Biden campaign. The vast majority came from their two companies, CelticCapri Corp and Giacoppa Corp, which they use for speaking and writing engagements. But in Office of Government Ethics (OGE) fillings for the same period, Joe only reported $9.6 million in income for himself and his wife. Joe was required to file OGE reports while he was Vice President, and in 2019 after he declared his presidential candidacy. Some of the remaining roughly $7 million came from wages earned by the First Lady from her Northern Virginia Community College teaching job and a salary she paid herself from Giacoppa, which the couple were not required to report to the OGE. But a comparison of the income reported by Joe from his CelticCapri company on OGE reports versus what he told the IRS, shows a difference of almost $5,180,071 which remains unaccounted for. The figure is surprisingly similar to the $5 million Joe was allegedly bribed by Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner Ukrainian gas firm Burisma, according to information received by a trusted FBI informant. In the 2020 write-up of an agent's interview with the unnamed informant, released by Congress this year, the source claimed that during a meeting with Zlochevsky in 2016 the Ukrainian oligarch boasted about funneling $5 million each to Hunter, who served on the Burisma board at the time, and Joe, via a complex network of offshore accounts. The claims remain unproven. Furious neighbours have blasted a London council for refusing to fix a hazardous footpath which has seen residents young and old breaking bones in painful falls. Locals living along Butler Avenue, in Harrow, north-west London, have dubbed the leafy suburb's perilous pavement a 'dangerous' nightmare. Photos of the wonky walkway show a patchwork of various concretes and tarmacs, jutting up at different levels in the street, where homes can fetch for 700,000. Elderly locals are terrified of the treacherous path with one 89-year-old, who broke her wrist tripping on the route, now refusing to use it, dodging traffic by walking down the middle of the road instead. Another pensioner in her 80s relies on a walking stick or wheelchair to get around, and is now so terrified she'll trip over she rarely leaves her home. Locals living along Butler Avenue, in Harrow, north-west London, have the perilous pavement a 'dangerous' nightmare. Mike Williamson is spearheading the campaign to get the council to fix the deadly footpath and is desperately demanding civic chiefs do one 'proper job' Photos of the wonky walkway show a patchwork of various concretes and tarmacs, jutting up at different levels in the street, where homes can fetch for 700,000 Rhoda Agerbak (pictured with her dog Chai), a counsellor who has lived in Butler Avenue since 2012, said she scooters along the road and the pavement makes it difficult Even the young are affected a woman in her 20s broke her ankle on protruding tree stump and reportedly took the council to court. Neighbours say they have complained about the rutted route for decades but claim their pleas to completely overhaul it have fallen on deaf ears at Harrow Council. Furious locals blasted the council doing patch repairs, tarmacking tiny sections of paving instead of ripping it up and fixing the entire walkway. Mike Williamson is spearheading the campaign to get the council to fix the deadly footpath and is desperately demanding civic chiefs do one 'proper job'. Like others, he complained the neighbouring streets have been perfectly paved but residents on Butler Avenue are still forced to endure its shoddy walkway. Mr Williamson, who has lived in the street for 30 years managed to get 70 signatures for the petition, and there are just 40 homes on the street. He delivered it to the council on September 29 but has not heard anything back beyond a thanks and now fears Harrow is ignoring the fears of Butler Avenue locals. 'The council are not responding to us, which we think is a pretty poor show. This is a council whose slogan is something to do with 'putting the community first',' the former business consultant lamented. 'The other roads around here look pretty good, but these are pretty bad. It's a lot better over there [on the parallel Vaughan Road]. 'People are walking in the road and avoiding the pavement. 'We're not asking for Yorkshire stone slabs, like in Westminster. Just make it like that [other] road. 'When you do a job do it properly, and don't just stick tarmac down. It's short-termism, it's too much short-termism.' Many of Butler Avenue residents have lived in the road for decades, Mr Williamson added, with some now in the 80s who are terrified they will suffer serious injuries by tripping over the perilous pavement. Hazel Gurnhill, 89, who has been living in Butler Avenue since 1957, now refuses to use the path after breaking her wrist while walking on it in 2018. Five-years later, Mrs Gurnhill still suffers with pain due to trapped nerves since the incident and lives with constant pins-and-needles sensations in her wrist. Elderly locals are terrified of the treacherous path with one 89-year-old, who broke her wrist tripping on the route, now refusing to use it, dodging traffic by walking down the middle of the road instead A woman in her 20s broke her ankle on protruding tree stump and reportedly took the council to court An aerial view of the perilous Butler Avenue in in Harrow, north-west London Furious locals blasted the council doing patch repairs, tarmacking tiny sections of paving instead of ripping it up and fixing the entire walkway 'I didn't complain to the council when it happened, but it's an ongoing problem. Where the roots of the trees are coming through the pavement, they aren't level,' she said. Bipin, a 77-year-old who would not give his full name, said his daughter-in-law broke her ankle on the Butler Avenue pavement when she was only in her mid-twenties. Describing his daughter in law's fall in around 2007 he said: 'It was one of the trees, it was cut and they had the stump left. 'They didn't really clear it, it still a lot there, and in the winter it was very dark, you couldn't see it was there. 'She got a fracture, she's still suffering. Unfortunately it injured her quite a bit, it's a problem that's still happening here.' Doctors reportedly told his daughter-in-law the only option was an ankle replacement to cure the pain. The pensioner, who lives in Butler Road which leads onto Butler Avenue, said it is affecting disabled and elderly people in the area. 'We talk about disabled people, people with blindness or semi-blindness, they're living here,' he told MailOnline. 'I think seriously they could have a problem. I don't understand, they have done all the other pavements. 'They haven't [repaired] it in years, and I've been living here a long time.' Rhoda Agerbak, a counsellor who has lived in Butler Avenue since 2012, said she scooters along the road and the pavement makes it difficult. She said: 'I haven't personally fallen - sometimes when I'm walking the dog I'm anxious that I'm going to trip, if she's pulling or it's slippery. 'The fact that they don't clear the leaves as much as they used to makes it more slippery. It also doesn't look very nice. 'They do the other roads, it's really nice over there, so why don't they do it here?' Mike Williamson delivered a petition to the council on September 29 but has not heard anything back beyond a thanks and now fears Harrow is ignoring fears of Butler Avenue locals The cracked and damaged pavement on Butler Avenue in Harrow, north London Alastair Kelly, 47, has been living in the street for 10 years with his mother-in-law, Premlata Kharbanda, 80, who visits occasionally. Kharbanda is partially sighted, struggles with her mobility and used and wheelchair. But because the paths along Butler Avenue are uneven, Alastair fears for his mother-in-law's safety. He said: 'I've been here the better part of 10 years, and haven't seen any noticeable improvements to the paths. 'It's constantly precarious. My mother-in-law has never had a fall but has caught her feet a few times. It's a street where people have been living for a long time and there are a lot of elderly people living here. It does impact them to getting from A-to-B. 'My mother-in-law struggles to go out unless there is somebody with her. She will walk with a stick and is blind in her left eye, and has lost some peripheral vision. It is very difficult for her.' Meanwhile, Wendy Furniss, 69, who has been living on Butler Avenue for 35 years and fell over some uneven paving stones while walking along the path down from her house in 2016. She said: 'My sandal had caught the edge of one of the paving stones and I fell badly. I had grazes on both hands and knees. I didn't go to the hospital because there happened to be a nurse at my house at the time so she helped me. 'It was a really unpleasant fall. I was walking fast and not really looking at my feet, but the paving stones were uneven. I'm a long-standing resident here so I have seen the paths deteriorate. They have just gradually got worse.' Harrow Council told MailOnline it was 'aware of the concerns' raised over Butler Avenue and said it will be 'reviewing' the situation. A spokesman added: 'We are currently undergoing a complete refurbishment of 60 roads and footways as part of our 10milion resurfacing programme. 'The current condition survey for 2023/24 has now been completed and this will be reviewed for us to determine our next resurfacing programmes. 'All our roads and footways are routinely inspected against a criteria which informs us of any necessary repairs required. 'All reported defects to our footways should be reported via our website which are then inspected, and repairs carried out accordingly.' More harrowing details about a fatal three car collision in country Victoria have emerged after it was revealed an unborn child was killed, along with a little girl. Emergency responders silver Toyota Landcruiser, a black Ford Territory and a white Toyota Landcruiser - collided at the intersection of Old Dookie and Boundary Roads in Shepparton East about 2pm Friday. A five-year-old girl who was a passenger in the silver Landcruiser, died at the scene. The 26-year-old woman driving that car was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. A 32-year-old pregnant woman driving the Territory was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries Police have since confirmed her unborn child has died. An unborn baby and a five-year-old girl were killed in a horror crash near Shepparton on Friday. Pictured is the closed-off road The driver of the white Landcruiser, a 33-year-old Shepparton man, and his male passenger, 22, were taken to hospital for observation. A man who lives near the scene, and doesn't want to be named, has told the Herald Sun he was making a cup of coffee when he heard the crash. 'You normally hear a screech and a boom, but there was no screech of tyres, just a very strange noise like there (were) two accidents one after the other in quick succession,' he said. 'It wasn't a bang ... I thought that sounds strange.' He ran outside and managed to free the five-year-old girl from the wreckage, but she had already died from the impact. The tragedy occurred 200km north of Melbourne The road was closed for most of Friday afternoon. 'Officers are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the collision,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said. 'Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.' It follows a separate fatal crash in Victoria on Friday, when a motorcycle and truck collided at Christmas Hills, east of Melbourne, about 6.20am, causing the death of the rider. The state's death toll in 2023 now stands at 230, compared to 198 lives lost at the same time in 2022. Some parts of the unique Palestinian enclave are even more crowded than New York City Advertisement With the exception of a 7-mile (10km) border with Egypt, the rest of Gaza is encompassed entirely by Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. The unique Palestinian enclave now under a 'complete siege' by Israeli forces in retaliation to Hamas terrorists slaughtering civilians in an unprecedented bombardment on October 7 is one of the most densely-populated places on Earth, with some parts even more crowded than New York City. Stretching just 25 miles (41km) along the Mediterranean's coast and 7.5 miles (12km) wide at its thickest, Gaza is home to around 2million people. And half of these are under-18, figures suggest. Benjamin Netanyahu's government has pounded Gaza with a series of devastating airstrikes as punishment for Hamas gunmen massacring citizens on one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. Almost 4,000 Palestinians have been killed thousands of homes destroyed across the 141 square mile region. A strict blockade also means citizens yet to evacuate following Israel's order to evacuate 'immediately' are facing shortages of food, clean water, medicine, electricity and fuel. Israeli has tightened its grip on the region after it vowed to 'demolish' Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. Across both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, there are some 5.2million people, according to UN estimates. Palestinians are among the youngest populations in the world, with a median age the exact midpoint of just 19.6 years. In comparison, the figure stands at 40.1 in Britain and 38.1 in the US. But the occupied Gaza and West Bank territories could not be more disparate. The majority of Gazan residents are refugees, and interactive graphics prepared by MailOnline show huge differences in the lifestyles and prospects of those in the coastal enclave compared to those living in the West Bank. In Gaza, the unemployment rate is close to 45 per cent, and is higher among females than males. In comparison, unemployment in the West Bank is somewhere in the region of 15 per cent as of 2019. But even those fortunate enough to have work in Gaza are on dismal wages, taking home a daily wage of 61.6 new Israeli shekels (NIS), about 12.51, in 2020. In the West Bank, wages are almost double that, 121.9 NIS 24.76. The map shows Gaza's population density over time. The left map signals that there were 1.1million living in the city in 2000 (left), with most concentrated in the north. By 2020, the number of people living there ballooned to 2million (right), with the north the specific Gaza City area and south being more densely populated How Gaza compares in size and population density to London and New York City. Gaza (left), for reference, is home to around 2million people equating to around14,900 people per square mile. For comparison, densely-populated London (right) and New York (centre) have 9million and 8.5million people, respectively. This means New York is twice as crowded, in theory. Yet some parts of Gaza are even more densely populated than Manhattan. Source: Parliament UK, Palestine Ministry of Health SHADED: A population pyramid shows the breakdown of Palestine's demography, by age and gender, in 1950. At the time, just shy of a million people lived there. BOLD: That figure has shot up, however, with Palestine's population standing in the region of 5.3million in 2022, according to the United Nations. Close to half are under the age of 19. Source: United Nations, 2022 Revision of World Population Prospects 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. A map shows Gaza in relation to where the populated areas are (purple), where refugee camps are located (green) and the evacuation zone (red shading) as ordered by the Israeli government When Palestine's own population is broken down, roughly 2.5million are considered refugees. Palestine refugees are, according to the UN, 'persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period June 1 1946 to May 15 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict'. Another 2.4m refugees live in neighbouring Jordan. Over a million more reside in Lebanon and Syria. SOURCE: UN High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East She claims her myriad mental health issues were 'ignored' as doctors allegedly coerced her into 'damaging' transgender procedures, including testosterone At the time, she was suffering from multiple personality disorder and had splintered into eight different identities A North Carolina lesbian slammed doctors who led her down a path of transitioning as a 'fractured and unstable' adolescent, despite suffering from multiple personality disorder. Layton Ulery took aim at high-profile medical doctors in a bombshell lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com, where she claimed that her 'mind and body' were inhabited by eight separate identities after almost two decades of abuse at the hands of a cult. After enduring 18 years of 'sexual, physical and psychological torment', which also included conversion therapy to 'cure' her from being a lesbian, she left the cult in 2015, while the trauma at the time saw her personality splinter into separate identities. The lawsuit claims that because Layton would suffer memory loss when she switched identities, her doctors were also providing medical treatment to other identities including Liv, Jesse, Anna, Mason, Lee, AJ, and several 'fragmented identities.' Yet despite being 'practically and legally disabled under Rhode Island law', she underwent drastic gender reassignment therapy including hormone replacement, because the surgeons 'prioritized their own agendas, ideologies and professional interests.' Ulery is suing Rhode Island treatment center Thundermist Health, along with a number of leading practitioners including Dr Jason Rafferty, therapist Julie Lyons, and Dr Michelle Forcier. Those included in the lawsuit did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com. Efforts made to contact Ms Forcier were not successful. Dr Jason Rafferty, a Harvard graduate, is alleged to have prescribed testosterone despite Layton allegedly displaying a number of 'red flags' that should have brought an 'immediate end to Laytons transgender medicalization' Dr Michelle Forcier allegedly treated Layton in a 'reckless fashion' amid the patient's multiple personality diagnosis, and continued her testosterone therapy despite significant alleged 'red flags' Ulery's lawsuit is the latest in a growing number of allegations from formerly transgender individuals combatting the doctors that pushed them into transitioning at a young age. She claims that instead of receiving urgent care for her fractured mental state, surgeons chose to either 'ignore or minimize' her condition in favor of life-altering procedures. Per the lawsuit, the doctors pressured her to adopt a transgender identity and quickly prescribed her with gender reassigning hormones. Ulery did not undergo any type of gender reassignment surgery - although plans for a double-mastectomy, known as top surgery, were mooted. Ulery says that forcing her down the road of transitioning amplified her mental health struggles and caused 'irreversible and mentally and physically painful damages to her body.' After her initial ordeal within a cult, Ulery said she was again subjected to a string of abuse perpetrated by medical professionals, beginning in the summer of 2017. When she was told by loved ones to seek help for her dissociative identity disorder (DID), which she had not been diagnosed with at the time, Layton googled her symptoms and found services from therapist Julie Lyons, an expert in transgender and dissociative therapy. Notably, Ulery said that when she first went to see Lyons she did not consider herself to be transgender, but was quickly pushed towards transgenderism and alleges that Lyons 'fixated' on the fact that she had male alter identities. Lyons allegedly 'quickly jumped to the conclusion that Layton had gender dysphoria and began convincing Layton she was a transgender man in need of further medicalization.' Further than pushing her to transition, the lawsuit alleges that she 'crossed numerous lines' in their sessions, including inviting her boyfriend into a therapy session where they performed 'experimental hypnosis techniques' on her. It is also alleged that when Layton couldn't pay for her ongoing treatment, Lyons allowed her to continue so long as she recruited new patients into her practice. Julie Lyons, a therapist specializing in transgender issues and dissociative diagnoses, allegedly 'crossed numerous lines' when she treated Layton. This included allegedly pressuring her into transgender therapy, and experimental hypnosis The lawsuit alleges that Layton was pressured into going down the road of transgender-affirming therapy at Thundermist Health Center in Rhode Island (pictured) She said the bizarre treatment, which also included taking her to 'unconventional, new age' church services, went unchallenged for years as her only frame of reference for medical care came from inside the cult. Before sending her off to other medical professionals that pushed her towards changing her gender identity, it is claimed that Lyons did not conduct any kind of pre-screening, which she says would have determined that she had body dysmorphia and mental health issues rather than gender dysphoria. The string of alleged failings continued as Lyons referred Layton to Dr Jason Rafferty, where she would 'suffer even more reckless transgender medicalization.' She had felt that she would be 'more likely' to obtain the look of a man, despite desiring to appear female, a dynamic that she revealed to therapists and surgeons. Upon her first visit to Rafferty's clinic Thundermist Health Center, she says she expressed an interest in undergoing a double mastectomy, but 'was not certain about taking testosterone out of concern for how that would affect or be received by her (other identities).' Throughout her treatment, it is alleged that she frequently displayed 'red flags' that should have 'put an immediate end to Laytons transgender medicalization', including that one of her 'identities' would sabotage her transition by cancelling scheduled appointments and deleting messages from her doctors. Due to her memory loss brought on by DID, Ulery alleges that she did not know this at the time. Upon receiving treatment from Dr Rafferty, a leading transgender youth physician, it is claimed that the doctor understood the myriad 'red flags' in her psyche, but concluded that she should be prescribed testosterone. 'This unexplained, egregious departure in rationale demonstrates just how far Dr. Rafferty was willing to go to ignore such high risks caused by her psychological conditions,' the lawsuit claims. She claims that Raffety's decision to inject Layton with testosterone also surmounted to treating her other identities, some of whom were expressly against the treatment. Eventually, after expressing concerns over the side effects of the testosterone including facial hair, she claims that Rafferty reacted with 'cold, disinterested apathy'. After saying she wanted to stop, 'support from the Thundermist team dried up.' This included the alleged halting of transportation that Thundermist had provided for her. One of the defendants in the lawsuit, Dr Michelle Forcier, made headlines with her appearance in Matt Walsh's documentary 'What is a woman?' Because of the alleged insistence that she was trans, and was merely not reacting in the right way, she then sought treatment from Dr Michelle Forcier, upon the advice of Lyons. Notably, Forcier made headlines last year in her appearance in filmmaker Matt Walsh's documentary 'What is a Woman?', where she argued that infants can decide their gender identity. She again claims that despite a slew of 'red flags', including notes from Rafferty detailing her reluctance to continue testosterone, she continued in 'the same, reckless fashion', the lawsuit claims. It is claimed that 'Forcier was provided Laytons Thundermist documentation with all red-flags disclosed, and looked right past them to continue Laytons testosterone prescription. Eventually, after receiving help from a separate group that led to her merging her multiple identities into one, she was able to see that her symptoms were not gender dysphoria. Instead, she concluded that it was 'body dysmorphia brought about by a late puberty, childhood bullying, trauma from sexual assaults, and an unhealthy perspective that she could never achieve the beauty of all the women she encountered on social media and TV.' This realization led her to stop taking testosterone, but by that time the 'damage from the years of testosterone was already done.' The lawsuit notes that Layton was thankfully able to obtain life-saving treatment from other providers that now allows her to live a productive and healthy life. She adds that her decision to sue her practitioners over five years later was due to seeing stories of other 'detransitioners', who helped her realize that she had allegedly been pressured and coerced into medical treatments she didn't need or want. A mum is warning other parents to be wary of pets after her son's scalp was ripped open during a gruesome dog attack. Hunter Kilbourn was just 10 years old when he was set upon by two angry pit bulls. His mother, Melody, who works as a nurse, had let him go to their neighbour's place for the day to play with one of the children when the horrifying incident took place. "He went to the neighbour's house to play video games with his friend," Melody said. "He was let into their home and began to go upstairs. There was one dog that was at the top of the stairs, and it lunged down at him and started attacking him." Hunter's face was torn apart in the dog attack. Source: Jam Press Then all hell broke loose. "At that time the second dog ran inside from the backyard and ran up the stairs and began attacking the back of his head and arms," she explained to NeedToKnow.co.uk. Melody was at her home in California getting ready to pick up Hunter when a neighbour ran over to tell her the horrible news. While the horrified mum called for an ambulance, Hunter was carried home by his friend's father, with a towel over his bloody face. Horrific injuries "That moment traumatised me forever, my son was missing half his face, most of his ear, his eyebrow, his eyelid," Melody explained. "I was even able to see his skull behind his eye. The other side of his face was missing a chunk of his cheek. Hunter looked at me and said 'Mama am I going to die?' "The ambulance and firefighters soon arrived, and told me that they believed he had a fractured skull as well as bites on his arms, face, and back of his head." Hunter was rushed to a nearby park where a helicopter was waiting to flying him to the hospital. He was taken into surgery straight away, with six more operations to follow, including skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. Story continues Doctors took skin from Hunter's groin and skin grafted the right side of his face, making him a new eyelid, as well as reattaching his lower left ear and lobe. Doctors were able to minimise the appearance of Hunter's scars with skin grafts. Source: Jam Press "The surgeries were all successful, and after a lot of prayer he eventually regained movement in his face. Though the vision in his eye has been affected, and he can only slightly see out of that one," Melody said. "After he was discharged from the hospital, we had weekly appointments as well as a few more surgeries, which included scalp revision. The dogs took out such an enormous chunk of his scalp that his scalp needed to be sliced open and re-closed to be tighter." Hunter was eventually discharged, however he was too scared to go home, so went to stay with his grandmother for a while. Fight to put dogs down The dog owners reportedly refused to put the dogs down, so Melody fought her case and won. Her son, who has attended therapy for PTSD and trauma healing, received compensation from the pet owner's home insurance policy. "It wasn't much and not nearly what it should be for the long-lasting life effects it has done on his physical and mental health," Melody said. "The dog owners were more concerned about keeping their dogs alive and fought hard to not have them put down. "But I got a lawyer and fought back. I spoke at a city hearing and explained how dangerous the dogs were, what happened, and the damage they did to my son. But that [case] was closed years ago." However, Melody's neighbour soon bought two new pit bulls, prompting her family to move to a new area. Hunter has recovered from the dog attack, but will be forever traumatised by the incident. Source: Jam Press A decade later, Hunter, 20, has finally recovered and no longer needs medical follow-ups. And while he's still afraid of strangers' canines, he's actually considering getting a pet dog. "We do not own any dogs but are okay being around familiar dogs of certain breeds, that belong to our friends. We do cross the street if someone is walking their dog," Melody said. "However, besides the PTSD and trauma, Hunter has recently said how he would like a dog of his own in the future." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Gwyneth really is the gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think she can't outdo herself, here comes yet another interview in which she makes all kinds of crazy, contradictory proclamations from an alternate universe. Let's start with the headline from this profile in the online magazine Bustle. Here's Gwyneth dressed head-to-toe in sheer red, her Gucci bra and panties visible, her rear end in one photo thrust toward the camera with Kardashian-level vigor. 'I will literally disappear from public life,' Paltrow says of eventually selling Goop, the company she founded 15 years ago. 'No one will see me ever again.' Meghan Markle, gird yourself: You have a new rival in factitious, fatuous displays of humility. Here are two actresses whose best performances are not on stage or screen but in the public sphere, pretending to suffer the spotlight they so desperately seek. Oh, the burdens of wealth and celebrity. The agony of being the face of a brand you yourself have established, the inordinate pressures of being an aspirational figure when you are practically begging other women to look like, dress like and want to be you. Meghan Markle's not wearing that $5,390 Max Mara camel coat in 70-degree California weather for nothing now, is she? Here's Gwyneth dressed head-to-toe in sheer red, her Gucci bra and panties visible, her rear end in one photo thrust toward the camera with Kardashian-level vigor. 'I will literally disappear from public life,' Paltrow says of eventually selling Goop, the company she founded 15 years ago. 'No one will see me ever again.' Anyway, back to Gwyneth. Despite having spent the bulk of her adult life as a red carpet figure who accepted InStyle's award for Style Icon in 2015 wearing Schiaparelli couture, no less Gwyneth hates getting dressed up and having her picture taken, just hates it. Here she is to Bustle on being the model for Goop's clothing label and starring in social media posts: 'I'm deeply uncomfortable,' she says of being on camera, 'but I do my best.' This profile is accompanied by 15 portraits of Gwyneth in various states of undress. A Gwyneth who is beaming and preening, who presents here as the one-percent of 51-year-old American women with the money and means to look this good. Yet has the gall to tell the reader her ostensible customer that she has come to accept losing all her looks. 'I am constantly in this exercise of . . . embracing this painful thing of not being young and beautiful,' Gwyneth says. 'Sometimes I almost think of it as a person that I'm hugging, like, 'This is supposed to happen. This is OK.' Yes, let's all sympathize as we look at these portraits of Gwyneth looking ecstatically at herself in a mirror as she applies red lipstick. As she poses suggestively in her underwear and six-inch Louboutin heels. Who is she kidding? She has the temerity to show her bare midriff, toned and muscled with a seeming vertical line bisecting her abdomen, then claim that her two pregnancies have left her stomach falling apart. 'I'm bummed that my stomach is . . . I had two babies and now, for some reason, at 51, it's like all the elasticity's going. But if I look at a 28-year-old model on Instagram and think my stomach's supposed to look like that, I'll just go into a depression.' Reader, we can see Gwyneth's ribcage here. We can practically count the bones. Whither the Gwyneth who said, 'I am who I am. I can't pretend to be somebody who makes $25,000 a year'? Meghan Markle , gird yourself: You have a new rival in factitious, fatuous displays of humility. A Gwyneth who is beaming and preening, who presents here as the one-percent of 51-year-old American women with the money and means to look this good. At least that Gwyneth felt honest. An elitist, insufferable snob, yes, but an honest one. Here though, we have a Gwyneth who is actively trying to court the woman who makes $25,000 a year. The point of this interview, don't you know, is to plug her new, lower-priced Goop skincare line through gasp! Amazon and Target. Now, if you think this is meant to bring Goop to the masses, don't be silly. 'I just didn't approach it like . . . 'Let's go mass,' Gwyneth says. What other reason could there be? It's a tautology: You go mass-market to reach the mass-market. Wow. This is perhaps the most bonkers, out-of-touch celebrity profile since Meghan Markle told her interlocutor to describe her as non-verbal. Because it never gets old, here was our duchess currently hoping to give Gwyneth a run for her money by relaunching her lifestyle website site The Tig in The Cut last year: 'At one point in our conversation,' interviewer Alison P. Davis writes, 'instead of answering a question, [Meghan] will suggest how I might transcribe the noises she's making: 'She's making these guttural sounds, and I can't quite articulate what it is she's feeling in that moment because she has no word for it; she's just moaning'.' Gwyneth has joined Meghan in a full-on detachment from reality. Once engaged to Brad Pitt and the ex-wife of Chris Martin, a millionaire many, many times over thanks to Coldplay, Gwyneth says here that, 'I could never get attracted to the really rich guy.' Here though, we have a Gwyneth who is actively trying to court the woman who makes $25,000 a year. The point of this interview, don't you know, is to plug her new, lower-priced Goop skincare line through gasp! Amazon and Target. Here she is to Bustle on being the model for Goop's clothing label and starring in social media posts: 'I'm deeply uncomfortable,' she says of being on camera, 'but I do my best.' An actress best known to generations of moviegoers for her role opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the 'Iron Man' franchise: 'I've always done independent films. Money has never been my thing. It's never been my driver.' Strewn throughout is one of my favorite tics in a celebrity profile: the unnecessary use of big words, especially ones meant to evoke business school: When Gwyneth was getting divorced, she says, she didn't just talk to her friends she embarked on 'data collection.' She and her team didn't think about doing a lower-priced line; it was something they 'ideated.' Her serums and lotions just don't work; they're 'efficacious.' There's an unjustified shot at 'the patriarchy' for the pressure women feel, she says, to be busy all the time, as well as the term 'nepo baby.' 'Nobody rips on a kid who's like, 'I want to be a doctor like my dad and grandad,' she gripes. Well, no, because to become a doctor one must pass exams and do residencies and, you know, prove oneself as smart enough to be trusted with human life. But let's mourn for the children of Malibu, with their modeling gigs and influencer deals, spared the rigors of the meritocracy. Her kids, privileged though they are, understand how hard Gwyneth works. 'I was saying this to my son, actually, the other day, because he was like, 'I have so much to do.' I said, 'I so relate to you.' I said, 'Today I had to go and do a photo shoot for G. label all day, and I was the model.' Her son is 17. And those moms out there working three jobs and struggling to afford child care well, they can't relate, but Gwynnie is hoping you'll try her new Goop treatments priced for the poor people out there the $24.99 eye serum or the $19.99 glycolic acid toner. It seems she's seen the light: Poor and working class women deserve good skin too! 'I was saying this to my son, actually, the other day, because he was like, 'I have so much to do.' I said, 'I so relate to you.' I said, 'Today I had to go and do a photo shoot for G. label all day, and I was the model.' (Above, right) Moses Martin Of all the howlers in this interview, here's one that hasn't gotten much pick-up: Gwyneth Paltrow, whose brand relies on online engagement, who has been a pop-cultural figure for her entire adult life, has never seen the interview Harry and Meghan did with Oprah. She swears. 'Do you know,' she says here, 'I'm the only person in America that did not see that interview?' She still hasn't, she says, because Googling something is apparently beyond her capabilities. 'I didn't watch it at the time, and now I can't,' she says. 'I don't know where to find it.' Maybe Gwyneth and Meghan, now neighbors in Montecito, could join forces. Meghan, after all, had no idea who Prince Harry was when she met him! They have so much in common: Gwyneth and Meghan know so little yet want to guide us. They don't care about money but want us to literally buy what they're selling. They're all about transparency even though well, actually, that may be the only true claim they have. After all, we can see right through them. The Marine Officer who was shot and killed at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday has been identified as Austin Schwenk, as another military member was arrested over his murder. The 19-year-old was shot in the head at the US military training facility in North Carolina at around 10.15pm following an incident that occurred in a barracks room earlier. Another Marine was taken into custody and is being held over Schwenk's death, which is being treated as a homicide. But the suspect in the case, which is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, has not been publicly identified. Officials revealed that Lance Corporal Schwenk was with the 6th Marine Regiment and was enlisted in June 2022. The Marine Officer who was shot and killed at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday has been identified as Austin Schwenk and another military member has been arrested over his murder The 19-year-old was shot in the head at the US military training facility in North Carolina at around 10.15pm following an incident that occurred in a barracks room earlier Officials revealed that Lance Corporal Schwenk was with the 6th Marine Regiment and was enlisted in June 2022 Authorities described Schwenk's death as an 'isolated incident between two Marines'. Police were called to the base over reports of an active shooter and officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head and he was later pronounced dead. Another Marine, who is yet to be named, was taken into custody over the incident and an investigation is ongoing. A spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division told Military.com: 'We will continue to assist the investigating agency to the fullest extent possible. 'Our deepest condolences go out to the Marine's family and friends at this time.' Schwenk was born in Onslow County, where Camp Lejeune is based, and graduated from Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio in 2022. He served as an electro-optical ordnance repairer and was responsible for fixing and maintaining small missiles systems and night vision devices. Another Marine was taken into custody and is being held over Schwenk's death, which is being treated as a homicide But the suspect in the case, which is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, has not been publicly identified Schwenk told local newspaper The News-Herald in May 2022 that he chose to enlist in the marines to follow in his father's footsteps. 'My father was a Marine, and hes always given me a reason to look up to him,' he previously 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.' The sprawling Camp Lejeune covers about 240 square miles and is home to the II Marine Expeditionary Force. Its beaches and ranges provide training in amphibious assaults and urban warfare and it is used both for U.S. Marine training and for exercises involving other military forces from around the world. The death came two days before the base was scheduled to conduct annual training known as Exercise Urgent Response that 'provides an opportunity for tenant commands to develop and exercise emergency security procedures,' according to a press release. DailyMail.com has contacted the 2nd Marine Division and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for comment. The alleged shocking exchange between police and a 95-year-old great-grandmother in the moments before she was tasered at her nursing home and later died has been revealed in court. Clare Nowland, who suffered dementia, was hit with a Taser by police at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility near Cooma, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, on May 17. She died in hospital a week later from head injuries surrounded by some of her eight children, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. The Nowland family has launched civil proceedings against the state government in the wake of her death. Clare Nowland (pictured), 95, died after being hit with a Taser by police at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility near Cooma on May 17 Yallambee Lodge aged care facility near Cooma, in the NSW Snowy Mountains In their statement of claim lodged in court, the executor of Ms Nowland's estate allege NSW Police acted unreasonably and had attempted to downplay what had happened in front of Yallambee Lodge staff, according to the Daily Telegraph. One of the officers, Senior Constable Kristian White, is defending separate charges in a criminal court. Neither he nor his fellow officer, Sergeant Rachel Pank, are listed as defendants in the civil matter. The court document contains a detailed account of what allegedly happened in the early hours of May 17 when Ms Nowland was tasered while holding a knife and using her walking frame. Yallambee Lodge staff members reportedly called an ambulance just after 4am that morning. At around 4.489am, two police officers arrived at the facility where a frail Ms Nowland was found sitting in a chair at a desk inside the nurse's treatment room holding a knife in her right hand. Referring to evidence allegedly gathered from body-worn police cameras, the family's statement of claim alleges that at 5.08am the two officers put on slash proof gloves and discussed disarming Ms Nowland. 'Actually would it be an idea to get her out where we can just grab the knife off her,' Senior Constable White allegedly said in a transcript of body-worn footage. 'I feel like I could do it right now,' Sergeant Rachel Pank replied. When Ms Nowland, who was 157cm tall (five foot two inches) and weighed just 43 kilograms, stood with her walker she was warned several times by the police officers. 'Oi, we're not playing this game Clare, you're going to put that down,' White said in the transcript. Senior Constable Kristian White (left) has been suspended from the police force with pay The Nowland family has begun civil proceedings against the state government (pictured: guests arriving at Ms Nowland's funeral in June) 'This is your first warning. You see this. This is a taser. Drop it now,' he said. 'See, you keep coming, you're going to get tasered. 'Stop now. Don't think I'm going to give you another warning.' Less than a minute later it is alleged White said: 'Bugger it' and fired the taser from two metres away, causing Clare to tumble from her walker and hit her head. 'Clare come on. You're all right. Talk to us Clare,' the officers allegedly said after the 95-year-old fell down. 'Are you OK? Is your head all right Clare.' Sergeant Pank asked. 'Didn't expect it to be like that,' Pank then says, said according to the transcript. 'Unfortunately that's the way it had to go. I was thinking I could just grab it but it was a bit too sharp and pointed it at me. I thought surely I could just hit it out of her hand.' 'I'd prefer not to have to ' White said after Ms Nowland fell back, according to the document. 'Not be the person in town who tasered a 95-year-old,' asked Sergeant Pank. 'No. No actually have someone stabbed,' White responded. 'Oh yeah that too,' Sergeant Pank said. White then said: 'It was the slowest fall ever.' In court documents, it has been alleged that NSW Police acted unreasonably and had attempted to downplay what had happened in front of Yallambee Lodge staff (pictured: Ms Nowland's funeral in June) The Nowland family claims the officers' discussion of the incident while Clare was on the floor was 'demeaning, dismissive (and) self-serving' and showed 'disregard for the harm they had caused to Clare'. They also claim neither officer 'apologised or expressed any regret or remorse' to the family. They also criticise how Ms Nowland was treated after being hit with the taser. 'The actions of White to apply further force to Clare in restraining her and pressing her into the ground after striking her with the taser were humiliating and unnecessary in disregard to Clare's loss of consciousness and the likelihood she had suffered a serious head injury,' the family claim in court documents. The claim alleges Constable White fired the taser knowing Ms Nowland was elderly, disabled, had limited mobility and a 'particularly small body mass'. 'He knew or ought to have known Clare represented a low threat to himself and presented a very small risk of injury to other persons,' the claim alleges. The claim accuses the officers of not properly considering alternative and safer methods of containing Ms Nowland and de-escalating the situation. 'The actions of White were grossly disproportionate and excessive use of force,' the claim says. Ms Nowland, who was 157cm tall (five foot two inches) and weighed just 43 kilograms, died a week after being tasered by police Constable White, who fired the taser, is separately facing criminal charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault in the Local Court over the incident. White has been suspended from the police force with pay while Pank is facing no criminal charges in relation to the incident. In their case, the Nowlands claim that the taser was fired in breach of police guidelines and that Sergeant Pank, as the senior officer, failed to direct her colleague to not use the weapon on the elderly woman. Police have also enlisted a critical incident team to investigate the incident which will be independently reviewed. The Nowland family are asking for damages over Clare's death including funeral and wake expenses, loss of financial support, damages for curtailment of expectation of life and loss of financial support. The NSW District Court can award damages of up to $1.2million in civil cases. On Thursday the Downing Centre District Court adjourned the case to October 26. Two former police chiefs in North Carolina and North Dakota are among five people who have been charged with conspiracy to illegally buy and sell machine guns and other regulated firearms. Matthew Jeremy Hall, 53, and James Sawyer, 50, who were Chiefs of Police in Coats, North Carolina and Ray, North Dakota respectively, are facing up to five years in jail over the federal charges. They have been accused of obtaining the weapons, which included restricted short-barreled rifles, by falsely claiming they would be used in demos to their respective police forces over a two year period starting in June 2018. Ray resigned from his post in February of this year citing health reasons. Hall became Chief in 2011 according to his LinkedIn profile which still lists him as in charge, although he is absent from the Coats police website. The cops were indicted by the DOJ on Friday along with Sean Reidpath Sullivan, 38, of Gambrills, Maryland; Larry Allen Vickers, 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina and James Christopher Tafoya, 45, from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Former Coats Police Chief Matthew Jeremy Hall (pictured) was indicted along with James Sawyer, former Police Chief of Ray, North Dakota on conspiracy to illegally buy and sell machine guns and other regulated firearms The two police chiefs were charged along with Sean Reidpath Sullivan, 38, of Gambrills, Maryland; Larry Allen Vickers 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina (pictured) and James Christopher Tafoya, 45, from Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the indictment, the men all falsely claimed the firearms would be used for demonstration to law enforcement agencies, with Hall and Sawyer fraudulently signing documentation, known as law letters, to this effect. Former solider Sullivan was an intelligence analyst with Department of Homeland Security Investigations, meaning he was licensed to import firearms in certain circumstances. He is accused of submitting the false law letters to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to import the guns, before keeping some for himself and passing some on to Vickers and Tafoya who owned firearms businesses and also held similar licenses. In addition to the indictment, Larry Vickers pleaded guilty on Thursday to participating in the conspiracy to import and obtain machineguns and other restricted firearms. He admitted that he received some of the imported machineguns and other weapons and kept some in his personal collection and transferred others. The men were charged on a 26 count indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland Vickers also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions against a foreign firearms manufacturer between July 2014 and March 2021, in the Southern District of Florida. He faces a up to 25 years in jail for the offences. Judge Julie R. Rubin has not yet scheduled sentencing for Vickers. If convicted, Tafoya and Sullivan could also be slapped with a five year jail sentence for the conspiracy to violate federals law regulating firearms and the law letter frauds. Sullivan faces up to an an additional 20 years for using criminal proceeds to conduct financial transactions and owning unregistered firearms. Yes campaign leader Thomas Mayo has broken his silence following the referendum's comprehensive No vote verdict on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Mayo became a controversial figurehead and face of the official Yes23 campaign that backed the change to the constitution which would create the new advisory body. He was one of the original signatories and architects of the Uluru Statement From The Heart in 2017 which eventually led to the referendum. But the Yes campaign failed miserably, losing millions of votes in the final few weeks before last Saturday, with more than 60 per cent of Australians rejecting it. Thomas Mayo became the controversial figurehead of the official Yes23 campaign that backed the change to the constitution which would create the new advisory body to parliament The Indigenous leadership of the Yes campaign called for a week of silence that ended on Saturday. Mayo has been quiet since the result but on Saturday penned a column for The Saturday Paper. In his piece, Mayo said that as a parent of five children, he was 'acutely aware of the way in which our children absorb everything'. He recalled how his 12-year-old son had gone to bed crying after the loss became official, and had been 'barely consolable'. 'We came to realise he had been feeling the weight of the referendum on his little shoulders,' he said. Mayo said he too had broken down in tears on the day following the referendum defeat. Mayo stressed that there was a need for quiet contemplation after an 'intense' campaign. Mayo (centre) has been quiet since the result but on Saturday penned a column for The Saturday Paper outlining his thoughts on the failed referendum campaign He said anyone who stood up for the Yes side was 'brutalised'. 'We were labelled communists, greedy elites, puppets of the United Nations and promoters of a racially divided Australia,' he said. 'None of this is true'. Mayo said the campaign had unleashed racist vitriol 'at a level not seen for decades in Australia'. 'Indigenous advocates for the Voice could not speak out about the abuse without some sections of the media, whose audiences we needed to persuade, falsely claiming that we were calling all 'No' voters racist,' he said. Mayo pointed out what he called an 'abhorrent' No campaign cartoon printed in The Australian Financial Review as 'one of many' examples of racist abuse. The full-page ad in the AFR depicted Mayo alongside the Wesfarmers chairman, Michael Chaney, and his daughter, the federal teal MP Kate Chaney. The ad carried an authorisation from Advance, the group behind Fair Australia, the main group campaigning against the Voice. Chaney, the member for Curtin, is depicted as a girl in a teal dress, sitting on her father's lap as he brandishes a pile of cash toward Mayo. Nine, who own the AFR, later apologised for the ad running in the newspaper. Last Saturday, more than 60 per cent of Australians rejected the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Garma Festival in August) In his column on Saturday, Mayo said there were aspects of the Yes campaign which could have been done better and that he had time to reflect on during the week's silence. 'These thoughts hurt, like an aching emptiness in my chest,' he said. Mayo expressed his disappointment in the behaviour of opposition leader Peter Dutton throughout the referendum campaign, calling the Liberal leader 'two-faced'. 'When Albanese negotiated the constitutional alteration with the Referendum Working Group, he did so in good faith, while Dutton was duplicitous, two-faced, deceitful.' He also blasted the opposition leader for walking back on a promise to hold a second referendum in light of the first one failing. 'None of this is bitterness on my part, just truth. Peter Dutton chose politics over outcomes. His career came before fairness. He sought victory at any cost,' he said. Mayo put forward his suggestions for what comes next for Indigenous campaigners across the country. 'We continue our calls for our voices to be heard, for reform and for justice, and we need your ongoing support, he said. 'Imagine what we can achieve if the almost seven million Australians who voted 'Yes' continue to have conversations with their neighbours, meeting 'No' voters with an understanding that they may have voted 'No' because of the lies they were told'. Mayo said he believed in time that 'in time we will turn the 'Nos' into 'Yeses'. Mayo urged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to continue 'push for our common goals' and not be silenced. He said that despite the loss of the Yes campaign, he believed Indigenous peoples were right to take the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the Australian people, and ended with a call for unity over division. 'Whether you voted 'Yes' or 'No', I say to you with humility and respect, open your hearts and your minds henceforth, he said. 'The truth should be unifying, not divisive'. In a series of social media posts, Mayo called for 'rent' to be paid to First Nations people, for the date of Australia Day to be changed and for reparations After the referendum defeat Mayo said he refused to accept the referendum's No vote verdict on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Despite the scale of the crushing defeat at the polls, Mr Mayo insisted to supporters: 'We're not taking No for an answer.' Just before the loss was confirmed, Mr Mayo took to the stage at the Yes23 vote count HQ at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club in Sydney to deliver his defiant message to supporters. 'If it is a No answer, then we're not lying down, we're not taking No for an answer, and we will continue, he said. Mayo then unleashed a spray at the No campaign, accusing its activists and Opposition leader Peter Dutton of being 'dishonest' and 'lied to the Australian people'. After the referendum defeat Mayo said he refused to accept the referendum's No vote verdict on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament (pictured: a Yes campaigner in Byron Bay) During the referendum campaign, comments from his past resurfaced in which he called for 'rent' to be paid to First Nations people, for the date of Australia Day to be changed and for reparations. In a series of tweets dating back to 2018, Mayo listed 'all the things we imagine when we demand' a Voice, including 'reparations, land back, abolishing harmful colonial institutions'. Additionally, Mr Mayo said his sights were set on 'getting ALL our kids out of prisons & in to care... integration of our laws & lore, speaking language, wages back'. He later told Daily Mail Australia his opinion had changed as the referendum debate had progressed. China is trying to steal nuclear technology secrets from Britain, the head of MI5 has warned. Director general Ken McCallum said it was a 'high priority' for Beijing to 'disrupt' the AUKUS security partnership between the UK, America and Australia to build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Britain is building a fleet described by defence officials as the 'largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy', featuring 'world-leading sensors, design and weaponry'. Earlier this month contracts worth a combined 4billion were handed to three British firms for the design and manufacturer of the SSN-AUKUS subs, said to be undiscoverable to enemies. Britain's nuclear technology, cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and undersea systems are also being shared with its allies as part of the trilateral pact. When the agreement was signed in 2021 it was announced that there would be a new era of collaboration on security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases and supply chains. But Mr McCallum said China is determined to thwart the partnership and steal data, and accused Beijing of engaging in espionage on an 'epic scale'. Director general Ken McCallum said it was a 'high priority' for Beijing to 'disrupt' the AUKUS security partnership between the UK, America and Australia to build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines Speaking in California at the first joint conference by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprising the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States the MI5 chief added: 'If you saw the wider public Chinese reaction when the AUKUS Alliance was announced, you can infer from that they were not pleased. 'Given... the way in which Chinese espionage and interference is taking place, it would be safe to assume it would be a high priority for them to understand what's happening inside AUKUS and seek to disrupt it if they were able to.' Beijing has strongly criticised the AUKUS deal, accusing the three nations of embarking on a 'path of error and danger'. China already has a substantial number of nuclear-powered submarines of its own. The Pentagon assessed in its 2020 China Military Power report that China has the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of some 350 ships and submarines, including more than 130 major surface combatants. To combat the threat in the Indo-Pacific, Australia is building a stealthier fleet over the next decade. It will be faster and can stay under water longer, covering a greater distance without expelling traceable exhaust gases. The last time Britain and the US formally agreed to collaborate to build nuclear submarines was in 1958. Although the UK has operated nuclear-powered submarines for over 60 years, Australia has never built any of its own and it is seen as essential to counter China's regional influence, especially in the contested South China Sea. The first SSN-AUKUS submarine is due to be delivered in the late 2030s. Both the UK and Australia will use the vessels, which will be based on a British design. Tasmania is set to receive a 'month's worth of rain' over the weekend as other parts of the country brace for 'very dangerous' fire conditions. Millions of Aussies will swelter through a week of stifling temperatures as hot conditions in the country's north linger into next week, while parts of Victoria and Tasmania could be battered by severe winds. Sky meteorologist Julia Seymour said more than 60mm of rain could fall across Hobart this weekend, while extreme fire threats will peak in northeast NSW on Sunday. 'Hobart might see a month's worth of rain from Friday night to Monday morning,' she said. Sky meteorologist Julia Seymour said more than 60mm of rain could fall across Hobart this weekend 'A front and a trough are currently moving across Tasmania causing showers to increase in the east, south and centre, bringing damaging winds all the way over to northwestern Tasmania. 'At the same time a low will be strengthening further west and we could see damaging winds heading directly to Victoria late on Saturday.' October is Hobart's wettest month, averaging 62.1mm over the four weeks. However, the state's seven-day rainfall to October 24 could measure 100mm in total. The deluge comes after some of Tasmania's east coast locations had their driest September on record. The deluge comes after some of Tasmania's east coast locations had their driest September on record Ms Seymour said flood warnings remained in place in northern and southeastern parts of the state while a flood warning could also be issued for the Murray River in Victoria as the system moves north. Despite the country being only halfway through spring, she noted 'bushfire season is well and truly underway' for other parts of the nation. 'We're expecting extreme fire threats to peak on Sunday targeting northeast NSW,' Ms Seymour said. 'Sunday's hot weather will be lingering into next week with a heatwave warning still in place for the Northern Territory's Tiwi district and now spreading into Queensland.' The 'very dangerous conditions' come after nearly 10,000 hectares of NSW's Kempsey area burned in a bushfire earlier in the week, as more than 1000 firefighters worked to control the blaze. Despite Australia being only halfway through spring, 'bushfire season is well and truly underway' for other parts of the nation On Saturday, firefighters continue to battle dozens of fires across NSW On Saturday, firefighters continue to battle dozens of fires across NSW. 'Hundreds of firefighters are continuing hard work to contain as many of the 40 bush and grass fires still burning across NSW before deteriorating weather moves across the state from today,' the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a statement published to social media. 'Their work is being supported by water bombing aircraft at many of these fires.' Extreme fire danger is forecast from northern NSW down to metropolitan Sydney on Sunday as the hot air mass continues to move east over the weekend. In Western Australia, Exmouth is set to beat its October heat record of 43C, achieved in 2002, with a maximum temperature of 45C. Millions of Aussies will swelter through a week of stifling temperatures as hot conditions in the country's north linger into next week, while parts of Victoria and Tasmania could be battered by severe winds NSW and ACT Sydney will enjoy sunny and dry temperatures in the high 20s, tipping over to 31C on Sunday, before maximum temperatures drop down to 20C on Thursday with showers. Canberra's maximum temperatures will peak at 29C on Saturday before dropping down to 18C on Sunday. The Territory can expect oscillating temperatures between 17 and 25C throughout the next week with relatively sunny conditions. Extreme fire danger conditions will persist through Sunday in the Greater Sydney Region, the Greater Hunter, the Northern Slopes and North Western districts (encompassing Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett and Warrumbungle). VIC Melbourne is set for a cloudy week ahead with some showers, with temperatures falling from 23C on Saturday down to 16C and 17C on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday will bring maximum temperatures of 25C before the mercury drops back down on Wednesday with a high chance of showers. A severe weather warning remains in place for parts of the southwest coast as damaging wind gusts are expected to develop during Saturday night. QLD Brisbane will enjoy relatively clear skies over the weekend and throughout the next week, with maximum temperatures ranging from 29-32C, before dropping down to 24C on Friday. WA Perth will enjoy temperatures of up to 29C on Saturday before things cool off a little, dropping down to 24C and then 23C on Sunday and Monday. Conditions will warm back up on Tuesday and maximum temperatures will range from 24C-33C until Friday, bringing sunny or partly cloudy skies. Extreme fire danger warnings will remain in place on Sunday for Mortlock. SA Adelaide could see some showers on Saturday with a peak temperature of 18C, with Sunday ushering in drier conditions that will persist until Friday. Temperatures will climb to 24C on Monday, before falling a little throughout the week and later climbing back to 25C on Friday with sunny skies. TAS Rainfall will persist in Hobart throughout the week, letting up on Friday. Temperatures will peak at 21C on Tuesday before falling to maximum temperatures of 14C on Wednesday and Thursday. A severe weather warning for damaging wind gusts developing early on Saturday morning remains in place for northwestern parts of the state, affecting Smithton, Strahan, Queenstown, Zeehan, Rosebery and Lake St Clair. NT Partly cloudy skies will remain over Darwin throughout the weekend and into next week, bringing dry conditions and maximum temperatures between 34-35C. Extreme fire danger warnings will remain in place on Sunday for Barkly North. Shocking new details revealed US Navy warship shot down multiple drones and missiles during a nine hour onslaught near the Yemeni coast on Thursday. The USS Carney was stationed in the Northern Red Sea when it intercepted 15 drones and four cruise missiles which were fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen and 'headed for Israel'. There were no injuries onboard the ship and none were reported on land among civilians. The Defense Department initially said the warship had taken down 'several' drones and three land attack cruise missiles before details surrounding the full-scale of the attack were released. The incident was the fourth in three days of increased aggression against US troops in the region as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East. The USS Carney was stationed in the Northern Red Sea when it intercepted 15 drones and four cruise missiles which were fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen and 'headed for Israel' The estimated area where the USS Carney intercepted the drones and missiles on Thursday An official from the Defense Department said the drones and cruise missiles were shot down using SM-2 surface-to-air missiles. The source added that the rockets fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militants were clearly headed for Israel. While a US official added that they do not believe the missiles, shot down over the water, were aimed at the US warship. The Houthi terrorist group in Yemen has signaled its intention to join the war against Israel. The Al Tanf Garrison military base in Syria, where there are American troops present, was targeted by two drones on Wednesday. One was destroyed while the other impacted the base following joint action by US and coalition forces. Another attack 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 Tuesday, troops at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq intercepted three drones. To the north, troops the Al-Harir Air Base intercepted another two. The Defense Department initially said the warship had taken down 'several' drones and three land attack cruise missiles before details surrounding the full-scale of the attack were released A US official said they do not believe the missiles, shot down over the water, were aimed at USS Carney Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an attack took place on Wednesday against US forces at Al-Tanf base, near Syria's borders with Iraq and Jordan On Wednesday, a contractor at the al-Asad airbase in Iraq died of a heart attack while sheltering amid reports of an incoming attack. There were minor injuries at the al-Asad base, where troops were only able to intercept one of the drones and damage the other. The extent of those injuries is unclear. It also remains unclear whether the strikes against the al-Tanf airbase resulted in any damage or injuries. The strikes come amid increased tension in the Middle East over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which many now view as a conflict between the West and the Arab world. President Biden has been steadfast in his support of Israel since Hamas attacked on October 7, supplying military aid and flying to the region in a show of strong alliance. His visit and ongoing support of Israel whipped up anti-American protesters in Lebanon, where crowds laid siege to the US Embassy in Beirut yesterday. The State Department has now issued a rare worldwide caution travel advisory for Americans traveling overseas, citing the potential for terror attacks and 'increased tensions' as reason to be on high alert. A cancer patient heroically threw himself onto a grenade at a music festival where Hamas terrorists massacred hundreds of innocent civilians. Speaking from his hospital bed, Raz Peri has revealed how he bore the brunt of the explosion, survived being shot and fended off a Hamas terrorist in close quarter combat, The 20-year-old had driven to the Supernova rave in the southern desert of Israel to 'feel alive again' but found himself desperately running from fanatical gunmen just hours later. Mr Peri, who lymphoma, tried to hide from Hamas's attack in a roadside shelter with a group of four other terrified bohemians. But they were soon targeted by terrorist group's militants, sparking him to selflessly throw himself into danger to save people he had never met until minutes before. Raz Peri, pictured here in his hospital bed, survived the massacre at the Supernova festival Hundreds of people were killed at the festival in the southern desert during Hamas's surprise attack on October 7 The cancer patient revealed while they were hiding, he heard some men speaking in Arabic, causing a female companion in the shelter to scream. He told CNN he 'had nothing, just my hands' and was forced into a fist fight with one terrorist who walked through the door to investigate. This sparked a ferocious life and death grappling match between the pair, with the militant firing his weapon beyond Mr Peri, hitting one of the hiding festivalgoers in the leg. During the tussle the pair ended up outside the shelter, at which point the terrorist's compatriots started shooting at them, killing the militant while Mr Peri scrambled back inside. He added that a group of Hamas thugs then peered into the shelter with 'crazy eyes' and suggested they were on drugs. It was then, he claims, that they threw grenades into the shelter, sparking him to throw his body over them in a last ditch bid to limit the blast while at the same time trying to keep his muscles relaxed. The explosion tore through his legs and arms, leaving him barely conscious, while a one of the men in the shelter had his leg blown off, the Times reports. The group desperately put a tourniquet around the stump and one of the men decided to leave, a move that brought Hamas back to the shelter. Firing their assault weapons at the group, they killed the man and his wife, with Mr Peri revealing he pulled her body over him and played dead. This did not stop him being subject to even more barbaric treatment, as the terrorists fire more bullets into the shelter, with one going through her body and into his stomach. The Supernova festival was one of the first places targeted by Hamas in its cross-border assault Cars of people attending the festival were left destroyed after the terrorists set them alight and killed the occupants Personal items and blood stains were found left in a roadside shelter close to the festival After the Hamas thugs left, the severely wounded festivalgoer decided to go for help while the two surviving members of the group waited in the shelter. They would be dead by the time help arrived. He told CNN: 'When I go to the town, everyone is dead. I saw girls with their pants down, I saw a knife in the body.' As he escaped he said he came across a car graveyard, with vehicles filled with festivalgoers who were gunned down by the terrorists as they tried to flee. 'I have cancer. I go to the festival to listen to the music for my soul. What I have seen with my eyes I can never take this [away],' he said. He finally found safety when he forced his way into a house and found a family who he huddled with for safety, gripping a knife in his hand while desperately trying to staunch the bleeding from his stomach. He was later taken to safety and has remained in hospital for the last 13 days recovering from his wounds. The attack by Hamas, which shocked the world, killed 1,400 Israelis, most of whom were civilians, while more than 200 people were taken hostage. Since then Israel has pummelled Gaza with air strikes, while thousands of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) troops have massed at the border in preparation for a ground invasion of the territory. A widower blasted his daughter's ex-partner and her ex-partner's father to death with a shotgun in a bid to settle a custody dispute 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 it's 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: 'I've a shortlist of people I intend to murder.' The defendant 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. Stephen Alderton, 67, was arrested hours after the killings by armed officers on a motorway and told police that 'sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if it's wrong in the eyes of the law' The pair were found dead at their homes in villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire. Joshua Dunmore's lived in Bluntisham and his father's house was in Sutton. Mr Gair said: 'We say it's clear that the events were triggered by an ongoing family court case between this defendant's 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 Dunmore's 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) wouldn't be removed from the jurisdiction,' said Mr Gair. The prosecutor said that when Alderton's 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 Alderton's 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: 'There's always a plan B' and in further messages he talked of moving to Panama. The defendant pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the murders of Joshua Dunmore, 32, (pictured) and his 57-year-old father Gary Dunmore on March 29 this year, and his sentencing began on Friday Gary Dunmore. The pair were found dead at their homes in villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire. Joshua Dunmore's lived in Bluntisham and his father's house was in Sutton He said there were photographs of the homes of both Joshua and Gary Dunmore on Alderton's phone. Earlier on the day of the shootings, Alderton went to a storage lock-up in Huntingdon at 9.08am and then drove his white Peugeot car to their homes. He met his daughter and her partner at McDonald's in St Ives, Mr Gair said, making further visits to both men's properties in the evening. He was outside Gary Dunmore's home in Sutton when he returned in his work van at 7.34pm and outside Joshua Dunmore's 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 Dunmore's 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 Joshua's 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 that 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 were packed into the courtroom, with some weeping as details were read and others 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 don't want any hard staring of the defendant by the family members.' He added: 'We're going to deal with this in a calm way.' In a victim impact statement read to the court, Gary Dunmore's 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 defendant's 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'. Alderton's 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 camel's back' and he had 'tried hard to control his anger'. In a letter, the defendant wrote: 'I'm not the person that this conflict and the family courts have driven me to become. 'I've never been a violent person, I do not have a criminal record. Forensics enter an address inside a police cordon at The Row, in Sutton, Cambridgeshire on March 30 2023 following a double shooting in the county 'I've been a respectable, law-abiding citizen all my life. 'What happened to me on March 29 I do not know.' Mr Langdale said Alderton's grandson has been placed in care and 'that's 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. A group of whale watchers got the shock of their lives when they spotted hundreds of sharks off a popular Aussie beach. Incredible of the footage of the scene has stunned viewers across the country, and prompted a warning from a wildlife expert. "We were whale watching from the shore for about an hour when a big group of birds started to dive into the water so I launched my drone and instantly saw so many fish, sharks and turtles," Darcy Yarnold told Yahoo News Australia. "There were, I think, about 200 sharks in the area chasing a huge ball of fish." The huge school of sharks were hundreds of metres from shore. Source: Darcy Yarnold In the video captured by Mr Yarnold at K'gari's Orchid Beach, a huge school of sharks can be seen swimming through the water. The Queenslander described them as being "very close" at about 250-300 metres from the shore. Keep out of the water Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Daryl McPhee, an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Bond University, said it's a timely reminder for people to stay out of the water on K'gari, describing the island as a "naturally healthy ecosystem with lots of marine life and sharks". "We know at this time of year, K'gari is renowned for sharks and there are sharks on K'gari in big numbers all year round so the video is not surprising," he said. "This is the time of year large schools of tailor are still present on the island and they provide excellent food for big shivers of sharks. The sharks are adept at finding their prey and once they find it they'll keep using that prey until it disperses. While Professor McPhee said it's tricky to tell what kind of shark these are in the clip, he believes they're a species of whaler shark. "Those particular sharks aren't one of the big three responsible for most bites, which are tiger sharks, white sharks and bull sharks, but it's still ill-advised to go swimming with those sharks or swimming on the beach of K'gari in general," he explained, while pointing to the death of a spear fisherman on the island in 2020. Story continues "The only reason there are not many bites on K'gari is because not many people go for a swim. If we had the same number (of people) as we have in the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast swimming each weekend and each day, we'd have a lot more bites there." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the week's best stories. An out-of-control muck up day house party attended by up to 400 people has ended with multiple emergency crews treating several party-goers - one as young as 12 - who were rushed to hospital. Hundreds of teenagers were marking the end of the school year with celebrations before Queensland police were called to a home at Sungold Road in Chambers Flat, around 40 kilometres south-west of Brisbane on Friday around 11pm. The party took an ugly turn when emergency crews responded to reports several teens were drunk after consuming alcohol. Officers from Queensland Police were called to a house party that got out of control in Brisbane's south-west late on Friday night Paramedics from the Queensland Ambulance Service [QAS] treated six children aged between 12 to 18 at the scene with five of those attended to being girls. A 12-year-old girl was among those treated after she became heavily intoxicated. A spokeswoman from the QAS told Daily Mail Australia multiple ambulance crews attended the scene on Friday night. The spokeswoman denied earlier reports rocks thrown at paramedics responding to the incident. 'No rocks were thrown at any of our officers,' the spokeswoman said. One girl is believed to have suffered an eye injury however it is not clear how she sustained the injury. Paramedics treated multiple people for several injuries including a 12-year-old girl who was heavily intoxicated after six ambulance crews from the QAS rushed to the scene in Sungold Road (pictured), around 40 kilometres south-west of Brisbane Six teens were taken to Logan Hospital for treatment, including from injuries resulting from the significant consumption of drugs and alcohol. All of those injured are believe to be in a stable condition. Police are believed to also be investigating an alleged sexual assault. A spokesperson from Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia in a statement that officers assisted emergency crews to order revellers to clear out the site. 'Its understood up to 300 people were in attendance and causing a disruption in the neighbourhood,' the spokesperson said. 'Upon arrival, officers moved on the group and remained on scene until those people safely left the area.' 'Officers also assisted other emergency services who were responding, where appropriate.' The spokesperson also said that a 19-year-old Burpengary man was issued infringements in relation to trespassing and public nuisance. Teenagers who attended the party were spotted cleaning up the site on Saturday with some telling The Courier Mail that the celebrations got out of control. Queensland Police said a 19-year-old man was handed an infringement notice for trespassing and public nuisance 'The kids were so drunk,' one teen said. 'Half of us didn't even know what was happening,' another said. One girl said celebrations took a turn after other people who were also invited attended the celebrations. 'It was just a party for our close friends and they invited people, then it got out of hand,' she said. Friday marked the end of the school year for most senior students before exams get underway next week. To this day he has warm childhood memories of his father Eric Blair, better known as George Orwell. 'He was a hands-on parent with me,' Richard Blair recalled this week. 'He did those practical things that at that time a woman would usually do.' Rather less affectionate terms have been used to describe Richard's father in recent days the kind of words that can destroy a reputation overnight: 'sadistic', 'misogynistic', 'homophobic', 'sometimes violent'. It is striking indeed some would say bemusing that almost 74 years after Orwell's premature death, which left his son an orphan aged five, someone should use such inflammatory language to describe the author of such classics of English literature as Animal Farm and 1984. The claims were made by Australian writer Anna Funder, a former human rights lawyer, at the highbrow Cheltenham Literature Festival, where she was promoting her biography of Richard's mother, and Orwell's first wife, Eileen O'Shaughnessy, who died of heart failure during a hysterectomy when her son was barely a year old. George Orwell (1903-1950) pictured with his adopted son Richard in 1946 In the book, Funder claims that O'Shaughnessy's contribution to Orwell's position as a major literary figure has been airbrushed out of history. And just to underline her thesis that O'Shaughnessy has been cast into the shadows, her book, Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life, has a cover picture in which she can be only partially glimpsed. Ms Funder writes of a woman who was treated by her husband as a servant, a typist and a nurse, with her own needs and poor health wilfully disregarded. As the Mail's influential columnist Peter Hitchens wrote in a brilliant essay this week, the word hovering over this reappraisal of one of Britain's greatest voices of the last century is 'cancelled'. Is Orwell, an exposer of tyrants, who savagely mocked the ideology of totalitarianism, about to fall victim to the cancel culture that has already claimed such figures as the Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling? In Ms Funder's judgment there's evidence aplenty to condemn him. She has read seven biographies of Orwell, who took his pen name from the river that runs through Suffolk, his favourite county. All of them, she says, minimise the importance of women in Orwell's life: 'In the end, the biographies started to seem like fictions of omission.' While acknowledging his moral and intellectual clarity, she argues that Orwell was also capable of bigotry. As a colonial policeman in Burma, he admitted kicking his servant and was observed supervising 'the brutal interrogation' of a local man. In a letter he described the writers W. H. Auden and Stephen Spender both homosexuals as 'gutless pansies'. But might there be another detail in Orwell's background that has triggered his censure? An ancestor of Orwell's family, the Blairs, made money in the slave trade and his son had married a daughter of the aristocracy. No matter that, by the time George comes along the money is all gone and, according to Orwell, the family are 'on the shivering verge of gentility'. As a review of Wifedom points out: 'A saint, or someone who pretends to be, can be toppled as easily as a slaver's statue.' Richard Blair, George Orwell's adopted son, on 12 March 2017 But it is his attitude to his wife, whom she portrays as a skivvy, that is the focus of Ms Funder's thunder. She claims Orwell deceived Eileen into marriage and drudgery and a life of such extreme poverty that it at times bordered on squalor and cruelty. One of her regular tasks is to unblock the primitive outside lavatory at their tumbledown cottage in Hertfordshire, even when bent double by the pains of the uterine bleeding which later led to her death. Yet many of the judgments Ms Funder makes about their lives are based on conjecture and speculation guesswork in other words. To his son, who will be 80 next year, these assertions are absurd and not helped by what he calls the 'elementary factual errors' in the book. Naturally, he leaps to defend the reputations of both his father and mother. 'What she [Funder] has done is to take many of the negative aspects of my father and turned them into positive criticism of my mother,' Mr Blair tells me. Richard Blair, a retired engineer, has no memory of his mother, given he was still a baby on her death, which left his father a widower. He was adopted by the couple at just three weeks old after eight years of marriage it had become clear that Orwell and Eileen were not able to have a child of their own, and Eileen did the legal paperwork for them to become Richard's parents. Today, he takes issue with the author's central claim in the book that the ruthlessly selfish Orwell did nothing to alleviate his mother's ill health: 'All right he was a hard taskmaster,' he says, 'but he was just as careless with his own health.' The suffering of the war years, he suggests, changed attitudes towards sickness. He also rejects the idea of master and servant. Theirs, he insists, was 'most definitely a marriage of intellects and of equals'. Indeed, Eileen read English at Oxford, where she got a First, while Orwell after leaving Eton did not go to university at all, instead joining the imperial police service in Burma. But to the biographer there is an imbalance. She makes much of Eileen's absence from the pages of Homage To Catalonia, Orwell's memoir of his experiences of the Spanish Civil War. Funder complains that while Orwell mentions 'my wife' 37 times in the book, she is never identified by her name. To their son, the explanation is simple. 'He was protecting her,' he says. Both Orwell and Eileen who travelled to Spain to help him by sending supplies and letters to the front where he was fighting against the fascist nationalist forces were targets of Russia's secret police who wanted to eliminate those who were the 'wrong kind' of socialists. 'The reason my father did not mention my mother by name was because the NKVD (forerunner of the Soviet KGB) would know who they were looking for.' The author Anna Funder told the literary festival that Orwell was 'a very complicated man' who 'wanted to be decent, to be seen as decent, by which he meant a man of integrity, the same inside and out,' adding: 'He used that word to refer to being heterosexual he was enormously homophobic but deeply attracted to men and I think not particularly interested in women sexually.' This appals Richard Blair. There is a passage in the book where Funder talks about Orwell's 'pleasure in being undressed by his houseboy in Burma'. And later she caustically observes his 'intense attraction' to a young Italian soldier he meets in Spain. She quotes him saying: 'Queer the affection you can feel for a stranger.' And she also refers to a journal in which he wrote in the third person: 'Like all men addicted to whoring, he professed to be revolted by homosexuality.' Eileen Orwell, first wife of writer George Orwell, whom adopted a son together, Richard. Orwell latter married Sonia Brownell after pursuing Celia Paget following the death of his first wife Eileen Certainly Orwell had plenty of experience of brothels. He described to the aesthete Harold Acton the pleasure he took from Moroccan girls with 'their slender flanks and small pointed breasts' and the 'odour of spices that clung to their satiny skins'. But the dark hints at homosexuality are, says his son, 'a load of old b***ocks. My father was far too fond of women and he did pursue women.' Throughout their nine-year marriage Orwell was anything but faithful, 'pouncing' in his word, on any young woman unfortunate enough to come within reach. Secretaries at the BBC where he worked during World War II, other men's wives, even Eileen's friends were considered fair game. Some of these incidents Funder labels 'attempted rape', although it is not clear how she could know for certain. And she takes issue with biographers who have suggested that Eileen accepted this behaviour in her husband and even encouraged him to 'treat' himself occasionally. According to Richard, his mother 'did get a little bit exasperated' by such conduct. 'She would,' he says, 'from time to time bang the table and tell him to behave.' At 6ft 4in, thin and with sunken cheeks from bouts of tuberculosis, Orwell was an imposing but lugubrious figure. 'Intelligent women were fascinated by him,' says Richard. 'He was not a man for small talk but he obviously had some sort of magnetism.' Over the years many have suggested that his and Eileen's was an open marriage, but Funder say there is no evidence that his wife was ever unfaithful. As for Orwell, she quotes from an unpublished notebook, written as he lay dying in 1950, in which he complains of women's 'incorrigible dirtiness and untidiness' and also 'their terrible, devouring sexuality'. Writing in the third person he adds: 'In his experience women were quite insatiable, and never seemed fatigued by no matter how much love-making . . .' On the couple's sex life, Funder suggests, it was 'strange . . . perfunctory. Or performative.' But as one review of the book suggested: how can she know? 'Attempting to understand the complexities of other people's marriages . . . is in many ways an improbable pursuit. We are on the other side of shut doors.' Richard Blair points out there is no context in Funder's biography of the social mores of the time or, as he puts it, 'the morals of the day'. His mother, he suggests, 'acquiesced' to the life she had 'perhaps because she knew my father had something as a writer'. Nor, he asserts, did she resent her duties typing up her husband's manuscripts. 'She was happy to help in any way, it was not an imposition. Before her marriage she had typed up her brother's medical notes.' What upsets Mr Blair are the careless mistakes in his parents' story he says the author has made. 'She has my father born in Burma when he was born in Bengal,' he says. 'She has him coming back to England when he was two when actually he was one. 'In the first instance she has my birth name wrong it was Robertson not Robinson. These things grate.' Later, he says, she is quite wrong to claim that there was a generator at the remote cottage on the Isle of Jura where the widowed Orwell lived while writing his dystopian classic, 1984. 'The house had no electricity,' he says. 'She describes the 'dodgy generator' when there wasn't one.' He also claims it was untrue that, when Orwell was stricken with tuberculosis, physicians at a hospital near Glasgow did not know what quantity of drugs to give him. In the book, Funder writes: 'They treat him with the antibiotic Streptomycin, which is so new no one knows the correct dose his hair starts to fall out, his nails deaden and drop off, his lips bleed.' This, says his son, is not true. 'They knew exactly how much he should be injected with and they stuck to the instructions.' According to Richard, there was enough of the drug left over to treat two other people, one of whom was a young Bill McLaren, the late Scottish rugby commentator. He is saddened, too, at the description of his aunt Avril, Orwell's sister, who became his legal guardian after Orwell died. 'She's made out to be a sourpuss when she was nothing of the kind. She didn't suffer fools gladly but 99 per cent of all our friends were received kindly by her,' he says. Avril, he says, performed a vital function for the widowed Orwell, 'protecting my father from a lot of time-wasters'. So what about Funder's claim that Eileen inspired the fable-type structure for Animal Farm, Orwell's ingenious allegory of the Russian Revolution? She suggests this is so because she had studied fables at Oxford under her tutor J.R.R. Tolkien, writer of The Lord Of The Rings. 'Well it's possible,' says Richard. 'As my father wrote they would discuss what he had written at the end of the day. She may have helped put a light touch to some of the characters.' He is intrigued by Funder's claim that Orwell took the title for 1984 from a poem his mother wrote a year before she met the writer. 'My personal view is that it was chosen as a tribute to Eileen,' he says. His biggest criticism, however, is reserved for the structure and tone of Anna Funder's book. 'She weaves her own personal life into the story and allows herself to imagine what is going on inside Eileen's head. I think that is very disingenuous.' Richard Blair is naturally proud of both his adopted parents. But he takes his position as patron of the Orwell Society, which was founded to promote the understanding of the life and work of his father, seriously. The group is meeting to discuss Funder's book and their response to it this weekend. As he says: 'We don't want to be seen to be lashing out. People are entitled to have their opinions but when they are at real odds with the facts they do need to be countered.' The White House was scrambling to backtrack on Friday night after President Joe Biden, asked whether he was now pushing Israel to delay its invasion of Gaza for the sake of the hostages, replied: 'Yes'. Two Americans were released by Hamas on Friday, after being kidnapped on October 7 and held in Gaza for 13 days. A further 200 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity. Israel's military has been given the green light to invade, and on Thursday night an invasion appeared imminent. But Friday's release of the two Americans - Judith Raanan, 59, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie - led to calls from some to delay the assault until more hostages could be release. As the president left the White House on Friday night and boarded Air Force One, to spend the weekend at his beach house in Delaware, a reporter shouted at Biden, asking if he wanted Israel to delay the ground invasion. 'Yes,' he said. Joe Biden is seen on Friday night boarding Air Force One to travel to his beach house in Delaware for the weekend. He was asked whether he wanted Israel to slow its expected invasion of Gaza, to allow more time for negotiations over hostages, and replied: 'Yes' The White House immediately said Biden misheard the question, thinking they were asking if he wanted more hostages released Judith Raanan is seen being escorted out of Gaza on Friday, with her daughter Natalie to her right Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan arrived back in Israel late on Friday 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 But Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director, immediately walked it back. 'The president was far away. He didn't hear the full question,' said LaBolt. 'The question sounded like 'Would you like to see more hostages released?' He wasn't commenting on anything else.' An IDF spokesman on Friday insisted there could be no delay, accusing Hamas of releasing the hostages as a tactic to halt the invasion - a tactic he said would not work. Major Doron Spielman told CNN there was 'going to be no break' in his country's effort to destroy Hamas. Earlier John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said they were not 'interfering' in Israel's military operations. But he did say that the issue of hostages was 'front and center on the president's mind when he met with the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) and he had the chance to meet with some of the families.' The release was negotiated by Qatari mediators, with the involvement of the Red Cross. After the release of the Raanans, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. and some European governments were pressuring Israel to delay the invasion, and give the Qataris more time for negotiations to free the hostages. Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it would '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.' The IDF said the majority of hostages are still alive. Among them are 20 children and between 10 and 20 people aged over 60, it said. 'As of today (Friday), there are 100-200 Israelis who are considered missing persons,' it added in a statement. 'In comparison, on the first day of the war, there were 3,000 people considered missing persons. This number has dramatically decreased as the IDF has confirmed their locations.' The IDF also stressed the complexity of locating information about missing persons and said that it is in constant communication with the families of the hostages. Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday celebrated the release of the Americans and said they would work to free the rest - but added that the fight against Hamas would continue 'simultaneously' with the negotiations. 'Two of our hostages are home. We will not ease the effort to bring back all abductees and those missing,' he said in a statement posted to social media. 'Simultaneously, we keep fighting until a victory is reached.' Israel says it's entering Gaza to rescue the 203 hostages are being held captive by Hamas terrorists Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and scores of tanks and armoured vehicles are now positioned on the border A column of Israeli tanks now sits on the border with Gaza, ready to invade Israel is preparing to bombard the small strip of land with missiles, before sending in ground troops 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 Israel's military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, echoed the prime minister on Friday and emphasized that the war against Hamas was continuing apace. 'The top priority of the country is to return all the abductees and locating the missing, in all possible ways: civil, intelligence and military,' said Hagari, during a news conference in Tel Aviv. 'At the same time, we are continuing the war against the Hamas. And getting ready for the next stages of the war.' Hamas has previously demanded Israel release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. The terror group has also threatened to kill the hostages live on television if Israel invades Gaza. An IDF spokesman, Doron Spielman, said the release of the two Americans would not slow plans to invade Gaza Spielman, the IDF spokesman, said Hamas' move was purely to buy time, insisting they had never shown humanitarian concerns. 'Hamas is trying to paint itself as a human rights organization now. They've given back two of the hostages but the real face of evil is still there. Rockets are raining down on Israel. 'You know, let's get back all the hostages and then we can begin to speak with them.' He added: 'This is right out of the Hamas playbook. It's a very typical cycle. They attack and massacre and send rockets to Israel, then they run back to Gaza. 'In the past they hid under their own civilians waiting for us to kill them - and then they turn to America and the international community and claim human rights violations so we'll stop, so they can regroup. 'They want to have us pause on eliminating them [but] we're at war with them. There's going to be no break. We're going to eliminate them. 'This is just another tactic for them to try to get us to stop. But they're mistaken. Hamas is an evil that has to be stopped completely. And that's what we're going to do.' Reporters on the ground in the Israel-Gaza border area said on Friday there was a noticeable lull in crossfire, leading them to speculate that something significant could be happening. When the Raanans were released, Hamas immediately resumed firing rockets in the direction of Israel, CNN's Nic Robertson reported. Palestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight into Saturday, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. Palestinians walk by buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, on Friday Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Friday Israeli aircraft struck six homes in northern Gaza early on Saturday, killing at least eight Palestinians and injuring 45, Palestinian media reported. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said that Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought refuge. 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. Asked if Israel had so far followed the laws of war in its response, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated on Friday that Israel had the right to defend itself and make sure Iran-backed Hamas was not able to launch attacks again. 'It's important that operations be conducted in accordance with international law, humanitarian law, the law of war,' he said. 'There will be plenty of time to make assessments about how these operations were conducted but I can just say from the part of the United States, this continues to be important to us.' The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said more than 140,000 homes - nearly a third of all homes in Gaza - had been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed. 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 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 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 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, said he believed trucks carrying aid would get through in the next 24-48 hours. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the checkpoint on Egypt's side on Friday and called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and checks - which Israel insists on to stop aid reaching Hamas - to be quick and pragmatic. Guterres will attend the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday, attended by Palestine's president Mahmoud Abbas, the king of Jordan, and other world leaders. 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. Many Muslim states, however, have called for an immediate ceasefire, and protests demanding an end to the bombardment were held in cities across the Islamic world on Friday. In the occupied West Bank, where violence has flared since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager during clashes near the city of Jericho. Attendance at pro-Palestine rallies around the nation is surging as images of violence in the Middle East reverberate through Australian communities. Chants for liberty, justice and an end to apartheid are ringing through capital cities as Australians who support a free Palestine unite. Thousands marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event, and many more were set to attend events in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane as more information emerges from conflict-stricken Gaza. Sydney protest organiser Fahad Ali said more Australians - including frontbench politicians Ed Husic and Anne Aly - were recognising the gravity of the situation in Gaza. Mr Ali said organisers had worked closely with police to make sure the event was successful. Thousands of supporters of Palestine marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event Sydney protest organiser Fahad Ali said more Australians - including frontbench politicians Ed Husic and Anne Aly - were recognising the gravity of the situation in Gaza Previous protests had been met with a heavy police presence after videos emerged of a small group chanting anti-Semitic slogans within a rally at the Sydney Opera House 'Last week, the premier of NSW was saying that there would never be another Palestine march in this state,' he said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'We fought against that and we won, so today we're looking forward to a really successful, really wonderful event.' Last week, NSW Premier Chris Minns called off an upcoming Free Palestine rally in Sydney after hundreds of protesters caused chaos outside the Opera House. Minns said organisers had already shown they were not peaceful based on the wild scenes just days earlier, during which protesters chanted 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews'. Marchers on Saturday walked from Sydney's Town Hall to Belmore Park. Previous protests had been met with a heavy police presence after videos emerged of a small group chanting anti-Semitic slogans within a rally at the Sydney Opera House. Organisers had worked closely with police to make sure the event was successful Marchers in Sydney on Saturday walked from Town Hall to Belmore Park More pro-Palestine protests will take place in Melbourne and Adelaide on Sunday (pictured: pro-Palestinian protestors in Sydney. Thousands of people have joined a march in Sydney in support of Palestine. Michelle Burton from Jews Against Occupation told the crowd people of Gaza have the right to seek sanctuary in their homes. Burton called for a ceasefire and end to Israels occupation of Palestine. Newtown Greens MP Jenny Leong said the lighting of the Opera House in blue and white was disgraceful. She said Israel was waging genocidal war against Palestinians and denounced the prime minister and premier for their support of Israel. Rallies since have been relatively uneventful with organisers around the country clamping down on hateful comments to ensure the focus remains on their key message: free Palestine. More pro-Palestine protests will take place in Melbourne and Adelaide on Sunday. The prime minister has provided $25 million to Jewish and Islamic communities affected by the conflict, and while Mr Ali welcomed the move, he said the government needed to take immediate action to urge a ceasefire, and that humanitarian aid reaches civilians. More pro-Palestine supporters are set to attend events in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane this weekend More pro-Palestine protests will take place in Melbourne and Adelaide on Sunday 'We're faced with a humanitarian crisis in Palestine - the scale of which we have never seen before,' he said. 'It cannot be the case that we wash our hands of responsibility, when we have played a part in creating the conditions that have led up to this.' Refugee Council of Australia CEO Paul Power called on the government to work towards a peaceful resolution and to address the dire situation in Gaza. Hamas conducted a cross-border attack on October 7 that killed more than 1400 people in Israel and led to more than 150 being taken hostage. On Saturday morning, two hostages from the United States, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released. Israel retaliated to the initial attack by laying siege to the 2.3 million people living in Gaza and unleashing a bombing campaign that left more than 3500 dead, another 12,000 wounded and roughly one million displaced, according to Palestinian officials. Gazan civilians have no power, water is scarce and the dwindling fuel sources used for emergency generators are running out. Refugee Council of Australia CEO Paul Power called on the government to work towards a peaceful resolution and to address the dire situation in Gaza More than a dozen pro-Palestine rallies are going ahead in and around Sydney. More than 1650 Australians have left Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7 and commercial flights are available for others who wish to return home. The foreign affairs department is in contact with registered Australians about departure options. But the government has previously said there are 46 Australians in Gaza whose safety remains unknown. Squad member Ilhan Omar dismissed a reporter who was questioning her calls for an Israel ceasefire as a 'crazy lady.' The Representative for Minnesota was being pressed on her views about the conflict in the Middle East by Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn in Capitol Hill on Friday. Omar, 41, ignored the journalist's questions as she entered an elevator and told a staffer: 'Ignore this crazy lady, don't worry about her.' It came on the same day she issued an impassioned plea aimed at President Joe Biden and his leadership over their support for Israel in the war against Hamas. Omar has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and humanity and freedom for Palestinians. Squad member Ilhan Omar dismissed a reporter who was questioning her calls for an Israel ceasefire as a 'crazy lady' The Representative for Minnesota was being pressed on her views about the conflict in the Middle East by Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn in Capitol Hill on Friday REPORTER (@hillary__vaughn): "Are you okay with Hamas terrorists continuing to exist? ... How can Israel have a ceasefire with terrorists whose entire mission is to wipe out their existence?" ILHAN OMAR: "Ignore this crazy lady" pic.twitter.com/kprYyuwlbF RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 20, 2023 Reporter Vaughn approached Representative Omar and asked: 'Congresswoman, you have called for a ceasefire -are you okay with Hamas terrorists continuing to exist?' The politician did not answer and continued walking but the journalist added: 'Do you think that Israel should just lay down their arms and not try to get the hostages out of Gaza? 'How can Israel have a ceasefire with terrorists whose entire mission is to wipe out their existence?' A staff member then asked Vaughn to move away from the elevator door as she was blocking it. But Omar told him: 'Ignore this crazy lady do not worry about her.' The Congresswoman also appeared at a press conference outside Capitol Hill alongside other members of the 'Squad' including Representatives Summer Lee and Ayanna Pressley. 'How is it that we have a president who is talking about releasing hostages, who is talking about getting American citizens out of Israel, but could not get himself to say, "I want to save and work to save the hundreds, thousands of Americans stuck in Gaza",' Omar said. 'What is wrong with you?' She then highlighted how Israel has dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza in the last 10 days. 'How is this possible? Wait, so [are] certain Americans' lives [more] important than another?', the politician added. Omar, 41, ignored the journalist's questions as she entered an elevator and told a staffer: 'Ignore this crazy lady, don't worry about her' 'Is the American that is living in Gaza less important than the one living in Israel? 'How is it that you're telling American citizens to go to the south of Gaza, but you can't tell Netanyahu not to bomb the south because there are Americans there?' Omar said it was 'painful and scary' to work with Democrats she said were blaming Muslims worldwide for the violence, although it is not clear who she was referring to. 'And not a single condemnation comes from our caucus leadership or any member of Congress,' Omar said. 'How is it how is it that we are serving in a body, serving in a body where there are members who condemn us for asking for a peace, for cease fire, the most simplest thing?' She has continued to spread messages criticizing Israel, in particular the IDF's order that Palestinians move south out of northern Gaza. The Minnesota Democrat asserted that Israel should not fight back against Hamas and called its military efforts a 'war crime'. On Monday, Omar said she opposed an Israeli military response and said that 'peace and justice will not come from the barrel of a gun.' She insisted that the humanity of both 'innocent Palestinian civilians' and 'the hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians and nine Americans who were killed this weekend' should be honored equally. 'As the world is condemning Hamas's attacks, we must also oppose an Israeli military response that has already taken the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, including nearly two dozen children.' She added: 'The solution to this horror, as ever, is a negotiated peacewith Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal rights and security guarantees. It came on the same day she issued an impassioned plea aimed at President Joe Biden and his leadership over their support for Israel in the war against Hamas She appeared at a press conference outside Capitol Hill alongside other members of the 'Squad' including Representatives Ayanna Pressley (left) and Summer Lee (right) 'Instead of continuing unconditional weapons sales and military aid to Israel, I urge the United States at long last to use its diplomatic might to push for peace.' On Thursday, she was forced to walk back on claims blaming Israel for the Gaza hospital explosion which US intelligence services deemed to have not come from the Israeli Defense Forces. Omar also posted a photo purporting to show Palestinian children in Gaza who were killed in the ongoing conflict in the wake of Hamas' assault on Israel. In reality, the photo show the killing of a group of Syrian children following a sarin gas attack in 2013 perpetrated by the country's President Bashar al-Assad. The post came less than a week after Omar's Squad comrade Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned about posting false information. 'The level of misinformation in all directions at this moment is incredibly high, especially on this platform,' AOC wrote on X. 'If you see a claim, photo, or video that triggers a strong emotional reaction, take a moment to pause and check for veracity/confirmation from multiple sources,' the Bronx congresswoman added. That warning was not heeded by Omar who reposted the image with the caption: 'CHILD GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE.' The original image appeared in National Geographic. The caption described the children as having 'succumbed to chemical weapon poisoning' in Eastern Ghouta. The image has been removed from the congresswoman's page. DailyMail.com has contacted Omar for comment. The Israel Defense Forces denied accusations by a Palestinian aid agency that claimed Israel had warned the people of Gaza to evacuate a major hospital and five schools ahead of a potential airstrike. The Palestinian Red Crescent issued an 'urgent notice' announcing it had received threats from Israeli authorities warning it would bomb Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza and demanded the hospital's immediate evacuation.' Footage circulating on social media shows some of the 12,000 displaced families taking shelter in what is believed to be Al-Quds Hospital. Footage circulating on social media shows some of the 12,000 displaced families taking shelter in what is believed to be Al-Quds Hospital The Israel Defense Forces denied accusations by a Palestinian aid agency that claimed Israel had warned the people of Gaza to evacuate a major hospital and five schools ahead of a potential airstrike The video shows a number of families sleeping and gathered in the hallways of the medical facility. Women and children are believed to make up the majority of those displaced at the hospital and can be seen sitting in groups. The IDF denied these claims and have consistently emphasized that it does not target hospitals. This come shortly after Israel was accused by Hamas of bombing Al-Ahli Hospital, which was quickly revealed to be a failed airstrike by Hamas The Palestine Red Crescent, an agency founded by Yasser Arafat's brother, claimed Israel had 'demanded' the hospital's evacuation, and said this would affect more than 400 patients and 12,000 displaced people who have sought 'safe haven.' 'We call upon the international community to take immediate and urgent action to prevent another massacre similar to what occurred at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital,' the statement wrote. Media outlets were quick to report Israel's evacuation warnings. Al Jazeera invited a guest on Friday who claimed that the hospital's director received an urgent call from 'Israel,' instructing an immediate evacuation, citing military operation plans in the area. Israel was accused by Hamas of of bombing Al-Ahli Hospital earlier this week, which was quickly revealed to be a failed airstrike by Hamas. The IDF denied these claims and have consistently emphasized that it does not target hospitals Israel has repeatedly stated that terror groups intentionally place their launching sites near civilian areas, putting civilians at risk and making them vulnerable to misfires This come shortly after Israel was accused by Hamas of bombing Al-Ahli Hospital, which was quickly revealed to be a failed airstrike by Hamas Israeli, US, and French intelligence have confirmed that the explosion resulted from a failed rocket launched by Hamas, and the IDF confirmed it did not conduct any operations in the area at the time of the impact. Israel has repeatedly stated that terror groups intentionally place their launching sites near civilian areas, putting civilians at risk and making them vulnerable to misfires. The IDF stressed that their operations in Gaza are targeted, focusing solely on terrorists, their weapon stockpiles, facilities, and infrastructure. Some media outlets have faced criticism for prematurely assigning blame. The IDF said it did not conduct any operations in the area at the time of the impact. 'This has been a trend over the last few rounds of conflict, where PIJ misfires have posed an extreme danger to civilians in Gaza.' Between 100 and 300 people were killed in the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City last Tuesday night, despite original claims out of Gaza estimating up to 500 deaths. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claimed the death toll was at 471, before later increasing the number to 500 dead. But US officials confirmed the death toll was likely at the low end of that estimate - with some claiming it was closer to 50 to 100 deaths. The hospital was being used to treat and shelter thousands of civilians amid the ongoing conflict. The devastating fireball had sparked a venomous blame game between Hamas and Israel the week after the blast, with both sides blaming armed forces across the border for the destruction and furiously denying it was their fault. Palestinian officials said at the time that the horror explosion was caused by an IDF air strike, while officials in Israel insisted it was the result of a failed rocket launched by terrorist group Islamic Jihad. The terror group has labelled the claims 'completely incorrect' and accused the IDF of 'trying to cover for the horrifying crime and massacre they committed against civilians' despite intelligence proving otherwise. The blast threw a visit from US President Joe Biden to the region - in the hopes of showing support for Israel and preventing the war from spreading - into chaos, with a planned meeting involving him, the president of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, and leaders from Egypt and Jordan cancelled by the Arab nations in protest. Hellish footage from the wreckage shows shows fire engulfing the building and the dozens of bodies strewn over the ground, many of them young children. Ambulances and private cars rushed some 350 casualties from the al-Ahli blast to Gaza City's main hospital, al-Shifa. Doctors stand outside al-Shifa hospital surrounded by those killed in the nearby al-Ahli hospital after the explosion. Between 100 and 300 people were killed in the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, despite original claims out of Gaza estimating up to 500 deaths Bodies of those killed in the blast were covered in white sheets and placed by the dozen in tents. Israeli, US, and French intelligence have confirmed that the explosion resulted from a failed rocket launched by Hamas, despite the terrorist group blaming the Israeli military Demonstrators are seen flooding the streets of Ramallah on Tuesday evening in support of the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Despite the facts, Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal called for protests in front of Israeli embassies across the world after the hospital blast 'We are squeezing five beds into a single tiny room. We need equipment, we need medicine, we need beds, we need everything,' Mr Abu Selmia said, warning that the fuel supply for the hospital's generators will run out on Wednesday. 'I think Gaza's medical sector will collapse within hours.' Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF. Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children.' Despite the facts, Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal called for protests in front of Israeli embassies across the world after the hospital blast. Several world leaders and organizations, in the absence of concrete evidence beyond reports from the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry, have quickly condemned Israel and held it responsible for the incident, fueling more tension and distrust. The New York Times initially led with a headline that attributed a hospital explosion to an Israeli strike, only later to revise it, removing the blame for Israel. Similarly, CNN ran a headline based on information from Hamas-affiliated officials in Gaza, claiming an Israeli airstrike without substantial evidence. The mother of murdered high school student Natalee Holloway has revealed details of a bizarre meeting with the parents of her daughter's killer where they bragged about their son's wild sex life. Beth Holloway travelled to Joran Van der Sloot's family home in Aruba shortly after the disappearance of her daughter in 2005. The Dutch murderer initially denied involvement and told investigators that he had been with Natalee the night she went missing, but had dropped her off at her hotel room. This week he finally admitted bludgeoning the 17-year-old to death after she spurned his sexual advances, as part of a sweetheart plea deal. Now her mother has spoken about an uncomfortable meeting with Van der Sloot's parents in the early days of the search for Natalee, stating that they 'raised a killer' as she reflected on the encounter. Beth Holloway, mother of murdered Natalee Holloway, shared details of a meeting with the parents of her daughter's killers where they bragged about his sex life and admitted he was in anger management classes Holloway travelled to the family's home with News Max's Greta Van Susteren, who would go on to cover the case extensively for the next 18 years. She called the meeting the 'most freakish' of her life. Recounting the experience, the women recalled how Van der Sloot's mother Anita was 'sobbing uncontrollably' and told them explicit details of alleged sexual encounters between her son and Natalee, which he had told her about. Van Susteren described how she was, 'Sobbing, and telling the most graphic things about things that she said Joran did sexually to Natalee things, that I mean, horribly graphic.' Holloway also recalled how Van der Sloot's father Paulus was sweating so profusely his wife had to use a kitchen towel to mop up pools on the floor. Holloway said: 'He was sweating so, I was trying not to gag. The sweat was forming in these pools and all the pools joined together and made one large lake. I got nauseous.' Van Susteren said looking back the reason he was sweating so much was likely because he knew his son had done wrong and he was suffering a guilty conscience. Holloway agreed and said: 'Well, he raised a killer' and of his mother she added, 'she enabled him in every way.' In the course of the meeting it also emerged that Van der Sloot was undergoing anger management classes, which his mother told Holloway were going 'so well'. Holloway also gave both parents 'Hope for Natalee' bracelets made by the teen's friends. Natalee Holloway, 17, was bludgeoned to death by Joran Van der Sloot during a trip to Aruba in 2005 Van der Sloot only admitted he killed Natalee as part of a plea deal for wire fraud and extortion charges after he attempted to scam his victim's mother out of $250,000 for information on the location of her remains Paulus Van der Sloot and his wife Anita, pictured here with Joran, met with Beth Holloway amid her search for answers over her daughter's disappearance Van der Sloot confessed to his crimes as part of a plea deal which saw him convicted for trying to extort money from his victim's family to reveal the whereabouts of her body. He will not face any jail time over the murder, but was legally compelled to release all details of the killing as part of the deal. Chilling audio of his confession released this week revealed Van der Sloot calmly discussing how he caved in Natalee's face with a cinder block after she rejected his advances. The two had met at a bar where Natalee had been celebrating her high school graduation, the night before she was due to return to the US on May 30, 2005. He described how the two were kissing on the beach when he tried to take things further and Natalee refused, kicking him in the crotch when he failed to stop. In retaliation he kicked her 'extremely hard' in the face, rendering her unconscious, before picking up the 'huge' block and 'smashing' her face in. He then dumped her body in the Caribbean Sea and it has never been found. His admission came almost two decades after he was first arrested and released as a suspect in Natalee's disappearance and after he tried to extort $250,000 from her family in return for information on her remains. Holloway said: 'If I had of known then though Greta, when we were in the Van der Sloot home, it was going to take me 18 years to see him shackled in a US federal court house I would have slit my wrists. Five years after the killing, an FBI sting recorded the extortion attempt which ultimately led to Van der Sloot's confession of murder although he will not serve any time for the killing itself Holloway said Anita Van der Sloot 'enabled' everything her son has done and said his parents had 'raised a killer' Natalee, pictured left, had been celebrating her high school graduation in Aruba when she met Van der Sloot at a bar 'I couldn't have done it it would have been too much, it would have been infinity. For a parent well you just feel like there's no reason to live any more it's too long. 'I guess in hindsight it's good I didn't know what was ahead of me. Because you would quit, you would quit earlier. It would be too daunting.' She also detailed the moment she turned to face her daughter's murderer in court, saying that he 'looked like hell'. Holloway added: 'It was nice to have him under control'. But she said: 'He ain't going to make it. Get him out of our United States. He needs to go back there in his rat hole, he's in a rat cage he'll be fine.' She was also stunned to learn that the home where she met the killer's parents is listed on Airbnb. Holloway said: 'You can book a double murderer's Airbnb, wow.' Van der Sloot has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and extortion which he will serve out in Peru, where he is currently serving 28 years for the murder of another woman. In 2010, he smothered 21-year-old Stephany Flores in a hotel room in Lima, after they got into a fight when Flores learned he had been linked to Natalee's disappearance. The murder took place exactly five years to the day that Van der Sloot killed Natalee. Following her murder, Anita Van der Sloot - who had steadfastly stood by her son during Natalee's disappearance - admitted that he may have been involved in the Flores murder. She told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that her son is 'sick in his head'. She was not present in court for her son's sentencing. Van der Sloot's father, a prominent lawyer, passed away from a heart attack the same year Flores was killed. Holloway attributed this to the 'stress' of trying to shield Van der Sloot from conviction. Family and friends are mourning the death of a man who was allegedly stabbed outside a property with two teenagers arrested by police over the incident. Seb O'Halloran was allegedly stabbed outside the home in Limpidi Drive, Mildura, around 540 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, on Saturday around 1.05am. Paramedics rushed to the scene but the 18-year-old could not be saved. Seb O'Halloran (pictured), 18, died after being stabbed outside a property in Victoria's north-west early on Saturday morning Mr O'Halloran is believed to reside in the suburb of Irymple, around five kilometres south-east of Mildura. Victoria Police have arrested a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man following the man's death. The pair from Mildura are assisting police with their inquiries. No charges have been laid. Police allege the 17-year-old girl and the other man were known to Mr O'Halloran however there are no details about how the incident took place. Police have arrested a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man following the death of Mr O'Halloran (pictured right) Friends paid tribute to Mr O'Halloran on social media, many saying he was 'loved by the community'. Friend Eric Wolfe wrote on Instagram that 'no measurement of time with you could have ever been enough'. 'I'll put my best foot forward every day for you, I f*****g love you Seb.' Another friend, Damon Burke, said Mr O'Halloran was like an 'older brother'. 'I love you so much man,' he said. Friends paid tribute to Mr O'Halloran (pictured centre) on social media with one of the man's mates saying he looked out for him like an 'older brother' Several others posted heartfelt messages on social media with some remembering Mr O'Halloran as someone who was 'loved by the community' 'I will be forever grateful i [sic] knew someone as funny, hardworking and loving as you.' 'May you rest in peace.' 'Fly high brother, wish you all the best up there,' another friend wrote. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has announced he is running to become the first African American speaker of the House. The politician, 44, who endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 White House bid, shared news of his candidacy on X (formerly twitter) on Friday. 'I look forward to securing the votes of a majority of my Republican colleagues to become the first African-American Speaker, the first Speaker from the great state of Florida and the next Speaker of the 118th Congress,' he said. It comes after Republicans voted out Jim Jordan as their House speaker nominee after he tried - and failed - three times to capture enough support to become GOP leader. 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. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has announced he is running to become the first African American speaker of the House The politician, 44, who endorsed Donald Trump 's 2024 White House bid, shared news of his candidacy on X on Friday It comes after Republicans voted out Jim Jordan as their House speaker nominee after he tried - and failed - three times to capture enough support to become GOP leader Donalds' office confirmed his candidacy on Friday evening and shared a statement from the politician on X. 'Tonight I am announcing my candidacy for speaker of the US House of Representatives,' he said. 'My sole focus will be securing our border, funding our government responsibly, advancing a conservative vision for the House of Representative and the American people and expanding our Republican majority. 'As a member of this conference, Ive seen firsthand the devotion of my colleagues to improving the lives of their constituents and the future of America. '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.' He continued: 'Under my leadership, the House will lead the charge to advance a simple objective: Put the American people first, keep them safe and make their lives easier. 'Titles arent given. Theyre earned.' The announcement came after Jordan was dropped as the Republicans nominee for House speaker after failing to capture enough votes for a third time. Donalds' office confirmed his candidacy on Friday evening and shared a statement from the politician on X There has been a struggle as to who should lead the House of Representatives after Republican Kevin McCarthy (pictured) was ousted in a historic vote on October 3. He was ousted in a closed-door vote 86-112 Friday afternoon. The House recessed following the vote and will not be back until 6pm ET on Monday for a new candidate forum. Jordan supporters decried that the vote had happened on a blind ballot - meaning Jordan and his allies do not get to see who voted him down. The House has gone 17 days without a speaker and is paralyzed and unable to do business with less than a month until the government shuts down again. 'I told the conference it was an honor to be their speaker designee. 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 after the meeting where the vote was held. 'I'm also going to go back to work. We got we got several depositions lined up next week in the Judiciary Committee,' he went on. 'But it's important we do unite. Let's let's figure out who that individual is, get behind him and get to work for the American people.' Immediately after the vote Republicans were at the starting line eager to jump into the running for the House's top job. Whip Tom Emmer, the House's number three Republican, is making calls to other members to tell them he will be running for the job, a source familiar told DailyMail.com. McCarthy endorsed Emmer for the job. 'He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference.' Representatives Kevin Hern, chair of the Republican Study Committee, Georgia Republican Austin Scott and Michigan Republican Jack Bergman have said they are running for the job - as has GOP conference vice chair Mike Johnson and Texas Representative Pete Sessions. Steve Scalise, who was the favorite to become the next Republican speaker of the House, sensationally dropped out of the race on October 12 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 Representative Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chair of the Budget Committee is also considering a run, as is Homeland Security Chair Mark Green and Texas GOP Representative Roger Williams. Steve Scalise, who was the favorite to become the next Republican speaker of the House, sensationally dropped out of the race on October 12. He had won an election among members of his party to be their nominee for speaker after McCarthy was spectacularly ousted from the role. But with Republicans' narrow majority Scalise could only afford to lose the support of four members of his own party in a vote by the whole House to confirm him as speaker. Around 20 of his Republican colleagues indicated they would oppose him if a full House vote was held, so he withdrew. It shows the disarray among House Republicans has no end in sight more than two weeks after McCarthy became the first speaker in history to be ousted. The House is currently led by interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, who has little power to bring up legislation on the House floor, and he reportedly threatened to quit. Hundreds of union workers have staged protests outside Bunnings stores across the country to demand the hardware giant stop selling a popular kitchen benchtop that has been linked to an incurable disease. Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) members gathered in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, ACT, WA and SA on Saturday to urge the company to stop selling engineered stone kitchen bench tops. Dozens of union members stood outside Bunnings stores, waving placards and handing out pamphlets as part of its Stop This Killer Stone campaign. Union members (pictured) have staged protests outside Bunnings stores across Australia demanding the retailer stop selling engineered stone benchtops The union represents tradespeople, including stone masons, and say they want their members to be protected from the dangers of silicosis. he engineered benchtops, which have become fashionable in Australian kitchens and bathrooms, contain a high concentration of crystalline silica. Working with engineered stone can expose workers to the risk of potentially deadly silicosis and other related diseases. Silicosis is incurable and is caused by inhaling tiny particles of silica dust. 'Bunnings customers deserve to know it is profiting from killer stone bench tops,' CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said. 'Our members have today been educating Bunnings customers so as many people as possible have the facts about engineered stone and the alternatives that don't kill workers.' Protestors (pictured) urged the major hardware retailer to consider the effects on workers such as tradies who could develop lung cancer as a result of exposure to the deadly silica dust 'Bunnings will stop selling killer stone immediately if it really cares about Australian workers' lives,' the union boss added. Federal and state ministers are currently considering a Safe Work Australia report about a potential ban on high-concentration crystalline silica slabs. Modelling released by Curtin University earlier this year predicted that more than 10,000 Australians will develop lung cancer and up to 103,000 workers will be diagnosed with silicosis as a result of exposure to silica dust during their lifetimes. The union said it wanted engineered stone banned and, if their demand is not met by mid next year, it will ban its members from working with the material. Bunnings has been approached for comment. Members held placards (pictured) outside Bunnings stores as they called for the benchtops which contains a high concentration of crystalline silica to be banned Previously, Bunnings director of merchandise Jen Tucker said the hardware giant was aware of the concern and it would continue to 'monitor and follow advice from the regulatory authorities'. 'Most of the benchtops we sell in store are laminate or timber,' she said. 'However, the engineered stone benchtops we provide are pre-cut to size before they arrive at a customer's site and are supplied and installed by a specialist provider that holds an engineered stone licence and applies strict safety standards to protect production and installation teams in line with the requirements of their licence. One of the main responsibilities of the Cayuga County clerk is to oversee the Department of Motor Vehicles, but a rumor is circulating that one of the candidates in the three-way race supports eliminating that office. The Citizen received an email questioning whether Chris Petrus, the Republican candidate for county clerk, wants to get rid of the DMV office. Brian Scanlan, the Democratic candidate for clerk, addressed the rumor on social media. Kristine Lytle, the Conservative candidate for clerk, is a longtime DMV employee. Will Petrus get rid of the DMV? In response to the rumor and questions about his stance, The Citizen contacted Petrus for comment. "I never said such nonsense," he said. The rumor surfaced a day after Petrus sat down with The Citizen as part of the "Conversation with the Candidates" series. During that interview, he discussed ideas for continuing the DMV's customer service. At no point did he say he would eliminate the office. Does Scanlan support dumping the DMV? With the rumor circulating this week, Scanlan's campaign addressed the topic in a Facebook post. "Brian has NO intention of closing our local DMV office in Auburn once elected," the campaign wrote. "In fact, he is involved in conversations to EXPAND (its) services and to make it MORE ACCESSIBLE to the residents of Cayuga County." The post continues, "Brian knows and understands the importance of keeping our local DMV and he (will work) tirelessly for the people to maintain and expand (its) services." The version of the rumor shared with The Citizen did not include Scanlan. What is Lytle's stance? Lytle has been in a supervisory role at the DMV for 13 years. As she campaigns for county clerk, she has touted her experience in one of the offices that the clerk oversees. She would not eliminate the DMV if elected county clerk. Throughout her campaign, she has discussed expanding the services offered by the office. The law One problem with this rumor is that it ignores state law. Under New York's vehicle and traffic law, county clerks are required to be agents of the state DMV commissioner. There are some exceptions for example, the state operates DMV offices in Onondaga County. In Cayuga County, the clerk must maintain a DMV office to register vehicles and provide other services. Conclusion None of the candidates for county clerk want to ditch the DMV office. Lytle, Petrus and Scanlan have ideas to bolster the services offered by the DMV. They want to build on the office's success, not get rid of it. A New Yorker who survived Hamas' slaughter of 260 people at a music festival said she 'feels safer in Israel than the US' - as anti-Semitic protests rage across the country. Natalie Sanandaji, 28, ran for her life while getting gunned down by terrorists on October 7, ultimately surviving the horrific massacre. Although she made it out alive and returned to her home in Long Island a week later, she said she does not feel any safer back in the US. 'A lot of people have asked if I'm scared to go back to Israel after everything that's happened, and my honest answer is now more than ever, I want to move to Israel,' Sanandaji told The New York Post. 'Even with everything going on, I feel safer there than I do in the US right now.' Natalie Sanandaji, 28, ran for her life while getting gunned down by terrorists on October 7, ultimately surviving the horrific massacre Although she made it out alive - unlike over 250 other attendees - and returned to her home in Long Island a week later, she said she does not feel any safer back in the US Following the attack, there have been pro-Palestinian protests across the country - with some demonstrators praising Hamas or unable to condemn the terrorist group What scares her more than anything, is the anti-Semitism she's witnessed since being back home. 'A lot of the things I've been hearing and seeing since getting back. A lot of the videos of the protests. These pro-Palestinian protests. Something I would like to say about that is, whatever side you're on in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, all the power to you' she said to Fox Digital. 'But this is not about Israel-Palestine. This is about Hamas, a terrorist organization who is just as complicit in the deaths of these innocent Palestinians as they are in the deaths of innocent Israelis.' 'This is about a terrorist organization attacking the Jews and killing innocent people, killing innocent people at a music festival, killing innocent grandmas who survived the Holocaust, just to be killed by Hamas, burning babies alive.' 'That's not going to save Palestine,' she added. 'That's not going to free Palestine.' Following the attack, there have been pro-Palestinian protests across the country - with some demonstrators praising Hamas or unable to condemn the terrorist group. 'The amount of antisemitism I've seen in videos since coming back to New York, antisemitism all over Europe and the United States, that scares me more than anything,' Sanandaji told Fox Digital. 'For so long, as a Jew growing up in America, you're always taught about the Holocaust, and you're taught about the way our people were treated and the way so many people just stood by and watched as the Holocaust happened. And you're taught to never forget. And my whole life, I tried to understand how could how could the world stand by? How could the world stand by and let that happen? And it's sad to say that I'm now starting to realize how. And I don't feel safe.' Sanandaji's shared her traumatic experience escaping the music festival, noting the many heroes along the way who help her survive. 'One of the girls from our campsite came and woke us up to let us know that there had been some rockets that were sent in our direction that had been intercepted by the Iron Dome [missile defense system], that everything was fine, that it's normal for the area that we're in and that hopefully it will just be a few, and then the party will continue,' Sanandaji told Fox News Digital. 150 were arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest in New York on Friday. It was the latest protest as thousands took to the streets across the globe Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the steps of the New York City Public Library and marched toward Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Midtown office Friday evening, before blocking traffic on 5th Avenue Demonstrators are seen flooding the streets of Ramallah on Tuesday evening in support of the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip 'I want people to try to imagine anywhere else in the world where a festival is taking place, taking place with such young kids attending, and they see rockets being intercepted over their heads and their automatic reaction is, 'Oh, this is normal because of the area that we're in. This happens. It's fine.'' 'And at this point, we still didn't know that there were terrorists on foot just a few feet away from us with guns,' Sanandaji said. Sanandaji expressed the surreal feeling of knowing how close she came to death. At every corner, she was just seconds from a different fate. She went to the bathroom before leaving the festival, and later watched videos of Hamas terrorists shooting at the same stalls she was in - likely just moments after she left. 'I go to the bathroom, and a couple of days ago I saw a video that surfaced of the Hamas terrorists coming and shooting at those exact bathrooms and just shooting at every single stall, just trying to kill anybody who was inside.' 'And that's one of the times since the festival happened, where it really hit me how close I was to death. That I could have been in those stalls. If I was in those stalls just a few moments later, I might not be here today.' 'As a survivor it's almost hard to believe that you were there, that you went through all of that,' she said to The Post. 'When you see all the posts everyday of all the people that were missing and now found dead. It just feels very surreal that that could've been you.' Protestors called for the end of US aid to Israel as it defends itself against Hamas terrorists, who are holding around 200 people hostage since their brutal October 7 slaughtering that killed 1,400 people NYPD arrested those who were blocking the road on 5th Ave and refused to leave Sanandaji praised security staff for their efforts in getting attendees out safely, most who lost their lives in the process - as well as civilian heroes who came back to save those running to safety, 'One of the scariest things was running in a certain direction, thinking that you're running to safety and then suddenly seeing dozens of kids from this festival running in your direction and realizing that they're running from a terrorist, that they're running from gunshots, and that the direction that you've been going in is not taking you to safety,' she said. 'You don't know what decision is going to either save your life or get you killed.' She ran for four hours straight in the sun without water before finally taking a rest. She and her friends spotted a pickup truck coming their way. Assuming it was terrorist, they feared the worst and planned to accept their fate. 'At first, we thought it was a terrorist coming to kill us. And we all kind of thought to get up for a second, and then we all kind of just looked at each other and realized, 'Where are we going to run to?' she said. 'So we just sat back down, and eventually when the car got to us, we saw that there was a girl in the car who had the festival bracelet on, and we realized that this was someone from the town of Patish who left the security of his town and drove toward the terrorists and risked his own life to try to save our lives.' The man dropped them off in the closest town, before immediately turning around to help others escape. 'I didn't even have a chance to thank him, and he just went straight back and risked his life all over again,' Sanandaji said. Sanandaji everyone in the town came together to volunteer and help them following the horrors they experienced. 'The people of this town really came together to help us and to protect us. They put all of us in the local bomb shelter. They brought us food. They brought us water. There were people walking around reading off a list of names from their phone sent to them, from parents and family and friends who couldn't get in touch with kids that were at the festival,' she said. A protester holds a placard during the Pro-Palestine demonstration in Paris Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy in Madrid A protester makes gestures while chanting slogans during the Pro-Palestine demonstration More than 250 people were killed and 150 are expected to have been taken hostage by Hamas. 'Trying to, like, realize that so many people that you were dancing right next to that you were having such a good time with you see all their faces in your head, and then you see photos of them days later online, and you realize that they did not come out as lucky as you did,' Sanandaji said to Fox Digital. 'That they had either been killed or, worse, kidnapped. And the reason why I say 'worse, kidnapped' is because so many parents have said that once they found out that their kid was killed, they said, 'Thank God,' because being kidnapped by monsters like these and being tortured the way that they're torturing these children is, honestly, a worse fate than being killed by them.' More than 150 pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested while calling for a Gaza ceasefire in New York City as demands mount for Biden to stop giving aid to Israel. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the steps of the New York City Public Library and marched toward Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Midtown office Friday evening, before blocking traffic on 5th Avenue. Protestors called for the end of US aid to Israel as it defends itself against Hamas terrorists, who are holding around 200 people hostage since their brutal October 7 slaughtering that killed 1,400 people. This is the latest protest as thousands took to the streets across the globe - in Bangladesh, South Korea, Lebanon and Iraq - with some burning American, British and Israeli flags and holding signs that read 'USA go to hell and 'Death to Israel.' Hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered at Iraq's border crossing with Jordan in a demonstration organized 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. A man and woman are lucky to be alive after their wing-in-ground effect vessel plunged onto a reef north of Perth. The vessel crashed 350m from shore near Edwards Island nature reserve in Lancelin shortly before 12.30pm Saturday. The male pilot and a female passenger aged in their 30s suffered minor injuries. They were brought to shore on a jet ski and are being treated by paramedics. A man and his female passenger escaped with minor injuries after their vessel (pictured) crashed into a reef off the WA coast A WA Police spokeswoman said the Department of Transport has been advised about the crash. It's understood the vessel which crashed into the water is called The Mudskipper with photos of it pictured in Lancelin Bay shared to social media earlier on Saturday. A wing-in-ground effect vessel 'uses a cushion of air pressure generated between the craft and the surface of the water to enable the craft to fly slightly above the water over certain distances', according to the Department of Transport. WIG vessels must comply with rules and requirements applicable to vessels under the Western Australian Marine Act and the collision rules applicable to a power-driven vessel. 'WIGs are prohibited from operating in ground-effect mode (when airborne) in all 'protected waters' within the state, without approval from DoT,' the department's website states. It also adds thre Mudskipper is 'conditionally approved' to operate within the Swan Canning Riverpark. Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as downpours continue to batter much of the UK on Saturday following three deaths in 'biblical' conditions. A second rare red 'danger to life' weather warning has been issued for parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire on Scotland's east coast after Friday's chaos, prompting First Minister Humza Yousaf to warn: 'We have not seen the last of this.' Yellow and amber warnings in place across large swathes of England have been lifted save for a yellow 'be aware' alert for wind that stretches from Whitby in Yorkshire all the way up to Aberdeen. But flood warnings remain: across England, there were over 353 warnings and 248 alerts on Saturday morning, while 55,000 people were left without power on Friday; 45,000 of those were reconnected last night, the Energy Networks Association said. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency says it has 12 flood alerts, 17 flood warnings and five severe flood warnings in place; 25 flood alerts and 12 warnings have been issued by Natural Resources Wales. DUNDEE: A car became submerged in the road after a bridge collapsed, taking the vehicle with it. Locals said the occupant was rescued by a farmer CHESTERFIELD: A group of young men got stuck on top of their car in Grassmoor; witnesses say they were rescued by a crew in a rubber dinghy NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: A BMW sits partially submerged on a waterlogged road in the East Midlands LEEDS: A Toyota 4x4 braves the floods on Friday as it passes through Allerton Bywater in West Yorkshire Weather alerts for central and southern England have been lifted - though a red 'danger to life' alert remains in place for eastern Scotland Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings remain in place across England and eastern and northern Scotland A yellow Met Office alert for rain remain in place for most of central and north-eastern Scotland, with amber rain warnings across Highland Perthshire and the eastern Highlands north of Inverness. The forecaster said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, the highest rainfall total on Friday was 84mm in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey told the PA news agency: 'The focus of the rainfall from Saturday shifts back northwards over towards eastern and northern Scotland. 'Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a half's worth of rain already, but there's another band that's forecast to track its way northwards over the course of the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas. 'So there are further red and amber rain warnings in force for Saturday, with the potential to push those areas close towards two months of rain in the span of three days.' Mr Vautrey said the yellow wind warning across eastern Scotland and north-east England could bring 'gales in excess of 60-70 miles per hour', but added: 'That is going to work its way off (the coast) throughout Saturday, so from a wind aspect there will be some improvement.' The storm has claimed the lives of three people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. In nearby Fowlis, outside Dundee, the coastguard were called to help after a bridge collapsed, taking a car with it. Dramatic images shared on social media showed the vehicle submerged in the road up to its front doors; locals said the occupant was rescued by a local farmer. CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Flooding around St Ives, five miles east of Huntingdon, on Saturday morning after the Great River Ouse burst its banks DERBYSHIRE: Vehicles lie abandoned in flood water in Chesterfield early on Saturday morning YORK: A Nissan Micra sits abandoned in a waterlogged street in the city centre as the River Ouse burst its banks CHESTERFIELD: The great clean-up begins in the Derbyshire market town as a worker clears out a drain CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Huntingdon Race Course in Cambridgeshire is submerged after the Alconbury Brook burst its banks on Friday DERBYSHIRE: The terrifying moment a school bus full of screaming children floods Elsewhere, Liverpool start Trent Alexander-Arnold had a lucky escape after a 40ft electricity pylon came crashing down onto a BMW in front of his Range Rover in 70mph winds. The power line, which weighs half a ton, careened down on top of the other vehicle - and while both cars suffered damage both Alexander-Arnold and the other driver escaped unhurt. Elsewhere, Storm Babet has wrought chaos, grinding train services to a halt as railway lines were flooded and roads were waterlogged, submerging vehicles in the streets. Roads across the country are dotted with abandoned and flooded cars. Julie Foley, director of flood strategy and adaptation at the Environment Agency, has warned people not to drive through flood waters, urging those in deluged areas to 'really consider their travel plans'. She told BBC One's Breakfast programme on Saturday: 'So if you receive a flood warning that means you need to take action right now, it means there is an immediate risk and you need to keep yourself safe, your family safe, move precious belongings to a safe place, and listen to the advice of local emergency services, as well as do some basics like turn off your gas, electricity and water in your home. 'And if you receive a severe flood warning, that means there is a risk to life, and it's very important that you listen to the advice if you're asked to evacuate and take action. We've sadly seen over the last couple of days just how dangerous flood waters can be. 'It's really important that people stay away from swollen rivers. It's very, very important that people don't drive through flood waters, all it takes is up to 30 centimetres of fast flowing water to actually move a car. 'So I would really urge people to really consider their travel plans. I'm very, very aware there's an enormous amount of travel disruption going on across the country at the moment.' In Nottinghamshire, fire and rescue service staff came to the aid of four people trapped on the roof of their car after it got stuck in flood waters in Trowell, a few miles west of Nottingham. DERBYSHIRE: Major rail routes have been affected by flooding - this image, from Network Rail, shows flooding at Clay Cross in the East Midlands LEEDS: Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport while landing in windy conditions Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport 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 FIFE: Waves break over Dysart harbour wall on the east coast of Scotland during storm Babet 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' BRECHIN: A member of the emergency services helps resident Laura Demontis from a house as Storm Babet batters the country More than 100 people had to be rescued in Derbyshire on Friday and the service declared a major incident due to the impact of Storm Babet. Footage showed a school bus flooding as screaming schoolchildren pulled their legs up onto their seats on Friday. 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 grow as the water rises and one shouts: 'No, no, no, no.' Emergency crews had to rescue 20 people from a care home, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said. Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, warned flood waters could continue to rise near Derby and across south Derbyshire on Saturday. He told BBC Breakfast: 'We rescued over 100 people yesterday. For example, just on one road in Chesterfield in the north of the county, we rescued 60 people when that (water level) became up to the top of cars and several HGVs were stuck as well. 'There is a village called Duffield in Derbyshire and we rescued 20 people from one care home there. 'Also there were 18 houses that were evacuated in a village called Ironville, again in the north of the county.' Mr Stanbrook added that officers had been working through the night to rescue people, and said West Midlands Fire Services has sent two boat crews to help rescue people trapped by the floods. The RSPCA has also volunteered a boat crew in Derbyshire to help rescue animals such as horses and dogs. Mr Stanbrook warned it will be dangerous travelling in flooded areas on Saturday. He added: 'The advice we give today is only travel if absolutely, absolutely necessary. If floodwaters recede, then that's absolutely great... 'But on the road there is still going to be silt, there is still going to be debris that is going to cause real, real danger to anybody travelling at the moment - no matter what you're travelling in. 'No matter what size car or vehicle, please only travel if absolutely necessary. 'Please be careful of riverbanks and canal banks. They are going to be soft. 'Everything is going to be dangerous today if you're walking or travelling, so please travel if only absolutely necessary.' Flooding caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham on Friday, National Highways said, while further south, Suffolk declared a major incident as Storm Babet 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 mats, staff said. Elsewhere fire services in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire shared pictures on X of vehicles semi-submerged in water after drivers were rescued. Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, told BBC Breakfast on Saturday more than 100 people had been rescued on Friday, including 20 people from a care home in Duffield. The 'unprecedented' weather event has already forced some residents in eastern Scotland to evacuate their homes, cut off rural communities, and caused roads and bridges to collapse. Parts of eastern Scotland could see a further 70-100 mm of rain today, with the highest accumulations over the hills. Further rain is also expected more widely across Wales, northern England and the Midlands. 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. '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.' Passengers on a Tui flight had to be evacuated from a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport after it came off the runway as it landed. SUNDERLAND: Sea foam coats the beachfront at Seaburn as violent waves are whipped up by Storm Babet NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Severe rainfall saw streets in Hucknall flooded on Thursday afternoon BRECHIN: A woman walks through flood waters as residents are asked to evacuate by the local authorities DUNDEE: Flood waters surround cars and houses along Heron Rise after the nearby Dighty Water broke its banks 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 aquaplane,' adding 'it seemed to speed up rather than slow down'. '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 services kicked 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. Hundreds of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza who were hoping to escape to Egypt have not been allowed to evacuate despite the Rafah border being opened up this morning to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave. The US Embassy had earlier urged foreign nationals to make their way to the Gaza-Egypt border to flee as Israeli tanks prepare to launch a ground invasion in retaliation to the despicable terror attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are readying themselves for battle while scores of tanks are lined up ready to plough into Gaza. The Rafah border opened just after 10am local time (8am BST) to let the 'life-saving' aid in to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water. The convoy of 20 trucks is the first to enter Gaza since the war erupted two weeks ago. Urging foreign nationals to escape Gaza if they can, the embassy warned: 'If the border is opened, we do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza.' It has since emerged foreign nationals were denied access to Egypt. Authorities had told trapped US nationals to expect a 'potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing'. There are an estimated 600 Americans in the enclave. The opening of the Rafah crossing comes after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the aid was a 'lifeline' for those suffering in the territory. Israeli forces are preparing to launch an invasion as they ready tanks and soldiers await the green light Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are readying themselves for battle as the war escalates Israeli infantry soldiers in a staging area in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip carry out maintenance on Merkava tanks Palestinians inspect the destruction following an Israeli strike on Dhaheer family home in Rafah southern Gaza Strip The Rafah crossing opened this morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water. Pictured: First trucks cross into Gaza Egyptian soldiers are pictured overseeing preparations for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-torn Palestinian enclave The US Embassy has told foreign nationals to make their way to the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border Israeli soldiers and armoured vehicles are gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza Egyptian army special forces soldiers deploy before the concrete barrier marking the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in Rafah Aid workers on the Egyptian side of the crossing could be seen chanting and clapping as trucks passed through the main gate to Gaza. Southern Gaza is swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Egypt also opens a summit on the Gaza crisis today to try to head off a wider regional war. Egypt's President Sisi told the summit he invited leaders to come to an agreement to end the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and revive a path to peace. Among those present was Guterres who urged a 'humanitarian ceasefire' in the war and called for global 'action to end this godawful nightmare'. It comes as Hamas released hostages Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, after they spent almost two weeks in captivity following their abduction from a kibbutz by the terror group. The two 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 terrorists stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting 210 others. The family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by US and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalie's brother Ben said. Her brother joked that he was 'annoyed' because she still looked 'like a supermodel', despite her ordeal. Natalie's father after said she is 'doing very well' despite spending 13 days in captivity. '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.' 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.' Israeli armoured vehicles gathered at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza, in Israel, on Friday A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on October 21 An Israeli Merkava tank drives past a fence near Kibbutz Beeri, close to the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023 First convoy of relief trucks begins to enter the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing Palestinians wave flags as the first humanitarian aid is delivered into Gaza since the war erupted Empty trucks wait on the Gaza border with Egypt at Rafah for the aid trucks to cross into the enclave Volunteers gather around trucks carrying humanitarian aid that entered the Gaza Strip this morning A worker organises food aid after a convoy of trucks entered the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing today Relatives of other captives welcomed the release and appealed for more people to be freed. They were released for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation that has often served as a Mideast mediator. 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.' Elsewhere, Israel's government sent out a threatening message about the future, warning that 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. 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'. Freed hostages 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 Israel has urged its own citizens to immediately leave Egypt and Jordan as regional tensions continue to flare over the war in Gaza. 'Israel's National Security Council raises its travel warnings for Egypt (including Sinai) and Jordan to level 4 (high threat): recommendation not to travel to these countries and for those staying there to leave... as soon as possible,' the national security council said in a statement. The notice comes just days after Israel recalled its diplomats from Turkey as a security precaution following an earlier request for its citizens to leave as well. The evacuation calls came after days of protests across the Middle East over Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The war ignited after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, according to Israeli officials. Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and a bombing campaign launched in response has levelled entire city blocks in Gaza, so far killing 4,385 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. 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. With innocent civilians being caught up in the crossfire, there is relief that the Rafah crossing has opened today to allow in humanitarian aid. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid are 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. James Cleverly said the aid flowing through the Rafah crossing into Gaza was a 'lifeline'. But he said that access had to be maintained to provide humanitarian relief. He said: 'Trucks carrying lifesaving aid are beginning to cross at Rafah into Gaza. This aid is a lifeline for those suffering. But it cannot be a one-off. The UK continues to push for humanitarian access to Gaza.' UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffithsaid: 'I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies... to the people of Gaza.' But he added: 'This first convoy must not be the last.' ActionAid Palestine spokesman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was 'barely a drop in the ocean' and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. The Hamas media officer reportedly said the 20 trucks 'will not change the catastrophic medical conditions in Gaza'. Israel has sealed off the territory for two weeks, forcing Palestinians 2.3million people, half of whom have fled, to ration food and to drink filthy water from wells. Hospitals say they are running low on medicine and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide blackout. 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 Egyptian army special forces soldiers deploy near the gate of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing Satellite images show the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing which is in urgent need of aid People protesting the Israeli attacks on Gaza during the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit at the Rafah border crossing on October 20 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks outside the gate of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on October 20 Many in Gaza, reduced to eating one meal a day and without enough water to drink, are waiting desperately for the aid which was seen entering Gaza this morning. Twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, entered the Egyptian terminal. The US Embassy's release came amid growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out the militant group, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory. Two large explosions were reported in northern Gaza early Saturday, and rockets set off air raid sirens in a nearby Israeli town. A potential Israeli ground assault is likely to lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. Hamas have continued to launch unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel - more than 6,900 projectiles since Oct. 7, according to Israel. Speaking to lawmakers about Israel's 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 '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 Israel's 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 five wars and countless smaller exchanges of fire since then. Palestinians gather over the remains of a destroyed house following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City 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, 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. Palestinians walk by buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 The humanitarian crisis has worsened for Gaza's civilians every day since Israel halted entry of supplies. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israel's orders to evacuate from north to south within 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, and some appear to be going back to the north because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals were rationing their dwindling resources. Generators in Shifa Hospital, Gaza's 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 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. An air hostess and a research scientist are among the hundreds of thousands of volunteer soldiers who are braced for Israel's battle with Hamas fanatics in Gaza. The soldiers from Israel's Reserve Army grabbed a cup of coffee and a hot snack as their units stopped off at a petrol station on their way to the border with the Palestinian enclave. The men and women have all completed their compulsory 32-month military service but they are called upon to take up arms to defend the Jewish state in times of crisis. 'I am flight attendant for the Israeli airline El Al,' Tamar, 22, from Tel Aviv, told MailOnline. 'Usually I work on flights to Europe and North America. But now I am back in the army. I am a lieutenant. This is my first combat mission but I am ready to defend Israel.' Tamar, 22, from Tel Aviv, is normally an air hostess with Israeli airline El Al - now she is braced to battle Hamas in Gaza Ben, 24, from Tel Aviv with Noa, 23, restaurant manager from Batan Hefer relax with the automatic rifles slung around them as they ready themselves for war Eden, 27, a trainee vet from Tel Aviv, is one of the thousands of military reserves mobilised in Israel Israeli's Reserve Army near Gaza take a break from their duties to relax and grab food before they return to duties in the area. Picture shows: (L-R back row) Alice, 20, Avrama, 21 Ali, 21 all from Jerusalem, and front Shoham, 21 Research scientist Jonathan, 32, from Haifa, spends most of his time starring down a microscope looking into human evolution. But for the past week he has been lying in the sand defending Israel's border with Lebanon from attack. Now he is part of the strike force that will enter Gaza to destroy Hamas. Jonathan, whose mother is from Melbourne, Australia, told MailOnline: 'Like everyone here I am in the army reserve. I got the call last Saturday. My unit was sent to the border with Lebanon. 'The conditions were tough. We were sleeping outside on the sand. We only had ration packs to eat and donations from local people. Alice, 20 with Ali, 21 both from Jerusalem, are part of the mass of army reserves mobilised Karen, 28, a trainee lawyer from Emek, relaxes during some downtime before returning to operations Alice, 20 with Ali, 21 both from Jerusalem, giggle as they have a drink at a local coffee shop Reserve troops have answered Israel's call in their thousands, flying from across the world. Pictured are soldiers in Tel Aviv taking a break from their duties to grab some food and coffee Noa, 23, is a restaurant manager from Batan Hefer dreams of running a brasserie in London 'Now we are heading to Gaza.' Women fight alongside men in this force of one and a half million, that supports Israel's full-time army. And the variety of ages and occupation of the soldiers makes the units operate more like a family than a platoon, recruits claim. Shoham, 22, from Jerusalem, told MailOnline: 'Having female comrades makes the army stronger. There is less testosterone, it is less intense, we are more like a family. I call my commander "mother".' The volunteers must put their normal lives on hold when they are called upon to serve. Trainee vet Eden, 27, from Tel Aviv who holds the rank of captain - relies on her mother to look after the injured dogs and cats that she has taken in. Trainee vet Eden, 27, from Tel Aviv who holds the rank of captain - relies on her mother to look after the injured dogs and cats that she has taken in Tamar, 22, from Tel Aviv, is an air hostess. She holds the rank of Lieutenant in Israel's army Other Israeli troops have been letting off steam by posting videos on TikTok All the reserve troops have served for at least 32 months in the Israeli military (pictured are soldiers relaxing in Tel Aviv The volunteers must put their normal lives on hold when they are called upon to serve (reserves pictured taking a break from duties ahead of an expected ground invasion of Gaza) Restaurant manager Noa dreams of running a brasserie in London. But for now she has pulled on her combat fatigues and is heading for the front line. The 23-year-old from Bat Hefer told MailOnline: 'One day I want to live and work in London. But for now I must fight for country, fight for Israel.' Students in Leeds braved the cold, wind and rain yesterday in the early hours of the morning as they refused to let Storm Babet spoil their night out. The Met Office has issued amber and yellow warnings until tomorrow, with persistent heavy rain expected to bring serious flooding and disruption in Leeds. Yellow and amber warnings in place across large swathes of England have been lifted save for a yellow 'be aware' alert for wind that stretches from Whitby in Yorkshire all the way up to Aberdeen. Those hitting the town were forced to use their jackets as makeshift umbrellas as they huddled together for shelter. Partygoers were pictured wearing summery clothing - from shorts and skirts to crop tops and bodycon dresses as they flocked to bars and pubs. Some determined revellers even walked around the streets of the northern city with broken umbrellas as they got caught up in the rainy weather conditions. One women - who opted to wear a pink bandeau top, shirt co-ord and heels - was pictured smiling and throwing her hands in the air. Two girls went out partying in Leeds city centre and refused to let Storm Babet dampen their mood Two women are pictured wearing bodycon dresses as they share a small umbrella to shetler from the rain in Leeds A group of young students look in high sprits as brave the wind and rain to pose for the camera in Leeds This young woman was caught unprepared for the stormy conditions and opted to use a scarf to cover her hair Two young students pose for the camera and use a yellow umbrella for shelter A pair of students were snapped sharing a blazer jacket between them as they hit the town Flood warnings remain: across England, there were over 353 warnings and 248 alerts on Saturday morning, while 55,000 people were left without power on Friday; 45,000 of those were reconnected last night, the Energy Networks Association said. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency says it has 12 flood alerts, 17 flood warnings and five severe flood warnings in place; 25 flood alerts and 12 warnings have been issued by Natural Resources Wales. A yellow Met Office alert for rain remain in place for most of central and north-eastern Scotland, with amber rain warnings across Highland Perthshire and the eastern Highlands north of Inverness. The forecaster said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, the highest rainfall total on Friday was 84mm in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey told the PA news agency: 'The focus of the rainfall from Saturday shifts back northwards over towards eastern and northern Scotland. 'Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a half's worth of rain already, but there's another band that's forecast to track its way northwards over the course of the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas. 'So there are further red and amber rain warnings in force for Saturday, with the potential to push those areas close towards two months of rain in the span of three days.' Mr Vautrey said the yellow wind warning across eastern Scotland and north-east England could bring 'gales in excess of 60-70 miles per hour', but added: 'That is going to work its way off (the coast) throughout Saturday, so from a wind aspect there will be some improvement.' The storm has claimed the lives of three people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. One friend was pictured wearing a waterproof winter coat, however her friend had to take off her denim jacket to shield herself from the rain Two men use a plastic blow-up banana for cover from the stormy weather conditions in Leeds yesterday The Met Office has issued amber and yellow warnings until tomorrow, with persistent heavy rain expected to bring serious flooding and disruption in Leeds A group of young women pose for the camera as they braved the Storm for a good night out A group of revellers walk around the rainy streets of Leeds as they enjoy a good night out A man dressed in a suit uses his blazer as a makeshift umbrellas as he tries to shelter from the rain Two friends brave Storm Babet as they flock to bars in Leeds using a jacket as makeshift umbrellas A group of friends smile and laugh whilst being photographed out in Leeds during Storm Babet Yellow and amber warnings in place across large swathes of England have been lifted save for a yellow 'be aware' alert for wind that stretches from Whitby in Yorkshire all the way up to Aberdeen Two friends smile and pose for the camera as they flock to bars in Leeds to enjoy a night out Two revellers hold two party balloons and gifts as they get caught in Storm Babet walking along the streets of Leeds A woman uses a scarf to cover herself from the rain as she walks alongside a man who is wearing a waterproof jacket Two girls are pictured wearing just bodycon dresses as they hit Leeds city centre for a night out Elsewhere, Storm Babet has wrought chaos, grinding train services to a halt as railway lines were flooded and roads were waterlogged, submerging vehicles in the streets. Roads across the country are dotted with abandoned and flooded cars. In Nottinghamshire, fire and rescue service staff came to the aid of four people trapped on the roof of their car after it got stuck in flood waters in Trowell, a few miles west of Nottingham. A 'major incident' has been declared in Derbyshire where footage showed a school bus flooding as screaming schoolchildren pull their legs up onto their seats. 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 urged people not to travel, adding that it had rescued 60 people after floods occurred in Brampton, Chesterfield with residents moved to a rescue centre. Flooding caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham on Friday, National Highways said, while further south, Suffolk declared a major incident as Storm Babet 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 mats, staff said. Elsewhere fire services in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire shared pictures on X of vehicles semi-submerged in water after drivers were rescued. Storm Babet even caused passengers on a Tui flight had to be evacuated from a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport after it came off the runway as it landed. 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 aquaplane,' adding 'it seemed to speed up rather than slow down'. '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. A group of students walk around Leeds with a broken umbrella during Storm Babet These two women were pictured using their coats for cover in Leeds yesterday as the northern city battles Storm Babet A girl dressed in a green top walked around the streets of Leeds with a jacket over her head A man is stressed in a yellow jacket typing on his phone as he walks along the rainy streets of Leeds This group of women brought three umbrellas out with them and wrapped up warm as they braved the stormy conditions These students were forced to walk around with a broken umbrella for shelter in Leeds yesterday These women opted to bring umbrellas out with them to prepare for the rainy conditions A young woman dressed in pink smiles for the camera as she braves the cold and rainy conditions to go on a night out Flood warnings remain: across England, there were over 353 warnings and 248 alerts on Saturday morning Storm Babet is continuing to wreak havoc across the UK on Saturday after arriving on British shores earlier this week - as maps chart its eastward progress across the country. Maps show how the weather system is continuing to bring miserable weather to eastern parts of the UK after first touching down on Tuesday night - before it intensified throughout Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Yellow, amber and red weather warnings remain in place across much of eastern Scotland and northern England today - while flood agencies for each part of Great Britain have issued hundreds of alerts and warnings affecting thousands of people. As of 9.30am on Saturday, there were: 340 flood warnings and 238 flood alerts in England Five severe flood warnings, 19 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in Scotland One severe flood warning, 11 flood warnings and 15 flood alerts in Wales. Weather warnings remain in place for much of northern Britain until later today - with most alerts due to expire at midnight Hundreds of flood warnings (in red) and flood alerts (in orange) have been issued across England Scottish environment authorities have issued five severe flood alerts on the east coast around Angus, where homes have been evacuated In Wales, flood alerts - including a severe flood warning - have been issued across northern and central Wales Vehicles have been abandoned across the country (pictured: a car and a lorry ditched in Chesterfield, Derbyshire) amid heavy flooding In Brechin, Scotland, residents have been forced to abandon their homes (pictured) as the River South Est burst its banks after rising 5m above normal levels Pascal Lardet, from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday: 'The situation remains challenging with a difficult day ahead.' Meanwhile, Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service - which has declared a major incident - warned: 'Everything is going to be dangerous today if you're walking or travelling, so please travel if only absolutely necessary.' The storm has claimed the lives of three people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. Storm Babet is named after a Dutch woman who, on a visit to the Netherlands' national forecaster, said she was born during a fierce gale. Four people have been arrested in Spain in connection with alleged terror offences after one obtained a dark web manual on how to make the Mother of Satan explosive, a weapon previously used in ISIS terror attacks. The alleged Islamic radicals were detained earlier than planned by detectives after the manual was downloaded on how to manufacture the explosive, which was previously found to be possessed by terrorists behind the 2017 Barcelona terror attack which killed 16 people. The arrests took place in Madrid, Cubelles near Barcelona and the town of Huetor-Tajar near the southern Spanish city of Granada overnight. Video footage shows the moment police raided several properties across Spain this week, detaining the four individuals, who were all taken into police cars with their faces covered. Officers could be seen removing large boxes of evidence from the homes of the suspects, including one which appeared to contain a large samurai-style sword. The arrests took place in Madrid, Cubelles near Barcelona and the town of Huetor-Tajar near the southern Spanish city of Granada Spanish Police officers raided three properties and made four arrests in the probe Local reports said the unnamed man arrested in Cubelles had taken the first steps to try to make TATP, a peroxide-based explosive known as Mother of Satan, also found in the ruins of the bomb factory used by the terror cells responsible for the August 17 attacks in Barcelona and nearby Cambrils. The attacks, which saw a van mow down dozens of people before others were stabbed, injured more than 100 people. It was reported at the time that those behind the attack had 100kg of TATP in storage, enough to carry out Europe's biggest ever terror attack. The same Mother of Satan explosive was also used by suicide bombers during the London 7/7 bombings in 2005. There is no information at this stage pointing to the Spanish detainees, three men and a woman, managing to obtain the bomb-making ingredients or work out targets. Police said they had all been arrested on suspicion of crimes including the glorification of terrorism. Local media reported that two of those arrested were Spanish nationals who had recently converted to Islam. Three of those detained are in their twenties, while the fourth is aged 31. It is understood there is no evidence the four were actively planning a terror attack and the arrests were a preventative measure after radicalisation of the group ratcheted up in recent weeks. It comes after Spain raised its terror alert level to four amid the conflict between Israel and terror-group Hamas in Gaza. Armed police were seen removing large boxes and cases of evidence from the properties Three of the four suspects were remanded in prison after appearing before a judge at a court in Madrid yesterday The arrests were made sooner than planned after one of those detained allegedly downloaded a manual from the dark web on how to make explosives A spokesman for Spain's National Police said: 'National Police officers have arrested four people in Huetor-Tajar in the province of Granada, Cubelles in the province of Barcelona and Madrid. READ MORE: Mother of Satan plot: Barcelona terrorists were plotting bigger atrocity at Sagrada Familia using deadly homemade explosive Advertisement 'They were held on suspicion of the crimes of self-indoctrination for terrorist purposes, indoctrination of third parties with the same objective and glorification of terrorism. 'Investigators saw how these people, linked thorough closed social media groups, had suffered a process of radicalisation.' The force added: 'The operation began in 2022 when experts in the fight against terrorism detected the so-called 'Khalifa', a creator and administrator of several groups in which he was trying to indocrinate youngsters into believing Jihadist ideology. 'He created private groups in which he invited the most radical followers with whom he gained more confidence and began to talk openly about terrorism. 'The surveillance of these groups permitted the identification of other members, all young people, who were interconnected but hadn't met up with each other. 'Two of them became close and ended up marrying with the authorisation of the group leader and began to live together. The 2017 terror attack in Barcelona killed 16 people and injured more than 100 more 'This new relationship led to the couple increasing their level of radicalisation, recording videos in which they called for the spilling of blood to recover the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula called Al-Andalus and restore the Caliphate.' Three of the four suspects were remanded in prison after appearing before a judge at a court in Madrid yesterday. The fourth was released on bail pending an ongoing investigation. The operation was carried out jointly between the General Intelligence Committee and the Provincial Intelligence Brigades of Granada, Barcelona and Madrid, with the support of Europol. The three people remanded in custody are understood to be the couple held at their home in Huetor-Tajar and the man held near Barcelona who allegedly had the 'Mother of Satan' bomb-making instructions. The explosive has been regularly used by ISIS in its terror attacks, including a massacre in 2016 in Brussels, which led to the deaths of 32 people. Leeds Bradford Airport has re-opened after a dramatic incident that saw a TUI airliner skid off the runway amidst the chaos sown by Storm Babet. LBA bosses opened the facility at 11.30am, having previously pushed back expected opening times of 10am and 11am following the incident involving TUI flight BY3551, which ran into trouble as it came in to land from Corfu on Friday afternoon. The 195 passengers and crew on board were able to disembark safely despite the close shave - but work has been undertaken to pull the jet free from the grassy verge at the side of the runway where it had been ditched. In a statement issued at 11.30am on Saturday, the airport said: 'We are pleased to report that Leeds Bradford Airport is now open. 'Passengers travelling should contact their airline to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport as there will be continuing disruption.' Leeds Bradford Airport will be closed until at least 2pm on Saturday after a TUI jet speared off the runway on Friday afternoon Emergency services at the scene after the TUI jet came to rest in a grassy verge at the side of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport on Friday The wheels of the plane dug into the grass as the jet ground to a halt (pictured: airport staff assessing the scene) Dramatic photos show the TUI aircraft ditched to the side of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport this afternoon It continued: 'We understand the significant disruption and inconvenience for passengers departing for their holidays and returning home. 'We are grateful for the patience and understanding our passengers and business partners have shown during this difficult time. 'The LBA team and partners have worked tirelessly throughout the night in torrential conditions to recover the aircraft in order to safely reopen the runway and airport. 'It has been a huge team effort from all corners of the airport and our partners. 'We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone involved in supporting the effort dealing with the incident, disruption and recovery of the aircraft in exceptionally difficult conditions. 'Once again, we would like to thank our passengers for their cooperation and understanding during this challenging period.' The reopening has been delayed a number of times as airport bosses wrapped their heads around how to remove the jet from the boggy grass. Previous statements suggested they had hoped to reopen at 10am, then 11am, before pushing the time back to 2pm - ahead of the unexpectedly early resolution. Images posted on social media suggested that the Boeing 737-800 - which weighs 41 tonnes unladen - was still sitting at the edge of the runway as of 8am this morning. Passengers had taken to social media to ask for more details on the reopening - and blasted the airport for, they claimed, failing to keep them up to date. One said: 'Absolute shambles. Absolutely understand if youre struggling to pull that weight off the grass when its sinking, but people cant rearrange flights when you dont be realistic about timings. Flight booked for 5.30pmodds of it going ahead200/1?' The photos show the plane stuck in thick mud after it skidded off the runway on landing Passengers can be seen being helped off of the airliner after the bumpy landing on Friday Passengers took to social media to criticise what they said was a lack of information coming from Leeds Bradford Airport about the re-opening Another wrote: 'Surely there are some local Yorkshire farmers that can pull it out the grass with their tractor. 'Whoever is in charge of the operation at LBA needs to get their finger out.' A third added: 'Credit to the emergency services. But for the 20-30 plane loads of passengers stuck in the terminal for 6 hours. No information, the PA system and board announcements not working. A complete management failure to handle the situation. Shocking and lucky to avoid a riot.' The TUI flight, 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'. 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 aquaplane,' adding that 'it seemed to speed up rather than slow down'. Mr Fell added: '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.' Weather alerts remain in place for much of Scotland and northern England into Saturday Hundreds of flood alerts have been issued across England, Scotland and Wales (abandoned cars in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, pictured above) The floods have led to homes in Angus, eastern Scotland, being evacuated (pictured: a family are carried to safety on an inflatable raft in Brechin) READ MORE: Posing up a Storm! Revellers smile for pictures as they brave Storm Babet to enjoy a good night out Advertisement 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. The storm has caused another day of mayhem in Britain with a rare red weather alert issued by the Met Office warning of a 'danger to life' - and three people have already lost their lives. Fiona Marr, who witnessed the incident unfold, told ITV: 'I took my son who's off school poorly to watch the planes for a little bit, saw it land and skid and then a really loud alarm from the airport, which I've never heard before. 'Then the two fire engines went straight to it and about 20 mins later some ambulances came but it was hard to see if anyone was on the ground.' She told Sky News it was a 'hard landing', adding: 'Straight away there was a really loud alarm coming from the airport which I've not heard before - and we go up there a lot. 'Then the engines came straight away. They [the passengers] must have been terrified.' West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said on Friday: 'We are in attendance at an incident at Aircraft Ground Incident at Leeds Bradford Airport, in conjunction with other emergency services.' In a new statement, TUI said: 'We would like to apologise to all those impacted by the ongoing closure of Leeds Bradford Airport following an incident that took place shortly after landing on TOM3551 on Friday 20th October. 'The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and can confirm there were no reported injuries, with all passengers disembarking the aircraft via the steps. 'TUI customers due to travel on their holiday today will depart from Manchester Airport and have been contacted directly by our customer service team. 'TUI Airways is assisting the AAIB with their investigation and working hard to support the reopening of Leeds Bradford Airport.' Junior doctors and consultants will meet Government officials for talks aimed at ending the long-running dispute over pay and conditions in the English NHS, after staff voted to ballot for further action next month. The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had agreed to the talks, although the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the issue of pay would not be on the table. It comes after the BMA announced that specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors, or SAS doctors, had voted in favour of a ballot on strike action in November on Friday. The ballot, which ran between 25 September and 16 October, resulted in 88 percent of respondents voting in favour of further action. The meeting is expected next week, although no date has yet been fixed, and is expected to try and prevent planned action between November 6 and 18. The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had agreed to the talks, although the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the issue of pay would not be on the table Junior doctors and consultants will meet Government officials for talks aimed at ending the long-running dispute over pay and conditions Commenting on the ballot's outcome and the upcoming talks, SAS committee chair Ujjwala Mohite said doctors do not want to walkout and added she 'remained hopeful' of finding a solution. She continued: 'SAS 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 today's overwhelming indicative ballot results. 'On top of chronic underinvestment and a lack of resource in the NHS, the last 15 years has seen real-terms pay for SAS doctors shrink by as much as 31 percent, and many are struggling to find reasons to stay in the health service. 'Like other hospital colleagues, many are now being pushed to reduce their hours or leave altogether, putting patient safety at risk and increasing pressures on the NHS. 'That's why, with four months of stagnant talks behind us so far, we must be prepared to take the next step and ballot for industrial action if we absolutely have to and we will do this on 6 November if upcoming negotiations fail to achieve anything for our profession.' Health Secretary Steve Barclay previously said he is 'keen to avoid a vote for strike action'. A DHSC spokesperson said: 'We are pleased the BMA Junior Doctors' Committee has agreed to enter talks, in the hope we will find a resolution and end the dispute. 'We have been clear headline pay will not be on the table as doctors have already received a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we've accepted in full. Health Secretary Steve Barclay previously said he is 'keen to avoid a vote for strike action' by consultant doctors 'This means doctors who started their hospital training this year have received a 10.3 percent pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8 percent.' The BMA said: 'We have agreed to talks with DHSC. 'We will be meeting with them next week and will listen to what they have to say.' Consultants are also due to meet with the Government in an effort to resolve their separate dispute. Top hospital doctors represented by the BMA have said they will not call any more strikes until November to allow time for talks. And the BMA has also said specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors in England will meet the Government for talks. On the recent ballot, a spokesperson for the BMA said: 'SAS doctors in England have spoken and delivered a decisive YES result in the indicative ballot. 'The government has written to us and offered to meet with us next week. We have accepted their offer and will continue to negotiate in good faith. 'If talks with the government do not produce meaningful and detailed progress, we will move to a formal ballot on strike action which will be open from 6 November to 18 December. 'We will continue to use this mandate to fight on behalf of our members. Storm Babet has claimed what is thought to be its sixth victim after a crash that killed two women on the M4 was linked to dangerous weather - as amazing footage was shared of a sheepdog bounding to the rescue of three stranded ewes in Wales. Four cars and an HGV were involved in the deadly crash at around 9.10am on Friday, which occurred eastbound between junction 17 at Chippenham and junction 18 at Bath; two women were pronounced dead at the scene. Wiltshire Police said the investigation into the crash is still ongoing - but MailOnline understands detectives believe the weather played a 'significant part' in the crash. Flooding had been reported elsewhere on the motorway early on Friday. A second red 'danger to life' warning remains in effect in eastern Scotland and hundreds of flood warnings have been issued across the country, while major incidents have been declared in Derbyshire and Suffolk after two months of rain fell in three days across parts of Britain. But spirits have been lifted by footage of plucky pooch Patsy, who swam across to help three ewes after owner Llyr Derwydd saw they were in trouble in Flintshire, Wales on Friday afternoon and sent the courageous canine to coax them to safety. A crash on the M4 on Friday morning that killed two women has been linked with the bad weather brought by Storm Badet, MailOnline understands Patsy bounds into the water without a thought as farmer Llyr Derwydd commands her to round up the stranded ewes Patsy (seen to the right of the image in the water) routes the sheep into the water, where they gingerly make their way onto dry land Mission accomplished as the sheep retreat onto dry land away from the floodwaters as Patsy (to the right) continues spurring them on Mr Derwydd said that Patsy was a strong swimmer and had no trouble reaching and rounding up the sheep Sheep farmer Llyr Derwydd (pictured with his wife Emma) shared the footage of Patsy online X - formerly Twitter - users were full of praise for Patsy after she went above and beyond to rescue the stranded ewes Heartwarming footage shared by the sheep farmer on social media showed him calling out and whistling at Patsy as she chased the ewes along the edge of the field, before they found a shallower spot to furtively tread across. 'Patsy! Good girl, good girl,' Mr Derwydd calls out as she successfully routes the trio onto dry land, away from the encroaching flood waters, before joyously bounding back to her master for a pat on the head. Dad-of-three Mr Derwydd shared footage of Patsy's good work on X, formerly Twitter, where it has been watched thousands of times - earning her some new fans. READ MORE: Chaos at King's Cross as police close station due to overcrowding while rail bosses blame Storm Babet and beg passengers to use different terminals Advertisement Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'We thought we'd better go check, make sure all the sheep are safe, and that's when we saw the three ewes stranded on this little spot on the field. 'It was getting smaller and smaller so we thought we'd better get them off and make sure they're safe. 'I just thought, "I'll see if the dog will go". I gave her the command and she swam across. 'It was quite dangerous because I didn't know how deep it was. She's a strong swimmer and she was able to swim across. 'I knew she was quite a good swimmer otherwise I wouldn't have done that, but I was quite surprised that she didn't have any issues, she just went. '(It) saved me getting wet and getting into a dangerous situation and saved the sheep so it was perfect.' One X user who watched the video said: 'great dog..good work..gwaith da (good work)!' Another added: 'Awww what a brave and clever doggodoing what she loves - braving water too!!' A third wrote: 'Awwwww her little tail at the end...She's so proud of herself.' Another social media user suggested that a T-bone steak would be a worthy reward for Patsy after her efforts. But as a working dog, Mr Derwydd said, rescuing ewes is all part of the job - with her rewards extending to 'a pat on her head', being told 'she's a good girl' and an extra dog biscuit. Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as downpours continue to batter much of the UK on Saturday following three deaths in 'biblical' conditions that have seen up to two months of rain hit parts of the UK in the space of three days. Homes in Brechin, Angus, have been evacuated as the banks of the River South Esk burst after surging 5m higher than normal; in nearby Fowlis, outside Dundee, the coastguard were called to help after a bridge collapsed, taking a car with it. The storm has claimed the lives of six people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. Elsewhere, a crash in Calderdale near Halifax, West Yorkshire on Friday night left the 19-year-old driver of a white Seat Ibiza dead and their 18-year-old passenger fighting for their life. The weather conditions were 'a factor' in the crash, reports The Sun. ABERDEENSHIRE: Emergency service workers put down sandbags in Inverurie, 16 miles north-west of Aberdeen, ahead of expected heavy rain DUNDEE: A car became submerged in the road on Friday after a bridge collapsed, taking the vehicle with it. Locals said the occupant was rescued by a farmer CHESTERFIELD: An emergency services worker gives a piggyback to a local resident as flooding rose to ankle-deep levels in Derbyshire SANDIACRE: Streets were washed out by flooding in the Derbyshire town after both a local canal and river burst their banks DOVER: A DFDS ferry battles the choppy waters on the south-east coast of England LONDON: King's Cross Station was temporarily closed on Saturday after a mass of cancellations and delays led to overcrowding; it has since re-opened for some services Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings remain in place across England and eastern and northern Scotland Dramatic images shared on social media showed the vehicle submerged in the road up to its front doors; locals said the occupant was rescued by a local farmer. The end of Scotland's red alert has been brought forward six hours to 6pm, from midnight - but the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned of a 'difficult day ahead' amid fears rivers could burst their banks again. Police Scotland has advised against all but essential travel, as searches continue for a man missing in Aberdeenshire said to have been trapped in a vehicle in floodwater early on Friday. Yellow and amber warnings in place across large swathes of England have been lifted save for a yellow 'be aware' alert for wind that stretches from Whitby in Yorkshire all the way up to Aberdeen. But flood warnings remain active as of Saturday: across England, there were 353 warnings and 248 alerts; Scotland has five severe flood warnings, 17 flood warnings and 10 flood alerts in place; 14 flood alerts, one severe warning and eight other warnings are in effect in Wales. In England, 55,000 people were left without power on Friday; 45,000 of those were reconnected last night, the Energy Networks Association said. Around 33,000 Scots lost power as a result of the weather, with the majority now reconnected. A yellow Met Office alert for rain remains in place for most of central and north-eastern Scotland, with amber rain warnings across Highland Perthshire and the eastern Highlands north of Inverness. Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey told the PA news agency: 'The focus of the rainfall from Saturday shifts back northwards over towards eastern and northern Scotland. 'Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a half's worth of rain already, but there's another band that's forecast to track its way northwards over the course of the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas. Mr Vautrey said the yellow wind warning across eastern Scotland and north-east England could bring 'gales in excess of 60-70 miles per hour', but added: 'That is going to work its way off (the coast) throughout Saturday, so from a wind aspect there will be some improvement.' 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. Weather alerts for central and southern England have been lifted - though a red 'danger to life' alert remains in place for eastern Scotland CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Flooding around St Ives, five miles east of Huntingdon, on Saturday morning after the Great River Ouse burst its banks DERBYSHIRE: Vehicles lie abandoned in flood water in Chesterfield early on Saturday morning YORK: A Nissan Micra sits abandoned in a waterlogged street in the city centre as the River Ouse burst its banks CHESTERFIELD: The great clean-up begins in the Derbyshire market town as a worker clears out a drain CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Huntingdon Race Course in Cambridgeshire is submerged after the Alconbury Brook burst its banks on Friday LONDON: The weather warning may have lifted but tourists were still dealing with downpours and flood alerts in the capital on Saturday Jacqui Semple, head of risk, resilience and safety for Angus Council, said: 'People are devastated. This is awful. '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.' READ MORE: Storm Babet MAPPED: Weather warning tracker and graphics show path of storm as flooding and wind continue to batter Britain with three dead Advertisement Elsewhere, Liverpool start Trent Alexander-Arnold had a lucky escape after a 40ft electricity pylon came crashing down onto a BMW in front of his Range Rover in 70mph winds. The power line, which weighs half a ton, careened down on top of the other vehicle - and while both cars suffered damage both Alexander-Arnold and the other driver escaped unhurt. Storm Babet has wrought chaos on the transport network, grinding train services to a halt as railway lines were flooded and roads were waterlogged, submerging vehicles in the streets. Roads across the country are dotted with abandoned and flooded cars. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has advised people not to travel, adding that it is running 'an extremely limited service' due to flooding between Doncaster and Wakefield. The service has also been impacted by speed restrictions in Scotland and trains and crews being out of position after extensive disruption on Friday. Kings Cross Station was temporarily closed on Saturday as the sheer scale of weather-related cancellations threatened to cause a crush on the concourse. Police eventually instated crowd control measures and some services have begun operating as efforts to clear tracks continued. Julie Foley, director of flood strategy and adaptation at the Environment Agency, has warned people not to drive through flood waters, urging those in deluged areas to 'really consider their travel plans'. She told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: 'If you receive a flood warning that means you need to take action right now, it means there is an immediate risk and you need to keep yourself safe, your family safe, move precious belongings to a safe place, and listen to the advice of local emergency services, as well as do some basics like turn off your gas, electricity and water in your home. 'And if you receive a severe flood warning, that means there is a risk to life, and it's very important that you listen to the advice if you're asked to evacuate and take action. We've sadly seen over the last couple of days just how dangerous flood waters can be. 'It's really important that people stay away from swollen rivers. It's very, very important that people don't drive through flood waters, all it takes is up to 30 centimetres of fast flowing water to actually move a car. 'So I would really urge people to really consider their travel plans. I'm very, very aware there's an enormous amount of travel disruption going on across the country at the moment.' DERBYSHIRE: Major rail routes have been affected by flooding - this image, from Network Rail, shows flooding at Clay Cross in the East Midlands LEEDS: Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport while landing in windy conditions Emergency services at the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport 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 FIFE: Waves break over Dysart harbour wall on the east coast of Scotland during storm Babet 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' BRECHIN: A member of the emergency services helps resident Laura Demontis from a house as Storm Babet batters the country DERBYSHIRE: The terrifying moment a school bus full of screaming children floods In Nottinghamshire, fire and rescue service staff came to the aid of four people trapped on the roof of their car after it got stuck in flood waters in Trowell. More than 100 people had to be rescued in Derbyshire on Friday and the service declared a major incident due to the impact of Storm Babet. Footage showed a school bus flooding as screaming schoolchildren pulled their legs up onto their seats on Friday. 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 grow as the water rises and one shouts: 'No, no, no, no.' Emergency crews also had to rescue 20 people from a care home, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue said. Clive Stanbrook, area manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, warned flood waters could continue to rise near Derby and across south Derbyshire on Saturday. He told BBC Breakfast: 'We rescued over 100 people yesterday. For example, just on one road in Chesterfield in the north of the county, we rescued 60 people when that (water level) became up to the top of cars and several HGVs were stuck as well. 'There is a village called Duffield in Derbyshire and we rescued 20 people from one care home there. 'Also there were 18 houses that were evacuated in a village called Ironville, again in the north of the county.' Mr Stanbrook added that officers had been working through the night to rescue people, and said West Midlands Fire Services has sent two boat crews to help rescue people trapped by the floods. The RSPCA has also volunteered a boat crew in Derbyshire to help rescue animals such as horses and dogs. Mr Stanbrook warned it will be dangerous travelling in flooded areas on Saturday. He added: 'The advice we give today is only travel if absolutely, absolutely necessary. If floodwaters recede, then that's absolutely great... 'But on the road there is still going to be silt, there is still going to be debris that is going to cause real, real danger to anybody travelling at the moment - no matter what you're travelling in. 'No matter what size car or vehicle, please only travel if absolutely necessary. 'Please be careful of riverbanks and canal banks. They are going to be soft. 'Everything is going to be dangerous today if you're walking or travelling, so please travel if only absolutely necessary.' Flooding caused 70-minute delays on the A1 near Grantham on Friday, National Highways said, while further south, Suffolk declared a major incident as Storm Babet 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 mats, staff said. SUNDERLAND: Sea foam coats the beachfront at Seaburn as violent waves are whipped up by Storm Babet NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Severe rainfall saw streets in Hucknall flooded on Thursday afternoon BRECHIN: A woman walks through flood waters as residents are asked to evacuate by the local authorities DUNDEE: Flood waters surround cars and houses along Heron Rise after the nearby Dighty Water broke its banks Elsewhere, passengers on a Tui flight had to be evacuated from a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport after it came off the runway as it landed. 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' - but there were no injuries reported. 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 aquaplane,' adding 'it seemed to speed up rather than slow down'. '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 services kicked 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. The airport re-opened on Saturday morning at around 11.30am. A woman who tragically died in a horror house fire has been named as a mother-of-two as harrowing new details emerge. Firefighters were called to a home in Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide on Friday after neighbours spotted black smoke billowing the the home. Krystal Marshall, 38, was unable to escape with firefighters finding her body in her bedroom after the blaze was extinguished. She lived there with her ex-wife Anastasia, and their two children, along with a friend. Two dogs and a cat were rescued from the burning home by neighbours, who didn't realise Ms Marshall was also inside. Her ex-partner was inconsolable when she returned to the gutted home on Saturday to salvage whatever possessions she could. The body of mother-of-two Krystal Marshall was found inside the gutted home on Friday 'The kids were at school. I went to pick up my youngest from school and I saw smoke coming out of the house when I was walking up the street,' Ms Marshall told reporters. 'We weren't together for a couple of years but we never got divorced. We were together for 11 years.' Krystal's Facebook is filled with photos of her beloved children. Shocked neighbours are also reeling from the tragedy. Anastasia Marshall returned to find smoke billowing the home she shared with her former partner Anastasia (left) and Krystal were together for 11 years before they seprated a few years ago Next door neighbour Jason Freer was at home at the time when he heard an unusual crackling noise. 'I thought it was raining at first, so I walked outside and noticed all this smoke, there was fire coming from the neighbours' roof,' Mr Freer said. 'I didnt know she was inside. It's not nice living next door to someone who's died.' The cause of the blaze has not yet been deternimed but isn't being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner.' Krystal's Facebook is filled with photos of her beloved children Police are offering a 500 reward for information which can help them in their hunt for a rapist who attacked a middle-aged woman last month. Despite previously appealing to the public with CCTV images of a suspect they want to speak to, they have been unable to identify him. A woman in her 40s reported being attacked on the beach, near Kings Road Arches, on September 10 but despite numerous inquiries, her attacker has not yet been caught. Sussex Police has released photographs of a suspect who was seen at Brighton Railway Station at around 5.45am on the morning of the offence. The CCTV images issued show the man - who is wearing a Trapstar t-shirt - talking to staff in one photo and speaking to someone on the phone in the other. Police say he got on a train to London afterwards. Sussex Police have released photographs of a suspect who was seen at Brighton Railway Station at around 5.45am on the morning of the offence A second man from Barnet, north London, has already been charged with rape. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: 'We are offering a 500 reward for information leading to the identification of a man we would like to speak to in connection with the rape of a woman on Brighton beach. READ MORE: Police charge two and renew hunt for another man after five Brighton beach sex attacks on women Advertisement 'A woman aged in her 40s reported being raped on the beach on Sunday, September 10, near Kings Road Arches between 2am and 5.30am. 'Detectives believe this man - captured on CCTV at Brighton Railway Station at around 5.45am on the morning of the offence - may be able to help with their inquiries. 'He was pictured wearing a distinctive TRAPSTAR tee-shirt and speaking to staff at the station, before getting on a train heading towards London.' Detective Chief Inspector Luke Kyriakides-Yeldham said: 'We are asking anyone who recognises the man in the image, or who may have spoken to him at Brighton Railway Station at around 5.45am on September 10, to get in contact with us as a matter of urgency. 'We're also keen to speak to any other witnesses, or anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the vicinity of Kings Road Arches on that morning. 'If you have any information that may help, please report online or via 101, quoting Operation Carpenter. Always dial 999 in an emergency. The CCTV images issued show the man - who is wearing a Trapstar t-shirt and a cap - talking to staff in one photo and speaking to someone on the phone in the other A woman in her 40s reported being attacked on the beach, near Kings Road Arches, on September 10 but despite numerous inquiries, her attacker has not yet been caught. (file photo) Information can also be passed to police anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.' The incident in question followed two separate sex attacks in the same geographical area. On Wednesday, September 6, police received a report that a young woman had been raped on the beach near Brighton Pier shortly after midnight. Two days later on Friday, September 8, officers were called to London Road in the early hours after a report that a woman in her 20s had been sexually assaulted at around 3.15am. A man has been charged with rape and attempted rape in relation to both incidents. Met Police arrested ten people after 100,000 protestors took to the streets of London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Cardiff in defence of civilians in Gaza and West Bank after Hamas' deadly attacks on Israel brought violent response. The force said the arrests were in relation to offences involving fireworks, public order, and assaulting an emergency service worker. Five officers received minor injuries while they monitored events in the capital after a similar event last week saw tens of thousands turn out in solidarity with Palestinians trapped in the Gaza strip. More than 4,100 people are confirmed to have been killed in Gaza as a result of a sustained campaign of airstrikes in reaction to an incursion by Hamas militants which saw more than 1,400 Israelis killed - the vast majority of whom were civilians. London's protest got off to a peaceful start, with large crowds waving Palestinian flags taking to the streets of central London. By 2pm, the Met Police said more than 100,000 people had joined the march which bypassed Marble Arch on its way to Whitehall. By 5pm, police officers confirmed just one person had been arrested at today's protest, and that this was in relation to an incident from last week's event. Pictures from this afternoon show two protestors being detained by police and officers are on the scene outside the Israeli Embassy. Meanwhile in Cardiff, around 1,000 demonstrators descended on the Welsh capital to call on the British and Welsh governments to insist on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for 'full humanitarian aid' to be sent in. Hundreds also took to the streets of Salford, Birmingham, Belfast and Dublin today and many were seen waving flags and carrying 'Free Palestine' posters. The protests come as the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced he has spoken with Israeli officials to remind them 'of their duty to respect international law'. LONDON: A woman attends the pro-Palestinian march while holding a placard SALFORD: Protest for Palestinian rights held outside the BBC headquarters at Salford Quays Manchester BIRMINGHAM: Protestors hold up Free Palestine signs as they march through the city centre LEEDS: People gather following the pro-Palestine march People participate in a March for Palestine and gather on Trafalgar square on October 21 Members of the UK's Jewish community join the London protests on Saturday in support of Palestinians A man is detained by police as Palestinians supporters take part in a demonstration in central London Demonstrators hold up flares, flags and placards during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London BIRMINGHAM: The front of a hundreds-strong crowd demonstrating over Palestine Thousands took to the streets in London on Saturday to take part in peaceful protests in solidarity with the Palestinian people SALFORD: Protesters during a pro-Palestine demonstration outside MediaCityUK, the BBC headquarters in Salford Quays Police officers detain a protestor during a 'March For Palestine', in London Around 1,000 Met Police officers are on duty to monitor events in the capital after a similar event last week saw tens of thousands turn out in solidarity with Palestinians trapped in the Gaza strip This is the second consecutive weekend where pro-Palestine protests took place across the UK. Maggie Morgan, from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Cardiff, told the BBC the march was to show support for the people of Palestine but also to say 'not in our name, we're not having this'. Pictures from London's protest show two protestors being detained by the Metropolitan Police. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the force said: 'Officers are on scene on Kensington Hight Street, Bayswater Road and outside the Israeli Embassy. 'There are groups of protesters on both Kensington High Street and Bayswater Road who officers are engaging with.' Addressing the crowd gathered in Dublin, Zoe Lawlor, chairwoman of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: 'Take this immense energy and solidarity and channel it into action,' she said. 'There must be an immediate ceasefire, the illegal siege of Gaza must be lifted and humanitarian aid allowed in.' Crowds also turned out in Northern Ireland in a march organised by Belfast Stands with Palestine. Hundreds took part in the procession in the city centre to the BBC Northern Ireland headquarters. Alongside the London march, controversial Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir which means 'Party of Liberation' and first emerged in Britain in the 1980s are holding their own protest outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies. Advertising for the Hizb ut-Tahrir event shows members of the group are demanding that 'the armies of Muslim countries move to free Palestine', adding it 'is the only way to rescue the Muslims under attack'.Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned in more than 40 countries and both Tony Blair and David Cameron considered banning the group during their premierships, but were reportedly advised by police chiefs that it could become more radical if forced underground. Other marches in support of Palestinian civilians also took place in the UK on Saturday, including a small protest outside Windsor Castle. Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Demonstrators held large signs and banners as they protested for the second weekend in a row Protesters during a pro-Palestine demonstration outside MediaCityUK in Salford Protesters arrive at the start of the march at Marble Arch tube station in London on Saturday People gather on Trafalgar square as they participate in a March for Palestine Pro-Palestine march in Salford Quays BIRMINGHAM: People take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine Multiple Palestinian flags were also spotted at Anfield during the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton. Images from London on Saturday show a large police presence around the Israeli embassy, including more than 20 police vans and dozens of officers in riot gear patrolling the streets. Large metal and concrete barriers were placed in front of the entrance to the embassy, with officers seen stacking riot shields inside the gates. Simon Redwill, of Chelsea, said he was at the protest to support the Palestine 'fight'. The solicitor, 44, said: 'Israel is a terrorist state. The British government and Joe Biden need to take this seriously. 'People are angry and fed-up. Protesters gather and march during their 'National March for Palestine - Stop the War on Gaza' in central London People take part in a 'March For Palestine', in London on October 21 Heavy security around Westminster for the March for Palestine on Saturday Protesters let off smoke flares and chanted pro-Palestine slogans Children and the elderly were among those who turned out to protest on Saturday 'Today has been amazing. This won't stop.' Another demonstrator, when asked if he had sympathy for the Israeli people killed in the conflict, said: 'No. Not at all.' Artist Justin Ponting, 44, of Westminster, said: 'I have sympathy for the innocent people killed on both sides of the conflict. But Israel is the antagoniser. 'I believe they are to blame for what happens. They are invading land which is not theirs. 'I feel bad for British Jews but they need to realise Israel is to blame.' The protest follows a largely peaceful series of marches in cities across the UK last weekend, although isolated incidents including young women with images of paragliders attached to their backs and a woman in Glasgow yelling 'remember where the Jews were in 1940' sparked outrage in the days that followed. At least 4,100 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since terror group Hamas, which controls the region, launched a horrific attack against Israel earlier this month, killing more than 1,400 people and taking a further 200 hostage. The vast majority of those killed in the attack, which was launched via the ground and air through the use of paragliders, were civilians. A participant at the March for Palestine displays the flag Protesters gather in Whitehall after marching through the streets of central London People protest in Whitehall in support of Palestinians trapped in Gaza BIRMINGHAM: Huge flag is carried and displayed by protestors Pro-Palestinian protesters hold placards and show Palestinian colors on a march through the British capital A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag, at a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza The march route ended in Whitehall close to Downing Street, where tens of thousands gathered Saturday's protest saw people peacefully demand aid and support for the Palestinian people Thousands of protesters march through central London in National March for Palestine Damp weather did not put off the huge crowd of protesters on Saturday More than 4,100 people are confirmed to have been killed in Gaza as a result of a sustained campaign of airstrikes More than 100,000 people turned out to the streets in London on Saturday People stand in Trafalgar Square as they take part in a 'March For Palestine' Huge crowds marched through central London in solidarity with those trapped in Gaza and the West Bank Protesters during a pro-Palestine march organised by Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London WINDSOR: A small gathering of pro-Palestine protesters outside Windsor Castle on Saturday Israel launched a barrage of attacks on Gaza targeting Hamas militants, and initially besieged the strip to prevent food, water and medical aid from entering the region The Israeli embassy, pictured on Saturday, is the centre of a large police protection operation Protesters held placards, banners and even painted their faces in the colours of the Palestinian flag People participate in a March for Palestine on October 21, 2023 in London BIRMINGHAM: Crowds gathering for a Free Palestine demonstration Hamas have been accused of massacring entire villages and murdered 250 people at a music festival during their attack on October 7. At least nine Britons were killed with a further seven missing in the assault which saw entire families, including babies and the elderly, shot dead and mutilated. In retaliation, Israel launched a barrage of attacks on Gaza targeting Hamas militants, and initially besieged the strip to prevent food, water and medical aid from entering the region. On Saturday morning the first international aid trucks were allowed to cross into Gaza using the Egyptian border crossing. Amid the rising tensions in the Middle East, the Met Police have deployed around 1,000 officers to patrol the capital this afternoon. The force announced that since the start of the conflict, it has seen a 1,353 percent increase in anti-Semitic offences and a 140 percent increased in islamophobic offences. A pro-Palestinian protester dances as others watch in Trafalgar Square on Saturday Police officers guard the entrance to Downing Street as protesters travelled to Whitehall People travelled from across the UK to join today's protest, including a group from Bristol Amid the rising tensions in the Middle East, the Met Police have deployed around 1,000 officers to patrol the capital this afternoon The rally was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in collaboration with the groups Friends of Al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Cyclists bearing Palestine flags travel through central London on Saturday A demonstrator scales a traffic light during a huge protest in support of Palestinians on Saturday A free Palestine protest in Windsor town centre heads towards the castle Groups of police officers were seen standing outside the Israeli embassy on Saturday At least 20 police vans were seen in the vicinity of the embassy by midday on Saturday Dozens of police officers amassed outside the Israeli embassy in London The Met Police says it is deploying around 1,000 officers on Saturday amidst expected pro-Palestinian protests In a statement released on Friday, the Met said it is expecting 'another significant demonstration in central London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.' The march began at Marble Arch at midday, and will travel along Park Lane, via Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square before ending up in Whitehall. Videos online showed protesters chanting slogans such as 'Israel is a terror state' and 'free Palestine'. Many let off smoke flares and gathered at iconic London landmarks such as Trafalgar Square. Pro-Palestinian protesters in central London on Saturday chanted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', despite an ongoing controversy around the slogan's meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed that it is 'widely understood' to call for the destruction of Israel. While Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust, have asked prosecutors to clarify if chanting the slogan is a criminal offence. However, those who defend the slogan describe it as a 'long-standing protest chant' that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held a separate demonstration in central London on Saturday calling for 'Muslim armies' to rescue the people of Palestine. The group of around 100 people, believed to be members and supporters of Hizb ut-Tahrir, stood on Balfour Mews, just off the street from the path of the main protest. Speakers addressed the crowd in Arabic. A large banner read 'Muslim armies, rescue the people of Palestine'. Hizb ut-Tahrir released a statement on its site this week which called for armed invasion of Israel by Muslim nations. The Met announced that since the start of the conflict, it has seen a 1,353 percent increase in anti-Semitic offences and a 140 percent increased in islamophobic offences Officers patrolled central London streets holding riot helmets on Saturday In a statement released on Friday, the Met said it is expecting 'another significant demonstration in central London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign' Police officers set up road blocks in Kensington in anticipation of protests Dozens of police officers amassed outside the Israeli embassy on Saturday morning It read: 'The Muslim Community in Britain urges the Muslim armed forces to take immediate action to free Palestine from occupation. 'These armies exist to uphold the dignity of Muslims, a duty that goes beyond any nation-state boundary. 'Palestine holds great significance as the land of the Prophets. It is incumbent upon the Muslim armies to steadfastly defend it against all forms of aggression and occupation. 'The Muslim community in Britain expresses deep concern and strongly condemns decisions and agreements made by Muslim rulers that protect the Zionist entity. 'The Muslim community firmly believes that Palestine is a blessed Islamic land. Any action that contributes to the continued occupation or silence on the matter is a crime against Islam, a betrayal of the Ummah, and a violation of the Islamic duty to safeguard the blessed land.' Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, people gather to show support for the families who are missing loved ones taken as hostages. People react as residents of Tel Aviv show support and solidarity with the families of hostages who are being held in Gaza A boy lights a candle as people gather to show support for the families of missing people and some 200 hostages Demonstrators carry posters during a demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants Spokespeople for Hizb ut-Tahrir insist they do not support Hamas, but want better conditions for civilians in Gaza. The Met has introduced Section 12 protest restrictions which mean anyone deviating from the prescribed routes could be subject to arrest. It is also enforcing a Section 14 notice, which forbids protesters from entering the certain streets next to the Israeli embassy. Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, people gather to show support for the families who are missing loved ones taken as hostages. Demonstrators carried posters during the demonstration calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants. Nelson's (above) triumph at Trafalgar gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes. Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson. This was not before his high-risk, but acutely brave strategy won arguably the most decisive victory in the Napoleonic wars. Nelson's triumph gave Britain control of the seas and laid the foundation for Britain's global power for more than a century. Despite signing a peace treaty in 1803, the two nations were at war and fought each other in seas around the world. After Spain allied with France in 1804, the newly-crowned French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had enough ships to challenge Britain. In October 1805, French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve led a Combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships from the Spanish port of Cadiz to face Nelson and Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood. Fought on October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of history's most epic sea clashes. Not only did it see Britain eliminate the most serious threat to security in 200 years, but it also saw the death of British naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson Nelson, fresh from chasing Villeneuve in the Caribbean, led the 27-ship fleet charge in HMS Victory, while Vice Admiral Collingwood sailed in Royal Sovereign. Battles at sea had until then been mainly inconclusive, as to fire upon the opposing ship, each vessel had to pull up along side one another (broadside) which often resulted in equal damage. Nelson bucked this trend by attacking the Combined Fleet line head on - and sailed perpendicular towards the fleet, exposing the British to heavy fire. He attacked in two columns to split the Combined Fleet's line to target the flagship of Admiral Villneuve. 11. 30am Lord Nelson famously declared that 'England expects that every man will do his duty', in reference to the command that the ships were instructed to think for themselves. The captains had been briefed on the battle plan three weeks before, and were trusted to bravely act on their own initiative and adapt to changing circumstances - unlike their opponents who stuck to their command. Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood led the first column and attacked the rear of the line, and broke through. Nelson sailed directly for the head of the Combined Fleet to dissuade them from doubling back to defend the rear. But before he reached them, he changed course to attack the middle of the line - and Villeneuve's flagship. Speeding toward the centre of the line, HMS Victory found no space to break through as Villeneuve's flagship was being tightly followed - forcing Nelson to ram through at close quarters. In the heat of battle, and surrounded on three sides, Nelson was fatally shot in the chest by a well-drilled French musketeer. The Combined Fleet's vanguard finally began to come to the aid of Admiral Villeneuve, but British ships launch a counter-attack. Admiral Villeneuve struck his colours along with many other ships in the Combined Fleet and surrendered. 4.14pm HMS Victory Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy dropped below deck to congratulate Nelson on his victory. 4.30pm With the knowledge he has secured victory, but before the battle had officially concluded, Lord Nelson died. 5.30pm French ship Achille blew up signalling the end of the battle - in all 17 Combined Fleet ships surrendered. ... so did Nelson really say 'Kiss me, Hardy' with his dying words? By RICHARD CREASY for the Daily Mail (in an article from 2007) It was Britain's greatest naval victory and for more than 200 years historians have analysed every detail. Now, amazingly, a new eye-witness account of the Battle of Trafalgar has emerged during a house clear-out. It gives not only a first-hand view of proceedings from the lower decks but also a different interpretation of one of history's most enduring arguments - Admiral Lord Nelson's dying words. Robert Hilton was a 21-year-old surgeon's mate on HMS Swiftsure, a 74-gun ship that played its part in the destruction of the French and Spanish fleets and of Napoleon's dream of invading England. It was 13 days later, after Swiftsure had made it through gales to Gibraltar for repairs that Hilton took up his pen and wrote a nine-page letter home on November 3, 1805. In it he says Nelson's last words, relayed to his ship's company from Nelson's flag captain, Captain Hardy, were: 'I have then lived long enough.' Many people believe Nelson said: 'Kiss me Hardy.' But historians rely on his surgeon's reports that he said: 'Thank God I have done my duty.' Cambridge council chiefs have flagged major concerns the university city is being flooded by pop-up brothels and stag parties thanks to a surge in Airbnb short term lets. Councillors in the historic city have voted in favour of new measures giving greater control of short-term lets as fed-up locals call for a crackdown on the rowdy behaviour. Critics say that the city is being overrun by stag weekends and hen parties which they put down to the number of short-term lets available. They also feel that the city on the River Cam is being mobbed by second home-owners. Concerns about the number of homes being used as Airbnbs and holiday homes were raised at a Cambridge City Council meeting, Cambridgeshire Live reports. Cambridge council chiefs have flagged major concerns the university city is being flooded by pop-up brothels and stag parties thanks to a surge in Airbnb short term lets Liberal Democrats councillor Karen Young called on fellow councillors to back her motion as she fights for the government to introduce more regulation in light of complaints she received from locals. The councillor, who was elected in May, said: 'There is an enormous amount of stress for residents, affecting their quality of life, by the existence of short-term letting in the city. Liberal Democrats councillor Karen Young said the amount of short-term lets in Cambridge were causing 'an enormous amount of stress for residents' 'People are residents for such a short time - they are not invested in being good neighbours and building good relations with those living next door. 'This means unrestrained behaviour with parties, noise and rudeness to neighbours.' Cllr Young also argued that 'rogue landlords' who flout space and safety requirements are 'disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood'. She set tourists are then left with 'unsuitable accommodation' while homes are taken out of 'the long-term housing market'. Naomi Bennett, of the Green Party, backed Cllr Young as she warned that homes were being 'let to a stag party or what appears to be a pop-up brothel or worse'. Labour Councillor Katie Thornburrow, from the council's ruling party, said the authority was the first outside of London to successfully defend an appeal against enforcement of a short-term let. The councillors agreed on an amended motion to work on tackling these problems and lobby MPs for tougher powers. Cambridge is not alone in its feelings towards Airbnb and short-term lets. Homes in Cambridge were being 'let to a stag party or what appears to be a pop-up brothel' Cambridge is not alone in its sentiments towards short-term holiday lets - a nearly 30-mile stretch of the Norfolk coastline has voted against second homes Residents in hotspots such as Cornwall and the Peak District have complained that short-term private holiday lets have had a significantly detrimental impact on their communities, with second homes lying vacant for much of the year. Meanwhile towns and villages along the north Norfolk coast have imposed curbs following public votes, such as limiting newbuilds to those using them as principal properties. Earlier this month, two more locations Old Hunstanton and Wells announced they were planning to go to the people to ask if they want to crack down on the invasion of outsiders snapping up weekend homes and investors buying lucrative rental properties. If approved, most of the coastline between Heacham and Blakeney would have clauses written into their Neighbourhood Plans which must be taken into account by planning authorities - limiting who can buy into the area. Analysis has suggested one in every four homes is used for Airbnb in some parts of England. Airbnb has soared in popularity since homeowners first started renting out their properties with the online service in around 2009. It has coincided with a boom in the domestic travel industry, with holidaymakers opting to stay in the UK. But there have also been occasions where renters have held parties, in contravention of Airbnb policies. Earlier this year, an Airbnb spokesman told MailOnline: 'Parties are banned on Airbnb and our industry-leading prevention technology blocked more than 84,000 people in the UK from making certain unwanted bookings last year. 'Our 24/7 hotline for neighbours means anyone can contact us directly about a concern with a listing and we investigate and take action. 'We are committed to being good partners to local communities in the UK, and have long supported the introduction of a national short-term lets register to give authorities better visibility of activity in their area.' HBO host Bill Maher couldn't resist taking jabs at President Joe Biden on his latest show, even as he praised the Democrat for his strong show of support for Israel in its war with Hamas. 'Joe Biden, our president, went to Israel this week -- nothing to do with the war, he just wanted a break from the tension in DC,' Maher joked in the opening monologue of Friday's new episode of Real Time. 'But think this was his best week as president, Joe Biden. This was his finest hour. And then he gets his a** on a plane, it can't be easy. He's not a young man he remembers when the Dead Sea was alive,' cracked Maher of the 80-year-old president. Maher, who has been vocal in backing Israel since Hamas launched its deadly October 7 surprise attack, also took aim at elite US universities, where some student groups downplayed or even justified the massacre that left 1,400 dead. 'I recognize that a certain amount of foolishness is expected of college kids, but mixing Jagermeister and tomato juice isn't the same as siding with terrorists,' said Maher. 'If ignorance is a disease, Harvard Yard is the Wuhan wet market.' HBO host Bill Maher couldn't resist taking jabs at President Joe Biden on his latest show, even as he praised the Democrat for his strong show of support for Israel Maher cited an open letter signed by 34 student groups at Harvard, which said they 'hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence' following the Hamas attack, citing Israel's treatment of Palestinians leading up to the massacre. 'They don't know much of anything, actually. But it doesn't deter them from having an opinion. They've convinced themselves Israel is the most repressive regime in history because they have no knowledge of history or even a desire to know,' said Maher. Biden returned from Israel on Thursday and delivered a rare address to the nation from the Oval Office, asking Congress for more than $100 billion to support Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars with Russia and Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war, which entered its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 people in Israel were killed, most of them civilians murdered in the initial attack when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. In addition, 203 people including children were believed captured by Hamas during the attack and taken into Gaza, the Israeli military has said. Hamas on Friday freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the war began. 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. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Tel Aviv, Israel during Biden's emergency diplomatic mission this week Biden rushed to Israel in a show of support for the US ally, before returning home to address the nation on Thursday night 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. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area filled with civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 4,132 people have been killed in Gaza and 84 in the occupied West Bank over the past two weeks. Some 14,000 have been wounded in Gaza and more than 1,400 in the West Bank, the group said. Meanwhile, aid deliveries began moving into the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Saturday. A two-truck UN convoy carried over 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the UN children's agency - a day's supply for 22,000 people, according to UNICEF. The agency said it has supplies for up to 250,000 people at the Rafah crossing that can be brought into Gaza in a matter of hours. A convicted pedophile has been arrested after setting up a homeless camp outside of a San Francisco school with a sign offering 'free fentanyl 4 new users'. Adam Moore, 46, set up an encampment across from Stella Maris Academy in the embattled California city over two years ago. Moore had been stationed outside the school with signs offering free drugs, with one reading: 'Free fentanyl 4 new users' and another saying 'Meth for stolen items'. Speaking to ABC7, Moore insisted that the sign was not a ruse - and he was actively handing out the killer drug. Moore told the outlet, 'It's not a joke' and said he would pass on the drugs that other people gave him in exchange for supplies he provides. The convicted pedophile stationed signs outside the school that said 'Free fentanyl 4 new users' and 'Meth for stolen items' Adam Moore, pictured here, had set up an encampment across from Stella Maris Academy in San Francisco According to California's Megan's Law website, Moore was convicted of lewd of lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 in 1997 and released in 2002. The San Francisco Standard reported that according to court documents he has been arrested five times in the city since 2007 for allegedly failing to re-register his address as a sex offender every 30 days. According to a Santa Cruz Sentinel article from 1997, Moore was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl in Santa Clara County before being released from custody and then having sex with a 15-year-old in Santa Cruz. Moore also told ABC7: 'So they bring me trash that they've scavenged, things that they think are valuable, or they give me some of the drugs that they have, which I don't do. 'I only live by two rules: be kind to others and make it look easy for children.' Moore is not considered a 'high-risk' offender so he does not have to stay 2,000 feet away from a school. Neighbor Jon Chintanaroad told the outlet: 'My wife walks our baby around by herself. I always kind of want to be there because you never know. 'And it just sucks to always kind of have that sense of like, extra vigilance. In a neighborhood that's supposed to be quiet and residential.' On Friday afternoon, Moore was taken into custody after officers gave him an order to move. According to California's Megan's Law website, Moore was convicted of lewd of lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 in 1997 and released in 2002 On Friday afternoon, Moore was taken into custody after officers gave him an order to move Officers with the San Francisco Police Department arrived at the site in the morning and told Moore to clear by 12:15pm, which he failed to do, according to NBC. Following his arrest, his belongings were bagged up and removed by workers. Peter Marlow, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of San Francisco said: 'Our goal was to get the signs down and to maintain the safety of the children and the neighborhood, and that seems to have been accomplished. 'Were working with the police to see that any laws affecting that are carried out.' Owners of an 18th century restaurant believe a 'ghost' has been caught on camera, with locals flocking to back-up the sighting with their own spooky stories about the establishment. Library Restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, uploaded a video earlier this week from their CCTV that showed a 'ghost' eerily passing by the front of their restaurant. Staff say the spirit set off the motion detector as it floated by and don't believe that the imagery could just be lights from a car or a gust of wind. The restaurant in the Rockingham Hotel has a long history of hauntings that have been documented in detail over the years. It's described as 'an elegant, 1785 mansion set as a clubby backdrop for steakhouse fare, wines and a buzzy bar scene.' The 238-year-old business is known to be a hot-spot for high-profile politicians - including presidents George Washington, Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Chester Arthur, William Taft, and John F. Kennedy. Library Restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire , uploaded a video earlier this week from their CCTV that showed a 'ghost' eerily passing by the front of their restaurant The restaurant in the Rockingham Hotel has a long history of hauntings that have been documented in detail over the years. It's described as 'an elegant, 1785 mansion set as a clubby backdrop for steakhouse fare, wines and a buzzy bar scene' The restaurant wrote: 'Our building - the Rockingham - is well known for its ghosts and notably the ones in the Library basement. 'Last night, for the very first time our motion detector alarms INSIDE the building were set off by this camera motion caught on video in the dead of night outside the window. 'The motion detectors inside cannot see what the camera outside sees! It is not lights from the car - because you can see how others are picked up and there is no horizontal wind blowing. So what can this be! 'Make of it what you will but this has never happened before! Spooky coincidence for the time of year?' The chilling footage has attracted a lot of attention - especially from local customers who shared their own ghost stories about the 'haunted' restaurant. A Facebook user said: 'The lady in white. Some residents had claimed to see her in the hallways. One wrote a poem about her experience.' Multiple people said the women's bathroom at the restaurant is haunted. One comment said: 'I have been to the library many times, and I assure you that there is a female ghost in the bathroom area in the lower level' and another shared the same claim, saying 'thats definitely a ghost and Ive seen plenty of them. I used to live across the street. The womens restroom at the Library is haunted.' But there skeptics, with one said trying to bust the claims, writing: 'So are we gunna talk about the jump cut in the video at the time of the 'ghost'? Or that the timecode in the upper right hand corner skips from 02:29:30 to 02:31:04? But yea, totally legit, supernatural behavior 'caught on camera'.' One person - who appeared to be a regular at the historic joint - speculated: 'Fog? (Or Dave smoking!)' Another asked: 'What am I supposed to be seeing?' The 238-year-old business is known to be a hot-spot for high-profile politicians - including presidents George Washington, Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Chester Arthur, William Taft, and John F. Kennedy Staff say the spirit set off the motion detector as it floated by and don't believe that the imagery could just be lights from a car or a gust of wind The Rockingham Hotel is believed be haunted by the entity of Sarah Shelborne Langdon or the entity of a drowning victim. Many viewers were certain the 'ghost' was actually fog, wind or steam. According to HauntedHouses.com the Rockingham Hotel is believed be haunted by the entity of Sarah Shelborne Langdon or the entity of a drowning victim. Shelborne Langdon was the daughter of a rich merchant who married Woodbury Langdon - who built a three-story-mansion on the spot of the current Rockingham building as a place for his bride and their 10 children to live. Their family home burned down in the great fire of 1781 and they re-built it to become 'the most handsome brick home in New England'. Langdon - who served as New Hampshire's senator in 1779 for a year - eventually sold his house and it became a Public House - where it sold alcohol, served food and offered public rooms for events and occasions. It then became a hotel in 1833. Apparently Shelborne Langdon had an affair with the dashing John Paul Jones - and because of small-town gossip she was found guilty of adultery by public opinion. Because 'entities' are allegedly restless when declared guilty - they want to clear their name in the world before they go to 'the light and peace of the next world'. For this reason Shelborne Langdon is thought to haunt the Rockingham Hotel by roaming the halls and spending time in Library Restaurant - where women have heard her rustling about in the bathroom stalls. The 'ghost' of the drowning victim carries a 'strong aroma of the sea' whenever she appears to haunt the hotel - which was the last place she lived before drowning. According to guests - she is a friendly and welcoming entity who is known to pop up in residents' apartments and condos and appear in hallways before disappearing through the nearest wall. Students of all ages at a special school in Queensland are permitted to have smoking and vaping breaks to reduce stress and disruptive behaviour during class, parents and former staff have revealed. It's understood Arethusa College's Deception Bay campus north of Brisbane reportedly implemented the policy several years ago, despite staff raising concerns. As many as 50 students are believed to be on a list as permitted to smoke or vape and even have a designated area. While the college seeks permission from parents, one claims that their child was allowed even after they informed the college they didn't want to child smoking at school, The Sunday Mail reported. Former staff and parents have spoken out about Arethusa College's smoking/vaping policy for students at the Deception Bay campus READ MORE: Aussie teens reveal they are so addicted to vaping they take puffs in class Advertisement It's illegal to supply cigarettes or e-cigarettes to anyone under 18. Queensland legislation also states that education facilities, both public and private should be smoke-free. Arethusa College insists that it's 'never been found in breach of our legislative duties'. 'We have been open and transparent with public health authorities,' executive principal Lisa Coles told the publication. 'We have seen the majority of young people who come to us with a nicotine dependency leave our College without one.' She added the college took a transparent approach to smoking or vaping dependency without judgment while addressing the issue with students through a 'rigorous education program.' Daily Mail Australia doesn't suggest that the school provides cigarettes or vapes to students. Students are allowed to have smoking/vaping breaks at school to help minimise stress and disruptive behaviour in class (stock image) Arethusa College states on its website that it does not condone the use of cigarettes for underage students. 'However, we recognise that a small number of our students do choose to smoke,' the policy states. 'The campus Principal works with each student and their guardians to remove any obstacles that prohibit students from attending school due to not being able to smoke at school.' The policy adds that students' cigarettes and lighters are handed in at the start of the day and that vaping and use of all other substances are banned on campus. Former staff have spoken out about the policy, claiming the college's approach was that 'if they (particular students) are triggered, let them go and have a smoke' Another ex-staffer described the policy as counter-productive. The school says it takes a transparent approach to smoking or vaping dependency without judgment (stock image) One parent claimed that their child is now vaping, despite telling the college they did not want their child smoking at school. 'They (the college) said they (students) are going to do it anyway, so they would rather they do it in a designated area where they are safe and supervised,' the parent said. Queensland Health said the Metro North Public Health Unit has engaged with the school regarding regulatory compliance and provided resources. Arethusa College is an independent school which provides alternative educational and vocational pathways for years 7-12 students who haven't fitted in into the mainstream education system. A London tube driver who sparked outrage today by urging passengers to chant pro-Palestinian slogans as they headed towards a protest in solidarity with Palestinian civilians is being investigated by police. Video circulating online appears to show the Central Line driver leading a chant of 'Free, free Palestine' for the hundreds of people packed tightly into busy train. It comes as the Met Police said around 100,000 people had taken to the streets of London to peacefully demonstrate by 2pm on Saturday. Others aboard the train told MailOnline the driver told his passengers that he wanted to join the protest, but hadn't been able to get the day off, before encouraging them to chant: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' This chant is a controversial form of protest which some argue is inherently anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic - something which Palestinians and their supporters deny. The Met Police this week issued updated guidance around the chant due to the strength of feeling which it evokes, saying officers will not be treating it as unlawful unless it is specifically used to intimidate members of the Jewish community. central line tube driver carrying hundreds of people to the free palestine march in london leads the tube in a chant says he wanted to be there but couldnt get the day off pic.twitter.com/SOqzPtzfRp ruby lott-lavigna (@RubyJLL) October 21, 2023 Protesters during a pro-Palestine march organised by Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London Thousands took to the streets in London on Saturday to take part in peaceful protests in solidarity with the Palestinian people A force statement read: 'One particular chant that has been the subject of extensive discussion is 'Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea'. 'This is a chant that has been frequently heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations for many years. We are well aware of the strength of feeling in relation to it. 'While we can envisage scenarios where chanting these words could be unlawful, such as outside a synagogue or Jewish school, or directly at a Jewish person or group intended to intimidate, it is likely that its use in a wider protest setting, such as we anticipate this weekend, would not be an offence and would not result in arrests.' British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan told Sky News that the force was 'aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by a driver of a train in London earlier. 'BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter.' A TFL spokesperson told the broadcaster: 'We are committed to providing a safe network for everyone and want to make it clear that London is open to everyone. 'We are aware of footage circulating on social media that suggests political comments may have been made by one of our Tube drivers. We are working to scrutinise the footage and ensure the circumstances are urgently investigated.' As hundreds of protesters boarded the Central Line underground train at Bond Street for the short journey to Marble Arch just after midday, those onboard told MailOnline that the driver announced: 'Sorry I can't join your protest today, I couldn't get the day off work. But you have my full support. Join me in chanting 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'.' Amongst the passengers was Wendy Henry, who said: 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The driver wanted to whip up anti-Israeli feelings, and the atmosphere turned very ugly, very quickly. 'The noise in the carriages from the pro-Palestinian demonstrators was deafening and aggressive. The driver should have been concerned about safety for all the passengers yet he set about encouraging intimidating and hostile sloganeering. Free Free Palestine @TfL London Underground Tubes driver lead the passengers in a chant, he said I wanted to join the protest but couldnt get the day off. #LondonStandsWithPalestine #Palestine #Israel #_ #_ pic.twitter.com/62jx8xLtyz Farid Ahmed (Qureshi) (@FaridQureshi_UK) October 21, 2023 Those on the Tube train could be seen joining in with the driver's chants Video circulating online appears to show the Central Line driver leading a chant of 'Free, free Palestine' for the hundreds of people packed tightly into busy train 'Transport for London should launch an immediate investigation into his actions. His whole intention was to whip up mob feeling. Although I felt very angry, I wasn't that surprised this was happening in Sadiq Khan's London. She continued: 'I have lived and worked in London for over forty years and it's fair to say I have never felt so vulnerable and isolated.' But many of those onboard disagreed, and video footage showed the driver being cheered and applauded by passengers who appeared to be in good spirits. Pro-Palestinian protesters in central London also chanted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', despite the ongoing controversy around the slogan's meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed that it is 'widely understood' to call for the destruction of Israel. While Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust, have asked prosecutors to clarify if chanting the slogan is a criminal offence. However, those who defend the slogan describe it as a 'long-standing protest chant' that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. Minister for London Paul Scully said staff should 'focus on the day job' and warned against stoking tension in the capital. He said: 'At a time when there's not enough emphasis on the difference between the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas and the legitimate concerns of Palestinians in Gaza, it's really important that Londoners don't stoke the tension in our capital where Jews live peacefully alongside Muslims. 'Informed protest can bring change. But on-trend bandwagons can cause rifts and fear in communities, increasing the threat to the safety of some passengers travelling among those crowds.' He suggested Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) 'need to get staff focused on the day job of safely moving people from A to B'. The Metropolitan Police said British Transport Police were aware of the incident and making enquiries. Security minister Tom Tugendhat wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'London's tube's are for everyone. Many will find this intimidating.' He said the mayor 'has a duty to help all Londoners feel safe'. The Israeli Embassy wrote: 'It is deeply troubling to see such intolerance on London's tubes.... public transport should be a place of safety and inclusivity for all.' British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said the force was 'aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by driver of a train in London earlier'. 'BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter.' The video divided opinions online too, with many social media users praising the driver as 'amazing' and a 'legend.' Others however called for the driver to be sacked, with one viewer writing: 'This is a disgrace'. Transport for London has been contacted for comment. Mike Pence's 2024 presidential campaign is grappling with financial woes and a lack of enthusiasm on the ground in Iowa, raising questions about how long his bid can continue. New filings this week showed Pence ended September with just $1.18 million left in his campaign account, a strikingly low number for a presidential contest and far less than his rivals. By contrast, Pence's former running mate Donald Trump ended September with $37.5 million on hand, and is leading all of his rivals in GOP nominating race by at least 40 points in national polls. Meanwhile, Politico on Saturday published a devastating article documenting Pence's struggle to draw crowds in Iowa, where several of his recent events have drawn about 30 to 60 people. During one Pence stop at a Pizza Ranch in Red Oak, just 13 people attended, including one Republican voter who rambled about various conspiracy theories, including that President Joe Biden is a 'hologram'. Mike Pence's 2024 presidential campaign is grappling with financial woes and a lack of enthusiasm on the ground in Iowa, raising questions about how long his bid can continue A Trump-supporting heckler makes his presence known while former Vice president Mike Pence speaks with media at the Iowa state fair The Pence campaign's latest financial filings show that he is still scrambling to meet the donor requirements for the third GOP primary debate on November 8. His campaign also has $621,000 in debt - more than half the cash he had remaining. People close to Pence say he now faces a choice about how long to stay in the race and whether remaining a candidate might potentially diminish his long-term standing in the party, given Trump's dominating lead. Pence could well stick it out until the January 15 Iowa caucuses, continuing to visit the state's famous Pizza Ranch restaurants and campaigning on a shoestring budget. But he must now weigh how that course would impact his desire to remain a leading conservative voice, according to the people, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to share their unvarnished views. 'For Pence and many of the others, you gotta start looking and saying, 'I'm not going to go into substantial debt if I dont see a pathway forward,'' said former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who ran against Trump in 2016 but abandoned his bid after concluding 'the Trump train had left the station.' Pence, for the moment, is pressing forward. He held a Newsmax town hall in Iowa Tuesday night and fundraisers this week in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Dallas. He spoke at the Republican National Committee's fall retreat Friday night and will appear at the Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas next week - all opportunities to pitch deep-pocketed donors to keep his campaign afloat. The super PAC supporting Pence is also continuing its efforts, fundraising and conducting extensive voter outreach, including knocking on nearly 600,000 doors and counting. The campaign is also working aggressively to reach the 70,000-donor threshold needed to qualify for next month's debate and expressed confidence they could get there if they try - even as others remain skeptical he can make it. 'I know it's an uphill climb for a lot of reasons for us, some that I understand, some that I don't,' Pence acknowledged as he spoke to reporters in New Hampshire last week after formally registering for the state's first-in-the-nation primary. Pence greets patrons at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Waukee, Iowa, on June 8. Another recent stop at a Pizza Ranch in Red Oak drew a crowd of just 13 people Trump on stage in Iowa this week. Trump ended September with $37.5 million on hand Still, some in Pence's orbit believe he has important contributions left to make in the primary, particularly after the Hamas attack on Israel pushed foreign policy to the forefront. Pence has argued he is the most qualified candidate to deal with foreign policy issues, saying in the August debate that 'now is not the time for on-the-job training.' Those close to Pence say he feels a renewed sense of purpose given his warnings throughout the campaign against the growing tide of isolationism in the Republican Party. Pence has used the Israel-Hamas war to decry 'voices of appeasement' in the GOP, which he argues embolden groups like Hamas. Another person cautioned that Pence, a devout Evangelical Christian who sees the campaign as a calling, may respond differently than other candidates might in his position if he feels called to stay in the race. If he decides to exit, Pence would have a potential platform in Advancing American Freedom, the conservative think tank he founded after leaving the vice presidency. In the meantime, the campaign has been working to cut costs, including having fewer staff members travel to events. Regardless of what he decides, the predicament facing the former vice president underscores just how dramatically Trump has transformed the GOP. Pence, in many ways, has been running to lead a party that no longer exists. He has cast himself as the field's most traditionally conservative candidate in the mold of Ronald Reagan. But many of his positions - from maintaining US support for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion to proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare - are out of step with much of his party's base. Pence speaks with supporters during the 2023 First in the Nation Leadership Summit on October 14, 2023 in Nashua, New Hampshire Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a campaign event on June 7, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa He also faces fallout from Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump's supporters - some chanting 'Hang Mike Pence!' - stormed the Capitol building, sending him running for his life. Trump tried to falsely convince Pence and his own followers that the vice president somehow had the power to overturn the election results. Pence has repeatedly been confronted on the campaign trail by people who accuse him of betraying Trump, who still promotes falsehoods about the 2020 election, often several times a day. But Pence has also faced the same challenge as every candidate in the field not named Trump, a singular figure whose grip on the party has only intensified as he has been charged with dozens of crimes. 'If something big doesn't happen on Nov. 8, the primary is over. Some would argue it is now,' said Walker, who entered the 2016 Republican primary as a front-runner only to end his campaign in September 2015, months before a single vote was cast, amid mounting debt. An August AP-NORC poll found Republicans split on Pence: 41 percent held a favorable view of the candidate and 42 percent an unfavorable one. Nationally, a majority of US adults - 57 percent - view him negatively, with only 28 percent having a positive view. Some are hoping Pence doesn't give up. In Iowa, Kelley Koch, chair of the Dallas County Republican Party, said she felt Pence had struggled to define himself beyond Trump and said many remained skeptical of his actions on Jan. 6. But she said following the attack on Israel, with all eyes now on the Middle East and a new war, that Pence could have a moment to break through. 'He is such a pro on foreign policy. That's one of his strengths. And he has that over a lot of the new rookie candidates who are in the race. He should run on that,' she said. 'I would think that that would be just a major trumpet setting the stage for Mike Pence to step up and take the mic.' A Seattle lawmaker has furiously denied her support for defunding the police is to blame for soaring crime in the city. Council member Kshama Sawant said the city should not add police resources to the Central District neighborhood after 24 children had to crawl to the bathroom of a daycare facility following a shooting. The incident happened on Monday outside of the A-4 Apple Learning Center, with a 47-year-old man being shot on the street. A bullet pierced through the window of the center, with co-owner Appollonia Washington telling staff and children inside to 'army crawl' to the bathroom and hide. In response, the facility shared a statement slamming the City Council and its members for allowing violence to 'plague' the area. Councilmember Kshama Sawant said the city should not add police resources to the Central District neighborhood following the incident The incident happened on Monday outside of the A-4 Apple Learning Center, with a 47-year-old man being shot on the street Their statement said: 'The shooting left windows broken and glass shattered where the children were sitting. 'Our hearts are broken by this occurrence as it is our life's mission to educate and nourish our children, parents, and trust their children to come each day to school with the expectation that they will be safe and educated. 'This area has been plagued by violence for the past two years. Despite contacting city council members, community leaders, Vulcan, and even the mayor's office, the learning center has not received any help. 'From the staff on the Board of Directors of A-4 Apple Learning Center, we would like to ask the community: Is public safety a buzzword for politicians or can it serve as a call to action for our youth and community.' Speaking to KOMO News, Washington said: 'Show your face because your presence is needed to support us. Who is [Sawant]? Ive reached out to [her office] for two years. 'Nothing, they never support anything that people of color do in this community. We need police presence.' Sawant represents the area on the City Council and has been a vocal proponent of defunding the police. A bullet pierced through the window of the center, with co-owner Appollonia Washington, pictured here, telling staff and children inside to 'army crawl' to the bathroom In response to questions by KOMO News, she said: 'I am in solidarity with all small business owners, but the facts are that bloating the police department does not work. 'My message to them is that increasing funding to police is not going to help them, you know why? 'Because that is the strategy that has been tried for a decade and a half. Police have got more and more money. This whole idea that 'police got defunded', no it did not, unfortunately.' Despite her remarks, The Seattle Met reported that the budget dropped from $402.3 million in 2020 to $361.7 million in 2021 and then to $355.5 million in 2022. The Seattle Times reported that after protests in the city against police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, the City Council committed to a series of police reform ideas. At the time, Sawant said: 'My office and my organization Socialist Alternative, have been proud to have marched with the community every step of the way. 'And of course, as the socialist city councilmember I have joined the movement that I am a part of in the call to defund SPD by at least 50 percent starting immediately.' Despite their ambitious plans, the city council eventually decided to ditch the move to half the budget of the police, with the majority denouncing of council members now denouncing the idea. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, the City Council committed to a series of police reform ideas. In response to the shooting, the office of Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement saying: 'Mayor Harrell believes every community deserves to feel safe and be safe, and this shooting is both scary and tragic for impacted residents and our broader Seattle community. 'After inheriting a historic SPD staffing low, Mayor Harrell has made it a priority to drive meaningful improvements in both officer recruitment and retention efforts to keep and attract applicants who share the values of the city and reflect the diversity of its communities. 'Mayor Harrell's budget proposal makes critical investments in reducing gun violence, which requires a holistic approach including thorough investigations, community-based programs, new technologies, and upstream solutions. 'Mayor Harrell will continue to pursue policy changes to reduce gun violence at the state legislative level, as the City is prohibited from setting our gun laws due to state preemption.' A bullet pierced through the window of the center, with co-owner Appollonia Washington telling staff and children inside to 'army crawl' to the bathroom and hide The Seattle Met reported that the budget dropped from $402.3 million in 2020 to $361.7 million in 2021 and then to $355.5 million in 2022 Seattle's police department have investigated 57 homicides so far this year, and could exceed the record of 69 from 1994 according to the Times. The overstretched force has investigated 33 murders in 2019, 53 in 2020, 41 in 2021 and 54 in 2022. Jim Fuda, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, told The Times: 'Its a sad state of affairs.' Fuda added that there are not enough detectives to investigate the murders, while less severe crimes are also going unpunished. He continued: 'Criminals know how to take advantage of that', adding that more police officers are desperately needed for the city. In June of this year, expectant mom Eina Kwon was shot four times while her Tesla was stopped at a red light in the city. Kwon, who was eight months pregnant with her second child, was rushed to surgery, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section to deliver her child. The restaurateur was pronounced dead shortly after the baby was born, while the child died a short time later. Her husband, Evan Sung Kwon, 37, was also injured in the unprovoked attack but has since been released from the hospital. This is the bizarre moment Storm Babet appeared to lift the forest floor - with a baffled dog stuck on top of the undulating ground. The footage was captured by a dog walker in Scotland as the deadly storm continues to batter Britain on Saturday. Lashing winds from the storm - which has caused widespread mayhem and destruction - seemingly ripped up a patch of woodland in Stirlingshire. David Nugent-Malone was walking his dog Jake in Mugdock on a path. 'We've walked through that particular section literally hundreds of times before and have never seen anything like that', Mr Nugent-Malone told the BBC. Mr Nugent-Malone claimed the woodland around them was relatively calm after the strongest winds blasted it the night before. This is the bizarre moment Storm Babet appeared to lift the forest floor - with a baffled dog stuck on top of the undulating ground The footage was captured by a dog walker in Scotland as the deadly storm continues to batter Britain on Saturday However, that particular patch of pocket of the forest seemed to 'focus the wind to allow it to lift up the woodland floor,' he added. He posted the clip on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, with the caption: 'The earth was breathing deeply this morning.' The footage came as Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as downpours continue to batter much of the UK on Saturday following three deaths in 'biblical' conditions that have seen up to two months of rain hit parts of the UK in the space of three days. Homes in Brechin, Angus, have been evacuated as the banks of the River South Esk burst after surging 5m higher than normal; in nearby Fowlis, outside Dundee, the coastguard were called to help after a bridge collapsed, taking a car with it. The storm has claimed the lives of six people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. Elsewhere, a crash in Calderdale near Halifax, West Yorkshire on Friday night left the 19-year-old driver of a white Seat Ibiza dead and their 18-year-old passenger fighting for their life. The weather conditions were 'a factor' in the crash, reports The Sun. Lashing winds from the storm - which has caused widespread mayhem and destruction - seemingly ripped up a patch of woodland in Stirlingshire David Nugent-Malone was walking his dog Jake in Mugdock on a path. 'We've walked through that particular section literally hundreds of times before and have never seen anything like that', Mr Nugent-Malone told the BBC Mr Nugent-Malone claimed the woodland around them was relatively calm after the strongest winds blasted it the night before ABERDEENSHIRE: Emergency service workers put down sandbags in Inverurie, 16 miles north-west of Aberdeen, ahead of expected heavy rain DUNDEE: A car became submerged in the road on Friday after a bridge collapsed, taking the vehicle with it. Locals said the occupant was rescued by a farmer CHESTERFIELD: An emergency services worker gives a piggyback to a local resident as flooding rose to ankle-deep levels in Derbyshire SANDIACRE: Streets were washed out by flooding in the Derbyshire town after both a local canal and river burst their banks DOVER: A DFDS ferry battles the choppy waters on the south-east coast of England LONDON: King's Cross Station was temporarily closed on Saturday after a mass of cancellations and delays led to overcrowding; it has since re-opened for some services Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings remain in place across England and eastern and northern Scotland Dramatic images shared on social media showed the vehicle submerged in the road up to its front doors; locals said the occupant was rescued by a local farmer. The end of Scotland's red alert has been brought forward six hours to 6pm, from midnight - but the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned of a 'difficult day ahead' amid fears rivers could burst their banks again. Police Scotland has advised against all but essential travel, as searches continue for a man missing in Aberdeenshire said to have been trapped in a vehicle in floodwater early on Friday. Yellow and amber warnings in place across large swathes of England have been lifted save for a yellow 'be aware' alert for wind that stretches from Whitby in Yorkshire all the way up to Aberdeen. But flood warnings remain active as of Saturday: across England, there were 353 warnings and 248 alerts; Scotland has five severe flood warnings, 17 flood warnings and 10 flood alerts in place; 14 flood alerts, one severe warning and eight other warnings are in effect in Wales. In England, 55,000 people were left without power on Friday; 45,000 of those were reconnected last night, the Energy Networks Association said. Around 33,000 Scots lost power as a result of the weather, with the majority now reconnected. A yellow Met Office alert for rain remains in place for most of central and north-eastern Scotland, with amber rain warnings across Highland Perthshire and the eastern Highlands north of Inverness. Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey told the PA news agency: 'The focus of the rainfall from Saturday shifts back northwards over towards eastern and northern Scotland. 'Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a half's worth of rain already, but there's another band that's forecast to track its way northwards over the course of the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas. Mr Vautrey said the yellow wind warning across eastern Scotland and north-east England could bring 'gales in excess of 60-70 miles per hour', but added: 'That is going to work its way off (the coast) throughout Saturday, so from a wind aspect there will be some improvement.' 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. Weather alerts for central and southern England have been lifted - though a red 'danger to life' alert remains in place for eastern Scotland CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Flooding around St Ives, five miles east of Huntingdon, on Saturday morning after the Great River Ouse burst its banks DERBYSHIRE: Vehicles lie abandoned in flood water in Chesterfield early on Saturday morning YORK: A Nissan Micra sits abandoned in a waterlogged street in the city centre as the River Ouse burst its banks CHESTERFIELD: The great clean-up begins in the Derbyshire market town as a worker clears out a drain An Israeli reservist with dual citizenship in the US and Israel has been killed in a Hezbollah missile strike in northern Israel. Staff Sergeant Omer Balva, 22, was killed on Friday night by an anti-tank missile attack near the border with Lebanon, where cross-border skirmishes are intensifying, Israeli military officials confirmed. Balva grew up in Rockville, Maryland and was in the US when he was called up for reserve service last week, promptly flying back to Israel to report for duty, according to the Times of Israel. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) says that in response to Hezbollah missile strikes, it launched a number of manned and unmanned airstrikes targeting the group's positions in southern Lebanon. The rising tensions in the north came as the IDF massed forces in southern Israel in preparation for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip, two weeks after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack from the Palestinian enclave. Dual Israeli-American citizen Omer Balva, 22, was killed on Friday night by an anti-tank missile attack near the border with Lebanon after being called up for IDF reserve duty 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, on Friday A child of Israeli parents, Balva was born in Washington DC, and grew up in Maryland, where he attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish day school. He moved to Israel at age 18 to complete military service in the IDF with support from a program called Garin Tzabar, which helps you soldiers who do not have at least one parent living in Israel, also known as 'Lone Soldiers'. Balva was a platoon commander in the 9203 battalion of the Alexandroni brigade, the IDF said. After completing his military service, he studied business and economics at Reichman University International School in Herzliya, Israel, the school said in a social media post. Meanwhile, the cross-border strikes between Israel and Lebanon renewed fears that Hezbollah could open a second front in the Israel-Hamas war. Tension has been picking up along the border over the past two weeks, following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed over 1,400 civilians and troops. Israel's strikes on Gaza since then have killed over 4,000 Palestinians, according to figures from a Hamas-controlled health authority. 'IDF aircraft attacked a series of military targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the last few hours, in response to the firing of anti-tank missiles and launches into Israeli territory last night,' the IDF said in a statement late Friday. 'Among the targets that were attacked, a series of military compounds that were used by the organization for operational needs and terrorist infrastructure. In addition, the IDF attacked an anti-tank launcher located in the border area and aimed at Israel,' the IDF added. Like Hamas, Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed militant faction that is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US and EU. An Associated Press journalist in south Lebanon heard loud explosions along the border with Israel close to the Mediterranean coast on Saturday. Smoke rises from inside an Israeli army position which was hit by Hezbollah fighters Friday Israeli soldiers stand near a Merkava tank as they man a position at an undisclosed location on the border with Lebanon on Saturday 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 The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling hit several villages, adding that a car was directly hit in the village of Houla. There was no immediate word on casualties. An Israeli army spokesman said a group of gunmen fired a shell into Israel adding that an Israeli drone then targeted them. He added that another group of gunmen fired toward the Israeli town of Margaliot and a drone attacked them shortly afterward. 'Direct hits were scored in both strikes,' Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The near-daily exchanges of fire across the border have prompted civilians to flee, emptying out Lebanese towns near the border. Nearly 4,000 people have fled flashpoint areas near the Israeli frontier and flocked to the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, according to local officials. Around half are staying in three public schools that have been converted into makeshift shelters, while the rest hunker down with relatives or friends. At least 22 people, including four civilians, have been killed on the Lebanese side, according to an AFP tally. And at least three soldiers and one civilian have died in Israel as a result of Hezbollah missiles. A handcuffed murder suspect was viciously beaten by the family of his alleged victim after he appeared to make a gesture at them in a Texas court. Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was inside the Bexar County courtroom where he is on trial for murder over the death of Ethan Soto, 15, when a dramatic brawl broke out on Friday. In video footage, Soto's family members are seen jumping a partition and attacking Rivas - who allegedly provoked the group by making a gesture at them. The footage showed a group of at least four people throw punches at Rivas, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back. Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was on trial for the murder of Ethan Soto, 15, on Friday when a brawl broke out Rivas, who was 17 at the time of his alleged crime, was arrested in August 2022 and charged with murder after he was accused of shooting Soto in what appeared to be revenge for drug robbery, Sant Antonio police said (pictured: Rivas) The shooter reportedly lured his 'victim' from his home in May 2022 after Soto stole THC cartridges from Rivas (pictured: Soto) Police tried to peel the attackers off the alleged killer while bystanders watched the incident unfold in shock, a clip provided to KSAT shows. According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office four people were arrested after the violent outbreak - including two adult males and two juvenile males - who will be charged with assault and disrupting court proceedings. Rivas, who was 17 at the time of his alleged crime, was arrested in August 2022 and charged with murder after he was accused of shooting Soto in what appeared to be revenge for drug robbery, Sant Antonio police said. Judge Ron Rangel, administrative judge for the Bexar County criminal district courts, said: 'You think about courtrooms, youre bringing in victims of violent crimes with people that are accused of committing those violent crimes, so often times courtrooms can become powder kegs. One little spark can ignite.' The Judge has been forced to hit the courtroom's panic button after the brawl broke out. Rangel said it's unlikely that any of the people charged will be allowed to attend future court hearings. Rivas's attorney Adam LaHood told KSAT that they were in court on Friday for a routine preliminary hearing. He said the outburst was 'certainly unexpected' and 'not something you ever want to see happen'. Soto's family members jumped a partition in the courtroom and started attacking Rivas - who provoked the group by making a gesture at them The dramatic incident took place in Bexar County, Texas , inside a courtroom where the murder trial was taking place Someone caught the shocking fight on video - the footage showed as a group of at least four people threw punches at Rivas - who was handcuffed The shooter reportedly lured his 'victim' from his home in May 2022 after Soto stole THC cartridges from Rivas. Soto's mother tried to ease the tension between the boys by paying Rivas for the cartridges that Soto stole, according to an affidavit. Rivas shot at Soto during the May altercation but Soto didn't suffer from any injuries. Later that day Rivas messaged an underage girl on Instagram asking if she would set up a drug deal with Soto - which she did for the following day, according to police. The girl told Soto she was nearby the agreed location and he went to meet her - however he was confronted by Rivas who ambushed him and allegedly shot him to death. A controversial DEI trainer has been hired by a Canadian school board to give lectures on 'disrupting racism', despite being accused of driving a principal to suicide. Kike Ojo-Thompson is set to give elementary school teachers and administrators at York Region District Schools a crash course on 'disrupting racism'. TNC News first reported that the diversity trainer, based in Toronto, will be giving pre-recorded sessions to staff through an online portal. The four sessions will cover 'naming and disrupting our norms', 'racism, anti-black racism and racial inequity', 'whiteness, white supremacy and organizational culture', and 'fostering change for racial equity'. Totaling eight hours, the board told TNC that it had partnered with 'award-winning equity consulting firm' Kojo Institute, to offer a 'comprehensive professional development training program' to educators. Kike Ojo-Thompson is set to give elementary school teachers and administrators at York Region District Schools a crash course on 'disrupting racism' The York Region District School Board is set to have teachers tune in to eight hours of pre-recorded seminars from the trainer The board said: 'Developed and facilitated by Kojo Institutes expert equity consultants, this training develops participants skills and capacity for confronting and addressing racism (and other forms of oppression) and anti-blackness with the board.' This school board taking on Ojo-Thompson comes in the wake of the suicide of Richard Bilkszto who took his own life following an encounter with Ojo-Thompson. Ojo-Thompson had turned on him during a session in April 2021 after he challenged her claim that Canada - where both lived - is more racist than the US. In the audio of the session, obtained by The Free Press, Bilkszto can be heard saying that maybe Canada was not 'the bastion of white supremacy' that Ojo-Thompson had made it out to be. He pointed out that public schools serving Canada's poorest students are generally better funded than their equivalents in the United States. Ojo-Thompson turned on Bilkszto, telling him in front of all of the others gathered: 'As white people, there's a whole bunch going on that isn't your personal experience. It will never be. You will never know it to be so. You will never know it to be so. 'So your job in this work, as white people, is to believe.' Ojo-Thompson - who was paid $7,500 an hour for eight hours of seminars - laughed in a subsequent discussion over the challenge made by Bilkszto, who was described as a deeply progressive man hailed for his focus on 'equity' at work. The anti-racism trainer was later branded 'abusive' by an official government investigation into her antics. Richard Bilkszto, 60, took his own life in Toronto on July 13 after two years of turmoil following an April 2021 encounter at the school where he was principal. He filed an official complaint and won, and had just filed another suit Educator Richard Bilkszto challenged a workplace DEI instructor and was tarred as a racist. Last month, he took his own life. Listen to a recording of part of the exchange, exclusively obtained by @RupaSubramanya, and read the article: https://t.co/c3oeQoLgqU pic.twitter.com/ef7HtED3pQ The Free Press (@TheFP) August 3, 2023 KOJO Institute founder Kike Ojo-Thompson. Bilkszto said she accused him of supporting white supremacy because he challenged her comments And she referred to him again in the next session as an example of 'white supremacist resistance' in newly-released audio clips which also show her laughing while making an example of him. The late principal's family say his distress was only heightened when the superintendent of his school district, Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini, further shamed him in a tweet suggesting he was a racist. The tweet, since deleted, hailed Ojo-Thompson 'for modeling the discomfort administrators may need to experience in order to disrupt ABR,' or anti-black racism. The week after his death, Kike Ojo-Thompson, the diversity trainer, issued a defiant statement which did not apologize for her role in Bilkszto's death - and even implied that she was the victim. 'This incident is being weaponized to discredit and suppress the work of everyone committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,' she said. Bilkszto, who was gay and single, was said by friends to have devoted his life to teaching 'We will not be deterred from our work in building a better society for everyone.' Bilkszto filed a complaint with school officials saying that he'd been harassed. Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board investigated and in August 2021 concluded that Thompson's behavior was 'abusive' and amounted to 'workplace harassment.' But friends said he never got over the humiliation of being labelled a white supremacist, and the confrontation ate away at him. The school board and Ontario 's education minister are investigating Bilkszto's death and whether the obsession with woke policies may have contributed to it. Bilkszto, who was gay and single, was said by friends to have devoted his life to teaching, and spent time in a tough majority-black school in Buffalo, New York. He had recently retired, hoping to travel more, but was convinced to come out of retirement to work as principal of Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Toronto. A man who died in a stabbing in west London has been identified as detectives launch a murder investigation into the killing. A police car was flagged down by a member of the public at 6.42pm on Thursday, after Tyrone Pinnock was found with stab injuries in Kensington and Chelsea. Officers at the scene on Kensal Road carried out first aid and called for support from paramedics from the London Ambulance Service. Despite their efforts, the 36-year-old died at the scene. No arrests have been made at this time. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. The 36-year-old man who died has been named as Tyrone Pinnock. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers A police car was flagged down by a member of the public at 6.42pm on Thursday. They found a man with stab injuries on Kensal Road in Kensington and Chelsea (File Photo) Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have launched an investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, who is leading the investigation, said: 'This happened in the early evening on a busy footbridge that crosses Harrow Road. 'Several people have spoken to us already and I want to hear from anyone who saw the incident or has any information that could help our investigation. 'Were you travelling on Harrow Road between Bravington Road and Third Avenue between 5pm and 7pm? If so we would like to hear from you and view any dash cam footage you may have.' A crime scene was in place on the residential road in North Kensington and the Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, said: 'I have been shocked and saddened by the news that a man was stabbed and killed in our community last night. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. 'Council officers will be working alongside the police today (October 19) to provide an increased presence in Kensal Road and the surrounding area to support and reassure residents. There is no place for violence on our streets. 'I would like to reassure residents that we hear and understand their concerns over safety. We are working every day alongside the Police to make people feel safer with more visible on street uniformed presence and collaborative working with other authorities.' Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 6212/19Oct. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. An Illinois mom and daughter who had been taken hostage by Hamas have been pictured hugging relatives after being freed following a 13 day ordeal. Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith Tai Raanan, 59, arrived back in Israel late on Friday, having left Gaza via an Egyptian-controlled crossing. The pair got out of Gaza without obvious injuries, exiting a car before being surrounded by ICRC staff wearing vests bearing the red cross. In a post to social media, the mother and daughter are seen tightly hugging relatives including Judith's sister and mother. The Governor of Illinois said on Friday night that the two are now receiving medical treatment without providing any details of their condition. The Raanans walked out of Gaza without obvious injuries, they are seen here embracing relatives after their ordeal An image of the two being taken back into Israel was shared by authorities in the area, with the pair surrounded by armed soldiers Following the release of Natalie, 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.' Raanan also said that he expected both of them to be back in the U.S. early next week. He described the last 13 days as 'the worst situation' adding that he had been kept in the dark by their captors. Raanan said: 'I did not sleep at night and my head was always in Israel. 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. 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 Natalie Raanan and her father, Uri Raanan, are pictured in Mexico. He said on Friday she was doing well, despite her ordeal 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. President Biden said he was 'overjoyed' by the women's release and that he was continuing to work to free other captured Americans. 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. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said: 'Two of our abducted are home. '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.' Martin Fletcher, one of MSNBC's Middle East correspondents, broke down on air, revealing that Judith and Natalie are members of his wife's family. Fletcher said on 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.' A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising over the norther-western part of the Palestinian enclave during an Israeli bombing on October 21, 2023 Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said the two were released 'for humanitarian reasons'. 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 4,100 people according to Hamas, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out the terror group. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians attacked in the October 7 incursion. Earlier today, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into Palestine for the first time since Israel sealed it off. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount that aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days. Trucks with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip enter from Egypt Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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's military spokesman said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas. Asked about a possible ground invasion, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand. 'We will deepen our attacks to minimise the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today,' he said, repeating his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety. Hamas killed 1,400 people who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death in attack The Swiss judiciary has opened an investigation into possible funding of Hamas from Switzerland weeks before the October 7 attack on Israel, the country's attorney general said today. Attorney General Stefan Blaettler told Swiss public radio station SRF this morning: 'We have initiated [the investigation] a few weeks ago, before the deadly attacks happened.' The investigation was launched 'several weeks' before October 7 'on suspicion of financing Hamas from Switzerland', his office later added. He refused to give more information to not jeopardise the proceedings, which already present difficulties for the Attorney General since Switzerland has not placed any bans on Hamas. The country does not classify Hamas as a terrorist group - unlike the European Union and the United States - which could make the prosecution of potential suspects more difficult. The Swiss judiciary has opened an investigation into possible funding of Hamas from Switzerland weeks before the October 7 attack on Israel, the country's attorney general said today (pictured: Hamas gunmen attacking a kibbutz in Israel) Attorney General Stefan Blaettler (pictured) said on Swiss public radio station SRF: 'We have initiated [the investigation] a few weeks ago, before the deadly attacks happened' But since the attack, mounting calls for the Swiss government to take action has prompted it to respond. Four days after the attack, the government said it was 'of the opinion that Hamas must be classified a terrorist organisation'. In the investigation looking into possible financing of Hamas from Switzerland, the Attorney General has to prove that the group's act are 'terrorist' - but videos and pictures of the shocking scenes following the October 7 attacks alone won't be enough. READ MORE: The horrors of Hamas: Chilling Israeli video compilation reveals savagery of terrorist gunmen who wore bodycams as they launched murderous rampage Advertisement One of the difficulties lies in Hamas reigning a territory and conducting civil duties alongside its terrorist activities, according to investigators. A Middle East task force, established in the wake of the attacks, has been tasked with studying options for classifying the Islamist militant group as 'terrorist', although the government has given no timeline on the matter. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis had two days after the attack argued that the government can only ban organisations that are also banned by the United Nations. As a result, only Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as a few related organisations are currently banned in Switzerland. All the attempts to ban Hamas in parliament have so far failed but a committee in the lower house recently put forward a new proposal. For the current investigation into the potential financing from Switzerland, Blaettler is confident he can achieve a conviction, saying: 'One can prove this.' Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip two weeks ago 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. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip two weeks ago 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 (pictured: Israeli soldiers carrying the body of a victim of a Hamas attack on the Kfar Aza kibbutz) More than 4,300 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. This is not the first time Swiss money is suspected to have financed activities by Hamas. 20 years ago, Swiss Association de Secours Palestinien was put on a black list by the US, but the Swiss Attorney General's office never prosecuted the organisation. In the same radio show, Blaettler also talked about the terror threat in Switzerland, which its security services have considered to be 'heightened' for months now, with the Attorney General's office having launched about 70 investigations into terrorist activities. Blaettler also said a big concern for security in the country were short-staffed police services, something he said he discussed with the Swiss Department of Justice and Policing as well as the parliament. Enforcement encounters with migrants jumped to an all-time high at the US southern border last month, according to new data released Saturday by US Customs and Border Protection. CBP's total encounters along the border in September were 269,735, including 218,763 Border Patrol arrests at illegal crossing points, and another 50,972 expulsions at ports of entry. The record monthly figure brought the total number of migrant encounters for the recently concluded 2023 fiscal year to 2.48 million, up from 2.38 million in 2022, and the highest of any year on record. The surge in migrants attempting to enter the US underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis at the border, and the political challenge it presents for President Joe Biden as he seeks re-election in 2024. 'In response to high rates of encounters across the southwest border in September, CBP surged resources and personnel,' said Troy A. Miller, the acting CBP commissioner, in a statement. Enforcement encounters with migrants jumped to an all-time high at the US southern border last month. Pictured: Migrants cross over razor wire on September 28 in Eagle Pass, Texas CBP's total encounters along the border in September were 269,735, bringing the total number of encounters for the recently concluded 2023 fiscal year (black line) to 2.48 million 'CBP will continue to remain vigilant, making operational adjustments as necessary and enforcing consequences under US immigration law,' he added. Miller called the scale of migration 'historic' and said CBP was working with domestic and foreign partners to address the issue and step up enforcement, including by 'preparing for direct repatriations to Venezuela'. The new data show Venezuelans became the largest nationality arrested for illegally crossing the US border last month, replacing Mexicans for the first time on record. Venezuelans were arrested 54,833 times by the Border Patrol after entering from Mexico in September, more than double from 22,090 arrests in August and far above the previous monthly high of 33,749 arrests in September 2022. Arrests of all nationalities entering from Mexico totaled 218,763 in September, up 21 percent from 181,084 in August and approaching the all-time high of 222,018 set in December 2022. Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing more than 7 million people to leave. They initially settled in nearby countries in Latin America but began coming to the United States in the last three years, settling in New York, Chicago and other major cities. The surge in migrants attempting to enter the US underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis at the border, and the political challenge it presents for President Joe Biden Immigrants wade through the Rio Grande while crossing into the United States from Mexico on September 27, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas A U.S. Border Patrol agent holds a child from Venezuela as her parents cross through razor wire at the U.S.-Mexico border on September 27 in Eagle Pass, Texas The Biden administration recently announced temporary legal status for nearly 500,000 Venezuelans who were already in the United States on July 31, while vowing to deport those who came illegally after that date and failed to get asylum. It recently began deportation flights to Venezuela as part of a diplomatic thaw with the government of Nicolas Maduro, a longtime adversary. On Wednesday, 130 citizens of Venezuela were removed on the first of these flights, according to CBP. 'We are continually engaging with domestic and foreign partners to address historic hemispheric migration, including large migrant groups traveling on freight trains, and to enforce consequences including by preparing for direct repatriations to Venezuela,' said Miller. Republicans seized on the latest numbers as its leading presidential candidates have tried to frame the border as a major issue in next year's elections. 'This fiscal year may have ended, but the historic crisis at our Southwest border sparked by (Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro) Mayorkas' policies rages on,' said Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. The Biden administration proposed about $14 billion for the border in a $106 billion spending package announced Friday and has insisted that any long-term solution requires help from Congress. The White House proposal includes $1.6 billion to hire 1,600 new asylum officers and processing personnel, which could double the number of people working on asylum cases. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. There is $4.4 billion for Homeland Security efforts, including increased funding for holding facilities as the administration works to quickly deport those who do not qualify for asylum. 'The supplemental funding request announced yesterday would provide critically needed additional resources including additional CBP agents and officers to support our essential missions: from border and migration management, to countering fentanyl and keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities,' said Miller. For generations, Scots have birled their partners around the dance floor for The Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow. But ceilidh dancing is to get a very modern makeover to tackle the issues of gender identity and consent. An etiquette guide has been published by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) to create a safe, comfortable and inclusive place to dance for all. In a move that may surprise the traditionalists, there will no longer be a defined mens or womens side. Dancers will instead be encouraged to explore dancing on both sides and have been warned not to make assumptions about which side an individual should dance on because of their perceived gender. Scottish country dancing guide aims to create a safe, comfortable and inclusive place for all And to ensure consent between partners, the guidance reminds people that they can decline to dance if they want to. If you dont want to dance with someone, you can say no, thank you and you dont need to explain, the official Etiquette Guide on the RSCDS website states. You may then ask or say yes to someone else, if you want to, and you can stop dancing with anyone at any time. If you ask someone to dance and they say no, respect the decision. No one is obliged to dance with you. Dancers have also been reminded to respect personal boundaries and personal space and apologise if they bump into someone. They should also be sure to seek prior agreement with a partner before adding extra birls or twirls. The guide states that feedback should never be given on a partners dancing ability unless specifically requested and dancers should not point out mistakes. Any sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist and racist language has also been strictly outlawed and dancers are reminded that any inappropriate behaviour should be immediately reported to the event organiser. Gary Coull, chair-elect of the RSCDS, said: Scottish country dancing has always been inclusive and its one of the few forms of social dancing where you dont need to turn up with a partner. We are always keen to encourage new people to join us on the dance floor and experience the joy that Scottish country dancing brings us. Therefore, we wanted to create some guidance to ensure its known that Scottish country dancing is for everyone and that it is a welcoming environment for all. We want everyone to have a great time when they come dancing as well as make sure Scottish country dancing continues to be the inclusive, healthy, social activity it has always been. He added: We welcome everybody regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, physical appearance or employment status. The RSCDS, which has more than 9,500 members, celebrates its centenary this year. It issued the protocol ahead of its 2023 Autumn Gathering next month, which will see ceilidh enthusiasts from across the globe including Hawaii and New Zealand travel to Glasgow, where the society was founded. The three-day event at the Kelvin Hall runs from November 3 to 5. In a bid to attract younger members, the society has offered under 35s a 10 discount on 85 weekend tickets. It is not the first occasion on which the RSCDS has moved with the times. In 2015, people from across the world were invited to submit imaginative, creative and progressive reels, jigs and Strathspeys to be considered for a new Scottish country dancing book aimed at young people. The society has also compiled a manual of approved moves and admitted it was open-minded and looking to pop music and break-dancing for inspiration. The nanny was charged with further offenses after new evidence emerged She was initially arrested last month on child pornography charges A California nanny has been charged with molesting a baby girl she was hired to care for, weeks after facing charges of producing and sending pornographic images of the infant. Michelle Nicole Hidalgo, 28, was charged with three further offenses after prosecutors said they found more disturbing evidence. She was initially arrested last month after cops in Contra Costa County received a tip from an unnamed social media platform about child abuse images allegedly shared by Hidalgo on their platform. When they probed her online activity, police allegedly found conversations between her and a man requesting 'worse and worse' images of the girl. The nanny was still employed by the victim's family at the time of her arrest. She is currently being held on a $2.7 million bond, and faces up to 60 years to life in prison if found guilty. On top of the four felony counts of child pornography she previously faced, Hidalgo has now been charged with a further three counts of child molestation of a victim under 10, and of using a minor for sex acts. Michelle Nicole Hidalgo, 28, allegedly molested a young girl who was in her care at the instruction of a man she met online The nanny was previously charged with child pornography offenses, before additional evidence of further crimes was allegedly found When Hidalgo was confronted about the images by a District Attorney senior inspector, she allegedly admitted to sharing the images, calling them a 'stupid' one-time mistake. But cops suspect that she had also molested the infant at the direction of the man she sent the images to. According to court records, the sickening directions saw the man ask Hidalgo to do 'worse and worse' things to the girl while documenting it. After receiving the initial tip, a search warrant was carried out on her home by the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, where they seized 'equipment used in the production and distribution' of the child abuse footage. District Attorney Diana Becton previously said authorities have not ruled out the possibility that there are other victims. Although she allegedly admitted to the images, Hidalgo pleaded not guilty to charges in her first court appearance last month. Her bail originally stood at $700,000, and before it was raised to $2.7 million on Friday the District Attorney's office said at her first hearing that it would argue to keep her behind bars should her defense ask for the bail to be lowered. 'Why? Because she is a danger,' Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves said at the time. According to Hidalgo's Facebook profile, she is originally from Pacifica, California, and graduated from at Terra Nova High School. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility there are other victims in the case Hidalgo's arrest is the latest in a string of recent instances of daycare workers and nannies being charged with similarly disturbing offenses. Last month, a Bay Area daycare worker was sentenced to 25 years in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography. Jace Wong, 26, was arrested in San Francisco in 2021 after an undercover officer linked him to a pornographic video of a girl between four and six years old. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, a daycare worker has been accused of sending photos of naked children to a trans former politician. Lindsay Groves, 38, faces accusations that she took nude images of children aged three to five at the Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsboro, about 35 miles northwest of Boston. Prosecutors say the New Hampshire resident took the photos in a private bathroom during breaks before nap time and texted them to someone 'with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship' and shared 2,500 texts with. The investigation into Groves also led to the arrest of Stacie Laughton, 39, who is believed to be the first transgender person elected to a state Legislature in the nation. She is charged with distributing child pornography. There were 5,000 people inside the palace at the time of today's evacuation The Palace of Versailles has been evacuated after a bomb threat for the sixth time in just a week, angering tourists and local officials. 'For security reasons, the Palace of Versailles is evacuating visitors and will reopen as soon as the checks have been completed. Thank you for your understanding,' the former royal residence outside Paris said today in a now all-too-familiar message. Today's evacuation after a bomb threat which turned out to be false was the sixth such one in a week. The situation is now starting to agitate not just tourists but also local officials and tourism sector players, who see the risk of a key income source dwindling. 'I'm from California. It's the one thing I wanted to do in Paris. It's frustrating,' said Juliette Harris, who was visiting with her husband and two children, and had to leave the palace following the evacuation order. The former royal residence outside Paris said today in a now all-too-familiar message that visitors would have to evacuate petite evacuation de versailles encore pic.twitter.com/yO6SWOEGKY aime ; line (@smileoftota) October 21, 2023 Disgruntled tourists were asked to evacuated the palace today This is the sixth time the palace has been evacuated, much to the dismay of tourist as well as local officials and tourism sector players, who see the risk of a key income source dwindling (pictured: tourists leaving the palace during a previous evacuation) Preferring not to stay in Versailles, which is half an hour's train ride west of Paris, her family then headed to the Louvre museum in the centre, in the hope that it would not be shut down too. After being banished from the palace due to the security alert, tourists had to content themselves with selfies in the rain with the statue of the sun king Louis XIV in the vast outer courtyard. There were some 5,000 people inside the palace at the time of Saturday's evacuation, said a police source. The palace reopened later in the day following checks. READ MORE: Six French airports evacuated after bomb threats as Molotov cocktail is hurled at Berlin synagogue with Europe on red alert after wave of deadly terror attacks Advertisement Most of the false bomb threats, which are posted on French police website moncommissariat.fr are hard to track down. 'I was worried that there would be an alert, but thought it might come in the afternoon,' said Camille Froment from the Tarn region of southern France who is visiting for two weeks with her son. 'I am leaving on Monday and it will be tough' to reschedule with a visit to Versailles, she added. Even at this time of year, up to 15,000 people can visit the palace every day, a spokeswoman said, adding that 'for now, we have not observed any trend of cancellations by visitors.' Each cancelled visit can be refunded. But the mayor of Versailles, Francois de Mazieres (LR), on Friday told Franceinfo radio that visitors 'are hesitant to come now', and that if the alerts continue to multiply, 'it could have consequences on attendance'. In the city, businesses are already seeing sales decline. 'The turnover is starting to fall,' said Ahmed Imran, manager of a souvenir store a few hundred metres from the palace, where staff have already been reduced in recent days. Senegalese or Guinean street vendors selling trinkets to tourists have also lost out on sales due to the many evacuations. While trinket selling is illegal, vendors are usually left alone by police. 'We don't bother anyone, we don't harass tourists and our presence deters gangs of thieves,' one of them told French newspaper Le Parisien. Street vendors selling trinkets (two pictured here) to tourists have also lost out on sales due to the many evacuations There were some 5,000 people inside the palace at the time of Saturday's evacuation, said a police source. The palace reopened later in the day following checks (pictured: police standing guard outside the palace this week) Tourists were seen streaming out onto the Paris streets following an evacuation earlier this week He also said that during evacuations, he and other sellers would have to follow tourists emptying out of the palace - loosing him valuable time in which he could make money. Shortly after the alert, restaurant tables were full of disappointed tourists, who had come to take refuge while waiting for the reopening. 'Afterwards, it dries up, and quickly' once the alert has passed. 'In the longer term we see fewer and fewer tourists,' said Enzo Aracil, a waiter in a cafe. M'Baye, a Senegalese beret seller, said: 'For a week, I haven't even earned a single euro. On top of that, we see a lot fewer tourists, I have the impression that attendance has seriously dropped. 'So we are forced to take a little from our savings. It's hard, especially with winter coming.' Another seller, Alassane, also noticed the number of tourists dropping in the last two weeks since the start of the war in the Middle East, with bomb threats making the situation for sellers even worse. He said if it's crowded, people buy less and don't like stay in front of busy sights since the war. 'With these alerts, I'm afraid they will end up not coming anymore,' he added. The frustration is also beginning to be felt in the police, who must deploy considerable resources at each alert to secure the area. 'It takes time, and during that time colleagues are not doing their daily tasks,' said Tony Vallee, of the Yvelines region police. At least 11 airports nationwide carried out evacuations on Thursday after receiving threats. Ten were evacuated Friday, among 18 targeted by bomb threats. ALERTE INFO - Le Chateau de #Versailles a ete une nouvelle fois evacue en raison dune alerte a la bombe. Les demineurs sont en route. (AFP/BFMTV) pic.twitter.com/xba8WIbT8A Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) October 17, 2023 Police patrol outside an airport as several of France's airports were evacuated this week Only one airport on Saturday - Tours in the Loire region - was evacuated. The two main airports in Paris have so far not been affected on any day. 'I want to say it very clearly, the smart guys or the little jokers who play these games are in fact big fools, even serious offenders,' Transport Minister Clement Beaune said yesterday. France upped its attack alert level in the wake of a fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher earlier this month by a man who claimed the act in the name of the Islamic State extremist group. The attack in the northern city of Arras also came amid heightened concern over security after the attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas against Israel which has been followed by retaliatory air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Against this background, France has been plagued by false bomb threats over the last few days not just against the Palace of Versailles but also the Louvre museum and a host of regional airports just as autumn holidays are under way. Rishi Sunak has been hit by a fresh blow after Whitehall sources predicted his flagship policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda will be vetoed by judges. Government advisers estimate there is a '60 per cent chance' that the scheme will be struck down when the UK Supreme Court delivers its judgment on the policy in the coming weeks. The plan is key to the Prime Minister's pledge to 'stop the boats' carrying migrants across the Channel. Judges are ruling on a decision by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, which stated that problems with Rwanda's asylum system meant migrants sent there could be forced back to the country they had originally fled from. This would be in breach of the ban on putting people at risk of torture in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Government strongly disputes they would be put in any such danger. Government advisers estimate that there is a 60 per cent chance that judges at the UK Supreme Court will block the scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda Defeat would present another political headache for Mr Sunak in the wake of his double by-election drubbing in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. The Mid Bedfordshire win was the largest majority in terms of votes overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945, leading polling experts to point to a landslide on the scale of Tony Blair's in 1997. Government advisers argue that if the Rwanda policy is ruled illegal, it would leave the Tories with no alternative but to fight the next election with a 'Brexit-style' campaign blaming the Strasbourg laws in the ECHR for the Government's inability to tackle the issue. A Tory source said: 'There is growing pessimism about the Supreme Court. It's finely balanced but probably 60/40 against a win. 'If we lose, it's got to be election campaign mode on getting us out of Strasbourg put the old Vote Leave gang back together and run it relentlessly. We would run day after day of stories to put Labour on the back foot.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described the arrival of 109,000 migrants illegally on small boats since 2018 as an 'invasion', and warned a 'hurricane' of mass migration was threatening the UK. Migrants return to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland. Government advisers say that the Tories would have to campaign to take the UK out of the ECHR in the next election if the Rwanda policy is ruled illegal Rwanda, in East Africa, has been paid 140million so far to take asylum applicants off the UK's hands under a deal struck last April. Legal challenges were started by ten migrants from Albania, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Vietnam all single men who arrived on small boats, who said it would breach their human rights. Their case, backed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reached the Supreme Court earlier this month. In the three-day hearing, Laura Dubinsky KC, for the UNHCR, told judges: 'Rwanda's refugee system is flawed by arbitrariness and unfairness and is not capable of delivering accurate decisions. Entrenched deficiencies in that system will require long-term reform and building of capacity.' Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Secretary, told the court it should give 'respect to the judgment of His Majesty's Government' in deciding whether Rwanda can be trusted to abide by human rights law. He added that the Government was 'well placed' to judge how a friendly foreign state will behave. 'Low level' offenders to be given community orders to ease prison overcrowding Shoplifters will be tagged with GPS tracking devices under plans being considered by the Government a month after The Mail on Sunday launched a major campaign against the crime. The ankle bracelets, worn by domestic abusers and burglars, will mean the police can track the thieves' movements at all times acting, it is hoped, as a serious deterrent. The idea comes as analysis by the Mail revealed that 5,000 shoplifters a year could avoid jail under emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding. Announced last week by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, they include the introduction of laws to stop magistrates and judges handing down sentences of less than 12 months. 'Low level' offenders, including shoplifters, will be given community orders instead. Katy Bourne, the national business and retail crime lead at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said she had been in discussions with Ministers about extending tags to prolific shoplifters. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced last week that 'low level' offenders including shoplifters would be given community orders instead of being jailed, under emergency measures to ease overcrowding in prisons Meanwhile, a Government action plan to combat the crime is expected to be announced tomorrow, after official figures showed a record 25 per cent rise in theft from shops over the past year, with offences now up to 1,000 a day. Police will be told to adopt a 'zero-tolerance' approach, to investigate every crime where there are reasonable leads such as CCTV footage. and to provide the 'highest grade of emergency response' when staff detain a thief. A new police operation called Project Pegasus is also to be set up, funded by ten leading retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and John Lewis. This will use face-scanning technology to identify organised crime gangs that specialise in shoplifting. A new police operation called Project Pegasus is also to be set up, funded by ten leading retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and John Lewis ... and will also be put on a new app Retail bosses are using a new smartphone app to warn each other about shoplifters operating in their area. The app, called Disc, works by allowing businesses to upload reports of incidents, including images of the thief. Other stores can then access the information, alerting each another to the activities of prolific offenders. Twenty-seven of the 43 police forces in England and Wales are also linked to the app, with more expected to sign up. Disc's managing director Steve Lang, a former police officer, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Retail theft is far from a victimless crime. Prices rise, shops close, shop workers lose jobs and families struggle even more. Individual retailers cannot solve shop theft by themselves. Working in partnership is key.' Hundreds of rape victims who were told there was not enough evidence to prosecute their attackers could use a change in Scots law in a bid to win justice. It was ruled last week that testimony about a victims distress can for the first time be used in court as evidence of rape. The landmark move allows independent testimony about the trauma experienced by the victim to bolster other evidence, such as DNA, in a bid to make it easier to prosecute rape cases in future. However, campaigners believe the ruling could also be used to reopen cases previously dropped because of a lack of corroboration. Last night Sandy Brindley, chief executive of charity Rape Crisis Scotland, said: This judgment presents a seismic change for the use of corroboration in sexual offence cases. Karen Devine is now hoping for her case to be reopened after she made rape claim We hope it will be a very positive step for survivors seeking justice in Scotland. If a survivor has been told that their case cannot proceed because of insufficient corroboration, and has questions about what this ruling might mean for them, we would advise them to get in touch with the contact who dealt with their case at Police Scotland or the Crown Office. Among those who hope the ruling could allow their case to be reopened is mother-of-two Karen Devine, who alleges that she was raped by a well-known Scottish celebrity. Earlier this year, The Scottish Mail on Sunday published her claims that she was attacked in her home by the man, her ex-partner. Police Scotland investigated Ms Devines allegation but told her there wasnt enough evidence to launch a prosecution. Ms Devine, who waived her right to anonymity, said: Hopefully the changes will help with my case. I am completely different after what happened to me. I might not have told anyone straightaway but I was quiet and withdrawn. What he did took a toll on my mental health, which my family noticed. They say that it makes sense now that they know. It was clear I wasnt OK afterwards. Ive left my job and have been having counselling since. After Ms Devine, 40, reported the incident, the man was arrested and questioned but later released. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, KC, Scotlands most senior prosecutor, last week argued at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh that it was wrong for jurors to be barred from considering that distress shown by a rape victim in the immediate aftermath of an assault can corroborate the crime. Scotlands most senior judge, Lord Carloway, confirmed that distress displayed by a complainer to another witness can now be used. He ruled: It is clear that, in the Commonwealth generally, distress can provide corroboration of a sexual assault, including rape. Scots law is out of step with the rest of the Commonwealth. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said it will work with partners to consider the terms of this ruling carefully and what it means. A Police Scotland spokesman said: We are considering the judgment and are liaising with COPFS to fully understand the implications. Hostages are in a desperate race against time as negotiators work to get them out ahead of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. After an American mother and daughter were released on Friday, a deal to free 50 more captives reportedly collapsed last night. With 201 prisoners, including seven Britons, still being held, back-channel talks are going on around the clock before Israel's military descends to 'annihilate' Hamas in a full-scale invasion. Tearful families spoke of their anguish last night, as the US, UK and other governments were said to have been piling pressure on Israel to delay its air, sea and land assault to give deal-makers more time. Israeli tanks are in full readiness along the border. In Cairo yesterday, Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for 'discipline and professionalism and restraint' from the Israeli military, while accepting the country's right to self-defence after the massacres of October 7. READY TO ATTACK: The Israeli army gathers on the border with Gaza BLOODIED: An injured Palestinian boy after an air strike on the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah yesterday British hostage negotiators are understood to have been lined up to help forge an agreement with Hamas to release UK citizens. Among the British captives are Nadav Popplewell, 51, from Wakefield, who was marched away with his 79-year-old mother Channah Peri. The terrorists taunted Nadav's sister Ayelet Svatitzky by sending her selfies from her mother's phone with the caption 'Hamas'. Last night Ms Svatitzky, who lives in northern Israel, told The Mail on Sunday: 'I trust the British Government to do whatever they can to rescue the hostages. But I also accept that I don't have any control over when the troops go in I will just pray for the safe return of my mum and my brother.' I have to hope that he is alive and being strong She also spoke of her health fears for the pair, now presumed to be held in a booby-trapped Hamas bunker: 'My mother is a very elderly lady with diabetes who needs insulin and recently lost sight in her eye.' Yesterday, the father of kidnapped American Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, told reporters she was 'doing very good' after being released with her mother Judith Tai Raanan, 59. Uri Raanan, 71, said: 'I'm going to hug her and kiss her, and it's going to be the best day of my life.' The Raanans were taken to an Israeli military base where family members were waiting, and spoke to President Joe Biden by phone. It is believed they were given medical checks before a debrief with FBI and Israeli intelligence experts. The two women may hold 'crucial operational intelligence,' said a former western security official. 'This is information, no matter how small, that cannot wait, that is essential to the immediate situation and needs to be gathered now. The initial debrief may be over two days. '[The debriefers] will want to know anything that can be revealed about the state and whereabouts of the other hostages, confirmation of who is being held together. The women may recall sounds of what was going on outside where they were held, who is in charge of the unit they were being held by.' The source added that it is possible MI6 and the CIA may also be involved. DESPERATE: With 201 prisoners, including seven Britons, still being held, back-channel talks are going on around the clock before Israel's military descends to 'annihilate' Hamas in a full-scale invasion RUIN: Tearful families spoke of their anguish last night, as the US, UK and other governments were said to have been piling pressure on Israel to delay its air, sea and land assault to give deal-makers more time. Israeli tanks are in full readiness along the border In a statement on Friday, Hamas said it was working with mediators in Egypt, Qatar and other 'friendly countries' to release more hostages 'as and when security circumstances permit'. But a deal involving the US, Israel and Qatar that would have led to the release of 50 hostages fell through, the Wall Street Journal reported. 'Hostages are being kept to act as human shields Informed sources told the newspaper that, for the first week of the conflict, Hamas leaders had refused any conversation about the hostages. Extraordinarily, they weren't even sure where all the kidnapped people were, because some had been snatched by ordinary Palestinians who burst through the border fence during the terror attacks. It is feared many hostages are being kept to act as 'human shields' in the expected invasion. Families of the captives desperately pleaded with the Israelis for more time to free them before it begins. Rachel Goldberg, 54, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, a festival-goer last seen being loaded onto a truck by terrorists, told the MoS yesterday: 'Obviously if your child is sitting in the street and you see a truck coming, it's natural to say 'please pump the brakes'.' She said: 'Obviously we are beyond thrilled for the Raanan family. As soon as we heard they were finally getting good news, we were in tears of joy for them. 'We are still in the realm of complete unknown for Hersh. What we pieced together from people who were with him is that he was in hiding and Hamas threw in hand grenades. We know his left arm was blown off at the elbow, and he was put on a Hamas pick-up truck. 'Hearing that about your child, it's primal terror. He might have bled out from his wound, or he might be alive in Gaza now in terrible pain without the medical care he needs. 'I have to keep the mother's hope that he is alive and being strong and surviving.' Aid arrives amid chaos at border There was chaos at the crossing between Gaza and Egypt yesterday as vital aid was finally allowed in but foreign passport holders were blocked from getting out. Hundreds of expats were denied exit from the besieged enclave, but the Rafah border crossing was opened to aid, with 20 lorries bringing a lifeline to Gazan civilians caught in the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror group that runs Gaza. The aid convoy was the first to enter since chaos erupted two weeks ago. But while the lorries brought 3,000 tons of food and medicines, the Palestinian authorities said this amounted to only three per cent of the supplies needed every day. Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants are rationing food and drinking dirty water. And hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. A Detroit synagogue president was found stabbed to death outside her home in the downtown area of the city on Saturday morning. Samantha Woll, 40, was head of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue since 2022, and was known for her work with several Democratic politicians including Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. Woll's body was reportedly discovered after a 'trail of blood' led to her home, where she was found with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say they are still investigating the crime, and have not released a motive for the crime. It remains unclear if the killing has any relation to unrest in the Middle East. The Detroit Police Department told DailyMail.com that no arrests have been made and no press conference has been scheduled. Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police Department's Homicide Section at (313) 596-2260. Samantha Woll, 40, was found stabbed to death outside her home on Saturday morning Tributes have poured in for the synagogue president, who was known for her work building bridges between the local Jewish and Muslim communities The Jewish leader's body was discovered outside her home in the downtown area of Detroit, after police followed a trail of blood to her property Tributes quickly poured in for the religious leader, who was noted for her work building bridges between the Jewish and Muslim communities, as her synagogue expressed shock at her sudden 'unexpected' passing. 'At this point we do not have more information, but will share more when it becomes available,' her synagogue said. 'May her memory be a blessing.' Woll was named in the Detroit Jewish News' '36 under 36' list in 2017, which described her as a 'social justice and political activist'. 'She was instrumental in the founding of the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit a grassroots collective of young adults of both faiths who gather in partnership to learn, celebrate and build community together,' the glowing profile read. She was praised for helping 'to build and deepen important relationships' between local Jewish and Muslim communities, where she hosted 'revolutionary events, including an Interfaith Iftar dinner welcoming Syrian refugees.' 'By extending her hand and creating space for connection between Muslims and Jews, she has exemplified the values of healing the world.' Michigan has one of the largest Muslim populations per capita in the United States, according to the World Population Review. Investigators have not indicated any link to the conflict in the Middle East, however it comes just days after US Attorney General Merrick Garland warned that Muslim and Jewish people are at an increased risk of threats and hate crimes due to the situation. The fatal stabbing has also come just a week after Palestinian-American boy Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, was stabbed to death in Illinois. Michigan Attorney General Danal Nessel paid a heartbreaking tribute to Woll (pictured together), where she said the Jewish leader was 'as kind a person as I've ever known' Woll had been the head of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue since 2022, and was also known for her work with several Democrat politicians Woll was tragically pronounced dead at the scene outside her home after suffering multiple stab wounds Wolls fatal stabbing has come just a week after six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American boy, was also stabbed to death in Illinois. Police have not established any link between her stabbing and the conflict in the Middle East In a statement after the Jewish leaders' death, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who Woll had also worked for on her re-election campaign, said she was 'shocked, saddened and horrified' at the 'murder.' 'Sam was as kind a person as Ive ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone,' Nessel said on X. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin also praised Woll, saying she was one of the leaders who helped guide her office in her first full term in Washington. 'She did for our team as Deputy District Director what came so naturally to her: helping others & serving constituents,' she said on X. 'Separately, in politics & in the Jewish community, she dedicated her short life to building understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness.' Woll had appeared in Detroit Jewish News ' '36 under 36' list in 2017, where she was noted as a 'social justice and political activist' I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sams brutal murder. Sam was as kind a person as Ive ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone. pic.twitter.com/gIYRP4USaj Dana Nessel (@dananessel) October 21, 2023 I and all of Team Slotkin is heartbroken at this news. Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term. https://t.co/BisT7N6cAa Rep. Elissa Slotkin (@RepSlotkin) October 21, 2023 Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said he was devastated 'to learn of the loss of one of Detroit's great young leaders.' 'Just weeks ago, I shared a day of joy with Sam at the dedication of the newly renovated Downtown Synagogue. It was a project she successfully led with great pride and enthusiasm,' he said in a statement. 'Sams loss has left a huge hole in the Detroit community. This entire city joins with her family and friends in mourning her tragic death.' State Rep. Noah Arbit, who is Jewish, described Woll as the 'kindest, most beautiful soul' as he paid his respects. 'I am shattered and broken and unable to move. There are no words,' he said. 'The kindest, most beautiful soul taken in the most evil, brutal way. Sam was committed to justice and equality. In her name we will never give up. Baruch Dayan Emet, Sam. You were so loved and cherished.' It comes after the congressman stepped down earlier this month from the House Democratic Leadership Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips is reportedly planning to jump into the 2024 race for the White House and challenge the Democratic nomination. Two sources told Politico that Phillips will launch his presidential campaign this coming Friday in Concord, New Hampshire. A spokesperson for the Concord Department of Administrative Services told the outlet that a permit for the State House Plaza had been obtained by Democratic consulting firm Fletcher Ridge. An insider close to the campaign also told the publication that Fletcher Ridge had been approached to work with Phillips. The congressman stepped down earlier this month from the House Democratic Leadership and said he was considering a move to challenge President Biden. Two people directly familiar with the move told Politico that Phillips, pictured here in 2021, will launch his presidential campaign this coming Friday President Biden speaks as he meets with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Democratic Party chairman Ray Buckley confirmed to News 9 that Phillips had contacted him about filing for the ballot. Buckley told the outlet: 'I had to Google him to find out who he was', he also told the outlet that he said to Phillips that once he files his name he cannot get off the ballot. He added: 'Joe Biden started coming up to me in the 1970s, and that's usually the pathway that successful candidates take. 'For Dean to try to introduce himself in just a matter of weeks and make a mark in the primary, I think it's going to be a heavy load.' Fellow Democrats in Washington and New Hampshire have expressed their disdain at the move by Phillips, saying it unnecessarily weakens Biden. Rep. Betty McCollum, also of Minnesota, told Politico: 'Deans going to do what he wants to do. 'Its a free country, and if thats where his heart is and he wants to do it, then he should.' The event next Friday would also coincide with the deadline to file for a Presidential run in the state. Sirius XM host Tim Farley, left, speaks with New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley, right Rep. Dean Phillips walks down the House steps after the last votes of the week in the Capitol on Thursday, April 20, 2023 Terry Shumaker, a former ambassador and veteran of multiple Democratic presidential campaigns in New Shampshire told the outlet that Phillips is 'too late'. Shumaker said: 'New Hampshire voters are not going to cut off their nose to spite their face. '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. Frankly, I think it's too late.' Last month, Phillips said he was thinking of taking on Biden in the presidential primary. Speaking on Steve Schmidt's podcast The Warning in September, he said: 'I'm concerned that there is no alternative. 'I'm concerned that something could happen between now and next November that would make the Democratic Convention in Chicago an unmitigated disaster.' Biden has yet to face a serious challenge from his own party despite his age, alarm among Democrats at his recent gaffes, and voters saying they'd like an alternative. Biden is currently facing Democratic challenges from self-help author Marianne Williamson. Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had been running for the Democrats but announced earlier this month he would now run as an Independent. Neither is presenting a strong challenge in the polls even as voters say they'd like a different choice, citing Biden's age. Polls show voters would like an alternative candidate to President Joe Biden. citing issues like his age and a series of gaffes Author Marianne Williamson is already running a longshot bid for the Democratic nomination in 2024 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an independent presidential bid earlier this month during an event at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Polls show voters are concerned about Biden's age. At 80 he is the oldest president in U.S. history. If he won a second term, he would be 86 when it was completed. A Wall Street Journal poll this summer showed 75 percent of voters think Biden is too old to run for a second term. Those who feels Biden is too old includes a whopping two-thirds of Democrats. Biden has joked about his age. He's also argued it means he has the experience to do the job. 'A lot of people seem focused on my age. Believe me, I know better than anyone,' he said at a fundraiser in New York recently. 'When this nation was flat on its back, I knew what to do. 'I am more optimistic about the future of this country than in the 800 years I've served,' he added to laughter. Phillips is a three-term moderate Democrat from the Minneapolis suburbs. He previously worked in corporate marketing and branding. His grandmother was Pauline Esther Phillips, better known as the advice columnist Dear Abby. A mother of twins committed suicide by jumping off a bridge on Friday Five-year-old twins have been found dead in their beds after their mother jumped off a bridge to her death in what investigators believe to be a tragic murder-suicide. Catorreia Hutto, 31, was seen driving to a lake in Oviedo, Florida, on Friday morning where she got out of her car and was seen jumping from the bridge. Her body was pulled out of the water by local fisherman. The suicide triggered a wellness check of Hutto's five-year-old twins, who were discovered dead at their home in their beds, NBC reported. Deputies found a gun on the ground in Hutto's house - where the twins were found - but investigators did not find any obvious signs of trauma to their bodies. The medical examiner is yet to conduct toxicology tests to determine a cause of death. Five-year-old twins have been found dead in their beds after their mother jumped off a bridge to her death in what investigators believe to be a tragic murder-suicide Catorreia Hutto, 31, was seen driving to a lake in Oviedo, Florida , on Friday morning where she got out of her car and jumped off the bridge. Her floating dead body was pulled out of the water, Seminole police said The suicide triggered a wellness check of Hutto's five-year-old twins, who were discovered dead at their home in their beds Deputies found a gun on the ground in Hutto's house - where the twins were found - but investigators did not find any obvious signs of trauma to their bodies According to the witness who phoned the police - Hutto climbed out of the passenger seat window after parking her silver car on the SR-417 bridge into Lake Jesup and then jumped in. The twins - Ahmed and Ava Jackson - have special needs. The little boy and girl had not been to school since October 13, according to Sherriff Dennis Lemma. According to deputies, the house did not have much food or furniture - they suggested this might indicate that the family was struggling financially. The family's house was roped off by police as investigators continued to gather evidence from the scene. The Seminole County Sheriff Department's office said the series of events fit the description of a murder-suicide. Hutto had acquired her home through a nonprofit charity, Habitat for Humanity, known for building houses for people who can't afford them. Hutto's mother revealed that her daughter had faced a lifelong battle with depression but there were no outward signs of rapid decline or worrying reports, according to the Sheriff's office and the Florida Department of Children and Families. The mother-of-two had been working for a temp agency doing clerical jobs and had been seen at work just a few days earlier, Lemma said. Hutto's mother revealed that her daughter had faced a lifelong battle with depression but there were no outward signs of rapid decline or worrying reports The twins - Ahmed and Ava Jackson - have special needs. The little boy and girl had not been to school since October 13, according to Sherriff Dennis Lemma One of Hutto's neighbors - Latoshia Reynolds - said: 'I am absolutely heartbroken. I have empathy. I don't have to know her. I have a daughter of my own, and what first comes to be is that she may not have had anyone to reach out to .' Reynolds said she wondered if Hutto felt isolated. Hutto's mother had been in Orlando over the past week and had reportedly missed a call from her daughter's phone number at around 10 PM on Thursday night. She assumed one of the twins had accidentally called her, according to Lemma. Lemme publicly identified the twins despite their father's lack of response to their outreach. Deadly Storm Babet has claimed two more victims as a car plunges off a bridge in North Yorkshire. The tragic incident happened Saturday afternoon at 1:20pm near Skipton. A man and a woman, both in their 70s, were in the red Vauxhall Grandland which collided with a bridge barrier on the A629 Western Bypass and fell at least 10 metres. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was airlifted to hospital but died shortly after arriving - their next of kin have been informed. This comes as six others have sadly lost their lives as parts of the UK are hit by unprecedented rain and a second red 'danger to life' warning remains in effect in eastern Scotland. Pictures show the wreckage of the vehicle, which landed on its roof near to a canal. The collision with the bridge involved a dark red Vauxhall Grandland that was travelling south on the bypass in the direction of Keighley from the Gargrave Road roundabout One onlooker said: 'It has sparked a huge response from the emergency services. It sounds like an utterly horrific crash.' READ MORE: Storm Babet claims sixth victim as police reveal M4 lorry crash that killed two women was weather-related Advertisement North Yorkshire Police tonight appealed for information including dashcam footage. Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 12230200190. A spokesperson said: 'The collision occurred at 1.20pm on the A629 Western Bypass. 'It involved a dark red Vauxhall Grandland that was travelling south on the bypass in the direction of Keighley from the Gargrave Road roundabout. 'The vehicle left the carriageway, collided with the bridge barrier and landed near to the canal on Broughton Road. 'Sadly the driver of the vehicle, a man in his 70s from West Yorkshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. 'The female passenger, also in her 70s, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, and was pronounced dead a short time later. 'Their next of kin have been informed.' A crash on the M4 on Friday morning that killed two women has been linked with the bad weather brought by Storm Badet, MailOnline understands DUNDEE: A car became submerged in the road on Friday after a bridge collapsed, taking the vehicle with it. Locals said the occupant was rescued by a farmer BRECHIN: A member of the emergency services helps resident Laura Demontis from a house as Storm Babet batters the country Officers have not stated whether the car left the bridge as a result of stormy winds and heavy rain which today battered North Yorkshire. READ MORE: Chaos at King's Cross as police close station due to overcrowding while rail bosses blame Storm Babet and beg passengers to use different terminals Advertisement This comes as four cars and an HGV were involved in a deadly crash at around 9.10am on Friday killing two women. The incident occurred eastbound between junction 17 at Chippenham and junction 18 at Bath. Wiltshire Police said the investigation into the crash is still ongoing - but MailOnline understands detectives believe the weather played a 'significant part' in the crash. Flooding had been reported elsewhere on the motorway early on Friday. Storm Babet shows no signs of abating as some parts of the UK see two months of rain n the space of three days. The storm has claimed the lives of six people since Thursday including two in Angus, Scotland: a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept into a river and a 56-year-old man in the region who was killed by a falling tree that struck his van. A man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday; police found his body two hours after he disappeared under the water. Elsewhere, a crash in Calderdale near Halifax, West Yorkshire on Friday night left the 19-year-old driver of a white Seat Ibiza dead and their 18-year-old passenger fighting for their life. The weather conditions were 'a factor' in the crash, reports The Sun. Homes in Brechin, Angus, have been evacuated as the banks of the River South Esk burst after surging 5m higher than normal; in nearby Fowlis, outside Dundee, the coastguard were called to help after a bridge collapsed, taking a car with it. 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' A view on the ground of the disruption. A number of the services on the departure board are listed as 'cancelled' Densely packed crowds inside Kings Cross as police temporarily closed the station on Saturday Earlier today, police closed King's Cross Station due to overcrowding. Stranded passengers shared videos on X, formerly known as Twitter, of gargantuan crowds forming inside the station, amidst claims that people were being 'crushed' on the concourse of the huge terminal. Network Rail said crowd control measures were put in place at King's Cross as a result of disruption to LNER services, before the station was closed. One man said he managed to hop onto a train but there was 'no communication,' and said 'the trains are like sardines.' A mother is battling her former husband in the High Court over whether their teenage child should have medical treatment to change gender. The child's mother wants the 15-year-old to only be treated by the NHS because it takes a 'cautious approach' and rarely now prescribes powerful puberty-blocker drugs to youngsters amid concern about the long-term health effects. However, the father wants his child to be allowed to go to a private clinic where young patients are still routinely given the controversial drugs, which are used to stop the onset of physical changes into adulthood. The mother won the first stage of the legal case after a judge ruled that her child must not be treated outside of the NHS until turning 16. Now the couple are set for another court showdown before the child's next birthday early next year. The mother wants the court order to be extended so that the child would have to wait until turning 18 to decide on starting medical treatment to change gender. A mother is battling her former husband in the High Court over whether their teenage child should have medical treatment to change gender The case, which will be heard in the Family Division of the High Court, is covered by very strict restrictions preventing the media from reporting any details that may lead to the identification of the child or parents. READ MORE: 'Being trans or non-binary is a new sub-culture... but we risk raising a nation of chemically castrated children': Doctor who spent 12 years working with vulnerable patients at the Tavistock warns over gender ideology Former Tavistock Trust Dr Az Hakeem (pictured) has said Britain could turn into a nation of chemically castrated children if trans and gender theory is allowed to fester unchallenged Advertisement The mother, who can only be referred to as 'Ms A', is attempting to raise 20,000 in online donations to pay for a top legal team to fight her case. A judge agreed on a form of wording she can use on a crowdfunding website to raise the money. 'I, Ms A, am the mum of a beautiful, clever, funny, gender-non- conforming teenager who, believes they are the opposite sex,' she states. 'My ex-husband and I disagree on whether our child should have access to medical gender treatment outside the NHS.' She explains that she wants her child to remain under the NHS because it is taking a more 'cautious approach' to treating children who are confused about their gender. New guidelines introduced in June mean NHS gender clinics for young people aged 17 and under will focus on psychological therapies rather than puberty blockers, which can only be prescribed to under-16s as part of clinical research. The guidance followed an overhaul of NHS child gender services in England, with regional centres now set to replace the much-criticised Tavistock clinic after a damning NHS review by Dr Hilary Cass said the clinic was 'not safe'. Ms A said young patients are getting round the new NHS safeguards by going to private clinics, where they can access 'life-changing and potentially irreversible' treatments such as puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones. The prescription of puberty-blockers to young people is controversial due to the lack of clinical knowledge about the medication's long-term effect on children's brain and bone development. Cross-sex hormones, which can cause infertility, trigger the physical process of transitioning by increasing hair growth and muscle mass in females or breast development in males. Ms A said: 'I want to ensure that my child receives appropriate care and treatment in accordance with the new approach of the NHS and will therefore seek to extend the order until the age of 18.' A damning NHS review found the child gender services at The Tavistock Clinic were 'not safe' She said she is aiming to raise 20,000 to pay for 'specialist legal advice' in the hope that her case 'will not only be of benefit to my child but to other children and parents in this position.' Paul Conrathe, senior consultant solicitor at Sinclairs Law, which is representing the mother, said: 'This case raises important issues about the safe treatment of children with gender dysphoria, and especially whether treatment risks being left in the hands of unregulated and profit-making organisations, rather than under the umbrella of NHS protection.' https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/help-me-protect-my-teenager/ Israel last night vowed to cut off 'the head of the snake' and launch a military attack against Iran if Tehran-backed terror group Hezbollah joins the war. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Nir Barkat, Israel's Minister of Economy, warned that Iran's Ayatollahs will be 'wiped off the face of the earth' should Hezbollah, their proxy terror group in Lebanon, attack Israel. His incendiary comments raise the grave spectre of a rapidly escalating regional conflict and come ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip to 'annihilate' Hamas. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are in position on the borders of the territory, where Hamas which is also backed by Iran is holding around 200 hostages seized in the violent assault on southern Israel on October 7. But fears are growing that Israel could be forced to fight on two fronts, with Hezbollah and the Israel Defence Forces last week repeatedly trading fire across Israel's northern border with Lebanon. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Nir Barkat (right, pictured next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, centre), Israel's Minister of Economy, warned that Iran's Ayatollahs will be 'wiped off the face of the earth' should Hezbollah, their proxy terror group in Lebanon, attack Israel His incendiary comments raise the grave spectre of a rapidly escalating regional conflict and come ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip to 'annihilate' Hamas (pictured: a plume of smoke erupting in northern Gaza after Israeli bombardment on October 21) File image of fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon In a direct threat to deter Tehran from intervening further, Mr Barkat warned that not only would Israel 'eliminate Hezbollah', if it believes the terror group is opening up a 'northern front', but 'we will actually target Iran.' 'The plan of Iran is to attack Israel on all fronts. If we find they intend to target Israel, we will not just retaliate to those fronts, but we will go to the head of the snake, which is Iran. If our enemies attack, we will wipe them out 'The Ayatollahs in Iran are not going to sleep good at night, we are going to make sure they pay a heavy price if, God forbid, they open the northern front. 'Lebanon and Hezbollah are going to pay a heavy price, similar to what Hamas is going to pay. But that's not enough. 'The very clear message is that we are going to be going after the heads of Iran as well. When will we do that? When we decide. 'Israel has a very clear message to our enemies. We are saying to them, look what's happening in Gaza you are going to get the same treatment if you attack us. We are going to wipe you off the face of the Earth.' Barkat said: 'The Ayatollahs in Iran are not going to sleep good at night, we are going to make sure they pay a heavy price if, God forbid, they open the northern front' (pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) In a direct threat to deter Tehran from intervening further, Mr Barkat warned that not only would Israel 'eliminate Hezbollah', if it believes the terror group is opening up a 'northern front', but 'we will actually target Iran' (pictured: Israeli soldiers near the border with Gaza) Mr Barkat's uncompromising warning came as: A deal to release 50 more hostages following the release of an American mother and her daughter on Friday collapsed; Hardline Islamists took to the streets of London and called for Muslim armies to rise up against Israel; Chaos broke out at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as aid trucks entered Gaza, but foreign passport holders were blocked from getting out; Young British Jewish women spoke of their determination to defend Israel after volunteering to fight in its war on terror; Palestine claimed the Gaza death toll has hit 4,385, with 13,651 injured; Israeli losses have exceeded 1,400. Despite increasing tensions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there was still 'room for politics and diplomacy even at this darkest hour' and said 'good progress' had been made to open up humanitarian access. Despite increasing tensions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured left with Netanyahu, right) said there was still 'room for politics and diplomacy even at this darkest hour' and said 'good progress' had been made to open up humanitarian access 'Too many lives have already been lost following Hamas's horrific act of terror. The loss of every innocent life diminishes us all regardless of faith or nationality,' Mr Sunak wrote in The Sunday Telegraph. With 20,000 fighters, Hezbollah is one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East, with Iran believed to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to the Islamists each year. A major war broke out in 2006 between Israel and Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missiles at Israeli cities. During his incendiary interview, Mr Barkat, an ex-mayor of Jerusalem, said Hezbollah 'will not escalate without the order of Iran', adding: 'In many ways... Hezbollah is Iran.' He said Mr Sunak and US President Joe Biden, who both visited Israel last week, understand there is a 'global alignment of evil' between Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. However Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has warned that the Israel-Hamas dispute must not trigger wider instability. Speaking at a peace summit in Cairo, he said: 'We must work together to prevent the tragic situation in Gaza becoming a regional conflict because that is exactly what Hamas wants.' Military experts last night warned that the Israeli minister's comments risked a serious escalation which could push the region to all-out war. General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the British Army's Joint Forces Command, warned: 'If Israel strikes Iran, that is an act of war against Iran, so Iran is going to respond. 'And when that happens then the Muslim world as a whole will feel that this has become a war between Israel and Islam and where does that take you? Military experts last night warned that the Israeli minister's comments risked a serious escalation which could push the region to all-out war Israel has for years carried out air strikes attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran has supported President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that began in 2011 (pictured: Israeli soldiers on a Merkava tank on the border with Lebanon) 'There is every risk in the Middle East of events spiralling out of control and the world ending up in a place which no one wants to be in.' A wider conflict is just what Hamas wants Michael Clarke, of the war studies department at King's College London, said US officials are believed to have urged Israel against making the kind of threats Mr Barkat deliverd. He said: 'The Iranians are talking ferociously, the Israelis are speaking ferociously and the rumours are that the US leant very heavily on Tel Aviv not to make pre-emptive statements of the sort that you have just quoted because that would inflame the situation. READ MORE: Trapped in Gaza: Hundreds of foreign passport holders hoping to escape to Egypt are not allowed through border as Israeli tanks line up ready to plough into besieged Palestinian enclave after Hamas attacks Advertisement 'The Israelis are saying these things partly as an act of deterrence [But] it's entirely plausible that the Iranians won't be able to control the forces acting in their name.' In his interview, Mr Barkat likened Israel's situation to the 1940 Blitz in London. He also warned that a failure to 'wipe out' Hamas will lead to copycat terror attacks in the UK. Amid criticism of the BBC's refusal to call Hamas terrorists, Mr Barkat, a former Israel Defence Forces paratrooper, said he had taken some of the broadcaster's reporters to Kfar Aza, a kibbutz where more than 70 people were massacred. 'We witnessed the atrocities in the rooms and the smell of death that is still around. It's more than a war zone, it's a hell zone. Can they describe what they saw? If this is not a terrorist organisation then what is?' He also said Israeli officials have seen a video in which Hamas terrorists doused a woman with petrol and burned her alive in the street. Israel has for years carried out air strikes attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran has supported President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that began in 2011. In September, Dozens of Israeli Air Force fighters, spy planes and refuelling aircraft flew thousands of miles from Israel to Greece and back to simulate a long-range strike on Iran and its nuclear facilities. Hamas has claimed Israel 'declined to receive' two more hostages after the terror group said it was prepared to release them from Gaza. A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas said on Saturday the group intended to release the pair of hostages for 'humanitarian reasons'. However, it claimed Israel has declined to receive them, a claim that Israel dismissed as 'propaganda'. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a short statement: 'We will not refer to false propaganda by Hamas. We will continue to act in every way to return all the kidnapped and missing people home.' Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said in a brief statement that it informed Qatar on Friday of Hamas' intention to release them. He did not offer any more information on the hostages. Hamas has claimed Israel 'declined to receive' two more hostages after the terror group said it was prepared to release them from Gaza. Pictured: Smoke and debris rise from an Israeli missile strike on Gaza, October 21 The claim comes after Hamas released two other hostages - American mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan - on Friday. On October 7, Hamas militants stormed across the border from Gaza into Israel and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military announced today it was stepping up its bombardment of Gaza, just hours after the first aid trucks arrived from Egypt bringing desperately needed relief to civilians in the war-torn enclave. The military said it aimed to reduce the risks its troops would face as they enter Gaza in the next phase of the war it launched on Hamas after the October 7 attack. An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin 'soon'. 'From today, we are increasing the strikes and minimising the danger,' military spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari told a press conference Saturday. 'We have to enter the next phase of the war in the best conditions, not according to what anyone tells us.' People hold placards during a demonstration to show support and solidarity with the families of hostages who are being held in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 21 On a visit to a frontline infantry brigade, chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said troops were ready to deal with any surprises Hamas had in store for them when they enter Gaza. 'Gaza is densely populated, the enemy is preparing a lot of things there - but we are also preparing for them,' Halevi said. A full-blown Israeli ground offensive of Gaza carries many risks, including to the hostages Hamas took and whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty. So the release of the two Americans among the hostages on Friday offered a rare 'sliver of hope', said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. He 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 and that it was 'working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow'. A person looks at posters depicting hostages and missing people, as residents of Tel Aviv show support and solidarity with the families of hostages who are being held in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 21 Journalists for AFP news agency saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza on Saturday. The crossing - the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel - closed again after the trucks passed. The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the 20 trucks admitted on Saturday fell far short of the needs of Gazans, more than one million of whom have been forced from their homes. 'Much more' aid needs to be sent, Guterres told a peace summit in Egypt. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged 'all parties' to keep the Rafah crossing open. But a Hamas spokesman said 'even dozens' of such convoys could not meet Gaza's requirements, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. Almost half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the United Nations says. Thousands have taken refuge in a camp set up in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. 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 missiles struck around them. 'We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die,' she told AFP. In Al-Zahra in central Gaza, Rami Abu Wazna was struggling to take in the destruction wreaked by Israeli missile strikes. American-Israeli hostages Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, were delivered to the Red Cross on Friday, October 20, 2023 and returned to Israel 'Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible,' he said. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, amid fears of a wider conflagration. Exchanges of fire continued across Israel's border with Lebanon Friday, with Hezbollah reporting four of its fighters had been killed. In Israel, two Thai farm workers were wounded, emergency services said. Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Young British Jewish women last night said they are ready to risk their lives after volunteering to join Israel's war on terror. At least 100 people have travelled from the UK to Israel to fight, with many more dual nationals living in Israel or elsewhere in the world signing up for reserve duty in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Moriah Mencer, 21, ripped up her plans to travel the world and instead caught a flight from Britain to Israel after learning that her friend Tiferet Lapidot, 23, was missing following the Hamas terror attack. Tragically, it later emerged Tiferet was among the 260 revellers massacred by gunmen at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel on October 7. Speaking exclusively last night, Moriah said: 'I can't stand back and not help. As much as I feel British, I feel Israeli and this is my country. If we don't protect Israel now we won't have anywhere. It's not only fighting terror, we're fighting for our existence.' Moriah finished her two-year army duty five months ago, training a unit of female combat soldiers in firearms. She was visiting family in Britain and planning to travel to Australia, Thailand and South America when Hamas attacked. Moriah Mencer, 21, ripped up her plans to travel the world and instead caught a flight from Britain to Israel Sidonie, who asked not to reveal her surname, is a medical student who was born in London and was studying medicine in Cyprus After hurriedly volunteering to rejoin the IDF, she is now preparing to be deployed to Israel's northern front, where troops are braced for an attack from southern Lebanon by Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah. She will work in a surveillance unit, detecting terrorist incursions across the border and incoming missile or drone attacks. 'Just to hear what was happening, I couldn't stay in England,' she said. 'We have one country that belongs to the Jewish people only one place where we feel safe. 'This is our home and you feel you have to step up any way you can. Everyone here knows at least one person who's in the IDF, knows someone who has been kidnapped or killed and in spite of everything, I feel safer here even than in the UK with the anti-Semitism we are seeing on the rise there.' It was initially feared that Tiferet had been kidnapped and imprisoned in Gaza but her family later discovered she was among those killed at the festival. Moriah last week joined 1,000 at Tiferet's funeral, one of hundreds in towns and villages across Israel. Another volunteer, dual British-Israeli national Sidonie, 26, was flying to Israel when Hamas attacked. Hers was one of the last flights to land before Israeli airspace shut. Sidonie, who asked not to reveal her surname, is a medical student who was born in London and was studying medicine in Cyprus. Moriah last week joined 1,000 at Tiferet's (pictured) funeral, one of hundreds in towns and villages across Israe Like Moriah, she had completed her mandatory two years military service with the IDF and she immediately contacted her former commander when Hamas struck. She is now serving as an officer at Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv, which is treating dozens of the wounded. 'We had a few critical patients who went straight into the trauma unit, including a soldier of 25. A grenade exploded on him in a gunfight with Hamas,' she said. 'There have been a lot of gunshot wounds in soldiers who came face- to-face with Hamas. I'm a medical student so it wasn't as traumatising for me to see the injuries but the overwhelming needs of the families coming in has been very difficult. 'I have a family in the critical care unit and I think that getting the news that their son might not wake up was the hardest. It hit me because he was my first, and unfortunately he will not be not my last. 'Moving to Cyprus for my studies was very difficult. Israel is home. I don't want to leave knowing that my country is at stake.' Sir Keir Starmer is facing vitriolic attack from within Labour over his support for Israel with one prominent figure accusing the party leader of 'enabling a war crime'. He angered the party's pro-Palestinian faction by saying Israel 'does have that right' to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians, though 'everything should be done within international law'. The backlash has been so great that Labour insiders claim Sir Keir has ordered a seat-by-seat analysis to assess if it could have an impact on chances of winning the election. Fatima Said, a National Executive Member of the Labour Muslim Network who was parliamentary staff member for Jeremy Corbyn when he was party leader, posted that she assumed the Gaza hospital blast was an attack by Israel. She said: 'Keir Starmer... enabled this war crime. Every single politician that has backed Israel and allowed it to get away with breaking international law is responsible for this war crime.' After Hamas's attack, she re-tweeted this message by the Al Jazeera Plus channel: 'Palestinians didn't break through a 'border' to enter Israel. They destroyed a fence separating them from the homes they were forced out of.' Sir Keir Starmer is facing vitriolic attack from within Labour over his support for Israel Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, tweeted how more than 500 were dead after the 'Israeli air strike' but has not corrected herself nor deleted the tweet She also re-posted this tweet by a user called @Khadljasays: 'The genocide Israel is committing in Gaza is not in 'response' to events, it is the entire plan of this genocidal settler colonial state.' Leeds East Labour MP Richard Burgon said the hospital victims were 'killed in an air strike' but has not since apologised nor removed the tweet. Corbynite Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, tweeted how more than 500 were dead after the 'Israeli air strike' but has not corrected herself nor deleted the tweet. Other Labour MPs who did the same were Apsana Begum, Sam Tarry, Beth Winter and John McDonnell. Sources close to Sir Keir said they had 'no knowledge' of a seat-by-seat survey of Muslim votes. Millions of Aussies are being warned to prepare for potential bushfires with soaring temperatures and dry, windy conditions putting firefighting crews on edge. Extreme fire danger is forecast for parts of NSW, WA and the NT on Sunday. 'Hot weather is starting to build across many parts of eastern Australia and it's going to have significant impacts as well with some nasty fire weather in the forecast,' Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said on Friday. Parts of the NT near Darwin are also sweltering through a severe heatwave. Residents in the Northern Rivers region of Grafton could sit through two bouts of 38C weather over Sunday and next Wednesday. Temperatures across Queensland are also due to stick around in the mid-to-high 30s until midweek. The air mass has continued to move eastwards over the weekend, with extreme fire danger forecast from northern NSW down to metropolitan Sydney on Sunday. Firefighters across the country are once again on high alert after battling to control large, out-of-control fires in Kempsey, NSW and Bundaberg, Queensland last week. Millions of Aussies are being warned to prepare for potential bushfires with soaring temperatures and dry, windy conditions putting firefighting crews on edge Temperatures are predicted to soar to the high 30s across the southeast over the next week, and up to 42 in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Picture: BSCH NSW After a mostly cool week, temperatures are set to soar in many areas of NSW on Sunday. Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Northern Slopes and North Western fire districts. Total fire bans are in place for much of the state, stretching from Sydney up to Coffs Harbour along the coast and as far as the QLD border further inland. Warm, sunny weather will stick around until Monday, with Sydney's worst heat - a high of 30C in the CBD - due to settle in on Sunday. Hot, windy weather has fire crews on edge around the state. In Grafton, in the Northern Rivers region, residents could experience uncomfortable heat of up to 38C on Sunday and again on Wednesday. ACT A mostly sunny day is expected in the nation's capital on Sunday with a top of 19C. The temperature will climb steadily at the start of next week, up to a top of 27C on Tuesday before dropping down to the low 20s for the rest of the week. VICTORIA Victorians are in for a cool, rainy Sunday with a low of 11C in Melbourne. Northern parts of the state, which saw sweltering conditions on Friday, have also been granted some relief, with a high of 22C in Mildura. Hot, dry conditions this weekend. Picture Weatherzone 2.JPG Total fire bans are in place for large parts of NSW. Picture: RFS NSW Total Fire Bans are now in place for the Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, North Coast, North Western and Northern Slopes areas. With hot, dry and windy conditions expected throughout today, extreme and high fire danger is forecast for large parts of NSW https://t.co/R9tDns8ts6 pic.twitter.com/2w2hHug5c1 NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 21, 2023 SA A cloudy day is ahead of Adelaide residents, with a maximum of 18C on Sunday. QUEENSLAND The temperature in Brisbane will enter the mid-30s from Sunday, with the hot weather due to stick around until mid-next week. In Ipswich, the temperature will climb up towards 35 to 37C next week. TASMANIA The southernmost state missed out on the hot, dry blast arriving over the rest of the southeast on Friday. Hobart is expecting a day of rain on Sunday, with up to 10mm forecast and a high of 19C. WA Perth is set for a sunny Sunday, with a high of 24C on Sunday. The warm weather will stick around for the coming days but temperatures are unlikely to crack the 30s until midweek. Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the Mortlock district on Sunday. NT Darwin will be sweating through temperatures in the mid-30s from Sunday through to the end of next week. A heatwave warning is in place for parts of the NT. An Extreme Fire Danger warning is in place for the Barkly North district A luxury Melbourne building company has gone into liquidation informing its customers by a letter. PFK Melbourne has been appointed as the liquidator after Dome Building was unable to negotiate payment terms with a former director and shareholder. The South Melbourne company had suffered major losses and directors Andrew Crellin and Jeremy Brockman called the situation 'heartbreaking', the Herald Sun reported. 'You may or may not be aware of a situation last year with a former director and shareholder leaving the Dome business,' the letter said. 'As a result, Dome has annual payment obligations to this former director.' Luxury Melbourne building company Dome (building pictured) has gone into liquidation and told its customers by a letter 'Due to the extraordinary financial hardship builders have endured over the last 12 months we have been unable to meet our annual obligation to the former director in full for this year. Construction firm Simone Homes collapses owing millions to tradies and homeowners Advertisement 'We have been attempting to negotiate revised payment terms that would still allow full payment to him in a manner that would also allow the Dome business to survive.' The letter went on to point out negotiations had failed. 'Unfortunately the failure of these negotiations has had a detrimental impact on our business,' it read. 'Our business has now been forced into liquidation due to our inability to meet our obligations and the refusal to accommodate payment terms the business can manage.' Dome had recently expanded to working in the ritzy NSW north coast town of Byron Bay, but now all work has stopped. When starting in NSW, Dome said on social media that it was 'proud to announce we have gone national'. 'Our new office in Byron Bay, staffed by a dedicated and experienced team, marks an exciting chapter in our journey. 'We look forward to expanding our portfolio of architects, contractors and suppliers.' PFK Melbourne has been appointed as the liquidator after Dome Building was unable to negotiate payment terms with a former director and shareholder. Dome director Andrew Crellin is pictured Dome Building Projects last year completed this luxury home in Erica Avenue, Glen Iris, designed by Pandolfini Architects Former director and shareholder Scott Wilcox left Dome in August 2022 and set up a luxury building company called W. The company was supposed to make annual payments to Mr Wilcox. Last February, Dome issued around 400,000 company shares at $1 each to Crellin Pty Ltd, which is reportedly linked to a family member of director Andrew Crellin. Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Mr Crellin and Mr Wilcox for comment. Ibram X. Kendi has revealed his wife is suffering from metastatic breast cancer - weeks after the antiracism center he founded at Boston University laid off most of its staff. The revelation, aired in a series of tweets from the award-winning author of 'How to Be an Antiracist' over the weekend, was accompanied with words of praise for wife Sadiqa Kendi - who he said has been privately battling the disease 'for months.' Kendi's admission comes after at least $43 million in grants and gifts went into the program - which he himself founded three years ago. The center, called the Center for Antiracist Research, seeks 'to build a world where racial equity and social justice prevail' - but per the school, was recently subject to several complaints 'focused on the center's culture and grant management.' Those complaints culminated in a layoff last month that affected roughly 15 and 20 of its workforce - as well as the aforementioned probe at which Kendi, 41, is at the center. As the investigation remains ongoing, he spoke about his wife's struggle. Ibram X. Kendi (left) has revealed his wife and coworker Sadiqa (right) is suffering from metastatic breast cancer - weeks after the antiracism center he founded three years ago at Boston University laid off most of its staff 'My partner @therealdrkendi shared a testimony on IG this morning in honor of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth,' he wrote of his fellow BU staffer, before revealing 'she has been privately battling stage IV metastatic breast cancer for months. Sharing a recent photo of his partner, a pediatrician at the school's medical center, that showed her appearing happy and healthy, he added: 'Her testimony begins with these powerful words: 'I don't look like what I've been through.'' The under-investigation activist went on to address the bevy of claims of mounting against him - but not before talking up his wife of ten years and how he's been 'supporting her fight... over the last few months.' The 2020 Time magazine 100 Most Influential awardee wrote: '[It] has allowed us to focus on what matters' before citing several tenets like 'Health. Love. Family. Friends. Gratitude. Learning. 'Being our best selves each day since each day can be our last,' he said. In another tweet, he added how he is 'in awe' of the woman and her courage... love... grace... [and] power' - calling her his 'inspiration', along with their two young girls. 'Always have been,' Kendi said, before briefly pivoting to the fast-growing scandal. Offering a vague statement that seemed to cast blame elsewhere, Kendi wrote:: 'Recently, I have faced retaliatory or petty attacks about my management of the @AntiracismCtr by people who want to destroy my reputation. The revelation, aired in a series of tweets from the award-winning author of 'How to Be an Antiracist' over the weekend, was accompanied with words of praise for wife Sadiqa Kendi - who he said has been privately battling the disease 'for months' 'By people who knew what my family was facing,' he further remarked. 'But what has been happening to me has not been what matters; has not been the real storm,' he insisted. 'The real storm is trying to survive the slow death of diseases (or the instant death from bullets or bombs).' Stating that his wife today is 'surviving and even thriving', Kendi went on thank those who have stayed by his side as his leadership over the institute comes under scrutiny, whom he said, 'knowingly or unknowingly,' are supporting his wife 'through her storm. 'I want to thank everyone who has joined our family,' he added. 'I want to lift up everyone who is forming a supportive circle for those battling the storm of breast cancer. 'I am in awe of these women. These beloved women - their battle to survive and thrive - are what matters.' Also offered up by Kendi was a quote from Sadiqa's post in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in which the associate professor of BU's School of Medicine wrote, 'what's matters is not, 'Why did this happen?' [but] the question... 'What now?'' 'Sadiqa writes,' quoted Kendi, ''I have decided to use my power to focus on living my best life, for however long or short I'm blessed to live it.'' The admission comes just over a month after BU engaged in the shock layoff within Kendi's department, three years after he founded the center at BU and six years after he funded a similar one at American University. The 2020 Time magazine 100 Most Influential awardee wrote: '[It] has allowed us to focus on what matters' before citing several tenets like 'Health. Love. Family. Friends. Gratitude. Learning.' Former assistant director of narrative at the center, Saida Grundy, said the center lacked structure and the culture was 'exploitative' Amid these openings, Kendi was hailed as a hero of the left and an innovator in the field of academics - but is now facing accusations of mismanagement in regard to the more recent venture. Some former and current staff told the Boston Globe that the center had been poorly managed by Kendi. 'There are a number of ways it got to this point, it started very early on when the university decided to create a center that rested in the hands of one human being, an individual given millions of dollars and so much authority,' Spencer Piston, faculty lead of the center's policy office told the publication. Former assistant director of narrative at the center, Saida Grundy, said the center lacked structure and the culture was 'exploitative' as she was asked to work unreasonable hours. 'It became very clear after I started that this was exploitative and other faculty experienced the same and worse,' she told the outlet. Kendi garnered recognition in academic circles with his 2019 book 'How To Be An Antiracist,' which exploded in popularity during the global movement for racial equality in 2020. Then-president of BU Robert A. Brown said at the time that Kendi's leadership 'would create a critical emphasis on research and policy to help eliminate racism in our country.' Kendi's hiring announcement was followed by a flood of donations to BU to support the center and Kendi's work, including a $1.5 million, three-year gift from the biotech company Vertex and a $10 million donation from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey later that summer. Spencer Piston, faculty lead of the center's policy office said Kendi had too much power in the organization A few months later, The Rockefeller Foundation donated $1.5 million over two years to help fund the center's COVID-19 Racial Data Tracker. Kendi's work, especially his children's book 'Antiracists baby' has gained criticism for teaching children controversial critical race theory. Kendi defended his books in June 2022 as a way to teach people, including children, to 'see racism.' 'Well, actually, teaching people to see racism,' Kendi said on 'CBS Mornings.' 'There's a difference. Race is a mirage. Racism is real. And it's you know who's the most likely to be harmed by racism? Our children. You know who are least likely to engage about it? Our children. That's what's really prevailing me to do this work.' The probe into Kendi's alleged behavior and the allegedly misused funds - including $10 million donated from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey - is ongoing. Per 2021 budget records obtained by The Daily Free Press, donors also included TJ Maxx's foundation, Stop & Shop and Peloton - all donating over a million dollars. BU's Center first launched in 2020, and is currently still in operation. A man has been charged with murder after a mum-of-two was found dead in her Adelaide house on Friday. Krystal Marshall, 38, was found by emergency services in her Aldinga Beach home on Friday at around 3.25pm. Police arrested a 48-year-old man for murder just after 10pm on Saturday. He was refused bail and will appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday. Firefighters were called to the home, south of Adelaide, after neighbours spotted black smoke billowing from it. The body of mother-of-two Krystal Marshall (pictured) was found inside the gutted home on Friday READ MORE: Sydney man died while trying to put out blaze at unit Advertisement Ms Marshall was unable to escape, with firefighters finding her body in her bedroom after the blaze was put out. She lived there with her ex-wife Anastasia, their two children and a friend. Two dogs and a cat were rescued from the burning home by neighbours, who didn't realise Ms Marshall was also inside. Her ex-partner was inconsolable when she returned to the gutted home on Saturday to salvage whatever possessions she could. 'The kids were at school. I went to pick up my youngest from school and I saw smoke coming out of the house when I was walking up the street,' Ms Marshall told reporters. 'We weren't together for a couple of years but we never got divorced. We were together for 11 years.' Krystal's Facebook is filled with photos of her beloved children. Shocked neighbours are also reeling from the tragedy. Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a fire at Aldinga Beach on Friday afternoon Krystal's social media pages are filled with photos of her beloved children Next door neighbour Jason Freer was at home at the time when he heard an unusual crackling noise. 'I thought it was raining at first, so I walked outside and noticed all this smoke, there was fire coming from the neighbours' roof,' Mr Freer said. 'I didn't know she was inside. It's not nice living next door to someone who's died.' A report will be prepared for the coroner. Anastasia Marshall returned to find smoke billowing from the home she shared with her former partner Russian missiles have killed at least six people and wounded 14 others in Ukraine in a strike on a mail depot in the country's northeastern Kharkiv region, officials say. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media of what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the logo of Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta. 'All six dead and 14 injured as a result of the occupiers' attack were employees of the company who were inside the Nova Poshta terminal,' Kharkiv region governor Oleg Sinegubov said. 'The victims, aged between 19 and 42, received shrapnel wounds and blast injuries,' he added. Of the 14 being treated in hospital, seven were in a serious condition. 'Doctors are fighting for their lives,' he added. Russian missiles have killed at least six people and wounded 14 others in Ukraine in a strike on a mail depot in the country's northeastern Kharkiv region, officials say Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media of what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the logo of Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta According to the regional prosecutor's office, Russian forces in the Belgorod region north of Kharkiv fired S-300 missiles, two of which hit the warehouse The remains of the postal distribution centre in the aftermath of the strike by Russian missiles A firefighter works to put out the fire at the warehouse, which was hit by Russian shelling According to the regional prosecutor's office, Russian forces in the Belgorod region north of Kharkiv fired S-300 missiles, two of which hit the warehouse. 'Debris analysis continues at the site in order to establish the exact number of injured and dead,' office spokesman Dmytro Chubenko told Suspilne, Ukraine's state broadcaster. Elsewhere, a man died as Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol from their stronghold at Ukraine's largest nuclear plant, according to Ukrainian local governor Serhii Lysak. Mr Lysak said that emergency services in Nikopol were working to assess the damage. Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early in the war, sparking intermittent fears of a radiation incident as shelling persisted near the site, often targeting Ukrainian-controlled settlements across the Dnieper River. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Mr Vilkul added that the man's wife was taken to hospital with serious shrapnel wounds. Early on Saturday, Mr Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Mr Vilkul did not elaborate on the site's nature or whether it was linked to Ukraine's war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. At least six people were killed and 14 others wounded by the strike on a mail depot on Saturday Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian military's fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rih's local airport. In Ukraine's frontline Kherson region to the south, one civilian was killed and another wounded as Russian forces launched 'mass shelling' attacks, governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Saturday. In a Telegram post, Mr Prokudin said that Russian troops used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the province, striking some residential areas. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the frontline city of Avdiivka, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, acting local governor Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past weeks as Kyiv's forces try to hold off waves of Russian attacks. Mr Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the province. Russian troops on Friday launched a fresh offensive north of Avdiivka that has secured minor gains, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. The Washington-based think tank cited geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin 'military bloggers' on the ground to support its assessment. Moscow's renewed push near Avdiivka reflects the Russian military command's commitment to offensive operations in the area 'despite heavy materiel and personnel losses', the institute said. The Ukrainian General Staff on Friday claimed that Ukrainian forces had damaged and destroyed almost 50 Russian tanks and more than 100 armoured vehicles in the fighting near Avdiivka during the previous day. The claim that could not be independently verified. Saturday's strike comes two weeks after another on the same region that killed 59 people Oleksandr Shputun, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army unit fighting near Avdiivka, said in televised remarks that Russian military activity in the area had 'decreased slightly', possibly due to heavy losses. However, Mr Shputun acknowledged that Russian units continued to advance. In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was taken to hospital with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. The governor of Russia's southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces shelled two of the province's districts with mortars and grenade launchers the previous day. According to govenor Vyacheslav Gladkov, no civilians were hurt. These latest strikes come two weeks after another on the same region. On October 6, the village of Hroza in northeastern Ukraine was hit by a Russian missile, killing 59 people. Ukraine said a Russian missile hit a cafe in the village in the region as people gathered to mourn a fallen Ukrainian soldier. Moscow denies targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion, a position it repeated in response to a question at a Kremlin briefing about the strike on Hroza. The toll from the stroke is one of the highest among civilians in any single Russian strike in nearly 20 months of the war. Forensic experts worked round the clock for six days to identify the victims. They needed mobile DNA laboratories to identify 19, and one person - a 60-year-old man - was identified only after 20 body parts were collected, officials said. Ukraine's SBU security service has accused two villagers who it said had fled to Russia of helping guide the missile strike. Elsewhere, a top Ukrainian presidential adviser reported that four Ukrainian children who were released from Russian captivity on Monday have been reunited with their families. According to the Telegram post by Andriy Yermak, a 17-year-old girl and three boys aged nine, six and three, were captured by occupying Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. Mr Yermak said one of the boys was transferred to an orphanage in southern Russia, while another was forcibly taken to Russian-annexed Crimea. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Moscow when it issued arrest warrants in March for President Vladimir Putin and Russia's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. State media in Kremlin-allied Belarus have also published reports on children arriving in the country from Ukraine's occupied territories, ostensibly to join 'health recuperation programmes'. The James Webb Space Telescope may help understand the planet's atmosphere For nearly twenty years, scientists have tracked puzzling signals from a massive planet known as '55 Cancri e.' The fiery 'hell planet' a so-called super-Earth nearly 40 light years away can reach temperatures above 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit on its daylight side. Soon, with help from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers hope to fully decode those signals, proving whether or not the planet completely generates and sheds its own atmosphere under the intense heat of its parent star. As the planet passes that star, Copernicus, scientists have recorded small eclipses and halos of Copernicus's own starlight as that light skims through 55 Cancri e's hellish atmosphere toward Earth. A new theory of 55 Cancri e's evaporating and regenerating atmosphere, published this September, was developed after revisiting the records of those eclipses. The researcher's new prediction: 'a thin, transient, secondary atmosphere' on 55 Cancri e, one that is belched out constantly by its ever-present volcanic activity. The planet's strange infrared heat and visible light signals are suspected to be the result of an imbalance in 55 Cancri e's atmosphere, which the JWST will help provide answers to Scientists have revealed that this super-large planet is a turbulent, volcanic mass of rock that can complete an orbit around its host star in just 17 hours After 55 Cancri e was discovered in 2004, scientists determined that it was likely to have volcanoes, flowing lava and high-speed winds carrying storms of 'raining' rock. Even on its cooler night side, temperatures on 55 Cancri e hover at the blistering heat of molten rock, about 2,060 F. The planet is 'likely so hot,' according to Lily Zhao of the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Astrophysics in New York, 'that nothing we're aware of would be able to survive on the surface.' The new study used visible and infrared light collected from three separate space-based telescopes to model the gaseous make-up of this seemingly ever-changing atmosphere surrounding 55 Cancri e. In essence, the hell planet's volcanoes are believed to regularly gush out hot gas, a process naturally called 'outgassing,' engulfing the whole planet in new layers of atmosphere. But soon after, like clockwork, its sun's harsh radiation and solar winds strip 55 Cancri e of much of its extremely hot, new atmosphere. But according to the new study's author, astrophysicist Kevin Heng of Ludwig Maximilian University in Germany, this churn of new atmosphere does not ever leave the planet entirely 'bald rock,' as past theories suggest. 'Despite this variability,' Heng wrote, 'its transit depth [the area of eclipsing planet to its eclipsed star] remains somewhat constant in time and is inconsistent with opaque material.' In other words, even at its most 'bald' some atmosphere appears to remain, but only in visible via an infrared heat signature. Heng detected evidence from three orbital telescopes, including the Spitzer Space Telescope and the CHEOPS space telescope, to suggest the possibility of a thin, ever-replenishing 'secondary atmosphere.' 'As the outgassed atmosphere escapes and is replenished,' Heng wrote, 'it rapidly adjusts to radiative equilibrium and the temperature fluctuations cause the infrared eclipse depths to vary.' Heng's research which has been accepted by the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters, but not yet peer reviewed tested for the presence of various possible gases in 55 Cancri e's atmosphere to help confirm his hypothesis. He found that carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were more likely than methane. 'Atmospheres of pure methane are ruled out because they produce insufficient Rayleigh scattering,' Heng wrote. Rayleigh scattering is the time-tested rules for how an atmosphere bends, dampens and generally reacts with light, named after the 19th-century British physicist Lord Rayleigh, who first formulated the principle. According to past theories about the veritable hell world, when there is no blanket of gas surrounding 55 Cancri e, the planet only emits Infrared light. Those scientists had previously predicted that when the atmosphere is present, then both the fluctuating visible light and infrared light would contribute to the transmitted signal. But Heng's theory focused on the infrared light evidence to explore 'a proof of concept' mathematical model by which some thin, amount of atmosphere might always remain. Astrophysicists, Heng included, are hoping that NASA's JWST can help them even more closely measure the changes in infrared and visible light coming off the 'hell planet' as it passes between Copernicus at the center of its solar system and telescopes here, closer to Earth. The 'hell planet' is so close to its host star that it completes each new orbit in less than 20 hours, which may also contribute its unstable environment, but also means many transits and many eclipses from which to collect data. 'Upcoming observations by the James Webb Space Telescope,' Heng wrote in his new paper, 'will potentially allow the atmospheric temperature and surface pressure, as well as the surface temperature, to be measured.' At least two million people from the European Union and the United Kingdom visit the United States yearly to see the sights and mingle with Americans. However, Americans have formed their own opinions about what the stereotypical visitor from each nation and those ideas have been brought to life by AI. DailyMail.com asked Midjourney, a system that creates images based on text prompts, how Americans think tourists from each country look while visiting the US. According to the tech, Americans think the French dress to impress even when hiking the Grand Canyon and Scotsmen wear the traditional kilt no matter where they go - even on the New York subway. Scottish tourists AI re-imagined what an American thinks a tourist from Scotland looks like, creating a young man wearing the traditional kilt while riding the New York City subway. More than 350,000 Scots visit the US each year French tourists Americans must think the French dress up no matter where they go. Here, a man is wearing the Mariniere while taking in the views of the Grand Canyon. More than 300,000 people from France travel to the US each year Dutch tourists Americans must think all Dutch tourists wear wooden shoes and bonnets. Data shows that more than 111,000 people from the Netherlands come to the US each year Polish tourists Americans think all Polish men have long, dark beards. AI re-imagined this tourist at Mount Rushmore. At least 30,000 people from Poland venture to American each year Austrian tourists Americans must believe all Austrian tourists have blond hair and always wear some sort of pink garment. More than 175,000 Austrians visited the US in 2022 Bulgarian tourists Although more than 80 percent of Bulgarians have dark hair, the AI believes Americans think those visiting the country have blond locks Croatian tourists The AI thinks the typical Croatian tourists would wear clothes resembling the American flag when visiting the US. Croatians are also allowed to travel to the US without visas Danish tourists Danes are of Nordic Scandinavian ancestry, with a majority having blond hair and blue eyes, and that might be how Americans see them as they visit California in this image Estonian tourists Here are two Estonians visiting a festival in the US, and according to how Americans view them, AI created a couple with blond hair and blue eyes. The US Visa Waiver Program allows Estonian business people, tourists and in-transit visitors to enter America without a visa Finnish tourists Finland is located in northern Europe, and most Americans must think Finnish tourists are always dressed for winter - no matter where they go. More than 29,000 Finnish vacationed in the US in 2020 Irish tourists Americans must think Irish tourists have just come to the US to party. The AI generated an image of three individuals drinking beer on a sunny day. More than 400,000 people from Ireland visit the US each year Italian tourists Americans must think Italian tourists look just like they do across the Atlantic. The AI created an image of a couple sitting outside of a cafe, which could be located in Little Italy, New York. Pre-pandemic, millions of Italians would flock to the US for vacation, but that number has since fallen to 135,000 in 2021 English tourists Americans must think the English have just as much pride for their country as they do. The AI created a snapshot of two men wearing their flag proudly. The U.S. recorded roughly 730 thousand travelers from the United Kingdom in 2020 Greek tourist Americans must think all Greek tourists will jump at any opportunity to remove their shirts. The AI created an image of this man from Greece who is visiting Texas while on vacation Portuguese tourists Americans might think most Portuguese tourists have dark hair and slim bodies, as the AI created in this image. The US had more than 25,000 visitors from Portugal in 2022 German tourists American's views about German tourists must be that they all have blond hair and blue eyes. The man in this picture is also wearing what appears to be a traditional German hat while the two are visiting a festival in the US Swedish tourists Americans must think all Swedish men have beards due to the cold weather that engulfs the northern European country. Here, this man appears to be waiting for his ride after he just arrived in the US Spanish tourists A TikToker has shared her 'honest' experience of a 129 Wowcher minibreak mystery holiday to Prague - which ended up costing over 500. Becky Chorlton, who's a content creator and verified seller on fashion marketplace Depop, said she would recommend that travellers book the trip themselves, rather than using Wowcher, after the discount site added a host of additional fees onto their trip. Becky, from Warrington, told MailOnline Travel that her mystery trip amounted to 568 for herself and her boyfriend, far surpassing the original 129 per person they'd originally set out to spend. Sharing the details of the trip in a video with her 179,000 TikTok followers, Becky explained that these 'mystery' holidays involve travellers purchasing a voucher, starting from 99 per person. Wowcher then gets in touch several weeks later to reveal the destination they'll be holidaying in and the details of their trip. The trip ended up costing 'quite a bit extra' as they wanted to fly from an airport in Northern England and hoped to travel in July or August - specifications that incur added fees. Becky Chorlton shared an 'honest review' of her experience booking a 129 Wowcher mystery holiday to Prague Becky and her boyfriend spent 568 in total on their holiday in the Czech capital Sharing more on the experience in a blog post on lifestyle app Lemon8, Becky explained that it cost them 129 per person to travel in peak season, as well as a 10 admin fee. Becky wrote: 'We received a phone call from somebody from Wowcher giving us our location for the holiday. They had no beach trips left so we were definitely going to a city. At first, they mentioned a few different locations, including Denmark... and then they asked if we wanted to go to Prague.' The couple agreed to a trip to Prague, but pushed for three nights in the Czech capital after originally being offered two. Wowcher offered them flights from London, but as the couple wanted to fly from Manchester, they were forced to fork out extra. Becky explained: 'To fly from Manchester cost us an additional 130 per person, which was super expensive.' The pair flew with Ryanair and spent three nights in Prague in a hotel. While Becky described the hotel room as 'nice' and noted that it had its own balcony, she said it was situated 20 minutes outside the city centre and was 'more of a hostel than a hotel'. It was more expensive for the couple to travel in peak season, Becky revealed. Wowcher offered the couple flights from London, but as they wanted to fly from Manchester, they were forced to fork out extra for their flights The pair flew with Ryanair and spent three nights in Prague in a hotel Explaining where they spent further money, Becky told MailOnline: 'The holiday was also self-catering and didn't include transfers to and from the airport, which we were aware of when booking.' The popular video has received over 20,000 views and attracted a number of outraged commenters. One wrote: 'I'm sorry but that's my worst nightmare staying in a hotel like that.' Another said: 'Oh no, you could have got way cheaper and nicer in Prague for that money!' Meanwhile, some recounted their own experiences of Wowcher's mystery holidays. One person wrote: 'We paid 80 per person for Gdansk [in Poland, it] was nice but we had to travel from London for flights with no option to change airport, when we live in Leeds.' 'The whole experience was just a bit of fun, it helped us discover our love for city breaks,' Becky said of the trip The couple arriving at their hotel, which was situated 20 minutes outside the city centre The hotel that Becky and her boyfriend stayed at, which they described as 'nice'. Becky said that their hotel was 'more of a hostel than a hotel' Despite the added fees, Becky appeared to make the most out of her trip and even described it as one of her 'favourite' holidays. She told MailOnline: 'The whole experience was just a bit of fun, it helped us discover our love for city breaks and meant we got to discover a new place, which we probably wouldn't have visited on our own.' She added that it would be a 'great gift' for somebody if they could travel from a London airport. However, she said: 'I do feel that if we booked the holiday to Prague ourselves we could've got a lot more for our money.' While Becky said she would be 'hesitant' to book with Wowcher again, she told MailOnline: 'If you're struggling [with] deciding where to go and just fancy a holiday I'd recommend doing this experience - but manage your expectations!' To see more videos from Becky visit her TikTok account. Advertisement A sprawling Soviet Cold War bunker built to withstand a 20-kilotonne nuclear blast but abandoned for decades is to be transformed into Europe's newest tourist attraction. Carved into the side of a mountain on the border of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zeljava Underground Airbase was once one of the continent's largest military complexes. But for decades it sat idle, after being abandoned in the Serbo-Croatian War in 1992, with only the occasional intrepid adventurer ever daring to venture into its crumbling cavernous core. Now, plans are afoot to open the huge complex, which is nestled just a stone's throw from southern Europe's busiest national park, Europe Plitvice Lakes, to tourists - as haunting new images of the vast base were revealed. Built in secret at a cost of $6billion in the 1960s to hide a fleet of Soviet fighter jets in what was then Yugoslavia - a socialist federation that sought a middle ground between Moscow and Washington during the Cold War - it had its own power, water purification and ventilation systems and could operate autonomously. Carved into the side of a mountain on the on the border of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zeljava Underground Airbase was once one of Europe's largest military complexes (visitors are pictured exploring the base) The sprawling Soviet Cold War bunker was built to withstand a 20-kilotonne nuclear blast but abandoned for decades It sat idle, after being abandoned in the Serbo-Croatian War in 1992, with only the occasional intrepid adventurer ever daring to venture into its crumbling cavernous core (pictured is Mario Garbin exploring the bunker's dank depths with a torch) Now, plans are afoot to open the huge complex, which is nestled just a stone's throw from southern Europe's busiest national park, Europe Plitvice Lakes, to tourists (visitors Angelo Virag (R) and Mario Garbin (L) take pictures Zeljava's dark tunnels) In its heyday, the bunker had five runways and could hold nearly 60 MiG-21 aircraft, with its 2.2 miles or so of tunnels also home to command centres, offices and dormitories for 1,000 Soviet troops. READ MORE: Inside the abandoned Communist airbase nestling on the Croatian-Bosnian border Advertisement The remains of the enormous 100-tonne retractable concrete doors at its four entrances are still visible with metal reinforcements protruding from the structures. 'All the systems were state-of-the-art at that time,' said Mirsad Fazlic, a former pilot who worked at the base for nearly a decade in the 1980s. 'It was the then best military and civilian technology.' During the wars that followed the fall of Communism and breakup of Yugoslavia in 1990s, the facility was destroyed by the remnants of the Yugoslav army, using powerful explosives. 'All that was inside, all that equipment, everything was burned,' said Mr Fazlic. 'Only the tunnels and the walls remained.' After its destruction, the base sat largely vacant and in disrepair, attracting adventure tourists looking to explore the rusting ruins of the bunker's maze of tunnels and abandoned planes. That all changed in 2016 with the release of a Slovenian mockumentary called 'Houston, We Have a Problem!' featuring the base. This picture taken on October 4, 2023 shows Douglas C-47 B Dakota American army airplane covered with stickers at the Zeljava underground army airbase in the heart of the Pljesevica mountain, on Croatia's border with Bosnia Visitors explore some of Zeljava's 2.2 miles of tunnels in the heart of the Pljesevica mountain on October 4, 2023 Much of the hidden depths of the former Soviet bunker complex have rusted after decades of neglect Visitor Mario Garbin looks at huge fuel tanks at the Zeljava. The underground base was designed to withstand a nuclear blast Since then, locals estimate the state-owned complex has been drawing more than 150,000 people a year. Authorities in the area have high hopes that with the right marketing, the base could attract many more, notably some of the 1.7 million tourists that visit the nearby Plitvice Lakes national park every year. 'By revitalising Zeljava, we would create additional content for the national park enabling tourists to stay a day longer,' said Ante Kovac, the mayor of the area. Car races have already been staged at the base, and officials believe its extraordinary size means it could house data centres, or host parties or a Cold War museum. At the moment, visitors walk with flashlights through its humid, pitch-black tunnels, carefully avoiding holes in the ground, while some drive through portions of the base. 'It's crazy that it has been frozen in time,' said Angelo Virag, a photographer visiting from the Croatian capital Zagreb, who was in awe of the 'absolute ingenuity of engineering'. Locals estimate the state-owned complex has been drawing more than 150,000 people a year Mirsad Fazlic (pictured), a former pilot who worked at the base for nearly a decade in the 1980s, visited the site on October 4 A visitor watches at ventilation plant inside the sprawling underground ex-Soviet military base Authorities in the area have high hopes that with the right marketing, the base could attract many more, notably some of the 1.7 million tourists that visit the nearby Plitvice Lakes national park every year Car races have already been staged at the bass. Pictured is one of the five large runways once used by the base His cousin Mario Garbin, from Perth, Australia, gushed over the 'raw, authentic nature of the infrastructure that has been left untouched for the last 30 years.' Aviation fanatic Hamdija Mesic from the nearby Bosnian town of Bihac said he hopes that the two runaways located in Bosnia would be reopened to fellow pilots soon. 'Such a huge facility abandoned to the ravages of time cannot be found anywhere else in the world,' he told AFP. However, others hoped the site would remain as it is. 'You don't have signs where you have to go and what to see, it's more like a discovery place,' Maria Moreno, a 33-year-old interior designer from Spain, told AFP. 'This is why I liked it. 'Turning it into a tourist attraction would lose its charm.' If you're in the market for a spook-tacular vacation, then make a beeline for Alton in Southwest Illinois. If you dare. Alton has a deserved reputation as the most haunted small town in America, with a long roll-call of ghostly residents, from phantom nuns to a bank robber who haunts the local Irish pub and hotel guests... who can never leave. We asked Cory Jobe, President & CEO of Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, how long Alton has had the reputation as a hauntings hotspot. He said: 'Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, Alton was founded in 1818, but its history is much older with Native Americans having inhabited the land prior to the town being founded. When exactly we became known for being haunted is up for debate. I would say as far back as we have recorded history. The area has a storied history of death, disease, violence... from old Civil War prisons, to people traveling the underground railroad trying to escape to freedom.' Alton has a deserved reputation as the most haunted small town in America, with a long roll-call of ghostly residents Was there one particular ghost that started it all? Cory continued: 'There's no particular ghost that started it all, but rather a natural phenomenon. The city of Alton is surrounded by limestone bluffs that overlook the Mississippi River. Because limestone is made up of organic matter, it's said that limestone is capable of holding information, which can be known to cause paranormal activity. This is when a past event becomes imprinted on the present world.' ALTON'S CAST OF GHOSTLY CHARACTERS Troy Taylor, Founder and Investigator of Alton Hauntings Tour and American Hauntings, outlined the key ghostly characters in Alton. Troy Taylor (above), Founder and Investigator of Alton Hauntings Tour and American Hauntings, said: 'From little girls whose lives ended too soon to phantom nuns, screaming spirits, ladies in black, former ship captains, and others. They don't call us "one of the most haunted small towns in America" for nothing' The 57-year-old said: 'I think the best way to talk about the "ghostly characters" of Alton is to define them by the places where their spirits linger behind. In other words, Henry McPike was a prominent resident of Alton in the late 19th and 20th centuries and remains a prominent figure in our haunted history, lingering at his former mansion - McPike Mansion - on Alby Street. A bank robber, whose identity is unknown, haunts Morrison's Irish Pub 'At the old Mineral Springs Hotel, you have guests who have tried to check out but can't ever leave, like the "Jasmine Lady, who was a real woman named Pearl Sons, who took her own life there in 1965. Another ongoing resident is a man named L.M. Harwood, who shot himself because of his inability to stop drinking and died in the hotel's bar in 1916. Tragically, a young man named Clarence Blair drowned in the swimming pool and is believed to haunt that area of the building still today. 'A pastor named Phillip Mercer took his own life at the First Unitarian Church on Third Street in 1936. The reason for his suicide remains unknown, but for decades, church members and visitors to the church have encountered his spirit there, sometimes as an apparition or as the smell of a man's cologne. 'A bank robber, whose identity is unknown, haunts Morrison's Irish Pub, which was once Alton's First National Bank. On Halloween night, 1868, a patrolman named L.H. Filley surprised a group of men who'd broken into the bank. Filley was killed he haunts his former home on State Street and the bandits made off with only the coins in the teller's cages, not the money in the safe. Since the pub opened in 2015, coins have been mysteriously appearing throughout the entire building, as if one of the bank robbers is trying to make amends for the crime he committed. At the old Mineral Springs Hotel (above), which closed in 1971, there are 'guests who have tried to check out but can't ever leave'. Today the building is home to the Soul Asylum curiosities museum, as well as several new-age and Bohemian shops 'And there are many others, from little girls whose lives ended too soon to phantom nuns, screaming spirits, ladies in black, former ship captains, and others. They don't call us "one of the most haunted small towns in America" for nothing.' Which ghosts does Troy think are the scariest? He said: 'If there are any spirits that are more frightening than others, it might be those who still haunt the site of the old Illinois State Penitentiary that was located in Alton. While only a parking lot remains there today, people still have encounters with phantoms and strange sounds where the buildings once stood. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, Alton (above) was founded in 1818, but its history is much older with Native Americans having inhabited the land prior to the town being founded 'The penitentiary opened in 1830, and the brutal conditions led to many deaths among the prisoners. Even worse, during the Civil War, the place was turned into a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp, and hundreds died during a smallpox epidemic in the summer of 1863. All the intense history that has occurred at the site of the prison seems to have left an impression behind, replaying itself as a haunting that first began to be reported according to the newspapers of the day as early as the 1870s. 'I should also mention one other ghost that terrified people for years, although the former hotel that he haunted burned down in 2010. His name was Tom Boothby, and he was a grizzled old soldier who lived at an early Alton hotel called the Mansion House. For years, he suffered terrible nightmares, waking all the other guests with screams and cries. He believed the men he had killed in battle were now ghosts seeking revenge. 'One night, Tom died in his sleep, and that should have been the end of his story, but instead, his ghost began pestering everyone who stayed at the hotel, even after it became an apartment building years later. Those who experienced his late-night screams were quick to tell you that he was the scariest specter in Alton.' THE HAUNTED MANSION McPike Mansion (above) is a popular historical and paranormal destination in Alton The aforementioned McPike Mansion is one of the town's most popular attractions and is owned by Sharyn Luedke and her husband, George. They bought it as a bed and breakfast but then turned it into 'a historical and paranormal destination'. She said: 'We absolutely had no idea it was haunted when we purchased it. One of my first experiences was when I saw a man in the window seven weeks after we bought the house. He had a shirt and tie on and I had not seen any pictures of anyone at that point. I later saw a picture of the family that lived there and I identified one as the man I had seen in the window. 'I have seen many spirits in the cellar including Henry McPike as a dark shadow. 'One time I was in the cellar with some young adults and family and heard loud banging on the door, and inside I thought "I'm out of here!" But I did my best not to show that I was afraid to the guests. 'The spirits here like people and like to communicate with people that visit the mansion. 'One time I took a friend to the house and she asked if I felt the floor moving. I did not, but then I heard the spirits shouting, "How could you bring her here!" She must have reminded the spirit of someone from their past. My friend then later heard them say to her, "Don't covet my house." 'My husband was outside in front of the house and saw two women running at him so he stood out of the way and they vanished inside the house. He went to look for them inside but did not find them. 'When I asked them how they were dressed he said like native Americans. This makes sense because there were tribes that inhabited the area.' Sharyn added: 'Our visitors on our tours often capture images of people in the windows of the home that they will share on our Facebook page.' THE SPOOKY ODDITIES MUSEUM Soul Asylum at Mineral Springs Hotel is 'a provocative collection of oddities and esoteric artifacts' Soul Asylum owner David Nunnally (above) 'has a passion for the intersection of science and culture'. He adds: 'There are times I need to take a break from some of the items on display in the museum, particularly the haunted objects and especially the collection of haunted dolls' David Nunnally told MailOnline: 'My goal is to encourage guests to question what they have been taught, particularly things that defy empirical explanation, such as the paranormal and hauntings' Another big attraction in the town is Soul Asylum at Mineral Springs Hotel, which owner David Nunnally described as 'a provocative collection of oddities and esoteric artifacts I have collected over a lifetime'. He continued: 'My goal is to encourage guests to question what they have been taught, particularly things that defy empirical explanation, such as the paranormal and hauntings. Additionally, as an anthropologist, I have a passion for the intersection of science and culture, so items that reflect a shared understanding of humanity, or lack thereof, especially pique interest things like bygone medical quackery, torture devices, and religious relics.' What are some of the spookiest items in the museum? David said: 'Without a doubt, the item generating the most angst for guests is the autopsy table from the Dixmont State Hospital in Pennsylvania. Named after Dorthea Dix, who championed the closure of the Alton State Penitentiary in the 1850s, Dixmont opened in 1862 and functioned as a psychiatric institution for nearly 120 years countless patients who died at Dixmont were studied post-mortem on this table to determine the cause of their mental illness. Inevitably, at least one person each weekend will report feeling unsettled while near the table, which rests adjacent to an 1871 Durfee portable embalming table. Combined, these two objects have experienced thousands of deaths.' Is David involved in the day-to-day running of Soul Asylum? Or is that too spooky? He said: 'I am involved in every aspect of running the museum, which is located in the original grand ballroom of Mineral Springs Hotel [which closed in 1971], and I also lead the historic walking tours and paranormal investigations of the abandoned, but very haunted, hotel. 'There are more than 1,000 items from my collections on display in the museum and encouraging dialogue with each visitor, especially those with trepidation or fear of the unknown, is critically important for me. 'Now, having said that, there are times I need to take a break from some of the items on display in the museum, particularly the haunted objects and especially the collection of haunted dolls.' ARE GHOSTS REALLY REAL? A pastor named Phillip Mercer took his own life at the First Unitarian Church (above) on Third Street in 1936, explains Troy, who adds: 'The reason for his suicide remains unknown, but for decades, church members and visitors to the church have encountered his spirit there' There's no doubting Alton's credentials for creepiness, but would sceptics find it spooky? They would no doubt say that all the ghostly disturbances have mundane explanations. What would Troy say to them? He told MailOnline Travel: 'Most ghostly disturbances do have mundane explanations, but I maintain that there are many others that do not. I'm not one of those people who believe that every spooky thing that happens must be a ghost. In fact, most things of that sort are easy to explain, but I'm looking for that small percentage of things that are not so easy to disprove. Cory Jobe, President & CEO of Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, said: 'We have seen visitors come from all over the world. For paranormal investigators, both within the states, and international, Alton is a must-stop destination' 'Science will never prove the existence of ghosts. It's impossible because ghostly events cannot be duplicated in a lab. History, however, is another matter. If unconnected people have the same experience in the same place, never knowing that anyone else had it, and yet all the details are the same, we've made a very good historical case for a place to be haunted.' Luckily for the town and tourism boss Cory, there are enough believers keen to learn more about Alton's eerie history to keep visitor numbers buoyant. He added: 'We have seen visitors come from all over the world. For paranormal investigators, both within the states, and international, this is a must-stop destination. We're at the intersection of the Great Rivers Road & Route 66, which is also a big draw to the area, but there is so much to offer that visitors will find so much to enjoy all year round, such as eagle watching or craft breweries.' Alton is home to one of the nation's oldest Halloween parades on October 31. For more information on the town and its spooky attractions visit www.riversandroutes.com/things-to-do/haunted. Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she has given up on finding love on a dating apps. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, the radio queen, 48, opened up about her new approach to finding love and her adamant refusal to ever grace the screens of a reality TV dating show. When asked about her current relationship status, she candidly admitted, 'Yes, I'm single,' before dropping a bombshell about her dating app future. 'I'm done with dating apps. I don't know. I'm just going to, like, see what happens... I'm open to whatever comes along,' she said. When pressed if she would ever consider appearing on a dating show such as The Bachelorette Jackie responded, 'Oh, no, no. Definitely not The Bachelorette.' Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she has given up on finding love on a dating apps Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, Jackie, 48, opened up about her new approach to finding love and her adamant refusal to ever grace the screens of a reality TV dating show 'No. I won't be doing that. No dating shows... I don't wanna be on TV [dating] . It's hard enough doing it in private.' It comes weeks after Jackie broke her silence on rumours she was dating 29-year-old model tradie Jack Tyerman. 'No, Jack is not my boyfriend. We're not in a relationship. He is not my boy toy,' Jackie told co-host Kyle Sandilands on their hit breakfast radio show. When asked about her current relationship status, she candidly admitted, 'Yes, I'm single,' before dropping a bombshell about her dating app future 'I'm done with dating apps. I don't know. I'm just going to, like, see what happens... I'm open to whatever comes along,' she said '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. When pressed if she would ever consider appearing on a dating show such as The Bachelorette Jackie responded, 'Oh, no, no. Definitely not The Bachelorette' It comes weeks after Jackie broke her silence on rumours she was dating 29-year-old model tradie Jack Tyerman (pictured) The romance rumours started after Jackie exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia that she was seeing a new man during a red carpet interview at the TV Week Logie Awards. 'I'll just say maybe,' she said when asked if she was seeing anyone new. After being quizzed on whether her new love would be joining her at the Logies, Jackie was quick to insist, 'No, no!' Not long after that Jackie and Jack were seen enjoying what appeared to be a romantic moonlit date on the balcony of her Clovelly mansion. It's one of the most popular shows on British TV, but Love Island fans may be surprised to learn the depths producers go when it comes to seeking out stars for a new series. The process begins months before that famous villa hits our screens, with hours of interviews, bikini shoots and in-depth meetings with a psychiatrist. Molly Marsh, who appared on the show this summer, has given fans a detailed look at her application process in a video posted on her YouTube channel, admitting that she was convinced to apply by her management after bosses contacted them. The blonde beauty also revealed that bosses were tight-lipped about whether she'd be part of the show's original lineup, or enter as a bombshell, and was kept in the dark even as she boarded her flight for Mallorca, 11 days before the launch aired. So, for any budding Love Island stars desperate for a spot in the villa, MailOnline has everything you need to know about how to apply... THE FIRST APPLICATION Tough: Love Island star Molly Marsh has given fans a glimpse at the show's gruelling two month audition process, including the unlikely way she decided she wanted to take part Even before she sent off her application, Molly revealed bosses contacted her management to suggest that she should apply for the next summer series. She told fans that she was initially reluctant, saying: 'I've always loved the show but I've never actually been like ''yeah''. 'I've been in relationships I've been happy, it's just never been a thing to actually do the show. 'Don't get me wrong when I was 18 and just turned 18, I applied on the show, I got a boyfriend I was so so happy, was not interested.' Molly added that she previously worked with ITV to promote previous series, and has even visited the villas in Mallorca and South Africa, but after becoming single again decided 2023 was finally the year she wanted to take part. On March 21 she sent off her application, adding that her management would let bosses know that she'd applied and was keen to take part. ZOOM AUDITION Glammed up: Just two days after sending off her application, Molly revealed she'd been invited for a Zoom audition with producers Just two days after sending off her application, Molly revealed she'd been invited for a Zoom audition with producers. She told her fans: 'I'm not letting myself get too giddy, because we shouldn't but this is very good for my mindset right now!' Eight days later on March 31, Molly sat down a chat with show bosses over Zoom, donning one of her best 'beachy looks' so she could sell herself. GRUELLING BACKGROUND CHECKS Development: Six days after her Zoom audition, Molly revealed bosses had begun their gruelling background checks, and sent over three forms that she had to fill in Six days after her Zoom audition, Molly revealed bosses had begun their gruelling background checks, and sent over three forms that she had to fill in. In recent years, bosses have expanded their duty of care measures, after receiving more than 5,000 Ofcom complaints this year, with viewers sharing their concerns about 'misogynistic behaviour and bullying'. Molly explained: 'I've received three forms I need to send back ASAP - one is a health questionnaire, one is a criminal record check and one is more information about my dating history, past, what I'm looking for and really in-depth questions which is so exciting. 'It's literally making me feel sick because I'm so excited, but I don't want to get too excited, so many emotions right now. The show stats in just two months time, I'm so excited and I want to do it so bad. 'So yeah I'm going to fill out those forms and send them off but really exciting there has been another step to the process, it's just feeling really successful. SOCIAL MEDIA CHECKS Major step: On April 11, Molly revealed bosses had invited her to complete a social media check, to uncover any controversial past posts On April 11, Molly revealed bosses had invited her to complete a social media check, to uncover any controversial past posts. While in past years stars have enlisted friends or loved ones to run their accounts while they are in the villa, new protocols introduced in January meant that their profiles were paused for their duration of the show. In past series, Islanders' teams used their accounts to encourage viewers to vote for them and build up their following but this has led to them receiving abuse from trolls and getting into spats with other contestants' family and friends. MEETING WITH PRODUCERS Exciting! Just a week after completing her social media checks, Molly excitedly shared that she was travelling down to London for an in-person audition Dressed to impress! Donning a sexy black dress for the audition, she explained she was recorded during a chat with bosses, but they were tight-lipped on whether she was successful Just a week after completing her social media checks, Molly excitedly shared that she was travelling down to London for an in-person audition with Love Island's executive producers. She explained: 'I went and met a guy from casting, he just sat and spoke to me, checking that if I get on the show am I happy with being called Molly, how I feel after the show, if successful today when I will hear back, all these little things just checking up, management, what I do for work. 'He was lovely, then sat again on my own, another 20 minutes went by and I went into a room with two [producers]. 'There was a camera there and I just spoke and chat and chatted away about me, dating, literally about life, didn't look at the camera, ignored it, literally just spoke about so many topics. 'And then at the end she got me to stand up and she panned the camera from my feet all the way to my head, blew a little kiss, and then she did one more time and then I left.' After her recorded meeting, Molly revealed she had the same chat with three of the show's executive producers, and was told that all contestants would be flown out at the end of the May for the show's launch in June. She added that any contestants who reached this stage of the process would be contacted if they reach the next stage of the process (or not), so producers could start putting together the main lineup for launch night. MEDICAL AND PSYCHE CHECKS Checks: Just two days after her in-person meeting, Molly travelled back to London to undergo a medical and blood tests with a doctor Just two days after her in-person meeting, Molly travelled back to London to undergo a medical and blood tests with a doctor. The show's new duty of care protocols state that potential islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the production's ability to provide a suitable environment for them. She explained that alongside routine medical checks, she was booked in for an hour-long psychological evaluation with a consultant. Molly explained the meeting involved 'lots of questions about family, support upbringing, what to expect from the show, the downsides about what the show can bring, how ITV would support you, your past, relationships, work.' REACHING THE FINAL STAGE Time for a journey! On April 26, Molly revealed that she had reached the last stage of the application process, and had been invited back to London for the show's press day On April 26, Molly revealed that she had reached the last stage of the application process, and had been invited back to London for the show's press day. This boosted her hopes even more that she could be part of the original lineup, though she added that some other Islanders thought they're be heading into the villa on the first day, only to learn at the last minute their arrival had been put on hold. She said: 'I'm thinking only the originals do their intro and their photos on the press day. In my head I'm like ''I could be an original'' 'I need to get in shape, get a tan and get ready!' Ahead of the press day, Molly revealed bosses asked her to send over a range of outfit ideas to film her 'opener', which signifies her saying goodbye to her 'normal job' and heading to the villa. She also ransacked her bikini collection for one that she could wear during her official press snap, and if any of her pieces were unsuitable, a show stylish would provide one. PRESS DAY Stunner: On May 12, Molly headed back to the ITV studios for Press Day, where she posed for the show's now-iconic bikini snaps (pictured) Beaming: Sat in one of the show's iconic neon sets, Molly filmed a clip that would feature in the launch show, along with a slew of dancing shots, and promotional images On May 12, Molly headed back to the ITV studios for Press Day, where she would be filming all of her promotional material, bikini shots and social media content for her arrival in the villa. The blonde beauty revealed she'd been booked into a hotel for night due to National Rail industrial action, and bosses asked her to send a selection of outfits for the shoow. Arriving with two suitcases of clothes in tow, Molly revealed bosses confiscated her phone, and provided her with an alias for the day to avoid her involvement being leaked. Despite sending a range of bikini ideas, bosses selected one for her from their wardrobe department, and after hair and makeup she was taken to the studio to record her VT. Sat in one of the show's iconic neon sets, Molly filmed a clip that would feature in the launch show, along with a slew of dancing shots, and promotional images She then filmed a series of reels and social media content, as well as audio descriptive introductions before heading to a meeting with the show's brand partners. Molly shared that she provided a list of beauty products that sponsor Boots would provide for her in the villa, and selected some pre-loved clothes from eBay that best replicated her sense of style, that could be delivered for her to wear. As part of the show's duty of care protocols, Molly revealed she had a meeting with bosses with about the potential implications of taking part in the show and in-depth media training. Molly then headed into another meeting with executive producers where they confirmed she would learn her flights in just a few days time, and finalised details for filming her 'opener' at a theatre in London. She told her followers: 'It was a very overwhelming day, it was a surreal day, if anyone is watchign this right now and I was on the show, and you're seeing it as ex-Islanders journey you will absolutely love it, just be confident, just be yourself.' FILMING HER 'OPENER' Glammed up! On May 17, Molly shared that she'd travelled back to the capital to film her 'opener' for the launch show montage On May 17, Molly shared that she'd travelled back to the capital to film her 'opener' for the launch show montage. She explained: I am on the stage I am doing a performance at the theatre, I'm auditioning, I take my bow and that's me walking into the villa. 'I went down to London, literally a day there and back, got there went to the theatre, picked my outfit I wear for the day. 'I went on with a dance routine, there was two dancers with me and two actors our front being the casting directors.' HEADING TO THE VILLA At least! With less than two weeks to go until the Love Island launch, Molly finally had her flights to Mallorca booked by show bosses, and she jetted off on May 25 With less than two weeks to go until the Love Island launch, Molly finally had her flights to Mallorca booked by show bosses to complete a period of isolation before moving into the villa. At this point it was unclear whether Molly knew she was part of the original lineup, but as the countdown was on to the show's return, it seemed more likely than ever. Ahead of leaving for her flight in the early hours of May 25, she said: 'I don't know the last time I updated you, I found out about my flights, Monday night, it's now Wednesday evening. 'Early hours of Thursday so I'm getting picked up tonight at 3am, it's been hectic, I'm so stressed, overwhelmed. I was overweight on my cases, and they're meant to be 22, but we decided to pay for an extra case. 'Mum and Dad coming to help me pack, and then we went to China Rose for a meal and they got me a jelly cat. 'I meet my chaperone Summer at the airport I'm flying from Leeds, yeah can't wait. I might update the end of this vlog when I wake up in the morning!' Molly then shared the final step of her Love Island journey as she waited to travel to the airport, ready to kickstart the stint in the villa. She of course went onto form a romance with Zachariah Noble, and after finishing in fourth place, their relationship is still going strong. Sharon Stone and her family are 'living in fear' from an obsessive stalker who has been on a 'mission' to contact the Hollywood A-lister for the past two years. 'Unrelenting' Sandor Boros, a London-based former special forces veteran of the Hungarian army, claims he had a secret son called Jason with his 'angel' Sharon in 1986 when the star was 28. But he claims their son was murdered shortly after birth. Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s and her family has been in a panic since Boros began stalking them. He last emailed Sharon on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them. The subject of the email was 'angel' and he signed it 'Yours Sandor xoxox'. According to the family's private investigator Paul Barresi, the stalker is 'obsessed and mentally unwell' and was caught on CCTV outside her 62-year-old sister Kelly's house in May this year. Boros called Sharon, who has a net worth of around $40million (32.9million), his 'angel' in an email to her earlier this month 'Unrelenting' stalker Sandor Boros (pictured), an ex-special forces veteran of the Hungarian army from London , claims he had a secret son called Jason with his 'angel' Sharon in 1986, when she was 28, who died shortly after he was born Sharon's stalker Sandor Boros (pictured) sent this photograph of himself to Sharon and her family Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s and her family has been in a panic since Boros began stalking them. Pictured: Sharon in Basic Instinct in 1992 That was just three months after tragedy had already struck the family when Sharon's younger brother Patrick died from a heart attack in February, aged 57. And, approaches from the obsessive Boros come eight years after another stalker was hit with a five-year restraining order after his bizarre letters to the Casino and Total Recall star. Barresi is an investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars and revealed he was hired by Amber Heard to dig up dirt on Johnny Depp. He said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits'. Within just 72 hours of the Stone family hiring Barresi, he tracked the stalker down to an airport in London, where he was about to board a flight to Hungary. Barresi told MailOnline: 'He's been unrelenting. He's been pursuing her for the last two years. 'Lately, he showed up at the mum's house and then the brother's house and then the sister's house. 'It was something planned. He was on a mission. 'That raised the level of concern for Sharon Stone and her mother, who is 90, and her sister and brother. 'They were all targets. 'His aggression and desire with passion has intensified.' Boros wrote a letter to Sharon, 65, her sister Kelly, 62, and her mother Dorothy, 90, in August. He claimed Sharon was his fiancee from 1987 and had his love child in 1988 In an email earlier this month with the subject 'angel', Boros wrote to Sharon, signing off: 'Sandor xoxox' The stalker included two photographs in the email of himself and his 'best friend my grandfather' Boros was later contacted by the Stone family's private investigator after he got in touch with the actress in October Boros sent a letter to Sharon, her mother and her sister in August this year. In it, he admitted flying to Los Angeles for a week in May, hoping to talk to Sharon. He said he took a taxi from the airport to Sharon's sister Kelly's home. Boros said: 'Unfortunately, at the gate (video call) the guard [didn't] know who [I] was personally. 'He didn't want to call out Kelly to talk with her from the house. 'Maybe he thought that I am [a] kind of criminal!!! 'Then, I did not [have] any option. I went to [Sharon's brother Michael's house]. 'Michael opened the door to me and I tried to explain my situation to him and asked about Sharon's Los Angeles address to talk with her. 'He was rude When I asked Sharon where about Michael wanted to call the police!! 'He thought as well that I am a criminal.' He added: 'From 1987 Sharon was my fiancee and 1988 we had a baby boy. His name was Jason Stone. 'He was a couple of months old and he died in [an] accident unfortunately. 'I would like to talk with Sharon about this.' Boros (pictured outside Kelly Stone's house in the US) lives in northwest London and is thought to be originally from Hungary Sharon in 1988 on the set of TV miniseries War And Remembrance. According to her stalker Boros, she gave birth to their love child in the same year Sharon Stone in May 1988 on the film set of Tears In The Rain, which was shot in Hertfordshire, UK Sharon in between Michael Woods (left) and Hart Bochner in 1988 on the set of War And Remembrance In an email to Sharon on October 15, Boros said: 'My mental health had been improved even I can state that I am returned to a normal. So, I am back to business' He asked this time about the circumstances surrounding another of his alleged son's death. He said: 'Even I haven't got a Death Certificate about him!!!! I have to know everything about his dead. 'I am willing to interrogation if needs. Please, update me as soon as possible when receiving this email. 'I recently returned from Los Angeles. I went for you and your mum Dorothy to find her address to could talk about all my life that we had made together. 'I [found] in the house just your eldest brother Michael 70 years old but he was rude and wanted to call the Police. 'Please, contact me at my private and encrypted email or the Signal video call. 'The best if we meet at any place and talk all of you in L.A. or Montana or Rockford or anywhere where you find that is safe for you all!!!!!!!!' He signed the letter: 'Sandor xoxox.' Days later, private investigator Barresi was put on the case. The Hollywood private detective found Boros's phone number and called the stalker while he was in a London airport, about to fly to Hungary. Barresi, who is the investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars, said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits' During his call with the stalker, Barresi asked if he had any photos with Sharon or letters from her. Boros said he did not, but was adamant he was 'not lying'. He said: 'She was my fiancee, she was my fiancee. I'm not lying.' He added: 'I'm trying to contact them because I am really desperate to find my son. And I have to talk with Sharon. We got a son. He was murdered in '86. And I'm not joking, so I'm really serious. 'I don't have any death certificate, anything so it's a weird case but I'm pretty sure they know everything, they know everything they [don't] want to tell me.' Barresi said the alleged stalker was angry that the private investigator had his number. Barresi said: 'He knew then and there I had him. 'I explained I was a private detective working for the family. 'His demeanour was not threatening. He didn't indicate any lustful, romantic desire he wished to pursue. 'He has no plans to come to America [again]. He only wanted to know about his son.' Barresi said the stalker claimed his father had known Sharon's mother Dorothy and said they were 'friends'. He added: 'People with diabolical minds, they are very charming, gregarious, super charismatic - all of those characteristics [were] in this guy.' Barresi said he 'couldn't be more pleased' that he tracked down Sharon's stalker and 'cracked the case' in less than three days. He said the Stone family were 'delighted' he had found the stalker. However, while Boros claimed he didn't plan on returning to the US, Barresi said: 'At the moment he's not a threat but you can't be sure.' Sharon Stone and her family declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted Sandor Boros for comment. Netflix viewers are left feeling 'freaked out' just minutes in to the streaming platforms newest British horror documentary - with some saying they had to turn it off. 'The Devil on Trial' dropped onto UK Netflix on October 17, delving into the terrifying true story that inspired The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It,' starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The bone-chilling documentary explores the first and only time 'demonic possession' has officially been used as a defense in a US murder trial. In 1981, 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson violently murdered his landlord, 40-year-old Alan Bono, in Brookfield Connecticut - the first murder in the town's 193-year history. His defense in court was that the devil possessed him and made him do it, with the case attracting the attention of the Warrens. Netflix viewers are left feeling 'freaked out' just minutes in to the streaming platforms newest British horror documentary - with some saying they had to turn it off Johnson claimed he was under the influence of Satanic forces when he stabbed the 40-year-old more than 20 times with a five-inch pocket knife after they got into an argument. At the core of Johnson's defense was the alleged demonic possession of David Glatzel, his girlfriend Deborah's 11-year-old brother. Months before, in July of 1980, the boy woke up crying after having a vision of a menacing old man who told him, 'Beware.' David appears in the new Netflix doc to tell his story firsthand - Arne Johnson alleged that the entity that supposedly possessed David, is the one that possessed him too. The new documentary goes through everything that happened leading up to the murder and throughout the trial that shocked the world - and viewers are left 'unable to sleep' and 'chilled to the bone'. One X (formerly known as Twitter) user wrote 'Seven minutes into The Devil On Trial on Netflix and Im freaked out. This is gonna be a good documentary'. Others wrote 'The Devil on Trial on Netflix is wiiiiild' and 'ngl this might be too scary for me'. Someone else tweeted 'Just watched The Devil On Trial. I thought the documentary was made to show parts that weren't included in Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, but instead it discusses the dark side of what happened. Arne Cheyenne Johnson (pictured) pleaded not guilty to the gruesome slaying of his landlord and friend, Alan Bono, in Brookfield, Connecticut, in 1981, claiming he was possessed At the core of Johnson's defense was the alleged demonic possession of David Glatzel (pictured), his girlfriend Deborah's 11-year-old brother, who became afflicted in July 1980 The new documentary goes through everything that happened leading up to the murder and throughout the trial that shocked the world - and viewers are left 'unable to sleep' and 'chilled to the bone' 'The plot twist makes the audience question Ed & Lorraine.' One terrified user even reported her own paranormal experience, writing 'I'm watching the devil on trial and suddenly my laptop turns black during the part where they play the audiotapes, wtf?' Others added 'The Devil on Trial has me spooked lol' and 'after watching the devil on trial, I dont know who to trust anymore'. Viewers who made it to the end are claiming the documentary had a shocking conclusion. One user wrote 'just watched the netflix documentary the devil on trial THE ENDING WAS SO'. Another said 'After watching the devil on trial it changed my point of view, what an ending'. This is the shocking moment Sharon Stone's 'obsessed' stalker was caught on CCTV lurking outside her sister's home after flying from London to the US in a bid to contact the Hollywood superstar. The skulking Sandor Boros can be seen in a black leather jacket as he leans on the bonnet of an SUV taxi outside 62-year-old Kelly's house in May this year. Wearing light blue jeans, the 'unrelenting' former special forces soldier had travelled more than 5,400 miles to sit outside the gates of the Los Angeles home. He claims he went from the airport to her house in a taxi, where the guard at the gate refused to let him talk to the actress' sister. The chilling scene - which panicked her family - came as they were mourning Sharon's younger brother Patrick, who died from a heart attack just three months before, aged 57. The London-based Hungarian army veteran claims he had a secret son called Jason with his 'angel' Sharon in 1986 when the star was 28. But he alleges their son was murdered shortly after birth. The skulking Sandor Boros can be seen in a black leather jacket as he leans on the bonnet of an SUV taxi outside 62-year-old Kelly's house in May this year Wearing light jeans, the 'unrelenting' former special forces soldier had travelled more than 5,400 miles to sit outside the gates of the Los Angeles home The scene - which panicked her family - came as they were mourning the death of Sharon's younger brother Patrick, who died from a heart attack just three months before, aged 57 Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, (pictured) was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s - and her family has been 'living in fear' ever since Boros began stalking them Boros claims he was turned away from her sister's gate by a security guard - who refused to let him talk to Kelly. Pictured: Sharon Stone with sister Kelly Stone in Beverly Hills Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s - and her family has been 'living in fear' ever since Boros began stalking them. During his visit to the US he also visited the actress' 90-year-old mother's house and her brother's. He also sent them letters. In one of the correspondences, which was sent to Sharon, her mother and her sister in August this year, he admitted flying to Los Angeles for a week in May, hoping to talk to Sharon. He claims he was turned away from her sister's gate by a security guard - who refused to let him talk to Kelly. Talking about his rejection, an incredulous Boros said: 'Maybe he thought that I am [a] kind of criminal!!!' According to the family's private investigator Paul Barresi, the stalker is 'obsessed and mentally unwell'. Approaches from the obsessive Boros come eight years after another stalker was hit with a five-year restraining order after his bizarre letters to the Casino and Total Recall star. The letter from Boros said he took a taxi from the airport to Sharon's sister Kelly's home. He later claims that he tried to visit her for a second time the day after but was turned away again. Sharon in 1988 on the set of TV miniseries War And Remembrance. According to her stalker Boros, she gave birth to their love child in the same year Sharon Stone in May 1988 on the film set of Tears In The Rain, which was shot in Hertfordshire, UK Boros wrote a letter to Sharon, 65, her sister Kelly, 62, and her mother Dorothy, 90, in August. He claimed Sharon was his fiancee from 1987 and had his love child in 1988 He said: 'Unfortunately, at the gate (video call) the guard [didn't] know who [I] was personally. 'He didn't want to call out Kelly to talk with her from the house. 'Maybe he thought that I am [a] kind of criminal!!! 'Then, I did not [have] any option. I went to [Sharon's brother Michael's house]. 'Michael opened the door to me and I tried to explain my situation to him and asked about Sharon's Los Angeles address to talk with her. 'He was rude When I asked Sharon where about Michael wanted to call the police!! 'He thought as well that I am a criminal.' Barresi is an investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars and revealed he was hired by Amber Heard to dig up dirt on Johnny Depp. Boros called Sharon, who has a net worth of around $40million (32.9million), his 'angel' in an email to her earlier this month The letter from Boros said he took a taxi from the airport to Sharon's sister Kelly's home. Pictured: Kelly Stone and Sharon Stone at the Beverly Hills Hotel Boros admitted flying to Los Angeles for a week in May, hoping to talk to Sharon. Pictured: Kelly Stone and sister actress Sharon Stone attend Lupus LA's 2017 Orange Ball He said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits'. Within just 72 hours of the Stone family hiring Barresi, he tracked the stalker down to an airport in London, where he was about to board a flight to Hungary. Barresi told MailOnline: 'He's been unrelenting. He's been pursuing her for the last two years. 'Lately, he showed up at the mum's house and then the brother's house and then the sister's house. 'It was something planned. He was on a mission. 'That raised the level of concern for Sharon Stone and her mother, who is 90, and her sister and brother. 'They were all targets. 'His aggression and desire with passion has intensified.' Sharon Stone and her family declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted Sandor Boros for comment. These are the chilling 'creepy' letters sent to Sharon Stone by her 'obsessed' stalker - who called her his 'angel' in sinister messages where he claims to be the father of her dead love child. 'Unrelenting' Sandor Boros emailed the Basic Instinct star, 64, as recently as October 15, telling her he was trying to find her address by tracking down her family - and signing it off: 'Yours Sandor xoxox'. The shocking messages have left her family 'living in fear' as he documented his trips to hunt down the actress in notes also sent to her 90-year-old mother and sister. The London-based former special forces veteran of the Hungarian army claims he had a secret son called Jason with his Sharon in 1986 when the star was 28. But he alleges their son was murdered shortly after birth. Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s and her family has been in a panic since Boros began stalking them. He last emailed Sharon on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them. The subject of the email was 'angel' and he signed it 'Yours Sandor xoxox'. Boros wrote a letter to Sharon, 65, her sister Kelly, 62, and her mother Dorothy, 90, in August. He claimed Sharon was his fiancee from 1987 and had his love child in 1988 In an email earlier this month with the subject 'angel', Boros wrote to Sharon, signing off: 'Sandor xoxox' Boros called Sharon, who has a net worth of around $40million (32.9million), his 'angel' in an email to her earlier this month Sharon's stalker Sandor Boros (pictured) sent this photograph of himself to Sharon and her family According to the family's private investigator Paul Barresi, the stalker is 'obsessed and mentally unwell' Barresi said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits'. Boros sent a letter to Sharon, her mother and her sister in August this year. In it, he admitted flying to Los Angeles for a week in May, hoping to talk to Sharon. He said he took a taxi from the airport to Sharon's sister Kelly's home. Boros said: 'Unfortunately, at the gate (video call) the guard [didn't] know who [I] was personally. 'He didn't want to call out Kelly to talk with her from the house. 'Maybe he thought that I am [a] kind of criminal!!! The stalker included two photographs in the email of himself and his 'best friend my grandfather' Boros was later contacted by the Stone family's private investigator after he got in touch with the actress in October The shocking messages have left her family 'living in fear' as he documented his trips to hunt down the actress in notes also sent to her 90-year-old mother Dorothy (centre) and sister Kelly (left) Sharon in between Michael Woods (left) and Hart Bochner in 1988 on the set of War And Remembrance 'Then, I did not [have] any option. I went to [Sharon's brother Michael's house]. 'Michael opened the door to me and I tried to explain my situation to him and asked about Sharon's Los Angeles address to talk with her. 'He was rude When I asked Sharon where about Michael wanted to call the police!! 'He thought as well that I am a criminal.' He continued: 'From 1987 Sharon was my fiancee and 1988 we had a baby boy. His name was Jason Stone. 'He was a couple of months old and he died in [an] accident unfortunately. 'I would like to talk with Sharon about this.' In a later call with Barresi. Boros claims the infant was 'murdered in 86'. Shocking CCTV from the actress' sister's house showed Boros skulking outside the Los Angeles home in May this year. Sharon in 1988 on the set of TV miniseries War And Remembrance. According to her stalker Boros, she gave birth to their love child in the same year The skulking Sandor Boros can be seen in a black leather jacket as he leans on the bonnet of an SUV taxi outside 62-year-old Kelly's house in May this year Wearing light jeans, the 'unrelenting' former special forces soldier had travelled more than 5,400 miles to sit outside the gates of the Los Angeles home The scene - which panicked her family - came as they were mourning the death of Sharon's younger brother Patrick, who died from a heart attack just three months before, aged 57 Wearing light blue jeans and a black leather jacket, he had travelled more than 5,400 miles to lurk outside the gates of the Los Angeles home. In an email sent to Sharon on October 15, Boros said: 'My mental health had been improved even I can state that I am returned to a normal. So, I am back to business' He asked this time about the circumstances surrounding another of his alleged son's death. He said: 'Even I haven't got a Death Certificate about him!!!! I have to know everything about his dead. 'I am willing to interrogation if needs. Please, update me as soon as possible when receiving this email. 'I recently returned from Los Angeles. I went for you and your mum Dorothy to find her address to could talk about all my life that we had made together. 'I [found] in the house just your eldest brother Michael 70 years old but he was rude and wanted to call the Police. 'Please, contact me at my private and encrypted email or the Signal video call. Sharon Stone in May 1988 on the film set of Tears In The Rain, which was shot in Hertfordshire, UK Barresi, who is the investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars, said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits' 'The best if we meet at any place and talk all of you in L.A. or Montana or Rockford or anywhere where you find that is safe for you all!!!!!!!!' He signed the letter: 'Sandor xoxox.' Days later, private investigator Barresi was put on the case. That was just three months after tragedy had already struck the family when Sharon's younger brother Patrick died from a heart attack in February, aged 57. And, approaches from the obsessive Boros come eight years after another stalker was hit with a five-year restraining order after his bizarre letters to the Casino and Total Recall star. Barresi is an investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars and revealed he was hired by Amber Heard to dig up dirt on Johnny Depp. The Hollywood private detective found Boros's phone number and called the stalker while he was in a London airport, about to fly to Hungary. Sharon Stone and her family declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted Sandor Boros for comment. This is the daring moment Sharon Stone's private eye confronted her Hungarian stalker - telling him to stay away from her family after he was caught on CCTV lurking outside her sister's home. Private detective Paul Barresi called 'obsessed' stalker Sandor Boros to say: 'Don't come to Sharon Stone's family home ever again.' The face-off came after the Basic Instinct star's family had been 'living in fear' for months, with the London-based former special forces veteran of the Hungarian army even visiting their homes to demand Sharon's address. Boros claims he had a secret son called Jason with his 'angel' Sharon in 1986 when the star was 28. But he claims their son was murdered shortly after birth. Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s and her family has been in a panic since Boros began stalking them. In the phone call obsessed Boros admitted to turning up at the homes of Sharon's sister Kelly, 57, and brother Michael, 71. Basic Instinct star Sharon, 64, was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s and her family has been in a panic since Boros began stalking them Private detective Paul Barresi (pictured) called 'obsessed' stalker Sandor Boros to say: 'Don't come to Sharon Stone's family home ever again' The skulking Sandor Boros can be seen in a black leather jacket as he leans on the bonnet of an SUV taxi outside 62-year-old Kelly's house in May this year Shocking pictures caught him lurking outside her sister's gates, wearing a black leather jacket as he leans on the bonnet of a SUV taxi. In a chilling recording of the conversation the stalker claimed: 'I'm trying to contact them because I am really desperate to find my son. 'And I have to talk with Sharon - we got a son. He was murdered in 86. And I'm not joking, so I'm really serious. 'I don't have any death certificate, anything. So it's a weird case but I'm pretty sure they know everything. 'They know everything - they doesn't want to tell me.' Boros went on to claim that Stone was his fiancee - although he did not have any photos or letters from the Hollywood star. He last emailed Sharon, her sister and 90-year-old mother Dorothy on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them. The subject of the email was 'angel' and he signed it 'Yours Sandor xoxox'. He later confirmed to the private eye that he had PTSD from his time in the forces - adding: 'I'm not abusive'. Confronting the stalker, daring Barresi said: 'I would like to suggest to you for now that you don't come to their homes or try to approach them ever again. Sharon in 1988 on the set of TV miniseries War And Remembrance. According to her stalker Boros, she gave birth to their love child in the same year Sharon Stone in May 1988 on the film set of Tears In The Rain, which was shot in Hertfordshire, UK Wearing light jeans, the 'unrelenting' former special forces soldier had travelled more than 5,400 miles to sit outside the gates of the Los Angeles home The scene - which panicked her family - came as they were mourning the death of Sharon's younger brother Patrick, who died from a heart attack just three months before, aged 57 'I will try and relay to them what you told me - leave it up to them. If they wish to contact you again then I will notify you and let you know. 'Do not try to contact Sharon or any family member - not Michael, or Dorothy, or Kelly or anyone ever again, and I want you to give me your word.' 'Okay, Okay understood, understood,' Boros replied. The private eye said the alleged stalker was angry that the private investigator had his number. Barresi is an investigator for some of Hollywood's biggest stars and has previously revealed he was hired by Amber Heard to dig up dirt on Johnny Depp. Barresi said: 'He knew then and there I had him. 'I explained I was a private detective working for the family. 'His demeanour was not threatening. He didn't indicate any lustful, romantic desire he wished to pursue. He last emailed Sharon, her sister Kelly (left) and 90-year-old mother Dorothy (centre) on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them Sharon in between Michael Woods (left) and Hart Bochner in 1988 on the set of War And Remembrance Barresi said he 'couldn't be more pleased' that he tracked down Sharon's stalker and 'cracked the case' in less than three days. He said the Stone family were 'delighted' he had found the stalker. Pictured: Sharon Stone in 1986 'He has no plans to come to America [again]. He only wanted to know about his son.' Barresi said the stalker claimed his father had known Sharon's mother Dorothy and said they were 'friends'. He added: 'People with diabolical minds, they are very charming, gregarious, super charismatic - all of those characteristics [were] in this guy.' Barresi said he 'couldn't be more pleased' that he tracked down Sharon's stalker and 'cracked the case' in less than three days. He said the Stone family were 'delighted' he had found the stalker. However, while Boros claimed he didn't plan on returning to the US, Barresi said: 'At the moment he's not a threat but you can't be sure. He last emailed Sharon on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them. The subject of the email was 'angel' and he signed it 'Yours Sandor xoxox'. According Barresi, the stalker is 'obsessed and mentally unwell' - and he was caught on CCTV outside her 62-year-old sister Kelly's house in May this year. He last emailed Sharon on October 15, telling her how he was trying to find out her address by tracking down her family and asking them. Pictured: Courage Award recipient Sharon Stone in Beverly Hills, March 2023 Boros' approaches come eight years after another stalker was hit with a five-year restraining order after his bizarre letters to the Casino and Total Recall star. Pictured: Sharon Stone in 1988 Wearing light blue jeans, the skulking Boros had travelled more than 5,400 miles to sit outside the gates of the Los Angeles home. The chilling scene - which panicked her family - came as they were mourning Sharon's younger brother Patrick, who died from a heart attack just three months before, aged 57. His approaches come eight years after another stalker was hit with a five-year restraining order after his bizarre letters to the Casino and Total Recall star. He said the Stone family was 'living in fear' because of the stalker's 'creepy emails, letter and uninvited visits'. Within just 72 hours of the Stone family hiring Barresi, he tracked the stalker down to an airport in London, where he was about to board a flight to Hungary. Barresi continued: 'He's been unrelenting. He's been pursuing her for the last two years. 'Lately, he showed up at the mum's house and then the brother's house and then the sister's house. It was something planned. He was on a mission. 'That raised the level of concern for Sharon Stone and her mother, who is 90, and her sister and brother. 'They were all targets. His aggression and desire with passion has intensified.' Sharon Stone and her family declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted Sandor Boros for comment. Rebecca Judd made a dazzling entrance as she led arrivals at the 2023 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday. The AFL WAG, 40, looked a picture of classic elegance as she arrived at the cup day dressed top-to-toe in matching sky blue. Her sleeveless, ruched dress showed off her toned arms and accentuated her lithe figure. Bec, who is the wife of Carlton great Chris Judd, drew gazes with her large, wide-brimmed hat that she wore off to the side, drawing attention to her natural makeup and the highlights in her straight hair. The mother of four also carried a perfectly colour-matched sky blue clutch and strode confidently around the racecourse in elegant blue heels. Rebecca Judd (pictured) dazzled as she led arrivals at the 2023 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday The AFL WAG, 40, looked a picture of classic elegance as she arrived at the cup day dressed top-to-toe in matching sky blue She topped off her Caulfield Cup look with statement bangles on one wrist and an exquisite watch on the other. Meanwhile, Mia Fevola was a vision in tangerine, wearing a short, sunny dress with a feature bow on the bust. The 23-year-old daughter of former AFL player Brendan Fevola also wore a broad-brimmed hat in white to match her heels and clutch. Her sleeveless, ruched dress showed off her toned arms and accentuated her lithe figure Bec drew gazes with her large, wide-brimmed hat that she wore off to the side, drawing attention her natural-style makeup and the highlights in her straight hair. Meanwhile, Mia Fevola was a vision in tangerine, wearing a short, sunny dress with a feature bow on the bust. Pictured The 23-year-old daughter of former AFL player Brendan Fevola also wore a broad-brimmed hat in white to match her heels and clutch. Pictured with boyfriend Bass Mille Later, Mia posed with her parents Brendan and Alex Fevola, as well as her boyfriend Bass Mille. All pictured Later, Mia posed with her parents Brendan and Alex Fevola, as well as her boyfriend Bass Mille. Andy Lee's girlfriend Bec Harding grabbed attention in an eccentric designer dress suggesting an abstract art influence. The outfit, complete with a half hood, was white with a thick stripe of orange colour splashed down the length of the gown. She matched her avant-garde dress with white heels and a white clutch. Andy Lee's girlfriend Bec Harding (pictured) grabbed attention in an eccentric designer dress suggesting an abstract art influence The outfit, complete with a half hood, was white with a thick stripe of orange colour splashed down the length of the gown Shoe designer Lana Wilkson looked incredible in a daring red frock that showed off her ample cleavage with a thin, plunging neckline. She accessorised with a petite red handbag and a matching net fascinator, while opting for gold jewellery and red pointed pumps from her own label. Meanwhile, Rebecca Harding's husband Andy Lee smiled as he watched the race while enjoying a beer with his mates. Shoe designer Lana Wilkson looked incredible in a daring red frock that showed off her ample cleavage with a thin, plunging neckline Andy Lee smiled as he watched the race while enjoying a beer with his mates The comedian looked dapper in a light mustard-coloured suit complete with a white shirt and black tie. Rozalia Russian dressed in a chic nude bodysuit with a black skirt that had a velvet tutu layer. The fashion blogger, who is the wife of Nick Russian, completed her look with a black hangbag that featured a gold chain handle as well as gold earrings and a black headband. Held annually at the Caulfield Racecourse, the Caulfield Cup is a spectacle that sees some of the world's best horses battling it out for $5million in prize money. Influencer Rozalia Russian and her husband Nick Russian are pictured This year's edition promises a new field of champion stayers looking to etch their names in the annals of Caulfield Cup folklore. A strong field has been assembled for the time-honoured Group 1 race over 2400m at 5.15pm, where the winner will take home $3million in prizemoney. First staged in 1879, the handicap distance race is viewed by many who enjoy a flutter as a key lead up for Australias greatest race, the Melbourne Cup, on the first Tuesday in November. As of Friday, Gold Trip was rated a $5 chance to salute, with West Wind Blows ($7) and Soulcombe ($7.50) also popular early selections. She shocked the nation with her incredible flexibility during her week one performance of Strictly. But Angela Rippon has credited her success to her partner Kai Widdrington for allowing her to see that anything is possible despite her age as she gushed he is a 'dream to work with'. Complimenting the professional dance partner, she admitted her girlfriends are jealous she is dancing with Kai as she confessed 'as a human being he ticks all the boxes.' Talking to The Sun, the British icon discussed how she trusts him completely and allows him to push her to her limits each week. At the age of 79 Angela is the eldest ever Strictly contestant, however her flexibility would suggest otherwise. Dream partner: Angela Rippon has revealed her girlfriends are jealous of her Strictly dance partner Kai Widdrington as she gushed 'he is a dream to work with' Wow: The 79-year-old credited her success to her partner Kai for allowing her to see that anything is possible despite her age as he pushes her to her limits each week The star has showcased her ever-agile physique in her dances so far and left the judges almost speechless with her rumba, last Saturday in which she performed an impressive backbend and the splits twice. Head judge Shirley Ballas told her: 'Im in shock. Well done.' Angela revealed Kai has enabled her to not see her age as a barrier to what she can do. 'What hes done is made me realise that there are things I can do that I assumed, at 78 and 79, I wouldnt be able to do.' The star is still finding the Strictly training gruelling and admitted that she is now reliant on the Voltarol and Ibuprofen. However Angela is still having an amazing time, and was blown away after she went viral with her week one performance. Angela showcased her incredible flexibility as she stretched her leg over head head during her Cha Cha. The broadcaster looked sensational in silver fringe mini dress as she performed to Shirley Bassey's cover of Pink's Get The Party Started before kicking her partner lifted her leg for the dramatic finale. AMAZING! The star has showcased her ever-agile physique in her dances so far and left the judges almost speechless with her rumba, last Saturday in which she performed an impressive backbend and the splits twice Unstoppable: Angela revealed Kai has enabled her to not see her age as a barrier to what she can do Away from the dancefloor: Angela with her Rip Off Britain co-hosts Julia Somerville (L) and Gloria Hunniford (R) (pictured in 2011) And the online reaction was completely unexpected as the star joked she hardly ever makes headlines with her show Rip Off Britain. The star was in every newspaper, website, had 400,000 views on YouTube in a day and even made it onto that week's episode of Channel 4's Gogglebox. 'When I saw we were on Gogglebox when we did the leg thing, thats when it hit home. I think there was the two girls from Leeds and they were like, Oh my God, I cant even touch me toes!' While winning the glitterball trophy would be incredible, Angela revealed that she hopes the couple make it to Blackpool, where Angela danced as a child when she was just six and seven years old. Linda Evangelista labeled filters as 'the devil' as she slammed the use of Photoshop shortly after Vogue was accused of 'retouching' the star on last month's cover. The supermodel, 58 - who recently gave a health update after revealing her 2018 breast cancer diagnosis - shared her opinion on filters during an appearance on The View earlier this week on Thursday. The Canadian-born beauty discussed the difference between the modeling industry back in the 80s and the present. 'Well, I have a pet peeve. A big one,' she admitted. 'I think post-production is the devil. I think filters and retouching are the devil,' Evangelista expressed. Linda continued, 'When, back in the day, when we did a photograph, yes we cheated. We tied our belts so tight and then put Coke cans in the back to cinch our waists.' Slamming: Linda Evangelista, 48, labeled filters as 'the devil' as she slammed the use of Photoshop shortly after Vogue was accused of 'retouching' the star on recent cover Called out: Vogue was called out for 'heavily retouching' models and social media users further slammed the cover shoot at the time, calling it 'catastrophic' and 'lazy' 'We held reflectors to take out the bags [under our eyes],' she expressed, but stated that despite using certain tricks, Photoshop was never utilized. The beauty said that, 'they didn't retouch the photo. We did it perfectly on set and what you saw was what you got.' 'Today, it's like, no matter what happens on set - like, a button will pop off and they'll say, "Dont worry, we'll put it on later." Your eyelash will be hanging off and they're like, "Dont worry, we'll fix it later.' Evangelista recently joined other iconic supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington, on the cover of Vogue for the publication's September issue. However, the outlet was called out for 'heavily retouching' the models. Social media users further slammed the cover shoot at the time, calling it 'catastrophic' and 'lazy.' One fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, 'Creatively they could have done ANYTHING, and all black standing in a corner with s**t lighting is what they came up with. is this a f**kn funeral.' Another wrote, 'This cover does a disservice to their legacy omg. Just LAZY,' while one added, 'The posing is weird. Its like they all did their shoots individually and then photoshopped them together.' While she isn't a fan of filters and Photoshop, Linda revealed to her fans in September 2021 about a botched, CoolSculpting procedure that she underwent from 2015 through 2016 which left her 'brutally disfigured.' 'The devil': 'I think post-production is the devil. I think filters and retouching are the devil,' Evangelista expressed; seen in 1990 in Paris No 'retouching': The beauty said that, 'they didn't retouch the photo. We did it perfectly on set and what you saw was what you got' Opening up: 'Today, it's like, no matter what happens on set - like, a button will pop off and they'll say, "Dont worry, we'll put it on later." Your eyelash will be hanging off and they're like, "Dont worry, we'll fix it later' At the time, she took to her main Instagram page and penned an emotional statement to give an explanation as to why she hadn't been in the public and admitted she had entered a 'deep depression.' In 2022, the supermodel settled the $50 million lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics - although the settlement amount was not disclosed. In August, Evangelista told Vogue that she still gets Botox following the botched procedure. 'I don't mind and I never did mind ageing. Ageing gets us to where we want to be, and that's for me a long life,' she stated. Linda explained, 'I want wrinkles but I Botox my forehead so I am a hypocrite but I want to grow old.' The star - who shares son Augustin James, 16, with Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault - has also opened up about another health scare she has faced over the last five years. While talking to the Wall Street Journal last month in September, Evangelista revealed for the first time that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and quietly underwent a double mastectomy five years ago. The model talked about her December 2018 diagnosis that led to her having a bilateral mastectomy and doctors then discovered cancer in her pectoral muscle last year - prompting her to have more surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. She also had 'a horrible oncotype score' - which is a number that predicts the likelihood of the cancer coming back. 'I know I have one foot in the grave, but I'm totally in celebration mode,' she explained. Breast cancer awareness: During her appearance on The View for of Breast Cancer Awareness month, she opened up about the 'horrible' medication she has to take to suppress her hormones following her two cancer diagnoses in the last five years Health update: 'I'm on fantastic meds for five years, they make you feel so good,' she said sarcastically, adding, 'They're horrible... the hormone suppressors, they make you feel old'; seen in September in Milan During her appearance on The View for of Breast Cancer Awareness month, she opened up about the 'horrible' medication she has to take to suppress her hormones following her two cancer diagnoses in the last five years. 'I'm on fantastic meds for five years, they make you feel so good,' she said sarcastically. 'They're horrible... the hormone suppressors, they make you feel old.' Joy Behar, 81, asked, 'I guess after you've been very ill, you just value life even more, am I right?' Linda replied, 'True. I've had so many surgeries and I thought I could tackle anything, but nothing like chemo to put you in your...' Asked if she 'welcomes' her scars, she said: 'Oh, I'm okay with scars. I think scars are trophies, I'm good with scars.' The frustration level over the still ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike sounds like its reaching a tipping point for some union members. Mandy Moore and Melissa Gilbert are among the more high-profile members calling out SAG-AFTRA for not having its priorities in order, amid the work stoppage involving its 160,000 media professionals and entertainers. More than three-months into the strike, the actresses ripped into the union's guidelines this Halloween, where members are urged to avoid dressing up as characters from struck productions, and instead wear generic costumes like a non-specific ghost, zombie, spider or witch. They also suggested SAG-AFTRA members celebrating Halloween 'not to post photos inspired by struck content to social media, so that the studios don't get any added publicity. 'Is this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. This is what's important?' Moore, 39, shot back after learning of the spooky season rules. 'We're asking you to negotiate in good faith on our behalf. So many folks across every aspect of this industry have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get back to the table and get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work. Please and thank you. Taking a stance: Mandy Moore, 39, took to social media to bash SAG-AFTRA for its Halloween guidelines, urging union members to avoid dressing up as characters from struck productions, and to not post photos inspired by struck content to social media; the actress is seen on picket line in August Voicing concerns: Melissa Gilbert (far left), 59, also ripped into SAG-AFTRA for its Halloween guidelines, where she declared: 'This is the kind of silly bulls**t that keeps us on strike' Gilbert, 59, was another high-profile performer who didn't mince her words when it came to the outrage over the Halloween rules SAG-AFTRA detailed in a blog post on its website. 'THIS is what you guys come up with? the Little House On The Prairie star shared in her emotional Instagram post. 'Literally no one cares what anyone wears for Halloween.' She went on to explain: 'I mean, do you really think this kind of infantile stuff is going to end the strike? We look like a joke. Please tell me you're going to make this rule go away.and go negotiate!' Sounding as if her frustration level had peaked, she added, 'For the love of God, people are suffering mightily and this is what you have to sayc'mon guys,' she declared. before adding, '@officialfrandrescher @duncanci Repost from @kevinzegers1984.' The actress, who served as the president of the Screen Actor's Guild from 2001 to 2005, then began to get into the blame game. 'This is the kind of silly bulls**t that keeps us on strike,' Gilbert added to her Instagram rant. She ended the post with a bit of sarcasm, writing, 'Let's enact a policy that makes us look petty and incompetent at the same time,' which she followed by tagging The Nanny actress Fran Drescher @officialfrandrescher', who's the current SAG-AFTRA president. Both Moore and Gilbert have been seen out on the picket lines, demanding for all actors to receive fair compensation for their work, among other issues, throughout the strike that began on July 14. No joke, real life: Moore sounded baffled when she posted her response to the Halloween guidelines, asking it it was all 'a joke?' The This Is Us actress urged SAG-AFTRA to 'get back to the table' and 'get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work' Hitting back: Melissa Gilbert, who served as president of SAG-AFTRA from 2001 to 2005, also sounded stumped over the Halloween guidelines, calling it all 'infantile stuff' Backlash: The former Little House On The Prairie star (far left) urged the union to use their time to 'negotiate' a new deal that's fair Laying it out: SAG-AFTRA listed its Halloween guidelines, which are geared at not giving the studios' films any extra publicity, on the organization's website The Screen Actors Guild American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists went on strike over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on July 14. The union cited several issues in negotiations, including 'economic fairness, residuals involving streaming services, regulating the use of artificial intelligence and alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.' Just last week, SAG-AFTRA announced talks between the two sides had broken off without a new deal in place, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Writer's Guild Of America (WGA) strike, which began on May 2 and affected about 11,500 screenwriters, lasted 148 days before a new deal was reached on September 27. Lisa Vanderpump put on a youthful display in a new selfie that she shared to her main Instagram page on Friday after a weeks-long hiatus from the app. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills alum, 63 - who seen joining Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney while filming 11th season of Vanderpump Rules - flashed a cheerful smile while taking the stunning snap. The TV personality donned a black top while her brunette locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in elegant curls. Her makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as shimmering, smoky shadow around her eyes. A light, pink blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a rosy pink tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. Big return! Lisa Vanderpump, 63, put on a youthful display in a new selfie that she shared to her main Instagram page on Friday after a weeks-long hiatus from the app Natural light streamed through a window behind her, lighting up the room for the star's latest photo. In the caption, Lisa penned to her 3.1 million fans and followers, 'Helloooo I am back... been working away, sending love to you all and praying for humanity.' Social media users and fellow celebrities jumped to the comment section to give a warm welcome to Vanderpump upon her return. Real Housewives star, Garcelle Beauvais, typed out, 'Miss you,' followed by a red heart emoji, while Vanderpump Rules star, James Kennedy, added three purple heart emojis. Former RHOBH star, Joyce Giraud, wrote, 'Yeayyyyyyyyyyy I've missed you! That time change was definitely NOT HELPFUL.' Heather Dubrow also took time to send a sweet message to Lisa, and commented four red heart emojis. The restaurant owner's last post was uploaded earlier this month when she uploaded an adorable photo as she crossed paths with a pig while out in Beverly Hills. The TV personality has been filtering through a busy schedule, and recently celebrated her 63rd birthday last month on September 15. Recent celebration: The TV personality has been filtering through a busy schedule, and recently celebrated her 63rd birthday last month on September 15 So cute! A joint post was shared to Instagram at the time with the Vanderpump Rules Foundation and a cute clip showed adorable pups wearing glittering party hats A joint post was shared to Instagram at the time with the Vanderpump Rules Foundation. A cute clip showed adorable pups wearing glittering party hats in celebration of the big day. The caption read, 'Happiest of birthdays to @lisavanderpump. You continuously inspire us with your heartfelt passion for neglected and abused dogs all over the world!' 'Us Vanderpups wouldn't be here without you May you be given lots of puppy kisses and rose today! We love you @lisavanderpump ! #HappyBirthday.' The nonprofit - which was founded in 2016 - has a 'mission to create a more humane world for dogs extends across the globe,' per the official website. Lisa's glowing selfie comes shortly after former Vanderpump Rules star, Jax Taylor, commented on where he stands with the British-born star during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. When a fan called in to ask about his relationship with Lisa, he admitted, 'It's actually pretty good. Recently we just started talking again.' He notably starred on the hit Bravo series until he was fired in 2020. 'We haven't really spoke in a really long time and then we just met up for lunch, actually at one of James [Kennedy's] See You Next Tuesday parties.' Taylor continued, 'So, we met up I would say about four weeks ago and we had a really good conversation for like an hour and a half. It was emotional, there were tears.' Keeping busy: Lisa is set to star in the upcoming 11th season of Vanderpump Rules with other cast members, such as Tom Sandoval and Lala Kent, but Raquel Leviss will not return; seen in May in Hollywood Update: Former Vanderpump Rules star, Jax Taylor, commented on where he stands with the British-born star during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen; seen in September in NYC At the time of his exit from the show, his wife Brittany Cartwright, also left. The pair tied the knot in 2019 and share two-year-old son, Cruz. 'A lot happened over COVID. We lost touch, the baby, things happened, there was some miscommunication, but now we're good.' Jax is currently starring on the E! News competition series, House Of Villains, and is slated to appear on a Vanderpump Rules spin-off alongside his wife, Brittany, as well as Kristen Doute - who was also fired in 2020. Lisa is set to star in the upcoming 11th season of Vanderpump Rules with other cast members, including Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix and Lala Kent. However, Raquel Leviss will not return following the explosive 10th season and Scandoval affair. Britney Spears felt like the snake she performed with was going to 'kill' her during her iconic performance in 2001. The 41-year-old pop star recalled the massive python 'flicking' its tongue and 'hissing' at her as she performed onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards. In her upcoming memoir The Woman in Me, she said she tried her best to keep her head down as she sang I'm a Slave 4 U because she felt like 'it would kill' her if she 'caught its eye'. Just weeks earlier, Spears revealed she was 'scared' of snakes and less than enthused about performing with the 'terrifying' reptile even though it remains 'one of [her] favorite performances' to this day. This comes shortly after she took to Instagram and debuted a new red snake tattoo placed on her lower back. Iconic performance: Britney Spears felt like the snake she performed with was going to 'kill' her during her iconic performance in 2001. The 41-year-old pop star recalled the massive python 'flicking' its tongue and 'hissing' at her as she performed onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards She said she was going to use the 'snake as a prop' as she sang 2001 hit single I'm a Slave 4 U on stage. Everything went as planned, the Gimme More hitmaker who recently went viral for playing with another dangerous prop after she posted several knife dancing videos online recalled until the albino Burmese python named Banana started getting too close to her. 'The plan was for me to sing I'm a Slave 4 U, and we decided I would use a snake as a prop,' she wrote in an excerpt obtained by People. During her performance, however, she said the snake started getting close to her face and hissing at her. She said the reptile also started 'flicking' its tongue near her face and noted it was 'terrifying'. 'It's become an iconic moment in VMAs history, but it was even more terrifying than it appeared,' she explained. 'All I knew was to look down, because I felt if I looked up and caught its eye, it would kill me,' she wrote in her bombshell tell-all. After getting through the performance unscathed, she now revealed what was going on in her mind at the time. 'Terrifying': In her upcoming memoir The Woman in Me, she said she tried her best to keep her head down as she sang I'm a Slave 4 U because she felt like 'it would kill' her if she 'caught its eye' Freaking out inside: Although she got through the performance unscathed, she recalled how she was freaking out in her mind at the time but had to tell herself to continue singing and dancing Affinity for dangerous props: The Gimme More hitmaker who recently went viral for playing with another dangerous prop after she posted several knife dancing videos online also recently talked about how it remains 'one of my favorite performances' to this day despite how 'terrifying' it was Upcoming bombshell tell-all: The Woman in Me is set for release and will hit shelves on October 24 'In my head I was saying, "Just perform, just use your legs and perform",' she recalled telling herself. 'But what nobody knows is that as I was singing, the snake brought its head right around to my face, right up to me, and started hissing,' she wrote. 'I was thinking, "Are you f***ing serious right now? The f***ing godd*** snake's tongue is flicking out at me. Right. Now." Finally I got to the part where I handed it back, thank God,' she explained. The Woman in Me is set for release and will hit shelves on October 24. Reese Witherspoon doesn't often miss an opportunity to promote reading and books as a whole. And on Friday the Oscar-winning actress teamed up with fellow New York Times bestselling publisher and author Roda Ahmed for a book reading event in the courtyard of the Diesel bookstore inside the Brentwood Country Mart. Witherspoon, 47, read from her second picture book in the New York Times bestselling Busy Betty series - Busy Betty & The Circus Surprise, which was illustrated by Xindi Yan. The self-professed book nerd, whose new children's book only just dropped earlier this month, was greeted by a number of eager fans who were thrilled to see the Hollywood star in person. Flashing her trademark infectious smile, the Walk The Line star showed off casual-cool fashion sense in fitted blue jeans. Book club mode: Reese Witherspoon, 47, stopped to sign some autographs for her adoring fans while attending a book reading event at the Diesel bookstore inside the Brentwood Country Mart Witherspoon also wore a blue button-down shirt that she tucked into her jeans and a pair of leopard print pumps. Rounding out her overall look, the longtime leading lady also donned cool sunglasses for her arrival to the event, and had her blonde tresses styled long and straight down past her shoulders with a part on the slight left. Being the fan friendly star that she's been since her film debut in The Man In The Moon (1991), she made a point to stop and sign some autographs, all while people snapped photos and videos for social media. Eventually, Witherspoon had to go inside and take her place for her book reading at Diesel. Along with being one of the more popular A-list actresses for three decades, the New Orleans, Louisiana native is also known for Reese's Book Club, which is run under her media company Hello Sunshine. Each month she takes to her Instagram page and shares her pick of the month. Since its founding in 2017, the club has gained a reputation for boosting the careers of female authors such as Delia Owens, Celeste Ng, and Megan Miranda. Witherspoon's Busy Betty has been described as 'an exuberant, smart, and larger-than-life character who encourages young readers to tackle each obstacle with enthusiasm, excitement, and big ideas,' in an Amazon promo. Stylin': The Oscar-winning actress looked to be in fine form in skin-tight blue jeans and a fitted blue top, for the promotional event Popular series: Witherspoon read from her second picture book in the New York Times bestselling Busy Betty series - Busy Betty & The Circus Surprise, which like the first book was illustrated by Xindi Yan Promo mode: The proud author held up both of her Busy Betty books while promoting the release of The Circus Surprise on her Instagram page New release: New York Times bestselling publisher and author Roda Ahmed, 42, read from her new children's book, Etta Extraordinaire, during the event Ahmed, 42, beloved for her children's book Mae Among The Stars was on hand to read from her new publication: Etta Extraordinaire. 'Find out how Etta beats her worries, with the help of her loving family, in this joyful story,' a brief synopsis read in an Amazon promotional page. Ahmed shares the writing credit of the new children's book, which was just released on October 17, with writer Charnaie Gordon and illustrator Chloe Burgett. The Norwegian author is the founder and CEO of HighTree Publishing, a boutique publishing house with focus on publishing diverse children's books. Advertisement Kim Kardashian looked ravishing as she arrived at her star-studded 43rd birthday bash in Beverly Hills on Friday night. The SKIMS mogul who officially rings in her birthday on Saturday strolled up to the entrance of the swanky restaurant Funke in a sexy red dress. The busty starlet's dress showed off her famous curves through the countless cutouts that ran down the sides. They were tied together with laces similarly to the dress' bikini-inspired bodice. The mother-of-four was joined at the soiree by her sisters Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner and their mom Kris Jenner. It was also attended by the family's close friend and Kendall's BFF Hailey Bieber and Kim's close pal Lauren Sanchez, who is the fiancee of billionaire Jeff Bezos. Family affair: The mother-of-four was joined at the soiree by her sisters Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner and their mom Kris Jenner Flashing the flesh: The busty starlet's dress showed off her famous curves through the countless cutouts that ran down the sides A boost: She added height to her already statuesque frame with matching white Christian Louboutin heels Leather vixen: Kylie Jenner made jaws drop as she strutted her stuff in a sexy black leather minidress Big night: She completed her look with a pair of oversized black sunglasses as she stepped out to celebrate her sister Kim Wow! Kris looked just as stunning as her daughters in a chic coord that consisted of a waist-cinching blazer and shorts Glitzy: Ivanka Trump made a surprise appearance at Kims soiree in a sparkly sequin shirt and skirt set Star-studded: It was also attended by the family's close friend and Kendall's BFF Hailey Bieber Kim's close pal Lauren Sanchez, who is the fiancee of billionaire Jeff Bezos Busty: The Americas Got Talent judge looked busty in a black lace bustier styled with purple velvet pants and red Bottega Veneta bag Kim styled her barely-there birthday look with sky-high orange heels that would up her toned legs. She sported a pair of black designer shades and carried a tiny black leather purse seemingly a pricey Birkin bag. The KUWTK alum's signature black hair tumbled down her back in loose waves that had a slightly wet look. She was flanked by security upon her arrival with sister Khloe. The Good American founder, 39, turned heads in a skintight white minidress. The mother-of-two's dress highlighted her tiny waist and ample backside. She added height to her already statuesque frame with matching white Christian Louboutin heels. Making the look monochrome, she tucked her essentials away in a white Birkin bag. For a bold pop of color, Khloe did rock a pair of orange-tint shades as she braved fans and photographers outside of the celeb-loved eatery. Khloe had a noticeably bronzed complexion that popped against her all-white outfit. Wow: Kim Kardashian looked ravishing as she arrived at her star-studded 43rd birthday bash in Beverly Hills on Friday night. The SKIMS mogul strolled up to the entrance of the swanky restaurant Funke in a sexy red dress Sky-high: Kim styled her barely-there birthday look with sky-high orange heels that would up her toned legs She was flanked by security upon her arrival with sister Khloe Glam: She sported a pair of black designer shades and carried a tiny black leather purse seemingly a pricey Birkin bag Signature strands: The KUWTK alum's signature black hair tumbled down her back in loose waves that had a slightly wet look Claws: She rocked a claw-like manicure Makeup: The reality TV star's makeup consisted of her go-to nude lip and plenty of bronzer Lights, camera, action! There were camera men on hand capturing footage for the family's Hulu show The Kardashians Wow! Kim showed off her unique sense of style as she strutted her stuff in the cut-out ensemble Fashionista: She shielded her eyes with a pair of sunglasses as she led the crowds Busty: Kim showed off her incredible figure in the head-turning ensemble Dewy: She added to her features with a high-glamour make-up palette for the star-studded bash Birthday girl! Some of her guests could be seen holding masks with her face on as she left the venue flanked by security Glitzy: Ivanka Trump made a surprise appearance at Kims soiree in a sparkly sequin shirt and skirt set. The daughter of Donald Trump gave her look a fun pop of color by accessorizing with green earrings and a matching clutch Fit: The mother-of-two's dress highlighted her tiny waist and ample backside Sophisticated: She toted her essentials in a white handbag and sported a pair of aviator sunglasses Amusing: Khloe also added a touch of humour for her sister's birthday as she wore a mask of Kim's face Admiration: Khloe could hilariously be seen walking with the mask on in a funny gesture on the night Mask: She seemed to be taking extra care to walk and see where she was going with the mask on Humour: Khloe hilariously walked out of the venue at the end of the night wearing the mask, while she had a second in hand Home time: Khloe looked as glamorous as ever as she left the venue at the end of the fun-filled night Oops! She appeared to be having some difficulties walking with the mask on as she struggled to step off the pavement Pop: For a bold pop of color, Khloe did rock a pair of orange-tint shades as she braved fans and photographers outside of the celeb-loved eatery Skintight: The skintight garment showed off her slender legs and toned arms MIA: Missing from the action was Kylie's boyfriend Timothee Chalamet Glitzy: Kylie gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of heels and kept her essentials in a small black clutch bag Gorgeous: She opted for a high-glamour make-up palette and shielded her eyes with narrow sunglasses Snaps: Kylie was seen heading to car her at the end of the fun-filled night at Funke Sisters: Kylie was also joined by Kendall as the pair left the star-studded event together Wild side: Kendall, 27, emerged from a black SUV in a stunning leopard print dress Turning heads: Kendall made sure to capture attention in her eye-catching ensemble for the big night Vibrant: Kendall completed her look with black sandals and kept her essentials in a small black handbag Stepping out: Kendall looked very glamorous as she stepped out of her car for the party End of the night: Kendall was seen leaving the venue followed closely behind by her sister Kylie Leggy: She showed a hint of leg through a pair of sheer tights that disappeared into a pair of knee-high boots Family: Kris flashed a huge smile as she walked out closely followed by Khloe, who wore a mask of birthday girl Kim's face She looked in high spirits while chatting with photographers outside the restaurant Kendall appeared shortly after Kim and Khloe's arrival. The model, 27, emerged from a black SUV in a stunning leopard print dress. The maxi dress also had long sleeves and a chic mock neckline. Kylie Jenner made jaws drop as she strutted her stuff in a sexy black leather minidress. The skintight garment showed off her slender legs and toned arms. She carried a black zip-up clutch and shielded her sultry brown eyes with black shades. She completed her outfit with heels and semi-sheer black tights. Missing from the action was her new beau Timothee Chalamet, who she began dating sometime in January following her split from rapper Travis Scott last year. Kris looked just as stunning as her daughters in a chic coord that consisted of a waist-cinching blazer and shorts. She showed a hint of leg through a pair of fishnet tights that disappeared into a pair of knee-high boots. There were cameramen on site Friday night capturing party footage for next season of the family's Hulu show The Kardashians. Unlike the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, who were dressed to the nines, Hailey Bieber opted for a more low-key look. Toned: Hailey Bieber put on a very leggy display in a mini skirt for the evening and added to her frame with red pointed heels Low-key: Unlike the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, who were glammed to the nines, Hailey opted for a more low-key look Stylish: She sported a white T-shirt and a brown leather-look shirt, which she styled with a tan jacket Strutting her stuff: Hailey accessorised with statement gold earrings and wore black sunglasses for the night out Sexy: Lauren Sanchez oozed sex appeal in a skintight vinyl dress that matched handbag Close family friends Malika and Khadijah Haqq, who are twins, arrived in style with several security guards by their side Chic: Sara Foster looked effortlessly chic in a tight black bodysuit and bright white wide-legged pants Good spirits: Kimora Lee looked incredible in a black blazer as she climbed into her car at the end of the night Lauren Sanchez oozed sex appeal in a skintight vinyl dress that matched handbag. Ivanka Trump made a surprise appearance at Kims soiree in a sparkly sequin shirt and skirt set. The daughter of Donald Trump gave her look a fun pop of color by accessorizing with green earrings and a matching clutch. Close family friends Malika and Khadijah Haqq, who are twins, arrived in style with several security guards by their side Sara Foster looked effortlessly chic in a tight black bodysuit and bright white wide-legged pants. Nicole Kidman has been cutting a casual figure during her time in Sydney, Australia the past week. But the 56-year-old was dressed to the nines for a flight, opting for a high fashion ensemble as she arrived at Sydney Airport on Saturday. The Eyes Wide Shut star stunned in a semi sheer cream blouse with ruffled details and a black pussy bow from Saint Laurent, valued at AUD $2,700. She added a touch of high-low edge by wearing the top with a pair of blue jeans, which she accessorised with a black belt. Nicole donned a chic, slim-cut blazer and had on a pair of white sneakers as well as hiding her famous face behind sunglasses. Nicole Kidman (pictured) has been cutting a casual figure during her time in Sydney, Australia the past week but she dressed up on Saturday The star opted for a clean makeup look with a soft nude lipstick and wore her strawberry blonde locks up with loose strands around her face. Nicole and her husband Keith Urban, 55, have embraced a much more laid-back lifestyle when they returned home to Australia. The Moulin Rogue star touched down in Sydney last Sunday, reuniting with Keith and their daughters Faith, 12, and Sunday, 15, at the Airport, before driving to a local church to attend a service. While many A-list stars would refuse to worship among strangers, Nicole and her brood gladly stood in pews with other members of the public. The 56-year-old was dressed to the nines for a flight, opting for a high fashion ensemble as she arrived at Sydney Airport The Eyes Wide Shut star stunned in a semi sheer cream blouse with ruffled details and a black pussy bow from Saint Laurent, valued at AUD $2,700 She carried a large leather tote bag in a beige tone She added a touch of high-low edge by wearing the top with a pair of blue jeans, which she accessorised with a black belt After the service the family were spotted leaving the church alongside other church goers, with Nicole looking stylish in a long black dress and sunglasses. A day later, Nicole and Keith were seen blending in with the locals as they picked up burgers, chips and kombucha drinks at a burger joint in Sydney's beachside suburb of Avalon. Swapping her red carpet gowns for a casual dress shirt and jeans, Nicole could easily have been mistaken for a local customer. The couple, who share daughters Faith and Sunday Rose, were seen leaving the premises with their lunch in a brown paper bag. Nicole donned a chic, slim-cut blazer as well as hiding her famous face behind sunglasses The star opted for a clean makeup look with a soft nude lipstick and wore her strawberry blonde locks up with loose strands around her face Nicole and her husband Keith Urban , 55, have embraced a much more laid-back lifestyle when they returned home to Australia The Moulin Rogue star touched down in Sydney last Sunday, reuniting with Keith and their daughters Faith, 12, and Sunday, 15, at the Airport, before driving to a local church to attend a service A day later, Nicole and Keith were seen blending in with the locals as they picked up burgers, chips and kombucha drinks at a burger joint in Sydney's beachside suburb of Avalon Nicole finished her look with a pair of white sneakers in a leather finish Nicole and Keith married on the 25th of June, 2006, after meeting at an event the previous year. In July, Nicole revealed the unique relationship rule that helps her keep the romance alive with Keith - they only communicate on the phone via calling. 'We never text each other, can you believe that? We started out that way I was like, 'If you want to get a hold of me, call me,'' she revealed on Something To Talk About podcast. 'I wasn't really a texter. I think he tried texting me a few times and I never texted back. Then it was like, this is quite nice. 'If you really want to get a hold of me, you have to call me. Everyone else we text with. That's just the one thing we don't do.' Sofia Vergara was looking her best when she stepped out with a male companion on Friday night in Beverly Hills. Her night out with the silver fox - whom Page Six identified as an orthopedic surgeon called Justin Saliman - was the first time Sofia was seen publicly with a date since her split from husband Joe Manganiello in July. For the outing, the Colombian-born 51-year-old showed off her ample chest in a strapless, lacy black bustier. The sexy top was paired with deep purple velvet pants, and she added a pair of open-toe black high heels. Meanwhile, the man with Vergara wore a dark long-sleeved shirt and a pair of faded jeans. New love interest? Sofia Vergara was looking her best when she stepped out with a male companion on Friday night in Beverly Hills Mystery date: The silver fox was identified by Page Six as an orthopedic surgeon called Justin Saliman The studly surgeon, who was clean shaven and had charming dimples, drove with Sofia in his passenger seat. He had a full head of dark, graying hair that was wispy at the top and neatly cut above his ears. Vergara carried her belongings for the night in a slouchy, brick-red clutch she held with a nude manicured hand. Her lustrous light brown locks were flawlessly ironed straight, falling over her chest and down her back in a center part. The America's Got Talent judge looked typically stunning in a face of flattering matte makeup. Manganiello, 46, and Vergara tied the knot in 2015 and never had children together. After seven years of marriage, they announced their divorce in a joint statement shared with Page Six. They said: 'We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.' Cozy: The studly guy, who was clean shaven and had charming dimples, drove to the party with Sofia in his passenger seat Hot stuff: For the night out, the Colombian-born star showed off her ample chest in a strapless, lacy black corset It marks the first time the 51-year-old beauty has been seen publicly with a date since her split from husband Joe Manganiello in July; the former couple pictured in March 'She deserves to be with somebody ASAP': America's Got Talent judge Howie Mandel (R, pictured August 22) recently said he wants to put his costar Sofia on the Jewish dating app Jdate after her split from Joe Manganiello Sofia's sighting with her mystery man comes after her fellow America's Got Talent judge Howie Mandel sang her praises and said he wanted to help her find a new man. 'She deserves to be with somebody ASAP,' the comedian told People earlier this month. 'I think she's great for everyone!' He added: 'I scream it from the rooftops. Sometimes people think that's inappropriate, other people, not Sofia. She doesn't get mad at me.' Mandel said he wanted to get Sofia on the Jewish dating app Jdate to help her find a new lover, and he said he 'loves' the TV star before praising her as, 'in no particular order: beautiful, smart, funny.' Meryl Streep and Don Gummer have revealed that they've been separated for 'more than six years' after 45 years of marriage. The couple, who tied the knot in 1978 and share four children, said they have 'chosen to have lives apart', according to a statement given to Page Six. Despite being secretly separated for six years, the news has just now emerged, but there were signs pointing towards their split. The couple were believed to be last seen together while attending the 2018 Oscars ceremony, and have not made joint public appearances since. Here, MailOnline takes a look at all the tell-tale signs that Meryl and Don had gone their separate ways. Split: Meryl Streep and Don Gummer (pictured in February 2015) have revealed that they've been separated for 'more than six years' after 45 years of marriage Separation: The couple (pictured in December 2014), who tied the knot in 1978 and share four children, said they have 'chosen to have lives apart' NO PUBLIC APPEARANCES The couple did not shy away from making cosy red carpet appearances together during their 45-year marriage. The Devil Wears Prada actress, 74, and the sculptor, 76, were often seen sharing hugs and posing with their arms around each other at star-studded events. In 2012, Don was seen showing his support for Meryl as he gave her a kiss when she won Best Actress at the Oscars for The Iron Lady. However, in recent years, the couple have not been spotted walking the red carpets together, with Meryl often making solo appearances. Meryl and Don were believed to be last seen together while attending the 2018 Oscars ceremony. On the night, Meryl looked incredible in a red gown and she was seen posing on the red carpet with her arm wrapped around Don, who looked suave in a black suit. But now, Meryl often appears solo or with her co-stars on red carpets and premieres while promoting her new movies, including Don't Look Up and The Prom. On Friday, she attended the Princesa de Asturias Awards, where the received one of the highest art honours in the country. She spoke to Queen Letizia, King Felipe VI and their two daughters as she was commemorated for 46 years of work in film. However, Don was absent from the ceremony as Meryl posed for photographs solo, or alongside Spanish royalty. Loved-up: The couple did not shy away from making cosy red carpet appearances together during their 45-year marriage (pictured at the Oscars in 2012) Last seen: However, the couple were believed to be last seen together together while attending the 2018 Oscars ceremony (pictured) Solo: On Friday, she attended the Princesa de Asturias Awards , where the received one of the highest art honours in the country, but Don was seemingly not present HOUSING CHANGES Meryl and Don lived and raised their four children - Henry, 43, Mamie, 40, Grace, 37, and Louisa Jacobson, 30 - in their Connecticut home. As well as their main residence, the couple also owned a loft in the Tribeca neighbourhood in New York City. However, the couple sold the lavish four-bedroom property in 2020 for $15.8million, according to Page Six. The penthouse was first listed in August 2018 for a whopping $24.6million but the price was lowered to $18.25million the following year, before its 2020 sale. Meryl purchased the 3,944-square-foot abode, located in the River Lofts building in TriBeCa, for $10.13 million back in 2006. Elsewhere, in July 2020, Meryl notably purchased a home in Pasadena, California, for $4million. But it was not the first property she bought in Pasadena as Meryl and Don also bought a $3.6million home in late 2017. Family: Meryl and Don lived and raised their four children (pictured in June 2004) - Henry, 43, Mamie, 40, Grace, 37, and Louisa Jacobson, 30 - in their Connecticut home Sold: The couple (pictured in January 2014) also owned a loft in the Tribeca neighbourhood in New York but they sold the lavish four-bedroom property in 2020 for $15.8million SPEAKING LESS ABOUT EACH OTHER While Meryl and Don kept their relationship relatively private, the Hollywood actress had spoken about her marriage in interviews over the years. She has also sweetly thanked Don in acceptance speeches when taking home prestigious accolades. However, Meryl notably hasn't spoken about Don as much in recent years, compared to previously gushing over their marriage in a string of interviews. In 2012, she paid tribute to Don in her acceptance speech at the Oscars while picking up the Best Actress gong for The Iron Lady. She said: 'First I'm going to thank Don, because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives you've given me.' The Death Becomes Her star also gushed over her 'great' husband when speaking about their marriage in a 2011 interview with The Talks. When asked how she balances her marriage and her career, she said: 'Well, the first thing is a great husband. That I found many years ago and I am lucky in that way.' Meryl also spoke about the secret to a long-lasting marriage in an interview with Vogue in 2002 as she said: 'Goodwill and willingness to bend and to shut up every once in a while.' She went on: 'There's no road map on how to raise a family: It's always an enormous negotiation. But I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life.' Sweet: While Meryl and Don (pictured in March 2014) kept their relationship relatively private, the Hollywood actress had spoken about her marriage in interviews over the years Baz Luhrmann was in great spirits as he promoted his brand new series on Saturday. The Australian director had his wife Catherine Martin on his arm on the red carpet of Faraway Downs at SXSW Sydney. The 61-year-old was casually chic in a coordinated ensemble consisting of a heavy weight shirt and trousers in the same shade of dark brown. He added a simple black T-shirt underneath as well as wearing a cream cap and white sneakers. Catherine showed off her quirky style in a black maxi dress with sequined bird details and sheer sleeves. Baz Luhrmann was in great spirits as he promoted his brand new series on Saturday. The Australian director had his wife Catherine Martin on his arm on the red carpet of Faraway Downs at SXSW Sydney. Both pictured The 61-year-old was casually chic in a coordinated ensemble consisting of a heavy weight shirt and trousers in the same shade of dark brown He added a simple black T-shirt underneath as well as wearing a cream cap and white sneakers Also on hand to celebrate the premiere was model Jessica Gomes who chose an all black look with a sheer blouse. The leggy stunner added a pair of velvet trousers and strappy heels, while opting for minimal accessories. She chose a warm makeup look with a pink nude matte lipstick and wore her dark locks down around her face. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman are reunited onscreen in for Baz Luhrmann's reimagined Australia miniseries Faraway Downs. Also on hand to celebrate the premiere was model Jessica Gomes (pictured) who chose an all black look with a sheer blouse The leggy stunner added a pair of velvet trousers and strappy heels, while opting for minimal accessories The new miniseries which premieres on November 26 is based on footage for Luhrmann's 2008 epic Australia. The filmmaker has now expanded that film thanks to copious footage that was left on the cutting room floor before he shaved the final product down to 165 minutes. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman are returning to the world of Baz Luhrmann's Australia, but in a drastically new form. The miniseries follows Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) as she travels to Australia to sell a cattle ranch named Faraway Downs that is tucked away in the Outback. Michael Turnbull will soon be the proud father to a baby boy. The former Bachelorette star and his fiancee, Charlotte Cushing, were celebrating the impending arrival with a gender reveal party. The pair looked absolutely overjoyed as they popped a balloon containing blue confetti, revealing they're having a little boy. Surrounded by family and friends, the mother to be and her partner shared a sweet kiss once the announcement was made. Cuddling up together and unable to wipe the smiles off their faces, Michael and Charlotte were clearly delighted with the news. Michael Turnbull will soon be the proud father to a baby boy. Pictured with Charlotte Cushing Charlotte looked stunning in a glittering white gown that put her baby bump on display. Michael meanwhile chose a white and cream ensemble that fitted the theme of the party. The room was decorated with gold balloons, plumes of foliage and a sign that read, 'Baby Turnbull'. The reality star, who appeared in multiple incarnations of the Bachelor franchise, made the announcement that he is going to be a father this month by sharing an adorable polaroid image to Instagram. 'Baby Turnbull, Due April 2024,' the image read. The former Bachelorette star and his fiancee, Charlotte Cushing, were celebrating the impending arrival with a gender reveal party The pair looked absolutely overjoyed as they popped a balloon containing blue confetti, revealing they're having a little boy Surrounded by family and friends, the mother to be and her partner shared a sweet kiss once the announcement was made Cuddling up together and unable to wipe the smiles off their faces, Michael and Charlotte were clearly delighted with the news The polaroid faded to show himself and Charlotte holding a sonogram of their baby, looking overjoyed at the news. Days later, Michael popped the question to his pregnant girlfriend as they took a romantic stroll on the beach. Michael captioned their photos with: 'To the most incredible, strong and caring woman I know... Thank you for choosing me.' Charlotte responded sweetly: 'I would choose you in a million lifetimes. Over and over again. I love you.' Charlotte looked stunning in a glittering white gown that put her baby bump on display The room was decorated with gold balloons, plumes of foliage and a sign that read, 'Baby Turnbull' Michael meanwhile chose a white and cream ensemble that fitted the theme of the party The reality star, who appeared in multiple incarnations of the Bachelor franchise, made the announcement that he is going to be a father this month Charlotte was previously Ms Galaxy Australia/Australasia 2020-22 and a Miss Hawaiian Tropic in 2017. She also held a Miss Supercars title in 2016. The couple's friends and family gushed over the exciting family news. 'Best news EVER,' one friend wrote. 'Wow congratulations guys,' another added. 'Congratulations,' yet another wrote. Michael was runner-up on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette in 2015 before returning for a stint on Bachelor In Paradise in 2018. Jesinta Franklin has revealed that her time at the Venice Film Festival was 'awkward'. The A-list event, which was held in September, attracts some of the world's biggest stars. And the model tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that while she was proud of herself for attending the prestigious celebration - even if it wasn't all that much fun for her. 'I actually felt a little bit awkward in Venice,' the 32-year-old admitted. 'I felt like I shouldn't have been there and that I didn't belong. But it was the most amazing opportunity,' Jesinta continued. Jesinta Franklin has revealed that her time at the Venice Film Festival (pictured) was 'awkward'. The A-list event, which was held in September, attracts some of the world's biggest stars 'I actually felt a little bit awkward in Venice,' the 32-year-old admitted 'I hope both the kids look at both of us and think, Mum and Dad followed their dreams and they went after things'. The model and AFL WAG looked like a movie star as she posed on the red carpet for the premiere of Ferrari at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in September. The mother-of-two had been in Italy all week for Armani Beauty. The model and AFL WAG looked like a movie star as she posed on the red carpet for the premiere of Ferrari at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in September. Despite her awkwardness, the model did her best to pose up a storm for the cameras The Venice International Film Festival normally attracts the great and good of Hollywood as they promote their upcoming movies. The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world. It takes place on the Venice Lido - the so-called beach of Venice - a thin barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, which is a short boat trip from the main city of Venice. Unlike Venice itself, cars have access to the Lido. 'I felt like I shouldn't have been there and that I didn't belong. But it was the most amazing opportunity' Jesinta continued It marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favourites for the Oscars. Eight of the past 11 best director awards at the Oscars went to films that debuted at Venice. There are several categories making up the official selection of films shown, the top being those competing for the Golden Lion award. New films by directors including Bradley Cooper, Yorgos Lanthimos, David Fincher, Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay and Ryusuke Hamaguchi competed for the coveted gong. Sophie Monk quit Hollywood when she was on the verge of breaking through to a big screen career. And the former Bardot band member says that tinseltown's casting couch culture was partly to blame. 'You would be doing meetings and you'd be like, "Is this a date or a reading?"' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine. 'And then you'd have someone who has a crush on you, and they won't put you in a movie because they want to keep you where you are so they can date you. 'Even my dentist wanted a reality show' the 43-year-old continued. Sophie Monk quit Hollywood - and the former Bardot band member says that tinseltown's casting couch culture was partly to blame. Pictured in this week's issue of Stellar Magazine 'You would be doing meetings and you'd be like, "Is this a date or a reading?"' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine. Pictured in the 2006 comedy Date Movie 'It's a funny little place and people warned me about it before I went. I was like, "I will be fine." But before I knew it, I was like, "This is not what I'm about."' 'That's why I thought, I want to come back to Australia. I was just on the cusp of getting some good stuff, but I didn't want it anymore,' Sophie concluded. After giving up on Hollywood and moving back to Australia in 2015, Sophie has had a successful career as a TV host, presenting Beauty and the Geek and Love Island for Channel Nine. Before returning home, Sophie notched up some impressive credits, starring in Date Movie in 2006 alongside Alyson Hannigan and Jennifer Coolidge. 'Then you'd have someone who has a crush on you, and they won't put you in a movie because they want to keep you where you are so they can date you' she added. Pictured in Date Movie She appeared in the Adam Sandler comedy, Click, in 2006. In Click, she played Stacey, the assistant to David Hasselhoff's character (centre) The blonde beauty revealed she once won an award for 'Hottest Naked Chick' in a DVD for her role in low-budget horror film The Hills Run Red (pictured) She appeared in the Adam Sandler comedy, Click, that same year, as well as notching up roles in horror film Fear Itself and the popular TV series Entourage. During her 2007 cameo in Entourage, she flaunted her curves in a bikini during a poolside scene - before having steamy sex with Adrian Grenier's character. In Click, she played Stacey, the assistant to David Hasselhoff's character who was Adam Sandler's character's boss in the film. Sophie also came close to landing a role as a Bond Girl in 2012's Skyfall. Earlier this year, the former pop star returned to the big screen, filming the tongue-in-cheek thriller Zombie Plane alongside '90s American rapper Vanilla Ice (right) Many of Monk's acting roles included nudity, including Sex and Death 101 which starred Winona Ryder. She also stripped naked for the straight-to-DVD horror film The Hills Run Red in 2009. In the flick, she played a stripper named Alexa who performs a nude lapdance for co-star Tad Hilgenbrink in a memorable early scene. Earlier this year, the former pop star returned to the big screen, filming the tongue-in-cheek thriller Zombie Plane alongside '90s American rapper Vanilla Ice. PLA Photo:VCG (Global Times) The US Department of Defense (DoD) released its annual report to Congress on "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" (China military power report) on Thursday. People familiar with China-US relations know that since 2000, the Pentagon has issued this report every year, which basically compiles some public information, including media reports with unknown sources, into a "collection of annual China threat theories" in a bid to request funding from Congress and deceive allies into buying US weapons. As a result, one can imagine the level of professionalism in this report. The China military power report can be roughly divided into three parts. First, it assesses China's current military capabilities without any real basis. Second, it selectively hypes China's military activities over the past year. Third, it distorts and speculates about China's military intentions. This year's report has an additional section - complaints about China's "resistance" to military-to-military communications with the US. By combining these factors, the US attempts to fabricate a terrifying image of China, whose military strength is rapidly increasing, military behavior is becoming more aggressive, and "military ambitions" are insufficiently transparent. All the malicious speculations and smears about China's military in the report are far from the reality of China's military situation, but instead resemble a reflection of the US military itself. The Pentagon's report always focuses on China's modernization of its nuclear capabilities and makes groundless speculations and comments on the situation in the Taiwan Straits. It is worth noting that this year's report claims that the DoD estimates that China possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 - on track to exceeding previous projections, and that China will probably have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030. In the 2020 report, the DoD made its first public estimate of China's nuclear warheads, and said its nuclear arsenal was slightly more than 200. In just three years, the number of China's nuclear warheads in the US report has more than doubled. Common sense dictates that on such a significant issue, the US report has not shown the required rigor. The specific number depends on the needs of the Pentagon and Washington at different times. The US needs to understand two points. First, China pursues the strategic thinking of active defense, and the deployment of nuclear forces is part of its defense strategy. However, no matter how many nuclear warheads China has or how strong its defense capabilities are, they will not become violent tools for China to dominate the world, as is the case with the US military. Instead, they are a strong guarantee for China to safeguard its national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as regional and global peace. Second, the development of China's defense force has its own established pace, it does not target any specific country, but it firmly safeguards China's sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. As long as China has not achieved reunification and external forces continue to interfere without restraint, China will not cease to strengthen its defense capabilities. In addition, many have also noticed that this year's report highlights the PLA's so-called coercive and risky operational behavior in the past two years. The Pentagon even presented videos and photos of Chinese military aircraft "intercepting US military aircraft flying in international airspace with dangerous maneuvers," claiming Chinese aircraft have adopted more dangerous, coercive and provocative actions toward the US and its allies in the airspace of East China Sea and South China Sea. However, what the Pentagon never mentions is that this so-called international airspace is primarily located along China's coast, with some US aircraft even intruding into China's territorial waters, while none of these incidents occurred along the US coast. Doesn't this already make the point clear? If we were to reverse the situation, in an atmosphere where even harmless balloons create a sense of impending crisis in Washington, the reaction from the US side would likely be far more significant if Chinese warships or aircraft appeared in international waters and airspace outside San Francisco Bay, beyond just what is termed "dangerous intercepts." The US, with the most powerful armed forces in the world, has become one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the so-called "Chinese military threat" theory, which in itself is abnormal. If the US had no ill intentions toward China, has no desire to interfere with China's reunification efforts, and has no intention of conflict or suppression, it would not perceive such a strong "threat" from China's peaceful armed forces. In the past year, the actions of the US military have made it even clearer who the escalating threat in the Asia-Pacific region truly is and what poses the greatest challenge to peace and stability in that region. At roughly the same time as the report's release, multiple US military bases in the Middle East came under consecutive attacks. The US State Department also issued a rare worldwide caution alert citing potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests. All of these factors indicate that the real danger facing the US does not actually stem from its imagined challenge to its position of leadership by China. Rather, it arises from its excessive interventions and the blowback resulting from creating tension and inciting the risk of war on a global scale. This is what the US truly needs to pay attention to and reflect upon. The mother of Australia's biggest male influencer is expecting her third child at age 52. Bec Foster, whose eldest son Jade starred in Netflix's Byron Baes, proudly showcased her pregnant belly in a stunning maternity shoot this week. In an image shared to social media, the 52-year-old proudly cradled her bump on the sandy shore while posing half-naked with no bottoms on. She accessorised with a flower crown and let her long brunette hair flow naturally in the beachy breeze. Bec celebrated her bundle of joy at a baby shower in Wollongong earlier this month alongside her much younger partner Josh Szakacs, a 38-year-old security guard. Bec Foster, who is the mother of influencer and Netflix star Jade Kevin Foster, flaunted her baby bump in a half-naked photoshoot after falling pregnant at age 52 Bec celebrated the bundle of joy at a baby shower in Wollongong earlier this month with her famous son Jade At the shower, the heavily-pregnant support worker showcased her large baby bump in a tight floral frock while posing with her influencer son. In a gushing Facebook 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.' Bec is pictured 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 A source close to Bec claimed that the pregnancy came as a surprise for the mother-of-two. '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.' Bec declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. 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 left devastated after his brand new $154,000 BMW is stolen 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. Lizzie Cundy looked glamorous as she headed for a breast cancer checkup at Natural Doctor on Harley Street in London. The TV personality, 55, spoke of her 'worries' before the appointment but added that she was relieved to be 'all clear' in a candid update. Stepping out on Saturday, she looked as stylish as ever in a black highneck jumper and leather-look leggings. Lizzie boosted her height with some heeled boots and later layered over a cream blazer. Speaking in a video, shared to Instagram, the presenter explained the importance of getting checked as she worked to raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Raising awareness: Lizzie Cundy, 55, looked glamorous as she headed for a breast cancer checkup at Natural Doctor on Harley Street in London on Saturday She explained: 'Hello everyone, well I am a very relieved girl, because as you know it breast cancer awareness month so I went in for a check. 'I was a little bit worried but I am very happy to say I have got the all clear. 'Just a message to everyone to go and get checked. It really is worth it, it's better to know and if there is a problem, early diagnosis. I'm very happy to know that I am all ok.' In 2014, Lizzie revealed the shocking news that she was suffering from the pre-cancerous condition Barrett's Oesophagus, which she believed had been brought on by her 'out-of-control drinking'. The cause of the disease is thought to be long-term acid reflux, or heartburn and alcohol consumption is thought to exacerbate the problem. 'I was never like my old friend George Best, but the truth is drink had become a problem for me,' she told The Mail On Sunday. Lizzie first sought medical advice after she woke up in agony in the night with terrible chest pains, after months of not feeling well, she recalled. It comes after the TV personality claimed that she went blind after a filler procedure. Check up: The TV personality spoke of her 'worries' before the appointment but added that she was relieved to be 'all clear' in a candid update Stylish: Stepping out on Saturday, she looked as stylish as ever in a black highneck jumper and leather-look leggings Chic: Lizzie boosted her height with some heeled boots and later layered over a cream blazer Lizzie told MailOnline: 'I have never been so frightened as to think I could nearly have lost my eyesight by not doing my research and just wanting to look and feel better!' Lizzie said that that within minutes, she knew that something was awry. She said her eyes puffed up and as time went by, her vision started to go blurry. Recalling the ordeal, she explained: 'Well I literally was feeling a bit low and tired and a friend said: Yes you do look rather tired Lizzie have you not tried filler around the eyes? It can take 10 years off you! 'I really didnt think too much about it and just thought: Yes, why not? 'It was a knee jerk reaction as I just felt a bit low and had had a bit of a tough time so wanted to feel and look better a quick fix! Helpful: Lizzie explained: 'Just a message to everyone to go and get checked. It's better to know and if there is a problem, early diagnosis. I'm very happy to know that I am all ok' 'But as soon as the treatment was done I could feel something was not correct. I felt the needle go so close to my eye it scared me and as by the time I got home I could see my eyes had totally swollen up... like I had an allergic reaction!' Luckily Lizzie was able to enlist an experienced eye doctor who was able to save her sight but insists others should think twice before having similar procedures. The TV star also admitted she feared she wouldn't be able to see her two sons, Josh and James, again A warzone charity supported by Princess Diana has been snubbed in final series of The Crown. In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, the princess was seen walking through a minefield in Angola to promote the vital work of the Halo Trust. Now the British organisation has been snubbed by Netflix in its recreation of the visit by replacing its name with a New Zealand-based group. Images released last week showed actress Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Diana in season six of the royal drama, re-enacting the Princess of Wales' walk across a minefield cleared by the Trust in 1997. Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana's outfit, which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt. In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, the princess was seen walking through a minefield in Angola (pictured) to promote the vital work of the Halo Trust Elizabeth Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana's outfit (pictured), which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt But The Crown's creators changed one key detail: replacing the Halo Trust branded protective vest with a badge of a charity called 'ReliefAid'. Staff at the Halo Trust, which clears deadly landmines left in conflict zones, were understood to be baffled by the snub. 'We weren't asked or consulted about the scene. Obviously, we would have been delighted had our logo been on the PPE, which is what really happened,' said a spokesperson for the charity. They added: 'Princess Diana's advocacy helped to get the 1997 landmine ban over the line and that is an incredibly powerful legacy.' Insiders at the Halo Trust felt it was 'a shame' that Netflix bosses chose not to include them, as the series could have promoted the charity to The Crown's global audience of 73 million viewers. The trust relies on donations for its life-saving work across six continents to clear landmines and explosives. Mail readers donated 2.1million to The Halo Trust through the Mail Force campaign following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which helped finance its work to clear minefields in regions previously besieged by Kremlin forces. The Crown's snub also stirred confusion 11,000 miles away in New Zealand, home to a real humanitarian organisation called ReliefAid that provides emergency aid to conflict zones. 'Netflix did not contact us and ReliefAid did not agree for Netflix to use our name,' said Anne Bulley, ReliefAid's communications director. Now the British organisation has been snubbed by Netflix in its recreation of the visit by replacing its name with a New Zealand-based group She added: 'We were founded in 2015, have never worked in Angola and do not do mine clearance. 'Perhaps Netflix would like to make a donation to The Halo Trust and ReliefAid to recognise their misrepresentation of both our organisations and the vital work we do to help victims of conflict. 'I suspect the use of the name is a coincidence, because to my knowledge we are the only registered charity using the name ReliefAid.' The final series, which airs from next month, will explore the events surrounding Diana's tragic death in Paris in 1997, and will close on the royal wedding of Charles and Camilla. The controversial series has already made headlines with news that Princess Diana will appear as a ghost for an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Prince Charles. Royal insiders suggested the latest instalment will likely be considered in poor taste, particularly as 'deeply painful memories for members of the family are reduced to sensationalism'. A spokesman for Netflix declined to comment. Jeremy Clarkson has been left fuming after finding himself 'marooned' abroad for the second time this month following severe flight delays on Saturday. The TV host, 63, took to Instagram to share a disgruntled selfie of himself and girlfriend Lisa Hogan, 49, as they guzzled champagne. Jeremy once again blamed British Airway for the delay, after he and co-hosts Richard Hammond, 53, and James May, 60, found themsleves in a similar predicament in Botswana and asked 'How much more can a man take?'. The outspoken broadcaster, who has been dating the stunning blonde actress since 2017, then went on to bemoan his status as a 'BA bronze card holder' saying it would see him likely see him served mid flight with a 'dead dog for lunch'. He captioned the post: 'Marooned AGAIN by British Airways. How much more of this can a man take?'. Stuck! Jeremy Clarkson, 63, has been left fuming after finding himself 'marooned' abroad for the second time this month following severe flight delays on Saturday (pictured with partner Lisa Hogan, 49,) Fuming: The TV host,, took to Instagram to share a disgruntled selfie of himself and partner Lisa Hogan as they guzzled airpot Champagne Before sharing a snap of his credentials saying: 'And Im now a BA bronze card holder. So thats a dead dog for lunch I guess'. Jeremy and his The Grand Tour co-presenters found themsleves also 'marooned' in Botswana following similar delays on October 4. However the trio were luckily stranded in a luxury camp after completing filming for the next series of their popular Prime Video show. Taking to Instagram Jeremy decided to document the delay with his followers as he joked about their chance of survival and boasted about living in the lap of luxury with 40 staff waiting on them hand-and-foot. Breaking the news with a snap of Hammond and May staring down at their phones alongside the remains of their dinner and half full wine glasses, he wrote: 'BA have messed up our flight home so we are marooned here at a luxury camp in Botswana. With only 40 staff. Its all about survival now.' Jeremy then proceeded to post regular updates as he charted the threesome's stay in the remote camp which has a stunning pool. Sharing a video of the luxury camp they are staying at he wrote: 'Marooned update. We are coping. But for how long?' The video showed a huge furnished lounge area before settling on James as he opened the fridge to reveal fully stocked shelves filled with beer. Happier times: Jeremy once again blamed British Airway for the delay, after he and co-hosts Richard Hammond , 53, and James May , 60, found themsleves in a similar predicament in Botswana just weeks ago, and asked 'How much more can a man take?' (pictured with Lisa in 2018) Unimpressed: The outspoken broadcaster, who has been dating the stunning blonde actress since 2017, then went on to bemoan his status as a 'BA bronze card holder' saying it would see him likely see him served mid flight with a 'dead dog for lunch' Holiday blues: Before sharing a snap of his credentials saying: 'And Im now a BA bronze card holder. So thats a dead dog for lunch I guess' James then opted for a Jeremy's brand of Hawkstone lager as he indulged in the beverage. In the next post the presenter turned farmer, shared a serene picture of an outdoor pool, sarcastically writing: 'When BA delay a flight by 12 hours, do they not realise how much hardship they inflict on passengers? We are fighting to stay alive here.' Fans began to contribute to the joke in the comments as one teased: 'Are you bored Jeremy?' and another added: 'The Bear Grylls approach to survival I see!' Later on he posted an adorable snap of a meerkat on its hind legs as it watched the sunset across the sandy plane. He captioned the snap: 'Thanks to BAs incompetence, this is how Ive been forced to endure my evening.' The snap provided the opportune moment to make a dig at Richard Hammond, who was often nicknamed 'the Hamster' in his Top Gear days. One fan joked: 'Didn't know Hammond was so hairy', while another added 'A great picture of Hammond'. Drama! October 4th saw Jeremy (left) reveal he had been stranded in Botswana alongside Richard Hammond, 53, (right) and James May, 60, (middle) after flight delays - as he boasted about making do with 40 staff in luxury camp with pool Fully stocked: They may been stranded, but the team have no shortage of beverage choice as James examined the fridge Updating fans as the threesome entered day two of survival, Jeremy shared a snap of two birds as they pecked at his breakfast. 'Day two and the horror continues. Two red eyed bulbul birds helping themselves to the sugar for my morning coffee,' he wrote. He upped the drama in the next post as he shared a snap of a Kyote-like animal as it tucked into it's dead prey. Joking in the caption, he broke the news: 'James May didn't make it I'm afraid', before later updating fans that he misidentified the dead prey and 'It was actually Richard Hammond who was turned into food'. Fans continued to engage with Jeremy's storytelling, as one asked 'What was he driving at the time?' Other's made a jibe at Richard's height as they added: 'Not a big meal then', and 'Was it a skinny carcass for the poor [animal]' with a fox emoji. Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon has officially returned to the cobbles, three years after she left her role on the soap. The actress, who plays Bethany Platt, is back filming again with her Corrie family as she took to Instagram to address her fans on Thursday. Teasing her return, Lucy appeared on Coronation Street's Instagram account as she announced she was back filming and excited for her character's new chapter. Waving at the camera, she said: 'Hello everyone, It's me, Bethany. It's my first day back filming today, I'm very excited. 'A little bit nervous and I can't wait for you all to see what Bethany is up to. Bye!' She's back! Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon is 'excited' to return to the cobbles as headed to Instagram to address her fans on her first day back filming onThursday Time away: Lucy starred on Corrie from 2015 to 2020 before Bethany left for a magazine internship in London (pictured back in 2015) It was announced in August that Lucy was reportedly returning to the soap and will be back on viewers screens in scenes set to air after Christmas. A TV source told The Sun at the time: 'Lucy is one of soaps most talented actresses who won lots of awards for her powerful portrayal of Bethanys grooming storyline. 'Bosses reached out to her a few weeks ago about the possibility of coming back, and told her everything theyd planned for Bethany if she agreed. 'She discussed it with her boyfriend, and family, because shes a mum now with a baby. Once theyd talked about childcare, and how best to juggle it all, she was able to say shed love to return.' Clearly excited for the Platt family member's return, the soap captioned the post: 'Look who's back! Bethany returns with a whole new look. Watch out for her arrival on screen towards the end of the year. @lucyfallon #Corrie.' A firm fan favourite, viewers rushed to the comments to express their delight at Bethany's return. One fan wrote: 'Love her!! Cant wait to see her back onscreen' while another penned: 'FAVOURITE CHARACTER IS BACK!! '. Drama incoming: Teasing her return, Lucy appeared on Coronation Street's Instagram account as she announced she was back filming and excited for her character's new chapter The Platt is back: Bethany joined the soap as Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien, L) first daughter who she gave birth to at 15 Shock! Fans have predicted Bethany is back to worm her way back into a relationship with Daniel (Rob Mallard) who is now with Daisy (Charlotte Jordan) A third added: 'I feel shes back to cause trouble cant wait x'. Other's predicted Bethany is back to worm her way back into a relationship with Daniel who is now with Daisy. One viewer suggested: 'She'll get with Daniel and Daisey will get with Ryan... I also want her jumper'. Another said: 'Daniel is gonna find out about daisy cheating and I reckon Daniel will get back with Bethany'. Yet not everyone wants this to happen as another said: 'Get her back with Ryan and leave D&D alone to get married and be happy now okay thanks guys'. Lucy starred on Corrie from 2015 to 2020 before Bethany left for a magazine internship in London. Matt Di Angelo is reportedly set to reprise his role as EastEnders villain Dean Wicks after seven years away from the soap. The actor, 36, was last seen in the BBC serial in 2016 when he was acquitted of the rape of former Walford resident Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons). Viewers of the soap had been speculating Dean would make a comeback after EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw previously teased a gripping Halloween storyline for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), with eagle-eyed fans spotting a picture on social media which appeared to show Dean sat in Albert Square pub the Queen Vic. And Matt is already said to be back on set filming scenes for Dean's big return. Dean raped Linda in the Queen Vic pub in 2014 which lead to her breaking down and recounting her horrific ordeal to husband Mick (Danny Dyer) on Christmas Day that year. Comeback? Matt Di Angelo, 36, is reportedly set to reprise his role as EastEnders villain Dean Wicks after seven years away from the soap (pictured on EastEnders in 2016) A source told The Sun: 'Dean is the ultimate villain so to bring him back was a genius move especially with everything thats coming up this autumn. 'Theres also the small matter of the big murder at Christmas, could it be Deans body under the tree? 'We know that Linda is one of the women involved, and this just throws another name in the mix. Its a very exciting time.' The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Linda is set to be in for a big shock this Halloween as revealed by soap boss Chris: 'Poor Lindas struggling this Halloween as its the first one without Mick. 'Obviously she wasnt with Mick this time last year, but Halloween was very much their thing, and something they did together in the Queen Vic. 'So, shes trying her best to make a go of things, but she gets one hell of a surprise that she doesnt bargain for.' EastEnders bosses have been teasing a huge Christmas storyline where viewers will find out the identity of a dead body seen in The Vic. On screen: The actor was last seen in the BBC serial in 2016 when he was acquitted of the rape of former Walford resident Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) (Matt pictured in 2016) Drama: Soap fans had been speculating Dean would make a comeback after EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw teased a gripping Halloween storyline for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright, pictured) Gripping: Elsewhere, EastEnders previously aired a flash-forward scene of this year's Christmas Day episode which showed Walford's leading ladies standing over a dead man (L-R: Stacey (Lacey Turner), Suki (Balvinder Sopal), Linda (Kellie Bright), Sharon (Letitia Dean), Denise (Diane Parish) and Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) pictured) The BBC soap made history in an episode back in February when they teased a flash forward, but the identity of the corpse and the killer were kept secret. It is still over two months until fans will find out who the victim of the Christmas murder is however some viewers believe they are one step closer to finding out. Some soap fans believe it will be Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) who falls victim to the killer whereas others were convinced it will be Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) who dies this Christmas. Ian made a huge return to EastEnders this summer, as he arrived in Walford alongside his wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). Juliette Binoche looked nothing short of sensational at the premiere of her new movie The Taste of Things (La passion de Dodin Bouffant) during the Rome Film Festival on Saturday. The French actress, 59, cut a very stylish figure in an emerald green gown which hugged every inch of her age-defying figure. Juliette's quirky frock boasted large pockets as well as a contrasting white collar encrusted with sparkling green jewels. She slipped her feet into a pair of matching heels and teased a glimpse of her toned legs thanks to a knee-high split at the back of the skirt. The Taste of Things sees Juliette's play talented chef Eugenie as she makes her way in the world in 19th Century France. Glam: Juliette Binoche, 59, looked nothing short of sensational at the premiere of her new movie The Taste of Things (La passion de Dodin Bouffant) during the Rome Film Festival on Saturday Pose: The French actress cut a very stylish figure in an emerald green gown which hugged every inch of her age-defying figure The offical synopsis reads: 'France in 1885. Eugenie worked as a chef for the famous restaurant owner Dodin for 20 years. She is considered excellent in her field. Over the years, because Eugenie and Dodin spent a lot of time in the kitchen together, feelings arose between them'. 'Their shared love of food has created unique, delicious and exquisite dishes that are second to none and attract many diners from all over the world. However, freedom-loving Eugenie never wanted to marry Dodin'. 'Then, Dodin decided to cook for his beloved for the first time'. Last year Juliette pulled no punches when talking about legendary directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. She revealed that she had turned down three opportunities to work with 75-year-old Spielberg in an interview published by Variety. When discussing turning the well-known filmmaker down, she compared him to another one in Scorsese, 79, as she labelled them 'men's directors.' She was asked if she really turned Spielberg down three times as she replied: 'I dont remember very well but Steven reminded me! The first time was for Indiana Jones 3, because I was doing The Lovers On The Bridge with Leos Carax. 'The second time, for Schindlers List, I was pregnant, and then for the dinosaurs (Jurassic Park), I had already committed to Three Colors: Blue (Krzysztof Kieslowskis film). Perfection: Juliette's quirky frock featured large pockets as well as a contrasting white collar encrusted with sparkling green jewels Strut: She slipped her feet into a pair of matching heels and teased a glimpse of her toned legs thanks to a knee-high split at the back of the skirt Coming soon: The new movie sees Juliette's play talented chef Eugenie as she makes her way in the world in 19th Century France (pictured with co-star Benoit Magimel) Binoche was asked if she would still work with Spielberg or Scorsese in the future. The Chocolat actress remained honest as she replied: 'Of course I would! Even if I find their approach to cinema to be very commercial, they have a fabulous technique which they own completely, and therere storytellers. But their films lack women.' Binoche was asked if there are more opportunities for female filmmakers today. The Oscar-winner answered: 'There are more and more female directors in Europe, less so in the U.S. Its not there yet, but theyre gaining ground. I just played a truck driver in a film called Paradise Highway by Anna Gutto and at first they didnt want her to direct her script, but I got on board because I love adventure. 'We shot in Mississippi and it wasnt a walk in the park because it was over 100 degrees, but I got to learn how to drive a truck!'. Maya Jama has sent temperatures soaring in a sneak peak of her new wardrobe on the Love Island Games. After the first trailer was released on Thursday, the presenter who will host the spin off series appears to have chosen a few braless numbers during her time in Fiji. While the main focus remains on the villa's activities, viewers couldn't help but be captivated by Maya's sizzling style. In one scene, she showed off her incredible figure in a blue satin mini dress with a plunging neckline and put her toned pins on display in coordinated heels. For what could be her launch outfit, the TV personality could also be seen in a plunging cream knitted gown, showcasing a braless look as she welcomed famous faces to the sunny villa with long, wavy curls. Wow! Maya Jama has sent temperatures soaring in a sneak peak of her new wardrobe on the Love Island Games Confidence: She strutted her stuff in a plunging knitted cream dress as she dropped bombshell revelations on the Islanders In yet another alluring moment, Maya donned a black leather gilet jacket with the zip slightly undone hinting to no bra again as she presented a segment for the show from a scenic beach backdrop. The returning cast includes Eyal Booker, Curtis Pritchard and Megan Barton-Hanson. Other familiar faces also returned in the trailer including Liberty Poole and Georgia Steel, while USA star Cely Vazquez was reunited with her ex Johnny Middlebrooks. The new show promises a more physical and competitive approach as the singletons returned for another chance at finding love, making it a hot topic among fans. In the trailer, Maya, was also seen dropping her fair share of bombshells as she entered the villa to stir things up amongst the group. Addressing the Islanders around the firepit, she teased: 'Love Island Games is always full of twists and turns.' In another moment, she cryptically said: 'Things are going to be very different this time around.' In July, Maya was unveiled as the new face of luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana a deal believed to be worth thousands and this month graced the cover of Vogue. Familiar faces: Maya could be seen welcomeing the singletons around the firepit in the figure hugging number Racy! In yet another alluring outfit, Maya donned a black leather gilet jacket hinting to no bra again as she presented a segment for the show from a scenic beach backdrop Game on: The new show promises a more physical and competitive approach as the singletons return for another chance at finding love, making it a hot topic among fans Maya took over as Love Island presenter from Laura Whitmore, 38, earlier this year and her career has catapulted in the last few years. She has previously hosted BBC makeup series Glow Up, Walk the Line and Crouchy's Year-Late Euros: Live. Rimmel London and modelled for the likes of designer brand Self-Portrait. With all that behind her belt and her own beauty range MIJ Masks, Maya is thought to be worth around 3million. Just Stop Oil are reportedly planning on targeting Strictly Come Dancing for their next protest. According to The Mirror, the protesters are planning to invade the dancefloor in front of millions of viewers, with BBC bosses now being forced to up their security measures. The group is said to have organised a stage stunt to take place at some point this autumn as part of a campaign to 'ramp up' their climate activism. However the BBC have received a tip off about the plot and are reviewing security measures. The publication revealed that Just Stop Oil wish to get 'maximum attention' for their cause and live on the BBC is the opportune setting. Shocking: Strictly Come Dancing are reportedly the next target for Just Stop Oil protesters as BBC bosses review security measures, The Mirror has reported Plotting: The group has organised a stage stunt to take part place at some point this autumn as part of a campaign to 'ramp up' the climate group's activism (pictured at a protest outside King's College Cambridge earlier this month) It has been claimed the group wish to replicate a recent demonstration in Sweden where eco-group Restore Wetlands stormed the stage during the final of Let's Dance. Armed with yellow powder and signs, two protestors ran onto the stage to create chaos before the camera operator slammed a camera into the face of one of the protesters. The Strictly plan will replicate this demonstration as they plan to get onto the stage and then hold up signs or throw confetti. A source from the group said: 'What happened with Restore Wetlands was genius. Thats absolutely something were looking at. Strictly Come Dancing has a studio audience so that presents an opportunity to get inside on the night. 'Everyone was talking about that for a long time after. Primetime BBC television with millions watching would be incredible.' Another said they had seen text messages which read: 'The bees are buzzing! [and] others talk about how storming the stage is the plan to create the largest impact.' Speaking about the plans, Tory MP Nigel Mills explained how this shows the group are just hungry for attention and wish to cause as much disruption as they can with no thought to those impacted. He expressed his hopes for the plan to fail and stated the group are not helping the climate cause at all. Target: The Strictly plan will replicate this demonstration as they plan to get onto the stage and then hold up signs or throw confetti Disruption: The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists clambered onto the stage at a performance of Les Miserables earlier this month at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Chaos: Three Just Stop Oil protestors were seen barging onto the stage to disrupt the winners final of Tekken 7 at event EGX 2023, covering the equipment in their signature orange paint earlier this week Former MET detective Peter Bleksley warned that the BBC should be on high-alert as Strictly would be the perfect target for the group. A source from the BBC told The Mirror that Strictly has the appropriate security protocols in place and are taking the threats seriously. MailOnline has approached Strictly representatives for comment. It comes after JSO interrupted a performance of Les Miserables and shut down the show in London's West End earlier this month. The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists, holding the group's orange banner, clambered onto the stage at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury during a performance of the show's famous song One More Day. The Metropolitan Police arrested people following the disruption at the musical, which depicts a failed republican rebellion against the French state and costs up to 200 per ticket. And in their latest protest the zealots stormed on stage and sprayed orange paint iat the UK's largest gaming convention. Three protestors were seen barging onto the stage this afternoon to disrupt the winners final of Tekken 7 at event EGX 2023, covering the equipment in their signature orange paint. Sydney Sweeney sent her costar Glen Powell a sweet message via Instagram on Saturday. 'Happy birthday to my fellow camp counselor, adventure extraordinaire, and goof ball,' the 26-year-old Euphoria actress wrote to mark the Top Gun: Maverick hunk's 35th milestone. Along with the well-wishes, Sydney shared an adorable photo of the pair from the set of their upcoming film Anyone But You. The two movies stars looked incredibly happy, with Sydney rocking Prada sunglasses, and Glen keeping a cool vibe in his Ray-Ban New Wayfarer Classics. The obvious chemistry between the pair had recently fueled speculation of an on-set romance during filming of the romantic comedy. Sweet message: Sydney Sweeney sent her costar Glen Powell a sweet message via Instagram on Saturday Costars: 'Happy birthday to my fellow camp counselor, adventure extraordinaire, and goof ball,' the 26-year-old Euphoria actress wrote to mark the Top Gun: Maverick hunk's 35th milestone The rumors gained traction after Glen silently split with his model girlfriend Gigi Paris last April. Sydney finally shot down the rumors during a tell-all interview with Variety, saying 'Its a rom-com. Thats what people want!' She added: 'Glen and I don't 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,' she continued. 'Were excited for the press tour [the interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike], and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like, "Thats really funny,' the blonde beauty quipped. Despite the pair continually denying any possibility of a romance, fans of the two Hollywood heavyweights found such statements hard to believe after the rom-com co-stars were spotted spending a lot of time together in Australia...when they weren't filming scenes. A production member on the film even relayed that many of the workers on set 'thought they were already a couple.' They continued with 'I knew him from Top Gun. But I just assumed they were a couple in real life. That's what it looked like to most of us. And to some of the extras as well.' Too cute: Along with the well-wishes, Sydney shared an adorable photo of the pair from the set of their upcoming film Anyone But You Chemistry: The obvious chemistry between the pair had recently fueled speculation of an on-set romance during filming of the romantic comedy Although the 6'0 heartthrob did break up with his girlfriend while filming Anyone But You, with Gigi even unfollowing the Madame Webb star, Sydney is still very much together with her fiance, Jonathan Davino, 38. The pair have looked more loved up than ever recently, with Sydney and Jonathan even joining Riverdale star Lili Reinhart on a double date with her boyfriend Jack Martin while the foursome were vacationing in Venice back in September. A source told TMZ back in April that the curvaceous beauty was 'still engaged,' to the Chicago restaurateur and that Glen and Sydney were 'not dating.' The same insider verified that Jonathan and his sex symbol fiancee were still living together as well, despite theories to the contrary. Shoot it down: Sydney finally shot down the rumors during a tell-all interview with Variety , saying 'Its a rom-com. Thats what people want!' Scandalous rumors aside, Anyone But You is written and directed by Will Gluck (Friends With Benefits, Easy A). The rom-com will debut in theaters everywhere on December 15. The Washington born beauty also serves as an executive producer on the film. Meanwhile, the single, Austin-born leading man is set to star in Twisters in 2024, his next film project, after Anyone But You drops this year. People remove a victim from a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 17, 2023. Photo: Xinhua Global TimesWhile the US, which has failed to act as an impartial mediator, has stood on the opposite side of the rest of the world by pledging funds to Israel amid rising global unease and dissatisfaction over its one-sided support for the country, China's special envoy on Middle East affairs has been busy working with the international community to work on a ceasefire and buy more time for humanitarian assistance. At the invitation of the Egyptian government, Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue will attend a summit on the Palestinian question held in Cairo, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. The summit will bring together world leaders including the Palestinian President, Jordanian King and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the escalating of war, Reuters reported. Zhai arrived in Doha and respectively spoke with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov and Qatar's Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi on Thursday. China is seeking to promote the de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and resume peace talks and a ceasefire, the special envoy said, calling on all parties concerned to maintain calm and show restraint, and to avoid further deterioration and even loss of control of the situation. China is deeply saddened by the number of civilian casualties caused by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Palestine and opposes all actions that harm civilians, or any practices that violate international law, Zhai told Mikhail Bogdanov. While meeting with Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi in Doha, Zhai said that Qatar holds significant influence in the Palestinian question and China is willing to maintain talks and coordination with Qatar to play a constructive role in easing the current tense situation. Al-Khulaifi said Qatar was actively engaging in diplomatic mediation efforts to de-escalate the situation and valued China's role and influence and was prepared to strengthen communication to work toward an early, just, and reasonable settlement of the Palestinian question. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed, Friday evening, October 20, his deep concern about the uncertain situation of Mohamed Bazoum and called for his immediate release as well as that of his wife and son. Lawyers for Niger's president, who was overthrown in a July 26 coup, had earlier rejected the junta's accusations of his attempted escape. Thursday evening, the military regime had in fact affirmed that Mohamed Bazoum had tried to escape with his family and other people, by wanting to borrow helicopters belonging to a foreign power from the outskirts of Niamey towards Nigeria. . He specified that this attempt had failed and that the main perpetrators and some of their accomplices had been arrested. A new red line has been crossed We energetically reject these trumped-up accusations against President Bazoum, Mohamed Seydou Diagne, coordinator of a collective of lawyers for the ousted president, said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP). He also claimed that Mr. Bazoum, his wife and son are being held incommunicado, without access to lawyers or the outside world. On Friday morning, the doctor was denied access while bringing food to the family, he said. According to Mr. Diagne, Mr. Bazoums entourage has not heard from him since the night of Wednesday to Thursday. Me Diagne estimated that with this incommunicado detention, it is a new red line which has been crossed by a junta which continues to violate the fundamental rights of our client. She will have to answer for her actions, he said. Mr. Bazoum had until now been sequestered by soldiers in his presidential residence in Niamey since the coup. Not only must the military authorities provide us with proof that President Bazoum and his family are alive, but above all, they must release them immediately, says another lawyer for the collective, Reed Brody. On September 18, Mr. Bazoum took legal action in West Africa to request his release and the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. To speak of maturity would be presumptuous. Evoking a promising adolescence would undoubtedly be more accurate. For its third edition, the Ouagadougou International Sculpture Biennale (BISO), whose opening took place on October 4 and which runs until November 8, asserts itself as an important moment in contemporary art on the continent , bringing together nineteen selected artists from twelve countries (Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, DRC, Cameroon, without forgetting Martinique) for around a hundred applications received. This year, as for the previous editions of 2019 and 2021, a theme has been chosen. The second novel by Congolese Emmanuel Dongala, The Fire of Origins, served as a framework for the artists. At the heart of this saga, Mandala Mankunku, blacksmith, sculptor, hunter, witch doctor and healer, surpasses his masters and rebels against an ancient world. A creative genius, eager for knowledge and emancipation, he ardently resists colonial power through his art, the white men who sweep across the continent, subjugating and killing. "We chose this work because it seems to us that, in a different context, artists today, like everyone else, are confronted with the harshness and violence of a globalized world in which it is difficult to trace their road. We invite creators to draw on their origins and individual trajectories to imagine works forged in their own identities, underlines Christophe Person, gallery owner and co-founder of BISO with photographer Nyaba Ouedraogo. The sculpture also represents an original, unifying and regenerating fire of art in Africa. As well as a tribute to Burkinabe blacksmiths and the countrys metallurgical tradition. In order to create a spirit of cohesion among the artists, the selection of projects was made in particular according to their ability to integrate into the Ouagalais context. Because one of the particularities of BISO lies in its creative residencies. For a maximum of one month, those selected were able to work in close collaboration with local artisans, specialized in bronze, wood or textiles to bring their works to life. For this third edition, the choice of location was very symbolic: the amphitheater of the Pan-African Cinema and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco). A more accessible place than the French Institute of the first two biennials currently under renovation after the ransacking on October 1, 2022, by demonstrators in favor of the putsch led the day before by Captain Ibrahim Traore. But I was warned that this place is inhabited by geniuses, explains Nyaba Ouedraogo. There were fires, aborted projects... So we made animal sacrifices to respect traditions and offer something to our ancestors. In order to liven up the amphitheater and highlight the works, the organizers called on scenographer Amandine Tochon, who has already worked several times for DakArt, the Dakar Biennale. His challenge was to imagine the organization of the space while the creators were producing. Two weeks to have a vision of the finished works, together in one place. By talking with the artists, I was able to establish a plan and no one pre-empted a place. They were very accommodating with what I proposed. Work in good intelligence, she says. Artist residencies, the DNA of BISO Five people made up the jury, under the presidency of the Cameroonian artist Barthelemy Toguo, who has accompanied the BISO adventure since the beginning. Among them, Illa Donwahi, co-founder and president of the private Ivorian foundation that bears her name, specializing in the promotion of contemporary art: Artist residencies represent the DNA of this unique event, the only biennial of contemporary sculpture in Africa, which allowed access to a very interesting level of creation. Thanks to the diversity of the jury [designer, writer, artist, gallery owner and research historian] led by Barthelemy Toguo who speaks little but loudly, we learned from each other. The deliberations were difficult. The maturity and diversity of the work as well as the mobilization of the artists surprised the jury. One work, however, was unanimous, winning the BISO 2023 Grand Prix: that of Sadikou Oukpedjo. Aguelle or Les Echassiers represents singular beings who seek to contemplate the past to better understand the present and thus prepare for the future, explains the artist. With their elegant and imposing gait, they seem to cross the ages in search of answers, of buried truths. I wanted to create in this work an atmosphere imbued with poetry and silence, inviting the viewer to question the destiny of human beings. Trained for four years by the great Togolese sculptor, painter, architect and writer Paul Ahyi (1930-2010), whose works are known on the African continent and around the world, Sadikou Oukpedjo was born in 1970 in Ketao, in the north from the country. Today, he lives in Abidjan and his work is driven by a constant questioning of our humanity. For him, tales, cosmogony, rites and witchcraft are all attempts and tools created to find one's place in the world and to learn to know oneself. The invisible and its power, the unknown and the hidden represent a common thread, part of the exploration of human consciousness as the same quest which runs through the evolution of his plastic research. An energy that floated in the air Another work, that of Rachel Marsil, entitled By my eyes I touched the sun and composed of raffia embroidery and pieces combining bronze and wood, won an award. Between totems and displays, fruits pile up and balance, mingle and respond to each other in front of embroidered mats suspended in the background, one of which suggests a sun filtering through the surrounding vegetation. This installation talks about the relationship with family, with others and with origins. She evokes my first return to the continent, the discovery of merchants who stack fruits like sculptures to attract customers, underlines this young woman who grew up in the Paris region and has Senegalese origins. Graduating from the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris in 2021, she discovered old family photos which will allow her to construct an imagination questioning the notion of connection, with its gaps and shortcomings. Finally, five off-site locations were chosen to accompany the official event. For Nyaba Ouedraogo, these spaces make it possible to offer complementary programming of contemporary Burkinabe creation: sculpture of course, but also painting and photography. They contributed to the enthusiasm of the BISO, with this energy that floated in the air. The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas has become a critical juncture in the West Asian region. Hamas audacious attack has exposed vulnerabilities in Israels security apparatus, triggering a humanitarian crisis. Controversial evacuation orders have rekindled memories of historic displacements. As tensions mount, there are growing concerns about the potential for a broader regional crisis. Hamas has surprised the State of Israel by launching one of the deadliest terror attacks on it last week, since its foundation in 1948. This brazen assault by the terror group is viewed as a turning point in Israel-Palestinian conflict. The multi-pronged war is now seen as long planned and clearly failed the sophisticated Israeli security network, known for decades for its stealth work and extensive espionage activities against its enemies like Hamas and Hezbollah. This crisis is crucial for the US. No US President can ignore a conflict in which Israel is at stake or directly involved in the war. Also, for President Joe Biden, who is fighting re-election next year, the quagmire in West Asia is decisive. This crisis is virtually challenging the world order led by the US, since the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the UN. Well, Hamas knows its limits. And Israel can easily assess how far it can push. With an annual military aid of about $3 billion to the country, the Israelis will be giving a tough fight to Hamas. Only time will tell how the current crisis unfolds and how bloodier and costlier it is going to be. But for sure, it will lead to one of the most serious humanitarian tragedies in recent days in West Asia. Who is Hamas? Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni militant group that was founded on December 10, 1987, after the first intifada (uprising). Its name is an acronym which comes from Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya. Its English translation means Islamic Resistance Movement. For Hamas, the main objectives since its inception have been the creation of an independent Palestine state and the destruction of the Israeli state. It will fight till the end. However, sustaining a prolonged conflict with an armed Israel would inevitably lead to further loss of lives, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in the days to come. Is it possible for Israel to fortify the nation adequately? It is an extremely challenging task for any nation, including Israel. Israel has been under threat from all its neighbours since its inception. However, the country has built an excellent security system over the years to counter attacks from non-state actors like Hamas and Hezbollah. This attack by Hamas indicates a near-total security and intelligence failure on Israels part, as experts suggest. Meanwhile, there has been a deluge of international reaction to the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. The international victims of assault on Israel by Hamas come from the US, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Canada, Thailand, Nepal, the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Tanzania, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, etc. It is certain that Gaza Strip will soon turn into a hotspot of humanitarian tragedy. Israel has asked more than one million Gazans to vacate the North Gaza in no time and to move towards the south. But the UN says the Israeli evacuation order is impossible without a major humanitarian catastrophe. The UN also warns that Gaza is becoming a hell hole on the brink of collapse signalling that war clouds hovering over the Gaza Strip, the people might face all the hardships simply to survive. On the other hand, Hamas told Gazans not to leave their homes. By now, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening, as Israel has already cut off food and electricity to the besieged territory. Most of the common people are at risk of starvation. According to the estimate from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1,800 people have died so far. The UN reports that over 4,23,000 people are internally displaced due to the massive air raids conducted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) since October 7. US President Joe Biden strongly criticised Hamas for its military mission against Israel. In an official message delivered immediately after the offensive, he said, We are with Israel. Let us make no mistake. He further emphasised that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. However, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin has criticised Israel for employing quite cruel methods in its response to the Hamas attack. He said, In my view, it is unacceptable. More than two million people live there. Not all of them support Hamas by the way, but all of them have to suffer, including women and children. Of course, it is difficult for anyone to agree with this. This shows that Putin is fully aware of the chaos left behind by the relentless aerial bombing carried out by Israel over the Gaza Strip. Previously, he also stated that an Israeli ground operation would be entirely unacceptable, as it would result in significant casualties. He advocates for the resolution of this crisis through negotiations, with Russia playing a role in the peace process due to its longstanding relations with both parties. These lofty words coming from a crude statesman who has been at war with his neighbour and creating another global crisis leading to thousands of deaths and displacement of lakhs in Ukraine. Before offering solutions to clash between Hamas and Israel, he must first deescalate the Ukraine crisis that he had started in February 2022. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visited Israel and reaffirmed his countrys unwavering support for the latter. However, he also acknowledged the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians that are not represented by Hamas militants. While meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said, You may be strong enough to defend yourself on your own. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side. This shows how the US is directly providing aid to the Jewish state, while all other Western allies of Israel remain relatively quiet. Washington has taken one step further by sending its Defence Secretary Llyod Austin both to bolster support for Tel Aviv and assure all possible help to its ally. By pledging full support to Israel, Austin said, This is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence or for excuses for the inexcusable. When Blinken met the President of Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan, the latter rejected the forced displacement of the Gazans from the northern Gaza. He strongly opposed the idea of evacuation and to him such a move would lead to Second Nakba. Naqba (Palestinian Catastrophe) is an Arabic word that refers to the catastrophe brought by the creation of the Zionist State in 1948 and the displacement of nearly 7,50,000 Palestinians from their homes. This all happened only after the end of the historic British Mandate and the establishment of Israel on May 14, 1948. This finally resulted in the beginning of the first Arab-Israeli War. Subsequently, the Zionist military forces captured 78 per cent of the historic lands of Palestine and today the remaining 22 per cent are left as the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip. So now, with the evacuation of the Northern Gaza as per the order of Israel for beginning its ground offensive to crush Hamas and to rescue the hostages taken might lead to another Naqba. At the moment, the Israeli security forces are conducting local raids in Gaza to locate the hostages taken by Hamas. And as per some media reports, the IDF is able to free nearly 200 hostages from the hands of Hamas so far. The battle is on, and it is certainly going to be bloodier than ever before. The road ahead is complicated and filled with dangerous twists and turns for both Israel and Hamas. There will be no solution until an independent state of Palestine is created. But this will not be feasible given the circumstances that have led to the current hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Furthermore, a counteroffensive by Hezbollah and involvement of nearby Arab nations against Israel might further complicate the situation. However, while dealing with Hamas, the IDF and the Israeli State is careful to minimise civilian casualties. Otherwise, the Israel-Hamas conflict may escalate into a larger regional quagmire. (The writer is currently president of the Global Research Foundation) The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a road using steel slag, a waste product of steel manufacturing thereby promoting waste to wealth and Save Earth, initiatives, Defence Ministry officials said here on Thursday. Giving details, they said the Department of Defence is into the third week of the implementation phase (02-31 Oct, 2023) of the Special Campaign 3.0 along with the concomitant Swachhata Abhiyan. As part of the best practices deployed during the ongoing campaign , the BRO has constructed a road using steel slag, a waste byproduct of steel manufacturing. A one km long Joram-Koloriang Road in Arunachal Pradesh has been constructed using 1200 MT steel slag as part of Waste to Wealth Initiative. Alive to the call to Save Earth, the BRO has also taken initiative for development of road infrastructure using plastic waste in the high altitude area of Sanku at Ladakh, which makes roads more durable, cost effective and environment-friendly. As regards the special campaign undertaken by the Department of Defence, officials said it may be recalled that during the preparatory phase of the Special Campaign 3.0, the department had identified a total of 3066 locations/sites across India where the Swachhata Abhiyan with people-centric engagement is to be undertaken. These locations pertain to various organisations such as Controller General of Defence Accounts, Border Roads Organisation, Military Hospitals, Directorate General of National Cadet Corps, Indian Coast Guard, Sainik Schools, Canteen Stores Department and the Cantonments. At the close of business on Wednesday, 1,832 such sites had already been covered. A total number of 28,859 such files were already reviewed till Wednesday and 16,485 such files are proposed to be weeded out. At the close of business on 18.10.23, a total of 92,850 square feet of space has been freed and revenue of Rs 55.43 Crore has been generated by way of auction of condemned vehicles and disposal of other scrap and obsolete items. As part of the best practices deployed during the ongoing Campaign , Cantonment Board Dehradun has started Polythene Kachra Bank in Dehradun Cantonment area for disposal of polythene waste. The polythene waste i.e. chips wrapper, polythene packing bags, polythene sacks etc is purchased at Rs 03/- per kg from the people. The collection centres for Polythene Kachra Banks have been installed at three sites in the Cantonment area. The polythene waste collected is then used for manufacturing High Density Composite Polymer (HDCP) tiles, boards etc. The Cantonment Board purchases minimum 70 tons to maximum 100 tons of polythene waste every month. People can store polythene waste in the corner of their house and go to the nearest Polythene Kachra Bank any day of the month for sale of polythene waste. Apart from this the polythene waste can also be given to the person collecting garbage from home. Reacting sharply to the statements made by the State BJP president Mahendra Bhatt about the farmers, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has said that the BJP leaders have got frightened by the growing faith of farmers in the Congress party. He said that Bhatt has lost his mental balance due to which he is engaged in worthless verbosity. He said that in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019 the BJP made false promises to the people and farmers and grabbed power. Mahara said that the anti-farmer face of the double engine government of BJP got exposed on the day when the Modi government brought three draconian farm bills to provide benefit to its capitalist friends. He said that the government was forced to withdraw these laws after a 13 month long protest of farmers. Mahara said that the farmers are facing a double whammy of price rise, increase in cost of seed, fertiliser and diesel and imposing of GST on farm equipment. He said that the Modi government has always ignored the demand of the farmers for the minimum support price of their produce. The PCC president said that the farmers of the State suffering from natural disaster and excessive rains are not getting proper price of their produce. He said that Bhatt should know that a world class university like Pantnagar agriculture university was established during the regime of Congress party. It was during the Congress party's rule that the green and milk revolutions occurred in India and due to whom the farmers were referred to as Anndata. Mahara said that during the Manmohan Singh government the loans worth Rs 72,000 crore of farmers were waived off. He claimed that the farmers are happy and prosperous in the State ruled by the Congress party. Apart from waiving off the loans of farmers, the Congress party governments are providing fertilisers and seeds at subsidised rates. Mahara said that the Congress party has always stood with the farmers while the BJP government has engaged in only rhetoric on the issues of farmers. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday sought action against Congress candidates for not providing their records vis-a-vis crime to the Chief Electoral Officer in Chhattisgarh. In a letter to the CEO, the BJP said the Congress has neither provided criminal record details of its 83 candidates nor has it published them in the partys website, social media and two newspapers (local and national) so far. It is mandatory to provide such details within 48 hours of declaration of party candidates. It is a violation of the order of the Supreme Court and there must be action against the grand old party, the BJP said. A BJP worker was shot dead by unidentified assailants in a remote village in Naxalite-affected Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Saturday. The incident took place in Sarkheda village on Friday night when Birju Taram was out walking, Superintendent of Police Ratna Singh said. As per witnesses, Taram, who was in his early 60s, was accosted by two-three people who fired at him, leaving him dead, Singh said. Asked whether Naxalites were involved, she said it was too early to come to a conclusion. Mohla-Manpur is among the 20 constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase of elections on November 7. State BJP president Arun Sao termed the incident as a targeted killing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the families of martyred policemen on Saturday that his government was committed to taking all necessary measures with utmost sensitivity to ensure their welfare. Speaking at the Police Memorial Day parade held at the Reserve Police Lines, the chief minister said, Three brave police personnel of the state police force are among the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during the year 2022-23. He emphasised that the supreme sacrifices of these brave individuals continue to serve as a profound source of inspiration, encouraging all to carry forward their duties with unwavering dedication and a strong sense of responsibility. He commended the unwavering dedication of the police personnel, who, even in challenging circumstances, upheld the paramount importance of their duties and maintained a robust and healthy law and order system to combat crime within the state. Over the last six years, the state police force has made a remarkable contribution to the successful execution of significant events, including the Divya-Bhavya Kumbh of Prayagraj, the Lok Sabha general election in 2019, the three-tier panchayat elections in 2021, the assembly elections in 2022, and the municipal body polls in 2023. Moreover, the state police consistently stood ready to assist the public, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. During the event, a condolence book was presented to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The director general of police (DGP) read out the names of the immortal martyrs recorded in the condolence book. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid his respects to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Police Martyr Memorial and extended his condolences to the families of the martyred policemen. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that financial assistance of Rs 38.96 crore had been provided to the dependents of 140 martyred police personnel, including those from central paramilitary forces, paramilitary forces of other states, individuals serving in the Indian Army, and those originally from Uttar Pradesh, who lost their lives while performing their duty between November 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. Chief Minister Yogi said that the government had allocated Rs 3.50 crore for the welfare of the police personnel appointed in the districts or various units of the state and Rs 4 crore for the overall welfare. While Rs 45.50 lakh has been provided for settlement of 301 claims of medical reimbursement of serving and retired police personnel and their dependents, and Rs 3.87 crore has been provided in 63 cases related to medical reimbursement of more than five lakh. Similarly, Rs 4.09 crore was given in advance to 103 police personnel and their dependents for the treatment of serious diseases; Rs 10.12 crore was given to the dependents of 370 deceased police personnel insured under the life insurance scheme. Moreover, 112 police personnel and their dependents received financial assistance totaling Rs 1.11 crore for cashless medical treatment. To further encourage and support the families of police personnel, scholarships amounting to Rs 77,500 have been disbursed to 158 meritorious children through the education fund. To honour the policemen dedicated to their duties and to boost their morale, President's Police Medal was awarded to five officers and personnel and Police Medal to 125 officers and personnel for distinguished services on Republic Day in 2023, and Independence Day, 2023. Along with this, 1,154 personnel were also awarded Exceptional Service Medal, and 942 personnel were awarded Excellent Service Medal by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Chief Minister's Meritorious Service Police Medals were awarded to five gazetted and non-gazetted policemen. Additionally, 85 policemen were awarded the Meritorious Service Award, and 408 policemen were awarded by the DGP of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, with the aim of motivating the police personnel, DG Commendation Disc, as well as 40 Platinum, 104 Gold, and 777 Silver medals of Appreciation of Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, were awarded to the gazetted and gazetted police personnel. Chief Minister Yogi mentioned that since 2017, a total of 1,51,985 recruitments were made on various positions within the police force, including more than 22,044 women personnel. In addition, promotions were granted to 1,34,235 personnel across various posts in the police force. Besides, recruitment process is going on for 65,389 posts, and promotion process is going on for 11,885 posts. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that no society or nation could touch the heights of development by forgetting its heritage and past. The past always stays with the individual and society, he added. After performing bhoomi pujan and laying the foundation stone of Naval Gallantry Museum construction project, to be built at a cost of Rs 23 crore in Chak Ganjaria City near Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, by pressing the button, Chief Minister Yogi said that the glorious moments of the past were a new inspiration for the country. There is an opportunity to pioneer and move forward. Today is a historic moment for Lucknow and the state, when the foundation stone for the establishment of Naval Gallantry Museum is being laid on the banks of river Gomti, known as Adiganga, in CG City, cherishing this new aura of development in this emerging area. This museum will become a new medium for the growing strength of the Indian Navy, he remarked. Chief Minister Yogi also planted saplings at the site on the occasion. Children of Bhatkhande Sanskriti University presented the national anthem and the band of the Indian Navy rendered the song. The chief minister expressed confidence that the project will prove to be a milestone in terms of waterways of UP and employment of youth. The chief minister said that before 2014 UP was a landlocked state. People used to say that nothing can go out of UP through waterways but there was no truth in this. About 40-50 years ago, we used to hear in villages that water transportation was done by boats. When there was no network of roads and no effective train movement, the only means of transportation and carrying goods from one place to another was through rivers and waterways, Yogi said. The chief minister said that there were sufficient water resources in UP. Considering the medium and capacity of these rivers, UP is accelerating the process of forming a State Waterway Authority, he said and added, Through its better use, we can use this potential of water transport within the state to transport any item from one place to another. He said Prime Minister Modi had connected the countrys first inland waterway between Varanasi and Haldia, which was operational. He said the prime minister gave us the means to free ourselves from being a landlocked state. Now, if the State Waterway Authority will contribute by working with the authorities of the Government of India, it will help us in increasing this capacity of UP, he added. The chief minister expressed gratitude to officers for choosing Lucknow for the Bravery Museum. Today is also Police Memorial Day. About 64 years ago, CRPF soldiers deployed in Ladakh for the security of the border were treacherously attacked by the enemy country. In this attack, our soldiers made sacrifices for the country. In the memory of the soldiers belonging to the countrys army, paramilitary and police forces, who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland, 21st October is celebrated as Police Memorial Day. The country remembers them and pays tribute to them on this day, Chief Minister Yogi remarked. He added that it was a moment of pride that INS Gomti, which enhanced the capabilities of the Indian Navy for 34 years and strengthened its strategic position, after having been decommissioned, was going to become a part of the Bravery Museum today. The chief minister said the museum would become a medium for the young generation to know the bravery and valour of the Indian Army and a medium to give impetus to Prime Minister Modis campaign of self-reliant India, which the country was witnessing today through the Make in India initiative. The chief minister said that South Korea was known for its technology. The dynasty there believes that their grandmother was the princess of Ayodhya. A memorial has been built in her memory in Ayodhya. She is remembered as Princess Ratna in Ayodhya and Queen Ho in South Korea. There is a feeling of reverence towards her. Two thousand years ago, Princess Ratna had reached South Korea from Ayodhya by waterway, which means even then UP was connected with waterways. We often talk of Satavahana, Chola, Buddha dynasties, but forget Dwarkadhish. Dwarka was located inside the sea. The largest means of transportation at that time was the fleet of waterway boats through which Dwarka was established as the most prosperous city. Lord Shri Krishna had done this work in Dwarka 5,000 years ago. India has a very old experience of working at sea. Lord Ram had built a bridge to reach Lanka, Chief Minister Yogi elaborated. The chief minister said that this year was very important. The Navy has also got its own indigenous symbol, which was established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These are moments of pride, he added. The chief minister said that the Lucknow Development Authority had been told that Tourism, Irrigation and Forest departments would expand this programme to develop 64 acres of wetland. Also a police or military memorial should be established for the soldiers of UP who have made supreme sacrifice for the internal security of the borders and in various states in the line of duty after the independence of the country to preserve their memories, so that the future generation can develop a sense of respect for the army, paramilitary and police, he pointed out. On this occasion, Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, MLA Dr Neeraj Bora, Dr Rajeshwar Singh, Yogesh Shukla, Amresh Kumar, Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Naval Command) Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Lieutenant General NS Raj Subramaniam, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Mukesh Meshram and others were present. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths love for children was also visible at the event. He enquired about the well-being of the little girl present at the foundation stone laying ceremony. On the seventh day of Navratri, he applied tika on the forehead of the girl and also gave her dakshina. Taking further action in a case wherein two men were arrested in Dehradun for manufacturing and selling spurious medicines, the Dehradun police seized about 1.5 lakh spurious capsules and tablets worth Rs 20 lakh from various sites in Delhi. The police said that this action was take after identifying 44 locations in different States to which the spurious medicines had been supplied. According to the Dehradun police, the Raipur police and special operation group had raided manufacturing units of spurious medicines in Dehradun and Haridwar on October 14 and seized a large quantity of such duplicate drugs and arrested the main accused Sachin Sharma. Investigation revealed that during the past two years, the accused had supplied the spurious medicines worth Rs seven crore to 44 locations in various States. The police collected information about the firms to which the company of the accused, SS Medicos had supplied the spurious medicines. It was ascertained that fake drugs worth about Rs 1.85 crore had been supplied to three companies in Delhi during September. These firms were identified as Bharat Medicos, Shri Balaji Medicos and RG Pharma. The Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh formed a special team and sent it to take further action in the case. Along with officials concerned, the special team raided the three companies in Delhi and secured the documents related to the supply of spurious medicines. It was ascertained from the documents that such items worth Rs 97 lakh were supplied to Shri Balaji Pharma and items worth Rs 28 lakh had been supplied to RG Pharma. These spurious drugs were then sold to various places in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the police stated. At Bharat Medicos, the police secured documents which revealed that spurious drugs worth Rs 60 lakh had been supplied to it by SS Medicos. Out of these, products worth Rs 40 lakh were sold to various places in Lucknow, Delhi, Varanasi, Siliguri and Bihar. The remaining spurious drugs worth Rs 20 lakh were seized by the police from the godown of the firm. During questioning, the proprietors of the three firms in Delhi stated that they had been sold the drugs by Sharma who had claimed that the items were products of Walter Bushnell and Jagsonpal companies. The Dehradun SSP said that solving the case and destroying the nation-wide fake medicine racket is a priority for the police. The police are making efforts to prevent the spurious medicines supplied by the accused from reaching the public and seizing the contraband. The police will not spare any criminal involved in this racket, he stressed. 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) The Yogi Adityanath government is making significant strides in enhancing the power infrastructure of Uttar Pradesh. Under the Revamp Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) run by the Government of India, proposals for projects exceeding Rs 65,000 crore are scheduled for approval in October. In this, 60 per cent of the amount will be borne by the Central government, and the remaining 40 per cent will be met by the state government. Once completed, it will completely restructure the states electricity system, ensuring consumers receive uninterrupted, high-quality power. To enhance the states electrical infrastructure and achieve better electricity distribution, the Yogi government is implementing RDSS on an extensive scale from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The goal is to reduce distribution losses to 12-15 per cent by 2024-25. Under the scheme, a proposal for works worth Rs 65,457.20 crore for modernisation of the power system in the state is to be sent for approval in October 2023. Of this amount, Rs 39,274.32 crore (60 per cent) will be financed by the Government of India, with the remaining Rs 26,182.88 crore (40 per cent) to be funded by the state government and discom. The key projects include the construction of 1,175 new 33/11 kV sub-stations, capacity expansion of 2,002 existing 33/11 kV sub-stations, installation of approximately 22,000 km of new 33 kV lines, 1,15,704 distribution transformers, about 44,000 km of 11 kV lines, around 57,000 km of LT lines, and the capacity enhancement of 151,576 distribution transformers. Additionally, work of 17 SCADA and DMS will be executed in urban areas. The scheme focuses on reducing distribution losses, implementing loss reduction measures, smart metering and modernising the power system. For strengthening the power system and reducing distribution losses, a total of Rs 16,498.51 crore has been approved by the Government of India, of which 60 per cent of the approved amount i.e. Rs 9,899.17 crore, is in the form of grant by the Government of India. The state funding will be done by the state government and distribution corporation. Key loss reduction projects encompass connecting consumers through 271 lakh km of armoured cabling, constructing 15,000 km of LT lines with XLPE armoured cables, as well as expanding and strengthening 35,000 km of 11 kV lines and 16,000 km of 11 kV feeder separation. The installation of smart prepaid meters is planned for 2.69 crore consumers, with an additional 15.26 lakh smart meters to be fixed on distribution transformers and 20,874 feeders. The Government of India has approved Rs. 18,885.48 crore for this metering project, with 15 per cent funded by the state government and the discom (Rs. 2,832.82 crore), and the remaining Rs. 16,052.66 crore allocated by the Central government. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited Chairman Dr Ashish Kumar Goyal is actively overseeing the progress of these initiatives and emphasising the importance of timeliness and quality in all project execution. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said the Congress high command will decide whether he will continue in the post or not if the Congress retains power in the state. The Congress is striving to win the Chhattisgarh elections on November 7 and 17. According to Baghel, the Congress is contesting on the development plank and enjoys tremendous support from farmers, labourers, women, youth and the poor. Talking to the media regarding Home Minister Amit Shah, Baghel said the BJP-led Centre did not play any role in curbing Naxalism in the state as incidents of Naxalite violence were on the rise under the party's "double engine" government between 2014 and 2018. He asserted that his government's three-pronged strategy of development, trust and security resulted in a considerable decline in Maoism in state. Refuting charges of corruption levelled against his government, he termed the allegations a conspiracy to defame his dispensation and accused the Centre of trying to influence elections using the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department. Baghel said: "We cannot fight Naxalism only using force. Police camps were opened in our tenure in core areas. The camps which were pending since 2009 were set up. In our government, 90 camps were opened and about 600 villages were freed from the menace. "We reopened 300 schools in Maoist-hit areas. We have built thousands of kilometers of roads. We have tried to improve the economic condition of people and implemented many welfare schemes." Reacting to the charges of scams, Baghel said these were attempts to defame his government. "They allege corruption of Rs 1,300 crore in cow dung procurement. How it can be possible? So far cow dung worth Rs 271 crore has been procured under the Godhan Nyay Yojana since inception and money was directly transferred into the accounts of beneficiaries... "They talk about liquor scam and fake hologram (on liquor bottles). The Supreme Court has now given relief to the accused in the alleged liquor scam. Where will the fake hologram be pasted? It will be done in distilleries. But they (ED) are not taking action against them while others are being arrested. It means you are trying to blackmail," he said. "Amit Shahji should first hang Raman Singh upside down," Baghel said, slamming the Home Minister for his threat of hanging upside down the corrupt people if BJP returns to power in the state. When pointed out that while the Congress was trying to woo OBCs but not projecting him as its chief ministerial face, Baghel said: "We passed a bill provisioning 27 percent reservation for OBCs but it is pending with the Raj Bhawan. Rahul Gandhiji has promised a caste census in Chhattisgarh if the Congress comes back to power." Accusing BJP leaders of lying, he said: "They speak lies (over paddy procurement). Whether it was the UPA or NDA government, it was the state government that kept purchasing paddy." Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami digitally transferred a sum of Rs 90 crore to 40 industrial units as grant from the government of India under the Industrial Development Scheme (IDS) on Saturday. Under IDS 2017, the Government of India provides a subsidy of 30 per cent on the total investment on the plant and machinery to the infrastructure and service sector units in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The maximum limit of subsidy is Rs three crore and is provided to encourage industrialisation in the two States. In his address the CM expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the union industries and commerce minister Piyush Goyal for providing assistance to the State under the IDS -2017 to encourage industries. He said that the IDS is an important scheme for encouragement, protection and expansion of the industries in the State. Informing about the global investors summit proposed to be held in Dehradun in December this year, the CM said that agreements worth Rs 55,000 crore have been signed with different industrial houses and investment groups during the meetings held in London, Birmingham, New Delhi, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He said that the State government is working on grounding all the agreements inked so far before the summit proposed on December 8 and 9 this year in Dehradun. Dhami said that the government has started implementing the suggestions received in these meetings. He added that assessment of all the proposals received will be done and then further action will be done. Dhami said that priority will be accorded to the proposals and agreements helping to provide employment to local people and those intending to strengthen the primary sector in the State. He added that the State government has formulated policies keeping in mind the interests of investors, industry and people of Uttarakhand. The secretary of Industries Vinay Shankar Pandey, director general of Industries Rohit Meena and officers of the department were among those present on the occasion. A day after a woman was found murdered near an MCD-run school, the Delhi Police on Saturday arrested a man in connection with the murder of a 30-year-old Swiss woman, whose body was recovered from West Delhis Tilak Nagar area. The hands and legs of the body were tied with metal chains, while its upper portion was covered with a black plastic bag, police said. According to police, the accused, identified as Gurpreet Singh (30), was arrested from his house in Janakpuri where he resides with his parents and sister. The accused has claimed that she came to meet him from Switzerland after they got acquainted through a dating app and that he allegedly strangled her to death following a quarrel. The police, however, said they are yet to verify the sequence of events and other details as no identity proof of the woman has been recovered so far. Delhi Police officials claimed that `2.10 crore cash was recovered from his house after which the Income Tax department was also informed. According to a police officer, the suspect was arrested based on CCTV footage in which he was seen sitting in a white colour Hyundai Santro car which was used for dumping the body. The body of the woman, who was believed to be in her early 30s, was found near the Municipal Corporation of Delhi school on Friday morning with its upper part covered with a black garbage disposal plastic bag. The victims limbs were tied with metal chains. Gurpreet had bought the car earlier this month for Rs 2 lakh from a second-hand car dealer in the name of another woman resident of Janakpuri, police said. It is suspected that the accused wanted to mislead the police, thats why he bought the car in someone elses name, said a police officer. The woman told the police that she was not aware that the car was bought by Gurpreet using her residence proof. Police recovered the car from Janakpuri late Friday night and subsequently nabbed the accused from his house. Police said Gurpreet was continuously changing his statement and tried to mislead the police with several versions. Gurpreet told the police that he befriended the woman through a dating app a few years ago. She would often talk to him over the phone and on October 11 she came from Switzerland to Delhi to meet Gurpreet. She stayed with Gurpreet, but two days ago they had a quarrel over an issue following which he strangled her to death, the police said quoting Gurpreet. He told the police that he tied her hands and legs with chains and kept the body in the car. The body was lying in the car, but when the foul smell started emanating, he dumped it in Tilak Nagar near the MCD school. Police said Gurpreets family owns several properties nearby and the recovery of the large amount of cash from his possession was also being investigated. The police have not found anyone who could identify the woman except Gurpreet. We have also questioned Gurpreets family members, said an official. Police said Gurpreets questioning and further investigation were still on. There is no let-up in the war of words between the Samajwadi Party and Congress over seat sharing in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Saturday, took a pot shot at MP Congress stalwart Kamal Nath while responding to his Akhilesh-Vakhilesh remark, saying whose name is kamal' (lotus) wont call him by his correct name. Kamal means lotus which is the poll symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was right in saying who is Vakhilesh? Akhilesh is there. If they say these kinds of things then the SP can also say (such things), but we dont want to indulge in this. Our relationship with Kamal Nath is very good. His name is so nice. Whose name has kamal, they will call Vakhilesh only, not Akhilesh," the SP chief said. Akhilesh Yadav, however, indicated that he was likely to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi soon. Akhilesh Yadav, who was in Hardoi on Saturday, however said that it is for the Congress to decide whether they want to continue the alliance or not. Sources in the SP said the deadlock between the two parties would soon be sorted out as a senior Congress leader had sent a message to SP president for consultations. On Friday, while campaigning in his stronghold Chhindwara, Kamal Nath said his party would win the elections with better than expected numbers. Asked about SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs allegations of betrayal against Congress over seat sharing, Kamal Nath said, Arre bhai chhodo Akhilesh-Vakhilesh (leave it alone). Ram Gopal Yadav, SP MP and uncle of Akhilesh Yadav, on Saturday took a jibe at Kamal Nath over his Akhilesh-Vakhilesh jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, calling the Congress leader a chhutbhaiya neta (small leader). Yadav, when questioned about the remark made by Congress leaders including Kamal Nath on the SP chief, retorted, I dont want to say anything about them. They are small leaders. The war of words between the SP and Congress has heated up ahead of the polls in five states, including Madhya Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav had said if the grand old party did not want to give it seats in MP, they should have told this before. 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 Lok Sabha 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 wont succeed, Akhilesh Yadav had said. In the 2018 MP assembly election, the SP contested 52 seats in the state and won just one seat. It had extended support to the Congress which fell short of majority to form the government in the state. Madhya Pradesh, currently ruled by the BJP, goes to poll on November 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3. The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly criticised Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara for consistently making unparliamentary statements aimed at the BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt. The BJP State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said that Mahara holds a responsible position in the opposition party but is using unrestrained language. It is futile to expect anything else from those who had made insulting statements against the people of Uttarakhand in the past, he said. Chauhan said that the objectionable statement given by the PCC president to the media regarding Bhatt is an example of Congress culture. He said, The BJP has become the biggest political party in the world on the basis of its ideological principles, discipline and values. If Mahara wants to preserve his honour at least as the State president of the chief opposition party, he should refrain from using such language, Chauhan said. The BJP State media in-charge further said that not only in 2014 and 2019 but in 2017 and 2022 also the people had completely rejected the Congress. The people wouldnt have shown the mirror to the Congress had the steps it claims to have taken for the welfare of the public and farmers been effective. The BJP had introduced the farm bill in the interests of the nation and withdrew it without any fuss after considering the opinion of the farmers. The faith of the farmers in the BJP on this issue can be gauged from the Vidhan Sabha results in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, he said. The faith of the farmers in the BJP has strengthened because of the various Central and State government schemes being executed in their interests. The farmers and people of Uttarakhand are well aware of the policies and intentions of the Congress party. The PCC president has also understood this and in his frustration since then, he makes insulting statements about the public and rival parties. With the support of the people, the BJP is going to win the Lok Sabha elections for the third consecutive time and the Congress leaders will have to add another electoral defeat in their record book, Chauhan added. Ruling out any possibility of leaving the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in wake of the ongoing war of words between Samajwadi Party and Congress in view of seat sharing in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, the Rashtriya Lok Dal said it was in the INDIA bloc and was a partner of the SP. We contested the elections in 2019 and 2022 in UP in partnership with the SP and we will contest in 2024 Lok Sabha polls in partnership with the SP while we have an alliance with Congress in Rajasthan, RLD national general secretary (Organisation) Trilok Tyagi said. He, along with party leaders and national spokesman Anil Dubey, addressed a press conference here on Saturday. Tyagi hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government in UP, saying crime was at its peak in the state and incidents of harassment of women were continuously increasing in UP. There is no such thing as law and order in this government. In the present government, farmers, labourers, youths, Dalits, minorities are feeling cheated and unemployment is at its peak and the youth are agitating, he said. Tyagi said the biggest issue of sugarcane farmers was the delay in payment of cane prices and announcement of remunerative price of sugarcane. He said the UP government had betrayed the farmers. According to the Sugarcane Act, in case the payment for sugarcane is not made within 14 days, there is a provision to pay interest along with the sugarcane price to the farmers. Due to the dictatorial attitude of the government and its soft corner for capitalists, thousands of crores of rupees of the sugarcane farmers remain unpaid, he said. He said the government had also cheated the farmers by reducing the weight of urea bags. Supporting the demand for restoration of students unions in universities and colleges, Tyagi said that RLD was with the students. The state government should announce the restoration of students unions, he said. RLD national spokesperson Anil Dubey said the party was holding talks with Congress for sharing seats in Rajasthan and had demanded eight seats. We hope to get the seats as per our demand, he said. A smuggler carrying tigers teeth was nabbed by a joint team of Special Task Force and Forest department from Barabanki on Saturday. The team recovered five tiger teeth, an Aadhaar card, a mobile phone and over Rs 2,500 from the wildlife smuggler identified as Harivinder Singh of Lakhimpur Kheri district of UP. He confessed to his crime and disclosed that he was smuggling for a long time and had amassed a huge wealth by smuggling limbs of animals. The police said they were tipped-off that the accused would deliver the tiger teeth to some person in Barabanki and the team laid a trap. The smuggler disclosed that he had been given four big teeth and a small tooth of the big cat by one Rakesh Nayak of Kheri district two months back and had been asked to deliver it to a man in Barabanki for Rs 2.5 lakh. He said he was to get Rs 50,000 for delivering the teeth in Barabanki. The accused further disclosed that the gang was led by a Nepalese whom he named as Kharka. The accused was earlier jailed for auto theft. Indias steadfast commitment to the safety of its citizens, both at home and abroad, is exemplified through a series of daring rescue operations. From evacuating citizens in conflict zones like Yemen and Afghanistan, to aiding nations in distress after disasters, Indias Indians First policy remains unwavering. The sudden and audacious attack by Hamas in the early hours of October 7, 2023, took Israel by complete surprise and shocked the world. With more than 1,300 killed by Hamas on the first day, including infants, women, and the elderly, it marked the single bloodiest day in Israels history. After the initial setback, Israeli forces quickly regrouped to take back control of the military situation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to condemn the terror attack and extend support to its strategic ally, Israel. On October 13, as it prepared for a massive counterattack, Israel gave a final warning to citizens in Gaza to evacuate 1.1 million civilians as it finalises plans to punish Hamas for the dastardly terror attack. Terror attacks are an absolute redline for India and having its voice heard against any form of terror is important. It was highlighted during PM Modis speech during the P20 Summit in Delhi on October 13, where he stated: Wherever terrorism happens, for whatever reason, in whatever form, it is against humanity. Another very important foreign policy priority of India is to evacuate its trapped citizens in any war-torn area. In recent years, wherever there has been conflict or war, India has been among the first to launch operations to evacuate its citizens. Living up to it, India launched Operation Ajay on October 12, 2023. With an estimated 18,000 citizens, including students and tourists, trapped in the war zone in Israel and only air route available to evacuate, it is going to be a long haul. Already, by October 14, two Indian air Force planes have landed back carrying more than 200 passengers each. The stories of these people evacuated from the war zone are heart rendering as they describe the destruction caused by war and their immeasurable gratitude that the Indian Government has been able to pull them out safely. It is, however, not the first time that such dare devil rescue operations have been undertaken by India. Only last year, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, India made its first priority to get its people out. Despite pressure from the western world, India made it clear that among its national interests and priority, topmost was to get its people out. Operation Ganga launched therein evacuated almost 20,000 Indians, mostly students. It was an operation of mammoth proportions as it entailed not only a combined civilian and military air coordination but it tested Indias deft diplomacy skills to the fullest as the citizens had to be moved by road to different border points and then brought back home from Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. Over a period of over 15 days from February 22, 2022 to March 10, 2022, more than 80 military and civilian flights were operated to rescue stranded Indians. It may be recalled that Russia and Ukraine, despite being engaged in a bloody war, agreed to stop firing whenever and wherever Indians were being evacuated from. Also, multiple stories from evacuees of how well they were treated and cleared promptly at border points in Poland, Hungary, etc, whenever they were seen with the Indian flag, is a testimony of Indias goodwill and global standing. Just a few months earlier this year, in April 2023, when a civil war broke out in South Sudan, India was again quick to evacuate its citizens. In a well-coordinated operation and in close consultation with Saudi Arabia, India launched Operation Kaveri and brought back over 2,000 citizens. It arranged to transport its citizens in buses from the conflict zones of Khartoum to Port Sudan, from where they were taken to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in Indian Air Force heavy-lift transport aircraft and Indian Navy ships. From Jeddah, Indians were subsequently brought back on commercial flights and Air Force aircraft. Earlier, in 2016, India evacuated its citizens from South Sudan in Operation Sankat Mochan, carried out by the Indian Air Force to evacuate Indian and other foreign nationals amid the ongoing civil war. In 2020, when Covid-19 pandemic broke out, once again India was among the frontrunners to get its citizens back through sea corridors created across the globe as a part of Operation Samudra Setu, launched in May 2020. The operation successfully brought back almost 4,000 Indian citizens by sea. The Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Airavat, Shardul, and Magar participated in this operation, which lasted for over 55 days. In August 2021, who can forget the absolutely shocking and disturbing images beaming on TV of Taliban taking over Kabul, US forces leaving Kabul airbase amid total chaos and Afghan civilians trying to flee Afghanistan, hanging onto wheels of aircraft and falling to their death. Once again, amid total anarchy and conflict, India managed to evacuate 669 people from Afghanistan, including 448 Indians and 206 Afghans, which include members of the Afghan Hindu/Sikh minority community. Later too, when Taliban was in full control of Kabul, India operated a special flight in December 2021 and brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans, including members of Afghan minority community which carried with them 2 Swaroopas of Guru Granth Sahib and some ancient Hindu manuscripts. While discussing rescue operations, we cant forget Operation Raahat conducted in Yemen in March 2015 in which India safely evacuated almost 6,700 people through air and sea. It included 4,741 Indians and 1,947 foreign nationals from 48 countries. Why foreigners? Because India was the only country trusted and permitted by the warring parties to evacuate people! The no-fly zone imposed on the Yemeni airspace and blockade of sea route by the coalition forces made the evacuation exercise a complex and very difficult task. Once again, the warring parties agreed to provide a safe corridor while Indians were being evacuated, no mean feat considering that the mighty US and other western nations could not even land a plane or ship in the war zone. During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, almost 1,75,000 Indians were evacuated. Air India operated 488 flights between August and October to airlift Indians stranded in Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion. The 63-day operation is still called the largest air evacuation and found its way into the Guinness Book of World Records. In March 2011, after the outbreak of the Arab Spring, almost 15,000 of the total 18,000 Indians were evacuated from Libya through a combination of navy and charter ships operating from Tripoli and Benghazi to Alexandria, Egypt. From there, Air India aircraft flew the passengers to India. There have been a few more too, like Operation Sukoon launched in 2006 to evacuate Indians from Lebanon. However, the Indian rescue story does not end with Indians only. Even in global disasters, India has been at the forefront in rendering assistance to nations in need. Operation Maitri launched after massive earthquakes in Nepal in 2015 and Operation Dost launched in February 2023 in support of people in Syria and Turkey devastated by Earthquake are prime examples where India was the first global responder in aid of grief-struck people. India has proved time and again that Indians First is its primary focus. As the world recognises India as a Vishwa Guru, India is ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Indians anywhere in the world obviously come first. In PM Modis own words, India is presenting itself as a Vishwa Mitra, which can be trusted and depended upon no matter what the circumstances and no matter where in the world. As the unfortunate war unfolds in Gaza, Indians can feel safe that Bharat is to their rescue. (The writer, a retired Colonel, is Assistant Director at MP-IDSA, New Delhi. He has served as Director Military Intelligence and as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs) A tragedy shattered the serenity of bustling Nithari in the heart of Noida. Children vanished, leaving families haunted. Recent acquittals have unveiled a flawed investigation. Grief-stricken parents' quest for justice is an enduring testament to their unyielding love for lost children, echoing through time, writes BISWAJEET BANERJEE In the heart of the bustling Noida district of Uttar Pradesh, nestled within the quiet embrace of Nithari village, a tragedy unfolded that would forever scar the souls of its residents. The wails of the families inhabiting this close-knit community have echoed for nearly two decades, resounding not only in the alleys of this village but also throughout the nation's conscience. The haunting question that lingers in the air, "Who killed our children?" pierces the heart, and the State can no longer ignore their cry for justice. The recent acquittal of Moninder Singh Pandher and his helper, Surinder Koli, by a two-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court in two of the 2006 Nithari murder cases has sent shockwaves through the nation. The court's scathing assessment of the investigation as "botched up" and its criticism of the violation of basic norms in evidence collection has shattered the hope that the victims' families had clung to for so long. Pandher, who has already been cleared in four other cases, is now set to be a free man. The court's verdict has shaken the very foundation of justice, as it points out the "casual and perfunctory manner" in which crucial aspects of arrest, recovery, and confession were handled. But beyond the legal intricacies, the heart of this story lies in the innocent lives that were lost, the agony of the families left behind, and the persistent cry for answers. Between 2005 and 2006, Nithari was transformed from a haven of innocence to a realm of dread and despair. It all began on a fateful June 20, 2005, when an 8-year-old girl, full of youthful energy and dreams, ventured near a water tank to play. Her laughter filled the air that day, but it was a laughter never heard again as she mysteriously disappeared, plunging her family into an agonising nightmare. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, as more children inexplicably vanished near that ominous water tank, seemingly vanishing into thin air. The parents' desperate cries for their children's return went unanswered, and the village's collective fear deepened. Nithari, once a place of laughter and innocence, had now become a shadowed realm haunted by whispered tales of ghostly apparitions near the tank. The local police, grappling with the inexplicable nature of these disappearances, embarked on extensive investigations. Their pursuit of answers led them across multiple states and cities, from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the serene landscapes of Bihar and the heart of the nation, Delhi. Despite their relentless efforts, no substantial leads emerged, and the veil of darkness shrouding Nithari remained. But a glimmer of hope finally pierced through the gloom, emanating from the call details of a missing 21-year-old woman named Payal. She had journeyed to Nithari from the distant town of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand in search of employment. These call details unveiled a connection that sent shivers down spines, a connection to Moninder Singh Pandher, a resident of the enigmatic D5 Kothi in Nithari village. At first, Pandher attempted to conceal his involvement by claiming that Payal had been seeking employment from him. But the truth, like a relentless spectre, could not be evaded any longer. The police discovered Payal's mobile phone in Pandher's possession, and, under the weight of irrefutable evidence, she finally admitted to the horrors that had transpired. She confessed to her own murder and the nightmarish disposal of her lifeless body into a nearby drain. This shocking revelation set in motion a chilling sequence of discoveries that would forever scar the village of Nithari. In December 2006, the Noida Police made a gut-wrenching revelation as they found the remains of approximately 19 girls and children in the same accursed drain. It was a macabre tableau of death, a haunting testament to the fact that these unthinkable horrors had been perpetrated by the sinister hands of Surendra Koli, a servant in the employ of Moninder Singh Pandher. The grief-stricken parents, who had once been filled with dreams and hopes for their children, have spent years on an unrelenting quest for justice. Their pain is collective, and their stories are a symphony of sorrow. Many of them, in the face of this unspeakable tragedy, abandoned the place they once called home. They returned to their native villages, leaving behind a ghost town where laughter had once danced in the air. Now, the wound reopens, and the pain intensifies as the unexpected verdict of acquittal reverberates through the village. Sunita, a mother who lost her beloved daughter, Jyoti, in the Nithari incident, raises her voice in anguished plea, "With folded hands, I request Modi ji and Yogi ji that those brutes should only be hanged. They should not be acquitted." Sunita's heartache is a reflection of the collective anguish shared by 19 parents who lost their sons and daughters in that dark chapter of Nithari. Most of these families had been lured by the prospect of employment, and their dreams had been built upon fragile foundations on the periphery of Nithari village. The calamity shattered their hopes, scattering them like leaves in the wind. Today, only a handful of families remain. In the wake of the convicts shocking acquittal, the village is a cauldron of seething emotions. Ram Kishan, a labourer in Noida, expresses his agony through actions. He arrives at the dreaded D5 Kothi, gathers bricks from the road, and hurls them at the house. He, too, is a victim of the Nithari incident, a man who lost his precious 3-year-old son. His boy had vanished while playing near the water tank, his innocent laughter silenced forever. Days later, the discovery of his son's skeleton in the drain, marked by the presence of his tiny slippers and scattered clothing, delivered the crushing blow of reality. As one of the legal representatives of the victims questions, "I am not able to understand that if these criminals will not be hanged, then who will?" The pursuit of justice, a journey spanning nearly two decades, now seems uncertain. Pappu, another victim of the Nithari incident, echoes the sentiments of a community in mourning. "I have lost my daughter in this incident. I am upset after the High Court's decision. I will continue the fight for justice," he declares, his voice choked with sorrow. The CBI took over the investigation from UP Police in January 2007 and filed charges against Koli in 16 cases and against Pandher in one case under the immoral trafficking Act. As Nithari village grapples with the painful acquittal of the accused, the community remains steadfast in their quest for justice. It is a battle that transcends time, a plea that refuses to be silenced. These families, bound by grief and united by a common tragedy, demand that justice be served. In a world that moves on, their pain remains undiminished, an unwavering testament to their love for the children they lost in the Nithari tragedy. The Nithari case, with all its complexities and legal intricacies, is not just another legal battle. It is a tragic saga that has scarred a community, a heart-wrenching tale of innocence lost and families torn apart. The pain of Nithari remains, echoing through the years, and the fight for justice continues, unrelenting and undying, because the cry of "Who killed our children?" cannot, and will not, be ignored. (Writer is Political Editor, The Pioneer, Lucknow) 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. There has been a 65 per cent fall in incidents of terrorism, Left Wing Extremism and insurgency in the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday. He also asserted that the country's "three hotspots -- LWE (Left Wing Extremism-hit states), the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir -- are becoming peaceful." The Narendra Modi government has made strict laws while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, the home minister told a gathering after paying homage to martyrs on Police Commemoration Day at the National Police Memorial here. The government has also worked towards making the best anti-terrorism force in the world by setting up the "Police Technology Mission" for modernisation of the police force, he said. Shah said that the Modi government has introduced three Bills in Parliament for a comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system. The three legislations will replace 150-year-old laws and guarantee all due Constitutional rights to every citizen, the minister said and added that the proposed laws will also reflect Indianness. "There has been a 65 per cent fall in terror, Left Wing Extremism and insurgency incidents in the Northeast, thanks to the efforts and achievements of police personnel," Shah said. He said be it fighting terrorists, preventing crime, maintaining law and order in front of huge crowds or protecting people by acting as a shield during disasters, police personnel have proved themselves in all situations. Referring to the role played by police personnel in a disaster, he said that in the past, through the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), personnel of different police forces have earned a name across the world in disaster management. "No matter how big the disaster is, when NDRF personnel reach there, people get confidence that now there is no problem as the NDRF has arrived," he said. Shah said the Modi government is working towards improving several schemes being run for the welfare of police personnel by making changes in them from time to time. The Modi government is dedicated to the welfare of all personnel and is concerned for their safety, he said. Paying tributes to 36,250 police personnel, who laid down their lives while serving the nation since independence, he said this police memorial is not just a symbol but a recognition of the sacrifice and dedication of police personnel towards nation building. On October 21, 1959, 10 policemen died in the line of duty during an ambush laid by heavily armed Chinese troops at the Hot Springs in Ladakh. Since then, every year October 21 is observed to honour these martyrs and all other police personnel who died in the line of duty. In recognition of the sacrifices made by police personnel and their paramount role in preserving national security and integrity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the National Police Memorial (NPM) in Chanakyapuri here to the nation on Police Commemoration Day in 2018. The memorial comprises a central sculpture, the 'Wall of Valour' and a museum. The central sculpture, which is a 30 feet high granite monolith cenotaph, stands for strength, resilience and selfless service of police personnel. The 'Wall of Valour', on which the names of martyrs are engraved, stands as a steadfast acknowledgement of the bravery and sacrifice of police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty since independence. The museum is conceptualised as a historical and evolving exhibition on policing in India. BRS President Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed confidence that his party would emerge victorious in the upcoming assembly elections, securing between 95 and 105 seats in the 119-member house. He was speaking at an extensive constituency-level BRS meeting in Gajwel, which he represents in the legislative assembly, on Friday. Stating that although Telangana's economic growth had dipped due to demonetisation in 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic -- following which some development programmes slowed down due to financial constraints -- he said the "youngest state of the country achieved great heights in development through many hardships and sacrifices". Calling upon the people to work hard for the party's candidates to win with a huge majority, Rao said the state has reached a critical stage in its growth and that the BRS should win again for the ongoing development and welfare schemes to continue, a press release issued last night said, quoting Rao. We should not be satisfied with the present growth and achievements. Striving for excellence is a continuous process and we should provide good quality of life to people, he said. CM KCR said the people of Gajwel adored him and presented him with a "wonderful victory" for two consecutive times. He added that the assembly constituency has been developed and that he would work for its further growth. Observing that groundwater levels have fallen in all parts of India, Rao said that in Telangana, however, they have increased and that studies have revealed that the construction of Kaleshwaram project and the Kondapochamma and Mallanna Sagar reservoirs helped improve ground water levels in the state. 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: EGYPT HOSTS SUMMIT WITH REGIONAL LEADERS, WESTERN OFFICIALS CAIRO Egypt is hosting dozens of regional leaders and senior Western officials for a summit on the war between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The meeting on Saturday in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, just east of Cairo, will discuss ways to de-escalate the fighting and seek a cease-fire amid mounting concerns about a regional conflict, Egypt's state-run media reported. Among those attending the summit are the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian Authority. Also attending are the prime ministers of Italy, Spain, Greece and Canada and the president of the European Council, according to the state-run Al-Ahram daily newspaper. Foreign ministers from Germany, France, the U.K. And Japan are also attending, the paper reported. PAKISTAN LEADER SPEAKS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ISLAMABAD Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by phone to discuss the latest situation resulting from the ongoing brutalities of Israeli occupation forces against innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, a Pakistani government statement said Saturday. Kakar expressed Pakistan's strong condemnation of the Israeli strikes on Gaza, the statement added. Kakar described the Israeli strikes on Gaza as deplorable and willful acts of Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians." Both leaders emphasized the need for the international community to urge Israel to immediately halt the bloodshed," it added. The two sides agreed on the necessity of lifting the blockade on Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and medical assistance to affected people. Pakistan dispatched its first batch of assistance to Palestinian people on a plane that landed in Egypt on Friday. 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 Washington's 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. As the Chinese economy struggled to recover from the post-COVID blues and anti-monopoly campaigns, the ruling Communist Party in an attempt to bolster sagging business confidence has warned its cadre against inappropriate interference in microeconomic activities. The officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is headed by President Xi Jinping, were at the forefront of the anti-monopoly campaign in the last few years to rein the countrys multi-billion businesses like Alibaba and corporate leaders like Jack Ma, who suddenly announced his retirement in 2019 and spent following years mostly abroad. Ma returned home in March this year following assurances of friendly policies for the private sector to revive the struggling economy, especially by Premier Li Qiang, regarded as a friend of Ma. Mas return followed assurances from Xi, under whose watch the CPC in the few two years carried out a massive anti-monopoly campaign against top business houses including Alibaba which created a panic among private businesses. Besides the crackdown, several top businessmen were whisked away by security agencies creating panic among private businesses. The problem was accentuated by prolonged stringent Covid lockdowns leading to huge losses for businesses.On Wednesday, an article in the Study Times an education journal of the CPC Central Party School, widely read by officials at all levels to gauge which way the winds are blowing in Beijing warned the cadre not to overstep. Curbing the inappropriate interference of authorities in microeconomic activities has always been a key task in the reform of Chinas economic system, Cai Zhibing, an associate professor of the Economics Teaching and Research Department at the Central Party School, said in the article, citing dictates in the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group Work Plan (2023-27) released in September. Such interference means those officials are not taking into consideration the requirements of high-quality development, as championed by the partys Central Committee, Cai said, adding that some authorities are not strict and civilised when it comes to law enforcement. And one-size-fits-all regulations and measures that have popped up across the country have greatly increased economic uncertainties, burdens and risks for businesses, Cai said, without pointing any fingers, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. Cai blamed the pandemic, changes in global trade trends, and shifts in domestic development focus for what he called an imbalance in local government finances, warning that this has subsequently incentivised regional authorities to turn more aggressive in seizing assets and assessing fines, seeking any means to raise revenue. As a result, such interference has disturbed the order of operation, harmed the business environment and affected confidence in business operations, Cai said. Reducing inappropriate interference in economic activities involves mitigating authorities circumvention of market-economy rules and ensuring fair and full market competition while effectively revitalising market vitality, he explained. Chinas National Bureau of Statistics (NBC) on Wednesday cautioned that Chinas external environment was becoming more complex and grave and warned that domestic demand remained insufficient. The warning came when Chinas economy slowed in the third quarter, amid muted global demand, deflationary pressures and an ailing property sector. The worlds second-largest economy grew 4.9 per cent year-over-year in the July-September quarter, higher than the 4.5 per cent forecast, but slowed down from the 6.3 per cent growth in the previous quarter. The economy grew by 1.3 per cent in the third quarter, compared to 0.8 per cent growth in the April-to-June quarter. For the first nine months of the year, Chinas economy grew 5.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, signifying that it is on track with Beijings target of about five per cent growth for 2023. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AXL Free Report) Zacks Research cut their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in a research note issued on Wednesday, October 18th. Zacks Research analyst R. Singhi now expects that the auto parts company will post earnings of $0.10 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.11. The consensus estimate for American Axle & Manufacturings current full-year earnings is $0.21 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for American Axle & Manufacturings Q4 2023 earnings at $0.11 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $0.32 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $0.13 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $0.17 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $0.18 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.17 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $0.65 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $0.18 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.18 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.17 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.70 EPS. Get American Axle & Manufacturing alerts: American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The auto parts company reported $0.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.04. American Axle & Manufacturing had a net margin of 0.72% and a return on equity of 6.07%. The firm had revenue of $1.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.22 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, October 1st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $9.00 to $7.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, American Axle & Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $8.63. View Our Latest Report on American Axle & Manufacturing American Axle & Manufacturing Price Performance American Axle & Manufacturing stock opened at $7.08 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $7.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.66. American Axle & Manufacturing has a 1 year low of $6.61 and a 1 year high of $11.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $828.78 million, a P/E ratio of 19.67, a P/E/G ratio of 4.17 and a beta of 2.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.43, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.71. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AXL. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 60,578.4% during the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,169,820 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $31,398,000 after acquiring an additional 4,162,948 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing during the 1st quarter valued at about $22,541,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 804.1% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,835,148 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $13,819,000 after acquiring an additional 1,632,158 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing during the 4th quarter valued at about $7,125,000. Finally, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 22.1% during the 1st quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,959,930 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $30,729,000 after acquiring an additional 715,970 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.41% of the companys stock. Insiders Place Their Bets In other American Axle & Manufacturing news, VP Terri M. Kemp sold 40,000 shares of American Axle & Manufacturing stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.00, for a total transaction of $320,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 216,961 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,735,688. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About American Axle & Manufacturing (Get Free Report) American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, and manufactures driveline and metal forming technologies that supports electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles. It operates through Driveline and Metal Forming segments. The Driveline segment offers front and rear axles, driveshafts, differential assemblies, clutch modules, balance shaft systems, disconnecting driveline technology, and electric and hybrid driveline products and systems for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossover vehicles, passenger cars, and commercial vehicles. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cushman & Wakefield plc (NYSE:CWK Free Report) Analysts at William Blair lowered their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for shares of Cushman & Wakefield in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, October 17th. William Blair analyst S. Sheldon now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.26 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.40. The consensus estimate for Cushman & Wakefields current full-year earnings is $0.84 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Cushman & Wakefields Q4 2023 earnings at $0.55 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $1.20 EPS. Get Cushman & Wakefield alerts: Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE:CWK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.64 billion. Cushman & Wakefield had a negative net margin of 0.18% and a positive return on equity of 15.14%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.63 EPS. Several other research firms also recently commented on CWK. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating and issued a $10.50 price objective on shares of Cushman & Wakefield in a report on Monday, September 18th. Raymond James cut their price target on Cushman & Wakefield from $18.00 to $12.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Cushman & Wakefield currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.50. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CWK Cushman & Wakefield Trading Down 2.7 % NYSE CWK opened at $6.76 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $1.54 billion, a PE ratio of -84.50 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Cushman & Wakefield has a 12 month low of $6.64 and a 12 month high of $15.63. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $8.20 and a 200-day moving average of $8.69. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 43.6% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 84,172 shares of the companys stock worth $641,000 after purchasing an additional 25,539 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield in the third quarter worth $583,000. Olstein Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 21.6% in the third quarter. Olstein Capital Management L.P. now owns 236,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,798,000 after purchasing an additional 42,000 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 20.9% in the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 102,714 shares of the companys stock worth $841,000 after purchasing an additional 17,776 shares during the period. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System increased its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 3.8% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 195,136 shares of the companys stock worth $1,596,000 after purchasing an additional 7,069 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.47% of the companys stock. Cushman & Wakefield Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cushman & Wakefield plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial real estate services under the Cushman & Wakefield brand in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and Asia Pacific segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cushman & Wakefield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cushman & Wakefield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the eleven brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have given a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$69.04. A number of analysts have recently issued reports on BNS shares. CIBC cut their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$71.00 to C$64.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Barclays raised their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$65.00 to C$66.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. TD Securities cut their price objective on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$68.00 to C$66.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. CSFB lifted their price target on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$66.00 to C$68.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, Cormark dropped their price target on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$68.00 to C$65.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Get Bank of Nova Scotia alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Bank of Nova Scotia Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Down 2.7 % Shares of TSE BNS opened at C$56.68 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$68.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.87, a P/E/G ratio of 11.06 and a beta of 0.93. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 12 month low of C$56.57 and a 12 month high of C$74.41. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$62.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$64.80. Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 29th. The bank reported C$1.73 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.72 by C$0.01. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 10.89% and a net margin of 28.26%. The company had revenue of C$8.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.18 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 7.2809816 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of Nova Scotia Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 29th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.48%. Bank of Nova Scotias payout ratio is 66.35%. Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile (Get Free Report The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH Free Report) by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 89,792 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 1,500 shares during the quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Suburban Propane Partners were worth $1,329,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in Suburban Propane Partners by 1.7% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 40,695 shares of the energy companys stock worth $655,000 after acquiring an additional 676 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Suburban Propane Partners by 3.4% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 21,300 shares of the energy companys stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in Suburban Propane Partners by 2.7% in the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 29,349 shares of the energy companys stock worth $450,000 after acquiring an additional 765 shares in the last quarter. First Bancorp Inc ME raised its position in Suburban Propane Partners by 9.4% in the first quarter. First Bancorp Inc ME now owns 11,660 shares of the energy companys stock worth $179,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrow Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Suburban Propane Partners by 10.3% in the first quarter. Arrow Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,194 shares of the energy companys stock worth $187,000 after acquiring an additional 1,138 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.49% of the companys stock. Get Suburban Propane Partners alerts: Suburban Propane Partners Trading Up 1.2 % Shares of SPH stock opened at $16.61 on Friday. Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. has a fifty-two week low of $14.42 and a fifty-two week high of $16.96. The stock has a market cap of $1.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.95 and a beta of 0.60. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $15.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.08. Insider Activity at Suburban Propane Partners Suburban Propane Partners ( NYSE:SPH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $278.63 million during the quarter. Suburban Propane Partners had a net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 16.35%. In related news, Director Harold R. Logan, Jr. sold 4,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.55, for a total transaction of $64,020.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 42,515 shares of the companys stock, valued at $618,593.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on SPH. Mizuho cut their price objective on Suburban Propane Partners from $17.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Suburban Propane Partners in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, TheStreet cut Suburban Propane Partners from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on SPH About Suburban Propane Partners (Free Report) Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels. The company operates through four segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, Natural Gas and Electricity, and All Other. The Propane segment is involved in the retail distribution of propane for space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying in the residential and commercial markets; for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion engines to power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts, and stationary engines, as well as to fire furnaces as a cutting gas to the industrial customers; and for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding, and weed control in the agricultural markets. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Suburban Propane Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suburban Propane Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Knife River Co. (NYSE:KNF Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 30,626 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,332,000. A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KNF. Bank of New Hampshire acquired a new stake in shares of Knife River in the second quarter valued at $27,000. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Knife River in the second quarter valued at $29,000. HM Payson & Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Knife River in the second quarter valued at $40,000. Bartlett & Co. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Knife River in the second quarter valued at $60,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new stake in shares of Knife River in the second quarter valued at $99,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.14% of the companys stock. Get Knife River alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. DA Davidson boosted their target price on Knife River from $54.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Knife River in a research report on Monday, August 14th. They set an outperform rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Knife River Stock Down 1.1 % Shares of Knife River stock opened at $49.86 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $50.14. The company has a current ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Knife River Co. has a 12-month low of $33.67 and a 12-month high of $54.60. Knife River (NYSE:KNF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.42. The business had revenue of $785.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $754.60 million. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Knife River Co. will post 2.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. Knife River Profile (Free Report) Knife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting services to support the aggregate-based product lines, including heavy-civil construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KNF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Knife River Co. (NYSE:KNF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Knife River Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Knife River and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (BATS:NULG Free Report) by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 24,547 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,164 shares during the period. First Republic Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF were worth $1,527,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 12.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,470,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $249,201,000 after purchasing an additional 488,226 shares in the last quarter. TIAA FSB lifted its stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 19.0% in the 4th quarter. TIAA FSB now owns 3,296,952 shares of the companys stock valued at $161,188,000 after acquiring an additional 527,495 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 687,184 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,122,000 after acquiring an additional 11,182 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 635,441 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,419,000 after acquiring an additional 27,576 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF by 14.7% in the 2nd quarter. RVW Wealth LLC now owns 428,515 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,658,000 after acquiring an additional 54,932 shares in the last quarter. Get Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF alerts: Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF Stock Performance BATS NULG opened at $59.13 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.18 and a beta of 1.12. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $61.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $59.96. Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $26.91 and a 52 week high of $34.04. Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF Profile The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Large Cap Growth index. The fund tracks an index composed of large-cap US companies with growth characteristics that also meet certain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. NULG was launched on Dec 13, 2016 and is managed by Nuveen. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NULG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (BATS:NULG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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. When social media first appeared on the scene, the Daily Squib immediately noted how the exploitative system was inherently a tool for governmental surveillance of the population, intrusive, totalitarian in nature and essentially a politically charged mechanism creating increased levels of polarisation which could easily be manipulated to create chaos and discord as well as misinformation. Looks like we were right. Populations around the globe are now more polarised than ever, we now are seeing the rewards of social networks with increased war, discord, chaos and uprisings. The people responsible for this foray into pandemonium simply do not care about the consequences of their actions in the first place. They are happily profiting off using the masses as cash cows of content for their platforms, whilst reaping huge payouts from advertising and selling off user data to marketing managers and governmental intelligence agencies. If you at any point in time put up a profile of yourself using your real name and details, you are not only a fucking idiot but have now been compromised for eternity on the World Wide Web. Not only are you a sucker, but your every move, every action and every thought is tracked, logged and used against you. Teenagers do and say silly things, this is a natural process of growing up, however do you really want all of your teenage angst and embarrassing gaffs to haunt you for the rest of your life. Adults do and say silly things, now your every brain fart can be used against you at any time in the future leading you to lose your job, be labelled unjustly, judged and convicted all without any legal court involved. People are now visited in the middle of the night by state police officers, dragged out of their beds and never seen again simply because of a social media post they may have written many years ago which is now deemed as bad. This happens a lot in places like China and Russia, and even in the West. Social media companies readily help the CCP or any other totalitarian repressive regime to have their citizens arrested simply for voicing their right to speech. What was touted as bringing humans further together and opening up cultural barriers has been the exact opposite, and now humanity is paying the price for social media proliferation. The majority of the population have been tricked into joining social media now, and have compromised themselves for life. It is nigh on impossible to extricate the data mined from you and your behaviour, and you will be stuck for life/labelled/pigeonholed/judged and exploited within the quick sand of the social media swamp. To have a modicum of privacy these days is the new frontier for humanity, which has effectively been eviscerated, raped and exploited beyond comprehension by Silicon Valley dictators and control freaks. The nerds certainly had their revenge, thats for sure, and the world is paying the price for their punishment called social media. Thanks to social media and networks we are now condemned to a cycle of increased war, violence, chaos and polarisation rising at an exponential level year on year. Free Event Celebrate the start of the Holidays with family and friends. Walk the shops of Centerville, visit Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more! City of Centerville Hometown Holiday Walk and Tree Lighting The City of Centerville invites you to Uptown Centerville as it turns into a winter wonderland on Nov. 19 for the 2023 Hometown Holiday Walk and Centerville Tree Lighting Ceremony. The City invites you to visit the shops of Uptown and eat at one of our many restaurants. The Heart of Centerville and Washington Twp. will be hosting the Vendor Village with more than 20 local vendors under the tent at Benhams Grove. Washington Township Town Hall and the Centerville-Washington Park District will be hosting childrens activities and visits with Santa Claus at Town Hall Theater. Centerville-Washington History will have complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides available for guests at the Asahel Wright House, 26 N. Main Street, from 1:00 4:00 p.m. Benhams Grove will once again host the holiday tree lighting during a special ceremony at 5:30 p.m. As the public demands Montana regulators toe the line on climate change as a court recently ordered, industrial lobbyists are saying the states environmental review is too onerous. Representatives from the energy, mining and heavy construction industries told the Department of Environmental Quality in Helena and Missoula this week that the states permitting law, the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), had become too complicated after years of amendments by the Montana Legislature. Most of those changes have been brought by industrial polluters wanting to speed up the process and limit public involvement. Those industries are now calling for a modernization of the environmental law this after a District Judge ordered the state to begin evaluating climate change risks in its reviews for permitting. DEQ is now holding listening sessions in person and online to gather comments about whether the environmental policy act should be modernized. MEPA requires regulators to look before they leap on permitting. The agency isnt limiting the conversation to complying with the court order. Rather its asserting that MEPA is showing its age and needs to be updated after 50 years. However, theres been constant updating to MEPA, as noted by lobbyist David Hoffman of NorthWestern Energy, the state's largest utility. The Legislature has attempted to amend MEPA more than 128 times and over 80 MEPA challenges have been brought before the courts, Hoffman said. These statistics dont point to an overall functioning law serving the best interest of Montana citizens and the environment. To the contrary, the conflicting interpretations of MEPA of the Legislature, state agencies and the judiciary, generate tremendous confusion in both public and industry members. NorthWestern Energy is deeply concerned that regulatory uncertainty under MEPA may hinder our states future development of critical infrastructure. Hoffman made his remarks during a Wednesday hearing in Helena, which attracted 100 people and a livestreamed audience. A Missoula session Thursday attracted a large audience, as well. One of the laws undone by the August decision by First District Judge Kathy Seeley, was a law passed in a rush by the Republican majority of the Montana Legislature to block the review of carbon dioxide emissions. Lawmakers said the law was needed to shield a NorthWestern Energy gas-fired power plant from a court ordered review of its greenhouse gas emissions. The power plant is currently under construction near Laurel. The lawsuit, Held v. Montana, was brought by 16 youth plaintiffs who argued their lives were being harmed by Montana not regulating carbon dioxide emissions. The plaintiffs cited Montanans' constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. Seeley ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, a decision openly derided by Montanas attorney general who characterized the proceeding as a show trial. In Missoula, witnesses said DEQ was dragging its feet by launching a months-long MEPA reboot, a process DEQ expects to last into next summer. "The Court has interpreted the law. DEQ doesn't have the right to go streamline the law. DEQ doesn't have the right to go modernize the law. DEQ only has the right to comply with the Held decision and what the court mandated you do, which is follow the law and analyze climate impacts. Not next year, not two years from now, but last month," said Anne Hedges, Montana Environmental Information Center director of policy and legislative affairs. Permitting records show that DEQ isnt currently considering carbon dioxide emissions in its regulatory decisions, as court ordered, stating in one case that the government has appealed Seeleys decision and wont be observing the court decision until the Montana Supreme Court weighs in. Other permit cases make no mention of the Held ruling. The state has in the past considered carbon emissions in its permitting, said Melissa Hornbein, attorney for the Western Environmental Law Center. DEQ could comply with the court order now, if it wanted to, she said. This public engagement process is not necessary for DEQ to do its job and resume analyzing greenhouse gas and climate impacts in its environmental analyses and (environmental impact statements). It knows how to do this. It has the information available to do this and can do it, Hornbein said. Industry lobbyists on the other hand have repeatedly suggested there's no established way to evaluate carbon dioxide, which Peggy Trenk of the Treasure State Resources Association suggested again in Missoula. "Folks talk about 'there's lots of models and examples we could be using for analysis' but the federal government really hasn't settled on one and I kind of wonder how do we know what's the best one," Trenk said. The federal government, since the President George W. Bush administration, has used a formula for determining the damage done by a ton of carbon dioxide in any given year. The specifics of the evaluation have been available since 2008. "It may be that some of what you determine through MEPA even analysis means that in the permitting process. We actually have to say no to some things," said Amy Cilimburg, of Climate Smart Missoula. "And I think a lot of folks here, commenting from Missoula, they'd be like, 'That's okay, we are going to need to say no to carbon pollution so we can say yes to the myriad of really exciting climate solutions that we have out there." DEQ plans an online only listening session Nov. 1 starting at 3 p.m. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari during the inauguration of the 1st Indian Military Heritage Festival and launch of Project Udbhav', in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: The Indian Army on Saturday launched Project Udbhav, an attempt to weave Indias 5,000 years of ancient wisdom from texts such as Chanakyas Arthashastra with contemporary military practices, to forge a unique and holistic strategic approach to address modern security challenges. The aim of the project is to build a strategic vocabulary and conceptual framework deeply embedded in Indias philosophical and cultural heritage. Defence minister Rajnath Singh launched Udbhav, a joint collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India. Singh inaugurated the first edition of Indian Military Heritage Festival, which aims to celebrate Indias rich military culture and heritage that has evolved over the centuries through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling and exhibitions. "Udbhav, which translates to 'origin' or 'genesis', embodies the Indian Army's sincere endeavour to revisit the roots of India's military thoughts. It acknowledges, the nations vintage scriptures and writings, that span centuries in the past, contain profound knowledge that can benefit modern military strategies," said Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, deputy chief of Army Staff (Strategy). Lt Gen Aich said it is an initiative by the Indian Army that seeks to integrate age-old wisdom with contemporary military pedagogy. He said it will facilitate emergence of previously under-explored thoughts and theories related to strategic thinking, statecraft and warfare, foster deeper understanding and contribute to enriching military training curricula. He said a series of events and workshops will focus on various facets of our strategic culture and culminate in January next year, with a publication, to document and institutionalise such knowledge. "Literature such as Chanakya's Arthashastra underscores the importance of strategic alliances and diplomacy, aligning with modern military practices such as international cooperation and soft power projection," said Lt Gen Aich. He pointed out that Chanakyas teachings on statecraft and warfare are taught in the US War College in Pennsylvania, USA. With the state assembly polls getting close, the BRS and Congress have stepped up their targeted minority outreach programmes for communities of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. (Image:DC) Hyderabad: With the state Assembly polls getting close, the BRS and Congress have stepped up their targeted minority outreach programmes for communities of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. As per the 2011 Census, Muslims account for 13 per cent of the minority population in the state, with Hyderabad housing 17.13 lakh of 44.65 Muslims. It is estimated that the population of Muslims is currently around 54 lah. The Christian population, accounting for 5 lakh, are largely concentrated in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts, with a lower presence in Medak, Nalgonda and Warangal. While the Congress is trying to capitalise on minority votes by highlighting unfulfilled promises of the BRS government, the BRS is banking on welfare schemes Shaadi Mubarak, Minority Residential Schools, 20 lakh overseas scholarship for students, Ramzan Tofa, Christmas gift scheme, official Ramzan and Christmas celebrations in all districts since 2014, payment of monthly honorarium to Imams and Muezzins to win the Muslim vote. Among Congress claims against the BRS is that the state government shut 50 minority engineering and professional colleges out of the 56 sanctioned by the Congress regime in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Further, the Congress was claiming that the BRS was planning to cut reservations for Muslims from 4 per cent to 3 per cent. The BRS government had also promised a sub-plan in the Budget for Muslims, on the lines of SC and ST sub-plans, an increase in reservations for Muslims from 4 per cent to 12 per cent, construction of the Islamic Cultural Centre, setting up of Wakf Commissionerate on par with Hindu Endowment Commissionerate, launching a scheme to encourage entrepreneurship among minorities, on the lines of SCs, STs, for whom T-Pride scheme was introduced. However, none of these promises were kept This apart, the BRS manifesto for Assembly polls released by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on October 15 had no specific mention of minority welfare schemes or developmental programmes. The BRS manifesto had just a one-line mention, stating "Minority welfare will be increased", which, is also being highlighted by Congress. Sources said that Muslims were upset with the government for stopping bank-linked subsidy schemes to the community for setting up their own industries or units over the past five years. Another issue was the closure of several Muslim educational institutions in the private sector, mainly professional colleges, due to an alleged lack of support from the state government. Minorities said that the Minority Bandhu launched by the BRS government in July to extend Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to them in setting up their own units for self-employment, failed to reach them due to a lack of funds and adequate time for implementation. While the disbursal was started in October, it was abruptly stopped due to the implementation of the model code of conduct. The Congress, meanwhile, is gearing up to release its Minority Declaration soon. It will reportedly promise a Rs 5,000 crore sub-plan in the Budget for the welfare of Muslims and other minority communities. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the TRS (now BRS) won all 40 seats with at least 10 per cent Muslim population of the total 119 constituencies in the state. BRS circles say the party bagged 75 per cent of the Muslim votes in the state in 2018 due to AIMIMs support, which is continuing this time around too. BJP is likely to nominate three of its MPs Bandi Sanjay from Karimnagar, Soyam Bapu Rao from Adilabad and Dharmapuri Arvind from Nizamabad as candidates in the state polls. (Image: Twitter) Hyderabad: Sources in the BJP said that the partys first list of candidates is likely to have 55 names, after the central election committee sent it to the partys parliamentary board, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for approval. Further, an understanding with the Jana Sena, rather than an alliance, is also likely, they said. The party is likely to nominate three of its MPs Bandi Sanjay from Karimnagar, Soyam Bapu Rao from Adilabad and Dharmapuri Arvind from Nizamabad as candidates in the state polls. The fourth MP is party state president and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy. Soyam Bapu Rao said, "Though I am not interested in contesting the Assembly polls, if the party orders, I will be in the fray. Otherwise, I want to fight the parliamentary polls." Sources also indicated that the suspension on Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh the sole BJP MLA in the 2018 polls is also likely to be lifted as the party braces to announce its list. He was suspended from the party in August 2022 for his comments against Prophet Mohammad. BJP candidates were waiting impatiently for the list of candidates citing the delay as a hindrance to the poll campaign. In contrast, the BRS has named most of its candidates and issued B Forms, while the Congress has released its first list. Sources said that the party is not likely to enter into a formal alliance with the Jana Sena, though it is a constituent party of the NDA at the Centre. However, there will be an unofficial understanding, they indicated. Nemuri Shankar Goud, state incharge of Telangana for Jana Sena, said, "Though the electoral alliance has been entered into, the number of seats that Jana Sena would get is however not clear. We have asked for 32 seats. The details will be known in two days." The BJP is likely to bank on BCs for securing its votes, by projecting a BC candidate as its CM face, with around 40 BC candidates also likely to get tickets. BJPs election management committee chairman Etala Rajendar is likely to contest from both Gajwel and Huzurabad. Women are also likely to get more seats. KTR said Congress, in its 10 years of rule before Telangana was formed, gave only 24000 jobs, and had no right to talk about employment issues. (DC) Hyderabad: The BRS on Saturday said the Centre was being "vengeful" and "deliberately trying to squeeze the Telangana government to make it look bad," with BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao accusing the BJP-led Government of India of being "jealous" of Telanganas progress under Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. Even as he attacked the BJP government at the Centre, Rama Rao, in a freewheeling chat with reporters, continued his partys attack on the Congress saying the Opposition partys history with Telangana and its neglect of the region is "its millstone. Congress ko moka diya 11 baar, Congress ney dhoka diya 11 baar (Congress got 11 chances, 11 times they deceived people)." On the issue of how the Telangana government was being targeted by the Centre, he said: "I am accusing the Government of India of being absolutely vengeful. This government of the BJP, particularly this dispensation, is capable of pulling stunts like this to make us look bad. The Centre stopped funds coming to the state, squeezing us, for instance by way of trying to disrupt some of our flagship programmes like 24X7 power supply." He said: "They are jealous. They are incapable of raising their per capita (income). We are a better performing state then them anyway." Rama Rao said: "Congress, with its history of neglect of Telangana, despite repeated chances it was given, doesnt even have candidates for 40 constituencies. And people remember its rule from 2004 to 2014. Congress is the party that ran a kumbakonala Kumbh Mela. It is the party that sold its state presidents post, and it talks about corruption. Its own leaders are approaching the ED asking for probes against the state party chief." The BRS leader also said that Rahul Gandhi should do his homework before visiting Telangana again, to learn how the state progressed in the past nine-and-a-half years. "For now, Rahul should stick to making dosas and learn how to make idlis when he comes here," he said. On the BRS prospects, Rama Rao said his party will win more seats than it did in the 2018 elections, when it notched 88 wins among 119 seats it contested. "For instance, an internal survey showed that we would win in Manthani and Ramagundam, which I could not believe. So, the survey agency went back to check and returned saying that the perception of people at the ground is different and that we would win from these seats too," he said. Mocking the BJP, Rama Rao said they may have to field Etala Rajendar from all 119 constituencies. Rama Rao said Rajendar, contesting from Huzurabad and Gajwel, will lose both places. "The BJP threw in the towel even before the battle began. There is widespread support for KCR, people have faith in him, and we are going to win. And the next Chief Minister will be KCR," he said, responding to a question if he would be the next Telangana Chief Minister if BRS wins. On the BRS ties with AIMIM, he said MIM is a "friendly party, not an ally. And unlike Shiva Sena, with which Congress has ties in Maharashtra, and which says it is a Hindu party, the MIM never claimed that is a party for the Muslims." He said the Congress, which sought and got MIM support from 2004 to 2014, would do better not to talk about which party is communal. Rama Rao said Congress, in its 10 years of rule before Telangana was formed, gave only 24,000 jobs, and had no right to talk about employment issues. "We gave 1.30 lakh jobs, that is 13,000 jobs a year. And quickly took corrective steps when the TSPSC question paper leaked. And it is Congress that goes to court, stops the recruitment process and complains that there are no recruitments. The youth should understand this," he said. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: 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. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. (Image: Twitter) New Delhi: Canadas partners in "Five Eyes", the United States of America and the United Kingdom, expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, saying they expect New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention and urging India not to insist upon the reduction of the Canadian diplomats. The ministry of external affairs said it is acting as per the Vienna Convention and cited Canadian law that provides for withdrawing diplomatic immunity and privileges at any time. The US and UK backing comes a day after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said India's decision was a violation of the Vienna Convention and should worry all countries. "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. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," Miller added. The UK's foreign, commonwealth and development office (FCDO) spokesperson said, "Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals. We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India. We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. 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. We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar." The MEA rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms. Sources said Indias action to limit the size of the Canadian high commission to bring parity with the strength of the Indian high commission in Ottawa was warranted by the state of India-Canada bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued interference in our internal affairs. "Our action is as per the provisions of Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention, which provides the receiving state with the right to limit the size of a diplomatic mission to what it considers reasonable and normal... Article 11.1 has been used in the past by other countries on many occasions. We had conveyed to Canada that in order to limit the size of the missions in New Delhi and Ottawa, only a specific number of diplomats as per parity will continue to enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities," sources said. According to sources, Indias decision to seek parity was conveyed to Canada around one month ago, with a target implementation date of October 10. This date was extended till October 20 as details and modalities of implementation, including the list of Canadian diplomats who will continue to be accorded diplomatic immunities and privileges, were being worked out in consultation with the Canadian side. "Attempts by Canada to portray this as an "arbitrary" and "overnight" decision are factually inaccurate," they said. Sources further said parity has been sought in the diplomatic representations of Indian missions in Ottawa and New Delhi. There is no impact on Canadian diplomatic strength in their consulates in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chandigarh. The Canadian decision to cease operations at their three consulates in India is unilateral and not related to the implementation of parity. They highlighted that Canada's domestic legislation itself provides for comparable treatment of foreign diplomats in Canada to what its own diplomats get in a foreign country, as well as withdrawal of any of their diplomatic privileges and immunities. Paragraph 4(1) of Canadas Foreign Missions and International Organisations Act, which talks about the privileges, immunities and benefits of diplomats, says that the minister of foreign affairs may extend or withdraw any of the diplomatic privileges and immunities. Creative Planning raised its holdings in Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI Free Report) by 25.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 35,528 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 7,203 shares during the quarter. Creative Plannings holdings in Douglas Emmett were worth $447,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEI. Cibc World Markets Corp increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.7% during the first quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 88,337 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,952,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the period. Centersquare Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.3% during the first quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 218,255 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,294,000 after buying an additional 635 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.8% during the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 97,549 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,183,000 after buying an additional 761 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 5.5% during the first quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 18,594 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $229,000 after buying an additional 963 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 16.9% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 7,420 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $248,000 after buying an additional 1,071 shares during the period. 97.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Douglas Emmett alerts: Douglas Emmett Stock Down 0.7 % DEI opened at $11.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.67 and a quick ratio of 2.67. The companys 50-day moving average is $12.90 and its 200 day moving average is $12.73. Douglas Emmett, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $10.09 and a fifty-two week high of $18.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.55 and a beta of 0.99. Douglas Emmett Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.67%. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 230.31%. Several research firms have recently weighed in on DEI. Piper Sandler cut shares of Douglas Emmett from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $15.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Douglas Emmett from $15.00 to $13.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Bank of America cut shares of Douglas Emmett from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $12.00 to $10.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Douglas Emmett from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Wedbush began coverage on shares of Douglas Emmett in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $13.00 price target for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $14.09. Get Our Latest Analysis on DEI About Douglas Emmett (Free Report) Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DEI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Emmett Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Emmett and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Love them or hate them, few Montanans are apathetic about wolves. Roughly half of the states residents purchase a hunting or fishing license. Almost 40% are active wildlife viewers. A majority favor wolf hunting, but theres less support for trapping. These are just a few of the details in the draft 2023 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, unveiled by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on Friday. The public has until Dec. 19 to offer its thoughts on the agencys draft plan and environmental impact statement which will guide FWPs recommendations for the long-term management and conservation of wolves across the state. The plan updates the 20-year-old document FWP has been using with new wolf-related research, years of management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social perspectives and public input, the agency noted in a press release. This new plan relies on the best available science and reflects current Montana law and all the public input weve heard over the years regarding wolf management in Montana, said FWP Director Dustin Temple in a statement. I encourage folks to comment. The draft 2023 Wolf Plan shifts a key counting metric from the number of breeding pairs to the number of wolves representing at least 15 breeding pairs. The plan calculates that 450 wolves should ensure 15 breeding pairs. Population estimates will continue to be determined by the Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling method, or iPOM. The draft 2023 plan also describes the current depredation prevention and response program. Unlike other high profile wildlife management plans, FWP is not convening a citizen advisory group for wolves. Instead, the agency said, In the past 20 years, the public has had opportunities to comment on various components of wolf management as it was considered by the Montana Legislature, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and FWP. The draft plan was released about a week after FWP signed a consent decree with Wolves of the Rockies. As part of the agreement, FWP admitted it had violated the groups constitutional rights by not releasing documents requested by the group. It also admitted Fish and Wildlife Commissioners had illegally considered action via email and text prior to a meeting on wolf regulations. In admitting to the past problems, an FWP spokesperson said the agency is committed to transparency. At Thursdays commission meeting, Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies, petitioned the commission to create a wolf stamp to provide a way for nonhunters to contribute to wolf management, requested a physical count of the states wolf population and asked the commission to install an advisory group for the new wolf management plan. To view the draft 2023 Wolf Plan and comment, go to this link: fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/draft-wolf-mgmt-plan. FWP is also seeking public comment on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This document analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed plans. The DEIS can be found on the same web page. Comments on the plan and DEIS will be collected online and can also be sent by mail to 2023 Montana Wolf Management Plan DEIS, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Division, 1420 East Sixth Avenue Helena, MT 59620, or by email to FWPWolfPlanEIS@mt.gov. Public meetings to answer questions about the draft 2023 Wolf Plan will be scheduled prior to the close of the public comment period and announced on the FWP website. Brussels, Belgium NATO defense ministers gathered in Brussels today to address a wide range of pressing global security issues. While the Ukraine and Middle East situation dominated the discussions, the meeting also touched upon various other vital matters. The meeting occurred at NATO headquarters, where Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted several critical topics discussed during a news conference following the ministerial. Get alerts: One of the key areas of focus was the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III attended the meeting and chaired a session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group immediately before the NATO ministerial. Stoltenberg expressed deep concern about the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed the ministers on these attacks and Israels ongoing response. The NATO allies strongly condemned these attacks on civilians and called for the immediate release of all hostages. Stoltenberg emphasized Israels right to self-defense and urged the protection of civilians during the ongoing conflict. The alliance ministers also addressed various NATO missions and operations, particularly in the Western Balkans and Iraq. In response to heightened tensions in Kosovo, NATO has deployed additional reserve forces to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) operation. KFOR is now conducting increased patrols in the northern part of Kosovo to fulfill its U.N. mandate impartially. Leaders in Serbia and Kosovo were encouraged to act responsibly, avoid destabilizing actions, and re-engage in the European Union-sponsored dialogue as the path to lasting peace in Kosovo. In Iraq, NATOs mission is expanding its support for Iraqi security institutions to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Stoltenberg announced the appointment of Assistant Secretary General Tom Goffus as a special coordinator for counterterrorism to ensure NATOs strong and effective response to terrorism. The defense ministers also discussed plans to enhance alliance defenses, building upon the agreements made during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last summer. These plans include assigning necessary forces, developing new capabilities, and adjusting command and control structures. Russias actions in Ukraine prompted discussions about the role of NATOs nuclear weapons in deterring aggression. Next week, NATO will conduct its annual nuclear exercise, Steadfast Noon, over Italy, Croatia, and the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring the credibility, effectiveness, and security of the alliances nuclear deterrent. Another matter on the agenda was the damage to critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. A gas pipeline and a communications cable connecting NATO allies, Finland, and Estonia, were damaged on October 10, 2023. NATO members, along with Finland and Estonia, will work together to establish the facts behind the incident. If proven to be a deliberate attack on critical infrastructure, it will trigger a united and determined response. The meeting concluded with Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasizing the need to move forward with the ratification of Swedens membership in the alliance. He expressed satisfaction with Turkeys commitment to finalize Swedens accession and urged the Turkish government to submit the accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly for swift ratification. Portstewart's Flowerfield Arts Centre will host an enchanting evening of classical music featuring the talented pianist, Cahal Masterson. In homage to Johannes Brahms and to celebrate his 190th anniversary, Masterson will captivate the audience with his extraordinary emotive piano interpretations. On this special evening, Flowerfield Arts Centre invites music enthusiasts to revel in the magic of his music, expertly performed by the accomplished pianist, Cahal Masterson. The Brahms at the Piano concert, on Friday, October 27 at 8pm will showcase the Brahms compositions that continue to inspire generations. Masterson, a rising star in the world of classical music, hails from Northern Ireland and holds an impressive musical background. Having studied Music Performance at Dublin Royal Irish Academy of Music under the mentorship of Dr. John OConor, Masterson further honed his skills by completing his Masters at Shenandoah University, USA. He has graced stages across Europe, North America, and China, earning accolades for his poetic expression and rare musicianship. David Richards, from Toronto Concert Reviews, describes Masterson as an artist worthy of attention, highlighting his remarkable talent and dedication to the art of piano performance. Johannes Brahms remains one of the most revered composers of the Romantic era, a timeless icon in the world of classical music. Tickets for this unforgettable evening of classical music are available at 14 for full price and 12 for concessions. For ticket reservations and more information, please visit www.flowerfield.org or call reception on 028 7083 1400. With just weeks to go until Europes biggest Halloween Festival, the spirits are almost ready to awaken when they will join thousands of revellers to celebrate Derry Halloween. Central to the festivities this year is the Awakening the Walled City Trail, which will take over the City Centre for three nights in the run up to Halloween, from October 28-30. The story of Halloween will be brought to life through illumination, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and music, as the spirits cross over to join the festivities. The Trail is renowned for its thrilling medley of myth, magic and mayhem, with thousands of trick or treaters taking to the streets for a unique journey around some of the historic citys most iconic sites. The trail weaves its way through the city centre and information on the route is now live online, with guides available at local venues from early next week. For three nights the Walled City is transformed into the City of Bones where you will encounter a cast of weird and the wonderful characters including the infamous skeleton Walter DeBurgh! Pass Through the Veil to the Diamond where the spirits take to the skies for some fabulous aerial performance. Then on to Society Street where you can join in Walters Festival of Bones as the undead arise from their sleep to walk the streets once again in an eerie procession. Ebrington Square will be transformed into a magical arena of fire and shadow, as it hosts Rise Ring of Fire a stunning spectacle overlooking the River Foyle, supported by The Executive Office. Renowned performance group Luxe will create a world illuminated by inflatable Babel Towers, fire installations and a fiery procession of elegant processional sculptures. The city will also be echoing to the beat of the sensational Spark, as they illuminate the Diamond and Shipquay Street, with a number of performances taking place throughout the city centre over the three nights, before they join the spectacular Halloween Carnival Parade on Halloween night itself. Derrys historic Walls will be the backdrop for some ghostly goings on with the Spooky Ghost Tours running each evening for the first time during the Trail. Meet some of the Citys most creepy characters, and find out more about its horrible history, with tours running from Thursday, October 26 right though until Halloween night. Finally experience the real Heart of Samhain in Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place, with live music, creepy critters and the Haunted Halloween Market to keep you refreshed and entertained. Looking ahead to the Awakening the Walled City Trail, Festival and Events Manager, Jacqueline Whoriskey, said there was plenty to look forward to. We are so looking forward to an entire weekend of tricks and treats before the big night itself with the Awakening the Walled City Trail guaranteed to get everyone in the mood for Halloween. It offers the chance to explore the city centre by night and experience some of the myth and magic that makes this place so special at this time of year. Find out more about the origins of Samhain and encounter some of the characters whose stories of tragedy and terror have been passed down through the centuries. The Derry Halloween Festival is led by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism N. Ireland, BT and The Executive Office. Download the Awakening the Walled City Trail at www.derryhalloween.com Mulligan's Tractor and Truck Run took place on Sunday, September 3 gathering over 300 tractors and lorries. This year's run was to raise vital funds for Tourettes Support NI. Tourette's Support NI is made up of volunteers who are parents of children with Tourette's and adults with Tourette's Syndrome. They currently provide training for parents, schools, businesses and organisations to raise awareness. They have a very busy whatsapp support group with 50+ families NI wide, hold face-to-face support groups in various locations including the community hub in Draperstown and provide information packs. The organisation also have a direct advice line and provide days out for families who are otherwise very isolated. On the day of the run, there were street collections in the various towns where the tractor and truck run passed through, which raised 1,730. This amount is included in the final total. On Saturday night (October 14), the committee of Mulligan's Tractor and Truck Run were delighted to hand over 22,000 to the charity. A spokesperson for the organising committee said: We would like to thank our sponsors for all the support this year and to everyone who has supported our events throughout the year and turned out to support us on the big day and the cheque presentation night. Crowds of protectors of Lough Neagh have taken to the streets of Belfast city centre to demand action to save the lake. A mock gravestone for Lough Neagh as well as banners which read Water is Life and Save Lough Neagh were carried during the procession from Writers Square to City Hall on Saturday. Activists from various environmental campaigns, political parties and trade unions joined with people living near Lough Neagh and anglers to highlight the crisis at the lough and set out clear demands for its restoration. The campaigners are demanding the public acquisition of the lough, an independent Environmental Protection Agency, investment in a research and recovery plan, the end of commercial sand-dredging and sewage dumping, a reduction in agricultural run-off and recognition of the rights of nature. Lough Neagh is the biggest freshwater lake in the UK or Ireland. It supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Noxious blooms of blue green algae covered large parts of the lough across the summer. Other waterways and beaches in Northern Ireland have also been affected by the issue. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields is believed to be a major contributory factor. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Climate change is another factor cited, with the highest ever water temperature at Lough Neagh recorded in June. Speakers at City Hall on Saturday included People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, academic John Barry, campaigner James Orr and Louise Taylor of Love Our Lough. Ms Taylor led the crowd in a pledge to work to protect the lough. Mr Carroll called for urgent action to address the environmental crisis at Lough Neagh. Coupled with a global climate crisis, Lough Neagh is being turned into a boiling cesspit, he said. He claimed warnings from environmental campaigners were ignored by government, and also called for the lough to be brought into public ownership. Lough Neagh is a vital natural resource that should belong to us all, he said. Mr Orr said all those gathered should not be called protesters but protectors. The protesters are the people who are killing Lough Neagh, youre protectors, youre people who care for the lough, he said. To me, thats the foundation for going forward. Lough Neagh is our heartland in the middle of Northern Ireland, it needs justice, it needs a just settlement. Mr Barry claimed that government has failed to protect Lough Neagh. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Northern Ireland Water have all failed us, he said. When government breaks the social contract, it is not only our right but our duty to rise up and protest and make our voices heard. A woman is in hospital after being viciously assaulted and found in an unresponsive state outside the perimeter fence of Dublin Airport. Gardai say they are investigating the alleged assault on the woman which occurred at around 8am on Friday morning, October 20 at the R108 in Huntstown near Dublin Airport. "The woman, aged in her 40s, was later taken to Beaumont Hospital where she is continuing to receive treatment. Her injuries are understood to not be life-threatening," gardai confirmed. They said no arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing while they also made an appeal for witnesses. "Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the area between 7.30am and 8.15am or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward to them. In particular, those who may have video footage. Gardai can be contacted at Dublin Airport Station on 01 666 4950." Footage apparently showing the woman in the aftermath of the assault is circulating on social media. Gardai have been asked to comment on the alleged circulation of the footage. Countries in the Middle East that have normalized or are considering normalizing relations with Israel are coming under growing pressure to cut ties over Israels war with Hamas. To celebrate this years Harp Day in Louth a concert will take place on Saturday 21st October in St Nicholas' Church of Ireland in Dundalk at 7.30pm Young harpers from Music Generation Louth harp ensembles will collaborate with musicians from Nos Nua Youth Folk Orchestra and trio Alfi for this special concert to celebrate harp day in Co.Louth. Two members of Alfi, Ryan McAuley & Fiachra Meek are from the Dundalk area along with Alannah Thornburgh, a harper from Mayo, who has arranged some music for all three acts to perform together, especially for the occasion. ALFI Multi-award winning trio Alfi is the collaborative project of musicians Fiachra Meek, Ryan McAuley and Alannah Thornburgh. Featuring an unusual line-up of harp, five string banjo and uilleann pipes, Alfi explores a combination of music and song sourced from the folk traditions of Ireland & America. Alfi released their debut album Say Old Man in July 2023 to great critical acclaim - the album captures the organic, full-bodied spirit of their live shows, as well as the distinctive personalities of the players and marks Alfi as a vital force in Irelands ever-diversifying folk scene (Hot Press). Nominated for Best Emerging Folk Artist at the RTE Folk Awards, Alfi have also received numerous accolades including the US Embassy Creative Minds Award, The Caoimhin O Dochartaigh Award at Imbolc International Music Festival and Molloy Award at Birmingham TradFest. NOS NUA Nos Nua is a joint initiative of Music Generation Louth and Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol (Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann regional centre for the northeast). With members drawn from across counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Cavan and Armagh, the orchestra has been meeting regularly in Louth since October 2017 to rehearse and create unique, progressive arrangements of new and existing traditional repertoire. To date performances include the Festival of Youth Orchestras in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, St. Patricks Festival, Dublin, and TV appearances on Fleadh TV 2018, 2019 & 2022, John Creedons Atlas of Ireland and most recently with Lisa Canny & guests on Up for the Match 2023. They have recently wrapped a studio recording of Causeway in Black Mountain Studios. Causeway is a 40min suite of music composed with Mohsen Amini funded through the Arts Councils Young Ensemble scheme and the creativity and collaboration fund, a partnership of Arts Council of Ireland, Music Generation and the Department of Education. This same fund also facilitated creative workshops this year with Dr Ryan Molloy where they composed 5 new tunes collectively known as The Selkie Set. Nos Nua are directed by Kay Webster and Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla and will be conducted on the night by Saran Mulligan. MUSIC GENERATION LOUTH HARP ENSEMBLES The Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, under the direction of Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla, brings young harpers of various musical backgrounds together to perform a repertoire of traditional Irish and popular music. Formed in 2012, current members are aged from 10 to 20 years. Their video 'Harps at the Border', recorded in partnership with Harp Ireland, was chosen by the Department of Foreign Affairs to be broadcast across Irish Mission social media channels across the world for St. Patricks Day 2022. Earlier this year they performed at Edinburgh Harp Festival and last summer, they travelled to Cardiff to perform at the World Harp Congress. The Ensemble performs annually at An Chuirt Chruitireachta, International Harp Festival, Feile na Tana and Music Generation Laois Tionol for Harp and Pipes. They recently collaborated with some of Ulsters harp ensembles as part of a Harp Ireland initiative to launch La na Cruite 2023. They are also members of the Music Generation Harp Collective, a collaboration of Music Generation Harp ensembles from Laois, Louth, Mayo & Waterford. Other notable performances include performing for Vice President (Now President) of USA, Joe Biden in 2016, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2018 & 2019, World Harp Congress in Cardiff 2022, Live on Fleadh TV 2018, National Lottery Awards on TV3, Ray D'arcy Show, RTE & with Maire Ni Chathasaigh at An Chuirt Chruitireachta in Termonfeckin 2019. Through their participation in a variety of projects, they collaborated with Catriona McKay, Michael Rooney, Joleen McLaughlin, Laoise Kelly and Maire Ni Chathasaigh in the past and are excited to premiere a new arrangement with Alfi, especially commissioned for this event for La na Cruite | Harp Day 2023. Tickets for the night can be purchased here. Last Friday morning, following a request by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the scene of a drifting leisure craft, 19 nautical miles east of Clogherhead, the Clogherhead volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather Shannon class lifeboat immediately under Coxswain Declan Clinton with four crew members on board. When the lifeboat reached the scene of the drifting 42 ft. boat they found two crew members on board both unharmed and wearing life jackets. The vessel had developed fuel problems resulting in engine failure. A decision was made to establish a towline which was done successfully. The vessel was then towed back to the nearest safe port at Port Oriel, Clogherhead. The lifeboat arrived in Port Oriel at 10.15. and saw the crew safely ashore. Speaking following the call out, Clogherhead RNLI Coxswain Declan Clinton said: The crew on board this drifting vessel did the right think in contacting the Coast Guard on their VHF radio when their vessel began to drift. Most importantly they were both wearing life jackets. "We were able to assess the situation in a short space of time and thankfully, on this occasion, there was no risk to human life. Should you get into difficulty at sea call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Across Louth, 430,000 meals have been donated to community groups over the past decade as part of Tesco Irelands Food Surplus Redistribution programme, according to the supermarket chain. The donations, which come from Tescos stores in Louth, have helped Connect Family Resource Centre and other organisations like them to feed people living in food poverty. Working with FoodCloud and Olio, and over 350 local charitable and voluntary groups nationwide, Tesco redistributes surplus food at the end of each day to those who need it most in our communities. This food is perfectly edible but because it is nearing its use-by date, it will be removed from the shelves in store. Typical donations comprise fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, meat and more. In ten years of partnership, diverting this surplus food from going to waste to those in Irish communities who need it, Tesco says it has significantly reduced emissions associated with the processing of this waste. In 2013, Tesco became the first retailer to partner with FoodCloud nationally, and in the 10 years working together, its surplus food programme has delivered almost 20 million meals to help feed people living in food insecurity The programme, which is in operation across Ireland, has expanded into the UK, Czechia, and Slovakia. Marking this important milestone, Tesco Ireland Communications Director Rosemary Garth said: As a grocery retailer we have no time for waste and are absolutely committed to ensuring that no good food goes to waste when there are people in our communities who need it. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved since we launched our national Surplus Food Donations Programme powered by FoodCloud 10 years ago. "In that time, we have provided almost 20 million meals to the most vulnerable in our own communities, with over 430,000 in Louth alone. This has enabled the charitable and voluntary sector in Ireland to save over 23 million off their food bills to date, which, according to FoodCloud, has empowered them to invest in providing a greater level of support services in towns and cities nationwide. "Were a firm believer that every little helps, and were proud to have supported Louth groups such as Connect Family Resource Centre who need our help. Co-founder of FoodCloud, Aoibheann OBrien said: Tescos commitment to eliminating edible food waste from their stores has been a driving force in our work to tackle food waste at a national and international level. Through our strong partnership with Tesco, we have continued to grow our impact, innovate, and push boundaries around what is possible around food redistribution. We have worked together to reduce food waste for 10 years, expanding across four countries. "Tesco Ireland has been appointed as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) champion for 2023-2024 by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD. As a grocery retailer, Tesco is particularly committed to tackling SDG2 which aims to tackle hunger. In 2013, Tesco became the first national retailer in Ireland to partner with FoodCloud which now connects us with over 350 local charitable groups and enabling us to redistribute surplus food at the end of each day to families in need. "The company has made considerable progress towards its climate action targets to date, with energy efficiency upgrades taken on refrigeration, lighting, and heating systems across its network of 167 stores." To find out more about Tesco Irelands surplus food donation programme, visit TescoIreland.ie Dundalk non-profit Outcomers has been awarded a 10,000 grant as part of a 200K Coca-Cola Fund for their project to connect with LGBT members on the Aran Islands, hosting a cross-cultural exchange to share experiences and create new friendships. The Footsteps Project Connect FRC in Drogheda, which runs youth development programmes has also been awarded a grant of 5,000 28 non-profit organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland will each receive a grant share from this years CocaCola Thank You Fund. Operating in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, the Fund invests in community groups that are orientated towards young people, with this years theme centred around empowering young people through learning, inclusion, and sustainable development. This year The CocaCola Company and its partner CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland joined forces to double the amount of funding on offer in 2023, making 200,000 in grants available. Commenting on this years recipient announcement, Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, CocaCola Ireland said: It has been truly remarkable to witness the evolution of the CocaCola Thank You Fund, an initiative that is firmly focused on having a meaningful impact on the future of young people in our local communities. At The CocaCola Company, we recognise the importance of supporting organisations that empower our talented and passionate young people, who are the future leaders of tomorrow, which is why were thrilled to partner with CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland to double the size and impact of the Fund this year. Our goal through this years increased Fund is to have a longer-term impact on the lives of young people, our communities, and our planet, empowering positive change that will help build a brighter future for all. Id like to recognise the efforts of the Irish Youth Foundation and YouthAction Northern Ireland in helping us to achieve this goal. Congratulating the recipients of this years Thank You Fund, Davide Franzetti, General Manager, CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: As a growth-focused organisation, we are honoured to be involved in this years CocaCola Thank You Fund. Together with our partners in The CocaCola Company, we are privileged to have an insight into the phenomenal work of local organisations that work to change the lives of vulnerable young people across the island of Ireland. Emphasising the importance of education, inclusion, and sustainable development in empowering the next generation is incredibly important to us, and we wish the very best of success to the twenty-eight projects selected for this years Fund. Speaking about the judging process, Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation, operating partners of the CocaCola Thank You Fund this year, said: This year, we worked with supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, along with a panel of industry experts, to identify community-based programmes and projects that engaged young people in models of innovative and inclusive practices. Working with The CocaCola Company and CocaCola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has allowed us to recognise and support twenty-eight valuable local resources for young people across the island of Ireland. The standard of applications across the three pillars of learning, inclusion, and sustainable development has been incredibly high. Although it was a challenging process, it was incredibly enlightening and rewarding experience to hear from the vast number of community groups available to support vulnerable young people. 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. Bolster Community in Newry are hosting a special Silent Disco Spooktacular event, happening Wednesday 25th October, at The Banks 'Vault Nightclub' Newry. This is (first and foremost) an inclusive social event for adults with learning disabilities and neurodiverse conditions. The organisers say that the invite has been extended out far and wide to the relevant social and community groups in Newry, Mourne & Down, and they would love to extend the invite out to any groups in Co Louth who would like to come along. Support workers, carers, friends, family and supporters in general are also warmly welcome. And if youre reading this and you have a connection in any way, consider yourself invited too (18+ only!), say the Bolster Community. Most people (still young enough to enjoy them!) take big nights out for granted, but they arent as widely offered (or catered) to young adults of mixed abilities who at the end of the day, just want the same experiences that everyone wants the chance to be social, to connect with peers, get dressed up and have the craic on the dance floor! Jacinta Linden CEO of Bolster Community said, We just don't see enough social opportunities for young adults of mixed ability, many of our regulars feel uncomfortable attending a busy and noisy nightclub environment, a SILENT Disco will put inclusiveness centre stage in Newry and provide young people with the chance to combat loneliness and feel socially safe, in a space that everyone else takes for granted. We hope this will be the first of many! And with October also being Downs Syndrome Awareness Month, theres no better time to celebrate and help break down social barriers. Eamonn Connolly, Chair of the Bolster Board said, "Halloween is a social highlight for many young people and its so important that this fun is inclusive and for everyone. "Bolster is thrilled to be bringing the first ever inclusive silent disco of this scale to Newry which puts the needs of young adults of mixed abilities and neurodiverse conditions first and we are delighted to feature it as a key event in Newry BIDs Health in the City programme of events. "Please feel free to contact the team at Bolster if you are not sure if this is suitable for you or your family member." Councillor Oonagh Hanlon, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne & Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership said, Newry, Mourne and Down PCSP are committed to supporting opportunities for safe and inclusive events across our District and so we are delighted to be involved in this Silent Disco Spooktacular. T "his is part of the Health in the City initiative developed by Newry BID and promises to be a great event. Any proceeds from the SILENT DISCO Spooktacular will go to back into supporting Bolster Communitys vital programmes and services, so get your tickets at Eventbrite, grab your headphones and help make this a night to remember! To check out all the other events and activities happening across the city as part of Newry BIDs Health in the City month, just go to newry.com. Key event info: KLJ hires project manager Tiffany Hodge has been hired as a project manager by KLJ Engineering LLC. She has more than 27 years of experience working in customer service, consulting, project management and administration operations. She served as chairwoman on the Center for Technology-Women in Business Board, taught junior achievement for the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, graduated from the Bis-Man Chamber Leadership Program in 2023 and has worked with international organizations. Hodge earned a masters degree in business administration from the University of Mary and a bachelors degree in English from the University of North Dakota. DCN adds center manager Dakota Carrier Network has hired Travis Opdahl as Network Operations Center manager. Opdahl will plan, organize, and manage the staff and overall NOC operations to ensure the stability of DCNs network infrastructure. That staff includes a team of engineers and technicians in Bismarck and Fargo. He is in the Bismarck office. Opdahl earned a bachelors degree in business administration from North Dakota State University and worked in broadband engineering and operations for 17 years. Dakota CU Association hire Dakota Credit Union Association has hired John Alexander as director of legislative and regulatory affairs in its Bismarck office. Prior to joining DakCU, Alexander was the acting regional coordinator for The Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C.; a senior intern for the U.S. Senate; a contract field organizer for a grassroots political group; and worked as a legislative director for the Texas House of Representatives in Austin, Texas. He is a Navy veteran who served as an intelligence analyst and operations specialist onboard the USS Kearsarge. He earned his bachelor of science degree in political communication from the University of Texas at Austin. Financial adviser included Joel Bird, adviser with Ameriprise Financial in Bismarck, has been named to the list of Barrons Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors published by Barrons Magazine. The list recognizes financial advisers who have demonstrated high levels of ethical standards, professionalism and success. Cybercon recognizes Nagel John Nagel has been awarded the Chairmans Award for Excellence by CyberCon during the sixth annual Cybercon conference held at Bismarck State College. Nagel is the chief security officer and president of cybernet security for BEK Communications Cooperative. Gov. Doug Burgum was right to call the Legislature back for a special session next week. This allows legislators to pass bills that can become law upon his signing instead of the usual 90-day wait. But its important that the session focus on the budget bill. The Office of Management and Budget funding bill was ruled unconstitutional Sept. 25 by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The court ruled the bill violated a constitutional provision limiting bills to one subject. The Legislatures interim Legislative Management committee broke the bill into 14 pieces of legislation this week. Without the passage of the bills state government spending will be disrupted beginning Nov. 1. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said legislators negotiated with Burgum on the special session. He indicated the governor was interested in the Legislature considering an energy topic, theres maybe a tax relief topic and maybe an infrastructure topic. Lefor said no promises were made. On Friday, Legislative Management considered 28 bills with only seven being debated. Only one, Resolution 3099, expressing support for Israel, was approved for introduction. Its uncertain whether Burgum expected his bills to be introduced. In calling the special session Burgum expressed a desire that the session not last more than five days. Lefor suggested the session could be completed in three to four days. Earlier, Lefor said any bills considered would have to be on issues that couldnt wait until the 2025 legislative session. That criteria could be open to debate, but Legislative Management makes the decisions. Among the bills considered were one dealing with raw milk and raw milk products, one on a cheese processing facility feasibility study and one to protect the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Supreme Courts ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Public Employees Retirement System board challenging a bill adding two legislators to the PERS board. The courts decision didnt address that issue which could come back to the court after the special session. One of the 14 bills addresses PERS with two other items related to PERS attached to it. The Tribune Editorial Board doesnt believe the special session should stray far from action on the budget bill, and it appears it wont. The only way a legislator can sneak something in is through an amendment to another bill or a two-thirds vote of a chamber approving an introduction. A five-day special session in November 2021 cost taxpayers $301,000. Its likely the cost for a five-day session would be higher this year. So legislators need to come to Bismarck and get their work done as efficiently as possible. Legislative Management plans for two committees to consider legislation during the special session. Rep. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, argues there should be more committees during the session so more legislators are involved. Normally the Tribune would agree, but the special session was called to address one bill, Senate Bill 2015. The issues in the 14 bills that come out of SB 2015 were addressed during the regular session. If no major changes have been made from the regular session in any of the bills, things should go quickly. There should be no reason for more committees if two can efficiently handle the bills. The public deserves a session thats transparent, competently handles the main bills and does it as quickly as possible. The Legislature convenes on Monday. It appears its on the right path. 900,000 meals have been donated to community groups across Cork over the past decade from Tesco Irelands Food Surplus Redistribution programme. The figures, from Tesco, come as they mark the 10th anniversary of its partnership with FoodCloud. Working with FoodCloud and Olio, and over 350 local charitable and voluntary groups nationwide, Tesco redistributes surplus food at the end of each day to those who need it most in communities. Typical donations comprise fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, and meat - food that is perfectly edible but because it is nearing its use-by date, it will be removed from the shelves in store. In ten years of partnership, Tesco said that diverting this surplus food from going to waste to those in Irish communities who need it, it has significantly reduced emissions associated with the processing of this waste. In 2013, Tesco became the first retailer to partner with FoodCloud nationally, and on average, Tesco Ireland now redistributes up to 40,000 meals every week to over 350 charitable groups across groups across the country. Marking the milestone, Tesco Irelands Communications Director Rosemary Garth said: We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved since we launched our national Surplus Food Donations Programme powered by FoodCloud 10 years ago - in that time, we have provided almost 20 million meals to the most vulnerable in our own communities, with over 900,000 in Cork alone. This has enabled the charitable and voluntary sector in Ireland to save over 23 million off their food bills to date, which, according to FoodCloud, has empowered them to invest in providing a greater level of support services in towns and cities nationwide. Were a firm believer that every little helps, and were proud to have supported Cork groups such as CDYS Mallow who need our help. Co-founder of FoodCloud, Aoibheann OBrien added: Tescos commitment to eliminating edible food waste from their stores has been a driving force in our work to tackle food waste at a national and international level. Through our strong partnership with Tesco, we have continued to grow our impact, innovate, and push boundaries around what is possible around food redistribution. We have worked together to reduce food waste for 10 years, expanding across four countries. THE Cork Indian community are preparing for their biggest event of the year their take on Durga Puja, the biggest festival in India. It is centred around worship of the goddess Durga, and is celebrated for nine days usually in the month of September or October. A one-day event is taking place at Mahon Community Centre this Sunday, with the organiser explaining that they try to pack in nine days worth of fun in one - including worship as well as performances from talented volunteers. Rohini Roy, one of the organisers, told The Echo that the festival aims to give people a slice of their home, explaining: it is essentially our Christmas so it is hard for people who cant travel back to India for it, we all miss home. With about 5,000 Indians calling Cork their home, more than 900 people are expected at this years event. Bishwamitra Thakur, one of the main founders of Durga Puja Cork, and the Vice President of Information Security at Clearstream told The Echo: We aim to welcome not just Indians, but the locals too as Durga Puja is a festival where everyone is welcome - we dont charge entry fee for anyone for this event, which attracts a lot of young crowd too like Indian students studying in Ireland, who feel homesick during this time of the year. PhD student Risov Das said: This is my first time away from home during Durga Puja, which makes me unhappy naturally, but the news of Durga Puja in Cork has revived my feelings again. I am really looking forward to visiting the venue. There are 45 volunteers organising the festival, and Rohini explains: We all have full time jobs as well - there are doctors, engineers, students, professors etc, and it is very nice to see the whole community come together. Head Of Technology at the Prosys Group Milind Rokde agreed: Being a part of the Durga Puja organizing committee has not just been about the event day, but about the journey of friendship, challenges, and shared joy. Beyond the planning, its the camaraderie built over meetings, often concluding in a cozy pub over pints, that truly defines the heartwarming essence of this experience. The event is not limited to people from a certain region in India, which is a culturally diverse country, and instead seeks to unite all these different cultures.. Dr Saibal Roy, a senior scientist at Tyndall and Professor at the School of Physics in UCC added: I have been living in Cork since 2002, and Im pleased to observe that over the years the Cork Durga Puja has become a metaphor of Indian national religio-cultural identity and social integration alike through the active participation and celebration by the people from all Indian states/linguistic regions. AS PART of the Movement for Good Awards, specialist insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance, and its parent company Benefact Group, have donated over 500,000 to charitable causes leading change in key sectors across Ireland and the UK. Kids Own Publishing Partnership, Jigsaw National Centre for Youth Mental Health, and A Sense of Cork Midsummer Arts Festival, are amongst the 22 charities that were chosen by a panel of judges to benefit from the larger grants. The Movement for Good Awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities. More than 900 charities applied for the funding, and the winning projects were selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion. Cork Midsummer is an annual multidisciplinary festival that showcases a diverse range of art forms from both national and international artists. They will receive a grant of over 15,000 which will allow the organisers bring to life Home Sweet Home a new disability-led play that explores disability issues. Susan Holland, head of Participation and Engagement Cork Midsummer Festival, said: This grant will allow Cork Midsummer Festival to continue our partnership with the inspiring Suisha Arts theatre group on their mission to establish a new professional disability-led theatre group here in Cork. (From row) Scott Hayes, Ecclesiastical Insurance, and Paul Fitzgerald, with (left/right) Xean Landingin, Shane Crosbie, Andy Forrestal, Suisha Inclusive Arts at the Cope Foundation, Susan Holland, Head of Participation & Engagement at Cork Midsummer Festival, and Fergus Hegarty. It will also aid us in developing a new leading model in the creation of theatre by and with artists with intellectual and learning disabilities, as well as the premiere of an exciting new work by the group in 2024. Kids Own is a childrens arts organisation and publishing house that connects children and their communities with professional artists and publishes books by children for children. They will receive a grant of over 16,500 which will support the publication of a book that will bring families from Ukraine and Donegal together. Jigsaws mission is to achieve better mental health outcomes for people aged 1225 by delivering therapeutic services, promoting youth mental health and mobilising community and societal change. Jigsaws current model can support 67% of the youth population and with the help of the Movement for Good grant of over 15,000 they hope to reach 100%. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) has said a number of community health services in Midleton will run from alternative locations next week while remediation of the wider campus takes place following this weeks flooding. Public health nursing clinics and appointments and the Wound Clinic will run from Carrigtwohill Primary Care Centre next week. Home visits will continue if the roads are passable and phones are being diverted to Carrigtwohill. The McAuley Day Centre will not be open next week, and people who usually use the service will be offered a place in either Mayfield or Cobh. Those affected are being contacted directly. Those who were to attend dental services are being contacted to arrange an alternative location. Physiotherapy appointments will run from St Raphael's Centre in Youghal. "We are making efforts to contact anyone with appointments for any of these services, a spokesperson for CKCH said. We also wish to thank our staff and the other statutory agencies for their work and support in Midleton. "Work will continue next week on cleaning up and on assessing the damage. On Thursday, CKCH said that a number of elderly residents who were affected by the flooding at Midleton Community Hospital have been safely relocated to Heather House at Saint Mary's Health Campus in Gurranabraher. Flooding at Midleton Community Hospital on Wednesday, October 18. Picture: Twitter We are grateful to all those involved in moving them quickly and calmly this morning [Thursday morning], a spokesperson said. These residents will continue to be cared for by the same familiar team from Midleton Community Hospital. We also wish to thank our staff and the other statutory agencies for their work and support in the last 24 hours, which has allowed us to continue to safely care for the remaining residents on-site at Midleton Community Hospital. Residents of the Owenacurra Centre were also moved safely on Wednesday and are being accommodated nearby while the damage to the building is being assessed. Again, we thank the team supporting them for their commitment to the residents and for providing continuous care. In relation to Midleton Community Hospital, we wish to acknowledge the huge effort by staff across the HSE to ensure that all residents are safe and cared for, despite the challenges. Finally, we wish to again thank An Garda Siochana, Cork County Council, the voluntary emergency services and colleagues from across the HSE for their assistance. CORK County Council will continue to monitor the levels of the Owenacurra River in Midleton as its staff remain at a local co-ordination centre throughout the weekend. Water levels abated in the area last night, but remained high as repair works to roads and bridges continued and a large-scale clean-up effort gained momentum. With high river levels and more rain expected, members of the public are advised to stay high, dry, and away from the coast, rivers, and lakes. Yesterdays visit to Midleton by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan was described as too little, too late by some local people speaking to The Echo who are reeling from the destruction of Storm Babet after floods battered the East Cork town on Wednesday. Some voiced outrage at the delays in implementing an effective flood relief scheme which they said may have spared residents from the devastation caused by the deluge. Mr Ryan expressed his sorrow for home and business owners affected. They will be heartbroken, he said. There is nothing worse than a flood and all its destruction. My heart goes out to them. Minister Ryan described how climate change is wreaking more havoc than ever before when addressing reporters at Midleton Fire Station yesterday. The sad reality is that climate change is real and its getting more pronounced. Its hitting home. He praised those who played a part in reducing the impact of the destruction. Its very important to meet the fire service and the local council. There is a lot of rain forecast for Sunday and early Monday. Thats going to be a challenge. We have to make sure that we prepare for that but also help the clean-up. I need to help the businesses and help the householders in whatever way I can. The council is offering free disposal of flood-damaged goods at all Civic Amenity Sites until Thursday, October 26. Cork County Council can be contacted over the weekend via its emergency number on 021 4800048. HARROWING stories are continuing to emerge following Wednesdays flooding in Midleton as locals battle to rebuild their lives in the midst of unprecedented destruction. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan visited the area with a message of support for residents after Storm Babets rampage. However, it seemed it was too little too late for many, who expressed anger at the Governments failure to implement the flood relief scheme for the area which could have mitigated the disaster. Cleaning up after the floods on Thomas Street, Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Fine Gael councillor Susan McCarthy, who co-owns McCarthys Newsagents with her husband Fergus, was among them. Their business was destroyed by the floods, which left customers stranded in her shop last Wednesday. Emotions are still running high, days on from the event. Ms McCarthy said she was crying with one customer whose dog drowned in the raging flood waters. There was one woman who bought a house so she could return here after years of living in Dublin, Ms McCarthy said. She put all her life savings into that beautiful little house and it was gutted. When she was evacuating, she managed to save one of her dogs but the smaller one didnt make it. The other one was pulling at her and she was trying to manage him. The next thing she turned around, only to find the little one had been washed away. She caught him but it was too late and he had already drowned. I was actually crying with her as she was telling me. 'Something I will never forget' Ms McCarthy said that people in the shop were basically standing in a shell. There was nothing left bar a clock and a picture on the wall. The business owner said she had never seen anything like the destruction in the town on Wednesday. There were people caught in the shop and we brought them upstairs, thinking this cant get worse, she said. We had never seen anything like it. Luckily, we still had electricity at that point so my husband was able to cook food for them. We sent them up for showers. We gave them towels. We gave them socks and even tracksuit pants. Im actually putting on washes now, asking myself: Who do these belong to? because we actually washed peoples clothes after bringing them up from the shop. There are trousers, socks, everything. Breda Sisk and Fionnula Coakley clearing flood water from the HomeSavers store on Main Street, Midleton Co Cork on Friday Pic Larry Cummins The politician said she could not believe what she heard from her upstairs window. The sound of the raging water was deafening. Its something I will never forget. This was a fast-flowing river running through the main street, she said. Fianna Fail councillor Ann Marie Ahern, who runs Ahern Auctioneers in Cork, spoke of the impact on the town. Im doing my best for everyone and helping homeowners and businesses, she said. My own business is drowning but you cant be selfish at a time like this. Im an elected representative, which means I need to put my community first. The Midleton woman said she feels for homeowners impacted by the chaos. I left my office to go home at 1.05pm for a quick sandwich last Wednesday, she said. By the time I drove the length of the main street we were being told to go back. We were already underwater and there was no time to react to the impact. The floodgates literally opened. 'An example of climate change' Mr Ryan addressed reporters in the town yesterday, saying that this is yet another example of the reality of climate change. The sad reality is that climate change is real and its getting more pronounced, he said. Its hitting home. Soldiers from 1 Brigade Signals, were at the Cork County Council depot filling and delivering sandbags to protect against further flooding in Midleton Co. Cork on Friday. Pic Larry Cummins He acknowledged the impact on the people affected. They will be heartbroken, he said. There is nothing worse than a flood and all the destruction. My heart goes out to them. The Green Party leader said it was important that he met with those who were helping with the flood efforts. Its very important to meet the fire service and the local council, he said. There is a lot of rain forecast for Sunday and early Monday. Thats going to be a challenge. We have to make sure that we prepare for that but also help the clean-up. I need to help the businesses and help the householders in whatever way I can. He also spoke of the unexpected nature of the flooding. I think it did catch everyone because of the speed at which it happened, said Mr Ryan. The town has been flooded before. What happened this time was unprecedented, given that the river broke its banks just up west of the main street and took a course down the main street in a way that hasnt happened before. They are ready to go to planning [for the flood relief scheme]. I dont think there is any reason to stop that. I think it should go through as fast as we can. CORK Airport marked its 62nd birthday this week with a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, a thoroughly modern way to mark a milestone. Today (Monday, October 16), we celebrate 62 years of connecting Cork to the world. Bishop Con Lucey blessing at the opening of Cork Airport - 1961 Since October 16, 1961, over 70 million people have chosen to fly to and from @corkairport. Heres to many more years of adventures, connections and memories. In that first two and a half months, 10,527 people flew in or out to Cork Airport, passengers going to Dublin, London, Paris and Bristol. According to Cork Airport communications manager Barry Holland, thats around the same amount of passengers the transport hub would deal with on a busy Friday or Sunday now. One of the early staples of the airports business was pilgrimages to destinations such as Lourdes. Cork Airport reopened to flights on November 22 2021 morning after a 10 week closure for a complete runway rebuild. Aer Lingus flight EI710 07.45 to London Heathrow was the first flight out. Picture: Andy Gibson. Nowadays the airport flies to destinations all over Europe so citizens of the southwest can enjoy weekends away in capitals and other tourist hotspots in UK and on the continent. The airport was opened by then Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, the pioneering politician who had established Aer Lingus in 1936, and Corks Lord Mayor, Anthony Barry. As reported by PP OReilly on Radio Eireann (the national broadcaster wouldnt include a television service until New Years Eve that same year), Cllr Barry described the establishment of Cork Airport on October 16, 1961, as psychologically and chronologically correct. Cork is now entering a great period of expansion and the airport is a vital factor, he said. Industry, commerce and tourism will rapidly expand, we have at last shaken off the easygoing 19th century. The airport provides a challenge and an opportunity, we are ready. Those first few months were a far cry from the hectic schedule of today. There would be five flights on Monday, three on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The airport was closed on Sunday, a day of rest. These days, the airport operates on a 24/7 basis with between 30 and 40 flights a day. The airports first general manager was Vincent Fanning, followed by Paddy OGrady, Gerry Houlihan, Barry Roche, Joe OConnor, Pat Keohane and, these days, Niall McCarthy is the managing director of the airport with just over 250 full-time staff at present. Thats with a bigger operation, said Barry Holland. Back then it was much smaller, a much tighter ship. There have been many significant milestones since the journey began for the airport back in 1961 its first jumbo jet landed in 1989 after a 1,000-foot extension to the runway, and its new terminal opened in August 2006, around the time the airport was accommodating 3m passengers a year. Then Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Lt Gen Sean McCann, then Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces inspecting a guard of honour before departing from Cork Airport after the four day State Visit to Ireland. Maxwells/PA Wire Last year it was around 2.6m but they hope to be soon back to the mid-noughties levels. The airport also hosted many famous passengers Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire were heroes of their eras even if they didnt have TikTok channels. The late Queen of England, Elizabeth II, was a Very Important Passenger when she visited Cork in 2011. Other famous passengers included Beatles legend Paul McCartney, the Bee Gees and poet and scholar, Robert Graves. University College Cork (UCC) has become the first higher education institution in Ireland to launch a Proud Ally Student Network. Led by UCCs Graduate Attributes Programme, the network aims to support LGBTQ+ allies who actively support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. They will be working towards ending discrimination and promoting equality through acting as advocates for LGBTQ+ individuals. Adel Coleman, Graduate Attributes Programme Manager explained that a recent report by BeLonG To highlights that 76% of LGBTQ+ secondary school students dont feel safe at school. UCC staff and students celebrate the launch of UCC's Proud Ally Student Network. Image Credit: Max Bell/UCC. These are the students who arrive each year at UCC, and who deserve to feel safe and valued in university, she said, explaining that they aimed to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in UCC. The network will host events and training opportunities, as well as online resources and information such as why its necessary to be a LGBTQ+ ally, the importance of pronouns, and the history of LGBTQ+ in Ireland. It was launched on October 19 to coincide with International Day of Pronouns, which is celebrated on the third Wednesday of October every year. Brian O'Kane, Chairperson of the LGBTQ+ student society, UCCSU Equality Working Group LGBTQ+ representative 22/23, said that he had Never known truer allies than the organisers of the network. The International Human Rights Law and Public Policy student said: Thank you for speaking in spaces where we cannot be heard - it has meant the world to us. UCC President Professor John OHalloran added: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and integrity. It is our responsibility to be effective global citizens who recognise and challenge inequality and are socially responsible. To be a Proud Ally we need to educate ourselves on the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face, and spend some time reflecting on who we are, what matters to us, and how we respond to different situations in our lives. We need to understand, acknowledge, and challenge our own prejudices - through this network, we aim to help make our campus an even more inclusive, warm, and welcoming place. The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin has extended his support and prayers to family of Fr. Criostoir MacDonald. Fr. Criostoir MacDonald died this week. Image Our Lady Crowned Church Mayfield Facebook Fr Criostoir, who served as co-parish priest in the Mayfield Family of Parishes, died suddenly this week while travelling with a pilgrimage group in Rome. A native of Skibbereen, Fr. Criostoir was ordained to the priesthood on 8th June 1985. He began his ministry as Curate in the Lough Parish (1985 1990) and later served as Curate in Crosshaven Parish (1990 1998), Bantry Parish (1998 1999) and The Cathedral Parish (1999 2001). Following a period of study in Rome, he then served as Curate in Dunmanway Parish (2002 2006) and Curraheen Road Parish (2006 2010), before becoming Parish Priest in Glounthaune Parish (2010 2011), Administrator of The Cathedral Parish (2011 2013), Parish Priest of Curraheen Road Parish (2013 2021). He had served as Parish Priest at St Josephs Mayfield since 2021. In a statement, the Diocesan Office said that Bishop Fintan was extending prayerful support to his sister Ann and her family at this difficult time. As well as praying for Fr. Criostoir, we also pray for his family, friends, parishioners and the pilgrimage group with which he was travelling when he died, the statement said. Killers of the Flower Moon is based on the book of the same name by David Grann and is a prequel to the Ernest franchise that shouldve been titled Ernest Goes To Osage Country. Leo DiCaprio plays a a bumbling man named Ernest whom Scorsese didnt have the common courtesy to give him the P. Worrell last name. All jokes aside, Killers of the Flower Moon is a true-life story based on real people who were murdered for their land that had tons of oil underneath it, which ultimately gave birth to the Federal Bureau of Investigations otherwise known as the FBI. It's a story as old as time and has been told numerous ways by Scorsese himself in his other movies. DiCpario is a fumbling young man who has come back to town to see his Uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro) to help him run his cattle ranch in Oklahoma. But if Goodfellas, The Sopranos, and Casino taught an audience anything, it's that underneath the surface business, there is something much more sinister going on. As the screenplay furthers itself, it's revealed that Hale is secretly killing these Native Americans in order to steal their land and fortunes with the help of his nephew Ernest. Running at 3.5 hours long, every minute is slowly felt as Scorsese explores the same organized crime genre where all involved eventually turn on each other and rat out everyone - but this time in the early 1920s. A good 60 minutes couldve been left out where the same outcome couldve been better executed instead of showcasing a replicating narrative featuring a dozen or more full-length funerals or people getting sick. It becomes a bit tedious at times, but it's also remarkable that Scorsese is still able to create this world and showcase those intimate details of what life was like more than 100 years ago. Those intense conversations and brutal treatment of the Osage are depicted in a raw yet artistic manner. There's something to say that over the past fifty years, Scorsese can still tell a wonderfully complex narrative that navigates a violent web of many characters in the same mafioso arena and has it still feel original and poignant. This is the case with Killers of the Flower Moon, however, it's the 3.5 hours that kills the mood and flow of the film. For some reason, filmmakers think it's a good idea to drag out their movies for the longest possible runtime these days. And not one film executive or producer can say "No" to these artists. Other filmmakers have fallen into this trap of overtly long films or only showcasing their visual aesthetic without care for character development or pacing no matter the run time. And now sadly, Scorsese has as well. There are some brilliant moments in Killers of the Flower Moon though. Mostly through Leo and De Niro's performances. They are simply phenomenal. The contrast between DiCaprio's love for his wife and what he must work at to make his uncle happy is nothing short of award-worthy. His candor and body language transform him into this character just as he has in every role before. De Niro even in his golden years still proves he's one of the best at his craft leaving the cheap comedy family movies but a distant memory by the third minute of this film. Lily Gladstone is the bright shining star here. She is put through the physical and mental wringer and comes out on top which will no doubt earn her the top award and she will deserve it all. THE Mayor of Co Cork has said the flood prevention plan for Midleton has been in the planning stages for too long, saying that Government funding is urgently needed to make it happen. Frank OFlynn mentioned the success of the Bandon Flood Relief Scheme, and said several similar schemes in other towns had also put a stop to periodic flooding and the devastation that comes with it. He said that, in addition to funding to help businesses, residents, and the council fixing the road damage, he would be calling for funds to fast-track the flood alleviation plans for Midleton. The times of just talking about the plans is over, a system must be in place, we just need the ways and means to make it happen now, he said. A statement from the Office of Public Works yesterday said: Cork County Council is leading on a flood relief scheme for Midleton. An option for a flood relief scheme for Midleton to protect some 580 properties, of which 400 are homes, has emerged following extensive analysis. The scheme will provide protection against flooding from the Dungourney and Owenacurra Rivers, and ehe environmental impact assessment report is being prepared for this preferred option. The current programme for this scheme is that planning consent will be applied for in the first part of 2024. Total project budget for this scheme is estimated to be 50m. A substantial aid package in the order of the tens of millions of Euro will be needed to get families and businesses throughout east Cork, villages such as Rathcormac, Killeagh, Ladysbridge and, the hardest hit areas of Midleton and Glanmire, back on their feet, Fianna Fail TD for Cork East James OConnor has said. Speaking to The Echo from the main street of Killeagh he said: This is a disaster that extends throughout east Cork and the cost will be in the tens of millions. Its devastating. Killeagh is home to me and in 200 years theres never been a flood and Wednesday the entire street flooded. A Cork apprentice has been named as the first-ever female winner of the Apprentice of the Year title. The #GenerationApprenticeship Apprentice of the Year Awards 2023 are an independently judged competition that celebrates the finest talent in the apprenticeship system around Ireland, overseen by the National Apprenticeship Office. Hazel Johnston, a Manufacturing Engineering apprentice with DePuy Synthes, won the award. Hazel is an apprentice from Cork and studies at the Cork Education and Training Boards Bishopstown campus. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris congratulated the first ever female winner of the Apprentice of the Year, describing her win as a fantastic achievement. I want to warmly congratulate all the nominees and winners at [the] awards, and thank them for all their hard work and commitment to their apprenticeship, he said. I especially want to congratulate Hazel on her fantastic achievement. As a Department, we are working hard to increase the number of females taking up apprenticeships and, while it is heartening to see the numbers increase every year, we know much more needs to be done. Hazel, and the many other female apprentices pursuing their dream careers across Ireland, should act as an inspiration to others considering the path they want to take in life. Mary Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, announced the overall Apprentice of the Year award to 500 guests in the Round Room of The Mansion House this week. There were a total of 14 finalists across apprenticeship categories including Hospitality, Food and Healthcare, Hairdressing, Finance and Insurance, ICT, Property Services, Recruitment and Sales, Manufacturing Engineering, Biopharma, Logistics and Motor, Electrical and Construction. Commenting on the ceremony, Dr Mary Liz Trant said: The NAO is delighted to award the highly coveted national Apprentice of the Year award 2023 to Hazel Johnson, our first-ever female Apprentice Of The Year title winner, and award 14 exceptional finalists from a 26,000-strong Generation Apprenticeship community of dedicated apprentices. Apprentices are transforming the landscape of Irelands skilled workforce, bringing exceptional creativity and innovation, adaptability, leadership, fresh perspectives and a steadfast eagerness to learn that makes them valuable additions to any industry or workforce. FOR generations of schoolchildren who studied Irish poetry, it was about Cul an Ti [the back of the house] or the stony walls of the Aran Islands. But a generation of new young poets came along in the early 1970s and brought with them poetry infused with the free-living spirit of the era and plenty of sex, drugs, and rocknroll. This radical departure for Irish language poetry had its launching pad in UCC and the pilot poets of that generation were Corks Liam O Muirthile and Michael Davitt, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill who was born in Lancashire, England but lived her life in Ireland between Corca Dhuibhne in West Kerry and Nenagh in Tipperary, and Limerick man Gabriel Rosenstock. This generation of poets, and those who came in their wake such as Louis de Paor and Colm Breathnach were known as the Innti generation, in recognition of the poetry journal they published during their years in UCC and are being recalled in a book of essays recently launched in the college which proved to be the launching pad for their fame and a pivotal turning point in the progression of Irish language poetry. Inside Innti is a Cork University Press publication jointly edited by UCC Irish language lecturer Aibhe Ni Ghearbhuigh and Tristan Rosenstock, literary editor of the Irish language magazine Comhar and a RTE RnaG broadcaster. Its contents page is a whos who of Irish language poetry, literature and criticism including Alan Titley, Cliona Ni Riordain, and Caitriona Ni Cleirchin. At the same time as the Innti generation was igniting in Cork, Belfast was also alive with poetry through the likes of Seamus Heaney, John Hewitt, Derek Mahon, and Michael Longley who wrote in the English language. The launch event in the staff common room next door to the UCC Aula Maxima was well attended and heard Prof Patricia Coughlan, who confessed to being a contemporary undergraduate during those heady Innti years, give some interesting insights into the time. In her remarks, UCC lecturer Ailbhe Ni Ghearbhuigh, now a UCC lecturer and award-winning poet, said that attending first-year lectures about Irish language poetry which featured the Innti poets changed the course of her life. I had intended on taking a degree in English literature but in that year I was charmed by another way. Its a great honour for me to play homage to a generation of poets who exerted such a massive influence on a great number of people, the ethos behind Innti was inclusive before inclusivity became a box-ticking exercise, she said. You didnt have to be from the Gaeltacht to be considered or you didnt have to write a certain type of poetry, male, female, straight or gay, what we find in the pages of Innti is a chorus of diverse voices who all believed in the Irish language as a language of artistic merit, a social language, they believed in the future of the language and its capacity to put contemporary life into words. While sex has always been a preoccupation of Irish language poets, no less than poets in English or French, it really didnt come out of the closet until the Innti generation arrived. Poetry about sex, drugs and rock nroll is, according to Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, what they wanted to write and that was to do with their youthful vigor and enthusiasm but also to do with openness, honesty, and irrepressible opinions. While they were brimful of energy, there was also a guiding or, supporting, hand at work, that of the then professor of Irish at UCC, Sean O Tuama, who was also a recognised poet and writer. The evening was brought to a conclusion by recitations of the poems of the Innti writers, two of whom, Liam O Muirthile and Michael Davitt are no longer with us, by the new generation of UCC students of Gaeilge. Who knows what they will infuse the language with it for generations to come and whether their work will have the impact of the Innti generation. CORK airport has continued its commitment to making flying easier for those with hidden disabilities by installing a purpose-built sensory pod to help calm passengers who might feel overwhelmed while travelling. Sensory rooms are specially designed environments that cater to the sensory needs of children and adults with autism spectrum disorder or other special educational needs. They are typically used in schools, both special needs and mainstream, universities, hospitals and airports, including both Dublin and Shannon. The unfamiliarity, fast-pace, bright lights, intercom announcements and the sheer amount of people moving can make airports a very stressful place. The aim of the sensory pod is to enter it pre-emptively as anxiety is starting to bubble, and avoid a sensory overload and meltdown. Cork Airports pod was built by Robert Byrne Sensory Pods and is soundproof, featuring padded walls, benches, mood lighting, mirrors and an aquatic bubble tube. The pod is located upstairs in the departure lounge and can be accessed once you go through security, and the door to enter it reads: Please respect the privacy of our sensory space. The sensory pod is for use by reservation only, with passengers asked to contact OCS, the passenger mobility services at Cork Airport by emailing hostprm1.ork@ocsireland.com or calling +353 21 432 9745. Eamon ODonovan, Head of Operations and Terminal Facilities at Cork Airport told The Echo: The sensory pod at Cork Airport provides an oasis of calm for passengers with hidden disabilities. It is one of the many measures that Cork Airport has taken to assist passengers with hidden disabilities. Cork Airport was the first airport in Ireland to use the now internationally recognised sunflower lanyard scheme which allows our staff to assist passengers who require special assistance. The sunflower lanyard is a discreet identification scheme instantly recognisable by staff so those with hidden disabilities can avail of additional support from airport staff . Other supports at the airport include literature about airports and flying, specifically tailored towards children, such as Suzy Goes On An Aeroplane, Sammy Goes On An Aeroplane, visual guides, and a picture exchange communication system (PECS). THE West Cork village of Leap is the place to be this October for Halloween lovers old and young, with a spooky market and a week-long festival. On Sunday, October 29, the Centre of Excellence for Climate Action and Sustainability (CECAS) will be hosting a Halloween Market. The organiser of the event told The Echo: CECAS is brewing up a bewitching brew of Halloween family fun. Join us for spooktacular day featuring stalls and exciting activities that will send you shivers down your spine and warm your heart. The event will take place two days before Halloween from 10.30am-4pm at Myross Woods in Leap. Over 20 stalls will be selling handmade crafts, vintage items, plants, produce, and more for sale on the day, and there will also be a pop-up cafe selling hot drinks and some delicious treats. The Halloween market will feature storytelling by the fire with local guide Conor Buckley as well as face painting by DANU Face & Body Art. Myross Woods is near the annual Leap Scarecrow Festival, making it the perfect place to visit this midterm break. The popular festival runs from Friday, October 27 through to Sunday, November 5, and features events such as their famous scarecrow competition, workshops, puppet shows, arts and crafts, scary movie screenings, and a fancy dress parade. There are several evening events at The Leap Inn and Harbour Bar which promise to be fun for parents too, as well as a cheese and wine reception at the opening of Irelands Mythical Goddess photography exhibition. There will also be a kids camp this year, and you can get more information on the festival itinerary on the Leap Scarecrow Festival website. Towns and villages across Cork experienced significant flooding in recent days. Midleton, Glanmire and Rathcormac were amongst the areas worst affected after a month's rainfall fell in just 24 hours. Many homes and businesses have now commenced the clean-up operation following the floods. However, communities remain on alert for further flooding after Met Eireann issued another rain alert warning that localised flooding is possible. The yellow rain warning, which comes into effect on Sunday evening, covers all of Munster and Connacht. The forecaster says that rain will be heavy at times with the chance of thunder. Possible impacts include localised flooding and difficult travel conditions, it said. The warning comes into effect at 6pm on Sunday and will remain in place until 4am on Tuesday morning. One of the many skips filled with damaged goods as a result of the flooding in Midleton Co Cork.Picture: David Keane. One of the many skips filled with damaged goods as a result of the flooding in Midleton Co Cork. Damian and Laragh O'Brien of Fox & Co Menswear during the clean-up operation of their premises as a result of the flooding in Midleton Co Cork.Picture: David Keane. Cleaning up after the floods on Thomas Street, Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Cleaning up after the floods on Thomas Street, Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Edmund Aherne and his neighbour cleaning up after the floods on Thomas Street, Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Sally O'Brien cleaning up at the Farmgate restaurant in Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Sally O'Brien cleaning up at the Farmgate restaurant in Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Residents fill a skip with flood damaged items from their homes after Storm Babet hit on Wednesday. The residents of Copper Valley Vue in Glanmire faced a major cleanup after flood water hit their homes. Pic Larry Cummins Cleaning up after the floods in Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan Lia Vaz cleaning up at The Urban Shave which had been renovated six months ago and is now destroyed by the flooding in Midleton, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan Lia Vaz cleaning up at The Urban Shave which had been renovated six months ago and is now destroyed by the flooding in Midleton, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan The Taoiseach Varadkar meeting owners of Greenway Fiona O'Driscoll and Deridre Roberts during his visit to Midleton, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar standing in a charity shop with John Dunne and John Welsh during his visit to the east Cork town of Midleton which suffered massive flooding. Picture Dan Linehan High Court reporter 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. 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. 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 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. 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 "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. By Grainne Ni Aodha and Cillian Sherlock, PA 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Michael Bolton Paddy Cosgrove, the Chief executive of Web Summit, has announced he will be resigning with immediate effect from the tech company. This follows several companies, such as Google, Meta, Intel and Amazon pulling out of the conference which will be held in Lisbon in November, following comments from Mr Cosgrave on Israel. Following his comments, Mr Cosgrave issued an apology, in which he 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. Ultimately, I hope with all my heart that this can be achieved. A Web Summit spokesperson said the event would go ahead as planned in Lisbon between November 13th and 16th. Web Summit will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible, the spokesperson added. Actor Gillian Anderson has also decided to pull out of Web Summit. A spokesperson for G-Spot, the former X-Files actors drinks brand, said she had made the decision to withdraw from a slated appearance at the event because the brands values do not align. The company currently employs 200 people in its Dublin headquarters, and over 300 globally. Despite several withdrawals from the company by several major firms, it is understood staff's positions at the company is not under threat. The Web Summit was originally set up and held in Dublin before being moved to Lisbon in 2015. On Friday, a spokesman for the European Investment Bank said it is currently considering its participation in the event next month. The spokesman said the EU development bank, which has attended the Web Summit in recent years, had noted Mr Cosgraves initial comments as well as his apology. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A migrant worker at the Dubai Expo 2020 site, under construction in October 2021 and currently being adapted for COP28 in November. GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP via Getty Images As participants and representatives from nearly 200 countries gear up for next months COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, some of the preparations have been found to be very dangerous and potentially deadly. According to a new investigation, This Weather Isnt for Humans, by nonprofit human rights research and advocacy group FairSquare, migrant workers were working outdoors in extreme heat last month to prepare conference facilities for the talks. The work conditions they were subjected to posed serious health threats and were in clear violation of laws intended to protect workers from the countrys harsh climate, a press release from FairSquare said. On two days last month, workers were working outside in high heat and humidity during the midday ban, a law that prohibits working outdoors during the hottest parts of the day in the summer in order to protect workers from dangerous heat exposure, according to testimonies and visual evidence gathered by researchers, reported The Guardian. Of course, I get headaches and feel dizzy. Everyone in this heat does. This weather isnt for humans, I think, one of the workers told researchers, according to the press release. Last week, I thought I would die every second we were outside, another said, but we have to get paid. At the time, temperatures were as high as 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which, combined with the humidity, likely exceeded the internationally recognized standards for limits for safe performance of construction work. I think I will one day collapse. I did once pass out while working on the site in 2021 before Expo began but just once. This time, so far I have not passed out and the weather is going to get better soon so hopefully it will be all good going forward. Otherwise, I just try to take quick water breaks when I can. There is also A/C [air conditioning] inside so I just go inside from time to time to feel better, another of the workers said, according to the press release. Evidence obtained by FairSquare showed that the work that took place between 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. over two separate days in September was performed at two locations the Opportunity site and the Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre that will be adjoining or within the UN-managed blue zone, where world leaders will meet as part of COP28. I have to say about this ban. It is equally hot when it is 11 a.m. as it is at 12.30 p.m. or at 4 p.m. as it is at 3 p.m. when it is hot. The ban does little anyway throughout the daytime in the summer, a migrant construction worker at the COP28 site said, as the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reported. Swift acceleration of temperatures can cause a cascade of illnesses, according to the World Health Organization, including hyperthermia, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, the press release said. Chronic exposure to extreme heat can lead to cumulative stress on the body, as well as risks that can exacerbate diabetes and cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney diseases. Researchers in Kuwait and Qatar, neighboring countries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have already acknowledged the link between extreme temperatures and a higher risk of death for migrant workers. Last month, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber expressed that COP28 would make health the center of climate discussions, as the connection between health and climate change is evident, yet it has not been a specific focus of the COP process until now. This must change, the press release said. The Cop president wants to talk about climate change and health at Cop28? This report is a perfect place to start, said Richard Pearshouse, director of the environment division at Human Rights Watch, as reported by The Guardian. It shows the climate crisis will be particularly dangerous and deadly when laws arent upheld and rights arent respected. In a written statement to FairSquare, COP28 said it was not aware of any breaches of Summer Working Hours on the site of this years Conference, adding that COP28 and Expo City had robust worker welfare policies and procedures. FairSquare is asking COP28 organizers for an official investigation. Meanwhile the UAE authorities should adopt a risk-based, rather than a calendar-based, approach to limit workers exposure to heat. Specifically, the UAE should pass legislation to ensure that employers are required to provide workers with breaks of an appropriate duration, in cooled, shaded areas, when there is an occupational risk of heat stress. Mandatory break times should take into account the environmental heat stress risks along with the exertional nature of the work being performed, the press release said. According to the FairSquare report, migrant workers were going without breaks during hours when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) a heat stress measurement based on temperature, wind, humidity and cloud cover at the Dubai airport was from 88 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, while regular breaks during strenuous work are recommended by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration when the WBGT is above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, The Guardian reported. The economic engine that allows the prolific construction of luxury high rises and the survival of the conference and tourism-centred economy in Gulf countries is south-east Asian migrant workers, who in many cases have already been forced to flee the crippling economic and social impacts of climate change in their own countries, said Amali Tower, founder and executive director of Climate Refugees, as reported by The Guardian. The UNs efforts to ensure regional representation for Cop locations and its commitment to multilateral diplomacy should not prevent it from calling out human rights violations by host countries, whether in the Gulf or elsewhere. As a climate conference intended to find strategies to mitigate the climate crisis, asking onsite workers to perform their duties in extreme heat seems contradictory. If the UAE COP28 team claim they want to protect peoples health from climate change, they have to start close to home, where migrant workers have been preparing the Expo City site in temperatures that tourists faint in. This poses a severe risk to these workers health and even their lives, said James Lynch, founding co-director of FairSquare, in the press release. I love/hate looking at data showing how absolutely bonkers holiday spending in the United States has become, and the results from the National Retail Federation's 2023 annual Halloween survey don't disappoint. The survey revealed that a record number of Americans73%plan to participate in Halloween this year (up from 69% last year). Furthermore, Americans will spend more in 202312.2 billion dollars, up from 10.6 billion in 2022than they ever have before. The National Retail Federation provides more details: Like previous years, the top ways consumers are planning to celebrate are handing out candy (68%), decorating their home or yard (53%) or dressing in costume (50%). However, in a return to pre-pandemic norms, more consumers also plan to throw or attend a party (32%) or take their children trick-or-treating (28%). Per person spending is also up as consumers plan to spend a record $108.24 each, up from the previous record of $102.74 in 2021. The greatest increase in spending came from costumes, which are more popular than ever. Sixty-nine percent of those celebrating Halloween plan to buy costumes, up from 67% last year and the highest in the survey's history. Total spending on costumes is expected to reach a record $4.1 billion, up from $3.6 billion in 2022. Total spending on decorations, which grew in popularity during the pandemic and continue to resonate with consumers, is expected to reach $3.9 billion. Of those celebrating Halloween, more than three-quarters (77%) plan to purchase decorations, which is on par with last year, but up from 72% in 2019. Candy spending is expected to reach $3.6 billion, up from $3.1 billion last year. Spending on Halloween greeting cards is projected to be $500 million, down slightly from $600 million in 2022 but above pre-pandemic levels. The survey also lists the top costumes for 2023. For kids, it's Spiderman. For pets, a pumpkin. And for adults, a witch. Looks like my dog Jax (pictured below) will be right in style, wearing the pumpkin t-shirt his aunt gave him many years ago as a hand-me-down from his cousin Luna. I have a couple of thoughts about these survey results. First, I really wish this survey didn't talk about the very real, very ongoing pandemic in the past tense. Second, I for one will not be spending 108 dollars on Halloween this year. Instead, I'll be shopping in my own closet and heading to my local thrift shop to put together my costume this year. I find DIY costumes way more creative and fun to put together than store-bought costumes, anyway, and they sure save money. If you want to cut down on your Halloween spending, too, here are 77 last-minute DIY Halloween costume ideas to get you started! To learn more about the Halloween spending survey, check out the National Retail Federation website. A new high-speed railway was put into operation in east China on Tuesday,mystic lake hotel integrating local cities into the countrys high-speed rail network that covers developed coastal regions. The 132-km new railway links Hefei and Bengbu, two cities in the inland Anhui Province, cutting the journey between them by at least one hour to 38 minutes on train traveling at a maximum speed of 350 km per hour. The section also connects with the high-speed railway between Beijing and Shanghai, and is part of the special passenger lines that link Shanghai, Wuhan and Chengdu, and connect Beijing and coastal Fuzhou. The integration greatly shortens trips from the Anhui cities of Hefei, Bengbu and Huainan to the Yangtze Delta in the east, Pearl River Delta in the south and Bohai Sea Rim in the north, all national economic engines. The shortest trip from Hefei to Beijing has been cut to less than four hours after the new railway entered service. Previously, traveling by train from the capital city of Anhui to Beijing took about 10 hours or more. Anhui was incorporated into the countrys plan of boosting inland central provinces development in 2006 as China seeks balanced regional development after witnessing rapid growth in the east. China currently has more than 6,800 km of high-speed railway lines that run at a speed above 200 km per hour. The total length is expected to reach about 18,000 km by 2015, according to the Ministry of Railways. Xinhua China launches new high-speed railwayadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Paula Deen shows off her spooky Halloween snacks closeVideo Fox Nation host Paula Deen joins in the Halloween fun by previewing her exclusive new recipes If you're craving a Butterfinger and cookies, make the best of both worlds with these Butterfinger Cookie Dough Bites. You can serve these sweet treats at a party or use leftover trick-or-treating candy to extend spooky celebrations. Get the recipe below. DESSERT QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THESE DELICIOUS FACTS ABOUT SOME OF THESE FAVORITE FOODS? Butterfinger Cookie Dough Bites, courtesy of Ferrero North America Makes: 20 cookie bites Prep: 20 min Cook: 5 min This Halloween, make these Butterfinger Cookie Dough Bites from Ferrero North America. (Ferrero North America) (Ferrero North America) Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour (125 grams) cup unsalted butter (115 grams) cup dark brown sugar (165 grams) 1 tsp vanilla extract tsp fine sea salt 4 (1.9 oz) Butterfinger Bars, coarsely chopped and divided (225 grams) CHURRO WAFFLES FOR BREAKFAST: TRY THE RECIPE Toronto, Canada - May 10, 2012: This is a studio shot of Butterfinger candy bar made by Nestle isolated on a white background. (iStock) 5 oz 60% cacao semisweet chocolate (140 grams) 1 tbsp canola oil (15 grams) 1 oz milk chocolate, melted, (30 grams) optional CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly spread the flour onto the sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, then set aside to cool. 3. Cream together butter and dark brown sugar until combined. Add the vanilla and salt and mix until incorporated. Then add the flour and mix until just incorporated. 4. Stir all but two tablespoons of the chopped Butterfinger into the cookie dough using a spatula or wooden spoon until combined. Consider using leftover Butterfingers from your child's trick-or-treat haul to make Butterfinger Cookie Dough Bites, courtesy of Ferrero North America. (iStock) 5. Scoop the dough and roll into balls, then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. 6. If desired, dip chilled cookie dough balls into melted chocolate using a fork or chocolate dipping tool. 7. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet covered with a spritz of canola oil, drizzle with additional melted chocolate, if desired, and sprinkle with reserved chopped Butterfinger. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Perri Ormont Blumberg is a contributing lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital. Fox News Flash top headlines for October 16 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. If you're in search of a fall dinner idea, try this spiced pumpkin and chorizo chili-soup hybrid from Kyrie Luke, founder of Healthfully Rooted Home. The dish includes pumpkin puree, smoked paprika, cumin, harissa paste and more. To finish, it's topped off with an apple, maple syrup and chorizo garnish. TAILGATING IDEAS: 4 DELICIOUS, BIG-BATCH BREAKFAST RECIPES FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY "Fall flavors are my favorite. If I could have the smokey, warm tastes of fall all year long, I would! I created this recipe out of a need to use up some pumpkin puree sitting in my pantry and a desire for a fun and filling soup that was also healthy," Luke tells Fox News Digital. This spiced pumpkin and chorizo chili-soup hybrid from Healthfully Rooted Home founder Kyrie Luke is a cozy dish to serve on a chilly fall day. (Kyrie Luke of Healthfully Rooted Home) "This spiced pumpkin and chorizo chili is the perfect fall dish because it has the smoky flavors of smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin as well as harvest favorites like apples and pumpkin," Luke adds. "It's warm and cozy for those crisp fall days." SPLIT PEA SOUP RECIPE IS SAVORY, SMOKY PERFECTION Lukes recipe makes six servings, so you may have some leftovers. "To reheat, simply scoop some into a saucepan and heat on medium-low on the stove, crisp up the chorizo and apples in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Then serve just like you did on day one," she says, adding that she loves serving this dish with her roasted garlic sourdough bread. SWEET TEA CHICKEN RECIPE FOR DINNER: TENDER AND JUICY Healthfully Rooted Home Spiced Pumpkin and Chorizo Chili Makes 6 servings Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins INGREDIENTS For base: 1 tbsp ghee 1 diced sweet onion 4 minced garlic cloves 4 tsp harissa (or chile) paste 4 cups pumpkin puree 4 cups bone broth 1.5 cups shredded cheddar, we use raw cheddar 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut cream 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp cumin salt and pepper to taste CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP For topping: 1 large Honeycrisp apple 1 tbs maple syrup 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 lb chorizo or plant-based chorizo .5 cup shredded cheese 1 loaf sourdough bread on the side, optional CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Kyrie Luke's soup-chili recipe calls for 4 cups of pumpkin puree, among other ingredients. (iStock) INSTRUCTIONS Base 1. Dice your onion and apple and shred your cheese. 2. In a Dutch oven or large stock pot, preheat some ghee over medium heat and then add your onion. Saute the onion until it has softened and started to become translucent. This step should take about 3-5 minutes. 3. Toss your harissa (or chili) paste in with the onions and stir it up. Let these flavors blend together for about 1-2 minutes. 4. Stir in your pumpkin puree and bone broth until it's all combined. 5. Toss in your chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper then stir until combined. 6. Let the chili simmer for about 5-10 minutes over low-medium heat. The flavors will marinade together, and it'll start to smell like fall in your house. 7. Either use an immersion blender or transfer the chili to a stand blender and puree to desired consistency. This step is optional, so you can omit as you see fit. 8. Add cream and cheese, stir into the chili and let simmer while you make the chorizo and apples. Spiced pumpkin and chorizo chili can be served for lunch or as a new dinner idea. (Kyrie Luke of Healthfully Rooted Home) FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Topping 1. Preheat a cast iron skillet and then some ghee over high heat. Toss in apples, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Toss the apples until caramelized. Remove the apples onto a plate, but keep the sauce in the pan. 2. Make the crispy chorizo component by adding your chorizo directly into the pan with the glaze from the apples. Cook until crispy and then set aside on a plate. 3. Serve the soup with some glazed apples, crispy chorizo, and some cheese on top, along with bread, if desired. Note: If you can't handle spice (or serving to children) omit the harissa (or chili) paste, or decrease by half to tone down the spice. This recipe was created by Kyrie Luke, founder of healthfullyrootedhome.com, and shared with Fox News Digital. Perri Ormont Blumberg is a contributing lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital. Thousands of people in central and southwest China are facing drinking water shortages because of insufficient rainfall and scorching heat. In the southwestern Chongqing Municipality,slot yg pakai dana poland fixed1x2 79,000 residents in the mountainous regions are facing temporary water shortages after rainfall in the megacity has seen a 20 percent to 60 percent year-on-year drop since June, according to sources at the local flood control and drought relief office. Chongqing has suffered from hot days with maximum temperatures at above 38 degree centigrade since early August, statistics from the local meteorological observatory showed. Government officials supervising drought relief in the city have been urged to store water from torrential rains, which are expected to come during the current flood season. The rains should be channelled to drought-hit areas or reservoirs. Statistics show that water conservation projects in Chongqing are holding more water than the same period last year. Xinhua Chongqing faces lack of drinking water due to rising temperaturesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Father Jaromir Smejkal, the local parish priest in the Czech town of Kurdejov, has not been feeling that Halloween holiday spirit. According to the BBC, Smejkal took it upon himself to destroy a display of carved pumpkins in the town on not one, but two consecutive nights: "Leaving the rectory on Sunday evening, I saw numerous symbols of the satanic feast of 'Halloween' placed in front of our sacred grounds," he wrote [in an open letter published on Facebook]. "I acted according to my faith and duty to be a father and protector of the children entrusted to me and removed these symbols," said Father Smejkal, parish priest at the Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist. He added that in his view the modern tradition of Halloween had been conceived in a "heathen, contemporary world", as a counterbalance to the Catholic feast of All Souls' Day. Father Smejkal apologized for his outburst, saying that he would not have destroyed the jack o'lanterns if he had known that they had actually been carved by children. It seems that, despite all his rage, he was still just a Czech who misgauged. Czech village priest sorry for smashing pumpkins [Rob Cameron / BBC] Qiushi Journal,csgo blackjack the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will carry an article in its Thursday issue expressing confidence in the countrys future. There are ample reasons for us to have high expectations and confidence in the future development of our country, says the article. The CPC and Chinese people will keep their words and fulfill established goals, it says. The article quotes a July 23rd speech delivered by CPC Central Committee General-Secretary Hu Jintao, who said China now faces both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The countrys ability to seize opportunities and handle challenges will depend on our mindset, the effectiveness of our work and how we push reform and development forward, the article says. We should carefully examine the domestic and international situation and fully understand our countrys developmental needs and expectations of people, it says. Chinas economic dynamics have not changed, the article says, adding that economic restructuring will provide more chances for development, while domestic demand will sustain long-term growth. Under the guidance of the Scientific Outlook on Development, Chinas development is on the upswing, the article says. The country will stick to reform and opening-up, as these concepts have resulted in more than three decades of rapid economic growth, it says. Once the reforms listed in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) are implemented, problems in economic and social sectors will be solved or alleviated, the article says. We firmly believe that, under the leadership of the CPC and through the joint efforts of the Party and people, we will walk along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and have a bright future, it says. Xinhua CPCs Qiushi Journal calls for confidence in Chinas futureadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline EU Unity Illustration: Chen Xia/GT EU leaders were divided on gas price cap at their summit on Thursday which was called to grapple with the energy crisisfueled by the situation in Ukraine, according to media reports. The international community once again is focused on a split within the EU.With different energy structures, EU member states have different views on whether gas price cap can achieve its goals and solve their current energy crisis. Those countries not heavily dependent on Russia's gas can be patient in finding alternatives, while those highly reliant on Russian gas have expressed concerns that a gas price cap would not work effectively. As a result, it is difficult to EU member states to keep on the same page.Another trigger which should not be overlooked in regard to the EU's split on gas price cap is the rift between Germany and France, two traditional driving forces behind broader EU policy initiatives. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his dissatisfaction with Berlin, saying, "It is not good either for Germany or Europe that it isolates itself." And a regular Franco-German ministerial council scheduled for next week has since been postponed until January.Strained relations between Paris and Berlin mean that at least in the short run, it will be more difficult for the EU to reach consensus on some major issues, which will pose a big challenge to consolidating EU solidarity. In the past, as long as France and Germany came to a consensus, the two countries could separately persuade other member states, by taking advantage of their influence, making it easier to reach an agreement within the bloc. But with strained French-German ties, divisions within the EU may become more pronounced, and consensus harder to reach.The reason for the growing divide between Germany and France, to some extent, is that the governments of both countries now face a fraught economic and political landscape. Germany is being governed by a three-party coalition, in which German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governance will be limited to some extent. In France, with the rise of the far right, Macron has to adjust his policies toward Europe as well as the rest of world, putting more emphasis on domestic affairs.Germany and France are now appearing to place increased emphasis on their own interests at the expense of broader EU policy, which may further split the bloc and make it harder to form consensus on important issues.However, it does not mean that the prospects for the EU are all pessimistic. It has been seen that despite splits in some fields, cooperation in other areas has not ceased. The key lies in how EU response to these splits.In regard to the rift between France and Germany, some voices have been calling for improvements. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday that strained relations between France and Germany amid the war in Ukraine and energy crisis required a "reset" to forge a stronger alliance between the two biggest EU countries. As Scholz has been in office for less than one year, a run-in period may be needed for the bilateral ties to return to normal.When talking about the split among EU member states. In fact, EU member states have been constantly pursuing solutions to deal with their division. For instance, Macron has a vision of a European Political Community and Scholz advocated for a future 36-member European Union "of free and equal people." These can be seen as attempts to reduce the EU's internal conflict and strengthen unity.It is a test to see whether the whole set of EU rules, including agenda and decision-making mechanisms, can accommodate such a complex situation. And it remains to be seen whether the EU can come up with a better solution to turn these recent divisions into a source of greater unity.The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Lu Yuanzhi based on an interview with Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. [email protected] Miami hotel that hosted The Beatles, JFK is imploded closeVideo Deauville Hotel was closed in 2017 following electrical fire (Credit: @maruprincipito/LOCAL NEWS X /TMX) A Miami Beach hotel that once hosted The Beatles and President John F. Kennedy has been imploded in a series of explosions caught on video. The 17-story Deauville Hotel which fell into disrepair and abandonment in recent years following its 1960s heyday was demolished Sunday. Video captured of the demolition showed a crowd erupting in cheers as the building went down in a large cloud of dust. The hotel was built in 1957 and Kennedy spoke there to the Young Democrats Convention in 1961. VIDEO SHOWS DEFUNCT KENTUCKY COAL PLANT TOWERS BEING IMPLODED IN MASSIVE BLAST The Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, is seen being imploded Sunday. (maruprincipito/LOCAL NEWS X /TMX) The Beatles performed there in 1964, recording six songs for "The Ed Sullivan Show," drawing an estimated television audience of 70 million people. Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and Sammy Davis Jr. performed there as well. The property fell into disrepair over the years and was closed in 2017 after an electrical fire. Miami Beach officials and the family that owned the hotel sparred over millions of dollars in fines for various code violations. American TV host Ed Sullivan talks to Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles, before the group's second appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' on Feb. 16, 1964 at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images) It is unclear what will now happen with the lot. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a billionaire New York developer, wanted to buy the property and build a 350-foot-tall hotel and condo tower, but that plan is in limbo. The area has a 200-foot height limit and a city ballot measure that would have allowed the construction failed Tuesday. The Deauville Hotel as seen on Feb. 6, 1964. (CBS via Getty Images) City officials say Ross may still be interested in purchasing the lot if an alternate plan can be worked out. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital. SpaceX is planning to launch as many rockets as it can over the next two-and-a-half months in an attempt to fly 100 flights by the end of the year, company exec Bill Gerstenmaier recently told the US Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science. He also revealed that the company has an even more ambitious goal for 2024: To launch around 12 flights a month, for a total of 144 missions for the whole year. According to a company official who talked to Ars Technica, SpaceX intends to ramp up its mission numbers next year, mostly so that it could officially roll out its satellite-to-cell phone service. "With our 2 million users, (we) need that constellation refreshed," the spokesperson told Ars. "We're also going to look at direct to cell communications with Starlink, and that's a key feature that gets added next year with those 144 flights." The company first announced the service, which will allow normal smartphones to connect with its satellites, back in 2022. It made the revelation alongside T-Mobile, which promised to make the capability accessible to its subscribers. T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert likened the technology to putting a cellular tower in the sky and said it could eliminate deadzones one day, allowing people to easily get in touch with loved ones even if they're in the middle of the ocean. SpaceX VP of Starlink enterprise sales Jonathan Hofeller also said earlier this year that the company is gearing up to start testing the service. As Ars notes, SpaceX previously said that the capability will require larger satellites that will launch onboard the company's Starship vehicle. The giant rocket is yet to be operational, though, and the company had to design an intermediate-sized Starlink satellite that can fly on its Falcon 9 rockets. That satellite is bigger than older models but smaller than the ones needed to enable voice and data services. SpaceX doesn't have plans to roll out Starlink voice and data until 2025, though, and will introduce its direct-to-cell capability with texting coverage only next year. It's not unusual, in the U.S., for cops to fire on someone who has shot themselves and has a gun nearby, even if they are lying in bed. But the Wallingford, Connecticut officers who killed Donald Passmore, 62, now have to explain bodycam footage that shows Passmore never reached for it and that they directed flashlights at his face. As a result, the Asssociated Press reports, "questions linger" about their shooting him when he raised an empty hand. 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 general's office said in a preliminary report that Passmore's revolver was found on the bed, but neither officer's video shows it. The videos also do not show the movement of Passmore's right arm. There was nothing in his left hand. A common tragic element: his sister had called 911 hoping for medical help. Instead, police came, screamed abuse at him, then killed him. The bodycam footage is on YouTube. 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. Renewed scholarly debate on the level and growth of farmers income in India since the beginning of the new millennium follows failed experiences for more than a half-century with varied development theories starting from the two-sector model of Arthur Lewis. Although the growth in overall per capita income in the economy broke free of the Hindu rate of growth during the last two decades, farmers incomes languish at the low-income, low-growth trap exacerbating the ruralurban divide. Recent studies focused on these issues and endeavoured to come up with solutions to accelerate the same (Chand et al 2015; Chandrasekhar and Mehrotra 2016). The solutions included a wide range of policy measures, from comprehensive solutions in a food system approach with nutrition sensitivity (Dev 2023) and labour-intensive rural manufacturing (Chand et al 2017), to structural reforms (Gulati et al 2020). This article examines the recent evidence from government data sources and discusses ways forward, drawing from the extant literature. Although the production of foodgrains and horticultural crops has been continuously increasing in India, it is not reflected in the income of farmers. The report of the Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Holdings of Households in Rural India 2019 released by the National Statistical Office in September 2021 yet again reveals a pathetic income level of Indian farmers (NSSO-SAS 2021). The average monthly income from different sources per agricultural household from July 2018 to June 2019 comes to only `10,218 (in nominal prices) where the net receipt is obtained considering the paid-out expenses approach. The amount of income further reduces to `8,337 when net receipt is obtained considering both the paid-out and imputed expenses. This means that the average per day income of agricultural households is only about `277, which is not much different from the minimum wage rate paid under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005. Can the farmers meet the minimum requirements of their family with this meagre income? Why is the farm income pathetically low? Are there significant differences in farm income across states? Let us decode it in this article. How can we know the dancer from the dance? is a question of W B Yeats that warrants multiple interpretations about the power of art and artists. Acclaimed dancer Narthaki Nataraj, born as Natraj in Madurai, was a victim of the pervasive heteronormative ideology that dismissed the existence of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and designated compulsory heterosexuality as the norm. Combating heteronormativity is challenging as it is interwoven into the processes and culture of institutions. For Narthaki too, who was assigned male at birth, finding her true identity was difficult. The artistic possibilities of dance and her specialisation in Bharatanatyams Thanjavur Nayaki Bhava tradition brought her hard-earned peace, helping her to resist an uncompassionate society. The feminine movements of this tradition allowed her to articulate her true self. This individual, internal body politics, which Michel Foucault terms the political technology of the body, was catalysed by the indifferent and non-inclusive societal attitudes as body politics and power relations were shaped by her quest to contest societys aversion towards acknowledging different gender identities. Dance was the instrument that empowered Narthaki to reclaim her agency and endorsed her emancipation from the ruses devised by a cis-sexist society. In 1957, during a Rajya Sabha (Indian Parliaments upper house) debate, one parliamentarian posed the following question: What is the definition of a slum, and which areas are declared slum areas? (Chand 1957: 2690). The debate transcripts do not reveal whether this was a genuine enquiry to better understand the issue or a pointed critique through a rhetorical question. Regardless, the chairman (speaker), instead of letting the minister reply, mocked the question by asking back: What is the definition of a slum? Physical or mental slum? (Chand 1957: 2690). Contrastingly, by the early 2010s, there were multiple slum definitions resulting in data mismatches. Replying to one such question, the minister stated that the Government is aware that the Census Office and the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) have come up with different estimates of Indias slum population The NSSO has covered only two types of slums i e Notified and Non-notified while Census has considered three types of slums, namely. Notified, Recognized, and Identified (R P N Singh [Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs], Indian National Congress [INC] cited Irani 2014: 17) The Brazilian Real (BRL) was trading flat against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday after slipping 0.36% in the previous session. The pair is now in a long-term bearish trend, but the US Dollar's strength against most global currencies could undermine the South American currency in the near term. At the time of writing, the USD-BRL pair was trading at 5.0578. In its October edition of Markets 360, BNP Paribas said, "The BRL has come under pressure on the back of risk-off sentiment in global markets and the subsequent strong USD mood. In the short term, such behavior is likely to continue for as long as the UST curve remains unanchored and trades in a bear-steepening fashion. Despite the strong USD winds, we highlight that the BRL has been outperforming Latam peers since early September, aided by tailwinds coming from a healthy external position (trade balance), strong terms of trade and a market which keeps fiscal concerns on the back seat." Earlier this month, Servicos e Informacoes do Brasil reported Brazils trade data, which showed the country's trade surplus grew $8.9 billion in September, expanding by a solid 138.89% from the previous month. The surplus was led by an annual export growth of 4.4%, to $28.43 billion, while imports fell by 17.6% to $19.53 billion. Meanwhile, late last month, Brazil's central bank, Banco Central Do Brazil, released the country's fiscal status for August, which disclosed an increase in the Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) to BRL 6.3 trillion, accounting for 59.9% of GDP, while the General Government Gross Debt (GGGD) reach BRL 7.8 trillion or 74.4% of GDP. The news led to a selloff in the Brazilian real, pushing the currency to a high of 5.2187 versus the US Dollar, the weakest since March 27th. However, BNP Paribas expects the Real (BRL) exchange rates to outperform peers in the coming weeks. According to the French investment bank, "Having broken the 5.0 level, the currency is returning to the previous trading range of 5.0-5.3. We still expect carry theme to persist until the US labor market begins to soften more materially, and BRL remains our top pick in Latam together with COP." USD/BRL Chart Analysis - Technical Analysis, Forecast Above: USD/BRL daily chart Earlier this month, the USD/BRL breached the bearish channel's resistance for a few days before slipping into the long-term downtrend. Since the Brazilian real didn't extend gains toward the confirmation trendline at 4.9340, there is a possibility that the pair will break out of the long-term bearish resistance at 5.0800 and continue surging beyond the October highs to test the next resistance at 5.2500. On the contrary, if the pair fails to settle above the bearish resistance over the next few sessions, it could drop toward the support at 4.9340 and further toward 4.5750- 4.5760. The trading strategy for the USD/BRL will be to wait for it to settle above 5.0800 or breach 5.1100 before entering long trades. Place a stop loss at 5.0500 and exit as the pair approaches 5.2500. However, if the BRL slips from the current levels, wait for the pair to drop to 4.9340 to initiate long trades, with a stop loss at 4.9000 and a profit target of 5.0600. Tom Devlin's Monster Museum is a collection of horror objects, life-sized reactions, and props from classic scary films. The museum was created by Devlin, a special effects artist who has contributed to over 100 horror movies and shows. Inside, you can find a life-sized Pennywise, Michael Myers, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. "He opened the museum in 2017 as a way to display his own personal collection and make it accessible to the public, while preserving the art and history of special effects makeup." The museum itself has no jump scares (unless you attend their special Nightmare at the Museum attraction on select nights in October), and is focused on giving people information about special effects and horror film history. It's located in Boulder City, Nevada, and looks like a fantastic place to spend the day and get into the Halloween spirit. Debbie King works out her arms while preparing to transition to using a walker with the help of her husband, Jim King, on Sept. 26 at their home in Homosassa, Florida. Her right leg had to be amputated above the knee on Aug. 17 after she contracted an infection from Vibrio vulnificus while boating in the Gulf of Mexico off Homosassa four days earlier. (Douglas R. Clifford | Tampa Bay Times and KFF Health News). Debbie King barely gave it a second thought when she scraped her right shin climbing onto her friends pontoon for a day of boating in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 13. Even though her friend immediately dressed the slight cut, her shin was red and sore when King awoke the next day. It must be a sunburn, she thought. But three days later, the red and blistered area had grown. Her doctor took one look and sent King, 72, to the emergency room. Doctors at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital in Inverness, Florida, rushed King into surgery after recognizing the infection as Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially fatal bacterium that kills healthy tissue around a wound. While King lay on the operating table, the surgeon told her husband she would likely die if they didnt amputate. Just four days after the scrape, King lost her leg then spent four days in intensive care. The flesh was gone; it was just bone, she said of her leg. Cases of V. vulnificus are rare. Between 150 and 200 are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention every year, with about 20% resulting in death. Most are in states along the Gulf of Mexico, but, in 2019, 7% were on the Pacific Coast. Florida averages about 37 cases and 10 deaths a year. But a rise in cases nationally and the spread of the disease to states farther north into coastal communities in states such as Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina have heightened concerns about the bacterium, which can result in amputations or extensive removal of tissue even in those who survive its infections. And warmer coastal waters caused by climate change, combined with a growing population of older adults, may result in infections doubling by 2060, a study in Scientific Reports warned earlier this year. Vibrio distributions are driven in large part by temperature, said Tracy Mincer, an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University. The warmer waters are, the more favorable it is for them. The eastern United States has seen an eightfold increase in infections over a 30-year period through 2018 as the geographic range of infections shifted north by about 30 miles a year, according to the study, which was cited in a CDC health advisory last month. The advisory was intended to make doctors more aware of the bacterium when treating infected wounds exposed to coastal waters. Infections can also arise from eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters, it warned. That can cause symptoms as common as diarrhea and as serious as bloodstream infections and severe blistered skin lesions. New York and Connecticut this summer issued health warnings about the risk of infection as well. Its not the first year either state has recorded cases. Theres very few cases but when they happen, theyre devastating, said Paul A. Gulig, a professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. An Accident of Nature Vibrio has more than 100 strains, including the bacterium that causes cholera, a disease that causes tens of thousands of deaths worldwide each year. The V. vulnificus strain likes warm brackish waters close to shorelines where the salinity is not as high as in the open sea. Unlike some other Vibrio strains, it has no mechanism to spread between humans. Its found in oysters because the mollusks feed by filtering water, meaning the bacterium can become concentrated in oyster flesh. It can enter humans who swim in salty or brackish waters through the slightest cut in the skin. Infections are treated with antibiotics and, if needed, surgery. Its almost an accident of nature, Gulig said. They have all these virulence factors that make them really destructive, but were not a part of this bugs life cycle. Once inside the human body, the bacteria thrive. Scientists dont believe the bacteria eat flesh, despite how theyre often described. Rather, enzymes and toxins secreted by the bacterium as it multiplies break down the human tissue in the area below the skin, causing necrosis, or death of tissue cells. The infection spreads like wildfire, Gulig said, making early detection critical. If you take a pen and mark where the edge of the redness is and then look at that two or four hours later, the redness would have moved, Gulig said. You can almost sit there and watch this spread. Researchers have conducted studies on the bacteria, but the small number of cases and deaths make it tough to secure funding, said Gulig. He said he switched his research focus to other areas because of the lack of money. But growing interest in the bacteria has prompted talk about new research at his universitys Emerging Pathogens Institute. Examining the bacterias genome sequence and comparing it with those of Vibrio strains that dont attack human flesh could yield insights into potential drugs to interfere with that process, Gulig said. Shock and Loss Inside the operating room at HCA Florida Citrus, the only signs of Kings infection were on her shin. The surgeon opened that area and began cutting away a bright red mush of dead flesh. Hoping to save as much of the leg as possible, the doctor first amputated below her knee. But the bacteria had spread farther than doctors had hoped. A second amputation, this time 5 inches above the knee, had to be performed. After surgery, King remained in critical care for four days with sepsis, a reaction to infection that can cause organs to fail. Her son was there when she awakened. He was the one who told her she had lost her leg, but she was too woozy from medication to take it in. It wasnt until she was transferred to a rehab hospital in nearby Brooksville run by Encompass Health that the loss sank in. A former radiation protection technician, King had always been self-reliant. The idea of needing a wheelchair, of being dependent on others it felt like she had lost part of her identity. One morning, she could just not stop crying. It hit me like a ton of bricks, she said. Six different rehab staffers told her she needed to meet with the hospitals consulting psychologist. She thought she didnt need help, but she eventually gave in and met with Gerald Todoroff. In four sessions with King, he said, he worked to redirect her perception of what happened. Amputation is not who you are but what you will learn to deal with, he told her. Your life can be as full as you wish. They were magic words that made me feel like a new person, King said. They went through me like music. Physical therapy moved her forward, too. She learned how to stand longer on her remaining leg, to use her wheelchair, and to maneuver in and out of a car. Now, back in her Gulf Coast community of Homosassa, those skills have become routine. Her husband, Jim, a former oil company worker and carpenter, built an access ramp out of concrete and pressure-treated wood for their single-story home. But she is determined to walk with the aid of a prosthetic leg. Its the motivation for a one-hour regimen of physical therapy she does on her own every day in addition to twice-weekly sessions with a physical therapist. Recovery still feels like a journey but one marked by progress. She has nicknamed her stump Peg. Shes now comfortable sharing before and after pictures of her leg. And shes made it her mission to talk about what happened so more people will learn about the danger. This is the most horrific thing that can happen to anybody, she said. But Id sit back and think, God put you here for a reason youve got more things to do. What to Know About Flesh-Eating Bacterium Vibrio vulnificus Infection Symptoms: Diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Wound infections cause redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge. They may spread to the rest of the body and cause fever. Bloodstream infections cause fever, chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. To Protect Against Vibrio Infections: Stay out of saltwater or brackish water if you have a wound or a recent surgery, piercing, or tattoo. Cover wounds with a waterproof bandage if they could come into contact with seawater or raw or undercooked seafood and its juices. Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after contact with saltwater, brackish water, raw seafood, or its juices. Who Is Most at Risk: Anyone can get a wound infection. People with liver disease, cancer, or diabetes, and those over 40 or with weakened immune systems, are more likely to get an infection and have severe complications. Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/wounds.html https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24884-vibrio-vulnificus This article was produced in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. The post Rare flesh-eating bacterium spreads north as oceans warm appeared first on Daily Montanan. Scottish farmers are being urged to take 'extreme care' as Storm Babet continues to wreak havoc, triggering the Met Office to issue a second red warning. The exceptionally heavy rain seen across Eastern Scotland has seen a further 'danger to life' red weather warning issued for Saturday (21 October). The rare red warning for severe flooding and disruption covers parts of Angus and southern Aberdeenshire for the entirety of today. Another 100mm of rain could fall in the region on Saturday, the Met Office said. The storm has claimed the lives of three people so far. Elsewhere in the UK, various amber and yellow warnings remain in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and large parts of England. Before Storm Babet, rural areas across parts of Scotland saw significant damage following extensive flooding earlier this month. Martin Malone, NFU Mutual manager for Scotland, warned that farms and rural dwellings were more at risk from extreme weather. He said: "As Storm Babet rages on, we are urging everyone to plan ahead and take great care if working outside in stormy conditions. With severe gales expected to accompany the high levels of rainfall, particularly for areas on higher ground and coastal areas, there is a risk some rural communities could experience isolated power outages and face travel disruption from fallen trees. Safety for farmers, family members and workers should always be the number one priority and while fully understanding the pressures farmers are under, it is vital they avoid taking risks which could lead to injury or fatalities." Farmers should consider moving livestock to higher ground to protect them from flood water as well as moving machinery and electrical items, NFU Mutual's advice says. Checking alternative fuel and power sources in case of a power cut or disruption is also recommended, such as making sure generators are in working condition and able to run at full load for long periods of time. The storm has triggered NFU Mutual to activate its emergency response plan for storms, putting its call handlers, loss adjusters and repair network on high alert. The insurer says it is expecting a spike in claims over the weekend and early next week as widespread flooding remains a 'very real threat'. Jon Bird, property claims manager at NFU Mutual, said: If you suffer damage from the storm or flooding, make a claim with your insurer as soon as possible. "Although it can be difficult to contemplate another devastating weather event, now is the time to think about the future. "If your insurer is arranging repairs, ask them about flood resilient repairs rather than simple restoration." Natalie Portman finds the late Audrey Hepburns charity work inspirational. Natalie Portman loves Audrey Hepburn The 42-year-old actress has expressed her admiration for the Breakfast At Tiffanys star - who passed away in 1993 aged 63 - for swapping the glamour and allure of Hollywood to work as an anti-poverty campaigner after cementing a name for herself as an activist. Speaking before the strike be actors union SAG-AFTRA, the 42-year-old actress told the UK edition of Readers Digest: Audrey Hepburn is one of the most inspirational people to me because she left acting to go work with UNICEF. "I just saw a compilation of all her visits to Africa, and I was crying. To be able to leave the glamour behind, and all the allure of movies, and be real and help people is an admirable thing to do." Natalie - who has son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, six, with Benjamin Millepied - also spoke about the French film industry insisting it is much more female-friendly than Hollywood - and believes it's because of Frances better welfare state. She told the same outlet: Its really interesting in France, when you see the young generation of directors - almost entirely female. I think there are so many factors that go into that. I think that one is that there is a much greater social network in France for women. There is great childcare that is free that we do not have in the US, which is a really big issue for women who are mothers. Natalie also revealed how found the pivot to production in her new movie May December - which also stars Julianne Moore, 62 - gave her a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work of organised director Todd Haynes, 62. Natalie said: Obviously, having 30 years of [the] work experience Ive had informs it, but you get a whole new appreciation for what goes on, just to push the movie - or series - up the hill. Todd is such a dream. Hes so organised, prepared, such a great leader. Its one of those projects where everything really flows, which is a joy, because more often, its quite the contrary." To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Shammi Kapoor Mumtaz: Renowned yesteryear actor Mumtaz, who is known for her iconic roles in Bollywood, quickly rose to stardom in the film industry. The veteran actress was one of the most sought-after actresses during her era. It is a well-known fact that she was involved in a romantic relationship with legendary actor Shammi Kapoor, who had expressed his desire to marry her. However, Mumtaz declined Shammi's proposal for marriage. On the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Shammi Kapoor, let's take a look at why Mumtaz denied his marriage proposal. Mumtaz rejected Shammi Kapoor's marriage proposal Mumtaz and Shammi Kapoor's affair was the tak of the town. Mumtaz, in an old interview with The Times Of India, revealed the reason for refusing Shammi's proposal and added that he was genuinely in love with her. The veteran actress revealed that she was not ready to give up everything and settle down. Further, adding that the Kapoor family was too strict about their 'bahus', Mumtaz stated, "I joined the industry at the age of 17. So, it was too early in my life to give up everything", she added. She even said that she had the responsibility of her family and wanted to make sure that they are kept well." THROWBACK: Did You Know Soha Ali Khan & Siddharth Broke Up Due To His Commitment Issue Mumtaz, in the same interview, went on to add that people could not believe that she rejected the Kashmir Ki Kali actor. Revealing that tehri fans were also stunned, she said, "Beginning mein believe hi nahi karte the ki Mumtaz can ever refuse Shammi Kapoor because who kaha the aur hum kaha the...zameen aasmaan ka farak tha." "Toh logon ko doubt lagta tha. Us zamane mein bolte the ki ho hi nahi sakta. Ho hi nahi sakta ki Shammi ko Mumtaz refuse kare," she added. Mumtaz on Shammi Kapoor doubting her intentions Mumtazi also spoke about how Shammi Kapoor started to doubt her intentions after she refused him and accused her of never being in love with her. She said, "But, when I refused him, he started doubting ki nai tujhe heroine banna hai isiliye you don't want to marry me, you were never in love with me." Well, after parting ways, Shammi Kapoor married Geeta Bali in 1955; however, he was left shattered after Bali's untimely death in 1965. He then remarried Neela Devi in 1969. THROWBACK: When Salman Khan Said Priyanka Chopra Would Make A WONDERFUL Wife. VIDEO Mumtaz tied the knot with Indian-origin Ugandan businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974, and they have two daughters together. Natasha and Tanya. Anjali Arora Chaar Dham Yatra: The viral social media star Anjali Arora became an overnight sensation after one of her dance reels on the song Kacha Badam went viral on Instagram. That clip garnered millions of views, and she gained immense popularity. Ever since then, there has been no turning back for the social media star, who now enjoys a massive fan following, making her one of the most followed and liked celebrities on the internet. Although it's always her bold and daring dance videos that attract attention online, she recently made headlines by undertaking the challenging Chaar Dham Yatra at the tender age of 22. Anjali Arora embarks on chaar dham yatra This sacred pilgrimage, which covers four significant Hindu shrines nestled in the Himalayas, is known for its rigorous terrain and unpredictable weather. Anjali Arora's decision to embark on this spiritual journey at such a young age showcases her determination and devotion to her faith. WATCH: Anjali Arora Shows Off Her Killer Dance Moves As She Grooves To Priyanka Chopra's 'Ram Chahe Leela' The Chaar Dham Yatra includes visits to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, each holding deep religious significance for Hindus. She took to her Instagram page on Friday and dropped a few images with a helicopter and also being seated inside it. The starlet recently shared the stills of her trip on her social media handle, captioned: "Take off to 1st DHAM YAMNOTRI. #anjaliarora #yamnotridham #chardhamyatra #yatra #hindu." In another post, Anjali dropped a video of her ride showing the beautiful snow-filled mountains and wrote, "Bhot salo ka sapna CHARDHAM YATRA ka mai pura kar rhi and i'm so proud of myself to say that i'm just 22. Today 20.10.2023 Dham 1 Completed." Take a look here. Undertaking this yatra is not for the faint-hearted. The difficult trek involves long distances, steep mountain trails, and unpredictable weather, which can be challenging for a young traveler. Anjali's courage and commitment to completing this sacred pilgrimage is commendable. Anjali's Chaar Dham Yatra is an inspiration to other young travellers and showcases the power of faith and determination in the face of challenges. Anjali, an actress and dancer, has been a part of many music videos and short films and shot to fame after her appearance in the Kangana Ranaut-hosted reality show Lock Upp. Trying Hard To Be Kim Kardashian: Malaika Arora Flaunts Hourglass Figure In BOLD In Sheer Gown; Gets TROLLED Salman Khan: Superstar Salman Khan congratulates his alma mater, The Scindia School, on achieving 125 years of excellence in education. He shared a heartfelt tweet, commending the school on its glorious legacy and imparting life lessons that continue to thrive in every Scindian who walks down those hallowed halls. Salman Khan congratulates his alma-mater school On Saturday, Salman Khan took to his X account to share a congratulatory message and share his excitement. He wrote, "Proud to witness the celebration of 125 glorious years of education and excellence at my school, the @ScindiaSchool. Grateful for the lessons learned at this esteemed institution. Here's to the legacy of excellence that continues to thrive." Bigg Boss 17: Ankita Lokhande Reveals The Real Reason Of Participating In Salman Khan's Show About The Scindia school Built atop a historical fort, the Scindia School was established as the Sardar School in 1897 by the visionary HH Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I. The school continues to take pride in its unique value-based education model. Education is not limited to the classroom. Known as the school of transformation, The Scindia School has raised many independent thinkers, and the illustrious alumni network, The Scindia Old Boys' Association (SOBA), is a testament to this. The Scindia School celebrated its 125th anniversary on this Founder's Day, October 21, 2023, with much excitement and grandeur at the school campus, atop the stunning fort in the city of Gwalior. Proud to witness the celebration of 125 glorious years of education and excellence at my school, the @ScindiaSchool ! Grateful for the lessons learned at this esteemed institution. Here's to the legacy of excellence that continues to thrive.@JM_Scindia #TheScindiaSchool Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) October 21, 2023 About Tiger 3 On the work front, Salman Khan is gearing up for the release of his biggest film in 2023, Tiger 3. Khan is reuniting with Katrina Kaif, and both will be seen reprising their roles as agents Tiger and Zoya in the much-awaited third installment of YRF's spy thriller movie Tiger franchise. Tiger 3 is the fifth film in Aditya Chopra's YRF Spy Universe, after War and Pathaan. It also stars Emraan Hashmi and Revathy and has Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo. Tiger 3 is helmed by Maneesh Sharma, and it is slated to release in cinemas on November 12. Bigg Boss 17: Salman BASHING Isha Malviya To BIG TWIST In Eviction; All About First Weekend Ka Vaar Salman is currently hosting the seventh season of Colors tv popular reality show Bigg Boss. MasterChef India 8 contestants list: Viewers, get ready to go on a delectable journey as SonyLIV has officially launched the new season of MasterChef India. After the resounding success of its debut season on Sony LIV, MasterChef India returned on the occasion of World Food Day, October 16, 2023. With the tagline - "Har Plate Ek Kahani Hain", MasterChef India features Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar, Pooja Dhingra as judges. The three chefs will mentor and mould raw talent into culinary geniuses. MASTERCHEF INDIA 8 FULL CONTESTANTS LIST WITH NAMES With its rigorous selection process, 12 passionate home cooks have secured a coveted spot in the MasterChef India 2 kitchen. Here's taking a look at the 12 Home cooks who'll battle it out on MasterChef India. 1. Subhojit Sen, Engineer Meet Subhojit, a 29-year-old from Kolkata, whose passion for cooking began at the sight of street vendors tossing noodles during his school days. Despite holding a PG in Thermal Engineering, he pursued his love for food and transformed it into a successful venture with The Harmony Pot. Although he narrowly missed out on MasterChef India's last season, Subhojit is back, eager to prove that he's much more than just a home chef. 2. Harish Closepet, Entrepreneur This 58-year-old entrepreneur from Bangalore is a seasoned cook with a penchant for flavours that tell stories. Formerly a civil engineer, Harish's culinary journey began in Singapore, where he honed his skills by experimenting with Indian cuisine to keep homesickness at bay. With a deep love for experimenting in the kitchen and cooking for his daughters, he not only crafts unique recipes but also shares them on Instagram. If he wins... Harish dreams of empowering farmers and promoting local produce across the country. 3. Nambie Jessica S. Marak, Principal & School Owner This dynamic 30-year-old from Upper Rangsa, Meghalaya, is primarily the principal and owner of Sunbeam Foundation School, but she dons multiple hats effortlessly. Passionate about cooking since childhood, she finds joy in trying her hand at new recipes, with her husband being her taste-tester. A MasterChef India enthusiast, with Ranveer Brar as her favourite chef, Nambie aims to take Northeastern cuisine to a global level. 4. Dr. Rukhsaar Sayeed, Entrepreneur This 33-year-old powerhouse from Srinagar holds a Ph.D. in Food Technology. With a knack for innovative cooking, she creates unadulterated snacks for kids through her endeavour, Khalis Foods. A mom of two, Dr. Rukhsaar hopes to combine her expertise in food technology and her passion for cooking to venture into a food business. With her family's support, she's set to take on MasterChef India to make her delicious dreams come true. If she wins... Ruksaar dreams of founding a culinary school to support underprivileged girls. 5. Kenneth G, Law Student The youngest contestant on MasterChef India, Kenneth is an 18-year-old budding chef from Bangalore. Despite studying law at his parents' behest, his heart belongs in the kitchen. From mastering roti and puri at the tender age of 6 to winning school cooking competitions, he wishes to turn cooking into a serious career. Through MasterChef India, Kenneth aims to prove his culinary mettle and pursue his goal of opening a restaurant or cafe. 6. Suraj Thapa, Home baker Suraj Thapa is a 28-year-old BSc graduate and home baker from Kolkata, whose passion for cooking blossomed in a small room in Siliguri. Hailing from a humble background, he found solace in the kitchen during the lockdown. Guided by his mother and YouTube, he learned to create intricate dishes, inspired by Chef Ranveer Brar. His journey to MasterChef India is fuelled by a desire to make his father proud and prove that a village boy can make a difference. If he wins... Suraj hopes to build his own house as well as a restaurant that serves exclusive fusion dishes. 7. Kaushalya Choudhary, Entrepreneur & YouTuber Kaushalya Choudhary, 29, is a mompreneur from Kudi, near Jodhpur. Despite marrying young, her love for cooking led to the creation of her popular YouTube channel, Sidhi Marwadi, with 1.3 million subscribers. Beyond the kitchen, Kaushalya, the entrepreneur, is soon launching her spice brand under Sidhi Marwadi. With her journey on MasterChef India, she aspires to inspire women, proving that any dream can be achieved with determination. 8. Prachi Agarkar, Professor & Content Creator This 28-year-old is a Mumbai-based professor and content creator. Despite her academic achievements in the field of business management and HR, Prachi found true satisfaction in cooking. Her culinary journey began in childhood, experimenting with recipes from cookbooks and cooking shows. Self-taught and passionate, Prachi ventured into content creation, finding joy in sharing her culinary creations on social media. 9. Kriti Dhiman, Home Baker Kriti, a 23-year-old home baker from Gobindgarh, discovered her love for cooking in the 5th grade, inspired by her father's Sunday cooking sessions. Her passion for experimenting in the kitchen grew during the lockdown, leading to friendly family cooking competitions. But, for Kriti, cooking isn't just a pastime - it's a path to inspire many others like her. She dreams of following in the footsteps of chefs like Ranveer Brar, aiming to gain recognition and build trust through her expertise. 10. Mohammed Aashiq, Juice Stall Owner This 24-year-old from Mangalore has been a culinary enthusiast since his school days. Despite financial hurdles, he started his journey by opening a juice stall, showcasing his talent for both business and cooking. A former winner of a cooking contest on television, Aashiq considers MasterChef India as a transformative opportunity to share his talent with the world. If he wins... Aashiq wishes to take his inventive dishes and refreshing drinks to a wider audience through a restaurant and YouTube channel. He also plans to develop his own cooking show. 11. Sima Ahmed, Pop-Up Chef Participating in MasterChef India has been a lifelong dream for this 57-year-old pop-up chef from Kolkata. Despite starting off as a reluctant cook, Sima fell in love with the art after marriage. After her mouthwatering dishes became a hit among her son's friends, she embraced the world of pop-up dining with her venture, Shamawath. Drawing inspiration from legendary chefs like Sanjeev Kapoor and Nita Mehta, Sima wants to prove her mark in the culinary landscape through MasterChef India. 12. Nidhi Sharma, Banker This 35-year-old from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, shines as a food content creator on Instagram while balancing a long-standing career at UCO Bank and raising a toddler. A BBA graduate with an MBA in HR and marketing, Nidhi's passion for cooking bloomed during her college days, thriving further after marriage. Trained in Pahadi cuisine by her mother-in-law and local experts, she considers MasterChef India as her gateway to showcasing her talent and realizing her dreams. Is she wins... Nidhi aspires to open cafes in Shimla and Solan, taking her community's palate forward. New Entry In Pyar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan: Radha Mohan, Zee TV's mature romantic drama set in contemporary Vrindavan, has quickly become a beloved show among viewers since its debut. Thanks to a compelling storyline and well-defined characters like Mohan (Shabir Ahluwalia), Radha (Neeharika Roy), and Damini (Sambhabana Mohanty), the series has consistently held the audience's attention. In the recent episodes, the viewers witnessed Damini succeeding in her evil plan of hurting Gungun through an accident, which leads to Gungun being in a critical situation. While the Trivedi family cannot afford Gungun's treatment, their last resort was to go to Damini for help. With so much drama in store, the viewers will also witness the entry of the popular actor Ankit Siwach as Kunal Kashyap, a businessman with prominent business magnates in the Indian subcontinent. In the forthcoming episodes, viewers can look forward to Mohan successfully landing a contract for the renowned International Book Festival. This development sets the stage for an exhilarating journey to the Maldives, where both Radha and Mohan will participate in the event. There, they will meet Kunal Kashyap a.k.a KK, essayed by Ankit Siwach, who is the host and the sole investor of this competition. Ankit Siwach said, "I love my character- Kunal's personality in the show, he is a rich, well- known businessman in the Indian subcontinent. Kunal is the host and the sole investor for a mega publishing competition happening in Maldives, in which Radha and Mohan are also participating. He is an old friend of Damini, so he has preconceived notions about Radha Mohan. With regards to my shooting experience, I am in Maldives for the very first time, it is a beautiful place with beautiful beaches, that has amazing people, great hospitality, and zero pollution. It is an amazing experience for me, in fact, being in Maldives, working, that is the icing on the cake! I have worked with LSD in the past, so these people are just like family to me. Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan is such a loved show, so I feel humble to be part of this daily soap. I will try my best to justify this character and create an impact on the story. I am enjoying here, living my life to the fullest, while I am at work, so I am going to seize this moment. I have a very cool entry in the show, I am looking forward to seeing viewers' reaction to it." While Ankit is ecstatic to return on the channel after 4 long years and play an interesting role in the show, viewers are in for a high-end drama as they will witness Radha and Mohan give their best to win the International Book Festival. But will Damini let this happen, or will she turn the tables against Radha Mohan once again? To discover the ongoing twists, tune in to "Pyaar Ka Pehla Naam Radha Mohan" every day at 8 pm, exclusively on Zee TV! The Mountain Goats recently stopped by the KEXP studios to record a new live performance (their last appearance on Live at KEXP was in 2019). They played four songs from their last few albums, including "Make You Suffer" (from 2022's Bleed Out), "The Slow Parts on Death Metal Albums" (from 2021's Dark in Here), "Clean Slate" (from the forthcoming Jenny from Thebes), and "Hostages" (also from Bleed Out). The set is terrific, and John Darnielle's energy is infectious, as usual. I especially loved the band jamming out on "The Slow Parts," and Darnielle playing piano on "Clean Slate." After the set, KEXP host Eva Walker interviews Johnthey talk about the new album, lucid dreaming, what it's like to revisit old work, what songs JD thinks should be sent into space on The Golden Record, and other fascinating topics. Enjoy! And head over to Merge Records if you want to pre-order the band's new album, Jenny from Thebes, which drops on October 27. 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! CANONSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Viatris Inc. (VTRS) said that its President, Rajiv Malik, will retire as an executive of the company effective April 1, 2024. Malik is a nearly 40-year pharmaceutical industry veteran who has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Viatris since its inception, overseeing the Company's commercial business units, the Commercial Development, Medical, Information Technology and Quality functions, as well as Research & Development and Operations. His strategic vision and leadership played a key role in successfully integrating Viatris' legacy companies, Mylan and Upjohn, formerly a division of Pfizer Inc. Prior to Viatris, Malik served as president of Mylan, which he first joined in 2007 following the Company acquiring a controlling stake in Matrix Laboratories Limited, where he served as chief executive officer from 2005 to 2008. Malik will continue to serve on the Viatris Board of Directors. 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. SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oukitel has recently launched the WP32, their latest rugged phone offering. Measuring only 81.5x166.4x15.4mm, and weighing a mere 300g, the Oukitel WP32 stands out as a lightweight and slim option in the rugged phone market. It comes in black, green, and orange color variants, allowing users to choose a style that suits their preference. Oukitel WP32, with its 6.0' display and brightness level of 440 nits, offers clear visuals in challenging lighting conditions. Certified with IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H ratings, it is dust-proof, water-proof, and can work in extreme temperatures ranging from -20oC to 55oC. This makes it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, and professionals who require a dependable device in demanding environments. Whether users are exploring the great outdoors or working in extreme conditions, the WP32 provides the durability and reliability needed to stay connected. What sets the WP32 apart is its impressive battery capacity of 6300mAh, ensuring long-lasting power. With up to 900 hours of standby time, users can rely on the WP32 in any situation. Featuring a 20MP main camera and a 5MP front camera, the Oukitel WP32 captures high-quality photos and selfies. It also provides ample storage with 4GB RAM and 128GB ROM, expandable up to 8GB RAM and 1TB ROM through virtual allocation and a MicroSD card, respectively. The WP32 is loaded with other useful features as well. It runs on the latest Android 13 operating system and supports NFC for Google Pay. Dual SIM card support allows users to separate personal and work life. Moreover, it's equipped with a 3.5mm headphone port which allows for a personalized listening experience. As a cost-effective rugged phone, WP32 is now available on the Oukitel Official Store. For a limited time from October 18, 2023 to November 1, 2023, it is offered at a discounted price of $149.99, reduced from the original price of $169. Additionally, users can also choose to purchase the WP32 rugged phone on AliExpress. About OUKITEL OUKITEL is a high-tech corporate brand of "Shenzhen Yunji Intelligent Technology Co., LTD" based in Shenzhen, China. This company integrates research and development, design, production, sales and after-sales service. With a partner network of more than 130 dealers in 60 countries, OUKITEL products are distributed throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. Follow OUKITEL for more information on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/oukitel-wp32-sleek-and-lightweight-the-rugged-phone-for-outdoor-enthusiasts-301963690.html The Hair Restoration Service utilises cutting-edge techniques and technology to address hair loss and promote hair regrowth effectively Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - October 21, 2023) - Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness, a renowned name in the field of aesthetics and wellness, is proud to announce the launch of its latest offering of a cutting-edge Hair Restoration Service. Using the DE|RIVE revolutionary, noninvasive treatment option, Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness aims at providing clients with advanced solutions for hair rejuvenation and regrowth. This new offering marks an exciting addition to the comprehensive range of treatments available at the renowned med spa. Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness Introduces Innovative Hair Restoration Service To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/183604_b892b549b4fa9bed_001full.jpg Hair loss is a common concern that affects many individuals, causing emotional distress and impacting self-confidence. In response to this widespread issue, Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness has introduced a revolutionary Hair Restoration Service in September that combines expertise, advanced techniques, and state-of-the-art technology to address hair loss with remarkable results. Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness innovative treatment works by reducing inflammation, increasing hydration and blood flow to the scalp, and aiding in the removal of dead cells from around the hair follicle. This revitalizes the scalp, nourishing hair follicles and enhancing the appearance of fuller, healthier hair. Thus, using the latest and most advanced techniques, the med spa ensures optimal results for patients looking to rejuvenate and restore their hair. Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness continues to set the standard for excellence in the aesthetics and wellness industry. Each patient's needs are unique, and the Med Spa offers personalized treatment plans tailored to individual requirements, ensuring the best possible outcomes. With a focus on delivering results-driven treatments and a commitment to the highest standards of patient care, the Med Spa has become a trusted destination for individuals seeking transformative and rejuvenating experiences. As a pioneer in the industry, Melissa Gibbens, the founder, has trained numerous physicians and nurses in the art of injecting over the years, and now she brings her expertise to her very own Med Spa, offering patients access to the most advanced and effective treatments available. Hair restoration is just one of the many services offered by Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness, which includes a wide range of aesthetic treatments, wellness therapies, and beauty enhancements. Patients can expect the same level of professionalism, excellence, and personalized care that has become synonymous with Melissa Gibbens and her team. For more information, please visit: https://www.melissagibbens.com/ About Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness is a renowned Med Spa founded by Melissa Gibbens with over 20 years of working experience in the beauty aesthetics industry. Driven by a passion for enhancing the well-being and confidence of its patients, it is a trusted destination for those seeking transformative and rejuvenating experiences. Contact Info: Name: Melissa Gibbens Email: press@e8med.com Organization: Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness Address: 14340 Memorial Dr., Suite 300 Houston, TX 77079 Phone: 713-458-0224 Website: https://www.melissagibbens.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183604 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 21, 2023 / In a recent meeting with Danny Yamnitski, the owner of CCS (LA Construction Consulting Services), a leading company specializing in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and garage conversions, homeowners and real estate enthusiasts received some exciting news. As of October 15, 2023, a new law has come into effect that allows ADUs and garage conversions to be sold separately from the primary residence. This change could revolutionize the real estate market and provide lucrative opportunities for those with suitable properties. ADUs and garage conversions have gained popularity in recent years as homeowners seek to maximize their property investments by adding additional living spaces. These units can serve as rental income sources, guest houses, or even independent living spaces for family members. However, the ability to sell them separately from the main dwelling was not always an option, until now. Danny Yamnitski, the visionary behind CCS, believes that this change is nothing short of a game-changer for the real estate industry. Homeowners with spacious lots can now build, rent, or sell ADUs or garage conversions as standalone properties. The implications of this new law are significant and could open the door to unprecedented opportunities in the real estate market. Mr. Yamnitski is enthusiastic about this development, going so far as to call it the "greatest opportunity in American history to make money in real estate." His optimism is rooted in the idea that property owners can now leverage their assets more effectively, potentially generating substantial income by selling or renting out these separate units. However, it's crucial to recognize that opportunities in real estate often come with time limits. As Danny pointed out, it's a common refrain among real estate enthusiasts to wish they had made investments five years ago. The key takeaway here is that this opportunity may not last forever, and those interested in taking advantage of it should act promptly. To capitalize on this new law, prospective investors and property owners should consider consulting with real estate professionals and legal experts who can provide guidance on the implications and requirements of the updated regulations. Proper research and understanding are critical to making informed investment decisions in this evolving real estate landscape. In conclusion, the ability to sell ADUs and garage conversions separately from the primary residence, as permitted by the new law effective October 15, 2023, presents a significant shift in the real estate market. This development, as highlighted by Danny Yamnitski, has the potential to be a landmark opportunity for individuals interested in real estate investments. Contact Information Danny Yamnistki Owner info@laconstructioncompliance.com 7472069217 Related Video SOURCE: CCS Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/794814/new-law-allows-separate-sale-of-adus-and-garage-conversions-creating-real-estate-opportunities Tecpetrol has satisfied the statutory minimum tender condition and has taken-up and acquired 54% of the issued and outstanding Alpha shares Tecpetrol is extending the bid period for an additional 10 days in order to allow remaining minority shareholders to tender to the Offer so that they may promptly receive the offer price and cash-out their investment Shareholders who have not already tendered are urged to do so immediately to ensure they receive the offer price as there can be no assurance that Tecpetrol will be able to timely complete a subsequent acquisition transaction (if at all) Questions or Need Assistance? Contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at 1-877-452-7184 or email: assistance@laurelhill.comor visit https://www.tecpetrol.com/en/investors/alpha-lithium-offer for more information TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tecpetrol Investments S.L. ("Tecpetrol"), a member of the Techint Group, announces today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, TechEnergy Lithium Canada Inc., has taken-up and acquired 102,692,615 common shares of Alpha Lithium Corporation ("Alpha"), representing approximately 54% of the issued and outstanding Alpha shares, pursuant to its offer (the "Offer") to acquire Alpha for C$1.48 in cash per share. Tecpetrol will pay for the tendered shares within three business days. All of the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied or waived (including the statutory minimum tender condition), and Tecpetrol has extended the expiry time of the Offer by a mandatory period of 10 days to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on October 31, 2023 in order to allow the remaining minority shareholders to tender their Alpha shares to the Offer. No further extensions are contemplated. Next Steps and Reasons to Tender Now Following the mandatory 10-day extension period, Tecpetrol intends to pursue a subsequent acquisition transaction to complete the privatization of Alpha and acquire all Alpha shares not acquired pursuant to the Offer. Remaining shareholders are encouraged to tender their Alpha shares to the Offer during the mandatory 10-day extension period so that they may promptly receive the offer price of C$1.48 in cash per share and not wait until the privatization of Alpha is completed (if at all).Shareholders using a broker should be aware that their broker will have an expiry time to receive tendering instructions that will be several days in advance of October 31, 2023 and should therefore instruct their brokers to tender immediately. Alpha shareholders who have not already done so are urged to promptly tender their shares to the Offer in order to realize compelling and certain value for their Alpha shares today. In particular: The Offer has been unanimously recommended by the Alpha Board of Directors, all of whom have already tendered their Alpha shares . The Alpha Board of Directors and the Special Committee of independent directors, after receiving a positive independent fairness opinion from PI Financial Corp., have unanimously recommended that shareholders tender their Shares to the Offer. To the knowledge of Tecpetrol, all of the directors and officers of Alpha, including Brad Nichol, President & CEO of Alpha, have already tendered their Alpha shares. . The Alpha Board of Directors and the Special Committee of independent directors, after receiving a positive independent fairness opinion from PI Financial Corp., have unanimously recommended that shareholders tender their Shares to the Offer. To the knowledge of Tecpetrol, all of the directors and officers of Alpha, including Brad Nichol, President & CEO of Alpha, have already tendered their Alpha shares. If the privatization of Alpha cannot be completed, remaining shareholders will hold a minority position in a company with limited liquidity. There can be no assurance that Tecpetrol will be able to timely complete a subsequent acquisition transaction (if at all). Shareholders who do not tender during the mandatory 10-day extension period risk being left behind and not receiving the offer price of C$1.48 in cash per share, instead holding a low liquidity investment in a company with a controlling shareholder. How to Tender Q&A Q: How do I tender my Alpha shares? A: Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of an investment advisor, stock broker, bank, trust company or other intermediary should immediately contact that intermediary for assistance if they wish to accept the Offer so that the necessary steps can be taken to enable the deposit of such shares under the Offer. Intermediaries likely have established tendering cut-off times that are prior to the expiry time. Shareholders must instruct their intermediaries promptly if they wish to tender. Registered shareholders who own Alpha Lithium share certificates or DRS statements representing their shares and wish to accept the Offer must properly complete and execute the Letter of Transmittal that accompanied the original take-over bid circular dated June 8, 2023 (printed on YELLOW paper) and deposit it, at or prior to the expiry time, together with certificate(s) or DRS Statements representing their Alpha shares and all other required documents, with Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Depositary and Information Agent, at its office in Toronto, Ontario specified in the Letter of Transmittal in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal. These materials are also available at https://www.tecpetrol.com/en/investors/alpha-lithium-offer and on SEDAR+ under Alpha's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Q: What do I do if I have already tendered my Alpha shares? A: Shareholders that have already tendered do not need to take any further action and will receive payment for their Alpha shares within three business days. Q: Who can I call if I have questions or require assistance in tendering my shares? A: Shareholders who have questions or require assistance in tendering their Alpha shares may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Depositary and Information Agent for the Offer, by telephone toll-free inside North America at 1-877-452-7184, or outside North America at 1-416-304-0211, or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com. Additional information can also be found on Tecpetrol's website at https://www.tecpetrol.com/en/investors/alpha-lithium-offer. Q: What is the deadline for me to instruct my broker to tender my Alpha shares? A: The Offer is open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on October 31, 2023. Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of an investment advisor, stock broker, bank, trust company or other intermediary should immediately contact that intermediary for assistance if they wish to accept the Offer so that the necessary steps can be taken to enable the deposit of such shares under the Offer. Intermediaries likely have established tendering cut-off times that are prior to the expiry time. Shareholders must instruct their intermediaries promptly if they wish to tender. Additional Offer Details Tecpetrol will file a Third Notice of Extension in respect of the mandatory extension of the expiry time to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on October 31, 2023 that will be available on SEDAR+ under Alpha's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and will be mailed to Alpha shareholders in accordance with applicable law. Tecpetrol encourages Alpha shareholders to read the full details of the Offer and other important information set forth in the Third Notice of Extension, which should be read in conjunction with the take-over bid circular dated June 8, 2023, the notice of variation and extension dated September 22, 2023, the second notice of extension dated October 3, 2023 and related offer documents. These materials, which contain information on how to tender to the Offer, are available on SEDAR+ under Alpha's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Advisors BMO Capital Markets is serving as financial advisor and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is serving as legal advisor to Tecpetrol. In addition, Crestview Strategy is serving as government relations advisor and Teneo is serving as strategic communications advisor. Laurel Hill Advisory Group is serving as the Depositary and Information Agent for the Offer. About the Tecpetrol Energy Transition Unit Tecpetrol's Energy Transition Unit is Techint Group's dedicated business unit responsible for advancing its position in the global energy transition through investments in decarbonized energy sources, carriers and technologies, with the objective of contributing to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint. As part of this initiative through its subsidiary Techenergy Lithium S.A., Tecpetrol has built a lithium processing pilot plant in northern Argentina engineered for scale, which supports a production flowsheet involving direct lithium extraction. For additional information on Tecpetrol, please visit its website at https://www.tecpetrol.com/en. The Techint Group is a global conglomerate with diversified business lines in steelmaking, complex infrastructure construction, design and construction of industrial plans and machinery, technologies for the metals and mining industries, oil and gas exploration and production and research-oriented health facilities. Through our six main companies - Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN), Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX), Techint Engineering & Construction, Tenova, Tecpetrol and Humanitas - the Techint Group operates on six continents, employs 79,300 employees and generates over US$33 billion in annual revenue. We have an extensive track record of completing large transactions in industrial and extractive sectors around the globe, including in Canada, and in navigating complex regulatory frameworks. For additional information on the Techint Group, please visit its website at https://www.techintgroup.com/en. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward looking information". Forward-looking information is not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and is therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects", "intends" or variations of such words, and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to expectations relating to the Offer; the results, effects, mechanics, timing and completion of the Offer, including the payment of the offer price within three business days; the ability of Tecpetrol to complete a subsequent acquisition transaction to acquire 100% of Alpha; and the risks to Alpha shareholders of not tendering their Alpha shares to the Offer, including expectations regarding the liquidity of the Alpha shares. Although Tecpetrol believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and have been based on information and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking information and such factors and assumptions are based on information currently available to Tecpetrol, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tecpetrol or the completion of the Offer and any subsequent acquisition transaction to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the ability or decision of Tecpetrol to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Alpha shares under the Offer or any subsequent transaction and the receipt of all approvals for such transaction. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on Tecpetrol's beliefs and opinions at the time the information is given, and there should be no expectation that this forward-looking information will be updated or supplemented as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, and Tecpetrol expressly disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by applicable law. Disclaimers This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any securities. The Offer has been made solely by, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in, the formal Offer and Circular (as amended), letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery. The Offer has not be made to, nor will deposits be accepted from or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. The Offer has been made for the securities of a Canadian company that does not have securities registered under section 12 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Offer is not subject to section 14(d) of the U.S. Exchange Act or Regulation 14D or Rule 14e-1 of Regulation 14E. The Offer has been made in the United States with respect to securities of a "foreign private issuer", as such term is defined in Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Exchange Act, in accordance with Canadian corporate and securities law requirements. Shareholders in the United States should be aware that such requirements are different from those of the United States applicable to tender offers under the U.S. Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Offer and all contracts resulting from acceptance thereof are and will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Accordingly, the provisions of the German Takeover Code (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) do not apply to the Offer. None of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any United States state securities commission or the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority has approved or disapproved (or will approve or disapprove) the Offer, or passed (or will pass) any comment upon the fairness or the merits of the Offer or upon the adequacy or completeness of the information contained in this news release or in any other document relating to the Offer. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful. Media Contact: Alexandre Meterissian, Email: Alexandre.meterissian@teneo.com; Investor Relations: Jorge Dimopulos, Email: Jorge.dimopulos@tecpetrol.com; Shareholder Questions / Tendering Assistance: Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Toll-Free: 1-877-452-7184, Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211, Email: assistance@laurelhill.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tecpetrol-announces-successful-take-over-bid-to-acquire-control-of-alpha-lithium-corporation-and-mandatory-extension-of-offer-to-october-31-2023-301963758.html We all have a skincare routine. In fact, its become quite the rage for people to spend hours watching celebrities go through their skincare process on social media. But what about your dental routine? Do you follow certain steps to ensure that your pearly whites remain shiny and bright? According to dental experts, there is, in fact, a four-step guide to ensuring that you have a 24-watt smile. As London-based periodontist Reena Wadia told Allure magazine, While some of the benefits of dental, and especially preventative care, may not be outright visible, they are incredibly impactful for the long term. Dedicating time to a full dental-care routine (and doing it in the right order, which is actually a thing) is one of the best investments you can make for yourself. All creatives designed by News18 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the first test flight for Indias ambitious Gaganyaan mission in its second attempt today (21 October). The maiden Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Earlier in the day, the mission was put on hold just seconds before the lift-off. The test flight was initially scheduled for 8 am but had to be postponed for 45 minutes due to the morning showers in Andhra Pradeshs Sriharikota. The mission director initiated the automatic launch sequence but five seconds before its rescheduled launch time at 8:45 am, the ground support computer halted the launch because of an anomaly. Lets take a look at what delayed the first launch and why the test flight is significant for Indias first human spaceflight project. What happened during the first attempt? According to the Indian space agency, the engine ignition of the TV-D1 rocket did not happen on time. The lift-off attempt could not happen today. It was initially scheduled at 8 AM. It was postponed to 8.45 AM due to the weather situation. We had a very smooth automatic launch sequence leading up to the command to lift-off. But engine lift-off did not happen. We have to find out what went wrong. The vehicle is safe. We will come back soon after analysing what triggered the hold on the vehicle. The ground checkout computer withheld the launch after observing an anomaly, ISRO chairman S Somanath said earlier today after the mission was called off. He also said from the Mission Control Center that we will come back soon after analysing what triggered the Automatic Launch Sequence (ALS) holding the vehicle. Around 9:35 am, the space agency posted on X, Reason for the launch hold is identified and corrected. The launch is planned at 10:00 Hrs today. Explaining the cause for the delay and the ultimate resolution of the issue, the ISRO chief said: I will also like to tell the reason for why we had a hold. After going through the nominal lift-off process, there was a hold issued by the ground computer called the automatic launch sequence computer that detected a non-conformance for allowing the engine to continue the thrusting to go further. This happened due to a monitoring anomaly in the system, which is why we could identify it very fast and correct it. VIDEO | I will also like to tell the reason for why we had a hold. After going through the nominal lift-off process, there was a hold issued by the ground computer, which is called the automatic launch sequence computer, that detected a non-conformance for allowing the engine to pic.twitter.com/yMmbJCTnTn Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 21, 2023 Whats the test mission about? The TV-D1 mission lasted a total of just 532 seconds from its lift-off at 10 am to the crew module splashdown about 10 km from the Sriharikota coast. Its objective was to showcase the performance of the crew escape system. During the test flight, the rocket lifted off to an altitude of almost 17 km before the abort signal was initiated, resulting in the separation of the crew module. The crew module then descended through parachutes with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal. We are very happy to announce the success of the mission. The purpose of the mission was to demonstrate the crew escape system. The vehicle went slightly above the speed of sound, before it initiated the crew escape system. All the parachutes operated, and touched down at the expected velocity, the ISRO chief announced. He said the agency was working to recover the crew modules from the sea. A diving team and ship of the Indian Navy have been deployed to retrieve the crew module from the Bay of Bengal. Why is the test flight important? This test flight is among the two abort missions of the ISRO to check the safety mechanisms for the Gaganyaan crew in case of an emergency. The successful separation of the crew module from the launch vehicle ensured that the astronauts could escape during a mid-flight emergency (abort mission), noted Indian Express. The crew module is the capsule inside which the astronauts will be seated during the Gaganyaan mission. TV D1 Test Flight Lift-off images pic.twitter.com/oitmEa5Hza ISRO (@isro) October 21, 2023 This Test Vehicle mission with this CM (crew module) is a significant milestone for the overall Gaganyaan programme as a near-complete system is integrated for a flight test. The success of this test flight will set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts, the ISRO said earlier, according to the newspaper. The Indian space agency has prioritised the safety of its Gaganyaan astronauts and is building environmental control and life support systems for the crew module. An integrated vehicle health management system that can flag any anomaly that could put the astronauts at risk is also in the pipeline, reported Indian Express. India intends to send a manned Gaganyaan mission to space by 2025. With inputs from agencies Israel, Israel and Israel. We have completed two weeks of the deadly Israel-Hamas war the toll has climbed to more than 4,000 people on both sides and no one knows when its going to end. However, its not the only news that got us all worked up this week. Away from the glare of the war, big and significant events took place in India that caught our attention. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted its first test flight for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, there was also the same-sex marriage verdict delivered by the Supreme Court, which left many LGBTQ+ members and allies disappointed. Drama also caught up with Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in the cash for query scandal after a business tycoon alleged in an affidavit that she had granted him access to her Parliamentary login and allowed him to ask questions in lieu of buying her expensive luxury items and arranging logistics for her travels. As we sit back over the weekend, and try to unwind, heres a deep dive into the political drama embroiling Mahua Moitra, the Indians involved in the Israel war and the same-sex marriage verdict that denies marriage equality in India. 1. ISRO has had many successes in the recent past; it successfully landed Chandrayaan-3 on the Moons South Pole, becoming only to do and the fourth to land on the lunar surface. On Saturday (21 October), they attained success after conducting a test with the aim of ultimately launch an Indian astronaut into space, through the Gaganyaan mission. The Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) is to demonstrate the performance of the Crew Escape System of the Gaganyaan project. However, it was put on hold five seconds from its scheduled launch owing to an ignition problem. But ISRO identified and corrected the issue and had a successful take-off. 2. India isnt just making strides in the space sector. We are on the fast track when it comes to rail travel too. On Friday (20 October), Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS). For those wondering what is the RRTS and how is it any different from the Metro or existing railway systems, we have you covered here. With this new network, rail travel is expected to be faster travel time between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot will be 12 minutes, which would usually take around 30-35 minutes by road. 3. However, there was some disappointment in the nation when the Supreme Court refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. Hearing a clutch of petitions, the five-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, and SK Kaul said it is beyond the courts scope and should be decided by Parliament, but emphasised that queer relationships should not face discrimination by the state. There was a silver lining in the judgment, though. The court in its verdict said that state governments could draft amendments to the Special Marriage Act to allow for unions between same-sex couples in the absence of a central law. 4. This week also saw TMCs Mahua Moitra in the spotlight. A political storm has erupted after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the TMC leader of asking questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts from a businessman. Moitra denied the allegations, terming them as defamatory, false, baseless and not supported by even a shred of evidence. However, the scandal took a turn for the worst when Darshan Hiranandani, CEO of the real estate and infrastructure company Hiranandani Group, claimed in an affidavit that the firebrand MP had shared her Lok Sabha login credentials with him in order to allow him to ask questions in lieu of expensive gifts. He further alleged that she received support from others in this effort, including journalists, Opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees, who fed her unverified information. Read all about his explosive claims (here) and how the TMC MP responded. 5. The Israel-Hamas war took a turn for the worst in the week when a bomb exploded over a hospital in Gaza, killing over 500 people, though US intelligence pegs the toll at 100-300. As the situation deteriorates in Gaza, India has been keeping a close eye on war, repatriating over 1,000 citizens from Israel. But what about the Indians in Gaza? Our explainer tells us the worsening situation in the Strip and of the presence of Indians there. 6. Winter is here and that means one thing: deteriorating air pollution. While the northern part of the country is usually the victim of poor air quality, it was Mumbai, the financial capital, which suffered from bad air conditions. But why is Maximum City shrouded in smog? We give you the answers here. If you like how we break down the big headlines and give you the inside track, heres where you can read up on our other explainers. Amid the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war, observers in the region and internationally continue to make assumptions about Gazan public support for Hamas. Mistaken assumptions such as those by US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, claiming that all Gazans are antisemitic, or those that blame Gazans for electing Hamas may shape debates not only on how the war is perceived, but also over relief plans for Gazans in the months ahead. Any reconstruction efforts or aid distribution might be weighed against fears of Hamas insurgents within the Gazan population. In my own research into Jihadi-Salafism and Islamism, I found that militant movements provoked military interventions to exploit the chaos that ensues. Moreover, such groups often claim to govern in the legitimate interests of those they dominate even if those populations reject their rule. As several commentators have observed, Hamas likely hopes to not just encourage a disproportionate response from Israel, but also to use the violent aftermath of intervention to cultivate continued Gazan dependence upon it and to distract from its own domestic policy failures. What are the politicos saying? Leaders on both sides of the conflict have tried to make justifications for their actions. Often, they use their own perception of Gazan public opinion to support their own policy objectives. For example, Ismail Haniyeh, chief of Hamas political bureau, claimed that Hamas actions represented Gazans and the entire Arab Muslim community. For Haniyeh, Hamas usage of violence was on behalf of Palestinians who had been assaulted in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in September 2023, or have suffered at the hands of Israeli security forces, or for the settlers in the West Bank. Israeli president Isaac Herzog, meanwhile, suggested that all Gazans bore collective responsibility for Hamas. As a result, he concluded, Israel would act to preserve its own self-interest against Gaza and its people. The Biden administration, careful not to condemn the Israeli bombardment, has sought a broader approach toward the escalation. In an interview and on social media, US president Joseph Biden observed that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas appalling attacks, and [instead] are suffering as a result of them. Such suffering, Biden noted, required the eventual lifting of the complete siege implemented by Israel against Gaza. In each example, politicians used their assumptions about Gazans to support their policies. But the people in Gaza experience these policies far differently. What do Gazans think about Hamas? Reviewing Gazan public opinion over time reveals an ongoing sense of hopelessness living under the Israeli blockade. A June 2023 poll conducted by Khalil Shikaki, professor of political science and director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, indicated that 79 per cent of Gazans supported armed opposition to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. A Washington Institute poll from July 2023 found that only 57 per cent of Gazans held a somewhat positive opinion of Hamas. Further reading of those polls suggests a more nuanced story. Consider that in 2018, some 25 per cent of women in Gaza risked death in childbirth, 53 per cent of Gazans lived in poverty, and essential health care supplies were stretched thin. That same year, Shikaki found an increasing number of Gazans dissatisfied with Hamas government, with almost 50 per cent hoping to leave Gaza entirely. In the June 2023 Washington Institute poll, 64 per cent of Gazans demanded improved health care, employment, education and some sense of normalcy instead of Hamas claimed resistance. Over 92 per cent of Gazans expressed outright anger at their living conditions. Additionally, as Shikaki reported, over 73 per cent believed the Hamas government to be corrupt. Yet, Gazans saw little hope for electoral change. With no election since 2006, a majority of Gazans alive today were not old enough to have voted for Hamas. Support of armed resistance was not always present. When Hamas openly fought the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank and questioned the legitimacy of Hamas victory and seized control over the Gaza Strip in 2007, over 73 per cent of Palestinians opposed that seizure and any further armed conflict. At that time, fewer than one-third of Gazans supported any military action against Israel. Over 80 per cent condemned kidnapping, arson and indiscriminate violence. Sense of desperation If read over time, polls of Gazans from 2007 to 2023 tell a story. They help make clear that Gazan support for armed resistance grew alongside increasing frustration, anger and a sense of hopelessness with any political solution to their suffering. In 2017, scholar Sara Roy, studying the Palestinian economy and Islamism, explored Gazan tolerance of Hamas, noting what is new is the sense of desperation, which can be felt in the boundaries people are now willing to cross, boundaries that were once inviolable. Gazans, Roy argued, particularly the 75 per cent under the age of 30, felt widely varying affinities toward Hamas ideology or claims to Islamic legitimacy. Hamas, they noted, paid salaries when few others could. Risking targeting by Israeli soldiers was a calculated and tolerable hazard of hire if it meant a paycheque. In 2019, 27 per cent of Gazans blamed Hamas for their living conditions. In that same poll, 55 per cent supported any peace plan that would include a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as a capital and an Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories. By 2023, when Gazans polled by Shikaki expressed their support for armed resistance, they did so in the belief that only such resistance not electoral politics would provide relief from the Israeli blockade and siege. At the same time, however, those polled expressed exhaustion with the corruption of Hamas and the ongoing unemployment and poverty of Gaza. There is death everywhere Any chance for a simple return to normalcy seems lost for many Gazans, as Hamas claims to act as their legitimate resistance. With peace negotiations stalled in Gaza since 2001, elections postponed, movement out of Gaza impossible, and now an escalating humanitarian crisis, an entire generation of Gazans is left with few options. There is death everywhere, said 33-year-old Omar El Qattaa, a photographer based in Gaza, and memories erased. Though 2023 polling indicated that a majority of Gazans were opposed to breaking the ceasefire with Israel, Hamas moved forward with its October attacks against their popular will. The sense of desperation felt by El Qatta, and millions of other Gazans, risks becoming instrumentalised by Hamas. As Matthew Leavitt, a scholar and researcher of Hamas writes, Hamas sees politics, charity, political violence and terrorism as complementary and legitimate tools to pursue its policy goals. As Khaldoun Barghouti, a Ramallah-based Palestinian researcher, notes, the ongoing bombardment by Israel has softened Gazan frustration with Hamas at least in the short term. Such attacks turned blame to Hamas (over the attacks in Israel) into more anger toward Israel. How this will translate into support for alternatives to Hamas in the months ahead remains to be seen. Much will depend on how international stakeholders regain the trust of Gazans while assisting them with finding meaningful alternatives to a government and militant movement they once considered corrupt and unable to meet their basic needs. Voicing concern over the burning of crop residue that causes air pollution in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Punjab chief secretary and member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The NGT was hearing a petition it had initiated on its own (suo motu) following a media report highlighting a rise in farm fire incidents in Punjab. The report said stubble burning in the state around autumn was among the biggest contributors to pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel noted a report by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) which detailed the comparative data of three years on stubble burning incidents along with the names of hotspot districts known for farm fire incidents. Effective implementation of various measures is the key for controlling stubble burning in the state, the bench said on Friday. It said the state authorities, including PPCB officials, needed to identify the worst-affected areas within the hotspot districts where remedial measures should be focussed. The period when the stubble burning takes place is mainly between September 15 to November 30. Hence, during this period, the concerned authorities are required to be vigilant in identifying the violators, and in taking remedial measures, including imposition of penalty, the bench said. The green panel also took on record a report by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas which tabulated the actual count of incidents of stubble burning in 2022 and the targets for reducing them during the current year. Underscoring that to achieve the targets, an effective on-ground action was required, the tribunal directed the PPCB to prepare and place on record an area-wise crop residue management plan. We also deem it proper to issue notice to the Chief Secretary and Member Secretary, CPCB, the tribunal said and sought action taken reports from the PPCB and CAQM. The matter has been listed on November 8 for further hearing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that his government has taken groundbreaking decisions with long-term planning over the past decade and freed the country from the burden of several pending decisions. Addressing the programme marking the 125th Founders Day celebration of The Scindia School in Gwalior, the Prime Minister mentioned the contribution of the Scindia family to the preservation of the culture of India and Varanasi. The Prime Minister said a dutiful person works for the welfare of the coming generations instead of momentary benefits. He said the BJP-led government at the Centre is close to completing 10 years and multiple pending decisions have been taken with a long-term approach. Our government is about to complete ten years, during this period, our government has freed the country from the burden of several pending decisions, from Article 370 to GST to One Rank One Pension, Triple Talaq and the Womens Reservation Bill which was passed, he said. PM Modi noted that these pending decisions would have been carried forward to the next generation and said his government strives to create a positive atmosphere for the young generations with no shortage of opportunities. Dream big and Achieve big, the Prime Minister said to the students and noted that the Scindia School will complete 150 years close to the centenary of Indias independence. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the young generation will make India a developed nation in the next 25 years. I trust the youth and their capabilities, the Prime Minister said. He reiterated that the next 25 years are as significant for the students as it is for India. Every student of the Scindia School should strive to make India a Viksit Bharat, be it in the professional world or any other place, he said. Canadian foreign policy is hitched to the idea of middle power identity. Excessive idealism and moral prescriptive behaviour featured in the decisions of Canadian foreign policy in the Cold War era. At least, in theory, middle powers are ardent believers and followers of finding compromising solutions, follow multilateral means and behave as good international citizens. These states are inclined to offer their services to preserve the international order. Most scholars who study middle powers also associate them with maintaining the global system and keeping balances of power that foster peace and bring prosperity through institutional memberships and linkages. Recent Canadian diplomatic spats against their Indian counterparts contradict this behaviour and diverge from its incipient role. Not only Canada, by inciting alleged Indias involvement in the killing of a Canadian national, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, deteriorated the bilateral ties. But it also gave New Delhi a moment to realise the Wests behaviour against non-Western power. Obligated to follow principles that solidify and reiterate existing power balances, Canadas recent moves point to a compromise that seeks to rectify domestic electoral imbalance at the expense of a valuable partner. Canadian bouts of allegation and five-eyes Anglo-Saxon collaboration to muster intelligence have unsettled New Delhi. The time is not good enough when China challenges the power balance, and the guardians of those balances sever ties with a valuable partner. Cracks in Indo-Pacific partners against China would not manifest with such bickering behaviour. Still, it creates a sense of uncertainty in India about the Wests stance towards Ottawa that might loosen the bolts of evolving partnerships against Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region. And the muted responses from Washington and Canberra do convey their strategic preferences. Silence without picking sides is a subtle signal to both partners to temper down and resolve the inconveniences. As bilateral upswings can trigger international bargaining for partners to build support and gather voices of their respective causes, Australia and Washington avoided taking sides. If the two were to take sides, it would have undermined the allegiance of partners and allies to fight for a more significant cause of system maintenance that is roiled by Chinese behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region. More so, Canadians have not acted as a good international citizen. Middle powers have a legacy to favour global equality of status and prestige for all. Historically, Canada and Australia vouched for greater representation of middle powers in the United Nations Security Council on the criteria of war efforts and geographical allocation. The Netherlands vehemently resisted great power control in the UN. Middle powers, theoretically, assumed the role of mediating and steering compromising solutions. Canadas peacekeeping operations and contributions of troops to man the Korean faultlines, initiating the United Nations Emergency Forces to dilute the Suez crisis, signals Ottawas willingness to shoulder responsibilities of keeping the international system in order. However, recently, Canada has breached the middle power identity to curry domestic political favours by escalating the issue for electoral gains in the upcoming elections. Canada harbouring elements that espouse scalping the Indian territory subverts its good international behaviour. Trudeaus attendance at Khalsa Day Parade in 2017, the 2018 diplomatic disaster, and reluctance to extradite the mastermind that bombed an Air India flight in 1985 exacerbate the already tense free-fall in relations. While Canadas diplomatic footwork had offered troubleshooting solutions in the past, such balancing acts have also rendered backlashesIndias current diplomatic offence results from Ottawas brewing disequilibrium to manage domestic interests and international priorities. Significant mends to balance domestic and international concerns could have precluded contemporary distrust in ties. Five Eyes intelligence coalition, a mini-grouping, is used to pinpoint allegations against India. As the norm suggests, sorting out differences bilaterally would have been desirable. The tinge of multilateralism will only complicate the process. Although such groupings possess geopolitical motives, they can also be used to temper down volatile spats and stop abrupt over-reactions through engineering diplomatic solutions. Canada seems to have lost the opportunity, while the Indian side escalated, especially with the demand for the diplomatic withdrawal of 41 Canadians from the embassy in New Delhi due to deeply spiralling relations. The solution to this simmering dispute is reinstating Canadian past responsibilities and its functions. Ottawas role and function to bridge difficulties and act in concerts by banding together offered feasible solutions immediately following World War II. Similarly, leaving aside the domestic selfishness and moral prescriptions on extra-judicial killings, Canadas pragmatism lies in eclipsing domestic lures and balancing values to preserve bilateral and multilateral cohesion. Canadas name-calling of India did highlight an advocacy to reform norms against extra-judicial killings. However, not when domestic self-interest is so evident. While it is commendable to advocate standards, Canadas discrepancies in following the normal mould contradict the behaviour of middle powers that zealously guard the status quo. While the issue could have been handled carefully, the escalation from the Canadian side to publicise and accuse Indian intelligence and politicise it to gain credibility is a totally uncalled for diplomatic manoeuvre. The idea of middle power is flexible and highly adaptable. The Canadian government will serve the international system better if they forge alliances and maintain them to balance against China. Norm entrepreneurship can be rolled, but not at the expense of a partner that matters more for sustaining a secured balance in the Indo-Pacific international affairs. The author is a Research Analyst, Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi. 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 Gaza, the scenes are horrific; Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the strip, and the death toll keeps rising. Over 4,000 people have been killed; more than 1500 of them are children. And this number is likely to rise as Israel intensifies its offensive. Last night, an Israeli airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church. The Saint Porphyrius church in Gaza It is the oldest church in the strip. And it was housing Palestinian Christians. Initial reports suggest 18 of them have been killed in the strike. They came here to escape the airstrikes and the destruction, they thought they were safe here. The destruction followed them. The destruction followed them, said a survivor. Israel hasnt denied the strike but it says it did not hit the church directly. The IDF says, their target was a Hamas command centre and thats what they struck. It led to an explosion and thats what hit the church. So Israel is not denying its role. Its offering a technicality. Either way, its problematic. On Tuesday, it was a hospital that was hit. Israel denied that. They blamed the Palestinian Jihad for the strike and offered proof. On Thursday, it was a Greek Orthodox church that Israel said it did not hit directly. It was striking other targets. Both may be true. But the rising civilian casualties are not helping Israels case. When the war started on 7 October, the public sentiment was on Israels side, 14 days later, it is shifting because, while going after Hamas can be justified, the 4000 civilian deaths cannot be unseen. And the pictures from Gaza make it look worse. They have no food, no electricity. They are running out of water. Hospitals are overflowing with patients. Morgues are filled beyond capacity. Hundreds are struck under rubble and a million people are displaced. Every time we settled in one place, we were told it was threatened. Every time we were going to rest in an area, we were told its dangerous. We couldnt rest or eat during our displacement from Jabalia refugee camp, said a displaced teacher from Jabalia refugee camp. We cannot describe the life that we are living. We were living in our safe homes, and now our biggest hope has become for us to secure a tent. Everyone is living in their homes, and we only ask for a tent and safety, said a displaced person from northern Gaza. If this is not a humanitarian disaster, what is? The United Nations Secretary General agrees, on Friday, Antonio Guterres landed in Egypt. He visited the rafah crossing, the checkpoint between Egypt and Gaza, and this is what he had to say: It is impossible to be here and not to feel a broken heart. We are witnessing a paradox. Behind these walls we have two million people who are suffering enormously, having no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel. That is under fire, that needs everything to survive. Biden promised aid to Gaza, Egypt promised aid to Gaza, Israel agreed to let the aid pass. But Gaza has got no aid, not yet. You see, the Gaza strip has seven border crossings, six of them are with Israel. One of them is with Egypt. Thats the Rafah crossing. Since the war began, its been closed. But aid was supposed to pass into the strip through Rafah. Egypt says the Rafah crossing has been bombed four times. Which means the only road to Gaza is damaged and needs repair, Egyptian diggers are already repairing the road. Hundreds of aid lorries are waiting outside, the moment it is done, they will enter Gaza. But even with the aid, theres a problem, Israel says it will agree to only food, water and medicines passing through. What Gaza also needs is fuel. It needs this fuel to power hospitals. But it may not come anytime soon. Also, only 20 trucks will be allowed to pass first. Thats because of Israels concerns. They want to ensure that the supplies dont reach Hamas. They want the United Nations to check them. And what does the UN say? 20 trucks of aid wont do it. More should be allowed. 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. And to see them stuck here makes me be very clear. What we need is to make the move, to make the move to the other side of this wall, to make the move as quickly as possible and as many as possible, said Guterres. Either way, aid remains the priority right now, and it must reach the strip soon. Time is running out, and as a humanitarian catastrophe looms, it seems the world is watching helplessly. Day 14 of the war, Israels allies are joining the action, namely, the United States, they have got a lot of firepower in West Asia, and on Thursday, it was put to use, the target? Yemens Houthi rebels. Missiles and drones were fired from Yemen, the assumption is, they were headed to Israel. Thats when a US Warship, the USS Carney, sprung into action. It shot down three missiles and also several Houthi drones. The pentagon has confirmed this operation. They have also said, they will do it again, if necessary. 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 Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder. Now, the Carney is a destroyer, it was stationed in the Red Sea, but American assets are spread all over the region, like in the eastern Mediterranean, there are two US Aircraft carriers there, the USS Gerald Ford, and the USS Dwight Eisenhower. Now, the idea here is to deter outside actors. But these American assets are also targets. Many of them have been hit this week. Watch: On Tuesday, Iraqs Al-Asad base was targeted by drones, the base hosts American soldiers and assets. The attack caused minor injuries. The same day, there was another attack to the north, on the Bashur air base, again, drones were used, but no injuries. On Wednesday, US Forces in Syria were attacked, two drones targeted the Al-Tanf Garrison, both were destroyed. That same day, there were attack alerts in Iraq, at the Al-Assad base. The US soldiers decided to take cover, but the attack never came. But on Thursday, it did. Drones and rockets hit the same military base. Reports say, multiple blasts were heard inside. Rockets also hit US forces near Baghdad. Now, thats a lot of attacks in three days. Who is behind them? Possibly Iranian proxies. Last week, they threatened to attack US assets in Iraq and Syria. Looks like they were serious about it. But these groups are playing a dangerous game. There are 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, another 900 in Syria. The casualties so far have been negligible. But if there is a major attack, the US could get drawn in. They have enough firepower to retaliate and to hit back hard. Whether that happens or not, depends on many factors. The biggest being Israels next move, a lot depends on that. Right now, Israel is striking Gaza, non-stop. Even civilian sites and shelters are being targeted, the death toll has crossed 4,000. More than 1,500 of them are children. Violence has also spread to the West Bank. On Thursday, Israel conducted an airstrike there. Reports say 12 Palestinians were killed. Now, this is rare for israel. They do deploy soldiers into the West Bank but airstrikes are rare. So far around 70 Palestinians have died in the West Bank. Plus, around 800 arrested, things could get even worse if Israel invades Gaza. In fact, they are bracing for it. The Muslim world has united against Israel. There are street protests across muslim capitals. So Israel has made a drastic move. They have decided to pull out diplomats, and Israeli officials have started to leave Turkiye. Reports say they are considering similar moves in other West Asian countries. The problem seems to be security. Lets assume Israel invades Gaza, then the public anger would be much more, Israeli missions and diplomats would be prime targets. Hence the withdrawal, regional and world powers have already warned of this. They are expecting a wider war. As for the Gaza strip, the risk of this crisis escalating into a regional conflict is quite serious. I have already mentioned that the United States vetoed a resolution that called for a stop to any hostilities and to begin to resolve humanitarian issues. And if this is so, then they will probably believe the conflict may grow, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. We hoped to have better news, but honesty requires us to say that we fear for the worst. Everything indicates that the worst is yet to come. We are working with all our capabilities to prevent that, said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The worst is yet to come. For once, thats not fear-mongering, it is a fairly honest assessment. Things have been heating up there in the last few days. Especially after the Gaza hospital attack. On Wednesday, Hezbollah struck targets on the Israeli side. Smoke was seen rising from the border hills. Of course, Israel struck back, they have stationed plenty of tanks and soldiers near the northern border. They are also evacuating people. The city of Kiryat Shmona has been struck by Hezbollah rockets, so its 20 thousand residents have been asked to leave. There is no-go zone near the border, it is around two kilometres wide. So, Israel is bracing for an escalation in the north, a possible attack by the iran-backed Hezbollah. However, their main focus is down south. The Gaza Strip. Both prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister visited the front lines. They interacted with IDF soldiers. Both men had the same indirect message. Get ready for the invasion. Netanyahu: I am here with Golani soldiers from all parts of the country. They have fought like lions and will fight like lions. Are you ready to continue? Soldiers: Yes Netanyahu: We are going to win with full force. Are you ready? Soldiers: Yes Netanyahu: All the people of Israel are behind you and we will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory. To victory! Are you ready? Soldiers: Yes We trust you and count on you. Carry on training while there is time, get organised, be prepared, the command will come. Thanks guys, we count on you, good luck. And anyone who now sees gaza from a distance will see it from the inside, i promise you, said Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant. To sum up, airstrikes continue in Gaza, anger is growing in the Muslim world, protests are escalating in the West Bank, attacks are more frequent at the Lebanon-Israel border, and US military assets are being targeted. Its like a non-stop journey to all-out war. There are exit ramps all over. The question is: Are leaders looking for an exit? 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. One of political Islams most ruthlessly efficient skill sets is not just to convert people, but also to grab others land, property, places of worship, and even entire nations. The explosive showcase of this is Palestine, which seeks to deny Jews their homeland on a piece of land they have called their home for at least 3,500 years. Even the Quran mentions that the land of Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people. And We said to the Children of Israel after Pharaoh, Reside in the land, but when the promise of the Hereafter comes to pass,1 We will bring you all together. ~ Surah 17.104 Islamic scholars like Imam Abdul Hadi Palazzi and Khaleel Mohammed cite this and many other mentions in the Islamic holy book about Israelis and their homeland. But the Islamist regimes, leaders, ayatollahs, mullahs, militias and terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad would have nothing less than wiping Israel off the map. Because the lands once conquered and made empty infidels cannot be given back to them; not even an inch. Which is why peace accord after peace accord have failed in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the latest being one that was signed in 2005. But such land grab of non-Muslim land and property, and conflicts stemming out of it, is the norm rather than exception in the Islamic world. From Hagia Sophia to Ram Mandir, Al Aqsa to Gyanvapi, instances of usurpation of prominent churches and temples are numerous. But what is more dangerous and has the potential to create mini-Gazas within India is the land grab at an industrial scale which the Indian Constitution has enabled under the Waqf Act, 1995. It is perhaps the darkest piece of legislation of Independent India, more damaging in its scope than even the now-withdrawn Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir and the Places of Worship Act, 1993. Here is a quick background. The Government of India gave the land of Muslims who went from India to Pakistan to the waqf boards under the Waqf Board Act of 1954. But in 1995, to compensate for the Babri Masjid demolition of 1991, the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress government changed the Waqf Board Act to give waqf boards unlimited rights to acquire land. Currently, the Waqf Board claims more than 8.66 lakh properties across 8.02 lakh acres of land. That is about 30 Chandigarhs. In return, Pakistan Army, government and landed Muslims have taken away land and property of Hindus who came to India after Partition worth more than an estimated $8 million. That is more than Pakistans current foreign exchange reserves. Pakistans property laws like Shufa, under which neighbours will have to agree to the sale of house or land, make it even more difficult for non-Muslims to buy and sell property. Bangladesh, previously East Pakistan, took away enormous land and property of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and others under the Vested Property Act which, like Pakistan, treated evacuee assets as enemy property. India, on the contrary, has gone to the other extreme by giving the Waqf Boards the authority and power of civil courts. Section 54 of the Waqf Act gives the Waqf power to declare anybody an encroacher. Once Waqf, always Waqf is the boards motto. Waqf is the third largest landowner in India, after the Defence and the Railways, with much of the landholding, rather amusingly, pre-Independence and endowment of the insidious give and take between the British and Muslims they desired to pacify, writes Anand Ranganathan in his book, Hindus in Hindu Rashtra. Seventy-seven per cent of Delhi is on Waqf land, including the Delhi High Court. Central Vista, which has recently been renovatedis on Waqf land. CGO Complex and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are on Waqf land. Only three things are certain in an Indians life death, taxes, and that, knowingly or unknowingly, he ends up walking every day on Waqf land. As if all this was not enough, the outgoing Congress government in March 2014 just before the Lok Sabha elections, knowing defeat is inevitable, gifted 123 prime properties in the Capital to the Delhi Waqf Board by using the Waqf Act. Due to this black law, thousands of acres of land of Hindus have been snatched away in the country so far. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board declared six villages of Tamil Nadu, including a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple as Waqf property, writes Rajeev Gupta in The Times of India. In Kerala, outfits from Jamiat Ulema to Indian Union Muslim League have forced the CPM-led government to stall a law to bring Waqf Board appointments under the Public Service Commission. Only Muslims can run Waqf Boards, they argue. What could this reckless generosity and greed to appease Muslims for power lead Bharat? Forces from overseas and within India have been hard at work to communally divide, balkanise, and destroy this nation. They prey on the irascible and disgruntled sections of Muslim society and its power-hungry mullahs and politicians to create unrest. From anti-CAA protests to the sar tann se juda mobs baying for BJP leader Nupur Sharmas blood to attacking Hindu festivals, this nation has seen enough Islamist street violence lately. A terror organisation in sheeps skin like the PFI may have been banned, but the underlying ideology and its impulses may create similar groups in the future. The Waqf Act gives them an option they may have conceived but not exercised yet creating islands of violently hostile space within Bharat by using the Waqf Act to claim Islamic sanctity, then going for full-fledged secessionism. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Christians are already losing their land and property in their own home, and not because of another Partition. We still have not mapped the scenarios if enemies of the nation decide to use the Waqf Act against it. But when they do, they would likely call it resistance, a term they use to camouflage Islamist imperialism in Gaza, West Bank, Kashmir and elsewhere. The Indian State has unwittingly created a very potent weapon which could be used against it. If there is one piece of legislation which must be urgently scrapped, it is the Waqf Act. Abhijit Majumdar is contributing editor, Firstpost. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The White House has retracted President Joe Bidens comment agreeing that Israel should put off a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip until more hostages were released. The White House said that the US president did not fully hear the question, reported the Guardian. Biden had said, yes when reporters shouted questions regarding Israels imminent ground incursion into Gaza, while he was climbing the stairs of his official plane. White House said that given the noise of the planes engine, Biden could not hear the question properly and instead thought he was being asked if hed like to see more hostages freed, to which he said yes. The president was far away. He didnt hear the full question, White House communications director Ben LaBolt was quoted by the Guardian as saying. The question sounded like: Would you like to see more hostages released? He wasnt commenting on anything else. In the last few days, Israel has gathered tanks and troops near the Gaza border for a planned ground invasion. Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than 1 million have been displaced, according to Palestinian officials. This ongoing conflict was triggered after Hamas terrorists burst into Israel on 7 October, killing 1,400 people mainly civilians and taking about 200 hostages. 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 havingthrough 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 Israels 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 Lebanons 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. Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned home on Saturday on a special flight after four years in self-imposed exile in London. The 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo flew in from Dubai to Islamabad on the chartered flight Umeed-e-Pakistan along with some family members, senior party leaders and friends. Sharif is expected to address a massive homecoming rally in Lahore later Saturday and his return comes as Pakistan experiences deepening political turmoil and one of its worst economic crises. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Islamabad from Dubai, he said he wished the situation in the country had improved in his absence. He left Pakistan in 2019, two years after he stepped down after being convicted in a graft case, reported The Associated Press. The former Pakistan PM is also facing multiple legal challenges. In 2020, an anti-graft court in Islamabad issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to return home. The same court on Thursday suspended that arrest warrant until October 24. Another federal court has granted Sharif bail until October 24, giving him protection from arrest until then. Sharif was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in a corruption case involving purchases of luxury apartments in London. His party became hugely unpopular after Imran Khans removal when Nawaz Sharifs brother Shehbaz Sharif replaced Khan. With inputs from agencies US President Joe Biden said that he believed Hamass brutal attack on Israel two weeks ago was aimed at disrupting warming ties between the country and Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons why they acted like they did why Hamas moved on Israel (was) because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden told guests at a campaign fundraiser on Friday. The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel unite the Middle East, he said. Momentum toward a landmark US-brokered deal to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia guardian of Islams two holiest sites was shattered by the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel. The Islamist group stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, taking more than 200 hostages and killing 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 has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and says around 1,500 of the groups fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area initially under attack. A bombing campaign launched in response has levelled entire city blocks in Gaza, so far killing 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Saudi officials announced on October 14 during a visit to Riyadh by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the country had suspended talks with Israel on normalization of relations. Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had spoken of progress with Israel but also insisted on movement on the Palestinian cause. The Gulf kingdom has never recognized Israel and has not joined the 2020 Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, which led neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco, to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. The Biden administration had pressed Saudi Arabia to follow suit, with Riyadh demanding in exchange security guarantees from Washington and assistance in developing a civil nuclear program. In an interview with Fox News last month, Saudis crown prince said he was getting closer every day to a normalization agreement with Israel, while emphasizing the importance of the Palestinian question for his country. Hamas, the Palestinian movement in power in the Gaza Strip, opposes normalization agreements with Israel. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid for war-torn and besieged Gaza started passing into the Rafah border crossing from Egypt Saturday, a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official told AFP. Egyptian state television showed several trucks entering the gate on the 15th day of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group which rules the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people. Israel has been bombing Gaza since Hamas bloody surprise attack of 7 October. The Islamist group stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip 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, also taking more than 200 people hostage. Israel has declared a total siege on Gaza and cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food, creating chronic shortages. Rafah is the only route into Gaza that is not controlled by Israel, which agreed to allow aid in from Egypt following a request from its top ally the United States. Twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, entered the Egyptian terminal, an AFP correspondent said. An AFP journalist on the Palestinian side of the crossing saw 36 empty trailers entering into the terminal and heading towards the Egyptian side, where they were to be loaded with the incoming aid. Four ambulances, two UN vehicles and two Red Cross vehicles were also seen heading into the terminal. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to the Egyptian side of Rafah for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday visited the Egyptian side of the crossing to oversee preparations for the aid delivery. These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline, he said. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza. Watch this adorable brushtail possum cleaning himselfit's just about the cutest thing I've seen all week. I love everything I'm seeingincluding his little pink pointy nose, grabby paws, and enormous ears. The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment provides some information about brushtailed possums, the most "abundant, widely distributed and frequently encountered of all Australian marsupials." They go on to describe the cute creatures: Brush-tailed possums are about as big as domestic cats and have a pointed snout, pink nose, long whiskers and large ears. They also have sharp claws, which they use to climb trees and comb their fur. Brush-tailed possums vary considerably in size and colour. In Tasmania, they tend to be black or grey and have adapted to the cold climate by becoming much larger and furrier than brush-tailed possums on the mainland. In Queensland, however, the animals are more copper-coloured and tend to be smaller than elsewhere. The brush-tailed possum is the most widely distributed possum in Australia. It can be found in forests and woodlands all along the east coast and also lives in inland areas along tree-lined rivers and creeks. Possums are nocturnal animals and are active at night; they usually spend the day sleeping. Raisin lives at the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter in Yackandandah, Victoria, Australia. The shelter, which operates a 24/7 emergency rescue service, has taken in injured, sick, and orphaned Australian wildlife for more than 30 years. After rehabilitating the animals, they are released into the wild (whenever possible). The shelter's website provides more information about the shelter: Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter was started by Glenda Elliott (and her husband Ron) more than 30 years ago. Glenda and Ron have put everything they own into the shelter and property over the years. Kangaloola provides a 24 x 7 x 365 rescue service and handles 250-350 animals per annum. . . Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter services a large area of North East Victoria. We are a registered charity and not for profit association. Kangaloola is one of the largest wildlife shelters in Victoria. To see more of their rescued animals, check out their website or their Instagram or Facebook sites. Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the militant group Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes. The war, which is in its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 4,132 people were killed in Gaza and 84 in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7. Some 14,000 have been wounded in Gaza and more than 1,400 in the West Bank. Iraqs prime minister warned Saturday that if the war between Israel and Hamas spreads to other countries in the region it will affect the flow of oil to international markets. 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. The death toll in Gaza rose to 4,385 dead with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated on Oct. 7, the Palestinian health ministry said. The dead include 1,756 children and 976 women, the health ministry added. Israel urged its citizens to immediately leave Egypt and Jordan, the national security council said on Saturday as regional tensions flared over the war in Gaza. Israels National Security Council raises its travel warnings for Egypt (including Sinai) and Jordan to level 4 (high threat): recommendation not to travel to these countries and for those staying there to leave as soon as possible, it said in a statement. The notice comes just days after Israel recalled its diplomats from Turkey as a security precaution following an earlier request for its citizens to leave as well. The evacuation calls came after days of protests across the Middle East over Israels bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The war ignited after Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, according to Israeli officials. Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and a bombing campaign launched in response has levelled entire city blocks in Gaza, so far killing 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Myanmars ruling junta ordered air strikes and troop reinforcements as it tried to recover lost outposts near the Chinese border from rebels, the military said. The toppling of Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government in a 2021 coup sparked a huge backlash and the military junta is now battling opponents across swaths of the country. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked Myanmar military positions around Muse district in northern Shan state on Thursday and near the remote town of Laiza in Kachin state on Friday. The military was forced to retreat on Friday afternoon and ordered air strikes, as well as artillery and troop reinforcements, the junta said in a statement shortly before midnight Friday. The KIA said Saturday that the military had counter-attacked with air strikes and ground artillery. It added that the junta had suffered some fatalities in the latest clashes this week but did not provide a death toll. We seized a lot of guns and other equipment from the military, KIA Colonel Naw Bu told AFP. The KIA controls large parts of the Christian-majority Kachin state and has clashed with Myanmars military for decades. The region has seen intense fighting since the coup, and the junta accuses the KIA of training Peoples Defence Forces that have sprung up in resistance. Muse lies on the path of a proposed $8.9 billion high-speed rail link from Chinas landlocked Yunnan province to Myanmars west coast, a key part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. The junta has been accused of carrying out multiple bloody attacks on civilians as it struggles to crush resistance to its 2021 coup. Nearly 30 people were killed and dozens were wounded this month after a military strike on a camp for displaced people near Laiza. Amnesty International said the deadly attack on the camp was likely the result of the Myanmar military using a large unguided aerial-delivered bomb, while the junta blamed the explosion on a store of rebel bombs. The PML-N has completely destroyed the legal system by facilitating the return of its supremo Nawaz Sharif, a convicted criminal, back to the country, Former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said on Saturday. The 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo flew in from Dubai to Islamabad on the chartered flight Umeed-e-Pakistan along with some family members, senior party leaders and friends. Sharif is expected to address a massive homecoming rally in Lahore later Saturday and his return comes as Pakistan experiences deepening political turmoil and one of its worst economic crises. A convicted criminal being facilitated in everything! Pakistans legal system has been completely destroyed by PMLN! Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) posted on X. Sharif, a three-time premier, was accorded a warm welcome on his return to Pakistan by party workers and supporters. His brother and ex-prime minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was coming back to unite and put Pakistan back on track. My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred, Shehbaz posted on X. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or group. He is coming back to put Pakistan back on track, he said. Addressing the media at Dubai Airport, Sharif said: Im going back to Pakistan after four years today. When I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feeling of happiness but today I am happy. Sharif left for London in November 2019 on medical grounds after a higher court granted him bail for four weeks. By that time, he had served half of his seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia corruption case. During the four years since then, he was declared a proclaimed offender in Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases for his continuous absence from the proceedings on appeals against the sentences. The Islamabad High Court on Thursday granted him protective bail until October 24 in both cases after NAB did not oppose the petitions filed by him. There has been a talk among political circles that he is returning to the country at the right time as his arch-rival PTI Chairman Khan is in jail and there has been a perfect equation of PML-N with the establishment. Against this backdrop, the PTI has called the PML-N supremo the new blue-eyed boy of the system, the Dawn newspaper reported. The one who was calling someone else [Imran Khan] ladla has now become ladla, PTI leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi has said. Nawaz Sharif, a proclaimed offender and a convict, has got permission to roam around in the country but let me tell you that neither offering motorbikes nor a paradise pass will help them as the people have rejected him and his party, Elahi said. Sharif was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in a corruption case involving purchases of luxury apartments in London. His party became hugely unpopular after Imran Khans removal when Nawaz Sharifs brother Shehbaz Sharif replaced Khan. UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Gazas Hamas, demanding global action to end this godawful nightmare. Addressing a peace summit in Cairo as the war raged into its third week, Guterres said the tiny Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through a humanitarian catastrophe with thousands dead and more than a million people displaced. His remarks came just hours after a first contingent of aid trucks rumbled into southern Gaza, which Guterres said needed to be rapidly scaled up, with much more help sent through. The Palestinians need a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he told the Cairo Summit for Peace which was attended by many Arab leaders. The current bloodshed began on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border into Israel, launching an attack that has killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since the state was founded in 1948. Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign, killing more than 4,100 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry. Although diplomatic efforts to end the violence have made little headway, Cairo historically a key mediator between Hamas and Israel announced plans to hold the summit a week into the war, urging restraint and calling for a return to peace talks, which have been frozen for years. Diplomatic efforts have so far focused on getting humanitarian aid into the war-torn enclave where Israel has imposed a total siege, cutting off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food. The US has imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistans ballistic missile programme, the State Department said. In the designation, the US State Department said on Friday that the sanctions were being imposed as part of the global nonproliferation regime. Today, we are designating three entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These three entities, based in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), have worked to supply missile- applicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile programme, the State Department said in a statement. China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has been the main supplier of arms and defence equipment to Islamabads military modernisation programme. The three companies include General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd, and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. They were sanctioned for having engaged or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan. General Technology Limited has worked to supply brazing materials, which are used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines, and in the production of combustion chambers. Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd. has worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid propellant rocket motors and can be controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. has worked since 2019 to supply D-glass glass fibre, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth, all of which have applications in missile systems. The actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to act against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. The United States is committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime by taking action to disrupt procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern, the US said. The sanctions come days after Pakistan conducted the launch of the Ababeel ballistic missile system. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was booed during his visit to a mosque in Toronto over his response to the Israel-Hamas war. In the video, some people gathered in the mosque are heard saying shame during Trudeaus visit on Friday and urging a facilitator not to let the Canadian PM speak at the podium. The video shows Trudeau addressing the dozens gathered, thanking them for allowing him to pray alongside you in this difficult time, the daily reported. PM Justin Trudeau embarrassed and rejected from Canada Mosque pic.twitter.com/8NUhjYrzyr Mohammed Hijab (@mohammed_hijab) October 20, 2023 The daily said that the Prime Ministers Office confirmed Trudeau attended the International Muslims Organization of Toronto on Friday to show his support to those impacted in the Muslim community from the horrific events in the Middle East. According to The Toronto Sun, Liberal MPs in Canada are joining calls by Muslim groups for Canada to push for a ceasefire in the region, while major Canadian Jewish groups have demanded Trudeau retract an earlier comment as lending credence to the claim by Hamas that Israel was responsible for an attack on a hospital in Gaza city. Additionally, the federal New Democrats, who entered into a confidence-and-supply agreement with the minority Liberal government last year, are also calling for a ceasefire. Everyone is hurt and hurting, everyone is grieving, everyone is scared of what this means, Trudeau told reporters on Friday in Brampton, Ontario when asked if his caucus is at odds over how the Liberals should respond. The Toronto Sun reported that the Toronto-area Liberal MP Salma Zahid, who is chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group have written a letter to the Canadian PM that laid out certain demands in consideration of 33 MPs. The letter demands Canada to join the call for an immediate ceasefire, help facilitate the opening of a humanitarian corridor and stand up for international Law, which was signed by 23 backbench Liberal MPs, eight NDP MPs and both Green Party MPs. International law is clear that innocent civilians and all those not taking part in the fighting must on no account be attacked and must be spared and protected, the letter said. On Thursday, a dozen Muslim, Jewish and Arab MPs from the Liberal caucus met to discuss the conflict. Israel declared war against Hamas after the militant group killed 1,400 Israelis in a brazen attack on October 7. Hamas, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, has control over the Gaza Strip, reported The Toronto Sun. Tensions have risen across the Middle East as Israel has retaliated with airstrikes and cut off the Palestinian territorys access to water, food and electricity. The United Nations says this violates international humanitarian law. The UK government has expressed its disagreement with Indian government decisions, which it believes resulted in the departure of Canadian diplomats amid an ongoing standoff between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist. The move impacted the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Friday. It came after Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an alleged Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status amid strained bilateral relations over Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus claims of Indian agents being involved in the June murder of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly rejected the allegation and also refuted any violation of the Vienna Convention in relation to the diplomats exit. Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals. We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India, reads the FCDO statement. We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles of the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention. We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it said. The UKs statement followed the US government also backing Canada over the standoff, with the State Department saying they are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India. The MEA rejected all attempts to portray the implementation of diplomatic 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 parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the MEA said in a statement on Friday. Both the UK and the US are part of the Five Eyes network. It is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and uses both surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT). The row between India and Canada was triggered following Trudeaus statement in the Canadian Parliament last month that its security forces were actively pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader and wanted terrorist in India Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia (Canada), an allegation strongly rejected by the MEA as absurd and motivated. On Friday, Trudeau told reporters in a televised press conference that the Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. Earlier, the Canadian authorities also warned of a slowdown in visa processing times due to the reduction of employees at its diplomatic missions in India. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday and discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflicts between Israel and Palestine and the humanitarian crisis in the region. We discussed the next round of negotiations on the Peace Formula, which will take place in Malta. Turkey will participate, adding its authoritative voice and position, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.We also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law, he added. The Mediterranean island of Malta announced Friday it would host a round of Ukraine peace talks on October 28-29, after similar meetings in Jeddah and Copenhagen earlier this year. Russia is not expected to take part in the talks, which Zelenskyy hopes will rally support for his own peace plan. When New York State legalized recreational pot sales in 2021, the state predicted it would have at least 120 adult-use recreational dispensaries open by now. Instead, the count stands at 27. Other states have moved much faster. Montana, which legalized adult-use cannabis consumption the same year, has 432 dispensaries. New Mexico legalized in 2021, too. It has 633 23 times more than New York. Then there are the sales numbers. Since January, New York has pulled in about $66 million in sales. Montana has generated nearly $170 million during the same time frame with only about 6% of New Yorks population. Like Montana and New York, New Jersey has a young cannabis market. But as of June, New Jersey has sold roughly $305 million worth of recreational pot more than four times as much as New York. In July, Maryland began allowing its medical operators to sell recreational cannabis something New York plans to allow on a limited basis. Since then, it has raked in $85 million in sales in the first month alone more than New York has all year. The road to legal pot sales has been a bumpy one in New York. Lawsuits slowed the rollout. The state focused on granting the first licenses to applicants that had been affected by cannabis laws in the past, rather than open the market broadly. When it does mature, New Yorks recreational market is expected to generate more than $1 billion per year by 2025, and $4.41 billion by 2030, according to New Frontier Data, a marijuana research firm. But a few things have slowed it down. The social equity-focused conditional license program, open only to those harmed by cannabis prohibition, has been a slow and fitful process. Money to help those conditional licensees was tied up in an underfunded Social Equity Fund. The state promised to find locations for the newly licensed stores, only for licensees to be told at the last minute by the state Dormitory Authority that locations weren't ready. Many have had trouble finding store locations. Because New Yorks market has been so slow to develop, legal pot growers have been unable to find buyers for all of last years crop, let alone this years. And now rule changes on the growing side mean those cash-strapped growers will be facing new competition from big, deep-pocketed medical marijuana firms after being promised a three-year window where large producers would be locked out. And lawsuits have tied up store openings not once, but twice. Now, New York is trying to speed things up. It has opened up its licensing process in hopes of adding hundreds of new stores next year. Its allowing medical marijuana firms to open one adult-use store each by years end, and two more in 2024. Conditional growers and retailers feel burned by the sudden burst of deep-pocketed competition. But state officials are hoping things will begin to smooth out. I would encourage New Yorkers to view the last year of whats been going on with New York cannabis as a trial run, said Damian Fagon, chief equity officer of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. We were getting the market off the ground for the first time. It wasnt perfect, but it definitely laid a foundation for whats to come. Social equity The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, signed into law in 2021, gave licensing priority for social and economic equity applicants, which it defined as individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of past prohibition, minority- and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers and service-disabled veterans. State leaders like Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, said it was important for those punished for engaging in the underground cannabis trade to be made whole when the trade turned legal. We went all over the country to see what other states did. How did they start a legal industry that excluded people who were incarcerated for cannabis when it was illegal? How did they do that? said Peoples-Stokes. It wasnt intended to be equitable. That meant the state had no model to follow when it came to social equity, and was forced to start from scratch. Doing so greatly complicated the markets launch. No state legal market of the 20 or so adult-use markets across the country has ever started with social equity, Fagon said. As part of that goal, the Office of Cannabis Management earmarked its first retail licenses for individuals who had been convicted of a cannabis-related offense and had two years experience running a business in the state. But those conditional licenses brought with them a series of bureaucratic challenges and red tape, which slowed down the process of getting stores open. And the time people have had to wait has been a setback, growers and retailers have emphatically said. Other states dont necessarily have the social equity component that New York is on the leading pioneering edge of, said Patrick Hines, an attorney and leader of the cannabis and hemp group at Hodgson Russ. Theyre trying to balance the social equity considerations that theyre trying to advance against certain things that need to be done in order to set up a viable marketplace for a heavily, heavily regulated product. But there are still hiccups. Those marginalized groups are supposed to receive priority, with half of licenses in the general application pool going to them. But the state is fast-tracking applicants who can prove they already have a store location secured an expensive proposition for people who have had to wait through the systems stops and starts. Its been a while waiting around to see when they were going to open this up and when they might make decisions and when you could expect to have a license, Hines said. You may not be able to lock up property for that long. Access to capital In a further attempt to make the states cannabis industry equitable, New York proposed a $200 million fund to help entrepreneurs of color and other marginalized groups get into the business. The state put up $50 million and sought the rest from private investors. Those efforts lagged until June when Chicago Atlantic, an Illinois-based asset management firm with extensive experience in the cannabis industry, agreed to invest $150 million. The fund was set up to help qualifying licensees find, lease, renovate and furnish storefronts. The money comes in the form of low-interest loans, which the licensees will be required to pay back. Initially, the plan was for the state to find and build out turnkey locations for licensees. At the 11th hour, the state changed course. Still underfunded, DASNY did not have turnkey properties ready and told licensees they could find, lease and build out their own spaces instead of waiting. But securing real estate has been much more difficult than anticipated, with many landlords not wanting to lease to dispensaries. Thats going to affect the very people who we are trying to prop up with the social equity aspects of this program, which is people who may not have access to capital, may not have access to traditional financing, especially because of the restrictions on financing and financial products for plant-touching businesses, Hines said. Thats going to have an impact on them if theyve got to go out, find their own space, and then find capital to fund the build-out. The Office of Cannabis Management doesnt administer the fund, its privately managed in partnership with the Dormitory Authority. But Fagon has personal experience as a hemp farmer trying to raise money in the cannabis space. They were up against a pretty big challenge in raising that money, Fagon said. Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, which put banks and federally backed loans out of reach. You have to rely on private capital, which is inherently wary of risks, Fagon said. And so $150 million from the private sector, its going to take some time to raise that kind of cash, especially for a new market that in state after state has proven to be significantly volatile in the initial stages. Lawsuits Lawsuits have halted new store openings in the state not once but twice. Every state that has eventually launched a social equity program has been sued over it, said Fagon. The national landscape for using litigation to challenge equity programs is a grand American tradition. Whenever the state or the federal government comes in and tries to alleviate some institutional legacy harm, theyre sued over it. In the first instance, an out-of-state company said it was unconstitutionally left out of the first wave of store openings because the owners cannabis conviction occurred outside New York. Now, an injunction has stopped most store openings while a lawsuit plays out over a group of veterans who say they were unfairly left out of the states conditional licensing program. Fagon said social equity programs have been even harder to execute since affirmative action was struck down by the Supreme Court. But the OCM has an explicit mandate from the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act to prioritize people who were harmed under cannabis prohibition. If we werent doing this work, those groups would be suing us. And I would much prefer a situation where were working on their behalf, Fagon said. Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Shri S Krishnan, witnessed the launch of a 2KW DC Portable Charger developed by the Centre of Excellence at IIT Madras Research Park to boost Electric Vehicle Adoption. The official from MeitY, Smt. Sunita Verma GC (R&DE), MeitY, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, IIT Madras, and other dignitaries were present. Design in India will stimulate home-grown IP and accelerate the startup ecosystem, said the Secretary, emphasizing the importance of IIT Madras Research Park. The 2 KW EV charger is a significant step, designed using recycled materials. This initiative aligns with MeitYs mission to accelerate EV adoption, reducing dependence on imported chargers. A substantial portion of portable chargers used by OEMs is imported, limiting customization. The 2KW charger, developed by CEET, IIT Madras, and Flowtrik Technologies with MeitY funding, addresses this issue. It boasts >95% efficiency, can function up to 50C, and adheres to safety standards. These chargers can adapt to battery requirements and feature IoT compatibility for real-time tracking. Power output settings are customizable for OEMs. Successful large-scale manufacturing of these chargers can make a significant impact on the portable charger market. Addressing the gathering, Shri S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY said, A former Erie County Jail deputy was arraigned Thursday in Orchard Park Town Court on multiple charges stemming from allegedly driving through a barricade during a Buffalo Bills game on Oct. 1. John A. Gugino, 47, of Hamburg, was charged with one count each of second-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, as well as two traffic violations for failure to obey a police officer and failure to obey a traffic control device, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. It is the latest trouble for Gugino, who worked as a deputy inside the Erie County Holding Center until June when he was fired after pleading guilty to a cocaine-possession charge. Hes also facing additional charges after allegedly refusing to leave a 2022 Garth Brooks concert at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Gugino is accused of ignoring the commands of an Erie County sheriffs deputy and posted road closure signs near Highmark Stadium. According to prosecutors, he engaged in conduct that created a risk of serious physical injury to another person by driving his vehicle through a barricade onto a closed portion of Abbott Road. The road had been blocked off because of the Bills game at the stadium. Gugino is also accused of causing injuries to the deputy who fell while attempting to stop Guginos vehicle. The deputy was treated for minor injuries to his right arm and shoulder. Gugino faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if convicted. He has another pending criminal case in Orchard Park Town Court scheduled this week for a non-jury trial that was adjourned because of his arraignment on the new case. In that case, he was charged with one count of third-degree criminal trespass and two counts of second-degree harassment. During the July 23 incident, Gugino is accused of refusing to leave the Garth Brooks concert at Highmark Stadium after being ejected for cursing a violation of the stadiums fan conduct policy regarding profanity. He reportedly would not comply with orders and struggled with deputies while being escorted from the stadium. Gugino is also accused of scratching the right forearm of one deputy and making several threatening statements to another Sheriffs Office official during the incident. Sean Kirst Columnist Follow Sean Kirst 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 Full recognition clicked in Tuesday night only when the two ninth-graders sat at the same table, at the West Hertel Academy. Maimuna Mim and Jaylen Shaw occasionally see each other in the hallways at City Honors School, and happen to be taking the same global studies class. What they hadnt realized is how theyre linked by some of the deepest and most distinguished history within the Buffalo city schools. Maimuna earned the gold medal and Jaylen the silver during formal presentation of the 2022-2023 Jesse Ketchum awards an honor dating to 1873 that is unique to Buffalo. Their scholastic averages were both well over 99, the highest among all eighth-graders in the city. The teens said they werent aware of the full significance until they received their medals and a cash award, in ceremonies at West Hertel. Beyond all else, Maimuna said, it meant a lot of hard work I was doing was paying off. Their achievement and that of about 30 other students who received bronze Ketchum medals for the top eighth-grade averages at their particular schools underlined a kind of beautiful challenge for Bill Greco, a retired research scientist from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Greco, historian for the Jesse Ketchum Fund, has shared his story before. As a child, his family struggled financially after his dad was released from prison and had trouble finding work. To Greco, earning a Ketchum award took on an almost spiritual importance. Even as a kid, he saw educational achievement as a gateway to a gentler, less pressurized way of life. He captured the medal, and ended up earning a Ph.D. For 23 years, he has turned his formidable research skills toward putting together a book about the history and meaning of the Ketchum awards, set up as a 19th century tribute to Jesse Ketchum, a Buffalo businessman and philanthropist who believed in the mission of public education. As Greco told the West Hertel audience of parents and children, there have been only about 11,000 medal recipients among the millions of Buffalo schoolchildren since 1873. His research led him to Ridge Lawn Cemetery in Cheektowaga, where he found the side-by-side unmarked graves of Grace Celia Taylor, the citys first African American Ketchum gold medalist, and Ida Dora Fairbush, a Ketchum recipient who became the first Black teacher in an integrated Buffalo city school. Thanks to Greco, Ketchum fund officials, historian Barbara Seals Nevergold and a donation from Mount Calvary Cemetery Group, both of those women now have tombstones. Taylors includes a rendering of the Ketchum medal and a two-word eulogy: Trailblazing scholar. On Tuesday, those words applied to the hope of every teen in the auditorium. Grecos most recent effort involves sifting through digital obituaries that mention Ketchum medals. While hes learned medal recipients have succeeded as physicians, lawyers, engineers, businesspeople and in countless other endeavors, one profession topped all the results: Most of all, they became teachers. Sean Kirst: A Buffalo yearbook collector makes amends, 53 years later Retired cancer researcher Bill Greco always regretted his snub of second-place Jesse Ketchum Medal winner dating back to the eighth grade at P.S. 77 on Buffalos West Greco faces an eternal dilemma in finishing up the book. Since the Ketchum story expands with each young winner in each new year and with each new avenue of digital research he needs to pull back at some point if he wants to write the first sentence. The students heard from Mayor Byron Brown and Associate Superintendent Fatima Morrell, who noted Grecos work and said to her young audience: You are among the brightest and greatest there ever was. Guest speaker Zeneta Everhart asked the students to rise above an age in which the things people say and do to hurt each other is heartbreaking. She recalled how her son, Zaire Goodman, was shot and wounded on May 14, 2022, the day 10 Black citizens were killed by a racist mass murderer at Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue. Mother and son thought out this response: They started Zeneta and Zaires Book Club, distributing thousands of books involving Black characters, history and culture to children, behind the idea that education is a pathway of enlightenment and hope. So many of the stories at West Hertel proved that point. There was Maimuna, the gold medalist, whose parents left Bangladesh when she was an infant. Maimunas mother, Rabeya Rima, spoke of a single-minded quest to provide their kids with a better life, and how her daughter has a keen understanding of the magnitude and sacrifice of such a choice. Sean Kirst: For rising Buffalo students, medal provides 'gateway to a whole new world' Before Mohammad Bhuia could give his undivided attention Tuesday to one of his great moments as a father, he had a mission he needed to complete. His toddler son, Shayan, was tired and restless in the auditorium at Buffalos West Hertel Academy. Mohammad carried the little boy to the back of the hall. The father walked in patient back-and-forth Maimunas goal is a career as a physician in womens medicine a mission reinforced last spring when Rima endured a miscarriage. Maimuna provided nonstop care and support, Rima said, somehow managing to sustain her high level of academic success. What she did for her mother? said Maimunas dad, M.D. Haque, who works for the U.S. Postal Service. Shes a wonderful girl. Silver medalist Jaylen Shaw comes from a family of remarkable achievers: His brother Alex skipped three grades en route to high school at City Honors. Some people are blessed, said their dad, Barace Shaw, whose goal for his children is to see them fully embrace the educational opportunities around them, while theyre still young. Jaylen said his schedule and study habits at School 89 were transformed by the pandemic. His sleep patterns changed he turned into a night owl, said his dad but Jaylen also found internal direction in the freedom of online learning. It got easier, he said. My mindset was different. He has a passion for history, and he said he takes particular satisfaction in creating a memorable essay, when its off the top of your head and you write it down and it just flows. After the ceremony, the families gathered for a meal. The achievements of Jaleah Acosta, Ketchum recipient from School 27, were celebrated by multiple generations: Her father and mother, Richard Acosta and Vanessa Harris, were joined by relatives including Jaleahs grandmother, Lynette Martinez, and great-grandmother, Maragarita Perez. Shes got a great heart, Perez said, noting how the teenager brings everyone together as evidenced by a 3-year-old sibling, Jordyn, always at her sisters side. Nnenna Muhammad, whose daughter Qahira was a Ketchum recipient at School 80, saw the day as a family victory. Muhammad does evening shifts as supervisor of a cleaning service, and her older daughter, Qania, helps to look out for Qahira. Qahira, aware of how hard her mom works on her behalf, said her scholastic discipline is built around a dream: Her goal is to be an architect or an entrepreneur, a force in shaping and transforming cities. Sean Kirst: At Ketchum medal ceremony, a grateful 92-year-old brings hers back Today Juanita Kirkland Hunter understands what she could not know then: Within her, in a way lasting beyond 90 years, three of her teachers ignited a sense of the possible. Yuel Nguse said his award, earned at School 6, is an early sign of how he hopes that someday people will be amazed. His sister Melat translating for her mother, Frehiwet Mesfun said the family is grateful for educational gateways that did not exist in Eritrea, where Yuel was born. The emotional parents of Mashea Rahaman videotaped the moment when their daughter, born in Bangladesh, received her medal from School 6. Shah Rahaman and Ruksana Akther said the honor epitomized the sense of possibility that caused them to settle in Buffalo in the first place. And Hayden Raab, who earned his Ketchum medal at School 67, said it reinforces his goal of becoming an astronomer. Ive got a fascination with the unknown, Hayden said, recalling how his grandfather a retiree from the Ford Stamping Plant helped cultivate a passion for all those tiny dots in the night sky. Kari Flak, Haydens mom, said she is most impressed by Haydens concern for an aunt with brain cancer, by his awareness of the struggles of quiet classmates at school, by his sheer compassion. I cant wait to see what he becomes, Flak said, which speaks to the book-writing challenge for Bill Greco: With the Ketchum medals, the greatest meaning always involves what these kids do tomorrow. The two Cheektowaga Town Board members running to lead the town for the next four years have been butting heads during the campaign. Michael Jasinski, a Republican, has called on Democrat Brian Nowak to resign after Nowak publicly called out an applicant to the town Ethics Board for flying a confederate flag at her home. Jasinski also sponsored a resolution to censure Nowak for reportedly offering a bribe to the towns highway superintendent. The Erie County District Attorneys Office looked into that accusation and found no evidence of criminal conduct by Nowak. Erie County DA: 'No evidence of criminal conduct' by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak An investigation by the Erie County District Attorney's Office found "no evidence of criminal conduct" by Cheektowaga Town Board member Brian Nowak, who was publicly accused last month of bribing another town elected official. Nowak, at the time, called the accusations against him false and baseless. Both are now campaigning for election as town supervisor, with promises of making Cheektowaga more affordable. Affordability has become a big issue, Nowak said. You cant just dump that all on the backs of the taxpayers. You got to find a way to grow the tax base. Nowak said the town needs to focus on finding efficiencies to save money, while Jasinski thinks the town should reprioritize its spending. We need to put the people of Cheektowaga first, Jasinksi said. Nowak has been on the board for nearly six years, and Jasinski was elected to his seat in 2021. Current Supervisor Diane Benczkowski has served two terms and is not running for re-election. Jasinski is also running on the Conservative ballot, and Nowak is the Working Families candidate. Affordability is a big concern Nowak said the first thing he would do to address the affordability issue is help the towns Planning Department become more proactive. Currently, the Planning Department has only one employee. Some targeted investment in the department should help the town attract more development projects, Nowak said. He said he previously presented the idea of a two-tiered tax system to the Town Board, and would like to revive that conversation. Under the system Nowak has in mind, commercial properties are taxed at a slightly higher rate than residential properties. Not so much where you force a business out or punish them, but just to where the residents dont keep picking up more and more of the slice of the pie, Nowak said. And thats a real solution to this issue of affordability. Jasinski thinks the tax rate is already too high and prohibitive to business development in the town. As an entrepreneur, why would I want to do business in a town when Im going to be taxed to death, Jasinski questioned. To cut down on government spending, Jasinski said he will audit every town departments budget to assess needs versus wants. If departments have money left over at the end of the year, they shouldnt be spending it on unnecessary things. The money should go into the general fund to help keep taxes down, Jasinski said. We have needs, our roads need to be plowed and our roads need to be fixed and our garbage needs to get picked up, Jasinski said. But the problem is, you and I as average citizens in todays world have to live with less. Why does government get to live with more? Jasinski will also prioritize hiring a comptroller to be the watchdog of the towns finances. Cheektowaga settles court case over asylum-seekers living in hotels The Town of Cheektowaga has reached an agreement with three local hotels and a government contractor to allow asylum-seekers sent to the town from New York City to stay, but limits how long the hotels can house them. We dont know whats coming in and whats going out, he said. Leaning on his professional experience, Jasinski said he wants to run the town like a business. In two years, he plans to have a budget surplus. Nowak said he will also focus on finding efficiencies in the town, such as with the street light project that he supports. The town will own all the street lights, saving taxpayers $1 million per year, Nowak said. And Nowak would like to see the town apply for more grant funding. Looking at how to solve the problem of affordability in Cheektowaga, theres no one thing that will do it, he said. Not Cheektowaga natives Both Jasinski and Nowak grew up in Buffalo and moved to Cheektowaga as adults. Jasinski and his wife moved to Cheektowaga around 25 years ago to raise their three children. Jasinski is also a grandfather of two. Its pretty sad whats happening to this town, and I felt the need, living here in the town I love, the place I call home, that I had to get involved, Jasinski said. Cheektowaga attorney again sues town over property assessments Gary Borek, a Cheektowaga resident and tax attorney, filed a class action lawsuit against the town and its former assessor, Jill Murphy, claiming the method the town used to determine 2023 property values resulted in "inequitable and unfair" tax distribution in the town. Jasinski went to Seneca Vocational High School in Buffalo, where he learned the electrical trade. He said he took night classes to become a certified class one engineer. He also has a degree in business management from Bryant and Stratton College. His professional experience has been in HVAC installation and managing construction projects, Jasinski said. Nowak has lived in Cheektowaga since 2006, he said. He and his wife have a 3-year-old son and another child on the way. Nowak has a bachelors degree in education from Buffalo State University and wanted to be a teacher. Those plans changed, however, after he was convicted of driving while intoxicated when he was in his early 20s, said Nowak, who is now 36. Nowak has 20 years of experience working in fast food, retail, sales and customer service from entry-level positions to management, he said. He has been a volunteer firefighter with the Cheektowaga Pine Hill Fire Department since 2018. Ive got a range of backgrounds and experiences that have me prepared to take on whats going to be (a) tough job from day one, Nowak said. Other Cheektowaga elections Also on the ballot in Cheektowaga are three Town Board seats. Incumbent Democrats Gerald Kaminski and Linda Hammer face Democrat challenger Kenneth Young and Republicans Vernon Thompson, Eileen Ebner and Barbara Bakowski. Current Highway Superintendent Mark Wegner whom Nowak was accused of bribing is not running for re-election. Democrat Richard Rusiniak and Republican Darryl Stachura are vying to replace him. Town Clerk Kimberly Burst and Town Justice David Stevens are both running unopposed. Google for India 2023: Enhanced AI-Powered Search and More for Indian Users News oi -Kabir Jain Google recently made waves at its 2023 'Google for India' event by unveiling a slew of enhancements designed to offer Indian users a more enriching and localized experience. The tech giant is strengthening its commitment to make AI-powered search more visual, user-friendly, and relevant to local audiences. A More Visual Search Experience During the event, Google introduced significant updates to the Search Generative Experience (SGE), an AI-powered search tool that aims to provide more effective and engaging results. Google aims to create a richer search experience by incorporating images and videos into search results. This means that users searching for topics such as "how to drape a saree" will have access to visual guides with images and videos showcasing various saree draping styles, making the information more accessible and easier to follow. These visual enhancements not only cater to fashion queries but are set to enrich the overall search experience, making it more engaging and informative. Local Relevance Through User Reviews Google is making the SGE more relevant to Indian users by introducing location-specific responses. For example, users exploring a city will be able to access information about local attractions, things to do, and user reviews, providing valuable insights and recommendations. This feature ensures that users can make more informed decisions when planning their outings and activities. Simplified Access to Government Schemes Many Indians turn to Google Search for information on government schemes related to healthcare, housing, employment, women's welfare, farming, and more. In response, Google is simplifying the search experience by incorporating overviews of more than 100 government schemes in the coming weeks. These schemes span various critical areas and will be accessible in both Hindi and English, streamlining the process of accessing essential information. Visual Search for Skin Conditions Google is not only enhancing its search experience but also expanding its capabilities with Google Lens. Users can now use Google Lens to visually search for information on skin conditions. By taking a picture or uploading an image of their skin condition, users can find visual matches and access valuable information about skin issues, contributing to better healthcare awareness. Empowering Merchants and Consumers Google Pay, a popular digital payments app, is taking steps to empower both merchants and consumers. It is partnering with ePayLater to provide a credit line for merchants, addressing their working capital needs. Additionally, Google Pay is introducing sachet loans, starting as low as Rs. 15,000, in collaboration with DMI Finance. This feature offers straightforward repayment options, starting at just Rs. 111, making credit more accessible and convenient for small and medium-sized businesses. For consumers, Google Pay is expanding its personal loan offerings, with Axis Bank now making personal loans available on the platform. More banks are expected to join in the future. Users can also access credit lines from banks via UPI, simplifying the payment process and making formal credit more accessible. Enhanced Shopping Experience Google is revamping the shopping experience on its site to make product discovery and shopping more accessible. Users can now search for products with specific filters to quickly find what they are looking for. This visual feed of products and filters aims to simplify the shopping process and enhance the overall experience. Furthermore, Google is introducing Business Messages in Shopping on Search, enabling users to ask questions and receive quick answers from merchants. This feature will be available to everyone early next year. For users interested in physically examining products before making a purchase, Google Search will highlight nearby stores that offer the desired product, complete with details on inventory, deals, and shipping timelines. Additionally, Google is introducing the Google Merchant Center Next, which uses AI to simplify the process of populating online catalogs with information from merchants' websites. This feature offers insights on top-selling products and enhances the planning of product demand. Immersive News Experience on YouTube YouTube is rolling out an immersive watch page for news in India, featuring content from credible sources. This feature will be available in 11 Indian languages, starting in Q4 2023. It aims to provide viewers with a comprehensive and deep-dive experience into news topics, recommending content across video on demand, livestreams, podcasts, and Shorts. AI-Enhanced Security To combat evolving threats and scams, Google Play Protect, which offers proactive protection against malware and unwanted software, will introduce real-time scanning at the code level in India. This will help detect malicious apps that may attempt to evade detection using techniques such as AI. Google Play Protect will recommend a real-time app scan when installing apps that have not been scanned before, enhancing security and protection. 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 Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Chelsea Ellis and her friend Karley Mueller were walking down the sidewalk on Main Street 3 years ago after a trip to the post office. At the same time, Buffalo Police Officer Branden Lowe was driving to the scene of what would turn out to be a false report of a stabbing. Traveling at speeds approaching 80 mph, attorneys for Ellis say Lowe was trying to steer around another vehicle at an intersection. His patrol SUV careened onto the sidewalk, striking Ellis and sending her airborne until she landed 67 feet away. Ellis' injuries were catastrophic. Her spinal cord was severed and her spine fractured. She survived, but her life and the lives of her loved ones were changed forever. The crash left her quadriplegic, completely dependent on her caregivers to stay alive. Appeals court rules Buffalo liable for speeding officer's crash that paralyzed pedestrian The City of Buffalo is liable for a police officers 2020 crash that left a woman a quadriplegic and injured four others because the officer acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others, a panel of state Appellate Division judges ruled Friday. On Friday, Ellis appeared in a Buffalo courtroom to testify in a civil suit against the City of Buffalo. In a blue dress and a long white cardigan, her hair plaited into a French braid, she sat in a motorized wheelchair facing the jurors and alternates five women and three men. The sound of the portable ventilator that keeps her alive filled the courtroom packed with her friends and supporters. Without a trial, an appellate court has already determined that the city is liable for the crash, finding that the officer acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others." So the jurors who listened to testimony last week and will continue doing so this week are tasked with determining the damages owed, which could be more than $100 million, in the lawsuit against the city, the Buffalo Police Department and the officer. Speaking is difficult for Ellis. She has learned how to use a special valve on her tracheostomy tube that allows her to put sound to her speech. But that becomes dangerous when she grows emotional because she can't control her breathing, which is mechanically done for her by the ventilator. So on Friday, she mouthed her words and a speech pathologist with experience reading her lips spoke for her. "I am a human being," Ellis said through the interpreter. "I want to share because it is my right and responsibility to explain how this tragedy has changed my life and how I will continue to persevere." Before she came to court, Ellis' lawyers showed the jurors what Ellis was like before the crash and how her life changed. Her best friend, Katherine Martin, testified about how they became friends on a camping trip while attending Houghton College. "She was extroverted and friendly," Martin said, and helped her overcome her shyness. When Ellis learned Martin was learning to play the guitar, she announced at a Bible study group they were attending that the following week, Martin would be singing and playing the guitar for the group. Martin was stunned, but she did it. "And soon I was playing before 600 people at church," Martin said. Ellis loved to travel, Martin said, once visiting 11 countries in one year. But more than travel she loved people and was especially drawn to helping refugees and new immigrants, she said. Ellis, who was 30 at the time of the accident, was a dedicated teacher at Lafayette High School on the West Side. Martin spoke about trying to help care for Ellis. Her friend requires round-the-clock care and needs at least two people to move her from her bed to a wheelchair and back. She cannot be left alone even for a minute, and it's often her family members who stay up all night to make sure she's safe. Martin talked about taking the overnight shift once with a home health care aide. But that aide had to leave an hour earlier than the next one was arriving. "I was terrified," Martin said. Luckily, Ellis slept through the hour and nothing happened. But she was present another time when the tracheostomy cuff broke. Ellis couldn't breathe. Ellis' mother had just walked into the house and directed Martin on how to use an AMBU bag to squeeze breaths into Ellis manually until they could get a new cuff. "She doesn't deserve that," Martin said. Ellis should be able to have a relationship with her family and friends without depending on them to keep her alive. "I miss my best friend," Martin said. The jurors were also shown two videos, including one of a deposition Ellis gave from a hospital bed in 2021 to attorneys for the city. They asked her what her plans had been before the crash. She said she had left teaching high school and had become a real estate agent with the goal of buying two multi-unit houses and using the proceeds to fund two overseas schools, one in Thailand and the other in Yemen. She also wanted to become a professor. "Do you have career plans now?" a lawyer is heard asking her. Ellis began to cry in the video, shown on a big screen to the jurors, and on laptops for the judge and attorneys. The attorney asked her if she wanted to take a break. Ellis' attorney, John J. Fromen Jr., said she could keep speaking. An interpreter nearby read her lips. "I want to do everything I planned," the interpreter said. Ellis then was able to speak. "And I will." She then mouthed: "It will just be very hard." 'One tough cookie' Doctors who testified earlier in the week said the kind of devastating spinal cord injury Ellis suffered is usually fatal. "Most patients don't make it to the hospital," said Dr. Richard M. Spiro, chief of neurosurgery at Erie County Medical Center, who operated on Ellis the day of the crash and performed a second surgery nearly two weeks later. "This is as bad as we see in neurosurgery in the trauma world." Dr. Craig H. Lichtblau, who met with Ellis and examined her medical records, said he's only treated a couple of other patients who survived a similar injury. "Modern medicine and a devoted, loving family, and her will to live that's why she's alive today," Lichtblau said, describing Ellis as "one tough cookie." Her pain and suffering since the noon hour crash on April 15, 2020, plus what it will cost to care for her the rest of her life, are key components in a civil trial underway in State Supreme Court. The plan of care for Ellis that Lichtblau recommended would come at a significant cost. Lichtblau, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist with a practice in North Palm Beach, Fla., told jurors that two nurses a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse should provide Ellis with around-the-clock care. Why not just home health aides, even teamed up with an LPN? "You can get by until a mistake is made," he said, or until some medical emergency or something like an equipment failure puts Ellis' life at risk. "In three minutes, this patient could be dead," he said. He called his recommended plan a "medical necessity no fluff and puff." "This plan is designed to give her everything she needs," he said. "This is a catastrophic injury with catastrophic results." Implementing Lichtblau's care plan would cost nearly $1.4 million in 2024 and cost more than $26 million over the next 15 years, said Kristin Kucsma, a New Jersey economist summoned by Ellis' lawyers as an expert witness. If Ellis lives to 82 years of age, the support and care for her would cost $146 million under the two-nurse plan. Employing a nurse and a home health aide over that span would cost $115 million, Kucsma said. Kucsma calculated $6.3 million for future lost earnings, another component of the damages trial. Hopes for the future A second video shown in court Friday showed what Ellis' everyday life is like now. Buffalo man admits making false 911 call that led to crash that paralyzed pedestrian William B. Gray's call in April 2020 led to a collision involving a police SUV that injured five people and left a pedestrian paralyzed, according to the DA's Office. She went from a free spirit who danced the "Electric Slide" at her brother's wedding and sang a song in Belarusian for her new sister-in-law from Belarus to someone who cannot do anything for herself. During her appearance, her interpreter read her lips and from a statement Ellis had previously dictated. Lucas Fromen, another of her lawyers, asked her about her hopes. "Someone should pass around the popcorn," Ellis mouthed, eliciting quiet laughs from her supporters. Ellis struggled with her words and the interpreter read her previously written statement. She said she still wants to become a teacher again, start the two schools, get married, have a baby of her own and adopt more children, too. She knows it may not be possible yet she will keep trying. But she said she can't if she's constantly struggling to stay alive. Ellis said that she constantly feels defenseless and her needs have strained her relationship with her family members. She said she and her family need and deserve help. Ellis insisted on mouthing her final words herself. Operation Iron Swords - Day 14 - 20 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." Israel bombarded Gaza relentlessly, killing at least 4,137 people and destroying entire neighbourhoods, according to Palestinian officials, The Gaza health ministry said over 13,000 were 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 81 killed and 1,400 wounded, while Israel numbered 1,403 killed and 4,932 wounded. At least 306 Israeli soldiers had been killed since war started. The IDF military spokesman added that the army had confirmed information about 203 persons detained in Gaza and about 100 missing person. A fresh report from Turkiye's Center for Countering Disinformation offers further insights into a recent video shared by Israel's official state account on social media, regarding the bombing of Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, showing that the Israeli narrative of the attack is false and misleading. The report said the footage shared on the official Israeli state social media account with the headline "We have evidence for those still questioning what happened to the hospital in Gaza", contains manipulation. The Center has reached the conclusion that the missiles launched from Gaza were aimed at Israel, and the hospital that suffered the devastating strike was not situated in the path of those missiles. Desmond Travers, who spent 40 years in the Irish military, was part of the famous three-member [Goldstone] United Nations Fact-Finding Mission, which investigated war crimes during the Israeli incursion into Gaza in 2008-09. "I have investigated rockets that were fired from Gaza that failed to exit Gaza during past conflicts and I do not consider that they were very lethal when they impacted. In the two or three cases, I examined the damage they did and it was negligible. For that reason whatever occurred in the hospital in Gaza, I do not think was caused by a Palestinian Jihad rocket. "An expert whose opinion I respect in the West has come up with an opinion based upon the impact size of the detonation and the sound of the detonation and their opinion is that this was an impact from a missile or a guided bomb and that the missile or bomb would be 100 to 250 kilogrammes. There are many Western bombs and missiles that fall into such a category and those bombs and missiles are available to NATO in the West. And indeed with the Israeli defense forces.... "I do not think the Palestinian groups have a munition of 100 kg to 250 kg payload. They haven't arrived at that level of competence yet.... But that does not redeem them because we know from the terrorism in Ireland that people can place quantities of explosive material in a particular site and detonate it, of course, but I do not agree with the Israeli estimation that it was a Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. ... "[The fact that theres not a deep enough crater] could suggest the use of an improvised explosive device whose energy went upwards rather than downwards. In other words, it was in place before it exploded rather than dropped from an altitude. The other explanation is that a missile of some sophistication can have a proximity fuse, which prevents it from creating a crater because a crater is a waste of energy. A crater means a lot of the explosive energy does not do what is intended for it to do, which is to destroy the surrounding area. Missiles with proximity fuses are designed to explode at a certain distance above ground. And that technology is very definitely with one side (Israel) and not with the other." If Israel enters the Gaza Strip with a ground operation, then another 10,000-15,000 Palestinians will die, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said. Blind support for Israel "provides a license to kill," so Palestine hopes that the US will not go in this direction, as Israel is not under threat of existence, Shtayyeh told CNN, adding that the White House should urge the parties to work out a peaceful solution together. The Palestinian prime minister added that the current US leadership lacks the political will to end the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Bloomberg reported that while early into the conflict, Israel promised coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land on Hamas; its military later indicated that the ground operation might be something different from what you think. Bloomberg noted this change in tone came after an unprecedented string of visits to Israel by high-ranking US officials, including President Joe Biden himself. According to three unnamed senior Israeli officials interviewed by the news agency, the role and influence of the US in the Israel-Hamas conflict are deeper and more intense than any exerted by Washington in the past. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with his countrys service members stationed near Gaza, telling them to get organized, be ready for the offensive. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, he said. Defense Minister Gallant briefed parliaments Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said The first stage was the current military operation meant to destroy Hamass infrastructure, Gallant said, adding that the intermediate phase would include operations at lower intensity eliminating pockets of resistance. The minister said 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. Due to the narrowness of the Strip, most Israeli bombers will be able to launch their deadly payloads from outside Gazan airspace above Israeli territory on the eastern side and above the Mediterranean Sea on the western side. Smart bombs can glide for distances sufficient to keep the aircraft out of reach of very few, limited-capability, anti-aircraft launchers that defenders are believed to have. Coordinated land and sea attacks will follow, coming from multiple directions all at the same time, likely around midnight. This will give attackers six hours of night-vision advantage at a time when most of the Arab world and Europe is asleep and the American continent prepares to wrap up the day. Land forces will go through the separation wall Israel built around Gaza with ubiquitous armoured bulldozers breaching the barriers, digging up and shoving aside anti-tank and anti-personnel mines that the Palestinian fighters probably laid. They will be flanked by Merkava tanks and dismounted infantry, and followed by infantry companies in armoured personnel carriers. The initial objective will be reaching built-up areas before dawn as the Israelis will want to see daylight from fortified defendable positions when the expected first Hamas counterattacks happen. An article by the writer in the Israeli newspaper Maariv stated that on the morning of the Black Saturday operation, the Israeli army coordinator in the region, Colonel Ghassan Alyan, said to Hamas, You have opened the gates of hell upon yourselves, and the words were to the movement and through it the entire Arab world. As many as 80% of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should take responsibility for the security failures exposed by the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Even among voters who support Netanyahu's ruling Likud party, 69% said he should accept responsibility. Netanyahu was polling far behind former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, the head of an opposition centrist party who joined a unity government last week. Some 48% of respondents thought Gantz would be a better prime minister, compared with only 28% for Netanyahu. The Israeli army's chief of staff, the head of military intelligence and the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service all admitted their services failed. For the second Friday in a row, the occupation imposed strict measures on Palestinians entering the Old City of Jerusalem and arriving at Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers. The occupation deployed its forces at various doors, and set up physical barriers to enable it to check the identities of passers-by, while dozens of Palestinians performed prayers in front of the doors leading to the mosque. The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem estimated the number of people who were able to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque and perform prayers at about 5,000 only, at a time when the number of worshipers was estimated at tens of thousands before the recent restrictions. The IDF struck over a hundred operational targets belonging to Hamas terrorist organization overnight and killed a Hamas operative who took part in the murderous massacres in southern Israel. 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. During the strikes, Amjad Majed Muhammad Abu 'Odeh, a Hamas naval operative was who took part in the massacre of Israeli civilians in southern Israel, was neutralized. In addition, a terror squad belonging to the Hamas aerial array was neutralized in a targeted strike in Gaza City, after they attempted to fire rockets at a jet. In addition, terror assets and weapons located in a mosque in the Jabaliya neighborhood were destroyed, which was used as observation posts and staging ground by Hamas terrorists. In response to Hezbollah fire of anti-tank missiles across the border throughout the day, the IDF conducted a number of strikes against Hezbollah terrorist organization infrastructure, including observation posts. In addition, IDF fighter jets struck three terrorists who attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Israel. US President Joe Biden gave the second primetime speech to the nation of his presidency from behind the historic Resolute Desk. Presidents traditionally reserve speeches from the solemn setting of the Oval Office for moments of key national significance. Biden's only previous address from there was in June 2023 when he hailed a deal with Congress to avert what would have been a catastrophic US debt default. Biden said he would make an "urgent" request to Congress 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 . 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. "We can't 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. "You're all American." The White House was 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. 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 that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations." Biden asked Congress for nearly $106 billion in extra funding to provide further support to Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region, as well as to fund operations on the US southern border, the White House Office of Management and Budget said. The supplemental package includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, half of which is to provide Kiev with weapons and replenish US military stocks, White House said. Moreover, $14.3 billion is for Israel, which includes $10.6 billion for security assistance such as air and missile defense support, industrial base investments and replenishment of US weapons stocks, according to the document. 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, Perth, Australia, told Sputnik. What he did in it was he conflated what's going on in Gaza with what's going on between Ukraine and Russia. They're not comparable. So he conflated these two things, and then he asked for money to cover both of these in the House of Representatives, saying that both Hamas and Russia pose existential threats to their neighbors. That's not true. Russia's relationship with its neighbor is a long, complicated one, going back to czarist Russia, Soviet Russia, in the modern times, not the same kind of thing, the pundit clarified. Furthermore, the speech by the 80-year-old POTUS infantilizes the American public, the former Professor of Human Security & International Diplomacy (RMIT University) believed. The American public doesn't know that much about foreign policy... Biden speaks for the foreign policy elite. These are the people who got us [United States] bogged down in Vietnam, who lost Iran, they lost Iraq lost Afghanistan, and so on and so on. The foreign policy public in America is very small. But the elites or the neocons kind of run the show for Biden in the background, Professor Joe Siracusa underscored. 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," he said. 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 poll released 20 October 2023. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news releases on April 28, 2023, June 23, 2023, July 21, 2023, and September 1st, 2023, that it has further extended its engagement of Financial Star News Inc. (FSN) (address: 701 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6; email: info@thefinancialstar.com) for marketing services for up to an additional 45 days commencing on October 23rd, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. As previously disclosed, FSN has and shall continue to, as appropriate, create campaigns, ad groups, text ads, display ads, perform detailed keyword research, setup and manage remarketing campaigns, optimize keyword options, coordinate online advertisers and marketers corresponding to online marketing targets, create landing pages for ad campaigns and generally bring attention to the business of the Company. The promotional activity undertaken by FSN will occur on theFinancialStar.com and by email, Facebook and Google. The Company will pay a fee of USD $300,000 (plus GST) for the extension. The Company will not issue any securities to FSN as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, FSN (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arms length relationship with the Company. The Company has also engaged GRIT Capital Corp (GRIT) (address: 145 King Street West, Suite 2200, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4G2; email: info@gritcap.io) for marketing services for an anticipated period of 3 months commencing on October 30th, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. GRIT has over 460,000 followers on its social media platforms and a substantial subscriber base exceeding 270,000 for both its free and premium GRIT newsletters. GRIT provides a detailed analysis of the stock market to its Gen Z and Millennial audiences, allowing Grit to showcase Vortexs value to new age demographics. GRIT will, as appropriate, create advertising campaigns, including in GRITs flagship newsletter, a premium landing page for advertising campaigns and CEO presentations on Twitter spaces, and generally bring attention to the business of the Company and provide the Company with exposure to potential investors. The promotional activity undertaken by GRIT will occur in its newsletter at gritcap.io and on its partners Instagram and Twitter accounts. The Company will pay a fee of USD $45,000 (plus HST) for the services. The Company will not issue any securities to GRIT as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, GRIT (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arms length relationship with the Company. About Vortex Energy Corp. Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinson River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The company is actively evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex Energy Corp. also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Paul Sparkes Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (778) 819-0164 info@vortexenergycorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected term of the marketing activities contracted for by the Company. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the efficacy of the Companys marketing program and that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the Companys promotional program or use its discretion to halt the Companys promotional activities. Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that the Companys marketing program may not be as effective as anticipated by the Company, that the budget for the Companys marketing program may not be sufficient to permit the marketing activities to continue for the anticipated term and that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the Companys promotional program and use its discretion to halt the Companys promotional activities or impose other penalties on the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE) between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important October 23, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Hawaiian Electric 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 Hawaiian Electric class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18336 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 23, 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Hawaiian Electrics wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed; (2) accordingly, despite knowing the degree of risk that wildfires posed to Maui, Hawaiian Electrics inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (3) as a result, Hawaiian Electrics 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 Hawaiian Electric class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18336 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. Class Period: Feb. 21, 2019 Aug. 14, 2023 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 31, 2023 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/DFS Contact An Attorney Now: DFS@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) Securities Fraud Class Action: The complaint alleges that Defendants made false and misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) DFS maintained deficient risk management and compliance procedures; (2) as a result of these deficiencies, DFS had, among other things, failed to comply with applicable student loan servicing standards, misclassified certain credit card accounts, overcharged customers, and failed to stem its ballooning credit card delinquency rate; and (3) these issues, when they became known, would subject DFS to significant financial exposure, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational harm. The truth began to emerge on July 20, 2022, when DFS announced that it was suspending its share repurchase program because of an internal investigation into its student loan servicing practices and related compliance matters. Then, on July 19, 2023, DFS disclosed that it had misclassified certain credit card products over an approximate 15-year period as a result of an acknowledged compliance failure. DFS stated that correction of the misclassifications negatively impacted its retained earnings and certain previous interim period net income. DFS also revealed that it received a proposed consent order from the FDIC in connection with an unrelated regulatory matter. Finally, on Aug. 14, 2023, DFS announced that Roger C. Hochschild resigned from his position as CEO and President and as a member of the companys board. The same day, DFS reported a significant increase in its credit card delinquency rate. Were focused on investors losses and are investigating whether DFS may have concealed problems with its compliance and risk management practices, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Discover Financial Services and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Discover Financial Services case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Discover Financial Services should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email DFS@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2023 - 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 Company's 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 Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The Company also paid cash fees and issued finder warrants (each a "Finder's 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 Finder's 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: jtimmons@copperroad.ca 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 Company's objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Company's properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Company's 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 Company's 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 Company's 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 management's 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. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu The dire necessity of providing armed protection for pastors has been tragically underscored by the events surrounding the funeral of the late Pastor Dawan Rasheed Gordon, affectionately known as Prophet Dwayne. The pastor, whose life was tragically cut short by a brutal attack, met his untimely demise when armed assailants stormed the Eagle Christian Church in Newlands, Johannesburg, just moments after he had taken the pulpit.In the wake of this harrowing incident, it became unmistakably clear that the safety of church leaders is not to be taken for granted. The shocking attack, a portion of which was distressingly broadcast on the church's Facebook live stream, left not only Pastor Gordon lifeless but also two members of the congregation wounded.Mourners and well-wishers gathered at Greenhills Stadium in Randfontein to bid their final farewell to Pastor Gordon. Among those in attendance were members of the Patriotic Alliance, under the leadership of party leader Gayton McKenzie.Inside the tent, which was nearly bursting at the seams with attendees, speaker after speaker paid heartfelt tributes to Pastor Gordon's unwavering faith and the profound impact he had on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. Revered as a humble, stylish, and dedicated 22-year-old, his commitment to his faith was so resolute that he was even prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for it.While the occasion was meant to be a somber reflection, it often transformed into a spirited celebration, marked by song and dance. However, amidst the poignant moments, a striking sight emerged as several armed individuals, bearing rifles, maintained a vigilant presence both inside and outside the venue throughout the extended service.During the proceedings, Gayton McKenzie, delivering the keynote address, seized the opportunity to not only eulogize Pastor Gordon and his unwavering faith but also to emphasize the pressing need for safeguarding church leaders. With impassioned conviction, McKenzie stated, "Pastor Gordon's tragic passing was not the result of a random act of robbery; it was a premeditated hit. This stark reality compels us to take action, and it compels us to ensure that our pastors are protected."In a resounding message, McKenzie stressed the importance of pastors having armed bodyguards, underscoring the urgency of the matter with this direct quote: "If you are a man of God and can afford a bodyguard, do not hesitate to acquire one. Our spiritual leaders, in this day and age, are facing increasing threats to their safety, and it is our responsibility to shield them from harm." VANCOUVER, Oct. 20, 2023 - Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news releases on April 28, 2023, June 23, 2023, July 21, 2023, and September 1st, 2023, that it has further extended its engagement of Financial Star News Inc. ("FSN") (address: 701 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6; email: info@thefinancialstar.com) for marketing services for up to an additional 45 days commencing on October 23rd, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. As previously disclosed, FSN has and shall continue to, as appropriate, create campaigns, ad groups, text ads, display ads, perform detailed keyword research, setup and manage remarketing campaigns, optimize keyword options, coordinate online advertisers and marketers corresponding to online marketing targets, create landing pages for ad campaigns and generally bring attention to the business of the Company. The promotional activity undertaken by FSN will occur on theFinancialStar.com and by email, Facebook and Google. The Company will pay a fee of USD $300,000 (plus GST) for the extension. The Company will not issue any securities to FSN as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Company's knowledge, FSN (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arm's length relationship with the Company. The Company has also engaged GRIT Capital Corp ("GRIT") (address: 145 King Street West, Suite 2200, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4G2; email: info@gritcap.io) for marketing services for an anticipated period of 3 months commencing on October 30th, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. GRIT has over 460,000 followers on its social media platforms and a substantial subscriber base exceeding 270,000 for both its free and premium GRIT newsletters. GRIT provides a detailed analysis of the stock market to its Gen Z and Millennial audiences, allowing Grit to showcase Vortex's value to new age demographics. GRIT will, as appropriate, create advertising campaigns, including in GRIT's flagship newsletter, a premium landing page for advertising campaigns and CEO presentations on Twitter spaces, and generally bring attention to the business of the Company and provide the Company with exposure to potential investors. The promotional activity undertaken by GRIT will occur in its newsletter at gritcap.io and on its partners' Instagram and Twitter accounts. The Company will pay a fee of USD $45,000 (plus HST) for the services. The Company will not issue any securities to GRIT as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Company's knowledge, GRIT (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arm's length relationship with the Company. About Vortex Energy Corp. Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinson River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The company is actively evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex Energy Corp. also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Paul Sparkes Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (778) 819-0164 info@vortexenergycorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected term of the marketing activities contracted for by the Company. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the efficacy of the Company's marketing program and that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the Company's promotional program or use its discretion to halt the Company's promotional activities. Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that the Company's marketing program may not be as effective as anticipated by the Company, that the budget for the Company's marketing program may not be sufficient to permit the marketing activities to continue for the anticipated term and that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the Company's promotional program and use its discretion to halt the Company's promotional activities or impose other penalties on the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this ?press release.? VANCOUVER, Oct. 20, 2023 - TSX VENTURE COMPANIES SHINE BOX CAPITAL CORP. ("RENT.P") BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company Effective at the opening, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the securities of Shine Box Capital Corp., (the "Company") will resume trading. Further to the Exchange Bulletin dated June 16, 2021, a news release was issued on September 5, 2023, announcing that the Company will not be proceeding with its proposed transaction. The transaction contemplated would have constituted a Qualifying Transaction as defined under Exchange Policy 2.4. ________________________________________ Xplore Resources Corp. ("XPLR") BULLETIN TYPE: Consolidation BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company Pursuant to a resolution passed by directors on September 12, 2023, the Company has consolidated its capital on a (2.5) old for (1) new basis. The name of the Company has not been changed. Effective at the opening, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the common shares of Xplore Resources Corp. will commence trading on TSX Venture Exchange on a consolidated basis. The Company is classified as a 'Copper and Zinc Mining' company. Post - Consolidation Capitalization: Unlimited shares with no par value of which 15,681,505 shares are issued and outstanding Escrow Nil shares are subject to escrow Transfer Agent: Computershare Investor Service Inc. Trading Symbol: XPLR (UNCHANGED) CUSIP Number: 98421G208 (New) ________________________________________ 23/10/20 - TSX Venture Exchange Bulletins TSX VENTURE COMPANIES ABCOURT MINES INC. ("ABI") BULLETIN TYPE: Shares for Debt BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing Abcourt Mines Inc.'s (the "Company") proposal to issue 2,166,506 common shares and 2,166,506 warrants to settle outstanding debt of $86,660.23. Number of Creditors: 1 Creditor Non-Arm's Length Party / Pro Group Participation: Nil Warrants: 2,166,506 warrants to purchase 2,166,506 common shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.05 per share for a period of 36 months For more information, please refer to the Company's news release dated October 12, 2023. MINES ABCOURT INC. ( ABI ) TYPE DE BULLETIN : Emission d'actions en reglement d'une dette DATE DU BULLETIN : 20 octobre 2023 Societe du groupe 2 de Bourse de Croissance TSX Bourse de Croissance TSX a accepte le depot de la documentation de Mines Abcourt Inc. ( la societe ) en vertu de l'emission proposee de 2 166 506 actions ordinaires et 2 166 506 bons de souscription, en reglement d'un montant de dette total de 86 660,23 $. Nombre de creanciers : 1 creancier Participation de personnes ayant un lien de dependance / Groupe Pro : Aucune Bons de souscription : 2 166 506 bons de souscription permettant de souscrire a 2 166 506 actions ordinaires Prix d'exercice des bons : 0,05 $ par action pour une periode de 36 mois Pour plus d'informations, veuillez-vous referer au communique de presse emis par la societe le 12 octobre 2023. ________________________________________ AWALE RESOURCES LIMITED ("ARIC") BULLETIN TYPE: Shares for Debt BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the Company's proposal to issue 3,978,880 shares (the "Shares") to settle outstanding debt for $477,465.90. Number of Creditors: 10 Creditors Non-Arm's Length Party / Pro Group Participation: Creditors # of Creditors Amount Owing Deemed Price per Share Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate Non-Arm's Length Party Involvement: 8 $454,815.90 $0.12 3,790,130 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A N/A N/A Of the 3,978,880 shares, the Company obtained disinterested shareholder approval for the issuance of 1,812,230 shares at its Annual General Meeting held on September 6, 2023. The Company announced its proposal to issue the Shares in a news release, dated May 16, 2023, May 24, 2023 and September 20, 2023 and shall issue a news release when the Shares have been issued and the debt extinguished. ________________________________________ CEYLON GRAPHITE CORP. ("CYL") BULLETIN TYPE: Warrant Term Extension BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has consented to the extension in the expiry date of the following warrants: Private Placement: # of Warrants: 50,928,566 Original Expiry Date of Warrants: October 22, 2023 (as to 29,663,566 warrants) October 28, 2023 (as to 21,265,000 warrants) New Expiry Date of Warrants: October 22, 2024 (as to 29,663,566 warrants) October 28, 2024 (as to 21,265,000 warrants) Exercise Price of Warrants: $0.15 (Unchanged) These warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement of 51,428,566 shares with 51,428,566 share purchase warrants attached, which was accepted for filing by the Exchange effective November 26, 2020. ________________________________________ EMINENT GOLD CORP. ("EMNT") BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset Purchase Agreement BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation pertaining to the purchase agreement (the "Agreement") dated September 26, 2023, between Eminent Gold Corp. and its subsidiary (the "Company") and an arm's length party (the "Seller"). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company may acquire 100% interest in the 110 unpatented claims (890 hectares). By way of Consideration, the Company will issue 350,000 common shares to the Seller. And an additional 200,000 common shares will be issued when the company initiates a drill program at Gilbert South Property, located 30 kilometres west of Tonopah in the Walker Lane trend, Nevada. The Timberline claims are currently subject to a 3% net smelter return royalty, the Nevada select claims are currently subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty, and the GL claims are currently subject to a 2.25% net smelter return royalty. The company shall have the option and right to repurchase 1% of the GL royalty for $1 million (U.S.). The Seller shall have the option to buy down 1% of the Timberline net smelter return for $1.5 million (U.S.). CASH ($) SECURITIES WORK EXPENDITURES (S) CONSIDERATION N/A 350,000 common shares N/A 200,000 common shares (additional) For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated September 27, 2023. ________________________________________ LAHONTAN GOLD CORP. ("LG") BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Brokered BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Brokered Private Placement announced on August 2, 2023: Number of Shares: 25,000,000 common shares Purchase Price: $0.08 per common share Warrants: 25,000,000 warrants to purchase 25,000,000 common shares Warrant Exercise Price: $0.12 until September 1, 2026, subject to an accelerated expiry provision Number of Placees: 34 placees Insider / Pro Group Participation: Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 2 2,687,500 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: 8 5,212,500 Agent's Fee: An aggregate of $108,052 and 1,354,290 non-transferable compensation options payable to Beacon Securities Limited and Haywood Securities Inc. Each compensation option entitles the holder to acquire one common share at an exercise price of $0.08 for a period of 36 months. The Company issued a news release on September 1, 2023, confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term. ________________________________________ Silver Range Resources Ltd. ("SNG") BULLETIN TYPE: Shares for Services BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the Company's proposal to issue 236,436 shares in consideration of certain geological and consulting services totaling $20,000 provided to the company between April 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, pursuant to an agreement dated April 1, 2019, as amended on April 1, 2020, and April 1, 2022. Number of Service Providers: 1 service provider Non-Arm's Length Party / Pro Group Participation: Creditors # of Creditors Amount Owing Deemed Price per Share Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate Non-Arm's Length Party Involvement: 1 $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $0.0875 $0.0963 $0.0831 $0.0744 57,143 shares 51,921 shares 60,168 shares 67,204 shares Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A N/A N/A For more information, please refer to the Company's news release dated October 18, 2023. ________________________________________ Sonoran Desert Copper Corp. ("SDCU") BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset or Share Purchase Agreement BULLETIN DATE: October 20, 2023 TSX Venture Tier 2 Company TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation the Exploration Right Assignment Agreement with Definitive Rights Assignment Option agreement dated January 16, 2023 ("Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of Agreement, the Company has acquired the right to purchase (the "Option") the rights, titles and interests of the Cuatro Hermanos Porphyry Copper Project located in Sonora, Mexico ("4H Project"), in consideration of an aggregate payment of $5,862,500 cash and aggregate exploration expenditures of $2,850,000, according to the following schedule: Date Cash Payment Work Commitment Upon Execution $ 50,000 NIL 12-Month Anniversary $ 150,000 $ 100,000 24-Month Anniversary $ 200,000 $ 250,000 36-Month Anniversary $ 200,000 $ 500,000 48-Month Anniversary $ 200,000 $ 1,000,000 60-Month Anniversary $ 5,062,500 $ 1,000,000 The Optionor will retain a 1% net smelter returns royalty, which has been registered with Mining Ministry of Mexico. The Company will be responsible for paying the continuing mining taxes, duties, and fees to maintain concessions in active status during the term of the Option. For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated February 9, 2023; September 6, 2023; and October 20, 2023. ________________________________________ SOURCE TSX Venture Exchange F1, not FIA, will make Andretti call says Domenicali Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media will make the final call about whether Andretti-Cadillac will be permitted onto the grid. United States GP 2023 Alpine That is the insistence of the sport's CEO Stefano Domenicali, amid a power struggle with the governing FIA amid president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's desire for an eleventh team as soon as 2025. Ben Sulayem is quoted by Kronen Zeitung newspaper as saying: Let's not play games - it's about money. The FIA boss was speaking after the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva on Thursday, where he thanked members of the body for green-lighting the Andretti bid. We firmly believe we are doing what is best for the long-term sustainability of the sport, said Ben Sulayem. But in the very same media statement, Domenicali made clear that Liberty-owned Formula One Management will make the final call following commercial talks that are taking place now. We note the points made regarding the FIA's new team entry process and as we have said before, we will now make our own assessment of the merits of the remaining application, said the Italian. Many of the existing ten teams remain opposed to expanding the grid - including Haas, who would lose their status as the only American team in F1. FIA should help stop Verstappen dominance says Hamilton Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to help ensure Red Bull's dominance doesn't become locked in for the next several years. Max Verstappen, United States GP 2023 Red Bull With Max Verstappen having wrapped up his third consecutive drivers' title early and in an unprecedentedly-dominant style, attention is now turning to whether Red Bull's rivals can close the big gap for 2024. Former F1 team owner and boss Eddie Jordan told his own podcast Formula For Success: "We cycle a lot together, and Adrian (Newey) tells me that he feels that the evolution of what they've got at the moment is going to be so difficult for anyone to catch up with. So please, folks out there, prepare yourself either for a boring time or an exciting time, depending on whether you're a Red Bull fan or not. Lewis Hamilton thinks it's critical that Formula 1 makes some moves to bring Red Bull closer to the pack. I think you've seen the social engagement drop a huge amount this year, said the Mercedes driver. "I think, within our sport, we have to continue to work on making sure we're having close racing. "It (Verstappen's dominance) has obviously heavily impacted on competition. But it's what people want to see. So, we have to make sure that we're making the right decisions, or the governing body is making the right decisions, to keep us close and with great racing right to the end, the seven time world champion added. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, however, has ruled out any artificial or 'balance of performance' moves to kerb Red Bull's speed. It's not rush to punish success, he said. "I'm open to suggestions if you think of a fair and democratic way, but not just to punish Max and his team. But we're all ears, really. No F1 race axe despite Azerbaijan war says FIA Azerbaijan's grand prix is safe - despite the large-scale military offensive against the Armenian breakaway state of Artsakh in the last few days. Nyck De Vries, Azerbaijan GP 2023 Red Bull In early 2022, Nikita Mazepin and his Russian sponsor were axed by Haas and the Russian GP at Sochi was scrapped by Formula 1's governing FIA following the outbreak of the ongoing Ukraine crisis. But now, despite MSNBC calling the new situation involving Azerbaijan the greatest Armenian catastrophe since the genocide of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 , Azerbaijan will not lose its Formula 1 race at Baku. Not just that, Azerbaijan is still scheduled to hold the FIA's annual general assembly in December - where Max Verstappen will also collect his world champion trophy at the prize giving gala. We must remain neutral, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is quoted by motorsport-total.com when asked about the Azerbaijan military situation. "This is what our charter says. I didn't come up with these rules, but they must be followed. I understand what is happening between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and I hope it will end soon, he added. "But at the same time, we can name at least 20 countries that are currently involved in armed conflicts. After all, who am I to say who is right and who is wrong? Who are you to judge this? However, it does raise the question of why the FIA treated Russia so differently. I myself was against it, Ben Sulayem insists when asked about the axed Russian GP. "But we called an extraordinary meeting and did what the participants wanted. Their voice had priority. I was elected to implement the wishes of the representatives, he added. On Friday, former Russian GP boss Alexey Titov said the race organisers Rosgonki are still trying to get upfront race fees for the axed 2022 race at Sochi refunded by F1. We are very actively involved in this, but there are difficulties with providing legal assistance to Russian legal entities in unfriendly countries, he told Championat. Also with money transfers, with currency, everything is not as simple as before. And there is also the completely obvious reluctance of that side to pay the money, despite the fact that they admit that there is a debt, Titov added. Zenith Bank @ 18 Celebrating a legacy of financial excellence GraphicOnline Business News Oct - 20 - 2023 , 15:23 On the fateful morning of September 16, 2005, Zenith Bank Ghana embarked on its banking journey with a grand total of 45 staff members. This marked a transformative turning point in the banking and financial services landscape of the country. Zenith Bank swiftly surged ahead of the competition, fueled by a potent combination of determination, innovation, customer-centricity, and forward-thinking. It altered the course of banking and financial services delivery in Ghana, leaving an indelible mark for years to come. Fast forward to today, the Bank that revolutionised banking in Ghana has celebrated a significant milestone in its journey - 18 years of financial excellence in Ghana. Zenith Banks banking approach over the years has been built on the bedrock of People, Technology, Service. The People Behind the Success At the helm of Zenith Bank, a visionary leadership team has skillfully steered the institution toward a trajectory of growth and sustainability. Their strategic prowess, unwavering commitment to excellence, and adept handling of challenges have been pivotal in the Bank's success story. Behind the scenes, the heartbeat of the Bank resonates with its devoted employees. From the diligent frontline staff to the unsung heroes working tirelessly in the background, these individuals constitute the lifeblood of the institution. Their unwavering dedication to customer service, alignment with the Bank's values, and relentless work ethic constitute the driving force that propels Zeniths enduring success. Furthermore, the Bank's commitment to fostering talent and personal growth, as well as its dedication to a diverse and inclusive culture, underpins its remarkable journey. Conversations with employees underscore the Bank's core values and enduring corporate culture, reflecting a commitment to integrity, professionalism, and customer-centricity that permeates every facet of their work. Technology: Innovation in Banking - How Zenith Bank Leads the Way In the rapidly evolving landscape of global banking, Zenith Bank Ghana emerges as a trailblazer in technological innovation as it celebrates its 18th anniversary. With a relentless commitment to serving its customers better, the Bank has consistently led the way in redefining banking in Ghana through innovative solutions. One significant milestone in Zenith's innovation journey was its pioneering venture into online banking, revolutionizing the way customers managed their finances. Recognizing the potential early on, the Bank introduced user-friendly online platforms that allowed customers to handle their financial affairs from the comfort of their homes. As smartphones gained widespread adoption, it quickly adapted by launching its mobile banking app, ZMobile, to enable customers to conduct a wide array of banking transactions through their mobile devices. This shift marked a transformative change in the banking landscape in Ghana. The Bank's innovation drive extended beyond convenience to fostering financial inclusion. The Bank introduced digital solutions such as its USSD service *966# to enable the unbanked and underbanked populations, open instant bank accounts and access basic banking services via mobile devices with minimum documentation. Simultaneously, the Bank prioritized security by implementing biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint and facial recognition, ensuring the safety of online and mobile banking transactions. Zenith Bank has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, staying at the forefront of technology and innovation to offer cutting-edge banking solutions. From its robust online banking platform to its personalized customer service, the Bank has consistently shown its readiness to embrace the future, the MD/CEO, Mr. Henry Onwuzurigbo said. Service: The Differentiating Factor Zenith Bank has created some of the most customer-centric products and services that have and continue to serve customers well. As a pioneer Bank of the Customer Relationship Management strategy where customers are assigned dedicated staff to manage customer relationships as well as their business with the Bank, this strategy has led to Zenith being one of the Banks that focuses on building relationships with customers. Throughout its journey, Zenith Bank has also maintained a customer-centric approach, actively seeking feedback to refine and develop new banking solutions that meet the evolving needs and preferences of its clientele. The Bank continues to deepen its engagement with customers and its accessibility to them through initiatives such as its 24hour Customer Contact Centre, Zenith Direct, which features channels such as Z-Chat (an online live chat platform), the Complaints Portal, Voice Calls, and Email - where customers can seek information about products and services, provide service feedback to the Bank, or report complaints. The Bank's unwavering commitment to a customer-centric approach, characterized by open communication and support for clients during difficult times has fostered trust and loyalty. 18th Anniversary Celebration In commemoration of the 18th Anniversary celebration, Zenith Bank Ghana organised a prayer and thanksgiving service to thank the Almighty God for 18 successful years of Banking operations in Ghana. In his remarks, the MD/CEO of Zenith Bank Ghana, Mr. Henry Onwuzurigbo stated, "18 years of successful banking operations in a highly competitive and rapidly advancing industry is an achievement Zenith Bank Ghana can be proud of. Today, we are positioned as a financial institution of choice and a force to be reckoned with in the Ghanaian Banking industry. It is the Grace of God that has enabled us to achieve this significant feat. The MD/CEO expressed his deepest appreciation to the Board, Management, staff and customers of the Bank for their belief in the Bank, their dedication, support, unflinching loyalty and contribution to the success of Zenith Bank Ghana. During the service, special prayers were said to commit the Bank, its staff and customers into Gods Hands. A key highlight of the Banks 18th Anniversary celebration was the Banks presentation of a cheque of GHS150,000 to the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). The presentation, which was in furtherance of the Banks CSR objective of giving back to the society in which it operates was in response to an appeal by Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana (LCCG), a non-governmental organization dedicated to making childhood cancer a national health priority whilst facilitating and increasing access to optimal medical care and treatment for children with cancer. Speaking at the presentation, the MD/CEO stated, When Akua Sarpong, the Co-founder and Executive Directive of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana (LCCG) spoke with our colleagues about the cause she is championing, we saw that it is one that needed some form of assistance especially from corporate institutions, and we readily and willingly supported this very worthy cause as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month globally as well as the month of the Banks 18th Anniversary. Speaking on behalf of LCCG and the Oncology Unit, Prof. Lorna Reinner, Pediatric Oncologist at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital who spoke on behalf of the Pediatric Oncology Unit expressed appreciation to Zenith Bank for the very kind gesture. She indicated that the LCCG and the hospital are currently working towards the expansion of the pediatric oncology block to increase the current facilitys capacity to include a 40-bed childrens ward to enable the hospital to improve treatment and care for patients; as such the Banks donation which was apt and timely and would go towards the construction of the new ward. Prof. Reinner thus noted that increased support from other corporate institutions would greatly help the unit improve treatment outcomes for children with cancer and their families given the needed support. Prior to the presentation at the Pediatric Oncology Units, earlier in the week, the Bank organised a Virtual Health Talk for staff on Childhood Cancer to create awareness of Childhood cancer and to educate staff on the signs, symptoms, preventive measures and treatment options available for patients. Also, during the anniversary celebration, the Bank organised a two-week EazyBanking activation exercise at all 40 business locations nationwide to sign customers on to the Banks digital banking products such as Internet Banking, Zenith Mobile Banking App (ZMobile), Cards, Point of Sale Terminals, Scan To Pay, etc). The exercise increased awareness of the Banks electronic products, highlighted the convenience of the products, and enabled the Bank to achieve a significant number of sign-ups to products by customers. For every customer that signed up for a product, they received an instant gift from the Bank to the delight of many. The Banks online audience was not left out of the celebration as followers of the Banks social media pages also enjoyed fun and interactive games and rewards that kept them glued to the pages. To climax the celebration, the Bank organised a TGIF/Karaoke Night across all branches to appreciate staff for their hard work, loyalty and commitment to the success of the Bank. The bankwide event promoted bonding and socializing amongst staff and management and created an opportunity for staff to showcase their hidden talents. On to the Next Zenith Bank has proven itself as a beacon of financial stability and trustworthiness. With unwavering dedication to its customers, the Bank has provided exemplary banking services that have contributed to the growth and prosperity of individuals and businesses alike. As we celebrate our 18th year in Ghana, Zenith Banks commitment to customer-centricity remains unwavering, Mr. Onwuzurigbo said. The Bank acknowledges the pivotal role of technology in shaping the future of banking and intends to maintain its leadership in this regard by fortifying its online and mobile banking platforms prioritizing robust security measures, and exploring emerging technologies that will cater to the needs of customers and guarantee true convenience. Furthermore, Zenith Bank Ghana remains dedicated to promoting financial inclusion, focusing on innovative solutions and financial literacy programs to empower the unbanked and underbanked populations. Simultaneously, the Bank aims to increase accessibility by extending its physical presence through new branches and ATMs in underserved areas and further developing digital channels. Zenith Bank Ghana seeks to further strengthen partnerships and collaborations with fintech firms, local organizations, and international financial institutions, harnessing expertise and resources to drive banking innovation and continued growth to the benefit of customers and the wider community. Overall, Zenith Bank looks into the future with condence and a deep sense of appreciation of the tremendous opportunities ahead of it. The Banks successful track record of balancing the interests of its stakeholders, i.e., shareholders, customers, employees, and the communities in which it operates, will stand it in good stead in all its future endeavours. Zeniths abiding aim is to lead a dynamic industry in all parameters, especially when it comes to the satisfaction of customers. Zenith Bank Ghana is a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. It has a presence in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and the United Kingdom, as well as representative offices in Dubai, South Africa, and China. Water is a right - Everyone must have access Daily Graphic Editorials Oct - 21 - 2023 , 09:58 The United Nations (UN) holds the position that water and sanitation are basic human rights. Consequently, they have direct impact on their dignity, prosperity and wellbeing. The right to safe drinking water was first recognised by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council as part of a binding international law on July 28, 2010. After several preambles, the UN resolution said in part that it Recognises the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights; Calls upon States and international organisations to provide financial resources, capacity-building and technology transfer, through international assistance and cooperation, in particular to developing countries, in order to scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) - Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000 2020 report is one of a number of reports that attest to the dire need of water by sections of society. These reports have also informed the stance taken by the UN to champion water as a human right which must not be denied anyone. The JMP report noted, among other things, that in 2020, around one in four people lacked safely managed drinking water in their homes and nearly half the worlds population lacked safely managed sanitation. This makes the issue of potable water very critical, because although often referred to as basic, billions of people globally and thousands locally are still living without safely managed water and sanitation. While it is one of the reasons citizens are taxed so that the government could provide those needed facilities or amenities, it is no secret that single-handedly shouldering that responsibility has become burdensome to the government. The Daily Graphic, therefore, finds it heartwarming and worthy of mention that the ECOWAS Commission has constructed a $10,000 mechanised water system to provide Potrase, a cocoa farming community in the Abuakwa South District of the Eastern Region, with potable water. By that act, the commission has fulfilled the provision in the UN Resolution to scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. Whats more, the residents will no longer have to rely on the raw and unclean water from the Densu River. Neither will they have to trek long distances in search of water, which, most times, is unclean. Notwithstanding this laudable act, we urge the sub-regional body not to end it there with the provision of potable water for the people of Potrase, since there are more communities in dire need of potable water who are also crying for help across the country. Currently, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC 2021), as released by the Ghana Statistical Service, 87.7 per cent of the populace have access to basic water supply services. However, there is a disparity between urban and rural communities, as about 96.4 per cent of the urban populace have access to basic water supply services while 74.4 per cent of the rural populace have access to basic water supply services. The PHC 2021 also states that about eight per cent of Ghanaian households continue to rely on unsafe sources, while despite the apparent high access to safe water in urban areas, sachet water dominates with about 52 people out of 100 depending on it, with only about 34 people out of 100 depending on pipe-borne water. At a Sector Ministers Meeting held in May 2022, the ministers stated that their vision was to have about 70 per cent of the populace/households in urban/peri-urban and 50 per cent in rural areas connected to a piped water network and using safely managed water services by 2030. We can only hope that this vision is achieved in the next seven years but time is not on our side to ensure that no ones right is trampled upon when it comes to the provision and access to clean and safe water. That can, however, be only achieved when governments decline to play politics with the peoples access to water. Let us encourage international and local organisations, individuals, churches, and, indeed, anyone who wants to assist in the provision of potable water to a community, by removing any obstacles that may hamper that realisation. As much as possible, let us limit the commercialisation of water and see it as a basic human right so that all will have access. News / National by Staff Reporter The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and Arch-bishop Johannes Ndanga's flopped plot to cause anarchy and despondency during and after Zimbabwe's elections has been exposed following an audio where the later tipped a grouping of Bishops under IAPD that they should support the former's appointment authority (Dr Nevers Mumba who is a member of UPF) and his reports on the country's elections.The audio came after a grouping of Bishops (under Arch-bishop Johannes Ndanga) questioned Ndanga on the sincerity, neutrality, independence and credibility of SADC Elections Observer Mission's Head, Dr Nevers Mumba on Zimbabwe's August general elections."Mangwanani mangwanani mamuka seyi?, (good morning good morning!, let me ask if..) ndati ndibvunze through IAPD President kuti are you aware that the Head of SADC Election Observer Mission in the country (Zimbabwe), Baba Dr Nevers Mumba is a member of IAPD Zambia as well as IAPD Africa?."Muenzi wenyu muno President Chikuni. Eh Dr Mumba is your guest, as well as former President, Goodluck Jonathan who is heading Election Observer Mission of the African Union and he is your guest again," Ndanga reassured."He is the Chairman for the International Summit of Peace (ISP) responsible for chairing all former presidents of countries affiliated to UPF, hence it is important to know that we have two visitors (guests) who are leading of our country and I thank you," Ndanga closed remarks.After sensing danger following a scathing attack on Dr Nevers Mumba by Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa on his alleged bias during the release of the preliminary election observer mission during the elections, Ndanga rushed to issue press statements and a series of press conferences, a clear sign for concealing his intentions and roles in the just-ended elections.This publication is reliably informed that prior to Zimbabwe's general elections, Arch-bishop Ndanga frequently visited Zambia to meet with Mumba and other Zambian delegates for closed door meetings with the intentions to effect regime change in Zimbabwe.This is not for the first time since Ndanga caused confusion in both political and religious sections. Ndanga once mobilised vapostori in Rufaro Stadium denouncing then Vice President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa where former First Lady, Grace Mugabe explicitly claimed that Mnangagwa was power-hungry.Meanwhile, Arch-bishop Ndanga and the regional chairperson of the African Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, Reverend Bakary Camara has paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa with the recent general elections and the role of the church in national development on the agenda.Speaking after a closed-door meeting, Reverend Camara, said they spoke about how his organisation can work with Zimbabwe in cementing peace and relations of the family unit."Today was a great day as the chairman of the council of the Universal Peace Federation. We came to see His Excellency and congratulate him for the great victory for Zimbabwe and Africa. We have been discussing together for three years and now we're back and can share what can be done together in terms of peace, relations within families, in relation to development," he said.Reverend Camara also emphasised the role of the church in nation-building."Nation building should be supported by the church, the spiritual side of human beings is a core value, so that is why we preach love, peace and caring for others. If the church can understand its core values, then naturally, peace and stability will prevail," said Reverend Camara.President Mnangagwa has on numerous platforms noted the importance of the church in economic development while stressing that freedom of worship is guaranteed in Zimbabwe. Do unto watchmen as thou would Have others do unto thee! Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Oct - 20 - 2023 , 15:46 It is often referred to as the Golden Rule. It simply states in Matthew 7: 12 that, do unto others as thou will have them do unto you! It underscores the basic principle of treating all human beings well irrespective of status. Indeed, the United Nations Charter on Human Rights enjoins all to be treated well irrespective of race, colour, creed etc! Additionally, Article 17 of Ghanas 1992 Constitution states; (1) All persons shall be equal before the law. (2) A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status. Disrespect demanding Respect? So why should people demanding the right to be respected demean others for just doing their work? Why should a director/head who had been sent to receive a petition by Occupy Bank of Ghana demonstrators be called an ordinary watchman? Does ones economic/social status as a watchman take away his dignity and right to be respected as a human being? As former Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Kwabena Duffour stated subsequently, in the absence of the Governor and his two deputies, the Secretary should have been tasked to receive the petition and not the Head of Security. But did that give cause for the person of the Director of Security to be derogated? Ironically, while demanding respect, the MPs/demonstrators disrespected the person of the Director whose only offence was complying with instructions to receive the petition on behalf of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Equally disrespectful was the Governor of Bank of Ghanas description of the MPs and demonstrators as hooligans! Article 21 (1d) states; (1) All persons shall have the right to (d) freedom of assembly including freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations; By his logic, is he calling all past/future leaders demonstration leaders hooligans? In any case, who is this watchman? Education Before then, my friend Nana, former Chairman of the National Media Commission who sent me the profile from Wa of the watchman, reiterated his constant demand of me. He said, General, this reinforces my demand that, your Public Relations Directorate must educate Ghanaians about the military, so we get ourselves out of the colonial mold of negative thinking of the military as a rough profession of illiterates. Unfortunately, this negative stereotyping of the military gained ground following the atrocities of 4th June 1979/31st December 1981 with the execution of Generals, murder of judges, killing/disappearance of ordinary Ghanaians etc, and the resultant fear, massive doses of indiscipline and disrespect. This created the culture of silence Ghanaians are yet to fully recover from. The watchman The gentleman described as an ordinary watchman is Wing Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel) Kwame Asare-Boateng (Rtd), Esquire, Head of Security at the Bank-of-Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Masters degree in International Relations both from the University of Ghana, Legon. In 2007 he was called to the Bar as a lawyer. While in the Armed Forces, he served in United Nations international assignments including peacekeeping missions like UNIFIL (Lebanon) and UNMIL (Liberia) as a Legal Officer. He retired honourably from the Ghana Armed Forces after twenty-six years service to Ghana and the world. In 2019, he joined the Bank of Ghana as a Director/Head of Security. This is a brief profile of the watchman disdainfully and disrespectfully referred to. In any case, does a watchman not deserve respect because he is a watchman? Do we all have to be in parliament to deserve respect from fellow Ghanaians? Discussion On the same Occupy Bank-of-Ghana demonstration which annoyed MPs because the Governor did not come personally to receive their petition, an angry MP used language no decent Ghanaian would ever use. To describe himself and some of his colleagues as gutter boys who can do anything unthinkable leaves a lot to be said about some of the people who represent us. As I watched proceedings on TV, I felt ashamed of myself as a Ghanaian. He has since apologized. However, in her 11th October 2023 article in the Graphic titled How not to apologise, Madame Elizabeth Ohene stated as follows: If the MP indeed wanted to apologise, he would not be directing it to all those offended, he would know that the apology should be directed to everybody, without any qualifications. He and his colleagues must learn that, they are ordinary mortals capable of making mistakes. They must therefore not think of themselves as saints when addressing us sinners! Society expects decorum in speech from officials who have such high academic credentials, and have been elected to represent us. Describing themselves as gutter boys capable of doing the unthinkable is unfortunate! In an earlier article titled 13th January - Bring back Civics and History, I suggested the return of these subjects into our curriculum to sanitise the current free-for-all disrespect dealing with fellow Ghanaians! For, a society which does not respect itself will not be respected by others. Additionally, I recommend that future MPs before they enter the Chamber, do an orientation course including a basic ethics of Military Level 101 Fundamental Officer Training on Word Choice and Tone, and only one week at the Jungle Warfare School where among others like Discipline, they will be treated to delicious snake-meat! Finally, always remember the Golden Rule, do unto others as thou will have them do unto thee. (Matthew 7:12). Leadership, lead!! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP! The writer is a Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association (APSTA), Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University College Teshie, Accra Kennedy Agyapong vs. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Dr John Osae-Kwapong Opinion Oct - 21 - 2023 , 08:45 We are two weeks away from the November 4 primary. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will finally select its flag bearer for the 2024 presidential election. Four candidates are vying for the ultimate prize but anyone who has been following the race keenly will agree with me that it feels like a contest between Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and His Excellency the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. I affectionately call it a race between the anti-establishment (Hon. Ken) and the establishment (Dr Bawumia). I have no doubt that these two candidates have a deep love for their party. I also have no doubt that they both have a genuine desire to lead the party come 2024. The two candidates are obviously different in their political temperaments. But I am quite struck by how different their campaign approaches are. Two contrasting approaches What are some of the contrasting approaches in the way the two candidates are vying to be party flag bearer? First, Hon. Ken Agyapongs campaign feels like a general election campaign with his message directed to the Ghanaian people and not just party delegates. It is as if he is saying dear delegates, I have national appeal so choose me. The Vice-President, Dr Bawumia, is running the classic primary election campaign by engaging in retail politics- winning the hearts and minds of delegates through personal engagements. Not a single week goes by without spotting a flyer on social media announcing an upcoming travel to some constituency to engage delegates. The second contrast in their approach is media engagement. Hon. Ken has been quite present in various media spaces granting interviews. In these interviews, he has spoken on a wide range of topics including the state of the countrys economy, the governments performance in office, and the ideas he hopes to implement if he becomes president. That direct engagement is part of the reason why his approach feels like a general election campaign. Dr Bawumia has so far stayed away from direct media engagement. But I must note that his campaign staff have been very present and active in media spaces. Media engagements are important, but it is my suspicion that he wants to engage those who truly matter to his fate on November 4 hence the focus on delegates for now. I am not sure he plans to, and I also dont think it is possible not to directly engage the media at some point. This is especially true if he is selected as the partys flag bearer. The third key contrast I have observed is how the two candidates are handling their partys record and conduct in office over the last seven years. Have you listened to Hon. Ken in his various interviews lately? Have you picked up on the things he has said about his own party? He regularly interjects with one of his favourite phrases I am not afraid to speak the truth. In fact, during party primaries, it is instructive the kind of political material that candidates can generate for their opponents on the other side of the political aisle. Vice-President Dr Bawumia has taken a totally different approach by maintaining the highest form of decorum on this. But it goes back to my earlier point the focus for him I believe is the primary with the guiding philosophy of win the primary first. In addition, he faces a different political dilemma than Hon. Ken, I will argue. Every NPP candidate faces this, but I think as head of the economic management team, the dilemma is more pronounced for him. What is this political dilemma? It is how to speak about the economic challenges faced compounded by governance concerns without appearing to be throwing the party under the bus. And while doing all this, making sure you win the hearts and minds of delegates. It is no easy task because it means candidates will have to run two very different campaigns one designed for the primary (immediate task) and other for the general election (later task) with two different audiences in mind. It reminds me of the 2012 presidential election in the US, when a senior advisor to Candidate Mitt Romney said Its almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again in reference to how a candidate deals with a primary and a general election. Who wins the contest? Different does not mean one approach is better than the other. Political campaigns choose the strategies that work best for what they hope to accomplish. November 4 is just two weeks away. Who will win? I have repeatedly said the establishment will prevail. But I am sure the establishments anti-establishment candidate is still hoping there will be a showdown. Interesting political times ahead. The writer is a Democracy and Development fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). MOBA Election: Ebusuapanyin candidates agree on taking school from govt but disagree on approach Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Education Oct - 20 - 2023 , 20:20 Candidates vying for President (Ebusuapanyin) of the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) have expressed displeasure over the quality of education in their alma mater. To correct this, they believe the Old Boys and the Methodist Church needed to have a greater say in who gets admitted and employed to study and teach or work in the school. They, therefore, agreed that the time had come for the association to take Mfantsipim back from the government, the stakeholder they said was responsible for the current undesirable trajectory of the school. The aspirants are Reverend Kofi Ankamah-Asamoah (Class of 1980) and Moses K. Baiden Jr. (Class of 1983) They were speaking at the an engagement on Thursday (Oct 19, 2023) dubbed; Know your candidates; A platform for all old boys to engage candidates. It was organised by the MOBA Election Hub to enable the candidates promote their manifestos on which they are running for the various offices on the MOBA national executive committee. Others who also engaged in discussions were David Indome (Class of 1994); Joseph Dadson (Class of 2002); and Frederick Ankomah (Class of 2003) all vying for Decade Representative (20 - 29). Endowment fund Mr Baiden (Class of 1983) lamented how even though Old Boys were still heavily investing in the school, there were no longer enrolling their wards but rather paying huge sums of money to have them study in private schools. That, he said, was because their wives especially, didnt trust the quality of education. Therefore, Mr Baiden, said that in order to take Mfantsipim back from the government and restore it to its former glory, MOBA needed to build a $10 million endowment fund over 50 months, that would serve as the financial backbone for running of the school. The school is funded by the government for $400,000 a year. So building an endowment will tell the government that we dont need you to give us that money, we want our school back. The Methodist Church went to the government because of money and so once we have money, we can once again determine our future, he explained. Sustainable approach Rev. Ankamah-Asamoah (Class of 1980) noted that the government had promised to deliver the school back to the church and MOBA. He said, while they waited, the Old Boys must develop a gradual and sustainable approach to raising money for the running of Mfantsipim so that they would be ready when it was finally handed over to the association. Rev. Ankamah-Asamoah explained that rallying at least a 100 committed Old Boys from each year group spanning from 1965 to 2014 to give $20 a month would earn Mfantsipim about $1 million each year. The desire to take the school back is something that people are passionate about. So if youre really passionate, you must put your money where your mouth is, he stressed. University of Ghana's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences hosts inaugural career fair Kweku Zurek Education Oct - 21 - 2023 , 19:47 The School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Ghana on Friday, October 20, 2023, organized its inaugural Career Fair, with the aim of bridging the gap between academic learning and industry application. Held at the ISSER Conference Facility, the one-day event centred around the theme: "Pathways to Career Success - Gen Z, 4IR and the Future of Work". The organizers emphasized that the fair was a concerted effort to foster stronger ties between academia and industry. During the opening ceremony, Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman, the Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS), emphasized the significance of providing students with internship opportunities. He underscored that such experiences not only benefit students but also reduce the training time required for companies upon recruitment. Additionally, Prof. Onwona-Agyeman urged Ghanaian industries to collaborate on Research and Development with academic institutions to foster product development. He highlighted that local production would lead to a reduction in imports, thereby alleviating pressure on the Ghanaian cedi. Prof. Isaac Wiafe, Chair of the Planning Committee for the Career Fair, extended gratitude to the event's sponsors, including Ghana Chamber of Mines, Chirano Mines, Ghana Gas Company, and GCB Bank. He emphasized that the theme was chosen to address the need for retraining despite tertiary institutions producing high-calibre students. Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, the Dean of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, commended the quality of curricula in tertiary institutions, which yield exceptional graduates. He disclosed plans to enhance students' entrepreneurial capacities, with a program set to launch next year. Prof. Yidana highlighted the pivotal role of the fair in facilitating interaction between academia and industry. He emphasized that this symbiotic relationship would lead to curriculum revisions, producing graduates well-prepared for the job market. Furthermore, he expressed optimism that the fair would create internship opportunities, bolstering students' employability upon graduation. Participating companies included Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Chirano Gold Mines Ltd., GCB Bank, intertek Minerals, PGS, AMNI, and Sems Exploration. Representatives from these organizations provided insights into their respective companies and presented employment opportunities. Additionally, they manned stands, enabling students to engage directly with industry professionals. Fire guts Makola Shopping Mall Vincent Amenuveve Oct - 21 - 2023 , 11:16 Fire gutted over 200 shops and makeshift structures at the Makola Shopping Mall in Accra, forcing authorities to temporarily close down the Mall to enhance proper assessment of the situation. The fire started at around 11:00pm last night, Friday, October 20, 2023 and was brought under control within four and half hours by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). It is however not clear what started the fire but the GNFS says it is still investigating the cause of the fire. Items destroyed include wigs, perfumes, cosmetics and jewelleries among other items running into thousands of Ghana cedis. There were no casualties. Briefing the media on the situation, the Deputy Director, Operations of GNFS, Chief Fire Officer, Kofi Forson explained that fire personnel had a distress call around 11:24pm on Friday night and because there was a fire station located around the Mall, in less than two minutes fire personnel got to the scene to bring the situation under control. He said because the fire was intense they further called for reinforcement with more fire fighting equipment. In all nine fire fighting appliances were used with 70 fire personnel trying to bring the fire under control; they forced open the padlocks locking the main entrance to the Mall, using special equipment and got access to the spot where the incident occurred he stated. Challenges Mr Forson said the personnel were able to salvage over 2,000 stores including make shift structures stressing that an Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) sub-station which was ten metres away from the Mall was not affected by the fire due to the timely intervention of the personnel. The challenges we had was accessibility to the trouble spot because of the make shift structures which have almost blocked all the alleys making it difficult to smoothly fight the fire he stated. The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer(ACFO I) Roberta Aggrey-Ghanson explained that the cause of the fire is under investigation. She said the explosions heard during the fire outbreak were as a result of some cosmetic products that were exposed to excessive heat and burning during the fire. The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth K.T. Sackey who visited the Mall to ascertain the extent of damage, said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) would wait for a report from the GNFS to determine the next line of action. The Mayor therefore appealed to traders to always take precautionary measures to prevent the occurrences of similar fire outbreaks in the future. Traders While some traders were counting their losses, eye witnesses stressed the need for lasting solution to fire outbreaks including addressing the siting of make shift structures to ensure smooth access to stores in case of disasters. Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense: KNUST, UEW, UCC in epic final today Kwame Larweh Oct - 21 - 2023 , 09:51 Three schools at the tertiary level will battle it out today at the grand final of Version Five (Version 5) of the Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge slated for the studios of TV3 in Accra. The schools are defending champions, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), representing the northern zone; and two middle zone schools, namely University of Education Winneba, a first-time finalist, and two-time winners, University of Cape Coast. Format The three will battle it out in five rounds of a two-hour intensive practical session in an epic contest which starts at 10 a.m. With two students representing each school, the first round of quiz will entail theoretical questions, while the second round of questions will deal with practicals and calculations. In the third round, which is the problem of the day, the competitors will be tasked with solving a practical business problem by the quiz-master before answering questions on entrepreneurship. The fourth round will comprise two sections; the first dealing with questions related to the Graphic Business newspaper, while the second section will entail questions requiring true or false answers. In the final and fifth round, students will be made to answer riddles. Rewards, awards Mouthwatering rewards put together by organisers of the coveted contest, Graphic Communications Group Limited, and its sponsors, will be presented to all the participating schools in the final depending on their positions for the day. These include cash rewards, laptops, tablets, internship opportunities, slots to undertake national service with sponsors and partners, insurance for participating students, among others. The Head of Events, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Kwabena Asante Berko, told the Daily Graphic that all was set for the grand final on Saturday. This competition prepares these students to bridge the skills gap with the companies in the market and acquaint them with what goes on in these business entities, he noted. He revealed that the choice of TV3 for this years final was to ensure there was a charged atmosphere to make the competition lively. The Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge is an initiative by the Graphic Business, a brand of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), that provides a platform to tertiary business schools in the country to showcase the quality of the education given to students by squaring them off against their contemporaries. By doing so, GCGL aims to identify students with high business acumen who will engage their peers in meaningful business discussions and serve as role models and mentors to young business students. The fifth edition, dubbed: the Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge 5.0, attracted the highest number of tertiary schools to the nations premier business schools competition. Sponsors The quiz is partnered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana which provides all the technical aspects of the competition, including the setting and marking of questions and vetting. The Chartered Institute of Management and Accountancy also provides some human support in the form of provision of judges and personnel. Other sponsors include MTN Ghana, GLICO, Price WaterHouse Coopers (PWC) and COMPU Ghana. Highest number of lawyers called to the Bar Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Oct - 21 - 2023 , 09:44 One thousand and ninety-seven (1,097) individuals have been enrolled as new lawyers, the highest number at a go since the country started training legal practitioners in 1958, with the first enrolment occurring in 1963 with nine lawyers. At the 60th Call to the Bar ceremony yesterday, some notable personalities who were part of the 1,097 new lawyers, were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and the Director-General of National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku. Two persons with disability one visually impaired and the other hearing impaired were also part of the newly qualified lawyers. Dignitaries, who graced the historic occasion, included President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo; the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame; the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, and the Director of Legal Education and the Ghana School of Law (GSL), Barima Nana Yaw Kodie Oppong. Ebenezer Addai Osei was adjudged the overall best student in the two-year Professional Law Course at the GSL, walking away with the John Mensah Sarbah Memorial Prize, which comes with a cash prize of GH50,000, a laptop with a soft copy of the Law Reports, and a full scholarship for a Masters Degree in Law. Rule of law & justice In her speech before officially ushering the new lawyers into the legal profession, the Chief Justice said a lawyer had a professional duty to uphold the rule of law and justice at all times and in all their endeavours. She said without rule of law, there would be total anarchy in society, and, therefore, lawyers, as masters of the law, must ensure that the law took precedence, irrespective of status and class. Rule of law provides a level playing field for every citizen, and an objective measuring line and standard for determining whether actions, whether by the rich, poor, strong or weak pass the muster of justice and equity, she said. With regard to justice, Justice Torkornoo said lawyers must not see justice as a concept, but a practical reality which formed an integral part of any thriving society. She said lawyers must, therefore, become the means or conduit through which justice was achieved for the betterment of mankind. The legal profession is expected to be the bulwark against social chaos. The presence of the legal profession ought to provide the guarantee that every citizen, no matter their circumstances, will be protected in whatever enterprise and lawful activity they embark on, she said. The Chief Justice further said lawyers must see themselves as agents of progress whose activities went to the very core of nation building and prosperity. The legal profession must be made up of persons who have not just studied the letter of the law, but have imbibed the spirit behind legal order and have shown the presence of a moral compass that is able to not only direct themselves but able to help direct the nation in its quest for justice, coherence, harmony, progress and peace, she said. Integrity The Chief Justice noted that a lawyer with all the skills and knowledge would not be regarded, if he lacked integrity. She, therefore, urged the newly qualified lawyers to eschew all sorts of vices, and to maintain the highest ethical standards and integrity in their professional and private life. In stepping into the legal profession today, the manner in which you conduct the different aspects of your professional and private life will not depend on your personally perceived appreciation of proper conduct, but the objective indices set in the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32) and the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules), 2020 (L.I. 2423), she said. She added that a lawyers reputation was their trump card, and, therefore, any act that tarnished the reputation could spell doom for such a lawyer and further erode the confidence in the legal profession. The way you speak, the way you listen, the way you handle information, the way you handle relationship and the work entrusted to you will determine the legacy you carry along in every space you occupy, however short or long a time, she said. Motivation In an interview with the media, the foreign minister said she had considered the idea of becoming a lawyer for over 35 years, and had always been motivated to be a lawyer. I have always wanted to be a lawyer, but somehow my path went different ways. I did marketing, communication, MBA and all that, but finally, I came to my first love, which is the law, she said. Lets support fight against diabetes - Prof. Darkwa charges public Emmanuel Bonney Oct - 21 - 2023 , 10:28 Efforts by the government and its partners will not be enough to defeat diabetes unless members of the public play a critical role to support, a Professor of Food Science, Sarah Darkwah, has said. She said it was, therefore, unfair to stigmatise and show attitude to people who live with the disease. Prof. Darkwa, who is a Professor of Food Science at the Vocational and Technical Education Department of the University of Cape Coast, implored families and friends of persons living with the disease to give them all the support they needed to live well. She said diabetes was not a death sentence and charged the public to show care and love for persons with the disease. Prof. Darkwa, who said this when she presented a paper on Blood Sugar - A Social and Scientific Discourse on its Impact on our Health at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Lecture in Accra last Thursday, noted that in Ghana, there are about 2.4 million people living with diabetes and approximately 7.5 per cent of adults have Type-2 Diabetes.. She deplored the act of stigmatisation against persons with diabetes. Stigmatisation "There is negative attitude, people are judgemental about people living with diabetes. They even discriminate or show prejudice against people with blood sugar issue," she said. "They are sensitive to language and do not want to be referred to as diabetic," she emphasised, saying that "they are a bit sensitive to that name (diabetic)" Prof. Darkwa said the issues of race, age and genetics had a role to play in the acquisition of diabetes. She said once Ghanaians were part of the black race, they had a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health and the World Diabetes Foundation had agreed to develop and implement a joint integrated project in the country and Uganda and that "the aim is to reduce the negative impact of the disease and to ensure that people living with it had access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care. Blood sugar, she said was the sugar in the blood that was utilised for energy. The Chairperson of the GAAS, Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, said that 2.4 million people living with diabetes in the country was quite a lot. She said it was good to know that the WHO, the Ghana Health Service and the World Diabetic Society were working together to put processes that would help encourage individuals to manage and for society to make people realise that having high blood sugar was not a death sentence. NHIA CEO commends Rotary Club of Accra-Airport Polio Eradication drive Kweku Zurek Oct - 21 - 2023 , 22:16 Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has voiced his wholehearted support for the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport's endeavour to eradicate polio. Speaking at the Arise for Polio Fundraising Breakfast Meeting, Dr. Boye praised Rotary International's commendable 37-year-long global campaign against polio. He underscored the importance of continued vigilance in light of Ghana's 2019 outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived polio type 2 (cVDPV2) after a decade of polio-free status. Despite the added challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with partners including Rotary Club, responded promptly with various vaccination campaigns. Dr. Boye emphasized the devastating impact of polio, particularly on children, highlighting its potential for permanent paralysis or death. Although Africa was declared polio-free in 2020, he stressed the ongoing need for vigilance and collaboration. To achieve polio eradication, Dr. Boye emphasized the importance of evidence-based strategies, such as robust health surveillance and efficient vaccine management. He also highlighted NHIA's commitment to providing quality healthcare for children under five by waiving premiums and waiting times for renewal or registration. Recognizing the significance of disease prevention in achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, NHIA pledged its support for the Rotary Club Accra-Airport's Polio Fund by donating GHS20,000.00 in advance of World Polio Day. Dr. Boye concluded by congratulating Rotary International and commending the Rotary Club Accra-Airport for their commendable initiative. He extended blessings to both organizations, emphasizing their shared dedication to Ghana's prosperity and well-being. During the event, Rotarian David Osei Amankwah, the District Governor of Rotary District 9104, praised the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport for their exceptional commitment to polio eradication. He urged the club to continue its support for vaccination campaigns, community engagement, and fundraising efforts, emphasizing the collective responsibility to achieve a polio-free future. Ms. Theresa Osei Tutu, a Past Assistant Governor of Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, highlighted the importance of fundraising to prevent new polio cases globally, even though only Afghanistan and Pakistan remain endemic. She emphasized the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport's commitment to raising a minimum of $10,000 for the effort. She further explained that every dollar raised by Rotary members would be matched with two additional dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. UEW beats UCC, KNUST to win Tertiary Business Sense Challenge Ver. 5.0 Kweku Zurek Oct - 21 - 2023 , 14:54 In a thrilling finale held at the TV3 studios in Accra, the University of Education, Winneba clinched victory in this year's Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge, surpassing the University of Cape Coast and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. From the outset, UEW asserted its dominance and maintained a commanding lead throughout the competition, ultimately concluding with an impressive 67.9 points. The event, organised by the Graphic Business Newspaper in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, witnessed an enthusiastic audience. The University of Cape Coast secured second place with 51 points, followed closely by KNUST with 49.6 points. In a historic achievement, first-time finalists UEW now stand alongside esteemed institutions such as KNUST, University of Development Studies, and UCC as champions of this prestigious competition. Final Scores of the Tertiary Business Sense Challenge Version 5.0: - KNUST: 49.6 - UCC: 51 - UEW: 67.9 (WINNER) News / National by Staff reporter THE Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI), an independent public policy think-tank, says Zimbabwe opposition Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) should address its own internal contradictions that have enabled Zanu-PF's machinations to undermine the party's credibility and cohesion.The CCC has been stung by recalls driven by self-proclaimed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, who has brewed a storm after writing letters to Parliament and the ministry of Local Government, on a CCC letterhead, recalling 15 members of Parliament and 17 councillors.The recalls, which have been upheld by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, have raised a stink in the CCC, with analysts describing the move as a deliberate ploy by the ruling Zanu-PF to force through a two-thirds majority that would allow Mnangagwa to pass laws and amend the constitution at will.While CCC leader Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday directed MPs to disengage from Parliament until recalled members are reinstated, Tshabangu has also threatened to roll out more recalls should they fail to report for duty.In a new report titled The Politics of Recalls Democratic Fragility and Opposition Vulnerability in Zimbabwe, the ZDI said the opposition should solve its internal contradictions that have enabled infiltration by Zanu-PF."The opposition should strengthen its internal democracy and accountability mechanisms to prevent infiltration and co-optation by Zanu-PF agents," reads the report."The opposition must also enhance its communication and coordination with its grassroots supporters and allies to prevent confusion and demoralisation. The opposition should maintain its vigilance and resilience against Zanu-PF's attempts to intimidate and manipulate it through legal or extra-legal means. The opposition must also seek regional and international solidarity and support for its cause."The ZDI said Zanu-PF is trying to implement a securocratic state-building strategy that seeks to consolidate power by eliminating potential challengers, while seeking to sow discord and distrust among its leaders, members and allies.A securocratic state-building strategy uses coercion, manipulation and patronage to create a loyal and compliant citizenry, while pursuing selective economic reforms and social engineering to project an image of modernity and progress."The fact that CCC leadership wrote a letter to the Speaker of Parliament earlier than Tshabangu that sought to prevent unofficial and sporadic recalls and was ignored implies that Zanu-PF is either behind the recalls or conniving with disgruntled CCC individuals to facilitating those recalls to reap the attendant benefits of a fractured and thus weakened opposition," reads the report."Indeed, section 158(3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe stipulates that a contested by-election should be conducted after an MP is recalled in terms of section 129 (1)(k)."However, three key considerations make a Zanu-PF capture of a significant number of lost constituencies in its bid to regain a two-thirds majority in Parliament very likely. Firstly, Zimbabwean electoral history has been very informative regarding the electoral apathy among opposition support bases mainly in rural areas and Zanu-PF's strong coercive apparatus in the rural constituency in most by-elections."While there have been indications of CCC's infiltration by Zanu-PF and Central Intelligence Organisation-led outfit Forever Associates Zimbabwe (Faz), the ZDI said the opposition has to resist integration into the regime.In the pre-election period, Faz was accused of fraudulently filing nomination papers which saw double and triple candidates in 15 constituencies in Harare, three constituencies in Bulawayo, one in Kariba, and one in Marondera."This means the opposition should not accept any offers or inducements from the regime to join its ranks or to abandon its principles. This entails refusing to participate in any sham elections or dialogues that are designed to legitimise the regime or to co-opt its leaders;"Refusing to recognise or endorse any decisions or actions taken by the regime that violate the constitution or the rule of law; refusing to allow any of its members to defect or collaborate with the regime for personal gain or protection and refusing to compromise on its core values and demands, such as free and fair elections, human rights, and democratic reforms."The ZDI said the opposition should dispute Zanu-PF's legitimacy through exposing and criticising flaws and failures, while offering alternative visions and values."This includes challenging the regime's claims to represent the national interest or to deliver development and stability, highlighting the regime's corruption, repression, violence, incompetence, and mismanagement, exposing the regime's capture of state institutions, such as the judiciary, the legislature, the security forces, etc, and its manipulation of electoral processes and outcomes and presenting the opposition's own agenda and programme for democratic change and development that can address the needs and aspirations of the people," reads the report.The ZDI said by-elections would likely result in Zanu-PF regaining control of unstable rural constituencies such as Beitbridge West and Lupane East where it lost by a mere 96 and 235 votes respectively.For instance, in Makoni Rural District Council ward 33 where there was a tie between the CCC and Zanu-PF, Zanu-PF won a landslide in a by-election."Thus, when apathy in opposition support base is triangulated with intensified coercion usually deployed by Zanu-PF and its securocratic cousins now operating under civilian cover, the Forever Associates Zimbabwe (Faz) in rural constituencies during by-elections, 96-250 votes are likely to shift from CCC to Zanu-PF in each constituency. This will affect some rural constituencies won by the opposition." Winners of STEM competition to be supported Emmanuel Bonney Oct - 21 - 2023 , 08:20 The top 10 winners of this years science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition will receive funding to commercialise solutions they develop from projects they have undertaken. The projects, dubbed: Stemnnovation contest for senior high schools, will be funded by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). The Chief Executive Officer of NEIP, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, who made this known, added that there would also be training, capacity building, mentorship and access to markets for the winners. Mr Nkansah was speaking at the STEM project competition zonal road show for SHSs in the Greater Accra Region. In all, 14 schools took part in the competition that was held at the Accra Academy SHS. A total of 250 second cycle institutions in the country had registered to participate in the competition. Participating schools The schools that participated included the host, Wesley Grammar, Christian Methodist, West Africa SHS, Nungua SHS, Presbyterian SHS, Teshie; Presbyterian SHS, Osu and Pilot Technical Institute. The rest are Lashibi Community SHS, Kinbu SHS, Accra Technical Training Centre, Accra High SHS and the Accra Girls SHS. The students showcased the various projects they had undertaken. They also displayed lots of creativity and potential in finding solutions to challenges confronting their immediate community or the country. Some of the topics they focussed on were agriculture, energy and water. Significance Mr Nkansah said STEMNNOVATION was very important to the socio-economic development of the country. If you look at the history of developed countries, including India, they are all doing well because they pay attention to innovation and STEM education. They have systems to support their young people to bring out the best in them to harness their potential for the socio-economic development of their countries, he added. The chief executive officer further said we would make sure we provide a full portfolio of business development solutions that start-ups need to grow. He said those who would also need regulatory, compliance and quality assurance support would be given, as well as those who needed technology support. Learning outcomes The Director of Schools and Innovation of the Ghana Education Service, Prince Charles Agyeman-Duah, said learning outcomes had always been based upon the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results without any opportunity for the nation to see the value of what the children learned. He said it was for this and other reasons that the Ministry of Education and the NEIP introduced the STEMNNOVATION. Today, an opportunity has been given to our students to demonstrate to the whole world that they have what it takes to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, the director said. Indian officials have raided over 76 locations in an international crackdown on tech support scam calls. Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images Around 76 locations were raided across 12 Indian states in a crackdown on tech support scam calls. India's Central Bureau of Investigations is working with Amazon and Microsoft to combat scammers. Over 2,000 people have been impacted by these scams, with the US being a major target. India has been cracking down on tech support scammers in an effort to "combat and dismantle" finance-related cyber crime, officials announced on Thursday. Officials raided around 76 suspected illegal call center locations across India, in several different states, according to a press release from India's Central Bureau of Investigations. These raids were part of a police operation called Chakra-II. The scammers often pretend to work for reputable companies like Microsoft and Amazon, according to a press release from Amazon. Now, Amazon and Microsoft are teaming up with CBI and international law enforcement in an effort to cut down on the calls. Many of these scammers target Americans, with over 2,000 people being impacted, according to Amazon. Countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany, and Spain have also been affected. Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) October 19, 2023 Law enforcement seized 32 phones, 48 laptops and hard discs, and 33 SIM cards and froze several bank accounts amid the raid of the 76 locations, according to CBI. The locations were in Indian states including Bihar, Dehli, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The FBI estimates that in 2022, over 32,000 people were targeted by tech and customer support scams, with over $800 million in losses. Amazon said it has a "zero tolerance" policy for scammers pretending to be part of the company. It has taken down over 20,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers associated with fraud scams. Story continues Oftentimes, scammers will target elderly victims, with 69% of victims being 60 or older, according to the FBI. Ensuring that you and your loved ones are aware of the warning signs of a scam call or phishing email or text can help them avoid being tricked into handing away sensitive information. Microsoft and other reputable tech companies will never contact you via phone call, email, or text to tell you that there's a problem with your device, Microsoft Security's Doug Thomas said in a YouTube video. He also said that pop-up messages from reputable companies won't include a phone number that you need to call to get help. Amazon recommends that anyone who suspects they're being scammed report the activity to amazon.com/reportascam or email stop-spoofing@amazon.com. Read the original article on Business Insider The Archdiocese of Agana bids adieu to Mount Carmel School as it officially closed as a Catholic school on Oct. 20. Now Mount Carmel Academy Charter School, the campus in Hagat will officially be transitioning as the fifth academy charter school on Guam after being confirmed by the Guam Academy Charter Schools Council on Sept. 26. MCS spent a total of 66 years under the Archdiocese since its opening in 1957. We shall definitely miss Mount Carmel School. Its community of dedicated and gifted children and adults was an important and dynamic part of the archdioceses legacy of Catholic educational excellence for many decades, said Rev. Fr. Romeo Convocar, the archdioceses apostolic administrator. The archdiocese supports their decision to become a charter school because in these especially difficult times, this shift enables the school to sustain itself and continue its mission of providing diverse educational opportunities to a wide range of children in Guam. Convocar also noted the archdioceses gratitude for Mike Phillips and the board members of the Mount Carmel Alumni and Endowment Foundation for taking over the reins of MCS since 2007 after the school was initially declared closed by the archdiocese. We recognize that it has not been easy. Phillips and other board members rescued the school from extinction to keep the flame of the Phoenix burning brightly these past many years, said Convocar. Convocar thanked the founding sisters who became synonymous with the school for five decades. We also extend a giant THANK YOU to the School Sisters of Notre Dame for the tremendous care, faith and devotion they gave to the children of Guam at the Agat school, said Convocar. They operated the school with great devotion to God and taught thousands of students with deep love and dedication. Convocar added in his closure decree that official letters for approval and funding from the charter schools council were relayed to Sen. Chris Barnett legislative chairperson on education, and Edward Birn, director of the Department of Administration. With a certain mix of emotions, I extend congratulations and Gods blessings to the entire community of Mount Carmel Academy Charter School for success in becoming the newest charter school in Guam, said Convocar. We wish Mount Carmel Academy Charter School the very best in its new journey and identity as a school chartered under the laws of Guam. The conversion was made possible after the 37th Guam Legislature unanimously overrode Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros veto of Bill 62-37 into Public Law 37-30. The law, authored by Sen. Chris Barnett, allowed private religious schools to be eligible to convert into charter schools. MCS also satisfied the requirements for one charter school on Guam to have a project-based curriculum that will result in proficiency in the CHamoru language, music, physical fitness, and the performing arts. Theology is no longer part of the curriculum. Mount Carmel is a great addition to our existing charter school family and a valuable complement to our public education system. I am a big fan of project-based learning and the CHamoru language curriculum Mount Carmel offers, said Barnett. I thank my colleagues for their support in seeing this through and we extend our congratulations to the MCS family. Shortly after the release of a "wanted' flyer for two men released on Oct. 20, 2023, officers with the Guam Police Department's Domestic Assault Response Team found and arrested one of the men, according to a news release from GPD. Justin Peter Benavente was arrested on charges of criminal sexual conduct stemming from an incident that happened Aug. 28, 2023 at a Hagatna business establishment. According to the release, Benavente was booked and confined and the report forwarded to the Attorney General's Office. The case remains open. The Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Public Welfare has announced a public hearing on the Guam Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, State Plan, to be held on Dec. 4. The purpose of the public hearing is to update the proposed TANF State Plan, also known as the Cash Assistance Program. The TANF State Plan is for the period of Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2026. TANF is designed to help low-income families with children by providing income support in the form of cash assistance. The TANF programs goals include promoting job training and educational advancement while providing assistance to families so that their children can be cared for at their home or in the homes of relatives. On Dec. 4, two public hearings will be held. The first is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and will end at 11:30 a.m. The second will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. Both will be held at the DPHSS Public Health Incident Command Center Conference Room located at 155 Hesler Place in Hagatna. Your participation in the TANF State Plan Public Hearing is an opportunity for you to influence change for the better. This is your chance to share your insight and experiences to help shape a program which provides critical assistance to families in need. Therefore, I encourage our communitys participation by submitting comments at the upcoming Public Hearing, Public Health Director Arthur San Agustin said in a statement. Individuals can view a copy of the Guam TANF State Plan by visiting the following: Bureau of Economic Security, located in the RAN-Care building, 761 South Marine Corps Drive, Room B9, 2nd Floor, Tamuning. Work Programs Section, #130 University Drive, Castle Mall, Suite 11, located in Mangilao. Individuals can also download a copy of the Guam TANF State Plan by visiting the DPHSS website at dphss.guam.gov. The public is welcome to submit any written comments on the proposed TANF State Plan physically at BES, or at the Work Programs Section. The public can also send their comments electronically by emailing patrice.hara@dphss.guam.gov. For any questions or inquiries, individuals can contact Patrice Hara, program coordinator III at (671) 735-7368 or through email at patrice.hara@dphss.guam.gov. Haiti - Politic : The United States very concerned about the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti Thursday October 19, 2023, following the unanimous favorable vote of the members of the UN Security Council on the one-year extension of the sanctions regime against Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40775-haiti-flash-the-security-council-unanimously-extends-the-sanctions-regime-against-haiti.html as well as the mandate of the "Group of experts in Haiti", until October 2024, the United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued the following statement : Statement from United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield : "The unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council on a U.S.- and Ecuador-drafted resolution on Haiti sanctions is another milestone and important step to help the Haitian people who have been victims of brutal gang violence, acute food insecurity, a cholera outbreak, and years of instability and needless suffering. The United States thanks our co-penholder Ecuador for its work on this resolution the third resolution on Haiti adopted by the Security Council since July. The United States remains deeply concerned by the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. The continued suffering of the Haitian people due to ongoing violence must end and this resolution recognizes the urgent needs on the ground and builds on the Security Councils recent resolutions to renew and strengthen the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti and to authorize the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti. The adoption of this resolution also strengthens a key tool from the Security Councils broader peace and security toolkit with respect to Haiti, extends the mandate of the Haiti Panel of Experts, and renews arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze measures all of which will play a critical role in promoting peace and stability in Haiti, and in the broader region. The United States remains committed to the people of Haiti and we will continue to work closely with the Haitian government, fellow Council members, and all stakeholders to facilitate peace and prosperity for Haiti and the region." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Towards a transfer of Badio to the USA Joseph Badio, considered one of the intellectual masterminds of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, could be extradited to the United States. According to the New York Times, "Lawyers for some of the defendants in Miami said they suspected a sealed indictment against Badio could have been filed by U.S. prosecutors" hours after his arrest on Thursday, October 19, in Petion-ville https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40773-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-joseph-felix-badio-arrested-after-more-than-2-years-on-the-run.html Should be noted that his name was cited by three defendants who pleaded guilty in the plot leading to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40773-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-joseph-felix-badio-arrested-after-more-than-2-years-on-the-run.html Canal : broken promises Following two meetings with the Government on October 16 and 17 with the management committee for the construction of the irrigation canal in Haiti, Moise Charles Pierre Departmental Delegate of the North-East announced that heavy equipment from the Ministry of Public Works would be transferred to the construction site. However, architect Wideline Pierre, spokesperson for the canal construction management committee, confirmed that to date, no equipment had been sent... 47,000 weapons without a valid license 47,000 handguns and hunting rifles are registered in Haiti by the Firearms Carrying Permit Service according to the Report of the UN Group of Experts. More than 40,000 of these weapons are not associated with a valid license. Furthermore, the number of illegal weapons in circulation in Haiti is estimated at nearly 600,000. FORF Fair : call for craft exhibitors Call to artisan exhibitors, take part in the big fair of the Odette Roy Fombrun Foundation (FORF) in Les Jardins dOdette, on November 18, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information +509 3170 6000 Towards the rehabilitation of the Barriere-Bouteille and Vertieres sites As part of the Year of Haitian Heritage, the Ministry of Culture announced rehabilitation work on the Barriere-Bouteille and Vertieres sites in Cap-Haitien. Blood donors are rare In Port-au-Prince, blood donors are rare. The National Blood Transfusion Center is struggling to meet demands. While the country needs 60,000 to 80,000 blood bags per year, the Center cannot even collect 50% of the requests. HL/ HaitiLibre Korean Movie | 2017 Drama Directed by Lim Kyeong-taek () Written by Kim Min-III () 94min | Release date in South Korea: 2019/01/01 Crank in : 2016/06/13 Formely known as "Midsummer" (, o-nyu-wol) Synopsis In-ae, who was falsely charged, is released from prison. Eun-hye, her younger sister, is an 18-year-old high school student with the mental age of a ten-year-old. She adores her sister, who means the world to her. They get together for a small reunion party, and hope for nothing but happiness for them in the future. Next day, however, Eun-hye doesnt return from school. In-ae reports her missing to the police and asks her teacher for help, but no one seems to care about Eun-hyes whereabouts. Devastated by this tragedy, and by the society that doesnt care for the weak, In-ae embarks on an investigation all by herself. She finds out that her sister suffered violence and sexual abuse from school bullies. Not only that, Eun-hye has been passed on from a loan shark, to a massage parlor, then to someone else. In-ae is hot on the trail and will not give up her quest to bring back Eun-hye, but the path leads her to even more shocking secrets from her past: the owners of a convenience store, photo studio, and car repair shop all raped her a few years ago. Now, its payback time! To console her sister, to find her, and to survive In-aes brutal revenge begins. Source Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, please see Friday's live updates here.An explosion at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City late Thursday resulted in casualties and injuries along with displacing Palestinians who were taking refuge there. 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 bombing, adding that more than 500 people were being housed at the church and monastery. "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. 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. The incident triggered outrage across the Middle East, as Hamas and Israel blamed each other for the attack. Since the war began on Oct. 7, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 others have been wounded. And in Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed. Israels defense minister has told troops to be ready for a ground offensive in Gaza but he has not said when the assault will begin. In a televised address on Thursday, President Joe Biden urged people to support Ukraine and Israel, saying "American leadership is what holds the world together." Palestinians inspect the damage of a destroyed building following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Israel-Hamas War newsletter: Sign up to get the latest news and analysis from USA TODAY into your inbox. Developments: The Rafah crossing at the Egypt-Hamas border, which had been expected to open Friday to allow humanitarian aid to come in, probably won't be ready until later in the weekend because of road repairs and other concerns, CNN reported. The aid deal struck Wednesday had included a stipulation that roads essential to the flow of aid would first be fixed. Story continues Israeli Minister of Economy Nir Barkat told reporters the military, not political leaders, will decide when to invade Gaza. "The Israeli government made a decision, they green-lighted the army, 'Wipe them out,' and now it's in the hands of the army,'' he said. More than 100 retired U.S. generals have signed an open letter from the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to give Israel all the support it needs militarily, diplomatically and logistically against the "Iran-backed terrorist threats that surround it on all sides." The U.S. is waiving travel visa requirements for Israelis earlier than expected. Hamas fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during their Oct. 7 assault on Israel, a 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. Gaza's dwindling water, electricity supply could turn hospitals into 'morgues' Israel bombing Gaza 'safe zones' in south No place was safe for more than 2 million Palestinians as Israeli bombs slammed the Gaza Strip, including parts of the Palestinian territory that Israel had declared safe zones. At least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded when a residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis was struck, medical personnel at Nasser Hospital said. The intensified shelling came one day after Israel agreed to allow limited shipments of humanitarian aid into southern Gaza from Egypt. Israeli Air Forces continued to strike southern areas despite the directive for people in #Gaza to move south, the UN Relief and Works Agency said. The agency said at least 14 of its own staff had been killed and nine more wounded adding that the actual number is likely to be much higher in less than two weeks since a stunning, bloody incursion of Hamas militants killed more than 1,000 Israeli citizens and fueled military reprisals from Israel. The commander of the Hamas-led National Security Forces, Maj. Gen. Jihad Muheisen, was killed in an Israeli strike on his Gaza City home along with some relatives, Hamas said. Israel Defense Forces says it is attacking Hamas militants wherever they hide in Gaza and has accused the militants of taking shelter among the civilian population. 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. US issues 'worldwide' travel caution The U.S. State Department on Thursday issued a "worldwide caution" for U.S. travelers. The travel advisory cites "increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests." The agency urges Americans overseas to exercise increased caution and stay alert in known tourist spots that might be attractive targets. It also suggests travelers sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and to make it easier to locate someone in an emergency overseas. US warship shoots down missiles, drones in Red Sea A U.S. warship in the northern Red Sea shot down three missiles and several drones fired from Yemen, the Pentagon said Thursday, in the latest danger sign of how the Israel-Hamas war could expand into a regional conflict. A Pentagon spokesman said the projectiles were launched by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week, their leader cautioned that they may fire missiles and drones if the U.S. intervened in the war. A U.S. official told The Associated Press the missiles were likely not aimed at the USS Carney, the Navy destroyer that intercepted them over the water. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations that have not been made public. 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, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters. Ryder said the Defense Department is still trying to ascertain the missiles' target, adding they were destroyed because their flight pattern indicated a possible threat. He said the U.S. is prepared to do whatever is required to protect our partners and our interests in this important region. Houthi officials declined to comment. Tom Vanden Brook, Associated Press UN to supervise aid going into Gaza despite lack of cease-fire The United Nations will inspect the trucks bringing in humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza and will help oversee the process, but the organization's head would prefer the desperately needed supplies could be carried in under a cease-fire. The warring parties have not agreed to suspend hostilities, although a U.N. flag will fly over the Rafah crossing to dissuade Israeli airstrikes. The crossing has been expected to open Friday, but CNN reported that road repairs and other concerns will likely delay that till later in the weekend. Civilians in Gaza need core services and supplies, and for that we need rapid and immediate humanitarian access, we need water, food and medicine now,'' U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. "We need it at scale, and we need it to be sustained. Israel agreed Wednesday to allow aid into Gaza after a request from Biden, but demanded the assistance not go through its territory, only via Egypt, and that it be kept away from Hamas. Israeli officials have said their siege of the Palestinian territory won't be lifted until Hamas releases the approximately 200 hostages it captured during its Oct. 7 rampage. One unresolved issue is whether Israeli will allow fuel into Gaza, a particularly important matter at a time when several hospitals in the territory have closed for lack of diesel. Negotiations are ongoing. As war in Israel, Gaza rages on As war in Israel, Gaza rages on, President Biden is having a moment US armored vehicles delivered to Israel A U.S. cargo plane arrived in Israel carrying the initial shipment of armored vehicles designated to replace vehicles damaged during the war, the Israel Ministry of Defense said Thursday. Armored ambulances, trucks and mechanical engineering equipment are expected to arrive in coming days, the ministry said. The first delivery came the day after Biden's trip to Tel Aviv, where he pledged the U.S. would stand by Israel and provide whatever is needed to defend itself in its war with Hamas. Biden said he would seek congressional approval of an "unprecedented support package" to bolster Israel's defense. He also pledged $100 million in U.S. funding for humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians, Israelis flee homes More than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected Israel invasion that seeks to eliminate Hamas leadership after its deadly assault. Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis. About 300,000 Israelis have been internally displaced since the start of the war, the Times of Israel reports, citing Israel Democracy Institute research. Most are from southern Israel in the Gaza border towns where Hamas carried out its murderous rampage. Biden emerges as leading global backer of Israel The president has made a sudden transformation from a political figure whose commitment to Israel was often questioned by conservative critics inside and outside the Jewish state to arguably the world's leading champion of Israel outside the Middle East. Biden's actions and words since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, capped by a dramatic visit to Israel on Wednesday, have been lauded even by many of Biden's biggest skeptics in Israel as he stands in solidarity with the country and pledges "unprecedented" military assistance. "Israelis were hungry for a father figure that will hug them and show empathy. And the president has done that in such a way that really touched every Israeli," said Nimrod Novik, a former foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and now a fellow with the Israel Policy Forum. Read more here. Joey Garrison Gaza hospital explosion: How a deadly blast near al-Ahli center unfolded Palestinian-Americans face backlash in US Palestinian Americans are seeing two fronts in the Israel-Hamas war: One is the bloodshed in the Middle East, the other is emotional backlash from bigotry and hate in the U.S. A U.S. Department of Justice hate crime investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy in Illinois is one of several incidents of alleged hate being directed at Palestinian Americans, allies and people who look like them since the war began. The community feels under siege, American Muslims for Palestine executive director Osama Abu Irshaid told USA TODAY, but at the same time wants to show support and express grief in the crisis. Theyre not out there to threaten anyone," Irshaid said. "Theyre not there to delegitimize another narrative. Theyre out there to assert a narrative that is being diminished." Read more here. Minnah Arshad Battle against hate: Violence, bigotry toward Palestinian Americans spiking across U.S. 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 More: Biden: Gaza to get aid by Friday; US says Israel not to blame for hospital blast. Live updates 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 updates: Gaza hospital death toll lower than Hamas claim We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here Of the companies surveyed, 31% rated the expertise of graduates as poor in meeting work demands, while 8% found it very inadequate. A recent survey by the Chamber of Commerce suggests that almost four in ten businesses (39%) believe the skills of professionally trained graduates do not align with workplace requirements. This alarming figure highlights an urgent issue, as the greatest deficiency flagged by firms pertains to the lack of professionals with the right vocational qualifications. On the optimistic side, 21% of the respondents believed that the skills matched or exceeded job needs well. The survey specifically targeted companies in need of individuals who have completed secondary vocational education. Johanna Sipola, Deputy Director-General of the Central Chamber of Commerce, voiced her concerns, stating, "Our surveys indicate that businesses are in dire need of professionals with vocational education. The equation doesn't add up if we cannot cater to these needs with contemporary, high-caliber skills. This deterioration in vocational competence constrains the growth of Finnish companies and hampers their competitive edge on the global stage." In order to ensure the availability of skilled labor, businesses spotlighted three key solutions: Enhancing collaboration between companies and educational institutions, deemed important or very important by 92% of businesses. Revamping curriculum content to better reflect workplace needs, supported by 90% of companies. Overhauling incentives for job acceptance, endorsed by 80% of firms. The Central Chamber of Commerce emphasized the importance of educational institutions adapting autonomously to changing demands, suggesting they should adjust the curriculum, initiate new training programs, or offer concise skill modules. "For narrowing the gap between vocational skills and workplace needs, we must streamline the regulation of educational responsibilities and capacities. We need an ongoing dialogue between enterprises and vocational players to make education more attuned to workplace demands," added Sipola. Furthermore, 67% of firms claimed to have a thorough understanding of local vocational institutions and their offerings, while a mere 9% felt they were ill-informed. Encouragingly, 42% expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts. According to the survey, the demand for trained professionals is notably concentrated in specific sectors: engineering (74%), commerce, administration, and legal studies (73%), IT and telecommunications (65%), and the service industry. Sipola pointed out a significant omission in the survey's coverage. "The healthcare and social sectors are grappling with a worsening labor shortage. Due to the membership structure of the Chambers of Commerce, this area is underrepresented in the survey," she commented. HT This anticipated update was recently announced by Mark Zuckerberg , and according to TechCrunch, Android users will be among the first to experience it in the upcoming weeks. WhatsApp users, rejoice! The popular messaging app is set to unveil a feature that many have been clamoring for the ability to operate two accounts on a single device. With the hustle and bustle of modern life, many individuals juggle between personal and professional realms. WhatsApp's new feature promises a smoother transition between these spheres. "No more shuffling between two phones or fretting about sending a message from the wrong account," the company elucidated in a blog post. However, there's a small catch. To activate this dual functionality, users will require two distinct phone numbers, necessitating either a secondary SIM card or a multi-SIM/eSIM-enabled device. The setup process is straightforward: navigate to WhatsApp settings, select the arrow adjacent to the user's name, and choose "Add account". The initial setup will require verification via the second phone or eSIM facility. Moreover, WhatsApp has ensured that users can customize notifications and privacy settings independently for each account. Both beta testers and regular users can avail of this dual account feature, enhancing the overall messaging experience. HT In a bold move symbolizing solidarity with those facing violations of fundamental rights, Rome has announced its intention to confer honorary citizenship upon Julian Assange , the embattled founder of WikiLeaks. The announcement was made by city councilor Antonella Melito on Tuesday, noting that the process will be finalized once the necessary documentation is in place. Assange, currently 52 years old, remains imprisoned at London's high-security Belmarsh Prison. Since 2019, he has been contending against extradition to the US. There, he faces potential life imprisonment due to WikiLeaks' 2010 release of classified US Army intelligence associated with the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Melito underscored that through this symbolic gesture, Rome aims to project a message of unity and backing for individuals who are unjustly detained and condemned, infringing upon their essential rights. This proposal to bestow honorary citizenship upon the Australian activist was initiated by Rome's former mayor, Virginia Raggi. Emphasizing the importance of this decision, Raggi took to social media, stating that this marked a significant move towards safeguarding both Julian Assange as an individual and as a representative symbol. She further stressed the paramount importance of persistently defending press freedom, drawing attention to Assange's predicament. Interestingly, earlier this year, Stella, Assange's wife, had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Reflecting on the encounter, she revealed to the Catholic Herald magazine that the Pope had extended a letter of support to her husband in March 2021. This gesture by Pope Francis provided a beacon of hope during a particularly challenging time for Assange, especially after a UK court's refusal to grant him bail, despite concerns over his prospective treatment in the US. The drawn-out nature of Assange's detention has also elicited frustration from Australian officials. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced his discontent in August over the absence of a diplomatic resolution for Assange's situation. He vowed to consistently urge the US to terminate their prosecution of Assange. This commitment stands even after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed Canberra's prior entreaties concerning Assange's welfare. Albanese was candid with reporters, remarking, This has persisted excessively. It's high time for a resolution. He further reaffirmed Australia's unyielding stance and continued dedication to representing their views to the US administration. HT Finland experiencing a surge in online espionage attempts from Russia following the latters invasion of Ukraine, was covered in an article by The Guardian on October 18. Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: The article gives details of the information by the Finnish security and intelligence service, Supo, which reported that the country is facing multiple threats from Russia, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Russias espionage attempts towards us have increased during the war, mainly in the cybersphere, Suvi Alvari, a senior analyst for Supo, said. Following the expulsion of diplomats from Helsinki, Russia appears to be redirecting its intelligence efforts towards online activities. In June, Finland expelled nine individuals from the Russian embassy, citing their actions as a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This expulsion comes in the wake of similar actions taken by Norway and Sweden, who have also expelled Russian individuals, alleging their involvement as intelligence officers. Key areas of interest in cyberattacks on Finland include its NATO membership, support for Ukraine, and potential sanctions evasion through the country. These attacks aim to create a perception of disrupted services, although it is assessed as unlikely that Russia would target Finlands critical infrastructure physically on Finnish soil in the near future. Its obvious Russia has the capability in the cybersphere so were prepared, Alvari said. We assess that its likely that Russia will continue to use denial of service attacks [when hackers make information systems, devices and other resources inaccessible to legitimate users] towards us. Original story was published by The Guardian on 18.10.2023 and can be found here. Finnish police complete on-site probe at damaged Baltic Sea pipeline Finnish police completing their crime scene investigation into the damage to a subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia, was covered in an article by Reuters on October 19. The article provides details of the damage as Balticconnector pipeline linking Finland and Estonia ruptured earlier this month The authorities said may have been a deliberate act of sabotage, cutting off the flow of gas between the two countries until April at least. Samples collected at the site of the subsea gas pipeline damage in cooperation with Finlands armed forces and coast guard will be analyzed, according to a statement by the police. Although the scene investigation into the damage in the gas pipeline has been completed, investigations and the presence of authorities still continue in the area, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation said. Subsequently the area surrounding the damage will be widely examined, they added. Original story was published by Reuters on 19.10.2023 and can be found here. With Finland in NATO, Russia restructures forces, depriving the Northern Fleet of the status as a military district Russias defence ministrys proposal of a draft presidential decree that would remove the Northern Fleets status as a military district, was covered in an article by The Barents Observer on October 10. The article explores how the Northern Fleet will be integrated into a reconstituted Leningrad Military District, if the proposal is approved. This is a return to the structure prior to 2010 when the Western Military Districts were divided. The Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command gained military district status on January 1, 2021, signifying the significance of Russias Arctic regions. Geographically, the Northern Fleet is the third largest of Russias five military districts. This move is seen as a response to Finland and Swedens NATO aspirations and NATOs efforts to bolster military capabilities near Russian borders. Russias defence minister Sergei Shoigu emphasized the need for retaliatory measures to establish an appropriate troop presence in Northwest Russia. Given NATOs desire to build up military potential near the Russian borders, as well as to expand the North Atlantic Alliance at the expense of Finland and Sweden, retaliatory measures are required to create an appropriate grouping of troops in Northwest Russia, Sergei Shoigu said. From the Russian perspective, this restructuring aims to enhance their ability to engage in full-scale land operations along the Finnish border and in the Baltic theater of military operations. This leads to changes in command and personnel organization, effectively reversing some of the military reforms implemented between 2008-2012. Original story was published by The Barents Observer on 10.10.2023 and can be found here. Bank of Finland initiates development of Finnish instant payment solution aligned with European standards The Bank of Finland (BOF) spearheading the developing a Finnish instant payment solution that complies with European standards, was covered in an article by Cryptonews on October 19. The article highlights the BOF's active role in promoting innovative payment methods. Tuomas Valimaki, a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), acknowledged the declining use of cash for transactions in Finland and Europe, despite the continued circulation of physical cash. In Finland, cash represents a small fraction of daily transactions, and a minority of the population uses it as their primary payment method. Valimaki mentioned the digital euro as an alternative payment method, highlighting it as a significant ongoing project in European payment systems. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of ensuring continued access and convenience for those who rely on cash for their daily financial activities. The core objectives of the digital euro align with the Eurosystems responsibility to uphold the reliability and efficiency of payment and settlement systems in an increasingly digitalized landscape, particularly as cash usage diminishes, Valimaki said. Original story was published by Cryptonews on 19.10.2023 and can be found here. Finland Blocks Property Sales to Russians on Security Grounds Finnish authorities blocking three property sales to Russian buyers, citing defense and security concerns, was covered in an article by Bloomberg on October 19. These properties are situated near the southeastern border. The article looks into the move by Finland as the defence ministry expressed that allowing these real estate acquisitions would have compromised Finlands ability to safeguard its territorial integrity. At the beginning of the year, a new law granted authorities expanded powers to prevent property transactions if they raise national security concerns. The decision to block property sales to Russian buyers, signed by Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, pertains to two properties in Ruokolahti and one in Kitee, as stated by the government. In the previous year, authorities also prevented the sale of a former nursing home property in Kankaanpaa, located in the western part of Finland near an army site. Original story was published by Bloomberg on 19.10.2023 and can be found here. Archaeologists find crusader era cemetery and sword Archaeologists discovering a cemetery with burials dating back to the Crusader Era in Salo, Finland was covered in an article by Heritage Daily on October 14. The article gives details of the discovery while shedding light upon the impact of the Crusader Era in Finland. The Crusader Era marks the introduction of Christianity, although its historical existence is debated due to limited early records. The discovery was made when a landowner found an ancient sword during excavation work, and reported to archaeologists from Turku University and the Turku Museum Centre. The sword, believed to date from the Crusader Era (AD 1050 to 1150), was found with a bent blade, a straight bar-like hilt, and a three-sided oval pommel. In the same soil pile, archaeologists also discovered part of the sword's scabbard, additional blade fragments, iron artifacts, and human remains. Among the significant discoveries at the cemetery in Salo, is a leather belt adorned with thirty square rosette-patterned bronze ornaments, along with a buckle, end and animal head buckles, strap dividers, and partially preserved leather. Further examination has indicated the presence of a mortuary cemetery, with evidence of a grave pattern along the pipe trench, implying the possibility of dozens or even hundreds of additional burials yet to be uncovered. According to a press announcement by the Turku University, The observation can be considered very significant from a research point of view, because cremation cemeteries from the time of the Crusades are clearly less known in Finland than cremation cemeteries that preceded them in time. So far, this is also the only confirmed burials dating to the end of the Iron Age from the Salon or Uskelanjoki valley. Also notable, is the fact that the deceased have been buried in the cemetery with Christian customs. Original story was published by Heritage Daily on 14.10.2023 and can be found here. HT The Butler County Sheriffs Office has been reduced to seven certified law enforcement officials after the dismissal of former sheriffs Deputy Christopher M. Harris on Oct. 12. Butler County Sheriff Thomas Dion verified that Harris had been terminated, with the mandatory "Personal Change-in-Status" form filed with the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center on Oct. 13. Under Nebraska state law, anytime a law enforcement officials leave the employment of an agency, their departure must be relayed to state officials with NLETC detailing the persons name, last day of employment and the reason for the separation of employment. On the form regarding Harris, Dion checked a box under the classification of dismissal. In a telephone interview on Friday, Oct. 20, Dion said he was unable to comment on the matter. I am not at liberty to discuss this issue, Dion said of Harris termination. The reason for Harris termination was not listed on the form Dion filed with the NLETC. A review of case filings in Butler County Court revealed there are no court filings on record pertaining to Harris for any criminal allegations. Dion said termination of a deputy can be for a variety of reasons. (A termination) does not mean a crime was committed, Dion stressed. It could be because of a policy violation or something along those lines. Law enforcement officials who are terminated face the potential of having their law enforcement certification revoked by the Nebraska Crime Commission. The commission meets monthly and conducts hearings about law enforcement misconduct. The Butler County Sheriffs Office has had one deputy lose their law enforcement license since 1995. Former Butler County deputy Joseph P. Hatzenbuehler had his law enforcement certification revoked for life by the Nebraska Crime Commission on Aug. 9, 2019. Hatzebuehler worked his last day in Butler County on Feb. 18, 2019. Hatzenbuehler was never charged with any crime; however, he was accused by a woman of alleged domestic abuse during 2019. That woman sought, and was granted by a county judge, a protective order for domestic abuse against Hatzenbuehler in December 2019. The order prevented Hatzenbuehler from contacting the woman or his two children for a period of one year. Dion said Harris had been a sheriffs deputy with Butler County for about one year at the time of his termination. The termination has left the sheriffs office with only seven certified law enforcement officials, a total which includes Dion and six other deputies, he noted. Efforts are underway to find applicants and eventually hire a new deputy to fill the vacant position, Dion added. Any interested applicants can contact the Butler County Sheriffs Office at 402-367-7400. 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. Dear Reader, PREMIUM The Elephant Whisperer When I was eleven years old, we went to an exhibition of Russian books and came back with Kids and Cubs by Olga Perovskaya. It features four sisters, who live in a forest near Alma Ata, in the Kazakh Republic. In every chapter, a new animal enters their lives, from Mishka, the deer to Vaska, the tiger cub. I read and re-read this in utter fascination. Kids and Cubs led me to other wildlife books like the Gerald Durrell series, books by the veterinarian writer James Herriot, and Joy Adamson's trilogy on lions, set in South Africa. Closer home, I read Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett. More recently, I found H for a Hawk, a stirring memoir of an English woman who drowns her grief at her father's death, by embarking on a project to train a wild hawk. Another touching and profound read was The Elephant Whisperer, a moving story about people and elephants, set on a game reserve in South Africa. Then there have been the crossover books - like Mystery of the White Lions. This intriguing read mixes rescuing lions with symbolism, spirituality and a dash of South African culture. A few years ago, I picked up Women Who Run With the Wolves, supposing it to be about women and wolves. It surprised me and it drew me in, this narrative of a woman as a powerful wild creature, who was being pulled away from her natural energy. Its not a conventional wildlife book, but this link between the human and the wild, quickly became one of my favourites, repeatedly drawing me back to re-read a chapter or even a few pages. When I heard about Women in the Wild, I was hooked by both the title, and the premise of women wildlife biologists, and couldnt wait to read it. It launched earlier this month, commemorating Wildlife Week, and its been a treat to read. But before we get to the stories of Indias most brilliant wildlife biologists, here is Tiger Season for you, a recently released, frothy feel-good, fictional romance in tiger country. Tiger Season In this tale, an impassioned wildlife reporter and a film star, come together in a royal Rajasthani hunting lodge, transformed into a heritage hotel. Their collaboration revolves around filming a tiger reality show; the television channel seeks ratings, while the actor, who has been embroiled in a drug scandal and lost endorsements, believes aligning with a tiger conservation cause could help resurrect his reputation. During their stay at the lodge, they encounter the enigmatic owner, the scion of a royal family, formerly a prominent figure in Delhi society and now a dedicated conservationist. The stage is now suitably set for a love triangle. As the group embarks on a safari, sparks fly, and dramatic events ensue. The plot is predictable and the characters fit into familiar stereotypes. Yet I enjoyed reading it for the feel of the forest, and for the issues this book raises everything from the questionable motives of people in the conservation movement to the man-animal conflict. Author Gargi Rawat has been an environmental reporter for NDTV, this is clearly familiar territory as she writes with fluent ease. And now back to Women in the Wild. The very first story by Raza Kazmi on Jamal Ara, the first lady of ornithology, and author of numerous monographs like Field notes on the birds of the Kolhan Forest Division, pulled me in. I love Neha Sinha's columns on wildlife, and here as always, she writes beautifully, this time on Ghazala Shahabuddin, a wildlife biologist, who moved from Venezuela to Algeria to Delhi, with many fieldwork trips to Mukteshwar in the Himalayas. Women in the Wild Editor Anita Mani does a virtuoso job of putting all these stories together, taking us from the turtle girl J Vijaya, to snakes, leopards and birds, acquainting us with the scientific method, everything from studying poop to using radioactive trackers and enlisting the help of local communities in monitoring wildlife. Anita and I chat about her new publishing imprint and the kinds of stories she is looking to publish. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation. Anita Mani Tell us about your childhood reading I grew up in Chennai with my nose buried in a book after school and most weekends. My father, who worked for an automotive machinery company, used to take me to the local lending library each Saturday, where the budget of 5 brought home a bag full of books to be devoured that week. My mother worked with her father in the family printing business (they published chemical industry publications that are around even today); she has been a reader all her life and it was she who bought me books and took me to book fairs. On one momentous occasion (as it seemed then) we ordered books from a mail catalogue and I recall my excitement when we went to the post office to collect the book a prized collection of fairy tales. You founded and edited Child Friendly News (CFN) a childrens newspaper, what was the experience like? The best part of writing for children is that you have to be absolutely clear in your mind about the facts of a story before you can start explaining it to kids. That forced a discipline in reading and understanding which has helped me a lot. Plus, when writing for children you always focus on the big story; the incremental news of day-to-day is not as important it struck me then that this was true for adults as it was for kids. A lot of news today obsesses on incremental detail and writing for children taught me to cut through the clutter. The best part of writing for children is that you have to be absolutely clear in your mind about the facts of a story before you can start explaining it to kids. That forced a discipline in reading and understanding which has helped me a lot. Plus, when writing for children you always focus on the big story; the incremental news of day-to-day is not as important it struck me then that this was true for adults as it was for kids. A lot of news today obsesses on incremental detail and writing for children taught me to cut through the clutter. I particularly enjoyed all the build your own newspaper workshops that I conducted at schools and educational institutions. What I also remember, with no little satisfaction, is that the adults in the family of the children reading CFN also loved the paper. They used to tell me that the news written in CFN was so much easier to understand than the complex reportorial style of mainstream media. Your son is a prolific reader - what is your advice to parents on helping their children become readers? We just bought him and continue to buy him tons of books. Thats all. A definitive interest such as sport, science, art etc. also helps, and reading becomes a scaffold to understand that subject better. We just bought him and continue to buy him tons of books. Thats all. A definitive interest such as sport, science, art etc. also helps, and reading becomes a scaffold to understand that subject better. When it comes to the natural world, how important is it to bring in real-world exploration with reading? When it comes to books on birds, these certainly go together. I suspect that in some cases possibilities are remote. As much as I loved John Krakauers Into Thin Air, Id be a complete disaster at mountaineering, given my absolutely terrible levels of mechanical intelligence. But, last year, I came back from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and read Nandini Velho and Anjana Noronhas book called The Eaglenest Memory Project which speaks of the history of the communities that live in the area of the sanctuary. The road on which we had birdied for so many days was a vital theatre of action in the Indo-Chinese conflict and events of that time shaped topography and the movement of people. Reading it was like adding a new layer to a fresh memory and enriching what I had seen. So yes, reading and reality complement each other I think When it comes to books on birds, these certainly go together. I suspect that in some cases possibilities are remote. As much as I loved John Krakauers Into Thin Air, Id be a complete disaster at mountaineering, given my absolutely terrible levels of mechanical intelligence. But, last year, I came back from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and read Nandini Velho and Anjana Noronhas book called The Eaglenest Memory Project which speaks of the history of the communities that live in the area of the sanctuary. The road on which we had birdied for so many days was a vital theatre of action in the Indo-Chinese conflict and events of that time shaped topography and the movement of people. Reading it was like adding a new layer to a fresh memory and enriching what I had seen. So yes, reading and reality complement each other I think How did Women in the Wild begin? The trigger for this project was the story of J Vijaya. In fact, the specific hook was the picture thats on our cover that I had seen years ago in a magazine/online. Since then, Ive been reading every bit of information on her that I could find. When I launched the Indian Pitta imprint last year, I knew I had to bring out something about her. Around that kernel grew this idea for an anthology on women wildlife biologists. I was lucky to find a fantastic set of writers who knew their subjects well and were able to translate that understanding into words. The idea always was to go in-depth and not be constrained by a tight word limit. Thats why the long-form style and also the reason why this is not an anthology of say 50 great biologists, though for sure, there are many, many women wildlife biologists doing brilliant work on the ground. The trigger for this project was the story of J Vijaya. In fact, the specific hook was the picture thats on our cover that I had seen years ago in a magazine/online. Since then, Ive been reading every bit of information on her that I could find. When I launched the Indian Pitta imprint last year, I knew I had to bring out something about her. Around that kernel grew this idea for an anthology on women wildlife biologists. I was lucky to find a fantastic set of writers who knew their subjects well and were able to translate that understanding into words. The idea always was to go in-depth and not be constrained by a tight word limit. Thats why the long-form style and also the reason why this is not an anthology of say 50 great biologists, though for sure, there are many, many women wildlife biologists doing brilliant work on the ground. Over the last few years, what trends have you observed in writing on the natural world? I dont know if we have enough books coming out to see a particular trend. But it's good to see books like Arati Kumar-Raos Marginlands, which poignantly record the losses within our ecosystems, being written. I dont know if we have enough books coming out to see a particular trend. But it's good to see books like Arati Kumar-Raos Marginlands, which poignantly record the losses within our ecosystems, being written. What was the inspiration for the Indian Pitta imprint? I started the Indian Pitta imprint with Juggernaut books to fill a need for books on birds and natural history. When it comes to birds, we have stellar field guides and thats the bulk of books on birds. But there is so much more to explore the ecology of a species, the mosaic of habitats and ecosystems and of course human interactions that touch the lives of birds. Indian Pittas direction is precisely that of exploration. I started the Indian Pitta imprint with Juggernaut books to fill a need for books on birds and natural history. When it comes to birds, we have stellar field guides and thats the bulk of books on birds. But there is so much more to explore the ecology of a species, the mosaic of habitats and ecosystems and of course human interactions that touch the lives of birds. Indian Pittas direction is precisely that of exploration. What are the kinds of writing/manuscripts you are looking out for? Our focus is books about birds and natural history so all themes related to that. Successful conservation programmes or troubling environmental challenges, personal exploration of a landscape, deep dives into the ecology of a species, the biogeography of bird populations, the quest for a rare species these are some of the ideas that we want to explore within the pages of our books. Our focus is books about birds and natural history so all themes related to that. Successful conservation programmes or troubling environmental challenges, personal exploration of a landscape, deep dives into the ecology of a species, the biogeography of bird populations, the quest for a rare species these are some of the ideas that we want to explore within the pages of our books. Finally, what are some of your personal favourites in natural history writing? As a wise friend recently said, one has current favourites rather than all-time ones. So let me share what I am reading rather than an all-time list. I am re-reading Pranay Lals Indica, and understanding so much more during this second pass, while also enjoying Mark Obmasciks The Big Year (on which the movie is based). I also recently finished Zai Whitakers Termite Fry, a wonderful tale about the Irular of southern India. Tim Dees Greenery was also a brilliant read. As a wise friend recently said, one has current favourites rather than all-time ones. So let me share what I am reading rather than an all-time list. I am re-reading Pranay Lals Indica, and understanding so much more during this second pass, while also enjoying Mark Obmasciks The Big Year (on which the movie is based). I also recently finished Zai Whitakers Termite Fry, a wonderful tale about the Irular of southern India. Tim Dees Greenery was also a brilliant read. ... With this, its a wrap. Until next week, happy birding, happy forest wandering and of course happy reading. Sonya Dutta Choudhury is a Mumbai-based journalist and the founder of Sonyas Book Box, a bespoke book service. Each week, she brings you specially curated books to give you an immersive understanding of people and places. If you have any reading recommendations or suggestions, write to her at sonyasbookbox@gmail.com 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! Continue reading with HT Premium Subscription Daily E Paper I Premium Articles I Brunch E Magazine I Daily Infographics Subscribe Now @1199/year Already Subscribed? Sign In SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha testifies before a legislative committee in January 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers dove into the concept of eminent domain, or the taking of private property for public use, during a Friday hearing to see if state law could be more fair or transparent. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha introduced Legislative Resolution 247 this spring for a broad look into eminent domain after seeing a number of private entities utilize the law. Though he does not have a specific outcome in mind, Cavanaugh said, he is looking for more transparency to curb potential abuses and to defend property rights. This is a broad project, and different entities have different types of domain and different responsibilities, Cavanaugh told the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Friday. Theres still a lot of work to be done and a lot to learn. Cavanaugh introduced Legislative Bill 133 this year as well, which would require public or private entities with eminent domain authority to be subject to the Open Meetings Act. Multiple organizations testified in February that the hearings could be onerous if they are not set up for them or if staff are spread nationwide. The bill did not advance from the committee. In truth, I didnt expect that proposal to go anywhere and I introduced it to just start a discussion, Cavanaugh testified. Eminent domain has been controversial, particularly in current efforts to build carbon dioxide pipelines through several Midwest states, including Nebraska. In those cases, private companies have clashed with states, counties or individual landowners. Possible recommendations William Blake, an attorney with more than 50 years experience with eminent domain, offered seven recommendations. He noted they could be done on a piecemeal or comprehensive basis. However, he said, doing so could bring a long, difficult process, such as in the courts. Blakes recommendations are to: Require actual good faith negotiations between landowners and those utilizing eminent domain to be something useful and more than being a nice person. Require appraisal transparency, the foundation of good faith negotiations, which should be shared with the owner at the first negotiation contract. Change state law on what needs to be in the condemners petition from should indicate all needed approvals have been obtained to shall indicate. Require public oversight of pipeline routes, not just that a pipeline company can exercise eminent domain. Require that land titles do not pass to the condemner until the property is needed. If the property is not used for the purpose for which it was required, it is returned to the owner. Eliminate institutionalized condemnation blight brought through Protected Corridors by not allowing appraisals to be based on recent sales of property within the scope of the project. Consider an alternative method of determining compensation when it is a private entitys for-profit project. Ken Winston, who has 41 years of experience as an attorney, suggested requiring public hearings in counties where there is a proposed project that would use eminent domain. He also emphasized a need for more uniform standards in the application of eminent domain and a comprehensive rewrite as some laws conflict. Just compensation Eminent domain can be used if owners are given just compensation, Blake said, which the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted as fair market value. But this is not always the case. Instead, some landowners are given just some compensation, not fair compensation. State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, a committee member, said just compensation is a relative term and asked whether the Legislature is able to define the term, such as 2.5 times market value. I dont know that anybody has tried to do that, but you could, Blake responded. You have a great amount of latitude. John Hansen, president of Nebraska Farmers Union, said that when landowners do go in for good faith negotiations, buyers sometimes misrepresent their legal status or standing, such as falsely claiming they already have eminent domain. This fundamentally changes the nature of the negotiation, he added, asking for possible legal remedies for false representation. It is the difference between whether or not I walk up to you on the street and ask you for $1 or whether I walk up to you with a gun in my pocket and you can see the gun and say, Give me $1, Hansen testified. It is the difference between a voluntary donation and a robbery. Its the threat Organizations that use eminent domain including the Nebraska Public Power District and Lancaster County said they do use good faith negotiations and try to use it as a last resort, which Cavanaugh said should be a goal. Jill Becker of Black Hills Energy said to her knowledge, the company has started but never carried out eminent domain in the state. Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner it is a little early to think about possible legislation though Blakes recommendations to improve negotiations and appraisals sound pretty straightforward. One of the biggest offenses in eminent domain is not the use, but its the threat, Cavanaugh said. I appreciate folks saying, We hardly ever use it, but that leaves out the point that you do threaten it. Committee Chair Tom Brewer of Gordon, who also introduced a bill to limit the use of eminent domain, told Cavanaugh the two could sit down, digest what they learned and see what they could figure out ahead of 2024 that helps get us in a better place. E-commerce giant Amazon has asked managers to now effectively fire employees who fail to comply with the company's three-days-a-week return-to-office rule. According to Business Insider (hidden behind paywall), the company has shared its latest guidelines with its managers asking them to first hold a private conversation with the employees who don't follow the policy. The entire discussion will have to be documented in a follow-up mail. In case the employee remains defiant and refuses to attend office three times a week, the manager needs to hold another meeting. If needed, the manager can take disciplinary action including the termination of services. A file photo of people standing in the lobby for Amazon offices in New York.(AP file) The guidelines stated that the conversation is intended to reinforce that return to office three days a week is a requirement of their job. The managers have to explain their employees that continued non-compliance without a legitimate reason may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of the employment. ALSO READ: TCS ends work-from-home policy. What does it mean for its employees? Amazon had first announced the return-to-office policy, leading to more than 30,000 employees signing an internal petition and several walking out against it. The staffers have expressed frustration as they claim they were hired as fully remote employees during Covid-19 pandemic and now the current rule is being seen as a shift from the policy allowing leaders to determine how their team members functioned. In February, the company had asked the corporate employees to work in office at least three times a week beginning May. In July, Amazon asked remote employees to relocate near office hubs where most of the team members were. Those refusing to relocate or find another team accommodating their needs were told to resign and take a voluntary resignation package. By last month, Amazon was sharing individual attendance records with employees, a departure from the previous policy of tracking only anonymised data. In August, Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy had told employees that it was not going to work out for those pushing back against the office-attendance mandate. But confusion compounded after a top Amazon cloud executive told his team last month that the return-to-office process could take up to three years to complete. An Amazon spokesperson told the website that the company was witnessing "more energy, connection, and collaboration" with the vast majority of employees in the office more frequently. He added that Amazon's relocation policy was affecting a "relatively small percentage of our team" and exceptions to the return-to-office mandate would be made on a case-by-case basis. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Surinder Chawla, the Managing Director of Paytm Payments Bank Limited, recently acquired a luxurious duplex apartment spanning 2,516 square feet of carpet area in the upscale Indiabulls Sky Forest tower in Central Mumbai's Lower Parel district, as revealed by documents sourced from Zapkey.com, Moneycontrol reported. Surinder Chawla was appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Payments Bank in January.(LinkedIn) Situated on one of the higher floors, this residence boasts an exclusive area of 972 square feet in addition to the generous carpet space. To accommodate a luxury lifestyle, the duplex apartment is accompanied by four parking spaces. Official records indicate that the property transaction was formally registered on August 22, 2023. Who is Surinder Chawla the new MD, CEO of Paytm Payments Bank? In January, Surinder Chawla was appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Payments Bank by One 97 Communications. Chawla has an extensive over 28-year career in Retail Banking, having worked at renowned institutions including HDFC Bank, RBL Bank, ABN Amro Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. Before joining Paytm Payments Bank, Chawla held the position of Head - Branch Banking at RBL Bank, where he focused on expanding the CASA (Current Account Savings Account) base, fee revenue, and cross-selling through various channels. Prior to his time at RBL Bank, Chawla spent approximately 12 years in senior management roles at HDFC Bank, culminating in his role as Head of the Retail Liabilities Product Group. During his tenure at HDFC Bank, he also served as the Senior Executive Vice President and held leadership positions for different regions, including the Southern, Eastern, and Northern regions. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The ruling Congress on Friday lodged a police complaint against the BJP's Karnataka social media handle for posting derogatory posts against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Senior Congress leader and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (PTI Photo) ALSO READ | Oppn looks to corner Karnataka govt on power shortage The Congress state general secretary Surya Mukundaraj said the BJP social media handle projected that the huge amount of cash to the tune of 94 crore and valuables worth eight crore seized by the Income Tax Department in the recent raids in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi belonged to the Congress. ALSO READ | Karnataka BJP releases 'ATM Sarkara Collection Tree' poster targeting Congress government He also complained that the BJP had morphed the images of the Chief Minister and his Deputy and portrayed them in a poor light to create confusion among people. Mukundaraj also charged that many BJP leaders shared the posts by BJP's Karnataka unit on the micro-blogging site 'X', which is defamatory. ALSO READ | Vijayan rebuts Deve Gowda, denies backing JD(S)-BJP alliance "The I-T department nowhere said in its press release that the cash seized by it belonged to ministers or any specific person. Even before the probe was completed, the BJP started spreading lies through social media to create confusion among people," the Congress leader said in his complaint. 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! Actor and producer Dolly Dhananjay invited the chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah to the screening of his upcoming movie 'Tagaru Palya'. 'Tagaru Palya' will make it to the theatres on October 27. Dolly was accompanied by her co-star Tara. They extended his cordial invitation to Siddaramaiah. ALSO READ | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah visits Chinnaswamy Stadium to watch Australia vs Pakistan clash They gave him the invitation card and carried the meeting with CM. Recently, the trailer of the film was launched. 'Tagaru Palya' will make it to the theatres on October 27. ALSO READ | Cong lodges complaint against BJP's derogatory social media posts against CM, DCM 'Tagaru Palya' marks the directorial debut of Umesh K Krupa and introduces Amrutha Prem, the daughter of the renowned Kannada actor Prem (Nenapirali), as the female lead. Other actors feature Nagabhushana, Sharath Lohitashwa and Rangayana Raghu. ALSO READ | Karnataka BJP releases 'ATM Sarkara Collection Tree' poster targeting Congress government The film revolves around a function where villagers cook food at the temple premises and offer it to the deity. The film aims to reflect the traditions and culture, portraying the essence of rural life in Karnataka. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with hate crime in the US for attacking a Sikh teenager on a bus in New York for wearing a turban, according to media reports. A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with hate crime in the US for attacking a Sikh teenager on a bus in New York for wearing a turban. (Representational photo) Police on Thursday arrested Christopher Philippeaux, who was conditionally released by parole in July 2021 after serving more than two years in prison, and charged him with a hate crime after the incident on the bus near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Queens on October 15, CBS News reported. According to police, Philippeaux approached the 19-year-old Sikh boy on the New York City MTA bus and said, We dont wear that in this country, referring to his turban. Also read: Sikh teen assaulted in New York for wearing turban, told to take that off He also asked the teen to take his mask off. The suspect then punched the victim in his face, back and in the back of his head, causing cuts and pain, according to police. The man also tried to remove the turban from the head of the teen before getting off the bus and running along Liberty Avenue. Records show Philippeaux was conditionally released by parole in July 2021 after serving more than two years in state prison for a Manhattan attempted robbery conviction, New York Daily News said. He has other arrests, most recently for obstructing governmental administration in Brooklyn last month, police said. It appears that the case has been sealed, it said. The Sikh teen on Wednesday said he is shaken and angered by the assault and that no one should be harassed because of how they look. Right now, the victim is very traumatised, ABC News quoted community activist Japneet Singh as saying. The family is very scared for him. Though he refused treatment at the scene, Singh says the victim was injured badly enough that he wont be able to work for the next few days. I watched the video and I was angry, I was outraged, and just moved by what happened to the victim, said Shanifah Rieara, MTAs acting chief customer officer. New York City is a melting pot and its from my understanding that this gentleman has only been here for about a year, and this is not how we welcome people to our city. 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 Bushra 37, who has been running a boutique in North Kashmirs Sopore town for a decade, is among scores of women from Pakistan, who are married to Kashmiri men and have been seeking Indian citizenship with the right to return to their parents in Pakistan. However, the recent formation of a high-powered committee by the UT administration to identify foreign nationals overstaying in Jammu and Kashmir has come as a bolt from the blue for these women from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as they could face deportation, disrupting their families. UT administration recently formed a committee to identify foreign nationals overstaying in Jammu and Kashmir. (Waseem Andarabi/HT) Ever since we arrived here from Pakistan in 2012, we have been struggling for Indian citizenship. Unfortunately, we have neither been given Indian citizenship nor have we been allowed to return to Pakistan, said Bushra, who has now built a successful boutique business. Arrived under amnesty scheme There are more Pakistan-origin women working at her boutique and some of them came along under the amnesty scheme of the then J&K government. I have heard of the high-level committee created by the government. We hope that it will take a decision that will be good for all of us and our families, she said. Nusrat, 33, also came to Kashmir in 2012 and in 11 years, her life has seen many ups and downs, including a divorce. When I came here, things were very different. I stayed at Tanghdar. Due to family disputes, my husband divorced me and took my two children along. Life hasnt been easy. There are six other divorced women like me here. We feel as if we are in a big prison. We have no place to go to, she said. Srinagar-based Shazia, who had travelled to Kashmir along with her husband in 2012, said the formation of the new committee to check foreign nationals would add to their troubles. It is a cause of concern for families like ours. Recently, officers sought details from us and told us that we will be allowed to travel to the other side of Kashmir to meet our siblings and relatives. Now we fear we may not be allowed to return. We have spouses and children here. My children also want to travel to meet my parents and relatives but there no guarantee we will be back here, she said. Last week, acting on an order by the Union ministry of home affairs, the Jammu and Kashmir government set up a high-powered committee to identify foreign nationals overstaying illegally in the Union Territory since January 1, 2011. Official sources said that the aim of the committee is to identify Rohingya Muslims, foreign nationals from Bangladesh and the families of surrendered militants who are staying in Kashmir after they returned to J&K via Nepal taking advantage of the amnesty scheme announced by the then chief minister Omar Abdullah in 2010. Surrendered militants started returning to J&K from 2011. According to official data, more than 350 families, comprising wives and children of former militants travelled to Kashmir via Nepal. After they reached J&K, they surrendered before the police and were released later. The six-member panel is headed by financial commissioner and additional chief secretary, home, RK Goyal and has foreigners regional registration officer, Amritsar, two SSPs of the CID wing of Jammu and Srinagar, all district SSPs of the 20 districts and state coordinator, IVFRT, NIC, J&K, on board. Struggle after struggle for families Another woman, requesting anonymity, said she had come along with her husband in 2012 and is living in Baramulla. We faced a lot of issues. Not only from the government but also from our own family members in Kashmir. Our children couldnt get admission in higher classes and it took years of hard work and struggle to bring life back on track. Now if we will be deported, what will happen to our families here? For 13 years, I am not in touch with my relatives in Lahore. If God forbid, tomorrow I will be deported, our family will get shattered, she said. Her husband, a former militant who now looks after the family business, said: We came here taking advantage of the amnesty scheme. The government should treat us like its own citizens and issue us Indian passports so that we can meet our relatives across the border and come back. Unfortunately, the new process looks as if plans are being made to deport us. Some may be happy but for most of us, it will disrupt the life we have made peace with. 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 Appreciating the New Education Policy (NEP)-2020, Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Friday said the policy has been extremely effective in helping students realise their full potential during his address at the closing ceremony of 46th Zonal Youth Festival at Gandhi Memorial National (GMN) College in Ambala Cantonment. Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya presented trophies to the winners in the presence of chairman of the governing body Dr Gurdev Singh, secretary DS Mathur, college principal Dr Rohit Dutt and others. (HT Photo) The three-day festival witnessed participation of thousands of students in 43 cultural events from over 20 colleges of Kurukshetra Universitys Ambala Zone ....keeping in mind the vision of increasing employability, the Centre has also approved the establishment of a skill hub centre in the college. The decision taken by the college to start courses, including BCA (artificial intelligence), PG diploma in cyber security, BSc nursing and general nursing midwife, he added. Established in 1948 and was named after Mahatma Gandhi following his assassination, GMN college is also celebrating its diamond jubilee. Alumni of this college are holding very important positions that includes internationally acclaimed Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand, film artist Balraj Sahni, Padmashree and Arjuna awardee Gulshan Rai (IRS) and many others, the governor said. On the occasion, the governor presented trophies to the winners in the presence of chairman of the governing body Dr Gurdev Singh, secretary DS Mathur, college principal Dr Rohit Dutt and others. Dr Singh said that Home Minister Anil Vij has donated 50 lakh for state of the art infrastructure development, while Tarseem Garg, chancellor MM University has also donated 11 lakh for 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! Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) hosted an international symposium on Digital Transformation and Cyber security on Friday. Dignitaries during the international forum in Ludhiana. (ht photo) The event was held at the Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium in partnership with the Management Science Association. Babita Kumar, a professor at School of Business Studies (SBS), PAU, extended a welcome to the distinguished attendees, including Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor of PAU, who served as the chief patron of the symposium. Keynote speaker Kamaljeet Sandhu, a senior lecturer at the University of England, Australia, and founder/director of the Australia-India Hub for Cybersecurity and Digital Innovation, and Kahn Singh Pannu, an experienced IAS officer who has served as the Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, also attended the event. Gurbinder Singh Bajwa, the general secretary of the Young Innovative Farmers Group of Punjab, attended with his team. Satbir Singh Gosal emphasised the significance of digital transformation and called for a balanced and judicious use of digital technologies, cautioning against becoming overly reliant on them. Kamaljeet Sandhu shed light on the importance of cybersecurity in the digital transformation era, highlighting the immense economic impact of cyber fraud on a global scale. He emphasised the transformative potential of the Internet of Things in shaping our lives and societal interactions. Pannu addressed vital agricultural issues, advocating for reduced water usage in rice production, direct onion sowing, changes in cotton sowing methods, cost-effective cotton picking, reduced pesticide and fertilizer use, organic farming certification, and robust cooperative systems in agriculture for sustainability. Bal Mukand Sharma, digital MD of Markfed, discussed agri-marketing, international trade, and the need for improved processing technology in agriculture while stressing the need for innovative collaborations. Hunardeep Singh, co-founder and CEO of the company developer of the Apni Kheti App, initiated the Cogneesol project, creating an app that connects 450 farmers to the PAU hub, where they interact daily and seek expert advice. To date, they have developed 200 free websites for farmers. Dr Amrik Singh emphasised the importance of adopting low-cost technologies, like social media applications on mobile phones, to deliver agricultural information to farmers, particularly in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. Session two commenced with the sharing of the vision of agripreneurship by Ramandeep Singh, professor-cum-director, SBS and emphasised the value of curiosity, creativity, and innovation. He also promoted the idea of social entrepreneurship, where individuals work for the betterment of society. Dr Singh underlined the importance of knowledge, self-motivation, and transforming farmers into agribusiness leaders who understand every facet of the system. Gurinderjeet Singh Hara spoke on digital transformation in farming, focussing on custom hiring of farm equipment, its challenges, and solutions. He delved into cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, AR/VR, big data analytics, and RPA, as integral components of the future of farming. Harpreet Singh, from the Young India Farmer Group, stressed the need for solid marketing teams to promote processed and semi-processed food and highlighted the importance of affordable access to water and electricity for successful food processing. To engage students and raise awareness, 15 articles were prepared by PhD students, each exploring aspects of digital transformation and cybersecurity. The top three articles were recognised with certificates of appreciation and trophies. 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! Northern Railway has discontinued the Himalayan Queen toy train on the Kalka-Shimla route for two months for maintenance work and introduced a special train to Shimla. The special train departs from Kalka at 11.55am, leaving travellers on the Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Kalka that arrives at 11.40am with hardly any time to catch it. he special train departs from Kalka at 11.55am, leaving travellers on the Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Kalka that arrives at 11.40am with hardly any time to catch it. (HT File) Tour and travel agencies have also requested the rail authorities to retain the old departure time of 12.10pm. Tourists from other states normally arrive by the Shatabdi Express and continue their journey to Shimla on the toy train. Adding to the chaos, online ticket booking sites show train cancellations until October 24. Commuters and travel agencies have expressed their worries as they seamless connection between the Shatabdi and Himalayan Queen has been disrupted. Many passengers arriving at Chandigarh Airport used to opt for the Himalayan Queen, an option that is no longer viable. The special train, however, has brought along a price-cut, charging a mere 50 for the Kalka-Shimla travel. The fare for the Himalayan Queen from Kalka to Shimla was 475 for first class and 275 for chair car. The special train makes only two stops at Dharampur and Barog railway stations. In contrast, the Himalayan Queen train had stops at every station along the route. In an attempt to save time, the Himalayan Queen had undergone changes in its operations, including a revised schedule introduced on October . Rail motor cars have not been operating on the route since July 9. Although the heritage track was repaired on October 2, the rail motor car service was not resumed. The rail motor car offers a stunning mountain view and was introduced during the British colonial era for mountain enthusiasts. It has since been upgraded to a vista dome rail motor car, featuring large windows and a glass roof. Senior divisional commercial manager, Ambala, Naveen Kumar, reported reduced passenger numbers on the track. 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 Gaurav Bisht Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses. ...view detail With the air quality in the national capital expected to dip to Very Poor category in the next 3-4 days, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)'s sub-committee has now invoked the 11-point action plan as per Stage-II of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Delhi government implements GRAP in phases, which has steps including ban on construction activities, plying of heavy vehicle and closure of educational institutions, depending on the gravity of the situation The decision was taken after the sub-committee took stock of the air quality scenario and air quality forecasts for Delhi made by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement. What it means? On Saturday, the average air quality index (AQI) in Delhi clocked 248 and is likely to dip to Very Poor category (DELHI AQI- 3O1-4OO) on Monday and Tuesday owing to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions. The Delhi government implements GRAP in phases, which has steps including ban on construction activities, plying of heavy vehicle and closure of educational institutions, depending on the gravity of the situation. All actions under Stage II of GRAP will be implemented across the entire National Capital Region, in addition to the Stage 1 actions already in force. The agencies responsible for the implementation of the measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR states and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been addressed to ensure successful and strict implementation of actions under Stage-II of GRAP. GRAP II actions for citizens and agencies Here are some actions meant for the citizens mentioned under the Stage 2 of GRAP in the Delhi-NCR. + People to use public transport and minimise use of personal vehicles. + Use technology, take less congested route even if slightly longer. + Regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in your automobiles. + Avoid dust generating construction activities during months of October to January. + Avoid open burning of solid waste and bio-mass. There is an 11-action plan meant to be implemented by various agencies including Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). 1. Carrying out mechanical or vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling of the identified roads on a daily basis. 2. Ensuring water sprinkling along with use of dust suppressants (at least every alternate day, during non-peak hours) on roads to arrest road dust especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, vulnerable areas and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills. 3. Intensifying inspections for strict enforcement of dust control measures at C&D sites. 4. Focussed and targeted action for abatement of air pollution in all identified hotspots in NCR and intensifying remedial measures for the predominant sector(s) contributing to adverse air quality in each of such hotspots. 5. Ensuring uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate power Generating sets/ equipment (DG sets etc.). 6. Strict implementation of the schedule for regulated operations of DG sets across all sectors in the NCR including Industrial, Commercial, Residential and offices etc. in accordance with Direction No. 76 dated 29.09.2023. 7. Synchronised traffic movements and adequate deployment of personnel at intersections / traffic congestion points for smooth flow of traffic. 8. Alerting and advising people through radio/television about air pollution levels and Dos and Donts for minimising polluting activities. 9. Increasing parking fees to discourage private transport. 10. Augmenting CNG/ electric bus and metro services by inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service. 11. Resident Welfare Associations to necessarily provide electric heaters to security staff to avoid open Bio-Mass and MSW burning during winters. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The Congress party on Saturday released the first list of 33 candidates for Rajasthan assembly elections, which will take place in a single phase on November 25. In the first list, the party has named Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura and has fielded party leader Sachin Pilot from Tonk. (File) In the first list, the party has named Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura and has fielded party leader Sachin Pilot from Tonk. Party president Govind Singh Dotasara has been fielded from Lachhmangarh and Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi from Nathdwara. Rajasthan's Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Employment Ashok Chandna from Hindoli, Social Justice and Empowerment Jail minister Tikaram Jully from Alwar Rural, and Women and Child Welfare and Child Empowerment minister Mamta Bhupesh from Sikar. Rajasthan's Water Resources Minister Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya was fielded from Bagidora. Whereas, General Secretary of Rajasthan Congress Committee Amit Chachan has been fielded from Nohar and the State's power minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati from Kolayat. Congress has fielded several current MLAs from the same seats they won in the 2018 assembly elections. International gold medalist and politician Krishna Poonia from Sadulpur, Manoj Meghwal from Sujangarh, Rita Choudhary from Mandawa, Indraj Singh Gurjar from Virat Nagar, Mukesh Bhakar from Landun, Manisha Pawar from Jodhpur, Divya Maderna from Osian and Dr Archana Sharma from Malviya Nagar. Son of senior Congress leader Richpal Singh Mirdha was fielded from Degana, State Secretary of State Congress Committee's environment wing Pushpendra Bhardwaj from Sanganer and Danish Abrar from Sawai Madhopur. Out of the list of 33 members, nine members fielded in the first list were women candidates. In 2018, the Congress won 100 seats while the incumbent BJP won only 72. After days of stalemate, the grand old party announced Gehlot as the chief minister with then-state Congress chief Sachin Pilot as his deputy. The party has often witnessed an intense power tussle between Gehlot and Pilot. Rajasthan is among the five states that will go to polls with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. The counting is set to be held 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 The health officials in Odisha on Friday began an investigation into the death of 9 Juanga tribals, one of the 13 primitive tribal groups in the state, in Jantari village of Keonjhars Banspal block over the last 50 days. Juang is one of the 13 primitive tribal groups in Odisha. (Pradip Pradhan) Since August 30, at least 9 Juanga tribals including a 6-month-old infant, have died in the village. All those who died had fever and diarrhoea. After taking medicine from the local government hospital, they seemed to recover in a few days. However, their conditions deteriorated in a matter of few days before they died, said Kirtan Juanga, a villager of Jantari. My appetite is substantially reduced. I am feeling weak. I went to the hospital, but my health is not improving, said Jagla Juanga, another villager. The villagers said the they were facing problems in availing healthcare facilities. The nearest primary health centre at Gonasika is 15 km from the village while the nearest community health centre at Banspal is located 40 km away. Jantari is a village of around 100 Juanga families, who are among the most primitive tribal community in Keonjhar district. Of the 47,095 Juangs in Odisha enumerated in Census 2011, 26,707 are in Keonjhar district, mostly concentrated in Banspal, Telkoi and Harichandanpur administrative blocks. Dr Ramakanta Munda, a medical officer in Keonjhar district who visited the village for an on-ground assessment, said the reason of death of 9 tribals cannot be attributed to one particular reason. Some had TB while others had kidney ailments. Some died due to old age issues. At least 10 others in the village have fever and other such symptoms. We have taken their blood samples and would be able to speak about the possible cause of death after the laboratory results come in, he said. The medical team, however, admitted that contamination of water could be an issue as two solar-powered drinking water projects in the village had become defunct. The tanker containing drinking water had a foul smell. We saw insects floating in the water. The villagers had no other recourse than to drink water from local streams, said a member of the medical team. Health activist Gouranga Mohapatra said increased contamination of water has led to greater health risks and challenges. Incidences of mosquito-borne illness increased exponentially as standing water became a breeding ground for pests. Despite the sacred nature of water among this group, Juang people continue to lack consistent access to clean drinking water, negatively impacting their nutrition and health, he said. Researchers from Anthropology department in Utkal University of Bhubaneswar, who had done a study in the health-seeking behaviour of the Juang tribals in Keonjhar, found that they favored traditional healthcare because they thought it was easily accessible and capable of reducing the severity of symptoms in an emergency. They believed in their traditional healers efficiency and preferred using a medication made by their traditional healers, locally referred to as Raudia (herbalist)/Gunia (sorcerer)/Dehuri (priest). The concept of raudia or sorcerer plays a dominant role in their culture. They generally believe that the cause of all illnesses is God or spirit. According to them, ill health is nothing but a form of the wrath of the Goddess (thakurani) concerned or spirits on the patient. If the illness persists after having taken home-based remedies, they visit the gunia/raudia to satisfy the spirit of the sick person. But when the patients condition gets out of the healers control, the patient is taken to the PHC. Surprisingly, if the patient is not cured after the treatment by the PHC, he would once again be taken back to the dehuri for treatment, said Kaberi Sahoo, one of the researchers. In 2016, the vulnerability of Juangs became a major talking point with 19 children dying of malnutrition in Nagada village of neighbouring Jajpur district. After the incident, there was a rapid influx of resources and assets into Nagada, which was connected by road and bus service. Juangs in Keonjhar tend to lead a secluded life, except for their weekly visit to the haat, where they bring their small collections from the forest to barter or sell to buy their daily needs. The semi-isolation of Juangs, and lack of transport facilities has made it difficult for development organisations and government functionaries to reach them, and for the Juangs to reach government and health facilities. 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was allegedly shot and killed by unknown assailants in the Maoist-affected Ambagarh Chowki town in the Mohla-Manpur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, police said. (Representative Photo) Birju Taram, a resident of Sarkheda village, was walking outside his home when a few unidentified individuals shot and killed him on Friday evening, said police. Police said that the involvement of Maoists in the attack is yet to be ascertained. It will be very early to come to a conclusion and a probe is underway on all possible angles, district superintendent of police (SP) Ratna Singh told PTI. Mohla-Manpur would go to poll along with 19 other constituencies for the upcoming elections on November 7. State BJP president Arun Sao condemned the killing as a targeted act and said that the BJP workers will not be deterred by the attack and will remove Congress from power to restore peace and law and order in the state. One more leader of the BJP got martyred. The murder of BJP worker Birju Taram is yet another targeted killing. BJP workers will not be scared of such an act and will not let the martyrdom go in vain, Sao 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 The Muslims in Chhattisgarh stares at their diminishing representation in the legislative assembly as both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sidelined the community in the ticket distribution for the upcoming elections. As per the 2011 Census, Muslims account for around 2.2 percent of the total population in Chhattisgarh. (Representative Image) The Congress has fielded only one candidate Mohammad Akbar from the community. The BJP, on the other hand, has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate since 2003. As per the census of 2011, Muslims are around 2.2 percent of the total population but we are around 3.5 percent now. Since 2003, the Congress has fielded two Muslim candidates in the state assembly but in this election only one Muslim Mohammad Akbar has been given a chance. The people of our community are not happy with this decision, but they have no option because the BJP has not given to any since the first elections, said a Muslim Congress leader of Chhattisgarh. In 2018, Congress fielded Mohammad Akbar from Kawardha constituency and Barduddin Qureshi got ticket from Vaishali Nagar (Durg) constituency. Akbar won by the highest margin in the state while Qureshi lost to the BJP candidate. Another Muslim leader who was hoping for a ticket said that there are capable leaders in Chhattisgarh, but this time the Congress avoided them. Nawaz Khan, Safi Ahmed, Ejaz Dehbar and Badaruddin Queshi were hoping for tickets, and they were capable of winning the election, but the Congress denied tickets to them. Probably, this time the Congress is strategically working to counter the BJP, which led to this decision, the leader said. Harsh Dubey, a political commentator based in Chhattisgarh, said, The Congress usually gives two tickets to Muslims but this time only one Muslim got a ticket, but this will not create any impact on Muslim voters. The BJP has no Muslim face in the state. But when Muslim find personal connections or a known face they dont hesitate to vote for the BJP as well. Till now their voting pattern is based more upon personal connections with an inclination towards the Congress. Muslims are mainly in the cities, towns or in the urban settlements and very few in the rural areas. The state doesnt have many Muslim leaders and the important Muslim leader is Mohammad Akbar, who is from the Congress party. Akbar resides in Raipur but represents the Kawardha assembly seat (around 120 kms from Raipur). In the 2018 election Akbar had the highest winning margin, he won his seat by more than 60,000 votes. This implies how an OBC dominated constituency, which is also the home town of three-time chief minister Raman Singh, elects a Muslim as their representative, Dubey added. Ameen Menom, president of Congress Minority Cell in Chhattisgarh. Ameen Menom, president of the Congress Minority Cell in Chhattisgarh, said, Our party is yet to declare candidates for seven assembly seats and we are hoping that one more Muslim will get a ticket. I think it will be a little early to comment about Muslim representation. BJP spokesperson Sacchinand Upasane said, In the BJP, we have no Muslim leader who can fight election. We have Muslim leaders in other states like Madhya Pradesh and even at Centre. We never divide people on the basis of religion, but the Congress does appeasement politics by giving tickets to Muslim leaders. 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 Accused Dinesh Jaya Suvarna (45) targeted complainant L V Amin after the latter recently contested against the formers brother Surya Jaya Suvarna for the post of chairman of Bharat Co-operative Bank, the official said. HT Image Amin said he resigned as a director of the bank, a post he held for nearly 20 years, to fight the election. However, the panel led by Surya Jaya Suvarna won the election, following which he became the chairman of the bank. Citing the FIR (first information report), the official from Vakola police station said that after the election, Dinesh allegedly started making unsolicited calls to Amin. While Amin initially ignored them, he approached the police when Dinesh allegedly threatened to fix him in a drugs case, the official said. In his complaint, Amin alleged that Dinesh made some derogatory remarks against his daughter as well. On Amins complaint, the police registered the FIR against Dinesh under Indian Penal Code sections, including 502-II (criminal intimidation). Further investigations are underway, the official 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! LUCKNOW Encouraged by the vehicle scrapping policies of both the Central and state governments, Virendra Deep Singh invested over 15 crore to establish a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. Despite having the capacity to scrap 110 vehicles daily, the facility has seen fewer than two dozen vehicles brought in for scrapping since its launch in February this year. Lack of awareness among vehicle owners is cited as a major reason for the registered scrapping centres limited business. (HT Photo) Singh, who primarily borrowed funds from banks for this venture, initially had high hopes and excitement. However, today, he is deeply concerned. He expressed, On one hand, the scrapping business is slow to take off, and on the other hand, the operational costs, including bank interest, amount to 10 lakh per month. My worries and doubts about returns are growing. In the pursuit of attracting private investment and boosting employment, Uttar Pradesh is facing an uncertain future for its emerging formal vehicle scrapping industry. Entrepreneurs who heavily invested in establishing RVSFs in the state, anticipating substantial returns, are struggling to sustain their operations due to the low volume of vehicles for scrapping. Currently, 34 RVSFs operate across various cities in U.P., with more applications awaiting approval from the transport department. Sanjeev Jain, the owner of an RVSF in Agras Sahadra area, lamented, We had expected a thriving business after the government introduced an enticing vehicle scrapping policy. However, to our disappointment, weve received only 100 vehicles, including autos and tempos, since we began operations in June this year. Like us, most other RVSF owners in U.P. are anxious and disheartened. Sachin Patel, an entrepreneur constructing a formal vehicle scrapping centre in Auraiya, remains cautiously optimistic. He shared, While Im concerned as my centre is under construction, I believe the industry may be experiencing initial challenges that will naturally subside with time. To address their concerns, registered vehicle scrapping centre owners recently formed the U.P. Vehicle Scrapping Facilities Association. They point to several factors contributing to their difficulties. Jain explained, U.P. has liberally issued RVSF licenses without adequate research and without imposing limits on the number of centers a city can have. For instance, in Agra alone, three more centres are in development. Jain also noted that many government departments continue to auction their unfit vehicles to roadside scrappers rather than using registered vehicle scrapping facilities. Only two weeks ago as many as 1,340 vehicles lying unclaimed at various police stations in Agra were auctioned to local kabadis after an auction notice by the Police Commissionerate office, Agra gave a notice in newspapers on September 9, Jain stated. Adding to this, Virendra Deep Singh, who is also the general secretary of the newly formed association, added, Automobile dealers are not passing on the benefits to customers who buy new vehicles over scrapped ones. Unlike in other states, the Certificate of Deposit (CoD) received after scrapping a vehicle is not tradable in U.P. Lack of awareness among vehicle owners is cited as a major reason for the registered scrapping centres limited business. An entrepreneur with an RVSF in Kanpur also highlighted that the unchecked informal vehicle scrapping industry in the state is encroaching on their business, including scrapping stolen vehicles. The Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernisation Program (V-VMP), also known as the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, aims to create an eco-friendly system for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles. The policy targets the voluntary scrapping of unfit commercial and passenger vehicles based on their fitness, regardless of age. Vehicles are tested by Automatic Testing Stations (ATS), and those found unfit during the fitness test are recommended for scrapping. Unlike the National Capital Region (NCR), where older diesel and petrol vehicles were mandated for deregistration, the country lacks a policy for the retirement of private vehicles. Currently, there is no fixed retirement age for private vehicles in the country, except in the NCR, explained Additional Transport Commissioner Rajiv Srivastav. He added, This only means that a person can get his vehicle registered as many times as he wants to unless the vehicle is declared unfit. A significant part of the issue arises from the misconception that the Central government has set a nationwide retirement age for all government and private vehicles, similar to the NCR, when it announced the vehicle scrapping policy in February 2021. This is because of this (wrong) impression that many entrepreneurs believed the formal vehicle scrapping centres to be a lucrative business and heavily invested in setting up the same, he said. Interestingly, most RVSF owners in the state, including Jain and Singh, are still not ready to believe that the retirement age of private vehicles is not fixed in the country. Moreover, the formal vehicle scrapping industry expected a substantial number of government vehicles for scrapping when the UP government, in line with Central government guidelines, decided to retire all government vehicles older than 15 years. Currently, there are approximately 1.13 lakh government vehicles in U.P., with over 5,000 being police vehicles, more than 5,000 belonging to local authorities, and over 7,000 owned by Central government departments. However, only 5,000 government vehicles older than 15 years were identified for scrapping by February 2024, as several emergency departments, including police, fire, and health, were exempted from mandatory scrapping. The number of government vehicles identified to be scrapable is low also because most departments already had a policy of retiring and auctioning their fleer after 10 years of age, Srivastava said. People in the knowledge of things said that of the 5,000 identified government vehicles too less than 300 have been sent to RVSFs for scrapping so far though the target was to get all the 5000 vehicles scrapped by February 2024. Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge), Daya Shankar Singh, acknowledged the issues faced by RVSFs and stated, We are going to install automated testing stations (ATS) in every district to check vehicle fitness. Once these stations are operational, more vehicles that have exceeded their useful life will fail the test and be recommended for scrapping. He also expressed hope that the Central government would establish a retirement age for private vehicles in the future. He appealed to RVSF owners to remain patient, emphasising that the registered scrapping industry is a new and evolving sector. 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 Brajendra K Parashar Brajendra K Parashar is a Special Correspondent presently looking after agriculture, energy, transport, panchayati raj, commercial tax, Rashtriya Lok Dal, state election commission, IAS/PCS Associations, Vidhan Parishad among other beats. ...view detail LUCKNOW In a bid to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion plaguing Lucknow, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has given the green light to the construction of new bridges near Hanuman Setu, Nishatganj, Kukrail, and the widening of Kukrail Bandha Road. These infrastructure projects are integral components of the Green Corridor project aimed at addressing traffic gridlocks in the state capital. Lucknow to witness a traffic transformation with LDAs initiatives (HT File) During a presentation of the Green Corridor project, LDAs Vice Chairman, Indramani Tripathi, outlined the forthcoming developments before Divisional Commissioner Roshan Jacob. The project at Hanuman Setu involves the construction of a two-lane, 210-meter-long bridge at an estimated cost of 27.47 crore. Similarly, a four-lane bridge spanning 210 meters will be built at Nishatganj Bandha Road, with a budget of 49.42 crore. Additionally, a four-lane bridge measuring 240 meters will be constructed at Kukrail Nullah, funded by a corpus of 54.92 crore. Widening of Nishatganj Bandha road The Bandha Road connecting Nishatganj to Kurkail Bridge will be widened into a four-lane road. Underpass in Gomti Nagar extension A significant development is the construction of a connecting road at Sector-6 in Gomti Nagar extension, linking the SSB underpass, Gomti river embankment, Shaheed Path, and Kanpur Road. According to LDAs Vice Chairman, this connecting road is anticipated to reduce the travel distance by one-and-a-half kilometres for commuters en route to Shaheed Path, with an estimated project cost of 4.91 crore. Underground Parking near Ekana Stadium An innovative solution to address parking issues in the city involves the creation of a two-floor multi-level mechanical underground parking facility in Sector-7 of Gomti Nagar extension, covering an area of 6898 square meters. An adjacent park will be developed, equipped with an open gymnasium, benches, a toilet block, and other amenities. This parking facility is projected to accommodate 236 two-wheelers and 454 four-wheelers and will be established with an allocated budget of 61.94 crore. New Road from Balu Adda In an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the 1090 crossing in Gomti Nagar, the LDA has approved the construction of a new 920-meter road from Balu Adda up to the residence of the Director General of Police (DGP). This new route promises to provide an alternative to the existing traffic routes in the city, enhancing traffic flow. 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 Visva-Bharati University in West Bengals Birbhum District has sparked a controversy over the plaques it installed on the campus to describe it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it missed the name of Nobel laureate and the founder of the university, Rabindranath Tagore. The plaques have the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chancellor of Visva-Bharati, and Bidyut Chakrabarty, the universitys vice-chancellor (Image posted on X by Jawhar Sircar) The famed Santiniketan town, where Tagore built Visva-Bharati over a century ago, was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List in September this year. The plaques have the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the chancellor of V-B, the states only central university, and Bidyut Chakrabarty, the universitys vice-chancellor. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawhar Sircar questioned the plaque by sharing a picture of it on his X handle. UNESCO specifically said they are honouring Rabindranath Tagore and his unique legacy by declaring Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site. A megalomaniac VC and his boss seem to think UNESO is honouring them!! the former bureaucrat, wrote on X. V-B authorities confirmed that at least three such plaques have been installed at VB which dont have the name of the Nobel laureate. HT tried to contact Chakrabarty, but he did not respond. Three plaques have been installed. The names of the chancellor and the vice-chancellor have been inscribed on them, Mahua Banerjee, universitys spokesperson, told HT. She refused to comment on the controversy. Tagores great grandson Supriyo Thakur also expressed his displeasure and said that efforts are on to wipe off the name of Tagore from Visva Bharati. I am not in Santiniketan at the moment, but I have heard the news. The present V-B authorities are trying to wipe out the name of Tagore from Visva Bharati. There should be some protests. Those who have done it should be taught a lesson, Thakur told HT over phone. Just like the Sun need not be identified, the relation between Tagore and Visva Bharati need not be announced. Some people are raising irrelevant questions. There are some people whose only purpose is to oppose. Their statements have no acceptability, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said while responding to Sircars comment on social media. The decision to include Santiniketan in the UNESCO list was taken at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia. 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 government school principal has been suspended for staging a demonstration and for posting inflammatory remarks on social media. Govt school principal suspended for violating service norms (Pic for representation) Basic Shiskha Adhikari (BSA)-Prayagraj Praveen Kumar Tiwari issued the suspension order of Sarita Dubey, principal of government primary school at Vishundas Ka Pura for violating service conduct norms. She has been attached to the Block Resource Center at Kaurihar, the BSA said. Dubey had staged a demonstration at the residence of director of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT)-Allahabad on August 13 and posted inflammatory remarks on social media, officials said. They said a complaint made by MNNIT Director professor RS Verma to the divisional assistant director (basic education) against Dubey led to her suspension. Dubey, is wife of an MNNIT teacher Avnish Kumar Dubey, who lives in the MNNITs residential premises. She is accused of instigating other women and wives of MNNIT teachers and staging demonstration outside residence of MNNIT director, alleging anomalies in the recently held faculty recruitment process of the institute. The demonstration continued for long, requiring police intervention. The teachers who had applied for the posts of associate professors and professors in the MNNIT teachers recruitment exercise but were not selected had been demonstrating on the institute campus alleging anomalies since August 12. In this case, divisional assistant director (basic education) had instructed BSA-Prayagraj on September 13 to conduct a probe and submit a report. Subsequently BSA asked block education officer, Holagarh Lalji Sharma to carry out an investigation on September 16. However, Lalji took ill after which the probe was handed over to block education officer, Soraon Shailpati Yadav who finally submitted his probe report on October 11 and recommended action against Sarita Dubey. This led to government action, officials said. Dubey couldnt be reached for her comments. 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 Three, including two women from Ludhiana in Punjab, were killed when a car moving on Agra Lucknow Expressway rammed into a truck ahead. The accident took place at 82-milestone within Karhal police station limits in Mainpuri district on Saturday. Mangled remains of the car on Agra Lucknow expressway (ht photo) Two others, a father and a son, were admitted to Safai Medical College and Hospital in Etawah district in serious condition. The tragic accident took place at about 7 am. A car having four passengers and a driver rammed into a truck moving ahead. Two women and the driver were killed, said superintendent of police (SP) Mainpuri Vinod Kumar. Those killed were identified as Pheeka Jha (43), Siria Jha (17) and driver Virendra Mishra, resident of Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh. Aditya Mishra (21) and Rajeev Mishra (43) were admitted to Safai Medical College and Hospital in serious condition, said SP Vinod Kumar. The exact reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained but apprehensions are raised that driver might have slept while driving leading to the tragic accident. Bodies were handed over to the family members after postmortem at district hospital in Mainpuri. The family was going back to Ludhiana from Maharajganj. 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! For nearly 60 years, The Kerrville Daily Times has partnered with the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce to award and honor the service and ac Though the state government has kept very basic rates like 33.60 for procuring income certificates, domicile, nationality, and non-creamy layer certificates at the Maha e-seva centres, the administration has received flak and a barrage of complaints that the operators of online services were taking an amount between 400 and 700 for various government certificates in violation of the law. Maha e-seva centre at Wadgaonsheri in Pune. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO) Mauli Shelke, a parent, said, There is a trend to charge extra money for these certificates despite very less fees being charged by the government. Parents have been complaining about this issue for years together but a system of check and balance has still not been put in place by the administration. After some complaints, some of the Maha-e-seva centres were shut for overcharging by the government but that has failed to act as a deterrent. Parents and students are being taken for a ride by some centres, he said. To avail of various schemes of the government, income certificates are required for school admission, college admission, RTE admission, city poor scheme and MHADA scheme while domicile certificate has to be furnished compulsory while taking admission to educational institutions. It serves as evidence to avail of residential quotas in government services and to obtain benefits under the Maharashtra government schemes. The certificates are in demand for school admission and medical college admission process. Altaf Shaikh, civic rights activist, said, What we are seeing is that twice or thrice the amount or even more is charged by some centres depending on the gravity of the situation. Flying squads must be instituted to ensure that justice is delivered to the citizens. Moreover, the centres are found delaying work which creates lots of problems for the citizens, especially parents and the young students, he said. The district administration in its statement said that strict action will be taken in case of complaints and those centres will be banned if found violating the law. Also, a special team has been constituted to keep the centres under check. Certificates//Rate//Issued in Income certificate 33.60 15 days Domicile certificate 33.60 15 days Nationality certificate 33.60 15 days Non-creamy layer certificate 57.20 21 days Caste certificate 57.20 45 days EWS certificate 33.60 21 days Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to replace existing diesel and petrol vehicles for garbage collection and transportation with electric vehicles (EVs) for a cleaner and greener future for the city. In a step towards this move, the civic body has purchased 10 electric garbage tipper vehicles. The Pune civic body has purchased 10 electric garbage tipper vehicles. (HT PHOTO) Over 2,000 tonnes of garbage is generated in the city every day. Residents often complain that sanitation workers often do not collect garbage regularly due to breakdowns or shortage of vans. PMC has around 1,400 three, four-wheelers and heavy vehicles for the collection and transportation of garbage. Out of this, around 750 vehicles are heavy vehicles and the maximum are used for solid waste collection and transportation purposes. On Saturday, deputy chief minister and Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar handed over the electric vehicles to the PMC solid waste management department. Minister of Higher and Technical Education, textiles, and Parliamentary Affairs Chandrakant Patil, PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar and additional commissioner Kunal Khemnar, EKA Mobilitys Hirdesh Thakur were present at the event. Sandeep Kadam, head of solid waste management department, said, We have decided to replace conventional vehicles with electric vehicles gradually. At present, we have introduced 10 vehicles. Jayant Bhosekar, head of motor vehicle department of PMC, said, The cost of one vehicle is around 17 lakh. It has a 30-kilowatt battery. The company has claimed 180 kilometres mileage in full battery charge. We have set up a charging station on Sinhagad Road area in our sewage treatment plant premises. At present, we are going to use these vehicles in Sinhagad road area for collection and transportation of solid waste, he said. Hirdesh Thakur, executive director of EKA Mobility, expressed the companys commitment to supporting PMCs mission of creating a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment. He emphasised EKA Mobilitys dedication to leveraging innovative technology to address urban challenges, expressing confidence in the electric garbage tipper vans pivotal role in enhancing Punes cleanliness in an eco-friendly manner. 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! Directorate of Technical Education, Uttar Pradesh will release JEECUP 2023 seat allotment result for Diploma in Engineering course on October 21, 2023. Candidates who want to check the result can check it on the official website of JEECUP at jeecup.admissions.nic.in. JEECUP 2023 seat allotment result for Diploma in Engineering releasing today The result will be released for Round 7. Candidates can freeze and deposit the fees for seat acceptance from October 22 to October 23, 2023. Also, the document verification at the district help centres will be done from October 22 to October 23, 2023. The balance deposit can be done from October 22 to October 29, 2023. JEECUP 2023 seat allotment result: How to check To check the result, candidates can follow the steps given below. Visit the official website of JEECUP at jeecup.admissions.nic.in. Click on JEECUP 2023 seat allotment result link available on the home page. Enter the login details and click on submit. Your result will be displayed on the screen. Check the result and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. The classes will commence on November 1, 2023 for session 2023-24. For more related details candidates can check the official website of JEECUP. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Get latest news on Education along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO, RAC has started the registration process for Scientist posts. Eligible candidates can apply online through the official website of DRDO RAC at rac.gov.in. This recruitment drive will fill up 51 posts in the organisation. DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2023: Registration begins for 51 posts The last date to apply is till November 17, 2023. Candidates who want to apply for the post should have at least first class Bachelors degree in Engineering or Technology in various disciplines. The age limit for Scientist D/E/F is not exceeding 50 years and for Scientist C is not exceeding 40 years. DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2023: How to apply All the interested candidates can apply online by following the steps given below. Visit the official website of RAC at rac.gov.in. Click on DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2023 link available on the home page. Enter the registration details and register yourself. Login to the account and fill the application form. Once done, make the payment of application fees. Click on submit and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. Application Fees General, OBC and EWS male candidates are required to pay a nonrefundable nontransferable application fee of Rs. 100/ payable online only. There is no application fee for SC/ST/Divyang and Women candidates. For more related details candidates can check the official website of RAC, DRDO. 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 New Delhi [India], October 21 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday inaugurated the Indian Military Heritage festival at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. HT Image Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande also accompanied Rajnath Singh at the event. Speaking at the event, the Defence Minister said "I would like to congratulate United Service Institution (USI) for trying to organise this festival for the first time. Those who will attend this Indian Military Heritage Festival will develop a curiosity to know more about these incidents (India's military history) that took place in the last 1-2 decades. Youth should know about the role of our armed forces and they will get inspired by this." The Indian Military Heritage festival is a two-day event that got underway in the national capital today. The two-day festival aims to celebrate India's rich military culture and heritage that has evolved over the centuries, through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling and exhibitions. It will primarily bring forward different understandings and perspectives through panel discussions by eminent scholars, practitioners and serving as well as retired officers. During the event, the Defence Minister also launched 'Project Udbhav', a joint collaboration of Indian Army and United Service Institution of India (USI), to promote indigenous discourse through exploration and integration of the country's ancient strategic acumen into contemporary military domain. The USI, India's oldest defence think tank is conducting the 'India Military Heritage Festival'. "With 2022-2023 being the year of India's presidency of the G-20. We are proud to be working in tandem with the Government of India's strategic policies to affirm our position as a global powerhouse, a truly vibrant democracy, and a rising power that is working for the development of all countries in the global south," the USI said. The festival will also focus on Security and Self-Reliance and the vector of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence and military domains. "The Indian Military Heritage Festival seeks to delve into India's military history and heritage and showcase it to the world. In doing so, it takes pride in reinforcing India's stature as an ancient civilisation with a rich military ethos and tradition of soldiering and warfighting going back centuries," the USI added. (ANI) Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Team Horizon of IIM Bangalore won the top honours of the National Champion in the first edition of SOAR (Spirit of Aviation Reimagined), Air Indias business challenge-based annual nationwide B-school competition that saw 27 premier business schools vying for the top honours. SOAR (Spirit of Aviation Reimagined), Air Indias business challenge-based annual nationwide B-school competition saw 27 premier business schools vying for the top honours.(Handout) According to a press release by Air India, SOAR is part of its campus outreach initiative to engage with young talent and students are being offered an insight into Air Indias transformation journey to inspire them to be part of the new Air India. Air India is actively reimagining its role in the aviation sector, and our journey to top campuses in the country is more than just a recruitment drive. We are inviting the brightest young minds to join us on this exciting journey of innovation and leadership in aviation. We are consistently encouraging excellence and working to shape the future of aviation. SOAR is a platform which benefits industry, academia and students simultaneously, said Dr Suresh Dutt Tripathi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Air India. Since its launch in August 2023, SOAR received over 7,100 registrations from B-Schools across the country. After evaluating the presentations, the shortlisted 12 final teams with three members each vied for the top honours in the grand finale in Gurugram. Participants engaged in day-long brainstorming sessions to come up with solutions to real-world challenges of the aviation sectorfrom marketing to baggage coordination to technology to cultural issues, informed Air India. The winners were selected by a jury comprising senior Air India executives after evaluating the presentations, mentioned the press release. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Get latest news on Education along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) celebrated its 11th convocation with a graduating class of 565 students (426 male & 139 female), with 60 PhDs. Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chief Guest at IIT Mandi Convocation (Handout ) According to a press release by IIT Mandi, the institute has seen a rise in the number of female students passing out in different streams. This year a total of 52 female students in undergraduate programmes; 66 in postgraduate and masters programmes, and 14 in PhD programmes have graduated from the institute surpassing the numbers from the previous years. Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, & Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Along with him, Prof R P Singh, Physical Research Laboratory Ahmedabad; Dr Balvinder Singh, Senior Director, Samsung R&D Institute India, Bangalore; Mr Anand Vora, Senior Vice President, Engineering Persistent Systems, Pune, and Prof Anirban Bandyopadhyay, Principal Research Scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan, were the Guests of Honor. Lt Gen (Retd) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi, presided over the convocation event, the press release mentioned. Completing graduation does not come easily. It involves years of hard work and perseverance, struggles and sacrifices, successes, achievements and perhaps some disappointments as well. This day will therefore probably be one of the most important and memorable milestones in the journey of your life and career," said Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. Today is the day of culmination of your efforts and reason to celebrate the fruition of your aspirations and dreams. As you enter the next phase of your life, hold onto your alma maters legacy of scientific culture, and let it always inspire you in everything you do. Today you are joining the elite club IIT Mandi Alumni. Although you are moving out to make a bright professional career, your alma mater will always be there with you and will keep abreast of your achievements and successes with a great degree of satisfaction and pride," said Lt Gen (Retd) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi. Delivering this years valedictorians address, Mr Pritish Chugh, Directors Gold Medal winner, 2023, said, Four years ago, we embarked on this adventure with dreams and a touch of apprehension. Back then, the initial weeks seemed the most challenging, with early morning exercises, classes, and late-night club sessions. But in hindsight, those initial weeks remain some of the best days we've had. As we stand here today, on the brink of a new chapter in our lives, we carry with us the experiences, knowledge, and resilience that we've gained during our time at this institution. As we move forward, let us carry the lessons we've learned, the friendships we've made, and the hope for a brighter tomorrow in our hearts," stated the press release. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Get latest news on Education along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News New Delhi [India], October 21 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its second list of candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections with former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to recontest from Jhalrapatan. HT Image The party declared 83 candidates in the second list which has some prominent names including former Rajasthan BJP president Satish Punia, who has been fielded from Amber. constituency. Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore, will contest elections from the Taranagar constituency. Former MP Jyoti Mirdha, who joined the BJP last month after leaving Congress, has been fielded from the Nagaur constituency. Jhalrapatan is traditional seat of Vasundhara Raje. The BJP had on October 9 released its first list of the 41 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections scheduled for November 25. Former union minister and MP Rajyavardhan Rathore will contest from Jhotwara and Diya Kumari,MP, has been fielded from Vidhyadhar Nagar. Baba Balaknath has been fielded from Tijara and Kirodi Lal Meena from Sawai Madhopur. The BJP is seeking to oust Congress from power in Rajasthan. Congress won 99 seats in the 2018 elections in the 200-member state assembly. BJP won 73 seats. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 along with four other states which will go to the polls next month. (ANI) Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz have announced a joint album - Welcome 2 Collegrove, which is set to release on the same day as Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2. The release date for both albums is set for November 17. Recently, Wayne and Chainz also revealed the first single Presha from their upcoming album. Welcome 2 Collegrove is the rappers' follow-up LP to their 2016 project Collegrove. Interestingly, the name of the album is a portmanteau of Chainz's hometown - College Park, Georgia, and Wayne's hometown - Hollygrove, Louisiana. Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 and Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz's Welcome 2 Collegrove are set to release on the same date(Instagram/Nicki Minaj/Lil Wayne) ALSO READ: He's changed my life: Gwen Stefani talks about Blake Shelton after receiving Hollywood Walk of Fame star Meanwhile, Pink Friday 2 marks Minaj's first album in five years. It is a sequel to her 2010 debut album Pink Friday, which included hits like Super Bass and Roman's Revenge featuring Eminem. From Minaj's fifth studio album, so far, two singles have been released - Super Freaky Girl and Last Time I Saw You. Additionally, Minaj released a promotional song Red Ruby Da Sleeze on March 3. Only recently, she shared a teaser poster for her upcoming album on social media. Before sharing the news of their first single Presha, Chainz and Wayne displayed their affectionate bond and friendship over the years in a series of pictures on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption, Its been a min.. we goin live tonight... The post quickly went viral and garnered over 98.9K views. Since then both Nicki Minaj's fans and Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz's fans haven't been able to hold back their excitement. For hip-hop fans, this comes as big news considering all three artists are widely renowned performers in this genre, with a huge fan following. Pink Friday 2 has already amassed numbers in pre-sales as can be seen through various posts on X, formerly Twitter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON American actor Will Smith made a surprise appearance at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore as part of Jada Pinkett Smith's press tour for her new memoir 'Worthy', where he expressed his support for her and their marriage following the disclosure of their memoir that they were separated in 2016, reported The Hollywood Reporter. Also read: Jada Pinkett Smith won't divorce Will Smith: Im not giving up on that dude, hes not giving up on me Will Smith joined Jada Pinkett Smith on stage as she promoted her new memoir. (AP) At a talkback moderated by CNN's Laura Coates, Pinkett Smith's family members--including her kids Jaden and Willow, her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and Smith's son from his first marriage, Trey--appeared as well. What Will Smith said at the book event Smith told the audience that his appearance was about supporting his wife in the same way that she had done for him throughout his career. "I just really wanted to come out and just be here and hold it down for you the way you have held it down for me," he said while onstage Wednesday night, according to The Baltimore Sun. "We have had a very, very long and tumultuous [relationship]. We call it 'brutiful.' "It was brutal and beautiful at the same time," he added. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor addressed their long-standing relationship -- which saw rumours of divorce floated after the revelation that they had been living apart for years -- following Pinkett Smith's own clarification in an interview with the Today show that there's no divorce happening and that the duo "really have been working hard at bringing our relationship together, back to a life partnership." Smith noted that his wife, fellow actor and now author was behind all of his accomplishments professionally and personally because she put her own ambitions on hold for his dreams, which "were largely built on the foundation of Jada's sacrifices." That includes developing a relationship with Trey's mother and Smith's ex-wife, Sheree Zampino, "so that I could have all of my children with me. "We got together when we were in our 20s," he told the audience. "I had huge dreams of what I wanted to do in the world and in my life, and I was on fire with a vision. And as I stand here before you today, I am happier than I've ever been in my entire life." The actor also addressed the response to an Instagram video that saw him turning off his notifications amid the news cycle around Pinkett Smith's separation revelation. "Our union is a sloppy experiment in unconditional love," he told the lecture crowd. "Jada is the best friend I have ever had on this planet, and I am going to show up for her and support her for the rest of my life." Jada denies divorce rumours During the conversation, Pinkett Smith once again squashed those divorce rumours, telling Coates, "Will and me are good." "All the people who don't understand and got something to say are just going to have to fall in line," she said. "The truth of the matter is, I'm not leaving Will's side, and he's not going to leave mine. We've been on a powerful quest. And I'm happier than I've ever been," reported The Hollywood Reporter. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Women in India have battled a history of limited chances and insufficient resources for years. However, as society has progressed, we are currently witnessing a tremendous transformation in which women are actively participating in the workforce, alongside men. This major shift marks an important point in our society, reflecting a more inclusive and progressive outlook. Business Towards this movement, direct selling industry has been playing a key role in driving the remarkable progress of women in India. The industry encourages women to start businesses by empowering them through mentoring. With the right tools and training, it enables and equips the women, helping them take up entrepreneurship and achieve financial independence. It helps women become successful market leaders, rather than only contributors. According to an estimate by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)-Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), given the right legislative support, India's potential for retail transactions in the direct selling sector might reach a value of 645 billion by 2025 and by the same year, this increase might open up self-employment prospects for more than 18 million people in India. The research also predicts that women may make up over 60% of network participants. As women advance, they inevitably take on mentorship roles, creating a circle of inspiration that encourages other women to pursue their goals of starting their own businesses. Direct selling transforms them into influential catalysts for societal change as a result, shattering stereotypes and creating an environment where women can thrive as creative leaders and game-changers. Women empowerment has a positive ripple effect throughout the economy, as women's wages fuel growth and build a more equal financial landscape with reduced income discrepancies. Additionally, the expanding industry of direct selling excels at involving women in a setting that develops their marketing knowledge, communication skills, and mentoring skills. Through this association, businesses and individuals benefit from a motivated workforce that increases sales. Women's confidence is boosted through enriching workshops and projects, and they gain the knowledge required for success in their endeavours, particularly for those entering the workforce for the first time. This transformation is influencing today's and tomorrow's female entrepreneurs, propelling them to the status of trailblazers in the field of direct selling. Direct selling enables women to maintain work-life balance, which is vital for women who have multiple commitments. Through this route, they can develop new skills, earn money, and work flexibly from the convenience of their homes. Exponential improvements develop over time with just a few hours of commitment every day, underscoring the viability of this route. Furthermore, direct selling takes little initial investment and has a low barrier to entry, making it an appealing career for women. This combination of opportunities, advice, and work results in large financial benefits, highlighting the sector's potential to encourage female entrepreneurship and independence. The rise of direct selling is a story of self-assurance, giving several women hope and the promise of a limitless future. The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) found that women are primarily driving the growth of India's direct selling industry, with about 53 percent of women entrepreneurs working in this field. These women, who actively participate in the nation's $1.5 billion (about 98.5 billion) industry, are the primary drivers behind the sector's expansion. They are involved in the marketing and sales of a wide range of goods. Over 56% of the total sales recorded by D2C (direct-to-consumer) enterprises in 2022 were driven by women, according to the Women's Day Insights study. There has been a striking increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in the economic world especially in Tier I, II, and III cities. The growing number of women working in this field is what makes this movement disruptive. Finally, in the environment of direct sales, the importance of equity trumps gender disparities. Women from various backgrounds, including accomplished academics, single parents, talented professionals, and elderly, each make their own distinctive imprint on a background of possibilities. As these women rise, they boost the entire industry, combining new opportunities, skills, and economic empowerment to produce powerful and exciting results. This article is authored by Gautam Bali, managing director, Vestige Marketing. 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 senior citizen died by suicide on Friday as a complaint filed by the deceaseds relative said that he was allegedly abused by a sub-inspector (SI) publicly, following an accident in Uttara Kannada district, the family of the deceased said. said. The victim used to work at his agricultural land for a living. According to the complaint filed by the deceaseds brother, a sub-inspector of the Bhatkala town police station publicly abused and humiliated the 63-year-old man, a resident of Mankuli, and also took away the key of his two-wheeler, after the vehicle had hit an auto-rickshaw on Thursday. The sub-inspector allegedly abused him in front of the mob and seized the bike without filing any official complaint. Unable to bear the humiliation publicly, the man took extreme step after returning home, the complaint said. The deceaseds brother, alleged that the man had died by suicide due to the abuse by the police. Even though the auto rickshaw driver had reconciled with my brother over the accident, the SI of the police station mentally tortured and humiliated him, he told the reporters. The victim also called his family and friends and expressed his sadness over the matter. The victim used to work at his agricultural land for a living. Justice should be given in the case, the deceaseds brother said. He said the victim was mentally hurt by the SIs remarks, which prompted him to die by suicide. He said even now, no complaint has been registered regarding the accident but, the mans bike has been kept at the police station, the victims brother added. We have received a complaint against the sub inspector, filed by the deceaseds brother, Uttara Kannada superintendent of police (SP) P Vishnuvardhana told HT, adding that further investigation in underway SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, miffed with the denial of alliance in Madhya Pradesh, took a potshot at the Congress over the latter's demand for a nationwide caste-based census, saying it was a "miracle" that the grand old party supported such an exercise. He said his INDIA alliance partner supported the demand for caste census because "you won't succeed" without the support of backward castes. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.(HT file photo) "It's the same Congress party that didn't give the numbers of the caste census. It is a 'miracle' because now everyone knows that until and unless you don't have the support of the backward castes you won't succeed," he said in Bhadohi, reported ANI. He said the votes they had been searching for weren't in their support. "It's a miracle that now the Congress party wants a caste census. The Congress is now aware that the vote they were searching for is not with them anymore," he added. The fresh salvo comes days after the Congress said the INDIA alliance -- a block of 28 opposition parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party -- meant for national politics, not regional elections. The assessment came after the Samajwadi Party protested the Congress's list of 144 candidates. Yadav recently said the Congress had promised the party at least six seats but gave them none. On Friday, Yadav said the INDIA alliance would never be able to defeat the BJP if "this confusion prevails". "The country has a big challenge (in 2024). The BJP is a big party. It is a highly organised outfit. So to take it on, there should not be any confusion in any of the constituents of the (INDIA bloc). If you take on the BJP with confusion, you will not succeed," he said. A day before, Yadav accused the Congress of "betrayal". "They held a meeting with our delegation that went on till 1 am. They assured our delegation that approximately six seats could be given to the SP. I assumed and felt assured even if the SP gets four, it would be fine with us. But when the Congress list came (on Sunday of 144 candidates), it even fielded a candidate on the seat that the SP won in 2018 in MP. So under compulsion, we also went ahead and declared candidates," Akhilesh had said. He said he understood that the INDIA alliance was only for the general elections after the MP incident. "When the country's elections come, we will think over it. Then those who want seats, there is a different platform (for discussion) for it," he added. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 17. Counting of votes will take place on December 3. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday characterized the ongoing feud between Congress and Samajwadi Party over seat-sharing arrangement as a predictable outcome of an opportunistic alliance. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.(ANI) This was bound to happen. They are trying to defeat BJP and there is no courtesy for each other among them. Keep watching, Prasad told ANI. In an opportunist alliance, a clash of selfishness was supposed to happen and it happened, he added. The war of words between the two key INDIA bloc parties took an ugly turn as Samajwadi Party leader I P Singh called former Congress president Rahul Gandhi a crazy dimwit and childless. Singh also said the person who could not unite his brother Varun Gandhi is spreading fake love, in an obvious jibe at Congress leader's Mohabbat ki Dukaan pitch. The seven generations of Congress will never be able to do any harm to the Samajwadi Party, Singh said, adding that Rahul Gandhi is anyway childless. The tensions came to the fore after the Samajwadi Party cried foul over Congress going solo in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, claiming that MP Congress state president Kamal Nath and senior party leader Digvijaya Singh had assured of a seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties. So far as the forthcoming assembly elections in many states are concerned, the INDIA bloc should have clarified at the outset that there will not be any agreement at the state level. I was under the impression that there would be an agreement at the state level considering our talks with the Madhya Pradesh leaders (Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh) of the Congress, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said. Yadav reiterated that the INDIA alliance should have clarified that there would be no tie-up in the state elections. Hitting back, UPCC 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 BJP by contesting separately. Rai also reportedly asked if Akhilesh Yadav was so strong, how come they lost the Azamgarh to the BJP. Akhilesh Yadav had won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Azamgarh but the party lost the seat in June 2022 bypolls to the BJP. Reacting to Rai's remarks, Yadav said, "I want to tell the Congress, don't talk about our party through your 'chirkut' leaders." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Activists of the BJP's youth wing, led by BJP city president Devidas Kale, gathered at Gandhi Chowk in Latur and attacked an effigy of the MVA alliance with footwear. HT Image Earlier on Friday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the scrapping of a government order meant for recruiting staffers on a contract basis by nine private agencies and accused the MVA of taking the decision to hire workforce on a short-term basis. The decision to hire staff on contract through nine empanelled agencies was taken by the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, he had alleged. The BJP's youth wing Latur city unit president Ganesh Gomchale, spokesperson Prerna Honrao, and city general secretary Digvijay Kathawate, among other local leaders, took part in the protest and demanded that the MVA apologise to the people of the state. Similar protests were held by local leaders and activists in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Kalyan. In Thane, the partys city unit president Sanjay Waghule, MLC Niranjan Davkhare and senior BJP leader state general secretary Madhavi Naik led the agitation, during which protesters shouted slogans against the MVA and its leaders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten Nepalese students were killed when Hamas launched a sudden strike at a farm in Israel's Kibbutz on October 7. HT Image There were 17 Nepalese students on the farm where the Hamas launched the attack. Ten Nepalese nationals were killed, six escaped and one went missing in the incident. "Bodies of four of the ten Nepalese students killed by Hamas group in Israel are arriving in Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport via Fly Dubai flight on Sunday," said the official. The Israeli government had handed over the dead bodies of four agriculture students on completion of autopsy, to the Nepalese Embassy in Israel. The search for one missing student is on, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday filed a complaint with the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, accusing her of taking bribes to raise questions in Parliament. Nishikant Dubey posted a message in Hindi, saying he was "tired of hearing of CBI, CBI" and has lodged a complaint with Lokpal. (File) Firing a fresh salvo against her, Dubey said she was in India when her parliamentary ID was used in Dubai and claimed that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) had disclosed the information to probe agencies. Moitra, whose party has been quiet on the issue, remained combative and kept up her attack on the Adani Group, alleging that charges have been levelled against her at its behest. She also claimed on X that she had received a message about an impending CBI raid. "I am busy with Durga Puja. I invite CBI to come home & count my pairs of shoes. But first please file FiR into 13,000 crore coal money Adani stole from Indians," Moitra said. Soon after her post, Dubey posted a message in Hindi, saying he was "tired of hearing of CBI, CBI" and has lodged a complaint with Lokpal, which is entrusted with probing the case of corruption against public authorities, including MPs. "Lokpal oversees the complaints against parliamentarians and ministers. The CBI is its medium," he said. Earlier, the BJP leader alleged that "an MP pawned the country's security for some money." "The MP's ID was opened from Dubai when the so-called parliamentarian was in India. The entire Indian government, including the prime minister, finance department and central agencies, use this NIC," the BJP MP said. "Does the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition still have to do politics? People will take a decision. The NIC has given this information to probe agency," Dubey said without naming the agency. Moitra hit back saying Adani's dealings are related to national security and "not (an) email ID that every PA & every unchecked intern team of every MP has publicly & accesses at will". "Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff. Don't use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW (sic)," she posted on X. Targeting the Adani Group, she said, "Sorry Mr. Adani. I am not taking your deal to shut up for six months in return for peace. And nor am I taking the second deal where I am allowed to attack you but not the PM. Adani used to CASH TO NOT QUESTION. Now he is forced to create a fake CASH FOR QUESTIONS (sic)." Dubey has accused Moitra of accepting bribes and favours for asking questions in Lok Sabha at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee is looking into Dubey's complaint and has asked him to appear before it on October 26 for recording "oral evidence". In a signed affidavit submitted to the committee, Hiranandani has admitted to using Moitra's parliamentary login to ask questions targeting Adani after state-owned behemoth 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. "Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition and buy airports but just try doing it with me," Moitra had said on October 15 after the allegations surfaced. Adani Group had in a statement referred to the complaint by Dubey to say that they "corroborate" the conglomerate's previous statements that "some groups and individuals have been working overtime to harm our name, goodwill and market standing". In Parliament and outside, Moitra had been making allegations against the Adani Group for the last couple of years. After US short-seller Hindenburg Research in January came out with a damning report alleging financial fraud and stock manipulation at Adani Group, she had targeted the government over the functioning of the conglomerate helmed by billionaire Gautam Adani. The group had denied all allegations. Hyderabad: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party, if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections, would herald a real Bangaru Telangana (Golden Telangana) by implementing its six guarantees in letter and spirit. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi waves to the crowd on his arrival in Jagtial, Telangana, to address a public rally on Friday. (ANI) The six guarantees, announced by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi during a rally on September 17, are 2,500 in monthly aid and gas cylinders at 500 for women; 5 lakh in aid for the homeless; 200 units of free electricity; 5 lakh in assistance for those pursuing higher studies; 4,000 monthly pension for the elderly; and 15,000 annual assistance for farmers and 12,000 for farm labourers. Telangana is set to go to polls on November 30, and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. The Congress is hoping to trounce the BJP and the BRS, which has ruled the state since its birth in 2014. WATCH | Rahul Gandhi tries his hand at dosa-making at roadside eatery in Telangana Wrapping up his three-day whirlwind tour in the poll-bound state on Friday, Gandhi promised to provide 12,000 to 15,000 support price per quintal to turmeric farmers and an additional 500 per quintal as bonus over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for every crop they grow. The Congress MP also reiterated his promise of carrying out a caste survey in the state, if the party is voted to power. The Congress tsunami will sweep the state in the coming elections and deliver the dream of Bangaru Telangana. This is my guarantee, the Congress MP said, addressing a huge public rally at Armoor in Nizamabad district. Assuring the people that the Congress was committed to implementing all its promises, he said: We are committed to ensuring a minimum support price of 12,000-15,000 per quintal for turmeric crops. Furthermore, we shall provide an additional 500 per quintal as bonus over the MSP for paddy. Launching an attack on the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Gandhi asserted that the battle was not a mere political contest but a fight between Dorala (feudal lords) Telangana and Prajala (peoples) Telangana. READ | Congress will hold caste survey in Telangana: Rahul Gandhi Our fight is about ideology. This is not a political fight for me but a fight of DNA... We will defeat them (BJP) in every state. We will defeat BRS here in Telangana and we will defeat BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, he added. Earlier in the day, at a rally at Jagtial, Gandhi claimed that Sonia Gandhi helped in the creation of the state of Telangana. Had Sonia Gandhi not helped, a separate Telangana would not have been formed, he said. But even after the formation of a separate state, their dreams remained unfulfilled. What they are witnessing is a dictatorial regime. The entire Telangana has come under the grip of one family, which was caught neck-deep in corruption. For the last nine years, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family had looted peoples money and I shall see that every paise that was looted will be recovered from them, he added. Telangana was accorded statehood by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2014. Stating that he had a special bond with the people of Telangana, Gandhi said it had nothing to do with politics. This bond has been continuing from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. It was Indira Gandhi who had fought for the lands of Telangana people. Sonia Gandhi had granted a separate state. The people of this region had always supported us, he said. The Congress leader said he has been fighting relentlessly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the BRS was hand-in-glove with the latter. The BJP government at the Centre has been harassing me. It has filed cases against me, got my Lok Sabha membership cancelled and driven me out of my residence. But it could not evict me from the hearts of the people of India, he pointed out. He sought to know why the BJP government had not filed any single case against KCR, while it filed innumerable cases against other opposition leaders. Gandhis remarks triggered sharp reactions from the BRS. Let me remind him his own grandmother (former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) Indira ji gave us one and only emergency of this country, so there is no bigger dictator in Indias independence history than Smt Indira Gandhi. So, please dont try to teach us lessons. Dont try to teach virtues of democracyIt looks like the devil preaching the sermons, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said. The most entitled gentleman in the country talks about dorala palana, thats probably one of the biggest jokes that I have heard because but for the surname Gandhi, who really knows Rahul ji? he asked. On Gandhis allegation that KCR was not interested in carrying out a caste survey, the state minister said: He doesnt know that the Telangana state assembly passed a resolution demanding the Centre to conduct the caste survey about nine months ago. Reacting to Rahul Gandhis comments that his relationship with Telangana was not political, but a familial one, BRS MLC K Kavitha said: The only relation that the Gandhi family has with Telangana is that of betrayal and backwardness. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move that indicates fault lines within the Congress ranks, Madhya Pradesh state vice-president of the party, Damodar Singh, burnt the effigies of Digvijaya Singh and his son Jaivardhan Singh in Bhopal on Saturday, accusing them of not fielding enough candidates from the Other Backward Class (OBC) despite his insistence. He resigned from the party and said he was fielding his candidates in 15 seats. Congress MP Digvijaya Singh(PTI file photo) Damodar Singh's supporters protested right outside the party's office in Madhya Pradesh's capital. He said the father-son duo was attempting to set fire to the Congress by not letting it be a party of the poor and backward people. He also accused them of trying to tarnish Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's image. "When Rahul Gandhi claims that the rights will be given according to the population, then these two are not allowing it to be given. That's why I said, when they are setting fire to Congress, let's set fire to their effigies," Singh told ANI. Damodar Singh, the state president of the party's OBC unit, alleged he had demanded 126 seats for the backward classes but Digvijaya Singh gave only 55. "Being the state president of the backward class, I demanded 126 tickets for the backward class in Madhya Pradesh, but they (the party) gave only 55 tickets. There is a relative of Digvijaya Singh who is the chairman of the screening committee. When these people rule, how will the backward people get their rights? Those whose population is not even five lakh in the state were given 35 tickets. While the population of backward class people is around 3.5 crore in the state, they are being given only 55 tickets," he added. Meanwhile, former Congress MLA from Mhow, Antar Singh Darbar, also held a protest. He said the party fielded Ram Kishore Shukla from the seat who joined the Congress just a month back. He said Shukla was in the BJP for 20 years. He joined the party 27 days ago and got the ticket. "Congress has been my mother, that is why I have come back. A few days ago I had a discussion with Antar Singh Darbar. At that time he had said that whoever gets the ticket will work together and make the party win. Right now every seat is important to form the Kamal Nath government in the state. If he (Darbar) can't understand this, then it is a form of protest against the party. Congress party is united," Shukla said. BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, meanwhile, accused Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh of furthering the political careers of their sons. "Congress has made this election about the future of Nakul Nath (Congress MP and son of former CM Kamal Nath) and Jaivardhan Singh (Congress MLA and son of Digvijaya Singh). It seems that in MP, Mallikarjun Kharge has given the franchise to distribute Congress tickets to Kamal Nath. After taking the franchise, Kamal Nath is not listening to anybody, he is establishing Nakul Nath and on the other side Digvijaya Singh is establishing Jaivardhan," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The brewing Cyclone Tej in the Arabian Sea is turning into a cyclonic storm today and is expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On Friday, the IMD informed that a low-pressure area over the southeast and southwest Arabian Sea had developed into a depression. Cyclone Tej is expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm storm by Sunday, said IMD.(Twitter/IMD) Deep depression over SW Arabian Sea moved W-NW about 820 km E-SE of Socotra (Yemen) and 1100 km S-SE of Salalah Airport (Oman). To intensify into a CS over SW Arabian Sea during next 06 hours and further severe cyclonic storm in the evening of 22 Oct, the weather agency on Friday night wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also read: El Nino system may affect upcoming winter season in Maha Here are details on the Cyclone Tej: Cyclone Tej is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday and move towards the south coasts of Oman and adjoining Yemen. The Cyclone is named Tej by India according to the formula followed for naming cyclones. According to IMD, very rough sea to high sea condition is prevailing in the Southwest Arabian Sea and is likely to become high to phenomenal from October 21 to 23. In the western Arabian Sea, very rough sea conditions are likely to prevail from October 22 to 25. Moderate to rough sea condition is likely to prevail in the Southwest, west-central, and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on October 21 and is expected to become rough to very rough on October 23," the IMD said. Meanwhile, rough to very rough sea condition is expected along Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh coasts from October 24 to 26. The IMD has issued an advisory for fishermen to not venture into the sea and along the coasts till October 26. Those out at sea are advised to return to coast, it said. According to the weather department, the cyclonic storm will not have any impact on Gujarat. Since the cyclone would move towards west-northwest, it may not have any impact on Gujarat (which lies to the east). Weather in Gujarat will remain dry for the next seven days, an IMD official said as quoted by news agency PTI. According to the IMD, due to the Cyclone, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is very likely over Kerala on October 23 and 24, and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on October 24. (With inputs from agencies) Nancy Shers argument that defending Palestinian rights emboldens Palestinian violence (As I See It: Some deceitful supporters fuel ground violence, Sept. 9) provides a revealing glimpse of the thinking of those who refuse to acknowledge any Israeli culpability in the conflict. Based on demonstrably false claims, her case makes sense only if you accept her racist assumptions. A just solution to the cycle of violence requires learning the actual history of the conflict. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Professor Ilan Pappe, former senior lecturer at the University of Haifa, is a good place to start. This is the most prominent of many works based on Israeli sources that disprove the lies used by successive Israeli governments to justify its ongoing ethnic cleansing, starting with the expulsion of 750,000 Arabs in what Israelis call the War of Independence. As Sher concedes, Arabs constituted a substantial majority of the population in present-day Israel prior to the Nakba (Catastrophe), the term used by Palestinians and their supporters to refer to this initial act of ethnic cleansing. The Nakba caused the percentage of Jews in what is now Israel to go from 32% to 82% in one year (source: Jewish Virtual Library). To say that the minority Zionists were reclaiming their land based on a 3,000-year-old claim is the height of chutzpah, especially when one considers that the Israelites seized the land from its original Arab inhabitants by force and created a united kingdom that lasted only 160 years. Prior to World War II, political Zionism was a fringe ideology among American Jews. It gained popularity only when the horror of the Holocaust led to existential fear among Jews everywhere. Thats understandable. However, the lie that the Zionists sought only a land with no people for a people with no land continued to be accepted even as the Palestinian refugee crisis escalated in full view of global media. Modern Israel came into existence by force of arms, not by a legitimate process of self-determination. The United Nations had no legal right to legitimize this wholesale theft, and did so only after the Nakba. That doesnt mean Israel has no right to exist. After all, generations have been born there. However, once we acknowledge that the Jewish state was created by ethnic cleansing, it becomes obvious that a just peace cannot be achieved unless it guarantees the rights of Palestinians in the entirety of historic Palestine. Lets quit pretending Israel is a democracy. Arab Israelis do not have equal rights and never have. In 1950, the Law of Return was recognized, granting any Jew anywhere the right to become an Israeli citizen, while denying displaced Palestinians the right to return to their own homes. Dozens more apartheid laws have been passed since then, including the 2018 Nation-State law that in effect declares Arab Israelis second-class citizens. More recently, Israel has been in the news for rapidly expanding illegal settlements in Occupied Palestine, forcibly evicting Arab residents from their own homes in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories, conducting brutal raids that have killed dozens of civilians, and more. None of Israels crimes against the Palestinians justifies random acts of violence against Jewish civilians, but those who want to see peace in the region must recognize that justifying systematic Israeli violence and discrimination against Palestinians is the chief obstacle to a just solution. Since Israel has created a de facto single state in historic Palestine, the only way for it to become a peaceful, democratic one is to repeal the nation-state law and grant full equal rights to everyone living there. A Delhi-bound Akasa flight carrying 185 passengers from Pune made an emergency landing at the Mumbai Airport after a passenger claimed that he had a bomb in his bag, officials said on Saturday. An Akasa Air passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai(File/ REUTERS) The flight, which was diverted to the Mumbai airport, landed in the early hours of today after some 40 minutes following takeoff from the Pune airport, the airlines said in a statement today. The flight finally departed for its original destination around 6 am today after the bomb claim turned out to be a hoax. "At around 2.30 am today a CISF officer informed the Mumbai Police Control, after which the luggage of the passenger of that flight was searched in the presence of Bomb Detection and Disposable Squad (BDDS) team, as well as police officers. But during an investigation the police did not find any suspicious object," a police officer said. The passenger who claimed there was a bomb in his bag was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after the plane landed at the Mumbai airport as he complained of chest pain. According to police a relative accompanying the passenger on the flight told police that he had taken medicine due to chest pain. In a statement, Akasa Airlines confirmed the incident. "Akasa Air flight QP 1148, flying from Pune to Delhi at 00:07 hrs on October 21, 2023, and carrying 185 passengers and six crew members on board, received a security alert shortly after take-off. As per safety and security procedures, the plane was diverted to Mumbai. The Captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 00:42 hrs," Akasa Airlines said. After receiving police clearance, the flight left for Delhi from Mumbai airport around 6 am. Mumbai Police is further investigating the matter. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch an uncrewed flight test on Saturday morning, marking the first step towards the Gaganyaan mission. Puri: Sand sculpture of Goddess Durga with message Prayer for Success of Gaganyaan, created by the sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, at Puri Beach in, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (PTI) Gaganyaan mission LIVE updates The first unmanned flight test designated as the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1 Flight Test), is scheduled to be launched from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota by ISRO today at around 8am. ISRO announced the countdown for the launch with a post on 'X', stating, The countdown leading to the launch at 08:00 Hrs. IST on October 21, 2023, has commenced. This flight test vehicle abort mission will demonstrate the performance of the Crew Escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission. It will also test the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal after the rocket launch. This mission represents a significant milestone in India's effort to demonstrate that it is possible to send humans into space. The test flight project aims to prove India's capacity to send humans into a 400-kilometre orbit and safely bring them back to the earth with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal Sea. Visuals of the Sriharikota entrance establishment show model rockets being placed at the entrance. It's noteworthy that around 20 major tests, including 3 uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), are planned. The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. This program will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China. Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions, Prime Minister Modi directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040. Raipur: For 15 years, Raman Singh was the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, losing that position when the Congress swept to power in 2018, relegating the BJP to a paltry 15 seats in a 90-member assembly. At that point, many in the state wrote Singhs political epitaph, as the BJP hunted for new leaders. But with days to go for the assembly elections, Singh is very much back in the reckoning as a major force in the state, identifying candidates, and moulding the BJP campaign. He said in an interview that the Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel stopped all development work he started, normalised corruption in the state, and that when rulers become dacoits, there is no choice but to seek change. Edited excerpts: Raman Singh was the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh (Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO) Even though the BJPs manifesto hasnt come thus far, what is the primary issue you are taking to the people? The issues we are taking to people right now are that the BJP developed Chhattisgarh in our 15 years in power. We contributed to the building of a new state-- we built 30000 kilometres of roads, opened schools, set up basic infrastructure such as power and telecom. But Bhupesh(Baghel) has completely put a stop to development. For the next five years, this will be our focus again. Because forget building new roads, his government has not had the capacity to paper over potholes. We call these decrepit roads dabra in Chhattisgarhi. Are you saying the Baghel government did not spend on infrastructure at all? Not just me, all of Chhattisgarh is saying this. In terms of infrastructure, he has no vision, and he has no planning. When there is no thought, how will he do anything? In his tenure, no new schools were opened. We opened 28000 new primary and higher schools. From 200, we went up to 450 colleges. Today they are only painting over old schools and passing them off as new. The Congress stance is that they have focused a great deal on the rural sector which has benefitted the state; the price they give for rice procurement, building gauthan(cowsheds) and other such. But they have finished off village roads, and all development in these same villages have stopped. Nothing happens if you only have a slogan Narwa Gharwa Gurwa Bari(water, cows, compost, and fields). Of the 8000 gauthans, there are not even eight that really exist. There is no feed, no water-- go anywhere in your car and see. In the gauthans, you will not even find the footprints of cows, that is what is shameful. They have spent Rs1300 crore on this. These are bogus policies. And even they have stopped talking about them. The Congress has used the word OBC a great deal over the past five years; they have an OBC Chief Minister, he is a Chhattisgarhiya Chief Minister. You were Chief Minister for 15 years, and people use you as an example that OBC politics is ineffective in the state. Look, whether a Chief Minister is an OBC, SC, ST, general, backward, doesnt matter. The person must be able to work on development. Only then will they be remembered. Nobody will be remembered on the basis of caste. What is your reading of the states performance on tackling Maoists? They have left work just where we had left it. We recruited 70000 police personnel, gave them modern equipment; there is a Jungle Warfare College that was set up. Police stations worth a crore each were made. A young force was built to take on the Naxals, and there was a web of roads that penetrated deep inside, whether it is Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada or Konta. We liberated Surguja, and it was the turn of Bastar. But that will now happen in our next term. There have been signs of a leadership struggle in the Congress for the past five years. Do you think that will play a part? Look, as far as the Congress leadership is concerned, it has been established beyond doubt that for five years, Bhupesh left the leaders neglected. The Raja(TS Singhdeo), Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charandas Mahant were put in their place. There is pain in them. You will see the effects in the election. But what of the BJP leadership situation. You have been Chief Minister for 15 years but there is little clarity. Is the state unit working under you now? Whether it is 2003, 2008 or 2018, BJP never projected Dr Raman Singh as Chief Minister. After the elections, it is decided by the legislative group. Even now there is collective leadershi; this will only be decided after the elections. There was not a lot of communal politics in the state in the past, but that seems untrue this time, for both the Congress and the BJP. Is Hindutva now a factor in Chhattisgarh? In five years, the Congress under Bhupesh Baghel has worked to turn Chhattisgarhs politics in the wrong direction. There was never a sense of division in the state whether it is on caste or other things. In Kawardha there was a big incident, and curfew was imposed for fifteen days, things were bad. The saffron flag was trampled on. In Biranpur, Ishwar Sahu was killed. This environment, and the sanctuary to these elements, Bhupesh Baghel has given. You have raised several issues on alleged Congress corruption; there are IT and ED cases? Is this a big campaign issue for you? It is one of the first and last issues. Corruption has entered deep into the state, and isnt just limited to coal, or excise or paddy. Chhattisgarh must be the only state where there is an auction for postings of SPs and district collectors. The rates are fixed, and children in the state know this. There has been such a normalisation of corruption. It is dacoity how they are selling liquor. If the king becomes a dacoit, then there is no alternative to change. But the Congress says who are you to be saying all this? There were allegations against you too. What allegations? Nobody can allege anything in my 15 years. Just saying something means nothing. As far as the allegations that Bhupesh Baghel levels, those matters have gone to the High Court and the Supreme Court, and to this day, they have not been able to corner anyone from the BJP. Finally, what is your assessment for these elections? Here and now, I have a very clear assessment. This is with full confidence, and I am not being unrealistic. As I am roaming around, meeting people, 101 %, the BJP will form a full majority government in Chhattisgarh. No power can stop us. Indra Mani Pandey will be the first Indian official to hold the post of secretary general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Indra Mani Pandey (ANI Photo) Pandey, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1990 batch, is currently the countrys permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. A statement from the external affairs ministry on Friday said he will be the next secretary general of BIMSTEC. This is the first time that an Indian will hold the position of the secretary general of BIMSTEC, the statement said. Pandey will take up the assignment shortly. BIMSTEC is a regional organisation established in June 1997. Its secretariat was established in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka to provide an institutionalised framework for deepening and enhancing cooperation. India has attached a high importance to BIMSTEC with a view to expanding regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region. Having an Indian diplomat, with long experience in multilateral diplomacy, as secretary general of BIMSTEC will contribute to Indias endeavours in strengthening the grouping, a person familiar with the matter said. Cooperation within BIMSTEC initially focused on six sectors trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries and this was expanded in 2008 to incorporate agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contacts, and climate change. The member states of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi accused Israel of occupying the Palestinian land for the past 80 years, amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israeli forces that has led to the death of nearly 5,600 people. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi (File) Speaking to reporters regarding the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Owaisi said, The reality is that for the past 80 years, Israel has occupied the Palestinian land. Palestine's Hamas militant forces entered Israel on October 7 using motor gliders, boats and trucks leading to one of the worst conflicts breaking between Israel and Gaza. In retaliation, Israel launched heavy airstrikes and conducted ground invasions in Gaza as the war entered its 14th day. Israel cut food, electricity and water from the Gaza Strip until today. Aid deliveries from across the world began moving into Gaza through Egypt's Rafah border on Saturday. Owaisi further quoted Mahatma Gandhi saying, I would like to tell the people of our nation that Mahatma Gandhi had said that Palestine is the land of Arabs just like England is the land of the English and France is the land of the French. He added that India has always supported the people of Palestine. We always felt that Palestinians should have their own independent nation. Days after the war began, Owaisi hailed Palestine and Gaza and condemned violence. While sharing a photo of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque in a post on X, Owaisi wrote, Hands of GAZA, Falasteen Zindabad. Violence Murdabaad (done mainly by Israel or any Group/organisation). Masjid e Aqsa Aabad Rahe. Speaking to news agency ANI, Owaisi said a week after the war, The poor people of Gaza, with a population of 21 lakh, 10 lakh have been rendered homeless...The world is silent...For 70 years Israel has been an occupier...You cannot see the occupation, you cannot see the atrocities... The AIMIM MP had also shared former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's old video where he spoke in favour of the Palestinian cause. "A late BJP leader once said about Palestine that land worth billions has been acquired. We had released a post stamp for solidarity with Palestine. This shifted when Congress came into power," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The Karnataka state cabinet on Friday announced that it will relax the legislation governing compulsory rural service for medicine graduates in the state. Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil explained that the cabinet has decided to remove the blanket requirement for all medical graduates to undertake rural service by bringing an ordinance. Instead, doctors will be recruited based on the availability of positions or whenever there is a shortage of medical staff. This change applies to both MBBS graduates and those who have completed their post-graduation. Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil said that the cabinet has decided to remove the blanket requirement for all medical graduates to undertake rural service by bringing an ordinance (PTI) It is not compulsory for all. Doctors will be recruited to fill all the vacant posts, and if required, the government can also take more doctors. We will recruit depending on the requirements, and not all. It will be an unnecessary waste of human resources if we send three doctors to one village, the minister said. According to the minister, the new approach seeks to optimise the deployment of healthcare professionals and avoid wastage of skilled personnel. Patil said that the governments objective is to recruit doctors as required, without making rural service mandatory for everyone. This adjustment aims to prevent situations where multiple doctors are assigned to a single village, which is considered an inefficient utilization of resources. Under the previous rules, medical graduates who did not comply with the mandatory rural service, faced fines ranging from 15-30 lakh. However, the government retains the authority to assign students for rural service whenever there is a shortage of medical staff. He pointed there is no shortage of doctors in government hospitals, and any existing vacancies will be promptly filled. Patil explained that the decision was taken as the number of applicants for rural service far exceeded vacancies in government hospitals. With this move, the government is reducing the financial burden and also rationalising human resources, he said. Under the current rules, MBBS students receive a monthly salary of 62,666, MD/MS students are compensated with approximately 70,000, and super-speciality students receive 72,800. Government data for the same academic year 2022-23 revealed that 3,251 MBBS students applied for rural service while there were only 1,897 vacant posts. In the 2023-24 academic year, a total of 6,766 MBBS and PG medical students registered for rural service and salaries for which raked up a bill of 290.4 crore, according to the minister. To accommodate the remaining students, the government would have had to create an additional 1,354 posts, incurring a financial burden of 101.82 crore. Similarly, 3,515 PG students registered against 1,270 vacant posts, necessitating the creation of an additional 2,245 posts at a cost of 188.58 crore. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a potshot at Madhya Pradesh Congress stalwart Kamal Nath while responding to his 'Akhilesh-Vakhilesh' remark, saying whose name is Kamal' (lotus) won't call him by his correct name. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath(ANI) 'Kamal' means Lotus in Hindi, which is the poll symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "He was right in saying who is Vakhilesh? Akhilesh is there. If they say these kinds of things then Samajwadi Party can also say (such things), but we don't want to indulge in this. Our relationship with Kamal Nath is very good. His name is so nice. Whose name has 'kamal', they will call Vakhilesh only, not Akhilesh," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. On Friday, while campaigning in his stronghold Chhindwara, Nath said his party would win the elections with better than expected numbers. Asked about SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's allegations of "betrayal" against Congress over seat-sharing, Kamal Nath said, Arre bhai chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh (leave it alone). Also read: Kamal Nath says 'chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh' as SP vs Congress intensifies The verbal exchange comes amid tension between Samajwadi Party and the Congress -- who are the INDIA alliance partners -- over distribution of seats in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The rift stems from the Congress party's list of 144 candidates released earlier this week. Akhilesh Yadav claimed senior Congress politicians had promised him at least four seats but no Samajwadi Party candidate featured on the list. Later, the Congress said the alliance was meant for national politics against BJP, not for assembly elections. Yesterday, Akhilesh Yadav described the party's move as betrayal. On Friday, Yadav said the INDIA alliance would never be able to defeat the BJP if "this confusion prevails". "The country has a big challenge (in 2024). The BJP is a big party. It is a highly organised outfit. So to take it on, there should not be any confusion in any of the constituents of the (INDIA bloc). If you take on the BJP with confusion, you will not succeed," he said. UPCC president Ajay Rai, responding to Akhilesh Yadav's attacks, said the Samajwadi Party was helping the BJP by contesting the elections separately. Meanwhile, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the INDIA bloc was an opportunist alliance. "This was bound to happen. They are trying to defeat BJP and there is no courtesy for each other among them. Keep watching. In an opportunist alliance, a clash of selfishness was supposed to happen and it happened," he said. With inputs from agencies SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Trinamool Congress on Saturday refused to comment on the controversy surrounding its Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, who is accused of receiving bribes for asking questions in Parliament. "No comments...Regarding this issue, the TMC will not say anything... The related person may answer this, not the TMC party," the party's state general secretary Kunal Ghosh told news agency ANI. Another senior TMC leader not wishing to be named told PTI that the party is unwilling to get into a controversy and thus will be maintaining distance from it. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is accused of receiving bribes in exchange for asking questions in the Parliament. Moitra, the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar in West Bengal, is facing serious allegations of receiving bribe in the form of cash and expensive gifts from business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani to pose questions attacking the Adani Group in the parliament. Earlier in the week, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey had levelled serious allegations against Moitra, citing a letter by lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, claiming the TMC lawmaker had accepted favours from Hiranandani in exchange for raising questions in Parliament. Moitra filed a defamation suit against them before the Delhi High Court. In a signed affidavit, Hiranandani had backed charges against Moitra. The industrialist has admitted to having given Moitea information on the basis of which she could ask questions, and that she received information from others too on this. ALSO READ: 'Dont use Fake Degree wala for leak': Mahua Moitra slams Adani, BJP MP The industrialist in his affidavit claimed that he gifted Moitra 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. Nishikant Dubey's complaint has been referred to Parliament's Ethics Committee by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Vinod Sonkar, the chairman of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, had said he had received the sworn-in affidavit from Hiranandani. The TMC MP has raised questions over the credibility of 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: A case involving serious allegations of parliamentary impropriety and corruption was on Friday reduced to a custodial battle over a pet Rottweiler named Henry after lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai told the Delhi high court that Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitras lawyer tried to convince him to withdraw his complaint against the politician in exchange for the dog. Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai had alleged that Mahua Moitra accepted money and favours to ask questions in Parliament, a charge the Trinamool Congress politician has denied (HT file photo) During a brief hearing on Friday, Dehadrai -- whose letter formed the basis of Bharatiya Janata Party member Nishikant Dubeys complaint to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla -- told the court that Moitras counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan called him on Thursday to try and convince him to take back his complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Dehadrai had alleged that Moitra accepted money and favours to ask questions in Parliament, a charge the Trinamool Congress politician has denied. His statement prompted the court to say it was appalled and questioned senior advocate Sankaranarayanans eligibility to appear for the member in her defamation suit filed against Dubey and Dehadrai. Im really appalled. You are one person who I expect to maintain the highest professional standard. The fact that you have been in touch with defendant No 2 (Jai) on aspects touching this matter? So you tried to play the role of a mediator? Are you even eligible to appear? This is the question that you need to answer to yourself, justice Sachin Datta said. Sankaranarayanan subsequently withdrew from the case. He later said because Jai (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 didnt. Today when I appeared, Jai personally said to me he had an objection to me appearing. I immediately withdrew and said that I dont want to do this case. The suit will next be heard on October 31. The developments came a day after Darshan Hiranandani -- the businessman named in Dubeys complaint -- alleged in an affidavit 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 were charges mentioned, in part or full, in Dubeys letter, which described the allegations as cash for query. Moitra denied the charges, saying efforts were being made to made to malign her and scare those close to her by the establishment. But on Friday, the focus of the proceedings, in court and outside, was Henry. As the hearing began, Dehadrai raised objections about Sankarnarayanan representing the MP. Theres something very disturbing which my lordships must hear. There is a very serious conflict of interest. The CBI complaint I filed against the plaintiff. And its the same senior counsel who called me up yesterday and I had a conversation with him. He cant appear and hes heard all the details from me. I have a recording, Dehadrai said. Sankaranayanan clarified that he attempted to reach a settlement on the matter after taking instructions from the TMC MP as they had worked together in the past. I spoke to my client (Mahua) & I said if it is okay if I speak to him to see if there is a quietus that is possible. She (Mahua) said I dont have an objection. When I called him, we spoke for 28 minutes and he said that he would get back to me, the senior advocate said. This prompted the court to react sharply. The custody of Henry has emerged as key battleground in the sensational case. OnThursday, Dehadrai also wrote to Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora, accusing Moitra of kidnapping the three-year-old dog to harass, and blackmail him. He said he purchased Henry in January 2021 for 75,000 and called their relationship that of a parent and a child. Moitra has deliberately kidnapped and hidden Henry away from me since 10.10.2023, with the intent to harass and blackmail me in response to the CBI complaint dated 14.10.2023, which I have filed against her. In her legal notice, Moitra had accused Dehadrai -- a former close friend -- of trespassing into her official residence and stealing Henry, which she says he later returned. In view of the erstwhile friendship shared with Noticee No. 2 [Dehadrai], our Client [Moitra] did not immediately take any action but impressed upon him to let better sense prevail. However, when Noticee No. 2 repeated his transgressions of trespass and theft, our Client was constrained to inform Barakhamba Road Police Station and filed 2 (two) separate complaints in the matter dated 25 March 2023 and 23 September 2023 notifying them of all facts in relation to the matter, the notice said. The high court was considering a suit filed by the MP who sought to permanently restraining Dubey and Dehadrai, along with several media organisations (including Hindustan Times), from making, publishing and circulating defamatory, false and malicious statements designed to damage her reputation. She contended that Dubey did not conduct any due diligence to establish the veracity of the allegations made by Dehadrai. The ethics committee of Parliament is already looking into Dubeys complaint, and Hiranandanis letter puts Moitra in a spot. If found guilty, she could be expelled from Parliament. Dubey and Dehadrai are scheduled to testify before the parliamentary ethics committee on October 26. The last cash for query scandal erupted in 2005. A sting operation by online site Cobrapost on December 12, 2005, showed 11 MPs accepting cash in exchange for raising questions in the Parliament. On December 24, 2005, Parliament voted to expel the 11 MPs. Pranab Mukherjee, the leader of the Lok Sabha at the time, introduced a resolution asking for expulsion of the MPs while then PM Manmohan Singh did the same in the Rajya Sabha. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], October 21 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Saturday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists for the successful accomplishment of 'TV-D1' (Test Vehicle Development Flight 1) in the Gaganyaan Mission. HT Image "Nation is proud of ISRO's achievement of successfully completing the test vehicle mission as a predecessor to the Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km and bring them safely back to the Earth," Governor Nazeer said. The success of the ISRO's mission came after a second attempt at launch, as it had faced an engine ignition problem at 8:45 am in its initial attempt. ISRO Chief Somanath informed that the purpose of this mission to demonstrate the crew escape system in the mission was achieved. "I am very happy to announce the successful accomplishment of the TV-D1 mission. The purpose of this mission was to demonstrate the crew escape system for the Gaganyaan program through a test vehicle demonstration in which the vehicle went up to a Mach number, which is slightly above the speed of sound, and initiated an abort condition for the crew escape system to function," he said. The mission objectives of the TV-D1 launch were flight demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle subsystems; flight demonstration and evaluation of Crew Escape System including various separation systems; crew module characteristics; and deceleration system demonstration at higher altitudes and its recovery. The Test Vehicle is a single-stage liquid rocket developed for this abort mission. The payloads consist of the Crew Module (CM) and Crew Escape Systems (CES) with their fast-acting solid motors, along with CM fairing (CMF) and Interface Adapters. This flight simulated the abort condition during the ascent trajectory, corresponding to a Mach number of 1.2 encountered in the Gaganyaan mission. This mission represents a significant milestone in India's effort to demonstrate that it is possible to send humans into space. The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian waters. This programme will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China. (ANI) Linn County is eyeing a four-story premier office space with riverfront views in Albany to house county employees. Linn County commissioners approved a conditional purchase and sale agreement for the Wheelhouse Building at a Tuesday, Oct. 17, Linn County board meeting. The building has a $6.25 million price tag, according to a county news release. 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. The Wheelhouse Building, 421 Water Ave. NE, is a 24,000-square-foot brick building on the Willamette River. On its website aimed at attracting tenants, the building is described as a premier office location," and says the exterior was designed to blend into the historic nature of the downtown. The space was constructed in 2008 and stands on the site of the former Buzzsaw restaurant. Besides housing businesses, it has also served as a rental space for special events. Now its likely future is as a government building. The county will conduct its due diligence before finalizing the purchase, County Administrator Darrin Lane said. I did not realize until I was a commissioner how cramped we are, Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger said. The District Attorneys office is tight and human resources doesn't have its own space, she added. It is still too early to determine which departments might be moving into the building, according to Linn County Public Information Officer Alex Paul. The commissioners had researched building a new addition that would provide space for the District Attorneys Office and secure access to the courts. That was estimated to cost about $30 million. The state could provide up to $15 million but only for a new courthouse, not an addition, according to the Linn county news release. The county also also attempted to purchase the Wells Fargo Building, back in 2019 to house the county clerk's office. It would cost us at least three times the purchase price to build a similar structure, Commissioner Roger Nyquist said. The county plans on using COVID-19-related American Rescue Plan Act funds for the buildings purchase and remodeling, according to the press release. Nyquist hopes the building would solve long-standing challenges the courthouse had with security. To improve security, it's likely that the courthouse may start screening at the entrance. The only way that could be done without impeding on patrons not there for court-related duties would be to house them in a separate building, Nyquist relayed after the meeting. 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 county had been interested in other space, held by the Albany Revitalization Agency. It had offered $1.5 million for the Wells Fargo building, but the agency decided to demolish it and put it back on the market. It ended up selling it to a developer for $310,000. All three county commissioners approved the purchase agreement with Ohanamula LLC, which owns the building. Commissioner Will Tucker participated telephonically. Related stories: Bhopal, Oct 21 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath carries a lock with him to shut welfare schemes in the state, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday in a retort to the formers oft-repeated jibe that the CM carries nariyal (coconut) in his pocket to inaugurate projects. HT Image In many of his public addresses, Nath has called Chouhan a ghoshana machine (announcement machine) and a shilanyas mantri (foundation stone laying minister), claiming that the CM would carry nariyal in his pocket to launch projects. Ahead of next months assembly elections, the ruling BJP and opposition Congress have sharpened their attacks against each other. MP will go to polls on November 17, while votes will be counted on December 3. A statement issued by Chouhans office accused Nath, who was the CM between December 2018 and March 2020, of closing many schemes launched by the BJP. I carry the nariyal because I work for the development and public welfare. He carries a lock because he works to shut schemes by putting locks on them, the statement said. When Nath was at the helm in the state, he closed the BJP governments welfare schemes like providing 1,000 per month to tribal women for nutritious food, cycles and laptops for students, money for marriage of girls and pilgrimage tours for senior citizens, Chouhan said. Reacting to the CMs statement, MP Congress media department chairman KK Mishra said, Yes, Kamal Nath is taking a lock with him and people will put it on BJP's office in the coming elections. Mishra said Chouhan seems to have lost his cool ahead of his farewell and is trying to divert peoples attention from real issues by talking like this. The Law Commission will share its roadmap on holding simultaneous polls with a high-level committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, on October 25, news agency PTI reported. HT Image HT on Friday reported that the eight-member committee, which has been formed to explore the possibility of simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, will hold its second meeting next week. The first meeting of the panel that was notified by the Centre on September 2 was held on September 23. According to PTI, the Law Commission, headed by former Karnataka high court chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, is working on a formula to synchronise all assembly polls by extending or reducing the tenure so that these elections can be held along with Lok Sabha polls 2029 onwards. The high-level committee, which had in its first meeting 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 an interaction with them on a mutually agreed date, people aware of the matter said, according to the news agency. On September 2, the Centre had notified the panel to discuss the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections across the country, sparking a debate on an issue with far-reaching impact on politics, Constitution, and federalism. The panel will look into how simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats can be held in the country, a plan that could save money, but one that also involves many legal and procedural complications. In its first meeting on September 23, the committee discussed several aspects, including the possibility of a common voter ID card and electoral roll and the necessary modifications required in laws, HT reported. Bengaluru: The power shortage in Karnataka has emerged as a political controversy, not only in Karnataka but also in the neighbouring poll-bound Telangana. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) have been staging protests against government-imposed load shedding, which is adversely affecting the farmers. On the other hand, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party leader K Kavitha is also using the situation to attack the Congress in Telangana. Karnatakas energy minister, KJ George, on Thursday said that the government is committed to providing a continuous 5-hour power supply to the farming community Due to the persistent situation of drought, the electricity production in Karnataka has dwindled. Karnatakas energy minister, KJ George, on Thursday stated that the government is committed to providing a continuous 5-hour power supply to the farming community. Following a meeting with department officials, George conducted a press conference at Belaku Bhavana to outline the governments initiatives aimed at ensuring a minimum of 5 hours of uninterrupted power for farmers. We are dedicated to providing farmers with 5 hours of uninterrupted power supply, rotating between daytime and night-time in three shifts. We will communicate the shift schedules to farmers through various media outlets, including publications, radio, and television. Currently, our state faces a shortage of 1,500 MW, George said. In response to this, BRS MLC Kavita posted on X, stating that the Congress is attempting to export its electricity problems to Telangana. While highlighting the statement made by the Karnataka power minister during the 2023 state assembly elections promising 20 hours of electricity, she questioned why they are now settling for just 5 hours. The Karnataka power minister [KJ George] stated that he promised 20 hours of electricity during the elections but now wont accept just 5 hours. Similarly, the Telangana PCC president expressed that 3 hours of electricity suffice, deeming 24 hours unnecessary. Why is Congress introducing electricity issues to us? We dont require discussions at 5 oclock or 3 oclock. Lets endorse KCR, the only chief minister providing free 24-hour electricity in the country, she tweeted. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa expressed concerns about the challenges faced by farmers due to load shedding in various parts of the state during the drought. He added that the he plans to embark on a state-wide tour with fellow BJP leaders to highlight the power shortage in the state. I personally witnessed how the maladministration of the ruling Congress has adversely affected farmers in rural areas. On one hand, the farmers are grappling with a severe drought, while on the other hand, unscheduled load shedding by the state government is hitting them hard. They are struggling to irrigate their crops by drawing water from their IP sets, he said in Raichur. JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy stated that he had previously alerted the state government about the impending electricity shortage in the state, but he was not allowed to address the issue in the legislature. Electricity woes in the state will only worsen in the next two months. But, the state government is keeping itself busy talking about the guarantee schemes without bothering about the real problems people are facing, he said. The government is not only facing criticism from the opposition but also from the industry. Amidst the power shortages and load shedding across Karnataka, the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association has written to deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and energy minister KJ George, requesting uninterrupted electricity supply. Due to the unscheduled load shedding, our industry is encountering problems. We are struggling to operate cold storage, refrigerators, and grinders. Food production in the state has already declined by 50%, and such power cuts can further impact farmers, stated the letter to the government. George, however, mentioned that efforts are being made to purchase electricity to address short-term deficits, pending approval from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). He noted that section 11 of the Electricity Act has been invoked under national disaster management to procure electricity from in-state power generators, with the aim of overcoming the power shortage. The demand for power has significantly increased due to the severe drought situation in Karnataka. However, the government is striving to meet this growing demand by purchasing power from both within and outside the state. An order has been issued mandating local power generators to supply electricity to the government, he said. Chief minister Siddaramaiah had earlier highlighted the significant increase in power consumption, currently ranging from 15,000 MW to 16,000 MW, as compared to 9,000 MW to 10,000 MW, during the same period the previous year. He attributed the power shortage to this surge in demand and said the government is committed to address the issue. We recently issued an order mandating local power generators to supply electricity to the government, and we will purchase power to address the problem, he assured. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Dev Arun Dev is an Assistant Editor with the Karnataka bureau of Hindustan Times. A journalist for over 10 years, he has written extensively on crime and politics. ...view detail Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that his government will move the Supreme Court against governor Banwarilal Purohits refusal to clear three bills and for raising questions on the legality of the two-day assembly session, which was cut short by a day on its first day on Friday. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann in the assembly on Friday. (Ravi Kumar/HT) Expressing displeasure over the situation, the chief minister said his government will not table any of the bills till the matter was settled in the top court, and urged speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to adjourn the session. His remarks came even as Sandhwan told the House that the two-day session was legal. The House was ultimately adjourned until further orders. There was no immediate reaction from the governors office to Manns announcement. On October 13, the Raj Bhavan strongly objected to the two-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha called by the Aam Aadmi Party government from October 20 as an extension of the budget session. In a letter to the secretary of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the governors office said that any such extended session is bound to be illegal, and any business conducted during such sessions is unlawful, and ab-initio void. Governor Purohit also withheld his approval to three revenue-related bills, escalating the tussle between him and Mann. The session was called amid an ongoing political slugfest in the state over the construction of a section of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal a point of dispute with Haryana for several decades in Punjab. Addressing the House, Mann said: The state government will approach the Supreme Court to get the pending bills cleared by the obstinate governor of the state. It is unfortunate that a selected governor is resorting to bullying tactics to prevent a democratically elected government from taking pro-people decisions. This highhandedness of the governor will not stand in legal scrutiny and will be rightly set aside by the apex court. Mann said the governor said if the illegal session is continued, he will complain to the President. The chief minister also said his government had planned to bring the bills which were related to revenue. When money comes to the government, it spends it on peoples welfare. But unfortunately, our honourable governor raises questions on the legality of the session, he said. The state government will not table any bills in the House till the matter is resolved in the top court, he asserted. I request you that we will not table any bill till we assure the Punjabis that this session is legal and the governor will have to give approval to all bills and also sign them afterwards, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday launched armys Project Udbhav (or origin), which seeks to draw on treatises such as Chanakyas Arthashastra, Kamandakas Nitisara and Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvars Thirukkural for lessons on statecraft, strategy, diplomacy and warfare from ancient Indian philosophy, officials aware of the matter said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Indian Military Heritage Festival in Delhi on Saturday. (ANI) The scope of the project covers how Indian warrior kings defeated Mughal invaders, the officials said. Singh launched the project during the inauguration of the Indian Military Heritage Festival. Army chief General Manoj Pande, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other senior officials were present. Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, deputy chief of army staff (strategy), said the project was an endeavour to revisit the roots of Indias ancient military thoughts. The move comes against the backdrop of a flurry of efforts by the government to encourage Indianisation in areas including education, health and science. The objective is to synthesise ancient wisdom with contemporary military practices, forging a unique approach to address modern security challenges, an army statement said. Its a collaboration between the army and think tank United Service Institution of India. Arthashastra underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, alliances and diplomacy, aligning with modern military practices such as international cooperation and soft power projection, it said. Chanakyas teachings on statecraft and warfare are studied by various institutions the world over. Similarly, the wisdom of Thirukkural advocates ethical conduct in all endeavours including warfare. This aligns with modern military codes of ethics of just war and principles of Geneva Convention. Apart from ancient texts, the project entails revisiting prominent military campaigns and leaders. The empires of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Cholas flourished during their times. There is the example of the Ahom kingdom too, which successfully ruled for 600 years, repeatedly defeating the Mughals. The naval battle of Saraighat in 1671, led by Lachit Borphukan, stands as a stellar example of the use of clever diplomatic negotiations to buy time, employ psychological warfare, focus on military intelligence and exploiting the strategic weakness of the Mughals, the statement said. The tenets expounded by the ancient knowledge system were put to practice by Chhatrapati Shivaji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh who defeated numerically superior Mughal and Afghan invaders, it added. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the restoration of Lok Sabha membership to Lakshadweep member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Faizal and imposed a cost of 1 lakh on the petitioner, observing that such petitions bring disrepute to the judicial institution. The petitioner had argued that once disqualification is attracted by a member of legislature, the same will continue till the person gets acquitted of the charges levelled. (File Photo) A bench headed by justice BR Gavai passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Lucknow-based lawyer Ashok Pandey who said that once disqualification is attracted by a member of legislature, the same will continue till the person gets acquitted of the charges levelled. Dismissing the petition with costs, the bench, also comprising justices Aravind Kumar and PK Mishra said, This petition is an abuse of the process of law. There is no fundamental right of the petitioner which is violated and there is no ground for this court to exercise its jurisdiction. The court imposed a cost of 1 lakh directing Pandey to deposit 50% of the cost with Supreme Court Bar Association and remaining into the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Welfare Fund. Pandey told the court that he was a lawyer and had filed significant public interest litigations (PILs) in the past. On hearing this, the bench said, If you are an advocate, you must think twice before filing such frivolous petitions. The c ourt further directed that if the amount was not paid within four weeks, the same shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue by attaching his property. Faizal was convicted by a local court in Lakshadweep in January this year and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in an attempt to murder case. The conviction was stayed by the Kerala high court on January 25 and the matter reached the top court which directed the HC in August to hear the matter afresh. On October 9, the top court revived the stay on conviction while staying the final order of the Kerala high court that denied him this relief on October 3. Pandey has filed a similar petition challenging the restoration of LS membership to Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi. This petition is listed for hearing before the top court on October 30. Pandey in his petition against Rahul Gandhi said, Once a member of Parliament or a state legislature loses his office by operation of law in Article 102 or Article 191 read with section 8 of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, he will continue to be disqualified till he is acquitted from the charges leveled against him. A local court in Gujarats Surat sentenced the Congress leader to two years imprisonment for his Modi surname remark made during the run up to the 2019 general elections. The Lok Sabha secretariat disqualified him on March 24, but his membership was restored after the Supreme Court stayed the order of conviction. Last week, Pandey earned the wrath of the court for filing yet another frivolous petition as he questioned the oath taken by the Bombay high court chief justice DK Upadhyay for not mentioning the word I in his oath and termed the oath ceremony defective for not inviting the governors and administrators of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli which fall under the common judicial administration of the Bombay high court. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) took exception to Pandeys petition asking for a fresh oath ceremony and dismissed it with a cost of 5 lakh by saying, Such frivolous PILs divert the courts attention from more pressing matters and consume valuable judicial resource. The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a plea challenging the constitutionality of the recent amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act. The petition pointed out that by permitting commercial activity in forests, the Act ignores the associated negative impacts on forests and wildlife (PTI) The bench, headed by justice BR Gavai and comprising justices Aravind Kumar and PK Mishra, issued the notice to the Centre on a petition filed by 13 people, mostly retired public servants, including five former principal chief conservators of forest. The petition stated that the 2023 Amendment Act will radically undermine Indias decade-old forest governance regime. This decision held that forest land as defined in Section 2 of the 1980 Act would include not only forests as understood in the dictionary sense but any area recorded as forest in the government records. According to the petition, the amended Act will result in much of the protected forest land to be stripped of any legal protection as enjoyed by it earlier. The court agreed to examine the issue without specifying any date when the matter is to be next heard. Senior advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen representing the petitioners told the court that the new changes also exempt activities such as safaris, zoos and eco-tourism facilities in forests that will harm the delicate ecological balance of these spaces. The bench, also comprising justices Aravind Kumar and PK Mishra, said, If you have to save forests, you have to involve local population. Due to eco-terrorism and tiger safari, their participation will be thereas the local population will get employment as a result of these activities. Sen said that the amendments do not suggest any regulation and a carte blanche exemption must not be given as the judgment of this court had held the sway over forests in the country for nearly three decades. The petition pointed out that by permitting commercial activity in forests, the Act ignores the associated negative impacts on forests and wildlife with the creation of permanent structures, access roads, power transmission lines and other supporting infrastructure for such zoos and safaris. The petition filed by advocate Kaushik Chaudhary said, Each diversion of land, without any cumulative ceiling being prescribed across the country, will pockmark our forests with cancerously growing deforested islands and fragment them, causing enormous ecological loss. Under the changes brought by the Centre and cleared by Parliament in August this year, forest land up to 10 hectares is exempt from scrutiny under the Act if it is being proposed to be used for construction of security related infrastructure with there being no clarity on what it would include. These kinds of exemptions will sound the death-knell of forests in India, the petition stated. One of the petitioners also includes former IAS officer and wildlife expert MK Ranjitsinh, who led the advisory team formed to assist the court on re-introduction of cheetahs in India. The petitioners further objected to the untrammeled powers given to the central government to permit diversion of forest land without any parliamentary supervision or regulatory control. The amendments had been earlier considered by a Joint Committee of Parliament set-up to review the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023. The petition claimed this committee was misled as it took the assurance given by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change to protect all categories of forests on face value. It said that a greater degree of responsibility is cast on the legislature while dealing with environmental laws as it involves resources belonging to the community. New Delhi Every pending case represents a soul in limbo, waiting for closure and vindication, the Supreme Court said on Friday, speeding up trials in civil cases pending for five years or more across the country, and asking the chief justices of all high courts to constantly monitor the progress in such trials. SC asks the chief justices of all high courts to constantly monitor the progress in such trials. (PTI) It is crucial to understand that the wheels of justice must not merely turn, they must turn without friction, without bringing it to a grinding halt due to unwarranted delay. It is for such reasons that the system itself is being ridiculed not only by the litigant public but also by the general public... Sadly, the concept of justice delayed is justice denied is not a mere truism, but an irrefutable truth,said a bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar. Concerned that the spectre of delay and pendency has cast a long shadow upon the dispensation of justice, the court issued a string of directions for the civil court judges to unfailingly comply with the procedural timelines laid down under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) regarding summons, written statements and framing of issues, among others, adding the trial should proceed accordingly to the extent possible, on day-to-day basis. READ | You cannot call yourself Republic of India in pleas: SC pulls up CBI It is undisputedly accepted that the significance of a swift and efficient judiciary cannot be overstated. It is a cornerstone of democracy, a bulwark against tyranny, and the guarantor of individual liberties. The voices of the oppressed, the rights of the marginalized, the claims of the aggrievedall are rendered hollow when justice is deferred. Every pending case represents a soul in limbo, waiting for closure and vindication. Every delay is an affront to the very ideals that underpin our legal system, it rued. According to data available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), there are 11.1 million civil cases pending across the courts in the country with 22% of these cases being at least five years old. The courts anguish on Friday came to fore as it drew curtains on a civil case pending for 41 years. Even after 41 years, the parties to this are still groping in the dark and litigating...This is a classic case and a mirror to the fact that litigant public may become disillusioned with judicial processes due to inordinate delay in the legal proceedings, not reaching its logical end, and moving at a snails pace, stated the judgment, authored by justice Aravind Kumar. Noting that much of the delay happened due to procedural laxities and easy adjournments, the court said proactive steps are required to not only clear the huge backlog of cases at all levels but there should be introspection by all the stakeholders so as to curtail the methods adopted to delay the proceedings. When millions of consumers of justice file their cases by knocking at the doors of the courts of first instance, they expect speedy justice. Thus, an onerous responsibility vests on all stakeholders to ensure that the peoples faith in this system is not eroded on account of delayed justice. It is imperative to note that about 6 per cent of the population in India is affected by litigation, in such a scenario the courts would play an important role in the life of a nation governed by rule of law, added the court. READ | Dont make judiciary dysfunctional by sheer volume of cases: SC to govt The bench pointed out that there are review committees functional in most high courts to take stock of the case-flow management system, but the effective implementation seems to have gone into oblivion. It directed that monthly statistics relating to the cases pending in each court beyond five years shall be forwarded by every presiding officer to the principal district judge, who shall collate the same and forward it to the review committee constituted by the respective high courts for enabling it to take further steps. The committee so constituted by the Honble chief justice of the respective states shall meet at least once in two months and direct such corrective measures to be taken by concerned court as deemed fit and shall also monitor the old cases (preferably which are pending for more than five years) constantly, the bench added. When the efficiency has become the hallmark of modern civilisation and in all spheres of life, it emphasised, there is an urgent need to hasten the pace of delivery of justice by reducing the time period occupied by the trial of suits and criminal proceedings. Thus, we stand at a crossroads, not of our choosing but of our duty where the urgency of legal reforms in our judiciary cannot be overstated, for the pendulum of justice must swing unimpeded. The edifice of our democracy depends on a judiciary that dispenses justice not as an afterthought but as a paramount mission. We must adapt, we must reform, and we must ensure that justice is not a mirage but a tangible reality for all, held the bench. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Saturday took a jibe at former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath over his Vakhilesh jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, calling the Congress leader a chhutbhaiya neta (small leader). Yadav, when questioned about the remark made by Congress leaders including Kamal Nath on the SP chief, retorted,"I don't want to say anything about them. They are small leaders". The war of words between the Samajwadi Party and Congress has heated up ahead of the polls in five states including Madhya Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav had said if the grand old party did not want to give it seats in MP, they should have told 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 had said. When asked about the ex-UP CM's remark on the Congress, Kamal Nath had retorted,"Are bhai chhodo Akhilesh Vakhilesh (leave questions on Akhilesh)," said. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav.(HT file) On Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav hit back at Nath, who is currently helming the Congress in poll-bound MP. He said this right, that who is Vakhilesh? Akhilesh is there. If they say these kinds of things then Samajwadi Party can also say, but we don't want to indulge in this. Our relationship with Kamal Nath is very good. His name is so nice. Whose name has 'kamal', they will call Vakhilesh only, not Akhilesh, the Samajwadi Party boss was quoted by ANI as saying. In the 2018 assembly election, the Samajwadi Party had contested on 52 seats and won just one seat. It had extended support to the Congress which was short of majority to form the government in the state. Madhya Pradesh, currently ruled by the BJP, goes to election on November 17. The counting of vote will take place on December 3. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 21 (ANI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday assured the family members of the braveheart policemen that his government was committed to taking all necessary measures with utmost sensitivity to ensure their welfare. HT Image Speaking at the Police Memorial Day Parade held at the Reserve Police Line, the Chief Minister said, "Three brave police personnel of the state police force are among the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during the year 2022-23. The supreme sacrifices of these brave individuals continue to serve as a profound source of inspiration, encouraging all to carry forward their duties with unwavering dedication and a strong sense of responsibility." He commended the unwavering dedication of the police force, who, even in challenging circumstances, upheld the paramount importance of their duties and maintained a robust and healthy law and order system to combat crime within the state. "Over the last six years, the State Police Force has made a remarkable contribution to the successful execution of significant events, including the Divya -Bhavya Kumbh of Prayagraj, the Lok Sabha General Election in 2019, the three-tier Panchayat General Election in 2021, the Assembly General Election in 2022, and the Municipal Body General Election in 2023. Moreover, the state police consistently stood ready to assist the public, even during the global pandemic of Covid-19," he said. During the event, a condolence book was presented to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The DGP read out the names of the immortal soldiers recorded in the condolence book. CM Yogi said "The government has allocated 3.50 crore for the welfare of the police personnel appointed in the districts or various units of the state and 4 crore for the overall welfare. While 45.50 lakh has been provided for settlement of 301 claims of medical reimbursement of serving and retired police personnel and their dependents, and 3 crore 87 lakh has been provided in 63 cases related to medical reimbursement of more than five lakhs." Similarly, 4.09 crore was given in advance to 103 police personnel and their dependents for the treatment of serious diseases; 10.12 crore was given to the dependents of 370 deceased police personnel insured under the Life Insurance scheme. Moreover, 112 police personnel and their dependents received financial assistance totalling 1.11 crore for cashless medical treatment. Chief Minister Yogi mentioned that since 2017, a total of 1,51,985 recruitments have been made in various positions within the police force, including more than 22,044 women personnel. In addition, promotions were granted to 134,235 personnel across various posts in the police department. Besides, the recruitment process is going on for 65,389 posts, and the promotion process is going on for 11,885 posts. (ANI) Jessica McDonald was standing in a spot on a large expanse of land on a Friday afternoon in October. Next to her, a small portion had been dug up in small narrow ridges, the beginning stages of what will become a vernal pool for wet prairie habitat. The piece of land, called Oak Creek Preserve, had been on the radar of Greenbelt Land Trust the conservation nonprofit where she is executive director for more than three decades before it was purchased in May. Four months after that acquisition, the organization acquired its largest property to datea 1,600-acre parcel in Coburg Hills. Greenbelt is calling the parcel CBow Ridge. The purchase had been three years in the making. The acquisition brings the size of properties the nonprofit has acquired for conservation within a six-month period this year to more than 1,800 acres. A lot of restoration efforts lie ahead. CBow Ridges acquisition is crucial for various reasons, McDonald said. An intact conserved portion of land the size of the parcel in the Willamette Valley is becoming rare. But more importantly, the property rises from the valley floor about 1800 feet in elevation before reaching the ridgeline of the Coburg Hills. This elevation gain, combined with the propertys diverse topography and habitats, creates microclimates across the property that make it more resilient to the effects of climate change, McDonald said. These habitats, including prairies, forests and oak savannas, house animal and such plant life as the Kincaids lupine, host plant for Fenders blue butterfly, which recently exited the endangered species list. According to McDonald, the property was purchased with a grant held by the Bonneville Power Administration and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife through the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program. "Essentially, that is a settlement agreement for the effects of the dams in the Willamette basin," McDonald said, adding that the funding helps conservation and restoration efforts to mitigate the impact of dams in the Willamette basin. Restoration and conservation Following the acquisition, McDonald said the organization was developing a management plan outlining the goals for stewardship and restoration, as it does with every acquisition. According to McDonald, restoration processes in CBow Ridge will entail adapting and enhancing a mixture of different types of forests, riparian areas, creeks and tributaries as well as upland prairies. There is also an opportunity to sync up with habitat restoration that is happening within that larger region, she said. A stones throw away sits The Nature Conservancys Coburg Ridge Preserve, and north of CBow Ridge, Greenbelt owns a protected property called Courtney Creek. a 200-acre property it acquired in 2017. Nearby are also Bureau of Land Management parcels that have been designated as "areas of critical environmental concern." McDonald said her organization is not thinking of its parcels as isolated properties but as stepping stones along a corridor of restoration and conservation. Already at Oak Creek Preserve, the process has begun to create five vernal pools by plugging some drainage ditches to ensure that water is restored and preserved within the landscape. "It will look very different in a few short years," McDonald said. Heart of the Valley campaign Alongside the recent acquisition, the organization recently brought its $7 million Heart of the Valley fundraising campaign to a close. McDonald said she was feeling great about the results. "We have spent the better part of the last 2 years deep in the work of building the funds and finalizing that $7 million goal, and were so excited to be here, thanks to the incredibly generous community that we have across the Willamette Valley that supported us in meeting this goal," she said. Part of the reason for the campaign was to make the organization financially resilient in the face of its growing conservation goals, as well as educational endeavors. It also aided in the acquisition of Oak Creek Preserve, which will now connect 100 miles of trails around Bald Hills, McDonald Forest, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Fitton Green, and 14,000-plus acres combined of different properties. "When we launched the Heart of the Valley campaign two years ago, we honestly could not have known the increase in demand and interest that wed be seeing today in 2023 from landowners, funders, partners across the Willamette Valley," McDonald said. She added there is now an increased sense of urgency from various parties to think about and devise creative collaborations for conservation and to meet climate goals. Owing to its past successes in navigating these conversations, the organization is increasingly becoming the first port of call for insights and how to act, she said. In the immediate future, McDonald said the organization will acquire more parcels to add to its footprint in the Coburg Hills area, to continue extending its corridor of conservation. They are also working on a grant to fund a lightning-speed acquisition of the Luckiamute Confluence, a 110-acre parcel of land connecting the north and south plots of the Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area. "Were looking at an increased pace and scale of conservation like no other time before," McDonald said. Related stories: Chennai: The dean of the Tiruppur Government Medical College Hospital in Tamil Nadu has dismissed BJP MP Tejasvi Suryas post on social media regarding a purported college circular on not allowing portraits of gods during the Ayudha puja, calling it as fake. The post on X, formerly Twitter, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya had alleged that the Tamil Nadu government has begun to target an important cultural ritual like the Congress government in Karnataka. In the post on X, formerly Twitter, Surya had alleged that the Tamil Nadu government has begun to target an important cultural ritual like the Congress government in Karnataka. 2 states. 2 GOs. One target - Ayudha Puja, Surya posted on X on Friday. It escalated into a controversy after BJP leaders, such as union minister of state L Murugan and Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai, also joined Surya in their condemnation that the DMK-led government and the INDIA grouping are against Sanatana Dharma. A month ago, Tamil Nadu minister Udhyanidhi Stalin caused a nation-wide stir after he called for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma. Surya said that though there may be hundred differences in the INDIA block of which DMK and Congress are key constituents, they are united in their hatred and contempt for the indigenous culture. He accused the two parties in power of having issued government orders prohibiting the use of flowers, kumkum, turmeric and other puja essentials at government offices during Ayudha Puja. For years, all government offices and employees in southern India observe Ayudha Puja with great fervour. The alliance has now set its target on this important cultural ritual, Surya said. The BJP MP from Bengaluru South posted two circulars in Kannada and Tamil. The circular in Tamil was from the Tiruppur government hospital to not use any portraits of deities as part of the Ayudha Pooja and Saraswathi Pooja as per instructions from the district collector which the dean has rejected as fake. No such circular has been issued by the Tirupur government hospital and its branches said the dean R Murugesan in a statement. False messages are being circulated on social media. This is untrue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 21 (ANI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday performed Bhoomi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Naval Gallantry Museum construction project in Lucknow. HT Image The project is to be built at a cost of 23 crore in CG City, near Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, according to a press release from the Chief Minister's office. During the occasion, CM Yogi said that the glorious moments of the past are a new inspiration for the country. "No society or nation can touch the heights of development by forgetting its heritage and past. The past always stays with the individual and society," he added. "There is an opportunity to pioneer and move forward. Today is a historic moment for Lucknow and the state when the foundation stone for the establishment of the Naval Gallantry Museum is being laid on the banks of the river Gomti, known as Adiganga, in CG City, cherishing this new aura of development in this emerging area. This museum will become a new medium for the growing strength of the Indian Navy," he said. CM Yogi also planted saplings at the site on the occasion. Children of Bhatkhande Sanskriti University presented the national anthem, and the band of the Indian Navy rendered the song. CM expressed confidence that the project will prove to be a milestone in terms of the waterways of UP and the employment of youth, the release stated. He added that it is a moment of pride that INS Gomti, which enhanced the capabilities of the Indian Navy for 34 years and strengthened its strategic position after having been decommissioned, is going to become a part of the Bravery Museum today. The CM thanked the officers of the Indian Navy for choosing Lucknow, the capital of UP, for the museum. CM said, "This will become a medium for the young generation to know the bravery and valour of the Indian Army. Also, it will become a medium to give impetus to Prime Minister Modi's campaign of self-reliant India, which the country is witnessing today through the Make in India initiative." CM said that this year is very important. The Navy has also its own indigenous symbol, which was established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These are moments of pride, he added. The CM said, "A police or military memorial should be established for the soldiers of UP who have made supreme sacrifice for the internal security of the borders and in various states in the line of duty after the independence of the country to preserve their memories so that the future generation can develop a sense of respect for the army, paramilitary, and police." (ANI) The US and the UK have backed Canadas contention that Indias actions for ensuring parity in diplomatic presence went against the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and said diplomats are required to be on the ground to resolve differences. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi (AP Photo) The support from the US and the UK, which are part of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance that includes Canada, came a day after Ottawa confirmed on Thursday that it had withdrawn 41 Canadian diplomats and their families from India as they stood to lose their diplomatic immunity. Canada described Indias actions as a violation of international norms and the Vienna Convention, the 1961 international treaty that creates a framework for diplomatic ties between countries. India rejected this characterisation and said its actions were fully in line with the Vienna Convention. The US State Department expressed concern at the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, while Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it didnt agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government. Both countries emphasised that communication and diplomats on the ground are essential for resolving differences. Both the US and the UK also reiterated their call for India to cooperate in Canadas investigation into the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation last month about the involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Nijjar triggered the ongoing diplomatic row. India rejected the accusation as absurd and sought parity in diplomatic presence soon after. There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the statements by the US and the UK. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including concerning privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canadas diplomatic mission, he said. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, Miller added. An FCDO spokesperson said: We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles of the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention. The spokesperson said resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals. The spokesperson added, We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Indian side has 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 the needs of the particular mission. People familiar with the matter said Indias decision to seek parity in diplomatic presence was conveyed to Canada about a month ago, with a target implementation date of October 10. This date was extended till October 20 as details and modalities of implementation, including the list of Canadian diplomats who would continue to be accorded immunities and privileges, were being worked out in consultation with the Canadian side, the people said. Parity was sought in diplomatic representations in the high commissions in Ottawa and New Delhi and there was no impact on Canadas diplomatic strength in consulates in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chandigarh. Canadas decision to cease operations of the three consulates was unilateral and not related to the implementation of parity, the people said. In a separate development, Australias domestic intelligence chief has said he has no reason to dispute Canadas claims of a possible link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Asked by Australias ABC News for his assessment of Canadas allegations, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director general Mike Burgess said he would have no reason to dispute what the Canadian government has said in this matter. Theres no doubt any allegation of any country being accused of carrying out an execution of a citizen in that country, its a serious allegation, and something that we dont do and something that nations should not do, Burgess said, speaking in California on the sidelines of a public gathering of the Five Eyes intelligence partners this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States and Britain on Friday urged New Delhi not to insist on Canada's reducing its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past Prime Minister Narendra Modi (AP file photo.) 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, saying, "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 and Leslie Adler) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kochi: Legendary Communist leader and former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan, or VS as he is fondly referred to among his legion of supporters, turned 100 on Friday, a remarkable milestone for a person whose star shines as bright as ever despite having faded from public life four years ago. Following a stroke in October 2019, VS Achuthanandan has rarely made public appearances and has largely spent his days and nights at his sons home in Thiruvananthapuram Following a stroke in October 2019, VS has rarely made public appearances and has largely spent his days and nights at his sons home in Thiruvananthapuram. On Friday, as he marked his 100th birthday, top political leaders, across the spectrum, made their way to his home to wish the veteran leader. Though a horde of journalists parked themselves outside the house, photos or videos of the Left leader could not be taken as his doctors have warned against any contact with outsiders. The veteran leaders son Arun Kumar told reporters, He is happy and taking rest. We have conveyed wishes from everyone to him. Doctors have warned us from allowing people inside and meeting him as he could contract an infection. He reads newspapers and watches TV news every day. His life intertwined with history of modern Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his birthday message for his colleague and once-fierce rival within the party, said the life of VS was invariably tied with the history of modern Kerala and that his role among others in shaping the state into what it is now can be never denied. Before the formation of united Kerala, VS led brilliant struggles against imperialism, tyranny and monarchy. His stint as a legislator, leader of opposition and chief minister in later years and his interventions and presence in key agitations was remarkable. He was a man who always stood up against injustice and exploitation towards the toiling masses, Vijayan said. VS spent his teenage and youth years organising strikes by coir workers and farm labourers of Kuttanad, a paddy belt in central Kerala, and grabbed attention in the popular Punnapra-Vayalar uprising of Communist workers against the then Diwan of Travancore state. His life is a precious link between that time and the present. He displayed a martial spirit in all stages of his life. His 100th birthday is a happy and respectable moment for labour movement, progressive movement, the CPM as well as the state, Vijayan said in a note. Poverty-stricken childhood and early attraction to Communism Born on October 20, 1923 in Punnapra in Alappuzha district, Vellikakath Sankaran Achuthanandan grew up seeing poverty in his family as well as around him. His early childhood was filled with traumatic moments as he lost his mother when he was just four and later his father at the age of 11. Very soon, he realised that he had to earn to eat and thus dropped out of school after the seventh standard and began helping his elder brother in a tailoring shop and a coir factory. In 1938, he began participating in trade union movements after drawing inspiration from top Marxist leaders at the time like P Krishna Pillai. Two years later, before turning 18, he became a member of the undivided Communist Party. In the 1940s, he spent time in jail for his involvement in agitations at the time mainly for rights of workers and farmers against the then princely regimes. Meteoric rise through the ranks of CPM Characterised by a peculiar style of speech as part of which he would often impress and stretch certain words for effect and an oratory marked by sarcasm and sharp censures, VS was able to become a crowd-puller within the party very soon. Rival Congress leaders from K Karunakaran to AK Antony to Oommen Chandy have all felt the slap of his tongue. In 1964, when the Communist Party of India (CPI) split over certain ideological positions, VS and 31 other leaders resigned from the partys national council to form the CPI(M). He is the only living leader from Kerala in that grouping. His first stint in electoral politics, by contesting from the Ambalapuzha assembly constituency in native Alappuzha, in 1965 however ended in defeat by a margin of 2,327 votes. He corrected it two years later by winning by a margin of over 9,500 votes. Along with fellow leaders like EMS Namboodiripad, AK Gopalan and EK Nayanar, VS strode a meteoric rise within the party and became one of its mass leaders who commanded influence and respect in all corners of the state. He served as the partys state secretary for 12 years from 1980 to 1992 during which the organisation grew roots and became a safe shore especially for the working classes and the marginalised. He served as the leader of the opposition in the assembly for a record 14 years over three terms in the 90s and early 2000s. However, his political career was marked by a shock defeat in Mararikulam constituency in 1996, a year when his party surged to record victory but his personal loss cost him the chief ministers chair. There are many who believe that his defeat was orchestrated by his rivals within the party. Factionalism remained a constant theme within the CPI(M) in Kerala in those years as VS and his rival Pinarayi Vijayan took opposing positions often casting the partys national leadership in poor light. Stint as Kerala CM from 2006-11 Armed with a non-corrupt image and his tough positions on environmental, spiritual and womens safety issues, VS continued to remain a dominant force within the CPI(M) despite the setback in Mararikulam in 1996. Though he faced heat within the Politburo, the party could not deny him a ticket in the 2006 assembly election due to massive public support. When the LDF emerged victorious, after a lot of wrangling within the party, VS was handed the mantle of chief ministership at last. The five-year period saw a lot of progress especially in the states IT and infrastructure sectors with the development of container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam, expansion of Technopark in Trivandrum and the IT park in Kozhikode. His tenure also witnessed a major eviction drive against encroachers in the hill station of Munnar, a move that drew censure from his own party. Several welfare schemes were also executed under his leadership that helped the Left in strengthening its roots among the poor, rural population. In the 2011 assembly elections, the success of VS regime was evident as the LDF secured 68 of the states 140 seats, just two short of the majority mark. The opposition UDF came to power under Oommen Chandy. Though VS campaigned for the LDF even in the 2016 assembly elections at the advanced age of 93 and emerged victorious from Malampuzha constituency, the party citing his health passed the baton to Pinarayi Vijayan. KK Rema, MLA and wife of slain Communist leader TP Chandrasekharan, told a news channel on Friday, In the current political situation, the absence of a leader like VS is deeply felt. We have wondered if we could hear his voice. If he was a bit more healthy, he would have spoken out against this rotten administration and system. Personally, for me, he walked me back to a second innings in life. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On a map, the Lakshadweep archipelago appears as a small group of dots situated in the Arabian Sea. Located 220 and 440 miles from Kochi, the coastal city of Kerala, the countrys smallest union territory is a group of 36 islands and boasts of unique, sun-kissed beaches and verdant surroundings. In all, the total area of all the islands is a grand 32 square kilometres. With a total population of 68,500, as per the most recent census, it also boasts of one of the lowest crime rates in the country, the annual National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) reports show; there have only been three murder cases reported since the formation of the Union territory in 1956, its administration website suggests. PREMIUM Mohammed Faizal. (HT PHOTO) This is why, when Lakshadweeps lone member of Parliament was put behind bars on January 11 on charges of attempted murder, the archipelagos residents were stunned. However, Mohammed Faizals legal saga had only just begun. The 47-year-old MBA graduate from Calicut University has, in the span of this year itself, faced a stay on his conviction, two disqualifications as an MP, and two subsequent stays on this disqualification he remains a member of the Lok Sabha as of the second third of October, and out of prison even as related cases have moved from Kervatti sessions court to Kerala high court to Supreme Court. A litany of charges On April 16, 2009, Mohammed Salih, a Congress leader, was attacked by 36 persons purportedly belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with iron rods, choppers, and sticks. At the time, Salih was campaigning for the Congress candidate, Hamdullah Sayeed, on Androth Island which is home to 15,300 people. According to the Lakshadweep polices charge sheet, P Mohammed Faizal was one of the men who attacked the politician and another Congress worker by the name of Mohammed Kasim. Faizals brother, a teacher, was also named as one of the attackers. In fact, witnesses later claimed that it was the latter who incited the attack on Salih. Salih, who managed to flee, took refuge in the home of a woman named Kadeejummabi. However, the mob reached her home, broke into it and assaulted the homes owner as well, the charge sheet stated. So badly was Salih injured that he was admitted for treatment in Kochi for 23 days after being airlifted. Kadeejummabi also received specialised care in Kochi. The day of the attack also happened to be the day the islands were voting for their MP in the 15th Lok Sabha elections Congresss Sayeed won. Eventually, the two cases of assault on Congress workers and on Kadeejummabi were merged into one, on the order of the Kerala high court. The background Muslims make up 96.58% of the Lakshadweep population and have historically supported the Congress. The Union territory has one Lok Sabha member and local panchayats to which members are elected; there is no assembly, and thus, no legislators. The Lok Sabha seat, a traditional bastion of the Congress, elected party veteran PM Sayeed for 10 straight terms starting in 1967. In the 2004 general elections, PM Sayeed lost the race to Dr P Pookunhikoya of the Janata Dal (United) by a slim margin of 71 votes. However, the Congress elected Sayeed to the Rajya Sabha from Delhi and he held the position of Union power minister till he died of a heart attack on December 18, 2005, in Seoul. Sayeed's passing signalled a dramatic change in the archipelago's political landscape, with the Janata Dal (United) merging with Sharad Pawar's NCP to sidestep the unease surrounding the Bihar unit's decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led front. At the same time, many young people in the island cluster began to lean towards the NCP due to what they referred to as the Sayeed familys dynasty politics Hamdullah Sayeed, the Congress MP from Lakshadweep in 2009 is his son. By 2008, Faizal, who earned a masters diploma in Business Administration from Calicut University established himself as the local NCP unit's face. Born on Androth Island, he became the face of the first real political opposition to the Congress for the first time in the archipelagos history. Faizal won his first election in 2014, followed by another win in 2019. Despite the ineffective attempts of the BJP and CPI (M) to establish themselves in the islands, the Congress party remains the primary opponent of the NCP in Lakshadweep. However, the trial against Faizal and 35 others was still pending and the Kerala high court lifted its stay on the trial in December 2022. Following this, the Sessions Court at Kavaratti, the administrative centre of Lakshadweep, recommenced the trial. Punishment after a decade Four people, including Faizal and his brother Sayed Mohammed Nurul Ameen, a government school teacher, were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by the Kavarathi court on January 11, 2023, for the crime of attempted murder; the rest were found not guilty (the trial against two of the 37 ceased after they passed away in the duration). The court also imposed fines of1 lakh on each of the guilty parties in the case. The judge reprimanded the investigating officer for adopting a pro-accused stance, citing at least nine instances of his egregious incompetence. The court suggested departmental action against M.P. Najumudheen, the then-inspector of Androth Island, who had retired from active duty. The Kavaratti sessions court charged Faizal under sections 143, 147, 148, 448, 427, 324, 342, 307, and 506 of the IPC, which disqualified him as a member of the Lok Sabha. Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution (Disqualification of MPs) and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Section 8 says that anyone convicted for two years or more is banned from Parliament for the length of their sentence plus an extra six years. After being found guilty by the Court of Sessions in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep's Mohammed Faizal, who was a member of Lok Sabha representing the Lakshadweep Parliamentary Constituency of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, will no longer be able to serve in Lok Sabha as of January 11, 2023, as stated in Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Lok Sabha bulletin read. Faizals defence however claimed that the police had fabricated the charges against him and the case in which he was found guilty was biased. "Though the police claimed that Salih was attacked with sharp objects, the medical certificate presented by the investigators clearly says that no sharp weapons were used and a blunt object caused his injury," Faizal told media persons gathered outside Kannur jail when he was released following a stay on his conviction by the Kerala HC after hearing his appeal. Additionally, he said he was preoccupied with election-related tasks and was not present at the scene when the incident occurred. However, witnesses claimed otherwise. During the appeal hearing that month, the administration told the Kerala HC that Faizals release would shake people's faith in the judicial process. Whats more, the HC was also informed, that the MP was being tried in two other criminal matters: one involving the alleged intimidation of CBI officials who conducted a raid at his home in connection with purported irregularities in tuna exports to a Sri Lankan company represented by his nephew; and the other related to organising protests against administrator Praful Khoda Patel for implementing the agenda of the Sangh Parivar in the islands. Faizals appeal journey Records from the parliament show that Faizal has an attendance rate of 81% in sessions, compared to the national average of 79%. He is the chief whip of the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP in the Lok Sabha. During his first term, he was a member of the standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, as well as a member of the consultative committee of the ministry of home affairs. In his second term, he is a member of the standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice. He is also a member of the consultative committee of the ministry of minority affairs. However, on January 25, the Kerala HC suspended his disqualification and facilitated his reentry to the Lok Sabha. However, the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha revoked Faizal's lower House membership. A by-election for the Lakshadweep Parliamentary constituency was postponed by the Election Commission of India on January 30 in view of the staying of the conviction by the HC. On March 29, the Lok Sabha secretariat finally reinstated him after much deliberation. In his order suspending the trial court verdict, judge Bechu Kurian Thomas of the Kerala high court stated that this was necessary to prevent expensive re-election because the elected candidate would only serve a 15-month term. According to the court, this made the case unique and justified suspending the sentence. This court cannot ignore the public interest in preventing an expensive election that too, when the elected candidate can serve for a restricted time on their own if a new election is held, the judge observed. The single judge had reasoned that a balance would need to be struck between the interests of society and the requirement for political and electoral integrity. The court rejected the Union government's arguments that disqualification starts at the moment of conviction and that it is impossible to regain membership in Parliament even if the court grants a stay. However, Faizal's relief did not last for very long. The Supreme Court overturned Justice Thomas' August 22 ruling. A bench under the direction of Justice B.V. Nagarathna requested that the Kerala high court rehearse the appeal that the Lakshadweep administration filed and make a decision within the fortnight. However, Faizal was allowed to continue serving as an MP until the HC made its decision about leaving the constituency seat empty. On October 3, another bench of the Kerala HC denied Faizal's request to have his conviction postponed, even though as per its earlier judgement, the sentences stood suspended until the appeal was resolved. The HC bench led by Justice N. Nagaresh, which reviewed the case under the SCs directive, stated that there was prima facie evidence of the accused's criminal behaviour. "I sincerely feel that the conviction order imposed on the second petitioner (Faizal) should not be suspended in this case. Therefore, the request to suspend the conviction order is denied, the judge said. He also made strong remarks about "the criminalization of the electoral process. The entanglement of political offences are threats to free and fair elections. There are increasing reports of illegal activity occurring even during legislative body meetings. If men with criminal records are allowed to remain in the democratic system, the increase in crime during the election process could become so severe as to undermine Indian democracy, the judge stated. This would only send wrong signals to the public at large if persons with criminal antecedents are permitted to continue as Members of Parliament or Legislatures even after conviction by a competent court." Faizal was once again excluded from the Lok Sabha after the ruling the second time in a span of 10 months. The saga didnt end there On October 10, the Supreme Court stepped in and upheld its previous injunction protecting him, allowing him to rejoin the House, after the MP sought an urgent hearing through his lawyer, Kapil Sibal. This was the second time that the NCP MP has had his membership to the lower house of the Parliament reinstated. Sibal told a bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Kaul that Faizal had just struck members of a rival political party as per the initial complaint filed in the matter. However, the charge sheet was modified later by saying that Faizal had struck them with an iron rod. The general election is less than a year away, he remarked. According to the legislation, if a conviction is stayed, only the constituency that would not have a representative in the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the term may hold a new election in between. Following a brief hearing, the court stayed the HC judgement and gave notice as per Faizal's plea. In order to facilitate the restoration of his membership while the lawsuit is pending, the court also ordered the resuscitation of its previous protection order, which was issued on August 22. We are concerned about the legal fallouts of the contradicting court verdicts. In an attempt to reclaim the seat in the rapidly approaching general election, Congress in Lakshadweep is currently utilising the case as a political weapon against Faizal, said Hamdullah Sayeed, general secretary to the Lakshadweep unit of Congress, when contacted by the Hindustan Times. He said his party is more interested in mobilising the islanders against criminal politics than it is in keeping up Faizal's judicial battle. Faizal's attorney, senior advocate P Vijayabhanu, told the Hindustan Times that his client is requesting a sentence suspension on the grounds that the lawsuit is frivolous and pertains to a period of time when the appellant was not an elected member of Parliament. Canada has withdrawn 41 of its diplomats from India, a day before the deadline set by New Delhi, failing which they were liable to lose diplomatic immunity. The action comes after India had sought parity in the strength of the North American country's diplomatic presence by bringing down the number of those stationed in the country from 62 to 21. Security personnel stand guard in front of the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi.(AFP) Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau slammed the move, calling it a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy and said New Delhis actions will also impact millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent. Why did India axe Canadian diplomats? India has 21 diplomats in consulates and embassies in Canada. On the other hand, Canada has three consulates in India. It has five trade offices and state government offices and none of them have been asked to be removed. In its statement, the ministry of external affairs had said,"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". HT has learnt that some of the withdrawn diplomats were found to be involved in activities incompatible with the diplomatic status. Some diplomats were liasoning directly with political parties' leadership. It is alleged that Canada had roped in its diplomats with certain Indian politicians to gather political intelligence. India had asked Pakistan for diplomatic parity way back in 1994 after its diplomats were found to be exceeding their brief. What next for India? India has been asking Canada to stop pro-Khalistani activities on its soil. New Delhi has no interesting in either breaking off the bilateral relationship or escalating the entire issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda sought to put to rest the controversy triggered by his remark that CPI(M) leader and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had "given full concurrence" to his party over its alliance with the BJP. Hours after Vijayan denied having supported the alliance in a strongly worded rejoinder on Friday, the former prime minister issued a clarification to clear "some confusion", saying his communist allies didn't understand the context of his remark. Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda(PTI) "There is some confusion about my statement on the CPI(M). My Communist friends do not seem to have followed what I said nor the context in which I said," Gowda said on the social media platform X. He said he wished his CPI(M) leaders had chosen their words better or sought clarification. "I only said my party unit in Kerala is getting along with the LDF government as things within my party units outside Karnataka remain unresolved after our alliance with the BJP. I wish CPI(M) leaders had chosen their words better or had sought clarification," the JD(S) patriarch added. Also read: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams ex-PM Devegowda, denies supporting JDS-BJP alliance On Friday, while announcing removal of CM Ibrahim as the Karnataka chief of JD(S) for starting a rebellion over the BJP-JD(S) alliance, Deve Gowda talked about Vijayan's concurrence. The two parties are allies in the state. "Kerala's Left government's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has given full concurrence to move forward in Karnataka with the BJP to save the party. This is the position," he had said, per a PTI report. Within hours, Vijayan denied the claim, saying it was baseless and devoid of truth. Asking Gowda to correct his statement, he said the Kerala state unit had made it clear they were against the party's alliance with the BJP. In a sharp remark, Vijayan further said this was not the first time Deve Gowda had joined hands with the BJP. He said in 2005, when JD(S) partnered with BJP, "he left this ideology and associated with the BJP to get a ministerial post for his son." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress party on Friday hit out at Union minister Smriti Irani over her comments dismissing the credibility of the Global Hunger Index on which India has fared poorly, accusing the BJP leader of ignorance and insensitivity. Irani, minister of women and child development in the Narendra Modi government, claimed Thursday that the annual Global Hunger Index report is prepared by calling up people and asking them if they are hungry. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani at the FLO ladies talk on 'Future Role Of Women In India' at a meeting at Taj Deccan in Hyderabad on Thursday.(ANI) I dont know whats more shameful - your level of ignorance or your insensitivity at display here? Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said in a social media post. You are the Women and Child Development Minister in the Government of India - its appalling to hear you. Frankly, you are an embarrassment! she added, pointing out that the annual report is heavily based on indicators like undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. Shrinate stressed that the four indicators also serve to evaluate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Congress leader also urged the Union minister not to trivialize the issue of hunger, given her influential position. And please dont make a mockery of hunger - you are an extremely powerful and entitled woman, a minister in the Government of India for heavens sake! There are enough and more meals available on the flights you board and the places you visit, she said. Reacting to Irani's remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said in a social media post, Hardly having the time to eat= Hardly having food to eat If arrogance had a face, it would be Mantriji. What Smriti Irani said The Union minister claimed that some indices, including the Global Hunger Index, do not project the India story deliberately. "How do they build that index? 3000 people from a country of 140 crore get a phone call from Gallup and they are asked, 'Are you hungry'?" she said. Now trust me, I have left my house in Delhi in the morning at 4. I caught a flight at 5 to go to Kochi. I did a conclave there, caught a flight at 5 o'clock to come to this programme. By the time I get to anything called food, it will be 10 o'clock. If you have called me anytime in the day today and asked are you hungry, I'll say 'Oh yes, I am'. Irani was speaking at a FICCI event on 'Future Role Of Women In India' at a meeting at Taj Deccan in Hyderabad. India's rank on Global Hunger Index India ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index-2023, which was rejected by the government as erroneous and having malafide intent. The index, released on Thursday, also stated that India has the highest child wasting rate in the world at 18.7 per cent, reflecting acute undernutrition. With a score of 28.7 in the Global Hunger Index-2023, India has a level of hunger that is serious, according to a report based on the index. India's neighbouring countries Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th) and Sri Lanka (60th) have fared better than it in the index. 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 The second season of Nikhil Advanis Mumbai Diaries, an eight-episode series set in the same government hospital in Mumbai where the first season was set, is as nuanced as onscreen climate fiction (cli-fi) gets. Cli-fi on screen is often an invasive, destructive or unsurmountable event. PREMIUM A still from Mumbai Diaries Inspired by the July 26, 2005 deluge, Mumbai Diaries 2 takes off after a cataclysmic cloudburst grinds the city to a gridlock as water levels infiltrate cars, homes and neighbourhoods. The deluge is a foreboding canvas as we see burbling streams of rainwater enter the cracks of the decrepit hospital, but the show also goes into the hows and whys of climate change. A disastrous intervention on the rising Mithi River is a mammoth tragedy for a city and its residents. We are also made privy to the personal truths of its characters, the high and low moments of those lives in the crucial hours of a natural disaster, and transformations after close brushes with mortality. Nikhil Advani, who has co-directed the series with Nikhil Gonsalves, suggests through the series that climate is bound up with everything else in our reality. Were living in a world where climate change is realthe series has a disclaimer preceding the end credit which says exactly thatbut theres still romance, heartbreak, suffering and absurdity in the world, and the stories that contain the most effective messages about climate change are often focussed on human emotions and connections at stake. The disaster beating down outside the hospital is a catalyst for transformation. Hollywood, which produces a prodigious number of cli-fi movies, usually treats climate change as a series of disastrous storms or events that tip the world over into apocalypse. The messaging is exaggerated to serve the dramatic or narrative purpose. Think The Day After Tomorrow (2004), possibly the highest-grossing cli-fi film eversuperstorms usher in an Ice Age, and humankind almost perishes. Yet, now more than ever, is the time for the cli-fi genre. The publishing industry is already bullish about climate change narratives. In 2016, director Shyam Benegal, known for his socially engaged cinema, had said, When we think of bringing the issue of climate change on-screen, the problem is how are we going to recover that amount. Unless there is a means, or you have a technique or a strategy -- both in the manner in which you deal with the content and the attraction that it might have for the audience -- it is not possible. Lavishly produced nature docs are a part of OTT cornucopia, many of which directly or indirectly deal with aspects of global warming and climate change. 2023 was the northern hemispheres hottest since global records began in 1880, this year has also already broken several records. Exceptional heat swept across much of the world this year, resulting in wildfires in Canada and Hawaii, even as South America, Japan, Europe, and the US experienced heatwaves. This record warmth was fuelled in part by high sea surface temperatures and continues a long-term trend of warming. And still, as Leonardo Di Caprios scientist character in one of Netflixs most-watched films of last year, Adam McKays Dont Look Up, says, exasperated: Why arent people terrified? What do we have to say? What do we have to do? Dont Look Up, which also has Meryle Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in the other lead roles, is a scream of a warning about doomsday and a sharp satire on the everyday experience of climate scientists. A still from Killers of the Flower Moon More recently, in Killers of the Flower Moon, a Martin Scorsese directorial which releases in Indian theatres on October 20, DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, who marries a Native American Osage woman as part of a plan to acquire her oil rights. The role is aligned with DiCaprios campaigning concerns; he has consistently shown support for indigenous protests against fuel pipelines and land grabs in indigenous communities, among other environmental crises. Most of his movies have a message about the planets well-being or lack of itsomething that also inspired Indian filmmaker Nilamadhab Panda, director of The Jengaburu Curse, which dropped on Sony Liv a couple of months ago and which has been called Indias first cli-fi thriller series. DiCaprio has been a catalyst like none other as far as Hollywood goes. In a recent interview with Vogue, DiCaprio even suggested that these same ideas were behind a major rewrite of Killers of the Flower Moon, because the original script didnt feel like it got to the heart of [the issue]. Jude Anthony Josephs 2018: Everyone Is a Hero was selected as Indias entry to the Oscars 2024. The Malayalam film about the floods that devastated Kerala in 2018, is a high-pitched tribute to the common manrarely any womenwho saved lives during that time. I met him before he left for Los Angeles to see through the publicity run of his film among juries and influencers, and found him to be of tempered enthusiasm. He talked about the film like he had no choice but to make it. The floods were very personal to me. My family home is near the Kochi airport. With great difficulty, I moved my entire family to a safe place. We lost a lot, and it was long before we could pick up our lives again. That trauma is still there, affecting our lives. So yes, climate change is here, omnipresent, Joseph said. At Vaikom, Kerala, his production designer built a village and it was filmed largely during natural rains. 2018, available to stream on Sony Liv, unfolds like a typical cli-fi filmthe filmmaker is as invested in showing the fury of gushing dam waters as he is in showing victims helpless, crying for help. High on melodrama, if the film wins the International Feature Film top prize, it will be because of its overt cli-fi messaging. The Jengaburu Curse Similarly, The Jengaburu Curse is a powerful premise that gets lost in execution, but its climate messaging is forceful. A smart, hardworking software engineer played by Maria Abdullah returns to her hometown Bhubaneswar when she hears that her activist father, known for speaking up against mining in Odishas lands long inhabited by tribal communities, has gone missing. She faces an uphill battle trying to find her father. Like in Josephs film, Pandas intent and idea are bigger than the narratives ability to sustain the viewers interest over seven episodes, but The Jengaburu Curse is another important addition to the slow swell of this genre among Indian filmmakers. Pandas first OTT series comes after what he calls his water trilogy Kaun Kitne Paani Mein (2015) set in the extreme droughts of Kalahandi, Odisha; Kadvi Hawa (2017), again on extreme weather conditions and their impact on human decisions and Kalira Atita (2020), a visually-stirring, mostly dialogue-free Odiya language film about a mans return to his village under a delugeall made with the helicopter belief that human beings are solely responsible for wounding the planet. Speaking over the phone from the US, Panda said that his upbringing in a farmer family in western Odisha fashioned him to be the filmmaker he is. My childhood was self-sufficient. Your family grows almost everything. Now that dependence is almost non-existent. The whole idea of coexistence or the perfect ecosystem has been disturbed. It has affected me a lot, and after the water trilogy, I wanted to tackle the subject of greed that has resulted in so much of disruption in nature. In the series, greed turns into a curse. Panda emphasised that making any films without a star is hard in India and that his struggle to find funding for his stories, most of which somewhat relate to our relationship with the natural environment, has continued over several years now. Both Panda and Joseph say that indie cli-fi is harder to make than star-led projects. Last year, in Abhishek Sharmas Ram Setu, Akshay Kumar played an atheist archaeologist who has a change of heartand in his grey cellswhen he realises that a naturally-formed bridge called Ram Setu mentioned in the Ramayana indeed exists and needs to be saved from getting submerged. This is the closest big Bollywood has gone to cli-fi. Across the world, and in India, documentary filmmakers have been primary chroniclers of the ravages to Earths elements. But it was only in March, that the first Urban Climate Film Festival was organised in four cities starting with Kolkata. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) chose to do this to dejargonise the issue, said its director Hitesh Vaidya. To combat climate change and decarbonise, there is a need to dejargonise. The language of climate action has to become the language of cities. If pictures speak a thousand words, films speak a million words. This is why a film festival is great for communicating with people across generations. Jacaranda Tales, a newly instituted annual film festival in Bengaluru, chose climate resilience as the theme for its second iteration which ended on October 10. The festival showed 20 films, again from the world over, including Pushed Up the Mountain, a French production directed by Julia Haslett, and two Indian Oscar entriesNirmal Chanders Moti Bagh, about the plight of an Uttarakhand farmer, and Shaunak Sens All That Breathes, a meta-narrative about the interconnectedness of all life forms, both of which competed for the Best Documentary Oscar in 2019 and 2022 respectively. After winning a special Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year, Sarvnik Kaurs documentary feature Against The Tide makes its South Asia premiere at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 (October 27 to 5 November) in the South Asia Competition Section. The 97-minute film in Koli, Marathi, Hindi language is about two friends, both from Koli fishermen families in Mumbai. A dying sea drives them to abject desperation and their friendship begins to disintegrate. The kind of storytelling that drives Mumbai Diaries 2 is predictably the future of fiction storytelling in this genre. The harrowing, CG-heavy apocalypse dramas arent probably the ones that emotionally move audiences to action. Usually, its fear that most cli-fi movies evokeand we love to forget fear. Hollywood experiments like Dont Look Up and the futuristic Apple TV original, Extrapolations, show different ways to get a sense of the new and uncharted climate era we have entered. Extrapolations also prove that the climate crisis can be entertaining: Meryl Streep and Sienna Miller talk with a whale in it. Climate increasingly shows up as indexes of authenticity as Gen Z characters evolve in OTT content: In 2019, The Affairs fifth season skipped forward 30 years to show the child of the two protagonists as a climate scientist. The same year, Big Little Lies second season had a memorable sub-plot in which Laura Derns onscreen daughter faints after learning about climate change at school. A group of US-based storytellers, climate experts, journalists, artists, researchers, and writers have gotten together to form the Good Energy Playbooka repository of original idea pitches, situations and characters that can be worked into films of tomorrow. Its founder Anna Jane Joyner says that her goal is for 50% of scripts in America to include climate change references by 2030anything from brief moments to plot drivers. So far, theres no news or rumours about a big mainstream cli-fi title. Perhaps we can throw in an idea? Shah Rukh Khan as climate change vigilantea jal-vaayu yoddha? Sanjukta Sharma is a Mumbai-based writer and critic 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! Continue reading with HT Premium Subscription Daily E Paper I Premium Articles I Brunch E Magazine I Daily Infographics Subscribe Now @1199/year Already Subscribed? Sign In Durga Puja celebrations are underway all across the country in fervour. Bollywood celebrities are also marking the festival. Kajol visited a Durga Puja pandal today with her son, Yug, to celebrate Saptami (which falls on the second day of Durga Puja). Pictures and videos of the actor arriving at the puja celebrations made it to social media. She was accompanied by her son, Yug. Paparazzi also clicked Tanishaa Mukerji at the pandal. Scroll through to check out what Kajol wore. Kajol, with Yug, visits Durga Puja pandal to celebrate Saptami. (HT Photo/Varinder Chawla) Kajol and Yug clicked at the Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai Kajol wears a Rani pink saree and a sleeveless blouse for her visit to Durga Puja pandal. (HT Photo/Varinder Chawla ) Paparazzi pictures and videos show Kajol and Yug arriving at a Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai, posing for the media while standing in front of Maa Durga's idol at the pandal, and praying to the Goddess. The mother-son duo celebrated Saptami with other devotees. The actor chose a Rani pink-coloured saree and a sleeveless blouse for the occasion. She styled it with minimal accessories and glam picks. Read our download on her Pujo look below. Kajol's Rani pink chiffon saree features intricate embroidery on the borders and the drape. The actor wore it traditionally, letting the pallu fall from her shoulder elegantly. She chose a sleeveless blouse featuring sequins and diamantes in a floral pattern, a wide U-neckline, a backless silhouette, a dori tie on the back, and a fitted design to complete the Saptami outfit. Kajol accessorised her traditional look with jhumkis, bracelets, platform high heels, and rings. Lastly, she chose subtle eye shadow, kohl-lined eyes, sleek eyeliner, feathered brows, mascara on the lashes, rouge on the cheeks, beaming highlighter, and mauve lip shade for the glam picks. A centre-parted sleek bun adorned in a rose gajra completed the Saptami look. Meanwhile, after Saptami, devotees of Maa Durga celebrate Durga Ashtami. It falls on October 22 this year. 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! Swedish researchers have developed a microscale device for implantation in the eye, potentially opening up new avenues for cell-based treatment of diabetes and other diseases. A team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet created the 3D-printed device with the goal of encapsulating insulin-producing pancreatic cells with electronic sensors. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials by the researchers. One in five individuals diagnosed with diabetes are within 18-30 years(HT Photo) (Also Read | Harvard study claims eating red meat twice a week can increase diabetes risk) The collaboration between KTH and Karolinska Institutet allows microorganisms, specifically pancreatic islets or Langerhans islets, to be precisely positioned in the eye without the use of sutures. It opens up the possibility of cell-based therapy, such as treating Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes utilising the eye as a foundation. According to Anna Herland, senior lecturer in the Division of Bionanotechnology at SciLifeLab at KTH and the AIMES research centre at KTH and Karolinska Institutet, the eye is excellent for this technology since it lacks immune cells that would respond negatively during the first stage of implantation. Because of its transparency, it allows for visual and microscopic examination of what occurs to the implant over time. "The eye is our only window into the body, and it's immune-privileged," Herland said. The device is designed as a wedge, about 240 micrometres long, allowing the structure to be mechanically fixed at the angle between the iris and the cornea in the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE). The work demonstrates the first mechanical fixation of a device in the anterior chamber of the eye. "We designed the medical device to hold living mini-organs in a micro-cage and introduced the use of a flap door technique to avoid the need for additional fixation," said Wouter van der Wijngaart, professor in the Division of Micro- and Nanosystems at KTH. In tests on mice, the device maintained its position in the living organism for several months, and the mini-organs quickly integrated with the host animal's blood vessels and functioned normally, Herland says. Per-Olof Berggren, professor of experimental endocrinology at Karolinska Institutet contributed to the research with years of experience in transplanting islets of Langerhans to the anterior chamber of the eye in mice. "The current unit is unique and will among other things form the basis for our continued work to develop an integrated microsystem for studying the function and survival of the islets of Langerhans in the anterior chamber of the eye," Berggren said. "This is also of great translational importance, as transplantation of Langerhans islands to the anterior chamber of the eye in humans is subject to clinical trials in patients with diabetes." Herland says the technology overcomes one obstacle to the development of cell therapies, including those for diabetes. Namely, there is no need for invasive methods to monitor the graft's function and to guide care in order to ensure long-term transplant success. "Ours is a first step towards advanced medical microdevices that can both localize and monitor the function of cell grafts," she said She said the design makes it possible to position mini-organs such as organoids and islets of Langerhans without limiting the supply of nutrients to the cells. "Our design will enable future integration and use of more advanced device functions such as integrated electronics or drug release." Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! "The festival of Durga Puja symbolises the victory of good over evil, awareness over ignorance and truth over falsehood. Worshipped in many forms, Maa Durga gives us the strength to keep the divisive and destructive forces at bay," Murmu said. HT Image She asked all to take a pledge to work for the unity and integrity of the country, following good conduct and with the spirit of service. "We must empower women by making them equal and honorable partners in nation-building," the president said. She has sent her greetings to fellow citizens on the eve of Durga Puja, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. "On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad," 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! Shardiya Navratri, also known as Maha Navratri, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm throughout India. It lasts for nine nights and revolves around the worship of Goddess Durga. The festival is being celebrated this year from October 15 to October 24. Devotees participate in a variety of cultural activities, religious rituals and fasting during Sharad Navratri. It is a time of intense worship and joy. During the nine-day festival of Shardiya Navratri, Maa Durga and her nine manifestations - collectively known as Navdurga - are worshipped. On Shardiya Navratri Day 8, celebrate Maa Mahagauri's blessings with delectable homemade barfi recipes. On the eighth day of Navratri, also known as Ashtami, Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth incarnation of Goddess Durga, is worshipped, representing elegance and beauty. She rides a bull and is dressed in purple, hence the colour of the day is purple, which is associated with wealth, opulence and royalty. Prasad or bhog is an integral part of Indian festivals and offering these sweet delicacies to the gods is considered auspicious. Here are some delicious Barfi recipes to offer to Maa Mahagauri. (Also read: Navratri 2023: When is Maha Ashtami? Know history, significance, shubh muhurat, auspicious time for Kanya Puja and more ) 1. Besan ki Barfi (Recipe by Chef Kunal Kapoor) Besan ki Barfi(Chef Kunal Kapoor) Ingredients: Besan 500gms/5cups Ghee 350gms/1.5cups Turmeric a pinch Cardamom powder tsp For sugar syrup Sugar 850gms/7cups Water 300ml/ cup Pista chopped handful Method: 1. Heat ghee and add besan to it and cook besan till it gets brown and roast. 2. Now keep aside to cool down. After 2 mins add turmeric, cardamom powder, and mix. Besan needs to be warm and not completely cold. 3. In the meantime mix water and sugar. Cook till sugar is 2 string consistency. 4. Remove from heat and let it sit for 2 mins. Add the syrup to the besan and mix it together. 6. Now transfer it to a tray and let it set. Then cut it into burfi and serve. Note - To check if the mixture is ready we will take a very little quantity in our fingers and roll it into a ball. If it takes the shape of a ball without sticking to the fingers then it is ready or else cooks a bit more on very low heat. 2. Atte ki Barfi (Recipe by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor) Atte ki Barfi(Pinterest) Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour (atta) cup ghee cup semolina (rawa) 1 cup sugar tsp green cardamom powder 2 tbsps chopped mixed nuts (almonds, pistachios and cashewnuts) 8-10 almonds, slivered 8-10 dried rose petals, crushed 8-10 pistachios, blanched, peeled and chopped Method: 1. Heat ghee in a non-stick pan. Add whole wheat flour and semolina, mix and cook for 4-5 minutes or till golden brown, stirring continuously. 2. Add sugar, green cardamom powder, mixed nuts and mix and cook till sugar melts. 3. Add cup hot water, mix well, cover and cook for 3-4 minutes. 4. Transfer the mixture into a greased burfi tin, spread it and even out the top. Sprinkle slivered almonds, dried rose petals and chopped pistachios and gently press. Set aside to cool to room temperature. 5. Cut into squares, de-mould and serve. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! On October 15, the Chinese flagged specialist merchant ship, Zhen Hua 15, arrived in Indias new Vizhinjam port, bringing giant cranes from Shanghai, to be installed for dockside cargo handling. The Chinese vessel, being the first to dock in Vizhinjam, marked the ports inauguration, which was described by Keralas chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, as, a significant milestone and game-changer for Keralas infrastructure development. Vizhinjam port The Vizhinjam port project was awarded to the Adani Group in 2015 with a target completion date of 2018, but delays imposed by various factors have seen a slippage of at least five years in the completion of the projects first phase. With a dredged depth of 20 metres, Vizhinjam is being advertised as Indias first deepwater port that can not only berth the largest merchant ships but also cope with a huge quantum of container traffic. But its real significance lies elsewhere. Currently, most container ships avoid calling at Indian ports due to depth restrictions, poor infrastructure, and high tariffs. A full 25% of Indias export-import (EXIM) cargo is, therefore, shipped, first to nearby foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore and Klang, and then trans-shipped to its destination; a process both expensive and inefficient. Located in close proximity to international east-west shipping lanes, Vizhinjam could become a key trans-shipment hub, and obviate the need for Indias EXIM cargo to be sent to foreign ports. In a larger context, ignorance about its rich potential, combined with indifference has led to egregious neglect of the maritime sector. While Indias merchant ship-building industry is moribund, the merchant ship fleet grows at a snails pace, seabed exploitation has yet to take off, the fishing industry is backward, and human resources for all these are lacking. Nations that were lagging behind India in many maritime indicators have surged ahead in the past few decades because of the vision and dynamism they have demonstrated. Reverting to the port sector, the less time a ship spends in port the more efficient and competitive the port is considered. Therefore, ports with shorter turnaround times attract more ships. By this criterion, Norway with 697,000 annual port calls is rated No 1, China with 260,000 port calls is at No 3, and neighbouring Indonesia with 181,500 port calls at No 7, but India does not figure in the top 20 nations. In the list of 50 best container-ports worldwide, 18 are Chinese (seven of them amongst the top 10) while India has only two, at No 35 (Nhava Sheva) and No 39 (Mundra). There must be lessons, in the fact that unloading of the Zen Hua 15, in Vizhinjam, was reportedly delayed by five days, due to technical reasons. Notwithstanding these discouraging indicators, a vague perception has persisted in the government that the port sector does have an important bearing on Indias economy. It is this perception that has helped keep alive, in different avatars, the Sagarmala Programme, whose vision, according to the ministry of shipping Annual Report for 2022-23, is port-led development in the country by reducing logistics costs for both EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment. Tracing the trajectory of this project provides interesting insights into the workings of our politico-bureaucratic mindsets. The first version of Project Sagarmala was announced in August 2003 by the Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The stated objective of this plan was to ensure that all major ports would be connected to the then proposed grid of highways the Golden Quadrilateral through a network of expressways. The project was, however, abandoned within months, due to early general elections in February 2004. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that won office in 2004 replaced Sagarmala with the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) in 2005. While the stated aim of the NMDP-2005, much like that of Sagarmala, was to develop Indias maritime sector, it was confined to modernisation of port infrastructure and enhancement of railroad connectivity to these ports. The progress of the plan, however, remained tardy, and in 2011, the UPA government abandoned the NMDP-2005, replacing it with a new 10-year plan titled Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 (MA-2020). While the Sagarmala-2003 and NMDP-2005 were focused mainly on port modernisation and enhancing railroad connectivity, MA-2020, ostensibly, had a much broader scope, and envisaged an outlay of 5 lakh crore to declare some extremely unrealistic targets such as multiplying ship-building capacity by five times and enhancing cargo throughput in Indian ports by four times in just 7-8 years. The breathtaking ambition of MA-2020 remained stillborn since it was overtaken by the next plan before it could achieve anything. The NDA government that came to power in 2014, terminated MA-2020, and revived the Sagarmala project. The 20-year Sagarmala-2015 is also focused on modernising ports and enhancing connectivity in the country to transform the maritime sector. The five pillars of port-led development envisaged by Sagarmala-2015 are port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development, and coastal shipping/inland water transportation. This version of Sagarmala holds out more hope because it has a structured, progress-monitoring framework, including a website, titled Sagarmala Project Tracker, which shows that by 2022, out of 241 port modernisation projects, 89 had been completed while 151 were under implementation or development. Sagarmala-2015 still has 12 years to run and its progress will, no doubt, be watched with great interest. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that since 2003, India has seen four maritime modernisation plans bearing different names. In their quest for populism, through catchy slogans, successive governments have discarded their predecessors agenda and created new programmes, containing essentially the same flaws. This stop-start process has not only delayed capability accretion, but also prevented the emergence of a long-term, coherent plan for Indias long-neglected maritime sector. There is clearly a need for the formulation of an overarching vision document which places the maritime domain in context and goes well beyond port-led development to address other, grave shortcomings in our maritime sector. Today, there is a dire need to bolster the merchant shipbuilding industry, build a large and diverse shipping fleet, create a mechanised ocean-going fishing fleet and plunge into serious seabed exploitation. The document must, however, be enabled to survive regime changes. All these are aspects of the blue economy which, as China has demonstrated, have a critical bearing, not only on a nations economic future, but equally, on its holistic maritime security and international standing. The corresponding administrative structures which will enable change and effective implementation of maritime reform should include a ministry of maritime affairs, and a national oceanic administration with cross-ministerial participation. Arun Prakash is a retired chief of naval staff. 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! Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was hoping his AI summit next month would bring heads of the most powerful nations face-to-face with executives to guard against the technologys catastrophic potential. With less than two weeks to go, the guest list is thin on world leaders. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks at Downing Street in London, Britain.(REUTERS) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join US President Joe Biden in skipping the Nov. 1-2 gathering at Bletchley Park, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because plans arent finalized. With French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese premier Fumio Kishida yet to decide that makes Italian premier Giorgia Meloni the sole Group of Seven leader other than the host to sign up so far. Although theres still time for late additions, a lack of top state leaders dents the profile of the event as Britain works to forge an international approach to artificial intelligence. Sunak is trying to position the UK at the forefront of development and regulation of a technology that hes said could be paradigm-shifting while at the same time posing risks that require guardrails. Even so, nations are making progress on a joint approach on AI Britains main objective for holding the summit. A draft communique seen by Bloomberg this week shows delegates homing in on language to describe the technology as capable of causing catastrophic harm. The document also outlines particular concerns for AIs impact on cyber-security and biotechnology. Officials aim to hammer out final wording by Oct. 25. Despite the absentees, all invited nations are sending senior representatives, according to the people. US Vice President Kamala Harris and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo are slated to attend, and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will send delegates in his place. Canada is sending Industry minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Germany will be represented by Digital Minister Volker Wissing. International representation will vary by country, the British government said in a statement. As is entirely normal for summits of this nature, we do not confirm attendees this far in advance but we are confident the right people will be there. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been due to attend, but that now looks unlikely due to the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, the people said. European Union President Ursula von der Leyens attendance is now also in doubt due to the conflict. Some 100 people from 28 nations are expected to attend the summit, which will feature companies and industry experts on Nov. 1, hosted by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, and a small group of major companies and governments convened by Sunak the following day. This summit is about Sunak appearing as a world leader and the UK setting the agenda, so it does matter who turns up, said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. It will be in the meetings with the US and EU where global approaches to AI will be taken. The UK is simply not a big enough market to have the global clout to make these kinds of decisions on its own. Altman, Clegg Sunak also hopes to welcome a slew of senior Big Tech executives. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and Adobe Inc. CEO Shantanu Narayen have been invited but neither has confirmed attendance. Microsoft Corp.s Brad Smith is likely to attend. Former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, now president of global affairs at Meta Platforms Inc., and James Manyika and Demis Hassabis, from Alphabet Inc.s Google and DeepMind Technologies Ltd., are also expected to join, people familiar with the matter said. Anthropics Dario Amodei, Inflection AIs Mustafa Suleyman and Coheres Aidan Gomez all confirmed their attendance. It feels like a real moment for me personally and just for our field to have these issues taken seriously and get everybody around the table, Suleyman, who grew up in Britain but now lives in Silicon Valley, said in an interview. Britain aims for further inter-governmental and technology summits to be held twice a year to allow regulation to keep pace with developments. A draft document accompanying the communique sets out proposals to assemble an expert panel of academics from different countries to compile an annual state of the science report on AI safety. Deepfakes Delegates are expected to discuss risks to cyber-security, biotechnology and election disruption. Members of the British Cabinet told Bloomberg privately that they are concerned so-called deepfake AI could be used during national elections expected next year. Securing agreement at the summit is an ambitious target for Sunak, with competing views from around the world. One senior minister expressed concerns US technology companies might lean on Biden to limit regulation to light-touch measures to avoid scuppering the potential to create future trillion-dollar AI businesses. While the US has been supportive of Britains efforts, the minister said, its prepared to let the UK navigate the tricky task of bringing nations together. By contrast, another senior British minister predicted China would push for stronger state regulation of AI, in line with their philosophy for control of critical national infrastructure. In the past theres been this adversarial relationship between the industry and regulators, and today its got to be a much more joint effort working together from day one, Suleyman 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! An unidentified creature that washed up on a beach in Papua New Guinea has left many baffled, including several experts. Shared on Facebook, the images have also sparked a chatter about mermaids among netizens. Why? The images show a lump of decaying flesh that is shaped like a mermaid. This bizarre 'mermaid-like' creature had created a stir among people. (Facebook/@New Irelanders Only) The pictures are posted on the Facebook page New Irelanders Only. Strange dead sea creature shaped like a mermaid washed onto the shoreline in Simberi Island this morning. Anyone with the explanation to identify this creature? reads the caption posted along with the pictures. The photos show a globster - an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of any water body - that is white and has a very distinctive shape. What did the experts say? The experts have different theories about what the creature could be, reports LiveScience. While some speculated that it could be a dead shark or a whale, others thought it could be the marine mammal Dugong. It looks like a very decomposed cetacean to me, Sascha Hooker, marine mammal expert at the University of St Andrews, told LiveScience. She further explained that when a shark or whale dies and their skin falls off, they turn into a colour similar to the one captured in the pictures. "My best estimate is that it might be a Dugong," said Jens Currie, chief scientist of the Pacific Whale Foundation, to the outlet. Take a look at these images of the creature that has surprise experts: The post was shared last month. Since then, it has collected close to 1,000 likes. The share has also accumulated several comments. From sharing that they think it is the mythical creature mermaid to posting that the creature could be a dead shark or whale to taking the route of hilarity, people expressed their reactions in varied ways. Heres what Facebook users say about this creature: It's shaped like a mermaid because mermaids are shaped like fish lol, posted a Facebook user. Clearly it's some kind of fish or sea creature. It's definitely not a mermaid, there is no distinguished feature for a mermaid present, shared another. Looks like a mermaid, commented a third. Looks like a shark. Must have died a couple of weeks ago, 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 Costco, the retail giant celebrated for its bulk deals and diverse inventory, has once again managed to capture the attention of shoppers across the nation. While Costco's shelves are often adorned with unconventional products, it's their recent offering that has tongues wagging and keyboards clicking. Imagine a Le Creuset cookware set so extensive it arrives at your doorstep on a pallet. This 157-piece culinary marvel, retailing for $4,500, is not your everyday kitchen addition. Costco captures attention with a 157-piece Le Creuset cookware set.(X/gannonbreslin) The buzz around this extraordinary set started when a post by @gannonbreslin on the social media platform X went viral. The post, which highlighted Costco's latest creation, elicited a spectrum of reactions. Some called it an indulgence, scoffing at the idea of owning multiple Dutch ovens and casserole dishes. Others, however, defended the set, arguing that for passionate cooks and bakers, this was a dream come true. Le Creuset, renowned for its premium quality and durability, has a devoted following. While the sheer magnitude of this set might intimidate the average kitchen enthusiast, it appears tailor-made for those who view cooking as an art form. "You'd be surprised how many people's passions are cooking...but probably this set up is better for bakers than anything," remarked the original poster, defending the ambitious purchase. Also Read | Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus available at massive discounts. Check offers Critics argue that the set's price and size make it impractical for most households. However, for semi-professional bakers and chefs, this offer seems like a steal. Despite the hefty price tag, considering the array of products included, it might just be worth the investment for culinary aficionados. Yet, there is a caveat this extravagant set is available only in a striking shade of red. For those uninterested in waiting for it to restock or seeking a different hue, Costco offers a plethora of individual Le Creuset pieces for customization. In the end, while this 157-piece Le Creuset set may not be for everyone, it has undoubtedly sparked a conversation about the intersection of passion, practicality, and indulgence in the world of cooking. 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 WAR raging in Israel as well as Ukraine, President Joe Biden made an impassioned plea for America to act again as the arsenal of democracy by providing tens of billions of dollars of military aid to both allies. He adapted the idea of America as the indispensable nationa concept coined by the late secretary of state, Madeleine Albrightto cast the country as the essential nation, vital to holding back the forces of aggression, be they terrorists or bully states. PREMIUM 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) Mr Biden drew a direct connection between Hamass slaughter of Israeli communities on October 7th and Russias invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy, Mr Biden said in a televised address to Americans on October 19th. Another common thread, he noted, is that both foes are supported by Iran. Read more on the war between Israel and Hamas Mr Biden was seeking to harness bipartisan sympathy for the Jewish state to reaffirm the United States global role. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe, he declared. He is also hoping the explosive crisis in the Middle East will bring a divided and paralysed Congress to its senses. It has been unable to pass bills because infighting among Republicans in the House of Representatives is preventing the election of a speaker. Mr Biden is reported to be preparing a request for roughly $100bn in supplemental funding for national-security priorities. If so, his calculation is that at least some sceptical Republicans will swallow the large pill of perhaps $60bn in additional aid for Ukraine by wrapping it in other causes they support more wholeheartedlynot least $10bn-14bn in aid to Israel, as well as help for Taiwan and funding to strengthen Americas southern border. Mr Biden was speaking a day after visiting Israel, where he sought to prevent the crisis from spiralling out of control. Hamass onslaught killed about 1,400 Israelis, and led to the capture of over 200 hostages. More than 3,700 Palestinians have died in Israels retribution against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel has cut off supplies of food, water, fuel and electricity to Palestinians there. Both sides traded blame for an explosion at a hospital on October 17th that killed scores if not hundreds of people: Palestinians say it was caused by an Israeli strike; Israel contends it was the result of an errant Palestinian rocket. Mr Biden, for his part, was adamant that it was not done by the Israelis. Amid anti-Israeli protests across the Arab world and beyond, all the indications are that the worst is coming, said Jordans foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, at a press conference on October 19th. Despite Mr Bidens efforts, a promised humanitarian corridor between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has yet to open. America vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in the fighting because it did not recognise Israels right to defend itself. Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, signalled that ground operations in Gaza, which may prove to be an even bloodier phase, would begin soon. Signs are growing that Iran is pushing its proxies to expand the conflict. On Israels northern border with Lebanon, Israeli forces and Hizbullah, a powerful Shia militia created by Iran, have been exchanging artillery and missile fire for days. Meanwhile south of Israel, in the Red Sea, an American guided-missile destroyer, the USS Carney, intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen, another Iranian ally, towards targets assumed to be in Israel. The action on October 19th raises the prospect that the expanding fleet of American warships in the eastern Mediterraneanone American aircraft-carrier strike group has been deployed there and a second is on its way may yet intervene if Israel and Hizbullah go to war. Separately, American bases in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly attacked with drones and rockets in recent days, according to the Pentagon. It did not identify the attackers, but they are likely to be pro-Iranian militias. Any response, should one occur, will come at a time [and] in a manner of our choosing, a spokesman said. Despite growing left-wing protests, and the resignation of a State Department official, Mr Biden did not waver from his embrace of Israel. Were going to make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than everand prevent this conflict from spreading. At the same time, though, he said Israel had to operate by the laws of war and protect civilians. He repeated the call he made in Israel, drawing from Americas encounter with al-Qaedas terrorism in 2001. When America experienced the hell of 9/11 we felt enraged as well. While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So I caution the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage. He also urged Israel not to give up on peace based on a two-state solution: that is, the creation of a Palestinian state. Mr Bidens speech pinballed between Israel and Ukraine. Republicans, in particular, have grown increasingly sceptical of the cost of supporting Ukraines war against Russia, now nearly 20 months old and close to stalemate. If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraines independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same, Mr Biden said, arguing that conflict and chaos could spread around the world. Giving support to American allies and partners, he said, was a smart investment thats going to pay dividends for American security for generations, Mr Biden insisted. It would help keep American troops out of harms way. He also argued that the money for Ukraine was being spent on American-made weapons, and served to replenish Americas own arsenal with more modern weapons. Patriot air-defence missiles were made in Arizona, he noted; 12 states were involved in the manufacture of artillery shells. With an eye on the 2024 elections and questions about whether, at the age of 80, he is able to campaign for and serve a second term, Mr Biden highlighted his wartime visit to Kyiv in February and his recent trip to Israel, boasting that he was the first American [president] to enter a war-zone not controlled by the United States military since President Lincoln. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Three-time Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif landed in the capital Islamabad ahead of national elections, local media reported, ending four years of self-imposed exile, as he is set to kick-start his party's campaign. The 73-year-old veteran politician will lead a rally in his hometown of Lahore after his plane's arrival in Islamabad with 194 people from his party and media organisations, news agency Reuters reported. Pakistani television channels showed live images of Nawaz Sharif's plane landing at the airport. Ousted Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, speaks during a news conference at a hotel in London, Britain.(Reuters) When was Nawaz Sharif last in Pakistan? Nawaz Sharif had not set foot in Pakistan since he left for London in 2019 to receive medical treatment while serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption. His convictions are still in force, but a court barred authorities from arresting him until he is to appear in court. Can Nawaz Sharif run for elections? The politician cannot run again for election or hold public office because of his convictions but plans to appeal the ban as his party says that he aims to become prime minister for a fourth time. This comes as Imran Khan remains popular despite being in jail following his ouster from the prime minister's office in 2022. Imran Khan is also disqualified from the elections by virtue of his graft conviction in August, which he has appealed. What Nawaz Sharif said on Pakistan's economy? On Pakistan's economy, Nawaz Sharif said before boarding the plane in comments telecast by local TV channels, It is very sad to see that things have deteriorated so badly. What Nawaz Sharif said on Imran Khan? Nawaz Sharif has earlier claimed that he was ousted from government at the behest of Pakistan's military after he fell out with top generals. The military then backed Imran Khan in the 2018 general election, Nawaz Sharif has claimed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To read more of The Economists data journalism visit our Graphic detail page. PREMIUM Palestinian carries a child killed in an airstrike on the buildings of Abu Asad family in Deir el-Balah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)(AP) ON OCTOBER 9TH, in response to a deadly attack on Israeli soil by Hamas, the Palestinian militants that run Gaza, Israel tightened its blockade on the strip. Internet connectivity, which has always been lower in Gaza than the rest of the region, has fallen significantly since the start of the current fighting (see chart). That presents an enormous challenge for civilians and aid workers, and restricts Israels ability to communicate with Gazans. Israel has tight control over Gazas internet infrastructure. Fibre-optic cables to the strip pass through Israel. It has also banned technology upgrades that would make connections more secure, meaning that mobile-internet providers there are limited to 2G. This is much slower than the 5G connection that most Israelis can get access to, compounding connectivity issues. Since the start of the current conflict Israeli air strikes have crippled Gazas already fragile communications infrastructure. Attempted repairs are fraught with danger. And, on October 11th, due to Israels blockade, Gazas only power plant ran out of fuel. This has further throttled internet connection, as well as hitting other crucial infrastructure such as desalination plants. The hit to connectivity in some districts is so severe as to be equivalent to a shutdown caused by a government order or a natural disaster. The hit to connectivity levels is greater than that in Ukraine in the early weeks of its conflict last year. For some areas the internet will, in effect, be offline: cellular data and home broadband will not work. In other areas the internet will be usable but slow. In places that used to have several functioning fibre-optic cables and internet service providers, there is now just one. Text-based messaging may work depending on the provider or region, but audio and video will be very slow, if they work at all. Internet access takes on a new importance during war. The UN monitors outages because they can give cover to human-rights violations. It is vital for alerts to be transmitted, too: on October 10th the Israel Defence Forces used Facebook to warn residents of Gazas al-Daraj neighbourhood about forthcoming airstrikes. Without stable internet, it becomes harder for anyone to know what is going on. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Two Americans held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were released on Friday and the militants indicated that more could follow. Judith Tai Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were met at the Gaza border by an Israeli envoy and taken to a military base in central Israel. Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages.(AP) US President Joe Biden also confirmed the release, assuring that his government would fully support the duo in their recovery and healing process. Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7, the president said in a statement. 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 have 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 at this moment, he said. The Raanan duo were the first among more than 200 hostages to be released by Gaza rulers. Hamas said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the two Americans were safely in the hands of Israeli authorities in Israel. Over the coming hours, they will receive any support and assistance they need, and of course, we are very anxious to be able to reunite them with their loved ones. We welcome their 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, Blinken said. We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas, along with an estimated 200 other hostages in Gaza. They include men, women, young boys, young girls, and elderly people from many nations. Every single one of them should be released. Since the early -- earliest hours of this crisis, the president has made clear that he will do everything possible to secure the release of every hostage, Blinken said. Ground Invasion The Israeli military has been preparing for ground invasion of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip but the threat to civilian hostages has remained a major challenge. Israel was evacuating a sizable town near the Lebanese border in the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. When asked by a reporter on Friday whether Israel should delay a potential ground invasion of Gaza until more hostages can get out, Biden said "yes". The White House later said that Biden did not fully hear the question. "The president was far away. He didn't hear the full question," White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt said. "The question sounded like 'Would you like to see more hostages released?' He wasn't commenting on anything else," LaBolt added. Death toll More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial attack on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Friday that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed so far in the retaliatory strikes by Israel and more than 13,000 others wounded. 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 Hurricane Norma is expected to slam into Mexico's northwestern coast within hours, bringing "life-threatening" winds, flooding and a dangerous sea surge, authorities warned Saturday. Hurricane Norma: A black flag waves in the wind, signaling a closed beach, prior the arrival of the hurricane Norma in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.(AP) The storm, still powerful though downgraded overnight from Category 3 to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was headed toward a part of Mexico's Baja California coast popular with tourists. As of late morning, it was 65 kilometers (40 miles) west-southwest of the Cabo San Lucas resort town, whose 200,000 inhabitants were scrambling to make last-minute preparations. Norma was moving northward at 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour, packing wind gusts of up to 175 kph, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported at 12H00 GMT. Though weakened since Thursday, the storm still has the ability to cause "flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain," the NHC said. Hotel employees in Cabo San Lucas have urged guests to stay indoors until authorities give the all-clear, Gustavo Matamoros, a hotel worker, told AFP. Local authorities say about 60,000 tourists are staying in the area, most of them international ones. "Extraordinarily heavy rainfall" could cause flooding and landslides in the coastal states of Sinaloa and Nayarit, Mexico's National Meteorological Service said. It predicted coastal swells of up to nine meters (30 feet). Two people died last week when Hurricane Lidia struck the western states of Jalisco and Nayarit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 50-year-old Indian internal medicine specialist has been dismissed from his job in Bahrain over an anti-Palestine tweet, his employer in the Gulf country has said. Bahrainis carry placards during a gathering in Manama on October 20, 2023, to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people. (AFP) The Royal Bahrain Hospital in a statement on Friday described Dr. Sunil Raos tweet, which he had subsequently deleted, as a violation of the hospitals code of conduct. 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, said the hospital statement. We would like to confirm that his tweets and ideology are personal and do not reflect the opinion and values of the hospital, it said. The hospital said it has taken the necessary legal actions and his service has been terminated with immediate effect. Similar instances of employment termination have been reported in the Gulf region mostly for utterances on social media on statements considered Islamophobic. Dr Raos utterances came days after a major conflict erupted in the Middle East following the attack on Israel by Gaza-based Hamas militants. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel on Saturday described as "propaganda" a claim by Hamas that the militant group had wanted to release two more hostages on humanitarian grounds but that Israel declined to receive them. Close-up shot of Israeli flags being waved by people during a rally.(AP File Photo) Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, said it informed Qatar of the group's intention to release the two additional people on Friday, the same day it freed Americans Judith Tai Ranaan and her daughter Natalie. READ | Joe Biden's 9/11 warning to Israel: Don't repeat US 'mistakes' in 'rage' In a later statement, Abu Ubaida said Hamas was ready to free the two people on Sunday "using the same procedures" involved in the release of Judith and Natalie. The Palestinian group captured around 210 people during its deadly assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Qatar, which helped mediate Friday's release, had no immediate comment. In a brief statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: "We will not refer to false propaganda by Hamas." The statement added: We will continue to act in every way to return all the kidnapped and missing people home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas war Highlights: As the conflict enters its 15th day, Hamas on late Friday released an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held captive in Gaza, Israel said. This is the first release among more than 200 people abducted by the militant group during its October 7 attacks. The release comes amid expectations of an Israeli ground offensive aimed at rooting out Hamas militants in Gaza, with Israel clarifying that it does not intend to maintain long-term control over the territory, which is home to about 2.3 million people. Trucks loaded with aid that will be delivered to Palestinians in Gaza, enters Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 21, 2023. (REUTERS) What happened on Day 14 of the war? Simultaneously, as the Israeli military carried out airstrikes in Gaza, efforts were made to provide aid from Egypt to families and hospitals in need. Conflict between Israel and militants in Lebanon also continued, leading to evacuations in border towns on both sides, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict. US President Joe Biden suggested that Israel delay a ground invasion until more hostages are released from Gaza. He spoke with the two released women following their freedom. Regarding aid, Egypt said that two aid-laden trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing on Saturday, but they have not yet passed into Gaza. Israel had announced the allowance of aid from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, but the border into the besieged territory has remained closed, with Egypt attributing the closure to damage from Israeli airstrikes. Latest developments here: Two Americans, previously held in Gaza, are now with the Israeli military, following their release by Hamas for humanitarian reasons as part of an agreement with Qatar. Qatar has expressed its commitment to continuing dialogue with Israel and Hamas, with the goal of securing the release of all hostages, ultimately aiming to de-escalate the current crisis and restore peace. US President Joe Biden has requested a budget of over USD 105 billion from Congress. This budget is intended to provide security assistance for ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, as reported by CNN. President Biden believes that Hamas's aggressive attack on Israel aimed to disrupt the improving relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. He mentioned this during a campaign fundraiser, suggesting that the timing of the attack was influenced by his planned discussions with the Saudis. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. Over 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, primarily during the initial attack by Hamas on October 7. In Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported more than 4,137 Palestinian casualties due to Israeli retaliatory strikes, with over 13,000 others wounded. Tel Aviv [Israel], October 21 (ANI): The officials of the Indian Embassy in Israel met a few community representatives and assured them of all possible assistance amid the ongoing war with Hamas. HT Image "Embassy officials met a few community representatives in Israel. Discussed the current situation and assured all possible assistance," the Indian Embassy in Israel posted on X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/indemtel/status/1715600005560475835?s=20 Meanwhile, India is closely monitoring the situation in Israel and is also carrying out 'Operation Ajay' to evacuate the Indian nationals from Israel as the situation continues to remain tense. Around 1200 Indian nationals including 18 Nepali nationals have been brought back from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' and more flights will be planned as per the requirements, the Ministry of External Affairs informed. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said that the government is assessing the situation in Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Bagchi said that around four Indian nationals are in Gaza while 12-13 nationals are in West Bank. He also refuted any reports of Indian casualties in Gaza and said that one national was injured in the attacks. Operation Ajay is an ongoing operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens from Israel during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Earlier on Tuesday night, the fifth flight carrying 286 Indian nationals including 18 citizens of Nepal arrived in New Delhi. Upon arrival, they were received by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, L Murugan. The Indian nationals have applauded the operation and said that there was support from the Indian embassy and the evacuation process was nice and quick. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Indian embassy had issued an advisory and requested the Indian citizens living in Israel to be cautious and to register their names in the Indian embassy. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. (ANI) Trucks carrying humanitarian aid for war-torn and besieged Gaza started passing into the Rafah border crossing from Egypt Saturday, a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official told AFP. Trucks carrying aid arrive at the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues.(REUTERS) Egyptian state television showed several trucks entering the gate on the 15th day of the war between Israel and Hamas, the militant movement which rules the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people. Israel has been bombing Gaza since Hamas' bloody surprise attack of October 7. Also read: How India and Israel went from foes to friends The Islamist group stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip 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, also taking more than 200 people hostage. Israel has declared a total siege on Gaza and cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food, creating chronic shortages. Rafah is the only route into Gaza that is not controlled by Israel, which agreed to allow aid in from Egypt following a request from its top ally the United States. Twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, entered the Egyptian terminal, an AFP correspondent said. An AFP journalist on the Palestinian side of the crossing saw 36 empty trailers entering into the terminal and heading towards the Egyptian side, where they were to be loaded with the incoming aid. Four ambulances, two UN vehicles and two Red Cross vehicles were also seen heading into the terminal. Cargo planes and trucks have been bringing humanitarian aid to the Egyptian side of Rafah for days, but so far none has been delivered to Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday visited the Egyptian side of the crossing to oversee preparations for the aid delivery. "These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline," he said. They are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israeli troops on Saturday raided the West Bank home of a senior Hamas leader and detained members of his family, witnesses said. Israel-Hamas War: A billboard depicting Saleh al-Aruri, a senior leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement, is pictured in Gaza City.(AFP) Saleh al-Aruri is the deputy to Hamas' overall leader Ismail Haniyeh and one of the founders of the Islamist group's military wing. Based in Lebanon, he is a key target for Israel following the October 7 attacks when Hamas militants from Gaza stormed into southern Israel and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and seized more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Since then, more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Troops entered Aruri's home in Arura village, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Ramallah, at dawn on Saturday, arresting more than 20 people, including one of his brothers and nine of his nephews, mayor Ali al-Khasib and witnesses told AFP. Dozens more were pulled in for questioning. Outside the house, troops put up a banner of the Hamas deputy against the background of an Israeli flag that read: "This was the house of Saleh Aruri and has become the headquarters of Abu al-Nimer -- Israeli intelligence", witnesses said, with images of it widely shared online. Village residents said Abu al-Nimer was an alias for the Israeli intelligence officer responsible for the area. In a statement, the army said the raid was jointly staged with the Shin Beth internal security service and resulted in the arrests of "dozens of Hamas members" among them relatives of Aruri. It confirmed using the house "for the detention and questioning of activists". Israel has accused Aruri, who was named Haniyeh's deputy in 2017, of organising several attacks. He spent almost 20 years in Israeli prisons and was freed in 2010 on condition that he go into exile. Since the Gaza conflict erupted, dozens of people have been killed in incidents with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. Amid orders for Palestinians to move south, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed there was "no humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza strip, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday. Israel-Hamas War: A Palestinian boy sits on the rubble of the building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Bureij refugee camp Gaza Strip.(AP) Some 7,00,000 people of the nearly 1.1 million population residing in northern Gaza have evacuated south in the past few days, according to the Israel Defence Forces. "As of now, I can tell you that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There are hardships in moving people within days to the south of the Gaza Strip, but the population is getting along," an Israeli security official told the reporters, according to The Times of Israel. "There is no shortage of water in Gaza; there is enough food for the coming weeks; this is in addition to the supply of medicines, of which, as far as we know, there is no shortage in the hospitals," he added. He also said that Hamas is still trying to prevent people from moving south. Meanwhile, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a press conference that food, water, and medical aid will enter the southern part of Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing, while fuel is still not allowed to enter Gaza. "Fuel will not enter Gaza," Hagari said. Hagari added that the IDF "will continue strikes on Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza." This dire situation in Gaza was underscored by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a statement on Thursday, stating that over 60 per cent of primary care facilities are currently closed and Gaza's hospitals are on the brink of collapse. This crisis is primarily due to severe shortages of power, medicine, medical equipment, and specialised personnel, CNN reported. Conditions in Gaza are worsening by the hour amid fears of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and multiple rights groups are warning of the deadly consequences of ongoing shortages in the Gaza Strip and appealing for vital supplies to be allowed through the Rafah crossing. The ongoing Israeli airstrikes have forced seven hospitals and 21 primary healthcare centres in Gaza to become "out of service." Additionally, 64 medical staff members have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, CNN quoted a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health as saying on Friday. Over 3000 tonnes of humanitarian aid have begun entering Gaza as the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday for the first time since the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tonnes of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. The Egyptian state television also showed several trucks entering the gate, The Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, a day ago, upon his arrival at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in the northern Sinai of Egypt, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio 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. "For nearly two weeks, Gaza has gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, or medicine. The UN is focusing all its efforts on a sustained operation to deliver critical humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," the UN spokesperson said in a post on social media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Israeli military said that humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip would go only to southern areas where it has urged Palestinian civilians to congregate to avoid its fighting with Hamas. Israeli military's chief spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the aid shipments would not include fuel. Israel-Hamas War: A woman sits amid the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.(AFP) He gave 210 as the updated number of hostages held by Hamas since its October 7 attack on Israel, and said around a fifth of Palestinian rockets launched since Friday had fallen short within Gaza due to misfires, causing fatalities. This comes as Israel kept up heavy bombardment of targets throughout Gaza after the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "fight until victory" following the release of the first two hostages by Hamas. The military said that fighter jets had struck a "large number of Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" including command centres and combat positions inside multi-story buildings. Hamas freed Americans Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, who were among those kidnapped. Gaza's health ministry said that Israel's retaliatory air and missile strikes have killed at least 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while over a million of the territory's 2.3 million people have been displaced. The first emergency humanitarian aid convoy to be sent to Gaza Strip since the war erupted began moving through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt after days of diplomatic wrangling. The 20-truck convoy included life-saving supplies that would be received by the Palestinian red crescent. Hamas said the delivery included medicine and limited amounts of food but not fuel. On hostage release, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would not give up its effort to "return all abducted and missing people. At the same time, we'll continue to fight until victory, he saod. While Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said achieving Israel's objectives would not be quick or easy. "We will topple the Hamas organisation. We will destroy its military and governing infrastructure. It's a phase that will not be easy. It will have a price," he said, adding that the subsequent phase would be more drawn out, but was aimed at achieving "a completely different security situation" with no threat to Israel from Gaza. "It's not a day, it's not a week, and unfortunately it's not a month," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Qatar, a key power in the efforts to release hostages seized by Hamas from Israel, believes they can be released "very soon" thanks to ongoing discussions, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman told the German Welt am Sonntag newspaper Saturday. Israel-Hamas War: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon, in southern Israel.(Reuters) Doha's mediation played a key role in the release on Friday evening of two American hostages who had been held since the Palestinian militant group's attack against Israel on October 7, with the Gulf state adding that it was in talks with Israel and Hamas. "I can't promise you this will happen today or tomorrow or after tomorrow. But we are taking a path that will very soon lead to release of the hostages, especially civilians," Majed Al-Ansari said. "We are currently working on an agreement under which all civilian hostages will be initially released," he added. 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 4,385 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas administration. Al-Ansari said that the release of the two American nationals "proved to us and our partners that the efforts made in the past days are feasible and must continue". The two women had been kidnapped by Hamas while visiting the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel and were the first hostage releases confirmed by both parties. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A member of the Russian parliament said that the United States may have been behind the deadly explosion at a Gaza City hospital. Duma member Andrey Gurulyov made the accusation without offering any evidence during an appearance on Kremlin-run television channel Russia-1. Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the blast at Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital. Israel-Hamas War: A girl carries blankets as she walks past the site of a deadly explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City.(AP) "It's extremely clear that a guided bomb landed there. What's more, there's a nuance here!" Andrey Gurulyov said, adding, "Today an [American] aircraft carrier group approached the coast of Israel," referring to US Navy warships that were deployed to the eastern Mediterranean following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. "The command to fire could have come from a stationary command center on Israeli territory or from a ship-based control center on the aircraft carrier," Andrey Gurulyov said, continuing, So maybe it wasn't Israel but the Americans themselves who hit that hospital. Time will tell. I think our intelligence knows in any case. Andrey Gurulyov has made controversial remarks before as well. In September, the Russian lawmaker said during a discussion on a television show that Vladimir Putin should attack the United Kingdom as he talked about claims that the Russian president made about British intelligence being behind an attempted sabotage plot. At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Vladimir Putin had then said that the U.K. instructed Ukrainian saboteurs on how to damage the facility. Moscow should go further than just warning the UK and Rishi Sunak should be a target, the lawmaker had then said. What's going on in Israel? This comes trucks carrying aid arrived into southern Gaza, the first convoy of humanitarian supplies since Israel began a devastating siege 12 days ago. US president Joe Biden had said earlier this week that an agreement had been reached for 20 aid trucks to cross through Gaza's Rafah border point with Egypt. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that the international community must avoid an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas and set a roadmap towards the two states solution. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni(AFP) Meloni made the remarks while speaking in Egypt at the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas attack that killed 1,400 people. "Although our starting points are far apart, our interests overlap perfectly: that what is happening in Gaza does not become a much wider conflict, a religious war, a clash of civilisations," Meloni said speaking in Italian. "I have the impression that this was the real aim of the Hamas attack, not to defend the rights of the Palestinian people, but an attack that would create an unbridgeable gap between the Palestinians and the Israelis, meaning that the target is all of us, and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid." The Italian premier met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo before travelling to Tel Aviv to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meloni and Abbas discussed the need to work hard for a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas war and for a two-state solution, the Italian leader told journalists, referring to the idea of establishing two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians. "I hope that there is a responsibility on the part of whole international community, and it seems to me that there is, to speed up this process and provide a structural solution to the conflict," Meloni said. She stressed that a two-state solution must have a clear timeframe. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday he had spoken to the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law and to preserve civilian lives in Gaza, and for its military to show restraint. Israel-Hamas War: Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.(AP) "The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on Oct. 7," Cleverly told the Cairo Peace Summit hosted by Egypt. "We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. "Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military," he added. Cleverly said the international community needed to work to prevent the situation in Gaza provoking a regional conflict, saying it was what Hamas wanted. "We have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives," Cleverly said. "We must, therefore, ensure that Hamas does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful coexistence wins." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said by revoking diplomatic immunity to 40 diplomats, India contravened a very basic principle of diplomacy. Continuing his tirade against India on Friday, he said New Delhi violated the Vienna Convention and all countries in the world should be worried about the move. He also broached the subject of the murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He also said India was making it "unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau(Reuters) "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...It is something that all countries in the world should be 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. "The Government of India decided to revoke the diplomatic protections of 40 diplomats working in 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," he added. He was speaking at an event in Brampton on Friday. Canada on Friday withdrew 41 diplomats from India days after New Delhi insisted on their removal alleging interference in internal affairs. New Delhi had asked for the removal saying it wanted to achieve parity in the number of diplomatic staff stationed in India and Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on Friday, dismissed Canada's allegations that international law had been violated by its action. "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. 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. India 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. Meanwhile, the US and UK, in support of Canada, have expressed concerns over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India. "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," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "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. With inputs from Reuters, ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas could further strain global oil and gas supplies, already disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, experts have warned. Israel-Hamas War: Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City.(AP) Increases in oil prices in response to the conflict, triggered by the bloody attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, have so far been relatively mild. Brent, the European benchmark, has gained around 10 percent, while its American equivalent has gained around 9 percent. Prices are around $90 per barrel, still far from their historical highs. "Israel is not an oil producer and no major international oil infrastructure runs close to the Gaza Strip or southern Israel," Edoardo Campanella, analyst at UniCredit, told AFP. However, investors are conscious of the "Middle East tinder box's inherent risk to global oil supply. Hence they have been diving into contracts compounding matters," explained Stephen Innes, analyst at SPI AM. The prospect of Iran, a supporter of Hamas and sworn enemy of Israel, being drawn into the conflict presents one of the main risks for the energy market. The OPEC member has seen its production and exports damaged by years of international sanctions, but has nevertheless increased its production over the last year and is suspected of smuggling barrels onto the market. This has helped contain global prices despite rising demand and tight supply, leading the Biden administration in the US to "turn a blind eye," according to Helge Andre Martinsen, analyst at DNB. Even if Tehran stays out of the conflict, "the West might decide to tighten sanctions on Iran or simply to enforce existing sanctions more effectively," said Campanella. Iran could respond by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil transit zone in the world, with a daily flow of more than 17 million barrels -- 30 percent of all oil traded by sea --, according to Seb Research. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz when shipping crude oil outside of the Gulf, explained Campanella. Gas threat The worst-case scenario, unlikely but not impossible according to analysts, would be stronger sanctions leading Iran to retaliate by attacking oil installations in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's main producers and exporters. Attacks on its infrastructure in September 2019, claimed by Yemeni Houthi rebels supported by Tehran, caused Saudi to temporarily halve production, leading the price of Brent to jump by almost 20 percent in one day. Experts recall previous oil shocks, such as the OPEC embargo against Israel's allies in the midst of the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, and then in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979. The shocks led to crude prices jumping within a few months, bringing developed economies to their knees. But they are less exposed this time around given the rise of the US as a producer and an OPEC that claims to be less political. On the gas side, the effects are more immediate. The price of TTF, the European benchmark for natural gas, was up by a third in mid-October compared to before the October 7 attack. The war "seriously threatens the regional natural gas market and could impact Europe's LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply as winter approaches," warned Innes. "While European gas inventories are almost full, they are not sufficiently high to get through the winter in case all imports stop," said Giovanni Staunovo, of UBS. US giant Chevron has suspended activities at its Tamar platform, off the Israeli coast, on instructions from the country's authorities. This gas field represents "around 1.5 percent of global LNG supply", said Innes, mainly supplying the domestic market, then Egypt and Jordan. If Leviathan, Israel's largest gas field, were to close, the consequences would be much more worrying, say analysts, who recall prices surging to a historic high of 345 euros per MWh at the start of the war in Ukraine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hours after his homecoming, Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif highlighted the achievements of his tenure and recalled how he gave a "befitting reply" to India's atomic explosion by conducting nuclear tests in 1998 despite being offered USD 5 billion by then US president Bill Clinton not to do so. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses his supporters.(AFP) Sharif, 73, returned home on a special flight from Dubai, ending a four-year self-imposed exile in the UK, to head his party and try to secure a record fourth term in the general elections expected to be held in January. Wearing a light blue kurta pyjama, a maroon muffler and a black coat, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo flew in from Dubai to Islamabad on the 'Umeed-e-Pakistan' chartered plane at around 1:30 pm local time. He reached Lahore, considered a stronghold of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, to address a massive rally, I am meeting you today after several years, but my relationship of love with you is the same. There is no difference in this relationship, he told the cheering crowd. The love I am seeing in your eyes, I am proud of it. Sharif recalled the huge pressure he faced from foreign governments in 1998 when Pakistan wanted to respond to India's nuclear test. There will be record present in the Foreign Office that Clinton offered me USD 5 billion [] this happened in 1999...I could have been offered USD 1 billion too, but I was born from the land of Pakistan and it did not give me permission to accept what is against Pakistans favour. Tell me, if someone else would have been in my place, you know who, could he have said this in front of the American president," he said, taking a dig at his main rival Imran Khan. "We conducted the atomic test and gave India a befitting reply for conducting nuclear tests," he said in his nearly 60-minute speech at the PML-N rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan. "So, do we get punished for this? Are verdicts announced against us for this reason? he said. Sharif said he never betrayed his supporters nor did he shy from any kind of sacrifice. He recalled how fake cases were framed against him, his daughter and his party leaders. But no one abandoned the PML-N flag. Tell me, who are they who separated Nawaz Sharif from his nation? We are those who built Pakistan. We made Pakistan an atomic power. We brought an end to load-shedding. He compared how roti costs way higher today than when he was in power. Was I ousted for this reason? What is this decision? You are the public, you tell, do you agree with this decision? The PML-N supremo lamented how the country was in a dire state today but at the same time vowed to redirect Pakistan to the path of growth. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Maryam Nawaz said that the return of her father Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan after four years was the biggest day of her life as she predicted that the country will see the former prime minister staging another comeback in politics. The 73-year-old returned to Pakistan on a special flight after a four-year self-imposed exile in the UK to head his party in the general elections expected to be held in January. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo flew in from Dubai to Islamabad on the 'Umeed-e-Pakistan' chartered plane and will lead a rally in his hometown of Lahore with 194 people from his party and media organisations, news agency Reuters reported. Nawaz Sharif In Pakistan: Workers give final touches next to huge portraits of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif displayed at the venue of his welcoming rally, in Lahore, Pakistan.(AP) What Maryam Nawaz said on her father's return? Maryam Nawaz said that it was the biggest day of her life. The pain and suffering that Nawaz Sharif endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and there are some wounds that will never heal, but the amount of times Nawaz Sharif has risen is probably not the same for anyone else, she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Pakistan is going to see another comeback of Nawaz Sharif, she asserted. Welcome Nawaz Sharif, she said. What about the cases against Maryam Nawaz? On August 8, 2019, Maryam Nawaz was arrested in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case while she was visiting her jailed father. She was arrested from the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore where her father had been serving a seven-year prison term after he was convicted in one of the three corruption cases in relations to the Panama Papers. In November 2019, Maryam Nawaz was released on bail by the Lahore high court. She appointed as Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in January 2023. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Islamabad, Oct 21 (PTI) Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday returned to Pakistan after a four-year-long self-imposed exile in London, in a grand welcome by his party the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Nawaz Sharif In Pakistan: Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (C) signing a legal document after his arrival at the Islamabad airport.(AFP) Following is the chronology of his journey from conviction to homecoming: July 6, 2018: Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in jail upon conviction in the Avenfield case. He was convicted in absentia as he was in London at that time to look after his ailing wife. July 13: Nawaz and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were arrested upon their arrival in Lahore from London. September 11: Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz dies in London. September 12: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reaches Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral. September 19: The Sharifs got major relief as the Islamabad High Court ordered the release of Nawaz, Maryam and Captain Muhammad Safdar while temporarily suspending the sentences awarded to them in the graft case. December 24: Nawaz was given a seven-year jail term and a fine of Rs1.5 billion in the Al-Azizia sugar mills case. January 1 2019: The PML-N supremo challenged the Al Azizia case verdict as well in the IHC. October 25: Nawaz was diagnosed with an immune system disorder and doctors advised him to go abroad for medical treatment. October 26: Nawaz got an interim bail in the sugar mills case on medical grounds. October 29: The IHC granted Nawaz an eight-week bail in the Al-Azizia case in view of his deteriorating health. November 13: The then-government announced that Nawaz will be given "one-time" permission to travel abroad for his medical treatment for a period of four weeks. November 19: Nawaz left for London from Lahore in an air ambulance. September 1, 2020: The IHC ordered the former prime minister to surrender and appear in court, saying that his bail had lapsed on February 27. September 12, 2023: Shehbaz Sharif revealed the date of October 21 for Nawaz's return to Pakistan to lead the party's political campaign, as the country inches towards the electoral process for the next general elections. October 19: Nawaz was granted protective bail in two graft cases, while an accountability court suspended his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case, removing all the legal hurdles in his smooth return to the country. October 21: Nawaz returns to Pakistan. Former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said on Saturday that the PML-N has "completely destroyed" the legal system by facilitating the return of its supremo Nawaz Sharif, a "convicted criminal", to the country. Nawaz Sharif In Pakistan: Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) signing a legal document after his arrival at the Islamabad airport.(AFP) Sharif, 73, arrived on Saturday after spending four years in self-imposed exile in the UK. "A convicted criminal being facilitated in everything! Pakistans legal system has been completely destroyed by PMLN!" Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) posted on X. Sharif, a three-time premier, was accorded a warm welcome on his return to Pakistan by party workers and supporters. His brother and ex-prime minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo was coming back to unite and put Pakistan back on track. "My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred," Shehbaz posted on X. "He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or group. He is coming back to put Pakistan back on track," he said. Addressing the media at Dubai Airport, Sharif said: Im going back to Pakistan after four years today. When I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feeling of happiness but today I am happy. Sharif left for London in November 2019 on medical grounds after a higher court granted him bail for four weeks. By that time, he had served half of his seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia corruption case. During the four years since then, he was declared a proclaimed offender in Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases for his continuous absence from the proceedings on appeals against the sentences. The Islamabad High Court on Thursday granted him protective bail until October 24 in both cases after NAB did not oppose the petitions filed by him. There has been a talk among political circles that he is returning to the country at the right time as his arch-rival PTI Chairman Khan is in jail and there has been a perfect equation of PML-N with the establishment. Against this backdrop, the PTI has called the PML-N supremo the new blue-eyed boy of the system, the Dawn newspaper reported. The one who was calling someone else [Imran Khan] ladla has now become ladla, PTI leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi has said. Nawaz Sharif, a proclaimed offender and a convict, has got permission to roam around in the country but let me tell you that neither offering motorbikes nor a paradise pass will help them as the people have rejected him and his party, Elahi said. Turkey will take part in peace talks next week to discuss ways to end the Ukraine conflict, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after speaking with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a media conference.(AP) The Mediterranean island of Malta announced Friday it would host a round of Ukraine peace talks on October 28-29, after similar meetings in Jeddah and Copenhagen earlier this year. "We discussed the next round of the Peace Formula talks in Malta," Zelensky said after a call with Erdogan. "Turkey will participate, adding its authoritative voice and stance," Zelensky said. Russia is not expected to take part in the talks, which Zelensky hopes will rally support for his own peace plan. Similar talks were held in Copenhagen in June and in the Saudi city of Jeddah in August. Representatives from around 40 countries including China, India, the United States and Ukraine took part in the Saudi summit, which did not result in a final declaration. Both Russia and Ukraine are preparing for a gruelling winter ahead, with Ukraine warning of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia trying to suppress a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Turkey has offered itself as a mediator between the two warring parties, helping to broker a deal in July last year that allowed safe grain exports via the Black Sea. Turkey has since been in talks with both sides about reviving the deal, which collapsed after Russia pulled out less than a year later. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau encountered another embarrassing moment when he was booed by the crowd during his visit to a mosque in Toronto over his stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, The Toronto Sun reported. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau(X/ @mohammed_hijab) Read here: Justin Trudeau says world should be worried about India's action The video of Trudeau facing the crowd has gained widespread attention and gone viral on various social media platforms. In the video shared on X, some people gathered in the mosque could be heard saying "shame" during the prime minister's visit and urging the facilitator not to let Trudeau speak at the podium. A protester held a placard in support of Palestine as Trudeau was booed while leaving the premises. Trudeau had visited a mosque in Toronto's Etobicoke area, which was not notified by his office and had not appeared on his itinerary. Later, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed Trudeau attended the International Muslims Organisation of Toronto on Friday "to show his support to those impacted in the Muslim community from the horrific events in the Middle East." "Everyone is hurt and hurting, everyone is grieving, everyone is scared of what this means," Trudeau had told the reporters in Brampton, Ontario when asked if his caucus is at odds over how the Liberals should respond. Liberal MPs in Canada are joining calls by Muslim groups for Canada to push for a ceasefire in the region, while several Canadian Jewish groups have demanded Trudeau retract an earlier comment as lending credence to the claim by Hamas that Israel was responsible for an attack on a hospital in Gaza city, the report added. Read here: Canada PM Trudeau says India making life hard for millions of people amid diplomatic crisis Meanwhile, Toronto Liberal MP Salma Zahid, who is chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, had written a letter to Trudeau that laid out certain demands in consideration of 33 MPs including call for an immediate ceasefire, help facilitate the opening of a humanitarian corridor, and stand up for international law, the report added. Tensions have risen across the Middle East as Israel declared war against Hamas, terror organistaion after the militants killed 1,400 Israelis in a brazen attack on October 7. In a retaliatory move, Israel has launched several airstrikes and cut off the Palestinian territory's access to water, food and electricity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Six people including two civilians were killed and nine others wounded in a suicide attack on a military outpost in the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu Saturday, police said. Smoke rises in the air following bombings.(Reuters File Pic) The attack was claimed by the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab. Witnesses told AFP a suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosives to the Ceelasha-Biyaha military post in the western suburbs of Mogadishu. The subsequent powerful blast caused extensive damage, including to nearby homes, they said. "The Kharijites (al-Shabaab), as they usually do, tried to bring a vehicle loaded with explosives and metal into Mogadishu," said Somali police spokesman Sadik Dudishe. "But after they were denied access, they have detonated the vehicle on the base of the security forces at the Ceelasha-Biyaha," he added. READ | Somalia bombing: State minister, commissioner among 9 killed in 'suicide attack' "The number of the casualties recorded is six dead -- four of them from the security forces and two civilians -- and nine wounded, four of them civilians." One witness, Mohamed Sharif, said he had seen the bodies of five civilians. "I was riding in a minibus very close to the area of the explosion," he said. "We were very lucky none of the passengers of the bus was hurt. "I saw the dead bodies of five civilians including an elderly man," he added. Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab has been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed Somali government since 2007 to establish Islamic law in the Horn of Africa country. Driven out of major cities in 2011-2012, they remain in large rural areas in the country's centre and north, from where they regularly carry out attacks against security, political and civilian targets. Elected in May 2022, President Hassan Sheik Mohamoud declared an "all-out war" against al-Shabaab. Government forces and clan militias, backed by African Union forces and US airstrikes, have been conducting a military offensive in central Somalia for more than a year, reclaiming territory. Despite setbacks, al-Shabaab has continued to carry out deadly attacks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Tongan volcanic eruption of 2022 caused large, rapid depletion of ozone by injecting huge amounts of water vapour into the stratosphere, a new research in the journal Science said. Tonga Volcanic Eruption: This satellite image made by the Japanese weather satellite Himawari-8 shows the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano at the Pacific nation of Tonga.(AP) The eruption notably injected an unprecedented amount of water vapour - about 10 per cent of the total global mean stratospheric burden - to very high altitudes of up to 55 kilometres, an international team of researchers from the US and Europe said in their study. In just the one week following the eruption, the stratospheric ozone above the tropical southwestern Pacific and Indian Ocean region decreased by five per cent. The Antarctic ozone hole depletes up to 60 per cent of ozone from September to November, they said. This depletion of tropical ozone exceeds that of previous eruptions, underscoring the exceptional nature of the eruption of the submerged Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano on January 15, 2022, they said. They combined balloon measurements taken near the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, zenith sky observations and satellite data to capture the early evolution of the volcanic plume's impact on ozone, which protects life on the Earth by absorbing harmful and skin-damaging ultraviolet radiations from the Sun. The scientists say the enhanced water vapour content (humidity) in the stratosphere led to a series of interactions between other components shot out from the volcano, including aerosols, that ultimately broke down ozone over the tropical south-western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. "Usually, there are roughly four million water molecules per million in the stratosphere, and the volcanic plume contained up to 300, causing substantial impacts on atmospheric chemistry, increased ozone loss, both due to gas-phase chemistry and in association with the enhanced volcanic aerosol. "As a result, 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. "As a result of these observations, the scientific community has been expecting some unusual polar ozone depletion to happen after the volcanic material reached the Antarctic. "It did not affect the 2022 ozone hole season because the material did not make it to the pole in time. The 2023 ozone hole season, contrary to expectations, has not been unusual. The reasons for Nature not playing ball I'm sure will be explored," said Olaf Morgenstern, principal scientist - Atmosphere and Climate, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand, who was not involved in the study. The NIWA was part of a research published in Science journal earlier this year, which found the Tongan eruption recorded the fastest underwater flows of volcanic material ever. One of China's biggest beermakers said that it had opened an investigation after a video appeared to show a factory employee urinating on raw ingredients. The footage was widely shared on Chinese social media platform Weibo. In the video, a male worker at a Tsingtao Brewery Co. warehouse was seen clambering into a high-walled container and relieving himself onto its contents. China Urination Incident: The video racked up tens of millions of views on the popular social media platform Weibo. The video racked up tens of millions of views on the popular social media platform Weibo. The company Tsingtao said that it had contacted the police over the incident and an investigation was ongoing. "Our company attaches high importance to the relevant video that emerged from Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on October 19," the beermaker said in a statement, adding, "We reported the incident to the police at the earliest opportunity, and public security organs are involved in the investigation. At present, the batch of malt in question has been completely sealed. The company continues to strengthen its management procedures and ensure product quality." Social media users reacted to the video with anger with one popular response being, I suggest the company takes this man to court and gets him to pay compensation for the damages. "Investigate this thoroughly! Always stand up for our national champion brands!" another user wrote. "I've always said the beer here is like horse pee. Turns out I was wrong," one of them commented while another quipped, Thanks, I think I'll have wine instead. Tsingtao is China's second-largest brewer and in the recent years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Riyadh [UAE], October 20 (ANI/WAM): UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the sidelines of the joint summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which commenced today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. HT Image During their meeting, which took place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, where the summit is held, the UAE President and the Vietnamese Prime Minister discussed the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. They explored opportunities to further strengthen ties in a manner that serves mutual interests and realises the aspirations of their people for further development and prosperity. The meeting also addressed the significance of the GCC-ASEAN Summit and its outcomes in enhancing cooperation between the two sides at various levels, including economic and investment ties and promising opportunities to advance comprehensive developmental partnerships that serve their aspirations for sustainable development and prosperity. Furthermore, discussions addressed the importance of establishing mechanisms to ensure continued dialogue and consultation while strengthening cooperation with all partners to achieve global stability and development. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court; Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President; and Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment. (ANI/WAM) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New York [US], October 21 (ANI): An independent commission of the United Nations presented a report on Friday stating that it has found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed "indiscriminate attacks and war crimes of torture, rape, and other sexual violence, along with the deportation of children to Russia." HT Image The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented the report to the General Assembly in accordance with Human Rights Council Resolution 52/32, which renewed the Commission's initial mandate for one additional year. https://twitter.com/UNGeneva/status/1715308374902833258 The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been continuing for two years, resulting in significant suffering and hardship for thousands of affected civilians. "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 documented additional indiscriminate attacks by Russian armed forces, which have led to deaths and injuries of civilians and the destruction and damage of civilian objects," said the commission's report shared by the UN on 'X' on Friday. Moreover, the evidence further showed that Russian authorities have committed war crimes "of wilful killing, torture, rape, and other sexual violence, and the deportation of children to the Russian Federation," it said. The Commission's investigation further confirmed its previous findings and stated that the Russian authorities have used torture in a widespread and systematic way in various types of detention facilities that they maintain. Meanwhile, the Commission also stated that the interviews taken with victims and witnesses showed that the Russian authorities have shown profound disregard for human dignity during the conflict. "The Commission also documented cases in which Russian soldiers burst into houses of villages they occupied, raped women and a girl, and committed additional war crimes against the victims and their family members, the report added. According to the commission's probe, in three cases, the Ukrainian authorities have committed violations of human rights against persons whom they have accused of collaboration with the Russian authorities. The Commission further expressed concern over the alleged probe and stated, "The Commission is concerned at the gravity of the documented violations and crimes and their impact on victims, survivors, and the affected communities." It further called upon the concerned conflict parties "to halt war crimes and violations of human rights." The Commission also reiterated the importance of accountability in all its dimensions, with full respect and care for the rights of the victims. On February 24, 2022, Russia sent troops into Ukraine in an escalation of the Russia-Ukrainian War which began in 2014. The 'invasion' killed tens of thousands on both sides. Russian forces have been accused of mass civilian casualties and of torturing captured Ukrainian soldiers, reported Al Jazeera. Since then, thousands of civilians have been killed and millions of others have fled the country, according to the United Nations. (ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States has appealed to Pakistan to permit Afghans seeking refuge to enter the country, Daily Times reported on Saturday. A dark street in a commercial area in Lahore, Pakistan.(Bloomberg) A spokesperson from the US State Department emphasised the need for Afghanistan's neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, to facilitate the entry of Afghans seeking international protection and to collaborate with international humanitarian organisations to provide essential assistance. "We strongly encourage Afghanistan's neighbours, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and to coordinate with international humanitarian organisations... to provide humanitarian assistance," a US State Department spokesperson stated on Thursday, according to Daily Times, an English-language Pakistani newspaper. Pakistan has set a November 1 deadline for all undocumented immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Afghans, to leave the country or face forced deportation. Pakistan has stated that the deportation process will be organised and conducted in phases, with a potential start involving individuals with criminal records. The move to expel illegal Afghan migrants has been deemed "unacceptable" by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated over the past few years, primarily due to allegations that terrorists operating against the Pakistani state are based in Afghan territory. The Taliban have denied these allegations. A group of former senior US officials and resettlement organisations has called on Pakistan to exempt thousands of Afghan applicants for special US visas or refugee relocation to the United States from deportation to Afghanistan. Approximately 1.73 million Afghans in Pakistan lack legal documentation. Islamabad has accused Afghan nationals of carrying out more than a dozen suicide bombings this year. Pakistan has been hosting the largest number of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979, with the total number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan estimated at 4.4 million, Daily Times reported. More than 150 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, organized by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), were arrested on Friday night in Manhattan during a protest demanding a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstration, which began at 5 p.m. in Bryant Park, escalated as protesters marched towards Senator Kirsten Gillibrands Midtown office. People take part in a 'March For Palestine', in London on October 21, 2023, to "demand an end to the war on Gaza". The UK has pledged its support for Israel following the bloody attacks by Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 people, and has announced that humanitarian aid to the Palestinians will be increased by a third -- an extra 10 million pounds ($12 million). Israel is relentlessly bombing the small, crowded territory of Gaza, where more than 3,400 people have been killed, most of them Palestinian civilians, according to the local authorities. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)(AFP) Around 8 p.m., protesters seated themselves in uniformed lines on Fifth Avenue, disrupting traffic and drawing attention from passersby. Despite orders from the New York Police Department (NYPD) to disperse, the protesters chanted, "Ceasefire now!" as some were removed from their positions on the ground. The NYPD, which confirmed the detentions, could not provide an exact count as the situation unfolded. Videos of the rally circulated online, showing demonstrators confronting police officers with chants of "Shame on you." The DSA's New York City chapter took to social media, stating, "150+ New Yorkers are being arrested for demanding ceasefire in Gaza! Our movement wont stand by while our government bankrolls war crimes. Its time to end the blockade, send in humanitarian aid, and build a just & lasting peace." This protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in New York City. Our movement wont stand by while our government bankrolls war crimes. Its time to end the blockade, send in humanitarian aid, and build a just & lasting peace, declared the NYC chapter of the DSA. While the exact number of detainees remained unclear due to the ongoing incident, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian movements have been organizing rallies in New York City since the outbreak of violence on October 7th. The conflict, which has seen Hamas launching attacks on Israel, has resulted in devastating casualties. Over 1,400 Israelis have lost their lives, more than 4,200 have been wounded, and at least 100 are being held hostage. On the Palestinian side, reports from Gaza health officials indicate that over 3,000 people have been killed, and more than 12,500 have been injured. 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 touching narrative detailing the harrowing tale of hostages, New York Times ground report from Gaza underscores the ordeal of a 17-year-old Israeli girl, Rut, afflicted with myotonic dystrophy. She was abducted by Hamas on October 7. Her story resembles a broader, disquieting reality of hundreds of individuals held captive, their lives hanging by a thread in the face of an escalating humanitarian crisis. Palestinian carries a child killed in an airstrike on the buildings of Abu Asad family in Deir el-Balah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)(AP) While a sliver of hope was manifested with the liberation of two American-Israeli hostages, the overarching dread for those still held, especially the frail and the wounded, continues to mount. The NY Times vividly portrays the grim circumstances the hostages endure, illustrating the dire lack of essentials such as food, water, and medication amidst the constant dread encapsulated within the densely populated Gaza enclave. The narrative extends to the international pleas for leniency, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the helm, beseeching Hamas for a show of mercy, especially towards those with pressing medical needs. The ICRC's efforts, however, meet a wall of complexity owing to the heightened violence, making their humanitarian endeavor a Sisyphean task. The article evokes a grim picture of the strained attempts by the ICRC to secure proof of life and medical access for the hostages, illustrating the humanitarian quagmire entangled with geopolitical strife. Further amplifying the distress is the lack of clarity surrounding the catastrophic blast at a Gaza hospital, with Israel and Hamas trading blame. The tension exacerbates with Israel's military buildup along Gaza's border, inciting fear among the families of hostages for a possible ground offensive before their loved ones are returned. The article further delves into the heart-rending fears of families, anxiously awaiting news of their kin, each phone call a potential harbinger of despair or relief. In a larger frame, the article, via the NY Times, unveils a complex, multi-faceted hostage crisis fraught with geopolitical, humanitarian, and emotional dimensions. The ordeal of individuals like Rut serves as a stark reminder of the human cost ensnared in this grim tableau, urging a cry for mercy, empathy, and a cease to the unending cycle of violence. (Disclaimer: Several parts of the text in this article were generated with the help of an AI tool.) Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Former President Donald Trump has been fined $5,000 by New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron for failing to comply with a court order regarding a social media post. The post, which disparaged one of his staffers, Allison Greenfield, remained visible for weeks despite the court's directive to delete it. 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) Justice Engoron had previously ordered Trump on October 3 not to criticize his staff and to remove the post, which falsely depicted Greenfield as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's girlfriend. The judge sternly warned that future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, would result in more severe sanctions, including substantial financial penalties, contempt of court charges, and even the possibility of imprisonment. "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 said. This incident sheds light on the power of judges to penalize individuals before verdicts are reached in various civil and criminal cases. Notably, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had also ordered Trump not to criticize prosecutors, court staff, or witnesses in his federal trial related to allegations of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Trump's legal team, however, contested the order, claiming it was unprecedented and violated his rights as a candidate for public office. More on Trump: Engoron emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, Incendiary untruths can and have led to serious physical harm. He further indicated that Trump might face more severe consequences if he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for the violation. Although Trump was not present in court during the ruling, the controversial post was eventually removed late Thursday. Prior to its removal, Trumps campaign had disseminated the post to thousands of his supporters via email and the campaign website. Trumps lawyer, Christopher Kise, asserted that the dissemination was inadvertent and expressed regret on behalf of his client. 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! 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. In this photo provided by the Government of Israel, Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages, as they return to Israel from captivity in the Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Hamas released the pair in what it said was a goodwill gesture late Friday, nearly two weeks after they were captured in a bloody cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. The Hamas attack sparked a war that is entering its third week, and Hamas is believed to still be holding some 200 people hostage. (Government of Israel via AP Photo)(AP) 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. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan was voted out as Speaker nominee by Republicans on Friday, another face has emerged as one of the hopefuls. Tom Emmer, Minnesota Representative and U.S. House Majority Whip is now expected to seek for speakership. In addition to Jordan, Majority Leader Steve Scalise also faced a failed bid. However, Donald Trump has confided in his allies that he does not back Emmer's bid for speaker, according to Politico. WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 20: U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) watches as the House of Representatives votes for a third time on whether to elevate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to Speaker of the House in the U.S. Capitol on October 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP) Who is Tom Emmer? Emer served three terms as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011 before he was elected to Congress. Additionally, he served on several committees -Finance, Health Care, Human Services Policy and Oversight, the State and Local Government Operations Reform, and Technology and Elections, during his time at the state office. ALSO READ: Who is Jim Jordan? The 59-year-old Republican close to becoming the next US House Speaker In 2009, Emmer announced that he would be running for governor and received an endorsement from Sarah Palin, former Alaska Gov. However, he lost to Mark Dayton, his Democratic opponent by less than a percentage point. From 2019 to 2023, Emmer served two full terms as the Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). When he became the House Majority Whip, Emmer released a statement, saying, It is an honor to be entrusted by my colleagues with the role of Majority Whip. Now the hard work begins. Is Tom Emmer running for Speaker? Emmer reportedly told members of the House Republican Conference that he would be seeking the nomination and in a Friday afternoon statement, a source familiar with the situation confirmed that the Minnesota Rep has been making calls for speaker, as per Kare11. Moreover, on X, formerly Twitter, NBC News political analyst Jake Sherman wrote, BREAKING -- TOM EMMER has told members of the House Republican Conference that he will seek the nomination for speaker. The Minnesotan is currently the No. 3 House Republican. He'll immediately become the frontrunner in this race. Emmer's endorsements for speakership Even before Emmer declared that we would run for speaker, Kevin McCarthy vouched for him, saying, 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, as per The Hill. Moreover, Rep. Ken Buck cast his ballot for Emmer, refusing to support Jordon's nomination. 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 President Joe Biden spoke by phone on Saturday with Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were freed the previous night from captivity in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, U.S. citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, speak with U.S. President Joe Biden over a telephonic conversation, after they were released by the militants.(REUTERS) The mother and daughter were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during Hamas's October 7 invasion of southern Israel that killed 1,400 people and resulted in over 200 others being kidnapped. The two live in Chicago and were visiting Israel to celebrate a relative's birthday. On Friday afternoon, Biden released a statement taking credit for the pair's release and thanking "the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. READ | Israel vows to end responsibility for life in Gaza, shares 3-phase offensive. Top updates "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," said Biden. "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," he added. The Israel Defence Forces has informed 210 families that their loved ones have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza. The military also stressed that the situation is complex and some may have been killed. Among the kidnapped are some 20 to 30 children and 10 to 20 people over the age of 60. Hostages include citizens of eight or nine countries in addition to Israel. The Biden administration is proposing changes in the H-1B foreign workers programme to improve efficiency by streamlining eligibility, providing more flexibility to F-1 students, entrepreneurs and those working for non-profit bodies and ensuring better condition for other non-immigrant workers. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.(Representational Image) The rules, which are scheduled to be published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on October 23 in the Federal Register have been proposed without changing the Congress-mandated 60,000 limit on the number of such visas the US issues every year. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It is typically issued for three to six years to employers to hire a foreign worker. But H-1B holders who have begun the Green Card process can often renew their work visas indefinitely. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Making the proposed rules public for stakeholders to give their comments and feedback, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the proposed changes in the rules are aimed at streamlining eligibility requirements, improving programme efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities to employers and workers, and strengthening integrity measures. The H-1B programme helps US employers hire the employees they need to meet their business needs and remain competitive in the global marketplace, while adhering to all US worker protection norms under the law. In a statement, the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N Mayorkas said the Biden-Harris administrations priority is to attract global talent, reduce undue burdens on employers, and prevent fraud and abuse in the immigration system. Observing that the H-1B non-immigrant visa programme allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations, defined by statute as occupations that require highly specialised knowledge and a bachelors or higher degree in the specific speciality or its equivalent, the DHS said the proposed rule would change how USCIS conducts the H-1B registration selection process to reduce the possibility of misuse and fraud. Under the current process, the more registrations that are submitted on behalf of an individual, the higher the chances of that person being selected in a lottery. Under the new proposal, each individual who has a registration submitted on their behalf would be entered into the selection process once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf, the DHS said in a statement. This would improve the chances that a legitimate registration would be selected by significantly reducing or eliminating the advantage of submitting multiple registrations for the same beneficiary solely to increase the chances of selection. Furthermore, it could also give beneficiaries more choice between legitimate job offers because each registrant who submitted a registration for a selected beneficiary would have the ability to file an H-1B petition on behalf of the beneficiary, it said. Under the proposed rule, the criteria for speciality occupation positions would be revised to reduce confusion between the public and adjudicators and to clarify that a position may allow a range of degrees, although there must be a direct relationship between the required degree field(s) and the duties of the position. The proposed rule codifies that adjudicators generally should defer to a prior determination when no underlying facts have changed at the time of a new filing. Under the proposed rule, certain exemptions to the H-1B cap would be expanded for certain nonprofit entities or governmental research organisations as well as beneficiaries who are not directly employed by a qualifying organisation. The DHS would also extend certain flexibility for students on an F-1 visa when students are seeking to change their status to H-1B. Additionally, the department would establish new H-1B eligibility requirements for rising entrepreneurs. Strengthening integrity measures in addition to changing the selection process, misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration process would be reduced by prohibiting related entities from submitting multiple registrations for the same beneficiary. The rule would also codify USCIS authority to conduct site visits and clarify that refusal to comply with site visits may result in denial or revocation of the petition, the DHS said. Indian American Ajay Bhutoria, a leading advocate for immigration reform welcomed the proposed 'Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Programme, and Programme Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers' regulation. These proposed changes mark a significant step towards streamlining our immigration system and making it more accessible for highly skilled professionals and students from around the world, Bhutoria said. The proposed reform plan reflects a thoughtful approach to addressing some of the long-standing issues in the H-1B visa programme, including providing more flexibility to F-1 students and improving conditions for other nonimmigrant workers. We appreciate the DHS's commitment to fostering an environment that is conducive to attracting global talent and maintaining the competitiveness of American industries, Bhutoria said. 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. US said that the Chinese firms worked to supply missileapplicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile program.(REUTERS File Photo) 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States on Saturday welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from Egypt in the war-torn Gaza Strip, and urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open. This aerial view shows humanitarian aid trucks arriving from Egypt after having crossed through the Rafah border crossing.(AFP) "The opening of this essential supply route was the result of days of diplomatic engagement at the highest levels," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "I made it clear from the outset of this crisis -- in both my public statements and private conversations -- that humanitarian assistance was a critical and urgent need that had to get moving," he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier urged "all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza." READ | Israel's update on Gaza aid, Hamas' hostages and rocket barrage: Fight until' AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. "We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance," Blinken said. "Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamas's horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts." The opening of the supply route came after days of intense negotiations and an agreement reached by Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during Biden's visit to Israel earlier this week. READ | UN chief urges ceasefire to end Gaza's 'godawful nightmare' Saturday's was the first such delivery since the war broke out two weeks ago between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant movement which rules the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people. On October 7, Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza 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. Since then, more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Biden said Washington would "continue working to protect civilians, consistent with obligations under international humanitarian law." He added that US diplomatic efforts were continuing to allow for Americans and their immediate families in Gaza to safely leave the territory. A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with a hate crime in the US for attacking a Sikh teenager on a bus for wearing a turban. Police arrested Christopher Philippeaux and charged him with a hate crime after the incident on the bus near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Queens last week, CBS News reported. Police arrested Christopher Philippeaux and charged him with a hate crime.(Representational) Christopher Philippeaux approached the 19-year-old Sikh boy on the New York City MTA bus and said, "We don't wear that in this country," referring to his turban, the police said. He also asked the teen to take his mask off and then punched the teen in his face, back and in the back of his head, causing cuts and pain while trying to remove the turban. He then get off the bus and ran along Liberty Avenue, the police said. Read more: UK foreign minister calls for restraint from Israeli military amid Hamas war What police records show? Police records also showed that Christopher Philippeaux was conditionally released by parole in July 2021 after serving more than two years in state prison for a Manhattan attempted robbery conviction, the report claimed. He has been arrested before for obstructing governmental administration, as per the records. What did the Sikh teen say about the incident? The Sikh teen said that he is shaken and angered by the assault and that no one should be harassed because of how they look. "Right now, the victim is very traumatized. The family is very scared for him," ABC News quoted community activist Japneet Singh as saying. MTA's Acting Chief Customer Officer said, "I watched the video and I was angry, I was outraged, and just moved by what happened to the victim. New York City is a melting pot and it's from my understanding that this gentleman has only been here for about a year, and this is not how we welcome people to our city." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail (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. 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. (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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sydney, the largest city in Australia, saw thousands of people participate in a pro-Palestinian march on Saturday, October 21, despite worries that the event might be banned after some people at a previous demonstration screamed anti-Jewish slurs. Nearly two weeks of heavy air and artillery attacks have killed thousands of civilians, according to the Gazan officials, prompting protests throughout the globe that demand a stop to Israel's bombing of Gaza. For Palestinians, From Australians According to the Palestine Action Group, which organized Saturday's march in Sydney, about a crowd of 15,000 showed off to scream "Palestine will never die" and wave Palestine flags. The downtown streets were blocked for the occasion, and a police helicopter flew above while mounted cops patrolled on horseback, as reported by Reuters. A representative for the Palestine Action Group, Amal Naser, and the police have both confirmed that no arrests were made during the march. Barbara O'Neill, one of the protesters, called Palestinians his brothers and sisters and said, "They have been suffering genocide publicly and in a very high-profile way." Rally participant James McGlone argued that the public has an appropriate interest in knowing the status of the Palestinians. "If they knew what the state of Israel has done and is continuing to do, they would support Palestine," he added. Doaa, a protester who declined to provide her last name, said, "I'm here because this is a humanitarian cause first and foremost. And I'm supporting, you know, humanity in every way." Thousands of people attended mostly peaceful marches for and against Palestine all around Australia this weekend. Further events are planned in the state capitals of Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart, according to the Palestine Action Group. Meanwhile, despite all these supports, Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, warned that Saturday's Sydney event incited greater hate in Australia and damaged delicate social cohesiveness. Ryvchin's group is a leading organization representing the Jewish community in the country. See Also: Emergency Humanitarian Aid Trucks Enter Gaza for First Time Since Israel Started Deadly Blockade Prior Demonstrations Two days after the Hamas assault, a controversial video showed a small group yelling "Gas the Jews" during a demonstration outside the Sydney Opera House. Laters, the premier of New South Wales, Australia, issued an apology. In a report by The Times of Israel, Sydney's famous opera house was illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag on October 9. Chris Minns said in a statement that his local government had endeavored to provide a location and space for Jews to grieve victims of the assaults in Israel. Yet, he confirmed that racial epithets and hostility were spread outside the opera theater. Over 1,000 people attended the pro-Palestinian march at the time, which burned an Israeli flag and fired flares. See Also: Gaza Conflict Angers Mideast, Alarms US Over Widening Chaos @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. White Chicks actor and comedian Marlon Wayans had charges dropped against him after he claimed he was unfairly targeted because of his race during a June disagreement with a United Airlines employee. The actor was denied boarding in June after he attempted to carry too many things on board the aircraft, according to an airline employee. Wayans was then issued a citation for a municipal offense related to maintaining order. In a report by Business Insider, Wayans's lawyers claimed in court documents filed on Thursday, October 19, that racial profiling played a part in the actor being denied boarding. The next day, the prosecution filed a motion to drop the charges. Denver's district attorney has requested the dismissal of the case due to the allegations of racial profiling. The court agreed with the prosecution, according to his lawyer, David M. Beller, in a statement to CBS News. "The City Of Denver finally did what United Airlines has been asking - dismiss this case ... Our community does not need one more innocent Black man wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted. I hope this inspires everyone to be more aware of their own implicit and explicit bias." Also Read: Danny Elfman's Second Victim Breaks Silence, Files Sexual Assault Charges What Was the Gate Dispute About? The United Airlines gate agent allegedly denied his request to board the trip to Kansas City because he had three pieces of checked luggage. Wayans was denied boarding despite complying with airline rules by splitting his belongings into two bags, the lawsuit claims. He got on the aircraft nonetheless, but then he was kicked off just before takeoff. According to the lawsuit petition, which contained still photographs of security footage showing white individuals with three bags and yellow arrows indicating to each bag, the gate agent continued letting customers with three bags to board the aircraft as Wayans struggled to reorganize his baggage. Reportedly, there were around 140 passengers on the aircraft, and several of them had many big bags with them. After the encounter, Wayans vented his grievances on Instagram, many of which were echoed in the legal document. "This agent was clearly picking on me. He asked me to consolidate my bags, and I complied. Then said now I have to check the bag because now since I consolidated it into one bag, it was too big," he stated in one of his posts about the incident. At the time, Wayans also requested that disciplinary action be taken against the "rude and wrong" worker. In the end, Wayans took an American Airlines trip to his destination. Wayans' attorneys claim the gate agent's treatment of their client was motivated by racism and that by pressing charges against Wayans, Denver prosecutors are enabling this behavior and violating their client's entitlement to equal protection under the law. Also Read: United Airlines Detail Plans To Process Passengers With Window Seats First To Cut Down on Boarding Time @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Colorado families may have gotten fake ashes from a funeral home where almost 200 decomposing remains were found, according to customers and crematories. Evidence implies the facility faked cremation records. A complaint of an "abhorrent smell" coming from the facility prompted authorities to begin their investigation on October 3, when they discovered 189 decaying bodies due to unsanitary storage. Fabricated Cremation Records The families of those who have brought their loved ones' bodies to the Return to Nature Funeral Home, which offers "green" burials, are worried that their deceased members' remains may not have been properly cremated and may still be among the unidentified bodies. Tanya Wilson, who thinks the ashes she distributed in Hawaii in August were fake, told the AP News, "My mom's last wish was for her remains to be scattered in a place she loved, not rotting away in a building. Any peace that we had, thinking that we honored her wishes, you know, was just completely ripped away from us." Reportedly, the death certificates issued to Wilson's family by Return to Nature indicated that the family member's ashes had been handled by one of two crematories. However, both of those firms denied performing cremations for the funeral home on the dates specified. The AP News reviewed four death certificates, and in each case, Wilbert Funeral Services was named as the crematorium where the deceased was cremated. The deaths occurred at least five months after the firm ceased performing cremations for Return to Nature Funeral Home in November of last year. Wilbert's attorney, Lisa Epps, stated that at least ten family members had informed the business that they had death certificates dating back to after November 2022. On a death certificate issued by Return to Nature in 2021, a second crematory was named Roselawn Funeral Home in Pueblo, Colorado. Roselawn's manager, Rudy Krasovec, told the family that they had not performed the cremation when they called the firm last week with the death certificate. Experts say identifying tags or certificates are often provided to families to verify the authenticity of cremations, but none of the families questioned by the AP News had received either. Also Read: Colorado: Funeral Home Offering "Green Burials" Found with Nearly 200 Bodies in Decay Fake Ashes? Some of the relatives also questioned the consistency of the ashes they were given, as reported by Fox News. All four sets of witnesses agreed that the ashes were about as dry as concrete. Two of them reported the ashes they combined with water became solid. In the past, some funeral establishments have substituted dry concrete for human ashes. Stephanie Ford informed the source that her physician daughter had examined the ashes given by Return to Nature and discovered they were not those of Wesley Ford, Stephanie's late husband, who passed away in April. The owners of Return to Nature, Jon and Carie Hallford, have been collaborating with police in their investigation. Thus far, no arrests have been made. Also Read: Florida Funeral Home Number Spoofed by Ghost Call Scammers-Here's How You Can Stay Safe @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Mayoral candidates John Krol and Peter Marchetti discussed the city's cultural economy on Tuesday at the Colonial Theatre. Hosted by Berkshire Theatre Group and moderated by Senator Paul Mark, the forum covered topics ranging from workforce housing and youth engagement to panhandlers and ride-hailing services. Questions were solicited from cultural organization members and from the audience. "I am the co-chair of the joint committee on arts, tourism, and cultural development and so this is obviously a subject matter that is extremely important to me but it's critically important to the constituency I represent, which includes Pittsfield and 56 other communities," Mark said. Marchetti, who is the City Council president, said that the Colonial Theatre and Barrington Stage have always been special to him. He is enthusiastic about working together with the cultural sector, recognizing the direct and indirect positive impacts that it has on the economy. "It's not just a cultural economy," he said. "It is a place to live and is a place to thrive and is a place to go and enjoy some premier shows. It's a place to go see some great art. It's a place to be able to go and enjoy life, go to the parks, go to the lake, and come to your great show." In the meantime, he said that the leadership needs to sell all of those activities and get people to come here, stay here, and visit more often. BTG's Artistic Director Kathleen Maguire said that singing is allowed at the event and Marchetti took her cue, at one point singing a few seconds of the Golden Girls theme song "Thank You For Being a Friend." Krol felt that the Colonial was the cornerstone of Pittsfield's revitalization and that the cultural economy will be a core piece of the second revitalization. Over the summer, his stepson had a special opportunity to be a part of a Berkshire Theatre Group program. It was something that he necessarily wouldn't have volunteered for, but he was chosen to do. "And this is what the arts can do. You can find skills that you didn't know that you had, you can be inspired where you didn't know that you would be inspired, and you can actually really change lives," he said. "And I can tell you, that's really what it did. That's the power of the arts and that is something that's deep near and dear to my heart. What the arts can do for our young people." Senior customers leaving performance venues reportedly feel threatened when they are approached by panhandlers and fear that this will discourage people from attending future events at cultural organizations. Both candidates expressed a need for police presence in the corridor when the shows get out. Krol has been advocating for "boots on the ground" and said that people will often want to have a meal downtown after a show but will not feel safe. "Unfortunately right now we have a situation where people, unfortunately, are not feeling comfortable saying Hey, we can walk down the street and get dinner' and Hey, you can go a couple of blocks,'" he said. "Instead it's you can get in your car and you can drive further away or you can get in your car and go to Lenox and that is unacceptable. That is something you absolutely have to address and there's a lot of elements to it but it starts with that type of thing." Marchetti said that making the downtown more welcoming involves a mixture of some police presence and some investment. "If we want folks to come downtown, we want them to come downtown to see a show and eat dinner so for that timeframe, we need to make sure our downtown is safe, is clean, and inviting with both southern police presence and some investment," he said. The candidates also offered how they would make Pittsfield safer or more connected for people without a car. Both expressed a need for ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Lyft. Marchetti thinks efforts should begin with reaching out to the companies and asking them to bring their services to Pittsfield. "DoorDash is a very popular thing in the city of Pittsfield," he said. "Everybody can seem to get DoorDash delivered to wherever they can to go. To me, that's the same concept. It's a driver delivering food someplace so can we get a driver to deliver people somewhere." He pointed out that the city has a taxicab commission that may need to be reactivated and said that there were talks of car rental services for the Berkshire Flyer guests from New York City. "We can't just talk the talk," he said. "We've got to walk the walk and we've got to make sure that we get those things done." Krol emphasized the importance of safety and being able to navigate the city without their own vehicles. "We want to make Pittsfield more walkable. I think that is the whole core of what we can accomplish," he said. "So having that full experience means that people have to feel safe whether they have a car or not." He pointed out that transportation is a struggle for both tourists and the working class. "I certainly don't have the answer to that question, senator, but that's something we absolutely need to work out for those who do not have vehicles," he said. A local teenager asked the candidates how they would encourage the youth to be involved in cultural activities, citing the community's one theatre, one bowling alley, one library, and no mall. Krol said that Pittsfield Public School's art integration program has done a decent job at starting the process but that the program needs to be grown. "This is not just about the arts institutions. This is about the quality of our schools and the quality of experience in our schools," he said. "We desperately need the arts and culture in our schools." Marchetti applauded the local cultural organizations for their youth involvement, citing BTG's presentation of Moana Jr. this summer. "I think that they need a little bit more support to provide more to the youth but they already do an excellent job and all they need to be doing is encouraging them to do more," he said. Both candidates agree that MCAS should no longer be a graduation requirement in the state. The candidates were also asked what problems they see with workforce housing, specifically relating to people in cultural organizations, and how they can be addressed. Krol said that the theaters provide a huge investment in the housing stock every year and it is critical that the options are high quality for those organizations. "And also I think we should look at the bigger picture and say perhaps there are housing developments, apartments that we could build for our institutions and work with them on that," he explained. "Because let's face it, we need more units in the city of Pittsfield and there is a lot of pressure on the market in a lot of ways so ultimately, we have to be creative in every way to build more housing." Marchetti acknowledged the private landlords who house the cultural organizations, adding that it is no small feat and that he understands the challenges that they face. "I think, first and foremost, it doesn't change from what we need to be doing," he said in regards to the solutions. "Last year city budget fiscal year 23, we hired two additional code inspectors to be able to provide the necessary inspection that needs to take place and to ensure that all of our housing, whether it's owner-occupied or absentee landlords, all our housing meets the quality level that we're supposed to have and so we would start there and make incentives for those folks to be able to improve their properties." The forum was sponsored by Arrowhead, Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Museum, BTG, and Hancock Shaker Village. Egremont Town Clerk Juliette Haas and her crew count ballots on Saturday morning in the Mount Everett Regional High School cafeteria. Egremont Rejects School Merger; Advocates Say 'May Be Options' Mount Everett senior Nathan TenBroeck addresses Egremont's special town meeting. Updated Saturday evening with a reaction from the 8 Town Regional School District Planning Board. SHEFFIELD, Mass. Egremonts special town meeting Saturday morning overwhelmingly rejected a plan that would have merged the Southern Berkshire Regional School District with the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. By a vote of 143-78, members said no to a new Southern Berkshire Hills Regional School District that would have joined the five towns in the SBRSD with the three in the BHRSD and eventually replaced the existing Mount Everett and Monument Mountain high schools with a new 9-12 school on the Monument Mountain campus. The merger of the two districts was dependent on a positive vote in all eight of the proposed member towns. The other seven have scheduled their special town meetings for Monday, Oct. 23. Officials from the 8 Town Regional School District Planning Board have said those towns should go ahead with their meetings regardless of the outcome in Egremont. Saturday morning's secret ballot vote came after about an hour of debate in the cafeteria at Mount Everett. Perhaps the most emotional testimony came from a current senior at the high school. Student concerns have been overlooked and overshadowed by the planning board, Nathan TenBroeck told a standing room crowd in the cafeteria. TenBroeck said that students would not feel the same in a merged district and that they would lose their sense of identity and culture if forced to go to school at a new, merged high school. Students have been treated as statistics on a brightly colored graph for too long, the 18-year-old TenBroeck said. Today is my first time voting, and I will gladly vote no on the merger. Several meeting members talked about the loss of community and identity if the Southern Berkshire towns lose Mount Everett, which had a student enrollment of 294 in grades 6-12 in the 2022-23 academic year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. One speaker said her daughter told her of friends who enrolled at Mount Everett after experiencing bullying at Monument Mountain. Another, Ellen Maggio, dismissed dire warnings from the 8 Town committee of continued enrollment declines in the South County towns, telling the meeting that she had been hearing such predictions for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District for decades. Maggio said that getting rid of Mount Everett would only accelerate any population loss in the regions five towns. If we close our high school because were moving into a new district, I think there will be a giant sucking sound in Sheffield, Maggio said. Weve built this school. Weve built this community. Why would we give that up? The first speaker to the microphone when temporary Moderator Charles Proctor opened debate was the 8 Town committee chair, who gave a shortened version of merger advocates reasons why it makes sense to combine the two regional school districts. Lucy Prashker, a resident of Alford, told the Egremont residents that the two regions combined have seen a 45 percent decline in enrollment since 2000. Especially for high school students, thats a real challenge, Prashker said. It means a reduction in academic choices, extracurricular choices and social choices. We will be able to expand those choices by bringing together the best of both districts. And, she emphasized, the planned high school for the new merged region would be able to offer six Chapter 74 vocational programs. Currently, Monument Mountain offers three voc programs; Mount Everett has none, but students from the Southern Berkshire district can study vocational programs at Monument Mountain through the commonwealths School Choice program. It is relatively easy to choice into the Great Barrington high school because it was built for 700 students, far more than the current 9-12 population in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, 472 in the most recent academic year. The proposed high school for a merged district would be built for 620 students; if the Berkshire Hills district ends up standing alone and builds a replacement for the current Monument Mountain, that school would be built for a target enrollment of 485, Prashker said. That number drew a question from Egremont Select Board member Mary Brazie. Why is Berkshire Hills saying, If we dont get a merger, we will only build a high school big enough for Great Barrington and Stockbridge students? Brazie asked. Prashker explained that any school building project would be a partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which establishes a projected target enrollment for the communities served by a building in the case of the Berkshire Hills district, Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. Im sure Berkshire Hills would be happy to build a bigger school, Prashker said. The 485 number is from the MSBA. Several meeting attendees, pointing to a provision in the proposed regional agreement that nullifies this weeks merger votes if the towns dont approve bonding for a new high school by June 30, 2025, indicated the merger plan itself is motivated by a desire to get Great Barrington a new high school and have its neighbors help pay for it. The chair of the Egremont Select Board, George McGurn, told the meeting that he believes the total price tag for that high school is considerably more than the $100 million projected by the 8 Town committee. Perhaps anticipating these arguments, Prashker said in her opening remarks that the proposed regional agreement apportions 10 percent of the cost for a new high school to the five current Southern Berkshire district towns; that number would rise 1 percent per year up to 15 percent after 2033, when the SBRSDs legacy debt for capital outlays is retired. If you have a $500,000 home in Egremont, that means an additional $52 per year, assuming the new building costs $100 million, Prashker said. If the cost rises by 50 percent, thats another $26 per year [for a $150 million building]. Thats pretty reasonable, considering the benefit. In the end, the meeting members decided there is more benefit to preserving what Southern Berkshire Regional School District already offers. And at least one of the members raised the specter that a merged district could spell trouble for the South Egremont Schools pre-kindergarten program. Jared Kelly, who serves on Egremonts Planning Board, reminded residents that the two-room schoolhouse has been threatened by the budget ax before and argued that the proposed regional agreement does not adequately protect existing primary schools. According to the agreement, school closures could occur on an 8-3 vote of the newly formed School Committee with representatives from at least six of the eight towns voting in favor plus a majority vote in at least six of the eight member towns. Which three towns are going to step in to save the South Egremont School?" Kelly asked his fellow Egremont residents. Wake up. We need an agreement that preserves our elementary schools. MCLA Volleyball Wins in Sweep NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Anais Badio and Lee's Elizabeth Brown each had 12 kills Saturday to lead the MCLA volleyball team to a three-set win over Salem State. Brown served four aces in the 25-12, 25-22, 25-12 win. MCLA (15-3, 4-1 MASCAC) is at Bridgewater State on Wednesday. Women's Soccer FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Kylie DeMaio and Alyssa Porter each scored a goal as MCLA tied Fitchburg State, 2-2. Wahconah graduate Eva Eberwein stopped 12 shots for the Trailblazers (3-8-3, 0-5-1), who finish the regular season at Bridgewater State on Saturday. Im pretty healthy for an overweight fellow. My bloodwork is good enough that my doctor once remarked that I had the cholesterol of a newborn and should be the poster boy for a statin drug. I wish I could claim its all from clean living, but the truth is that its all due to modern pharmacology. However, even from childhood Ive rarely been sick beyond allergies and the occasional curse of gouty toe. Despite this, there were a few days following my recent birthday that I wondered briefly whether Id live through the night. We were in an eastern European hotel, which complicated things. I was having fevered dreams and wasnt sure if the conversations I was having were real or imaginary, but I may have told Bettye to have them toss my carcass into a river rather than endure the red tape of shipping a body home. Earlier in the day, wed clacked our way across parts of three countries on a train from Budapests ancient Nyugati Pu railway station not far from the Margaret Bridge on the Pest side of the Danube to Pragues main railway station near the crook of the Vlatava River at Old Town. It was earlier than anyone should be up and out on vacation, and although Id been tired and congested the night before, I felt fine on the train. There was only one other person in the six-seat compartment where wed located our seats in Carriage 232, and he got off at the first stop. So we settled in and enjoyed a couple of hours of peace and quiet as the Hungarian landscape zipped past. After another stop, the door to our compartment banged open and a family entered father, mother, mother-in-law, and a toddler whod had too much sugar. The child was fairly well-behaved, at least in that there was no screeching or crying. But he was active, moving from one of his adults to the next, and clamoring across me as if I were furniture. A couple of stops later, more people entered the compartment and loud and lively chatter ensued as the family and the interlopers argued in a language we couldnt understand. Then the young father turned and asked, in perfect English, if he could see our tickets, which were written in Hungarian. As it turns out, we were not only in the wrong compartment, we were in the wrong train car. So we were cast out, wandering through the train until we found our seats in a much nicer car, and had to eject some people who had been sitting there, presumably for hours. Meanwhile, I was beginning to feel a bit puny, and by the time we arrived in Prague and arranged a ride to the hotel, Id begun to think back through the last few days to figure out if Id been exposed to some sort of illness. I remembered putting on my mask during the flight from New York to Paris several days earlier because the guy next to me had a nagging cough. Great. We checked into the hotel and had an early dinner, taking a cable car from the back of the hotel up a steep hill to a restaurant overlooking the city, where we had an interesting dish prepared tableside by a fellow who rolled out a giant wheel of parmesan cheese. The top was concave, and the server splashed a generous pour of vodka into the indentation and ignited it, swirling the alcohol around and scraping up bits of melted cheese, into which he added fresh pasta and truffle sauce, tossing it all in the parmesan and truffle sauce before plating and adding a few microgreens. It was delicious, or seemed to be, as congestion had hobbled my taste buds. Back in the hotel, I took Tylenol and Mucinex and went to bed. A couple of hours later, I awoke feeling better, but I was soaking wet. Id gone to sleep in my clothes, and my shorts were beyond damp; they looked like Id been caught in a thunderstorm. I have several cycles of this over the next 24 to 36 hours, going from I-feel-like-Im-fixing-to-die to Hey-I-think-Ill-go-to-Old-Town-and-see-the-Banksy-exhibit. Meanwhile, Bettye had developed a cough, and started her own Mucinex regimen. We spent most of our time in the room, turning up the heat and then opening the windows, and deciding that our goal had been to see Budapest, and that being puny in Prague was the best outcome since wed been there several years earlier. A few days later, we were home and glad of it, because at home, there was Vicks VapoRub, that amazing cure-all salve that transports one back to childhood sick days, Campbells Chicken Noodle soup, and Monty Hall on Lets Make a Deal. Vicks on the chest will set you right fast. Some people swear it works better if you rub it on the soles of your feet and put on socks. I hear it cures nail fungus, and crime scene investigators rub it under their nostrils when they discover corpses. I dont plan to get sick while traveling again. But Im going to toss a jar of Vicks into my bag just in case. It may not help, but it surely wont hurt. 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 Indian government has rejected claims that it violated international law by asking Canada to recall two-thirds of its diplomats stationed in India amid rising tensions between the two countries. Canada recalled 41 of its 62 diplomats in India after what it perceived as a warning from Delhi indicating the possible stripping of immunity for its diplomats. Canada said the move was unreasonable and escalatory and a breach of the Geneva Convention. However, India has pushed back, saying that it simply sought parity in the number of diplomats between the two countries, without setting a specific deadline or publicly indicating the withdrawal of diplomatic immunity. "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. The statement emphasised India's desire for mutual diplomatic presence to be equal in New Delhi and Ottawa. India also accused these Canadian diplomats of interfering in Indias internal affairs. Their continued interference in our internal affairs warrants a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, the statement said. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said this move will delay visa services in India and make life unbelievably difficult for millions of people. 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, Mr Trudeau said. Its 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. The move is part of an ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada after Mr Trudeau accused India of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. India, in turn, accused Canada of harbouring separatists and labelled the allegations of its involvement in the killing as absurd. India took diplomatic measures to express its displeasure over the accusation. The escalating tensions between the two countries have also invited statements from the US which has so far remained neutral. The United States government voiced its concern over the situation, urging India to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation. We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, he stated. The statement also called on India to adhere to international rules related to diplomats. Washington has said it took Canadas 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. Additional reporting by 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 }} Nawaz Sharif, Pakistans three-time prime minister, returned to the country on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile in the UK. Mr Sharif is looking for a political resurgence in Pakistan as the country gears up for elections. The 73-year-old leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) [PML-N] arrived in Islamabad from Dubai aboard a chartered flight that supporters dubbed Umeed-e-Pakistan (Pakistan hope) and was accompanied by select family members, senior party figures, and close friends, local media reports said. Last month, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif (Nawaz Sharifs younger brother, and premier of the country until earlier this year) announced that his older brother would be returning to Pakistan on 21 October to lead the partys campaign for the upcoming general election. In 2017, Nawaz Sharif stepped down from his position as Pakistans prime minister when the Supreme Court disqualified him from ever holding public office due to his failure to declare a receivable salary. Since 2019, he has resided in London, having received a four-week permit from the Lahore High Court, allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a senior leader of PML-N said: This is a time for hope and celebration. His return bodes well for Pakistans economy and its people. Before boarding his flight to Pakistan, Mr Nawaz said he was happy to return, according to Pakistans Dawn newspaper. Im going back to Pakistan after four years today, Mr Sharif said on Saturday while speaking to the media at Dubai Airport. When I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feeling of happiness but today I am happy. He continued: I get very worried and disappointed seeing the situation in the country. The country that had to move forward is going backwards now economically and unity-wise. He described the situation in Pakistan as worrisome but expressed hope and that we should not let it slip from our hands as we are capable of fixing it because we spoilt it ourselves. However, he is expected to face a number of legal hurdles before commencing his election campaign, in the run-up to the upcoming January elections. The Islamabad High Court on Thursday granted him protection from arrest days ahead of his return. His lawyer, Azam Nazeer Tarar, told the media that Mr Sharif had been granted protective bail, which meant that authorities would not be able to arrest him until he himself appeared before the court on 24 October. Mr Sharif was convicted on corruption charges in 2018. The petition for temporary bail mentioned that the former prime minister was not in an ideal state of health, but he was returning when the country was facing the worst-ever crises of the economy and other fronts. 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 }} Bella Ramsey has said being neurodivergent massively feeds into their acting process, in a new interview. The 20-year-old, best known for playing the role of Ellie on the hit HBO show The Last of Us, also admitted they may not have been an actor if it wasnt for that. In a new interview with The Times, Ramsey was asked whether their neurodivergence, including a sensitivity to micro-expressions and social cues, influences their craft. Massively, they replied. I dont know if Id be an actor if it wasnt for that. One of my things is Im very perceptive, sometimes too perceptive. I get paralysed because I just see everything it takes me four hours to get round Tescos. Ramsey previously revealed they discovered they were neurodivergent at the age of 18, while filming The Last of Us in Canada. Ive been thinking for years that maybe I was, and then to find that out whilst filming this show was super special, they told ELLE. In the post-apocalyptic video game adaptation, Ramsey plays the shows 14-year-old protagonist, opposite Pedro Pascals Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting Ellie to safety amid a zombie apocalypse. Both actors earned rave reviews for their performances in the shows debut season, with fans also praising their wholesome off-screen friendship. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in The Last of Us (Max) In his four-star review for The Independent, Nick Hilton praised Ramseys talent, noting they were breathtakingly convincing as a precocious yet vulnerable teenager making her way through a bearpit of a world. Elsewhere in the new interview, Ramsey said their gender identity is one of the least interesting things to talk about within the context of media coverage since they came out as non-binary in January during the press tour for The Last Of Us. The Emmy nominee briefly reflected on the fact that every article written about them since coming out is now prefaced with their pronouns, adding: Why cant I just be Bella Ramsey? During an interview with The New York Times at the beginning of the year, Ramsey explained that while their gender has always been very fluid, they werent particularly bothered by which pronouns were used to refer to them. Im very much just a person, they said at the time. Being gendered isnt something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldnt care less. However, Ramsey later affirmed that being called they is the most truthful thing for me, adding that they had fought the word non-binary for a long time over the fear people would think I was just trying to be trendy. In an interview in June, they told British Vogue: I had a lot of anxiety around pronouns. When The Last of Us first came out, I was like, Everyone just call me she because I look like a she to you, so its fine. But now Im able to vocalise it more, being called they is the most truthful thing for me. Thats who I am the most. (HBO) Ramseys acting debut as the fierce and proud noblewoman Lyanna Mormont on season six of HBOs runaway hit Game of Thrones remains one of the shows highlights in the years since its controversial ending. They won the BAFTA for best young performer in 2019 for their portrayal of bumbling sorceress-in-training Mildred Hubble on the CBBC show The Worst Witch. Ramsey will next be seen in the second season of Jimmy McGoverns BBC prison drama Time, in which they play pregnant heroin addict, Kelsey. The new series will air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday (29 October). 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 }} Justin Timberlake allegedly ended his three-year relationship with Britney Spears by sending her a brief text message, it has been claimed. Timberlake, 42, and Spears, 41, dated each other for three years before they broke up in 2002 amid speculation the Baby One More Time hitmaker cheated on him. In her forthcoming memoir The Woman in Me which accidentally went on sale in Mexico nearly one week before its release date Spears confirmed the infidelity rumours, revealing she had kissed her choreographer Wade Robson. The Grammy-winner also shared that she was devastated when Timberlake broke up with her over text, in an excerpt from the book obtained by The New York Times. Now, PageSix has reported the NSYNC frontman sent Spears a two-word breakup text message while she was filming the music video for Overprotected: The Dark Child in Los Angeles in 2002, quoting its director Chris Applebaum. Reflecting on his first impression of Spears, then at the height of her stardom, Applebaum told the publication he was thrilled when he discovered the Grammy-winner was just as hed imagined and then more. On the second day of filming, Applebaum continued, he discovered Spears had gone missing from the set only to find her in tears, sitting cross-legged on the floor of her trailer. She then reportedly showed Applebaum a text message from Timberlake which allegedly read: Its over!!! The Independent has contacted representatives for Spears, Timberlake, and Applebaum for comment. Spears and Timberlake dated from 1998 until 2002 (Getty Images) When she expressed her hestitation to continue filming that day, Applebaum reportedly told her: If you dont have it in you, I totally understand but if you want to go out there and finish this last set-up in the rain, you can show him that he just made the biggest f***ing mistake of his life. Spears reportedly replied: You know that? Thats a good idea. Im going to show him that he blew the best thing he ever had. Elsewhere in her memoir, which covers everything from Spearss childhood and early relationships to the 13-year conservatorship controlled by her father, Spears opened up about getting an abortion while she was in a relationship with Timberlake. She wrote: It was a surprise, but for me, it wasnt a tragedy. I loved Justin so much. I always expected us to have a family together one day. This would just be much earlier than Id anticipated. Spears married Iranian-American fitness instructor Sam Asghari in 2022 (Getty Images) But Justin definitely wasnt happy about the pregnancy. He said we werent ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young, Spears continued. Since their breakup, the American musicians have gone their separate ways. Timberlake married Jessica Biel in 2012, and the couple have two sons: Silas, eight, and Phineas, two. Meanwhile, Spears married Kevin Federline in 2004 before filing for divorce in 2007. She shares two sons Sean 18, and Jayden, 17 with her ex-husband. Spears married Iranian-American fitness instructor Sam Asghari in June 2022, shortly after her conservatorship ended. Their marriage ended in August this year, when Asghari, 29, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences 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 }} North West announced shes been diagnosed with dyslexia. During her 18 October TikTok livestream, with her mom Kim Kardashian, the 10-year-old spilled the news without her moms approval. The two were seen on their shared social media account, talking to their followers as the sound of The Kardashians on Hulu rang in the background. Guys, I have dyslexia. Do you even know what that is? North remarked. Immediately, Kim quipped: Northie, you are sure spilling the tea on here. And while the Skims founder may have found her eldest daughters candid admission acceptable at first, she quickly became frustrated with how much North was revealing. After North joked about dropping an album, Kim threatened to end their live video. I am going to get off this live right now because you are just saying way too much. I purposely dont talk about stuff that you are going through, she told her daughter. For months now, North and her mothers TikTok videos have been receiving a bit of scrutiny from her dad, Kanye West, as the Donda artist and reality TV star manage coparenting since their marriage breakdown. West took to Instagram last year to disclose his grievances about having his daughter be so active on social media. The famed rapper not only expressed his concern but placed blame on his ex-wife for allowing their young child to frequently use TikTok. SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST DIVORCE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT MY DAUGHTER BEING PUT ON TIK TOK AGAINST MY WILL? the frustrated father wrote in February of 2022. Though West ultimately ended up deleting his disgruntled message, Kim still made it a point to defend her parenting. Kanyes constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create, she said on her Instagram story. As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision because it brings her happiness, she continued. That being said, Kims still made an active effort to monitor the content being posted on their shared platform. Earlier this year, the young celebrity was seen singing Ice Spices Boys a Liar, Pt. 2 with her mom. In the comments section, fans expressed their discontentment with how North was acting. Speaking to Time in June, Kim admitted she knew the video needed to be taken down after seeing the words. However, the devoted mom of four stuck by her initial belief that North should be allowed to express herself on the public platforms. I saw on the internet [people were saying], Kanye was right, and maybe he was in that instance. But [North] loves making slime videos and doing her little hair tutorials, and I will fight for her to be creative, she proclaimed. Kim shares four kids with her former husband of seven years North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four. The fashion icon filed for divorce in 2021. Last week, Princess Eugenie kicked off the second series of herFloodlights podcast about modern slavery with an interview with Theresa May. During the podcast, run by Eugenies Anti-Slavery Collective, the former prime minister talked about her work to pass the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, with Eugenie making her admiration for the achievement abundantly clear. Hailing May as incredible and cool and a massive inspiration, Eugenie said of her prioritisation of the issue: That is so cool that you were prime minister and that was your biggest thing. I just wanted to say that. That is awesome that you were championing this as prime minister. The 33-year-olds delivery may have been gushing, but those who know her say her dedication to the cause is deadly serious. She and business consultant Julia de Boinville co-founded the Anti-Slavery Collective in 2017 following a 2012 trip to Kolkata, India, in which they were shocked to discover the extent to which slavery still exists, with almost 50 million people enslaved worldwide. The charitys aim? To raise awareness and funds to help eradicate the problem altogether. 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 worst hit area in Scotland during Storm Babet is now an improving picture, but there are still fears of further floods as a red danger to life weather warning remains in place. Forecasters have brought forward the end of the red warning in Scotland by six hours, but authorities remain braced for further flooding on Saturday afternoon amid the storm which has claimed the lives of two people north of the border. People in up to 100 properties across Angus in East Scotland have been rescued from their flooded homes, with some airlifted out, a local authority official has said. The alert for extreme rain during the storm now ends at 6pm, rather than midnight, and covers a smaller area than on Friday solely Angus and Aberdeenshire. Rivers in parts of Scotland hit by floods are expected to hit a second peak later, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned, as dozens of roads and several train lines remain closed. Jacqui Semple, head of risk, resilience and safety for Angus Council, said people were rescued from between 80 to 100 homes across the region. In Bridge of Dun, residents were airlifted out via helicopter, while in other areas those stranded were rescued by boats, including canoes. No-one is now thought to be stranded. Ms Semple praised the response from those in Angus and elsewhere, saying offers of accommodation have come from the local area and further afield. She said: Fortunately the Met Office update and our Sepa update this morning is showing that we have an improving picture and the red warnings and our amber warnings they have been reduced in timescales to 6pm. So that means we are looking at definite improvements in our river levels. Were not out of the woods by a long shot. Theres still a lot of rain to come through, but less so, and there is still a lot of water lying right across Angus. Lots of water in the upper catchments that will still have to come down into our rivers. Three rest centres set up in Angus provided accommodation for some of those flooded out of their homes, with more than 50 at the one in Brechin. It remains open, with another in Forfar under review and one in Montrose now closed. Searches continue for a man reported missing to police at 3am on Friday, said to have been trapped in a vehicle in floodwater in Marykirk, Aberdeenshire. Scotlands First Minister urged people to heed the red weather warning and evacuate if instructed. Humza Yousaf posted on X, formerly Twitter: A red weather Warning remains in place for Angus & parts of Aberdeenshire. Please comply with the advice being given, particularly if you are asked to evacuate, it is for your own safety. We continue to engage with local partners & emergency services to co-ordinate our response. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: Further rain is forecast to affect the flooded areas, particularly around Brechin but more widely across Tayside, Angus, Dundee and Aberdeenshire. There will be a second peak on large rivers, including the South Esk in Brechin and North Esk and we are also monitoring the River Don closely and there will be further surface water flooding. He said the peak in Brechin is not expected to reach the same levels as previously. As of 1pm on Saturday, Sepa reduced the number of severe flood warnings from five to three at Kinnaird/Bridge of Dun, Finavon and Tannadice and Brechin. Flood warnings and flood alerts were also reduced, to 18 and 12 respectively. Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council chief executive, said there was a low level of incidents overnight and the areass five rest centres have not been used that much. He told BBC Breakfast: We do have more of a concern though for the rest of the day, particularly around the River Don area, the Inverurie area, and Kintore, Kenmay. So were just working with other colleagues from Sepa to take a look in terms of what the flood levels are on the rivers, to see if we need to take any more action later today with residents there. Dozens of roads have been closed by flooding and fallen trees, including the A90 between Stonehaven and Dundee, the A9 between Tomich and Alness and the A92 near Cupar between Forgan roundabout and Melville Lodges roundabout. Angus Council said most roads are affected in the region. Network Rail Scotland said train lines between Aberdeen to Elgin and to Dundee remain closed due to the storm, as does Ladybank, Angus, to Perth. ScotRail said many other services were getting back to normal much more quickly than expected including services between Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness via Perth. It also said a limited service will be available between Perth and Dundee early on Saturday evening. David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: We know the impact the withdrawal of some train services has, but our first priority is always to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. We want to thank customers for their continuing patience and understanding as we make all possible efforts to inspect routes that are still closed for damage, before reopening them when it is judged safe to do so. Storm Babet has cut power from more than 33,000 customers in Scotland but the vast majority are now reconnected, energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said. As of 4.45pm, work was ongoing to reconnect 700 properties north of the border. 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 the Water of Lee, Glen Esk. 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 Queen has unveiled a sculpture of veteran Italian jockey Frankie Dettori at Ascot Racecourse to mark his farewell to Britain. Camilla, wearing a brooch which belonged to the late Queen, attended QIPCO British Champions Day at the Berkshire track on Saturday. She was assisted by members of the Greencoats, who have formed the ceremonial guard for royalty at Ascot since 1744, as she unveiled the bronze sculpture. The work, designed by artist and sculptor Tristram Lewis, depicts Dettori mounted on a horse and is located by the Grandstand Lawn. Ascot said it was cast by Fonderia Artista Artu di Gaetano Salmista of Florence and Pemburys Fine Arts to act as a permanent reminder of the jockeys unparalleled contribution to racing there. Camilla, wearing a green dress coat by Anna Valentine and a hat by Philip Treacy, spoke to Dettori and Mr Lewis after the unveiling. Dettori had his first ride at Royal Ascot in 1987 and recorded 81 victories at the royal meeting and 229 winners at Ascot overall. In 1996, he rode all seven winners on the Saturday of the Festival of British Racing a precursor to QIPCO British Champions Day. The 52-year-old began his day of racing on Saturday with a thrilling victory aboard Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot, later winning the Champion Stakes with King of Steel on the final ride of his British career. He will now move to America. He said: Ascot has been everything to me my first Group 1 winner when I was 19 it is where it all started and concludes with nine Gold Cups, seven King Georges, 81 winners at Royal Ascot and hopefully some victories today. Its wonderful to be immortalised at such a great track, and to have your own statue while you are still alive, wow. Tristram Lewis has created a humbling tribute, and I would like to thank him, Ascot Racecourse and all those that have supported this impactful artwork. The idea for the sculpture was initiated in 2019, with the process beginning in December 2021. A UK foundry produced the first two-quarter scale casts, one going to the Jockey Club and the other being displayed at Royal Ascot in 2022 and 2023. Mr Lewis said: It was a real pleasure to be able to work on this project and bring it to life. Ascot holds a special place in my heart and Im hugely grateful to Sir Francis Brooke and everybody at the racecourse for their help along this journey. Frankie was great to work with, an incredibly professional model, and I am thrilled with the overall result. Sir Francis, His Majestys representative and chairman at Ascot, said the piece celebrated Dettoris career at the track. Frankie has been such a huge part of racing at Ascot over the last 35 years and this unique sculpture will ensure a lasting tribute to his success is permanently in place at the racecourse, Sir Francis said. I am sure it will be hugely popular with racegoers in the years to come and we are extremely grateful to all the contributors for their support in making this happen, and of course to Tristram who has so expertly delivered the project from start to finish. During her visit to Ascot on Saturday, Camilla judged the Best Turned Out in the parade ring before presenting trophies for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who identified the land as ideal for horse racing while riding out from Windsor Castle. The first four-day meeting there took place in 1768, with the race programme later referred to as Royal Ascot. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK has called for Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and act with discipline in its military response to the Hamas attacks. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking at an international peace summit in Cairo, warned that the Israel-Hamas dispute must not trigger wider instability in the region. His comments came as a convoy of aid was allowed into besieged Gaza through the border with Egypt. Mr Cleverly said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The frontier with Egypt at Rafah was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. At the Cairo summit, Mr Cleverly said: The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on October 7. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. With the prospect of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza to root out Hamas, Mr Cleverly said he had raised the need to protect civilians with Tel Aviv. He added: I have spoken directly to the Israeli Government about their duty to respect international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives in Gaza. Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military. He said the opposition of Hamas to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine showed we must ensure Hamas does not win, and that the Gaza conflict does not spiral into a wider war. He said: This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions, and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities, how divisive and polarising, the current situation has become. So we have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives. We must work together to prevent the tragic situation in Gaza becoming a regional conflict because that is exactly what Hamas wants. ActionAid Palestine spokesman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Before this crisis began, around 500 aid trucks would normally cross the border every day providing a vital lifeline to millions of Gazans who were already facing a humanitarian crisis, she said. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development in the crisis when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were released following talks brokered by Qatar. Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. In Cairo, Mr Cleverly told the summit: We are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza and we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid which much which many of us have partially funded reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need. Meanwhile in the UK, thousands of people joined a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in London. Attendees held signs that read Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. Chants included Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. (TTCO) - Ty le giai ngan 9 thang nam at 51,38% ke hoach, tang gan 5% so voi cung ky nam 2022 va ve so tuyet oi cao hon 110.000 ty ong. Tuy nhien, nhieu ai bieu Quoc hoi nhin nhan, ket qua giai ngan chua at ky vong, nhat la nguon von ODA. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man whose wife and children were killed in a fire started by a charging e-bike is demanding more regulation to prevent another family from facing a similar tragedy. Scott Pedens appeal comes as figures obtained by The Independent show there were at least 279 UK fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes in 2022, up from 167 in 2021. The father-of-two says he lost his world when his wife Gemma Germeney, 31, daughter Lilly Peden, eight, and son Oliver Peden, four, were killed in the blaze at the familys two-storey maisonette in Cambridge, in June. Scott Peden lost his wife Gemma, daughter Lilly and son Oliver (Scott Peden / Facebook) Hearing an explosion in the night, Mr Peden jumped out of an upstairs window to get to the e-bike through a back door. But finding the downstairs engulfed with flames, he was unable to go back up and rescue his family. Have you been affected by this story? If so email alexander.ross@independent.co.uk An investigation concluded the blaze most likely centred on a replacement lithium e-bike battery left on charge. The battery had been bought by Mr Peden on eBay just two days before, after his previous one was stolen. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Peden demanded proper regulation of lithium batteries, and joins firefighters, council leaders and charities who have all demanded a tougher stance from the government. We need to have regulation on the sale of e-scooter and e-bike batteries, some sort of MOT on them to ensure they are safe whenever they are sold to people, said the 30-year-old, who spent more than a month in hospital with burns after the fire on June 30. They are absolutely lethal. The battery in my house went off like a grenade and within two minutes the whole house was on fire. I really tried everything but the fire was so fast and powerful, it killed my family. These batteries, they contain extremely toxic gases you dont have a chance when one bursts into flames. We must do something, The tragic scene at Mr Pedens home in Cambridge after fire ripped through the property (Scott Peden) In London alone, there have been three fatal fires caused by an e-bike or e-scooter battery so far this year. Mizanur Rahman, 41, died after a modified battery burst into flames in his flat in Shadwell in March. At Mr Rahmans inquest, Adam Smith, coroner for Inner North London, wrote a prevention of future deaths report which said it was easy for people to buy lithium batteries that were not of sufficient quality. Stating it was clear there are no controls or standards on the sale of lithium batteries and chargers, he urged the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to introduce an appropriate standard to protect users. Damage caused to a flat in Shepherds Bush after a fire involving an e-bike in June last year (PA Media) The number of fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes in London has continued to rise this year, with 141 call-outs to 10 October, up from 116 across the whole of 2022. London Fire Brigade sub officer Micky Bhasin told The Independent: We fear we will continue to see a high level of these fires unless urgent research takes place into the causes of these battery fires. Proper regulation is also required to help prevent people unknowingly purchasing dangerous products, such as batteries and conversion kits, from online marketplaces. The charity Electrical Safety First produced its own report on lithium batteries, which called for more consumer awareness campaigns, a mandatory third-party certification for batteries before sale and an improvement in reporting incidents. Charity product safety engineer, Giuseppe Capanna, said he wanted e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries to be regulated in the same way as fireworks, with third-party approval. He said: There are too many reckless operators in this space, such as third-party sellers on online marketplaces, who are risking the lives of the public and giving responsible manufacturers of these products a bad name. Last month, the mayor of Tower Hamlets wrote to home secretary Suella Braverman asking her to do more on the issue. The OPSS said it was working on its first-ever safety study on e-scooters and e-bikes, which will explore regulations and enforcement. Under current regulations, there are product safety requirements that manufacturers must follow before selling items, it said. A government spokesperson said: The Office for Product Safety and Standards is working closely with the fire service to review all evidence of fires involving lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters, to ensure the product safety issues are properly assessed and action is taken to protect users from harm. 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 }} Police are investigating a Tube driver who has been slammed for leading a chant of "free, free Palestine" on a London Underground train. Minister for London Paul Scully said staff should "focus on the day job" and warned against stoking tension in the capital following Hamas deadly attack on Israel two weeks ago, after footage of the chant circulated on social media on Saturday afternoon. Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall told The Independent the behaviour was completely unacceptable. She said: This is completely unacceptable behaviour and TFL [Transport for London] must urgently investigate. British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean OCallaghan said the force was "aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by the driver of a train in London earlier". "BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter." After around 100,000 protesters took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London, footage posted online by Open Democracy journalist Ruby Lott-Lavigna appeared to show the chant being led over the trains speaker system. The driver of the Central line service said "free, free" to which the passengers responded "Palestine" a popular chant at protests. Tory minister Mr Scully said: "At a time when theres not enough emphasis on the difference between the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas and the legitimate concerns of Palestinians in Gaza, its really important that Londoners dont stoke the tension in our capital where Jews live peacefully alongside Muslims. It's really important that Londoners don't stoke the tension in our capital where Jews live peacefully alongside Muslims Paul Scully "Informed protest can bring change. But on-trend bandwagons can cause rifts and fear in communities, increasing the threat to the safety of some passengers travelling among those crowds." He suggested Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL "need to get staff focused on the day job of safely moving people from A to B". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage called on Mr Khan to fire the driver. He said: It is not the job of a TFL driver to make political statements on a public announcement. Security minister Tom Tugendhat wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Londons tubes are for everyone. Many will find this intimidating." He said the mayor "has a duty to help all Londoners feel safe". A TfL spokesperson said: We are committed to providing a safe network for everyone and want to make it clear that London is open to everyone. We are aware of footage circulating on social media that suggests political comments may have been made by one of our Tube drivers. We are working to scrutinise the footage and ensure the circumstances are urgently investigated. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Orionid meteor shower which has been illuminating the skies this month is set to peak on Saturday. The display, which began on 2 October and will continue until 7 November, is caused by debris from the famous Halleys comet. While the comet only passes by Earth roughly every 75 years and is next expected in 2061, the meteor shower lights up the night sky every year. As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris which enters Earths atmosphere at speeds of around 41 miles per second and burn up due to friction with air. As the shower reaches its peak on Saturday, it will produce up to 25 meteors every hour, and will remain visible until the early hours of Sunday. Meteors will emanate from just above the Orion constellation best known for its three-star belt. The best way to view them is to look up to an area of the sky near the upraised club of Orion, which is best observed just before dawn. Visible to the naked eye in all parts of the sky in both the northern and southern hemisphere, all that is needed to spot the display is a clear sky and a safe spot away from street lights and other light pollution. Nasa advises allowing up to 45 minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness when looking up at the night sky, ideally without looking at phone screens or other light sources. (PA Graphics) Once adjusted, it should be possible to see light trails from the meteors with the naked eye, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to minutes. While Storm Babet means views of the Orionid shower may be somewhat obscured in the UK this weekend, it will remain in its maximum phase until next Saturday, and will still be visible until 7 November. Dr Minjae Kim, of the University of Warwick, said: The Orionid meteor shower is a globally visible celestial event that takes place from 2 October to 7 November, with its peak occurring on the night of 20 to 22 October, typically between midnight and dawn. However, you can easily catch a glimpse of this meteor shower for several days before and after its peak date on your annual calendar. This meteor shower holds a special place in the annual calendar of celestial events, not only for its breath-taking beauty but also because it originates from the debris of one of the most renowned comets in history, Halleys Comet (1P/Halley). So, if you missed already the once-in-a-lifetime event of Halleys Comet, dont worry, this annual Orionid meteor shower offers a unique opportunity providing some compensation. Additional reporting by PA 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 }} Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of central London on Saturday afternoon to show their support for Palestinians caught up in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. Demonstrators sang pro-Palestine songs and waved placards calling for an end to Israels bombing of Gaza in response to Hamass terror attack earlier this month. Some of those present sang from the river to sea, Palestine will be free a chant that Jewish community leaders have described as antisemitic. Those who defend the slogan describe it as a long-standing protest chant that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. Others called for an end to Israels occupation of territories in the West Bank, holding signs saying Freedom for Palestine. People were also heard singing Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. Ahead of the protest, James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, reiterated the UKs support of Israels right to defend itself. He also called on Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and urged the countrys defence forces to act with discipline in its response to the Hamas attack. (AFP/Getty) He warned that failure to show restraint could spark wider instability in the Middle East at a time of heightened political tensions around the globe. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on 7 October, he told an international peace summit in Cairo, Egypt. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. His comments came as the first of a convoy of aid was finally allowed into besieged Gaza through the border with Egypt, known as the Rafah crossing. The frontier was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza, but only a handful have so far been let through. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Protesters in central London (AFP/Getty) Back in London, the Metropolitan Police said that, as of 2pm, up to 100,000 people had joined the protest, which was organised by the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held a separate demonstration in central London on Saturday calling for Muslim armies to rescue the people of Palestine. The group of around 100 people stood on Balfour Mews, just off the street from the path of the main protest. Speakers addressed the crowd in Arabic. A large banner read Muslim armies, rescue the people of Palestine. The number of dead in Gaza rose to 4,385 on Saturday, with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated two weeks ago, the Palestinian health ministry said. The dead included 1,756 children and 976 women. 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 }} Watch as thousands of Palestinian supporters are expected to gather in London and converge on Downing Street on Saturday 21 October as diplomatic efforts intensify to allow access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure the release of hostages. The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened this morning to allow an aid convoy into the besieged territory. Foreign secretary James Cleverly said it was a lifeline for those suffering in Gaza, but added the opening of the crossing could not be a one-off event. Late on Friday, it was confirmed by Israel that Hamas had freed an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its 7 October rampage through southern Israel. As the situation in the Middle East continues to unfold, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has said it expects 200,000 people to join what it claims will be the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history on Saturday in London. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report 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 Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britain risks being left in the cold if it continues to ignore the growing calls for slavery reparations, an MP has warned, ahead of a conference to demand action. Campaigners from around the world are gathering in London this weekend for a two-day meeting to discuss the governments responsibility to consider compensation. Momentum has gathered in the past year with calls for action coming from the Caribbean, Africa, the EU and the UN, building upon years of lobbying around the cause from campaigners. Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Afrikan reparations, said the UK had a moral duty to face up to the past. A reparations protest in Jamaica during last years royal tour of the nation (AFP via Getty Images) The UN, other governments, religious institutions and NGOs have all accepted they need to address their role in the enslavement of African people and the legacy of racism and impoverishment it left behind, she told The Independent. The UK has a moral duty to address reparative justice. For decades grassroots organisations have fought for the level of recognition that the global reparations movement has today. If our government doesnt value the moral arguments they should take heed of the changing global power structures, and understand that we may be left in the cold if we do not address these historical injustices now. Leading figures in the reparations movement, including Dr Julius Garvey, son of renowned activist Marcus Garvey, and Diane Abbott, Britains first Black woman MP, are involved in the Westminster conference. Campaigners are looking to lobby the royal family, Lloyds of London and the Church of England as well as the government for financial recompense for their role in the slave trade. In September, 15 Caribbean nations joined forces to draft a letter demanding that European countries pay slavery reparations to the tune of 33 trillion, with Britain singled out for 19.6 trillion in compensation. White, aristocratic families such as Sir William Gladstones have recently opted to make financial donations towards the countries they owned slaves in (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Earlier this year, the UN called on Britain to take action over reparations, as part of a damning report into racism in the UK. The EU also hinted at the need for reparations, describing slavery as a crime against humanity. And in the summer, the Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, apologised for the Netherlands historical involvement in slavery and its ongoing effects, though the countrys prime minister, Mark Rutte, said the government would not pay reparations, going against recommendations made by an advisory panel in 2021. Though not quite the same as financial reparations and more donations than anything else, white, aristocratic families who benefited from slavery decided to make small monetary payments to the countries they owned slaves in, from former British prime minister Sir William Gladstones descendants in Guyana, to the Trevelyan family with Grenada. Last month, an arm of the National Health Service in Scotland announced it would make non-financial reparations for its historical links to slavery following new research highlighting its connections with the slave trade. At the beginning of this year, the Church of England committed 100m to a fund it is setting up to compensate for its historical benefit from the international slave trade. Grenada PM in conversation with Dickon Mitchell (Que Media) But the UK government is continuing to resist reparations. Prime minister Rishi Sunak refused to apologise for the UKs role in historical slavery and colonialism, rejecting a call to commit to reparations when challenged in the Commons in April. In a recent exclusive interview with The Independent, the prime minister of Grenada issued fresh calls for Britain to pay slavery reparations to its former colonies. Following the Gladstone familys apology, Guyanas president, Irfaan Ali, renewed calls for Britain to pay slavery reparations, as did Ghanaian president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo King Charles attends a reception and discussion to learn about opportunities for young people and the role of entrepreneurship in Africa at Garrison Chapel in London (PA Wire) Ahead of King Charles IIIs coronation in May, more than a dozen Commonwealth representatives called upon the monarch to apologise and pay reparations for slavery . Since Barbados became a republic in November 2021, replacing the late Queen with a president as its head of state, other nations including Jamaica have signalled an intention to do the same, breathing new life into the reparations movement. The future role of the monarchy in the realms came under renewed scrutiny following the death of the Queen and reparations protests surrounding royal trips to Caribbean countries by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh last year. 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 }} Communities in Scotland are braced for more flooding after Storm Babet brought unprecedented rainfall and a red warning was extended. First Minister Humza Yousaf warned of continuing dangers as he paid tribute to two people who died. Rescues took place throughout Friday as hundreds of houses were flooded after the River South Esk breached its banks. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) warned a second major river, the Don, could breach on Saturday. As of Saturday morning, Sepa has issued severe flood warnings for Marykirk in Aberdeenshire as well as parts of Dundee and Angus, with 17 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts also in place. A village which is only accessible by helicopter during flooding was preparing for more deluges after being cut off on Friday. The River Don is expected to flood after the Met Office red warning was extended while the A90 remains closed and 35,000 homes lost power on Friday, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) responded to nearly 70 weather-related crises. Mr 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. Dr Fiona Work, 58, set up the Edzell flood group in 2013 after she spent 10 months in temporary accommodation due to floods, which caused 1 million 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 vigilant overnight. We are really fortunate to have a very proactive community. We set up the flood group in 2013 after 1 million damage was caused by flooding. I flooded in 2012 and spent 10 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. 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. We have got these burns round about, if they were all breached you couldnt get in or out. 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. A 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate in Angus was washed away by torrential flood water, while a road in Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, where some houses were evacuated, also collapsed. A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council 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. Mr 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. Met forecaster Jonathan Vautrey told the PA news agency: The focus of the rainfall from Saturday shifts back northwards over towards eastern and northern Scotland. Some parts of those areas have seen about a month and a halfs worth of rain already, but theres another band thats forecast to track its way northwards over the course of the night and push its way towards relatively similar areas. So there are further red and amber rain warnings in force for Saturday, with the potential to push those areas close towards two months of rain in the span of three days. Weve already seen significant impacts of the rain thats already fallen. So further rainfall could well exacerbate some of those impacts and provide those flooding issues, issues with transportation and potential power cuts as well. 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 }} Thousands of people have protested in support of the besieged Gaza Strip in London and other UK cities. The Metropolitan Police said up to 100,000 took part in a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday, with other rallies in Cardiff, Glasgow and Birmingham. Others protested outside the BBCs MediaCity headquarters in Salford, Greater Manchester, over its reporting of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians attacked in the October 7 incursion. Over 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Thousands gathered at Marble Arch in central London for Saturdays march, clutching signs emblazoned with Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. Chants included Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. A total of 10 arrests were made linked to the protests in London, the Metropolitan Police said. Five officers received minor injuries, the force said. The arrests were for offences involving fireworks, public order and assaulting an emergency service worker. Protesters also chanted from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, despite controversy around the slogans meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed that it is widely understood to call for the destruction of Israel. Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust have asked prosecutors to clarify if chanting the slogan is a criminal offence. However, those who defend the slogan describe it as a long-standing protest chant that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held a separate demonstration in central London on Saturday calling for Muslim armies to rescue the people of Palestine. The group of around 100 people stood on Balfour Mews, just off the street from the path of the main protest. Speakers addressed the crowd in Arabic and a large banner read Muslim armies, rescue the people of Palestine. In Salford, the BBC was accused of bias in its coverage of the conflict. Martin Odoni, from Eccles, who attended the rally, said: Im Jewish and every time Israel commits an atrocity it claims its doing it in the name of Jewish people. I think its my duty to come out here and show, actually, a lot of Jews do not support what Israel is doing. An awful lot of us are not Zionist at all. When theyre massacring Palestinians I more than dont approve, I utterly condemn it. On his criticism of the BBC, he added: Well, look at the headlines they put up. When Israelis are killed they say these Israelis were killed by Palestinians. When Palestinians get killed, its Palestinians died when Israel attacked. Theres a blatant bias in the way the BBC reports these events and somebodys got to tell them. The BBC has also been been criticised over its use of language to describe Hamas and its coverage of the immediate aftermath of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. BBC director general Tim Davie met the Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl and its chief executive Michael Wegier on Friday to discuss their outrage at Hamas being described as militants instead of terrorists. The Board of Deputies, which describes itself as the voice of the Jewish community in Britain, later 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. A BBC spokesperson said: Careful consideration has been given to all aspects of our coverage to ensure that we report on developments impartially and accurately. In amongst thousands of hours of news broadcasting, there will always be some errors and live reporting will always bring with it huge challenges, particularly when it is on the ground in the toughest of circumstances. Where we do get things wrong, we always hold up our hands as we did this week when one of our correspondents was wrong to speculate along with others about the cause of the al Ahli hospital explosion, even if he at no point reported that it was an Israeli strike. We have 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. 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 }} Aid has begun to flow into Gaza after the border crossing with Egypt was opened, with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly saying it was a lifeline for those suffering in the territory. But he said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been besieged and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Mr Cleverly, who was visiting Egypt on Saturday for the Cairo Peace Summit, said: Trucks carrying lifesaving aid are beginning to cross at Rafah into Gaza. This aid is a lifeline for those suffering. But it cannot be a one-off. The UK continues to push for humanitarian access to Gaza. Mr Cleverly will use the Cairo summit to emphasise the UKs call to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict spiralling into a wider Middle East war. ActionAid Palestine spokesman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Before this crisis began, around 500 aid trucks would normally cross the border every day providing a vital lifeline to millions of Gazans who were already facing a humanitarian crisis, she said. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development in the crisis when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were released following talks brokered by Qatar. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: I welcome the release of two US hostages in Gaza and thank Qatar for their leadership on this issue. Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Meanwhile in the UK the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has said it expects 200,000 people to join what it claims will be the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history on Saturday. PSC director Ben Jamal said: They will be calling for an end to violence, to all attacks on civilians, and for our Government to end its complicity with the root causes of the violence Israels system of military occupation, colonisation and apartheid. Speakers at a rally outside Downing Street will include Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack, UCU general secretary Jo Grady and RMT senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has warned that the Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing a contagion of conflict across the Middle East. The Prime Minister, who visited Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks with key regional players this week, said the leaders agreed we need to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the war. He said his two-day visit to the region demonstrated that the UK stands in solidarity with them against terrorism and that there can be no justification for the atrocities committed by Hamas. I wanted to sit down with other leaders and talk face to face. Because in times of tension and division, its more important than ever to accelerate diplomatic efforts, he added. He said the opening of the border crossing with Egypt to allow an aid convoy into the Gaza Strip was an example of what could be achieved. The reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza is testament to the power of diplomacy, with the US, Israel and Egypt brokering an agreement to ensure vital aid reaches the Palestinian people. Were working closely with Egypt to ensure that the UK plays our part in ensuring those Palestinians get the food, water and medicine they so desperately need. The overwhelming view I got from everyone I spoke to this week was that we need to do everything possible to stop a contagion of conflict in the region. We need to keep our aspirations for a more peaceful and stable future firmly in our sights as we work together to defeat the evil of terrorism. The Prime Ministers comments came after 100,000 people marched through central London in support of the Palestinian people in response to Israels siege of the Gaza Strip. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he wanted Britons trapped in Gaza to be able to leave through the Rafah crossing but acknowledged it was not yet safe enough to do so. Ultimately, we want to see the Rafah crossing safe enough that foreign nationals in Gaza are able to leave, he told the Sunday Times. We are only going to call British nationals forward when we are confident that there will be a long enough period for them to credibly, safely leave Gaza and we are not yet in that position. He said officials were working very, very closely with the Egyptian government, with the Qataris and other players in the region including Israel, of course to try and get to a situation where there is enough stability, for long enough, to give British nationals a credible opportunity to leave. At a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday, Mr Cleverly said Israel had the right to defend itself against Hamas in Gaza. But with the Israeli military preparing a ground offensive, Mr Cleverly said they needed to show discipline, professionalism and restraint in actions against Hamas. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who were kidnapped on October 7, Mr Cleverly said. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. Mr Cleverly said he had raised the need to protect civilians with the Tel Aviv government. He added: Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded and bombarded by Israel after its Hamas rulers launched a series of terrorist raids on October 7. The frontier with Egypt at Rafah was opened on Saturday morning to let 20 trucks of desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. Hundreds of foreign passport-holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. ActionAid Palestine spokeswoman Riham Jafari said the Rafah crossing convoy was barely a drop in the ocean and called for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground, she added. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Hamas said it released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatar government. Mr Cleverly said: We are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza, and we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid which much which many of us have partially funded reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need. In London, pro-Palestinian protesters chanted from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, despite an ongoing controversy around the slogans meaning. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously branded the slogan antisemitic and claimed it is widely understood to call for the destruction of Israel. But the Metropolitan Police said while we can envisage scenarios where chanting these words could be unlawful such as outside a synagogue or Jewish school its use in a wider protest would not be an offence and would not result in arrests. Vietnam is set to sign rice export agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Relevant ministries and sectors would be urged to speed up the signing, he said at separate meetings with Indonesian president Joko Widodo and the Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The Philippines, Vietnams biggest rice market, has started buying again after nearly a months suspension due to its imposition of domestic price caps. On Oct. 4, the Philippines lifted the ceiling prices for conventionally milled and well-milled rice varieties. In the first nine months of this year, Vietnam exported 2.4 million tons of the grain worth nearly US$1.5 billion to the Philippines, the latter representing a 20% increase year-on-year. Earlier this year Indonesia invited bids for supplying 500,000 tons of rice, including from Vietnam. It imported 871,000 tons from Vietnam in the first nine months, 16 times the volume in the same period last year. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows Vietnam earned nearly $3.7 billion from rice exports in the first nine months, up 40.4%. The average rice price was 14% up at $553 per ton, occasionally climbing to nearly $650. Besides rice, Chinh and Marcos also agreed that the two countries should create favorable conditions for increased bilateral trade to soon take it to $10 billion. Chinh and Widodo promised to increase trade in agricultural products and promote early ratification of an agreement between the two governments for delimitation of their exclusive economic zones. 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 retired man with Parkinsons disease has said he felt safer on holiday in Jordan than dealing with the dangerous situation which awaited him as he got a train home from Kings Cross station. John Hinson, 61, who lives in North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, arrived in London on Friday after a two-week holiday to Jordan. He said people were crashing against the barrier as they flocked for trains at Kings Cross and his assistance was cancelled before he boarded a Hull Trains service to Brough on Saturday morning. It was just so dangerous, he told the PA news agency. I have Parkinsons and I have difficulty walking, so my wife (Joanna, 61) went to ask for assistance and all assistance was cancelled. We were basically told that if we cannot get the train, we need to cancel and come back again. He said the assistance would have been a wheelchair to the train, but as this was not arranged for him, he just made the train, shuffling behind his wife who had to drag two large suitcases. I took my medication early to ensure I had enough dopamine in my system to cope. There did not seem to be any police about or any management, he added. When I got to the station, one noticeboard said the train was delayed and another said it was cancelled, so it was hard to know exactly what was happening with the train. The platform number was eventually announced and there was a mad rush to get to it people were jumping over and pushing through the gaps in the barrier, so there was a lot of chaos trying to get on a train. He said that the Hull train was due to leave at 9.48am and was half an hour late, having waited a further 10 minutes for passengers at Kings Cross, and arrived in Brough about 12.50pm. When we were on holiday in Jordan, there was a lot of police activity, but never one time where I felt threatened, it was quite safe. That was not the case at Kings Cross this morning as there was a high chance of a crush, he said. Luce Armstrong, 24, from London, said she experienced absolute chaos at the station. Im surprised nobody was hurt, there were children and older people with no assistance getting through the very frustrated crowds that were getting more and more crushed, she told PA. There were no clear instructions for the crowd at all, nobody had any idea what was going on. Thankfully, after I queued for around two hours I got through. The lack of communication was frustrating for everyone. They eventually came and put some barriers up to try to create some space. She planned to get the 9.33am train to Leeds, which did not run, but she was able to get on a train which left at 11am and said LNER staff were great and made sure everyone in our carriage had water and even food. A spokesperson from Network Rail said: While many of the countrys rail services are running well today, were sorry to say that there is still severe disruption in areas worst-hit by Storm Babet, including Scotland, the North East and East Midlands. In particular, Kings Cross station has crowd-control measures in place this afternoon while LNER services to the North East are severely disrupted. We are asking people to check before they travel today, to avoid wasted journeys. 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 }} Sky News has said on-air remarks by Kay Burley about the Palestinian ambassador gave a potentially misleading representation of his views. A total of 1,537 complaints were made to the media watchdog Ofcom about the Breakfast With Kay Burley programme on October 10, which took place following Hamas launching an attack on Israel. On Saturday, news presenter Anna Jones said on Sky News: Earlier this month we reported that the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Dr Husam Zomlot, said in reference to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 that Israel had it coming. We recognise that this is not what Dr Zomlot had said in an earlier interview. Sky News also accepts that this gave a potentially misleading representation of Dr Zomlots views. On Wednesday, Ofcom said The complainants alleged Kay Burley misrepresented comments made by the Palestinian ambassador. While sharing a clip of Jones on Sky News, Dr Zomlot wrote on X, formerly Twitter: We thank @SkyNews for correcting the repeated misrepresentation of words I said in an interview with @CNN. I call on all UK and international media to be accurate and responsible in their reporting. In an interview with CNN on October 7, the head of the Palestinian mission in London had accused Israel of a war crime against civilians. Dr Zomlot, who does not represent the militant group Hamas and is the most senior Palestinian diplomat in the UK, also condemned the killing of civilians by Hamas. He also said: What is more tragic or equally tragic is the blindness and the deafness of the world and the international community for so many years of the warnings we have been saying that this was coming. And what is more tragic or equally tragic is the blindness and the deafness of the world and the international community for so many years of the warnings we have been saying that this was coming. Israel knew that this was coming their way. We, the national movement of Palestine, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation), have found a different part 30 years ago, we have committed to what the world asks us; recognise Israel, commit to negotiations of non-violence Israel was expected to do one thing only, roll back its occupation Its a consequence. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News on October 10 that he would not share a platform with Dr Zomlot. During the programme, Ms Burley questioned Labour MPs about Dr Zomlot being reported to appear at a Labour Friends of Palestine event, which took place on the fringes of the party conference, alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. She asked shadow chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden: Will the shadow foreign secretary sit with the Palestinian ambassador, appearing with him, at an event, given that the Palestinian ambassador basically said, the last couple of days, that Israel had it coming? Mr McFadden said Israel did not have it coming and he would attend the event. Also speaking to Stella Creasy, Ms Burley used the same phrasing to describe Dr Zomlots views. Labour MP Ms Creasy replied saying she was not aware of the incident youre talking about and the Labour party is united in condemning the violence. Later in the day, Mr Lammy gave an address at the meeting after it was confirmed Dr Zomlot would no longer be appearing. 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 }} Zac Goldsmith and Nadine Dorries have launched a fresh attack on Rishi Sunak, urging anyone who cares about animal welfare to vote against the Conservatives at the next election. Lord Goldsmith, a Tory peer and former environment minister, said anybody who cares even one jot about the issue should choose another party, claiming the prime minister could not care less. He was backed by Ms Dorries, the former culture secretary and Boris Johnson ally, who echoed his call for animal welfare supporters to ditch the Tories. Lord Goldsmiths latest broadside against Mr Sunak comes months after he quit as a minister over the PMs apathy toward climate change. The fresh outburst was sparked by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ricky Gervais and Dame Joanna Lumley accusing Mr Sunak of reneging on Tory promises to ban the import to Britain of lion paws and other hunting trophies. The celebrities urged the prime minister to introduce a bill banning imports from trophy hunting, which was a pledge in the Conservative manifesto for the 2019 election. The government has four times promised a bill to introduce the ban, but is yet to do so. You have not, were sorry to say, lived up to your words. You have reneged on your words, the celebrities said in a letter to Mr Sunak seen by The Times. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Lord Goldsmith, also a Johnson ally, said the Conservative Party had been pressing ahead with an Action Plan for Animal Welfare under the former PM but that had been reversed under Mr Sunak. The plan would have introduced laws banning live exports of farm animals, keeping monkeys as pets, importing hunting trophies from endangered species and the import of shark fins, he said. Lord Goldsmith said Mr Sunak promised to deliver the plan as part of his leadership campaign, and woolly-headed MPs believed him. Today almost every single part of that plan has been ditched by Rishi Sunak, he said. The Tory peer added: The stark truth is that anyone who cares even one jot about animal welfare will need to look elsewhere at the next election. The current PM simply could not care less. Ms Dorries, who has consistently criticised Mr Sunak since announcing her resignation as an MP in June, reposted Lord Goldsmiths criticism, suggesting voters concerned about animal welfare should vote against the party. In June, Lord Goldsmith told Mr Sunak his apathy on climate change would cost them votes at the next general election. The peer, who had been working on the environment brief at the foreign office, said: Even if this existential challenge leaves you personally unmoved, there is a world of people who do care very much. And you will need their votes. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: We are committed to delivering on our manifesto pledge to ban the import of hunting trophies and will continue to explore ways to bring this forward. 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 }} Forecasters have brought forward the end of the red danger to life weather warning in Scotland by six hours, but authorities remain braced for further flooding on Saturday afternoon. The alert for extreme rain during Storm Babet now ends at 6pm, rather than midnight, and covers a smaller area than previously solely Angus and Aberdeenshire. Rivers in parts of Scotland hit by extreme floods during Storm Babet are expected to hit a second peak later, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned. The agencys flood manager warned of a difficult day ahead, with a particular watch in Brechin, Angus where hundreds of people had to leave flooded homes and some areas near the River Don in Aberdeenshire. Searches continue for a man missing in Aberdeenshire said to have been trapped in a vehicle in floodwater, amid the devastating storm which has left two people in Scotland dead. The missing man was reported to Police Scotland at 3am on Friday at Marykirk. In an update on Saturday morning, Angus Council warned Brechin, and increasingly other parts of Angus, are now only accessible via boat. Warning the area is in the middle of a very serious emergency, the local authority urged people to leave their homes if they think they are in danger of flooding or have been told to evacuate. Dozens of people were taken to rest centres in Angus on Friday after being flooded from their homes, many rescued by the emergency services and coastguard by boat. Scotlands First Minister also urged people to heed the red weather warning and evacuate if instructed. Humza Yousaf posted on X, formerly Twitter: A red weather Warning remains in place for Angus & parts of Aberdeenshire. Please comply with the advice being given, particularly if you are asked to evacuate, it is for your own safety. We continue to engage with local partners & emergency services to co-ordinate our response. Pascal Lardet, Sepa flood duty manager, told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: The situation remains challenging with a difficult day ahead after the exceptional rainfall recorded since Thursday morning. Further rain is forecast to affect the flooded areas, particularly around Brechin but more widely across Tayside, Angus, Dundee and Aberdeenshire. There will be a second peak on large rivers, including the South Esk in Brechin and North Esk and we are also monitoring the River Don closely and there will be further surface water flooding. He said the peak in Brechin is not expected to reach the same levels as previously. As of 11am on Saturday, Sepa has issued five severe flood warnings for Marykirk as well as parts of Dundee and Angus, with 19 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts also in place. The agency warned of a considerable risk of flooding on the River Don at Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore on Saturday between 10am and 2pm and said across Scotland disruption is could continue until Sunday as river levels remain high. Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council chief executive, said there was a low level of incidents overnight and the areass five rest centres have not been used that much. He said: We do have more of a concern though for the rest of the day, particularly around the River Don area, the Inverurie area, and Kintore, Kenmay. So were just working with other colleagues from Sepa to take a look in terms of what the flood levels are on the rivers, to see if we need to take any more action later today with residents there. Dozens of roads have been closed by flooding and fallen trees, including major routes such as parts of the A90 and A9. Angus Council said most roads are affected in the region. Storm Babet has cut power from more than 33,000 customers in Scotland but the vast majority are now reconnected, energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said. As of shortly after 10am, work continues to reconnect 1,100 properties north of the border. 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 the Water of Lee, Glen Esk. 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 sheepdog came to the rescue of three ewes who had been cut off by floodwater as Storm Babet unleashed floods all over the UK. Llyr Derwydd, 44, a farmer from near Ruthin in Wales, said he had gone to check on his sheep in Flintshire on Friday afternoon when he saw three ewes stranded on this little spot on the field having been cut off basically by the water. With the water producing dangerous conditions for a rescue, sheepdog Patsy was the heroine of the hour. Mr Derwydd told the PA news agency: We thought wed better go check, make sure all the sheep are safe, and thats when we saw the three ewes stranded on this little spot on the field. It was getting smaller and smaller so we thought wed better get them off and make sure theyre safe. I just thought, Ill see if the dog will go. I gave her the command and she swam across. It was quite dangerous because I didnt know how deep it was. Shes a strong swimmer and she was able to swim across. I knew she was quite a good swimmer otherwise I wouldnt have done that, but I was quite surprised that she didnt have any issues, she just went. (It) saved me getting wet and getting into a dangerous situation and saved the sheep so it was perfect. Traffic Wales said flooding caused the A483 in Powys and the A55 in Flintshire to be closed, while Mr Derwydd said it was a mission to get there today. One social media user suggested a T-bone steak would be a worthy reward for Patsy after her efforts, but Mr Derwydd said that as a working dog her treat was a pat on her head, being told shes a good girl and an extra dog biscuit. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A team of documentary filmmakers discovered a long-lost shipwreck all thanks to thousands of invasive mussels. Husband-and wife-team, Yvonne Drebert and Zack Melnick, who specialise in underwater videography, were filming a feature-length documentary when they made the discovery. They found the vessel, named The Africa, about 275 feet down on the bed of Lake Huron near the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula in June. The sight of a mass of quagga mussels were what caught their attention. We received a tip that scientists doing an offshore fish survey had noticed an anomaly on their sonar readout, basically an unusual bump on an otherwise flat lakebed, Mr Melnick said in a statement. Ms Drebert didnt expect to find anything special but thought it would at least be a fun Saturday boat ride. We honestly expected to find a pile of rocks, she said. The film-maker spoke to The Independent about the discovery. We spend a lot of time on the water, looking around with our ROV. Weve come across some pretty amazing underwater landscape and aquatic life, but honestly - nothing can really prepare you for coming upon a shipwreck that no one has laid eyes on in 128 years, she said. The more we began to understand that wed really stumbled on something extraordinary. The couple were filming their documentary All Too Clear when they discovered the shipwreck (Photos Courtesy of Inspired Planet Productions) They used a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), which carries a high-resolution camera system. We were down for only a few minutes when a huge structure loomed up from the depths it was a shipwreck, said Mr Melnick. We couldnt believe it. Yet while the invasive mussels were the trail to the ships discovery they are also the reason that the wreck will eventually be destroyed. The mussels have been attaching themselves to every single wreck in the Great Lakes - an issue that the couples documentary, titled All Too Clear, was focused on. Archaeologists say that the mussels burrow into the wood and build on top of each other until they eventually crush shipwrecks. They also produce acid, which can corrode steel and iron on the ships. Invasive mussels engulfed the ship (Photos Courtesy of Inspired Planet Productions) Ms Drebert told The Independent that their documentary took on a new perspective when they realised how invasive mussels were impacting the waters history. Wed really focused our work on the ecological impact that the invasive quagga mussel has had on the Great Lakes - home to 20 per cent of the worlds freshwater, and hadnt much considered their impact on cultural heritage, until we found the Africa. Local maritime historian, Patrick Folkes, and marine archaeologist, Scarlett Janusas, researched the ship and said it was most likely The Africa. The Africa was built in 1873 and subsequently repurposed in 1886 as a steam barge to haul cargo, according to a statement. On 4 October 1895, The Africa set sail from Ohio with a crew of 11, loaded with coal and bound for Ontario, Canada. The ship was towing another barge called The Severn but neither reached their destination. The filmmakers robotic camera system spotted the ship by the masses of mussels attached to the wreck (Photos Courtesy of Inspired Planet Productions) The Severn was discovered broken up on the Bruce Peninsula and the crew was rescued. The Africa and its crew were never seen again. That is until Ms Drebert and Mr Melrick used their high-tech underwater camera system in June. Based on measurements and deposits of coal found on the lakebed, the team have been able to conclude it was the missing Africa. All Too Clear is set to air in 2024. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The father of US hostage Natalie Raanan has described the release of his daughter by Hamas militants as the best day of my life. Ms Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith, 59, both US citizens, were abducted and held for two weeks by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel earlier this month. On Friday night, Hamas released mother and daughter, who were being held in Gaza, for humanitarian reasons. Speaking from Evanston, Illinois, Uri Raanan, 71, said he was left in tears by the release of his daughter, who he described as doing good ... very good. Uri Raanan speaks to the media following the release of his daughter (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Im going to hug her, it will be the best day of my life, he added. The Raanans 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. 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 racked 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. The mother and daughter had been visiting Israel from Illinois when they were taken captive. They were staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas launched its deadly raid, killing some 1,400 people and taking scores more hostage. Natalie with her mother Judith (Supplied) Israel says Judith and Natalie were among around 200 people taken hostage during the rampage, although Hamas claims the figure is higher. The pair were leased ahead of an expected ground assault by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza, which is facing a humanitarian catastrophe following days of heavy bombing. Gazas health ministry says more than 4,000 people many children among them have been killed since Israel launched retaliatory strikes, vowing to wipe out Hamas. Water, food and electricity were cut off in the densely populated territory, with thousands of Palestinians fleeing south after Israel announced an evacuation order for the north. The first trucks carrying aid to those stuck in the area were finally allowed to pass through Egypts Rafah crossing on Saturday morning. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tonnes of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza. Palestinians are running short of food, medicine and water in the territory that is under an Israeli siege. The US embassy suggested such a move would enable foreigners to leave the besieged area. We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, it added. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Australia on Saturday for a rally in support of Palestine with calls for an end to Israels attacks. The rally took place in Australias largest city, Sydney, and saw an estimated 15,000 protesters marching with the Palestinian flag and demanding Israel stop bombing Gaza. The air and artillery strikes by Israel in the last two weeks in the narrow strip have already killed 4,100 people. Protestors chanted Palestine will never die and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Similar rallies were also held in other Australian cities, including Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. Today, we have come to tell the world that we stand on the right side of justice, campaigner Assala Sayara told the protestors to loud cheers, according to The Guardian. We stand on the side of humanity. One protester, Barbara ONeill, described Palestinians as my brothers and sisters, saying, They have been suffering genocide publicly and in a very high-profile way, according to the Associated Press. Several other protestors said they attended the rally because people had a right to know whats going on with the Palestinians and believed in the humanitarian cause. If they knew what the state of Israel has done and is continuing to do, they would support Palestine, Rally-goer James McGlone told AP. People demonstrate in support of Palestinians in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Sydney, Australia (via REUTERS) The assembly was given a last-minute green light after a previous rally against Israels actions ended up in a controversy, with some protestors chanting anti-Jewish slogans. A significant police presence was seen at the venue and organisers said they worked closely with authorities to ensure the march went on in peace. Last week, the premier of NSW was saying that there would never be another Palestine march in this state, protest organiser Fahad Ali said in a statement posted online. We fought against that and we won, so today were looking forward to a really successful, really wonderful event. However, the rally also received some pushback, with Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the top group for Australias Jewish community, said Saturdays Sydney rally incited more hatred in Australia and fractured fragile social cohesion. 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 }} Aid trucks have entered southern Gaza for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas two weeks ago but aid agencies have warned it is a tiny fraction of what is required to alleviate the humanitarian crisis there. There were cheers from aid workers at the Egypt border as the convoy carrying coffins and medicine passed through the Rafah crossing into the besieged enclave, which is also facing near-continuous bombardment from Israel in its war against Hamas. Gazas 2.3 million residents have faced what Israel has called a total siege as it steps up its assault on Hamas, whose cross-border attack saw 1,400 people killed and more than 200 people taken hostage. That has left supplies of fuel for power, water, food and medical supplies either running out completely or dwindling. After a week of intense negotiations between the US, Israel, Egypt and the UN, an agreement was struck for 20 trucks to make their way across the border on Saturday carrying critical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent to the Palestinian Red Crescent organisation. It comes as: The United Nations said the small convoy crossing the Egypt border was a drop in the ocean Unicef warned the delivery of water was a matter of life or death for children British foreign secretary James Cleverly urged Israeli military to show restraint to protect civilian lives in Gaza The trucks entered the southern area of Gaza, including the major towns of Rafah and Khan Younis where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the campaign of airstrikes and an evacuation order by Israels military, calling on residents to clear northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. The people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, told a peace summit in Cairo having visited Rafah on Friday to make a call for aid to be delivered. More than 200 aid trucks are said to have gathered in the area around the border. There I saw a paradox a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real-time, he said. On the one hand, I saw hundreds of trucks teeming with food and other essential supplies. On the other hand, we know that just across the border, there are 2 million people without water, food, fuel, electricity and medicine. Children, mothers, the elderly, the sick. Full trucks on one side, empty stomachs on the other. UN workers as trucks carrying aid arrive at the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt (Reuters) Aid agencies lined up to make clear that the current level of aid was nowhere near enough, as well as lament the lack of fuel being sent into Gaza. Juliette Touma, from the UNs Palestinian refugee relief agency, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the convoy was a drop in the ocean and that what civilians in Gaza really need is sustainable and continuous humanitarian access. Riham Jafari, advocacy and communications coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, said: We welcome any form of aid right now, but the level of aid being delivered into Gaza is a shameful insult to the millions of Gazans facing a humanitarian catastrophe. She added that hundreds of aid trucks a day would have crossed the border before the current conflict. The group said seven hospitals in the Gaza Strip were running out of fuel for generators, leaving incubators and life support machines unable to function. Ms Jafari added: Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or pump water from the ground. Were hearing stories every day of communities coming together to donate whatever fuel they have remaining to keep incubators going for newborns who are in a critical condition. British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta, who is working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said Gazas largest hospital, Al-Shifa, had run out of burns dressings on Saturday, meaning he could not properly treat children in need. The Israeli government has demanded to see proof that the aid deliveries are not seized or diverted by Hamas, before authorising further deliveries, and there is a suggestion that the next convoy may not enter until Monday. Palestinians walk by the buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City (AP) The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, said Cindy McCain, head of the UNs World Food Programme. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid. An illustration of the limited nature of the aid was provided by the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef). In a statement, it said that 44,000 bottles of drinking water merely enough for 22,000 people for one day were driven through the Rafah crossing as part of the 20-truck convoy. With one million children in Gaza now facing a critical protection and humanitarian crisis, the delivery of water is a matter of life or death. Every minute counts, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense not just for water, but for food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods and services. Unless we can provide humanitarian supplies consistently, we face the real threat of life-threatening disease outbreaks. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza also said the limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. There has been concern among aid agencies over the large-scale distribution of aid, with entire streets reduced to rubble by airstrikes. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office has said more than 140,000 homes nearly a third of all homes in Gaza had been damaged, with nearly 13,000 completely destroyed. For those still in northern Gaza, the chances of aid are even more slim. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, said: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, reiterating that no fuel would enter the territory. The military said it was continuing to intensify strikes in the north of the enclave. Israeli soldiers work on a tank at a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip (AP) Gazas health ministry also said that Israels air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than a million of the besieged territorys 2.3 million people have been displaced. That death toll includes an explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital which the ministry says claimed 471 lives. Israel disputes that number, saying the toll was far less. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the fenced border around the small coastal enclave for a planned ground invasion with the objective of annihilating Hamas. Overnight, Israeli fighter jets struck a large number of Hamas terror targets throughout Gaza including command centres and combat positions inside multi-floor buildings, the military said in a statement. Gazas health ministry and Hamas media said dozens had been killed and injured by the strikes. Hamas said it fired rockets towards Israels biggest city, Tel Aviv, on Saturday in response to those deaths. The Israeli military reported a fresh salvo of rockets from Gaza against southern Israeli border communities before dawn. There was no immediate word of any casualties. Meanwhile, during the summit in Cairo, Mr Guterres said that Hamass reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people as he called for the protection of civilians and the sparing of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and UN premises, from the bombardment. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greets United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East (via Reuters) Mr Guterres pointed to the wider context of war, saying that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability. Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialised, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realised, he said. The summit in Cairo was aimed at trying to head off a wider regional war as well as discuss the situation inside Gaza, but assembled Middle Eastern and European leaders were expected to struggle to agree on a common position. Arab leaders at the summit condemned Israels bombardment of Gaza and demanded renewed efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement to end a decades-long cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land. We wont leave, we wont leave, he told the summit. The United States, Israels closest ally and a vital player in all past efforts towards Middle East peace, only sent the charge d'affaires of its embassy in Cairo. Israel was also absent, meaning expectations were low about what could be achieved. Demonstrators hold up flags and placards during a pro-Palestinian march in London (AP) British foreign secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday he had spoken to the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law and to preserve civilian lives in Gaza, and for its military to show restraint. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped, Mr Cleverly told the Cairo summit. We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. Having said that the convoy of aid to Gaza on Saturday should not be a "one-off, Mr Cleverly said the international community needed to work to prevent a regional conflict, saying it was what Hamas wanted. We have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives, Mr Cleverly said. We must, therefore, ensure that Hamas does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful coexistence wins. In the UK, tens of thousands of people joined a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in London. Attendees held signs that read Freedom for Palestine and Stop Bombing Gaza. Phung Ngoc Hung, director of the Star Light company in Da Nang, is at a police station. Photo by VnExpress/Bao Nam Nine people in Da Nang are under investigation for allegedly forging documents to enable people to illegally migrate to Canada. Phung Ngoc Hung, 59, director of Star Light company, which is involved with labor export and sending students to Canada, and eight of his employees are being questioned for brokering people's illegal exit from Vietnam. In March two men named Phap and Luc of the central citys Son Tra District contacted Hung for assistance to go to Canada as a family-sponsored visitor. Authorities said Hung knew they did not qualify for emigration to Canada in that manner, but instructed an employee, Thuy, to create profiles for them to apply for visas. Thuy then instructed other employees, My, Sy, Linh, and Nhi, to forge documents including birth and marriage certificates for them. Hung also instructed Thuy to arrange for Phap and Luc to travel to Japan and other Southeast Asian countries to make their passports look more "appealing." Hung received around VND800 million ($32,600) from the two men's families. On Sept. 25 Phap and Luc went to Da Nang Airport but were prevented from leaving by the police for "exiting Vietnam with different purposes than what their visas stated." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch a view of the Israel-Gaza border as fighting with Hamas continues, following the 7 October attack. Hamas released two American hostages from captivity yesterday (Friday 20 October), 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 told a news conference. Im in tears, and I feel very, very good. The mother and daughter were visiting Israel from Illinois when they were taken captive. They had been staying in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near 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 }} Watch a view of the Rafah crossing on Saturday 21 October as humanitarian aid entered Gaza. The US embassy in Israel said the Gaza-Egypt border would open, suggesting that such a move would enable foreigners to leave the besieged Palestinian enclave. In a social media post, the embassy said it had received info that the Rafah crossing was to open at 10am local time (7am GMT). We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, the embassy added. On Friday, Rishi Sunak confirmed the crossing should reopen imminently to allow aid into Gaza, after meeting the Qatari and Egyptian leaders in crisis talks. The Prime Minister said that getting aid trucks into Gaza was the immediate priority. When this crisis unfolded, one thing we have prioritised consistently is getting the Rafah crossing opening, Mr Sunak said. Its been a feature of all my conversations, and Im very pleased that that will now imminently happen. 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 West Bank could turn into another front in Israels war as a rise in violent clashes since the attacks by Hamas leaves an ever-increasing Palestinian death toll, officials on both sides of the divide have warned. Thirteen Palestinians, including five children, were killed when a raid by Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem on Thursday turned into a prolonged firefight, with an Apache helicopter-gunship being called in to fire missiles. A sergeant with the Israeli border police was also shot dead during the operation by security forces to capture four Hamas fighters who had allegedly attacked Israeli settlers earlier this year. While international focus has been on the death and destruction of Hamass murderous raid into Israel, and Israeli air strikes on Gaza, there have been repeated confrontations and bloodshed in the West Bank. More than 80 Palestinians have been killed and almost a thousand injured in this area by Israeli forces and settlers since the Hamas attack two weeks ago, according to the health ministry in Ramallah, with a thousand injured. Around 900 people have also been arrested during that period, with Israeli snatch squads coming into the region which is nominally under the control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Flags and banners of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fly at the funeral of those slain at Nur Sham (AP) There is open support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad especially among many young Arabs. Flags and banners of both the Islamist groups flew at the funeral of those slain at Nur Sham. Khaled, 20, who said he was a member of Islamic Jihad, said: The Israelis are mad about what happened with Hamas and they are attacking Palestinians. Im sure were going to see more and more of these attacks especially when they have big difficulties in invading Gaza. Some of the clashes have been the result, say the PA, of actions of settlers, 700,000 of them now in the West Bank, who have started to act aggressively and with seeming impunity since the Hamas raid. There are claims of alleged complicity by the security forces. Four Arabs were said to have been injured by gunshots from settlers in Bethlehem on Thursday evening and another shot in Jenin. The commander of an army unit was dismissed after an internal investigation by the military into a case where five villagers were said to have been beaten and burned with cigarettes and one was sexually abused. A clean-up operation starts following an Israeli raid in Tulkarm in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (Reuters) An Israeli security official acknowledged that the number of arrests has risen significantly. There are now more preventive detentions. Some of them have taken place because settlers say they feel threatened. They [the settlers] are Israeli citizens and we have a duty to protect them, he said. But there is also an overall rise in security concerns. Hamas are active here, they have active cells and they have weapons caches. They want to distract us from Gaza by opening a second front. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an army spokesperson, continued in the same vein. Hamas are trying to engulf Israel in a two-front war, the threat has clearly been elevated, he said. Sabri Saidam, a member of the Fatah Central Committee the party that dominates the PA and a senior adviser to Mahmoud Abbas, the PA leader, said there is apprehension that Benjamin Netanyahus government may try to carry out a full takeover of the West Bank. Mr Saidam pointed out that Netanyahus Likud party has already passed a resolution calling for full annexation of the West Bank. A Palestinian uses a sling to hurl stones during clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah (Reuters) The Israeli prime minister has said he was promoting gradual annexation of the region. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September, he held up a map of Israel which included both the West Bank and Gaza as part of the country. The ruling coalition agreement between Likud and the hardline Religious Zionist Party calls for the promotion of a policy whereby sovereignty is applied to the Judea and Samaria the biblical names for Greater Israel which includes the West Bank. We are living in extraordinary times now and have to prepare for extraordinary situations, said Mr Saidam. Netanyahu said the map of the Middle East will be changed forever with the new Gaza war. He is in a hard-right coalition that advocates settler-based expansion, and he has now got carte blanche from the US and the West to do whatever he wants and hell get lots of American weapons. All this can come together in a bad way. Hundreds of West Bank residents had clashed with security forces on Wednesday evening after air strikes at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City reportedly killed several hundred people. Israelis and Palestinians have blamed each other for the blasts. The anger over deaths in Gaza was loudly expressed during a protest march in Ramallah following Friday prayers. There was also condemnation of a lack of international action over, they held, decades of Israeli oppression. Arab Barghouti, son of the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti (Kim Sengupta/The Independent) Ahmed Awad, a 20-year-old student, took part in a demonstration on Thursday evening. The bandaged wound on his arm which he showed was from, he claimed, an attack by settlers. We have a farm near Nablus and there are lots of settlers in the area, they are constantly harassing and provoking us now. My brother and I went to help my father prepare for the olive harvest and found some settlers on our land he said. We asked them to leave, they started shouting and then one of them went and got a gun and started shooting. I was hit on the arm, luckily its not too bad. We are in this situation now and our leadership does nothing. So it is not surprising that Hamas is getting support from a lot of people. Arab Barghouti, the 33-year-old son of the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, regarded as the leader of the First and Second Intifada, was among those taking part in the protests. He said: People have realised that the only way to respond to this cycle of oppression and violence is resistance and solidarity, they feel totally abandoned by the international community. There is no doubt that Hamas has gained popularity here. No one can condone some of the terrible things that were done during the Hamas attack. But people see Hamas as doing something, and they dont see the PA standing up for the people. Elizabeth Khaggo: The world doesnt seem to learn anything (Kim Sengupta/The Independent) Marwan Barghouti remains popular among Palestinians. According to an opinion poll earlier this year, if Mahmoud Abbas did not run in the next Palestinian presidential elections, and Barghouti was freed to take part as the Fatah candidate, he would get 41 per cent of the votes. Ismail Haniya, the international leader of Hamas, who lives in Qatar, would receive 17 per cent, and Yahya al-Sinwar the current leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip only 4 per cent. We havent been able to be in contact with my father since the Hamas attack, his lawyers havent been able to find out even where he was. The Israelis always hide him away whenever there is any trouble, I am not sure what they think he can do from a prison, said Arab Barghouti. Mariam Halaby felt that the Israelis missed a chance by not freeing Marwan Barghouti. He could have been a successor to Abu Mazin [Mahmoud Abbas] in Fatah and taken on Hamas politically. But everything has changed now, and that poll doesnt mean anything anymore. People support Hamas not because they agree with everything they do. I will not support Hamas. But they present themselves as representatives for disaffected people no one will listen to. Elizabeth Khaggo, 77 years old, came to the demonstrations with her son Jan and grandchildren Julie, eight and Ameer, 14. Her Armenian family fled to Palestine, then under British mandate, to escape the Turkish genocide of 1915 and settled there. I married a Palestinian and I am a Palestinian. I heard about all the barbaric things the Armenian people had to endure and how that affected generations. Im seeing that happening to Palestinians now. The world doesnt seem to learn anything. Its very, very sad, she said. Jan Khaggo was arrested by Israeli police during the first intifada and spent two years in prison. Will I see my son go to prison because he wants to join the resistance? Of course, I hope not. But the fact is that after all these years, nothing has changed, and we have to continue the struggle, he said, pointing to the crowd marching for Palestine. 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. 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 }} After weeks of being stranded at the border with Egypt, a small trickle of aid workers, foreign nationals, and critical medical patients are being allowed to leave Gaza, Palestinian officials announced on Wednesday. The only way out of the territory is the crossing point at Rafah, which has been sealed to all but a small portion of aid trucks following the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. Heres what you need to know about this critical linchpin for humanitarian aid: Who is allowed to leave? Officials at the Gaza border ministry on Wednesday released a list of about 500 people who would be allowed to cross, including aid workers from Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as foreign nationals from Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Japan and Jordan. More are expected to leave in the coming days. Egypt is also accepting 81 critical medical patients for treatment, state officials said. After persistent criticisms that the US wasnt doing enough to rescue Palestinian-Americans trapped in Gaza, a small group of Americans were able to cross through the Rafah gate into Egypt, according to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. Roughly 400 Americans are left inside and want to leave, he said on Wednesday, The Washington Post reports. How much humanitarian aid is entering Gaza from Rafah? The ongoing war has created a humanitarian catastrophe inside Gaza. More than 1.4m people, over half the territorys population, have been displaced in the fighting, according to UN officials. Gaza hospitals have run low on supplies and fuel, relying on emergency generators during the regionwide blackout, leaving several unable to function altogether, the health ministry reported. Nowhere is safe and we simply do not have enough essential supplies to provide for the survival of internally displaced people at this scale, Lisa Doughten, director of the UNs Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, said earlier this week. There is no way to leave by sea, with Rafah as the only crossing point. On 21 October, 20 trucks carrying medicine, supplies, food and water arrived via Rafah, delivering the first humanitarian aid into Gaza two weeks after Israels assault began. The first trucks to enter included medical supplies like trauma bags for first responders as well as 44,000 bottles of drinking water, enough for 22,000 people to drink in a single day, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The Rafah border opening followed several days of high-level international diplomacy during the deepening crisis including visits to Israel by US President Joe Biden and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Prior to President Bidens meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel had refused to allow any flow of aid to Gaza until the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas. Since then, the pace has risen to up to 80 trucks per day, though humanitarian groups have stressed that the aid is a drop in the bucket for more than two million people facing exhausted emergency rations and little water in Gaza. The UN says at least 100 such truck deliveries a day are needed to keep pace with the crisis, The New York Times reports. Deliveries of other crucial supplies like gasoline, used to power hospital generators and other critical infrastructure amid the devastation to Gazas electric grid, remain prohibited. Is the Rafah border crossing safe? The US Department of State anticipates that the border will remain fluid and unpredictable during the crisis, according to travel guidance for Americans who may still be trapped in Gaza. If you assess it to be safe, you 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, according to the State Department. We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this month. Israel has struck the crossing at least four times since the outbreak of war. The US administration is working with officials in Israel and Egypt to move American citizens and their immediate family members out of the region, with assistance from the US embassy in Cairo. A convoy of humanitarian aid trucks arrives in Gaza via the Rafah border crossing through Egypt on 21 October (AFP via Getty Images) Is the US supporting aid to Gaza? The Biden administration has pledged $100m in humanitarian aid to Gaza but international relief agencies have urged that much more is desperately needed. The United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas, President Biden said in a statement on 21 October. We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, and to continue working to protect civilians, consistent with obligations under international humanitarian law, he added. Egyptian aid workers watch as a truck crosses back into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on 21 October, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) What is the history of the Rafah crossing? The crossing at Gazas southern border with Egypt separates the region from the Sinai desert. It remains the only portion of occupied Palestinian territory that Israel does not effectively control, though Israeli military patrols the skies and has continued to bomb the area. Normally, only Gaza residents with permission and foreign nationals can use the crossing to travel between Gaza and Egypt. Following a 1982 treaty between Egypt and Israel, the state withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula it had controlled for nearly two decades. Israel then opened the Rafah crossing, which came under its control until 2005. In the two years that followed, prior to Hamas takeover of Gaza, roughly 450,000 people used the crossing. Border restrictions on people and goods into the region significantly tightened in 2007. An attack on border fortifications in 2008 prompted the movement of 50,000 Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt for food, fuel and other supplies. An average of 27,000 people crossed the Rafah border each month according to United Nations data from July. Up until that month, the border was open for 138 days and closed for 74 days this year. Foreign citizens wait at the Rafah crossing to be allowed to travel on October 21, 2023 in Rafah, Gaza (Getty Images) Rafahs crossing is now formally controlled by both Egyptian and Palestinian authorities in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have recently struck areas along the border including designated safe zones where Gaza residents were instructed to move amid ongoing bombardment campaigns, according to The Associated Press. Egypt has sought to prevent a large number of Palestinians from entering its country over fears of further destabilisation. Instead, Egyptian officials have pressed Israel to commit to allowing aid into Gaza. Of course, we sympathize. But be careful, while we sympathize, we must always be using our minds in order to reach peace and safety in a manner that doesnt cost us much, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi said last week. 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 London Kings Cross train station has been forced to close as Storm Babet brings severe disruption to Britains rail network. Train operators around the UK advised customers not to travel on Saturday due to widespread flooding caused by the storm, which has killed three people and seen trapped residents airlifted from their homes. With a second rare red weather alert for rain having been put in place and hundreds of flood warnings in force across England and Scotland, flights from Leeds Bradford airport finally began to resume some 24 hours after a plane skidded off the runway in high winds while carrying 195 passengers and crew, none of whom were injured. open image in gallery Emergency services attended the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford airport (Danny Lawson/PA) But with train lines widely inoperable, Kings Cross was forced to shut in order to manage passenger numbers on the concourse and on platforms, due to disruption to LNER services with footage posted on social media showing huge crowds amassed both inside and outside the station. At 5:30pm, Network Rail said it had removed the temporary crowd control measures, some five hours after they were announced. There is an extremely limited service in place due to flooding between Doncaster and Wakefield, LNER said, while there are no LNER services north of Edinburgh on Saturday, with rail replacement services also unavailable because of road closures. Remaining services may be subject to short-notice cancellations, the train operator said, while Avanti West Coast and Northern Rail have also warned against travelling. There are no services from Sheffield to Nottingham or Lincoln due to flooding, while trains are also unable to travel between Leeds and Doncaster, Harrogate and Bradford. open image in gallery Residents were rescued from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk (PA) All lines between Cheadle Hulme in Greater Manchester and Wilmslow, in Cheshire, are blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires. The line between Newcastle and Morpeth is also closed due to viaduct damage, Northern Rail added. Avanti West Coast said its services are severely disrupted and has asked customers to not travel between Crewe and North Wales. It said people should only travel between Preston and Glasgow or Edinburgh if absolutely necessary. At Leeds Bradford airport, the first flight out on Saturday was a Jet2 flight to Heraklion, which had been due to depart at 6am. It took off at 2.17pm. Tui customers who were due to travel from Leeds Bradford on Saturday were being directed to Manchester airport instead, the airline said. Experts say Babet is an extraordinary storm which has been fuelled by several factors, including the impact of a typhoon on the jet stream and rising temperatures. The two red weather alerts for rain in eastern Scotland are the first issued by the Met Office since Storm Dennis in 2020, which left at least three people dead. open image in gallery Several flood warnings were issued along the length of the River Don as heavy rain continues in Kintore, Scotland (Getty Images) People in up to 100 homes across Angus have been rescued from their flooded homes, with some airlifted out, according to the councils resilience, risk and safety chief Jacqui Semple, who added: Were not out of the woods by a long shot. In England, more than 300 flood warnings and three severe warnings around the River Derwent in Derbyshire have been issued by the Environment Agency since Thursday, with the greatest numbers in Yorkshire, and the East and West Midlands. Ongoing flooding is probable on some larger rivers including the Severn, Ouse and Trent through to Tuesday, said the agencys flood duty manager Katharine Smith. Additional reporting by PA Video footage from a hospital in Gaza shows doctors operating with only the light from their mobile phones, as the region struggles without electricity. Staff at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, have been forced to work with limited power after Israeli blockades shut down the regions main power station. Footage shared by ITV News shows a doctor stitching a mans arm as other medical workers hold flashlights from their phones to provide as much light as possible. We are in a very, very difficult situation, Dr Mohammed Qandeel, Nasser Hospitals emergency director, told ITV News. US president Joe Biden spoke on the phone with two hostages released by Hamas on Friday 20 October. In a video released by the White House on X, formerly known as Twitter, president Biden can be seen talking on the phone with Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, mother and daughter who were among roughly 200 people taken hostage by Hamas. I am so glad you are out, said the president to both women. I am just delighted we were able to get you out. Weve been working on it a long time. Were gonna get them all out, God willing, added Biden. A British-Israeli rabbi whose daughters and wife were shot dead in a Hamas terrorist attack has said he feels safer in Israel than the UK due to the current climate of antisemitism. Rabbi Leo Dee said seeing people in the UK marching in support of Hamas reminded him of Hitler supporters marching in Berlin, and he feels safer in Israel where residents are more prepared. His wife Lucy, 48, and daughters, Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, were fatally wounded in a shooting in the West Bank on 7 April. The family of seven, who moved to Israel from the UK in 2014, had been travelling in separate cars en route to a Passover holiday. Almost 100.000 protesters took to the streets of central London on Saturday 21 October calling for an end to Israels bombing of Gaza in response to Hamass terror attack earlier this month. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that up to 100,000 people had joined the protest, which was organised by the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Palestinian Ambassador Husam Said Zomlot also marched along the protesters after speaking on the stage in central London. Other protests took place across all UK, including in Dublin and Belfast with people protesting also in front of BBC studios in Manchester over their reporting of the Israel/Palestine conflict. A Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 plane takes off behind a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Changi Airport in Singapore March 28, 2018. Photo by Reuters Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot will offer special discounts on 370,000 air tickets from Nov. 3 as part of their efforts to spur travel demand. Singapores national carrier said the tickets are applicable to the airlines business, premium economy and economy classes for round-trip flights from Singapore to 71 destinations, nearly its entire travel network, the Straits Times reported. The discounts will be eligible for flights departing between January and September 2024. The tickets will be available at the upcoming Time to Fly travel fair scheduled from Nov. 3 to 5 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. In addition, the discounts will be available on the airlines website and app, as well as through appointed travel agents. Low-cost carrier Scoot said its discounted tickets will only be for one-way flights between November 2023 and October 2024. The discounted tickets will be available online between Nov. 3 and 16 on Scoot's website. According to Scoot, "airfares will start from S$68 (US$49.5) to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and S$140 to Taipei in Taiwan." A total of 1.13 million visitors arrived in Singapore in September, up nearly 45% year-on-year, according to the latest statistics released by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). In the first nine months, Singapore received over 10 million foreign visitors. Hundreds of Palestine supporters marched through central London on Saturday 21 October, setting off from Marble Arch at 12pm to converge on Downing Street. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has said it expects 200,000 people to join what it claims will be the biggest march for Palestinian rights in British history on Saturday. Sharing an image on social media website X, the Metropolitan Police estimated 70,000 protesters had gathered by 2pm. Aerial footage shows hundreds of people making their way through the streets of the capital on Saturday afternoon. Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, told LBC he expects the protests will continue every week over the next few months. Aerial footage shared by Britains Maritime and Coastguard Agency shows the scale of Storm Babet flooding in the Scottish countryside. Communities across the UK have been badly hit by Storm Babet. This was the result in Scotland, the coastguard wrote, sharing the footage on social media, urging residents to stay safe. People in up to 100 homes across Angus, East Scotland, have been rescued from flooded buildings, with some airlifted out, a local authority official has said. In Bridge of Dun, residents were airlifted out via helicopter, while in other areas those stranded were rescued by boats, including canoes. 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. Irish electric vehicle charger company Erapid is set to go on a hiring spree following a 30m investment from British multinational Aviva. The company, which trades through its CarCharger and EasyGo brands, is Irelands largest private car-charging network provider. The firm currently manages over 4,000 charging points in 1,500 locations across the island of Ireland. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, although it is understood that Aviva did not take a majority stake. Aviva, a British multinational specialising in insurance, made the investment through its Aviva Investors asset management arm, which had 223bn (256bn) in assets under management as of the end of 2022. Chris Kelly, the co-founder of Erapid, said the company currently employs 30 people at its base in Maynooth. It now plans to hire an additional 60 staff as it looks to rapidly expand its charging network. Of the extra 60 people well be taking on, most of those will be in the coming months, so its an extensive ramp up, he told the Irish Independent. We expect to hire at least half of the new staff in the next six months. Theyll be a mixture of staff focused on installation, sales, admin every part of the business will be bolstered. Much of Erapids network of electric chargers is classed as private or semi-private, where they are not typically available to the general public. Of the charge points we have, about 1,000 are public, on streets or places like supermarket car parks, he said. Most are semi-public, in areas like a factory car park where it is just available to employees and visitors to use. Mr Kelly said the company will now focus on expanding its public network following the investment. As part of the transaction, Rubicon Capital Advisors, an Irish-based financial services advisory firm and one of Erapids largest shareholders, will also increase its stake in the company. It said this will further assist with the growth of the business. Adam Irwin, a fund manager at Aviva Investors said the deal is a terrific opportunity to support the electric vehicle sector in Northern Ireland and the Republic. Conor Kelly, CEO of Rubicon, said the companys further investment into Erapid demonstrates our confidence in the business. We are also delighted to be making a significant investment in the build out of Irelands essential, and much needed, electric vehicle car charging infrastructure, he said. Paddy Cosgrave, the chief executive officer of Web Summit, is resigning from the tech company, the Sunday Independent understands. In a statement released this afternoon Mr Cosgrave said: I am resigning as CEO of Web Summit with immediate effect. "Unfortunately my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend. I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused. A Web Summit spokesperson confirmed that they will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible, and Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon will go ahead as planned. In a speech to staff yesterday, Mr Cosgrave said: I'm sincerely sorry. My actions have placed many of you in a situation or if you have received the most hateful and hurtful messages I think anyone can receive. COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 nearly bankrupted Web Summit. We survived last year, we dealt with over 200 speaker cancellations, some driven by the presence of journalists who many felt were pro-Russian and hostile to Ukraine. To be fair, it's nothing compared to what has just happened and what lies ahead. You won't like to hear this, but I think it should be said I think things will get an awful lot worse over the coming 10 days before they start to get better. But they will get better. Meanwhile, staff at the Web Summit have been told by executives that their jobs are not currently under threat due to the escalating boycott from major technology firms of the event. The company employs 200 people at its Dublin headquarters out of a total of over 300 around the world. However, staff have also been told that this is the biggest threat to the companys existence since Covid. The assurances come amid fears over the future of the company as Amazon joined Google, Meta, Intel, Stripe and dozens of senior technology executives in withdrawing from the Lisbon conference next month over remarks made by CEO Paddy Cosgrave about Israel. Executives in the company are bracing for further withdrawals from the conference on November 13th. The event had been planning to host up to 70,000 people. A spokesperson for the Web Summit was unavailable to comment on how many attendees are now expected. On Friday, a company spokesperson said that the event still expected to run a full programme. Withdrawals continued into Saturday, with Stripe confirming that it will not now have any presence at the Web Summit. The Irish-American payments firm, founded by Patrick and John Collison, had said that two of its speakers had dropped out in a personal decision-making capacity. However, it will not have anyone from the company showing up. Influential US marketing expert and podcaster Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at New York University, also confirmed he has pulled out as a speaker, while the 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. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and rapper LL Cool J had on Thursday disappeared from the site, while Sex Education actor Gillian Anderson confirmed she had pulled out. In his apology during the 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 the number of speakers 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. The Web Summit is currently planning to hold its next event in Qatar in February. It also holds annual events in Toronto and Rio and is planning to revive its Hong Kong conference, Rise, in 2025. Virgin Media Television has announced the appointment of Aine Ni Chaoindealbhain as its new managing director. Ms Ni Chaoindealbhain has worked as the broadcasters deputy managing director since March 2021 and will report to Virgin Media Ireland chief executive Tony Hanway. She also recently took on responsibility for all commercial operations at Virgin Media TV. Ms Ni Chaoindealbhain first joined the broadcaster as operations director six years ago. She has also held a number of senior roles in Irish television throughout her career, including positions with UTV Ireland, Sky News Ireland and RTE. She will replace current managing director Paul Farrell, who will step down from the role at the end of the year. Mr Farrell was first appointed as managing director in May 2020 after five years as vice-president of commercial at Virgin Media Ireland. During his time in the role, he introduced new channels and a number of digital platforms. Viewership numbers and commercial revenues also rose in the period, Virgin Media Television reported. Prior to joining the company, Mr Farrell also held a number of senior roles with O2, the Irish Times, IPG Mediabrands and Davy. Under Pauls leadership, Virgin Media Television has provided exceptional television programming, engaged Irish audiences and further strengthened the transition to digital, chief executive Tony Hanway said. "He has also assembled an exceptional leadership team and it is fitting that he is handing over the baton to Aine who will lead the team from strength to strength, he added. Ms Ni Chaoindealbhain said that the broadcaster had ambitious plans for the future. My key focus will be to build on the successful foundation already in place; leveraging our strengths in award-winning content, news, current affairs, sport, and digital services to drive innovation in Irish broadcasting, she said. Virgin Media Television currently offers four free-to-air channels, as well as the Virgin Media Player. Comedian Catherine Bohart: Ive had OCD for as long as I can remember, but treatment saved my life The OCD, bisexual daughter of a Catholic deacon, who will star in Graham Nortons new comedy show next year, talks about the existential crisis she faced post break-up, moving into a houseshare at 35 and how getting treatment for OCD saved her life Catherine Bohart. Picture: Matt Crockett Kirsty Blake Knox Sat 21 Oct 2023 at 03:30 You cannot have been born in the 1980s in Ireland and be living in a house share in your 30s and not feel like an epic failure, comedian Catherine Bohart says. A shame on the community! On the parish! The application to release 42-year-old gym owner Darren Service, of Ballysillan Road, was made at Belfast Crown Court where a judge said he could now be freed given that the threat to politicians from Ireland by loyalists had now diminished. Rescuers on the pier in Ballydavid, Co Kerry in Ocotber, 1977 following the shipwreck of the Skyhope cargo ship. What began as a comedy of errors when a large cargo ship ran aground not once, but twice, off Co Kerry, quickly turned into tragedy sparking a murder mystery when the ships cook turned up dead. It looked like a butcher shop, there was so much blood, said one of the rescue team members, who was first on the scene after a cry for help was heard over the marine distress channels. What unfolded in October 1977, would shock the small community in west Kerry for generations to come, a new RTE radio documentary has revealed. After a 20ft fishing boat in Limerick had drifted out to sea and was saved by a 200ft ship, the fishermen, from Ballydavid in Co Kerry suggested to the ships captain over a few drinks that he stop off in their village on his way home. To their surprise, he kept his promise. On arrival at the 150ft harbour, it quickly became apparent the monstrosity of a ship was too big. After an accident at the harbour, the Skyhope drifted out and became stranded on rocks. It sparked a mini-tourist boom in the area as people travelled from all over to see the ship, according to Skyhope, a radio documentary on RTE Radio 1. Meanwhile, the ships crew, including its English captain, Dave Potter who locals described as mad as a hatter and unfazed by the ships damage spent weeks in the pubs. The local watering holes did a roaring trade, with the party continuing every night on board the Skyhope. That all changed one night when things became crazy on the stranded cargo ship, after a fight broke out between two of the ships crew a Chilean cook and an Egyptian sailor who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Initially, joyous singing from the vessel could be heard over the marine distress channels. But then screams were heard and a voice came over the line, saying: A man has been murdered. First on the scene were the crew members of a Welsh salvage ship. They had come to tow the Skyhope out but failed after captain Potter tried to break his ship free to avoid salvage payments, subsequently crashing it again and damaging its equipment beyond repair. Walking into the kitchen, they found the Egyptian sailor tied to the table, having buried a meat cleaver in the head of Chilean cook Jose. Mohammed, the sailor had a crowbar driven through his cheek by captain Potter in an effort to calm down the PTSD-driven war veteran. While everyone else was accounted for, Potter, with his long hair and strange demeanour, was nowhere to be seen. What followed, as the documentary special tells, was a frantic few hours of a rescue operation, with a further shipwreck and streaks of violence. When brought back to land, all 13 of the shipwrecked sailors were considered suspects, gardai said. The documentary Skyhope airs today at 2pm on RTE Radio 1 Eamon Ryan: 'Ill put my faith and trust in the Irish people - and I think they will vote Green' Green Party leader talks about the climate fund and why he expects to double number of councillors at next election Green Party leader Eamon Ryan. Photo: Frank McGrath Philip Ryan Sat 21 Oct 2023 at 03:30 Eamon Ryan says he couldnt do his job properly if he was always looking over his shoulder and worrying about the next election. This is part of a series of stories on the third annual Ruby Valley Treaty Conference which was held at Great Basin College Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. ELKOOur Creator has all the answers, and he already knows that. Hes the one that made it work, Noowuh Knowledge Center vice chairperson Chet Stevens said. And we are here as a voice for that. So we do our part by learning to pray and trying to keep the animosity away from our prayers. Were the voice for everything here. All the water, plants and animals, he said. Thats why we have all these ceremonies, he explained. All those things help us denote what our purpose is here. He expressed his thankfulness to people who were helping preserve indigenous culture. During the Ruby Valley Treaty Conference at Great Basin College, a group of tribal representatives spoke at a panel to explain what issues they were fighting the hardest to solve. Thanks to the Western Shoshone Defense Project, the Western Shoshone people have spoken before the United Nations about their struggles. Much of the panels conversation involved discussion of tribal advocacy and their experiences with convincing political powers to understand their needs. If someone was going to label me and place me in a box, I suspect it would be the one labeled environmental activist, Noowuh Knowledge Center Chairperson Fermina Stevens said. While serving as a Te-Moak tribal councilperson, she found herself hard-pressed to choose whether to be in charge of money or in charge of land. She tried handling money but found she was not called to do so. When I looked at myself in the mirror, it was not straight. I was off. I knew I wasnt on the right now. Once I recognized this, I knew I had no choice but to defend the land. Fermina Stevens said she found herself working in tribal law, where for 10 years she learned about her peoples legal history. She discussed her work with the Western Shoshone Defense Project, and how her journey brought her to a place where the Western Shoshone came before the United Nations to discuss how their human rights had been violated. The so-called bandwagon that I find myself on is just one part of my journey that has been in constant motion for the past 30 years, locally, nationally and internationally. Over the past few years, the Western Shoshone have seen an increase of land privatization and resource extraction in their territories, including the recent lithium mining movement. Fermina Stevens noted that her team has spoken on mining projects around America and called for reform of the 1872 Mining Act, which gives U.S. citizens the right to mine on federally-owned land. We have also made progress on the international level with the United Nations Environment Programme, she said. The United Nations does not talk about protecting the environment, she said. They talk about how theyre going to mine environments sustainably into the future. Fermina Stevens said that north of Wells, Nevada are 23,000 acres of land that the federal government may potentially seize. Stevens explained her peoples side of the situation: one of land preservation. The Western Shoshone people are the grandchildren of those who refused to leave, who cared so much for the homelands and for everything that surrounded them, she said. They wanted to remain connected to their parents, so they refused to go to the reservations that were established as food sources were destroyed, and the men, women and children were killed. As we all know, we are in a changing world, and while we cannot change our past, we have the capability to ensure that grandchildren and great grandchildren have access to clean water, she said. Our water and land are being destroyed by a colonizing government and foreign corporate greed, Fermina Stevens said. As they search for their precious metals, they poison the resources needed for the survival of our future. We must hold on to the creator for strength and guidance. We must maintain grounding and focus for the children of the future. With decisions of international bodies, we now have tangible evidence of what we have always known. We were swindled. We know the lies and the deceit. We want a healthy future for our Mother Earth and for our children and grandchildren and for the plants and animals so that we can continue to live as Newe, the traditional way, Stevens added. We, our ancestors, created ponds to bring in the migratory ducks and other kinds of waterfowl, Shoshone Defense Project board member Joe Kennedy said. Now, when Europeans came in, they were homeless, they were looking for land, they were thieves, they were criminals, he said. And they were looking for something that they wanted that Indigenous people had. So one of the ways they dealt with our people was extermination, we got to get rid of them, we got to dehumanize them, we got to make them less than human to make this work. Kennedy said the U.S. government passed laws like the 1872 Mining Act to cover up their history of dehumanization, forgetting the meaning of the Bill of Rights. I hear archaeologists go to different spots, and they talk about different areas, and theyll say, Well, it looks like your people were not here, Kennedy said. I go, okay, there is something here. Know why there are no artifacts here? Because this is either a birthing ground, a bathing ground or a spot for protected animals. Euro-American society didnt care about those things, and they dont care about them now, Kennedy said. Whats happening to our mother? She is crying. That is her blood that they are pumping out. Noting how his people prayed over and conserved native plant species, Kennedy said they are supposed to be managing and protecting nature, and preserving what belongs to their heritage. He said of mining, They are after the gold, the silver, the stuff thats going to make them rich. But they dont care. After they have extracted all that stuff that they want, they leave, and they leave everything for us to deal with. Our land cannot be sold that belongs to us. It belongs to our future. It belongs to our past and that we cannot give up the fight, Kennedy stated. Kennedy noted how settler-introduced cows have brought diseases and led to elimination of bighorn sheep, and how chemical leaks have polluted water sources. Hopefully we got our point across, Kennedy said of speaking before the United Nations. We hope to further a lot of different things down the road and stop a lot of the stuff thats going on that is negative to our land, and definitely stop the privatization of our lands. We actually achieved the farthest-reaching international decision on Indigenous rights in 2006, from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Nevada Supreme Court member Julie Cavanaugh-Bill said. The U.S. tried every single argument. They argued there were other processes that could be used in the U.S. law, she said, but we prevailed on every single argument. We are here to fulfill our spiritual teachings, Cavanaugh-Bill said. And if we walk away, then we are walking away from our own mother, our Mother Earth, and our responsibilities. And some way, somehow, maybe many are disconnected, but they come from an original place. They have an original people, they have an original language and original songs and original prayers and original ceremonies, she said. We need to respect where were at right now. Young Irish couples are delaying having children because of high creche fees, Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman has said. The minister said people in his own social circle and constituents have both told him the cost of childcare is influencing their family-planning decisions. Mr OGorman secured another average 25pc cut in childcare fees in this years Budget, following on from a cut of the same rate announced in Budget 2023. It is estimated that the parents of over 100,000 children will eventually benefit from the cut to funds, which could save families up to 1,700 a year. Mr OGorman said the Government is now spending more than 1.1bn on early learning and childcare, after an 8pc funding increase of 83m in 2024. He said he has become aware of friends who have delayed having children because of high childcare costs. Its something Id be conscious of in terms of my own group of friends and even my family, he said. My husband became an uncle in the last two years, so its kind of closer to home now. But its also something I hear when Im out canvassing, particularly in areas where you have a lot of young couples who are concerned about their ability to afford childcare. And that is impacting on their decisions on when to have kids, and actually in terms of the number of kids they decide to have. So Ive been very conscious when I took on this role that the cost of childcare for parents is having a financial impact, but also a social impact on families and that has to be tackled. The minister said he has prioritised cutting childcare fees, as well as trying to increase the time parents can spend with their babies through extended paid parents leave. There was some disappointment from parents who learned that a promised average 25pc cut in creche fees announced in this years Budget would not be in place until September 2024. An average 25pc cut announced last year came into effect in January 2023. Mr OGorman also accepted that many parents will not see their creche fees drop by anything close to 50pc, as the National Childcare Scheme subsidies vary from person to person. Ive always been clear that its an average. We cant give an exact cost because everyone is paying different fees, or paying for different hours. So it is really hard to get an overall figure, he said. Some parents wont see the full 50pc. But some will see more than a 50pc cut, it is important to say that. Mr OGormans department has been working on a promised referendum on care in the Constitution, also referred to as the womans place amendment. The article of the Constitution has been criticised for inferring that womans place in Irish society is as a homemaker. Mr OGorman said he believed that the wording was demeaning to women, but that it had also offered no practical benefit to women who wanted to work in the home as carers. Theres been no practical benefit, no allowance, no payment has emerged from that provision over the years and it is demeaning to women. So we want to make sure that what we put in [the Constitution] is a recognition of care within the home, within families, he said. Whether thats a dad caring for a newborn child, whether its a parent caring for their adult child with a disability all of those caring relationships are hugely valuable, and our Constitution should recognise their value. Construction continues at the National Childrens Hospital in Dublin, seven years after it started. Photo: Colin Keegan The Dail Public Accounts Committee was updated this week on the latest cost overruns and delivery delays for the new National Childrens Hospital (NCH). Providing the information was David Gunning, CEO of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. The default opinion on the hospital quagmire is that the mess is typical of Irish public-service incompetence. Explanations centre on a badly written scope (true), construction inflation (also true) and accusations that its on the wrong site. What now for the Web Summit as the fallout from Paddy Cosgraves comments continues? 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 as Google, Intel, Stripe and Siemens have all 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. 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? Adrian Weckler 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. The school choir performing at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. Principal Frank Murphy speaking at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. Minister for Education, Norma Foley unveailing a plaque with 6th. class students at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. Past pupil Michelle O'Neill presenting one of her paintings to Education Minister Norma Foley at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School' extension on Wednesday. Minister for Education Norma Foley made the trip down to St. Aidans Parish School in Enniscorthy on Wednesday to officially open the extended and refurbished school. It was a day of celebration for teachers, students and parents as they gathered together to mark the occasion. The event kicked off with a speech from the schools principal Frank Murphy who gave a special thank you to the schools Board of Management and the staff and students of the school for their patience and enthusiasm during the build of the new school extension. He also thanked Minister Foley and her department for their help funding the project but added that even more is now needed as St. Aidans has reached capacity, despite the added space. Minister for Education, Norma Foley unveailing a plaque with 6th. class students at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. Minister Foley then took to the stage to congratulate the school community on their success and gave a special mention to the teachers of St. Aidans calling their hard work a remarkable gift to the Irish Education System. Students of St. Aidans were not left behind in the Ministers speech as she complimented their confidence as they greeted her at the event and acknowledged their kindness to each other, their teachers and herself. "I know there is a great deal more to be done here in term s of facilities and we in the department will work with the schools management and school leadership in relation to that, she said. But what you have and what you have achieved so far I congratulate you, but more so I congratulate you for the atmosphere that is here in the school, the Education Minister added. Principal Frank Murphy speaking at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. She then presented students of St. Aidans with a Cinealtas flag to compliment the work that the school does to ensure that all the children and young people are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of children and young people is at the forefront of everything. After the speeches were wrapped up it was time to cut the ribbon and declare the new extension officially open. A plaque has been made to be mounted outside the school to mark the official opening by Minister Norma Foley. The school choir performing at the official opening of St. Aidan's Parish School's extension on Wednesday. A painting by past student Michelle ONeill was then gifted to the Minister Foley as well as a painting to St. Aidans retired principal Peter Creedon who was also in attendance to celebrate the opening. The schools choir wrapped everything up singing two songs for the audience; one called St. Aidans Song and they also sang A Million Dream from the musical the Greatest Showman. Visitors were then invited to take a tour of the new school building and renovations before enjoying some refreshments. A woman who moved to Greystones recently has sought clarity on beach bye-laws in the area after one of her children was frightened by a dog that was off the leash down at The Cove. Sinead OGorman was at The Cove in the late afternoon on Sunday, October 15 with her sister and children (aged three and six), when a "sizeable" Irish Setter ran towards her son as he was playing near the shoreline. Sinead said she shouted out to see who owned the dog and at the "very end of the beach" there was a woman who indicated she was the owner. Sinead ran over to her son who she said was hysterical and tried to pack up, when the dog came at us again". He wasnt aggressive, Sinead said, but it was still disturbing for the child, and I went over to her [the woman] and said: Can you put the dog on a leash? And she said: Its after leash hours, its after 4.30. And clearly, I didnt know that. Sinead said she was a bit upset and it wasn't the nicest human interaction, never mind a canine one, given it was obvious that a screaming child is clearly scared. She has been living in Greystones for two months now and has observed that dogs being free to roam off their leashes seems to be prevalent on the beaches. She said both of her children have been attacked by dogs in the past and it can be very stressful when they are out and dogs are roaming unattended. "The prevailing attitude of dog owners is an F-you attitude, she said. I find that weird, rather than, can we figure this out?. Can we just be humans about this? Sinead took to a local forum on Facebook to see if any members of the community could enlighten her on this bye-law, where dogs are allowed to be off the leash after 4.30, as this dog owner suggested. While those who took to the forum to offer advice were sympathetic (one even suggested her son could be rehabilitated) there were no concrete answers, apart from one respondent who did post a link to Wicklow County Councils bye-laws, stating what dog owners can and cant do. These bye-laws, while dating back to 2012, still stand, and as with any rules, may seem to be open to interpretation at first glance. The rules governing the town's Blue Flag South Beach are clear, in that there is a blanket ban on dogs from June 1 until September 15. The rules also state: The Council may designate areas of the beach where dogs are prohibited. No person shall bring a dog into, or allow a dog under his or her control to remain in, an area so designated. On Blue Flag designated beaches, dogs and pets are permitted in the parking areas, on walkways and promenades in the back beach area only. Persons in charge of a dog on a beach shall ensure the following: It is on a leash or under adequate control. It is not causing annoyance to any person using the beach or worrying, chasing, injuring or disturbing any animals, birds or other creatures on the beach. It seems pretty clear then, that creature would include a child and therefore is governed under the latter. A dog owner could argue however, that The Cove in Greystones is not a designated bathing area and therefore the same rules may not apply. On this, the Council, pursuant with Part 19 of the Local Government Act, 2001, states that: "Beach means and includes the foreshore and any coastal water, bank, cliff, footpath, road, car-park, sands, sand dunes and rocks contiguous to the foreshore. This includes any sea for a distance from the strand to 200 metres (seawards) from the low water mark. The words seashore and foreshore have the same meaning as defined in Section 1 of the Foreshore Act, 1933. Since The Cove in Greystones seems to fit the definition above, and given there is no mention anywhere in the Beach Bye-laws for the County of Wicklow, of leash times, it would appear that dogs are not free to roam, at any time, and must obey the general Regulations and guidelines regarding the control of dogs as specified by the Environment Section of the Council, namely: All dog owners must display responsible ownership of their animals. Keep your dog under control at all times . . . Have consideration for others, such as guide dogs, the elderly and children, and keep your dog on a lead in a public place. However, in a statement to the Bray People from the Environment section at Wicklow Council, a spokesperson said there are no bye-laws in Wicklow concerning dogs on beaches, with the exception of dogs on Blue Flag beaches during the summer season. The Law states your dog must be accompanied by a responsible person and under effective control at all times. It adds that only restricted breeds (and strains/crossbreeds), which include Staffordshire bull terriers, bull mastiffs, Doberman pinchers, German shepherds, rottweilers and Japanese akitas, must be muzzled in public and kept on a short, strong lead by someone over the age of 16 who is capable of controlling them. Midleton in east Cork was hit by extensive flooding, with politicians promising support A Status Yellow rain warning has been issued across Munster and Connacht ahead of heavy rain. Met Eireann has issued the warning, valid from 6pm on Sunday until 4am on Tuesday. Rain is expected to be heavy at times with the chance of thunder, localised flooding and difficult travel conditions. Meanwhile, an orange weather warning remained in place for just two counties last night after millions of euro of damage was done in Co Cork after more than 120mm of rain a months worth of precipitation was dumped on the region by Storm Babet in just over 24 hours. Hundreds of homes and business premises in Midleton, Co Cork, sustained water damage in the floods. More than 500 homes across Leinster were left without power this Saturday morning following outages caused by the remnants of Storm Babet. Customers in parts of Wexford, Louth, Kildare, Meath and Dublin were without power. The ESB has apologised for any inconvenience caused, saying: "We are currently working to repair a fault affecting your premises and will restore power as quickly as possible." All connections are expected to be restored by this afternoon, according to the ESB PowerCheck website. Dublin and Wicklow were under an orange rain warning, with a risk of flooding in parts, which expired at 8am on Saturday. Met Eireann says today will be much drier, with most showers in the north and west, with highs of just 10C to 12C in light to moderate breezes. Sunday is also set to be largely dry, but rain, some of it heavy will move into the south and west in the afternoon, with highs of up to 14C. Heavy, thundery rain is expected for Monday, with more wet and windy weather expected into the rest of the week. President Michael D Higgins has said flood protections in place in Midleton were insufficient as the town recovers from the worst deluge and flooding event in its history. As the residents of Midleton began to clean up their town and homes after the devastating flooding, President Higgins yesterday said his heart goes out to them. Looking at the images that Ive seen of people in Midleton, Ive seen people who have spent all of their lives looking after their house, looking after their neighbours, and they are just devastated, he said, speaking following the closing ceremony of the World Food Forum in Rome, where a key focus of his speech was the response to climate change. I think its very important to realise as well from a government policy point of view and no doubt the Government is considering this is that whatever protections they had were insufficient. We are now in circumstances where the consequences of climate change as I have been speaking about here earlier are ones that are going to be visited on us again and again. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar states financial support will be given to homes and firms destroyed by Storm Babet Its very easy to say be resilient but anyone who knows the effect of water, even when the water itself has subsided and the [process of] remaking your house my wish as President is that they will get every assistance that is needed and beyond it to enable them to restore their community. The President praised the people of Midleton for their strength and sense of each other, which will be a great resource for them going forward. They, of course, need all the assistance, they will need immediate assistance. It will be over quite a period of time. Nobody can underestimate the consequences of damage like this, he said. In response to the flooding Midleton sustained, Finance Minister Michael McGrath said the towns 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. I expect the final bill associated with this major flood event is going to be very significant, Mr McGrath said. 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. Mr McGrath said the emergency flood relief scheme to help traders will be activated next week. 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, he said. 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. Cork County 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. Thankfully, yesterdays high tide did not trigger a repeat of catastrophic flooding despite the overnight rainfall. Midleton Fire Brigade members said 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 Midletons five medical clinics were hammered by flood waters. Dr Mike Thompson, of Imokilly Medical Clinic, said damage to their premises was initially estimated at more than 90,000. 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 wont come back from this unless they get significant help, particularly given the fact that most people here do not have flood insurance, he said. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during a walkthrough of the town earlier this week, told the people of Midleton that he understood their frustration but said the flood protection scheme was progressing. Hamas releases two hostages from US to send a message to Joe Biden UN says nearly a third of all homes in Gaza have now been damaged and 13,000 destroyed A Palestinian woman mourns over the bodies of her relatives who were killed in airstrikes that hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City. Photo: AP Nidal Al-Mughbrabi Sat 21 Oct 2023 at 03:30 The Islamist group Hamas said yesterday it had released two US hostages, a mother and daughter, for humanitarian reasons and to send a message to president Joe Biden, who has staunchly backed Israels war against it in Gaza. People in Gaza are writing their names on their hands so they can be identified if they get bombed to pieces Palestinian charity worker describes the situation on the ground and the escalating violence against civilians in Gaza after this months surprise Hamas attack on Israelis First person perspective of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from aid workers Kim Bielenberg Sat 21 Oct 2023 at 03:30 Omar Ghraieb, a Palestinian living in Gaza, has a special term for the scenes this week when hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza City and the northern part of the narrow strip of territory were instructed by the Israeli army to leave their homes and flee south. Image Courtesy: UNI/Xinhua Baghdad: Two rockets hit Friday an Iraqi airbase housing US 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. (With UNI/XINHUA inputs) Photo Courtesy: PIB The United States and Britain called on India to reconsider its demand for Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in India, voicing their apprehension after Ottawa withdrew 41 diplomats amid a row over Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing, Reuters reported. Canada has accused India of being involved in the murder of Canadian citizen and Khalistani militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June. India has refuted the accusation. "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," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, according to the Reuters report. "Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation. We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," the statement said. The United States and the United Kingdom have emphasised that they treat Canada's accusations seriously and, in tandem with London, have called on India to collaborate with Canada in the investigation of the murder, according to the Reuters report. While Western powers have been cautious about openly censuring India, analysts suggest that the US and UK are cautious about jeopardising their relationship with India, which they see as a counterweight to their primary Asian rival, China. Nonetheless, the recent remarks from the US State Department and the UK's Foreign Office are the most explicit criticism from Washington and London towards New Delhi regarding this matter so far. "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. After New Delhi asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in India last month, giving a deadline of October 10 to complete the action, it recalled 41 diplomats from the country. In response, Canada announced on Friday that it would temporarily halt in-person operations at consulates in various Indian cities and cautioned about potential delays in visa processing. 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." The Indian government had given Ottawa until October 10 to reduce Canadian diplomatic staff in that country to a level on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. A majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi were evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, according to a CTV report. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on October 5 said India has asked Canada to reduce diplomatic staff to "bring parity". "Given the much higher diplomatic presence in India and their continuing interference in our internal affairs, we had sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence," Bagchi was quoted as saying by the news channel. Amid the ongoing diplomatic row, India had asked Canada to recall 41 of its diplomats from the country by October 10. ELKO Great Basin College President Joyce Helens told the Elko County Board of Commissioners that there was never a plan to merge with the University of Nevada, Reno, but the two institutions have consolidated business services. She said there has never been such a proposal, but the consolidated business services are providing maximum efficiencies and saving money. UNR and GBC began the business services partnership about a year ago. The county agenda for Oct. 18 called for discussion and consideration of a letter to UNR President Brian Sandoval and the state Board of Regents regarding the proposal to merge UNR and Great Basin College, so Helens appeared before the board to put that question to rest. Commissioner Jon Karr said the agenda item was misworded, and he meant to ask that the board consider a letter requesting that the county be involved when the search begins for a new GBC president to replace Helens, who earlier announced she is retiring next July, rather than talk about a merger. Rand Greenburg, chief civil deputy district attorney, told commissioners they couldnt take any action because of the agenda wording. The GBC president also told commissioners that any proposed merger would have to go through the Nevada Legislature, the national college accreditation organization and the U.S. Department of Education and would be a very long process. Two colleges cant just decide to do that. Helens also said there are no positions becoming vacant on the Board of Regents, contrary to another agenda item that called for a letter to Gov. Joe Lombardo regarding that position. Karr said he may have been premature requesting the letter. He said, however, that he understood that Regent Michelee Shelly Cruz-Crawford, who represents Elko County, as well as Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, Nye and White Pine counties and portions of Clark County, was planning to run for a state senate seat so might be vacating her seat. Helens said that after consulting with Dr. Cruz-Crawford and Nevada System of Higher Education officials the NSHE position at this point is that there is no upcoming vacancy, and she said Cruz-Crawford hasnt filed for election. Helens also told commissioners that any potential vacancy would be a year away. Chairman Rex Steninger suggested a letter to the Nevada governor could say that in the event a position on the Board of Regents becomes vacant, county commissioners want to be involved. Commissioners voted to send the letter with Steningers wording. Representative image of New York/ courtesy: Sujoy Dhar/IBNS New York: A Sikh teenager was attacked on a bus, here, by a 26-year-old man for wearing a turban, according to media reports. According to police, Christopher Philippeaux accosted the 19-year-old Sikh boy on the New York City MTA bus, CBS News reported. The incident occurred on the bus near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Queens on October 15, the report said "We don't wear that in this country," Philippeaux told the Sikh teenager referring to his turban, and demanded that he also took off his mask. He then punched the Sikh teenager on his face, back and in the back of his head, inflicting cuts and pain, according to police. Police said the man also attempted to pull the turban off the head of the teen before alighting the bus and running along Liberty Avenue. Police arrested Christopher Philippeaux, who had been granted parole in July 2021 after serving over two years in prison. Philippeaux now faces charges of committing a hate crime, the CBS News report said. He has been previously arrested, with his most recent arrest being for obstructing governmental administration in Brooklyn last month, as stated by the police. It seems that this case has been kept confidential, they added. The Sikh teenager expressed feeling "upset and frustrated" about the attack on Wednesday, emphasizing that nobody should face harassment based on their appearance. Image tweeted by @StopAntisemites Citigroup terminated the employment of Nozima Husainova, a 25-year-old personal banker, due to a controversial social media post that appeared to support Adolf Hitler's genocide against Jewish people during the Holocaust. The post linked Israel to the recent escalation in Gaza, drawing widespread condemnation on social media. Husainova's remark, "No wonder why Hitler wanted to get rid of all of them," triggered widespread outrage after the non-partisan group Stop AntiSemitism posted a screenshot of it on the platform X. The group immediately brought Husainovas remarks to the attention of the investment banking group, tweeting, "Is this vile antisemite your employee, Citi?" In a prompt response, Citigroup issued a statement emphasizing its stance against antisemitism and hate speech: "We strongly condemn antisemitism and other hate speech." We are investigating this matter and taking appropriate disciplinary action. We strongly condemn antisemitism and other hate speech. Citi (@Citi) October 19, 2023 The company also declared that they were taking appropriate disciplinary action and investigating the matter. In a follow-up statement, Citigroup confirmed that they had ended 25-year-old Husainova's employment and reasserted their stance against antisemitism: "We terminated the employment of the person who posted the revolting antisemitic comment on social media. We condemn antisemitism and all hate speech and do not tolerate it in our bank." Update: We terminated the employment of the person who posted the revolting antisemitic comment on social media. We condemn antisemitism and all hate speech and do not tolerate it in our bank. Citi (@Citi) October 19, 2023 Stop AntiSemitism expressed their gratitude to Citigroup for the prompt action, stating, "Thank you @Citi for saying NO! to antisemitism." Their tweet garnered support from several X users, who commended Citigroup for their swift response to the issue. "Well done. We must appreciate Citi for swift action," one user wrote on X. Another person expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you Citi for doing the right thing." Another comment read: She went to Brooklyn College, a college attended by many Jewish students and with a large Jewish faculty. We had some very good debates there because the student body is so diverse. Apparently none got through to her. Meanwhile, Stop AntiSemitism also flagged the disparaging comments against Jews by Sarah Chowdhury, a lawyer from Illinois in the states comptrollers office. She was removed from work after her antisemitic social media messages were shared with the authorities in her workplace. Sarah Chowdhury, an Illinois attorney in the states comptrollers office, has been fired after her antisemitic social media messages were shared with her employer. Here is a sampling. pic.twitter.com/vdKWmyNceL StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 20, 2023 Husainova and Chowdhury made the comments Husainova follows a different controversy that erupted after a section of students from Harvard and Columbia University in the United States argued that Hamas' attacks were not isolated incidents and that, in their view, the Israeli government had subjected Palestinians to what they described as an "open-air prison" for over two decades. Some business leaders had recently stated that they might not hire students who signed a letter attributing blame to Israel for the violent actions of Hamas. Husainova had been employed at Citi for approximately two years. Israel attacked Gaza following a sudden assault by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the loss of over 1300 lives. Hamas releases two abducted American hostages. Photo Courtesy: Israel en Espanol X page The released US nationals were identified as Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie Raanan. They were kidnapped during the initial attack carried out by the Hamas group against Israel two weeks ago. Prime Minister of Israel's X page wrote: "This evening, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were released by the terrorist organization Hamas." This evening, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were released by the terrorist organization Hamas. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 20, 2023 Speaking on the release of the two US citizens, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Two of our kidnapped are home. We will not relent in our effort to return all of the kidnapped and the missing." "At the same time, we continue to fight till victory," he said. US President Joe Biden said he spoke to the two Americans released from the custody of Hamas. "I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal," Biden said. I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal. Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. pic.twitter.com/oXk6gfrD8M President Biden (@POTUS) October 20, 2023 "Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans," he said. In a separate statement, the President said he felt overjoyed that the released persons would now unite with the family members. "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. "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," he said. Biden thanked Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in the work. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said the two released persons were in the safe hands of Israeli authorities at present. I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal. Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. pic.twitter.com/oXk6gfrD8M President Biden (@POTUS) October 20, 2023 "Today, two American citizens who Hamas had held hostage since carrying out its appalling terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7 were released. They are now safely in the hands of Israeli authorities in Israel and a team from the U.S. embassy will meet with them shortly," he posted on X. "We have been working relentlessly with partners to secure their release. While I cannot share the details of those efforts, the urgent work to free American citizens and other hostages continues, as does our work to secure safe passage out of Gaza for Americans trapped there," he said. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, where it seized a large number of hostages. Durga Ashtami 2023: Durga Ashtami, also known as Mahashtami is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across the country. The nine-day festival of Shardiya Navratri considered the most auspicious and revered festival in the country began on Sunday, October 15, 2023, and will culminate with Maha Navami on Wednesday, October 23, 2023. The culmination of the Shardiya Navratri festival 2023 takes place with the celebration of Durga Ashtami on 22 October 2023 and Ram Navami on 23 October 2023 2023. Durga Ashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of Shardiya Navratri with the rituals of Kanya or Kumari Puja. Durga Ashtami, is one of the most significant days of the nine-day-long festival of Navratri. The auspicious day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across the country and other parts of the world by the Hindu community. On this day, devotees worship Goddess Durga, who symbolises divine feminine power and is considered the ultimate source of energy and strength. Happy Durga Ashtami 2023 image | Photo: Freepik On this auspicious day, people offer special prayers, perform various rituals and traditions, and seek blessings from the Goddess. The day is also marked by the beautiful and vibrant display of traditional attire, music, and dance. Durga Ashtami is an important Hindu festival that falls on the eighth day of Navratri and in 2023 it will be celebrated on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, which is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion by people all over the world, especially in India. In this article, we will provide you with the best collections of Durga Ashtami wishes, messages, quotes, images, and messages that you can share with your loved ones on this auspicious occasion. Sending wishes and greetings on Durga Ashtami is a way to express your respect and devotion to the Goddess Durga, as well as to share your joy and enthusiasm for the festival with others. It is also a way to connect with friends and family members who may be celebrating the festival, even if you are not physically present with them. Here are the best collections of Durga Ashtami 2023 wishes, messages, quotes, images, GIFs, and more to celebrate this auspicious occasion: Best Happy Durga Ashtami wishes to send loved ones As we celebrate Durga Ashtami 2023, we wish you all the happiness and prosperity that this festival brings. May Goddess Durga bless you and your family with health, wealth, and happiness. Here are 1. some best wishes that you can share with your loved ones: 2. May the blessings of Goddess Durga fill your life with strength and courage on this auspicious Durga Ashtami. 3. On this special day, may you be blessed with good health, prosperity, and happiness. Happy Durga Ashtami! 4. Wishing you a Durga Ashtami filled with love, joy, and the triumph of good over evil. 5. As you celebrate Durga Ashtami, may your life be filled with the divine energy of the Goddess. 6. May the divine mother Durga guide and protect you in all your endeavors. Happy Durga Ashtami! 7. On this holy day, may you be bestowed with the power to overcome obstacles and achieve success. 8. Let the divine energy of Durga Ashtami bring peace and harmony to your life and your loved ones. 9. May the festival of Durga Ashtami illuminate your path with positivity and prosperity. 10. May the fierce form of Goddess Durga destroy all the negativity in your life. Happy Durga Ashtami! 11. On this sacred occasion, may you find the strength to face challenges and emerge victorious. 12. Happy Durga Ashtami! May the divine mother bless you with strength, wisdom, and inner peace. Happy Durga Ashtami 2023 quotes 1. "On this Durga Ashtami, may the divine mother bless you with strength and courage to overcome all obstacles in life." 2. "As we celebrate Durga Ashtami, let us remember the power of the goddess that resides within us, guiding us through every challenge." 3. "May the fierce grace of Goddess Durga fill your life with fearlessness and determination on this auspicious day." 4. "Durga Ashtami reminds us that in the face of darkness, the light of hope and faith can conquer all." 5. "Wishing you a Durga Ashtami filled with the blessings of the goddess, bringing happiness, health, and prosperity." 6. "On this divine occasion of Durga Ashtami, may your devotion and prayers be answered by the mother goddess herself." 7. "Let us celebrate Durga Ashtami with a heart full of gratitude for the strength and protection bestowed upon us by the divine mother." 8. "May the radiant goddess Durga fill your life with love, peace, and the power to vanquish all negativities." 9. "As we invoke the goddess on Durga Ashtami, may she destroy all your worries and bestow you with wisdom and strength." 10. "On this auspicious day, may the goddess Durga shower her blessings upon you, filling your life with joy and prosperity." 11. "Durga Ashtami is a reminder of the feminine energy that permeates the universe, empowering us to face life's challenges with grace." 12. "May the divine energy of Goddess Durga grant you the courage to fight your battles and the wisdom to find peace in your heart. Happy Durga Ashtami!" Best Happy Durga Ashtami messages to send loved ones 1. On this auspicious day of Durga Ashtami, may the divine goddess bless you with strength, courage, and wisdom to overcome all obstacles in life. 2. As the divine mother descends upon us with her grace, may your life be filled with love, prosperity, and happiness. Happy Durga Ashtami! 3. Let us celebrate the victory of good over evil as we worship Goddess Durga on this special day. Wishing you a blessed Durga Ashtami! 4. May the goddess Durga bestow her divine blessings upon you and your family, filling your home with joy and harmony. Happy Durga Ashtami! 5. This Durga Ashtami, may you find the strength to face challenges and the wisdom to make the right choices. Have a blessed and prosperous day. 6. On this sacred occasion, may the goddess Durga's presence empower you to triumph over darkness and lead you towards the light of wisdom. 7. As the divine energy of Durga Ashtami surrounds us, may you be blessed with good health, wealth, and happiness. Happy Durga Ashtami! 8. On this day, may the divine mother protect you from all harm and guide you towards a life filled with positivity and success. Happy Durga Ashtami! 9. Let the festivities of Durga Ashtami fill your heart with joy and your home with laughter. Wishing you a wonderful and blessed day. 10. May the goddess Durga grant you the strength to overcome life's challenges and the wisdom to make the right decisions. Happy Durga Ashtami! 11. As you celebrate Durga Ashtami with devotion and love, may your life be showered with peace, prosperity, and divine blessings. 12. On this special day, may you be blessed with the courage to face any adversity that comes your way. Happy Durga Ashtami! Best Happy Durga Ashtami greetings to send loved ones 1. As you celebrate Durga Ashtami, may your home be filled with love, laughter, and blessings. 2. Let this Durga Ashtami inspire you to be strong and compassionate, just like the Goddess herself. 3. May the divine blessings of Durga Ashtami bring peace and contentment to your heart. 4. On this auspicious day, may you receive the courage to stand up for what is right and just. 5. May the Goddess shower her grace on you and your family, protecting you from all harm. 6. Let the divine light of Durga Ashtami guide you towards a brighter and prosperous future. 7. Wishing you a Durga Ashtami filled with the warmth of family and the love of friends. 8. May this Durga Ashtami be a time of reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth. 9. On this Durga Ashtami, may the divine mother's grace bring serenity and tranquility to your life. 10. As you worship Goddess Durga, may you find the strength to face any challenge with unwavering courage. 11. May the festivities of Durga Ashtami fill your heart with devotion and your home with positivity. 12. Wishing you a Durga Ashtami filled with the blessings of the Goddess, guiding you on the path of righteousness. Best Happy Durga Ashtami short wishes & messages to share 1. Blessings of Durga Ashtami fill your life with joy. 2. May this Durga Ashtami bring strength and prosperity. 3. Wishing you a fierce and fearless Durga Ashtami. 4. Celebrate with devotion, Durga's grace surrounds you. 5. May Durga's blessings light up your path always. 6. On Durga Ashtami, let's conquer our inner demons. 7. Divine energy guides your way this Durga Ashtami. 8. Seek strength, love, and happiness this Durga Ashtami. 9. Durga Ashtami: Embrace her power and find success. 10. Joy and courage on this auspicious Durga Ashtami. 11. May Durga's blessings protect and empower you. 12. Wishing you a victorious Durga Ashtami with love and light. Best Happy Durga Ashtami Whatsapp Status 1. May Maa Durga's blessings light up your path and bring joy to your heart on this auspicious Durga Ashtami. 2. Wishing you a powerful and prosperous Durga Ashtami filled with strength and devotion. 3. Ashtami is here, bringing the divine energy of Goddess Durga. Embrace it with love and devotion. 4. On this Durga Ashtami, let's celebrate the triumph of good over evil and seek the blessings of the Divine Mother. 5. May the divine presence of Maa Durga empower you with courage and wisdom. Happy Durga Ashtami! 6. Durga Ashtami is a reminder of the strength and resilience within us. Channel your inner warrior today! 7. May the goddess's blessings fill your life with love, happiness, and prosperity. Happy Durga Ashtami! 8. Embrace the power of the Divine Mother and let it guide you to victory and success. Happy Durga Ashtami! 9. This Durga Ashtami, may you find the courage to conquer your fears and overcome obstacles in life. 10. As the divine mother graces us with her presence, may your life be filled with peace and positivity. Happy Durga Ashtami! 11. Durga Ashtami reminds us of the ultimate strength of femininity. Celebrate the goddess within you today! 12. On this Durga Ashtami, may your life be as vibrant and victorious as the colors of Navratri. 1. "Embrace the divine energy of Goddess Durga on this auspicious Durga Ashtami! #DurgaAshtami2023 #DivineBlessings" 2. "May the fierce form of Maa Durga empower you with strength and courage. Happy Durga Ashtami! #GoddessPower #DurgaAshtami" 3. "On this Durga Ashtami, let's celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the courage to face any challenge. #VictoryofGood #DurgaAshtami2023" 4. "Ashtami's blessings are here to light up your life. Wishing you a prosperous and joyful Durga Ashtami! #FestivalVibes #JoyousMoments" 5. "Durga Ashtami is a reminder that the power of goodness will always conquer darkness. #LightOverDarkness #Blessings" 6. "Invoke the warrior within you on this Durga Ashtami and conquer all obstacles that come your way. #InnerStrength #Fearless" 7. "Maa Durga's grace is a shield against negativity and a beacon of hope. Happy Durga Ashtami! #PositiveVibes #DivineProtection" 8. "May the vibrant colors of Durga Puja fill your life with joy and prosperity. #FestiveSpirit #Blessed" 9. "On this special day, may Maa Durga's blessings empower you to achieve all your goals and dreams. #DreamsComeTrue #DurgaAshtami2023" 10. "As we celebrate Durga Ashtami, let's remember the strength, courage, and resilience that the goddess represents. #GoddessDurga #Resilience" 11. "Durga Ashtami - a day to cherish the love and blessings of the Divine Mother. #DivineLove #BlessedLife" 12. "On this Durga Ashtami, may you find the inner strength to face life's challenges with grace and determination. #StrengthWithin #Determination" Best Happy Durga Ashtami wishes in Hindi 1. Maa Durga ka aashirwad ho aapke saath, Durga Ashtami par khushiyaan baatne ka avasar ho saath. Jai Mata Di! 2. Is Durga Ashtami par, Maa Durga aapke jeevan mein sukh, shanti aur samriddhi laaye. Shubh Durga Ashtami! 3. Khushiyon ki chamak ho aapke chehre par, Durga Ashtami ke is paavan din, Maa Durga ka saath ho hamesha aapke saath. Jai Mata Di! 4. Durga Ashtami aapke liye mangalmay ho, har din aapke liye ek nayi shuruaat ho. Shubh Durga Ashtami! 5. Maa Durga se prarthana hai ki aapke jeevan mein sabhi kashto ka nash ho aur aap hamesha khush rahein. Jai Mata Di! 6. Aapke jeevan mein Durga Ashtami ki shubh raat, khushiyon aur pyaar se bhara ho. Shubh Durga Ashtami! 7. Is Durga Ashtami par, Maa Durga aapke liye apni krupa barse aur aapka jeevan roshan kare. Jai Mata Di! 8. Durga Ashtami ke is pavitra din par, Maa Durga aapke jeevan mein sukh, samriddhi aur shanti lekar aayein. Shubh Durga Ashtami! 9. Maa Durga ki kripa se aapka jeevan hamesha khushiyon se bhar jaye aur aap safalta ki unchaiyon tak pahunchein. Jai Mata Di! 10. Durga Ashtami aapke liye nayi umang, nayi khushiyan aur naye safar ka prarambh ho. Shubh Durga Ashtami! 11. Maa Durga ka ashirwad aapke saath ho, aur aap hamesha unki kripa mein rahein. Jai Mata Di! 12. Is Durga Ashtami par, Maa Durga aapko shakti de, aapke jeevan mein har mushkil ko paar karne ki. Shubh Durga Ashtami! Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones Sharing images with your loved ones on special occasions is always a great idea. Here are some beautiful images that you can share on Maha Ashtami 2023: #1. Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones | Photo: Freepik #2. Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones | Photo: Freepik #3. Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones | Photo: Freepik #4. Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones | Photo: Canva #5. Happy Durga Ashtami images, GIFs, and cards to share with loved ones | Photo: Canva For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: Gently stroking the vibrant canvas with a pointed paintbrush, Nowsheeba Mushtaq (18) talks about her tryst with Kashmiri paper mache. "I am a calligrapher, and I want to come up with a fusion art of paper mache and calligraphy. That is why I decided to learn it," says the class 12 student from Rainawari in Srinagar. Mushtaq has been learning the paper mache crafting technique from Hakeem Manzoor (48), an artist from Gani Doori in Alamgari Bazar area of Srinagar, who has pioneered the art's comeback by incorporating it into the interior design concepts of houses and other buildings. Earlier, paper mache was confined to showcases as they were mostly small display items. Nasir Hussain Khan, a dedicated artisan shaping creativity in his workshop (Photo - Tufail Ganie and Fozia Baba, 101Reporters) Once a lucrative business, paper mache became a dying art of Kashmir with the passage of time. The unprecedented floods, abrogation of Article 370, internet blockade and the COVID-19 lockdown hit the artists who remained steadfast in their commitment to traditional methods and struggled to adapt to the new model. Many of them were forced to shut down their workshops and look for other jobs. However, those who understood the significance of Manzoor's work and followed his path were able to turn over the tide, besides breathing new life into the age-old craft. While making paper mache an attractive element in contemporary Kashmiri homes, they also began to attract young hands into the field. The new entrants were provided with a free-of-cost platform where they could not only learn, but also experiment in fusion art. Fusion patterns, new canvas The history of paper mache in the region goes back to the 14th century, when Muslim saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani alias Shah-e-Hamdan brought skilled artists to Kashmir from Persia. He was also credited with the introduction of several other crafts to the region. The shift towards the new approach began in 2007, when a customer asked Manzoor if paper mache could be done on his house ceiling. Manzoor took it up as a challenge and drew on his 40 years of experience to come up with a scintillating creation. It proved as a window of opportunity to accord new relevance to the rich craft. The magical hands behind intricate designs (Photo - Tufail Ganie and Fozia Baba, 101Reporters) "I was the first one to introduce paper mache art in the interiors. Though my first project was in 2007, the concept got widely known only by 2010," Manzoor tells 101Reporters. He has won the appreciation of his peers, local community and outsiders for his work. Traditionally, artists soak newspaper, tissue paper, cardboard or old magazines for several days, before mixing it with copper sulfate, straw and cloth. This pulpy mixture is placed on a mould and left to dry. Later, the surface is coated with glue and gypsum. After smoothening the surface and shaping it as per the requirement, several layers of tissue papers are pasted on it. Lacquer is applied after another round of polishing. Traditionally, artists apply organic or vegetable colours as base coat before proceeding to work on the object using their hands. In the modern approach, the structural base for paper mache projects is either wood or medium-density fibreboard panels. Artisans opt for high quality acrylic waterproof paints nowadays. According to its practitioners, the contemporary method is more challenging than the traditional one because it requires detailed graphing, accurate scaling and perfect strokes. While chinar trees, flowers, birds and almonds are used as motifs for traditional paper mache, the artists now follow a mixed pattern of traditional and kani prints, calligraphy and Turkish designs. The traditional paper mache costs 2,500 to 3,000 per box. On the other hand, a paper mache panel for interiors costs Rs 700 per sq ft. Panels come in different ranges such as 24 and 32 sq ft. "The cost varies depending on the specific design preferences and square feet desired by the customer. More intricate designs on the panel will result in higher costs," Manzoor explains. According to him, the time required to complete a work depends on the order. The time frame can be anything from 15 days to a month, or even longer. In 2014, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage appointed Manzoor to take up paper mache projects on behalf of the government. Since then, Manzoor has worked on multiple projects, including those in famous shrines of Kashmir. He has also trained 15 students on paper mache. The works of Nasir Hussain Khan (55), who has 42 years of experience in the field, can be seen in many places of Kashmir, including Syed Dastigeer Sahib Shrine in Srinagar and Eden Resorts and Spa in Pahalgam. He also has clients in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Asked about the contemporary model, Khan tells 101Reporters that the shift was necessary. "In order to catch up with the modern trend and to keep our traditional art alive, the need to incorporate paper mache into interiors was essential," says Khan, who has trained 20 students so far. Many artisans have made the transition from traditional to interior paper mache designing, which has resulted in a significant increase in both sales and income. Earlier, they were making Rs 40,000 to 50,000. Some have reported up to 50% increase in sales and income after the transition. Social media has been a vital tool to extend their reach, enhance marketing efforts, establish new contacts and showcase their creative work. What made it popular? Unlike the traditional decorative paper mache items, interior designs resonated well with the local community when it was introduced into khatamband (Kashmir's traditional ceiling art). The new approach not only caught the attention of interior designers and homeowners, but also the youth who began to see it as an income-generating profession. With passion and creativity, Nowsheeba, the young student mastering the modern art of paper mache (Photo - Tufail Ganie and Fozia Baba, 101Reporters) The aspiring artists attend classes and workshops of skilled interior artists because there is a potential to learn and innovate. In contrast, the older artists using traditional methods are often reluctant to use new models due to the comfort they feel with their traditional techniques. This often puts off young learners. "I was appreciative of paper mache from my childhood itself. When I joined classes, I was introduced to the interior design element. I am now very eager to master this art and eventually set up my own workshop," beams Wasifa Kuchay (29), a student of Khan. "Manzoor sir's paper mache creations are guiding lights for someone like me, who is still on the path of learning. His ability to blend the traditional with the modern art is truly impressive," says Falak Iqbal (21), a student of Manzoor. Despite successfully learning paper mache interior design, only a few have managed to set up their own businesses or workshops due to the substantial financial investment required to run the craft independently. "I learnt paper mache interior art for a long time The government's support is necessary to sustain this fusion model," says Zahoor Ahmed (55), a former student of Manzoor who runs an interior business unit. "The new model of paper mache has also boosted other sectors such as carpentry, contractors and interior designing," Irfan, another former student of Manzoor, tells 101Reporters. Idrees, a student of Khan, started to learn paper mache in 2015 and interior paper mache in 2020. "Now, I have my own interior art business. Exhibiting in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat gave my business a big boost. I receive many panel orders from across India," he says. Customer reviews Fayaz Ahmed (45) tells 101Reporters that investing in interior paper mache is really worth the money because of its quality and artistry. "We as citizens can contribute a little in the preservation and promotion of our traditional art. Besides, it adds to the overall charm of my home," he says. Zubair Bastal says choosing paper mache for interior walls can bring a unique and personal touch, giving a sense of individuality to the decor. "It is handmade and a meaningful choice. It allows you to support local artisans," he adds. Tariq Ahmed (48) remembers how people incorporated intricate paper mache designs on khatamband ceilings and preferred interior paper mache panels over false ceilings after the art went into innovation mode. "The rooms in my house have seen a unique transformation. They look fresh and appealing," he adds. Though the artists are hopeful about paper mache's income generation capacity and future, they feel dissatisfied with the government support in the form of events and exhibitions and credit card scheme. They want the government to encourage students and provide them with platforms to display works. They also emphasise the importance of training and nurturing customer relationships to help the art survive. (Tufail Ganie and Fozia Baba are Jammu and Kashmir-based freelance journalists and members of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) In a significant shift to its workplace policies, Amazon has recently revised its return-to-office regulations, introducing a potentially drastic consequence for employees who resist returning to the office at least three days per week. According to Insider, this recent development gives managers the authority to dismiss workers who disobey the company's strict three-day-a-week return-to-office policy. Amazon Amazon's action is a significant change in remote work and how employers and employees relate, making people wonder what the future holds for workplace flexibility and what's expected from the modern workforce. blockworks Amazon's updated policy mandates that employees must be in the office thrice weekly. Those unable to meet this requirement must request an exemption from their manager. The rules are shared through the company's internal network, guiding managers on handling employees who don't follow the three-day-a-week office rule. The policy doesn't immediately lead to firings. What happens if employees don't follow the rules? Managers should first talk with non-compliant employees privately and send a follow-up email. If the non-compliance persists or the employee resists returning to the office, a second meeting is required within one to two weeks. This meeting will remind everyone that the job requires being in the office at least three days a week. Unsplash/Representational image It's also a warning that if someone doesn't comply without a valid reason, they could face disciplinary measures, possibly even being fired. "If the employee does not demonstrate immediate and sustained attendance after the first conversation, managers should then conduct a follow-up discussion within a reasonable time frame (depending on the employee situation, ~1-2 weeks). This conversation will 1) reinforce that returning to the office 3+ days a week is a requirement of their job, and 2) explain that continued non-compliance without a legitimate reason may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of your employment," the guidelines said. The tech giant's last step involves HR representatives, who can give written warnings or take strong action if employees don't follow the rules. If someone continues not to follow the rules, they might lose their job. This shows how Amazon is eager to return to the traditional office work environment after a long period of remote work. At first, Amazon told its corporate employees to come to the office at least three times a week, beginning in May. Then, in July, they told remote workers they should move closer to office "hubs," or they could choose to leave with a 'voluntary resignation' package. In September, Amazon changed how they tracked attendance, sharing individual records with employees instead of using their old policy of anonymized data. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State says just as bandits freely buy weapons in the market, individuals should be allowed to do so to protect themselves. According to him, Governors should not be blamed for the security challenges bedevilling their states. He said they are merely called chief security officers without the authority to command the military forces, the police and other security agencies to deal with security issues in their States Radda, who asked the Federal Government to play a more critical role in securing lives and properties in the country, said his administration had legally established a community watch corps to deal with banditry in conjunction with the military. The Katsina Governor, at a media chat on Friday in Abuja, said the bandits are hardened criminals who must be eliminated, hence, his administration would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring they were crushed. Some traditional rulers in the State, according to him, were under probe over their alleged romance with bandits. We governors are so-called chief security officers of our states but we dont have the authority to command the military, police or civil defence. They receive orders from above. In our efforts, we have come up with the intelligence unit within the Katsina Community Watch Corps. This intelligence unit, even the corps members dont know them. The reason for setting it up is to check the excesses of the Watch Corps and also to gather information. There are some traditional rulers who are identified and those ones are already under scrutiny. So, we are not sparing anybody even commissioners in my regime, we are not going to spare anybody found to be involved in one criminal activity or the other. READ ALSO: NURTW Crisis: Im Not Undermining FGs Agreement With Us, Your Allegations Are Unfounded Lalong Replies NLC We are talking about the lives of over 10 million people not one single individual. No single individual is more important than 10 million people or the lives of an innocent person in the village. We are trying as much as possible to gather a lot of information together with the intelligence we are getting from the DSS so that we can build a network that we can arrest and prosecute any person found wanting. It is a double-edged sword. We cannot fold our arms and say we will not protect ourselves because we dont have the sophisticated arms that these bandits have. We have the numbers, we have the zeal and the determination, and you should remember, if they are going for any outing, it is just like the way it was done in Borno through the Civilian JTF. They will be covered by the police and the military who are heavily armed. So, I think it is a concerted and joint effort. And I think gradually, we are working within what the law allows us to possess. We are driving towards that and we are seeking reforms within the federal government in that regard. If a bandit can go to the market and buy AK-47, RPG, and all of those weapons, what of the people that want to protect themselves? They too should equally be allowed to do so. These people are holding it illegally, we are trying to hold it legally. Why cant the government allow the people to hold this thing and equally confront the challenges? Negotiations with bandits is a no go area in my perspective but I said if I am at the point of advantage, if the bandits come out and say look, we are dropping arms, let us sit down and talk, we could reintegrate them back into the society. But I will not go begging bandits to come for negotiations. Let us deal with the situation. If they are weak, let them come out, let us negotiate and we will reintegrate them back into society. They are our people, our brothers, but we cannot protect a criminal, he said. The Chidi Ibeh-led faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has accused popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, of instigating a religious war in the country with his recent reaction on Christians and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Recall that Gumi had earlier said that it was dangerous to trust Nigerias national security with Christians and Southerners. He made this known while condemning Wike for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office and planning to collaborate with Israel over security issues in Abuja. Gumi also accused the FTC Minister of planning to make Abuja an extension of Tel Aviv, stressing that bearded Muslims in the city would be tagged Osama Bin Ladin and killed. READ MORE: Youre A Satanic Person Gumi Demands Wikes Renoval Over Visit Of Israeli Ambassador However, Ohanaeze, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Saturday, said Gumis claim was dangerous as it undermines the principles of religious freedom and inclusivity. Isiguzoro urged relevant authorities to arrest the Islamic scholar, insisting that he must be made to face treasonable charges as his statement poses a grave threat to national security and social cohesion. He said: We categorically denounce this divisive rhetoric, as it undermines the principles of religious freedom and inclusivity that our great nation stands for. Nigeria is a multicultural society where every citizen, regardless of religious affiliations, deserves equal rights and opportunities. He added: Their collaboration represents the unity and progress that Nigeria needs to overcome its challenges and build a prosperous future for all her citizens. The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Ibrahim has assured Nigerians that the Tinubu-led administration is working hard to put measures in place to combat the mass immigration of youths from the country. Ibrahim stated this on Friday during a youth engagement titled Youth Agenda Summit, with the theme Actioning the Nigeria We Want organised by ILEAD AFRICA. The Minister, who was represented by an Assistant Director in the Ministry, Oyekan Adedoyin, urged youths to become innovative and help to develop the country. She further stated that young people are citizens of Nigeria and should see how to be a part of the building process, which also government will play its role in placing a better structure for Nigeria and Nigerians. READ ALSO: Why Are You Migrating? NIDCOM Boss Laments Mass Japa Of Nigerians She said, Nigeria as we have it is so complex, but we need to be part of the building process. Government is ready and really working, what the government did first is the development of a youth ministry that stands alone, there are more youths in appointment position, this is a clarion call for the youths. We cant stop anybody from migration, even In Europe, they travel, people move from Denmark to England, people move from Sweden to America, just for greener pastures, but the government is trying to develop a platform that will make people to stay, so we have new innovations that will be put in place soon. As we embark upon this transformative journey, let us seize this moment to amplify the voices of our youth, cultivate collaborative endeavours, and ignite positive change. Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment, on Friday, described as unfounded the claims by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that he is undermining the agreement signed between the Organised Labour and the Federal Government. Information Nigeria had reported that NLC on Thursday in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugbaja, accused the Minister of violating the agreement by supporting a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), against a democratically elected leadership of the Union. The Union had vowed to resist any attempt to foist another leadership on the NURTW. In a reactive statement issued by Olajide Oshundun, Director, Press and Public Relations, in the Ministry, Lalong noted that he had held meetings with the different factions of NURTW in a bid to reconcile them. The attention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has been drawn to a press release issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on 18th October 2023, wherein it alleged that the Honourable Minister, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong is moving to undermine the critical Labour-Federal Government Agreement of October 2, 2023. READ ALSO: Honour Initial Agreement, Your NURTW Negotiation Wasnt In Good Faith NLC Tackles FG We wish to unequivocally refute the allegation and put it on record that it is unfounded. Let it be reiterated that since assuming office and upon the dispute between the various groups within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) being brought to his attention, the Honourable Minister has given consistent, adequate and fair attention to the matter with a view to resolving it. Several meetings have been held to resolve the issue with representatives of the disputing groups, and the efforts are still ongoing. Therefore, it is not correct to suggest that the Minister is supporting any of the groups in the course of the negotiations. Members of the NURTW, the NLC, and the entire Labour movement should be assured that the Minister, as Chief Conciliator, will continue to work with all parties to ensure that there is reconciliation, harmony and industrial peace, the statement read. According to a source that specializes in air and space military affairs, the new F-35 fighter jet costs $75 million apiece, but that is without the new engine. With the engine, the planes total cost is close to $80 million. Yes, this is the same F-35 that made the news a month ago when the Air Force lost one. About the same time, the media acknowledged that an F-35 is not only expensive, but also hard to repair without intervention from the original manufacturer, which means about half of them, at any given time, are not available to do anything at all. Meanwhile, the older F-16 is a real bargain at a measly $63 million. The newest Navy aircraft carrier is estimated to cost $13.3 billion. For comparison, it has been estimated by an action group for public schools that a new elementary school costs about $20 million. In other words, we could build four new schools for the cost of the one plane that we lost last month. So what are we buying with these billions upon billions of dollars? We certainly are not buying infrastructure, education, and a sound dollar. Perhaps we are buying good relations with the world? Not so much of the world does not like us and for some good reasons. Perhaps we are buying security? Actually, we seem to be buying insecurity. Computer simulations estimate that if a major, but nonnuclear war broke out between China and the US, every major naval vessel in half of the Pacific (from both countries) would be sunk the first day. Relatively inexpensive missiles can sink aircraft carriers and submarines, and can destroy fighter planes and land installations. Missiles can be used to shoot down other missiles. At the same time, smaller armies are discovering that AI driven drones can be produced by the tens of thousands. A small inexpensive drone can drop a grenade though the hatch of a $10 million tank. Simulations and the Ukraine war seem to show that the side with anything left over wins the battle. Modern war has become the equivalent of murder. And for what? For much of history, war could be used as a way of gaining power and wealth. Winning, you were better off than before you went to war. In the Old Testament we read of Davids time, It was now spring, the time when kings go to war (2 Samuel 11). This advantage is now gone. Both sides of a modern war lose. This was recognized early for a nuclear exchange. Both the USA and the USSR adopted a strategy called MAD, which stood for mutually assured destruction. In other words, all sides lose. The post-war history of Japan and Germany can serve as examples. The nation of Japan exists on some beautiful islands. But unfortunately, these islands are generally devoid of the natural resources needed for a modern economy. Their solution was to simply take what they needed. It didnt work. Since the war, Japan has learned that they could get everything they wanted by trading. There is a fundamental law in economics that free exchanges produce wealth. It is not random chance that the grandchildren of Japanese families who fought WWII are even richer and healthier than Japanese before the war. Free exchanges produce wealth, modern war destroys it. It is abundantly obvious that Hamas, for example, would enrich their own people by trading with Israelis instead of trying to kill them. The Youth Wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ondo State, has threatened to sue the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, if the state Assembly failed to invoke Section 189(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on him. Recall that Akeredolu returned to Nigeria last month after a medical vacation in Germany. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the state governor has been staying at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. It was also gathered that the situation has generated reactions from different quarters in the state. However, the leader of the PDP youth wing, Oluyi Tayo while speaking at the state secretariat of the party in Akure on Friday, said that the group would take legal action against the governor if he refuse to return to the state. He said: It is crucial that the House of Assembly, in the interest of our state and its citizens, upholds these constitutional provisions to ensure the continued and effective functioning of our government, and if the House of Assembly failed in this regard, we wont hesitate to explore other legitimate Constitutional means to press our demands. READ MORE: Akeredolu Wont Return To Ondo Over PDPs Threat APC Youths Insist We have written a letter to the state House of Assembly and as we speak, our people are there to deliver the letter and we expect them, (lawmakers) to receive the letter. The copy of the received copy will be avail to journalists soonest. We are ready as a main opposition party to take the governor to court, or even the Speaker if they failed to invoke Section 189(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on him (governor). It is also in our legal rights to take to the streets if they fail to address this because our demands are very simple. We cant have a governor who has yet to address the citizens since he returned from his medical vacation. If truly the governor is fit, he should come out to address the good people of Ondo state, that should not be something that is much for him to do. Wanted socialite, identified as Benjamin Nnanyereugo, also known as Killaboi who was accused of killing his girlfriend in Nigeria, has been arrested in Sierra Leone by the countrys police operatives. The Lagos State Police command Force confirmed this in a statement issued on Saturday by the commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin. According to Hundeyin, the Siera Leonan security apprehended Nnanyereugo, and preparations are ongoing for the extradition of the suspect to Nigeria. He was arrested by the Sierra Leonean Police Force, and we are working on extraditing him to Nigeria, Hundeyin told The PUNCH. Recall that Nigeria Police had on October 11, declared Nnanyereugo wanted for the death of his girlfriend, Augusta Osedion. However, Hundeyin said in a statement that Nnanyereugo was suspected to have murdered the 21-year-old lady on July 13, 2023, in his home at Oral Estate in the Ajah area of Lagos. READ MORE: Killaboi Declared Wanted For Alleged Murder Of Girlfriend Following the exhaustion of all available options to bring him in, he is declared wanted, the police spokesperson had said. The suspect is 26 years old, approximately 59 ft tall and hails from Abia State. He is dark in complexion and speaks English, Igbo and pidgin English fluently. If seen, please contact the nearest police station or call 0803 688 5727, the statement added. As many concerned Nigerians continues to demand for solution for the economic hardship facing the country everyday, former member of the House of Representatives Usman Bugaje revealed that President Bola Tinubus problem-solving abilities have gone. The ex-lawmaker led this out during an interview on Channels Televisions Politics Today, he said that he is disappointed with Tinubus output since he assumed office. I have worked with him. I was in the Action Congress (AC), and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) so I have the privilege of having to work with him and I am honestly disappointed. Because I expected, hes a person who I know that would always have a book around him reading, he would always be able to engage but all that magic has evaporated. I dont see it, he said on Thursday. Bugaje also added: I dont know. We are still in the process, but certainly that magic, that idea of a person who can solve problems is not there. Look at the bundle of problems that are there. I knew that he had talents that he could apply to solve problems. We are not able to solve any of our problems. Every Nigerian problem you know that you see every day it gets worse, he argued. READ MORE: Atikus Aide Blasts Tinubu Over Attempt To Stall Release Of FBI Files His comment came months after Tinubu was sworn in and constituted his cabinet. I would say it is shared incompetence. Theyve got people who have no idea of the job they are supposed to be doing. I think the appointment system seems to be in crisis, he argued. While faulting Tinubu for failing to due consultations, the former lawmaker claimed the that the President is not in charge of his government. I can tell you one thing. Clearly, what we have seen is evidence of the fact that the President is not in charge, Bugaje said. Someone else is in charge. Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, says to address the ongoing deterioration of the situation in the country, a new constitution is needed. Anyaoku who spoke on Friday while delivering the 2023 convocation lecture at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said Nigerias diversity was managed properly during the early years of the countrys independence. While speaking on Management of diversity: A major challenge to governance in pluralistic countries, he added that the military coup of 1966 destroyed the unity of the country. According to him, there were no inter-regional tensions before the 1966 military coup. He added that there was security and economic development in the regions. But all this changed when the military intervened in the countrys governance in January 1966 and changed the existing constitution. Under the constitution of fewer and more viable federating new units that we had before the military intervention, there was security in the country and a faster pace of economic development in the region, Anyaoku said. He averred that the current situation of the country is lamentable because there is an unprecedented level of divisiveness. In contrast, today, if truth be told, the situation in our country is lamentable. There is an unprecedented level of divisiveness and a declining sense of national unity. The economy is in the doldrums, with 133 million of our population in multidimensional poverty. READ ALSO: Supreme Court Constitutes Seven-Member Panel For Atiku, Obis Appeal Against Tinubu There is great insecurity throughout the land as we hear every day of killings and kidnappings by unknown gunmen and marauding bandits. All our infrastructure, including power supply, roads, and educational and health facilities, are in a poor state. Added to all this, there is a complete bastardisation of our societys ethical values and an unfathomable level of corruption evident in the often reported massive looting and mismanagement of the countrys resources, including the continuing unbridled theft of our crude oil, he said. Anyaoku said Nigeria requires a new constitution that would be developed by Nigerians to achieve the needed transformation. The crux of my submission in this lecture is that considering the history of Nigeria over the last 63 years, to arrest the ongoing deterioration of the situation in the country and to achieve the desired transformation for the better. We need a system of government that not only addresses our diversity but is also based on a constitution that can correctly be described as a Nigerian peoples constitution. Accordingly, I call on the presidency, in consultation with the national assembly, instead of continuing to tinker with the 1999 constitution, to acknowledge the urgent necessity of a new constitution to be made by the people of Nigeria. He asked President Bola Tinubu to convene a national constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution. Provisions of the 1963 and 1999 constitutions, as well as the recommendations of the 2014 national conference, he said, should be considered. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on Friday informed that a minor fire incident was contained at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. In a statement by the management, the incident occurred at the refinerys cooling tower. The fire outbreak was caused by the ongoing welding activity at the top of the cooling tower. The company however clarified that the incident would not affect the refinery rehabilitation project delivery schedule. This afternoon (Friday), at about 15:02hrs, there was a minor fire incident at the cooling tower of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC). READ ALSO: Rule Of Law Will Be Our Guiding Light EFCC Chair Olukoyode Vows The fire which occurred as a result of ongoing welding activity at the top of the cooling tower will not affect the refinery rehabilitation project delivery schedule, the statement read. Safety officers at the refinery, according to the Company, acted immediately and put out the fire at about 15:30hrs. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), had said the Warri refinery will commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2024. He said the Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year while the Kaduna refinery will begin operation towards the end of next year. Daniel Bwala, a lawyer and a member of Peoples Democratic Party, has knocked President Bola Tinubu for constituting a large government. Bwala accused the President of forming the most bloated government in Nigerias history. In a statement released via his X account, he noted that Tinubu has failed to moved the country forward despite the amount of people employed into his administration. Bwala insisted that the country cant move forward when Tinubu is not working to unify the nation. According to him, President Tinubus appointments are nepotism-based. READ MORE: Atikus Aide Blasts Tinubu Over Attempt To Stall Release Of FBI Files He wrote: Largest cabinet since the inception of the Republic; Bloated government since the return of democracy; Largest media aids to the point of superimposition of roles; @officialABAT arguably influenced the media careers of 60 percent of journalists in the country, 40 percent of human right advocates and CSO founders; heck he even owns a TV house and a newspaper company; YET the optics arent good and the narrative cant be changed. Do you know why? No leader can move a country that he is not consciously working towards unifying and to give everybody a sense of belonging. The nepotism is ultra high and pro max. Erin P. Mayo, the 24th head of school at Doane Academy in Burlington, N.J., in September. She is the first woman to lead the school in 50 years. Read more Erin P. Mayo is getting used to making history. Mayo became the head of independent school Doane Academy in July, the first woman to hold the position in 50 years and the ninth woman to head the school in its 186-year history in Burlington City. I really wanted this position, said Mayo, 54. Im blessed that it came my way. Before that, she was the first woman to head Fryeburg Academy, an independent day and boarding school in Maine. Advertisement After other stints in Vermont and Dallas, Mayo, a former English teacher, believes she has found her place at Doane. Located on the Delaware River across from Bristol, Doane has a rich history that has evolved from its beginning as an elite Episcopal boarding school for white girls. On a picturesque 15-acre campus in 1837, founder Bishop George Washington Doane founded the school for girls to have access to the same educational opportunities as boys. The school was originally named St. Marys Hall before it was changed to Doane Academy in 2008. Eventually, the school became a co-ed day school enrolling about 235 students grades pre-K to 12. Students travel to the school from 56 towns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Busing is provided for most students, and parents help with transportation. Now, students of color comprise about 55% of the population. According to Doane officials, the school came close to shuttering in 2000 because of financial problems. At the time, the school was down to about 100 students. Mayo said then-head of school John McGee was credited with rescuing Doane from financial ruin, developing a recruiting strategy that attracted students with diverse socioeconomic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Then in 2015, a $17 million gift from Henry and Eleanor Rowan secured its future. The permanent endowment helped Doane increase its enrollment. The Rowans family charitable foundation gave $8.5 million, for a total of more than $25 million. Lloyd Freeman and his wife, Ebony, of Medford, decided to enroll their daughter, Ailey, then a first grader, in 2020. He said it was a pandemic decision to place her in a smaller environment after the coronavirus shutdown. The real pleasant surprise was the diversity. That totally sold me on it, said Freeman, the chief diversity and inclusion officer for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Philadelphia who recently joined Doanes trustee board. We got there, and there were so many Black and brown kids. Mayo said Doane remains committed to diversity. The school hopes to boost enrollment to about 250 students. Doane promotes small class sizes a 7-1 student teacher ratio and a college preparatory program that includes character development. The senior class has 31 students. Tuition for the 2023-24 school year ranges from $15,000 for lower grades to $23,500 for high schoolers. More than half of the students receive need-based financial aid. Were intentionally small, said Robyn Henry, the director of college counseling. I love it here. READ MORE: South Jersey private school announces expansion, purchases nearby vacant public school Amber Thomas, of Sicklerville, said her son, Jayden, 14, a freshman, decided to enroll in Doane this year after attending Friends of Mullica Hill School. He saw it as a place where he could be his authentic self as an African American male. He has an interest in animation and was drawn to a makers space class that encourages creativity and innovation. He loves it, as much as a teenager will tell you, Thomas, an educator, said with a smile. With a nod to its past, Doane holds nondenominational services in its chapel once a week, although the school no longer has a religious affiliation. The chapel, lined with stained-glass windows, and two other campus buildings, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On a recent school day, students changed classes in an orderly fashion, without a bell ringing. Mayo greeted every student, exchanging high-fives with some. She hopes to soon know every students name. She meets regularly with student leaders. To start the school year, Mayo joined the senior class in an annual rite of passage paddling across the Delaware River in canoes to the riverbank where they were greeted by the entire school. It was pretty cool, she said. How does the year get better? Mayo, married to Peter Gurnis, a retired English teacher, and the mother of two adult children, said she is very conscious of her role as the first female head since 1974. She said she hopes to end her career one day at Doane. I want to do right by the people who are looking to see a woman do well, she said, But the demands of the job are what I really want to focus on. Two Locals Brewing Co. founders Mengistu Koilor (left) and Richard Koilor at Craft Hall. This brother duo is opening up their much-anticipated taproom in University City this December to become the first Black-owned brewery in Philadelphia. Read more Since the craft beer boom of the early 2010s, new breweries have popped up every year across the Philadelphia region, and 2023 is no slouch. More than a dozen breweries are opening for the first time this year, and others are expanding their reach to new markets, diversifying the Southeastern Pennsylvania brewery landscape. New chapters for some follow on the heels of the final chapters for others, though, as in the case of Philly-area brewers Liquid Art Barrel House, Separatist Beer Project, and Stickman Brews, all of which were in business for nearly a decade, The Inquirer reported earlier this month. Were definitely seeing a larger number of craft breweries starting to close, said Chadd Balbi, cofounder of the media outlet Breweries in Pennsylvania, and whose annual industry report will publish soon. I dont think its a doom and gloom situation because brewery openings and expansions are also up as well. I think roughly 47 breweries opened or announced expansion in 2023, and weve had probably about 23 that announced closures. Of the new breweries opening across the Philly region this year, beer lovers are spoiled for choice. Expect some of the states best lagers from Human Robot, classic and bone-dry IPAs from Bonesaw Brewing, and seasonal delights like an apple cobbler sour ale from Second Sin, to name a few. The vibes arent lacking, either, with some new names offering idyllic views of Montco farmland or the Schuylkill Banks from a taprooms deck. Advertisement New breweries and taprooms in Philadelphia Kensingtons Human Robot is one of the premier Pennsylvania breweries for lagers, Balbi said. This year, thanks to a collaboration with Spread Bagelry, Human Robot opened up shop within 45 days of hearing about the Center City West location, close to the Walnut Street Bridge. Now, after-work happy hour goers and the weekend brunch crowd have a rooftop riverside view to enjoy Human Robots best beers like Czech 10 lager and Dreams of Orgonon hazy IPA. humanrobotsb.com 2401 Walnut St. @humanrobotschuylkillbanks Lancasters Our Town Brewery brings a community approach to its taproom by partnering with local businesses to supply ingredients for their beer and food. Now, they will bring that magic to Phillys Fairmount neighborhood sometime in late 2023, according to co-owners Rob Tarves and Rob Patz. The two Robs behind Our Town grew up together, went to Penn State together, and have shared a dream to build a brewery together since 2009. Theyll bring that community spirit to the Fairmount taproom by partnering with local purveyors of wines and spirits, including Lancaster products to share with Philadelphians. We grew up in Lewisburg, a town with a population of 7,000, where everyone was connected and proud of the local small businesses, said Tarves. That really struck us and was something weve always wanted to try. ourtownbrewery.com 1519 Ridge Ave. @ourtownbrewery Philadelphias first Black-owned brewery, co-owned by brothers Mengistu and Richard Koilor, is debuting a brick-and-mortar location in December, a project thats long been in the works and heavily anticipated by the citys beer scene. The duo will open the taproom in the new uCity Square building near Drexel Universitys campus, with 12 beers on tap and a food menu with a weekly dish inspired by the brothers Liberian and Jamaican heritage. Were just trying to bring our culture to the beer industry, represent for the African Americans and Black people in Philly, and show the city that we can make great beer, said Richard Koilor. With our kitchen partners, were figuring out how to bring our African and Jamaican heritage through the food. Through our beers, youll be able to learn about pop culture to the history of Philly our beers always have some type of meaning or story. The duos newest brew, which debuted last month, is Lofa lager, named after the county in Liberia where both brothers father (and co-owner) Mengistu Koilor was born. twolocalsbrewing.com @twolocals New breweries and taprooms in the Philadelphia suburbs Glassboros Bonesaw Brewing Co. has made a name for itself in the Philly burbs of New Jersey over the last decade, so much so that its expanding to a new location within the Deptford Mall. The Bonesaw Pilot House opened its doors at the end of September with a variety of brews on tap created by brewmaster AJ Stoll, from dark and pale beers to their own in-house seltzer. Theyre known for their IPAs and lagers, so be sure to check out the juicy and hazy Plumpscious IPA or Bonetoberfest German-style lager. Its a BYO situation too, with a relaxed vibe that encourages anyone to pull up after work with grub and buds to enjoy some Bonesaw brews. bonesawbrewing.com 1750 Deptford Center Rd., Suite 1500, Deptford 856-245-7809 Montco is getting a new brewery from Brass Collar Brewing Co. in Souderton. Co-owners Benjamin Israel and Brody Bisson are converting a former SEPTA train station into the towns next hangout spot the brewery even gets its name from the railroad lingo term brass collar, meaning train conductor. Seeing the original building to what it is now is night and day, and we think were gonna have a very cool spot for everybody, said Israel. A collaboration with Montcos Menagerie Foods, operator of the Jamaican Jerk Hut in Warminster, will serve crabcake burgers and chicken chili and cornbread, while Brass Collars beer menu runs the gamut from IPAs and lagers to ciders and seltzers. Our main mission is to have a beverage that everyone will like whether its an IPA, light beer, cider, seltzer, a soft drink, or just water we dont care, we dont discriminate, said Israel, noting theyll open with a 12-tap wall. facebook.com/brasscollarbrewingco 100 S. Front St., Souderton, Pa. This Bristol-based brewer has been distributed throughout local bars since 2020, but now has a taproom to share the brotherly love in person. There are 1,400 Broad Streets across the country, big town to small towns, so you dont have to go too far before you feel like youre still at home, co-owner Ed Webber said of their brands approachability. Broad Streets entire goal is to generate beers in a variety of styles that are highly drinkable. The brewerys crowd-pleasing lineup includes the Hey Yo! Hazy IPA, a play on Rocky Balboas iconic greeting, and 76 and Sunny blonde ale, a smooth thirst-quenching sip. Broad Street is hoping to become your next local watering hole that immerses you in the thick of a brewery no glass windows or barriers separating you from the brewery process. You might even be asked to move out of the way for the forklift, said Webber. If youre out to challenge yourself as far as craft beer, there are plenty of other beers to do that, he said. Broad Streets entire goal is to generate beers in a variety of styles that are highly drinkable. If you have one of ours, you should be able to have six and think, I cant stop drinking this! broadstreetbrewing.com 2621 Durham Rd., Bristol, Pa. 215-399-9755 Omnus Brewing is looking to bring an approachable and welcoming taproom to the Downingtown community the brewery is named after the Latin word for everyone. The beers include a hoppy German pilsner and a fruity West Coast IPA, the latters sales benefiting organizations supporting people with Down syndrome. Omnus Brewing is the brainchild of a former Levante Brewing Co. brewer, so you know he knows his stuff, Balbi said. omnusbrewing.com @omnusbrewing Bristol-based Second Sin Brewing Co., the work of childhood friends Mike Beresky, Phil Harris, and Jake Howell, is expanding into Newtown. Brewmaster Howell, who worked for years at Climax Brewing and Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co., releases a new beer every single week. Currently on tap in Bristol are German-style classics and seasonal treats like Its Cobblerin Time apple sour ale, with new weekly beers that maintain a core set of flavor profiles like hoppy ales, dark lagers, and sour ales. We dont have core beers, we have flavor profiles, said Beresky. We make 52 beers a year, maybe 10 of those are repeats, everything else is a new recipe. Second Sin is eyeing a debut in December or January for the Newtown opening. The trios vast collection of beers has placed them on the top 10 lists of craft beer review app Untappd each year since they started Second Sin four years ago. secondsinbrewing.com @secondsinbeer Sunset Hill Brewing Co. is bringing something different to the table with an 18-beer lineup that can be enjoyed among Southeastern Pennsylvanias gorgeous farmlands. It opened earlier this year on 35 acres of dairy farm atop a hill for beautiful golden hour views, hence its name. The Firely brothers, Brett and Josh, grow their grains and hops on-site and have plans to expand the property to accommodate pumpkin patches, alpacas, and more barnyard fun. Were trying to make it more like an agritourism type of brewery where you can check out the farm property, explore walking trails and educational programming, Josh Firely said. Theres nothing like this in our area and its already bringing the community together. Their most popular beers are two hazy IPAs, Sunset Chaser and Skull Melter, but they also brew a special seasonal beer like falls Pump Rock pumpkin pie beer. sunsethillbrewingco.com 2782 Leidy Rd., Gilbertsville, Pa. 610-492-1888 Amparo, who declined to give her last name, goes through the Philly Help Book and other resources with Vanessa Caracoza, director of community engagement for the Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, outside of Amparos home in North Philadelphia. Health officials say that overdoses are rising in neighborhoods in North Philadelphia, but too few people in the neighborhood are equipped to prevent them. Read more City outreach workers are knocking on thousands of doors to give lifesaving overdose reversal drugs directly to residents in North Philadelphia neighborhoods, where overdose deaths have been rising sharply and people often lack access to addiction resources. Outreach workers from the citys community engagement arm, Philly Counts, have been fanning out through the 19140 zip code, where 85 people died of overdoses in 2022. Only Kensingtons 19134 zip code saw more overdose deaths in 2022. Since 2017, overdose deaths have increased by 77% in 19140, an area that includes Hunting Park, Nicetown-Tioga and Franklinville. The Philly Counts teams have knocked on about 2,400 doors and spoken directly to 411 residents, handing out tote bags filled with the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone, testing strips that can detect the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl in street drugs, and pamphlets outlining city resources including treatment options. To reach as many people as possible, outreach workers are targeting everyone in the community not just people known to use drugs, or their loved ones. The citys goal is to visit about 100,000 homes in hot spot zip codes such as 19140. Advertisement People want to help, but they dont know what to do, said Takia Anderson, a Philly Counts canvasser. Having face-to-face conversations allows me to explain things to people that they otherwise wouldnt consider. We see stuff on the news, but its different when you have it at your door. A new kind of outreach The city has a ton of resources for people who use drugs, said Noelle Foizen, the director of the citys Opioid Response Unit, but you have to come to a table or sign up for a training. The new program, she said, could help the city reach people who are ashamed to tell anyone that they use drugs or dont know where to turn for help. Resources are not going to the people who need them most, said Keli McLoyd, the deputy director of the citys Opioid Response Unit. She and other city officials are particularly concerned about Black and Hispanic residents, who have seen significant increases in overdose deaths and are less likely to access treatment and medication for addiction. Because of the stigma around drug use, Anderson and canvassers like her arent always sure how theyll be greeted while door-knocking. They reach out to block captains to let them know canvassers will be in the neighborhoods before they head out. In conversations with neighbors, Anderson also tells people about other city resources, such as housing support and food assistance. She emphasizes that naloxone is a medication that everyone should have in the house, like ibuprofen or aspirin. Its not unusual for neighbors to open up with stories of their own struggles with addiction, or of losing a loved one to an overdose. The canvassing teams stay in touch with a mobile addiction treatment unit in case they encounter someone who is ready to get help. For some canvassers, including Anderson, the work is deeply personal. In April, her cousin and his wife both died of fentanyl overdoses. Her sister has also battled addiction. Drug use affects everyone, she said. Its not just a North Philly issue its a people issue. Personal connections with neighbors For some North Philadelphia residents, a knock on the door from a Philly Counts worker was the first time anyone from the city had reached out about the overdose crisis in their neighborhood. On a recent Thursday, a woman named Amparo, who declined to give her last name because of the stigma associated with drug use, wiped away tears as she accepted a tote bag with naloxone and fentanyl testing strips from outreach workers. Amparo said her son, now in his 40s, had been addicted to drugs, primarily cocaine, since he was 15. Vanessa Caracoza, director of community engagement for the citys Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, had tagged along on the days canvassing. Caracoza helped her flip through a pamphlet with a list of resources for people with addiction. Speaking Spanish as Caracoza translated, Amparo said that she was terrified that her son would overdose. She had heard that sometimes cocaine is contaminated with fentanyl, the opioid behind most of the citys overdose deaths, and said she would give the naloxone and testing strips to her son. She hoped, too, that she could convince him to enter treatment. This is the first time Ive talked to someone that helps with drugs, she said. Theres a lot of suffering. A former Philadelphia police officer was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty Friday to sexually assaulting vulnerable women and girls often in the back of his police vehicle and while in uniform. Patrick Heron, 54, of Northeast Philadelphia, agreed to a plea deal with the District Attorneys Office to avoid a fast-approaching trial on more than 200 counts that included child sex assault, child pornography, kidnapping, and related offenses. Jane Roh, spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office, said the guilty plea was welcomed by victims who are now spared the trauma of a trial. Herons defense lawyer, Anthony List, said he hoped the plea would allow the victims to avoid the anguish of having to testify, and added: hopefully, everyone can move on. Advertisement Heron, who retired from the force in 2019, was initially arrested last year and accused of posing as an active officer to lure girls, including some of his daughters friends. Investigators later uncovered dozens of photos and videos showing that Herons predatory behavior spanned years and included dozens of young women and girls often targeting victims who had run away, been arrested, or struggled with addiction. At a hearing last month, prosecutors shared a video that they said showed Heron encouraging a young woman to use heroin in the back of his cruiser. He then videotaped himself assaulting her while she lay unconscious in the back of his car, said Lyandra Retacco, chief of the Special Investigations Unit of the District Attorneys Office. Before forcing one girl to perform sex acts on him, Heron told her that It would help you in court to have a police officer on your side, testified Sgt. Gerald Rocks, the investigator on the case. Heron met many of his victims while on the force, Retacco said, and prosecutors say his crimes occurred over a roughly 17-year span, from 2005 through 2022. Investigators have identified 48 victims, though many of their identities remain unknown, Retacco said. There are likely more who havent come forward, she said. Once detectives searched his phone and other devices, they found numerous videos taken in 2016 and 2017, which showed Heron assaulting girls, some who appeared semiconscious, in his cruiser. Some victims contacted the District Attorneys Office after seeing his photo in the news. Staff writer Chris Palmer contributed to this article. "The Green Silk Road is an important tool that can help us all pull us out of the dead ends of the past and set us on a new pathway that benefits people and planet alike," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized in his speech at the High-level Forum on Green Development of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held on October 18. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a speech [Photo/ United Nations] With the theme of Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature, more than 400 people from over 40 countries attended the green development forum, sharing the results of Green Silk Road construction in the past decade. The High-level Forum on Green Development [Photo/ China Economic Net] Green development truly matters, stated Zafar Uddin Mahmood, former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, adding Thanks to China-proposed BRI, significant changes have driven Pakistans green transformation, including the solar and wind power facilities from scratch. Lately, Chinese solar solutions giant LONGi just announced that they are about to achieve the magnificent goal of 2GW in Pakistan. Statistic from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showed that the Pakistan solar energy market size is expected to grow from 1.3 GW in 2023 to 9.77 GW by 2028, at a CAGR of 49.68 percent during the forecast period (2023-2028). Not only in Pakistan, among more BRI partners, Chinese companies have also expanded their global presence to launch green projects, backed up with investments and advanced supply chains. As the world's largest producer of solar panels and wind turbines and a leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, China has unparalleled advantages in promoting the popularization of green and sustainable energy. Official data showed that the export value of China's solar panels, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles stood at USD 109 billion in the first three quarters the year, soaring 41.7 percent year-on-year. The export value has grown by double digits for 14 consecutive quarters. On the same day, LONGi officially launched the first phase of its Serendah Module Plant in Malaysia. Located in Serendah, Selangor state on Malaysia's west coast, the 566,560-square meter module factory, with an investment of USD 380 million, represents LONGi's inaugural manufacturing presence in West Malaysia. There will be two phases of construction, with a combined capacity of 8.8 gigawatts, the company said. The first phase is already operating and work has started on the second phase. The Serendah Module Plant has created 900 local jobs, with the number anticipated to exceed 2,000 eventually. Furthermore, in 2022, LONGi has provided 1/3 of the core equipment for all photovoltaic projects in the five Central Asian countries. The 50-MW Balkhash Power Station Phase-I, as LONGis largest project in Kazakhstan, can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70,000 tons per year. The first batch of 20MW modules of Uzbekistans 1GW photovoltaic project also arrived in Tashkent not long ago through the China-Europe freight train. The reporter learned that in the past ten years, China has signed 46 climate change related cooperation documents with 39 developing countries, as green development is reaching broad consensus among the countries that are jointly building BRI. During the forum, the Chinese government unveiled three eye-catching plans-the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development, the Green Investment and Finance Project and the Action Plan for Green Technology Development in Central Asia. According to the United Nations own report, only 15 percent of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been completed. Green development, as an important aspect that can now achieve a broader consensus, should gather global strength, told Zhang Jianyu, Executive Director of the BRI Green Development Institute, while attending the forum. For better and worse, little has changed in nearly half a century when it comes to city politics in the Far Northeast. City Councilmember Brian J. ONeill has represented the 10th District for 43 years. When he was elected, Jimmy Carter was president, a dozen eggs cost 86 cents, Liberty Place had not been built, and Veterans Stadium was still standing. ONeill, 73, is the only Republican councilmember. He is up for reelection on Nov. 7 and faces a well-financed challenger in Democrat Gary Masino, the head of Sheet Metal Workers Local 19. While the Republican brand may be tarnished beyond repair, ONeill is a moderate who is far removed from the MAGA extremists at the state and federal levels. However, the GOP may lose all three seats it once controlled on Council, as other parties take spots reserved for non-Democrats, underscoring the need to cultivate competitive new voices. Advertisement Until fresh faces are found, The Inquirer endorses Brian J. ONeill as the best choice for City Council in the 10th District. Since ONeill has spent his long career in the minority, he has very little to show in the way of major legislative accomplishments. A top highlight on his brief Wikipedia entry is the 2006 passage of an ordinance banning the sale of single cigarettes and cigars, known as the blunt ban, which was later overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. ONeill serves as the minority leader in a city where the Republican Party has been outnumbered and out of power for nearly 75 years. In that role, he has been a steady, if unflashy, counterweight to the sometimes histrionic majority on Council. ONeill also knows his district, which is mostly white, has a more suburban feel, and is home to many police officers, firefighters, and teachers. Indeed, ONeill was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, unsurprising for the son of a police officer. Masino, by comparison, is a no-nonsense union official straight out of central casting. The brawny father of five is a third-generation member of the sheet metal union, with two sons in the family trade. Masino has never held elected office, and during a meeting with this board struggled to articulate a compelling plan for what he would do on Council or why he is a better choice than ONeill. In fact, Masino agrees with ONeill on most policy issues but argues the incumbent is rarely visible in the district. The challengers campaign is focused on combating crime, though his district is one of the safest in the city. He is also rightly concerned about the citys onerous tax structure. In particular, property taxes have ballooned as property values have increased. Lowering the tax rate is a reasonable way to offset higher assessments. Masino suggested offsetting tax cuts through increased fees and enforcement by the Department of Licenses and Inspections but offered no numbers to support the idea. He does deserve praise for one pledge in particular: If elected, Masino promised to step down from his other full-time job running the sheet metal union. This commitment should be the rule for all City Council members. Over the years, many Council members have held second jobs. The double-dipping created a real or perceived conflict of interest and raised questions about who they served. Former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is in prison because he couldnt separate his job at the electricians union from his role as a public servant. For many years, ONeill was employed by Fox Rothchild, a law firm that does business with the city. He has now retired from the firm and told this board he now supports prohibiting Council members from holding a second job. But with one caveat: ONeill said Council salaries of $142,751 should be increased to offset the loss of a second income and incentivize quality candidates to seek office. Thats an idea worth exploring. ONeill also supports term limits. This seems like an incongruous position for a person who has held office for more than four decades, but better late than never. The incumbent proposed a limit of five terms. Even at that generous clip, that means his tenure would have concluded at the end of last century. Term limits for Council is another idea worth exploring. For now, those limits come from the voters, who will determine if ONeill gets another term. Palestinian children displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip stay in a U.N.-provided tent camp in Khan Younis on Thursday. Palestinian civilians are lumped together with Hamas terrorists as equally guilty by some in Israel, writes Trudy Rubin. Read more On his trip to Israel Wednesday to support the war on Hamas, President Joe Biden also pushed for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip. As of Friday, more than 100 trucks packed with urgently needed food, water, and medical supplies were still lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to Gaza, despite Israels promise to Biden to start letting aid in. Egyptians insisted the border was open from their side. The Israeli hitch apparently revolved around the adequacy of security checks, and whether this would be, as Egypt sought, the first of regular aid convoys. Meantime, hundreds of thousands of Gazan civilians half of them children are unable to find water, food, medicine, or safety, as Israeli troops prepare to invade. READ MORE: In Gaza, time to stop the blame and recognize the humanity | Trudy Rubin Advertisement A thick fog of rage is enveloping Israelis as they mourn the slaughter of Jewish civilians, including women, children, and babies a fog that obscures almost any sympathy for the suffering of Palestinian civilians. Thats why the following advice, from an empathetic Biden, was so important: Justice must be done, the president said in Tel Aviv. But I caution this: While you feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we got justice, we also made mistakes. Yet, driven by fury, Israel appears resistant to alleviating the growing civilian carnage in Gaza, a mistake that will undermine their fight against terrorism and could dangerously widen the war. I get it. In a tiny country like Israel, everyone knows someone who was killed, injured, or kidnapped. The never-before-imagined ability of Hamas to wipe out whole communities inside Israel adds fear and a sense of vulnerability to the anger, exacerbated by memories of the Holocaust. There is near unanimous accord across the political spectrum that Hamas must be destroyed. But where does that leave ordinary Gazan civilians caught in a double trap? In a small territory no bigger than the city of Philadelphia, with a third more residents and intense population density inside Gaza City, many civilians are fleeing south as Israel has ordered, only to be hit by Israeli missiles. There are no humanitarian safe zones where they can seek shelter. Rage seems to be guiding Israeli wartime attitudes toward humanitarian aid. Palestinian civilians are lumped together with terrorists as equally guilty. It is an entire nation out there that is responsible, the normally calm Israeli President Isaac Herzog said at a recent news conference. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not being aware, not involved. They could have risen up. They could have fought against that evil [Hamas] regime which took over Gaza in a coup detat. In fact, polls taken by the Washington Institute, a pro-Israeli think tank, show that most Gazans are fed up with Hamas governance and would like the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to take over. However, the PAs armed forces were routed from Gaza by Hamas fighters in 2007, and ordinary Gazans have no means to overthrow an armed Hamas. Gaza has been mostly cut off from the world by an Israeli air, sea, and land blockade since the Hamas takeover. Unlike a war against an enemy state, where civilians are often inevitable collateral damage, this is a war against terrorists who use the public as human shields. Yet members of parliament from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party have called for bombing without distinction between Hamas and civilians, and flattening Gaza without mercy. Former Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, who served as national security adviser under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when the latter withdrew Israeli troops from Gaza, now says Israel should tell all Gaza residents to either leave for Egypt or gather on the seashore. He argues that Israel has no choice but to make Gaza a place that is temporarily, or permanently, impossible to live in. Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieve the goal. Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Al Jazeera that people in Gaza should Go to the Sinai Desert. There is a huge expanse, almost endless space in the Sinai Desert just on the other side of Gaza. This is clearly code language for ethnically cleansing Gaza of much of its population, and consigning them to tent camps in Egypt. With its struggling economy and fear of internal upheaval, Cairo wont accept this, especially as it knows Israel wouldnt let them return. This shows the psyche of the place that Israeli society is now in, I was told by Yehuda Shaul, a cofounder of Breaking the Silence, which collects critical testimonies of Israeli soldiers who served in the West Bank. Blood is boiling. Most Israeli Jews want revenge. Shaul himself has been deeply shaken. Two members of Breaking the Silence were killed by Hamas. We knew there was nothing good at the end of the tunnel of permanent occupation, Shaul said softly, but when it happens at this scale the orgy of mass murder of entire families Still, Shaul believes it is important to permit humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. First and foremost, he said, its morally necessary because we arent Hamas. But then, of course, he added, it is strategically necessary. If we make it about every Palestinian in Gaza vs. us, its a very bad place to be. READ MORE: As Israel strikes back against Hamas, questions linger about the long road ahead | Trudy Rubin Indeed, Hamas is trying to rouse public wrath in Arab states to press their leaders to support it. Israel is being condemned throughout the region for the bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City (even though Israel has made a good, although not totally verifiable, case that the hospital was hit by a misfired rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad). Moreover, Hamas is trying to encourage Tehran to give the green light to Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon to open a new front on Israels northern border by unleashing a surge of their 150,000 rockets and missiles. More catastrophic scenes of Gazan children dying en masse will put pressure on these militants to act. So, after committing full support and billions in aid to backing Israel, it is time for Biden to call in his chips with Netanyahu. The U.S. should insist that Israel establish safe zones in southern Gaza, and, if it is not too late, permit a bombing pause so more civilians can proceed south. Then a system for regular aid delivery to the safe zones should be set up that will continue during wartime. (If Hamas seizes any of the aid, that system can be reviewed.) Biden was correct to warn Israelis against letting war policy be driven by fury. But unless he convinces Israel to conduct a more strategic policy toward Gazan civilians, Washington will be complicit as the death toll soars. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families gather to honor and remember their dead loved ones. The festivities normally occur on the first two days of November, where revelers dress up to sing, dance and make offerings to their lost loved ones. Democratic mayoral nominee Cherelle Parker wants to continue the citys practice of gradually lowering the wage tax, while her Republican opponent David Oh wants to more aggressively reduce the levy. Oh opposes the 76ers proposal to build a new arena in Center City, while Parker says its an economic development opportunity that Philadelphia cant ignore. Both want to recruit many more cops and require officers to do a better job of building relationships with the neighborhoods they police. Those issues were among the key policy areas the two candidates discussed Friday during a joint interview with The Inquirers Editorial Board. In their first in-person encounter during the general election campaign, the candidates largely avoided sparring with each other and instead laid out their visions for the city separately. (The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom, but it allowed a reporter to sit in on the interview.) Advertisement Oh has pushed for a series of televised debates, but Parker has only agreed to a handful of joint appearances. On Thursday morning, they will debate on KYW Newsradio. Parker emerged from a crowded field to win the May 16 Democratic primary in what turned out to be the most expensive mayoral election in Philadelphia history. Oh ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Both are former City Council members. Parker is widely expected to win the Nov. 7 election thanks to the citys overwhelmingly Democratic electorate. Philadelphia has not had a competitive general election in a mayors race in 20 years, and the GOP nominee has not won since 1947. READ MORE: Cherelle Parker is proud of her West Oak Lane roots. As mayor, could she save Phillys middle neighborhoods? But Oh said Friday that he believes Philadelphians are looking for something different this year. They want a dramatic change. They want a wholesale change, Oh said. What well see on Nov. 7 is the people voting for a change overall. I would say that I represent the greatest opportunity for change. READ MORE: David Oh isnt a typical Republican. He likes it that way. Parker touted her experience as a state legislator and Council majority leader and said voters are looking for someone who has a proven ability to get things done. People want to have an executive of this city who has the skill to use government as a tool to change their life and their communities, she said. Following two years of record-setting shootings and homicides, both candidates have focused on public safety issues on the campaign trail. They largely agree that the city needs to do more to provide a sense of order by bolstering the short-staffed Police Department and holding criminals accountable. But on Friday they highlighted some differences in their public safety plans. Parker, for instance, supports increasing the use of the controversial policing tactic known as stop-and-frisk, which Oh opposes. Meanwhile, Oh criticized District Attorney Larry Krasner for failing to more aggressively prosecute criminals, while Parker avoided directly attacking the progressive prosecutor. Tax timetables Both Parker and Oh agree that Philadelphia needs to reduce its widely criticized wage tax. But theyre not on the same page when it comes to how the city should lower it. The wage tax is 3.75% for Philly residents, and 3.44% for people who work in the city but live elsewhere. Since the 1990s, successive mayoral administrations and City Councils have worked together to adopt small cuts to the rate most years. But it remains the highest flat municipal wage tax in the nation. Oh said City Hall needs to more drastically reduce the tax to compete with the suburbs and other cities and bring jobs back to Philadelphia. The wage tax has been identified in two separate tax commissions as being the major problem with Philadelphia, Oh said. You cannot simply cut taxes. You have to cut taxes to the degree that makes sense to obtain investment. Parker said that while she wants to see the tax cut and potentially eliminated one day, she doesnt think the city can rush any reductions to its largest revenue source when it needs resources to improve services. Do I want to see Philadelphia have a more competitive business tax structure? Yes, indeed, Parker said, before qualifying that until we grow the economic pie here in our city, well continue to see the gradual reductions. Parker, however, opened the door to a way the city might speed up cuts. She wants to revive an effort to amend the states uniformity clause which requires tax rates to be applied equally to all people subject to a given tax to allow Philadelphia commercial property owners to pay a higher real estate tax rate than residential owners. That would require a state constitutional amendment, a heavy political lift. But Parker, who as a state lawmaker was involved in a previous attempt to uncouple commercial and residential property taxes, said she wants to try again. The uniformity clause should be changed, and that should be our goal, she said. If Im mayor, were going to go at it again. Differences on the 76ers arena Council is expected to decide next year whether to approve the 76ers plan to build an arena at 10th and Market Streets, making it one of the first major issues that will land on the desk of the next mayor when he or she takes office in January. Comcast Spectacor, which owns the 76ers current home at the Wells Fargo Center, has lobbied against the plan, as have advocates for Chinatown who fear it will displace businesses and residents in the historic neighborhood, which borders the proposed site. The 76ers have won endorsements for their $1.55 billion plan from the building trades unions, which backed Parker in the mayors race, and from Black business leaders and clergy members. Parker has not committed to the plan, but has consistently spoken positively about its potential economic benefits for the struggling East Market Street corridor and the city as a whole. She repeated that stance Friday. We are the sixth-largest city in the nation and the poorest big city in the nation, and we cant give a knee jerk no to any big economic development project, she said. I remember what the economic vitality of Market Street looked like, and we have seen it decline. If she becomes mayor, Parker said she will ask all sides involved in the debate to present her with data on its potential impact. I want to see as much data and information as possible cost-benefit analysis, potential return on investment, DEI from top to bottom, she said. Oh, a longtime champion of Chinatowns interests, said the 76ers plan is too vague for Council to approve it at this point. The team doesnt plan to open the arena until 2031, and it hasnt published a final design for the facility. In general, an arena on East Market Street is not a naturally occurring thing. It would be very artificial, he said. Its very much incumbent on the Sixers to not just announce an arena but to give documentation about what it actually is. He also objected to how the 76ers have gone about building support for the project. The way they rolled it out how they pitted one community against another has been very negative and very divisive, Oh said. Tyrese Maxey enjoys James Harden doing some push-ups after Harden lost a shooting competition at the team's Blue-White scrimmage in Wilmington on Oct. 14. Read more From every available indication, 76ers president Daryl Morey will use the same kind of strategy in trading James Harden that he did in trading Ben Simmons: He will wait. And wait. And wait. And if an offer from the Los Angeles Clippers or any other club that he believes to be fair and advantageous to the Sixers doesnt present itself, he will wait some more. That plan is sound in its theory: The Sixers have already shown that they can get bounced from the playoffs in the second round as easily with Harden as they can without him. And it might even turn out to work in practice. READ MORE: Sixers 2023-24 season preview: Top storylines, players to watch, and key games Advertisement It did with Simmons, if you consider sending away one malcontent for another and ending up no better for it to be a rip-roaring success. But there is a bigger risk for Morey and the Sixers in playing this game again this time. After Doc Rivers kicked him out of practice in October 2021, Simmons kept his distance until Morey traded him to Brooklyn. He didnt want any parts of the Sixers or Philadelphia. Once he went away, he stayed away, and everyone knew he was staying away. It hurt the Sixers that they had to play so much of that season with a hole in their roster, but Simmons absence wasnt much of a distraction. READ MORE: James Harden cynics predicted drama would eventually hit the Sixers. It didnt take long. Harden isnt Simmons. Harden isnt afraid to play at the Wells Fargo Center. He just doesnt want to, and hes more likely to pull a stunt or stunts to force Moreys hand: show up to a practice or game one day, not show up the next day, swear hell play, demand to play, decline to play, give an incendiary interview, make himself a daily pain in the derriere. And the longer Morey waits to trade him, the more Harden threatens to torment him and the rest of the Sixers. Me, Im not sure Id wait. Vaccine makers and pharmacy chains are seeing a steep decline in the number of people getting covid shots. Makers of at-home rapid tests are going belly-up. Companies that made personal protective equipment have shut down. When the coronavirus first emerged, companies across the healthcare industry raced to reconfigure themselves. Pharmaceutical companies that were focused principally on cancer and rare diseases threw themselves into the pursuit of vaccines and antivirals. Medical device makers developed at-home testing kits and quickly ramped up production. That transformation is now unravelling. Pfizer one of the biggest winners from the pandemic boom on Monday offered one of the most dramatic signs of the turnabout, cutting $9bn (8.51bn) from its annual sales forecast because of declining demand for its covid shots and the Paxlovid treatment, which is manufactured at the company's facility in Cork. The weakening demand for the vaccine and Paxlovid goes to show this really is the transition to post-covid, said Max Nisen, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. People are going to have to figure out what that looks like well beyond Pfizer. Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S, the maker of the Ozempic and Wegovy drugs used for weight loss, are up 49% this year. Many have put the pandemic behind them, but the virus has not entirely gone away. New strains continue to circulate and covid hospitalisations continue, but far below their peak levels. Fewer and fewer people are working from home. Restaurants and airports are full. Not every healthcare business that faced sudden change because of covid is hurting. More people are returning to their doctors for routine checkups and procedures they put off when clinics were crowded with virus patients. That has been good news for physicians and for hospitals. Still, Pfizers decision to rein in its financial guidance shows how the landscape has changed, and it will put pressure on other companies that benefited from serving covid patients to take another look at their expectations and make adjustments. Pfizer shares gained 3.6% on Monday. Also on Monday, Pfizer rival Moderna reaffirmed its covid vaccine sales guidance for 2023 but said it was too early to accurately project where vaccination rates would land. Its shares declined 6.5%, hitting their lowest level since November 2020. Moderna has said it expects vaccine sales of $6bn (5.68bn) to $8bn (7.57bn) this year. In a note to investors on Monday, William Blair analyst Myles Minter said he saw the company hitting the lower end of that range. Moderna has predicted the US market this season will be at least 50 million doses, but Michael Yee, an analyst at Jefferies, expects it will be lower between 35 million and 40 million. Weight shift Not long ago, Wall Street was excited about the potential for mRNA the technology behind the covid vaccines from both Moderna and Pfizer. Both companies bet the breakthrough would have a range of applications, and rivals were under pressure to make mRNA moves of their own. However, the narrative has shifted, with investors pouring money into weight-loss drugs that some analysts are already predicting will have broad economic ramifications. So far this year, Pfizer shares are down 35%, and Moderna shares have tumbled 49%. By contrast, shares of Novo Nordisk A/S, the maker of the Ozempic and Wegovy drugs used for weight loss, are up 49% this year. The rocky rollout of this seasons vaccine has made it harder to figure out how much demand there really is. Pharmacies have found themselves low on both Modernas and Pfizers new shots, forcing them to turn people away who were seeking the vaccines when they first became available this autumn. Test makers Tested vaccine makers are not the only ones seeing a decline in pandemic-related business. In February, Lucira Health, a publicly traded maker of at-home covid tests, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. Test maker Ellume Ltd, which had clinched the first US clearance for its at-home covid test kit, collapsed into liquidation in June. Abbott Laboratories saw a rapid decline in covid testing sales in 2022, a downturn that forced the company to cut temporary workers this year. Abbotts covid tests are expected to generate sales of just $1.3bn (1.23bn) in 2023, according to analyst estimates, well below the $7.7bn (7.29bn) tests racked up in 2021. Unlike its smaller rivals, however, Abbott has other businesses that can offset that decline: Demand for medical devices like its diabetes monitors has cushioned the blow from dwindling covid-related income. For health insurers, the fading influence of covid-19 has meant more people are seeking medical care. Patients postponed surgeries and other care during the pandemic, but insurance companies saw a rebound this year in joint replacements and heart procedures. For hospitals, surgery centres, and medical device makers, patients coming back for more care is good for business. Labour costs spiked during covid as hospitals depended on travel nurses and temporary medical staff, but those pressures have eased somewhat. Meanwhile, investor enthusiasm for virtual care has receded. Bloomberg When the groundbreaking Irish travel writer Dervla Murphy died last year at the age of 90, the Waterford native left an incredible legacy. Now a new book edited by her friend and fellow writer Ethel Crowley brings together a selection of her best work and cements her place in the travel writing pantheon. As Cork City-based Crowley writes in her introduction to Life At Full Tilt: The Selected Writings of Dervla Murphy, Murphy was an only child born in Lismore, Co Waterford, in 1931. Although she longed to travel, her mother suffered from a serious illness and Dervla was needed at home. When she lost both parents at the very beginning of her 30s, she was suddenly free to live her own life. Though it must have been shocking to suffer the losses so close together, she was able to make good on a promise she made to herself at age 10: that she would cycle to India. That trip led to her first book, Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle (1965). When you get to the part of Full Tilt where she is attacked by wolves and has to whip out a revolver to defend herself, you realise youre not dealing with any ordinary traveller. At a time when women in Ireland were faced with countless social and religious constraints, Murphy was, as Crowley writes, a maverick. Dervla Murphy, at her kitchen table in Lismore, Co Waterford After her journey to India, she wrote over 20 books about travelling in countries including Nepal, Laos, Cameroon, Cuba and Transylvania in Romania and Hungary. Her final book was published in 2015. Not only did she travel to some of the worlds most remote places, she usually did it by bicycle too. The collection includes extracts from some of Murphys well-known books, such as her memoir Wheels Within Wheels (1979), and travel books On A Shoestring to Coorg (1976), and A Month By the Sea: Encounters in Gaza (2013). However, it also covers some of her lesser-known works, such as Race to the Finish? The Nuclear Stakes (1981) and Through the Embers of Chaos: Balkan Journeys (2002). Crowley, who is a sociologist, wrote a section on Dervla Murphy in her own book Your Place or Mine? in 2013. She sent the book to Murphy along with contact details. Not long after that, the phone rang at Crowleys home. It was Dervla Murphy. She liked the ideas in Crowleys book and invited her to visit her in Lismore. We clicked on that phone call. It was like love before first sight, almost, says Crowley. We had so much in common, we had a lot of ideas in common. Dervla Murphy: a maverick writer at a restrictive time for women in Ireland Crowley and her husband Jim McLaughlin (a lecturer in political geography) are also big travellers, and werent long back from Nicaragua when they first met Murphy. They got to meet friends and family of Murphys in Lismore, as well as her daughter Rachel. She would call up and say, Now, Ive got such and such visiting from Palestine, would you like to come over? smiles Crowley. It was like the traditional idea of the salon. These were like her salons and it was an absolute privilege to be part of them. On their visits there would be freshly baked spelt bread to eat with homemade soup, as everything was highly local and ecological, says Crowley. Murphy and Crowley were both animal lovers, and would usually chat with an ageing terrier on each of their laps. Moments like that stay with you forever, really. Its a big lesson in living in the moment. Youre in a situation like that and you think, Okay, you must not forget this, its precious. When Crowley asked Murphy about the possibility of putting a collection together, at first Murphy didnt think there would be any interest in it. She hated going back over old stuff. She hated looking back, says Crowley. What convinced her of the public interest was the article I did for the Irish Examiner for her 90th birthday. Crowley was also able to tell Murphy about the phenomenal love she encountered for her on Twitter/X after the article was published. This led Murphy to talk to her publisher Eland, and her daughter Rachel, and Crowley started work on the collection in April last year. Crowley passed any royalties from the book to the Murphys, who decided to donate the money to charity. Travel writer Dervla Murphy at her home in Lismore, Co Waterford. Pic: Dan Linehan Murphy was always moving forward, says Crowley. There was a sense of lost time. And I think that stayed with her throughout her life, its like, oh my God, theres no time for all this, just get on with it and do the next [book]. And there was an insatiable curiosity in her. Her favourite word was fascinating. So the last thing she would want to do [was] talk about the book she had just finished. And no ego whatsoever, Gods sake, why would anyone want to talk to me? There are many standout stories here. Some of the things she encountered, [she] would just report them as if they were normal. Were pretty good [in Ireland] on death and funerals, but this one was out there: in Madagascar, they have an annual corpse-turning festival. They take the body out of the ground and turn them around, says Crowley. And she would report that as if it was the most normal thing in the world, like an anthropologist would. As her career progressed, Murphy found herself being drawn to visiting certain locations so that she could examine things such as conflict and race relations. For her book Tales From Two Cities, she spent three months each in an Asian area in Bradford, England, and in a black area in Birmingham, says Crowley. She also wrote about South Africa, the Aids crisis and post-conflict countries. She had just amazing conversations that no Westerner had. And it was her empathy with people, her ability to walk a mile in their shoes, says Crowley. Murphy also had a profound concern about injustice and inequality, says Crowley. She would say: Look, were all born equal, why is the world like this? What is the experience of different groups of people? What can I learn by speaking to someone who lives on a kibbutz in Israel? How can I understand the life of a fisherman in Gaza who is shot at by the Israeli army every day when he goes to work? Dervla Murphy, on her trusty bike Murphy was also an example of what we would now call positive ageing. For her 60th birthday in 1991, she bought a new bike (she called it the Rolls Royce of bicycles) and headed off to southern Africa with it. Right up until close to the end, she was always writing, says Crowley, and always reading and learning. Would Crowley ever write a biography of Murphy? She says no. She put out there already everything that she wanted out there. And theres nothing I can add to that. What is Murphys legacy when it comes to travelling? I think the main legacy is, you can do it. And keep it simple. You dont need a whole bunch of stuff. She had a lovely list of rules of travel. The first one was mug up on history, read your damn books before you go, as much as possible. Another one of her rules was to find out where people are going, and then go in the opposite direction, laughs Crowley. Crowley first encountered Murphys work as a teenager, and was immediately entranced. I felt then, and I still feel now, that to open a new Murphy book was like taking a breath of cold, fresh air and strapping on your backpack and heading out into the world, even though youre lying on your bed reading it, she says. For me to be the one producing this edited collection, its like a full-circle experience. All the stars were aligned. And Im just so honoured to be the one to produce this collection. She learned a lot from her friend about living. Life is about filling it with interesting stuff. And if knowing Dervla Murphy gave me one lesson it was: make your damn life as interesting as you can, because you only get one. Anything can happen at any time. Dervla did not live to see the publication of the book, as she died in May last year. Her body is dead. But her spirit lives on. And that sounds like a cliche, but I really mean it, says Crowley. My goal in producing this book was to make that spirit live on longer, and to keep her memory alive. A representative of the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia introduces cashew products to visitors (Photo: VNA) Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia Le Phu Cuong said that 50 products of 15 Vietnamese businesses such as Vietnamese tea, coffee and cashew nuts displayed at the Vietnamese booth attracted attention from international visitors. He emphasized that Halal certification is considered an important standard to access the Malaysian market in particular and the market of Muslim countries in general, adding that all Vietnamese products displayed at the expo get Halal certificates. On behalf of the Vietnam Tea Association (VTA), Nguyen Thi Anh Hong, VTAs Vice President signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Tea Association. Accordingly, Vietnam will increase tea export to Malaysia by 10% from last year to 20.6 million ringgit. SIBS is held annually. However, SIBS 2023 has more than 1,000 booths from 20 countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan, Uganda, Vietnam and Australia./. There's nothing like a change in weather to wreak havoc on our complexion. The colder months can strip our skin of essential moisture, leaving it looking and feeling dry, dull and irritated. Keep the elements at bay with Simone Gannons top tips for plump, hydrated, happy skin, no matter how low the temperature gets. 1. DOUBLE CLEANSE (WITH CARE) As important as ever during the winter months, an effective double cleanse removes makeup and sunscreen and can help balance oil and reduce breakouts. At this time of year, however, its a good idea to take a closer look at the products youre cleansing with, as extra care is needed. Sidestep exfoliating or slightly abrasive cleansers and focus on nourishing and soothing cleansers that calm and hydrate stressed-out skin. Start with a balm or an oil cleanser to break down that first layer of makeup and sunscreen, and then follow with a gentle creamy cleanser to sweep away any remaining product and gently clean the skin. Some of my favourite gentle cleansers are cream or milk-based and include Dermalogicas excellent Micellar Prebiotic PreCleanse, Kate Somervilles award-winning Goat Milk Cleanser and iS Clinicals Warming Honey Cleanser. Dermalogica Micellar Prebiotic PreCleanse Dermalogica Micellar Prebiotic PreCleanse 54 from dermalogica.ie. Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser 44 for 120ml from Brown Thomas. iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser 55 from drlauraclinic.ie. 2. EXFOLIATE LESS An important part of every skincare routine, regular exfoliation sweeps away dead skin cells, smooths and softens the skins surface, and ultimately helps the other products in your routine work better. As the temperature drops and we move into the colder months, our skin becomes much more susceptible to redness, irritation and general sensitivity. So, while we dont want to stop exfoliating, we do want to reduce the frequency. Once a week is more than enough in winter. Its also a good idea to look at the type of exfoliant youre using. Some exfoliating acids we know and love, like glycolic acid, can sometimes irritate newly sensitive winter skin. Look for gentler, sensitive skin-loving exfoliants, like polyhydroxy acid (or PHA). A longtime favourite of mine, PHA is exceptionally mild and delivers excellent results, but it works at a much slower pace so that you can avoid any irritating pitfalls. Gentle PHA exfoliants to look out for this winter include Neostrata PHA Renewal Pads and Medi8 Press & Glow Daily PHA Exfoliating Tonic. Another great option is Dermalogicas Daily Milkfoliant a super gentle, milk-based version of its best-selling Daily Microfoliant. Neostrata PHA Renewal Pads Neostrata PHA Renewal Pads 45 from meagherspharmacy.ie. Medik8 Press & Glow Daily PHA Exfoliating Tonic Medik8 Press & Glow Daily PHA Exfoliating Tonic 35 from millies.ie. 74 from dermalogica.ie. 3. SWITCH UP YOUR MOISTURISER Just like we pack away summer layers and unpack our winter coats, its time to say goodbye to lightweight creams and say hello to thicker, more nourishing options that care for your skin when it needs it most. A richer, more emollient moisturiser will help protect and repair your skin barrier and add a significant boost of moisture, keeping all the good stuff in and all the bad stuff out. Think of it like a lifejacket for dry, flaking, irritated skin. When searching for a new winter moisturiser, look for wonder ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, squalane and hyaluronic acid (or preferably, a combination of all). Plumping, calming, repairing and hydrating, they provide immediate relief to parched skin. Some of my favourite colder-weather creams include Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream, Avene Tolerance Soothing Skin Recovery Cream and Dr. Jart Ceramidin Infused Ectoin Cream. (FYI, the entire Ceramidin range is a lifesaver for dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin. Worthy of investigation if youre in the market for new products.) Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream 39 from spacenk.com. 24 from Boots. Dr. Jart Ceramidin Infused Ectoin Dr. Jart Ceramidin Infused Ectoin 58 from Brown Thomas. 4. START SLUGGING A great way to maintain a healthy skin barrier through winter is to slug your skin. If you havent heard of slugging before, its essentially the process of slathering your skin in a thick occlusive balm or cream after your moisturiser. One of the most popular products for slugging is Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. I know, you probably havent used Vaseline since you were a kid but hear me out. This is a wonderful approach to combat dry, tight, patchy skin in the winter months, and its a method that can also target specific areas you dont need to slug your whole face. Treat those pesky dry patches on the side of your nose or forehead by only slugging this area. Heres what your nighttime routine will look like if you want to try slugging. Double cleanse as usual, then apply your hydrating or repairing serum, and follow with moisturiser. Then, take a pea-sized amount of your slugging product of choice and apply a thin layer over the areas you want to treat, and thats it. Wake up in the morning with baby soft, hydrated, repaired skin. Whats not to love? (Maybe looking like a shiny snail before going to bed. Its worth it, though. I promise). A couple of slugging caveats: Keep your skincare routine simple. Dont use any exfoliating acids before you slug your skin, as when trapped in the skin, they can irritate. If youre prone to breakouts, it might be best to skip slugging altogether. However, you can always use a thicker cream to get a similar effect. Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm 13.99 from Boots. Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly 2.69 from Boots. Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream 17 from cultbeauty.com. 5. INTRODUCE A FACE OIL Face oil can work wonders in the colder months, helping to boost moisture retention, keep your skin barrier in check and add glow and bounce to your complexion. If youre new to facial oils, a great way to slowly introduce one is by adding a couple of drops to your regular nighttime moisturiser one or two times a week. See how your skin responds and then increase as and when you need it. Some of my go-to face oils include LOccitane Immortelle Divine Youth Oil, Ground Wellbeing Talamh Restorative Face Oil (an excellent Cork-based brand), and Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil. LOccitane Imortelle Divine Youth Oil LOccitane Imortelle Divine Youth Oil 90 from LOccitane. Ground Wellbeing Talamh Restorative Face Oil Ground Wellbeing Talamh Restorative Face Oil 44 from groundwellbeing.com. Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil 79 from charlottetilbury.com. 6. WEAR SUNSCREEN One step in your summer skincare routine that will always make its way to winter is sunscreen. Sadly, UV rays dont hibernate in the colder months, so its important to continue wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day. Hold off premature ageing for longer and protect your skin when its at its most sensitive by applying SPF on your face, neck and chest (and any other exposed areas of skin). The other steps on this list are important for keeping your skin healthy and happy in winter, but the most crucial step will always be sunscreen. Sunscreens I rate include Dr PawPaw Your Gorgeous Skin SPF50 Day Cream, Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF50, and UltraCeuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturising SPF50. Dr PawPaw Your Gorgeous Skin SPF50 Day Cream Dr PawPaw Your Gorgeous Skin SPF50 Day Cream 14.95 from lookfantastic.com. Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF50 Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF50 23 from spacenk.com. UltraCeuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturising SPF50 UltraCeuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturising SPF50 52 from southwilliamspa.com. When I first meet Niall O Murchu on a cold autumn evening, he is barefoot in a pair of shorts. O Murchu, a certified Wim Hof Method instructor, looks exactly like the kind of person youd imagine has sat in an ice bath with the Dutch adventurer known as The Iceman. But, everyone starts somewhere, and before the Portmarnock native was climbing mountains barefoot and convincing Muireann OConnell and Tommy Bowe to sit in ice baths on live television, his life looked a lot like any other Irish father trying to raise young kids while holding down a 9-5 office job. [My wife] Josie and I had four children under the age of four. So it was extreme pressure, extreme stress, extreme exhaustion, he recalls. During that time, maybe four or five years, it was just broken sleep, night feeds... the relentlessness of raising children. And I just felt cold all the time. O Murchu, who has just released a book, The Power of Cold: How to Embrace the Cold and Change Your Life, likens the way he was feeling all those years ago to a Lord of The Rings quote, I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. When youre feeling like that, your body is up in this part of the nervous system, up in fight or flight, and its taking all the resources that would keep us healthy, keep us digesting, keep us warm, trying to deal with that stress, he says. If the stress is chronic, we are in that depleted state the whole time. What O Murchu is describing is something that many of us are likely to relate to. A recent poll of 2,000 workers conducted by recruitment firm, Robert Walters, revealed a third of us are experiencing reoccurring workplace stress very often, while research from Lahinch-based HR company HR Locker back in 2021 suggested over half of Irish workers were experiencing burnout. It should come as no surprise then that a study from University College Cork published earlier this year found mental health-related sickness absence is a growing challenge for Irish employers, with more than half of employers reporting that the proportion of absenteeism due to mental ill-health has increased in the past 12 months. And, all the while, working while ill, is becoming an an increasing problem in Irish workplaces as employees struggle to feel they can take time off to recover. Niall O Murchu with Wim Hof, the Dutch man known as The Iceman O Murchu says it was when he, and his wife Josie, found themselves at a place of depletion and burnout he came across Wim Hof and they first turned the dial down in the shower and the benefits of embracing the cold became apparent. It wasnt pleasant, he says, recalling the early days of standing under his showerhead, being pelted with cold water. But we needed something to get us out of it. We were desperate. And slowly our levels of energy started to change. We started to feel a little bit stronger. Some of the purported benefits of embracing cold showers or swimming in icy waters include; improved circulation, reduced inflammation in the body, a natural high as a result of endorphins and, for those of us who are prone to illness, a boost in white blood cell count leading to improved immune function. Indeed, one 2016 study from the Netherlands with over 3,000 participants found that those who went for a burst of cold water of between 30 and 90 seconds after their hot shower for just 30 days were off work with self-reported sickness 29% less than those who skipped the cold blast. The evidence is fairly compelling, but chances are, many of the people reading this will already know, at least in a vague sense, that cold showers and cold water swimming are good for us. Most of us have friends or family who are evangelical about their sea swims (and DryRobes). And yet, we dont do it. I am one of those people, I admit to O Murchu, I know the benefits, and I still cant face it. Is there anything he can say to convince me? So many people push the cold away. They want to avoid it as much as possible for the rest of their life, he acknowledges. But in a world where many of us are plagued by daily stress, O Murchu, who also teaches meditation and breathing workshops, insists the cold is one of the simplest (and free) ways to learn to control our response to stress. I think, at the deepest level, we need the cold, to learn how to breathe, to learn how to deal with stress. The path into the cold is a path into chaos, fear, and uncertainty, he explains. But its also a path to finding control and calm, despite all that pressure and struggle. The cold can teach us how to live, and live well, despite stress and uncertainty trying to push us out of balance. How we feel is reflected in how we are breathing in that moment. So if we are really stressed or under pressure, our breathing is out of sync, our breathing is erratic, its not balanced, its shallow, its up in the chest. When we are in control, our breathing is soft and calm. The great news is that we can change our breathing at any moment and that then changes how we are feeling. Niall O Murchu, author, podcaster and Wim Hof Method instructor. Picture: Alan Rowlette Chaos and control So where does the cold come into this? Well, when we feel the shock of a cold burst at the end of a shower, our breathing is likely to become quick and erratic, mimicking the stress or pressure our bodies might feel when we encounter a stressful situation at work or at home. This provides a great way to practice bringing your breathing under control in a pressurised situation, O Murchu explains. If we can slow our breathing down and learn to focus on the exhale in that situation, the heart rate drops, the body becomes soft and we feel calm despite the cold, he says. Thats the practice. And how long do we have to stay in the cold to reap the benefits? Just until you regulate your breathing, then youre done. In a close-to 40-minute chat, this is the single most motivating thing O Murchu has said. What had put me off embracing cold immersion prior to this was the effort involved getting to a beach and shivering on the sand, keeping a 10-minute timer in my bathroom to monitor how long I spent in hell before starting my working day. Could I really reap the benefits of the cold in just a couple of seconds? Nicole Glennon took a dip with Wim Hof instructor Niall O Murchu in Portmarnock. Picture: Photocall Ireland Embracing hard things When I meet O Murchu for the second time, its on the beach in Portmarnock. Hes here as part of a Keep Discovering event with Failte Ireland promoting the benefits of swimming in the colder months, with a group of us signed up to take the plunge. As I arrive, dressed in a jumper and beanie, dreading stripping down to my swim togs, I tell O Murchu about my reluctance, playing up my lack of experience in comparison to some of the other seasoned sea swimmers who are also in attendance. As it happens, there was no need for me to talk my way out of failure ahead of the fact, because after a couple of seconds in the sea, I am breathing calmly, and the fear and doubt that was plaguing me all morning has long dissipated. That, I discover, is the real power of the cold. It has shown me that I can do hard things. Its the greatest sense of personal achievement Ive felt in a while. The cold shower has so many amazing physical benefits for the body, the list is nearly endless, but deeper than that, the cold teaches us how to be resilient, how to find a sense of calm and control, O Murchu says. And the cold continues to test you, because it is relentless. But when you get out of that cold shower, your body has just learned how to deal with the shock of the cold, and what weve learned through evolution, is that our bodies are always learning. So the next time you get into the cold, or experience an extreme pressure, your body knows a little bit more how to deal with that. You will be able to find your breath a little bit easier, you will be able to deal with that pressure of stress, anxiety, worry, fear, just a little bit easier. And when we can find a sense of control and calm in the chaos of the cold, we can find it anywhere. We voluntarily put ourselves into this difficult position to learn how to get out of it. Its a battle every time we turn that tap. But when its over, we feel victorious. The Power of Cold, by Niall O Murchu, published by Hardie Grant Publishing, is out now. For information on staying safe in cold water see watersafety.ie. The Power of Cold, by Niall O Murchu Niall's guide to the cold shower Youve set your intention to do it. Youre going to turn that tap to cold at the end of your hot shower. Thats done. So, what happens next? Simply put: chaos. When the cold water hits our skin, it can feel like an explosion: its shocking, we recoil from the water, our minds burst into fear. Usually, there is a fairly loud voice in our heads, saying Get the fuck out of here! Welcome to the chaos. This is what we want. This is where we find all the deep benefits. This is where we learn a lot about ourselves. This is where the cold teaches us. In the chaos, we lose track of our breathing entirely. It becomes erratic, fragmented and uneven. Our inhales become short, painful attempts at trying to breathe. Our exhalations disappear. This is where the path into the cold begins. We dont have to worry about our inhales. Well always find a way to breathe in. Our focus is on our exhales. We want to try to find our exhales in the midst of the chaos. We want to find our exhalations, no matter how small they might be, and begin to focus on them. Initially, our exhales will be short and choppy. Theyll feel out of control. We must mechanically and consciously move our lungs so our exhales get longer and stronger. Keep focusing on them until we feel our exhales are steadily and strongly flowing outwards. The cold is relentless and will continuously try to take our breath away again. So, we have to keep working on controlling our exhales, keeping them steady, breathing out and trying to control our breath. And then what? When our breathing comes under control, we start to slow that breath down a little. It goes from being a little bit forceful perhaps, to becoming a little softer. Were still focusing on that exhale. We are still working on it. But it requires less effort now. The cold water is still splashing on us, but we feel calm despite it. We are in control. Extracted from Power of Cold, by Niall O Murchu A vote of 122 to 14 in a Dail of 160 members may not be unanimous, but its not a massive way off in this day and age. When the vote on a motion, which condemned Hamas and called for Israel to rescind its order for a million civilians to move south in the face of a ground offensive, passed after 11pm on Wednesday, there was a sense that for all the widespread unity in the chamber, the Irish political response to renewed violence in the region remains complex. The vote followed three and a half hours of statements and a full day of wrangling over the wording of the motion, with opposition TDs keen to support the motion, but also wanting to add an outright condemnation of Israels actions. What was presented to the Dail by the Government expresses its alarm and deep concern at the rising death toll and displacement of civilians and acute humanitarian needs in Gaza; it stresses the universal applicability of international law and international humanitarian law; and expresses its deep concern at the increase in violence in the West Bank, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians. It did not expressly say the actions of Israel are wrong. Sinn Fein looked to add lines to the motion to 'unreservedly condemn Israels brutal assault on the civilian population of Gaza'. Picture: Jack Guez/AFP The opposition offered up seven amendments, with Sinn Fein looking to add lines that unreservedly condemn Israels brutal assault on the civilian population of Gaza, and condemn the forced displacement of Palestinians and shutting-off of power and water. Independents Catherine Connolly, Thomas Pringle, and Joan Collins wanted to add that Ireland unreservedly condemns the disproportionate response and the contravention of international law by Israel, while Labour wanted to condemn the indiscriminate bombing of residential areas in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Forces. Labour also wanted to condemn the actions of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who pledged European support to Israel. People Before Profit wanted to replace the entire motion, bar the first three words, That Dail Eireann. The Social Democrats asked for the following to be added: [Dail Eireann] condemns the tactics of the Israeli government cutting off water, food, electricity, and food supplies which constitute collective punishment of an innocent and helpless civilian population; and condemns the relentless bombing of residential buildings in Gaza, which constitutes war crimes. After a day of phone calls, the Governments motion would not contain an outright condemnation of Israel. While the rain began to pour down, a short-notice protest took place outside the gates of Leinster House. A few hundred braved the weather to show their support for Palestine and those blockaded in Gaza. James Renaghan of Dundalk joins Thursday's 'Dublin For Gaza' protest at the EU Commission offices on Mount St, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Inside the chamber, People Before Profits Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy gave the most strident criticism of the Governments stance. Mr Murphy went further than any opposition politician in his support of Palestine. They have the right to rise up against occupation, he said. They have the right to engage in a general strike against the occupation, as happened today in the West Bank, and they have the right to armed resistance not armed resistance targeting civilians, of course, but armed resistance against the Israeli Defence Forces, in particular in the coming threatened ground invasion. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the decision by Eamon de Valera to send condolences to Germany on the death of Hitler should act as an example to the Government. It should equally serve as a harbinger for the condemnation to befall future generations of Irish people if we do not continue to use every single platform available to us to condemn these atrocities, to scream for a ceasefire, and use our courage to go beyond ourselves in believing that we can be a lighthouse for peace in a world that is becoming increasingly more dark. Tanaiste Micheal Martin, however, said he had been in contact with leaders in the UN, UAE, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan and laid out Irish support for Gaza, announcing 13m in new funding. His message, though not enunciated, was clear: This is a situation with interests across the globe at play and Irelands focus is on the humanitarian end. If there was a time to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process, it is now, he said. That may seem impossible but there is no choice. Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace, security, and dignity. Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty are absolutely legitimate and must be taken forward. There is no other way to solve this conflict. A protester burns a portrait of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally outside the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday. Picture: Dita Alangkara/AP Between votes, Sinn Fein TDs were sanguine about the prospects of their amendments being defeated. They knew the Government was not for moving, but wanted to send as strong a message as possible. But the Social Democrats were also not for moving. Leader Holly Cairns tweeted that without a condemnation, they would not support the motion, standing alongside People Before Profit, Mr Pringle, Ms Collins, Ms Connolly, and Michael Fitzmaurice as the vastly outnumbered dissenters in a gesture that surprised some, given that the motion is a token measure. All of this comes against a backdrop of many years of Israeli sentiment that Ireland is uniquely pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli, a characterisation which many in Government reject, but are sensitive to. In the Dail, Mary Lou McDonald said Ireland had known all too well the pain and tragedy of colonisation, occupation, and dispossession and that we understand the playbook of the coloniser, the occupier and the oppressor. Outside the building, the rain continued to hammer down, as 2,500 miles away, the real fighting continued. The president of the Irish Medical Council has said she is worried about how the relationship between patients and medical staff has deteriorated since the pandemic. Amid predictions the situation will get worse as services are hit by budget constraints, Dr Suzanne Crowe said she is concerned by patients' anger at long delays and the level of burnout being faced by medical staff. Dr Crowe, who said she has been on the receiving end of abuse herself as a consultant in paediatric intensive care medicine at Crumlin Hospital, said patients and doctors need to "humanise" each other. I think humanising both doctors and patients is very important, she said. Once we start leaving behind those human aspects, we run the risk of not being compassionate to either the doctors or the patients. Last month, a Medical Protection Survey revealed doctors were punched, spat at, and held at gunpoint by patients in the past year. Nurses have also given evidence to the Oireachtas Health Committee of being abused. Dr Crowe said there is "a lot of anger out there" among patients and families who have been left waiting a long time and that is reaching a head, particularly in acute medicine, emergency departments, and GP practices. We are so resource-stretched it is very normal, in ways, that patients will voice frustration that they cant access things. The doctor or the nurse is often the one who takes the brunt of somebody voicing that. It is perfectly reasonable for somebody to voice that, but when it comes to being abusive or intimidating it will clearly increase the stress levels in the situation. The Medical Council recently instituted changes to fitness to practice hearings to better support participants during investigations of potential standards breaches. Open disclosure really happens naturally as part of a good relationship between the doctor and patient, she said. If it has become adversarial it is going to be difficult to communicate openly, people are going to be nervous. It has been a heart-breaking few days witnessing the devastation being visited on Midleton and other parts of Cork and West Waterford, due to the flooding from Storm Babet. The personal testimonies, photos, and videos that have been shared across different media and social media channels bring home to us very vividly the distressing and destructive impacts of climate change on families, businesses, and communities. The short-term responses are currently being developed and delivered. Funds are being made available and mechanisms to distribute those funds are being developed, building on our previous experience in dealing with the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events. We should also be mindful of the need for medium- to long-term responses. The root cause of the increased occurrence and severity of extreme weather events is climate change. As a society, we have known about this problem for many years and sadly, and to our shame, we have been negligent in responding to it. While we have known about climate change for a long time, we are increasingly witnessing and experiencing the visible manifestations of it like never before. Internationally, we have witnessed in the past few years significantly more heatwaves, droughts, flooding, forest fires, and many other manifestations of climate change. We have been relatively sheltered in Ireland compared to other countries. This does not take away from the devastation felt by those who have borne the brunt of extreme weather. Researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health have estimated that 61,672 people died of heat-related causes in Europe between May 30 and September 4, 2022, with the mortality rate being highest in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. We are witnessing an increasing number of record-breaking weather events. According to Met Eireann, Ireland has seen the warmest June on record on land and at sea this year and the wettest July on record, with 17 rainfall stations having over double their long-term average monthly rainfall. In summary, climate change is clearly happening, its impacts are more evident than ever before, and we need transformative climate action in order to effectively respond to it. Eleanor Dunlea of Lolipop shoes in Midleton, cleaning up after the flooding caused by Storm Babet. Picture: Chani Anderson This is essential for our survival on the planet, but not easy. It is one of the most complex challenges facing global society and comprises many dimensions, including politics, economics, technology, and society. Climate change is caused by what we have been doing increasingly since the Industrial Revolution, namely activities that have led to increased emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide caused by the systems we use to meet our heating, transport, electricity, and manufacturing needs and methane and nitrous oxide, caused by the systems we use to produce food. Over time, we have been increasing the annual emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The cumulative concentration of these gases has also grown over time and some remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years. This long-lasting impact of our actions adds to the complexity of the challenge we face. It means that even if we stopped emitting all greenhouse gases today, global warming and climate change will continue to affect future generations. How do we respond? Responding to climate change has two key components that interact with each other. Firstly, we need to tackle the root cause of human-induced climate change by rapidly reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that we are emitting to mitigate the impact of our future climate. This involves a societal and series of system-wide transformations to reduce to zero the emissions associated with heating, transport, electricity, manufacturing, agriculture, and land use. Ireland introduced legislation in 2021 to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to transition to zero emissions by 2050. This climate ambition is essential but not sufficient. The pace at which we are implementing actions is too slow despite the increased ambition. We are currently not on track to meet our targets and the forthcoming Climate Action Plan is designed to bring us back on track. In some areas, we have seen clear progress. Wind energy has grown and now provides us on average with about one-third of our electricity. We have seen an acceleration of home energy upgrades, reduced fares, and improved services are evident in public transport, and farmers are increasingly introducing new practices to avoid nitrogen fertilisers. The problem is that we are not making these changes at the necessary pace and our growth in consumption is offsetting a lot of the improvements that we are making. Carcasses of cars are seen among the ashes of burnt neighborhood in the aftermath of a wildfire, in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 14 this year. Picture: Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Secondly, in addition to emissions reduction, we need a parallel focus on adapting to the expected impacts of climate change and taking practical actions to manage risks and protect communities. Flood relief schemes are one dimension of climate adaptation. It has been noted that, as Storm Babet passed over Co Cork, the flood relief schemes in Fermoy and Mallow provided protection, whereas towns such as Midleton were more exposed to the storm in the absence of a comprehensive flood relief scheme. Deciding on and developing flood relief schemes is a challenging process in itself. For example, how should we deliberate and decide between nature-based solutions versus flood walls and embankments? This points to one of the key challenges we face that affects both climate mitigation and climate adaptation. We know what the range of available and necessary solutions are. Unfortunately, we dont seem to yet have the societal capacity or political will to sufficiently accelerate emissions reduction or to increase our resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Taoiseach and Tanaiste may have laid the blame for delays to flood relief schemes on local objectors but long-awaited defences in Midleton and Glanmire show how projects can also get bogged down by painstaking processes and other issues. In 2015, Storm Frank led to a major consultation on preventive measures in several of the worst-hit areas in Cork. It followed previous major flood events in Cork in 2012 and 2009. Ireland was also hit by Storm Ellen in 2020, Storm Barra in 2021, and Storm Eunice in 2022, all of which impacted Cork. Despite this, Glanmire has only recently begun construction on its flood relief project, while Midleton is still mired in the planning stages. MIDLETON This week, Storm Babet left 100 homes flooded and caused untold damage to business properties in Midleton. While the damage was unprecedented, it was foreseen at least eight years ago after Storm Frank in 2015. On March 23, 2017, a public information day for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme was held in the town after previous floods caused widespread destruction. The next month, locals were told a geophysical survey would be carried out in Midleton by Apex Surveys. Lia Vaz at The Urban Shave, which was renovated six months ago and is now destroyed by flooding in Midleton. Picture: Dan Linehan A number of residents queried funding for the flood relief project and the timescale for the start and finish of construction, which at the time was envisaged for 2020. In May 2018, Cork County Council appointed Moore Group to undertake a kingfisher and badger survey for the Owenacurra and Dungourney rivers, which was completed in July 2018. In 2020, the council said that its best estimate for construction for the flood relief scheme would be for works to commence in 2025, but this is subject to change. Earlier this year, the council said the environmental impact assessment report was being prepared and that planning permission would be applied for in the first part of 2024. The cost is estimated to be 50m. Local TD Pat Buckley said a plan to address the flooding was immediately raised following Storm Frank in 2015. Nothing happened quickly though, he said. GLANMIRE Just like in Midleton, the residents of Glanmire knew many years ago that they were vulnerable to flooding. In February 2014, the first public information day for the Glashaboy River (Glanmire/Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme took place. In January 2015, Cork County Council said it was carrying out property threshold surveys. In May 2020, the Office of Public Works received correspondence from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that an independent assessment was in progress. The flood relief scheme, the council said, would be funded from within the allocated 1bn for flood risk management over the period 2018 to 2027. In January 2021, then minister for public expenditure and reform Michael McGrath confirmed the scheme would proceed. It is estimated to cost in the region of 14m. In August this year, it was announced the multimillion-euro flood prevention scheme had just got under way in Glanmire. TD Padraig OSullivan told the Irish Examiner that the process took far too long but that it involved objections and planning issues. We were set back by a delay in the tendering process, he said. Inflation meant the price of materials went up and those who bid for the tender pulled out because of the costs involved. So, it had to be done again. This set us back. We have had unprecedented levels of rain, but this process has been going on for years. It shouldnt take this long. OTHER SCHEMES Objections have been made to the Blackpool flood relief scheme where the State conceded it did not offer a proper public consultation process. The Morrisons Island flood scheme in Cork city was given the green light after an appeals process that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Objections were made to the Blackpool flood relief scheme for the River Bride. Picture: Larry Cummins Chris Moody from the Save Our Bride Otters group said: I have huge sympathy for those who have lost so much in these floods, but I take offence at anyone saying that the objectors are to blame. The floods are caused by the bad planning of the councils involved. They are working on systems from 20 years ago and this is their fault. We have objected to the Blackpool project over the councils outdated plans. Bernie Connolly from Cork Environmental Forum, which objected to a number of the schemes, said: We are not making room for the rivers and flood plains, and it is absolutely outrageous to blame the objectors when planning has been so bad. The Citizens Assembly on Drugs has recommended that Irelands current laws criminalising people caught in possession of drugs for personal use be changed. The members have just voted against keeping the status quo, ie, retaining the current legislation criminalising drug possession. They are now starting the process of deliberating and voting on what legal alternatives to recommend. A significant majority some 85% voted against keeping the status quo, with 11 voting to agree to retain the status quo. It is not clear yet if the assembly is in favour of completely removing the laws, as the first option to the status quo that they are examining is a limited health-diversion approach. Under this, the law remains as is, but those caught in possession are referred to a health intervention for one, possibly two times The assembly, which has 99 members, was set up by the Government to examine drug legislation, policies, and services. At its sixth and final meeting this weekend, the assembly began voting on what assembly chair Paul Reid said were the biggest and most complex issues first the laws around drug possession. The recommendation to move away from criminalising drug possession is a landmark in the area of drug policy in Ireland, although it carries no immediate practical weight. The assemblys recommendations will form part of a report that will be submitted to the Government and the Oireachtas in December for further consideration and examination. Before voting began, assembly secretary Cathal ORegan said members were being presented with five legal options: Status quo (retaining the current criminal legislation); Health diversion; Comprehensive health-led approach; Tolerance (decriminalisation); Legalisation. He said if there was no clear agreement on any one option, members could also recommend a hybrid model, where, as he said has been suggested, cannabis could be treated differently to other drugs. After voting not to keep the status quo, members are now going through the other options individually and voting is continuing. Before the voting, there were a number of questions from members about the process as well as whether or not they could recommend options for further non-criminal measures even if they voted to keep the status quo. Mr ORegan said they could, including expanding: Current pilots such as the Cork Court Referral Scheme; The Drug Court in Dublin; The Garda adult caution scheme beyond cannabis possession to all drugs; Adult caution scheme beyond first-time offenders to repeat offenders. Also earlier, Mr Reid said the assembly members would have to decide if they wanted evolution or revolution in relation to drug laws, or if they wanted to keep the status quo, which is criminalisation of drug possession. He told members the decisions were entirely in your hands and said a matter for consideration for them was how to make the best recommendations that can get traction in government and can be implemented. He accepted there could be many challenging calls they will have to make. Two members of the assembly stood up and issued concerns, one regarding the assembly process and a second about comments in the media from the assembly that some form of decriminalisation would be recommended. One member said she had seen media reports saying the assembly would vote for decriminalisation, and added that she had no problem with whatever decision the assembly would arrive at as long as it was done in a transparent and democratic manner. Given the media reports, she said she was very concerned at the real purpose of them being there and wondered if they were wasting time and energy and the taxpayers money. Mr Reid said her concerns were reasonable and that various people were trying to influence proceedings, but stressed the votes were in their hands. A second member claimed it was a managed assembly with a pre-determined outcome, which she said did not reflect the members but the Governments plan. She said she could not support such an undemocratic and non-transparent process. Mr Reid said he disagreed with her comments and described them as unsubstantiated claims. He disputed any suggestions that the integrity of myself or the secretariat were in question and said he had no discussions with ministers about the process. Ive never taken on a role as a yes person for anyone and I can assure everybody of the integrity of the process, he said. Crowds of protectors of Lough Neagh have taken to the streets of Belfast city centre to demand action to save the lake. A mock gravestone for Lough Neagh as well as banners which read Water is Life and Save Lough Neagh were carried during the procession from Writers Square to City Hall on Saturday. Activists from various environmental campaigns, political parties and trade unions joined with people living near Lough Neagh and anglers to highlight the crisis at the lough and set out clear demands for its restoration. Save Lough Neagh protesters take part in a rally outside Belfast City Hall (Peter Morrison/PA) The campaigners are demanding the public acquisition of the lough, an independent Environmental Protection Agency, investment in a research and recovery plan, the end of commercial sand-dredging and sewage dumping, a reduction in agricultural run-off and recognition of the rights of nature. Lough Neagh is the biggest freshwater lake in the UK or Ireland. It supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Noxious blooms of blue green algae covered large parts of the lough across the summer. Other waterways and beaches in Northern Ireland have also been affected by the issue. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields is believed to be a major contributory factor. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Lough Neagh protesters want action from the authorities (Peter Morrison/PA) Climate change is another factor cited, with the highest ever water temperature at Lough Neagh recorded in June. Speakers at City Hall on Saturday included academic John Barry, campaigner James Orr and Louise Taylor of Love Our Lough. Ms Taylor led the crowd in a pledge to work to protect the lough. Mr Orr said all those gathered should not be called protesters but protectors. The protesters are the people who are killing Lough Neagh, youre protectors, youre people who care for the lough, he said. To me, thats the foundation for going forward. Lough Neagh is our heartland in the middle of Northern Ireland, it needs justice, it needs a just settlement. Mr Barry claimed that government has failed to protect Lough Neagh. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Northern Ireland Water have all failed us, he said. When government breaks the social contract, it is not only our right but our duty to rise up and protest and make our voices heard. Fear of further flooding is holding a Cork community hostage after waves of dirty water washed into their houses, causing hundreds of thousands of euros in damage last week. Local residents in Glanmire, Co Cork, are now demanding emergency funding, urgent action and immediate protection from further flooding. Residents in Glanmire saw thousands of euro in damages after catastrophic rainfall last Wednesday. Further flooding hit roads in the area in subsequent days and there are fears about additional flooding with more rainfall forecast for the coming days. Copper Valley Vue resident Aisling McEvoy said they were "being held hostage" by the threat of flooding. It feels like a death. The rest of the world continues to turn but youre unable to move, unable to work, stuck at home held hostage by the river. It's a living nightmare." Mrs McEvoys home in Glanmire, Co Cork, was flooded knee-deep with filthy water on Wednesday. It is the second time her house has been catastrophically flooded. Some 50,000 damage was done to her home in 2015. Insurers now refuse to cover her for flood damage. The road outside her home had turned into a raging river at the height of Wednesdays flooding after one months of rain fell in one day with Storm Babet. It was like a tsunami. Waves of high, dirty water pushed away the sandbags. The water was not gentle, creeping up, it was pushing in fast and vicious. It was very scary. And there were no emergency services there. We were all here on our own. Will we drown? What will we do if the dog gets downstairs? It was pure insanity. Were calling for urgent action. Its through the community and charity that we have gotten by. The house is now starting to stink, she said. And 10,000 wouldnt touch the repairs necessary in the house. Kitchen cabinets are swollen with water and no longer fit in place, and layers of black silt and dirt washed into all drawers and crevices below waist height. The entire ground floor is gone, she said. After the 2015 floods, residents were told it was a once-in-a-century weather event. Less than a decade has passed and it has already hit them again. This cannot continue. We need urgent action and emergency funding," she said. We need immediate protection from further flooding today not in two or three years time, not even in two to three weeks time. The Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection has activated the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) which will be available to areas affected by Storm Babet. 10m has been provided for the HAS in 2023. There is no set limit on the amount that can be paid under the scheme. Any homeowner affected by Storm Babet who needs to access this support can contact the Community Welfare Service at 0818-60-70-80 The HAS is an income-tested scheme that provides emergency financial assistance to households affected by a severe weather event such as flooding. Sinn Fein has not shown appropriate interest in protecting the environment, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said. But he said that his party would go into government with the party following the next general election. I think we should be willing to work with all parties. That would be a difficult Programme for Government negotiations because, to be honest, Sinn Fein hasn't shown an interest in protecting the environment to the extent that we think is appropriate. But we'd sit down with them and try and make that happen. Mr Ryan said that the Green Party gets on well with its coalition partners. Labour and Social Democrats are also easy Green Party bedfellows, he said. But the nature of his party is to work with people, he said. The Green Party has set ambitious targets aiming to double the partys seats in the upcoming local elections. Getting 10% of the vote is not unreasonable and is similar to what Green Parties get in other European countries like Austria and Germany. I think one in 10 Irish people get this need for this transition. Our job is to convince them that you've got to vote number one, green. He said that the party now has high-quality, diverse candidates running across the country but he appealed for more people to run for the Green Party in the elections. There is real strength, real commitment, real capability in the party and he wants to see candidates run in every constituency in the country and win seats the Green Party has never won before. Speaking at the Green Party conference in Cork City today, Mr Ryan said: This convention is about getting ready for the local elections and European elections in June next year. This is what it's all about, that we go into that and we win and we aim to double our seats in local elections." A tidal wave of support for environmental thinking in the previous election has dissipated, he said. That wave of support is no longer as high as it was, even though the world is burning" with other challenges, like the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine currently consuming peoples minds, he said. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh looks at photos and historical artifacts of Gulf countries (Photo: VNA) In the meeting with the GCC Secretary General, Chinh highly appreciated the role of the GCC and affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to further promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with the GCC and other member countries. The Government leader emphasised that Vietnam 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 Vietnam and the GCC Secretariat opens a new potential channel of cooperation, a milestone in the relationship between Vietnam 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 Vietnam in the international arena as well as its recent achievements. He affirmed that all six Gulf countries have maintained good relations with Vietnam and the two sides still have a lot of potential for cooperation, adding that the GCC Secretariat will actively help Vietnam 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 Vietnam soon to expedite the implementation of concrete cooperation contents./. "Spot the ingenious woman reads the clever caption over a photograph of Dr Sheila Tinney, who is looking decidedly uncomfortable perched, as she is, at the edge of a large group of male mathematicians. The photo, taken at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies in 1942, vividly captures the essence of Ireland at the time. Taoiseach Eamon de Valera, supreme guardian of the male status quo, is sitting in the centre of this distinguished group of men and one brilliant woman. How wonderful, then, to see the focus on that extraordinary woman in Ingenious Dublin, a fascinating new exhibition which opened at the brilliantly quirky Little Museum of Dublin this week. Sheila Tinney (nee Power), the Galway-born mathematician and theoretical physicist, has been back in the news lately because of her connection to J Robert Oppenheimer, the subject of this summers blockbuster hit Oppenheimer. In 1941, she completed her PhD on the stability of crystals under the supervision of Max Born the same physicist who supervised the so-called father of the atomic bomb. Seven years later, Tinney was awarded a fellowship to work on nuclear physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton in the United States. Oppenheimer, its then director, wrote to welcome her to the Institute. Albert Einstein and Freeman Dyson were among her colleagues. Later, she would tell her students at University College Dublin that she queued up for coffee with Einstein. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading One of them, Eoin Bairead, recalls her lectures in mathematical physics. She was an impeccable lecturer, extremely exact in every way and very understandable. She was seriously bright and in 1960s Dublin, she was the only female lecturer. At least her contribution to science was acknowledged and recognised in her lifetime. She was one of the first women to be admitted to the Royal Irish Academy in 1949, along with botanist Phyllis Clinch, Irish scholar Eleanor Knott and art historian Francoise Henry. She was also a part-time fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies when Erwin Schrodinger was director. The Nobel Prize-winning physicist, whose famous cat experiment shone a light on quantum theory, said she was among the best equipped and most successful of the younger generation of theoretical physicists in this country. She is showcased in Ingenious Dublin along with another great woman of science, Dr Maire Delaney, a medical doctor who used her expertise to unravel the human stories contained in Viking bones and 2,000-year-old bog bodies. Mary Mulvihill looking at an orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system. Picture courtesy of her husband, Dr Brian Dolan The real star of the show, though, is another ingenious woman, Mary Mulvihill. Although, as her husband Brian Dolan and sisters Anne and Noirin Mulvihill say, she would want science to be in the spotlight, not her. Though science and Irelands often unheralded contribution to it does take centre-stage at this exhibition curated with humour and verve by Nigel Monaghan. Drawing on Mulvihills reissued book, Ingenious Ireland, theres much to discover; from the Carlow man, Samuel Haughton, who developed a humane way to hang people, to the Cork doctor, Vincent Barry, who led the team that developed a cure for leprosy. (On an aside, he has been remembered by Met Eireann in its list of storm names. If we ever get to V and heres hoping against hope that we do not it will be called Storm Vincent after him). The exhibit that jumped out for me, though, was the giant jar of Sudocrem note its crem not cream the magic potion that has a place in every Irish bathroom since it was developed by Dublin-based pharmacist Thomas Smith in 1931. Mary Mulvihill might have been amused to know that a pot of it was on view on Madonnas bathroom shelf in one of her social-media posts from 2021. If you fancy an entertaining, eye-opening whistle-stop tour around some of Irelands inventions and scientific discoveries, take a spin up to the top floor of the Little Museum of Dublin. The exhibition runs until January 2024. Dont worry if you cant make it, though, as its message is likely to resonate for much, much longer. That is because what Mary Mulvihill did in her too-short life was find a place for science in Irelands sense of self by communicating our own often-forgotten inventiveness to a wider audience. And her infectious enthusiasm continues to inspire. For instance, PhD student Tammy Strickland, who opened the exhibition, said she didnt realise that she was interested in science communication until she read Mary Mulvihills book. Mary, she said, showed that Irish people are full of curiosity; they are creators, inventors and dreamers. And more than that, we are a nation of storytellers. There is so much to learn from Mary Mulvihill about how we can retrieve the untold stories of our own ingenuity and, as she did, rescue the contributions of women ignored by history. Astrophysicist Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell illustrates how we might draw inspiration from her and continue the job of inscribing the full story of Ireland in the landscape around us. Mary, she remarked, has been very creative in how she puts things side by side; she hangs snippets and stories on places, and enlivens those places through the stories related to them. Geology, archaeology, sociology and technology jostle each other, producing interesting interactions. It is also instructive to see how her own formidable legacy has been kept alive since she died, at just 55, in 2015. The Mary Mulvihill Association has instituted a prize in her name, donated her archive to Dublin City University, erected a plaque at her former home in Manor Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin and helped to get her book, Ingenious Ireland, republished by Four Courts Press. The organisation she helped found, Women in Technology and Science (WITS), also keeps the spirit of her work alive. It supports the global initiative Soapbox Science, where female scientists are invited to literally stand on a soapbox and tell the public about their research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. And it was a WITS member, Fiona Doris, who came up with the idea of an exhibition to honour Mary Mulvihill. Before she died, Mary was planning to write a book on the famine of 1845, but one that did not privilege one narrative over another. As science journalist Cormac Sheridan wrote in the introduction to her book: She implicitly demands that we take ownership of the full complexity of Irelands history and include in it its great Anglo-Irish scientific tradition. Mary Mulvihill, he continued, uncovered or recovered many layers of knowledge that had been forgotten or discarded. In restoring that knowledge to the present era, her work invites us to consider or reconsider the stories Ireland tells about itself and to itself what it values; what it neglects; and, most of all, what other stories it might include. The invitation to take up that exciting challenge has been reissued with the opening of Ingenious Dublin. Regardless of whether Sinn Fein comes to power, the next Dail will bring about sweeping change. This week, Sligo TD Marc MacSharry became the latest politician to announce he will not be running in the next election, ending yet another political dynasty that began in 1969. Based on the current numbers, almost one in six seats in the next Dail will be filled by people who are currently not TDs. But the eventual figure will exceed this greatly. While an election next autumn is still the most likely scenario, TDs could have another 16 months before they go to the polls if the Government lasts its full term. Despite this, 12 TDs have already publicly announced that they will not be contesting that election with speculation swirling around at least 10 others across multiple parties and none. The reconfiguration of constituencies also means there will be 14 additional seats in the 34th Dail. This puts the current confirmed number of open slots at 26. However, the number is likely to be far higher as this does not take into account others who may also stand aside in the coming months, nor does it allow for those who will run but lose their seats. Added to the mix will be the 40% gender quota requirement on parties, which should bring in more female representation. While a certain level of churn is healthy in any democracy, there is a balance between fresh faces with new ideas and new perspectives and retaining knowledge and experience of the political system and legislative process. Labours Sean Sherlock, who is among the exiting group, said the loss of corporate memory can leave a void of mentorship. Nobody gives you a manual for the job, so it is important to have mentors and it is important to learn about parliamentary procedures. When I came into politics in 2007, I certainly would have attached myself to great mentors, like Willie Penrose and Jack Wall because they represented very similar constituencies to mine. The Cork East TD believes in a social media world with the art of legislating certainly diminishing. Ive noticed a trend where not every TD puts down amendments or speaks to legislation beyond a second-stage speech. That is certainly a trend that Ive seen in over 16 years, and thats likely to diminish further. In leaving the national political stage Mr Sherlock and Mr MacSharry are also getting out of the family business, although Sherlocks cousin Marie is a member of the current Seanad. Others who are getting out of the family trade include Richard Bruton, Charlie Flanagan, Michael Creed, and Denis Naughten who all followed their relatives into a career in Leinster House. However, author of Dynasties: Irish Political Families, Johnny Fallon does not believe we are seeing the complete demise of family politics. He suggests while some of the traditional dynasties of the two civil war parties may have vanished, the years ahead will see new ones emerge. As parties like Sinn Fein, and to a lesser extent the Social Democrats and Green Party grow, family names could become cemented into the political landscape. For others, it may be a matter of time before familiar surnames re-enter the Dail, when children of the current crop of outgoing TDs become old enough to run. But Mr Fallon also warns: When a party is going to go on a downward trend it becomes very difficult to get people to run and that includes dynasties. This has already been seen with the drop-off in Fine Gael. It is expected that the number of resignations will be fewer on the Fianna Fail side and given Sinn Fein is now eyeing up a historic first term in Government, it is unlikely that many of the current crop of TDs will bow out. But elections always bring surprises. Having stood aside as co-leaders of the Social Democrats, will Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy continue on for another term? There are also question marks around former Labour leader Alan Kelly. Every election cycle has a natural attrition rate. After serving long careers in opposition or Government there are always those who decide to retire ahead of a poll. Having achieved everything that Im going to achieve in politics, Labours Brendan Howlin confirmed earlier this month that he will not be seeking reelection after more than three decades as a TD. Others in the long-serving category include People Before Profit TD Brid Smith as well as Fine Gaels David Stanton. A number of other names have been floating around, including Fine Gaels Bernard Durkin and Michael Ring who could also decide to end their political careers. It is understood that Louth TD Fergus ODowd is furious that he has also been included in this speculation, dismissing it as ageism to colleagues. More interesting is the other group, who on paper, should have a lot more to give to politics but who are now deciding to forge careers and lives outside of politics. Marc MacSharry said he now feels it is the correct time to open a new chapter in my life and pursue alternative opportunities. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos Announcing his decision to join the growing exodus, Mr MacSharry, who resigned the Fianna Fail parliamentary party whip last year, said he now feels it is the correct time to open a new chapter in my life and pursue alternative opportunities. He follows others including Brendan Griffin and John Paul Phelan who cited the importance of spending time with their young families among the reasons for leaving at the end of this Dail term. These are exactly the middle-ranking mentors that parties, especially those in Government, need to train up first-time TDs. Despite having experience in drafting legislation when she worked in Australia, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore remembers the steep learning curve when she was elected for the first time in 2020. When you do go in it is a very new working environment, with lots of very defined rules, and it takes time to learn those rules and come to terms with them. Having the support and guidance of two experienced party leaders was crucial, she says. Modern politics is undoubtedly becoming more precarious for both politicians and political parties, and the level of rotation has been significant since Fianna Fail saw its support decimated in 2011. That turnover has continued, with 48 new TDs taking up seats after the last election. Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher, who was one of the few in his party who survived the 2011 general election, says having a cohort within a party with experience can help ease the burden that tough decisions can have on newer politicians. If youre a new first-time TD, very often youre elected maybe with a lot of enthusiasm, you have made strong commitments to the electorate and things like that, and then all of a sudden, youre in a position where you have to make decisions that may not sit comfortably with you initially. That certainly is an area where, you know, I think a bit of experience around front bench or in the parliamentary party, he says. The next general election may see the greatest level of change yet. But Ms Whitmore sees this only as a positive: I think itll be great to have a lot of fresh eyes and fresh energy, perhaps people who are going to come with different experiences and passions. Getting the balance right will define the next Dail, but ultimately that will be decided by the electorate. When Fionnuala Bourke decided to sign up with a dating agency, she had high hopes of meeting her life partner. Taking the decision was a big one but she felt it was time to invest in herself and in her future. She felt the 1,250 join-up fee for well-known agency Intro Matchmaking on Grafton Street in Dublin could be money well spent, even though it was a large sum of money. She felt very positive after her introductory video call with the company, one which is well-known and well-respected, having been regularly in the media on shows including the Late Late Show. A year on, Fionnuala has just filed a claim with the Small Claims Court and has sought the information which the company holds on her, to establish why she has not been able to get introductions through the company. She and a number of other people all women have sent data access requests to the company in recent days and they are all awaiting a response. Under data protection legislation, the company has a month to respond to the request. The Kildare woman says that despite signing a contract with the agency a year ago for five introductions with five different people, she has only had one date, last Christmas, with a man who was not a suitable match. She wonders what criteria was used to pair her with the date, and wonders why she has not been able to have a date through the company since. She said that she got a date at Christmas because I had to chase it up myself to actually get something". She did not hear any more until March, when she tried to contact the agency again. She says she has not had an introduction since. She feels disheartened, as she turned to the dating agency because she had not had success in meeting the man of her dreams through online dating. But now, she finds herself wondering how to get her money back, while fielding social media messages from women in similar positions after signing up to the same agency. She says: "I dont expect to get my money back from the company but I am filing to the Small Claims Court." Intro has an impressive website and social media presence, according to some of the women who decided to engage the services of the company. On its website, the agency promises a professional face-to-face Irish dating agency that takes pride in offering Irish singles an honest, open and stress-free alternative to online dating websites, personal dating ads and the pub dating scene. However, Fionnuala says that was not her experience: Dating nowadays is hard enough. I thought joining an agency was going to make it a bit more easy. This is not the first time that the company has been taken to the Small Claims Court and other women are also considering taking the same step as Fionnuala. One woman, Riona*, who spoke with the Irish Examiner, took a claim to the Small Claims Court and was successful in securing the remaining four-fifths of the payment she made to Intro. Despite signing a contract for five introductions, she only had one meeting. She recalls now that when she joined the agency, her mother was willing to help her meet the membership cost because she wanted her daughter to meet the love of her life. But instead, she says it was a waste of money. Riona says she had come across the agency through media appearances and promotion work, before the pandemic hit. A friend had also mentioned it to her and she had moved to Dublin and felt it might be easier to meet someone with similar interests through a dating agency. She felt that if I was paying that money, they would find someone who was really well suited". But instead, she had just one date, with someone with whom there seemed to be no common ground. She does recall being advised by the agency that they couldnt guarantee a match for well-educated women who were looking for their mirror image in a man. Instead of meeting Mr Right, Riona ended up on a different journey, having to embark on an unwanted legal route. When taking a case to the Small Claims Court, the claim must be for a loss of less than 2,000. The current fee to make a claim is 25, according to the Courts Service. Where possible, a settlement will be negotiated without the need for a court hearing. If not, however, the matter will proceed to the district court for a hearing. Rionas case went to a hearing and was successful. However, not everyone wants to go down this route. 'Unsatisfactory communication' Some of the women who have spoken with the Irish Examiner say they have experienced unsatisfactory communication from the company when raising concerns about the delay in arranged dates, or about the matches they have made with prospective dates. Many of the women we spoke with want to leave the experience in the past and move on, despite having paid for the service. They also query if there is a low number of men signed up to the agency, making it difficult for women to get dates as a result. No men have yet contacted the Irish Examiner with concerns about the agency, but several women have come forward in the past week. A number of them say the men with whom they were set up on dates had little or nothing in common with them. Fionnuala Bourke said she felt very positive after her introductory video call with the company, one which was well-known and apparently well-respected. Picture: Moya Nolan Rachel* signed up to the agency in 2021 and like others was promised five introductions. She paid 595 when she signed up. A friend of hers had signed up to the agency first but for her friend it also did not work out. Rachel only went on two dates and recalls that there was no common ground at all with either man she had been paired with. The third man they had suggested an introduction with also had no common ground with Rachel and she opted not to go ahead with that date. She left the agency and says now that she did not seek a refund, explaining: I just wanted to be finished with them and have my name removed from their database. She also recalls a lengthy wait for the first date, of up to three months after she had signed up with the agency. The second date came three weeks later, but she says: Then, I didnt hear from them again for another few weeks. Correspondence sent to clients who signed up last year, seen by the Irish Examiner, states: Your membership is now active and we have begun the matching process. As you will know from your interview, you are guaranteed your five introductions over the course of approximately 12 months. This is an average of an introduction every 10 weeks. At the moment we are experiencing some delays due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, this is out of our control but we will of course endeavour to deliver your introductions in as speedy a fashion as possible. Please do bear with us as we want to ensure you are getting suitable introductions, not just fast ones. Rachel says she was living in Dublin and her dates were in different parts of the country, which she found strange given the high population of the capital. This is something that Donna* also experienced. She recalls: I signed in February 2022. The first date took 12 to 14 weeks, but then the date was cancelled so I had to wait another few weeks. The second one I got was in Kildare and I am in south Dublin. She felt that was not realistic because everyone is busy with their lives, and meeting someone in Kildare would not be sustainable in the long term. No background checks She also claims there was a lack of background checks carried out by the company. She feels this is of particular concern for women signing up with the agency which was highlighted by another client who told the Irish Examiner on Monday about being introduced to a date who she subsequently discovered was a convicted criminal. The Leinster woman, was set up on the date with the man in May. He was the fourth man she had been paired with through Intro. She felt intimidated by him when he walked her to her car after the date, and she did a Google search of his name when she returned home. She discovered then that the man had a conviction for a violent incident in Dublin. I felt sick and I was scared because I had given him my number. I felt threatened by him. The lack of background checks is a concern for any woman. It could have been so much worse. I really dont think that background checks are too much to ask. Riona talked to the Irish Examiner after reading about that Leinster womans experience, because she was horrified by it. She had just one date through the agency, as her first date was cancelled. She sought a percentage of her money back but was told she could not have it back, as she had signed a contract. She had paid 1,250 and recalls that when she signed up, her interview with the agency was online. She added that much of her communication with them was through WhatsApp. She says: I wanted to complain and go on social media but it is very hard to go public and say I cant find a date. She adds that she could have spent her money on something else and had much more fun. Another woman, Jenny* feels that people in the vulnerable position of trying to meet their life partner are being treated badly. As a professional who runs her own business, she is angry that the service she expected from Intro was not what she received. She felt vulnerable at the time and felt the care was not there for people like her who were searching for their life partner. I dont really care about the money because I drew a line under it. She only had two dates arranged through the agency. On the second occasion, she turned up at the venue but was told that the date had been cancelled. I actually joined another one and the difference was unbelievable. I was treated respectfully because it is hard to put yourself out there and it can be so difficult. The other agency was also cheaper While she says she appreciates that Intro might have clients who have unrealistic expectations, she feels that the company is in a service industry and should have better relations with its clients. She says that the industry she works in is highly regulated and feels that there should be strict regulation of the dating agency area. Dermott Jewell is Policy and Council Advisor with the Consumers Association of Ireland. Mr Jewell says that when people lose money in situations such as this, they are reluctant to talk about it or take action about it. But he said: If they are engaging in contacts with people, this is a service provision so it comes under a significant amount of EU legislation. He urged anyone with concerns to contact the Competition Consumer Protection Committee for advice on what they can do. Rena Maycock and Feargal Harrington are the directors and co-founders of Intro Matchmaking. The also serve as matchmakers in the company. In acknowledgement of the need for privacy and the importance of privacy to these people, go to the CCPC where you can seek advice without having to give your name. It is only when you literally want to progress something that you do need to engage directly. He stressed to those who feel aggrieved that using a dating agency is not something to be embarrassed about. This is a normal practice of life these days on a worldwide scale so it is nothing to be embarrassed about. If somebody offers a service and it is appealing, and it seems good value for money, that is fine that is what business is about," he said. Numerous attempts to contact Intro by email and phone over the past number of weeks have been fruitless. However yesterday afternoon the company's legal firm, WP Tweed & Co, contacted the Irish Examiner. In correspondence, the firm said Intro categorically denies the premise of all questions put to the company by email. It said the company could not respond to the allegations made against it because it believed to do so may disclose confidential client information, commercial information, and breach GDPR. * not the women's real names GARDEN OF PARADISE Unashamedly grand, Graham & Brown has launched both its colour of the year for 2024 (Viridis a soft sage green) and its wallpaper collection for 2024 New Eden. Biophilics are a vital decorating story, and in feature walls, we simply cannot get enough of country gardens, succulent fruits, birds, bees and everything from both the feral and horticultural world. The firm is celebrating its Decade of Design and its team has focused on a Utopian space led by a design that encourages welcoming and acceptance to all those who enter the home, blurring boundaries with rooms that can be both inside and outside to create a beautiful backdrop for entertaining, inspired by the Japanese art of omotenashi". In short, it celebrates the comfort and rejuvenation of the environment, but in a beautiful, opulent curated way seen in 18th-century handpainted walls. Its New Eden wallpapers are taken from a highly detailed painting with a complex, rich palette, writhing in flora and fauna, and deliberate shots of colour. Explore New Eden murals, papers, curtains and accessorising. From 105 per roll (paper) or 35 per square metre for murals, grahambrown.com/ie. Shibui Copper by Mind the Gap. Also available in earthly tones and asphalt greys shades; 229. METALLIC MAGIC Shibui design is something were seeing a lot in new season wallpaper patterns. It includes traditional Japanese cherry blossom boughs, exquisitely detailed painterly papers and unique abstracts. The concept has to do with simplicity and subtlety and celebrating the inner life of ordinary things (its more than a bit arty). The Romanian brand Mind the Gap has taken this to a fascinating level in distressed 1970s-inspired copper wallpaper. It could be added to a period or modern space and features oxidised red metal and scorched black shades. Priced at 4.65 per square metre in 10m lengths with a complete mural in three rolls, its a paste-the-wall product, easy to handle if this is your first DIY wallpapering adventure. Shibui might celebrate the perfect in the imperfect, but your wallpapering project must be spot on; 229, mindtheg.com. Prete-Moi Ta Plume (lend me your pen/quill/feathers), 291. ON THE CATWALK For the fashionista, well, it has to be LaCroix, darling, to mark a confident return to decadent luxury as maximalist interiors stride confidently into view for 2024. Haute couture brands continue to add fabrics and various interior elements to their collections. Prete-Moi Ta Plume (lend me your pen/quill/feather) is a French supermodel from the LOdyssee folio of Christian LaCroix Maison. Take this modern icon over walls, and kitchen cabinetry, and even trim its wings to panelling if you find it just too high fashion to fly all over the room. Digitally printed onto a smooth non-woven ground as a complete panel 1.35m wide x 3m high, each roll incorporating three 45cm wide matching drops to be hung in sequence. Prete-Moi Ta Plume also comes in soft, pure cotton perfect for a wide range of interior applications from upholstery to curtains (machine washable at 30C). Wallpaper from 291. Delivered in a roll containing three strips for one panel assemble multiples for larger walls. Suppliers include wallpaperdirect.com. Spacefrog Bond II for Wallsauce, from 49 sq m. CHILD'S PLAY Wall stories offer us the chance to be highly expressive, and taking the scale beyond the expected is perfect for adding wonder and interest to babies' and childrens rooms in particular. Environmental themes are on the ascent. Husband-and-wife design team Vernon and Katherine (curiously shy about their surnames) are the creative duo behind SpaceFrog Designs. Katherine has a special interest in the natural world and is famed for her octopus, koi and melting mountain ranges. Their landscape and marine murals use broad strokes and a simple palette of three or four colours. Closer to oriental woodblock prints than typical European papers, the imagery is not heaving in busy inclusions that force your eyes to jump left and right. We love their Bond II image of two whales, which can dive behind a sofa or bed and is truly lovely with its inky blue ground, pebble grey, and shale with a band of gold. When ordering from any digital paper provider, you can position a crop box to select the area of the image you want, then click select your mural size to suit the available wall; from 49 per square metre, wallsauce.com/eu. Coronation Craze in Slate, 71.25 per roll. ART DECO The swerve, the curve, the whiplash feminine line is softening and is set to soften out the corners of our homes in the coming year. The roots of this revival go right back to art deco, known for its stiff geometry, but which also celebrated sexy, rounded, pneumatic shapes and free-flowing silhouettes in everything from bronze statues of long, lean flapper dancers, to cloud-back armchairs. The tension of straight lines and curvilinear forms make a room interesting, and wallpapers are an ideal place to flex your flux. Choose an abstract paper with a bold, large repeat or set of startling 1930s-informed architectural shapes, set on white or grey ground to keep it fresh and modern. My choices would include Carnaby by Feathr of Finland, with its vintage-style mural of jazz age grey, orange and pale blue forms on a white ground; 53 a roll, various suppliers. Second up, and another shoutout for the affordable, highly creative imaging at Graham & Brown, is its Coronation Craze, a terrace of large balloons and pert supporting circles in a similar colourway to Carnaby in a witty young repeat. Relaunched from its very popular Through the Decades collection, the Slate colourway features pops of teal, navy and yellow on a grey backdrop; 71.25 per roll. Maximalism and a Midas-touch returns for 2024. Crowned Crane Fonda, bathroom by Drummonds, samples 3.95. GOLDEN MOMENTS Comfort and luxury embellishments are pushing their way past empty, indifferent spaces with their sparse furnishings and limp colourways. Adding metallic shine is one way to inject opulent interest for 2024 without cluttering up the room with dust-catchers and indifferent ornaments. Include a Midas touch with long-legged Crowned Crane Fonda, set amongst lush palm trees, a top-selling textured, traditional botanic by Divine Savages of the UK, reimagined in larger-scale metallic Soft Copper and Gold colourways. These are gorgeous papers made with traditional rollers and hand-mixed paints that can be combined in an interesting mirror effect over and under a dado height. For something retro, busy and undeniably pink (plaster shades are trending as Dulux vouches for a candy-almond tone Sweet Embrace for 2024) take a look at the Savages Bye-Bye Birdie in Petticoat Pink - a soft pink base with alluring accents of cream. Who could resist mischievous felines stalking unsuspecting budgies scattered up the walls for a New Year eye-catcher? Samples in simple-to-hang, paste-the-wall papers from 3.95, divinesavages.com. At least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials reported. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Mr Vilkul added that the mans wife was taken to hospital with serious shrapnel wounds. Early on Saturday, Mr Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Mr Vilkul did not elaborate on the sites nature or whether it was linked to Ukraines war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. In Ukraines frontline Kherson region to the south, one civilian was killed and another suffered wounds as Russian forces launched mass shelling attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Saturday. In a Telegram post, Mr Prokudin said that Russian troops used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the province, striking some residential areas. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the frontline city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local Governor Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off waves of Russian attacks. Mr Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the province. In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was taken to hospital with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, local Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. Local Ukrainian authorities also reported Russian attacks on Friday and overnight on the northern Sumy and southern Zaporizhzhia provinces, but made no mention of casualties. The regime has lost three bases in Kachin and northern Shan State to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied resistance forces since it bombed Mung Lai Hkyet Village shortly before midnight on October 9, massacring at least 29 civilians, including children. The KIA said it seized another strategic junta base near Nam San Yang Village in Momauk Township, about 5.6 miles from its headquarters in Kachin States Laiza Town, on Friday. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told the Irrawaddy on Saturday that the armed ethnic group had seized the juntas Lal Long base in Momauk on Friday afternoon. It is a key outpost in a strategic location as it is situated near Nam San Yang Village on the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road, which can access Laiza Town, Winemaw and Bhamo townships, he explained. The junta responded with an air strike near the site at about 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, he added. KIA troops seized the camp at about 3:00 p.m. after fierce fighting that began in the early morning, according to local reports. The military regime launched air strikes and heavy shelling in the area but failed to deter the attack, Kachin media outlets reported, citing sources close to the KIA. At least 50 junta troops were killed and three were captured during the battle for the base, the reports said. The KIA declined to disclose the number of junta troop casualties. Pro-junta Telegram channels reported that junta infantry temporarily retreated from its base because its troops were outnumbered by resistance forces and will try to recapture it soon. KIA Brigade 6 in northern Shan State was also bombed by junta warplanes on Friday, according to the KIA. As far as we know, four KIA members were killed and one was injured by junta bombing, Colonel Naw Bu said. No high-ranking officers were among the dead, he added. The air strikes followed the seizure of a junta camp located at the base of Wane Lar Mountain near Mong Ko Town in Muse Township in northern Shan State near the Myanmar-China border on Thursday. The regimes military suffered heavy casualties during the clash and the KIA seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, Kachin News Group reported. On Wednesday, KIA Battalion 12 and the Shwegu Peoples Defense Force ambushed a junta outpost that had served as a military communication camp near Nag Bat Gyi Village on Shwegu-Bhamo Road in Kachin State. They seized 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. The KIA has been fighting against junta forces in Muse and Kutkai townships in neighboring northern Shan State since June. It is also fighting junta troops alongside resistance groups in the upper Sagaing Region. The cost of brutality Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing frequently urges ministries and regional and state governments of his regime to tighten their belts and minimize waste. At an Oct.18 meeting of the Economic Committee, he went further and suggested forming a committee to ensure money from the proposed budget is well spent. The move offered more confirmation that the hole in the regimes budget is growing by the day. The regime has been running a steep budget deficit thanks to a calamitous drop in foreign investment since the military seized power in 2021. Foreign investors fled the country after it was hit by international sanctions. Exports have also plummeted due to economic turmoil and frequent policy changes, and tax revenues have declined sharply. The juntas budget crisis has been exacerbated by rampant corruption among high-ranking officials, with two senior generals jailed for life earlier this month after being found guilty of high treason, bribe-taking, and illegal possession of foreign currency. The military meanwhile continues to enjoy the largest share of the budget, as Min Aung Hlaing desperately seeks to keep his grip on power, at the expense of Myanmars people. Militarizing the bureaucracy The juntas key arms supplier, Russia, is providing assistance in various other sectors too, ranging from diplomacy, trade and education to nuclear technology. One Russian official well-known to Min Aung Hlaing is Grigoriev Evgeny Dmitrievich, who has hosted the junta boss during several of his visits to Russia. The chair of the St Petersburg governments External Relations Committee arrived on his first trip to Myanmar this week, holding Oct.18-19 talks on cooperation in higher education. He also met ex-Maj-Gen Aung Thaw, who chairs the Union Civil Service Board and is a former Defense Services Academy classmate of Min Aung Hlaing and onetime Russia-Myanmar Friendship Association chairman. The two discussed training for civil servants through an agreement between the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and Myanmars two civil service institutes. Dmitrievich visited the Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper Myanmar) and discussed provision of Russian language lessons and other assistance in academic matters. He joined the institutes rector, ex-military officer Kyaw Soe, to observe budding bureaucrats undergo basic military training at the institute. He also visited the Defense Services Academy in Mandalays Pyin Oo Lwin. Successive military regimes, from that of the late dictator Ne Win to the quasi-civilian government led by ex-general Thein Sein, have forced civil servants to undergo military training and lectures on the ideological foundations of the regime. The forced indoctrination was discontinued when the National League for Democracy government came to power in 2016. However, the current regime was quick to reintroduce military training at the institutes following its coup, and is now cooperating with Russia to further these aims. Pay tax, or no passport Migrants seeking to renew their passports will be required to pay at least 10 percent of their foreign income to the regime, which is facing a hard currency crisis. Read more: High-profile businessmen in corruption spotlight Regime cronies Thein Win Zaw and Mu Mu Shein are set to follow former lieutenant general Moe Myint Tun as targets of the juntas graft crackdown, businesspeople say. Read more: Junta boss watches Chinas BRI summit from home Coup leader Min Aung Hlaings pleas for an invitation fell on deaf ears as Beijing continues to hold the global pariah at arms length. Read more: The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative gave $250 million for the opening of a new research center that will specialize in early disease detection and treatment called the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York (CZ Biohub NY). Read Also: Lawsuit Against Social Media Platforms Advances in California Court Chan Zuckerberg to Work With Universities in Developing CZ Biohub NY The organization headed by Priscilla Chan and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a sizeable commitment that will be added to the $10 million contribution from each State of New York and New York City. Moreover, universities such as Rockefeller University, Columbia University, and Yale University will be joining the development of the biohub. The CZ Biohub NY will study how the immune system can be harnessed to detect, prevent, and treat diseases before it further advances. The creation of the hub was motivated by various diseases which are only detectable after the onset of symptoms. "To change that, researchers and engineers at the New York Biohub will bioengineer immune cells to scout, report, and repair damage to our cells before it leads to serious illnesses," Chan explained. Bioengineering of Immune Cells The biohub will be using single-cell biology tools, cutting-edge experimental technologies, and machine learning tools such as AI in order to bioengineer new functions into the immune cells. These cells are the best way to test as immune cells are capable of monitoring and maintaining the health of the organs. "The ultimate goal is to not go after a specific disease - it's to create a new tool or platform that all scientists can use to study and make more specific advances," Zuckerberg stated. For its first trial, the hub's initial focus will be on learning more about molecular memory and the states of immune cells. From there, the researchers will gradually move into training the immune cells to make targeted pairs that will help activate a robust immune response. Related Article: Gene-Editing Research Shows Chickens Can Be Made Resistant to Avian Flu 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 British intelligence experts assessed the prospects for the use of Russian interceptor aircraft equipped with Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, noting that they are still at the stage of operational testing, and the results of their use in Ukraine are unsatisfactory. As noted in a report from the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on the social network X (Twitter) on Saturday morning, on October 18, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will begin conducting fighter patrols in the eastern Black Sea using the MiG-311 interceptor aircraft armed with Kh-47M2 KINZHAL (DAGGER) air-launched ballistic missiles. His justification referred to the recent uplift in the US maritime presence in the eastern Mediterranean, with the intent of holding these vessels at risk using a weapon system with a published range of up to 2000km. This announcement is in line with typical Russian rhetoric aimed at its domestic audience, calling the West aggressors whilst framing Russian activity as necessary for protection of the state, the British Intelligence concluded. The intelligence analysts believe that the specific mention of the KINZHAL missile and its capabilities by Putin was almost certainly for strategic messaging purposes, to demonstrate that Russia remains able to produce and operate newly developed weapons, despite the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. The KINZHAL effectively remains in operational testing, with its performance in Ukraine to date being poor. It remains highly capable on paper, able to fly at hypersonic speeds and evade modern air defence systems, although there almost certainly needs to be significant improvement in how Russia uses it to achieve this potential, the message reads. Hulu is bringing back its services at a more affordable price for students with only a $1.99 per month student discount under the ad-supported tier plan. Read Also: 'Rick and Morty' Welcomes New Voice Actors for Season Seven Hulu's Student Discount Hulu's ad-supported tier plan costs $7.99 a month, the student discount will give students an opportunity to get the same service for a quarter of its original price. According to Hulu, the offer will apply to new customers while existing subscribers can avail of it if their current plan is billed directly under Hulu. The company only allows students who are currently enrolled in graduate or advanced degree programs at Title IV accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. Students can keep their bill low as long as their enrollment status is verified by SheerID. However, Hulu noted that the discount is available only for a standalone subscription to Hulu with Ads plan. Eligible users are not allowed to combine the discount with a discounted plan from the Disney bundle. Hulu's Subscription Plans Currently, Hulu offers a variety of subscription plans that its customers can choose from. Subscribers are also allowed to switch plans and purchase add-ons at any time. The standard Hulu with no ads comes at $17.99 per month. Meanwhile, Hulu+ Live TV plans feature subscriptions to Hulu, Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+. The bundle starts at $76.99 per month for ad-supported while the no ads plan is at $89.99 per month. However, this bundle is not available for subscribers who are billed by T-Mobile. Hulu also offers ad-ons that can cost from $2 per month up to $15.99 per month depending on the platform that will be added to the the current subscription. Related Article: Disney Plans to Crack Down on Password Sharing 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. Ukraine will continue to receive ATACMS missiles until it liberates all its territories, and this issue is key in the negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview with Ukrainian Radio. This is not the first and not the last time we receive ATACMS missiles. We have an agreement with our partners that we will use them exclusively on the territory of our country, which is currently temporarily captured by terrorists. We express gratitude to our president for being directly involved in this issue. When communicating with the President of the United States, Zelenskyy every time raises the issue of long-range weapons," the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council said. As for further supplies of American weapons, Danilov emphasized: This will definitely continue until we liberate our territories. Until that time, the supply of weapons will not stop. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The European Union and the United States say their support for Ukraine to protect its people from Russian war remains unwavering. Russia was called upon to immediately end this war and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian internationally recognized territory. This is said in the joint declaration adopted following the EU-US summit, which was held in Washington on Friday. The United States and the European Union remain unwavering in our long-term political, financial, humanitarian, and military support to Ukraine and its people as they defend themselves against Russia's illegal and unprovoked war of aggression. We stand together in calling for Russia to end its brutal war and to withdraw its military forces and proxies and military equipment immediately, completely, and unconditionally from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine, the declaration says. The USA and EU note that they are committed to achieving the widest possible international support for the key principles and objectives of Ukraine's Peace Formula. Any initiative for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine must be based on full respect for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and uphold all the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the document says. The parties also stated that they undertake to support Ukraine for as long as necessary to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We recognize the urgency of ensuring that Russia does not succeed in collapsing the Ukrainian economy and of intensifying our efforts to help ensure assistance meets Ukraine's highest priority needs, the declaration says. The USA and EU stated that 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, to incorporate a common set of near-term priority economic, rule-of-law, and democratization reforms and a prioritized and well-coordinated approach to recovery and reconstruction assistance and investment. The USA and EU assured that the United States and the European Union, together with other international donors, will continue to provide Ukraine with financing to help achieve these objectives, including to defend, repair, and rebuild its energy sector aligned with EU standards. We acknowledge Ukraine's commitment and progress in their reform efforts, and underline the strategic importance of its EU accession process, the declaration says. The parties also stated that Russia must cease its aggression and must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful acts, including compensation for the damage caused to Ukraine. We are united in our determination to ensure full accountability, the document reads. The USA and EU noted that in light of the urgency of disrupting Russia's attempts to destroy the Ukrainian economy and Russia's continued failure to abide by its international law obligations, the United States and the European Union, together with our allies, are convening our experts to explore options to compensate Ukraine in a timely manner for the loss, injury, and damage resulting from Russia's aggression. We are exploring all possible avenues to aid Ukraine, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law. We are also working together with the global community to address the energy, economic, and food security challenges caused by Russia's war of choice, which are particularly acute in the most vulnerable developing countries. We condemn Russia's attempts to block food exports and its attacks on Ukraine's grain storage and shipment facilities since its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The EU's Solidarity Lanes remain instrumental in bolstering global food security, the declaration says. The USA and EU also reported that as part of efforts to aid Ukraine, in the short term, they will explore how any extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from immobilized Russian sovereign assets, where those extraordinary revenues are not required to meet obligations towards Russia under applicable laws, could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction in compliance with applicable laws. We will deepen our joint work to undermine Russia's ability to wage its war, and maintain and expand its defense industrial base and capacity. Those who help Russia acquire items or equipment for its defense industrial base are supporting actions which undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. This includes companies supplying certain critical raw materials and high-priority items to Russia, as well as the financial institutions and other entities facilitating such transfers, the document reads. The USA and EU assured that they will target third-country actors who materially support Russia's war. We will continue to vigorously and jointly enforce our sanctions and export control measures to disrupt circumvention and backfill. Our joint implementation of the G7+ price cap for seaborne Russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products supports energy market stability while diminishing Russia's ability to finance its illegal war, the declaration notes. The North Atlantic Alliance has sufficient resources not only to support Israel, but also to provide military support to Ukraine, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said in an interview with Digi 24 on Friday evening. "I think we have enough resources. In our Alliance there are 32 countries, including Sweden, I guess, more than 1 billion people live and more than 50% of the world's GDP. There are resources for ... what we must do in support of Ukraine," , said Geoana. He stressed that NATO has concrete defense plans in conditions where the Alliance has identified two direct threats: Russia and terrorism. We will have to close ranks again, support Israel, but in a way that avoids escalation and inflaming public opinion, and I am confident that we can do this calmly and patiently, said the Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance. Reddit Email 26 Shares By Peter Mansoor, The Ohio State University | In the wake of the shocking invasion of southern Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas. We are fighting a cruel enemy, worse than ISIS, Netanyahu proclaimed four days after the invasion, comparing Hamas with the Islamic State group, which was largely defeated by U.S., Iraqi and Kurdish forces in 2017. On that same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant went further, stating, We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth. It will cease to exist. They were strong words, issued in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack that killed more than 1,300 Israelis and culminated in the kidnapping of more than 150 people, including several Americans. And in a telling comparison, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan compared the attack with the toppling of the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon in 2001, declaring, This is Israels 9/11. As a scholar of military history, I believe the comparison is interesting and revealing. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaida on the United States, President George W. Bush made a similar expansive pledge, declaring, Our war on terror begins with al-Qaida, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. The U.S. response to 9/11 included the American invasion of Afghanistan in league with the Afghan United Front, the so-called Northern Alliance. The immediate goals were to force the Taliban from power and destroy al-Qaida. Very little thought or resources were put into what happened after those goals were attained. In his 2010 memoir, Decision Points, former President Bush recalled a meeting of the war cabinet in late September 2001, when he asked the assemblage, So whos going to run the country (Afghanistan)? There was silence. Wars that are based on revenge can be effective in punishing an enemy, but they can also create a power vacuum that sparks a long, deadly conflict that fails to deliver sustainable stability. Thats what happened in Afghanistan, and that is what could happen in Gaza. A war of weak results The U.S. invasion toppled the Taliban from power by the end of 2001, but the war did not end. An interim administration headed by Hamid Karzai took power as an Afghan council of leaders, called a loya jirga, fashioned a new constitution for the country. Nongovernmental and international relief organizations began to deliver humanitarian aid and reconstruction support, but their efforts were uncoordinated. U.S. trainers began creating a new Afghan National Army, but lack of funding, insufficient volunteers and inadequate facilities hampered the effort. The period between 2002 and 2006 was the best opportunity to create a resilient Afghan state with enough security forces to hold its own against a resurgent Taliban. Because of a lack of focus, inadequate resources and poor strategy, however, the United States and its allies squandered that opportunity. As a result, the Taliban was able to reconstitute its forces and return to the fight. As the insurgency gained momentum, the United States and its NATO allies increased their troop levels, but they could not overcome the weakness of the Kabul government and the lack of adequate numbers of trained Afghan security forces. Despite a surge of forces to Afghanistan during the first two years of the Obama administration and the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, the Taliban remained undefeated. As Western forces largely departed the country by the end of 2014, Afghan forces took the lead in security operations, but their numbers and competence proved insufficient to stem the Taliban tide. Negotiations between the United States and the Taliban went nowhere, as Taliban leaders realized they could seize by force what they could not gain at the bargaining table. The Taliban entry into Kabul in August 2021 merely put an exclamation point on a campaign the United States had lost many years before. MSNBC: Mehdi Hasan on Israel, Gaza, and what happens next A goal thats hard to achieve As Israel pursues its response to the Hamas attack, the Israeli government would be well advised to remember the past two decades of often indecisive warfare conducted by both the United States and Israel against insurgent and terrorist groups. The invasion of Afghanistan ultimately failed because U.S. policymakers did not think through the end state of the campaign as they exacted revenge for the 9/11 attacks. An Israeli invasion of Gaza could well lead to an indecisive quagmire if the political goal is not considered ahead of time. Israel has invaded Gaza twice, in 2009 and 2014, but quickly withdrew its ground forces once Israeli leaders calculated they had reestablished deterrence. This strategy called by Israeli leaders mowing the grass, with periodic punitive strikes against Hamas has proven to be a failure. The newly declared goal of destroying Hamas as a military force is far more difficult than that. As four U.S. presidential administrations discovered in Afghanistan, creating stability in the aftermath of conflict is far more difficult than toppling a weak regime in the first place. The only successful conflict against a terrorist group in the past two decades, against the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017, ended with both Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq reduced to rubble and thousands of men, women and children consigned to detention camps. Israel has the capacity to level Gaza and round up segments of the population, but that may not be wise. Doing so might serve the immediate impulse of exacting revenge on its enemies, but Israel would likely receive massive international condemnation from creating a desert in Gaza and calling it peace, and thus forgo the moral high ground it claims in the wake of the Hamas attacks. Peter Mansoor, Professor of History, General Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair in Military History, The Ohio State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Japan, starting from April 2024, is launching a new program to support Ukrainian refugees, aimed at adapting Ukrainians to Japan, in particular by studying the language and culture of the country, The Japan Times reports. The Immigration Services Agency said ON October 20 that it will launch a program in April to help foreign nationals fleeing conflict zones adjust to living in Japan The program was designed mainly to help Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan, whose numbers top 2,500, The Japan Times said. The program is aimed at promoting the adaptation of Ukrainians in Japan. In particular, within its framework one can join courses lasting six months or one year to study the Japanese language, as well as become familiar with the laws and customs of the country. 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. In addition, from December 1, 2023, a government decision will come into force in Japan, according to which foreigners who have found refuge from the war in the country will receive permission to long-term stay in Japan with the possibility of employment. 6 Shares Share On October 28, 1918, a San Francisco horseshoer named James Wisser urged a street corner crowd to throw away their masks in defiance of a local mask mandate issued a few days before. He was shot twice after resisting a local health inspectors attempt to force compliance. At that time, most of the medical community believed that cotton gauze masks were useful in slowing infection rates, but dissenting voices felt that the masks had no effect. And others, like a prominent Santa Barbara, California physician named James Bainbridge, who stated that the common use of the mask tends to propagate rather than check influenza. The thing that is most clear in retrospect is that infection and mortality rates continued to spike and subside until the microbe itself mutated into a milder form. Our understanding of respiratory diseases is vastly improved since the days of the Spanish flu. At that time, we did not know whether the pathogen was a bacterium or a virus, or about the genetic role of DNA and RNA. Antibiotics and antiviral drugs were a long way away. Today our risk when we get sick is lower than a century ago, but it is still severe, so we continue to look for better ways to protect ourselves from getting infected. Unfortunately, it isnt easy to stop the movement of things as small and airborne as viruses. They can pass through all but the smallest gaps, leaving the barriers we set up only partially effective. The uncountable viruses that are stopped collect, and the barriers become unsafe, and the viruses that get through continue in their mission to spread. A recent South Korean mask study has gained attention by showing that KN94 masks can expose users to dangerous levels of harmful compounds. This news is concerning for people who wish to wear a mask and leads to a difficult risk/benefit choice. But in a close read of the study, beyond the headlines, it is noteworthy that only 14 masks were reviewed and that waiting 30 minutes between opening the package and wearing the mask dissipates most of the harmful chemicals. Choosing to wear a mask is and should remain a choice of informed individuals. But some public health officials are considering declaring new mandates. They are seeing a dual threat to the public. The Australian flu season, which is consistently a preview of our flu season, has been harsh this year, and the vast majority of cases are in children. Concurrently a new strain of COVID-19 is causing cases and hospitalizations to spike again. From July to October, hospitalizations rose 65 percent. And public health officials cannot ignore the facts or simply trust that current treatments like anti-virus drugs like Tamiflu and Paxlovid will be sufficient for many of people who will get sick. We can still do a better job at reducing infections through barriers. Using a production process for materials comprised of very small fibers, called electrospinning, a 2021 study found that masks and filters made with electrospun material captures virtually all coronavirus-sized particles. Even the best respirator masks and high-efficiency filters fall far short of that efficacy. And in a study in Nature, similar efficacy was documented with HEPA filters to which a recently developed and highly charged non-toxic polymer called C-POLAR was added. C-POLAR is a non-toxic compound from a class of polymers (cationic) that have been studied since the 1960s for anti-microbial properties, and in addition to capturing viruses, is fully effective at deactivating them. As the fall respiratory disease season builds, it would be a mistake for officials to re-impose the kind of mandates that didnt work in the recent pandemic any better than a century ago. But they would do well to educate the public in making rational choices and helping to improve access to the new technologies that work well and can be chosen through reason rather than fear. Ken Blaker is a Los Angeles-based health care and technology consultant focused on medical devices and FDA compliance. As an author, Ken has written on a variety of topics, including treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, cancer research, and the opioid epidemic. First Son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has appointed Mr Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo, the State Minister for Microfinance, as the coordinator of MK Movement for Greater Masaka. The appointment has been announced by Kasambya County MP, Mr David Kabanda who also doubles as the Movements Deputy Spokesperson. Mr Kasolo brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the State Minister for Microfinance since 2016. His expertise in microfinance is expected to be a valuable asset to the MK Movement which seeks to empower local communities and promote sustainable economic growth. Kasolo, who accepted the appointment has also vowed to continue serving President Museveni by engaging the youth in productive politics. I will continue with my crusade of engaging more youth in productive politics as we continue serving H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Musevenis vision now and Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba next for a stronger and prosperous Uganda, Kasolo posted on X, the former Twitter on Saturday. Kasolo will be responsible for overseeing the Movements activities in the region and ensuring that its goals are aligned with the needs of local communities. He will work closely with other members of the movement to develop and implement programs that promote economic growth, create jobs, and improve living standards. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has announced the introduction of a simplified procedure for the admission to operation of unmanned systems and electronic warfare equipment - they will be admitted to the troops on the basis of an act of joint departmental testing or based on the results of studying the tactical and technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer. From now on, a simplified procedure for admitting unmanned systems and electronic warfare equipment to operation is in effect. They will be admitted to the troops on the basis of an act of joint departmental testing or based on the results of studying the tactical and technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer, says a message on the Ministry of Defense posted on its website on Saturday. Reportedly, all government customers are also allowed to purchase UAVs and electronic warfare equipment if they have conducted joint departmental tests with the manufacturers. The government supported the resolution developed by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Defense said. In addition, it is reported that the General Staff will approve the technical requirements for types of UAVs, indicating the tactical and technical characteristics that such products must meet in order to be allowed into operation. The General Staff is also entrusted with the responsibility to approve the technical requirements for electronic warfare equipment and their current need for each electronic warfare type. The relevant technical requirements will also be transmitted to the Ministry of Defense." As noted in the message, the timing and order for the procedures were not previously determined. And therefore, permission to operate and supply weapons to military units lasted for months. Such a delay is unacceptable in a full-scale war, which is why the Ministry of Defense initiated these changes, the message says. Auto liability insurance helps financially protect you if you or your car is found at fault in an auto accident. This type of coverage is about protecting you from third-party claims. Liability coverage protects you if you injure or kill someone or damage property. It can help cover an injured person's medical bills or repairs to someone's vehicle. Drivers in most states are legally required to carry some form of liability insurance. What are minimum car insurance requirements state-to-state? Minimum car insurance requirements vary from state to state. But state requirements are generally modest typically $20,000 to $30,000 for bodily injury suffered by one person in an accident, $50,000 for all people hurt in the same accident, and up to $25,000 for property damage resulting from that accident. A state's required minimum merely keeps you in compliance with state law. Most drivers need more than the minimum to avoid paying out of pocket to make up the difference between the damages and your coverage. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Nearly all states have some sort of mandate related to automobile liability insurance coverage. New Hampshire and Virginia are the only two states that do not have these mandates. While drivers in Virginia have to pay $500 to register their non-insured vehicle, uninsured drivers in New Hampshire don't have to pay any other fees or taxes. What is auto liability insurance? Basically, liability coverage is the part of your auto insurance policy that pays for the other driver's expenses if you cause a car accident. It does not, however, cover your own. There are two types of liability coverage: bodily injury and property damage. In some states, a third type of liability coverage called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also required. Dont forget that your property damage liability insurance wont cover the cost of repairing your car if youre in an accident. Also, your bodily injury liability insurance doesnt cover your own medical bills if youre injured in a collision. Instead, it covers the injuries or damage that you cause to another person in an accident. Liability coverage protects your financial well being, not your body or your property. What is covered by bodily injury liability insurance? There are two types of liability coverage that are generally required: bodily injury and property damage. In addition, some states require a third type of liability coverage called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Bodily injury liability coverage helps pay the costs for anyone that is injured in a car accident where you're found liable. This may include a driver or passengers in another car, pedestrians or unrelated passengers in your own car. It covers medical expenses, compensation for lost wages and income and legal fees. For instance, you run a red light, strike another car and injure the driver. Your liability coverage obliges the company to defend you in court, if necessary and pay claims to the other driver for vehicle damage and bodily injuries, including medical and hospital costs, rehabilitation, nursing care, and possibly lost income and money for pain and suffering. What is covered by property damage liability insurance? Property damage liability coverage helps pay for damage you cause to another person's vehicle or property. If you hit someone else's car, front porch or mailbox with your car, property damage liability coverage may help pay to repair their property. Fewer states require uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance but its in your and your passengers' best interests to think seriously about buying this coverage. Unlike liability insurance this coverage can help pay your expenses. It covers your injuries, your passengers' injuries, and damage to your vehicle if you're hit by a driver who doesn't have enough or has no auto insurance coverage. It may also cover hit-and-run accidents. So, if a driver hits your vehicle and flees, you can file a claim against your policy's uninsured motorist coverage. How much coverage do you have? Insurance companies use a shorthand to describe their liability coverage, and even if you understand the lingo, it might not be immediately apparent how much coverage you carry. For instance, a policy might be listed as 50/100/25. The first figure refers to the per-person limit coverage, in thousands of dollars, for injury to one person, the second number is the per-accident limit for injuries to all people in the same accident, and the third figure is the coverage for property damage in the same accident. For example, say your per-person limit is $50,000 and your per-accident limit is $100,000. That means if one person is injured in a car accident, the most your bodily injury liability would pay for all of their medical expenses is $50,000 and if you cause a car accident that injures three people, the most your bodily injury liability would pay for their combined expenses is $100,000. There is also a maximum amount your insurer would pay to repair any damage you cause to another party's property. Some companies issue single-limit policies, with one liability limit that applies to total payments arising from the same accident, regardless of the number of people injured or the amount of property damaged. If the company incurs legal expenses to defend you against a lawsuit, those expenses don't count toward the liability limits. Nor do payments you receive under the policy for bail bonds and earnings lost while attending hearings and trials at the company's request. How much coverage do you need? You should carry as much liability coverage as you can comfortably afford because damage claims today are sometimes settled for millions. State minimums don't come close to covering the cost of a serious accident. At minimum, you should carry a 100/300/100 policy. This provides bodily-injury coverage of at least $100,000 per person, and $300,000 per accident, and property-damage coverage of $100,000, or a minimum of $300,000 on a single-limit policy. You should purchase higher levels of coverage if you have significant assets. A minimum policy of 250/500/250 is recommended to protect yourself financially. Raising your limits isn't expensive. $300,000 in coverage costs 20% more than $100,000, on average. The more coverage you buy, the less you have to pay per $1,000 of coverage. Ask your agent for precise figures. You may even want to investigate raising your liability coverage further through a personal umbrella policy. Any damages that go beyond the limits of your policy are still your responsibility, which means your home, your vehicles, and any other assets you have could be at risk if you are taken to court over an at-fault accident. Personal umbrella insurance is a way to purchase extra liability coverage that goes above liability limits in another insurance policy. That means if you cause an accident and reach your auto policy's liability limits, the umbrella policy would kick in to help pay the remaining covered costs. Gold prices are currently in an accelerated and dramatic rise in price, with clear-cut geopolitical reasons for these recent moves. What is most surprising and welcomed is how gold is once again acting as a haven asset, a position it fell out of favor with some time ago. Recently, it has been the Federal Reserves restrictive monetary policy that has defined bearish sentiment in gold, which resulted in prices becoming range-bound and at just recently at the lower end of that range. Dollar strength and higher yields have been the underlying outcome of many of the policy decisions by the Federal Reserve. Golds gain has been so profoundly rapid that it has run to a three-month apex today. After hitting a low at approximately $1830 during the first week of October and before the attack on Israel by Hamas, its current pricing is only six dollars shy of $2000 with the intraday high at a respectable $2009.20. Gold has not traded to that value since the middle of July. The chart above is a Japanese-style average chart, simply labeled a Heikin Ashi chart. The key difference between a standard Japanese candlestick chart and a Japanese average chart is how the opening value is created. While a standard Japanese candlestick chart uses a true open the Japanese average chart fixes the open from the midpoint of the prior session, on a daily chart it would use the midpoint of the prior trading day. In recent years, there has been an unexpected change in how market participants invest in and perceive gold. The precious yellow metal has for centuries been a haven asset but has recently lost its allure as a safe asset. The complexities of the issue that have moved gold higher, sadly, have no easy resolution and expectations of a quick and peaceful conclusion. It is more likely that the issues that have moved gold to higher ground in a short-period will not only remain, but accelerate. As of 6:21 PM EDT, gold futures basis the most active December contract is currently up $13.90 or 0.70% and fixed at $1994.40. Gold unsuccessfully tested pricing above $2000, and it was clear that at least at this point was an unrealistic, unsustainable price for gold to settle at. However, if the geopolitical crisis becomes more than a regional one, we are talking about a completely different scenario with ramifications that are unthinkable to the point that I do not wish to even speak on them. I believe that its not if, but when, gold will close above $2000, and my upper target by the end of the year is firmly above $2100 per ounce. For those who would like more information simply use this link. Wishing you as always good trading, Gary S. Wagner Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the Middle East and agreed on the need to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law. President Erdogan and I discussed the Middle East and agreed on the need to ensure protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law, Zelenskyy said on X. In addition, the presidents discussed the next round of negotiations on the Peace Formula in Malta. Turkey will take part, adding its authoritative voice and position, Zelensky noted. Regarding food security, the President of Ukraine emphasized: Despite Russias disruption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraine remains committed to its vital role as a global food security guarantor and enables the functioning of the Black Sea grain corridor. Zelenskyy also thanked Erdogan for his continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. stuff reports: Labour has announced they will not stand a candidate in the upcoming Port Waikato by-election, saying the seat is unwinnable. Traditionally a National stronghold, Labour has never won the North Island seat and party president Jill Day said contesting the by-election would take resources away from holding the government to account. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Press Release October 20, 2023 Senior citizens in Quezon City given a boost by Bong Go as he continues to advocate for the welfare of the elderly The Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, together with United Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, the Office of Senator Robin Padilla, and volunteer organizations, spearheaded an activity for senior citizens on Monday, October 16, during the United Senior Citizens Association-Quezon City (USCAQC) General Assembly held at White Twins Court, Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. The assembly witnessed a significant turnout, where 1,000 attendees were provided with essential goods from Senator Go such as grocery packs, snacks, and shirts while a select recipient likewise received a cellular phone. The participants were also given various forms of assistance from the participating offices to promote the welfare of the elderly. In the Senate, Go co-authored RA 11916, which effectively doubled the monthly pension allowance for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000. "This amendment is a step forward in ensuring a better quality of life for our senior citizens. It's crucial that we provide them with the necessary support to live comfortably," Go said. Just recently, Go also co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2028, which was principally sponsored by Senator Imee Marcos. The bill aims to provide additional support to individuals who have reached the age of 80 and 90 years old. This proposal amends the Centenarian Act of 2016, acknowledging that not everyone reaches the milestone of a century. He emphasized the cultural significance of caring for the elderly in the country and highlighted the importance of providing them with financial support while they can still benefit from and enjoy it. "Nasa kultura na nating mga Pilipino na alagaan ang ating mga nakakatanda. Dapat natin silang suportahan at bigyan ng pagkilala. Habang kaya pang pakinabangan at ma-enjoy ng senior citizen ang cash gift, ibigay na natin sa kanila," said Go. "Maganda rin na may inaasahan ang ating mga senior citizens pagtuntong nila ng 80, 90 at 100 years old. Anuman ang halaga, maaari itong magsilbing inspirasyon sa kanila para mas maging positibo ang kanilang pananaw at mag-improve ang kanilang katayuan," he added. Meanwhile, Go urged the attendees to utilize the services of Malasakit Centers for medical assistance they might need. He highlighted that there are 11 Malasakit Centers across the city in case they need assistance with such medical-related expenses. Initiated by Go in 2018, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored. Malasakit Centers in Quezon City are located at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children's Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children's Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC). There are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide that have helped more than seven million Filipinos. Go also supported the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country, bringing government medical services closer to the communities and making it more accessible to the elderly. In Quezon City alone, funds have been allocated for the construction of Super Health Centers in six different barangays. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Lastly, the senator is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently passed RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go's dedication to public service is further evident in his support for various infrastructure projects in Quezon City. He has supported several projects, including the construction of multipurpose buildings, rehabilitation of roads, improvement of drainages, and rehabilitation of flood control structures in several barangays. He also supported the repair of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Road Network, and the acquisition of an ambulance, a dump truck, and four multicabs. Lastly, he also helped secure funding for the vertical expansion of the new emergency building at the Philippine Heart Center and the rehabilitation building at the Philippine Orthopedic Center. "Prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, especially senior citizens, in public service delivery is paramount. Rest assured, I will continue to support programs aimed at improving the lives of the elderly," concluded Go. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The adoption by the Czech Senate of a biased resolution distorting the existing realities is regrettable, the working group on Azerbaijan-Czech Republic inter-parliamentary relations said, Trend reports. "We express our strong protest over this biased resolution. Once again, we have witnessed how the Armenian lobby and its patrons deceive the international community with their false claims," the working group said. At the meetings that the working group on Azerbaijan-Czech inter-parliamentary relations held on October 1820, 2023, in the Parliament of the Czech Republic, detailed information was provided on Armenia's political and military provocations, Azerbaijan's peace initiatives, the causes and results of anti-terrorist activities, the measures of the Azerbaijani government to reintegrate the Armenian residents of the Karabakh region into Azerbaijani society, and social and humanitarian activities. The working group also added that the pressure of some European countries, as well as destructive forces in the European Parliament, contributes to the adoption of such biased documents against Azerbaijan. "In particular, we perceive the distortion of the name of Azerbaijan's Karabakh region as a step against the territorial integrity of our country. We would also like to remind the Senate of the Czech Republic that the missions of UN specialized bodies have visited the region twice, and in their reports, they also confirm that there were no cases of violence against civilians," the Azerbaijan-Czech working group emphasized. As for the call in the resolution to prevent damage to cultural and historical monuments, the working group noted that all cultural and religious monuments in Azerbaijan are protected by the state without any discrimination. "In turn, we call on our Czech colleagues to pay attention to the destruction by Armenia of hundreds of historical, cultural, and religious monuments belonging to Azerbaijanis, both in our lands, which remained under occupation for 30 years, and in the territory of present-day Armenia. We once again strongly reject this resolution adopted by the Senate of the Czech Republic," the Azerbaijan-Czech working group added. Photographs of some of the people taken hostage by Hamas are seen in posters on October 18, in Tel Aviv, in Israel. Canso Credit Income Fund (TSE:PBY.UN Get Free Report)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$14.25 and traded as low as C$14.13. Canso Credit Income Fund shares last traded at C$14.17, with a volume of 13,500 shares traded. Canso Credit Income Fund Stock Performance The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$14.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$14.23. Get Canso Credit Income Fund alerts: Canso Credit Income Fund Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a dividend of $0.0417 per share. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 30th. Canso Credit Income Fund Company Profile Canso Credit Trust Canso Credit Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Lysander Funds Limited. The fund is managed by Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets of Canada. The fund primarily invests in corporate bonds. It employs fundamental analysis with bottom-up and deep value approach to create its portfolio. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canso Credit Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canso Credit Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hang Seng Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:HSNGY Get Free Report) shares passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $12.46 and traded as low as $11.98. Hang Seng Bank shares last traded at $12.07, with a volume of 50,266 shares changing hands. Hang Seng Bank Price Performance The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.61. Get Hang Seng Bank alerts: Hang Seng Bank Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 18th will be issued a $0.1236 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 17th. Hang Seng Bank Company Profile Hang Seng Bank Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and related financial services to individual, corporate, commercial, small and medium-sized enterprises, and institutional customers in Hong Kong, the Mainland of China, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, Global Banking, Global Markets, and Other. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hang Seng Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hang Seng Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc (LON:IPU Get Free Report) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 408.93 ($4.99) and traded as low as GBX 384 ($4.69). INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 386 ($4.71), with a volume of 20,550 shares trading hands. INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Price Performance The stock has a market cap of 130.00 million, a PE ratio of -337.08 and a beta of 1.06. The business has a fifty day moving average of GBX 407.70 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 418.82. Get INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust alerts: INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 9th will be paid a GBX 3.85 ($0.05) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 9th. INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,578.95%. INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Company Profile INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Invesco Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. France, under the guise of human rights, was pursuing a colonial policy, said David Vanabo, a member of the New Caledonia delegation and Deputy Secretary General of the Caledonian Union Party, Trend reports. He spoke at a meeting with deputies in Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament). "The people of New Caledonia are resolutely fighting to save themselves from the colonial oppression of France and will achieve their goal," he said. Thanking the Republic of Azerbaijan for supporting his country, he noted that New Caledonia, like Azerbaijan, wants to be independent. This is the most cherished wish of the people of New Caledonia. An international conference, "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku on October 20. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica. 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. BIG supports the fight for freedom of nations located in different regions of the world still suffering from colonization in the 21st century. Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (CVE:SEB Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.30 and traded as low as C$0.30. Smart Employee Benefits shares last traded at C$0.30, with a volume of 11,100 shares. Smart Employee Benefits Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$0.30 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,180.39. The company has a market cap of C$52.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.00 and a beta of 1.66. Smart Employee Benefits Company Profile (Get Free Report) Smart Employee Benefits Inc, a technology company, provides business process automation and software solutions, and professional services in Canada and internationally. It operates through Benefits and Technology segments. The Benefits segment offers software solutions, services, and products that focuses on managing group benefit and wellness plans for corporate and government clients. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Smart Employee Benefits Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Smart Employee Benefits and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victoria Gold Corp (CVE:VIT Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$8.30 and traded as low as C$8.22. Victoria Gold shares last traded at C$8.30, with a volume of 136,122 shares trading hands. Victoria Gold Stock Down 1.5 % The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$8.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$8.30. The firm has a market cap of C$474.98 million and a PE ratio of -13.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.76, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.71. About Victoria Gold (Get Free Report) Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and exploration of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its principal property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria Gold 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 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. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit BTS Jungkook has once again demonstrated his magnetic appeal, captivating all eyes at a star-studded Calvin Klein event held in Tokyo, Japan. Heres why ARMYs (fandom) are buzzing. BTS Jungkook's Stylish Full Denim Look Steals the Spotlight in Calvin Klein Tokyo On October 19, Jungkook sent shockwaves through his devoted fan base as he made a surprise appearance. READ ALSO: BTS Jungkook Delivers TikTok Magic - Is It Response to MTV EMAs Letdown? BTS maknae effortlessly turned heads with his striking full denim ensemble at Calvin Klein's Music and Fashion gathering in Tokyo. From the moment he graced the event, the young K-pop idol was surrounded by a flurry of adoring fans and camera flashes, instantly becoming the undeniable center of attention. ARMYs Create Huge Buzz Over BTS Jungkook's Striking Calvin Klein Event Snapshots Jungkook's distinct fashion sense and charismatic presence only solidified his position as a global trendsetter, a force to be reckoned with in both the music and fashion industries. READ ALSO: [WATCH] New 'Evidence' Sparks Rumors of BTS Jungkook and BLACKPINK Rose Dating-Is It True? His recent snapshots from the Calvin Klein event sent the BTS ARMY into a frenzy: "The way he's peeking at ARMYs with those big doe eyes and communicating through nods...he's so sweet and cute." "Protagonist power crazy." "The main event!" "OMG!! Jungkook in Tokyo for the Calvin Klein Fall Collection launch event! Look at him! Handsome." "Jeon Jungkook at the Calvin Klein event, looking so good." "Jungkook looks stunning at the Calvin Klein event in Tokyo." "JUNGKOOK LOOKS SO GOOD." "Omg... Jungkook at the Calvin Klein event in Tokyo...he looks absolutely amazing." "Jungkook looks exquisite at todays Calvin Klein event in Tokyo, Japan." BTS Jungkook's recent appearance at Calvin Klein has once again left fans enchanted and eager for more glimpses of their favorite global superstar. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: BTS Jungkook Finally Reveals Truth Behind Epic Fight with Jimin Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more news. KpopStarz own this article. Madison Cullen wrote this. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. A meeting with a delegation from New Caledonia was held in Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament), Trend reports. Deputy Secretary General of the Caledonian Union Party David Vanabo, Deputy Mayor of Huailou Jean Claude Kaparin, member of the political bureau of the movement "For Social Freedom and Decolonization of French Guiana", member of the Baku Initiative Group against French colonialism Maurice Pindard, member of the political bureau of the movement "For Social Freedom and Decolonization of French Guiana," Hector Pindard, Chairman of the Martinique Freedom Party, Member of the Martinique Assembly, Member of the Baku Initiative Group Luc Carole, member of the New Caledonia Labour Party, Patrick Tara, Chairman of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov participated in the meeting. David Vanabo spoke about the colonization policy pursued by France in Caledonia. He noted the importance of the international conference "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice" organized by the Baku Initiative Group against French colonialism and expressed confidence that the Baku Initiative Group will play an important role in bringing the demands of the peoples to the whole world. At the meeting, the importance of the independence of the countries suffering from French colonial policy was emphasized, and the support provided to these countries by Azerbaijan was highly appreciated. It was emphasized that France has put people in the situation of IDPs. The participants of the meeting, emphasizing that they want to create an independent state of New Coledonia, noted that France positions itself as a country protecting human rights, but in reality it is not so. France continues its colonial policy, abusing human rights. It was also noted that France was appropriating Caledonia's natural resources, including nickel, and that the people of Caledonia did not benefit from those resources. Also, New Caledonia has been undergoing a policy of targeted demographic change (French people moving to New Caledonia) for the past 20 years. Of those working in administrative positions, already 50 percent are French. Azerbaijani MP Azer Karimli said Azerbaijan supports the struggle of the people of New Caledonia for independence. "We should jointly fight against France's policy that contradicts international law. It has come to the point that France wants to teach Azerbaijan multiculturalism and the cohabitation of representatives of different religions. Everyone knows well that Azerbaijan itself is an example for the world in the issue of multiculturalism," he said. The delegation of New Caledonia thanked Azerbaijan for its support in their fair struggle. An international conference, "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku on October 20. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica. 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. BIG supports the fight for freedom of nations located in different regions of the world still suffering from colonization in the 21st century. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The Western Azerbaijan Community condemns the biased resolution adopted by the Czech Parliament and turning this country into a tool of anti-Azerbaijani campaign conducted by some circles, Trend reports. The Community issued a statement in this regard. Western Azerbaijan Community noted that the Czech Parliament calls on Azerbaijan to "allow the arrival of international observers in the region to monitor the treatment of the local population of Karabakh and protect historical and religious monuments". "Let the Czech Parliament not 'worry' about Azerbaijan, but rather invite international observers to their country in connection with the constantly oppressed and humiliated Roma (Roma and Sinti), as well as express their attitude to issues such as the destruction and desecration of World War II monuments," the Community said. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has officially entered the US House Speaker Election, a role that would make him second in line for the presidency. A spokesperson from Donalds' office confirmed his candidacy to WINK News reporter Claire Galt. This development follows the recent withdrawal of Ohio's Jim Jordan as the Republican nominee for the Speaker position. US Congressman Cory Mills, another representative from Florida, expressed his support for Donalds as the next Speaker, and US Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart also voiced his endorsement of Byron Donalds for the role. The House of Representatives has been without a Speaker for 17 days, resulting from the efforts led by Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to remove Kevin McCarthy from the position of Speaker. Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman, represents Florida's 19th District. READ NEXT: Jim Jordan House Speaker Bid Byron Donalds Byron Donalds, a former banker who had recently entered his second term as a congressman, emerged as an alternative to Californian Kevin McCarthy in the race for the House Speaker position back in January, as per Naples Daily News. Donalds' roots trace back to Brooklyn, and he obtained his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University in 2002. Subsequently, his career led him to Southwest Florida, where he gained experience in the fields of banking, finance, and insurance. His political journey began with a run for Congress in 2012, although he came in fifth in a competitive six-person Republican primary. He initially filed to run in 2014 but eventually withdrew from the race. His electoral career resumed in 2016 when he secured election to the Florida House of Representatives. After serving two terms in the Florida House, Donalds narrowly won the Republican primary for his current congressional district in 2020, securing victory by less than a 1% margin over state House Republican Dane Eagle. He went on to comfortably defeat Democrat Cindy Banyai in the general election, surpassing her by more than 22 percentage points. In a subsequent rematch last November, Donalds secured a resounding victory, winning by a margin of 36 points. The States Newsroom has maintained updates on the House Speaker race, which now includes six candidates vying for the position: Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Austin Scott of Georgia, Pete Sessions of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida, and Tom Emmer of Minnesota. Byron Donalds as House Speaker Should Byron Donalds secure victory in the US House Speaker Election, he would make history as the first Black man to preside over the US House of Representatives, according to Florida Phoenix. Notably, New York Democrat Hakeem Jeffries achieved a milestone by being elected as the first Black House Minority Leader last year, marking a significant moment in the leadership of a major party's Caucus within Congress. Before McCarthy assumed the role, Donalds had garnered a devoted following from the far-right of the political spectrum, and he had become a noteworthy figure even before McCarthy was removed from his Speaker position in a historic vote earlier this month. Donalds, who describes himself as a "Trump-supporting, liberty-loving, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Black man," has also been mentioned as a potential pick for a Trump vice-presidential candidate or for the role of Florida governor. Initially, 44-year-old Byron Donalds had not publicly disclosed his intention to run in the US House Speaker Election, citing the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the selection process. He expressed a desire to avoid mere publicity stunts or headline-grabbing maneuvers. READ MORE: Joe Biden Speech Addresses Israel and Ukraine War This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Who is Byron Donalds? Members are voting for him for House speaker - From USA TODAY In a deeply distressing incident, Dr. Justin Wendling, a 26-year-old gynecology resident, kidnapped and fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Michigan nursing student Gina Bryant, on October 13, according to FOX News. The grim events were captured on surveillance video, revealing the horrifying conclusion of their relationship. Bryant, who was a student at the University of Michigan-Flint, disappeared on October 12 when she left work for her lunch break and failed to return. Concerned co-workers received unusual text messages from her phone, prompting her boss to report her as missing. An ensuing investigation unveiled the harrowing circumstances of her disappearance. Michigan doctor Wendling, with whom Bryant had broken up two weeks earlier, was found to have been waiting for her at her home in Macomb, Michigan when she returned for lunch. Surveillance footage from a neighbor's security camera showed Wendling leading the Michigan nursing student to his car at 1:42 PM, likely employing a firearm and handcuffs, according to La Salle Police Chief Michael Smudzinski. Wendling and Bryant stopped at a truck stop on Civic Road in La Salle, Illinois, for gas. However, the pump appeared to malfunction, prompting Wendling to enter the store. It was there that Bryant attempted to flee, leading to a confrontation outside the convenience store. Tragically, Wendling shot her in the head near a row of fuel pumps in the presence of witnesses. READ NEXT: Michigan: Pregnant Woman Sues City Over False Arrest Michigan Doctor Called His Parents Before Killing Himself Following this heinous act, Wendling reportedly contacted his parents the next day, confessing to the murder of his ex-girlfriend and indicating his intention to take his own life. His parents promptly notified authorities about his location in LaSalle, his hometown, per the NY Post. Surveillance footage and witnesses at the truck stop in LaSalle confirmed that the suspect had killed the victim at approximately 12:00 AM on October 13. The Michigan doctor subsequently fled to Bettendorf, Iowa, where, as local officers approached his vehicle, he took his own life. Wendling's family has not issued a statement regarding the incident, while officials at the hospital where he worked as an obstetrics and gynecology resident expressed cooperation with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation. Family, Friends Remember the Michigan Nursing Student Gina Bryant's family revealed that she had been in a relationship with Wendling for about 11 months, during which they had lived together. However, Bryant moved out at the end of September, disclosing that she had been a victim of abuse, HuffPost noted. Bryant's mother and sister described her as a beautiful, compassionate, and caring individual who brightened the lives of those around her. Friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to her memory, recalling her warmth and welcoming nature. Gina Bryant was in her senior year, enrolled in the accelerated BSN program at the University of Michigan-Flint's School of Nursing. Cynthia McCurren, the Dean of the School of Nursing, acknowledged the profound impact of Bryant's loss on the community, describing her as an extraordinary young woman with a bright future ahead. READ MORE: Florida Man Found Guilty of Murdering Wife This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: TV6 Update: Identities Released In Fatal Shooting - From KWQC News BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The office of the Baku Initiative Group has opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Officials, including the head of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov, as well as local and foreign guests, have attended the event Abbasov briefed journalists on the tasks and goals of the group. The 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. A version of this post originally published in October 2016. It has since been updated. Charles J. Adams III has been a paranormal expert for 43 years. Since 1982, he has penned dozens of books about haunted places, including two volumes of Ghost Stories of the Lehigh Valley. With Halloween approaching, we figured it was a good time to revisit what the Berks County-based author previously shared with lehighvalleylive.com regarding some of his favorite haunted places in the Lehigh Valley -- and a few spots where the ghost stories dont hold up. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert speaks to the media in Hagerstown, Maryland, about the killing of Maryland circuit court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, Friday, Oct. 20. 2023.AP Photo/Jon Elswick 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. By LEA SKENE, MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and SARAH BRUMFIELD 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. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. In remarks Saturday challenging global and national strife and a war on higher education, new Centenary University President Dale Caldwell said he started his day with a decidedly local focus. Caldwell was inaugurated during an afternoon ceremony as the Hackettstown schools 15th president, and the first who is Black. But beforehand, he joined the Centenary University community in service initiatives at local nonprofits, including Hackettstown Clean, Trinity Church, First Presbyterian Church, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the Centenary University food pantry. Its been a wonderful day, he said during his inaugural address. If you know me, thats what matters is the difference you make. The university trustees choice as president arrived at Centenary in eastern Warren County in July. He succeeds Bruce Murphy, who retired with the end of his contract June 30. Murphy had announced his departure in September 2022, before tragically losing his wife in a hit-and-run crash in January in town. Caldwell, who was introduced Saturday by daughter Ashley in a keynote address, grew up in a family dedicated to racial and economic justice, according to Centenary. His father, a Methodist minister, marched with and personally knew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Caldwell followed his late father into the ministry serving as pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Most recently, he had chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he was also executive director of the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Centenary said. He has also served as deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and is a longtime member and current president of the New Brunswick Board of Education. He is a graduate of Princeton University and earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from Seton Hall University. Students who also helped introduce him Saturday called him an inspiration for participants in Centenarys ENACTUS (Entrepreneurial Action Us) program and in-house community consulting group that is available to help local businesses. I want you to imagine the heights we can reach with this incredible man as our president, said graduate student Jenna Glinko, who also earned her bachelors at Centenary. Board of Trustees Chairwoman Rochelle Makela-Goodman touched on Centenarys history, championed by the Methodist Church at its founding in 1867 and with a rich history of inclusion. It welcomed women from its founding, and admitted students of minority descent decades before most American institutions of higher education, she said. Now assistant vice president for gift planning at Oregon Health & Science University, she said shes come to appreciate what she called Centenarys transformative role in preparing individuals for productive lives, fulfilling careers, community service and leadership. Ive come to know we cannot take the gift of education and the gift of Centenary for granted, Makela-Goodman said. Caldwell presented higher education at a crossroads. The U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies. In a society consumed with celebrity culture, young people are being told they dont need a college education, Caldwell accused. He listed a litany of ills, from global wars to a domestic mental health crisis, that he said require intellectuals with a lifelong love of learning to combat. I truly believe that higher education is the last, best hope for addressing or bringing to light the major challenges facing the world, he said. In a statement ahead of Saturdays inauguration, Caldwell said: This is a pivotal moment for higher education leaders across the nation. Studies have demonstrated that adults with a college degree earn up to $1.5 million more during their lifetimes than high school graduates. At the same time, public confidence in the value of a college degree has fallen to historically low levels. Its a serious disconnect and its clear that higher education is at a crossroads requiring bold leadership. My presidency at Centenary will address these challenges head on and establish this University as a transformative national model that take students from economic challenge to intellectual brilliance. He announced an $8 million, two-year campaign at Centenary to make the case for college and ensure every family has a chance to send a student there regardless of financial circumstances. Caldwells goal is for Centenary to become one of the most innovative universities in the world, educating students from all walks of life, he said. He left the audience in the David and Carol Lackland Center on the universitys Hackettstown campus and those watching via live-stream with three attributes common to successful individuals: Emotional resilience, or being able to handle the challenges everyone will face; intellectual curiosity, so valuable now in a time of growing influence by Artificial Intelligence; and intercultural competence the need to work with people who are difference from you, to seek them out and to recognize theyre more interesting than those who are just like you. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A man has been sent forward to Portlaoise Circuit Court on charges of money laundering and drug possession. Adrian Rusan, 26, with an address at Parkview Apartments, Emo is accused of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at the M7 Togher and money laundering 780 on November 18 last year. He is accused of money laundering 1,270 and possession of cannabis for sale or supply at the Gatehouse, Emo on the same date. Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes served a book of evidence on the defendant at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP had consented to the accused being sent forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client had travelled back from Spain to meet the charges. He requested legal aid for a barrister in the case. Judge Andrew Cody granted legal aid to Mr Meagher and one counsel in the case. He sent the matter forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court beginning on October 24. A Laois woman was among the performers at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Irish in Britain' organisation in London last week. Minister for the Diaspora and the Irish abroad, Sean Fleming was in attendance. He met Irish emigrants, including people from Laois, when he visited the Lewisham Irish Community Centre in South East London. I met a large group of Irish people during my visit. It was lovely to meet Anna Healy, who emigrated to London from Mountmellick many years ago and is a very active member of the Irish community there, said Minister Fleming. It was great to speak with all of the Irish emigrants in the Centre. Many of the people told me they visit Ireland once or twice a year. Sadly, some others said that they rarely return home to Ireland. I attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Irish in Britain organisation. This is an umbrella group that supports a wide network of Irish organisations in the UK, he explained. At a reception in the Irish Embassy in London, I announced an Irish Government grant to 107 Irish community organisations that help Irish people all across England, Scotland and Wales in their communities. Pictured above: Sean Fleming with Lilly Kettle It was a great surprise to meet Lilly Kettle from The Swan/Wolfhill. Lilly is studying music in London. She performed some beautiful music for us at the function in the Embassy, said Minister Fleming. He emphasised how important it is for people in Ireland to keep up the connection with Irish emigrants abroad. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The fight against neocolonialism will continue, executive director of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov told reporters, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement is coming to an end. The Baku Initiative Group has already officially started its activities. The fight against neocolonialism will continue. We will cooperate in the fight against colonialism in different parts of the world," he added. An international conference, "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku on October 20. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica. 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. Ballinakill farmer Francie Gorman has lauded the County Laois farming community for its support during his ongoing campaign to become the next President of IFA. Speaking to The Leinster Express / Laios Live, the former Chair of Laois IFA and current South Leinster Regional Chair had high praise for IFA members and the wider farming community from every corner of the county that have travelled with him on his canvass of farmers across Ireland. Francie Gorman and his election opponent Martin Stapleton have been participating in a series of well-attended election debates throughout the country in recent weeks, including in Macroom, Carrick on Shannon, Goresbridge, Newmarket on Fergus, Mullingar, Athenry, Fermoy, Castlebar, Enniscorthy and Dungarvan. The series continues in Tullamore, on Tuesday, October 24 ahead of the final debates in Navan and Cootehill this week and in Letterkenny next Monday. Among the Laois IFA many members on the campaign trail have been Liam Delaney, John Joe Dunne, Maureen Ryan, Anne Maria Aird, Hugh Ryan, David Allen, Dan Allen, Henry Burns, Michael Knowles, Bernard Wheatley, Rory Doyle, Michelle and Michael Lalor. Others supporting him are Laois IFA Chair John Fitzpatrick, Noreen Cahill and Declan Hanrahan. I am hugely heartened by the support I have received from the local community in Laois in recent months, without which I would never have been able to launch and sustain an election campaign," said Mr Gorman. "It has become clear to me that the views of Laois farmers on the need for strong leadership of IFA are equally shared by farmers I am meeting the length and breadth of Ireland. I am also grateful for the significant support that I have received in IFA branches around the country. He was happy that he has connected with the younger generation. I am particularly heartened by the wonderful support I have received from younger farmers. A key weakness in Irish agriculture is the lack of involvement of young people in farming and IFA. I prioritised this issue in my four years as Laois IFA Chair through my support for the Young Farmer Development Groups and it will remain a key priority for me as President, he said. The need for an improved communications strategy by IFA has been at the forefront of recent debates, according to Mr Gorman. "Ireland should be immensely proud of the growth of its agriculture sector in the half-century since it entered the EU in 1973, he said. Irish farming has a very positive story to tell, but its not getting through. IFA must play a stronger role in promoting this message and in communicating matters of importance to its members in a more effective and timely manner than it is currently being done," he said. More below picture. Pictured: Laois IFA Chair John Fitzpatrick (centre) and fellow Laois IFA members Noreen Cahill and Declan Hanrahan. Mr Gorman spoke about the final push on the election trail. My priority over the remaining weeks of the campaign is to meet directly with as many IFA branches and individuals as possible in all four corners of the country. As I have learned throughout my career, nothing compensates for getting out and meeting farmers and hearing what they have to say about the current state of the agriculture sector and the issues that matter most to them. The primary issues remain farm income, late payments, CAP, the need for a properly funded aid package for tillage producers, supports for farmers in vulnerable sectors, nitrates, the environment, the requirement for enhanced supports to enable women to pursue careers in farming, and the need for improved communications within IFA, he said. Francie is a suckler beef and sheep farmer from Ballinakill in Laois and is married to Kay, with whom he has a son, Tom. Francie is the current South Leinster Regional Chair of the IFA. For the first time, IFA members will receive their ballot paper in the post which they can either return it by post or cast their ballot at their branch AGM. The Presidential Election Count takes place on Tuesday, December 12th. The Midlands leg of the hustings is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24 at the Tullamore Court Hotel. It is aimed at IFA members in Offaly, Kildare and Laois. Pakistani Film, Gunjal, Receives Praise at the Ganges Sur Seine Festival Screening in Paris Gunjal tells the story of Iqbal Masih, murdered 28 years ago in Pakistan Gunjal, directed by Shoaib Sultan for Adur Productions, was screened at the prestigious Ganges Sur Seine film festival in Paris on October 6th, 2023. Produced by Nighat Akbar Shah of Adur Productions, the film stars Ahmed Ali Akbar, Resham, Amna Ilyas, Syed Muhammad Ali, and Ahmed Ali Butt. The screening was well attended by international industry figures including festival director Chayan Sarkar. Renowned journalist Taha Siddiqui commented that the film "has a great message not only for the international audience but also the local Pakistani viewers." MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Gunjal, directed by Shoaib Sultan for Adur Productions, was screened at the prestigious Ganges Sur Seine film festival in Paris on October 6th, 2023. Produced by Nighat Akbar Shah of Adur Productions, the film stars Ahmed Ali Akbar, Resham, Amna Ilyas, Syed Muhammad Ali, and Ahmed Ali Butt. "Hearing from audience members like actress Sylvia, who said she was deeply moved by Gunjal's story, is tremendously rewarding as a producer. It validated our goal of using film to draw connections to important real-life issues like Child labor," shares Nighat Akbar Shah following the screening. "Hearing from audience members like actress Sylvia, who said she was deeply moved by Gunjal's story, is tremendously rewarding as a producer. It validated our goal of using film to draw connections to important real-life issues like Child labor," shares Nighat Akbar Shah following the experience of the screening. The screening was well attended by international industry figures including festival director Chayan Sarkar. Renowned journalist Taha Siddiqui commented that the film "has a great message not only for the international audience but also the local Pakistani viewers." After the screening, award-winning Egyptian director Hisham Abdel Khalik praised director Sultan's vision and craftsmanship. Festival director Sarkar highlighted Gunjal's powerful storytelling and ability to bring important social issues to light. Inspired by real events, Gunjal tells the true story of late child activist Iqbal Masih, played impressively by Syed Muhammad Ali, and his fight against forced child labor through the eyes of a journalist seeking justice for his murder. Of the title, Ms. Shah explained "The Urdu word 'Gunjal' translates to 'entangled', which can be carpet threads -- or the truth. I felt it was an apt depiction of the story." Filmed on location in the Punjab Region of Pakistan, it is spoken in Urdu, Punjabi, and English, with English subtitles. It features an original soundtrack with music by acclaimed Pakistani musicians Xarb, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Producer Nighat Akbar Shah says the screening success expands Gunjal's international reach and validates its mission to bring awareness of Iqbal Masih's story and ongoing fight against child labor worldwide. The team will continue pursuing festival cycles and distribution deals. The story of Iqbal Masih has been in her vision for some time, as she founded Adur Productions to champion social justice stories through filmmaking. Ms. Shah says "as a mother and as a human rights advocate, this story moved me deeply and begged to be told. Iqbal and his family deserve justice, even now. Sadly, child labor remains an international problem today - even in developed countries!" More about the Festival: https://filmfreeway.com/GangeSurSeine More about the Gunjal: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21315862 www.gunjalmovie.com www.AdurProductions.com Media Contact Laura Olson, TVGuestpert, 1 3105841504, [email protected], www.TVGuestpert.com SOURCE TVGuestpert 21 october 2023 at 16:41 News published onand distributed by: LIMERICK Dragons are hoping to shine a spotlight on the importance of early detection, support, and education in the fight against breast cancer this October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Limerick Dragons was formed in 2016 by a group of breast cancer survivors and their supporters. After much fundraising they bought their first dragon boat in 2017. They are based in Cleeves car park and can regularly be spotted paddling between Thomond Bridge and Shannon Bridge on their 40-foot dragon boat with up to 22 paddlers making their way on the River Shannon. This Thursday, October 26 at 8:30pm, the Limerick Dragons will host a fundraising table quiz at Bobby Byrne's Pub. Tickets can be purchased on the night and it's 40 for table of four. Limerick Dragons has gone from strength to strength in recent years. It has become a strong support network for people after cancer treatment although you do not have to be a cancer survivor to join. The group accept all adults, all genders, over 18 but priority for membership will always be given to breast cancer survivors as that is the core of the club. The table quiz promises to be filled with laughter, friendly competition, and the satisfaction of knowing that contributions go towards making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. For more information, see www.limerickdragons.ie THE OPTION to rent a bike for a full college term has now become available, thanks to a scheme launched by one Limerick university. University of Limerick (UL) President, Professor Kerstin Mey has introduced a fleet of 78 bikes to campus for students to rent for 30 a semester, which works out as 2.50 weekly. The aim of the new scheme, CycUL, is to encourage more students to use sustainable and active travel to and from the cycle-friendly, riverside campus. Two styles of bike will be available: Bimas Transporter Dutch-style bikes, which offer storage space and a Raleigh Pioneer, which is a traditional commuter-style bike. I hope that the CycUL scheme will improve both student access and mobility on campus, and offer a sense of freedom to explore the city and its surroundings, said UL President, Professor Kerstin Mey. This is another important step in our climate action plan, and our commitment to achieving a carbon neutral campus by 2030. I hope to see many of our students enjoying the benefits of the CycUL scheme over the coming weeks and months. ULs two campuses are connected by a 4.5km riverside cycleway that starts at Lock Quay Bridge in the city and ends at the UL Boat House, while extensions to the existing greenway will mean that students will in future be able to cycle as far as Killaloe on dedicated cycle paths. CycUL bikes are now available with a deposit of 50. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday hit out at Congress stating that the grand old party is aware that the vote they were searching for is not with them and hence they now want a caste census. Yadav has been severely critical of the Congress since the two parties failed to stitch an alliance for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. He also claimed that INDIA can't win against BJP if such confusion prevails. "It is the same Congress party that did not give the numbers of the caste census earlier. Now everyone knows that until and unless you don't have the support of the backward castes and tribes, you won't succeed," said Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking to the media in Hardoi. "It's a miracle that now the Congress party wants a caste census. Congress party is now aware that the vote they were searching for is not with them anymore," he added. INDIA can't win against BJP if He also stressed that alleged Congress betrayed them and if this confusion prevails, the INDIA alliance would never be able to defeat the BJP. "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 at the national level. If Congress continues to behave like this, then who will stand with them? If we will fight against the BJP with confusion in our minds, then we won't succeed," said Akhilesh Yadav. The Congress has been championing the caste census with an assurance that such a census would be carried out in states that the Congress forms the government. This follows the release of Caste Survey data by the Bihar government with figures that may have ramifications for the Lok Sabha polls next year, showing that Other Backward Castes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) together account for 63 per cent of the state's population. ALLIANCE More Information Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. According to an official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Tej, a cyclonic storm developing in the southwest Arabian Sea is not anticipated to affect Gujarat. As reported by PTI, the IMD had previously reported that a low-pressure area in the southeast and southwest Arabian Sea has progressed into a depression and is projected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 21. Following the naming conventions for cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region, this specific storm is set to be designated as 'Tej.' According to the IMD, the forecast suggests that this storm is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday and progress in the direction of the southern coastlines of Oman and the nearby regions of Yemen. Nevertheless, it's important to note that cyclones can occasionally alter their trajectory. Also Read: Cyclone Tej heads towards India, set to intensify by Sunday. Know where it will make landfall It is expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by the evening of October 22 and move towards the south Oman and Yemen coast," said Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad. "Since the cyclone would move towards west-northwest, it may not have any impact on Gujarat (which lies to the east). Weather in Gujarat will remain dry for the next seven days," she told PTI. Alok Kumar Pandey, the state's relief commissioner, has indicated that at the present moment, there is no immediate threat as the storm is currently on a trajectory towards Gujarat. Also Read: Cyclone Tej: Post-monsoon first signs of a cyclonic storm appear in Arabian Sea It's worth noting that in June, Cyclone Biparjoy, originating in the Arabian Sea, caused significant damage to Kutch and parts of Saurashtra in Gujarat. Initially, it was moving westward, but it later altered its course and made landfall in Kutch. According to the private forecasting agency Skymet Weather, the consensus among most weather models suggests that the storm is directed towards the coastal areas of Yemen and Oman. A cyclonic storm is defined by its maximum sustained wind speed, falling within the range of 62-88 kmph. On the other hand, when the maximum sustained wind speed reaches 89-117 kmph, it is classified as a severe cyclonic storm. Furthermore, the IMD has reported that a low-pressure area situated over the southwest and nearby southeast regions of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) is expected to gain strength and develop into a depression in the west-central BOB by approximately October 22. Rainfall is predicted over some parts of Tamil Nadu. Moderate thunderstorms over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram & Tiruvallur districts," said Tamil Nadu weather on X. (With inputs from PTI) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Union Minister Smriti Irani while addressing a gathering at a FICCI event discussing the Future Role of Women in India," made a significant statement, emphasizing that certain indices, like the Global Hunger Index, are intentionally skewed and do not accurately represent India's progress. A video of her speech has been circulating on social media, drawing attention to her remarks about these indices. Irani said, How do they build that index? 3000 people from a country of 140 crore get a phone call from Gallup and they are asked, 'Are you hungry'?" It is to be further noted that in the recently released Global Hunger Index-2023, India found itself ranked 111th out of 125 countries. Now trust me, I have left my house in Delhi in the morning at 4. I caught a flight at 5 to go to Kochi. I did a conclave there, and caught a flight at 5 o'clock to come to this programme. By the time I get to anything called food, it will be 10 o'clock. If you have called me anytime in the day today and asked are you hungry, I'll say 'Oh yes, I am'." The India-Canada crisis took a fresh turn on Friday as 41 diplomats were withdrawn from the country. Both Canada and the US have since called for New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations while the MEA insists that its actions had not gone against international laws. India asserted that its move was aimed at ensuring diplomatic parity and remained fully consistent with the international conventions. "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. What is the Vienna Convention? The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961. It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the development of friendly relations among nations. At present 193 countries are party to the document. What is Article 11.1 about? "India insists that its actions are consistent with the tenets set forth in Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This particular segment pertains to the size of international missions within other countries. 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 Vienna Convention postulates. What rules have the US and Canada warned India against flouting? Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly claimed on Thursday that India had formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities" for more than 40 diplomats in Delhi. "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 had said during a news conference in Ottawa. Meanwhile US Sttate department spokesperson Matthew Miller has urged India to uphold its international obligations including those pertaining to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canadas diplomatic mission". Under the Vienna Convention a diplomatic agent enjoys immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State. Such individuals are also provided with immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction with a few exceptions. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The Popular Front of India (PFI) has approached the Supreme Court challenging an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal confirming the five-year ban imposed on it by the Centre. The hearing in the case was scheduled for today before the bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, however, it got adjourned as the petitioner has circulated a letter for adjournment. PFI in its petition has challenged the March 21 order of the UAPA tribunal by which it had confirmed the September 27, 2022 decision of the Centre to ban the organisation for five years. 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. The Centre had declared as "unlawful association" the PFI and its associates, 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 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, the notification had stated. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification 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 notification claimed that 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. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The Baku Initiative Group will become a significant platform in our future work, secretary general of the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe Jean-Jacob Bicep told reporters, Trend reports. "We are happy and proud to be here. The Baku Initiative Group will be a significant platform for our future work. I thank Azerbaijan and the Baku Initiative Group. This is a very important moment for us. I think the Baku Initiative Group will support us in our future work," he said. An international conference, "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku on October 20. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica. 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. On the 15th day of the Israel-Hamas conflict, two American citizens who were previously held captive in Gaza were released by Hamas. Here are the top ten updates. 1. Hamas has released two American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter who were taken during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Friday. 2. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo on Friday. During these discussions, they reached a consensus on the importance of allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and minimizing civilian casualties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This meeting was part of Prime Minister Sunak's diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Also Read: Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates 3. US President Joe Biden has sought more than $105 billion from Congress as part of a package aimed at delivering security assistance to address the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, CNN reported. Biden said, The request will help mitigate the global humanitarian impacts of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and of Hamas' horrific attacks on Israel, including by extending humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza." 4. In a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of de-escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as reported by the Saudi state news agency SPA. Also Read: 'Hamas doesn't speak for Palestinian people,' UK PM Rishi Sunak meets President Abbas 5. During a visit to Egypt's crossing with the Gaza Strip on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a heartfelt plea for the movement of aid trucks into the blockaded enclave. This call came shortly after the US had raised optimism regarding a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the region, Reuters reported. 6. An official from the Foreign Ministry announced that the remains of four out of the ten Nepalese students, who tragically lost their lives during an unexpected strike by Hamas at an Israeli Kibbutz farm earlier this month, will be repatriated to Nepal on Sunday. The incident occurred on October 7, resulting in the deaths of ten Nepalese students. 7. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (RCS) issued an urgent plea on Friday, calling for the immediate evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital in northern Gaza to avert a devastating incident similar to what occurred at Al-Ahli Hospital. This report was covered by The Times of Israel. 8. On Friday, US President Joe Biden suggested that he believes the recent brutal attack by Hamas on Israel, which occurred two weeks ago, was intended to disrupt the warming relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Also Read: Pope Francis appeals for peace amid Israel-Hamas War; Calls for an end to humanitarian catastrophe 9. The White House clarified that Joe Biden did not catch a reporter's question regarding whether Israel should postpone a possible ground invasion of Gaza until more hostages could be evacuated. In his response, the President answered "yes." 10. According to the Palestinian health ministry, a minimum of 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives, and 13,000 have sustained injuries in Gaza. The United Nations has reported that over one million people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict, Reuters reported. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Three-time former Pakistan Prime Minister and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has arrived at the Dubai International Airport and is all set to leave for his home country in few hours. In a post on X, PML-N said, "Quaid PMLN, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif reaches Dubai airport to board the "Umeed-e-Pakistan" flight for his historic journey back to Pakistan. Daikho daikho kon aaya!!" As Nawaz Sharif arrived at the Dubai airport, he said, "Today I am going to Pakistan after 4 years and I am feeling very happy with the grace of Allah. It would be great if the situation in Pakistan was better today than it was in 2017." On board the special plane, workers of the PML-N cheered on the party supremo with slogans of "Nawaz Sharif for Prime Minister again." Earlier, Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had given permission to a special plane booked to carry PML-N supremo to land in the country upon its arrival, ARY News reported. The notification stated that the chartered plane would depart for Islamabad from Dubai and land at the Islamabad International Airport. After staying at the Islamabad airport for two hours, Sharif will depart for Lahore, ARY News reported on Saturday. Nawaz Sharif is set to return to Pakistan on Saturday after a four-year-long self-imposed exile in London. The PML-N party is preparing for a grand welcome for the former PM. Several party leaders and workers are converging in Lahore from all across Pakistan for the party's grand power show. It has also booked multiple special trains to ensure that its supporters are able to attend the Minar-e-Pakistan rally, Geo News reported. The last term of Nawaz -- who came to power riding on a triumphant victory in 2013 -- was scarred by upheavals. It started with the then-opposition-led months-long blockade of Islamabad and ended with his disqualification by the Supreme Court in 2017. The court ruling followed months of hearings in a case instigated by the "Panama Papers" leaks, related to alleged corruption during his previous two terms in office. Looking at the timeline of cases against Nawaz Sharif, on July 6, 2018, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail upon conviction in the Avenfield reference along with a fine of 8 million Euros (Pakistani Rupees 1.3 billion). The former PM was convicted in absentia as he was in London at that time to look after his ailing wife, as per Geo News. On July 13, Nawaz and his daughter Maryam Nawaz -- who is currently PML-N's Vice President and Chief Organiser -- were arrested upon their arrival in Lahore from London. After approaching the Islamabad High Court, the Sharifs got major relief as the IHC ordered the release of Nawaz, Maryam and Captain Muhammad Safdar while temporarily suspending the sentences awarded to them, Geo News reported. However, the relief was short-lived, as in December of the same year, after National Accountability Bureau (NAB) awarded Nawaz a seven-year jail term and a fine of PKR 1.5 billion in the Al-Azizia sugar mills reference. He was arrested from the courtroom after the accountability court judge announced the verdict in the graft case filed in light of the Supreme Court's 2016 Panamagate verdict. With the verdict came Nawaz's disqualification to hold any public office for a period of 10 years. In October 2019, Nawaz was diagnosed with an immune system disorder, while serving his sentence in the Al-Azizia case, after which the doctors advised him to go abroad for medical treatment. The former PM was able to obtain an interim bail in the sugar mills reference on medical grounds. After this, the Islamabad HC granted Nawaz an eight-week bail in the Al-Azizia case in view of his deteriorating health. In November 2019, the Lahore HC allowed Nawaz to travel abroad for four weeks and ordered the Imran Khan government to remove his name from the no-fly list without imposing any conditions, after the ex-PM assured the court of his return within the specified time in a court-approved undertaking, Geo News reported. The court also allowed Nawaz to leave the country for a period of four weeks, which was extendable on the basis of medical reports. On September 1, 2020, the Islamabad HC ordered the former PM to surrender and appear in court, saying that his bail had lapsed on February 27. The court also issued Nawaz's non-bailable arrest warrants over non-compliance of the orders. Nawaz Sharif was even declared a "proclaimed offender" in both cases for "deliberately" not returning to the country and appearing before the court, despite the notices, arrest warrants and advertisements, Geo News reported. But, in a major development in September this year, brother and then PM Shehbaz Sharif announced October 21 as the date of Nawaz's return to Pakistan. This came just in the run up to the electoral process for the next general elections followed by the dissolution of National Assembly. On October 6, a fresh medical report of the former premier was submitted to the Lahore HC, stating that Nawaz needs nonstop monitoring owing to residual cardiac disease symptoms. Finally, on October 19, Nawaz Sharif was granted protective bail in two graft cases, while an accountability court suspended his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case, removing all the legal hurdles for his smooth return to the country, Geo News reported. PREMIER More Information Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza for the first time since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas militants.- Egyptian officials said 20 trucks filled with medical supplies and some food crossed into Gaza on Saturday morning before Egypt closed the border again. Citizens of the U.S. and other foreign countries stuck in Gaza werent able to enter Egypt, the officials said. Humanitarian agencies warned that Saturdays aid deliveries fell far short of what is needed to sustain Gazas more than two million residents, about half of whom have been displaced from their homes amid sustained airstrikes by the Israeli military. The convoy that entered Gaza included four trucks from the World Health Organization, which the agency said carried trauma medicine and equipment to treat as many as 1,200 injured people, as well as medication for 1,500 patients with chronic illnesses. The WHO said it also provided basic essential medicine and health supplies for 300,000 people for three months. The supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs as hostilities continue to grow," the WHO said. Other trucks were filled with aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent and from Qatar. The initial aid arrived as leaders from the Middle East and other parts of the world held a summit in Cairo to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel have said they wouldnt participate in the summit. Hundreds of people with foreign passports waited on the Gaza side of the border Saturday, hoping that they would be able to leave. Wafa al-Saqqa, a retired American schoolteacher, said she received a call from a U.S. government official saying that it was unclear whether foreigners would be allowed to cross into Egypt, but urging her to stay close to the border. Egypt, which is worried about national security, has resisted pressure to host Palestinian refugees. In his opening speech at the summit, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi warned that forcing people out of Gaza would endanger Palestinians quest for their own state. I want to reaffirm to the world, in clear and unambiguous terms, and in a sincere expression of the will of all Egyptian people, one by one, that the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, without a just solution, will not happen," Sisi said. In any case, it will not happen at the expense of Egypt, ever." Hamas on Friday released two U.S. citizens held hostage in the Gaza Strip. The release was the first time Hamasa militant group that the U.S. and the European Union consider a terrorist organizationset free any of the roughly 200 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 raid in Israel. Hamas fighters killed more than 1,400 Israelis, and citizens of more than 40 countries were killed or went missing during the attacks, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Gazas Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, says that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since Oct. 7 and more than 13,000 injured. About 1.4 million Gaza residents have been displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations. Israel identified the hostages freed Friday as Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie, who had been visiting family in Nahal Oz, a kibbutz, at the time of the attack. The women are from Evanston, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. Qatar helped broker their release. A spokesman for the countrys foreign ministry, Majid al Ansari, said Qatar would continue dialogue with Israel and Hamas in the hope of securing the release of more hostages. Washington and European governments have been putting pressure on Israel to hold off on a planned ground invasion of Gaza to allow more time to win the release of hostages held by Hamas, U.S. and foreign officials said. Several countries have been trying to leverage their contacts with Hamas to press the group to release the captives. One U.S. official had said that Qatars government had been very helpful" on the matter, but noted the difficulties of reaching an agreement given Israels continued bombardment of Gaza and the spiraling humanitarian crisis there. Families of the hostages also have been pressuring Israels government to strike a deal with Hamas, while U.S. officials say Qatar has warned the militant group it will cut off aid it sends to the strip if any civilians kidnapped during the Oct. 7 assault are harmed. Egyptian officials said the government in Cairo asked Israel on Friday to increase the number of aid trucks to 50 a day, but the proposal was rejected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office declined to comment. A spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry didnt respond to requests for comment. Gaza remained in a full electricity blackout for a 10th day on Saturday, according to the U.N. Without electricity, taps in the south of the enclave, where Israel said it was allowing water to enter again, still cant work. The U.N. warned there was a risk of infectious disease as people drink unsafe water. At least 30% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged so far, said the U.N., citing figures from Gazas housing ministry. Anas Baba and Menna Farouk contributed to this article. Write to Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com and Chao Deng at chao.deng@wsj.com Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo on Friday. UK PM further noted the need for aid to be allowed into Gaza and for Hamas and Israel to avoid civilian casualties in their conflict. Also Read: Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates 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, as reported by Reuters. 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," tweeted Rishi Sunak. "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." Also Read: Israel asks ground troops to get organised, be ready to enter Gaza Sunak's agenda also included a visit to Jerusalem on Thursday to express his solidarity with Israel and to engage in negotiations aimed at securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. Subsequently, he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, where he encouraged bin Salman to utilize Saudi Arabia's leadership role in the region to promote 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. "(The leaders) condemned Hamas' terrorism and stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. The Prime Minister underscored his commitment to opening up humanitarian access to Gaza," the statement added. (With inputs from Reuters) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. As war raged in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, the Indian embassy in Israel met a few community representatives and assured them of all possible assistance. Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and condoled the death of civilians at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. PM Modi reiterated Indias long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue". Also read: Israel-Hamas War: US issues 'security alert' for citizens in Gaza ahead of Rafah border crossing opening Besides, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the international community must combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Under Operation Ajay, around 1,200 Indian nationals including 18 Nepali nationals have been brought back from Israel and more flights will be planned if the situation demands. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said that the government is assessing the situation in Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Also read: GSFC, GNFC to FACT: How Israel-Hamas war is fueling fertilizer stocks in India explained Operation Ajay is an ongoing operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens from Israel amid war. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, the Indian embassy issued an advisory and requested the Indian citizens living in Israel to be cautious and to register their names in the Indian embassy. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Political scientist and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer cautioned that the ongoing war has the potential to escalate into a broader and significantly more destructive Middle East conflict should Iran become directly embroiled in the situation, NDTV reported. "It is quite possible that Hezbollah which is much more militarily capable and supported by Iran could get directly involved in the fighting," he told NDTV. Also Read: Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates Bremmer said that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza is at risk of further deterioration as additional fronts open up. A ground war is going to happen. It is a bad idea for many reasons. It will kill enormous number of Palestinian civilians, it will be done in short order or without aid for the Palestinians to evacuate. It will lead to backlash around the world," he said. Meanwhile, Leaders and high-ranking officials from both the Middle East and Europe will convene in Cairo on Saturday with the primary objective of ensuring the unhindered flow of aid supplies into Gaza and averting the expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict into a broader regional confrontation. As per a report by Bloomberg, the Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed that it carried out missile strikes on multiple locations within Israel, as stated by the militant group through its Al Manar TV. In response, the Israeli military confirmed approximately 20 missile launches into Israel from Lebanon and the firing of several anti-tank missiles at military posts along the border. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and Israel responded with artillery fire. Also Read: Day 15 Israel-Hamas War: 2 American hostages released from grip of Hamas after secret talk. Top 10 updates The United States has deployed two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean as a deterrent, specifically aimed at Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, both of which are allies of Hamas. Additionally, France has issued a direct warning to Hezbollah, advising them against getting involved. On Friday, Israel issued an evacuation order for the northern town of Kiryat Shmona, affecting approximately 25,000 residents. This directive followed an incident in which debris from a rocket that had been intercepted fell onto a school playground in the town on Wednesday, as reported by resident Lianne Abutbul to AFP. In response to Hamas's October 7th attack, Israel has initiated a continuous barrage of the Gaza Strip, prompting the call-up of an unprecedented 360,000 reservists. Regrettably, the assault has led to a significant loss of life, with an estimated 1,400 casualties, primarily civilians. Also Read: How Israel-Hamas war fuel border sectarian rivalries in the Middle East? According to the Palestinian health ministry, a minimum of 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives, and 13,000 have sustained injuries in Gaza. The United Nations has reported that over one million people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. United States and Britain are concerned over the escalating tension between India and Canada and has urged New Delhi not to insist Justin Trudeau government to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. This comes after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats on Thursday amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. "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. The White House and London backed Canada and stated that they are taking allegations seriously and urged India to cooperate with Canada in the murder probe The dispute from the two countries follows a September 18 announcement by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of murdering a prominent Sikh activist in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada alleges India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India denies involvement, accusing Canada of harboring separatists and taking diplomatic steps to protest the accusation. Analysts say U.S. and the UK do not want to damage ties with India, but Friday's statements from both the countries were more direct. "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. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said, "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." And added 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." (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. THE SCENES looped on news channels all night: ambulances, bodies, an explosion lighting the night sky. Hamas blamed Israel for the blast at Gazas al-Ahli hospital on October 17th. The Gaza health ministry said hundreds of people were killed. Israel later denied that it was carrying out air strikes in the area; the explosion, it said, was caused by a misfired rocket launched by Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza . By the time Israel issued its denial, though, details had ceased to matter. The catastrophe had sparked protests in the West Bank and Jordan, and as far away as Tunisia. That was the maelstrom into which Joe Biden flew when he arrived in Israel on October 18th for a quick visit. - It is hard to generalise about the Arab world", a collection of 450m people spread across thousands of kilometres and nearly two dozen countries. But it is safe to say that most Arabs still sympathise with the Palestinian cause. Their dispossession remains a totemic political issue across the Middle East, able to mobilise popular anger and protest like little else. The war between Israel and Hamas, now in its 12th day, has been no different. Covered around the clock on television, discussed endlessly on social media, it has sparked an outpouring of support for Palestinians. Still, compared with past conflicts, like the 50-day war in Gaza in 2014, a few things look different. One is geopolitics. Since 2020 four Arab statesBahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)have established relations with Israel, which previously had ties with just two (Egypt and Jordan). Saudi Arabia has been in talks to do the same. That has changed the way some Arab media outlets cover the conflict. Al Jazeera, the Qatari broadcaster, has given ample time to Hamas, which is supported by Qatar. Meanwhile, channels run by Saudi Arabia and the UAE have tried to walk a tightrope. Though they cover scenes of devastation in Gaza, they do not book Hamas officials for interviews (Arabic-speaking Israeli Jews are frequent guests, though). There have been heated debates in newsrooms over language: where once they might have used the phrase jaish al-ihtilal (occupation army"), for example, today they just refer to it as the Israeli army. A second difference is fear of a broader conflict. The 2014 war was limited to the holy land. It may not stay there this timeand that has complicated the discussion, at least in those countries close to Israel. Take Egypt. America and several Arab countries are urging it to open Rafah, the sole border crossing with Gaza not controlled by Israel, to allow civilians to escape the fighting. But a broad swath of Egyptian society is adamant that their country should resist such pressure. Why did you impose this war on me?" asked Ibrahim Eissa, a pro-government talk-show host, in a message directed at Hamas. You want me to risk 100m Egyptians for your sake?" Other pundits have made similar remarks. One could dismiss them as mere mouthpieces for the regimebut their words have been widely echoed by the public. The discourse is similar in Lebanon, which is four years into one of the worst economic crises in modern history. Many Lebanese are worried that Hizbullah, the powerful Shia militia and political party, will open a second front against Israel, thus dragging their country into another ruinous war like the one in 2006. Dont enter us into this hell," wrote Dima Sadek, a well-known journalist who is both deeply supportive of the Palestinians and deeply critical of Hizbullah. That points to a third shift: the region is more polarised today. Many Syrians, in particular, are appalled by the scenes in Gaza, where Israels siege warfare reminds them of the tactics deployed by Bashar al-Assad. But they are simultaneously loth to cheer for Hamas, a group backed by Iran, which did so much to destroy their country. And they fume at commentators across the Arab world who abhor Israeli atrocities but cheered Mr Assads. In Lebanon, too, some people are focused on the wider politics: whatever their views of Israel, they hope Iran (and thus Hizbullah) will emerge weakened. In off-the-record conversations over the past 12 days, some Arab officials have spoken about Hamas and Gaza in the sort of language one would expect to hear from right-wing Israelis. They harbour no sympathy for an Islamist group backed by Iran. But they dare not repeat such remarks in public. The disconnect between palace and public helps explain why Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, received a frosty reception on his recent round of shuttle diplomacy. First it was Muhammad bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, who kept Mr Blinken and his entourage waiting hours for a planned Saturday-night meeting (the prince did not receive them until the next morning). It is not unusual for Prince Muhammad, a night owl with an erratic schedule, to leave guests to cool their heels. That he did it to such a high-profile visitor, though, was seen as a pointed message. Then, after landing in Cairo, Mr Blinken was subjected to an unusual public lecture by Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian president, who lamented the plight of the Palestinians. Mr Biden will not even receive that chilly welcome. He had been scheduled to fly to Jordan after Israel, where he was to meet King Abdullah; Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president; and Mr Sisi. But Mr Abbas backed out shortly after the hospital blast, and then Jordan announced that the whole summit was off. Whatever Mr Biden had hoped to say to Arab leaders, they are in no mood to hear it. Yet behind the public posturing lies deep unease. Since October 7th many analysts have drawn parallels with the Yom Kippur war, the last time Israel experienced such a calamitous intelligence failure. But there is also a profound contrast with that moment. In 1973 Arab states were able to launch a war that seemed, to Israel, an existential threat. Historians have argued ever since about whether that was true. But it felt that way at the timeenough so that Moshe Dayan, the defence minister, is said to have mooted the use of nuclear weapons. Half a century later, Israel was dragged to war by a militant group, and the region now faces the prospect of a broader conflict waged by other non-state actors supported by non-Arab Iran. As for Arab states, they are nervous onlookers. Najib Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, was blunt about the possibility of war in Lebanon: These decisions are not in my hands," he told al-Jadeed, a local television network. The leaders of Egypt and Jordan fear fallout from the war will destabilise their own brittle regimes. Gulf states are nervous about antagonising Iran, lest its proxies lash out at Riyadh or Abu Dhabi. This is not an existential moment for Israelbut some Arab rulers fear it might be for them. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Meta, Google and Amazon have decided to pull out of Web Summit, Europe's biggest technology conference, after CEO Paddy Cosgrave criticized Israel's actions following the terror attacks by Hamas. The tech giants have joined a long list of companies and venture capitalists who have decided to pull out of the Web Summit following the controversial remarks by Cosgrave. The Irish entrepreneur had criticized Israel's air strikes on the Gaza strip in retaliation for the October 7 attacks perpetrated by Hamas. In a post on X Cosgrave had said, Im shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & 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. " The Web Summit is scheduled to be held in Lisbon from November 13-16, hosting around 2,300 startups and more than 70,000 people at the mega event. A group of Israeli investors issued a joint statement calling for a boycott of the event, reported Bloomberg. Garry Tan, a prominent Silicon Valley figure kicked off the boycott with many major names in the industry joining soon afterwards. The list of companies and individuals backing out of the Web Summit has only grown since then with names like Intel, Siemens. US comedian Amy Poehler and X-files actor Gillian Anderson. Apology over Israel remarks: In a blogpost on Tuesday, Cosgrave had issued an apology over his Israel remarks. He wrote, "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." Cosgrave added. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. We have been cooperating with Azerbaijan's Baku Initiative Group for several months, Luc Carole, head of the Martinique Freedom Party, told reporters, Trend reports. "Our goal is to put an end to French colonialism. In addition, we have projects related to Azerbaijan. Our goal is to take steps in our struggle by uniting with other countries. Our friends in Azerbaijan are helping us with this work. It gives us strength," he said. An international conference, "Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku on October 20. The conference was attended by representatives of 14 countries, French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe), as well as Corsica. 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 21. The EU is committed to promoting lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, U.S.-EU Summit Joint Statement says, Trend reports. "We remain committed to advancing a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity," the statement reads. Earlier, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, announced that Brussels has invited leaders of both Azerbaijan and Armenia to participate in a trilateral meeting before the end of the month. A U.S. district judge in New Mexico has unsealed a plea agreement for one of the key defendants in a federal terrorism and kidnapping case that stemmed from the search for a toddler who went missing from Georgia in 2017 WHAT THE TECH? How to check for sex offenders before you child knocks on doors Halloween night A man who has failed to engage with the Probation Service will have matters concluded when he comes before Longford District Court's next sitting. Shane Nevin (34) of 67 McKeon Park, Longford faces a total of 15 charges stemming from incidents on eight different dates. Shane will promise the sun the moon and the stars, but he won't show up for court, Sgt Enda Daly told the presiding judge, adding, He is not involved in serious crime on any level, but he has a very laissez-faire attitude to turning up to court. Sgt Daly said Mr Nevin had accrued up to 20 bench warrants in the last number of years. The defendant's solicitor, John Quinn, explained that the root of his client's failure to show was not disrespect: He is indifferent to most things. Judge Shalom Binchy asked if alcohol was an issue in the matter, Mr Quinn said it was more to do with a lack of comprehension. The charges against Mr Nevin include failing to keep a court appointment on June 21, 2022, the theft of a wallet on March 4, 2022, public intoxication and failing to comply with the directions of a Garda on August 2, 2021. Charges from August 12, 2019 at Market Square, Longford are failing to comply with the direction of a Garda, public intoxication and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. On January 9, 2021 the defendant was accused of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Main Street, Longford. A charge from March 31, 2021 is that Mr Nevin is accused of damaging the ice cream cone display at The Kiosk, Dublin Street, Longford. The defendant is also charged with failing to keep a court appointment on February 8, 2022, threatening and abusive behaviour and assault at Boyle Sports, Market Square, Longford on March 2, 2022, failing to comply with Garda directions and public intoxication on Dublin Street, Longford on May 4, 2022. The final charge faced by Mr Nevin is that on January 16, 2020 the theft of 811 in cash. Sgt Daly asked to remand the defendant in custody until the matter is dealt with. Judge Binchy said she would remand Mr Nevin on bail, but stressed to him the repercussions of failing to show up on time for his next court appointment. The defendant will return before court on October 17. A mother of four convicted of drink driving was banned from the road for three years at Longford District Court. Lima Akrimiene (37) of 11 The Willows, Clonbalt Woods, Longford faced a charge that on June 25, 2023 at Longford Shopping Centre, Townspark she drove a mechanically propelled vehicle with an excess amount of alcohol in her system. Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, outlined details of the offence. Sgt Daly said that at 1:20am on the date of the incident officers in a patrol car observed a motor car travelling at high speed on the Battery Road. The vehicle crossed over the white line as it drove down the road. The patrol vehicle followed the car and indicated for it to stop at Longford Shopping Centre. When they spoke to the driver, Ms Akrimiene, there was a strong smell of alcohol. The defendant failed a road side test and was brought to Longford Garda station. An Evidenzer test returned a reading of 74mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client is 12 years living in Ireland and has never come to Garda attention before this incident. Ms Mimnagh said her client, a mother of four, was going through a particularly stressful time when the offence occurred. The legal representative explained that the defendant's landlord was selling the house in which she lived, and she was on the verge of becoming homeless. The solicitor said Ms Akrimiene accepted her guilt and entered an early plea. The court was told the defendant works part time. Ms Mimnagh asked Judge Shalom Binchy to consider deferring the imposition of the mandatory ban until February to afford her client an opportunity to get her affairs in order. Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Binchy disqualified the defendant for three years and imposed a fine of 300 with six months to pay. The driving ban comes into force on February 1, 2024. As the war in Israel rages, an ongoing struggle to control the narrative of the conflict is unfolding between Hamas and the Jewish state. This propaganda battle is not novel, as it has long been observed to coexist with the kinetic action between Israel and the Palestinian armed groups, dating back to at least 2014. Drawing from its prior clashes with Israel, Hamas has gained vital insights on how to effectively counter Israel. Despite being at a military disadvantage in nearly every area, Hamas has developed unconventional methods to attack Israel, including a powerful propaganda system to garner global backing for its objectives. For example, on Tuesday, Hamas employed extensive propaganda tactics as reports emerged of an alleged Israeli airstrike targeting the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. One of the earliest pieces of evidence demonstrating the dissemination of disinformation appeared when a member of the Hamas-operated health ministry was quoted by al-Jazeera a fervent advocate of Hamas and Islamic Jihad alleging that five hundred individuals at a hospital had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Subsequently, this information rapidly proliferated across various social media platforms, including mainstream news web sites. The news spurred the Israeli military to deny the accusation and declassify intelligence demonstrating that it did not strike the hospital and that it was an errant rocket fired by Islamic Jihad. Allied countries like the United States and France publicly supported Israels assertion that it was not responsible for the blast. Another point of significance is that rockets launched by Palestinian armed groups are unreliable and often times strike the civilian population in Gaza. Last year, video evidence surfaced that rockets fired by terrorist organizations were falling short and hitting civilian infrastructure. Although the explosion at the hospital was probably caused by a misdirected rocket, and the casualties initially reported were inflated, the damage had already been done to Israels image on the international stage. Another example of Hamas propaganda emerged during the first days of the war when its spokesperson, Abu Obeida, threatened that Hamas would begin executing hostages if Israeli airstrikes did not cease. Since the statement, Israel has continued striking military infrastructure, and Hamas has not made any more public threats about the hostages. Lastly, Hamas disseminated a recording showing a seemingly injured Israeli hostage receiving medical care. The video was an attempt to show that Hamas cared for the prisoners. Still, in reality, Hamas was trying to restore its image after much of the brutality and kidnappings by the group were published online. Hamas has implemented various propaganda techniques throughout previous wars, including during times of general calm. Specific methods have effectively dispelled inaccurate information, primarily because of mainstream medias limited comprehension of the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Given the propensity of journalists to at times conduct insufficient research when reporting events during war because of the urgency to provide speedy information on social media platforms, Hamas will undoubtedly attempt to continue exploiting these vulnerabilities. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Use of the new toll road Baku-Guba-Russian Federation state border will be carried out through special chip cards, chairman of the Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads Saleh Mammadov briefed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the works done, Trend reports. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in an opening of the new Baku-Guba- Russian Federation state border toll road. According to Mammadov, since the toll road tariffs have been set recently, their integration into the payment system is currently underway. After the integration is completed, the payment system software will be tested. Upon completion of the tests, the road will be opened for public use. The above work is planned to be completed within a short period of time. It was brought to attention that the construction of this road was carried out in 5 sections under the control of the State Road Agency of Azerbaijan. About 40 overpasses and bridges, 52 underpasses have been built, and 6 toll collection and weight control points, over 2,000 traffic signs and information boards have been installed along the road. The charging will be carried out by cards, which can be bought at the road entrance and exit, and later in other locations. Mammadov noted that it is planned that the card will have two types. Thus, drivers who use the road regularly will receive a permanent card, while those who use the road from time to time will receive a temporary or disposable card. The toll road system will allow drivers to use regular and non-stop lanes. A driver entering the regular lane, after purchasing a toll card at toll booths, applies the card to the windshield of the car, and is then authorized to use the toll road. The non-stop lane allows drivers to drive through toll booths without slowing down or stopping. In order to do this, the driver only needs to have a special chip card purchased in advance and a sufficient balance on the toll card. Special license plate reading cameras, security cameras, vehicle classification equipment and other innovative technological solutions are used on these lanes. In order to ensure weight control and road endurance, electronic weighing systems have been installed at all points. Automatic payments or mobile payments by means of QR codes will also be possible in the future. A sample of the card was presented to President Ilham Aliyev. 21-Oct-23 Attorneys for a group of Chinese investors still awaiting the return of $27.5 million they had lent to a pair of real estate developers who had sought to build a still-born 60-story high-rise on Chicagos Near North Side are demanding the failed developers be held in contempt of federal court orders. Filing on behalf of the Chinese investors, attorney Glen J. Dunn, Jr. presented significant evidence the developers, Jeffrey Laytin and Jason Ding, continue to own revenue-producing assets and continue to move money around among their corporate entities. Defendants and their counsel are evasive and non-responsive regarding assets in long and protracted citation proceedings, particularly where a history of obfuscatory, dilatory, and false statements to the court have already occurred, wrote Dunn (left) in his federal court filing on September 19. The investors had originally lent the pair their money through the federal EB-5 visa program. Foreigners participate in this program by making a significant financial investment in projects based in the United States. The investments mean they are fast-tracked toward permanent U.S. resident status, commonly referred to as obtaining a Green Card. One year after a financial backer in the Middle East turned out to be a mirage, Laytin and Ding told the court they had found yet another investor, Corban Capital Partners (CCP). That company has a rudimentary website that bears resemblance to not only the website of Symmetry Property Development, the company owned by Laytin and Ding, but also to their phantom Middle Eastern investor. Corban Capital Partners is a division of Corban Financial Group, LLC, which has provided investment banking and financial advisory services to clients since 1996, according to information posted on CCPs corporate website. Corban, or Korban, is a Hebrew word meaning the dedication of a gift or sacrifice to God. It is our goal to be dedicated to the core of what that means: integrity, professionalism, responsibility to our stakeholders, and an awareness of our relationships in the hands of an almighty creator, Lord, and God. Similar to what they had done previously, Laytin and Dings attorney told the court the loan will allow them to pay off their debts and move forward on a new proposal to build a high-rise adjacent to the original site near Superior Street & Wabash Avenue in River North. Dunn asked the court, on behalf of his clients, to hold Laytin and Ding accountable, along with their attorney, Daniel Hildebrand, and associate Peter Shirk. [The] plaintiffs pray this honorable court enter an order requiring Shirk, Laytin, Ding, and Hildebrand to appear, in person, before this court, to provide a rule to show cause as to why they should not be held in contempt for violating the orders of this court, wrote Dunn. Eighty-nine investors are out, collectively, $50 million Eight years ago, the investors had lent their money to build a 60-story high-rise on the Near North Side. The City of Chicago rejected that plan. Subsequently, the properties were incorporated into Chicagos Near North Multiple Property Landmark District. Each investor lent $550,000 to fund construction of what would have been known as Carillon Tower. A total of 89 Chinese real estate investors lent Laytin and Ding a total of $50 million. For most of those participating in EB-5 projects, their investment is a substantial portion of their lifes savings and were they to stay in China, that country does not have a social security program. Assets owned by Laytin and Ding include ReEnergize USA, LLC, which owns land and a warehouse in northern Indiana and generates monthly rental income for its property owners. It makes consistent monthly distributions to the TD Bank account of Symmetry Property Development II LLC, which then sends the money to defendants Laytin and Ding in the name of Dings father. Ding is the sole beneficiary and controller of his [Chinese-based] fathers account, wrote attorney Doug Litowitz (right), who along with Dunn represents the Chinese investors, in an earlier filing. At one time, Laytin and Ding also owned significant parcels of property in Chicago and Hawaii. While some of these have been lost to foreclosure, during recent depositions, Laytin and Ding insisted they still hold interests in properties in those locations. Plaintiffs cannot find any law or fact that vests the defendants with any right to any real estate in Chicago or Hawaii. Regardless, [Laytin and Ding] insisted in their depositions that they [still] hold real estate interests in these parcels, and that the equity exceeds their debt. If this is true, then the land does have some value, wrote Litowitz in March. Laytin and Ding had paid a $600,000 fee to a third-party loan facilitator for services that were never rendered. Should that fee be returned to Laytin and Ding, as ordered, Litowitz added his clients are entitled to that money. The defendants had told this court that they paid over $600,000 to facilitate the Middle East loan, which the Special Master found to be a fraud, wrote Litowitz in a March filing, referring to the court-appointed official assigned in 2022 to investigate the location of the unreturned funds. As the victims of fraud (and/or broken contracts), the defendants have a claim against the person whom they paid but did not perform. The claims against such third persons must be assigned to the plaintiffs. During his deposition, Ding revealed he lives in an office, earns no income, and only has $700 in liquid assets. Everything he owns, all his leases, cars, and other assets are held in the name of his father [an electrical engineer based in China] pursuant to a supposed power of attorney. Dings income and property statement show his residence as 1925 North Fairfield Avenue [in Chicago], but title in that two-flat is held in the name of Dings mother, Zhiling Pang, added Litowitz. For more than two years, Laytin and Ding have told Senior U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras (left) and U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim of the Northern District of Illinois they need more time to return the money lent to them by the Chinese investors. In March, Litowitz questioned a filing by Hildebrand, the attorney representing Laytin and Ding. Defendants are in no position to ask for delays in collection given the history of this case. To recall, the defendants defaulted on their promise to pay the $27 million class settlement agreement due on May 7, 2021; they defaulted on their promise to pay the $1.65 million in penalties under the class settlement agreement by January 13, 2023; they defaulted on payment of their consent judgment of $27.5 million; they delayed this court for a year with stories of a fabricated loan from the Middle East and delayed paying the Special Master until Magistrate Kim threatened sanctions; and they currently owe $200,000 to each of the plaintiffs lawyers, Dunn and Litowitz, wrote Litowitz. Repayment plan quickly stalled After having been ordered to do so in September 2022, Laytin and Ding appeared to have begun the court-ordered process of paying back their investors. However, by November 2022, Laytin and Ding failed to make a court-ordered payment of $100,000 to their investors. That payment was supposed to have been the first of three consecutive monthly payments of $100,000 each. On November 10, 2022, arguably using yet another stall tactic, the pair sent $20,000 into an incorrect bank account. Because they had paid a portion of the amount due, the defendants were therefore granted an automatic ten-day grace period to pay the remaining $80,000 balance of that scheduled payment. Once they failed to make that payment, the plaintiffs resumed their citation to discover the defendants assets. Laytin and Ding owe the remaining sum of $27 million, as well as any additional charges that have since accumulated. While the failed tower would have been built by Laytins New York-based Symmetry, the Chinese investors had lent their money to Laytin and Ding as individuals. Upon receipt of their investors money, both had signed documents stating they would be held personally responsible, not the corporation. If built, the tower would have replaced a series of historic 19th century rowhouses at 43-46 East Superior Street that in 2020 were included in a landmark district. The Near North Side Multiple Property Landmark District includes a total of 15 residential buildings, all built shortly after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The district includes a noncontiguous group of single-family homes, rowhouses, and apartment buildings that represent the early redevelopment of the Near North Side. Previous story: Failed River North developers delay return of $27.5M to Chinese investors BEIRUT The project actually started with my grandmother, Batoul Faour says. I had no idea this place existed. I was driving past one day and all you can see now is this metal cone peeking from the ruins left by the air strikes. I asked my grandmother, What is that? Oh, she said, those are the underground rooms we used to play in as kids. Theyre so dark, youd go in and get lost. There was a whole maze, and wed try and find our way out the other end. When I went to visit the site for the first time, I found kids playing there, the ones featured in [my] film, and something came full circle in my mind. I started digging into the history. Faour is recalling how she stumbled into The Bunker, The Barracks, and The Base, her mixed-media exhibition now up at Mina Image Centre in Beirut. Her Lebanon debut, the show is concerned with the titular structures she encountered in Khiam. Overlooking the border with Palestine, the southern village has witnessed plenty of history. Architecture, history, contemporary art The Bunker, The Barracks, and The Base fixes its gaze on a moment from Britains imperial presence in the region. The artifacts Faour found in the Marjayoun-Khiam valley were built as part of the so-called Merdjayoun Scheme Londons plan to defend its interests in the neighborhood. In the early 1940s, Nazi-allied Vichy administered Frances mandates in Syria-Lebanon. Worried that German forces would attack mandatory Palestine and British-occupied Egypt, imperial forces (Australians, Indians, British, some Free French) invaded Syrian-Lebanon in 1941. The Merdjayoun Scheme dates from 1942 though Vichy forces had been defeated by the summer of 1941, after which Free French forces ran Syria-Lebanon. The centerpiece of Faours show is an untitled 18-minute, three-channel video installation. Shot in the manner of an essay film, it documents the lingering traces of its titular structures while the characters voiceover, in-frame commentary and Faours inter-title narration sketch the ruins origins and changing roles in this turfs conflict-laden history. Children once again play at the bunker that had been a hospital. What remains of the barracks are nowadays a museum. Erected for a planned airstrip, the stone foundations of an unfinished aircraft hangar adorn rich agricultural land and pasture. Supporting the video installation are three series of mixed-media images, juxtaposing contemporary and historic representations of the architectural relics and their surrounding landscape. One series centers on contemporary landscape photos showing villages that sustained heavy bombing during the 34-day Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006, with digital distortion signifying structural damage. The photos horizon lines are superimposed upon those of visibility diagrams landscape sketches of these locations, rendered from the same perspective by British army draftsmen in 1942. Another series is based on architectural drafts of the facilitys three sites, with the sketches lines thinner to signify which parts of the structures were destroyed in 2006. The drafts are superimposed over the diary entries of Khiam resident Ibrahim Basbous, a customs officer who facilitated the sites construction. Basbous writes about the British looting of artifacts from the mountains around Khiam and Marjayoun, Faour says. They knew what they were looking for. He explains that they came with a map of the areas significant historical sites. They sealed off these sites, so other people couldnt enter, and came out with jugs and vases and whatnot. The largest of Faours framed pieces is a collage based on a map of the Merdjayoun Scheme, sketching the network of survey stations, surveillance posts and gun emplacements British army engineers were meant to install in the Khiam-Marjayoun region. Highlighting the facilities three components, the map is superimposed upon a contemporary satellite image of the region. Accompanying the collage is a series of photos showing rows of massive stone cubes, further traces of the Scheme, installed to hinder the progress of fascist tanks. Contemporary wreckage Faour is an architectural researcher, writer and filmmaker, with degrees from the American University of Beirut and the University of Toronto. Today she works between Beirut and Toronto. The work in her Mina show is not her first to muse over wrecked architecture. She started on her UofT MA thesis project while Beirut, buckling beneath economic collapse and COVID lockdown, was grappling with the aftermath of the Aug. 4, 2020 port blast. I was looking at the impossibility of the situation and the heaviness of the research, she recalls. I didn't know what design could do here, [so] I told my thesis advisor I just want to tell the story. Writing and filming in parallel fed into each other. I was writing and I shot a bunch of footage. Then I wrote some more and then I went out and filmed some more. Faours thesis has since been adapted to essay form and published online as Glass Politics: On Broken Windows in Beirut, a reflection on the place of glass in Lebanons culture and political economy, which went on to win the prestigious Avery Review Essay Prize. Her footage, and strands of the essay text, became her first short film Shafafiyyah. There was a sort of power for me in image-making, she says, that I wanted to explore further. Modern ruins, other wars Disused architecture has fed some significant contemporary art in Lebanon. While antique Greco-Roman remains dotting the eastern Mediterranean landscape were important to Orientalist art and the regions early photography, derelict 20th-century architecture has been more provocative to current sensibilities perhaps because it speaks to living memory and the incongruities of recent history. Vestiges of modernism remain compelling. The unfinished structures Oscar Niemeyer designed for the Tripoli International Fairground and the Dome, the corn kernel-shaped fragment of Beiruts pre-Civil War city center complex, have both hosted contemporary art exhibitions and sometimes been made part of the art itself. Some years ago, artist Rayyane Tabet created a diverse assortment of pieces inspired by the residues of TAPLine, the company managing an oil infrastructure network that formerly brought Saudi crude to its terminus in Zahrani, which still stands. Faours project is interested in the afterlives of Khiams WWII-era architecture. Khiam has been a point of reference for Lebanese cultural production because Israels occupation regime (1982-2000) retooled the British barracks as a Lebanese-operated detention center, where infamy accrued over the years. It was because of this prison, in fact, that many non-Lebanese knew of Khiams existence. It inspired Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige to make their film Khiam, based on interviews with some of its former detainees a work they updated in 2007, after the Israeli military destroyed much of the facilitys remains during the 2006 war. Khiams most famous survivor, Suha Bishara, has inspired any number of theater and film works. These earlier works serve as studies of carceral brutality, what it suggests about the human condition and how political movements can instrumentalize institutional abuse. Faours study reintegrates the former barracks within its original architectural ensemble, and a wider history. My work deals with the political entanglements of architecture and how you can read politics and history through space in a way that you can't through [official accounts] especially obstructed history that is not necessarily written or recorded somewhere. You have to look at the experience of the spaces, the stories around them, in order to uncover that. Her project grows out of the experience of studying Lebanese history after returning to the country at the age of 11. In the history books, you're taught that we gained our independence in 1943, and thats it, she smiles. I was interested in how to dig into that history, and how to have more nuanced conversations around it, engaging multiple people from different backgrounds. The pocket of history that the project taps into is not something a lot of people are aware of, she adds. I feel like the barracks site would be a place many people would know about, but Ive mentioned it to a lot of Lebanese people, who grew up here, and they'd be like, I've never heard of it. She laughs. Its kind of crazy. If the barracks afterlife is the most infamous of the ensemble, that of the hospital bunker is the most ironic. It was built under an olive grove, with very minimal visibility from above, Faour says. Based on the photos I've seen, what was left of it after it was abandoned was just skylights with holes in the ground, overwhelmed by the landscape above. Khiam municipality renovated the bunker into a museum between 2004 and 2005. After that, it was no longer invisible. They wanted to turn it into a fairground where people could gather. They installed huge interlocking pavements and seating areas and fountains. The museum had a cafeteria, a library, office spaces. It only operated for a few months, I think. The cone-shaped feature Faour had first noticed while driving with her gran, vaguely resembling an elaborate ventilation duct, is actually an art installation by one of her AUB instructors, called The Scarecrow. I don't remember the exact intentions of work, she says, but it somehow wanted to scare off Israeli warplanes, which was very ironic ... [since the bunker] had become like a bullseye from above. If Im not wrong, Khiam was bombed over 200 times in 2006. Some people say there was talk that maybe [the museum] was being used as a weapons bunker. But the Israelis didn't really need an excuse. The Bunker, The Barracks, and The Base is up at Mina Image Centre through Oct. 25. Faour will stage a lecture performance at Mina Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Nuclear Power - America is Finally righting its 100-year Wrong Herb Kelleher was a chain-smoking attorney who often consumed 100 cigarettes a day. He founded Southwest Airlines (LUV) in the late 60s. His mission: Disrupt air travel by launching Americas first low-cost airline in Texas. But his competitors tried to stop Southwest from ever getting off the ground. They filed nonsense lawsuits that bogged Herb down in court for four and a half years and drained $500,000 in investor money.Herb argued the case all the way to the Texas Supreme Court and won!Then, just two days before Southwests first flight, competitors sued again.So Herb pulled an all-nighter and found a loophole he presented in court the next morning winning yet again.Talk about grit and determination! This is the kind of founder I want to invest in. As I write, LUV is up 14,944%+ over the past four decades.Now, lets get after it The worst American decision of the last 100 years finally reversed! There are several game-changing investment trends in motion right now: AI robo-doctors self-driving taxis cruising around US cities and photorealistic metaverse avatars , to name a few. Americas first ever reopening of a nuclear power plant (Palisades in Michigan) trumps them all in the short term. Yes, Im serious. The single worst decision America made in the last 100 years was turning its back on nuclear energy. When most people hear the word nuclear, they see Homer Simpson nodding off in the control room. Its unfortunate a whole generation of environmentalists believed cartoons instead of checking the facts. Because nuclear is indisputably the cleanest AND safest energy source in the world , as these charts show: Embracing nuclear would be like a magic healing balm for the economy. Itd slash the cost of heating your home, powering every business, and fueling every electric car. Well, better late than never. Because were in the early innings of a nuclear renaissance. Not only did we get the first-ever plant restart. Americas first new nuclear unit in over 30 years is now up and running in Georgia. Clean, cheap, abundant energy is the precursor to achieving that Jetsons sci-fi future weve all been waiting for. This renaissance will cause demand for the fuel powering nuclear plantsuraniumto spike. In fact, uranium prices are breaking out to 15-year highs as I type. Ive been recommending the Exxon Mobil of uranium, Cameco (CCJ), to my readers since 2018. Its tripled since then, and theres plenty of juice left. Warren Buffetts favorite EV stock is about to pass Tesla (TSLA) This investing rule has served me well: If I hear something once, I remember it. If I hear it twice, I write it down. Hear it a third time, I do something about it... Ive recently talked with three people across three continents about BYD (BYDDY). BYD (Build Your Dreams) is Chinas version of Tesla. Last quarter, it sold nearly as many electric vehicles as Tesla! China is now the worlds largest seller of cars, thanks to BYD. When BYD launched in Ireland a few months ago, it sold 10,000 cars within 24 hours. Theyre so popular because you can buy one for $10K to $20K less than a Tesla. You hear about Tesla relentlessly slashing prices lately? Its doing it to keep up with BYD. Unfortunately, BYD is Chinese. As great as this company looks, we cant fully trust its accounting. But two things have me convinced BYD isnt cooking the books. 1) Im seeing its cars everywhere, in multiple countries, and 2) Warren Buffett has owned the stock for 15 years! Buffett bought shares in 2008before BYD IPOdand still owns roughly 8% of the $90 billion company. If BYD was up to financial shenanigans, I think the old man would have found out by now. BYD has a real shot at being one of the worlds 10 largest companies by 2030. Were watching it closely. This might be the only Chinese stock you should own. Work from home stocks like Peloton (PTON) and Zoom (ZM) are garbage, but Theres a big debate going on about the pros and cons of working from home. For me, there is no debate: Remote work, works. Unless youre some goof-off who needs a boss shouting in your ear, you get far more done working from home (WFH). The average commute pre-COVID was 54 minutes. Americans are saving over 60 million commute hours per day with remote work. Per day! WFH is like a time machine that gives us thousands of hours of life back. We can all get a lot more done, which generates more wealth. Im confident the WFH revolution will lead to something HUGE. Possibly an economic boom unlike anything in our lifetimes. WFH stocks like Peloton and Zoom are garbage. I never owned them. The implications here are much bigger. Ever hear the old quote: It was easy to predict mass car ownership but hard to predict Walmart? It was obvious American car ownership was going to explode in the 1950s. But the real money was made investing in the domino effects. Like the rise of Walmart (WMT). Walmart pounced on the opportunity to put its supercenter stores on the outskirts where land and rent were cheaper. This allowed it to undercut competitors with its everyday low prices. Walmart is one of the most successful businesses ever, and its stock has appreciated over 11,000% in the past 40 years. I guarantee the Walmart of WFH is out there Todays dose of optimism Having recently watched horrific footage from , its hard to be optimistic. I cant imagine the pain of my homemy personal sanctuarybeing destroyed. Or seeing my children go hungry. Or worse yet, them being taken from me. Would I still be so optimistic in the face of such unfathomable loss? I doubt it. But its worth remembering this: In our parents lifetimes, thousands of men were slaughtering each other in trenches. From 1946 to 1950 even after WWII had ended around half a million people died in wars each year. Today, its one-tenth of that. Thats still 50,000 too many. But the reality is, this is the most peaceful time in human history. It could be, and has been, far worse. Stephen McBride Chief Analyst, RiskHedge To get more ideas like this sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to sign up for The RiskHedge Report , a free investment letter focused on profiting from disruption. Expect smart insights and analysis on the latest breakthrough technologies, the big stories the mainstream media isn't reporting on, and much more... including actionable recommendations. Click here to sign up. 2023 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. A report of a man waving a girl to his car and then chasing after her while she was on her way to a bus stop in Boston on Friday is under investigation, police said. Officers responded to the report of the girl walking to the bus stop near Bryon Road in the West Roxbury neighborhood of the city Friday morning when the unknown man waved her over to his car in the area of Broadlawn Park. When the girl refused, the man allegedly began to chase after her, according to a statement from the Boston Police Department. The girl was able to safely get away. Officers searched the area but were not able to find the man, the departments statement said. Read more: 4 hospitalized in Yarmouth after pickup truck crashes into TD Bank The man was described as older, bald, wearing unknown clothing and driving a gray SUV or Minivan, according to the statement. The department is reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, the statement noted. Anyone with information is strongly urged to call detectives at (617) 343-4566. Community members who wish to help the investigation anonymously can do so by calling the Crime Stoppers tip line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner, the statement said. Hundreds of fans braved the elements to meet part of the cast of the movie Hocus Pocus during a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in Salem. It was everything 15-year-old Hailey Berentsen told MassLive Saturday, who traveled from Long Island and waited about five hours in line to meet the cast. I cant describe it. Actors Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, Thora Birch and Jason Marsden signed autographs and took pictures with fans of the classic Halloween movie on Oct. 21. The meet-and-greet attracted more than 250 people, according to the event organizer, Its Just a Buncha Halloween. It was a dream come true. Walking out, I had tears, said Brittany Rhodes, who was visiting Salem for the first time from Tennessee. The stars just aligned. Its absolutely magical and Im so happy that Thora, Omri and Vinessa started doing conventions with Jason because every time they all get together its like kids in a candy store, Marsdens partner, Remy Dee, said. Its so much fun to watch them. Theyre so easy-going, so much fun. And I dont think any of them had any clue 30 years ago when they made this little witch movie that it would turn into the cult classic that it is today. Dee remembers being scared out of her wits when she first saw the movie in theaters. She was also always attracted to witches and used to dress up as one for Halloween. Dee said the magic of the film ultimately makes people want to be a part of it even more. Theres something timeless about it, Dee continued. The comedy is timeless, the relationships are timeless, and I feel that part of it resonates. Its just a good story. This is the first time that Shaw and Birch have been to Salem since shooting Hocus Pocus, according to Dee. The cast plans on visiting some of the filming locations Sunday. A giant sign that used to announce Eastfield Mall happenings now gives nostalgic shoppers a glimpse of whats to come, after a giant banner was placed on both sides announcing leasing availability and a rendering of what Springfield Crossing could be. The sign located at the former Springfield malls Boston Road entrance closest to where JCPenney used to be now features a prominent logo for Springfield Crossing, the name of the new development that will take over the mall property, which closed in July and is still undergoing demolition. It at one point was referred to as Eastfield Commons. The sign, hung earlier this week, says the new development is coming summer 2025, offering up to 360,000 sf available and encourages prospective tenants to contact Onyx Partners and Atlantic Retail to inquire about leasing options. Although only a rendering, the sign features a prominent image of what Springfield Crossing could look like. A sign announcing when Springfield Crossing at the former Eastfield Mall property on Boston Road in Springfield is expected to open also provides leasing information.Nicole Simmons/MassLive If looking at the property from Boston Road, the sign suggests a stretch of several connected, smaller stores to the left, with woods behind it stretching to the back of the property. Another strip of stores runs perpendicular to that, along Fernbank Road, featuring what appears to be bigger retail space. A map of the property on Atlantic Retails leasing page more specifically suggests two stores there. A few stores turn around the other corner headed back toward Boston Road, with what appears to be a gas station and convenience store near the street. A couple of free-standing buildings flanks either side of the entrance closer to the street. No store names are offered yet but an April press release on the citys website said the development will be a state-of-the-art central mixed-use commercial and retail hub encompassing the 46-acre site. The development will include a nationally recognized anchor and other well-known national brand tenants who will be announced at a later date as the development project advances. 37 1 / 37 Eastfield Mall closing; a look inside Sebastian Restrepo Brian Kaplan, vice-president of development for Onyx Partners, told the Republican in April, We cant announce all the tenants yet, but in the media recently, youve seen Old Navy, Chick-Fil-A and a number of others ... We hope to announce some more in the future as well. A Burlington clothing store and a PetSmart have also been floated as possible tenants. After years of decline at the mall, Onyx Partners Limited purchased the 56-year-old center in March for $4.5 million and set into motion plans for the $65 million to $85 million redevelopment of the site, the Republican reported. The development of Springfield Crossing is going to bring a vibrancy to the area with new opportunities for the community with retail and commercial growth, Anton Melchionda, founder of Onyx Partners Ltd and Amherst, Massachusetts, native, said in April. This property will be a showcase for our City and central hub for the area. The Eastfield Mall was built in 1967 as the Pioneer Valleys first enclosed mall. It also offered a suburban location for Springfields beloved Steigers and Forbes & Wallace department stores. STATEMENT OF SP ZUBIRI ON THE LATEST CHINESE AGGRESSION VS PCG, AFP AT WPS I am one with peace-loving Filipinos in strongly condemning this latest abhorrent actions of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia that put in danger the lives of our brave countrymen who were on a routine resupply mission to our troops in Ayungin Shoal. Let me salute our personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for displaying courage and restraint in continuing their resupply missions despite the hostile and treacherous acts of China Coast Guard and their maritime militia. I also call on China Coast Guard to respect human lives and abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws governing safe maritime travel. Our freedom of navigation in our own exclusive economic zone within our own continental shelf should be recognized and upheld. I reiterate my support for the efforts of my colleagues to increase the budget for the PCG and AFP to better capacitate them in safeguarding our exclusive economic zones from illegal foreign intrusions. As leader of the Senate, I will make sure that our troops will get sufficient funds under the 2024 national budget to bankroll the much-needed upgrade of their equipment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. In preparation for the impending "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - 2023" combined tactical exercises, Azerbaijani and Turkish special operations forces (SOFs) are demonstrating exceptional expertise, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend. During the most recent trainings, the SOF units were placed on alert and carried out numerous missions-related tasks, utilizing the terrain's protective features and camouflage techniques. Overcoming any hurdles that may arise on the battlefield, the party carried out the planned surprise raid on the position of the simulated opponent. They took down command stations, communication links, and neutralized simulated enemy personnel. The trainings for the joint tactical exercises continues. The 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 involving servicemen, military vehicles, and aircraft from the two fraternal countries will be focused on ensuring combat interoperability during troop interaction, improving management, exchanging experience, and further increasing military personnel's professionalism. Its been two years since Sally, a nursing home resident at The Arbors in Westfield, passed away and therapy dog Luna, the English cocker spaniel with the long beautiful lashes, still runs to her room every time she visits. And Sallys no longer there, and we start crying because she still remembers. She wants to see Sally who just loved and adored [the therapy dogs], said Talin Ganemian, The Arbors reflections director. The resident was one of many who benefitted from Love on a Leash, a nationwide therapy pet program with a chapter in Western Massachusetts. But 5-year-old Luna and her siblings, Gabby, 3, and Gia, 4, havent been making their usual rounds. Luna has been missing since Sept. 11, after the three dogs ran off in Chester and only two came home. Luna is a black and white spaniel with black ears and markings around her eyes, long dark eyelashes and a big black spot on her back. Her owners keep her furry white head tufts cleanly brushed, and freckles dot her paws and face. On Sept. 11, Lunas owner was taking her dogs out of her car at her home on Bromley Road in Chester, when she fell in the driveway and lost hold of their leashes. The dogs took off down the street, she said, and Gia came to a stop at a neighbors house. But Gabby and Luna kept running, leashes, collars and all. Owner Assunta Susie Criscio, 66, is the Western Massachusetts chapter co-leader of Love on a Leash, and has her dogs trained as volunteer animals through the program. Luna (bottom right) with other "Love on a Leash" therapy dogs. Photo by Assunta Criscio She brings them to comfort people in scheduled visits to The Arbors, three other nursing homes, a Holyoke mental health clinic, St. Marys Parish School, Westfield State University and other Massachusetts and Connecticut schools and summer camps. Immediately, Criscio and her friend, roommate and former police chief Judy Jackson, 79, set out to search the streets on their own but the dogs had vanished, Criscio said. They reported the animals as missing to law enforcement, and put up posters in a 10-mile radius of the home. Bromley Road is in a heavily forested area of Chester, a tiny town of around 1,500 people just less than an hour outside Springfield. People searched the woods with ATVs and drones, hunters checked trail cameras and friends covered every street in town. There were four to five people looking at all times from dawn to dusk, Criscio said. Gia sat on the back of the couch from morning til night, just looking out the window at the driveway, Jackson said, but there was no sign of Gabby or Luna until five days later, when Jackson got a call. Gabby turned up on the main road, about 2 miles away from home with her collar and leash still on. Luna and Judy Jackson's dog, Mindy. Photo by Assunta Criscio She was sitting right there beside [the neighbor] when we got there to pick her up, Jackson said, recalling how happy the reunion was. Read more: Animal Rescue League needs information on emaciated dog in suspected cruelty case But in Lunas absence, Criscio said her little family is not doing too well Gabby refuses to go outside without Criscio at all, and Gia cant go to any of their regularly scheduled therapy sessions because she screams when shes left alone; a new behavior since her return. Theyre not for my therapy... well, maybe they are, Criscio laughed half-heartedly. An owner of English spaniels for years, shed gotten Luna first from her trusted breeder in New Hampshire. And then, its easier with two, Criscio said, explaining how she went to Indiana for Gia next. Finally, it was back to New Hampshire to get Gabby, and the trio was complete. Its just amazing what a visit with a dog can do ... even at the university level, very often you hear [the students] say, I miss my dog. Im so glad youre here, or I really needed you today, Criscio and Jackson said. Its good for the dogs, its good for the people we visit. Its also good for us, Jackson added. And that goodness is spread throughout the community. Luna on a boat. Photo by Assunta Criscio When the residents at The Arbors know Love on a Leash is coming to visit, they spend the day baking cookies and arranging bandanas in excitement especially for Luna. We are just so heartbroken. The residents are missing her, said Ganemian. Luna has a lot of impact on everyone because of her beautiful lashes; I mean, this is the dementia community, and the first thing they notice is how pretty her lashes are, and they start saying, Wont you wish you had lashes like that? Ganemian said. They cradle her; she makes this cute cry noise for attention ... and everyone would stop, and then shes got the cutest eyes and is bobbing her lashes [at them]. Shes very special to us and we miss her; we need her to come back home, the director said. Dog cookies at The Arbors in preparation for "Love on a Leash." Photo by Talin Ganemian The English spaniels also give children a safe space to learn how to read without judgement, Criscio said. The dogs sit with the children as they read aloud with a Love on a Leash volunteer, whos there for reading support if they need it. I think the children were able to help Luna with her training of being a service dog and being around a lot of people; theres a lot of children coming and going, said Jennifer Van Heynigen, third-grade teacher at St. Marys. Its more suited for building their confidence ... if they get stuck on a word, the person theyre sitting with can help and they dont have to worry about feeling embarrassed because of the dogs, the teacher said. When their books get more challenging, they love telling the dog, OK, we have a harder book, a chapter book. [The dogs] presence is just so comforting and makes the kids so happy; they become more confident and then theyre better readers all around, Van Heynigen added. Assunta "Susie" Criscio and Luna reading with a child at St. Mary's in Westfield. Photo by Jennifer Van Heynigen Criscio and Jackson do feel, however, there was something a little off about Gabbys sudden return in perfect condition. After five days, shes not even hungry, Criscio said. Gabby was also completely clean If she had been in the woods, she would have been stuck with branches or twigs, especially with her cocker ears, Jackson said. Her collar wasnt dirty; itd rained for two days and the leash was barely damp, and there was not one spot on it, Criscio added. The circumstances have led the pet owners to think someone could have picked the dogs up from the road, though that has not been confirmed by law enforcement. Criscio added Gabby is a handful and hard to manage, and is not yet fully trained with the therapy program. The women are hopeful if Luna is still with a person, she will be brought to a groomers or vets office because shes microchipped. Criscio is not looking to blame or accuse, and is even offering a monetary reward anything for Luna to come home. To report information about the missing dog, call Criscio at 413-977-9214. A Massachusetts man is mourning the deaths of two of his relatives who were taken hostage by Hamas during the Palestinian militant groups terrorist attack on Israel earlier this month, news outlets reported. Jason Greenberg, of Needham, said his great-aunt, 80-year-old Carmela Dan, and his cousin, 12-year-old Noya, were taken hostage by Hamas during its massive terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and subsequently killed by the militant group, according to NECN. Greenberg learned Israeli troops found his loved ones bodies in Gaza, he told WCVB. Dan and Noya were among more than 200 people in Israel who were taken hostage by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7 attack. The assault took the lives of more than 1,300 people in the nation. Read more: Medway family still trapped in Gaza despite Rafah border crossing opening into Egypt Three of Greenbergs other family members were also taken hostage by Hamas, including his 11-year-old cousin, Erez Kalderon, and he fears for their safety, he told NECN. At least 210 people continue to be held captive by the militant group, The Associated Press reported, citing the Israeli government. Greenberg said he believes he knows why Hamas killed Dan and Noya. Dan had Alzheimers and medical issues with her heart, while Noya had autism. His two loved ones were slowing down Hamas, and Hamas just shot them like dogs, he told WCVB. Carmella wouldve turned 80 on Tuesday, and she had a heart condition. She walks slowly. Noya is on the autism spectrum. When she gets upset, she screams and stays in place, so they were slowing down Hamas, he told NECN. They killed them, like dead weight, without a care. Greenberg said he been talking with the U.S. Department of State to try to locate his other three family members who continue to be held hostage by Hamas. However, he is doubtful they will be released soon. Were working every avenue right now to secure their freedom as well as every other hostage, Greenberg told WCVB. Unfortunately, it isnt very optimistic. On Friday, President Joe Biden announced two Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack were released. The United States government is continuing to work in partnership with the governments of Israel and Qatar to free U.S. citizens who are being held captive. 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 about the two Americans who were recently released. 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. In the weeks after Hamass attack on Oct. 7, the humanitarian crisis in the region has worsened significantly, with Israel responding to the terrorist assault with ongoing airstrikes that have killed at least 3,785 Palestinians and wounded 12,493 more, Reuters reported, citing the health ministry in Gaza. Many fear a looming Israeli ground invasion may result in even more losses of life. Under pressure from foreign governments, Israel opened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Saturday, letting in limited humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory, including a convoy of 20 trucks of supplies. However, aid groups working in Gaza are criticizing the assistance as insufficient, as 2.3 million Palestinians in the territory ration food food and drink dirty water and hospitals run low on medical supplies and emergency fuel, according to The Associated Press. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as unhindered and sustained humanitarian access in Gaza. Guterres has also called for the full respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and a concerted effort by the international community to avoid a wider regional spill-over of the conflict, according to a statement from Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the secretary-general. A Medway family remains trapped in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes continue despite multiple alerts from the United States government about the opening of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son, Yousef Okal, were visiting family in Gaza when Hamas launched its large-scale terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7. They have since been trapped in the Palestinian territory due to the ongoing blockade set up by the Israeli government, but they have continued to receive messages from the U.S. Department of State, alerting them that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, according to Sammy Nabulsi of Boston, a friend of the family who has been regularly reaching out to federal officials and representatives and has maintained daily communications with the family. However, for the fourth time in less than two weeks, the State Department has indicated to the Okal family the Rafah crossing would open, only for not a single U.S. citizen to be permitted to make the journey across the border, Nabulsi told MassLive Saturday morning. Read more: Medway family trapped in Gaza runs out of drinking water This family and, Im sure, the other hundreds of American citizens in Rafah right now feel completely abandoned by their government. We are barreling towards a grave national tragedy, and the White House and the State Department do not seem to care, Nabulsi said via text message. A security alert from the U.S. federal government was sent out as recently as Saturday morning, indicating the crossing into Egypt would open Saturday at 10 a.m. local Gaza time. The Okal family received the alert along with messages from the State Department officer assigned to them, providing further details about the border opening and telling them they would receive a call from the department in Washington, D.C., according to Nabulsi. At 9:52 a.m. in Gaza, the officer messaged Okal, We are ten minutes away, I hope youre there. Please let me know as soon as you make it across, Nabulsi detailed. The family received a call with the same information as well. Okal arrived at the crossing before 10 a.m. local Gaza time, but as of 2:30 p.m., the family and no other U.S. citizen had been able to make the journey across the border into Egypt, according to Nabulsi. This level of miscommunication and the pumping out of misinformation by the State Department is so dangerous in these circumstances, especially given that airstrikes and shelling in the area have intensified according to a message I received from Abood this morning, Nabulsi said. Nabulsi added he has been asking his contacts in the White House and State Department as well as certain elected officials offices for days now whether a demand can be made of Israel to establish a safe zone or protection area over Rafah and surrounding areas. However, he said he has yet to receive a response. Since Hamass terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed. More than 200 people were also abducted by Hamas in its initial assault. Many, including the United Nations, called on Israel to let in humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has a population of roughly 2.3 million Palestinians. The Israeli government previously stated nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all the people it has taken hostage, The Associated Press reported. After releasing two American hostages, Hamas is still holding at least 210 people captive, the Israeli government said. It was announced Saturday, the Rafah crossing would open to let in direly needed humanitarian aid. However, the convoy only includes 20 trucks of supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the United Nations. Aid workers in Gaza have said the convoy is not enough to address the humanitarian crisis in the territory, according to The Associated Press. The situation for the Okal family remains dire as well. They have run out of drinking water, and they are terrified as Israeli airstrikes have come close to where they have been taking shelter. The United Nations welcomed Saturdays announcement about the aid convoy entering Gaza, though the humanitarian situation in the territory has reached catastrophic levels, according to a statement from Martin Griffiths, the under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and the emergency relief coordinator at the U.N. Two weeks since the start of hostilities, the humanitarian situation in Gaza already precarious has reached catastrophic levels. It is critical that aid reaches people in need wherever they are across Gaza, and at the right scale, Griffiths said. The people of Gaza have endured decades of suffering. The international community cannot continue to fail them. RAFAH, Gaza Strip The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount that aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days. Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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. Read more: Medway family trapped in Gaza runs out of drinking water The opening came 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 Hamas released all of the captives from its attack, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, 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 Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory. Guterres meanwhile gave voice to growing international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel two weeks ago can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The opening came hours after Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first of captives to be freed after the militant groups Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. It was not immediately clear if there was any connection between the two. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 captives. Hamas released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday for what it said were humanitarian reasons in an agreement with Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation that has often served as a Mideast mediator. The two 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, when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting at least 210 others. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border. Israel issued a travel warning on Saturday, ordering its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza have erupted across the region. An Israeli ground assault would 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. Palestinian militants have continued to launch rockets at Israel more than 6,900 since Oct. 7, according to the military. Trucks with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip enter from Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.(AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion earlier this week. The ministry says another 1,400 are believed to have been buried under rubble, alive or dead. The Hamas-run Housing Ministry said at least 30% of all homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged in the war. That figure does not include the destruction of entire neighborhoods, which the U.N. refugee agency now describes as inaccessible mounds of rubble. Hosting a summit on Saturday, Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which last broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. King Abdullah II of Jordan told the summit that Israels air campaign and siege of Gaza was a war crime and slammed the international communitys response. Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned, he said. Apparently, he added, human rights have boundaries. They stop at borders, they stop at races, they stop at religions. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and some appear to be going back to the north because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south. An Associated Press reporter on the Palestinian side of Rafah saw the 20 trucks heading north to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave. The trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the U.N.s children agency enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organization said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah on Saturday were carrying medical supplies, including essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders. The World Food Program said it has another 930 metric tons of emergency food waiting to be brought in through Rafah. It said it needs to replenish its rapidly diminishing supplies as it expands food assistance from 520,000 people to 1.1 million in the next two months. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press journalists Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. Another community in Massachusetts is seeing an infestation of the dreaded spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that was introduced to the United States less than 10 years ago and is known for attacking plants and trees. Officials in Wellesley received word this week from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) of the confirmed infestation of the spotted lanternfly near the Carisbrooke Reservation, according to a statement from the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission. The commission is asking residents to watch for and report any sightings of the invasive insect. The spotted lanternfly was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in 2014 and has spread by hitchhiking on vehicles, nursery stock, sheds and other outdoor equipment, the commissions statement detailed. Although the insect attacks a common invasive tree species in Wellesley called the tree of heaven, it also threatens grapes, hops and other agricultural commodities as well as native maples and other trees. The insect does not bite or sting, but it swarms in large numbers and leaves behind sticky honeydew. Read more: Invasive spotted lanternfly identified in Holyoke This year, infestations of the spotted lanternfly have cropped up in Agawam, Holyoke, Southborough and Weston. Infestations that began in 2021 or 2022 in Fitchburg, Shrewsbury, Springfield and Worcester are still present, according to the MDAR Invasive Pest Dashboard, an online map that shows which pests are active in the state. There have also been individual sightings of the invasive species in numerous other communities in the state. However, the reports of the spotted lanternfly in those cities and towns have not reached the threshold of an infestation, the MDAR Invasive Pest Dashboard details. The commission recommends residents become familiar with the species, report any sightings and check their property for the insect and its favorite host plants, trees of heaven and grapevines. Consider setting up traps, hiring someone to treat for the pest or determining whether removing a tree of heaven on your property is possible. Read more: Worcester is home to the largest lanternfly infestation in Massachusetts Massachusetts residents can use this guide as a reference for how to deal with the spotted lanternfly. More than 250 former staffers from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warrens 2020 presidential campaign have signed a letter urging the congresswoman to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The letter was first reported by Politico. You must demand an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and the return of Israeli hostages, and take concrete steps to end Israeli occupation, the letter, which was posted on Medium late Thursday night, read. A child is killed every 15 minutes in Gaza if you continue to be silent, you are complicit in this genocide. The former staffers which include media strategists, field organizers and directors are also calling on Warren to demand both Hamas and Israel release all hostages. As of Friday, Hamas has released two American hostages that have been held in Gaza, the Associated Press reported. Additionally, the group is calling on the congresswoman to condemn Israeli violations of international law and call for an independent investigation of human rights violations in Gaza. We spent months, some of us years, fighting for you because we believed you shared our dream for the world to be a place in which every human being can live in dignity, the letter continues. Your lack of moral clarity in the face of the genocide of Palestinians is a direct contradiction of the values your campaign stood for. One of your last calls to action for us at the end of your presidential campaign was to always choose to fight righteous fights. The letter is another example of the growing pressure Warren is facing from fellow progressives who are demanding she call for an immediate ceasefire. Nearly 30 members of IfNotNow, a progressive Jewish group, stood outside Warrens Springfield office on Tuesday calling for the congresswoman to stand up for Palestinian lives. We want to tell her, as Jews, this is OK to do, Molly Aronson, an organizer with the group told MassLive. Theres a fear that there will be a backlash, and we want to show that you can be Jewish and support Jews and still be against the murder and genocide of Palestinian people. Warren, D-Mass, expressed strong support for Israel the day after Hamas terrorists attacked the country killing 1,400 people and taking 200 hostages on Oct. 7. Its been two weeks since the initial attack and both Israel and Hamas have each lost thousands of lives. 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. 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. 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. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded. Warren, who was asked by Politico about the letter during an event she attended in Bourne on Friday, said I respect my former staffers who are doing exactly what I have always encouraged them to do: stand up and fight for what they believe in, the Boston Globe reported. Material from The Associated Press was used in this article. The family of 18-year-old Janayrah Rivera, who died in a fire in Springfield on Monday, has provided more details about the fatal blaze, including how one of her brothers managed to escape. A GoFundMe page was set up by Janayrah Riveras older sister, Jailyne Rivera, in the aftermath of the fire at 118 Grover St. in Springfield to raise money to cover funeral and medical expenses. On Friday, Jailyne Rivera posted an update to the page, detailing how her younger brother, Ricky Rivera, escaped the blaze. Jailyne Rivera described how Ricky Rivera, one of the middle siblings, was living in a room in the back of the house on the second floor and was one of the last people in the home to wake up to the fire. He heard screaming from his back window, opened his door and was overwhelmed by extreme heat and thick, black smoke. He could not go through the hallway to the stairs, because flames blocked his path, according to the GoFundMe page. Read more: GoFundMe set up for Janayrah Rivera of Springfield victim in Grover Street fire My baby brother sprung into action and thought quickly to save his own life, Jailyne Rivera wrote. Ricky broke his back window and jumped out of the second floor to save himself. Ricky Rivera suffered injures to his leg, face and hands, both from the flames and from having to break the window with his fist, the GoFundMe page details. He is now helping Jailyne Rivera tend to their sister, Janaiyah Rivera, who was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Boston to be treated for third-degree burns she suffered in the fire. [H]e has been extremely strong for his family, Jailyne Rivera wrote about Ricky Rivera, adding people should reach out to him, check in on him and donate clothes or anything to help him get back on his feet. Ricky has lost EVERYTHING in that fire, she added. Monday mornings fire broke out around 5:20 a.m. and ultimately destroyed the house, which will be condemned by the city. Along with causing the death of Janayrah Rivera and injuring others inside the home, the blaze also killed three pet dogs in the home, the GoFundMe page details. Janayrah Rivera, who was stuck in her room above the porch, where the fire started, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with serious burn injuries. She died at the hospital, according to the GoFundMe page. The blaze remains under investigation by the Hampden District Attorneys Office and the State Fire Marshals Office. Authorities are seeking the publics help to identify a person of interest and asking residents who live near 118 Grover St. to check any camera footage recorded between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday to see if anyone passing by was recorded, said James Leydon, spokesperson for district attorneys office. Nicknamed Nany, Janayrah Rivera turned 18 years old in May. She was a 2023 graduate of Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield and was pursuing a career in early childhood education as a daycare teacher at New Horizons Daycare, the GoFundMe page says. Nany was a funny, spontaneous, bright young lady, the GoFundMe page states, and she loved her family and was ready for her future outside of high school. Read more: 4 hospitalized in Yarmouth after pickup truck crashes into TD Bank The GoFundMe page has already exceeded its fundraising goal, raising more than $28,000. The funds will go toward paying for the expenses of the funeral for Janayrah Rivera and the medical costs of her older sister Janaiyah Rivera, who requires three to four skin graft surgeries. Keep Janaiyah in your prayers while she goes through this journey of recovery and mourning the loss of her baby sister and best friend, the page reads. Along with the GoFundMe page, a fundraising event will be held for the Rivera family at the Bulls Eye Cafe in Chicopee on Sunday, Oct. 22 Western Mass News reported. The Kandasamys are back and theres a new addition to the familylegacy. Today, Netflix dropped the official trailer for Kandasamys: The Baby, launching on the serviceon the 20th of October 2023. In blissful Mauritius, Jodi (Mishqah Parthiephal) and Prishen (Madhushan Singh) are preparing to welcome their bundle of joy, whilst dealing with the interference of iconic mom and soon-to-be grandmother duo of Jennifer (Jailoshini Naidoo) and Shanti (Maeshni Naicker). Its all lullabies and nursery rhymes until drama ensues with the mom squad, who join forces, and have brow-raising ideas on how to welcome and raise the new baby. Feathers are ruffled and new traditions are formed, but family Matriarch Aya (Mariam Bassa) distances herself as she has separate plans to enjoy a stunning Mauritian getaway. Loveable granddads Elvis (Koobeshen Naidoo) and Preggie (Yugan Naidoo) take matters into their own hands, once again, as the peace of their idyllic escape from Durban is threatened. But as all families do, the Kandasamys band together and have their own realisations about what the parenting journey and community support looks like, all while Jodi and Prishen navigate uncharted waters for the first time as new parents. 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. TERTER, Azerbaijan, October 21. Sugovushan village in Terter district is one of the most beautiful corners of Azerbaijan's Karabakh. The mountains surrounding it, the Terterchay river, and the reservoir give this place a special beauty. A park has already been created here along the embankment; pavilions have been set up; a catering facility; a parking lot has been built; and a tourist information office has been set up. The mountain climate of the area, magnificent natural landscapes, historical monuments, as well as reconstructed highways leading from Terter and Naftalan to the village - all this suggests that Sugovushan will soon become a popular tourist destination. Sugovushan village in Terter district was liberated from Armenian occupation on October 3, 2020. The reconstruction of road infrastructure and the construction of tourist facilities in Sugovushan will have a positive impact on the creation of additional business spheres in this area and create favorable conditions for entrepreneurs' investments. Trend presents a photo report from Sugovushan. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 20, 2023 The Supreme Court on Friday blocked an injunction that would have restricted federal officials' ability to convince social media platforms to remove misinformation. The vote was 6-3, with conservative justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissenting. Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government, and therefore todays decision is highly disturbing, Alito said in a written dissent. The majority didn't issue an opinion. The block will remain in effect until the Supreme Court can fully consider the dispute -- which likely will happen next year. The injunction, issued by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, would have prohibited officials from the White House, Surgeon General's office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from attempting to coerce or significantly encourage platforms to suppress speech covered by the First Amendment. The First Amendment generally protects misinformation as well as speech that's offensive. advertisement advertisement The injunction stemmed from a lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as several individuals who claimed their social media posts relating to COVID-19 policies and vaccines were suppressed due to pressure by the government. The attorneys general and individuals alleged that federal officials violated the First Amendment by wrongly pressuring tech platforms to censor disfavored speakers and viewpoints. U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe, Louisiana, sided with the plaintiffs and issued a broad injunction prohibiting a numerous federal agencies and officials from attempting to persuade social media platforms to take down posts that are protected by the First Amendment. The administration appealed Doughty's order to the 5th Circuit, which issued a narrower injunction. That order prohibited some officials, including White House staff, from attempting to coerce or significantly encourage platforms' decisions about content moderation, but didn't include language prohibiting the government from "urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing," decisions. The Biden administration then asked the Supreme Court to block the 5th Circuit's order, arguing it wrongly restricted the government's ability to influence companies on questions of public importance. The administration also disputed that it ever coerced platforms into removing speech. "The record shows that platforms routinely declined to remove content flagged by federal officials, the Justice Department wrote in its petition to the Supreme Court. Even the most famous celebrities are not immune to the discerning gaze of social media. It's a world where beauty standards constantly shift and evolve, creating an environment that leaves stars walking a tightrope to meet the expectations they themselves have set. In the latest chapter of this saga, Parineeti Chopra found herself at the centre of the storm, accused of photoshopping one of her recent Instagram posts. @ Instagram/Parineeti Chopra Parineeti, who recently tied the knot with politician Raghav Chadha, made waves as she graced the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week. This was her first public appearance following her wedding, and she certainly made it a memorable one. Flaunting her newlywed glow and charm, the actress garnered admiration and applause for her elegant look. Her chosen ensemble was a regal ivory-hued saree adorned with intricate sequin embellishments, epitomising elegance. The ensemble was complemented by a matching blouse and a sheer cape. Her sindoor-adorned maang, vibrant pink chooda, and a striking layered statement necklace added a distinct bridal charm to her look. The post-wedding glow was evident, but as she shared images from the event on her social media, they immediately piqued the curiosity of her followers. Eagle-eyed fans noted a discrepancy between the live show and the posted photos. They were swift to scrutinise and compare the images, raising allegations that Parineeti had seemingly edited the photographs to create a slimmer waistline. Some accused her of perpetuating unrealistic standards, while others leaped to her defence, emphasising the prevalence of image editing tools among celebrities. The incident not only led to a renewed discussion about body image and authenticity, but also highlighted the powerful impact social media has on shaping and challenging beauty standards. In a world that continually navigates the complexities of body image and the social medias influence on it, Parineeti's experience serves as a reminder of the never-ending challenge to reconcile perfection with authenticity. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Training is being conducted with the aircraft of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces involved in the "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk-2023" joint tactical exercises, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend. In accordance with the plan, the aircraft flying from the base airfields accomplished tasks on takeoff and landing, determining the coordinates of imaginary enemys ground targets, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and other actions. A significant number of military vehicles, artillery pieces and aircraft of various types of troops of the fraternal countries, as well as engineering equipment are involved in the exercises to be held in Azerbaijan on October 23-25. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov met with Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev, Trend reports. Jabbarov wrote on his page on X that during the meeting, the parties exchanged views to strengthen economic relations between the two countries, enhance trade turnover, promote investments and expand cooperation in the field of transport and transit. The sides have paid special attention to the development of multi-vector relations based on the principles of mutual respect. Mutual visits, signed documents and ongoing events play an important role in expanding bilateral economic cooperation. At the same time, productive cooperation has been established within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization of Turkic States. Particular importance is attached to strengthening the Azerbaijani-Kazakh trade and economic partnership. Investment cooperation is also among the priority areas. More than 150 companies with Kazakh capital operate in Azerbaijan, operating in the fields of agriculture, industry, construction, trade, transport and services. The parties discussed prospects for the development of ties, increasing trade turnover, encouraging investment and expanding cooperation in transport and transit. Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $461.9 million, which is 39 percent compared to 2021. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Bao Space is all about authenticity when it comes to its menu. The Ann Arbor restaurant opened at the beginning of 2023 in the former location of Vedge Cafe which closed in August 2022. Related: Get authentic bao at this new Ann Arbor restaurant Owners Raphael and Rongrong Yue decided it was time to open a restaurant of their own when they moved from China to the U.S. in 2018 and were searching for a place that served food they liked. Since its opening, the business has been serving authentic hand-made Asian bao buns fresh almost every day. Bao buns are similar to dumplings made by stuffing a bready dough with different proteins, vegetables and other fillings. Rongrong, who also goes by Jessica, said the business makes around 200 bao buns each morning and each evening most weekdays. On weekends, the business makes upwards of 700 bao buns. We want to keep it as fresh as possible, she said. Bao Space has a long list of options to choose from for its bao buns, with flavors like premium Berkshire Pork, beef and onion, chicken and mushroom, pickled cabbage and pork, veggie, shrimp triple delight, red bean paste and black sesame. Top-selling flavors are the premium Berkshire pork buns and the shrimp triple delight buns, Rongrong said, adding customers looking for a sweeter option should try the black sesame. The business plans to expand its bao offerings in the coming weeks with the addition of a barbecue-style bao bun, Rongrong said. Bao Space prides itself on using simple ingredients and making its buns in a traditional way, Rongrong said, adding she uses ingredients like yeast, water and milk for the dough. Related: Hungry for a snack? Buns from Ann Arbors Bao Space are affordable, delicious Beyond bao, the restaurant also serves dumplings, veggie spring rolls and lotus chicken, as well as other popular dishes like beef and radish soup and cold noodles with sesame sauce. Bao Spaces spot on North Main Street is just a starting point as the Yue family said they hope to one day expand into a larger space in Ann Arbor. For now, Rongrong said the business will remain in its current location and continue to be a lunch and dinner option for its supportive community. Bao Space, at 205 N. Main St., is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Saturday and 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Find it online or by phone at 734-436-8488. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. MORE ANN ARBOR LOCAL EATS: Michigans Best Local Eats: Hungry for authentic Southern barbecue? Give Satchells BBQ a try Michigans Best Local Eats: Zingermans Roadhouse is known as a go-to for barbecue Michigans Best Local Eats: Taste why Dom Bakeries is on Yelps list of top 100 doughnut shops Michigans Best Local Eats: A Thanksgiving feast is on the menu at Harvest Moon Cafe Michigans Best Local Eats: Grab a burger and dive into a fishbowl at Good Time Charleys Michigans Best Local Eats: Start your morning or end your night with The Owl in Milan Michigans Best Local Eats: Find seafood with a Cajun flair at Macs Acadian Seafood Shack Michigans Best Local Eats: Vegan desserts fill the menu at Tasty Bakery in Ann Arbor Michigans Best Local Eats: Youve got to try the apple fritter at Dexter Bakery Michigans Best Local Eats: Dozer Cafe brings coffee, brunch & comfort to HOMES Campus Michigans Best Local Eats: Palms Cafe is in an Ann Arbor hotel, but it has comfort food for everyone Michigans Best Local Eats: Get warm doughnuts & ice cream at Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor Michigans Best Local Eats: Enjoy fresh seafood with a tasty martini at Black Pearl in Ann Arbor Michigans Best Local Eats: Looking for a late-night burrito? Check out BTB Burrito in Ann Arbor Michigans Best Local Eats: This is the No. 1 sandwich at Maize and Blue Deli, and its huge Michigans Best Local Eats: Home-cooked meals available any time of the day at Holidays Restaurant Michigans Best Local Eats: Customers flock to Dexters Pub for chicken fajitas every Wednesday Michigans Best Local Eats: Check out Wolverine Tracks ice cream at this Ann Arbor creamery Michigans Best Local Eats: Find one of the best Molcajete dishes at Cancun Mexican Grill Michigans Best Local Eats: Vinology brings seasonal menu, wide selection of wines to Ann Arbor Michigans Best Local Eats: Yellowstone inspired ice-cream flavor is a favorite at Dexter Creamery Michigans Best Local Eats: The Smash Burger is so simple, but so good at Grizzly Peak Brewing Co. Michigans Best Local Eats: Chelsea Alehouse Brewery aims to elevate its dishes while keeping cool pub food Michigans Best Local Eats: Fresh doughnuts, pastries, bread available every day at Bennys Bakery YPSILANTI, MI - Raymond Mullins grew up on the south side of Ypsilanti in the 1940s and 50s. It was a segregated city then, and he would go on to spend the bulk of his life advocating for racial equality, educational opportunities for Black youth and an end to the school-to-prison pipeline in his hometown. Mullins, an attorney and former president of the Ypsilanti-Willow Run branch of the NAACP, the nations oldest civil rights organization, died after a long illness on Sept. 4. He was 80. For as long as people have memory, Ray will be known as a fighter for good, said William Hampton, a friend and president of the Ann Arbor NAACP chapter. Mullins, who practiced law in Ypsilanti for decades, knew people without legal assistance would come up short in the legal system and often took cases at low or no cost for the sake of helping those who were disadvantaged, Hampton said. He multiple times ran for judgeships and, in 2014, mounted a bid for U.S. Congress that ultimately came up short in the Democratic primary against current U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. Ray Mullins was a force for good in our community, dedicating his life to the fight for racial justice and equality. He was a good friend who gave me wise advice and understood the importance of dialogue and discussions to bring people together and solve problems. His impact on Ypsilanti and beyond cannot be overstated and he will be dearly missed, Dingell said in a statement. Mullins was born in 1943 in Detroit but would end up calling Ypsilanti home. He was an only child and Mullins mother Laura, a school teacher, died at age 38, when he was 10 years old. Her death was always a part of him, said Andrea Mullins, one of Mullins two daughters. He took education very seriously and would later in life go on to fight for the desegregation of the Perry School on Ypsilantis south side, she said. After graduating from Ypsilanti High School in 1961, Mullins left Washtenaw County to to study economics at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he would meet and begin a 12-year marriage with fellow student Carmelita Guy. At the time, Howard was consciousness-raising, Guy would later tell The Ann Arbor News. Black activist Stokley Carmichael was there, and so was agitation around civil rights and the Vietnam War, she recalled. After Mullins graduated in 1966, he entered the U.S. Air Force through the ROTC, which paid for his schooling, Andrea Mullins said. He served as an aircraft maintenance officer and was discharged in 1970, when he returned home and enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School. Ypsilanti attorney and former NAACP Ypsilanti-Willow Run Branch President Raymond Mullins, who died on Sept. 4, 2023 at age 80, wearing purple, the color of his fraternity Omega Phi Psi.Provided by Andrea Mullins Mullins became an attorney and clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Damon Keith, who attacked racial segregation and championed equality in several landmark rulings. Mullins opened a private law practice on Pearl Street in Ypsilanti in 1974. He quickly became involved with the NAACP and did an excellent job when he took over as president of the local chapter in the 1980s and 90s, said former Ypsilanti Mayor Lois Allen-Richardson, who grew up with Mullins. Under his leadership, the Ypsilanti and Willow Run NAACP branches merged. The organization at the time also sent healthy contingents to national youth conventions and the NAACPs Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, a national competition for young people Allen-Richardson and Andrea Mullins said. Also during his tenure, which lasted through 1998, advocates succeeded in integrating a previously all-white judiciary in Washtenaw County, according to a bio of Mullins at the University of Michigans Bentley Historical Library, where some of his papers are archived. He did a lot of work quietly, he didnt boast and show off with the work that he did, Allen-Richardson said. That work included pushing for the creation of an organization investigating housing discrimination in Washtenaw County. He was instrumental in forming the organization that is today the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, said its Executive Director Pam Kisch. Mullins was involved from the beginning and served as a founding board member in 1991, she said in an email. Mullins struck some of his friends as deliberate and even introverted, that is until he got into the courtroom, according to Hampton. He was someone that would challenge you. He had opinions that he strongly held to, and he had a real good sense of really fighting for the rights of African Americans, said the Rev. Jeffery Harrold, pastor at New Beginnings Community Church in Pittsfield Township and a fraternity brother of Mullins in the local chapter of Omega Psi Phi. Mullins took that conviction to others, while running for office, as a regular guest on a talk radio show on Ann Arbor radio station WAAM and in his own initiatives, friends and family said. That included founding a group called Loyal Opposition to the Status Quo, created in part because Mullins felt neither of the two main political parties were addressing the needs of Black people and narrowing persistent economic and educational gaps, Harrold said. A funeral for Mullins is planned for the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, but no date has yet been set, Andrea Mullins said. He was an integral part of Ypsilanti and spent the bulk of his life there, after his time in college and the military, she said. I think he wanted to come back and strive to improve conditions in his hometown. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: $42M renovation will help expand Eastern Michigan University engineering school Older residents arent prepared for emergency weather, Washtenaw County survey says Judge declines to stop permit process for Ann Arbor-area mental health center Ann Arbor voices opposition to widening U.S. 23 highway BURTON, MI Kathryn Simpson and her husband, Jamie Simpson, have become so popular selling food out of their food truck, they are soon moving into a brick-and-mortar location. The couple own Simpsons BBQ Junkies, located at 3411 Saginaw St. in Burton, next to McDonalds. They have owned the business for three years, but for only two months at this location. Known for their ribs, the Simpsons are leasing the building behind the food truck, formerly The Junkie Monkeys, with plans to move in. Its a dream of ours to open a location, Kathryn Simpson said. They are licensed to sell out of the food truck until Dec. 1 and hope to have the building ready before the winter. The Simpsons lived in Hawaii in 2008, and thats where Jamie Simpson learned to smoke food. Over the years, he honed his skills and cooked in competitions. Simpsons BBQ Junkies traveled wherever business took it before finding a home in Burton. We didnt really seek out many places. If someone called, then we would go, Kathryn Simpson said. On the menu, all of the meats are smoked, with offerings including brisket, ribs, pulled pork, hot dogs, Polish hot dogs and chicken. Side dishes include cheesy potatoes, baked beans and coleslaw. A popular choice is the Ultimate Junkie, which is cheesy potatoes with your choice of meat, coleslaw, Fritos and barbecue sauce. When the brick-and-mortar restaurant opens this winter, more options will be available. We have something that everybody loves, Kathryn Simpson said. And what customers love, besides the food, is the Simpsons dog, Biscuit. Biscuit, a large 3-year-old brown French mastiff, is normally at the food truck greeting each customer. Its going to heartbreaking once we open the restaurant because he wont be able to be there, Kathryn said. The Simpsons are originally from Oakland County and moved to the Flint area 24 years ago. Kathryn Simpson has directed adult foster care homes in Oakland County for 31 years and is hoping she can retire and focus on the restaurant. Honestly, this has been my husbands dream for a long time, and he has definitely made it my dream as well, Kathryn Simpson said. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Police officers and firefighters in uniform receive free sandwiches. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov met with Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev, Trend reports. Jabbarov wrote on his page on X that during the meeting, the parties exchanged views to strengthen economic relations between the two countries, enhance trade turnover, promote investments and expand cooperation in the field of transport and transit. According to the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, it was emphasized at the meeting hat the heads of state attach special importance to the development of multi-vector relations based on the principles of mutual respect. Mutual visits, signed documents and ongoing events play an important role in expanding bilateral economic cooperation. At the same time, productive cooperation has been established within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization of Turkic States. Particular importance is attached to strengthening the Azerbaijani-Kazakh trade and economic partnership. Investment cooperation is also among the priority areas. More than 150 companies with Kazakh capital operate in Azerbaijan, operating in the fields of agriculture, industry, construction, trade, transport and services. The parties discussed prospects for the development of ties, increasing trade turnover, encouraging investment and expanding cooperation in transport and transit. Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $461.9 million, which is 39 percent compared to 2021. HOLLAND, MI A juvenile has been arrested after a 19-year-old Holland man showed up at a local hospital with stab wounds early Saturday morning, Holland police said. Holland Department of Public Safety officers responded to the Lincoln Estates Mobile Home Park, 1139 Lincoln Avenue, at about 12:30 a.m. for a stabbing report. Before officers arrived at the mobile home park, Holland Hospital reported that someone arrived at the emergency department with stab wounds. The 19-year-old injured man was in an altercation with the juvenile, who is suspected of allegedly stabbing the victim, at the mobile home park. The suspect left the area before officers arrived and was later arrested in Holland Township and lodged at the Ottawa County Youth Home, according to a news release from the City of Holland. Read more on MLive: Capitol Theatre concert to support Mott Community College music scholarship Flint Promise Scholarship application now open for 2024 grads Flint schools to ask Mott Foundation to enhance Holmes/Brownell renovations Nearly $100K in grants from Flint Community Foundation to support 2 MCC programs JACKSON, MI In the 1970s and 80s, Jacksons Westwood Mall was the place to go for big-box stores and popular chain store brands. Opened in 1972, the mall at 1850 W. Michigan Ave was filled with stores carrying popular brands. However, today, the nearly 50-space facility sits about half empty as stores have either closed or moved over the years. Related: Peek Through Time: Cool, comfortable Westwood Mall the place to go in summer of 1972 This has created opportunity for locally owned Jackson-area businesses that are filling some of the vacancies. During the last few years, nearly 17 local businesses have taken advantage of the malls empty suites, and Ehrika Ray, Westwood Malls general manager, said she believes this will help the mall continue being a viable part of the community. Through the years, our focus has been to connect with our loyal customers, provide options to shop, dine and serve as an incubator of local businesses, Ray wrote in an email. Supporting the growth of small businesses is so important. These partnerships between the mall and local businesses will undoubtedly benefit both parties and contribute to the communitys growth and prosperity. These small businesses range from restaurants, clothing stores and services, such as hair salons, according to Westwood Malls website. Each business owner has a different reason for moving into the mall. For Sandy Donnelly, she simply needed a space for her Royale Studios photography studio, and finding a budget-friendly space was a challenge said. However, a friend, who owns NaeChanels Collection, a hair salon, recommended she try the mall. Donnelly did and has been running her business there for a year. When I was shown the actual space I am in now, I fell in love, Donnelly said. Everything (was) already done, so it was all ready to move in. I really didnt have to do too much remodeling. The location has been convenient, Donnelly said. Having a hair salon and a restaurant, such as Ray Robs Wingity Anns, located a few steps away has been easy on clients, she said. When girls are getting their hair done, theyre coming right here afterwards. if you get hungry during a photo shoot, you dont have to go too far, Donnelly said. Ray Robs Wingity Anns moved into the mall in January 2022, after it had operated several years in a cramped food trailer. The goal was to create a hangout spot, and Westwood Mall was an ideal location, Marquise Robinson, son of owners Rayshawn and Ann Robinson, said. We thought with all the people that came through here, this will give them time to put their order in, go out in the mall, get things they need, come sit down and eat, Robinson said. A main benefit to being in the mall is the foot traffic, he said, adding people shopping at other stores tend to become new customers of the restaurant. Another local business that moved into a vacant mall space is 517 Drift, a remote-control drift car racetrack. Several things drew owner Chris Schiffman to the space, he said, including great floors for the RC cars and the fact the space didnt need costly renovations. That made sense to me for right now, Schiffman said. Moving forward, sure, I would love to have my own spot, and more land, but thats not realistic right now for a few years. Support for each other also helps these businesses, Robinson said. Giving recommendations of other businesses to customers and keeping each others business cards on their counters has been helpful, Robinson said. It just brings everybody closer together, Donnelly agreed. I think were all on the same page of wanting to see everybody win. Westwood Mall has seen closures of large anchor stores through the years, such as Yonkers in 2018, retailer Christopher & Banks in 2021. Stores such as Buckle and Kay Jewelers have also relocated to Jackson Crossing on the other side of town. Big retail chains such as JCPenney, Applebees, Hot Topic and American Eagle are still operating in the mall. The local entrepreneurs hope the trend of Jackson businesses filling the still-vacant suites will continue, Donnelly said. Schiffman said he would like to see the spaces fill it like stores do in downtown Jackson. I think that would be cool if we could just have a mall that is a one-stop place, he said. Officials at Kohan Retail Investment Group, owners of Westwood Mall, are excited to offer a space to local businesses that allows them to thrive, Ray wrote in her email. At Westwood Mall, we are committed to creating a positive experience for our shoppers and retailers, and we are grateful that the mall has a customer base that values the efforts put in by the local team to provide a welcoming and positive environment, Ray wrote. 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: Trunk-or Treat, Ghost Tours & spooky cocktails: A guide to Halloween activities in Jackson County Where Michigan drivers may encounter road closures this weekend Traffic backups expected with additional I-94 lane closures in Jackson County ALBION, MI Just like a foundry, this bakehouse located in Albion takes pride in being able to create great things with their hands. Foundry Bakehouse and Deli was opened in 2019 by Bill and Karen Dobbins, who also own Caster Concepts, as a part of the revitalization of downtown Albion. Their daughter Emily Verbeke took over in 2021 hoping to continue filling the need for baked goods and sandwiches in the area. We wanted the bakery to be something that looked like you could drop it into Jackson, Ann Arbor, Detroit or Chicago and it wouldnt look out of place, Verbeke said. The community of Albion really deserves to have nice things like that. Everything is made fresh daily inside the bakery and deli, including the bread, pastries and doughnuts. Sandwiches and salads are also made to order. All the sandwiches and salads are named after the tools or processes found in foundries. One popular sandwich is the ShakeOut, an Italian sandwich filled with ham, salami, tomatoes, lettuce, banana peppers and mozzarella and provolone cheeses. It is a packed, full kind of sandwich, and I think all Italian sandwiches need to be, chock full of things, Verbeke said. Another sandwich is the Riser, which is stuffed with roast beef, basil mayo, lettuce and tomato chutney. Soups, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, brownies, muffins and scones are other staples at the restaurant. Lemon bars and key lime pie bars, which have a graham cracker base, key lime pie filling and whipped cream, are some of the favorite sweets. Its got a good amount of sweetness, but that tart sort of helps cut that, Verbeke said. People can also pre-order breads, rolls, pies, cakes, cookies and other items by calling 517-680-0092 or messaging the Foundry Bakehouse and Delis Facebook page. This option is popular during the holidays or for family gatherings, she said. Aside from the food, Foundry Bakehouse and Deli enjoys offering a place where people in the community can gather, Verbeke said. Its not about the doughnuts, its about Saturday mornings, families come in, they make memories, Verbeke said. Foundry Bakehouse and Deli, 400 S. Superior St. in Albion, is open 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch is offered starting at 11 a.m. More about Foundry Bakehouse and Deli can be found on its website and Facebook page. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. MORE JACKSON-AREA LOCAL EATS: Michigans Best Local Eats: Crispy walnut-breaded chicken is a seasonal staple at One North Michigans Best Local Eats: Big Chucks Pizza doesnt skimp on the toppings Michigans Best Local Eats: Historic Somerset store is now home to a local coffee shop Michigans Best Local Eats: Seafood boil, etouffee makes The Deck Down Under a destination restaurant Michigans Best Local Eats: More than just the beer draws people to Ironbark Brewing Co. Michigans Best Local Eats: Ring in fall with a caramel apple sundae at Sweet Scoops Michigans Best Local Eats: Huge portions of loaded fries will fill you up at Burnt Honey food truck Michigans Best Local Eats: Runway Party Stores Broaster chicken keeps people coming back for more Michigans Best Local Eats: The bacon double cheeseburger at Aggie Sports Bar is stacked high Michigans Best Local Eats: Try some old-fashioned doughnuts from this Concord food truck Michigans Best Local Eats: Loaded street tacos are the stars at Zilantros food truck Michigans Best Local Eats: Theres a brisket sandwich at PB&Js BBQ that even Elvis would love Michigans Best Local Eats: Cheap eats make Robins Roost a top notch dive bar Michigans Best Local Eats: Huge chimichangas, stacked burgers await at Sawds Village Inn Michigans Best Local Eats: A bacon-infused bun tops this decadent burger at Duck Lake Tavern Michigans Best Local Eats: A salad extravaganza awaits at KeniKakes & More Michigans Best Local Eats: Step away from the fast food. Healthy options await at a new Jackson eatery Michigans Best Local Eats: Its famous for tomato soup but theres much more at Clark Lakes Beach Bar Michigans Best Local Eats: Get a taste of Hawaiian, Island cuisine at Bens Island Grindz Michigans Best Local Eats: Hungry for a smash burger? Try this Jackson food truck Michigans Best Local Eats: Youll find a deep-fried Philly cheesesteak inside a Jackson convenience store Michigans Best Local Eats: The Tavern Burger at The Roadhouse has everything you want on it Michigans Best Local Eats: Tots smothered in meat and mac and cheese are hits at The Band Wagon Catering Michigans Best Local Eats: The banana split is as good as ever at Frosty Boy in Jackson Michigans Best Local Eats: The Drunken Noodles are a hit at Sakura in Jackson County Michigans Best Local Eats: The smoked pork chop is a full-plate meal at Kens M60 Grill Michigans Best Local Eats: The Trash Can is a sundae filled with candy at Spads Twisters Michigans Best Local Eats: Smothered in cheese, the OG is a prime rib sandwich to try at Rollin Hoagies Michigans Best Local Eats: Chelsea Cakes is known for a secret-recipe strawberry cake Michigans Best Local Eats: Giant burgers, loaded fries served now at Baby Bear Burgers new location Michigans Best Local Eats: Sticky burgers with a pickle twist await at Greystone Tavern Michigans Best Local Eats: Give the Molcajete Catrina a try at La Catrina Bar and Grill Michigans Best Local Eats: Spring is sweet and spicy at Two Lakes Tavern in the Irish Hills Michigans Best Local Eats: Cakesicles are on the sweet treat menu The Five Forks Michigans Best Local Eats: A Horton ice-cream shop has a double bacon cheeseburger to die for Michigans Best Local Eats: This meal comes in a glass at River Raisin Distillery Michigans Best Local Eats: Giant cinnamon rolls take up an entire plate at Chubbys Cafe Michigans Best Local Eats: Vitos Espressos dine-in spot is open, ready to serve tasty pastries Michigans Best Local Eats: Take a bite of history and tradition at Jackson Coney Island Michigans Best Local Eats: The bourbon caramel latte is a star at Trail Head Coffee Shop Michigans Best Local Eats: Same great crepes can be found at City Crepes new location Michigans Best Local Eats: Ogmas Polish Fried Rice combines hibachi and Polish cuisine PORTAGE, MI -- The space once occupied by the Beacon Club, which closed in 2019 while facing dwindling membership, is seeing new life. A new restaurant is now open to the public, with a focus on fresh ingredients and creating an atmosphere for guests of all ages -- and no membership is required. The restaurant, A La Ferme, opened at 5830 Portage Road this week after months of preparations. Its open 5 to 9 p.m. daily until Nov. 1, when it the hours will expand. Chef and proprietor of the restaurant Francois Louis Moyet sees food as an art form. When I cook for you, Im going to please your eyes, your ears, your nose and palette, Moyet said. If I did a good job, its going to put a big smile on your face. The restaurant features farm-to-table selections sourced from a farm in the region, Moyet said. Chicken is the star of this menu, he said. Other options include pan-seared Lake Michigan walleye, steak and vegetarian items, he said. He said food is like fuel, and urged people to skip processed foods and eat fresh foods, comparing it to super premium gasoline for a car. Food is medicine and you are what you eat, Moyet said. The phrase a la ferme translates in French to at the farm. The name is a nod to the propertys history as a former farm built in 1877, he said. A new play structure has been built out front. Moyet said that addition is meant to help signal its a family-friendly atmosphere, and no longer a members-only club. Moyet has added other touches as well, like a new display of antique farm equipment as well as art and decor around the restaurant. A few hundred thousand dollars was spent to make needed upgrades to electricity, HVAC, security system, kitchen and other improvements to the building, which is on Portage Road near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, he said. Moyet plans to offer to-go items that people can order electronically. A coffee bar area near the front door will serve as the pick-up spot. The bar area is named Beacon Club as a nod to the recent history of the space, when it was a members-only club for more than 70 years. The club was originally established on New Years Eve in 1947 by 60 founding members, according to the clubs history on its former website. The bar area features signage from the Beacon Club and has rotating local beers on tap along with Henderson Castle-branded wine, cocktails and other drinks. Some of the original furnishings and fixtures are still there. This bar is legendary and has been known as one of the very best bars in town, he said. Moyet wants to continue that legacy. A selection of wine at A La Ferme,5830 Portage Road in Portage, Michigan, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Nate Pappas | Mlive.com) During the 1970s and 80s, Beacon Club grew to a membership of more than 300, according to the previous business website. The club closed in 2019. A club member at the time said membership was dwindling. Beacon Club remnants remain in the space, like a large fireplace with the clubs logo etched on it. Former members have been coming in this week to check out the newly-opened restaurant, Moyet said. Moyet opened Kalamazoo restaurants, Francois Seafood & Steakhouse in 1995 and The Tortilla Flat in 2003. After several years of operating both eateries in downtown Kalamazoo, he later sold both restaurants, he said. The Henderson Castle Foundation owns the business, Moyet said. He is the president of the foundation board. Moyet, who also runs Kalamazoos Henderson Castle, said preserving local history is important. He wants to make historic spaces into places people can enjoy today and can survive into the future. HOLLAND TWP., MI -- On the day violence broke out in Israel, Adrian Huizenga remembers waking to warnings followed by a loud boom, as the events of the day would disrupt his studies and draw the attention of the rest of the world. I woke up to sirens, Huizenga told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. He saw a message from the school to shelter in place on that morning, Saturday, Oct. 7, and heard a boom, believed to be from the Iron Dome missile defense system that shoots rockets out of the sky. Huizenga, 24, a resident of Holland Township and the son of U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, was in Israel studying for a masters degree. He grabbed a few things and moved with classmates to a central area. We sheltered in place and tried to figure out what was going on, he said. Across the globe, his father said he got home late the night before in Washington, D.C. and woke up to see a text from his sister saying, I hope Adrians OK. I was like, What? the congressman said. He turned on the TV to see what happened, and where. Israel is seven hours ahead of Michigan, in terms of time zone. That means the attacks began in the middle of the night, Michigan time. Obviously, lots of chaos, not knowing when its happening and where its happening, Bill Huizenga said. The father and son got in touch by phone and they both began to work on ways to get him home, reaching out to the U.S. State Department and other contacts. They talked about putting together a go bag and being ready to move quickly. The congressman said he started to get calls from several constituents asking for help getting out or getting their family members out. Adrian, studying biblical history and geography at Jerusalem University College, said sirens followed through the weekend and students would have to go back each time. They watched news of the brutal attack, which was about an hour away, he said, so he felt somewhat safe, but unsure. He did not think the attackers would make it to Jerusalem, he said, though the ongoing sirens and news reports painted a grim picture of the attack. Adrian Huizenga made it home Sunday, Oct. 15, after catching a ride on a plane along with other Americans, in an effort led by U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Florida. Bill Huizenga, who is among one of the nations decision-makers in U.S. Congress, said we need to help Israel by giving them the tools to defend themselves. Thats what theyre asking for, thats what they need, Huizenga said. That means additional arms, munitions, iron dome and things like that, the congressman said. The number of rockets launched by Hamas was an effort to deplete the iron dome, Bill Huizenga said. He mentioned the importance to get a speaker of the house in place to take action related to this issue. As of late Friday, Oct. 20, that had not happened. The congressman said he hopes peace can return to the region. Bill Huizenga wants the state department to do better and come up with better plans to get people out of situations like this. They were caught flat-footed at best, he said. The congressman said his son received the first call back from the state department Monday afternoon, when they were sitting on the couch at home in West Michigan together. Adrian had filled out a state department intake form the Thursday prior. Mills contacted Adrian Huizenga Friday, Oct. 13, and he was on the plane the next day. In an emergency situation, that kind of speed is what can save lives, Bill Huizenga said. In the weeks since the attacks, people have protested the conflict on the streets of cities across the world. A peace rally was held in Kalamazoo and some people held signs calling for the end of Israel bombing Palestine, as the U.S. ally carries out attacks in Palestine in response to the Hamas attacks. Adrian Huizenga condemned killings from terrorism and said that kind of violence needs to end. He said he is thinking of his colleagues still there and everyone else going through the ordeal. He said he wants to get back to continue his studies once it is safe to. Residents in central Kenya on Friday denounced a lack of compensation over a devastating 2021 fire which broke out during a British military exercise, 10 days before a visit by King Charles III. A Kenyan court has ordered the British Army to pay compensation for the blaze, which ravaged more than 4,800 hectares (12,000 acres) of land during a military exercise conducted by the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK). The unit is based near the town of Nanyuki, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of the capital Nairobi. "Two and a half years later, zero compensation has been given to the people affected," said lawyer Kelvin Kubai as he read out an "open letter to the British government" on behalf of the victims at a press conference. The letter, signed by 7,000 plaintiffs, said "the British Army is actually using every trick from the colonial rule book to try and not pay the Kenyan people compensation". Those affected are seeking compensation for environmental damage, as well as payment for medical problems such as "serious breathing difficulties" and "permanent issues with eyesight" which they say resulted from the fire. "Many, many farmers have not been able to grow back the crops and regain the livestock that was lost in this terrible fire," the letter said. Compensation for the fire is being managed by an intergovernmental liaison committee (IGLC), made up of representatives from both countries. The authors of the open letter criticised the IGLC for asking for more proof of the damage caused by the blaze. "They wish to insult us further by telling us we have to prove -- again -- the damage that their careless and arrogant soldiers caused," the letter said. "The facts remain that the British Army destroyed the environment in Kenya where they are guests and they don't want to pay us for it," it added. 'The British must go' "Justice delayed is justice denied," the letter said, calling on the British government and King Charles to "stop treating Kenya like a colonial outpost". At the end of the press conference, a few hundred people chanted "we want our money" and "the British must go," briefly blocking traffic before dispersing. King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the East African nation from October 31 to November 3, his first trip to a Commonwealth country since becoming king last year, and his fourth official visit to Kenya. The British monarch will visit Nairobi and the port city Mombasa, but not the town of Nanyuki where the BATUK is based. While the army base fuels the local economy, it has also been implicated in several controversies in the area. The most high-profile case is the 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru, 21, who was found dumped in a septic tank after she reportedly went out partying with British soldiers at a hotel in Nanyuki. London has always assured its cooperation with the Kenyan investigation, which has so far produced no known public results. 20.10.2023 LISTEN President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Africa has a special place in the heart of Turkey. As a result, his country will continue to provide every kind of assistance to the continent to enable it take its rightful place in the global system. President Erdogan made this pledge when he addressed the closing ceremony of the just ended 4th Turkey-Africa Business and Economic Forum at the Istanbul Congress Centre. He said Turkey has over the years worked to advance its relations with Africa on the basis of equal partnership and win-win principle, noting that he paid more than 50 visits to Africa during his terms in office as Prime Minister and as President of Turkey. He added that Turkey has increased the number of its embassies in Africa to forty-four. We are proud to be hosting thirty-eight African embassies in Ankara. The number of our commercial counsellors will reach thirty-one. We have established business councils with forty eight countries. The number of countries with which we have agreements with on the mutual promotion and protection of investments has increased to thirty-two. We are glad to see that our relations with Africa in every area, from trade to investments to culture and education are strengthening day by day. We are of the opinion that the African continents free trade zone will offer major opportunities for trade and investments in the days ahead, he stressed. Stressing that Turkey views Africas success as its own success, President Erdogan said his country fully supported the African Unions G20 membership since the very beginning. Accordingly, we welcomed the African Unions admission as a member during the recent G20 Summit in New Delhi. I congratulate the President of the Comoros, my treasured brother, Azali Assoumani, on this significant membership, which materialized during his term presidency. Rest assured that we will continue to provide every kind of contribution in order for the African continent to take its rightful place in the global system, he noted. Noting that saddening incidents are unfortunately taking place at a global and regional scale, President Erdogan said he attaches importance to the initiative launched by some African leaders to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia through peaceful means. We also have been working for peace since the outset of the war. We have prevented the food crisis from getting worse with the Black Sea initiative. We enabled the safe passage of thirty-three million tons of grain through our straits during the period when the initiative was operational. However, we are aware that our African brothers and sisters couldnt benefit from the grain to the extent we desired despite all our sincere efforts. We conveyed our annoyance on this issue to our counterparts on numerous occasions, he stressed. Noting that old colonial habits manifested themselves on this issue as well, the President indicated that the problems endured by our African brothers and sisters have not been taken into consideration enough by rich western countries. We particularly attach importance to the fairer and more effective distribution of grain among African countries. We know that some African countries concerns increased because the Black Sea Initiative was not extended. During our talks with the President of Russia, Mr. Putin, we discussed and continue to discuss what can be done to address these concerns. Our talks continue in a bid to send one million tons of grain to the continent in the first phase. I believe these efforts will yield positive outcomes. Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta and Oti Regions, have declared their support for Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a Flagbearer hopeful of the Party ahead of the NPPs Presidential Contest on November 4. They said their choice of Mr Agyapong as the next Presidential Candidate of the Party hinged on his charitable deeds, care for people irrespective of party affiliations and fulfilment of promises he made. The supporters, however, expressed their dissatisfaction and grievances on the threats and intimidation making rounds in various constituencies in relation to the upcoming contest. Mr Christo Wisdom Klutse, Volta Regional Coordinator, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong Campaign Team, addressing the media during a press conference in Hohoe, said the grassroots were ready to lift themselves from the politics of intimidation and give themselves a quality life by voting for Mr Agyapong to be their leader. He alleged they had been abandoned for so long and have been left unattended to especially relating to their well-being. Mr Klutse thanked Mr Agyapong for being the father to the NPP grassroots when the Party turned its back on them. We the campaign team here in Volta and Oti regions are confident that the personality of our indefatigable candidate and his track record, as well as his love for and dedication to the grassroots are the indications that victory is assured. He appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming election was conducted on fair ground by providing a level playing field for all candidates, irrespective of status, tribe, or affiliation. Mr Klutse said Mr Agyapong supported the Ho Teaching Hospital during the COVID-19 period by supplying many PPE and cash to assuage the hospitals challenges. He said Mr Agyapong as a private businessperson, employed over 300 youth from Oti and Volta with 100 at management level in some of his private job outlets. Mr Klutse said Mr Agyapong also stepped up to save many lives by donating rice and cash to the poor and needy delegates in the Volta and Oti regions during the Christmas period. He said Mr Agyapong also supported all Constituencies with a cash sum of GHS 10,000.00 each during constituency elections across the regions. Mr Agyapong, according to Mr Klutse, had promised to elevate Ghana over any tribe; in his Ghana First Agenda that had the potential of building bridges among all tribes in Ghana. Mr Klutse said he had also promised to govern with patriotism, honesty, and discipline to make sure that corruption and lawlessness were drastically reduced to their barest minimum, if not completely eradicated. He said his people were living on Mr Agyapongs promises of mechanising agriculture and establishing a cassava factory and a yam processing factory in the two regions. He said they had resolved that it was Mr Agyapong they wanted to go with because he had presented himself as a trusted, honest, and visionary leader, who could lead the party and the nation. It would be therefore unfair and inhumane on their part as grassroots to turn their backs to the messiah who was with them through thick and thin, Mr Kluste said. GNA A great distraction preventing focus on the deluge which the technocrats at VRA have unleashed on the lower Volta River communities has broken up. Some people have been saying that President Akufo Addo's statement about votes in his now infamous speech at Mepe was just a joke; ostensibly in an attempt to reduce the severity of what was clearly a faux pas. This has caused some to respond that, even if a joke, it was made at the wrong time and place, and thus a gaffe. They too have a point. Some of our university dons have waded in with their own verdicts. I would not credit them by mentioning their names, as I believe they could do better. I am therefore wading in with my own analysis. It is my contention that the President descended to foot soldiers and Ghanaweb yobos levels by adding that statement about votes in his speech in the manner he did it. I side completely with the position that it was not a joke. President Akufo Addo did not joke at all; he was dead serious. Dr Letsas quick attempt to take the venom out of it with his lighthearted interpretation and tone saved the day. What I saw and heard was vintage Akufo Addo in his brazen and defiant demeanour. Now, in philosophy of language, depending on your own mood and perception, you may call that honest, forthright, haughty or arrogant demeanour. It is up to you, dear reader. Yes, it was a flippant statement, what the booklong will call "insouciant;" not a joke per se which fell flat. He even indicated his lack of concern, considering the situation, by saying so, that it was not his concern, that's the matter of votes. Why should that not be his concern, as it was important enough for him to raise it? Why raise it at all, and then dismiss it nonchalantly? Well, he had a reason to raise it. But first, a look at what insouciant means, since Twi is now the lingua franca of even the so-called educated Ghanaian elite. (The jingoists will come after me for this digression into another vexing thing I had to mention because I saw the army officer and others speaking Twi to the Ewe victims. I am waiting for them with my nails-studded club when they tried to deport me to Togo). "What is someone who is insouciant? () adjective. free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant." So, he shrugged his shoulders at the thought that votes should determine his response to the flood victims. But, that is not my concern, he said. Fine. It should not be. Now, the President was not in the country when the disastrous event started. Before he came back, his handlers would certainly have informed him about it, the criticisms of government's lukewarm response, and what Wontumi reportedly said in response to the outcry which was trending heavily. It is thus his concern and responsibility to make sure that, we the affected communities and the rest of the general public are reassured that Wontumi's statement, if true, is rebuked by the President. If not true, inform us that he checked but it was just a vicious rumour (one of those annoying NDC fake news), so we should disregard it. Yes, he heard what Wontumi allegedly said and was concerned enough that his whole statement touched on that. The Father for All Ghanaians speech in the beginning addressed that admirably, and I scored him perfect too. But when he came directly to addressing the votes and the contentious statement attributed to the semi-illiterate Wontumi whom the Asantes could only find suitable to elect as regional chairman, (for a tradition who used to mock the CPP DCE Kwame Kwakye of Awisa of blessed memory), he missed the road. Saying that he was President for all Ghanaians was enough if he had no intention of rebuking Wontumi or whatever, as a money swine we must disregard, as the others too who think they can be President, which includes a stark illiterate. Becoming cocky with a pointed rebuttal to the critics rather was patently wrong. He should rather have disassociated himself from what Wontumi allegedly said and leave it at that. Or, ask that people should ignore the circulating statement. That would have scored him maximum points. In any case, besides being an unwarranted statement, it was a misleading, categorical statement which implied that he and the NPP did not get any votes at all from the affected communities. "You don't vote for me". Really??? Can we examine the polls from the 2020 elections in order to see the percentage of the votes he and the NPP got from there, as there are indeed NPP supporters in those communities too. He totally disregarded their votes. That was insensitive, and some would say, disrespectful and/or insulting, to them. Secondly, the logic of you must vote for me in order to enjoy government support inherent in the statement is unconstitutional and gross. He is not doing the people charity by turning up at Mepe. No favours at all! He was performing his duty. It is taxes, not votes, that provide relief aid, and the people in those communities are also paying the multiple taxes imposed on goods and services by his government. His statement qualified to be classified as a faux pas, as he truly did not weigh the implications. For someone who has shown complete lack of emotion when tidal waves were inundated communities from Ada to Aflao, when just a Tweeter post would have sufficed, his foray into the calamities befalling the lower Volta basin certainly deserves the outcry it has received so far. Only foolish people, hypocrites or those trying to genuflect to the President as the Queen Mother of Mepe, will try to defend it. Unfortunately, there are no shortage of such foolish people and hypocrites in the NPP and Ghana. The President should not be seen descending to foot soldiers, Ghanaweb yobos and Wontumi Levels. Unfortunately , he has been caught with his pants down again! What a President! A former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong has said consultants for the Akosombo dam spillage must be made to answer for the extent of devastation. 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. Rev. Dr. Opuni Frimpong told Citi News in an interview that: we need to find out who were the consultants who did the feasibility studies and which impacts were they expecting for this spillage. And I believe some people must accept responsibility for what people are going through at the moment in parts of Ghana. We need to let people take responsibility for their actions. We cannot let this pass. citinewsroom BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Italy saw an increase in natural gas imports from Azerbaijan in August 2023, with a total of 758.7 million cubic meters, compared to 743.2 million cubic meters in July, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, told Trend. This represents a month-on-month increase of almost 2.09 percent in the volume of gas exports from Azerbaijan to Italy. Italy imported a cumulative 6.02 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan in the first eight months of 2023, with a total cost of 3.3 billion euros. In August, the value of these imports stood at 252 million euros, as compared to 259.4 million euros in July, showing a nearly 2.9 percent decrease in imports month-on-month. Azerbaijan, a pivotal gas supplier to Europe, relies on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) as part of the Southern Gas Corridor, with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, expandable to 20 billion cubic meters annually. From January through August 2023, Azerbaijan exported 7.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe, marking a 9-percent growth. During this period, Azerbaijan exported 6.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas, including 3.8 billion cubic meters via the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) to Turkiye and 1.5 billion cubic meters to Georgia. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn 21.10.2023 LISTEN It was Tuesday, November 18, 1969. The sun stood still, it frowned and refused to shine; possibly saddened by the promulgation of the Aliens Compliance Order by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia's government. The order read as follows: It has come to the notice of the Government that several aliens, both Africans and non-Africans in Ghana, do not possess the requisite residence permits in conformity with the laws of Ghana. There are others, too, who are engaging in business of all kinds contrary to the term of their visiting permits. The Government has accordingly directed that all aliens in the first category, that is those without residence permits, should leave Ghana within fourteen days that is not later than December 2, 1969. Adding salt to injury, and in an apparent attempt to justify the expulsion of aliens, Dr. Busia in his address to the third African Regional Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Accra, stated that 90 percent of Ghanas prison population and known criminals were aliens. Very humiliating, isn't it? But that was not all. Nearly one million aliens, mostly from the Zongo Communities, were mercilessly thrown out by security agents, and had their properties looted. As if that was not enough, Dr. Busia directed all banks not to honour any withdrawal in the excess of two thousand pounds, and the effect of this regulation was that majority of the aliens lost their life savings apart from their houses and other properties. Painful! Isn't it? Some of the aliens who had laboured for many years to acquire wealth in a foreign land, but had to return home empty handed, felt that life was not worth living, and so committed suicide. The Busia Government did not make any arrangement to transport the aliens to their respective countries. Some drivers and transport owners took advantage of the situation and manipulated transport fares to skyrocket. Most of the aliens could not afford the cost of transportation because the banks did not allow them to withdraw all their money. It is heartbreaking to reveal that some resorted to trekking across the borders on foot, and as a result of this strenuous experience, many of the aliens, including children, the aged, and pregnant women lost their lives out of exhaustion. I write this article with a lot of sentiments because I saw it as a small boy; and the family of one of my classmates, Baje Athie, a Fulani girl, was involved. The vehicle carrying my mate and the other members of her family during the repatriation exercise involved in an accident killing everybody, except Baje. She was not that fortunate though; she had both legs amputated at the hospital because of the impact of the accident. This was what Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia's party, the Progress Party (PP) which is now the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did to my Fulani classmate and other aliens from the Zongo Communities. Asking the people of Zongo Communities who have lived all their lives in a country, to pack and leave within two weeks, is most atrocious, most insensitive, most abominable, most heartless, most devilish, and in fact, most sinful; an act which can't be forgiven! I get tetchy and worried that most of the campaign promises of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to seek the welfare of the people of the Zongo Communities have not been met. Apart from a few Astro Turf facilities, projects like the renovation of the Islamic Research Institute at Nima in Accra, the construction of the Tunga Islamic Community School in the Ablekuma West Municipality in Accra and a few other projects scattered across the country, nearly all of their assurances have been suppositional. For example, there are no tangible evidence of the claim that almost all promised Model Senior High Schools in selected Zongo Communities in each of the 16 regions of the country have been built. And the promise to provide mechanized boreholes in each of the Zongos across the country remains only on paper. Allah should have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Zongo Communities in Ghana, and if they are reading this article, my advice to them is: once bitten, twice shy; it is my utmost belief that the needful thing will be done on December 7, 2024. Anthony Obeng Afrane Seeking to document the Russian invasion of Ukraine, photographer Edward Kaprov turned to a technique used nearly 200 years ago during the Crimean War. His haunting black-and-white portraits have a timeless quality to them, suggesting that while technology has changed, war remains the same. Kaprov's exhibition The Face of the Latest War is at the Baron Gerard Art and History Museum in Bayeux until 12 November as part of the Prix Bayeux Calvados-Normandy awards for war correspondents. It is the fruit of several months spent going back and forth between the conflict in Ukraine and Israel, where he is based. I have tried to juxtapose the past and the present, Kaprov says, a nod to the 19th-century photographic technique he used known as wet plate, or collodion process, which prints the negatives onto glass rather than paper. The technique was used by British photographer Roger Fenton to document the last two years of the Crimean War from 1854 to 1856. Over a hundred years later, Kaprov bought a van and transformed it into a dark room on wheels just like Fenton did, albeit with an engine instead of a horse. I deliberately try to confuse the viewer so that they look more carefully. What at first appear as old photos are in fact contemporary images, he told RFI. Echoes of history Kaprov grew up with stories of heroic wars and Russian exploits at the height of the Soviet Union's power. He never thought he would witness conflict firsthand. His wake-up call was a trip to Bucha, where he saw a mass grave of Ukrainian civilians murdered in April 2022. My eyes refused to believe so much cruelty and cynicism, he writes in the exhibition notes. When people asked him why he chose to go to the frontline in Ukraine, risking his life to take photographs, he answers simply: I cannot stand aside. Surrendering to chance His subjects have to stand very still for the picture to take form, not an easy thing to ask in the middle of a war. However, he says the people he met were keen to participate, once they understood his approach. I came up to them speaking Russian, coming from Israel and holding this strange camera he recalls. The results are surreal black-and-white scenes, dreamlike, suspended in time. There are portraits of men and women in uniform sitting in trenches, in cars or beside the road with trees or bombed-out buildings behind them. Some details are in sharp focus, others are blurry, while some are missing from the final print all together. It's all about technical manipulation, or hocus-pocus, Kaprov says; adjusting the lens, changing the depth of field, mixed with a bit of luck. Despite his experience, he admits to never being entirely sure what he's going to get. I like challenges, he laughs, acknowledging that the project was much harder than he could have imagined. Ghosts of war Kaprov indicates places in the frames where dogs, birds and other details could be seen during the shoot, but disappeared from the final print because they moved at the last minute. They are still there in his memory, but now invisible, like ghosts. They belong to the stories Kaprov hopes to tell when he compiles the images for a book. In the meantime, the viewer is left haunted by images of a past and present war, the futility of violence the thread between them. Nothing new under the sun, Kaprov sighs, quoting the Bible's Book of Ecclesiastes. Humans have always fought each other and sadly will continue to do so. Kaprov says his wet-plate project is far from finished. He wants to return to Ukraine, where there are subjects he still wants to explore, like injured soldiers and their families. I don't believe photography can end the war, but it gives me a reason to keep doing my work. To do what I do best with along with my suffering and my compassion. The short film Ukraine: a photographer in the war, which documents Edward Kaprov's work in the field, won first prize for grand format television at the 2023 Bayeux awards. It was made in collaboration with Daniel Fainberg and Eugene Titiv, co-produced by Magneto Presse and Polka for Arte Reportage. The Prix Bayeux Calvados-Normandy event is made up of eight exhibitions open to the public until 12 November. Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has begun moves at assessing the extent of damage the spillage of the Akosombo Dam has caused small and medium-scale enterprises in the Volta region and beyond. Among the hardest hit entities was Spring Agro Industries Limited, a rice processing company at Mafi-Adidome in the Central Tongu District, where more than 200 acres of rice farms have been submerged. Others are the Golden Exotic Limited, the country's largest banana producer and exporter to the European market report of losses of infrastructure running into US$500,000. Many other hotels on the fringes of the Volta River have largely been submerged, among others. This was announced by Mr Dela Gadzanku, the Volta, Oti, and Eastern Regional Chairman of the AGI during a visit to some member companies of the Association in the affected areas in Volta. He encouraged the affected business entities and individuals to remain steadfast in these difficult times. Mr Gadzanku further promised that the Association, led by its national leadership, would assist in its modest way to alleviate the plight of the people. He indicated that climate change was real and urged all to take issues of climate very seriously. Briefing the GNA at Mepe in the Central Tongu District, Mr Gadzanku announced that their outfit would bring together key experts in the upcoming Volta Trade and Investment Fair to discuss climate issues and the Akosombo Dam spillage to find lasting solutions to them. As already planned, the upcoming Volta Trade and Investment Fair to be organised by the Association would dedicate a day to discuss climate issues and the Akosombo spillage, bringing together key experts to find lasting solutions to this, he said. Mr Gadzanku together with some concerned partners, including leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association, earlier visited the main shelter at Mepe St Kizito SHS, where he interacted with some displaced persons, especially women and children. He also promised that their outfit would extend a helping hand to the affected residents. GNA The Volta Region House of Chiefs has launched a disaster relief fund to support victims of the Akosombo dam spillage in the Region. The regional body of traditional rulers has responded with a structured support initiative, called Volta Region House of Chiefs Disaster Relief Fund. The fund was launched in Ho, Friday, seeded with an amount of GHC50,000 taken directly from its welfare fund. We are launching a disaster relief fund for our displaced brothers and sisters in areas inundated by dam spillage. The spillage has brought so much suffering to our people, and it is in the light of our role as leaders in our communities that we are gathered here to map out a strategy for our brothers to see how best we can at least reduce the suffering that they are going through, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, President of the House, said. He appealed to all to support considering the enormity of the problem and noted the loss of livelihoods and investments in the downstream economy, calling on stakeholders including the operators of the dam, Volta River Authority (VRA), to work towards a lasting solution. Togbe Tepre Hodo commended ongoing support from corporate society, State institutions and religious bodies, praising also the First Sky Group for both cash and kind donations while helping construct several thousand housing units for the estimated 20,000 displaced in the Region. He rallied other individuals especially from the Region in the diaspora who wished to support the relocation effort, saying, we are at the brunt of all that is happening. The President of the House called attention to the possible outbreak of diseases in flooded settlements and said health stakeholders should consider an increase in volunteers to help safeguard human life. The region house of chiefs is collaborating with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's Volta Star Radio in Ho, and private broadcaster Radio Gold in Accra to promote and populate the relief fund, with more organisations expected to sign up. The House gave the assurance that the support initiative was being structured and decentralised to benefit all, and that a dashboard would be established for more effective distribution of the resources. A Volta Region House of Chiefs Disaster Relief Fund with account number 5011180003678, GCB Ho Main Branch, is available for monetary contributions and a Momo number would be made available soon. Traditional rulers from areas affected raised concerns over what they claimed was an over-concentration of ongoing relief support in certain areas, and that attention should be given to all affected. We are losing our communities, and the loud silence is deafening, Togbe Patamia, Paramount of Battor who Vice President of the House, said, citing the lack of a long-term solution to the lower Volta flooding. Osie Adza Terkpor of Avatime, and Chairman of the Social Affairs and Welfare Committee of the House, said it was concerned about the recovery of affected communities. It is important probably for the VRA to think about post disaster reconstruction, which is a key area, he stated. GNA The Accra Circuit Court 10 in the Commercial Court building has scheduled the delivery of its judgment for October 30 in a case involving two individuals accused of the unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered diabetes drugs, a violation of Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Acts 851). The court had initially informed the complainant, Mr. Elizabeth Esi Denyo, who also serves as the President of the Ghana Diabetes Association, that judgment would be passed on October 19. However, upon appearing in court on that date, the complainant was informed that the accused persons were absent. The case stems from an incident in November 26, 2021, when one Mary Alemina, a businesswoman, and George Asante, a marketer, were arrested in Adentan, in the Greater Accra Region, for the unauthorized sale and unregistered distribution of drugs claimed to cure diabetes. The accused individuals faced a total of 12 charges, ranging from conspiracy to commit unauthorized sales and distribution of unregistered drugs, in contravention of Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 19, to the most recent charge of unauthorized sale and distribution of unregistered drugs, as per Section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012, Acts 851. The case's facts, presented by Chief Prosecuting Lawyer (CPL) George Aboraa, state that Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyo, the President of the Ghana Diabetes Association (complainant), accused Mary Alemina and George Asante of selling unauthorized and distributing unregistered diabetes drugs. CPL Aboraa explained that on November 26, the complainant reported the matter to the police, stating that she had received calls on the Association's official cell phone number from individuals requesting a diabetes drug known as "INSUMED," which she knew had not been registered by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). Mrs. Denyo further informed the police that she had ordered some of the drugs online, and someone had been dispatched to deliver them to her at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Subsequently, the police set up an ambush and arrested the dispatch rider, who was carrying some drugs, including the purported "Insumed" diabetes drug. The dispatch rider led a team of police investigators and FDA personnel to the office of the accused individuals, where they were found processing some of the drugs for sale and distribution at Ritz junction near, Adenta. The accused persons were interrogated and admitted to being the distributors of the drugs. However, they could not produce certificates or any documents to prove the drugs' registration. As a result, the FDA took custody of the drugs as exhibits and locked the office. A formal letter was then sent by the police to the FDA, requesting the registration status of the exhibited drugs, which revealed that the drugs were not registered with the FDA. Following their interrogation and investigation, the two accused persons confessed to the offenses in their statements and were subsequently charged and brought before the court. In court on October 19, the presiding judge adjourned the ruling to October 30 at 12 noon Classfmonline 21.10.2023 LISTEN So, our Hon. The Attorney-General and his Deputy know how to speak? It would have been nice of them to answer a few of the questions that the public have been asking about the campaign against galamsey, without waiting for the `NDC to make charges against the NPP Government, before making public their effusions extolling what the Government is doing against galamsey. Unfortunately, even their attempt to compare what their Government has done with what the government of the NDC did NOT do, is largely of academic interest only. The objective questions, which will be asked about the campaign against galamsey, irrespective of what Government is in power, remain. Unanswered! Because even if the AG and his Deputy have the answers, they may not really wish to reveal them to the public. Self-preservation has been known to exist among holders of high office, irrespective of what political parties they belong to. In any case, they would be loath to provide the NDC with any anti-NPP ammunition. Alas, it has come to that although galamsey is steadily destroying the water drunk by both NPP and NDC supporters. Without discrimination! What the public wants to know, Honourable Attorneys, is this: why is it that numerous people have been arrested on many occasions, for engaging in galamsey, and yet when they are taken to court, they are not accompanied by the criminals who finance their operations? WHO provided the galamseyers who appear before the court(s) with the equipment for engaging in galamsey? Who SOLD to the financiers, the excavators, bulldozers and changfans utilised in galamsey? Did the seller(s) attempt to establish whether the equipment would be utilised in galamsey operations? Wouldnt that have been prudent, given the song-and-dance that has been made in this country about the destruction caused by galamsey? Is there not a crime, going by the name, accessories before and after the fact, whose existence is precisely to warn law-abiders not to assist (whether willingly or unwittingly) in the commitment of crime? Isnt the AGs office expected to educate the police, after reading the dockets produced against criminals, on omissions in the dockets, the further investigation of which might unearth more crimes? At the very least, shouldnt the AGs Department help the police to become more interested in the background to the commitment of certain offences? Shouldnt, in the interest of stamping out crime generally, the AGs Department advise the Police CID to covertly observe the characters who, although not directly related to galamsey suspects, offer properties and cash to obtain bail to persons arrested whilst engaging in galamsey? Is It really rocket science to suspect that a person who shows undue interest in the fate of a galamseyer, might be a hidden accomplice? Isnt it possible that a prospective bailor might be the employer of the arrested individual? Generally, shouldnt the AGs Department be interested in finding out why the Ghana police seems to be so uninterested in the issue of who provides bail to suspects? Is It because these bailors are usually people of influence? Additionally, are our Honourable Attorneys telling us that they haven't noticed that irrespective of whichever Government is in power, excavators and bulldozers manage to get driven along our roads (many of which have police roadblocks) to riverbanks and other places whose locations mark them out to be potential galamsey sites? Do these excavators and bulldozers and, especially changfangs not silently advertise galamsey!....galamsey!....galamsey! with their mere presence? Shouldnt the police automatically detain them until they can prove to skilled investigators that they are being driven to places where they DO have legitimate business to do (other than galamsey)? What impression do the AGs Department and the Police Service think is given by the widespread presence of such heavy equipment all over our countryside? As some Ghanaians ask sarcastically, DO THE EXCAVATORS FLY THERE? The answer to that question, DO THEY FLY THERE? demonstrates what a laughable nation we have become. For in truth and in fact, if we found armoured cars or tanks that weigh as much as the excavators and bulldozers whose presence in our rural areas we tolerate, being transported by lose-loaders to our countryside, we would declare war on those transporting them and wipe them out! Yet, whether we are killed by tanks and armoured cars, or by mercury poisoning of our drinking water, and ultimately, by thirst, we shall be just as dead as if we had been killed by lethal weapons unleashed on us by enemies from a foreign country. Where, oh God, has Ghanas sense of proportion vanished to? Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show leadership amid the flooding crisis that has hit parts of the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions. Several communities have been submerged in water following the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA). This has left at least 12,000 people displaced from their homes and now sleeping in tents, churches, and schools. During a visit by President Akufo-Addo to Mepe, one of the affected communities in the Volta Region, he assured of governments support but indicated that if it was a matter of who voted for him he wouldnt have visited the people. I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help. If it is the question of counting who votes for me and who doesnt vote for me I shouldnt be here because you dont vote for me but that is not my concern. In any event one day, you will vote for me and my party. I came here this afternoon to express my sympathies and to commiserate with all the people in the Mepe area, I chose Mepe because this is the area that has been most affected, President Akufo-Addo said. Speaking to TV3 during the Key Points programme on Saturday, October 21, Prof. Ransford Gyampo indicated that he did not like the demeanor of the president. He argued that in times of crisis, the President should show leadership instead of passing comments such as you didnt vote for me. I didnt like the gestures and the demeanor of the president who visited these victims especially when he was talking to the Togbui and was pointing his left hand at him. In times like this when there is a disaster all people require is leadership and when you are talking about leadership you are talking about the ability to inspire confidence in people, your utterances should inspire confidence in them and make them feel that we can overcome this challenge, the way and manner he spoke, in my view was completely unpresidential and it is becoming one too many, Prof. Ransford Gyampo said. The Political science lecturer further advised that while heading towards the end of his second term, President Akufo-Addo should prioritise leaving a certain legacy that posterity will be proud of. Several brokerages have updated their recommendations and price targets on shares of EQT (NYSE: EQT) in the last few weeks: 10/20/2023 EQT had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $51.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 10/10/2023 EQT is now covered by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein. They set an underperform rating and a $30.00 price target on the stock. 10/5/2023 EQT is now covered by analysts at StockNews.com. They set a hold rating on the stock. 10/2/2023 EQT had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $37.00 to $38.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 9/27/2023 EQT had its price target raised by analysts at Bank of America Co. from $60.00 to $62.00. 9/19/2023 EQT had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Truist Financial Co.. They now have a $39.00 price target on the stock. 9/18/2023 EQT had its price target lowered by analysts at Mizuho from $52.00 to $47.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 9/13/2023 EQT was downgraded by analysts at Scotiabank from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating. 9/11/2023 EQT had its price target raised by analysts at Truist Financial Co. from $35.00 to $39.00. They now have a hold rating on the stock. 9/1/2023 EQT had its price target raised by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $50.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 8/31/2023 EQT had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $51.00 to $50.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 8/23/2023 EQT had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada. They now have a $48.00 price target on the stock. EQT Price Performance Shares of NYSE EQT traded down $0.73 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $42.36. 4,357,423 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,218,650. The companys 50-day moving average is $42.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a market capitalization of $15.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.76, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.22. EQT Co. has a 1 year low of $28.10 and a 1 year high of $44.98. Get EQT Co alerts: EQT (NYSE:EQT Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $993.08 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.01 billion. EQT had a net margin of 38.44% and a return on equity of 10.61%. The businesss revenue was down 38.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.83 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that EQT Co. will post 1.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. EQT Increases Dividend Insider Activity The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 8th will be given a dividend of $0.1575 per share. This represents a $0.63 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. This is a boost from EQTs previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 7th. EQTs dividend payout ratio is currently 6.75%. In related news, major shareholder S Wil Vanloh, Jr. sold 20,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.40, for a total value of $828,000,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 23,946,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $991,368,871.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On EQT A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EQT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of EQT by 22.6% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,939,712 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $696,730,000 after purchasing an additional 3,125,927 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors bought a new position in shares of EQT during the first quarter valued at approximately $497,156,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of EQT by 66.1% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 11,115,761 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $382,493,000 after purchasing an additional 4,423,003 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of EQT by 30.9% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,691,411 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $277,343,000 after purchasing an additional 2,050,025 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of EQT by 0.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,917,879 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $324,837,000 after purchasing an additional 44,571 shares in the last quarter. 99.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. EQT Corporation operates as a natural gas production company in the United States. As of December 31, 2022, it had 25.0 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil reserves across approximately 2.0 million gross acres, including 1.8 million gross acres in the Marcellus play. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for EQT Co Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EQT Co and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE: EL) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 10/17/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Bank of America Co. from $175.00 to $148.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 10/12/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $191.00 to $173.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 10/12/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $162.00 to $137.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 10/11/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $165.00 to $155.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 10/10/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $216.00 to $185.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 10/10/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $164.00 to $155.00. 10/5/2023 Estee Lauder Companies is now covered by analysts at StockNews.com. They set a sell rating on the stock. 9/15/2023 Estee Lauder Companies was upgraded by analysts at Redburn Atlantic from an underweight rating to a neutral rating. They now have a $150.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $160.00. 9/7/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Berenberg Bank from $243.00 to $224.00. 8/25/2023 Estee Lauder Companies was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating. 8/24/2023 Estee Lauder Companies was downgraded by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from an outperform rating to a market perform rating. They now have a $160.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $230.00. 8/22/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Cowen from $200.00 to $180.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 8/22/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $207.00 to $172.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 8/22/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $193.00 to $163.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Raymond James from $220.00 to $195.00. They now have a strong-buy rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $224.00 to $191.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $243.00 to $200.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $215.00 to $200.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Telsey Advisory Group from $250.00 to $210.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Evercore ISI from $250.00 to $200.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $195.00 to $165.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at DA Davidson from $214.00 to $185.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 8/21/2023 Estee Lauder Companies had its price target lowered by analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $206.00 to $199.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. Estee Lauder Companies Trading Down 1.1 % EL stock traded down $1.51 on Friday, hitting $137.30. 1,572,156 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,059,563. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has a twelve month low of $136.30 and a twelve month high of $283.62. The businesss fifty day moving average is $150.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $184.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Get The Estee Lauder Companies Inc alerts: Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 18th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by $0.11. Estee Lauder Companies had a net margin of 6.32% and a return on equity of 21.79%. The company had revenue of $3.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.42 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. will post 3.64 earnings per share for the current year. Estee Lauder Companies Announces Dividend Insider Activity at Estee Lauder Companies The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. Estee Lauder Companiess payout ratio is 94.96%. In related news, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total transaction of $1,933,967.75. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,523,450. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Estee Lauder Companies news, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total transaction of $272,866.28. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 48,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,421,020.85. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total transaction of $1,933,967.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 55,800 shares in the company, valued at $8,523,450. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 12.77% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 1.2% in the first quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $863,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Estee Lauder Companies by 3.7% during the first quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,167 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in Estee Lauder Companies by 6.4% during the first quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 752 shares of the companys stock worth $185,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its position in Estee Lauder Companies by 3.1% during the first quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 1,523 shares of the companys stock worth $375,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its position in Estee Lauder Companies by 13.9% during the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 411 shares of the companys stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. 55.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A number of research firms have changed their ratings and price targets for Accenture (NYSE: ACN): 9/29/2023 Accenture had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada. They now have a $340.00 price target on the stock. 9/29/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $312.00 to $300.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 9/29/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at Robert W. Baird from $332.00 to $322.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 9/29/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Cowen from $312.00 to $300.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock. 9/29/2023 Accenture was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating. 9/29/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $360.00 to $350.00. 9/27/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $355.00 to $360.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock. 9/26/2023 Accenture had its outperform rating reaffirmed by analysts at Wedbush. They now have a $330.00 price target on the stock. 9/22/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Jaffray Companies from $314.00 to $312.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 9/22/2023 Accenture had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $314.00 to $312.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 9/18/2023 Accenture had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Citigroup Inc.. They now have a $358.00 price target on the stock. 9/12/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $340.00 to $356.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 9/12/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at TD Cowen from $300.00 to $312.00. They now have a market perform rating on the stock. 9/11/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at Barclays PLC from $340.00 to $390.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. 9/11/2023 Accenture was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating. 9/8/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at Robert W. Baird from $316.00 to $332.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 8/22/2023 Accenture had its price target raised by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $314.00 to $341.00. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. Accenture Stock Performance Shares of NYSE ACN traded down $5.94 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $297.00. 2,371,792 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,280,122. The company has a market cap of $197.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.58, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.22. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $313.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $303.61. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $330.43. Get Accenture plc alerts: Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 10.72%. The firm had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.60 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Accenture Increases Dividend Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a $1.29 dividend. This is an increase from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.74%. Accentures payout ratio is presently 47.91%. In other news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total value of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total value of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,552,500.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total value of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,264,064.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 16,250 shares of company stock worth $5,066,510. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Accenture Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in Accenture during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new position in Accenture during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Sageworth Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 872.7% in the first quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 107 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture in the third quarter valued at about $33,000. 70.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accenture plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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. Avestar Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 12.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,147 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,021 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,101,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of KO. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in Coca-Cola by 62.5% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 507 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Finally, KB Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.4 % KO traded up $0.22 on Friday, reaching $54.57. The companys stock had a trading volume of 15,686,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,214,603. The Coca-Cola Company has a fifty-two week low of $51.55 and a fifty-two week high of $64.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $57.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.32. The company has a market capitalization of $235.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.45, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.56. Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.74 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 43.06% and a net margin of 23.81%. Coca-Colas revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.70 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be issued a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 75.72%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on KO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $69.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Wedbush boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Coca-Cola has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.50. Check Out Our Latest Report on Coca-Cola Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total value of $4,956,681.94. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,835,527.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CFO John Murphy sold 156,290 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.10, for a total transaction of $9,705,609.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 228,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,210,343. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total value of $4,956,681.94. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,835,527.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 411,422 shares of company stock valued at $24,424,662. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Coca-Cola Profile (Free Report) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. (NYSE:BNRE Get Free Report) traded down 2.4% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $31.05 and last traded at $31.28. 10,857 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 6% from the average session volume of 11,543 shares. The stock had previously closed at $32.06. Brookfield Reinsurance Stock Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $321.44 million, a P/E ratio of 73.17 and a beta of 1.48. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $33.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.92. Get Brookfield Reinsurance alerts: Brookfield Reinsurance (NYSE:BNRE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Brookfield Reinsurance had a return on equity of 0.34% and a net margin of 0.07%. The business had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter. Brookfield Reinsurance Dividend Announcement Institutional Inflows and Outflows The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 14th were given a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.91%. Brookfield Reinsurances dividend payout ratio is currently 66.67%. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BNRE. BROOKFIELD Corp ON boosted its position in Brookfield Reinsurance by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 467,704 shares of the companys stock worth $15,836,000 after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the period. Barclays PLC acquired a new position in Brookfield Reinsurance during the 2nd quarter worth $56,000. Credit Suisse AG boosted its position in Brookfield Reinsurance by 25.3% during the 2nd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 10,356 shares of the companys stock worth $464,000 after acquiring an additional 2,090 shares during the period. Wintrust Investments LLC acquired a new position in Brookfield Reinsurance during the 2nd quarter worth $229,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Brookfield Reinsurance by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 307,102 shares of the companys stock worth $10,398,000 after acquiring an additional 11,271 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.35% of the companys stock. About Brookfield Reinsurance (Get Free Report) Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides annuity-based reinsurance products to insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Direct Insurance, Reinsurance, and Pension Risk Transfer (PRT). The Direct Insurance segment offers a range of insurance products and services including life insurance, annuities, property and casualty insurance, health insurance, credit insurance, and pension products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Reinsurance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Reinsurance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chesapeake Wealth Management lessened its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 14.0% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,897 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 310 shares during the quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Managements holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $475,000 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. Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,887,000. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 40,946 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $10,243,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 11.0% in the 2nd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 5,834 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,459,000 after acquiring an additional 579 shares during the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 47,830 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,965,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 40,337 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $10,091,000 after acquiring an additional 1,107 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ITW shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $235.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $238.25. Illinois Tool Works Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:ITW traded down $1.34 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $223.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,513,346 shares, compared to its average volume of 986,259. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $236.42 and a 200-day moving average of $238.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.11, a PEG ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $188.86 and a 12-month high of $264.19. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.02. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 94.14%. The company had revenue of $4.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 EPS. Illinois Tool Workss revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.74 earnings per share for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th were given a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.50%. This is an increase from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is 55.39%. About Illinois Tool Works (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CRHKY Get Free Report)s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $11.28 and traded as low as $10.45. China Resources Beer shares last traded at $10.75, with a volume of 10,893 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of China Resources Beer from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Get China Resources Beer alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on CRHKY China Resources Beer Price Performance China Resources Beer Cuts Dividend The firm has a fifty day moving average of $11.26 and a 200 day moving average of $12.84. The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 30th will be issued a $0.0693 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 29th. China Resources Beer Company Profile (Get Free Report) China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells beer products in Mainland China. The company offers its products under the Nong Li, Li, Lowen Fruit Beer, and Snow Draft Pure Malt Beer, Snow Xiao Pi Qi brands. The company was formerly known as China Resources Enterprise, Limited and changed its name to China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited in October 2015. Read More Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd lowered its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report) by 22.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 73,081 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 21,399 shares during the quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltds holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $13,099,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 210.7% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,943,616 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,878,723,000 after acquiring an additional 10,134,386 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,202,727 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,556,095,000 after acquiring an additional 414,934 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,273,417 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,988,777,000 after buying an additional 54,401 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 33.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 7,730,090 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,343,799,000 after buying an additional 1,949,775 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth $1,255,623,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.45% of the companys stock. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other United Parcel Service news, insider Nando Cesarone sold 22,825 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.70, for a total transaction of $3,919,052.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at $171.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on UPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $186.00 to $178.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $195.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on United Parcel Service in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on United Parcel Service from $185.00 to $179.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $173.00 to $160.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $187.96. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on UPS United Parcel Service Stock Performance Shares of UPS stock traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $151.96. The stock had a trading volume of 5,022,493 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,094,463. The businesss fifty day moving average is $160.72 and its 200-day moving average is $172.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $129.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.18, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $150.54 and a 1-year high of $197.80. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The transportation company reported $2.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $22.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.04 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 51.28% and a net margin of 10.41%. The companys revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.29 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 9.33 earnings per share for the current year. United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.26%. United Parcel Services payout ratio is 56.20%. United Parcel Service Profile (Free Report) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd reduced its stake in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Free Report) by 24.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 126,669 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 40,346 shares during the period. Gulf International Bank UK Ltds holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $10,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MS. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 0.7% during the first quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 15,970 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,402,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Carlson Capital Management increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 1.9% during the second quarter. Carlson Capital Management now owns 6,094 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $520,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Calamos Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 1.2% during the second quarter. Calamos Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,110 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $863,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 3.4% during the second quarter. Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,771 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Delta Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 3.8% during the first quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,370 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $296,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. 83.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Morgan Stanley Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of MS stock traded up $0.21 on Friday, hitting $73.13. 11,270,642 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,988,440. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $72.35 and a one year high of $100.99. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $82.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $85.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.34. Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $13.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.53 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 5.54 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 31st will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 30th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.65%. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is currently 60.93%. Morgan Stanley declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Friday, June 30th that allows the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 12.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday. Atlantic Securities boosted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $102.00 to $101.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Oppenheimer dropped 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Morgan Stanley presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $95.29. Check Out Our Latest Report on MS Insider Buying and Selling at Morgan Stanley In other Morgan Stanley news, insider Edward N. Pick sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.33, for a total transaction of $9,433,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 604,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $57,055,028.85. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO James P. Gorman sold 125,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.19, for a total value of $11,898,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,011,345 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $96,269,930.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Edward N. Pick sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.33, for a total transaction of $9,433,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 604,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,055,028.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 225,135 shares of company stock valued at $28,081,750 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. Morgan Stanley Company Profile (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. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 13.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 224,435 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 26,044 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Accenture were worth $69,256,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Sageworth Trust Co raised its stake in Accenture by 872.7% in the first quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 107 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, First Command Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Accenture by 131.6% in the first quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 132 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Activity In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total transaction of $2,244,200.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 36,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,552,500.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total value of $1,887,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 161,622 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $48,816,308.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 7,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.60, for a total value of $2,244,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 36,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,552,500.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,250 shares of company stock worth $5,066,510. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Accenture Price Performance NYSE:ACN traded down $5.94 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $297.00. The company had a trading volume of 2,385,700 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,097,017. The company has a market capitalization of $186.50 billion, a PE ratio of 27.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.22. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $313.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $303.69. Accenture plc has a 52 week low of $242.80 and a 52 week high of $330.43. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $15.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.07 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.60 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 12.1 EPS for the current fiscal year. Accenture declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, September 28th that allows the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the information technology services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Accenture Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of $1.29 per share. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This is a boost from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. Accentures payout ratio is 47.91%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ACN has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating and set a $358.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, September 18th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Accenture from $360.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Societe Generale lifted their price target on shares of Accenture from $314.00 to $373.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $333.24. Read Our Latest Analysis on Accenture About Accenture (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals (NYSE:VTN Get Free Report) crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $9.92 and traded as low as $8.68. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals shares last traded at $8.71, with a volume of 74,697 shares trading hands. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Stock Performance The businesss fifty day moving average price is $9.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.90. Get Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals alerts: Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Monday, October 16th will be issued a $0.032 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.47%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals About Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Woodline Partners LP raised its holdings in shares of Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals by 19.5% during the second quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 104,143 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,064,000 after purchasing an additional 17,004 shares during the period. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals during the second quarter worth about $1,371,000. Fiera Capital Corp increased its position in shares of Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals by 14.6% during the second quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 340,995 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $3,485,000 after acquiring an additional 43,355 shares in the last quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals during the second quarter worth about $86,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals during the second quarter worth about $248,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 25.19% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Canada Ltd., Invesco Hong Kong Limited, and INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of North American Palladium Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PALDF Get Free Report) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $14.98 and traded as low as $14.98. North American Palladium shares last traded at $14.98, with a volume of 21,600 shares changing hands. North American Palladium Trading Up 0.3 % The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $14.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $14.98. The firm has a market cap of $881.42 million, a P/E ratio of 8.03 and a beta of 2.08. North American Palladium Company Profile (Get Free Report) North American Palladium Ltd. produces precious metals in Canada. It explores for palladium, platinum, gold, nickel, copper, and other metals. It primarily holds interest in the Lac des Iles mine that is located to the northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for North American Palladium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North American Palladium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Petards Group plc (LON:PEG Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 7.21 ($0.09) and traded as low as GBX 6 ($0.07). Petards Group shares last traded at GBX 6.25 ($0.08), with a volume of 31,000 shares. Petards Group Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of 3.53 million, a P/E ratio of 475.00 and a beta of 0.87. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 6.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 7.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. About Petards Group (Get Free Report) Petards Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, supplies, and maintains technologies used in advanced security, surveillance, and ruggedized electronic applications in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. It offers rail technology solutions, such as eyeTrain, a solution for digital on-train surveillance subsystem; and RTS, a solution that provides safety for railway infrastructures by supporting rail companies and sub-contractors with resources, assets, safety, and failure management software. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Petards Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petards Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The Association of Travel Agencies of Azerbaijan (ATAA) has discussed cooperation with an international hotel chain, Trend reports. According to the association, ATAA chairman of board Goydaniz Gahramanov, vice president of international hotel chain Aitken Spence Hotels Darrell De Cruz, business development director of the hotel chain in Russia and CIS countries Marina Smirnova, manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Srinivasa Reddy, and Air Arabia's representative in Baku Zohrab Aliyev discussed the development of mutual tourism ties and the establishment of joint cooperation. Goydaniz Gahramanov said the association is interested in opening new destinations in foreign countries and developing cooperation with tourism organizations and hotel chains in these directions. In addition to noting that the number of visitors to Sri Lanka and the Maldives has increased, Goydaniz Gahramanov emphasized the importance of expanding ties between Aitken Spence Hotels and ATAA members. During the discussions, the representatives of Aitken Spence Hotelsprovided the ATAA Chairman with detailed information on the potential of the hotel chain, number of countries, direction of activities, as well as their success in the global hotel industry. The parties exchanged views on increasing mutual tourist attractiveness, the development of bilateral relations, the preparation of interesting projects and tourist destinations, and other issues. Aitken Spence Hotels operates 22 hotel and resort chains in Sri Lanka, India, Oman, and the Maldives under two main brands: Heritage Hotels and Resorts as well as Adaaran Resorts and Spa. Shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 120.90 ($1.48) and traded as high as GBX 123.10 ($1.50). Royal Bank of Scotland Group shares last traded at GBX 120.90 ($1.48), with a volume of 11,987,617 shares trading hands. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Trading Down 0.4 % The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 120.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 120.90. The company has a market cap of 14.66 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.37. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers worldwide. It operates through Personal & Business Banking, Commercial & Private Banking, RBS International, and NatWest Markets segments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Scotland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Scotland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Scottish American Investment Co PLC (LON:SCAM Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 417.50 ($5.10) and traded as high as GBX 418.67 ($5.11). Scottish American Investment shares last traded at GBX 417.50 ($5.10), with a volume of 170,822 shares. Scottish American Investment Trading Up 0.6 % The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 417.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 417.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.49, a quick ratio of 3.80 and a current ratio of 3.80. The company has a market capitalization of 603.25 million and a PE ratio of 9.08. About Scottish American Investment (Get Free Report) The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co and OLIM Property Limited. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Scottish American Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scottish American Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (LON:SMT Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 674.46 ($8.24) and traded as low as GBX 665 ($8.12). Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 669.20 ($8.17), with a volume of 1,575,505 shares trading hands. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Trading Down 1.9 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.86, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of 9.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -322.24 and a beta of 0.70. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 673.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 666.74. About Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (Get Free Report) Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co It invests in public equity markets of countries across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (CVE:SPA Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.18 and traded as low as C$0.16. Spanish Mountain Gold shares last traded at C$0.16, with a volume of 35,500 shares changing hands. Spanish Mountain Gold Price Performance The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$0.19. The stock has a market cap of C$61.54 million, a P/E ratio of -70.00 and a beta of 1.91. The company has a current ratio of 13.85, a quick ratio of 3.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Get Spanish Mountain Gold alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Lembit Janes purchased 688,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$0.18 per share, for a total transaction of C$123,840.00. Corporate insiders own 31.16% of the companys stock. About Spanish Mountain Gold Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd., an exploration stage resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Spanish Mountain gold project, which comprises approximately 50 contiguous mineral claims and 13 placer claims covering an area of approximately 10,414 hectares located in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Spanish Mountain Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spanish Mountain Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,592 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 150 shares during the quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLCs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,758,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vise Technologies Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the first quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 4,388 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $883,000 after purchasing an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 25.6% during the first quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,046 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,016,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.1% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,933,582 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $389,153,000 after purchasing an additional 21,361 shares during the last quarter. First Hawaiian Bank raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.9% during the second quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 12,535 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $2,565,000 after purchasing an additional 806 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 282.1% during the first quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA now owns 5,350 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,077,000 after purchasing an additional 3,950 shares during the last quarter. 77.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Union Pacific alerts: Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5 % Union Pacific stock traded up $1.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $211.34. The stock had a trading volume of 5,485,718 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,355,214. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $183.69 and a twelve month high of $240.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.80 billion, a PE ratio of 20.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.72. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $213.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $208.10. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The railroad operator reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $5.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.96 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 49.14% and a net margin of 26.37%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.19 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is presently 49.90%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total transaction of $222,830.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 99,378 shares in the company, valued at $22,144,399.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total value of $222,830.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 99,378 shares in the company, valued at $22,144,399.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 8,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.43, for a total value of $1,935,141.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 42,061 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,355,628.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $171.00 to $168.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $282.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. Stephens raised their price target on Union Pacific from $232.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Raymond James raised their price target on Union Pacific from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $234.24. Get Our Latest Research Report on Union Pacific About Union Pacific (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (OTCMKTS:USNZY Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1.31 and traded as low as $1.16. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais shares last traded at $1.17, with a volume of 4,771 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Get Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on USNZY Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Stock Down 1.7 % Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Company Profile The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $1.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $1.43. (Get Free Report) Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA manufactures and markets flat steel products in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Mining and Logistics, Steel Metallurgy, and Steel Transformation. It extracts and process iron ore, such as pellet and sinter feed and, granulated iron ore; provides storage, handling, and road cargo transportation services; and operates highway and railway cargo terminals. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watsco (NYSE:WSO.B Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The construction company reported $4.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.11, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Watsco had a return on equity of 22.66% and a net margin of 8.14%. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion for the quarter. Watsco Stock Performance Shares of WSO.B opened at $375.00 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $370.09 and a 200-day moving average of $355.10. The company has a market cap of $14.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.75 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 3.08. Watsco has a 1 year low of $232.59 and a 1 year high of $388.50. Get Watsco alerts: Watsco Announces Dividend 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 paid a dividend of $2.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. This represents a $9.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.61%. Watscos payout ratio is currently 64.69%. About Watsco Watsco, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment; and related parts and supplies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It offers residential ducted and ductless air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment systems; and other specialized equipment. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Watsco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watsco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The financial services provider reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.06, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Webster Financial had a net margin of 24.45% and a return on equity of 13.65%. The business had revenue of $677.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $686.11 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Webster Financials quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Webster Financial Trading Down 4.8 % Shares of WBS opened at $38.19 on Friday. Webster Financial has a 1-year low of $31.03 and a 1-year high of $56.46. The company has a 50-day moving average of $40.95 and a 200 day moving average of $39.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.32 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.89. Get Webster Financial alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on WBS shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $50.00 to $42.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Morgan Stanley increased 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. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Seaport Res Ptn restated a buy rating on shares of Webster Financial in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $53.00 to $47.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.18. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Webster Financial A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WBS. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 9,388.9% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 854 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 845 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Webster Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 305.8% during the 1st quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 905 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 682 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 209.8% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,227 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Webster Financial by 113.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,074 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.37% of the companys stock. Webster Financial Company Profile (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. See Also 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. you are here: BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Latvia sees the need to have the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) expanded in the interests of its future development, a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia told Trend. "The logistics costs and cargo delivery times are also much lower than through the Trans-Caspian corridor. The Trans-Caspian corridor has a great potential for development; however, there still remains quite a lot of institutional, physical and operational barriers to expanding the capacity of the route. One of the main constraints is the vessel capacity in the Black and Caspian Seas. In order to develop this alternative route, there is a clear need to expand the capacity of this corridor," the ministry said. The Latvian MFA added that the current geopolitical situation should clearly facilitate that, yet, nevertheless, the transportation services through traditional routes through Russia are still functioning quite well. It was pointed out that the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is an important alternative route in Eurasian logistics chains to connect Central Asia to Europe, bypassing Russia. "The traditional corridor from Asia to Europe via Russia and Belarus is now much more affected by the geopolitical disruption and different security risks, inter alia, the evasion of sanctions during the transit through Russia and Belarus to Central Asia," the ministry said. 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. https://www.moneycontrol.com/https:/www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/we-do-not-agree-with-indian-decisions-uk-on-canadian-diplomats-exit-11577951.html?PAGE_VIEW_IN_EU_REGION=1&DEVICE_TYPE=desktop USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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 The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has signed an agreement with Saudi Global Ports (SGP) to build a fully logistics park in Dammam at a total investment of nearly SAR1 billion ($266 million). The SGP operates two container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, which is a joint venture between the 'Saudi Public Investment Fund', the Singaporean 'PSA International Company', and Al Balagaa Group'. According to Mawani, the park is designed to offer comprehensive logistics services and innovative solutions, with a strong focus on sustainable practices and systems. It includes warehouses and yards equipped to store and handle all types of dry and refrigerated goods. Additionally, the park features a bonded and re-export area specifically dedicated to sorting, distribution operations, and other value-added services, it stated. The agreement was signed by Mawani President Omar Hariri and Saudi Global Ports Company CEO Edward Tah in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy; Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Dr. Tan See Leng, Singaporean Minister of Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. Hariri has affirmed that this new logistics park is part of the Mawani initiative to expand the number of logistics parks within Saudi ports to 12. This expansion is expected to elevate the kingdom's position in the global logistics services performance index from its current 38th place to the 10th. Furthermore, it will solidify its regional leadership in logistics. Al Jasser, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mawani, has stated that this recent agreement falls under both local and international private sector investments. The objective of these investments is to establish multiple high-performance logistics zones that will enhance the efficiency of the logistics sector, improve service quality, increase handling numbers, and generate additional job opportunities. This initiative is expected to strengthen the role of the logistics sector in supporting the national economy and reinforce the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents. This aligns with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services and Vision 2030. Al Jasser emphasized that the contracts signed with the private sector over the past two years to develop and expand investments in logistics areas illustrate the attractiveness of Saudi ports and the Saudi logistics sector. They also highlight the vast and promising opportunities within this crucial sector, which plays a significant role in driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development. Importantly, 'Mawani' has succeeded in attracting national and international investments and major logistics companies through signing several agreements to establish 11 logistics zones. These zones will be strategically located in the Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, and King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu. The total investment for these initiatives is nearing SAR4.2 billion. "This significant investment will not only lead to the creation of over 13,000 direct and indirect jobs within the logistics sector, but it is also expected to trigger a major economic revival," stated the minister. "These initiatives are expected to bolster the gross domestic product, enhance international trade relations, improve multimodal transport connections, and foster growth in the logistics services industry," he added.-TradeArabia News Service https://www.moneycontrol.com/https:/www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/documentary-on-gazas-survival-at-worlds-largest-documentary-film-festival-in-amsterdam-11569471.html?PAGE_VIEW_IN_EU_REGION=1&DEVICE_TYPE=desktop USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept heck out my Closing Bell video where I update you on my bearish call on the S&P 500 and ASX 200 and show you what could be coming next if the selling continues. As US 10-year bond yields spike higher, stocks are finally creaking under the pressure. I have been consistently warning about the possibility of a sharp sell-off in the S&P 500 for the last few months and it looks like we are getting closer to a serious shift in momentum to the downside. The monthly sell pivot was confirmed last month from a major sell zone so the risk is high that a failure below the 200 day moving average could see selling pressure increase. You know more than me what happened in the US last night because Im writing this on Friday, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was another serious down night. If it didnt crack last night, I reckon it will do so soon. Japanese government bonds continue to sell off with the 10-year yield jumping from 0.40% to 0.83% over the last few months. Is that an accident waiting to happen? US commercial real estate is under pressure again as long-term rates rise. If we see problems there, US regional banks will take another hit. As always it is difficult to know what will break and often it is something from left field, but the higher rates march the closer we are to an accident. US stocks have been incredibly resilient for the last few months as rates rose, but I think that is about to change. Check out my Closing Bell video above where I update you on my bearish call on the S&P 500 and ASX 200 and show you what could be coming next if the selling continues. Regards, Murray Dawes, Editor, Money Weekend U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2023. Hundreds of preschoolers and their parents gather Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, on the Adelup lawn to celebrate the declaration of the month of October as Head Start Awareness Month. Sen. William Parkinson is seen Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna. Parkinson introduced a bill with the intent to make government offices more accessible to people with disabilities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. The Georgian Airways will suspend its flights to Tel Aviv from October 22, the Georgian Embassy in Israel says, Trend reports. It is reported that Israeli airlines Israir Airlines, Arkia Airline and El Al Israel Airline will continue to operate flights to Georgia. The reason for the termination of Georgian Airways flights to Tel Aviv is the requirements of international insurance companies. Instead, the company is launching an additional Larnaca-Tbilisi flight intended for transit passengers from Israel. It is reported that over the past three days there has been a decline in demand, and planes flying from Israel to Georgia are not completely full. The US is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and should do more, ambassador to Japan says The US is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and should do more, ambassador to Japan says View Photo 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 Chinas 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 Chinas calculations, and the US can do more, Emanuel said. I think its 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 thats going to be there tomorrow. By DIDI TANG Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) Russia named a replacement for the former head of the countrys Aerospace Forces, who was dismissed in the wake of this summers brief rebellion against the military establishment, state news agencies reported Friday. The Tass and RIA-Novosti agencies both cited a source as saying Col. Gen. Viktor Afzalov, who reportedly had been acting head of the air force since mid-August, was given the full post. He replaces Gen. Sergei Surovikin. There was no official confirmation of the report, but state agencies frequently represent official positions through reports citing anonymous officials in Russias defense and security establishment. Surovikin was believed to have had close ties with Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, who mounted a rebellion in June seeking the dismissal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov. Prigozhin accused both of undermining Wagner forces who were key fighters in eastern Ukraine. After the uprising disintegrated, Surovikin was not seen in public for months. Reports of his dismissal came one day before Prigozhin and several top lieutenants died in a private plane crash widely regarded as suspicious. Surovikin had commanded Russias forces in Ukraine from October 2022 until January, when he was replaced in that role by Gerasimov. AP visual analysis: Rocket from Gaza appeared to go astray, likely caused deadly hospital explosion View Photo Shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday, a volley of rockets lit up the darkened sky over Gaza. Videos analyzed by The Associated Press show one veering off course, breaking up in the air before crashing to the ground. Seconds later, the videos show a large explosion in the same area the site of Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Who is to blame for the fiery explosion has set off intense debate and finger pointing between the Israeli government and Palestinian militants, further escalating tensions in their two week-long war. The AP analyzed more than a dozen videos from the moments before, during and after the hospital explosion, as well as satellite imagery and photos. APs analysis shows that the rocket that broke up in the air was fired from within Palestinian territory, and that the hospital explosion was most likely caused when part of that rocket crashed to the ground. A lack of forensic evidence and the difficulty of gathering that material on the ground in the middle of a war means there is no definitive proof the break-up of the rocket and the explosion at the hospital are linked. However, APs assessment is supported by a range of experts with specialties in open-source intelligence, geolocation and rocketry. In the absence of additional evidence, the most likely scenario would be that it was a rocket launched from Gaza that failed mid-flight and that it mistakenly hit the hospital, said Henry Schlottman, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and open-source intelligence expert. WHAT AP FOUND The AP reached its conclusion by reviewing more than a dozen videos from news broadcasts, security cameras and social media posts, and matching the locations to satellite imagery and photos from before the explosion. A key video in the analysis came shortly before 7 p.m. local time, when the Arabic-language news channel Al Jazeera was airing live coverage of the Gaza City skyline. As a correspondent speaks, the camera pans to zoom in on a volley of rockets being fired from the ground nearby. One of the rockets appears to veer from the others, away from the distant lights of Israel and back toward a darkened Gaza City, where electricity has largely been cut. The camera follows the light from the rockets tail as it arches in the sky upwards and toward the left. Suddenly, the rocket seems to fragment, and a piece appears to break off and fall. Another fragment shoots sharply up and to the right, blazing before it explodes in a fireworks-like flash, leaving a brief trail of sparks. A small explosion is then seen on the ground in the distance, followed two seconds later by a much larger blast closer to the camera. The corner of the scroll at the bottom of the live broadcast reads 6:59 p.m. Gaza time. Using maps and satellite imagery, the AP was able to match the view of the explosion from Al Jazeeras live camera feed to an upper floor of the building that houses Al Jazeeras Gaza bureau, which is less than a mile (1.5 kilometers) from the al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Using other buildings visible in the frame, the AP was able to confirm that the larger explosion seen at 6:59 p.m. was in the precise direction of the hospital. A second video, taken from a camera inside Israel at the exact time as the Al Jazeera footage and obtained by the AP, shows a barrage of at least 17 rockets being launched from inside Gaza before a large explosion lights up the horizon on the Palestinian side of the border. The camera is on a building in Netiv Haasara, an Israeli community footsteps from the border wall, and faces southwest, confirming that the rocket launches and explosion were in the direction of Gaza City. A third video by Israeli news station Channel 12 taken from a camera on the upper floor of its building in Netivot, a town about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of the hospital in Gaza City also captured the barrage of rockets fired at 6:59 p.m. Seen together, the three videos show multiple rockets were launched from inside Gaza before one appears to have come apart in midair about three seconds before the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital. At 7 p.m., one minute after the explosion, Hamas military wing al-Qassam Brigades said in a post to its Telegram channel that it fired at occupied Ashdod with a barrage of rockets. Ashdod is an Israeli coastal city about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Gaza. Minutes later, Islamic Jihad, a militant group that works with Hamas, also posted on Telegram that it had launched a rocket strike on Tel Aviv in response to massacre against civilians. Over the next hour, there were five more posts from the militant groups announcing rocket attacks against Israel. Israels military has repeatedly said it did not strike the hospital and blamed an errant rocket fired from within Gaza by the Islamic Jihad. Israels assessment, backed by U.S. intelligence and President Joe Biden, also cited the lack of both a large crater and extensive structural damage that would be consistent with a bomb dropped by Israeli aircraft. Hamas calls Israels narrative fabricated and accuses it of punishing the hospital for ignoring a warning to evacuate two days earlier, though it has not released any evidence to support its claims. Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the AP the group would welcome a United Nations investigation into the cause of the blast. Look at the stupid position that was taken by the President of the United States of America who said, I agree with Israels version without any investigation, Hamad said. Unfortunately, the Western world is full of hypocrisy. WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY AP ran its visual analysis by a half-dozen experts who all agreed the most likely scenario was a rocket from within Gaza that veered off and came apart seconds before the explosion. Andrea Richardson, an expert in analyzing open-source intelligence who is a consultant with the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, said specific landmarks visible in the videos show where the rockets were launched. From the video evidence that I have seen, its very clear that the rockets came from within Gaza, said Richardson, a human rights lawyer and experienced war crimes investigator who has worked in the Middle East. She added that the timing of the rocket launches, the explosion and the first reports that the hospital had been hit also seemed to confirm the sequence of events. While still potentially lethal, the explosive warheads carried by the homemade rockets used by militants in Gaza can be relatively small when compared with the munitions used by large militaries like those of the U.S. and Russia. With Gazas borders and ports blockaded for the past decade, militants often build rockets and launch tubes inside Gaza using whatever parts and materials they can scavenge, including underground water pipes. Justin Crump, a former British Army officer and intelligence consultant, said the failure rate of such homemade rockets is high. You can see obviously it fails in flight, it spins out and disintegrates, and the impacts on the ground follow that, said Crump, CEO of Sibylline, a London-based strategic advisory firm. The most likely explanation is this was a tragic accident. Such a scenario unfolded last year, when Islamic Jihad-fired rockets malfunctioned and killed at least a dozen Gaza residents. The AP reported at the time that live TV footage showed the militant rockets falling short in densely packed residential neighborhoods. THREE-SECOND GAP Some of the questions about who is to blame focus on the three-second gap between the rockets explosive breakup in the sky and the explosion on the ground at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and whether those two events are linked, especially because the videos analyzed by AP dont appear to show a trace of light that follows the rocket to the ground. Outside experts said its not possible to rule out with absolute certainty that the rocket launches occurring near the hospital and the timing of the explosion seconds later are just a coincidence. However, they also noted there is no evidence to support that scenario. Richardson said the timestamps on videos showing the rocket launches from within Gaza, the midair malfunction and the large explosion striking the hospital below within seconds of each other provided a logical chain of events. An incredibly small timeframe, she said. Intelligence analyst Schlottman said the most likely scenario remains that it was a militant rocket that somehow had some kind of malfunction mid-flight and then landed on the hospital. We have video of when the explosion happened and the only rocket visible in that video was the one that kind of had that diverging trajectory, he said. We cannot possibly exclude other scenarios. Just what we have right now points to that. EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND About 10 minutes after the multiple rocket launches from Gaza were captured on video Tuesday night, posts began to appear on social media. The AP verified a video taken from a balcony near the hospital that shows the moment of impact, with the loud whizzing sound followed by a huge fireball and the clap of a massive explosion. AP could find no visual evidence to support speculation that the blast was triggered by a car bomb or other such device. Oh God! Oh God! a mans voice exclaims in Arabic. The hospital! says a second male voice. Other videos and photos reviewed by AP appear to show the explosion in the hospitals central parking lot and courtyard, where civilians had taken refuge after orders to evacuate the city. Some footage shows burning cars and more than a dozen dead bodies, including those of children. AP photos taken the morning after Tuesdays explosion showed no evidence of a large crater at the impact site that would be consistent with a bomb like those dropped by Israeli aircraft in other recent strikes. The hospital buildings surrounding the outdoor area at the center of the explosion were still standing and did not appear to suffer significant structural damage. A small crater photographed in the hospitals parking lot appeared to be about a meter across, suggesting a device with a much smaller explosive payload than a bomb. While Israels extensive arsenal includes smaller missiles that can be fired from helicopters and drones, there has been no public evidence of such missile strikes in the area around the al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday night. David Shank, a retired U.S. Army colonel and expert on military rockets and missiles, said the large fireball captured on video at the hospital could potentially be explained by the fact the malfunctioning militant rocket impacted prematurely and was still full of propellant. That highly volatile fuel then ignited when it hit the ground, setting off a large explosion but leaving a relatively small crater. After Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel that killed 1,400, with another 200 people taken hostage, Israels military said it dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza in the first week of the war alone, and Gaza officials say that campaign has so far resulted in more than 4,100 deaths. Hamas spokesman Hamad said that Israeli officials had threatened al-Ahli Arab hospital and other medical facilities, and ordered their evacuation before the deadly blast. He argued that the missiles belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad would not have been capable of inflicting such damage. Al-Ahli Arab Hospitals operators posted on its website that the facilitys cancer center was struck by Israel three days before the deadly blast, leaving a hole in an exterior wall and an unexploded artillery shell next to an ultrasound machine. IRON DOME THEORY Speculation has circulated on social media in the days since the explosion that the breakup of the rocket and the explosion on the ground was caused by Israels Iron Dome defense system, which is designed to shoot such rockets out of the sky. Israel has said it does not use its Iron Dome system within Gaza, but to intercept and destroy rockets coming into Israeli airspace. Experts also noted multiple videos from around the time of the hospital explosion showed no visible evidence of Iron Dome missiles being fired from Israel into the airspace over Gaza. John Erath, the senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and an expert on missile defense, said that while it might be technically possible for Iron Dome to intercept a missile over Gaza, it would be unlikely in this case because the projectile was very early in its flight path still on the way up and the system is designed to only intercept projectiles it determines are on a flight path to a populated part of Israel. Im not saying that its impossible, Erath said. But based on my understanding of how the system works, it is unlikely. Added missile expert Shank: They dont engage a target unless its going to impact a critical asset such as a population area, maybe a power grid, maybe a military base. Its technically designed to take the best shot that gives it the highest probability of kill, he said. And for Iron Dome that is not over Gaza. ___ AP Global Investigative Reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington. Reporters Abby Sewell in Beirut and Danica Kirka in London contributed. __ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. By MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press No criminal charges in Tacoma, Washington, crash that killed 6 Arizona residents View Photo TACOMA, Wash. (AP) No one will face criminal charges following a two-car crash in Tacoma, Washington, that killed six Arizona residents in July, according to Pierce County prosecutors. A three-month Washington State Patrol investigation into the July 15 crash at the intersection of state Route 509 and Alexander Avenue determined the Arizona residents vehicle ran a red light when the crash occurred, the Tacoma News Tribune reported Thursday. The crash happened about 11 a.m., when a Kia Forte sedan holding seven people drove through the intersection and was hit by an eastbound driver in a BMW SUV, according to charging decision documents. The Kia hit a curb, rolled 70 feet (21 meters) and caught fire. Five of the Kias occupants were declared dead at the scene, and a sixth died later at St. Joseph Medical Center. A seventh occupant a Phoenix man survived with serious injuries but had no memory of the crash. The group had traveled to Tacoma to attend an Amway convention, family members told the News Tribune. Those who died were Felix Y Begay, 25, of Kayenta, Arizona; Cerra Corner, 19, of Phoenix; Lisa Esparza, 19, of Phoenix; Javan Runnels, 22, of Phoenix; Calsie Sockyma, 25, of Tuba City, Arizona and Erick Tsosie, 25, of Kayenta, Arizona. Five of the victims Corner, Begay, Runnels, Sockyma and Tsosie were in the backseat of the Kia not wearing seatbelts. Esparza was driving, and the Phoenix man who survived was in the front passengers seat. The driver and passenger in the BMW a 42-year-old Tacoma man and his 40-year-old wife were uninjured. There was insufficient evidence to prove the BMW driver acted with disregard for the safety of others, according to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Dasse. The incident was not vehicular homicide or vehicular assault, she said. Violence forced them to flee. Now faith sustains these migrants on their journey to the US Violence forced them to flee. Now faith sustains these migrants on their journey to the US View Photo TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) Night after night for six weeks, Erika Hernandez knelt outside her home in central Mexico and prayed: Please, God, dont let my son turn into a criminal. I prayed a lot. I fasted. My faith was huge, said the 46-year-old woman, fearing her son would be forcibly recruited by a criminal organization. It didnt take long for God to listen, Hernandez said. By early June, after being kidnapped by members of the Familia Michoacana drug cartel near Mexico City, her son escaped and the family fled north hoping to cross in the United States. For many migrants like Hernandez, their faith has been essential for coping with their challenging circumstances. Hernandez and 10 of her relatives spent three months hopping on buses, taxis and walking until they reached the Movimiento Juventud shelter in Tijuana, in northern Mexico, where they are awaiting an opportunity to find a safer home in America. Before her sons kidnapping, the idea of migrating to the United States had never crossed Hernandezs mind. Her family owned cattle and several tracts of farmland. They had a good life. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in early October that about 10,000 migrants per day were heading to the U.S. border. Waves of people riding atop railway cars forced Mexicos largest railroad to suspend dozens of freight trains. While many places in Mexico provide shelter for Venezuelans, Haitians and Central Americans, some shelters in Tijuana have seen an influx of Mexicans fleeing violence, extortion and threats by organized crime. Jose Guadalupe Torres reached out to God as soon as he left his home in the central state of Guanajuato. His motives mirrored Hernandezs: His family was threatened by a drug cartel. We parted ways to be safe, the 62-year-old said. But God has always been with us. Now he prays for an appointment that will allow him to enter the United States. Early this year, the Biden administration launched an online appointment system as a recommended way for migrants to request asylum, though thousands cross the border illegally every day. This is the precise time to preach the word of God, said pastor Albert Rivera, an evangelical who currently provides a roof and spiritual guidance for nearly 400 migrants in Agape, a nearby shelter. According to Rivera, many migrants saw their children being murdered, suffered through the kidnapping of a family member, or lost everything to pay criminal extortion demands. We have received women married to hitmen whose enemies have shot their homes and said: Ill kill you and your children, the pastor said. His guidance provides comfort for some who feel hopeless while waiting for a better life. Mariana Flores fled Guerrero, a Pacific Coast state, with her husband and 3-year-old son after organized criminals kidnapped her husband temporarily. She brought her faith with her, but said being at Agape has renewed it. God did a miracle for us, the 25-year-old said. So even if we feel sad from time to time, attending services helps us forget and we can keep trying to move on. Miguel Rayo, 47, traveled from the same Mexican state with just a few possessions, but keeps a Bible on his phone. I read it when Im cold, when Im in need. We want to be renewed and remain close to God, Rayo said. Agape welcomes migrants of any faith or ideology, but everyone is encouraged to attend services on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Migrants also pray in small groups several days per week in their dormitories. A few miles away, Casa del Migrante provides spiritual comfort in addition to a temporary home, daily meals, legal advice and mentorships that help migrants find jobs and schools for their kids. The shelter was established by the Catholic Scalabrinian Missionaries in 1987. Every Wednesday afternoon, during one of the Masses celebrated by the Rev. Pat Murphy, an American priest, migrants are invited to participate by sharing their thoughts, petitions and concerns. Its a lovely Mass, a time to gather and share, said Alma Ramirez, who started working as a volunteer a year ago and recently became a full-time worker at Casa Migrante. The shelter used to receive only deported men from the U.S. but since 2019, when the surge of migrants increased, entire families and members from the LGBTQ+ community have been welcomed as well. We currently have internally displaced people, Mexicans who left states in the South because they faced violence mainly from drug trafficking, Ramirez said. Across the shelters entrance, a portrait depicting the Virgin Mary greets the newcomers. There are migrants who approach the door and once we tell them, You can enter, they reply: I knew, since the moment I saw the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, that all would be fine, Ramirez said. Both at Casa del Migrante and Agape, some migrants ask Murphy and Rivera to baptize them. Others request their company to pray for blessings. Many fear for the family members they left behind. Others hope for a good ending on their journey to the United States. Open the doors for me, Lord, so that I can cross, Rivera suggests they say in prayer. Imagine the experience of faith, Rivera said. Arriving at a place feeling broken, but then you pray to God, fill out your application, you get an appointment and thats how you arrive in the United States. Thats something theyll never forget. 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 MARIA TERESA HERNANDEZ Associated Press BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 22. The UN is negotiating to send a second batch of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza on October 22, the UN representative said, Trend reports. The aid is expected to be delivered through the Rafah checkpoint, located on the Egyptian border with the Palestinian enclave. The UN added that the road train, which will be sent with humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, may consist of 20-30 cars. 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. Cows that survived Connecticut truck crash are doing fine, get vets OK to head on to Ohio Cows that survived Connecticut truck crash are doing fine, get vets OK to head on to Ohio View Photo HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Thirty cows that survived a truck rollover that killed 14 others on a Connecticut highway have gotten a veterinary exam and are cleared to complete their journey, the state Agriculture Department said. The surviving animals are doing well, and their owner is arranging to truck them to their original destination in Ohio, department spokesperson Rebecca Eddy told the Hartford Courant Friday. The cattle were en route from Maine in a tractor-trailer that crashed on a highway exit ramp in Newtown early Thursday. Eight died immediately, and six others had to be euthanized because of their injuries, state police and agriculture officials said. The driver was not seriously injured, firefighters said. Mike Pence faces a cash shortage and questions about how much longer his 2024 campaign can survive Mike Pence faces a cash shortage and questions about how much longer his 2024 campaign can survive View Photo NEW YORK (AP) With three months to go before the Iowa caucuses that he has staked his campaign on, former Vice President Mike Pence faces mounting debt and lagging poll numbers that are forcing questions about not only whether he will qualify for the next debate, but whether it makes sense for him to remain in the race until then. Pence ended September with just $1.18 million left in his campaign account, a strikingly low number for a presidential contest and far less than his rivals, new filings show. His campaign also has $621,000 in debt more than half the cash he had remaining and is scrambling to meet donor thresholds for the Nov. 8 debate. While he would likely meet the debates polling requirements, Pence has struggled to gain traction and is polling in the low single digits nationally, with no sign of momentum. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is leading every one of his rivals by at least 40 points in national polls and ended September with $37.5 million on hand. People close to Pence say he now faces a choice about how long to stay in the race and whether remaining a candidate might potentially diminish his long-term standing in the party, given Trumps dominating lead. While Pence could stick it out until the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses, visiting the states famous Pizza Ranch restaurants and campaigning on a shoestring budget, he must now weigh how that will impact his desire to remain a leading conservative voice, according to the people, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to share their unvarnished views. For Pence and many of the others, you gotta start looking and saying, Im not going to go into substantial debt if I dont see a pathway forward, said former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who ran against Trump in 2016 but abandoned his bid after concluding the Trump train had left the station. Pence, for the moment, is pressing forward. He held a Newsmax town hall in Iowa Tuesday night and fundraisers this week in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Dallas. He was to speak at the Republican National Committees fall retreat Friday night and at the Republican Jewish Coalitions Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas next week all opportunities to pitch deep-pocketed donors to keep his campaign afloat. The super PAC supporting Pence is also continuing its efforts, fundraising and conducting extensive voter outreach, including knocking on nearly 600,000 doors and counting. The campaign is also working aggressively to reach the 70,000-donor threshold needed to qualify for next months debate and expressed confidence they could get there if they try even as others remain skeptical he can make it. I know its an uphill climb for a lot of reasons for us, some that I understand, some that I dont, Pence acknowledged as he spoke to reporters in New Hampshire last week after formally registering for the states first-in-the-nation primary. Still, some in Pences orbit believe he has important contributions left to make in the primary, particularly after the Hamas attack on Israel pushed foreign policy to the forefront. Pence has argued he is the most qualified candidate to deal with issues abroad, saying in the August debate that now is not the time for on-the-job training. Pence, they say, feels a renewed sense of purpose given his warnings throughout the campaign against the growing tide of isolationism in the Republican Party. Pence has used the conflict to decry voices of appeasement, which he argues embolden groups like Hamas. Another person cautioned that Pence, a devout Evangelical Christian who sees the campaign as a calling, may respond differently than other candidates might in his position if he feels called to stay in the race. If he decides to exit, Pence would have a potential platform in Advancing American Freedom, the conservative think tank he founded after leaving the vice presidency. In the meantime, the campaign has been working to cut costs, including having fewer staff members travel to events. Regardless of what he decides, the predicament facing the former vice president underscores just how dramatically Trump has transformed the GOP. Pence, in many ways, has been running to lead a party that no longer exists. He has cast himself as the fields most traditionally conservative candidate in the mold of Ronald Reagan. But many of his positions from maintaining U.S. support for Ukraines defense against the Russian invasion to proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare are out of step with much of his partys base. He also faces fallout from Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trumps supporters some chanting Hang Mike Pence! stormed the Capitol building, sending him running for his life. Trump tried to falsely convince Pence and his own followers that the vice president somehow had the power to overturn the results. Pence has repeatedly been confronted on the campaign trail by people who accuse him of betraying Trump, who still promotes falsehoods about the 2020 election, often several times a day. But Pence has also faced the same challenge as every candidate in the field not named Trump, a singular figure whose grip on the party has only intensified as he has been charged with dozens of crimes. If something big doesnt happen on Nov. 8, the primary is over. Some would argue it is now, said Walker, who entered the 2016 Republican primary as a front-runner only to end his campaign in September 2015, months before a single vote was cast, amid mounting debt. An August AP-NORC poll found Republicans split on Pence: 41% held a favorable view of the candidate and 42% an unfavorable one. Nationally, a majority of U.S. adults 57% view him negatively, with only 28% having a positive view. Some are hoping Pence doesnt give up. In Iowa, Kelley Koch, chair of the Dallas County Republican Party, said she felt Pence had struggled to define himself beyond Trump and said many remained skeptical of his actions on Jan. 6. But she said following the attack on Israel, with all eyes now on the Middle East and a new war, that Pence could have a moment to break through. He is such a pro on foreign policy. Thats one of his strengths. And he has that over a lot of the new rookie candidates who are in the race. He should run on that, she said. I would think that that would be just a major trumpet setting the stage for Mike Pence to step up and take the mic. - Associated Press writer Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report. By JILL COLVIN Associated Press Biden says Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden said Friday he thought Hamas was motivated to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons why Hamas moved on Israel, is because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden said at a campaign fundraiser. The U.S. president indicated that he thinks Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Oct. 7 because, Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel and were near being able to formally do so. Jerusalem and Riyadh had been steadily inching closer to normalization, with Biden working to help bring the two countries together, announcing plans in September at the Group of 20 summit in India to partner on a shipping corridor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Biden on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September and told him, I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a hi storic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis had been insisting on protections and expanded rights for Palestinian interests as part of any broader agreement with Israel. An agreement would have been a feat of diplomacy that could have enabled broader recognition of Israel by other Arab and Muslim-majority nations that have largely opposed Israel since its creation 75 years ago in territory where Palestinians have long resided. But talks were interrupted after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip where Palestinians live into nearby Israeli towns. The Oct. 7 attack coincided with a major Jewish holiday. It led to retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that have left the world on edge with the U.S. trying to keep the war from widening, as 1,400 Israelis and 4,137 Palestinians have been killed. Hamas also captured more than 200 people as hostages after the initial assault. The normalization push began under former President Donald Trumps administration and was branded as the Abraham Accords. It is an ambitious effort to reshape the region and boost Israels standing in historic ways. But critics have warned that it skips past Palestinian demands for statehood. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said soon after the Hamas attacks that the militant groups leadership may have been driven in part by a desire to scuttle the United States efforts at the sealing of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia Such a pact between Jerusalem and Riyadh would be a legacy-defining achievement for Biden, Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially declared December 9 as the date for by-elections in 15 constituencies that became vacant due to the recent recall of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators by self-proclaimed party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. The proclamation, made through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2023, precedes the courts examination of the CCCs challenge to the recalls. The opposition party, led by Nelson Chamisa, has filed an application claiming that Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda acted incorrectly by relying on Tshabangus letter, as Tshabangu was neither a genuine party member nor executive. The party also accuses Mudenda of bias, alleging that he ignored Chamisas letter disowning Tshabangu and explaining the partys internal operations. Tshabangu, in his letter to Mudenda, asserted that the 15 legislators had ceased to be members of the opposition party. However, the CCCs challenge to this assertion is yet to be heard in court. According to the Government Gazette published yesterday, the nomination court is scheduled to convene on November 7 to receive the names of nominees for the upcoming by-elections. In the proclamation, President Mnangagwa stated, Now therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation order new elections for the constituencies of Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku Tafara, Mpopoma Mzilikazi and Nketa; and fix Tuesday the 7th day of November, 2023, as the date on which the nomination court shall sit, commencing at 10 oclock in the morning. The President referred to Section 129(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which states that the seats of members of Parliament become vacant when they cease to be members of a particular party. He also cited Section 39(2) of the Electoral Act, which mandates the President to issue a proclamation for a new election to fill such vacancies. Breaking News via Email In a shocking turn of events, a prophet from Bulawayo found himself in a life-threatening situation when a gang armed with pistols and machetes stormed his church service, threatening his life. The incident took place in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South province, last Sunday, leaving the congregation in a state of panic. Archbishop Emmanuel Mutumwa, the leader of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu, became the target of the eight-member gang, believed to be friends of a recently deceased gold miner from Gwanda. The attack was reportedly motivated by revenge after the prophet had prophesied the gold miners demise. According to BMetro, the gang interrupted the service and demanded that Archbishop Mutumwa end it immediately, claiming they didnt want innocent church-goers caught in the crossfire. When questioned about the sudden request, one of the gang members menacingly pointed a gun at the archbishops face, while the others armed themselves with machetes. Sensing the imminent danger, Archbishop Mutumwa swiftly fled in his vehicle. The gang pursued him for approximately 30 kilometers, continuously threatening him and attempting to force him into a collision by directing him towards a bridge. After a harrowing ordeal, the archbishop sought assistance from police officers and soldiers manning a roadblock near Makhado Business Centre. He shared his terrifying experience with them, leading to police officers from Gwanda Town escorting him safely to Bulawayo. The archbishop now fears for his life, as the suspects have allegedly made threats to eliminate him. Additionally, some church members were harassed by the gang, accusing them of supporting the prophet. Consequently, Archbishop Mutumwa has gone into hiding following his report to the police. When contacted for comment, a visibly shaken Archbishop Mutumwa confirmed the incident, expressing gratitude for his safety and the lack of injuries among the congregation. He emphasized the importance of non-violence and mutual respect for differing beliefs and opinions. As of now, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena stated that she had not received the official report regarding the incident. The authorities are currently investigating the matter, while the community remains on edge following this disturbing act of violence within a place of worship. Breaking News via Email It is striking to see how politicians, pundits, the press, and even key figures discuss the obvious trajectory of what Israel is doing to Gaza and its population. Humanitarian crisis winds up being inadequate since it averts attention from the deliberate steps Israel is taking to make living in Gaza untenable. Genocide is more apt but without describing the clear program Israel is launching, it can be depicted as overwrought. Israel will reduce Gaza to a place where it is impossible to live, at least until if and when Israel decides to decides to repossess it bit by bit and rebuild. It is indifferent to the question of whether neighboring countries will relent in the face of escalating starvation, dehydration, and disease and take Palestinians in. It just wants them dispatched by whatever means necessary. Israel plans first to reduce Gaza to rubble, as anyone could see when it started bombing apartment buildings on an indiscriminate basis. The excuse is it needs to do that as a preliminary to a ground operation to rout Hamas from the underground tunnels that survive the bombing campaign. Note military experts such as Scott Ritter have said that any clearing operation in Gaza would be a dangerous and high-casualty enterprise even for a military with the right equipment and equipment, and the IDF is not that. More important, Ritter and others have argued that the destruction of the buildings is likely to make any effort to wipe out the Hamas forces in Gaza more difficult. So one has to question the military justification, particularly since there are also commentators who are arguing that the Israeli government is now in an internal debate over the invasion plan, given its high risks and certain high costs. Or this may be a function of poor planning: But it is clear to me that there is no consensus on what to do, how to do it, or what the second order effects of that might mean. Israel should have turned to Arab neighbours and brought them in to finally take down Hamas. Instead it drove them all away, and isolated itself. Michael Stephens (@MikeRStephens) October 19, 2023 Regardless of how you feel about this conflict or who you support, Israel has played its hand shambolically. At the macro level its regional policy is in tatters, at the micro level it has achieved none of its stated aims. They're in a no man's land of sub-optimal choices. Michael Stephens (@MikeRStephens) October 19, 2023 The pretext is that Israel needs to be Doing Something and needs more time to prepare, not just because the ground operation hasnt been sorted out, but also because Iran cleared its throat and said it would intervene in that event. And the Arab world + Iran is largely sitting on its hands as the building destruction proceeds apace.1 The latest Seymour Hersh article describes the current Israel plan, which again could be inferred from actions and other statements. But Hersh usefully gets on the record the malignant intent, per the boldfaced section: Netanyahus attitude, as assessed by the intelligence analysts, I was told, amounts to a determination to wipe out Hamas. One knowledgeable official told me that Gaza City is in the process of being turned into Hiroshima with no nuclear weapons used. At some point, he said, American-made bombs in the Israeli arsenal, including those known as bunker busters, may be targeted on the underground tunnel systems where Hamas manufactured the weapons and conducted planning for the horrific attacks in southern Israel on October 7. If you have any doubts, see the additional detail today from the BBC, in Israel aims to cut Gaza ties after war with Hamas: 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. On Friday, Mr Gallant told a parliamentary committee that the first stage of the campaign was meant to destroy Hamass 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 Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel. 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. In other words, the elimination of Hamas from Gaza is the fig leaf for clearing Gaza of all Palestinians permanently. It would be impossible to resume water supplies or operate a hospital with no electricity. Its been obvious this is the plan. The Israelis are now making it official. So why are officials and pundits mincing words? ____ 1 Or they may just be starting to escalate: Joyful birth of rare giant anteater at Khao Kheow Zoo Pattaya Mail (furzy) Melting glaciers reveal Viking pass hidden for centuries BBC (furzy) The Quest to Quantify Quantumness Quanta (David L) Scientists explain how the brain encodes lottery values ScienceBlog (Dr. Kevin). The conventional view is that lottery tickets are a tax on people who are bad at math. However, a second view is that a lottery ticket is buying the fantasy of winning, and therefore akin to a middle class person buying, say, Architectural Digest or other shelter porn publications, looking at houses they could never afford to buy or build. #COVID-19 It's just my experience of course, but I'm hopeful we may finally have a sustainable and acceptable format for annual vaccinations. 24h after my Novavax COVID shot (and flu shot), and very happy. Much milder side effects than my 5 earlier COVID vaccines. Climate/Environment China? The Multimillion-Dollar Machines at the Center of the U.S.-China Rivalry New York Times (Kevin W) US Chip Curbs Give Huawei a Chance To Fill the Nvidia Void In China Reuters European Disunion Sahra Wagenknecht is forming a new left party in Germany. Now we will see if she is for real or just another Bernie Sanders and if she manages to keep the house clean of idpols. Now the Left Party has to look for a new scapegoat Nachdenkseiten via machine transaltion. Micael T: Gaza Operation Al-Aqsa Flood Day 14: 13 killed in raid on West Bank refugee camp, Gaza still awaits aid Mondoweiss (guurst) Now apparently trucks finally entering: Drop in the ocean: Aid trucks begin crossing into Gaza from Egypt Aljazeera Triage is not remotely the right ratio even if I were proven wrong and all the 100 trucks that were waiting went in: 20 trucks of aid to a population that was already 80% reliant on humanitarian assistance to survive essentially means forcing aid agencies to triage. It's nowhere near enough. #Gaza #CeasefireNOW https://t.co/5HoeB2cuwF Alexandra Saieh (@alex_saieh) October 19, 2023 The #Palestinian Red Crescent announced that they received a warning from Israeli forces to 'immediately evacuate' #Gaza's Al-Quds hospital, which currently houses over 400 patients and 12,000 refugees. The Palestinian Red Crescent issued an urgent appeal to the international pic.twitter.com/Wnt15ZTFWO Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 20, 2023 White House says Biden did not hear question about Israel delaying ground invasion of Gaza Reuters. Muddy headline. See Almayadeen: White House backtracks on Bidens postponing of Gaza ground invasion Hamas releases video of American hostages released for humanitarian reasons 9News (Kevin W) GCC, ASEAN call for permanent ceasefire in Gaza, condemn attacks against civilians Arab News In an actual democracy this would be relevant https://t.co/FUfxCwq0Ts Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) October 20, 2023 Arab we need an incident bullshytters FAIL AGAIN as gold-standard Russian open-source intel channel Rybar (cited 100+ times by Mercouris) politely calls BS on claims that Israel hit Gaza Greek Orthodox church, says footage shows damage to a neighboring building, with church unharmed. DREIZIN EXCLUSIVE SCOOP: Not discouraged, bullshytters will try again. (Thats the scoop!) Weve got likely MONTHS of this, to go. Whats telling, West no longer cares about total body count; Arabs know they need some incident(s) (hospital, church, perhaps a gay bathhouse?) for Israel to be restrained. Jacob Dreizin EU capitals fume at Queen von der Leyen Politico Israel-Hamas War: Piers Morgan vs Bassem Youssef On Palestines Treatment | The Full Interview YouTube. Erasmus: I am not even sure if Piers Morgan really understands how he is being insulted. As many people as possible should watch it. Monty Python would be proud. Biting satire indeed. For anyone who might not know, Bassem Youssef is a renowned Egyptian comedian and television personality who had trained as a heart surgeon. He became known in the US when Jon Stewart had him come on the Daily Show in 2012. His wife is half Palestinian. Why has Israel placed its military HQ in a civilian area? Why do its civilians also serve as soldiers for much of their lives? Why are "IDF" bases constructed next to kibbutzim? How Israel uses its own civilians as human shields while assaulting Gaza https://t.co/S0gjGawKwC Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) October 20, 2023 The unrealized potential of Palestinian oil and gas reserves UNCTAD (Erasmus) SHOCKING: Recent ADL intern RIPS DOWN Israeli hostage posters on NYU campus One of the NYU students who ripped down posters of Israeli hostages has been revealed to be a former intern for the Anti-Defamation League. (Article republished from ThePostMillennial.com) Over 200 people have been taken hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas. Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed since Hamas terrorists invaded the Jewish state on Oct. 7. HORRIFYING- NYU students walking around campus removing posters featuring missing Israelis being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. The lack of humanity by your students is not only heartbreaking but extremely concerning @nyuniversity@NYUCampusSafetypic.twitter.com/BmTs1OzGF2 StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 17, 2023 Yazmeen Deyhimi, a junior at the university, admitted to tearing apart banners that were posted outside NYUs Tisch Hall after being caught on video, according to the New York Post. UPDATE: The two woman ripping down posters of kidnapped Israelis taken into Gaza by Hamas at NYU yesterday have been identified as Hafiza Khalique (left) and Yazmeen Deyhimi (right). Yazmeen Deyhimi has deleted both of her IG and Twitter accounts; her LinkedIn is still live and https://t.co/h9IgxFeBuT pic.twitter.com/G7BAToZRi1 StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 17, 2023 She was identified by her fellow students after the video went viral, with users across social media calling for NYU to punish the students. Her accomplice was identified as Hafiza Khalique who serves as a Muslim Youth Leadership Council Member at Advocates for Youth. The third student in the video has not yet been identified. Deyhimi stated on her now-deleted LinkedIn profile that she is an advocate against Muslim bigotry and spent a summer working with the ADL as a CSC Education Intern. You cant make this up! One of the students at @nyuniversity who ripped down posters of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists has the @ADL in her Linkedin bio. She worked for them. @JGreenblattADLhttps://t.co/pHHxhnaQkXpic.twitter.com/j946jrO75Q Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 17, 2023 A spokesperson for the organization told the New York Post, After review, we can confirm that one of the participants was part of an ADL high-school level summer internship in 2019. We fully condemn her actions and hope that the apology she issued is the first step towards working to repair the harm and deep hurt her actions caused. The ADL then scrubbed any mention of the intern from its website, including a blog post announcing her as one of the 12 student leaders joining the program in which Deyhimi was described as extremely passionate about fighting racial profiling and championing gender equality. BREAKING: The @ADL just scrubbed their website to remove information about their intern who was filmed ripping down posters at @nyuniversity of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. @JGreenblattADL This is the before and after https://t.co/HeZ28l5tvT pic.twitter.com/5snlN2T2Cv Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 18, 2023 The ADL still has Chaya Raichik, the Jewish woman behind the popular account Libs of Tiktok, who helped expose the organization's former intern, listed in its glossary of extremism. The @ADL still has me listed in their glossary of extremism because I think men cant get pregnant but they wont list their intern who was filmed ripping down posters of missing Jews who Hamas terrorists took hostage! Really makes you think @JGreenblattADL https://t.co/KfSVUowc1r pic.twitter.com/JIyuw8mzGH Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) October 18, 2023 Deyhimi, an activist who is extremely passionate about fighting racial profiling, admitted what she did in an Instagram post after the video circulated on social media. She wrote in a now-deleted post, I have found it increasingly difficult to know my place as a biracial brown woman, especially during these highly volatile times. Yazmeen Deyhimi has issued an apology. pic.twitter.com/kyK9E47qMl StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 18, 2023 I have felt more and more frustrated about the time we currently find ourselves in, and misplaced that anger into actions that are not an accurate representation of who I am as a person, she added. In this age of social media and digital footprint, these moments of anger are selfish and self-absorbed, and not reflective of who I am as a person or who my family had raised me to be. Deyhimi was also previously featured in a New York Times article in December 2022 about style choices of NYU students clubbing inside the basement of a shuttered barbershop. NYU has not said if Deyhimi or her accomplices will face any disciplinary action. Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com Al-Ahli hospital bombing: Israel performing its usual post-atrocity routine On the evening of Tuesday, October 17 a strike on Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital, often called the Baptist Hospital, killed at least 500 people, mostly children and women. (Article by Mohamad Elmasry republished from AlJazeera.com) The scenes from the massacre, as described by witnesses and displayed in videos broadcast by news networks, were as grisly as can be imagined. Images revealed body parts scattered across the hospital grounds and doctors performing emergency surgeries in corridors without anaesthesia. Video footage from inside the hospital showed Palestinian parents screaming and crying at the side of their dead children. Palestinian officials blamed the explosion on one of the many Israeli bombs dropped on Gaza since October 7. Israel, meanwhile, has predictably claimed that a misfired Palestinian rocket was responsible for the massacre at the hospital. Israels response to the hospital bombing a war crime under international law is consistent with its usual post-atrocity routine. The routine goes something like this: Israel commits a human rights atrocity, immediately denies having anything to do with it, says it has solid evidence that Palestinians committed the crime, and then just waits to see if someone manages to prove what really happened. If it eventually becomes clear that Israel did indeed carry out the atrocity, it silently accepts responsibility, but by then, the worlds focus has already moved on to other matters. Israel performed this exact routine just last year, after it murdered Palestinian-American journalist and Al Jazeera veteran Shireen Abu Akleh. Immediately after the May 2022 murder, then-Israeli Prime Minister Neftali Bennett blamed Palestinians for throwing blame at Israel without basis. At the time, Bennett said, according to the information we have gathered, it appears likely that armed Palestinians who were firing indiscriminately at the time were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist. Then-Defence Minister Benny Gantz stated confidently that no [Israeli] gunfire was directed at the journalist, and that the Israeli army had seen footage of indiscriminate shooting by Palestinian terrorists. Later in 2022, though, and following multiple independent investigations proving without a shadow of doubt that Abu Akleh had been killed by Israeli fire, the Israeli government finally admitted that it was a high possibility that it was an Israeli bullet that killed the journalist wearing a clearly marked press vest and helmet. Nevertheless, Israels initial denials were picked up prominently by Western media outlets, casting significant doubt over Israels culpability in the murder. The same routine was also followed in 2003, when Israel murdered 23-year-old American student Rachel Corrie. Corrie was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to prevent the illegal demolitions of Palestinian homes. Immediately after killing Corrie, the Israeli army had said it was an unfortunate accident caused by Corrie herself. In September 2000, during the second Palestinian intifada, the Arab world was moved by images of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammed Al-Durrah, crying and hiding behind his father, Jamal Al-Durrah, before ultimately being shot and killed by an Israeli sniper. Mohammeds murder at the hands of the Israeli army was clearly caught on video. But even this did not prevent Israel from following its usual routine and trying to deflect responsibility. In the immediate aftermath of the childs murder, Israeli officials claimed that it was significantly more likely that Palestinian gunmen were the source of the [gunfire that killed Al-Durrah]. Over the years, the same scenario played out over and over again as Israel repeatedly committed atrocities, denied responsibility and walked back its baseless denials only when the evidence to the contrary became too compelling and the worlds attention had moved elsewhere. This course of action proved beneficial for Israel as it bought it precious time in the court of public opinion. With Israeli voices dominating Western media reports, this post-atrocity routine helped Israel create a contested media narrative, and cast doubt over clear evidence of its crimes and excesses. In this sense, the Western media coverage of and narrative on the al-Ahli Hospital bombing has been predictable. There is already a large body of academic research suggesting mainstream Western news media sympathise with Israel and largely ignore or downplay its human rights violations against Palestinians. Over the first 10-days of the current crisis, Western media behaved as anticipated. Outlets privileged Israeli point of views, suppressed Palestinian voices, and repeatedly talked of Israeli self-defence and Palestinian aggression. In the days before the hospital bombing, BBC News ran multiple reports about alleged Hamas tunnels under public buildings, including schools and hospitals. It doesnt need much explaining how this kind of uncritical repeating of Israeli propaganda by Western media organisations helps Israel perform its deceptive post-atrocity-routine effectively. When the dust settles, independent investigations will inevitably show that Israel, which had already been bombing across Gazas residential buildings, mosques, banks, and universities, and had already killed thousands of Gaza Palestinians, including 750 children, is responsible for bombing al-Ahli Hospital. And when the dust settles, Western media likely wont give as much light to Israels guilt as it did to its denials. Read more at: AlJazeera.com Breitbarts Alex Marlow: Biden favoring OPEN BORDERS to keep wages down and Democrats in power President Joe Biden is espousing open borders to lower wages and keep Democrats in power, according to Breitbart Editor-In-Chief Alex Marlow. Marlow, who is also the author of the new book titled "Breaking Biden," explained this in an Oct. 17 interview with YouTuber Stephen Gardner. "Much of Washington likes an open border, and Biden is the ultimate Washington establishment creature," he said. "There is no human being on Earth who's had more opportunity to close the border, or at least secure the border, than Biden. Over 30 years in the Senate, eight years as vice president and now three years as president. He's had the ability more than any other person to take this issue seriously, and he hasn't so clearly it's intentional." (Related: Lara Logan: Biden's open borders policies part of plan to empower global government.) Marlow then outlined two reasons why Biden favors open borders. First, open borders benefit Big Business which is mostly an arm of the Democratic Party nowadays with some Republicans aligning with it. The unchecked entry of illegal immigrants "creates a big consumer base, and it drives down wages for working-class people." "The more immigration we have, the less they have to pay their workers. That makes their stock go up, [and] their expenses go down. Big Business loves an open border, [and] Big Business loves Biden." Second, open borders benefit the Democratic Party, which needs a new voter base to replace former voters who become older and vote Republican. "Republican millennials have some children, [while] Democrat millennials don't want to have kids as much," he told Gardner. "They're not interested in replacing their voters with new people that they can raise up." "They have to figure out a way to get their voters, so they import them. Even though the illegal aliens aren't supposed to vote, they now vote in local elections. Their kids will vote, and they will vote typically for Democrats for a number of reasons [such as] the handouts [given by] the Big Government nanny state." Marlow ultimately remarked that the Democrats "need the border open and it doesn't matter what humanitarian strife happens" or "if wages get driven down." Biden DOESN'T CARE about national security The Breitbart editor-in-chief also noted that Biden's refusal to take border security seriously is concerning, given the increased activation of radical Islamic terrorists following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Terrorists could blend in with unlawful border crossers and commit violence once they reach the mainland United States. "We are not going to have a secure border so long as Biden is in power," Marlow remarked. "He doesn't care about national security and he never has." In a separate Breitbart article dated Oct. 14, Marlow expounded on Biden's anathema approach to national security. "National security is Joe Bidens oldest and biggest blind spot," he wrote. "Example after example illustrates a simple truth: Joe Biden has no interest in or vision for protecting the citizens of our country." For Biden's international blunders, the Breitbart editor-in-chief cited his disastrous pullout of U.S. in Afghanistan and funding of Iran while vice president. This eventually went full circle with Hamas, which received funding from Iran and pledges of support from the Taliban. Biden's domestic blunder at the southern border only got addressed after he spent 50 years in politics. He only began taking action on illegal immigration "after state and local Democrats spoke up following Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's highly effective busing campaign." Marlow even quoted former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who minced no words about the incumbent president in 2014. "[Biden] has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades," said Gates, who served in the position during the second Bush and Obama administrations. Watch Alex Newman, host of "The Sentinel Report" on Brighteon.TV, explain how the Biden administration serves as a travel agent for illegal aliens. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: MIGRANT INVASION: Biden administration has let in over 4 MILLION ILLEGALS since January 2021. Biden administration proposes permanently opening all borders between US, Mexico and Canada. OPEN SESAME: Biden administration opens border to millions of ILLEGALS by lifting Title 42. Biden's $6 billion ransom payment to Iran motivates Hamas to take more American hostages. Biden knew all along the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan was imminent. Sources include: Breitbart.com 1 Breitbart.com 2 Brighteon.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 22. Russia will send a request to hold a new meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said, Trend reports. "We will definitely convene a new meeting of the Security Council. As experience shows, no one but us dares to do this, he said. 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. Dannar, BMW combine to launch a mobile power station carrying EV battery packs U.S. company Dannar and renowned automaker BMW have combined their expertise to launch a mobile power station carrying electric vehicle (EV) batteries In 2015, Dannar and BMW co-developed BMW i3 EV batteries, a "first-of-its-kind electric heavy-duty vehicle for infrastructure maintenance and disaster response," designed for road applications. By 2017, Dannar launched its Mobile Power Station off-road work vehicles equipped with BMW i3 EV batteries. (Related: Tesla to expand lithium refining capacity to meet growing demand for EV batteries.) Dannar's Mobile Power Station, which allows owners to use the same vehicle for different tasks and adapt to different seasons, can carry multiple BMW i3 battery packs on board. In 2020, the AFWERX energy innovation challenge, a technology transition initiative of the U.S. Air Force, expanded into a major Department of Defense (DoD) project under the banner of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Recently, DIU announced the Extended Duration for Storage Installations (EDSI) project, a joint initiative between the Air Force and the Navy. This project aims to showcase three new technologies for extended-duration energy storage: Dannar's mobile lithium-ion EV batteries and stationary flow batteries from CellCube and Redflow. The EDSI project seeks to enhance the resilience of backup power systems at DoD installations and operational energy platforms by increasing the minimum power threshold and uptime, allowing them to stay online. The project also emphasizes reducing power inputs and draws during peak demand. Dannar contributes four different configurations of its i3 EV battery solution to the EDSI project. These vehicles operate in support of new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at two Air Force sites and participate in a vehicle-to-grid/vehicle-to-vehicle resilience evaluation initiative at three sites under the Navy and Marine Corps. According to AFWERX Agility Prime Engineer Brooke Ezell, the new energy storage tech will help fix the problems in current electrical systems; handle issues with electric air taxis' energy and charging; and allow more daily flights of these taxis using cleaner energy sources. This does not change the fact that state governments need billions of dollars to achieve their EV goals Still, state governments need billions of dollars to achieve their EV goals. A study paid for by the California Public Utilities Commission has found that California alone will need to invest $50 billion by 2035 to upgrade its electricity distribution system for EVs. This investment is significantly higher than the current spending levels on distribution grids and could potentially be even greater, depending on the speed of EV adoption. Aram Shumavon, CEO of Kevala, a grid-data-analytics startup, said predicting EV uptake is an intricate task, making it "incredibly difficult" for utilities to prepare adequately. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that without significant grid expansion, utilities risk overloading a substantial portion of their distribution lines, which would disrupt the power supply to homes and businesses. To avoid this, they may be compelled to delay new EV connections until they can upgrade their grids a costly delay that could hinder the state's progress in vehicle electrification. Learn more about the hidden cost of electric vehicles at RoboCars.news. Watch this video that talks about whether the U.S. power grid can handle the EV boom. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Manufacturing EV batteries in EU "practically unviable" due to soaring energy costs, says Volkswagen. IMPRISONED: Climate police want EV batteries to have less capacity so electric car owners cant travel very far. EV COLLAPSE: Car dealerships are now rejecting EV deliveries due to low sales. China's sodium-ion batteries to replace lithium batteries in EVs. EV COLLAPSE: Electric vehicle manufacturer Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy. Sources include: CleanTechnica.com CanaryMedia.com Brighteon.com Did Israeli government issue a stand-down order during Hamas attack? During an appearance on the PBD Podcast, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk questioned if the Israeli military received a stand-down order while Hamas attacked Israel. (Article by Danielle republished from 100PercentFedUp.com) Ive been to Israel many times. The country is a fortress. When I first heard this story, I still have the same gut instinct that I did initially. I find this very hard to believe. Ive been to that Gaza border. You cannot go 10 feet without running into a 19-year-old with an AR-15 or an automatic machine gun. Thats an IDF soldier, right, Kirk explained. The whole country is surveilled, he noted. We dont talk about Israeli politics very often and most Americans dont know this. The last nine months Israel was on the brink of civil war. Its not an exaggeration. This judicial stuff. There were hundreds of thousands of Israelis taking to the streets because Bebe Netanyahu is basically redefining the Israeli constitution, he continued. There were protests planned this week against Netanyahu where they anticipated tens of thousands of people to take to the streets. Thats all gone, he said. Netanyahu now has an emergency government and a mandate to lead. Im not willing to say, to go so far that saying, that Netanyahu knew where there was intelligence here, but I think some questions need to be asked, he continued. Was there a stand-down order? Was there a stand-down order? Six hours. I dont believe it, he said. Did somebody in the government say stand down? That is a legitimate non-conspiracy question, Kirk noted. WATCH: Charlie Kirk speculates on whether the Israeli military was told to STAND DOWN and let Hamas run riot... pic.twitter.com/XkBd3Lhlcl Ben Kew ????? (@ben_kew) October 15, 2023 Lauren Witzke, former GOP U.S. Senate candidate and executive producer for The Stew Peters Show, made the bold claim that Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to stand down. Netanyahu intentionally let Hamas kill Israelis. Both the IDF and the Israeli Air Force both stood down for seven hours. You wont believe what a Jewish charity leader told me today, Witzke said. I sat down with Jewish Charity leader, Cecily Routman, who received intel directly from her Israeli Rabbi and other top level government sources, Witzke wrote. Routman claimed Rabbi Chananya Weissman shared intel from confidential sources stating the IDF and Israeli Air Force indeed received a stand-down order during the attacks. *Note 100 Percent Fed Up CANNOT independently verify these claims* WATCH: CONFIRMED: Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to STAND DOWN for 7 HOURS during the Hamas invasion. I sat down with Jewish Charity leader, Cecily Routman, who received intel directly from her Israeli Rabbi and other top level government sources. While I do not agree with pic.twitter.com/2liNmdJ7fZ Lauren Witzke (@LaurenWitzkeDE) October 15, 2023 Honestly, anyone with an IQ over 60 figured this out 6 days ago. The Israelis need to demand answers from Netanyahu for the hours of inaction by IDF that led to over 1,200 Israeli deaths. Ill be praying for the thousands of people who lost a family member this week, and for peace in the Middle East, Witzke wrote. Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com MORE WAR: US Diplomats warned by State Dept. to avoid calling for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict Many people around the world are praying that the violence in the Middle East will end soon, but U.S. diplomats are being warned not to publicly call for a de-escalation in Gaza, even as the death toll continues to climb. In internal emails that were viewed by HuffPost, the State Department wrote that three phrases in particular must be avoided when diplomats make public statements about the current situation between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas: de-escalation/ceasefire, restoring calm, and end to violence/bloodshed. The State Department has refused to comment on the memo, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. is actively avoiding asking Israel to use restraint, at least publicly. Calls for a ceasefire, in particular, may be viewed as the U.S. asking Israel not to defend itself, something that could cause a rift between these important allies. These emails were sent out just hours after Israel warned those in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south ahead of a potential ground invasion despite the logistical difficulties of complying, with many Gazans lacking the resources to make such a move and having nowhere safe to go; reports have also emerged that Hamas is blocking people from leaving safely. Even though it is painfully obvious that the order could potentially put millions of people in danger, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby was reluctant to criticize the move, instead calling it a tall order. Biden administration hesitant to criticize Israeli response It comes as President Biden and his administration continue to take a surprisingly strong stance in favor of Israel, particularly in light of Bidens frosty relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. When Israel was attacked and thousands of people were killed, the U.S. responded almost immediately, sending Israel military equipment and munitions and pledging unwavering support. In addition, American aircraft carriers have been sent to the region in a signal to Iran and Hezbollah that anyone who attacks Israel will have to answer to the U.S. While Biden, like many others, has supported Israels right to defend itself in the wake of a devastating attack by Hamas, many are qualifying their statements of support to specify that any Israeli defense must be done without civilian casualties. Biden and officials within his administration, however, have generally not been very measured in their statements in support of Israel, and they have largely refused to criticize the Israeli government for the siege of Gaza despite the negative effects it is having on the people living there. One of the few exceptions to this staunch support came over the weekend, when Biden said on 60 Minutes that occupying Gaza would be a big mistake. Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas dont represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again, he said. He added, however, that taking out the extremists would be a necessary requirement. Some experts have suggested that the U.S. is going out of its way to avoid appearing unsupportive of Israel in light of its heavy loss of life and the fact that around 200 Israelis are believed to still be hostages of Hamas militants, and there are arguments to be made that private coercion will yield better results than public pressure. Although it is hard to know what is being said behind closed doors, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently paying his second visit to Israel since the Hamas attacks more than a week ago, and he has been traveling throughout the Middle East in an effort to keep the current fighting from sparking a bigger regional conflict. One can only hope that he is making it clearer in private than he is in public that the loss of innocent lives in unacceptable. Sources for this article include: HuffPost.com NewRepublic.com WashingtonPost.com Four Iranian special interest aliens were apprehended by Border Patrol in October while trying to illegally enter America U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reporting that as of mid-October, its agents have apprehended a total of four Iranian nationals who attempted to illegally cross into America through the nation's porous southern border. All four Iranian nationals attempted to cross via Eagle Pass, Tex. They were then processed as "special interest aliens" due to the sensitive nature of the current conflict in the Middle East. One of the men, in his 40s, was apprehended just this past Sunday. The other three came at other times and were deemed by the U.S. government as "having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose some sort of national security threat to the U.S.," according to Fox News. In addition to these four, two others, both citizens of Lebanon, were arrested in Eagle Pass, also as "special interest aliens." "Lebanon is the home of the Hezbollah terrorist group," reports The Post Millennial. "Much like Hamas, Hezbollah is monitored as a terror group by the State Department and has taken in money from Iran." In addition to these six individuals, another 19 Iranians and 17 Syrians have been captured and arrested at the Rio Grande Valley Sector border crossing into the U.S. (Related: An Israeli rabbi blasphemed Jesus Christ this week by declaring that Christians "shouldn't be worshiping one Jew you should be worshiping all of us.") U.S. government gunning for war with Iran following Hamas attack in Israel The war drums are beating loudly as the U.S. government, in lockstep with Israel, seems to be gung-ho about launching a full-scale regional war that would more than likely quickly spiral into a global conflict, possibly becoming Word War III. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby commented that Iran in particular, which Israel has wanted destroyed for years, has "broad complicity" in the attack on Israel, even though Iran denies any involvement in the incident. Even so, Kirby was forced to admit that, thus far, the spooks in D.C. have not "seen any specific evidence that tells us they were wittingly involved in the planning or involved in the resourcing and the training that went into this very complex set of attacks over the weekend." In most cases, "special interest aliens" like the ones arrested in recent days do not turn out to be "terrorists," at least as the government defines terrorism, according to CBP. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning this was before the Hamas attack, by the way, which many now believe -- based on profuse evidence -- was a stand-down false flag event much like 9/11 that "terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States." "Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States," a DHS assessment further claims. In other words, the powers that be are busy setting the stage for more false flag incidents in the future, which they are warning us about in advance, that will surely be used by Israel and its supporters to justify more financial aid and more war. "This is all leading to the great tribulation, or time of Jacob's trouble, in which Israel will be burying its dead for seven days straight," suggested one commenter about the prophetic implications of what the Israeli government is unleashing on its own people. "It's because they still refuse to recognize Jesus Christ as God's chosen Lamb, pure and sinless, the only blood sacrifice to cover sin." The latest news about the escalating situation in the Middle East can be found at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com NaturalNews.com Resist OVERREACH: GiveSendGo declines to submit sensitive donor info to anti-Trump AG Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel demanded sensitive donor information from the fundraisers for former President Donald Trump electors but the Christian crowdfunding website GiveSendGo refused to comply According to the Detroit News, Nessel obtained a search warrant last week, ordering information about donors who had contributed to the legal defense of the pro-Trump patriots. They were the ones charged by the AG with a laundry list of felonies for submitting an alternate slate of electors as election fraud cases were being heard in court in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The former criminal prosecutor requested bank routing numbers, contributions and communications. "The totality of the circumstances indicate that Give Send Go LLC holds information and data of the listed Give Send Go subscriber profiles who assisted in carrying out and executing a plan to replace the 2020 Democratic electors with Republican electors and the intent with which the participants acted," stated the search warrant, which was signed by Ingham County District Court Judge Cynthia Ward on Aug. 29. Legal experts immediately saw how the AG seemed to send a "chilling" warning message to the former presidents electors' donors. Michigan-based veteran criminal defense Attorney Joshua Blanchard commented: "I've never had the government demand to know who was paying my bill," Blanchard said. "One could fairly look at this from the outside and wonder if it's just trying to harass the folks who are defending the false electors." GiveSendGo responded to news of the reports and claimed they would not be complying with the request from the AG's office. "We are aware of the reports regarding the search warrant. At GiveSendGo, we value the privacy of our givers and users and will protect it. Our founders have made it clear that we have not complied with these illegal search warrants, viewing them as overreaches and invasions of privacy. We are committed to challenging and resisting any such demands that compromise the privacy and trust of our community. We'll continue to uphold the values our platform is built upon in our mission to share the hope of Jesus through crowdfunding," the fundraising site said in a statement. Big League Politics reported on the historic telethon that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit the Trump electors as they fight to save free speech in the court of law. "It's nobody's business whom Americans choose to donate money to, especially not some partisan, anti-Trump lesbian Attorney General on a power trip. Let this be another reminder of how important it is to use 'friendly' companies like GiveSendGo, who will have our backs when the tyrants come calling," another independent news outlet, the Revolver, pointed out. During a virtual event with liberal activists back in September, Nessel alleged that the "fake Republican electors from 2020 were brainwashed to keep Trump in power." She also assured her audience that the first-of-their-kind criminal charges they filed in July against the GOP members of the electorate will get juries from a "very Democratic-leaning county," according to a recording obtained by CNN. This only suggested that she was going to win the cases. "People talk a lot about, oh, why don't you start flipping some of those people so that they can become witnesses against the remaining defendants, the worst-acting defendants?" Nessel said. "The problem is, these are people who have been brainwashed." She continued: "How do you flip someone who concedes that they did everything that theyre accused of doing, but what they say is, 'we believe that we were in the right. We think that Donald Trump is the real winner of the election' They really legit believe that. They genuinely believe it. Somebody can't even plead guilty if they wanted to, because they can't admit that what they did violated the law because they still think they're right." For the lawyers representing the electors, Nessel crossed a line. Outside legal experts also highlighted that her comments would make it harder for her to win convictions. Shan Wu, a former federal prosecutor who supports charging the fake electors, said it was "inappropriate for Nessel to be "insulting defendants" that her office is prosecuting. "It undermines the validity of her prosecution theory," Wu explained. "If you think these people are brainwashed, then they didn't have the right state of mind and couldn't form the criminal intent to break the law, because they were being brainwashed by others." (Related: Michigan Republicans decry FBI inaction on alleged 2020 voter registration fraud in their state.) Visit VoteFraud.news for more stories about election fraud in Michigan and other states. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news GiveSendGo.com BigLeaguePolitics.com Edition.CNN.com Israeli military gets green light to enter Gaza and begin ground offensive The Israeli government has just given the Israel Defense Forces the "green light" to begin its offensive ground operations in the Gaza Strip. In the days following Hamas' surprise attack into Israeli territory, the IDF has been amassing troops at the border with the Gaza Strip while continuing to bomb the inside of the territory with air strikes, drones and artillery. Now, Israeli Minister of the Economy Nir Barkat has confirmed that the Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has told the IDF to begin the country's offensive against Hamas just in time for the arrival of a hefty military aid package from the United States. "The Army has [the] green light," said Barkat during a press conference, clarifying that he will not discuss military plans in public due to national security concerns. "The Israeli government made the decision, gave the green light to the army: 'Wipe them out.'" The IDF has also confirmed that it was in the process of approving final plans for a ground invasion of Gaza. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and hundreds of IDF tanks and other armored vehicles are already positioned for a ground assault focusing on the northern half of the Gaza Strip, up to the Wadi Gaza River which bisects the region in two. "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," said the IDF in a statement. Rescue of hostages, avoiding civilian casualties "secondary" priority for the IDF When asked about the several hundred hostages Hamas is currently holding in Gaza, Barakat admitted that rescuing the hostages will be a secondary priority for the IDF. The military's first objective will be destroying Hamas, "even if it takes a year." He added that preventing civilian casualties will also be a secondary concern. Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments have caused extensive destruction in Gaza, with more than 3,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed and over 12,000 more wounded. A ground offensive, which will likely include Israeli troops, tanks, drones and aircraft marching into Gaza, is expected to result in further major civilian casualties. "We shall do all efforts to bring our hostages to bring our hostages [back] alive," insisted Barakat, before adding that the "first and last priority" is the destruction of Hamas. Hamas claims that it has 203 Israeli and international hostages. The IDF has only been able to confirm the existence of 155 of these alleged 203 hostages. Most, if not all, of these hostages are held within Hamas' vast underground network of tunnels and hideouts in Gaza. (Related: Hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be almost impossible to rescue, warns counterterrorism expert.) Asked about what the IDF will do about Hamas' massive tunnel network, Barkat vowed to make it "the world's biggest cemetery." Learn more about the Israel-Palestine conflict at WWIII.news. Watch this Oct. 16 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the devastating consequences to the global economy of Israel's war on Gaza. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Syria now firing missiles on the Golan Heights as U.S. provides "surging" support for Israeli operation in "cleansing" Gaza of all Palestinians. Lebanon's Hezbollah says it is "prepared and ready" to join the war against Israel. Iranian supreme leader praises Hamas, warns Israel of "greater disaster" if it continues to bomb civilians in Gaza. OUTRAGE: Israel told Gaza residents to flee to Egypt for safety, then appears to have BOMBED the lone border crossing for their escape. GENOCIDAL: Israeli lawmaker demands deployment of "Doomsday" weapons to annihilate Gaza. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NYPost.com ABCNews.go.com Brighteon.com Rep. Jim Jordan loses second speaker vote as more Republicans defect Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the House Republican Conference's nominee to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives, has once again failed to win the speakership after failing to get enough votes on the second ballot Jordan, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and one of the leaders of the conservative wing of the Republican Party, had scheduled a second vote for the speakership for Wednesday, Oct. 18, just one day after failing to obtain the 217 votes necessary to win the speakership a day before, after 20 GOP representatives held out their votes. (Related: Rep. Jim Jordan fails to win speakership in first round of voting after 20 Republicans refused to vote for him.) In the approximately 24-hour gap between the first and second ballots, Jordan was able to secure the votes of two holdouts Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California, an ally of former speaker Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana. He also received the support of Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, who was absent for the first vote. However, at the same time, he lost the support of four other representatives Reps. Vern Buchanan of Florida, Drew Ferguson of Georgia, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Pete Stauber of Minnesota. The other 18 representatives who did not vote for Jordan include Republican moderates, staunch allies of McCarthy and a bloc of members who serve on the House Appropriations Committee. Jordan not conceding, to push ahead with third vote for the House gavel In a brief statement to the press on Thursday, Oct. 19, after delaying the third vote by a day, Jordan told reporters that he will press ahead with his bid for the speakership. "I'm still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race," he said. Jordan and his backers in the conservative wing of the party reportedly spent most of Thursday meeting with some of the 22 fellow Republicans who voted against him, but sources privy to the meetings and GOP representatives who spoke with the press noted that these meetings did not appear to change any minds. "We all told him that we're solid no's. That was the discussion," said Buchanan, who voted for Jordan in the first round before switching and voting for Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida in the second. "Now he's got a decision to make," she added, implying that Jordan should concede the race. Without a permanent speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina is currently serving as speaker pro tempore with a very limited mandate. A bipartisan group of representatives has suggested temporarily expanding McHenry's powers to allow the House to conduct some official business, but this was turned down by Jordan's allies who are loathe to partner with the Democrats. "It's a bad precedent and I don't support it," said Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. "Asinine," said Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. McHenry himself said he rejected the idea of taking the job permanently after he was appointed to the role over two weeks ago, stating: "I did not ask for additional powers. My duty is to get the next speaker elected. That's my focus." Watch this clip from Newsmax discussing the ongoing Republican infighting over the House Speaker position. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Rep. Jim Jordan chosen as House Republican nominee for speaker. Ivan Raiklin and Ann Vandersteel discuss the possibility of Trump becoming the next House speaker Brighteon.TV. Government once again at risk of shutdown following Republican infighting over who will be the next House speaker. House Speaker McCarthy warns of GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN if Biden doesn't agree to protect the border. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Spokesman.com CBSNews.com Reuters.com APNews.com Brighteon.com KNIFE ATTACKS reported in France and China after Hamas called for Oct. 13 to be a global day of rage After the militant group Hamas called for Oct. 13 to be a global "day of rage," there have been reports of knife attacks in several countries , including China and France. The knife attacks occurred after Hamas called a global "day of rage" in response to the militant group's ongoing conflict with Israel. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, the attack in France, which killed at least one individual, was linked to the conflict. Local media reported that the assailant was a Chechen known to the authorities as an Islamist radical. The 20-year-old assailant allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during an attack on several people at a school. The attack in France, which took place at a high school in the northern city of Arras, left one teacher dead and two others seriously injured, said Darmanin. Reports showed that the assailant's brother was also arrested "near another high school." (Related: Israel: Hamas SLAUGHTERED 40 children and babies in one town, with whole families burned alive or shot dead.) In Beijing, an Israeli embassy staffer was attacked with a knife in broad daylight before being rushed to the hospital. Chinese authorities have not released a motive for the attack, which comes after Israel admonished China for failing to condemn the unprecedented Hamas attacks that resulted in the tragic deaths of an estimated 1,300 Israeli soldiers and civilians. Through a statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry said that the unnamed embassy worker who was attacked in China was in a stable condition. The ministry clarified that the attack did not happen inside the embassy compound. Disturbing video footage allegedly showing the incident began circulating online and it showed one man screaming and bleeding as he's repeatedly stabbed by another man. A witness said the attack took place at around 2:20 p.m., with the victim helped by an English-speaking passerby. Another witness who heard screaming said he saw a tall, thin man wearing a white shirt leave the scene carrying a knife. The call for a "day of rage" resulted in security alerts across the globe as vulnerable locations like Jewish schools and synagogues from Palo Alto to London and Auckland closed. Meanwhile, American authorities increased security measures in major cities and at the U.S. Capitol. Jewish communities around the world targeted A video taken on Oct. 9 in Australia shows pro-Palestinian protesters shouting "Gas the Jews" and "F**k the Jews." The following days saw a significant increase in anti-Jewish hatred. To address concerns, the police increased their presence around the Jewish community in Melbourne, an area that is home to around half of the country's Jewish population. Like other nations across Europe, British police also increased their presence in Jewish areas. Some Jewish schools instructed students not to wear their uniforms in public to avoid being identified as Jewish. On Oct. 12, three Jewish schools in London informed parents that they were closing until Monday to protect students. Community Security Trust (CST) director of policy Dave Rich warned that the rate of antisemitic incidents "is likely to increase further." In New York, a "day of rage" protest occurred near Times Square. Donald Trump Jr. and GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene warned that Americans might want to stock up on ammunition to defend themselves. Fortunately, there was no widespread, organized violence reported by Friday afternoon. New York Mayor Eric Adams encouraged residents to continue attending their places of worship and sending their children to school because New York City "will do whatever it takes to keep our people safe." Across Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, violent incidents also surged on the "day of rage." Police shot and killed four Palestinians who tried to blow a hole in a West Bank border with explosives on Friday. Reports revealed that an Israeli shot a Palestinian at point-blank range near the village of At-Tuwani south of Hebron. Earlier in October, Hamas urged Palestinians to join in a "general mobilization" against Israeli troops in the West Bank. Some responded to the call, resulting in clashes with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF arrested 220 wanted Palestinians, including 130 they said were affiliated with Hamas. The day before, the IDF arrested 32 Hamas members, including senior figures, in Hebron. Read more reports about the "day of rage" at Terrorism.news. Watch the video below for more updates about the "day of rage." This video is from the AMPNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Reuters journalist killed by Israeli missile fire in Lebanon while covering Israel-Hamas war. Day of Rage proclamation by former Hamas leader triggers fear, anxiety among Jewish communities in NYC. Israeli military confirms Hamas has at least 155 hostages hidden in Gaza. Sources include: TheDailyBeast.com 1 TheGuardian.com TheDailyBeast.com 2 Brighteon.com Nearly half of CEOs believe AI could, and should, replace them survey to gain insight into how professionals are preparing for the age of artificial intelligence (AI) has found that 49 percent of CEOs believe AI not only could but should replace them. Conducted by edX, the online leading education platform for upskilling workers, and the research firm Workplace Intelligence, the survey also revealed that only 20 percent of workers believe their roles could be replaced by AI. (Related: CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: Humanoid robots claim they could run the world better than humans.) From across the United States, edX surveyed the following: More than 500 CEOs Accountable to the firm's board of directors or stakeholders and often the public face of the company, CEOs are responsible for making major corporate decisions, managing overall operations and setting the entitys strategic direction. 800 C-suite (also referred to as C-level) executives The term is used to describe top-tier executives in a company with "chief" in their job titles. Often highly paid and influential, these high-ranking senior executives are responsible for particular areas within a companys hierarchy. 800 knowledge workers They are high-level workers who are paid to think for a living, unlike manual laborers who are paid to perform physical tasks. They apply theoretical and analytical knowledge acquired through formal training, such as architects, design thinkers, engineers, financial analysts, lawyers, physicians, scientists, etc. Titled "Navigating the Workplace in the Age of AI," some of the report findings are as follows: 49 percent of CEOs believed that AI could and should completely automate "most" or "all" of their job functions or be replaced by AI viewing it as a desirable development. (Related: Rise of the robots: 8 Professions that will be taken over by AI technology.) 79 percent of executives were concerned about falling behind and worry that if they don't learn how to use AI, they'll be unprepared for the future of work with AI tools and technologies and their worries extend to the company workforce as well. 49 percent of the skills that currently exist in their workforce wont be relevant in 2025, according to CEOs and other C-suite executives in the survey with 47 percent of their workforce being "unprepared for the future of work" and only 24 percent of the workforce using their companys programs to learn, develop or upgrade their AI skills. 87 percent of the C-suite executives in most companies are finding it difficult to get ahead of the AI trend and are struggling to find talent with AI acumen or skills; 77 percent say AI is "disrupting" their business strategies. CEOs aren't going anywhere Anant Agarwal, founder and former CEO of edX, doesn't believe that there will be some mass exodus of CEOs. He argued that CEOs could stand to gain if they are well-prepared to work comfortably with AI tools and technologies. Agarwal said that if perspectives were changed, C-suite executives could help replace the more mundane tasks of their job responsibility with AI to maximize the more meaningful ones (e.g., communication, critical thinking, decision-making, emotional intelligence, leadership, management and problem-solving skills) to create sustainable revenue streams, introduce new products, inspire employees and more. This will be particularly helpful for CEOs of smaller companies. "Small teams can begin looking much bigger, provided they're upskilled in the use of A.I. tools and technologies," said Agarwal. Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Workplace Intelligence, said: "The solution, is more learning and training. Executives who take steps to become proficient with A.I. will be better equipped to make decisions that will position their companies for success in today's ever-evolving business landscape." He added that some leaders have already taken steps to amend this: 41 percent increased their training budgets for AI technologies and AI tool proficiency. 39 percent are now requiring their employees to learn AI tools, develop skills and be proficient at using them. Executives are also willing to sweeten the deal for skilled employees and their AI proficiency could provide a considerable career boost: 72 percent of executives believe that their company should double down on A.I. learning and development programs over the next two years. 82 percent believe AI-skilled workers should be compensated based on their level of proficiency using AI the more skilled workers should be paid more. 74 percent believe technology-savvy workers should be promoted more often. 82 percent of these C-suite executives believe that employees should be allowed to use A.I. to work multiple jobs. "I see this as a massive opportunity for CEOs of small businesses," Agarwal said. "If they don't see the opportunity, but all the other CEOs do and jump on it and upskill their employees on this, they will lose." Andy Morgan, head of edX for business, told Fortune: "For top executives, including prospective and current CEOs, understanding and leveraging AI will be paramount to future success. It's not about humans versus AI, but rather about how we incorporate these developments into the workplace to ensure long-term relevance." Watch this video that examines whether generative AI can replace CEOs. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Leftists are planning to grant 'personhood rights' to 'conscious' artificial intelligence in near future which means AI software will be able to VOTE. Welcome to your jobless future Artificial intelligence will replace half of all jobs in the next decade. AI takeover is INEVITABLE: Experts warn artificial intelligence will become powerful enough to control human minds, behaviors. Sources include: Technocracy.News Press.edX.org Investopedia.com CorporateFinanceInstitute.com Business.edX.org Inc.com Brighteon.com Ohio man arrested after making antisemitic comments to Jewish residents, caught on Ring cam On Monday, police in Bexley, Ohio arrested a man after allegedly trespassing on private property and making antisemitic remarks to residents who displayed Israeli flags outside their homes. (Article by Jarryd Jaeger republished from ThePostMillennial.com) Thomas Reidy, 39, was caught on a doorbell camera walking up to one woman's house and calling her a "Zionist pig," while another resident said he, too, was targeted. A random man walks to a house in Bexley, Ohio where a Jewish woman lives and tells her You Zionist pigs are f*cking disgusting! pic.twitter.com/ltBPNsJiOj The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 17, 2023 "I've never used one of these," Reidy said, referring to the video doorbell. When the woman calmly asked what she could help him with, he proceeded to launch into an antisemitic rant. "You Zionist pigs are f*cking disgusting," Reidy said, staring right into the camera. According to Fox28, another resident said the suspect "just told me he hoped I died" and "called me several names." Bexley police noted that "a male, white with a beard and plaid/flannel shirt left in a silver or dark gray two-door sedan ... came to the door and made antisemitic comments to the resident, appears to have been triggered by the Israeli flag in front." Reidy was apprehended in his home after the video of him was posted to social media and went viral. He is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail. According to ABC6, this is not the first time Reidy has been caught making disparaging remarks about Jewish people. On October 7, he was spotted by police driving past a synagogue and shouting about Israel out the car window. Authorities did not arrest him at the time, as none of his speech was illegal, however, they did note his license plate. Officers were able to identify him as the suspect in Sunday's attack via that information. It is unclear whether Reidy will be charged with a hate crime, or "ethnic intimidation," however he is facing counts of criminal trespass. Police and local Jewish groups have stated that this appears to be an isolated incident, and that they do not believe Reidy was working with any other suspects. Read more at: ThePostMillennial.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. A final solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue cannot be achieved without the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a telephone conversation with Hamas Politburo Chairman Ismail Haniyeh said, Trend reports. According to the Administration of the President of Turkiye, during the conversation Erdogan said that Turkey is making efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to the Gaza Strip. Erdogan added that Turkiye is committed to ensuring a ceasefire in the region as soon as possible. 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. Pentagon warns China now has over 500 operational nuclear warheads as it seeks nuclear parity with the U.S. A new report from the Department of Defense strongly suggests that China now has over 500 operational nuclear warheads , which is likely to double to more than 1,000 by 2030 This is according to the Pentagon's annual report to Congress on military and security developments in communist China. The report warned that China may have been in possession of more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May a key milestone in the country's nuclear expansion and modernization efforts that was achieved two years earlier than previously anticipated. The report adds that this nuclear expansion and modernization effort will continue through 2035 in support of Chinese President Xi Jinping's objective of creating a "world-class" military that can compete with the United States by 2049. (Related: Nuclear-armed nations are expanding and modernizing their nuclear arsenals in anticipation of a potential global power conflict.) Beijing's nuclear stockpile is still much smaller than that of Russia's or the United States'. As of January, Russia had approximately 5,889 operational nuclear warheads and the U.S. had 5,244. Speed at which Beijing creating new nukes alarms analysts One Defense Department official who spoke with the media on condition of anonymity noted that the speed and scale at which China is expanding its nuclear arsenal as well as the rest of its military is unprecedented. "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," said the official. "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 quite major expansion of their nuclear forces." The Pentagon expects China to use its new "fast breeder" nuclear reactors and reprocessing facilities to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program. This is despite official claims by the Chinese government publicly maintaining that these nuclear facilities are intended only for "peaceful purposes." Furthermore, the Pentagon report notes that China likely has completed the construction of three new fields for solid-fueled missile silos in 2022, which includes at least 300 new missile silos for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The report warns that "at least some" of these silos are loaded with missiles ready to launch. The same Defense Department official tried to downplay the severity of the situation, saying that long-term projections about the growth of China's nuclear arsenal become less reliable when taking additional variables into consideration as the years go on. He added that the U.S. is expected to continue using diplomatic channels to urge China to be more transparent about its nuclear capabilities. For its part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that the Pentagon report is not truthful. Spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing that the report is "filled with prejudice and distorts facts." "China is committed to peaceful development," she said. "We have a stable and unique nuclear policy that is highly predictable." Learn more about the expansion of nuclear capabilities around the world at NuclearWeapons.news. Watch this clip from Fox Business with journalist, lawyer and Gatestone Institute Senior Fellow Gordon G. Chang as he warns about how a nuclear exchange between China and the United States is "much closer" to reality than expected. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Former Pentagon official warns via NATO website: West should prepare for NUCLEAR WAR. China begins its largest-ever expansion of nuclear arsenal. Biden's weakening of the U.S. military, while provoking a nuclear war with China and Russia, makes America a sitting duck. STRATCOM report reveals China has a larger nuclear ICBM arsenal than the U.S. China to have roughly 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Bloomberg.com Politico.com Brighteon.com Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried scheduled meetings with Bill Clinton, other Democrats prior to crypto exchanges collapse Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, reportedly scheduled meetings with former President Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats prior to his firm's bankruptcy. The scheduled meetings came to light during an Oct. 17 testimony by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent Richard Busick at Bankman-Fried's trial in Manhattan. Busick had carried out analysis on an AT&T phone allegedly used by Bankman-Fried, and subsequently disclosed several meetings and calendar entries he found on the phone when he took the witness stand. The FBI agent told federal prosecutors that the scheduled meetings corresponded with the phone's location at those times, something lawyers for the FTX founder questioned. One such meeting involved Clinton, with the two scheduled to meet in September 2022 at the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The meeting between Bankman-Fried and the erstwhile president came roughly two months before FTX filed for bankruptcy in November of that year. Earlier that year, Bankman-Fried reportedly scheduled a dinner with New York City Mayor Eric Adams in March. He also set up a meeting with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in August, a month before meeting Clinton. Aside from the three Democrats, the FTX founder had also scheduled a meeting with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Bankman-Fried and the head of the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund met at The Pierre Hotel, also located in the Big Apple, in September 2022. Prior to the September 2022 meeting, Bankman-Fried and Clinton had crossed paths at a cryptocurrency conference in the Bahamas in April of that year. Both appeared on a panel at the event, alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The disgraced FTX founder faces seven criminal charges in Manhattan court, which could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. He is accused of siphoning FTX client funds to keep his Alameda Research hedge fund afloat and embezzling FTX money to fund his lavish lifestyle. SBF donated to prominent Dems, including Joe Biden The FTX founder also donated to prominent Democratic politicians including President Joe Biden, according to star witness Caroline Ellison. She had been the former CEO of Alameda Research, but entered a plea deal with federal prosecutors for a lighter sentence. In turn, Ellison took the witness stand and testified against her former partner. (Related: Star witness Caroline Ellison says disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried instructed her to COMMIT CRIMES and MISLEAD LENDERS.) Ellison disclosed Bankman-Fried's donation during her Oct. 10 testimony, while being cross-examined by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon. "He thought it was very effective," the former Alameda CEO answered when asked about Bankman-Fried's remarks on spending money on politics. "You could get very high returns in terms of influence by spending relatively small amounts of money." "He donated $10 million to [Joe] Biden, and that was a relatively small amount of money. He felt that was something that got him influence and recognition." In December 2022, the Daily Mail reported that Bankman-Fried illegally made donations to more than 100 political entities. The tabloid cited a filing by prosecutors accusing him of donating to 52 Democrats, 10 Republicans, 50 Democrat-affiliated groups three GOP-affiliated groups and three nonpartisan groups. "While Bankman-Fried's donations filed with the [Federal Election Commission] skew heavily Democratic, he claimed his donations were equally bipartisan saying in a November [2022] interview [that] he believed himself to be the 'second- or third-biggest' GOP donor in the 2022 election cycle. He said he sent most of the Republican donations through untraceable dark money groups," the Mail reported. "Through massive donations to [political action committees] and political groups, crypto billionaires like Bankman-Fried have so far been able to convince lawmakers that the budding industry needed a hands-off regulatory framework to grow. The collapse of FTX and the bad optics of potentially taking an illegal donation may sow doubt on that." Watch Fox News host Jesse Watters talk about Sam Bankman-Fried having "full access" to the White House below. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Democrats SCRAMBLING to hide evidence linking them to former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Sam Bankman-Fried indicted AGAIN for allegedly using $100M in stolen customer funds for political donations. Sam Bankman-Fried directed executives to COMMIT CRIMINAL FRAUD for him, including donating over $10 MILLION to Biden. Biden's Justice Department drops campaign finance charge against Democratic megadonor Sam Bankman-Fried (who illegally paid off Democrats). Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk 1 DailyMail.co.uk 2 DailyMail.co.uk 3 Brighteon.com WHO warns that forced Israeli evacuation of Gaza is a death sentence for Palestinian hospital patients Israel's order that residents of Gaza flee the Palestinian territory within 24 hours is a "death sentence" for vulnerable hospital patients, warned the World Health Organization (WHO) this week. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic echoed an advisory issued by health authorities in Gaza that it is simply impossible to evacuate millions of people, especially those who are sick and indisposed in a hospital bed, to flee the land strip on Israel's timeline. "There are severely ill people whose injuries mean their only chances of survival is being on life support, such as mechanical ventilators," Jasarevic said. "So, moving those people is a death sentence. Asking health workers to do so is beyond cruel." The Israeli evacuation order covers about half the population of the Gaza Strip, or around 1.1 million people. Everyone who lives north of Wadi Gaza, a dividing line between the top and bottom half of the territory, has been told to leave immediately or else face the ire of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The United Nations (UN), the head organization of the WHO, says these 1.1 million Gazans are basically trapped inside the territory with nowhere to go and not nearly enough time to get there. The UN used the word "impossible" to describe the Israeli order, while top European Union (EU) diplomat Josep Borrell called it "utterly unrealistic." (Related: Gazans are desperately trying to leave the Israeli-targeted area as the world awaits planned ground invasion.) Hamas tells Gaza residents to ignore Israeli evacuation order, calls it "fake propaganda" Not everyone believes the threats of Israel, though. Hamas itself called the Israeli order "fake propaganda," urging Gaza residents to simply ignore it as just more empty saber-rattling from the "settlers." Even so, Gaza hospitals have reached a "breaking point," according to the WHO, which is calling for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to allow health workers to facilitate the evacuation of Gazans who are sick and injured. According to Jasarevic, hospitals throughout Gaza are only receiving electricity for just a few hours every day. Many health care facilities are having to rely on emergency generators to power the most critical functions, including in intensive care units (ICUs) and neonatal ICUs. "Time is running out to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, if fuel, water, food and life-saving health and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered to the Gaza Strip amidst the complete blockage," Jasarevic said. The WHO further warned that there is only "24 hours of water, electricity and fuel left" in Gaza following the Israeli bombardment. Meanwhile, protesters in Hebron, Jerusalem and Bethlehem were detained by IDF soldiers for publicly advocating for the human rights of the Palestinian people. Since the October 7 melee began, at least 560 Palestinians are said to have been detained in Israel. Between October 7-15, Israeli forces attacked more than 110 health care facilities in Gaza and the West Bank. Fifteen health care workers in Gaza have been killed and 27 were injured. In the occupied West Bank, including in Jerusalem, six health workers have been injured, according to the WHO. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer Russia's support in ending the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Putin called for an immediate ceasefire, and for the interests of the Palestinians to be remembered and taken into account amid all this. The EU has also said it will launch a "humanitarian air bridge operation" involving "several flights" to Egypt that aim to bring supplies to the various humanitarian organizations operating on the ground in Gaza. What do you think will happen next in the Middle East? Learn more at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: AlJazeera.com NaturalNews.com AlJazeera.com Israel BOMBS historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza worlds third oldest church The world's third oldest church was bombed by Israel this week as part of the regime's scorched-earth assault on Gaza in response to the Hamas false flag attack on October 7. According to reports, numerous people were killed and a "large number" were injured after Israel bombed the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza, which served as a sanctuary for displaced Palestinians with nowhere else to go. The ancient Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, a significant historical site dating back to 425 AD, has reportedly been struck by Israeli airstrikes. The church bears the name of Saint Porphyrius, the bishop renowned for introducing Christianity to Gaza during his tenure pic.twitter.com/5aL14EQnYK Jehad Abusalim ???? ??? ???? (@JehadAbusalim) October 19, 2023 The strike by Israel left a "large number of martyrs and injured," the Palestinian enclave interior ministry confirmed. The dead bodies of at least 16 Christian Palestinians have thus far been found in the rubble. Witnesses told the AFP news agency that the Israeli air raid appeared to have been aimed at a target close to the 12th-century place of worship where many Gaza residents, both Muslim and Christian, had taken refuge following Israel's warning about an impending ground invasion. Breaking news: Israel bombed a house bordering on the Greek Orthodox church in Gaza, which brought down the assembly hall where around 50 Christians were having refug. At least a child was murdered and several people injured, all Christians. Many are still under the rubble. pic.twitter.com/cB6FVhOBhT Mitri Raheb (@RahebM) October 19, 2023 (Related: Did you know that the Israeli Knesset, part of Netanyahu's cabinet, wants to outlaw the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Israel? It is already illegal to preach Jesus to children there, and now the Pharisees want to make it illegal period, punishable with prison.) IDF minimizes death of dozens of Christians from Israeli rockets: "a wall of a church in the area was damaged" The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Israeli military did, in fact, strike the church, though it tried to minimize the fallout by stating that "as a result of the IDF [Israeli army] strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged." "We are aware of reports on casualties," the IDF further confirmed. "The incident is under review." Saint Porphyrius, by the way, is Gaza's oldest church, having been built in 1150. It is located in a historic neighborhood of Gaza City, offering refuge and sanctuary for Christians, Muslims, and really anyone who is displaced and in need, showing Christian charity to all. The Greek orthodox assembly hall in rubble. A massacre. Lord have mercy. pic.twitter.com/7TxT2j1Flz Mitri Raheb (@RahebM) October 19, 2023 The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a statement following the blast, expressing its "strongest condemnation" against the Israeli military. "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. Israelis spit at Christian pilgrims at Jerusalems Lion Gate. pic.twitter.com/fQPguCLwjx Censored Men (@CensoredMen) October 3, 2023 Israel, meanwhile, is expressing zero remorse while trying to justify the church as an appropriate target because there are supposedly "terrorists" hiding out on the property. "Hamas intentionally embeds its assets in civilian areas and uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields," the IDF claims, conveniently for itself, about why it feels justified in blowing up Christian and Muslim civilians simply seeking refuge. Israelis spit at Christian pilgrims at Jerusalems Lion Gate. pic.twitter.com/fQPguCLwjx Censored Men (@CensoredMen) October 3, 2023 It cannot be stressed enough that the Saint Porphyrius has long served as a refuge to not just Christians but to anyone in need, which demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ that is completely absent from, and that stands in direct contrast to, Israel's approach to life and humanity. Local Palestinian Muslim resident Walaa Sobeh, whose residence was destroyed in the same air raid she lives right around the corner from the badly damaged church said Saint Porphyrius was a sanctuary where everyone was made to feel like "one family." "We are here living the day, not sure if we can make it to the night," Sobeh laments. "But what eases our pain is the humble and warm spirit of everyone around." Sobeh would add that she and others continue to receive "enormous support from the priests and other people in the church who volunteer tirelessly around the clock to help the displaced families." "Supporting Israel" means supporting the murder of innocent Palestinian Christians. Learn more at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: AlJazeera.com InformationLiberation.com Newstarget.com AlJazeera.com Israels claim that Gaza Baptist Hospital bombing was a failed Hamas rocket launch verified as LIE Thefootage that Israel itself used to try to claim that a "failed" Hamas rocket caused the destruction of al-Ahli Baptist Hospital (also known as al-Ahli Arab Hospital) in Gaza has actually proven this to be a lie Al Jazeera conducted its own investigation of said footage and found that there is no way the Israeli army's claim holds any merit watch below to learn more: An Al Jazeera digital investigation found no grounds for the Israeli army's claim that the strike on the al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza was caused by a failed rocket launch. pic.twitter.com/DQsrBXfwmL Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 19, 2023 The investigation revealed that it was Israel that conducted four separate airstrikes in a matter of just six minutes right before the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital's courtyard was struck. Cross-referencing its own footage with that of a surveillance camera located just to the south of Tel Aviv further affirmed this, showing that the "failed" rockets from Gaza that Israel tried to blame on the hospital strike were shot down by Israel's own Iron Dome. The last rocket was intercepted "at exactly 18:59:50," the investigation found, adding that it was "completely destroyed and broken apart." Said rocket was the last rocket fired from Gaza, and we now know that it was intercepted before the hospital explosion. In other words, Israel is responsible for the hospital attack, not Gaza. "Five seconds after that interception, an explosion in Gaza was seen, followed two seconds later by a much larger explosion," the investigation found, adding that the second explosion "was the strike that hit al-Ahli Arab Hospital." "Al Jazeera digital investigation found no grounds to the Israeli army's claim that the strike on the al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza was caused by a failed rocket launch," Al Jazeera's English division further reported. (Related: At first, Israel admitted it bombed the hospital, but quickly deleted the message from X [formerly Twitter].) "Hamas" phone call that Israel released as "evidence" against Gaza also exposed as FAKE Channel 4 in the United Kingdom also investigated the intercepted "Hamas" phone call that Israel released and reported as "evidence" that a failed Gaza rocket damaged the hospital and this, too, was found to be fake. "The language, accent, and syntax and tone" were all off, Channel 4 reported, suggesting that Israel manufactured the fake call to try to blame its target for the destruction of their own infrastructure at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Channel 4 also affirmed what Al Jazeera found concerning Israel's claim that the strike was caused by a misfired Gaza missile from a nearby cemetery. This could not have happened, the media outlet discovered, because the trajectories do not match the video footage. Israel also "confusingly" claimed that "the missile was fired from a location down in the southwest it can't be both," Channel 4 added meaning one missile cannot be fired from two different locations as Israel bizarrely claimed in an attempt to cover up its war crimes. Who was behind the Gaza hospital blast a visual investigation. pic.twitter.com/FGQ9kG0Wni Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 19, 2023 "The phone call is incredibly easy to fake and there's no reason to believe Israel can intercept Hamas' communications because they were completely blindsided by their Oct 7 attack," further notes Information Liberation's Chris Menahan about the matter. "Israel is really into blowing up hospitals," added one of our own readers about the shameless war crimes that Israel is basically allowed to commit because many people are afraid of the consequences of challenging the "chosen ones." The latest news about the escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza can be found at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: InformationLiberation.com NaturalNews.com In response to the increasing need for sustainable agriculture, biostimulants have emerged as a significant innovation. Biostimulants are more than just an improvement to traditional fertilizers. They play a crucial role in enhancing plant growth and fortifying soil health by a combination of natural substances and microorganisms. Advancing Agriculture and the Role of Biostimulants Biostimulants promote enhanced nutrient absorption, improve plants' resistance to environmental stressors, invigorate root systems, increase crop yield, and enhance quality. These attributes position biostimulants as foundational elements for modern, sustainable farming practices. Key industry leaders, including ICL Group, Syngenta, and Bayer, are at the forefront of adopting and advancing biostimulant technologies. These companies are instrumental in driving the innovation and use of biostimulants in agriculture and developing solutions that contribute to enhanced crop health for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Furthermore, the global biostimulants market is experiencing remarkable growth. In 2022, the market size was valued at $3.34 billion, and it is projected to grow from $3.69 billion in 2023 to a substantial $7.97 billion by 2030. This rapid expansion underscores the growing recognition of biostimulants as essential components of modern agriculture. The demand for sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices is driving this growth, empowering companies at the forefront of this movement to foster healthier crops, more resilient farming systems, and a greener future. ICL Group: Leading the Green Charge Diving deeper, ICL Group, an innovative global specialty minerals company, and one of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world, emerges as a beacon in this green revolution. Their biostimulants, crafted with precision, aim to invigorate plants at a molecular, physiological, and biochemical level. By triggering these innate responses, plants not only utilize nutrients more efficiently but also display increased resilience against natural adversaries like heat, drought, and salinity. Yet, ICL's journey isn't a solo venture. They've collaborated with pioneering innovators across the globe, harnessing the potential of their open innovation ecosystem. Further enriched by the Planet Start Up Hub - ICL's dedicated Food Tech and AgTech Accelerator - they're introducing transformative biological solutions to growers worldwide, regardless of their scale. ICL steadfastly advocates that the bedrock of sustainable farming is the preservation of soil health. Their biostimulants are a testament to this belief, ensuring our soils remain rich, vibrant, and shielded from degradation. Syngenta: Nurturing Earth, Nourishing Crops Syngenta, another titan leading the charge, recognizes that soil health is key to sustainable agriculture, and has embraced biostimulants as essential tools in their arsenal. By focusing on biosynthetic biostimulants, Syngenta is tapping into nature's own mechanisms to combat challenges, be it abiotic stresses or nutritional inefficiencies. Syngenta views the earth as more than just a substrate; it's a living, breathing entity deserving of care. Their approach, holistic and ground-up, resonates with farmers globally, fostering practices that enrich the soil rather than exploit it. Bayer: Where Tradition Meets Innovation Last but certainly not least, Bayer continues to make strides in the realm of sustainable agriculture. With a storied history in the agricultural sector, Bayer is no stranger to the delicate balance between plant growth and soil health. Their foray into biostimulants underscores this commitment. By leveraging the potent active ingredients in biostimulants, such as humic acid and seaweed extracts, Bayer Crop Science ensures that every crop not only thrives above the ground but nurtures the soil beneath. The synergy of enhancing plant vitality while rejuvenating soil ecosystems is at the heart of their innovations. Charting a Sustainable Tomorrow Beyond the walls of these corporations, the global narrative is shifting. With challenges like soil degradation, water scarcity, and climatic events making sustainable agriculture an imperative. The United Nations' sustainable development goals for 2030 highlights eco-friendly agricultural practices. Biostimulants, in this context, emerge as more than mere solutions-they're symbols of hope. They promise resilient crop yields under duress, and most importantly, the preservation of the very earth that sustains us. Seeds of Hope in a Changing Landscape In a world where the challenges of sustainable agriculture are becoming increasingly urgent, the emergence of biostimulants is a game-changer. These remarkable agents have the potential to redefine the way we cultivate crops and nurture our soil. Biostimulants are pivotal in bridging traditional practices of farming with cutting-edge innovation, ushering in an era of sustainable farming. Distinct from traditional fertilizers, their strength lies not just in enriching the soil, but in invigorating plants, unlocking their innate potential. Industry leaders such as ICL Group, Syngenta, and Bayer Crop Science are not merely embracing biostimulants as a trend; they're forging a path towards a sustainable and more resilient agricultural ecosystem. Their commitment to bolstering crop health, preserving soil vitality, and tackling global issues like soil degradation and water scarcity reflects their commitment to sustainable agricultural practices. As we stand at the crossroads of innovation and sustainability, these companies are not merely participants but pioneers, promising bounty and ecological balance. With biostimulants at the helm, the future of farming is not just green-it's golden. The most recent studies are pinpointing the "danger zones" for climate change, where people may be exposed to extreme weather conditions. 'Danger Zones' and Extreme Weather Events Two recent researches dove into the 'danger zones' on Earth that were climate change-induced. These 'danger zones' are often bombarded by extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, thunderstorms, and many others. The first study tackles the possibility of hotspots for interlinked extreme weather events. Meanwhile, the second study identified nine safe spaces, however, six of these have already been crossed out, leaving humanity with the remaining three spaces. Study 1: Teleconnections Extreme weather events, like wildfires and floods, are interconnected according to a recent study. A climate analysis map identifies hotspots prone to these 'linked' events. 'Teleconnections,' explained by Jingfang Fan of Beijing Normal University and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in his paper, illustrate a global domino effect. Vast 'Rossby waves' in the ocean link events across vast distances. Fan states that these teleconnections describe how the climate in one place affects weather thousands of miles away. He warns of rising temperatures within five years, resembling scientists' concerns about our planet's fever. Understanding these 'interlinked' events is still a challenge. Beijing Normal University researchers propose a climate network analysis method to unveil the connections. Climate networks act as maps, using daily surface air temperature data to identify sensitive regions and recurring patterns. Rossby Waves Fan's research detected climate patterns driven by atmospheric Rossby waves, impacting regions like southeastern Australia and South Africa. Interconnections have strengthened since 1948, possibly due to climate change and human activities, especially in the Southern Hemisphere over the past 37 years. Forecasting on Steroids The researchers aim to use this knowledge for future risk assessment and strategy development. Fan likened the next steps to advanced weather forecasting, exploring the causes and connections between climate 'tipping points' to predict climate events. A 2021 UN climate report predicted an increased frequency of once rare events like heat waves and wildfires due to climate change, with potential 'tipping point' events, such as Antarctic ice sheet melt, not being ruled out. Dr. Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth noted that previously rare occurrences, like heat extremes, now happen more frequently, and droughts are increasing in frequency, occurring every five or six years instead of once a decade. Study 2: Safe Operating Spaces Another recent scientific study reveals that the Earth faces growing peril, with only three of nine key health markers within safe limits. Six boundaries defining humanity's safe operating space have been breached, intensifying pressure on them. Johan Rockstrom, co-author of the paper from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, clarifies that it doesn't guarantee an irreversible collapse, but it erodes the Earth's resilience. Human-made greenhouse gas emissions drive climate change, affecting the planet. Understanding the intricate interactions between various indicators, climate, and ecosystems requires sophisticated models. The "planetary boundaries" framework, initiated in 2009, is being updated, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these challenges to ensure a sustainable future. Also Read: Sahara Dried Out From 800 Years of Extreme Groundwater Harvesting Last Three Boundaries In a significant scientific breakthrough, the first comprehensive planetary health check quantifies all nine boundaries. Disturbingly, boundaries for freshwater availability and land system changes like deforestation, biodiversity, and carbon dioxide concentrations have been exceeded. The planet remains safe in just three areas: stratospheric ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, and ocean acidification, which is headed in the wrong direction. However, hope lies in global commitments, as the Montreal Protocol successfully reversed ozone depletion. Yet, caution is advised by experts in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, as solutions like replacing fossil fuels with biomass must not deplete forests. Respecting biomass boundaries is crucial in addressing the intertwined challenges of climate and life on the planet. Related Article: Extreme Climate Prompts Scramble for Production of Resistant Seed Strains Light rain conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest and Central California due to upper-level troughing, according to the latest forecasts. Warmer conditions and above-normal temperatures were recorded in the Western US and California. However, the weather pattern will change with the chances of rain early next week. Hurricane Norma will graze the southern tip of Baja California Sur this weekend, then weaken as it moves into west-central Mexico early next week. No weather impacts from Norma here in Southern California. Satellite image is from 2 PM Friday. #cawx pic.twitter.com/WC9VKZG43Q NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) October 20, 2023 In the Pacific Northwest, the region has experienced rainy conditions. Snow potential was also reported in high-elevation areas as the fall weather began. Pacific Northwest and Parts of California: Light Rain Outlook This Weekend According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the upper-level troughing will help bring a light rain outlook in Northern and Central California this weekend. The weather will not become severe. The Pacific Northwest can also expect the same rain on Saturday. Above-average temperatures from 15 to 25 degrees can also unfold in the Northern Intermountain Region, Lower Mississippi Valley and Southwestern US. The light rain could not pose a weather danger. However, motorists should watch out for slipper road conditions this weekend from a rainy outlook. Flooding is not a problem this week. However, the persistent heat will stay on the weekend in some parts of the US. In the latest forecast, dry conditions and record highs are expected in the following areas: Cedar City Las Vegas Albuquerque Phoenix El Paso Odessa San Diego Los Angeles Meanwhile, Hurricane Norma will not have a significant impact on Southern California. In San Diego, the forecast showed relief from the heat next week, including in Los Angeles. In addition, the warm outlook will spread over Elko, Denver, Grand Junction and Salt Lake City. However, the much-awaited colder conditions will emerge next week. On Monday, a chilly condition is expected in the following areas: Las Vegas Cedar City San Francisco Medford Portland Seattle Spokane Boise There is also a snow potential next week. Snowy outlook can be possible in Helena, Denver and Casper. California mountains or high-elevation areas can expect snow accumulation. Also Read: Rainy Outlook to Unload in Pacific Northwest; Warmer Weather Likely in West US Weather In Other Portions of the US: What Can Americans Expect? In the advisory, the Great Lakes and Northeast could experience heavy rain conditions. On the other hand, a weather system can shape the weather in the Northwest and part of the Carolinas this weekend. The northeastern US can likely experience stormy conditions this weekend. Residents can expect heavy rains and travel delays in the region. Homeowners traveling to portions of the Northeast should monitor the latest weather forecasts. However, the weather could unfold with frosty conditions next week. As colder air and snow begin, homeowners should prepare for the coming winter. A mix of rain and snow can damage homes and bring significant health risks. Did You Know? In colder weather, the most common medical condition is frostbite. Freezing tempeatures can damage people's skin. Related Article: Weather Cooldown, Possible Snow to Unfold in Western US This Week For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Around 91 totoaba swim bladders were discovered by authorities concealed in a shipment of fish fillets, with the estimated value of the contraband at $1.4 million, according to authorities. 91 Totoaba Swim Bladders Worth $1.4M Port of San Luis - US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and agriculture experts confiscated 109 pounds of totoaba swim bladders, a protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The seized bladders were valued between $910,000 to $1,365,000. This marks the second significant interception by CBP agents this year, with 91 totoaba swim bladders concealed within a shipment of frozen fish fillets. A similar seizure occurred at the Nogales trade facility in April. CBP collaborated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to confirm the endangered Totoaba macdonaldi species origin. This is one of the largest totoaba seizures in the US and the second-largest in Arizona, with custody of the bladders now with USFWS following preliminary DNA testing. Endangered Totoaba Fish vs. Asian Demand Totoaba fish have been endangered in the US since 1979, with their swim bladders highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine and Asian cuisine. Due to federal protection in the US and Mexico, it's illegal to harvest, possess, transport, or trade totoaba. Gill-net fishing has also put the vaquita porpoise in danger in the Gulf of California. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are looking into the smuggling of this protected species. Tucson Field Office Director of Field Operations, Guadalupe Ramirez, emphasized the diverse laws enforced by their officers and agriculture specialists. This marks the second-largest totoaba seizure in Arizona this year, showcasing the dedication of CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists in upholding regulations for all imports. It also underscores their collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife to enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species treaty agreement. Also Read: Illegal Trafficking in Thailand Now Worth US$20 Billion US Customs and Border Protection vs. Illegal Shipments Customs and Border Protection (CBP), responsible for over 40 government entities such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the US Department of Agriculture, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the United States. Their mission involves preventing the entry of hazardous goods that threaten public health, safety, American workers, and domestic plant and animal life. CBP officers stationed at entry points meticulously inspect products that may seem harmless but carry unforeseen risks. Prohibited items span from dangerous toys to vehicles lacking safety features, and illegal substances like absinthe, and bush meat. Certain products, including firearms, specific fruits, vegetables, animal items, and live animals, necessitate federal licenses or permits. Before importing anything into the country, visitors are encouraged to consult with CBP to ensure compliance with regulations. This proactive approach aligns with CBP's overarching goal of safeguarding the nation and maintaining border integrity by preventing the importation of forbidden or restricted items. CBP significantly contributes to preserving the United States' safety, health, and overall well-being through its vigilant enforcement efforts. Related Article: $10000 Endangered Sea Cucumbers From Mexico Seized at Border in Smuggling Attempt Government officials in the UK have announced a ban on glitter and the impending ban on plastic pellets as part of their ongoing campaign against microplastics. Incoming Ban for Plastic Pellets The proposed plan targets plastic pellets, omnipresent in plastic production, aiming for a 74% reduction in pellet pollution by the decade's end. The European Commission expects this to curtail Europe's microplastic pollution by 7%. Virginijus Sinkevicius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, underscores the importance of source pollution reduction. The initiative seeks to significantly diminish microplastic pollution at the source. Tiny plastic pellets, also called nurdles or nibs, serve as the building blocks for various everyday items like office chairs and water bottles but inadvertently escape into the environment throughout the supply chain. Gradually, they degrade into microplastics, consumed by both humans and animals. The European Commission estimates an annual release of 52,000 to 184,000 tons of plastic pellets into the EU environment. Dana Kuhnel of the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research emphasizes the efficacy of preventing plastic discharge over microplastic management. War Against Microplastics To reduce microplastic pollution by 30% by 2030, the European Commission is implementing measures for operators handling plastic pellets. They prioritize spill prevention, containment, and cleanup. The proposal outlines best practices and mandates independent third-party certifications for larger operators, while smaller ones can self-declare compliance to ease the economic burden. Scientific and medical experts have long expressed concerns about the health risks posed by accumulating microplastics in the human body. Although plastic pellets themselves are not immediately harmful, they break down into tiny particles capable of entering the lungs and bloodstream. In summary, the Commission's plan seeks to minimize the impact of plastic pellets on the environment and human health, offering guidelines for operators and emphasizing lighter requirements for small and medium-sized enterprises. Also Read: Plastic Rocks Dubbed "Plastiglomerates" Found in Remote Brazil Island Where Green Turtles Lay Their Eggs Eleonore Frohlich of the Medical University of Graz highlights the vulnerability of the respiratory tract due to its thin cellular lining and limited mucus. This makes it more susceptible than the gastrointestinal tract and skin to microplastic penetration. Therefore, the proposed regulation is expected to be more effective than the ban on intentionally added microplastics in consumer products that primarily contact the skin, which serves as a protective and less permeable barrier. The proposal for the upcoming plastic pellet ban is now under consideration by the European Parliament and Council. Without action, global microplastic pollution is projected to double by 2040. Siegfried Schmuck, an expert in ocean conservation at Pew, notes that industry best practices have existed but remained voluntary for over three decades with limited adoption. The EU Commission's proposal provides an opportunity to hold the industry accountable by making these practices mandatory, potentially reducing the EU's third-largest source of microplastic pollution. Glitter Ban Panic On Sunday, a different restriction on some cosmetics and glitter goods that include microplastics went into effect. Influencers were alarmed by the action, which increased sales in Germany. Related Article: Microplastics Found Inside Human Hearts During Cardiac Surgery of 15 Patients Throughout history, many people have claimed to be able to predict the future. Religious figures, prophets, and astrologers have published their predictions, sometimes even ahead of time by centuries. The most famous seer is the Frenchman Nostradamus, or Michel de Nostredame, the name he was given at birth. ADVERTISIMENT For five centuries now, scientists and esotericists have been trying to unravel the mysterious messages left behind by Nostradamus. The media have deciphered the seer's predictions for 2024, and some of them may come as a shock. Who was Nostradamus? Michel de Nostredame, better known as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer and physicist who lived in the 16th century. Michel de Nostredame was born on December 14, 1503, in the city of Saint-Remy-de-Provence in the south of France. At the age of 14, the young man left his family and entered the University of Montpellier, where he studied medicine and astrology. Nostradamus was a true genius of his time. He had a perfect knowledge of astronomy and medicine, spoke several languages, including Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and was fond of astrology. Few people know, but Nostradamus was also a renowned physicist and was even the physician to Kings Henry II, Francis II, and Charles IX. ADVERTISIMENT Nostradamus was quite a controversial figure and often faced criticism and attacks from religious authorities for his beliefs and medical practice. Nostradamus used his vast knowledge to write unique predictions. These were encrypted quatrains, some of which are still difficult to interpret. Michel de Nostredame died on July 2, 1566, at the age of 62, leaving behind a book of mysterious prophecies that continue to be solved even 500 years after his death. The "Prophecies" of Nostradamus is a collection of 942 poetic quatrains that were published in 1555. What Nostradamus predicted for 2024 Nostradamus' forecast for the next year is disappointing, to put it mildly. The seer saw chaos, fear, and uncertainty all over the world. A period of difficulties and disasters had begun, which would be a real test for humanity. ADVERTISIMENT The Third World War Nostradamus wrote that humanity will face "seven months of the Great War" in 2024. Researchers' opinions on the outbreak of World War III are divided: some believe it will be a continuation of the war in Ukraine, while others foresee the possibility of a major conflict provoked by China over Taiwan. According to the "Prophecies," several world powers, including the United States, Russia, and China, will be involved in a new great war. The verse that mentions this war is as follows: "The antichrist very soon annihilates the three, Twenty-seven years his war will last. The unbelievers are dead, captive, exiled; With blood, human bodies, water and red hail covering the ear" A terrible earthquake Nostradamus also predicted a terrible earthquake that would cause widespread destruction in California and result in many deaths. ADVERTISIMENT By the way, Nostradamus was not the only one who spoke about natural disasters. Eno Alaric, better known as the "Time Traveler," also predicted a powerful earthquake in California. Changes in the Vatican: a new pope Five centuries ago, Nostradamus wrote that Pope Francis would step down from his duties at the Vatican due to his advanced age. In the coming months, a new pope will be elected to lead the Catholic Church. Francis will be replaced by "an obscure and dangerous person who will cause a scandal." Some researchers even say that "the future pope-elect will be an African or Asian cardinal from the countryside." Changes on a planetary scale: global warming Nostradamus did not see any positive changes in addressing the issue of global warming. On the contrary, the problem would become even more serious. The seer spoke of great floods that would be caused by global warming. ADVERTISIMENT Putin's collapse Nostradamus predicted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would face a great test in 2024. Even according to the poems of Nostradamus written centuries earlier, it seems that the situation in Russia will get worse. Hopefully, Nostradamus was right and the Kremlin dictator will soon leave Ukraine alone. China and world leadership For several decades, China has experienced impressive growth, both economically and militarily. In a world that has become interconnected, open and free for trade, China's economic and cultural influence continues to grow. The country has also spread its influence in many regions of the world. Nostradamus' predictions indicate that this influence will continue to grow, and the "country in the middle" will eventually "surpass American power and take the reins of international leadership." ADVERTISIMENT Artificial organs The year 2024 should also be marked by numerous scientific advances in transplantation and the manufacture of artificial organs, which could be "made through 3D printing or the discovery of new materials compatible with the human body." This would be a significant step forward as many patients would be able to access previously expensive treatments. Nostradamus predicted that these artificial organs would be widely distributed around the world and could save many lives. The age of technology and innovation Researchers of Nostradamus' poems say that the prophet predicted a leap in the field of new technologies. This will find application in many technological innovations. In fact, Nostradamus predicted significant progress in many areas, including machine learning, robotics, as well as health, finance, and transportation, among others. Artificial intelligence, medical diagnostics, and treatment will provide new solutions and thus save many lives. The invention of autonomous vehicles is also expected to change the way we move and travel. ADVERTISIMENT A charismatic leader in Europe Nostradamus predicted the emergence of a young charismatic leader in Europe. He will have excellent public speaking skills. It is said that the crowd will literally follow him. The leader will lead a social or political movement. What predictions of Nostradamus came true? It's hard to say how many predictions have come true because interpretations of the mysterious poems are quite subjective. While some researchers are convinced that most of the predictions have come true, others do not believe any of them. The fact is that Nostradamus's poems are very "poetic," vague, and open to interpretation. Researchers offer a list of some of the prophecies that have come true: The election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States (2017) The September 11 terrorist attacks (2001) ADVERTISIMENT "At forty-five degrees, the sky will burn. Fire to approach the great new city;" The assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963) Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) "Near the gates and within two cities There will be scourges the like of which was never seen, Famine within plague, people put out by steel" Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s The arrest of Louis XVI (1791) The French Revolution (1789-1799) The Great Fire of London (1666) By the way, OBOZ.UA shared what Nostradamus predicted for 2023 and whether any prophecies have already come true. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. When new coastal landowners choose to remove native plants from Hawaii's coasts, they are found in violation of endangering biodiversity. Biodiversity at Risk On Thursday, 15 North Shore property owners in Oahu received violation notices from coastal land officials. These notices are a response to their actions, which involved cutting down native vegetation, relocating soil, and spreading mulch within a designated conservation district along the shoreline in Kahuku. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is currently investigating the potential impact of these actions on native insect and bird species that rely on these plants along the beach to thrive. North Shore Landowners Cited For Clearing Native Plants Along Beach: Hawaii officials are investigating potential harm to seabirds and an endangered native bee species that relied on the area. https://t.co/0Ka8WjkAOY ( Click to read) #HInews Honolulu Civil Beat (@CivilBeat) October 20, 2023 This includes the Hawaiian yellow-faced bee, an endangered species due to habitat loss caused by human development, and the wedge-tailed shearwater. Work crews were recently observed using machetes and chainsaws to remove naupaka shrubs and heliotrope trees near Marconi Point, an area designated for agriculture next to Turtle Bay Resort. Violators could face fines of up to $15,000 per violation from the DLNR's Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, with additional daily fines if the activity persists. Risking Coastal Bees Kahuku, on Oahu, hosts Hylaeus Anthracinus, a coastal bee reliant on naupaka, a vital element for its nests, pollen, and nectar. Unlike honeybees, these native yellow-faced bees, which are solitary, use naupaka and heliotrope twigs for nesting. Their pollination supports naupaka and other native plants, crucial for coastal ecosystems' efficiency. Seven yellow-faced bee species are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and Marconi Point's bee habitat is considered one of Oahu's most robust. State entomologist Cynthia King investigates the unauthorized shoreline work's impact on these bees at Marconi Point, an issue yet to determine the responsible party. This ecological balance hinges on the protection of these coastal bees in Kahuku. Shoreline Owners On Wednesday, Makai Ranch, one of the significant property owners at Marconi Point, stated that their understanding was the recent shoreline work was carried out by a new owner who acquired a parcel there in the past few months. State conveyance records confirm that BSS HI Properties assumed ownership of a nearly 2.5-acre parcel on September 1. The land is categorized under agriculture and preservation. Additionally, Chinese-American television host Yue-Sai Kan, another property owner, applied for shoreline certification with Honolulu County earlier this year, including photos with added lines through the shoreline vegetation. All three companies, including Kan's, are among the 15 that received violation notices. Kan has previously faced scrutiny for structures on her property not complying with city regulations, as reported by Environment Hawaii. Also Read: Tepui Frogs, Isolated Venezuela Ecosystems at Risk as Climate Change Drives Wildlife to Higher Elevations Hawaii Birds Laysan albatross have begun nesting at Marconi Point in recent years, and while they don't rely on naupaka, their nesting habits won't likely be affected by the plant removal. They prefer open grassy areas, as stated by Eric VanderWerf of Pacific Rim Conservation. The cleared shoreline is situated between Turtle Bay's conservation land and the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge. Conservationists aim to establish it as a viable albatross nesting site due to climate change's impact on their Northwestern Hawaiian Islands habitat. The mulch spreading was prohibited to prevent the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle from harming native palm trees. Violations will be addressed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and landowners have 30 days to propose mitigation measures. Related Article: Invasive Water Chestnut Takes Over River Surface in New York Again, Fills 400 Dump Trucks Paramita Ghosh By Express News Service There was nothing inevitable about activist-lawyer Sudha Bharadwajs landing in Yerawada jail. But her conscience and outrage about injustices faced by working people, especially among whom she lived and worked in Chhattisgarh, made her interested in other fights; she would envision ways of resisting and challenging the states control over the lives and labour of workers. Shankar Guha Niyogi, one of Indias legendary union leaders who for the first time thought of a wider unity among factory workers and peasants in the 40s, was a key mentor. Bharadwaj was arrested in 2018 under UAPA along with other activists and academics for allegedly inciting violence in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra. She was released on bail by a special NIA Court in 2021. The most difficult thing for me is being exiled from Chhattisgarh the arena of 35 years of work, other conditions are more or less standard to most bail orders, says Bharadwaj. In her recently released book, From Phansi Yard (Juggernaut), she sketches 76 prisoners or groups of prisoners she observed during her time in Yerawada jail. Excerpts from a conversation on the book and her life: In the book you talk of how early on, your grandmother asked you not to cause trouble. Clearly you didnt take that seriously. Was your mother supportive of your choices? Yes, it is, indeed, paradoxical that for me, being a good person i.e. being kind, helpful, hardworking or ready to give up personal comfort seemed to naturally lead to a life of joining a trade union and being part of the workers struggle to win their rights .... yet it somehow made me bad in the eyes of the state! I am very much a follower by nature, not a leader. But the circumstances of Comrade Shankar Guha Niyogis assassination, the splits in our organisation, all pushed me into a situation of taking the lead. But I think not being a leader-type also helped, in the sense that my role was always to try to get people to work together even if they disagreed on some things. My mother was initially rather concerned that I had not thought my choices through. Closer to her death, when she saw how, despite all the arguments that economists like her made, the country was adopting neo-liberal policies of privatisation and contractualisation, she began to feel that perhaps my choice was right. What did your IIT days have to do with renouncing your American citizenship? It was in IIT that I started associating with mess workers and participating in their cultural team. Though that was the polar opposite of what the standard IITian was doing, namely struggling in the cut-throat competition to get good placements and foreign scholarships. My association with workers increased when, along with a group of AIIMS and JNU students, I started working with construction workers and visiting textile mills in Delhi. My decision to give up American nationality came quite naturally when I decided I did not want to go abroad to study or pursue a career, but wanted to work with a union like Comrade Niyogis. Being a foreigner would have been a handicap for me. So, it wasnt such a big thing as it is made out to be. Not too many people in todays generation have heard of Shankar Guha Niyogi. What is his legacy today? Shankar Guha Niyogi believed that there were many sub-nationalities in our vast country, which is more like a subcontinent. A region like Chhattisgarh, rich in mineral resources, had the poorest of people. He believed that the task of the working class of Chhattisgarh was, in solidarity with the farmers, to strive for a democratic Chhattisgarh where the resources would be used to improve the quality of life of common people not just to generate corporate profits; where there would be a balance between agriculture and industry, between humankind and nature. The task of a trade union was not only to raise economic d e - mands but t o touch every aspect of a workers lifethat is why the Union built schools and a hospital, carried out an effective antialcohol campaign with women at the forefront, and set up a cultural troupe that highlighted the role of Veer Narayan Singh, an Adivasi hero of 1857. A major issue that the Union took up was to creatively suggest a policy of semi-mechanisation as more appropriate in the iron ore mines, so that jobs could be saved and production of quality iron ore enhanced. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, the Union gave shelter to many Sikh families of the area at its office in Dalli Rajhara. This was an amazing thing because some of the liquor contractors of the town were Sikhs and had threatened Niyogijis life more than once. There is so much to learn from him even today I was struck by the title of the book. Why does a person jailed on charges of UAPA have to spend their time as you did, and Professor Shoma Sen still does, in the death row of a jail? No, there is nothing in the UAPA, which says that we needed to be in the Phansi Yard. In fact, in Byculla we were kept in barracks. It was the decision of the jail administration. Is solidarity and trust possible in brutal conditions? You cant survive the isolation and brutality of jail without having some friends. To share your worries, to eat together, to look after you when you are unwell, I was vakeel auntie for many prisoners who would seek advice or ask me to write applications for them. Even now some prisoners write or send messages through their family members requesting help. I try to discuss with their lawyers if they have one, or suggest a lawyer who will not charge them too much or cheat them. In the book you have written about the law being casteist and patriarchal. The way the police get away with putting members of the Pardhi community or other persons from the denotified criminal tribes behind bars without any evidence, merely on suspicion, means that the judicial system shares the same caste prejudice as the police. The differential manner in which a court looks upon the violence of a woman against her husband, and that of a husband against his wife; the differential attitude towards infidelity of a wife and that of a husband ... this is quite clear from judgments and sentences. Only recently the Supreme Court came out with guidelines to correct stereotypical gender biased language used in judgments. Worse than the Emergency is how many have described the current climate. What is different then and now? One of the organisations in which I am active, the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties was formed during the emergency by Jayprakash Narayan. Many people who owe allegiance to the present dispensation[the late] Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie, Ravi Shankar Prasad etc. were very active in the PUCL then, in opposing Indira Gandhis dictatorship. Strikes and demonstrations were banned, the press was censored and many activists, both left wing and right wing, were thrown behind bars. The judiciary was also under a great deal of pressure. All this was done using the Emergency Provisions which exist in the Constitution. Today, the way opposition politicians are being targeted by enforcement agencies; the way the press is being hounded; the way the farmers were vilified and barricaded, when they peacefully protested at the Delhi borders is no less than an Emergency, though without any legal declaration. But what is different, and is worrying and frightening is the attack on minorities - the hate speech, mob lynchings, the legitimisation of discrimination. It is tearing the social fabric apart. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp There was nothing inevitable about activist-lawyer Sudha Bharadwajs landing in Yerawada jail. But her conscience and outrage about injustices faced by working people, especially among whom she lived and worked in Chhattisgarh, made her interested in other fights; she would envision ways of resisting and challenging the states control over the lives and labour of workers. Shankar Guha Niyogi, one of Indias legendary union leaders who for the first time thought of a wider unity among factory workers and peasants in the 40s, was a key mentor. Bharadwaj was arrested in 2018 under UAPA along with other activists and academics for allegedly inciting violence in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra. She was released on bail by a special NIA Court in 2021. The most difficult thing for me is being exiled from Chhattisgarh the arena of 35 years of work, other conditions are more or less standard to most bail orders, says Bharadwaj. In her recently released book, From Phansi Yard (Juggernaut), she sketches 76 prisoners or groups of prisoners she observed during her time in Yerawada jail.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Excerpts from a conversation on the book and her life: In the book you talk of how early on, your grandmother asked you not to cause trouble. Clearly you didnt take that seriously. Was your mother supportive of your choices? Yes, it is, indeed, paradoxical that for me, being a good person i.e. being kind, helpful, hardworking or ready to give up personal comfort seemed to naturally lead to a life of joining a trade union and being part of the workers struggle to win their rights .... yet it somehow made me bad in the eyes of the state! I am very much a follower by nature, not a leader. But the circumstances of Comrade Shankar Guha Niyogis assassination, the splits in our organisation, all pushed me into a situation of taking the lead. But I think not being a leader-type also helped, in the sense that my role was always to try to get people to work together even if they disagreed on some things. My mother was initially rather concerned that I had not thought my choices through. Closer to her death, when she saw how, despite all the arguments that economists like her made, the country was adopting neo-liberal policies of privatisation and contractualisation, she began to feel that perhaps my choice was right. What did your IIT days have to do with renouncing your American citizenship? It was in IIT that I started associating with mess workers and participating in their cultural team. Though that was the polar opposite of what the standard IITian was doing, namely struggling in the cut-throat competition to get good placements and foreign scholarships. My association with workers increased when, along with a group of AIIMS and JNU students, I started working with construction workers and visiting textile mills in Delhi. My decision to give up American nationality came quite naturally when I decided I did not want to go abroad to study or pursue a career, but wanted to work with a union like Comrade Niyogis. Being a foreigner would have been a handicap for me. So, it wasnt such a big thing as it is made out to be. Not too many people in todays generation have heard of Shankar Guha Niyogi. What is his legacy today? Shankar Guha Niyogi believed that there were many sub-nationalities in our vast country, which is more like a subcontinent. A region like Chhattisgarh, rich in mineral resources, had the poorest of people. He believed that the task of the working class of Chhattisgarh was, in solidarity with the farmers, to strive for a democratic Chhattisgarh where the resources would be used to improve the quality of life of common people not just to generate corporate profits; where there would be a balance between agriculture and industry, between humankind and nature. The task of a trade union was not only to raise economic d e - mands but t o touch every aspect of a workers lifethat is why the Union built schools and a hospital, carried out an effective antialcohol campaign with women at the forefront, and set up a cultural troupe that highlighted the role of Veer Narayan Singh, an Adivasi hero of 1857. A major issue that the Union took up was to creatively suggest a policy of semi-mechanisation as more appropriate in the iron ore mines, so that jobs could be saved and production of quality iron ore enhanced. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, the Union gave shelter to many Sikh families of the area at its office in Dalli Rajhara. This was an amazing thing because some of the liquor contractors of the town were Sikhs and had threatened Niyogijis life more than once. There is so much to learn from him even today I was struck by the title of the book. Why does a person jailed on charges of UAPA have to spend their time as you did, and Professor Shoma Sen still does, in the death row of a jail? No, there is nothing in the UAPA, which says that we needed to be in the Phansi Yard. In fact, in Byculla we were kept in barracks. It was the decision of the jail administration. Is solidarity and trust possible in brutal conditions? You cant survive the isolation and brutality of jail without having some friends. To share your worries, to eat together, to look after you when you are unwell, I was vakeel auntie for many prisoners who would seek advice or ask me to write applications for them. Even now some prisoners write or send messages through their family members requesting help. I try to discuss with their lawyers if they have one, or suggest a lawyer who will not charge them too much or cheat them. In the book you have written about the law being casteist and patriarchal. The way the police get away with putting members of the Pardhi community or other persons from the denotified criminal tribes behind bars without any evidence, merely on suspicion, means that the judicial system shares the same caste prejudice as the police. The differential manner in which a court looks upon the violence of a woman against her husband, and that of a husband against his wife; the differential attitude towards infidelity of a wife and that of a husband ... this is quite clear from judgments and sentences. Only recently the Supreme Court came out with guidelines to correct stereotypical gender biased language used in judgments. Worse than the Emergency is how many have described the current climate. What is different then and now? One of the organisations in which I am active, the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties was formed during the emergency by Jayprakash Narayan. Many people who owe allegiance to the present dispensation[the late] Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie, Ravi Shankar Prasad etc. were very active in the PUCL then, in opposing Indira Gandhis dictatorship. Strikes and demonstrations were banned, the press was censored and many activists, both left wing and right wing, were thrown behind bars. The judiciary was also under a great deal of pressure. All this was done using the Emergency Provisions which exist in the Constitution. Today, the way opposition politicians are being targeted by enforcement agencies; the way the press is being hounded; the way the farmers were vilified and barricaded, when they peacefully protested at the Delhi borders is no less than an Emergency, though without any legal declaration. But what is different, and is worrying and frightening is the attack on minorities - the hate speech, mob lynchings, the legitimisation of discrimination. It is tearing the social fabric apart. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The European Union is preparing to start working on a new package of sanctions against Russia. The new measures could include a ban on Russian diamonds, further strengthening Moscow's ability to circumvent sanctions and listing companies in third countries that help Moscow do so. ADVERTISIMENT This package will be the 12th in a row of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by Bloomberg. The EU is working with the Group of Seven, representing the world's largest developed economies, on a mechanism to track diamonds across borders, overcoming concerns that any ban would simply lead to a shift in trade elsewhere. The bloc is also expected to expand the list of restricted goods that Russia can use for military purposes. A key goal of the EU and its allies has been to impede the Kremlin's efforts to acquire critical goods needed to manufacture and supply weapons, and as part of this effort, member states have sought to exert diplomatic pressure on third countries that help Moscow. "The G7 is also discussing ways to more effectively enforce the price cap on Russian oil as prices have risen above the $60 threshold set by the mechanism. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, the EU member states are slowly moving toward introducing a windfall tax on the frozen assets of the Russian central bank and using these revenues to rebuild Ukraine. Despite the support of the US and other G7 allies for this measure, the proposal is still far from being tangibly implemented, sources say. As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, German media also investigated the export of sanctioned goods to Russia. According to them, Russia's neighboring countries have increased purchases of various goods in Germany. It is assumed that the goal is to resell them to Russia itself, bypassing sanctions. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Sleuths of Vijayawada Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate on Friday seized Rs 16.63 lakh worth of foreign currency notes, and Rs 55.3 lakh worth of gold of Dubai and Sri Lanka origin, being smuggled into Andhra Pradesh. According to Customs department officials, they intercepted a bus at Kaza toll plaza (Guntur district) in the wee hours of Wednesday, going from Vijayawada to Nellore, and held a man with foreign currency notes worth around Rs 13.10 lakh. A thorough investigation revealed that the person belonged to Kakinada and was travelling to Chennai to exchange currency notes with the smuggled gold. As a follow-up to the operation, the officers of the Customs Division, Kakinada, searched the premises of a gold merchant in Narsapur of West Godavari district on Thursday and recovered 940.46 grams of foreign origin gold worth Rs 55.34 lakhs, along with foreign currency (4,250 US dollar) worth Rs 3.53 lakh. Sadhu Narasimha Reddy, commissioner, stated that the customs authorities are facing a tough time in tracking down syndicates behind the case as the gold smuggled into India is being immediately defaced and melted to remove the foreign markings, before transporting it to other places. It appears that the foreign markings on some of the gold pieces seized were deliberately erased to camouflage the original nature of the gold. Further investigations into the case are in progress, said the commissioner Sadhu Narasimha Reddy. In the year 2022-24, the Vijayawada Customs (Preventive) commissionerate has made seizures of smuggled gold to the tune of more than 70 kg worth over Rs 40 crores, commissioner Narasimha Reddy added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp VIJAYAWADA: Sleuths of Vijayawada Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate on Friday seized Rs 16.63 lakh worth of foreign currency notes, and Rs 55.3 lakh worth of gold of Dubai and Sri Lanka origin, being smuggled into Andhra Pradesh. According to Customs department officials, they intercepted a bus at Kaza toll plaza (Guntur district) in the wee hours of Wednesday, going from Vijayawada to Nellore, and held a man with foreign currency notes worth around Rs 13.10 lakh. A thorough investigation revealed that the person belonged to Kakinada and was travelling to Chennai to exchange currency notes with the smuggled gold. As a follow-up to the operation, the officers of the Customs Division, Kakinada, searched the premises of a gold merchant in Narsapur of West Godavari district on Thursday and recovered 940.46 grams of foreign origin gold worth Rs 55.34 lakhs, along with foreign currency (4,250 US dollar) worth Rs 3.53 lakh.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sadhu Narasimha Reddy, commissioner, stated that the customs authorities are facing a tough time in tracking down syndicates behind the case as the gold smuggled into India is being immediately defaced and melted to remove the foreign markings, before transporting it to other places. It appears that the foreign markings on some of the gold pieces seized were deliberately erased to camouflage the original nature of the gold. Further investigations into the case are in progress, said the commissioner Sadhu Narasimha Reddy. In the year 2022-24, the Vijayawada Customs (Preventive) commissionerate has made seizures of smuggled gold to the tune of more than 70 kg worth over Rs 40 crores, commissioner Narasimha Reddy added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Kicking and screaming after trying to buy time, Canada finally withdrew 41 excess diplomats from India following the countrys insistence on parity in diplomatic representation. Indias push for parity came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed India was behind the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, Canada on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. Announcing the withdrawal of the 41 diplomats, Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said, Indias demand for parity violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This move was unreasonable and unprecedented and clearly violated the Vienna Convention. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, she said, adding Canada would not take any retaliatory steps. Joining issue with her, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, Our actions in implementing parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He pointed out that Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention 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. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, Bagchi added. Canada halts visa services Canada announced that it is pausing all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Kicking and screaming after trying to buy time, Canada finally withdrew 41 excess diplomats from India following the countrys insistence on parity in diplomatic representation. Indias push for parity came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed India was behind the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, Canada on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. Announcing the withdrawal of the 41 diplomats, Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said, Indias demand for parity violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This move was unreasonable and unprecedented and clearly violated the Vienna Convention. Given the implications of Indias actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India, she said, adding Canada would not take any retaliatory steps.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Joining issue with her, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, Our actions in implementing parity are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He pointed out that Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention 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. We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, Bagchi added. Canada halts visa services Canada announced that it is pausing all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: After the Supreme Courts warning-cum-ultimatum, Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday decided to expedite the hearing on Shiv Sena MLAs disqualification petitions by clubbing all 34 petitions into six. He has set an October 25 deadline for Shiv Sena to submit the reply. Narvekar categorised the 34 petitions into six on the basis of their argument and content. These broad categories are mainly: first petitions MLAs who failed to attend the first meeting of Shiv Sena called by party president; second petitions MLAs who failed to attend the second meeting; third petitions MLAs who voted against the party whip during floor test; fourth petition Shiv Sena MLAs who failed to follow the whip issued by Shinde faction chief whip Bharat Gogawale; fifth petition independent MLAs; and the last voting against the speaker. Advocate Sunny Jain, representing the Shiv Sena (UBT) side during the hearing, said they asked the Speaker to bring some missing things on record and were therefore told to submit the documents stating that the whip issued on July 2 was issued by Shiv Sena (UBT) and not by another party. Narvekar expressed displeasure over Shiv Sena (UBT) continuing to approach the Supreme Court for some or other reasons against him. He said Shiv Sena (UBT) says something before him and differs in court. Shiv Sena (UBT) should clarify their stand on exactly what they want. In fact, they are wasting his time and delaying the entire hearing procedure. Now, they filed the applications asking for some documents, which will delay the procedure. I am here to hear them out, but they should also cooperate with me, Narvekar said. He has asked the Shiv Sena (Shinde) to submit the documents by October 25 and the next hearing is scheduled on October 26 while the Supreme Court hearing is on October 30. The Supreme Court, in its last hearing, warned that if it does not see any progress in the hearing of disqualification petitions by the Speaker, then the court may take the matter into its hands. Advocate Anil Parab said that the Speaker himself was wasting time by delaying the entire procedure. Now, after the Supreme Courts rap, he is showing his hurriedness, but it should be time-bound. The matter should be heard immediately and order should be passed, otherwise, they will knock on the Supreme Court door again, Parab said. Advocate Assem Sarode, representing Shiv Sena (UBT), said that the issue of Shiv Sena MLAs is simple, but the speaker is complicating it without a reason. He said any person who has no knowledge of law will say all these disqualification petitions are similar in nature and need to be dealt with by clubbing them together and more time was wasted over this simple decision. Since the beginning, we have been demanding the same clubbing all disqualification petitions of Shiv Sena MLAs. And now, the Speaker is saying the same. But deliberately things were complicated with the sole intention of delaying the hearing. As a result, the petition will be heard in six groups concerning the nature of them, Sarode added. Disqualification row: 34 pleas clubbed into 6 Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday decided to expedite the hearing on Shiv Sena MLAs disqualification petitions by clubbing all 34 petitions into six. He set an October 25 deadline for the Shiv Sena faction, led by CM Eknath Shinde, to submit the reply. Narvekar categorised the 34 petitions into six on the basis of their argument and content. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MUMBAI: After the Supreme Courts warning-cum-ultimatum, Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday decided to expedite the hearing on Shiv Sena MLAs disqualification petitions by clubbing all 34 petitions into six. He has set an October 25 deadline for Shiv Sena to submit the reply. Narvekar categorised the 34 petitions into six on the basis of their argument and content. These broad categories are mainly: first petitions MLAs who failed to attend the first meeting of Shiv Sena called by party president; second petitions MLAs who failed to attend the second meeting; third petitions MLAs who voted against the party whip during floor test; fourth petition Shiv Sena MLAs who failed to follow the whip issued by Shinde faction chief whip Bharat Gogawale; fifth petition independent MLAs; and the last voting against the speaker.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Advocate Sunny Jain, representing the Shiv Sena (UBT) side during the hearing, said they asked the Speaker to bring some missing things on record and were therefore told to submit the documents stating that the whip issued on July 2 was issued by Shiv Sena (UBT) and not by another party. Narvekar expressed displeasure over Shiv Sena (UBT) continuing to approach the Supreme Court for some or other reasons against him. He said Shiv Sena (UBT) says something before him and differs in court. Shiv Sena (UBT) should clarify their stand on exactly what they want. In fact, they are wasting his time and delaying the entire hearing procedure. Now, they filed the applications asking for some documents, which will delay the procedure. I am here to hear them out, but they should also cooperate with me, Narvekar said. He has asked the Shiv Sena (Shinde) to submit the documents by October 25 and the next hearing is scheduled on October 26 while the Supreme Court hearing is on October 30. The Supreme Court, in its last hearing, warned that if it does not see any progress in the hearing of disqualification petitions by the Speaker, then the court may take the matter into its hands. Advocate Anil Parab said that the Speaker himself was wasting time by delaying the entire procedure. Now, after the Supreme Courts rap, he is showing his hurriedness, but it should be time-bound. The matter should be heard immediately and order should be passed, otherwise, they will knock on the Supreme Court door again, Parab said. Advocate Assem Sarode, representing Shiv Sena (UBT), said that the issue of Shiv Sena MLAs is simple, but the speaker is complicating it without a reason. He said any person who has no knowledge of law will say all these disqualification petitions are similar in nature and need to be dealt with by clubbing them together and more time was wasted over this simple decision. Since the beginning, we have been demanding the same clubbing all disqualification petitions of Shiv Sena MLAs. And now, the Speaker is saying the same. But deliberately things were complicated with the sole intention of delaying the hearing. As a result, the petition will be heard in six groups concerning the nature of them, Sarode added. Disqualification row: 34 pleas clubbed into 6 Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday decided to expedite the hearing on Shiv Sena MLAs disqualification petitions by clubbing all 34 petitions into six. He set an October 25 deadline for the Shiv Sena faction, led by CM Eknath Shinde, to submit the reply. Narvekar categorised the 34 petitions into six on the basis of their argument and content. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Amid the ongoing spat between the Samajwadi Party and Congress leaders over seat sharing in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav sought to cool down the situation. While reiterating his disenchantment with the behaviour and attitude of Congresss MP leadership, he said, I have received someones message through the top Congress leader. If a leader of his stature is saying something, then I will have to go by it. The SP chief, while responding with media persons in Hardoi over the knot in the Indian alliance, said, If the Congress calls us and seeks our help, then SP wont refuse. We will go by the earlier tradition and strike the alliance with the grand old party. We have backed Congress earlier also in MP to defeat the BJP, adding that the Congress would have to clear its stand on the alliance. If INDIA could issue a list of (news) anchors to be boycotted, the same clarity could be maintained on other issues as well, he further added. On the contrary, the senior SP leader and partys national general secretary and also Akhileshs uncle Ramgopal Yadav hit back at former MP CM and Congress stalwart Kamal Nath by calling him chhutbhaiyya neta (ordinary leader). On Kamalnath's "leave it brother Akhilesh-Vakhilesh" remark, Ramgopal said, "We have nothing to say on them, they are ordinary leaders." Earlier, while reacting to Kamal Nath's remarks and UP Congress President Ajay Rai's statements, uncle Shivpal Yadav had also said that Congress should ban its small leaders from speaking. Akhilesh was left miffed and betrayed by the Congresss attitude in MP. He failed to see any progress in prolonged meetings over tie-ups in MP if the opposition alliance did not include state elections and INDIA was stitched only for the Lok Sabha polls. He even threatened Congress to give a tit-for-tat treatment in UP where he claimed that no one but SP could give a tough fight to the ruling BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp LUCKNOW: Amid the ongoing spat between the Samajwadi Party and Congress leaders over seat sharing in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav sought to cool down the situation. While reiterating his disenchantment with the behaviour and attitude of Congresss MP leadership, he said, I have received someones message through the top Congress leader. If a leader of his stature is saying something, then I will have to go by it. The SP chief, while responding with media persons in Hardoi over the knot in the Indian alliance, said, If the Congress calls us and seeks our help, then SP wont refuse. We will go by the earlier tradition and strike the alliance with the grand old party. We have backed Congress earlier also in MP to defeat the BJP, adding that the Congress would have to clear its stand on the alliance.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If INDIA could issue a list of (news) anchors to be boycotted, the same clarity could be maintained on other issues as well, he further added. On the contrary, the senior SP leader and partys national general secretary and also Akhileshs uncle Ramgopal Yadav hit back at former MP CM and Congress stalwart Kamal Nath by calling him chhutbhaiyya neta (ordinary leader). On Kamalnath's "leave it brother Akhilesh-Vakhilesh" remark, Ramgopal said, "We have nothing to say on them, they are ordinary leaders." Earlier, while reacting to Kamal Nath's remarks and UP Congress President Ajay Rai's statements, uncle Shivpal Yadav had also said that Congress should ban its small leaders from speaking. #WATCH : , " , " pic.twitter.com/ZSecKshUGV ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) October 21, 2023 Akhilesh was left miffed and betrayed by the Congresss attitude in MP. He failed to see any progress in prolonged meetings over tie-ups in MP if the opposition alliance did not include state elections and INDIA was stitched only for the Lok Sabha polls. He even threatened Congress to give a tit-for-tat treatment in UP where he claimed that no one but SP could give a tough fight to the ruling BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Embroiled in an alleged cash for query controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing it of hatching a plot to expel her from the Lok Sabha and silencing her on the Adani issue. However, BJP leaders maintain that there is no scope for corruption in Parliament and the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee will take a call on the issue. In a signed affidavit submitted to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday, businessman Darshan Hiranandani claimed that he used Moitras Parliament login ID to ask questions targeting PM Narendra Modi and Adani Group. The committee headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar is set to hear the cash for query charges on November 26. While the allegations pointed to a serious breach of rules by the parliamentarian, Moitra questioned the Ethics Committee chairman on how the affidavit was leaked. Chairman of the Ethics Committee openly speaks to the media. Please see the Lok Sabha rules. How does the affidavit find its way to the media? Chairman should first do an inquiry into how this was leaked, Moitra posted on X. She was referring to Sonkars interview on TV channels, in which he said he has received Hiranandanis affidavit. Moitra said that she is ready to face any inquiry by the CBI or Ethics Committee. I welcome answering questions to the CBI and Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls, she said. The BJP has upped the ante against the TMC leader. There is no place for bribery in the parliamentary process. This matter is before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, which is doing its work, said Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking to this paper, an opposition leader said that he doesnt want to comment as the matter is sub-judice. Moitra also cast doubts on the veracity of the affidavit. Why would one of Indias most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? Calling the content of the letter a joke, she alleged that the affidavit was drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJPs IT cell. If indeed he was to witness all of my corruption, why was he with me during the time, and why did he wait till now to make it public? If he wrote to the CBI and LS speaker, why out of the 543 MPs would he forward the letter to Nishikant Dubey, whom I have repeatedly exposed in the Parliament and the outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions? she asked. Ready for inquiry Mahua Moitra said she is ready to face any inquiry. I welcome answering questions to the CBI and Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls, she said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Embroiled in an alleged cash for query controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing it of hatching a plot to expel her from the Lok Sabha and silencing her on the Adani issue. However, BJP leaders maintain that there is no scope for corruption in Parliament and the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee will take a call on the issue. In a signed affidavit submitted to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday, businessman Darshan Hiranandani claimed that he used Moitras Parliament login ID to ask questions targeting PM Narendra Modi and Adani Group. The committee headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar is set to hear the cash for query charges on November 26. While the allegations pointed to a serious breach of rules by the parliamentarian, Moitra questioned the Ethics Committee chairman on how the affidavit was leaked. Chairman of the Ethics Committee openly speaks to the media. Please see the Lok Sabha rules. How does the affidavit find its way to the media? Chairman should first do an inquiry into how this was leaked, Moitra posted on X. She was referring to Sonkars interview on TV channels, in which he said he has received Hiranandanis affidavit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Moitra said that she is ready to face any inquiry by the CBI or Ethics Committee. I welcome answering questions to the CBI and Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls, she said. The BJP has upped the ante against the TMC leader. There is no place for bribery in the parliamentary process. This matter is before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, which is doing its work, said Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking to this paper, an opposition leader said that he doesnt want to comment as the matter is sub-judice. Moitra also cast doubts on the veracity of the affidavit. Why would one of Indias most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it? Calling the content of the letter a joke, she alleged that the affidavit was drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJPs IT cell. If indeed he was to witness all of my corruption, why was he with me during the time, and why did he wait till now to make it public? If he wrote to the CBI and LS speaker, why out of the 543 MPs would he forward the letter to Nishikant Dubey, whom I have repeatedly exposed in the Parliament and the outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions? she asked. Ready for inquiry Mahua Moitra said she is ready to face any inquiry. I welcome answering questions to the CBI and Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls, she said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service Bathinda airport resumes operation With an Air Alliance flight from Delhi landing at Bathinda airport, the air services to and from the airport resumed after a gap of three years. However, the resumption led to a credit war between rulling AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal, a party in opposition. Both Bathinda MP and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal and AAP leader and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian reached the airport to welcome flyers with bouquets. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann congratulated people for the resumption of services and credited the AAP while Harsimrat recalled that the airport at Bathinda was inaugurated when her party was in power. Flavoured hookah again banned in Haryana The BJP-led Haryana government has once again imposed a ban on flavoured hookahs, which were available at several nightclubs, cafes and restaurants. However, the ban will not apply to traditional hookahs popular in rural areas. According to the order, legal action will be taken if any complaint is received about the use or sale of flavoured hookahs. It has also come to notice that various flavours/herbs are also used in hookas and many times, even nicotine and banned drugs are being served in under the guise of flavours or herbs, the order read. Credit war over Atal tunnel at Rohtang Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri recently inspected Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Lahaul and Spiti with local MLA Ravi Thakur and asked Border Roads Organisation to reinstall foundation stone of the tunnel, which was removed allegedly during the construction. It was laid in 2010 during the UPA regime and carried the name of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress chairperson. However, it took over 10 years to build the tunnel and was inaugurated by PM Modi on October 2, 2020. The deputy chief minister said even if the government at the Centre changed, it would not change the fact that tunnel was Congress vision. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Bathinda airport resumes operation With an Air Alliance flight from Delhi landing at Bathinda airport, the air services to and from the airport resumed after a gap of three years. However, the resumption led to a credit war between rulling AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal, a party in opposition. Both Bathinda MP and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal and AAP leader and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian reached the airport to welcome flyers with bouquets. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann congratulated people for the resumption of services and credited the AAP while Harsimrat recalled that the airport at Bathinda was inaugurated when her party was in power. Flavoured hookah again banned in Haryanagoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The BJP-led Haryana government has once again imposed a ban on flavoured hookahs, which were available at several nightclubs, cafes and restaurants. However, the ban will not apply to traditional hookahs popular in rural areas. According to the order, legal action will be taken if any complaint is received about the use or sale of flavoured hookahs. It has also come to notice that various flavours/herbs are also used in hookas and many times, even nicotine and banned drugs are being served in under the guise of flavours or herbs, the order read. Credit war over Atal tunnel at Rohtang Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri recently inspected Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Lahaul and Spiti with local MLA Ravi Thakur and asked Border Roads Organisation to reinstall foundation stone of the tunnel, which was removed allegedly during the construction. It was laid in 2010 during the UPA regime and carried the name of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress chairperson. However, it took over 10 years to build the tunnel and was inaugurated by PM Modi on October 2, 2020. The deputy chief minister said even if the government at the Centre changed, it would not change the fact that tunnel was Congress vision. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a supplementary charge sheet against an accused in a money laundering case related to alleged terrorist activities also involving the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The charge sheet was filed against Syed Mohd Kasim Ibrahim, who is currently in judicial custody, on October 20. The ED filed the prosecution complaint (agency's equivalent of a charge sheet) before Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta who posted the matter for consideration on October 26. ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta, along with advocate Mohd Faizan Khan, told the court there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused in the case. The case relates to the alleged laundering of Rs 120 crore over several years. The PFI was banned by the Centre in September last year over its alleged links with terror activities and association with global terrorist organisations like the ISIS..The ED had filed the case on an FIR lodged by the NIA for alleged terrorism-related activities punishable under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The ED had alleged that the accused and other members associated with the organisation collected funds by way of donation, hawala, banking channels, etc. which were being used for unlawful activities and commission of various offences. The anti-money laundering agency alleged its probe found bogus cash donations and bank transfers were made. Funds were alleged to have also been transferred to India from abroad through a clandestine channel under a conspiracy hatched by the office bearers of the PFI over the years, the ED claimed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a supplementary charge sheet against an accused in a money laundering case related to alleged terrorist activities also involving the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The charge sheet was filed against Syed Mohd Kasim Ibrahim, who is currently in judicial custody, on October 20. The ED filed the prosecution complaint (agency's equivalent of a charge sheet) before Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta who posted the matter for consideration on October 26.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta, along with advocate Mohd Faizan Khan, told the court there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused in the case. The case relates to the alleged laundering of Rs 120 crore over several years. The PFI was banned by the Centre in September last year over its alleged links with terror activities and association with global terrorist organisations like the ISIS..The ED had filed the case on an FIR lodged by the NIA for alleged terrorism-related activities punishable under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The ED had alleged that the accused and other members associated with the organisation collected funds by way of donation, hawala, banking channels, etc. which were being used for unlawful activities and commission of various offences. The anti-money laundering agency alleged its probe found bogus cash donations and bank transfers were made. Funds were alleged to have also been transferred to India from abroad through a clandestine channel under a conspiracy hatched by the office bearers of the PFI over the years, the ED claimed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service Hours after the Israel Defense Forces said 20 of the 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are children and that most of the hostages are alive, the militant group announced the release of two Americans. In a statement posted on Telegram late on Friday, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said: In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons. There has been no official confirmation from either Israel or the US. The Times of Israel identified the two hostages as Judith and her teenage daughter Natalie Raanan, adding they had been released in Egypt and handed over to the Red Cross ahead of their expected arrival in Israel. Their release is significant as it comes amid intense bombardment on Gaza by Israel. The relentless air raids on Friday levelled a northern Gaza district, whose residents got a half-an-hour notice to escape the bombing. Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians. But the Israeli military claimed only the churchs wall was damaged, adding that its target was a nearby building. While there is no clarity on when Israeli soldiers will set foot in Gaza, Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant clarified on Friday that his country has no plan to take control of the Strip after destroying the Hamas terror network. Israels long-term objective is to end its responsibility over the Palestinian enclave, he said. Fuelling worries of the limited war escalating into a larger West Asia conflict, the US military on Friday took down multiple missiles launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. US Navys guided missile destroyer USS Carney, operating in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land missiles and several drones potentially headed toward targets in Israel The situation in the besieged Gaza has turned extremely grim, with reports saying civilians are down to one meal a day and no water. On Friday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterre visited the Rafah border and made a passionate appeal for allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza, terming it a matter of life and death for two million people trapped there Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Hours after the Israel Defense Forces said 20 of the 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are children and that most of the hostages are alive, the militant group announced the release of two Americans. In a statement posted on Telegram late on Friday, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said: In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons. There has been no official confirmation from either Israel or the US. The Times of Israel identified the two hostages as Judith and her teenage daughter Natalie Raanan, adding they had been released in Egypt and handed over to the Red Cross ahead of their expected arrival in Israel. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Their release is significant as it comes amid intense bombardment on Gaza by Israel. The relentless air raids on Friday levelled a northern Gaza district, whose residents got a half-an-hour notice to escape the bombing. Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry said 16 Palestinian Christians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Greek Orthodox church housing displaced Palestinians. But the Israeli military claimed only the churchs wall was damaged, adding that its target was a nearby building. While there is no clarity on when Israeli soldiers will set foot in Gaza, Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant clarified on Friday that his country has no plan to take control of the Strip after destroying the Hamas terror network. Israels long-term objective is to end its responsibility over the Palestinian enclave, he said. Fuelling worries of the limited war escalating into a larger West Asia conflict, the US military on Friday took down multiple missiles launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. US Navys guided missile destroyer USS Carney, operating in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land missiles and several drones potentially headed toward targets in Israel The situation in the besieged Gaza has turned extremely grim, with reports saying civilians are down to one meal a day and no water. On Friday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterre visited the Rafah border and made a passionate appeal for allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza, terming it a matter of life and death for two million people trapped there Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The US and UK, who are part of the Five Eyes alliance, have extended support to Canada after it withdrew 41 diplomats from India. This followed India seeking parity in the number of diplomats. "Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective Capitals. We do not agree with the Indian governments decision that has resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India," said the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO further said that they expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles of the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention," it added. The US State Department also expressed concern at the departure of Canadian diplomats from India. ALSO READ | 41 diplomats leave, Canada, India spar on violating norms "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," it said. India, however, maintains that it has not violated the Vienna Convention by seeking diplomatic parity with Canada. India said that seeking diplomatic parity is 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 the needs of the particular mission. Meanwhile, both the US and the UK reiterated their call for India to cooperate in Canadas investigation into the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation last month about the involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Nijjar triggered the ongoing diplomatic row. India rejected the accusation as absurd and sought parity in diplomatic presence soon after. Meanwhile, Australias domestic intelligence chief has said he has no reason to dispute Canadas claims of a possible link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Asked by Australias ABC News for his assessment of Canadas allegations, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director general Mike Burgess said (in California) that he would have no reason to dispute what the Canadian government has said in this matter. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The US and UK, who are part of the Five Eyes alliance, have extended support to Canada after it withdrew 41 diplomats from India. This followed India seeking parity in the number of diplomats. "Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective Capitals. We do not agree with the Indian governments decision that has resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India," said the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO further said that they expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles of the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention," it added. The US State Department also expressed concern at the departure of Canadian diplomats from India. ALSO READ | 41 diplomats leave, Canada, India spar on violating norms "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," it said. India, however, maintains that it has not violated the Vienna Convention by seeking diplomatic parity with Canada. India said that seeking diplomatic parity is 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 the needs of the particular mission. Meanwhile, both the US and the UK reiterated their call for India to cooperate in Canadas investigation into the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation last month about the involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Nijjar triggered the ongoing diplomatic row. India rejected the accusation as absurd and sought parity in diplomatic presence soon after. Meanwhile, Australias domestic intelligence chief has said he has no reason to dispute Canadas claims of a possible link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Asked by Australias ABC News for his assessment of Canadas allegations, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director general Mike Burgess said (in California) that he would have no reason to dispute what the Canadian government has said in this matter. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Amid fear of protests against the Israeli action in Gaza, Srinagar authorities disallowed Friday prayers at Kashmirs grand mosque, Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, for the second consecutive week and placed Hurriyat Conference leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. The police and CRPF men armed with anti-riot gear were deployed in the Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. An official of Anjuman-i-Auqaf Jama Masjid (Jamias management body), said the Auqaf was informed not to open the gates for the Friday prayers. A police official said disallowing Friday prayers at Jamia was taken as a precautionary measure. The authorities had apprehension that after Friday prayers, people may stage anti-Israel and pro-Palestine rally, thus creating law and order problem, he said. It was the second consecutive week that authorities disallowed the Friday congregation prayers in Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp SRINAGAR: Amid fear of protests against the Israeli action in Gaza, Srinagar authorities disallowed Friday prayers at Kashmirs grand mosque, Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, for the second consecutive week and placed Hurriyat Conference leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention. The police and CRPF men armed with anti-riot gear were deployed in the Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. An official of Anjuman-i-Auqaf Jama Masjid (Jamias management body), said the Auqaf was informed not to open the gates for the Friday prayers. A police official said disallowing Friday prayers at Jamia was taken as a precautionary measure. The authorities had apprehension that after Friday prayers, people may stage anti-Israel and pro-Palestine rally, thus creating law and order problem, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It was the second consecutive week that authorities disallowed the Friday congregation prayers in Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp UAE-based Reportage Properties, the leading UAE real estate developer, will participate in the Cityscape Qatar exhibition, which will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from 24 to 26 October 2023. The company will showcase their portfolio of projects in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cairo and Istanbul at the expo which runs from October 24 to 26, said a statement from the company. During the past year, Reportage had launched the Verdana project, located within the Dubai Investment Park, which consists of 305 townhouse units, followed by Plaza project in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, featuring 348 residential units, in addition to 190-unit Berla1 and 115-unit Berla 2 project on Yas Island. Last year, the company unveiled the Silvana project in the Basaksehir district of Istanbul, Turkey, which provides 232 townhouses, after launching in 2021 the Montenapoleone project in Mostakbal City in New Cairo, Egypt, the first phase of which provides 1,309 apartments and townhouses, it stated. CEO Islam Ahmed Suleiman stressed Reportages interest in participating in various real estate events and exhibitions, and their keenness to provide more on-demand and attractive offers for buyers of all nationalities. Suleiman noted that the Cityscape Qatar exhibition constitutes an important platform for communicating with partners and customers, and knowing more about the aspirations of investors and buyers, which enhances customer confidence in Reportage projects. Meanwhile, Reportage said it is set to host a special sales day in Dubai tomorrow (October 22) at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. Under this special offer, the Emirati developer will be giving a 10% discount, on all its projects. The buyers can make a 10% down payment and book the property, and then pay 1% monthly installments until the date of hand over. According to Suleiman, Reportages sales exceeded AED2.3 billion in 2022, compared to AED1.6 billion achieved by the company during 2021, thus registering a growth of up to 45%. "Our strong sales in all projects reinforces plans for expansion and launching more new projects," he stated. The company, he stated, recently launched a number of important projects in Dubai, including the Bianca, last year, featuring 653 townhouses. They also launched the Verdana, located within Dubai Investment Park, consisting of 305 townhouse units. Suleiman confirmed that progress of construction works on all the companys projects is reflected in the projects completion and delivery according to the specified timetable. "Last year, Reportage succeeded in completing and delivering three real estate projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with the Al Raha Lofts 1 in the Al Raha Beach area at Abu Dhabi handed over, Oasis Residence 1 in Masdar City as well as first phase of The Rukan Lofts being developed in the Dubailand area," he added.-TradeArabia News Service When Catherine, Princess of Wales, became a member of the British Royal Family (hereinafter referred to as the BRF), it gave her many privileges. But at the same time, she has to follow a strict protocol, where some rules have a logical explanation (the Duchess is forbidden to leave autographs for fans because there are fears that someone may forge documents on her behalf), and some have long been considered relics of the times (the princess cannot play board games, such as Monopoly). ADVERTISIMENT What other things can't Kate Middleton do? Find out in the article of OBOZ.UA. 1. She cannot make a profit from her work The Princess of Wales is fond of photography: she takes family portraits and participates in community projects dedicated to various social issues. Her hobby is worth making money from, but Kate can't sell it because she's not allowed to monetize any of her activities. The maximum she can afford is to have her photos published by the royal family at various exhibitions. 2. The princess is not allowed to express her political views According to royal protocol, members of the royal family are not allowed to publicly demonstrate their political views. They are obliged to remain neutral. The Duchess does not seem to like this rule. She openly shows that the UK and the British people support Ukraine. For example, Kate Middleton performed a small excerpt from Stefania by the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra on the piano at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. On October 4, 2023, the princess visited the British community center "All Together" which helps Ukrainian refugees. That day, she made a blue and yellow "brooch" with her own hands, which she later wore on her chest. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Prince William's wife is not eligible to vote. She is forbidden to go to the polls and support any of the presidential candidates. She does not violate this rule. 3. She is not allowed to have a social media account The royal rules state that titled persons, including Kate Middleton, can have their own social media accounts. However, they are not allowed to decide what to publish on their own. This is done by the PR staff of Buckingham Palace. 4. Not all dishes can be eaten The princess has almost everything on her menu. However, she and other members of the BRF are not allowed to eat shellfish: there is a high risk of poisoning from products such as oysters and mussels. Middleton also does not eat foie gras as the entire royal family believes that it is cruel to animals as goose or duck liver is artificially enlarged by fattening 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks (for ducks) and 3 weeks (for geese). A tube is inserted into the birds' throats to pump a large amount of food into their bodies (much more than they would voluntarily consume). ADVERTISIMENT According to the protocol, the princess must stop eating during a state banquet or private celebration as soon as King Charles III finishes his meal 5. Strangers are not allowed to touch the Princess No one is allowed to touch the Princess of Wales or any other member of the BRF. The future queen, of course, tries to adhere to this rule, but it does not always work out. For example, Catherine often shakes hands with strangers, and during an unexpected meeting with her former history teacher Jim Amber in February 2023, she went up and hugged him. We can't leave out a funny case. Not so long ago, a video of a teenager approaching the Duchess from behind, grabbing her waist and tickling her appeared online. She was frightened for a moment, but quickly regained control of her emotions: she laughed cheerfully and shook the teenager's hand. I wonder what her reaction would have been if she had been a queen consort instead of the princess. After all, according to the rules, Kate had to make a remark to the boy. ADVERTISIMENT 6. Avoiding heavy makeup and dark nails The makeup and nail color of royalty should be neutral. Nude and light pink shades are allowed in manicure. This explains why Kate Middleton never appears in public with a lot of makeup and paints her nails in two colors (Soft Pink 28 Rose Lounge (Bourjois) and 423 Allure (Essie)). 7. The princess cannot wear fur The royal family is strongly opposed to animal cruelty. Therefore, they are forbidden to wear clothes with natural fur. For ethical reasons, Kate willingly agrees with this rule. Even if she wears outerwear decorated with fur, be sure that it is artificial. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about 5 rules of protocol that were violated by royals. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) broke an espionage ring organised by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) under the pretext of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign after receiving a tip-off from a military intelligence unit. The accused has been identified as Labhshankar Maheshwari (53). Military Intelligence officials had detected a nefarious operation being run by a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). The ATS received information from military intelligence that a Pakistani operative was using WhatsApp with an Indian SIM card and infected phones with Remote Access Trojan (RAT). The accused posing as Army Public School (APS) official, sent messages to security forces via WhatsApp, requesting that they download an apk Android program called Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan in their phones. Investigation revealed that the accused also sent a message requesting army officials to upload their childs photo with the national flag on the application, to participate in the competition. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) broke an espionage ring organised by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) under the pretext of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign after receiving a tip-off from a military intelligence unit. The accused has been identified as Labhshankar Maheshwari (53). Military Intelligence officials had detected a nefarious operation being run by a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). The ATS received information from military intelligence that a Pakistani operative was using WhatsApp with an Indian SIM card and infected phones with Remote Access Trojan (RAT). The accused posing as Army Public School (APS) official, sent messages to security forces via WhatsApp, requesting that they download an apk Android program called Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan in their phones. Investigation revealed that the accused also sent a message requesting army officials to upload their childs photo with the national flag on the application, to participate in the competition.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Dhordo, a village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, known for its annual Rann Utsav has been bestowed with the title 'Best Tourism Village' by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). A total of 26 villages around the globe have earned the accolades this year for "nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions." The list includes villages in Austria, Portugal, Turkiye, Hungary, Indonesia, Egypt and China. Dhordo is the only village selected from India. Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the recognition is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch. "Dhordo in Gujarat has been declared as the 'Best Tourism Village' by the @UNWTO. It is a significant recognition for the region's tourism potential. It is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch," he posted on the micro-blogging site 'X'. Dhordo in Gujarat has been declared as the 'Best Tourism Village' by the @UNWTO. It is a significant recognition for the region's tourism potential. It is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch. pic.twitter.com/fxWyc0z9pC PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2023 Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The Director General Manisha Saxena in Tourism Ministry received the trophy on behalf of Dhordo. Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and "Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions," emphasizes UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. "This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being." This year, 54 villages from all regions were selected from almost 260 applications. A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network. The villages were named during the UNWTO General Assembly, taking place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Dhordo, a village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, known for its annual Rann Utsav has been bestowed with the title 'Best Tourism Village' by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). A total of 26 villages around the globe have earned the accolades this year for "nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions." The list includes villages in Austria, Portugal, Turkiye, Hungary, Indonesia, Egypt and China. Dhordo is the only village selected from India. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the recognition is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch. "Dhordo in Gujarat has been declared as the 'Best Tourism Village' by the @UNWTO. It is a significant recognition for the region's tourism potential. It is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch," he posted on the micro-blogging site 'X'. Dhordo in Gujarat has been declared as the 'Best Tourism Village' by the @UNWTO. It is a significant recognition for the region's tourism potential. It is a testament to the beauty and cultural richness of Kutch. pic.twitter.com/fxWyc0z9pC PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2023 Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The Director General Manisha Saxena in Tourism Ministry received the trophy on behalf of Dhordo. Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and "Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions," emphasizes UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. "This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being." This year, 54 villages from all regions were selected from almost 260 applications. A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network. The villages were named during the UNWTO General Assembly, taking place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Anuraag Singh By Express News Service BHOPAL: In a divide and rule tactic, the opposition Congress has targeted old BJP families to breach saffron bastions in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. Four days after announcing 144 candidates for the 230-member assembly seats in the state, the Congress on Thursday released its second list of 88 candidates (three candidates named in the first list were changed). The list features at least five former BJP leaders, including four former MLAs Deepak Joshi (ex-minister), Girija Shankar Sharma, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat and Abhay Mishra. The Grand Old Party also went ahead with exploiting the divide in old BJP families in at least two seats that havent been won by the Congress for years. The party fielded two close relatives of multiple-time BJP MLAs in two saffron citadels of Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions. In the Vindhya regions newly created Mauganj districts Deotalab seat, the party fielded Padmesh Gautam against the third-time sitting MLA Girish Gautam, the Speaker and an uncle of Padmesh Gautam. The Congress plan to counter the BJP veteran was a conscious decision, keeping in mind the results of the 2022 Janpad panchayat polls, when Padmesh Gautam defeated his cousin and Vidhan Sabha Speakers son Rahul Gautam. In Bundelkhand regions Sagar district, the party has gone ahead with the same strategy on Sagar seat, which for three decades has been BJPs fortress. Putting the same strategy into practice against the third-time sitting BJP MLA Shailendra Jain, the party fielded his sister-in-law Nidhi Jain (brothers wife) as Congress candidate. As per an MP Congress leader hailing from Sagar district, the party while taking the decision of fielding a sister-in-law against her sitting MLA brother-in-law, had particularly studied the results of 2022 Sagar mayoral polls, in which despite losing the election as Congress candidate, Nidhi had polled an impressive 58,000 votes, despite the BJP MLA campaigning against her. If the same trend continues, then the November 17 polls in Sagar assembly seat may well go down the wire, the senior state Congress leader added. Exploiting divisions The Congress released its second list of 88 candidates. It features at least five former BJP leaders, including four former MLAs Deepak Joshi (ex-minister), Girija Shankar Sharma, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat and Abhay Mishra. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: In a divide and rule tactic, the opposition Congress has targeted old BJP families to breach saffron bastions in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. Four days after announcing 144 candidates for the 230-member assembly seats in the state, the Congress on Thursday released its second list of 88 candidates (three candidates named in the first list were changed). The list features at least five former BJP leaders, including four former MLAs Deepak Joshi (ex-minister), Girija Shankar Sharma, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat and Abhay Mishra. The Grand Old Party also went ahead with exploiting the divide in old BJP families in at least two seats that havent been won by the Congress for years. The party fielded two close relatives of multiple-time BJP MLAs in two saffron citadels of Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the Vindhya regions newly created Mauganj districts Deotalab seat, the party fielded Padmesh Gautam against the third-time sitting MLA Girish Gautam, the Speaker and an uncle of Padmesh Gautam. The Congress plan to counter the BJP veteran was a conscious decision, keeping in mind the results of the 2022 Janpad panchayat polls, when Padmesh Gautam defeated his cousin and Vidhan Sabha Speakers son Rahul Gautam. In Bundelkhand regions Sagar district, the party has gone ahead with the same strategy on Sagar seat, which for three decades has been BJPs fortress. Putting the same strategy into practice against the third-time sitting BJP MLA Shailendra Jain, the party fielded his sister-in-law Nidhi Jain (brothers wife) as Congress candidate. As per an MP Congress leader hailing from Sagar district, the party while taking the decision of fielding a sister-in-law against her sitting MLA brother-in-law, had particularly studied the results of 2022 Sagar mayoral polls, in which despite losing the election as Congress candidate, Nidhi had polled an impressive 58,000 votes, despite the BJP MLA campaigning against her. If the same trend continues, then the November 17 polls in Sagar assembly seat may well go down the wire, the senior state Congress leader added. Exploiting divisions The Congress released its second list of 88 candidates. It features at least five former BJP leaders, including four former MLAs Deepak Joshi (ex-minister), Girija Shankar Sharma, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat and Abhay Mishra. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs in India is actively developing substantial infrastructure along international borders to address security concerns. The Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) initiative, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2022, is well underway. It involves the construction of floodlights, fencing, and other essential infrastructure to protect the countrys borders. India shares its borders with several countries, including China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar, resulting in a total land border of 15,106.7 km. The BIM initiative, which is a Central scheme with an estimated budget of Rs 13,020 crore, is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2026, aiming to enhance development along these borders. The home ministry, headed by Amit Shah, has undertaken various initiatives to secure the borders, including the construction of Border Out Posts (BOPs) on a war footing. These BOPs serve as the primary workstations of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the borders. The government has approved the construction of 509 Composite BOPs along the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, with a significant portion allocated to the Indo-Bangladesh border, which experiences frequent cross-border infiltration. The Indo-Bangladesh border spans West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, encompassing plains, riverine areas, hills and forested regions. The government has made substantial progress in physical fencing, with most of the work to be completed by March 2024. Additionally, floodlight installations along the Indo-Bangladesh border are nearly complete. On the Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh border, the government has successfully completed the installation of physical fencing along 3,180.653 km out of the total 4,096.7 km. The remaining 916.047 km will be secured with a combination of physical and non-physical fencing. Similar progress has been made along the Indo-Pakistan border, where hundreds of BOPs have been sanctioned and floodlights installed. The government has also approved fencing work to curb infiltration and smuggling along this border. Along the Indo-Myanmar border, an advanced smart fencing system is in the works, and demarcation has been completed for a significant portion. Floodlight installation along 2043.76 km out of the total 2078.80 km sanctioned areas along the Indo-Pakistan border has been completed. On the Indo-China border, various infrastructures have been established to enhance security. Road construction and upgrades have been approved along the Indo-Nepal border. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs in India is actively developing substantial infrastructure along international borders to address security concerns. The Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) initiative, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2022, is well underway. It involves the construction of floodlights, fencing, and other essential infrastructure to protect the countrys borders. India shares its borders with several countries, including China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar, resulting in a total land border of 15,106.7 km. The BIM initiative, which is a Central scheme with an estimated budget of Rs 13,020 crore, is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2026, aiming to enhance development along these borders.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The home ministry, headed by Amit Shah, has undertaken various initiatives to secure the borders, including the construction of Border Out Posts (BOPs) on a war footing. These BOPs serve as the primary workstations of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the borders. The government has approved the construction of 509 Composite BOPs along the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, with a significant portion allocated to the Indo-Bangladesh border, which experiences frequent cross-border infiltration. The Indo-Bangladesh border spans West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, encompassing plains, riverine areas, hills and forested regions. The government has made substantial progress in physical fencing, with most of the work to be completed by March 2024. Additionally, floodlight installations along the Indo-Bangladesh border are nearly complete. On the Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh border, the government has successfully completed the installation of physical fencing along 3,180.653 km out of the total 4,096.7 km. The remaining 916.047 km will be secured with a combination of physical and non-physical fencing. Similar progress has been made along the Indo-Pakistan border, where hundreds of BOPs have been sanctioned and floodlights installed. The government has also approved fencing work to curb infiltration and smuggling along this border. Along the Indo-Myanmar border, an advanced smart fencing system is in the works, and demarcation has been completed for a significant portion. Floodlight installation along 2043.76 km out of the total 2078.80 km sanctioned areas along the Indo-Pakistan border has been completed. On the Indo-China border, various infrastructures have been established to enhance security. Road construction and upgrades have been approved along the Indo-Nepal border. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday instructed the Andhra Pradesh police not to arrest TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the FibreNet case until a verdict is delivered in the skill development corporation scam case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi asked the police to continue the earlier understanding, as it posted hearing in Naidus anticipatory bail plea in the FiberNet case to November 9. 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. Earlier this week, the apex court had reserved its order in Naidus Special Leave Petition (SLP), challenging the High Courts refusal to grant him bail in the skill corporation scam case. On October 13, appearing for the TDP chief, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra submitted to the court that police are looking to take Naidu into custody in the FibreNet case despite the fact that he is already in custody for the skill development scam. The court had then asked the police not to take Naidu into custody. When the case came for hearing on Friday, Justice Bose asked Luthra if they should wait till the judgement in Naidus SLP is delivered. Leaving the decision to the court, Luthra urged for the continuance of interim protection, stating that the plea would otherwise be infructuous. Pointing out that Naidu was already in custody and could be questioned, the court sought to know why he had to be formally arrested in the FiberNet case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar for the AP government said the courts permission will be sought for Naidus custodial interrogation in the FibreNet case as he is already in judicial custody in another case. Unless we can show him to be in our custody, we cannot apply for police custody, he explained and added the State has no problem in waiting for the courts judgement. Contending Kumars reason, Luthra said, That is fallacious. Its a complete misrepresentation of the law. Im sorry to say this. They have not bothered to ask him any question since September 9 when he was taken into custody. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday instructed the Andhra Pradesh police not to arrest TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the FibreNet case until a verdict is delivered in the skill development corporation scam case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi asked the police to continue the earlier understanding, as it posted hearing in Naidus anticipatory bail plea in the FiberNet case to November 9. 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. Earlier this week, the apex court had reserved its order in Naidus Special Leave Petition (SLP), challenging the High Courts refusal to grant him bail in the skill corporation scam case. On October 13, appearing for the TDP chief, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra submitted to the court that police are looking to take Naidu into custody in the FibreNet case despite the fact that he is already in custody for the skill development scam. The court had then asked the police not to take Naidu into custody.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When the case came for hearing on Friday, Justice Bose asked Luthra if they should wait till the judgement in Naidus SLP is delivered. Leaving the decision to the court, Luthra urged for the continuance of interim protection, stating that the plea would otherwise be infructuous. Pointing out that Naidu was already in custody and could be questioned, the court sought to know why he had to be formally arrested in the FiberNet case. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar for the AP government said the courts permission will be sought for Naidus custodial interrogation in the FibreNet case as he is already in judicial custody in another case. Unless we can show him to be in our custody, we cannot apply for police custody, he explained and added the State has no problem in waiting for the courts judgement. Contending Kumars reason, Luthra said, That is fallacious. Its a complete misrepresentation of the law. Im sorry to say this. They have not bothered to ask him any question since September 9 when he was taken into custody. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as 'his child' and is 'everything to us'. Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitish while putting his hand on Tejashwi's shoulders said, He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state. He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh. While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari. He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues. Nitish's display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election Nitish's announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD). State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate." Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as 'his child' and is 'everything to us'. Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitish while putting his hand on Tejashwi's shoulders said, He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state. He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh. While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues. Nitish's display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election Nitish's announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD). State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate." Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Express News Service NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday cautioned stakeholders on the potential misuse of modern technologies like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) for prenatal sex selection that can exacerbate gender imbalances. IVF is a clinical procedure where a human egg is fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and then implanted into a uterus for pregnancy. He said modern technologies like IVF, the Non-Invasive Prenatal Test and compact diagnostic equipment can facilitate sex selection under the pretext of family balancing. These technologies, despite their positive medical applications, could be misused and exacerbate gender imbalances, Mandaviya said while speaking at the 29th meeting of the Central Supervisory Board, in which concern on declining child sex ratio and sex ratio at birth was discussed. Citing the latest Sample Registration Survey report of 2020, the health minister said, The data revealed a commendable three-point improvement in sex ratio at birth from 904 in 2017-19 to 907 in 2018-20. Importantly, 12 out of 22 surveyed states have demonstrated improvement, underlining the combined efforts of the states in implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, the minister said. The latest SRS report indicated that the gender gap has witnessed a two-point decrease in 2020 compared to a five-point gap in 2015. Ten states have effectively reversed the gender gap, positively impacting female survival rates, he said. Under the PC&PNDT Act, the Central government has the responsibility to combat the misuse of medical technologies for sex determination. Till July 2023, reported cases under the PC&PNDT Act have risen to 3,563 from 2,048 in March 2015. Convictions secured under the Act have increased from 271 to 713 during this period. Licenses of 145 convicted doctors have been suspended by their respective state medical councils, the ministry said. What law stipulates Under the PC&PNDT Act, the Central government has the responsibility to combat the misuse of medical technologies for sex determination and selection. Till July 2023, reported cases under the PC&PNDT Act have risen to 3,563 from 2,048 in March 2015. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday cautioned stakeholders on the potential misuse of modern technologies like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) for prenatal sex selection that can exacerbate gender imbalances. IVF is a clinical procedure where a human egg is fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and then implanted into a uterus for pregnancy. He said modern technologies like IVF, the Non-Invasive Prenatal Test and compact diagnostic equipment can facilitate sex selection under the pretext of family balancing. These technologies, despite their positive medical applications, could be misused and exacerbate gender imbalances, Mandaviya said while speaking at the 29th meeting of the Central Supervisory Board, in which concern on declining child sex ratio and sex ratio at birth was discussed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Citing the latest Sample Registration Survey report of 2020, the health minister said, The data revealed a commendable three-point improvement in sex ratio at birth from 904 in 2017-19 to 907 in 2018-20. Importantly, 12 out of 22 surveyed states have demonstrated improvement, underlining the combined efforts of the states in implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, the minister said. The latest SRS report indicated that the gender gap has witnessed a two-point decrease in 2020 compared to a five-point gap in 2015. Ten states have effectively reversed the gender gap, positively impacting female survival rates, he said. Under the PC&PNDT Act, the Central government has the responsibility to combat the misuse of medical technologies for sex determination. Till July 2023, reported cases under the PC&PNDT Act have risen to 3,563 from 2,048 in March 2015. Convictions secured under the Act have increased from 271 to 713 during this period. Licenses of 145 convicted doctors have been suspended by their respective state medical councils, the ministry said. What law stipulates Under the PC&PNDT Act, the Central government has the responsibility to combat the misuse of medical technologies for sex determination and selection. Till July 2023, reported cases under the PC&PNDT Act have risen to 3,563 from 2,048 in March 2015. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The US Department of Defence has highlighted the Chinese force and infrastructure build-up along the Line of Actual Control post-May 2020 standoff between the two armies. The 2023 report to the US Congress says in 2022, China continued to develop military infrastructure along the LAC. These improvements include underground storage facilities near Doklam, new roads in all three sectors of the LAC, new villages in disputed areas in neighbouring Bhutan, a second bridge over Pangong Lake, a dual-purpose airport near the centre sector, and multiple helipads, it said. The same year, China deployed one border regiment, supported by two divisions of Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts with four combined arms brigades (CAB) in reserve in the western sector of the LAC. China also deployed as many as three light-to-medium CABs in the eastern sector from other theatre commands and an additional three CABs in the central sector of the LAC. Although some elements of a light CAB eventually withdrew, a majority of the deployed forces remained in place along the LAC, said the report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China in 2023. India and China have stationed troops along with commensurate artillery guns, tanks, missiles and heavy equipment. The two troops clashed along Finger 4 on the northern banks of the Pangong Lake in May 2020, which led to standoffs at multiple points in eastern Ladakh. The corps commanders of the two sides have been engaging in talks. There has been a disengagement of troops at multiple points. But at Depsang and Demchok the standoffs still persist. India has reiterated its stand that the Chinese PLA troops will have to return to the pre-May 2020 positions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The US Department of Defence has highlighted the Chinese force and infrastructure build-up along the Line of Actual Control post-May 2020 standoff between the two armies. The 2023 report to the US Congress says in 2022, China continued to develop military infrastructure along the LAC. These improvements include underground storage facilities near Doklam, new roads in all three sectors of the LAC, new villages in disputed areas in neighbouring Bhutan, a second bridge over Pangong Lake, a dual-purpose airport near the centre sector, and multiple helipads, it said. The same year, China deployed one border regiment, supported by two divisions of Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts with four combined arms brigades (CAB) in reserve in the western sector of the LAC. China also deployed as many as three light-to-medium CABs in the eastern sector from other theatre commands and an additional three CABs in the central sector of the LAC.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Although some elements of a light CAB eventually withdrew, a majority of the deployed forces remained in place along the LAC, said the report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China in 2023. India and China have stationed troops along with commensurate artillery guns, tanks, missiles and heavy equipment. The two troops clashed along Finger 4 on the northern banks of the Pangong Lake in May 2020, which led to standoffs at multiple points in eastern Ladakh. The corps commanders of the two sides have been engaging in talks. There has been a disengagement of troops at multiple points. But at Depsang and Demchok the standoffs still persist. India has reiterated its stand that the Chinese PLA troops will have to return to the pre-May 2020 positions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Shankkar Aiyar By The Bible (Matthew 5:38 -42) states, You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. Sage words didnt prevent wars as men and monarchs pursued goals of gladiatorial cartography. Wars cost lives. Wars also cost money. The vocabulary of modern warfare is punctuated with mentions of fighter jets and missiles. Consider the cost of operating fighter jets. The much discussed F35the US government plans to spend $1.7 trillion on 2,500 aircraftcosts an average of $75 million per piece and costs around $42,000 per flight hour. The F15, considered more efficient, costs roughly $29,000 per flight hour. The Iron Dome forms the bulwark of Israels defence. It is estimated that Israel has around 10 Iron Dome batteries across its territory. Each battery hosts 60-80 missiles and each missile costs around $40,000. This week Boeing announced speedier delivery of 1,800 GPS guidance bomb kitsthat convert unguided bombs into precision munitionsto Israel. Each kit is estimated to cost about $24,000. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden ordered a carrier group led by the $13-billion USS Gerald Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean. The positioning is aimed at deterring regional players from expanding the theatre of war. The carrier group is equipped with 75 fighter jets, radars and missile launchers. Each Tomahawk missile costs about $1.5 million and each Patriot missile around $4 million. Costs translate into profits for War Inc. listed on Wall Street and elsewhere. This is illustrated by the movement of stock prices. In the past week, the US benchmark S&P500 slid to 4224 points but shares of Northrop Grumman were up 11.12 percent, Lockheed Martin up 6.3 percent and BAE Systems up 3-plus percent since the October 7 attacks. The current market capitalisation of the top 10 corporations is $653 billion. The combined revenues of the top 10 players in aerospace and defence listed on the Fortune 500 list is $573 billion. The Defense Global Market Report 2023 put out by Business Research Company says the size of the defence market is expected to grow to $718 billion by 2027. How are the costs funded? Much depends on geopolitics and domestic politics. Consider the war in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022, the US government has committed more than $40.4 billion in security assistanceroughly the combined GDP of Malta and Yemen. This week, the White House issued a new missive calling on Congress to provide additional national security resources for aid to Israel and Ukraine. How do terrorist groups access funding? The US and its allies believe Iran provides funds and technical assistance to its portfolio of proxiesHamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. How do the funds flow, given the many layers of sanctions? US Senator Elizabeth Warren and over 100 lawmakers, in a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, present a glimpse of the changing paradigm. They claim that between August 2021 and June 2023, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) raised over $130 million in crypto and moved millions between each other, and that PIJ sent over $12 million in crypto to Hezbollah. Events and hypotheses of deterrence fuel the growth in allocations. Consider the GDP of the War Economy. It is believed that the end of the Cold War engendered a peace dividend. Yet military expenditure has gone up in the past three decades. Data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reveal world military expenditure rose from around $1.2 trillion in 1992 to $2.24 trillion in 2022. When placed among the GDPs of nations, the War Economy, at two-plus trillion dollars, ranks eighth in the world behind France. Topping the list of spenders is the United States at $877 billionroughly the GDP of Polandfollowed by China at $292 billion and Russia at $86 billion. ALSO READ| Terrorism thrives amid rising global disorder It is instructive to contrast the rise in military expenditure with the money spent to promote peace and reduce the underlying causes of conflict across the world. The World Bank estimates that over 700 million people or 9.3 percent of the world lives in abject poverty on less than $2.15 a day. For instance, seven out of every 10 people in Gaza survive on global aid. In 2022 the total official aid or development assistance provided by OECD nations was $204 billion. It is difficult to predict if the conflict in the Middle East will expand into a wider conflagration. What is known is that the prosecution of justice post 9/11in Afghanistan and Iraqcost the US over $8 trillion. A study by the Watson Institute for International Affairs estimates the death toll of combatants and civilians since 9/11 to be over 3.8 million. Taliban is ruling Afghanistan and Iraq is far from stable. The notion that war stimulates growth has been questioned by a Cato Institute study. Much depends on how the axis of China evolves as the world struggles with higher debt, rising cost of capital and lower growth. They say the power of example is a greater force than the example of power. Yet humanity has chosen to whistle past graveyards and wage wars. Click here for all the earlier colums Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The Bible (Matthew 5:38 -42) states, You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. Sage words didnt prevent wars as men and monarchs pursued goals of gladiatorial cartography. Wars cost lives. Wars also cost money. The vocabulary of modern warfare is punctuated with mentions of fighter jets and missiles. Consider the cost of operating fighter jets. The much discussed F35the US government plans to spend $1.7 trillion on 2,500 aircraftcosts an average of $75 million per piece and costs around $42,000 per flight hour. The F15, considered more efficient, costs roughly $29,000 per flight hour. The Iron Dome forms the bulwark of Israels defence. It is estimated that Israel has around 10 Iron Dome batteries across its territory. Each battery hosts 60-80 missiles and each missile costs around $40,000. This week Boeing announced speedier delivery of 1,800 GPS guidance bomb kitsthat convert unguided bombs into precision munitionsto Israel. Each kit is estimated to cost about $24,000.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden ordered a carrier group led by the $13-billion USS Gerald Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean. The positioning is aimed at deterring regional players from expanding the theatre of war. The carrier group is equipped with 75 fighter jets, radars and missile launchers. Each Tomahawk missile costs about $1.5 million and each Patriot missile around $4 million. Costs translate into profits for War Inc. listed on Wall Street and elsewhere. This is illustrated by the movement of stock prices. In the past week, the US benchmark S&P500 slid to 4224 points but shares of Northrop Grumman were up 11.12 percent, Lockheed Martin up 6.3 percent and BAE Systems up 3-plus percent since the October 7 attacks. The current market capitalisation of the top 10 corporations is $653 billion. The combined revenues of the top 10 players in aerospace and defence listed on the Fortune 500 list is $573 billion. The Defense Global Market Report 2023 put out by Business Research Company says the size of the defence market is expected to grow to $718 billion by 2027. How are the costs funded? Much depends on geopolitics and domestic politics. Consider the war in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022, the US government has committed more than $40.4 billion in security assistanceroughly the combined GDP of Malta and Yemen. This week, the White House issued a new missive calling on Congress to provide additional national security resources for aid to Israel and Ukraine. How do terrorist groups access funding? The US and its allies believe Iran provides funds and technical assistance to its portfolio of proxiesHamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. How do the funds flow, given the many layers of sanctions? US Senator Elizabeth Warren and over 100 lawmakers, in a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, present a glimpse of the changing paradigm. They claim that between August 2021 and June 2023, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) raised over $130 million in crypto and moved millions between each other, and that PIJ sent over $12 million in crypto to Hezbollah. Events and hypotheses of deterrence fuel the growth in allocations. Consider the GDP of the War Economy. It is believed that the end of the Cold War engendered a peace dividend. Yet military expenditure has gone up in the past three decades. Data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reveal world military expenditure rose from around $1.2 trillion in 1992 to $2.24 trillion in 2022. When placed among the GDPs of nations, the War Economy, at two-plus trillion dollars, ranks eighth in the world behind France. Topping the list of spenders is the United States at $877 billionroughly the GDP of Polandfollowed by China at $292 billion and Russia at $86 billion. ALSO READ| Terrorism thrives amid rising global disorder It is instructive to contrast the rise in military expenditure with the money spent to promote peace and reduce the underlying causes of conflict across the world. The World Bank estimates that over 700 million people or 9.3 percent of the world lives in abject poverty on less than $2.15 a day. For instance, seven out of every 10 people in Gaza survive on global aid. In 2022 the total official aid or development assistance provided by OECD nations was $204 billion. It is difficult to predict if the conflict in the Middle East will expand into a wider conflagration. What is known is that the prosecution of justice post 9/11in Afghanistan and Iraqcost the US over $8 trillion. A study by the Watson Institute for International Affairs estimates the death toll of combatants and civilians since 9/11 to be over 3.8 million. Taliban is ruling Afghanistan and Iraq is far from stable. The notion that war stimulates growth has been questioned by a Cato Institute study. Much depends on how the axis of China evolves as the world struggles with higher debt, rising cost of capital and lower growth. They say the power of example is a greater force than the example of power. Yet humanity has chosen to whistle past graveyards and wage wars. Click here for all the earlier colums Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service KANNUR: The ripples of the standoff in West Asia are being felt in an apparel unit situated in far away Koothuparamba in Kannur. In the wake of the continuing stand-off between Israel and Palestine, Marian Apparels, the company that distributes uniforms to the Israeli police force has withdrawn from the contract, temporarily. Since thousands of innocent people, including children, have lost their lives in the conflict, the company has decided to stop the distribution of uniforms to the Israeli police force. Until peace is restored in the region, we would not take any orders from Israel, said Thomas Olickal, MD, Marian Apparels. This is a stand taken on a principle based on humanity. The violence taking place in both countries has shaken the conscience of humanity across the world, Thomas said. Though we will financially suffer badly, we have decided to express our solidarity with the people who suffer in the war, he said. For the past eight years, Marian Apparels has been distributing around 1 lakh uniforms per year to the Israeli police. We will send one lakh uniforms for which we had received an order from the Israeli agency, which will hand over the uniforms to the Israeli police. We got the work order before the beginning of the war. After sending the consignment, we will not take any order till the war is over, said Shijin Kumar, manager, Marian Apparels. We had informed our decision regarding this to the agency, he said. We will continue our ties with the Israeli agency and business activities will be renewed once the war is over, said Shijin Kumar. Marian Apparels is functioning at Kinfra Park Estate at Valiya Velicham in Koothuparamba municipality. Apart from Israel, the company also distributes uniforms for police, fire force and security agencies in various foreign countries like the Philippines, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Industries Minister P Rajeeve shared the decision of the company through a Facebook post. The company informed that they cannot accept the attitude of Israel on moral grounds as many innocent people have lost their lives even at hospitals due to bombing, the minister said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KANNUR: The ripples of the standoff in West Asia are being felt in an apparel unit situated in far away Koothuparamba in Kannur. In the wake of the continuing stand-off between Israel and Palestine, Marian Apparels, the company that distributes uniforms to the Israeli police force has withdrawn from the contract, temporarily. Since thousands of innocent people, including children, have lost their lives in the conflict, the company has decided to stop the distribution of uniforms to the Israeli police force. Until peace is restored in the region, we would not take any orders from Israel, said Thomas Olickal, MD, Marian Apparels. This is a stand taken on a principle based on humanity. The violence taking place in both countries has shaken the conscience of humanity across the world, Thomas said. Though we will financially suffer badly, we have decided to express our solidarity with the people who suffer in the war, he said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); For the past eight years, Marian Apparels has been distributing around 1 lakh uniforms per year to the Israeli police. We will send one lakh uniforms for which we had received an order from the Israeli agency, which will hand over the uniforms to the Israeli police. We got the work order before the beginning of the war. After sending the consignment, we will not take any order till the war is over, said Shijin Kumar, manager, Marian Apparels. We had informed our decision regarding this to the agency, he said. We will continue our ties with the Israeli agency and business activities will be renewed once the war is over, said Shijin Kumar. Marian Apparels is functioning at Kinfra Park Estate at Valiya Velicham in Koothuparamba municipality. Apart from Israel, the company also distributes uniforms for police, fire force and security agencies in various foreign countries like the Philippines, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Industries Minister P Rajeeve shared the decision of the company through a Facebook post. The company informed that they cannot accept the attitude of Israel on moral grounds as many innocent people have lost their lives even at hospitals due to bombing, the minister said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The European Union continues to facilitate dialogue between Kyiv and Budapest, hoping to unblock the 8th tranche of military aid to Ukraine under the so-called European Peace Fund. The EU hopes that this money will be transferred to Ukraine "sooner rather than later." ADVERTISIMENT An influential EU official said this in Brussels on October 20, Ukrinform reports. This statement was made on the eve of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will take place next Monday in Luxembourg. "We are still discussing this (tranche - ed.) issue with Hungary and Ukraine. Ukraine removed the OTP Bank from the list of institutions that have cooperation with Russia. But there are still some problems that continue to exist, and the relevant EU services, in particular the European External Action Service, are fully involved in these discussions between Kyiv and Budapest. Thus, we expect that sooner rather than later we will be able to have an agreement and disburse the next tranche from the European Peace Fund," the EU representative said. At the same time, the EU representative did not comment on the meeting between Russian President Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban in Beijing, citing the fact that heads of state have the sovereign right to meet with whomever they see fit. At the same time, he noted that the EU does not change its common and definite position on Putin's personality and supports the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court prosecutor. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, Hungary did not support the payment of the next tranche of the EPF (European Peace Fund) to Ukraine. The amount is about 500 million euros. Hungary is dissatisfied with the fact that Ukraine put the Hungarian OTP Bank on the NACP's list of "international sponsors of war." At the end of September, Ukraine removed the Hungarian OTP Bank from the list of "war sponsors," satisfying one of Budapest's key demands. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! By Associated Press CAIRO: The United Nations chief says Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for protection of civilians and the sparing of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and U.N. premises, from the bombardment. Speaking at a summit Egypt is hosting on the Israel-Gaza war, Guterres pointed to the the wider context of war, saying that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability. Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realized, he said. He said the U.N. is working around the clock with all parties to ensure a sustainable delivery of aid to Gaza, following the crossing of a first 20-truck convoy on Saturday. But the people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he said. READ HERE | Egypt-Gaza border crossing opens, letting desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CAIRO: The United Nations chief says Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for protection of civilians and the sparing of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and U.N. premises, from the bombardment. Speaking at a summit Egypt is hosting on the Israel-Gaza war, Guterres pointed to the the wider context of war, saying that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realized, he said. He said the U.N. is working around the clock with all parties to ensure a sustainable delivery of aid to Gaza, following the crossing of a first 20-truck convoy on Saturday. But the people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he said. READ HERE | Egypt-Gaza border crossing opens, letting desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP CAIRO: UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare". Addressing a Cairo summit that ultimately proved fruitless, according to Arab diplomats, Guterres said the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced. The latest bloodshed began on October 7 when Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign, killing more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, and cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food. According to Arab diplomats who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the meeting in Cairo failed to reach an agreement, with Western representatives seeking "a clear condemnation placing responsibility for the escalation on Hamas", which Arab leaders refused. The Western officials also wanted to call for the release of those held by Hamas. Egypt's presidency instead released a statement -- drafted with the approval of Arab attendees, the diplomats said -- saying the war had laid bare "a defect in the values of the international community". World leaders have long "sought to manage the conflict, and not end it permanently, by proposing temporary solutions and palliatives that do not live up to even the lowest aspirations of a suffering people", the statement read. In the opening session, Guterres had said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight" but stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". He then stressed that "those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people". Global silence In the meeting which also included the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Italy, Jordan's King Abdullah II called for "an immediate end to the war on Gaza" and condemned what he labelled "global silence" on Palestinian death and suffering. "The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives," he charged. "The application of international law is optional. And human rights have boundaries -- they stop at borders, they stop at races, and they stop at religions." The summit came on the day a first convoy of aid trucks rumbled into southern Gaza, which Guterres said needed to be rapidly scaled up, with "much more" help sent through. The UN has said that about 100 trucks per day are needed to meet worsening needs in Gaza. The Palestinians need "a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed", the UN chief told the Cairo "Summit for Peace". We will not leave Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi argued that the "only solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "justice" and said that "Palestinians must realise their legitimate rights to self-determination" and have "an independent state on their land". Abbas stressed his demand for a two-state solution and an "end to Israel's occupation" and rejected what he has warned could be a "second Nakba" -- a reference to the more than 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their lands during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. "We will not leave," he repeated three times at the end of his speech. Cairo and Amman have repeatedly rejected calls for large numbers of refugees to enter Egypt from Gaza, warning that the "forced displacement" would lead to the "eradication of the Palestinian cause". Egypt and Jordan were the first Arab states to normalise relations with Israel, in 1979 and 1994 respectively, and have since been key mediators between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan urged for the current conflict to become, "rather than a regional conflagration, a breeding ground for a just and lasting peace". He also condemned "unconditional military aid to Israel which only serves to maintain the occupation", while Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire after a US veto. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CAIRO: UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare". Addressing a Cairo summit that ultimately proved fruitless, according to Arab diplomats, Guterres said the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced. The latest bloodshed began on October 7 when Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign, killing more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, and cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food. According to Arab diplomats who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the meeting in Cairo failed to reach an agreement, with Western representatives seeking "a clear condemnation placing responsibility for the escalation on Hamas", which Arab leaders refused. The Western officials also wanted to call for the release of those held by Hamas. Egypt's presidency instead released a statement -- drafted with the approval of Arab attendees, the diplomats said -- saying the war had laid bare "a defect in the values of the international community". World leaders have long "sought to manage the conflict, and not end it permanently, by proposing temporary solutions and palliatives that do not live up to even the lowest aspirations of a suffering people", the statement read. In the opening session, Guterres had said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight" but stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". He then stressed that "those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people". Global silence In the meeting which also included the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Italy, Jordan's King Abdullah II called for "an immediate end to the war on Gaza" and condemned what he labelled "global silence" on Palestinian death and suffering. "The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives," he charged. "The application of international law is optional. And human rights have boundaries -- they stop at borders, they stop at races, and they stop at religions." The summit came on the day a first convoy of aid trucks rumbled into southern Gaza, which Guterres said needed to be rapidly scaled up, with "much more" help sent through. The UN has said that about 100 trucks per day are needed to meet worsening needs in Gaza. The Palestinians need "a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed", the UN chief told the Cairo "Summit for Peace". We will not leave Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi argued that the "only solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "justice" and said that "Palestinians must realise their legitimate rights to self-determination" and have "an independent state on their land". Abbas stressed his demand for a two-state solution and an "end to Israel's occupation" and rejected what he has warned could be a "second Nakba" -- a reference to the more than 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their lands during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. "We will not leave," he repeated three times at the end of his speech. Cairo and Amman have repeatedly rejected calls for large numbers of refugees to enter Egypt from Gaza, warning that the "forced displacement" would lead to the "eradication of the Palestinian cause". Egypt and Jordan were the first Arab states to normalise relations with Israel, in 1979 and 1994 respectively, and have since been key mediators between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan urged for the current conflict to become, "rather than a regional conflagration, a breeding ground for a just and lasting peace". He also condemned "unconditional military aid to Israel which only serves to maintain the occupation", while Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire after a US veto. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is most likely bluffing with his loud statements about the MiG fighter jets with Kinzhal missiles patrolling the Black Sea. This is typical Russian rhetoric, which regularly accuses Western countries of aggression. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, missiles of this type are currently showing low performance in Ukraine, while on paper they remain "super-powerful." These are the conclusions reached by British intelligence in a report published on the X (former Twitter) of the UK Ministry of Defense. In this way, they commented on Putin's statement of October 18 that Russia would begin fighter patrols in the eastern Black Sea using MiG-31I interceptor aircraft. These fighters are carriers of X-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. The dictator explained this decision by the increased US naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean. "Putin's specific mention of the Kinzhal missile and its capabilities was almost certainly made for strategic messaging purposes to demonstrate that Russia remains capable of producing and using new weapons despite the ongoing Ukrainian conflict," the intelligence agency said. ADVERTISIMENT They emphasized that these weapons remain at the stage of operational testing and are not currently productive in Ukraine. "They remain very powerful, capable of flying at hypersonic speeds and evading modern air defense systems only on paper. They also almost certainly require significant improvement to be used in practice," the intelligence officers noted. As a reminder, Putin has reacted to the US transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. The dictator claims that this will not change the situation on the front line, calling the "special operation" announced in 2022 a war. At the same time, he called to "take ATACMS away and come to the tea party". The dictator called the transfer of ATACMS a "US mistake" and said that US missiles would allegedly prolong Ukraine's "agony." ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Putin condescendingly praised Western representatives for their desire to end the war diplomatically and advised Kyiv to abandon its earlier decision not to negotiate with representatives of the Putin regime. - DIU said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China did not create the "furor" that the Kremlin had expected. China's position on the war that Russia started in Ukraine remained unchanged. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! 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. Ukrainian officials say at least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine in the past 24 hours as Russian forces continued to shell areas across the country and pushed forward near an embattled eastern city Over the past 24 hours, on October 20, the Defense Forces managed to advance in the Kherson region. Having carried out a large-scale ground operation, they gained a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the analysis of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). It is noted that, according to geolocation footage, Ukrainian forces have advanced to the northeastern Krynky, 27 km east of the city of Kherson and 2 km from the Dnipro River. Russian military bloggers confirmed the presence of Ukrainian troops near Krynky and Antonivka highway and railway bridges. Another propagandist claimed that our defenders had temporarily advanced further into the settlement as far as the Kozachi Laheri-Krynky-Korsunka road. However, Russian air strikes pushed them back to the northern outskirts of the settlement. ADVERTISIMENT Another "military commander" reported fighting near Pishchanivka, located 14 km east of Kherson and 4 km from Dnipro, and, according to him, a Ukrainian sabotage group is operating on the southern outskirts of the settlement. The analysts noted that one of the Russian military bloggers wrote about the presence of Ukrainian forces in Pishchanivka on October 18. "However, ISW has not observed any other visual evidence that Ukrainian forces are holding positions in settlements on the eastern bank, except for Krynky," the analysts concluded. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, the Associated Press reported that Ukrainian marines had successfully landed on the occupied part of the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. They launched reconnaissance drones to assess the situation within the radius of a possible clash with the enemy. Enemy positions were pushed back from the front line thanks to the effective work of the Defense Forces. At the same time, officials in the Ministry of Defense have not confirmed the information about the start of the offensive in the Kherson direction yet. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - The day before, ISW noted that the Russians were hysterical because of the larger-than-usual ground operations of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Kherson region. The occupiers say that the Ukrainians maintain a limited presence in some areas near the Dnipro River coastline and the Antonivska railway bridge. ADVERTISIMENT - Russia said that on October 17-18, company units of two Ukrainian marine infantry brigades stormed across the Dnipro River to the left bank of the Kherson region. The propagandists were concerned about the continued activity of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A McMaster University-led analysis published in the BMJ on Oct. 19, exposes high rates of injuries with forceps and vacuum delivery in Canada that have been documented for over a decade without efforts to address them. The paper, titled Maternal and neonatal trauma during forceps and vacuum delivery must not be overlooked, was authored by perinatal epidemiologists, obstetricians, urogynecologists, community advocates and patient partners, and calls for increased recognition, transparency and action to prevent these injuries. As part of the analysis, researchers present data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that show that since 2010, Canada has had the highest rates of maternal trauma during forceps and vacuum deliveries when compared with other high-income countries. The most recent data from 2019 shows Canada with the highest rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Denmark at 12.7 per cent and the United States at 11.1 per cent. The paper's lead author, Giulia Muraca, an assistant professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University explains that while benchmarking against other countries is informative, the key facts are about how this is affecting Canadians. "More than 35,000 infants are born each year in Canada with the use of these instruments and maternal injuries are occurring at an alarming frequency. We are not doing a good enough job sharing information about these risks with pregnant people or putting enough effort into reducing them." Maternal trauma describes a group of injuries to the pelvis and surrounding organs that occur during childbirth, such as severe perineal and cervical lacerations. These injuries have several short- and long-term consequences, such as pelvic pain, sexual problems, and anal incontinence. 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). We're calling for a national response to recognize the frequency and severity of these injuries in Canada. We have neglected to address them for far too long, and we are urging the maternity care community to make a commitment to reducing them.'" Giulia Muraca, Assistant Professor, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University Similar national initiatives to reduce maternal trauma have been underway in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia. As part of the analysis, researchers worked with patients who have experienced the trauma caused by forceps and vacuum deliveries firsthand. One of those patients is Laura Ralph, who suffered a pelvic floor injury during her son's delivery due to the use of forceps. "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. "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." Ralph has long-term complications as a result of her delivery. She had to use a pessary a device inserted into the birth canal to provide support after pelvic prolapse and feared having more children because of the trauma she endured. In the analysis, several potential reasons for these high rates of injuries are discussed, such as policies in Canada regarding labor interventions and challenges with training. However, the researchers caution against reflexive recommendations to increase training. "If we expect these injuries to decrease by simply investing in the existing training paradigms, we run the risk of harming even more people and families, and further stigmatizing people with these injuries," says study co-author Roxana Geoffrion, an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia. "Efforts to change the culture around these injuries need to take precedence, including improving informed consent practices, and engendering a culture in which these injuries are acknowledged as severe, avoidable complications." The researchers hope the analysis will spur a national conversation about these injuries and the impacts they can have on birthing parents. "During labor, it is often difficult to make informed split-second decisions surrounding different modes of delivery," adds Geoffrion, whose clinical and academic practice is devoted to patients with pelvic floor disorders following childbirth trauma. "Through this research, we hope to encourage more thorough conversations between patients and their maternity care providers to establish informed consent for various modes of delivery during pregnancy and well before labor begins." Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are defined as a series of stressful or traumatic events including abuse, neglect or dysfunctions in the home (relatives with mental illness or in prison, witnessing domestic violence, etc.). These experiences can affect and damage cerebral and social development and compromise the immune system, as well as leading to substance abuse and other types of maladaptive coping strategies. Until now, studies of these experiences have focused mainly on English-speaking countries like the United States, but the concept of abuse and its perceived severity may be different depending on the cultural group. For this reason, the study considered whether the data obtained and the consequences in this context could be extrapolated to other countries or whether the fundamental importance of family values in collectivist societies such as Spain could be an exceptional feature, either serving as a shock absorber or, by contrast, exacerbating the vulnerability of children. The conclusions offered by Dr Aitana Gomis Pomares, of the Department of Developmental, Educational and Social Psychology and Methodology at Universitat Jaume I in Castello, show that the more traumatic or stressful experiences someone has, the greater the probability that they will develop behavioural or emotional problems during adulthood. The analysis was carried out in six studies: the first three assessed the cumulative and differential impact of adverse experiences; the fourth included the validation of the Deviant Behaviour Variety Scale in the Spanish context, and the final two assessed the risk of criminal recidivism in two ethnic minorities using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory tool. People who have been victims of physical abuse tend to imitate the behaviour and adopt similar risk strategies as adults. If they have been victims of emotional neglect (where, as children, they never felt special or important in a protective context), they show a lack of altruism, because they are unable to develop the capacity to love or care for others. In general, the results have also shown that there is intergenerational transmission, which can affect up to three successive generations. For example, substance abuse in the home predicts drug use and antisocial behaviour; having relatives in prison results in a higher arrest rate; and living with relatives with mental illness increases the likelihood of suffering from depression, anxiety or stress. The studies assessing the risk factors for criminal recidivism in a population of juvenile offenders - a population that has frequently suffered many traumatic experiences and displays adapted behaviour - have shown that the predictive validity of the tool used (Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory, YLS/CMI) works in majority samples but not as accurately in minority samples. In the case of the two ethnic minorities studied (Arab and Roma people), the results show cultural differences involving the infringement of rights such as equality before the law (as children from these two ethnic groups are rated as more at risk to other groups), and that the tools routinely used need reviewing to detect possible bias based on race or ethnic group. American Psychological Association award The studies are part of the doctoral thesis supervised by the lecturer Lidon Villanueva Badenes and submitted by Aitana Gomis Pomares at the public university in Castello in April 2022. The American Psychological Association has presented the work, entitled "Minors at risk: adverse childhood experiences and youth offending", with an award. Every year Division 37 of the American Psychological Association makes the award to studies of social policy, service provision, welfare and/or child protection. The division's aim is to implement policies to protect children, young people and families, for example through programmes to prevent child abuse or provide therapy for violent juvenile offenders. Aitana Gomis Pomares is a postdoctoral assistant lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the Universitat Jaume I in Castello. She has a degree in Psychology, with an official Master's Degree in Legal Psychology, and holds a doctor's degree in Psychology with the International Distinction. She won an Outstanding Graduate Achievement Award in her Psychology degree and a university teaching scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Education in the DEVELOP research group (Development and Educational Contexts) on Developmental Psychology at the Universitat Jaume I in Castello. Her main line of research has focused on the study of children at risk from a double perspective: child victims and child offenders, and she has produced several publications in this field, both in Spain and abroad. She has also carried out research visits at the University of Valencia, supervised by Dr Vicente Prado-Gasco, and at the ISPA-Institute of Applied Psychology in Lisbon, supervised by Dr Miguel Basto-Pereira. She is currently a lecturer for the Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, and Early Childhood Education degree courses. On Sept. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the next round of covid shots for everyone 6 months and older. The shots were expected to be available within days in pharmacies and doctor's offices across the country, the CDC said. But more than a month later, the pediatric versions of the new covid shots, for children 6 months to 11 years old, are still difficult to find. A confluence of problems from technicalities about who can give shots to small kids to the lack of accurate information online on where the kid-sized doses can be found are still preventing parents from making sure their children are protected. "Nobody has accurate information on where doses actually exist. It's just an absolute logistical mess trying to find information and it was driving me insane," said Anne Hamilton, a Los Angeles resident, who searched for weeks to find a pediatric dose for her 4-year-old son, Jimmy. Hamilton checked first with her son's health system. The website was offering vaccine appointments only for adults. On the website, "the popup says 'new vaccines are expected in late September, try again later.' Well, that's a frustrating message to read when it's October and they're not giving you any other information," she said. One problem that has caused headaches for parents has been trying to find doses covered by their insurance. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the federal government isn't paying manufacturers directly for covid shots, a process that allowed doctors and pharmacists to receive shipments for free. Now, pharmacies and doctors have to pay upfront for vaccine doses from suppliers to stock them on-site. And families need to use their health insurance to pay providers for them and that can be complicated. After days searching online and many false leads, Hamilton finally found a pharmacy over an hour away in Palmdale with pediatric doses. She called to make sure they actually had the shots and also accepted Medi-Cal, her son's government insurance. After being assured of both, they made the hourlong drive. But when they arrived, the pharmacists said they couldn't give Jimmy the shot because he was under 18 years old. Hamilton called Medi-Cal to clarify. "The Medi-Cal phone representative explained to us that they need to go through the Vaccines for Children Program," she said. "So we're like, all right, we don't know what this program is." Under the federal governments Vaccines for Children program, Hamilton's son could get a shot only from a participating provider. Nobody put out the information that children on Medi-Cal needed to be vaccinated through the Vaccines for Children program, Hamilton said. Nobody has information on how to find a pop-up [clinic] near you because half of those arent even listed on the myturn.gov page, she said, referring to a vaccine appointment website run by the state of California. Hamilton was directed to a different California-run website that was supposed to show the location of Vaccines for Children providers across the state. The website just flat-out doesnt work, Hamilton said after checking it. Frustrated, she emailed the California Department of Public Health, which told her they were aware the website was down and said IT was working on it. No one from CDPH offered to help Hamilton or direct her to the provider list she needed, she said. After KFF Health News and NPR asked CDPH why Vaccines for Childrens Google-enabled map was not working, the website was fixed. However, it shows only participating providers while neglecting to indicate if those doctors and pharmacies have pediatric covid vaccines in stock. Parents must either call providers individually to see if they are taking patients and have the shot or try to cross-reference with the federal vaccines.gov website. Hamilton was left frustrated and in tears. I know parents all over the country who are looking for doses. Its a hunt for everyone right now, she said. There are two parallel vaccine systems in the U.S., and the one children use depends on their insurance. Children with commercial health insurance get vaccines through the commercial market. But kids with government insurance such as Medi-Cal get shots through the federally funded Vaccines for Children program and only participating providers, like Orange County pediatrician Eric Ball, can give them the shot. Under the Vaccines for Children program, we actually place an order, the vaccines come to us, the government has paid for them already, and then we distribute them to patients who have those insurances, for free, Ball explains. For children covered by commercial insurance plans, health care providers need to purchase the amount they think theyll need ahead of time. But Ball said many pediatricians arent stocking or administering the covid shot for those children, because they cant afford to. A lot of pediatric practices are small businesses, and this means we have to expend a lot of money upfront to be able to buy these vaccines and then wait weeks or months to get that recouped, he said. If parents seek shots at a pharmacy, they may confront another obstacle: regulations that restrict the types of providers who can administer vaccines to children. Pharmacists can vaccinate children 3 years and older under a temporary federal law. That leaves out children between 6 months and 3 years old, who have to see a medical doctor. We have a very long list in our office of families who are waiting for the day that our covid vaccines come in so we can finally start vaccinating them. Theres been a lot of frustration, Ball said. Balls office participates in both pediatric vaccine systems. Through Vaccines for Children, his practice received some pediatric doses, but he can administer them only to qualifying patients. For his commercially insured patients, it took over a month to get a delivery of just 100 pediatric covid vaccine doses. Its not nearly enough to meet the demand. Its a shame because weve had so many missed opportunities since this vaccine was approved over a month ago, he said. Weve had lots of patients who come in who want to get their kids vaccinated, especially young children and babies who dont have the protection of previous vaccines. St. Johns Community Health is a federally funded safety-net clinic with multiple sites across Los Angeles County. The network serves low-income children and families, and for its pediatric vaccines the clinic is dependent on the Vaccines for Children program. But President Jim Mangia said that for the new covid pediatric vaccine, their orders are being cut and they aren't receiving the doses they requested. We ordered 3,000 last week; we got 500, he said. But St. Johns provides care for 50,000 children, Mangia said. Because of the shortfall, St. Johns isnt advertising the covid vaccine or doing email or text blasts to spread the word, as the staff typically might. Were basically holding back, he said. If someone asks for it, were providing the vaccine, but were not doing the level of outreach that we normally do to get people vaccinated because we dont have enough supply yet. The Vaccines for Children program is run by the CDC. On a recent visit to Los Angeles, CDC Director Mandy Cohen said she was not aware of any covid vaccine supply or ordering issues. Theres no ordering caps. Were hearing that folks are getting shipments within three or four weeks, she said. I will say, personally, my kids pediatrician has vaccine and has had a covid vaccine clinic, so the vaccine is out there. Anne Hamiltons son Jimmy finally got the shot through a pop-up clinic run by LA County. She feels lucky to have found it. I told one of my friends that I was going to get my kids their shots, and she said, You found pediatric vaccine? I cant believe it.' Ball is concerned about what the slow rollout will mean for vulnerable babies and toddlers, who are too young to have been vaccinated before and should get multiple shots before the predicted winter covid surge. If we want to get these children vaccinated for gatherings such as Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, its critical that we start doing this now because this is not a one-and-done kind of situation. We need these babies to get multiple doses over multiple weeks before they can be adequately protected, he said. Meanwhile, children continue to get infected. One of Balls 4-year-old patients tested positive on the same day Ball's medical office finally received 100 doses of the pediatric vaccine. The boys mother had tried to get him vaccinated earlier but couldnt find a provider with the shots. As a pediatrician, the only thing that hurts me worse than seeing a child get sick or hospitalized is them getting sick or hospitalized by something that I could have prevented. And if I dont have the tools to prevent that, it hurts me and its very sad, Ball said. The German motorcycle manufacturer, BMW Motorrad is gearing up to raise the bar a bit high in the adventure-touring motorcycle segment as the company is set to introduce the updated 2024 BMW F 900 GS and F 900 GS Adventure motorcycles It has been reported that both models will come with multiple updates including engine, electronics, improved off-roading capabilities, new suspension, and a lightweight plastic fuel tank with a complete aesthetic look and new ergonomics. 2024 BMW F 900 GS Range Powerstrain In the heart, both MW F 900 GS and BMW F 900 GS Adventure will be powered by liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine options. The former one will hit the market with the increased displacement size, going from 853cc to 895 cc, generating a max power of 103 bhp at 8,500 rpm, and 93 Nm of peak torque at 6,750 rpm. It also has been reported by the company that the unit has been characterized by a fuller torque curve, which provides faster acceleration and helps to pull more power. 2024 BMW F 900 GS Range Design Features Taking about the design, the upcoming new F 900 GS range will come with sleek styling, a sharp look with a sweet touch of an off-roading road appearance. It will flaunt a new LED headlight setup, LED taillamps, and side panels with some graphics on it. Customer will also get a 6.5-inch TFT display, allowing the riders to monitor every single important information on their screen including, speed, fuel capacity, RPM, gear positioning, and time, among others. F 900 GS will also have a 12 mm holder on the side, which will the rider to mount action cameras or any equipment there. 2024 BMW F 900 GS Range Launch According to the reports, both models will hit the international market at the start of next year. However, Indian customers might have to wait a bit longer as the bike will reach Indian shore in mid-next year. It is expected to hit the market with a sticker price of Rs. 13 lakh (Ex-showroom). Liquor served in bars, lounges, and cafes will get costlier in Maharashtra as the state government has decided to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 5 per cent from November 1 for permit room liquor services. However, the rise in tax rate will not affect over-the-counter sales at wine shops. As per a report in Times of India, a government resolution regarding the same was issued on Friday. After this, the total VAT rate on permit room liquors will be a total of 10 per cent. Notably, there will be no rise for liquor services in star hotels as they are already paying higher VAT. Currently, the VAT imposed on the liquor services at star hotels stands at 20 per cent. Talking about the rise in the VAT rate, hoteliers were quoted as saying in the report that the surge in license fees recently by the government has already added to their burden as it made the liquor costlier for consumers. The increase is quite surprising as the same in the backdrop of the increase in the yearly excise fees will mean that prices in restaurants, and bars will go up. We are in an age where states are competing with each realising the power of tourism in driving economies resulting in a reduction of excise duties. Goa, Chandigarh and Haryana are a few such examples, the news publication quoted Pradeep Shetty, president of hotels and restaurants of western India (HRAWI), as saying. TOI quoted some sources within the industry as saying that the decision to increase VAT is likely to drive customers toward more affordable alternatives like off-premise consumption, such as on building terraces, parks, beaches or parked vehicles. The shift in the consumer pattern will not only result in loss of business for the bars and restaurants but also can pose serious challenges to law and order situations as well as drink and drive. Apart from this, the state government is also considering implementing a new excise policy that links pricing to the alcohol content of beverages and permits the sale of bottled liquors in bars and permit rooms, media reports suggested. Liquor Prices Rise In Gurugram Last month, it was reported that liquor prices in Gurugram have risen after shortages of popular brands in Delhi. The shortage of liquor in Delhi was due to the citys controversial excise policy and the rejection of sale licenses for major companies. And the absence of major brands from Delhis liquor market allowed retailers in Gurugram to raise prices. According to a report by Hindustan Times last month, the liquor vendors had stopped offering discounts and offers as customers in Delhi turned to Gurugram to purchase popular alcohol brands. There has been a noticeable shift in the real estate market with millennials eagerly opting to invest in luxurious properties. Millennials now comprise a significant portion of the workforce, earning higher incomes and are thus accumulating wealth at a faster rate than the previous generation. According to an industry expert, at least 48% in the age bracket of 25-35 years are positively looking to invest in a home in the next couple of years. This is in comparison to 20% back in 2019, implying that millennials are now looking at real estate as a more lucrative investment. With rising aspirations and growing financial successes, millennials are reshaping the luxury real estate market with a blend of immersive lifestyle experiences, convenience and sophistication. Many millennials are exhibiting distinct patterns when it comes to considering their first home investment. With a high priority to eco-friendly spaces and sustainability, they are seeking energy-efficient homes with proximity to public transportation. Additionally, millennials are drawn to Mumbai as it offers diverse cultural experiences and vibrant social scenes in its urban environment. Traditionally, single-family homes still appeal to homebuyers, but many are exploring gated community residences and mixed-use developments. As a trend, today, with accomplished positions, unbridled ambition and entrepreneurial achievements, millennials in the city have elevated social status and are thus investing in the luxury real estate landscape in Mumbai. Looking at the advantageous location near the seashore and good connectivity to the western suburbs via the sea link, there has been an upward trend witnessed in the demand for luxury real estate in South Mumbai. The island city has also seen a high investor interest, especially in the south and central Mumbai with an influx of residential units in areas such as Parel, Lower Parel and Prabhadevi. Overall, there has been a major trend being witnessed for larger homes rising up to 40% with a predominant need for 3BHKs. This has risen as the millennials have recognized the importance of having dedicated workstations and recreational spaces within their homes, hence seeking bigger residences with better lifestyles at more affordable costs. Premium living experiences have been a significant driving force for residential demand today. Thus, developers are providing spaces with a range of upscale amenities with services that tend to provide not only a sense of exclusivity but a more seamless and convenient lifestyle. For marketing luxury real estate to the target group, a better understanding of reaching the audience is essential. To help get a head start, below is a short guide on customising real estate marketing to the millennials: Make your brand social media friendly: Millennials today require flexibility and the ability to seek information when they want. Media consumption varies for each age group, whether from traditional outlets or digital mediums. Millennials are fond of social media Instagram in particular and the best way to reach them is through short dynamic graphics and native ads that can make maximum impact in a short attention span. Crafting customised engagement plan- Sell your purpose: It is pertinent to be creative by formulating plans specific to the attention of the target group. While reaching to a wider group of affluent millennials an emotional or purpose-driven campaign will help connect the messaging to the generation. With a message that resonates with the group, millennials tend to accept advertising content that is directly relatable. A company that builds around its purpose can maintain better home buyer loyalty, consistency and market relevance. Targeted media outreach: Effectively marketing luxury properties requires a comprehensive media outreach that includes diverse media outlets. Millennials spend a lot of time on screens, reading lifestyle publications and online and hybrid portals that rely heavily on impressive visuals. However, it is prudent to implement a strategy that incorporates multiple media to target millennial buyers effectively for a more holistic outreach and brand understanding. Create neighbourhood pages using visuals: Use your edge as local expertise in attracting millennial leads by showcasing what the neighbourhood has to offer. Ensure the use of visual storytelling that helps attract more eyes to the page and highlights the local demographics of the area. Build trust and credibility Partner with influencers: Millennials prefer to trust the content from the influencers they follow. Consider involving lifestyle or luxury micro-influencers and leverage their network to help promote and create a buzz around your project. This will aid the brand in building trust amongst the target audience on the project offerings showcased. Crafting effective strategies helps real estate developers stand out in the media landscape and target high-net-worth millennials more efficiently. This is further backed by the understanding amongst the millennials of the long-term value of investing in premium homes; these hold value and offer potential for high returns. The inane need to embrace their success, coupled with the changing dynamics of the housing market along with improved income has prompted more millennials to break through the traditional mould and become proud luxury residence owners. -The author is CSMO, Ashwin Sheth Group. Views expressed are personal. Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday said Rs 2,000 denomination notes are coming back and only Rs 10,000 crore worth of such notes are still with people. He exuded confidence that these notes will also be returned or deposited back. Rs 2,000 notes are coming back and only Rs 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 Rs 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 Rs 2,000 note, which had been introduced in 2016 as part of a rapid remonetisation effort. This had followed Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement to withdraw more than 88 per cent of the currency in circulation by invalidating the Rs 500 and Rs 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 Rs 2,000 bank notes at the 19 RBI offices up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time. However, there is no limit on the total amount for getting Rs 2,000 notes credited into bank accounts. The Ayush Admissions Central Counselling Committee (AACCC) has freshly added 117 All India Quota seats in the AYUSH NEET PG 2023 round 2 counselling. Eligible candidates willing to register and also fill out their choices online can visit the official website of AACCC at www.aaccc.gov.in. Candidates should be aware that the last date for registration and choice locking is October 24, 2023, up to 2 PM. To register for the seats, candidates need to key in basic details and submit the colleges and courses in the order of preference. Apart from the participating institutes in Round 2, the Ayush Admissions Central Counselling Committee has added a few more institutes in Round 2 All India Quota counselling. The official notification stated, Candidates cannot claim virtual vacancies therefore it is advised to take calculated decisions and fill choices of colleges carefully in Round-2. AYUSH NEET PG Round 2 Counselling 2023: eligibility criteria The eligibility criteria to participate in the second phase of AYUSH NEET PG Counselling 2023 are mentioned below. Group I: Applicants who are registering for the first time will fall under Group I category. Group II: Registered candidates who are not allotted any seats in Round 1 are eligible for Group II. Group III: One who has reported at the allotted institute during round 1 and opted for willingness to upgrade in the second round are eligible. It said that due to the addition of new AIQ-PG seats in Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy streams, applicants in respective streams will be considered for upgradation irrespective of willingness submitted in 1st round. Group IV: Shortlisted candidates who have been allotted a seat in the previous round but did not join and availed free exit option fall under Group-IV category. Group V: Candidates who have resigned from the allotted seat of round 1 before the beginning of round 2 registration. AYUSH NEET PG 2023: List of Government Ayurveda Colleges Candidates can check the list of government, CU/NI Unani colleges, Deemed Ayurveda colleges, and Deemed Homoeopathy colleges in the table below: Gujarat Government Akhandanand Ayurved College, Ahmedabad Ayurveda Samhita Evam Siddhanta 1 seat Kayachikitsa 1 seat Panchakarma 1 seat Shalakya 1 seat Shalya 1 seat Government Ayurved College, Osmanabad, Maharashtra Agada Tantra 1 seat Dravyaguna Vigyana 1 seat Kaumarabhritya -Bala Roga 1 seat Shalya 1 seat AYUSH NEET PG 2023: List of Deemed Ayurveda Colleges Karnataka KLE University Shri B M Kankanawadi Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Belagavi Prasuti Tantra Evam Stree Roga 6 seats Roga Nidana 6 seats AYUSH NEET PG 2023: List of Deemed Homoeopathy College Tamil Nadu Vinayaka Missions Homoeopathic Medical College, Salem Homoeopathic pharmacy 3 seats Homoeopathic Philosophy 3 seats Materia Medica 3 seats Paediatrics 3 seats Practice of Medicine 3 seats Psychiatry 3 seats Repertory 3 seats AYUSH NEET PG 2023: List of CU/NI Unani Colleges Karnataka National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka Amraz-e-Jild waTazineeyat 6 seats Ilaj Bit TadbeerIlmul 6 seats Ilmul Advia 9 seats Ilmul Jarahat 5 seats Ilmul Saidla 5 seats Mahiyatul Amraz 6 seats Moalajat 2 seats Qabalat-waAmraz-e-Niswan 7 seats Tahafuzi-waSamaji-Tib 6 seats Kulliyate Tib 5 seats Jammu Kashmir Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Naseem Bagh campus university of Kashmir Srinagar Ilmul Advia 9 seats Moalajat 9 seats The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has extended the registration deadline for the IIT JAM 2024 examinations. Registrations were initially set to close on October 20, but have now been extended to October 25. Candidates who meet the criteria for admission and have not yet completed their IIT JAM 2024 registration and application procedure can do so by visiting the official website jam.iitm.ac.in. To register for the entrance tests, candidates must go to the official website and submit all necessary information. Candidates will be unable to submit JAM 2024 applications until they complete the registration procedure. Additionally, students must be cognizant that the online application form must be submitted along with the JAM 2024 application fee. The IIT JAM 2024 is scheduled for February 11, and admit cards will be issued on January 8. The test is designed for students interested in pursuing MSc, MTech, or PhD degrees at prominent Indian universities such as IITs, NITs, and ISCs. To be considered for JAM 2024, candidates must have finished their UG studies or be in the final year of an undergraduate programme. Foreign citizens with degrees from Indian educational institutions are also allowed to submit their applications. IIT JAM 2024: How to register Step 1: Go to the official IIT JAM 2024 website. Step 2: Go to the online registration portal. Step 3: Fill out all of the essential information on the link given. Step 4: Complete the JAM 2024 application form. Step 5: Upload all required JAM 2024 papers in the application. Step 6: Submit the JAM 2024 application fee and click the final submission button. IIT JAM 2024: APPLICATION FEES For candidates in the female, SC, ST, and PwD categories, the JAM 2024 application fee for one paper has been set at Rs 900, while the fee for two papers is Rs 1250, according to the official brochure on the website. The application fee for applicants from the remaining categories is Rs 1800 for one paper and Rs 2500 for two papers. IIT JAM 2024: SELECTION PROCESS The JAM 2024 will be administered by computer-based testing (CBT), with seven distinct test papers across two shifts. The first shift for Chemistry, Geology, and Mathematics papers will be from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM. The second shift, for papers spanning mathematical statistics, biotechnology, economics, and physics, will run from 2:30 to 5:00 PM. The situation in the Luhansk direction has escalated. Locals are agreeing to evacuate to safer areas more often. ADVERTISIMENT In particular, 4 people were evacuated from Novoliubivka village yesterday: 49, 35, and 45-year-old men and a 29-year-old woman. This was reported by the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Artem Lysohjor on Telegram, He clarified that the Krasnorechensk Military Administration will take care of the everyday issues of these citizens, if necessary. At the same time, Lysohor added that some residents continue to refuse to evacuate, putting themselves in danger. But, according to him, the authorities do not leave such people behind and try to help them. Meanwhile, the occupants continue to shell Luhansk region's localities regularly. Yesterday, the enemy fired at Nevske, Makiivka, and Bilohorivka with artillery and mortars. They also attacked Bilohorivka with aircraft. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian defenders repelled five Russian attacks in the area of Nadiia and enemy offensive attempts east of Nevske. As a reminder, the Russians have begun to actively move equipment and manpower to the Kupiansk direction of the frontline. The vehicles are being moved from the temporarily occupied Luhansk, where they are facing resistance. These include tilt-top military trucks, armored vehicles with machine guns, "loafers" and a gazelle carrying barrels of fuel. As reported by OBOZ.UA: - On October 15, an explosion occurred in the temporarily occupied Luhansk. A column of smoke rose in the Kamianobridsky district in the north of the regional center. ADVERTISIMENT - Earlier, it was reported that Russians are preparing for active offensive actions in the Luhansk and Kharkiv regions. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently launched an international students conference in Thiruvananthapurams Kanakakunnu palace. The summit was attended by 162 students from 42 different countries studying at various educational institutions affiliated with Kerala University. The summit was part of the Keraleeyam project. As you all have probably already experienced, Keralas peaceful and secular environment, the hospitality of our people, and the states natural beauty are its hallmarks. You may also know that Kerala is at par with several developed countries in multiple human development indices. The Kerala model of development which enabled such feats, is a term that has been acknowledged around the world, Chief Minister Vijayan said as quoted by news agency ANI. Kerala has evolved into a modern society that is a shining example of progressive ethos, communal harmony, and peaceful coexistence over the course of the last 200 years thanks to the combined efforts of our renaissance movements, progressive forces, labour advances, farmer struggles, and progressive governments, the Kerala CM added. However, we acknowledge that we still need to improve our reputation in a number of industries, Chief Minister Vijayan noted. What Is Keraleeyam? The annual Keraleeyam festival aims to showcase Keralas top-notch attributes to the world community. Keraleeyam is a yearly event which is held to honour that particular year. This year, Keraleeyam will set out on a thorough quest to reveal the incredible journey of Keralas progress and triumphs over the previous several decades from November 1 to November 7. The Keraleeyam project will include talks about Keralas accomplishments, the difficulties it faces in several areas, and its possibilities for the future. Furthermore, the exhibitions showcasing the states special resources, cultural legacy, agro-industrial advancements, and technical innovations will also be hosted. This programme provides a forum for disseminating Keralas development paradigms throughout the globe and absorbing fresh concepts from the international academic community. According to Manorama, from November 1 to 7, Thiruvananthapuram City will host 24 international seminars at seven different locations. The agenda for the next 25 years in Keralas development and the policies that need to be implemented will be covered at these conferences. Along the length from Vellayambalam to East Fort (Kizhakkekotta), an exhibition highlighting Keralas modernism and tradition will be built. The development-focused lectures will be led by internationally renowned experts. In addition, all the leading Keralaites from across the globe will be invited and honoured at the events. All the representatives of the people from the panchayat level will also be hosted in the capital city. The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has declared the dates for the September session of the half-yearly examination and language test. It is to be noted by the candidates that the examination will be conducted from November 7 to November 11. However, the last date to apply for the examination is October 21. The TSPSC examinations include language tests for officers of all India and state services, the incentive award test in Telugu for all Indian service officers working in states other than Telangana and the Telugu proficiency test for all India Services officers working in Telangana. The official notification of TSPSC read, Applications should be submitted in advance through the Heads of the Offices or Departments/Collectors under whom A.I.S Probationers are working so as to reach the Commissions Office by the last date. Application forms may be downloaded from the Telangana State Public Service Commissions official Website https://www.tspsc.gov.in and filled in applications should be reached by the last date i.e., October 21. Applications received after last date will not be entertained, the notification added. Apart from this, the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has started the link to raise objections against the recently released preliminary answer key for the Junior Lecturer exam 2023 under the control of the Commissioner of Intermediate Education. Candidates who appeared for the examination can now raise objections (if any) at the official website of TSPSC at tspsc.gov.in. Moreover, it is to be noted that the TSPSC Junior Lecturer exam was held in a computer-based recruitment test mode from September 12 to September 22. For the TSPSC Junior Lecturer exam, a total of 124462 candidates registered for the exam out of which 73342 candidates appeared for the exam. The TSPSC recruitment drive is conducted to fill up a total of 1392 Junior Lecturer vacancies in various subjects. However, the preliminary answer key was released on September 26. The West Bengal Directorate of Medical Education has announced the State NEET UG stray vacancy round results for the medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) programmes on October 20. Students who registered for the last round of the West Bengal NEET UG Counselling 2023 can check and download their seat allotment result by visiting the official website at wbmcc.nic.in. Along with the stray vacancy round result, the WB Directorate of Medical Education has also released the seat allotment order for candidates. The West Bengal NEET UG seat allotment result for the stray vacancy round will display information such as NEET all India rank, institute name, course, allotted quota, allotted category, candidate category and status. WB NEET UG Counselling 2023: Steps To Check Seat Allotment Result Step 1: Go to the official website of WB NEET UG counselling website at wbmcc.nic.in. Step 2: On the homepage, search and click on the seat allotment result link that is under the download section. Step 3: The seat allotment result for medical and dental will be displayed in pdf file. Step 4: Candidates must check for their roll number and seat allotment status. Step 5: Then save and download the result. It is important to note that to download the seat allotment order candidates must login using their credentials generated. The stray vacancy round, which concludes the NEET UG counselling process, occurs subsequent to the centralised admission rounds. Its for students who didnt receive a seat in the previous rounds. Most of the state institutions and several of the category colleges host this round. Days ago, the National Medical Commission (NMC) announced that the undergraduate (UG) candidates admitted to medical institutes or colleges after September 30, 2023 will be deemed invalid and will be discharged. Stakeholders, including central authorities, state authorities and medical colleges are directed to strictly adhere to the counselling schedule set by the National Medical Commission for the academic session 2023-24 for UG MBBS courses, informed an NMC statement dated October 19. The commission determined that UG MBBS counselling, both online and offline, is conducted in states like West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra beyond the NEET UG 2023 counselling deadline, leading to the decision to void the admission. The NMC had established September 30 as the deadline for NEET UG 2023. It was the winter of 2017 and Netaji, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, advised his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to not commit the cardinal mistake of tying up with the Congress in the Uttar Pradesh elections. This wont help us, he had told his son. Akhilesh went ahead with the tie-up and surprisingly, also gave over 100 seats out of the 400-odd in the state to the Congress. The result was a disaster as his father had feared Congress won just seven seats and Samajwadi Party (SP) also collapsed, leading to a historic win for the BJP riding on the Narendra Modi wave. Akhilesh then learnt his lesson that Congress pulls down the SP in Uttar Pradesh and he steered clear of them in 2022, doing much better than 2017, a top SP leader told News18. Behind Akhileshs present irritation with the Congress is this 2017 lesson where the SP leader has developed little tolerance for the big brother attitude of the Congress. Things have come to such a pass that some in the SP are not even ruling out the chance of Akhilesh Yadav choosing to put up candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli in 2024 if Congress does not make up with him. SP spokesperson IP Singhs post on social networking site X added fuel to fire. SP will field its candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli. Congress must contest elections in Kanauj and Azamgarh. Most Welcome. Despite the slogan I am a daughter, I can fight, Congress remained ineffective. The SP has traditionally not put up candidates in these bastions of the Congress, helping it win the seats. But, in 2019, Rahul Gandhi still lost from Amethi to BJPs Smriti Irani. Making matters worse for the Congress presently in UP is its state president Ajay Rai who has adopted an aggressive line against the SP, including questioning how SP lost the Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypoll last year if it was so strong in UP. Akhilesh retorted that he had an emotional connection with Azamgarh like the Congress has with Amethi and Rae Bareilly, and they should be mindful of the same. The Congress, however, has been less than charitable to the SP in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections, sparing not even a single seat for SP and reinforcing that the alliance is only for the Lok Sabha elections and not the state elections. Akhilesh Yadav has said that Congress should have clarified this right at the onset of the formation of INDIA. An angry Akhilesh is promising to pay the Congress back in the same coin in 2024 and this is bad news for INDIA. A BJP sweep in Uttar Pradesh for the third time in 2024 could pave the way for the return of Narendra Modi as the prime minister again and the state with 80 Lok Sabha seats is hence the key for INDIA. But with the BSP already out of the alliance and now SP-Congress relations becoming frosty, it is the BJP which is laughing its way to the bank in UP. BJP-led alliance won 73 seats out of 80 in UP in 2014 and it is aiming at breaking that record in 2024 now. The BJP on Saturday released its second list of 83 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly polls, fielding former chief minister Vasundhara Raje from her traditional Jhalrapatan seat. The party also fielded Narpat Singh Rajvi from Chittorgarh. BJP is likely to release more names for Madhya Pradesh and its first list for Telangana Assembly elections later today. On the other hand, Congress also released its first list of candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections comprising of 33 names. A war of words broke out between political rivals ahead of the Assembly elections in five states next month. BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Friday clapped back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his dorala, prajala remarks, calling him devil preaching the sermons. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan, hit out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, saying its sole focus is to remain in power and not public welfare. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Telangana are scheduled to go to polls in November 2023. Latest Updates Assembly Elections 2023 Congress has fielded Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura constituency and Sachin Pilot from his traditional Tonk seat. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also released its third list of 30 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Aam Aadmi Party releases third list of 30 candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/ngOr1SmCls ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023 The BJP announced its second list of 83 more candidates for Rajasthan election 2023 on Saturday, coinciding with Maha Saptami, the seventh day of Navratri. Ending speculation around Vasundhara Rajes candidature, the saffron party fielded the erstwhile royal from the Jhalrapatan seat. The party had previously announced candidates to 41 seats in the first Rajasthan list. While the inclusion of seven MPs, including a Rajya Sabha member, was the main talking point of the first list, the second one delivers a wider political message. Here are five takeaways from BJPs second list of candidates for Rajasthan elections: Vasundhara Named, Finally Speculation may have suggested attempts to sideline Vasundhara Raje, but the former chief minister remains the BJPs most formidable leader in the desert state. The fact that her name didnt figure in the first list gave rise to murmurs on whether the BJP would field her at all. Amid her studied silence on the buzz, all eyes were on the second list. However, ending a long spell of speculation, the BJP has fielded her from Jhalrapatan. The fact that the party hasnt changed her seat shows she still holds sway within the saffron leadership. This is the constituency from where she won in the 2018 Assembly elections for the fifth consecutive term. She had won by a margin of 34,890 votes, defeating Congress candidate Manvendra Singh. LoPs Traditional Seat Changed Besides the former chief minister, the two most important leaders for any party in Opposition are the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and the state unit president. Surprisingly, the BJP has changed the traditional seat of its LoP Rajendra Singh Rathore. Rathore, currently MLA from Churu, is now being fielded from Taranagar constituency. He has previously represented Taranagar only once from 2008 to 2013. Rathore had won three consecutive terms from Churu before that. In total, he has represented Churu five times. It is unclear whether the party sensed anti-incumbency and changed his seat. But the fact that he remains a Raje loyalist begs the questions whether there was a subtle political message for the former Rajasthan CM. Question of Diya Kumari Settled When Rajasmand MP Diya Kumari was asked to contest the upcoming Assembly election, she was asked to fight from Jaipurs Vidhayadhar Nagar constituency, a seat currently occupied by Narpat Singh Rajvi, who is perceived to be a staunch Vasundhara Raje loyalist. He is also the son-in-law of Bhairon Singh Ji Shekhawat, who in turn was instrumental in making Raje the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Rajvi was said to be unhappy at having to give up his seat. Speaking to News18 earlier, Diya Kumari had said: I am convinced of his support. We all follow the decisions taken by the BJP leadership. I am sure that I will get full support and blessings from him. Leaving nothing to chance, Rajvi, a five-time MLA, has been placated with his name finding a place in the BJPs second list from Chittorgarh. Jat Votes and Message to Hoodas Former Congress MP Jyoti Mirdha, who joined the saffron fold this September, is being fielded from Nagaur. The former parliamentarian belongs to one of the two influential Mirdha clans in the region. She also belongs to the Jat community, a segment that has been disenchanted with the BJP ever since the Jat riots in Haryana in 2016 and more recently the three farm laws that were eventually withdrawn by the Centre after year-long farmer protests. The BJP hopes to reach out to the Jat votes in the region with Mirdha. She is married to Narendra Gehlaut, a businessman with ties to the BJP. Her sister Shweta is married to Deepender Hooda, the son of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The BJP is also trying to warm up for Haryana elections slated next year. 10 Women Fielded, Sitting MLAs Dropped The BJP has fielded 10 women among the 83 names, making it little above 12% of the second list. Even in its first list of 41 names, the BJP had fielded only four women. Asked why the BJP did not field more women candidates as was expected after the passage of the womens reservation bill in Parliament, a BJP functionary said it would be reflected in the list of Lok Sabha candidates. The functionary also stressed that winnability will continue to remain the main criterion. Meanwhile, a few sitting MLAs were dropped in the second list. Narpat Singh Rajvi may have been placated with Chittorgarh, but its sitting MLA Chandra Bhan Singh is yet to get a seat. In 2018, he defeated Congress Surendra Singh Jadawat with more than 23,000 votes. Singh has been reportedly sulking for months now. Sanganers sitting MLA Ashok Lahoty who defeated Congresss Puspendra Bhardwaj with more than 34,000 votes in 2018 has also been dropped as of now. All eyes are now on the candidates list for remaining 76 seats. In politics, it often takes two to tango. But the Congress has been accused by both the Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party of being a lone player and stubborn. After Akhilesh Yadavs outburst against the Congress, accusing it of fooling him and also warning that the SP could take revenge, things have become bitter on the ground in Madhya Pradesh Mohammed Saud is happy watching this dispute. The last time he had failed to win from the Bhopal North constituency. But this time, the Congress, after much internal bickering, has given the ticket to 26-year-old Atif Aqueel, whose only claim to political fame is his father, Arif Aqueel, who was the MLA before him. Saud thinks AAPs jhaadu (broom symbol) could sweep this time. No kamal (BJPs lotus symbol), no panja (Congresss hand symbol); this time its our time, said Saud. The problem is that both BJP and Congress think that they are the only ones who should occupy the political space. People want change. They want to get more options and we are the ones. AAP is banking on the large number of first-time voters, who it feels would like to experiment and are impressed by Arvind Kejriwal. Yash Bhartiya of the Samajwadi Party is angry too, like his boss, Akhilesh Yadav. They promised us six seats, called us for meetings, and then they do this! I am glad AAP is contesting from here. They are now emerging as a national alternative, so why not? Yash also had a warning for the Congress. We are strong in UP. The Congress must realise this. They need us there and we will remember what they have done to us here. Behind these menacing words is an anger and mistrust of the Congress. So far only one meeting on seat-sharing has been held. Any other talks have been repeatedly pushed back. While the Congress insists that seat-sharing is only for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SP and AAP have raised the point that there is no harm in testing the waters. In fact, sources say that there was talk that in seats where the Congress is weak and BJP strong, SP and AAP could have helped. But the Congress has often accused both of being B-teams of the BJP and given examples of Gujarat and Goa where a triangular fight hurt the grand old party and helped the saffron outfit. Its a battle that is now becoming shriller than the one for MP, and which could resonate even after the results are out. The Supreme Courts five-judge Constitution Bench may have refused to recognise marriage as a fundamental right but no judge disagreed with the cause of gay rights in India. All judges agreed that the LGBTQIA community must have greater civil rights in the country as they spoke at length about the issues concerning them, the need to sensitise society and stop any victimisation of same-sex couples. However, the court could not grant any extended civil rights to the group. As expected, the community is disappointed and heartbroken. From being called un-convicted felons by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, which re-criminalised homosexuality, to the apology by a five-judge bench that finally decriminalised gay sex the community has had its share of struggles with courts and judiciary. None of the rights were given to them easily. The judgment handed down on October 17 this year shall be remembered for its sheer helplessness. It is rare that the apex court chooses to do nothing despite recognising the sincerity of the cause. With respect, the court has crossed the Lakshman Rekha to step into the domain of the legislature on multiple occasions. History is full of such judicial precedents. The apex court does not shy from setting the clock back and reinstating a government (Nabam Rebia vs Deputy Speaker/ Arunachal Pradesh Judgment) or even overturning statutes that have been passed by Parliament and ratified by state legislature (Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association versus Union of India/ NJAC case). In the interest to do justice and ensure fairness, the Supreme Court has crossed into the domain of the legislature many times. If the court did not choose to do it this time, the reasons are clearly more than the line drawn by the separations of powers under the Indian Constitution. The arguments advanced by the Union government during the hearings seem to have been accepted in toto. The Centre cautioned the Supreme Court that any piecemeal approach to marriage equality shall only further convolute the complicated space of personal laws and family laws in India. Apart from asserting that the subject lies in the domain of the legislature, the Centre reminded the court that state governments need to be heard before the Centre takes a call on the matter. These arguments were strongly resisted during the hearing. But the judgment seems to accept the legal impossibility cited by the Centre represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The elephant in the room is the demon of personal laws and the rationalisation of family law that has been an incomplete task since Independence. The judgment must be taken in the right spirit and focus should be put on rationalisation of personal laws and family laws in India. It is important to note that petitioners never wanted to step into the domain of personal laws but seeking equality in marriage for LGBTQ cannot be piecemeal. Simply put Equality flows. If the domain of family law under the statutory and family law scheme had equality as its guiding spirit, then granting equality would not have been very difficult. Equality has remained elusive under family laws in India. Those who argue that rights could have been granted under the Special Marriage Act seem to ignore the legal paradoxes it would have created. The judiciary is not scared of the Pandora s Box but the sphere of family law has been full of contradictions and awaits judicial and legislative simplification and streamlining. The government is not the best avenue for seeking civil rights for LGBTQ couples; it has always been indifferent to the cause of the community. The government never took a clear position even when the top court heard a curative petition to decriminalise homosexuality. Instead, it left the issue to the wisdom of the Supreme Court. It is doubtful to what extent can a committee formulated by the Centre address the grievances of the community. The Supreme Court has taken the ideological position of being sympathetic to the cause of the community. But even the minority judgment of CJI DY Chandrachud falls short of opening any legal avenue for appeal. Justice cannot be served obiter dictum. We await to see times when equality shall be the guiding spirit for the family law sphere in India and women, transgenders and the LGBTQ community shall have equal rights even in the personal space. Labhshankar Duryodhan Maheshwari, a Gujarat resident who originally hailed from Pakistan, was arrested by Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over suspicions of spying on Thursday. Labhshankar, 53, is said to have arrived at Tarapur town in Gujarats Anand district in 1999 with his wife for fertility treatment from Pakistan. He stayed in Gujarat, became a successful businessman and attained Indian citizenship in 2006. The couple, however, did not have any children. Gujarat ATS arrested him for allegedly helping Pakistani agents access sensitive information about the Indian Army, an Indian Express report said. According to ATS, Labhshankar helped Pakistani agents access an Indian SIM card, which was used to hack the phones of Indian defence personnels kids in Army schools. The ATS said he did this in return for Pakistani officials help in obtaining visas to the country for members of his family. After coming to Tarapur in 1999, Labhshankar initially lived with his in-laws, who had migrated from Pakistan earlier. He then applied for a long-term visa and gradually established himself as a successful businessman with the help of his in-laws, defence sources were quoted by Indian Express as saying. In 2022, he is believed to have been cultivated by Pakistani agents during the processing of his Pakistani visa on a visit to Pakistan. Sources have reason to believe that Labhshankar was in touch with a Pakistani intelligence agency during his six-week stay with his parents. After returning to India, he is said to have facilitated the delivery of a SIM card registered in the name of Mohammad Saqlain Umar Tahim, a Jamnagar resident, to a Pakistan embassy contact, ATS further added. The highly politicised suicide of a student in Telangana took a new turn on Friday as the accused in the case, Shivaram Rathod, surrendered before Nampally court. His plea was, however, rejected by the court as they could not find a prima facie case against him. He was then arrested by police for further questioning. The suicide of Pravalika, 23, a week ago saw spontaneous protests at Ashoknagar in the city. Though she did not mention the reason for taking the step in the purported suicide note, her friends had informed that it may have been due to the repeated cancellation of the TSPSC exam. A new twist was added the next day when the police officer in charge of the case said after examining her WhatsApp conversations, it had become clear that the student had killed herself because her boyfriend chose another woman. A case was registered against Rathod for abetting her suicide. Interestingly, the officer was suspended the next day for his inability to handle the case properly. In the meantime, the Opposition, especially the Congress, blamed the BRS government for the womans death that struck a chord with the youth as unemployment has been a burning issue in the state for a while. The TSPSC Group 1 exam was cancelled twice once due to paper leak and another time due to flouting of exam protocols. The Group 2 exam was cancelled due to the upcoming elections. This series of events has left the candidates frustrated. Many of them come from rural areas to stay in Hyderabad for months and prepare for the exams. Meanwhile, seeing the uproar over the death, the BRS went into damage-control mode. The party released videos of Pravalikas mother and brother where they were seen asking for justice and the arrest of Rathod. In a previous statement, however, the mother had said the rumours of her daughters relationship troubles were being concocted to malign her character. In a media interaction, BRS working president K Taraka Rama Rao claimed that the deceased had not applied for the exams. He also promised a job for her brother. The Congress has claimed that the BRS moved Pravalikas family from Warangal so that Rahul Gandhi could not meet them during his three-day bus yatra here. Earlier, Gandhi had expressed anguish at the youngsters death. Two days ago, Rathods father wrote to the State Human Rights Commission, alleging that his son was being made a scapegoat in a political drama. He added that his son was innocent and was being harassed by the police. As new developments unfold, it is expected that the case will be dissected further in the election-bound state. This young state was formed with the promises of Nidhulu, Neelu, Niayamakalu (funds, water and jobs). The Opposition is taking advantage of every opportunity to remind the BRS that unemployed youth are killing themselves after 10 years of formation of the state. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) The Russian occupation army continues to terrorize Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro region. On the night of October 21, Russian troops attacked the city with missiles and attack drones. ADVERTISIMENT As a result of the enemy attacks, a fire broke out. The head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported this on Telegram (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the photo). At night, Russian troops attacked Kryvyi Rih again. Three missiles and a drone were recorded. They destroyed an industrial infrastructure facility. The enemy shelling also caused a fire in the city. Rescuers quickly extinguished the fire. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries. In addition, the RMA clarified that on the evening of October 20, the enemy attacked a summer house cooperative in Kryvyi Rih. Three houses were damaged as a result of the attack. The head of the Kryvyi Rih Military Administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that a man born in 1963 was killed in the evening rocket attack at a summer house cooperative in the suburbs. His wife was taken to the hospital in serious condition. ADVERTISIMENT On October 20, Russian occupants launched missiles at Ukraine once again. This time, one of the enemy's missiles hit a summer house cooperative in Kryvyi Rih, killing a local. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it was reported that the Russian army attacked Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. As a result of the enemy attack, a private yard caught fire and there were victims. As reported by OBOZ.UA, on October 19, the invaders launched ten guided bombs at Beryslav in the Kherson region. As a result, a 68-year-old local sustained a mine blast injury, an open fracture, a head injury, and other injuries. Doctors continue to conduct diagnostics. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Roza Ramteke, the second accused in the killing of five relatives at Mahagaon in Gadchirolis Aheri Taluka, wanted to murder at least 16 of her extended family over a 4-acre piece of land. While the first accused, Sanghamitra Kumbhare possibly just wished to end the life of her in-laws to end the miseries they imposed on her. Sanghamitra and Ramteke were arrested on October 18 and are currently in police custody remand. According to a Times of India report, Sanghamitra has been placed under medical supervision after she complained of ill health during interrogation. Meanwhile, the report suggested that Rozas husband Pramod is also under polices radar, in the presumption that he already knew the duos murder plan and could have even assisted in executing it. But Pramod whom the cops wanted to interrogate claimed that he has had hair loss due to poisoning, ruling out any action against him by the police officials. Investigations by the Gadchiroli police reveal that Ramteke had grown hostile towards her husbands four sisters, their spouses and children over a 4-acre land. Pramods sisters and their families had been demanding equal distribution of the said land. Fuelling her animosity, she decided to partner up with Sanghamitra an agricultural scientist to murder their relatives by slow poisoning using thallium. While Sanghamitras plan to kill her husband Roshan, father-in-law Shankar, mother-in-law Vijaya, her sister Varsha Urade and Roshans sister Komal Dahegaonkar succeeded, three other persons with symptoms of poisoning are recovering in the hospital. According to Sanghamitras search history, she had been researching about poisons and of the options she came across, she picked thallium. Reportedly, they chose thallium as it is odourless, colourless and is also highly toxic. Ramtekes husband and her four sister-in-laws, Vijaya Kumbhare, Varsha Urade and two others had inherited the land from their father, however her desire for them to give up their share, led both Vijaya and Varsha to be piqued. Sanghamitras interrogation revealed that even though her husband Roshan physically abused her, which lead her to attempt suicide in August, she still was emotionally attached to him. Police said that Sanghamitra was double-minded about poisoning Roshan her husband but Ramteke coerced her to do so. HOW DID SANGHAMITRA & RAMTEKE JOIN HANDS? According to police, Sanghamitras marriage did not turn out to be the expected way and she allegedly faced domestic violence at the hands of her husband. Other family members ill-treated her as well, police was quoted as saying. Sanghamitra wanted to go home during Raksha Bandhan festival to celebrate with her family but Roshan and his parents allegedly did not allow her. As she kept insisting, a fight broke out in the family when Roshan allegedly assaulted her, the report stated. While Sanghamitra sat crying outside the house, her aunt-in-law Rosa Ramteke saw her and consoled her. Sanghamitra confided in her and told that she feels like killing them, an officer was quoted. Keeping her own fury against her husbands sisters, Ramteke assured Sanghamitra that she would help her kill the family members, the officer was further quoted. Since then the two started searching for methods to kill on Google. THEIR MURDER PLAN & EXECUTION Upon learning that Thallium is a slow-killer and that they could even add it to the family members food without leaving any trace, the two decided to acquire the poison. They procured Thallium, in mid-September, from Telangana after and started mixing it in food. In her confession to police, Sanghamitra said that she mixed Thallium in a non-veg food item of Shankar, Vijaya and Komal, while for Roshan, she mixed it in dal (lentil). Ramteke took the responsibility of administering Thallium to Varsha Urade, who is Vijayas sister, the report stated. On September 20, Shankar and Vijaya complained of tingling in the limbs, severe lower back ache and head ache, as they got blackened lips and a heavy tongue. Following this the both were admitted to a hospital in Chandrapur, and later referred to a private facility in Nagpur. However, before their illness could be diagnose, Shankar died on September 26 and the next day, Vijaya died as well. While their children were recovering from the loss, health of Komal, Urade and Roshan also deteriorated. They were also admitted to hospital and died on October 8, 14 and 15 respectively, an investigator was quoted. Police Martyrs Day, observed on October 21 every year in India, honours and remembers police officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. It is a day to pay tribute to the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of these police officers who laid down their lives to maintain law and order and protect the community. Notably, on Police Martyrs day, the National Police Memorial holds a great significance. It is a solemn monument located in New Delhi. It is dedicated to honoring the brave police personnel. Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: On Police Commemoration Day, we laud the relentless dedication of our police personnel. They are pillars of great support, guiding citizens through challenges and ensuring safety. Their unwavering commitment to service embodies the true spirit of heroism. A heartfelt tribute to all the personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice. On Police Commemoration Day, we laud the relentless dedication of our police personnel. They are pillars of great support, guiding citizens through challenges and ensuring safety. Their unwavering commitment to service embodies the true spirit of heroism. A heartfelt tribute to Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2023 Home Minister Amit Shah also shared of a ceremony in National Police Memorial, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Speaking at the Police Commemoration Day in National Police Memorial, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. https://t.co/0HH0kLJzwZ Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 21, 2023 Police Martyrs Day: History Police Martyrs Day has its roots in a tragic event that occurred on October 20, 1959. On that day, three reconnaissance parties were dispatched from Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh as a part of the Indian expedition heading towards Lanak La. While two of the parties returned to Hot Springs later that day, the third one, consisting of two Police Constables and a Porter, did not return. A search was immediately organized, led by DSP/DCIO Shri Karam Singh. Tragically, the party encountered the Chinese Army personnel, and a confrontation ensued where the Chinese forces opened fire and threw grenades. The Indian team had little cover, resulting in injuries to most personnel. Ten brave Police Personnel lost their lives, and seven others were injured. The injured were taken as prisoners by the Chinese. The bodies of the ten martyred personnel were eventually returned by the Chinese on November 13, 1959, three weeks after the incident. In honor of their sacrifice, their bodies were cremated with full Police honors at Hot Springs. Recognizing the valour and sacrifice of these gallant martyrs, the Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories in January 1960 decided to observe October 21 as Commemoration Day or Martyrs Day. They also agreed to construct a memorial at Hot Springs. Every year, police personnel from different parts of the country trek to Hot Springs to pay homage to these brave souls. Police Martyrs Day: Significance The day serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks that police officers face daily and acknowledges their unwavering commitment to upholding justice and maintaining peace in society. It is an opportunity for the community to show support for law enforcement and recognize their vital role in maintaining a safe and harmonious environment. How the brave hearts are honoured On Martyrs Day, the brave hearts are honoured through several solemn rituals: Reversal of Arms (Shok Shastra)The arms are reversed as a sign of mourning and respect for the departed souls. Observing Two Minutes SilenceA moment of silence is observed to pay homage to the fallen heroes, reflecting on their sacrifice and dedication. Reading Names of Police MartyrsThe names of police martyrs from various states, police, and paramilitary forces are read aloud, acknowledging and honoring the supreme sacrifices they made. Three Volleys of ShotsThree volleys of shots are fired as a symbolic mark of respect, further commemorating the sacrifices of the martyrs. Importance of National Police Memorial The National Police Memorial situated at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi holds a great significance. It is a prominent landmark and a place of national importance. The memorial was inaugurated on October 21, 2018, by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. According to reports, the design of the memorial is inspired by the National Police Memorial in Washington, D.C., USA. It consists of a 30-foot tall bronze sculpture of a police officer holding a folded flag, paying homage to the fallen heroes. After the record-breaking success of his last two films Pathaan and Jawaan, superstar Shah Rukh Khan will soon grace the big screen again this year with his film Dunki. The film is directed by ace filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani and will also star Taapsee Pannu in the lead. The excitement has reached a crescendo with Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani rolling in together for a private bash in Mumbai on Friday night. Shah Rukh looked dapper in an all-black suit with his gelled hair pulled back in a small ponytail and Rajkumari Hirari sported a white shirt with a dark red sleeveless jacket. As both made their way out of Shah Rukh Khans luxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan, they were greeted by fans with loud cheers. Check out the video here: Internet is abuzz with speculations that the party was hosted by Rajkumar Hirani to celebrate the wrap up of Dunki shoot. The party was attended by a selected bunch of Bollywood celebs including Shah Rukh Khans wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana Khan. For quite some time now, it has been said that Dunki, Shah Rukh Khans first film with Rajkumari Hirani, will revolve around donkey flight a route used by illegal migrants to move to other countries, especially the US and Canada. While the film does deal with the issue of immigration, it isnt based in Canada or has anything to do with Indians based in Canada. It is a very sensitively made film that deals with a mans journey of trying to find a better way of life and the various emotions he goes through while doing so, a source cited by India Today claims. However, News18 Showsha cannot vouch for the authenticity of the report. The film is set to release on December 22. Kangana Ranaut met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, October 21 in New Delhi. The actress took to her Instagram handle to share a series of pictures from their meet. She also revealed that a special screening of her upcoming movie Tejas was held which was not just attended by Rajnath Singh but by Air Force officials too. Team Tejas held a special screening for Respected defence minister @rajnathsinghbjp ji and many dignitaries from the Indian Air Force at the Indian Airforce auditorium today evening, Kangana wrote. It was an enthralling experience to see a film dedicated to the defence forces and our soldiers with so many soldiers and honourable Defence Minister himself, the actress added. Kangana further revealed that Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM was so impressed with the film that he removed his fighter jet shaped brooch from his jacket and gifted to my director. Check out Kangana Ranauts post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kangana Ranaut (@kanganaranaut) In Tejas, Kangana Ranaut is playing the role of an Air Force pilot who is on a mission to fight terrorism. Reportedly, Kangana dedicated four months to rigorous training to master the specialised combat techniques employed by the Indian forces, for her film. Produced by RSVP, the film boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Anshul Chauhan, Varun Mitra, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Vishak Nair in pivotal roles. The movie is directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. Tejas is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 27. Meanwhile, Kangana has also been working on her next movie Emergency. She is not just playing the lead in the movie but is also directing it. Kangana will be seen essaying the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Emergency. The film will be released next year. Bigg Boss 10 contestant actor Rahul Dev admits participating in the show was a difficult process but it eventually became a blessing in disguise. For those unaware, he became one of the highest participants at a time when his financial situation was a bit tight. Now, during a recent interaction with Hindustan Times, Rahul Dev candidly spoke about whether he ever regretted nodding yes to the controversial show despite having worked in over 80 films before. The Dishoom actor quickly denied it and went on to shed light on the part that became hard for him. According to him, actors train themselves to be in a film for whatever parts theyre offered. However, participating in a reality show was quite different from what he was accustomed to. Here you are participating like yourself. As a real person. I had no formal training in that, and I dont know whether anybody can get formal training. Its an unknown territory. Its dark. It is a difficult process, he said. However, he had little option to choose at the time. He had no work and had to take up what was offered to him. The process made him realize that a gap of over four years is quite long in the industry. He calls it a rare blessing that he is still in the business. In hindsight, the show helped him ease out his financial situation immediately and in a considerable manner. That was a blessing and a learning experience of another kind, he added. When talking about his prior working experience, Rahul believes, Even 80 films dont save you here. Nobody looks at what youve done in the past because they measure you with what youre doing at the moment. Who are the other people investing in you? It is a fair market, its a business. During the same interaction, Rahul also opened up about becoming an intrusive parent after losing his wife to cancer. Notably, the intrusiveness came from his upbringing in childhood after looking at his mother who was a working mother but never failed to cater to the needs of her three kids. Rahul became a similar parent. Being a single parent and working in the industry was quite fearful because it would take him away from home. Ive stayed in the best hotels possible all across the globe. Six passports, fully stamped. But, the downside is not being able to spend time with family), he said. Rahul Dev says an actor misses to see their child grow up in stages. Sometimes, a two-month absence means youre meeting a whole new kid when you return home. I would miss both of them quite a lot, he admits. Currently, he is in a relationship with model Mugdha Godse, who is 18 years his junior. While opening up about the pressure he faces to marry her, the actor said, I dont care about anyone. Even the families know. What I do care about is one person what does she feel about it? Thats the main thing to consider. Rahul Dev didnt win Bigg Boss 10, it was contestant Manveer Gurjar who lifted the victory trophy. Formerly referred to as Project K, Kalki 2898 AD stands as one of the highly awaited films of 2024. Hailed as the most expensive Indian film ever produced, the film is directed by Nag Ashwin and backed by Vyjatanthi Movies. Recently, actor Rana Daggubati visited the films sets and admitted feeling envious of Ashwin for bringing his dream project to life. In an interview with Film Companion, Rana said, The first time I got jealous seeing somebody was when I went to the sets of Kalki. Growing up, visual effects for me was Star Wars. Thats a film that I just loved watching. Funnilyy, Nagi (Nag Ashwin) also liked watching that film. And very few people get it. Like science fiction and all of it is not very mainstream. Rana is really excited about Kalki 2898 AD. He thinks its an amazing project that combines mythology and science fiction and when he visited the set, he was so impressed that he felt jealous. He even called the director later to admit his envy. And when I walked into the set, I was like, Sh*t, hes making this. Like hes making everything that I dreamt of. And I remember I didnt talk to him that day. I went back home and I called him and said, Dude, Im really jealous. I dont know why. And he said, Dude, only when youre jealous I know Im doing the right things. And its a story from mythology into science fiction. Im very excited about what that film will do. Its got the biggest star cast. Its got everything, he shared. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Hassan in pivotal roles. Disha Patani also has an important role in it. The Nag Ashwin directorial will hit theatres on January 12, 2024. Durga Puja festivities have kickstarted in full swing and Bollywood is all set for the celebrations. Durga Puja has now become a global event following its inclusion in Unescos intangible cultural heritage list in 2021. The fervor and excitement can even be seen among celebrities as they are thronging to the Puja pandals to take part in the festivities. Apart from Kajol, Rani Mukerji was also spotted arriving at a Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai. On Saturday, popular paparazzo handle Viral Bhayani shared a clip on Instagram, that captured Rani Mukerji making a video of the magnificent Goddess Durga idol. She wore a traditional light yellow Bengali saree with golden borders. Further in the video, Rani can also be seen greeting some acquaintances in the massive pandal. Take a look: Rani Mukerji and Shah Rukh Khan, along with director Karan Johar, pleasantly surprised fans by making an unexpected visit to a Mumbai theatre during the screening of their beloved romantic drama film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which recently completed 25 years. During the event, the trio addressed the enthusiastic crowd. During their fan interaction, Rani Mukerji spoke greatly of Shah Rukh Khan and called him romance. In a viral video, she can be seen saying, Shah Rukh for me is romance itself, hes love and I have loved Shah Rukh from the time I saw him the first time because hes the most gracious man ever descended on planet. The actress also lauded Karan Johar for his work in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Rani Mukerji was most recently seen in Ashima Chibbers legal drama film Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway. The film, which also stars Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh, is based on the true incident of an Indian couple whose children were forcefully taken away by Norwegian authorities in 2011. The film was loved by critics and audiences alike. Ranveer Singh who was currently shooting for the highly anticipated Singham 3 has returned back in town. On Saturday morning, the actor was seen arrivong at a private airport in Mumbai. He donned a hoodie and mask as he waved at the paparazzi. A video of the same has gone viral now. Have a look at the video : The third film from the Singham franchise titled Singham Again has gone on floors recently and is all set to release in the second half of 2024. As per reports by Pinkvilla, Rohit Shetty hired a team of six writers for his upcoming film. The step to onboard new writers has been taken to ensure that the storyline of Singham Again is captivating enough. The Cop Universes next instalment will be written by Shantanu Srivastava (Badhai Ho, Night Manager), Kshitij Patwardhan (Mauli, Faster Fene), Yunus Sajawal (all Rohit Shetty films), Milap Zaveri (Kaante, Shootout at Wadala), Abhijeet Khuman (renowned for Asur), Sandeep and Anusha (working with Rohit for The Indian Police Force). Rohit collaborated with this team to work together on Singham Again. It took them 18 months to come up with the perfect storyline. Rohit Shetty and his association with the cop world started in 2011 with Singham. It led to Singham Returns in 2014. Then he eventually came up with Simmba in 2018, which kicked off the first instalment of his cop verse. Apart from that, Ranveer Singh will soon be making an appearance for Karan Johars much loved talk show Koffee With Karan with Deepika Padukone. The episode has already been shot and is ready to roll out next week, October 26. Onlookers present on the set during the shoot of the opening episode revealed that Deepika and Ranveer got candid about their relationship and had a heartfelt conversation with Karan Johar. Friday Night was no less than a star studded affair in BTown. Several Bollywood celebrities were seen attending a party setting their best fashion foot forward. Among them, Suhana Khan along with mom Gauri were also seen arriving for the same. Suhana Khan looked all things pretty in an all black ensemble. She made heads turn in a black cut out T shirt, which she teamed with striped trousers. Her wavy locks added the much needede charm. Gauri Khan on the other hand donned a black printed crop top with trousers. The duo surely dished out major mother-daughter goals. Have a look at the video : Meanwhile on the work front, Gauri Khans daughter Suhana Khan will be making her much-anticipated Bollywood debut with Zoya Akhtars The Archies. Apart from Suhana, the film will also mark the acting debut of Janhvi Kapoors sister Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda. The cast of The Archies recently treated fans to the films song Sunoh. Sunoh, is a song created by the ingenious duo of Ankur Tewari and The Islanders, lyrically woven by the maestro Javed Akhtar and the young and talented Dot, harmoniously performed by Tejas Menon and Shivam Mahadevan. Sunoh helps viewers to immerse into the exciting world of The Archies, introducing the characters of the film. Now, Shah Rukh khan has taken to social media to react to the song. Taking to his Instagram and sharing the song, he wrote, This is so quaint and beautiful the world of The Archies. Also my motivation line for today is Trading my shoes in for wheels under my feet! He also tagged director Zoya Akhtar and the entire cast of The Archies. The movie, directed by Zoya Akhtar, is slated for a release later this year. On Fathers Day Shah Rukh Khan gave a shout-out to his daughter Suhana and re-shared the teaser clip of The Archies. The superstar wrote, On Fathers Day heres wishing the best to my baby all the babies and Tiger Baby for The Archies!. In the Netflix film, Suhana plays Veronica, a character she described as someone with a magnetic personality. She is unabashedly herself and she knows her worth. Thats something Im learning from her, she added. According to the makers, the 1960s-set film explores friendship, freedom, love, heartbreak and rebellion through the lives of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel and Dilton. It will take audiences to the fictional hilly town of Riverdale. The Archies is all set to release on December 7 on Netflix. Leo starring Thalapathy Vijay, Trisha Krishnan, and Sanjay Dutt, has made history by achieving the biggest worldwide opening day for any Tamil movie. Furthermore, the film has already surpassed the 100-crore mark in India. However, the hilly district of Nilgiris, where only two theatres exist, faces challenges in screening such big-budget films. Despite eager anticipation from fans, Leo was unfortunately not screened in the Nilgiris district, specifically in Utkai, leading to significant disappointment. Fans have said that big-budget movies are not being screened in their district, prompting them to travel to Coimbatore to catch these films. Fans received another surprising twist when Rohini Silver Screen, a theatre known for its strong fan base, announced that Leo would not be screened at their venue. People who eagerly arrived at the theatre for tickets were met with a sign that read, Leo film is not being screened. Rohini Theater, which has gained popularity over the years, has been a favourite location for fans, often hosting special screenings for teasers, trailers, and even songs. In another setback, the Tamil Nadu government has refused permission for the 7 AM screening of the Lokesh Kanagaraj-directed film. This decision followed a request from the films makers to the High Court for an early morning show. In response, the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to review the request for allowing five shows from 7 AM between October 19 and 24, instead of the originally proposed 9 AM start time. According to early estimates, Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial has collected more than Rs 36 crores on its second day, as reported by Sacnilk.com. On the first day of its release, the film had already earned an impressive Rs 64.80 crores in India. Leo is an action thriller that boasts an ensemble cast, including Arjun Sarja, Gautham Menon, Mysskin, and Priya Anand in significant roles. The script for the film was co-written by Rathna Kumar and Deeraj Vaidy alongside director Lokesh Kanagaraj. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music for the film, with cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa and editing by Philomin Raj. On the afternoon of October 21, enemy troops attacked Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region again. The invaders fired seven shells at the city from heavy artillery. ADVERTISIMENT The consequences of the attacks are still being clarified, but one person has been reported dead. This was stated by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak. "Another loss... The enemy attacked Nikopol with heavy artillery. They launched 7 shells at the city. A man was killed... There will never be forgiveness for the inglorious invaders!" Lysak wrote. Nikopol Mayor Oleksandr Saiuk confirmed the death of a local and expressed his condolences to the family of the innocent victim of the Russian occupiers. He added that experts are currently clarifying information about the consequences of another Russian shelling. He called on the city residents to report their needs to the city council. ADVERTISIMENT "If you need help, please contact our call center: 0566696061 (from 7:00 to 19:00), 0684952584 (from 7:00 to 19:00), or 0800504105 around the clock. Please do not ignore the air raid alert nd stay in shelters!" Saiuk wrote. The occupiers attacked Kryvyi Rih in the morning. Three missiles and a drone were recorded in the city. As a result of the attack, an industrial infrastructure facility was destroyed. The enemy shelling also caused a fire in the city. Rescuers quickly extinguished it. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured. ADVERTISIMENT In a revolutionary transformation of recruitment last year of PBOR (Personnel Below Officer Rank) whose long-term ramifications have not been explored the first batch of Agniveers reported last month to their units except Nepal-Domiciled Gorkhas (NDGs) whose recruitment Kathmandu has kept on hold. Without work to scale the former Gorkha Regimental Training Centres at Sabathu, Lucknow, Varanasi and Shillong have been kind of idle, though training of some surplus of other Infantry Training Centres and Indian Domiciled Gorkhas (IDGs) is being done. IDGs, who make up 40 per cent of the Gorkha Regiments quota, are not up to scratch despite some lowering of standards. Due to the absence of recruitment for the last three years, including the Covid period, shortfalls in Gorkha regiments are being masked; in some cases, Garhwalis and Kumaonis are replacing NDGs and there is a lookout for tribals and north-easterners to masquerade as Gorkhas. Other innovative methods are being considered to make up for deficiencies, the most defining being disbanding some of the 39 Gorkha Infantry Battalions, comprising some of the finest fighters in the world. Late in June, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who led the 10-year-long insurgency against King Gyanendra and who knows his military beans, informed a former Nepali Gorkha Junior Commissioned Officer that Nepal cannot accept Agniveer and will want reversion to the old recruitment system agreed in the tripartite Treaty of 1947 between Britain, India and Nepal. This appears to be the bottom line on Agniveer on the Nepali side. This is confirmed by the following: Before PM Dahals India visit in June this year, Foreign Minister Narayan Saud told BBC (Nepali Service) in Kathmandu that the Agniveer issue would not be raised as there is no consensus on it. On being asked by a Nepali journalist in New Delhi to confirm whether the matter was raised during his talks with PM Modi, Dahal replied vaguely and said he would give a full answer later upon returning to Nepal. He has not so far answered that question even after being asked once more. When asked again last month about Agniveer, Saud reiterated that a political consensus was being sought. A BBC report of 27 August, Agnipath Scheme: The Pain of Nepali Gorkhas over Indian Armys New Hiring Policy, explains that Nepal was neither consulted nor informed about it. Saud said that any change to the Tripartite Treaty should be implemented through consensus. Recruitment is on hold for now. Former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali from opposition CPN UML said: We are not going to accept a new plan. Prem Singh Basynet, a retired Nepali Army officer and historian, feared that Agniveers demobilised after four years of service could join an insurgency suggesting a domestic threat potential. A whispering campaign has started among Indian ex-servicemen in Nepal claiming that Maoists leading the government in power and Communists in opposition have long held foreign recruitment as inimical to the national interest. India has given them a reason now to implement their agenda. However, there are also a few Gorkha ex-servicemen who say something four years recruitment is better than no recruitment. Four years service plus Rs 18 lakh NPR severance pay are fine in times of unemployment. At least 77 ex-servicemen delegations consisting of the minority presented petitions on 30 July to each of the 77 Chief District Officers in the country urging the government to accept Agniveer, to which the government has not responded. Another delegation was planning to meet PM Dahal before he left for UNGA on 16 September urging the commencement of a dialogue with India on Agniveer to break the stalemate. India is being accused of making no effort to start a conversation or consult Nepal on Agniveer. This, many Gorkha ex-servicemen believe, maybe because India wants to gradually terminate the 1947 Tripartite Treaty. Many theories have been propounded on Indian nonchalance on recruitment of NDGs. Rahul Gandhi had attributed the Agniveer scheme to NSA Ajit Doval who in his previous avatar was deeply connected to Nepal and now as NSA is even more involved through various agencies. He has maintained silence on the NDG recruitment. Further, neither the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu nor the Foreign Ministry in Delhi has considered the issue fit for dialogue. The ball seems to be in Indias court as it changed the rules. Gorkha veterans, which include a former Army Chief and scores of three and two-star Generals, must act on NDGs. These senior officers must reach out and explain to PM Modi, who is the only person who can break the stalemate, that the Gorkha connect is not hiring of soldiers, as BBC called it, but a strategic bonding between peoples of two neighbouring countries with whom India has claimed special relations. We, as a nation, should not forget the blood and sacrifice of NDGs in defending Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ashok K Mehta is a retired Lt General of the Gorkha Regiment, Indian Army & Columnist. He writes and speaks extensively on defence and strategic affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. In a recent interaction with the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr 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 sixty-one 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 thirteenth 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 News18s views. Pakistan and India champion conflicting ideologies. The creation of Pakistan was based on the communal concept based on religion that Muslims and Hindus are two separate entities that cannot co-exist. It was formulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and eventually led to the break up of Bharat in August 1947. Political forces of a different kind on the other hand liberated Bharat. The Congress party that collectively led British India to its independence was predominantly influenced by the ideology of the left. The division of Pakistan and Bharat into a theocratic and a secular state continues to exist to this day. The projection of Pakistan from a liberal theocratic state towards a hard-line jihadi state and Bharats from a nationalised (socialist) state towards becoming a privatised liberal economy are but just examples of how nation states progressed under the aforementioned cultural dictates. The long list of grievances between the two neighbouring countries has created deep-rooted mistrust of each other. Only implementing vigorous diplomacy, reopening of trade routes and people-to-people cultural exchanges as a first step towards kick-starting a renewed phase of re-engagement could possibly lead to lasting peace between Bharat and Pakistan. For this to happen Pakistan must appreciate Bharats traditional sphere of influence in the region and beyond. It must also realise that the mistrust between the two countries comes from the hostility fuelled by Pakistan through past acts of aggression (1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999) as well as due to attempts to stir unrest in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by sending jihadi proxy terrorists from across the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan has a few choices when it comes to relations with Bharat. They all are related to the willingness or otherwise of the bilateral dispute between the two over the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. First is war. In case of war, the devastation in the region will be beyond anybodys expectation before Pakistan is beaten into total submission. If, and that is a big if, Pakistan becomes willing to take the less disastrous route, then it must demonstrate its readiness to engage with Bharat in initiating a cooling-off period. This readiness should be demonstrated by Pakistan with the opening up of crossing points that remain closed since August 2019. Secondly, Pakistan must withdraw all jihadi terrorists from its launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And, thirdly, Pakistan has to ensure that it has a stable political system. At present, Pakistan is preparing for the next general election due in January 2024. Many are of the view that 2024 will bring former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif back into power for a fourth time. Sharif is keen to establish peaceful relations with Bharat and negotiate trade deals. However, whether the Pakistan military generals will accept normalisation of relations with Bharat is another matter. A sustainable resolution to the longest territorial conflict in our history demands that Pakistan has a stable and sustainable government. To normalise relations with Bharat, Pakistan needs to re-evaluate its relations with China and the role it is expected to play in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. It will have to de-link itself from CPEC and consider joining the India-Middle East Economic Corridor, connecting the port of Gwadar with the ports in Gujarat and Mumbai. The normalisation of relations between Bharat and Pakistan also depends on the resolution of the false cultural antagonism it has encouraged over the past 77 years based on the two-nation theory. Pakistan will have to declare that Hindu is not the enemy of the Muslim and that it rejects the two-nation theory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in its totality. This does not mean Pakistan has to return its territory back to Bharat. All it means is that Pakistan needs a tectonic ideological shift that is in tune with todays neo-liberal world order. This will result in the government of Pakistan saving billions of dollars in arms spending and maintaining an army that is led by corrupt generals. Cheap goods influx into Pakistan will help the economy grow again. Bharat can also solve the electricity crisis in Pakistan by supplying power at affordable rates and Pakistan can focus on the development of its manufacturing sector for earning foreign exchange as well as developing its tourism industry to bring in even more foreign exchange into the country. The question is how willing is Pakistans ruling establishment to abandon anti-Hindu religious nationalism and how strong are the social, political and cultural forces in Pakistan and PoJK to instruct a revolution that would deem the military powerless? Realistically speaking, at the moment neither seems to be the case, but then in times of turmoil and revolution the consciousness of the people marches forward in leaps. The Pakistan military is rigorously consolidating its power and most importantly its reputation after the events of May 9 in which public fury following the arrest of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan resulted in violent attacks on military installations in both Punjab and the province of KPK. As for the population, they have not come up, yet, with a political and cultural narrative to decisively challenge the two-nation theory and the role of military in the affairs of the state. Therefore, we must look elsewhere. On October 5, PoJK observed a general strike in the occupied state. It was the second general strike in a month. On October 10, women and children from all over PoJK came out in protest. And on October 17, students from across the occupied territory braved heavy rain to take out protest marches against Pakistan and demanded independence and control of their natural resources. The only thing that in my view can now bring about a resolution to the Kashmir dispute is if from inside PoJK an angry public turns its anger into a full-scale rebellion against Pakistans occupation of PoJK. However, unless the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), which is leading the civil disobedience movement in PoJK, realises that it is a government-in-waiting, and calls for the resignation and the termination of the PoJK assembly and seat of power in Muzaffarabad and takes power into its own hands, I do not see a resolution to the Kashmir dispute in the foreseeable future. The coming into power of the JKJAAC with the demand that Pakistan withdraw its troops from PoJK will lead to the formation of a new government that could then sign a defence pact with the Republic of Bharat and give itself a lease of life and more importantly enough time to enter into a negotiated settlement with the Delhi Sarkar, leading to the reunification of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is for this reason that I have always put the main emphasis of our liberation struggle on winning the narrative war first. And that cannot even begin without first and foremost the unequivocal condemnation of the two-nation theory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah that led to the partition of British India in the first place. Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author, broadcaster and human rights activist from Mirpur in PoJK. He lives in the UK. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. In Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal, Durga Puja is not just an annual extravaganza, but has also traditionally been a political arena where most puja committees are affiliated to the ruling party. While the Communists, currently in Opposition, claim to be atheists, their domination of Durga Puja during the 34-year Left rule in the state was palpable. After Mamata Banerjees TMC swept to power in 2011, her party took the centre-stage. The demand for her to inaugurate pandals skyrocketed over the years to the extent that the CM started virtually inaugurating many pandals at one go. While the political dominance of the TMC continues, the BJP has, for the first time in a coordinated manner, started flexing its muscle in the political arena of Durga Puja. Not only did Amit Shah and JP Nadda land in the state for the single-largest annual festivities of Bengalis, but the BJP has also pressed a slew of top leaders and Chief Ministers into action. As many as four Union ministers from Bengal have been asked not to move an inch from the state till Bhashan, or immersion of Durga idols, BJP sources in Kolkata told News18. Puja and Politics One of Kolkatas most iconic pujas is the Santosh Mitra Square, which is Kolkata-based BJP leader Sajal Ghoshs Durga Puja. Situated in central Kolkatas Lebutala Park, this Durga Puja pandal is a huge crowd-puller. Last year, a huge Red Fort replica served as the centrepiece of the pandal, complete with a glittering laser show. It drew record crowds and Kolkata Police had to briefly halt the laser show to avoid a stampede-like situation. This time, this popular Durga Puja committee has made a life-size replica of Ayodhyas under-construction Ram Mandir. Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah visited Kolkata this week just to inaugurate the pandal. On Saturday, on the occasion of Mahasaptami (the seventh day of Durga Puja), BJP president JP Nadda will be in the state capital on a day-long visit where he is slated to visit multiple puja pandals in Kolkata and adjoining Howrah both districts where the BJP did not do well in the 2021 Assembly elections. After landing in Kolkata at 11am, Nadda is scheduled to head straight to a Durga Puja pandal at Howrah Ground. According to the BJP, Nadda will spend time with organizers and devotees at the festivities. At 1pm, he will visit the most iconic and heritage puja of Bengal Shobhabajar Rajbari in Kolkata, which started way back in 1757. This would be followed by a visit to the pandal in Kolkatas New Market area. Senior Leadership in Attendance Apart from the top brass, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has also been camping in Bengal to increase the saffron partys footprint in Bengals Durga Puja. On Friday, on the occasion of Shashti (the sixth day of Durga Puja), Pradhan visited five Durga Pujas, including the Bangiyo Samaj Durgotsav, which he inaugurated. This puja is taking place after the intervention of the Calcutta High Court and, hence, the BJP considers it as a victory. In between clicking photos and offering prayers, Pradhan said: Ma Durga is known for the victory of Dharm over Adharm. Today, under the leadership of PM Modi, India is on the way to progress. My prayers are for Bengal, too, to take part in that progress. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was also in Bengal and inaugurated pandals from Durgapur to Dubrajpur. Later, a photo of him praying to a Kali idol was circulated by the Bengal BJP. The Goa CM prayed for establishing the rule of law in Bengal in front of Ma Tara, said the caption. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) chief and BJP MP Tejaswi Surya was not far behind and took part in two Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata Santosh Mitra Square and Loknath Bhawan at Motilal Nehru Street. State Leaders On Daily Duty Meanwhile, state leaders like Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, MP Locket Chatterjee, and Dilip Ghosh, among others, have been pressed into daily action managed on an hourly basis by the party so they can attend as many Durga Puja celebrations as possible. On Friday, Ghosh visited as many as 12 Durga Pujas, from 10:30am till 8:30pm. On the same day, Adhikari inaugurated 13 Durga Puja pandals. He started the day with an inauguration at his home turf at 9am in Simul Bari area of East Medinipur and ended it at 10pm with another inauguration at Nandigram, his constituency. Locket Chatterjee, one of BJPs prominent woman leaders in the Lok Sabha, had it relatively easy with six inaugurations, mainly focussed around Bankura district that falls under the once-Maoist-dominated Jangal Mahal. Majumdar had to visit seven Durga Puja pandals on Saturday. Inaugurations are mostly complete. Now, they will have to visit pandals for Anjali (a form of prayer), Dhunuchi Nach(a quintessential dance with a burning coil inside an earthen pot), and Bhashan (the immersion procession on the 10th day). They have every hour accounted for. We have coordinators at the district level who will travel with each politician and every detail, including logistics, managed centrally from here in Kolkata, said a young BJP worker who is among the few entrusted with the job of central management. A BJP Bengal state secretary told News18 on condition of anonymity: We got 18 MPs from Bengal in 2019 and 77 MLAs in 2021. But never has the party been able to infiltrate the Durga Puja committees that have been closely guarded by the TMC so far. This time, it is refreshingly unusual. But it is already taking a toll on our leaders health. The BJP is clearly making a play for Bengals biggest annual festival this time. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered nine Shiv Sena ministers to hold a Janta Darbar at Shiv Sena Balasaheb Bhavan for five days a week to resolve the problems of the poor related to agriculture, any ministry or at the village or taluka-level. Apart from the orders, Shinde also issued a schedule for the ministers to sit in party office. While Dada Bhuse and Uday Samant will be available on Monday, Shambhuraj Desai and Sandipan Bhumre will fill in on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Deepak Kesarkar and Tanaji Sawant will be in office, followed by Abdul Sattar and Gulabrao Patil on Thursday and Sanjay Rathod on Friday. Speaking to the media, Sattar said: The chief minister has ordered nine ministers to help people who bring their problems whether they are workers, farm labourers, farmers, district heads, taluka heads, or people of any caste and religion. Late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackerays method was 80 per cent socialism and 20 per cent politics. Shinde has asked us to follow that method and work in the same manner. Just a few months ago, BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha who is also the guardian minister of Suburban Mumbai started siting in the BMC headquarters on some days to meet the public and solve their civic issues. In the last government, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had instructed all his ministers to conduct Janta Darbar at party headquarters. The aim is to go to people and try to solve their problems as many times, due to restrictions in the secretariat building, the common man is unable to meet ministers and explain the issues faced. Everyone aspires for a government job, given its assurance of a decent salary, security and post-retirement pension. Recently, a report claiming that the government of Iceland is offering money to men who marry their women has been making the rounds. But whats the real story? According to a viral post on the social media platform Quora, the Icelandic government supposedly gives $5,000 (around Rs 4.16 lakh) to men who marry their women due to a shortage of males in the country. Additionally, it has been stated that they would give preference to North African men. This piece of information has been widely shared on social media, leading many to believe it is fact. However, reports have clarified that it is nothing more than an online hoax. Subsequently, a fact-checking website called snopes.com debunked the widely circulated information. According to the website, numerous African websites published articles with this information in late June 2016. The Spirit Whispers was one of the first sites to publish this report, and many male readers took it seriously and were willing to consider the offer. The Reykjavik Grapevine, an Icelandic website, reported that over at least the past week, numerous Icelandic women on Facebook have attested to being practically spammed with friend requests from non-Icelandic men that they do not know. The website affirmed that the information was indeed a hoax. The Iceland Monitor, another website, cited a statement from the Foreign Ministry of Iceland, confirming that the information was entirely false, stating that any news items or rumours of this money-for-marriage deal are a hoax. Even the Danish embassy in Egypt found it necessary to officially dispel the rumours via their official social media account. Interestingly, the United Nations Information Division reported that Iceland does not have a shortage of men; in fact, they slightly outnumber the women in the country. The data indicates that over the past decade, men have constituted approximately 50 per cent of the countrys population. People in the UK were almost convinced of an alien invasion or a catastrophic doomsday event after part of the sky in the Thanet district of Kent, England eerily lit up at dawn. According to KentLive, the sky turned mysteriously pink between 5 AM and 6 AM on Thursday. It caused both awe and panic and those who let their imaginations flow thought that some supernatural or extraterrestrial forces were at work. Many pictures of the surprisingly pink sky are going viral on social media. One photo was taken outside Bethanys Sandwich Bar and Cafe in Westgate, and it shows the sky surprisingly pink. People made a lot of comments on the pink sky images viral on social media. One person wrote, Thought it was the end of the world, I was looking for the four horsemen. Another user commented, This is Zuul from Ghostbusters. Zuul is an extradimensional evil entity from the 1984 supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters. The reason for the sky turning pink was, however, not the work of any paranormal forces or doomsday prophecy but very much grounded in reality. The local Birchington-based business Thanet Earth was identified as the cause of the skys pink hue. It is a sizable factory for industrial agriculture and plants. With a total size of 220 hectares or 90 acres, it is the largest greenhouse complex in the UK. On the Isle of Thanet, this company is very significant. A Thanet Earth spokesperson explained that light reflections occur in certain weather conditions, particularly when the Thanet area is overcast. When the lights are turned on, we put blinds in our glasshouses to lessen the reflection of these lights. The emission levels of the pink LED lights we use at Thanet Earth are far lower than those of other grow lights. Low cloud cover caused a strange effect by reflecting lights on a big scale, he said. The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based nonprofit, has said that at least 22 journalists have been killed since the Hamas launched its massive assault on Israel on October 7. In a report released on Friday, the CPJ said that it is investigating all reports of journalists killed, injured, detained, or missing in the raging conflict, including those hurt as hostilities spread to neighboring Lebanon. As of October 20, at least 22 journalists were among the more than 4,000 dead on both sides since the war began on October 7, with hundreds killed in Tuesdays hospital blast in Gaza, it said. 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. Israel is to immediately step up its strikes in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas, a military spokesman told a press conference on Saturday. We have to enter the next phase of the war in the best conditions, not according to what anyone tells us. From today, we are increasing the strikes and minimising the danger, spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari told a press conference. His comments came hours after the first international aid to reach Gaza since October 7 crossed the border from Egypt into the besieged Palestinian territory. In Israel, military commanders visited frontline units on Saturday. Gaza is densely populated, the enemy is preparing a lot of things there but we are also preparing for them, chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told one infantry brigade on a visit. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers from across the country have congregated in Lahore to welcome chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on October 21 and be part of the partys grand power show ahead of the elections. Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to return to the country after four years on Saturday to lead his party in the next general elections and try and secure a record fourth term for himself. He is currently in Dubai and according to people familiar with the developments who spoke to News18, Sharif will land in Pakistan around Saturday midday and reach Lahore around 2:30pm to meet party officials and the mass that has gathered in the city to greet him. A separate report by Pakistan-based GeoNews said PML-(N) officials booked multiple special trains to ensure that its supporters are able to attend the Minar-e-Pakistan rally. Two trains will be leaving from Balochistan and one each will leave from Nasirabad and Quetta for Lahore. A large number of cadres led by the Karachi wing of the PML-(N) are already en-route. A separate report by the Dawn said the PML-(N) hired two aircraft to shower rose petals in Lahore upon his return. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that Sharif, who called his successor and PTI chief, Imran Khan, a ladla of the establishment, has now become the new ladla. Today, the one who was calling someone else [Imran Khan] ladla [favourite] has now become ladla. Nawaz Sharif, a proclaimed offender and a convict, has got permission to roam around in the countrybut let me tell you neither offering of motorbikes nor paradise pass will help them as the people have rejected him and his party, PTI leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi was quoted as saying by the Dawn. The trains were decorated with Nawaz Sharifs pictures and flags. Former Karachi governor Mohammad Zubair said Sharif will speak about the welfare of the people in his address and assure them that his party is building a people-centred agenda. Nawaz Sharif will not be reminded of his legal hurdles as soon as he lands because he was granted protective bail in two graft cases and his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case was also suspended by an accountability court. However, his protective bail in Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases will expire on October 24, 72 hours after his arrival. Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, explained why he visits the frontline. In his opinion, it raises the spirit of the soldiers. ADVERTISIMENT As for combat missions, Budanov said, the main criterion for their expediency is a positive result. The head of military intelligence spoke about this in the film by Dmytro Komarov "Year. Kharkiv region. Part 4". In a conversation with a journalist, Budanov confirmed that he had traveled to the front line more than once during the full-scale Russian invasion and participated in some combat operations. According to him, he does this to raise the spirit of Ukrainian soldiers. "Sometimes it (presence - Ed.) is necessary. We are all human beings. And sometimes everyone is scared. Sometimes I find ways to do it (to cheer up the fighters - Ed.)," the intelligence chief noted. Budanov called the question about the justification of the risks that something would happen to him and the intelligence service would be left without its head amid the war "rhetorical." ADVERTISIMENT "What came first: the egg or the chicken? It's something similar," he said, citing his own analogy to Komarov's question. According to Budanov, there is only one criterion for determining the expediency of his participation in combat operations: if positive results were achieved, everything was done right. The absence of such a result indicates that mistakes were made. "The winners are not judged. It is old wisdom, but it is true," the head of military intelligence added. Earlier, Budanov explained why the enemy failed to deploy sabotage and reconnaissance groups at the beginning of the war. The Russians were prevented from realizing their plan by "tough methods" implemented by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the first hours of the full-scale invasion. The intelligence chief refused to specify what exactly he meant by "tough methods". ADVERTISIMENT "These are tough methods, I don't want to say anything here. But they worked. They prevented the activities of any real sabotage groups. Yes, sometimes people who were not involved were caught. Eventually, they were returned to normal life for a while. But this made it impossible for all sabotage elements to operate," Budanov said. Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday vowed to establish good relations with India and said that Islamabad wants to resolve the Kashmir issue with grace. The 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo addressed his first rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore this evening soon after he returned to the country ending the four years of self-imposed exile in the UK. We want an independent and comprehensive foreign policy. We want to deal world with grace and equality. We want to make Pakistan an economic power by establishing friendly relations with neighbouring states. Pakistan cant be developed by fighting or clashing with others. I believe in development not in revenge, Sharif said. If Pakistan had not separated from East Pakistan (Bangladesh), there would be an economic corridor passing through India. We want to establish better ties with neighbours and the world for the development of Pakistan. For the sake of Pakistan, all political entities and institutions (Army and judiciary) have to follow the constitution in true sprit, he said. #BreakingNews: Mega News18 #Exclusive Big statement by former #Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, vows to build 'good ties' with India Also says, "Pakistan wants to resolve Kashmir issue." @siddhantvm shares more details Exclusive input by @manojkumargupta | @ridhimb pic.twitter.com/xaYURRtLiV News18 (@CNNnews18) October 21, 2023 During the rally, Sharif was seen emotional as he described how he faced the news of his mother and wifes deaths during his imprisonment. In an almost emotionally choked voice, he said he had lost his mother and wife to politics and recalled how he couldnt pay the final respects to either his mother, father or wife. His wife died in 2018 at the age of 70 in London while both Sharif and daughter Maryam were serving jail terms in Pakistan in corruption cases. Earlier in the afternoon, Sharif, who had spent the last four years in London, reached Islamabad from Dubai. After completing legal formalities in connection with his bail, he headed for Lahore, PML-Ns bastion in Punjab province. Nozima Husainova, a 25-year-old female employee of Citi banking group, was fired from her role after she praised Hitler and the Holocaust in a hateful anti-Semitic following the terrorist group Hamass attack on Israel. The City University of New York Brooklyn College graduate who was a personal banker with the major banking firm made the remark on her Instagram account earlier this week. No wonder why Hitler wanted to get rid of all of them. Nozima HusainovaUnbridled antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/GFdEMMdrI6 StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 18, 2023 She deleted her post but was fired by the bank on Thursday. Husainova commented on a post about the Gaza hospital bombing that Israel denied. Over 200 people have died in the Ahli Arab hospital bomb blast in Gaza City. No wonder why Hitler wanted to get rid of them all, Husainova commented, with a smiley face emoji. Her comment received backlash from many social media users and attracted Citis attention when those users tagged the bank in their messages. We terminated the employment of the person who made the revolting antisemitic comment on social media. We condemn antisemitism and all hate speech and do not tolerate it in our bank, a Citi spokesperson said. Update: We terminated the employment of the person who posted the revolting antisemitic comment on social media. We condemn antisemitism and all hate speech and do not tolerate it in our bank. Citi (@Citi) October 19, 2023 A finance graduate, Husainova, studied for five years at the college in New Yorks Bedford Avenue. She also deleted her LinkedIn profile but it suggested that she was working for two years at the Wall Street bank whose parent company Citigroup has 240,000 employees globally. Taking sides in the 2023 Israel-Palestine conflict has come with a cost. Student groups in Harvard and Oxford universities took out statements blaming Israel for the attack. This has resulted in halting of funds and several CEOs saying that students who blamed Israel for the Hamas terror attack that killed 1,400 people will not be hired. A top firm withdrew job offers last week for three students who blamed Israel for the Hamas terrorist attacks. The firm, Davis Polk, cancelled employment offers for students who led groups at Harvard and Columbia universities that released statements accusing Israel. The views in some of the statements signed by law school student groups recently go against our firms value system, the firm said in a statement. The firm did not name the students but highlighted that the student leaders who signed these statements are not welcome in our firm. Davis Polks managing partner and chair Neil Barr said it did not want to hire supporters of Hamas actions in Israel. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif landed in Pakistans Islamabad airport on Saturday, ending his four-year long political exile. His so-called Umeed-e-Pakistan flight landed in Islamabad airport on Saturday afternoon and scores of PML-N workers were present to greet their leader who is expected to lead the party in the upcoming elections and could even become the prime minister of the crisis-ridden nation for the fourth time, Pakistan-based news outlet GeoTV said. Former finance minister Ishaq Dar was present with party cadres to welcome Nawaz. We are competent enough to solve the countrys problems. The situation in Pakistan is very disturbing and that is very worrying, Nawaz Sharif said before boarding his flight from Dubai. The former prime minister, who is a proclaimed offender in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Toshakhana cases, received protective bail in the first two cases and was granted relief in the third case. Today is probably the biggest day of my life. The pains and sufferings that Nawaz Sharif has endured in the last 24 years are hardly comparable, and there are some wounds that will never heal. Pakistan is going to see another rise of Nawaz Sharif today, God willing! Welcome Nawaz Sharif! senior PML-N leader and the daughter of Nawaz Sharif said in a post on social media site X (formerly Twitter). His brother and former Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed him in a X post. My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or group. He is coming back to put Pakistan back on track, his younger brother said. 24 Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 21, 2023 The former prime minister, who is a proclaimed offender in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Toshakhana cases, received protective bail in the first two cases and was granted relief in the third case. One of the most prominent cases is the Panama Papers scandal in 2016, which revealed that his family owned luxury apartments in London through offshore companies. My leader Nawaz Sharif will be among you today, InshaAllah. He is coming back to unite this nation, not to divide it further. He is coming back to spread love among his people, not hatred. He is coming back to help you become a productive citizen, not ammunition for any party or pic.twitter.com/AaaKoupYxw Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 21, 2023 However, this has not dampened the mood within the PML-N camp. PML-N cadres from all over the country have congregated in Lahore and Islamabad. Those in Islamabad will soon move to Lahore where Nawaz Sharif will lead a rally in Minar-e-Pakistan on Saturday evening. Several special trains were booked to facilitate the travel of the cadres and two aircraft were hired to shower rose and flower petals on the cadres and their leader. Nawaz Sharif was chosen prime minister thrice but was ousted in 2017 and handed a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted for not declaring a receivable salary. Sharif is also expected to make announcements related to his political future and the PML-N electoral aspirations for the upcoming general elections in crisis-hit Pakistan. Only the Election Commission can make a better decision regarding the elections. What the Election Commission thinks is right is my preference on the elections, Sharif said. The terrorist group Hamas released two Americans on Friday out of some 200 hostages they abducted during the brutal October 7 attacks in Israel, news agency AFP reported. The terrorist group indicated that it could release more hostages in the future. The Israeli government confirmed that Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan returned to Israel late Friday night. US President Joe Biden spoke to both the women by phone and said he was overjoyed at the news. No details are available on their physical or health condition. 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. Hamas said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its civilian hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow, the report by AFP said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had helped transport the freed Americans to Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross 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. Judith and Natalie, mother and daughter and American-Israelis, were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz kibbutz near the Israel-Gaza border on October 7. They were reportedly on holiday in Israel at the time. An Israeli official met them at the Gaza border and took them to a military base in central Israel. (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons, Hamas said after releasing the duo. The Ranaan family, who launched an international campaign to press for efforts to bring them out of Gaza like the other hostages, thanked the community around the world for helping secure the duos release. Meanwhile, Hamas said that they plan to close the civilian (hostage) file and have discussed how to implement this with mediators. (We are) working with all mediators to implement the movements decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow, Hamas said. Israel says 203 people Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners were abducted by Hamas gunmen when they launched the deadliest attacks in Israels 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. Israel has also come under fire due to the hostage issue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under relentless pressure to secure the release. His office said the government would use any means available to locate all those missing and bring home all the kidnapped. Turkey will take part in peace talks next week to discuss ways to end the Ukraine conflict, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, after speaking with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Mediterranean island of Malta announced Friday it would host a round of Ukraine peace talks on October 28-29, after similar meetings in Jeddah and Copenhagen earlier this year. We discussed the next round of the Peace Formula talks in Malta, Zelensky said after a call with Erdogan. Turkey will participate, adding its authoritative voice and stance, Zelensky said. Russia is not expected to take part in the talks, which Zelensky hopes will rally support for his own peace plan. Similar talks were held in Copenhagen in June and in the Saudi city of Jeddah in August. Representatives from around 40 countries including China, India, the United States and Ukraine took part in the Saudi summit, which did not result in a final declaration. Both Russia and Ukraine are preparing for a gruelling winter ahead, with Ukraine warning of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia trying to suppress a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Turkey has offered itself as a mediator between the two warring parties, helping to broker a deal in July last year that allowed safe grain exports via the Black Sea. Turkey has since been in talks with both sides about reviving the deal, which collapsed after Russia pulled out less than a year later. The United States on Saturday welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from Egypt in the war-torn Gaza Strip, and urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, according to a statement. AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance, Blinken said. Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamass horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts. The opening of the supply route came after days of intense negotiations and an agreement reached by US President Joe Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during Bidens visit to Israel earlier this week. Saturdays was the first such delivery since the war broke out two weeks ago between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant movement which rules the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people. On October 7, Hamas militants stormed into Israel from Gaza 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. Since then, more than 4,100 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received harsh criticism from a section of Torontos Muslim community when he visited a mosque over his response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The interactions went viral on social media sites where a section of the crowd is seen booing the Canadian Prime Minister for backing Israel. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU WAS RIDICULED IN A MOSQUE FOR DEFENDING ISRAEL'S WAR CRIMES pic.twitter.com/mkaENVdIzo Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) October 21, 2023 A separate report by the Toronto Sun said that Trudeau visited a mosque on Friday in the Etobicoke area of Toronto. His office later confirmed that the Canadian leader visited the International Muslims Organization of Toronto to extend support for those affected in the Muslim community by the events in West Asia. Several social media users posted the video on X (formerly Twitter) where some people are heard chanting shame on you and urging an organiser to not let Trudeau speak at the podium. The Canadian Prime Minister addresses those gathered and thanks them for allowing him to pray alongside them. In the video, a separate set of protesters are also seen outside the mosque urging Trudeau to advocate for a ceasefire in the conflict as he was departing. Everyone is hurt and hurting; everyone is grieving; everyone is scared of what this means, Trudeau was quoted as saying by Canadian news outlets during his visit to Brampton, Ontario when asked how his party will respond to the developments in West Asia. Canadian news outlet The Toronto Sun said that Trudeau is facing pressure from Toronto-area Liberal MP Salma Zahid the chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group who has called for an immediate ceasefire, help facilitate the opening of a humanitarian corridor and stand up for international law. Her petition has gained the support of 23 backbench Liberal MPs, eight NDP MPs, and both Green Party MPs. International law is clear that innocent civilians and all those not taking part in the fighting must on no account be attacked and must be spared and protected, the letter said. The Western world is divided on how to respond to the war between Israel and Hamas which has led to widespread loss of lives on both sides following a brutal terrorist attack led by the terrorist group. The aggressor country Russia has invented a new way to recruit manpower for the war against Ukraine. Thus, the invaders offered bank debtors in the temporarily occupied Crimea to sign up for a contract with the Russian army. ADVERTISIMENT In particular, this phenomenon was recorded in Sevastopol. This was reported by the Information Resistance project on Telegram. "Pay with blood: the occupiers offer Sevastopol debtors to join the Russian army. This is the Russian world," the message said. People who have accumulated substantial debts to the bank that they are apparently unable to repay are lured into contract service. Debtors who are subject to enforcement proceedings and may face criminal liability receive leaflets with relevant offers. They are literally offered to pay off their debts by risking their lives in the war against Ukraine. In return, the occupiers offer federal and regional payments, as well as financial assistance to repay the debt. ADVERTISIMENT This recruitment, however, does not look voluntary. "You have to come to an information meeting. You will be provided with all necessary explanations," the leaflet reads. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia has announced the need to involve foreigners who have received a Russian passport in the "SMO". In case of refusal, it is proposed to deprive them of Russian citizenship. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A BULAWAYO fuel station was on Thursday dragged to court for selling contaminated diesel. Meizon Petroleum represented by Rangarirai Levison, pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined US$300 by magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa. According to court papers, on September 19, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority engineers visited the Meizon Petroleum fuel station to verify whether its fuel met set standards. A sample was taken from the diesel pump and tested in the laboratory with the results revealing that the fuel was contaminated. We did not know that we sold contaminated diesel fuel. The company is small, it does not have any of the machines for testing fuel before purchasing it and in Zimbabwe there are no retailers selling these testing machines, Levison told the court. Standard The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas' bloody rampage two weeks ago. Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking dirty water, per the AP . Hospitals say they're 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 as Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel. The opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Biden and UN 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. Egypt's state-owned Al Qahera News, which is close to security agencies, said just 20 trucks had crossed into Gaza on Saturday, out of more than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid that have been positioned near the crossing for days. Hundreds of foreign passport-holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict. The UN said lifesaving supplies would be delivered to the Palestine Red Crescent medical service. But Cindy McCain, the head of the UN's World Food Program, said the aid was insufficient. "The situation is catastrophic in Gaza," she said. "We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid." The Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy "will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe," calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said, "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control." He noted that the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory. 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 wasn't immediately clear if there was any connection between the two. story continues below The World Health Organization said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah on Saturday were carrying medical supplies, including medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases for 1,500 people, essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people, and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders. The World Food Program said it has another 930 metric tons of emergency food waiting to be brought in through Rafah. It said it needs to replenish its "rapidly diminishing supplies" as it expands food assistance from 520,000 people to 1.1 million in the next two months. Much more here. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.) Representatives of the Israeli and American authorities are discussing the possibility of establishing an interim government in the Gaza Strip. Such a body could be created with the support of the United Nations. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, this initiative will require support from the Arab countries of the region. This was reported by Bloomberg. The likelihood of establishing an interim government in the Gaza Strip depends on further developments, in particular on the success of the Israeli ground operation in Palestine. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that they do not intend to occupy the Gaza Strip, but they have also stated that the continuation of Hamas rule is unacceptable after the October 7 terrorist attack. The United States is concerned about what might happen in Gaza after the overthrow of the Hamas terrorist group. U.S. officials believe that Israel has not sufficiently thought through the scenario after the completion of the ground operation against terrorists. The United States also believes that the attack in Gaza, in addition to the expulsion of Hamas, could escalate into a larger regional conflict. ADVERTISIMENT In the two weeks following the Hamas attack, US President Joe Biden's team tried to balance support for Israel with concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. According to preliminary reports, the United States and its allies sought to slow down the timing of the IDF ground operation to buy time for more people to leave the Gaza Strip. In addition, U.S. officials tried to secure secret negotiations mediated by Qatar to free hostages held by Hamas. According to William Asher, a former senior Middle East analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, it will be incredibly difficult to create an interim government in the Gaza Strip, and it will be even more difficult to get Arab governments to agree. At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that his country does not intend to govern the territory of Gaza after the end of military operations. He added that Israel seeks to separate itself from Gaza and create a "new security reality" in the region. ADVERTISIMENT According to the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip deserve a leadership that will allow them to live in peace and security. At the same time, he did not go into details about the future government in the Gaza Strip. "I cannot say today what exactly it will look like in the future. But this is the right question to ask now as it is happening live. We have to think in the long term," the Biden adviser said. As a reminder, the United States and several European governments are pushing Israel to refrain from a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The international community made demands after the release of two hostages in Gaza. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu categorically denies negotiations on the possibility of returning control of the Gaza Strip to Palestine. As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to updated data, 24 Ukrainians were killed in Israel as a result of an attack by Hamas militants, and three more went missing. The number of foreign victims of the attack is the biggest among Ukrainians and Americans. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Justin Amash, a former US House member from Michigan, has posted that several of his relatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. Amash, who was the first Palestinian American in Congress, said they had sought shelter at a Greek Orthodox church when the complex was hit late Thursday, the Hill reports. "The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much," Amash wrote on X. "Our family is hurting badly." Church officials and witnesses said the strike caused a building to collapse, killing at least 17 Palestinians. Israeli military officials said that they had intended to strike a nearby Hamas command center and that the destruction at the church complex was unintended, per the Wall Street Journal. Emirates Parkings, a specialist in providing reservation yards management services, has signed a partnership agreement with RAK Police General Headquarters and General Resources Authority to manage and operate Ras Al Khaimah Impoundment Yard. Under this agreement, Emirates Parkings will oversee and operate the vehicle parking yard within Ras Al Khaimah, offering services related to the removal and transportation of all deserted, abandoned, and violating vehicles within the emirate. The signing ceremony was hosted at the headquarters of Ras Al Khaimah Police, which was attended by top officials including Major General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police, Maysoon Mohammad Al Dhahab, Acting Director General of General Resources Authority, and Abdulla Matar Almannaei, Chairman of Emirates Parkings. On the deal, Major General Al Nuaimi said this reflects RAK Polices commitment to bolstering collaboration with various local governmental and private entities. "Our collaboration aims to cultivate an outstanding partnership focused on managing and improving the transport of abandoned or violating vehicles in the emirate. Such efforts not only serve the community's best interests but also contribute to enhancing the emirate's aesthetic and civilized image," he stated. He further lauded the exemplary strategic partnership with "Emirates Parkings" and acknowledged their profound expertise and advanced capabilities in the realm of vehicle transport services. Al Dhahab highlighted that this agreement comes in line with the Authority's strategic objectives of bolstering the private sector within Ras Al Khaimah, not only to promote service levels but also to tap into the abundant investment and economic prospects available for further growth and prosperity. "We are committed to playing a crucial role in effectively driving economic growth in the emirate," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Israeli army carried out several air strikes against missile complexes of the Lebanese organization Hezbollah in response to rocket and anti-tank missile launches towards Israel. The targets included military installations and infrastructure used by Hezbollah for its operational and terrorist activities. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the official Telegram channel of the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF fired at rocket launchers located along the border and aimed at Israel. "Over the past few hours, in response to rocket launches and anti-tank missiles fired by Israel, IDF aircraft have struck Hezbollah terrorist targets," the IDF said in a statement. As a reminder, US President Joe Biden has commented on the wars in Ukraine and Israel. He noted that the United States will continue to support both countries facing aggression. In addition, the US President noted that "Putin and Hamas have a lot in common". As reported by OBOZ.UA, the situation in the north of Israel is getting worse. The militants of the Hezbollah terrorist group continue to strike Israeli territory, wounding three residents of the city of Qiryat Shemona on October 19. In response, on the night of October 20, the Israeli army launched a series of attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure, including observation posts. ADVERTISIMENT Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has condemned the armed robbery attacks on some commercial banks in Otukpo town. It was reported that the bloodthirsty gunmen invaded at least four banks in the town and carted away an unspecified amount. The robbers, during the operation which lasted for hours, gunned down no fewer than six customers and four policemen. Our correspondent gathered that many people were seriously injured. Reacting, Alia in a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula described the robbery incident as an affront on the state. The Governor disclosed that the attacks were carried out at the exact time the Security Council meeting was in progress at the Government House, Makurdi. Alia sympathized with the families of those who were gruesomely murdered by the robbers during the robbery. He said, It is an unfortunate development that people who were on duty, especially police officers, were shot and killed in cold blood by those mindless robbers. But they cannot get away with this. Already, security agencies are on their trail and must apprehend and bring them to justice. He called on the people of the State to be vigilant and always endeavour to report suspicious movements around them all the time. Benjamin Best Nnanyereugo, the gambler better known as Killaboi, who was declared wanted by the Nigerian police for allegedly killing his girlfriend, has been arrested in Sierra Leone. Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos state police spokesperson, confirmed Killabois arrest on Saturday. Nnanyereugo was said to have been apprehended at a nightclub on Friday in Freetown. The Lagos state police command declared Killaboi wanted on October 10 for the death of Augusta Osedion. This was after Nnanyereugo confessed to the murder of his 21-year-old lover. Osedion was allegedly murdered on July 13 in Killabois home at Oral Estate in the Ajah area of the state. On July 17, the gambler said he mistakenly stabbed her to death during an argument and never intended to kill Osedion. What is life now I want to turn myself in Im not a bad person I swear Im not a bad person But with what has happened I think I deserve nothing but death I will gladly die, by hanging, by shooting, whichever way fate has for me, he had said. Im willing I cant live with this guilt knowing the girl I loved so much died in my own hands oh Gooooooood why this What do I do now I deserve death, I want to die. Hundeyin earlier revealed that the police had been unable to apprehend the gambler through other means, so they had to issue the public declaration. He also urged the public to contact the police if they have any information about Killabois whereabouts. German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken about the mass deportation of people from Germany. According to him, everyone who has no right to stay in the country should leave. ADVERTISIMENT The German Chancellor made this statement in an interview with Der Spiegel after returning from Israel. He explained that this does not apply to people who came to Germany as laborers, as well as those seeking asylum due to political persecution. "Anyone who does not belong to any of these groups cannot stay. That is why we are limiting illegal migration to Germany. Too many people are coming," the politician explained. According to him, the flow of people to the country can be reduced by a set of measures, one of which is quite radical. "We must finally deport those who have no right to stay in Germany en masse," the chancellor said. Scholz emphasized that to speed up this process, it is necessary to streamline and digitalize the work of government agencies. "We need to deport people more often and faster," he said. ADVERTISIMENT Scholz raised this topic in the context of a question about attacks on Jews in Germany, which have recently become more frequent. The journalist noted that many people with Arab roots are among those in Germany who harbor hatred for Israel. Scholz emphasized that the authorities have been closely monitoring such manifestations in society for a long time, but it is time to act more radically. As a reminder, an air raid alarm caught German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his flight from Israel at Ben Gurion Airport. He had to lie down with his delegation. At the time, Hamas militants were attacking Tel Aviv with rockets and there were no shelters nearby. It happened right on the runway for safety reasons. Scholz was then taken to a shelter. However, he still managed to see two air defense explosions. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - Scholz condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements about the situation in Israel. He was outraged and said that "there is nothing more cynical" than the statements of the Kremlin dictator, who condemned Israel and supported Hamas. - On October 20, Zelensky had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The President thanked the head of the German government for the support that Germany provided to Ukraine. Former Senate President Senator Adolphus Wabara will likely face a disciplinary committee to be set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State to explain some statements credited to him recently by the media. This is according to the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary of Abia PDP, Abraham Amah, who said the committee will be inaugurated after the partys State Working Committee (SWC) meeting. Amah, who made this known in Umuahia during a live programme on Flo 94.9 FM, said that Wabara, presently the acting chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), must use the occasion to apologise to the party for making statements that could bring collateral damage to the reputation of PDP. The PDP Vice Chairman, who said that the former Senate President was at liberty to make personal statements on governance in the state and the country at large, however, said that such expression should not bring damage to the party. In a few days time, the State Working Committee is meeting; in that meeting, we are setting up a disciplinary committee. He has to face the disciplinary committee, Amah vowed. He further avowed that Wabara could only be forgiven by the party if he apologised to the disciplinary committee for his alleged unguarded utterances. According to him, the claim by the former Senate President that he was misquoted by the media was not acceptable to the Abia PDP until he appeared before the disciplinary committee to explain himself and offer the necessary apologies. Abia PDP recently issued a statement in which it disowned the former Senate Presidents alleged endorsement of Governor Alex Otti for a second term in office. On the Abia State governments recent directive that the Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umuchieze, Umunnochi LGA, should operate as a daily market, Abraham Amah commended Governor Alex Otti for taking the step. He, however, added that the past PDP administration of Okezie Ikpeazu should also be acknowledged for bringing up the daily market template. He also advised Governor Alex Otti to conduct local government elections in the 17 LGAs, rather than appointing mayors for the councils, as rumoured in the media. German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has hailed the arrival of trucks carrying humanitarian aid in the besieged Gaza Strip on Saturday, marking the first delivery of relief goods since the start of the war. It is good and important news that the first humanitarian aid is now being delivered to the people in Gaza, Scholz said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that Germany would work through all channels to alleviate the suffering in this conflict. The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, was in Egypt Saturday to participate in a Summit for Peace organised by the Egyptian president. She said in a post on X Saturday that the civilian population of Gaza lacks everything and called for expanded deliveries. These first aid deliveries in Gaza are a sign of hope in these difficult times, Baerbock posted. Germany said Thursday that it was going to give 50 million euros in additional aid for civilians in Gaza, on the first stage of Baerbocks mini-tour of the Middle East. Activist and convener of Concerned Nigerians group, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to use part of the N6.5billion election money contributed for him during the 2023 elections to assist ailing veteran Nollywood actor, John Ikechukwu Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu. He also called on President Bola Tinubu to reach out to the Nollywood actor and help him out of his present predicament. Mr Ibu had on Wednesday publicly solicited support from Nigerians, saying that he risked amputation of his legs over an undisclosed ailment, which had made him bedridden for weeks. However, in a video message afterwards on Wednesday, Deji Adeyanju appealed to President Tinubu, Peter Obi and other Nigerians to contribute any amount in order to save the life of the comic actor. Hello everyone, this is an appeal to every Nigerian to kindly help Mr Ibu, who is currently sick. It does not matter how much you can contribute. Let us help him. I also want to appeal to President Tinubu to kindly reach out to him and his family and help him and also to Peter Obi, who was aggressively supported during the last election to kindly support him. Its not when something bad happens that people would start showing that Oh Mr Ibu was a good man. This is the time to really help Mr. Ibu. I hear that theres about N6.5bn in the Labour Party presidential confers from the contributions we made in the last election. This is the time to use such money. Also, we can use from the EndSARS money, which is about $500,000 USD for good causes like this. God bless everyone. Amen, Adeyanju said. Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how the former President Olusegun Obasanjo missed out the opportunity to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Gambari stated this at the public presentation of the biography of the first African UN Secretary-General, the late Boutros Boutros-Ghal. The late Boutros-Ghal assumed office in 1991 but served only one term till 1996. According to Gambari, Obasanjos military background disqualified him from being selected by the countries with veto power. Speaking on the event that led to the choice of the late Boutros-Ghali as the US Secretary General in 1991, Gambari said some envoy told him, Your candidate (Olusegun Obasanjo) has no chance in hell of becoming secretary. The former Chief of Staff said, I asked: What do you mean? He is the most qualified former head of state, handed over power voluntarily to civilians, and was head of the group that led to the process of the end of apartheid. He said No. Listen carefully, when we, the big ones, are looking for a Sec Gen, the emphasis is on the secretary and not on the general. A very profound statement. The thing was that the veto ruling power wanted somebody they could dictate to, not a general, who would be giving them orders. Sometimes they think they are getting a secretary but they end up getting a general. Ghali, who they thought would be a secretary turned out to be a general and Koffi Annan, who they thought was a secretary turned out to be a general. When you turn out to be different from what the big powers want, they do something about it. Boutros-Ghali was not given a second term, and Koffi Annan was nearly forced to retire over frivolous charges. Gambari noted that apart from being the first UN Secretary-General from the African continent, Boutros-Ghali was also the first Post-Cold War Secretary General but encountered difficulty organising a security council meeting that had all the heads of states as delegates. He said, He hardly had a meeting of the security council where the chief delegates were the heads of states of those member states. Gambari described the 1994 Rwanda genocide as the low point of Boutros-Ghalis career. He said, It was under his watch that the UN failed to respond adequately and to prevent genocide and when it was happening, the big powers also did nothing. He added that Boutros-Ghali acted as a peace-making prophet in terms of being the de-facto foreign minister of Egypt during the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel between 1977 and 1981. In a bid to woo Obidients ahead of the 11 November governorship election, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State says Obidient Movement is a patriot crusade for good leadership in Nigeria. Mr Uzodinma stated this on Sunday when some youths under the aegis of Imo Obidients Youths endorsed him in Owerri for the election in the state. Obidient Movement is a patriot movement. Obidient Movement is not about any political party. Obidient Movement is about good leadership. Obidient Movement is about the future and interest of Nigeria, Mr Uzodinma told the youths. Obidients is a popular name for supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election. The term Obidients was coined from the surname of the LP presidential candidate, Obi. Obidients Movement is often used to describe the activities of the group, which have been critical of President Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Joining hands with Obidients Governor Uzodinma, a member of the APC, is seeking reelection. The governor, who uploaded a video clip of the endorsement on his Facebook page, told the youths that he would like to identify with them wholly and entirely. I assure you that I will join hands with you in driving home the realisation of your aspiration to bring an Imo State that will recognise the youth population; An Imo State that will have a clear-cut direction; An Imo State that will have a development plan. The strength of Imo youths becomes the strength of Imo State, he said. Leader of the youths, Mandela Emeka, told the governor that the youths had resolved to vote for him in the election because they found him worthy to lead the state better than other candidates taking part in the exercise. It is not clear, for now, if the youths are members of the LP, which is fielding Athan Achonu as its governorship candidate in the election. Theyre only strong on social media Mr Uzodinma, in July 2022, ahead of the 2023 general elections, had mocked the LP supporters otherwise known as Obidients by describing them as a party that was only strong on social media. This opposition that is only strong on social media with no political structure on the ground, you are listening to them? the governor said during a meeting with APC members in the state. Jigawa state governor Malam Umar Namadi has said his heart trembles whenever the state is mentioned as one of the poverty-stricken states in the country. The governor stated this on Wednesday at the official flag-off ceremony of the 1,500 Youth Empowerment Program, in Dutse, the state capital. He said to make a significant investment in the youth of Jigawa State, each of the 1,500 program beneficiaries was provided with N50,000 in capital. Namadi explained that the capital injection is aimed at employing young individuals to embark on entrepreneurial journeys and create sustainable economic opportunities for themselves and their communities. He reiterated the governments commitment to take the state to the next level through job creation to boost the socio-economic situation of the states residents. Whenever I hear my state (Jigawa) is mentioned among the states with high poverty rates my heart is trembling, he said. Namadi further explained that his administration is committed to boosting the socio-economic development of the state through the introduction of various programs and policies by the Jigawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment and Employment. I have also taken the opportunity to launch a website for registering our youth and the kind of jobs they want to do, this includes business, trade, public service, and any other legal means of livelihood to give equal opportunity to all citizens irrespective of party or society difference, he added. Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, says Nigeria needs a new constitution to address the ongoing deterioration of the situation in the country. Anyaoku spoke on Friday while delivering the 2023 convocation lecture at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. The convocation lecture was titled: Management of diversity: A major challenge to governance in pluralistic countries. Anyaoku said Nigerias diversity was managed properly during the early years of the countrys independence. He added that the military coup of 1966 destroyed the unity of the country. Anyaoku said there were no inter-regional tensions before the 1966 military coup, noting that there was security and economic development in the regions. But all this changed when the military intervened in the countrys governance in January 1966 and changed the existing constitution, he said. Under the constitution of fewer and more viable federating new units that we had before the military intervention, there was security in the country and a faster pace of economic development in the region. He averred that the current situation of the country is lamentable because there is an unprecedented level of divisiveness. In contrast, today, if truth be told, the situation in our country is lamentable. There is an unprecedented level of divisiveness and a declining sense of national unity, Anyaoku said. The economy is in the doldrums, with 133 million of our population in multidimensional poverty. There is great insecurity throughout the land as we hear every day of killings and kidnappings by unknown gunmen and marauding bandits. All our infrastructure, including power supply, roads, and educational and health facilities, are in a poor state. Added to all this, there is a complete bastardisation of our societys ethical values and an unfathomable level of corruption evident in the often reported massive looting and mismanagement of the countrys resources, including the continuing unbridled theft of our crude oil. A NEED FOR NEW CONSTITUTION Anyaoku said Nigeria requires a new constitution that would be developed by Nigerians to achieve the needed transformation. The crux of my submission in this lecture is that considering the history of Nigeria over the last 63 years, to arrest the ongoing deterioration of the situation in the country and to achieve the desired transformation for the better. We need a system of government that not only addresses our diversity but is also based on a constitution that can correctly be described as a Nigerian peoples constitution. Accordingly, I call on the presidency, in consultation with the national assembly, instead of continuing to tinker with the 1999 constitution, to acknowledge the urgent necessity of a new constitution to be made by the people of Nigeria. He asked President Bola Tinubu to convene a national constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution. Anyaoku added that the provisions of the 1963 and 1999 constitutions, as well as the recommendations of the 2014 national conference, should be considered. The Engr. Chidi Ibeh-led faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called for the arrest and prosecution of popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi over his recent outburst on Christians in Nigeria. Gumi was quoted as saying it was dangerous to entrust Nigerias national security in the hands of Christians and southerners. He made the remark while condemning the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office and planning to collaborate with Israel over security issues in Abuja. Gumi said the minister plans to make Abuja an extension of Tel Aviv. He also said bearded Muslims in Abuja would be tagged Osama Bin Ladin and killed. In a statement by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Saturday, Ohanaeze described the outburst as a dangerous declaration of religious war against Christians. According to him, We categorically denounce this divisive rhetoric, as it undermines the principles of religious freedom and inclusivity that our great nation stands for. Nigeria is a multicultural society where every citizen, regardless of religious affiliations, deserves equal rights and opportunities. Isiguzoro applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Wike, a Christian and ex-Rivers State Governor, as Minister of the FCT. Their collaboration represents the unity and progress that Nigeria needs to overcome its challenges and build a prosperous future for all her citizens, he asserted. While re-echoing the call on relevant authorities to take immediate action against Gumi, Isiguzoro insisted that the cleric must be arrested and made to face treasonable charges as his statement poses a grave threat to national security and social cohesion. President Bola Tinubu on Friday said that the restoration of the country to its rightful place in the community of nations requires sacrifice from citizens, including religious and other leaders. According to Tinubus spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the President disclosed this in an audience with a delegation of South-West Muslim faithful, led by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, in Abuja, on Friday. Tinubu noted that the current challenges facing the entire nation were only temporary, assuring Nigerians that better days were in the offing. We have to believe in one country; we have to believe in Nigeria. We will do our best, and our economy will get better for the benefit of Nigerians. I am very sure of that, and we are putting in the work to ensure that, the President said. He noted that the policies and programmes of his administration were aimed at achieving a fairer, better and honest society where hard work would be rewarded and laziness would reap little. It is about our future. We must guarantee our future. Almighty Allah will not give us a burden that we cannot bear. He has put us here for a purpose. It may look complex, even rough, but it will get better. We avoided it (removing petroleum subsidy) for 40 years. We are all going through the pain now, but for Nigeria not to collapse, we had to remove the fuel subsidy. In the history of successful nations, there is nothing more vital than the leadership of a nation making difficult decisions at the right time and for the right reasons. There would have been no money for the sub-nationals, the President said. An aide of Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Mr Ossy Onuko, who was reported to have ordered his thugs to brutalize a commercial driver for overtaking his convoy has apologized. This is coming as the transport company, GUO Transport, has threatened to sue the official. Onuko in a press release denied that he was in a convoy, but stated that the commercial driver drove dangerously, and his personal security aides tried to correct him, but he remained recalcitrant. I have been inundated with calls and messages from well-meaning friends, colleagues and ndi Anambra over a video clip that has gone viral on social media regarding an altercation between a GUO driver and myself, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority. I take full responsibility for all that, and I also apologise to the young man, his company GUO, and my friends and well-wishers who have been embarrassed by my association with such an act. He stated that: I was driving in the company of two civil defence officers seated in the back seat of my Toyota Hilux vehicle, there was no convoy. Meanwhile, transport giant, GUO, whose driver was assaulted, has threatened to sue Onuko. GUO in a press statement said its driver was beaten with cutlass by political thugs on the order of Onuko. It further stated that her passengers were traumatized as they watched the helpless driver being pummelled. We assure all concerned citizens that we will seek legal redress, to ensure that such acts of inhumane treatment of citizens do not keep occurring. We have also seen the statement from the press secretary of the Anambra State Government. We are surprised that they would want to defend the atrocious act meted out to our driver today. They justified this atrocious action of theirs by contending that it was our drivers recklessness that led to his being beaten with a machete and terribly brutalized. The false narrative they put out without speaking to our driver or the passengers in the vehicle that witnessed the whole incident speaks volumes. We call on the Executive Governor of Anambra State to condemn the conduct of his officials and constitute a panel of inquiry into this incident to curtail the excesses of his officials and avoid a repeat of a similar incident which could possibly have led to loss of lives and chaos in the State. The IDF spokesman confirmed the release of two American hostages kidnapped by Hamas. At the same time, he accused the terrorist group of showing off as it continues to hold about 200 more prisoners. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Israeli English-language online newspaper The Times of Israel. The publication quotes the words of IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who said during a press conference in Tel Aviv. Hagari confirmed that Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie were released by Hamas and are under the protection of Israeli troops. At the same time, he pointed out that the terrorist group is holding another 200 hostages, including women and children. "Hamas is presenting itself to the world at this time as someone who releases hostages for humanitarian reasons. But in reality, we are talking about a terrorist group of murderers who are currently holding babies, children, women, and the elderly captive," Hagari said. According to him, the IDF continues its efforts to return the hostages to Israel. ADVERTISIMENT Hagari added that the IDF continues to prepare for "the next stages of the fighting," which will include a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip. "The fighting is likely to continue for many more weeks," he said. As reported by OBOZ.UA: Israel evacuates a city of 20 thousand people near the border with Lebanon. The IDF continues to prepare for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, but the Lebanese group Hezbollah has joined the Palestinian militants Hamas as reinforcements. Ukraine continues to evacuate its citizens from Israel after the Hamas attack. The day before, on October 19, a fourth evacuation flight took off from Israel, bringing another 79 Ukrainian citizens to Romania. However, 24 Ukrainians were killed and three others went missing as a result of the Hamas attack. Citizens of Ukraine and the United States are among the victims of the attack. ADVERTISIMENT The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has called on the people of Obolo nation cutting across nine Local Government Areas in the Niger Delta region, to continue to support the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Ogbuku who made the call when he paid a visit to the leadership of the Supreme Council of the Obolo Traditional Rulers, led by the Chairman, King Oruk (XVII) Okaan Ama of Ataba Kingdom, at his residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reassured the people of Obolo Nation of the Commissions commitment to impact the communities in the NDDC mandate state. The Managing Director told the leadership of the Obolo people and its affiliate bodies not to feel marginalised as he unfolded the programmes lined up in the strategic plan of the Commission for the benefit of the people of the region. Members of the Supreme Council of the Obolo traditional rulers and the elders who were present during the visit, were unanimous in their decision to support and collaborate with the management of the Commission, led by Dr Ogbuku. Speaking on speaking on behalf of the group, King Oruk ( XVII), commended the NDDC Managing Director for completing existing solar power projects and awarding new one in Andoni Local Government Area and other adjoining communities. The meeting which was held at the instance of the Obolo leaders had in attendance representatives of the traditional institutions from Oron, Okobo, Mbo, Urue Offong-Oruko and Udung Uko LGAs all in Oro Nation. Elders and traditional rulers from Estern Obolo, Andoni, Tombia, Ohafia and representativ of youths, women leaders and Ida Obolo Assembly were also in attendance. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured criminal elements in the country that they will be eliminated if they fail to lay down their arms. General Lagbaja on Friday made the warning at the graduation of 654 battle-ready troops of Exercise Restore Hope V, at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kachia, Kaduna State. According to the COAS, the Army will sustain the trajectory of training young soldiers to enhance their combat proficiency. He explained that the essence of the training was to make the troops better equipped to confront the security challenges in any part of the country. He said the Nigerian Army would produce highly skilled and competent manpower for operational engagements in all theatres with focused, adaptive, and effective training. The training, Exercise Restore Hope V, is to adapt personnel who freshly passed out of Depot Nigerian Army to the challenges posed by the ever-changing nature of threats within Nigerias security environment. He enjoined them to justify the huge investment in them by stamping out the security challenges in their various areas of deployment across the country. He reminded them of the need to synergize with sister security agencies for effective service delivery. The exercise, Exercise Restore Hope is an advanced infantry cum special forces training designed to further enhance the capability of young soldiers. President Bola Tinubu has directed Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), to construct five roads in each of Abuja's six area councils. Wike spoke on Wednesday while receiving Philip Aduda and Zakari Angulu, former FCT legislators, during a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday. The minister said the roads are slated for completion before May 29, 2024. Wike said the road construction is geared towards decentralising and deepening development from the city centre into rural communities across the area councils. "President Bola Tinubu has directed that at least five-kilometre roads must be constructed in each of the six Area Councils before May 29," the FCTA magazine quotes Wike as saying. "This is part of his Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure that people in rural communities were not left out in the development efforts of the current administration." He added that the FCT was pulled out of the treasury single account (TSA) to encourage development in the capital city, with "the goal to rebuild the lost hope among residents of the FCT". Aduda said the visit was to congratulate Wike on his appointment as minister of the FCT and commend him for the good work he was doing. He added that the visit was also to thank Tinubu for appointing a son of the soil, Zephania Jisalo, as the minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs. Aduda pledged full support to the development of the FCT for the interest of all. "We are also here to commend you for the bold step in establishing the Civil Service Commission for FCT, removing FCT from TSA and establishing of Women Affairs Secretariat to address women's concerns," Aduda said. Ibrahim Garba, commissioner for reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement in Borno state, is dead. Garba was said to have died on Friday night in his residence at 777 housing estate in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state. Isa Gusau, spokesperson of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, said his principal received the news of Garbas death with intense shock and profound grief. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum received the news with intense shock and profound grief, Gusau said. The Governor mourns alongside the late commissioners family, other loved ones, friends, associates, and members of the state executive council. Late Engr Ibrahim Idriss Garba was the Governors Special Adviser on Special Projects before he was elevated and appointed commissioner of RRR, at the commencement of Zulums ongoing second term. May Allah forgive the commissioners shortcomings and admit him into Aljanna. Garbas death comes weeks after he was invloved in a car accident in the governors convoy on their way to the southern part of the state for a tour. Venus and Jupiter Play It Cool Venus and Jupiter are engaged in an earth sign trine with the potential to bring luxuries to hand, but only to open palms -- no grabbing! Patience is a virtue. Its also the vehicle and the route. Do not take detours. Do not speed. The cool never rush, but they get to the destination faster than anyone, because when youre cool, the destination is wherever you are. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In less-than-ideal situations, you actively search for the benefits, opportunities and fun. Youll be giving respect before youre receiving it, but you dont mind. Ultimately, what you pay attention to will love you back. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). What doesnt work out now could be fruitful later. Do what feels right and natural, and dont try and push the action along -- it wont yield to your influence anyway. Sit back, relax and watch everything develop in its own time. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Procrastination only makes life more stressful. Good time management is a kindness you provide yourself to avoid the pressures that will set in in the final hours of a deadline. Start now. You wont be sorry. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are situations you landed in accidentally, but you stay for your own reasons. Youre getting better at identifying them. The stronger your internal world, the less you need validation from the external one. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You know a precious moment when youre in it and youll stick with it, bringing your attention back again and again. Because of this, you cant help but get it right. Relax and remain aware, and everything good will flow to and from you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Youve done everything you could to make your play, and now its the other persons turn. Tom Petty sang, The waiting is the hardest part... But it can also be an exciting time that shows you a vivid picture of your hopes. ARIES (March 21-April 19). There will be competition for your attention. It helps your status when the one you want sees you being wanted by others. Let things play out naturally. Relationships will be calibrated today. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You are never too young, too old or too broke to make a difference in someones life. Start with you. Whatever your state, youll be inspired to improve it. All it takes is one move. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Question 71 in the Love Oracle of the famous French fortuneteller Madam Le Marchand read, What is my principal fault? Youll boldly ask the same today with a desire to correct, teach and attune yourself to receive more of the good stuff. CANCER (June 22-July 22). If youre useful all the time, youll only get used. To keep yourself from being used up, be sure to do lots of things that are useless to anyone, including yourself. Take breaks, vacations and lazy days. When is the next one? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People whose work you admire will have worthy advice and they will not be the only ones trying to advise you. It will be more information than is smart to process. Rule out the advice of anyone whos not in an enviable situation. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Love doesnt often spool out in idealized scenes under a rain of flower petals. And while you wouldnt call your life a romance, you still revel in the sweetly romantic moments when they happen. This weekend, your heart is a blossom. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (Oct. 21). Youll grow in power this year. Youll enjoy a strong current of love and support, be encouraged to dive into your passions and amass an impressive body of knowledge, which youll then teach and share for money. More highlights: stellar family news, glamorous events and down-to-earth friends who help you in practical ways. Leo and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 44, 1, 6 and 33. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Libra is a sign known to excel in diplomatic relations and politics as well as the world of art and design, and Kim Kardashian is flexing both strengths these days. In a recent article in Rolling Stone magazine, she made a plea to President Joe Biden to help stop another Armenian Genocide. Kardashian was born on the cusp of Libra and Scorpio and has planets in both influences. Her Sun, Saturn and Pluto are in Venus-ruled Libra, highlighting style and diplomacy. Mercury and Uranus in sensual Scorpio add the sizzle and mystery. Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM Willa Cofield soothed her 5-year-old daughter Tanya after a peaceful silence in the early morning hours was shattered by an explosion of red and orange outside their window. The intense glow came from the flames of a burning cross on her front lawn. The couple had become a target for the Klan. Reed Johnson had dared to run for city council, and his wife, then Willa Cofield Johnson, was teaching young Black people how to register to vote in their hometown of Enfield, North Carolina. But the Klans display didnt deter her. For more than 70 years, Cofield, now 95, has fought for civil rights in North Carolina and New Jersey. She has organized, taught and inspired her students. Her activism led to legislative change and everything that she learned was used as leverage to uplift her community. By the time she arrived in New Jersey in the 1970s, she had come to understand that no matter what she did, her mission to fight for equality would be reflected in the DNA of her work. Dr. Cofield is an inspiration to everybody, said Steven Hatcher who works in the engineering department at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. She has done so much considering her being like 100 pounds soaking wet. She has carried us on her shoulders. In the early 2000s Hatcher headed up the Plainfield branch of the Peoples Organization for Progress (POP). In 2008, a battle was afoot to keep the 130-year-old Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center operating in the Plainfield neighborhood where both Hatcher and Cofield lived. Hundreds of people were showing up to protest, Hatcher said. Plainfield had never seen anything like that since the Plainfield rebellion in 1967. Once again, Cofield joined the fight to help her community. Dr. Cofield went to the state capital in Trenton and spoke on behalf of POP about keeping Muhlenberg open, Hatcher said. She did phenomenal work even though they shut down the hospital. Ive been blessed to get a chance to know her. Willa Cofield Johnson was an English teacher at the all-Black Thomas S. Inborden High School in Enfield, NC. She led her students on a voter registration drive and lost her job as a result. In New Jersey, Cofield taught in the Department of Community Development at the former Livingston College where she drew upon her earlier work in the low-income Housing Development Corporation in North Carolina. At the same time, she attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick and earned a Ph.D. in Urban Planning in 1977. She says she was the only Black female to earn her doctorate in the state that year. Her dissertation explored the first term of Kenneth A. Gibson, Newarks first Black mayor. Still striving for equity in her community, Cofield sought jobs that would balance the scales between white and Black people. Eventually, she was hired by the Office of Equal Educational Opportunity, which coordinated affirmative action plans and oversaw officers in every district. In 1983, she co-founded the Black Womens History Conference as a part of her work in the New Jersey Department of Education with Dr. Shirley Cathie. Cofield and Cathie created and produced conferences, seminars and cultural programs that featured notable speakers like celebrated poet Sonia Sanchez; writer Paula Giddings; psychiatrist and Harvard Medical School dean, Alvin Poussaint; historian and author John Henrik Clarke and former Essence magazine editor Susan Taylor. In the mid-1980s, the duo received a grant to create a curriculum that focused on the lives of African Americans for elementary school students. They were enthusiastic but the curriculum was never implemented in the schools. In the summer of 1989, Cofield found support in a group called SEED Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity. SEED trains new leaders to facilitate seminars in their own communities, organizations and institutions. These seminars work toward social justice, wholeness, wellness and a just relationship with others. So instead of having consultants and outside people come in, you have teachers train each other, Cofield said. I loved it, and I would go back every summer. Dont miss an issue of our Mosaic newsletter! Get it delivered each Tuesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." Dr. Cofields early days as an educator Her work in New Jersey had roots in Cofields previous work as a teacher in the South. Dr. Mildred Bobbitt Sexton, now an educator, was a student of Cofields 63 years ago. Cofield taught her English at the high school built for Black students, a flat brick building with a central corridor, six classrooms and no architectural distinction. The school for white students had a gym, auditorium and outdoor swimming pool. Sextons experience with Cofield, then known as Mrs. Johnson, was special and made a lasting impression on her. She was an excellent English teacher who planned memorable experiences, Sexton said. I joined Delta Sigma Theta sorority because she introduced me to the sorority as an 11th-grade participant in the Miss Jabberwock competition. Cofield took her classes on field trips to Hampton University, one of the oldest historically Black universities in the nation, where she earned her degree when it was called the Hampton Institute. She also took her students on tours of Colonial Williamsburg, just one-half hour from the Hampton campus. The students may have been from a small town, but Cofield made sure they knew there were opportunities for them in higher education after high school. Under her leadership, we boycotted white businesses, walked picket lines and assisted in voter registration, Sexton said. A voter registration campaign leads to legislation At the beginning of the May 1964 registration drive, only 1,600 of the 32,000 Black people in Halifax County were voters; after the Halifax County Voters Movements three-week registration campaign, that figure more than doubled, to 3,600. County registrars initiated a slow-down effort on May 2, but a federal court issued an injunction forcing registrars to follow specific rules to ensure that Blacks could exercise their right to vote. One of the most severe forms of retaliation occurred early in her career when she lost her teaching position, said Cynthia Samuelson who is also a former student of Cofields. Samuelson said that was the white establishments way of firing her because she was an active organizer. She says the traits she saw in her English teacher inspired her. She remembers her as petite and soft-spoken but also as a courageous and determined civil rights activist who was not intimidated by anyone or any situation. With the help of the National Education Association, Cofield sued the Halifax County School Board and the State of North Carolina Johnson v. Branch (1966.) After three years of appeals, the final ruling on her suit established a precedent that helped other Black teachers who were routinely fired for participating in civil rights activities. Cofields victory would mean protection for them. After her job ended in Enfield, Cofield went on a trip sponsored by Urban American in 1967 to Stockholm, Sweden and several other European cities to tour new town developments with a group of architects and housing planners. This interest in housing for low-income people led Cofield to get a degree in urban planning. Dr. Cofield co-produces the Nine Oclock Whistle In 1990, after many years as a small group leader with SEED, Cofield retired. The new SEED leadership honored her work with a grant to produce a documentary. From this initial gift, and with the help of Scribe Video Center, she and her cousin Karen Riley co-produced The Nine Oclock Whistle, about the 1960s struggle for civil rights in Enfield. Cousin Willa is one of the most remarkable people I know, said Karen Riley who took the journey with Dr. Cofield as a first-time producer on the documentary. The documentary was their first film project, so they took classes in editing for the film. For the film, Cofield would draw on her experiences in her hometown of Enfield. She recalled that every Saturday night a whistle blew as a signal to the Black residents to clear the downtown streets she lived in a sundown town. Black folks could work and navigate towns freely during the day but could not partake in town activities after dark. The oppressive practice helped to maintain white supremacy. On one Saturday evening, three days after the Aug. 28, 1963, March on Washington, hundreds of Black people lined the downtown streets of Enfield. All day, members of the Enfield Movement had been picketing the stores. Over 100 children, men and women were arrested. The jail was overflowing. As evening approached, the panicking town authorities called for state police and vigilantes. The freedom songs became louder and the crowd grew larger, she said. The police and protestors faced off on the streets. Then, around 6 p.m., they blew the whistle but no one left. That resulted in a confrontation between the police, firemen [in their fire trucks to intimidate people] and the community. There were lots of arrests and injuries. That incident stood out in her mind as an example of the kind of racism that blighted the lives of Enfields Black citizens, and it was her impetus to produce the documentary, The Nine OClock Whistle. Dr. Willa Cofield is 95 years old and an active member of the People's Organization for Progress. "She has provided us with eyewitness accounts of the struggle for civil rights in the South," said Lawrence Hamm founder and chairman of POP. "She has given us tremendous insight into those struggles, particularly from the perspective of a grassroots organizer. Still busy at 95 Now 95, Cofield says it has been disappointing that while some things have changed, others have not but adds that young people may be much better off than we think. They may see things more clearly for our eyes get dimmer with the passage of time. The University Press of Mississippi is publishing The Nine Oclock Whistle written by Cofield and her former students Cynthia Samuelson and Dr. Mildred Bobbitt Sexton, with contributions from several others who have since passed. It is scheduled for a spring 2024 release. Weve always struggled and tried to make things better, she said. Whatever we can do to create change, we do those things. Ande Richards wants to hear from New Jerseys communities of color, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ communities, and those who feel underserved by traditional media. She may be reached at arichards@njadvancemedia.com. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom. When Tina Cyran bought her Newark house in 2016, the lone speed hump in the middle of her block on South 11th Street was not a concern. After all, research had long established that speed humps, as opposed to narrower speed bumps, can slow traffic and improve safety by giving drivers a noticeable jolt reminding them of the possible presence of pedestrians. The wider humps are more forgiving to cars and drivers when traversed at the posted speed limit. But Cyran and her neighbors say several incidents on the block over the past two years and the nightly screeching of metal on pavement have made them suspect the hump may be doing more harm than good and certain that its failing to curb speeding. I understand why its here because people have been hit by speeding cars, said Cyran, 49, a supervisor at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office in Manhattan, who lives in her two-family home with her daughter and a tenant. But the reality is it does not do what its supposed to do and people still speed. Cyran said the first incident was a crash in November 2021, in which a vehicle smashed into her parked 2005 Ford Focus, totaling it. It was an old car, so I didnt cry too much, she said. But she was convinced that the driver was speeding and that the hump was a factor in the crash, after hearing the screech of brakes immediately followed by the sound of metal on pavement as the cars undercarriage struck the hump. By then, it was an all too familiar sound, though this time louder than usual. The same thing happened again this past summer when a Jeep SUV that went over the hump smashed into her 2022 Honda HR-V then went up in flames. I feel like the unluckiest person in Newark, Cyran said of her repeat experience. I have trouble sleeping now. Its at a point that I want to sell my house. A police report of the Aug. 19 incident quotes the driver as saying he was cut off by another car that had pulled out of a parking space, forcing him to swerve into Cyrans Honda and other vehicles. The drivers account doesnt mention the hump, but Cyran believes it was a factor. I heard the errrrrrrr before he hit the speed hump, said Cyran, imitating the sound of screeching brakes. Whether or not there was another car. And you can see where he hit the first car. It was right after the speed hump. The hump near Cyrans house has a yellow reflective Speed Hump warning sign on the curb next to it, with the 20 mph speed limit posted below it. A similar sign stands about 50 yards up the block ahead of the hump, though without the speed limit. Last month, there was a third crash, though this time Cyrans vehicle wasnt damaged. Since the second incident, she parks up the street from the hump. She and her neighbors suspect that speeding was once again involved. This has become an unlucky block, she said. After the August crash, Cyran said she began to complain to the city, leaving messages with an aide to Mayor Ras J. Baraka asking that something be done, suggesting a traffic light at the entrance to the block or adding more humps, a strategy endorsed by traffic experts. But so far, Cyran said shes gotten no response. Ive made multiple calls, Ive begged and Ive pleaded, said Cyran, who spent eight years in the Army Reserve. Ive played the property taxpayer card, Ive played the veterans card. All they do is take my name. Susan Garofalo, a Baraka spokesperson, said city traffic engineers had visited the block and would review accident reports in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety to determine whether it was a speeding enforcement matter or new or enhanced traffic control measures were in order. Often, Garofalo said, in cases like this, one resident of the block will submit a petition requesting a speed hump or other measure. If the city determines that something is needed, it tries to reach a consensus with the community on where a device will be located. There is a procedure to be followed in order to install traffic humps, Garofalo said. This is usually started by the community via petition. The humps on Cyrans block and others on South 11th Street were installed in December 2011 though Garofalo could not provide a reason for their installation. One longtime resident of South 11th Street, Dre Stone, recalled that a little boy had been struck and killed by a car in the area not long before. Garofalo said the humps are among 182 throughout the city, installed for $6,000 to $8,000 each under New Jersey Department of Transportation guidelines. Traffic safety devices are largely standardized nationwide. New Jersey requires that humps conform to specifications dictated by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways published by the Federal Highway Administration. Research suggests that speed humps are most effective when used in a series, one after the other, which physically discourages drivers from reaching excessive speeds. But the hump on Cyrans block, like those on other blocks of South 11th Street, sits alone in the middle of the long block, with several hundred feet of level pavement before and after it. Residents say those conditions allow drivers to accelerate up to the speed hump and then brake just ahead of it, though often not enough to avoid scraping their undercarriage. A rough gouge in the peak of the hump is evidence of repeated scrapes. The gouges in this speed hump on South 11th Street in Newark are evidence of the repeated noisy scrapes by car undercarriages that residents say have kept them awake at night.Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com The cars roll straight through, to be honest, said Troy Leake, 47, a truck driver who lives a few doors down from Cryan. In the evening, you get all the performance cars, race cars, all the stolen cars, everything comes through here. You can use other blocks, but theyve got a lot of lights and stuff. This one dont have a light, so they use this one, he said. Jorge Carvalho, the owner of National Plumbing and Heating across the street from Cyrans house, said the speed hump has slowed cars and trucks moving past his business. The bump, for me, is good, Carvalho said of the hump, though he acknowledged he isnt on the block at night. Rubber speed humps are a quieter, more forgiving alternative to asphalt, and the scraping noise thats kept Cyran up at night would not be an issue with them, said Amy Jendruczek, a traffic safety specialist with Tree Top Products, a Florida firm that makes rubber humps. Richard M. Balgowan, a New Jersey traffic safety consultant with RM Balgowan Forensic & Engineering Services in Hamilton, said speed humps are not the only traffic calming measures available. However, they are one of the most effective, particularly when used in groups. Judging from the neighbors complaints and the recent accidents on the block, Balgowan said it sounded like a traffic safety assessment of the block was merited. He said other calming measures include curb bump-outs at intersections or mid-block pinch points to narrow traffic lanes and slow drivers down. Flashing speed indicators let drivers know how fast theyre going. Cities can reduce speed limits, Balgowan said, and adding multiple speed humps could also help. You can control everybodys driving habits if you use the right kind of control, Balgowan said. 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 Palestinian flags and umbrellas joined in the air at Journal Square Plaza Friday evening as families, organizers and multiple elected leaders rallied in pouring rain for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to American funding for the warfare. Chants of Free, free Palestine and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free filled the plaza for at least an hour as commuters returned from Manhattan, with the crowd only growing as the rain strengthened. A police officer in Morris County who complained to state officials three years ago about the departments communication systems not working properly has been repeatedly passed over for promotions, according to a lawsuit filed last month. Patrolman Gregory Albert, of the Rockaway Township Police Department, states in court papers he filed a signed complaint with the Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health Agency in May 2020 about the broken radio systems. The portable radios and car radios did not work properly, creating a safety issue when officers were required to communicate with each other and headquarters about criminal activity and backup by other officers in dangerous emergent situations, states the suit, filed Sept. 26 in Superior Court of Morris County. Albert, a police officer in the township since July 2015, says in the lawsuit that his complaint compelled Rockaway Township to conduct an internal audit, which resulted in the township spending significant funds to repair the portable and car radio system(s). Albert has also faced retaliation for his involvement with the police union, the suit says. Cited as an example of retaliation in the suit, Albert was written up and retrained for not having his siren on while assisting another police department as a secondary unit during a vehicle pursuit. Not having a siren on in such a situation is not a significant violation of the rules and regulations or (standard operating procedures) since the primary vehicle in the pursuit had its siren on, and plaintiff had his lights on, the suit says. Plaintiff should have been lauded for his proactive policing in this situation, but instead he was punished, the suit alleges. In October 2021, Albert was the subject of an internal affairs investigation after an allegation surfaced that he had been at a restaurant at the beginning of his shift on a day he called out sick. Civil service regulations recommend a four-day suspension for such a violation, but the township sought to double the punishment to eight days, the suit states. An administrative hearing on the issue is pending, the suit states. The lawsuit claims town officials repeatedly refused to promote Albert to sergeant or honor his requests for transfer to the detective bureau. Plaintiff engaged in the constitutionally protected conduct as a citizen, not as an employee, the lawsuit says, adding that his complaints involved matters of public concern. Paula J. Cozzarelli, the current business administrator, declined to comment Thursday, citing the ongoing litigation. The lawsuit alleges lost income due to the townships refusal to promote him to higher paying positions. The suit alleges violations of the officers civil rights under New Jersey law, retaliatory promotional bypass, and asks for a six-member jury trial. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The Passaic County Prosecutors Office announced Friday afternoon that an arrest had been made in the fatal hit-and-run from Oct. 15 in Woodland Park. Abdullah Parker, 57, of Woodland Park, was arrested and charged Friday in the death of Lillian Zamlout, 31, also of Woodland Park who was struck in the area of McBride Avenue and Hughes Place. Parker was charged with first and second-degree death by auto, third degree endangering an injured victim and second degree leaving the scene of an accident. He remains in custody awaiting a pre-trial detention hearing. At about 7:35 p.m. on Oct. 15 police responded to the area for a hit and run. Police were told that a black Honda Odyssey had struck someone walking on the sidewalk and then drove off. Zamlout was transported to St. Josephs Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead, officials said. If convicted, Parker faces 10-20 years in prison for the first degree death-by-auto charge and another 5-10 years for second degree charge. He could also face another 5-10 year prison sentence for second-degree leaving the scene of accident and another 3-5 years for endangering an injured victim. The Passaic County Prosecutors Office did not immediately respond to an email Friday night asking for more details on the investigation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco can be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com A Teaneck man has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after an early Saturday morning accident on Teaneck Road near Bilton Street that killed two people. Teddy Mejia, 32, was arrested and charged by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office in the deaths of two male passengers after he hit a tree and overturned his vehicle at approximately 2:08 a.m. Saturday. Police did not release the victims names, pending notification of their families. According to a press release from the prosecutors office, Mejia was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was treated for injuries associated with the accident. During Mejias arrest, he was allegedly found to have a suspected controlled substance on him. Mejia is charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide while driving intoxicated. He is also charged with third-degree possession of a controlled substance and received several motor vehicle summonses related to the accident. Once discharged from the hospital, Mejia will be transported to the Bergen County Jail for processing as well as an initial hearing. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco can be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A Dover man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for the July death of Rene Rivera Hernandez, 47, also of Dover, the Morris County Prosecutors Office announced Friday. Wilfredo Cabrera-Masariegos, 34, was initially charged with manslaughter and weapons offenses when he was arrested in July. He pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter on September 6. Cabrera must serve at least 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act. In the early morning hours of July 26, Dover police were dispatched to the railroad tracks near West Clinton Street for a report of a deceased man. Autopsy results concluded that the man died from blunt force trauma with the manner of death determined to be homicide. The victim was known to be homeless at the time of his death, and police determined that Hernandez and Cabrera-Masariegos had been hanging out together under the overpass on the train tracks the night before. Police determined that Cabrera-Masariegos had hit the victim in the head with a rock and fled the scene. Since his arrest, Cabrera-Masariegos has been held at the Morris County jail. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco can be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A shooting Friday about one mile from Rowan University left one man dead and another injured, officials confirmed Saturday. Glassboro Police Department reported that there was an ongoing investigation on the 100 block of South Academy Street on Friday afternoon around 2 p.m. and a heavy police presence would be in the area. Two unidentified men were shot during the incident. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, Gloucester County officials said. Authorities arrested and charged a Cumberland County man Thursday in connection to a mass shooting at a birthday party in 2021, prosecutors said. Arthur Armstead, 30, of Fairfield, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder related to the deaths of Kevin Elliott and Brailyn Holmes, officials said. Armstead is also charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted person, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office. A second man has been sentenced in the 2020 killing of Javon Cutler in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Friday night. Leyron Jones, 26, of Toms River, was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison after a jury convicted him of murder in August. Jones will serve an additional 10 years to run consecutively for attempted murder of a second victim. Daivon Sullivan was Jones co-defendant in the case and was previously sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with the same shooting. Sullivan will also serve an additional 10 years for attempted murder of a third victim. The shooting took place near the Toms River Apartments on Main Street around 8:15 p.m. on October 11, 2020. Cutler, of Bayville, along with two friends attempted to leave the apartment complex when shots rang out and he was struck in the head while in the back seat of the car, authorities have said. The driver rushed Cutler to Community Medical Center, and he was later transferred to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he was pronounced dead three days later, prosecutors said. Both Jones and Sullivan must serve at least 85% of their sentence under the No Early Release Act and will serve an additional 42 months of parole ineligibility as a result of weapons charges associated with the shooting. Through a joint investigation involving the Toms River Police department and county agencies, a third conspirator was identified, Shadrach Correa, who authorities alleged worked in concert with Cutler and Sullivan during the attack. Correa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on April 24 and was arrested on separate charges soon after the 2020 shooting. All three men are incarcerated at the Ocean County Jail. A sentencing date in Correas case has not been scheduled yet. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco can be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican serving as a senior advisor to Chris Christies presidential campaign, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with editorial page editor Tom Moran. Q. President Biden, in Tel Aviv, offered unqualified and emotional support for Israel, while cautioning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to overreact, as he said the United States did after September 11. NY Times columnist Bret Stephens, normally a critic, called it his finest moment. What do you think? Mike: President Biden deserves credit on how hes handled Israel. Unlike too many in academia and his own party, Biden has been unequivocal in the condemnation of the brutal Hamas terrorist attack and unwavering in his support for Israel. America and the world were unified in the days after September 11th. Thats not the case now as the world is on the precipice of disaster, with two major armed conflicts separated by one country (Turkey) and two relatively small bodies of water. So far, Biden has handled this well, but we are at the beginning of this conflict, not the end. Biden has nailed the rhetorical side of this since day 1 https://t.co/tHHGqOE9H8 Tim Miller (@Timodc) October 18, 2023 Julie: I cannot recall another American president who has done for Israel what Joe Biden did this week. Biden flew into a war zone, comforted the afflicted, attempted to broker relief for the civilian population in Gaza and unequivocally stated the United States priorities. But I fear that between the Middle East and Ukraine, the world in on the cusp of a seismic conflict. There are too many parallels to the 1930s and I am genuinely frightened of where this may all lead us. "For its moral clarity, emotional force and political directness [Biden's speech] deserves a place in any anthology of great American rhetoric." Bret Stephens, a frequent Biden critic, on "President Bidens Finest Hour."https://t.co/5l99m8YoV9 Peter Wehner (@Peter_Wehner) October 17, 2023 Q. What about the suffering of the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza? Nearly half of them are homeless, the entire strip lacks water, fuel and electricity, and its overwhelmed hospitals are now forced to do operations without anesthesia in some cases. How long can this go on before rage in the Arab world explodes, and Western support dissolves? Mike: Perhaps the Arab world could skip the lecture to America and instead take in refugees from Gaza, but Egypt and Jordan refuse to do so. The US and the UN will send in humanitarian aid, much of which Hamas will divert to help its terrorism. There are reports of Hamas digging up infrastructure, in this case water pipes, to make rockets. Hamas values the violence it takes to kill more than it values getting aid to those who need it in Gaza, but somehow thats the fault of Western countries. Western countries must do their part to help, but place the blame where it belongs, with Hamas. "If we're going to die, we're going to die with dignity in our homes." Al Jazeeras @YoumnaElSayed17 filmed her familys journey back to their home in Gaza City, after heeding Israels earlier warning for Palestinians to leave northern Gaza pic.twitter.com/JgtxiQxbnZ Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 18, 2023 Julie: No one has done more to harm regular Palestinians than Hamas. The Egyptians can take in Gazans but wont because they dont want the Muslim Brotherhood gaining strength in the Sinai. The Jordanian royal family fears Palestinians more than anyone else, since Jordan is majority Palestinian and the Hashemite dynasty is not. A little over fifty years ago, Palestinians called for the overthrow of the Jordanian royal family, launched a civil war in Jordan and attempted to assassinate King Hussein, whose grandfather they did assassinate. The Hashemite Kingdom trembles at the thought of more Palestinians crossing the Jordan River because at some point, Jordanians might ask why they are being ruled by a family that does not really represent them. Julie: Meanwhile, Israels neighbors exploit Palestinian misfortunes for their own domestic purposes, while doing nothing to actually help the Palestinians. Maybe the next time Egypts authoritarian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi lectures our secretary of state or King Abdullah cancels a meeting with President Biden, el-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the United States should remind them of their own disgraceful behavior towards the Palestinians they claim to support. Q. Meanwhile, as the chaos in the leaderless House drags on, some Republicans worry that the dysfunction could cost them their majority in 2024. How do you see that? Mike: If you are unable to govern, it is hard to make a case that you should be in charge of government. That said, many voters would prefer dysfunction to the Democrats being in charge. Julie: To say that the Republican majority is a clown show would be an insult to well-meaning clowns. The world is burning, we are a month away from the federal government running out of money and these nihilists are having debates about which election-denying extremist should be second in line to the presidency. At least the British Parliament doesnt grant real authority to the 10-year-old prince who is second in line to the throne there. As Jim Jordan vied for Speaker this week on a platform that includes devastating cuts to Medicare, @EnergyCommerce Republicans are holding a hearing on legislative proposals that would cost Medicare billions of dollars and increase out-of-pocket costs for seniors. pic.twitter.com/77tomwjnUV Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) October 19, 2023 Q. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., representing a swing district that chose Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020, voted twice to hand the Speakers gavel to Jim Jordan, an extremist who tried to block the peaceful transfer of power in 2020, has never sponsored a bill that passed, and opposes every bipartisan compromise. Hows that going to fly for Kean in 2024? And why wont he talk about it? Mike: Thats a disappointing vote. Jim Jordan supported the great lie that led to violence at the Capitol, death of police officers, and scores of Trump supporters having their lives ruined as they go to jail. Jordan has never even passed a bill, is more about grandstanding than governing, and should never be Speaker. All that said, Tom Kean wont be judged on this one vote. Tom Kean is no Jim Jordan, and his constituents know it. His moderate brand of politics fits the district, and most voters have zero idea who Jim Jordan is. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. just voted for Jim Jordan, an enemy of democracy who tried to block the peaceful transfer of power. Why? He won't say. This is pathetic, and dishonors his father's legacy. At least now, though, he can't deny being a full-throated MAGA guy. #tomkean #scaredmouse tom moran (@tomamoran) October 17, 2023 Julie: I have a more basic question: Why is Rep. Kean in Congress? He voted for an election-denying extremist to lead his conference, who wants to ban abortion and doesnt believe in the peaceful transition of power. Whats worse is that Kean held all the cards, but unlike his counterparts in New York, he apparently gave away his vote to Jordan without even trying to negotiate a deal for his district, like getting a commitment to reinstate or raise the SALT deduction. Whats the point of serving? Is it just to go along with whoever is in power in his party, even if its someone as radical as Jim Jordan, whose policies would harm Keans own voters? At one of our debates, I said that if he wins, we won't be hearing much about Tom Kean in Washington - he'll fade into the woodwork as he did in Trenton - but we will be hearing a lot about Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, and MTG. It's worse than I feared. https://t.co/14SExfzONf https://t.co/NAtIOd5lhP Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski) October 17, 2023 Q. Switching to the state legislative elections next month, a new FDU poll suggests that Republicans are making headway by emphasizing parental rights in schools, the flash points being sex education and gender issues. Democrats say its a fake issue, that Republicans cant point to actual schools that are going overboard on these issues. How do you see it? Mike: Republicans win in New Jersey when we beat Democrats on affordability issues. In Virginia two years ago, part of the reason Republicans won is because the Democratic candidate foolishly said parents should have no role in education or curriculum. Big mistake. Democrats make a mistake when they say parents should have no say. Republicans can make gains on parental rights and involvement, but will make a mistake if they go too far on gender or LGBTQ issues as they risk looking intolerant, which doesnt fly in New Jersey. His colleagues want him to step down. The governor has called upon him to leave. And 7 in 10 #NJ residents say its time for Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to go, says new @FDUPoll . https://t.co/jaF2qq6DGb Ted Sherman (@TedShermanSL) October 19, 2023 Julie: I cannot think of one legislative Democrat who says parents should have no say in education. This is a completely made-up issue to distract from the Republican assault on reproductive rights and to take attention away from the massive tax cut seniors will get if Democrats keep control of the Legislature. Asking about parental control before asking about vote intention increases support for the Rep candidate by 6 points, and decreases support for the Dem candidate by 9. pic.twitter.com/4cpW65i3t1 Dan Cassino (@DanCassino) October 18, 2023 Q. The GOP leader in the state Senate, Anthony Bucco, says Republicans cant win control of the Senate without taking District 11 in Monmouth County, where Sen. Vin Gopal is fending off a challenge from Republican businessman Steve Dnistrian. Gopal, 38, is chairman of the Education Committee, and is seen as a rising star for Democrats, even a potential gubernatorial candidate down the road. How do you see this race playing out? Mike: Sen. Bucco is right and working hard to help Republicans make gains this year. He inherited this playing field when he recently became Senate Minority Leader and has done a great job in a short amount of time raising money and helping candidates. The map and the playing field are tough, though. Dnistrian is working hard, but it is always tough as a challenger. Gopal is proving strong in this swing district. Gopal strikes voters as a centrist Democrat, because he helped small businesses during COVID and gets endorsement from police officers, hardly looking like the AOC wing of the Democratic party. Dnistrian will have to dislodge some centrist voters from Gopal to win, but the GOP is helped with two strong incumbent members of the Assembly, Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner, running in the same district at the same time. Julie: I am out of the prediction business, but I can certainly speak to Senator Gopals record and work ethic. Its no surprise that he won a district several years ago that Democrats had not held in nearly three decades. Gopal is thoughtful, he puts policy over politics, and he is a tireless worker on behalf of his constituents. His constituents in Monmouth County are fortunate to have a public servant like him. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The bar is very low these days but Patrick McHenry is much better than Jim Jordan. 1. Hes not a MAGA fanatic 2. He voted to certify the 2020 election 3. He supports aid for Ukraine pic.twitter.com/RF9tuBgy16 Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 19, 2023 Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. at some point people will realize that having an electoral movement which routinely threatens to kill its opponents is a major problem. https://t.co/ZOk8hYcyZo Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 19, 2023 A note to readers: Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global, has worked for Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush, and Gov. Christie. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. We will disclose specific connections only when readers might otherwise be misled. 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. Fives could be anywhere. The timeless bar and mini cafe would be perfectly at home in New Yorks Chelsea neighborhood, Singapore or Paris. But it is here, in New Orleans, along a stretch of real estate deserving of a classy destination. Located in the state-owned Lower Pontalba Building on St. Ann Street, Fives offers side views of Jackson Square, just steps away from the St. Louis Cathedral. Although it opened in July, the place didnt garner too much local attention in the summer. Now that fall is in the air, the oyster bar is getting busy. With about a dozen seats around the bar and a couple of tables by the windows, Fives fills up fast. Even more reason to get there early and often. Fives Where 529 St. Ann St., fives.bar When lunch and dinner daily How Dine-in Check it out Oysters, small plates and cocktails on Jackson Square At its heart, Fives is an oyster and cocktail bar, although thanks to chef Paul Terrebonnes compact menu, gorgeously composed small plates both satisfy and dazzle. Owner Jayson Seidman brings a stellar design sensibility to the space, with details like an inviting curved bar flanked by absinthe fountains, funky art and a vintage chandelier. For inspiration, he looked to Maison Premiere, a New Orleans-esque oyster bar in Brooklyn. Seidman also is behind the cool makeovers of the Columns and Drifter hotels, and he worked on Hotel Saint Vincent along with MML Hospitality. Bar manager James ODonnell, who last worked at the Four Seasons hotel, brings cocktail savvy and European-style service into the mix. Named for the old slang for a five-pack of cigars, once a popular French Quarter item, the bar showcases a range of oysters. On a typical day, there may be Grand Isles vegetal Little Moon oysters and briny Barataria Beauties and Pretty Babies, the bars own proprietary bivalve farmed in Grand Bay, Alabama. Pink Moons and plump Sassy Malpeques from Prince Edward Island, Canada, were on a recent menu, along with Duxburys, a buttery oyster out of Massachusetts. Caviar service is another briny treat, from smoked trout to kaluga and golden osetra, served with chopped egg, creme fraiche and chips along with the Southern-accented cornmeal blinis. Terrebonne, who hails from three generations of shrimp net makers in Cut Off, Louisiana, works his magic in the smallest of galley kitchens, outfitted with a do-all Combi oven. Smaller plates include a shrimp cocktail featuring deep water Royal Red shrimp that taste a bit like langoustines. Tender beef tartare is paired with peppery Thai basil and crowned with an egg yolk. Buttery roasted bone marrow is served with a caper herb salad and brioche. Blackberry nuoc cham and dollops of peach hot sauce give the yellowfin tuna crudo a winning sweet and salty umami. Black Restaurant Week founder Derek Robinson previews Gulf Coast event Black Restaurant Weeks Gulf Coast event is Oct. 20-29 and highlights Black-owned restaurants in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The chef, who also commands the kitchen at Columns, poaches lobster in butter for a decadent roll finished with lemon aioli and chives. The menus heftiest offering is a grilled tomahawk pork chop, which is served with arugula salad and olive tapenade. Theres also a little gem salad with French sheeps milk cheese, and a creme brulee is offered for dessert. ODonnells cocktail menu covers classics and traditional New Orleans drinks. The original cocktails include the Gin Join, a bracing blend of gin, chartreuse, citrus and sage, and the hibiscus-infused Spice Trader with its zip of chili tequila and lime. The Columns martini, famous for a garnish of pickled vegetables, crowns a list of martinis. Drinks are rounded out by a well-curated, globally inspired wine and beer list. Seidmans plan to give Jackson Square the sophisticated bar it deserves is only the beginning. Hed love to see more such places on Canal and Bourbon streets. Tourists come to the French Quarter for a reason, the developer says. That old-world feeling is something special. Hey Blake, Im curious about the downtown building known as the Security Center. What can you tell me about its history? Dear reader, The Security Center at Carondelet and Common was built in 1923 as the New Orleans Federal Reserve Bank, a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. One of the most interesting parts of the bank is the three stories-high vault, reported The New Orleans Item in July 1923. The vault door weighs 41 tons, and the vault itself contains 500 tons of protective and reinforcing material. According to a 1958 Times-Picayune/States-Item article, the Federal Reserve purchased property from the city at St. Charles and Poydras next to Gallier Hall. It built a new bank building there, which opened in 1967. By that point, the 50,000-square-foot building at Carondelet and Common had been put on the auction block and was purchased by businessman and banker Louis J. Roussel. In 1979, he sold it to businessmen Wilson Abraham and Moise Steeg. They sold it to the Oreck Group, headed by entrepreneur David Oreck. According to a June 1980 Times-Picayune story, Orecks original plans for the building included turning it into a sophisticated security center. Acts of political and philosophical terrorism are very real and there are many businesses and business leaders who are targets, said Daniel Miller, Orecks real estate consultant. We are currently negotiating with a major international dealer of precious gems and with a highly sensitive government agency. Those are the types of clients who are interested in this concept. Newspaper ads explained that the facility offered numbered accounts similar to the Swiss banking system, temperature-controlled vaults and safe deposit boxes guarded by armed security. Oreck also located one of his floor care centers on the ground floor, selling the well-known vacuum cleaners which bore his name. He sold the vacuum company in 2003 but retained ownership of the Security Center. Oreck died last February at age 99. An Israeli airstrike against a school in Gaza City sheltering displaced civilians kills 20 and injures 30 just five hours after three airstrikes against Al-Shifaa Medical Complex in Gaza City killed at least 15 and injured tens of others. Meanwhile, bodies of dead Palestinians were scattered along the Al-Rasheed Road which connects the north and south of the strip after Israeli warplanes targeted Palestinians fleeing fierce bombardment in the north. Next week marks the 60th anniversary of an infamous and important moment in the local civil rights movement. On Oct. 31, 1963, the Rev. Avery C. Alexander was arrested and dragged by his heels up the steps of the City Hall basement. Alexander was one of seven Black protestors who appeared at a City Council meeting demanding action on a petition calling for desegregation of various public and private facilities. After leaving the meeting, the group asked to be seated in the then-segregated City Hall cafeteria. Alexander was partly dragged and partly carried by police from the basement cafeteria, feet first up a flight of stairs and through a first floor corridor to the patrol wagon when he declined to leave under his own power, reported The Times-Picayune. News footage of the arrest became well-known nationwide. Alexander, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma and on Washington, also led a successful bus boycott to push New Orleans Public Service Inc. to hire the first Black bus driver. In 1975, Alexander was elected to the state House of Representatives, where he served six terms. In 1993, thirty years after the City Hall incident, a police officer notoriously used a chokehold to subdue Alexander, then 82, at a protest against David Duke and others at the Battle of Liberty Place Monument on Canal Street. After his death in 1999, the state Legislature renamed the old Charity Hospital in Alexanders honor as well as part of the Pontchartrain Expressway. An eight-foot statue of Alexander stands outside University Medical Center. The statue, by sculptor Sheleen Jones, was first erected in Duncan Plaza in 2002. In televised statements during a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Cairo on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said: "We appreciate your understanding that we must not allow a civilian exodus from Gaza to Sinai because it would be a very dangerous matter that could end the Palestinian Cause and we are keen that it will not happen" "We must join forces to contain the developments in the region which might spiral out of control. The consequences [of these developments] go beyond the right to defend oneself," El-Sisi told Sunak. We register our appreciation for the efforts of President Biden and you to convince Israel to allow for the opening of Rafah border crossing so we can repair the damage that was caused by the bombing that took place in the past days and allow for delivering aid to the strip," the Egyptian president noted. "I stress the importance of delivering aid in a continuous and sustained way to the Gaza Strip, including food, medical supplies, and other forms of humanitarian aid to help 2.3 million Palestinians in the strip." "Prime Minister, we need very much to intensify cooperation to prevent the region from sliding into a region-wide war that would have a destructive impact on the whole region and peace in the region," El-Sisi stressed. Sunak commends Egypt's role From his side, addressing President El-Sisi, PM Sunak said "We commended you for what you have done on the Rafah crossing and we believe very strongly in providing extra humanitarian aid to Gaza." "We look forward to playing an important role with Egypt to make sure that aid gets to people as soon as possible," stressed Sunak. Since the start of the Israel war on Gaza in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, President El-Sisi has repeatedly stressed Egypt's rejection of the Israeli policies of collective punishment against the civilian population in the strip and any attempt to displace the residents of Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula. "I share with a vision of the Palestinian people where they can live with security and opportunity," added Sunak. What Hamas did was an appalling act of terrorism, said the British prime minister. "We mourn every innocent life that has been lost, people from every faith and every nationality," said Sunak. He added: "The Palestinians are victims of Hamas too and that's why what we are doing on the aid side is very important." The British PM arrived in Cairo earlier Friday coming from Saudi Arabia following a visit to Tel Aviv to demonstrate solidarity with Israel. I am in Egypt as part of wider efforts to prevent the spread of violence following the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, said Sunak on his social media accounts. "All leaders must work together to avoid any regional escalation and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza," he added. The UK stands ready to help, Sunak said. Aid to Gaza still waiting Egypt has organized urgent relief for the Palestinians in Gaza with tens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid, donated by Egypt and various Arab countries, ready to cross the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to deliver food and medicine. However, Israel has refused to allow aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip. United Nations and international humanitarian organizations describe the humanitarian situation for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as nothing short of catastrophic. Egypt has condemned the Israeli policies of collective punishment in the aftermath of Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October and rejected attempts to displace Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli round-the-clock air strikes on Gaza have killed more than 4,000 civilians and injured 13,000 more for two weeks. Israeli airstrikes have destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings in the strip, leaving more than one million Palestinians homeless. In the last 72 hours, Israeli airstrikes hit the Al-Ahly Arab Baptist Hospital, a UNRWA school, and the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza are facing the imminent threat of an Israeli ground invasion after the Israeli war cabinet green-lighted the move on Thursday. Search Keywords: Short link: You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. LAPORTE A Coolspring Township man was arrested late Thursday night for a Michigan City man's murder, according to a news release. Dawson Mahoney, 22, was arrested in connection to the death of Travis Clemons, 25. The La Porte County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a residence on the 8600 west block of County Road 400 North in reference to a man who'd been hit by a vehicle, according to the news release. When they got to the scene, police said they saw Travis Clemons, 25, lying motionless near a car with a gunshot wound to his torso. Clemons was subsequently transported to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Mahoney was charged with murder and taken into custody at the La Porte County Jail, where he remains. His bond is set at $1,000,000, according to the news release. Anyone with information in connection to the murder is asked to contact Captain Hynek at 219-326-7700, ext. 2401 or by email at ahynek@lcso.in.gov. HAMMOND As Hammond's gas station ordinance is on the precipice of going into effect, the city's Board of Public Works approved three exceptions to the rule, according to a news release. The Hammond Common Council voted to approve the ordinance, which requires all 37 of the city's gas stations to close between midnight and 5 a.m., in August and it's set to go into effect on Nov. 1. The Board of Public Works has approved exceptions for the Calumet Avenue Shell, the Kennedy Avenue Citgo and the Indianapolis Boulevard Sav-A-Stop, the news release states. The ordinance was introduced by Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott following the June shooting death of Chicago man Ronnie Martin, 33, at the Luke's gas station, located at 5105 State Line Ave. Local gas station owners and community members pushed back on the ordinance when it was proposed. Many cited concerns about the success of their businesses and employees losing hours. They also expressed fears that their gas stations might be more susceptible to break-ins if the businesses are closed overnight. Since the ordinance was passed, 14 gas stations have petitioned for an exception to the rule. Eight of those petitions have been heard and one business has withdrawn its petition due to a previous agreement with the board, the release states. The Board of Public Works is aiming to have all of the petition requests addressed before the ordinance goes into effect. I know the Board of Public Works has been busy hearing these matters and theyve set a special meeting date to accommodate the requests, McDermott said, in the release. The board looks at several factors in these hearings to determine whether a gas station will be given an exemption to the ordinance. Some of these factors include the volume of 911 calls to a particular business, lighting and zoning concerns as well as a business' proximity to the interstate, according to the release. On the citys behalf we are trying to paint a full picture to the board of each station to see where the problems are and where they arent. It gives the board the ability to hear from the owners and the city, Kevin Smith, Corporation Counsel for the city, said in the release. The Board of Public Works is set to meet again on Oct. 26, according to the City Council's website. Information as to whether the board will meet again in the interim to discuss the exceptions was not immediately available. NIPSCO employees chipped in nearly 800 volunteer hours last month during the Merrillville-based utility's Charity of Choice campaign. The natural gas and electric utility serving Northern Indiana has encouraged employee volunteering during the campaign for 13 years. NIPSCO employees could choose from a number of volunteer opportunities with local nonprofits throughout the month. They volunteered with colleagues for a number of community causes, including Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne, Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana, United Way of Cass County, Humane Indiana, Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Kokomo, Sojourner Truth House Inc., St. Jude House, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in Fort Wayne and TradeWinds Services, Inc. I am proud of our NIPSCO team members for rolling up their sleeves to support a host of deserving organizations and help make a difference in the daily lives of communities across Northern Indiana, said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO president. My NIPSCO colleagues never cease to amaze me with how big their hearts are and their level of commitment to give back to the communities were so privileged to collectively serve, Hooper said. The utility dates back more than a century, having been founded in Hammond in 1912 and was owned in the early days by Samuel Insull, who ran ComEd and other Chicagoland utilities and built the Chicago Opera House and the former State Line Generating Plant in Hammond. The utility now serves 850,000 natural gas and 483,000 electric customers across 32 counties in the Hoosier State. Its parent company is one of the largest utilities in the country, serving 3.7 million customers through NIPSCO and Columbia Gas. Both NiSource and NIPSCO are headquartered in the same corporate office just off Interstate 65 in Merrillville. For more information on other ways NIPSCO serves its communities, visit NIPSCO.com/GivingBack. U.S. Steel has been investing heavily in its new mini mill operations down South in recent years. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker, one of the Region's largest employers, just opened a $450 million a new, non-grain oriented electrical steel line for electric vehicles at its Big River Steel mill in Arkansas. It's also pumping $3 billion in Big River Steel 2, which is the largest investment in Arkansas state history. The steelmaker, which put up a comparatively modest $60 million in its pig iron operations in Gary Works to supply Big River with pig iron, has been having a major economic impact in Arkansas. It estimates it generated $382 million in economic impact in Arkansas last year, where it supports and sustains 1,747 jobs. At U.S. Steel, our Best for All strategy means delivering stockholder value and being the best partner to our customers, our suppliers, our planet, and the communities in which we operate, said President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. That certainly includes Arkansas. We are thrilled that U. S. Steels operations have had such a transformative effect in northeast Arkansas. And weve only just begun; Big River Steel 2, currently under construction, will create another 900 jobs. U.S. Steel's Arkansas operations include Big River Steel in Osceola and Wheeling Machine Products in Pine Bluff. The company said it offers competitive wages at the non-union plants. These jobs with these kinds of pay levels create the opportunity for wealth-building in families that literally changes the arc of affordability generation to generation, said Randy Zook, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas. As a community partner, our goal is to bring value to Osceola, northeast Arkansas and the state, over the long haul. With the ongoing success of our first plant and construction of our second one well underway, we look forward to continuing our profitable and productive relationship with the people of Arkansas and adding even greater economic benefits to the regional community, said Daniel Brown, Senior Vice President of Advanced Technology Steelmaking and Chief Operating Officer of Big River Steel Works. U.S. Steel commissioned an economic impact study by Parker Philips that would the company contributed $16.3 million in state and local taxes in Arkansas, donated $1 million to charities and has $219 million in direct economic impact and $164.2 million in induced impact. The Big River 2 construction project will have an estimated impact of $5.2 billion. It continues to invest in Arkansas while swathes of Gary Works, including the former merchant mill, sit empty. An economic impact analysis is an objective way to measure the impact of an organization in the regional economy. It is a tool that policy makers and local businesses can use to inform their decisions, said Nichole Parker, a principal partner at Parker Philips. Through its operations, as well as philanthropic giving and community engagement, U.S. Steel is making a major contribution to the local, state, and regional economies. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said significant progress has been made during negotiations but that the leadership won't bring back a tentative contract for a vote until it's sure it's gotten the best deal possible. All of the Big Three Detroit automakers are now offering raises of 23% over the next four years after initially offering raises of 9%, Fain said. The UAW did not announce any new stand-up strikes during Fain's weekly address to members on Facebook Live Friday. Workers have been on strike for five weeks at plants across the country, including at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the far South Side for the last few weeks. The union just got new offers from GM and Stellantis. "Despite all the bluster of how far the companies have stretched, there's still room to move," he said. "At a time when there's endless money for war, there's somehow still no money for the working class." Fain said the companies were looking to sow fear, uncertainty, doubt and division to divide the membership when its strength comes in solidarity. "Every time the company executives open their mouths, it's to increase the fear, increase the uncertainly and increase the doubt among the membership," he said. "They win when we lose our sense of purpose, when we lose our sense of unity." Ford Chairman Bill Ford gave an address at the historic Rouge Assembly Plant in Dearborn just outside Detroit earlier in the week saying the company needed to be sustainable and keep costs within reason as it sought to compete with Honda, Tesla and Toyota and other rivals. Fain rejected Ford's suggestion that the union should not be pitted against the company and should instead be united against the competition. "I want to be crystal clear on one thing," he said. "The days of the UAW and Ford being a team to fight other companies are over. We won't be used in this phony competition. We will always and forever be on the side of workers everywhere. Non-union workers are not the enemy. They're our future union brothers. Since the stand-up strike began, we've had thousands of non-union workers reach out about joining. We're going to organize nonunion workers everywhere. Now we're taking on the Big Three like never before. Next, we're going to organize non-union auto companies like never before. We're going to fight to ensure all auto jobs are good jobs." Ford and other automakers are saying they're offering record contracts to autoworkers that include significant raises and an end to pay tiers. "These are already record contracts," Fain said. "But they've come at the end of decades of record decline. It's not enough to be the best ever when autoworkers have gone backwards over the past two decades." Automakers have closed 65 plants in the last 20 years while real wages have fallen by 30% during that period, Fain said. But Ford just announced it would pay $600 million in dividends to shareholders, rewarding stockholders instead of workers, he said. "That amount of money alone would pay for a $1 raise for all of our members for the life of the contract," he said. In a scene in the Apple TV+ period drama Lessons in Chemistry, Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) prepares for her new job as host of a local cooking show with scientific rigor. Poised with pad in hand, Elizabeth, a chemist, concentrates keenly on her home television set, as if she were observing a chemical reaction. How does one study TV? her neighbor asks playfully. Turn on Channel 4, Elizabeth retorts. Based on Bonnie Garmuss 2022 novel, Lessons in Chemistry follows the brilliant but frequently undervalued Elizabeth as she jumps from one chauvinistic 1950s milieu an elite research institute to another: local television. While the character, her show (Supper at Six) and the Los Angeles TV station that carries it are all fictional, they are inspired by the robust culture of local broadcasting, rooted in radio, that flourished in the 1950s and early 60s in cities across the nation. These early days before television went Hollywood, when local stations produced much of their own original programming, allowed for plenty of experimentation and gave women ample opportunity to work both behind and in front of the camera. Federal prosecutors have accused 10 people of orchestrating a $20 million scheme to get rich by buying and selling black-market H.I.V. medications that in some cases had been purchased from low-income patients who risked their lives by selling it. Some of those accused in the case then used the proceeds to buy luxury cars, waterfront real estate in New York City, designer clothes, jewelry and gold, according to a statement released Friday by Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to a 24-page indictment filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, the scheme also involved bribing patients to use specific local pharmacies that were involved in the plot and defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies of millions of dollars since 2017. Mr. Williams said those accused in the case had been preying on vulnerable members of society. Several of the defendants are facing decades in prison on various charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud and money laundering. The Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt walked into this years Met Gala in a Prabal Gurung dress woven with swaths of pearls, sporting a single fingerless glovelette reminiscent of Karl Lagerfelds personal style. Studded with pearls, the leather glovelette carried an OH V monogram with a stallion head, surrounded by an onyx dragonfly, imago butterflies and a Kaputt crystal. The monogram is a signature house aesthetic for Outhouse Jewelry, a brand created by two sisters: Kaabia and Sasha Grewal. The monogram is ever-present in each piece of jewelry they create, signifying metamorphosis and a move beyond conventional femininity. It was adopted five years into the brands conception, forever celebrating that milestone. The pieces are inspired from our travels, Kaabia Grewal, 37, said. And even when theyre bridal, they can still be very contemporary. Outhouse has steadily crossed international waters in its popularity. You would never take a look at their collection and peg it as just an Indian jewelry brand, said Archana Thani, a jewelry curator and consultant as well as the former managing editor of Vogue India. With that upward climb, she has come under more scrutiny. After the second debate last month, the former president attacked her as a birdbrain on social media, and Ms. Haley accused his campaign of sending a birdcage and birdseed to her hotel. Though Mr. DeSantis has drawn attacks from his rivals on the debate stage including some from Ms. Haley he has largely avoided initiating heated exchanges, a stance in keeping with his long-running insistence that the primary is a two-candidate contest between him and Mr. Trump. But Ms. Haleys surge and her decision to focus her fire on the Florida governor have clearly forced the DeSantis campaign and its allies to recalculate. Mr. DeSantiss super PAC, Never Back Down, reported spending nearly $1 million against Ms. Haley this week, after devoting just $29,000 to anti-Haley messaging during the first half of the year. The recent exchanges were spurred by dueling television appearances over the weekend on the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Last week, Mr. DeSantis doubled down on his opposition to helping some of the nearly one million people contending with shortages of food, clean water and shelter in the region. He described the culture in the Gaza Strip as toxic and argued that the people of Gaza teach kids to hate Jews. Ms. Haley pushed back against this view, saying that large percentages of Palestinians did not support Hamas and that America has always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists. (Polling in Gaza supports Ms. Haleys claim.) But in an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, Mr. DeSantis cast her words as evidence that she supported allowing refugees from Gaza to come to the United States. The Never Back Down ad from this week spliced the clips from Ms. Haley with comments from Mr. DeSantis criticizing her in an NBC interview. Shes trying to be politically correct, he says in the ad. Shes trying to please the media and people on the left. Ms. Haleys campaign has countered with several emails to supporters and the news media, citing fact checkers who have found that Mr. DeSantis got her statements wrong and rejecting what her campaign officials have described as Mr. DeSantiss consistent mischaracterizations of her statements and her record. Spokespeople for both Mr. DeSantiss campaign and Never Back Down maintain that their critiques of Ms. Haley are accurate. As governor, Ms. Haley at times voiced the need for the United States to be a welcoming nation for immigrants and refugees. In 2015, she supported the efforts of faith groups to resettle people in South Carolina. But Ms. Haley took an aggressive stance against resettling Syrians in her state after the terror attacks in Paris that same year, citing gaps in intelligence that could make the vetting process difficult. Now, under fire from Mr. DeSantis, her campaign has underscored her hard-line track record as governor on immigration policies and portrayed her as nothing but staunchly opposed to taking in people from the Middle East. The truth is, Haley has always opposed settling Middle East refugees in America, believing that Arab countries in the region should absorb them, read one email to reporters. The disputes highlight how even as Republicans remain divided on other features of Mr. Trumps isolationist America First agenda, they have unified behind its hard-line approach to immigration and the nations borders, with Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley largely aligned in their calls to keep out refugees from the conflict zone. It is widely seen as unlikely that Gazan refugees will be headed for the United States anytime soon. Still, at a DeSantis campaign event in South Carolina on Thursday, the crowd applauded when Mr. DeSantis pledged that as president, he would accept zero people from Gaza, adding that he opposed importing the pathologies of the Middle East to our country. He also said that any American aid sent to Gaza would end up in the hands of Hamas. Rick McConnell, a 70-year-old Air Force veteran who heard Mr. DeSantis speak, said he understood that Gazans needed food, water and medical supplies. But Mr. McConnell said that Iran which he believed was responsible for Hamass brutal attacks should provide that aid. Why cant they help them? Mr. McConnell said. We have veterans sleeping on the streets our veterans. The concerns were echoed at Ms. Haleys events. If you are living in Gaza, I dont think you love America or are Christian, said Corrine Rothchild, 69, a retired elementary school teacher who was still weighing her vote between Ms. Haley and Mr. DeSantis. Mr. DeSantis, who served on the Foreign Affairs Committee during his time in the House of Representatives, has sought to distinguish himself on foreign policy, pointing to restrictions he signed in Florida that banned land purchases by many Chinese nationals and calling for the use of military force against Mexican drug cartels. In the last week, he also has used state funds to charter flights that have brought home hundreds of Americans stranded in Israel. Ms. Haley also has sought to make her foreign policy credentials, her hawkish stances on China and her staunch support of Israel central to her campaign. As Mr. Trumps United Nations ambassador, Ms. Haley forcefully spoke out in support of his formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as well as his decision to cut American funding to Palestinian refugees. The two have sparred on foreign policy before. She has criticized Mr. DeSantis for his support of Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and his hold on military nominations over a policy that covers the travel expenses of service members who seek reproductive health care services, including abortions, in other states. She also attacked Mr. DeSantiss stance on the war in Ukraine, which he called a territorial dispute that was not central to U.S. interests a characterization he later walked back. In recent days, both have also turned their scorn on Mr. Trump for remarks that he made after the Hamas attack criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and referring to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, as very smart. Mr. Trump has since retreated from his comments. He, too, has pledged to reject refugees from Gaza. Leaving the House floor shortly after delivering the opening prayer on Friday morning, the House chaplain, Margaret G. Kibben, turned to the sergeant-at-arms flanking the entrance and whispered, Godspeed. It was a barely audible plea that could not hold back yet another day of chaos and uncertainty, of sniping and of death threats, as House Republicans splinter in ways that it increasingly seems nothing short of divine intervention can repair. By the end of the day, Republicans had toppled their latest candidate for speaker of the House, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, and in his place a free-for-all had sprouted up, with about a dozen members exploring a bid. And with Republicans having no plans to meet again until Monday, the House is guaranteed to go speakerless for at least 20 days, paralyzed as wars rage overseas and a U.S. government shutdown nears. Two days after President Biden said he had secured Israels agreement to allow food, water and medicine into the besieged Gaza Strip, and a day after aid groups were told their trucks would cross the border on Friday, nothing budged, as the powers involved continued to haggle over the details, while conditions within Gaza grew more dire. Speaking on Friday at the frontier between Egypt and Gaza, the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, confirmed reports that Israel and Egypt had agreed a day earlier to make aid deliveries possible with some conditions and some restrictions, which were still being hammered out. For more than a week, there have been reports of a possible breakthrough, yet the trucks havent moved. Most recently, Israel was objecting to several aspects of plans put forward by aid groups and the United Nations, according to several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with talks that also involve Egypt and the United States. Adding to the sense of desperation in Gaza, Israel is preparing for an expected ground invasion to crush Hamas, the group that controls the territory, which would make the humanitarian needs greater and make them harder to meet. Amid a war between Israel and Hamas that has killed thousands, more than 2 million people are trapped in the territory, many of them displaced from their homes, with rapidly dwindling vital supplies. 92NY, one of New York Citys premier cultural venues, decided on Friday to abruptly pull an event that evening featuring the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen after he signed an open letter critical of Israel, drawing criticism that the organization was stifling dissenting voices. The event at 92NY, formerly known as the 92nd Street Y, was to have featured Nguyen in conversation with the novelist Min Jin Lee about his new memoir, A Man of Two Faces, in an auditorium on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that seats roughly 900. But on Friday afternoon, after the Y said it would no longer go ahead with the event, the talks organizer, Bernard Schwartz, who leads the Ys poetry center, moved it to a bookstore in Lower Manhattan where it drew a standing-room crowd of about 100. In a statement on Saturday, 92NY said the event had simply been postponed. We are a Jewish institution that has always welcomed people with diverse viewpoints to our stage, the statement said. The brutal Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the continued holding of hostages, including senior citizens and young children, has absolutely devastated the community. Given the public comments by the invited author on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community. But the participants see it otherwise. At the relocated event, Nguyen described the Ys decision, which he said he was informed of around 2 p.m. that afternoon, as a cancellation. No explanation had been given, he said. But he said he assumed it was a response to the fact that he was among the more than 750 writers and artists who signed an open letter published in The London Review of Books on Wednesday that was highly critical of Israel. In his introduction at the event, Schwartz, who has led 92NYs Unterberg Poetry Center since 2005, called the Ys decision unacceptable. Both Nguyen and Lee, he noted, have engaged with questions of war, memory, identity and trauma in their work. Who else in a moment like this would you want to hear from? he asked. The event was the latest example of cultural fallout over the Israel-Hamas war, which has led to complex debates across college campuses and cultural organizations about free expression, solidarity and the limits of permitted debate over Israel. Events featuring Palestinian artists or culture have been canceled, some statements of support for Palestinians have drawn debate and the leaders of some institutions have been criticized for what is seen as the failure to adequately acknowledge either Hamass murder of Israeli civilians or Israels treatment of Palestinians. In an interview after the event, Schwartz said that he, like his colleagues, had been monitoring letters and petitions, both as someone who works at the Y, and as a human being trying to grasp whats happening. He said that on Thursday afternoon, he had flagged the long-planned event with Nguyen to the Ys leadership. He said he noted both the open letter in The London Review of Books and Nguyens public support for the movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel, known as B.D.S. That support, Schwartz noted, predates other events Nguyen has done over the years at 92NY, without incident. Schwartz said that on Thursday evening, Seth Pinsky, 92NYs chief executive, called a meeting with the boards executive committee. Afterward, Schwartz said, he was told there would be further discussion about whether the event would go forward. At around 2 p.m. on Friday, he said, he was told to call Nguyen to discuss postponing the event. I refused to do that, Schwartz said. Instead, he arranged to hold the event at the McNally Jackson bookstore on Fulton Street. Introducing the event at the bookstore, Schwartz held up a promotional brochure that the Y sent out this summer featuring Nguyens face and the words The Writers Who Inspire Us, the Books That Define Us. Image The event was to have featured Nguyen in conversation with the novelist Min Jin Lee about his new memoir, A Man of Two Faces. Credit... none Whats changed between August and today at 2 p.m. that means that artists and thinkers and moral leaders like Viet and Min cant come to the Y? he asked. Im going to just let that question sit there. The letter Nguyen signed, titled An Open Letter on the Situation in Palestine, calls for an end to the unprecedented and indiscriminate violence by Israel in Gaza, including grave crimes against humanity. It has drawn sharp criticism from some for not naming Hamas at all, while making only oblique reference to the Oct. 7 attacks that left roughly 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, dead. On Thursday, Nguyen posted a statement on Instagram about his reasons for signing the letter. The Israeli government and its supporters have sought to shut down any protest of Israel, including nonviolent ones like B.D.S., which helps lead to the current situation where some can only see violence as a solution, he wrote. Even literature and the arts from Palestinians or sympathetic to them are being silenced. 92NYs decision to pull the event drew concern from free expression organizations. Suzanne Nossel, the chief executive of PEN America, said that in times of war and conflict, writers were particularly important as bridges across schisms. As a literary and cultural community, as hard as it is, I think we really have to play that role of continuing to be open to all voices, and not to back off even when its really difficult, she said. 92NY was founded in 1874 as the Young Mens Hebrew Association, with the goal of serving the social and spiritual needs of the American Jewish community, according to its website. In the 20th century, the organization transformed into the 92nd Street Y, a culture and arts organization widely known to New Yorkers as the Y. Last year, as it began a $200 million renovation, it rebranded itself as 92NY. It also hired a rabbi, in order to more publicly assert our Jewish identity at a moment of rising antisemitism, Pinsky, its chief executive, said at the time. The Unterberg Poetry Center, founded in 1939, is one of the countrys most storied literary venues, whose roster of speakers has included Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Philip Roth, Margaret Atwood and other luminaries. During the event at the bookstore on Friday, Lee said she and Nguyen held absolutely no ill will toward 92NY, where she had taken six writing classes over the years. Whatever happened today, it should not in any way invoke any sentiment against Jewish people in New York, she said emphatically. Whenever we think of any institution and any nation, I hope we remember its made up of individuals, she said. Theres always that plurality. Schwartz said afterward that he was heartbroken by what had happened, and noted the organizations packed schedule of upcoming events. What other events will the Y say can no longer happen on its stages? he asked. The consequences are real enough, of course. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed at least 100,000 people. Their successor weapons, which Oppenheimer opposed, threatened to kill everybody else. But the intellectual drama of Oppenheimer as distinct from the dramas of his personal life and his political fate is about how abstraction becomes reality. The atomic bomb may be, for the soldiers and politicians, a powerful strategic tool in war and diplomacy. For the scientists, its something else: a proof of concept, a concrete manifestation of quantum theory. Oppenheimer wasnt a principal author of that theory. Those scientists, among them Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrodinger and Werner Heisenberg, were characters in Labatuts previous novel, When We Cease to Understand the World. That book provides harrowing illumination of a zone where scientific insight becomes indistinguishable from madness or, perhaps, divine inspiration. The basic truths of the new science seem to explode all common sense: A particle is also a wave; one thing can be in many places at once; scientific method and its object could no longer be prised apart. At their congresses and conferences, debating in train cars and cafes, these quantum revolutionaries are like the gods of Olympus: consumed with their own rivalries and passions, all but oblivious to the ordinary mortal world around them. Oppenheimers designation as Prometheus is precise. He snatched a spark of quantum insight from those divinities and handed it to Harry S. Truman and the U.S. Army Air Forces. His punishment came not at the hands of those he had robbed, but rather from the recipients of his gift. In Oppenheimer, during the hearings that will cost him his security clearance and exile him from the center of American public life, most of his scientific colleagues remain by his side. (The notable exception is Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb and as such another potential Prometheus.) Its the lawyers, bureaucrats and Washington courtiers who bring him down. Like the original Prometheus, Oppenheimer survives his disgrace, and ends the movie as a flawed, haunted, regretful creature, carrying a flicker of inextinguishable, theoretical guilt. If we blow up the world, it might still be his fault. Labatuts account of von Neumann is, if anything, more unsettling than Oppenheimer. We had decades to get used to the specter of nuclear annihilation, and since the end of the Cold War it has been overshadowed by other terrors. A.I., on the other hand, seems newly sprung from science fiction, and especially terrifying because we cant quite grasp what it will become. Today, the company, which had about a dozen or fewer employees for many years, has nearly 100, with about one-third of those hired this year. Since receiving half a million dollars from an angel investor in 2016, Feeld says that it has remained profitable without any additional external support. Since 2015, it has offered subscription memberships that come with various benefits, like the ability to know when someone was last seen on Feeld and to filter other users by their desires. (Memberships are sold at different price points, depending on length for example, 30 days costs $24.99.) Recently, Feeld has also made the leap to IRL, hosting 31 in-person socials worldwide this year, with about 200 attendees at each. Feeld would not share how many active users it has or how many times the app has been downloaded. It has about 60,000 reviews in Apples app store, while Bumble, founded the same year as Feeld, has 1.4 million, Hinge has 763,000 and Grindr has 295,000. From 2021 to 2022, average weekly active users on Feeld grew by 90 percent, and the app is on track for 65 percent growth in weekly active users this year, according to the company. For years, dating app companies prioritized user growth, but more recently, the industry has shifted its focus to monetization, according to a report from Morgan Stanley. In that regard, Feeld is doing exceedingly well, said Lexi Sydow, head of insights at data.ai, a mobile data and analytics provider. Ms. Sydow said the amount consumers spent on subscriptions and one-off purchases to Feeld grew by 107 percent between the first three quarters of 2022 and 2023. Last weekend, at least a dozen people surrounded the home of a left-wing Israeli commentator who had expressed concern about civilian deaths in Gaza, shouting traitor and firing flares in his direction. This week, a prominent right-wing activist posted a video of himself shouting at and threatening members of a TV crew that was filming Israeli soldiers. Other journalists say they are getting threats and being harassed on social media. In Israel, many journalists are covering the war while processing their own grief and shock over the surprise attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7. Some lost relatives in the attacks. But some Israeli journalists and supporters of the press say that covering the war has become even more difficult because of the vitriol they have received from fellow Israelis who have been upset by their questioning of the countrys actions in response to the Hamas attacks. Expressing dissenting opinions has become even more fraught than in previous conflicts, said Anat Saragusti, a senior staff member for the Union of Journalists, an Israeli organization with 1,500 members. It has a chilling effect, Ms. Saragusti said. Journalists and media experts attributed the change to several factors: The attacks by Hamas have been especially traumatizing for Israelis. The media environment has grown more polarized in recent years. And the spread of misinformation, particularly on WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, has intensified existing viewpoints. There are fewer people voicing opposition to the Israeli operation, said Natan Sachs, the director of the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington. There is much more vitriol toward those who do. Mr. Sachs noted that the polarized media environment was not unique to Israel, although it has increased in the country in recent years, in part because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the press a focus of his energy. Two of three criminal cases that Mr. Netanyahu has been involved in feature accusations of wrongdoing in pursuing positive media coverage, which he has denied. The last time we had a major operation in Gaza, the traditional media was still not that polarized, said Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a nonpartisan research group, referring to 2014. She said that people had hardened their views because they were often consuming news that aligned with their views, particularly online. Thats the fourth dimension of the war, she said. Its not just on the ground or by sea or by air force. It has to do with the cyber-dimension that creates different influences on our ability to understand reality. Dr. Shwartz Altshuler is among those researching ways to make journalists in Israel feel safer while they are reporting information that is critical of the governments policies and Israels military. She helped start an organization that tracks attacks on journalists and protesters in Israel. More than 1,000 attacks have been reported since March of this year, she said. Questions have swirled over a potential Israeli intelligence failure since the Oct. 7 attacks. American and Israeli officials have said that none of Israels intelligence services had specific warning that Hamas was preparing the sophisticated assault. Tal Shalev, a political commentator and reporter for the Hebrew news site Walla, said she felt a duty to continue writing columns critical of the government and asking tough questions of officials, particularly about the missteps and misdoings of decision makers, even though she sometimes receives pushback on social media for doing so. Theres a sentiment here saying its not the time now to deal with malpractices and problems, and we should wait until after the war because now is the time to unite and not criticize the government, Ms. Shalev said. I dont fully agree with that. Of course, this is the time to unite, she added. Im an Israeli citizen, and Im hurting with my people and I want to win this war. I just dont think that because of the war we should stop being alert and stop doing our jobs as journalists. Attacks on medical facilities jeopardize health care not only for those injured by fighting, but also for all those with routine medical needs. On Thursday, Doctors Without Borders (also known as M.S.F., an abbreviation for its French name, Medecins Sans Frontieres) withdrew a surgical team from a hospital in Sudan after military authorities blocked all delivery of supplies to the facility. The team had been providing lifesaving trauma surgeries and cesarean sections from one of the last functioning hospitals in the capital, Khartoum. Its so painful, because of the moral distress of the medics, Mr. Hofman said. They were unable to function without basic supplies, but also profoundly disturbed to cut off one of the last sources of care in a city where fighting has not let up since rival factions of the military government went to war in April. In Ukraine, Russian attacks have destroyed 10 to 15 percent of medical facilities. The damage is even more far-reaching than it might seem, said Pavlo Kovtoniuk, a former deputy minister of health in Ukraine who now works with a think tank called the Ukrainian Health Center. Hospitals symbolize respect for civilian life, and when people see that disregarded they say, We have to get out, he said. We have a huge loss of human capital, with more than six million people now living outside the borders. Among those who remain, there is a growing population in need of rehabilitation and psychosocial support, from a steadily shrinking health system. This is not a situation of waging war according to the laws of war and the Geneva Convention this is a completely different philosophy of war where civilian lives are disregarded entirely, Mr. Kovtoniuk said. He added: We are revisiting the rules we thought were a given on regard for civilian life, and Russia has contributed to this feeling, OK, we can do this. We can attack civilian infrastructure as a weapon of war. Ukrainian officials are working with the International Criminal Court to compile evidence from the attacks, Mr. Kovtoniuk said. At least some top Russian officials must be indicted in order to re-establish the principle of protecting health care workers and facilities, he said. Russia has often either said that the facilities it hit were harboring Ukrainian fighters or dismissed the accusations as fake. In Sudan, M.S.F. says that fatalities caused by neglected medical needs are as great as those caused by violent injuries. According to the World Health Organization, 70 percent of Sudans medical facilities are no longer functioning. More than seven million people are now internally displaced and face a cascade of disease outbreaks. Hindu pilgrims walked barefoot on the marble floors of the enormous temple, examining intricate stone carvings of deities etched into the ceilings and images of musical instruments and elephants along the white walls. As they approached a large gold shrine, many gasped in wonder, having arrived at the place where they believe God resides in the form of sacred images. The recent opening of Akshardham Mahamandir in Robbinsville, N.J., was a historic moment for Hindus in New Jersey and beyond. The temple, about 15 years in the making, is believed to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere and is expected to draw religious pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. Broadly speaking, Biden is correct; the United States has a strong interest in preventing rival powers from redrawing maps or undermining Americas democratic allies. But the difference between the presidents strategic analysis and the kind Ive tried to offer recently is twofold: the general absence, in Bidens words, of any acknowledgment of difficult trade-offs and the specific absence of any reference to China as a potentially more significant threat than Russia or Iran. These absences are not particularly surprising. Its normal for American presidents to say chest-pounding things like There is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity rather than to talk about possible limits on our strength. And since we dont actually want to be at war with China, it makes a certain sense to avoid lumping Beijing in with Moscow and Tehran. The crisis in the Middle East is a knotty test of our humanity, asking how to respond to a grotesque provocation for which there is no good remedy. And in this test, we in the West are not doing well. The acceptance of large-scale bombing of Gaza and of a ground invasion likely to begin soon suggests that Palestinian children are lesser victims, devalued by their association with Hamas and its history of terrorism. Consider that more than 1,500 children in Gaza have been killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, and around one-third of Gaza homes have been destroyed or damaged in just two weeks and this is merely the softening-up before what is expected to be a much bloodier ground invasion. Ive flown into beautiful, sun-washed Tel Aviv, where the graffiti reads Destroy Hamas. Israelis have been shattered by the Hamas terrorism and kidnappings, an attack that felt existential and explains the determination to dismantle Hamas, whatever the cost. The anxiety in Tel Aviv is palpable, peaceful though it seems, while Gaza is an inner ring of hell and probably on a path to something much worse. The United States speaks a good deal about principles, but I fear that President Biden has embedded a hierarchy of human life in official American policy. He expressed outrage at the massacres of Jews by Hamas, as he should have, but he has struggled to be equally clear about valuing Gazan lives. And its not always evident whether he is standing four-square with Israel as a country or with its failed prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime obstacle to peace. Israelis have been held hostage many times over the nations 75 years. In May 1974, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine held 115 hostages, most of them high school students in the town of Maalot, in northern Israel, for two days, an episode that ended in the murders of 22 hostages. An Air Force officer, Ron Arad, was shot down over Lebanon in 1986 and was never returned. In May 1985, Israel released 1,150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of three Israeli soldiers captured in Lebanon. Over the course of those painful episodes, the nation learned a great deal about how to work for its hostages release, whether through third-party negotiations, secret back channels or force. But todays hostage crisis is unlike any other. Its not just a few people being held by hostile forces. Its about 200 people, including women, children and the elderly, and its unfolding in the midst of a full-blown war. None of the old rules apply. Hamas held Mr. Shalit in a secret location. Is that possible with such a large group? Gaza is a very small territory with a very dense population, not all of whom support Hamas. The inevitable intelligence leaks could enable Israel to conduct rescue operations. Israeli intelligence analysts will be looking for leads anywhere they can find them, such as data from cellphones found on the bodies of terrorists killed since the attack on Oct. 7. It is equally unclear how this group of hostages will be treated. Hamas treated Mr. Shalit surprisingly well during his years of captivity. He was never physically tortured. Could the same be the case with so many hostages? Hamas has said that some of them are being held by other groups, including Islamic Jihad. Whatever Hamass approach is toward these hostages, there is no guarantee that another group will share it. Killing hostages is not what I would previously have expected from Hamas. But the killing spree of Oct. 7, including the butchering of whole families, the burning of homes, the destruction of whole communities, changed that. On Monday, it released a video of a 21-year-old hostage who appeared to have been wounded and was being treated on camera. There were no signs that she had been tortured but it was clear that she was under duress. Negotiating for the release of hostages may also be less popular this time around. The Shalit deal was very difficult for Israel to accept. More than 300 of the Palestinians who were released from prison had been serving life sentences for violent acts, including killing Israelis. It was hard for me, too: My wifes first cousin, Sasson Nuriel, was kidnapped and killed by Hamas in September 2005. Four of the people responsible for murdering him were released as part of the agreement that I negotiated. Still, in the end, nearly 80 percent of the public, according to one poll, along with 26 government ministers and the entire national security establishment, supported the deal. Prime Minister Netanyahu signed off on the agreement. Today, Israel holds about 7,000 Palestinian prisoners, of whom 559 are serving life sentences for killing Israelis, according to Addameer, a Palestinian prisoners rights group. Will Israelis, still reeling from the atrocities of Oct. 7, be willing to accept this kind of bargain again? Is it safe to do so? One of the men who killed my wifes cousin, who was released in exchange for Mr. Shalit, was among the leaders of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, according to Israels report of his recent killing. I have no official authorization as a negotiator, but as far as I know, Im the only Israeli citizen who has contacts both with the leadership of Hamas and the leadership of Israel, so I have been in continual touch with both sides in hopes of advancing some long-term agreement. The release of those first two hostages is a positive development, but overall, prospects remain dim. Hamas continues to demand an end to Israels aggression against Gaza, and Israel says it has no intention of ending this war until the job is done. Mr. Hamad has not backed down from Hamass brutal attacks. In my conversations with Hamas leaders, I have pushed them to release the women, children, elderly and sick as a humanitarian gesture. Hamas rejected the idea. I believe that Israel is open to accepting a small deal in exchange for such a group, so I proposed to my Hamas contacts that they trade them for the 33 Palestinian women and 170 Palestinian minors currently in Israeli prisons, according to Addameer. Hamas rejected that, too. Right now, Hamass focus is achieving a comprehensive cease-fire. There are still official talks taking place. Qatar is speaking with Hamas and the United States is speaking with Qatar and Israel. This is too convoluted and complex. There need to be direct talks among Israel, Qatar and Hamas and no one else. Not the United States and not Iran. The agreement of Hamas to release the two Americans was apparently negotiated by the Qataris and assisted by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The United States still has a role to play. It should continue to pressure Qatar, which should give an ultimatum that if hostages are not released within, say, 24 hours, all of Hamass leaders will be expelled from Qatar, where many are based. I dont believe that Qatar will agree to that and certainly not without an Israeli cease-fire but the American government and others have leverage over Qatar and it should be used. There is still a small chance and a limited window of opportunity before the ground assault begins to attain the release of some of the hostages through this kind of agreement. After the invasion begins, it will depend on Israeli special forces to try to save them. Some will again see their homes; others may not. At the other end of this war, I hope that the trauma and suffering we are all feeling on both sides of the conflict will spur us to figure out how to share this land that belongs to both Israelis and Palestinians. Maybe our collective suffering and pain can be channeled to focusing on how to live together rather than killing each other. That will be a long process and cannot include the leaders on both sides who have brought us to where we are. We need a new generation of leaders with new vision, new hopes, new dreams and the ability to lead. I hope that many of the hostages, together with their families, will soon be able to join the voices calling for change. Over the past decade, the sunflower sea star has gone from a mighty predator of the Pacific Ocean floor to nearing extinction. The Nature Conservancy estimates that 5.75 billion sunflower sea stars died over the span of three years, a 94 percent global decline. The cause, scientists say, is largely climate change and warming waters, spurred by what they now refer to as sea star wasting disease. Scientists have been racing to figure out how to bring these creatures, whose 24 limbs can stretch outward to four feet, back from the brink. Hope is slowly on the horizon. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography near San Diego successfully spawned three sunflower sea stars earlier this month, the latest success story in a sprawling collaborative effort among institutions to help sea stars reproduce and eventually reintroduce them to the wild. Theres a lot of opportunities for good genetic diversity across the board with all of our different institutions working together, said Melissa Torres, an aquarist at Birch Aquarium who leads the project. Martin Goetz, who joined the computer industry in its infancy in the mid-1950s as a programmer working on Univac mainframes and who later received the first U.S. patent for software, died on Oct. 10 at his home in Brighton, Mass. He was 93. His daughter Karen Jacobs said the cause was leukemia. In 1968, nearly a decade after he and several other partners started the company Applied Data Research, Mr. Goetz received his patent, for data-sorting software for mainframes. It was major news in the industry: An article in Computerworld magazine bore the headline First Patent Is Issued for Software, Full Implications Are Not Known. Until then, software had not been viewed as a patentable product, one that was bundled into hulking mainframes like those made by IBM. Ms. Jacobs said her father had patented his own software so that IBM could not copy it and put it on its machines. By 1968, I had been involved in arguing about the patentability of software for about three years, Mr. Goetz said in an oral history interview in 2002 for the University of Minnesota. I knew at some point in time the patent office would recognize it. Since the synagogues inception, a large portion of the citys Jewish community has moved to the suburbs. But Ms. Woll sought to make Jewish life in the city more exciting, said Jeremy Moss, a state senator in Michigan who had known Ms. Woll since childhood. Im so stunned by all of this, he said in a phone call. I just saw her last week. Mr. Moss said Ms. Woll had been highly involved in Jewish community activism and that she was always trying to get more people to participate, adding that she had been proud of the renovations as a way to create a more innovative atmosphere. She was a burst of energy and optimism, Mr. Moss said. She was just somebody we all admired. She was not married and did not have children, he said. Ms. Woll was included in the feature article 36 Under 36 by The Detroit Jewish News in 2017, which said she had been instrumental in founding the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit that facilitated relationships between those communities. On social media, Ms. Chang recalled fond memories with Ms. Woll, whom she met during their undergraduate years at the University of Michigan. Ms. Woll helped Ms. Chang with all her campaigns, but she was more than just a colleague, Ms. Chang said she was a beautiful friend. Amy Martin stepped to the lectern earlier this month wearing a sweater that said Mama Bear and spoke directly to city officials sitting across from her in Bangor, Maine. She was there to speak for her 25-year-old son, C-Jay Martin, who has experienced profound anxiety and depression ever since the pandemic. The emotional support chickens they kept at home, she told them, had brought comfort to Mr. Martin, who is blind and has epilepsy and autism. A city ordinance, however, prevented residents from keeping fowl, so on Oct. 5, Ms. Martin attended the board of appeals meeting and made her case for having them as pets. The chickens, she argued, could bring her son joy. After a meeting of more than an hour, board members unanimously agreed. They voted that Ms. Martin and her son could have chickens at home in a decision that has resounded far beyond the city of about 30,000 residents, earning her praise from advocates for people with disabilities, and her neighbors. Mr. Bidens polling numbers have been mired in dangerous territory since he oversaw the chaotic American military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The enactment of popular legislation on infrastructure and renewable energy investments has done little to improve his popularity. A White House push to promote economic improvements under the banner of Bidenomics has done little to convince voters of its merits. I dont anticipate any long-term benefits politically, Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University, said of Mr. Bidens handling of the war in Israel. We live in an era now where polarization is so deep that no matter what the magnitude of the crisis is, or the performance of the president, its not likely to make a difference. Several voters interviewed on Friday were skeptical of Mr. Bidens call to send $14 billion to help Israel let alone another $60 billion for Ukraine. Samantha Moskowitz, 27, a psychology student at Georgia Gwinnett College in the Atlanta suburbs, said the prospect of sending billions to Israel and Ukraine makes me anxious, especially where our economy is right now. I dont love the idea that the money is being sent, said Ms. Moskowitz, who did not vote for either Mr. Biden or Donald J. Trump in 2020 and said it was too early to tell if she would vote in 2024. There is a need, but do we really need that significant amount? She said she did not watch Mr. Bidens Oval Office address on Thursday. About 20.3 million people watched Mr. Bidens speech across 10 television networks, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. The total audience for the speech was certainly bigger, given that the Nielsen data does not capture some online viewing numbers. When Mr. Trump spoke about immigration from the Oval Office in January 2019, about 40 million people tuned in. Just over 27 million people watched Mr. Bidens State of the Union speech in February. Stanley B. Greenberg, who was Mr. Clintons pollster in 1992, called Mr. Bidens Oval Office address a very important speech in terms of defining Americas security and bringing Iran and Russia to the forefront, and predicted that it could help rally voters around the president and push Congress to pass his $106 billion international aid plan, which includes money for Ukraine and the Middle East. Of course, a year from now, voters will be voting on the cost of living, the economy, the border, crime and other issues, he said. Foreign policy is rarely a voting determinant, but President Biden may be leading the attack on isolation and a new partisan choice on how we gain security. The initial polling suggests that broad majorities of Americans endorse Mr. Bidens staunch support for Israel. A Fox News poll found that 68 percent of voters sided with Israel, and 76 percent of voters in a Quinnipiac University poll said that supporting Israel was in the national interest of the United States. With the exception of 2004, when President George W. Bush confronted rising criticism about having led the nation into war against Iraq, no national election has been driven by foreign policy since the end of the Vietnam War. The nature of the presidential campaign could change if the conflict in Israel continues to dominate the news for weeks and months. Unlike the elder Mr. Bush after the 1991 Iraq war which began and ended quickly with what at the time seemed a clear victory Mr. Biden could be presenting himself as a wartime president through the course of his re-election bid, a prospect that also carries political risks. Mr. Bidens support for sending military aid to Israel, even accompanied by gentle pleas to the countrys leaders for restraint, has alienated many on the left wing of his party, who point to a high Palestinian death toll in Gaza that is likely to rise as Israel presses its offensive. This week, thousands have marched on the Capitol amid a series of open letters including one from a long roster of former presidential campaign staff members for Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts demanding that Democratic lawmakers urge Mr. Biden to push for a cease-fire in Israel, which he is unlikely to do. The president has picked sides in a conflict over which he has little control. Most immediately, Mr. Biden faces the challenge of what he can do to secure the release of Americans being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Hamas released two American hostages on Friday afternoon, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said that 10 more Americans had yet to be freed. Dr. Zelizer said, I think the assumption should be that things will go south and there will be detrimental effects. Referring to Mr. Biden and his administration, he added, Theres assistance, but they dont have real control over how this unfolds. For all of those risks, these next few months may give Mr. Biden a window to shake up the contest in ways that could put him on firmer ground. It gives him an opportunity to change and strengthen his image, said Charles R. Black Jr., a strategist for the presidential campaigns of both Bushes and Ronald Reagan. It gives him a chance to demonstrate his strength and also his knowledge. Paul Begala, a Democratic consultant, said that this political moment could prompt voters to give Mr. Biden a second look. The fear with an incumbent president is that voters write you off, they stop listening, he said. Whats the biggest thing about Biden? Mr. Begala added. Old. This gives him a chance to lean into it. I dont think people are going to vote on how he does in Israel. But I think this can let them reframe the age problem. It is a way for people to look and say, maybe its good we have the old guy in there. He is steady and strong. For Mr. Biden, an orderly handling of the crisis would be likely to buttress what is expected to be another dominant theme of his campaign if he finds himself running for a second time against Mr. Trump, with turmoil continuing among House Republicans as they seek to elect a speaker. Hopefully the House chaos will calm down long before the election, Mr. Black said. But Trump is so ad hoc on foreign policy that its always chaos. John Koblin contributed reporting from New York, and Sharon Dunten from Norcross, Ga. This moment, when it comes to migration, is something totally aberrational in terms of the historic import that it has, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said this month during remarks at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Texas. It used to be that when there was a migration crisis, it tended to be one maybe one source country at a time, Mr. Blinken added. Maybe it was Haiti. Maybe it was Cuba. Maybe it was Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador, the so-called Northern Triangle countries. Now its all of the above, plus Venezuela, plus Nicaragua, plus Ecuador. Over the past year, the Biden administration has rolled out new enforcement policies and legal pathways designed to drive down the number of illegal crossings on the southern border. The number of migrant arrests outside ports of entry, however, was down by about 200,000 compared with a year ago. This is most likely a result of federal efforts to direct migrants to make an appointment on a government smartphone app and enter the United States through an official port. This path is much more orderly and safe than swimming across the Rio Grande, for example. But the demand is far greater than the number of appointments available, and some migrants have been waiting months to get one. In the winter of 2000, Kenneth Chesebro was a mild-mannered Harvard lawyer toiling for Al Gore during the presidential election recount battle. Two decades later, on Jan. 6, 2021, he joined the mob outside the Capitol, reborn as a MAGA-hatted kingpin. On Friday, Mr. Chesebros journey took another turn, when he pleaded guilty in a criminal racketeering indictment in Fulton County, Ga., and agreed to testify against former President Donald J. Trump and other co-defendants, including Rudolph W. Giuliani and several other top Trump aides. Mr. Chesebro, 62, a workaholic who brought platinum credentials to Mr. Trumps shambolic legal team, is the third defendant to plead guilty for his role in what prosecutors say was a criminal conspiracy to create fraudulent slates of pro-Trump electors in six states, including Georgia, that Joseph R. Biden Jr. had won. Mr. Chesebros trial, which had been scheduled to begin Monday, will no longer go forward. Liberal lawyers from his former life had hoped it would provide clues to an enduring mystery: What happened to the Cheese? In a competition of hawkish messages on Israel, Ron DeSantis pledged on Friday night to revoke the student visas of Hamas sympathizers if elected president, while Tim Scott said he would withhold Pell grants from universities that failed to stamp out antisemitism. At an Iowa showcase featuring most of the top Republican presidential contenders, the Florida governor and the South Carolina senator engaged in one-upmanship about who would best support Israel, Americas closest Middle East ally. With their focus on students and academic institutions, they repackaged a traditional line of attack for Republicans: that liberal college campuses foster woke extremism, which they said was now taking the form of anti-Israel expressions. You see students demonstrating in our country in favor of Hamas, Mr. DeSantis said. Remember, some of them are foreigners. Mr. DeSantis then warned that if he became president, Im canceling your visa and Im sending you home. His remarks, during a tailgate at a construction plant in Iowa City, echoed recent talking points of former President Donald J. Trump, the G.O.P. front-runner, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken this week urging him to rescind the visas of Hamas sympathizers. Mr. Trump, who did not attend the event, had issued a similar pledge to expel student sympathizers of Hamas. Follow our live updates for the House speaker nominee vote. Representative Jim Jordan was brought down by the revolt of the rule followers. Withstanding intense pressure, a solid bloc of more mainstream Republicans, many with military and executive experience and a desire to legislate rather than blow things up, pulled the party in their direction. They believed that installing Mr. Jordan, a hard-right Ohioan and political brawler, would reward colleagues who had played dirty in unseating Speaker Kevin McCarthy and undermining the candidacy of Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana. It particularly galled them that Mr. Scalise, the No. 2 Republican, defeated Mr. Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in the initial party vote to choose a replacement for Mr. McCarthy only to then watch Mr. Jordans allies immediately pivot to denying Mr. Scalise the speakership on the floor. The anti-Jordan lawmakers then found themselves under a withering social media attack from the right and confronting violent threats against them and their families for balking at voting for Mr. Jordan. It only reinforced the resistance among the Republicans who see themselves as institutionalists. They insist that they just want to legislate in a conservative but orderly fashion and escape the chaos that has rocked Republicans for more than two weeks, damaging their image and their prospects for holding the House in next years elections. Wisconsin In rural Lone Rock, Wis., where harvest season had meant yet another long workday on Thursday, Randy Schmidt, 60, a dairy farmer, said the presidents appeal for military aid was going to be a hard sell in these parts. Mr. Schmidt owns the largest dairy farm in Richland County, a swing district that had voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1980, until 2020, when voters there went for former President Trumps re-election. I mean, money comes hard here, Mr. Schmidt said. Its been a relatively tough year of farming for us. I think as a country, we do support Israel, but I couldnt believe we can do that much. In suburban Milwaukee, however, the questions posed by the violence in the Middle East and Ukraine were less economic than moral for Janet Lucas. The terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israelis, in particular, were triggering for her, she said. I understand that there has been a fight between the two for years and years, said Ms. Lucas, 58. But the way that it was handled recently, my heart just broke of the devastation, she said of the Hamas killings and kidnappings of Israeli families. It took me back to 9/11 the same feeling, the same fear of, you know, is it going to happen to us, or whos next? On Friday she went to Holy Hill, a basilica on a forested hillside, a country drive away from her community, Brookfield, to take in the fall colors with her son, Michael, 25, who was in town from Tampa, Fla. As African Americans, they said, they felt conflicted about the presidents call to side with Israel. They could not condone terrorist attacks, they said, but sympathized with Palestinians and what they see as the long discrimination they have endured. There are times when I sit in the middle, because I can see both sides of it, Janet Lucas said. And then I also think, is there another way, could the United States or any other country get involved to help them to come to some form of peace? Nasreen Parveen decided to run for her life at the same moment she decided not to end it. She had made it all the way out to the ledge of the high window in her mothers house, her feet on that final dividing line between the solid world behind her and the drop into thin air in front. But as she prepared to jump, she looked out and received a stunning, seemingly impossible glimpse into the future. As Nasreen watched in horror, another girl her age jumped from the roof of a nearby house. The young woman plummeted to the ground, hit hard on her back and then lay in the dirt, grievously injured. Nasreen decided that the step into thin air, the drop and the dirt were not for her. But she was equally certain that she could not live the life that her family was trying to bind her to. Nasreen was just 16, but her family had already arranged an engagement for her, to a cousin on her fathers side whom she had never met before they were betrothed. The bruises that covered her body, inflicted by her future in-laws while she worked for them, she said, were evidence that a future of violence and pain lay before her. British Airways will launch daily flights to Abu Dhabi next year, following a four-year hiatus. Available to book from today, the route will begin operating on April 20, 2024, thus serving the UAEs capital year-round from London Heathrow airport. The new flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft in summer 2024 and will boost connectivity to the UAE as it joins flights to neighbouring Dubai, which operate up to three-times daily from Heathrow. During the summer 2024, the flight BA73 will depart from London Heathrow (LHR) at 10:25pm and arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 8:30am the next day, while the return flight BA72 will depart AUH at 10.10am and arrive in London at 3:20pm. During the winter 2024, the flight BA73 will take off from LHR at 10:25pm and land in Abu Dhabi at 9:30am the next day. The flight BA72 will depart from AUH at 11:10am and arrive at LHR at 3:20pm. Welcoming the BA move, Maureen Bannerman, Abu Dhabi Airports Chief Commercial Officer, said: "Were delighted to welcome British Airways back to Abu Dhabi International Airport, adding to the growing list of leading carriers set to use Terminal A as their operational base in Abu Dhabi." "A luxurious new gateway to Abu Dhabi, Terminal A will open to the public from 1st November, offering state-of-the-art facilities for both passengers and airlines," he stated. Neil Chernoff, British Airways Director of Network and Alliances, said: "Abu Dhabi is a unique destination that is making a very welcome return to our network." "With a blend of beach, city and desert, it has everything our customers are looking for in a Middle Eastern trip, and we look forward to welcoming them back on board as we grow our footprint in the UAE," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The result of the referendum was decisive, and at the same time, divisive. It bruised Indigenous Australians who for decades had hoped that a conciliatory approach would help right the wrongs of the countrys colonial history. So, the nations leader made a plea. This moment of disagreement does not define us. And it will not divide us, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, visibly emotional, said this month, after voters in every state and territory except one rejected the constitutional referendum. This is not the end for reconciliation. But that was a difficult proposition to accept for Indigenous leaders who saw the result as a vote for a tortured status quo in a country that is already far behind other colonized nations in reconciling with its first inhabitants. The five women testifying that the Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard sexually assaulted them described for jurors over the past four weeks how they ended up in the hidden bedroom suite at his office. Decades ago, they said, they each accepted Mr. Nygards invitation to visit the stylish Toronto headquarters of his fashion kingdom, Nygard International. He was an eager tour guide, they testified, showing off a high-end car in the garage as well as a glistening showroom. But, they said, he was most excited about bringing guests upstairs to the wood-paneled bedroom suite, fitted with a fireplace, a stone Jacuzzi, a stocked bar and a large bed. It was behind the sliding doors of that room, which Mr. Nygard could operate and lock from a keypad on the nightstand, that each of the women said he sexually assaulted them. I was a prisoner in that room, said one woman, the last of five complainants to conclude her testimony at a Toronto courthouse this week as prosecutors prepare to close their case. The door sliding open is seared in my psyche, she later added. According to a statement of claim that Brinks and two of its subsidiaries filed with the Federal Court of Canada, the cash and the gold were two separate shipments traveling together. The 53 kilograms of cash worth $1.9 million were sent by a Swiss bank to a Vancouver-based currency exchange. The 400 kilos of gold bars worth 13.6 million Swiss francs, or $15.3 million, were going to Toronto-Dominion Bank from a precious metal refinery in Switzerland. (The value of the cargo is slightly higher than the initial police estimate.) Brinks said that it was responsible to the shippers for covering any losses if the gold and cash went missing. Brinks paid a premium, as a flat-rate handling fee and a percentage of the cargos value, to send the shipment through a special Air Canada service called AC Secure that, according to the airline, provides greater security and gives the shipment priority for loading and unloading. Air Canada Flight 881 from Zurich landed in Toronto a few minutes early, at 3:56 p.m. About 24 minutes later the gold and cash were off the plane, and by 5:50 p.m. they were in an Air Canada warehouse for goods awaiting customs inspection. About 40 minutes later, according to the court filing, an unidentified individual entered the warehouse. No security protocols or features were in place to monitor, restrict or otherwise regulate the unidentified individuals access to the facilities, Brinks contends. A United Nations commission has found new evidence that Russian forces committed war crimes in Ukraine, including deliberate killings, rape and the removal of Ukrainian children, according to a report released on Friday. Victim testimonies also asserted the systematic and widespread use of torture in several Russian detention facilities, the report said. Drawing on more than 450 interviews with victims and witnesses in areas liberated by Ukrainian troops or who have fled Russian-held territory, the report documents the use of electric shocks against prisoners accused of supporting Ukrainian forces, the rape of women ranging in age from 16 to 83 and the transfer of unaccompanied Ukrainian children to Russian territory. The report, by a panel commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council, focused on the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces quickly seized territory at the start of their full-scale invasion last year. Unlike north-central Ukraine, which Kyivs forces have liberated, allowing investigators to more quickly uncover crimes by Russian forces, parts of those two regions remain under Moscows control and are largely inaccessible to international organizations. That has complicated investigations and stoked fears that the millions of people living there are at risk of human rights abuses. Testimonies in the report painted a damning picture of life under Russian occupation, with the commission saying in a statement that acts of rape and other sexual violence were often committed together with additional acts of violence against the victims, including severe beatings, strangling, suffocating, slashing, shooting next to the head of the victim and willful killing. Israeli officials said that Hamas had taken at least 20 children, including toddlers; more than a dozen people in their 60s, 70s and 80s; and people who suffer from Parkinsons disease, heart problems, diabetes and cancer. On top of that, several hostages were gravely wounded by gunshots and grenades during the terrorist attack. Family members and international organizations are beseeching Hamas to show mercy and release the old, the young, the sick and the wounded first. The International Committee of the Red Cross is one of the groups trying to help. Within two days of the attack, Red Cross officials said, they had approached Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. The starting point and I have a hard time getting away from this is that there are people who should never be there, said Fabrizio Carboni, the organizations regional director for the Near and Middle East, in an interview this past week. In the past 10 days, he said, the Red Cross has met face to face and held numerous telephone calls with Hamas officials, but, considering the level of violence in Gaza, I see it as extremely complicated for us to do our work. Red Cross officials said they were asking Hamas leaders to offer proof of life, such as a message, phone call or video that would prove each person believed to be held captive is alive. The Red Cross is also asking Hamas to allow in medicine and to immediately release the hostages with urgent health needs, like Rut. They should all be released, but the ones with specific medical conditions should be even more released than the others, Mr. Carboni said. There is no way easily to provide the medical help they need in Gaza today, he added. We asked for it. But today we are far from it, very far. Saturday marked two weeks since the Hamas rampage that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and triggered Israels declaration of war. Two of the more than 200 hostages believed to have been seized by Hamas during the terror attack, Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. Negotiations are continuing among several countries and Hamas representatives in Qatar about the other hostages, but there is no indication of when they might be released or how they are faring in captivity. The exact number of hostages and their fates remain uncertain. The majority of the hostages are alive, the Israeli military said Friday in a statement that provided cold comfort to the families. The military said that more than 20 of the hostages are under 18 and at least 10 are over 60. With tanks, armored personnel carriers and militarized bulldozers massed near the northern Gaza border in preparation for what Israel has said will be a ground invasion to wipe out the top leadership of Hamas, residents of the enclave waited anxiously on Saturday for full-scale war. The Israeli military has outlined plans of an invasion of Gaza that would include tens of thousands of soldiers ordered to capture Gaza City, in the northern part of the territory. Israels military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Saturday that the country planned to step up its airstrikes as preparation for the next stage of the war, presumably referring to a ground invasion. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war, Hagari said, according to The Associated Press. Gazas Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll from hundreds of Israeli airstrikes over the past two weeks is at least 4,385 people, many of them women and children. Fears persisted over the weekend that the war in Gaza could spread to a second front or more. Israel and armed groups in Lebanon continued to exchange fire on Saturday. The Israeli military said militants had launched missiles and rockets at Israel and that its forces had responded by striking targets in Lebanon, including some affiliated with the politically powerful Hezbollah. The Israeli authorities have ordered an evacuation of at least 29 communities close to the Lebanese border, including the city of Kiryat Shmona. As of Saturday, about 10,000 of its 23,000 residents remained, according to Yoram Maman, a city council member. Authorities hoped to begin wrapping up the operation by Sunday, he said. Middle East Airlines, Lebanons national airline, has begun to cancel and reschedule some flights in and out of Beirut as tensions rise with Israel. On Friday, the carrier said that more than half of its airplanes would not be operating in the coming week. Foreign embassies in Lebanon have in recent days urged their citizens to leave that country while commercial flights remain available. Leaders, foreign ministers and diplomats from dozens of Arab, European, African and other countries gathered in Cairo on Saturday for a peace summit aimed at de-escalating the violence in Gaza. But after hours of speeches, they had little to show for the trip other than a gaping divide, as Arab leaders castigated Western countries for not speaking out about the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear, King Abdullah II of Jordan said in his remarks. Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives. The application of international law is optional, and human rights have boundaries they stop at borders, they stop at races and they stop at religions. Days after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Matvey Kukuy, a technology entrepreneur, fled the country for Israel, more out of shame than fear. But when Hamas attacked his new home two weeks ago, he did the opposite: While at a conference in Portugal, he booked tickets to go back to Israel in one of its greatest moments of crisis. I felt I was on the right side of history this time, Mr. Kukuy, 30, said in a phone interview from Tel Aviv. Mr. Kukuy, who is from Moscow, was one of thousands of Russians with Jewish heritage, including many prominent figures, who left for Israel after the invasion of Ukraine. Some stood in lines in front of Israeli diplomatic missions in Moscow, some sought to prove their Jewish roots inside Israel. To resettle in Israel, Russians need to show that one adult family member has Jewish heritage. In the early weeks of 2022, when a Russian invasion of Ukraine seemed imminent, a steady stream of people left Russia. That turned into a flood of such proportions after the war started that Russian prosecutors soon sought to impose an operational ban on a major Jewish nonprofit agency that helps people emigrate to Israel. A Russian court has yet to rule on the matter. The exodus of Russian families and Israels decision not to endorse the Kremlins rationale for the war the false assertion that Ukraine is run by Nazis strained the relationship between the two countries. But it also highlighted the deep divisions within Russian society over President Vladimir V. Putins decision to attack Ukraine. Thousands opposed to the war no longer live in Russia. Others with their voices amplified by the countrys state-run media labeled the exiles as treacherous traitors who should never return to Russia. The war between Israel and Hamas, the armed group that controls Gaza, exposed the fact that these divisions are deep and enduring. Lev Sotnikov left Russia shortly after Mr. Putin announced a call-up of reservists to join the fighting in September 2022. He said that while all wars carry some similarities, the one between Israel and Hamas is different from the one in Ukraine because, unlike Russia, Israel is fighting for its survival as a state. This war was also a crash course for him on life in the country, said Mr. Sotnikov, 37. This summer, after he settled with his family in the town of Nahariya, six miles from the border with Lebanon, he felt absolutely safe, he said. Since the attack by Hamas, tensions have flared in the north near Lebanon, with some analysts and officials fearing an escalation of hostilities in the area. Now I understand that even when everything will end, Mr. Sotnikov said, referring to the current war between Israel and Hamas, nothing will actually end. After Hamass attack, many Russian families decided to leave Israel, at least for the initial period of open hostilities. Russian aviation authorities said on Friday that around 7,000 people had flown from Israel to Russia after the attack by Hamas and that around 3,000 had flown back. Russian community chats in some of the main centers of postwar immigration, such as Tbilisi, Georgia, or Yerevan, Armenia, were filled with requests for temporary apartments and other help. Some Russian exiles in Israel said they were surprised that, despite deep political divisions, there was a consensus among Israelis about the need to help each other and their army. Yuri Podkopayev, a math teacher who left Russia last November, said that unlike in Russia, in Israel people were free to criticize the government but that they were also all united around one cause the protection of their country. No one questioned Russias right for existence, said Mr. Podkopayev, 40. Thats why there wasnt any kind of massive support of the war in Ukraine. However, even exiles against the Kremlins war still see Russia as their motherland, they said. While Mr. Podkopayev has settled in Israel for good and is learning Hebrew so he can resume teaching math, he said that he considers himself to be a patriot of both Russia and Israel. I have two countries, and I worry about both of them, Mr. Podkopayev said. One of them is just seriously sick now. Leaders, foreign ministers and diplomats from dozens of Arab, European, African and other countries gathered in Cairo on Saturday for a peace summit aimed at de-escalating the violence in Gaza. But after hours of speeches, they had little to show for the trip other than a gaping divide, as Arab leaders castigated Western countries for their silence on Israels airstrikes on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear, King Abdullah II of Jordan said in his remarks. Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives. The application of international law is optional, and human rights have boundaries they stop at borders, they stop at races and they stop at religions. One goal of any summit is to end in a joint statement that all the countries in attendance can agree on. But European leaders arrived in Cairo knowing they could not sign Egypts draft declaration, which did not mention Israels right to defend itself against Hamas, according to European diplomats and officials involved in the summit preparations. Like any other country in the world, Israel has the right to defend itself and to defend its people against this terror, the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said in a speech at the summit, though she added that the defense must be within the framework of international law. In the end, there was no statement. Still, the remarks of several European leaders made clear that the soaring civilian death toll and looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza had forced a subtle shift in rhetoric. While reiterating Israels right to defend itself, the European leaders on Saturday uniformly called on Israel to act according to international law and urged greater protections for Palestinian civilians, points that had received less emphasis in the first few days after Hamass Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli civilians. And despite the lack of a summit declaration, European officials said leaders from Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain, as well as the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, were eager to show up in Cairo, if only to demonstrate to their Arab partners that they were concerned about civilians in Gaza. In much of the Muslim world, the Western response has sparked criticism of hypocrisy and double standards for its failure to condemn the siege and Israels airstrikes on civilians in Gaza which critics said was the same sort of violence Western countries readily described as a war crime when Russia invaded Ukraine. Outrage over those perceived double standards was on display at the Cairo summit, where leader after leader of Arab countries mourned the thousands of Palestinian civilians who have died in Israeli airstrikes since Oct. 7. Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water and basic necessities would be condemned, King Abdullah said. Accountability would be enforced. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is the most visible leader speaking for the European Union, added fuel to those charges with several missteps on her watch, including the unilateral announcement by one of her commissioners, later withdrawn, that the bloc would suspend aid to Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. She did not attend the summit in Cairo, sending one of her deputies instead. In more recent days, as the humanitarian situation within Gaza has worsened and the civilian death toll grown, it has become clear that European leaders want to send a different signal though one that is still likely to sound too muted to Arab ears. Collective punishment is prohibited by the laws of war, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greeces prime minister, in an apparent admonishment of Israel. When war must be conducted, there are limits to what can be done to human beings. A total siege is against international law. Every Western official at the summit mentioned the need to ensure a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and several countries announced at the summit that they would increase their funding for such aid. Ms. von der Leyen has also announced a tripling of aid to the Palestinians. (The bloc is the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians.) And while the rest of the world might see a European Union fully aligned with Israel, within the bloc, complaints about Ms. von der Leyens staunchly pro-Israel posture have grown, even triggering a rare letter of complaint by European Commission staff members, who are usually both avowedly neutral and afraid for their career prospects in the E.U. executive branch. The letter, which was addressed to Ms. von der Leyen personally, signed by some 850 staffers and first reported by Euractiv, accused her of a patent show of double-standards and said the Commission had given a free hand to the acceleration and legitimacy of a war crime in the Gaza Strip. An armed hostage rescue is considered too risky and dangerous at this moment, experts say, leaving officials from the constellation of countries feverishly continuing their negotiations. Some Hamas political leaders are trying to distance themselves from the worst atrocities carried out by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7 and now contend that it was angry Gazans and members of other armed groups not their own fighters who kidnapped the civilians. Yet videos released by Hamas fighters themselves depict the brutal killing of unarmed civilians. Shocked by the scale of the attacks, Israel has refused to negotiate with Hamas, several officials said. Instead, the Israeli army is amassing tanks and armored personnel carriers on Gazas border, primed for a full-scale invasion. And even though Israel allowed a trickle of humanitarian aid 20 trucks for two million people into Gaza on Saturday, Israeli warplanes show no sign of relenting in a campaign that is intended to destroy Hamas but has also killed thousands of civilians. Yaakov Peri, a former head of the Shin Bet, the Israeli security service, said Israel may have agreed to let humanitarian aid enter Gaza on Saturday morning in light of the hostages release Friday night. He said Hamass motive might have been to inspire Israelis who have loved ones in captivity in Gaza to pressure their government to delay the impending ground invasion until more hostages are released. This is what Hamas is thinking, Mr. Peri said. But we cannot fall for this trap. There are still many questions of why, of all the 200 or so hostages, the Raanans were released. Robert DAmico, a former F.B.I. agent who worked on hostage cases overseas, said it may have been the fact that the two were healthy. I dont know if you want to release critically wounded ones, he said. It just looks bad. (Several hostages were badly injured before they were captured, including one California native who had half of his arm blown off by a grenade.) Another obvious reason the Raanans were chosen, Mr. DAmico and others said, is that they are Americans though there are up to 10 more Americans in captivity. Hamas might be trying to temper Israeli retaliation on Gaza by gaining some good will from the Biden administration. President Biden and his team have been closely advising Israel on how it is waging its war on Gaza, although it is not clear how much Israel actually listens to what the Americans say. Birr woman Sharon Conneely recently held a fundraiser in St Brendan's RC Church for the Streetwise project which is building a multipurpose school hall in the township of Delft near Cape Town in South Africa and in which her husband Oisin Conneely is taking part. Oisin and several other volunteers from Birr and surrounding areas recently travelled to Delft where they will stay for about six weeks lending their skills and elbow grease to this great cause. Amongst them is Neil McDermott, an architect from Birr, Peter Lyons, a Rath man who works as an architect in Tullamore, Mark Kennedy, who works as a truck driver in Grennan's Rath, and Kieran Corrigan, who is in Sales & Marketing in Rath. Oisin's trade is carpentry. Speaking to the Midland Tribune from the building site in Delft, Peter Lyons said this is the third phase of a three phase project. The school is run by the Salesian Sisters, he said. In the first phase, back in 2011, we built a creche on the site, for pre-school children; in 2018 we built a skills training centre for post-school children; and now we are building a multipurpose hall which will be used by both the pre and post school children. We are getting on well here. We are being looked after well. We stay on site during the day and drive home to our accommodation in the evening, which is outside of Delft near Cape Town. He pointed out that it's not advisable to venture outside the building site and go into the town, especially after dark, because it has a big problem with drugs and violence and there are gangs in the area who can turn aggressive and violent. Like many shanty towns in South Africa, Delft has a serious law and order issue. This makes the good work of the Salesian Sisters and these Offaly men even more important because they are bringing some stability and decency to a volatile and difficult environment. We have thirteen men from Delft working with us on the building site, continued Peter. They are hard workers and we get on very well with them. We plan to finish in about six weeks time, in November. The work is challenging because it is a short timescale. Because of the short timescale we planned and prepared for it as best we could in advance. Overall, it's going pretty well at the moment. The Salesian Sisters say every child has great potential, both academically and as a caring, decent human being, and they want to bring out that potential through their schools. They call their creche the Don Bosco Educare School. This and the skills training centre, the Sisters say, provide vital services to the community in the surrounding township. Our project commenced in 2010, they comment, and is now nearing completion with the construction this year of the shared, multipurpose hall and additional classroom space. We are very grateful to the Irish volunteer group Streetwise for providing invaluable assistance with the project. In the creche / Educare school about 200 children attend each year. Peter said the skills training centre offers the equivalent of PLC courses in Ireland where undertaking the various courses and skills training aids the students in their subsequent quest to gain employment. The Salesian Sisters are trying to fundraise for the project. If you would like to make a donation to this special cause then please email bursar@salesiansisters.net for more information. Locals gathered in Rhode on a wet and windy Tuesday evening last night to protest the "disastrous" works carried out by Offaly County Council which has left it almost impossible for buses and trucks to turn at the junction in the village. The frustrations stem from work commenced in recent weeks to widen the footpaths at the crossroads in the village. This has resulted in a narrowing of the junction for traffic with trucks and buses forced to reverse and inch their way around very close to new footpaths and bollards. The work is due to continue this week with Offaly County Council stressing the layout is not completed and that the junction will become a "raised table junction" with no kerbs. One resident last night posted a picture of locals standing in the centre of the junction in protest. Vinny Grennan said: "A stand-off for nearly three hours took place this evening [Tuesday] in Rhode Co. Offaly with concerned locals at the new footpaths and roadworks. Hopefully the county engineers will come meet and hear the locals concerns for our community." One of the organisers of the protest, Jenny Whelan, added that the protest was taking place for people to "stand together to keep our families safe from this disastrous junction layout. "Our families are in danger daily, our elderly have had their parking taken away, our sick have no parking near their local doctor, our children are at risk on these ridiculous footpaths, our drivers are trying to navigate dangerous and totally unacceptable and impossible corners. "On top of all this our roads and access are being completely closed without warning. Enough is enough." In response to queries about the works from the Offaly Express, a spokesperson for Offaly County Council said that the construction work is ongoing but once completed the crossroads in Rhode will be a raised table junction, i.e. no kerbs. "The steep ramps currently in place are only a temporary measure. All our Active Travel Works are undertaken in line with appropriate industry guidelines," the spokesperson said. They added that the works will provide a safer environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users within Rhode village. "The completed works will also slow vehicles down with the village and traffic passing through Rhode village, the spokesperson outlined. "The improvements will also remove unregulated unsafe parking entirely from the crossroads and near pedestrian crossings to improve sight lines." The spokesperson said the HGVs will have to wait until junctions are clear to continue, crossing the centreline is allowed but only when the path is clear. The work is actually continuing this week with the Council warning of a another temporary road closure in the village on Tuesday and Wednesday "to allow for the installation of road surface across the junction." However, concerns remain locally about the works undertaken in the village. One person commented on social media: "Its an accident waiting to happen and needs an urgent review. The workers told the engineer that the road wouldnt be wide enough and they were told to carry on! Absolutely ridiculous! It needs sorting now." Web Summit chief Paddy Cosgrave has announced his resignation amid growing controversy over remarks he made about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tech giants Google, Meta and Amazon had pulled out of the upcoming technology conference amid the fallout from his remarks around western support for Israel. Siemens and Intel have also pulled out of next months event due to be held in Lisbon, Portugal. Two senior executives from tech company Stripe will also not attend, and it was reported that actress Gillian Anderson has withdrawn from her speaking role at the conference. On Saturday Mr Cosgrave issued a statement saying he was resigning as chief executive of Ireland-based Web Summit with immediate effect. He said his personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our start-ups and the people who attend. He added: I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused. Mr Cosgrave issued an apology on Tuesday saying he unreservedly condemned Hamass attack on October 7. That followed a controversial post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on October 13 which 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, he added. Mr Cosgrave said his comments were intended to urge Israel not to cross the boundaries of international law in its response to Hamas atrocities. Apology from Paddy Cosgravehttps://t.co/vyYT7a4oAL Web Summit (@WebSummit) October 17, 2023 In his 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. It is understood to be going ahead as planned. Caught On Camera: Man Crushed To Death In Bengaluru After Intense Car Chase On Busy Road Minister Byrathi Suresh's Close Aide In CCB Custody For Printing Fake Voter ID Card Racket Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Saturday have served a notice to Mounesh Kumar, a close aide of Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning, Byrathi Suresh, in connection with allegations of printing fake voter identification (ID) cards, according to reports. This development is particularly noteworthy due to its timing, occurring just four months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Mounesh Kumar, a close aide to Byrathi Suresh allegedly printed fraudulent Aadhar cards, voter IDs, driving licenses, PAN cards, and other documents for the purpose of deceiving individuals and government officials as reported by Tv9 Kannada reported. According to News18 Kannada reports, CCB police officers detained three people- Mounesh, along with Bhagath and Raghavendra. These individuals are suspected of engaging in the printing of counterfeit IDs in exchange for monetary compensation in Hebbal. Speaking to reporters, Byrathi Suresh said, "Many people come and take photos with me all day. That doesn't imply my involvement in that, right?" Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remained tight-lipped and declined to comment on the recent arrest of a close aide to Minister Byrathi Suresh, as reported by Public TV. CoWIN Data Breach! TMC Alleges Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Details Of Politicians, Others Leaked On Telegram The CCB police conducted search operations at the premises of MSL Techno Solution Company located in Kanakanagar, near RT Nagar after receiving a tip off, where the suspects were engaged in the printing fake IDs. Police officers seized computers and related equipment which was used in the production of fraudulent identification cards from the facility. A case has been formally registered at the Hebbal Police Station, and an ongoing investigation is currently in progress. Silk Board Flyover Closure: Namma Metro Work To Worsen Traffic Woes For The Next 4 Months Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal Commuters in Bengaluru are set to face further traffic challenges as Silk Board Junction's congestion issues may escalate. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced on Friday that one side of the flyover ramp would undergo partial closure due to ongoing Namma Metro construction work. The BMRCL issued an official statement, revealing that a 2.5-meter section on both sides of the main carriageway of the flyover's up and down ramp near Madiwala would be barricaded for a duration of four months, effective from today. This partial closure is because to facilitate the BMRCL's execution of loop and ramp flyover staging work, as stated in the announcement. Traffic situation at #SilkBoard junction is expected to worsen as the #BMRCL is barricading the carriageway (2.50 mts on both sides) of the flyover up and down ramp (#Madivala side) for 4 months.#Madiwala #Bengaluru #BengaluruTraffic pic.twitter.com/iKmK5cccJo Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) October 20, 2023 This decision to temporarily close the flyover is part of a larger endeavor to meet the Karnataka government's ambitious 2026 completion deadline for the Namma metro Blue Line project, spanning from the Silk Board Flyover to Kempegowda International Airport. The extensive construction work associated with this infrastructure project has already led to disruptions, necessitating the partial closure of the Central Silk Board Junction Flyover on the fold side. Bengaluru: Policeman Stops Pakistani Fan from Chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad: Video Goes Viral The BMRCL said, "Central Silk Board flyover up and down ramp carriageway (Madivala side) will be partially barricaded from October 21 (2.50 mts on both carriageways for 4 months) temporarily for carrying out loops and ramp flyover staging work. Public cooperation is required. Inconvenience caused is regretted." Blue Line Namma Metro The Blue Line, also known as the ORR-Airport Metro Line, is an integral component of Bangalore, Karnataka's Namma Metro rail network, offering an extensive and efficient transit system. This line is divided into two vital segments - Phase-2A, which spans from Silkboard to KR Puram, and Phase-2B, encompassing the stretch from KR Puram to the Kempegowda International Airport. Phase-2A commenced its construction journey in August 2021, signifying a significant step toward bolstering Bangalore's public transportation network. Meanwhile, Phase-2B is poised to embark on its construction endeavors in February 2022, further solidifying the city's commitment to a well-connected metro system. The extensive Blue Line, measuring 58.19 kilometers in total length, seamlessly links the Central Silk Board to the Kempegowda International Airport. The majority of the line is elevated, providing a swift and efficient means of travel. However, a noteworthy aspect of the route includes an at-grade section near the airport, ensuring convenient access. Additionally, the line incorporates two concise underground segments, primarily while passing through the Jakkur Aerodrome and Yelahanka AFB. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi announces three candidates for Rajasthan Assembly polls AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has announced that his party will field three candidates in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly polls. He said that more names will be announced in consultation with the state leadership. India -Krishna Kripa AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi announced on Saturday that his party has so far fielded three candidates in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly polls and more names will be announced in consultation with its state leadership. The Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has entered the poll fray in Rajasthan for the first time. It has fielded candidates from the Hawa Mahal constituency in Jaipur, Fatehpur in Sikar, and Kaman in Bharatpur for the November 25 polls. Owaisi's Strategy for Rajasthan Polls Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, Owaisi said, "The party has fielded three candidates in the upcoming Assembly election and more names will be announced in consultation with the state leadership. The party is contesting the Rajasthan Assembly polls for the first time and we will try our best to ensure that our candidates perform well." He said public meetings of the AIMIM candidates are scheduled in Fatehpur on Saturday and in Jaipur on Sunday. On his party's strategy in the polls, Owaisi said they will go to people highlighting that the Congress has failed to provide governance to them and remained busy in infighting as well as the BJP's communalism and pro-majority behavior in the country. AIMIM Not Part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance Asked about not being made a part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) that has been formed by opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he said it does not lower the significance of the AIMIM and they will continue to do their work. "This INDIA is an elite club of the chieftains of secularism. Big people sit in this club. People like us are not needed in it and we are also not interested to be a part of it. We will do our work," Owaisi said. Owaisi Attacks Congress and BJP Asked about Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's assertion that the Congress is going to retain power in Rajasthan, he said the grand old party and its leaders say a lot of things. "In the last Lok Sabha election, he (Gehlot) had said they will win all the seats but his son lost the contest. They say a lot of things," Owaisi said. Later, while addressing a public meeting in Bhinchri of Fatehpur town in Sikar district, Owaisi said, "Today, the BJP is in power because of Ashok Gehlot and Rahul Gandhi. Narendra Modi could become the Prime Minister of the country twice not because of you and me. The BJP gets success because of their (Congress) uselessness, double standards in policies, and false promises." He said the Congress terms the AIMIM a B team of the BJP, whereas the BJP says they are terrorists and anti-national. The AIMIM's entry into the Rajasthan Assembly polls has added a new dimension to the electoral battle in the state. With its focus on Muslim voters, the party could play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the elections in some constituencies. It will be interesting to see how the AIMIM fares in its first electoral outing in Rajasthan. Opposition alleges incomplete power project inaugurated by PM Modi in Uttarakhand Opposition parties in Uttarakhand have alleged that the state government got a half-complete power project inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently, a claim rejected by the ruling BJP. India -Krishna Kripa Dehradun: Opposition parties in Uttarakhand have alleged that the state government got a half-complete power project inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently, a claim rejected by the ruling BJP. Congress alleges half-completed project During his visit to the state on October 12, the prime minister had laid the foundation stone of and inaugurated 23 projects worth about Rs 4,200 crore, which also included the 42-kilometer-long Pithoragarh-Lohaghat-Champawat transmission line. Main opposition Congress alleged that due to non-construction of a power substation, only 33 KV power is being transmitted through the line that should carry 132 KV. "The state government got the half-completed project inaugurated by the prime minister. We demand the government conduct an investigation and punish the officials responsible for this," state Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana said. He claimed the construction of the said sub-station is in the stage of the tendering process. "We have to understand that until this sub-station is built, the huge 132 KV power cannot be transmitted through this line." AAP alleges corruption Aam Aadmi Party state coordinator Jot Singh Bisht said this incident has tarnished the image of Uttarakhand. "A project kept incomplete for a long time leads to cost escalation and increases the possibility of corruption." Officials clarify When contacted, officials of the Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited PTCUL said the prime minister inaugurated only the transmission line, the work of which has been completed. They said the construction of the sub-station is also underway and it will be completed soon. BJP rejects allegations The ruling BJP rejected the claims by opposition parties as an attempt to mislead the public, and asked the Congress to apologise. State BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said the Congress is spreading a false propaganda. "In a press release issued here, Chauhan said the whole project is to be completed in 2025 but after the transmission line was set up, the state government is utilising 25 per cent of its capacity for the convenience of the common people." "This addressed the issue of power tripping and low voltage, helping thousands of people in the inaccessible hilly areas," he said. He said that PTCUL officials have also clarified that the work of electrical substation and transmission line is different and the prime minister has inaugurated only the completed transmission line. The inauguration of a half-complete power project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttarakhand has sparked controversy, with opposition parties alleging that the project was not ready to be inaugurated. The ruling BJP has rejected the allegations, saying that the project is on track to be completed by 2025. Gaganyaan Mission Test Flight Launch Aborted: Vehicle Safe, ISRO Probing Cause India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has delayed the launch of the first developmental flight test of the Gaganyaan program. The mission, called the Test Vehicle Development Flight (TV-D1), was originally planned for a liftoff from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota at 8:00 am IST on October 21, 2023. However, the mission's launch was first rescheduled to 8:30 am IST and later to 8:45 am IST. However, the mission did not take off as scheduled today, as announced by ISRO Chief S Somanath during a livestream. The Gaganyaan mission is India's first human spaceflight mission, and the test flight is a crucial step in preparing for the launch of the first crewed mission. The test flight will carry the uncrewed spacecraft TV-D1, which will be used to test the spacecraft's systems and capabilities. ISRO Chief Somnath said that the launch of the TV-D1 test flight was aborted due to a glitch in the onboard computer. He added that the vehicle is safe and that ISRO will investigate the cause of the glitch before announcing a new launch date. "The planned liftoff of TV-D1 did not occur today as scheduled at 8:00 AM. The delay in liftoff time to 8:45 AM was due to adverse weather conditions, and the automatic launch sequence leading to the engine ignition command proceeded smoothly. However, the engine ignition did not occur as expected. We will investigate the cause of the issue. The spacecraft is in a safe condition, and our team will assess the situation on board. We will return with more information after analysing the event that triggered the automatic launch sequence to hold the vehicle. The onboard ground check-up computer detected an anomaly that led to the launch hold. We will reschedule the launch, and further details will be provided once we have completed our analysis,'' ISRO Chief said. Explained: ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission, The Ongoing, Way Forward And What's Happened What is the Gaganyaan project? The Gaganyaan project is India's first human spaceflight mission. The goal of the project is to launch a crew of three astronauts to an orbit of 400 kilometers for a three-day mission and then return them safely to Earth. The project is expected to make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission, after the United States, Russia, and China. What is the Crew Escape System? The Crew Escape System is a safety system that is designed to protect the astronauts in the event of an emergency during the launch or ascent phase of the mission. The system is equipped with five types of solid rocket motors that can quickly propel the crew module away from the launch vehicle. What tests are planned for the Gaganyaan project? ISRO has planned a series of tests to prepare for the Gaganyaan mission, including three uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3). The HLVM3 is the rocket that will be used to launch the Gaganyaan spacecraft. What is the test vehicle or rocket? The test vehicle or rocket is approximately 35 meters tall and weighs 44 tonnes. It is powered by a modified Vikas engine that uses liquid fuel. The crew module and crew escape system are mounted at the front of the rocket. Infant Rape-Murder Case: SC Sets Aside Man's Conviction, Remits Matter For Fresh Trial India oi-PTI The Supreme Court has set aside the conviction of a man facing death penalty for alleged rape and murder of a three-month-old girl and remitted the matter for a ''de novo (new) trial'', observing that the trial in the case was conducted in a ''hurried manner'' without giving him proper opportunity to defend himself. The apex court noted that the trial in the case lodged in 2018 was completed within a span of 15 days from the date of filing of the charge sheet, the accused was convicted for several offences and sentenced to death by the trial court. A bench headed by Justice B R Gavai said, ''We are of the considered view that the trial court conducted the trial in a hurried manner without giving proper opportunity to the accused to defend himself.'' It was settled that a hasty trial in which proper and sufficient opportunity was not provided to the accused to defend himself or herself would vitiate the trial as being ''meaningless and stage-managed'', the bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Prashant Kumar Mishra, said in its verdict delivered on October 19. Supreme Court Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Legalisation In 3:2 Verdict ''Therefore, the judgement of conviction and sentence passed by the trial court and affirmed by the high court is hereby set aside and the matter is remitted back to the trial court for de novo trial by affording proper opportunity to the appellant to defend himself,'' it said. The top court delivered its verdict on a plea filed by appellant, Naveen, challenging the December 2018 judgement of the Madhya Pradesh High Court upholding his conviction for the offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including that of murder and rape, and under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The High Court had confirmed the death sentence awarded to him by a trial court in Indore. The Supreme Court noted in its verdict that the appellant was convicted and sentenced for committing rape and murder of a three-month-old girl child. During the arguments before the top court, the counsel appearing for the appellant had argued that the entire trial was completed within 15 days -- from April 27, 2018, when the charge sheet was filed, to May 12, 2018, when judgement was delivered by the trial court. ''A close reading and scrutiny of the order sheet recorded by the trial court, as stated above in brief, would manifest that the accused was not provided an opportunity to engage a counsel of his choice and instead his submission was recorded that he desires to be defended by a counsel appointed through legal aid,'' the bench said. It said the order sheets clearly indicated that the trial was conducted in a ''hurried manner'' without providing ample and proper opportunity to the defence counsel, who was engaged through legal aid, to prepare himself effectively. The bench also referred to the principle of ''judicial calm'' in the context of fair trial. ''In our view, in the hallowed halls of justice, the essence of a fair and impartial trial lies in the steadfast embrace of judicial calm. It is incumbent upon a judge to exude an aura of tranquillity, offering a sanctuary of reason and measured deliberation,'' it said. ''In the halls of justice, the gavel strikes not in haste, but in a deliberate cadence ensuring every voice, every piece of evidence, is accorded its due weight. AAP MP Raghav Chadha Challenges His Indefinite Rajya Sabha Suspension In Supreme Court ''The expanse of judicial calm serves not only as a pillar of constitutional integrity, but as the very bedrock upon which trust in a legal system is forged,'' the bench said. The top court noted it was impossible for the accused to produce during the trial two experts, authors of reports like DNA and FSL, in one day because they were government servants and could not have attended the court at his request. ''The trial court treated the accused as if he is carrying a magic wand which is available to produce highly qualified experts, who are government servants, on a phone call. There was no opportunity, in the real sense, to the appellant to cross-examine the experts,'' it said. While disposing of the appeal, the apex court directed the trial court and the District Legal Services Authority, Indore to provide assistance of a senior counsel to the appellant to contest the trial on his behalf. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 12:16 [IST] Jabalpur Supporters of BJP Aspirants Create Ruckus at Party Office Supporters of BJP aspirants caused chaos in front of Union minister Bhupender Yadav at the party office in Jabalpur after failing to make it to the fifth list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. Three persons have been arrested. India -Krishna Kripa On Saturday evening, a chaotic scene unfolded in front of Union minister Bhupender Yadav at the BJP party office in Jabalpur. Supporters of BJP aspirants who were not included in the fifth list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections expressed their displeasure by creating a ruckus. Superintendent of Police AP Singh reported that three individuals have been arrested on charges of obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duty, following a complaint lodged by Yadav's security guard. A video circulating on social media shows an agitated crowd surrounding Yadav, who is heading MP BJP's election campaign committee. A security personnel can be seen attempting to shield the minister amidst the commotion. There are also visuals showing some people attacking an individual dressed as a security guard, who appeared to be trying to draw out a revolver to control the escalating situation. Tensions ran high among BJP workers and senior leaders such as Yadav and Rajya Sabha member Kavita Patidar at the party office after 92 names were released in the fifth list. BJP's Candidate Selection Sparks Protests The ruling party has announced 228 out of 230 candidates for the forthcoming elections with only Guna and Vidisha seats remaining undeclared. The protest reportedly erupted after Abhilash Pandey was selected as candidate from Jabalpur North which did not sit well with local leaders considering him an outsider. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere according to both sources and leaders within BJP. Supporters of other hopefuls denied tickets also staged demonstrations across different constituencies. Political Repercussions In Gwalior, supporters of former MLA Munnalal Goyal protested by blocking roads in Baradari area. Ex-minister and MLA Anoop Mishra warned that the discontent among party workers could adversely affect BJP's performance in the November 17 elections. Meanwhile, Congress did not miss an opportunity to criticize MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. KK Mishra, chairman of MP Congress media department, stated that while Chouhan was criticizing the opposition over ticket distribution, his own party's election in-charge Yadav had to face the wrath of disgruntled workers. Violence Against Turncoat A video emerged on social media showing a group blocking and attacking BJP turncoat Deepak Joshis vehicle at Khategaon in Dewas district. The protesters shattered the vehicle's windows and displayed black flags opposing Joshis candidature from Congress. In a tweet following the incident, Joshi insinuated that it was orchestrated by leaders within Congress. In conclusion, these incidents highlight growing tensions within political parties as they gear up for upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact electoral outcomes and whether party leaders can successfully manage internal conflicts to present a unified front to voters. Kannur Apparel Unit Freezes New Orders for Israel Police Amidst Gaza Conflict Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited in Kannur, India, has announced a freeze on new orders for the Israel police due to the recent bombings of hospitals in Palestine. The company's owner, Thomas Olickal, expressed concern over the attacks on civilians and called for an end to the war. India -Krishna Kripa Kannur: A private apparel unit in the Kannur district of Kerala, which recently gained attention for manufacturing uniforms for the Israel police, has announced a temporary freeze on new orders from the force. The decision comes in light of the recent bombings of hospitals in Palestine. Temporary Freeze on New Orders Thomas Olickal, who runs the Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, announced that the firm has decided not to take any new orders from the Israel police force until the war in Gaza is stopped. Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited has been making the elegant light blue, long-sleeve uniform shirts for the Israel police since 2015. Condemnation of Violence Olickal expressed his deep concern over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. He condemned the Hamas attack that resulted in the killing of civilians, as well as Israel's retaliatory actions. He emphasized that denying food and water to over 25 lakh people, bombing hospitals, and killing innocent women and children are unacceptable. Moral Decision Olickal stated that his firm will honor existing contracts as per international agreements, but has decided not to accept any new orders until the war ends. He urged everyone to work towards ending the war and restoring peace. He emphasized that the decision to freeze new orders is a moral one, as the company cannot accept the bombing of hospitals and the suffering caused to innocent people. Background of the Conflict A war broke out between Israel and Palestine after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza earlier this month. The conflict has escalated, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. This latest war marks the deadliest of five Gaza wars. Kannur Apparel Unit's Mission The Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited was established in Kannur with the objective of providing employment to local people who had become jobless due to the decline of the traditional beedi sector. The company specializes in uniforms for army personnel, police personnel, security officers, and health service workers from various countries across the globe. It also supplies school uniforms, dresses for supermarket staff, doctors' coats, coveralls, corporate wear, and more. The decision by the Kannur apparel unit to freeze new orders for the Israel police reflects the growing concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine. The company's commitment to ethical practices and its call for an end to the war highlights the importance of promoting peace and justice in the region. 'Never Fought On Such Issues, That Is Why We are Hindus': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Amid Israel-Hamas War India oi-Stuti Tripathi Hinduism respects all sects and India has never seen strifes on issues like the one that has led to the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday, 21st October as per a report by PTI. He was speaking at a programme organised at a school here to mark 350 years of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "In this country, there is a religion, culture that respects all sects and faiths. That religion in Hinduism. This is a country of Hindus. That does not mean we reject all other (religions). Once you say Hindu, it is not needed to be told that Muslims too were protected. Only Hindus do this. Only India does this. Others have not done this," Bhagwat said. "Everywhere else, strifes are underway. You must have heard of the war in Ukraine, Hamas-Israel war. In our country, there were never wars on such issues. The invasion during Shivaji Maharaj's times was of that kind. But we never fought battles on this issue with anybody. That is why we are Hindus," he told the audience. MEANWHILE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ISRAEL HAMAS WAR? RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks come as the border crossing connecting Egypt and Gaza swung open, allowing a critical influx of humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians facing dire shortages of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and water. This situation is exacerbated by the enduring Israeli siege imposed on the territory. According to media reports, several days prior to the opening of the border, over 200 trucks, loaded with approximately 3,000 tons of vital aid, had been positioned in anticipation near the crossing, ready to traverse into Gaza. While aid is being provided for the distressed, in another development, Israel has also reportedly told its citizens to evacuate Jordan and Egypt as soon as possible. (With inputs from PTI) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 0:52 [IST] 'No Wish For Revenge, Seek Development': Nawaz Sharif After He Reaches Pakistan India oi-PTI Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan after spending four years in self-imposed exile, said on Saturday he has no desire to seek revenge but wishes to end the country's tough economic conditions and put it back on the path of growth. Addressing a huge rally at the iconic Minar-i-Pakistan here, the 73-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo rued the country's dire economic conditions and vowed to make Pakistan a developed country. "I have no wish for revenge, Nawaz Sharif only wishes for the well-being of the people," he said. He noted that if Pakistan were run on his 1990 economic model, not a single person would have been unemployed, there would be no such thing as poverty in the country. "But today, the conditions are so bad that one has to think if they can feed their children or pay electricity bills," he said. "Is this why you ousted me? We were making Pakistan Asian Tiger, we want to take Pakistan to G20," he said. The three-time premier said a plan was needed to end the difficulties of the people of Pakistan. "We need to begin a new journey. We need to decide on how we will get our lost position back, how we will have to run at double speed, how we will have to break the begging bowl forever, how we will have to stand on our feet...how we will have to make a strong foreign policy and create good relations with the world even on Kashmir solution," he said. Without naming India, he said: "We cannot progress by fighting neighours. We have to introduce effective foreign policy, maintaining good relations with our neighbours as without this the country cannot progress," he said. Sharif said had East Pakistan (Bangladesh) not been separated, there would have been an economic corridor between the East and West Pakistan today. Observers say Sharif, who is tipped to be the next prime minister of Pakistan by the strong military establishment, has given the "policy statement on restoring relations with India." Sharif said he never betrayed his supporters nor did he shy from any kind of sacrifice, the Dawn newspaper reported. "I am meeting you today after several years, but my relationship of love with you is the same. There is no difference in this relationship," he told the cheering crowd. "The love I am seeing in your eyes, I am proud of it," he said. Sharif said he had forgotten the past after seeing the public's love. He added that his wounds would take time to heal, adding he has no wish for revenge. His comments assume significance as his main rival and former prime minister Imran Khan is in jail and is facing more than 150 cases against him. Khan's government had launched a number of corruption cases against the Sharif family. Sharif said fake cases were framed against him and his party leaders, yet no one abandoned the PML-N flag. "Tell me, who separated Nawaz Sharif from his nation? We are those who built Pakistan. We made Pakistan an atomic power. We brought an end to load-shedding," he said, highlighting how he produced and provided cheap electricity to the people. "I want to give a message to my youth that you aren't here to spend your life in adverse things, the way (forward) is difficult but not impossible," he said, adding that the PML-N's aim would be to bring ease to the people. Sharif also used religious symbolism extensively in his speech. He asked the people to recite Islamic verses every day for resolution of their problems. He also raised the flag of Palestine and declared that the people of Palestine should be given their due right. "We will never accept that their right is given to someone else," he said. Sharif left for London in November 2019 on medical grounds after a higher court granted him bail for four weeks. By that time, he had served half of his seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia corruption case. During the four years since then, he was declared a proclaimed offender in Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases for his continuous absence from the proceedings on appeals against the sentences. The Islamabad High Court on Thursday granted him protective bail until 24th October in both cases after NAB did not oppose the petitions filed by him. There has been a talk among political circles that he is returning to the country at the "right time" as his arch-rival PTI Chairman Imran Khan is in jail and there has been a "perfect equation" of PML-N with the establishment. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 2:39 [IST] PM Modi Inaugurates Gujarat's First Heritage Train Amid Other Projects On His Two Day Visit Police Personnel's Unwavering Commitment To Service Embodies True Spirit Of Heroism: PM Modi India oi-PTI On the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded police personnel for their dedication and for guiding citizens through challenges. Police Commemoration Day is observed to pay tributes to police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. It was on this day in 1959 that 10 valiant police personnel laid down their lives fighting heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh. Delhi-Meerut RRTS RapidX Train: PM Modi Flags Off India's First Semi-High Speed Train Namo Bharat In a post on X, Modi said, ''We laud the relentless dedication of our police personnel. They are pillars of great support, guiding citizens through challenges and ensuring safety.'' ''Their unwavering commitment to service embodies the true spirit of heroism. A heartfelt tribute to all the personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice,'' he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 10:07 [IST] Two Americans Held Hostage By Hamas Freed, Govt To Provide Full Support In Recovery, Says US President Biden Array International -Sathish Raman US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that two American citizens held hostage by Hamas since October 7 have been released. The duo, a mother and her teenage daughter, will receive full support from the US government during their recovery and healing process. Biden expressed his gratitude towards the governments of Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of these hostages. Biden had a phone conversation with the two released hostages and their family shortly after the announcement. "Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7," said Biden in an official statement. He further added that these individuals and their families would have complete support from the United States government as they recover and heal. The First Hostage Release by Hamas This is reportedly the first time that hostages have been released by Hamas, but more than 200 are still being held captive. Since this attack's early moments, Biden stated that his administration has been working tirelessly to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas. Statement from US Secretary of State Tony Blinken Tony Blinken, US Secretary of State confirmed that both Americans were now safely in Israeli authority's hands. He told reporters here: "Over the coming hours, they will receive any support and assistance they need." However, he also mentioned ten additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict along with an estimated 200 other hostages in Gaza which includes men, women, young boys & girls as well as elderly people from many nations. Acknowledgement to Government of Qatar Blinken thanked Qatar's government for its aid in releasing these two hostages while acknowledging how agonizing it is for families not knowing the fate of their loved ones. He assured that the entire US government will work every minute of every day to secure their release and bring them home. In conclusion, this news has brought a sigh of relief for families back in America while also highlighting the urgency and commitment needed from Biden's administration to secure the release of other hostages still held by Hamas. The role played by Qatar and Israel in securing these releases also underscores the importance of international cooperation in such crises. As more efforts are being made towards rescuing those remaining, it is hoped that they too will soon be reunited with their loved ones. Hamas Militants Were Reportedly High On 'Poor Man's Cocaine' That Kept Them Calm During Oct 7 Attacks International oi-Madhuri Adnal Hamas militants, who carried out a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis, were reported to be under the influence of psychoactive drug. According to a report from The Jerusalem Post, captagon pills (a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant) were found from the pockets of several Hamas militants who were neutralised by Israeli forces. Report further stated the drug, often referred to as the 'the poor man's cocaine,' is believed to have potentially contributed to the militants' ability to commit acts with a sense of calmness. The drug may have also helped them remain highly vigilant for longer periods and reduced their appetite, according to the report. Back in 2015, Captagon gained notoriety when it was disclosed that Islamic State fighters turned to it to mitigate fear before engaging in acts of terrorism. As the influence of the Islamic State diminished in the years that followed, the manufacturing and circulation of this drug saw a substantial shift towards Syria and Lebanon. As reported by The Jerusalem Post, Gaza, in particular, emerged as a robust market for Captagon, particularly among the younger population. Israel Says Hamas Frees 2 American Hostages What is Captagon? Captagon, a member of the amphetamine family, was originally developed to address conditions like attention disorders, narcolepsy, and depression. Despite its highly addictive nature and the potential to trigger psychotic reactions, it remains a popular choice in the Middle East due to its affordability and ease of production. In less affluent countries, it can be obtained for as little as $1 or $2 per pill, while in wealthier nations, the cost can escalate to as much as $20, as per reports. The primary effects of Captagon include inducing feelings of euphoria, reducing the need for sleep, curbing appetite, and providing sustained energy. Captagon's Use in the Middle East Healthcare professionals in Syria and Lebanon report that this drug is not only widespread among combatants but is also frequently used by desperate civilians residing in conflict zones. Furthermore, as reported by The Jerusalem Post, the drug has become a significant source of revenue for Syria and receives active support from the Iran-backed Lebanese group, Hezbollah. A little over two years ago, an investigation conducted by The New York Times unveiled that individuals associated with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, including family members, had established a thriving industry for Captagon production. With the involvement of Hezbollah, the industry is overseen by Assad's brother and continues to flourish despite the ongoing civil war that has afflicted Syria for over a decade. The influence of the drug extends beyond Saudi Arabia, with substantial seizures of Captagon reported in Italy, Malaysia, Greece, and Egypt. In Jordan, it is readily available at low prices, making it increasingly popular among underprivileged youth, including school-going children. Israel Asks Citizens To Leave Egypt, Jordan And Morocco Citing Fears Of Attack By Those Opposing War Recent Confiscations of Captagon Pills In 2021, Kuwaiti authorities seized nine million Captagon pills hidden within a shipment of oranges. Just a week before that, Dubai authorities intercepted the smuggling of 1.5 tonnes of these drug pills, valued at approximately $380 million, concealed within a cargo of lemons. In the past year alone, over 250 million Captagon pills were intercepted, marking an 18-fold increase compared to four years ago. These figures only account for the seized shipments, leading to speculation that the actual quantities being smuggled may be significantly higher. There have been reports suggesting that Captagon has also found its way into Israel, where it is sold for nearly NIS 50 per pill. IDF Says Hezbollah Decides To 'Join The War' While Gaza Falls Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict International oi-Stuti Tripathi In a tragic incident along the Israel-Lebanon border, an Israeli reserve soldier lost his life in an anti-tank missile attack. This attack occurred during renewed hostilities, as announced by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday, 21st October, as reported by the Times of Israel. The fallen soldier, Staff Sgt. (res.) Omer Balva, was a 22-year-old commander in the 9203rd Battalion of the Alexandroni Brigade, hailing from Herzliya. Following multiple missile and rocket attacks by Hezbollah on Friday, 20th October, the IDF swiftly responded with targeted strikes overnight. These strikes were aimed at sites connected to the Iran-backed terror group in southern Lebanon. Among the targets were a series of military facilities utilized by Hezbollah for its operations, as well as an anti-tank missile launcher aimed at Israeli territory. The Israel Defense Forces made it clear that they are prepared for any scenarios across different sectors and remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring the security of Israeli citizens. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant underscored that Lebanese Hezbollah has been paying a steep price for its recent aggression. He specifically mentioned the missile, rocket, and shooting attacks directed at Israeli military installations, troops, and towns in northern Israel. Speaking to troops at the 91st territorial division base in the Biranit camp on the Lebanon border, Gallant acknowledged that the challenges might become more significant in the days ahead, urging the forces to be ready for any situation, comparing their preparedness to a tightly coiled spring, as per the Times of Israel report. In recent days, the region has witnessed a series of clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, along with allied Palestinian factions in southern Lebanon. This situation raises concerns about the potential opening of a new front while Israel continues its confrontation with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On the Lebanese border near the town of Margaliot, a gunman opened fire on Israeli troops, causing serious injuries to one soldier. The assailant met his fate in an exchange of fire several hours later. The IDF reported foiling the plans of six terror cells in southern Lebanon, preventing them from carrying out drone strikes and sniper fire against squads preparing missile attacks. Additionally, the IDF confronted gunmen and other Hezbollah members operating near the border. Friday saw approximately 20-30 rockets launched from Lebanon towards the contested Mount Dov area, where numerous military positions but no towns are located. Two rockets were fired at the northern town of Metula. Anti-tank guided missiles were also launched at several IDF posts, and Israeli surveillance equipment along the border came under gunfire. Tragically, during the last missile attack on Friday evening near the Netu'a and Biranit areas on the northern border, Staff Sgt. Omer Balva lost his life, while at least three other soldiers were injured. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the missile strikes and gunfire. On that same Friday night, the IDF successfully intercepted a "target" believed to be a drone heading towards Israeli airspace from Lebanon. The mounting tensions led the military to order the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a town with a population of around 22,000 residents, as it stood on the brink of escalating hostilities. Recent days have witnessed a troubling escalation of violence, including rocket strikes on Kiryat Shmona, the evacuation of border communities, and a series of ongoing confrontations, reminding the region of the precarious balance that currently exists. Hezbollah's relentless barrage of anti-tank guided missiles, rockets, and mortars on Israeli military positions and towns, combined with infiltrations by armed gunmen, has created a volatile situation. The ongoing struggle between these entities, while limited in scope thus far, underscores Israel's determination to defend itself and its citizens. The toll from these clashes includes the loss of Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants, along with Palestinian combatants. Civilians on both sides have also suffered the consequences of this conflict. In a broader context, these hostilities occur concurrently with Israel's ongoing confrontation with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Amid this backdrop, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has issued a stern warning to Iran-backed Hezbollah, emphasizing that any misstep on their part will result in dire consequences. Iran's threats of widening the conflict and Israel's preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza have raised concerns about further escalation. Both Israel and the United States have called on Iran and Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict, with the U.S. deploying two aircraft carrier groups to the region, signaling its readiness to support Israel if necessary. As tensions remain high, Hezbollah has made it clear that they are fully prepared to join their Palestinian ally Hamas in the conflict when the time is deemed right. The situation continues to evolve, leaving the region and the world on edge as the delicate balance of power is tested. (With inputs from media reports) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 18:53 [IST] Father Of Freed American Teen Hostage Natalie Raanan Says She's Doing Well Array International -Sathish Raman The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan says she's doing well after her release Friday by Hamas. Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter by telephone. "She's doing good. She's doing very good," said Uri, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. "I'm in tears, and I feel very, very good." Family Reunited The 71-year-old said he saw on the news Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping they 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," 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 US early next week. First Hostages Released Raanan was among many celebrating the stunning news that Hamas had freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza for two weeks. An Israeli army spokesman 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 October 7 rampage. Reactions "I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear," Biden said in Washington. 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 and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, according to family members. They were in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on October 7 for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday, when Hamas and other 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 US and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalie's brother Ben has said previously. Gratitude and Hope "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 Raanan's rabbi, said at a press conference outside his home in Evanston, Illinois, 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 Meir's congregation and felt like "part of our family," the rabbi said. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and US Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed relief at news of the Raanans release while asking people to remember other families whose relatives were abducted. "After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment," Pritzker said of Natalie and Judith. "I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror." Qatar's Role 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. Israel Asks Citizens To Leave Egypt, Jordan And Morocco Citing Fears Of Attack By Those Opposing War International oi-Madhuri Adnal In response to the ongoing conflict stemming from the deadly Hamas onslaught, Israel has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling to Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has heightened tensions in the region, leading to increased security risks and potential threats to Israeli nationals in neighboring countries. As the conflict enters its 15th day, Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held captive in Gaza, according to Israel. This marks the first release among more than 200 people abducted by the militant group during its October 7 attacks. The release comes amid expectations of an Israeli ground offensive aimed at rooting out Hamas militants in Gaza, with Israel clarifying that it does not intend to maintain long-term control over the territory, which is home to about 2.3 million people. Meanwhile, the Israeli military carried out airstrikes in Gaza, efforts were made to provide aid from Egypt to families and hospitals in need. Conflict between Israel and militants in Lebanon also continued, leading to evacuations in border towns on both sides, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict. Israel Says Hamas Frees 2 American Hostages US President Joe Biden suggested that Israel delay a ground invasion until more hostages are released from Gaza. He spoke with the two released women following their freedom. Regarding aid, Egypt said that two aid-laden trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing on Saturday, but they have not yet passed into Gaza. Israel had announced the allowance of aid from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, but the border into the besieged territory has remained closed, with Egypt attributing the closure to damage from Israeli airstrikes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 13:03 [IST] Israel Says Hamas Frees 2 American Hostages Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since militants rampaged through southern Israel on October 7. International -Sathish Raman Hamas militants have freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since militants rampaged through southern Israel on October 7. The hostage release on 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 UN 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. Biden Declares Israel And Ukraine Support Is Vital For US Security, Will Ask Congress For Billions 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. Here's What's Happening in the Latest Israel-Hamas War: Israel says Hamas has released two US hostages who had been held in Gaza for two weeks. US President Joe Biden meets with European leaders to assure them the US can deliver wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel. Israel says it wants to eradicate Hamas and other resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip but doesn't plan to take responsibility for the besieged region after the war. Thousands have been displaced from Lebanese border towns. Demonstrations have erupted in cities worldwide to protest the war. Israeli PM Says Effort Continues to Bring All Hostages Home 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. Two Americans Held Hostage By Hamas Freed, Govt To Provide Full Support In Recovery, Says US President Biden Hamas militants took more than 200 hostages during its October 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." UN Chief Works to Reopen Rafah Crossing and Ensure Sufficient Fuel for Aid Deliveries UN 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 UN chief's 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 don't have enough fuel to give it to the people who need it," he said. The secretary-general has repeatedly called for a humanitarian ceasefire, Haq said, "but he doesn't want the humanitarian ceasefire to be a condition for allowing the aid in." Guterres also wants "the role of the Egyptian Red Crescent and other Egyptian institutions to be recognized," Haq said. Blinken Says US Pushing Hard for Other Hostages Freedom Washington: US 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. "It's impossible to adequately put into words the agony that they're 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. US 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 on October 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." Wide Majority of Israelis Hold Netanyahu Responsible for Hamas Attack: Survey Israel Says Hamas Has Released Two US 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 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 Funeral goers 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. Israel-Hamas War: 203 Held Hostage, 306 Soldiers Killed, Says IDF; Over 5000 Total Deaths 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. Hamas Says It Is Releasing Two U.S. Hostages Held in Gaza Since Oct 7 Jerusalem: Hamas said Friday it was releasing two American citizens they were holding captive in Gaza since their October 7 raid on Israel. The Palestinian militant group said in a statement that in an agreement with the Qatari government it was freeing a mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons. US and Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the statement. Israel says Hamas has taken 203 people from Israel into Gaza. Two Palestinian Teens Killed in West Bank Clashes Jerusalem: 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 latest Israel-Hamas war. 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. The West Bank has seethed with tension since the start of the war, with Israel raiding towns across the territory to root out militants and clashes erupting between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in major cities. Gunfire, Chants Punctuate Funeral for 13 in West Bank Tulkarem West Bank: Militants carried rifles and shots rang out Friday during a funeral in the West Bank for 13 people killed in a battle with Israeli troops in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Some of the bodies carried through the streets of Tulkarem were draped in the flags of the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant groups. Chants of "There is no God but Allah, and the martyrs are the beloved ones of Allah," were punctuated by the crack of gunshots. Five of the Palestinians killed were minors, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border police officer was also killed in the fighting, Israeli authorities said. Biden Seeks USD 14.3B for Military Assistance to Israel Washington: US President Joe Biden wants USD 14.3 billion to support Israel in its war with Hamas, the White House announced Friday. The money is part of a supplemental funding request that totals more than USD 105 billion, including Ukraine, border security, and more. The White House said the assistance for Israel would be geared toward air and missile defense systems. There's also USD 9.15 billion for humanitarian aid, which would be split among Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and other hotspots. Administration officials said the money can be directed to where it's most needed. All of the funding requires approval from Congress. Egypt Says Israel Is Responsible for Closure of Rafah Crossing Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Ministry has accused Western media of unfairly holding it responsible for closing the Rafah border crossing. In a brief statement on X, formerly Twitter, the ministry's spokesperson accused Israel of attacking the crossing at Rafah and refusing to allow aid to enter Gaza. Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid also denied Israeli claims that Egypt has stopped foreign nationals from leaving Gaza. "Rafah crossing is open and Egypt is not responsible for obstructing third-country nationals exit," he said. Egypt has repeatedly said it did not close the crossing at Rafah, saying instead that it is not functioning because of damage inflicted by Israeli airstrikes. French President Meets with Families of Hamas Hostages Paris: President Emmanuel Macron on Friday chatted with families of French hostages captured by Hamas militants in their October 7 surprise attack on Israel. A day earlier, the Foreign Ministry said 28 French citizens were killed during the Hamas attacks in southern Israel, while seven French people remained missing. The ministry also confirmed for the first time that at least some of those were "hostages of Hamas." Macron said on X, formerly Twitter, that he told the families via video that "France does not abandon its own." "We are doing all we can to obtain the liberation and the return of our compatriots," he said. Satellite Images Show Impact of Airstrikes on Gaza The misery of life in Gaza can be seen from space. The destruction and impact from Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants is visible in satellite imagery of blocks leveled by missiles and smoke rising over the blast zones. Images by Maxar Technologies showed people sheltering in the courtyards at two schools in Gaza City and one in Deir al Balah on Thursday. A tractor appeared to be overturning fresh soil to make way for new graves as the Marzouq Street cemetery expands in Gaza City. An overview of Shifa Hospital showed where tents were set up in what used to be a grassy, tree-covered area next to the hospital. Some hospitals have set up tents to treat the wounded and temporarily house the dead. Along a stretch of road near the beach, a series of round craters marked the spots where airstrikes hit the dirt and didn't flatten homes. AP RPA US: At Least 22 Dead In Maine Shooting, Dozens Injured As Gunman Goes On Rampage Massive Manhunt Unfolds In Maine, U.S.; Who Is Robert Card And What Else Is Going On US Concerned Over Departure Of Canadian Diplomats From India The United States has expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and said that it expects New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. International -Sathish Raman The United States on Friday expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and said that it expects New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India 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. State Department urges India to uphold obligations "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian governments demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, Miller added. "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 State Department official said. "We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canadas diplomatic mission, Miller said. India rejects Canada's allegations In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Canadas 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. Trudeau: India's decision violates Vienna Convention Hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawas attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, 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. The diplomatic row between India and Canada shows no signs of abating, with both sides trading barbs and refusing to back down. It remains to be seen how this dispute will be resolved, but it is clear that the relationship between the two countries has been damaged. 30-Year Swiss Woman's Body Found Tied With Chains, Wrapped In Plastic Bag; Suspect Arrested New Delhi oi-Madhuri Adnal In a shocking turn of events, the Delhi Police on Saturday arrested a man in the horrific murder case of a 30-year-old Swiss woman. Her body was found tied with metal chains and wrapped in a black plastic bag in West Delhi's Tilak Nagar area. The accused, identified as Gurpreet Singh, had a romantic history with the victim. He had traveled to Switzerland to meet her on several occasions, but grew suspicious of her fidelity. In a chilling act of rage, he decided to end her life. On the day of the murder, Gurpreet lured the victim to a secluded spot under the pretense of performing a magic trick. He then attacked her and strangled her to death. He then tied her limbs with chains and wrapped her body in a plastic bag. Gurpreet transported the body in a car and dumped it near a government school in Tilak Nagar. Police used CCTV footage to trace the car to its registered owner, who revealed that he had sold it two months ago. The police then tracked down and arrested Gurpreet. Infant Rape-Murder Case: SC Sets Aside Man's Conviction, Remits Matter For Fresh Trial During a search of Gurpreet's residence, the police found a staggering sum of Rs 2.25 crore. This discovery has further deepened the mystery surrounding the crime. The Delhi Police is currently investigating the case and is expected to release more details soon. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 15:47 [IST] Navratri Saraswati Puja 2023: Date, Time, Mantra, Offerings And WhatsApp Status New Delhi oi-Madhuri Adnal During the auspicious occasion of Navratri, various customs and rituals are observed across the country. Among the significant rituals, three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati. According to different traditions, Saraswati is believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati in some, while in others, she is said to have emerged from Lord Brahma's mouth. This is why she is revered as the goddess of speech and knowledge. Legend has it that Lord Brahma was captivated by her beauty and married her. In Hinduism, she is honored as the goddess of music, art, wisdom, and education. Saraswati Puja 2023 Date: Navratri Saraswati Puja is scheduled from October 20 to 22, 2023. Saraswati Avahan, the first day of the puja, is when the goddess is invoked. Saraswati Pradhan Puja Day, on October 21, is the day dedicated to worshipping the goddess. Saraswati Visarjan, the final day of Saraswati Puja, signifies the goddess bidding farewell to Earth and returning to her divine abode. Saraswati Puja WhatsApp Status: May Goddess Saraswati bring knowledge, peace, and prosperity to you and your family. Wishing you and your family a prosperous and joyous Saraswati Puja. May the blessings of Goddess Saraswati fill your life with knowledge and wisdom. Saraswati Puja 2023 Time: Saraswati Pradhan Puja Day, on October 21, 2023, will be observed at the following auspicious times: Saraswati Puja Date: Saturday, 21 October 2023 Purva Ashadha Puja Muhurat: 06:25 am to 08:17 am Purva Ashadha Nakshatra Begins: 8:41 pm on 20 October 2023 Purva Ashadha Nakshatra Ends: 7:54 pm on 21 October 2023 Saraswati Mantra: Om Arham Mukha Kamala Vasini Papatma Kshayamkari | Vad Vad Vagvadini Saraswati Aim Hreem Namah Svaha How to Celebrate Saraswati Puja: In South India, Saraswati Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion. On this day, offerings of white flowers, white sesame seeds, rice, and coconut prasad are made to Maa Saraswati. Devotees wear white attire as a mark of respect to the goddess. Children are encouraged to bring their books and notebooks to seek blessings from Saraswati, as she is the embodiment of knowledge. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 13:29 [IST] Patient with Severe Blood Loss gets new life with Advanced Treatment at Nova Hospital Partner Content oi-Oneindia English Desk In an era where technology plays an ever-increasing role in healthcare, Nova Hospital shows more seamless and patient-centric healthcare facilities. Nova Hospital's remarkable recent treatment story reveals its commitment to ensuring the well being of each person. On May 23, 2023, Mr. Pratap Singh, a Lucknow resident, was the victim of a tragic accident when he was struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing the road. The situation was out of control because of life-threatening injuries due to severe blood loss. The emergency medical team arrived at the spot and initiated a personalized advanced treatment plan for Mr. Pratap Singh. The severity of blood loss in an accident was around 25 to 30 percent of his body's total blood volume which was life-threatening. However, Nova Hospital has its own blood banks which serve as a shining example of the powerful advanced facility during this treatment. Following the successful and advanced treatment procedure, Mr. Pratap embarked on a challenging journey of recovery. Under the guidance of skilled doctors and the constant support of the healthcare staff at Nova Hospital, again made a wonder by giving new life to patient. After three months of intensive care, Mr. Pratap was discharged from Nova Hospital in a healthy and stable condition. This story serves as a remarkable example of the dedication of healthcare professionals of Nova Hospital and shows the power of facing adversity. Nova Hospital commitment to providing the best healthcare experience is exemplified by this story of miraculous recovery. To further enhance patient care and their healthcare journey, the hospital has introduced telemedicine services too. With the help of telemedicine services patients can easily consult with Nova hospital healthcare professionals remotely. This will reduce their physical visits to the hospital and other expenses. Nova Hospital understands the healthcare concerns and it ensures that patients have access to medical advice and consultations around the clock and keeps the patient information confidential. Patients can consult with specialists from various fields which include dermatology, cardiology, paediatrics, and many more. From virtual appointments with highly experienced doctors to remote monitoring, Nova Hospital keeps track of every patient with these services. Nova Hospital is committed to providing 24 x 7 healthcare facilities, the and remains accessible, convenient, and efficient for all its patients. The availability of blood banks and other advanced techniques became a miracle to the health and well-being of society. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 16:30 [IST] Iron Dome is an Israeli mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometres (243 mi) away and whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area. From 2011 to 2021, the United States contributed a total of US$1.6 billion to the Iron Dome defense system, with another US$1 billion approved by the US Congress in 2022. Thousands took to the streets of Sydney today calling for an end to the war in the Middle East at a pro-Palestinian rally. North Korea condemned the US for supplying weapons to Ukraine, as Pyongyang and Moscow grow closer. Meanwhile, Russian news agencies reported the appointment of the new air force commander. DW has the latest. Two weeks into a massive Israeli airstrike campaign after Hamas' terror attack, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip tell DW of their fears, struggles to survive and feelings of betrayal by the international community. The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip finally opened on Saturday, allowing 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid including food and medical supplies, from multiple regional and international parties, to deliver aid to 2.3 million Palestinians in the strip. Meanwhile, Palestinian Red Crescent trucks were waiting on the Palestinian side of the border crossing to haul aid delivered into the strip. According to an agreement, the Egyptian Red Crescent would deliver the aid to the Palestinian Red Crescent. A UN official said that the next convoy might not be allowed to cross until Monday. However, Gaza is still facing continued prevention of fuel entry by Israel. Red Crescent trucks on the Palestinian side of the border The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said in a statement on Saturday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels." The international community cannot continue to fail them, he warned regarding it as critical that sufficient aid reaches people across Gaza. The delivery follows days of intense negotiations with all relevant sides to make sure that aid operation into Gaza resumes as quickly as possible and with the right conditions. He affirmed 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. The border crossing had been closed for the past 15 days, with Israel imposing a total blockage on the Gaza Strip, depriving 2.3 million Palestinians of food, water, and fuel, and putting Gaza at risk of a humanitarian catastrophe. Immediately after the war broke out, Egypt mobilized a massive effort to send hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies, donated by Egypt and various Arab governments, to relieve Palestinians in Gaza. Since then, dozens of trucks carrying assistance aid have been stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border waiting to cross into Gaza. UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization, the World Food Program, and UNICEF, along with partner organizations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent groups, are coordinating the delivery of much-needed supplies. Their aid includes medical supplies like amputation kits, intubation kits, and wound dressings, as well as food, including high-energy biscuits and canned goods that do not require cooking. However, there are ongoing negotiations about whether fuel will be allowed into Gaza. On Thursday, during a phone call, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden reached an agreement for the sustained entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing. On Friday, El-Sisi conveyed his appreciation for President Biden's and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's endeavours to persuade Israel to permit the reopening of the Rafah border crossing during a meeting with Sunak in Cairo. He added that this action was pivotal in addressing the damage caused by recent bombings and enabling the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip. Earlier, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry described as "unacceptable" any attempts to misrepresent Egypts position on the Rafah border crossing, asserting that the crossing has never been officially closed by Egypt. "The crossing has been subject to 4 aerial bombings by the Israeli side and hence it's not functioning normally," Shoukry has recently said in an interview with BBC World Service, as life-saving aid provided to the war-torn Gaza Strip is still being held until an agreement on delivery is reached. In a separate interview with CNN, Shoukry stated that four Egyptian workers were injured due to the Israeli military's shelling of the Rafah border crossing. Since the war broke out, Israel has been carrying out numerous airstrikes, resulting in the death of 4,374 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 children, and the injury of 13,162 others. Foreigners' status in Gaza On Saturday morning, the US embassy in Jerusalem announced that it received information about the Rafah border crossing opening time; however, the embassy noted that the duration of opening the crossing to foreign citizens remains uncertain. The embassy also expects a substantial influx of individuals once the border is opened and urges US citizens seeking to enter Egypt to prepare for a "potentially chaotic and disorderly environment" on both sides of the crossing. Search Keywords: Short link: Some 20 trucks crossed into Gaza carrying aid, with many more staying behind in Egypt as UN agencies called for unrestricted humanitarian access. Follow DW for more. A spokesman for Israel's military said it would shortly increase its attacks on Hamas. Earlier, some 20 trucks crossed into Gaza carrying aid, as UN agencies called for unrestricted access. Follow DW for more. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti led a protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, stating that its consequences can be grave for the world. Mufti and PDP activists gathered at the party headquarters in Srinagar and tried to march towards the Lal Chowk city centre. The protesters raised slogans against Israel, and Mufti carried the Palestinian flag. Mufti expressed concern about the high number of casualties in Palestine and criticized the lack of international response. She warned that the conflict could increase terrorism globally and called for the oppressors of Israel to vacate Palestine. The "Squad's" Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., broke down in a rage against President Biden and Democrat Party leadership over their support for Israel amid its war with Hamas. The White House has reportedly taken down a photo of President Joe Biden's meeting with US Special Forces in Israel. Eurasia Review 23 Oct 2023 By Baria Alamuddin Extremists of all varieties have exploited the Gaza violence to go on the offensive from Daesh.. An Open Letter to U.S. President Joe Biden: You Can Prevent The Palestinian Genocide Dear Mr. President: You are in the midst of a series of unintended circumstances that are old and lingering, the majority of them born of the hubris, arrogance and great-power chauvinism of America's triumphalist "exceptionalism." To begin with the present bloodshed in Palestine and Israel is one of those consequences that successive U.S. administrations - both Democrat and Republican - created, egged on with an almost fanatical blind- bias when it comes to Israel. Over the past two weeks Israel has relentlessly bombed the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas, the legitimately elected government in Gaza that you and your western allies branded a terrorist organization, deadly attack on Israeli soil. Of course, thanks to the annual $3.5 billion that the U.S. sends to Israel, bombing a defenseless people in a cowardly retributive act of collective punishment, is easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Gaza, for the past 16 years has been blockaded on land, sea and air, fenced off and isolated. And, yet Mr. President, your response is to send more arms and American money to help prolong, not end, the bloodshed. Right now, Sir, at approximately $13 million a day that's a humongous amount of moola to dish out to a country, while you ignore the real day-to-day problems here at home. So, how much arms and ammunitions are enough to satisfy the Middle East's insatiable munitions glutton? Moreover, this situation would be indeed laughable if thousands of innocent Palestinians were not being murdered en masse each and every day with nary a peep of condemnation from you and your servile "allies." You see Sir, the thing is that the "enemy" is one of the most impoverished populations on this earth, without access to medical supplies or clean drinking water, who scrap together their crude rockets from the unexploded ordnance the Israelis left behind. I believe that more and more arms are the LAST thing Israel needs right now. I actually have a list of things that are needed in the Gaza Strip that is home to over 2.5 million people, although Israel seems hell-bent on reducing that population significantly by huge ethnic cleansing models. Since you, Great Britain (America Lite), France, Germany and the so-called European Union, cannot now be considered "honest brokers" there is a need for TRUSTED negotiators, mediators, peace-makers, diplomats, and humanitarian aid (in Gaza). Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). "Students with disabilities, one of our most vulnerable populations, need spaces that accommodate their needs and provide access to a full and equitable learning environment." - BD5 Candidate Karla Griego Karla Griego (Image by Karla Griego) Details DMCA Karla Griego is running for the seat currently held by the retiring Jackie Goldberg in LAUSD's Board District 5. As part of my ongoing Candidate Forum series, Griego was asked five questions about PROP-39 co-locations. For the introduction to this subject along with answers from other candidates, please see the article LAUSD Candidate Forum: PROP-39 Co-Locations. The following are the candidate's responses, printed exactly how she provided them with the exception of some minor formatting edits: Question 1: Do you support the "Creating a Charter Schools Co-Location Policy to Mitigate Impacts Caused by Proposition 39" authored by Board President Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Rocio Rivas? Yes Yes I do support the resolution authored by Board President Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Rocio Rivas. It is important that we keep oversight of how Prop 39 is implemented; that there are accountability processes and procedures in place before an LAUSD school is forced into a co-location and that this is maintained during the co-location, if it happens. Question 2: Under The way that PROP-39 is currently implemented, rooms used to provide Special Education Services are considered to be "empty" and must be turned over to a charter school to satisfy its demand for space. As a Board member would you work to end this discriminatory practice? Yes I will work to ensure that accountability processes and procedures are followed before any co-location. This includes visits to the LAUSD school sites that will be impacted by a co-location and holding listening sessions with interest holders about the impacts of the co-location. I believe that all children need to have a safe, clean and enriching learning environment. Students with disabilities, one of our most vulnerable populations, need spaces that accommodate their needs and provide access to a full and equitable learning environment. This access includes classroom spaces that support their learning- be it learning centers; classrooms for designated services like speech; occupational therapy; counseling, services for deaf and hard of hearing and rooms for IEP meetings. Furthermore, other classroom spaces are important for the whole community. These may include rooms for restorative justice circles, wellness rooms, auditoriums and multipurpose rooms for student performances and activities. Question 3: The text of PROP-39 specifies that charter schools that base their space requests on inflated enrollment must pay an over-allocation fee. Currently, charter schools have a past-due balance of $3,708,006. As a Board Member would you revoke the charter of any school that refused to pay these fees when a bill is presented? YES Our students deserve every dollar toward programs and services that support their education. If a charter school refuses to pay the fees they owe, even after given opportunities to pay their debt to our students, then I do support revoking the charter from the school. I will support accountability of any entity that owes money to LAUSD. I will further support that any money paid back to the affected school is used to directly support students- either by hiring more custodians to keep our schools clean; campus aides to keep our students safe; counselors and psychiatric social workers to support our students' mental health and socio-emotional needs; provide an enriching learning curriculum that includes Ethnic Studies. I will support accountability practices that ensure that monies are not lost or wasted- because when that happens our students lose. And that is not acceptable anywhere- but especially in the second largest school district in the nation and in the fifth largest economy in the world. Question 4: In April of last year $7,678,022 of over-allocation debt was suddenly wiped off of the balance sheet without any explanation to the public. As a Board Member would you demand an investigation to determine whether this write-off was legal and proper? Yes Money being lost is unacceptable. Yes I will support an investigation as to the legality of this or any write-off. This money should be used to directly support our students' educational experience. In a time when mental health services were cut at the end of last year, how can LAUSD write off anyone's debt? Practices like these, makes having more oversight and accountability more pressing. It is LAUSD's duty to ensure that our students receive all that they deserve: fully staffed and fully funded schools. Giving away money by writing off debt to charter companies is a tremendous disservice to our students. Question 5: The North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) was co-located on the campus of Sun Valley High School / Valley Oaks Center For Enriched Studies (VOCES) when one of its administrators was accused of "abhorrent child sex abuse" against a student. It does not appear that parents of students on the public school campus were ever notified about these accusations. As a Board Member would you terminate the PROP-39 lease agreement for any charter school that put LAUSD students at a district campus in danger? Yes The NVMI closure happened for multiple types of violations, including malfeasance. I support its closure for the multiple violations and lack of various disclosures. In regards to student safety, I believe that our students' safety is our number one concern. Children cannot learn if they feel unsafe. The adults on our campus are the people our students rely on and look for to keep them safe. It is important that as the LAUSD Board, they ensure that anyone who has access to our campuses is safe for our students. We cannot allow anyone or any entity who breaks this to continue being around our students. Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to express about this subject? For years, parents, students and educators have been calling for more oversight and accountability of the co-location process and existence. I am glad that their years of activism have led to this resolution co-authored by Board President Goldberg and Board member Dr. Rivas. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. 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). Greg Guma has been a newspaper journalist, editor, college educator, public administrator, community organizer, federal projects director, bookstore owner, historian, and former CEO of the Pacifica Radio Network. A native New Yorker, he has lived in Vermont since 1968 where his work with Bernie Sanders led to his acclaimed book, "The People's Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution." A prolific author of more than a dozen books, his newest, "Into the Mystic: From Spiritualism to Theosophy in the Gilded Age," is the amazing true story of Helena Blavatsky ( 1831-1891) and Henry Olcott (1832-1907), founders of the Theosophical Society, which became the foundation for the modern New Age movement through introducing ancient Eastern wisdom to the West. Greg Guma (Image by Courtesy of Greg Guma) Details DMCA Meryl Ann Butler: Thanks for visiting with OpEdNews, Greg. Your new book, "Into the Mystic: From Spiritualism to Theosophy in the Gilded Age" focuses on Helena Blavatsky. She is a fascinating figure, I first discovered her in the 1970s. How did you first become interested in her and her story? Cover of 'Into the Mystic' (Image by Courtesy of Greg Guma) Details DMCA Greg Guma: I moved to southern Vermont right after graduating from Syracuse University in 1968, and soon started working for a daily newspaper in Bennington. But I was also a part of the counterculture, looking for new ways to see and be in the world. Living above what was called a "metaphysical bookstore," I became friends with the owner, who eventually gave me The Secret Doctrine, Helena Blavatsky's two volume synthesis of philosophy, science and religion. Thanks for visiting with OpEdNews, Greg. Your new book, "Into the Mystic: From Spiritualism to Theosophy in the Gilded Age" focuses on Helena Blavatsky. She is a fascinating figure, I first discovered her in the 1970s. How did you first become interested in her and her story?I moved to southern Vermont right after graduating from Syracuse University in 1968, and soon started working for a daily newspaper in Bennington. But I was also a part of the counterculture, looking for new ways to see and be in the world. Living above what was called a "metaphysical bookstore," I became friends with the owner, who eventually gave me The Secret Doctrine, Helena Blavatsky's two volume synthesis of philosophy, science and religion. Greg's apartment over the former metaphysical bookstore, later the Gingerbread House. (Image by Greg Guma) Details DMCA At first I found it difficult and obscure. But I noticed that it had been published in 1888, the same year as a silver dollar my father had given me years earlier. I carried it in my pocket for luck. At first I found it difficult and obscure. But I noticed that it had been published in 1888, the same year as a silver dollar my father had given me years earlier. I carried it in my pocket for luck. And there was more. 1888 was also the publication date of a massive old book that had mysteriously found its way onto a bookshelf in my apartment. This one was called The Great Cryptogram, an infamous investigation by Ignatius Donnelly into a theory that William Shakespeare didn't write the famous plays. Decades later, I made 1888 a setting for my novel Dons of Time, a sci fi novel that actually transports the hero back to London where he falls in love with Annie Besant and befriends Ignatius Donnally while hunting for Jack the Ripper. Already sensitive to synchronicity--"parallelism of time and meaning between and psychophysical events," as I describe it one of my new books--I decided to find out more. MAB: Yes, synchronicity is always a good sign! GG: One of my early discoveries was that Blavatsky had met Henry Olcott in Vermont 100 years earlier, and that meeting led directly to their founding of the Theosophical movement in New York. That movement fueled the birth of what we now call New Age thought, influencing spiritual leaders, extraordinary political figures, and revolutionary artists. Blavatsky and Olcott in 1888 (Image by wiki) Details DMCA Both Helena and Henry had been attracted to the spiritualist phenomena produced by William Eddy, a medium living in Chittenden, a small town in central Vermont, less than two hours from where I lived. Eventually, I visited the town, got inside the house that once hosted so many visitors for seances, and interviewed elderly residents who met William Eddy and his brother Horatio before they died. Both Helena and Henry had been attracted to the spiritualist phenomena produced by William Eddy, a medium living in Chittenden, a small town in central Vermont, less than two hours from where I lived. Eventually, I visited the town, got inside the house that once hosted so many visitors for seances, and interviewed elderly residents who met William Eddy and his brother Horatio before they died. I also collected details about the lives of the Eddys, Helena and Henry, and began to publish what I discovered in 1975, in Public Occurrences, a magazine I had begun to publish. Over several years, I further developed the story, published expanded versions, including one published in Fate, then a leading national magazine about paranormal phenomena. By then, however, I felt that a better way to continue exploring the meaning of the events in Vermont and the ideas of Blavatsky and Olcott was to approach it as a historical novel. Spirits of Desire by Greg Guma (Image by Greg Guma) Details DMCA That decision led to Spirits of Desire, my first novel, originally written in the 1980s but only published in 2004. It told the remarkable "origin story" through multiple points of view Helena and Henry, but also Theodore Noyes, physician son of the founder of the utopian Oneida community in upstate New York, and Hiram Baird, a wealthy older resident of Chittenden. That decision led to Spirits of Desire, my first novel, originally written in the 1980s but only published in 2004. It told the remarkable "origin story" through multiple points of view Helena and Henry, but also Theodore Noyes, physician son of the founder of the utopian Oneida community in upstate New York, and Hiram Baird, a wealthy older resident of Chittenden. One of my new books, Into the Mystic, revisits the events, exploring how interest in spiritualism led to the Theosophical movement and providing more context both for what exactly happened in Vermont and how Helena Blavatsky explained it. I'm also working with a filmmaker, Nora Jacobson, to turn this remarkable tale into a dramatic film. MAB: Wow, it sounds like it will make a fabulous film! Can you share one or two of the most fascinating or profound things you found out while researching this? GG: That's a big question. I was raised in a Catholic family, but by the 1970s I was studying and practicing Buddhism. So, new knowledge was coming from multiple sources. Blavatsky certainly offered fresh answers to questions about ghosts and reincarnation. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Dear Annie: I have a job where I work for a doctor. He has two offices. He has four people working at one office, and I work alone at the other. On clinic days, which is when the doctor sees patients, I am supposed to have help. The other staff that come from the other office either take the day off or, when they are there, they dont help me. They just sit in the break room and talk, and I run the show by myself. I have gone to the manager, and even the manager above her, and they are hiring someone but are not sure when she is starting. I went to the doctor recently and told him that I was tired of working by myself and that his staff should come help with the clinic. He called me inappropriate for saying that and said I need to just continue to do my job. I asked him, So its OK for me to be alone then? He said nothing. I am not sure what to do. -- Losing Patience Dear Losing: Youre in a frustrating predicament. While the doctors reply was less than helpful, I cant blame him: Youre more likely to have luck speaking with the manager again or another supervisor who assists with staffing and personnel decisions. Arrange a meeting with one of your higher-ups to calmly and rationally explain your side. Ultimately, without proper staffing, the patients are the ones who suffer the most. If your managers are not serious about hiring extra hands, itd be prudent to start looking for other job opportunities, where you feel not only set up for success but like your needs are heard and valued. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM Kara McGhee had 14 kills and Oregon hit .406 in a sweep of Cal. McGhee was one of three players in double figures in kills for the No. 8 Ducks in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) win over the Golden Bears Friday night at Matthew Knight Arena. Mimi Colyer had 13 kills, Gabby Gonzales had 10 kills and Hannah Pukis had 40 assists and 10 digs for Oregon (17-3, 7-2 Pac-12), which hit over .400 for the third time this season and first in conference play. Cal led the first set 9-6 but Oregon scored six of the next seven to take control and closed the frame on an ace by Georgia Murphy. The Ducks took a 12-5 lead in the second but the Golden Bears chipped away and eventually tied it at 22. UO closed it out with three straight points. Oregon led 16-11 in the third and Cal again rallied to tie it at 17. The Ducks scored five of the next six to regain control and ended the match with back-to-back kills by Colyer and Gonzales. Oregon hosts No. 3 Stanford on Sunday (5:30 p.m., ESPN). MORE DUCKS COVERAGE Oregons mental health clinics cant find anyone to fill a quarter of their jobs. Six Oregon counties didnt have a single psychologist last year. Patients, especially people of color, children and rural residents, face severe challenges getting into therapy or finding help for addiction or conditions like eating disorders. Shortages in mental health staffing are not unique to Oregon, experts say, and existed before they were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those worker shortages undermine clinics ability to see patients, experts say. They also weaken the entire mental health system by alienating patients who face long wait times or deal with frequent turnover and worsening worker burnout, which in turn drives more care providers out of the behavioral health field. In rural Lake County, a single psychiatric nurse practitioner manages medication for about 400 clients. In Portland, a Latino and Indigenous teen left an eating disorder clinic after finding the mostly white female counseling staff struggled to understand his needs and identity. And any given day, Oregons community-based mental health agencies operate with about a quarter of their positions unfilled, said Heather Jefferis, executive director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health. Its well known that we are in a crisis and we have been in a crisis, said Jackie Fabrick, deputy director for behavioral health at the Oregon Health Authority. In recent years, Oregon leaders have made multiple efforts to break down workforce barriers, and providers say those initiatives are moving the state in the right direction. Lawmakers set aside money to recruit and retain more mental health workers of color and, for the first time in more than a decade, approved substantial rate increases that help bolster the pay of mental health providers. The state helped pay down loan debt for hundreds of mental health providers. And several Oregon universities have started new programs to boost the childrens mental health workforce and get people with lived experience in the field more quickly certified as mental health or substance abuse counselors. Oregon is making greater progress toward increasing and improving conditions for its behavioral health workforce than Jefferis has seen in the nearly 27 years she has worked in the field. Were doing good things in the last few years, she said, really good things that are the right things to do, that will move us in the right direction. A poster advertising the Mt. Hood Community College addiction counseling, mental health and social services degree hangs in a classroom at the Gresham campus.Sami Edge WHOS IN THE WORKFORCE? As with physical health, mental health care often takes a team-based approach. Highly trained and licensed professionals include psychiatrists and nurse practitioners who prescribe medications and psychologists, social workers and therapists who provide psychotherapy-based services. Unlicensed providers with a range of educational credentials also work with people in distress. Credentialed but unlicensed mental health workers include alcohol and drug counselors, recovery mentors and peer support specialists who have lived experiences with mental health or substance abuse. Oregon is seeing shortages across the board in licensed and unlicensed positions, Fabrick said. All but two Oregon counties are designated as complete mental health professional shortage areas by the federal government, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. Thats calculated using several factors including substance abuse prevalence, provider ratios and the travel time to the nearest source of care. Multnomah and Lane counties are the only exceptions. National rankings suggest that Oregon is doing slightly better than other states. The Oregon Health Authority points to a United Health Foundation ranking that lists Oregon as having the third-highest ratio of mental health providers per capita in the country, based on the number of people who registered with the federal government to be reimbursed for any form of mental health care. The ranking does not take into account how much care a worker provides, such as whether the person works full or part time. A Kaiser Family Foundation report based on the number of psychiatrists per capita estimates that Oregon meets about 29% of the publics mental health needs. Thats essentially the same as the national average of 28%. Jefferis points to low insurance payments as a prime culprit for Oregons historic shortage of mental health professionals. Mental health insurance payments have not kept up with the true cost of providing care or allowed mental health agencies to pay staff competitive wages, Jefferis said. Aspiring behavioral health providers can make more money working in physical health positions, she said. The average wage of a mental health social worker in Oregon was $26.14 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the average wage of a health care social worker was $37.09 an hour. A clinical psychologist, who needs a graduate degree, made about $64.82 an hour that year but a school psychologist with the same level degree netted only $46.72, below the salary of a registered nurse who clocked in at $51.26 and needs just an associate or bachelors degree. Psychiatrists net about $129 an hour, more than the average family medicine physician at $99 an hour but less than an emergency medicine physician at $147 an hour. Fabrick, at Oregons health agency, said that during the pandemic, patients health care needs got more severe and providers burned out of the mental health system, much like in other areas of health care. Theres not enough providers, theres not enough access in Oregon, Fabrick said. And then you have these high acuity, high complexity patients that are coming in for services. So I think that that is all just kind of hitting a crescendo. Porter Clements, president of the AFSCME Local 1790 union which represents Portland area behavioral health agencies, said the group is struggling most with turnover. Some agencies have reported turnover as high as 250%, Clements said, meaning that over the course of a year an average of 2.5 people cycled through a single position. Oregons unlicensed providers, the segment of the workforce that is the most racially and ethnically diverse, are also the most susceptible to turnover, state reports have found. Wage surveys by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon show that mental health peer support workers reported making $18.24 in 2021 and mental health associates about $21. Were hoping that people will stay in the career, but unlike physical health, because the wages are extra, extra low, it may be easier to go get a job in a different industry thats less stressful, that pays more money more quickly, Jefferis said. Gov. Tina Kotek, center, meets with staff from Coastal Phoenix Rising, a Lincoln City shelter for people suffering from trauma or crisis. On her recent One Oregon tour, Kotek heard from behavioral health providers across the state about their struggles to hire enough workers, in part because of housing shortages.Photo courtesy of Tina Koteks office RURAL AREAS HAVE SEVERE NEEDS In rural northeast Oregon, a patient who calls the Community Counseling Solutions network of clinics and needs to see a mental health provider could wait two weeks for an appointment. People in crisis get in right away, said Kimberly Lindsay, executive director of the mental health nonprofit that serves Grant, Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Umatilla counties, but shed like the wait time for first-time visitors to be shorter. Five years ago, wait times were closer to one week. The extension of the wait time puts people off. We probably have more people that go into crisis because theyre not being seen as timely as they need to be in the beginning, she said. Lindsay said wait times would be better if all of her positions were filled. She said she appreciates that the state has helped her retain staff with rate increases that mean more pay and also given her more money for new positions but still, she struggles to hire. Applications have gone down, she said. Clinics that require in-person help are competing with telehealth companies for workers. Shes lost applicants who dont want to live in the rural communities, or who accept the offer, but then cant find housing in the area. Workforce issues, coupled with escalating demand for services have left her feeling like the wind is knocked out of our sails, Lindsay said. On her listening tour across the state. Gov. Tina Kotek heard loud and clear about the housing shortages role in the behavioral health care staffing challenges, she said. Shes also heard from workers in the field who say they need more financial aid for mental health education, and that the state needs to process license applications more quickly. We need to take care of the people who are taking care of our most vulnerable, Kotek said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. These are workers we cant afford to lose. A September report from Oregons Office of Rural Health found that Oregon as a whole has 1.15 full-time mental health providers per 1,000 people. But the states rural and frontier areas only have .5 full-time employees in comparison. The five-county area that Community Counseling Solutions serves has some of the sparsest mental health staffing in the state, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. Grant County had just one licensed counselor for 24,130 people in 2022. Wheeler and Gilliam counties had no licensed counselors or psychologists. The organization leans on unlicensed masters level clinicians to provide services, which saves rural parts of Oregon, Lindsay said. Its much worse than urban areas, said Heather Ficht, executive director of East Cascades Works, which serves 10 central Oregon counties. Yes, there are tons of people in urban areas. This is true. Do they have all the services they need? Absolutely not. But if youre in a rural or frontier area, instead of having fewer services, you have no services. And that is not equity. Charlie Tveit, CEO of Lake County Health District in south-central Oregon also struggles to hire and retain workers, particularly in the more remote parts of the countys 8,000 square miles. When a therapist left the remote northern part of Lake County, it took the district several months to find a replacement, necessitating Zoom calls and less-frequent visits from a traveling provider who filled in temporarily. Amy Theall, the only psychiatric nurse practitioner in the county, manages a caseload of about 400 patients. Theall says she feels the impact of workforce shortages when she tries to help patients enroll in therapy to complement their medications. The wait list can stretch for a month, Theall said. And, given small-town dynamics, clients in the rural north may know the sole provider in their area on a personal level, Theall said. To keep things professional, they might have to drive hours to see a therapist in Bend or Lakeview instead. Peer support specialists of color gather at a wellness retreat hosted by Fortaleza Atravez Barreras, a nonprofit that provides mental health education and peer support services for underserved communities in Oregon.Courtesy Lucia Mendoza-Meraz OREGON SHORT ON PROVIDERS OF COLOR Paula Pena noticed in 2018 that one of her teenage sons was avoiding mealtimes. The then 16-year-old, who is Lipan Apache and Latino and practices both Catholicism and his Indigenous faith, had a gaunt look. She could see his cheekbones. A visit to her sons pediatrician revealed that he was struggling with bulimia, anorexia and body dysmorphia. The pediatrician referred Pena and her son to an eating disorder clinic in Portland, she said. They spent several afternoons a week commuting to the clinic from Salem. But instead of getting better, her son seemed to get worse. The therapists and team at the clinic were all white females serving a primarily white female clientele, Pena said, and her son didnt feel like they understood him. He left the Portland clinic without getting the help he needed, Pena said. As a mother, it is heartbreaking to seek help for my child and encounter a system that is not equipped to see and understand him as a whole person, including how his culture and his religion affect his experience, Pena wrote in a letter to state lawmakers in 2021, urging them to fund more culturally responsive mental health providers. As of 2020, just 4.7% of Oregons behavioral health workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino, compared to about 14% of the states population that year, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Other populations were also dismally represented. Just 1.3% of behavioral health workers were Black compared to 2.3% of Oregonians. Oregons efforts to hire more behavioral health providers have emphasized addressing this discrepancy. In the past two years, state lawmakers have funneled more than a billion dollars into the behavioral health system, including $132 million in grants to help service providers stabilize their workforce and $80 million for workforce development, Fabrick said. The workforce funds have paid for housing stipends, scholarships and tuition reimbursement, bonuses and help with licensing and certification fees. More than $16 million went to loan repayment. Fabrick said early results are promising. Mental health agencies have reported an up to 35% drop in vacancies, she said, and most grants are going to workers from underserved communities. Upwards of 30% of newly certified mental health providers are people of color, Fabrick said, and the majority of agencies that got money to boost supervision of newly trained workers or peer support services are ones that deliver culturally or linguistically specific services or serve rural communities. In some cases, demand for those funds far outpaced supply. More than 2,300 people applied for the states loan repayment program for behavioral health workers, but there was only enough money for 12% of them. The average award was $60,000, Fabrick said. Roughly 70% of recipients were providers of color and a quarter lived in rural areas. Marion County nonprofit Fortaleza Atravez Barreras, which focuses on improving access to mental health care for communities of color, used one-time state funds to help pay 15 new peer support specialists, many of whom are bilingual and bicultural, to undergo training this year, founder Lucia Mendoza-Meraz said. The community-based organization also developed a peer support training in Spanish and hosted a wellness retreat for peers of color to help prevent burnout. It is still not enough, Mendoza-Meraz said, adding that providers of color still face barriers to accessing higher education. Once in the workforce, those caregivers are often underpaid and overworked due to the high demand for culturally-specific services, she said. Karen Green, director of the Mt. Hood Community College associate degree program in mental health, social service and addiction counseling, talks to a classroom of first-year students exploring careers in the field. Green tries to help students learn self care to help prevent burnout on the job.Sami Edge MYRIAD SOLUTIONS IN THE WORKS Several Oregon universities have set their sights on training Oregons next generation of behavioral health workers. The University of Oregon recently launched the Ballmer Institute for Childrens Behavioral Health, which aims to train a new workforce of undergraduates who will graduate ready to treat Oregons children, without going through lengthy and expensive postgraduate training. The certification or licensing process for those students has yet to be established, but Ballmer hopes to eventually graduate around 200 students a year. Portland State University also plans to use $2.4 million from the states Future Ready Oregon workforce initiative to launch a new training track. Its human services degree program will prepare behavioral health and substance abuse counselors as Portland grapples with a scourge of cheap fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. The program will give students credits for their work experience or prior credentials, with the aim of allowing them to earn degrees more quickly. Current and prospective students work in entry-level positions in mental health agencies, nonprofits or the state Department of Human Services and could use those existing experiences toward their degrees. Mt. Hood Community College has for several years been on the front lines of training the next generation of mental health workers. Students in its associate program can enter the field quickly as drug or alcohol counselors or climb through bachelors and graduate programs to become licensed clinical workers and psychologists. Program Director Karen Green, a former school social worker of 16 years ran into her own challenges with burnout, she said, and wanted to teach in a program where she could help prospective mental health workers learn self care. If you thought you were going to get a degree and go out there and fix people, that would lead to burnout pretty darn quick, Green told her class on Wednesday. Over the next two years, students will learn theories and interventions to work with clients, she said, and how to hold space for their clients to naturally heal. Community college felt like a safe place for Nikki Phetmany to start her journey in the mental health field. She works as a behavioral health coordinator at a pediatric clinic near Mt. Hoods Gresham campus and, after assisting the social workers, wanted to be able to offer the kids more support herself. While Phetmany plans to go all the way through a masters program to get her license in clinical social work, starting at a two-year school means less debt, and less consequence, if she decides its not the path for her. I think that the community school route makes it less intimidating, Phetmany said. A social work degree will give Phetmany options in the mental health field, she hopes, but shes also planning to get licensed so that she can offer individual therapy. As an adolescent, she struggled with emotional regulation, needed help managing her anger and her depression, and felt guilty about being sad. She wants to help teenagers build coping skills, so they dont have to feel the same. I dont want little kids or teenagers to be as upset as I was, she said. I want to be that persons advocate to advocate for themselves. 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. The following community events are planned over the next several days in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Shabbat Candle Lighting Campaign for Israel When: Friday, Oct. 20, at 5:59 p.m. Where: Jewish Oasis at 1218 N.W. Glisan St., Portland The Jewish Oasis, a Jewish education, outreach and social services organization in Northwest Portlands Pearl District, is asking people to light a Shabbat candle in memory of women killed in the Hamas attack, for the safe return of hostages and for the protection of people in Israel. The Shabbat candle, a timeless symbol of Jewish hope and light, offers us a chance to add literal light to this world and inspire others, said Jewish Oasis co-director Simi Mishulovin. Community event to discuss mental health effects of crisis When: Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: The Center at 33950 S.W. Ladd Hill Road, Wilsonville Professional counselor Darrel Eacret of Wilsonville, Dr. Janice Cockrell of Vernonia and nurse practitioner Selma Anderson of Gresham will speak and facilitate discussions on how to cope with feelings of helplessness and how to support others, said event organizer Farah Ramchandani of Wilsonville. Our local neighborhood has a chance to come together to share concerns and perhaps learn some coping mechanisms so that we feel less hopeless, said Ramchandani. There is a bond of love that we are all connected, whether of east or west. Emergency Rally: All out for Gaza When: Saturday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. Where: 911 N.E. 11th Ave. Portland A rally in support of Gaza and Palestine is scheduled outside U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauers Northeast Portland office. The event flyer does not indicate who is organizing the rally. We Refuse to Be Enemies Community Summit: United Against Islamophobia and Anti-Jewish Sentiments When: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Muslim Educational Trust Community Center at 10330 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard An inclusive gathering inviting people from all backgrounds to come together in the spirit of unity, healing, justice, understanding, mercy and peace and to combat anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish sentiments, according to the event flyer. This event aims to bridge the gap between these communities, fostering dialogue and empathy while showcasing the powerful common ground that exists within their faith traditions, the event flyer states. The event is hosted by the Muslim Educational Trust and co-sponsored by 15 other cultural and faith-based organizations, including the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, Havurah Shalom and the Augustana Lutheran Church. Stand with Israel When: Sunday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland The flyer indicated the event was organized by a group called Oregon for Israel, which has pages on Facebook and Instagram. Samson Zebturiah Garner, a Multnomah County man, was charged Friday on allegations that he was planning a mass shooting in Deschutes County, specifically targeting rock climbers. Authorities would not say where they believed the shootings would take place, but Smith Rock State Park Manager Matt Davey told The Bulletin on Friday: There was a possible threat targeted toward the Smith Rock Craggin Classic. The classic, which is taking place this weekend, is an annual three-day rock-climbing festival at Smith Rock State Park hosted by the Colorado-based American Alpine Club. The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office arrested Garner, 39, on Thursday night after being alerted by the Portland Police Bureau that Garner had told two acquaintances he planned to shoot people who were rock climbing in Deschutes County, said District Attorney Steve Gunnels. Garner was found with three handguns and an AR-15 rifle when sheriffs deputies arrested him outside his Subaru near Tumalo, Gunnels said. Gunnels declined to confirm whether Garner was targeting the classic but said Smith Rock was the most likely place hed go. Authorities believed Garner was acting alone, and Gunnels said that as long as Garner remains in custody, there is no continued threat. Investigators believe Garner planned to kill multiple people, Gunnels said. Garner is being charged with multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, attempted assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Two people Garner knew told Portland Police that Garner was making threats and statements about causing harm, Gunnels said. Police then notified the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office on Monday. Garner, whose last known address was in Portland, apparently drove from Multnomah County to Deschutes County before sheriffs deputies arrested him Thursday. Making the drive constitutes a substantial step toward committing a crime, Gunnels said. Garner, who is being held on $10 million bail, was booked in the Deschutes County jail just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the jail inmate roster. Gunnels said there was concern that Garner was a danger to the public based on his mental state. Upon arrest, Garner was served with an extreme risk protection order, which is a one-year court order that mandates people who pose a danger to themselves or others to give up their deadly weapon, like firearms. It also bars a person from purchasing any new deadly weapons. Federal aviation officials are investigating what prompted an airborne Alaska Airlines plane to steer toward the flight path of a SkyWest aircraft this week near Portland International Airport. The incident took place Monday afternoon during stormy conditions. An Alaska Airlines flight from Orange County, California, aborted its attempted landing on an airport runway as a SkyWest plane lifted off from a parallel airstrip to the north. In the moments after, the Alaska plane steered toward the path of the ascending SkyWest aircraft before veering away from that jetliner amid repeated instructions from an air traffic controller, flight records and audio reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive show. Alaska Airlines, which confirmed the incident Friday, said its top priority is the safety of its passengers and employees. The airline is reviewing the incident. The crew of Flight 1299 followed cockpit indications and reacted immediately to increase separation from the other aircraft, a spokesperson said. The aircraft maintained a safe amount of lateral separation throughout the entire event. At no point was the safety of the flight compromised, SkyWest said in a separate statement Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration will determine the closest proximity between the aircraft as part of the investigation, the agency said in a statement Friday. Federal officials define a near midair collision when a plane is within less than 500 feet of another aircraft. A review of publicly available flight data by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that the Alaska flight was traveling 214 mph and the SkyWest airliner 190 mph. The planes came within about 1,800 feet horizontally and 250 feet vertically, according to estimates by the newsroom. Airline safety is under scrutiny nationally after a New York Times investigation in August found an alarming pattern of safety lapses and near misses in the skies and on the runways of the United States. The FAA in response said the U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but one close call is one too many. Federal officials listed various steps and investments they are taking to maintain and improve flight safety. Neither the FAA, Alaska Airlines nor SkyWest publicized the Portland incident. But it drew attention online this week from a YouTube account that posted the flight locations overlapped with air traffic audio. The video has been viewed 59,000 times and includes more than 300 comments analyzing the incident, including from people who claim to have experience in flying and air traffic control. The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. Monday, the FAA said. The visibility in Portland was three quarters of a mile, with heavy rain and mist, according to archived weather information from the National Weather Service in Portland. The downpour released a quarter inch of rain around the time the Alaska flight approached the airport. The plane aborted its landing due to wind, the FAA said, initiating whats known in the industry as a go-around. Flight records show the Alaska flight dropped to an elevation of 100 feet before ascending. Meanwhile, SkyWest Airlines flight 3978 lifted off from the parallel runway. Publicly available air traffic control audio reviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive provides insight into what transpired next. An air traffic controller directed the Alaska flight to maintain the runway heading path and told the SkyWest flight to turn right when it was able to, according to audio. But the Alaska flight repeats the instruction instead and announces it is heading right, flight data and audio show, while the SkyWest flight continues straight. The air traffic controller eventually makes multiple attempts to correct the path of the Alaska flight, incorrectly calling the flight 1298 instead of 1299, according to the audio. At one point, he tells the Alaska pilot that theres traffic ahead and to his right, and its northbound at 1,400 feet. The Alaska plane ultimately turned to its left and the SkyWest plane later banked to the right, avoiding overlapping flight paths. A union that represents Alaska pilots didnt respond to a request for comment Friday. The SkyWest flight, operating as a Delta connection, landed routinely in Seattle, the airline said. The Alaska flight diverted to the Redmond Airport. A company spokesperson cited the weather conditions in Portland as the reason. Six other Alaska flights touched down in Portland between 3:51 p.m. and 4:49 p.m., data shows, including two flights within two minutes of the aborted landing. Alaska flight 1299 didnt arrive in Portland until 11:45 p.m., flight data shows, more than seven hours later than expected. Its unclear how long the federal investigation into the incident will take. Data analyst Mark Friesen contributed to this report. Yesenia Amaro | yamaro@oregonian.com | 503-221-4395 | @YeseniaAmaro The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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 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. 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. The militant group Hamas released two American hostages Friday -- a mother and her teenage daughter -- who were held in Gaza since Hamas' shock cross-border attack through Israel two weeks ago, according to the Israeli government. The mother and daughter -- identified in media reports as Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan of Evanston, Illinois -- also hold Israeli citizenship, and they were the first U.S. hostages to be released. About 200 people were still being held. The Raanans 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," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The relatives of the other 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, Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the release of the two women. "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." 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." Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - The protection of civilians must be upheld at all times, the head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Saturday, appealing for an end to attacks on places such as schools, hospitals and the homes of his staff Photo: (Photo : Rebekah Vos on Unsplash) The journey of childbirth is a blend of joy, anticipation, and often unforeseen complications. While most parents-to-be envision the birth of their child as a pure moment of happiness, reality can sometimes bring a different narrative. Jen Hamilton, a seasoned labor and delivery nurse based in North Carolina, brings her wealth of experience to the fore, shedding light on these nuances. Understanding the Complexities of Birth Trauma The term "birth trauma" might evoke images of emergency medical interventions, such as C-sections or the use of forceps during delivery. However, Hamilton brings attention to a subtler, yet equally impactful, side of trauma. It can emerge from feelings of being unheard, unprepared, or isolated. The distress of not having an understanding support team or feeling in the dark about what's happening can leave lasting imprints. Addressing these facets is essential to ensuring the overall well-being of the mother. Moreover, Hamilton underscores the role of the healthcare team. She believes their primary duty is to advocate for the patient, ensuring they're informed, heard, and supported. Too often, the mechanistic approach of 'this is what we do' shadows the more empathetic stance of 'this is what you can choose to do, and here's why.' By fostering a culture of patient autonomy, the birth process can become a more collaborative and empowering journey. Read Also: Illegal Child Labor Surges Amidst Competitive Job Market Navigating Choices and Building the Right Support System Childbirth is not just a physical process; it's an emotional voyage. Hamilton introduces the concept of "birth vibes", a term that encompasses individual preferences for emotional and physical comfort. Every person enters the delivery room with their own set of hopes, fears, and desires. A birth plan is a tool to communicate these sentiments. But Hamilton also emphasizes the need for flexibility, as real-time events might call for a departure from the plan. The idea of a 'natural' birth, often understood as an unmedicated delivery, is gaining traction. While respecting this choice, Hamilton advises against getting too attached to specific expectations. Sometimes, the unforeseen intensity of labor can require an intervention, and in such moments, the ability to make informed, empowered decisions becomes paramount. Yet, a vital part of a positive childbirth experience is having the right people around. Hamilton's advice resonates deeply: choose individuals who genuinely support and understand you. She candidly points out that sometimes the partner or the baby's father might not be the best fit for this role. Trust, understanding, and advocacy form the pillars of support during labor. For those entrusted with the role of supporting a loved one during delivery, the responsibility is immense. From respecting real-time decisions (even if they deviate from the birth plan) to being actively involved in the process, every action counts. Hamilton's recollections of support people eating heavily in front of a laboring mother or playing games clearly show the importance of sensitivity and empathy during these crucial hours. In wrapping up, childbirth, with its tapestry of emotions, challenges, and joys, is a unique journey for every individual. Jen Hamilton's insights serve as a beacon, guiding both expectant parents and healthcare professionals towards a path of understanding, respect, and empowerment. Related Article: Expecting Mothers Can Rehearse Childbirth With 'Virtual Birthing Simulator' Photo: (Photo : Calvin fitra Anggara on Unsplash) In a series of harrowing events in Florida, twin children were discovered dead in their home shortly after their mother's tragic death. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office released details of the chilling incident, which has left the community reeling in shock and grief. At approximately 8:45 a.m. last Friday, a distressed 911 call reported a woman, later identified as 31-year-old Catorreia Hutto of Sanford, pulling her silver car over on the S.R. 417 bridge. To the alarm of onlookers, she climbed out through her car's passenger-side window and plunged into Lake Jesup below. Disturbing Home Findings Upon arrival, responding deputies spotted Ms. Hutto in the water. In their effort to retrieve her, two fishermen were approached for assistance. Notably, one of the fishermen was a retired firefighter from Seminole County. Despite their swift combined efforts, Ms. Hutto was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragic discovery was the first in a series of devastating events that morning. Upon establishing her identity and learning of her maternal status, authorities conducted a welfare check at Hutto's residence. Inside, the lifeless bodies of 5-year-old twins, Ahmad and Ava Jackson, were discovered, resting peacefully in their beds. It was further revealed that both children had special needs. Images emerging from the scene showed concerned officers on the bridge, with local news outlet Click Orlando noting the profound sadness on their faces. Inside the children's bedroom, a gun was found. However, preliminary findings indicated that neither of the children had gunshot wounds or displayed signs of physical trauma. The exact cause of death for the twins is yet to be determined, with the local medical examiner's office set to conduct the post-mortem examination. Read Also: Mom Forgives Husband Who Left Twins to Die; Couple Now Advocates for Hot Car Act Father in the Shadows Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma, in his briefing to the press, stated, "Had the deputies not checked the vital signs, the full extent of this tragic scenario might not have been realized so promptly." Further investigation into the family's background unveiled a series of concerning details. The Hutto family's residence was a Habitat for Humanity project, completed just a year prior to the tragic events. However, it was sparsely furnished, with very little food available, raising questions about the family's wellbeing and financial situation. While Ms. Hutto was employed at a temp agency and had reportedly been at work only a few days before the tragedy, the full extent of her financial or emotional struggles remains unclear. The twins were last seen attending school on October 13. An additional layer to this heartbreaking tale is a missed call. On the night preceding the tragic events, Hutto had tried to contact her mother. At the time, her mother, a resident of Perry, was in Orlando for a medical procedure. She mistakenly believed that one of the twins was playing with the phone, given that no message was left, and thus didn't return the call. It's also been established that the father of the children is believed to reside in South Florida. Efforts to contact him and inform him of the tragic news are ongoing. As the community grapples with the sheer magnitude of this tragedy, questions linger about the circumstances leading up to these devastating events. Mental health professionals in the area urge the importance of reaching out for help, emphasizing that community resources are available for those in crisis. Related Article: Kidnapped 6-Month-Old Baby in Ohio Dies a Month After Being Returned Home Today, we left Bursa and drove to Iznik, which may not sound familiar to many but which was an important city in early Christian history. Iznik was known in ancient times as Nicaea or, more accurately, as (Nikaia). It was the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaearespectively, the first and the last of the seven ecumenical councils of the Christian churchduring the first of which the Nicene Creed originated. It was also the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea following the seizure of Constantinople in 1204 by Latin Catholics during the regrettable Fourth Crusade, and it remained such until the recapture of Constantinople by the Byzantines in 1261. Nicaea also served as the capital of the Ottomans from 1331 to 1335. The ancient city is surrounded on all sides by five kilometres (roughly three miles) of walls that are about ten meters (thirty-three feet) high. In their turn, the walls are surrounded by a double ditch on the land portions, and there were once also more than a hundred towers in various locations. Large gates on the three landbound sides of the walls afforded the only entrances to the city but, today, the walls have been pierced in many places for roads. Still, much of the defensive wall survives. Our attention in Iznik today, though, was focused on the Lesser Church of Hagia Sophia, which was the site of the Second Council of Nicaea in AD 787. This council was convened by the emperor of the Byzantines, Constantine VI, as well as by Empress Irene, and was attended by Pope Hadrian I. The so-called iconoclastic controversy had been roiling the Empire. Perhaps as a result of criticism from adherents of the still new and very aniconic religion of Islam, the question began to be debated whether the veneration of icons was legitimate or whether it constituted mere rank idolatry. The Second Council of Nicaea recognized the veneration of Christian images of Jesus and the saints as legitimate. (Ironically, the church was transformed into a mosque by conquering Muslim Turks in the 1300s, and it has long since been stripped of all images.) The council also forbade the appointment of bishops by secular government authorities, thus solidifying the independent authority of the church against that of the state. But what about the First Council of Nicaea? As the source of the famous Nicene Creed, isnt it vastly more important for Christians generally and for Latter-day Saints in particular than the Second Council? Yes, it is. And I spoke to the group while we drove on the bus about the First Council and went through the text of its creed with them. But we didnt visit the place where that council was convened, because it is currently underwater and because (weve been there before) there really isnt much to see there, anyhow. Christianity had become a legal religion of the Roman Empire during the reign of Constantine I (Constantine the Great) by virtue of the Edict of Milan that he issued in AD 313. Constantine patronized Christianity, supporting it by granting privileges to the Church and its clergy, and he ultimately became the first Roman emperor to adopt the religion as his personal faith. However, although he certainly furthered the process by which the majority of the population became Christians and by which, some decades after his death, Christianity actually became the official religion of the State, he himself did not accept baptism until very shortly before he died in AD 337, in Nicomedia. One of Constantines reasons for favoring Christianity was undoubtedly his hope that it would provide a kind of ideological clue that would assist him in unifying the Empire, which had been informally divided by language and cultural differences and even formally divided, politically. To his shock, though, Christianity itself was now riven by doctrinal disputes. Which is why he summoned the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325. (He would not establish his capital at Constantinople until AD 330.) The Nicene Creed (Greek , Symbolon tes Nikaias; Latin: Symbolum Nicaenum; lit. Symbol of Nicaea) was adopted by the assembled delegates at Nicaea. I have published a few of my reflections on its text in an article written for Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. After visiting Nicea, we returned to Istanbul and did a cruise on the Bosporus (or Bosphorus). Such a cruise provides the best view of many of Istanbuls most important features, including the Dolmabahce Palace, the more modern, European-style palace that replaced the Topkap Saray in the nineteenth century (and that some of us visited on the first day after our arrival here on this trip). If we had gone a bit further north (as our previous Bosporus cruises have done), it would also have provided an excellent view of the Rumeli Fortress. Rumelihisar (also known as the Rumelian Fortress and Roumeli Hissar Fortress) or Bogazkesen Fortress (literally strait-cutter fortress) is a medieval Ottoman fortification located on a series of hills on the European bank of the Bosporus. The complex, which was conceived and built between 1451 and 1452 CE on the orders of Sultan Mehmet II, was commissioned in preparation for his planned Ottoman siege of the then-Byzantine city of Constantinople. His intent was to cut off any maritime military or logistical relief that might potentially have come to the Byzantines aid by way of the Bosporus Strait. (Hence the fortresss alternative name, Bogazkesen, i.e. Strait-Cutter Castle. Its older sister structure, Anadoluhisari (Anatolian Fortress), stands on the opposite bank of the Bosporus, and the two fortresses functioned together during the final siege to cut off all naval traffic along the Bosporus, thus helping the Ottomans conquer Constantinople in 1453 and turn it into their new imperial capital of Istanbul. The exact cause and date of the formation of the Bosporus apparently remain a subject of debate among geologists. One recent idea, which has been termed the Black Sea deluge hypothesis, was proposed in 1997 by two scientists from Columbia University. It suggests that the Bosporus was flooded around 5600 BC (or, according to a 2003 revision of the hypothesis, about 6800 BC) when the rising waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara broke through to the Black Sea, which at the time, according to the hypothesis, was a low-lying body of fresh water. (Some have even suggested that the flooding of the valley of todays Black Sea gave rise to the legends of catastrophic flooding, including the story of Noahs flood, that are common across the area.) Many geologists, however, continue to believe that the strait is much older than that, albeit still relatively young in geological terms. In the evening, our group said its formal farewell to Turkiye and Istanbul by eating its last supper together on the terrace of the Arcadia Blue Hotel. My wife and I have eaten at the Arcadia Blue on several occasions, and once even stayed in the hotel itself. Its dining room has a breathtaking view, looking out over the Hagia Sophia, the Sultanahmet or Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and, in the distance, the Topkap Saray, and the Bosporus. I dont think that there is a better view in the city, and I doubt that there are many views of any cityscape on the planet that can rival it. And yes, by the way, the food there is very good, too. Posted from Istanbul, Turkiye (A dharma talk delivered on October 21st, 2023, during sesshin at the North Carolina Zen Center.) About five years ago I was contacted by people who ran a spiritual tour group. While they visited several locations around the world, they specialized in trips to Bhutan. They were planning their next trip there and said they were looking for a theme presenter. They asked if I wanted a free trip to Asia. They added it would also include a very modest stipend. I said no. I had a list of reasons. And each reason seemed sufficient for that no. Wrong location, Im Zen not Vajrayana. Im very busy with other projects, I had a book in the works. And, truthfully, Im beginning to feel my age, and the idea of tramping around the Himalayas seemed, well, over the top. Fortunately for me, they persisted. I consulted some friends and they all said, Whats wrong with you? Theyre paying you to go to Bhutan, the place with a Gross National Happiness Index? Take the trip. And so I did. The trip actually had two parts. We gathered in Bangkok in Thailand for a couple of days. And from there flew to Bhutan. Now, there wasnt a lot planned for Thailand other than a visit to the royal palace complex to look at the emerald Buddha. However, as it happened there were two things I actually wanted to do in Thailand, myself. One was to make a pilgrimage to the site where the Christian mystic, social activist, and writer Thomas Merton died. And the other was to go to the site where the English Buddhist writer John Blofelds ashes were interred. Before the trip began I put out feelers to friends and then through a friend of a friend I was put in touch with a retired American professor Joe Shakarchi and his Chinese Thai (if youre there, the distinction matters) Daru Mongkol. Out of a love for the Buddhadharma and interspirituality, they facilitated both my hoped for visits. They also said Buddhist Thailand deserved a little more attention than these two personal pilgrimages. They insisted on being my spiritual tour guides for all the three days I had. About the first thing I got to experience was their taking me to Wat Phra Chetuphon Simon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, usually best known as Wat Pho. Right in Bangkok, and right across from the Grand Palace. The monastery complex is a working operation. And there is some serious spiritual tourism there, as among other things it contains the largest collection of Buddhist images in the country. Among those other things the monastery is considered the nations oldest public university. It is also a center for traditional medicine, as well as for teaching Thai massage. Wat Pho is also called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. That Buddha is worth traveling around the world to see. Its breathtaking. The reclining image is slightly more than 49 feet high and fractionally more than 150 feet long. It is astonishing to behold. And. Lying down. And meditation. Lying down meditating is referenced regularly as one of the four standard meditation postures. Sitting, which is perhaps the baseline, walking is also common, standing, which Ive seen mostly as a way to stretch the legs during long retreats especially in Kwan Um Zen center practice, and lying down. Theres always been lying down as an option in the practice communities Ive sat with. And notice that using the word sitting really emphasizes what the baseline is. But lying down has always been an acceptable alternative. Although, for the most part only for people with a health condition that makes sitting on the floor or even in a chair problematic. Which brings us back to that reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Of course, that lying down Buddha in Bangkok is a paranirvana image. That is, its an icon of the Buddha at the time of his death. Although, I learned Daru and other Thais see it as the Buddha just resting. Not dying. She said its a call to take a break once in a while. I kind of loved that pragmatic teaching from popular Buddhist culture. Ive long found sacred images can carry multiple meanings. And, well, dying and resting? How goes that line, therell be time enough to rest in the grave? These things may not in fact be unconnected. The biggest difficulty Ive noticed in meditating while lying down, other than the need for physical space to do it, is that it becomes very, very easy to fall asleep in that posture. I have memories of Zen retreats where a couple of participants needed to lie down, and the gentle snoring that would occasionally waft from their direction. On the other hand, aside from taking on the practice as one is falling asleep, lying down while meditating, this posture can be powerful. After all the great example for us is the dying Buddha. And I think its important to add, the resting Buddha. Assuming a lying down posture carries layers of meaning in the action. I think of the Buddhas death. For me there all of those points that arise in the teachings of the old master, come to the fore. At that moment, everything is falling apart. As I look at it as my practice, I see that includes my very self. Often theres pain involved. Definitely, there are multiple entries into regrets, what ifs, the range of human suffering. For self and for other. And at the very same time there is an invitation into a peace that passes all understanding. Mahaparinirvana. The great dying. The Sufis say on must learn to die before one dies. And here in this practice dying is woven into the posture itself. The description of the Buddhas dying posture is pretty detailed. Lying on ones right side, legs stretched out. The left hand resting on the left thigh while the right hand is placed under the chin closing the right nostril. I read a Tibetan commentary on this practice where the author, I have no doubt a man, says women should do the opposite. Based, I gather, on tantric theories of energy flow. Other descriptions of the posture ignore the closing of the nostril entirely. And the old Buddhist descriptions all advise against lying on ones back. Thoughts of gentle snoring arise. On another hand theres a popular adaptation out of the east-meets-east thing that has happened with eastern religions which in Asia would rarely encounter each other, meeting here in the west and influencing each other. As an example many Buddhist meditators adapt the yogic Savasana posture, the corpse pose. In this posture one does lie down on ones back. The body at rest. Arms along the side with palms up. So, on the side, on the back. With breathing modifications. Without. People take up the practice. According to the received tradition Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha of history, was eighty years old when he died. His long life was dedicated to a great search, a finding, and then forty years of teaching. The stories say as he fell with his final illness at Kusinagara, he lay on a bed made for him between two Sala trees, his head facing north, and his face turned to the west. Of course, of course, flowers endlessly bloomed on the trees, falling and replacing magically. At dying, like with birthing, miracles abound. And. Of course, being who he was, shortly before he died, he delivered a final sermon. Me, Im interested in what he might have said for a couple of reasons. If one is going to give a summation of ones life and experience, what better place might it be given than on ones deathbed? People have noted this. And some have collected those deathbed sayings. I love Arthur Conan Doyle who said to his wife You are wonderful. And Jean-Paul Sartre, who said to his partner Simone de Beauvoir, I love you very much Or, Steve Jobs famously reported, Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. I find myself fascinated with the question, what were the last words of the Buddha? Gasped out of his lying down, dying. We have two principal versions recording the dying of the Buddha and what he said. The Mahayana version is delicious, a great sermon, lots of miracles. However, in the quest for last words, it actually concludes with him laying down. There is no reference to anything said in the immediate as he faced death with each breath possibly the last. The Theravada version has some strata of the text which can be reasonably dated from as near as a generation or two from the time of the Buddha. Although, and I believe this is critical, it was not written down until much after the occasion, probably somewhere near the beginning of the common era. So, four or five hundred years after the Buddha died. And its written in Pali, a related language to what the Buddha spoke, Magadhi Prakrit, but not his language. That noted, this is something that probably was critical to many people even at the beginning. When lying there, faced with the last breath, what did the master say? I suspect, I feel, Im even confident that what we have is probably pretty close to what the dying monk actually shared with his disciples, which was then captured in the Pali canon. The poet Mary Oliver captured this moment as she wrote: Slowly, beneath the branches,/He raised his head./He looked into the faces of that frightened crowd. And what did he say? What could heal the hurt? And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness! In another translation: Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation. Lying there, sick, dying, the Buddhas last words. One could spend a lifetime unpacking these particular last words. And people have. The four noble truths are among those. For me the most successful of these unpackings, is found in the four seals. The formulation of the four seals dont seem to date much earlier than the The Questions of the Naga King Sagara, which itself doesnt seem to date earlier than the third century before our common era. Which is pretty good, although theres a good chance it was written much after that. Of course, it is simply an explicit ordering of what had been taught for years as the heart of the Buddhas teaching. Quite similar to the four truths, which are seen as foundational in the Theravada. Although its textual appearances are also somewhat controversial. Some scholars seeing linguistic inconsistencies as the list appears in the Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma Sutta, a version of the Buddhas first sermon rather than his last. And strongly suspect it is in fact a much later emendation. That said I believe the four truths and the four seals both seem to me to unpack those last words of Gautama Siddhartha. But the four seals most of all. The teaching within those words uttered while lying on the ground. The first three are: First. Impermanence: Everything is made of parts, and they will inevitably come apart. This speaks to the fundamental structures of the universe as well as to the creation of our minds. But it is the impermanence of the mind, it is the impermanent heart that its most critical for us to understand. We are real. But we are impermanent. If we allow ourselves to be present to this truth we discover a response to the longing of our ancestors, to the prayers of our grandfathers grandfathers. Second. No-self or the Emptiness of Self: There is no abiding self. The self is real. As I just said, we are real, you and I. Pinch us and we hurt. But our existence is mutable. And in the end, we are mortal. Nothing escapes the dissolution of the body and with it everything we think of as our unique selves. The wonderful mystery that we are, our particular noticing of the universe, our little angle on it all, ends. When we allow ourselves to be fully present to this, we discover the threads that bind us back to the dreams of our grandmothers grandmothers, the deep response to their hearts hurt. Third. Dis-ease or Disquiet: The motion of things rising and falling is experienced by humans as painful, as anxiety, as anguish. I call this the buzz. The buzz is in the back of everything we encounter, behind every loss, behind every victory. As we allow this to be what it is, coming generations winding into the great circle as our ancestors and our descendants join at our hearts, and from that place in responding, the way opens. These first three are sometimes found as a complete list by themselves as the three marks of existence. But I find they lack something. And that something is expressed as the fourth seal. Something I believe Gautama Siddhartha taught with every breath, including those last gasping moments in the dirt, between those trees. Fourth. There is a way through the hurt. This is the good news of Zen Buddhism. While the buzz belongs to the universe, it is simply the experience of everything in motion; the buzz as discomfort, dis-ease, anxiety, or anguish belongs specifically to our human world. Given the size of the cosmos, human here would be any being with a consciousness that can discern the first three seals. Here the longing and the prayers are answered. The response is found in not turning away. It is found within our lives lived and within our deaths dying. The dirt that supports our bodies is itself the product of ages upon ages, of birthing and flourishing and dying. Life created from dust. And returning. Dust to dust. Each of those ages found in the scattering dirt, as the dirt upon which we rest, are revealed as the universe itself. The body of the divine. There is a way through. Call it enlightenment. Call it awakening. Call it peace. Telegraphed in the gasping words of a dying monk, lying on the ground, his last breaths carrying a message. Everything falls apart. Pay the deepest attention to this matter. It will save you. It will save the world. Which brings us back to meditating lying down. Yesterday as Teshin Sensei had us open the windows, I found my gaze turn just in time to catch the wind picking up a cascade of leaves, like fire dancing around, framed in the windows. Just like those flowers coming into being and falling, surrounding the Buddha as the elements that had gathered and held for eighty years began to dissipate. In the moment when each breath promised no more. And yet. Like fire. Like falling leaves. Like a gust of wind. The moment the holy spirit itself. Here we are. In this mysterious rising and falling, loving, hurting, clinging and letting go. Everything in its time. As we lie down. And each moment of time captured in every other moment. A Zen koan. An assertion of some profound truth. And an invitation. As we lie down in meditation, we are joined with the Buddha dying. Or, sometimes, just resting. All of it. All of it. We lie down, we notice. We attend. We let go. And the worlds are revealed. The State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) of Russia on Monday, 16th October, 2023 met with Ghanas Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, at the 2023 Africa Energy Week which is underway in Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting held at the instance of ROSATOM was to deepen discussions on cooperation with Ghana on the nuclear energy front. Speaking at the meeting, leader of delegation and Chief Executive Officer of ROSATOM with oversight responsibility over Central and Southern Africa, Mr. Ryan Collyer made reference to an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and Rosatom in 2015 on nuclear co-operation which includes design and construction of nuclear power plants for the production of electricity and water desalination, nuclear research reactors and atomic particle accelerators among others. He also spoke on their current proposal to Ghana to construct a Nuclear Power Plant in respect of which last information was sent to the Nuclear Power Ghana on Friday, 13th October, 2023. ROSATOM, he said, has commenced the construction of a fleet of Floating Nuclear Power Plants as part of their plans to supply power to Ghanas grid through a Power Purchase Agreement We are very committed to this project in Ghana and we want to ensure that this co-operation works, the CEO said. He continued; We are also very committed to our Floating Nuclear Power Plant efforts, all in the bid to strengthening the co-operation with Ghana. Mr. Collyer further spoke about the advantages of Small Modular Reactor in parallel for industry, drawing similarities to what pertains in Russia. ROSATOM asked the Minister to assist them find a Ghanaian industry partner for a long-term agreement in this direction On his part, the Energy Minister recounted Ghanas long-standing relations with Russia, citing the fact that Ghanas quest for oil discovery was first led by Russians. He said the Government of Ghana continue to support the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme by participating, funding and making various contribution and supports to the realization of the set goals of the programme Ghana has completed the phase 1 stage of the Nuclear Power Programme according to the IAEA milestones approach and has launched into the phase two stage of the nuclear power programme which requires comprehensive feasibility study and implementation works, he said. The Minister added that Ghanas main preoccupation is funding and therefore making efforts at attracting same. He expressed satisfaction at the request for further information by Russia which demonstrates their seriousness to cooperate with Ghana. Ghana, he said, is looking at long-term agreement which spans 40-50 years in the nuclear space as nuclear has become a critical part of the clean energy conversation across the globe. He reiterated that Ghana is very much looking for a country who will demonstrate the commitment to funding and investing in nuclear projects as that is also the priority of the President. In June 2022, President Akufo-Addo made a declaration on the approval by Cabinet for the inclusion of nuclear in the national energy mix. The Ministry of Energy, under the leadership of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, continues to consolidate efforts in this regard towards the construction of a nuclear power plant also pursuant to the countrys clean energy agenda. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The countrys favourite Insurance group, Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance, paid over GHC88 million in claims last year.The company has demonstrated its unwavering dedication to policyholders by providing outstanding services. Hollard Insurance paid out a total gross claim of GHC76,877,013.79in 2022for various products, whileHollard Life Assurance, the youngest subsidiary, paid a sum of GHC 11,331,298as a gross claimfora wide range of insurance policies. Speaking on the feat, the Managing Director of Hollard Insurance, Daniel Boi Addo, said, "As the two-time CIMG insurance company of the year, we are glad to impact lives positively. These numbers reflect our dedication to delivering on our promises. We are extremelyproud of our claims team, headed by Iris Logan, for consistently delivering exceptionally. On average, Hollard Insurance paysGHC3.8m / 4m of claims per month and about GHC159,090.90 per day on all products, including motor, Home, Fire, Travel, Engineering, and Personal Accident, to mention a few. Thank you to the claims team for working tirelessly to put a smile on the face of our customers. Due to our strong commitment to the claims payment process, we have proactively improved our systems. We ensure the insured gets what is appropriate to restore normalcy because we put customers first in everything we do. He added that we want our customers to know we deeply care about them; we do not take their plights for granted. Managing Director of Hollard Life Assurance, Nashiru Iddrisu, added:"As a responsible corporate institution, acknowledged as the Best Growing Life insurance company -GIA, we ensure that all legitimate claims are processed and paid within 24 hours.We aim to enable more people to create and secure a better future by being a catalyst for positive and enduring change. Hence, weaim to show care and dignity by offering excellent customer experienceand compassionate support throughout the claims process. By promptly evaluating claims and ensuring fair settlements, Hollard Ghanabuilds trust and fosters long-lasting customer relationships. We remain focused on providing unparalleled service and support to our policyholders, ensuring they feel protected and cared for in their times of need. More recently, the insurance group has launched a new Customer Experience Centre and a toll-free number, 0800-444-999, to augment its service delivery. The Centre is equipped with innovative technology and highly skilled Customer Experience Advisors responsible for promptly addressing the needs of enquirers and customers of the insurance group. About Hollard Ghana The country's favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local market knowledge, having operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more, and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance) and 0501533698 (Hollard Life). Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs. 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 KFC Ghana has relocated its outlet at the Marina Mall, KIA Airport to the 37 Road Liberation Road. The relocation of the restaurant, according to management is expected to bring their services closer to their target and also to offer tasty products as well as exceptional customer service. The New location shares same yard as the 37, Total fuel station, formerly, On the Run opposite the 37 Station. KFC, which is the worlds largest restaurant with over 38,000 branches spread in 110 countries, is expanding its presence across the world. It currently has 31 branches in Eight Regions across Ghana. KFC Ghana a subsidiary of Masco Foods, whose parent Company is the Mohinani Group, held the brief but impressive opening event on Tuesday, 17th October, 2023, and was attended by a number of dignitaries. The relocation from the Marina Mall brings the number of KFC restaurants in Ghana to thirty-one (31). The Marketing Manager of KFC, Chris Addo-Sarkodie, in an interview thanked the people of Ghana for their support and promised of quality service delivery. He said the new outlet, like the already existing ones, would provide quality service to its customers. Now, this is to you, Ghana, we know your standards and we are delighted to serve you. We will also not compromise on our standards and we pledge to give you the same value just as our services across the world. Mr. Chris Addo was optimistic that the public stands to benefit from a high standard in the fast food industry in terms of the quality of food. He said Masco Foods currently employs about 930 Ghanaians across its 31 branches nationwide, assuring Ghanaians that the number is expected to increase by the close of the year, an indication of the expansion plans of the company. The Marketing Manager was quick to tout KFCs reputation as an equal opportunity employer of Ghanaians with physical impairments. An accident Victim Teye Isaac, whose medical bills was taken up by the Masco Group after an appeal by popular Social Media Influencer, Nana Tea,was also given an instant employment after healing and he is to work from any of the companys (KFC) branches. The Mohinani Group is a third-generation business conglomerate of Indian origin. Other brands within the Group are the Polytank Group of Business, Somotex and Electromart, as well as Somoco Ghana, distributors of the Bajaj brand of motorcycles. 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 At the age of 82, Tatsuya Fuji gracefully accepted the Best Actor award at the 2023 San Sebastian International Film Festival for his outstanding performance in Great Absence. The award not only highlighted the brilliance of a veteran actor known for In the Realm of the Senses (1976), but also shed light on how Japanese cinema is addressing the challenges of the nations aging population. Japanese films like A Hundred Flowers examined Alzheimers disease, while Plan 75 explored the challenges of caring for the elderly in a unique blend of social drama and science fiction. In the movie, a futuristic Japanese government offers a controversial solution to the aging problem death by lethal injection at age 75 in exchange for a generous financial incentive. These films showcase different aspects of a demographic reality: over 10% of Japans population is at least 80 years old, and 29.1% of the total population (125 million) is 65 or older. To supplement their social security income, many people keep working after reaching retirement age (65), and currently represent over 13% of the active workforce. Its no surprise that Japanese films mystery, action, comedy, and sci-fi are now exploring the challenges of a graying society facing issues like financial security, long-term care and quality of life. Scene from 'Plan 75.' In Plan 75, director Chie Hayakawa tells a story about a dystopian Japan in the near future with a plan to ease its crushing pension burden: the government offers a financial incentive for people over 75 to voluntarily die by lethal injection. The film, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, was inspired by real life events the tragic 2016 murders of 19 mentally disabled people, some of them elderly. The individual responsible for these shocking murders is a former nurse who had shown a disturbing willingness to end the lives of 460 individuals suffering from mental illness for the benefit of Japan and world peace. Its a recurring theme in the cultural tradition of Japan. In 1956, Shichiro Fukazawa wrote a short novel called The Ballad of Narayama, inspired by the Japanese practice of ubasute (abandonment of old women). The word appears in Buddhist poetry, and ubasute was occasionally carried out during times of great scarcity in Japan. Three film adaptations of Fukazawas novel have been made, and the 1983 version directed by Shohei Imamura won the Palme dOr that year at the Cannes Film Festival. The protagonist, Orin, is a 69-year-old woman who is active and in good health. But in her town, women over 70 are taken by their firstborn sons to Narayama Mountain to await death. Despite her sons grief, Orin embraces her duty. In 2022, Genki Kawamura won the Best Director award for A Hundred Flowers at San Sebastian. Kawamura had written a novel about his personal experience with Alzheimers his grandmother started battling this disease in 2015. Kawamura said he wanted to write the book so he wouldnt forget his feelings of guilt. When his grandmother passed away, Kawamura realized that a movie of the book would more closely represent her perspective, since she experienced her world through images in her final years. In his acceptance speech at San Sebastian, Kawamura said, As she gazed upon the flowers, memories from her childhood and wedding day flooded back. It reminded her that she chose to leave her children for another man. Regret consumed her, but she could never find the words to speak to them. She never forgot that pain. To bring that complexity to life, he cast actress Mieko Harada, a legendary figure in Japan who worked with director Akira Kurosawa in Ran and Dreams. Mieko Harada (right) in a scene from 'A Hundred Flowers.' Alzheimers doesnt make an appearance in Great Absence, but the equally cruel senile dementia does. Inspired by director Kei Chika-uras real-life experiences, the film tells the story of an actor living in Tokyo who is forced to travel home when the police call to say his father is suffering from dementia and has lost touch with reality. Making matters worse, his fathers second wife appears to be missing. The thrillers non-linear narrative thoroughly immerses viewers in the sons confusion as he tries to reconstruct his fathers memory while trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of his stepmother. Tatsuya Fuji plays the role of the father, a retired professor who tries to reconcile with his son while dementia erases his memories. I didnt have to do much preparation for the role because at my age, I tend to forget things and its just natural that my body has experienced dementia, joked Fuji. This is Fujis third collaboration with Chika-ura. At San Sebastian, Fuji hailed him as one of the great contemporary Japanese directors, and thanked the movies entire team profusely in his acceptance speech. Fuji also shared that he had the privilege of filming in Chika-uras real family home. Chika-uras father, like his movie counterpart, was a university professor who once got picked up by the police after wandering off one day. Seeing the books he read and the things he had on his table, they were such a great source of inspiration! Tatsuya Fuji with his Silver Shell award for Best Actor in 'Great Absence' at the 2023 San Sebastian International Film Festival. Jorge Fuembuena Fujis 60-year film career reached a turning point in 1976 with Nagisha Oshimas In the Realm of the Senses. The first non-pornographic Japanese film to feature frontal nudity and explicit sexuality, the controversial movie was censored in several countries. Oshima, who was a prominent television actor at the time, joined forces again with Fuji in Empire of Passion (1978), another story with erotic themes that faced less censorship. The film was entered into the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, where Oshima won the award for Best Director. After the festival, Fuji fondly remembers renting a Renault 5 and taking a solo trip to Barcelona with one goal in mind: tasting the famous Spanish omelets touted by Ernest Hemingway. Fujis collaborations with Oshima launched his film career, leading him to portray a wide range of characters in nearly 100 movies. From dashing tough guys to executives, yakuza gangsters, police officers, soldiers and talented craftsmen, Fujis versatility shines through. Director Takeshi Kitano surprisingly cast a 74-year-old Fuji in Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen (2015), to play the lead role of a retired yakuza boss who gets his septuagenarian gang back together to bring down some con artists who are scamming the elderly. In that movie, the old people win. 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 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. 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 Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), a leading technology-focused private university, celebrated another milestone as it graduated a new cohort of PhD recipients during its 19th Graduation Ceremony, held at the PIWC Hall, ATTC, Kokomlemle, Accra. In a statement released by the University, this accomplishment not only marks a significant moment in AIT's history but also a ground-breaking event in the annals of private university education within the country. The 19th graduation ceremony also witnessed the graduation of over 300 Bachelor's degree holders and 14 Master's degree recipients. Over 1,500 students in various academic programs were also matriculated into the University. Emeritus Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, the Acting Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, addressed the congregation and expressed his excitement about the University's growth. He commended the high academic standards this relatively young institution achieved, particularly in producing numerous high-quality PhD graduates. He congratulated all the graduates, urging them to go out into the world and make a difference. Professor Clement Dzidonu, the President of AIT, outlined the University's unwavering commitment to maintaining high academic standards and conducting cutting-edge research to impact the world positively. He mentioned that AIT now operates the AIT Smart School Academy, which provides training for pupils at the basic level. He advised the graduates 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. 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. 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 short but colourful graduation ceremony has been held at Shiloh School Complex for pupils who completed Junior High School this year, kindergarten pupils moving on to Basic 1 as well as those in Basic 6 promoted to JHS1. The event held on the schools premises at Bortianor near Kasoa was under the theme, Growing Together, Reaching New Heights. As they are about to step into a new chapter of their lives, the graudating class of 2023 were admonished to remember that true growth doesnt stop at the end of a high school diploma. The Proprietress of Shiloh School Complex, Mrs Rachael Ladejo, who gave the admonishment, noted that even though the children have been provided with a strong academic foundation, it is up to you to continue pushing yourselves to reach new heights. They were advised to remember that learning is a life-long journey, and it is through constant growth and self-improvement that they will discover their true passions and uncover their fullest potentials. Remember the importance of integrity, kindness and empathy in all your endeavors. These qualities will not only contribute to your personal growth but also enable you to make meaningful contributions to society, Mrs. Rachael Ladejo advised. Proprietress of Shiloh School Complex, Mrs Rachael Ladejo The Head Teacher of Shiloh School Complex, Mr. Theodolash Mensah, challenged the graduants not to see themselves as just recipients of knowledge; you are creators, innovators, and problem solvers who have the power to shape the future. He recalled how some Basic 6 pupils of the school were able to register and pass the Basic Education Certificate Exams, adding that the school can boast of having its students attending known big senior high schools in Ghana. To our wonderful and beautiful parents gathered here, we want to reassure you that your choice to bring your ward here was never a bad idea and will never be, because teachers are working tirelessly and coherently just to bring out the best in every single individual here (Shiloh). It is for these reasons why students who leave Shiloh for other schools performs better than anyone can imagine. Mr. Mensah appealed to parents to be active participants in the welfare and education of their children, noting, Its sometimes sad to see some students in this 21st century come to school with no pens to write with, no books to write in, with torn shoes and clothes just to mention a few. Mr. Theodolash Mensah With the unwavering high Christian values instilled in pupils of Shiloh School Complex, the pupils were advised to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence, and use the knowledge gained during their stay in the School to bring positive change to the world. Pupils and staff of the school who performed creditably in the year under review were rewarded by management of the school. 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 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 has been under house arrest since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. 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 at 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 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. 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's overthrow, US President Joe Biden called for him to be "immediately released", and for 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. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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, the company said on its website. Mr Musk has long said that his solution for getting rid of bots and fake accounts on the social media platform is charging for the service. Since taking over the firm in October last year he has looked to incentivize users to pay for an enhanced service, which is now called X Premium, and tried to woo advertisers back to X with offers of discounts. Some users now opt to pay $8 per month for the blue check subscription service. Its "Not A Bot" subscription method aims to reduce spam, manipulation of the platform and bot activity. Mr Musk's rapid changes, including mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation teams, have led to advertisers halting ads on the service. He acknowledged that the platform has taken a hit on revenue and blamed activists for pressuring advertisers. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a night filled with electrifying performances and raw talent, Anniyawu Razala, known as Klasic Again, an upcoming musician from Bolgatanga, claimed the coveted title of Winner of the Orijin Untamed Northern Zone. The Orijin Untamed Northern Zone Auditions took place at Bombs in Bolgatanga, setting the stage for the thrilling nationwide talent search in the fields of arts and music. Klasic Again, with his dancehall-inspired charisma, left an indelible mark as his journey to triumph was nothing short of a dramatic crescendo. As the 17th and final contestant to grace the stage, he came across as an underdog little did anyone anticipate that he would end the night clutching the champion's crown. His captivating performance alone did not turn heads; it was his memorable catch phrases that set the audience excited. His performances resonated with the audience and the judges, leaving no doubt that he was a true reflection of the Orijin brand - authentic and self-expressive. The Northern Zone winner, Klasic Again walked away with GHC 8,000 and hell be representing the zone with first runner-up, Wisdom Yidana - a spoken word artist. In his acceptance speech, Klasic Again expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Orijin for providing a platform for him to follow his passion. Orijin Untamed, in its pursuit of unearthing raw and authentic talent, continues its journey, with zonal auditions scheduled for Kumasi on 27th October at the 1999 Lounge Restaurant and Accra on 2nd November at Kona, culminating in the grand finale on December 1st in Accra (JamesTown). Winners for the zonal stage of the competition will win GHS 8,000.00, and the final winner of Orijin Untamed wins GHS 80,000.00. Since its launch in Ghana, Orijin has been redefining the taste landscape of consumers with an expert blend of African herbs and fruits that creates a distinct bittersweet taste profile beloved by bold consumers looking for a unique taste experience while remaining firmly within their roots. 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 Dr. Kofi Abban, CEO of Rigworld International Services Ltd, and Reverend Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, Founder of Lawrence Tetteh Ministries, have teamed up to make a substantial contribution. The gesture involves a generous donation of GH1,000,000 worth of relief items to aid flood victims in Adidome, located in the Volta Region. These donated supplies, such as mattresses, bags of rice, and cartons of cooking oil, are intended to provide much-needed assistance to those who have been adversely affected by the recent floods. This act of philanthropy is an integral part of the "Adidome for Christ" campaign, spearheaded by Rev. Dr. Tetteh and officially supported by Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyemang V, the Dufia of Adidome in the Volta Region. For Dr. Kofi Abban, this gesture is not only a manifestation of his company's commitment to corporate social responsibility but also an extension of his personal philanthropic endeavors. Upon witnessing the devastation caused by the recent floods, particularly to the lives of women and children, he was deeply moved. He not only pledged continued support to the victims but also affirmed his unwavering dedication to helping these individuals rebuild their lives. "We believe in the power of collective action and unity," he stated, promising to provide further assistance whenever it's required. Rev. Dr. Tetteh echoed the significance of offering aid to those in distress, emphasizing that the campaign isn't solely about spreading the word of God but also about sharing the burdens of the vulnerable and bringing comfort and happiness to their lives. Dr. Kofi Abban reaffirmed his commitment to this cause, emphasizing the shared values and dedication to the well-being of those who have lost their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. Togbe Agyemang, representing the flood victims, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Dr. Tetteh and Dr. Abban for their love and care during these challenging times. He assured the benefactors that all flood victims in the region would receive their share of the donated items. The flood victims who attended the event conveyed their deep appreciation for this generous act of kindness. The collaboration between Kofi Abban and Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh has undeniably made a substantial difference in the lives of those impacted by the floods in the Volta Region. Source: Peacefmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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 to the threat of death and domestic violence and 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. 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 An avid supporter of flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has issued threats to NPP delegates who vote for Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming presidential election of the party. He threatened to beat any delegate in Assin Central who decides to vote against their Member of Parliament and presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, describing it as an act of betrayal. In a TikTok video that has gone viral, the young man stated that they will resist any person who attempts to vote for Dr. Bawumia on November 4, 2023. I am saying that we will not allow you the chance to come and vote in the first place. You cannot step foot in the voting centre to come and vote and nobody can bring any Police from anywhere. Nobody can bring a soldier from anywhere. Nobody can bring any colonel from anywhere to Assin Central. I am telling you. This (Kennedy Agyapong) is our own and we in Assin, if Kennedy becomes President and he doesn't even do anything, all that we want is to have Assin in the history books, he warned. He rained curses on delegates in Assin Central who defy the order saying if you vote for Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, God's wrath would be upon you. Someone (Kennedy Agyapong) has taken care of you and you can't show gratitude to him but rewarding him in this manner, God will bring his wrath on you. He further said; it is because Assin Central is a village and the people are foolish and do not travel, they don't know Kumasi nor Accra, fools, if God wills it and Kennedy Agyapong wins, you would see how shameful you would be...On the election day, let me see someone who claims to be a man enough, on the election day, on the 4th of November, let him attempt to come and vote, he would see what would happen to him. ...some of you have your nephews and nieces working at Ghana Gas, taking a monthly salary of GHC 10000. Some of you, Kennedy Agyapong has recruited your children into nursing training institutions and Ghana Immigration Service...you don't welcome good things coming into your homes. God will punish you people, he fumed. Video: 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 Id been waiting exultantly to see what an 80-year-old director named Martin Scorsese had achieved with his latest film, as I imagine every moviegoer with good taste had as well. The dearth of material, especially in American cinema, has been very long, but I was hoping that it would end with the decision by one of the few remaining masters of the craft to tell one more story. As for me, I felt like a child excitedly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, convinced that I was going to get the wonderful things that I had asked for. And far from being overwhelmed by the runtime of 206 minutes, I was instead ecstatic. I imagined I was going to spend all those minutes in heaven. And its true that I did not check my watch at all. The wisdom that this mans camera contains prevented it. Still, almost nothing that he said in this movie fascinated me, it did not trigger in me those varied and priceless sensations that you get from the movies that make you fall in love with them, the characters that hypnotize you, all the things that you hear and observe. I walked out of it with a feeling of bewilderment. I perceived an excessive and calculated density, a story and a tone starring sordid people and situations; most of the main characters gave me the creeps, everything was reversed in them, their evil nature had no power to fascinate me. I was only interested and moved by the present and future of one of the victims, an indigenous woman, honest and long-suffering, someone who exuded truth, a diabetic whose husband is injecting with poison, extraordinarily embodied by the actress Lily Gladstone, who unfortunately I had not heard of until now. The perfidious events that Scorsese describes are apparently based on reality. They took place in the 1920s. In Oklahoma. There was a miracle: endless oil deposits were found in the reservation, where the Osage tribe was locked up. Those who owned almost nothing suddenly became rich. It was an opportunity for white vultures to pounce on them and strip them of these riches. With a violence that was initially concealed, but Machiavellian and fierce all the same. Some of these vultures married indigenous women, then murdered them for the sweet inheritance they wanted to collect. Everything is gloomy and murky in this story. The conspiracy is planned by a patriarchal figure, a falsely engaging old man, someone as cruel as he is repulsive behind his good manners. Among the mob that submissively follows his twisted orders, one individual takes center stage: a nephew of the patriarch, a former war combatant with aspirations, but also a fool, doubting at times between greed and love for his Osage wife and his children. Paradoxically, it is the FBI, created and directed by the sinister Edgar Hoover, that gets suspicious about the death of all those women who were blessed by fortune and later massacred. And the investigation uncovers a malevolent universe without the slightest trace of mercy. There are brilliant moments in this sordid story. It is the ending, staged like a radio play and with Scorsese himself acting as narrator and master of ceremonies. But the development of the story makes me uncomfortable and uneasy about the bad guys. I find the white predators repellent, I dont have the courage to witness abominable people and their methodology for killing off the innocent for so long. There is an atmosphere, but it is exclusively a sick one. And I am not subjugated by the highly praised performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, either. I am only overcome with emotion, understanding, and pity every time Lily Gladstone appears on-screen. And I agree that extreme violence has been a longstanding theme in Scorseses world. He did it with capital art in Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York and The Irishman. And there was also a lot of internal violence in the wonderful The Age of Innocence. But here, I just find it unpleasant. Killers of the Flower Moon Director: Martin Scorsese. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow. Genre: Thriller. United States, 2023. Runtime: 206 minutes. Premiere: October 20. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Lordina The Soprano has unveiled her soul-stirring Album "Charis" celebrating the abundance of God's Grace. Lordina The Soprano, the renowned choral soloist known for her angelic voice and impactful Christian music, has released her highly anticipated album, "Charis." This soulful collection of songs is a heartfelt tribute to the boundless GRACE that has illuminated her life's journey. The Album preaches about GRACE and spreads the message of hope, righteousness and thanksgiving. "Charis," a Greek word which translates "GRACE", is a testament to the profound influence of divine benevolence that has touched Lordina's life. Each track on the album encapsulates her experiences, emotions, and unwavering faith, making it a truly inspirational masterpiece. Lordina's ethereal soprano vocals and powerful lyrics create an immersive listening experience that transcends genres. The album is a cocktail fusion of contemporary gospel, classical, and soulful melodies that will resonate with audiences of all backgrounds. Tracks on "CHARIS" include: 1. "The Sun will Shine": Recorded Live and Produced at the Angel One Studios of Abbey Road Studios in the UK, Live Orchestra by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This classical piece is a hopeful and inspirational song that emphasizes the promise of joy, restoration, and God's faithfulness, even in times of hardship and darkness. persevering through difficult times with the assurance that God's light and blessings will ultimately prevail. "The Sun Will Shine" conveys the message of hope, reminding listeners of the promise of better days to come, anchored in faith and trust in God's unwavering love and providence. 2. "I Know Youre There": Produced by Billy Selasie, this song is a poignant expression of faith and assurance in God's presence, even amid life's trials and challenges. It emphasizes God's omnipresence and promises of never leaving nor forsaking us- Hebrews 13:5. Just like The sun will shine, this song was composed by the Artiste. 3. "In Your Time": Produced by Reverb Studios and features the soulful vocalist, Luigi Maclean. This song, written by James Varrick Armaah (composer of the popular choral song Oye) based on Ecclesiastes 3:11 conveys a message of patience and trust in God's timing, especially during challenging or uncertain periods. It encourages patience, faith, and the belief that God's timing will ultimately bring about fulfillment and blessings, even amid challenges. 4. Onyonko Nokwafo: Produced by the legendary KODA and features the celebrated contemporary gospel minister Nii Okai. Its message underscores the unwavering faithfulness of God as a friend and companion throughout life's journey. Composition rearranged by Ohene Adu Nti. 5. His Grace: centers around the concept of God's unmerited favor, forgiveness, and salvation through His grace. It serves as a musical expression of gratitude and praise for the immeasurable grace that God bestows upon believers, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9. Also produced by KODA. 6. Adom (Only by Grace): A joyous celebration of God's grace with infectious rhythms and harmonious choruses. Written and produced by KODA 7. Gye Wo Nkoaa: Produced by Reverb studios and features the highly acclaimed Ghanaian gospel musician and worship leader Joe Mettle. "You alone" aligns with the biblical concept of monotheism, emphasizing that there is only one true God who deserves our worship and devotion. Composed by Newlove Annan, the renowned composer of the song Your grace and mercy. 8. Din pa: Translated Good name, this song produced by Billy Selasie, focuses on the importance of having a good reputation or moral character. This song encourages listeners to live virtuously, make righteous choices, and uphold their integrity in the eyes of God and others - Proverbs 22:1. Composed by the Artiste. 9. Ofata: Produced by Dr. David K. Kyei (Kaywa) and features the anointed songstress Efe Grace. "Ofata (He's Worthy)" is a worshipful declaration of God's worthiness to receive praise, honor, and adoration. It emphasizes God's attributes, faithfulness, and the redemptive work of Christ, highlighting His deserving nature for our worship. Written by Lordina based on Revelation 5:12 10. Hallelujah: Also produced by Kaywa and written by the Artiste. Hallelujah is a powerful expression of praise and worship to God, an exclamation of joy, gratitude, and adoration to God for victory, favour and salvation among other blessings. The repetitive use of "Hallelujah" in this song serves as a joyful declaration of God's worthiness and an invitation for others to join in worship. 11. Nyame Kokroko: Produced by Shadrach Yawson (SHAA), this song expresses a profound sense of gratitude and praise to God for His mighty deeds and blessings. The lyrics convey a commitment to continually worship and acknowledge God's goodness and faithfulness. Written by the Artiste based on Psalm 34:1, this song reflects heartfelt expression of devotion, underscoring the importance of perpetual praise and recognition of God's grace and actions in the lives of believers. 12. "Choral Highlife": This medley consists of 3 popular songs sung especially in the Adventist church. The lyrics of these songs encourage faith and gratitude, as well as kindness to one another. These are all requisite virtues of the Christian. Lordina The Soprano's "CHARIS" is not only an album but a spiritual journey that invites listeners to reflect on their own encounters with grace. With this release, she hopes to inspire and uplift souls worldwide, fostering a sense of hope, gratitude, and spiritual connection. The album "Charis" was released on Monday October 16, 2023 and is available on all major music platforms https://lordinathesoprano.fanlink.to/Charis . Lordina The Soprano also performed selected tracks from the album at a closed Album launch on Sunday October 15, 2023. For more information, press inquiries, or interview requests with Lordina The Soprano, please contact: Eunic Productions Ltd [email protected] 0208562612, 0506187761 Follow Lordina The Soprano on social media: - Facebook: @LordinaTheSoprano - Twitter: @LordinaSoprano - Instagram: @LordinaSoprano Join us in celebrating the release of "Charis" by Lordina The Soprano, a musical testament to the enduring power of GRACE in our lives. Lordina The Soprano is a Gospel Minister known for her soothing and captivating vocals. With a deep passion for spreading the message of God's grace, she has touched the hearts of countless listeners around the world predominantly with choral and classical music. "Charis" is her maiden musical album offering, celebrating the boundless grace that has transformed her life. 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 Renowned rapper, Okyeame Kwame has revealed that he defied his parents' religious reservations just to marry the woman of his dreams. Shedding light on the hurdles he and his wife, Annica Nsiah-Apau faced when their love clashed with their family's religious beliefs, he said his parents strongly disapproved of his union with Annica, just because she was Jehovahs Witness. The Faithful artiste disclosed that his family was hesitant to welcome his wife into the family because of their religious differences. The father of two said it was more important for him to be with the woman he loved than to succumb to his family's expectations, adding that he believed the success of a marriage was dependent on the blessings of God and not human approval. They [parents] never agreed to our marriage. We were going to play a show in Kumasi by then and she was working in a law firm. When we got to Nkawkaw, she [Okyeame Kwames wife] said, 'Okyeame, do you know that in Ghana we have three key elements in marriage? We have an ordinance, customary, Mohammedan, and another one. So with the people who dont support our marriage, will they come and live with us?' Then I said 'No,'" Okyeame Kwame explained during an interview with Angel FM. Okyeame Kwame also disclosed that he informed his parents about the impending marriage just one night before the ceremony and their marriage did not receive the blessing of his parents. "Both families loved each other, but because of religion, they didnt agree. I told my mum about the marriage a night before the marriage because I understood that I was not going to marry the lady for my mother but for myself," Okyeame Kwame emphasized. He also highlighted the practical aspect, questioning the need for his mother's approval in a marriage where they wouldn't live together. Okyeame Kwame and Annica Nsiah-Appau exchanged their vows in 2009 and have been blessed with two children. 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 Renowned comic actor John Okafor, fondly known as Mr. Ibu, has turned to social media to solicit public aid as he confronts a health condition that may lead to the amputation of his leg. From his hospital bed, the Nollywood veteran actor made the heartfelt plea on Wednesday. In a video shared on his Instagram page, Mr. Ibu revealed that he has been hospitalized for several weeks. Speaking about the gravity of his ailment, he disclosed that his doctors have warned him that amputation might be the last resort if all other options are exhausted. His daughter, Jasmine Okafor, also spoke, expressing concern that Mr. Ibu's condition is not showing signs of improvement and that his financial resources have been depleted. She therefore urged compassionate individuals to assist in facilitating his treatment abroad. Accompanying the video, Mr. Ibu included a message: "Dear Good people of Nigeria, we are counting on your support at these points we need it the most." Please and please. Lets do this for Mr. Ibu. The account number is on the video. Ive done my own small thing No matter the amount even if its N1,000 it will go a long way He is a supportive man. If you dont have, you can retweet. Thank you so much. pic.twitter.com/PzgvAogB51 Mo-Mo (@Morris_Monye) October 18, 2023 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 By DAVID KOENIG, AP Airlines Writer Spirit Airlines canceled about 100 flights on Friday after pulling some planes out of service for inspections, and the airline expects the disruptions to last several days. Spirit did not describe the nature of the inspections and did not respond when asked for further information, but the Federal Aviation Administration said it involved inspection of brackets on the planes airframes. By late Friday afternoon, Spirit had canceled 11% of its schedule for the day, easily the highest percentage of scrubbed flights among leading U.S. carriers, according to tracking service FlightAware. 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. The impact to our network is expected to last several days as we complete the inspections and work to return to normal operations. The FAA said it was aware of Spirits decision to pull the planes from service for a mandatory maintenance inspection. The inspections are required to look for signs of cracking around fasteners that attach pressure panels to beams on the planes airframes, according to an FAA document. If undetected, the cracks could lead to reduced structural integrity and possible rapid decompression of the airplane, according to the document. FILE - A line of Spirit Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on May 20, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)AP Fatigue cracks in the frames of planes are a long-known risk. The inspections that Spirit is conducting have been required by European and U.S. regulators for many years and were last updated by the FAA in 2018. The FAA said that for the Spirit planes, it will ensure that the matter is addressed before the airplanes are returned to service. Spirit had 198 planes as of June 30, all of them variants of the Airbus A320 family, according to a company regulatory filing. The airline told customers to check the status of their flight before going to the airport. About half of the Spirit cancellations were at Floridas Orlando International Airport, where Spirit is the second-largest carrier. It also flies out of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Spirit, which is based in Miramar, Florida, has canceled more than 3,600 flights this year, or 1.5% of its schedule. That is lower than the 2% cancellation rate at Frontier Airlines, a similar budget carrier, and rates for JetBlue Airways and United Airlines. PHILADELPHIA (AP) A former Philadelphia police officer has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years in state prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting women and girls often while in uniform and in the back of his police vehicle. Patrick Heron, 54, entered the pleas Friday after reaching an agreement with prosecutors in advance of a trial on more than 200 counts that included child sex assault, child pornography, kidnapping and related offenses, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Jane Roh, spokesperson for the district attorneys office, said victims who are now spared the trauma of a trial welcomed the guilty plea. Defense attorney Anthony List also said he hoped the plea would spare the victims the anguish of having to testify, and added hopefully everyone can move on. Heron, who retired from the force in 2019, was initially accused last year of posing as an active officer to lure girls. Investigators said they later found photos and videos indicating predatory behavior spanning years and including dozens of often vulnerable young women and girls including those who had run away, been arrested or struggled with addiction. Lyandra Retacco, chief of the prosecutors special investigations unit, said the crimes occurred from 2005 through last year, and Heron met many victims while on the force. She said investigators have identified 48 victims, though many of their identities remain unknown, and more likely havent come forward. HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) Authorities found the vehicle used by the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge but asked the public to remain vigilant Saturday as they continued searching for the man. Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of gunning down the judge in his driveway hours after he ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriffs Office said in a statement posted on Facebook that the silver Mercedes SUV that Argote was believed to be driving had been located in a wooded area in Williamsport, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Hagerstown, where the judge was shot outside his home. Anyone with information on Argotes location should immediately notify law enforcement, the sheriffs office said in its statement. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot Thursday night, just hours after he awarded custody of Argotes children to his wife. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said it was a targeted attack. During a news conference Saturday, Albert said local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are participating in the search for Argote. Were going to catch this guy, its just a matter of time, Albert said. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to Argotes arrest. In a news release issued late Friday, the Marshals Service said Argote has ties to multiple areas outside of Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island, New York; Tampa and Clearwater, Florida; Columbus, Indiana; and unknown cities in North Carolina. Albert said Argote is considered armed and dangerous. FILE - This undated photo provided by Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland shows Pedro Argote. Argote is suspected of gunning down the judge in his driveway hours after he ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that the silver Mercedes SUV that Argote was believed to be driving has been located in Williamsport, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Hagerstown, where the judge was shot outside his home. (Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland via AP)AP Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but Argote was not present at 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. The judge had also ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore. 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 was not injured. In August, a Texas woman was charged 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. By Keely Doll, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) (TNS) A longtime Centre County pizza restaurant has plans to return to downtown State College next year. Pizza Mia plans to open inside the oLiv State College high-rise in the fall of 2024. The restaurant operated in State College at that same location 114 Hetzel St. from 2016 until 2021, when the building was sold for construction of the high-rise. The restaurants Bellefonte location, 106 N. Spring St., has been open since 2003. John Jennings, owner of Pizza Mia, said Tuesday the plans are still in the early stages but the deal has been a long time in the making. A lot of people had to come together, Jennings said. And even now a lot of people still have to come together, but if were successful then we will be open by the end of 2024. Jennings announced the return and advertised open positions for the new location and the Bellefonte eatery on Monday in a Facebook post. For brand-new State College residents and Penn State students who didnt experience Pizza Mia during its original State College tenure, Jennings has some suggestions: Absolutely do not miss the pizza, he said. If you want to sandwich experience like youve never had, youll love the Dogie. By NAJIB JOBAIN, SAMY MAGDY and JOSEPH KRAUSS, The Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount that aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days. Trucks with humanitarian aid for the 'Gaza Strip enter from Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)AP Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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 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 Hamas released all of the captives from its attack, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, 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 Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory. Guterres meanwhile gave voice to growing international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel two weeks ago can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Trucks of Egyptian Red Crecent carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip cross the Rafah border gate, in Rafah, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad)AP The opening came hours after Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first of captives to be freed after the militant groups Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 captives. The aid trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the U.N.s children agency enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organization said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah on Saturday were carrying medical supplies, including essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders. The World Food Program said it has another 930 metric tons of emergency food waiting to be brought in through Rafah. It said it needs to replenish its rapidly diminishing supplies as it expands food assistance from 520,000 people to 1.1 million in the next two months. 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 age 26 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. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Two people were killed and one person was injured following a multi-vehicle crash that involved a tanker truck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The accident occurred a little before 11 a.m. Saturday along the Northeast Extension (I-476), between the Mid-County and Lansdale exits in Montgomery County. The tanker truck, which was carrying jet fuel, caught on fire, resulting in a shutdown of all lanes in that area. Turnpike officials posted on social media that the closure will continue into the evening. Traffic is blocked due to a crash with fire, and motorists are out of their vehicles, in this 511pa.com screenshot taken shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct .21, 2023, looking north on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (Interstate 476). The incident closed the highway in both directions between the Mid-County and Lansdale interchanges, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said. (Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission)Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Pennsylvania State Police confirmed with CBS News Philadelphia that at least two people were killed as a result of the fire. Another person was taken to a hospital for burns. Their condition is not yet known. Initially, people in nearby residences were asked to evacuate but have since been told that they can return to their homes, CBS reported. A video that 6ABC obtained from a Hector Lucena shows the accident scene shortly after the crash, with the tanker truck engulfed in flames. Aerial video taken by 6ABC showed a scorched truck cab along with two other burned vehicles. Firefighters could be seen spraying foam onto the tanker. Turnpike officials were able to create an emergency access gate at mile marker 23 so motorists could turn around. They also removed some concrete barriers so traffic could turn around. The Civil War took Picasso and Miro out of their workshops to serve the Republic and anti-fascism. The faces of Head of a Man, by Miro, and Weeping Woman, by Picasso, reflect the pain and tragedy of massacres like the bombing of Guernica in 1937. Last Friday, October 20, the Joan Miro Foundation and the Picasso Museum, in Barcelona, Spain, opened a joint exhibition that has been pending for decades, making the art of the founders of the centers dialogue through a hundred pieces from different museums and collections from Europe and the United States, along with items from their own collections. In total, more than 250 works and documents by both artists will be on display until February 25, 2024, with a shuttle bus linking the Museum with the Foundations headquarters, turning the exhibition into a citywide art festival. The presentation coincides with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Picassos death and the feminist review of the Cubist, accused of being an abuser in his private life and of painting women as a passive object of male desire. The exhibition partially includes this rereading and the comparison of the artists experience of Eros, at a time in which viewing women as both an attraction and a threat was common, opposite poles of a tension that Picasso drew from mythology and Miro sublimated in the creative and destructive powers of a totalizing cosmology. In the room where Picassos bathers (1931, Picasso Museum of Paris) face Miro's (1932, MoMA), the sign says: Unlike Miro's androgynous, rounded bather, which merges with the landscape to give rise to an almost celestial body, these contorted women of pointed tongues and overflowing sexuality can be understood as a patriarchal, vengeful portrait of feminine power. Miro was able to see, at Picassos mothers house, the paintings that the Cubist created during his stay in Barcelona in 1917, such as the balcony from which Picasso saw the Columbus Monument and which served as a model for the young Catalan, who rehearsed the cubist structures. In another room with pieces from the Miro Foundation, which deals with the iconography of crying during the Civil War, it is noted that Miro's portraits depict genderless faces that distort in the face of barbarism, while the body of Picassos muses is distorted proportionally to the degree of violence they endure, because the artist came to define women as crying machines. A reading that was nuanced by historians such as Timothy Clark and his partner, the feminist Anne Wagner, who distinguished biography from work and stated that the pointed tongues are swords, inspired by the reading of Swords as Lips by Vicente Aleixandre, and that male bodies appear vulnerable and ridiculous at a time when Picasso was experiencing a triple crisis: artistic, sentimental and also political, due to the emergence of fascism, which is why he filled his intimate space with inner ghosts, governed by a cruel, concrete unconscious, while violence and horror reigned in the outside world; that is, the artist as a perplexed being in a state of panic, as well as a predator who enjoys what he fears and projects it with the figure of the monster (both male and female), and the fact that we look better if we see ourselves in a different way, always feeling the presence of the shadow of mortality. Picasso, in his incessant search for new artistic languages, continues his deformation of the figure and gives free rein to the unconscious (like the shadow of the dead friend in The Three Dancers, from 1925), while Miro continues with the obliteration of painting inherited from Dadaism with works like Portrait of a Dancer (1928); a pin, a cork and a feather. "Cannot be more naked," said Paul Eluard. In Miro's work, more open, aerial and symbolic, also pulsates a wild eroticism, as in the case of the Spanish Dancer from 1928, a collage with sandpaper, strings and nails, or the famous object-collage that depicts another dancer, made the same year, whose body is a huge pin stuck in cork and a feather as a dress. Or the disturbing sadism of the Sunset Object, an assembly from 1935-1936 with a large female sexual organ painted on the trunk of an oak, with the rest of the body represented with a gas burner, a spring, a chain, a shackle, and a piece of string. The emergence of surrealism in 1924 made it easier for Picasso to approach the painting of young Joan Miro. One can see the similarities between Nude in a Red Armchair (1929), by Picasso, and 'Flame in Space and Female Nude (1932), by Miro. The double exhibition focuses on documenting plastic correspondences between Picasso and Miro echoes, resonances, the permanent exploration, complicities, obsessive repetitions, metamorphoses, a shared love for the humor of Alfred Jarry, a search for balance and for a way to humanize and bring the static to life, or the anti-fascist commitment and the creative freedom, without going into further re-readings of what could engage todays humans, or providing any novel research. It does so by bringing together key works such as Woman with a Shirt Sitting in a Chair (1914, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), Nude in a Red Armchair (1929), The Kiss (1925) and the sketches for the Ballet Mercure (1924), all from the Picasso Museum in Paris, as well as The Three Dancers (1925, Tate Gallery). As for Miro, visitors can see The Farm, which closes Miro's Noucentist phase and was purchased by Hemingway (1922, National Gallery of Art, Washington), the beautiful Woman Encircled by the Flight of a Bird (1941), which is exhibited together with the only watercolor of the famous series that is located in Spain; the self-portrait that Miro painted in 1938 as a cosmic artist (MoMA), or LAddition (1925, Centre Pompidou), inspired by Alfred Jarrys Supermale, among many other surprises. Picasso said that art can never be chaste. The works of Picasso and Miro pulsate with eroticism, with visions of women as both object of attraction and threat. Picassos Head (of a Girl) (1929), is unsettling, with the vaginal opening closed like a zipper or a scar, as disturbing as the sadomasochistic sculpture from 1935-1936 that fascinated Breton. Miro believed that Picasso was closing a tragic era and that it was up to him to take art beyond the limits conquered by the Cubist. He loved him, revered him, and at the same time he was obsessed with the challenge of overtaking him. He could not compete with his virtuosity, so he applied the Picabia method; that is, he surpassed him in audacity, synthesizing his imagination and skill with the teachings of his poet friends and those of Matisse, Duchamp, Klee, Arp and Kandinsky. Picasso, exiled in Paris, was a constant reference for Miro. He did all his work under his gaze. Quite literally: in all his workshops he hung a photograph of the painter on the wall, from where those fertile eyes as poet Paul Eluard said looked at him, those eyes that appear in some of the works that he dedicated to him and that did not cease to be a moral guide when Franco tried to recruit him, unsuccessfully, to disguise the international image of the dictatorship. One of the exhibition rooms. Gianluca Battista Picasso, for his part, feared the consequences of success. For an inventor of new artistic languages like him, he was terrified of aging poorly. He said that the worst danger for a painter was not to copy another, but to copy himself, and that is why, in the 1920s and 1930s, when Cubism had already run its course, he saw in the young Surrealist Miro a source of renewal and a friend. He did what great creators do: dialogue critically with the masters of tradition and drink the fresh sap of young people to give life to his own achievements. On a visit that Miro made to Picasso, he saw a sculpture that greatly resembled one of his. But, Pablo, he said, this sculpture is mine. Picasso, putting his arm around his shoulders, replied, smiling: No, Joan. This sculpture is ours. The last room of the Picasso Museum is dedicated to the last years of the two artists. Gone is the effervescent Picasso from the last exhibition in Avignon; what visitors will find there is a Picasso who in his old age takes stock, despises vanity and values his family, his children, as he faces his impending death, sees the ridiculousness of humanity and paints on humble, ephemeral cardboard, leaving some areas free of paint. At his side, the explosive Miro from May 1968, the canvases burned with the fire that destroys and creates and the crepuscular oil paintings dominated by black with hardly any horizon under the astral signs of the sky. Another exhibition room. Gianluca Battista Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday that six Pennsylvania counties are now considered to be normal when it comes to drought conditions, but 15 counties including several in central Pennsylvania are still in a drought watch. The six counties that are now listed as normal are Berks, Chester, Clarion, Fayette, Lehigh, and Venango. Adams, Bucks, Cameron, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northampton and Perry counties are still on drought watch, a press release said. Drought watches prompt water customers to try and reduce water usage by 5% to 10%, while drought warnings ask customers to conserve 10% to 15%. The DEP said York County will remain on drought warning to support conservation efforts by both water suppliers and their customers. While different municipalities have implemented water conservation notices and requirements, the DEP cited year-to-date rainfall deficits and emptier-than-usual groundwater wells for the drought watches and warnings. A map of drought declarations is updated daily on the DEPs website. The DEP also provided a list of ways you can conserve water at home: Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering and take shorter showers. The shower and toilet are the two biggest indoor water guzzlers. Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily. Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets. Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30% less water and 40-50% less energy. The DEP uses data regarding precipitation, surface water (stream and river) flow, groundwater level and soil moisture to determine drought watches/warnings. READ MORE: Mandatory water conservation notice still in effect for parts of Cumberland County Pa. Gov. Shapiro uses $295K from taxpayers to settle sexual harassment claim against aide A basic requirement of candidates for public office is that they be willing to answer questions about their qualifications, priorities, and motivation. All candidates running for top office in Pennsylvanias Nov. 7 general election have been willing to do so, except incumbent commissioners of Dauphin County George Hartwick, Chad Saylor, and Mike Pries. Only challenger Justin Douglas spoke to our readers about his platform and priorities. Dauphin Countys incumbent commissioners declined the opportunity to do. Dauphin County Commissioners (George Hartwick III, Mike Pries and Chad Saylor join county election officials to show off their preparedness for Novembers election in Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 20, 2022. Mark Pynes | pennlive.comMark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com The reticence of incumbent Commissioners Hartwick, Saylor and Pries to meet with PennLives Editorial Board is troubling, especially as all candidates for Cumberland County Commissioner showed up this week with bells on. Candidates Jean Foschi (D), John Matthew Smith (D), Kelly Neiderer (R), and Gary Eichelberger (R) were eager to use the opportunity to debate the issues they see facing a fast-growing county, out of respect to our readers and to the voting public. Kelly Neiderer is running for Cumberland County commissioner. John Matthew Smith, Democrat candidate for Cumberland County commissioner, talks with voter Leslie Brown at St. James Presbyterian Church in Hampden Township. Voters head to the polls in the primary election. May 16, 2023. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Incumbents Eichelberger and Foschi didnt shrink from addressing tough issues, including controversial ones like the sale of the Claremont nursing home. The consensus among all the candidates was that the sale has led to disastrous conditions at the nursing home for its elderly residents. Opponents of a proposed sale of Cumberland County's nursing home rallied outside the county courthouse in Carlisle on Friday morning. Addressing the issue was easy for Foschi. She said she voted against the sale three times. It was tougher for Eichelberger. He voted for it. But instead of declining to meet or refusing to comment, Eichelberger addressed the issue directly in a public forum streamed live to Facebook. He conceded the sale of the nursing home to a private company had not gone well. In fact, all the candidates agreed it has resulted in poorer conditions for its vulnerable residents. Jean Foschi is running for Cumberland County commissioner. The point is not whether Eichelberger made a mistake and Foschi didnt. Voters can decide whether its a make-or-break issue for them. And both Neiderer and Martin are solid options for Cumberland County voters. Gary Eichelberger is running for Cumberland County commissioner. But theres a larger issue at stake: respect for voters and for the democratic process. All candidates for Cumberland County Commissioner showed up to answer tough, but respectful questions about their records in office, and to meet capable challengers in an open forum. Theres good reason for any candidate to decline to speak to a hostile audience, but PennLives Editorial Board has gone to great lengths to ensure our meetings are civil and friendly. We agree with a point Foschi made in the discussion: people who hold elective office and take their jobs seriously commit to long hours of stressful work. They deserve our support and respect. Justin Douglas is running for Dauphin County Commissioner in the 2023 general election.Rachel Young All the candidates for Cumberland County Commissioner -- and Dauphin County candidate Justin Douglas -- deserve accolades for being willing to run for difficult jobs, and for showing up to speak to our readers who are among the most engaged and informed voters in the commonwealth. They wouldnt be if those who hold power refuse to answer questions from the media and from voters in public forums. Holding people in office accountable by being able to ask them questions about their records is the foundation of our democracy. PennLive and The Patriot-News are providing stellar opportunities for voters to hear first-hand from candidates for major offices in our commonwealth so they can be educated voters on Nov. 7. We urge our readers to only support candidates who support democracy and at least show up. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. As a small business owner, I feel the impact when one of my employees grapples with a health issue. My goal is to have everyone come to work ready and focused, but when someone faces exorbitant medical bills, its not easy to simply detach and get the job done. Fortunately, programs like employer-provided coverage enable me to offer them high-quality, affordable care for my employees. I recognize that running a successful business requires understanding the needs of your workforce it comes down to more than just paying everyone a good wage. Factors like promoting your culture and looking out for your team are essential to ensure a business is efficient and stable. Business owners like me understand how crucial it is to support our employees, and through employer-provided coverage, we pick up between 70-80% of their healthcare costs. With more than 7 million Pennsylvania workers receiving coverage through their employers, these plans are vital in ensuring a robust workforce. Additionally, attracting workers to new opportunities strengthens our business community and builds a firmer alliance within the workplace. I hope that our leaders in Washington D.C. continue to advocate for benefits of employer-provided coverage and work to protect businesses and workers across our state. Donna Partin, owner of Merry Maids, Camp Hill, Pa. Perry County Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution hosted its 100th anniversary celebration at Whitetail Lodge in Marysville on Oct. 1. With historical foods and hors doeuvres served by Littles Catering, and guest speaker Terry Elliot, who is a Revolutionary War weapons expert, the event brought history to life for the 90 attendees. Perry County Chapter DAR Regent Bobbi Wertz-Hoy, alongside Pennsylvania State Regent Marguerite Fritsch, welcomed attendees. There was a presentation of the colors performed by a color guard dressed as Perry Countians would have dressed during the American Revolution, followed by the national anthem, pledge of allegiance, the Americans Creed, and preamble of the U.S. Constitution read by all attendees. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Dr. Linda Rice Shank. The historic foods were selected from three eras in American history. The largest selection was from the Revolutionary War era, and included hardtack, Virginia ham biscuits, pounded cheese spread, pickled vegetables and cured meats. Another selection of food was from 1890, the year of the founding of National Society DAR, and included forcemeat, otherwise known as meatballs, cucumber sandwiches, pimento cheese stuffed celery and cherry pudding. The final selection was from 1923, the year Perry County Chapter DAR was founded, and included Waldorf Salad, ladyfingers and gingerbread. A brief history of Perry County Chapter DAR was delivered by Shank. The organization was founded in New Bloomfield on Dec. 15, 1923, with 46 charter members. Isabelle Harper Shull, founding regent, along with other descendants of Revolutionary War veterans from Perry County, aimed to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Early on, the chapter began marking graves of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Perry County. The May 29, 1924, edition of the Perry County Times reported that the chapters memorial committee had planned to mark the graves of six Revolutionary War soldiers Peter Sheibley, Michael Loy, Brigadier Gen. Frederick Watts, James Gilfillian, Thomas Wharton and Casper Lupfer. The markers were described as being very substantial and attractive, complete with flags supplied by Perry County commissioners. The chapter ultimately planned to mark every Revolutionary veterans grave in the county. Early meetings of the chapter were held in New Bloomfield at the home of Shull, who was the wife of the Honorable James W. Shull, a Perry County judge. In 1923, many roads in the county were not paved, and adverse weather could lead to the meeting place being changed. In March 1925, a meeting was moved to Newport due to the conditions of roads coming from Duncannon and Millerstown. Holding the meeting in Newport allowed attendees to take the train. The early years of Perry County Chapter DAR were busy. In April 1925, the chapter hosted screenings of a film. America was aimed at educating the public about the American Revolution. Screenings were held in Newport, Landisburg, Duncannon and New Bloomfield. In 1926, an essay contest was held for high school students, writing on What United States history has meant to me. Essays were a minimum of 1,000 words and were graded by the county superintendent. The first prize was a solid gold medal, second was $3 cash, and third was $2. In 1927, the chapter set out to beautify the Susquehanna Trail, which wound 17 miles between Clarks Ferry and Liverpool. As part of the project, the chapter planted rose arbors every mile, alongside shrubbery. Beds of peonies and iris were alternated every mile. All in all, 42 rose bushes, 112 crowns of peonies and 140 bulbs of iris were planted. On Aug. 26, 1926, a statement appeared in an article published by the Perry County Democrat. Our organization, the Perry County Chapter DAR, is vastly more than honorary and social. Its aim is to be of such service to others that its members may be worthy descendants of those who went forth to make us free. DATING BACK 100 YEARS Members of Perry County Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution line up alongside the chapters original charter from 1923 following its unveiling at their 100th anniversary celebration at the Whitetail Lodge, Marysville. The original charter was found behind a bookshelf at the Louise Beard Memorial House in Newport and had suffered water damage. The charter was refurbished and framed and the chapter hopes to hang the charter in the Perry County Courthouse. Wertz-Hoy unveiled the chapters original charter, which had been found behind a bookcase at the Louise Beard Memorial House in Newport. The charter was water-damaged when it was found, and subsequently sent to be refurbished. The process of refurbishing the charter cost the chapter thousands of dollars, but the result is sealed in such a way that it will be preserved. Wertz-Hoy said they plan to hang the charter in the Perry County Courthouse, ideally in a courtroom. Following the unveiling, Regent Cindy Birdwell from Gettysburg presented the chapter with a ribbon commemorating 100 years. Elliot delivered his presentation on Revolutionary War weaponry prior to citations being awarded to the chapter commemorating their centennial. Perry County Commissioner Brenda Watson presented a citation from the county, and Rep. Perry Stambaugh presented a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and one on behalf of Sen. Greg Rothman from the Pennsylvania Senate. Over the course of its lifespan, the National Society of DAR has had more than a million members. To be a member, one must be a woman older than 18 who can demonstrate bloodline descent from an ancestor who participated in the American Revolution. For more information on joining Perry County Chapter DAR, email PeCoChapterDAR@gmail.com. The chapter is continuing its participation in Wreaths Across America, which places a wreath on the grave of every Christian veteran across the nation. To buy a wreath, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org and click on Local Sponsorship Group, enter PA0549P in the Select Group to Support line and select Daughters of the American Revolution, Perry County Chapter. Click on Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and then on Review My Sponsorship. Update: Pa. congressman decides to withdraw from list of potential House speakers By Erik Wasson, Billy House and Steven T. Dennis, Bloomberg News WASHINGTON House Republicans have dispensed with Jim Jordan as their nominee for the U.S. speakership and now several more representatives are preparing to enter the fray. The new field began to take shape minutes after the party voted by secret ballot to rescind the nomination of Jordan, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, to the leadership post. Republicans plan to hold another candidate forum on Monday, allowing candidates time over the weekend to mount their campaigns, interim Speaker Patrick McHenry said. Another nomination vote could be held as early as Tuesday. Candidates have until midday Sunday to state their intentions. Here are some of the lawmakers expected to try to claim the nomination: Dan Meuser The Pennsylvania Republican, who first came to Congress in 2019, told reporters hes weighing a run. Meuser, who lives in Luzerne County and represents Pennsylvanias 9th Congressional District, has styled himself as a small-government lawmaker with the interest of taxpayers first and foremost, and hes used his experience overseeing Pennsylvanias tax system to push for reduced spending. In an interview with Fox Business News on Friday, Meuser said he was strongly considering becoming a candidate, citing his business background and adding he would try to include all GOP House members in the legislative process. We need the members to be the show, not the Speaker, he said. According to the Reading Eagle, Meuser told the National Review on Tuesday he would seek the job if the first vote for Jordan failed. Are you kidding? If we go back to it, Im considering it because Im not gonna let this kindergarten continue. Ill do it, Meuser said. Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com Tom Emmer Emmer, a Minnesota Republican and the partys third-ranking official, has begun making calls regarding a speaker bid, according to person familiar with the calls. He has had a tense relations with some Trump supporters, in part because he voted to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. There also had been some criticism of him for leading the House GOP political arm in 2022, when the party picked up the majority, but a narrower one than anticipated. As whip, he has the often thankless task of counting votes and building support among feuding colleagues. On Friday afternoon, he received the endorsement of Representative Kevin McCarthy, whose ouster as speaker on Oct. 3 paralyzed the House. He is the right person for the job, McCarthy said. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority. Kevin Hern The Oklahoma Republican has been waiting in the wings since former speaker Kevin McCarthys Oct. 3 ouster. He said Friday that he would seek the speakership. Hern, who chairs the 176-member Republican Study Committee, could win over some moderates as a more centrist alternative to Jordan, whose strong-arm tactics backfired with moderates and more traditional Republicans. Byron Donalds The Florida Republican is a Trump acolyte and member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus who has served as a surrogate for the former president on the campaign trail. He has described himself as a Trump supporting, liberty loving, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Black man, and a person who will bring the fight to the swamp creatures. Donalds forged a plan to keep the government open while cutting domestic spending, which more conservative members rejected. A spokesman confirmed Friday he is running for speaker. Jodey Arrington The House Budget chairman says hes seriously considering a run next week. Even before Jordans nomination was pulled, Arrington already was calling colleagues to gauge his support in the fractious party, a Republican official said. Arrington, who first came to Congress in 2017, has advocated deep cuts in federal spending to bring down budget deficits by $16 trillion over 10 years. Moderates have opposed his proposal and may be reluctant to back him as speaker. Pete Sessions Sessions lost his Dallas-based seat to a Democrat in 2018 and mounted a comeback in 2020 by shifting to an open seat in a district that includes his hometown of Waco. He is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee who has previously chaired the powerful Rules Committee and led the House GOPs campaign arm. Mike Johnson Johnson, a former RSC chairman and a current member of the House GOP leadership team, is making calls to lawmakers about a potential run, a spokeswoman confirmed. The Louisiana Republican is a stalwart social conservative and member of Republican leadership team with a reputation for collegiality. He authored a Commitment to Civility pledge when he arrived at the Capitol in 2017 that was also signed by other incoming lawmakers. Austin Scott The Georgia Republican surprised lawmakers last week when he challenged Jordan for the nomination, ultimately receiving 81 votes. Scott, who served as class president for the Tea Party wave of Republicans elected in 2010, has moderated his approach during his career. He defied Trump when he voted to certify the results of the 2020 election. Scott challenged Jordan for the Republican nomination and said immediately after Jordans nomination was rescinded that he would run again. Jack Bergman The Michigan Republican is a former Marine Corps three-star general and the highest-ranking combat veteran ever elected to Congress. Bergman, who first came to Congress in 2017, announced his interest in the speakers job earlier this week. The essence of a Negroni should never be questioned: a bitter, vermouth, and a distillate such as gin, which adds complexity and structure. Its diffusion and longevity lies in the simplicity of the recipe, with the same proportions, and the musicality of the name, notes Luca Picchi, author of the most ambitious biography ever written about this cocktail, born in his home city, Florence. Easy to prepare, easy to remember and easy to order by pronouncing it in any language, he says. Although, as he well recalls in his book, Negroni Cocktail. An Italian Legend, the original recipe, created one day in 1919 or 1920 by bartender Fosco Scarselli for Count Camillo Negroni, included seltzer, widely used at the time. In those years, the most popular Italian cocktail was the Americano, which was made in a glass called a campanella and had vermouth (about 40 ml) and Campari (about 20 ml) and a splash of seltzer (about 40 ml), Picchi recounts via email. When Camillo Negroni suggested a new formula to the bartender, whispering in his ear to reduce the amount of seltzer and add a part of gin, the famous Negroni was born. Camillo Negroni as a young man (circa 1886) in academic pose with top hat. Photograph provided by the author of the book 'Negroni Cocktail. An Italian Legend.' Today, the cocktail has gained popularity thanks to all kinds of bartenders who recommend it, as well as viral videos where influencers or actors such as Stanley Tucci can be seen preparing it, and because the quality of its ingredients has improved. In the last 20 years gin, vermouth and, even to a lesser extent, bitters, have undergone a radical revolution, notes Picchi, who works behind the bar of Cafe Gilli, a legendary Florentine cafe, very close to the original place where Count Camillo Negroni used to go to drink, the Caffe Casoni. This year, this space was reopened under the name of Giacosa1815, which was the name given to the first cafe to be located there. Among the different Negronis that can be tasted there, there is a Seltz Negroni, with Monkey 47 gin, Punt E Mes, Campari and seltzer; a negroni shaken in a cocktail shaker, called Shakerato, served in a cocktail glass and made with Turin gin, Seven Hills, Carpano Antica Formula and Campari; and their most classic Negroni, with Porters Classic, Mancino Vermouth and Campari, slightly increasing the amount of the latter. A Negroni has endless variations. Like many classics, its a cocktail thats designed to twist. That is, to change itself, notes Picchi, who lists among his favorite Negronis one that substitutes mezcal for gin and adds 10 ml of Varnelli coffee liqueur. For me, the concept of variation is broad, but it must necessarily recall, in some way, the original recipe. It must be recognizable at the first sip. Salvatore Calabrese one of the worlds top mixology eminences at the helm of such prestigious London bars as the Dukes, the Playboy, or the Urban recalls how he created one of his most replicated versions: the Negroni Svegliato. I invented [it] in 2012, when I opened my cocktail bar at The Cromwell hotel in Las Vegas. The idea came to me while I was having my coffee, I wanted to create a cocktail that had a base of this and was elegant. To do so, he replaced the water in an Italian coffee pot with vermouth, such that the aroma of cinnamon, cloves and all the spices that are normally found in vermouth went through the coffee. Calabreses memories travel back to the late 1960s, when between the ages of 11 and 15 he tended bar at a small bar in his hometown during the summers. The Negroni made a big mark on me when I started working in hospitality. My boss at the time, Mr. Raffaello, taught me a lot of things, including how to make a simple Americano long before I learned how to master cocktails, he notes. That decade, and the previous one, served to expand the Negroni, which was quickly recognized internationally. For example, James Bond visits Rome and its hotels, the Excelsior and the Colomba dOro, where he meets double agent Aris Kristatos, and asks: A Negroni. With Gordons, please. Ian Fleming narrates this in the short story Risiko, included in For Your Eyes Only, published in 1960. Another writer who enjoys putting his characters in front of a Negroni is Tennesse Williams: in The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, made into a film in 1961, his protagonist drinks a Negroni in a nightclub. That Rome, the one immortalized in films such as Rome Holiday or La Dolce Vita, would go on to become the best ambassador of the Negroni. Also, its bartenders, such as Victor Tombolini, who was behind the Open Gate, Victors Bar and Club 84; Valentino Clementi, at Caffe Rosati; Muro Lotti, at the Gran Hotel Roma; and Raimondo, at the aforementioned Excelsior, where it is said that he gave life to the Cardinale, one of the most popular variations of the Negroni, changing the red vermouth for dry vermouth. Negroni from Italian cocktail bar Giacosa 1815, in an image provided by the establishment. For Robert Simonson, responsible for some of the best treatises on bartending ever written, author of the recent The Encyclopedia of Cocktails: The People, Bars & Drinks, with More Than 100 Recipes (2023), its been bartenders who have managed to position the Negroni as one of the great classics of the present. In the 2000s, bartenders promoted drinks they liked and thought were underrated. These included gin, vermouth and Italian bitters and amaros, he reflects. The Negroni contains all three. So by serving Negronis, bartenders were conveying to their customers three products they loved and respected. Simonson adds: Almost all the cocktails and drinks we enjoy today are because a group of bartenders decided, ten or twenty years ago, to champion them and serve them more. Lets not let Campari tell us that it was them who made the Negroni popular, the journalist who writes about cocktails, spirits, bars, and bartenders for The New York Times says. With a lot more gin. Thats how Ivy Mix the visible face of cocktail bars like Leyenda and Fiasco, both in Brooklyn likes to drink it. I think the best Negroni I ever had was at the old Nomad in Manhattan. Leo Robitscheck was the one who made the cocktails. If you were lucky enough to have him make it special, youll know what Im talking about, she recalls from Sydney, where she is a guest cocktail bar. Maros Dzurus owner of Himkok, the tiny Oslo bar that recently skyrocketed on The Worlds 50 Best Bars list, moving from 43rd to 10th place says he likes to make it with his own gin, a local wine made from strawberry and rhubarb, Anikonik, and a non-alcoholic vermouth. This Negroni is kind of like a beginners Negroni because its a great option for first-timers, he describes. Negroni Old School from the Salmon Guru cocktail bar. Image provided by the establishment. This year, as has been customary for the past decade, Drinks International magazine, one of the most prominent in the spirits sector, made its renowned list of the most consumed cocktails worldwide. To compile it, they ask a hundred bars in 33 countries what their ten most popular classic cocktails are. And, for the second year in a row, the Negroni took the throne. This quintessentially Italian aperitif has become ubiquitous of late, and for good reason, wrote journalist Clinton Cawood. Its definitely a golden age for the Negroni, notes David Wondrich, the most relevant historian of the cocktail universe, editor of The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (Oxford University Press, 2021), the bible of good drinking. Its both simple and complex, yet refreshing, opines Philip J. Greene, author of two of the works that best document the decade in which the Negroni appeared: A Drinkable Feast (2018) and To Have and Have Another (2015). Fifteen years ago, when I first discovered this drink, it wasnt very common to see it, but that has certainly changed, he says. One of the latest books on the Negroni and its history, The Negroni: A Love Affair with a Classic Cocktail (2021), is written by luxury journalist Matt Hranek. His view, removed from the sometimes cramped bar ecosystem, is also instructive: Its become a pet drink in the world of mens style, he says somewhat pejoratively. A Negroni to pretend or a negroni to drink, the die is cast in the age of social media. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Galfond & Yong Clash on Latest High Stakes Poker; Berkey Stuggles w/ Big Pocket Pairs October 20, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. This past Monday, a new episode of High Stakes Poker aired on PokerGO. Episode 9 of Season 11 featured new lineup including Rob Yong, who bought in for $500,000, Jason Koon for $250,000, Ferdinand Putra for $130,000, and $100,000 apiece for Jennifer Tilly, Matt Berkey, Farah Galfond, and Stanley Tang. Heres a look at some of the biggest hands and highlights from what turned out to be an action-packed episode. High Stakes Poker Season 10 Finale Ends With a Bang as Negreanu Goes Bust Tilly Draws First Blood In the first hand of the episode, Berkey opened under the gun for $1,000 with the Q10 and Tilly defended the big blind after looking down at the A2. The JJK flop gave Tilly a flush draw and she led out for $1,100, which Berkey called with his open-ended straight draw. The 8 turn was a brick but Tilly kept the pressure on with a bet of $2,000, which Berkey called. The 5 river gave Tilly the flush and she coyly checked. Berkey took the bait by betting $10,000 only to have Tilly wake up with a check-raise to $25,000. Oh, you tricked me, Berkey quipped before releasing his hand and giving the $43,900 pot to Tilly. Galfond Picks the Wrong Time Farah Galfond With an $800 straddle on from Koon, Galfond looked down at the AQ and raised to $3,500. Yong was next to act and made it $15,000 to go with the A8. Action folded back to Galfond and she called to see a flop of K910. Galfond checked her gutshot and then called when Yong bet $15,000 with his nut heart flush draw. The 8 river was a brick for Galfond, and she checked to Yong, who paired his eight. He checked behind and the 6 river gave him the flush. Unfortunately for Galfond, she bluffed at it by moving all in for $71,100 and Yong quickly called. Just like that, Yong laid claim to a pot worth $204,100 while Galfond was left to rebuy. Two Big Pocket Pairs Midway through the episode, Yong raised to $1,000 holding the A7 and Tang called with his 44. Tilly then three-bet to $4,000 from the button with the KK and Berkey, who was in the small blind, four-bet to $10,000 after looking down at the 1010. Yong and Tang both folded, and Tilly opted for a five-bet to $30,000. Berkey called an additional $20,000 to see a flop of 8J4. Berkey checked, Tilly bet $40,000, and Berkey thought better of it before folding his hand face up. Tilly did not oblige by showing, but she did say, Nice, nice, nice laydown. Pocket Rockets No Good Matt Berkey With an $800 straddle on by Yong, Berkey raised to $2,000 from the button with the AA. Galfond called from the big blind with A6 and Yong, who had the 76, came along to make it three-way action to a flop of 849. Two checks saw Berkey continued for $2,500, Galfond folded, and Yong woke up with a check-raise to $12,000 with his up-and-down straight draw. Berkey called and the dealer promptly burned and turned the 5 to give Yong the straight. Yong bet $35,000 and then snap-called when Berkey jammed for $82,500 total. Berkey was drawing dead, and Yong took down a $195,700 pot after the meaningless J was run out on the river. Now Kings No Good Not long after, Tilly raised to $1,100 from the button holding the 76 and Berkey popped it to $4,000 from the small blind with the KK. Tilly called and the 486 flop gave her a pair and gutshot straight draw, which she bet to the tune of $4,000 after Berkey checked. Berkey sprung to life with a check-raise to $15,000 and Tilly quickly called to see the 2 turn. Berkey kept the pressure on with a bet of $30,000 but he couldnt shake Tilly, who called and made her straight when the 5 completed the board on the river. There were three hearts on the board, and Berkey slowed down with a check. Tilly tossed out a brick, which constituted a bet of $50,000, and Berkey folded and said, Thats the worst card in the deck. Ship the $148,900 pot to the Academy Award nominee. Tilly Pays Off Putra Jennifer Tilly Pocket kings reared their head again a short time later when Putra raised to $1,200 from middle position with the KK. Tilly was next to act with the A8 and called to make it heads-up action to a flop of 783. Putra bet $2,000, Tilly raised to $6,000 with top pair and top kicker, and Putra just called. After the 4 appeared on the turn, Putra checked and Tilly, who picked up a diamond flush draw, bet $10,000. Putra called and the J completed the board on the river. Putra shifted gears by betting $10,000 of his own, and Tilly paid it off only to see the $55,500 pot pushed to her opponent. Galfond vs. Yong Part II Rob Yong had a good day at the felt. In the last hand of the episode, Galfond raised to $1,100 from the cutoff with the 106 and Yong three-bet to $3,200 from the button with the Q8. Both blinds folded and Galfond called to see a flop of 10J9, which had action written all over it. Galfond checked her pair and flush draw, and Yong bet $4,000 with his flopped straight. Galfond check-raised to $16,000 and Yong moved all in. Galfond called off for $61,600 and had a 39 percent chance of winning the $162,700 pot. They only ran it once, and the Q turn brought some chops out to Galfond. Unfortunately for her, the 4 bricked on the river and once again she was stacked by Yong. Episode 10 of High Stakes Poker Season 11 will air next Monday (October 23) at 5 p.m. PT on PokerGO. Past High Stakes Poker Season 11 Episodes Check out our past recaps from Season 10 of High Stakes Poker on PokerGO: To watch new episodes of High Stakes Poker, visit PokerGO. *Images courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego Sharelines Check out highlights from Episode 9, Season 11 of High Stakes Poker on PokerGO. Poker Rooms Shut Down with 3,700 Casino Workers On Strike in Detroit October 21, 2023 Matt Hansen Live Reporting Executive Poker rooms in Detroit have shut down after 3,700 casino workers walked off the job at three different properties in the Michigan city. All three casinos will remain open during the strike, but poker rooms have temporarily closed at MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit. An update to the website for MotorCity Casino indicated their poker room would be closed temporarily, while a sign informed visitors at MGM Grand Detroit that the area was closed. A phone representative at Hollywood Casino in Greektown said the casino was open, and the poker room operations were unaffected by the strike. A strike flyer from the Detroit Casino Council The strike includes 3,700 employees represented by the Detroit Casino Council, a labor organization comprising five unions that negotiate for workers at casinos throughout the city. The work stoppage covers dealers, food and beverage workers, engineers, and more across all three properties. Striking workers are asking for better healthcare, higher wages, and a return to pre-pandemic staffing sizes. The two sides have been negotiating since September, and a three-year extension to the original five-year contract expired on Tuesday. The workers went on strike when a deal was not reached by the deadline. A sign at MGM Grand Detroit posted by Reddit user /u/dormant123 The extension was agreed to during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when casinos were under pressure to stay open. Workers now say that revenue has returned to pre-pandemic levels, especially with the inclusion of iGaming throughout Michigan. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue and is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023, said a news release from the Detroit Casino Council. The three Detroit casinos collectively reported $813 million more in total gaming revenues in 2022 than in 2019, but total wages paid to workers represented by the DCC were $34 million less when comparing those same years. The strike is the first for Detroit casinos since gaming expansion in Michigan in the late 1990s. Meanwhile, 40,000 members of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas authorized a strike in late September. Negotiations are ongoing while the threat of a work stoppage at MGM, Caesars, and Wynn properties remains. *Image from Reddit. Sharelines 3,700 workers have walked off the job at three casino properties in Detroit. From the District of Columbia to Aiken County, Tracey Turner the Weeping Willows developer who plans to redevelop the old Aiken County Hospital has faced a number of lawsuits alleging he's left people waiting for months or years for repayment. Read morePattern of unpaid debts follows old Aiken County Hospital developer from D.C. Theres doubt about whether viruses are living beings, but their important role in life on Earth is clear. These tiny organisms, which make microscopic bacteria look huge, seem very simple: they are a piece of genetic material encapsulated in protein that hijacks the cells of other living beings to put them at the service of their own reproduction. It is estimated that sea viruses annihilate 20% of the oceans microbes every day and that they renew all of the planets phytoplankton in a week. According to an article published in Science Advances, that process of cell destruction and renewal releases about 140 gigatons of carbon into the oceans each year, almost four times more than the burning of fossil fuels. These regulators of life play a similar role in the human body. Each of us contains over 10,000 species of bacteria, a balanced ecosystem that keeps us healthy, which viruses maintain. A century ago, bacteriophages were used to combat bacterial infections like the bubonic plague and cholera, but from the 1930s onward, the success of antibiotics shelved the viral treatment of contagious diseases almost everywhere in the world (they maintained prestige primarily in the Soviet Union). In recent years, the rise of bacterial resistance has reignited interest in phages, which have already saved seemingly hopeless patients. This renewed interest in bacteria-killing viruses has also led to an appreciation of these organisms potential as regulators of human health. In an article published today in the journal Science, a group of researchers from Eran Elinavs laboratory at the Weizmann Institute in Revohot, Israel, discusses the potential of phages in treating non-infectious diseases. Cancer, obesity, diabetes and neurological disorders are all influenced by imbalances in the population of bacteria that lives inside us, and phages may be a tool for restoring order. Elinav and his team have already conducted a study in which they proved that the oral administration of phage therapy to treat irritable bowel syndrome could control a strain of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice and alleviated the symptoms of the disease. Fecal transplants work by introducing a healthy persons balanced bacterial ecosystem into a sick person as a way to combat obesity or depression. Pilar Domingo-Calap, a researcher at the Institute for Integrative Systems Biology at the University of Valencia-National Research Council (Spain), explains that studies show that, in such transplants, the viral part modifies the bacterial populations. Now, we have to study how to use these viruses as probiotics to improve the intestines bacterial population. Elinavs team points out that one of the advantages of these treatments is that each type of virus specifically combats a certain type of bacteria. Once selected, the phages only attack the population of bacteria that is generating the imbalance, thereby minimizing the damage to the surrounding microbiota. This approach differs from antibiotic treatments, which kill harmful bacteria, but also wreak havoc on the good bacteria that do no harm and are necessary. Moreover, once the phage has entered the organism and begins to attack bacteria, the phage reproduces and causes it to explode, releasing new phages to continue the job each time. While they fell out of favor with the advent of antibiotics that provided medical solutions intended for large population groups, phages now make sense in a world seeking personalized medicine. Treatment with these viruses must be designed for each individual by growing bacteria from the patient alongside potential phages, choosing those with a specific antibacterial capacity. Metagenomic profiling could be used as a companion diagnostic to identify the dominant disease-contributing pathobionts in a patient, the authors of the Science article note. Next, the most promising phages must be isolated. Phage biobanks would be useful in optimizing this process; phages could be organized by their effects, the bacteria against which they may be effective and their adverse effects. When phages that fight a particular bacterium are not found in nature, synthetic biology as in other fields of medicine could be used to modify natural viruses and direct them against a specific target. That would also allow for introducing changes to adapt to the mutations in bacteria caused by treatments. The CRISPR system, now known for its use in gene editing, is one of the methods bacteria use to learn from their contacts with viruses and repel them. However, Domingo-Calap points out that CRISPR is only one of the systems that bacteria have for blocking the entry of phages, and phages also have anti-CRISPR systems; they evolve and adapt. At this early stage of development, in addition to more basic research and the launch of more human clinical trials, Elinavs group stresses the need for special regulation. Because phages are live biological agents, they present numerous differences from traditional medications and so they merit tailored regulatory consideration, they write. For example, when drug combinations are approved, as in the case for cancer treatments, evidence that each separate component is effective is required. In the case of phages, such an approach would likely fail in many cases, given that bacterial resistance would develop against some or all individual phages when administered as sole interventions, they say, explaining that combinations are necessary for success. With safety in mind, they believe that the use of these organisms as medicine for over a century and the fact that they infect bacteria, but not human cells, means that these treatments should be safe. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Jesse James and Billy the Kid are coming to Aiken on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29, for the fifth annual Wild West Fest. The Aiken area was the Souths frontier in the 1700s and became the Southern gateway across the Savannah River to the West. At one time, the local historical site of Savannah Town in 1681 was the English empires most western outpost in current-day America. Fur traders traveled as far as the Mississippi River and into the Appalachian Mountains to trade and then returned to rendezvous at Savannah Town. The early years also featured wars with Native Americans. At different times, five different tribes had settlements in the current Aiken area. One tribe was even granted one of South Carolinas first Native American reservations along local Horse Creek. Settlers would travel down the Pennsylvania Great Wagon Road to this area and then cross the Savannah River, gateway to the West. The Aiken Wild West Fest commemorates this frontier and the western expansion. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The event features live music, living history, Old West shootouts, food vendors, cannon fire demonstrations, Native American history and military exhibits. The concert will feature the cowboy band Seven Pounds of Bacon who travel the nation performing skillet-lickin, finger-pickin, old-time Western dance music. Saturdays dance will run from 7-10p.m. Children can enjoy hay rides and pony rides, pan for gemstones and compete for the best dressed cowboy and cowgirl. Visitors can tour the old pioneer log cabin, mercantile building, single-room school house and mortuary, and have their picture taken in the 1830s jail. Exhibits will feature Native Americans, mountain men, story tellers, fur trappers and frontier crafts. Visitors can also see military exhibits from the Revolutionary War to World War I. Teddy Milner will be the only name on the ballot when Aiken residents cast their ballots for mayor Nov. 7 but the city is abuzz with reports of potential write-in campaigns. The Aiken Standard has been contacted and told that groups of residents are organizing campaigns to write in the names of Aiken County Council Vice Chairman Andrew Siders, current Mayor Rick Osbon and former mayoral candidate Kathryn Wade. But there are challenges with each of these possible candidates, each of whom says they aren't running. Siders is ineligible Siders cannot be Aiken's mayor. Aiken City Code, specifically Section 2-33, requires that members of council be residents of the city. Siders said he was flattered by the suggestion but added he does not live within the city limits. Siders lives in a part of Gem Lakes that is not part of the city. "I have no interest in the position," Siders added. Siders added he had spoken with Milner's campaign to let them know a write-in campaign was a false rumor. Osbon and Wade can't actively participate in a write-in campaign Osbon and Wade are residents of the city but they can't have anything to do with a write-in campaign, which limits the likelihood such a campaign would be successful. Milner defeated Osbon and Wade to win the Republican nomination. Changes to the ordinance governing qualifications for North Augustas chief administrative officer are now fully a done deal: the residency requirement has been dropped. City Council pushed it past a final reading Oct. 16. Councilman Kevin Toole, who earlier had said it was important, fundamentally that the top administrator live within the jurisdiction for which theyre helping make decisions, remained the sole vote in opposition. The ordinance had required that the administrator establish North Augusta residency at some point during his tenure. Now, Council has the legal authority to grant an allowance to this and permit the administrator to live outside the city limits. North Augusta resident Fred Ilardi alleged the law was being adjusted to fit the person current city administrator Jim Clifford lives in Columbia County and that ethics were being pushed to the limits. Do we change the rules to fit the situation? he asked. Mayor Briton Williams had admitted earlier this month that hed dropped the ball on the matter until now, while Councilman Eric Presnell said the timing for the change was unfortunate for how it gave an appearance of favoritism. Beyond any ordinance, Cliffords contract includes a clause asking him to establish residence in North Augusta within three years of hire, or by Aug. 17 of this year. Were not trying to show favoritism. Theres a lot of things that led up to this, Presnell said. Mondays action did not itself change the requirements of Cliffords employment contract. But under the amended ordinance, Council now has the ability to drop this clause from his contract if it chooses to do so. As an angel tech investor in the greater Atlanta area, Charlie Paparelli has invested in over 35 startups over the last three decades through Paparelli Ventures. With a breadth of knowledge of the industry, he speaks to entrepreneurs not only about investing, but what it looks like to be a Christian in business. Paparelli will be sharing how God has worked through his life at the 22nd annual Charleston Leadership Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast starts at 6 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive. Individual tickets are $40 or $400 for a table of 10. Visit clf1670.org to register online. Tell us your experiences The Post and Courier would like for you to share how prayer has helped you navigate life's experiences. Send us up to 150 words (no more, please) by noon Oct. 30, responding to the following prompt: How does faith drive your investments? Email responses to kcoe@postandcourier.com. Respondents will be considered for one of four free tickets The Post and Courier will give away to attend the breakfast. Select responses will be published in the Life section on Nov. 5. A broader collection will be published online at postandcourier.com. This event gathers more than 1,000 faith community leaders for a morning of fellowship, focusing on bringing together people of various backgrounds and walks of life. Each year, the foundation hosts a nationally-recognized speaker to share about God's impact on their life. Previous speakers include former MLB player Darryl Strawberry and Anne Graham Lotz, a daughter of evangelist Billy Graham. Paparelli actively writes for his blog, paparelli.com, sharing business advice, personal anecdotes and interviews with business leaders. He recently wrote about growing up as a child of an alcoholic dad and never feeling safe at home. However, he found solace in the ritual of attending midnight Mass on Christmas Eve the dim lights, old building and warmth of the people attending. The first time he felt safe was in the sacred space holding his mother's hand as the loud organ played familiar melodies, he wrote. GEORGETOWN Plans for a Georgetown Arts and Cultural District hit a snag this week when city leaders deadlocked over concerns about some historic Black landmarks being omitted from the proposed district. Should South Carolinas third-oldest city become a designated cultural community, that would open up grant opportunities, city officials have said. But the initiative has generated questions about which places and events should be highlighted. Lets understand, arts and culture is economic development, Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce President Marilyn Hemingway told the council. So ultimately that is what you are talking about. Youre talking about job creation; youre talking about business investment. Thats what this is about, bottom line. But Im looking here, and under festivals and events, we have Cinco De Mayo, but we dont have anything for Black folks. Should Georgetown receive the state designation, it would be the 10th community recognized by the S.C. Arts Commission. The citys application to become a state-designated cultural district is due by Jan. 3. That would allow the proposal to go before the state arts commissions board in February. But city leaders split 3-3 when they voted on a strategic plan for the project Oct. 19. Voting for the measure were Mayor Carol Jayroe and council members Jim Clements and Jimmy Morris. Nay votes came from council members Clarence Smalls, Hobson Henry Milton and Tamika Williams-Obeng. Council member Jonathan Angner was absent. During the public comment period, some citizens spoke against the plan, calling it generic. They said it doesn't recognize the citys Black history and Gullah Geechee culture. Wesley Gibson asked why Myrtle Grove cemetery was not listed on the map of cultural sites. The effort to preserve the Myrtle Grove also called Muckle Grove cemetery began with former Georgetown resident Tony Nelson, who learned he had relatives buried there. The cemetery is located on International Paper property and is not open to the public. 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 MYRTLE BEACH Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis went on the offensive during his Oct. 20 stop in Myrtle Beach. The Florida governor blasted Americas response to the Israel-Hamas war, and specifically President Joe Bidens plan to send $100 million to the Gaza Strip for humanitarian aid. "They say it's for humanitarian purposes, not for terrorism, but Hamas is going to commandeer that money," DeSantis said, though he offered no evidence to back up that claim. "While we still have people that are being held hostage by Hamas Americans, Israelis, others are being held hostage I can tell you this, the proper amount of money to send to Hamas is not one red cent." The surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 prompted Israel to declare war. Israel sent thousands of missiles into Gaza, and more than 4,100 people have been killed there, many of them children, according to The Associated Press. Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel during a visit there this week and politely cautioned Israel against succumbing to an "all-consuming rage." Israel shut off all supplies, water and power to Gaza soon after the Oct. 7 attacks, raising alarms internationally. On Oct. 18, Israel agreed to allow Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said the decision to lift the 10-day siege was approved after a request from Biden. It said Israel will not thwart food, water or medicine deliveries from Egypt, as long as they are limited to civilians in the south of the Gaza Strip and dont go to Hamas militants. The statement did not mention fuel, according to The Associated Press. Charleston voters will choose between incumbent Mayor John Tecklenburg and five opponents in the Nov. 7 election. They are: former GOP state Rep. William Cogswell, local activist Mika Gadsden, attorney and professor Debra Gammons, longtime political aide Clay Middleton and Charleston City Councilman Peter Shahid. The Post and Courier asked each candidate about a variety of issues facing the city. Below are abbreviated summaries of their responses. Early voting begins Oct. 23. The sea wall City Council will soon consider whether to enter the design phase for a proposed $1.3 billion sea wall to protect the Charleston peninsula. If it's constructed, the Army Corps of Engineers will provide 65 percent of the funding, with the city required to contribute the remaining 35 percent. Officials are negotiating with the Corps for the wall to mimic the look of the Low Battery and address storm surge and high tide flooding. The design agreement is not finalized. Cogswell: The city does not have a clear enough picture of the sea wall for Cogswell to support it, he said. He is concerned the cost will increase once the design phase is complete and that it will not ultimately address different forms of flooding beyond storm surge. "I don't want to completely turn my back on the idea of figuring out long-term solutions for sea-level rise because it is something we have to deal with," he said. "But I will tell you that putting a wall around the city, if that is what the plan ultimately would be, I would not be for." Gadsden: She prefers improving development practices that worsen flooding and adopting nature-based solutions to storm surge, such as oyster reefs and marsh restoration. "There's a difference between activity and achievement. You can run around looking busy or we can actually sit down and come up with real common-sense solutions. And that wall is not a serious solution," she said. They are everywhere, always ready to explain things. They stretch out the meetings with useless chitchat. They interrupt. They ask about your weekend just so they can talk about theirs. They dont have a question; they have a reflection. They write long threads on X (formerly Twitter). They always have an opinion, a theory, an anecdote. Science calls them compulsive talkers. You might know them as bigmouths, or perhaps mansplainers, a term that in itself reveals how this is an essentially male phenomenon. Verbal diarrhea is a disease, and it is taking on pandemic overtones. Dan Lyons knows them perfectly well, as he was one of them. This American journalist and essayist spent years talking like there was no tomorrow. He lost a job because he didnt know when to shut up. He lost $8 million. He almost lost his wife. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when half the world was confined in silence, he began to wonder what was the matter with him. He asked anthropologists and psychologists. He consulted scientific studies and books. He spent several months trying to understand why he couldnt keep his mouth shut, and then he realized that it was not an individual question. The problem is not just me. Its not just you. The whole world needs to shut the fuck up. With this forceful idea Lyons begins his new book STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World. In it, he states that we are living in the noisiest age in history. Social networks promised to become a Greek agora, a place that encouraged dialogue; in practice, however, they are more like Londons Speakers Corner, a space where thousands of people spew hysterical rants that no one listens to. And the worst part is that this behavior, which was born in the digital world, has made the leap to real life. Resorting to science, Lyons explains how the constant noise around us destroys critical thinking and erodes dialogue. He also gives advice on how to stop talking too much, starting with quitting social media, to which he himself rigorously adhered (although he had to return, to promote his book). The second was placing a Post-it note next to his computer with a concise order to follow during meetings: Quiet, listen, wrap it up. He talks via video call with EL PAIS from his living room and, although the note is not there, he still shows restraint. His answers are concise; the interview lasts less than 25 minutes. Question. How did you realize you were talking too much? Answer. I kind of knew it for a long time, I would say things, blurt things out, and mess up my life. Over and over again. And I finally figured out that I should try to do something about it, because it caused problems with my marriage and with friendships, relationships and work. One time I said something on Facebook that ended up costing me a job. Then, [in late 2020] I went and looked at the stock and, if I had stayed, my stock would be worth like $8 million. A mouthing off on Facebook ended up costing me $8 million bucks. And I was like, What did I get out of that Facebook post? Q. You published a book about it... [Disrupted, where he denounces the ageism of his former company and of all of Silicon Valley]. A. I would rather have the $8 million. Q. At least you know youre not alone in being a bigmouth. You say that there has never been a noisiest age in the entire history of humanity. To what do you attribute this? A. Social media has a big role in that. You now have the opportunity to have an opinion on everything, every time anything happens. And were sort of encouraged to go out and have an opinion. And I think that has pulled back into the rest of our lives so that we have too many meetings. We had just too much noise, like information overload. We have eight million channels of TV. Theres just too much stuff coming at us, and I dont think our brains are wired to handle it. Q. But is social media a cause or a consequence? Have we always had that need to state our opinion, or did Facebook, Instagram and Twitter create it? A. Sort of both. We always had this urgency, but not a way to express it to a large audience. You could write a letter to the editor of a newspaper, say. But they only ran a couple. I think social media created a platform so that it made it very easy; its free to just start telling everybody anything you want to tell them. But the platforms themselves are programmed to program you to talk too much. They induce you to keep talking, to get worked up, to get agitated, so that youre engaged and you start getting into arguments with people and debates. Thats oversharing online. But then youre pulling that back into your regular life, too. That sort of agitation comes back with you. Q. Not everyone needs to shut up equally. A. I think [men] are guiltier than women. Aside from mansplaining, in my book I talk about two more terms. One is manterrupting. There is research that shows that men interrupt way more than women do. [A George Washington University study found that men interrupted women 33% more than men. Another study, from Stanford University, compared the conversations between two men, two women and a man and a woman. There were seven interruptions in the same-sex conversations; in the conversations between men and women there were 48, 46 of them made by the man.] The other term is manalogues, you know, like the guy who holds forth at some dinner or at a party and wants to tell everybody everything and goes on and on and on. Even if, historically, women have been the ones with a reputation for being talkative, which is amazing. It goes way back, to the Middle Ages or even to St. Paul. And I think that is just another way for men to control women, like, You talk too much, and they were, like, We talk less than you. Thats still too much. I think thats where that stereotype comes from. [Researchers at the University of Texas found that both women and men speak 16,000 words a day on average. The three most talkative subjects in the sample were men.] Q. This difference is especially evident in the work environment. A. Right, thats where you see men interrupting the most, in meetings, and I think its an interesting exercise: the next time you go to a meeting, take a notebook and just take notice of every time someone interrupts, and at the end itll probably be that it was men doing it. Once you see it, you cant unsee it. Q. Speaking of meetings, you state in your book that the average worker attends 62 a month, and people claim that half of them are a complete waste of time. A. I think people feel compelled in meetings to say something, otherwise they feel like theyre not carrying their weight. But I think the smartest thing to do is to sit back and listen, more than talk. Hear what everybodys saying and then maybe say something succinct or, you know, something that adds to the conversation, not just talking for the sake of talking. There are really smart CEOs, like Tim Cook at Apple, who do that. Q. Or Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter. In your book you use him as an example of a person who knows how to shut up and listen. Now Elon Musk a renowned bigmouth is at the helm of the platform. What is the lesson here? A. Yeah, Elon Musk kind of destroys the thesis [laughs]. When I was writing the book Dorsey was in charge, and I noticed, Dorsey doesnt tweet that much. The same with [Metas CEO Mark] Zuckerberg, you dont see him going on about everything on Facebook, but hes got supercomputers that force all the rest of us to do it. The people who build this stuff are often the ones who dont get carried away with it. Musk is a unique case. So is [Donald] Trump. Musk and Trump kind of destroy my thesis that powerful people dont talk too much, but I still believe that both of them have, and will in the future, talk their way into trouble. I think eventually they will talk too much and it will hurt them. Q. Lets talk about love. Talking too much not only affects us at work; it can also be dangerous in the emotional context. A. Well, there is a balance. You dont want to be completely silent, at least at first when youre meeting somebody. There is a rule, the 60-40 rule, where you should talk no more than 60%, but no less than 40%. And so each person is having a conversation. But theres also research that found that in speed dating, people who ask questions and listen are more likely to have the other person want to have a second date with them. And its sort of obvious, right? If youre interested in the other person and you really listen to them, of course theyre going to want to talk to you more. And then in the case of a marriage or a long-term relationship in my marriage, spending time together in silence, if I forced myself just to shut up, just to not have something to say about everything, it helped our relationship. Theres a great line by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court Justice, that says that sometimes it helps to be a little deaf. Q. But if no one speaks, what dialogue are we going to promote? Is it just a matter of quantity, or is it quality, as well? A. I interviewed this German scientist who is at the University of Arizona [Matthias Mehl, PhD] who did this research and found that people who have meaningful conversations are happier and even healthier than other people. And I said to him, Wait a minute, that kills my book, because youre saying: you should have more conversations. And he replied, No, meaningful conversations, authentic conversations where you listen a lot. You dont just talk, talk, talk. Q. So it can be learned. Did you change a lot while writing this book? A. Yes. I think Im better now than I was before. Although Ill tell you, I said something on a podcast when somebody was interviewing me about the book, I think I said something that made someone else pissed off at me. Q. So what did you say? A. I dont want to get into it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition SUMMERVILLE With Ricky Waring retiring, the mayoral seat in this growing community 20 miles north of Charleston is up for grabs. The candidates: Dickie Miler, a Summerville native and real estate broker; Russ Touchberry, another Summerville native and current town councilman; and Vickie Fagan, who relocated from Staten Island more than a decade ago. The Post and Courier spoke with the mayoral candidates about some of the big issues and concerns residents have in Summerville. Fate of the old hospital Miler said the property at 500 N. Main St., which has become a hot-button issue over the past few months, should be preserved. He has been a vocal opponent of the redevelopment of the property but said if there is redevelopment it should be strategic, sensible and promote enough economic vitality to warrant any changes made. Touchberry hopes to preserve the old hospital as well, acknowledging its an important property. He also said its redevelopment can benefit the town and if done right could be a model for how other properties can be remade. We've lost the look and feel of Summerville on that side of the railroad tracks all the way to I-26, Touchberry said. This is an opportunity for us to have this reinvestment and reestablish our brand, which is what made us so special to begin with. Fagan also wants the property to be preserved but believes it can be repurposed as is. With all the available parking, the space could be used for emergency personnel, she said. Growth and development Miler said he supports a strategic approach to Summerville's growth and would want to annex all he could on the periphery to protect the towns border from neighboring cities like North Charleston and Goose Creek, which are also growing quickly. It was a day Frank Larkin will never forget. In April 2017, his son Ryan F. Larkin, a Navy SEAL who was struggling following his return to civilian life, committed suicide in the basement of the familys home. Read moreCommentary: Let's take care of those who served and protected us When Nikki Haley entered a crowded primary field for the Republican nomination for S.C. governor in 2010, I wrote the editorial for Columbias State newspaper endorsing Henry McMaster. As I explained in an accompanying column about why we had rejected each of the other candidates, Ms. Haley displayed a disturbing habit of taking a grain of truth and making it sound like something entirely different. We also feared she would be a repeat of Mark Sanford: constantly picking fights with the Legislature, rarely convincing legislators to pass any of the many good ideas she had. That first concern would only mushroom over the next six years, and the second would be a recurring worry and then complaint over her coming campaigns. Best as I can tell, when then-S.C. Rep. Haley and then-U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett made it into the runoff without Mr. McMaster, we made the unusual decision not to endorse a candidate, because we had so many concerns about both of them. Those concerns about Ms. Haley only grew in the coming months, and I ended up writing an editorial that fall endorsing Democratic Sen. Vincent Sheheen. As if to add an exclamation point, I wrote endorsements for the Republican candidates in the two other statewide races where we endorsed. Four years later, I had my fourth opportunity to endorse Ms. Haley, and for the fourth time I convinced my colleagues we should not not that it took a lot of convincing. Again, I wrote an endorsement of Mr. Sheheen, this time noting that our concerns about Ms. Haley alienating the Legislature and therefore getting no traction on her best ideas or on much of anything else had been realized. I explained it this way when she left Columbia in 2017 to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations: Where she wanted to succeed recruiting jobs, providing leadership through natural and man-made disasters, removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds she employed those diplomatic skills. She was charming and gracious; she met people halfway. And she succeeded. With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Henry McMaster has made what should turn out to be the most dramatic improvement to South Carolinas court system in nearly a quarter century. The governors decision to require a much more complete and public vetting system for magistrates is an unexpected win in the long and difficult campaign to raise the competence and reduce the ethical problems of the judges who influence the lives of more South Carolinians than all other judges combined. Governors appoint South Carolinas 300 magistrates, who must be confirmed by the Senate. But governors dont select them. County Senate delegations and often the individual senator for the community a magistrate would serve select the judges for each county and send their names to the governor. Governors rubber stamp those recommendations because they know the Senate will reject their nominees if the local senators dont like them. Mr. McMaster cant change that reality, so hes not rejecting the senator-selection process. And he cant raise the states meager legal qualifications for magistrates, which were increased in 2000 to require them to have graduated from high school. (That law also phased in the current requirement that most of them graduate from college.) But he noted correctly in a letter to senators Monday that under the current process, candidates have avoided disclosing to my office and members of the Senate information regarding (or that would reveal) actual or potential problems, conflicts of interest, or prior disciplinary actions. So he wont consider candidates who dont complete a lengthy new questionnaire that requires detailed information about their finances, business relationships and political activities, along with details about their sentencing philosophy, preparation for the job and how they would handle conflicts of interest. Donald Trump won the GOP nomination in 2016 not because he was the choice of most Republican primary voters; he was not. He won because, in a crowded field, he got more votes than any of his rivals in South Carolina, and then in later-voting states. Much has changed since then: If the primaries were held today, and if the same narrow sliver of Republican-leaning voters participated as usual, he would win a majority. But much has not changed: He still is deeply unpopular among independents and a large chunk of Republicans, and although his poll numbers have risen steadily as voters have tuned in to the primary battle, thats not because he has become more likeable. Its because the other candidates are drowning each other out, making it impossible for a single alternative to emerge. The result, if the field remains crowded, is that Mr. Trump will again win the nomination. From a Republican perspective, this scenario is disastrous, because Mr. Trump is the least likely candidate to defeat President Joe Biden. It's also disastrous from the perspective of Democrats and independents and many Republicans, and the rest of the world because theres no guarantee that Mr. Biden would win a rematch. That means a Trump nomination could lead to another Trump presidency. Which is a chilling prospect for countless reasons. That prospect prompted former Texas congressman Will Hurd to drop his bid for the nomination earlier this month and call on all but one of his non-Trump opponents to do likewise. It prompted one of the nations most thoughtful conservatives, Washington Post columnist George Will, to call on the field to coalesce around that same candidate: former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. At the gates of Gaza one breathes war ardor and dust. Hundreds of Israeli troop carriers, tanks, trucks, and other military infrastructure are waiting at different points around the Strip for the order to launch a ground invasion. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday presented a three-phase plan to topple Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist militia that rules Gaza and carried out the bloody attack on Israeli soil on October 7. That strategy does not include the Israeli troops staying permanently inside Gaza once the ground operation is concluded. Of course we want to go in, admits Zib, a 25-year-old soldier from the town of Yaffa, near Tel Aviv. The young man stands under the barrel of one of the tanks adorned with the national flag while chatting with a group of comrades and sipping refreshments. They are located in the vicinity of Kibbutz Beeri, just three kilometers from Gaza. This community was one of the scenes of the massacre in which some 1,400 people were killed by Hamas militants, according to Israel. Hundreds of uniformed personnel are currently carrying out maintenance work on the battle tanks or killing time with their cell phones while waiting for the countrys highest authorities to launch them as a battering ram against the enemy. No, its not about revenge, clarifies Private Zib in response to the question of whether he will think about what Hamas did in Beeri when it is their turn to strike. Weve been here for two weeks, explains another 24-year-old uniformed man who prefers not to give his name. We will do what we are ordered to do. We are following orders, he says dryly, unable to give any more details or make any further statements. On three occasions, the soldiers superiors almost all of them very young tried to keep them from talking to EL PAIS. Its the rules. They cant talk, responded one of those commanders when asked why they interrupted the interview. Israeli troops patrol inside Kibbutz Beeri, one of the communities attacked by Hamas on October 7. Luis de Vega Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday that Israel is currently in the first phase of its strategy: a military campaign that includes bombing and later will include [ground] maneuvers, with the goal of neutralizing terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure. The second will require lower-intensity operations, with the goal of eliminating pockets of resistance, Gallant said. That means keeping troops on the ground to wipe out the insurgency, which has 200 hostages spread across the Strip whose lives hang in the balance in the midst of the war. Hamas released this Friday, after the mediation of Qatar and for humanitarian reasons, two U.S. nationals, a mother and her daughter. The last phase would consist of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel, the minister added, without detailing to whom the authority in that territory would be transferred once the government of the Islamic fundamentalist militia has been disbanded. The perimeter with electrified fence surrounding Kibbutz Beeri is a constant coming and going of Israeli military vehicles and tanks. Airplanes that have been bombing the inhabitants of the Strip for two weeks where 4,137 people have died as of Friday, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health are buzzing through the air like blowflies. Meanwhile, in the background, over the Strip, a column of smoke rises at the height of Gaza City. Hundreds of thousands of inhabitants remain in Gaza City despite an Israeli order to move to the southern half of the Strip, where the border with Egypt is located. There, the Rafah crossing is expected to be unblocked over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday. This is the point through which humanitarian aid must enter the Gaza Strip in order to deal with the humanitarian crisis that is shaking a population of more than two million people living under a permanent blockade, which became complete a week ago. According to the UN, more than one million people have had to leave their homes in the midst of the Israeli bombardment. Among the targets hit in the last hours was the Orthodox church of St. Porphyry, which was being used as a shelter by Gazans. Meanwhile, inside the community of Beeri, where 100 residents out of a population of a thousand were killed, the search for bodies and human remains continues almost two weeks after the carnage. Press access to this closed military zone requires official permission. The Hamas attack on the 7th also left 200 hostages, who were transferred to Gaza, and between 100 and 200 people missing, according to data updated by Israeli authorities on Thursday. The site has now been turned into a barracks where soldiers are also stationed, waiting to advance as soon as the order to invade is given. Israeli troops stationed near the Gaza Strip near Kibbutz Beeri, one of the communities attacked by Hamas on October 7. Luis de Vega It is always possible that the body of one of our own or of a terrorist will turn up, explains Amir Golan, 73, a member of the Zaka organization, which is in charge of rescuing the bodies of Israelis. Golan helps a young man climb up to the second floor of one of the houses in Beeri that have been practically destroyed. There could be dead bodies anywhere, he adds, pointing to the mountains of rubble and debris. Convoys of trucks carrying tanks, armored personnel carriers, generators, ammunition, bulldozers The countrys top officials have traveled there in recent hours to encourage the troops. As they acknowledged Friday, some of these soldiers have been taking up positions and hoping to advance towards the perimeter of the Strip since only hours after the October 7 attack. Now you see Gaza from a distance, soon you will see it from the inside, Minister Gallant told them Thursday. On to victory, ready? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harangued them, hinting that the ground invasion could happen any time. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time. Winston Churchill Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof. Inscription on the Liberty Bell An unusual experience on the train from Salzburg to Munich yesterday. The train stopped at the German border, whereupon eight police officers, well armed and wearing full body armor, boarded the train and asked to see passports. I havent had a passport check on a European train in years, and I thought they were obsolete in the era of the Schengen Zone that allows visa-free travel throughout the European Union. And even in the old days the passport checks were done by train conductors, or at most one police officer. The officer glanced quickly at my passport and handed it right back, but then proceeded on to two pairs of Arab males seated elsewhere in our car. They got thoroughly tossed, with their passports being scrutinized as if trying to detect a forgery, followed by a series of questions, all conducted in English: Where are you coming from? What is your destination? What is the purpose of your trip? How long are you staying? Who are you staying with? I didnt hear any of the answers clearly, but Im pretty sure this was what would be called profiling in the U.S. And small wonder why: with pro-Hamas protests verging on riots in some German cities such as Berlin, along with the defacement of Jewish sites throughout the country, it is likely that German security wants to screen out possible reinforcements from elsewhere. I couldnt help but feel like it was contemporary re-enactment of the scene of the train stop at the border in Grand Budapest Hotel (below), as Germany is suddenly back to asking, Your paperz pleazand we approve of it! (Though Germany should be faulted for opening the floodgates to massive immigration back in 2015. Still, even slow learners should be commended.) I havent witnessed any of the pro-Hamas demonstrations first hand, but you cant help but notice that Europe is on edge. During my stay in Budapest I was located near the vibrant Jewish quarter of town, where I noticed that the main synagoguesupposedly the largest in Europehad no visible police presence before October 7. After October 7, there were two officers out front, but thats as far as I could see in the entire neighborhood. (I should add that overall police presence in Budapest is comparatively light, for the sensible reason that law and order is enforced there.) Hungary, as mentioned previously, continues to defy EU pressure to admit migrants to its small country. This contrasts sharply with Vienna. A year ago I passed through Vienna and wandered by Judenplatz, site of a Holocaust memorial and Jewish cultural center, and noticed two army guards with automatic weapons, necessary because of Islamicist-inspired attacks back in the 2000s. On my return to Vienna last weekend the military presence around the Judenplatz and the wider neighborhood had increased manyfold, with close to a dozen heavily armed security stationed at building entrances and SWAT vehicles stationed nearby. I also observed a number of conspicuous police vans and personnel stationed throughout downtown. A friend who has lived in Vienna for 15 years observed: Weve let in too many of the wrong people. The story of a continent. Vienna is nothing compared to France, which has mobilized its army because of mounting threats. From whom, you ask? Even the New York Times cant sugarcoat it: Thousands of troops were being deployed to guard sensitive locations across France, and the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles were evacuated in separate security alerts, as the country remained on edge on Saturday after the killing of a schoolteacher in a stabbing attack that the authorities described as an act of Islamist terrorism. France has been under its highest terrorist threat level since Friday, when the teacher, Dominique Bernard, was killed at a school in Arras, in northern France. A suspect was quickly arrested at the scene: Officials said he was a former student of Mr. Bernards, and had already been under surveillance as a potential Islamist extremist. In other words, another known wolf that our politically correct governments lack the will to detain and deport. To adapt Herbert Steins famous aphorism about economics for a different subject: Something that cant go on forever, wont. Except maybe adapting Lincolns warning applies better: a house divided against itself cannot stand. Either Europe will become all one thing, or all the other. P.S. Re: Grand Budapest HotelThe film is said to be based on the writings of the Austrian-born Jewish writer Stefan Zweig, author of the classic memoir, The World of Yesterday. I pick up Zweigs book again every time I come to central Europe, which is nearly every year lately. It reads more relevant than ever just now. In addition to my day job and writing for Power Line, I do quite a bit of radio as well as some television and podcasting. Yesterday I did two radio shows and a podcast, talking about Gazas attack on Israel, Allahu Akbar on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, the ongoing fiasco in the House of Representatives, and more. Just for fun, here are those three appearances. First, morning drive time with Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson on Chicagos AM560 The Answer, a show on which I appear pretty regularly as a guest: Next, Episode 11 of the American Experiment Podcast, which we recorded yesterday afternoon. Among other things, it includes some rather pungent observations on the Gazans, Hamas, and the liberals who support them: And finally, my appearance yesterday on the Al Travis Show, which is broadcast on radio stations in four or five Minnesota cities and also streams live on Facebook. Al is a good friend and I appear on his show every week: All in a days work, trying to make the world a better place. Or prevent it from getting even worse. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-21 01:44:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Amidst the ever-growing popularity of digital currency in Australia, GrineoPay has emerged as a beacon of progress, igniting a newfound enthusiasm for FinTech solutions. With the announcement of their Grineo Wallet+Card launch in 2024, the company is paving the way for individuals to easily manage their financial needs and embrace the possibilities of blockchain technology. This pre-launch gateway is a game-changing step towards financial freedom, empowering Australians to take control of their funds and delve into the world of digital currency.At its core, the Grineo Wallet+Card App is a secure and efficient multi-digital currency platform, giving users the power to pay with digital currency everywhere in the world . But more than just a user-friendly interface, GrineoPay is committed to educating and empowering its community. "We believe in the financial empowerment of individuals and strive to build a well-informed community," the Grineo team shared."The wait is almost over," exclaims the Grineo team, as they announce the launch of the Grineo Wallet+Card's waitlist. This exclusive opportunity is open to both the digital currency curious and enthusiasts alike, offering early access to the app and unlocking exciting financial possibilities. "Our goal is to empower individuals to take charge of their financial future and be part of a knowledgeable community," the team adds.To make their mark in the digital currency scene and highlight the product launch in front of 15000 digital currency enthusiasts, GrineoPay will also be a Theatre Sponsor at the highly anticipated Australian Crypto Convention 2023 in Melbourne on November 11th."We invited Grineo to be a part of our conference because we see their potential to revolutionise the industry," says David Haslop, founder, and director of the convention.But the excitement doesn't stop there. The official launch of the GrineoPay app is just a few months away, and Aussies can look forward to a seamless experience in investing and sending money to their loved ones in real-time, without delays or excessive fees. To secure a spot on the waitlist, head to the website https://grineopay.com and fill out the form.GrineoPay's mission is to promote a fairer distribution of wealth by providing Australians with an alternative to traditional financial systems. Are you ready to write your own digital currency success story? Join the Grineo waitlist today!About GrineoPayAs a trusted gateway to the digital currency economy, GrineoPay is committed to providing a suite of products tailored to the Australian market. Its first offering, the Grineo Wallet+Card, will initially launch in Sydney and Melbourne, catering to users of all levels with its user-friendly design and advanced trading options. Headquartered in Sydney and fully regulated by AUSTRAC, Grineo Pty Ltd boasts a team of executives from leading banks and FinTech companies. Join the digital currency revolution with GrineoPay: Level 14, 5 Martin Place, Sydney, 2000, NSW, Australia. https://grineopay.com Contact:Anna H., PR consultant, info@ grineopay.com SOURCE: Grineo Pty Ltd PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-21 17:03:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 907 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 21, 2023 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. ("Hawaiian Electric") (NYSE:HE). The action charges Hawaiian Electric with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Hawaiian Electric's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Hawaiian Electric's investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/hawaiian-electric-industries-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=he&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERELEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: OCTOBER 23, 2023CLASS PERIOD: FEBRUARY 28, 2019 THROUGH AUGUST 16, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.HAWAIIAN ELECTRICS'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTThe Class Period begins on February 28, 2019 when Hawaiian Electric filed its Annual Report which stated, among other things, that the company had "appropriately responded to environmental conditions." In early August 2023, a series of severe wildfires broke out in Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The most destructive fire began in West Maui near the town of Lahaina on the morning of August 8, 2023. By that afternoon, intense winds had knocked down approximately 30 utility poles throughout Maui, resulting in at least 15 separate outages impacting more than 12,400 customers. Moreover, videos captured by local residents showed that downed power lines belonging to Hawaiian Electric appeared to have ignited at least several of the fires. Ultimately, the wind-driven fires prompted evacuations, caused widespread damage, and have killed at least 114 people, with some 850 others still missing in Lahaina.On August 12, 2023, news outlets began reporting that Hawaiian Electric lacked the proper policies and procedures to mitigate the impact of the wildfires. Specifically, it was revealed that, at the time the wildfires began, the company did not maintain a public power shutoff plan-i.e., a plan in which electricity is intentionally cut off to areas where strong wind events could cause the fires to spread. On this news, Hawaiian Electric's stock price fell $10.94 per share, or 33.76%, to close at $21.46 per share on August 14, 2023.Then, on August 16, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric is meeting with firms that specialize in restructuring advisory work and exploring options for the various financial and legal challenges that the company faces as a consequence from the Maui wildfires.Finally, on August 17, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric had for years been aware of the threat posed by wildfire but waited years to act. Specifically, the report stated that between 2019 and 2022, Hawaiian Electric spent less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on Maui and did not seek state approval to raise utility rates to pay for broad wildfire safety improvements until 2022. Following this news, Hawaiian Electric's stock price fell $2.54 per share, or 17.43%, to close at $12.03 per share on August 17, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?Hawaiian Electric investors may, no later than October 23, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Hawaiian investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Hawaiian Electric, Bhangal v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-04332, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPJonathan Naji, Esq.280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087(484) 270-1453info@ ktmc.com SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP There was a minor fire outbreak on Friday afternoon at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said. The incident occurred at the refinery cooling tower, the oil company said in a statement Friday night. This afternoon, at about 15:02 hrs, there was a minor fire incident at the cooling tower of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), the NNPCL said. The oil company said the fire which occurred as a result of ongoing welding activity at the top of the cooling tower will not affect the refinery rehabilitation project delivery schedule. READ ALSO: NNPC Limited safety officers at the refinery acted immediately and put out the fire at about 15:30 hrs; normalcy has since been restored. NNPC Limited will continue to adhere to the best safety standards in all its business operations, it said. The 125,000 barrels per day (bpd)-capacity of Warri Refinery is one of Nigerias four dysfunctional refineries that have produced no fuel for years leaving the country to rely on imported petroleum products. In August 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna Refineries at the combined total sum of $1.5 billion. The Nigerian government had in August assured that the Warri refinery will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year while the Port Harcourt refinery will become functional by December. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Water is about to run out in Gaza. The total blockade imposed by Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has interrupted the arrival of drinking water distributed in Gaza through a pipeline from Israeli territory. Israel is also blocking any electricity and fuel from reaching the Strip, which makes it impossible for the three desalination plants in Gaza to operate. In addition to the interruption of supplies, the Israeli bombardments have hit numerous installations, both for water supply, storage, and sewage and prevent the circulation of tanker trucks that still have fuel to circulate, says Pilar Orduna, head of humanitarian action at Oxfam Intermon. The result is that there are hardly any resources left in a region that was already suffering from severe water shortages and sanitation deficits, Orduna denounces. My mission tomorrow is basically to get water, laments Sami, a Palestinian UNICEF staff member in Gaza, in an audio distributed by the UN fund. The man, who has had to leave his home in the north of the Strip with his wife and five children, is sheltering from air strikes by the Israeli armed forces in a 70-square-meter space where 17 people live together. Children and adults, all together and no running water Today I had to go and collect water in buckets, water that is basically for bathing, because we cant use it for anything else. We have been drinking from the bottles we had, but we are already running out, he adds. Rania (not her real name), an Amnesty International aid worker who is a refugee in Rafah, also says in statements distributed by this organization that she is struggling to find water. It is very difficult to find and very expensive, she explains. Prior to the current conflict, Palestinians were already facing severe water shortages and had a very poor water supply system. According to a 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) multi-sectoral needs analysis, 82% of Gazans received water through private water trucking; 13% were supplied by public taps; only 4% had piped water at home and 1% needed to consume bottled water. The three desalination plants, which are no longer operational, produced 21 million liters of drinking water per day, according to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Gazans refilled water last Tuesday in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. HAITHAM IMAD (EFE) But now, drinking water has practically run out, Oxfam denounces. And the agreement reached between Israel and the United States to allow the entry of food, water, or medicines from Egypt will be insufficient to cover the consumption needs of the population, the organizations agree. According to calculations by the UN Water and Energy Cluster, there are now only three liters of water per day available per person in Gaza. A five-minute shower uses up about 100 liters of water, Orduna notes. In this situation of scarcity, the owners of water purification plants, most of which run on solar energy, are the biggest suppliers, he continues. But the price has quintupled, according to Oxfam aid workers in Gaza. The main priority The difficulty of acquiring water has pushed many people, according to the various NGOs consulted, to draw water from agricultural wells, provided they have enough fuel or energy to activate the pumps. However, 81% of the water extracted from Gazas aquifer does not meet the minimum quality standards required by the WHO. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics puts this percentage at 97%. UNICEF has denounced that some people have been forced to drink seawater. Therefore, despite the shortage of all basic necessities, the most pressing task in the Palestinian enclave is to find water. We have reached a point where it is our top priority, explains Guillemette Thomas, coordinator of Doctors Without Borders in Palestine an assertion shared by all the organizations consulted. It is estimated that 60% of Gazas inhabitants, more than one million people, live in the open, without access to water or health care. Two men fill the water tanks of a house in Rafah, south of the Strip. SAID KHATIB (AFP) The problem does not only affect consumption. Gazas five sewage treatment plants have been forced to close, Orduna explains. The consequence is that untreated sewage is being discharged into the sea and that some streets are beginning to accumulate solid waste, increasing the risk of outbreaks of life-threatening infectious diseases such as cholera or diarrhea, which can be particularly serious for young children. Thomas elaborates: In addition to the seriously injured, we risk witnessing a wave of diseases related to poor living conditions, such as diarrhea, respiratory and skin infections, and dehydration. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has warned Nigerians against panic buying of petrol, saying it has enough product for the country. The oil firm said this in a statement posted via its official X platform on Thursday. The company said the sudden appearance of fuel queues in some parts of Lagos and a few other locations around the country was due to reduced depot load-outs in Apapa. It said it has supply with the sufficiency of at least 30 days. NNPC Retail Ltd notes the appearance of fuel queues in some parts of Lagos and a few other locations around the country, the NNPCL said. This is due to reduced depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos over a few days, and the root cause has since been addressed. We assure all Nigerians that there is ample supply with a sufficiency of at least 30 days. Motorists are advised to desist from panic buying as distribution will normalize over the next couple of days, it said. Background President Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on 29 May. Following the announcement, the NNPCL directed its outlets nationwide to sell fuel between N480 and N570 per litre, an almost 200 per cent increase from the initial price below N200, leading to a significant increase in transportation fares and prices of goods and services. Again in July, petrol pump prices rose to N617 per litre at various outlets of the NNPCL in Abuja and other parts of the country. At the time, the NNPCL attributed the rise in the petroleum pump prices in the country to market forces. Mr Kyari noted that with the deregulation of the oil sector, market realities would force the price of petrol up sometimes and at other times force it down. READ ALSO: In August, Mr Tinubu assured Nigerians that there would be no further increase in the pump price of petrol, despite the deregulation of the product. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with the president. The president wishes to assure Nigerians, following the announcements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) just yesterday, that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit anywhere in the country, the spokesperson said. We repeat, the president affirms that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit. Mr Tinubu also acknowledged that there are inefficiencies within the downstream sector that are contributing to the fuel price controversy. He assured that all loopholes associated with the smooth delivery of petroleum products in the country will be addressed immediately. Earlier in October, the National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, said the Nigerian government had restored the subsidy on petrol, despite the official government policy of ending the subsidy regime. Mr Osifo, who is also the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), one of Nigerias two largest workers union coalitions, while featuring on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said due to the cost of crude oil in the international market and the exchange rate, the government still pays subsidies on petrol. The government has to come clean. In reality today, there is a subsidy because as of when the earlier price was determined, the price of crude in the international market was somewhere around less than $80 a barrel. But today, it has moved to about $93/94 per barrel for Brent crude. So, because it has moved, then the price (of petrol) also needed to move, Mr Osifo said. The NNPCL said that the Nigerian government has not resumed payment of subsidy on petrol. The NNPCL group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, explained that the government was recovering its full costs from the imported products. No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market and we understand why the marketers are unable to import, Mr Kyari said. We hope that they do it very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy. Mr Kyari explained further that the government is doing so much to ensure the supply of FX into the market. We know that this FX market will stabilize and the current I&E window is around 770. And we know that with those inputs that are already happening, the inputs of the government today will crystallize and also they will come to an equilibrium position in the FX market and this is a dream of this country. So they will have a stable FX market, a stable product market where the prices of products will also speak to prices of other commodities. And this is already manifesting and we think this is the economic revolution that this country needs, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Over the years, the Nigerian fashion scene has blossomed into a global phenomenon, casting its influence far beyond Africas borders. Like the industrys rise, Nigerian fashion entrepreneur Seye Kolawole has embarked on a remarkable journey, transitioning from selling Aba-made garments to exporting proudly Nigerian designs to the world. Mr Kolawole, who recently launched his brand, Made For Man, with its newest outlet in Lekki Lagos State, shared his success story of how he started his business by making shirts in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Aba, popularly called the China of Nigeria, is a home for various economic activities in Southeastern Nigeria. The city, which is surrounded by several markets, is known for its craftsmanship skills across multiple industries, which, of course, include fashion and shoe making. Despite its popularity, Nigerians commonly regard Aba-made products as substandard and would rather patronise foreign-made products. However, this market attitude has not deterred the resilient spirit of some Nigerian Fashionprenuer, like Mr Kolawole, who has built an international brand by exporting various Aba-made products and even creating a market space that appreciates locally made fashion outfits. Little Beginnings Mr Kolawole, a Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Lagos, delved into fashion during his service year at Owerri, Imo State. At his store opening, the fashion designer told PREMIUM TIMES that he had always had a knack for fashion since kindergarten. Speaking on how he started his brand, Mr Kolawole said, The journey started during my service year. I served in Owerri, and I heard in Aba, just a one-hour journey from Owerri, I could get people to sew shirts and make shoes. So I started making shirts and shoes to sell to my colleagues and fellow corp members in Owerri and sending some to my sister in Ibadan. This was over two decades ago, and since then, I have been making clothes from Aba and recently from other parts of the world to reach the demands of my clients all over the world. After my service year, I got a job with a bank, but while I was working in a bank, I was in Akure, I was still buying clothes from Aba and selling them to my clients. It is a passion and something I like. I like seeing people look good, and I have an eye for fashionable appearances. Even when I entered the oil and gas sector, I continued doing this. In 2005, before social media became popular, Mr Kolawole boldly ventured into the uncharted waters of the full-time fashion business. Armed with little more than passion, he began selling shirts from the trunk of his car. His marketing genius lay in sending emails with images of his products to prospective clients. However, Mr Kolawole also called on the government and other stakeholders to explore opportunities to expand the fashion industry in Aba and other parts of Nigeria to meet the increasing demands. He said, A lot is happening in the fashion industry, and there is a lot of demand for African, especially with the ever-growing diaspora population, and then by foreigners who see what the African culture is all about, probably because of our movies and music that are making raves round the world. READ ALSO: The fashion industry in Nigeria, especially with that local flavour, is growing, and we should emphasise what is ours, improve the quality of what we produce and focus on our local content. Made for Men is now known for catering to not just male shirts but also female shirts and other male accessories like wristwatches, belts and others items. His brand is also famous for its Ankara-themed shirts, all made in Nigeria and sold within and beyond the countrys border. Fashion nuggets For him, style transcends pretentiousness; its about comfort, aesthetics, and timelessness. The father-of-three also shared some fashion nuggets that would be helpful to everyone, and he said there are no rules to dressing as a man. He said, Men are straightforward people, so there are no rules to a man looking good; just prioritise comfort, choose high-quality accessories that match your outfit, select colours that complement your complexion, embrace bolder choices, and remember that fashion is ever-evolving. He explained, First, wear what fits you. Whatever you choose to rock for the day as a man should not be too tight. People may have preferences for tight clothes, but wear what fits them. Wear what you are comfortable with; if you wear what you are uncomfortable with, it will show in your carriage. Again, your accessories should be good quality and match what you wear, including your belt, watches, etc. Again, wear colours that match and do justice to your complexion and complement each other. Of course, people are becoming bolder these days than men, so maybe before now, men would not wear pink or yellow. Still, there are ways that you can combine those colours, and they would look good on you. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Assembly says it is buying operational vehicles for its 469 members, even though the cost is above the package prescribed for the lawmakers by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The federal lawmakers had rejected cheaper Sedan and Salon cars and choosen instead expensive luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs), in violation of the revenue package put together for them and other public office holders by the RMAFC. Section 84 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution gives RMAFC the mandate for determining the salaries and allowances of public officials, including members of the National Assembly. There shall be paid to the holders of the offices mentioned in this section such remuneration, salaries and allowances as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, but not exceeding the amount as shall have been determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, section 84 of the constitution reads. In the discharge of that responsibility, RMFAC publishes details of the remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders. According to the last list published in 2007, members of the National Assembly are not entitled to operational vehicles, but rather an optional car loan that must not exceed 400 per cent of their annual basic salaries. According to the last published list, a senator gets an annual basic salary of N2.02 million. Therefore, they are entitled to a car loan of not more than N8.1 million, which is 400 per cent of their basic salary. By the same calculation, a member of the House of Representatives whose annual basic salary is N1.9 million can draw a car loan from the National Assembly not exceeding N7.9 million. However, the members of the 10th National Assembly, despite the tough economic situation Nigerians are grappling with, have jettisoned the recommendation of RMFAC and instead opted to buy luxury vehicles as operational vehicles for legislative oversight, a move that many Nigerians have described as insensitive. The spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, in a statement he issued on Sunday, said the lawmakers can also take away the vehicles at the end of their tenure in 2027, if they pay off the National Assembly. For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly, he said. Despite the clear provisions of the constitution to the contrary, the National Assembly has always arbitrarily fixed for themselves allowances far above what RMFAC prescribes. In July, the Senate shared N2 million to each member as recess allowance against the 10 per cent of annual basic salary prescribed by law. PREMIUM TIMES reported in 2015 that the Senate spent N4.7 billion on cars for members, snatching for themselves scarce funds that could have been spent on vaccinating newborns and save them from dying or on providing electricity for remote communities where kids do school assignments using paraffin lamps. Members of the National Assembly appear to have put themselves in in competition with the executive arm in profligacy, especially as expressed in the allocation of cars and allowances. Hear the House of Representatives spokesperson in his Sunday statement: It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from the Assistant Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their offices. Lawmakers reject saloon cars In 2015, Nigerian lawmakers bought Peugeot 508 saloon cars for themselves from the public purse and in 2020 bought Toyota Camry saloon cars. On both occasions, the National Assembly went above the threshold recommended in the RMFAC list. This time around, they have choosen SUVs. The brand has become a status symbol for Nigerian politicians who have access to public funds. A member of the House, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, said members insisted on either Toyota Prado or Toyota Land Cruisers because many in the last Assembly did not use the Camry cars they collected for official functions. Most of the lawmakers rejected the option of saloon cars because many had to give the one shared in the 9th Assembly to their wives. Those vehicles are probably not more than N80-N90 million, that particular vehicle we are talking about. In fact, some people are not going to get the vehicle until January, the lawmaker said. Insatiable appetite for foreign brands The decision of the federal lawmakers to buy foreign brands has also drawn criticism from Nigerians, who complained that the lawmakers could have patronised Nigerian brands to boost the local aitomobile industry. The Centre for Social Justice, in a statement on Tuesday, said the lawmakers exported jobs by ordering from foreign brands instead of local brands. Speaking in the same vein, Oluwatobi Ajayi, the CEO of Nord Motors, an indigenous local automobile company, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his dissatisfaction with the action of the lawmakers by ordering foreign bands. In the post, he disclosed that some local automobile manufacturers approached the lawmakers and submitted proposals offering local vehicles but the legislators refused. The National Assembly buying foreign-built vehicles at this time is dispiriting, especially when you consider that we are all trying to promote buy Nigeria to grow the Naira. A sad part of this is that we (assemblers and manufacturers of vehicles in Nigeria) actually proposed our vehicles and explained how it would make a lot of financial, technical and political sense to buy from us but they didnt even entertain the idea for long, Mr Ajayi wrote. The Nigerian automobile industry has grown in recent years, with brands like Innoson, Nords, Pro-Force and others producing high-end vehicles, including SUVs. However, it seems Nigerian lawmakers consider them beneath their status. The appetite of the lawmakers for luxury appears to be at variance with the economic realities of Nigeria and the call for a cut in the cost of governance. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Medical authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) have suspended a Nigerian doctor, Ewere Onyekpe, for having a sexual relationship with a patient including in a hospitals toilet. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal of the General Medical Council (MPT of the GMC) a medical regulatory body in the UK had in January imposed a sanction of six months on Mr Onyekpes practising licence, after he was found guilty by an investigative tribunal that looked into the matter. The tribunals verdict, which took effect in February, was due for review six months later. But before the case was due for review, a UK independent body that focuses on ethics and standards Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) appealed against the MPTs decision. PSA said it found the punishment too lenient on some grounds and challenged MPTs decision before a UK law court. The court found PSAs argument logical and ordered MPT to stage a retrial of the matter, taking into consideration one of the grounds of appeal. How it started Mr Onyekpe, a Nigerian-born medical doctor, had in June and July 2020 had a sexual relationship with an unnamed female. The sexual relationship was said to have begun after Mr Onyekpe treated the patient in his capacity as a locum registrar in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at the Whittington Hospital in London. The details of the act are contained in a court judgement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES which indicated that both the doctor and the patient continued their sexual relationship until 24 July 2020, when the patient reported to the police that she had been raped in the toilet by Mr Onyekpe. Apart from having sex with the patient in the hospitals toilet on the night of 10 June, Mr Onyekpe still went to the patients home the following morning and had sex with her. The police, while continuing with its investigation, had also reported the case to the General Medical Council which in turn set up the tribunal. The medical tribunal said it found that the charges against the doctor, all of which he admitted, amounted to a course of conduct which amounted to serious misconduct. Dr Onyekpe also conceded that his fitness to practise was impaired by reason of this misconduct, and the MPT agreed, a news report on ethics stated. The decision to suspend the doctor was made on 19 January 2023, and the MPTs order took effect 28 days later, with a review scheduled for the end of a six-month period. In a witness statement provided during the tribunal, Mr Onyekpe acknowledged and said; I appreciate that what I did was awful and that I let down myself and my family and my colleagues. I also accept this because the power imbalance between me as a doctor and that of the patient, it can be perceived that I took advantage of my professional position in pursuing this brief sexual relationship, consensual though it may have been. The tribunal heard the case and found Mr Onyekpe guilty of misconduct. His licence was then suspended for six months, and his case was meant to be reviewed between August and September. Call for case review Reacting to the six-month suspension of Mr Onyekpe, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) said it was challenging the medical tribunals decision on some grounds. The PSA is an independent body that promotes the health, safety and well-being of patients, service users and the public. It does this by improving the regulation of people who work in health and social care and running the Accredited Registers programme for roles not regulated by law. The PSA is accountable to the UK Parliament. The PSA said it identified procedural irregularity in the charges against Mr Onyekpe by the medical tribunal, saying the charges did not adequately reflect the seriousness of his misconduct. A court document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES quoted a judge, Thomas Linden, of the High Court of Justice Kings Bench Division Administrative Court, that; The particular criticism which the PSA makes is that there should have been an allegation that Mr Onyekpe knew or ought to have known that Patient A was vulnerable or likely to be vulnerable. The lack of such an allegation meant that the full gravamen of his misconduct was not considered by the MPT (Ground 1). Second, that the sanction of six months suspension of Mr Onyekpes registration was unduly lenient and insufficient for the protection of the public in any event. In particular, nothing short of erasure would have been sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession, as well as proper professional standards and conduct for members of the profession (Ground 2). Third, that the reasons given by the MPT for its decision on sanction were inadequate (Ground 3). Court verdict Mr Linden in his verdict which was delivered on 4 August, and which was attended by parties through Cloud Video Platform, quashed the tribunals decision. The judge cited deficiencies in the decision-making process. He said the case was fundamentally flawed because it failed to consider the events between the doctor and the patient adequately. He, therefore, ruled that a new medical tribunal be set up to investigate the matter. PREMIUM TIMES could not establish if the new tribunal had been set up as of the time of this report. The judge said: In short, I allowed the appeal on Ground 1 and quashed the MPTs decision, I decided not to express a concluded view on Grounds 2 and 3, and I remitted the matter to a freshly constituted MPT. What follows are my reasons for that decision. While giving reasons for his decision, Mr Linden revealed that evidence presented through WhatsApp messages exchanged between the doctor and the patient included pornographic materials. The judge said; My conclusion on Ground 1 was that the decision-making of the GMC and the MPT in this case was fundamentally flawed because it did not give any or any adequate consideration to the evidence of what Patient A told Onyekpe about her circumstances. In particular, there was a failure adequately to consider (a) whether she was vulnerable for the purposes of the Sanctions Guidance and, if so, the degree of her vulnerability and, (b) what Onyekpe knew or ought to have known about these matters and what influence this had on his actions. Mr Linden emphasised that these questions should have been raised by the allegations the MPT was tasked with considering and should have been thoroughly examined in the context of the entire body of evidence, but that they were not. About Onyekpe Mr Onyekpe, born in Nigeria, received his medical qualification in 2003 from Kharkiv State Medical University in Ukraine and began his medical practice in Nigeria, primarily within the Nigerian Army. According to court documents, in 2008, he moved to the United Kingdom and pursued a Masters in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He began his medical practice in 2010. Between 2013 and 2018, he completed a postgraduate diploma in emergency medicine at Manchester Metropolitan University and, starting in 2016, entered a formal training programme in emergency medicine. He completed his ST3 training in 2019 and worked night shifts in the A&E department at the Whittington from August to November 2019 and again from 4 March to 3 July 2020. Brain drain Mr Onyekpe was one of the thousands of Nigerian doctors working in the UK. Nigerias health sector is currently grappling with a severe shortage of skilled personnel, resulting from the mass departure of healthcare professionals. A 2022 UK immigration report showed that 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers (including doctors) were granted working visas in the past year, making the country second only to the 42,966 from India. As of October 2022, the Nigeria Medical Association disclosed that only 24,000 licensed medical doctors were available in the country, lamenting that only one doctor is available to treat 30,000 patients in some southern states, while in the North, it is one doctor to 45,000 patients. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied the allegations by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State that some of its officials are configuring the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) at the Government House in Kogi State. The spokesperson to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said in a short statement on Saturday that the allegations are untrue and called on political parties to desist from engaging in malicious rumour-mongering of this nature. The allegations On Saturday, the Director of New Media for the Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council, Isaiah Ijele, accused some staff of INEC of plots to manipulate the BVAS machines to be used for the governorship elections coming up 11th November. He claimed the Kogi State Government lodged three staff of the commission at the government house since Wednesday and are involved in the reconfiguration of some personalised BVAS machines to be merged with INECs deployment in specific regions such as Okene, Adavi, and Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. Denial But INEC has described the story as untrue and said the three persons mentioned by the SDP are not associated with the configuration of the BVAS machines. The commission said the configuration of BVAS is done simultaneously and exclusively in its offices in the three states where governorship elections are to be held on 11 November. The story is untrue. The three persons mentioned are not associated with the configuration of the BVAS machines and are not even in Kogi State at the moment, parts of the statement by Mr Oyekanmi reads. He listed the officials mentioned by the SDP candidates to include Nicholas Ocholi, Ibrahim Egbunu and Mohammed Adara, He said Mr Ocholi is on his duty post in INEC Ondo State office in Akure, while Mr Egbunu is attending to a very close family member hospitalised in Abuja and Mr Adara retired last year and is no longer a staffer of the commission. The configuration of BVAS is done simultaneously and exclusively in our offices in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states professionally and strictly handled by teams deployed from the national HQ, Abuja, he said. The public is advised to disregard the story as fake news. At the same time, the Commission appeals to political parties to desist from engaging in malicious rumour-mongering of this nature. 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 Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, says the state has recruited 1,500 personnel into the Community Watch Corps to fight criminals in the state, especially terrorists who are locally called bandits. Mr Radda stated this during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Thursday. He said that the police, military and the NDLEA were involved in the recruitment of the corps. He stated that over 2,500 persons indicated interest in joining the corps, and after the screening and vetting, 1,500 were selected. He said many of the people recruited have been victims of bandits attacks and are motivated to fight the terrorists. He said most of the recruits have gone through drug screening by NDLEA, and the state also got the help of the police and SSS in the recruitment. Mr Radda said community watch corps had the legislative framework because the Katsina State House of Assembly passed the bill and he gave his assent to the bill. Before my inauguration as governor, I had deployed the services of experts to come up with a bill to establish the Community Watch in the state assembly. Immediately we were sworn in, we took the bill to the state assembly and within two to three weeks the State Assembly passed it and I have assented to it. We were guided by the rules and regulations guiding the operations of the military police and the DSS. We developed our form which was fully endorsed by the security outfits in the state. Then we implored the military and police to provide us with some of their personnel to help with the recruitment and screening exercise of this corps. We went back to the affected communities especially the eight frontline communities because we believe if we are able to block the eight frontline communities, we will make it uneasy for these criminals to be moving about within the state, he said. Speaking on the criteria for recruitment into the corps, Mr Radda said education qualification was not the main criterion, but the determination to fight the terrorists. We didnt consider certificates or qualifications; what we were concerned about was their ability to protect their parents and loved ones. The reason we choose these people is because they were directly affected: their parents were killed, their sisters were raped, so they have more courage to do this job, he said While responding to questions on arming of the corps, Mr Radda said its personnel are to support the police to fight the bandits, he noted that they deposit their arms with the police in the state. The aim is to support the conventional security agencies to address the issue. All their authorized arms were deposited with the DPOs in their various Local Governments. The essence is to have more numbers to confront these evil monsters, he said. Katsina State, the home of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been a safe haven for bandits and other criminal elements engaging in killing and kidnapping for ransom. While police and firearms are under the exclusive legislative list in the constitution, the growing insecurity across the country has made many governors float state security outfits. In the South-west, there is Amotekun, while the South-east has Ebube Agu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Zaccheus Adedeji, acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) has said that the economic stability of Nigeria is anchored on the countrys fiscal policy. Mr Adedeji disclosed this on Friday in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, in his goodwill message at a retreat organised by the leadership of the Senate in conjunction with NILDS on tax reforms and fiscal policy. As the Acting Chairman of the FIRS, Mr Adedeji said he was acutely aware of the profound importance of a sound fiscal policy and well-thought-out tax reforms in our country. Nigeria, with its vast potential and abundant resources, the FIRS boss said, was positioned to make significant strides in economic development. However, to harness this potential, Mr Adedeji said We must address the challenges and opportunities presented by our fiscal policies and tax systems. According to him, fiscal policy dictates how the government collects, manages, and allocates resources for public welfare, saying, A well-structured fiscal policy is essential to provide the necessary infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services for our growing population. It is equally crucial in ensuring that our economic environment remains competitive for both domestic and foreign investors. Mr Adedeji said tax reforms are integral to a robust fiscal policy, noting that the countrys current tax system, though making significant contributions to our revenue, has room for improvement. What to do to improve the countrys tax system, revenue base The FIRS boss also suggested what could be done to improve the countrys tax system He said there must be a focus on simplifying the tax laws and enhancing full compliance with the laws. Broadening the tax base to ensure fairness and equity is a necessity, he said, as this will stimulate economic growth and reduce the burden on individuals and businesses alike. He commended President Bola Tinubu for setting up the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee chaired by Taiwo Oyedele to review and recommend changes that will address the countrys long-standing fiscal challenges. Mr Adedeji promised FIRS full commitment to supporting the reforms. In addition to reforms, the FIRS boss also said the country must explore other avenues for diversifying its revenue sources. Over-reliance on oil revenues, he said, had exposed the countrys economy to volatility, as witnessed in recent years. According to him, diversification of revenue sources will not only bolster our fiscal resilience but also enable the government to better serve the people and address our most pressing needs, especially lifting our people out of poverty. He said the FIRS had undertaken substantial measures to improve tax collection efficiency, reduce tax evasion, and foster a business-friendly environment. He, however, said the Service needed to do more, saying the support we receive from the National Assembly has been invaluable, and I am confident that with your continued support, we can achieve even more remarkable results. Besides fiscal policy and tax reforms, he said there was a need for social inclusion and poverty reduction, suggesting that Our incentives must be targeted and rationalised to limit abuse and avoidable leakages while promoting investment and job creation. The challenges we face in our fiscal policy and tax system are opportunities for a brighter, more prosperous Nigeria. READ ALSO: FIRS begins nationwide tax compliance monitoring from 23 October It is my hope that through collaboration, diligent efforts, and innovative thinking, we can forge a path to a more equitable, efficient, and prosperous future, he said. Mr Adedeji, a chartered accountant, was formerly President Tinubus special adviser on revenue until he was appointed in an acting capacity as the chair of FIRS. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Inequality remains on the top of the policy priority list for most countries in the world. Branko Milanovic, a leading scholar on inequality, recently delivered a lecture titled Recent changes in the global income distribution and their political implications at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Imraan Valodia asked him to unpack some of the main points of his lecture. Imraan Valodia: There is a lot of discussion across the world about rising income inequality. What your lecture makes clear is that the evidence is more nuanced. Income inequality between countries has actually been falling since the 2000s, but income inequality within countries is rising. Can you elaborate on this, and outline the main factors driving these patterns of income inequality, both between and within countries? Branko Milanovic: Yes, your summary is correct. Global inequality is the sum of inequality between countries, weighted by countries population, and inequality within countries. Since the 1990s, countries in Asia with relatively large populations, like China, India and Vietnam, have had high growth rates per capita much higher than the developed countries. As a result of this, the population-weighted between-country inequality has been falling. On the other hand, inequalities within countries have been getting much worse. These are now higher than they were 30 years ago in all major countries: the US, China, Russia, most of continental Europe, even South Africa. Only Latin America, which already was very unequal, has not followed this trend of increase of within-national inequalities. Most of the time people dont distinguish between these different inequalities which, as I said, have moved differently. And that creates confusion. Imraan Valodia: You have highlighted the importance of understanding historical trends in income inequality, and how political factors shape inequality outcomes over time. What are these major historical trends, and why is it important to understand them? Branko Milanovic: I think that the main historical trends are always reflected in income distributions or inequalities, whether we are talking of inequalities within countries or more broadly, at the global level. At the global level, I identify three major eras. The time of colonialism and sharp class conflict within countries during most of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. During that time both between-country and within-country inequalities increased. One can view between-country inequality in this case as something that made colonialism possible, or a reflection of colonialism. Both as a cause and effect. Then during the second half of the 20th century, global inequality was extremely high and the world was divided into three worlds: the First (rich countries), the Second (socialist counties), and the Third (Asia, Africa and Latin America). That changed with the rise of China, and Asia more broadly (the third era). Global inequality was reduced, but at the cost of rising within-national inequalities. What I mean is that globalisation might have strongly helped the growth of Asian countries, but also contributed to the increase of within-national inequalities. This is our current era. But it too might come to an end. Imraan Valodia: Your research shows that, across the world, since the global financial crisis in 2008, the share of global income accruing to the wealthiest has not been rising. This is a change from the period before the financial crisis, as shown in your famous elephant curve, when the share of the top earners did increase sharply. But you make the point that in recent years, in money terms, the wealthiest are still increasing their incomes rapidly. Can you elaborate and explain what the difference between the relative and absolute trends means, and why its significant? Branko Milanovic: Since the global financial crisis, income of the global top 1% has not returned to the growth rates they enjoyed before the crisis. This can be intuitively best understood through the example of the US, which contributes to almost one-half of the people in the global top 1%. Incomes at the very top of the US pyramid dropped during the crisis, slowly began to recover in the period after 2010, but reached their pre-crisis level only in 2018. This means that the average growth rate over these ten years was close to zero. The second highest US percentile recovered to the pre-crisis level a bit earlier, by 2015, but the decennial average growth rate was only 1.5%. This is much below the growth rates of the top before the financial crisis. These are relative numbers. In absolute terms, however, these very small percentage increases did translate into large absolute gains simply because the gaps in the initial-period income distribution are huge. If your income is US$1 million, even a 1% increase will mean $10,000, which is somebody elses total annual income. Imraan Valodia: You make the point that with the current slowdown in economic growth in China, the future pattern of global income inequality may be shaped by income trends in Africa. Why is Africa important for the future trajectory of income across the globe, and why are you pessimistic about the potential for Africa to emulate the trends that we have seen in recent years in China and India? Branko Milanovic: China is no longer the engine of global inequality reduction that it was in the past simply because it is no longer a poor, but rather an upper-middle income country. If global inequality is to continue on its downward trend we need new Chinas. One of them is obviously India, which is currently the most populous country in the world. If India continues to grow, we can expect global inequality to continue to fall. But the others are populous African countries. This is why African economic growth is central to what happens in this century to both global poverty and global inequality. I am pessimistic on whether African countries would be able to replicate China and India, simply based on the past: very few African countries were able to maintain high economic growth rates for a relatively long time (say, at least five or ten years in a row). But it is an observation based on the past. We may be wrong in extrapolating it to the future. Still the key issue of the importance of African economic growth remains. Without it, global inequality will not be reduced, and might easily increase which would bring us to the fourth global era (to allude to my answer in the beginning of our conversation). Imraan Valodia, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director: Southern Centre for Inequality Studies., University of the Witwatersrand 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 The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiora Ifog, has alleged a plan to frustrate its candidate, Amobi Ogas (LP-Abia) case at the Court of Appeal in Lagos. Mr Ifog said this in an open letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, by the leadership of the party on Friday in Abuja. He said Mr Ogah of the Labour Party contested and won with a large margin, the Federal House of Representatives seat for Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, of Abia. He said his victory was annulled at the election tribunal, hence the resolve to approach the appellate court. He said, What played out on Oct. 19th was unbelievable, hence we call on you to nip the development in the bud to avoid a messy situation. INEC had engaged a Senior Counsel, J.O. Asoluka (SAN), as its lawyer 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. This, according to him, is without prior notice to J.O Asoluka that the new counsel had been engaged. He said the commission also did not see any need to inform the plaintiff of the development as required by law. When the matter came up, a squabble ensued between the two counsels as to who had the authority of INEC to represent it in the case. He said it had dawned on LP that the change of legal guard without properly notifying the interested parties was carefully orchestrated. READ ALSO: Labour Party rejects judgment on Enugu governorship election According to him, we are raising this alarm because time is of essence, even though, the collaborators achieved their intentions as the appeal could not be heard and was adjourned. This, he said, was to enable INEC to put its house in order and determine who of the two counsels, had the authority to represent her in the appeal. He said we are, therefore, using this platform to urge you to investigate the inglorious roles which the legal department of the commission was playing and sanction erring officials. He said the role of INEC in the matter was to defend the outcome of the election which it conducted and on which it declared Ogah as the duly-elected candidate He urged the commission to reject any semblance of compromise, adding that a few members should not be allowed to taint the integrity of the commission. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) are optimistic about the administration of the newly appointed Postmaster General (PMG) of the service, Tola Odeyemi, an official has said. The President of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE), Buba Nehemiah, who led a rally against the appointment of Ms Odeyemi on Monday, told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the new PMG has assumed duty and has created a good impression with the staff of the agency. Ms Odeyemi assumed duty on Monday despite initial protests by members of staff of the government agency who threw their weight behind the former PMG, Sunday Adepoju. The protest by the workers was due to the confusion caused by President Bola Tinubu who reinstated the sacked Postmaster General, Mr Adepoju a day after he appointed Ms Odeyemi. Earlier on Monday when she was scheduled to assume duty, staff of the agency barricaded the gate with placards, rejecting her appointment and backing Mr Adepoju. Mr Adepoju also resumed duty on that day and was at the premises until 12:30 p.m. when he left. In her inaugural address to the staff of NIPOST later that Monday, Ms Odeyemi promised to tackle future challenges head-on. She also promised to leverage on her experiences to transform the fortune of NIPOST with technological innovations. As we embrace the future, lets leverage digital transformations, innovative solutions, and the collective power of our human capital to redefine NIPOST for the modern age, she said. My experience and qualifications have equipped me to face the challenges ahead. My experience with technologies, fintech, and my time with leading companies like Binance and Uber have prepared me for this moment. Ms Odeyemi said her vision of NIPOST is one that connects Nigerians irrespective of where they are and what they do. The PMG promised to leverage partnerships in the public and private sectors while building on the legacy of her predecessors. She said: As an organisation, we shall leverage partnerships both with fellow public-sector MDAs and the organized private sector. The NIPOST we need as a nation isnt going to be built alone. As I assume this role, I aim to build on the commendable work of my predecessors. I look forward to meeting with each one of you, learning from your experiences as it is very important to assess where we are while forging a path forward. Staff Optimistic Meanwhile, the President of NUPTE, Buba Nehemiah, who led a rally against Ms Odeyemi on Monday, told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that staff impression of the new PMG is positive and that the staff are full of hope in her leadership. The new PMG has automatically become one of us hence she has been welcomed to the family. Staff body language is very positive. We are full of hopes and aspirations that she will perform exceptionally, he said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday evening. He said Ms Odeyemis first address to staff indicates she is open-minded, which he said would help her achieve better than her predecessor. Her initial address to staff indicates she has an open heart, which I believe will facilitate teamwork which in the end will make her administration surpass what her predecessor left on the ground, he said. The NUPTE president said the staffs initial apprehension was due to uncertainty, especially as the former PMG had performed to the staffs expectations. READ ALSO: Tinubu creates confusion at NIPOST as two Postmasters General emerge Mr Nehemiah noted that the staff of NIPOST are discouraged by the governments recurrent sack and appointment of new heads for the agencies before they are done serving their terms. He said: Our apprehension was not just because of the appointment but to know if the newly appointed PMG shall be allowed to serve her term so that NIPOST would not continue to be an experiment or training ground for individuals. We would not appreciate the situation where performing individuals once noticed would not be allowed to contribute their quota to transform NIPOST. These are some of our concerns. When it continues this way the organisation will lose focus, the organisation will always revert to square one. 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 conflagration unleashed by Hamas attack on Israel is already causing immense suffering. Multiple elements point to the fact that it is only the beginning of a conflict that will produce much more violence. It is likely to develop on several fronts. The invasion of Gaza seems imminent, and the West Bank is a hotbed of protests and lethal repression. There are already low-intensity exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel, and U.S. forces are under attack in Syria and Iraq, while American aircraft carriers deployed in the Mediterranean are intercepting rockets from Yemen. The specters of Islamic terrorism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia snake through many societies. Here is a look at six possible scenarios for the development of the conflict. The invasion of Gaza The first step in the dreaded escalation. Israel has declared its intention to destroy Hamas in response to the October 7 attack. The readiness of its armed forces and the messages of its politicians clearly point to a willingness to enter the Gaza Strip. This is a highly complex military operation, due to the urban characteristics of Gaza and Hamas preparedness and lack of scruples in such a scenario. It is rational to fear enormous human suffering. These circumstances would undoubtedly provoke a new wave of global outrage especially in the Arab world, where the streets are already filled with protests and increasing pressure on other actors to intervene in the conflict. The second front: Hezbollah This is the main risk of war escalation. The Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia party has a large arsenal of missiles. Experts consider the possibility of an all-out front in this sector to be high, and there is already an exchange of fire, although not of high intensity. The United States and other Western countries have asked their citizens to leave Lebanon. Israel is evacuating villages in the northern part of the country. The presence of Hezbollah units and pro-Iran militias in Syria also raises fears that if this front breaks out, Israel could also come under attack from Syrian territory. Lebanon has been in the throes of a dreadful economic and social crisis for years, and it is probable that a large part of Lebanese society hopes that a war will not be added to its tribulations. But Hezbollah responds to a logic alien to the national interest, and the countrys government and armed forces are not in a position to control it. U.S. involvement Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, U.S. forces deployed in the region have suffered several attacks. A drone attacked U.S. troops in Syria on Wednesday. On Thursday, in Iraq, two bases hosting U.S. forces were attacked. Also on Thursday, a Washington ship in the Red Sea intercepted 19 missiles fired from Yemen to the north. The episodes are proof of the risk of regional escalation in areas where Iranian-backed militias are present. Not only Hezbollah in Lebanon, but also other groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Despite the total withdrawal from Afghanistan and almost total withdrawal from Iraq, the United States still had some 30,000 military personnel and huge resources in the region. Following the attack on Israel, it has increased its deployment. The aircraft carrier Gerald Ford is already in the eastern Mediterranean, and the Dwight Eisenhower is due to arrive there soon. It has also increased its air force at land bases, moved a unit of 2,200 Marines to the region and has others on standby for rapid deployment. The maneuvers are clearly intended as a military deterrent. It remains to be seen how the U.S. would react in the event of escalation. Meanwhile, the State Department has issued an extraordinary global alert for its citizens worldwide. A woman with stones in her hand during a clash between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the northern entrance to Ramallah (West Bank), on October 20. ALAA BADARNEH (EFE) Violence in the West Bank Israels response to the Hamas attack has already triggered large protests and outbreaks of violence. On Thursday alone, at least eight Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces. Some define this as the potential third front (in addition to Gaza and Hezbollah). Naturally, it has different characteristics; its not conventional warfare. The Palestinian Authority has renounced violence as a means to achieve its political ends. But the West Bank society is seething with indignation at the endless subjugation of occupation and colonization, and at the scenes of suffering caused by the Israeli response in Gaza. The Palestinian political power is discredited and marked by very serious limits. An intifada-style insurrection may break out and extremist cells could take advantage of the situation. Polls point to growing social support for the idea of armed struggle. The situation was extremely tense even before the current crisis. So far this year, up to October 7, some 220 Palestinians had been killed in violent episodes largely related to the presence of Israeli settlers. Some 29 Israelis were killed in the same period, according to UN data. Islamic terrorism and anti-Semitism Another potential risk linked to the crisis is the resurgence of Islamic terrorism. They could begin to target Western countries that are backing Israel. In recent days, France has been in a state of heightened alert, especially after the murder of high school teacher Dominique Bernard, a victim of a stabbing by the Russian-Chechen Islamist Mohamed Mogouchkov. The country has also suffered numerous false terrorist threats, which for example led to the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles being evacuated and temporarily closed. In Belgium, a terrorist murdered two Swedish citizens. Many Western countries have raised their state of alert and police operations are underway. In parallel, Israels military actions in response to the Hamas attack, considered by many as disproportionate and causing intolerable suffering to civilians, threaten to fuel anti-Semitism. London police reported Friday that so far this month 218 episodes of anti-Semitism were recorded in the British capital, compared with 15 in the same period last year. Two Molotov cocktails were thrown this week at a synagogue in Berlin. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, denounced a sharp increase in anti-Semitic acts in his country in recent days. Islamophobia At the same time, the spiral of tension can also fuel Islamophobia, a sentiment well present in Western societies and at the edge of which rising far-right formations move. The same London police report mentioned above on anti-Semitism also detected an increase in Islamophobia, with 101 cases compared to 42 in the same period last year. An American Muslim civil society organization moved its annual conference to an undisclosed location this week due to threats. And a 6-year-old Palestinian-American child was killed last week in an anti-Muslim attack in Illinois, U.S. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Wale Abass, has ordered further investigation into the alleged rape of four-year-old girl in the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. Alleged rape PREMIUM TIMES reported how the suspect, Innocent Ezeukwu, allegedly raped the four-year-old girl in a school at Agbor, a community in Ika South Local Government Area of the state. Mr Ezeukwu, 46, is the proprietor of Great Leaders International School, where he allegedly carried out the act on 4 October. The school runs pre-school, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary and junior secondary programmes. The suspect is also the principal of the junior secondary section of the school. Mr Edafe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the victims mother, Joy Chukwudi, reported the incident to the police on 5 October after she discovered a blood stain in her daughters private part. Mrs Chukwudi, according to the statement, said the daughter told her that the suspect, who is the only male teacher in the school, used scissors to cut her on her private. Victim identifies suspect The spokesperson said, upon receipt of the complaint, the Agbor police area commander drafted police operatives to the school who arrested the suspect. Preliminary investigation led to the issuance of a medical report, and the initiation of an identification parade exercise where the suspect, Innocent Ezeukwu when placed amongst random men, was identified by the victim as the person who allegedly defiled her, Mr Edafe said. The medical report affirmed that there was no hymen visualised in the victims private part, he added. Further investigation PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the suspect was arraigned at Agbor Magistrate Court on Thursday after the conclusion of initial investigation into the incident by the Agbor Police Area Command. But Mr Edafe said the police commissioner had directed the area command to withdraw the case from the court and immediately transfer it to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. The police spokesperson said the police commissioner has assured residents of the state as well as the victims family that justice will be served in the matter. Foul play? The statement did not give reason for the commissioners directive that the case be transferred to the SCID. However, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the police commissioners directive followed an allegation by a human rights group in the state that although the suspect was charged with defilement and unlawful assault, the charge of defilement was erased in the charge sheet. The case charge sheet obtained by this newspaper showed that part of the charge was erased with a white correction fluid apparently to conceal the charge of rape against the suspect. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation says it has offset the medical expenses of the renowned Nollywood actor, John Okafor, Mr Ibu. The foundation revealed this in a statement on their official Facebook page on Friday. The foundation, a non-profit organisation established by Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former senate president, is dedicated to improving poor Nigerians lives through various programmes and initiatives. The exact amount of the medical bills was, however, kept secret. The recipient of the transaction is Living Heart Limited. According to the transaction date on the proof shared by the foundation, the monies were sent on Wednesday, the same day the comic actor solicited his fans prayers and financial assistance. The statement read, The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation is honoured to have extended support to Mr John Okafor, also known as Mr Ibu, a renowned comedic icon who has graced our screens and brought joy and laughter to countless homes over the past four decades. When we learned of his recent health challenges and the financial burdens associated with his medical treatment, we felt a deep sense of responsibility to assist in any way we could. We promptly paid off his entire medical expenses as of Wednesday. We encourage everyone who can come forward and assist in any capacity, whether through financial contributions, moral support, or prayers. We wish him a swift and complete recovery. Mr Ibu and his team are yet to confirm the development as of press time. Background PREMIUM TIMES, on Wednesday, reported how the 62-year-old Police Recruit star opened up about his battle with a strange and dangerous illness, explaining that his doctors have recommended the amputation of his legs. While Nollywood actors have rallied around their ailing colleagues, some Nigerians have raised concerns about the numerous cases of Nollywood veterans seeking financial assistance. Reno Omokri, Uche Maduagwu and Martins-Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, have criticised the AGN and other Nollywood actors for not coming to the actors aid. Nollywood actor cum lawyer Kanayo O Kanayo slammed critics for their insensitive remarks. He warned them to refrain from using Mr Ibus health situation as a platform to find relevance or trends. However, on Friday, in a video posted on the guilds Instagram page, Kate Henshaw, the AGNs communications director, emphatically addressed these concerns. AGN is lying Mr Ibus wife debunked guilds claims Meanwhile, Stella Maris Okafor, the wife of popular actor Mr. Ibu, has openly debunked and criticised the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) for falsely claiming to have supported her husband before his medical condition. Mrs Okafor revealed that she had not received any assistance from the union before her husbands health challenges, and her attempts to reach out to the actors guild proved futile. In a video shared by social media critic VeryDarkMan, the comic actors wife dismissed the guilds statement as untrue. She expressed her dissatisfaction and said, I am not happy at all. AGN came out to claim things they did not do. Why would they publicly state that they have supported my husband from the beginning when they took no action? I called Emeka Rollers, but he didnt answer; I texted him, which he read but never replied. She continued, Since my husband has been in the hospital, I have not seen anyone from the Actors Guild visit him. It was only yesterday that Emeka Rollas and Victor Oswagwu finally came. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Nigerian Catholic cleric, Hassan Kukah, has proposed a group of international mediators for the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The mediators should include ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr Kukah said. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, the cleric also proposed former US President Barack Obama, King Abdullah of Jordan, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and former Ireland President Mary Robinson to serve as international mediators. Mr Kukah said international mediators were important in revisiting and reviving the two-state agreement reached in Oslo, Norway, where a decision was reached for both Palestine and Israel to each have a homeland. The Oslo Agreement in 1993 was meant to resolve the Israel-Palestine crisis by ensuring a two-state solution. The agreement has failed largely because Israel, concerned about its security, has expanded and continues to expand into Palestinian territories, establishing settlements considered illegal by international law. Hostilities escalated on Saturday, 7 October, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing over 1,300 people. This led to Israel announcing a war on Hamas and carrying out air raids on Gaza, a Palestinian settlement controlled by Hamas and home to millions of people. The Israeli attacks on Gaza have caused over 3,400 deaths. Mr Kukah noted that the Oslo agreement needs to be dusted up, but I do not see Netanyahu contemplating that. The clerics concern about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perhaps stems from the latters right-wing Israeli government, considered one of the most right-wing in Israels history with many members opposed to an independent Palestinian state as agreed in Oslo. Mr Kukah said his concerns about Mr Netanyahu justify the call for an envoy or a team of international mediators to be initiated by the UN Security Council. After all, they hold the key to keeping the world just and safe, he added. READ ALSO: Since the latest Israel-Palestine war, two attempts by the UN Security Council to agree on a ceasefire in the region have failed with member states being divided on different resolutions led by Russia and Brazil. Analysts argue that diplomacy is failing to provide a solution to the Israel and Palestine crisis. Several world leaders have condemned the ongoing escalation including Israels attack on a UN school, an Orthodox, and an Anglican church-owned hospital in Gaza. UN Chief Antonio Guterres also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to ease the epic human suffering. Too many lives and the fate of the entire region hang in the balance, he said. Mr Kukah acknowledged Israels right to tame the excesses of Hamas. However, he argues that it must go hand in hand with a Palestinian state. In the short term, do everything possible to end the human tragedy. Pull out the two-state proposal, and review what Clinton, Bush and Obama did because the withdrawal of a war-weary America has created a vacuum that extremists like Hamas will continue to explore, he proposed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has announced that it will, henceforth, adopt the principle of reciprocity in issuing visas to foreigners seeking to enter the country. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated this at the Business Day Conference titled: Nigeria Forward: Catalysing Funding for High Impact Social Projects, with the theme: Funding for Change: Building Bridges for a Resilient Nigeria. Mr Tunji-Ojo said the days of giving international visitors a free pass when applying for visas were gone, and the federal government would start operating under the give-and-take model, Business Day reported. The minister said the government also plans to introduce more stringent surveillance measures at the countrys borders to checkmate peoples inflow and outflow to ensure safety. In addition, Mr Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the era that witnessed the subjection of Nigerians to discrimination by other countries in terms of visa issuance was over, as the present administration will adopt the principle of give and take as a more efficient approach. On the principle of reciprocity, the minister said the federal government had informed Turkeys Centre for Illegal Migration director to expect reciprocity in terms of travel policy. Any country that does not give me the visa on arrival cannot have a visa on arrival in Nigeria, he said. Im sorry, but it is the truth. Were not a dumping ground. If you say you are useful, people will see you as being useful. If you say you are helpful, people will see you as valid. he said. But if you tell people you are useless, people will tell you why you are this useless. We want to partner with you, and so on the table, we must be partners, equal partners, and our investment relationship must be based on the principle of reciprocity. So we are doing that to all the countries in the world. The committee is working. I will receive the report tomorrow. You charge me $100 for a visa, and I will charge you $100 for a Nigerian visa. If you give me a visa on arrival, I will give it to you. If you say the condition for me to enter your country today is that I must have an American visa, Schengen visa, UK visa, etc, you will have the same conditions to enter my country. It is not a fight. It is about the issue of mutual respect. Over the past decade, the Nigerian passport has suffered the worst decline in rankings on the annual Henley Passport Index with a 24-place drop. The decline in passport power now sees Africas most populous country rank 100th firmly etched in the bottom quarter of the rankings. The drop in rankings also means Nigerian passport holders can visit two countries fewer now than they could in 2010 without first obtaining a visa. Without the luxury of visa-free travel or even receiving visas on arrival, travelling abroad comes with the hurdle of expensive, paperwork-intensive visa application processes for a majority of holders of Nigerian passports. But many applications are met with rejection sometimes without just cause. One easy way for Nigeria and African countries to boost the strength of their passports is by easing visa regimes on the continent. Yet, progress in easing travel between African countries remains slow-moving: 49 per cent of countries on the continent offer neither visa-on-arrival nor visa-free travel to other African visitors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Nigerians of renewed vigour from the army formations in combating myriads of security challenges bedeviling parts of the country. Mr Lagbaja, a lieutenant general, who was the Reviewing Officer and Special Guest of Honour, disclosed this at the Passing out Parade of 85 Regular Recruit Intake at Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, on Saturday. He said the passing out of 6,315 recruits would bridge one of the gaps identified by the army in its fight to tame insecurity. Mr Lagbaja assured that in the coming days, the law abiding citizens would witness renewed stability and atmosphere of peace, to enable them to go about with their lawful businesses. I must underscore that the new soldiers are coming into the Nigerian Army when our dire county is faced with myriads of security challenges. The variety of threat they will be posted to manage on the field include insurgency in the North-east, banditry and cattle rustling in the North-west, farmers/ herders clashes in the North-central. Others are secessionist agitation and cultism in the South-east, militancy and vandalism of national assets from the South-south, to mention but a few. The COAS tasked the commandant Depot NA and his team to take few months off from now to next recruitment, to reflect on how to improve training towards aligning the product of depot NA with emerging requirements in the field. ALSO READ: Army begins security operation in Bayelsa He assured that the Nigerian Army Headquarters would continue to support the training objectives of the institution through the provision of adequate facility and equipment. While congratulating the new soldiers, the chief of army staff tasked them to exhibit a high sense of loyalty, professionalism and discipline to enable them to succeed. In an interview with journalists at the event, Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, expressed optimism that the new soldiers would augment the armys efforts in its fight against insecurity. The governor, therefore, raised a special case for Kaduna State, to deploy more personnel in areas affected by banditry and insurgency to restore peace and stability in the affected areas. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In 2021, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in partnership with the European Union empowered 2,500 young African women entrepreneurs. The partnership, according to TEF disbursed 20 million in financial and technical support for women-owned businesses, across all 54 African countries. This intervention once again came into focus during the week when the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, led the EU delegation to Nigeria at a meeting with the Foundations Founder and Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu. According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the Foundations management, the meeting which was held in Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reflected on how the partnership stregthened EU-Africa relations and built on the transformative approach of the US$100m TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. The statement added that the collaboration formed part of the EU External Investment Plan to support womens economic empowerment within the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III). Impact of TEF-EU partnership At the event, Ms Urpilainen and Mr Elumelu expressed their enthusiasm about the future of the TEF-EU partnership, highlighting the accomplishments of the young African women entrepreneurs who, they said, have thrived under their mentorship and support. In his remarks, Mr Elumelu said the TEF-EU partnership has empowered thousands of women entrepreneurs across the continent, supporting them with a non-refundable seed capital of $5,000 each. This partnership has exemplified the transformative impact that can be achieved when like-minded organisations join forces to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs, Mr Elumelu noted. Together with the EU, we have unlocked immense potential, enabling young women entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to Africas economic growth. Changing paradigm The EU Commissioner commended the TEF for the impressive results and stories of beneficiaries of the TEFs inclusive support programmes, backed also by the EU. Ms Urpilainen added that she has the objective of changing the paradigm of the EUs partnership with Africa. She said: When I was appointed to the EU Commission of International Partnerships 2019, I had an objective, I wanted to change the paradigm. The paradigm of our partnership with Africa, I wanted to eliminate the existing donor-recipient relationship, where donors tell and impose their expectations on Africans. We look forward to changing the paradigm and creating mutually beneficial partnerships and equal partnerships. About TEF The TEF is a leading philanthropic organisation that empowers a new generation of African entrepreneurs, drives poverty eradication, catalyses job creation across all 54 African countries, and increases womens economic empowerment. According to the information on its website, since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. The foundations mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has resolved to introduce legislative instruments to halt crude oil theft, which led to loss of over $1 billion in revenue. Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House, said this during the presentation of the report of ad hoc committee investigating crude oil theft and loss of revenue from Oil and Gas at the end of the weeks legislative activities. The report was referred to the Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Kabiru Rurum, following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Phillip Agbese (APC-Benue) The deputy speaker stated that oil theft accounts for the loss of over $1 billion which represents a huge percentage of national budget. He lamented that the scourge of oil theft impedes governments ability to carry out critical projects for Nigerias prosperity. Mr Kalu said the menace also reduced the confidence of investments in the oil and gas sector. He added that it hindered the ability of government to procure loans from development partners for expenditure on critical developmental projects. Mr Kalu said the 10th Assemblys would do all within its powers to support all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government. This is to ensure the halting of this economic sabotage do their job. it would be recalled that Mr Agbese who sponsored the motion had expressed grave concern over reports which revealed that in 2021 alone, Nigeria lost $4 billion to oil theft at the rate of 200,000 barrels per day. He noted that the figures had risen since then, while decrying the allegation that security agencies were allegedly complicit and largely responsible for facilitating most of the oil theft in the Niger Delta. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka said Thursday that journalism must tread new grounds to probe not just the state, but the society itself. The professor of Comparative Literature said that society needs to be nudged into consciousness of where it is and where it is headed. The state stands to save or ruin the society, we know that. But sometimes, as this is what led to my chronicles, society itself has to be taken to task, Mr Soyinka said in a recorded goodwill message played at the third-anniversary celebration of Naija Times, a Nigerian newspaper. The newspaper also launched a compilation of its Editorials for the past three years into a book titled; For a Better Society at an event in Abuja. Mr Soyinka noted that journalism must tread and break new grounds to confront society with what it has become. He said the challenge must be taken up and accepted to save society from sliding completely into what he called an inescapable morass from which theres no escape. I mean, rigorously and ruthlessly, we have to ask ourselves, just what kind of people are we? What are we becoming? I certainly think its possible for journalists to report and then to become so consistently reported that it seems as if a negative culture, a negative view of humanity, valuation of humanity is just being discarded and trampled upon, he said. Anniversary, Book Launch Reviewing the book, For a Better Society, which is a compilation of over 100 Editorials written by Naija Times in the last three years, the Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspaper, Azu Ishiekwene, said the articles reflect the importance of putting great ideas into newspaper commentary. Newspapers use the weight of editorials to achieve at least three fundamental functions; to influence public opinion, to promote critical thinking and to cause people to take action, he said. In a lecture he presented, a former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, spoke about the rise of the media in Nigeria and the role it played in Nigerias independence struggle. Earlier in his welcome address, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Ehi Braimah, said the platform covers several beats with a section devoted to Nigerians in Diaspora. Because of the kind of negative information those living and working abroad are exposed to routinely, they seem to have lost hope for a better Nigeria. We intend to change the narrative and, in the process, provide a two-way channel for them to get proper and factual information on developments at home as well as relate their own experiences from their respective host countries, he said. Naija Times was launched in September 2020. 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 It was the second day of the Lagos edition of the Climate Story Lab (CSL) where experts including journalists, filmmakers, data analysts, among others, convened to appraise the African perspectives of climate issues, and how best to narrate stories from global south. These experts included the Managing Editor of PREMIUM TIMES, Africas leading investigative newspaper, Idris Akinbajo; Enebi Opaluwa, a Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Budgit; Emily Wanja, a Kenyan Producer and Africa Director of Doc Society, and the Executive Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Tobi Oluwatoba, among others. They reiterated the importance of accurate data in telling impactful climate stories, noting that data helps to give proper perspectives on climate-related issues such as flooding, climate migration, and desertification. Mr Akinbajo said data helps to spotlight what has changed and pointing towards the direction of solutions to climate problems. He said climate change may not be responsible for certain environmental issues such as flooding, noting that, most often than not, poor infrastructure evidenced by government neglect accounts for them. He identified the power of journalism to hold the government accountable for certain actions or inactions. Impact of flooding Nigeria is currently battling the devastating impacts of flooding which has damaged homes, destroyed farmland and displaced people from their communities. In 2022, about 612 people were killed by rampaging floods and 1.4 million people displaced. Also, over 200,000 houses were affected, with partial destruction of 110,000 hectares of farmlands. According to the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Faruk, the country suffered N4.2 trillion in economic loss due to the flooding. Mr Akinbanjo, however, noted that journalists need to understand the government policies and leverage the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to get accurate data, adding that government agencies are becoming more proactive. Corroborating Mr Akinbajo, Mr Opaluwa from from Budgit said Nigerian government agencies are now becoming more interested in producing and making data available. He cited National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Mr Opaoluwa further emphasised the need to tell real climate stories in African contexts using available data to hold governments accountable. Storytelling in local context Also speaking, Ms Wanja, of Doc Society, a social entrepreneurship organisation, highlights the importance of storytelling in addressing climate change in marginalised communities by communicating and addressing issues in local languages. Ms Wanja noted that for climate change action, stakeholders can create alternatives to storytelling that resonate with local communities, using arts exhibitions, podcasts and films in their language, rather than solely relying on external sources to tell the stories. Also, Daniel Oladoja, the Country Lead, Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), highlighted the importance of focusing on adaptation and resilience in climate change narratives, citing the story of a 14-year-old boy from Malawi who built a windmill to power his familys home. Mr Oladoja said Africa doesnt need to beg for interventions and wait for funding when it can have a strategic negotiation and collective voice amplification to address social injustices. Gbemisola Akosa from the Centre for 21st Century Issues believes that a collaboration between the global north and south to address issues will also drive impact while emphasising the importance of womens voices in climate change movements. Media role in civic spaces On his part, Mr Oluwatola of the CJID, and Tsema Ede, a human rights and policy expert spoke on the need and importance of the media to cover climate change stories more extensively, to drive change. Speaking on the influence of media in policy formulation and implementation, Mr Oluwatola reiterated the importance of media in setting the agenda and holding power to account. He added that the media can inspire civil and legal action, citing an example of the ECOWAS court judgment that led to the Twitter ban being lifted. He also highlighted that the major challenges with the media include the lack of adequate funding and resources for journalists to produce more impactful stories and limited resources; and the attack on the press freedom. On her part, Ms Ede noted that the media need to tell more human interest stories to advocate justice and demand compensation for loss and damage caused by externalities, adding that proper narrative framing is crucial in media exposure for urgency and impact. She noted that the gaps in media and journalism include political interference and lack of support from citizens, which she said can be addressed through partnerships and strengthened collaborations between the media, civil society and the private sector. Ms Ede also emphasised the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring access to justice in the face of government impunity. Baliqees Salaudeen-Ibrahim, a climate activist emphasised the need for young people to collaborate and share resources to achieve collective success while urging for intergenerational collaboration and learning from past mistakes. 2023 Climate Story Lab Lagos Surge Africa hosts the Lagos edition of the Climate Story Lab in collaboration with the Heinrich Boell Foundation and GSCC. The Climate Story Lab Lagos seeks to cultivate a space for intimate dialogues with visionary leaders and activists, diving into their insights on emerging issues such as climate change, media democracy, the intersection of culture and storytelling, and digital medias role in portraying the masses critical perspectives. The event had creatives, storytellers, movement builders, and community organisers, to discuss climate change issues and to share ideas that target the development of collective actions to address climate and environmental justice. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Despite the funding constraints plaguing the nations tertiary institutions, the Nigerian government has approved an immediate establishment of eight tertiary academic institutions in the country. This comes days after the Minister of Education, Mamman Tahir, told reporters that as a result of funding constraints, the government decided to delay the kicking-off of all the new institutions approved at the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, in a Friday statement by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Augustina Okechi, the minister announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved a staggered establishment of the new institutions. He said the approval included the conversion of some federal colleges of education into universities. In line with the Present Administrations commitment to ensure continuity in governance and policy consistency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has approved the staggered establishment of the Four Colleges of Education to be converted to Federal Universities of Education, Two (2) Federal Universities of Agriculture, Two (2) Federal Universities of Medical and Health Sciences and Five Colleges of Education, part of the statement reads. The establishment and conversion of these institutions is a further demonstration of President Tinubus Education for the Renewed Hope Agenda and will help in improving access to tertiary education in the country. Approved institutions The statement listed the institutions approved for immediate commencement to include: the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, Delta State and the Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, Adamawa State. The government has also approved the conversion of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, and the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State into Federal Universities of Education. Other institutions established are the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State; Federal College of Education, Ididep, Ibiono, Akwa Ibom State, and the Federal College of Education (Technical), Yauri, Kebbi State. Funding constraints Nigerian tertiary institutions are currently plagued by government funding issues that have over the years led to disputes between the government and the workers in the institutions, especially the universities. The situation has led to the universities increasing the sundry charges payable by Nigerian university students by over 100 per cent in most cases and in defiance of the presidents directive asking them to halt the increments. But the government has insisted that the institutions remain tuition-free. Meanwhile, a significant part of the grievances of the workers unions of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education is the proliferation of tertiary institutions at both the federal and state levels, despite their inability to adequately fund the existing ones. 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 A couple paddle leisurely down the Kotsuki River on an orange kayak in the peaceful city of Kagoshima, located on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. In the background, Sakurajima, one of Japans most active volcanoes and symbol of the city, smokes lightly. This could be an ordinary scene in the landscape of this city of nearly 600,000 inhabitants, were it not for the fact that the two rowers are more than 40 years apart in age. They are part of a peculiar community located just a few meters from the river. Masatoshi, 80, was the first to move into Nagaya Tower a decade ago, while Hidaka, 38, his companion on todays kayak trip, is a recent arrival in this community. The Towers 43 residents, between the ages of 8 and 92, live in rental apartments in the six-story building. This neighborhood is inspired by the old nagayas of the Japanese Edo period, which more than 150 years ago were part of a collective lifestyle. From children to the elderly, families and bachelors of different occupations, everyone lived together in the same compartmentalized longhouse, and around the common well they would chat while doing laundry or household chores, explains Yasunori, 72, who joined this project five years ago with his wife, Mutsuko, 70. Nagaya Tower is a modern tenement house, a community that values residents bonds. Plus, the owner is a doctor at the hospital next door, which is reassuring for the older residents, he adds as he pulls weeds with his wife and a couple of children from the Muffin Child Development Support Office, located on the second floor of the building. The center for children with developmental disabilities is also part of the tower project. It organizes activities with the residents as part of its educational program, enriching both the younger children and the older ones who spend time with them. The children learn rules and manners through interaction with other elders who are not members of their immediate family, developing communication skills, says Nobuhisa, 39, who is in charge of the center. Dr. Haruhiko Dozono, 71, at the Dozono Medical House clinic in front of the Nagaya Tower building, which he designed. Oscar Espinosa The Japanese town of Kagoshima, with a population of 600,000, on the island of Kyushu. Oscar Espinosa Yamamoto, 85, had been living alone since the death of her husband. Three years ago, she moved into Nagaya Tower to find company. She has started giving harmonica lessons. Oscar Espinosa The project is based on the vision of Dr. Haruhiko Dozono, 71. At the age of 43, Dozono founded one of Japans first palliative care clinics, where he realized that most of his mentally impaired patients suffered from social isolation and psychological loneliness. He believed that what they needed was not medication but human interaction. He was aware, though, that there were few places where they could have those connections. So he decided to create a space where older people could be part of a community. In 2011 he applied for a grant from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with his Nagaya Tower project: a building where different generations could meet, with shared community spaces and facilities, and with staff dedicated to creating community life in order to combat the loneliness of the elderly, which has become a significant problem in an aging Japanese society. After his proposal was approved, construction of the complex began and was completed in March 2013. It was the first intergenerational living project in Japan, says the doctor proudly, and I am happy to see that little by little this model of community living that fosters relationships between different generations is being replicated in other cities. Some of the residents are his patients. Since they have been living in a community, their mood has improved and, with it, their health. In this country, there are more and more elderly people who are alone, says Dr. Dozono, listing in the same sentence two of Japans biggest problems today, and Nagaya Tower aims to combat this major problem. According to United Nations data, in 2021 Japan had the oldest population in the world: 29.8% of its inhabitants were 65 years old or older, and it is estimated that the percentage will reach 37.5% in 2050. Loneliness is a major concern in the country, so much so that in 2021, the Japanese Cabinet Office appointed a Minister for Loneliness and Social Isolation. A survey by Japans National Institute of Population and Social Security Research conducted in 2017 revealed that 15% of older men living alone talk to one person or fewer every 15 days, while 30% feel they have no reliable people they can turn to for help. Asahi (32) has been working since 2015 supporting older residents in Nagaya. Here she delivers a ration of prepared food to 90-year-old Kamimura. Oscar Espinosa At 92, former teacher Kaneko helps two young girls with their homework. Oscar Espinosa Kukita (83) and Kaneko (92) attend the monthly art workshop given by Inada (64). Oscar Espinosa Maratoshi (80) helps Hidaka (30) into the kayak. Oscar Espinosa The next morning, as he does every Monday, Yasunori meets Kaneko, 92, and Yamamoto, 85, in the second-floor living room to practice music. Im learning to play the harmonica, Yamamoto laughs. She decided to move to Nagaya Tower three years ago, when she became a widow, to have more company. She is starting to experience dementia, and she needs to write down everything she has to do on a small blackboard on her front door so she wont forget. Yasunori, sitting in front of them with his guitar, acts as a teacher. Although he confesses that he is just an amateur, Kaneko and Yamamoto follow him attentively with their harmonicas. The atmosphere is relaxed, and between songs they take the opportunity to joke and tell each other stories. Mutsuko, who has accompanied her husband, is sitting at another table doing sudoku, where she is soon joined by Tamaoki, a 70-year-old neighbor who has been in the community for a decade. Residents come to Nagaya Tower because they want to be in a community and at the same time have their own space. When someone new wants to live here, we make sure to explain the philosophy of this place and encourage residents to interact and help each other, Asahi explains during his daily rounds, where he checks that older residents are doing well and have taken their medication. Asahi, 32, and Tomoru, 38, are in charge of managing the building, generating community and supporting the residents lives. We often see residents playing music together, chatting in the common space or in their own rooms, or helping the younger ones with their homework, Asahi says. People over 70 pay an additional fee for life support services, and younger people can receive discounted rent if they get involved in community chores like changing light bulbs, moving furniture or taking out the garbage. The idea is that all residents help each other and dont hesitate to ask for help when they cant do something alone. More than 60% of the residents are over 70 years old, but there are also younger people who choose to live here to be part of a community including a family with five girls between 8 and 17 years old making intergenerational relationships possible. A message on a small blackboard next to the elevator at the entrance of the building reminds us that there is a dinner at seven oclock in the evening, in the community dining room on the second floor. The monthly activity has helped create the community of the tower today. Neighbors bring something to eat and drink, and almost everyone usually attends. From six oclock onwards, movement begins. Little by little, residents arrive with food. Some of them start to rearrange the tables to form a single table that occupies practically the entire room. Others go to the kitchen to lend a hand to those who are cooking, and the older ones sit down where they will have dinner. After coming to Nagaya Tower I feel rejuvenated. Nursing homes are full of old people, but here you stay young because youre surrounded by children and young people, says Kukita, 83, who arrived three years ago with his wife, Mikiko, 89. They had spent some time in a nursing home when he became ill, but they did not feel comfortable and decided to look for an alternative. Kukita says he has regained his vitality and spirits. He goes for a daily walk in the park, swims in the pool, participates in the monthly art workshop and, above all, takes every opportunity to talk and spend time with the children. Compared to other centers, at Nagaya you feel closer to life, says Kukita as he chats animatedly with Takayoshi, 91, and Kaneko at one end of the table, waiting for the rest of the neighbors to arrive so they can start dinner. I also decided to move here five years ago because there is such a good atmosphere, and even though I live alone I dont feel lonely, explains Kaneko, who recently injured her knee and finds it hard to walk, but doesnt miss any community event that gives her a chance to socialize with others. The neighbors catch up over the meal. Someone proposes a toast, and the younger ones get up every so often from the table, going from one side of the room to the other, spreading their joy to the older ones. I like living alone, but not in solitude, says Takai, 37. Thats why I decided to live here. Born in Fukuoka, where he lived with his parents, he came to Kagoshima when he was 29. He is one of the younger residents who most enjoys sharing his time with the seniors. I can learn a lot from the older people through the exchange, he says before the watchful eyes of 70-year-old Morizane, who arrived a year ago after becoming a widow. We interact with each other through events like tonights dinner, and we help each other from time to time if we have any problems, Takai says. The building was designed in a V-shape so that everyone can see each other when they enter or leave their homes. They greet each other and chat when they pass each other, which is not a common practice elsewhere, according to Nagano, 27, who has lived here for two years. Older people put a magnet on their front doors to let people know when they are going out so that others dont worry if they dont answer, and the outside balconies have no partitions, so the houses are connected and that makes it easier for neighbors to interact with each other on a day-to-day basis, says Nagano. Masatoshi sings Bob Dylans Blowin in the Wind on the piano to a standing ovation from the audience, making it clear that Nagaya Towers motto, life is happy when there are people to exchange smiles with, is more than just a phrase. After the applause, Masatoshi returns to his place at the table next to Hidaka. She only plans to stay for six months. She has been moving around for several years, in Japan and abroad, working as a nurse. I read that there were many activities organized here, and I thought it would be easy to make friends. It was clear to me that I didnt want to go to a shared space where there are only young people. Older people are much more interesting because they have more experiences, and this place seemed ideal, explains the young nurse who has already won everyones favor. Masatoshi recalls that at his 80th birthday party they gave him a hat that he now wears everywhere. He loves community life and boasts about being resident zero. I signed up before the building was finished, and I will stay here all my life, he says proudly. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR), Ibrahim Garba, was found dead Saturday in his guest house located in the 777 housing estate in Maiduguri. His body was found alongside that of a yet-to-be-identified woman who was discovered unconscious and later died at the hospital where she had been taken for treatment. The corpses of the two are currently at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital where an autopsy is being conducted to ascertain the cause of their death. The Borno State Government has confirmed the commissioners death. The governors spokesman, Isa Gusau, issued a terse statement expressing the states shock and grief. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum received the news with intense shock and profound grief, Mr Gusau said. He further noted, The Governor mourns alongside the late commissioners family, other loved ones, friends, associates, and members of the state executive council. Mr Gusau also confirmed that the Borno State police command has begun an immediate investigation into Mr Garbas death. He added that the state police commissioner had visited the house in Maiduguri where Mr Garba was found. The spokesperson was silent on the yet-to-be-identified woman. The statement did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the commissioners death but offered prayers for his forgiveness and peaceful afterlife. Further information about the incident was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Borno State Command, Kaminu Shatambaya. However, Mr Shatambaya did not provide details about the incident or the identity of the woman. It was a tragic loss but for now, we are all at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital waiting for the autopsy result before any official statement from the police can be issued, he commented. Mr Garba, a key figure in Governor Zulums administration, was previously the Special Adviser on Special Projects before he was appointed commissioner of RRR at the start of Mr Zulums second term. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police have confirmed the killing of four operatives during Fridays deadly bank robbery in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. A statement by the police spokesperson in Benue State, Sewuese Anene, on Saturday, said the police killed two of the suspects while they were being chased after the fatal bank robbery. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the armed robbers raided four commercial banks on Friday afternoon in Otukpo. They killed and maimed bank customers and passers-by before fleeing the town. Ms Anene said a combined team of security operatives intercepted the robbers along the Otukpo-Taraku axis of the Makurdi-Otukpo Highway and killed two of them as they raced out of Otukpo. The robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku Road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process. Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are been chased by the police. DPO, other cops killed During the robbery incident, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Police Area Command in Otukpo, John Adikwu, was shot in the stomach, the police revealed. The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, John Adikwu and other police teams in the area engaged them in a gun duel but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks. More police teams in collaboration with other security agents were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping. Mr Adikwus killing by the armed robbers came months after gunmen murdered another DPO, Mamud Abubakar, along the Naka-Makurdi Highway in January. Mr Abubakar was the DPO in charge of Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State. IGP orders crackdown on fleeing robbers The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the arrest of the fleeing criminals. Mr Egbetokun asked police commands sharing borders with Benue State to tighten their surveillance in the wake of the attack. The IGP has ordered the deployment of additional operational and investigative assets and resources to Otukpo, the Benue State Command, and surrounding states to assist in the swift apprehension of the other fleeing criminals responsible for this atrocity, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Saturday. READ ALSO: Bank robbers kill many in Benue He said the tragic loss of lives of both police officers and innocent civilians is an assault on the principles of peace, security, and justice that the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies work tirelessly to uphold. Benue State has been in the throes of deadly criminal attacks. Local banditry, kidnapping and attacks by armed herders have worsened the states security situation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Residents of communities in the Zamfara North Senatorial District have called on federal and state governments to check the persistent terrorists activities in the zone. This is coming as more attacks are being witnessed in the four local government areas in the zone. A group of concerned citizens including Mudassir Moyi, Murtala Shinkafi, Sulaiman Tudu and others, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, said the attacks have already subsumed most local governments in the zone (i.e Shinkafi, some parts of Birnin Magaji, Zurmi and Kaura Namoda). The statement noted that terrorists activities are affecting the socio-economic development of the district. If no action is taken, it will not only result in the continuous loss of lives and property in the area, but could also have attendant economic and social consequences on the entire Zamfara North Senatorial District and the state in general, he said. The statement added that communities in the district are becoming more vulnerable by the day. In terms of Education, Kaura Namoda is the host to the Federal Polytechnic, which in recent times is facing low turnout of students and most staff relocated to Gusau and other neighbouring states like Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano. So with these attacks, it will only get worse, as the few that remain may stop coming while the staff look for alternatives. Economically, Kaura Namoda in particular as well as Zamfara North is known for its commercial activities and farming which dates back to colonial administration, this warrants the termination of the rail line in the area. People of the area are mainly farmers and businessmen; however these activities can only thrive in the atmosphere of peace and security, the statement added. It noted that if the attacks continue, farmers in the area may not be able to go to their farms while businessmen may not be able to patronise local markets. Attacks worsen Few hours after the release of the statement on Friday, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that terrorists attacked a police check point on the Kaura Namoda Shinkafi road. They came around 9:00 p.m. They wanted to enter Kaura Namoda main town but the policemen resisted. They shot two of the policemen and attacked other people conducting business in the area. Its scary because thats where the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda is located, a resident of kaura Namoda, Abdurazak Liman said over the phone. The terrorists returned and gained access into the main town where they abducted three people and killed one person named Goje, a commercial motorcyclist. They operated for over four hours, he added. Few days ago, terrorists launched a two-day consecutive attacks that led to the death of several residents of Saka Jiki, a community under Kaura Namoda Local Government. The residents blocked the Gusau-Kaura Namoda highway in protest. A village head of Bagega of Maru Local Government and 11 others were abducted last Monday when terrorists stormed the community. Three people were also killed during the attack. Two weeks ago, over 10 motorists were killed when terrorists ambushed motorists. In recent weeks, off campus hotels of the Federal University Gusau were attacked twice leading to the abduction of 24 students in the first attack and four in the second one. The four students were later rescued. The police spokesperson in the state, Yazid Abubakar, didnt respond to an SMS sent to him by PREMIUM TIMES on the persistent attacks. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 2300 Times) On Friday, Priyanka Gandhi, the General Secretary of the Congress, made a significant effort to connect with voters in the 42 constituencies of eastern Rajasthan. She chose the village of Kaandauli, near Sikarai in the Dausa district, to address a massive public gathering, and she began her speech with a traditional "Ram Ram" greeting. During her address, she expressed her support for granting national project status to the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), which is of great importance to the people of eastern Rajasthan. The sight of Priyanka Gandhi donning a yellow turban quickly went viral on social media. Her name was intricately woven into all four corners of the turban, with the Congress party symbol also incorporated. Priyanka Gandhi was visibly delighted to wear this turban, and her enthusiasm resonated with the large number of women in attendance, who responded with resounding applause. Eastern Rajasthan, spanning thirteen districts and considered to be the lifeline of the region, has seen the ERCP being caught in a political tussle. The Gehlot government initiated the Jan Jagran Abhiyan, an awareness campaign to surround the central government for its apathy towards the ERCP. This campaign culminated with a special invitation to Priyanka Gandhi. Prior to the assembly elections, Congress made a concerted effort to secure all 42 assembly seats in this region. The campaign was kicked off with a massive rally by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot flew in with Priyanka Gandhi on a helicopter from New Delhi. Former Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and other leaders were already present at the venue. Sachin Pilot and his late father, Rajesh Pilot, have been elected as MPs from Dausa, making it a Pilot stronghold. This is why Priyanka Gandhi chose this location for her rally. Priyanka Gandhi, during the Sikarai rally, launched a scathing attack on the Modi government for its indifference to the ERCP and other issues. She appealed to the people of Rajasthan to change their tradition and vote for Congress in the upcoming elections. She stated that the people of Rajasthan should open their eyes, acknowledge the tremendous work done by the Gehlot government, and vote accordingly. It remains to be seen whether these fiery rallies by Congress leaders, the ERCP issue, and the popularity of Gehlot's government programs can sway the votes of Rajasthan's largest and politically significant state in the upcoming assembly elections. Voters in the state are now eagerly awaiting the first list of Congress candidates. Meanwhile, the BJP is carefully planning its strategy following the release of its initial list of 41 candidates, after much internal discord and deliberation. Source : ( Read 2186 Times) Kota city witnessed the launch of the "Seek Assignment Hub" startup program to encourage academic writing by four young individuals. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastav, Divisional Librarian of the Public Mandal Library, Kota, and special guest Bigul Kumar Jain. During this event, they also launched their YouTube channel "Vakt." The "Seek Assignment Hub" is a collaborative effort by four friends - V for Vedanta, A for Aakansha, K for Kajal, and T for Tamanna. Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastav stated that the "Seek Assignment Hub" would enhance students' capabilities in creative content creation, blog writing, and many other forms of written assignments. He emphasized that today's youth are involved in various types of writing such as assignment writing, presentations, training reports, essay writing, blog writing, thesis, and dissertation writing. Bigul Jain, the special guest, appreciated the contribution of the "Seek Assignment Hub" in the progress of the community and regarded it as a milestone. Vedanta, the CEO of the "Seek Assignment Hub," expressed the company's commitment to equipping youth with various writing skills. Keywords: Seek Assignment Hub, Academic Writing, Startup Program, Kota City, YouTube Channel. Source : ( Read 2524 Times) Udaipur. Nation's Saint Lalitprabh Sagar Maharaj emphasized that in life, everything depends on us. If we accept, we face defeat, but if we commit, we achieve victory. He stated that a person with a strong mind and a weak body will lag behind, but an individual with a strong mind and a weak body will overcome all challenges. Addressing students at the Government Higher Secondary School in Sector 4, Sant Pravar highlighted that when a person ignites the passion within to achieve something, even a physically challenged, handicapped, or weak individual can touch the sky of success. He stressed the importance of dedicating 100% of one's energy, awakening the power of karma yoga, and maintaining determination. He stated that success comes from effort, not from luck. Sant Shri suggested that people put their minds to positive actions because an empty mind can be a devil's playground, while an open mind becomes the abode of the divine. He believed that when God takes an avatar within us for our personal development, it manifests as self-confidence. He remarked that if someone can become Tata in the steel business and Bata in the shoe business, we too can progress with self-confidence and open new doors in life. He encouraged everyone not to think of something as impossible because, with determination, every task can become possible. He urged people to think neither that they are nothing nor that they are everything but always remember that they are something capable of achieving great things. He advised taking steps forward, not minding the various obstacles that come along the way, and having faith in oneself when the divine is within. Before Sant Shri's arrival at the university, he was welcomed by Director Pramod Jhanwar, Principal Leela Paliwal, Gajendra Surana, Gopal Jain, Hastimal Lohra, Gajendra Choudhary, Ramesh Tank, Manish Jaiswal, and others. On Saturday morning at 7 am, the Jain Dadawadi, Mevad Motors Street, Surajpole will host an event - Dr. Muni Shri Shantipriya Sagar Ji's presence - an event that is dedicated to relieving illness, sorrow, and obstacles, fulfilling desires, and practicing Siddhachakra Mantra meditation and yoga from 7 to 8 am. Source : ( Read 2136 Times) Udaipur: The local administration is taking the issue of cleanliness at the renowned Fatehsagar Lake and Pal seriously. District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal and Regional Commissioner Rajendra Bhatt, along with a team from the Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC) and Urban Improvement Trust (UIT), conducted an on-site inspection and assessed the situation. They also engaged in conversations with visitors and the general public and provided necessary directives for improving facilities. Both Regional Commissioner Bhatt and District Collector Poswal arrived at Kala Kiwad early Friday. From there, they led a team including UMC Commissioner Vasudev Malavat and UIT Chief Engineer Sanjeev Sharma to conduct an inspection of Fatehsagar Lake and Pal on foot. They also examined the work of extracting debris from the lake, issuing essential instructions for maintaining cleanliness, especially on weekends when there is a higher footfall of tourists. The officials instructed the placement of dustbins at designated distances and assessed the need for adequate sanitation facilities. Additionally, they numbered the shops at Bombay Bazaar, holding them responsible for maintaining cleanliness. During the inspection, the authorities checked the kitchen facilities in fast food shops located in Bombay Bazaar. They also inquired about the fire-fighting systems, which were reported to be in place. The officials emphasized that Fatehsagar Lake is a priceless gift of nature to Udaipur and should not be compromised in terms of cleanliness. The lake attracts visitors from across the country and abroad. Dirty surroundings tarnish the city's image. Therefore, they directed that a reasonable arrangement for cleanliness be maintained throughout the entire lake. They further ordered that all necessary arrangements be made in accordance with the regulations, including the installation of dustbins at specified distances. The public raised concerns about the spillage of water near the overflow drains at Fatehsagar Lake. The authorities quickly directed the UMC and UIT to address the issue promptly. Poswal and Bhatt also visited the area in front of the Tata Palace, where they examined the closed fountains. They instructed UIT to develop an activity zone to facilitate various events that take place daily and, especially on weekends. This zone should be properly maintained and in compliance with the orders of the Lake Conservation Authority and the NGT. The officials emphasized that no work should violate the orders. They underlined that no compromise should be made with cleanliness. Source : Israeli soldiers in the Egyptian city of Suez during the Yom Kippur War. David RUBINGER (Corbis via Getty Images) The Yom Kippur War is also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, or the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Its referred to as the Fourth Arab-Israeli War because it was the fourth armed conflict between these two forces in the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, which had escalated since Israels Declaration of Independence in 1948. The conflict was rooted in longstanding tensions in the Middle East. Since Israels establishment, countries like Egypt and Syria refused to recognize its legitimacy and vowed to reclaim territories lost in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, including the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Political, ideological, and territorial disputes made the region volatile, and war seemed inevitable. The war was short, lasting only two weeks and five days, from October 6 to October 25, 1973, beginning with a surprise attack by the Arab states. On October 7, 2023, 50 years and one day after the start of the Yom Kippur War, Hamas the military organization governing the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories launched an attack on Israel, which led to the current 2023 Israel-Hamas war, the latest clash in the Palestine-Israel conflict that has been ongoing since 2006. The war On October 6, 1973, during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism and the 10th day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, both Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel. Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and advanced into the Sinai Peninsula, while Syrian forces assaulted the Golan Heights, quickly gaining control. Despite initial setbacks, Israels leadership, Prime Minister Golda Meir and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, mobilized its military and launched a counteroffensive. After three days of fighting, Israel stopped the Egyptian offensive, resulting in a stalemate on that front, and pushed the Syrians back to the ceasefire lines established before the war. Israel then launched a military counter-offensive into Syria for four days, eventually shelling the outskirts of Damascus, Syrias capital, within a week. The then Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir gives her first press conference after the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, on October 13, 1973. picture alliance (via Getty Images) Following the outbreak of the war, both the United States and the Soviet Union initiated resupply efforts to their respective allies (Israel and the Arab States), leading to heightened tensions and a confrontation between the two nuclear-armed superpowers, becoming a separate episode of the Cold War. Egypt and Syria received support from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Morocco, Cuba, and North Korea. On October 22, an initial ceasefire mediated by the United Nations fell apart, with both sides blaming each other for the violation. By October 24, the Israelis had substantially enhanced their positions and successfully encircled the Egyptian Third Army and Suez City, bringing them within approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Recognizing that further military actions might strain relations with the United States and that they might not always be capable of dominating the Arab states in a larger war, Israels leadership agreed to a second ceasefire on October 25, 1973, marking the official end of the war through collaborative efforts. This led to the Camp David Accords, a pair of political agreements signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978. The accords were signed after twelve days of secret negotiations at Camp David, the country retreat of then-President of the United States Jimmy Carter, in Maryland, U.S. The first agreement, called A Framework for Peace in the Middle East, which addressed the Palestinian territories, was written without the participation of the Palestinians or the United Nations. The UN General Assembly rejected it because it did not comply with the Palestinian right of return, self-determination, and national independence and sovereignty. The second covenant, called A Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel, led to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, which has lasted since its implementation. An Israelian soldier is wounded during the Yom Kippur War, in the region of Golan Heights. Henri Bureau (Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) The effects The Camp David Accords eroded the unity of Arab nations in their opposition to Israel. Egypts shift in allegiance created a power vacuum, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq, once considered a secondary player, aimed to exploit this void. The ambiguity surrounding the implementation of Resolution 242 elevated the Palestinian predicament to the forefront of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Many Arab states held Egypt responsible for not exerting enough pressure on Israel to address the Palestinian issue in a manner that met their expectations. Additionally, Syria conveyed to Egypt that reconciliation would be impossible unless Egypt renounced its peace agreement with Israel. The Yom Kippur War significantly influenced U.S. military doctrine and strategic thinking. In the aftermath of the conflict, American military leaders, including Gen. Creighton Abrams and Gen. William E. DePuy, recognized the value of studying Israels war-fighting tactics, which they considered analogous to NATOs situation in Europe. U.S. military analysts and senior officers, such as Gen. Donn A. Starry, visited Israel to extract valuable lessons from the Yom Kippur War. These lessons included the enhanced effectiveness of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, the importance of rigorous training for tank crews, the necessity of effective cover and concealment during movement, and the significance of combined arms warfare. As a result of these insights, the U.S. Army revised its operational concept to focus on Active Defense, emphasizing tactical proficiency and the integration of advanced weapon systems observed during the war. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Winner of the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 in the Outdoor Power Equipment category A finalist of the IDEA Design Award 2023 LUBA AWD Series Robot Mower attends Equip Exposition from 18-20th October 2023 SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammotion, a leading innovator in outdoor robotic electric solutions, is proud to announce that the LUBA AWD Series Perimeter Wire-Free Robot Mower won the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 and a finalist for the IDEA Design Award 2023. This award-winning LUBA AWD Series was on display at the Equip Exposition from October 18th to 20th, 2023, in the United States. The Pro Tool Innovation Award and IDEA Design Award represent internationally respected accolades that celebrate ingenuity, exceptional design, and outstanding performance, revolutionary innovation. Pro Tool Innovation Award judges lauded the LUBA AWD Series, stating, "Worry-free robotic mowing is now a reality thanks to the LUBA AWD series from Mammotion. You have the option to set multiple mowing zones for larger lawns, and the all-wheel-drive system can handle up to 75% slope and avoids getting stuck better than other designs. LUBA AWD is one of the most advanced robotic mowers you can get today." "We are thrilled to be recognized with prestigious industry awards for the product innovation."JD Wei, the CEO of Mammotion Tech, is proud to state, "We will keep leading the innovative solution of smarter robot mower in the future, providing best off-road capability, user-friendly intelligence and high-end design product. With RTK-GNSS Mapping and Navigation syetem, precise obstacle avoidance and auto-recharging, APP control anywhere, and the ability to mow stunning lawn stripes, the LUBA AWD Series offers users a brand-new smart, high-quality and eco-friendly lifestyle. All three models of this state-of-the-art LUBA AWD Series are prominently showcased at the Equip Exposition 2023, an excellent opportunity for professional users to learn more about this exciting product. LUBA AWD series is available to order online at U.S., Germany, Australia and other countries. For more information please see www.mammotion.com About Mammotion: Mammotion is committed to shaping a smarter and high quality eco-friendly outdoor lifestyle by providing innovative outdoor robot solutions. The team's core members come from world's leading robotic and UAV companies, inheriting AgileX Robotics' seven years of experience with advanced chassis-based robotic solution and self-driving algorithm technology, Mammotion offers next-generation robotic solutions for professionals and consumers. SOURCE Mammotion Technology WALL, N.J., Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Transportation of America (STA) is pleased to announce that one of its general managers, Dan Higbie, has been named 2023's Roger Weeks Contractor of the Year by the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) one of the highest honors the association presents to a member. Higbie oversees student transportation services for the Middletown City School District through Mid-City Transit, an STA company, and has been actively involved in the industry for more than 20 years. "We are so proud and excited for Dan Higbie to be named NYSBCA's Contractor of the Year. It's a well-deserved industry honor and truly reinforces our team's unwavering commitment to safety, performance, and community," said Patrick Vaughan, STA's Chief Executive Officer. "Dan has an incredible relationship with our District partners and prioritizes exceptional service and safety day in and day out. Congratulations, Dan." "It's clear that Dan truly cares about the community he services." Post this The NYSBCA award is presented yearly to a contractor who exemplifies exceptional safety and performance records, maintains superior maintenance and training programs, and actively engages with local communities. The award also includes The Roger Weeks Scholarship Award, featuring a $1,000 scholarship to the Contractor of the Year Award winner's school district of choice. Higbie started working at Mid-City Transit in 2004 and now serves as a General Manager. Throughout his nearly 20-year career in the school bus transportation industry, he has received many accolades and certificates for his innovative leadership style. He recently represented STA/Mid-City Transit on a panel discussion at the 2023 NYAPT Conference, discussing the importance of the contractordistrict relationship. Notably, Higbie's Middletown City School District, was one of the first markets to launch STA's Electric Vehicle (EV) program, and Higbie was instrumental in the local roll-out. Four EV buses have been assigned to the Middletown City School District's fleet and replaced a handful of higher-emission vehicles, an important step forward for New York and the transportation industry. "It's clear that Dan truly cares about the community he services. Each day, he goes above and beyond in his role to ensure Middletown receives the best possible transportation services and is leading the way in transforming his fleet to electric vehicle buses. He oversees the team, operations, and EV initiative enthusiastically," adds Dave Kinley, STA's Vice President of Operations for New York. As a native of Middletown, Higbie has always been deeply involved with the community. He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Middletown for more than 14 years and a Board Member for the past two years. Previously, he served as a past President and past Lieutenant Governor of Hudson River West. He also sits on the Middletown Planning Board and is a proud Chairman of the Middletown Recreation Commission. Higbie has been an active member of the NYSBCA association for more than 20 years, including serving on the board for at least 10 of those years. The NYSBCA presented this prestigious award during its 69th Annual convention held yesterday evening, October 20, 2023, at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, NY. About Student Transportation of America Founded in 1997, Student Transportation of America (STA) is an industry leader in school transportation, safety and fleet services. STA operates more than 22,000 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, managers, information technology professionals and others, who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com. SOURCE Student Transportation of America NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until November 6, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against UiPath Inc. (NYSE: PATH), if they purchased the Company's shares between April 21, 2021 and March 30, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help UiPath investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-path or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit UiPath and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On March 30, 2022, the Company, a global provider of robotic process automation software, announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended January 31, 2022, disclosing disappointing earned revenues results as well as guidance for ARR (annualized renewal run-rate, an important indicator of the Company's success) and revenue that were substantially below consensus analysts' expectations, indicating that the declining growth trends adversely impacting the Company were expected to continue. On this news, shares of UiPath fell $7.45, or more than 25%, to close at $21.59 per share on March 31, 2022. The case is Gera v. UiPath, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-7908. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data Thomas Jenkins describes himself as an average-looking guy who makes an average amount of money. He believes thats why his experiences with dating apps have been pretty rough. Jenkins says that it would take me a month of swiping and chatting on them just to get a date. Until he turned to artificial intelligence to help him with dating and found his girlfriend, that is. Thats how a report on virtual dating assistants would have begun if EL PAIS had not noticed something suspicious. At that point, the newspaper used the following steps to verify his identity, which may be useful for avoiding possible cases of catfishing, a form of deception in which a person creates a false identity on the internet to lure victims. Jenkins presented himself as the perfect customer for CupidBot, a service that uses artificial intelligence to search for suitors on dating apps like Bumble and chats with them until it gets dates and phone numbers. It got me eight dates in the first month and five in the second until I found a woman I really liked; now shes my girlfriend! Jenkins recounted via email. CupidBot provided his contact information to this newspaper. We asked 100 of our users if they wanted to share their experience with you, and one agreed, the company explained. Then something suspicious happened when asking Jenkins for a photograph of him and his girlfriend or of him using CupidBot for the article. If you would prefer not to have your picture in the paper, we completely understand, he was told. The response came a week later, We dont have many photos yet, but Im attaching an image of us below. The photograph in question shows a smiling man and woman in a natural setting. A reverse search of the image on Google Lens and TinEye revealed a surprise. The photograph had been published in 2020 in an article titled Have you howled at 8 p.m.? Get ready for Howloween!, which told the story of Americans howling in honor of health workers during the pandemic. The person in the photo was not Jenkins. In reality, the image showed Brice Maiurro and Shelsea Ochoa, two people from Denver, Colorado. EL PAIS contacted Maiurro to let him know about what had happened. Im really worried about my identity and my partners, acknowledged Maiurro, who is a poet and (in theory) lives over 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) away from Jenkins. Is it a crime to impersonate someone else or to send a photo to the newspaper in which one does not really appear in Spain? In this case, it would not be about impersonating someone else, but about making use of someone elses image without their consent, which is not a crime, explains lawyer Paloma Llaneza. She says that the use of another persons photograph could be included in a criminal offense if it were accompanied by a deception including the transfer of assets, and that deception was insurmountable, which is the crime of fraud. In this case, none of those elements are present. When we advised Jenkins of our discovery, he made excuses: We didnt feel comfortable showing our faces in the article, so I found a couple of people who look a lot like us. Im bald and shes Colombian. Holes started to appear in his story. And thats when the research began. The first step was to review his previous answers. Everything he had said about CupidBot was positive. Some of his statements were similar to those the services creators previously made to EL PAIS. I wanted something that would allow me to date while I slept, Jenkins said. Just what the company promised: CupidBot doesnt help you flirt; it helps you date while you sleep. The newspaper told Jenkins that it would not publish the story unless his identity and the veracity of the story could be confirmed. He refused to do a video call. I didnt think it would require me to be that involved, he said. He only provided the newspaper with the username of a private Instagram account. Because the friend request was not accepted, EL PAIS was unable to access the posts and verify whether the account belonged to a real person. But it did detect something suspicious: the account was created in August 2023, the same month in which Jenkins answered this newspapers questions. EL PAIS then downloaded the Instagram profile photo the only one to which it had access and used the PimEyes face search engine. This facial recognition program made headlines in 2021 by solving a 15-year-old unsolved mystery in a matter of seconds. The websites creators suggest that one can use it to find a face and check where the image appears on the Internet. Just upload one or more photos of a person and choose whether you want to get recent matches from any time or only recent ones. But no luck: the tool did not yield any results. However, when entering the photo of Brice Maiurro and Shelsea Ochoa in this search engine, there were multiple hits. For example, there was another image published in an article about Americans howling during the pandemic on the British website Daily Mail. Although all the photographs found can be viewed for free, one must pay to access the links where they are published. Maldita.es, a foundation focused on the control of disinformation, has a toolbox with which any user can try to verify if content is real or a person is who they say they are. One of the services it recommends is Namechk, which is designed to check if an alias is present in different online networks and platforms. As the ESET cybersecurity company points out, this is useful for researchers, journalists, companies, and government agencies looking to collect online information about an individual or for people looking to find online profiles of lost friends or contacts. The way the tool works is simple: it shows the platforms where a user with a given name does not exist in red and those where it does in green. One of the only pieces of information this newspaper had on Jenkins was his alleged name on Instagram. But the newspaper did not find any other accounts that it believes may belong to the same user. Nor has it been possible to verify whether Thomas Jenkins actually goes by that name or whether his story is real. Therefore, the article about virtual dating assistants was published without his testimony. When told, Jenkins replied that he did not need the story to be published. If you dont think my Instagram is good enough, why dont you find other users to ask? Besides, this isnt a major government or financial issue, its just dating, relax. EL PAIS collected other testimonials and on October 5 published the report under the headline Flirting with AI: This is how virtual love assistants work. What if EL PAIS had published the photo in the article about the virtual dating assistants ? Publishing the photograph that Jenkins provided in EL PAIS would go against the journalist's code of ethics, according to Alvaro Orts Ferrer, the director of Orts Consultores. This privacy lawyer stresses that the people who actually appear in the photo could also claim compensation "for interference with their right to honor, privacy and self-image, as well as for a possible breach of the regulations on personal data protection." "If Brice had noticed, he surely would have written and requested the correction and deletion of his photo," adds Samuel Parra, a lawyer specializing in technology law. Depending on how the article went, "he [also] could have demanded compensation if he had been harmed. [But] we have to bear in mind that it is not the same thing for EL PAIS to make a mistake by putting the photograph as the new Nobel Prize winner in physics as it is for the mistake to be the photo of a man convicted of rape. I think that the former would not go beyond something anecdotal and even amusing for the person concerned, while the latter has a much more negative impact," he says. Another dilemma that the newspaper faced when publishing the article was whether to use the name of Thomas Jenkins, as it has not been able to verify whether that is a real name. Jorge Garcia Herrero, a lawyer specializing in data protection, explains that the name can be used "if it is newsworthy along with the story. Your basis is freedom of information, not the consent of the data subject: if the consent of the data subject had to be requested, we would never have seen news about criminals," he says. The expert believes that there is such an interest in this case: "There are people who try to trick the journalist into publishing something that interests them." Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Gaza/Jerusalem, Oct 21 : Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has said in a statement that it has released two American hostages for "humanitarian reasons", in response to Qatari efforts. The brigades on Friday said that it made the move to prove that the US allegations were "false and baseless". This is the first time that the Gaza-ruling group released hostages since the conflict began almost two weeks ago, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the release of the two hostages in a statement on Friday. "This evening two hostages were released from the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization," the office said in a statement, identifying the two released as Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan. The statement added that the two released were "received on the border with Gaza and are on the way to a military base where they will meet their families". Israeli media Channel 2 reported earlier that the two are a mother and daughter who are US citizens. It is unclear whether they are also Israeli citizens. In a press release, US President Joe Biden also confirmed his administration secured the release of two American hostages and thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in this work. Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, where it seized a large number of hostages. The brigades previously stated they were holding 200 to 250 captives in Gaza. An Israeli army statement earlier in the day said a majority of the hostages were alive. Beirut, Oct 21 : An unidentified gunman was killed as the confrontation between Hezbollah and the Israeli army continued on the Lebanon-Israel border. An Israeli drone fired a missile at an armed man on Friday in Wadi Hounin, adjacent to the southern town of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua news agency. 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 the news agency 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 October 8 tens of rockets toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the al-Aqsa flood operation launched by Hamas on October 7, prompting the Israeli forces to respond the same day by firing heavy artillery, targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon. Ukraine to fulfill EU's additional requirements for membership talks: Official. Image Source: IANS News Kiev, Oct 21 : The international meeting to discuss Ukraine's Peace Formula will take place on October 28-29 in Malta. The meeting, gathering foreign policy and national security advisers, will be held without representatives of Russia, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Ukrinform news agency. The event will follow the peace meetings on Ukraine's Peace Formula, which took place in Denmark's capital of Copenhagen and the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah earlier this year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put forward a 10-point formula designed to achieve peace in Ukraine at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Indonesia in November 2022. 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". Many countries getting restive at US hegemony, says Russia. Image Source: IANS News Moscow, Oct 21 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that he hopes Israel and Palestine will soon be able to resume negotiations. "I hope that everyone comes to reason and sits down at the negotiating table," Lavrov said, adding that it would then be necessary to coordinate all practical actions with the decisions of the UN Security Council, and also take into account the new realities, and how the situation has developed since 1967. Alexei Zaitsev, deputy director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said during a weekly briefing on Friday that Russia was actively working to ensure the safe evacuation of Russian citizens from the conflict zone, Xinhua news agency reported. He added that Russia remained in contact with key regional actors to ensure the safe evacuation of citizens through humanitarian corridors, and on issues regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that work is currently being carried out to identify those Russian citizens who wish to leave the conflict zone. Washington, Oct 21 : A senior White House official has said that the US was "very much involved" in securing the release of two American hostages who were held by the Hamas militant group for 14 days. On Friday, the Hamas released US citizens Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped shortly after the military group launched its massive assault on October 7. They are now in the care of the Israel Defense Forces. Speaking to CNN late Friday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that "we were very much involved at various levels in helping secure their release", adding that Israel and Qatar also played "key roles". Kirby, however, declined to discuss the motivations and details behind Hamas' willingness to release Judith and Natalie Raanan. "We know that there's still some Americans being held hostage, and we want to get them back to their families, too So I hope you can understand that we're not really going to be able to talk much about motivations and the details here. We're just glad that they're safe and sound and hopefully home soon." The White House official went on to say that Washington is not "interfering" in Israel's military operations, but reiterated that the issue of hostages was "front and centre on the President's mind when he met with the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) and he had the chance to meet with some of the families". Earlier on Friday, the White House said that President Joe Biden had "completed a call with the two Americans released today after being taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel". "He relayed that they will have the full support of the US government as they recover from this terrible ordeal. Speaking to reporters later, Biden said the call with the mother-daughter dup "went well" Meanwhile in a statement issued shortly after the release of the two hostages, the Hamas claimed that they were working with mediators in Egypt, Qatar and other "friendly countries", CNN reported. "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 added. But a senior Israeli military officer said the release of the hostages was the result of the Jewish nation's sustained "military pressure" on Hamas. "Pressure has been applied on Hamas, and that pressure will intensify until we hopefully get all of our hostages out," the official from the Israeli Prime Minister's office told CNN. The release of Judith and Natalie Raanan will not change Israel's plans for Gaza, he added. "That (military) pressure isn't going to go because they were released... It won't change the mission, which is to dismantle Hamas." A US official has confirmed that there are more American hostages still being held by Hamas. Israel previously told the US government that some Americans held hostage by Hamas are known to be alive, a US official told CNN. KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 13:17 | All, World An event attended by the U.S. ambassador to Japan was disrupted Friday by environmental activists protesting Washington's exploration of natural gas resources in Alaska for future exports. Some 10 activists abruptly gathered on and in front of the stage at the event in New York, interrupting Rahm Emanuel's remarks by chanting slogans such as "No Alaska LNG," referring to liquefied natural gas, and "No More Gas." Emanuel remained seated and safe on the stage. The demonstrators were ejected from the venue by guards about 10 minutes later. The activists were in the audience at the beginning of the event. They suddenly stood up, unfurled a banner and launched their protest action while Emanuel was talking about the importance of Japan as a U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific area. After the activists had been removed, Emanuel defended the U.S. government's energy projects involving Alaska. He also described LNG as a "transitional energy," saying Japan and other countries must reduce their reliance on it and other energy resources from Russia. In October last year, Emanuel said in a statement that he was pleased to join officials from the United States and Japan in a meeting "to discuss how Alaska LNG can provide stable, sustainable, and affordable energy sources to Japan." During the New York event, the top U.S. envoy to Japan also criticized China for a lack of transparency in efforts to determine the origin of the novel coronavirus, which was first detected in the central city of Wuhan and caused the global COVID-19 pandemic. China "did not invite world health organizations" to help cope with the health crisis, he said, contrasting the approach with Japan's handling of the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and praising Tokyo for its work with international organizations. Related coverage: AI chatbot giving farmers tool to help navigate changing world Japan logs hottest September on record, 2.66 C higher than average FOCUS: Japan lagging world in introducing livestock welfare standards Washington, Oct 21 : Stating that resolving differences would require Canadian diplomats on the ground, the US has expressed concern and urged India not to insist upon their reduction. Canada evacuated its 41 diplomats and 42 accompanying dependents from India after New Delhi "threatened" to strip them of their diplomatic immunity following a diplomatic row over the killing of pro-Khalistani hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "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," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Friday. "Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," Miller said. Only 21 Canadian diplomats would be stationed in India from now onwards, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced in a press briefing on Thursday. " We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," Miller said in a State Department release. Joly accused India of unilaterally revoking diplomatic privileges and immunities by going against international law and asserted that New Delhi's "unreasonable" move is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that it rejects any attempt to portray the implementation of diplomatic parity as a violation of international norms. The Ministry said that India's actions in implementing parity of diplomats are fully consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations. The 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." The Ministry statement further said that the higher number of Canadian diplomats In India and their continued interference in internal affairs "warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa". The fresh development came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in mid-September accused Indian government agents of being behind the assassination of Nijjar on Canadian soil. The claims were dismissed by India as "absurd" and led to tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats and travel advisories. After levelling allegations, Trudeau said that it was "extremely important" for his country and its allies to continue engaging "constructively and seriously" with India given its growing importance on the world stage. --IANS mi/ksk Jaipur, Oct 21 : The BJP is expected to announce its second list of candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly election within a couple of days, party sources said on Saturday. At a late night meeting on Friday, the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting, under the chairmanship of the party's national president J.P. approved names of 70-80 candidates which included a few MPs. "The list may be released today or tomorrow, basically, after Congress' first list which is expected to be released today," the said sources. Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, others who attended the high-level meeting include B.S Yediyurappa, K. Laxman, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Sudha Yadav, Devendra Fadnavis, Om Mathur, Nitin Patel, D.K. Aruna, Satyanarayan Jatiya and Sarbananda Sonowal . Besides, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, State president C.P. Joshi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rajendra Rathore and leaders associated with Rajasthan were also in attendance. There is a likelihood of new faces making it to the list, the sources added. Around two-three MPs are expected to be fielded in the polls. Of the total, about 45 MLAs can get tickets for the assembly elections again. In the last three days, the party's core group met twice to reach a consensus on the second list. On October 17, a meeting of the state BJP core group was held at the residence of national president Nadda which was also attended by Amit Shah. Another core group meeting was held at the residence of Union Minister and state election in-charge Prahlad Joshi on Thursday. It was attended by CP Joshi, Vasundhara Raje, Rajendra Rathore, Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia, state in-charge Arun Singh besides leaders included in the core group. Bengaluru, Oct 21 : Karnataka police on Saturday booked a man for allegedly making objectionable posters of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and circulating them on social media. Congress Spokesperson Surya Mukundaraj had filed a complaint in this regard with the High Grounds police station in the city. The police have booked one Srinivasamurthy, a resident of Tumakuru in this connection. The accused had created objectionable and humiliating posters against CM Siddaramaiah and Mysuru Dasara celebrations in the Facebook account by name Hindustani Sena. CM Siddaramaiah's face was fixed for the body of Mahishasura, a demon king according to Hindu myths. The accused had used an objectionable tagline to the photo edit. Surya Mukundaraj, who is also legal cell general secretary, had demanded action against the accused. In a separate case, a complaint has been filed regarding creation of an objectionable post against CM Siddaramaiah in Bantwal City Police Station in Dakshina Kannada district. Mohammad Nandavara, general secretary of Pane Mangaluru Block Congress had lodged a complaint in this regard. The complaint had been lodged against one Somana Gouda. The accused had shared humiliating pictures of CM Siddaramaiah on 'Jai Karnataka' WhatsApp group. An investigation into the matter is on. Mumbai, Oct 21 : Actor Utkarsh Sharma has revealed that during the rehearsals of the iconic song 'Main Nikla Gaddi Leke' from the movie 'Gadar 2', he had attempted to perform some stunts, but broke his right leg just a day before the actual shoot of the track, which led to him executing most of his dance steps, using his left leg. This weekend, the show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' promises to be a delightful one as Utkarsh, and Simrat Kaur made a special appearance at the 'Gadar 2 success party' special episode. One of the highlights of the shoot was when Utkarsh and the show's host- Aditya Narayan took over the stage to recreate the iconic song 'Main Nikla Gaddi Leke' from 'Gadar 2.' The song is known for its electrifying energy, and Utkarsh's dance to the song certainly left the audience spellbound. However, it was Utkarsh's shocking revelation that left everyone astonished. He revealed how he broke his right leg just a day before the actual shoot of the song. Talking about the same, Utkarsh said: "During the shoot of 'Main Nikla Gaddi Leke,' we were all aware that it was a reprise of the iconic song, and our aim was to stay true to the original vibes like how it was in 2001." "We dedicated a significant amount of time, around 10-15 days for its rehearsals, which included a lot of dancing. It was a challenging situation as the temperature was a mere three degrees, and the location was Palampur. We had approximately 200 dancers, and the shoot had to be done at night," he said. The actor further shared: "The day before the song's shoot, we were attempting some stunts that even the stuntman couldn't manage. I decided to give it a try, but unfortunately, I ended up breaking my right leg during the rehearsals." "In fact, I was in a wheelchair on the day of shooting of 'Main Nikla Gaddi Leke', I was advised to return to Bombay and rest for three months," he said. The 'Apne' fame actor added: "However, I was determined to perform in the song, hence, I underwent the necessary medical treatment the same day, which included wearing a leg brace and undergoing physiotherapy which was made available on set. Our choreographer adapted the dance steps to accommodate my injured leg, and of course, I had to perform, after all Aditya sang so well." The show features Himesh Reshammiya, Neeti Mohan, and Anu Malik as the judges. 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' airs on Zee TV. Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes. Image Source: IANS News Los Angeles, Oct 21 : Actor Danny Masterson has allegedly given his estranged wife, Bijou Phillips, full custody of their daughter after being sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape. TMZ obtained court documents that allegedly showed that the disgraced actor has allowed Phillips full legal and physical custody of Fianna, their nine-year-old daughter, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'. In the documents, Masterson allegedly asked for visitation rights that would be supervised while he's serving his prison sentence. The visitation right hadn't been granted yet, as it seems it still hasn't been decided by the courts. As par aMirror.co.uka, last month, the 'That 70s Show' actor was sentenced to three decades in prison for two rapes he committed twenty years ago. He was found guilty in May after his first trial ended in a hung jury in November of last year. During the trial, Phillips stayed by her ex-husband's side, and they were even seen leaving and entering the courtroom together. The two started dating in 2004, got engaged in 2009, and eventually married in 2011. It was reported at one point that she believed her 47-year-old husband was innocent. She was one of the many people who wrote letters of support to the judge ahead of the sentencing and called him an "amazing father". Phillips seemed to have second thoughts after the trial, as she filed divorce papers from her husband of 12 years shortly after the sentencing was handed down. Masterson's 'That 70s Show' co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis wrote letters of support for him. Kutcher said Masterson was a "role model" for him while his wife, Kunis, wrote that the convicted man had "exceptional character". Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 21 : Former Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda's remark about his party joining the BJP-led NDA alliance with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's consent and the latter's categorical denial, has left the Kerala unit of JD(S) in a fix. A full fledged ally of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left, the state JD(S) has its nominee K. Krishnankutty as the State Power Minister and its state president Mathew T. Thomas a legislator. Following the incident, the Congress-led UDF, the principal opposition here, is breathing down Vijayan's neck and has termed him "leading the 'B' team of the BJP." Now, the upcoming meeting of the State JD (S) meeting is gaining all attention as this impasse when their national party has joined as an ally of the BJP-led NDA, cannot take a divergent stand. To make matters worse, the ousted Karnataka state president of the JD(S). C.M.Ibrahim has staked claim that his is the real JD (S) and will soon call a meeting of all like-minded party units. A media critic on condition of anonymity said it's here that the Kerala unit of the JD (S) will find themselves in a fix. "If they decide to go with Ibrahim, then the two legislators here face the chances of getting disqualified and if they don't, then they and the Left will come under fire from the UDF on the issue of political morality," said the critic. But giving the Kerala unit a clean chit, CPI(M) state secretary M.V.Govindan on Saturday said there is no question of political morality, as the Kerala unit all along has been with them. "We are a political front with a clear political stand and our primary aim is to fight the BJP and the JD (S) is strongly with us and there are no other issues," said Govindan. Meanwhile, fissures within the Kerala unit of JD(S) have also surfaced as there is a section in the party which has taken a position against the way things are going on in the party here and it will now be clear when the state committee of the party is expected to meet any time now to discuss this. Kolkata, Oct 21 : In a shocking incident, three members of the same family allegedly committed suicide in West Bengal's West Burdwan district, police said. The incident occurred on Friday night in Barakar Nalipara area under the Kulti Police Station. The victims were identified as Sudipto Roy (66) , his wife Sweta Roy (53) and their son Agnishankar Roy (29). The police said that a suicide note has been recovered in which they did not blame anyone for their decision to take the drastic step. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and a probe has also been launched into the incident. As per initial clues secured by the investigating official, financial problems might have been the reason. Citing locals, sources said that pressure from recovery agents from a public sector bank could be the reasons behind the suicide. The locals informed the police that Agnishankar Roy was the sole earning member of the family and he used to make money mainly through private tuitions. Recently, in order to improve the financial condition of the family, he decided to start his own business and took a loan from the bank. However, neither his business venture was successful nor he was able to pay back the loan, following which the family was under tremendous pressure. Police have registered a case of unnatural death. Kochi, Oct 21 : The Kerala Police on Saturday detained two men working at a Plywood factory in Perumbavoor near here after a woman accused them of sexually abusing her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The complainant and the accused hail from Assam. According to the woman, on Friday, her daughter was playing near the plywood factory where her father worked when she was called by the two men and abused sexually. After the doctors who conducted a medical check up on the little girl found that she had pain on her private parts, the mother informed the local police. The girl then identified the two people staying in a labour camp near the plywood factory as the abusers, following which the police took them into custody. An FIR has been registered under the POCSO Act and the police are questioning the two in custody. Perumbavoor is home to a large number of migrant labourers. Some of them reside with their families. Kochi, Oct 21 : The Kerala Police on Saturday arrested two workers from Assam for molesting a minor girl following a complaint lodged by her mother about the crime. The police in Perumbavoor said the three-year-old victim and her mother are also from Assam. In her complaint, the woman alleged that her daughter was playing near the plywood factory where her father and the two accused worker worked at on Friday evening. The woman said her daughter told her of the incident after which she was taken for a medical examination, during which it was found that she was suffering from pain in her private parts. The police were informed shortly. After the girl identified the two accused, the police arrested them An FIR has been registered under the POCSO Act and the police are questioning the two in custody. Perumbavoor is home to a large number of migrant labourers, some of them are living with their families. Sikh teen in US punched for wearing turban, told 'we don't wear that in this country'. Image Source: IANS News New York, Oct 21 : A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with hate-crime assault following an attack on a Sikh teen onboard a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus in New York City last week, police said. Christopher Philippeaux from East Harlem, who was arrested late on Thursday night, had punched 19-year-old Mani Sandhu multiple times and attempted to remove his turban. Police said on Friday that both men were riding on a shuttle bus on October 15 morning near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill when the assault took place. Sandhu told CBS News that he was on his way to a Sikh temple in Queens and was about to get off near Liberty Avenue and 118th Street when a stranger walked up and assaulted him. "Take off your mask. He said it two times. And then he said... 'We don't wear this in our America,'" Sandhu said. The verbal assault was followed by multiple punches on Sandhu's head and neck. Philippeaux, as seen in surveillance photos, then got off the bus and boarded it again in an attempt to rip off Sandhu's turban. "He was punching on the back side of the neck to take off this, like that, but that didn't happen, because I was in my self-defence. And he tried to punch on my back, neck, and my nose too," Sandhu told CBS News. Sandhu said he moved to the US 10 months ago from India thinking he would never be attacked here but "the incident happened with me makes me disappointed, and makes me like I'm not safe in this area". The incident is being investigated by the NYPD (New York Police Department) Hate Crimes Unit. Slamming the incident, the US-based Sikh Coalition said on X that it is "deeply disturbed by an apparent hate-motivated attack on a Sikh teen". aGiven that this young Sikh's turban was insulted and targeted during the attack, we are heartened that this incident is being investigated as a hate crime," Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney, Amreen Partap Singh Bhasin, said in a statement. In an earlier statement released by the Sikh Coalition, Sandhu said that the attack had left him shaken and angry and that " no one should be assaulted or harassed because of how they look, and everyone should be able to go about their business in public in peace". KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 23:07 | All, World, Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Saturday that Japan will continue considering providing further aid to the Gaza Strip, which is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. During a speech at an international conference held in the suburbs of Cairo and shown online to discuss the conflict, Kamikawa also pledged to make diplomatic efforts "to prevent the instability from spilling over" into the Middle Eastern region. Tokyo's $10 million humanitarian relief to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave, announced Tuesday, is "the first shot of assistance Japan is planning, and we will keep on considering assistance based on the needs on the ground in a timely manner," Kamikawa said in the conference. She welcomed the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza earlier on Saturday, which enabled trucks carrying relief supplies to enter the Palestinian side of the border, as a step toward improving the humanitarian situation. The Rafah crossing was opened for the first time since Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza on Oct. 9 in response to the Islamist group's surprise attack on the Jewish state two days before. Kamikawa repeated Japan's condemnation against "the terror attacks committed by Hamas" while stressing that its position to support a "two-state solution" aimed at resolving the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "unwavering." Before visiting Egypt, Kamikawa said stability in the Middle East is crucial for Japan, which is highly dependent on crude oil imports from the region and has traditionally maintained friendly relations with them. Related coverage: Aid trucks start entering Gaza as Egypt opens Rafah border crossing SDF plane carrying Japanese, South Koreans from Israel arrives in Tokyo Japan, Saudi Arabia agree to work to address humanitarian crisis in Gaza New Delhi Oct 21 : The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a youth wanted for allegedly killing a man to assert his dominance in the area, an officer said on Saturday. The accused was identified as 23-year-old Mohd. Shokat Ali a.k.a Dolly, alias Samar Ali, a resident of Indira Camp near Lodhi Colony. According to police, Ali, along with his three associates named Jahangir, Vishal, and Deepak, formed a gang in Harijan Camp and engaged in extorting money from bootleggers, satta operators, and others. On August 22, a call was received at the Lodhi Colony police station regarding a male body found near Third Avenue Road in the area. The deceased was identified as a person with a criminal history named Shiva. "After analysing the CCTV footage from the nearby area, it was discovered that four individuals had assaulted the now-deceased with punches and sticks. When the deceased collapse, the attackers fled the scene. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries," said the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav. Later, the identities of the assailants were determined to be Jahangir, Vishal, Deepak, and Ali. During the course of the investigation, three of the accused, Jahangir, Vishal, and Deepak, were arrested, while Ali had been on the run since the case was registered. "The police received specific information that Ali was hiding in the Trilokpuri area of Delhi and could be apprehended there. His precise location was traced, and a raid was conducted, leading to his successful apprehension," said Yadav. When questioned, Ali revealed that in 2022, he came into contact with Jahangir, Vishal, and Deepak, who were known habitual criminals in the area. "Shiva had a criminal record in the area and collected protection money from bootleggers, drug suppliers, and others involved in illegal activities. He started selling ganja in the area alongside his associates Jahangir, Vishal, and Deepak," said the officer. Shiva objected to the fact that these illegal activities could not be carried out without his consent. "This dispute led to a power struggle in the area between the two gangs. As a result, all four accused, acting with a shared intention, ruthlessly killed Shiva using punches and sticks," said the officer. Following the murder, Ali had changed his identity and moved around various locations in Delhi and the NCR. -- IANS ssh/shb Three individuals nabbed at Bengaluru airport with over 1 kg gold. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi Oct 21 : Within a span of two days, the airport customs have seized over 1 kg gold from three passengers, including a Malaysian national, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, said an officer on Saturday. According to officials, the trio passengers were nabbed on Friday and Saturday. "An Indian origin lady passenger coming from Kuala Lumpur by flight attempted to smuggle 300.95 gm gold valued Rs17.9 lakh in paste form inside the blouse she was wearing but she was nabbed," said a senior customs officer. Another Malaysian origin woman passenger coming from Kuala Lumpur attempted to smuggle 578.27 gm gold valued at Rs 34.4 lakh in paste form by concealment in her rectum. "An Indian origin pax coming from Kuwait attempting to smuggle 40 cut pieces of gold of net weight 254 gm worth Rs15,26,565 was held and one iPhone 14 pro max worth Rs 1,49,900 was also recovered. The said cut pieces of gold were concealed in packets of dry fruits," said the officer. Los Angeles, Oct 21 : Actress Emily Blunt has apologised in the wake of a resurfaced 2012 talk show appearance showing her using insensitive language.los Fans of Blunt, 40, recently discovered a YouTube clip from the 'Oppenheimer' star's appearance on the U.K.'s 'Jonathan Ross Show' in September 2012, in which she referred to a restaurant server as "enormous" while recalling her time making the film 'Looper' in the United States, reports People. "I just need to address this head on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12-years ago," Blunt said in a statement given to 'People'. "I'm appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show." "I've always considered myself someone who wouldn't 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," she added. "And yet it happened, and I said it and I'm so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better." As per People, in the video, Blunt recalls eating dinner at a local Chili's restaurant during filming, to which talk show host Jonathan Ross says: "If you go to Chili's you can see why so many of our American friends are enormous." "Well the girl who was serving me was enormous," Blunt responds, before stating that the server in question recognized her during her visit to the restaurant. Blunt co-starred with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Paul Dano in Looper, which made for writer-director Rian Johnson's third feature-length film. The clip of Blunt's appearance also includes the actor describing how she learned to chop wood for the film and demonstrating her skills for Ross. New Delhi, Oct 21: Nawaz Sharif, former and most exiled prime minister of Pakistan, will fly home from London via Dubai today in a highly anticipated return. Sharif, who has been convicted of corruption, though in dubious circumstances, has been granted interim bail relief from the Islamabad high court clearing his path, first to mobilise masses in support of his party - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) - and then, if he overcomes legal tangles, prepare for new stint as PM. Nawaz's return, which became almost clear after former PM Imran Khan and his party's fortunes, tumbled after May 9 mayhem following the ex-PM's conviction-arrest, is important as it marks a comeback of Pakistan's most experienced top-notch leader who has commanded a large following at home as well as recognition at international stage. Pakistan is slated to hold its general elections in late January. Push to PML-N Fortunes of Nawaz's party dipped ever since Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) snatched its popularity in Punjab and trounced it in 2018 polls, gaining more seats both in the Provincial Assembly and National Assembly. Even after the arrest of Imran and dismembering of PTI, PML-N has failed to win back public support. In a survey, Imran's PTI and late Khadim Hussain Rizvi's Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were found to be the most popular parties in Punjab. In recent weeks though, his brother Shehbaz Sharif, who was PM till the caretaker set-up took over, and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have been drumming up support for the party by organising rallies in cities and door-to-door campaigns in rural areas. The PML-N has organised a grand welcome for Nawaz. According to reports, he will lead a rally from Lahore airport into the heart of the city. The PML-N has even released a song for Nawaz's return rally. Jamia Millia Islamia's Professor Ajay Darshan Behera, expert observer of Pakistan affairs, says that Nawaz's charisma will surely be a boost for his party. "Nawaz has no doubt been a charismatic leader. He is considered to be more people-friendly and a mass leader than his brother Shehbaz, whose reputation has been that of a deft administrator, but public-shy leader. Nawaz's presence will enthuse renewed vigour in PML-N cares," Prof Behera said. Relations with India Relations between India and Pakistan have been lying in limbo since August 5, 2019 when India wrote down Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, Imran Khan staunchly opposed any "back-channel deal" that former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa tried to strike to open "trade routes with India". Nawaz's PML-N was reportedly in its favour. During his tenures, Nawaz himself took lead to normalise relations with India, most famously with the launch of the Lahore Bus service and the Lahore Declaration with former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "Nawaz is a businessman and understands the circumstances required to improve economic conditions. His recent successor Imran Khan failed on this front. Presently, Pakistan is undergoing an extremely bad phase. Its economy is showing no signs of recovery. Trade with India will only give it a needed fillip," said Professor Behera. He added that if links between both Punjabs can be established, it will not only help generate people-to-people goodwill, besides bringing prosperity on both sides. CPEC The "$400 billion" China and Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the most ambitious economic project of Pakistan ever, largely took off when Nawaz was prime minister in 2013-17. According to some commentaries appearing in Pakistan, Nawaz considers CPEC his pet project and will try to restart the stuck and hampered projects, if he has his way. The CPEC has suffered many setbacks in recent months. Several of its projects have either failed to materialise or they are proving to be too costly. Even the Chinese government is said to be peeved with "Pakistani lethargy". Legal Tangle After the Panama papers expose, Nawaz was convicted for corruption cases and disqualified to hold any office in Pakistan. It was after Nawaz had fallen out with the powerful military that pulls almost all the strings in Pakistani power circles. Nawaz as mentioned earlier is returning as an "absconder" out on protective bail till October 24 in two corruption cases. He is also facing an arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case a similar case for which his bete noire Imran is languishing in jail. Professor Behera says the real picture will be clear only after October 24. But the party for Nawaz fans will begin on Saturday as their "Lion of Punjab" will descend at Lahore airport with Sahir Ali Bagga-sung song: "Mushkil Se Nikalo, Yeh Mulk Bacha Lo, Nawaz Sharif (Be Our Saviour, Save Our Country, Nawaz Sharif)." (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative --IANS Uncertainty, nervousness in Leh as standoff continues at LAC (Special Ground Report From Leh).. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 21 : Following the 2020 clash, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has maintained continuous force presence and continued infrastructure build up along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, the Pentagon said in a report. In 2022, China continued to develop military infrastructure along the LAC, it said, adding that these improvements include underground storage facilities near Doklam;new roads in all three sectors of the LAC; new villages in disputed areas in neighboring Bhutan;a second bridge over Pangong Lake;a dual-purpose airport near the centre sector; and multiple helipad. In 2022, China deployed one border regiment, supported by two divisions of Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts with four combined arms brigades (CAB) in reserve in the western sector of the LAC. China also deployed as many as three light-to-medium CABs in the eastern sector from other theater commands and an additional three CABs in the central sector of the LAC. Although some elements of a light CAB eventually withdrew, a majority of the deployed forces remain in place along the LAC, the Pentagon report said. Beginning in May 2020, Chinese and Indian forces faced off in clashes with rocks, batons, and clubs wrapped in barbed wire at multiple locations along the LAC. The resulting standoff triggered the buildup of forces on both sides of the disputed border. Mumbai, Oct 21 : Actress Katrina Kaif, who is gearing up for her upcoming Diwali release 'Tiger 3', will be seen sporting seven different looks in the first song from 'Tiger 3'. The song titled 'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam' wil hit the airwaves on Monday, October 23. The actress has called the song one of her most favourite songs of her career. Talking about the song, Katrina said: "'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam' stands out as a visually captivating song. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Cappadocia, Turkey, this song has to be visually one of my favourites. Teaming up once more with my favourite Vaibhavi Merchant after 'Mashallah' and 'Swag Se Swagat'." "Styled by one and only Anaita Shroff Adajania who has truly excelled in curating a stunning array of looks for me. In Leke Prabhu Ka Naam, Anaita has crafted seven remarkable looks, each exuding an undeniable sense of glamour and unique silhouettes," she added. The track has been composed by Pritam and sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi. The actress maintained that the songs from the 'Tiger' franchise have always been iconic chartbusters and she expects 'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam' to meet the expectations of the audience. The actress said: "Songs have always been one of the highlights in the 'Tiger' films. I love how Vaibhavi captured the vibe and dynamic between Tiger and Zoya in this song in a new way. It embodied the vibrant and energetic feel of the song that fans anticipate from both of us." Katrina admitted that she loves dancing with Salman Khan as she said: "Dancing with Salman is always amazing and I take away so many wonderful memories of shooting for 'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam'. Just as 'Swag Se Swagat' was received with so much love, we hope 'Leke Prabhu Ka Naam' will raise the bar even higher." Produced by Aditya Chopra's YRF, 'Tiger 3' is a part of the YRF spy universe, and has been directed by Maneesh Sharma. The film will debut in theatres on Diwali, November 12. Kupwara: Army personnel on the job during an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Warnov area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sep 5, 2020. The encounter in a forested area started after a joint team of the police and the arm. Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Oct 21 : A soldier was injured in sniper fire from the Pakistan side along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said on Saturday. The incident took place in Keran sector late Friday night. aPakistan Army fired a sniper shot at an Indian army post in the Keran sector on Friday evening. Soldier Saurav Kumar was wounded in this incident. He was airlifted to the armyas 92-base hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment. aDoctors described the soldieras condition as out of danger and stable," the officials added. Kolar : , Oct 21 (IANS) A Dalit mason was assaulted for seeking remuneration for his work in a village near Bangarapet town of this district, police said on Saturday. The victim has been identified as Amaresh, a resident of Doddavalagaramadi village. The police have arrested two people in this regard and launched a hunt for another accused. According to police, the victim was working for the house constructed by Jagadish Singh in the same village. When he asked for money for his work, Singh assaulted Amaresh beside hurling casteist slurs at him. Later, the accused along with Ravindra Singh and Satish Singh dragged the victim to a house and tied him up with a rope and beat him. Following the incident, Amaresh was hospitalised and a case lodged in this regard with the Bangarapet police station. While Jagadish Singh and Ravindra Singh have been arrested, a hunt is on for Satish Singh. Further investigation in the matter is on. Bengaluru, Oct 21 : The City Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru has detained three people for their alleged involvement in fake voter ID scam, sources said on Saturday. The development has assumed importance after it came to light that one of the accused, identified as Mounesh Kumar, is know to state Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning, Byrathi Suresh who is considered to be a key aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The other two detained persons were identified as Bhagath and Raghavendra. The police explained that after getting a tip-off about the accused getting Voter ID, Driving License, Aadhaar Card for money, a raid was conducted on MSL Techno Solutions in Kanakanagar, Bengaluru. Following the raids, the three were taken into custody. The CCB sleuths had lodged a complaint with the Hebbal police station in this connection. The sources explained there has been no arrest made in the case so far and the police have seized computers and other gadgets from the office which was raided. It is alleged that the arrest was not made due to proximity of the accused to the minister. When asked about this, Siddaramaiah maintained that he did not know about the development. Gaza, Oct 21 : For the first time since the raging Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7, 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua news agency. While Israel has agreed to allow 20 trucks carrying aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, it has refused to allow fuel to cross the border. Earlier in the day, the US embassy in Israel said that it had received information that the Rafah crossing will open at 10 a.m. (local time) on Saturday morning. "If the border is opened, we do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza. We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open," CNN quoted the mission as saying "US citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing." The Embassy added that the situation remains "dynamic and fluid," and the security environment is "unpredictable," advising people to "assess your personal safety and security before choosing to move toward the border or trying to cross." Humanitarian aid has been stuck in Egypt for days as Gaza plunges into a worsening humanitarian crisis amid the raging Israel-Hamas conflict. Gaza is fast running out of food, water, fuel and medical supplies, while electricity blackout and ban on fuel imports have had "devastating consequences" on the healthcare system and access to clean water, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Saturday. It added that about 1.4 million people had been displaced in Gaza more than 60 per cent of the entire strip's population of 2 million. KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 13:58 | All, Japan A wide variety of vehicles from a sleek crossover sport-utility and an upscale autonomous minivan to a mini recreational car, all powered by batteries, will be among the eye-popping concepts at the Tokyo auto show next week when a record 475 companies participate in the event. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the event organizer, calls this year's show -- the first since 2019 following a pandemic-induced hiatus -- the Japan Mobility Show to highlight a variety of advanced technologies beyond the auto industry, such as robots and drones. Japanese carmakers, seen as laggards in the all-electric vehicle market, are determined to play catch-up with overseas rivals such as Tesla Inc. Among major EV makers, Chinese leader BYD Co. will take part in the Tokyo auto show for the first time. The show will be open to the media for two days from Wednesday next week and to the public from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5. Here is a glimpse of what Japan's top three carmakers are featuring this year. Toyota Motor Corp. will display the Kayoibako EV concept. The microvan with a panoramic glass roof allows owners to customize its interior for diverse purposes, ranging from outdoor recreation to delivery services and even as a food truck. The world's largest carmaker will also exhibit a next-generation EV concept before its rollout in 2026 as part of its push in the battery-powered vehicle market to meet a goal of selling 1.5 million EVs in 2026. Honda Motor Co., Japan's No. 2 automaker, will show the Honda CI-MEV. The two-seater ultracompact EV, equipped with autonomous driving technology, is designed for customers in rural areas where few public transportation services are available. The Cruise Origin, a self-driving EV jointly developed with General Motors Co. and its Cruise LLC subsidiary, will also be on display. Honda, GM and Cruise plan to use the new vehicle for a driverless taxi service to be launched in Tokyo in 2026. At the Nissan Motor Co. booth, the Nissan Hyper Tourer, an all-electric luxury minivan, will be unveiled. Designed to run on all-solid-state batteries, the fully autonomous driving vehicle is equipped with sensors to discern the driver's feelings and physical state so it can control air conditioning and lighting automatically. The front seats can swivel 360 degrees to allow front and rear seat passengers to have face-to-face interactions while in self-driving mode. The automaker will also introduce the Nissan Hyper Punk, a concept EV designed to lure Generation Z customers. The crossover SUV features multifaceted and polygonal surfaces that change colors depending on the angle of viewers. It uses AI to convert the scenery around the car to manga-style imagery to show on the dashboard screen. Related coverage: China to curb exports of some graphite used for battery production Toyota to adopt Tesla charger for North American EV models Honda, GM driverless taxi JV to be operational in 2026 in Tokyo New Delhi, Oct 21 : Accusing the BJP-led central government of being habitual in strangulating the institutions, the Congress on Saturday said that Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG), which used to release reports independently under the UPA era, is now hardly publishing any reports. Addressing a Press conference at the party headquarters here, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "The CAG doesn't come out with the reports under this (BJP) regime. We have seen only 14 reports in 2023. Some very startling brazen corruption charges came up on the projects like Bharatmala Project, Ayushman Bharat project and others. He alleged that 10 years ago we saw how then CAG chief Vinod Rai would leak draft reports to the media and Ramlila Maidan would see activities. "And on the basis of those reports, they trapped the whole country by doing drama and the media called it a mass movement. All these charges of corruption were based on the CAG reports. All these reports and cases proved to be baseless in the last 10 years. The aim of these people was just to tarnish the clean image of then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and defame the UPA government," he said. He also said that the same CAG which had brought out 55 reports earlier, is able to bring out reports with great difficulty in 2023. "In Bharatmala Project, work worth Rs 1 was done for Rs 14. And one km road was measured in different ways to show that the work for four km of road was done. Scams of Ayushman scheme came to light, where lakhs of people were connected to the same mobile number. But nothing was shown in the media on the CAG report, no 'movement' was seen even in Ramlila Maidan," he charged. Targeting the government, Khera, who is also the Chairman of the Media and Publicity department of the party said, "That has resulted into more brazenness in the government because after the startling revelations in the reports, many officers were transferred." "The most shocking thing is that an e-mail was sent to the CAG, Mumbai office, in which it was said that all audit and field work should be stopped. That means Modi government is strangulating CAG in this way," he claimed while showing the copy of the email. He also named the three CAG officers who exposed the scams of Modi government and were later transferred. He said that Atoorvo Sinha was in charge of the report of Bharatmala Project, he was sent from Delhi to Trivandrum. Similarly, Dattaprasad Shirsat was in charge of audit related to Ayushman Bharat scheme and he was sent to the legal cell. Even Ashok Sinha, who had started the audit of Ayushman Bharat scheme was sent to other department. Firing salvos at the BJP government, Khera said, "Our questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi are that on whose orders was CAG ordered to stop all field work? Why were the CAG officers who exposed the scams transferred? And on whose instructions is CAG being strangled?" He also said that if you use a bulldozer on an autonomous body, the opposition will not tolerate it at all. To a question that the CAG has denied about sending a mail to the Mumbai office, he showed the copy and said that they should deny the email dated September 26 this year. Bengaluru, Oct 21 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Saturday that he never claimed to have brought the Congress to power in Karnataka "single-handedly". Answering a question by the reporters on the PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi's statement that Shivakumar alone did not bring the party to power, DyCM asserted that he never claimed to have brought the party to power alone. Will never say so in future as well, he added. "The party workers and people have brought the Congress party to power," he maintained. He further reiterated that, "party workers, us, you (Satish Jarkiholi), people of the state, every villager have battled it out to ensure our victory. I won't say that Shivakumar alone has ever brought the party to power." When asked about the cabinet reshuffle statement by the chief whip Ashok Pattan, he maintained there will be discussions on internal matters and he can't disclose them. "I will not discuss them. As per my information, there is no discussion as such," he stated. New Delhi, Oct 21 : India Inc. will host the world's biggest textiles event, Bharat Tex 2024, in the national capital from February 26 to 29 next year that will see the participation of exhibitors and buyers from over 40 countries. Presiding over the curtain raiser event for the show at Vanijya Bhavan in Delhi on Saturday, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal lauded industry bodies of the textile sector for their initiative in organising the event. "With innovation, collaboration, and the Make in India spirit at its core, this expo is the embodiment of India's 5F vision - Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, making products not just for India but for the entire world," the Minister said. He exhorted the captains of industry to build their brands that are globally recognised and simultaneously build India is a brand. Goyal expressed the hope that the marquee event, Bharat Tex 2024 Expo, would propel the industry's growth and showcase India's potential as a mature, competitive global sourcing destination in the global textile industry. He asked the organisers to make the fair compelling and engaging for the visitors. The Union Minister also launched the fair logo, website and video at the event. He urged the industry to use this event to highlight India's global strengths, its sustainability initiatives as well as its strengths across the value chain. Bharat Tex 2024 is envisaged to be a comprehensive showcase of the entire textile industry value chain, from India's rich cultural heritage and textile traditions to the latest technological innovations. With over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 30,000 visitors from 40 countries, this mega event would include knowledge sessions, seminars and conferences, CEO roundtables, B2B & G2G meetings, besides strategic investment announcements, product launches and collaborations that would redefine the textile industry on a global scale, an official statement said. Bharat Tex 2024 is being planned as a consolidated and unique platform to position and showcase India's entire textile value chain and also highlight strengths in fashion, traditional crafts and sustainability initiatives. Speaking on the occasion, Rachna Shah, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Textile, said that there is a huge opportunity for the textile industry to increase its exports and hence Bharat Tex 2024 comes at the right time. It would not be just an exhibition, but an immersive experience, she added. Gangtok, Oct 21 : No civilians or security personnel were killed as a result of terrorist activity in Assam this year, said Director General of Police, G P Singh. He said, "No civilian victims or members of the security forces were slain or abducted by any terrorist organization, marking the first time since 1991. Since the security situation has improved, AFSPA has been repealed throughout the state with the exception of four districts." The top cop further added on Saturday that Assam is unquestionably in a much better position in terms of law and order. Moreover, he said that over the previous two years, the security forces have made notable progress in seizing illegal and illicit weapons, particularly automatic rifles, throughout the state. "We are working nonstop to find every illegal and illicit weapon in the state. Over a thousand guns have been found in the state over the previous two years, more than half of them are automatic rifles," Singh mentioned. The Assam DGP stressed that Assam is moving forward quickly when speaking to the issue of providing financial help to former members of militant groups who have turned themselves in. He said, "Taking part in the state's development has considerably more advantages than hiding out in the forest and making no contributions to the state's expansion." Mumbai, Oct 21 : The makers of Siddharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Vivek Oberoi starrer action-packed series 'Indian Police Force' on Saturday said that the show will be released on January 19, 2024. On the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day, the makers announced the premiere date of 'Indian Police Force', a seven-part series created by Rohit Shetty, and directed by Rohit and Sushwanth Prakash, as a homage to the relentless commitment of Indian police officers. Promising to redefine the contours of action as a genre in the streaming space, the series will mark Shetty's digital directorial debut in a spectacle that is headlined by Siddharth in a refreshing cop avatar as lead. It also features Shweta Tiwari, Nikitin Dheer, Rituraj Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Lalit Parimoo in pivotal roles. Talking about the same, Rohit said: "Indian Police Force is integral part of my journey as a creator in the cop-verse that I and my team at Rohit Shetty Picturez has built with years of hard work and commitment." "I am very proud of my cast and crew who devotedly worked together to present this action series that pays an ode to the valour, sacrifice and courage of our Indian Police officers," said the filmmaker. The series pays an ode to the selfless service, unconditional commitment and fierce patriotism of the Indian police officers across the country who put everything on the line in their call of duty to keep us safe. Sharing the poster on social media, Siddharth wrote: "Location clear! Target locked! Force incoming! Reporting for #RohitShetty cop universe, armed and prepared to strike!" Shilpa captioned the poster as: "Jab siren bajega toh samjho crime ki band bajegi.. Aa gayi POLICE! Paying an ode to our Indian Police on #PoliceCommemorationDay, the show is a tribute to their valour, selfless service, unwavering commitment and fierce patriotism." 'Indian Police Force' will premiere on January 19, 2024 on Prime Video. Will use social media, not advisement banners for campaigning during 2024 LS polls: Gadkari. Image Source: IANS News Nagpur, Oct 21 : Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that he will use social media platforms and not the advertisement banners for campaign during the next year's general elections. He said that his work for the social upliftment and down to earth attitude will help him to win his constituency. He said that he will seek blessings of people in his constituency through mobile network and social media platforms. He said that the voters are smart. "Husband votes for one party while the wife votes for the other. But they accept gifts and benefits from all political parties," Gadkari said during an interview to noted Marathi actor Prashant Damle. He said that he will use social media platforms and reach out to the people to seek votes and put his good work for the development ahead of them. He said that his family members are not his political heirs. "My workers are my real political assets and not my family workers. Of course, my physical property will go to family members," he said. He said that a suggestion by party colleagues to make his elder son an office bearer of the party was politely rejected by himself. "I won't allow my son to sit next to me," he said. Gadkari also disclosed that during his youth days, he would dream to marry 'Dream Girl' Hema Malini. "After becoming a minister, one day when Hema Malini visited our house, I confessed to her about my dream. To my surprise, Hema Malini said she would have considered the decision. But I thought this would not have been possible during those days. I considered my wife as Hema Malini but my favourite heroine has always been Rekha," he confessed. Gadkari also admitted that he still loves to eat light foods from roadside eateries. Jaipur, Oct 21 : BJP's politics in Rajasthan seems to be becoming more like a cobweb as things are getting entangled in different nets. The more the high command tries to clean these cobwebs, the more they are getting entangled. This seems to be clear after the release of the first list of BJP candidates on 41 seats where the party has sidelined the followers of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia camp. Leaders like Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, former minister in Raje's government, has not been given the ticket. So have Anita Singh from Bharatpur and Narpat Singh Rajvi (former CM Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's son-in-law) been denied the tickets. Eventually, massive protests are seen on streets against the ticket distribution. Anita Singh has announced to contest as independent, one Rohitashva Sharma from Raje camp has joined another party. One Vikas Chaudhary of Raje camp from Kishangarh, who was hoping to get ticket, has also been denied ticket and he too is searching for options. Eventually, the top leaders in Delhi are brainstorming on names' of remaining candidates by calling back-to-back meetings. Sources said that the idea is to prevent such protests after the names of remaining candidates are out. Meanwhile, there are silent whispers that Raje and her followers are being sidelined. Surprisingly, at the same time, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been mentioning Vasundhara Raje in his address again and again. Are the two incidents being related; with Raje being sidelined and Gehlot bringing her reference again and again forcing BJP to 'push' aside Raje? This is the question being exchanged in political corridors. Leaders from Vasundhara Raje camp opined that Gehlot laid a trap and BJP now seems to be playing into Congress' hands. "Vasundhara has given a major defeat to Gehlot two times. Now Gehlot knows that this competitor is strong and can ruin his dreams so he doesn't want the same competitor and is slowly, trying to remove this competitor strategically by bringing her in his discussions as he knows that the more his competitor is dragged into controversies, the more he will benefit, said political expert Tribhuvan. In fact, he has been successful in this initiative to some extent. Questions are being raised on Raje ever since he spoke that Raje helped him in saving his government, added Tribhuvan. It won't be wrong to say that big BJP leaders have fallen in a trap laid by Gehlot, the political expert said. It needs to be mentioned here that two days back, Gehlot again took a dig at the BJP with a show of support to rival Vasundhara Raje Scindia, telling the media that she should not be victimised by her party for refusing to bring down his government at a vulnerable moment. Gehlot had expressed his gratitude to Raje earlier as well on this issue, bringing a caustic comment from the younger leader. Asked about the alleged sidelining of Raje in the BJP, Gehlot told reporters that it was an internal matter of the BP and he would not like to comment on it. "But I would like to state that she should not be punished because of me... This would be an injustice to her," he said, implying that the BJP's former chief minister is above her party's tactics to dislodge opposition governments. In May this year, Gehlot claimed that Raje and two other BJP leaders had helped save his government during the revolt by Sachin Pilot and his loyalists in 2020. Raje reverted back saying that the veteran leader's remark was "not a sign of goodwill but malice". "Ashok Gehlot has never got a majority since 2003. That's why he considers me his biggest enemy and a thorn in his path. That's why there is no goodwill for me in his praise, there is only malice," Raje said. Last month, a cropped photo of the two leaders seated together was widely circulated online, reviving their partymen's allegation that they were going soft on each other. Raje's office finally released the complete photo. Meanwhile, Congress leaders said that the party is clearly worried about the threat that Vasundhara Raje poses and is evident from CM Gehlot's comments on her 'alleged' support during attempts to topple his government. Further,C Voter/ETG Times Now surveys have given BJP an edge but have also shown Raje as the most prominent and relevant leader from the BJP. BJP's victory by this measure seems synonymous with Raje's activity in the poll-bound state, said a worker from Raje camp on anonymity. "Also, Raje is the No. 1 choice among women in Rajasthan and women-centric schemes launched by her during her tenure as the Chief Minister including Bhamashah, Bhamashah Swastha Bima, Mahila Thane, Women helpline, Nirbhaya Helpline, Shubh Shakti and 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj provided them with an equal opportunity. With women voters accounting for half the state, her role in a BJP win becomes even more critical. The recent meetings of the top brass of BJP in Rajasthan and in Delhi saw Raje play an active role which is clearly beginning to worry the Congress and they are looking at every possible manner to discredit her or ensure the BJP brings in new leaders into the state," said a party worker. Meanwhile, Narayan Pacheria, heading election managementcommittee in Rajasthansaid, "We are proud of Vasundhara who has always taken the flag of the party ahead. She brought wonderful schemes but it's shame that Gehlot changed them." When asked why Gehlot praises Raje, he said, 'Party doesn't consider Gehlot's referent of Raje as serious. This is politics. Even Mr Modi has referred Gehlot as his friend many times." "Raje is one among our senior leaders and she has given so much to our party," he added. Mumbai, Oct 21 : Former mafia don-turned-politician Arun Gulab Gawli, the 'Daddy' of Dagdi Chawl, visited his old lair to celebrate the ongoing Navratri festival, during which he was accorded a warm and rousing welcome by the tenants. Presently undergoing a life-term in prison, Gawli, 67, was released on a 28-day furlough on Thursday from Nagpur Central Jail. He reached here on Friday evening and was virtually mobbed by his followers, admirers and associates, as he alighted from a swank white car outside the Dagdi Chawl. Appearing cheerful but fatigued after the Nagpur-Mumbai journey and the weather change, Gawli managed to smile, waved out to his followers, acknowledging them with folded hands, and clad in his trademark white kurta-pyjama-cap, mingled with all freely. After greeting and meeting his old neighbours, friends, and family at the once-shady neighbourhood, Gawli headed for the impressive marquee housing a large idol of Goddess Durga with folded hands, in one corner of the tenements complex. There, assisted by a Hindu priest, Gawli performed an aaartia of aAai Maulia, bowed before the Goddess and then joined the revellers performing adandiyaa, happily shook a leg with them for some time before leaving the venue. Launched in 1973, this is the golden jubilee of the Dagdi Chawl Navratri Utsav Mandal (DCNUM), and also its final, as post-navratri, the entire chawl complex will go under a redevelopment project, said the Vinayak Narawade, the Chairman of the proposed Dagdi Chawl CHS. Sources close to the former don said that during his sojourn, Gawli has chosen to live in the secure comforts of his well-appointed fully air-conditioned, top-floor homes in one of the chawl buildings, comprising plush interiors, a home-theatre system and other luxuries befitting a man of his means. During the four-week-long abreaka from jail, Gawli will take part in certain legalities pertaining to the Dagdi Chawl revamp project, attending meetings with the proposed society office-bearers, probably even the builders, signing certain documents and completing other formalities, hinted Karawade. With politics flowing in the familyas blood, Gawli is likely to take an overview of the political prospects of his daughter Geeta Gawli, a former BMC corporator, who may again contest in the upcoming civic polls and possibly spread her wings higher in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, too, according to a source. Gawli, who had launched the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) has traditionally sympathised with the Shiv Sena founded by the late Balasaheb Thackeray, who had once hailed him as a aHindu dona. However, now that the party has split into Shiv Sena (UBT) led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Shiv Sena headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, it remains to be seen what will be the ABSa future political strategy. Incidentally, Gawlias nephew, MLC Sachin Ahir, is a deputy leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) and among the trusted aides of Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray. Nevertheless, senior party men chose to remain mum if any back-channel links could be opened up with the ABS in the next four weeks when aDaddya is relaxing here on his furlough. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in ) Mumbai, Oct 21 : Bengali star Rituparna Sengupta's new track 'Devi Song: Unmasked Goddess' featuring her was released on Saturday, and it brings to life the power of goddess Durga on the auspicious occasion of Durga puja. The music video of the song stars Rituparna as Shakti in an awe inspiring avatar. The track, sung by Swapnali Galikward, has been composed and penned by Rajan Sarvade. It is a powerful track amplified greatly by Swapnali Galikward's captivating vocals. The song features the story of Durga Maa or Devi Maa as she is often called in a very unique fashion and carries on wayward, as it takes listeners on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and woman power. The track features classical instrumentation with powerful verses in Sanskrit and Hindi, presenting a contrast between the two sides of the same goddess, as Durga is both a protector and a destroyer. It also features a cosmic dance by Rituparna, and how she embraces both these aspects, as the goddess gives power to women, demolishing the lingering darkness and evil that preys on innocence. Rituparna Sengupta, talking about the song said, "'Devi Song' is a remarkable ode to the strength and resilience of women. It's an honour to be a part of this project that brings Devi Maa's story to life in such a unique and powerful way". Neha Lohia, who is director of the track, envisioned it as a catalyst for a global conversation on women's empowerment. Talking about the song, Neha said: "'Devi Song: Unmasked Goddess' is more than just a song; rather it's a transformative experience that takes the audience on a journey from darkness to light, exploring the depths of self-discovery and empowerment. The song's narrative revolves around the empowering story of Devi Maa, shedding light on her unmasked essence." She added: "Devi Maa's story is not just a tale of mythology; it's a reflection of the inner strength and divinity within every woman. With this project, we hope to inspire and empower women across the world to embrace their true power." The goddess Durga, as well as Kali are particularly revered during the occasions of Durga Puja and Navaratri, as both mark a sacred homage to the almighty mother goddess known as Adi Parashakti or Mahadevi. Bengaluru, Oct 21 : Noting the discrimination in determining compensation given for the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airbase being built by the Seabird Naval Base and the construction of a civil enclave in Karwar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday promised to take action to resolve this issue under the Land Acquisition Act. He made the assurance at the meeting with the delegation led by Uttara Kannada District incharge minister Mankala Vaidya and MLA Satish Sail regarding the discrimination in the ongoing land acquisition process for construction of the airbase. Responding to the appeal made by the destitute families of three villages in the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the injustice committed by the BJP government should be rectified, and also directed the officials to take action to provide compensation in a scientific and standard manner. He directed the Industry and Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil to hold a meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials concerned to discuss the compensation for land acquisition, providing employment, and site allocation to the people who have lost land. He said that a request will be made to the Central government to provide employment to the families who have lost their land under the Seabird first phase project. Patil, Fisheries and Ports Minister Vaidya, Karwar MLA Sail, Chief Minister's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary, Infrastructure Development, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Minister's Secretary Ziaullah, Finance Secretary P.C. Jaffar, Infrastructure Department Joint Secretary Hephsiba Rani Korlapati and other senior officials were present. By Kai Nishino, KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 08:30 | Feature, Japan, World Colonia Pinhal is a small village in Brazil with a proud history and immigrant identity with its roots tracing back to Fukui Prefecture in central Japan. Situated about 170 kilometers southwest of central Sao Paulo, the village celebrates the 60th anniversary of its opening this year. Fourteen people in three families from Fukui first settled there in the 1960s and Colonia Pinhal, also known as Fukui Village, now has a population of about 1,000, including immigrants from other areas of Japan. Aiko Taniguchi, a 39-year-old employee of the Fukui prefectural government, spent two years as a Japanese language teacher in the community and attended the ceremony in August to commemorate the landmark year. She simply hopes to make people aware of the village. "For the villagers, their connection with Fukui is a strong part of their identity," Taniguchi said in a recent interview. "I would like more people to know of Colonia Pinhal's existence." Colonia Pinhal is a farming village that cultivates grapes, persimmons and various other fruits. Its foundation was built as part of the Japanese government's efforts to promote emigration to Brazil. Beginning in the 19th century, the Japanese government promoted overseas emigration as a measure to combat recession and population growth. The first ship to reach Brazil was the Kasato Maru containing 781 passengers, which arrived at the port of Santos in 1908. After the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which struck Tokyo and its vicinities and killed an estimated 105,000 people, the government started subsidizing travel to Brazil as a temporary measure, and the number of emigrants increased rapidly. Taniguchi's desire to teach abroad was strengthened when she met children of the Japanese diaspora during her college days in Aichi Prefecture, where she majored in Japanese language education. When she was 25 and working in Fukui, Taniguchi learned about Fukui Village through a volunteer recruitment notice sent by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. She lived in the village and taught Japanese from 2010 to 2012. Villagers there were surrounded by items and memorabilia that strengthened their connection to the prefecture and their sense of being "Fukui people" -- such as pictures of the prefectural governor and Fukui tourism posters adorning the walls. It made Taniguchi, a native of Fukui herself, feel right at home. Taniguchi ate with her students' families and got a close-up look at the children's daily lives, including watching them help with chores on the farm. "The whole village was raising children, and I realized that education isn't something that only happens in classrooms." After returning to Japan, she accompanied the village's "taiko" drumming club to a competition in Japan and invited them to her parents' restaurant in Fukui Prefecture. Her sense that "improving society will change education," which she got from her time in the village, drove her to become a Fukui prefectural official in 2016. Since May this year, she has been working in the local government's international economic division, accepting people with Japanese roots from South American countries, or Nikkeijin, as technical trainees, as well as conducting an art exchange program with Fukui Village. Taniguchi's visit to join the celebrations marking the village's 60th anniversary this past summer was her first in 11 years, and she was struck by the availability of internet access, which she thought was a positive as it meant there are more ways for people to communicate across communities. "In the future, there will be more ways for people from the village to interact with people from the prefecture. Someday, we hope more teachers from here can have the experience of going over to Brazil to teach in Fukui Village," she said. Related coverage: FEATURE: LuckyFes beating drum for future of music festivals FEATURE: Japan targets ultra-rich travelers to boost regional revival FEATURE: A-bomb survivors' experiences depicted through student art project Patna: An idol of goddess Durga at a community puja pandal during the Durga Puja festival. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Oct 21 : A unique idea to decorate a community Durga Puja pandal at Behala in the southern outskirts of Kolkata with pieces of panipuri, locally popular as puchka, has now become a major headache for Puja organisers. The office bearers of Behala Noun Dal Durga Puja Committee, on Maha Saptami, the first day of the four-day Durga Puja festival, are now wondering how to prevent the revellers from tearing off the panipuri pieces from the pandal walls and taking them back home as mementos. Besides this, a bigger apprehension on this count is keeping the organisers even more tense since majority of the revellers who are resorting to panipuri pieces collection are children or minors. "The attraction of the puchka among Bengalis is irresistible. So in case anyone consumes even a piece collected from the pandal wall being overwhelmed by the irresistible charm of puckha, there is a possibility of health hazard for the person concerned including food poisoning," said a member of the organising committee of the puja. He explained why these decorativepanipuri pieces used for the decoration of the pandal are different from the regular puchkas available at different roadside makeshift stalls. "Special chemicals are added to these decorative panipuri pieces to preserve their crunchy nature till the end of the puja, till the idol is immersed and the pandal is dismantled. So this chemical can lead to a number of stomach-related ailments in case anyone consumes even a piece of it," the organising member added. The organisers are constantly making announcements on loudspeakers cautioning the pandal visitors of the possible health hazards that can arise because of the consumption of such decorative panipuri pieces. The adults accompanying the kids at the pandal are also being asked to be especially attentive in the matter. Behala Noun Dal is celebrating its 59th year of Puja this year. The concept of the pandal theme is that of Ayan Saha. Panaji, Oct 21, : Goa government has filed an application before the High Court seeking extension of time in regard to the Mhadei Tiger Reserve. The deadline to notify the Mhadei Tiger Reserve ends on October 24. Advocate General, Devidas Pangam, told IANS that as the timeline ends on October 24, the government has filed an application before Goa bench of Bombay High Court seeking extension," he said. On July 24, the Bombay High Court at Goa had directed the state government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve within three months. The high court was hearing a petition filed by Goa Foundation (a local NGO). It had sought direction from the court to notify a tiger reserve in the state. The government of Goa then approached the Supreme Court to nullify the order of the High Court, but the Apex Court had refused a stay. "It depends on what the Supreme Court decides about the matter. It has issued notices," Pangam said. Sources informed that next hearing in the Supreme Court will take place in the second week of November, hence the Goa government was ought to seek extension of time in the High Court in regard to notification of the tiger reserve. A couple of days back, former Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said that the Goa government has no option but to notify Mhadei Tiger Reserve by October 24, 2023, as the Supreme Court has refused to stay the order of the High Court. "On July 24, 2023, the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, in response to some petitions, directed the Goa government to declare Mhadei as Tiger Reserve. It gave the Goa government three months to do so. The government of Goa then approached the Supreme Court to nullify the order of the High Court. But on September 25, 2023 the Supreme Court refused a stay,"Jairam Ramesh said on X. "So now, the Goa govt has no option but to notify the Mhadei Tiger Reserve by October 24, 2023. Of course, like in the case of the cheetah project, the PM will claim credit. But let that be. There is continuity in governance which he never acknowledges,' he said. Goa government had rejected the proposal to set up a tiger reserve in the state, by claiming that Goa's small wildlife sanctuaries did not fit the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) criteria for setting up one. New Delhi, Oct 21 : Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut's latest film 'Tejas' has released its latest track ''Dil Hai Ranjhana'. A powerful and ferocity-laden track, 'Dil Hai Ranjhana' is a theatrical piece that perfectly complements the fearless and determined persona of the actress. Sung by the duo of Rashmeet Kaur and Shashwat Sachdev who give off an extremely dramatic delivery, the track is a very fast-paced, and fury laden song, fusing Punjabi pop, with elements of EDM, rock, folk, film music, dark ambient, and more. The composition of Shashwat Sachdev almost plays out like a gym track, or one that can be used to run with full fury. Then the lyrics which were penned by Kumar are invigorating in itself, really inspiring a level of steely determination. The production here is booming as is the case with most Bollywood productions, with the sound design boasting a very open space which lets all the instruments breathe fully. With very limited restraint applied, every last element in the instrumentation ranging from the synthesisers to the bass is audible with crystal clear quality. After unveiling the teaser of the film on Air Force Day on October 8, the movie was made both to honour the Indian Air Force as well as women fighter pilots in the IAF. 'Dil Hai Ranjhana' beautifully encapsulates the essence of Kangana's titular character of Tejas Gill, and her extraordinary journey in the film. Delving into her aspirations, determination, and the obstacles she faced while pursuing her dreams, the music video takes audiences on a captivating journey through Tejas' days at the Air Force Academy, showcasing her unwavering dedication and her transformation into an Air Force Pilot. Capturing her steely determination and her incredible spirit, the video also shows how Tejas Gill competes with her male peers in the training process, and through hard work she manages to defy all odds. The video also shows her transition from being a cadet to piloting training aircrafts, to eventually engaging in a dog fight in IAFas light combat aircraft HAL Tejas. Written and directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, aTejasa stars Kangana Ranaut in the titular Role, and is scheduled to hit theatres on October 27, 2023. Lahore, Oct 21 : The Anti-Money Laundering Circle (AMLC) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned Muhammad Sabir Hameed, known as Mitthu, a close relative of former Pakistan army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, in connection with an investigation into high-volume suspicious transactions, media reports said. The letter cited that the summon was pursuant to an ongoing criminal investigation in the agency on the allegation of high-volume suspicious transactions into his accounts contrary to the declared business profile. According to the letter, Mitthu maintained 19 bank accounts (14 local and 5 foreign) with the aggregate credit turnover of Rs 5.34 billion. He has been directed to appear before the AML FIA Lahore with all relevant documents and original CNIC, FBR returns/declaration for periods of 2016 to 2023, personal and business. He has been directed to bring list of all countries visited by him and share his purpose of visits. Mitthu has been directed to bring list of all offshore/shell companies and business vehicles held by him, his spouse and family members. He has been directed to bring record of his national and international assets and his family members as well. The FIA has sought details of all foreign currency purchases made by him or on his behalf. Furthermore, details of foreign currency taken by him or his spouse or family members out of Pakistan have been sought, The News reported. Patna, Oct 21 : A youth, who was sleeping with his father in a farming land, was shot dead in the wee hours of Saturday in Begusarai, Bihar. The attacker, after committing the crime, fled from the spot taking advantage of darkness. The victim, Chotu Kumar Mahto, sustained gunshot injury on his hip and succumbed half an hour after the attack. The incident occurred around 2.30 am on Saturday. "Chotu was sleeping with his father in the farming land. The unidentified accused pumped a gunshot with very close range at a time when he was asleep. When he raised the alarm and his father woke up. Till that time, the attacker had fled from the spot by taking advantage of the darkness," said victim's brother Vikram Kumar Mahto. "A man was killed by unidentified attackers in Bihat Gurdaspur village under FCI police station. We are taking statements from family members. The investigation is underway," said Begusarai SP Yogendra Kumar. --IANS ajk/dan Kolkata, Oct 21 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J.P. Nadda on Saturday visited some Durga Puja pandals here on the occasion of 'Maha Saptami' -- the first day of four-day Durga Puja. "I pray to Goddess Durga to give us strength so that we can continue with our fight to end the evils of family- dominated politics, corruption and infiltration in the country. May Maa Durga give us the strength to end those demonic powers that harm the society," Nadda said after visiting a Puja pandal. Nadda arrived here on Saturday morning. He was greeted at the airport by top leaders of the West Bengal unit of the BJP, including the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, and state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar. He is likely to return to Delhi on Saturday night. He came to the city to visit some of the popular community Puja pandals, whose organising committees are controlled by the West Bengal unit BJP leaders. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also in Kolkata to inaugurate one of the popular Puja pandals in Kolkata, whose theme this year is Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. "This is not the occasion for making political statements. So, I will not do that now. But I will be frequenting the state more, making political statements and ensuring that there is change in the state," Shah had then said. Bengaluru, Oct 21 : A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court announced a 3:2 verdict on the petition seeking marital rights for members of the LGBTQ+ community, declining to legalise same-sex marriage in India. This verdict prompted me to ask the opinion of my 30-year-old son. He very casually said, "Let them do what they want to do behind closed doors in their homes. Why should we bother?" I, too, felt he was right. But after giving it some thought, it made me feel that legalising homosexual marriages will definitely affect the social fabric of our country. Interestingly, three per cent of the Indian population identifies itself as homosexual and nine per cent as bisexual. The idea of providing legal recognition to same-sex marriages is new to India while other countries across the world have a much longer history of granting the gay and lesbian community the right to marry. The LGBTQ+ community in India has been fighting a long legal battle to gain the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. However, we know little about how giving them the same rights and a legislation legalising same-sex marriage affects society and the gay community. The belief that homosexual attraction and orientation is biologically determined and thus immutable, is now widespread. The concept of biological determinism has invoked arguments for legalisation of same- sex marriages and lesbi-gay parenting. In contrast to this, there is evidence that people can learn to control, reduce and even overcome their homosexual attraction and behaviour. Richard Friedman and Jennifer Downey, Psychiatric Professors of Columbia University flatly reject the biological immutability claim in their 2002 book "Sexual Orientation and Psychoanalysis". Many more scientific studies also support this claim. The experience of hundreds of psychologists who are treating and helping patients to understand the dynamic forces behind homosexuality and to gain control over them, provides evidence that sexual preference is not beyond human control. The adverse health effects of homosexuality are many. The Gay Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) describes the following detrimental effects associated with homosexuality: Higher rates of HIV/AIDS, STDs like anal papilloma, HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis & chlamydia, certain cancers and also psychological disturbances and diseases. Revising public policy on same-sex marriages is a risky proposition. It is like legalising something which can be prevented. To base a significant change in legal policy, such as a redefinition of the meaning of marriage or an alteration of eligibility of adoption upon the belief that the homosexual attraction is biologically determined, would be irresponsible. (The author is the General Secretary of the Social Justice Committee, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, and retired professor, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru) Mumbai, Oct 21 : Actors Aasif Sheikh and Rohitashv Gour, who are known for their work in the television show 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai', recently attended the Luv Kush Ramlila festivities held at Lal Quila in New Delhi and witnessed the grand celebrations. Aasif Sheikh, who had graced the city with his presence last year alongside his onscreen wife, Anita Bhabi, essayed by Vidisha Srivastava, expressed his joy at returning to Navratri festivities once again in Delhi, where he has spent a significant time of his life. For Rohitashv Gour, this visit brought memories from his early acting days. The two also savoured the flavours of Delhi's culinary delights, indulged in local shopping and interactions with fans on the street while soaking in the festive enthusiasm in the city. Sharing his excitement, Aasif Sheikh, who essays the role of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra in the show, said: "Ramlila in Delhi holds a special place in my heart. Each visit deepens my affection for this celebration and its incredible audience. "It undoubtedly stands out as one of these remarkable actors' most exceptional displays of art and talent. I have always been a fan of theatrical performances, and Delhi's Ramlila consistently tops my list of must-see events." He further mentioned that while he never had the chance to participate in Ramlila, he used to accompany his friends to the Red Fort and lament the challenge of securing front-row seats for a close-up experience of the performances. He continued: "Now, I get to attend it live on stage; the crowd cheering, and the feeling is incredible. I am grateful for all the love and affection we receive from our viewers there. "It fills my heart with warmth and delight. Once again, my co-star Rohitashv (Tiwari Ji) was right there with me to share in this experience after a four-year hiatus, and the love and energy both the organisers and the crowd welcomed us made us feel on top of the moon. 'Delhi walon ne ek baar phir humara dil jeet liya (The people of Delhi once again won our hearts). "Besides participating in the grand celebration, Rohitashv and I explored some of the local attractions in Delhi, such as India Gate, to reminisce about our time in the city. I introduced him to some of my favourite dining spots, and we savoured every meal together. Without a doubt, it was a truly memorable trip for me, as always," he added. Rohitashv Gour said: "Watching Ramlila brings me back to my teenage years when I enthusiastically participated in the festivities in Kalka, a town near Chandigarh. I often found myself cast as Angad and Vibhishan, but deep down, I secretly yearned to portray the role of Ram (chuckles). "My second visit to the event in the capital was a remarkable journey, accompanied by my dear friend and co-star Aasif Sheikh, who plays my neighbour in our show." "We were privileged to witness this grand celebration, embraced by thousands of enthusiastic people, and it was a truly surreal experience. Although I once lived in the city during my National School of Drama days, I had limited opportunities to explore due to our busy schedules. However, Aasif Ji was the perfect host, aware of my love for local cuisine," he added. "He introduced me to some of the city's finest culinary delights, from delectable chhole bhature to Delhi's iconic chaat. We also had the opportunity to connect with our fans, and the affection they showed us during our visit will forever hold a special place in my heart. I eagerly plan to keep visiting this city time and again," the actor concluded. 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai' airs Monday to Friday on &TV. Kolkata, Oct 21 : Her fight to establish the rights of transgender individuals in West Bengal was not an easy one. Going beyond the traditional thought that Durga Puja celebration is limited to the so-called straight world in society, she started a unique community Puja organised exclusively by the transgender community, where Goddess Durga is worshipped as 'Ardhanariswara', a combination of the strengths of Maa Durga and Lord Shiva. For Ranjita Sinha, the founder of Garima Griho (home of pride), a shelter-home for transgenders on the southern outskirts of Kolkata, the recent verdict of the five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on the issue of same-sex marriage in the country has lots of positive sides for the community she hails from. Speaking to IANS, Sinha highlights the positive sides of the verdict on this count. IANS:For many same-sex couples the apex court's verdict has brought heartbreak as it refused to legalise gay marriages in India and instead left the matter to Parliament to form legislation on this count. But you do not seem to be disappointed. What is there to cheer about? Sinha:As you rightly pointed out, the verdict has brought grief to same-sex couples, like gays and lesbians. But, at the same time the apex court has given legal recognition to the rights of transgender persons to marry. What does that mean? It means that a trans-woman and a cis-female can legally get married to any biological male or trans-man, similarly, a trans-man and a cis-man, can legally get married to any biological female or a trans-woman. So, in a way, the apex court has nullified the Union government's argument that a legal marriage is possible only between a "biological male" and "biological female." Personally, I was expecting this positive development even before the verdict was pronounced in the backdrop of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. IANS:But considering that the transgender community is part of the bigger 'Queer' family which includes gays, lesbians and bisexuals, don't you feel that the apex court's verdict would have been more fulfilling had it recognised the legal right of marriage and adoption for same-sex couples? Sinha:Of course I do. But at the same time I find a silver-line in the Supreme Court's verdict. I am sure that the social and legal movement demanding legal marriage, adoption and succession rights for same-sex couples will not end here. In that case, the apex court's recognition of the legal marriage rights of transgender people that nullifies the limited concept of marriage only between biological males or females can be used as a precedence in case there is a future possibility of the matter being heard in front of an even bigger Bench of theapex court. So the battle is not yet over and all hope is not lost. IANS:Why do you think that marriage rights are so crucial for the people of the community? Sinha:There are multiple reasons. First is the basic question of freedom of choice. If any couple wishes to be in a live-in relationship it is their freedom of choice.Similarly if any couple, be it of the opposite sex or same sex, wishes to get legally married, it is again their freedom of choice. So there should be that freedom of choice. Second, in certain cases like joint bank loans or nominee in case of insurance policies and investments, the legal stamp of marriage is extremely important. IANS:My final question. When you say that the battle not over, what is your perception about the next step of the movement? Sinha:As you said, the apex court has asked the Union government to form a panel to evaluate the possibilities of legal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Now we will have to keep a close watch on whom the government includes in that panel. If we see that it is crowded by only those dyed-in-the-wool individuals who are against same-sex marriage without any scientific logic behind their argument, our movement should start right from there instead of waiting for the final outcome of the panel's decision. We will have to keep the pressure on so that the Union government also includes liberal people in the said panel. Remember, the reading down of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, that criminalised same-sex relations was not easily and quickly achieved. Similarly, we will have to keep fighting in case of this same-sex marriage issue and finally victory and glory will be ours. Satyamev Jayate. New Delhi, Oct 21 : After three long years of waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict on marriage equality rights, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies find themselves in a state of frustration and disappointment. The Supreme Court on October 17 refused to legalise same-sex marriage, placing it upon the Parliament and state governments to decide if non-heterosexual unions can be legally recognised. A five-judge Bench of the apex court announced a 3:2 verdict on petitions seeking rights for members of the LGBTQ+ community to marry, and choose family. The apex court delivered four verdicts in the same-sex marriage case, and the majority opinions were held by Justices S. Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and P.S. Narasimha, and the minority views by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice S.K. Kaul. The prolonged anticipation has resulted in a sense of unease and uncertainty in their pursuit of equal rights. However, amid this frustration, the community's hopes remain undeterred, and their resolve to fight for their rights burns brighter than ever. The extended wait has only fueled their determination to achieve equality, proving that their energy to secure the right to marry whomever they love is unwavering and forever alive. The main question put up in front of the Bench was whether the right to marry was a fundamental right.In November 2022, when the case was heard by the court for ten days, same-sex couples had submitted before the court that their inability to marry under Indian family law violated their fundamental rights to equality, life and liberty, dignity, free speech and expression, etc. This time, five judges unanimously agreed that the right to marry is not a fundamental right, and those who are seeking same-sex marriage cannot claim it as a fundamental right until the law permits them to marry. All the judges also agreed that transgender persons in heterosexual relationships have the right to marry under existing laws, including personal laws which regulate their marriage. Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta, who have been together for 29 years, are the petitioners in the marriage equality case.Speaking to IANS, they said, "We didn't expect this from the highest court in India." "I don't get it. The five-member Bench was the committee that was supposed to determine the rights. It is their duty which they have abdicated and passed on," Rangayan, a filmmaker, activist and festival director of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, said. "What was more frustrating was that they sugar-coated it with so much queer positivity, which is totally unwanted, when they were not going to give a positive verdict," the 61-year-old said, adding that it not only makes him angry but also sad about the collapse of the judicial system in India. "Now I don't even know when I will ever be able to get married to my partner of 29 years," he remarked.Rangayan and Gupta's plea to the court was that as long-standing committed partners, they should be able to sign on critical medical decisions for each other."If the person beside me who has lived with me for close to 30 years cannot sign then who will? The other rights of shared property and adoption rights are also there. But why can't we be equal citizens of India? Shame on the highest court for copping out," Rangayan said. The top court's verdict has sparked a wave of disappointment among advocates for equality in the context of same-sex rights.The predominant focus on same-sex marriage has left many feeling unsatisfied. This ruling has raised questions about whether it adequately addressed the broader spectrum of challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in their pursuit of equal rights and social acceptance. "It was disappointing to see years of advocacy, activism and discourse reach a dead end with the SC ruling against queer marriage rights. I would also like to point out that the verdict was on marriage equality rights, more than it's pegged as same-sex marriage verdict. It was an all encompassing verdict which includes the multiple queer possibilities and realities. However, correcting that is defeating right now as the verdict went nowhere near what one and many expected," queer Journalist Sourish Samanta said. Samanta is someone who doesn't believe in the institution of marriage, however, he felt at odds with what the larger queer movement prioritised, but he also realised that lived realities are so much different than our respective political discourse. "Such a verdict echoes deep with the potential to reach the diverse queer community that cuts across class-caste," he said. "I can only lament and express my utter disdain to having to put our fundamental rights on hold. However, this should also jolt our community stakeholders into realising that besides marriage laws, a stronger case can be made for holistic individual queer rights," Samanta said. He went on to say that while marriage is mostly a priority, the community should pivot this tough time realising that the rot of an institution like marriage goes deeper than one realises. "While important, there are instances and chances to work on queer rights that can cater to more gender-marginalised folx and also many economically-marginalised queer folx. So, perhaps a more class-caste sensitive approach would be great, just as the CJI rightly had pointed out that queerness is across class and caste, and not just an urban identity," he said. Asking about their unfinished agenda, Rangayan said that the way ahead is that they continue to fight, continue to demand justice and knock on other doors."I'm 61 now, but I still have a lot of fight left in me. I'll continue the struggle alongside thousands of queer youth, so future generations can live with pride. We will not rest till we achieve equal rights that are due to all citizens of this country," he said. In the face of disappointment and frustration, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies remain steadfast in their pursuit of equal rights.The verdict also serves as a reminder that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights extends beyond marriage. Many are now shifting their focus towards a more holistic approach, acknowledging that the struggle for equality encompasses various aspects of life, class, and caste within the queer community. Despite the setback, activists like Rangayan remain committed to their cause. They, along with countless others, will continue to fight for justice. KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 19:25 | All, World Cease-fire negotiations with Russia are off the table as long as Moscow refuses to return territory it has occupied in Ukraine, the country's national security secretary said in a recent interview. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, in the exclusive interview with Kyodo News, also indicated the country's intention of continuing its counteroffensive on military infrastructure in Russia, adding that Moscow has become "subordinate to China" in its attempts to draw closer to Beijing for diplomatic and economic support. Russia has continued to fight fiercely to maintain control of the Crimean Peninsula, which it unilaterally annexed in 2014, as well as four states in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, the most important organization directly under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, includes military commanders in addition to defense and foreign ministers. Its secretary's unyielding resolve to regain all Russian-occupied territory means the war will likely be protracted. "There are no negotiations worth having as long as Russia continues to occupy (Ukrainian) territory, including Crimea," said Danilov. Calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "terrorist," Danilov added that a "modern Hitler by the name of Putin killed 500 of our children." Danilov said he is convinced the "situation will fundamentally change" once F-16 fighter jets arrive from the West to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses but admitted it was difficult to predict the time needed to regain all the country's territory. While noting that Ukraine has entered an informal agreement not to use weapons supplied by the West in attacks on the Russian mainland, Danilov warned that facilities around Moscow could become targets for domestically produced arms. He dispelled concerns that international attention and support would wane amid the escalating situation between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Middle East, saying, "There has been no decrease in communication with the United States and Europe. Cooperation continues, and we get help every day." Regarding strengthening ties between Russia and China, Danilov said that Moscow has "lost its independence and now has to rely on countries like China, North Korea and Iran" but brushed off the likelihood of a cease-fire brokered by Beijing. Related coverage: Japan to begin living support program for Ukraine evacuees in April Russia proposes regular security talks with North Korea, China Xi, Putin affirm unity against "threats," talk Ukraine, Middle East Mumbai, Oct 21 : Leading LGBTQIA activists are crestfallen by the recent Supreme Court judgement denying them the much-anticipated marriage equality rights, but vow to continue the struggle which promises to be a long haul. Most feel that given the global sentiments on the issue, the apex court may have abdicated its responsibility by avoiding to step in for a landmark, lasting solution. Transgender activist Zainab Patel, who was one of the petitioners in the case, feels that in the present case, the government's mind seemed "clear from the start" that they had no intention of giving us the rights sought. "With so many words of wisdom coming out, ultimately they were not worth even the paper on which they printed The sad thing is this may not be a priority for the government as it's the election year now," rued Patel. The People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) declared it is "deeply disappointed" by the ruling, and said "it is unfortunate that the five-judge bench unanimously declared that there is no fundamental right to marriage". "This is disturbing as the foundation of the claim for equal right to marriage is based on an understanding that the right to marry is a fundamental right. The SC seems to have ignored that the founding document of international human law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, recognises the right to marry and start a family," PUCL President Kavita Srivastava said. PUCL General Secretary Dr. V. Suresh said that it was distressing that the apex court rejected the plea to interpret the Special Marriage Act in a gender-neutral manner so as to include the right of same-sex couples to marry. "The court cited the fear of tampering with this legislation because it was connected to a 'spider web' of laws the complexity of which required a legislative intervention rather than a judicial fiat," he said. However, Patel pointed out that whenever the LGBTQIA issue came up in Parliament, there never was a proper discussion on it, the government has also abandoned its responsibility, and "there's no hope from any political party in the country" considering the kind of reactions and contradictory statements on the issue. Patel mentioned that even though the onus is put on the government, there is no time-frame given, no clarification as to which Ministry would decide on this and related issues. Nevertheless, the trio of Patel, Srivastava, and Suresh admitted they "felt heartened by how much the ground has shifted from the open homophobia of yesteryears", and how the verdict avoids describing the community in stigmatising terms, unlike the scenario during the re-criminalisation judgement of 2013. Though the SC has on numerous occasions read the provisions of international human rights laws including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) into Article 21, "its surprising that it balked when it came to the question of marriage equality", said Srivastava. Suresh opined that the gains from the verdict are limited, like the proposition that a transgender man and transgender woman can marry, intersex persons who identify as a man or a woman and seek to enter into a heterosexual marriage would also enjoy the right to marry, and "any other interpretation of the laws governing marriage would be contrary to the Transgender Persons Act, Sec. 3 and the Article 15 of the Constitution". He noted that the transgender community occupies a spectrum and "not everyone transitions from one gender to another with many choosing to identify as non-binary and others willing to express their gender without necessarily going in for a transition". Yet, Patel considers it is "a step forward" and would be of great assistance to a section of the transgender community in the times ahead", and besides exploring a curative plea, the community will definitely fight it out for future remedies and to safeguard their wider human rights also. The battle for marriage equality will be taken forward using legislative and parliamentary fora, the courts and the streets as the community strives to recover from the setback to the liberalisation of social mores and return to a more patriarchal social morality, said Srivastava and Suresh. "The judgment is an implicit victory for conservative forces which privilege social morality over constitutional morality. The justice of this cause, rooted as it is in the deepest constitutional morality, can't be denied. The hope of a new dawn is best described in 'A Dream Deferred' (1951), the poem by the celebrated black American gay poet, Langston Hughes," they said. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Kolkata, Oct 21 : A fresh verbal battle on X (formerly Twitter) broke out on Saturdday between BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over the recent "cash for query" controversy that has rocked the political circles in the country. On Saturday morning, Dubey wrote on X, without naming Moitra, claiming that the Parliamentary IDs of an MP were opened from Dubai, when the MP concerned was in India. "An MP mortgaged the country's security for some money. Parliament IDs were opened from Dubai, at that time the alleged MP was in India. The NIC gave this information to the investigative agency. Do @AITCOfficial and the opposition still want to do politics," he said. Hours after that Moitra came out with a series of posts, challenging the claims of Dubey and requesting NIC to release related details in the matter. "Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff. Donat use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW," she said. The Trinamool MP from Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal's Nadia also claimed that she is aware of the impending raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter. "Also got message about impending CBI raid. I am busy with Durga Puja. I invite CBI to come home & count my pairs of shoes. But first please file FiR into a13,000 crore coal money Adani stole from Indians," she said in her message. On Friday only she questioned the chairman of the Ethics Committee of Parliament over the media interaction. She also questioned how the affidavit by Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani reached different media houses. New Delhi, Oct 21 : The Supreme Court, in its recent Constitution bench ruling, did not grant any legal recognition to same-sex couples and refused to strike down or read into gender neutral "person" in place of "male" and "female" existing under the Special Marriage Act. The top court of the country left it to the legislature to take a call on enacting the marriage equality law. However, it asked the Union and state governments to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community is not discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation and queer individuals are not refused access to any goods or services. All five judges of the Constitution Bench unanimously agreed that there exists no unqualified right to marriage and accepted the Centre's proposal that a committee to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary will be set up to examine what administrative steps could be taken to address basic social benefit concerns relating to same-sex couples. "Review of the impact of legislative framework on the flow of such benefits requires a deliberative and consultative exercise, which exercise the legislature and executive are constitutionally suited to, and tasked, to undertake," the apex court said. The Supreme Court said that a marriage entered into by a transgender person in the nature of a heterosexual relationship must be recognised by the law. It stressed that a transgender man has the right to marry a cisgender woman under the laws governing marriage in the country, including personal laws, adding that even intersex persons who identify as a man or a woman and seek to enter into a heterosexual marriage would also have the right to marry. However, the apex court laid down that the right to a civil union cannot be found to be a part of fundamental rights under the Constitution. "It would not be constitutionally permissible to identify a right to a union or an abiding cohabitational relationship mirroring the institution of marriage," said the majority opinion. The Supreme Court said that it is "not oblivious to the concerns of the LGBTQ+ partners with respect to denial of access to certain benefits and privileges that are otherwise available only to married couples" but to mandate the government to grant recognition or legal status to 'unions' will violate "doctrine of separation of powers" and in effect, is a direction to amend existing statutory frameworks. The petitioners are likely to file a review petition against the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court on October 18 and if they fail to succeed in convincing the judges to reconsider this decision, not many options will be left for the queer community. Queer lawyer Rohin Bhatt said that there are very limited grounds like mistakes of law, error apparent on face of record, etc. for review of a decision rendered by the Supreme Court under Article 137 of the Constitution. "Any review petition is tested on very narrow grounds. Review petitions are often dismissed in chambers and are rarely given open court hearings," he said. However, Bhatt believes that the decision of the Constitution Bench suffers legal and logical fallacies and is very optimistic on the outcome of the review petition, if filed. "Look, when one is a lawyer, one cannot be anything else but optimistic when you approach the court," he added. He said that there are not many hopes from the government or legislature and the next steps will be taken after broader consultation within the queer community. He said that the concept of gender binary viz. "biological male" and "biological female" contained in government pleadings is itself a reflection of the "homophobic" and "transphobic" approach in state action. Another advocate from the LGBTQ+ community, Shivangi Sharma, pointed out that the apex court failed to lay down any timeline for the proposed high-powered committee to implement the constitutional guarantees spelled out in the judgment. She said that not many "hopes" are there from the present Union government and recalled that many private members' Bills seeking equal rights for the queer community failed on the floor of Parliament in the past. "Yet, private members could introduce a Bill, if there is enough pressure from the public demanding equal rights for the minority queer community," she added. Patna, Oct 21 : Madhepura Police in Bihar have arrested two accused who were allegedly involved in gang rape of 16 years-old minor girl, an official said. The accused have been identified as Raja Kumar and Sharawan Kumar. Their two accomplices including main accused Pushparaj and Jyotish Kumar are absconding and keep threatening the family members of the victim. The accused committed the crime on October 11 and an FIR has been registered in women police station under relevant IPC sections of gang rape and criminal conspiracy. As per the statement of the victim, she was returning from the local temple when Pushparaj, travelling on a bike, intercepted her and requested to drop home. When she accepted his request he travelled some distance and offered a soft drink. He mixed sedatives in the soft drink. After consuming the soft drink, she became unconscious. Pushparaj took her to a deserted place where his three friends were already waiting. They raped her one-by-one and fled from the spot. The victim reached home and narrated her ordeal with parents. They have approached Murliganj police station and registered an FIR against the accused. The case was transferred to the women police station of the district later on. --IANS ajk/dan Bhopal, Oct 21 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released the fifth list of 92 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 17. With this, the saffron party has announced 228 candidates for a total of 230 Assembly seats in the state. In the fresh list, the BJP has also cleared the air around the candidature of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. After his aunt and state minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia announced not contesting the upcoming election citing health issues, the political circle in the state was abuzz with speculation that she might have vacated the Shivpuri seat for her nephew. However, the Union Minister won't be contesting the upcoming election. The BJP has fielded Devendra Kumar Jain from Shivpuri, and Maya Singh from the Gwalior East constituency. The party has fielded Narayan Singh Kushwaha from Gwalior West. Also, the BJP has fielded Siddharth Tiwari from Teonthar assembly constituency of Rewa district, replacing its sitting MLA Shyamlal Dwivedi. Siddharth, who is the grandson of former Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker (late) Sriniwas Tiwari and son of former Congress MP Sundarlal Tiwari, left the grand old party a few days ago. With Siddharth switching to the BJP after getting denied ticket from Tenothar, the Tiwari family's five decades-long association with the grand old party came to an end. The BJP has fielded senior BJP leader Gaurishnkar Bisen's daughter Mausam Bisen for the Balaghat seat, which was her father's political stronghold for the last few decades. A total of 12 women candidates have been fielded out of 92 candidates announced on Saturday. New Delhi, Oct 21 : A dhaba owner and his eight-year-old son were murdered at their house in central Delhi, an officer said on Saturday. He said that the preliminary inquiry suggest that prime suspect is the absconding servant, who was hired by the owner of the dhaba recently. Police said that on Saturday at 2:45 p.m a police control room call was received at Nabi Karim police station regarding the incident. "Upon arriving at the location -- Aarakasha Road -- across from the Woodland Hotel, we discovered that the dhaba was locked from the inside," said a senior police officer. "On the first floor of the dhaba, where the owner resided, we found an adult and a minor lying in a pool of blood with cut marks on their necks," said the officer. They were identified as Anuj (35) and his son Raunak. The family consisted of five members: Anuj, his wife, two minor children, and Anuj's mother. "Anuj's wife, along with her mother-in-law and daughter, had gone to Dwarka last night. Upon their return, they found the dhaba locked from the inside," said the officer. "Preliminary inquiries suggest that the prime suspect is a recently hired servant who has since gone missing. A forensic and crime team has been called to inspect the scene of the crime, and legal action is being initiated," said the officer. "Several teams have been formed with specific responsibilities to investigate the case," the officer added. Tel Aviv, Oct 21 : The Israel Defense Forces has said that it continues to prepare for the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip with plans for the expansion of the fighting being approved in recent days, media reports said. IDS said that the troops are conducting training in accordance with the approved operational plans. The IDF has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Gaza border in recent days, ahead of a major ground incursion which officials have said will begin "soon", Times of Israel reported. At least 4,385 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, including 1,756 children, Health ministry has said. The ministry said that another 13,561 people had been wounded. The numbers, which can't be verified, do not differentiate between civilians and militants. They also include Palestinians killed in IDF strikes and rockets fired at Israel which fall short. Israel has said that it has killed some 1,500 terrorists after Hamas launched its deadly October 7 assault, killing some 1,400 people and taking an estimated 210 hostages, Times of Israel reported. IDF said that an anti-tank guided missile was fired from Lebanon at the Margaliot area in northern Israel. The IDF said that it carried out a drone strike against the cell that launched the missile. Separately, another missile was launched from Lebanon at the Hanita area, the IDF said, adding troops responded with artillery fire at the source of the missile launch. Dawood Malik, founder of Lashkar-e-Jabbar, gunned down in Pakistan by unknown assailants. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 21 : Another terrorist involved in anti-India activities Dawood Malik, considered a close aide of wanted terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar, was shot dead on Pakistan soil by unknown gunmen, reports said. According to reports in Pakistani media, Malik, termed a tribal elder, was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pakistan's North Waziristan. Police said that it was a targeted attack carried out by unknown masked men in Mirali area of the North Waziristan tribal district on Friday morning. Malik was targeted by masked men at a private clinic and the assailants managed to escape after the attack. Malik is said to be the founder of Lashkar-e-Jabbar and also a close aide of one of India's most wanted terrorists Azhar. The fresh incident raises questions of a war among the terrorist organisations that are functional in Pakistan. In last few weeks, several terrorists wanted in India have been gunned down in Pakistan by unknown gunmen. On October 11, Shahid Latif, one of India's most wanted terrorists and also a key conspirator in the 2016 Pathankot terror attack case was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Pakistan's Sialkot. On October 1, Mufti Qaiser Farooq, a former member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a close associate of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks, was also killed in Pakistan. The incident bears a striking resemblance to the murder of another cleric, Maulana Ziaur Rahman, with ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba. --IANS aks/vd New Delhi, Oct 21 : Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who had written to the CBI and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleging that he had evidence of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra accepting bribes from a businessman to ask questions in parliament, has now claimed that he anticipates "a very serious threat to his life" because of the complaint. In a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, he said, "I anticipate a very serious threat to my safety on account of my complaint dated October 14, which I have submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and to Nishikant Dubey, MP, against Moitra, M.P., and others." He claimed: "On October 19, a direct attempt was made to coerce me into withdrawing my complaint. Threats of reputational harm were also conveyed in case I did not agree." He said that the very specific demand was that he should "unconditionally withdraw both the complaints in which very serious allegations pertaining to national security and corruption have been alleged by me against Moitra" and others. "It was stated that my pet dog, Henry (Rottweiler breed) would be returned by Moitra to me if I agreed to withdraw the said complaints," he said. He further said that given the Trinamool Congress leader's history of misusing her influence and political clout to browbeat and intimidate opponents, "my concerns are serious". He further stated that last month, Moitra attempted to extort his pet dog Henry from him by filing two totally bogus complaints with the Barakhamba Road Police Station. "Based on these two fake complaints, she pressurised Mahavir Singh, SHO of the Barakhamba Road Police Station, who then acted under her direct pressure to somehow or the other browbeat me into giving up the lawful ownership of Henry over to Moitra," he said, adding that he has preserved all the messages from Singh to him as also the 8 phone calls where he openly threatened me ("dabna padega") to give up Henry or else face prosecution in Moitra's fake complaints. Dehadrai also said that it is crucial to note that Singh used every trick in the book to compel him to sign and accept a one-sided agreement over Henry's custody, including a recital in which he would have accepted a fabricated pet certificate made by Moitra, which would have legitimised her illegal possession of Henry. "I refused. It is crucial to mention that acting under Moitra's pressure, he (SHO) deliberately ignored the evidence I provided to him which unequivocally established my legitimate claim over my pet Henry and instead, he forwarded me Moitra's one-sided agreement. He also said that the Barakhamba Road Police Station SHO knows the full truth and must come clean on his role in facilitating the actual theft and illegal retention of his dog Henry by Moitra. "Thus, given the extremely dangerous and dubious antecedents of Moitra and her accomplices, I anticipate an attack on my life," he said. He also said that he has received multiple strange messages from unknown numbers on his personal mobile phone which then suddenly came to be deleted. "Yesterday, I received three phone calls at 2:22 p.m. from a "No Caller ID" number. Even more disturbing is the fact that a few days ago, some unverified individuals attempted to barge into my private residence. I have a genuine apprehension that certain quarters might attempt some nefarious deeds to prevent me from deposing before the Ethics Committee, Lok Sabha on October 26 and also before the Investigating Agencies," the SC lawyer said. "Given the strange occurrences that have been going on, I fear for the well-being of my Chamber colleagues and myself. As I possess extremely sensitive evidence and material pertaining to this case, there is every likelihood that attempts could be made to either destroy this material or obtain it from me under threat of bodily harm. I therefore humbly request you to assess the threats in question and provide adequate protection, as you deem fit," he added. On Sunday, a massive controversy erupted after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posed a massive allegation against Moitra that she took "cash and gifts" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to "ask questions in Parliament'. Moitra responded to the allegations and said CBI is welcome to investigate "right after they finish investigating Adani's offshore money trail, over-invoicing, benami account". Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an inquiry against Moitra and her immediate suspension from the House for taking cash for question. In his letter, Dubey said that he is in receipt of a letter from Jai Anant Dehadrai, Advocate, wherein, he has shared irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged between Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani, a well known business tycoon, to ask question(s) in Parliament in exchange for 'Cash' and 'Gifts'. Dubey also wrote to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw demanding investigation into IP Address of the Lok Sabha MP's login credentials saying that she acted in a manner that was detrimental to India's national security. Meanwhile, Moitra on Friday put up a brave front saying that she is ready to face the CBI questions and the Parliament's Ethics Committee after the affidavit of businessman Darshan Hiranandani. She had alleged that the Prime Minister's Office "held a proverbial gun" to Hiranandani's 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". Patna, Oct 21 : To stop eve-teasing and molestation incidents during Durga Puja in crowded places, especially near Puja Pandals, Bihar Police has constituted 'Anti Romeo Squad' in several districts. The Anti Romeo Squad teams are being deployed at the crowded places in and round the surroundings of Puja Pandals and fairs in civil and police uniforms to keep at tab on miscreants. "In Gopalganj, we have constituted three teams of Anti Romeo Squads in the district. They have been given directions to keep tabs on miscreants and take action promptly as soon as anyone raises the alarm of eve-teasing or molestation," said Swarn Prabhat, SP of Gopalganj. He said that if any miscreant will be arrested, they will be booked immediately. "No one will be allowed to go scot free once he commits crime. Women safety is our top priority," Prabhat said. People are participating in Durga Puja celebrations in large numbers to see Maa Durga. In Patna, the police has been deployed at every place to prevent any such incident. Police teams are visible at every intersection and crowded places. A number of women constables have also been deployed at the Pandals to help women devotees. Monitoring of activities is also done through CCTV cameras. --IANS ajk/dan KYODO NEWS - Oct 21, 2023 - 12:46 | All, Japan, World A man believed to be a key figure in a ransomware group has been arrested in France over a string of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure across the world, including one in 2020 against Japanese video game maker Capcom Co., police said Friday. Law enforcement authorities from Japan, the United States and nine European countries cooperated in the investigation targeting the Ragnar Locker group, which threatened to publish and block access to victims' personal data unless ransoms were paid for decryption tools. The man, suspected of being a developer for the group, was arrested by French authorities in Paris on Monday, Japan's National Police Agency said. He was the "key target" of the international investigation. In a five-day operation through Friday, searches were conducted in the Czech Republic, Spain and Latvia, according to Europol. While the ransomware's infrastructure was seized in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden, the associated data leak website was also taken down in Sweden. The international sweep "delivered a major blow to one of the most dangerous ransomware operations of recent years," Europol said in a press release. Among Japanese firms attacked by the group, Capcom said in November 2020 that the personal information of customers and clients was stolen in a cyberattack. A Russian national was charged in the United States in May with ransomware attacks against law enforcement agencies, and Japanese police suspect he was also involved in the attack on Capcom, investigative sources said. Related coverage: FOCUS: Hackers target YouTube channels in Japan as online fraud cases rise Japan's busiest cargo port restarts after Russia-based hack Pro-Russian hackers target Japan's top port handling Toyota trade Day of Hamas attack will be remembered as the day its complete destruction began: Israeli Defence Minister (IANS FROM ISRAEL). Image Source: IANS News Tel Aviv, Oct 21 : Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that the day of attack by Hamas (October 7) will be remembered as the day on which "the final and complete destruction of Hamas began". Gallant said this while addressing the soldiers after an operational situation assessment in the '9th Division' of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The Defence Minister was reported as telling soldiers that "Israel will turn things around 180 degrees". He said that Hamas had attacked Israel in the southern region of the country. The Minister said the attack was designed to "kill, rape and kidnap". He said the Hamas attack was intended to even kill children and to "publish this to serve a jolt to Israel". He told soldiers that Israel would have to face several challenges, and asked them to be "prepared for any scenario". Gallant further said that "the state of Israel, the Defence establishment and the IDF were proud of the soldiers". Amid tensions, sirens were heard on Saturday in Tel Aviv at regular intervals. People are required to take shelter within 6 seconds of the blaring of the sirens. There were two missile attacks on Tel Aviv on Saturday till the filing of this report. The Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv wore a deserted look as people were not venturing outside. However, on Jaffa beach, a lot of people could be noticed. Arthur, the caretaker of a beach hotel at Hayakron in Jaffa, told IANS: "The Hamas is still firing missiles and rockets from south but our Iron Domes are working properly. Sirens are also blared. Hence, nothing to worry about." Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan after four years, addresses rally in Lahore. Image Source: IANS News Islamabad, Oct 21 : PML-N chief and former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday returned to Pakistan after a four-year-long self-imposed exile, and headed for hometown Lahore to address a party rally. His return came months before the next general elections, expected to be held early in 2024. Addressing journalists in Dubai on his way home from London, Sharif said that he is returning to Pakistan after "vindication" and that his party is "competent enough" to steer the country out of crisis, Geo TV reported. "I am returning to Pakistan after being vindicated with the grace of Almighty Allah," he said. The former PM said his party is in a position to resolve the masses' woes if elected into power. He landed in Islamabad in the afternoon, where he completed legal and biometric formalities. His chartered plane landed in the capital city with more than 150 people from his party and media organisations. Afterwards, Nawaz Sharif left for Lahore and reached after 5 p.m.. He was welcomed by his younger brother and former PM Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders at the airport. From there, he left for Minar-e-Pakistan, the venue for the grand rally of the PML-N to welcome him, in a helicopter. Shehbaz Sharif and former federal minister Ishaq Dar accompanied him. The helicopter landed on a special helipad created at the Diwan-e-Khaas near the Lahore Fort, from where Nawaz Sharif was escorted to Minar-e-Pakistan in a caravan of vehicles. New Delhi, Oct 21 : The Congress on Saturday appointed former Maharashtra chief minister and senior party leader Ashok Chavan, and Karnataka Cabinet Minister NS Boseraju as special observers for Telangana Assembly election. In a notification, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said: "Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) has approved the proposal for the appointment of Chavan and Boseraju as Congress Special Observers for the ensuing Assembly Elections in Telangana - 2023, with immediate effect." The Congress has been campaigning aggressively in Telangana to come to power for the first time in the southern state after its formation in 2014. The Congress has already announced several guarantees for Telangana. Even former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has participated in the 'Vijayabheri Bus Yatra' in the state from October 18 to October 20. Polling for the 119-member Assembly is scheduled on November 30 and counting of votes will take place on December 3. New Delhi, Oct 21 : The Congress on Saturday appointed former Maharashtra chief minister & senior party leader Ashok Chavan, and Karnataka Cabinet Minister NS Boseraju as special observers for the upcoming Telangana Assembly election. In a notification, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said: "Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) has approved the proposal for the appointment of Chavan and Boseraju as Congress Special Observers for the ensuing Assembly Elections in Telangana - 2023, with immediate effect." The Congress has been campaigning aggressively in Telangana to come to power for the first time in the southern state after its formation in 2014. The Congress has already announced several guarantees for Telangana. Even former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has participated in the 'Vijayabheri Bus Yatra' in the state from October 18 to October 20. Polling for the 119-member Assembly is scheduled on November 30 and counting of votes will take place on December 3. New Delhi, Oct 21 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a supplementary charge sheet against accused Syed Mohd Kasim Ibrahim in the ongoing money laundering case related to alleged terrorist activities involving the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). Ibrahim is currently in judicial custody, and the charge sheet against him is listed for consideration on October 26. Before Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta, ED's Special Public Prosecutor N. K. Matta, along with advocate Mohd Faizan Khan, said that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused in the case. The case revolves around the alleged laundering of Rs 120 crore over several years. The PFI was banned by the Indian government in late September of the previous year due to its alleged links with terror activities. The ED has initiated the case based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged terrorism-related activities, which are punishable under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The ED has claimed that the accused and other members associated with the PFI engaged in collecting funds through donations, hawala transactions, banking channels, and more. These funds were alleged to be used for unlawful activities and the commission of various offenses. Greater Noida, Oct 21 : National spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Rakesh Tikait, on Saturday joined ongoing farmers' protest in Greater Noida. Tikait arrived with his supporters at the Zero Point under the Yamuna Expressway, the venue of the protest. Police personnel have been deployed on the spot to manage law and order situation. They have been protesting here for a long time. Farmers whose land is being acquired for industrial projects like Jewar Airport, demand higher compensation, residential land for their children, jobs for their children, etc. On Saturday, a mahapanchayat was organised at the strike venue in which Rakesh Tikait participated. Since October 9, the farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union have been protesting at the Zero Point of Yamuna Express in Greater Noida over their demands. The farmers have been blaming the three authorities. There have been several rounds of talks with the officials, but the talks have failed. It is noteworthy that the farmers' protest has been against the three authorities. New Delhi Oct 21 : Despite lingering questions in the wake of a recent Supreme Court verdict, the LGBTQ community remains steadfast in their battle for equal rights. Suhail Abbasi, the Co-Founder & Chairperson, The Humsafar Trust, and one of petitioners in the Apex Court, highlighted the need for constant engagement, legal advocacy, and dialogue with parliamentarians to address the issues faced by the LGBTQ community. Abbasi, while talking to IANS, emphasised the significance of this ongoing fight for equality, recalling that it took nearly two decades to overturn Section 377 and achieve some legal reform. He suggested that any substantial legal changes in the future would require extensive advocacy and collaboration with various stakeholders. "The legal landscape for LGBTQ rights is expected to remain extremely active and demanding," says Abbasi. The recent Supreme Court verdict has generated discussions about the societal challenges still faced by LGBTQ individuals in India. Abbasi clarified that their primary goal was not to secure special rights but to attain the same rights as any other Indian citizen. These rights include marriage equality, inheritance rights, societal recognition, adoption rights, and the ability to make medical decisions on their partner's behalf. "We believed that achieving marriage equality would pave the way for other rights to follow. It was not possible to demand all these rights simultaneously," Abbasi explained. LGBTQ activists had petitioned the Supreme Court, including Abbasi himself, to advocate for marriage equality rights. However, the recent judgement left many uncertain about the next steps. Abbasi says that they were currently consulting lawyers and legal experts to understand the specific implications of the new ruling. "Although the recent judgement portrayed our case positively, it did not grant us significant rights. We must first grasp the implications of the judgement before formulating a strategy for the future," says Abbasi. When asked about engaging with the government and political parties to support LGBTQ rights, Abbasi acknowledged that the responsibility of changing laws rested with the Parliament. "Advocacy and awareness campaigns would be essential to make politicians understand the importance of LGBTQ rights and the need for inclusive policies," says Abbassi. He expressed concerns about political parties remaining silent on LGBTQ issues, believing that they did not consider the community a significant vote bank. He emphasised the need for LGBTQ advocates to highlight their voting power and ensure that politicians took their concerns seriously. Meanwhile, various LGBTQ organisations are working together to draft proposals for inclusion in national policies. They aim to address issues related to health, social changes, legal reforms, and personal and equal rights. As per the community members, medical rights, in particular, have been a major concern, as LGBTQ individuals often face challenges when seeking medical permission from authorities. Marriage equality rights, while a crucial milestone, are just one aspect of the broader struggle for LGBTQ rights in India. Abbasi and others in the community remain committed to advocating for equal rights at all levels of society, from healthcare to legal reforms, with the hope of creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all (Shekhar Singh can be reached at shekhar.s@iansin) Hyderabad, Oct 21 : The seizure of cash, gold, liquor and other items in Telangana in the run up to next month's assembly elections crossed Rs 300 crore on Saturday, officials said. Enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold and liquor worth over Rs 18 crore till Saturday morning. With this the total seizure since October 9 has gone up to Rs 307 crore, said to be a record in the country for such a short period. During the entire poll process in 2018 elections in Telangana, the total seizure was cash and gold worth Rs.103 crore. The enforcement agencies had started the checking on October 9 when the model code of conduct came into force with the announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission of India. During the 24-hours period, more than Rs 9.69 crore cash was seized. The total cash seizure has now gone up to Rs 105.58 crore. According to the data released by the office of Chief Electoral Officer, precious metals worth over Rs 3.81 crore were seized between 9 a.m. October 20 and 9 a.m. October 21. The enforcement agencies have so far seized 220 kgs gold, 894 kg silver, diamond and platinum all worth more than Rs 145 crore. Authorities continued their crackdown on the flow of liquor. During the 24-hour period, 31,961liters of liquor was seized, taking the cumulative seizure to 72,302 liters, valued Rs.13.58 crore. The state and central agencies have also seized 232 kg ganja, taking the total seizure to 3,672 kg, valued over Rs 15.23crore. The authorities have also seized 1.89 lakh kg rice and other items worth over Rs 26.93 crore. The elections for 119-member state assembly will be held in a single phase on November 30. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Netivot. Image Source: IANS News Washington, Oct 21 : US had hastened pouring arms and ammunition into Israel since the war-time visit of President Joe Biden to Tel Aviv with 45 cargo planes loaded with armaments dispatched to reach the strife torn country. The latest aircraft carriers diverted from their normal positions are on standby near the waters in Israel to deter any other terrorist group joining the Hamas. Israel received its 45th cargo plane as arms continue to enter the country. The shipment reportedly included military supplies, medical equipment, and military ambulances. Another shipment on Thursday also delivered armoured vehicles to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli Ministry of Defence confirmed that a 45th cargo plane had arrived in Israel on social media as armaments and military vehicles continue to pour into the country, the Insider said. A post on X, showed a video and images of the cargo, that arrived in Israel on Friday. The shipment included "around 1,000 tonnes of armaments" -- having military supplies, medical equipment, and military ambulances -- to the (IDF) as it prepares for its ground offensive in Gaza following the Hamas militant group's attacks on October 7. The US has been sending munitions, aircraft carriers, and fighter jets toward Israel after the Hamas attacks of October 7 that left the country vulnerable on the southern border. The aid package contains the latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Specific munitions are uncertain, but Israel needs weapons for their Iron Dome defence system, media reports said. After the surprise attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the October 7 weekend, US have been swift in its response and providing aid. The Hamas ambush left hundreds of civilians dead and hundreds of others abducted. Israel retaliated with aerial bombardmensts into Gaza. Some 1,000 Israelis were killed as of Tuesday, with another 3,400 injured, Israel's embassy in the US said. Gaza's health ministry reported at least 830 Palestinians had been killed, with at least 4,250 injured, the insider reported. The US contributes $3 billion annually to its ally in the Middle East and is expected to enhance its defence capabilities by sending additional munitions and redirecting fighter jets and aircraft carriers toward the waters near Israel. Most notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest US aircraft carrier, has been directed from its station in the Mediterranean toward Israel. Israel's Director General of the Ministry of Defense has authorized procurement orders both international and domestically worth around $100 million, the Jewish Press reported. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said he would ask for billions of dollars in wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel. An urgent funding request of $105 billion was being put before Congress Friday. It was expected Biden would ask for $105 billion, with $14 billion earmarked for Israel. Details of the arms package have not been made public by the White House, BBC News reported. Biden had said Hamas and Russia, both wanted to "annihilate a neighbouring democracy". New Delhi, Oct 21 : With the October 27 release date of her film 'Tejas' less than a week away, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut held a special screening for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Indian Air Force Auditorium here on Saturday. After the screening, Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, unhooked a fighter plane-shaped brooch he was wearing and gave it to Sarvesh Mewara, the film's director. Kangana plays the titular role of Tejas Gill, an Indian Air Force officer, in this action drama. Commenting on the screening, Kangana wrote in her Instagram post: "It was an enthralling experience to see a film dedicated to the defence forces and our soldiers with so many soldiers and honourable Defence Minister himself." Mentioning the "surreal moment" when General Chauhan removed his brooch and gifted it to Mewara, Kangana added: "This gesture moved us deeply; it seemed we have accomplished our mission. We are beyond thrilled. Can't wait to bring the film to you all." NANNING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and two people remain missing after an explosion at a factory workshop in the city of Pingguo, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said Saturday. The explosion happened at around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Eight people were rescued and sent to hospital for treatment. Four of them were declared dead, while the rest are all currently in stable condition in hospital. Initial investigations showed that the blast was caused by high-temperature molten aluminum that leaked into the cooling pool during the aluminum rod extrusion process. Rescue efforts and further investigations are still underway. New Delhi, Oct 21 : Hamas terrorists who carried out a surprise attack on October 7 were found to be under the influence of Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant that has been clandestinely produced in southern Europe and trafficked through Turkey to the consumer markets on the Arabian Peninsula, as reported by Channel 12. The pills were recovered from the pockets of many terrorists who lost their lives on Israeli soil, Jerusalem Post reported. This stimulant drug, also known as the "cocaine for the poor", allowed the terrorists to commit heinous acts with a sense of calmness and indifference. Simultaneously, it kept them highly alert for extended periods and suppressed their appetite, the report said. Captagon gained notoriety in 2015 when it was discovered to be used by IS fighters to suppress fear prior to carrying out terrorist operations. As the influence of terrorist organizations like IS diminished, Lebanon and Syria took the reins and began producing and distributing the drug on a large scale. Gaza, in particular, became a popular market for the drug, especially among addicted young individuals, Jerusalem Post reported. Captagon belongs to the amphetamine family and was initially developed to address attention disorders, narcolepsy, and depression. Despite its highly addictive nature and potential for inducing psychotic reactions, it continues to enjoy popularity in the Middle East due to its affordability and ease of manufacturing. In poorer countries, the drug can be purchased for a dollar or two, while in wealthier nations, it may cost up to 20 dollars per pill. According to medical professionals in Lebanon and Syria, Captagon is not only prevalent among fighters but is also frequently used by desperate civilians residing in conflict zones. Once a source of revenue for ISIS members through drug smuggling, Captagon has now become a major source of income for Syria and is actively supported by Hezbollah, Jerusalem Post reported. Around two years ago, an investigation conducted by The New York Times revealed that individuals associated with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, including family members, had established a thriving industry for the production of Captagon. The profits generated from the drug trade in Syria exceed those gained from legitimate exports. Reliable estimates suggest that Captagon's exports from Syria alone reached a minimum of $3.5 billion in 2020 a" a figure five times greater than the combined value of Syria's legal export industries, estimated at just over $700 million. Experts offering their assessments believe that these projections are speculative and that the actual market value is likely much higher. For example, in Saudi Arabia, it is estimated that consumption of Captagon surpasses 600 million pills annually, generating a market value of at least $9 billion to $12 billion dollars every year. The drug's reach extends beyond Saudi Arabia, with significant seizures of Captagon reported in Italy, Greece, Malaysia, and Egypt. In Jordan, it is readily available at low prices, making it increasingly popular among underprivileged youth, including those of school age. Without a doubt, the prevalence of Captagon continues to rise each year, Jerusalem Post reported. In December 2021, Kuwaiti authorities seized nine million Captagon pills hidden in a shipment of oranges. Just a week prior, Dubai authorities intercepted the smuggling of 1.5 tonnes of Captagon pills, worth approximately $380 million, concealed within a cargo of lemons. Imphal, Oct 21 : The Manipur High Court has allowed an appeal against its controversial March 27 order which directed the state government to send a recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to consider the Scheduled Caste status for the Meitei community, court sources said on Saturday. A High Court official said that a division bench of Justice Ahanthem Bimol and Justice Guneshwar Sharma, in its Friday order, allowed the four tribal bodies to appeal against the order, saying: "The main grievances raised by the applicant is that they will be prejudicially affected if they are not given a chance to have a say or to raise objection in the matter of granting ST status to the Meitei community." The tribal bodies include All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) and All Manipur Tribal Union. Justice M.V. Muralidharan, who was acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court and recently been transferred to the Calcutta High Court, had passed the earlier order on a petition filed by members of the Meitei community seeking that the state government be directed to act on their pleas for inclusion in the ST list. The division bench said: "Taking into consideration the nature of arguments of counsel appearing for the parties which needs to be examined and decided on the basis of the materials available in the connected writ appeal and writ petition and taking into consideration the grievances raised by the applicants, we are inclined to grant leave sought by the applicants in the present application." Lawyer Collin Gonsalves, appearing for the tribal bodies, argued that "if the Meitei community is wrongly granted ST status, then this will adversely affect the existing tribal ST in employment and education where reservation for STs exist and that the Meitei community being dominant and advanced politically, economically and educationally will grab majority of the ST reserved seats". Advocate M. Hemchandra, appearing for the respondents, said that "in spite of having records of Meitei community as Meitei tribes", they "had been left out at the time of preparation of ST list under the Constitution of India" and that "Meitei tribes have approached authorities concerned for the last many years but failed to consider for initiation of process for inclusion into the ST lists." The high court on March 27 had directed the state government to submit the recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to consider inclusion of Meitei (Meetei) community to ST list by May 29. This had snowballed into major controversy with thousands of tribals on May 3 turned up for the aTribal Solidarity Marcha called by ATSUM in all the ten hill districts of Manipur to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category causing large-scale violence afterwards. According to Manipur Police, as many as 175 people were killed, 1,108 others injured while 32 are missing in the ongoing ethnic strife which started on May 3. --IANS sc/vd LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A series of activities were held here Friday to display and promote the culture and tourism charm of China's southwestern Sichuan Province. The promotion campaign included a landscape photo exhibition, a long-spout teapot pouring Kungfu show, and Sichuan Opera face-changing performance. Some unique cultural products were also exhibited, like the Sichuan embroidery, lacquerware and traditional oil-paper umbrella. Themed "Nihao! China -- Sichuan, more than pandas," the event was hosted by the Culture and Tourism Department of Sichuan Province. For many British panda lovers, their first impression of Sichuan is the homeland of giant pandas. In the past 12 years, the giant pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian living at Edinburgh Zoo have brought much joy to visitors. Maria Lamle, a senior account manager of a Bristol-based media agency, said she had visited Sichuan recently and learned a lot more about the giant pandas' lifestyle and habits in the Chengdu giant pandas research base. The landscape photos and videos showcasing tourist attractions, such as Jiuzhaigou Valley and Leshan Giant Buddha, also caught guests' eyes. "One of my favorite places ...was the incredible Sanxingdui Museum. I really felt like we were traveling back in time," Lamle said. John McLean, chairman of the UK-China Business Development Center, said that tourism is an efficient way to bring people together by sharing experiences and promoting their respective cultures. "I hope China and Britain can work more closely together to promote inbound and outbound travels between our two countries," said McLean. "Both China and Britain possess splendid cultural and rich tourism resources. These exchanges not only bring mutual economic benefits, but also help eliminate misunderstandings and barriers between the East and the West, making a positive contribution to global peace and development," said Zhao Fei, minister of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. A key objective and strength of the Sharjah Publishers Conference has been to connect publishers from the global publishing community with the African publishing world. This years African presence has increased again, with participants from 18 African countries (excluding North Africa/Arab countries), many of them Francophone, including Benin, Burkino Faso, Cote dIvoire, Mauritius and Zaire for the first time, along with many returning participants. Ernest Oppong, Executive Director of the African Publishers Network (APNET), based in Accra, Ghana, has been representing African publishers at the Publishers Conference since 2018. Over this period, he has acquired new knowledge on current trends in book publishing and translation which he can then disseminate through the APNET newsletter, creating awareness of African publishers in the international publishing communities and providing networking opportunities which will expand rights trading. Lola Shoneyin, publisher at Ouida Books in Nigeria, is attending for the first time, and notes that her key objective for this years fair is knowledge sharing. She comments: Being in Sharjah itself is so important. I have been to book fairs where the African presence comprised a publisher or two from Egypt. I dont blame the book fairs themselves finding publishers in Africa who can meaningfully contribute to and benefit from exposure to the global marketplace takes extensive investigation. But there are many of us publishers who can and will benefit. We are looking for new ways to trade with neighbouring regions and continents, as well as trading amongst ourselves. There is always something to learn at Sharjah. Sandra Tamale, founder editor of Editora Trinta Zero Nove in Mozambique, first attended in 2019, shortly after launching her publishing house which focuses on publishing books in translation from around the world into Portuguese. She describes her first Sharjah Publishers Conference as mindblowing, and quickly developed a global network of publishing colleagues and friends who had been in the industry for many years who were generous enough to share their wisdom. The conference was the starting point of her international publishing journey which led to winning a London Book Fair Excellence Award in 2021. Tamale congratulates the Sharjah Publishers Conference for its focus on the global South, and in particular on smaller publishers who dont have the resources to attend international book fairs. As well as 40 publishers from Africa attending this years conference, there will be a round table focused on African publishing markets hosted by Senegalese publisher Sulaiman Adebowale, founder and director of Amalion, a Dakar-based multilingual publishing initiative. Through his round table, Sulaiman hopes to present the rich array of content that is produced by African publishers that has a place in the global publishing scene, as well as provide practical advice to publishers looking to sell translation rights into African languages. The Francophone African presence this year will comprise 18 publishers from 11 countries who were selected for the quality of their catalogue, their dynamism and their interest in foreign rights. Agnes Debiage of ADCF Consulting in Paris, and a key driver of the French-speaking African presence, notes that their motivations for attending are to expand their international network, draw on inspiring initiatives from elsewhere, discover a range of titles which could be integrated into their catalogue, establish face-to-face relationships, and start real relationships with other publishers around the world. Sharjah will play an essential role over time to enable collaborations between the linguistic areas of this great continent. Also representing African authors at the fair are literary agents Bieke van Aggelen of the Netherlands based African Literary Agency and Raphael Thierry, of France based gitna Literary Agency. The second Sharjah Booksellers Conference the U.A.E., held May 1-2, attracted some 200 booksellers and another 100 publishing professionals from across the world. The event opened with an introduction from Ahmed al Ameri, chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, and Sheika Bodour al Qasimi, CEO of Kalimat Group and former president of the International Publishers Association. Al Qasimi noted that the U.A.E. will host COP28 in 2023, the United National climate change conference, from November 30-December 11, and she encouraged attendees to prioritize sustainability. Climate change poses a profound risk to our industry, she said. We must find ways to do better - to change the way we produce and distribute books. Markus Dohle, former CEO of Penguin Random House and current Bertelsmann board member, followed. He said the industry is currently in one of the greatest moments of change in publishing since Gutenberg. He added that global revenues are growing, and praised the healthy coexistence between physical and digital products, with physical products accounting for about 80% of all sales. Print has prevailed, and it is the life insurance of the publishing industry, he noted. Furthermore, Dohle said that as the population of the world grows and literacy spreads, the total market for books grows with it. For years, childrens and young adult books have been the fastest-growing category in the industry, and, he added, that should be reassuring to those at the conference. He also praised the new efficiencies in distribution. However, book distribution bottlenecks persist around the world. Brexit, for example, means that U.K. distributors that previously had significant export sales to Europe have seen that business grind to a halt; Gardners, the dominant book distributor in the U.K., opened a company in France to accommodate European orders. Ordering from U.K. publishers also has slowed. As an alternative, publishers in the U.K. and those further afield are looking to the U.S. as a market for expansion. Wonder House and Prakash Books, now the largest publisher in India, signed a deal with IPG in the U.S. and began distributing their bestselling childrens board books in June. That said, U.K. publishers report they have found a newly fertile market in China after several years of stalled rights sales, as diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China have been strained in recent years. China is very interesting, but very tricky now for U.S. publishers, said one international sales director, who asked not to be identified. The Sharjah Book Authority flew in a wide variety of booksellers from around the world, including a coalition from French-speaking West African countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Djibouti, and Niger; others came from Central Asia, including some from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; and still others traveled from New Zealand, the Philippines, and Singapore. After two days of conversations, it became clear that everyone shared the same concerns: how to attract customers to their stores, promote reading, build community, curate stock, reduce returns, and eke out a profit. Attendees included Ivana Simic, the publishing and licensing manager of Dexyco, a chain of 50 childrens goods stores in Serbia; El Kamouni Hassan, director of the Librarie de Paris bookstore in El Jadida, Morocco; and Akshay Routray, founder of the Walking BookFairs bookstore in Bhubaneswar, India. Many participants said theyre eager to stock more English-language titles, but find them difficult or too expensive to order. Reading books in English is an aspirational activity for some. The desire is there, said Aidai Maksatbekova, owner of IQ Bookstore in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. While were doing fine, we could do even better if we could find a more affordable and efficient way to get English-language books. Bishkek may seem far away from everyone, but the books make us feel close and connected to the international community of book lovers and readers. When she pitched the idea of writing a Taylor Swift Little Golden Book biography in February 2021, Wendy Loggia couldnt have known that the beloved pop star would be embarking on a record-smashing world tour in spring 2023. Loggia is a Swiftie and thought the artist would make an ideal subject for the line of biographies the Golden Book imprint introduced in 2016. Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography debuted this May 2, just as Taylor-mania was overtaking the world, as a #1 bestseller on the PW and New York Times lists. The timing was pure luck, says Loggia, v-p and senior executive editor at Delacorte Press (a Random House Childrens Books imprint along with Little Golden Books). The stars aligned for this book. Just over five months later, it has sold 367,000 copies according to BookScan, has had multiple reprints, and shows no sign of slowing down. It was a #1 overall bestseller in Australia the first week in September. According to Time, Swifts Eras tour is on track to generate around $5 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. alone, even before the tour extends into Asia, Australia, and Europe next year. For die-hard Swifties and those who cant afford a concert ticket (which average around $1,300, according to Business Insider), a Little Golden Book priced at $5.99 has become a sought-after, but affordable, collectors item, met with near-universal praise (Rolling Stone called it a must-have for any Taylor Swift collection). The response from fans and book buyers has been overwhelming, Loggia says. Perusing social media (especially TikTok) for mentions of the book, shes discovered the sometimes-surprising ways readers are interacting with it. People are giving it as baby shower gifts, theyre putting their concert tickets in the book, theyre pulling the book apart and creating journals with their own pages inserted, theyre using it in schools along with friendship bracelets as a classroom activity. How does she explain the broad appeal? The endearing illustrations by Elisa Chavarri (which some fans have ripped from the book and framed), the attractive price point, and the prevailing Taylor-mania are certainly factors, Loggia says. But part of the books success can also be attributed to Swifts power as an inspiring role modelsomeone who pursued her dreams and stands up for others. Those qualities are central to all Little Golden Book biographies, according to Andrea Posner-Sanchez, the series editorial director. A home library The Little Golden Books brand launched in 1942, offering families an opportunity to start their own book collections, given the books affordable 25 cover price. They were meant to be accessible; rather than appearing primarily in bookstores, where some families might not have been regular visitors, they were sold in dime stores, grocery stores, and even train stationsplaces where kids might be shopping with their parents. With early entries such as The Poky Little Puppy and The Little Red Hen, the line was an instant hit, and grew through the decades to encompass a catalog of more than 1,400 titles. The brand was acquired by Random House in 2001. Through the years, Little Golden Books have retained their original 24-page format and distinctive gold-foil spine. The biography line launched with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington in 2016, followed by Johnny Appleseed in 2017 and Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr. in 2018. Posner-Sanchez took over as editor later that year and published a biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Shana Corey, released in 2020. It was a breakout hit. Collectively, the Little Golden Book biographies have sold more than two million copies, according to the publisher. The books are designed to be read to young children, but Posner-Sanchez says theyre only a portion of the readership. A perhaps surprising fact is the number of adults who are purchasing the books for themselves. The nostalgia factor is a big part of that, Posner-Sanchez explains. Little Golden Books hold a special place for those who grew up reading them, and when they feature a beloved cultural icon, such as Betty White, they hit a sweet spot. The books have even been used in senior centers as an option for those who might need something easy to read and are familiar with the subjects, Loggia says, and the price also makes them attractive gifts for fans of their featured subjects. Posner-Sanchez adds that she was touched to learn that Carol Burnett was seen carrying her own Little Golden Book biography when leaving her 90th birthday celebration with friends. The biography line published four titles in 2021, increasing to eight in 2022. Next year, 22 new titles are planned. Posner-Sanchez says the series considers a broad range of public figures for the biographies: Beyonce, Simone Biles, Misty Copeland, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton are just a few on the current roster. First and foremost, a subject must have an inspiring story, but it also helps if theyre having a cultural moment. Its great for kids to hear about people who have persevered and succeeded against all odds and who have done great things to benefit others, Posner-Sanchez says, adding that she gets a lot of suggestions for future titles from both inside and outside the company. Coming this fall, fans will find books on the Beatles, Jonas Salk, Bruce Springsteen, and Oprah Winfrey, among others. Loggia is also the author of the Little Golden Book on Lucille Ball. Growing up in Balls hometown of Jamestown, N.Y., she has always been a fan of the trailblazing comedian. Her deep base of knowledge made it both a pleasure and a challenge to fit Balls life story into the Little Golden Book format, which ranges from approximately 800 to 1,000 words. At her book signing at the National Comedy Center during its recent annual festival, Loggia was greeted by a 90-minute line of book buyers from around the world, some dressed as Ball. There were both kids and adults at the signing, including members of Lucille Ball fan clubs who were eager for new merch dedicated to the beloved comedian. Breakout biographies like Swifts have raised awareness about other books in the series. Im so excited that these books have brought a spotlight to the wonderful biographies that are already out and that are coming, Loggia says. I hope they inspire young readers to pursue their dreams. Joanne OSullivan is a journalist, author, and editor in Asheville, N.C. A primary goal of the NYU Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts is teaching our students to understand the globalization of publishing and the needs and challenges of colleagues around the world. So when Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, first suggested to me in 2013 that we create a training program for publishers from the Arab world attending the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) of course I said yes. I was delighted to bring faculty members from our MS in Publishing program as well as special guest speakers to Sharjah to share the latest strategies and business practices behind growth and book sales in the U.S. [related] A decade later, the number of publishers registering for the program has expanded to nearly 100. The classroom conversations have nurtured a shared sense of understanding and connectivity: publishing education opens minds and creates bonds across borders. This year, the SIBF-NYU program will take place on Saturday, October 28, and will be attended not only by publishers from the Arab world but from Africa as well. Over the years, our topics have included defining and refining a winning social media strategy, building an international sales team and creating a compelling presence in the marketplace, and successfully buying and selling rights in a global forum like the SIBF. These conversations are led by thought leaders such as Dominique Raccah, President and CEO of Sourcebooks, who shared her path from starting a small business (in her apartment) to running one of the most successful book publishing businesses in the U.S. Attendees have also heard from Keith Riegert, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Ulysses Press; Bryan Christian, Senior Director of Marketing at Little, Brown and Company; Jennifer Brehl, Senior Vice President, Executive Editor and Director of Editorial Development for the William Morrow division of HarperCollins, and many other American publishing leaders, who have presented candid, interactive seminars. Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand shared with her Sharjah audience the role of the author in reaching and connecting with audiences through multiple channels. In every session we put a priority on involving and engaging the audience, with interactive discussions, workshops, and small-group breakouts. It is wonderful to see publishers from all over the world chatting, strategizing, and sharing their expertise as they collaborate and tackle common challenges. This year, we are excited to present two very different yet interconnected seminars: The Power of Podcasts and Storytelling for Publishing Profit This session will focus on the role of podcasts, audiobooks, and digital audio in adding a multimedia storytelling component to any publishing company, big or small, as well as how best to host and and monetize podcasts. This seminar will be taught by Brendan Francis Newnam, Vice President of Audiobooks at Pushkin Industries, a major American audio company co-founded by author Malcolm Gladwell and journalist Jacob Weisberg. Data-Driven Success Strategies for Publishers Taught by David Walters, who leads the team at Circana/Bookscan that delivers book industry data and insights to publishers, retailers, and content creators, this session will help demystify data. It will provide publishers with low-cost tools and sources of information to improve their understanding of the market, readers, and how to use data to drive sales. Our longstanding relationship with SIBF was a major inspiration for the creation of a new executive education program that NYU SPS will run January 8-20, 2024 on campus at NYU. The NYU Advanced Publishing Institute (NYU API) is for mid- to senior-level book publishing executives eager to expand their skills and knowledge. With an international audience and a distinguished roster of speakers exploring salient topics on the minds of publishers today, NYU API will continue and expand our Sharjah tradition of sharing information and a passion for publishing with colleagues around the world. Andrea Chambers is associate dean of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA). A new project set up to promote the translation and distribution of books from the Arabic-speaking literary scene into Europe, LEILA is funded by a European Union program and designed and implemented by iReMMO and ATLAS in France, BOZAR in Belgium and Federation Tunisienne des Editeurs in Tunisia. The project has three main aims: 1. to promote the new Arabic-language literary scene in Europe through a selection of 60 books and 80 authors; the books, chosen by a Euro-Arab jury of specialists are promoted via the organisations new website. 2. to organise meetings and workshops to bring together professionals active in the field of Arabic literature; some have already taken place in Paris, Tunis, and Berlin. 3. to reinforce the training and visibility of a new generation of Arabic translators, bringing them together at one-week residencies to share experiences and brainstorm ways to promote their work and role as literary scouts; the first of these took place in Arles. The LEILA project manager, Anne Millet, is based at iReMMO, a French independent think tank focusing on the Middle-East and the Mediterranean region. Having moved to Cairo to learn Arabic, she worked for the French Institutes Bureau du livre organising conferences and debates around literature. In 2017 she also began working with iReMMO to develop participation in the literary festival Maghreb-Orient des livres. As she explains: Through these professional networks, I met many people working in the field of translated Arabic literature and realized that there were several ongoing initiatives in Europe that had the same objective: to promote Arabic literature and its translation. After the 2011 Arab Spring, there was a renewed curiosity in Europe for the cultural production coming from the Arab world. After consulting, we decided to work at a European level and apply for an EU Creative Europe grant. From the start, we were lucky to be able to work with great partners. While the initial creation of LEILAs website, and the selection of the jury, was a challenge, there has been huge support for the project overall. We were lucky to work with Chirine El Messiri for project consultancy, continued Millet, Jule Rubi at Atlas who handled the jury selection process, and the journalist Olivia Snaije, who covers the publishing industry and has a good knowledge of the Arab world, who edited the website, doing research, writing, and proofreading work. While bringing together professionals and commissioning translation samples for the titles selected by the jury, the organisers realized it was impossible to address all 27 countries and 24 languages of the European Union; the decision was therefore taken to focus on languages that would have the most readers (English, French and German) and the countries with the largest markets. However, adds Millet, we found in some smaller markets very valuable resources; translators, specialists, and publishers, that allowed us to include a lot of diversity in European countries and languages addressed in the project such as Finland, Bulgaria, or the Netherlands. The other main challenge is finances. While European funding constituted more than 40% of the initial budget, the requisite additional funding was eventually received from various organisations that made it possible to design an information-rich website that provides a valuable resource for publishers interested in Arabic literature. While LEILA has been a pilot project with funding for a limited period, its hoped that there will be a way to keep the website updated with new titles and authors. The next logical step, said Millet, would be for it to come under the wing of a strong independent cultural organization that could continue to grow the work of selecting and promoting titles, and of gathering professionals working in the field on a regular basis. Meeting and working at a European level has been a great experience, and we hope it will continue. In addition to iReMMO, the project consortium members are ATLAS (France), a cultural non-profit association promoting literary translation; BOZAR / Mahmoud Darwish Chair (Belgium), one of Europes major multidisciplinary cultural institution; Federation Tunisienne des Editeurs (Tunisia), an independent association created in 2018 promoting publishing in Tunisia. LEILA Project Manager Anne Millet can be contacted on: anne.millet@iremmo.org One of the worst-kept secrets of modern healthcare is that female subjects have consistently been left out of medical research, which affects the care that women do and dont receive. Womens health as a separate consideration is a long time coming, says Harper Wave founder and publisher Karen Rinaldi, because so many of the studies that have been done were done on male bodies. Rinaldi edited All in Her Head (Jan. 2024), by Memorial Sloan Kettering oncologist and medical historian Elizabeth Comen, which probes the deep roots of medical bias and misinformation against women. All in Her Head is like reading a thriller where womens bodies are the victim, Rinaldi says, citing the story of 19th-century physician Horatio Robinson Storer, who was seen as one of the fathers of OB-GYN science and was one of the first surgeons to perform a Cesarean section. He was also a virulent anti-abortion activist, and he had his wife committed to an asylum for menses-induced insanity. Storers complicated history is just one example of how science developed by men was based on assumptions and preconceived ideas of whats wrong with a woman, Rinaldi says. Conditions involving libido (or lack thereof) and masturbation were pathologized into every problem. PW spoke with editors and publishers whose new books act as a corrective. They address formerly taboo topics including fertility, menstruation, and menopause; acknowledge expansive gender and sexual identities; and appeal to readers who want to be educated about the workings of their own bodies. Fertile territory As understanding around gender evolves, editors and authors are reassessing at a fundamental level the language they use to discuss medical care. The term womens health might be a little out of sync with the ways we understand gender today, says Lee Oglesby, senior editor at Flatiron. She acquired and edited The Cycle (Feb. 2024), a reported memoir by journalist Shalene Gupta about painful periods and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). What were really talking about is gynecological health and anything that affects people with uteruses, including transgender and nonbinary people. Natalie Lampert, author of The Big Freeze (Ballantine, Apr. 2024), dedicates her journalistic memoir about egg preservation to all the people with ovaries confronting uncertainty and the consequential questions. Egg freezing is enormously expensive, costing an average of $16,000 per cycle and rarely covered by insurance. This financial bias is a major equity issue, says Ballantine v-p and executive editor Susanna Porter. Stigmatizing laws and entrenched social and cultural attitudes have made reproductive technologies difficult to access. In The Expert Guide to Fertility (Johns Hopkins Univ., Dec.), Joseph S. Sanfilippo, a professor and reproductive sciences specialist at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, educates readers about increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy. He takes into account diverse family structuresfor instance, single prospective parents or LGBTQ couplesand concerns such as preserving fertility after a cancer diagnosis. Suzanne Staszak-Silva, senior acquisitions editor for health and wellness at Johns Hopkins University Press, says that Sanfilippo, writing with NYU Langone Health OB-GYN resident Aarti Kumar, varies pronouns for healthcare providers mentioned in the book among he, she, and they. He also uses phrasing like Jennifer and her male partner to clarify the identities of the people he features as sources and in anecdotes. Rites of passage OB-GYN and pain medicine physician Jen Gunter, author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, frequently uses the inclusive term people who menstruate in the forthcoming Blood (Citadel, Jan. 2024), which explores scientific truths and common myths about menstruation. Given misinformation and attacks on womens healthcare, its more important than ever that women understand their bodies, says Denise Silvestro, executive editor at Citadel. Julia Blohberger and Roos Neeter, yoga teachers and Ayurveda practitioners in the Netherlands, are the authors of the Feel Good series of holistic wellness titles from Quirk Books: Good Sh*t, Good Night, and the forthcoming Good Flow (Dec.), which encourages readers to embrace their periods as an opportunity for personal growth, not a burden to be endured. The authors offer journal prompts, suggest rituals to use throughout the month, and share recipes for soothing herbal tonics to ease discomfort. We have a tendency to say menstruation is just going to be a bad experience, and the best that you can do is to mitigate it, says Jess Zimmerman, who edited the English translation of Good Flow. Its almost confrontational to be told no, you can celebrate that, you can make use of that. Meanwhile, women with typical life spans spend decades in menopause, and they too deserve space and attention in the medical research community, says Caroline Sutton, editor-in-chief at Avery Books. In March, the imprint is releasing The Menopause Brain by Lisa Mosconi, a Weill Cornell Medicine associate professor of neuroscience. Research on menopause is scarce and the demand for information is high, Suttons notesas are the stakes: brain imaging studies have demonstrated a link between estrogen declines and increased Alzheimers risk in women. Questioning authority Another emerging theme in health publishing is patient empowerment, and new books aim to help people ask the right questions of their doctors. At a recent appointment to discuss a potential surgery, Madhulika Sikka, v-p and executive editor at Crown and a breast cancer survivor, found herself channeling OB-GYN Sharon Malone, author of Grown Woman Talk (Apr. 2024). She asked the doctor how often theyd performed the surgery under consideration, a question she hadnt thought to pose before working with Malone. Theres a sort of deference to the medical establishment that we dont need to embrace, particularly as women, Sikka says. You cant change the medical system overnight, but you can change your part in it. Daniela Rapp, senior editor at Mayo Clinic Press, says patients need to sharpen their ability to ask questions like whether a medical device or drug has been tested on women, or whether the dosage of a medication is different for women. Women are not small men, she adds, so they should approach medical conversations with a whole different arsenal of questions. Rapp acquired Sex Cells (Apr. 2024), by health policy advocate and social worker Phyllis E. Greenberger and health journalist Kalia Doner, which examines medical inequities through a public policy lens. The book, Rapp says, proves over and over again that it doesnt work to just use the research or the treatments or the diagnoses that were using for men, on women. A more comprehensive, inclusive approach will help patients better advocate for themselves. Women are becoming involved in their own healthcare and seeking change, says Anna Whiting, publisher for the medicine department at Cambridge University Press, which is releasing Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer in January. Author Linda Eckert, an OB-GYN professor with an infectious disease fellowship at University of Washington, makes clear that the onus isnt only on women: Men need to be involved in the solution too, Whiting says. For example, if teen boys and men received the vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, the disease could be eradicated in our lifetime. The timing of books with urgent, education-focused messages is especially important given the national debate about what kinds of books are allowed in school libraries, says Leyla Moushabeck at Interlink Publishing. Against this backdrop, Moushabeck acquired Why Arent We Talking About This?! (Mar. 2024), an illustrated guide to topics including body image, desire, and mental health. Author-illustrator Hazel Meads infographics include a comic about self-defense, a depiction of how to escape a domestic violence situation, and a full-page illustration showing diversity in genitalia; Mead writes that growing up as a mixed-race person, she never saw a brown vulva in a textbook, Moushabeck says. Body image is the focus of My Belly (Greystone, Apr. 2024), journalist and cultural critic Hilde stbys memoir about womens bodies and womens belliesa topic that does not seem to ever go away, says Jennifer Croll, editorial director at Greystone Books. The book was originally published in 2021 in the authors native Norway and translated by Lucy Moffatt as part of an all-woman book production team. Croll says that stby and Moffatt did a lot of careful editing, particularly in sections about uteruses and pregnancy, to keep the language inclusive. The same biases and stereotypes affect how bodies are perceived, she adds, regardless of whether someone is cis or trans, regardless of their womanhood. Holly Lebowitz Rossi is a freelance writer and coauthor of The Yoga Effect. Read more from our health & wellness feature: Fruitless Endeavor: PW Talks with Jacqueline Alnes The author of the memoir 'The Fruit Cure' discusses the isolation of living with illness, the dangers of being desperate for answers, and the dark side of the wellness industry. New Herbal Medicine Books Mainstream and specialty publishers take a fresh look at herbal remedies. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday said that the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the most pressing issue, and a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian issue cannot be delayed. The outbreak of fresh conflict shows that piecemeal crisis management is unsustainable, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN). China supports the League of Arab States and Arab countries in playing a leading role, he said, urging the United Nations and the Security Council to heed the call of Arab countries, strengthen coordination with regional mechanisms, work on the basis of international consensus, take effective measures to promote an immediate ceasefire and make every effort to ensure the safety of civilians in order to prevent an even deadlier humanitarian disaster. The times call for unity and cooperation, without which effective responses to various global challenges will be impossible, said Zhang. 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Price: $ 5 Seller State of Residence: Illinois Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 85131 Zoning: Residential City: Eloy State/Province: Arizona Location: 851**, Eloy, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arizona "It is the height of injustice that they support Israel with missiles and warplanes to kill children and women." Residents in the West Bank have voiced their anger at the U.S. for its extensive support for Israel in the attacks against Gaza. Produced by Xinhua Global Service By creating mayhem, Hamas aims to force the Arab States to give up their plans of reconciliation with Israel, explains Colonel Anil A Athale. IMAGE: Israeli rescue workers in Sderot, southern Israel, October 11, 2023, work to remove dead bodies from near a destroyed police station that was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters Almost 50 years to the dot, the Middle East and its associated Palestine crisis are again at the centre of world affairs. It is easy to say that history repeats itself, although in a different avatar. The 1973 Yom Kippur War is widely regarded as a watershed moment in world history. It seems Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 threatens to be a similar inflection point. The current crisis has all the makings of a wider Middle East or even a global crisis unless saner counsels prevail on both sides. It should not be forgotten that the Yom Kippur War of 1973 saw both the superpowers, the US and the Soviet Union, put their nuclear weapons on alert. After the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, this was the closest that the world came to staring at a nuclear conflagration and World War III. The current Hamas-initiated attack has set the Arab street aflame and threatened instability in many moderate Arab States. Unlike the 1973 war, this time around, Iran, a non-Arab State, is also involved, giving it a Islam versus the rest colour to the war. The 1973 Yom Kippur war was a consequence of the comprehensive Israeli victory in the Six Day War (June 6, 1967-June 12, 1967). In that war, preceded by a surprise preemptive air attack Israel decimated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan's militaries. It conquered the Sinai Peninsula and reached the East Bank of the Suez Canal. In the north, it captured the Golan Heights and on the Jordanian front captured East Jerusalem and West Bank territories. In 1973, Egypt launched a daylight attack on the Bar Lev Line under the protection of a Soviet-supplied anti-aircraft missile shield and routed the Israeli army. It was the first time since 1948 -- when the State of Israel was formed -- that the Arabs had seen military success. In the earlier three wars -- 1948, 1956 and 1967 -- Israel had defeated the combined Arab armies and established its military domination in the region. The 1973 Yom Kippur War restored the balance and busted the myth of Israeli military invincibility. In the later stages of the war, Israel under General Ariel Sharon, carried out a successful counter-offensive across the Gret Lakes area and went across the Suez Canal, but the deterrent effect of Israeli defence forces could never be re-established. The 1973 war had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world. It saw unprecedented Arab unity. Arabs used their oil weapon, by first cutting off oil supply to the West and also raising oil prices 300-fold. The unprecedented oil price rise and discovery of this potent weapon changed the world. Israel was forced to give up most of its territorial gains from the 1967 war. The rise of the Palestine Liberation Organisation under the charismatic Yasser Arafat owed much to this Egyptian success and the wielding of oil weapon by the Arab countries. As a consequence of this seismic change in world politics, a divided Palestinian State, one in the Gaza Strip and another in the West Bank came into existence. Various peace initiatives over the years made life much less unbearable for the Palestinian refugees. IMAGE: Soldiers carry the coffin of Adi Zur, a soldier who was slain in the assault on Israel by Hamas terrorists, at the funeral at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, October 11, 2023. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Despite all the efforts, peace has eluded the Middle East as a staunch group of extremists on both sides sabotaged peace. On the Palestine side, groups like Hamas do not accept the existence of the State of Israel. On the Israeli side, there have been constant attempts to forcibly settle Jews in the West Bank territory and change the multi-faith status of Jerusalem by making it exclusively Jewish. Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023 was a violent attempt to change the status quo. Hamas was encouraged by the diminished status of the US after the Afghan setback. The inspiration for the kind of attack owed much to Taliban-like tactics. Over a period of time, the Palestinians have been identifying themselves more as Muslims and have lined their fate to the Islamic cause. In the earlier era, George Habash (a Christian) led the Palestine Liberation Front, which was at the forefront of their struggle. This has become even more pronounced since the 9/11 al-Qaeda attack on the US and a surge of wave of Islamist terror and its consequential Islamophobia. Twenty-two years after 9/11 much water flowed down the Jordan and the world and the Middle East was working towards a peaceful future when Hamas felt threatened by peace. The October 7 attack on Israel was aimed at sabotaging the ongoing reconciliation efforts between Israel and the Arabs. Hamas knows it does not have the military strength to destroy the Israel, its stated goal. None of the major Arab States, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia support Hamas's political aim. By creating mayhem, Hamas aims to force the Arab States to give up their plans of reconciliation with Israel under public pressure. IMAGE: Israeli military vehicles and soldiers from an artillery unit gather near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, October 12, 2023. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters The Yom Kippur War of 1973 changed the military balance in the Middle East and established a balance between the Arabs and Israel. The Hamas attack has shown how a determined terror group that has control over some territory (the Gaza Strip) can sabotage peace efforts of larger States and drive the regional agenda. Numerous terror groups worldwide like LeT and Jaish in Pakistan, are likely to take inspiration from this. The Hamas attack showcased the Israeli as well as Arab States' weakness to rein in extremism. Yom Kippur 2.0 portends a new an more dangerous world. Military historian Colonel Anil A Athale's doctoral thesis was on the Middle East. The United Kingdom has shown its disagreement with India's action after the India-Canada standoff which resulted in the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from India and called for resolution of differences through discussion. IMAGE: Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talks with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, on May 19, 2023. Photograph: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan/Handout via Reuters In a press statement on Friday, United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said, "Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals. We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India." The UK further emphasised that it expects India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Noting the removal of immunities of diplomats, it said, 'We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 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.' The statement read further, 'We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.' The United States has also expressed concerns over the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from India and urged the Indian government not to insist on reducing Canada's diplomatic presence. 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." The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Following the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed the release of two United States citizens who were being held hostage by Hamas, and that the duo is now in Israeli troops' hands, as reported by The Times of Israel. IMAGE: Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, US citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, walk while holding hands with Brigadier General (retired) Gal Hirsch, Israel's Coordinator for the Captives and Missing, after they were released by the militants, in response to Qatari mediation efforts, in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on October 20, 2023. Photograph: Government of Israel/Handout via Reuters However, the IDF strongly criticised the Hamas terror group for continuing to hold approximately 200 other hostages. "Hamas presents itself to the world at this hour as one who releases hostages for humanitarian reasons, but in reality, we are talking about a murderous terror group, which at this hour is holding babies, children, women, and the elderly captive," IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. The two Americans who were released have been identified as Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, both from Chicago, according to CNN. According to their family, they had been visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, a farming community in southern Israel, and they were released on 'humanitarian grounds' due to the mother's poor health. Furthermore, the release took place as part of negotiations involving Qatar and Hamas, as reported by CNN. During a press briefing on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed gratitude to the Qatar government for their assistance. "I wanna thank the government of Qatar for their very important assistance. When I was in Israel last week, I met with the families of US citizens that Hamas has taken hostage," Blinken said. He also mentioned that US President Joe Biden had the opportunity to meet the family, stating, "...The entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release to bring their loved ones home. They have my solemn pledge, those who continue to have loved ones held hostage by Hamas, that will continue to do that." The White House also issued a statement on Friday, confirming the release of the Americans who were 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 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," the White House statement said. Moreover, it added that the US has been working around the clock since the beginning of the attack to free American citizens who were taken hostage by the Hamas terror group. "I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. 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 week--we will not stop until we get their loved ones home," the White House added. The statement further stated, "As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world." They were handed over at the Gaza border and sent back to be reunited with family, according to Israel's Prime Minister's office. Following their release, they were handed over to the Red Cross, according to CNN. IDF spokesperson in a post on social media on Friday 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." The IDF added that they are still trying to return the other hostages to Israel. "IDF is still preparing for the next stages of the fighting, which is expected to include a major ground offensive. The fighting is likely to last many more weeks," IDF spokesperson Hagari added. A 50-year-old Indian internal medicine specialist has been dismissed from his job in Bahrain over an anti-Palestine tweet, his employer in the Gulf country has said. The Royal Bahrain Hospital in a statement on Friday described Dr. Sunil Rao's tweet, which he had subsequently deleted, as a violation of the hospital's code of conduct. "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," said the hospital statement. "We would like to confirm that his tweets and ideology are personal and do not reflect the opinion and values of the hospital," it said. The hospital said it has taken the necessary legal actions and his service has been terminated with immediate effect. Similar instances of employment termination have been reported in the Gulf region mostly for utterances on social media on statements considered Islamophobic. Dr Rao's utterances came days after a major conflict erupted in the Middle East following the attack on Israel by Gaza-based Hamas militants. The Congress should not "betray" the Samajwadi Party and should make it clear if they want an alliance or not, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday, amid a spat between the two INDIA bloc allies over their failure to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. He, however, hinted the Congress leadership has approached him over the issue. "I received a message from someone through the seniormost leader of the Congress party. If he is saying something, I will have to follow. He gave some message," Yadav said, without revealing any name or explaining further. "But one thing I want to say is: why did they call us if they did not want an alliance?" This came a day after 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. Speaking to reporter in Hardoi on the sidelines of a party function on Saturday, Yadav said the Congress party should "tell us if they want to have an alliance or not". "Do not conspire against us, don't betray us. They should tell us straight that they don't need Samajwadis. I promise you that we will not talk about alliance even once and will begin preparation to defeat the BJP on our own," he said. "If there were to be no alliance why were we called? They should have told us that there will be no alliance at the state level and the alliance will be formed in the Lok Sabha election," Yadav added. On Thursday also, 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 alliance was confined to the national level. "I must have got confused," he had told reporters. Hitting back, Uttar Pradesh Congress 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 BJP by contesting separately. However, the SP president reiterated that the INDIA bloc should have clarified that there would be no tie-up in the state elections. The Samajwadi Party 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 the SP in MP but the arrangement did not materialise. 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". Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday rubbished speculations that his recent utterances were an attempt to mend fences with the Bharatiya Janata Party and put pressure on his current allies Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. The Janata Dal-United leader was replying to queries from journalists about the ripples created by his admission of personal friendship with a BJP leader at a speech he gave in East Champaran district. "I felt anguished when I read the reports about my speech at the convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Central University. I wanted to underscore that the then Congress government had wanted to set up a central university only in Gaya but agreed to establish another one in Motihari (East Champaran) at my instance. Work began when the BJP was in power at the Centre. But it remains the fact that the university came up as a result of my initiative", Kumar said. The JD-U leader said he was appalled to see the manner in which his speech was reported in the media. "I had expressed my disgust later in the day (at the convocation speech of AIIMS, Patna). I feel like speaking to you people for the last time," he told reporters. When asked whether he was angry with journalists, Kumar replied, That is not the case but added, As I have always said, the media has been captured (by the ruling BJP at the Centre). I no longer see independent coverage that may not serve the interests of the power that be." Kumar also mocked the suggestion of his former deputy Sushil Kumar Modi that the JD-U leader was trying to scare and confuse the Congress and the RJD by speaking of personal friendship with BJP leaders. Turning towards his current deputy Tejashwi Yadav, Kumar said, "His father (Lalu Prasad) and Sushil Modi became president and general secretary respectively of Patna University Students' Union (in early 1970s). I was then an engineering student and canvassed in their favour which helped them garner 450 out of 500 votes from my college. I was really sad when Sushil Modi was not made the deputy CM again (after the 2020 assembly polls). So he is remaining content with saying things that help him remain in the media spotlight. I wish him the best of luck for his endeavours, Kumar remarked sarcastically. Holding the hand of Yadav, the JD-U leader, who had dumped the BJP last year, vowed to defeat the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and said, We are working together for the progress of Bihar. The longest-serving CM of Bihar, who has played a key role in the formation of the INDIA coalition, was also asked about how he saw the upcoming assembly polls in five states. He replied with his stock in trade janta maalik hai (the people's will is supreme), and added, My sole concern is working for Bihar and lending my support to whatever is beneficial for the entire country. Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) GAZA/RAFAH, Egypt, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. "Such a limited convoy will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe that the Gaza Strip is experiencing," said Salama Maarouf, head of the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza, in a statement sent to Xinhua. It is important to establish a safe corridor that works around the clock to provide humanitarian aid and allow the wounded to receive appropriate medical care that is lacking in Gaza, Maarouf said. The latest round of Hamas-Israel conflict started on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli military targets and towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The bloody confrontation has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides. A truck loaded with humanitarian aid enters Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A truck loaded with humanitarian aid prepares to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid prepare to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid prepare to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid prepare to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A truck loaded with humanitarian aid enters Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid prepare to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid prepare to enter Gaza at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Workers unload humanitarian aid from trucks after entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Workers unload humanitarian aid from trucks after entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Workers unload humanitarian aid from trucks after entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Workers unload humanitarian aid from trucks after entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Workers unload humanitarian aid from trucks after entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Oct. 21, 2023. Twenty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, the only border crossing between the besieged coastal enclave and Egypt, after a two-week blockade. The trucks were loaded with medical aid donated by Egypt's institutions of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work and the Egyptian Red Crescent, Aya Ahmed, public relations officer of Life Makers Foundation, told Xinhua. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) The United States on Friday expressed concern (external link) over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India and said that it expects New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G-7 Summit, in Schloss Elmau on June 27, 2022. Photograph: Courtesy @MEAIndia/Twitter 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. 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, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground," Miller added. "We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," the State Department official said. "We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," Miller 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. Hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawa's attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms, 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. As hundreds of tanks and armed soldiers gather near the Gaza border, waiting for a nod from the political regime and the military top brass to begin a 'ground offensive', the United States and the United Kingdom are quietly pushing Israel to hold off the mission, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday. IMAGE: Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meets soldiers in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters According to The Times of Israel, the request came fearing that the move would all but scuttle efforts to secure additional hostage releases for the foreseeable future. The Times of Israel, reported quoting senior diplomatic officials, that both governments recognise that a ground invasion is very likely and not telling Israel not to launch one at all, but rather hold off to try and see if additional diplomatic efforts can succeed. Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed the release of two US citizens who were being held hostage by Hamas, and that the duo is now in Israeli troops' hands. The two Americans who were released have been identified as Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, both from Chicago. The United States deployed two carrier strike groups, each consisting of an aircraft carrier, its planes, and several escort warships, which appeared to have deterred Hezbollah from attacking Israel in a major war. According to the New York Times report, quoting American officials, the US and Israeli Intelligence agencies are working to determine whether Israel's expected ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip could prompt Hezbollah to launch a large-scale military campaign against Israel from Lebanon. The US-based daily reported that the officials have assessed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah does not want an all-out war with Israel, for fear of the damage it would do to his group and Lebanon. U.S. officials said that assessment could change as more intelligence is gathered and events unfold. Prime Minister Netanyahu has vetoed proposals from his government of a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah, according to American officials and others briefed on the discussions. Earlier, the US Defence Department reiterated its full support to Israel in the ongoing war on Hamas, saying that the US Secretary of Defence was in continuous touch with the Israeli authorities and leaders. The US Department of Defence (DOD) said in a statement, "Since meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and members of the Israeli War Cabinet in Tel Aviv on Friday, Secretary Lloyd Austin has remained fully engaged with the country's leaders as the US works ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself from further attacks." Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement, "Since leaving Israel, he has held calls with MOD Gallant ... on a near daily basis and will likely have another call today", adding, "We are working to meet Israel's needs, which include air defence, precision-guided munitions, artillery and medical supplies. "In addition to quickly sending military aid to Israel, the US has bolstered its presence in the region to deter further aggression. Over the weekend, US Defence Secretary Austin directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean last week. The Navy units are part of a broader bolstering of US forces in the region. Last week, the Air Force announced the deployment of F-15 and F-16 fighter squadrons and A-10 attack squadrons to the region, according to a US Department of Defence press release. CAIRO, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- An international peace summit kicked off Saturday at Egypt's new administrative capital east of Cairo, where heads of state and ministers from several countries are discussing ways to de-escalate the ongoing Israel-Hamas armed conflict in the Gaza Strip. Dubbed the Cairo Summit for Peace, the conference was called by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to address de-escalating the conflict in Gaza, pursue a ceasefire, and seek a resolution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict via a "two-state solution." The summit is attended by some 30 Arab and Western leaders including the Palestinian president, the king of Jordan, the emir of Qatar, the president of the United Arab Emirates, the Italian prime minister, the Spanish prime minister, the Greek prime minister, the Cypriot president, and the Canadian prime minister. The president of the European Council, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the United Nations secretary-general and the special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue are also attending. Since Oct. 7, Hamas and Israel have engaged in a bloody confrontation, leading to more than 5,000 deaths on both sides. The environmentally friendly Ningxia Night Market is thriving thanks to its popularity among local residents. The Ningxia Night Market in Taipei has been a fixture of the city's Datong district since the first half of the 20th century. Every evening, shortly after the kids get out of school, vendors start pushing their carts laden with raw ingredients, cooking apparatus, oil and other paraphernalia to the Ningxia Night Market at the intersection of Ningxia and Chongqing streets in Taipei. Many of the dishes on offer crispy squid, oyster omelet, braised pork and papaya milkshakes are quintessentially Taiwanese street foods whose recipes have been handed down through families for several generations. Lin Chiu-yun runs a 70-year-old savory pancake business that was handed down by her father. Credit: RFA "I didn't want to take it over at first," stallholder Lin Chiu-yun said of the 70-year-old savory pancake business that was handed down by her father. "It turns day into night, and other people can go away on vacation on public holidays, but we can't." "Then my father suddenly got sick, and I started running into regular customers around the night market, because we live nearby," she said. "They were asking me when I was going to come out and start running things." "So I bit the bullet," she said, adding that the stall could even get handed down to her daughter Minhsuan, who currently helps out. Around 60% of the market's custom comes from local residents, with the rest from overseas tourists, including plenty of visitors from Hong Kong. About 60% of the Ningxia market's customers are local, while the rest are overseas tourists. Credit: RFA It's big business, as well as a generations-old purveyor of the islands street culture, according to its democratically elected president. Market association president Lin Ting-kuo told RFA Cantonese that the market's popularity among local people is a key reason for its healthy rebound after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. "When something happens internationally, or there's a pandemic, it's the local tourists who help you to survive," he said. A top tourist attraction A recent survey by Taiwan's Tourism Bureau found that the island's night markets have long been the top attraction for tourists, with 80% of inbound tourists visiting a night market during their trip before 2019. A Spanish tourist who gave only the name Gertruda said she was enjoying herself on a recent trip to Ningxia Night Market. "You can get delicious food, and great drinks, so it's a great place," she said. The Ningxia Night Market in Taipei has a reputation for quintessential Taiwanese street food. Credit: RFA But the locals love them too. And the Ningxia Night Market has been a fixture of the city's Datong district since the now-democratic island was under Japanese colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century. "It's pretty good value for money and there are very diverse foods," said a Taiwanese customer at Ningxia in a recent interview. Lin Ting-kuo puts that down to the fact that vendors are constantly experimenting with new recipes, to cater to changing tastes. "There are a lot of innovative products there alongside the traditional ones," he said. "For example, one nightclub has a stall set up in the night market to offer [cocktails]." "The owner of this stall is very old, and is a third generation stallholder, who used to sell braised pork with rice," he said. Lin Ting-kuo, president of the Ningxia Night Market Association, says the markets vendors are constantly experimenting with new recipes to cater to changing tastes. Credit: RFA There are also online discount coupons, mobile phone payments and games to promote the market, in addition to the online banquet-booking service, he said. One of the most popular options is the Chitose Banquet, which offers a taster selection of vendor snacks and offerings all in one place. There is clearly a huge amount of political investment in making it work, at the local level, according to the YesAsia tourism website. "In addition to mouth-watering snacks and delicacies, the night market also has a strong human touch, and many local stories and cultural spirits are included," reads the Ningxia Night Market listing. Promoting 'neighborhood harmony' True to the country's democratic way of life, vendors elect their own president to represent them, and a finance committee keeps the books in order, as well as making the market's dealings transparent. The market association also works with local government officials "to promote neighborhood harmony," the listing says. "When the night market is closely integrated with the emotions of local culture, the image and taste of each stall become fun and interesting cultural stories that are constantly being told," it says. The Ningxia market began as a ring of shabby vendor stalls in the middle of a Taipei intersection in Taiwan. Credit: Ningxia Night Market Association The Ningxia Night Market started out as a ring of shabby vendor stalls in the middle of an intersection, which the displaced Kuomintang-ruled Republic of China government started regulating in around 1954. By 1973, the Taipei city government had relocated the vendors' stalls to their current location, where the Ningxia Night Market began to flourish. By 2000, it had transitioned into an environmentally friendly operation. "The Ningxia Night Market once failed to do a good job of protecting the environment, which was unacceptable to the residents of the community," Lin Ting-kuo said. "We came up with a ... renovation project in which we banned disposable tableware to reduce garbage." "The next stage was even more drastic we banned melamine tableware," he said. "Then, we filtered waste oil and gray water from the stalls before discharging clean water into the city's sewer system." "We hire a professional grease removal company every week, too," Lin said. A Taiwan's Tourism Bureau survey found that the island's night markets have long been the top attraction for tourists. Credit: RFA Diners can book banquets online to sample a large array of the different dishes and snacks offered by vendors at a single table, including a "Thousand Years Banquet", "State Banquet at the Presidential Palace," while environmentally friendly and calorie-labeled banquets are also on offer, the site said. There are several common seating and stand-and-eat areas, with power and water supplied to vendors, leaving the site clean and filled with the aromas of cooking, rather than less desirable smells. "In the past, we had to get a big tub of water and push it over here in a cart," Lin Chiu-yun said. "That was an inconvenient way to wash [the dishes]." "Nowadays, it's super-convenient you just turn on the water." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. The European Union Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak has urged Serbia and Kosovo to return to dialogue on normalizing ties to avoid a repeat of last month's violence in northern Kosovo. Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina have spiked since September 24, when some 30 armed Serbs stormed the village of Banjska in Kosovo's predominantly ethnic Serb north and barricaded themselves in a Serbian Orthodox monastery. Police recaptured the monastery after a shootout in which three attackers and a Kosovar police officer were killed. "The attacks in Banjska have changed many things and they need to be properly investigated.... At the same time the dialogue must continue," Lajcak said on October 21 in Pristina. He made the comment after talks with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti that were also attended by the U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar as well as top diplomats from Germany, France, and Italy. Lajcak said they had strongly denounced "the terrorist attack against Kosovar police by armed individuals (that) constitutes a clear and unprecedented escalation." He added that the attack also "very clearly underlined that both de-escalation and normalization are now more urgent than ever. According to a statement from the Kosovar government, Kurti told the Western diplomats that the top priority of his government is "the security of the state and citizens, borders, and territory." After discussions with Kurti, the group traveled to Belgrade for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Both Serbia and Kosovo hope to join the EU, but Brussels wants them to normalize ties first. Pristina and Belgrade are being urged to implement a 10-point plan put forward by the EU in February to end months of political crises. Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic gave their approval at the time. However, a major sticking point has been the establishment of the Association of the Serb-Majority Municipalities, or ASM. Brussels and Washington have urged Kosovo to allow for the creation of the ASM, to coordinate work on education, health care, land planning, and economic development at the local level. Pristina fears the new association is an effort by Belgrade to create a Serb-ruled entity similar to Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Pristina, Lajcak urged Kosovo "to move on the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo without further delay." "Without this, there will be no progress on Kosovo's European path," he added. In July, the EU suspended funding of some projects and halted visits of top diplomats for Kosovo's refusal to move forward on the ASM plan. Later in Belgrade, Lajcak said, "We have to be very clear that we strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Kosovo police on the 24th of September." "All perpetrators need to be brought to justice, and we expect Serbia's full cooperation and concrete action in this regard," he added. Serbia denied any role in the attack, saying it was organized by ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. Milan Radoicic, an ally of Vucic, has admitted to organizing and taking part in the incident at the Banjska monastery. He was briefly detained in Serbia and later released pending further proceedings. After the meeting with the Western diplomats, Vucic said on Instagram that he believed "we will find a way out of the crisis in the coming period." He said he expected "important meetings" in Brussels in the days ahead. He did not elaborate. Following the failure of the September talks between Kurti and Vucic and the recent flare-up, it's unclear when another round of meetings might take place. Kosovo has called on Europe to sanction Serbia, which it blames for the September 24 attack, saying no talks could be further held and demanding higher security measures from Western powers for fear of an increased presence of Serb military forces along its border. Amid the heightened tensions, NATO has reinforced KFOR, which normally has a troop strength of 4,500, with an additional 200 troops from Britain and more than 100 from Romania. With reporting by AP and Reuters 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 Russia's Justice Ministry has added former Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Kunadze, editor in chief of the independent Dovod news website Ilya Kosygin, and political scientist Mikhail Savva to its list of so-called foreign agents, a ministry statement says. Kunadze, 74, was deputy foreign minister between 199193 and then served as ambassador to South Korea between 1993-97 before becoming a political commentator. He "has been disseminating false information aimed at creating a negative image about the Russian Federation, false information about the decisions made by the public authorities of the Russian Federation and about their policies, and about the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," the statement said. It added that Kunadze "systematically participated as an interviewee on platforms provided by foreign agencies." Independent journalist Kosygin was arrested in April 2021 for covering a protest outside a detention facility where opposition leader Aleksei Navalny was being held at the time. He also published information about Russian National Guardsmen from the city of Vladimir, east of Moscow, who died in Ukraine. Political scientist and rights activist Mikhail Savva is a former professor at the Kuban State University and an expert at the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. Savva moved to Ukraine in 2015 after receiving a first suspended sentence for fraud as authorities were initiating fresh criminal cases against him. Savva and his associates consider all charges as politically motivated. Political scientist and rights activist Mikhail Savva is an expert at the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. Since 2012, Russia has used its foreign agent laws to label and punish critics of government policies. It also has been increasingly used to shut down civil society and media groups in Russia since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine. The law allowed the Justice Ministry to label nonprofit organizations as foreign agents if they receive funding from abroad and are engaged in political activities. The criteria by which such activities are determined are not clearly defined in the law, allowing authorities to persecute organizations working in the field of education, culture, health, environment protection, and human rights protection. Subsequently, it became possible to declare media and individuals foreign agents, including those who do not receive foreign funding but are under foreign influence. Russian legislation does not specify what exactly should be considered foreign influence. More civilians have been reported killed or wounded in fresh Russian shelling and air strikes in southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, officials reported on October 21, including a late strike in the eastern city of Kharkiv. A Russian missile hit a postal distribution center in Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv late on October 21, killing six people and injuring 14, Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram. Earlier, one person was killed and another one was wounded in the southern Kherson region on October 21, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Telegram. Kherson has been regularly targeted by Russian shelling and air strikes from across the Dnieper River. 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. Prokudin said that over the past 24 hours Russian troops shelled Kherson 57 times. On October 20, an 80-year woman was killed when a shell destroyed her home in the city of Beryslav. In the eastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old man was killed, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said. In the city of Kryviy Rih, in the southern region of Dnipropetrovsk, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the Kryviy Rih Defense Council, said a 60-year-old man was killed when the city was attacked with missiles and drones. Vilkul earlier reported several explosions in Kryviy Rih, which is the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian military's fuel and ammunition depots near Kryviy Rih's local airport. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials to Konashenkov's claim. Elsewhere, one person was killed in Russian shelling overnight in Nikopol, Serhiy Lysak, the head of Dnipropetrovsk region's military administration, said on Telegram. Meanwhile, in the eastern Donetsk region, a civilian was wounded by the Russian bombardment of Avdiyivka, just 15 kilometers north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, where heavy fighting has been under way. For several weeks, Russian forces have mounted an offensive aimed at surrounding Avdiyivka -- the largest military operation that Moscow has staged in months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on October 20 that Ukrainian forces had repelled a new Russian assault on the city and were holding their ground in heavy fighting in the area. Avdiyivka had a pre-war population of around 30,000 people, but it is estimated that only 1,600 still remain in the devastated city. Zelenskiy said Russian losses "are really staggering," adding that "it is precisely losses by the occupier that Ukraine needs." He thanked Ukrainian troops "who are powerfully holding the defense and destroying the occupier day after day. The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its daily report on October 21 that around 100 close-quarters battles were fought along the entire front line over the past 24 hours. Besides Avdiyivka, heavy fighting was also reported in the eastern directions of Kupyansk in Kharkiv region and Nadyia, in Luhansk region. Zelenskiy and top military commanders on October 20 visited Kherson, where they discussed the situation there and around Avdiyivka and Kupyansk. With reporting by Reuters and AFP KIEV, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government spent more than 1.031 trillion hryvnias (28.2 billion U.S. dollars) to cover the country's defense needs this year, the cabinet press service reported Friday, citing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Out of the sum, 682 billion hryvnias (18.66 billion dollars) were used to pay salaries for military personnel, and some 349 billion hryvnias (9.55 billion dollars) purchase military equipment, armor, ammunition, and other defense industry products, Shmyhal said. The defense sector, he said, was Ukraine's budget priority in the first nine months of this year, followed by social programs and healthcare. Next year, Ukraine will direct "all possible resources" to support defense and security forces, Shmyhal said. Ukraine's draft budget for 2024 envisages that next year the country will allocate at least 1.69 trillion hryvnias (46 billion dollars), or 21.6 percent of its GDP, for defense. BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Over 69 percent of the delegates to China's 13th National Women's Congress are in frontline posts at the grassroots level, registering a rise from the previous edition, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said at a press conference Saturday. Nearly 1,800 delegates and 90 specially invited delegates from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will attend the congress to be held from Oct. 23 to 26 in Beijing, according to the ACWF, adding that all preparations for the event are in place. The delegates to the congress represent diverse sectors such as industry, agriculture, commerce, science and technology, education, medicine and health, press and publishing, according to the press conference. Notably, 5.1 percent of the delegates are those working in the scientific and technology sector, an increase of 1.2 percentage points. RBI Low-Income Borrowers Drive Uptick in Short-Term Loans, Prompting RBI's Caution to Lenders NEW-DELHI: A Hike in small loans, intended to meet daily needs, has raised concerns as personal loans ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 have surged by a significant 48 percent. This surge is notable, especially when the total debt held by banks remains at less than 15 percent. The heightened risk of default associated with these smaller loans has drawn attention, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautioning banks on the issue. The Spike in borrowing activity for small personal loans is predominantly attributed to low-income customers who seek short-term financial relief. These loans typically have a tenure of three to four months. In response to the RBI's warning, banks and financial institutions have implemented measures to mitigate potential risks. This proactive approach has accelerated debt recovery efforts. Advertisement While the overall non-performing assets (NPA) situation in the banking sector has improved to a decade-low, challenges persist in the small loan category. As of June 2023, the NPA for loans below Rs 50,000 surged to 8.1 percent, marking nearly six times the NPA levels of 1.4 percent for all retail loans as of March 2023. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, loans under Rs 10,000 also experienced a substantial increase of 37 percent. The Rise in loans ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000, accounting for a 48 percent uptick, presents a growing trend in the short-term loan segment. Notably, in terms of volume, 38 percent of loan applications for amounts below Rs 10,000 in the past 12 months originated outside the top 100 cities in the country. Rajeev Jain, CEO of Bajaj Finance, noted that short-term small loans are experiencing robust growth, driven in part by non-bank financial companies, including digital lenders. However, the trend may also impact traditional banks, as many of these institutions extend loans to non-bank financial companies. The surge in small personal loans and the accompanying risks highlight the importance of vigilance, responsible lending, and measures to ensure financial inclusivity while maintaining the stability of the banking sector. SGGS College NSS Orientation & Donation Drive Highlight the Significance of Khadi and the Spirit of Giving CHANDIGARH: Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, located in Sector-26, Chandigarh, came alive with fervor as it celebrated Khadi Mahotsav and Dan Utsav, aligning with the aspirations of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (Self-Reliant India Campaign). The event commenced with a National Service Scheme (NSS) orientation session under the guidance of Principal Dr. Navjot Kaur, who appointed Rohit Kumar, an esteemed NSS Resource Person, to lead the proceedings. The event welcomed the Swarmani Youth Welfare Association, who received the CD. Advertisement Rohit Kumar, NSS Resource Person, conveyed an inspiring message to the newly inducted NSS volunteers, urging them to actively engage in promoting social welfare and community service. His address focused on the pivotal role that khadi plays in empowering local weavers and artisans. He highlighted khadi's contribution to rural employment, self-reliance, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. In line with the theme of 'Vocal for Local,' Khadi Ashram Secretary, Shri Sanjay Kumar Sharma, CHD, added depth to the event by setting up a khadi stall, showcasing a diverse array of khadi products. The stall served as a practical means to instill pride in local products and enhance youth awareness about the cultural and economic significance of khadi. The Celebration also featured a spirited quiz competition and an oath-taking ceremony. These activities aimed to familiarize students with the rich heritage of khadi and its multifaceted benefits, encompassing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and women's empowerment. Advertisement In addition to the educational and celebratory aspects, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College organized a donation drive from October 18 to 20, 2023. This initiative fostered the spirit of giving and exemplified the college's dedication to 'Seva' or selfless service. Faculty and students actively participated by generously contributing clothes, utensils, toys, stationery, pre-primary reading books, and dry ration. Notably, Principal Dr. Navjot Kaur, during her address, emphasized that the celebration of Khadi Mahotsav and Dan Utsav resonates with the goal of sustainable and eco-friendly production, aligning seamlessly with the vision of a self-reliant India. She commended the efforts of the NSS unit, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, and the Institute Innovation Council of the college for organizing the event and encouraging young minds to embrace 'Vocal for Local' and promote social welfare. by Xinhua writer Zhang Yunlong LHASA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's Tibet Autonomous Region is undertaking its largest afforestation project to green the mountainsides along the Lhasa River Valley, contributing to the ecological conservation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, also known as the "Roof of the World." The afforestation project in the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa, launched in 2021 and set to be completed by 2030, covers an area of 2.067 million mu (around 137,868 hectares). Upon completion, it will add 49.8 million metric tons of water storage, sequester 230,000 metric tons of carbon annually, and generate 190,000 metric tons of oxygen each year. These efforts will significantly improve the ecological environment around the regional capital city, Lhasa, making the city more livable. Li Baoping, a senior official from the Lhasa Municipal Forestry and Grassland Bureau, said that 380,000 mu of afforestation have been completed and accepted since the project's launch, achieving 90 percent of the two-year target with a survival rate of 85 percent to 95 percent. The project, along with the "Two Rivers and Four Rivers" afforestation and greening initiative carried out in Tibet for many years, has yielded substantial ecological benefits, particularly in river basins that support over 80 percent of Tibet's population. In Nanshan Park, or the southern mountain park, located beside the Lhasa River and south of the iconic Potala Palace, lush trees and murmuring streams now create a picturesque landscape. Local residents like Zhou Changying, 41, who has lived in Lhasa for two decades, have noticed the positive changes in the city's ecological environment. "I feel the air is more humid, and there is more natural greenery than before," she said. The park has become a popular destination for relaxation and sightseeing, offering residents like Zhou more options for leisure activities. Tibet aims to transform Lhasa into an ecologically livable place with "green mountains surrounding the north and south, and green water encircling the ancient city." To achieve this, Tibet has undertaken long-term exploration and efforts. Although Lhasa is geographically similar in latitude to Shanghai, its high altitude and arid and cool climate necessitate a focus on drought and frost resistance when selecting tree species. More than 30 tree species, including Chinese pine and oriental arborvitae, have been carefully chosen for their suitability for the high-altitude environment. In a multi-pronged afforestation and greening effort, different tree species are being planted at various elevations across the mountainous terrain. For example, areas below 3,900 meters above sea level are mainly afforested with tall trees, while areas between 3,900 and 4,000 meters above sea level are primarily covered with shrubs. Transporting soil and seedlings up the steep slopes presents a significant challenge, as it heavily relies on human labor and pack animals. Li previously worked in Qushui County in the southwest of Lhasa and near the Yarlung Zangbo River and Lhasa River confluence. "Ten or so years ago, there were about 20 days each month from late December to mid-April when sandstorms occurred, but now it only happens a few times a year," he said. "The afforestation projects have significantly reduced sand and dust storms, stabilizing soil and improving the ecological environment." In addition to transforming the ecological environment, the afforestation project in Lhasa is also a source of increased income for farmers and herders. Workers from various cities of Tibet, including Shannan and Shigatse, or regions outside of Tibet, earn wages by participating in the afforestation efforts. This project has enhanced the well-being and happiness of the local population while achieving a win-win situation in ecological, economic, and social benefits, according to officials. China believes that "clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets, and so is snow-covered land." The country recognizes the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a crucial ecological security barrier and, in 2023, specifically enacted a law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This legislation requires relevant local governments to fulfill their responsibilities in ecological restoration and protection, ecological risk prevention and control, optimizing industrial structure and layout, and maintaining the ecological security of the plateau. Jiumaocuo, a professor at the School of Economics and Management of Tibet University, said that the afforestation project in the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa is not easy, and the initiation of this project by the regional government demonstrates their determination to benefit future generations. "This long-term thinking and foresight exemplify China's concept of human rights development," she said. Canadian PM Trudeau & Indian PM Modi Canada's Prime Minister Criticizes Indian Government for Endangering Diplomats, Disrupting Millions of Lives NEW-DELHI/TORONTO: Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has voiced deep concern over the recent diplomatic developments between Canada and India, expressing worry for the millions of people of Indian and Canadian descent whose lives may be disrupted. In a press conference held in Brampton, Trudeau criticized the Indian government's actions, which led to the revocation of diplomatic immunity for 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents. PM Trudeau emphasized that the Indian government's decision is causing undue complications for both countries and goes against the fundamental principles of diplomacy. He particularly referenced the millions of Punjabis living in Canada, expressing his concern for their well-being and safety amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions. Advertisement The Remarks from Trudeau come in the wake of his decision to recall 41 Canadian diplomats and their dependents from India as a response to India's diplomatic immunity revocation statement. Canada's Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, confirmed that India had, unilaterally and unethically, withdrawn diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi by October 20, without prior formal notice. This sudden change left 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents vulnerable, as their diplomatic immunity was revoked on an arbitrary date. Trudeau and his government have accused the Indian government of violating the Vienna Convention, which outlines the rules and standards for diplomatic relations between countries. Arrested Accused 26-Year-Old Charged with Hate Crime Following Assault on Sikh Passenger RICHMOND HILL: In a significant development, the Richmond Hill police have apprehended a 26-year-old man, charging him with a hate crime in connection with an attack on a Sikh youth aboard a shuttle bus. The incident, which occurred on October 15, has sent shockwaves through the Sikh community in South Richmond Hill. The suspect, identified as Christopher Philipios, was arrested on Thursday night for his alleged involvement in the assault, which unfolded near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill. According to the police report, Christopher approached a 19-year-old Sikh victim and made derogatory comments about the victim's turban, stating, "We don't wear that in this country." Advertisement The victim's acquaintance, Japneet Singh, revealed that the victim is in a state of shock, and the family is deeply concerned about his well-being. The assault left the victim with severe injuries, rendering him unable to work for the next few days. South Richmond Hill boasts one of the largest Sikh populations in the city, and this attack has instilled fear and apprehension within the Sikh community. Many are now anxious about the possibility of becoming the next victims of hate violence. Notably, the attack on Sikhs is part of a disturbing trend where individuals are targeted due to their visual similarity to Muslims, particularly in the aftermath of the recent Hamas-Israel conflict. Japneet Singh shared a personal experience, stating, "I recently encountered a situation where some young men, who mistook me for a Muslim, called me 'Hamas.' We've seen such incidents escalate after events like the 9/11 attacks, with a rise in anti-Islamic sentiment often evolving into hatred against other religions as well." A solo exhibition of South Korean artist Kim Saeng-hwa has been held in Jingdezhen, a famous "porcelain capital" in east China's Jiangxi Province. Join us to enjoy her representative works created in different periods and discover her China story. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Carrie Cave, the mom of Amber Dubois sits on the bed in the guest bedroom of her Escondido home, with reminders of her daughter, who at age 14 was abducted, raped and killed 10 years ago. Next to Cave is her yellow Labrador retriever, a search dog named Amber for her daughter. Every February for years, Carrie Cave formerly Carrie McGonigle would drive to a remote spot north of Escondido, where her daughter Amber Dubois died, to decorate a large tree with ribbons and lights. This year, a decade after Amber disappeared which shook Escondido, then gripped the region a year later with the discovery she had been murdered by a stranger Cave said she will do something different. She plans to visit a friend in the hospital and decorate there, a quiet celebration of her daughters memory. Advertisement Cave, 50, said she has forgiven the killer so she can move forward. But she never forgets Amber, who would be 24 now. She and Ambers father, Maurice Moe Dubois they divorced several years before Amber was taken each say they are finding peace. Wednesday marks 10 years since the 14-year-old freshman vanished while walking to Escondido High School on Feb. 13, 2009. The man who abducted her, registered sex offender John Albert Gardner III, cornered Amber on a quiet street and forced her into his car. He drove the girl to a secluded spot, raped and stabbed her. Inside 90 minutes, Amber was dead. It would be a year before anyone knew that for sure. In 2010, after Gardner had abducted and killed a second North County teen, Chelsea King, he pleaded guilty to raping and murdering both girls, as well an assault on a third victim, and was sentenced to consecutive terms of life in prison without parole. When Amber vanished, her mother was fierce and relentless. She sought clues everywhere. After Ambers remains were found, Cave formed a search and rescue organization. Ambers father pushed for legislative change targeting police investigations and sex offenders. A decade later those activities have faded. Cave recently moved into a new home on the outskirts of northern Escondido with her daughter and now-husband, whom she had been living with when Amber disappeared. Moe Dubois and his longtime girlfriend moved to an Oregon hamlet and bought a seaside tackle shop. Helping others After Gardners arrest, but before his sentencing, Cave confronted her daughters killer in jail, and insisted that he tell her what happened. He cried as he told her the details including that Amber had told him he would not get away with it. Knowing how she died, it was a relief, Cave said last week. I could live my life. And I forgave. When the case was behind her, Cave assembled a group of volunteers and launched Team Amber Rescue. She also got a yellow Labrador, which she named after her slain daughter, and trained the animal to search. In 2011, Cave helped search for missing nursing student Michelle Le in Northern California. The dog, with Cave by her side, found Les remains. Amber the dog is 9 years old now and no longer healthy enough for missions. That part of their lives is in the past. I had to start everything over Moe Dubois lived in Orange County when his daughter disappeared, but he was involved in his daughters life. He said her disappearance and death devastated him. For a while, Dubois worked with families and organizations that searched for missing people. He also successfully pushed for legislation, mostly related to law enforcement, such as creating a checklist to provide police investigators guidelines and resources during the initial hours of a missing-person investigation. The work helped, but he was still unsettled. It took a complete change of everything to get through this, Dubois, 49, said in a telephone interview this week. I had to start everything over. About five years ago, Dubois, who worked as an electrical engineer, and his longtime girlfriend Rebecca Smith moved to a fishing village population 382 people in the last census on the central Oregon coast. He bought a tackle shop with a view of the water. I left an engineers life to sell dead fish, he said with a laugh. I may smell a little worse, but I am happier. Folks in town know about Amber. The shop has a bus stop in front of it and opens its doors to children waiting for the school bus. Dubois said he is protective of the children, watches out for them. And he smiles when he thinks of his daughter. The fact that she is gone wont remove that smile, Dubois said. She put it there when I had her with me. A investigation that went nowhere Throughout 2009, Ambers photo was everywhere in North County her blue eyes peering out from missing signs on light posts and in store windows. Ambers disappearance frustrated Escondido police. And each day, when there were no new leads, it was hard to hold onto hope, Escondido Police Chief Craig Carter said this week. Carter was a lieutenant when the girl disappeared, handling the media queries and becoming the face of the police investigation and task force. He said the investigation went in two directions, chasing the possibility that shed run away and the possibility of foul play. Any motives or potential leads, they just kept going to a dead end, Carter said. That is a little unusual. A year passed. Then on Feb. 25, 2010, 17-year-old Chelsea King went missing. An avid runner, she had gone for a jog at Rancho Bernardo Community Park near Lake Hodges when she was attacked. This time, there were clues. Searchers found Chelseas underwear near the running trail. DNA on them led investigators to Gardner. Chelseas body was found in a shallow grave near the lake. Within days, Gardner admitted killing Amber. He took detectives to her remains in the community of Pala, about 30 miles north of Escondido. Ten years later, Carter said, Ambers abduction has shaped the Police Departments approach to such disappearances. I can tell you that when we have a very unusual missing person case, we will start that task-force mentality very quickly, Carter said. Helping gets me through When Amber disappeared, she lived with her mother, her mothers boyfriend, and their daughter in a two-story home just blocks from school. Several years ago, the couple married. In recent weeks, they and their now 15-year-old daughter who was 5 when big sister Amber was taken moved to the outskirts of Escondido. They have nearly 2 acres of land. Sitting on the front porch last week, Cave said Amber would have loved it here. The family built stalls and an arena for horses. They own three, board three more and train yet another. Cave finds joy in riding them, training them, taking them to rodeos. Some of the new house is a remodel in progress, but the guest room is done. Cave said it was easy to decorate, with a framed drawing of Amber and photos of the girl and her then-baby sister. There are other remembrances, and several figurines of wolves, Ambers favorite animal. Framed on one wall is a single sheet of paper, covered in drawings, inside jokes and expressions of love. Amber made it for her mothers 40th birthday, just months before she was taken. Its among Caves favorite memories of her daughter. Cave said her heart hurts for her surviving daughter, who is now older than Amber was when she died. Her life would be so much different if Amber was still here, Cave said. She would have an older sibling I think thats what kills me the most. The search and rescue team faded away, but Cave still wants to help people. She understands what it is to work through pain. Last year, she reached out to a stranger, a woman whose teen daughter had been struck by a car and killed. The two grieving mothers grew close. There were times when Cave encouraged her new friend to get out of bed and others when she advised that it was OK to stay under the covers. It helped her friend, Cave said. But it helped her, too. Its that kind of stuff, she said, that really gets me through. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT 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) GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said Friday in a statement that it has released two American hostages for "humanitarian reasons," in response to Qatari efforts. The brigades said it made the move to prove that the U.S. allegations were "false and baseless." This is the first time that the Gaza-ruling group released hostages since the conflict began almost two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the release of the two hostages in a statement. "This evening two hostages were released from the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization," the office said in a statement, identifying the two released as Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan. The statement added that the two released were "received on the border with Gaza and are on the way to a military base where they will meet their families." Israeli media Channel 2 reported earlier that the two are a mother and daughter who are U.S. citizens. It is unclear whether they are also Israeli citizens. In a press release, U.S. President Joe Biden also confirmed his administration secured the release of two American hostages and thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in this work. Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, where it seized a large number of hostages. The brigades previously stated they were holding 200 to 250 captives in Gaza. An Israeli army statement earlier in the day said a majority of the hostages were alive. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends the second plenary meeting of the sixth session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, held a plenary meeting on Saturday to hear multiple reports. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the meeting, which was presided over by Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the committee. At the meeting, lawmakers heard a report on the enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Law. The report suggested strengthening the protection and restoration of wetlands and improving the supporting rules and regulations in this regard. Lawmakers heard a report on the enforcement of the Law on Scientific and Technological Progress. The report proposed measures to enhance the implementation of the law, such as accelerating efforts to secure breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. The meeting heard a report submitted by the People's Bank of China on the financial work, and reviewed a comprehensive report on the management of state-owned assets for 2022. Lawmakers also heard two reports on the management of state-owned assets held by financial enterprises. They reviewed a report concerning the reform of the examination and enrollment system, which suggested efforts to expand high-quality higher education resources and optimize the scale and methods of enrollment in primary and secondary schools, among others. The meeting also heard work reports on ecological environment and resource conservation presented by the State Council, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, respectively. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, has noted that the India Semiconductor Research Centre (ISRC) is set to be India's counterpart to renowned institutions like the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) in Europe, Nano Tech, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan, and the MIT Micro-electronic labs in the United States, which have been at the forefront of pioneering cutting-edge technologies. The India Semiconductor R&D Committee has presented the ISRC report to the minister, emphasizing that ISRC will be a fundamental institution in India's advancing semiconductor capabilities. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, highlighted the extensive research undertaken over several months by the India Semiconductor R&D Committee, which has outlined a roadmap for ISRC. This roadmap aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the semiconductor ecosystem, recognizing the need to catch up after India's absence from the semiconductor arena for many decades, during which numerous opportunities were missed. The minister expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive work of the committee members in identifying the foundational elements of ISRC, which encompass areas such as Advanced Silicon, Packaging R&D, Compound/Power Semiconductor, and Chip design & EDA. He underlined that the ISRC report is part of a decade-long strategy that will have a significant impact on India, benefitting young Indian scientists, researchers, and startups. This strategy is aligned with the Prime Minister's vision for 'Viksit Bharat.' Additionally, the minister emphasized that in the next 4-5 years, ISRC is poised to become one of the world's leading semiconductor research institutions. In December 2021, the government allocated Rs 76,000 crore (US$10 billion) to stimulate the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India. The minister noted that ISRC is a vital component of the government's step-by-step approach to establish India as a global hub for semiconductor research and innovation. ISRC's vision includes the establishment of a top-tier research institution with a focus on semiconductor processes, advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, as well as Fabless design and EDA tools. Through fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government, ISRC aims to cultivate a dynamic semiconductor ecosystem. It is expected to facilitate a smooth transition from laboratory research to fabrication, bridging the gap between research and manufacturing. ISRC's strategic approach involves targeted investments in attainable technology nodes and the promotion of partnerships with global research centers, educational institutions, and industry. The initiative seeks to elevate India's academic institutions' centers of excellence into globally competitive entities, with the aim of attracting global companies to invest in India. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Authorities allege that a man escaped from a police car near the Staten Island Courthouse in St. George, ran away and then burglarized a nearby home. Eric Velasquez of Van Pelt Avenue in Mariners Harbor stands accused in the incident that began on Oct. 17 at about 12:33 p.m. in the vicinity of the courthouse at 26 Central Ave. in St. George, according to the criminal complaint and police. A NYPD officer had detained Velasquez for questioning in connection with a police investigation into a felony assault, according to the criminal complaint. The criminal complaint alleges that while the defendant was inside a New York City Police Department marked patrol vehicle, the defendant escaped from the custody of the New York City Police Department by removing his handcuffs, opening a door of said vehicle, and fleeing from said vehicle. At the same time that emergency communications indicated police were searching the area for Velasquez, the criminal complaint alleges that the 18-year-old suspect entered a home a couple of blocks away on Montgomery Avenue near Fort Place. The 18-year-old suspect allegedly snatched cash from a dresser, put the money in his pocket, and donned a white-hooded sweatshirt that he found in the bedroom. The criminal complaint alleges that Velasquez then attempted to flee from the location but was arrested at 12:53 p.m. on Montgomery Avenue after officers responded to a report of a burglary, according to the criminal complaint and police. The victim, a 59-year-old woman, allegedly told police that individuals used force to enter her home where they stole $80 and a white, Polo hoodie, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The suspect has been charged with burglary, escape, obstructing governmental administration, criminal trespass, attempted petit larceny, attempted criminal possession of stolen property and trespass, according to the criminal complaint. Velasquez, who stands about 510 tall and weighs about 135 pounds, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is free on bail set at $45,000/$15,000 cash, according to public records. He is due back in Criminal Court on Oct. 23. An attorney for the suspect did not immediately respond to a request for comment. - Scenes from Montgomery Ave. in St. George where an 18-year-old suspect briefly escaped police before being apprehended on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (Staten Island Advance / Luke Peteley) __ OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> Man, 22, accused of bashing man in head with bottle on Staten Island bus, NYPD says >> 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. Attention Sacred Heart Church parishioners and beyond: If you have a sweet tooth, mark your calendars for Thursday, Oct. 26, for an international dessert experience that is not to be missed. Comprised of the senior parishioners, the newly-minted Golden Heart Club of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, West Brighton, is hosting a dessert event with sweets from round the world, from 1 to 3 p.m in the church basement. The esteemed members of Sacred Heart Parish, particularly our senior parishioners, convene regularly for moments of prayer, camaraderie, and learning, said Rev. Rhey Garcia, pastor of Sacred Heart Church. Our guiding principle is pray and play, extending sustenance for the body and soul. The invitation is for all the international dessert experience promises to be delectable and enjoyable, graciously donated by our parishioners. We have a delightful array of desserts awaiting you. Beverages will be provided. Attendees should bring dessert of their heritage or choice, according to Father Rhey. For more information, please email HSacco52@gmail.com. Rev. Rhey Garcia, the pastor of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, West Brighton, delivers his homily on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) RETIRED NYPD DET. GREG VIRGA, GUEST SPEAKER The event will not only be delicious, but informative, as guest speaker, former NYPD detective and Sacred Heart parishioner Greg Virga will share invaluable insights on identifying and safeguarding against a wide range of fraudulent activities, whether through phone calls, the internet or other personal encounters. This talk promises to equip us with the knowledge and awareness to protect ourselves and our loved ones, added Father Rhey. Join us for this enlightening and delectable gathering as we foster spiritual growth and safeguard our well-being. Sacred Heart Church is located at 981 Castleton Ave., and can be reached at 718- 442-0058. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Eighty young girls and women attended Palestine Speaks, hosted by the Muslim American Society of Staten Island in its Dongan Hills Center, to pray and receive guidance on advocating for change from Nerdeen Kiswani, a 29-year-old Palestinian American lawyer and activist. As a Palestinian woman, I have a responsibility to help bring about liberation for my people and all oppressed people everywhere. I advocated for us as women to feel empowered to speak out against the genocide we are witnessing in Gaza, Kiswani, co-founder of Within Our Lifetime-United for Palestine (WOL), said. It has been two weeks since Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel resulting in the killing of more than 1,400 people prompting the nation to respond with military force. Since the Oct. 7 attack, Israel has launched thousands of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing over 4,000 civilians, including more than 1,400 children and more than 800 women, according to Euro-Med Monitor. Israeli authorities also cut off the supply of food, water, fuel and electricity into Gaza, according to Human Rights Watch. Additionally, Amnesty International found compelling evidence, supported by video footage and witness testimonies, that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) used white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon on Oct. 10 and 11, an action considered a breach of international humanitarian law. Its not a political battle, its about standing for humanity. Take a minute and read about what is happening in Palestine. People are displaced and they cant even count those that are under the rubble. Hospitals are being bombed, Sandra Abdellal, currently a law student at New York Law School and one of the co-organizers of the Palestine Speaks event, said. Sandra Abdellal, currently a law student at New York Law School and one of the co-organizers of the Palestine Speaks event, says there is trauma, grief, hopelessness, and helplessness among the community because of the on-going war in Palestine. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi At least 500 were killed in the deadly explosion at the densely populated Al-Ahli Baptist hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Associated Press reported. Shortly after the bombing, Hananya Naftali, a social media adviser for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that an Israeli airstrike struck a terrorist base inside a Gaza hospital. Naftali deleted his post on X, and in a follow up post apologized for mistakenly sharing false information. Israel, through its X account, denied responsibility for the explosion, attributing it to a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza. Hamas blamed the attack on an Israeli airstrike, the Associated Press reported. President Biden said United States intelligence backs Israels claim it was not responsible. Abdellal voiced frustrations in seeing elected officials stand in support with Israel instead of standing for humanity. To stand on the right side of humanity, you just have to open your eyes, Abdellal said. Theres a lot of trauma, grief, hopelessness, and helplessness because as an American living in America, you cant physically go help out. Even sending money to your families back home is extremely hard because you get questioned for it. If I am sending two, three hundred dollars to my families back in Gaza, I get questioned for it... like why are you aiding terrorism and Im not. Im just trying to help my families that are displaced. Even speaking out can get you black-listed. Abdellal said talking about what is going on in Gaza right now in groups and community settings is valuable because it helps everyone understand that they are not alone and that others are also experiencing grief. Coming together in prayer, making supplications, and hoping for the well-being of those affected by the violence is what Abdellal is doing with her community, she said. I think events like these are extremely important because were learning how to navigate these waters and speak out against injustice, she said. First of all, as a Muslim, its super important to speak out against injustice when youre able to do so. One of our prophets says if you see injustice, you have to change it with your hand meaning do some thing about it and if youre unable to, you use your tongue to speak out against injustice. And the event today describes how to protest safely and speak out on social media safely. FELT COMPLETELY UNSEEN Abdullah Akl, the advocacy director of the Muslim American Society of Staten Island and co-organizer of the Palestine Speaks event, said that seeing elected officials ranging from City Council members to Assembly members and even the borough president taking positions on an international issue that overlook and neglect an entire community will result in consequences. Abdullah Akl, the advocacy director of the Muslim American Society and co-organizer of the Palestine Speaks event, said he urges elected officials to speak to their communities. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi The role of these elected officials is to represent their constituents. In our Eid prayers and multiple other prayers where these elected officials are present, we have upward of 5,000 people here on Staten Island alone. They completely felt unseen from their (local officials) statements, Akl said. Some of the consequences weve seen are hate calls against mosques and Muslim sisters are having their hijabs pulled off simply because they represent a view on what people think is Palestine. Akl said that many people look up to elected officials and use them as sources of information, so when they go out and issue a one-sided statement, the opposite side automatically becomes the enemy. I know what it means for elected officials to just stay quiet when they dont have to say something. But because they did speak, at the very least, they should speak the truth, Akl said. And the truth, and weve seen this not only from the United Nations, but Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Harvard Law, is that recognized institutions are calling Israel and what they are doing illegal and theyre calling it apartheid. It is recognized as illegal occupation, they should at least recognize that when putting out stances. Eighty young girls and women attended Palestine Speaks. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi Kiswani, who taught girls and women how to advocate safely at the Palestine Speaks event, says she hopes to empower people to advocate for liberation. As visibly Muslim women, we carry the brunt of stereotypes and hate crimes carried out against our community in this latest wave of anti-Palestinian racism, she said. RELATED COVERAGE: Israel-Palestinian conflict >> NYPD urges NYC residents to remain vigilant amid tension over Israel-Hamas conflict >> It feels like the whole world is against us right now: Staten Islanders speak out in support of Palestine >> Free Palestine rally held on College of Staten Island campus >> A day of mourning and prayer; BP Fossella speaks in support of Israel STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Up until a couple of months ago, Jose and his wife, Lady, were business owners. Our restaurant was called Coma Rico, said Jose, we would sell really delicious Colombian food. The pair, married for 22 years, also operated a small retail shop that sold vitamins. But when extortionists demanded monthly payments from Jose and Lady of 100,000 Colombian pesos (what equates to about $24) under threat of death, the couple unable to pay, unwilling to die, and already weary of a dangerous gang culture they feared could recruit their two kids decided it was time to leave. So, they sold everything they owned, the first step in a brutal journey northward. We wanted to keep our family safe; we wanted to keep our children protected, said Jose. We could not continue like this, we needed to protect our family. Hundreds of miles away, Carina and her husband, Pedro, were in the midst of Venezuelas severe humanitarian emergency. Carina, a police officer-turned-attorney, and Pedro, a machinist, realized they could not overcome the political unrest, economic decline or basic-needs shortages that have plagued the South American country for the last decade. Like Jose and Lady, Carina and Pedro knew the only way to provide for their 9-year-old son was to go to a place with more stability. We just wanted our child to be able to grow up, and be able to provide for our child, said Carina. In their respective countries, they built meaningful lives. Now, they are just four of the tens of thousands of migrants who have traveled, voluntarily or not, to New York City for a second chance. The foursome spoke to the Advance/SILive.com with the aid of Yesenia Mata, executive director of Staten Island-based community organization La Colmena. La Colmena which works to empower day laborers, domestic workers and others of varying immigration status on Staten Island has been operating tirelessly to assist migrants on Staten Island and the other New York City boroughs, providing educational classes and training, support and vital resources. Their names have been changed in this story to protect their identities. WE SAW SO MANY CHILDREN THAT WERE DEAD It took Carina, 35, and Pedro, 39, two months to travel from Venezuela to the United States border with their son. First, they trekked through Costa Rica. Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala followed. Mexico was the final hurdle; they snaked up from the southern tip. The hardest [part of the journey] was going through the jungle, because we would see many bodies of people that had passed away, said Carina. My husband was such a great supporter to our child, because he was trying his best to make it not as traumatizing for him. He was doing his best to make sure [our son] was OK. Along the way, Carina realized she was pregnant. It made things harder, but people along the route helped her continue on, and stay healthy. She is now in her second trimester. What kept me going was my faith, said Carina. I just kept saying like, no, we have to remain strong. We have to, we came here for our children, we have to remain strong. I have a very strong faith. Using their life savings, Jose and Lady, both 39, took roughly the same route albeit a separate journey with their 16-year-old son; their 20-year-old son stayed behind in Colombia. For weeks, they slept on the bare ground when they could, and stepped over bodies when they had to. We spent about five days in the jungle, and through that we saw so many people had died. We saw so many children that were dead, their little bodies, said Jose. Carina and Pedro hold hands as they detail their journey from Venezuela to Staten Island. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Jason Paderon Lady, traumatized by the experience, became a shell of herself for a time. Her anguish persisted, Jose said, and she refused to eat, losing significant weight. But I kept telling her no, we need to focus, he said. We need to, and our faith is strong. The journey was grueling, but traveling to the U.S. was their only option, said Carina. Returning to Venezuela in her and Pedros case, and Colombia in Jose and Ladys case, wasnt possible. What were we going to go back to? asked Carina. On Sept. 10, Carina and Pedro entered the United States; Jose and Lady crossed the border three days later. On Sept. 19, they found themselves on Staten Island smack in the middle of one of the largest anti-migrant shelter protests the borough has seen in 2023. What ensued was a seven-hour standoff that left Carina, Pedro, Jose and Lady terrified for their lives, and several Staten Islanders arrested. THEY ATTACKED US Crowded into an out-of-service MTA bus, the couples were part of a large group of migrants shuttled by the city to the then-newly opened migrant shelter at the former Island Shores senior living facility in Midland Beach. As the bus approached the site, around 5 p.m., it encountered what would soon number well over 1,000 anti-migrant shelter protesters. From inside the bus, migrants could hear chants of, Send them back, growing louder. As hours passed and night fell, the protesters became bolder. Men and women got closer and closer to the bus, circled it and, at one point, blocked the doors, the couples said. They banged flags against the bus windows. What the migrants believe may have been BBs pinged off the sides of the bus, and some sort of projectile punched a small hole into at least one bus window, Carina recounted. One man was particularly menacing, the couples said, yelling he was going to kill migrants while dragging his thumb across his neck repeatedly in a threatening motion. Numerous videos and photos viewed by the Advance/SILive.com, taken from inside the bus, corroborated a majority of these claims, and more. It was very traumatizing, said Jose. They attacked us. At one point, the bus lights were turned off; Carina and Jose said that was so the protesters couldnt look through the windows. The group continued to be held on the bus for their own safety, according to the couples. Outside of the bus, the migrants saw chaos. Inside of the bus, they felt a deep sense of dread. Several children, scared at what was happening around them, cowered on the floor in tears. I broke down crying, too, said Carina. Without access to a bathroom and unable to safely leave the bus, she was one of many other pregnant women, and kids, forced to urinate into their clothes. When Carina, Pedro, Jose, Lady and the rest of the group were finally allowed off the bus, at midnight, they claim they were greeted with a hail of rocks; some rocks, they estimated, were almost as large as the palm of their hand. Some of the little kids were getting hit, pregnant women were getting hit, said Carina. All four said they were struck multiple times as they entered the shelter. It was very traumatizing, said Carina. My husband thought we were going to get killed. We were just thinking the worst. By the time the protest drew to a close, an NYPD officer was injured and 10 protesters were arrested. Carina shows an Advance/SILive.com reporter videos from inside of the bus that was attacked during the Sept. 19 protest. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Jason Paderon HOSTILITY HASNT STOPPED Since that night just over a month ago, the level of hostility Carina, Pedro, Jose and Lady who all still reside at the Midland Beach shelter have been forced to face has not diminished. Their children are bullied at school, said the couples, and they and other migrants feel constantly intimidated and threatened by people in the community they believe are surveilling them. They claim more than a few asylum seekers have been targeted in attempted attacks on the boroughs streets. These attacks have not been reported to authorities, and cannot be verified by the Advance/SILive.com. Carina, Pedro, Jose and Lady say theyve also since developed a fear of nightfall. Recently, Jose returned to Midland Beach shortly after sunset from a day of job searching. After disembarking from an MTA bus, he made his way toward the migrant facility when, he said, he was rushed by protesters. Fearing for his life, he screamed for the police. They escorted him inside the facility. We cant even get off a bus because we get chased down, he said. Now, the foursome said, everyone in the shelter tries to be within the confines of the building by 7 p.m. sharp. Theyre unsure what theyll do as the days get shorter and the evenings grow darker sooner. And always lingering in the back of their minds is what they believe is the inevitable: more hostile protests. Its OK for people to express their feelings, and its OK for people to have differences, but when a protest that is supposed to be peaceful turns violent, thats something else, said Carina. These protests are turning into discrimination, are turning into racism and are terrifying. We wish people would give us the opportunity to show who we are. I was a police officer back in my country, Im an attorney. Jose and Lady are business owners. Theres a human side to it, added Jose. Get to know us; were here to contribute. Were going through the legal process. We just wish people would see theres a human element. Yesenia Mata, executive director of La Colmena, shows an Advance/SILive.com reporter videos taken by migrants from the Sept. 19 protest. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Jason Paderon THANKFUL FOR POLICE, SHELTER WORKERS From the moment they arrived on Staten Island, the couples said, theyve been treated with compassion by the shelters employees and social workers, and the NYPD officers tasked with their protection. They heavily praised the groups for their daily assistance, check-ins, encouragement and comfort. Lady called them the good side of Staten Island. As someone who was a police officer, I know what it means when youre out there 24/7 to protect something or someone, said Carina. Im very grateful for the police officers who are out there 24/7 making sure that we are safe. [If not] for them, I dont know what would happen to us. Theres real fear in their minds, however, of what could happen if the NYPDs presence is minimized or rescinded at the facility. Were afraid, said Carina. What if, one day, protesters make it inside? HOW DARE YOU TREAT PEOPLE IN THIS WAY For La Colmenas Mata, its not just the peaceful-turned-violent protest that upsets her, or people denying the migrants faced brutal treatment that Sept. 19 night (People are still denying it happened, which is absurd because theres footage, she said). Its also the local elected officials who attended this and other events to lend their support to the anti-migrant shelter crowd. Im shocked our very own elected officials riled [these protesters] up, and empowered them to do what they are doing now, said Mata. If anything is to happen to the people in the shelter, these elected officials need to be held accountable. How dare you treat people in this way when your own family, your own parents or grandparents, were immigrants. Its like you forgot your story. As the daughter of immigrants, I will never forget where I come from. Contributing to Matas frustration is what she calls a lack of acknowledgment of the other side of officials constituencies. Sometimes, these elected officials say, Oh, well, were listening to Staten Islanders. And Im like, wait a minute. Im a Staten Islander. I vote. Who are you listening to? Because I know youre not listening to me, and theres many people on Staten Island who think the same way I do. Still, she welcomes them to work in partnership with La Colmena and other nonprofits operating on behalf of the migrants, should they have a change of heart. Mata came to the Advance/SILive.com with videos from the protest because the world needs to see what is happening here on Staten Island, and history cannot repeat itself. She endorsed peoples right to protest, and understood Staten Islanders will have different ideas and opinions specifically when it comes to immigration. But, Mata said, when people are being threatened and could possibly end up hurt, and protests turn violent, thats not OK. WE COME WITH GOOD INTENTIONS Despite that first night on Staten Island, and what they feel are constant threats to their safety, Jose, Lady, Carina and Pedro dont regret their decisions to come to the U.S. In Venezuela, my son couldnt get an education because they werent giving classes anymore, said Carina. Im very happy that my son will be getting an education here. Theyve turned their attentions, once again, toward their futures. Leaving was not easy; it was very hard, said Jose. ... Im a hardworking man. I had my little business in Colombia, and I want to have something here, too, where I could contribute. I just want to evolve here, said Carina. I am someone who has studied and I want to study here, I want to contribute here. We come with good intentions. We just came here to support our families, just like many immigrants have done so in the past, including many people on Staten Island. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Jim Jordan, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, attends a press conference in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) The latest chaos shows that moderates and right-wing conservatives within the Republican Party are far from reaching an agreement on the way forward. 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 three rounds of full-chamber voting. In a closed-door session Friday afternoon, House Republicans voted in a secret ballot against Jordan continuing as their party's nominee for speaker, roughly a week after he was nominated. Earlier in the day, Jordan lost the third vote in his bid for House speaker, as Republican opposition grows amid continuing chaos. Jim Jordan (C), chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, is seen in the House chamber in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) The Ohio Republican, 59, lost 25 votes from fellow Republicans, three more than in the second round of voting and five more than in the first round, indicating moderates' growing doubts about a hardline conservative House speaker. With a slim 221-212 Republican majority in the chamber, Jordan could only afford to lose a few votes from Republicans in order to reach the majority threshold and win the gavel, considering that all Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said they were going to "come back and start over" on Monday. Several House Republicans have announced they would run for House speaker, including Jack Bergman from Michigan and Kevin Hern from Oklahoma. U.S. Representatives cast their votes for House speaker in the House chamber in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) The House has been leaderless for over two weeks, after Kevin McCarthy was unprecedentedly removed from his position on Oct. 3, in a move initiated by a conservative member of his own party. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats in the historical ouster. The House can't move forward on its legislative process until a speaker is chosen, and lawmakers need to pass a spending bill before government funding runs out in mid-November. The House is also under pressure to take action amid the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. But the latest chaos shows that moderates and right-wing conservatives within the Republican Party are far from reaching an agreement on the way forward. The stalemate has prompted some lawmakers to push for the empowerment of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, in hope that he can oversee the passage of urgently needed legislation until House Republicans can coalesce and elect a new leader. In the third vote, several Republican defections voted for McHenry. As lawyers and prosecutors rake over the ashes of Sam Bankman-Frieds fallen FTX cryptocurrency empire, another reckoning for digital currencies is under way: governments around the world are intensifying their crackdown on sources of funding for terrorist groups including crypto - after Hamass bloody attack in Israel that claimed more than 1400 lives and led to retaliatory attacks that have killed thousands. Crypto is a small but deadly slice of overall terrorism funding: research by analytics firm Elliptic in 2021 estimated that wallets linked to Hamas military wing had received more than $US7.3 million ($11.5 million) in crypto, including around $US40,000 in Dogecoin, the dog-themed memecoin favoured by Elon Musk. Crypto allows for large sums to be moved around the world with a high degree of anonymity. Credit: Getty These sums arent much compared with the $US100 million that Iran sends annually to Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups or with Qatars $US360 million in aid for Gaza, or the approximately $US300 million Hamas gets via business taxation and extortion estimated by the Washington Institutes Matthew Levitt. But small amounts can make a difference in an era of low-cost, low-tech attacks. An estimate of the September 11, 2001, attacks by The New York Times found they cost Al-Qaeda half a million dollars but cost the $US3.3 trillion. Governments are right to take crypto seriously it allows for large sums to be moved around the world with a high degree of anonymity (albeit leaving a transaction trail) and is part of the wider tapestry of terrorist finance, often used in conjunction with social media, remittances and prepaid cards. Funding tends to pick up during times of conflict, and Hamas halt on bitcoin donations, announced in April, might not be forever Australias national financial crime agency this week flagged appeals on Telegram for crypto donations for Hamas, according to an Australian Financial Review report. Chauvel is not panicked. The Light Horse must make their stand in the sands on their own two feet four if mounted. James McBeys portrait of Lieutenant-General Sir H. G. Chauvel, KCB, KCMG, 1918. Credit: Collection of the Imperial War Museum The importance of controlling Romani cannot be overstated. Its the only sure large supply of water for miles in any direction, and if the Turks are to make any mass move on the Suez Canal then Romani is the only place they can launch from. If they get their heavy guns a dozen miles beyond Romani they could even destroy shipping in the Suez from that position. But if they dont secure the water of Romani? Any large army would be simply stranded in shimmering sands and temperatures of well over 110 degrees, and have no choice but to retreat. Chauvel is not yet sure how, with just 1600 men from his two brigades up against as many as 16,000 of the enemy, he can hold them back, but he has at least been assiduous in his preparations. Based on his previous reconnaissance, each brigade, when on duty, has its 800 troopers strung out for four miles along a particularly high dune, meaning when the Turks get close enough the Australian defenders will initially be firing from on high upon an enemy that cannot rush them. For all that, the Australian Troopers have also been ordered by Chauvel: do not try and make a last stand out here. Make your first stand instead, with an eye on your second. Yes, the key is to engage and withdraw, engage and withdraw, engage and withdraw. Brigadier General Harry Chauvel commanding 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade. The Australians must engage and ensure a series of firefights where the Turks and Germans never know from which sand dune they are about to be ambushed. Keep pulling back towards Romani. Hold them up, slow them down, weaken them, as they move further and further from their own water supply as we get closer to our own water, our infantry and our newly reinforced artillery. Draw it out, draw them in, draw on all your resources and tomorrows blistering sun will be fighting on our side. Rifles are loaded. Bayonets sharpened. Ammunition is checked, passed by palms suddenly sweating even in this cool evening air; the fight is coming. ****************** There they are! They are the dark phantoms of the night, moving stealthily across the desert in the moonlight. Armed. Dangerous. Committed. The Australians watch them carefully, barely breathing, just looking down their sights and waiting for the first shot, at which point it will be open season. A single shot rings out across the line, followed by a fierce volley as 800 troopers of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade unleash their best. Up and down the line, one trooper recounts,comes the crackle, crackle of rifle fire and the rip-rip-rip of machine-guns. Many of the phantoms fall. Many go to ground and fire back, the flashes from the muzzles of their guns providing more good targets though suddenly the Australians atop the ridge are themselves under heavy fire. In the darkness all is soon catastrophic confusion as the two forces get ever closer to each other, the Turks and Germans struggling up the dunes in their thousands, the Australians continuing to fire even while using their bayonets on those who get close enough, and yelling at those who fall back, Try it again! The death, carnage and screams aside the twinkling flashes in the night, coming from gunfire, are pretty. Both sides blazed away point-blank at one anothers rifle flashes, which when the quarter moon had set made the intense blackness seem aflame, the Australian trooper Ion Idriess will recount. Up steep slopes comes the Turk infantry, records another, withering away under our steady fire, but always coming swiftly on. Inevitably, the courageous Turks and the Australians come together like crashing waves on a stormy night of death, the hand-to-hand fighting vicious as some of the Australians fall back, only to lie in wait to become, in turn, shadows that arose from the night and annihilated the Cossack posts. Both sides blazed away: Ion Idriess of the 5th Light Horse Regiment. It is at this point in the murderous madness that four troopers charge so far right through the Turks protected only by brilliant starlight, and shooting the infantry on the way through that they become isolated. Turkish soldiers further back bayonet their horses, leaving four stranded Australians in the night, fighting to stay alive behind Turkish lines. Things are crook in Tallarook, and not much better in the desert just outside of Romani. Bullets are flying and shells are exploding as the 1st Brigades own artillery which has been held back until a firm front line has been established comes into play, and the swirling dust alone could kill a brown dog. Meanwhile, the four stranded Australians are on their last legs, surrounded by dead Turks, their ammunition finished. Though they have not yet met their maker, all could be forgiven for preparing their opening remarks. There is no way out. But now comes some wild snorting from behind. A horseman! Surely, in these Biblical parts, it must be one or all of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Death, Famine, War, and Conquest? No, actually, its the Fifth Horseman! A mounted member of the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment practises bringing in a wounded comrade laid across a horse. Credit: Australian War Memorial For it proves to be none other than Major Michael Shanahan on his mighty chestnut stallion, the biggest in the regiment, whose nickname has been well-earned for having been so long unrideable until Shanahan had shown him kindness, Bill the Bastard! Get up on him! Shanahan roars. One on each stirrup, and two on the back! It is no easy feat, as the bullets and shrapnel continue to fly, even as through the desert howl of the swirling dust they can see the Turks surging forward, but it is shortly done with Shanahan now the principal anchoring point for all four grasping him. The major drives his heels into Bill the Bastards sides and they are soon heading back, Bills every step plunging deep into the sand, but somehow he keeps his feet and keeps moving. Minutes later, Shanahan can drop all four men in a position of relative safety, before he heads back to see who else might be saved. Loading Inspired, one fearless Queenslander seeks to emulate the feat; spying a lost soldier in the starlight, he too leaps over the Turkish line, scoops up the fellow onto his horse and gallops back to safety! Unbelievable! Even more unbelievable? He has just rescued a Turk; who is absolutely stunned that this is how Australians take prisoners! His fellow soldiers are still howling with laughter at the Queenslanders fury; its like crossing the tryline triumphant and then realising youve just scored for the opposing team. The battle goes on. Advertisement Restaurants are shrinking. In part, reducing the number of tables is a logical way to cope with a shortage of staff (and diners), but increasingly, its being done by choice rather than by necessity. When four of the five finalists for The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2024 Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year Award are running restaurants seating 40 people or fewer, it marks a shift in Sydney dining to smaller being better than bigger. Owner-chef Zachary Ng serves the dishes and pours the drinks at 10-seat Restaurant Ka. Rhett Wyman At Restaurant Ka in Darlinghurst, owner-chef Zachary Ng feeds just 10 people at the long red marble counter facing the kitchen. After a decade of working for Martin Benn at the renowned Sepia restaurant, he wanted to do something more personal that reflected both his Cantonese heritage and his fine dining experience. At Ka, he greets guests, takes drinks orders, and even shakes the cocktails himself. I taught myself by watching YouTube, he says. Scott McComas-Williams, executive chef of the Love Tilly Group hospitality outfit, oversees five of the smallest restaurants in Sydney Love, Tilly Devine, Dear Sainte Eloise, Fabbrica CBD, Fabbrica Balmain and La Salut. Typically, they are small, street-wise dining rooms or pasta shops, some tucked into the side of pubs; none holding more than 40 people. Advertisement This year, the group went for broke with the opening of the 120-seat Palazzo Salato in Clarence Street. What was previously the Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe is now a clamorous dining room where the private room holds the same number of diners as the groups first restaurant in a back lane in Darlinghurst. Jemma Whiteman, chef at Newtown wine bar Ante. Edwina Pickles In Newtown, Chef of the Year finalist Jemma Whiteman cooks over coal and wood, sending out sake-friendly dishes in a warm, jazz-fuelled bar reminiscent of the Japanese rekodo, or listening bar. While Ante seats only 30, she often cooks for 90 over the course of an evening. When Josh Niland opened his fish-focused restaurant Saint Peter in Paddington in 2016, he filled it with conventional tables and chairs for 34 diners. By 2020, he and his wife Julie took them all out and installed a single long Carrara marble bar for just a handful of diners. Their only view is of chefs expertly preparing their dishes, just a metre away. The intimacy and transparency, he says, was deliberate. I wanted to physically demonstrate that there is so much more to a fish than a fillet, he says. By cutting back the number of diners, we were able to refine and evolve what we did. It also offered opportunities to open other small businesses. Advertisement The next incarnation of Saint Peter, when it moves to the Grand National in Paddington in the first quarter of 2024, will seat 45 diners, with extra seats on offer in a more casual bar. A marble bar seating just a handful of people runs the length of Saint Peter. Wolter Peeters Finalists for Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year 2024 One chef feeds just 10 people, another has snacks that start at $7, and a thirds high-wire circus act of fine dining costs $400 a head. Welcome to the age of diversity, Sydney dining style. And the nominees are: Zach Ng, Restaurant Ka Advertisement Ka is a treasure hiding in plain sight behind a simple door in Darlinghurst. Zach Ng merges his Hong Kong upbringing with his Sepia training across eight courses, which peak at a show-stopping lacquered duck breast with plump, juicy pickled cherries. Josh Niland, Saint Peter, Petermen Josh Niland is on a relentless mission to open our eyes to the beauty of fish, from eyeball to tail. Each diner bears witness to original, wave-making thinking from a highly focused chef as he turns coral trout or Murray cod into gastronomic icons worthy of a religious cult. Clare Smyth and Alan Stuart of Oncore by Clare Smyth. Supplied Clare Smyth and Alan Stuart, Oncore by Clare Smyth Advertisement The dining experience at Oncore is a tour de force of theatricality, precision, consistency and attention to detail. Irish-born Clare Smyth, of Core in Notting Hill, was the first female chef in Britain to win 3 Michelin stars. With the extremely talented head chef Alan Stuart in the view-blessed Crown Sydney site, they are hitting the heights of Michelin starriness right here in Sydney. Scott McComas-Williams, Palazzo Salato, Ragazzi, Fabbrica, La Salut The executive chef of the Love Tilly Group heads up a bevy of tiny eateries (and one big one in Palazzo Salato), while still maintaining an emphasis on artisanal foods, hand-sliced salumi and worth-a-detour house-made pasta. Chef Scott McComas-Williams oversees several venues, including Palazzo Salato in Sydney. Edwina Pickles Jemma Whiteman, Ante Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Loading Two great influences were his early home life and the Great Depression. William George Hayden was born on January 23, 1933, one of four children of George Hayden, then 52, and his wife, Violet (formerly Quinn), a young widow. George, born in California of Irish stock, had joined the International Workers of the World and jumped ship in Australia. After the Depression closed his small musical instrument and repair shop in Rockhampton, George never fully recovered self-respect. Although he found work, then put his age down to join the army in World War II, he and Vi distrusted the system. He was often drunk and beat her. Bill hated George, seeing him as Willy Loman, the deluded, unsuccessful central character in Arthur Millers play Death of a Salesman. Bill attended St Itas convent school in Brisbane, then Dutton Park state school, next to Boggo Road jail, then Brisbane State High. There were few books at home and Bill was a poor reader; joining the Queensland public service as a clerk, he bought a dictionary. After national service in the navy, Hayden became a policeman, joined the Labor Party in 1957 and married Dallas Broadfoot in 1960, later describing their union as the single most intelligent thing I have ever done. Attacking the Menzies economic policies, Hayden won the seat of Oxley in the 1961 election with a swing of nearly 11 per cent, defeating health minister Donald Cameron. Bill Hayden as a policeman. Credit: Fairfax Media. Hayden believed he might be over-reaching, but wrote of his first air trip, first-class to Canberra: I had a natural flair for quickly adjusting to the small but better things in life. He added: I entered the parliament with an oversized, lower-order chip on my shoulder and made great efforts to ensure it was not dislodged. Hayden worked hard. However, Labors thrashing in the 1966 Vietnam election and the death of Michaela, his daughter of five years, in a road accident, brought disillusion and introspection. He studied for an economics degree and read Franz Kafka. Haydens booklet, The Implications of Democratic Socialism (1968), called for a bigger public role in the economy to eradicate inequality and limit the powers of those who controlled the commanding heights of capital. John Stuart Mill was an influence, and Hayden was to move from democratic socialism to social democracy. Whitlams leadership gave Labor a purposeful thrust, and Hayden joined the drive for a reforming government. Labor lost narrowly in 1969, but Hayden threw himself into the struggle for a national health insurance scheme. Their 1972 victory intensified the fight. No party had entered an election campaign with such a range of policies, and Medibank was the most furiously fought. Hayden had marshalled the facts and mastered the argument with the opposition, non-Labor states, the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the General Practitioners Society, private hospitals and health insurers. Senate obstruction of Medibank was a major ground for the double dissolution of parliament in 1974. Labor won again, but had to beat off a High Court challenge before final victory in 1975. Hayden with Gough Whitlam after being appointed treasurer in 1975. Credit: Green; Ernest John McLintock/Fairfax Media. The quadrupling of world oil prices in 1973 derailed the Whitlam program and the economy ran out of control. Jim Cairns replaced Frank Crean as treasurer. When Whitlam sacked Cairns over unorthodox loan raisings, Hayden became treasurer. He restored economic responsibility, but too late. Malcolm Frasers incoming government accepted Haydens budget. The most fulfilling, exciting days in my life were with Whitlam, Hayden said, although he wished he and Whitlam had teamed up earlier over the economy. Later he defended John Kerr over the governor-generals sacking of the Whitlam government, although he thought Kerr should have allowed longer for the political process to work itself out. Bob Hawke, Jim McClelland, Bill Hayden and Gough Whitlam in the grounds of the Lodge on November 12, 1975, the day after Whitlams dismissal. Whitlam offered Hayden the leadership, but Labors sole Queensland survivor from 1975 was devastated. The often amusing, independent thinker became a Hamlet-like figure until standing for the leadership in 1977, losing by two votes. When Labor lost badly again soon after, Hayden took over. Worried about his public speaking voice, he read the Bible aloud and took voice lessons. Discarding pretence, he restored morale, working on economic management, taxation, defence and foreign affairs. He led Labor to 49.6 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at the 1980 election, but the party lacked faith in his leadership. They had used Hayden, Hawke and Neville Wran as a troika in campaign advertising. Bob Hawke shakes hands with Bill Hayden, after he unsuccessfully challenged Hayden for the leaders position. Credit: David Bartho After a year, Hawke asked him to step aside. Hayden beat Hawkes challenge 42-37, but distrusted many colleagues and doubted himself. Graham Richardson swore that the NSW Right was behind him: Try to trust us for a change, mate. But when Paul Keating, John Button and others told him on February 3, 1983, that he should resign, he did. Hayden told the following NSW Labor conference: When a high-ranking official of the NSW branch of the Labor Party calls you mate, beware! Its like the Mafia sending you a bunch of carnations. Youre in trouble. Haydens recovery and reconstruction election theme became recovery, reconstruction and reconciliation and Hawke stormed home. Hayden wrote: I like to think that I was a good craftsman but acknowledge I was not a virtuoso performer. One of my defects is that I was a very ordinary, run-of-the-mill representative of the community. As governor-general, he was no deferential royalist but thought a republic needed even longer to evolve. By then the social democrat was a secular liberal humanist. His autobiography notes: My wife Dallas, an underground coal miners daughter from Ipswich, and I, the product of an extremely humble background in South Brisbane, between us discharged the many public duties, in Australia and overseas, of head of state and spouse. Bill Hayden and his wife Dallas on their last day at Government House in 1996. Credit: Ray Strange. Whitlam once told Hayden, a vocal atheist: Comrade, the Catholic Church will get you in the end. Whitlam was correct. In 2018, four years after suffering a stroke and at the age 85, Hayden was baptised as a Catholic at St Marys Church in Ipswich. Theres been a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life, he told The Catholic Leader. Whats my role in it? Local councils are taking up to nine and a half months to assess development applications, blowing out times for renovations and small residential builds. The housing industry says the delays are increasing building and labour costs, adding unnecessary levels of red tape and putting further pressure on a market that is already failing to meet targets. Builders and renovators are waiting longer for development applications to be assessed by local councils. Credit: Brook Mitchell Data from the state government shows that NSW councils are taking an average of 111 days to determine DAs since July, compared to 107 days in 2022-23 and 83 days in 2021-22. Many Sydney councils take far longer to assess the DAs for home building and renovations, with Liverpool taking an average of 280 days to scrutinise building plans in 2022-23, followed by Sutherland Shire at 215 days, Hunters Hill at 212 and Georges River at 201 days. 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. Thousands of people attended a pro-Palestinian rally in the Sydney CBD on Saturday. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone 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 . Halloween is more than a week away, but a look around Sydneys suburban streets suggests the growing holiday is already in full swing. Dean Salakas is co-owner and chief party dude of the Party People supply stores in Sydneys inner west and south-west. Five years ago, he would make a few sales of Halloween items in August, but now his shop is inundated with customers months before the holiday. Sydneysiders are getting into the Halloween spirit early, with decorations going up as early as October 1. Credit: Wolter Peeters Salakas said people are decorating earlier, taking their queues from social media, where US influencers celebrate the spooky season. He decorated his own house on October 1. Its kind of like how people decorate for Christmas on December 1, he said. Boxes stacked high, one after another, front to back in a fully laden shipping container. Just one glance reveals the contents are highly sought after on the black market, yet theres no attempt at hiding it. Inside is carton upon carton of illegal cigarettes, 10 million in total. The Manchester brand looks legitimate, proclaiming itself as a house of quality, but its all a ruse to avoid tax. An Australian Border Force officer inspects illegal cigarettes smuggled in a shipping container. Credit: Joe Armao Each pack sells for as little as $15 at some tobacco stores less than half the price of lawful smokes. Even at those cut prices, the profits are worth tens of millions of dollars in the underworld. In a nondescript warehouse at the Port of Melbourne, Australian Border Force officers are constantly uncovering huge importations like this as they attempt to stem record quantities of untaxed tobacco from flooding into the country. BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- In the west African country of Benin, the local word "yaba" is used by local people to refer to friends. Today, the term is closely associated with a group of people that have come from afar -- members of the Chinese medical teams. Lang Zhicun, a pediatrician from the First People's Hospital of Yinchuan, China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, worked for two terms with the Chinese medical team. During his first term in Lokossa, Benin, Lang not only provided treatment for local children, but also taught local doctors acupuncture. Like Lang, many selfless Chinese doctors have contributed to the advancement of global health by joining medical teams and aiding less-developed parts of the world. Since dispatching the first medical team abroad in 1963, China has dispatched more than 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions worldwide, providing more than 300 million treatments to locals. With their tested professional knowledge and humanitarian spirit, they have built bridges of hope and friendship between the peoples of China and the recipient countries and regions. GUARDIANS OF LIFE As a result of their limited development, many countries and regions that receive medical aid only have basic medical service capabilities. Under such conditions, the help provided by Chinese doctors can sometimes be vital to a patient's fate. A midnight in August 2001, in Algeria, an emergency phone call summoned doctor Xu Changzhen to the bed of a pregnant woman. The patient was suffering from hypovolemic shock caused by stillbirth, and was struggling for life. When Algerian medicals determined that the patient could not be saved, Xu refused to give up. After stopping the bleeding through ligation, giving the patient blood transfusion and removing the broken uterus, the patient ultimately woke up from the coma. "My second life is given by Chinese doctors," said the grateful patient afterwards. Algeria was the first country China dispatched medical team to. Since 1993, Xu has been stationed there four times. The doctor's experience is a prime example of how Chinese medical personnel safeguard the life and health of local people with love and skills. REACH OUT IN CRISIS Regular medical service is only one aspect of the assistance that Chinese medical teams provide. In the face of devastating incidents, Chinese medical personnel never hesitate to take up their due responsibilities. In 2011, a passenger and cargo ship capsized and sank in the waters of Zanzibar, Tanzania, causing heavy casualties. Upon learning of the situation, Lu Jianlin, leader of the 24th Chinese medical team to Zanzibar, immediately contacted local health authorities, noting that Chinese medical team stood ready to provide medical assistance. The Chinese medical team immediately formulated contingency plans for treatment, prepared sufficient medicine and equipment, and established a 24-hour response system. With all-out efforts, many of those who suffered injuries from the accident made a full recovery. "We will always remember you." The timely response and professional treatment from "good doctors from China" won the earnest praise of local people. Throughout China's history of dispatching medical teams, over 2,000 national-level awards of recipient countries were presented to Chinese medical team members for their outstanding service. "FISHING ROD INSTEAD OF FISH" As the old Chinese saying goes, "It is more helpful to teach people how to fish than to just give them fish." While providing much needed medical assistance, Chinese doctors have also passed on the "fishing rods" of treatment methods to local medical personnel, enabling them to continuously improve the efficiency and quality of local medical services. During an Ebola outbreak in Africa in 2014, China's 24th medical team to Guinea, headed by Wang Zhenchang, worked closely with experts from Beijing to train local authorities in safeguarding public health, in order to enhance their capacity of virus prevention and control. According to Wang, the team trained more than 1,600 public health workers. "The training played an important role in bringing the Ebola epidemic under control. More importantly, it provided new ideas and professionals essential for the building of the local public health system in the post-Ebola period," said Wang. Statistics from China's National Health Commission indicated that, China has so far initiated pair-up cooperation with 46 medical institutions in 41 countries and regions. Although the medical teams cannot stay there forever, the methods and technologies they provide continue to benefit the local people. In 2019, Lang returned to Benin. This time, he brought the cutting-edge technology of remote diagnosis to the central hospital in Lokossa, which allows experts to provide remote consultations. Six decades later, the determination and spirit of Chinese medical team members have been passed down through generations. Currently, in 56 countries, Chinese medical teams continue the legacy of mutual assistance between China and other developing countries. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Australia has a massive waste problem. We generate the second most single use plastic per capita in the world, and our 7.6 tonnes of annual food waste costs our country $36.6 billion every year. Something is needed to rein in the problem. Cutting general waste collection to fortnightly is certainly worth a try (Inner west residents dump on cut to rubbish collection, October 15). As the ABCs War on Waste program has shown, education is key to encouraging households to take responsibility for their waste. Viewing rubbish as a valuable resource that can be recycled or reused is ideal. For a more sustainable future, councils and individuals must work together toward a circular management system of all waste streams. One things for sure: threatening to dump waste is not the answer. Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic) The decision of the Inner West Council to reduce the collection of general waste from weekly to fortnightly has aroused the ire of many residents. Cost saving is essential, but it must be justified. It may well be that some residents dont need weekly red-lid garbage bin collections, but convenient alternative arrangements must be readily available for those who do. Council members need to tread cautiously or they may find themselves dumped. Graham Lum, North Rocks Voices silenced More than 60 per cent of Australians have condemned our Indigenous people to more torment of powerlessness, as so eloquently expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart (Australia says No, October 15). Shame on the No campaign of disinformation and the opportunistic position of No campaign leaders. Rob Firth, Red Hill (ACT) On reflection. Credit: Matt Golding In all the commentary about the Voice referendum, one fallacy, repeated often enough to need refutation, is that a majority of voters cant be wrong. What nonsense. What the majority of voters decide is the will of the majority of the people, not the truth. History is full of examples of appalling decisions made by the majority. Its democracy, and its the best way weve found to make decisions as a nation. We must value and nurture it, but accept it for what it is, and isnt. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point The intentions of the referendum were sound, but the amendment proposed was misguided because the Constitution should not be used to instruct governments on policy formation. It is about determining the extent of governments powers to run the country, and the government already has the power to establish advisory bodies. An Aboriginal Land Councils revised plans to build 450 homes in bushland on Sydneys northern beaches have failed to win over local representatives, amid questions about whether ongoing community resistance to the development was reflected in last weekends referendum result. The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Councils Patyegarang development, formerly known as Lizard Rock, is on public exhibition for six weeks, ending November 7. Local representatives are continuing to oppose the development of bushland at Belrose. Credit: Wolter Peeters The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council has sought to develop the 71-hectare site off Morgan Road in Belrose, locally known as Lizard Rock, since 2006. Northern Beaches Council continues to object to the development. However, following changes made by the former state government in 2021, development applications for the site are assessed through an independent state-appointed panel, the Sydney North Planning Panel, without the need for council approval. The planning department then makes a recommendation to the planning minister, who can approve the project. Public housing residents are accusing the state government of pushing poor people out of Melbournes inner-suburbs, and some vow not to leave their homes in protest at plans to demolish and rebuild ageing towers around the city. You can bury me under this building, but Im not moving out, Wellington Street tower resident Valentyna Frolova told a rally at Collingwoods public housing complex on Saturday. Valentyna Frolova, from the Wellington Street flats. Credit: Jason South In its housing statement last month, the Victorian Labor government announced all 44 public housing towers in Melbourne would be razed and rebuilt to fit three times as many residents. But of the 30,000 people who would live at the estates by 2051, 11,000 would be in social housing 1000 more than occupy the towers now. The remainder would be private apartments, with an unspecified number of affordable housing tenants. Inner west renter Nick Stillman was paid out about $8000 mid-lease to move from one rental property to another in a rare deal that was a win-win for him and his landlord. It was pretty unique. The owner decided they wanted to sell, and we still had nine months on the lease, which put us in a position of power. We could either stay or leave, Stillman said. Nick was relocated to his new rental, two doors down from his previous one, after his real estate agent gave him a win-win situation for both Nick and the landlord who wanted to end the lease early. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos At first, the 31-year-old and his partner wanted to stay, but the pair came around to the idea of moving as the selling agent Michael White of BresicWhitney struck a deal with Stillman as well as finding Stillman his next rental. He went above and beyond to secure us a pay-out for us and he also by chance managed the property three doors down from us. It was about $8000, he said. At least 130 premature babies are at grave risk because of lack of fuel at Gaza hospitals, the United Nations health agency said on Sunday. The babies are being cared for at six neonatal units, according to Medical Aid for Palestinians, an aid group working in Gaza. But doctors have warned that the babies are in imminent danger if fuel does not reach hospitals soon. The World Health Organisation called for immediate and sustained access of fuel into Gaza to keep health facilities operating, in a statement to the Associated Press. Melanie Ward, chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians, urged world leaders to press Israel to allow the delivery of fuel to Gaza. The world cannot simply look on as these babies are killed by the siege on Gaza ... A failure to act is to sentence these babies to death, she said. Hospitals in Gaza have been struggling with the large number of wounded. Only 20 trucks carrying aid made it through the Gaza-Egypt border on Saturday, and humanitarian groups say the delivery was well short of the supplies that are needed. Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon working with Medicins Sans Frontieres in Shifa Hospital, said the hospitals generators are cutting out more regularly now than before. He said hospitals in the territory were facing severe shortages of medical supplies, including bandages, medication and other supplies. You can imagine the amount 14,000 severely wounded patients would consume, he said. AP As Israel continued to amass tanks and troops near Gaza ahead of its expected ground invasion in response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Sydney, demanding an end to the bombardment of Gaza after nearly two weeks of intense air and artillery strikes. Loading Rafah is the main route in and out of the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, and the focus of efforts to deliver aid to Gazas 2.3 million residents. International aid agencies said such limited supplies were not enough to sustain life in Gaza. UN officials say at least 100 trucks a day are needed to cover urgent needs, and that any delivery of aid needs to be sustained and at scale. Before the outbreak of conflict, an average of about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. The humanitarian situation in Gaza already precarious has reached catastrophic levels, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement. I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies including food, water, medicine and fuel. Israel blockaded the territory and launched waves of punishing airstrikes following the October 7 rampage by Hamas terrorists 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 aid. Hospital workers were also in urgent need of medical supplies and fuel for their generators as they treat huge numbers of people wounded in the bombings. Hundreds of foreign passport holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict, but there was no indication that foreigners had been allowed to leave Gaza. The opening came hours after Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter Senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Malcolm Davis, said the ground offensive may now be delayed by the release of American hostages Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17. The pair were among the at least 200 Israelis taken by Hamas terrorists during the attack on southern Israel on October 7, Thousands gathered in Sydney CBD in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Similar rallies are expected across Melbourne and Perth on Sunday. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone I think things are probably being delayed whilst they try this hostage negotiation approach to see if more hostages can be released, Davis told CNN. But ultimately, I dont think its going to be a case of the Israelis choosing not to go in on the ground. I think that for the Israelis to achieve their goal of the destruction of Hamas and the removal of the threat that it poses to Israel, they have to go in on the ground. Raanan and her daughter were the first hostages confirmed by both sides in the conflict to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel and killed 1400 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 200 others. An image shared after their release showed the two women surrounded by three Israeli soldiers and holding hands with Gal Hirsch, Israels co-ordinator for the captives and missing. Two of our abductees are at home. We are not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people, Netanyahu said in a statement released late Friday night. At the same time, well continue to fight until victory. An Israeli soldier kisses his partner as she visits him near the border with the Gaza Strip. Credit: AP Reached by phone just outside Chicago, Uri Raanan, the teenagers father, said he spoke to his daughter by phone, saying: She sounds very, very good, very happy and she looks good. Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas armed wing, said the hostages were released in part for humanitarian reasons in response to Qatari mediation efforts. Israels bombardment of Gaza in the two weeks since the October 7 attack has killed at least 4137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than a million have been displaced, according to Palestinian officials. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said achieving Israels objectives would not be quick or easy. Palestinians evacuate wounded from a building destroyed in Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. Credit: AP We will topple the Hamas organisation. We will destroy its military and governing infrastructure. Its a phase that will not be easy. It will have a price, Gallant told a parliamentary committee. He added that the subsequent phase would be more drawn out, but was aimed at achieving a completely different security situation with no threat to Israel from Gaza. Its not a day, its not a week, and unfortunately its not a month, he said. Loading Palestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. Israeli aircraft struck six homes in northern Gaza early on Saturday, killing at least eight Palestinians and injuring 45, Palestinian media reported. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said that Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought refuge. 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. Asked if Israel had so far followed the laws of war in its response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that Israel had the right to defend itself and make sure Iran-backed Hamas was not able to launch attacks again. Its important that operations be conducted in accordance with international law, humanitarian law, the law of war, he said. There will be plenty of time to make assessments about how these operations were conducted but I can just say from the part of the United States, this continues to be important to us. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said more than 140,000 homes nearly a third of all homes in Gaza had been damaged and nearly 13,000 destroyed. International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the checkpoint on Egypts side on Friday and called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and checks which Israel insists on to stop aid from reaching Hamas to be quick and pragmatic. Western leaders have so far mostly offered support to Israels campaign against Hamas, although there is mounting unease about the plight of civilians in Gaza. Loading Many Muslim states, however, have called for an immediate ceasefire, and protests demanding an end to the bombardment were held in cities across the Islamic world on Friday. In the occupied West Bank, where violence has flared since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian teenager during clashes near the city of Jericho. Reuters, AP New York: A New York judge on Friday fined Donald Trump $US5000 ($7920) for violating a gag order barring the former US 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 judges clerk which was later deleted from the former presidents 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. PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Leo Lambriex announced an update to opening hours which were previously set to close at 12a. Closing hours have now been adjusted to 12p tomorrow pending new updates whereby further decisions will be taken by the EOC Minister Lambriex wants everyone to remain vigilant and be storm-ready just in case. Weather is very unpredictable and we as a Government are doing all the necessary to keep everyone's safety and readiness in mind. Hurricane Tammy at 5:00 PM was located 365 miles southeast of Sint Maarten, according to the latest updates from the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten is under a Hurricane Warning which means hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Tropical storm conditions will be felt before this. Maximum sustained winds are 75 miles per hour with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center and hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles outward from the center. Hurricane Tammy is moving toward the west-northwest near seven miles per hour. Hurricane Tammy is expected to pass at its closest point, 60 miles northeast of Sint Maarten on Sunday, October 22, 2023. However, we will continue to monitor the forecasts and update them as changes can always occur. Residents and the business community are called upon to complete all necessary preparations and precautions on Friday and Saturday morning for the passing of Hurricane Tammy which is likely to start impacting Sint Maarten Saturday afternoon and throughout the weekend. The EOC has adjusted the closure time for businesses from Friday night at 12:00 AM to Saturday, October 21 at 12:00 PM midday. This adjustment was based on the latest weather information and analysis and synchronization with French side authorities. The Sint Maarten community and business sector must bear in mind that tropical storm impacts could start from 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 21, therefore strict adherence to the closure time is a must. Weather is not an exact science, but there could be rain showers and some wind gusts before the aforementioned time. The John Larmonie Center is to operate as the main shelter. Opening times are as follows: 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Residents should 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. 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. PHILIPSBURG: A group of men rushed into the Porto Cupe Coy casino during the early morning hours on Saturday morning and managed to hijack the security guards and workers of the casino at gunpoint. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. The robbers managed to escape towards the French side after committing the act. Police Spokesman Joe Josepha said police are conducting an investigation into the early morning robbery. He said so far information is limited but said that the act was committed by a group of men who managed to escape towards the French side. CARACAS, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) on Friday welcomed the progress made in national conciliation talks in Venezuela and the temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions against the South American nation. In a statement, the Caracas-based Latin American and Caribbean integration bloc said, "the unilateral coercive measures ... should be withdrawn in their entirety and without condition immediately." "Our Venezuelan brothers are choosing the path of dialogue without foreign interference, ratifying that the only possible path is peace," it said. The block expressed its willingness to accompany "any initiative aimed at achieving peace" in the context of respect for human rights and peoples' self-determination. On Oct. 17, the Venezuelan government and some factions of the opposition signed an agreement to promote political coexistence and electoral guarantees in the lead-up to next year's presidential elections. Subsequently, the U.S. government officially announced it would suspend several unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, including sanctions impacting companies in oil, gas and gold mining industries. The ALBA-TCP gathers Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Venezuela. The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had agreed to the talks, although the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the issue of pay would not be on the table. CAIRO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Friday the necessity of delivering humanitarian aid to the war-torn Gaza sustainably. During a phone conversation, the two presidents rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands, emphasizing the importance of the solidarity of the international community to permanently end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, based on the two-state solution in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy. The Turkish president expressed his appreciation for Egypt's role in coordinating humanitarian efforts and promoting the path of peace. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Oct. 7 launched a rare surprise attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets and its militants bursting into Israeli border towns and communities. 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 and left many others in a dire humanitarian crisis. Some 175 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, medical supplies, food, and blankets are lined up near the crossing, waiting for entry into Gaza but are blocked by Israel. Earlier in the day, Jens Laerke, spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said relevant parties are nearing an agreement on the modalities of the aid operation and that the first delivery is due to start in the next day or so, according to a UN press release. When the police finally did decide to take action, it was would you believe it? against the van. They ordered it to shut down the images and leave central London. Why? Because it was a soft target. It was easier to order law-abiding citizens to take their humanitarian call for the return of child hostages elsewhere ostensibly to keep the peace and ensure safety than it was to arrest those who were trying to suppress our freedom of expression by blocking and intimidating the team in the van. Charbel Francis, a cameraman for Al Araby TV, was also filming. He said the battle was in the distance and there was no indication that the Lebanese gunfire was coming from anywhere near the journalists. The shell that hit them appeared to come from the Israel side. Reuters later quoted one of its journalists who was at the scene, saying that missiles fired from the direction of Israel struck the group. He was charged in relation to the death of Zeqja Lumturi, 27, who was found seriously injured alongside another man in his 20s in Church Lane, Leytonstone, on October 16 2022. The Environment Agency (EA) said three severe flood warnings were in place around the River Derwent in Derbyshire, meaning deep and fast-flowing water carries a significant risk of death or serious injury as well as serious disruption to local communities. The opening of the Rafah crossing followed another major development in the crisis when Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip, the first such release from among around 200 people the militant group abducted during its October 7 raids on southern Israel. Where we do get things wrong, we always hold up our hands as we did this week when one of our correspondents was wrong to speculate along with others about the cause of the al Ahli hospital explosion, even if he at no point reported that it was an Israeli strike. Mr Cleverly said: We are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza, and we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid which much which many of us have partially funded reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need. The force said it was aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants were being led by the driver over the intercom and sung by passengers on a packed Tube as protesters headed to Marble Arch to take part in a pro-Palestine rally. "We will deepen our attacks to minimise the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today," Mr Hagari said, repeating his call for Gaza City residents to head south for their safety. Khaled Khiari (Front), UN assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, speaks at a Security Council meeting on the Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York, on Jan. 5, 2023. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) The driving force for a more effective collective security system must be diplomacy, says Khaled Khiari. 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. Israeli soldiers are pictured near the Israel-Gaza border in Israel, on Oct. 19, 2023. (JINI via Xinhua) 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." MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Colonel General Viktor Afzalov has become the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (RAF), replacing Army General Sergei Surovikin, local media reported Saturday. Afzalov, who was previously acting commander-in-chief of RAF, was born on June 9, 1968. He graduated from the Pushkin Higher Military School of Radio Electronics of Air Defense in 1989, the Military University of Air Defense in 2000, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2010. He became the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Eastern Military District in July 2017 and the chief of staff of RAF in August 2018. Surovikin, Afzalov's predecessor, was appointed as head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defense under the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States in September this year. 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Additional Commissioner General of Excise (Revenue and Law Enforcement) Kapila Kumarasinghe told the national television channel that they carried out 23,493 raids in the above-mentioned period. The authorities confiscated equipment and machinery used to produce illicit liquor worth 260 million rupees (800,000 U.S. dollars) during the raids. The pilgrimage on the occasion of the feast of St. Venerable Demetrius the New Protector of Bucharest began on Saturday with the worship of the Saint's relics, of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Elena and of the Holy Hierarch Nectarius and their placement in the canopy in the yard of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The procession was led by the Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Paisie Sinait. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the faithful will be able to worship the Holy Relics, and then on Tuesday, October 24, starting at 12:00, the procession of the Way of the Saints will take place with the Holy Relics of Saint Demetrius the New, the Protector of Bucharest, of the Saints Emperors Constantine and Elena, of Saint Hierarch Nectarius. On Tuesday, at 1:00 p.m., at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Holy Relics will be received by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at the Great Summer Altar. The Holy Icons and the Holy Relics will then be placed for worship in the Canopy of the Saints on the Patriarch's Hill to be honored by the pilgrims. This year, the right hand of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, the Fountain of Myrrh, will be brought from Greece by the Metropolitan of Veria, Naousa and Campania, Pantelimon, to the pilgrimage to Saint Pious Demetrius the New, the Protector of Bucharest. The holy relics of the Great Martyr Demetrius will arrive on Tuesday at noon and, after being carried in the Saints Way procession, they will be placed for veneration alongside the relics of Saint Demetrius the New and the oldest icon of the Holy Virgin, the Panaghia Soumela Icon of the Mother of God , and of the Icon of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Source of Myrrh, also brought from Greece. The Holy Relics will be resettled in the Patriarchal Cathedral after the worship of the last pilgrim. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that on Friday, more than 204,000 people, Romanian citizens, carried out the control formalities (both inbound and outbound) through the border points throughout the country and foreigners, with over 57,500 means of transport. There were 103,916 people entering Romania, of which 9,562 were Ukrainian citizens, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Saturday. According to the cited source, with regard to specific activities, in the last 24 hours, in the areas of competence - the crossing points and the "green border" - the border police found 60 illegal acts (38 crimes and 22 misdemeanors) committed both Romanian and foreign citizens. The amount of contravention fines applied amounts to approximately 10,000 RON. The goods seized for confiscation were worth more than 4,987,000 RON. 22 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country, and 13 Romanian citizens were also not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs that, according to the information received from the field, the border point at Rafah, between the Gaza Strip and the Republic of Egypt, was opened on Saturday, to allow only the access of trucks carrying humanitarian aid. "Continuing the information sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the context of the security situation in the State of Israel and the Gaza Strip, we specify that, during this day, according to the information received from the field, the border point at Rafah, between the Gaza Strip and the Republic of Egypt, opened to allow access only to trucks carrying humanitarian aid. It is about humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations and announced on Friday by the secretary general of the organization, Antonio Gutierrez," it is shown in a statement sent to AGERPRES. According to the cited source, the Crisis Cell of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains coordination with other states and international organizations that undertake similar measures for their own citizens/officials. "The MFA, through the diplomatic missions in Cairo and Tel Aviv, continues the dialogue with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities in order to ensure the necessary conditions for the evacuation of the Romanian citizens from the Gaza Strip who requested this near the Romanian Representation Office in Ramallah", underline the cited source. 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. ST. LOUIS In the burst of westward growth during the 19th century, it seemed that almost every town with a printing press was declaring itself the next Alexandria, Rome or Paris. Logan Uriah Reavis, publisher of the St. Louis Daily Press, was this citys most exuberant tub-thumper in the boom years after the Civil War. He called St. Louis the Babylon of the New World ... on the banks of the great Mississippi. His newspaper didnt last, but he was the champion of a movement to relocate the nations capital from Washington to the Mississippi valley, which he called the great vitalizing heart of the Republic. Reavis claimed to know the perfect spot and recommended dismantling the White House and newly completed Capitol for reassembly in St. Louis. Henry T. Blow, a prominent local businessman, offered to donate 500 acres in the Carondelet area for a transplanted federal government. A St. Louis congressman filed legislation to move the capitol. It wasnt just a local stunt. The concept gained support in many states as the population center shifted westward. It fit with the yearning for a fresh start at nationhood after the wars carnage. Even Joseph Medill, an owner of the Chicago Tribune, endorsed making St. Louis the capital. The two cities were railroad rivals, with Chicago already in the lead, but Medill thought having the White House down the road would be good for business. On Oct. 21, 1869, delegates from 17 states gathered in the St. Louis Mercantile Library, at Broadway and Locust Street, for the National Capital Removal Convention. Lee R. Shryock, president of the St. Louis Board of Trade, welcomed the 90 delegates by assuring them the cause, not the location, was paramount. St. Louis and Missouri have no ax to grind, Shryock told the 90 delegates. The capital should be removed from the border and placed in the center, or as near it as possible, so that all can feel that they have a common interest in a common country. The St. Louis Daily Democrat noted promiscuous speech-making during the two-day convention, which was longer on sentiment than consensus. For all the demurrals, St. Louis wanted to become the capital. Ominously, Pennsylvania was the only Eastern state to show up. Conventioneers adjourned to a banquet at the Southern Hotel, where the fare included oysters and broiled quail. St. Louis treated delegates to a river excursion aboard the Belle of Alton. Reavis hammered away with a book, St. Louis, The Future Great City of the World. The convention reconvened a year later in Cincinnati, again without resolution. Eastern political interests cemented their opposition by erecting more government buildings in Washington, and it remained the capital. Reavis died in St. Louis in 1889. Read more stories from Tim O'Neil's Look Back series. One of three carbon dioxide pipeline companies that have sought to build in Iowa announced on Friday that its cancelling its proposal amid the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes of Iowa and South Dakota. Navigator CO2 had proposed to build a more than 1,300-mile pipeline system to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and other facilities in five states to Illinois for underground sequestration or other commercial purposes. The bulk of that system was planned for Iowa. The pipeline would've ended in Montgomery County, Illinois, about 65 miles northeast of St. Louis In September, the company suffered a setback in South Dakota when the states Public Utilities Commission denied it a permit, partly because its route did not conform with county ordinances that restrict the placement of such pipelines. Navigator then asked state utility regulators in Iowa to suspend its permit process while it awaited a decision from Illinois regulators. Less than two weeks ago it asked to pull its permit application in Illinois. As good stewards of capital and responsible managers of people, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway project, Navigators chief executive, Matt Vining, said in a project update posted to the companys website on Friday. We are disappointed that we will not be able to provide services to our customers and thank them for their continued support. Pipeline regulations vary from state to state and by type of pipeline, which was challenging to maneuver, said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, a spokesperson for the company. Theres also been significant discussion at the legislative level in each state about possible changes to their state-level processes in light of these proposed projects, creating even more uncertainty about what the future may hold, she said. Navigator hadnt filed a motion to withdraw its permit request in Iowa as of Friday morning, according to Iowa Utilities Board documents. Burns-Thompson said Navigator signed option agreements for easements with landowners that will expire after a few years. This is a historic victory for the people of Iowa, said Jess Mazour, of the Sierra Club of Iowa, which has resisted the pipeline proposals. For two years weve worked relentlessly to protect our homes, families and communities. The pipeline projects are meant to capture lucrative federal tax credits for sequestering carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is a primary driver of climate change. Ethanol plants would benefit from the tax credits and from producing low-carbon fuels that can be sold in stricter markets. Pipeline opponents have argued that the projects pose safety risks to residents if they rupture, would damage farmland, and do not serve a public purpose that deserves the use of eminent domain to construct them. The two remaining proposals are by Summit Carbon Solutions and Wolf Carbon Solutions. Summit is nearing the end of its permit process in Iowa but has had setbacks in the Dakotas. It recently acknowledged that its project if approved by state regulators would not likely be in operation until 2026, more than a year after its initial estimate. Summit seeks eminent domain for land easements for about a quarter of its more than 680-mile route in Iowa. In response to Navigators announcement, Summit said it welcomes and is well-positioned to add additional plants and communities to our project footprint. Navigator had planned to connect to more than a dozen facilies in Iowa. Wolf Carbon Solutions has said it will not use eminent domain for its comparatively short route in Iowa. About 90 miles of pipe would connect to two ethanol plants in eastern Iowa, and their carbon dioxide would be piped to Illiniois. A Wolf spokesperson did not immediately respond to a question about the status of that project. We are going to stop the Summit and Wolf Carbon pipelines next, Mazour said. They will meet resistance at every level in every corner of every state. Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Iowa Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Iowa #50. Carson #49. Wadena #48. Ely #47. Wahpeton #46. Cascade #45. Underwood #44. Hornick #43. Bristow #42. Carter Lake #41. North Liberty #40. Titonka #39. Honey Creek #38. Avoca #37. Moville #36. Solon #35. Oakland #34. Council Bluffs #33. Runnells #32. Windsor Heights #31. Bronson #30. Iowa City #29. Crescent #28. Sergeant Bluff #27. Huxley #26. Coralville #25. Zearing #24. McCallsburg #23. Bryant #22. Sheldahl #21. Nevada #20. Saint Olaf #19. Castalia #18. Raymond #17. Maxwell #16. Cedar Falls #15. Story City #14. Lawton #13. Slater #12. Milford #11. Drakesville #10. Lake Park #9. Hills #8. Roland #7. Arnolds Park #6. Colo #5. Collins #4. Cambridge #3. Gilbert #2. Udell #1. Kelley MARYLAND HEIGHTS A 47-year-old man is accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death this week at a Maryland Heights Motel 6, according to charges filed Friday. Keno King, of Berkeley, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Taniesha M. Givens, 44, also of Berkeley. Maryland Heights police were called about 10:30 a.m. Thursday when housekeepers discovered Givens' body in a room in the motel at 12330 Dorsett Road, according to police and court documents. The body appeared to have 44 stab wounds, a probable cause statement says. Police saw on surveillance video that Givens' boyfriend, King, was filmed entering the room on Tuesday with Givens before exiting on Wednesday alone, court documents say. The video showed no one else entering the room during that time, according to the documents. Givens' vehicle was missing from the motel by the time her body was found Thursday. Maryland Heights police tracked down her car less than five hours later to the 6900 block of North Hanley Road in Hazelwood and found King inside, according to a statement from the department. Investigators found bloody clothes inside the car and signs that King had a hand injury, charging documents say. King was held Friday on a $750,000, cash-only bond. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday kept a Missouri law on hold that bars police from enforcing federal gun laws, rejecting an emergency appeal from the state. The 2019 law was ruled unconstitutional by a district judge but allowed to remain in effect. A federal appeals court then blocked enforcement while the state appeals the district court ruling. Missouri had wanted the law to be in effect while the court fight plays out. Gov. Mike Parson, who supported the change, did not have an immediate reaction to the decision. Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Parson appointee who is litigating the case and running for a full, four-year term in 2024, downplayed the courts rejection. This was a purely procedural matter. We look forward to defending Missourians Second Amendment rights at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, a Bailey spokeswoman told the Post-Dispatch. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only member of the court to side with Missouri on Friday. The law would impose a fine of $50,000 on an officer who knowingly enforces federal gun laws that dont match up with state restrictions. Federal laws without similar Missouri laws include registration and tracking requirements and possession of firearms by some domestic violence offenders. The court expanded gun rights in a 2022 decision authored by Thomas. It is hearing arguments next month in the first case stemming from last years ruling. An appeals court invalidated a federal law that aims to keep guns away from people facing domestic violence restraining orders. The Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police handled around 260,000 criminal cases involving the damaging of the environmental and resource conservation from January 2018 to June 2023, according to a report by the State Council. These cases relate to areas such as environmental pollution, the illegal occupation of farmland, offences related to wildlife and illegal fishing along the Yangtze River, the report states. The report on the crackdown on environmental crimes was presented on Saturday to lawmakers for deliberation at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Also submitted to the session were reports by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on their respective work regarding environmental and resource protection. According to the SPC report, courts nationwide concluded around 1.47 million first-instance cases involving ecological environment and resource conservation from January 2018 to September this year. The number of such cases handled between 2018 and 2022 rose by 76.7 percent compared to the previous five years, the SPC report says. The SPP report states that procuratorates across the country handled around 823,000 environmental and resource cases from 2018 to June 2023. Among the cases, a total of 65,000 criminal cases saw investigations completed and suspects arrested between 2018 and 2022, 55.7 percent more than during the previous five years, the SPP report says. ST. LOUIS A crowd of Palestinian-American activists and their supporters erupted in protest against a pro-Israeli resolution at the Board of Aldermen on Friday, briefly disrupting the meeting and prompting officials to clear the meeting room. The outrage followed the introduction of a resolution from Alderman Tom Oldenburg, of St. Louis Hills, expressing solidarity with Israel as it responds to an attack by Hamas militants earlier this month that saw more than 1,000 Israelis killed and roughly 200 taken hostage. The resolution mirrored language passed in Congress, and did not mention retaliatory airstrikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip that have reportedly left thousands of Palestinians dead and laid waste to entire neighborhoods in Gaza City ahead of a possible ground invasion to remove Hamas from power. When Oldenburg had a board clerk read the resolution aloud, people in the crowd who wanted the board to call for a ceasefire began shouting at him and other aldermen in protest. Shame on you, one said. Our families are dying, shouted another. Some chanted Free, free Palestine, while others held up homemade signs, including one accusing Israel of war crimes. Aldermanic President Megan Green attempted to restore order with her gavel, to no avail, and city police officers and marshals slowly ushered people out of the meeting room over a span of about five minutes. Oldenburgs resolution was ultimately assigned to a committee for further review. Aldermen did the same with a resolution from Alderman Shane Cohn, of Dutchtown, calling for solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians, and with one from Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, of Downtown, calling for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, outside the meeting room, Neveen Ayesh, a prominent local Palestinian activist, exhorted the crowd to keep pushing their aldermen on the issue and come back for committee hearings on the resolutions. This is us holding them accountable, she said. You have a moral obligation regardless of where you live. It was not immediately clear when those hearings would be. Oldenburg said he did not expect Alderman Joe Vollmer, who chairs the committee where the resolutions were assigned, to schedule any hearings on the matter. He said in an interview after the meeting that that was why he asked for his resolution to be read aloud. Jay Nelson, Greens chief of staff, said the reading was thoughtless and unnecessary. He calmly lit a match to a fire, Nelson said. Youve got to read a room. Oldenburg noted that he tried to introduce his resolution last week. But board members, including Green, blocked him. If the president didnt play politics and suppress this resolution last week, we could have avoided this, he said. Green, for her part, posted a statement to social media late Friday expressing support for Israelis and Palestinians. She called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the provision of aid to Gaza, and an earnest attempt at a diplomatic solution to the wider conflict. Doing otherwise, she said, would risk a future of perpetual war and suffering in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank. Global leaders must do everything in their power to advocate for a peaceable solution, she said. Photos: St. Louis area Palestinians and supporters protest in wake of Israel-Hamas war Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinians gather to remember lives lost Palestinian supporters voice opinions on aldermen resolutions for Israel-Hamas war Palestinian supporters voice opinions on aldermen resolutions for Israel-Hamas war Palestinian supporters voice opinions on aldermen resolutions for Israel-Hamas war Palestinian supporters voice opinions on aldermen resolutions for Israel-Hamas war Palestinian supporters voice opinions on aldermen resolutions for Israel-Hamas war More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War More than 1000 march demanding to end Israel-Hamas War WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions imposed by lower courts on the ability of President Joe Bidens administration to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19. The justices granted the administrations request to put on hold a preliminary injunction constraining how 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 administrations 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 Courts 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 Metas Facebook, Alphabets 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. Constitutions 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. The dissenting justices, in an opinion written by Alito, criticized the courts action on Friday. 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. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said he looked forward to dismantling Bidens vast censorship enterprise when the Supreme Court hears the case. The Justice Department declined to comment. Louisiana-based U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued a preliminary injunction in July. The judge found 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 an 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 injunctions reach to the U.S. Cybsecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Bidens 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 Bidens 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. RAFAH, Gaza Strip The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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 as Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel. The opening came 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. Egypts state-owned Al-Qahera news, which is close to security agencies, said just 20 trucks had crossed into Gaza on Saturday, out of more than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid that have been positioned near the crossing for days. Hundreds of foreign passport holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict. The U.N. said life-saving supplies would be delivered to the Palestinian Red Crescent medical service. But Cindy McCain, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, said the aid was insufficient. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, she said. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid. The Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy "will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe, calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory. The opening came hours after Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first captives to be freed after the militant groups Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. It was not immediately clear if there was any connection between the two. Hamas released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday for what it said were humanitarian reasons in an agreement with Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation that has often served as a Mideast mediator. The two 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, when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting at least 210 others. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. Intense airstrikes were reported across Gaza overnight and into Saturday. The Hamas-run Health Ministry said 345 people were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours, and that seven hospitals are out of service after being damaged in strikes or running out of fuel. The Hamas-run Housing Ministry said at least 30% of all homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged in the war. That figure does not include the destruction of entire neighborhoods, which the U.N. refugee agency now describes as inaccessible mounds of rubble. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Israel issued a travel warning on Saturday, ordering its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza have erupted across the region. 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. Palestinian militants have continued to launch unrelenting rocket attacks into Israel more than 6,900 projectiles since Oct. 7, according to Israel. 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. The ministry says another 1,400 are believed to have been buried under rubble, alive or dead. Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday laid out a three-stage plan, beginning with Israeli airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack that would aim to root out Hamas. Next would come a lower intensity fight to defeat remaining pockets. Then a new security regime would be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. He 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 five wars and countless smaller exchanges of fire since then. Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi proposed a very different scenario on Saturday as he hosted a summit to discuss the war. He called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which last broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within 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, and some appear to be going back to the north because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the opening of Rafah, calling it an important first step that will alleviate the suffering of innocent people. The World Health Organization said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah on Saturday were carrying medical supplies, including medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases for 1,500 people, essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders. The World Food Program said it has another 930 metric tons of emergency food waiting to be brought in through Rafah. It said it needs to replenish its rapidly diminishing supplies as it expands food assistance from 520,000 people to 1.1 million in the next two months. Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press journalists Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. FORT MILL, S.C. Ed Currie, the South Carolina hot pepper expert who crossbred and grew the Carolina Reaper thats hotter than most pepper sprays police use to subdue unruly criminals, has broken his own world record with a pepper thats three times hotter. Pepper X was publicly named the hottest pepper in the world Oct. 9 by the Guinness Book of World Records, beating out the Reaper in Curries decadelong hunt to perfect a pepper that he says provides immediate, brutal heat. Currie said when he first tried Pepper X, it did more than warm his heart. I was feeling the heat for three-and-a-half hours. Then the cramps came, said Currie, one of only five people so far to eat a entire Pepper X. Those cramps are horrible. I was laid out flat on a marble wall for approximately an hour in the rain, groaning in pain. Heat in peppers is measured in Scoville Heat Units. Zero is bland, and a regular jalapeno pepper registers about 5,000 units. A habanero, the record-holder about 25 years ago, typically tops 100,000. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Carolina Reaper at 1.64 million units. Pepper Xs record is an average of 2.69 million units. By comparison, pepper spray commonly holstered by police is around 1.6 million units. Bear spray advertises at 2.2 million units. Pepper X has been in the works since Currie last set the hottest pepper record in 2013 with the Carolina Reaper, a bright red knobby fruit with what aficionados call a scorpion tail. The goal was to offer an extremely hot pepper flavored with sweetness. Pepper X is greenish-yellow, doesnt have the same shelf appeal and carries an earthy flavor once its heat is delivered. Its a crossbreed of a Carolina Reaper and what Currie mysteriously classifies as a pepper that a friend of mine sent me from Michigan that was brutally hot. The chemical in peppers that causes the burn is called capsaicin and not dangerous unless pounds of it are consumed. Even so, the minds of humans and other mammals perceive capsaicin as a threat and send a strong burning signal to the body. Because birds dont have the same reaction, they are able spread pepper seeds while sparing the plant. The burning sensation spurred in humans also releases endorphins and dopamine into the body. Currie, who went all in to growing peppers after kicking drug and alcohol addictions, considers that kick a natural high. He shares his peppers with medical researchers, hoping they can use them to cure disease and help people who suffer chronic pain or discomfort. For Currie, having the hottest pepper in the world has been a two-decade obsession. It took 10 years to get Pepper X from the first crossbreed experiment to the record, including five years of testing to prove it was a different plant with a different fruit and documenting its average heat over different plants and generations. We covered the genetics, we covered the chemistry, we covered the botany, he said. Currie, who is trying to build an empire of hot pepper sauces through his PuckerButt company, said he also learned plenty of business lessons during the past decade. While the Carolina Reaper drew much attention, much of it was not proper or profitable. Currie allowed people to grow the peppers without protecting his ideas. His lawyers have counted more than 10,000 products that use the Carolina Reaper name, or its other intellectual property, without permission. Currie is protecting Pepper X. He said no seeds will be released until he is sure his children, his workers many of whom are on their second chances like him and their families can fully earn the rewards of his work. Everybody else made their money off the Reaper. Its time for us to reap the benefits of the hard work I do, Currie said. That work includes dozens of fields across York County, secret greenhouses where Currie works on peppers to prevent them from being stolen and a PuckerButt store in Fort Mill where Currie works on dozens of sauce ideas that range from mild to blazing hot. He also sells his peppers to companies worldwide. Challenges involving extremely spicy foods have made headlines after a chipmaker pulled its products following a teens death. Currie wants people to eat peppers and thinks they can benefit from the rush that comes after the burn. He calls most hot pepper challenges stupid and cautions pepper peekers against being overly ambitious and reaching too quickly for a Carolina Reaper or Pepper X. You build up a tolerance," Currie said, later hinting that more pepper heat may be bubbling up from the fields, labs and chillers that he wont let fans, reporters or even the bankers helping his business expand see. Is this the pinnacle? Currie said of Pepper X, a mischievous smile warming his face. No, its not the pinnacle. Not all Flamin' Hot flavors are created equal. Here's a totally official ranking of spicy snacks 1. Flamin Hot Doritos 2. Flamin Hot Cheetos Puffs 3. Pop Fuego Popcorn 4. Flamin Hot Cheetos 5. (tie) Takis Fuego 5. (tie) Doritos Dinamitas 7. Turbos Flamas 8. Chesters Flamin Hot Puffcorn 9. Xxtra Flamin Hot Cheetos 10. Zapps Spicy Cajun Crawtators 11. Doritos Tapatio 12. Flamin Hot Cheetos Limon 13. Zapps Hotter N Hot Jalapeno 14. Si Senor Charritos Sticks Extreme 15. Flamin Hot Ruffles 16. Takis Nitro 17. Chesters Flamin Hot Fries 18. Flamin Hot Munchies Snack Mix 19. Doritos Flamas 20. Flamin Hot Fritos 21. Flamin Hot Lays 22. Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper Chips 23. Takis Crunchy Fajita 24. Hot & Spicy Cheez-Its 25. El Sabroso Blazin Hot Cheese Crunchies 26. Flamin Hot Funyuns 27. Andy Capps Hot Fries 28. Trader Joes Ghost Pepper Potato Chips 29. Baked Flamin Hot Cheetos 30. Trader Joes Spicy Cheese Crunchies LONDON Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through a rainy London on Saturday to demand Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza, and similar calls were heard in cities around the world as the Israel-Hamas war entered its third week. On the day a trickle of aid entered Gaza, where more than 1 million people have left their homes because of the conflict, protesters gathered in at Marble Arch near London's Hyde Park before marching to the government district, Whitehall. Police estimated the crowd that wound its way through the city for three hours at up to 100,000. Waving Palestinian flags and chanting Stop bombing Gaza, participants called for an end to Israels blockade and airstrikes launched in the wake of a brutal incursion into southern Israel by the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza. Authorities in Gaza say more than 4,300 people have been killed in the territory since the latest war began. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, mostly civilians slain during Hamas deadly incursion on Oct. 7. Israel continued to bombard targets in Gaza on Saturday ahead of an expected ground offensive. A small measure of relief came when 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter Gaza across the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The war has raised tensions around the world, with both Jewish and Muslim communities feeling under threat. The British Transport Police force said it was investigating after footage was posted online that appears to show a London Underground driver leading passengers in a chant of Free, free Palestine over the subway intercom. British authorities urged demonstrators to be mindful of the pain and anxiety felt by the Jewish community. Londons Metropolitan Police force says it has seen a 13-fold upsurge in reports of antisemitic offenses in October compared to last year. Reports of anti-Muslim crimes have more than doubled. Police said there had been "pockets of disorder and some instances of hate speech during protests over the war, but the majority of the protest activity has been lawful and has taken place without incident. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered in Belfast and in Northern Irelands second city, Londonderry, where speakers included lawmaker Colum Eastwood of the Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party. The murder of children is wrong, he told the crowd, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict. I dont know how that is so difficult for some of our world leaders to actually utter. It doesnt matter whether they are Israeli children or Palestinian children. Across the border in the Republic of Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, calling for an end to Israel's bombardment. In France, pro-Palestinians demonstrators gathered in several cities including Rennes, Montpellier, Dijon and Lyon, where thousands of people could be seen chanting we all are Palestinians in the central square. In Marseille, the countrys second-largest city, some people took to the streets, waving Palestinians flags and shouting Free Gaza, despite the protest being banned by local police. A pro-Palestinian gathering scheduled for Sunday in Paris has been allowed by police. German police said almost 7,000 people took part in a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration in Dusseldorf on Saturday. The demonstrators carried Palestinian flags or banners calling for an end to violence and aggression in Gaza. Police in Berlin banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration that was scheduled for Sunday in the center of the city, German news agency dpa reported. Police in the German capital have stopped several similar events in recent weeks, citing the potential of violence and antisemitic hate speech. Some pro-Palestinian demonstrators have taken to the streets anyway, resulting in clashes with police. Authorities allowed a pro-Israel demonstration scheduled for Sunday that was expected to draw together thousands of people in central Berlin. Elsewhere, several hundred people marched through Rome on Saturday, some holding signs saying Palestine, Rome is with you, and No peace until we get freedom. Israel carries out war crimes there, crimes against humanity there, and the international community has never acted, said Maya Issa, president of the Movement of Palestinian Students in Italy, which organized the demonstration. In Muslim-majority Kosovo, several hundred people walked from mosques to Pristina's Zahir Pajaziti square after lunchtime prayers to express support for Palestinians. In Australia, thousands marched through central Sydney on Saturday, shouting Shame, shame Israel and Palestine will never die. The war sparked protests across the Arab world and beyond on Friday, including in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians burned tires and threw stones at Israeli military checkpoints. Israeli security forces responded firing tear gas and live rounds. Crowds gathered in Israels northern neighbor Lebanon; in Iraq at the countrys border crossing with Jordan; in Jordan itself; in cities and towns across Egypt; in Turkeys capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul; and in Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and South Africa. In New York, hundreds of protesters from Muslim, Jewish and other groups marched to U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrands Manhattan office, many shouting cease fire now. Police later arrested dozens of protesters who blocked Third Avenue outside Gillibrands office by sitting in the road. Pro-Israel demonstrations and vigils have also been held around the world, many focused on securing the return of hostages captured by Hamas. Romes Jewish community on Friday remembered the more than 200 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 back 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. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Karl Ritter in Stockholm, Philipp Reissfelder in Cologne, Germany, and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed to this story. MIAMI Most people in the U.S. see Mexico as an essential partner to stop drug trafficking and illegal border crossings, even as they express mixed views of Mexicos government, according to a new poll. The poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about two-thirds of Americans see their southern neighbor as having at least a friendly relationship with the U.S. Relatively few within that group, or 16%, consider Mexico a close ally. Meanwhile, U.S. adults are more likely to have an unfavorable (38%) view of Mexicos leadership than a favorable (12%) one. The remaining responded they did not have an unfavorable or favorable view or were not sure. The poll captures the different perceptions Americans have of Mexico, its leadership and the estimated 10 million immigrants living in the U.S. Mexico is the largest trade partner of the U.S. and both countries have deep diplomatic and cultural ties. But both Washington and Mexico City are under immense pressure to reduce unauthorized migration at their shared border and to stop the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that killed around 75,000 people in the U.S. last year. For two countries that are such close neighbors, so intertwined in each others lives, and have been for so long, theres still room to grow, said Benjamin Lessing, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago and faculty affiliate of the Pearson Institute. Americans see a shared responsibility for the two countries to address their international problems, including illegal immigration and drug trafficking. About two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. government and Mexican government should both be responsible for preventing immigrants from Mexico or from other countries from getting into the U.S. illegally through Mexico. An even larger share, or about three-quarters of Americans, say the governments should both be responsible for preventing illegal drug trafficking from Mexico to the U.S. We need as best relations as possible, said Kris Bennefield, 41, of San Augustine, Texas. We should be working hand in hand with Mexico to take the cartels down. The results come as several of the Republican presidential candidates say they would use military force against Mexico in response to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. As the Israel-Hamas war rages on, some in the GOP field are suggesting without evidence that militants may be taking advantage of the mass arrivals of migrants to come through the U.S.-Mexico border. Americans place a high level of importance on preventing illegal immigration across the border between the U.S. and Mexico: 53% of U.S. adults call this an important foreign policy goal. Republicans (80%) are more likely than Independents (50%) and Democrats (35%) to call this important. Slightly fewer (43%) Americans say its important to create more opportunities for legal immigration from Mexico to the U.S., with Democrats (57%) being more likely than Republicans (25%) to prioritize this. Theres a big part of the population that recognizes the importance and the big effort that the two nations are making to work together, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University who specializes in U.S.-Mexico relations. Bennefield, a Democrat, said he feels the U.S. needs to create a better system for people to arrive in the U.S. legally. The last extensive package on immigration came under President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and a more limited effort was signed by President George H.W. Bush four years later. That emphasis on stopping illegal immigration is also reflected in how Americans view Mexican immigrants differently depending on whether they live in the U.S. legally or not. About two-thirds of Americans say they have a positive view of Mexican immigrants who are living in the United States legally, compared to just 20% who say that about those who reside in the U.S. illegally. Dan Allstun, a retired utility company worker who lives in Los Angeles, said he thinks it is a problem when people reside in the U.S. and do not pay taxes. Experts have said that immigrants who are in the country illegally pay sales taxes and that very significant numbers of them also have federal and state tax withholding in their paychecks. Hispanic Americans were more likely than Americans overall to say its important to create more opportunities for legal immigration from Mexico to the U.S. They were also more likely to have a favorable view of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The poll also reflected that about two-thirds of Americans (65%) say they have a positive view of Mexican culture. Three in five say they have personally engaged with Mexican culture within the United States such as through festivals or cultural events. Mexico is part of the American culture, said Correa-Cabrera. The politicization of the issues of immigration and border security and how they are used to divide and conquer in elections differentiates from the realistic perspective of who Americans are in their day-to-day lives. Americas reeling as flow of migrants reaches historic levels The Archdiocese of St. Louis is proposing to close as many as 25 Catholic Elementary Schools. Their goals are to raise teacher salaries, increase student/teacher ratio from 14:1 to 25:1, consolidate enrollment to meet building capacity, and reduce the need for parishioner support. One thing that is evidently being ignored by the Archdiocese is the principle of subsidiarity, which states that a community of a higher order (Archdiocese) should not assume the task belonging to a community of a lower order (parish) and deprive it of its authority it should support it in cases of need. In other words, each parish has authority over its parish school, not the Archdiocese, and the parish should make the decision to operate its school. Vicar Chris Martin stated on video that schools are a function of the parishes. The Archdiocese wants the parishes to limit school funding. But how much a parish spends on school funding is determined by the parish, not the Archdiocese. Parishioners funded a campaign called Beyond Sunday to support parish improvements, student scholarships, and school improvements in 2017. The Archdiocese announced it raised $110 million. Forty percent of the funds ($44 million) raised in each parish were to be returned to the parish and 60% ($66 million) to education. What happened to these funds and have they been used as planned? Edward Hamm Chesterfield Regarding the editorial rightly criticizing Rep. Ann Wagner for her gutless reversal in deciding to support MAGA insurrectionist Jim Jordan for House speaker ("In speaker fight, Rep. Wagner summons the courage to oh, wait, never mind," Oct. 17): Jordan's attempted rise to become third in line to succeed the president is a scary scenario that ought to be front page news, as should Rep. Wagner's complicity in trying to help make it happen. Former Republican Speaker John Boehner famously referred to Jordan as a "political terrorist," as someone who spent more time trying to destroy things rather than working to productively serve the country's interests. But this is where the Republican Party is today. The (former) party of Lincoln that once saved the Union now keeps pushing this country to the brink of the abyss, in support of the likes of Jordan, who act in service of the wannabe autocrat, Trump. History won't look kindly on those who helped undo this democracy. Citizens should minimally expect their representatives to uphold basic American principles, like the peaceful transition of power. Rep. Wagner is long overdue for being held to account for her lack of principles. Brice Bloom-Ellis St. Louis October 21 , 2023: The war in Ukraine caused Germany, and most Germans, to revise their defense policies. This is nothing new, the revisions began in 2016 when Germany announced that 25 years of budget and personnel reductions in the military had ended. The then current force was to be increased 7.5 percent to 199,000. Defense civilian workers increased 7.7 percent to 60,000. This was all about the growing threat of Islamic terrorism and the return of Russian aggression. All that was old was new again . During the Cold War, the West German army was 400,000 strong, well equipped and trained to fight. There were another 250,000 troops in the communist East German armed forces. Then the Cold War ended in 1991, the two Germanys united and East German forces were disbanded with the West German military absorbing some of the East German troops and weapons. Then the united German forces began to shrink. With the Soviet Union gone, and the former Soviet allies in East Europe clamoring to join NATO, Germany no longer had any threatening neighbors. The Cold War German army of Panzertruppen (mechanized troops) had lost its mission. During the next 25 years German armed forces were reduced over 70 percent from their combined 1991 strength of 650,000 to 185,000. Earlier in 2016 Germany announced it was increasing its defense budget to $41 billion, which is what it was in 2011 . All this came after 2011 when major changes were implemented for the armed forces. The main change was that the armed forces went all- volunteer with the end of conscription. That caused the armed forces to shrink from 220,000 to 185,000 troops. In 2011 about 22 percent of the troops were conscripts, in service for only six months, although many could, and did, volunteer to stay in for up to 23 months. The number of civilians working for the armed forces also shrank from 75,000 to 56,000. The number of staff at the Defense ministry shrank from 3,500 to 2,000. This was a big change from what had been going on for half a century. With the end of conscription Germany managed to find enough effective troops for peacekeeping, and special operations. Just not many of them. The generals had long asked for an all-volunteer force but for a long time the politicians, and public opinion, were opposed to this . The reality was not what everyone expected. The all-volunteer force had no shortage of volunteers for peacekeeping duty, even in dangerous areas. But it was soon discovered that with a volunteer force it was very difficult to obtain all the troops needed for tech jobs. This was mainly because there is high demand for these people outside the military where the money was better and the working environment safer . There were other changes. In 2002 German troops saw combat again in Afghanistan, for the first time in nearly 60 years. German troops have been in Afghanistan since 2002. Over 5,000 have served there, mainly as peacekeepers. But one percent of the German troops serving in Afghanistan were killed there . The 2011 plan was to create an army of peacekeepers. Well, only 5-10,000 of them were involved in peacekeeping at any one time. Not only was the army smaller, but it had older equipment, and less of it. Not much purchasing of new equipment after 1991 and much of what was bought was to support peacekeeping missions. The peacekeepers, particularly in Afghanistan, were given more modern gear and the expense of this was another reason for shrinking the size of armed forces. The reduced budget meant there was not enough to keep equipment and weapons in good shape or updates as needed. So, the defense budget went up a lot in the next few years to deal with all the overdue maintenance and updates. The post-Cold War peace dividend had expired, and it was now back to more traditional defense conditions . The 2016 upgrades were made to deal with a return of Russian aggression. In early 2022 the Russian aggression returned with an invasion of Ukraine. That prompted Germany to allegedly plan to upgrade its army to combat status and capable of winning in combat . The German voters and population in general indicated they supported these changes. Opinion surveys in the years before the Ukraine invasion showed that nearly 70 percent of Germans wanted Americans nuclear weapons withdrawn from Germany. These were in Germany to discourage an aggressive Russia from making convincing nuclear threats against Germany. By 2020 the threat of Russian aggression was not convincing enough to change German attitudes towards American nukes, but it did permit spending money to put their military back in shape to fight and win. German attitudes towards nuclear power were shutting down German nuclear power plants with the power now supplied by Russian natural gas imports. This approach failed when the gas was no longer available because Germany could not support the Russian military by purchasing Russian natural gas. That decision became final in September 2022 when someone destroyed the two natural gas pipelines from Russia. No one took credit for the attack and speculation continues about who it was and why they did it. German public opinion soon changed about keeping nuclear power plants operational, because without them there would be insufficient electricity to keep the entire economy going and heat homes and businesses during winter . While Germans were divided about nuclear energy, 72 percent backed remaining a NATO member. This might bring back American nuclear weapons, which Germans supported when an aggressive Russia threatened to use theirs. Now, most Germans supported military readiness even if it meant a much larger defense budget . In late 2022, when it became clear that the war in Ukraine might last for years, Germans accepted the fact that this war, the first since World War II when major powers armed with similar weapons fought each other. The Ukrainians were doing the fighting, but mainly with modern weapons provided by NATO countries. Russia invaded to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. The Ukrainians halted the Russians and within a year were on the offensive themselves, armed with NATO weapons. This effort assures Ukraine NATO membership once the war is over. Once in NATO, another Russian invasion would face soldiers from many NATO members fighting alongside troops from fellow NATO Ukraine. The Ukrainians had been improving their armed forces since 2012, two years before Russia seized Crimea and portions of two provinces in eastern Ukraine. East European NATO members agreed with the Ukrainian warning that a lot of Russian aggression was coming. After 2014 many NATO members agreed to support Ukrainian efforts to upgrade their armed forces. By late 2021 there were signs that Russia was planning on a larger war. Germany, and the other original NATO members in Western Europe were dubious but the more recent East European NATO members agreed with the Ukrainians, the Russian aggression is coming. Germany was sufficiently alarmed to accelerate the upgrading of their armed forces. Most Germans agreed with this alarming assessment and their fears became reality when the Russians invaded in February 2022 . While Germany pretended to accelerate upgrading its own military, most Germans agreed that the Russian invasion indicated a major change in attitudes towards military preparedness and the risks of another major war on the scale of the two World Wars. The Ukraine War provides useful practical advice on how such a war would be fought. It would be more violent and create more costs and casualties than most people believed likely . Many more people died in the World Wars than anyone expected, and Ukraine is demonstrating that that the situation has not changed and that losses are even higher because of the more effective modern weapons. Now it is easier for NATO militaries to ask for expensive new weapons, like F-35 aircraft and replacing unguided rockets and shells with more expensive guided ones . VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 20, 2023 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz Mountain" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) announces that it has arranged a private placement of 1,538,889 Flow-through units ('Units") at a price of $0.18 per Unit for proceeds of $277,000. Each Unit consists of one Flow-through common share and one Flow-through warrant ("Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant allows the holder to purchase one flow-through common share at a price of $0.18 for a period five (5) years from completion of the placement. Chairman Robert Dickinson is subscribing for 1,400,000 of the Flow-through Units. Upon completion of the placement Robert Dickinson will own 25,468,184 common shares (54.9%) of the 46,403,030 shares then outstanding and together with his associates, a total of 32,196,730 (69.4%) of issued shares. Dilutive securities aggregating 7,350,000 owned by the control group could bring the total group ownership to 39,546,730 shares or 73.4% if all other dilutive securities are also exercised. An updated early warning report will be filed at sedarplus.ca on completion of the placement. The placement is a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuances to the insiders are exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration of the securities issued to the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The placement is subject to customary TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and is expected to complete in the near future. The proceeds will be used for an approximately 1,000 meters core drilling program to be completed in 2023 at the Company's Maestro copper property located near Houston, BC. On behalf of the Board of Directors Robert Dickinson Chairman For further details, contact Investor Relations at: T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. E: [email protected] W: www.quartzmountainresources.com This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include that the Company will obtain any necessary permits and consents required to complete the drilling. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking-statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings at www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: ULAN BATOR, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a grand initiative of not only regional but also global significance, Mongolian Minister of Road and Transport Development Sandag Byambatsogt has said. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road and beyond. Describing transport as "the most important factor in the development of relations in all fields such as trade, economy, business, culture, education and society," Byambatsogt voiced confidence that "this great initiative was put forward in order to connect countries with each other by road, air, railway, and waterways, so that the countries can exchange their necessities with each other at a lower cost and in a faster time and create conditions for strengthening relations between the peoples." Referring to it as a timely and important initiative, he said that is why Mongolia has supported the initiative from the onset and joined it. "World leaders have proposed many initiatives. Among them, I believe that the BRI is the most effective and practical one, bringing the greatest fruitful results to the peoples and economy of the participating countries," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. Since joining the initiative 10 years ago, Mongolia has been implementing a host of activities and projects within the framework of mutually beneficial cooperation, including the Development Road program and the Mongolia-China-Russia economic corridor, among others, said the minister. Mongolia used to be connected to China by only one railway line. Now within the framework of the BRI, Mongolia has been working on connecting with China with five railway lines, with three new ones having already reached the Chinese border, Byambatsogt said. As a landlocked country, Mongolia has planned to implement a major project to build six additional land ports, Byambatsogt said, inviting Chinese investors to participate in the project. SANTIAGO, Chile--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cencosud S.A. (Cencosud or the Company) reported today that its Board of Directors has formed a Talent Committee to lead a search for the Companys new CEO. The search will have an international scope and will consider internal and external candidates. "Cencosud's strategy, as set by the Board of Directors, has been executed by a robust and experienced management team, and we will look for a leader who has the necessary qualifications and attributes to take on this challenge," said Heike Paulmann, Chairwoman of the Board. On October 19, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Renato Gutierrez as Interim CEO to lead the Company during the search process. "Renato has a deep knowledge of the business, has been with the Company for over 17 years and is part of the team that has led the development of our 5 Strategic Pillars: 1) Financial Strengthening, 2) Organic and Inorganic Growth, 3) Innovation and New Trends, 4) Talent, and 5) Sustainability. He maintains very good relations with all our colleagues, and at the Board of Directors we are committed to supporting him for the duration of the search," added Mrs. Paulmann. Looking ahead to the future of the Company, Mrs. Paulmann said: "We are carrying out a series of projects that keep us highly motivated. While we face challenging contexts across the different markets where we operate, we continually look for development opportunities for the business and our colleagues." Mrs. Paulmann also noted that the Company is consistently updating compliance protocols and procedures, adjusting them to the changes facing Cencosud, a global company that is present in seven countries and with over 120,000 employees. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020654038/en/ Beatriz Monreal [email protected] Source: Cencosud S.A. XIAMEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On October 20th, the 24th Conference on The Electric Power Supply Industry kicked off in Xiamen, attended by more than 2,500 representatives from AESIEAP (Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and Western Pacific) member countries and regional member units, as well as related service organizations such as energy and power enterprises, industry organizations, technical equipment manufacturers, and scientific research and consultation. As a world-renowned provider of smart energy solutions, CHNT Group made its debut with the theme of "low-carbon energy, moving forward with intelligence" to discuss with industry customers the green, low-carbon and sustainable future of energy and electricity. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231021470528/en/ CHINTs Booth at the 24th AESIEAP (Photo: Business Wire) During the Conference, Nan Cunhui, Chairman of CHNT Group, gave a keynote speech, focusing on the transformation of low-carbon energy wisdom, and shared the vivid practice of CHNT Group's continuous innovation and development around the power new energy industry and joining hands with ecosystem partners. CHNT Group and China Electricity Council signed a strategic cooperation agreement, and the two sides will give full play to the advantages of China Electricity Council's industry platform and CHNT Group's research and development and comprehensive application technology capabilities in the field of energy and electricity, establish a comprehensive strategic cooperation relationship, and further promote the high-quality development of the new energy industry. AESIEAP specially set up a theme exhibition session, and CHNT Group concentrated on displaying the green and low-carbon end-to-end solutions of the whole value chain of enterprises, empowering partners with "low carbon" and "intelligence" to continue to deepen the new energy field and help global customers realize green and intelligent upgrading in the traditional power field. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231021470528/en/ CHNT Group Chen Depeng Email: [email protected] Tel: +86188 6756 4968 Website: https://www.aesieap.com/#/ Source: CHNT Group Foundation Medicine will transfer FoundationOneLiquid CDx technology to Sequanta in November 2023 and FoundationOneCDx technology in March 2024 The partnership underscores Foundation Medicines commitment to advancing precision medicine around the world CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Foundation Medicine, Inc., today announced that it has expanded its partnership with Sequanta Technologies Co., Ltd. (Sequanta) to provide genomic profiling services to support clinical research and the development of oncology therapies in China. Foundation Medicine has a long-standing partnership with Sequanta as its in-house laboratory in China since 2014 with FoundationOne and FoundationOneCDx launches in 2015 and 2018, respectively. With this expanded partnership, Foundation Medicine will conduct a tech transfer of its genomic profiling tests technologies for research and investigational uses starting with FoundationOneLiquid CDx, a blood-based comprehensive genomic profiling test in November 2023, and a transfer of FoundationOne CDx, a tissue-based comprehensive genomic profiling test, in March 2024. FoundationOne Liquid CDx and FoundationOne CDx analyze more than 300 cancer-related genes for genomic alterations. Identifying alterations in the cancer genome of a patient can help researchers streamline clinical trial enrollment and provide prognostic predictive insights that inform research. Comprehensive genomic profiling has transformed the traditional one-size fits-all approach to cancer and is an important tool for identifying rare and hard to find mutations. As part of this partnership, Sequanta serves as a partner laboratory to Foundation Medicine and is responsible for performing these tests in China using the same parameters run across Foundation Medicine laboratories, including verification studies and subsequent concordance analysis to demonstrate the comparable performance across sites. This ensures that all data supporting a global clinical trial is of the same quality and accuracy to detect study-specific biomarkers across global sites and that the data can be used to support global regulatory submissions and companion diagnostic submissions in the Unites States, Japan and the EU. The tech transfer of FoundationOne Liquid CDx and FoundationOne CDx technologies to Sequanta represents a major step forward in helping provide a unified global registration approach to biopharmaceutical companies to support their global trials in China, said Troy Schurr, Chief Biopharma Business Officer at Foundation Medicine. This partnership demonstrates Foundation Medicines commitment to advancing precision medicine around the world and ways to seek new collaborations and partnerships with our biopharmaceutical partners. We are so glad to move into a new stage in partnership with Foundation Medicine to offer fully automated FoundationOne CDx and FoundationOne Liquid CDx assays in China market. This is a new milestone achieved by the two teams who have devoted so many efforts in collaboration over the past decade, said Lele Sun, PhD, Founder and CEO at Sequanta. "These genomic profiling technologies support biopharmaceutical companies who are seeking unified solutions across the world in clinical trials and drug registration. Sequanta is determined to continuously deliver the top technologies into China with high quality data and excellent operational management system, which differentiates us from other providers in the market. About FoundationOneLiquid CDx FoundationOne Liquid CDx is for prescription use only and is a qualitative next-generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic test for advanced cancer patients with solid tumors. The test analyses 324 genes utilizing circulating cell-free DNA and is FDA-approved to report short variants in 311 genes and as 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 labelling. Additional genomic findings may be reported and are not prescriptive or conclusive for labelled 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. When considering eligibility for certain therapies for which FoundationOne Liquid CDx is a companion diagnostic, testing of plasma is only appropriate where tumor tissue is not available. Patients who are negative for other 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. About FoundationOneCDx 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 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 Sequanta Sequanta Technologies is a leading multi-omics research and clinical service provider in China, focusing on genomics, proteomics and related services to support pharmaceutical clients in biomarker discovery and clinical trials. Sequanta provides diversified genomics and proteomics assays validated by research standard and CAP standard, which include NGS cancer panels, WGS/WES/RNA-seq, single cell solutions, Olink Target and Explore assays, etc. Customized panels are also available based on specific project needs. Welcome to visit us on www.sequanta.com. Source: Foundation Medicine View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020177604/en/ Media Contact: Foundation Medicine: Holly Campbell, 781-534-3210 [email protected] Source: Foundation Medicine LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) rebuked pharmaceutical giant Pfizer today for announcing that it plans to charge $1,400 for a five-day course of the COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid. During the pandemic, the U.S. government only paid $529 for the same drug. This is yet another example of rampant drug profiteering off the backs of sick people by Big Pharma. The same drug, with the same efficacy, will suddenly cost nearly three times as much when it reaches the commercial market. Why? So that Pfizer can squeeze as much money out of health plans and the pockets of the uninsured as possible for its shareholders and executives, said AHF President Michael Weinstein. Greedy Pfizer is in good company Gilead charges $3,429 for its five-day COVID-19 treatment. We must prioritize public health and equity over corporate profits. Putting profits before peoples lives and health is not only immoral, it leaves the entire world in danger of another pandemic disaster. Pfizers Paxlovid and Gileads Remdesivir are particularly beneficial for people at a higher risk of developing complications from a COVID-19 infection. These patients are already likely to face higher treatment costs due to hospitalizations and prolonged treatment and recovery periods. The exorbitant prices of these drugs put further strain on the personal finances of affected people and healthcare systems, which are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 1.9 million people in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. We are currently the largest non-profit provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020745463/en/ US MEDIA CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1 323 308 1833 work +1.323.791.5526 mobile [email protected] Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF +1 323.308.1829 [email protected] Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation Tripathi joins esteemed group of data analytics leaders for the event PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix is pleased to highlight Avinash Tripathi's impactful participation in the recently concluded CDAO Fall 2023 Summit, hosted by Corinium Global Intelligence. This prestigious event, held October 5 in Boston, featured Tripathi as both a speaker and panelist sharing valuable insights on data storytelling and the importance of talent in fostering a data-driven culture. "I'm honored to once again be a part of the CDAO Summit, shares Tripathi. The world of data and analytics is evolving rapidly, and it's crucial for industry leaders to stay ahead of the curve. We're seeing an increasing influence of intelligence through AI and machine learning, the growing significance of data governance, an emphasis on data-driven decision-making, and a surging demand for data science and analytics professionals. Together, we can navigate these exciting changes and continue to drive data excellence." Corinium Global Intelligence, a global community built with over 500,000 senior data and analytics decision-makers, organized the event with a mission to deliver in-depth business insights, advice, and tools to accelerate data analytics strategies for professionals in the field. During his solo session, Avinash Tripathi discussed "Telling the data story: absorbing complexities and delivering simplicity," emphasizing the vital role of data storytelling in decision-making. He highlighted how effective data storytelling can significantly impact a business and addressed the challenges of interpreting data and data stories at the leadership level. Tripathi stressed the importance of upskilling and reskilling to bridge the talent gap, and believes that talent, not tools, has the greatest impact on data-driven culture. Tripathi also joined one of the events key panel discussions with a session titled "Securing Buy-In for Data Initiatives: Strategies for Gaining Financial Support and Achieving Success." His insights included the importance of building trust as the foundation for internal alliances, the concept that innovation need not be entirely new, and the significance of identifying and analyzing stakeholders. Moreover, he emphasized handling pushback by understanding its source and utilizing emotional intelligence as an effective tool. Tripathi leads the analytics team at the University of Phoenix, establishing the strategy and vision and providing operational support for the delivery of information and analytics platforms and solutions to key stakeholders. He has over 20 years of experience with strong emphasis on design, analysis, development, and implementation of advanced analytics, data science and AI solutions in Education, Insurance and Financial Industry. Tripathi is highly respected for his expertise in data storytelling. He has provided guidance to top executives on the importance of incorporating data storytelling into analytics-driven initiatives, as well as the crucial role analysts play within data-focused organizations. Tripathi completed his masters in business economics and statistics at Southern Illinois University. 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 bachelors and masters 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/20231021853013/en/ Michele Mitchum University of Phoenix [email protected] Source: University of Phoenix NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the Registration Statement) issued in connection with the Companys May 2023 initial public offering (IPO or the Offering), of the important December 8, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Kenvue securities 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 Kenvue class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=19241 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 December 8, 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Kenvue faces potential headwinds as a result of confirmed concerns about the efficacy of phenylephrine (or PE) , which it knew or should have known; (2) Kenvue did not discuss risks relating to the efficacy of phenylephrine in its IPO, the utility of which had been questioned since at least 2007; (3) while Kenvue disclosed risks relating to litigation, it did not disclose specific risks relating to potential litigation arising from adverse findings on the efficacy of phenylephrine; and (4) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Kenvue class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=19241 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 investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the second time in eight days, the U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in one of NCLAs cases. This afternoon the Court agreed to hear arguments over the Fifth Circuits grant of a preliminary injunction in Missouri v. Biden, a case brought on behalf of NCLA clients Drs. Jayanta Bhattacharya, Martin Kulldorff, and Aaron Kheriaty, and Ms. Jill Hines, alongside the Attorneys General of Louisiana and Missouri. The injunction would bar officials[i] from the White House, CDC, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Surgeon Generals office from coercing or significantly encouraging social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech. The New Civil Liberties Alliance welcomes this opportunity to defend the First Amendment rights of our clients in the U.S. Supreme Court. A Fifth Circuit panel last month upheld the key components of U.S. District Judge Terry Doughtys July 4 preliminary injunction order, prohibiting named federal officials from coercing or significantly encouraging social media companies to suppress legal speech. That decision vindicated NCLAs clients, who have been blacklisted, shadow-banned, de-boosted, throttled, and suspended on social media as part of the governments years-long censorship campaign orchestrated by the White House, CDC, FBI, CISA, and Surgeon Generalamong others. The Biden Administrations censorship regime has successfully suppressed perspectives contradicting government-approved views on hotly disputed topics such as whether natural immunity to Covid-19 exists, the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, the viruss origins, and mask mandate efficacy. The vast, coordinated, and well-documented effort has silenced influential, highly qualified voices including doctors and scientists like Drs. Bhattacharya, Kulldorff and Kheriaty, as well as those like Ms. Hines who have tried to raise awareness of issues. Though the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed the Fifth Circuits injunction today, NCLA believes the Justices are ultimately unlikely to permit the egregious First Amendment abridgements this case has exposed. The Fifth Circuit recognized that the Plaintiffs did not challenge the social-media platforms content-moderation policies. Rather, Plaintiffs challenged the governments unlawful efforts to influence enforcement of those policies. The government gravely harmed the ability of NCLAs clients to convey their views to the public, and it deprived Americans of their right to hear opinions that differ from the governments. Judge Doughty strikingly described the Administrations conduct as arguably the most massive attack against free speech in United States history and akin to an Orwellian Ministry of Truth. He was right, and the U.S. Supreme Court must not permit it. NCLA released the following statements: We are disappointed Americans First Amendment rights will be vulnerable to government infringement until this case is decided. But we are confident this Court, as strong as it is on First Amendment issues, will rule against the government and uphold our clients rights and liberties. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA NCLA is thrilled to have the opportunity to vindicate the First Amendment rights of our clients, and all Americans, in the nations highest court. We are confident that after a thorough review of the disturbing facts in this important casewhich involves unprecedented government-imposed, viewpoint-based censorshipthe Court will recognize the grievous, unconstitutional nature of the governments conduct and enjoin it. Jenin Younes, Litigation Counsel, NCLA If anything, the Fifth Circuits decision did not go far enough in enjoining the reprehensible conduct exposed in this case. The facts of this case show government agencies censored speech in a deliberate effort to control the narrative on several controversial topics ahead of the last election. The First Amendment forbids such censorship, and the Supreme Court must never allow such mischief again, if we are to keep our democracy. Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA For more information visit the case page here or watch the case video here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. [i] The following members Executive Office of the President of the United States: White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre; Counsel to the President, Stuart F. Delery; White House Partnerships Manager, Aisha Shah; Special Assistant to the President, Sarah Beran; Administrator of the United States Digital Service within the Office of Management and Budget, Mina Hsiang; White House National Climate Advisor, Ali Zaidi; White House Senior COVID-19 Advisor, formerly Andrew Slavitt; Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Digital Strategy, formerly Rob Flaherty; White House COVID-19 Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement, Dori Salcido; White House Digital Director for the COVID-19 Response Team, formerly Clarke Humphrey; Deputy Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement of the White House COVID-19 Response Team, formerly Benjamin Wakana; Deputy Director for Strategic Communications and External Engagement for the White House COVID-19 Response Team, formerly Subhan Cheema; White House COVID-19 Supply Coordinator, formerly Timothy W. Manning; and Chief Medical Advisor to the President, Dr. Hugh Auchincloss, along with their directors, administrators and employees. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy; and Chief Engagement Officer for the Surgeon General, Katharine Dealy, along with their directors, administrators and employees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and specifically the following employees: Carol Y. Crawford, Chief of the Digital Media Branch of the CDC Division of Public Affairs; Jay Dempsey, Social-media Team Leader, Digital Media Branch, CDC Division of Public Affairs; and Kate Galatas, CDC Deputy Communications Director. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and specifically the following employees: Laura Dehmlow, Section Chief, FBI Foreign Influence Task Force; and Elvis M. Chan, Supervisory Special Agent of Squad CY-1 in the FBI San Francisco Division. And the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and specifically the following employees: Jen Easterly, Director of CISA; Kim Wyman, Senior Cybersecurity Advisor and Senior Election Security Leader; and Lauren Protentis, Geoffrey Hale, Allison Snell, and Brian Scully. ### Joe Martyak New Civil Liberties Alliance 703-403-1111 [email protected] Source: New Civil Liberties Alliance VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news releases on April 28, 2023, June 23, 2023, July 21, 2023, and September 1st, 2023, that it has further extended its engagement of Financial Star News Inc. (FSN) (address: 701 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6; email: [email protected]) for marketing services for up to an additional 45 days commencing on October 23rd, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. As previously disclosed, FSN has and shall continue to, as appropriate, create campaigns, ad groups, text ads, display ads, perform detailed keyword research, setup and manage remarketing campaigns, optimize keyword options, coordinate online advertisers and marketers corresponding to online marketing targets, create landing pages for ad campaigns and generally bring attention to the business of the Company. The promotional activity undertaken by FSN will occur on theFinancialStar.com and by email, Facebook and Google. The Company will pay a fee of USD $300,000 (plus GST) for the extension. The Company will not issue any securities to FSN as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, FSN (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arms length relationship with the Company. The Company has also engaged GRIT Capital Corp (GRIT) (address: 145 King Street West, Suite 2200, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4G2; email: [email protected]) for marketing services for an anticipated period of 3 months commencing on October 30th, 2023, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services. GRIT has over 460,000 followers on its social media platforms and a substantial subscriber base exceeding 270,000 for both its free and premium GRIT newsletters. GRIT provides a detailed analysis of the stock market to its Gen Z and Millennial audiences, allowing Grit to showcase Vortexs value to new age demographics. GRIT will, as appropriate, create advertising campaigns, including in GRITs flagship newsletter, a premium landing page for advertising campaigns and CEO presentations on Twitter spaces, and generally bring attention to the business of the Company and provide the Company with exposure to potential investors. The promotional activity undertaken by GRIT will occur in its newsletter at gritcap.io and on its partners Instagram and Twitter accounts. The Company will pay a fee of USD $45,000 (plus HST) for the services. The Company will not issue any securities to GRIT as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, GRIT (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arms length relationship with the Company. About Vortex Energy Corp. Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinson River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The company is actively evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex Energy Corp. also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Paul Sparkes Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (778) 819-0164[email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected term of the marketing activities contracted for by the Company. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the efficacy of the Companys marketing program and that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the Companys promotional program or use its discretion to halt the Companys promotional activities. Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that the Companys marketing program may not be as effective as anticipated by the Company, that the budget for the Companys marketing program may not be sufficient to permit the marketing activities to continue for the anticipated term and that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the Companys promotional program and use its discretion to halt the Companys promotional activities or impose other penalties on the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. Source: VORTEX ENERGY CORP Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2023) - At the 75th Frankfurt Book Fair on October 18th, WebNovel, one of the world's largest online literary platforms, announced a new brand proposition -"Read Your Adventures," which also serves as a new brand identity. (Hou Xiaonan, CEO and President of Yuewen Group, speaks at the "Global 50 CEO Talk" during the 75th Frankfurt Book Fair. To his left is the event host, Rdiger Wischenbart) WebNovel is a global online literary creation and reading platform under Yuewen Group, also known as 'China Literature Ltd.', a comprehensive cultural industry group based on digital reading with IP cultivation and development at its core. The company was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017 and currently holds a market value of $4 billion USD. That afternoon, Hou Xiaonan, CEO and President of Yuewen Group, participated in the "Global 50 CEO Talk" held at the Frankfurt Book Fair. According to German media reports, he was the first Chinese entrepreneur to participate in this event. The online publishing industry, represented by online literature, is rapidly flourishing worldwide. In 2022, 16 Chinese online literary works were included in the Chinese collection of the British Library for the first time. These works are all owned by Yuewen Group, most of which can be read on the WebNovel platform. Claudia Kaiser, Vice Chair of the Frankfurt Book Fair, stated during the WebNovel brand upgrade event that online novels are incredibly fascinating, not just in China, but worldwide. As of June this year, WebNovel has nurtured approximately 380,000 online writers globally, released about 560,000 original works, accumulated a user base of over 200 million visits, covering over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Leveraging the resources of Yuewen Group, WebNovel has been expanding globally with a mature business model, providing a favorable environment for creativity for authors. In collaboration with partners in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia, it develops original IPs overseas, delivering excellent works to users and connecting the world through stories and emotions. Approximately 40% of the award-winning works at the Webnovel Spirity Awards have undergone intellectual property (IP) development. Audio, animation, and film are the main forms of development, with collaboration teams hailing from various countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Thailand. Media Contact Company Name: WebNovel Contact: Dave Dai Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.webnovel.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/184553 Emergency Plumber Help takes care of critical plumbing areas of a residence and business space by carefully analyzing the problem and finding appropriate solutions. The trained professionals are adept at utilizing modern machinery to tackle every situation. Common plumbing issues such as leaking pipes, malfunctioning toilets, and various other problems can be highly inconvenient for anyone. However, this might cause further problems for business locations, with even more upsetting consequences. Additionally, plumbing issues can be a huge source of anxiety for organizations. They can disrupt productivity and cause inconvenience for both staff and customers. They can cause significant obstacles and are generally unpleasant. Whether a company has a sewer leak, an overflowing toilet, a basement flood, or anything else, the appropriate commercial plumbing company can solve any plumbing problems. This is why business owners trust Emergency Plumber Help for commercial plumbing in Largo, FL. Their experienced plumbers handle every task with utmost precision and offer timely services. Commercial plumbing contractors have the necessary instruments to handle all plumbing work. Suppose a business requires detailed plumbing repair work. There is no need to worry because a commercial plumber will arrive with all the necessary equipment and supplies. Furthermore, commercial constructions are not the same as residential structures. As a result, commercial plumbing companies may require tool sets that are completely different. In addition, using the wrong tools can be extremely damaging to plumbing systems. That is why it is critical to engage a commercial plumbing firm specializing in commercial projects because they are familiar with the unique needs of commercial settings. Plumbing jobs are difficult. They necessitate individuals tapping into their home's water supply and tinkering around to correct the situation. It is great how some people use DIY tactics to maintain the upkeep of their homes. It teaches new life skills, saves money in some circumstances, and provides the satisfaction of a job well done. However, there are some situations where hiring an expert makes more sense. Some jobs are hazardous or may badly disrupt the home's plumbing network. Aside from that, some excellent benefits to employing a skilled plumber make the investment worthwhile. For instance, when Emergency Plumber Help professionals handle residential plumbing in Largo, FL, they eliminate every leak, blockage, and drip in every pipe in the house. Their work is even backed by a money-back guarantee. When the pipe beneath the sink bursts, flooding the kitchen, or the water heater begins to malfunction, individuals face a plumbing emergency that must be addressed promptly. Any homeowner understands how harmful water can be to their property, so plumbing emergencies should never be ignored. Nowadays, most homeowners must be both a homeowner and, in some ways, a handyperson. This is due to the ongoing maintenance required by a home. However, in the event of a plumbing emergency, it is recommended to leave aside the tools and ring in a professional, such as Emergency Plumber Help. The organization specializes in emergency plumbing in Largo, FL by examining the situation and establishing a sustainable solution. This way, homeowners will not face the same emergency again in a few months. About Us: Emergency Plumber Help serves residents and business spaces in Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Oldsmar, and the rest of Pinellas County. They provide superior licensed plumbers to assist individuals and business owners in plumbing emergencies when they are most in need. Among other emergency plumbing services, the professional technicians handle clogged drains, broken water heaters, commercial plumbing, sink repair, drain cleaning, tub installation, and regulators. Contact Info: Name: Doug Lasson Email: Send Email Organization: Emergency Plumber Help Address: 1101 Belcher Rd S, Ste F Largo, Florida 33771 Phone: 727-312-1125 Website: https://emergencyplumberhelp.com/ Release ID: 89109934 Should any problems, inaccuracies, or doubts arise from the content contained within this press release, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, taking necessary steps to rectify identified issues or assist with the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information is at the core of our commitment to our readers. ISTANBUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip in separate phone calls with NATO chief and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Turkish presidency said. During the phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan urged the West and the rest of the world to "take action as soon as possible to end the humanitarian tragedies" unfolding in Gaza, the presidency said in a post on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The Turkish leader held Western countries' attitude responsible for increasing human rights violations in Gaza and warned that their failure to stop Israel would lead to "irreparable consequences." Erdogan discussed with Stoltenberg the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to innocent civilians, according to the presidency. With Zelensky, Erdogan also talked about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians and the humanitarian crisis in the region in addition to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the presidency said. "President Erdogan stated that it is possible to resolve conflicts in the region, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, through peaceful means, and that Turkiye will continue to make every effort to achieve this," according to the presidency. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. The United States is a world of dreamers. Dreamers aspiring to reach financial milestones never before seen by many. There are many paths to success in the world of business ownership but one of the least travelled paths by everyday people is that of buying businesses. Entering the realm of business ownership through acquisitions has proven to be a strategic and financially sound move. Let's dive into some key lessons picked up along the way. Flexibility has been a cornerstone of a successful approach. A seasoned buyer should be open to exploring businesses in any industry, as long as they meet a specific criterion for a secure investment. However, it may be best to lean towards ventures that offer a more hands-off and less complex experience, aligning with the goal of many to maintain time freedom. When it comes to financial resources, it's a common misconception that in order to acquire a business a person needs a hefty sum to get started. There are various methods proven to be successful, from traditional financing to more creative approaches, offering a range of options for potential business buyers. It's reassuring to know that the financial barrier isn't as high as one might think. Getting down to the nitty-gritty, understanding the financial details and deal terms is crucial in the evaluation process. Success in business acquisition is not merely about potential; it hinges on tangible and quantifiable aspects that lay the foundation for a prosperous venture. The age-old debate of established businesses versus those with growth potential is nuanced. While the security of a well-established business is appealing, it is advised that prospective buyers focus on the present reality rather than speculative future growth. It's about buying what's working now, not just what could work in the future. Focusing on businesses that can be managed with minimal hands-on involvement is strategic. It allows one to be actively engaged without being consumed by day-to-day operations, ensuring a balance between involvement and time freedom. Considering local market conditions is crucial. Whether local, regional, or global, understanding the market is key. Deal review should even factor in potential real estate benefits if it's part of the deala holistic approach to ensure no crucial pieces of the puzzle are overlooked. Due diligence may sound formal, but it's essentially doing the homework before making a significant purchase. It involves looking into financial details, staffing, industry trends, and any potential challenges the business might come with. It's like getting to know a future business before signing the papers. Business ownership isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There is much risks and challenges, and stress the importance of being prepared before taking the plunge. It's like putting on armor before heading into the battlefield. Technology matters, but here's a twistIt is sometimes better to buy a business without all the fancy tech. It leaves room for future growth and improvements, much like getting a fixer-upper instead of a fully decked-out mansion. Standing out from the crowd is essential. Differentiating a business involves looking at everything from practices to goodwill, industry position, and local competition. It's not just about buying a business; it's about making it unique to the goals of the buyer. When it comes to financing, there are tons of options out there. There is an abundance of different financing methods and its recommended to tailor the approach to what works best for a specific acquisition (while keeping as much money in the pocket of the buyer as possible). Looking ahead, aligning long-term goals with the business that is being bought is crucial. It's not just about making a profit; it's about making the business work for the investor in the long run. For those eyeing a business purchase, here are four key pieces of advice: understand how businesses work, obsess over the financials, know how to structure a deal, and play the harp not the drums after the purchase. It's like having a roadmap for a successful business takeover. People can make or break a business deal. Employees, partners, customersthey all play pivotal roles, especially in those first 90 days post-purchase, which should be considered a delicate dance. Being mindful of every step is crucial. Golden nugget of advicedon't go rocking the boat right after buying a business. Avoid big changes that could cause chaos. It's about finding that balance between improving things and keeping the essence that drew one to the business intact. The world of business acquisitions is a blend of financial wisdom, practical strategies, and a knack for understanding the human side of things. It's not just about buying a business; it's about making it special in a way that sets someone up for long-term success. Contact Info: Name: Gage Boardingham Email: Send Email Organization: GKB Financial Website: https://GKBfinancial.com Release ID: 89110902 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Ensuring accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. The Hair Restoration Service utilises cutting-edge techniques and technology to address hair loss and promote hair regrowth effectively Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness, a renowned name in the field of aesthetics and wellness, is proud to announce the launch of its latest offering of a cutting-edge Hair Restoration Service. Using the DE|RIVE revolutionary, noninvasive treatment option, Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness aims at providing clients with advanced solutions for hair rejuvenation and regrowth. This new offering marks an exciting addition to the comprehensive range of treatments available at the renowned med spa. Hair loss is a common concern that affects many individuals, causing emotional distress and impacting self-confidence. In response to this widespread issue, Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness has introduced a revolutionary Hair Restoration Service in September that combines expertise, advanced techniques, and state-of-the-art technology to address hair loss with remarkable results. Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness innovative treatment works by reducing inflammation, increasing hydration and blood flow to the scalp, and aiding in the removal of dead cells from around the hair follicle. This revitalizes the scalp, nourishing hair follicles and enhancing the appearance of fuller, healthier hair. Thus, using the latest and most advanced techniques, the med spa ensures optimal results for patients looking to rejuvenate and restore their hair. Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness continues to set the standard for excellence in the aesthetics and wellness industry. Each patient's needs are unique, and the Med Spa offers personalized treatment plans tailored to individual requirements, ensuring the best possible outcomes. With a focus on delivering results-driven treatments and a commitment to the highest standards of patient care, the Med Spa has become a trusted destination for individuals seeking transformative and rejuvenating experiences. As a pioneer in the industry, Melissa Gibbens, the founder, has trained numerous physicians and nurses in the art of injecting over the years, and now she brings her expertise to her very own Med Spa, offering patients access to the most advanced and effective treatments available. Hair restoration is just one of the many services offered by Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness, which includes a wide range of aesthetic treatments, wellness therapies, and beauty enhancements. Patients can expect the same level of professionalism, excellence, and personalized care that has become synonymous with Melissa Gibbens and her team. For more information, please visit: https://www.melissagibbens.com/ About Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness is a renowned Med Spa founded by Melissa Gibbens with over 20 years of working experience in the beauty aesthetics industry. Driven by a passion for enhancing the well-being and confidence of its patients, it is a trusted destination for those seeking transformative and rejuvenating experiences. Contact Info: Name: Melissa Gibbens Email: Send Email Organization: Melissa Gibbens Aesthetics and Wellness Address: 14340 Memorial Dr., Suite 300 Houston, TX 77079 Phone: 713-458-0224 Website: https://www.melissagibbens.com/ Release ID: 89109802 Should you come across any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within this press release's content, we urge you to reach out without delay by contacting [email protected]. Our committed team will promptly address your feedback within 8 hours and take appropriate measures to resolve any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information remains our utmost priority. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Steelhead Technologies, a pioneer in metal finishing job shop software, is proud to announce a groundbreaking leap in modernizing the Nadcap certification management process. With a rich history of innovation, Steelhead is spearheading the transformation of this traditionally paper-based and error-prone sector by introducing state-of-the-art digital systems and intelligent automation through its Certification Scanner Line. These advancements are set to enhance data accuracy, industry compliance, and the overall quality and safety standards of the aerospace sector, while dramatically reducing costs for metal finishing shops. Rising Above Manual Processes and Margins of Error The Nadcap industry has historically grappled with labor-intensive, error-prone paper-based systems that often leave room for costly inaccuracies. A 2020 Nadcap survey found that 30% of aerospace suppliers admitted to the limitations of manual data entry and record-keeping processes. Even though seldom spoken aloud, practices like "pencil whipping" and falsified data have been persistent issues, casting shadows over industry compliance and quality assurance. Our paper travelers have plenty of pencil whipping, explained one Nadcap-certified job shop. The way it is run with heavy manual intervention requires substantial data manipulation, he explained as he adjusted an unintentionally extended soak time into the Nadcap parameters. We are looking forward to automating all of this, with timers and alerts in a digital system to meet the standards set by Nadcap and improve our overall quality. Steelhead's Technological Revolution Steelhead, with a firm commitment to enhancing industry standards, is leading the charge in the digital transformation of Nadcap compliance. The innovative technology is poised to eliminate the errors, inefficiencies, and vulnerabilities that have plagued the industry for far too long. With a digitized plant management platform, gone are the days of preparing paperwork for pre-audits that are seldom analyzed. No more hiring multiple people to own this process internally. Everything is done at the click of a button with a user-friendly, integrated system. Certifications are literally just button clicking now, explained Sam Pugliese, General Manager at Anchor Bay Powder Coating. It [Steelhead] streamlines everything so, so fast. Anchor Bay Powder Coating was a part of the Steelhead certification management pilot program, benefiting from the system within hours. Steelhead has since rolled this feature out to all partners across North America with the option to deploy the scanner line to track Nadcap data. Data Accuracy and Compliance Effortlessly Achieved According to a 2021 Deloitte study, companies embracing digital technologies in aerospace and defense manufacturing have witnessed a staggering 40% reduction in data-related errors. Steelhead's Nadcap Scanner not only streamlines data entry but also employs advanced algorithms and machine learning to ensure impeccable data accuracy. The systems are designed to flag anomalies and deviations from industry standards, thus enhancing compliance without human intervention. A Competitive Edge for the Aerospace Industry Early adopters of Steelhead's revolutionary technology gain a competitive edge in the aerospace sector. The Boston Consulting Group reports that companies embracing automation experience 2.5 times more revenue growth than their counterparts. With Steelhead's Certification Scanner Line, Nadcap-accredited businesses can offer faster turnaround times, higher quality, lower costs, and greater flexibility in quoting jobs. This translates into attracting more customers and retaining existing ones, as demonstrated by the remarkable success stories. About Steelhead Technologies Steelhead Technologies is a pioneering force in the manufacturing ERP industry, offering cutting-edge solutions that empower metal finishing and heat treat job shops to thrive in today's competitive landscape. With a commitment to innovation and excellence around data and automation, Steelhead Technologies is revolutionizing how manufacturers operate, streamline their processes, and achieve greater efficiency. For more information visit gosteelhead.com. Contact Info: Name: Chantel Soumis Email: Send Email Organization: Steelhead Technologies Website: https://gosteelhead.com Release ID: 89110340 If you come across any problems, discrepancies, or concerns related to the content contained within this press release that necessitate action or if a press release requires takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out without delay by contacting [email protected]. Our committed team will be readily accessible round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take appropriate actions to rectify identified issues or support with press release removals. Ensuring accurate and reliable information remains our unwavering commitment. Winner of the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 in the Outdoor Power Equipment category A finalist of the IDEA Design Award 2023 LUBA AWD Series Robot Mower attends Equip Exposition from 18-20th October 2023 SHENZHEN, China , Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammotion, a leading innovator in outdoor robotic electric solutions, is proud to announce that the LUBA AWD Series Perimeter Wire-Free Robot Mower won the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 and a finalist for the IDEA Design Award 2023. This award-winning LUBA AWD Series was on display at the Equip Exposition from October 18th to 20th, 2023 , in the United States . The Pro Tool Innovation Award and IDEA Design Award represent internationally respected accolades that celebrate ingenuity, exceptional design, and outstanding performance, revolutionary innovation. Pro Tool Innovation Award judges lauded the LUBA AWD Series, stating, "Worry-free robotic mowing is now a reality thanks to the LUBA AWD series from Mammotion. You have the option to set multiple mowing zones for larger lawns, and the all-wheel-drive system can handle up to 75% slope and avoids getting stuck better than other designs. LUBA AWD is one of the most advanced robotic mowers you can get today." "We are thrilled to be recognized with prestigious industry awards for the product innovation."JD Wei, the CEO of Mammotion Tech, is proud to state, "We will keep leading the innovative solution of smarter robot mower in the future, providing best off-road capability, user-friendly intelligence and high-end design product. With RTK-GNSS Mapping and Navigation syetem, precise obstacle avoidance and auto-recharging, APP control anywhere, and the ability to mow stunning lawn stripes, the LUBA AWD Series offers users a brand-new smart, high-quality and eco-friendly lifestyle. All three models of this state-of-the-art LUBA AWD Series are prominently showcased at the Equip Exposition 2023, an excellent opportunity for professional users to learn more about this exciting product. LUBA AWD series is available to order online at U.S. , Germany , Australia and other countries. For more information please see www.mammotion.com About Mammotion: Mammotion is committed to shaping a smarter and high quality eco-friendly outdoor lifestyle by providing innovative outdoor robot solutions. The team's core members come from world's leading robotic and UAV companies, inheriting AgileX Robotics' seven years of experience with advanced chassis-based robotic solution and self-driving algorithm technology, Mammotion offers next-generation robotic solutions for professionals and consumers. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mammotion-luba-robot-mower-wins-pro-tool-innovation-award-2023-and-idea-design-award-2023-301963706.html SOURCE Mammotion Technology WALL, N.J. , Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Transportation of America (STA) is pleased to announce that one of its general managers, Dan Higbie , has been named 2023's Roger Weeks Contractor of the Year by the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) one of the highest honors the association presents to a member. Higbie oversees student transportation services for the Middletown City School District through Mid-City Transit, an STA company, and has been actively involved in the industry for more than 20 years. "It's clear that Dan truly cares about the community he services." "We are so proud and excited for Dan Higbie to be named NYSBCA's Contractor of the Year. It's a well-deserved industry honor and truly reinforces our team's unwavering commitment to safety, performance, and community," said Patrick Vaughan , STA's Chief Executive Officer. "Dan has an incredible relationship with our District partners and prioritizes exceptional service and safety day in and day out. Congratulations, Dan." The NYSBCA award is presented yearly to a contractor who exemplifies exceptional safety and performance records, maintains superior maintenance and training programs, and actively engages with local communities. The award also includes The Roger Weeks Scholarship Award, featuring a $1,000 scholarship to the Contractor of the Year Award winner's school district of choice. Higbie started working at Mid-City Transit in 2004 and now serves as a General Manager. Throughout his nearly 20-year career in the school bus transportation industry, he has received many accolades and certificates for his innovative leadership style. He recently represented STA/Mid-City Transit on a panel discussion at the 2023 NYAPT Conference, discussing the importance of the contractordistrict relationship. Notably, Higbie's Middletown City School District, was one of the first markets to launch STA's Electric Vehicle (EV) program, and Higbie was instrumental in the local roll-out. Four EV buses have been assigned to the Middletown City School District's fleet and replaced a handful of higher-emission vehicles, an important step forward for New York and the transportation industry. "It's clear that Dan truly cares about the community he services. Each day, he goes above and beyond in his role to ensure Middletown receives the best possible transportation services and is leading the way in transforming his fleet to electric vehicle buses. He oversees the team, operations, and EV initiative enthusiastically," adds Dave Kinley , STA's Vice President of Operations for New York . As a native of Middletown , Higbie has always been deeply involved with the community. He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Middletown for more than 14 years and a Board Member for the past two years. Previously, he served as a past President and past Lieutenant Governor of Hudson River West. He also sits on the Middletown Planning Board and is a proud Chairman of the Middletown Recreation Commission. Higbie has been an active member of the NYSBCA association for more than 20 years, including serving on the board for at least 10 of those years. The NYSBCA presented this prestigious award during its 69th Annual convention held yesterday evening, October 20, 2023 , at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, NY . About Student Transportation of America Founded in 1997, Student Transportation of America (STA) is an industry leader in school transportation, safety and fleet services. STA operates more than 22,000 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada . Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, managers, information technology professionals and others, who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-school-bus-contractors-association-recognizes-dan-higbie-mid-city-transit-general-manager-with-2023s-roger-weeks-contractor-of-the-year-award-301963750.html SOURCE Student Transportation of America 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. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nishan-book-house-in-perm-russia-building-bridges-through-books-301963670.html SOURCE Licang District Convergence Media Center Branding signage for WPP, the largest global advertising and public relations agency at their offices in London, Britain, July 17, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville By Casey Hall and Laurie Chen SHANGHAI (Reuters) - (This Oct. 21 story has been corrected to fix the reference to 'U.S. consultancy Mintz Group', not 'U.S. law firm Mintz', in paragraph 13) Four people linked to WPP-owned media agency GroupM have been questioned by authorities in Shanghai, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. One current employee and two former staff were detained, one of the people said. The fourth, GroupM Chinas CEO and country managing director for WPP China, Patrick Xu, was questioned by police but not detained, the person said. WPP declined to comment on news of the investigation and detentions. Calls to GroupM's office in Shanghai to seek comment went unanswered and Xu did not immediately respond to an email requesting a response. An employee stationed in the closest police precinct to WPP's Shanghai office said police could not comment. Both sources said police visited the WPP campus in Shanghai on Friday. There has been no official confirmation regarding the nature of the investigation into GroupM's current and former employees, but one of the sources said it was related to rebate mismanagement. Both sources declined to be named citing the sensitivity of the situation. The detentions and police visit to WPP's offices in downtown Shanghai were first reported by the Financial Times. The investigation is likely to reverberate around China's foreign business community, which is already unnerved by a widespread crackdown on consulting and due diligence firms as well as a new national security law, leading some business leaders to warn that foreign firms may hesitate to invest further in the market. GROWTH STRATEGY China is a major growth engine for WPP and GroupM, with global executives vocal about their intention to invest in the market long-term in recent months. According to a story published by Chinese state media in July, GroupM was expecting China's total advertising revenue to increase by 7.9% to $150.6 billion this year. "As our fourth largest market globally, China will continue to play a crucial role in WPP's long-term growth strategy. We believe abundant opportunities will undoubtedly rise in the years ahead," WPP CEO Mark Read was quoted as saying at the time. This is just the most recent in a string of raids and investigations launched into foreign businesses operating in China this year. Last month, advertising company Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings agreed to pay more than $26 million after being accused by the SEC of bribing Chinese government officials to obtain ad contracts in violation of U.S. law. In March, the Beijing office of U.S. consultancy Mintz Group was raided and five Chinese members of staff were detained. Police visited U.S. management consultancy Bain & Co's Shanghai office in April, then in May, state TV aired a program showing a raid of consultancy Capvision Partners' offices. Capvision said in a statement soon after the broadcast that it would abide by national security rules, but declined to comment further, while Bain confirmed the raid on its Shanghai office without giving more details in a statement at the time. Mintz confirmed the detention of its employees and the closure of its China business in a statement following the raid and was later fined the equivalent of $1.5 million by authorities in Beijing. (Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Alison Williams) FILE PHOTO: People inspect the area of Al-Ahli hospital where hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other, and where Palestinians who fled their homes were sheltering amid the ongoing conflic By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - A blast at a Gaza hospital was not the result of an Israeli missile strike, but likely caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, the French military intelligence directorate (DRM) said on Friday. Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital on Tuesday. Gaza's health ministry blamed an Israeli air strike, while Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by militants. "There is nothing that allows us to say that it is an Israeli strike, but the most likely (scenario) is a Palestinian rocket that had a firing incident," the DRM said. An unclassified U.S. intelligence report seen by Reuters on Thursday said it judged that Israel was not responsible for the blast and estimated the death toll at 100-300 people. According to the DRM, the impact crater was too small to have been caused by an Israeli missile. "The most likely hypothesis is a Palestinian rocket, which exploded with a charge of about 5 kilos," the DRM told reporters, adding that Palestinian groups had small-calibre rockets with that sort of explosive charge. The DRM does not usually release such information, but on the instruction of President Emmanuel Macron decided to make its findings public given the contrasting accounts about who is responsible. It ruled out various possibilities, including fragments from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system or intercepted missiles being the cause. Part of the analysis was based on open-source material ranging from the light structural damage at the hospital, including some broken windows, few destroyed vehicles and the relatively limited presence of civilian belongings at the blast site. The DRM could not give the exact departing point of the failed rocket and did not place blame on any specific group. It declined to estimate the death toll, but said that it was likely to be fewer than 471 given the impact. Israel has responded to an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas gunmen who killed 1,400 Israelis by vowing to destroy the group, putting the 2.3 million people living in Gaza under siege. Strikes against the enclave have killed more than 4,100 people and left more than a million homeless. Israel is also preparing a ground offensive. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Chris Reese and Rod Nickel) Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, take shelter in a United Nations-run school, after Israel's call for more than 1 million civilians in northern Gaza to move south, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 20, 2023. REUTE By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Gaza's children are showing ever more signs of trauma two weeks into Israel's intense bombardment, parents and psychiatrists in the tiny, crowded enclave say, with no safe place to hide from the falling bombs and little prospect of respite. Children make up about half of Gaza's 2.3 million population, living under near constant bombardment with many packed into temporary shelters in U.N.-run schools after fleeing their homes with little food or clean water. Israel is expected to launch a ground attack on Gaza shortly in response to a cross-border assault by Hamas fighters on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,400 people, with a further 210 taken hostage. "Children ... have started to develop serious trauma symptoms such as convulsions, bed-wetting, fear, aggressive behaviour, nervousness, and not leaving their parents' sides," said Gaza psychiatrist Fadel Abu Heen. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, including more than 1,500 children, while 13,000 people have been injured according to the Palestinian health ministry. Conditions in makeshift shelters in United Nations schools, where more than 380,000 people are camped out in hope of escaping the bombardment, only compound the problem. There are sometimes 100 people sleeping in each classroom, which all require continuous cleaning. There is little electricity and water so bathrooms and toilets are very dirty. "Our children suffer a lot at night. They cry all night, they pee themselves without meaning to and I don't have time to clean up after them, one after the other," said Tahreer Tabash, a mother of six children sheltering in a school. Even there, they are not safe. Such schools have been hit several times, the United Nations has said, and Tabash has seen strikes hitting nearby buildings. When her children hear so much as a chair being moved, they jump in fear, she said. "That lack of any safe place has created a general sense of fear and horror among the entire population and children are most impacted," said Abu Heen. "Some of them reacted directly and expressed their fears. Although they may need immediate intervention, they may be in a better state than the other kids who kept the horror and trauma inside them," he said. MENTAL TOLL One house in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave, is sheltering about 90 people including 30 under the age of 18, where they have to sleep in shifts for lack of space. "When there's an explosion or any target getting hit nearby they are always screaming, always frightened. We try to calm the younger ones, try telling them, 'Don't worry, it's just fireworks'. But the older ones understand what's going on," said Ibrahim al-Agha, an engineer sheltering in the house. "They will need a lot of support mentally after this war finishes," Agha said. However, Gaza's healthcare system was already over-stretched before this month's war, which has pushed it to the brink of collapse, and mental health experts have long warned of the terrible toll that was already being exacted on children. A 2022 report by aid group Save the Children found the psychosocial wellbeing of children in Gaza at "alarmingly low levels" after 11 days of fighting in 2021, leaving half of all Gaza children in need of support. Mental health experts in Gaza have said there is no such thing there as post traumatic stress disorder because the trauma in the enclave is continuous, with repeated bouts of armed conflict stretching back nearly two decades. Early on Saturday, after an Israeli air strike destroyed a building in Gaza City, killing many of the Abo Akr family, a large group of children stood among those watching rescuers picking through the rubble for survivors and bodies. As women nearby wailed and wept, the children stood watching, their faces showing nothing. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Angus McDowall; editing by Crispian Balmer and Mark Heinrich) 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 WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia sought by Riyadh, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. Biden suggested Saudi wanted to recognize Israel in the comments he made at a campaign fundraiser. Saudi Arabia, a Middle East powerhouse and home to Islam's two holiest shrines, gave its blessing to Gulf neighbors United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing relations with Israel in 2020 under the previous U.S. administration of Donald Trump. Riyadh has not followed suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first. "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said. "Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel." The potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states was a top priority for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his June trip to Riyadh, although he acknowledged no progress should be expected imminently. Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8 that "it wouldnt be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." Biden told CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time." Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free hostages taken by Hamas militants while wiping out the group. (Reporting by Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas; editing by Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.) BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Western Returned Scholars Association to rally talent from around the world and pool strengths of creativity for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the association, which is celebrating its 110th founding anniversary. In his letter, Xi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, expressed warm congratulations to the association and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese students and scholars and workers providing services for relevant personnel. Xi expressed appreciation for the association's contribution in uniting overseas Chinese students, calling on the association to continue to play its role as a talent pool in serving the country, a think tank of good ideas and proposals and a vital force in people-to-people diplomacy. He also expressed hope that overseas Chinese students and scholars would carry forward their patriotic tradition, serve the people, stay confident, break new ground and forge ahead, and maintain an open and inclusive mind to promote the exchanges and mutual learning between China and other countries. A gathering to celebrate the association's 110th anniversary of establishment was held in Beijing on Saturday. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, attended the event and made a speech. Wang called on overseas Chinese students and scholars to keep Xi's requirements in mind, calling on the association to better rally overseas students and scholars around the Party. Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi's letter at the gathering. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, addresses a gathering to celebrate the Western Returned Scholars Association's 110th anniversary of establishment in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) A group of migrants in a wooden boat are towed by a Spanish coast guard vessel to the port of Arguineguin, in the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, October 21, 2023. REUTERS/Borja Suarez ARGUINEGUIN, GRAN CANARIA (Reuters) - Over 1,000 migrants arrived in Spain's Canary Islands in a single day on Saturday after making the dangerous journey from Africa, including on a boat carrying 320 people that rescuers said was the most packed vessel they had ever seen. The Red Cross, which was helping to treat the migrants, said a wooden boat that arrived on the island of El Hierro marked a record number of arrivals in a single boat. The previous record was a boat carrying 271 people that arrived in El Hierro on Oct. 3. Saturday's arrivals included 783 in El Hierro, 98 in Tenerife and 150 in Gran Canaria, the Red Cross said. The boats' passengers included women and small children. In Gran Canaria, the coast guard towed a wooden boat carrying migrants, including a toddler, into the port of Arguineguin. Wooden boats from previous arrivals were docked in the port. The seven islands of the Atlantic archipelago have become the main destination for migrants trying to reach Spain, and this year there has been an increase in attempted crossings from Senegal and other African countries. Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15 this year, the islands received 23,537 migrants, an 80% increase from the same period last year according to official data. At least 1,000 people have died attempting the crossing so far this year, according to the Walking Borders charity. Spain's acting migration minister pledged an aid package worth 50 million euro ($53 million) on Oct. 19 to help the Canary Islands cope with an "extraordinary migration flow". (Reporting by Borja Suarez; Writing by Jessica Jones; Editing by Toby Chopra) FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a flag of Palestine during a rally held in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Mineola, New York, U.S., October 15, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo (Reuters) -Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen said on Saturday a Jewish organization in New York City canceled a reading he was due to give on Friday without explanation, a day after he said he signed an open letter condemning Israel's "indiscriminate violence" against Palestinians in Gaza. Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American professor and writer whose novel "The Sympathizer" won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was scheduled to speak at the 92nd Street Y literary center's Christopher Lightfoot Walker Reading Series event in Manhattan at 8 p.m. Writing on Instagram, Nguyen said he learned at 3 p.m. that the event had been canceled by the 92NY. The center describes itself on its website as "a proudly Jewish organization." "Their language was 'postponement,' but no reason was given, no other date was offered, and I was never asked," Nguyen wrote. "So, in effect, cancellation. Some people in social media comments say they heard it was a bomb threat. I've heard no such thing from 92Y staff." In a statement to Reuters, a spokesperson for 92NY confirmed it postponed the event, citing Nguyen's stance on Israel as well as the Oct. 7 attack by militants of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and continued holding of hostages, which it said "has absolutely devastated the community." "Given the public comments by the invited author on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community," the spokesperson said. Nguyen's representatives did not respond to messages seeking more details. The unprecedented attack into southern Israel by Hamas two weeks ago killed 1,400 people, and resulted in Israel imposing a "total siege" of Gaza that has left the enclave's 2.3 million people running out of food, water, medicines and fuel. In an Instagram post on Thursday, Nguyen said he signed the open letter along with other authors because the effect of Israel's policy was the inevitable death of civilians. "That is wrong and it must stop," he wrote, saying he remained a strong supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement that calls for economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian land. Nguyen said the organizers of Friday night's event switched it to an independent bookshop. "I spoke about my book, yes, but also about how art is silenced in times of war and division because some people only want to see the world as us vs them," Nguyen wrote on Saturday. "And writing is the only way I know how to fight. And writing is the only way I know how to grieve." (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani, David Ljunggren and Joseph Ax; Editing by Daniel Wallis) SYDNEY (Reuters) -Thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Australia's biggest city, Sydney, on Saturday, getting last-minute approval amid concerns after some protesters at an earlier rally had chanted anti-Jewish slogans. Protesters worldwide on Friday demanded an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza after nearly two weeks of intense air and artillery strikes that authorities in the narrow strip say have killed 4,100 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Friday to "fight until victory" in Gaza, signalling no pause in his military's bombardment and expected invasion of the enclave over Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which 1,400 in Israel and seized hostages. In Sydney, Australia's biggest city, around 15,000 people attended Saturday's march, organiser Palestine Action Group said, with demonstrators chanting "Palestine will never die" and waving Palestine flags. Police, including officers on horseback, patrolled the event that closed city streets, and a police helicopter circled overhead. Police said no arrests had been made, and Palestine Action Group spokesperson Amal Naser said the march was peaceful. Protester Barbara O'Neill described Palestinians as "my brothers and sisters", saying, "They have been suffering genocide publicly and in a very high-profile way." Rally-goer James McGlone said people had a "right to know whats going on with the Palestinians... If they knew what the state of Israel has done and is continuing to do, they would support Palestine." A protester who gave her name only as Doaa, said: "Im here because this is a humanitarian cause first and foremost. And Im supporting, you know, humanity in every way." But Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the top group for Australia's Jewish community, said Saturday's Sydney rally "incited more hatred in Australia" and fractured "fragile social cohesion". A rally outside the Sydney Opera House two days after the Hamas attack had ignited heated debate after a small group were filmed chanting "Gas the Jews". Pro-Palestine rallies were also scheduled on Saturday in state capitals Brisbane, Perth and Hobart, Palestine Action Group said, after thousands attended largely well behaved rallies around Australia last weekend. (Reporting by Sam McKeith and James Redmayne in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard) Trucks carrying aid wait to enter the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, as seen from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, in this still picture taken from a video October By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Aidan Lewis GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) -The first humanitarian aid convoy to be sent to the besieged Gaza Strip since war broke out arrived through the Rafah border crossing on Saturday, after wrangling over conditions for delivering relief left it stranded in Egypt. The United Nations said the 20-truck convoy included life-saving supplies that would be received by the Palestinian Red Crescent, but the aid was a fraction of the quantity needed and it was unclear how much aid will be allowed to pass in coming days. Rafah is the main route in and out of the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, and the focus of efforts to deliver relief to Gaza's 2.3 million residents. U.N. officials say at least 100 trucks a day are required in Gaza to cover urgent needs, and that any delivery of aid should be sustained and at scale. Before the outbreak of conflict, several hundred trucks were normally arriving in the enclave daily. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview that there should be no gap in aid deliveries, and that discussions were continuing on how supplies could be checked and tracked to satisfy Israel. Israel imposed a total blockade and launched air strikes on Gaza in response to a deadly attack on Israeli soil by Hamas on Oct. 7. The Rafah crossing has been out of operation since shortly afterwards, and bombardments on the Gaza side damaged roads and buildings that needed repairs. SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT The U.N. has warned that food has been running out in Gaza and supplies of fuel needed to keep hospital back-up generators running have reached dangerously low levels. Israel has said it will allow no aid to enter from its territory until Hamas releases the hostages it took during its attack, and that aid can enter through Egypt as long as it does not end up in the hands of Hamas. International donors have been flying aid into Al Arish, about 45 km (28 miles) west of Rafah in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. No large-scale relief effort has been operated from Egypt during previous conflicts in Gaza, when aid passed through the Kerem Shalom crossing, controlled by Israel. The Israeli military said on Saturday that aid entering Gaza did not include fuel and would only go to southern areas of the enclave, where Israel has urged civilians to congregate. Many of Gaza's residents have crammed into southern areas to avoid air strikes in the north, though they also say that nowhere in the territory is safe. "We have upped the logistical and operational abilities of the Red Crescent by adding more volunteers and cars. We have rented storages in Khan Younis and Rafah," said Mahmoud Abu Atta, of the Palestinian Red Crescent, as he entered the Rafah Crossing to receive aid. Western states have been pushing to evacuate foreign passport holders from Gaza and the U.S. Embassy in Israel said any border opening on Saturday could enable foreigners to leave the territory. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the border on Friday in a push to get the aid in, saying a mechanism for inspection of the aid demanded by Israel was still being worked out and that delivery of relief should not be tied to the release of hostages or evacuation of foreigners. (Reporting by Nidal Mughrabi, Aidan Lewis, Yusri Mohamed and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Ros Russell and Daniel Wallis) A fisherman passes some of the dilapidated infrastructure of the Venezuelan state-run oil company on Lake Maracaibo in Cabimas on May 9, 2019. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post) For years, Selene Estrach has seen how Venezuelas crumbling oil industry has taken a toll on Lake Maracaibo, one of the worlds largest and oldest lakes. Once a symbol of the countrys oil wealth, its waters are now coated with iridescent slicks and swirls of neon green algae blooms that can be seen from space. The pollution is the product of decaying machinery and ruptures in a network of nearly 16,000 miles of underwater pipelines. Though oil slicks are common in Lake Maracaibo, which contains one of one of the planets largest known oil and gas reserves, experts and environmental groups have warned that years of mismanagement and a crippled oil industry have left a constant stream of crude oil oozing into the water. Yet little has been done to clean up the lake, which is home to endangered species such as pink river dolphins and manatees. In recent years, officials have downplayed the pollution as a visual matter or not a big deal. Thats why Estrach, a 28-year-old environmental activist, was determined to find a way to help. She founded Proyecto Sirena, a national network of activists dedicated to saving the lake using an unorthodox, yet bountiful, material. Hair. She got the idea in July while scouring the internet for easy, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for the pollution marring Lake Maracaibo. She saw that Matter of Trust, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, had used human locks 22 years ago to help soak up a spill off the coast of the Galapagos Islands. Since then, the project had been replicated across the globe. It seemed like a crazy idea, but I always like to think that everythings possible, Estrach told The Washington Post. I thought, If theyre doing this in . . . other parts of the world, why cant we do it in Venezuela? Its easy and cheap. Plus, all the hair thats left over in the salons is going to waste. Why not put it to good use? Since founding Proyecto Sirena - a play on the Spanish words for mermaid and emergency siren, Estrach said her car is constantly filled with bags of donated human and pet hair. Across Venezuela, more volunteers are holding haircut drives that have brought in thousands of people. In 1989, Philip McCrory, a hairstylist in Alabama, first designed a hair-filled net to be used after oil spills, which NASA later tested and found effective. Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney found in 2018 that hair is significantly better at absorbing oil than other materials, including cellulose and cotton. Hair is mostly made up of a fibrous protein called keratin, which makes it appear to be filled with scales when observed under a microscope. Thats what helps make hair adsorbent - meaning oils stick to its surface. Hair was not only used in Ecuador in 2001, but to clean the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill in California, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and, most recently, in this years spill in the Philippines. Estrach has spent weeks huddled inside a lab at the University of Zulia, where she is a student, trying to replicate how the Matter of Truth nonprofit used hair after past oil spills. The results are promising, she said, with her tests indicating that about two pounds of hair can soak up between 11 and 17 pounds of oil. A fisherman, covered in oil and petroleum, exits Lake Maracaibo along the polluted shores of Cabimas, Venezuela. The collapse of the state-run oil company's infrastructure has destroyed the fish stocks and thoroughly contaminated the region. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post) She and her crew plan to stuff hair into mesh nets resembling pantyhose that will be placed in Lake Maracaibo. The nets - or booms - will essentially be floating hair sausages that will surround oil slicks to prevent them from spreading or separating, Estrach said. Theyre also using hair to create furry, mat-like devices that can be used to clean up the shore, she said. Estrach and her team will put both hair-filled items to the test in Lake Maracaibo next week. Estrachs team is also researching ways to safely discard the oil the devices soak up so they can be reused. It will be our contribution to a growing field of research about this technique, she said. The first step, however, was getting the hair to make the items. Estrach turned to salons for help, initially aiming to get 100 to donate tresses left behind from haircuts. By October, 600 had signed up to help, which will allow her to collect about seven tons of hair every three months. Michele Giurdanella, 46, the CEO of Salvador Hairdressing, a chain of salons with franchises in Venezuela, Italy and Panama, is one of the hundreds of people heeding Estrachs call. His 10 salons across Maracaibo each collect approximately seven pounds of hair every day. Last week, Giurdanella ended a 20-year hiatus of not cutting hair to personally help out during a donation drive. Next month, he and about 30 other stylists will give free cuts at Salvador Hairdressings headquarters. All the locks from the event will go toward the lake cleanup. Were helping clean up a lake that is so important to our community with something that wed throw in the trash otherwise, Giurdanella said. And, the drive, for example, also helps out with our low-income community members who might otherwise not be able to afford getting a haircut. Everyone wins with this. The effort has expanded well beyond Maracaibo. In Caracas, students from the Central University of Venezuela organized another haircut drive this month. They expected 200 people - nearly 1,500 showed up, said Rafael Chavero, a 26-year-old medical student and social activist. We had to promise some that wed do another drive because we just didnt have enough volunteer stylists to keep up with the demand, he said. That day, Chavero said people traveled up to an hour to literally just give us a baggie of hair they collected. Others even brought their dogs for a shave and donated the fur. For Chavero, the widespread support to improve conditions at Lake Maracaibo is a sign of hope. Amid a crippling political, economic and humanitarian crisis, environmental concerns had taken a back seat in Venezuela. And though many of those problems persist, Chavero said he has noticed Venezuelans are now really interested in finding ways to protect our environment and the landmarks that fill us with pride. Theres a brand new thirst for these movements, Chavero said. I see a generation of young people who want to take the reins and improve the country we have. At this point, were not looking to politicians to help - were doing it ourselves. In this photo provided by the Serbian Presidential Press Service, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, third right, poses with Italian diplomat Alessandro Cattaneo, left, French Presidents Advisor Emmanuel Bonne, second left, European Union envoy Miroslav Lajcak, third left, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar , second right, and German Chancellors Advisor Jens Plettner, right, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. The envoys of the European Union and the United States urged on Saturday Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue as the only way to de-escalate the soaring tension between the two nations. This is the first such visit since Sept. 24 when around 30 Serb gunmen crossed into northern Kosovo, killing a police officer and setting up barricades, before launching an hours-long gun battle with Kosovo police. (Serbian Presidential Press Service via AP) PRISTINA, Kosovo The envoys of the European Union and the United States urged Kosovo and Serbia on Saturday to resume their dialogue on normalizing relations before the bitter tensions between the two sides result in more violence. EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak and U.S. Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Kosovos capital, Pristina. They later traveled to Serbia for a meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. The visitors were accompanied by top diplomats from Germany, France and Italy, reflecting Western concerns over the crisis in the volatile Balkan region. It was the first such engagement since about 30 Serb gunmen crossed into northern Kosovo on Sept. 24, killing a police officer and setting up barricades before launching an hours-long gunbattle with Kosovo police. Three gunmen were killed. Lajcak said that during their meeting with Kurti, the foreign officials stressed that the terrorist attack against Kosovo police by armed individuals (that) constitutes a clear and unprecedented escalation. He added that the attack also very clearly underlined that both deescalation and normalization are now more urgent than ever. If there is no dialogue, there might be a repetition of escalation, Lajcak said. Serbia and its former province, Kosovo, have been at odds for decades. Their 1998-99 war left more than 10,000 people dead, mostly Kosovo Albanians. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade has refused to recognize the move. Both Kosovo and Serbia want to join the EU, which has told them that they first need to sort out their differences. Western powers want Kosovo and Serbia to implement a 10-point plan put forward by the EU in February to end months of political crises. Kurti and Vucic gave their approval at the time, but with some reservations. The EU and U.S. are pressuring Kosovo to allow for the creation of an Association of the Serb-Majority Municipalities to coordinate work on education, health care, land planning and economic development in communities of northern Kosovo mostly populated by ethnic Serbs. Pristina fears such an association would be a step toward creating a Serb mini-state with wide autonomy, similar to Republika Srpska in Bosnia. Lajcak urged Kosovos government to move on the establishment of the association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo without further delay. Without this, there will be no progress on Kosovos European path, he said. The EU suspended funding some projects in Kosovo and halted visits by its top diplomats in July over the issue. Later in Belgrade, Lajcak said we have to be very clear that we strongly condemn terrorist attack on Kosovo police on the 24th of September. All perpetrators need to be brought to justice and we expect Serbias full cooperation and concrete action in this regard, he added. Serbia has denied involvement in the attack, saying it was organized by ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. The ringleader, Milan Radoicic, an ally of Vucic, was briefly detained in Serbia and later released pending further proceedings. Vucic said on Instagram after the meeting that he believed we will find a way out of the crisis in the coming period. He said he expected important meetings in Brussels in the days ahead. He did not elaborate. The last Kosovo-Serbia normalization talks took place in mid-September, before the flare-up in northern Kosovo. Its unclear when another round of meetings might take place. Kosovo has called on Europe to sanction Serbia, which it blames for the Sept. 24 violence, saying no further talks could be held and demanding higher security measures from Western powers to deter an increased presence of Serb military forces along its border. NATO has bolstered a peacekeeping force in Kosovo, which normally has a troop strength of 4,500, with an additional 200 troops from the U.K. and more than 100 from Romania. It also sent heavier armaments to beef up the peacekeepers combat power. Llazar Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a media conference at the office of Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. At least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. (Yves Herman,/Pool Photo via AP) KYIV, Ukraine At least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyys hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Vilkul added that the mans wife was hospitalized with serious shrapnel wounds. Early on Saturday, Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Vilkul did not elaborate on the sites nature or whether it was linked to Ukraines war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. Hours later, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian militarys fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rihs local airport. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials to Konashenkovs claim. In Ukraines front-line Kherson region in the south, one civilian was killed and another suffered wounds as Russian forces launched mass shelling attacks, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Saturday. In a Telegram post, Prokudin said that Russian troops used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the province, striking some residential areas. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the front-line city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local Gov. Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off waves of Russian attacks. Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the province. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was hospitalized with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, local Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Saturday. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. Local Ukrainian authorities also reported Russian attacks on Friday and overnight on the northern Sumy and southern Zaporizhzhia provinces but made no mention of casualties. The governor of Russias southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces over the previous day shelled two of the provinces districts, using mortars and grenade launchers. According to Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov, civilians had not been hurt. Ukrainian servicemen evacuate injured comrade at the frontline close to the Dnipro near Kherson, Ukraine, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Alex Babenko/AP) KYIV, Ukraine At least three civilians were killed and others wounded in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday, as Russian forces continued to shell areas across the country and pushed forward near an embattled eastern city, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. A man died as Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol from their stronghold at Ukraines largest nuclear plant, according to Ukrainian local Gov. Serhii Lysak. Lysak said that emergency services in Nikopol were working to assess the damage. Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early in the war, sparking intermittent fears of a radiation incident as shelling persisted near the site, often targeting Ukrainian-controlled settlements across the Dnieper River. In Kryvyi Rih, the central Ukraine hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, , a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. The mans wife was hospitalized with serious shrapnel wounds, Vilkul said. The mayor reported that Russian missiles and drones hit the same place again overnight, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Vilkul did not elaborate on the sites nature or whether it was linked to Ukraines war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian militarys fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rihs local airport. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials to Konashenkovs claim. In southern Ukraines front-line Kherson region, one civilian was killed and another wounded during mass shelling attacks by Russian troops, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Saturday. The Russians used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the region, striking some residential areas, Prokudin wrote in a Telegram post. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the front-line city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local Gov. Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces in recent weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off a renewed Russian assault. Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the region. Russian troops on Friday launched a fresh offensive north of Avdiivka that has secured minor gains, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. The Washington-based think tank cited geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin military bloggers on the ground to support its assessment. Moscows renewed push near Avdiivka reflects the Russian military commands commitment to offensive operations in the area despite heavy materiel and personnel losses, the institute said. The Ukrainian General Staff on Friday claimed that Ukrainian forces had damaged and destroyed almost 50 Russian tanks and over 100 armored vehicles in the fighting near Avdiivka during the previous day. The claim that could not be independently verified. Oleksandr Shputun, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army unit fighting near Avdiivka, said in televised remarks Saturdays that Russian military activity in the area had decreased slightly, possibly due to heavy losses. However, Shputun acknowledged that Russian units continued to advance. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was hospitalized with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Saturday. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. The governor of Russias southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said Saturday that Ukrainian forces shelled two of the provinces districts with mortars and grenade launchers the previous day. According to Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov, no civilians were hurt. Elsewhere, a top Ukrainian presidential adviser reported that four Ukrainian children who were released from Russian captivity on Monday have been reunited with their families. According to the Telegram post by Andriy Yermak, a 17-year-old girl and three boys ages 9, 6 and 3, were captured by occupying Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. Yermak said one of the boys was transferred to an orphanage in southern Russia, while another was forcibly taken to Russian-annexed Crimea. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Moscow when it issued arrest warrants in March for President Vladimir Putin and Russias childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. State media in Kremlin-allied Belarus have also published reports on children arriving in the country from Ukraines occupied territories, ostensibly to join health recuperation programs. In this photo provided by Egypts presidency media office, participants of the International peace summit pose for a group picture at the New Administrative Capital, just outside Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Egyptian Presidency Media Office via AP) CAIRO Egypt and Jordan harshly criticized Israel over its actions in Gaza at a summit on Saturday, a sign that the two Western allies that made peace with Israel decades ago are losing patience with its two-week-old war against Hamas. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who hosted the summit, again rejected any talk of driving Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula and warned against the liquidation of the Palestinian cause. Jordans King Abdullah II called Israels siege and bombardment of Gaza a war crime. The speeches reflected growing anger in the region, even among those with close ties to Israel who have often worked as mediators, as the war sparked by a massive Hamas attack enters a third week with casualties mounting and no end in sight. Egypt is especially concerned about a massive influx of Palestinians crossing into its territory, something that it fears would, among other things, severely undermine hopes for a Palestinian state. Vague remarks by some Israeli politicians and military officials suggesting people leave Gaza have alarmed Israels neighbors, as have Israeli orders for Palestinian civilians to evacuate to the south, toward Egypt. In his opening remarks, el-Sissi said Egypt vehemently rejected the forced displacement of the Palestinians and their transfer to Egyptian lands in Sinai. I want to state it clearly and unequivocally to the world that the liquidation of the Palestinian cause without a just solution is beyond the realm of possibility, and in any case, it will never happen at the expense of Egypt, absolutely not, he said. Jordans king delivered the same message, expressing his unequivocal rejection of any displacement of Palestinians. Jordan already hosts the largest number of displaced Palestinians from previous Mideast wars. This is a war crime according to international law, and a red line for all of us, he told the summit. Israel says it is determined to destroy Gazas Hamas rulers but has said little about its endgame. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan in which airstrikes and maneuvering a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas before a period of lower intensity mop-up operations. Then, a new security regime would be created in Gaza along with the removal of Israels responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. He did not say who would run Gaza after Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel has ordered more than half of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate from north to south within the territory it has completely sealed off, effectively pushing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians toward the Egyptian border. Amos Gilad, a former Israeli defense official, said Israels ambiguity on the matter is endangering crucial ties with Egypt. I think a peace treaty with Egypt is highly important, highly crucial for the national security of Israel and Egypt and the whole structure of peace in the world, he said. Gilad said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to speak directly with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan, and say publicly that Palestinians will not be entering their countries. Two senior Egyptian officials said relations with Israel have reached a boiling point. They said Egypt has conveyed its frustration over Israeli comments about displacement to the United States, which brokered Camp David Accords in the 1970s. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Egypt worries that a mass exodus would risk bringing militants into Sinai, from where they might launch attacks on Israel, endangering the peace treaty. Arab countries also fear a repeat of the mass exodus of Palestinians from what is now Israel before and during the 1948 war surrounding its creation, when some 700,000 fled or were driven out, an event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or catastrophe. Those refugees and their descendants, who now number nearly 6 million, were never allowed to return. At Saturdays gathering, the anger extended beyond the fears of mass displacement. Both leaders condemned Israels air campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, including many civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. Israel says it is only striking Hamas targets and is abiding by international law. The war was sparked by a wide-ranging Hamas incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which over 1,400 people were killed, the vast majority of them civilians. Abdullah, who is among the closest Western allies in the region, accused Israel of collective punishment of a besieged and helpless people. It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It is a war crime, he said. He went on to accuse the international community of ignoring Palestinian suffering, saying it had sent a loud and clear message to the Arab world that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed. Palestinians check the area of the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. On Sunday, The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. (Abed Khaled/AP) RAFAH, Gaza Strip The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off and began pounding it with airstrikes following Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tons of aid have been waiting nearby for days. Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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. Five hospitals have stopped functioning because of fuel shortages and bombing damage, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Doctors reported using sewing needles to stitch wounds, and using vinegar as a disinfectant until the shops ran out. With anesthesia running low, the screams of patients could be heard during surgery. Doctors Without Borders said Gazas health care system is facing collapse. Meantime, Gazas Hamas-run Interior Ministry reported heavy Israeli airstrikes across the territory overnight into Sunday, including southern areas where Israel had told Palestinians to seek refuge. The ministry said that among the sites hit were homes and a cafe in the evacuation zone where dozens of displaced residents had sought shelter. Israels military has said it is striking Hamas members and installations, but does not target civilians. In a statement posted early Sunday on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, the Israeli military said it had launched a strike on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas. Israel said Friday that it doesnt plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet late Saturday to discuss the expected invasion, Israeli media reported. Israels military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the country planned to step up its airstrikes starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of the war. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said, repeating his call for Gaza City residents to head south for their safety. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas but has given few details about what it envisions for Gaza if it succeeds. Yifat Shasha-Biton, a Cabinet minister, said there was broad consensus in the government that there will have to be a buffer zone in Gaza to keep Palestinians away from the border. We need to create a distance between the border and our communities, she told Channel 13 TV, adding that no decisions had been made on its size or other specifics. Tensions have risen in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. Israeli forces have held the West Bank under a tight grip, closing crossings into the territory and checkpoints between cities, measures they say are aimed at preventing attacks. The opening of Rafah came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy, including visits to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all the captives from its Oct. 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. Late Friday, Hamas freed its first captives an American woman and her teenage daughter. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between the release and the aid deliveries. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 hostages, though their conditions and if they are even alive remains unknown. On Saturday morning, an Associated Press reporter saw the 20 trucks heading north from Rafah to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave. American citizen Dina al- Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. The trucks carried 44,000 bottles of drinking water enough for 22,000 people for a single day, according to UNICEF. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organization said four of the trucks were carrying medical supplies, including trauma medicine and portable trauma bags for first responders. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid, said, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, Cindy McCain. Gazas Hamas-run government called for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter. Biden said the United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas. The U.S. government would work to keep Rafah open and let U.S. citizens leave Gaza, he said in a statement. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday he was sending additional air defense systems to the Middle East and putting more troops on prepare to deploy orders. Guterres emphasized international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Two Egyptian officials and a European diplomat said extensive negotiations with Israel and the U.N. to allow fuel deliveries for hospitals had yielded little progress. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information on the sensitive deliberations. One Egyptian official said they were discussing the release of dual-national hostages in return for fuel, but that Israel was insisting on the release of all hostages. The release of Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday brought some hope to the families of others believed held hostage. Rachel Goldberg, whose son is thought to have been badly wounded before he was taken hostage, said she was very relieved by the news but urged quick work to save others, including her son. I think he could be dying, she said. So we dont have time. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militants, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border. Hezbollah said six of its fighters were killed Saturday, and the groups deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, warned that Israel would pay a high price if it starts a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israel ordered its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomalarge demonstrationstic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza have erupted across the region, and large demonstrations were held Saturday in several European and U.S. cities. An Israeli ground assault would likely 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 attack. More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion. At the summit Saturday, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. King Abdullah II of Jordan said Israels attacks on Gaza were a war crime and slammed the international communitys response. Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned, he said. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza . A senior Israeli military official said the air force will not hit the area where aid is being distributed unless rockets, which militants are relentlessly launching at Israel, are fired from there. Its a safe zone, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to reveal military information. Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press journalists Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Ravi Nessman in Jerusalem, Sam Magdy in Cairo, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. ZARANJ, Afghanistan, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- An essential bridge in west Afghanistan's Nimroz province has been opened to traffic, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported Saturday. The 300-meter-long bridge was constructed at a cost of 231 million afghanis (about 3.06 million U.S. dollars), was completed on Thursday with the financial support of local authorities and formally opened to traffic on Friday, the state media outlet added. Similarly, the construction of roads with a cost of 132,500 dollars began in east Afghanistan's Parwan Province on Thursday. As part of efforts to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, the Afghan caretaker government, besides launching some development projects, has also called upon national and international companies to invest and create job opportunities for poverty-stricken people. Israeli soldiers drive an armored personal carrier (APC) in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Israeli military announced Friday it would evacuate Kiryat Shmona, a city close to the border with Lebanon. Three residents were injured Thursday after the town came under cross-border fire from militants in Lebanon. (Baz Ratner/AP) BEIRUT A top official with Hezbollah vowed that Israel will pay a high price whenever it starts a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and said Saturday that his militant group based in Lebanon already is in the heart of the battle. The comments by Hezbollahs deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, came as Israel shelled and made drone strikes in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fired rockets and missiles toward Israel. For Hezbollah, heating up the Lebanon-Israel border has a clear purpose, Kassem said: We are trying to weaken the Israeli enemy and let them know that we are ready. Hamas officials have said that if Israel starts a ground offensive in Gaza, Hezbollah will join the fighting. Exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border have picked up in the two weeks since the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that killed over 1,400 civilians and soldiers in southern Israel. Retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians. There are concerns that Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has a weapons arsenal consisting of tens of thousands of rockets and missiles as well as different types of drones, might try to open a new front in the Israel-Hamas war with a large-scale attack on northern Israel. Kassem said his group, which is allied with Hamas, already was affecting the course of the conflict by heating up the Lebanon-Israel border and keeping three Israeli army divisions tied up in the north instead of preparing to fight in Gaza. Do you believe that if you try to crush the Palestinian resistance, other resistance fighters in the region will not act? Kassem said in a speech Saturday during the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter. We are in the heart of the battle today. We are making achievements through this battle. On Friday, the Israeli military announced the evacuation of a border city where three residents were wounded in the crossfire a day earlier. An Associated Press journalist in south Lebanon reported hearing loud explosions Saturday along the border, close to the Mediterranean coast. Hezbollah said its fighters attacked several Israeli positions and also targeted an Israeli infantry force, scoring direct hits. Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported Israeli shelling of several villages and said a car took a direct hit in the village of Houla. On Saturday evening, shelling intensified around an Israeli army post across from the Lebanese village of Yaroun. Hezbollah said one of its fighters was killed Saturday, raising the total of Lebanese militants killed to 14 since Oct. 7. Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said a group of gunmen fired a shell into Israel and an Israeli drone was launched back toward them. A drone also was dispatched after another group of gunmen fired toward the Israeli town of Margaliot, Adraee said. Direct hits were scored in both strikes, Adraee posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Hezbollahs Kassem spoke about foreign dignitaries who visited Lebanon over the past two weeks asking Lebanese officials to convince the group not to take part in the latest Hamas-Israel battle. He said Hezbollahs response to Lebanese officials was, We are part of the battle. We tell those who are contacting us, Stop the (Israeli) aggression so that its (conflict) repercussions and possibility of expansion stops, Kassem said, referring to the officials who recently visited Beirut, including the foreign ministers of France and Germany. Speaking about an expected Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, Kassem, said: Our information are that the preparedness in Gaza by Hamas and resistance fighters will make (the) Israeli ground invasion their graveyard. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the war between Israel and Hamas after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. President Joe Biden is trying to sweeten his pitch for more money for Ukraine by mixing in billions of dollars for securing the U.S.-Mexico border. () WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is trying to sweeten his pitch for more money for Ukraine by mixing in billions of dollars for securing the U.S.-Mexico border in the hope that it will bring more Republicans on board. The idea came up late last month, after Ukraine assistance was stripped out of a stopgap measure to keep the government running due to growing Republican resistance to financing the war effort. A lot has changed since Sept. 30: The House has lost its speaker and Republicans are in disarray over selecting a new one, and the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel has prompted a much bigger funding request by the White House. Its not at all clear that including roughly $14 billion in border money included as part of the the $106 billion spending package the White House sent to Congress on Friday will placate those who are resisting. The border has never been a money issue, said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It has always been a policy issue. So we need to get in a room, go to the White House and sort that out. The conflict in the Mideast may have pulled some of the spotlight away from the U.S.-Mexico border for now, but the migration challenges facing the U.S. are growing increasingly intractable. Democratic leaders at both the state and local level are begging for federal assistance to help care for migrant families living in squalid shelters and sleeping in police stations. Republicans are loudly critical of Bidens border policies as too lax. And Congress has not passed an immigration overhaul in decades. There are rising numbers of migrants at the border, and Biden has repeatedly said Congress should act to fix outdated immigration laws. But in the meantime, his administration has developed policies that aim to deter migrants from making a dangerous and often deadly journey while also opening up new legal immigration pathways. The funding request is an attempt not only to manage people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, but also to deal with the growing numbers of migrants who are already here, waiting for their cases to play out. The White House proposal includes $1.6 billion to hire 1,600 new asylum officers and processing personnel, which could double the number of people working on asylum cases. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. There is $4.4 billion for Homeland Security efforts, including increased funding for holding facilities as the administration works to quickly deport those who do not qualify for asylum. Thats a real effort and acknowledgement of the backlog that exists, said Colleen Putzel, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration think tank. Theres also $1.3 billion requested for regional migration centers outside the U.S., a new effort brokered by the Biden administration to encourage would-be migrants to stay where they are and apply for asylum before crossing the deadly Darien gap between South and Central America. The request also includes $1.4 billion to help state and local governments provide shelter and services for migrants, following pleas from Democratic mayors and governors who want more assistance in caring for newly arriving migrants. But New York City alone is expecting to spend more than $5 billion on the issue by the end of the budget year. More than 130,600 asylum seekers have come through the citys intake system since 2022 and theres been criticism over the conditions under which they are living. New York Mayor Eric Adams went to Mexico to implore would-be migrants not to come. He has accused the Biden administration of not providing enough money or resources for the city to process migrants, telling reporters in the summer: The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue. In Chicago, OHare International Airport is now housing hundreds of migrants from babies to the elderly at a shuttle bus center. They sleep on cardboard pads on the floor and share airport bathrooms. The governor has been clear about the states urgent need for additional federal resources to address this crisis, said Alex Gough, speaking for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat. While we are hopeful the Biden administration will be able to take further action soon, allocating any new funding would require the GOP members in the House to get their act together and do their jobs. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the money was urgently needed for states like Massachusetts that are experiencing historic surges in migrant arrivals, and we appreciate the Biden administrations acknowledgement that these funds need to be distributed more equitably. Its unclear how any spending package can pass. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by fellow Republicans and theres no leader in sight. Republicans are already pushing back on using funds to help people who are already in the country, rather than for limiting those at the border. A group of Republican senators met Thursday to discuss proposals that they would support. After a classified briefing with administration officials on Wednesday, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said hed be inclined to support the money for Israel and Ukraine as long as there was a strong border security component. But its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border, he said. Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn posted online Friday that he supported aid to Israel and Ukraine. But without meaningful and substantive policy changes that will address the #BidenBorderCrisis such aid is in serious jeopardy, he posted on the platform X. No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy. Its unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of mixing any effort to overhaul border policy into a debate over spending. How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy asked. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Crenshaw, the Texas Republican, said he agreed with the three priorities of the presidents proposal: Ukraine, Israel and the border. Conceptually, were on the right track here. But he added: The sticking point is going to be in the details. The border is not about money; theres some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy. And so were going to outline very clearly that the policy needs to be effective. When I say that, I mean asylum reform. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking in Washington, Claire Savage in Chicago, Mike Casey in Boston, Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vt., and Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., contributed to this report. The Starbucks sign is displayed in the window of a Pittsburgh Starbucks, Jan. 30, 2023. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) NEW YORK Starbucks accused a union representing thousands of its baristas of damaging the brand and endangering co-workers with a pro-Palestinian tweet. The CEO of a prominent tech conference resigned amid backlash for his public statements suggesting that Israel was committing war crimes. Company bosses vowed never to hire members of a universitys student groups that condemned Israel. Meanwhile, Islamic rights advocates say much of the corporate response has minimized the suffering in Gaza, where thousands have died in Israeli airstrikes, and created an atmosphere of fear for workers who want to express support for Palestinians. Jewish groups have criticized tepid responses or slow reactions to the Oct. 7 Hamas rampage that killed 1,400 people in Israel and triggered the latest war. The fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has spilled into workplaces everywhere, as top leaders of prominent companies weigh in with their views while workers complain their voices are not being heard. People from all ranks have been called out for speaking too forcefully or not forcefully enough making it nearly impossible to come up with a unifying message when passions run deep on all sides. Many U.S. corporations have strong ties with Israel, particularly among tech and financial firms that have operations and employees in the country. Executives at J.P Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs, Google and Meta were among dozens who swiftly condemned the Hamas attacks and expressed solidarity with the Israeli people in public statements, social media posts or even corporate earning calls. Many pledged millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and detailed efforts to safeguard employees in Israel. Some chief executives poured out their personal anguish. In a LinkedIn post and a letter to employees, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said he has been constantly on the phones with friends and relatives in Israel and expressed his horror at hearing of civilians of all ages targeted and killed in cold blood, hostages taken and tortured. He implored employees to check on each other and said Pfizer launched a humanitarian relief campaign. It is not enough to condemn these actions we ourselves must take action, Bourla wrote. Backlash against opposing views has been swift, including responses to a tweet from Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave suggesting Israel was committing war crimes. Ill never attend/sponsor/speak at any of your events again, former Facebook executive David Marcus stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. Faced with a growing boycott to next months Web Summit, a prominent European gathering of thousands of tech leaders, Cosgrave resigned Saturday, saying that his personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend. His resignation came a few days after he released a long message denouncing the Hamas attacks and apologizing for the timing of his initial tweet while defending his overall views on the conflict. But companies continued withdrawing from the conference, including Google, Meta, German tech conglomerate Siemens, and U.S. chipmaker Intel. Jonathan Neman, CEO of restaurant chain Sweetgreen, was among several company leaders who vowed never to hire Harvard students who belonged to groups that cosigned a statement blaming Israel for the violence. The international law firm Winston & Strawn rescinded a job offer to a New York University student who wrote a message in the Student Bar Association bulletin saying Israel was entirely to blame for the bloodshed. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic civil rights group, denounced the backlash against the students and statements from U.S. corporate leaders that lack any meaningful display of sympathy toward Palestinian civilians. Those reactions combined, the organization said, are leaving Palestinians and those in support of Palestinian human rights isolated at their place of work and fearful of possible consequences for discussing how the conflict has affected them. Isra Abuhasna, a data scientist in the Chicago area, was among several professionals who expressed similar thoughts on social media, saying in a LinkedIn post that she was risking her entire career by expressing her views on the conflict. Abuhasna, a Palestinian American who has worked for a real estate firm and other companies but recently took a break to stay home with her two young children, said she fears her posts will make it difficult to find a new position. But she said her parents raised her to be proud and vocal about the Palestinian cause. Its my identity, Abuhasna said. What good am I in my job if I compromise my own morals and ethics? One of the biggest disputes erupted at Starbucks after Starbucks Workers United, a union representing 9,000 workers at more than 360 U.S. stores, tweeted Solidarity with Palestine two days after the Hamas attack. The tweet was taken down within 40 minutes, but the company said it led to more than 1,000 complaints, acts of vandalism and angry confrontations in its stores. Starbucks filed a lawsuit to stop Starbucks Workers United from using its name and a similar logo. Workers United, the parent union of Starbucks Workers United, responded with its own lawsuit saying Starbucks defamed the union by implying it supports terrorism. It wants to continue using the company name. Starbucks Workers United tweeted a longer message on Friday denouncing Israels occupation and threats of genocide Palestinians face while also condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia. Angela Berg, founder of workplace consultancy firm Perelaks, said companies with strong opinions about the war should express them, but the critical thing is that they acknowledge the existence of the experience of the other side. Those trying to stay on the sidelines, Berg said, need to explain their reasons to employees. As the humanitarian catastrophe deepened in Gaza, more company leaders addressed the situation, including Accenture CEO Julie Sweet, who said the company was splitting a $3 million donation between the Israels Magen David Adom emergency services and the Palestinian Red Crescent. But companies that have kept a low profile have gotten pushback. Allison Grinberg-Funes, who is Jewish, wrote in a LinkedIn post that she was disappointed by the failure of her colleagues to reach out immediately after the Hamas attacks. While they eventually reached out, Grinberg-Funes said in an interview with The Associated Press that she remains disappointed her employer, Liberty Mutual, didnt publicly condemn the attacks. The Boston-based content designer for the insurance company said the silence is part of a wider lack of support for the Jewish community that she and her friends have observed in the workplace. We want to know that our lives matter as much as the other employees that have been shown support, said Grinberg-Funes, 33, who has family and friends in Israel. Liberty Mutual did not respond to a request for comment. Associated Press Business Writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this story. Walt Nauta, left, walks with Former President Donald Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., on May 26, 2023. (Alex Brandon/AP) FORT PIERCE, Fla. A valet to former President Donald Trump and a co-defendant in the federal classified documents case against him told a judge Friday that he wanted to keep his lawyer despite a potential conflict of interest. Prosecutors maintain lawyer Stanley Woodward, who represents Trump valet Walt Nauta, has a conflict because he previously represented an information technology specialist whos expected to be a key government witness at trial and still represents another person who may be called to testify. Nauta, a Navy veteran who worked at the White House before joining former President Donald Trump as a personal aide at Mar-a-Lago, is charged along with Trump with scheming to conceal classified government documents from federal investigators. The case is currently set for trial in Florida in May 2024. Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smiths team requested Fridays hearing to ensure that Nauta understood there could be a possible conflict at trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon questioned Nauta about the risks of keeping his lawyer, advising him that it might harm his chances at trial and would deny him the ability to argue on appeal that his attorney had a conflict based on divided loyalties to a prior client. I still choose to go with Mr. Woodward, Nauta said in waiving his right to conflict-free representation. Prosecutors have identified the witness whom Woodward previously represented as an IT director at Trumps Palm Beach complex, Mar-a-Lago, who was asked to delete surveillance video there in an apparent effort to obstruct the federal investigation. The witness retracted prior false testimony after switching lawyers last summer from Woodward to an attorney in the federal defenders office, prosecutors have said, and later provided what they said was incriminating information in the days before they secured a new indictment against Trump, Nauta and a third defendant. The IT specialist has struck a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, and they say they expect him to be a significant witness. The hearing was supposed to take place last week, but Cannon postponed it after it began, scolding prosecutors for making arguments she said had not been properly raised in court filings. It was rescheduled for Friday. Earlier this week, Woodward told Smiths team that he did not intend to cross-examine the IT director, according to a filing this week from prosecutors. Prosecutors had argued that it would have been unethical for him to do so, potentially causing him to violate a former clients confidences or pull punches while trying to discredit the witness testimony, as defense lawyers are expected to do. Last week, Cannon ruled that another co-defendant, Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, could keep his attorney after he said that he understood the potential conflicts arising from his lawyers prior representation of three potential government witnesses. Trump, Nauta and De Oliveira have pleaded not guilty. A spokesperson for Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, says the case is part of a desperate and flailing attempt by Democrats to harass him and to influence the White House contest. Tucker reported from Washington. Clarke has 115 previous convictions A man who walked into a supermarket and fired at the ceiling has been jailed for six years for armed robbery. Paul Clarke (41), formerly of Coolock Drive, Coolock, Dublin, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on Friday by Judge Orla Crowe after pleading guilty to robbing a Lidl on the Malahide Road with a handgun on November 13, 2019. At the time of the incident, CCTV evidence showed Clarke entering the Lidl before discharging his handgun into the ceiling. He then made his way to two open tills before demanding money. He took approximately 1000 from these two tills. The tray inserts from these tills were taken out and put into a bag Clarke had brought with him, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Clarke had difficulty exiting the building at this point. He got the manager of the shop to open the doors for him. He produced the gun to him and threatened him with it. Clarke made a demand for the other tills in the shop to be opened, but was told by the manager that Lidl could only open those that were already operational. Clarke then exited the Lidl and got into a getaway vehicle being driven by an accomplice. Detective Garda Jason Flynn said the entire incident took two minutes. Gardai patrolling Darndale stopped the car with Clarke and the getaway driver. They approached the two and found drug paraphernalia and cash. The gardai then arrested and interviewed the two men. CCTV evidence obtained from the surrounding area of the robbery and in Darndale confirmed this was the same vehicle used to escape the robbery. During the course of the gardai interview, it came to light that clothes used in the robbery could be found at a location in Darndale. Gunshot residue was obtained from the jacket Clarke had worn while committing the crime and in the passenger side of the getaway car. Clarke has 115 previous convictions, including two for false imprisonment and two for threatening to kill or cause serious harm. He also has a prior conviction for an attempted robbery on October 1, 2021. He was sentenced to five years and has been in prison since then. Sentencing Clarke, Judge Crowe described the incident as extreme lawlessness and a very serious matter. She considered the mitigating factors including Clarke's guilty plea and the fact he issued an apology. However, she said the aggravating factors included the amount and nature of previous convictions along with the fact that he had taken a live weapon into the shop and had fired it. Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, described the robbery as opportunistic and poorly executed. He said one of the chores allocated for Clarke as a child had been stealing food and other basics for his siblings and how his back story framed antisocial behaviour. He said Clarke's childhood had been marred by drug addiction, homelessness, neglect, violence and that much of his criminal past was linked to that. In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against the pair who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis. THIS is the glamorous couple being targeted by Criminal Assets Bureau case after criminal charges against them over an almost 1 million drugs haul dropped. Natalie Chiper and Eduard Chiper had been arrested in January 2019 after gardai found 940,000 of cannabis herb in a County Louth premises. While they both spent time in custody before getting bail, the case against them was later dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. They are no longer facing any criminal charges, but they have now been mentioned in the High Court during a proceeds of crime hearing on Friday. No details of the CAB case against were heard in court and no applications have so far been made. In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against the husband and wife who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis. They had been charged in January this year with being in possession of the drugs with the intent to sell or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. They were also charged with simple possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it had been heard in court hearings at the time. The couple, who are originally from Moldova but living at The Whitehouse, Tullyard, Ballymakenny, were arrested on January 24 2019 after a planned search of the premises was carried out by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and officers from the Co Louth division. The couple were remanded in custody for a time before they were granted bail after independent sureties lodged large sums of money. The charges were struck out at Drogheda District Court. At a previous bail hearing a judge approved two independent sureties totalling 30,000 to allow Natalie Chiper s release on bail. At that stage she had already been in custody for four weeks at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy. Denis Ceban, one of the independent sureties, was described as a family friend and the owner of two takeaway restaurants in Dublin city centre. It was also heard that Vladimir Rufulea, a Romanian citizen, who also posted 15,000 bail, works as a bus driver and some of the bail money in this case came from the sale of property in Romania. Details of her arrest and the garda search at The Whitehouse, Tullyard, Ballymakenny in Drogheda were heard at a previous court hearing. There were gasps from the public gallery as the exhibits officer unfurled the jersey and Ashling Murphys mother and father wept openly. The bloodstained GAA training top was pulled from the evidence bag and held aloft for the jury to see. It was navy and green in colour, with a club crest on the front and bright gold stripes down each arm. The neck area and most of the upper part of the top was covered in dark staining. Some areas were stained red. There were gasps from the public gallery as the exhibits officer unfurled the jersey and Ashling Murphys mother and father wept openly. They watched on, along with the nine men and three women who make up the jury, as a blood-stained white T-shirt was also produced, as well as a pair of blue Nike runners, a gold necklace and a Claddagh ring. Evidence bag after evidence bag, the personal effects of their daughter now clues in the investigation of what happened in her final moments. It was the last day of a gruelling first week of evidence in the trial of Jozef Puska. After opening the trial on Tuesday, the prosecution, in more or less chronological order, has taken the jury on a journey, piecing together the events of January 12 last year, as they unfolded on the Grand Canal in Tullamore on that awful day. It was a journey that began with local woman Jenna Stack. Taking to the stand on Wednesday, Ms Stack told the court that she and her friend Aoife had arranged to meet up for a run. The women, both teachers, had planned to run 3.5km along the canal before turning and running the same distance back. During the run, the court heard that she had seen a bike in the ditch and heard loud rustling and a lot of noise coming from the hedge. It was like someone was struggling, to be honest, Ms Stack said, adding that she initially thought someone had fallen off the bike. She told the court she then stepped in closer and could see the back of a person wearing what looked like a navy bomber padded jacket with an emblem. She said she saw someone who appeared to be crouched over someone and was holding her down. She asked the man, What are you doing? He turned to her and through gritted teeth, he said Get away. Ms Stack became emotional as she told the court that the only part of her body the girl was able to move was her legs. She was kicking so hard, she said. In evidence, Ms Stack said she thought the man was going to rape the woman. She told him she had a phone and that she was going to call the guards. Jozef Puska is on trial for the murder of Ashling Murphy She said this even though neither of the women had their phones with them. The man lunged towards them and the two women fled, terrified, to try and get help. The defence suggested what actually happened was that Ms Stack came across Mr Puska trying to apprehend what had happened and trying to assist Ms Murphy. Ms Stack replied: No, he could have asked us for help. By the time Garda Tom Dunne reached the scene, there wasnt much that could be done to save the life of the woman he could see lying in the ditch. He told the court that between them, Gda Dunne and Garda Shane Hunter had spent up to 15 minutes trying to save Ms Murphys life, performing CPR in turns to give her the best chance they could. There was blood everywhere, Gda Dunne noted. So much blood that he couldnt work out where it was coming from. The scene where they stood, a ditch covered in dense briars and thick undergrowth, lay beneath a slope leading off the footpath along the canal. Some of the briars were caught in the womans hair, Gda Dunne told the court, and the rest of her hair was matted to her head with blood. It was from this ditch along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly, that the two garda, with the help of paramedics, lifted Ms Murphys limp body up on to the tarmac. As the womans head went back, that garda Dunne noticed the necklace. On it, he told the court, the name Ashling. He could see holes or punctures wounds under her neck. Yesterday morning, paramedic Paul McCabe told the court that he, with the aid of a colleague, had helped Gda Dunne and Gda Hunter lift Ms Murphy from the ditch on to the footpath. The paramedic cut open her top and attached the pads of a defibrillator to her. Her heart had stopped, he said, there were no signs of life and there was no point using the defibrillator because she was in a non-shockable condition. Ashling was dead at that stage, he said.Her pupils were fixed and dilated, her skin was pale and cold, there were no signs of life. A blanket was then placed over her body. Earlier that afternoon, someone had brutally ended the life of the 23-year-old schoolteacher. Her assailant had used a knife or similar implement to inflict 12 sharp force injuries that resulted in death, state pathologist Sally Anne Collis told the court on Thursday afternoon. In the process, her attacker had damaged her right and left jugular vein, as well as her right carotid artery. Eleven of the neck wounds were stab wounds, where the depth is greater than its width, and one was an incised wound, where the wound is longer than it is deep. As she struggled to breathe, Ashling Murphy was swallowing her own blood, Dr Collis said. On two occasions, the prosecution questioned the witness about the damage that was done to the voice box, prompting Dr Collis to explain that in her opinion, the injury to this area, alongside other injuries to the neck, would have more or less rendered the victim speechless. Ashling Murphy, who was killed in January last year while jogging along a canal bank in Tullamore, Co Offaly, pictured on her graduation day Dr Collis said she did not think Ms Murphy would have been able to speak or at least make an intelligible sound. This harrowing picture, of his daughter lying in a ditch, fighting for her life and unable to cry out, saw Raymond Murphy, Ashlings father, begin to break down. He took out a blue handkerchief and buried his head in his hands. There were emotional scenes all week in the public gallery where the Murphy family and their extended relatives were seated, as descriptions of Ashlings killing were related to the court. In between, there were the small details the woolly hat with the bobble found at the scene, the pink painted toenails noted by the state pathologist, the fitness app that was open and showed a distance of 3.2km. The trial of Jozef Puska is taking place in courtroom 13 on the fourth floor of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, and has attracted significant public interest. On two occasions this week, an overflow courtroom has been opened to facilitate the growing numbers of people attending. Mr Puska, who denies murdering Ashling Murphy, has taken his place in the dock each day beside an interpreter. His family, among them his brother, are seated at the back of the courtroom. Yesterday, as the weeks evidence drew to a close, CCTV that showed the movements of Jozef Puska on a bicycle from just before 12.30pm on the afternoon of January 12 last year, until just after 2pm on the same afternoon, was shown to the jury. In a separate section of CCTV, footage of Ms Murphy appeared on monitors around the courtroom, showing her leaving Durrow National School, where she taught, and getting into her red Seat car on the day she was killed. Further footage, taken at 2.55pm from a camera close to the canal, showed Ms Murphy walking along the towpath. After the footage had rolled, there was silence in court as a still image of the frame lingered on screen. In it, Ms Murphy could clearly be seen, dressed in dark clothing and wearing trainers with white soles. The image showed her highlighted hair, long and swept away from her face, peeking out beneath a pink bobble hat. OTTAWA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 members of the Canadian Parliament on Friday urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In a joint letter to Trudeau, the Canadian lawmakers expressed grave concern over the loss of innocent lives due to the ongoing bloody conflict. Of the parliamentarians who signed the letter, 23 belong to the ruling Liberal Party of Canada. "Canada has long been a voice for peace. The longer this conflict goes on, the more innocent civilians will pay with their lives. We demand that Canada join the growing international call for an immediate ceasefire. Canada must act before more innocent children are killed," said the letter signed by Canadian parliamentarians. The signatories include Canada's former cabinet minister Omar Alghabra and six current parliamentary secretaries, according to local media reports. The Canadian parliamentarians' letter comes after Hamas's surprise attack on Israeli military targets and towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip some two weeks ago, prompting extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Meanwhile, Trudeau held a phone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Friday, according to Trudeau's office. During the talks, he reiterated Canada's longstanding support for a two-state solution and for the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The Israel-Hamas conflict, as it entered the 14th day on Friday, has killed more than 5,000 people on both sides. Fennell realised that there were huge profits to be made from selling cocaine in Australia where there was a huge mark-up on the price of the drug PLAYBOY cocaine dealer Fran Fennells days of mixing with models and socialites in glamorous nightclubs came to an abrupt end yesterday when he was jailed for eight years for drug trafficking. For years Fennell (34) managed to straddle two very different worlds - partying with high-society models and executives while also keeping ties with senior Kinahan Cartel criminals. His social media accounts which have long been shut down showed how Fennell jetted across the world for holidays in Australia, Dubai, Cuba, Holland, Phillipines, South Africa, Spain, Ibiza and even Colombia. While he was in Dublin, the Ballymun-native lived in a luxury apartment and mixed with the high-society scene and was his relationship with influencers were discussed on gossip website. But unlike some of his rich pals who inherited their wealth, Fennell had to pay for his lifestyle and his cash came from selling cocaine. Gardai believe Fennell became a leading supplier of cocaine to Dublins poshest drug users, while also mixing socially with his clients. Unlike his well-heeled pals, Fennell forged ties with some of the capitals most dangerous criminals as a teenager. When he was just a young man, Fennell had become involved in the drugs trade and had been mentored by gangster Eamon The Don Dunne. This photographs shows Fennell enjoying a night out with Dunne and his pal Brian OReilly who narrowly escaped with his life on two occasions after being shot by gunmen. Eamon 'the Don' Dunne, Fran Fennell and Brian O'Reilly After Dunne was murdered in 2010, Fennell built links with key figures in the Kinahan network. Fennell is believed to have sourced cocaine from the Kinahan franchise ultimately controlled by mobster Ross Browning. But during a trip to Australia, Fennell realised that there were huge profits to be made from selling cocaine Down Under where there was a huge mark-up on the price of the drug. He set up a network of human couriers and transported a fortune in cocaine from Ireland to Australia, using models, executives and students to carry the drugs internally across the globe before handing them over to Fennells Australian associates. The Irish mules would body-pack 300 or 400 grammes of cocaine and fly into New Zealand and Australia. According to a 2018 global survey, a gram of cocaine costs $360, the equivalent of 205, in New Zealand the highest price in the world. Female mules were accompanied by male chaperones, with the pairs posing as couples going on backpacking holidays in Australia. Sources say that while men sometimes carried the drugs internally, female mules were preferred as they could remove their cargo during the long flight Down Under, inserting it again before landing. The hugely lucrative route is believed to have been operated for at least four years and was under surveillance and investigation for two years, in a joint operation between Gardai and Australias federal police. Once the drugs had been successfully transported they were sold through a network of Irish expats in Australia and the funds were then returned to Ireland by wire transfer. Fran Fennell However, Fennells unexplained wealth made him the prime target for police forces in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. When his phone was seized Darwin Airport in April 2015, the end was in sight for Fennells playboy lifestyle. Messages and information from the phone were downloaded and shared with gardai. Gardai carried out an unrelated search of Fennell's Dublin home on October 28, 2015 and three phones, including the handset which was downloaded by Australian authorities, were seized. Drugs paraphernalia and 7,000 cash were observed by gardai during this search. In January 2016, gardai carried out more raids and seized items including drugs paraphernalia, quantities of cash, receipts for luxury hotels, and expensive watches In 2018, New Zealand authorities relieved him of 50,000 after a court ruled he had used the human couriers to supply coke and ecstasy there and in Australia. A Proceeds of Crime case there heard that almost $250,000 Australian (circa 155,000) was shifted by Fennell using banks, Western Union and couriers over a six-month period in 2014. This week, Fennell was described as the head of a criminal enterprise as he was sentenced, along with three associates, in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court was told Fennell directed the other men, some of whom were based in Australia, in relation to the importation of the drugs, accompanying and meeting drugs mules, obtaining mixing agents and drug paraphernalia and then repatriating the profits of the drugs trade via Western Union transfers. Judge Pauline Codd noted that each of the accused men had committed the offences in full knowledge that they were being carried out on behalf of a criminal drug organisation. She said that the amounts of money involved were not large but the mens state of knowledge about the drug trade was an aggravating factor in the case. She noted that between 11 and seven years had elapsed since the offences and some of the men had self rehabilitated. Fran Fennell and Eamon 'The Don' Dunne Fennell pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit a serious offence on dates between 2012 and 2016 and a charge of directing a criminal organisation was taken into consideration. He has 45 previous convictions. Defence counsel said Fennell used his innate intelligence to direct his own criminal enterprise, but had put his hands up to serious criminal activity. He said his client had built the organisation from the bottom up which was extraordinary in many ways but wrong. Judge Codd said Fennell had been the main beneficiary and played a central role in all activities. She said he had viewed the enterprise as a get rich quick scheme and was living a lavish lifestyle. She said the amount of money involved, just under 30,000, was relatively low but it was aggravating that the criminal organisation was his brainchild and he had organised others to carry out tasks on its behalf. She noted the exploitation of vulnerable people in the form of drug mules. She said he was at the top rung of the ladder and the master mind of extensive and serious criminality. Judge Codd set a headline sentence of 14 years before noting mitigating circumstances including his guilty plea, his age at the time and evidence of steps towards rehabilitation. She said he had used his time in custody for growth, shown remorse and gained insight into his offending. She also took into account his former drug addiction and difficult family background. She imposed a sentence of ten years with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. Three of his associates were also sentenced yesterday as part of the same case. Christopher Mellon (32) of Distillery Apartments, Distillery Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to two county of money laundering in 2014. He has no previous convictions. Judge Codd said he had transferred money on two occasions and accompanied a drugs mule to Perth. She said he sought payment of 5,000 for this on his return to Dublin. She said this was different to many cases where the person was offending while in hock to drug dealers. Judge Codd noted in mitigation Mellons guilty plea and his remorse, shame and embarrassment. She said he had self rehabilitated completely and was now successful running a number of businesses. She said at the time of the offending he had been 23-years -old, living a party lifestyle and taking cocaine. She said his involvement was of short duration, and while it was morally deplorable, he was a first time offender. She imposed three and a half years which she suspended in full. She ordered that he pay 10,000 to the Anna Livia project, commenting this was approximately the amount of money he laundered. Alan Fagan (35) of Grove Wood, Finglas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates between 2012 and 2016. Judge Codd described Alan Fagan as a trusted lieutenant to Fennell and said he was the principal agent for importation of controlled drug into New Zealand. A leading lieutenant on the ground. She said Alan Fagan was instrumental in the drugs enterprise and central to the organisation. He carried out tasks such as meeting drug couriers, mixing and distributing drugs and transferring profits. She noted at one point he wanted to stop, but was coaxed back and there were no threats keeping him in. She said he transferred 31,000 in total, noting he been involved in the repatriation of drugs money over a protracted period and was a central and dedicated cog in the illicit drugs trade. Judge Codd set a headline sentence of nine years before noting his guilty plea, remorse, self rehabilitation and pro-social life since the offending. She also noted testimonials and a letter to the court outlining he was not the man he was 8 years ago. Judge Codd imposed a sentence of six years and suspended the final four and a half years, saying she was satisfied his rehabilitation was exceptional. Paul Fagan (42) of Clontarf Road, Clontarf pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring the proceeds of criminal conduct into the state on dates in 2014. Judge Codd noted his offences spanned just eight months but said he was a significant and trusted agent acting under the direction of Fennell involved in the receipt of drugs couriers and drugs into Australia, including administering drugs to help mules expel the drugs. She said he also was involved in repatriating significant amounts of money he knew to be the proceeds of the drugs trade. He was a central cog in Mr Fennells criminal wheel, she said. She noted his drug addiction at the time and that there was no evidence he was living the high life. She imposed a headline sentence of eight years before taking into account his guilty plea, rehabilitation, remorse and his insight into his offending. She imposed a sentence of six years and suspended the final three and a half years on conditions. Aaron King (30) of Tauleurs, Point Quay Rd, Rush pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering in 2014. He has 22 previous convictions. Judge Codd noted his role included wrapping the drugs for drugs mules, finding mixing agents and money laundering. She said while the amount of money laundered was not substantial it was aggravating that he knew what he was involved in. She set a six year headline sentence. She noted his childhood was chaotic and unstable and he had been become swept up in a lifestyle while young and vulnerable. She took into account his offending occurred over a discreet time period and he was the youngest of the men involved, just 21 years old at the time. She noted he was continuing to work on his rehabilitation, as well as engaging in education and therapy. Judge Codd set a six year headline sentence and in light of mitigation imposed a four and a half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months on conditions. During sentencing Judge Codd also took into account testimonials, character references and reports, as well as personal letters from the men and their families. She noted the men had been young but said most young men at that age have a more focused moral compass and do not allow themselves to become cogs in the drug trade. Irish actor and producer Aine ONeill gave up her Hollywood career after being targeted by an unknown stalker AN IRISH woman who said she had to flee the United States is one of dozens of people suing tech giant Apple after being targeted by stalkers using AirTag tracking devices. Irish actor and producer Aine ONeill gave up her Hollywood career after being targeted by an unknown stalker who hid one of the tracking devices in her car, according to the lawsuit. US lawyer Gillian Wade who is part of the legal team taking the class-action, told the Sunday World this week that the Apple product has ruined some peoples lives. Apple released a product it knew would be abused and did so with knowing there were still ways it needed to be made safer. Even now, two and a half years later, Apple is playing catch up, and the consequence is that peoples lives are getting ruined. Were here to seek accountability for all of those victims and to force Apple to finally and fully fix its mistakes. Originally marketed as a device to help people keep track of objects like keys or laptops, there have been dozens of cases in the US where they have been misused in sinister stalking incidents. Apple are accused of failing to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of the product, which sells in Ireland for 39, before it was released on the market. Aine ONeills experience is detailed in the lawsuit filed to the United States District Court, Northern Californian Division. In November 2022, after moving to California in 2021, she got an Air Tag alert on her phone which, when a sound was played on it, appeared to be coming from underneath her car. She could see what the Air Tag owner could see, where she worked, where she parked her car, her and everywhere she had been, according to the filing She took the vehicle to two garages who couldnt find the tag without undertaking expensive work to take off car parts. As a result she began to suffer anxiety, panic attacks and depression, was unable to work and eventually was too frightened to stay in California. Her career had been going well and she had more work lined up with The Rookie TV series after making an appearance on the show. According to the filing just as her career was taking off she was being terrorised by an unknown stalker, and no one could protect her. Because of the terror and the uncertainty of her situation, the only option she could exercise to ensure her safety required that she turn her back on her career. While she is now 5,157 miles away from her unknown stalker, she is that same distance away from her lifelong dream. Ms ONeill could barely remember moving and was quoted in the lawsuit as saying: I dont even remember getting on the plane back to Ireland. I felt like a zombie; like I wasnt in my own body. In the original case filed last July it stated that AirTags have become one of the most dangerous and frightening technologies employed by stalkers. It was stated they had become the weapon of choice because of their small size, accuracy and are cheap to buy. While iPhone owners will get a message if an unidentified AirTag has been tracking them people on android phones dont get the same warning. Gary Magee has led a 30-year life of crime specialising in drugs, arson and stealing cars Killer Gary Magee used to run drugs for notorious Newry dealer Brendan Speedy Fegan and hid under a pool table when the crime boss was gunned down by the Real IRA, we can reveal. Last week Magee pleaded guilty to killing his 62-year-old drinking pal Andrew Jimmy Thompson after setting fire to his bungalow in Cloughoge, on the outskirts of Newry, in May 2021. Having originally been charged with murder, prosecutors at Newry Crown Court accepted pleas of guilty to manslaughter as well as arson being reckless whether life was endangered. Magee started three fires in the property and then tried to escape out the back door. However, it was locked, and he was rescued by the emergency services and treated for a burn to his hand. The Sunday World can reveal 44-year-old Magee, wholl be sentenced next month, has led a 30-year life of crime specialising in drugs, arson and stealing cars. Sources in Newry say Magee was known as The Hyena because he ended up close to so many dead bodies starting off with the murder of his drug boss Brendan Speedy Fegan. Fegan was gunned down in 1999 in the Hermitage Bar in Newry and sources say Magee hid under a pool table as the two gunmen fired 14 shots at his crime boss. Magee was only 19 when Speedy was shot dead but hed been running drugs round Newry for him, said a crime source. Gary was very low level at the time but hed been involved in crime for a few years by then mostly stealing cars and dealing drugs for Speedy. When the gunmen burst into the pub that Sunday it was packed, and Gary hid under a pool table and stayed there for ages. In fact, I believe he waited until the cops turned up before he decided to get out from under it. DUO: Brendan Speedy Fegan, left and Brendan Campbell Unfortunately, Gary, like a lot of young men in Newry at the time, idolised Speedy because of his lavish lifestyle and the fact he had buckets of cash to splash around. But despite witnessing the terrible murder Gary chose not to ditch the life of crime and carried on with drug dealing. Magee is an alcoholic drug addict who has led a life of constant crime these past three decades. Unfortunately, its been an absolute disaster for anyone who had anything to do with him. Jimmy Thompson was a lovely man. Nobody had a bad word to say about Jimmy and yet Magee killed him for absolutely no reason. We can reveal Magee has been close to death on numerous occasions before he finally killed someone hence his grisly nickname. Coincidentally, Magee just happened to be drinking in the flat next door when violent psychopath David Conway burst into pregnant Belinda Harts Newry flat and blasted his girlfriend to death with a shotgun in a fit of jealous rage in 1997. We can reveal Magee has more than 115 convictions including 12 for drugs, though only one for supplying drugs in 2007. That supplying charge, we understand, relates to him being caught in a police sting in a Banbridge pub doing a cocaine deal with another drugs gang. Sources claim Magee was also accused of suppling drugs to a Warrenpoint teenager who died almost 10 years ago. Magee is said to have supplied him the drugs despite being warned that they were from the same bad batch that had killed a number of people in Dundalk. Magee was drinking in McCoys pub in Newry a decade ago when a dozen masked men from a rival gang abducted him before dragging him up an alley way. They beat him black and blue, leaving him in hospital and shortly afterwards the pub was burnt down in an arson attack. And we can reveal The Hyena was responsible for starting at least three separate property fires prior to killing Jimmy. A blaze on Mary Street, Newry, was suspected to have been started by Magee even though the occupants were still inside. Jimmy Thompson Hes suspected of starting another fire in a house in Omeath, Co Louth, while the occupants were out and he even started a fire at his own flat in Greenfield Park in Newry in an attempt to engineer a move to another flat by manipulating the Housing Executive into believing he was being intimidated. However, on that occasion, according to sources, the smoke spread to all the other flats in the block resulting in the tenants having to be transferred to temporary accommodation. Magee is due to be sentenced for killing Jimmy Thompson next month and previous courts heard that while the victim was found lying dead on a bed at his Parkview home, Magee was rescued lying unconscious at the back door in the kitchen. Magee, who lived a few doors away in Parkview, had suffered a burn to his hand and forensic inquires at the scene found that the front and back doors were locked, there had been no forced entry and there were three separate seats of fire in the bungalow one in the living room, one in the front bedroom and one in the rear bedroom. Police told the court according to expert reports, each of the fires had been started deliberately by direct ignition of combustible material. They were further of the view they were likely to have been started in the half-hour before the emergency services were called at 11.40pm. During questioning, Magee told police he had been drinking wine with Mr Thompson and that he could remember details up to 11pm but nothing after that, with his next recollection waking up in the Royal Victoria Hospital. However, he refused to account for a burn on his hand or expand on his claim that he injured his hand the day before Mr Thompsons death. The incident occurred around 8am at the R108 in Huntstown near Dublin Airport. Gardai are investigating an alleged assault on a woman which occurred near Dublin Airport on Friday. The incident occurred around 8am at the R108 in Huntstown near Dublin Airport. The woman, aged in her 40s, was later taken to Beaumont Hospital where she is continuing to receive treatment. Her injuries are understood to not be life-threatening. No arrests have been made. Investigations ongoing. Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the area between 7.30am and 8.15am or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward to them. In particular, those who may have video footage. Gardai can be contacted at Dublin Airport Station on 01 666 4950 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. A woman has admitted causing the death of her elderly east Belfast mother by careless driving. Standing in the dock of Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday , 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 yesterday , 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. Gardai said 35,000 worth of cocaine and 70,000 in diamorphine was seized during the course of the search. A juvenile male has been arrested after gardai seized drugs worth more than 100,000 in West Dublin yesterday. The drugs were discovered following a search of a property in Clondalkin by officers attached to the Ronanstown Drugs Unit with the assistance of the Garda Dog Unit. Gardai said 35,000 worth of cocaine and 70,000 in diamorphine was seized during the course of the search. A small number of cannabis plants were also found at the scene. All of the suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis. A garda spokesman said a juvenile was arrested following the search. He said: "A male juvenile was arrested by Gardai and later detained at Ronanstown Garda Station. "He was later released without charge and a file will now be prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Office. The shooting is believed to have occurred around 2.44am in the Glendale area of the borough of Queens. An Irishwoman has been shot dead in a suspected murder/suicide in New York. It is understood that the woman was killed by an American man known to her before he took his own life. The incident took place at a house in the Queens area of the city early this morning. Police say a gun was found beside his body. The tragedy is believed to have occurred around 2.44am in the Glendale area of the Borough. Shocked officers made the discovery inside the living room of a second floor apartment after being called to the scene to investigate reports of gunfire. The 38-year-old victim and the 33-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. The police say they are satisfied it is a murder-suicide but investigations are continuing. The bodies were taken away for post mortem examination to be carried out at a later stage. The police are not releasing their identities until their respective families have been informed. It is understood that the woman is originally from Ireland but has been living in America for some time. A friend said: " Her family is totally devastated and deeply shocked. They were only told in the last few hours. Some of her relatives don't even know yet. "She was a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her and a fantastic mother. "Nobody knows why in the name of God this guy decided to kill her, it is heartbreaking." If you have been affected by this story, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie. As the audience clapped his revelation, he raved: Big up Fermoy. FERMOY Tidy Towns bosses say they are thrilled after Graham Norton apologised to the people of the Co. Cork town on his show on Friday night because of comments made on his programme the previous week. Star guests such as Joan Collins, Ralph Fiennes and Jean Luc Goddard looked on in wonder when Graham took time out before introducing the audience member whod sit on the infamous red chair to issue an apology. Before we do anything I must begin with an apology, because last week there was someone on the red chair, they were less than kind about the town of Fermoy in Co. Cork in Ireland, Graham told his millions of viewers on his BBC1 show. Suffice to say the people of Fermoy not happy. They are upset about it. So, wed like to apologise. Though in fairness I did defend Fermoy and said it was the home of the big pencil. To howls of laughter from the audience he added: But sadly I must apologise again, because apparently the giant pencil has been removed. He continued: On the upside Fermoy did win cleanest town in Ireland 2007 and 2018, so I imagine its quite clean. As the audience clapped his revelation, he raved: Big up Fermoy. Graham (60) was born in Dublin but raised in Cork and owns a house near Bandon, which is about an hours drive from Fermoy. The previous week featured a woman during the Big Red Chair segment of the show, when members of the public sit on the chair and try and tell a story to Graham. If hes not impressed, he flips them over backwards. A woman called, Zoe, who is originally from Scotland, took to the chair to tell a story about her ex- with whom she was involved in Fermoy. She told Graham that she had previously lived in Fermoy for 20 years before describing it as a horrible town. He was visibly taken aback by her comments, Graham replies: Its got a giant pencil in it, hasnt it? to which Zoe responds with her crudest remark: Its got a bridge if people want to jump off it. Fine Gael Councillor and Chairman of Fermoy Tidy Towns committee, Noel McCarthy said last week the comments were very insulting ands he would be writing to Graham and the show to complain. Councillor Noel McCarthy Noel was working in his off-licence he owns yesterday when the Sunday World called, and laughed when we asked was he selling extra bottles of champagne in light of Grahams comments. Im so happy with the answer, he beamed. I was actually watching the show with my partner Sharon and she asked Noel, will he mention Fermoy?. When he did we were over the moon and people in Fermoy were thrilled to get that apology. It meant an awful lot to us. He stressed he has a great committee in the east Co. Cork town, which has a population of 6,700. We work very hard to have our town looking well if someone visit it, as well as people living in it. We take pride in our town, so thats why we were so disappointed when she mentioned horrible, horrible. I think we were delighted that Graham on his show on Friday night referred to the Tidy Towns and mentioned we won in 2018 and 2007. We won a national award just recently with the chewing gum category and we got 3000 in prize money, so were delighted with that as well. He explains the town is famous for its scenic river Blackwater, while dancer Michael Flatley is its most famous resident, living with his wife Niamh and son Michael (16) at Castlehyde, two miles outside the town. The couple also married in St Patricks church in Fermoy in 2006. He comes in regularly and always gives us great support. He is very good to the town, especially the local hospital all over the years and to lots of charities here. We have sent an invitation to Graham to come to Fermoy and meet us here and we would love to host him, he stressed. Noel hopes Fermoy will get more visitors from the UK and also Ireland because of the town being highlighted on the show. We already get a lot of fishermen coming here because of the lovely river and love visiting here, he added. Wed love to get more people coming now and after what Graham said this will really boost us up and there will be a great welcome for anyone coming to Fermoy. 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 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. It doesnt feel like a job, it just feels like great craic with Joanne Vogue Williams has said that sometimes the podcast conversation between her and Joanne McNally can get a little spicy and needs to be edited down before being released publicly. The My Therapist Ghosted Me co-host was speaking about the success of her joint-podcast with comedian McNally, which now rakes in 3 million listeners a month. It doesnt feel like a job, it just feels like great craic with Joanne, she told Newstalks The Anton Savage Show. "We might sit on for a 40-minute podcast and end up talking for an hour and 30 minutes. We genuinely really enjoy it, she said. The 38-year-old admitted that she edits the podcast each week as Joanne cant bear to listen to us adding that there are some spicy records at times. Hosts Stephen Bailey (right) and Zoe Lyon with the winners of the Podcast Champion Vogue Williams (centre-left) and Joanne McNally with Super My Therapist Ghosted Me, The podcast, which picked up a champion award at the British Podcast Awards last month, started in April 2021 and offers 100pc honesty guaranteed on topics therapists look to avoid. On censorship, presenter Anton Savage asked Ms Williams if she ever steps back to consider a spicy topic or personal detail that is going out to 3 million people. I feel like you cant really filter yourself as its not scripted. We do a lot of research during the week. You dont want to filter a conversation, or it will be really stilted, she said. She stressed that their aim from the beginning has been for it to be free flowing and fun and that she doesnt consider herself to be a "hugely private person". Its not just things that we shouldnt say we get away with, Joanne tends to get away with more than I do, Ms Williams said, adding that the spicy content has not hindered any of her brand deals. Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally. She remarked that the pair were both surprised and amazed at how popular the chart-topping podcast became and didnt feel it happening as quickly as it did. She said they never in a million years thought it would get as big as it has and labelled it a very happy surprise after seeing their listenership figures skyrocket. Now 207 episodes in, the Howth woman admitted that the live audience version of their podcast was daunting at first for her, and she got through by following McNallys lead, who already had plenty of stage experience through her Prosecco comedy tour. Its something I never thought that I would do. When people pay we want them to leave with a smile on their face. That was the most important thing and the Irish crowd are always so much craic anyways. We are very lucky, she said. Ms Williams is back in Ireland and will attend a fashion show in the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick with TV host Muireann OConnell and modelling agent Celia Holman Lee. While living in London with her husband Spencer Matthews and her three children, the Dublin native hinted that there may come a time when she moves back home for good. The schools in Ireland are amazing and I would love one day to move back but at the moment so much of my work is in London and I want to spend as much time with the kids as possible, she added. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Peter Thiel, a U.S. billionaire, venture capitalist and the co-founder of PayPal, may have been an FBI informant, Business Insider, a major U.S. business publication and a subsidiary of the German publisher Axel Springer SE, reported Thursday. Thiel began providing information as a "confidential human source," or CHS, for a Los Angeles-based agent in the summer of 2021, said the report. The agent, named Johnathan Buma, specializes in investigating political corruption and so-called foreign-influence campaigns. The term CHS indicates a long-running relationship with the FBI. Only people who are able to provide "valuable information ... on a recurring basis" are granted CHS status, said the report, citing the FBI's policy. Business Insider's sources, including far-right political figure Charles Johnson and several anonymous individuals, confirmed that the FBI added Thiel to its formal roster of registered informants. As a CHS, Thiel was assigned a code name and an internal serial number to track his reporting, which was reviewed and "validated," or cross-checked against other sources, by his case agents and their colleagues. Thiel was a high-profile supporter and megadonor of former U.S. President Donald Trump, but the information he passed on was not about his domestic political contacts but focused on "foreign contacts and Silicon Valley intrigue," potentially including so-called foreign influence operations in the tech industry, as reported. One of the sources told Insider that Thiel's collaboration with the FBI should be understood as part of his gradual distancing of himself from Trump and the broader MAGA movement, which has vigorously criticized the FBI and other federal law-enforcement agencies. Nine innocent people were killed when an IRA bomb exploded in Frizzells Fish Shop without warning on a busy Saturday afternoon on October 23, 1993. Michael Morrison, one of the nine people killed in the 1993 explosion A service to mark the 30th anniversary of the Shankill bomb will take place today. Nine innocent people were killed when an IRA bomb exploded in Frizzells Fish Shop without warning on a busy Saturday afternoon on October 23, 1993. Fifty-seven people were also injured in the blast, which happened after IRA men Thomas Begley and Sean Kelly wore white coats to pose as delivery men as they carried the bomb into the shop. Begley died in the blast while Kelly was given nine life sentences for his role in the attack and was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The remembrance service will begin at 11.45am with a short parade from the Shankill Leisure Centre car park to the site of the bomb at Court Credit Union. It will be followed by a short religious service and the laying of wreaths and floral tributes during which a piper will play and a one minute silence observed to mark those who lost their lives. An open invitation has been issued on behalf of the Michael (Minnie) Morrison Foundation to those who wish to pay their respects. Michael Morrison, one of the nine people killed in the 1993 explosion Mr Morrison died in the blast which also killed his partner Evelyn Baird and her seven-year-old daughter Michelle. Other victims included John Frizzell, his daughter Sharon McBride, 13-year-old Leanne Murray, married couple George and Gillian Williamson, and Wilma McKee. We are hopeful that our community can attend and stand shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families and those who were injured in the bombing, a spokesperson for the anniversary support group dedicated to remembering the blast and its wider affects on the Shankill Road community said. The group said it is difficult to believe that the 30th anniversary is so close. On that awful day in October 1993, in the blink of an eye, nine innocent people were murdered when IRA terrorists wreaked murder and mayhem on the people of the Shankill by planting a no warning bomb on the counter of Frizzells Fish Shop. It said todays service will honour the lives of those murdered and remember those injured. A new memorial is to be unveiled and details of a new Living Memorial will be confirmed. On Monday, the date of the 30th anniversary, a service will also be held at West Kirk Presbyterian Church led by Reverend David Clawson. It will be attended by bereaved relatives, while representatives from the emergency services and first responder groups will also attend. Choirs from Belfast Boys and Girls Model schools will perform and attend the service which will also be addressed by Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Reverend Doctor Sam Mawhinney. At the end of the service a ships bell will be tolled each minute for nine minutes, each toll representing a life lost. A witness said he was being very aggressive on the flight which was originally due to take off at 10.40pm on Friday. Jagermeister is a digestif liqueur that has an alcohol by volume of 35 per cent Photo: Getty An Irishman was arrested following a violent outburst on a Ryanair plane after he bought a litre of Jagermeister in Duty Free and started drinking it before boarding the flight destined for Dublin. The 27-year-old was arrested at 12.15am on Saturday in Manchester Airport after the incident in which he shouted obscenities and shoved cabin crew before removing some of his clothing. A video of the incident published by Mail Online shows the Irishman shouting in his seat shortly before take-off telling a fellow passenger to shut the f*** up. The video then shows him standing in the middle of the aisle shouting and gesticulating while screaming obscenities at cabin crew, adding: I gave you a chance. He shouts in the face of a female member of cabin crew as other passengers shout at him to sit the f*** down. The Irishman then barges into a male member of the cabin crew pushing him and grabbing him while the staff member repeatedly pleads with him to stop. A mother sitting in a seat beside where the incident is occurring can be heard pleading with the man to sit down saying her five year old child is with her. As staff try to calm him down the Irishman reacts aggressively and lashes out shouting get your hands off me. Dont touch me before he removes his hoodie. The clearly inebriated Irishman tells the mother of the five year old who is still asking him to stop that he doesnt care and he goes on to say hes not the problem. The video ends with a police officer boarding the plane and removing the Irishman. A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: At around 12.15am this morning GMP were made aware of an aircraft returning to stand. A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on board an aircraft. He remains in police custody for questioning. A witness to the incident told the Mail Online that the Irishman was being very aggressive on the flight which was originally due to take off at 10.40pm on Friday. She told Mail Online: We got onto the plane and then this young chap had been drinking, I think because it had been delayed he went to duty-free and got himself a litre bottle of Jagermeister and he was drinking that before he got on the plane. He was just kicking off on the plane and so we then remained on the tarmac for God knows what time. We were stuck on the tarmac for just under four hours waiting for new crew. Everyone was relieved when he was moved off the flight. While the flight was originally due to take off at 10.40pm on Friday, it didnt take off until 3.29am on Saturday morning. Police are at the scene of a vehicle crash on State Highway 29. A car has crashed on the Takitimu Drive side of the roundabout on State Highway 29, says a SunLive reader. The car is off the road on the grass and not blocking any traffic. There are a couple of police cars there now, too. Police say the crash was reported to them at 10.45am. It is unknown at this stage if there are any injuries. At the scene? Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz This week 180 talented youngsters from four primary and intermediate schools are packing their new costumes and travel uniforms to compete in the national schools kapa haka contest in Nelson. The children, aged between seven and 11, are from Matapihi and Maungatapu primary schools, Tauranga Intermediate and Te Kura te Otepou in Welcome Bay. Theyre off to represent the Bay of Plenty at a national competition, Mana Kuratahi, held every two years. Each of the four teams has 45 children and there are up to 45 other schools from around the country keen to show their skills in kapa haka. Last week they showed their top-secret 20-minute package of waiata, poi and kapa haka to the funders who have helped get them to the competition and to the whanau who cant go with them. They have been helped to get to the South Island by BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Te Matahui Mataatua Kapa Haka to cover about $3000 per child in flights, accommodation, food, uniforms and contributions to the contest organisers. SociaLink, which supports the Western Bay of Plenty social and community sector, assisted in finding funders to help. The competition is held every two years - but in 2021 the children missed out because of Covid 19, and some senior students have now moved on to high school, so this years contest is doubly important. Their package is unique and developed by Kaiako - teacher - Teraania Oteki. The children have been practising for a year and last weeks presentations to funders and parents was flawless. Maungatapu Principal Tane Bennett says the children will have many first-time experiences - being away from home, getting on a plane and living together at a motor camp before they compete on October 31 in the four-day contest. Its a bit of a David and Goliath contest as our school units are small. For most it will be the first time theyve even been on a plane. The students have already competed in a regional contest to select the top performers to compete in the national contest. For one student, Floyd Buchanan, 10, the competition is his chance to inspire other New Zealanders who arent Maori to take part in kapa haka and excel. Hes English, blond and fair skinned, and arrived in New Zealand just a few years ago, complete with an English accent. But its his chance to show his Maori side. I can show the world that people like me can speak Maori fluently, be front row, have a lead role and inspire other kids like me. His Kaiako, Tehira Jack-Kino, says Floyd has been learning Maori for three years and is fluent and flourishing in the culture. He can find a way to belong and is an integral part of the class, a rangatira, a tuakana or older brother to younger students. Hes the curly mopped Brit that has become a fast favourite among us Kiwis, sharing his personal take on our people, places, pies, fish n chips, and cheese prices to name a few. Curls is his name and hes now made it to Tauranga and given our CBD its very own crown New Zealands Abandoned City. With an audience of more than 110,000 across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, and having appeared on The Project NZ earlier this year you may recognise the rising social media star for yourself. Simply, Curls is a Welly-based Brit that loves all things Aotearoa. Taking a break from the windy capital last Wednesday, Curls made a flying visit to Tauranga for a day trip. The result? A YouTube video titled New Zealands Abandoned City thats amassed more than 25,000 views and counting. Eager to hear our town being humbled even more, The Weekend Sun caught up with Curls to get the goss. First impressions I tend to do very bad, very minimal, if any research before going somewhere. I try and go fresh, says Curls. So what was his first impression of Tauranga city? Obviously I have travelled around the majority of cities in this wonderful country, and I think there was definitely a noticeable surplus of empty units and business space. Curls making his way down Willow St in Tauranga CBD. Photo: Supplied. Watching the video, we see Curls making his way into the depths of the CBD, noticing more and more vacant buildings with For Lease signs. I knew that Tauranga was one of the bigger cities, but having been to the other four of Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, and Hamilton, I guess there was a noticeable lack of people. Maybe it was a combination of things that I was there at the wrong time of year but it just feels like a wasted opportunityI left with sort of a sense of emptiness because I thought this seems like such a wonderful place but perhaps lacks a bit of buzz. Sign me up! Its important to note Curls is by no means a Negative Nelly and had lots of positive reviews of our town as well. It was so beautiful but Im imagining summer is the time the place comes into its own. So believe me, a full occupancy Tauranga oh my god sign me up! It was lovely. It just needs that extra pushit has so much potential it really does. While our town surprisingly doesnt have any tumble weed, one piece of vegetation stood out to Curls too during his mosey. I did kind of get the impression with the tall palm trees and the lovely sunny waterfront, that if youre in the right spot with a nice glass of white wine, you could so easily be in Miami. Reviews of review Perhaps we can even bank on the title of New Zealands Abandoned City, a unique ghost town that desperately awaits a Miami kiss of resurrection! Tauranga Business Chambers CEO Matt Cowley shared his thoughts on Curls review. The saying that all publicity is good publicity is particularly true on social media, says Matt. He [Curls] also noted good things about the CBD, including the level of construction activity happening. Curls sharing his thoughts on Tauranga looks out over Tauranga Moana. Photo: Supplied. Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley gave her two cents or millions on the video too. Curls will be glad to know that councils $306 million investment in Te Manawataki o Te Papa will transform the civic precinct into a vital culture, heritage and lifestyle hub for our region and with the upgrade of the waterfront reserve and an estimated $1.5 billion of planned private sector investment in the city centre, prosperity will return to what has been a neglected asset, says Anne. Tourism Bay of Plenty wholeheartedly supports these projects and is eager to showcase the positive changes as they unfold, says Tourism Bay of Plentys general manager Oscar Nathan. As this commenter says, the CBD has so much going for it, and were pleased that he experienced the manaakitanga (friendly hospitality) that the region is known for as he travelled around our streets. Hell be back! Of course it wouldnt have been a visit to the CBD without a stop at infamous Bobbys Fresh Fish Market. Curls gave one of his classic reviews on the kai in a standalone video, which has a combined viewing of more than 550,000 across his social media platforms. I really thoroughly enjoyed Bobbys. It was really nice fish, says Curls. It wont be the last time he comes to town either. Genuinely, Tauranga was full of kind, humble people who had nothing but good things to say to me and about their city, and based on that welcome, I cant wait to be back! Ester Requena / Ignacio Lillo Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram This Sunday (22 October), another storm is due to arrive to the Spanish mainland after the recent passage of Aline. Everything suggests that this new squall will bring more rain to Malaga province between Sunday and Monday. "A corridor has opened up, the circulation pattern has changed and it is favourable for Atlantic storms to arrive," explained the director of Spain's state weather agency (Aemet), Jesus Riesco. This does not mean that the whole of Malaga province will be affected by rainfall, as some areas will get rain and others may not, "but for the moment the previous stable period is over, and we will head into next week with the possibility of more arriving". At the moment, Aemet has activated yellow warnings for this Sunday in the province, although only for wind and coastal phenomena. The Antequera and Ronda areas will have active alerts for southerly winds of up to 80 km/h from 3pm until midnight on Sunday. Meanwhile, in the Guadalhorce valley, Costa del Sol and Axrquia areas the yellow warning for coastal phenomena will be in force from 4pm to 10pm hours for winds from the east and southeast of 50 to 60 km/h (force 7) with waves of two to three metres. "On Sunday and Monday another new Atlantic storm will pass through, leaving rain and strong gusts of wind. This one will be located in the Gulf of Cadiz and is deep, so it will leave rain in the province on both days, and in principle it will subside on Tuesday. On Sunday it is most likely to start during the second half of the day, but it may start earlier in some areas, especially in the western part of the province. This time, it is a stationary storm, as opposed to what happened on Thursday, which was the rapid passage of a front moving from north to south. As a result, the instability will remain for longer. The expected accumulated rainfall, adding the two days together, will be similar to that recorded on the 19th: from 25 to 50mm in some inland areas. In addition, the cyclogenesis will once again cause intense winds, although with a different direction than on Thursday (easterly), which will likely result in more weather warnings to be activated. Jose Luis Escudero, head of the Diario SUR weather blog, agrees that a new storm will be located at Cape San Vicente and will be subtropical in nature, so that in addition to the rain, it will bring strong winds with strong gusts. At the moment, the weather models forecast accumulated rainfall of around 15mm in Malaga city, 40mm in Axarquia and between 30 and 40mm on the western strip of the Costa del Sol. "Now we have autumn terral wind blowing and on Sunday it will change to levante; therefore it is more likely to start raining in the afternoon-evening, and it will continue in the early hours of Monday, but we must keep an eye on its evolution; I am hopeful that the countryside will, at least, continue to collect rainfall," the weather expert said. BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- When the world strives to quench the fire and help reach peace in Gaza, Washington thwarted again the global efforts by vetoing Wednesday a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States has abused the right to veto the draft resolution that enjoys overwhelming support within the Security Council, which is astonishing and disappointing as the current humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Gaza. The world has every reason to cast doubt on Washington's sincerity in helping solve the conflict and ease the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. Cease-fire in Gaza to stop the ongoing disaster is the top priority for the international community. But by giving the only veto on the resolution that could have brought cease-fire and humanitarian aid, the United States has demonstrated that the country prioritizes its own geopolitical and strategic calculations over saving lives and promoting a ceasefire. Contrary to U.S. President Joe Biden's recent remark that the "American leadership is what holds the world together," the United States, ironically, by vetoing the draft resolution, is actually blocking the global efforts to bridge the divide to reach a common ground. In fact, Washington has hindered the peace process in the Middle East from time to time. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem against international practice, which ignited a backlash in the Arab world and planted another time bomb. Now with the flames of war spreading and innocent civilians suffering, the United States comes to blocking the resolution that could have brought hope to the region. Just as an Al Jazeera report has said, after decades of costly U.S. failures in the Middle East, both on the strategic and diplomatic levels, losing wars and failing to mediate peace, the United States seems addicted to Middle East chaos. Surely, the Palestinian-Israeli issue is complicated, and it is impossible to solve the issue within a short time. However, it is feasible to achieve an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire for the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The United States should play a constructive role, instead of pouring fuel on the fire. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. 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As prospective businesses and regulators continue busying themselves with the general application process, we at NY Cannabis Insider wrote about a Cannabis Control Board meeting, and some lesser discussed issues in the Empire States legal weed industry. Lets recap: We ran a story about distributor licenses, and how they could disrupt how weed businesses in New York currently operate. Up to this point, the states licensed adult-use market has operated without distributors, who will buy, transport and sell cannabis to and from regulated weed businesses under one of the 11 license categories outlined in the MRTA. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: But with the general application process closing in December and licensing expected soon after, those cultivators, processors and dispensary operators that are already up and running are considering how they will need to adjust their operations once distributors become part of the equation, and whether these middlemen will disrupt their companies. Earlier this week, we covered a CCB meeting at which board members extended deadlines for general marijuana licensing applications and granted the Office of Cannabis Management additional enforcement authority during the boards first meeting since the application period began. New enforcement rules, which the board approved, now mandate that businesses that receive a notice of violation from the OCM have five days to respond with a certificate of compliance form that says theyve stopped the alleged illegal activity. If a business does not provide OCM staff with the certificate, agency officials may infer during a hearing that the business has continued the alleged illegal sales. Regulations allow the OCM to impose fines up to $20,000 per day on businesses that sell marijuana without a license. We also wrote about legislation that would severely cut cannabis dispensary taxes for retailers operating in New York City. Though New York State recently allowed cannabis operators to deduct business expenses on their state taxes, the changes didnt apply to New York Citys cannabis businesses. A bill that passed in both houses of the states legislature would change New York Citys municipal taxes to allow these deductions (which could amount to a six-figure sum). But as of mid-October, Gov. Kathy Hochul hasnt yet signed the bill. Continuing our NYs women in cannabis series, we ran a profile on Yvette Pagano, chief commercial officer at GenTech Scientific LLC and Conquer Scientific LLC; two companies that provide support services for testing laboratories. We also added a new entry to our People to know in NY cannabis series: Paul Suits, Jr., the co-founder and CEO of LakeHouse Cannabis, a dispensary that hopes to open and operate in Cortland. Lastly, we posted attorney Jeffrey Hoffmans latest Ask Me Anything segment, in which he answered questions about notice to municipalities that cannabis regulators require of businesses, certified strains and other topics. Have a great weekend everyone, well be back with plenty more next week. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. CAIRO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Friday the importance of not allowing the exodus of civilians from war-torn Gaza into Egypt's Sinai. Sisi made the remarks during a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to the Egyptian presidency. "This is an extremely dangerous matter and may completely end the Palestinian cause," Sisi warned. The Egyptian president called for joint action to contain the developments in the Gaza Strip that may be "uncontrollable" in the region. "Reviving the peace process should be one of the lessons we need to learn from this crisis, as well as giving hope to the Palestinians to establish their state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," the Egyptian president noted. For his part, Sunak welcomed efforts made by Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. He said that Britain was committed to playing its part in helping the civilians of Gaza and alleviating the dire humanitarian situation there. Since Oct. 7, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel have engaged in a bloody confrontation, leading to more than 5,000 deaths on both sides. Enditem by John Ousterhout People often ask me how I got the idea for Tcl and why it became so popular. In this page I've attempted to reconstruct the thought processes that led to Tcl and Tk and trace the evolution of Tcl and Tk over the last decade along with my path from Berkeley to Sun to Scriptics. As you will see, Tcl's beginnings were very modest; the success of the system was quite a surprise to me, and it's only in retrospect that I've begun to understand the reasons for Tcl's popularity. The birth of Tcl The Tcl scripting language grew out of my work on design tools for integrated circuits at the University of California at Berkeley in the early 1980's. My students and I had written several interactive tools for IC design, such as Magic and Crystal. Each tool needed to have a command language (in those days people tended to invoke tools by typing commands; graphical user interfaces weren't yet in widespread use). However, our primary interest was in the tools, not their command languages. Thus we didn't invest much effort in the command languages and the languages ended up being weak and quirky. Furthermore, the language for one tool couldn't be carried over to the next, so each tool ended up with a different bad command language. After a while this became rather embarrassing. In the fall of 1987, while on sabbatical at DEC's Western Research Laboratory, I got the idea of building an embeddable command language. The idea was to spend extra effort to create a good interpreted language, and furthermore to build it as a library package that could be reused in many different applications. The language interpreter would provide a set of relatively generic facilities, such as variables, control structures, and procedures. Each application that used the language would add its own features into the language as extensions, so that the language could be used to control the application. The name Tcl (Tool Command Language) derived from this intended usage. The notion of embeddability is one of the most unique aspects of Tcl, and it led me to the following three overall goals for the language: The language must be extensible : it must be very easy for each application to add its own features to the basic features of the language, and the application-specific features should appear natural, as if they had been designed into the language from the start. : it must be very easy for each application to add its own features to the basic features of the language, and the application-specific features should appear natural, as if they had been designed into the language from the start. The language must be very simple and generic, so that it can work easily with many different applications and so that it doesn't restrict the features that applications can provide. Since most of the interesting functionality will come from the application, the primary purpose of the language is to integrate or "glue together" the extensions. Thus the language must have good facilities for integration. I started work on Tcl when I returned from my sabbatical early in 1988, and I began using the first version of Tcl in a graphical text editor in the spring of 1988. By this time I had stopped working on IC design tools in my research, so the experiments with Tcl were mostly academic: I didn't think that anyone besides myself would be interested in an embeddable command language. The birth of Tk One of my other interests at that time was graphical user interfaces. As GUIs became more and more popular in the 1980s I had noticed that the complexity of interactive software was rising rapidly. The most interesting new developments seemed to require large projects with enormous investments. As a professor with modest resources, this worried me: would it become impossible for small teams like my research groups to build innovative interactive systems? I concluded that the only hope for us was to reduce the resource requirements by building large systems out of reusable components. If most of the complexity of a system was in the components, and if we could carry the components forward from system to system, perhaps we could build large powerful systems with small teams. It would take quite a bit of work to develop the components, but this could be done gradually over time, perhaps by several smaller groups working together. I also reasoned that component-based design would not work unless there was a powerful and flexible mechanism for integrating the components. These thoughts occurred shortly after I had begun thinking about Tcl, and it occurred to me that an embeddable command language such as Tcl might also be useful as a scripting language for integrating components. I decided to test this theory by creating a set of GUI components as a Tcl extension and using Tcl to assemble the components into graphical user interfaces. This extension became Tk. I began work on Tk in late 1988, but it was a part-time project, so it took about two years before there was enough functionality for Tk to be useful. Early distributions I no longer remember exactly when I began giving Tcl away to other people. By 1989 I was using Tcl in a couple of projects, and I believe that I gave a talk on Tcl during the Berkeley Industrial Liaison Conference, where several hundred people from industry came to Berkeley to hear about research in our department. I believe that this led to invitations to give talks on Tcl at a few interested companies, and that some of the people at those talks asked if they could have copies of Tcl. In any case, I gave away a few copies of Tcl to early adopters in 1989. In January of 1990 I presented a paper on Tcl at the USENIX Conference. The talk was attended by several hundred people and generated enough interest that many people began asking me for copies of Tcl. Around this time I decided to make the Tcl source code freely available on our FTP site at Berkeley. Once that happened, Tcl usage began to spread by word of mouth over the Internet. One of the people at the USENIX presentation was Don Libes of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Don had been wanting for some time to build a program to automate interactive Unix applications, but the project had stalled because it needed a good command language and Don didn't have the time to build one. After hearing my talk, Don rushed home, downloaded Tcl, built a wonderful application called Expect, and wrote a paper on it in time for the submission deadline for the next USENIX Conference. This whole process took just three weeks. Don made Expect freely available after presenting his paper in the summer of 1990, and it became an instant hit among system administrators. Expect was not only the first widely distributed Tcl application, but for many years it was the most popular. Many of the early Tcl users learned about it by using Expect. The basic features of Tk became usable late in 1990, and I presented a paper on Tk at both the USENIX Conference and the X Conference in January 1991. Within a few weeks of these conferences I made the first Internet release of Tk. The first version of Tk lacked several important widgets (e.g., it had no multi-line text widget), but by the summer of 1992 I had added both a text widget and a powerful canvas widget. At this point usage of Tk began to increase dramatically. Growing popularity Usage of Tcl and Tk grew roughly an order of magnitude each year in the early 1990s, from a few users in 1989 to several tens of thousands in 1993. There were two primary reasons for this growth. The first reason for the growth in Tcl/Tk usage was that it provided the easiest way to create graphical user interfaces under Unix (in those days Tcl only ran on Unix systems). Tk's GUI facilities were both very simple and very powerful; interesting applications could be written entirely in Tcl, without writing any C code at all. C-based alternatives such as the Motif toolkit were much more complicated, yet provided less functionality. It quickly became clear that GUIs could be created with 5-10x less effort in Tcl than Motif. It also turned out that many people in industry were just as concerned as I was about the high cost of developing interactive applications. The second reason for the popularity of Tcl was its embeddable nature. When I started on Tcl I assumed that no-one besides myself would care about an embeddable command language, but I was wrong. Many people, including Don Libes and others, wanted to build applications that were scriptable and extensible but didn't have the time to build a language of their own. Because it was embeddable, Tcl provided a perfect solution for these people. As a result, Tcl ended up being used in applications ranging from stock trading to scientific visualization to manufacturing automation. Out of this dichotomy in usage grew a discussion that reoccurs every year or two in the Tcl user community. Many Tcl users assert that Tk is the only reason they use Tcl. Some of them don't even like the Tcl language and wish that Tk could be mated with a different scripting language (in fact, this has happened several times, including TkPerl and Python). A different group argues that Tcl is all they care about; they use it as an embedded scripting language, often without Tk, and like the language's properties for this purpose. In a sense both groups are right. The Tcl community As Tcl usage grew in the early 1990s, a community formed around the language, contributing many powerful extensions and providing support for new users. Two of the earliest pioneers were Mark Diekhans and Karl Lehenbauer. They wrote TclX, which was one of the first freely available Tcl extensions. TclX provided file access, time and date manipulation, and many other useful facilities. Over time the features of TclX have proven so important that many of them have been incorporated into the base Tcl releases. Many other Tcl pioneers wrote high-quality extensions and made them freely available. For example, Michael McLennan wrote [incr Tcl], an extension that provides object-oriented programming features in Tcl. George Howlett wrote BLT, which added several important widgets to Tk. Tom Poindexter wrote Sybtcl and Oratcl, which provided access to popular databases. Brian Smith and Larry Rowe wrote TclDP, which provided socket access and other distributed programming features. There are others as well; apologies to the many worthy contributors whom I have failed to recognize. Other forms of community developed in this same period. I initially created a mailing list for communication among Tcl users, but within a few years it became so large as to be unwieldy. With help from the Tcl community the comp.lang.tcl newsgroup was created as a replacement for the mailing list; since then it has provided a wonderful forum for exchanging information and discussing new Tcl features. In 1993 Larry Rowe recognized the need for people in the community to meet in person, so he organized the first Tcl Workshop at Berkeley that summer. About 60 people attended, and the workshop was so successful that it became an annual event. In 1995 the USENIX Association offered to help run the workshop; since then it has evolved into a full-fledged conference with several hundred attendees and a rich program of papers, tutorials, and other events. The Tcl Conference is also one of the world's premier events for upper body wear: each year there are 5-10 different T-shirt designs given away to recognize various extensions, events, etc. During this period I made new releases of Tcl and Tk roughly every 6-12 months. Most of the new features were suggested by people in the Tcl community; in some cases users even supplied me with prototype code for the new features, which I then integrated into the core software. Typically each new release cycle would start off with a discussion period where I proposed a candidate list of new features and everyone in the community could vote for the ones they thought were most important. I tried to give priority to the features with the most votes. Ouster-votes Over time the Tcl release cycle tended to align with the Tcl Conference. A new release would typically come out around the time of the conference, and I would use one session of the conference to discuss new features for the next release and get feedback. I would often call for an impromptu show of hands to see how the audience felt about various issues, and then attempt to make a rough count of how many hands were raised ("ten, twenty, thirty, ... looks like about 35 hands to me"). These became known as "Ouster-votes" and their accuracy has often been a topic of discussion. Some wags have insinuated that my vote counting is less than totally objective.... The Sun years In 1994 I decided to leave Berkeley for industry. I'd always wanted to spend part of my career in industry, and after 14 years in academia the time seemed right. After considering a variety of possibilities, I decided to accept an offer from Sun Microsystems. Eric Schmidt, Sun's Chief Technology Officer, and Bert Sutherland, Director of Sun Microsystems Laboratories, offered me the chance to build a team at Sun Labs and evolve Tcl into a universal scripting language for the Internet. I had always felt that Tcl would eventually need to have profitable businesses built around it in order to survive over the long term, and the Sun offer was a great opportunity to take Tcl to the next level. I joined Sun in May of 1994 and began building a team of Tcl developers. Over the next three years the Sun Tcl team grew to a dozen members. Up until this point nearly every line of code in Tcl and Tk had been written by me personally, but over time more and more of the responsibility for Tcl code shifted to other members of the Sun Tcl team. The additional resources provided by Sun allowed us to make major improvements to Tcl and Tk. Scott Stanton and Ray Johnson ported Tcl and Tk to Windows and the Macintosh, so that Tcl became an outstanding cross-platform development environment; today, more than two-thirds of Tcl downloads are for Windows. Jacob Levy and Scott Stanton overhauled the I/O system and added socket support, so that Tcl could easily be used for a variety of network applications. Brian Lewis built a bytecode compiler for Tcl scripts, which provided speedups of as much as a factor of 10x. Jacob Levy implemented Safe-Tcl, a powerful security model that allows untrusted scripts to be evaluated safely. Jacob Levy and Laurent Demailly built a Tcl plugin, so that Tcl scripts can be evaluated in a Web browser, and we created Jacl and TclBlend, which allow Tcl and Java to work closely together. We added many other smaller improvements, such as dynamic loading, namespaces, time and date support, binary I/O, additional file manipulation commands, and an improved font mechanism. When I moved to Sun many people were worried that Tcl would become a proprietary language, and there were several "spirited discussions" on the comp.lang.tcl newsgroup. Fortunately, as part of my offer Sun had agreed that the core Tcl and Tk libraries would continue to be distributed freely in source form, and Sun honored this agreement faithfully. As new releases appeared with more and more improvements, it became clear that Sun's support for Tcl was a wonderful thing that allowed the language to evolve much more rapidly than it could have otherwise. The concerns were gradually replaced with enthusiasm for all the new features. During these years Tcl usage continued to explode. By the end of 1997 there were hundreds of thousands of Tcl developers; the rate of Tcl downloads from the Sun FTP site increased from 2000 per week at the end of 1995 to more than 10000 per week by early 1998. It was clear to me that there were huge business opportunities around Tcl. It was also clear that the Tcl community had many needs that weren't being met by the open-source Tcl development. For example, there were almost no development tools for Tcl, and professional services such as training and support were only sporadically available. Many important extensions, such as ActiveX and CORBA support, still needed to be written. Scriptics In late 1997 I decided that the best thing for Tcl was to spin out of Sun and form a startup that could focus entirely on Tcl. In January 1998 I founded Scriptics with Sarah Daniels, who became VP of Marketing and Sales. Within a month about half of the Sun Tcl team had joined us and begun development of TclPro, a set of development tools that would comprise our first product. TclPro 1.0 shipped in September of 1998. Its success in the marketplace fueled a major growth spurt at the company. Scriptics had also taken over from Sun the role of developing the Tcl core facilities, and it continued to release them freely just like Sun did. In 1998, Scriptics made several patch releases for Tcl 8.0 to fix bugs and add small new features, such as a better support for the [incr Tcl] extension. In April 1999, Scriptics made its first major open source release, Tcl/Tk 8.1. This release added Unicode support (for internationalization), thread safety (for multi-threaded server applications), and an all-new regular expression package by Henry Spencer that includes many new features as well as Unicode support. With the 8.1 release, Tcl became the first scripting language to have all the facilities needed for mission-critical enterprise applications. Tcl: award-winning software In the spring of 1998 I learned the wonderful news that Tcl had won two major awards. The first is the ACM Software System Award, awarded each year for "a software system that has had a lasting influence". Past winners of the award include such seminal systems as the TCP/IP protocols, the first spreadsheets, the first relational databases, the World-Wide Web, Unix, PostScript, and Smalltalk. The second award was the USENIX Software Tools User Group (STUG) Award, given each year in recognition of an outstanding software tool. Formation of the Tcl Core Team This section added by Jeff Hobbs and others Scriptics was renamed Ajuba Solutions in May, 2000, reflecting the company's growing focus on a series of Tcl-based XML technologies. Ajuba became in part the victim of its own success in creating enterprise class XML server software based on Tcl, and was acquired by Interwoven in October, 2000. Interwoven was not interested in open source aspects of the company however, but rather the XML and server technologies. During the period of July-October 2000, mechanisms were put in place to transition the "ownership" of core development, which was becoming increasingly widespread, away from a single organization, and towards a broader group not tied to any one particular organization. The Tcl Core Team was formed, and established its basic operating procedures. Tcl of course still benefits from the involvement of many companies. As one prominent example, Jeff Hobbs, formerly the Tcl Ambassador at Scriptics/Ajuba, moved to ActiveState (already known for their Perl products and development) to head their Tcl technologies group, working both on the open source Tcl core, as well as advancing many of the commercial development tools that had been started at Scriptics. Features Run any virtual machine. Run virtual machines created by VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server. VMware Player also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats. Access host PC devices. Use host CD/DVD drives, network adapters, and plug-and-play USB devices. Copy and paste. Copy text and files between the virtual machine and the host PC. Drag and drop. Drag and drop files between a Windows host PC and a Windows virtual machine. Multiple networking options. Virtual machines can share or obtain new IP addresses or be isolated from the network and host. 32- and 64-bit host and guest operating system support. Run a wide variety of virtual machines containing 32- and 64-bit operating systems simultaneously on the same physical PC. Compatible 64-bit guest operating systems include select Microsoft Windows, Red Hat, SUSE, and FreeBSD distributions. Adjustable memory. Tune virtual machine memory for optimal performance. Configurable shutdown. Power down or suspend the virtual machine when closing VMware Player. Integrated Google Search. VMware Player includes Google search capabilities, fully integrated for conveniently searching the web without launching a browser. What's New New Security Enhancement This release introduces new security enhancement by providing an improved encryption scheme (XTS instead of CBC) for maximum protection with a reduced performance overhead. Please see https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/93071 for more information. This release resolves CVE-2023-34044. For more information on these vulnerabilities and their impact on VMware products, see VMSA-2023-0022. Control Virtual Machines using the VMRUN Commands You can now control virtual machines using the VMRUN command line utility in Workstation Player. You can use commands to perform various guest operations such as power on or off, capture snapshots for data backup, manage network adapters, run an executable program, manage files and directories, manage processes running on the operating system, and so on. Import and Export Virtual Machines with vTPM device You can now import or export a virtual machine with a vTPM device enabled using the OVF Tool. You can export a virtual machine with vTPM device into an OVF file, and then use the OVF file to import the virtual machine with a vTPM. Manage Power Operations of Encrypted Virtual Machines using VMREST API You can now power on/off, suspend, pause, unpause, or retrieve the state of an encrypted virtual machine using the VMREST API service. VMware Hardware Version 21 Support for up to 256 NVMe devices: 4 controllers and 64 devices per controller Support for NVMe 1.3 in the following guest operating systems: Microsoft Windows 11 Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Previous Release Notes: This release resolves CVE-2022-22938. For more information on this vulnerability and its impact on VMware products please visit: https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0002.html VMware Workstation 16 Player is a free upgrade for all VMware Workstation 15 Player users. It includes the following updates: Support for new guest operating systems: Windows 10 19H2 Debian 10.0/10.1 Debian 9.11 Oracle Linux 8.0 SLE 15 SP1 FreeBSD 12.0 PhotonOS 3.0 Jumbo frame support: Virtual networks can now be configured with MTU sizes of up to 9000 bytes. Open VM Tools is the default VMware Tools for applicable Linux virtual machine Previous release notes: This release of VMware Workstation Player is a free upgrade for all VMware Workstation 15 Player users. Support has been added for the following host operating systems: Windows 10, version 1809 Windows Server 2019 Support has been added for the following guest operating systems: Windows 10, version 1809 Windows Server, version 1809 Windows Server 2019 This release contains bug fixes and security updates: Important Fixes This release of VMware Workstation Player addresses the following issue: VMware Workstation Player contains an integer overflow vulnerability in the virtual network devices which may allow a guest to execute code on the host. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the identifier CVE-2018-6983 to this issue. See VMSA-2018-0030 for further information. This release of VMware Workstation Player is a free upgrade for all VMware Workstation 15 Player users. Support has been added for the following operating systems as both host and guest. Ubuntu 18.10 Fedora 29 RHEL 7.6 This release contains bug fixes and security updates. Important Fixes: This release of VMware Workstation Player addresses the following issue: VMware Workstation Player has an uninitialized stack memory usage vulnerability in the vmxnet3 virtual network adapter that might allow a guest to execute code on the host. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the identifier CVE-2018-6981 to this issue. Previous release notes: Windows 10 2018 Spring Creators Update (Version 1803) as host and guest Ubuntu 18.04 support as host and guest VMware Workstation Player provides the following support for Windows 10 Creators Update: Run Windows 10 Creators Update as a virtual machine Run Windows 10 Creators Update as a host operating system Windows 10 Creators Update Auto Detect and Easy Install Unity support for Windows 10 New Guest operating systems support Support has been added for the following operating systems: Ubuntu 17.04 Fedora 26 CentOS 7.4 RHEL 7.4 Debian 9.1 Oracle Linux 7.4 SLE 12 SP3 OpenSUSE 42.3 New CPU enablement Intel Skylake and AMD Ryzen CPU support is enabled. Virtual NVMe support Workstation 14 Player introduces a new virtual NVMe storage controller. NVMe devices require virtual hardware version 13 / ESXi 6.5 compatibility and later. Secure Boot Workstation 14 Player introduces Secure Boot support for Virtual Machines to ensure only trusted code is loaded by the UEFI firmware prior to the OS "handoff" process. Network Latency simulation With new Network Latency Simulation feature, you can simulate a specific network environment along with existing network speed and packet loss simulator. Native OVF support With improved OVF/OVA support, Workstation Player provides an effortless walkthrough to deploy the VMware VCSA (vCenter Server Appliance) OVA package for testing and experimentation within Workstation. VCSA6.0 and 6.5 are supported. New GTK+ 3 based UI for Linux NEW DELHI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two Naxals were killed in a fierce gunfight with police Saturday in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said. The gunfight between Naxals and police broke out in the forest area of Koyalibeda area in Kanker district, about 220 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. According to police, the gunfight broke out after police launched a search operation in the forest area after receiving intelligence information about the presence of Naxals. "The gunfight took place in the morning in the forest area when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police was out on an anti-Naxal operation. In the stand-off, two Naxals were killed," a senior police official P Sundarraj told media. Police said two rifles have also been recovered along with arms and ammunition. Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India. New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds. The insurgency reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. After holding out in adopting the renowned electric vehicle charging standard, Toyota and Lexus now cave to it and announced their coming integration of the Tesla NACS. The NACS, which is known as the North American Charging Standard, has seen various automakers and companies joining its use, looking to feature the new ports starting in 2025 to effect the changes. The growing adoption of Tesla NACS in the tech industry only shows how it established itself to be the standard, making it the future port present in most EVs. Toyota, Lexus Caves to Tesla NACS, Coming by 2025 (Photo : Nathan Howard/Getty Images) In a recent press release by Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), the company announced that it reached an agreement with Tesla, Inc., with the Japanese car brand soon adopting the NACS ports by 2025. This will focus on all the battery electric vehicles (BEVs) of Toyota and Lexus, as part of the company's electrification strategy that adds more compatibility. NACS adoption is growing, and it is not only the small brands that chose to integrate the Tesla design into their EVs, as the most recent before Toyota was BMW. Starting in 2025, Toyota said that its brand-new BEVs, or those released that year will feature the NACS ports, with those on the Combined Charging System (CCS) getting an adapter. Read Also: Tesla NACS sees Hyundai, Kia, Genesis EVs Joining the Standard by 2024 Supercharger Access for Toyota and Lexus (Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Apart from getting the famed NACS ports for their EVs, Toyota and Lexus are also set to access as many as 12,000 Superchargers all over North America come 2025, as part of their agreement. It is widely known that Superchargers are DC fast chargers, and among the only few companies that offer it, is also achievable through NACS ports and adapters for others. Tesla NACS Adoption in the Industry The power of manifestation is different for Elon Musk, as his initial plans centered on bringing Tesla's brand all over the world, with its EV charging stations, the Superchargers, to be used by all. Back in 2022, Elon Musk and Tesla shared the EV charging connector design it has, and it is now popularly known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Fast forward to a year later, different automakers have opted in for the Tesla NACS, including renowned rivals in the industry, with the likes of General Motors, Ford, Fisker, and more. However, that is not all, as Tesla NACS' adoption also captured European companies to join and use its design with the first being Volvo, followed by BMW. There are still more carmakers that are looking to adopt the NACS or are expected to do so, and it does not necessarily mean bowing down to Tesla. Toyota and Lexus are the latest companies to announce their use of the North American Charging Standard, with all of its future EVs soon making the change by 2025, to either have a native NACS port or feature a connector to connect via Superchargers. Related Article: BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce to Adopt Tesla NACS Charging in US and Canada-Here's What You Need to Know 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Male infertility is a significant issue, contributing to a substantial portion of couples experiencing difficulties in conceiving. Globally, infertility impacts approximately 10-15 percent of couples, with men representing 50 percent of cases, including 10 percent who produce insufficient or no sperm. (Photo : JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Pregnancy test kits sit next to a half empty shelf in a drug store in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 6, 2022. Shedding Light on Male Infertility Recent research conducted by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, in partnership with the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh, is uncovering insights into the factors disrupting the sperm formation process, offering potential pathways for treatment. In most sexually reproducing organisms, the process of producing sperm and egg cells relies on the precise assembly of a vital protein structure resembling a lattice-like bridge. Interesting Engineering reported that the team has identified that modifying a specific point within this protein bridge in mice led to its collapse, resulting in infertility. This breakthrough provides insights into the mechanisms behind male infertility in humans, where similar issues with meiosis may be at play. The research team emphasized that the creation of the synaptonemal complex is just one of several intricate processes involved in meiosis, a cell division process crucial for generating sperm and eggs. This complex serves as a bridge, effectively holding chromosome pairs in position and facilitating the vital genetic interactions necessary for the accurate separation of chromosomes into sperm and eggs. Meticulous examination conducted by researchers unveiled that meiotic defects were the underlying cause of infertility. Lead Author Katherine Billmyre, the former postdoctoral research associate at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research emphasized the significance of understanding the events leading up to the accurate separation of chromosomes into reproductive cells, particularly when the synaptonemal complex forms between them. Also Read: New 3D-Printed Sperm-Sorting Device Could Help Struggling Couples Earlier investigations had scrutinized various proteins constituting the synaptonemal complex, their interactions, and how specific mutations correlated with male infertility. The lattice-like structure of this figurative bridge is primarily comprised of a protein investigated in this study. Given its prevalence in humans, mice, and most vertebrates, EurekAlert reported that it is likely to play a vital role in the assembly process. Modeling Approach The research team employed modeling to anticipate potential disruptions in the human protein's function resulting from various mutations in a critical region. This modeling approach allowed them to predict mutations likely to hinder protein functionality. A pivotal aspect of their work involved precise genetic alterations to a vital synaptonemal complex protein in mice. As per Science Advances, this approach marked the first time that the functionality of essential protein segments in living organisms could be assessed. This confirmed that a single mutation, as anticipated from the modeling experiments, was indeed responsible for mouse infertility. The research team's endeavors demanded surgical precision to attain their desired outcomes. They concentrated on a small portion of one protein within the extensive structure, confident that it held significant potential to contribute to infertility. Related Article: Male Infertility Is Real: Find Out What Causes it And What You Can Do About it 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Smart glasses were the top technological aspiration back in the day, but recently Google has scrapped its "Project Iris" development, but reports now claim that it is back again. The high-tech glasses evolved from before, as previously, it was mostly associated with espionage and the like, but in today's case, they may connect to smartphones and feature audio right on the device. Google's focus on Project Iris was cut short before, but now it is back again, but it remains unknown when it will be available, and if it will be able to catch up on Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses. Google Glass 'Project Iris' Now Back in Development (Photo : JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images) It was revealed by 9to5Mac that the Google Glass is now back, popularly known as "Project Iris," after earlier reports of claiming that the internet company already scrapped its development. Project Iris was speculated before as an AR device by various speculators and insiders but was scarce on its details as Google did not talk much about the tech wearable. Google Glass was also canceled by the company, and it is the famed smart glasses that was shortlived, one of the company's earliest take on wearable tech. According to the report, it is expected to not have a screen like modern AR or VR smart glasses, but it remains unknown what "reality" it will bring for users. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: XR Headset Under Development with Google and Qualcomm-To Rival Apple? Google Project Iris' Features to Possibly Offer Speculations center on the features of Project Iris for its future iteration, with it having a camera that could feature Google Lens apart from its capabilities to shoot and record. Apart from that, it would feature built-in audio for users, either a speaker near the ears or another audio wearable built-in with the glasses. Still, it could also allow Bluetooth Earphones to connect. Its largest rival yet is still the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses which introduced its latest developments, including massive customization features. Google Project Iris vs. Meta Ray-Ban The development by Google with Project Iris has been kept secret for years, and it remains unknown what the device is, having little to no clues for the public about what it is. However, speculators claim that the Iris is an augmented reality device, and it is known that Google has initially stopped its AR wearable development in the past. On the other hand of this smart glasses matchup, there is the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, and yes, it features a new name in its release earlier this year, contrary to 2021's Ray-Ban Stories. The new smart glasses from Meta and Ray-Ban feature a unique camera that hands easily to one's face, and it can shoot, record, and connect to smartphones for a live Instagram stream and more to feature. The world of wearables is massive today, and this is because they have a lot more to offer the world apart from what it lists on paper, making them a popular addition to one's gear. Now that news about Google's Project Iris is back, there are expectations about the future of its development from the company, dubbed as "screenless, pre-AR smart glasses." Related Article: Google Project Iris is Canceled say Reports, to Focus on AR Software Rather than Hardware 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China strongly condemns and resolutely rejects the groundless accusations made by Britain, in collusion with the United States and a small group of countries, at the third committee of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly against China about human rights issues in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said Chinese ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang in a statement. The British side, in disregard of China's strong opposition, went ahead to deliver a so-called joint statement on Xinjiang at the third committee, making groundless accusations against China and interfering in China's internal affairs, he said on Thursday. China strongly condemns and resolutely rejects this, and has made solemn representations to the British side, he said. "The UK side, by hyping up the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang and spreading lies and disinformation at the third committee, is trying to disrupt China's Xinjiang region and tarnish China's image," said the ambassador. "However, the UK's lies have long been exposed and its attempt is doomed to fail." At the committee, a total of over 100 countries have voiced strong opposition to the politicization of human rights issues and interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, Zheng said, adding this "fully shows who has the support of the international community and proves that the UK's sinister move is utterly unpopular." The ambassador urged the British side to follow the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, so as to promote the China-Britain ties to develop soundly and steadily. China urges the British side to get a clear understanding of the situation, correct its wrongdoings, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and avoid going further down the path of mistake and failure, he said. GAZA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 60 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip has been displaced as a result of the ongoing Israeli attacks, according to a UN organization. "About 1.6 million people were forced to be displaced from their houses since the start of the current Hamas-Israel bloody conflict 15 days ago," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a press statement sent to Xinhua on Saturday. The OCHA said that more than 544,000 people reside in 147 educational districts and schools affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), including 367,500 in central and southern Gaza, and 70,000 in 67 schools not affiliated with UNRWA. According to the statement, about 101,000 people took refuge in the Orthodox center, churches in Gaza City, hospitals, and other public buildings. In addition, the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development estimates that there are about 700,000 displaced people with host families. According to the statement, institutions affiliated with the UNRWA Educational Operations Department in the central and southern regions of the Gaza Strip have become increasingly overcrowded at a time when severe shortages of basic resources such as water, food, and medicine are reported. In some educational districts, UNRWA was forced to ration drinking water consumption, providing only one liter of water per person per day. Overcrowding and lack of basic supplies have raised tensions among internally displaced people, along with reports of gender-based violence, according to the statement. On Oct. 19, UNRWA established the first camp for internally displaced people in Khan Yunis, consisting of 60 tents and hosting hundreds of internally displaced people. The statement said that there was anecdotal evidence that some displaced people were returning to the northern Gaza Strip, due to the ongoing bombing in the southern part of the Palestinian enclave and failure to find reasonable accommodation. The displacement of civilians and the associated poor access to basic services has raised concerns for the most vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, those in need of medical care, people with disabilities, and pregnant women, the statement noted. It is feared that they will be exposed to psychological and social distress, conflict and tension among internally displaced people, deprivation of access to information, and the possibility of abuse or exploitation. Meanwhile, the Israeli forces continued to intensify their strikes on the occupied Gaza Strip. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,000 others wounded since the outbreak of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in the initial Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. Alena Maschke writes for The Acadiana Advocate as part of a health collaborative with The Current, supported by the Schumacher Family Foundation, Pugh Family Foundation, Pinhook Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. Email her at alena.maschke@theadvocate.com. You can read her work at thecurrentla.com and theacadianaadvocate.com. 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. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- "I am experiencing firsthand the vitality of the Chinese economy," Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Hoffman has said. China's just-released third-quarter economic data reflected the country's overall economic vitality and a good momentum of further enhancement, the CEO and chairman of Founders Space, one of the leading incubators in Silicon Valley, told Xinhua in a recent interview. He further expressed his optimism about the prospects and resilience of China's economy. Hoffman, who is also an angel investor, has been doing business with China since 2015. "I've seen dramatic changes and incredible innovations in high tech across the country," he noted. Witnessing the rapid increase of Chinese investment in the high-tech manufacturing and service industries, the investor said the most impressive development has been the fast advancement of AI, which is poised to entirely reinvent industries and remake the economy. Despite the pandemic and other obstacles, Hoffman didn't stop investing his time and resources in China. He has made three business trips to China this year. "The positive changes I see are not only reflected in the economic data but also in the activity of grassroots entrepreneurship," Hoffman said. "The negative feeling is diminishing. The mood among entrepreneurs is much more positive. Those business leaders who focused on the fundamental principles of creating value for customers are being rewarded," he added. Hoffman further said it has been an incredible experience for him to act as a bridge between Chinese entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley, a region in the U.S. state of California that is a global center for high technology and innovation. "The bottom line for me has always been the spirit of the entrepreneurs. I don't know of any other people in the world who work harder than Chinese entrepreneurs. The Chinese entrepreneurs I know have continued to innovate and push forward their businesses. This fact alone has guided my strategy in China," he said. When speaking at a forum for women entrepreneurs in Shanghai this month, Hoffman noticed that "the room was bristling with energy. I could see in their eyes the drive and determination to grow their businesses, despite the obstacles they face." He said that China is at a pivotal moment, as the economy can continue to pick up momentum. "A lot depends on public sentiment and consumer spending. If that increases over the coming months, the recovery will accelerate and enter a positive feedback cycle," Hoffman said. "No matter what, I'm positive about the long-term future. There are always ups and downs in economic growth, but the trend of history has been upwards, and I don't see that changing," he said. On the final days of their trip, Deyaan had started complaining of a headache. As the family prepared to leave for the airport for their flight back to Sydney, Deyaans condition deteriorated. The family instead rushed to the hospital, where they learnt their previously lively, sport-loving and completely healthy son had suffered a brain haemorrhage. An agonising four days of procedures and assessments followed. There were second and third opinions from doctors in India, and calls to family friends who were doctors in the US and the UK. In the middle of it all was a moment of hope. Deyaan woke up. A nurse told the family: Your son is awake, but he is asking if he is in Sydney? Naisha, previously barred from the hospital because children were not allowed as visitors, was granted special permission to see him. But it was short-lived. I think, personally, he woke up just to say his goodbyes, Mili said. Loading It was day six by the time they were told by a panel of doctors that nothing could be done. The damage was irreversible and Deyaan, days from returning to class at Quakers Hill Public School, was brain-dead. Its not like a heart attack where everything stops. The other organs are functioning but slowly the messages start dropping off, Mili said. It was then that the hospital suggested that Deyaan was a rare candidate for paediatric organ donation. Thats when it struck me that, yes, he had spoken about organ donation. They had learnt about road safety in school and spoken about it and he had said he would, Mili said. Rupesh and the family in Mumbai were against it. As an adherent of Jainism, with a belief in reincarnation after death, Rupesh said he had concerns about the implication of his son losing his organs. I felt like a horrible monster of a mother because I was the only one saying yes, Mili said. A call to their guru in Sydney shifted Rupeshs position. He said: Theres nothing that says you cant do this. It is the highest form of gift one can give, the highest form of donation, Rupesh recalled. Forty-two per cent of NSW residents are registered organ donor, but in parts of western Sydney, home to more culturally and linguistically diverse communities, that figure is much lower. Every major religion allows organ donation including those that believe in reincarnation. In the years since their sons death, the Udanis have sought to raise awareness of organ donations and increase donor registrations among their Jain community in Sydney. For the first time this year, the event, known as Saffron Day, is open to the public, with a five-kilometre bike ride and community day at Bicentennial Park on Sunday. For the Udanis, saffron has three meanings. Deyaans favourite colour was orange, but also saffron is on the tricolour flag of India which symbolises a sacrifice, Mili explained. But there is also saffron the spice. And the thing about saffron is, just a pinch goes a long way. Just registering as a donor could change someones life. This land was whose? Im a 90-year old-woman of Jewish extraction. I remember 1948, when the British told the world they were creating Israel. But unlike the former treasurer Josh Frydenberg ( Comment , 21/10), I ask myself was it their land to give, and what happened to the people of that land? Were Palestinians who had lived there for centuries asked could their land be given away? Living with racism When I arrived in Australia, nearly 50 years ago, as a young Dutch migrant, I was horrified by the racist attitudes towards me. I was constantly referred to as a Dutchie in my first and consecutive jobs . I was yelled at riding my bike along St Kilda Road, on my way to university get out of the way, you bloody migrant. When I carried my first-born baby in a sling I was told I looked like a kaffir. Then later on when my Australian children went to school they came home and asked me what a clog wog was. The worst and most revealing comment must have been from a family member to my husband ,who said, She is actually a nice mother. And all that endured and shrugged off with white skin, blue eyes and still blonde. Australians not racist ? My experience is different. Marion Harper, Reservoir Reign of madness How did we get here? When a group of people murder civilians, especially babies, there is no excuse, prevarication or provocation, nor is it resistance. I say this as a proud Australian Jew supportive of the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination alongside Israels continued existence. I say this as someone who is not a starry-eyed ideologue or as someone who does not consider himself better than anyone else because of my tribe. I say this as someone aware of the historical complexity of the Middle East, as someone with friends of all ethnicities, as someone grieving the loss of life in Gaza currently. I say this as someone whose extended family was decimated during the Holocaust, and who never expected to see chants of gas the Jews in my own city. How did educated, intelligent people with huge followings, activists and academics alike, who claim to be supporters of human rights, especially the rights of women and children, decide to respond to the worst day for Jewish women and children since the Holocaust with varying versions of its terrible but? I ask, Have people lost their minds? Simon Tedeschi, Newtown, NSW Our blindspot Waleed Aly (Comment, 20/10) indicates that, among other things, the failure of the referendum was partly because the application of such a Voice was exclusive to a subset of Australians. My view, as a non-Indigenous Australian, is that the Voice would be of benefit to all Australians. It was not designed to achieve equality by advancing one group while holding others back. We understand as Australians that our national identity is aligned with our landscape. Landscape and country are central to our official national anthem. Our artists speak of it in the works we cherish. Through rich knowledge, First Nations peoples cultivated and sustained this landscape. How have we come to have such a blindspot for the central role of First Nations people in what makes our country? What is the threat in recognising this? We live in a country in which status as the head of state, is conferred by birth exclusively to a member of the British Royal family. No Australian can ever become our head of state, as per the Constitution. Much has changed since 1901 but how long will it take for us to look into our blindspot and discover who we are? Laura Nath, Murrindindi The Australian Tax Office has clawed back $6.4 billion from mining and fossil fuel giants in a record-setting crackdown on multinationals over the past year, with large settlements extracted from Rio Tinto and Ampol contributing to the revenue boost. The windfall secured by the ATOs tax avoidance taskforce is more than double the $3 billion average it has extracted from corporate heavyweights annually since the unit was established in 2016. The ATO clawed back a record $6.4 billion in revenue from multinationals and large companies in the last financial year. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui The taskforces success in 2022-23 was underpinned by a mammoth settlement with Rio Tinto in July last year after a decade-long battle over its Singapore-based marketing hub. The nations top iron ore miner agreed to pay $1 billion in unpaid taxes in what the ATO Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Saint heralded as one of the largest settlements in Australias tax history. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the recovered revenue was a big outcome and would complement the governments multinational tax package to address tax loopholes. A first tranche of legislation is currently before the Senate, which aims to increase transparency around the subsidiaries of multinationals and to limit debt deductions. When Melbourne photographer Gray Tham called a group of women to pitch the idea of a show to help others aged over 50 understand their value, she got a glimpse of why her project was still needed. Many doubted that other women in midlife would want to talk about themselves, or would think they had a story worth telling. Melbourne portrait photographer, Gray Tham, with subjects Mariam Issa and Kerryn Harvey, sets out to show the contributions of women aged 50 and over. Credit: Simon Schluter Having absorbed messages about women past their fertile prime being less relevant in public discourse, and generally, some who wanted to get involved replied to her: Gray I want to do your project, but I have nothing worthy to share. The more I went into it, the more passionate I became about proving to women their life is far from over after 50, these can be the most powerful years of our lives, says Tham, 51, who converted the beginnings of a midlife crisis in her late 40s into the idea for her project. Senator model Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle The Roshel Senator MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) can be an ideal offering for such a requirement, providing an effective transport solution in combat and conflict zones. Based on the Ford F-550 pickup truck, the Canadian firm engaged in the production of armored vehicles has utilized v-hull technology to provide "increased vehicle and crew survivability by reducing the effects of mine blast and offering an unmatched level of protection and durability," said a statement by the firm. The vehicle, according to the company, passed the NATO-certified US-based independent laboratory's level 2 and level 2a/2b ballistic and blast testing under STANAG 4569 AEP 55, ensuring the protection of occupants during explosive attacks, particularly from landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). NEW DELHI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Indian Space Research Organisation on Saturday launched the first test flight for its Gaganyaan (skycraft) mission after putting it on hold due to an anomaly. "Mission Gaganyaan TV D1 Test Flight is accomplished. Crew Escape System performed as intended," reads a brief statement put out by the space agency after some delays. The launch was carried out at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The uncrewed flight test with a single-stage liquid propulsion rocket, equipped with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System, was earlier scheduled to lift off at 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Saturday. Then it was rescheduled twice and finally put on hold until 10:00 a.m. (local time) so that the reason for the launch hold could be identified and corrected. The test vehicle mission is the predecessor to the Gaganyaan project, which envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to the earth. DAMASCUS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Syria has strongly criticized the European Union, France, and Britain for their recent statements marking the tenth anniversary of Syria's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday. It decried what it described as "inflammatory" remarks aimed at Syria by the Western powers and denounced what it called fallacies and distortions of facts contained in the Western statements. Oct. 14 marks the tenth anniversary of the formal entry into force of the CWC for Syria. The EU, France, and Britain have accused Syria of failing to comply with its own obligations under the convention. The Syrian Foreign Ministry accused the European Union, France, and Britain of engaging in hostile campaigns and launching false allegations against Syria over the past years. Emphasizing Syria's commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the ministry highlighted the country's full cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), asserting that Syria had successfully eliminated all components of its chemical program, as validated by the organization's technical secretariat and the United Nations. However, the ministry charged that Western powers had manipulated the organization and its reports, using it as a tool to serve their own agendas. The Syrian government, according to the ministry, has consistently and methodically informed the international community about crimes committed by terrorist groups in Syria, including the use and preparation of chemical weapons. It criticized the West for turning a blind eye to these documented facts, accusing them of sponsoring resolutions that violate the provisions of the CWC, resulting in division and damage to the organization's credibility. People mourn the death of their relatives at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ferial Abdel Hadi, an 86-year-old woman in Gaza who survived decades of turmoil, once again found herself setting foot in a refugee camp, this time in the southern city of Khan Younis. In a broken voice, she told Xinhua how her family had abandoned home to flee tragedies that could possibly fall upon them. The widespread civilian suffering started to unfold before her, who witnessed the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, after Israel embarked on unabated bombardment on the Gaza Strip following Hamas attacks on Israeli towns and military posts on Oct. 7. Israel also imposes a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave, cutting off its supply of water, electricity and other essential goods, as it prepares a ground assault. People search for survivors among the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) "Israeli planes destroyed our house in Beit Lahia ... our people have to flee and sleep in the open," she said with tearful eyes. "We were forced to come here to avoid killings that could fall upon us," she said. The situation has made Hadi flashback to dreadful moments 75 years ago when she was forced to leave their hometown Tal al-Tormos with her family. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, seen by many Palestinians as a national catastrophe, or "Nakba," had resulted in mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. "Over and over again, Gaza endures tragic scenes like this, as all the attempts were of little avail to end an Israeli war, nor to find any real solutions to our issue," she said. Children use candles for lighting in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) "Israel has always forced us to live in the same dire conditions and displacement," said Ferial's son, Mohammed Abdul Hadi, who experienced almost each round of conflict between Israel and Palestinians since 2008. Mohammed, now a father of eight, said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas, not only stirred up the painful memories among the survivors of Nakba, but also made him anguished at what seems to be a doom loop of antagonism and tension. "People here feel hopeless and alienated under the continuous Israeli bombardment and the lack of bread, drinking water, and electricity," said Mohammed Al-Dahdouh, who took refuge at a shelter camp with his 12-member family after Israeli air raids forced them to flee their home. This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The man accused the U.S. administration and its Western allies, who have offered morale and material support for Israel against Gaza-ruling Hamas, of standing behind such indiscriminate measures that left Gazan civilians to bear the most consequences. Hamas on Oct. 7 launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and taking people as hostages into Gaza. In retaliation, Israel launched what seems the most intense military campaign on Gaza in years with heavy bombardment, and prepared to carry out a massive ground assault to destroy Hamas and other armed factions in the Palestinian enclave. A week ago, the Israeli army ordered over a million people, half of the enclave's population, to leave Gaza City and other northern regions within 24 hours. Since then, many civilians have fled southward and taken shelter in the UN-run camps. So far, about 1.6 million people, or more than 60 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip, has been displaced in the ongoing Israeli attacks, according to the latest assessment of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Despite the threats and challenges, many Palestinians remain resolute in their determination not to be uprooted again. Mohammed Abu Ruzq, a resident in a crowded camp in Rafah, expressed his unwavering resistance. "They want to kill us, destroy our homes, and starve us, but we will not comply with them," he said. BEIRUT, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah fighter was killed and another was injured in Israeli bombardment on the Lebanese-Israeli border, said the Shiite military group on Saturday evening. The statement noted in a statement that Hezbollah mourned its fighter, without providing more details. Hezbollah also announced that its fighters fired guided missiles at an Israeli Hummer vehicle in the vicinity of Dovev in northern Israel, "killing and wounding its crew members." Sources from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces told Xinhua that the Israeli army bombed the outskirts of about 20 southern towns, causing severe damage to 15 homes and fires in forest areas and vineyards. Meanwhile, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that an Israeli drone fired a missile at a car in the center of the town of Hula in southeastern Lebanon, killing its driver and wounding another person. Hezbollah retaliated by targeting four Israeli sites in the occupied Shebaa Farms and the Kfarchouba Hills with guided missiles and bombed three other areas with rockets and artillery shells, the sources added. 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. Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India TORONTO/NEW DELHI, 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 Canadas 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 Trudeaus 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 Trudeaus 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. CORRECT STAND FIFTEEN days of the raging conflict between Israel and Hamas terror group operating out of Gaza have brought to fore all ugly realities a war brings with it. There have been claims, counter-claims, accusations and denials even as the world finds itself divided over its geopolitical alliances while taking sides. The end result is a barrage of casualties on both sides causing grave strife to humanity. In these circumstances, as India stands solidly behind its close friend Israel, the concern about humanitarian law is a just and prudent position to be adopted by any sensible country. The call by New Delhi to observe strict international humanitarian law after the death of civilians in a Gaza hospital is the right appeal for both the sides and the rest of the world who now needs to find a middle way out rather than stand mute witness to another Russia-Ukraine war-like situation. The world is already reeling under the aftermath of the unending skirmishes between Russia and Ukraine. It has varied opinions as new axis are being worked out by like-minded partners in different parts of the universe. A similar conflict in the Middle-East would be disastrous for the entire world as humanity would be the biggest casualty in the fights. Indias insistence on strict observation of humanitarian law needs to be seen from the light of the noble cause of saving lives, no matter how their governments and leaders think of the fight of ideologies and clash of civilisations. In the end, it is always a precious life that is lost to the bullets and gunfire, be it of a soldier or of a civilian. New Delhi has again walked the tightrope with fine balance as it asserted its long-standing principled position of a two-nation solution for Israel and Palestine. As has been its stand on military conflicts, India has rightly called for a dialogue between the warring sides as it did when the Russian invasion of Ukraine shook the world. In fact, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi indulged in a hard talk with Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin by telling him to choose peace as it is not an era of war. The principled stand that each Government at the Centre has taken over issues of military fights has kept India in the position of leadership because it always sides with humanity. As it did with Ukraine by sending medical help to tend to its injured, New Delhi has been prompt in sending humanitarian assistance to Palestine. And it will never offend Israel as India has been a propagator of world peace and unity even though it detests any form of terrorism. That is why India was the first to declare support to Israel and hailed its right for self-defence against Islamic extremism when the terror group unleashed rockets on Israeli cities from the Gaza strip. Condemnation of terror is a natural reaction for a country which has remained a victim of the same scourge for decades. However, it does not mean that civilian casualties could be ignored in the aftermath. The appeal to strictly adhere to humanitarian law is borne out of this concern as casualties are rising with each passing day. Already the war is half-a-month old and as things are moving it could escalate into a bigger conflict spreading over to other regions pretty quickly. The Arab world might resort to a unified attack on Israel which has a solid backing from the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. Now, with Russia and China cozying up for a long-term friendship, there is every possibility of the Middle-East becoming another war theatre between the West and the others. Even otherwise, Israel has always been a war-ground for a Russia-US oneupmanship ever since the Jewish nation became independent in 1948. The immediate need, therefore, is to shed differences and give dialogue a chance. GAZA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ferial Abdel Hadi, an 86-year-old woman in Gaza who survived decades of turmoil, once again found herself setting foot in a refugee camp, this time in the southern city of Khan Younis. In a broken voice, she told Xinhua how her family had abandoned home to flee tragedies that could possibly fall upon them. The widespread civilian suffering started to unfold before her, who witnessed the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, after Israel embarked on unabated bombardment on the Gaza Strip following Hamas attacks on Israeli towns and military posts on Oct. 7. Israel also imposes a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave, cutting off its supply of water, electricity and other essential goods, as it prepares a ground assault. "Israeli planes destroyed our house in Beit Lahia ... our people have to flee and sleep in the open," she said with tearful eyes. "We were forced to come here to avoid killings that could fall upon us," she said. The situation has made Hadi flashback to dreadful moments 75 years ago when she was forced to leave their hometown Tal al-Tormos with her family. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, seen by many Palestinians as a national catastrophe, or "Nakba," had resulted in mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. "Over and over again, Gaza endures tragic scenes like this, as all the attempts were of little avail to end an Israeli war, nor to find any real solutions to our issue," she said. "Israel has always forced us to live in the same dire conditions and displacement," said Ferial's son, Mohammed Abdul Hadi, who experienced almost each round of Israeli war on Gaza since 2008, when a three-week armed conflict killed more than 1,000, mostly Palestinians. Mohammed, now a father of eight, said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas, not only stirred up the painful memories among the survivors of Nakba, but also made him anguished at what seems to be a doom loop of antagonism and tension. "People here feel hopeless and alienated under the continuous Israeli bombardment and the lack of bread, drinking water, and electricity," said Mohammed Al-Dahdouh, who took refuge at a shelter camp with his 12-member family after Israeli air raids forced them to flee their home. The man accused the U.S. administration and its Western allies, who have offered morale and material support for Israel's war against Gaza-ruling Hamas, of standing behind such indiscriminate measures that left Gazan civilians to bear the most consequences. Hamas on Oct. 7 launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and taking people as hostages into Gaza. In retaliation, Israel launched what seems the most intense military campaign on Gaza in years with heavy bombardment, and prepared to carry out a massive ground assault to destroy Hamas and other armed factions in the Palestinian enclave. A week ago, the Israeli army ordered over a million people, half of the enclave's population, to leave Gaza City and other northern regions within 24 hours. Since then, many civilians have fled southward and taken shelter in the UN-run camps. So far, about 1.6 million people, or more than 60 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip, has been displaced in the ongoing Israeli attacks, according to the latest assessment of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Despite the threats and challenges, many Palestinians remain resolute in their determination not to be uprooted again. Mohammed Abu Ruzq, a resident in a crowded camp in Rafah, expressed his unwavering resistance. "They want to kill us, destroy our homes, and starve us, but we will not comply with them," he said. CP suspends 3 cops for nexus with criminals Staff Reporter : Exposed text chats among the 3 reveal charts of collections from smugglers, illegal dens Three policemen were suspended by Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar on Friday after WhatsApp chats among the policemen revealed collection from illegal dens and smugglers. The suspended cops have been identified as Naik Police Constable (NPC) Sudhir Kanojia, NPC Vedprakash Yadav, both attached to New Kamptee Police Station, and Head Constable Pappu Tarachand Yadav, attached to police headquarters. A police official said that Pappu Yadav was in the Detection Branch (DB) squad of the police station. Recently, he was transferred to Police Headquarters. Pappu Yadav, who was extorting money from illegal sand and coal transportation and also from the criminals of the area, forwarded the details to Sudhir Kanojia and Vedprakash Yadav. In a whatsapp conversation, Pappu Yadav sent details of the extortion to Sudhir Kanojia and Vedprakash Yadav. In one of the messages, it was mentioned that DB 1... 3000; DB2.... 3000 D2 PSI ..2..4000; Collection wale ko 2000 Total 20,000. In another chat, Sudhir Kanojia received a message from one R Nikhil Gabhane in the chat that Ye chalu 8801 cansal. In a reply, Kanojia sent a message Google Pay Ganesh Thapa and also forwarded Scanner. During the investigation, senior police checked Yadav's smartphone of Yadav and found that he had suspicious transactions through Phone Pay. He received money from one Rizwan Khan whose brother Mohd Hussain was booked under NDPS Act for drug smuggling. The officials learnt that Yadav was in frequent touch with Rizwan Khan and received monetary benefits from him. The erring police officials also quarreled with an Assistant Police Inspector of the police station. After finding the policemen are indulged in illegal collection, the CP suspended them from the duties. ED stuns again; mounts massive search operations in six districts of Cgarh The Hitavada State Bureau Raipur/Durg/Korba/Mahasamund/Dhamtari, Sending another shockwave to the political fraternity of poll-bound Chhattisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday morning mounted a massive search and seizure operations at over 15 locations in Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Mahasamund and Korba districts, covering multiple rice millers and senior state government officials from Chhattisgarh State Co-operative Marketing Federation (CG-MARKFED). EDs fresh crackdown has been dubbed as Naya NAN Ghotala (new rice milling scam) in Chhattisgarh, wherein a group of government officials, in connivance with top rice millers, had formed an illegal cartel, which took commission and cuts for the procurement. Preliminary estimates suggest the rice milling scam to the tune of Rs 600 crore. The ED swoop stems from an Office Memorandum (OM) of Income Tax Departments Investigation Wing, which had then conducted searches on 15 individuals, mostly the rice millers, in addition to two senior officials of CG-MARKFED in the month of July 2023. The taxmen had then also covered the residence of former Managing Director (MD) of CG-MARKFED Manoj Soni, an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer of 1995-batch, in addition to Korba District Marketing Officer (DMO) Pritika Kerketta and Bilaspur DMO Jasveer The searches then had revealed that a well-organised group of rice millers under the patronage of CG-MARKFED officials were running a syndicate extorting Rs 40 per quintal on rice milling after state governments procurement and how, a senior official, who was part of the fairly wide-spread search operations, told The Hitavada, on anonymity condition. Just fortnight ago, the Income Tax Department through their OM Sharing of Information with ED explained about the entire nexus and modus operandi of the syndicate, which was running a well-flourished extortion scam of rice milling in Chhattisgarh. To corroborate their findings, the taxmen also shared crucial digital evidence retrieved from the mobile phones and laptops of all those covered in their searches. Searches were strictly carried out on the residential premises of 15 individuals, fanned across different locations in Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Dhamtari and Korba districts respectively. Most of those brought under the ambit of search are rice millers, while three of them are senior state government officials including District Marketing Officers (DMOs) of Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) posted and a senior bureaucrat earlier posted in Food and Civil Supplies Department. The searches were conducted under Section 17 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), a senior official in the federal agency, who wished not to be quoted. According to this official, unaccounted cash to the tune of over Rs 1 crore were seized, in addition heaps of incriminating paper trails and digital evidence from mobile phones, personal laptops and other digital storage devices. The searches were likely to continue till late Saturday evening as scrutiny and compilation of documents and cloning of digital evidence takes a considerable amount of time. This evidence links all the individuals involved in the scam with each other, which would be corroborated at the later stage of investigation, he added. So much so that the federal agency swoop also enveloped Gopal Modi, Treasurer of Korba District Bharatiya Janata Party and his brother Dinesh Modi, both in rice milling and paddy transport business. A 5-member team of ED officials at around 6 am made their way into Gopal Modis huge residential bungalow, situated at Sitamani area in Korba, from both front and back. Gopal Modi is also the former President of Rice Millers Association. In Raipur district, a rice mill situated in Tilda-Neora, namely M/s Amit Chawal Udyog LLP, owned by Rajendra Kumar Agrawal and Tulsi Agrawal, was being searched, whereas in Durg district, the federal agency sleuths were rummaging through heaps of documents at the Deepak Nagar situated residential premises of Kailash Rungta, who also happens to be the incumbent President of Chhattisgarh Rice Millers Association (CRMA). Similarly, in Durg, residences of Kishor Sortex And Rice Mill Private Limited owners Krishna Kumar Agarwal and Kamal Kumar Agrawal at Kadambari Nagar were also being searched. Kamal Agrawal also owns Hotel Cambean, situated near Green Chowk, Station Road in Durg. In Kurud block of Dhamtari district, the residence of Roshan Chandrakar was also covered, but he managed to escape before ED sleuths could grill him. Similarly, searches were also underway at the residence of Ashish Khandelwal, owner of M/s Annapurna Rice Mills, situated at Jangalpur area of Rajnandgaon. Apropos, in Mahasamund district, residence of former President of District Rice Millers Association Parasmal Chopra, situated on Bagbahara road, was also being rummaged by ED sleuths. Most importantly, the plush residential premise of Manoj Soni, situated at Khushi Vatika in Amlidih area of Mahaveer Nagar, was also brought under the ambit of ED search ops. A former Special Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, with additional charge of Managing Director, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) as well as Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, officer Manoj Soni was shunted by Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 11 after citing dereliction of election duty. Moreover, office and residences of District Marketing Officers (DMO) of CG-MARKFeD Sunil Singh (Dhamtari), Bhowmick Baghel (Durg) and Jasveer Singh Baghel (Raipur) were also being thoroughly searched by the federal agency officers and incriminating documents found there were minutely scrutinised. However, in order to ensure that search and seizure operations face no untoward situation, ED officials were also accompanied by armed troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Gold 3.20 kg From wellCash 1.35 cr From house On-line Gaming Fraud (left) Gold biscuits recovered in a cloth bag from a well. (Right) Cops counting cash at Dr Baggas residence in Gondia. Staff Reporter : In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into on-line gaming fraud worth Rs 58 crore, Nagpur Police conducted raids at seven locations and seized 3 kilograms of gold, found hidden in a well, and a cash of Rs 1.35 crore. The raids took place at six locations in Gondia and one in Bhandara on Friday. The mastermind behind the scam, on-line gaming fraudster Sontu alias Ananth Navratan Jain from Gondia, had surrendered before the court on Modnay. Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar, in a press conference, disclosed that substantial amount of cash was confiscated from the residence of Dr Gaurav Bagga in Gondia. The police carried out raids at five other locations in Gondia and one belonging to a bank manager in Bhandara, but no suspicious items were found at these sites, he said. The investigation took a crucial turn when Sontu handed over his iPhone to the police on Monday after surrender. Although he had wiped the data from the device, the police adopted advanced technology deleted information, including eight call recordings of 200 minutes duration, the CP said. These call recordings shed light on the communication between Sontu, Gondia Axis Bank manager, Ankesh Khandelwal, and Dr Gaurav Bagga, a radiologist from Gondia. The CP stated that the city police had served a notice to Axis Bank on July 27 for the opening of four lockers registered under the Jain familys name. Manager Khandelwal, upon receiving the polices notice, contacted Sontu and tipped him off. Sontu collaborated with Khandelwal and engaged Dr Bagga in a conspiracy. They devised a plan that involved opening three new lockers in Dr Gaurav Baggas name in the same branch and transferring substantial sums from the Jain family lockers to the newly established lockers of Dr Bagga. The cash and gold amassed to such an extent that the three new lockers became jammed with valuables. Despite this, Khandelwal and Dr Bagga were unable to shift gold and cash worth Rs 4.54 crore from the Jain familys lockers. The police seized the remaining amount on August 1. After successfully moving the gold and cash into Dr Baggas lockers, Khandelwal and Dr Bagga handed the valuables to a person before July 30. In a statement to the police, Khandelwal revealed that he had delivered three bags filled with gold and cash to a masked person on instructions of Sontu Jain. Sontu told the police that the three bags were received by Bunty Kothari from Gondia. However, Kothari refused of his involvemen in the deal. According to the Police Commissioner, Sontu had promised Khandelwal a commission of Rs 4 crore, while Dr Bagga was assured Rs 2 crore for their involvement. However, a call recording unveiled Sontus refusal to pay the full amount to Khandelwal for failing to transfer the entire gold and cash from the bank lockers. In response, Khandelwal asserted that it was impossible as Dr Baggas lockers were already jammed and packed. After seizures, a new case has been registered under Sections 409, 420, and 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code at the Gittikhadan police station against Sontu Jain, bank manager Ankesh Khandelwal, Dr Gaurav Bagga, Dr Garima Bagga, Sontu's brother Dhiraj and his wife Shraddha Dhiraj Jain, Sontus mother Kusumdevi Navratan Jain, and others involved. So far, the police have arrested Khandelwal, Dr Bagga and Bunty Kothari, said CP. The investigation into this multi-crore fraud initially commenced with a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police on July 21, following the duping of Vikrant Agrawal of Rs 58 crore. On July 22, the police raided Jains residence in Gondia, seizing cash and gold worth Rs 26.39 crore. On August 1, the police unlocked lockers associated with Sontu Jain and his family and recovered cash and gold valued at Rs 4.54 crore. 3 kg of gold discovered hidden in well Dr Bagga had allegedly hidden 3 kilograms of gold in a well and the discovery was made during a police raid. During the search operation, the police grew suspicious of a covered well on Dr Baggas property. They questioned Dr Bagga about the well and its contents. Dr Baggas responses raised further concerns which led to a thorough inspection of the well. The police removed all the material from the well and discovered a bag tied securely with a rope and hanging from the wells cover. The cops retrieved the bag and opened it only to found a cache of gold biscuits concealed within. Mah Govt to scrap contractual hiring order, says Fadnavis MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced scrapping of a Government order meant for recruiting staff on a contract basis by nine private agencies, and said it was the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation which had taken a decision to hire workforce on short-term basis. His announcement came in the wake of Opposition parties targeting the Eknath Shinde dispensation over the issue of contractual recruitment. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar has lashed out at the Government, claiming the system of contractual staffing in various departments deprives people from underprivileged communities of opportunities. Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis said, the first recruitment on a contractual basis was done in 2003 when the Congress-NCP Govt was in power in Maharashtra. He said contractual staff was hired for the first time in the Education Department under the Sushilkumar Shinde-led Government. GRs (government resolutions) related to contractual hiring were issued when Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan helmed the Government during the 15-year rule of the Democratic Front (DF) coalition (1999-2014), said the Deputy Chief Minister. We do not want this. They (the MVA Government) have committed a sin and we are being blamed for it. I have discussed it with Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. We have decided to scrap the Government resolution (GR) on contractual hiring, Fadnavis said. The decision to hire staff on contract through nine empanelled agencies was taken by Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA Government, he said. Anil Deshmukh, former State Home Minister and a senior leader of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, said, the Government was forced to scrap the decision due to pressure from the Opposition. Man kills mother for not givng him money to buy mobile phone Special Correspondent : IN A shocking case of matricide, a young man from Hudkeshwar area strangled his mother to death after she allegedly refused to give him money to buy a mobile phone. Though the sensational incident took place two days ago, it came to light only after the autopsy report revealed that Kamlabai Gulabrao Badwaik (47), a resident of Plot No 83, Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj Nagar, died of strangulation. Cops on Friday took Ramnath Badwaik (28) into custody on suspicion. During his interrogation, Ramnath confessed to killing his mother as she was neither giving him money to purchase a cellphone nor allowing him to use her mobile phone. He also allegedly told police that the incident took place when he and his mother together were consuming liquor. Angered by his mothers reluctance to get him a mobile phone, he strangled her with a dupatta. Preliminary investigations revealed that Ramnath was staying with his mother Kamlabai at Shree Gajanan Maharaj Nagar. His younger brother Deepak (26) was staying separately near Manish Nagar T-point. Around 5.30 pm on October 18, Deepak received a phone call from his friend that his brother had taken his mother to the hospital and brought her body to the house after the doctors declared her dead. Deepak, his sister, brother-in-law and other relatives came to Kamlabais house after coming to know about her demise. Deepak noticed strangulation marks on the neck of his mother and got suspicious. He asked Ramnath about the gold ornaments worn by their mother. After confirming that Ramnath was hiding something, he approached Hudkeshwar Police and informed them that his mother died under mysterious circumstances. Cops arrived immediately to Kamlabais house and sent her body to Government Medical College & Hospital for post-mortem after conducting an inquest panchnama. Police initially registered an accidental death case. After receiving the post-mortem report, cops cracked the murder case and arrested Ramnath on charges under Sections 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigations are underway. MDL delivers Imphal to Navy MUMBAI, THE Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) on Friday delivered to the Indian Navy four months ahead of contractual time Imphal, the third stealth destroyer of Project 15B Class guided missile destroyer. Imphal is the first naval warship being commissioned with accommodation for women officers and sailors, said MDL. The Acceptance Document was signed by MDL chairman-managing director Sanjeev Singhal and Rear Admiral Sanjay Sadhu. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered Third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B Class Guided Missile Destroyer i.E. Yard 12706 (IMPHAL) to the Indian Navy, the MDL said. The ship is constructed using indigenous steel DMR 249A and is among the largest destroyers built in India, with an overall length of 164 metres and a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes. It is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, the MDL said. It is armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface Brahmos missiles and Barak-8 Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles. Towards undersea warfare capability, the destroyer is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the hull mounted sonar Humsa NG, heavy weight torpedo tube launchers and ASW rocket launchers, it said. Imphals all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft will enable it to operate independently without supporting vessels, and also function as the flagship of a naval task force, the MDL said. Imphal has been delivered to the Indian Navy more than four months ahead of the contractual time as the most combat worthy platform to date. This reaffirms MDLs commitment towards continuous improvement and mostly/ exceeding global benchmarks, it said. The Bharat Metaphor! - VI By Vijay phanshikar The name India certainly relates to the geographical area in the vicinity of the Indus river. But the name Bharat has deeper connotations that relate to history, tradition, culture, literature, civilisation through ages -- all of which need to be understood properly in order to understand what Bharat stood -- and stands -- for. - Statement made by an Indic expert at a seminar. THIS is, of course, a general assertion pointing to the difference between the two names India and Bharat. Even as we ponder over the nuances concealed in the Bharat metaphor, we do realise the truth in it. The difficulty, however, is that one needs a serious delving into the history of the nation spanning countless thousands of years. This is one task that may daunt many. However, enough work has been done in recent decades on this subject to bring to fore the details of Indias history in all its dimensions. All that painstaking work has helped the common people in the country -- and the world -- to understand what Bharat actually means in many of its nuances. Factually speaking, this awareness has helped in removing a lot of misunderstandings about truthful history of the Indian nation. The most critical key to understanding the history of India is Sanskrit, besides regional languages that are rich repositories of Indic knowledge in a non-academic manner. Enough evidence is available in texts and contexts to explain in detail what actually Bharat means -- provided we seek it and search for it. Suffice it is to know, however, that the Bharat of today was built on the great foundation of its knowledge society of the of the past. Knowledge society! That is the best way to describe the Bharat metaphor. Historical evidence shows that a conscious effort was made by the seers and leaders of ancient India to build a social order based on knowledge earned through pursuit of science and art -- and sound sociology. While some segments of the society of those times engaged themselves in the pursuit of knowledge, the rest were engaged in pursuit of arts -- sixty-four in number -- many of which had artisanal nature. Only major arts were sixty-four in number, but there were countless derivatives available for the pursuit by common people. Those artisanal pursuits gave them reasonable employment, so much so that the larger Indian society did not know the concept of unemployment at all. There were people with limited economic resources, all right, but there were no unemployed people. Everybody was engaged in some or the other activity that gave him meaningful employment and engagement that took care of his socio-economic need. And all this was an expansion of the idea of practical knowledge that can be used to earn an honourable livelihood. The secret of the happy society of India of the past lay, thus, in its deep understanding of the processes of Nature and arranging human activity in its synchrony. No activity that ran counter to this idea was allowed -- which protected ecology and environment completely but did not deprive the human society to make a good living. If this process is understood sincerely, then ones understanding of how India of the past lived so well will get enhanced all the more. In other words, India of the past engaged itself in all activities only in moderation -- nothing in excess. There, of course, were villains -- like in any other society. But India also had an effective answer to their shenanigans which came invariably from the realm of dharma -- the ability to make the decision about right and wrong in any situation. And dharma was understood to be the cementing force of the society: Dhru Dharayati Itee Dharmah (That holds everything and everybody together is dharma) was the definition that every knew well. Naturally, when the purpose is to hold everything together, then it entails a set of what is to be followed and what is to be shunned in personal and collective conduct. This definition made all the difference in the Indian society of the past -- for countless thousands of years. One has to return to thinking about the term countless thousands of years when one thinks about Indian historys very long time-line whose start is difficult to define. In ancient texts, references are available to know in numbers the length of Indias past. Accurate calculations also are available about the length of one Yug -- 4.32 lakh years. And, the current Kalee Yug is of 4.32 lakh years, the Dwapar Yug has two such periods, the Treta yug has three such periods, and the Satya Yug has four such periods of 4.32 lakh years. Lord Shri Ram lived in the Treta Yug whose period was before the period of Dwapar Yug when Lord Shri Krishna lived. This will help us understand the depth of the time-line of Indias history. Some modern scholars may never agree with this time-line since they cannot think of such a depth of human history. This is out of ignorance, of course. But if one has to understand the Bharat metaphor, one has to understand this time-line of calculable depth. US leadership holds the world together: Biden WASHINGTON, DECLARING that US 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 Americas national security as he prepared to 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 US obligations overseas at a time when he faces political resistance at home to additional funding. Hes expected to ask for $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which would replenish US weapons stockpiles provided earlier. Theres also $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for unspecified humanitarian efforts, $14 billion for managing the US-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. Israelis can travel to US without visa for 90 days: 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 Programme (VWP) for Israeli travellers, which was initially scheduled to begin on November 30. All children our children: 29 Nobel Laureates: 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. In a rare initiative, 29 Nobel Laureates joined Satyarthi in signing a statement reminding 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. LUANDA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd Chinese Film Festival kicked off on Friday in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Throughout the week-long event, six Chinese movies will be showcased for Angolan audiences. During the inauguration, Chen Feng, the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Angola, expressed her optimism that the films presented in this cultural event could effectively convey the thoughts and sentiments of the Chinese people, portraying the history and reality of the Chinese society. "China is willing to collaborate with Angola in strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Angolan people," she said. The opening film was "Shibadong Village." Following the screening, Cardoso Cassuco, a local resident, said that the film revealed how China overcame poverty. "As is the case everywhere in the world, there is poverty, and we can also take an example from this film on how to overcome poverty from a low level and certain difficulties in life." Angolan Secretary of State for Social Communication Nuno Caldas Albino expressed his satisfaction with participating in the event. He underscored that the event's importance transcends bilateral economic and trade cooperation, emphasizing the cultural aspect as a dynamic force bringing closer Angola-China cooperation. "This exchange of cultural content can naturally strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood, enabling each of the peoples to comprehend the reality and stories of their own countries and other brotherly nations," Albino said. Sonia Francisca, another viewer at the film festival, said that the event serves as a means to promote the relationship between the two countries by facilitating an understanding of each other's culture and way of life, adding that it is a medium to strengthen the friendly relations that have existed for many years between the two countries. The event is scheduled to run until Oct. 25, featuring screenings of five other genres of Chinese films, including action, drama, history and animation. Progressive (NYSE:PGR Get Free Report) and Loews (NYSE:L Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk and valuation. Dividends Progressive pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Loews pays an annual dividend of $0.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Progressive pays out 8.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Loews pays out 4.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Loews is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get Progressive alerts: Volatility & Risk Progressive has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its share price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Loews has a beta of 0.82, meaning that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Progressive 2 5 8 0 2.40 Loews 0 0 0 0 N/A This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Progressive and Loews, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Progressive currently has a consensus target price of $155.93, suggesting a potential upside of 0.73%. Given Progressives higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Progressive is more favorable than Loews. Profitability This table compares Progressive and Loews net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Progressive 4.67% 17.23% 3.47% Loews 8.21% 8.72% 1.74% Institutional and Insider Ownership 83.7% of Progressive shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 54.0% of Loews shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Progressive shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 18.3% of Loews shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Progressive and Loews revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Progressive $49.61 billion 1.83 $721.50 million $4.61 33.58 Loews $14.04 billion 1.01 $1.01 billion $5.26 11.96 Loews has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Progressive. Loews is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Progressive, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Progressive beats Loews on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About Progressive (Get Free Report) The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. The Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos and recreational vehicles (RV). This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and related products. The Commercial Lines segment provides auto-related liability and physical damage insurance, and business-related general liability and property insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, garbage/debris removal, and coal-type businesses; and tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; as well as non-fleet and airport taxis, and black-car services. The Property segment writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, as well as offers manufactured homes, personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; and acts as an agent to homeowners, general liability, workers' compensation insurance, and other products. It also provides reinsurance services. The company sells its products through independent insurance agencies, as well as through mobile applications and over the phone. The Progressive Corporation was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio. About Loews (Get Free Report) Loews Corporation provides commercial property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally. The company offers specialty insurance products, such as management and professional liability, and other coverage products; surety and fidelity bonds; property insurance products that include property, marine and boiler, and machinery coverages; and casualty insurance products, such as workers' compensation, general and product liability, and commercial auto and umbrella coverages. It also provides loss-sensitive insurance programs; and warranty, risk management, information, and claims administration services. The company markets its insurance products and services through independent agents, brokers, and managing general underwriters. In addition, the company is involved in the transportation and storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids(NGLs), and hydrocarbons through natural gas pipelines covering approximately 13,615 miles of interconnected pipelines; 450 miles of NGL pipelines in Louisiana and Texas; 14 underground storage fields with an aggregate gas capacity of approximately 213 billion cubic feet of natural gas; and eleven salt dome caverns and related brine infrastructure for providing brine supply services. Further, the company operates a chain of 26 hotels; and develops, manufactures, and markets a range of extrusion blow-molded and injection molded plastic containers for customers in the pharmaceutical, dairy, household chemicals, food/nutraceuticals, industrial/specialty chemicals, and water and beverage/juice segments, as well as manufactures commodity and differentiated plastic resins from recycled plastic materials. Loews Corporation was incorporated in 1969 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Progressive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progressive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had its price target hoisted by Oppenheimer from $48.00 to $49.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on Bank of America from $35.00 to $33.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Bank of America from $28.00 to $27.50 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 15th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Bank of America from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, HSBC initiated coverage on Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.37. Get Bank of America alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on BAC Bank of America Trading Down 2.4 % BAC opened at $26.31 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $209.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.37, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America has a one year low of $25.47 and a one year high of $38.60. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.83. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.13 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 18.69%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.81 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Bank of America will post 3.39 EPS for the current year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid 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 3.65%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.89%. Insider Activity at Bank of America In related news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total transaction of $2,364,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of America Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brookstone Capital Management lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 97.4% in the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 158,100 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,262,000 after acquiring an additional 78,012 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 6.4% in the third quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 194,621 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,329,000 after acquiring an additional 11,622 shares during the period. Ellsworth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 36.6% in the third quarter. Ellsworth Advisors LLC now owns 31,990 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $862,000 after acquiring an additional 8,571 shares during the period. Index Fund Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Bank of America in the third quarter valued at about $203,000. Finally, Ascent Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Bank of America by 5.7% in the third quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 16,088 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $440,000 after acquiring an additional 869 shares during the period. 68.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Bank of America (Get Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. Featured Stories 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. Dril-Quip (NYSE:DRQ Get Free Report) and SBM Offshore (OTCMKTS:SBFFF Get Free Report) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Dril-Quip and SBM Offshores top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Dril-Quip alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Dril-Quip $365.43 million 2.40 $440,000.00 $0.60 42.82 SBM Offshore N/A N/A N/A $1.13 12.78 Dril-Quip has higher revenue and earnings than SBM Offshore. SBM Offshore is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Dril-Quip, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership Analyst Recommendations 37.7% of SBM Offshore shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Dril-Quip shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Dril-Quip and SBM Offshore, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Dril-Quip 1 0 0 0 1.00 SBM Offshore 0 0 0 0 N/A Dril-Quip presently has a consensus target price of $26.00, indicating a potential upside of 1.21%. Given Dril-Quips higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Dril-Quip is more favorable than SBM Offshore. Profitability This table compares Dril-Quip and SBM Offshores net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Dril-Quip 5.68% 0.26% 0.24% SBM Offshore N/A N/A N/A Summary Dril-Quip beats SBM Offshore on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Dril-Quip (Get Free Report) Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for for both offshore and onshore applications worldwide. The company's principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, subsea and surface production trees, mudline hanger systems, specialty connectors and associated pipes, drilling and production riser systems, liner hangers, wellhead connectors, diverters, and safety valves. It also provides technical advisory services, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The company's products are used to explore for oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, and Spars, as well as moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling and other oilfield contractors, and engineering and construction companies. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. About SBM Offshore (Get Free Report) SBM Offshore N.V. provides floating production solutions to the offshore energy industry worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Lease and Operate, and Turnkey. It engages in the design, supply, installation, operation, lease, and life extension of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, as well as semi-submersibles, tension leg platforms, liquefied natural gas (LNG) FPSOs, turret mooring systems, floating offshore wind, and brownfield and offshore loading terminals. The company also provides catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) or single point mooring (SPM) terminal; as well as provides solutions for floating unit mooring, flexible flowline, and subsea structure installation works. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 15 FPSOs and 1 semi-submersible unit. The company was formerly known as IHC Caland and changed its name to SBM Offshore N.V. in 2005. SBM Offshore N.V. was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Schiphol, the Netherlands. Receive News & Ratings for Dril-Quip Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dril-Quip and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nadler Financial Group Inc. lessened its position in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,203 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 257 shares during the period. Nadler Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,094,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC now owns 6,220 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 17,393 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,865,000 after acquiring an additional 2,237 shares in the last quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Dividend Assets Capital LLC now owns 24,183 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,594,000 after acquiring an additional 1,273 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 26,216 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,812,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 19.6% during the 2nd quarter. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,208 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $233,000 after acquiring an additional 362 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.53% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently issued reports on XOM shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Exxon Mobil from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $127.22. Insider Activity In related news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben purchased 458,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben acquired 458,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $106.93 per share, with a total value of $48,973,940.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at $174,830,550. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 27,772 shares in the company, valued at $3,193,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of Exxon Mobil stock opened at $111.08 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $112.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of $109.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The company has a market cap of $444.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.89, a PEG ratio of 4.03 and a beta of 1.05. Exxon Mobil Co. has a one year low of $98.02 and a one year high of $120.70. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.00 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $82.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $81.80 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 13.72% and a return on equity of 25.82%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 28.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.14 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.28%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 29.12%. Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:PBT Get Free Report) is one of 10 public companies in the Oil royalty traders industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Permian Basin Royalty Trust to similar companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, profitability and risk. Dividends Permian Basin Royalty Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Permian Basin Royalty Trust pays out 23.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Oil royalty traders companies pay a dividend yield of 0.9% and pay out 26.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Permian Basin Royalty Trust is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get Permian Basin Royalty Trust alerts: Profitability This table compares Permian Basin Royalty Trust and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Permian Basin Royalty Trust 97.93% 20,615.65% 1,001.43% Permian Basin Royalty Trust Competitors 88.20% 3,726.05% 442.18% Risk & Volatility Analyst Ratings Permian Basin Royalty Trust has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Permian Basin Royalty Trusts rivals have a beta of 0.82, suggesting that their average stock price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Permian Basin Royalty Trust and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Permian Basin Royalty Trust 0 0 0 0 N/A Permian Basin Royalty Trust Competitors 2 116 31 2 2.22 As a group, Oil royalty traders companies have a potential downside of 15.24%. Given Permian Basin Royalty Trusts rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Permian Basin Royalty Trust has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Permian Basin Royalty Trust and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Permian Basin Royalty Trust $54.47 million $53.54 million 18.19 Permian Basin Royalty Trust Competitors $122.50 million $91.98 million 14.55 Permian Basin Royalty Trusts rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Permian Basin Royalty Trust. Permian Basin Royalty Trust is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Insider and Institutional Ownership 28.1% of Permian Basin Royalty Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.5% of shares of all Oil royalty traders companies are held by institutional investors. 3.6% of shares of all Oil royalty traders companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Permian Basin Royalty Trust beats its rivals on 7 of the 12 factors compared. Permian Basin Royalty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Permian Basin Royalty Trust, an express trust, holds overriding royalty interests in various oil and gas properties in the United States. The company owns a 75% net overriding royalty interest in the Waddell Ranch properties comprising Dune, Sand Hills (Judkins), Sand Hills (McKnight), Sand Hills (Tubb), University-Waddell (Devonian), and Waddell fields located in Crane County, Texas. It also holds a 95% net overriding royalty in the Texas Royalty properties, which consist of various producing oil fields, such as Yates, Wasson, Sand Hills, East Texas, Kelly-Snyder, Panhandle Regular, N. Cowden, Todd, Keystone, Kermit, McElroy, Howard-Glasscock, Seminole, and others located in 33 counties in Texas. Its Texas Royalty properties comprise approximately 125 separate royalty interests containing approximately 51,000 net producing acres. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Permian Basin Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Permian Basin Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WuXi AppTec (OTCMKTS:WUXAY Get Free Report) and Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares WuXi AppTec and Charles River Laboratories Internationals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get WuXi AppTec alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets WuXi AppTec N/A N/A N/A Charles River Laboratories International 11.58% 18.99% 7.47% Institutional and Insider Ownership 98.9% of Charles River Laboratories International shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Charles River Laboratories International shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score WuXi AppTec 0 0 1 0 3.00 Charles River Laboratories International 0 4 7 0 2.64 This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for WuXi AppTec and Charles River Laboratories International, as provided by MarketBeat. Charles River Laboratories International has a consensus target price of $236.08, indicating a potential upside of 27.33%. Given Charles River Laboratories Internationals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Charles River Laboratories International is more favorable than WuXi AppTec. Earnings & Valuation This table compares WuXi AppTec and Charles River Laboratories Internationals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio WuXi AppTec N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Charles River Laboratories International $4.18 billion 2.28 $486.23 million $9.43 19.66 Charles River Laboratories International has higher revenue and earnings than WuXi AppTec. Summary Charles River Laboratories International beats WuXi AppTec on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About WuXi AppTec (Get Free Report) WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd., an investment holding company, provides research, development, and manufacturing services to discover, develop, and manufacture small molecule drugs, and cell and gene therapies in the People's Republic of China, the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through six segments: WuXi Chemistry, WuXi Testing, WuXi Biology, WuXi ATU, WuXi DDSU, and Others. It offers contract research, development, and manufacturing organization services for new drug development from discovery to commercial covering various categories for various synthetic molecular modalities, including small molecules, oligonucleotides, peptides, and complex conjugates; and biology services and solutions that support stand-alone and integrated projects from target discovery to candidate selection and into the clinic. The company also provides seamless drug and medical device testing services from preclinical testing to clinical trials; an integrated end-to-end solution to accelerate time to market for cell and gene therapies; drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotech customers; and clinical testing services. WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. About Charles River Laboratories International (Get Free Report) Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., a non-clinical contract research organization, provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions (Manufacturing). The RMS segment produces and sells rodent research model strains and purpose-bred rats and mice for use by researchers. This segment also provides a range of services to assist its clients in supporting the use of research models in research and screening non-clinical drug candidates, including research models, genetically engineered models and services, insourcing solutions, and research animal diagnostic services. The DSA segment offers early and in vivo discovery services for the identification and validation of novel targets, chemical compounds, and antibodies through delivery of non-clinical drug and therapeutic candidates ready for safety assessment; and safety assessment services, such as toxicology, pathology, safety pharmacology, bioanalysis, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics services. The Manufacturing segment provides in vitro methods for conventional and rapid quality control testing of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals and consumer products. This segment also offers specialized testing of biologics that are outsourced by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and avian vaccine services that provide specific-pathogen-free (SPF) fertile chicken eggs, SPF chickens, and diagnostic products used to manufacture vaccines. The company also provides contract vivarium operation services to biopharmaceutical clients. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for WuXi AppTec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WuXi AppTec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WINDHOEK, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has been granted 19 million euros (20.2 million U.S. dollars) from the German government through KfW Development Bank as a financial contribution toward community conservation in the Zambezi Region, a senior official has said. Eight million euros will be allocated to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation, while 11 million euros are earmarked for mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia's Communal Conservancies, the country's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said in a statement on Friday during the launch of the community livelihood development and human-wildlife mitigation project in the Zambezi Region. According to Shifeta, the increase in the numbers of Namibia's wildlife, especially iconic species such as elephants, crocodiles, lions, hippos and rhinos, is a success story for the southern African country but leads to increasing HWC incidents. "As a balancing measure, our ministry continues to implement livelihood improvement initiatives to ensure communities benefit from the abundant natural resources in their area," he said. "These technical solutions and grant programs are community-led and thus empower communities largely affected by HWC in the Zambezi Region," he added. Beatrice Lucke, country director of KfW Development Bank, said that the protection of Namibia's resources is an endeavor that holds a special place on the agenda of both governments. "Nature and wildlife in Namibia are not just resources; they are the lifeblood of this land and must be safeguarded for the sake of Namibia and its people," she added. Ryman Healthcare (OTCMKTS:RYHTY Get Free Report) is one of 65 public companies in the Medical Care Facilities industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Ryman Healthcare to similar companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, risk, profitability and dividends. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Ryman Healthcare and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Ryman Healthcare alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Ryman Healthcare N/A N/A 9.74 Ryman Healthcare Competitors $2.49 billion $44.63 million 314.49 Ryman Healthcares competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Ryman Healthcare. Ryman Healthcare is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ryman Healthcare 0 0 0 0 N/A Ryman Healthcare Competitors 142 953 1271 3 2.48 This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Ryman Healthcare and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, Medical Care Facilities companies have a potential upside of 25.44%. Given Ryman Healthcares competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Ryman Healthcare has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Institutional and Insider Ownership 32.9% of shares of all Medical Care Facilities companies are held by institutional investors. 19.7% of shares of all Medical Care Facilities companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Ryman Healthcare and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ryman Healthcare N/A N/A N/A Ryman Healthcare Competitors 4.21% -12.42% 1.58% Dividends Ryman Healthcare pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Ryman Healthcare pays out 21.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Medical Care Facilities companies pay a dividend yield of 2.9% and pay out 57.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Ryman Healthcare competitors beat Ryman Healthcare on 8 of the 10 factors compared. Ryman Healthcare Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ryman Healthcare Limited develops, owns, and operates integrated retirement villages, rest homes, and hospitals for the elderly in New Zealand and Australia. The company's villages provide a range of retirement living and care options, such as independent townhouses and apartments, and serviced apartments, as well as a care center, which offers rest homes, hospitals, dementia-level care, and respite and day care services. Its villages also provide all-weather bowling green, indoor heated swimming pool and spa, gym, internal atrium, beauty and hair salons, library, dining area, bar, lounges, croquet laws, shops, and movie theatre facilities. The company owns and operates retirement village units and care units. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Receive News & Ratings for Ryman Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryman Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PHNOM PENH, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC), a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, will host an international forum on Oct. 25, focusing on regional security concerns and Chinese global initiatives, an organizer said on Saturday. IRIC's director general Kin Phea said the second Phnom Penh Forum (PPF) will bring together dozens of scholars, professors, and researchers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, South Korea, and Russia, among others. "The annual forum will give an opportunity to international experts to discuss ASEAN centrality," he told Xinhua, adding that the experts would also share views on alliances like the Quad (formally the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, and the tripartite AUKUS, a military pact among the United States, Britain and Australia. "It will raise public awareness on the proliferation of nuclear technology and heightened risk of triggering a nuclear arms race," he said, adding that ASEAN is a nuclear weapon-free zone, and the 10-country bloc opposes nuclear weapon proliferation. Phea said experts will also share their views on four Chinese global initiatives, namely the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Civilization Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Development Initiative, as well as BRICS mechanism and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). "The forum will be a venue for experts to share their ideas and solutions to pressing regional security concerns and global challenges," Phea said. "We hope the forum's outcomes will be useful for leaders to make right decisions to continue to maintain peace, security, stability, common development, and prosperity in the region and in the world at large," he added. Women in Nigeria experience a range of violence, including sexual harassment, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence, and violence against non-combatant women during conflicts. In this report, ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE explores how despite these challenges, there are numerous organizations and individuals dedicated to meeting the needs of women through the creation of empowerment programs that focus on political, social, and economic empowerment for the betterment of the nation She declined to provide her name due to the stigma associated with it. Therefore, Amina, a middle-aged woman, was one of the numerous women and girls who experienced rape and other forms of sexual harassment in the northeast region at the hands of the Boko Haram fighters. Survivors and witnesses like me have reported incidents of sexual violence in numerous villages within the communities in the zone and women rarely have hope of surviving, Amina stated. She mentioned that these attacks, commonly happening during nighttime raids, were specifically targeted at women and girls who were either at their residences or attempting to flee. The primary objective of this terrorist group is to destabilize the Nigerian central government, said experts. As Boko Haram continues their relentless cycle of killings, abductions, and looting, they also subject women and girls to rape and other forms of sexual violence during their attacks, Osai Ojigho, a senior member of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. These acts are classified as war crimes In addition to murdering those attempting to flee during violent raids, the fighters also plunder livestock, money, and other valuable possessions especially manned by women and girls. Amina revealed that many women who survived Boko Haram have lost all hope of attaining a better life. Many women, excluding those who have died due to domestic violence, experience a fate comparable to Amina, and these acts are described by experts as war crimes. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, the founder and executive director of CHELD, states that financial issues, such as a lack of funds for communication and dependence on the abuser, hinder women from escaping abusive situations. According to experts, due to the situation being classified as a war crime, these women frequently undergo emotional and financial exhaustion, resulting in unemployment and a decrease in income. A research conducted by experts appointed by the Nigerian Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Development, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) Nigeria and with support from the Norwegian Government, unveiled that 28% of Nigerian women between the ages of 25 and 29 have encountered various types of physical violence starting from the age of 15. The types of violence against women in Nigeria include sexual harassment, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence, and violence against non-combatant women during conflicts, they said. Calling for rescue Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the founder of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), expressed the view that the Nigerian government should establish more institutions to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence and the resulting lack of accountability. According to date, Nigeria adopted a Framework and Plan of Action for the National Gender Policy in 2006 as a means to reduce instances of violence against women. Since then, both the federal and state governments have implemented various legislative and policy measures, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015, which criminalizes female genital mutilation, harmful widowhood practices, harmful traditional practices, and all forms of violence against individuals in both public and private life. However, experts believe that achieving these objectives is now highly unlikely. Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi also emphasized the importance of implementing policies and enacting laws to strengthen the national response and provide support for victims and survivors of violence. Reassuring Lost Hope In Women Amina, along with other women who have been displaced and are facing financial difficulties, remain optimistic as different organizations and individuals are addressing their needs by establishing women's empowerment programs that focus on political, social, and economic strength in national development. Research has indicated that this is crucial because Women for Women International, an international NGO, reported in its Nigerian Women's Social and Economic Inclusion reports that only 6% of Nigeria's lawmakers are women, less than half of women participate in the workforce, and 30% of girls aged 9-12 have never attended school. They argue that if more women are elected into positions of leadership, the concerns of women, who constitute nearly 50% of Nigeria's population, will be better represented in lawmakers' decisions. In June, the World Bank approved $500 million for the Nigeria for Women Program Scale Up (NFWP-SU). The approved financing is expected to provide additional support to the Nigerian government's efforts in enhancing the living conditions of women in Nigeria. According to the World Bank's report, "the NFWP-SU aims to contribute towards reducing gender inequality by facilitating improved economic opportunities for women. Additionally, it seeks to enhance outcomes in education, health, and nutrition for families, while also strengthening women's and communities' ability to adapt and withstand the impacts of climate change." The Women Inspirational Development Center was determined to provide agency-based empowerment to 250 young women from Nigeria who, after finishing secondary school, resort to working on the streets due to a lack of job opportunities or the chance to pursue higher education. "This project minimizes the risks these young women face on the streets and unlocks their full potential to create a new life through i) academic guidance for college entry or ii) market skills, education to create their own small business," Crowd Project manager of the fundraising platform Global Giving. On its part, the Nestle Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project has assisted 332 women like Amina, who had lost hope, in expanding their businesses by 300% and maintaining this growth. These women were said are part of Nestle Nigeria's value chain and operate small businesses in rural areas throughout Nigeria. Khaled Ramadan, the Commercial Manager of Nestle Nigeria, highlighted the importance of creating shared value within communities and ensuring the sustainability of their business. According to Ramadan, the Rural Women Empowerment Program is an ongoing initiative that aims to consistently provide value for these women. The success stories and testimonials from previous beneficiaries, particularly those who experienced a 100% to 200% increase in business growth within three months of joining the program, motivate us to take further action, said Ramadan. Former Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Port Command Public Relations Officer Chief Uche Ejesieme (0zor Ishinmili Agulu) and family members laid their father, Chief Alexander Okoye Ejesieme (Okwuotoekeneze 1 Of Agulu) in Ifiteani Village, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, to rest. A respected businessman and a figure of inspiration in the community, Chief Alexander Ejesieme's contributions will be cherished, and his legacy remembered. The entire town was enveloped with fanfare as prominent Nigerians came to honour the departed and celebrate his impactful life. The funeral service unfolded at St. John De Evangelist Catholic Church Agulu by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, as soon as his remains and the funeral Cortese which included an horse-drawn carriage arrived the church. In his sermon The Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor extolled the virtues of Pa Alexander Ejesieme who reportedly lived a life of dedication and service to God. According to Rev. Ezeokafor, Chief Ejesieme was a man with intimidating kind heart, whose greatness is not in the riches and wealth he has acquired, but in his unrelenting act of generosity. Others are His Royal Highness Igwe Innocent Obodoakor Igwe of Agulu, Igwe Innocent Obelle of Nawfia, His Royal Majesty Ezeuzu III Of Awka Austine Ndigwe, Other Royal father's and their Cabinet Members, Representatives of Ministries Departments and Agencies, Former Governor Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) of Enugu State, Senator Tony Nwoye, Senators Ngige and Uche Ekwunife sent representatives, Chief Judge Anambra State. Lots of friends and well wishers from Nigeria and Diaspora. Captains of Industries, MD DONCLIMAX Shipping, MD Zenith Shipping, MD Clarion Shipping, MD Ikoro Bonded Terminals, MD Ocean Organic Services Ltd, Representative of Coscharis Motors, Representative of Innoson Motors, The Maritime Community, Representative of MD Ematoks Chief Akuyie of Agulu, their son in-law His Royal HighNess Chief Eunan Eke, Ezeokpo 1 of Okpo Autonomous Kingdom, not forgetting all the 20 villages in Agulu with their Traditional Cultural/Masquerade Groups, Obi Cubana Group, Groups of ObiDIENT, APC, PDP families, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association, Agulu Grammar School Old Boys Association, Igwebuike Gramnar School Old Boys Association, Boys Secondary School Old Boys, amongst other Business Moguls. Pa Ejesieme who died at age 93 was born in 1927 to late Chief & Mrs. Ejesieme Obikwelu of Ifiteani village Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state. He attended standard school in Agulu during his formative years before on an apprenticeship to late Mr. Okeke Mgbafor of Ifiteani village Agulu, as a metal fabricator here in Agulu where he demonstrated exceptional skills endearing him to the heart of his master. However, as an only son of his parents, he sought an opportunity to try his hands in other business ventures, leading to his relocation to Onitsha, where he started learning the trade of kitchen utensils (Okapi Stainless Knives) at the popular Onitsha Main Market. Here again, he quickly learnt the trade to the admiration of his contemporaries; shortly after, he started his own business. He got married to Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Uzoamaka Ejesieme JP (ADADIORANMA) 1963 from Umubiala Village Agulu and the marriage was blessed with 9 children from the same mother among whom is Chief Alexander Ejesieme Jnr Senior Advocate of Nigeria amongst others. The highpoint of the event was the thanksgiving procession by Chief Uche Ejesieme and his immediate family members, amid soulful renditions from the St. John De Evangelist Catholic Church choir. He was reputed for his no nonsense stance on issues and was ready to speak truth to power irrespective of whose ox is gored. It is also instructive to note that late Chief Alexander Ejesieme, as a devout Catholic contributed very immensely to various Catholic Churches, where he had opportunity to worship but was most active in St. Johns Catholic Church Agulu, where he served at different times as the PPC Chairman and Chairman of harvest and bazaar committee. His sense of philanthropism at the time was legendary too. The former NCS Tin-Can Island Port Command PRO described Pa Ejesieme as his best friend and a man who loathed dishonesty. He added: A very open-minded and passionately detribalised Nigerian, he encouraged and supported his children to see every Nigerian as one. He was a natural activist, speaking up against injustice and mans inhumanity to man, an attribute he bestowed on his children" Chief Uche Ejesieme said. Honourable Commissioner representing the south-south region in the National Assembly Service Commission, Chief Francis Atanomeyovwi has described the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio as a thoroughbred political leader with the wisdom and right temperament for the business of the 10th National Assembly, calling on the people of the south-south and indeed all Nigerians to rally round the number 3 political leader in Nigeria. In a statement shortly after a 2 day retreat for lawmakers of the 10th National Assembly on Fiscal policy and Tax Reforms in Akwa-Ibom state, the Delta-born Chief Atanomeyovwi extolled the virtues of the Senate President, noting that with a man of Akpabio's experience at the head of the National Assembly, Nigerians should expect improved legislative inputs from the members for enthronement of good governance, peace and progress of the land. He noted that having worked closely with Chief Godswill Akpabio for the past few months, he was sure that Nigeria was in safe hands as his leadership of the National Assembly will provide the needed impetus and support to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Chief Atanomeyovwi disclosed that since assumption of office as Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has approved workshops, seminar and different retreats for National Assembly members towards capacity building, and better understanding of the onerous duties on the shoulder of the NASS members. He described Senator Akpabio as a senate president with a difference who has achieved a lot in the few months in office, stressing that with the way things were going, Nigerians should be sure of better days ahead. "Akpabio's leadership of the National Assembly does not discriminate. All members are sure of their entitlements irrespective of party affiliation. Today, all National Assembly members are set to sign for their official SUV vehicles to enable them perform their duties effectively. Unlike what I hear happen at the Delta State House of Assembly where opposition lawmakers are being treated like trash. I salute Senator Godswill Akpabio for his kind disposition to all NASS stakeholders", Atanomeyovwi said. He added that the challenges of the present time were but temporary as the Tinubu administration and Akpabio leadership of the 10th NASS were doing everything to change the narrative and build a better society for the good of ordinary Nigerians. Atanomeyovwi also called on Christian leaders in the south-south and theI challenge the Christian Association of Nigeria to stand in the gap in fervent intercessory prayers for the Senate President so he could partner/collaborate with them for the success of the big task before him. "Finally, I call on all political and christian leaders across Nigeria to rally round Senator Godswill Akpabio so he could succeed as the Senate President. We must shun every act and pull him down tendency that will not serve the interest of Nigeria. Akpabio must be supported by all men of goodwill for the stability of the NASS leadership, peace and development of Nigeria. Unstable leadership breeds resentment, instability, and unhealthy rivalry. Let us all rise up to support our illustrious son to succeed in this onerous National assignment", Atanomeyovwi added. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has bemoaned the effects of climate change on the security in the northern region of the country. He said the effects of climate change were pushing the frontiers of insecurity facing states in the North, advising journalists to concentrate and report more on climate change and its effects rather than over-concentrating on reporting politics. He made the call while speaking at a retreat organised for journalists covering the House of Representatives in Minna with the theme The role of media in mainstreaming climate change policies. Bago, who was represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, said the retreat could not have come at a better time since it precedes the first Green Economy Summit in Nigeria to be hosted by Niger State in a few days. He, however, noted that the essence of the summit would be defeated if the discussions and resolutions arrived at during the summit were not conveyed to the public by the media. Governor Bago said, Climate change is one of the biggest problems confronting nations today. In Nigeria, it is a matter of concern to governments and experts because it is happening at a very frightening level. The United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) has earmarked N4, 223,496,406.14 as grant for empowerments in some states in the northern part of Nigeria. It said the grant will be spent through the CARE International-Nigeria to implement a 19-month Strengthening Protection Services and Resilience project in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. The project is scheduled to reach 37,500 women, children and marginalised groups, including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities disproportionately affected by the years of violent conflict. The CARE Nigerias country director, Dr Hussaini Abdu, who made this known on Friday in a statement. He added that the project would cover five local government areas, namely, Borno (Jere and Bama), Adamawa (Yola North), and Yobe (Potiskum and Gujba). For upcoming projects, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) has signed a $2bn memoranda of understanding with three prominent Chinese partners. This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha. On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the Vice President Kashim Shettima, presided over the signing at the Belt And Road Initiative Forum in Beijing, China. According to the statement, As Nigeria continues to reap heaps and bounds of dividends from the ongoing 3rd Belt And Road Initiative, NASENI and three Chinese partners have signed memoranda of understanding for new projects valued at $2bn. This is just as the Federal Ministry of Works also signed an MoU with China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. for the construction of the Lekki Blue Seaport contract at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos. The NASENI disclosed the MoUs to partner for investments in Nigeria such include Shanghai Launch Automotive Technical Co Ltd an MOU to establish a new energy automobile facility for the production of new energy electric vehicles; China Great Wall Industry Corporation an MOU for the turnkey delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles assembly line projects; and Newway Power Technology Company Ltd an MOU for the transfer of technology on lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and allied technologies. The Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, further noted that the realisation of these agreements marked the agencys dedication to advancing the Foreign Direct Investment endeavours of the Tinubu administration. Anti-graft body studying B10,000 handout BANGKOK: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has confirmed that it is closely examining the governments B10,000 digital money handout and is inviting more economic experts to join its scrutiny of the project. corruptioneconomicspolitics By Bangkok Post Saturday 21 October 2023 10:07 AM A woman shows her support for the governments B10,000 handout programme during a rally last Tuesday (Oct 17) at Pheu Thai Party headquarters, complete with professionally printed signs and T-shirts. Photo: Somchai Poomlard In a statement released yesterday (Oct 20), the anti-graft body said it was duty-bound to assess whether the project, a core economic policy of the governing Pheu Thai Party, risks becoming a form of policy-oriented corruption, as some critics have warned, reports the Bangkok Post. Although precise details of how the scheme will work and how much it will cost are not yet available, there have been growing concerns, especially among senators, that the project could jeopardise the governments financial security, the statement said. Consequently, the NACC said it felt the urgent need to respond to these concerns and take action by looking more closely into the policy. The statement said the NACC did a preliminary analysis of the digital wallet programme based on existing information, including the government policy statement presented in parliament on Sept 11-12. The investigation began after Suwana Suwanjuta, an NACC member, was invited to attend a Q&A session about the programme, organised by the Senate on Oct 10. In a related development, former senator Rosana Rositrakul on Thursday filed a petition with the State Audit Office, asking it to scrutinise and suspend the scheme, saying it is potentially damaging. The government aims to give every Thai aged over 16 years B10,000 in digital money via a super app that will be developed for the purpose. The programme could cost up to B560 billion, though proponents say it could be scaled down so that the money goes only to people who really need it. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said that the multiplier effect from spending could help improve GDP growth to 5% next year, and extra taxes collected would help offset the programmes cost. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is expected to become the new leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has called on those waiting for the handout to materialise to be patient while the cabinet sorts out details of its implementation. She was responding to an admission by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat on Thursday that the programme would not start on Feb 1 as expected, as more time is needed to create a secure system. The digital wallet is not a new idea, according to a post on X (Twitter) by Sirikanya Tansakun, deputy leader of the Move Forward Party. She said that a very similar programme was tried in Japan in 1999, and may have been the inspiration for the Pheu Thai policy. Noting that a follow-up study showed the Japanese programme had little impact, she urged the government to reassess the project. Acting Democrat Party Jurin Laksanawisit, meanwhile, said he would continue pushing for scrutiny of the digital money scheme through the House committee on economic development. This is because the government still cant say clearly how the project will work and what funding sources will be used. CANBERRA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Indigenous Australian leaders have identified "deep-seated racism" as a factor in the defeat of the Indigenous Voice referendum. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, three of the four powerful land councils in the Northern Territory (NT) described the victory of the "no" vote in the referendum on Oct. 14 as an attempt to "silence" Indigenous Australians. More than 60 percent of Australians voted against the proposal to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the nation's constitution by establishing an Indigenous Voice, which would have advised the federal parliament on all issues affecting Indigenous communities. Saturday's statement, which ended a week of silence from Indigenous leaders and organizations, said the "mistakes of the past will be continued" following the defeat of the referendum. "We recognize the result of the referendum cannot be separated from a deep-seated racism. It is fair to say that not everyone who voted 'No' is racist but also fair to say that all racists voted 'No'," the Northern Land Council, Tiwi Land Council and Anindilyakwa Land Council said. "The vitriol and hatred that were part of the campaign existed prior to, but were given license through, the process. The overarching theory that we are incapable of managing our own affairs is dehumanizing and degrading and, most of all, deeply flawed." As of the 2021 Census Indigenous Australians made up 26.3 percent of the NT population - the highest proportion of any state or territory. Collectively the three land councils represent Indigenous communities in the northern half of the mainland NT as well as the Tiwi Islands and Groote Eylandt off its north coast. The land councils were established in the 1970s as independent authorities to give Indigenous people in the NT a voice on issues affecting their land, seas and community. The Northern Land Council is the largest and oldest, having been set up in 1974 and currently representing 51,000 Aboriginal people. Saturday's joint statement said that data from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) showed that residents of Indigenous communities across the NT overwhelmingly supported the Voice proposal. Man City seek to stop rot as Chelsea host Arsenal FOOTBALL: Manchester City are aiming to avoid a third straight Premier League defeat for the first time in seven years when they host Brighton today (Oct 21), while Arsenal will provide a stiff test for resurgent Chelsea. FootballPremier-League By AFP Saturday 21 October 2023 11:30 AM Pep Guardiola is searching for answers after two straight league defeats for Manchester City. Photo: AFP Four sides are in the running to top the table at some stage this weekend, starting with Liverpool when they take on Everton in the Merseyside derby. Here we look at the pick of the action. Can City halt slide? Citys defeats by Wolves and Arsenal before the international break were the first back-to-back losses in the league for Pep Guardiolas men since 2018. You have to go back to the days of Manuel Pellegrini in early 2016 for the last time the champions lost three in a row, but Brighton pose a significant threat to City, who are on a run of 20 straight home wins in all competitions. Guardiola has hailed Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years. City have even appeared to copy the Seagulls trait of trying to bait sides into pressing before quickly moving the ball into space this season. However, Brighton have struggled to cope with the demands of the clubs first-ever European campaign on top of their Premier League commitments. De Zerbis men are without a win in their past four games in all competitions, though they are still sixth in the table. Chelseas true test Arsenals late winner against City two weeks ago has fuelled the Gunners belief that they can end a 20-year wait to win the title. Mikel Artetas men are second, behind north London rivals Tottenham only on goals scored, and will end Saturday top of the table if they win because Spurs are not in action until Monday. The international break came at the wrong time for Chelsea after they posted back-to-back league wins under Mauricio Pochettino for the first time. The Blues have finally found their scoring touch, netting six times in victories against Fulham and Burnley, but Arsenal will provide a much sterner test of whether Chelsea really have turned the corner. Chelsea have not beaten their London rivals in the league at home since 2018. Should he end that barren run, Pochettino will go a long way to winning over the Stamford Bridge crowd after a frustrating start to his reign and do his old club Spurs a favour at the top of the table. Klopps quandary over South American stars Another season of contrasting fortunes appears to be unfolding on Merseyside. Liverpool have shown signs of being back to their best under Jurgen Klopp and are just three points off the top. Everton, by contrast, look set for another relegation battle after taking just seven points from a soft schedule in their opening eight games. The Toffees have not won at Anfield in front of a crowd since 1999. Their record is very strong, they are a very good outfit, we know that, said Everton boss Sean Dyche. Our record needs changing there, we know that. Its been a long time with not many wins but its a tough place to go. Klopp, whose team have taken just one point from their past two games, has a selection headache - he is unhappy at the 12:30pm GMT kick-off today, just days after some of his key players represented their countries in South America. Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all played 90 minutes for Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay respectively in matches that finished in the early hours of Wednesday UK time. Fixtures (all Phuket times) Saturday Liverpool v Everton (6:30pm) Bournemouth v Wolves (9pm) Brentford v Burnley (9pm) Manchester City v Brighton (9pm) Newcastle v Crystal Palace (9pm) Nottingham Forest v Luton (9pm) Chelsea v Arsenal (5:30pm) Sunday Sheffield United v Manchester United (2am) Aston Villa v West Ham (4:30pm) Tuesday Tottenham v Fulham (2am) Phuket SorPorKor land for tourism under review PHUKET: Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thamanat Prompow was in Phuket yesterday (Oct 20) to review plans to allow farmers to develop SorPorKor land into areas that generate income from tourism. landpropertytourismeconomicsenvironmentnatural-resourcesWater-Supply By The Phuket News Saturday 21 October 2023 09:00 AM So-called SorPorKor land became available through Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) after the agency was formed under the Land Reform Act of 1975. ALRO is better known by its Thai initials, SorPorKor. The land-reform project was intended to provide poor farmers with what was deemed to be degraded forest areas so that they could eke out a living growing crops on state land. Phuket Province has areas in the reform zone, Mr Thamanat said at an event held at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn yesterday attended by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and heads of local government offices. In total, there is 32,372 rai of land in Phuket under the administration of ALRO, Mr Thamanat explained. Of that total, 13,184 may be allocated to farmers, and so far 9,701 rai of that land has been already allocated to farmers as 687 plots assigned to 583 cases in 10 tambon (subdistricts): Ratsada, Karon, Chalong, Rawai, Kathu, Kamala, Patong, Cherng Talay, Srisoonthorn and Pa Khlok. The problem with the land in reform zone areas is that overall it is hilly, making it unsuitable for farming, Mr Thamanat noted. However, he added, much of the land had sea views and is suitable for use for tourist service businesses that can generate very high incomes. This can create a good living situation for farmers, he added. There is a need to use land to serve tourists in various businesses such as hotels, resorts, accommodations, shops, restaurants, Mr Thamanat said yesterday, according to an official report of his visit. The solution is to allocate community land according to the announcement of the Agricultural Land Reform Office regarding the allocation of community land in agricultural land reform areas announced on October 30, 2020, he said. Mr Thamanat yesterday reviewed maps of areas in Phuket with SorPorKor land that may be developed. Local officials guided him with explanations of the areas that he was reviewing, and local farmers present made their pleas to develop land for tourism purposes, and explained key issues they were facing. Mr Thamanat noted one key issue: Land prices are very high, and causing rights disputes and land owners [sic], he said. The revision of SorPorKor land use in 2020 caused much concern in Phuket. Under the original nine rights laid out in the Land Reform Act of 1975, farmers allocated SorPorKor land were issued a SorPorKor land-use document and were allowed to use the land for agricultural purposes only. The land-use rights were allowed to be passed on to family members, but the land could never be sold legally as it was to forever remain owned by the government. However, through the announcement in 2020, ALRO revised the uses that farmers are allowed to develop their SorPorKor land. The new regulations allow 12 uses: farming, petrol station, drinking water plant, market place, vehicle dealership, retail shop, post office, healthcare facility, restaurant, school, apartment complex and food-processing plant. The move raised serious concerns among even property developers, amid fears of the impact of massive deforestation of the hills on Phuket would have on Phukets tourism industry the very industry that the farmers would be looking to cash in on. Of note, large tracts of land in the hills both north and south of Patong are SorPorKor land. Regardless, the farmers Mr Thamanat met yesterday made a request for the issuance of title deeds in the land reform areas, and requested that he help to expedite the implementation of various projects related to the use of farmers arable land. Of note, under the announcement in 2020, the aim of the expanded use of SorPorKor land was to allow leasehold rights to generate revenue for the Agricultural Land Reform Fund. WATER In addition to the SorPorKor land issues heard yesterday, Mr Thamanat noted that water supply and management was another key issue affecting the island. The amount of water held by the islands three main reservoirs Bang Wad in Kathu, Bang Neow Dum in Srisoonthorn and Klong Kata in Chalong may not held enough to serve the islands needs, especially in light of Phukets tourism industry, he said. Short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans had been prepared in order to support the tourism industry, Mr Thamanat said. Plans have been made to procure additional water sources at additional cost, such as developing the three existing reservoirs to be more efficient in storing water and developing mines in the area jointly between the private sector and government agencies to reserve water from during the rainy season, he added. A project to expand the capacity of Bang Neow Dum reservoir by 600,000 cubic meters was underway, Mr Thamanat said. For the medium term is the Ban Khok Tanod Water Diversion Project to bring water from the Khlong Thalang Basin, which can provide about 40 million cubic meters of water a year to fill in Bang Neow Dum reservoir during the dry season, he explained. Mr Thamanat yesterday also presented an agreement for R.E.Q. Co Ltd to continue producing fresh water for consumption in Phuket. AGRI PROMO Among the other activities at the event yesterday, Mr Thamanat gave away boxes of local produce, namely Phuket pineapple, to promote adding value to agricultural products and handed out B100,000 in subsidy funds to support local fisheries. Farmers present yesterday requested that Mr Thamanat help push agricultural products to connect with tourism. Because Phuket province has income from tourism, therefore agriculture should not be overlooked which also generates income for the people, he said. Workers can return to Israel after war BANGKOK: Israel is willing to welcome back Thai workers if and when the Israel-Hamas war de-escalates, according to the Labour Ministrys permanent secretary, Pairote Chotikasathien. violenceSafetymilitary By Bangkok Post Saturday 21 October 2023 03:00 PM Thai workers return from Israel on a military aircraft at the military airport in Don Meang, Bangkok, yesterday (Oct 20). Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb He said that Kittana Srisuriya, a minister counsellor at the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv, had met Eyal Sisu, the director-general of the Population and Immigration Authority (Piba), and Inbal Mashash, director of the Foreign Workers Administration, for talks on how to help two groups of Thai workers affected by the war. The first group comprises Thai workers who have just completed their contracts, which last five years and three months, and had to return to Thailand as a result of the war, as well as Thai workers who returned to Thailand three to four years ago, reports the Bangkok Post. They will be allowed to return to work in Israel under the conditions which the Piba will later discuss with the Thai Labour Ministry, Mr Pairote said. The other group comprises Thai workers who remain in Israel without visas and have yet to complete their contracts. Piba will extend their visas until November next year, he said. This group also includes Thai workers in Israel who are due to complete their contracts soon, but no later than April next year. Piba will extend their visas for another year, Mr Pairote said. He said that Israel has attached importance to the return of foreign workers, particularly Thai workers who play an important role in the agricultural sector and driving the economy in Israel. The Labour Ministry is working closely with Israeli authorities to ensure Thai workers can return to work in Israel when the situation there eases, he said. Meanwhile, the bodies of the first eight Thai workers who died in Israel due to the Hamas attack on Oct 7 were repatriated on a commercial flight yesterday. They were subsequently transported to their respective home provinces. El Al Flight LY083 from Israel, carrying the bodies, landed at Suvarnabhumi airport at 9:33am. Two bodies were destined for Udon Thani and one each for Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket and Sukhothai. Mr Pairote said that the Labour Ministry would initially pay B40,000 to each family for funeral expenses. Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 31F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 31F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Sunny along with a few clouds. High 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. MOSCOW, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that he hopes Israel and Palestine will soon be able to resume negotiations, according to the country's foreign ministry. "I hope that everyone comes to reason and sits down at the negotiating table," Lavrov said, adding that it would then be necessary to coordinate all practical actions with the decisions of the UN Security Council, and also take into account the new realities, and how the situation has developed since 1967. Alexei Zaitsev, deputy director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said during a weekly briefing on Friday that Russia was actively working to ensure the safe evacuation of Russian citizens from the conflict zone. He added that Russia remained in contact with key regional actors to ensure the safe evacuation of citizens through humanitarian corridors, and on issues regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that work is currently being carried out to identify those Russian citizens that wish to leave the conflict zone. 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. Advertisement 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. Popular actor Mouni Roy is set to host the Indian adaptation of the American dating reality series Temptation Island. The shows teaser was unveiled by Jio Cinema, featuring Mouni Roy introducing the audience to what they can anticipate from the show. In the clip, Mouni says, Relationships ka hoga ab ultimate test. Aa raha hai Temptation Island. Yahaan couples aur paas aayenge ya kisi aur ke pyaar mein dub jaayenge? (Translation: Now, relationships will face the ultimate test. Temptation Island is coming. Will the couples stay faithful, or will they get entangled in someone elses love?) Advertisement Temptation Island offers a distinctive opportunity for viewers to witness the ultimate test of relationships. The format involves couples putting their relationships to the test in an enchanting tropical paradise. Like in its other versions, participants will face temptations to explore new romances as they willingly separate and immerse themselves in an environment filled with allure. The shows first season originally aired in 2001. This marks the first time that this show will be hosted and presented in India. The Indian version of the show is set to premiere on November 3. While the names of the contestants have not been disclosed yet, the anticipation is already building among fans and reality TV enthusiasts. [The story, originally from a syndicated feed, has been revised for improved coherence.] It is a miracle that Congress party is now pushing for the nation-wide caste census as it has realized that its backward class vote bank has diminished and they wont be able to win without their support, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday. The ties between Congress and Samajwadi Party both INDIA block partners have deteriorated after their alliance failed to materialize in Madhya Pradesh where assembly elections will take place on November 17. Speaking to media in UPs Hardoi, Yadav said, It is the same Congress party that did not give the numbers of the caste census earlier. Now everyone knows that until and unless you dont have the support of the backward castes and tribes, you wont succeed. Advertisement Its a miracle that now the Congress party wants a caste census. Congress party is now aware that the vote they were searching for is not with them anymore, he added. Earlier on Friday, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Congress of betrayal in Madhya Pradesh and said that if this confusion prevails, the INDIA alliance would never be able to defeat the BJP. If Congress didnt 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 at the national level. If Congress continues to behave like this, then who will stand with them? If we will fight against the BJP with confusion in our minds, then we wont succeed, said Akhilesh Yadav. The Congress party has been pushing for a nationwide caste census to ensure social justice. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has given a slogan jitni aabadi, utna haq which means the rights shall be given in proportion to the population. This follows the release of Caste Survey data by the Bihar government with figures that may have ramifications for the Lok Sabha polls next year, showing that Other Backward Castes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) together account for 63 per cent of the states population. (With agency inputs) Gaganyaan Mission: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the launch of its uncrewed flight test for its ambitious manned space mission Gaganyaan. The lift off attempt could not be completed, ISRO said without specifying the reasons. TV D1 Test Flight Liftoff attempt couldnt be completed. Updates will follow, ISRO said in a post on X. The inaugural uncrewed flight test, known as the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1 Flight Test), was scheduled to take off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. The countdown to the launch was officially announced by ISRO. Advertisement However, according to reports, the lift off could not be achieved reportedly due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. The flight test vehicle abort mission was aimed at demonstrating the performance of the Crew Escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission. It was also supposed to test the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal after the rocket launch. This mission represents a significant milestone in Indias effort to demonstrate its technological prowess to send humans into space. The test flight project aims to prove Indias capacity to send humans into a 400-kilometre orbit and safely bring them back to the earth with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal Sea. Earlier, visuals of the Sriharikota entrance establishment show model rockets being placed at the entrance. Its noteworthy that around 20 major tests, including 3 uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), are planned. The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. This program will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China. Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions, Prime Minister Modi directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040. (With Inputs from Agency) 17 years after obtaining Indian citizenship, a man originally from Pakistan finds himself under arrest in Gujarat on charges of espionage. Labhshankar Duryodhan Maheshwari, who had arrived in Tarapur town, Gujarat, in 1999 with his wife seeking fertility treatment, stayed on, built a successful business, and officially became an Indian citizen by early 2006. However, recent events took a drastic turn when the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) took him into custody for his alleged involvement in aiding Pakistani agents in accessing sensitive information related to the Indian Army. According to the ATS, Maheshwari is accused of facilitating Pakistani agents in acquiring an Indian SIM card. These agents reportedly used the SIM card to compromise the phones of children of Indian defense personnel studying in Army schools. The ATS contends that Maheshwari engaged in this activity in exchange for assistance from Pakistani officials in obtaining visas for his family members to enter Pakistan. Advertisement The arrest of Maheshwari followed specific intelligence provided by the Military Intelligence (MI), which indicated that Pakistani operatives were exploiting an Indian SIM card to target Indian defense personnel. Notably, the WhatsApp number linked to the alleged espionage remains active in Pakistan. Maheshwaris modus operandi involved posing as an official from the Army Public School and targeting the families of Army personnel. He would send messages to his intended targets, encouraging them to participate in a contest and upload photos featuring national flags. Additionally, he reportedly shared the contact details of Indian defense personnel with a Pakistani agency. The case has raised concerns about national security and the potential risks posed by those with access to sensitive information. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and security measures in an increasingly interconnected world. This arrest underscores the complexities of espionage activities, highlighting the importance of robust intelligence networks and cooperation among various security agencies to safeguard sensitive information and protect national interests. The investigation is ongoing, and further details may emerge as authorities delve deeper into this espionage case. A man from Jharkhand, Prem Gupta, has taken a heartwarming step to support his daughter, Sakshi, who faced a challenging situation in her married life. After enduring abuse and harassment from her husband and in-laws, Sakshi decided to divorce her husband. Her father, Prem Gupta, decided to welcome her back with open arms and great dignity. A video posted on Facebook captured this touching moment. In the video, Prem Gupta and his daughter Sakshi can be seen leaving her marital home, accompanied by a large gathering of joyous relatives and friends. This moving gesture by her father has garnered significant attention on social media. In his Facebook post, Prem Gupta shared his perspective on the situation, emphasizing the importance of respecting and valuing daughters. He expressed, People marry off their daughters with great ambitions and with much pomp, but if the spouse and family turn out to be wrong or if it doesnt work out, then you should bring your daughter back to your home with respect and dignity because daughters are very precious. Advertisement Sakshi Gupta had entered into marriage with a man named Sachin Kumar on April 28, 2022. Sachin Kumar, who is based in Ranchi, works as an assistant engineer at the Jharkhand Electricity Distribution Company. However, as time went on, Sakshi faced distressing circumstances in her marital life. Allegations of harassment and mistreatment by Sachin Kumar and his parents began to surface. Sachin Kumars behavior included abusive actions, and he even expelled her from their shared home. After approximately a year of marriage, Sakshi discovered that Sachin Kumar had been married twice before and had concealed this information from her. This revelation added to the strain in their relationship. Prem Gupta, a resident of Kailash Nagar Kumharatoli in Ranchi, posted the video of his daughters return to her parental home on his social media account. The Jharkhand man conveyed a powerful message with the caption, reiterating the importance of treating daughters with respect and dignity, especially in challenging situations. The Kerala GST Department has found that Veena Vijayans firm had paid IGST for the transaction carried out between her company Exalogics Solutions and the black soil company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). The GST Commissioner has submitted a report stating that Veena had paid taxes. The tax officials carried out inspections in Kerala and Karnataka, since Veenas company is registered in Bengaluru and reportedly found that she has paid IGST for Rs 1.72 crore received from CMRL. It is said that a report in this regard has been handed over to Finance Minister KN Balagopal by the Secretary of Taxes and it will be forwarded to the Chief Minister. It is not clear why Veena or the company has not yet released the documents if the amount had been paid. Advertisement At the same time, the GST Department had refused to respond to a question under the RTI Act on whether Exalogic had paid IGST on the amount received for services rendered to CMRL. The GST Department had responded that they cannot reply to the query as they have to protect the privacy of the individual. In August, Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan had filed a complaint with the state Finance Minister KN Balagopal, alleging that Veena Vijayans firm did not pay IGST for Rs 1.72 crore received from CMRL. The Finance Minister forwarded the complaint to the Tax Department to examine the matter. Mathew Kuzhal Nadan, who raised the complaint, demanded that the records of tax payments be released. Reports said that Veena and her firm, Exalogic Solutions, had entered into an agreement with the private company to provide IT, marketing consultancy, and software services to the latter. However, no services were provided, the income tax investigation found. The company told the Income Tax Department that the money was, however, paid in monthly instalments as per the contract. The Income Tax Disputes Redressal Board found that a nexus with a prominent person was behind the transaction. The BRS accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy, preaching secularism in Telangana while having Shiv Sena, a rightwing Hindutva party, as an alliance partner in adjoining Maharashtra. A day after Gandhi returned to Delhi on Saturday after the first phase of campaign, BRS working president K T Rama Rao attacked him for calling his party a B-team of the BJP and warned that the state Congress president Revanth Reddy was steadily building his own brigade and would join the BJP with 10-12 Congress MLAs after the elections. Who is the Congress in bed with in Maharashtra? Shiv Sena, an absolutely anti-Muslim party You are entitled to run a government for Shiv Sena, you are entitled to be in an alliance with Shiv Sena Then you come to the adjoining state and preach us secularism? What moral right do you have, asked KT Rama Rao. Advertisement He also slammed Gandhi for suggesting that AIMIM was helping the BJP by giving candidates in states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra reminding him that Congress had been in alliance with AIMIM in 2004-2014. He recalled that the Congress helped the BJP win MP seats of Karimnagar and Nizamabad and ran two local bodies in Telangana with an alliance with the BJP. Both the Congress and BJP do not want regional parties to expand. He also warned that PCC chief Revanth Reddy was building up his own team of MLAs within the Congress so that he could jump the ship in future. The president of Congress in Telangana is preparing his own brigade in Telangana to eventually turn a renegade and jump the ship and join the BJP, he said. Rao also said since the BJP was no longer in the race in Telangana and it is going to be a bipolar contest with the Congress and the BRS left in the fray. BJP is a goner. They lost the perception fight. Whatever Narendra Modi and Amit Shah might like to believe, it is a gone case for them. It is a fight between Congress and us, declared Rao. He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for declaring that the BRS had funded the Congress win in Karnataka. What kind of absurd and nonsensical logic is this? Didnt we not know if the Congress wins in Karnataka, it would have an impact on Telangana! he wondered. BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha dubbed Rahul Gandhi as a paper tiger who simply parrots whatever his speech writers write for him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a straightforward message to Rajasthans BJP leaders, emphasizing the importance of party unity in the upcoming state Assembly elections. During a meeting with senior leaders of the Rajasthan BJP at the partys Central Election Committee (CEC) gathering, Modi took cognizance of internal factionalism within the state unit and urged all leaders to come together in their efforts to secure victory in the upcoming Assembly elections. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje besides several others senior leaders of the Rajasthan BJP were present in the meeting, who are said to be in the race for the post of the Chief Minister. Advertisement The meeting was called to discuss and finalise the names of candidates on remaining seats in the state. The party CEC also discussed names of candidates on 94 seats in Madhya Pradesh duiring the meeting on Friday. However, 92 names were finalised in the meeting. Sources said that the next list of candidates for these two states may be released on Saturday or Sunday. 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. For Rajasthan Assembly elections, the party on Friday discussed names for more than 100 seats. However, names of 79 candidates could be finalised during the party CEC meeting, sources added. The BJP has released only one list of candidates for Rajasthan. In its first list for Rajasthan released on October 9, BJP had announced the names of 41 candidates. Elections in Rajasthan will be held on November 25 to elect 200 members the state Assembly. Telangana candidates were also discussed in the Fridays meeting. MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is based on the principle of voluntary participation and includes the interests of all countries, Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Babaev believes that the BRI demonstrates a completely new model of international relations, where countries are able to build mutually beneficial economic partnerships without any political pressure. This valuable model should be studied by the rest of the world as it is conducive to the formation of a multipolar world, he said. Babaev, who participated in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, said the event is significant not only to China and Eurasian countries, but also to the rest of the world. "The forum gave its participants the opportunity to sum up some of the results achieved within the first 10 years of the BRI," said Babaev, praising the results as "very positive and promising." Babaev stressed that the success and popularity of the BRI lie in China's approach towards the initiative, as China has never imposed anything on anyone. "China has shown the world an excellent example of how to use mutually beneficial economic partnerships to build ties with other countries in various fields without using political leverage," he said. Babaev believes that the development of the BRI has brought many opportunities for Russia, adding that Russia has always supported the BRI, and has actively promoted the integration of the Eurasian Economic Union and the BRI. Babaev said that remarkable results have been achieved over the past decade within the framework, which has also brought tangible benefits to people all over the world. More impressive achievements are bound to be made, he added. The BRI has revived the ancient Silk Road spirit of peace, openness and inclusiveness, mutual benefit, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation, Babaev said. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first edition of the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi on October 21, 2023. The two-day festival aims to celebrate Indias rich military culture and heritage that has evolved over the centuries, through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling, and exhibitions. It will primarily bring forward different understandings and perspectives through panel discussions by eminent scholars, practitioners, and serving as well as retired officers. During the event, the Raksha Mantri also launched Project Udbhav, a joint collaboration of the Indian Army and United Service Institution of India, to promote indigenous discourse through exploration and integration of the countrys ancient strategic acumen into contemporary military domain. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh were among the dignitaries present at the event. Talking to reporters on the occasion, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian Military Heritage Festival, which showcases the unmatched bravery and invaluable role of the Armed Forces in the security of the country in the last few decades, will inspire the youth of the nation. It will also make them enthusiastic to know more about the Indian military and their gallant deeds, he said. Advertisement Military Heritage Festival Despite a long and glorious military history and strategic culture going back many centuries, people are largely unaware of its different facets. The festival seeks to create a benchmark in the domain of public engagement with military history and heritage through interaction while adhering to the goals for developing the Armed Forces in the 21st century. The festival aims to give a new thrust to the study of Indian military culture, traditions & history and add tangible value to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. It also provides a platform for discussing various contemporary issues relating to India and the world pertaining to security, strategy and international relations. The festival will showcase military culture through military band performances, including the Army Symphony Band presentation and Brass band displays and a Cultural Gala Evening. An exhibition to highlight and celebrate select milestones and achievements in the nations long and illustrious military history is being organised in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Heritage, Ministry of Culture. Starting tomorrow the process of creating electoral rolls for the next general elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will take place. It will end on November 15. Previously, the Punjab Gurdwara Election Commissioner added a new section to Form-1 called self-declaration, which was intended to help Sikh candidates register to vote. The new section in the self-declaration annexure reads, I am a Sikh, I believe in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 10 Sikh Gurus and follow no other religion, even though the eligibility requirements remain the same. Advertisement Amidst this, voices were raised from various sections demanding that Sikhs connected to any form of dera be disqualified from participating in the SGPC elections. The rationale is that, in Sikhism, believers would be entirely devoted to Sri Guru Granth Sahib alone, but in the Dera sect, the leader is a living being, and they reject the core tenets of the religion. The updated forms have taken the place of the outdated ones as per the Additional District Election Officer/Additional Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar. He stated that the applications may be downloaded from the official website or picked up in person by going to the specified offices. The applicant may provide the forms with the patwaris of the relevant revenue circle in rural areas. These could be filed in metropolitan areas with selected representatives from panchayats, municipal councils, municipal corporations, and executive officers, the speaker added. Reportedly the SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami had said the organisation had objected that this provision was missing from the self-declaration. Adding this is a positive move. However, we fear that thousands of forms must have been obtained by the applicants without this extra provision. If the administration had consulted the SGPC or any other Sikh organisation before distributing the self-declaration form, the error might have been prevented. The district administrations are advised by the SGPC to prepare a stamp bearing the most recent clauses text in order to correct it. This might be completed on the outdated forms and then immediately signed by the candidates. Amid a spat with Congress over seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, the chief of Samajwadi Party, a component of the INDIA bloc, Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday stated that his party extended support to the grand old party to form their government in the poll-bound state not once, but twice. The Samajwadi Party chief mentioned that his party secured one seat in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh elections, and with their support, Congress was able to form its government. We had one MLA, and we were the runners-up in five seats. When Congress needed assistance, the Samajwadi Party was the first to stand by them. As a result, the Congress government was established in Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore, when the need arose once more, the Samajwadi Party MLA supported Congress without any conditions, Akhilesh Yadav stated during his interaction with reporters here in Hardoi. Advertisement In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh polls, the SP contested 52 seats, winning one seat, Bijawar, and finishing as the second choice in five seats, securing 1.30 per cent of the votes. Yadavs party and Congress, both part of the alliance committed to presenting a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls under the INDIA umbrella, are currently in a disagreement in Madhya Pradesh after Congress did not allocate any seats to the SP despite discussions on seat sharing. Earlier on Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav expressed his newfound realization that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is confined to the national level and questioned who would stand with Congress if they continued to behave in this manner. If Congress did not wish to allocate seats (in MP), they should have communicated this earlier. Presently, the SP is focused on securing seats. After the Madhya Pradesh experience, Ive come to understand that the INDIA alliance is designed for national-level (parliamentary) elections. If Congress persists in this approach, it raises the question of who will support them. If we confront the BJP with uncertainty, our chances of success will diminish, he remarked. The BJP, closely monitoring the developments, is mocking both parties, suggesting that they have joined forces to fight at the national level while grappling amongst themselves in the states. Madhya Pradesh is slated to hold assembly polls on November 17, with the vote count scheduled for December 3. (ANI) [The story, originally from a syndicated feed, has been revised for improved coherence.] International humanitarian law the law of armed conflict aims to constrain how wars are fought. It is designed to protect non-combatants 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? On October 7, 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. Advertisement 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. 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 antic- ipated 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. 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 nonstate 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 October 13: 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 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 selfdefence. But there is a distinction to be drawn between a states right to selfdefence 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. 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. (The writer is Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle. This article was published on www.theconversation.com) For those who claim that paranoia is the leitmotif of policymakers and analysts critical of the Peoples Republic of China, heres another wakeup call. Mr Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, Britains premier intelligence agency, said on Wednesday that more than 20,000 UK citizens have been approached covertly by Chinese spies, amidst a new warning to tens of thousands of British businesses of the risk of having their innovations stolen. According to the BBC, Mr McCallum was speaking at an unprecedented public appearance of the security chiefs of the Five Eyes alliance in California. The heads of the US, UK, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand security agencies appeared together, for the first time ever, to warn of commercial secrets being obtained by China through widespread espionage. That Stanford University in California was chosen as the venue for the public appearance is significant; it is the very heart of Silicon Valley and the spy chiefs have spent closed sessions with innovators, entrepreneurs and investors telling them that their cutting-edge research is being, to put it plainly, stolen. Emerging and advanced technologies are a particular target of Chinas covert operations. As Mr McCallum iterated: We have seen a sustained campaign (by Chinese spies) on a pretty epic scale. In previous decades, including at the height of the Cold War, western intelligence and security agencies focussed on protecting government secrets from foreign spies. Now, the danger which has been flagged by the alliance chiefs is that technological innovation by small companies, start-ups, and researchers is the new target. Those who have been following Beijings path to its emergence as tech superpower are not surprised. The Chinese Communist Party has been ruthless in its pursuit of leadership in frontier technologies and its efforts to surpass the USA were laid out in its 14th five-year plan in 2021. Beijing identified seven technology areas to focus research on including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semi-conductors; robotics and biotechnology have anyway been longstanding research priorities for China. Its espionage efforts seem to be focussed on augmenting these capabilities. In fact, Beijing is in the process of establishing a monopoly in some areas and leads in fields such as electric batteries, hyper-sonics, and advanced radio-frequency communications like 5G and 6G. According to a March 2023 report in The Guardian, the USA is the clear leader in only seven out of 44 technologies ~ tracked over 2022-23 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute ~ including vaccines, quantum computing, and space launch systems. Sensitive semiconductor chipmaking technology, which powers the digital revolution, is highly valued by China. Obtaining the latest technology at any cost ~ beg, borrow, or steal, as the adage goes ~ is emerging as a key battleground for great power competition. As the head of MI5 put it: If youre working today at the cutting edge of technology then geopolitics is interested in you, even if youre not interested in geopolitics. All nations spy, of course. But some take it to a new level altogether. Advertisement As the only country in the world to have been created in the name of Islam, Pakistan or land of the pure has naturally found itself drawn to champion the Palestinian cause. As far back as 1937, Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said in his Presidential address to the Muslim League congregation, Great Britain has dishonoured her proclamation to the Arabs ~ which had guaranteed to them complete independence of the Arab homelands, and the formation of an Arab confederation ~ under the stress of the Great War. After having utilised them by giving them false promises, they installed themselves as the mandatory power with that infamous Balfour Declaration, which was obviously irreconcilable and incapable of simultaneous execution; and having pursued the policy to find [a] national home for the Jews, Great Britain now proposes to partition Palestine. Just after gaining their own independence in 1947, the Pakistanis were believed to have attempted to supply soldiers and armaments in the 1948 Palestine War (1947-49). Later, the Pakistani Air Force participated along with the Arab forces in the Six Day War in 1967 and in the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Pakistani Flight Lieutenant Saiful Azam is believed to have shot down an Israeli Dassault Mystere IV fighter plane in 1967, whilst flying a Hawker Hunter himself. Similarly, Air Commodore Abdus Sattar Alvi in 1973 is disputedly credited with downing an Israeli Mirage III in a dogfight. In the 1982 Israeli-PLO Lebanon War, up to 50 Pakistani fighters within PLO ranks were arrested. As a nation that always dug into its foundational recesses of religiosity to contextualise its purpose, Palestine emerged as a popular rallying cry for all Pakistanis. Till date the Pakistani passport is still inscribed with a line This passport is valid for all countries of the world, except Israel. But like everything in the Pakistani narrative, the espousal of Palestine was only half-sincere. Unbeknownst to many, then Brigadier Zia-ul-Haq participated in the infamous Black September operations serving along with the Jordanian forces, as they butchered 3,000 Palestinians. Many years later, as the President of Pakistan, Zia directed his Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to establish contacts with the Israeli Mossad, and under the aegis and cover of machinations that facilitated the Afghan mujahedin war against the Soviets in the 1980s, the Israelis gave weapons and other form of support. Publicly, Pakistanis kept harping on the Palestinian cause, officially. But Pakistans official fixation with religiosity was also getting a bit dated as many of the Arab countries had started normalising relations with Israel, and the likes of Pakistan stood out like sore thumbs. Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan had formalized diplomatic relations earlier, whereas pursuant to the Abraham Accords, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco have recently opened diplomatic missions. When the Abraham Accords were getting implemented, Pakistan was under the vainglorious Taliban Khan or Imran Khan, who indulged in some grandstanding and theatrical posturing in favour of Palestine ~ it was patent Khan playing to the religious gallery. Nonetheless, secret talks with even the likes of Saudi Arabia were in an advanced stage, till the recent Hamas attack on Israel has suddenly upset the applecart and derailed the thawing of Israeli relations with the Ummah. Now all eyes are once again on sensing the reaction from Islamabad as almost all Islamic countries have openly sided with the Palestinians and attributed the recent tensions to Israel, squarely. Surprisingly, Pakistan offered a rather meek official position (considering its usual bombast on the issue) with its interim Prime Minister saying, We urge restraint and protection of civilians. Enduring peace in the Middle East lies in a two-state solution with a viable, contiguous, sovereign State of Palestine. Pakistans Foreign Office (FO) did no better with, We are closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East and the eruption of hostilities between Israel and Palestinians. We are concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation. The wordsmithing was way too guarded and very unlike some stances adopted by decidedly more moderate countries like Malaysia which posited more explicitly, The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people is done relentlessly by the Zionists. As a result of this injustice, hundreds of innocent lives were sacrificed. There could be many things playing on the mind of Pakistan to have issued such a weaklyworded position against Israel foremost amongst them could be the unsaid realisation of finally tiring of supporting terrorist organisations like Hamas which cause terrible pain, internally. Pakistan is facing a terrorrelated meltdown as many of its own creations have turned into Frankensteinian monsters, and in such times to support Hamas could look indefensible. Secondly, Pakistan is confronting unprecedented economic challenges and is in dire need of bail-out options ~ herein, there could be no upside of supporting Hamas and it could only offend the Western countries and multilateral organisations that are critical to Pakistans survival. However, a more passive stance could suggest Islamabads changed ways, as it has just about got out of the FATF dragnet. Perhaps the backbreaking economic issues have also worn out Pakistanis from the romance of Palestine as they go about their own survival. The Pakistani establishment (military) which is mired in anti-terror operations may also have signed a go-slow to the concerned quarters in the clergy to downplay theatrics, thus explaining why a usually dramatic exploiter of religious sentiments like Maulana Fazalur-Rehman was also unusually moderate and well-mannered in expressing concerns for the Palestinians. The other uncontrollable elements of the clergy are in any case on the back foot and facing the wrath of the Pakistani forces, therefore the usual parties who arrange Death to Israel kind of gatherings, are invisible. Long term aspiration of normalising relations with Israel as done by almost all Islamic countries (or in the process) must also be playing on Pakistani minds, as it takes them away from prospects of Pariahisation. While it will be politically and institutionally suicidal for any person, party, or entity to drop the Palestinian cause publicly, there is a sense emerging on getting their own house in order first, prioritizing themselves and moderating the religious fervor. Towards this end, restraint on the traditional intransigence and passions on Palestine is visible. The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry Advertisement A New York judge fined former US President Donald Trump USD 5000 after a derogatory post about the judges principal clerk was not removed from the 2024 candidates campaign website, even after receiving the judges order, as reported by The Hill. However, Judge Arthur Engoron did not hold Trump in contempt of court, but he warned of violation of the gag order he imposed after Trumps Truth Social account made the post, which could result in strict punishment, including steeper financial penalties, contempt or even sentence in jail. 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, Engoron said. Advertisement Accordingly, issuing yet another warning is no longer appropriate; this Court is way beyond the warning stage, he added. The post published by Trump mocked her as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) girlfriend and included personally identifying information about her, reported The Hill. Soon after Ergogan came to know about Trumps post, he issued a limited gag order barring Trump or any other party in the case from posting or speaking publicly about his staff members. He further ordered Trump to delete the post, however, as it was removed from his Truth Social account, it was still there on his campaign website for 17 days. Following the incident, Trumps lawyer Chris Kise called it an unintentional oversight and blamed the very large machine of Trumps presidential campaign for allowing his deleted social media post to remain on his website. Moreover, Engoron acknowledged Trumps assertion, stating that his post was inadvertent and said that he would give him the benefit of the doubt. However, the gag order was still violated, he warned, current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse, according to The Hill. Israel-Hamas War: In latest development and at least 20 trucks carrying several tonnes of humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza after Egypt opened Rafah border crossing for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7. The development comes days after US President Joe Biden brokered a deal between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi that allowed humanitarian aid to reach Gaza civilians. Israel has declared a war against Gaza-based Palestinian militant outfit Hamas in response to the brutal October 7 attack and announced a complete siege of the blockaded territory. As part of the siege order, Israel cut off food, water, fuel and electricity supply to the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Israel also asked nearly 1.1 million civilians to flee their homes in the densely-populated Gaza city and move to safer area south of the Wadi Gaza. The mass relocation clubbed with Israeli siege triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving over a million people, including children, women and elderly, displaced across the Gaza Strip. These trucks are not just trucks. They are a lifeline. They are the difference between life & death for so many people in Gaza. At the Rafah crossing, @antonioguterres appeals once again for aid trucks to be allowed into Gaza as soon as possible. https://t.co/L4fXVI2eBF pic.twitter.com/2j8epS29ku United Nations (@UN) October 20, 2023 The entry of aid comes a day after Hamas released two American hostages a mother and her 17-year-old daughter in a humanitarian gesture. Hamas kidnapped some 200-250 people, including foreign nationals, after its brutal October 7 attack in Israel. Meanwhile, some local media reports also suggested that foreign nationals from several countries, including the US and the UK, may also be evacuated to the Egypt. Hundreds of people have been gathering on the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing since the war broke out. They are waiting there in hopes of being evacuated. Earlier on Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in northern Sinai in Egypt. Guterres told the reporters that the large convoy loaded with food and medicine was the difference between life and death for the people. 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, a UN spokesperson said in a post on social media. An apparel firm based in Kerala, known for producing uniforms for the Israeli police, has announced a temporary suspension of new orders for the force. The move comes in response to the recent bombings of hospitals in Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Thomas Olickal, the owner of Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, expressed the companys decision to refrain from accepting new orders from the Israeli police force until the hostilities cease. Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, situated in Kerala, specializes in producing the distinctive light blue, long-sleeve uniform shirts worn by the Israeli police. They have been supplying these uniforms since 2015. Mr. Olickal conveyed his concerns about the conflict, emphasizing that neither the attacks by Hamas, which resulted in civilian casualties, nor Israels retaliatory actions were acceptable. He pointed out that the denial of essential resources to over 2.5 million people, the bombing of hospitals, and the loss of innocent lives, particularly women and children, were unacceptable. The companys primary objective is to see an end to the conflict and the restoration of peace. Advertisement The firm has assured that it will fulfill its existing contracts in compliance with international agreements. However, they have taken a principled stance against accepting any new orders until the Gaza war concludes. Established at the state-run Kinfra Park in 2006, Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited specializes in manufacturing uniforms for various segments, including armed forces, law enforcement agencies, security personnel, and healthcare workers from multiple countries worldwide. Their product range extends to school uniforms, attire for supermarket staff, medical doctors coats, coveralls, corporate workwear, and more. The apparel unit was established in Kannur with the primary aim of providing employment opportunities to the local population, particularly those who lost their jobs due to the declining beedi industry in the region. In a move driven by ethical concerns and a desire for peace in the region, Maryan Apparel Pvt Limiteds decision to suspend new orders to the Israeli police highlights the broader impact of global conflicts on businesses and the commitment of individuals and companies to promote peace and stability in the face of adversity. The United States has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for their involvement in supplying missile-related components to Pakistans ballistic missile program, as announced by the State Department on Friday. The three companies in question are General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. They have been found to engage in activities that pose a risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by Pakistan. General Technology Limited, as per the statement, has supplied brazing materials, which are utilized in connecting components within ballistic missile rocket engines and in the production of combustion chambers. Advertisement Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd. has been involved in supplying mandrels and other machinery, which can be employed in the production of solid-propellant rocket motors and are subject to control by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. has been engaged in supplying D-glass glass fiber, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth since 2019, all of which find applications in missile systems. The State Departments announcement clarified, Today, we are designating three entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These three entities, based in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), have worked to supply missile-applicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile program. It further added, The Department of State is designating General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan. [The story, originally from a syndicated feed, has been revised for improved coherence.] Testing Opens for New Assyrian Word Processor ( NSC) (AINA) -- Nineveh Software Corporation (NSC) has opened to the public the third round of testing for Babylon, a complete word processor for Assyrian, English and other languages. NSC is the parent company of the Assyrian International News Agency. Babylon is written in Java and runs on Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers, and any other operating system which supports Java. While the Assyrian language is supported by other word processors, such as Microsoft Word and LibreOffice, the support is minimal. Babylon has all the standard features of a modern word processor and also features very high level support for the Assyrian language, support not available elsewhere, including: One touch typing for all letter shapes One touch vowel typing: the correct vowel is used based on the current Assyrian font (Eastern or Western) Full ligature support: all ligatures are supported, each ligature can be enabled or disabled individually Assyrian calendar support (Gregorian and Assyrian calendars) Assyrian spelling checker Custom vowel colors: vowels can be shown in a different color Manual adjustment of vowel positions Vowel conversion: convert vowels between Eastern and Western Assyrian 56 Assyrian fonts, with correct italic support (i.e., italics lean to the left) Control over plural sign placement (syameh) Assyrian numbers support Assyrian number converter Four keyboard layouts "Babylon will bring high quality Assyrian word processing to the masses and usher in the renaissance of the Assyrian language," according to Peter BetBasoo, president of NSC and the software architect of Babylon. "With its ability to run on most computers and operating systems, Babylon will ensure the Assyrian language thrives into the future." Individuals interested in becoming beta testers should visit the Babylon Beta Test page for more information. ( NSC) U.S. Right-wing Republican Jim Jordan (C), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, leaves after House Republicans voted in a secret ballot against him continuing as the party's nominee for speaker in a closed-door session in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) 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 three rounds of full-chamber voting. In a closed-door session Friday afternoon, House Republicans voted in a secret ballot against Jordan continuing as their party's nominee for speaker, roughly a week after he was nominated. Earlier in the day, Jordan lost the third vote in his bid for House speaker, as Republican opposition grows amid continuing chaos. The Ohio Republican, 59, lost 25 votes from fellow Republicans, three more than in the second round of voting and five more than in the first round, indicating moderates' growing doubts about a hardline conservative House speaker. With a slim 221-212 Republican majority in the chamber, Jordan could only afford to lose a few votes from Republicans in order to reach the majority threshold and win the gavel, considering that all Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said they were going to "come back and start over" on Monday. Several House Republicans have announced they would run for House speaker, including Jack Bergman from Michigan and Kevin Hern from Oklahoma. The House has been leaderless for over two weeks, after Kevin McCarthy was unprecedentedly removed from his position on Oct. 3, in a move initiated by a conservative member of his own party. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats in the historical ouster. The House can't move forward on its legislative process until a speaker is chosen, and lawmakers need to pass a spending bill before government funding runs out in mid-November. The House is also under pressure to take action amid the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. But the latest chaos shows that moderates and right-wing conservatives within the Republican Party are far from reaching an agreement on the way forward. The stalemate has prompted some lawmakers to push for the empowerment of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, in hope that he can oversee the passage of urgently needed legislation until House Republicans can coalesce and elect a new leader. In the third vote, several Republican defections voted for McHenry. U.S. Right-wing Republican Jim Jordan, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, is reflected in a mirror as he attends a press conference in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) U.S. Right-wing Republican Jim Jordan, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, attends a press conference in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) U.S. Right-wing Republican Jim Jordan, chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, is seen in the House chamber in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua) Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 46F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 46F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. President Joe Biden with a family member of a victim of the Hamas attacks during his stop this week in Tel Aviv. CHICAGO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The union has seen serious movement from General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV as its strike against the Big Three U.S. automakers enters the 36th day, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain said Friday. Fain made the remarks during a Facebook Live update Friday afternoon, hours after GM made another offer to the UAW. "We costed the companies' offers ... and there is more to be won," he said. The union's negotiations with GM, Stellantis and Ford Motor Co. continued on Friday. Under the new offer, GM hourly workers represented by the UAW would make 40.39 dollars per hour by the end of the agreement, up from 32.32 dollars at present. It has also offered to reinstate cost-of-living allowances (COLA) for seniority workers in the first year of the contract and convert all active full-time temporary employees with one year of employment to seniority level employment upon ratification of the deal. GM will also provide workers a bonus upon ratification of the deal, though it didn't specify how much the bonus will be; and is increasing the basic benefit rate in the traditional team-member pension plan by 5 percent, local media reported. Stellantis has proposed a 21.4-percent wage increase, 20 percent not compounded. It has also agreed to restore the suspended COLA formula from 2009. During the live update, Fain slammed Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford for his remarks of Ford reaching its limit in improving their offer to the UAW. Ford's offer includes a 23-percent wage increase over the length of the contract, restoration of the COLA formula, permanent status for temporary workers with 90 working days, product commitments for all UAW-represented plants in the United States, ratification bonuses, and wage increases for temporary workers. UAW Vice President Mike Booth said Thursday that the issues remaining in the negotiation include retirement security, retirement health care, and defined contribution plan. The UAW announced strike at three select factories of Ford, GM and Stellantis on Sept. 14, after its contract with the Big Three expired. It spread the strike to 38 GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers around the country on Sept. 22, following a failure in making meaningful progress in new contract negotiations, further to GM and Ford SUV assembly plants on Sept. 29, and further to Ford's highly profitable truck plant in Kentucky last Wednesday on Oct. 11. To date, with nearly 4,000 Mack Trucks workers going on strike on Oct. 9, the total number of UAW members on strike now exceeds 38,000. Strengthening the return-to-office policy, e-commerce giant Amazon has given leeway to managers in firing those employees who fail to stick with the companys three-times-a-week work from office rule. In its latest guidelines, the company has asked the managers to first hold a private conversation with the employees who don't follow the policy, reported Business Insider. In case the employee remains defiant and fails to attend the office three times a week, managers can take disciplinary action including termination of services, the report said. The company also asked the managers to explain to their employees that continued absence from work without legitimate reason may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of contract. Amazon is intending to reinforce the return to office three-days-a-week part of the job requirement. The return-to-office-policy by Amazon did not go well with its employees as many of them claimed that they were hired as fully remote employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. Frustrated with the new rule, employees argued that it was a shift in policy, which they were not aware of. Many had quit their jobs too due to the new rule. In February, the company had asked the corporate employees to work in office at least three times a week starting from May. In July, the remote employees were asked to relocate near office 'hubs' along with their team members. Also, those refusing to relocate or find another team accommodating their needs were told to resign and take 'voluntary resignation' package. Amazon has been monitoring the individual attendance records as well. In August, Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy had told employees that it was not going to work out for those pushing back against the office-attendance mandate. An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the company was witnessing "more energy, connection, and collaboration" with majority of its employees in the office more frequently. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has joined hands with IIT Indore to undertake joint research and development projects. The engineering and construction company on Saturday said it has signed a deal with IIT Indore in this regard. The Memorandum of Understanding on these projects was inked by the digital energy solutions wing of the construction conglomerate's power transmission and distribution business. The projects will cover areas under renewable energy management and control software, cloud, edge and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, AI/ML, embedded systems, VLSI circuit, and system design and power electronics. L&T, in a statement, said the deal will "explore and work on activities through the framework set-up across various avenues of engagement. This initiative will drive industry-academia collaboration to advance research and development in renewable energy integration and control technologies. This deal will lead to setting up of L&T's smart grid solution centre of excellence, which will collaborate with IIT Indore's students' learning and experience programme. Prof Suhas Joshi, Director, IIT Indore, said, IIT Indore will help in providing key research capabilities, research aspirations through R&D projects, dissertation projects, student projects, incubation projects and so on. We are happy that L&T PT&D has agreed to extend their state-of-the-art Digital Energy Solutions Lab in Chennai and Dallas, USA to IITI students under this program to perform project work and joint research activities. T. Madhava Das, Whole-Time Director and Sr Executive Vice President (Utilities) of Larsen & Toubro Ltd, said, "L&T intends to engage with IIT Indore to promote innovation through entrepreneurial learning and incubation of technologies in the field of Digital Energy Solutions. We intend to undertake collaborative research and development projects in areas of common interest, such as Renewable Energy Management and Control Software, Cloud, Edge and Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies, AI/ML, Embedded Systems, VLSI Circuit and System Design & Power Electronics. Earlier, IIT Madras teamed up with L&T EduTech, which aims to bridge the gap between the industry and the academia, to upskill engineering and science students in the country through customised programmes. Earlier this month, S.N. Subrahmanyan, L&T chairman and managing director, in a letter to the company's employees said L&T must be ready for the massive changes across the globe as the conglomerate restructures old businesses like financial services and thermal power plants while embracing new areas like renewable energy and defence. Subrahmanyan succeeded A.M. Naik as chairman and managing director on October 1. THE WEEK had reported that L&T, which is a major player in solar energy, is planning to invest $4 billion in the green hydrogen sector in three to five years. Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has positioned herself as a global star, has always impressed fans with her confidencebe it with her professional and personal choices, or even her speeches. The actress, however, said that motherhood has made her a lot more fragile. Opening up about parenting in an interview to TODAY.com, the actress-producer-entreprenuer said that like many new moms, she, too has doubts. I dont know if motherhood has impacted my self worth or confidence but what it has impacted its made me a lot more wary, she said. She further said: Every day, Im like, Oh my gosh, whats the mistake Im going to make? Or how can I mess this up? How am I going to self-sabotage in a way? I feel like I have to remind myself that Im a confident person and I can do this." Priyanka and husband Nick Jonas welcomed a baby girl, Malti Marie, via surrogacy in January last year. Malti often makes her way into the duo's social media handles as they share cute glimpses from their parenting journey. Priyanka had earlier revealed that Malti was born premature and spent over 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. I didn't know if she would make it or not, Priyanka had said. Speaking of confidence, Priyanka said that it is never too early to instill confidence in children. The actress, who recent headlined Amazon spy series Citadel, said she was taught to be ambitious, right from an early age. She added that her parents equipped her to have a sense of self as she stepped out into the real world. I think that is what I am trying to do (with my child) too, she said. In a detailed interview to British Vogue earlier this year, Priyanka said after two decades of hustling and working at breakneck speed, Malti's birth brought a sense of calm. Now I feel I have a centre, because very decision ends up being about her. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to integrate the caste census in the upcoming national decadal census and not to delay the census any further which was due in 2021. In a letter to the prime minister, Stalin urged the Centre to plan and commence works for conducting a comprehensive caste census in India. Stalin said, Since caste has historically been a key determinant of the prospects of social progress in our society, it is essential that factual data on it is made available in the public domain. Only this can empower various stakeholders and policymakers to analyze the impact of our past programmes and plan the strategies for the future. The Tamil Nadu chief minister said census data provides the foundation for framing specific policies for the socio-economic development of the underprivileged. Stalin added the last caste census was conducted in the country in 1931 and there was a lack of contemporary data. In the last 90 years, the demographic and socio-economic landscape of our country has undergone many changes. But the underprivileged sections of our society continue to remain backward, in spite of numerous past policy actions. Hence, it is vital that contemporary data derived from a common standard process at the national level is cumulated to address all the pressing issues related to social justice, equity and inclusivity, he said. Appreciating the caste survey conducted by Bihar and similar initiatives announced by other states, the Tamil Nadu chief minister said that such efforts lack the advantage of a nationwide comparability. They lack the statutory stamp without a legislative backing for such data collection since census as a subject is in Union list, he said. Stalin added, We are of the considered view that only a statutory Census of India, with critical caste-related data inputs, would be able to provide an appropriate platform for upholding social justice. Undertaking this task concurrently with the decadal census would not only ensure comparability of data across the nation but also optimize resource utilization, he said. Opposition parties have been urging the Centre to conduct a caste census in the country and several states have already announced such initiatives in their respective states. The caste census is one of the major poll planks of INDIA alliance. The diplomatic row between India and Canada just became uglier. With 41 Canadian diplomats leaving Indiato maintain the parity of strength India had asked forclaiming that India has violated the Vienna Convention, it is likely to be a cold winter ahead for the relations between both the countries. It will mean visa delays as Canada has chosen to shut its centres in Punjab where the bulk of the applicants come from. But what is worse is that the tension has now spilled on further as Washington, Canadas BFF, has chosen to stand by Ottawa. As has Britain. India has shrugged off Canadas claims. According to the MEA statement, India was within her rights to demand parity, under Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 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 Vienna Convention postulates. The US choosing to call out Indiabeing aware of Indias sensitivity on the issueis an indicator at where the red lines are for Washington. We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India.Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged India not to insist upon reduction in Canadas diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation, a press statement by Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson said. We expect India to uphold its obligation under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he said. This is not likely to go down well with the South Block. In a rather strong statement, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals. We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India. We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 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. We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The statement from the UK comes at a time when the Free Trade Agreement deal is close to being finalized and there is a buzz that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit India to sign the deal. And it is no secret that the UK has been courting India for this deal. How India deals with the ganging up of the traditional allies remains to be seen. But at the moment, this is proving to be a diplomatic pickleboth for India, as well as the US, who will be keen to ensure that they dont get caught up in this mess too much. India and Canada were in discussions on ongoing modalities on how to achieve staff parity, as the ministry of external affairs had stated. But Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly claimed that India formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities" for more than 40 diplomats in Delhi. "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 has been reported as saying at a press conference. Mahesh Korambil's journey with the CPI(M) began when he started as a child activist in Balasangham, the party's children's organisation. Over the past five decades, he has been involved in various party-affiliated organisations, including SFI and DYFI, and has held positions such as Mapranam central branch secretary within the party. It was he who introduced his wife Ambili to the world of social activism, and made her an active volunteer of CPI(M). Mahesh, now working as a mason on daily wages, and Ambili, a CITU ASHA Workers Union Irinjalakkuda area secretary and CITU Irinjalakkuda area committee member, made sure that their two daughters also actively participated in the party's protests and processions while nurturing the dream of providing them with the best education and life. We were a happy, model family. We have been the go-to persons for help for everyone around us, recalls Mahesh. We were actively involved in the affairs of all kinds of social activities including those from the library to the nearby temple administration. As an ASHA worker, my wife had personal connections to all 570 families, especially among women, in our area. But now, everything is gone. My family is in deep peril; we have a liability of over Rs 10 crore for the crimes that we have not committed. We are bearing the consequences of the wrongdoings committed by powerful people in the party we had placed our trust in. Mahesh is referring to the infamous multi-hundred crore scam, which encompassed loan frauds, benami transactions, and money laundering, all of which occurred within the CPI(M)-controlled Karuvannur Cooperative Service Bank over the past decade. In addition to Mahesh and Ambili, other board members Jose Chakrampalli, K.V. Sugathan, V.K. Lalithan, and Mini Nandanan, have recently chosen to speak out about the CPI(M) leadership making them scapegoats in this fraud case. The move comes after the ED investigation in the case pointed fingers at several top party leaders, including former minister and CPI(M) state secretariat member A.C. Moideen in promoting fraudulent activities not just involving fake loans or benami transactions, but also involving large scale money laundering. The CPI(M) openly rallied to protect these leaders, bringing back memories of the party's cold response when the board members were arrested by the Kerala Police Crime Branch in connection with the same case in 2021. Mahesh served as the CPI(M) representative in the bank's governing board from 2011 to 2016, while Ambili held the position as a party-nominee from 2016 to 2021. The governing board members and the bank president were mere rubber stampswe had no actual power, claims Ambili. All the things were controlled by the bank secretary [T.R. Sunil Kumar, who had been a former Karuvannur local committee secretary]. None of the big and illegal loans were presented in the board meeting. And we never had a clue of the large-scale fraud happening in the bank. Lalithan, who had served in the two governing boards since 2011, says that the governing board members, like him, were strict about following the cooperative rules while granting loans. But only loans up to Rs 5 lakh came in front of the board. I used to personally inspect the land mortgaged as collateral for these loan applications from my area. We strictly adhered to the rule that loans could only be granted up to 50 per cent of the land's value. My commitment to enforcing these regulations sometimes led to conflicts with certain individuals, he recalls. Lalithan also corroborates what Ambili said. None of the files of big loans were presented in front of the director board. The procedures followed in the case of small loans were not followed in the case of big loans granted illegally via the bank. It is cruel that we board members were tagged culprits just because we signed the board meeting minutes. Do you think a loan is being granted only on the basis of signing of the minutes? he asks. V.K. Lalithan | Nirmal Jovial Ambili adds that it was only in 2019 that the board members got an audit report for the first time, though they had the right to receive it every year. It is only then it became apparent the widespread frauds were happening in the bank, but even then, we never thought that we would be tagged as the accused in the case, she says. During Maheshs tenure, the board meeting sitting fees for the board of directors were Rs 200, and during Ambilis tenure, it was increased to Rs 500. We were also given a small amount for land inspection. Apart from these fees, we did not earn anything from the bank in any way, she says. However, on July 17, 2021, Irinjalakuda police registered a case of fraud. Just 11 days before it, Ambili and three other board members were suspended by the CPI(M). The suspension letter cited the CPI(M) Thrissur district secretariat's endorsement of the findings from the party's internal investigation commission. This commission, comprising former MP and state committee member P.K. Biju and district secretariat member P.K. Shajan, concluded that although the governing board members were aware of the bank employees' misconduct as indicated by audit reports, inspectorate reports, and the 65-inquiry report from the cooperative department, they failed to take any action against these employees. Furthermore, it was noted that a bank subcommittee had discovered that Biju Kareem, the bank manager [who was also a Poratthussheri local committee member], used counterfeit signatures of the bank president and board members to approve illegal loans with the assistance of the bank secretary, yet no action was taken. Interestingly, P.K. Biju's name cropped up recently in relation to the frauds that happened in the bank. The ED had reportedly mentioned the involvement of a former MP in the frauds in the remand report it submitted in the case of the two accused, and Congress leader Anil Akkara had raised the allegation that the remand report is referring to P.K. Biju. However, the former Alathur MP has categorically denied these allegations, labelling them as baseless and politically motivated. He also claimed that he was not part of the party's internal investigation commission into the Karuvannur bank fraud, despite party documents suggesting otherwise. The party's internal investigation commission had also accused board members of failing to report the serious issues within the bank to the higher-level party committees. However, Ambili contends that, in reality, the board members actively advocated for action against the bank secretary and employees, including manager Biju, once it became evident in 2019 that extensive fraud was occurring within the bank. "We took the step of suspending Biju Kareem, despite some dissatisfaction from the party leadership. Moreover, the director board initiated legal action in response to the fraud allegations. However, the local party leadership later requested the bank president K.K. Divakaran withdraw the case, and he complied. Importantly, none of the director board members were informed about this withdrawal. Consequently, the complainants soon found themselves transformed into the accused." The Irinjalakuda police transferred the case to the Crime Branch, which subsequently filed charges against Ambili and other board members who had served since 2016. The accusation levelled against these director board members was that they colluded with bank staff to approve illegal loans and facilitate the embezzlement of bank funds. "The board was never provided with comprehensive details regarding the large loans being given from the bank, and the meeting minutes were not finalised on the same day, allowing the secretary to add information without the board's knowledge," explained Chakrampalli, another CPI(M) nominee in the board, who was arrested and detained by the Crime Branch in September 2021. "Those like bank secretary Sunil Kumar and main branch manager Biju Kareem, who played pivotal roles in the fraudulent activities, wielded unchecked authority over the bank's operations, thanks to their strong backing from the party leadership." Jose Chakrampalli | Nirmal Jovial Chakrampalli revealed that he had raised concerns about the activities in the bank with local leadership well in advance and had submitted a written complaint to the party leadership. However, he noted that they failed to intervene promptly. When the party realised that arrests were imminent in the case, they made us scapegoats, branding us as culprits. Chakrampalli was not suspended by the party, unlike Ambili and the others. This exception was dubbed as an acknowledgement of his proactive efforts in bringing the bank's issues to the attention of the party leadership well in advance. Ambili explains, "Jose had presented those facts to the party leadership on behalf of all of us." But the party's exemption did not reflect in police procedures. On September 13, 2021, Chakrampalli, along with bank president Divakaran and fellow board members Thaivalappil Byju and Lalithan, became the first members of the board of directors to be arrested in the case. While Lalithan was associated with CPI, the other three had affiliations with CPI(M). Chakrampalli, a successful businessperson in Mapranam, vividly remembers how his arrest deeply affected his wife's mental well-being. "This was the first time I got arrested ever in my 64 years of life. I was arrested on the eve of our church's annual feast in Mapranam on September 14. It has been two years since that incident, but my wife is still grappling with the trauma it caused. As the feast date approaches each year, her emotional state deteriorates, as the memory of my arrest continues to haunt her. Therefore, even this year, we chose to vacate our house and stay elsewhere during the feast." When Jose and others were arrested, Ambili was advised by her advocate to go into hiding and await an anticipatory bail. However, this was a challenging period as Mahesh and Ambili were in the midst of preparing for their elder daughter's wedding in October 2021. "I went on the run, constantly moving from place to place to avoid being arrested. Fortunately, the groom's family understood my innocence, and so my daughter's marriage proceeded as planned," she says. "My husband and I had many dreams for our daughter's wedding, but everything got shattered. I attended the wedding with the constant fear of being apprehended by the police. The case severely impacted our financial stability to the point where we couldn't even afford a photographer for the wedding." Ambili eventually surrendered to the police on December 10, 2021, just over a month after her daughter's wedding. Although it is estimated that a fraud exceeding Rs 300 crore occurred within the bank, the Thrissur district collector issued an order in June, mandating the recovery of Rs 125.83 crore from 24 individuals, including all board members since 2011. Interestingly, the board members are the only ones being required to repay amounts proportionate to the total defrauded sum. In contrast, individuals like bank manager Biju Kareem, who was found to have embezzled Rs 28.5 crore, are obligated to return only Rs 12.16 crore, while commission agent Bijoy, responsible for a fraud of Rs 35.65 crore, has to pay just Rs 20.72 lakh. Remarkably, former board member Sugathan, 59, who earns a daily wage of Rs 300 from a 14-hour security job, faces a liability of Rs 8.3 crore under revenue recovery in this case. Sugathan, a CPI nominee, had been part of two governing boards since 2011. He started off with the CPI(M) and played a pivotal role in establishing the Karshaka Thozhilali Union in his region. However, he later had disagreements with the party's local leadership, leading him to part ways and join the RSP and subsequently the CPI(ML) and then the CPI. They needed a scheduled caste nominee, which is how I became a board member," he says. Reflecting on his experience, he recalls, "In my third board meeting in 2011, I questioned the practice of not closing meeting minutes, suggesting that they be recorded, read aloud, and then closed. The secretary responded disdainfully, saying, 'That's not how things work here'. So, I complied. Little did I know that this mistake would result in my imprisonment for 77 days, 10 years later." K.V. Sugathan | Nirmal Jovial Sugathans wife Thankam, 58, says that she had to run from pillar to pole for financial support to get her husband, who is a diabetic and BP patient living on a single kidney, on bail. We are people who used to live on a purambokku (government land) and we only managed to move to a rented house close to our daughter's wedding, she says, while showing the current residence that had been submerged during the floods in both 2018 and 2019. We still do not have any land or assets in our name. For the bail, a Rs 1.25 crore bond was required. I had to beg for peoples help. But people were either scared or reluctant to help us. In the end, we had to borrow nearly Rs 3 lakh just to give to some people to furnish a personal bond in the court. Sugathan says his son never talks about or provides any financial help for anything associated with the case. He recalls his son's remark, "These repercussions are a result of your involvement in party politics." The board members that THE WEEK met, particularly those affiliated with the CPI(M), say that they are not getting any assistance from the party or LDF. They believe that the party's inconsistent treatment of ordinary party members and top leaders is evident. "When the ED investigation started pointing fingers at top leaders, the party reacted furiously. However, when our case came to the forefront, the party publicly declared that they had imprisoned the director board members, labelling us 'culprits,'" says Chakrampalli. During our time in custody, none of the leaders from the area committee or local committee came to visit us. Only a few ordinary party workers came to offer support." The board members also note that both they and their family members made efforts to convey their innocence to top party and government leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Cooperative Minister V.N. Vasavan, and Party State Secretary M.V. Govindan. "But we received nothing but indifference from them," says Mahesh, who is on the verge of losing his small house on seven cents in revenue recovery. Lalithan, a 71-year-old heart and diabetic patient who spent 114 days in jail because of the case during the COVID-19 phase, however, says that compared to CPI(M), the CPI's response was somewhat better. "The mandalam secretary visited me, and many comrades came to see me in jail. When I went to see CPI State Secretary Kanam Rajendran, he assured us that he would raise our cause within the LDF. Unfortunately, nothing substantial materialised," he explains. "On the other hand, the atmosphere within the CPI(M) was different, with party workers displaying a vindictive attitude towards the arrested board members, perhaps driven by fear of the party leadership." In July 2021, along with Ambili and other board members, the CPI(M) had taken action against a number of leaders from Thrissur. This included district committee members K.R. Vijaya and Ullas Kallakad. However, in February 2023, the party decided to bring back them to district committee, though suspension of Ambili and other board members continued. Mahesh, who remains a party member, anticipates that in light of recent revelations, the party might eventually expel both him and his wife from their primary membership. The former board members are hopeful that their innocence will come out through the ED investigation in the case. Some of the board members have already given their statements to the central agency. The ED has recently expanded their investigation to other CPI(M)-controlled cooperative banks too, as they have found potential leads suggesting that these banks were also being used for money laundering and other illegal transactions that happened primarily via Karuvannur bank. In the meantime, Govindan expressed strong disapproval during a meeting at the Thrissur district secretariat. He reportedly cautioned that actions that might betray the party or its leadership must not be allowed. Chakrampalli, who also foresees potential disciplinary measures from the party due to his outspokenness against the leadership, says, "The problem doesn't stem from the Communist movement itself. I didn't join this party seeking personal wealth or excitement; rather, I viewed it as an opportunity to assist others. Unfortunately, it appears that many individuals within the party prioritise their own financial gain. The party's associations often centre around such individuals, which has contributed to its moral decline. In case of any unfortunate event, I have already prepared a letter naming those responsible. WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Republicans on Friday dropped right-wing figure Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, as the party's nominee for House speaker, after he failed to garner enough support from his own party in three rounds of full-chamber voting. In a closed-door session Friday afternoon, House Republicans voted in a secret ballot against Jordan continuing as the party's nominee for speaker, roughly a week after he was nominated. Earlier in the day, Jordan lost the third vote in his bid for the U.S. House speaker, losing more votes from fellow Republicans than in the first and second rounds of voting, as Republican opposition grows amid continuing chaos. JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda backtracked his statement of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan agreeing to JDS-BJP alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Deve Gowda claimed he never said that CPI(M) supports the alliance. His reversal comes after Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan retorted to the claims. In a tweet, the JD(S) leader said, There is some confusion about my statement on the CPM. My Communist friends do not seem to have followed what I said nor the context in which I said. I never said the CPM in Kerala supports the BJP-JDS alliance. Gowda added, I only said my party unit in Kerala is getting along with the LDF government as things within my party units outside Karnataka remain unresolved after our alliance with the BJP. I wish CPM leaders had chosen their words better or had sought clarification. Earlier, Gowda claimed the JD(S) -BJP alliance had Kerala CMs concurrence. Rubbishing the claims, Pinarayi Vijayan said the former PMs claims were disgraceful. Vijayan tweeted, 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. @cpimspeak has been an unwavering and unyielding force in the battle against the Sangh Parivar. There is no room for ambiguity in our stance. The Rajasthan BJP here has filed a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, demanding action against her for "spreading lies with malicious intentions" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public meeting. The complaint was filed by Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore with the Chief Election Commissioner of the state, a party spokesperson said. The party accused Gandhi of violating the Model Code of Conduct in a public meeting in Sikarai village in Dausa on Friday. "Today the BJP delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Department, Rajasthan and expressed concern over the violation of the code of conduct on the basis of religious sentiments in the public speech given by Congress National General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Vadra in the meeting held in Dausa yesterday on 20th October," Rathore said on X. "Demanded that necessary legal action be taken in connection with the serious case of malicious making of false statements against Honorable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji," he added. The Congress leader had in her Sikrai public rally on Friday alleged that BJP wanted to stay in power for the sake of it and that it did not care about the people's welfare. "Whenever elections come, they (BJP leaders) talk about religion and caste. No Indian can deny the issue of protection of religion and advancement of religion. It is something all of us are emotionally attached with, but it will have to be understood carefully as to why they talk about it only at the time of elections and why development is not being talked about," the Congress general secretary had said. In another matter, BJP Election Management Committee Convener Narayan Panchariy has submitted a memorandum to the CEC demanding reasons for the delay in approval for outdoor media by the district election officer. The much anticipated first list of candidates of the Congress for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan was released today. Amongst the 33 nominees on the list are Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who will contest from his traditional seat of Sardarpura, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra who will contest from their current seats Tonk and Lachhmangarh respectively. There are no major surprises in the first list, with five ministers featuring amongst the nominees and just two MLAs getting axed. The party seems to keep the contentious seats for later lists. Vidhan Sabha Speaker C.P. Joshi has been repeated from Nathdwara, Harish Choudhary from Baytoo, Divya Maderna from Osian, Ashok Chandna from Hindoli, Krishna Poonia from Sadulpur, Danish Abrar from Sawai Madhopur, Manisha Panwar from Jodhpur. 29 sitting MLAs have been nominated as per the first list. There are nine women candidates and one Muslim nominee. Amongst the other prominent names on the list are Archana Sharma from Malviya Nagar, Mukesh Bhakar from Ladnun and Mamta Bhupesh from Sikrai. The Congress central election committee met earlier this week to finalise the party's candidates for the state elections scheduled to be held on November 25. With the party seeking to buck the trend of the state's electorate voting out the incumbent, it is learnt that a decision has been taken to not give tickets to a substantial number of MLAs to deal with the anti-incumbency against the legislators. Addressing a press conference in the national capital close on the heels of the party's CEC meeting, Gehlot rejected reports of differences between him and Pilot with regard to the selection of candidates. He said he was a party in decisions favouring the Pilot camp in the CEC meetings and has not objected to the candidature of even one MLA seen as close to his former deputy. Even as there are reports that many MLAs will not get tickets this time round, the chief minister said had any legislator been corrupt, his government would not have survived the attempt made to topple it since the BJP had allegedly offered Rs 10 crore to each MLA of the ruling party. Amid Israel-Hamas war, world leaders and several heads of Arab regions take part in the Cairo summit called by Egypt to revive the path of peace and set a roadmap to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. World leaders from various countries including Italy, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine and South Africa took part in the summit. The summit is being held in Egypt as Israel prepares for ground assault in Gaza. While speaking at the summit, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said we won't leave, we will remain on our land. While, Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the Palestinian people are "facing genocide" and being targeted in hospitals. It's a war crime on full scale...forcing a siege on the rest of the living, he said. Iraq is establishing Iraq is calling, he says, for lifting the siege fully on the Gaza strip and establishing a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza. Gaza today is a test, a new test for the new world order that have failed over and over and over in applying what they called for in justice and freedom, he added. Hasnt the time come yet to put an end to this occupation? said Sudani. Sudani called for an immediate ceasefire and said the Palestinians has no place to go leaving their land. United States Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for immediate humanitarian ceasefire. He said the time has come "to end this...awful nightmare...I appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire now." The Geneva conventions must be upheld, he added. "The time has come for an action," said Guterres. Speaking at the summit, Jordans King Abdullah criticised the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands. Abdullah pointed out that its a war crime. While, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said no military intervention can replace a viable political solution. Inorder to put an end to the war, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on countries to stop supply of weapons to either side of the Israel-Hamas war. The use of force and bombing of the Gaza Strip by Israel violated international law, Ramaphosa added. We hold the firm view that the attack on civilians in Israel, the ongoing siege of Gaza and the decision to forcibly move the people of Gaza, together with the indiscriminate use of force through bombing, are violations of international law, he said. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 4,200 Palestinians were killed since Hamas attack on October 7. Meanwhile, over 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had crossed Rafah border on Saturday. President Joe Biden said he thought Hamas was motivated to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalising relations with Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel - they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden said at a fundraising event. The US president indicated that he thinks Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on October 7 because, Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognise Israel and were near being able to formally do so. Jerusalem and Riyadh had been steadily inching closer to normalisation, with Biden working to help bring the two countries together, announcing plans in September at the Group of 20 summit in India to partner on a shipping corridor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Biden at the UN General Assembly in September and told him, I think that under your leadership, Mr President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis had been insisting on protection and expanded rights for Palestinian interests as part of any broader agreement with Israel. An agreement would have been a feat of diplomacy that could have enabled broader recognition of Israel by other Arab and Muslim-majority nations that have largely opposed Israel since its creation 75 years ago in territory where Palestinians have long resided. But talks were interrupted after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip where Palestinians live into nearby Israeli towns. The October 7 attack coincided with a major Jewish holiday. It led to retaliatory airstrikes by Israel that have left the world on edge with the US trying to keep the war from widening, as 1,400 Israelis and 4,137 Palestinians have been killed. Hamas also captured more than 200 people as hostages after the initial assault. Two American citizens held hostage by Hamas since October 7 have been released, US President Joe Biden said, assuring that his government would fully support the duo in their recovery and healing process. Biden thanked the governments of Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of the two hostages - a mother and her teenage daughter. Soon thereafter, Biden spoke over the phone with the two released hostages and their family. Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7, the president said in a statement. 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 have 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 at this moment, he said. Biden asserted that from the earliest moments of this attack, his administration has been working round-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas and have not ceased their efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the country on Saturday on a chartered flight from Dubai after spending four years in self-imposed exile in the UK. Sharif had left for London in 2019 to receive medical treatment while serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption. The move is seen as a bid by the ousted PM to secure a record fourth term in Pakistan's national elections which is likely to be held in January. However, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) faces a legal woes ahead of the polls. He cannot run for election again because of his convictions but his legal team says he will move legally. Nawaz also faces an uphill political battle as he hopes to make inroads into the support base of his archrival, Imran Khan, who is still popular even after being jailed. When he arrived in Islamabad, the 73-year-old was received by party leaders and former law minister Senator Azam Tarar, who is part of his legal team. The oath commissioner and other court staff also arrived at the airport for signing legal documents, according to Pakistan-based media outlet Dawn. The legal process of security guarantee will now be completed, Dawn quoted Tarar as saying. Before leaving from Dubai, Nawaz said, Im going back to Pakistan after four years today. When I was leaving Pakistan and going abroad I had no feeling of happiness but today I am happy. He will lead a rally in Lahore, his hometown on Saturday at 5pm, said local media reports. Nawaz is still convicted but the authorities are legally barred from arresting him until Tuesday, when he is to appear in court. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid have begun entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Saturday, for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war, according to agency reports. Earlier, the US embassy had indicated that the crossing could open today as millions of Gazans await life-saving aid. The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is the only route through which aid can be delivered to the Palestinians in the strife-torn region. Though Egypt controls the opening, entry of aid into Gaza requires permission from Israel. 'At least 100 trucks required' The United Nations said the aid convoy waiting to pass through the border is a 'drop in the ocean' when compared to what the Gazans need as Israel continues to pound the region in retaliation to the Hamas attack on October 7. Israel had declared a complete siege over Gaza and cut off essential supplies including electricity. So far, Israel has only permitted 20 trucks into Gaza at the moment, but has refused to allow fuel into the region, the BBC reported. The United Nations has said that at least 100 are required to deliver immediate assistance. Over 175 trucks with essential medicines, food and water were stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, AFP reported earlier. The supply of fuel has remained particulary contentious because Israel is concerned it could be distributed to Hamas militants. However, humanitarian agencies have been pushing for fuel as it is a matter of life and death for millions. Gaza's hospitals, tending to the young and the elderly, have been working on back-up generators after Israel cut off power supply. Fuel is also needed for desalination of potable water as Isreal cut off Gaza's water supply too, New York Times reported. The Times of Israel reported that the crossing closed again after the trucks went through. UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffith warned that this first convoy should not be the last. This aid is a lifeline for those suffering, it cannot be a one-off, UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. Despite pressure from the UN and other humanitarian organisations, Israel had been reluctant to grant permission for entry of the trucks. While Israel has been insisting on some control over scrutinising the contents of the trucks, it has also been demanding the relief materials be delivered only to the southern part of Gaza. Cairo peace summit today Days after talks with US President Joe Biden were called off, Egypt is hosting a summit that will bring together more than 20 world leaders to discuss the deepening conflict in the region. According to Reuters, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly, UN chief Antonio Guterres, and several heads of state in the Arab region will attend the summit. Notably, the list of attendees does not include representatives from Israel, the US, Iran and Hamas. Slovenia on Saturday deployed additional forces along the Croatia and Hungary borders to prevent security threats after Italy has imposed border restrictions along the Slovenia border. The Slovenian government said temporary border controls will be introduced till October 30. According to Slovenian news agency STA, police were deployed on 14 border crossings with Croatia and Hungary. Obrezje crossing along the border with Croatia witnessed long queues with travellers awaiting for security checks. There were no checks conducted along the border since January 1. Earlier this week, Italy reinstated border controls with Slovenia as part of its strategy to improve home security citing threats of terrorist attacks in Europe. "The intensification of crisis hotspots on Europe's borders, particularly after the attack on Israel, has in fact increased the threat level of violent action also within the Union," the Italian government said in a statement. "The suspension of the Schengen Treaty on free movement in Europe became necessary...and I take full responsibility for this," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X. Meloni had informed that the European Union authorities were informed of the decision. "The police measures at the Italian-Slovenian border are not adequate to guarantee the required security," read the government statement. The flow of illegal migrants was cited as a potential risk as well. WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Republicans on Friday dropped Ohio Rep. 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 three rounds of full-chamber voting. In a closed-door session Friday afternoon, House Republicans voted in a secret ballot against Jordan continuing as their party's nominee for speaker, roughly a week after he was nominated. Earlier in the day, Jordan lost the third vote in his bid for House speaker, as Republican opposition grew amid continuing chaos. In the full chamber vote, the 59-year-old Ohio Republican lost 25 votes from fellow Republicans, three more than in the second round of voting and five more than in the first round, indicating moderates' growing doubts about a hardline conservative House speaker. With a slim 221-212 Republican majority in the chamber, Jordan could only afford to lose a few votes from Republicans in order to reach the majority threshold and win the gavel, considering that all Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Among the 25 Republican holdouts, several voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who previously won the Republican speakership nomination but failed to garner support from right-wing conservatives and dropped out of the race. A few voted for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, former Representative Lee Zeldin, and others. "He just got his rear end kicked," President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., after Jordan failed to secure the speakership following three rounds of voting. Jordan, a 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. He advocates for deep spending cuts, and enhanced border security, and has been a prominent player in the impeachment investigation opened against Biden. "If Jordan becomes speaker, it will signal Republicans putting a hardliner in charge of the House and someone who is used to confrontational politics. A number of Republican House members seem to have doubts about having a far-right member in charge," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua earlier. In the closed-door vote, more than 110 House Republicans voted to find another candidate, according to a report by The Hill. Many expressed frustration with the division within the Republican party and are confused about the way forward. "We're back to square one," said South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson. Scalise, meanwhile, said they were going to "come back and start over" on Monday. Several House Republicans have announced they would run for House speaker, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Jack Bergman from Michigan, and Kevin Hern from Oklahoma. In the wake of the nasty pressure campaign unleashed on Republican holdouts by Jordan's allies, Emmer plans to run an "entirely positive" campaign for speaker and "won't attack his opponents," CNN reported, citing a source close to him. The House has been leaderless for over two weeks, after Kevin McCarthy was unprecedentedly removed from his position on Oct. 3, in a move initiated by a conservative member of his own party. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats in the historical ouster. The House has never been speakerless for so long mid-session, The Washington Post said in an analysis, noting that The House was already operating at an unusually unproductive pace. YouGov's new polling for the Economist suggested that Americans think the lack of a speaker and the struggle to elect a replacement is hurting the ability of the government to function. The House can't move forward on its legislative process until a speaker is chosen, and lawmakers need to pass a spending bill before government funding runs out in mid-November. The House is also under pressure to take action amid the escalating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Biden administration is requesting more than 105 billion U.S. dollars from Congress for military aid mostly for Ukraine and Israel. But the latest chaos shows that moderates and right-wing conservatives within the Republican Party are far from reaching an agreement on the way forward, and the intraparty fight will continue to paralyze the lower chamber. The stalemate has prompted some lawmakers to push for the empowerment of Patrick McHenry - the temporary speaker - in the hope that he can oversee the passage of urgently needed legislation until House Republicans can coalesce and elect a new leader. Kolkata, Oct 21 (PTI) BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday arrived in Kolkata to participate in Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal, party officials said. He arrived in the eastern metropolis around 11 a.m. and will be in the city and neighbouring Howrah for only a few hours before returning to New Delhi later in the day. "Nadda ji will participate in Durga Puja festivities at Howrah, Sovabajar Rajbari and at New Market area in Kolkata. He will leave the city around 3 pm, a BJP leader said. Earlier this week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Durga Puja at Santosh Mitra Square. The BJP, which has enhanced its presence in the states biggest festival, has been inviting several central leaders and union ministers this time to inaugurate several community pujas across the state. Shah had, in 2019, inaugurated the BJ Block community Durga Puja in Salt Lake on the eastern fringes of the city. The West Bengal BJP had started its own Durga Puja celebrations in 2020, becoming the first and only party in the state to do so. Subsequent editions were organised in 2021 and 2022. However, the state BJP announced last year that it would not organise the puja from 2023. New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday said it has filed a charge sheet under the anti-money laundering law against a man, whose name figured in the Panama Paper leaks, for alleged possession of undisclosed assets abroad. The prosecution complaint against Sanjay Vijay Shinde, his wife Aparna and a company named Venus Bay Offshore Ltd. was filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bhopal on October 18 and the court took cognisance of the charge sheet on Friday, the federal agency said. The money laundering case against Shinde stems from an Income Tax Department charge sheet that was filed earlier under the anti-black money law. The I-T department acted against the man as part of its probe into the Panama Papers leak. Dubbed 'Panama Papers', an investigation of a stockpile of records from Panamanian legal firm Mossack Fonseca by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in 2016 had named several world leaders and celebrities who have allegedly stashed away money abroad in offshore companies. Some of them were stated to be holding valid overseas accounts. The leaks tranche had a total of 426 India-linked cases. The ED said Shinde established an offshore company in tax haven British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the name of Venus Bay Offshore Ltd. "He received a sum of 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," it claimed. Since the interest in the foreign company and the assets in the form of money received in the foreign bank account were "not disclosed" by the accused in his Income Tax return, proceedings under the Black Money Act were initiated against him and a prosecution complaint was filed by the tax department. The ED alleged that the accused brought the money to India from the BVI company through NRE/NRO accounts route and invested it into foreign currency non-resident (FCNR-FD) account. The accused subsequently liquidated these funds and invested into various movable and immovable properties, it claimed. "The accused had purchased properties across Bhopal, Goa, Vadodara and Mumbai using the proceeds of crime. These funds were also invested in mutual funds, shares, FDs, LIC policies and as capital investment in businesses," it said. The total "proceeds of crime" in this case have been calculated at Rs 34.22 crore, the ED said. The agency had earlier conducted searches at multiple premises of Shinde and seized assets worth about Rs 30 crore. Practicing Faith: How will you answer the call to service? 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. Another week, yet more correspondence from those of you outraged about soaring insurance premiums. Dennis Favish, a 74-year-old retired finance director from Stanmore in Middlesex, wants to know whether the renewal premium he recently received for cover on his townhouse represents a record. Insurer Esure wanted to increase the annual premium from 216.54 to 693.15, a 220 per cent hike. This is despite an exemplary no-claims record going back at least ten years. Safe as houses: Insurer Esure wanted to increase Dennis Favish's annual premium from 216.54 to 693.15, a 220 per cent hike Although Dennis complained, Esure wasn't for moving. Instead, he shopped around (as all people should do at renewal) and bought equivalent cover from the Co-op for 308, a gentler increase but still a stiff one of 42 per cent. What Dennis found unfathomable was Esure's explanation for the price hike: changing weather patterns. 'There is nothing particularly unusual about Stanmore's weather,' he told me last week. 'We're not prone to floods and Stanmore is one of the highest points in London. I'm baffled.' So am I. David Jones, from Norwich in Norfolk, has just received the renewal notice for his home insurance from Swinton a premium increase of 148 per cent. Swinton, which selects cover from a panel of insurers, has told David that the best cover it can find for his three-bedroom home costs 1,137 via Highway Insurance. Says David mischievously: 'It seems to have missed the word robbery out of its title. Insurance is currently like the Wild West with little chance of a return to fair pricing and both the Government and the financial regulators are powerless to act.' For the record, Highway Insurance is a brand owned by Liverpool Victoria and no other insurer has been the butt of more reader complaints over premium pricing than LV. Suffice to say, David opted not to be robbed and shopped around for cover costing half what Swinton offered. The final word goes to 96-year-old John Southern, from Wigan in Lancashire. He now uses his second-hand Suzuki Swift sparingly, averaging 30 miles a week to go to church, attend choir practice, do a bit of shopping, dine with friends and see his GP. He has always insured with LV, his last claim being in 1977. The reward for his loyalty? A renewal premium of 1,014, compared to 678 last year. Although he negotiated the price down to below 970, it still means a 43 per cent increase. What price loyalty, eh? If your renewal premium jumped by more than 220 per cent, do let me know if only to make Dennis feel slightly less victimised. Email jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk or drop me a line at 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. A time and a place: Telephone queries are being met with Barry Manilow belting out Can't Smile Without You There's a place for Barry but NOT when it's customer service Insurance giant Zurich UK has introduced 'empathy' training for staff who deal with customers making a claim on a financial protection product. Such policies typically provide a payout if a customer is diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer. It's a splendid initiative, designed to ensure customers are treated with respect when feeling vulnerable and stressed about a recent medical diagnosis. 'Our customers expect a high level of service,' says Zurich's Pete Sanderson, head of retail protection operations. 'It's important we're there for them at their time of need, both emotionally and practically.' Although empathy is key in this area of finance, it should be a given irrespective of which company is delivering the customer service an insurer, bank, train company or utility provider. Sadly, too many companies have lost the plot in this area, turning customer service into a nightmare experience. For example, telephone queries being met with Barry Manilow belting out Can't Smile Without You (there is a time and place for Barry, but not when you want a problem fixed asap). Or a train being cancelled one minute before it is due to arrive at a station without any announcement of apology or explaining why (it happened to me last Monday). Less of Barry and more empathy. St James's should bite the bullet Wealth manager St James's Place is not a FTSE 100-listed company because it gives clients buckets of tender loving care. I t's there because it is good at attracting clients, charges them a lot for looking after their wealth, and makes profits (162 million in the first half of this year). Yet the company is in remodelling mode. Last week, in response to new consumer duty rules (from the Financial Conduct Authority) requiring companies to give customers value for money, St James's said it would overhaul charges. As a result, its controversial early exit penalties would be scrapped. Fine and dandy? Yes, but as SCM Direct's Alan Miller pointed out last week, its move is not that consumer-friendly. Existing clients will still be subject to these charges which can be as high as 6 per cent. Only new clients joining from late 2025 will be immune from them. St James's should bite the bullet, bin exit penalties for ALL clients, and move on. Will 230m be enough to ease woes of Woodford? Fallen: Fund manager Neil Woodford Nearly four-and-a-half years have elapsed since investment fund Woodford Equity Income, run by fallen fund manager Neil Woodford hit the buffers. This is after the 3.7 billion fund was unable to meet investor requests to withdraw their money because of the illiquidity of its assets. Although the 300,000 investors caught up in this monumental investment debacle have since received a series of payments as assets in the closed fund have been sold, most nurse losses. They should therefore be heartened (in theory at least) by news that they are being asked to vote on a scheme that could push up to 230 million of compensation their way. Not enough to cover all their losses, but a big step in the right direction. The payment is being made by Link Fund Solutions, the fund's supervisor, which failed in its duty to look after the financial interests of investors. Its lackadaisical approach meant the fund became more a portfolio of illiquid assets than shares in dividend-friendly UK companies. For the money to come the way of investors, two hurdles must be cleared. Of those who vote, a majority must say yes by number and 75 per cent by value of their fund investment. Investors will be able to vote until early December. While City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, insists that the settlement offers Woodford investors a better outcome than could be achieved by other means (for example, a class action), not everyone agrees. Campaign group the Transparency Task Force, believes investors are being railroaded into approving the deal, without being told properly about other options available. They are also concerned that many investors may be excluded from voting as a result of investment platforms failing to contact them or deciding to vote on their behalf. Alan Miller, co-founder of investment house SCM Direct, believes Woodford investors face a Hobson's choice. He says: 'Although the deal presented to investors will not fully compensate their losses, it will probably pass because the alternative is a lengthy legal battle with no guarantee of victory.' As for others involved in this awful investment episode Hargreaves Lansdown (promoter of the Woodford fund until the day it was suspended); the regulator; and, of course, Mr Woodford himself they have so far escaped any form of censure. Feeling the heat: British Steel employs around 4,500 people British Steel is losing between 20 million and 30 million a month, The Mail on Sunday understands. The Scunthorpe-based company made the admission in a meeting with other organisations last week, according to an industry source. There have been question marks over British Steel's finances for months. The Chinese-owned company has not yet released its most recent accounts, which were due on December 31 2022. It is not clear why the company, which employs around 4,500 people, might be making such huge losses and for how long this would be sustainable. It collapsed in 2019 before being rescued by its current owners Jingye in March 2020. When Jingye was bidding for British Steel, it appeared to offer to write a blank cheque to keep the steelworks going. In a presentation delivered to officials at the time, the Chinese group said: 'Need funds? No problem. Jingye is here to invest.' Around 34,500 people work in the UK's steel sector and it is seen as a critical industry. It produces 7 million tonnes of steel per year but faces stiff competition from cheap imports, particularly from China. British Steel is also understood to be in talks with the Government to set up new green steelmaking facilities. Along with Tata Steel, it is one of only two companies in Britain running blast furnaces, which make steel from scratch from raw materials. Both are seeking funding to help them build cleaner electric-arc furnaces (EAFs). Tata recently secured a 500 million Government grant to set up an EAF. It has previously been reported that state funding for British Steel is dependent on Jingye committing to protect jobs and to invest at least 1 billion by 2030. Separately, the company is suffering from a 'temporary production issue' which is understood to have hit steelmaking capabilities. The precise nature and gravity of the issue is not clear, but the company said the matter would be 'resolved at the earliest opportunity'. A spokesman said: 'We are manufacturing iron and steel and continue to work closely with our customers to satisfy demand and ensure they get the high-quality products they require.' Three thinker: Margherita Della Valle is pressing on with the planned 15 billion merger with Three UK Margherita Della Valle, who became the first female chief executive of Vodafone this year, is one of a cadre of women to have reached the top of the telecoms industry. Fellow FTSE 100 phone giant BT will next year be led by a woman, Allison Kirkby. French group Orange has been run by Christel Heydemann since 2022. So is this a big moment for women in the industry, marking the end of decades of male domination? 'I think it is a great thing. Until a year ago it was all men at the top,' says Italian-born Della Valle, 58. 'The breakthrough is about time. It had to happen sooner or later. Times are moving on. It is going to happen everywhere, not just in telcos.' Della Valle says there is still unconscious bias against women, which makes it harder for them to reach the boardroom in the first place. But, she argues, once they have broken through, being female can be a big plus. 'Being a woman in business today is a bit of a superpower because you bring a different voice,' she says. 'It is very difficult to get around the table. But once you are there, your voice can really be heard because you have a different perspective.' It's a far cry from the days when the best-known woman in the UK telecoms sector was actress Maureen Lipman starring in a BT ad. Della Valle's rise to chief executive is the culmination of nearly three decades at Vodafone. It came after her predecessor, Nick Read, who presided over a big slump in the share price, was ousted late last year. Some observers question whether, having been part of the previous top team, she can bring a fresh enough eye to Vodafone. Nine months into the job, she gives that idea short shrift, saying: 'Has anyone before me made so much change in so little time? My first message as chief executive was everything has to change here.' To most of us, telecoms may seem dry and functional, but Della Valle really loves it. Enthusiasm radiates from her face when she brandishes a piece of transatlantic telegraph cable she keeps in her office. It was laid by the Eastern Telegraph Company between the US and Cornwall in the late 19th Century. She becomes animated describing how Vodafone restored communications to earthquake-hit Turkey earlier this year with equipment flown over in three suitcases. She says: 'We call it a network in a suitcase. With those three suitcases in an earthquake zone, we create an instant network that is fully autonomous and connects with a satellite.' She adds: 'We have bad returns on capital and poor share prices, but what we have in our hands is a business that is so essential to the functioning of the world.' True, but the challenges she faces are daunting. When we meet at Vodafone's HQ in Paddington, London, she is just back from three days at a strategy board meeting for three days in Dusseldorf. Vodafone is losing share in Germany, its biggest market. It is also failing to make good enough returns in the UK, Spain and Italy. Della Valle attributes underperformance in the sector in Europe to 'fragmentation' in other words, too many players in the market. Her view is that there need to be mergers so that beefed up telecom firms can make a decent return and deliver the investment needed in 5G, the new, faster and more responsive mobile technology. With that in mind, she is re-shaping the Vodafone empire, saying: 'It is very important we operate in markets where we are in a position to earn the cost of capital. There are three markets in Europe where we have problems from that perspective: the UK, Spain and Italy.' The Spanish business is under strategic review and potential buyers include UK investment firm Zegona and US private equity group Apollo. In Italy, the break-up of Telecom Italia could be a catalyst for change, she says. In Britain, she is pressing ahead with her predecessor's planned 15 billion merger with Three UK, which is owned by Hong Kong investment giant CK Hutchison. Her hope is that the deal will go through by the end of next year. Vodafone and Three are the third and fourth largest operators in the UK. Number one is EE, owned by BT, followed by Virgin Media O2, owned by Telefonica of Spain and Liberty Global of the US. A combined Vodafone and Three would leapfrog both, so it is not surprising the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is having a look. Vodafone and Three UK say they will invest more than 11 billion over a decade to create an advanced 5G network. The claim is that the deal will create up to 5 billion of economic benefits a year by 2030, by giving businesses, households, schools and hospitals state-of-the-art connectivity. Trade union Unite, however, says it will result in job losses, hit consumers with a rise in bills of up to 300 a year and pose national security risks because of Hutchison's Hong Kong ownership. The CMA blocked a bid by Three to buy O2 in 2016, but Della Valle insists that does not set a precedent. She also waves aside potential national security problems due to Hutchison's links with China. 'The joint venture will be controlled by Vodafone. We appoint the chief executive,' she says. Her argument is that the merged group will generate strong enough returns to take on the scale of investment needed to modernise. 'It will be positive for customers and good for competition,' she says, basing the second assertion on the fact that currently Vodafone and Three each have much smaller market shares than the big two. This means, she argues, that as individual operators they are unable to compete effectively but that a larger merged group would be a credible rival for EE and Virgin Media O2. She admits it is a 'counter-intuitive rationale'. It remains to be seen whether it convinces the CMA, under its hard-hitting boss Sarah Cardell. On jobs, again counter-intuitively, Della Valle concedes there will be cuts but argues 'it is a net positive' for the UK overall. She says: 'There will be a degree of job reduction, but it will be much smaller than the opportunity for the economy more broadly, which will be driven by digitisation. It will create 8,000 to 12,000 indirect jobs.' Winning these arguments is crucial for Della Valle, whose credibility hangs on the success of the deal. Another of her big crusades is customer service. When she took over as chief executive it was one of her three priorities, along with growth and simplifying the business. She says: 'My strong belief is that as an industry we have been getting this wrong in the past few years. We are very passionate about technology and innovation, but actually what customers need is simple and predictable service. They need the basics done right.' To that end, she has allocated 150 million to improving customer service across Europe. In January, she is taking the whole board to Stoke on Trent, where the company has its main UK call centre with 750 staff, so they can experience the service and sales front line for themselves. On growth, she sees small and medium-sized firms as a 'huge opportunity'. Many need to digitise but are too small to have their own IT departments and potentially will look to companies such as Vodafone for help. Shareholders are watching closely to see whether she will succeed where predecessors failed. They are unlikely to tolerate fresh disappointment, so Della Valle's future depends heavily on the Three deal and a revival in the share price down 10 per cent this year. Some formidable shareholders, including French businessman Xavier Niel, Emirati telecoms giant E& and Liberty Global, are looking over her shoulder. Della Valle has moved decisively and at pace, but in today's telecoms business, there is no such thing as a honeymoon period. Description Prepare to be dazzled, as Aurum Events hosted by Dr. Farah Haider, one of the most prominent names in the fashion industry, presents "October Opulence," a captivating fashion show set to redefine the very essence of elegance and style. Toto Wolff has dismissed any link between his recent absence from the Mercedes team and the successive flash points endured by its drivers in Japan and in Qatar. Wolff took a two-race absence of leave from his duties as team principal to undergo knee surgery and a recovery period. During that time, the intra-team rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell ramped up a notch, with the pair nearly colliding during a tight wheel-to-wheel battle at Suzuka and then properly coming together at the first corner at Lusail. While absent from his command post inside the Mercedes garage, Wolff watched events from his home in Monte Carlo thanks to a remote set-up that kept him in the loop, but also allowed him to take part in his teams usual debriefs and technical meetings. Asked in Austin if his absence on site had influenced Hamilton and Russells behaviour, Wolff said: I don't think so. We've laughed about that, too, in the team. But I don't think it has an effect. I think we are racing more in the front now, and I think we have a sniff on how it is looking like to have no car in front of you, with the McLarens and with Max [Verstappen] there. So, yeah, in any case, we'll never find out. I'm back. Wolff said that he had taken a relatively relaxed stance regarding the incidents but made clear that they had not gone unaddressed by the team. There were some, let's say, unpleasant situations that we have talked about, and lots of points that we left on the table but there is nobody more aware than the drivers, he added. Sometimes you need these moments to recalibrate and recondition and avoid similar situations in the future. But they're racing drivers; they compete hard. Your first competitor is your team-mate, and therefore, I see it with a relative relaxed stance. And I'm back. Although he didnt miss an inch of the action while watching from afar, Wolff made sure not to get too involved in the teams decisions or speak over those to whom he had delegated part of his responsibilities. I was completely plugged in, he said. I have a centre console set up at home, so I was part of every briefing, debriefing, and the conversations during the race. But obviously you've got to let the guys here fly the airplane. When you're remote, I always take myself back a little bit because you're distant. You don't look into the faces. You don't see what's going on emotionally with the people around you and you feel in a certain way detached. So, it's not something that I enjoy. But it was a necessity. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter [October 20, 2023] HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. - HE Tweet Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the 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 Do If 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 ([email protected]), 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 by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by October 23, 2023. About the Lawsuit Hawaiian 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, LLC KSF, 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 www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020150877/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 20, 2023] KBRA Assigns BBB Rating to Board of Education of the City of Chicago, Unlimited Tax GO Bonds (Dedicated Revenues), Series 2023A; Affirms Rating for Parity Bonds; Outlook Remains Stable Tweet KBRA assigns a long-term rating of BBB with a Stable Outlook to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago's Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bonds (Dedicated Revenues), Series 2023A . Concurrently, KBRA affirms the long-term ratings on the Board of Education of the City of Chicago's outstanding General Obligation bonds. The Board's long-term ratings incorporate KBRA's understanding that the property taxes that secure certain outstanding Board Series should likely be treated as "special revenues", as defined under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in a Chapter 9 proceeding. Those Series which have legal opinions provided by the Board to KBRA that have been reviewed by KBRA's outside counsel are affirmed at BBB+. For those Series without associated special revenue legal opinions, the BBB rating is affirmed. The Outlook for all bonds remains stable. The assigned long-term rating recognizes CPS's satisfactory financial position, underscored by a trend of enhanced State aid support, the enactment of dedicated sources for pension funding, and most recently, ample federal stimulus funding supporting balanced operating performance. Attributable to an improved State funding mechanism enacted in 2018, the Board's unassigned general operating fund balance is vastly improved from the FYE 2017, and prior years' accumulated deficit position. KBRA's expectation is that structural budgetary balance will be maintained, as remaining stimulus funding is obligated and expended through FY 2015, and that the Board will continue to make necessary adjustments to adhere to this standard. KBRA will continue to monitor financial operations and performance, as future budgetary imbalance would place downward pressure on the rating. Additionally, the adoption of an elected school board, beginning in 2025, will represent a significant change in Board administrative structure. KBRA will monitor Board practices and policies as the legislation takes effect to determine whether fiscal discipline is maintained. Key Credit Considerations The rating was assigned because of the following key credit considerations: Credit Positives Strong security structure, with the pledge of alternate revenues as primary source of repayment and a dedicated property tax levy as a secondary source. The dedicated property tax levy, if required, is deposited directly with the Bond Trustee. Evidenced Based Funding formula has increased state education aid revenues and includes hold harmless provisions which effectively remove funding ris related to enrollment declines. The Board's annual pension costs are now largely covered by the dedicated pension property tax levy and the state contribution for normal pension costs under the new State funding formula. The liquidity position of the Board remains narrow, with continued reliance on significant levels of short-term borrowing to support operations at times during the fiscal year. While revenue actions and reforms by the State have stabilized Board financial operations and allowed for structural improvement, KBRA views the Board's financial condition as still challenged, given the near-term full utilization of federal stimulus funds and looming decisions on programs initiated during the pandemic. Rating Sensitivities For upgrade: Sustained improvement in the Board's liquidity position. Structurally balanced financial operations going forward. For downgrade: Deterioration in liquidity position of the Board. Operating deficits that are addressed by one-time revenues. The absence of structural budgetary balance, thus eroding the Board's general operating reserve position. Absence of adherence to fiscal discipline and adoption of credit negative policies by future elected school boards. To access rating and relevant documents, click here. Methodologies Public Finance: U.S. Local Government General Obligation Rating Methodology ESG Global Rating Methodology Disclosures A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here. Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here. Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com. About KBRAS Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020983943/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 21, 2023] Mammotion LUBA Robot Mower Wins Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 and IDEA Design Award 2023 Tweet Winner of the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 in the Outdoor Power Equipment category A finalist of the IDEA Design Award 2023 LUBA AWD Series Robot Mower attends Equip Exposition from 18-20th October 2023 SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammotion, a leading innovator in outdoor robotic electric solutions, is proud to announce that the LUBA AWD Series Perimeter Wire-Free Robot Mower won the Pro Tool Innovation Award 2023 and a finalist for the IDEA Design Award 2023. This award-winning LUBA AWD Series was on display at the Equip Exposition from October 18th to 20th, 2023, in the United States. The Pro Tool Innovation Award and IDEA Design Award represent internationally respected accolades that celebrate ingenuity, exceptional design, and outstanding performance, revolutionary innovation. Pro Tool Innovation Award judges lauded the LUBA AWD Series, stating, "Worry-free robotic mowing is now a eality thanks to the LUBA AWD series from Mammotion. You have the option to set multiple mowing zones for larger lawns, and the all-wheel-drive system can handle up to 75% slope and avoids getting stuck better than other designs. LUBA AWD is one of the most advanced robotic mowers you can get today." "We are thrilled to be recognized with prestigious industry awards for the product innovation."JD Wei, the CEO of Mammotion Tech, is proud to state, "We will keep leading the innovative solution of smarter robot mower in the future, providing best off-road capability, user-friendly intelligence and high-end design product. With RTK-GNSS Mapping and Navigation syetem, precise obstacle avoidance and auto-recharging, APP control anywhere, and the ability to mow stunning lawn stripes, the LUBA AWD Series offers users a brand-new smart, high-quality and eco-friendly lifestyle. All three models of this state-of-the-art LUBA AWD Series are prominently showcased at the Equip Exposition 2023, an excellent opportunity for professional users to learn more about this exciting product. LUBA AWD series is available to order online at U.S., Germany, Australia and other countries. For more information please see www.mammotion.com About Mammotion: Mammotion is committed to shaping a smarter and high quality eco-friendly outdoor lifestyle by providing innovative outdoor robot solutions. The team's core members come from world's leading robotic and UAV companies, inheriting AgileX Robotics' seven years of experience with advanced chassis-based robotic solution and self-driving algorithm technology, Mammotion offers next-generation robotic solutions for professionals and consumers. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mammotion-luba-robot-mower-wins-pro-tool-innovation-award-2023-and-idea-design-award-2023-301963751.html SOURCE Mammotion Technology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 21, 2023] University of Phoenix Vice President of Analytics, Avinash Tripathi, Speaks at CDAO Summit in Boston Tweet University of Phoenix is pleased to highlight Avinash Tripathi's impactful participation in the recently concluded CDAO Fall 2023 Summit, hosted by Corinium Global Intelligence. This prestigious event, held October 5 in Boston, featured Tripathi as both a speaker and panelist sharing valuable insights on data storytelling and the importance of talent in fostering a data-driven culture. "I'm honored to once again be a part of the CDAO Summit," shares Tripathi. "The world of data and analytics is evolving rapidly, and it's crucial for industry leaders to stay ahead of the curve. We're seeing an increasing influence of intelligence through AI and machine learning, the growing significance of data governance, an emphasis on data-driven decision-making, and a surging demand for data science and analytics professionals. Together, we can navigate these exciting changes and continue to drive data excellence." Corinium Global Intelligence, a global community built with over 500,000 senior data and analytics decision-makers, organized the event with a mission to deliver in-depth business insights, advice, and tools to accelerate data analytics strategie for professionals in the field. During his solo session, Avinash Tripathi discussed "Telling the data story: absorbing complexities and delivering simplicity," emphasizing the vital role of data storytelling in decision-making. He highlighted how effective data storytelling can significantly impact a business and addressed the challenges of interpreting data and data stories at the leadership level. Tripathi stressed the importance of upskilling and reskilling to bridge the talent gap, and believes that talent, not tools, has the greatest impact on data-driven culture. Tripathi also joined one of the event's key panel discussions with a session titled "Securing Buy-In for Data Initiatives: Strategies for Gaining Financial Support and Achieving Success." His insights included the importance of building trust as the foundation for internal alliances, the concept that innovation need not be entirely new, and the significance of identifying and analyzing stakeholders. Moreover, he emphasized handling pushback by understanding its source and utilizing emotional intelligence as an effective tool. Tripathi leads the analytics team at the University of Phoenix, establishing the strategy and vision and providing operational support for the delivery of information and analytics platforms and solutions to key stakeholders. He has over 20 years of experience with strong emphasis on design, analysis, development, and implementation of advanced analytics, data science and AI solutions in Education, Insurance and Financial Industry. Tripathi is highly respected for his expertise in data storytelling. He has provided guidance to top executives on the importance of incorporating data storytelling into analytics-driven initiatives, as well as the crucial role analysts play within data-focused organizations. Tripathi completed his master's in business economics and statistics at Southern Illinois University. 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/20231021853013/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 21, 2023] SHAREHOLDER NEWS: Johnson Fistel Investigates Proposed Sale of Startek to Capital Square Partners Tweet Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP has launched an investigation into whether the board members of Startek, Inc. ("Startek" or "the Company") (NYSE: SRT) breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company to Capital Square Partners ("CSP"). You can click or copy and paste the following link to join this investigation: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/startek On October 10, 2023, Startek announced that it had entered a deal to merge with CSP. Under the terms of the deal, Startek shareholders will receive $4.30 per share in an all-cash offer. The transaction is anticipated to conclude by the end of the calendar year 2023, provided that all customary closing conditions are met. The transaction is not contingent on any financing arrangements. Johnson Fistel is investigating whether the proposed deal represents adequte consideration, especially since the average analysts' price target is currently $4.90. The investigation concerns whether the Startek board failed to satisfy its duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for Startek shares of common stock. If you are a shareholder of Startek and believe the proposed buyout price is too low or you're interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ([email protected]) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number. About Johnson Fistel, LLP: Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Johnson Fistel, LLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231021102546/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 21, 2023] SME Launches Training and Electric Vehicle Certification to Address High and Unmet Demand for Electrification Skills Tweet SME, the nonprofit committed to accelerating new manufacturing technology adoption and building North America's talent, has expanded its capabilities to serve the quickly-evolving talent needs in the electrification market today with new training and an Electric Vehicle (EV) Fundamentals certification. This expansion builds upon SME's long history serving the automotive industry's talent needs, as well as accelerating technology advancements such as additive manufacturing, automation, and SMART manufacturing. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231021490609/en/ SME is committed to supporting the industry's transition to battery electric vehicles (BEV) and will remain dedicated to closely evaluating the evolving needs of the industrial and educational spheres. As a nonprofit whose purpose is to advance manufacturing to drive competitiveness, resiliency and national security, SME will actively identify upcoming challenges and opportunities to position North America at the forefront of electric vehicle design and production. (Photo: Business Wire) EVs are expected to make up 50% of auto sales by 2030; potentially creating over 150,000 new jobs related to the production and maintenance of electric cars, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Additionally, the growth of EVs is also likely to spur job creation across the broader electrification ecosystem. According to a report published by the nonprofit Rewiring America, it is estimated that the U.S. can create some 25 million jobs by 2035 if the economy moves on from fossil fuels to electrification. It is predicted that as charging infrastructure expands and electricity generation shifts toward renewables, new roles will emerge to support the transition to cleaner transportation. As a nationally recognized certifying body for over 50 years in manufacturing, SME obtained input from industrial and academic experts to develop a Body of Knowledge that encompasses the technologies, job roles, competencies, and skills critical to the electrification industry. The training roadmap takes learners through broader manufacturing areas that are foundational to automotive assembly, electric vehicle production, and e-mobility manufacturing. In addition, electrification-specific training is designed to incorporate key learning objectives to prepare learners whether individuals have no background in vehicle production and assembly, or they have experience but need to tailor their knowledge to the EV market. Topics like lithium battery handling and safety, high-energy batteries, and electric vehicle components and manufacturing are covered in-depth. The training, along with the certification, prepares individuals to thrive in a variety of job roles, including assembly technician, production associate, team assembler, manufacturing technician, battery pack assembler, quality cntrol inspector, electric motor assembler, and maintenance technician. SME's efforts to upskill workers for electric vehicle manufacturing include support from industry groups and states; especially those with heavy concentrations of automotive companies. "The Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) applauds SME's national launch of curriculum and industry-recognized certification supporting individuals working in the assembly and production of electric vehicles," said MMA President and CEO John J. Walsh. "And as a partner with the SME Education Foundation on expanding the SME PRIME school network to at least 49 Michigan high schools by 2025, we excitedly anticipate the integration of the new curriculum and credentials into PRIME's career pathways for students." "To ensure all of North America's talent has the capabilities needed to adopt new technologies and advance manufacturing, SME has undertaken extensive research into labor demands for EV manufacturing and electrification, including leveraging insights from industry leaders," said Jeannine Kunz, SME's chief workforce development officer. "Our collaboration with manufacturers, schools, and workforce organizations will embed in-demand EV expertise and competencies into nationwide career development programs and technical education." Based on the rising national demand, states are seeing the need to prepare for this emerging industry, including South Carolina, the number one passenger vehicle exporter in the U.S. The state's automotive industry employs 75,000 and has seen an overall $9.6 billion capital investment from automakers and suppliers in the EV industry since 2017 according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. "The success we envision as a state in the electric vehicle industry hinges not only on cutting- edge technology but also, and even more crucially, on developing a skilled workforce," said Brad Neese, vice president, South Carolina Technical College System - Division of Economic Development. "A talent pipeline that is skilled and ready to work serves as the driving force towards achieving our goals." Similarly, Michigan is focused on upskilling its workforce to maintain leadership in automotive manufacturing amid the transition to electric vehicles. "There's no denying that Michigan, which is home to nearly 19 percent of all U.S. auto production and over 60 percent of the country's mobility and vehicle R&D spending, is a powerhouse of automotive manufacturing and innovation," said Walsh. "As the auto industry's transition to electrification accelerates, the need for workers with EV-related skillsets is increasingly critical to Michigan's leadership position in the automotive and mobility space." "With EV technology revolutionizing the automotive industry, there is a unique opportunity for thousands of individuals to harness its potential into a promising career," said Robert "Bob" Willig, executive director and CEO of SME. "SME's strong partnerships with industry and education, commitment to advancing emerging technologies, focus on upskilling the nation's workforce and dedication to validating competency through certification will all contribute to supporting the evolution of U.S. manufacturing in this way." SME is committed to supporting the industry's transition to battery electric vehicles (BEV) and will remain dedicated to closely evaluating the evolving needs of the industrial and educational spheres. As a nonprofit whose purpose is to advance manufacturing to drive competitiveness, resiliency and national security, SME will actively identify upcoming challenges and opportunities to position North America at the forefront of electric vehicle design and production. About SME's Certification Program SME has led the manufacturing industry in providing industry-recognized certifications for over 50 years, including Lean Certification in partnership with AME and The Shingo Institute, Additive Manufacturing Certification in partnership with America Makes, Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA), Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT), Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CmfgE), Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) in partnership with REC and FIRST, and now the just-released Electric Vehicles Fundamentals certification. About SME Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. Together we share one common belief: Manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity. SME accelerates new technology adoption and inspires and builds North America's talent and capabilities in order to advance manufacturing as a diverse, thriving and valued ecosystem that drives competitiveness, resiliency and national security. We believe in technology's power and humanity's innovation to advance our society and meet many national challenges. We design new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of innovation and growth. Learn more at SME.org, or follow SME on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. About Tooling U-SME Tooling U-SME is the manufacturing industry's leading workforce development solution provider. Delivering versatile, competency-based learning and development solutions to the manufacturing community, Tooling U-SME works with thousands of companies, including more than half of all Fortune 500 manufacturers, plus 1,000 educational and workforce institutions across North America. Tooling U-SME partners with customers to build high performers who help their companies drive quality, productivity, innovation and employee satisfaction, as well as with educators to prepare the next-generation workforce with industry-driven curriculum and certification. Visit ToolingU.com to learn more, or follow Tooling U-SME on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231021490609/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Comcast (News - Alert) and Broadcom announced they are joining forces to create an AI-powered access network, utilizing a new chipset that incorporates AI and machine learning (ML) within the nodes, amplifiers, and modems, essentially injecting intelligence into the last few miles of Comcast's network. The goal is to automate numerous network functions and ultimately deliver an enhanced and more responsive customer experience. A standout feature of the chipset is that it integrates with DOCSIS 4.0 Full Duplex (FDX), Extended Spectrum (News - Alert) (ESD) and can run both simultaneously. This makes it possible for internet service providers to offer DOCSIS 4.0 services efficiently and cater to specific business requirements. DOCSIS 4.0 is poised to provide symmetrical multi-gigabit internet speeds, reduced latency, and heightened security and reliability to millions of homes and businesses and can be delivered over existing connections, minimizing the need for extensive infrastructure overhauls. Additional capabilities include smarter network performance decisions, enhanced monitoring, improved network maintenance, cybersecurity intrusion detection, and better overall assistance for customers. The companies said they are basing the development of the chipset on CableLabs (News - Alert)' DOCSIS 4.0 specification with trials expected to begin in early 2024 and deployments in live networks by the end of the same year. By enabling a toolkit that includes FDX, ESD or both simultaneously, this new Unified DOCSIS4 chipset incorporates the advantages of both technologies and will enable economies of scale as well as a common retail modem for the industry, said Rich Nelson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Video Group, Broadcom (News - Alert). The edge network and in-home capabilities of this chipset will improve network intelligence and reliability to create an improved broadband experience with enhanced privacy protection and cyber security for the consumer. Comcast has also revealed plans to introduce the world's first Internet services powered by DOCSIS 4.0 with Full Duplex (FDX). With the Broadcom collab, it will have additional connectivity options for Comcast and other operators. The Xfinity 10G Network leverages the latest advancements in edge compute, digital optics and real-time, actionable telemetry to meet and exceed our customers constantly evolving connectivity needs, said Elad Nafshi, Chief Network Officer, Comcast Cable. With this new Unified DOCSIS4 chipset from Broadcom, we can broadly deploy transformational AI network capabilities alongside symmetrical multi-gig speeds. FDX is the best technology for Comcast, but this groundbreaking unified chipset will provide the entire industry with options when upgrading their nodes, amps, and cable modems for DOCSIS 4.0.Edited by Greg Tavarez This week Mayor Q was busy making French connections and hardly anyone noticed. A junket in France sounds fun but it's mostly a pointless exercise in selfies and busywork meeting in order to justify a nice afternoon that MIGHT make up for hours upon hours waiting in airports. Meanwhile back in Kansas City . . . INSIDERS WARN US THAT MAYOR Q NOW CONFRONTS HIS LAME DUCK GIVEN BIGGER EGOS ON THE COUNCIL LOOKING TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS!!! The untrained eye might see a 8 vote majority but right now TKC wants to share a few obstacles in the path of Mayor Q going forward. U.S. Economic Slowdown Leaves Mayor Q With Less Cash To Giveaway Politicos stay popular by their ability to award favors to their friends. However . . . Look around and there's not a lot of excitement about development in Kansas City. The Royals Stadium, South Loop & GreenLine efforts all look like silly schemes and not real plans. Even worse . . . Less demand for office space and luxury housing inside the loop is leaving Mayor Q without those deep pockets that have funded his career so far. And then . . . Freedom, Inc. Has Their Own Ideas & Agenda For The Future More than any other political organization in Kansas City . . . Freedom, Inc. has a DEEP BENCH and plenty of talent that is more than capable of winning the support of the critical East side voting bloc. Freedom, Inc. sparked the ascendancy of Mayor Q before his council days but now . . . A worsening crisis for Black female employees at city hall along with longstanding frustration over East side development and economic participation as garnered momentum against the Mayor. The basics . . . Mayor Q would like to pick his successor. Freedom, Inc has other ideas. Old adversaries now actively working against Mayor Q's team This one is fun because it's true of all politicos . . . Any political career engenders opponents and over time they add up. Mayor Q has NEVER had a reputation for loyalty and now some of those old betrayals are starting to resurface. And yes . . . Just in case anybody is wondering . . . Here's our punchline and story that's going to play out over the next 2-and-a-half years . . . Kansas City will CERTAINLY witness a sexy & financially intriguing Mayoral scandal at city hall before the Q makes a hasty exit out of this cowtown and hopefully to the nation's capital -- A pragmatic mecca wherein effective fundraising forgives all manner of sins. In the meantime . . . Our TKC blog community can only hope that local power players show some compassion for our city and highlight the Mayor's miserable record on violent crime as part of their litany of complaints. Developing . . . This article will highlight US states with the highest electricity prices and the possible reasons behind it. If you want to skip our overview of the country's electricity grid, read 5 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US. Over the past few years, the US electricity system has undergone significant changes in generation, consumption patterns, and pricing. Although shifts in the electric sector are common, the period from 2021 to 2023 saw some remarkable trends, and states with most expensive electricity in the US paid a substantial price for it. Electricity pricing mirrors the balance between supply and demand as well as production costs. Between 2021 and 2022, consumers faced a sharp 10.1% rise in the average residential retail price of electricity. From 2022 to October 2023, this upward trend continued, albeit slower, with a year-on-year price increase of 4.2%. Moreover, from 2021 to 2022, the country saw a 2.9% increase in utility-scale electric power generation. The growth is attributed to an expanding economy, evolving consumption habits, and a strong push for electrifying sectors previously reliant on fossil fuels. This increase in power generation coincided with a 3.2% rise in retail sales of electricity, indicating higher demand from both residential and commercial end users, as reported by the Energy Information Administration. Historically, coal and natural gas have been fundamental to US power generation. However, there has been a notable shift towards cleaner and renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power in recent years. Due to significant investments in clean energy, totaling $141 billion in 2022 in the US alone, the EIA anticipates that the country's solar generating capacity will grow between 325% and 1019% by 2050 compared to 2022. Similarly, wind generating capacity is projected to increase by 138% to 235% during the same timeframe. Reports also hint that the USs annual renewable energy capacity could triple within a decades time to reach 110 gigawatts. Story continues However, it's crucial to recognize that the energy landscape is not uniform across the country. States have varied energy portfolios influenced by natural resources, policy decisions, and economic factors. For example, California's proactive approach towards renewables has transformed its energy profile, with most of its in-state electricity generation stemming from solar and hydroelectric sources. These state-level decisions significantly influence electricity prices, causing some states to pay more than others. Maintenance of The National Power Grid Much of the US power grid was constructed over a century ago, and it has been increasingly strained by weather events. A stark illustration of its vulnerability was the 2021 Texas power crisis, during which a cold spell left millions without electricity and led to over 200 casualties. To mitigate these terrors, President Joe Biden's administration has recently announced $3.5 billion in grants to bolster the aging infrastructure. The primary objective of these maintenance projects is to safeguard the electricity grid against extreme weather and fires, with an additional emphasis on integrating more renewable energy sources into the transmission system. The funding will support 58 projects across 44 states, sanctioned under the bipartisan infrastructure law Biden signed in 2021. This represents the largest direct investment in the nation's power grid to date, according to reports. The recent investments are projected to add approximately 35 gigawatts of electricity to the grid, predominantly from wind and solar projects. We have already covered the 20 Countries With Highest Cost Of Electricity; read to know where the utility causes the biggest dent to the pocket. Major Players in the US's Clean Energy Market As the trend towards sustainable lifestyles grows, many of the biggest power generation companies in the world are seizing the opportunity. For example, Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK), which provides electricity to approximately 8.2 million retail customers across six states, intends to increase its renewable energy capacity to 30 GW by 2035. Recently, the company expanded its solar energy resources in Indiana to bolster its renewable energy portfolio. According to a news update from Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) on 22nd June, the company has partnered with a renewable energy developer, Ranger Power, to purchase 199 megawatts of solar power from the Speedway Solar facility based in Indiana. The 20-year power purchase agreement between Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) and Ranger Power is designed to supply solar energy to about 35,000 homes. Construction of this solar facility commenced in March 2023 in Gwynneville, Ind., with commercial operations expected by September 2025. Another prominent name in the top renewable energy companies in the USA is NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE), recognized as the world's largest producer of wind and solar energy. Over the past decade, the company's wind energy capacity has nearly tripled due to its competitive advantage. Until Q2 2023, NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE)'s generation capacity had reached around 63 gigawatts, with the recent addition of 2 gigawatts of low-cost solar energy to its network. It's evident that the company is keenly expanding its solar and wind capacity, and FPL SolarTogether, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE), is working to launch the largest community solar program in the US. This project aims to introduce 1780 MW of new universal solar capacity to the US grid network, potentially serving an estimated 300,000 customers. Let's now steer toward US states with the priciest electricity! 20 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US 20 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US Our Methodology For our list of 20 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US, we consulted the most recent cost chart on the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) website. The states were then listed in ascending order based on their residential electricity prices for July 2023. 20 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US 20. Iowa Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 15.07 Iowa also ranks among the 10 states with the highest electricity sales per capita, and nearly 62% of its in-state electricity production comes from wind turbines. The commitment to renewables reflects in the states electricity consumption patterns and helps stabilize electricity costs. However, Iowa does face challenges with grid reliability and infrastructure updates necessary to efficiently distribute the generated wind energy. 19. Minnesota Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 15.45 Minnesota's two nuclear power plants, Prairie Island and Monticello, powered 24% of the state's electricity net generation in 2022, according to the EIA. notably, the Prairie Island nuclear plant is the state's second-largest power plant by capacity and generation. Seasonal temperature extremes lead to varied electricity demands, peaking during the frigid winters. Urban centers like Minneapolis-St. Paul have higher living and operational costs, influencing the overall electricity cost structure of the state. 18. Ohio Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 15.85 Ohios electricity market is deregulated, meaning consumers can choose their electricity providers, leading to competitive pricing. Ohio experiences steady electricity demands throughout the year, with industrial activities being major consumers. According to EIA, Ohio was the fourth-largest electricity consumer among the US states and also came in the top 10 electricity-generating states. The states living costs are generally lower than the national average, but the electricity cost is influenced by factors such as energy source mix, infrastructure maintenance, and grid upgrades. 17. Maryland Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 16.05 Maryland's energy mix is diverse but leans towards nuclear energy and natural gas. Seasonal changes, marked by hot summers and cold winters, lead to spikes in electricity usage, particularly in populated regions like Baltimore. However, Maryland's per capita electricity consumption ranks the fourth lowest in the nation. The state's closeness to major East Coast urban centers influences its higher living costs, reflected in its electricity rates. In 2021, the Calvert Cliffs power station, Maryland's sole nuclear facility, produced 37% of the state's electricity. It is one of the states with the highest electricity cost. 16. Nevada Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 16.35 Nevada's power grid is primarily managed by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. Benefiting from expansive desert regions, Nevada has invested significantly in solar energy. However, rapidly expanding cities like Las Vegas and Reno exert pressure on the power infrastructure. Most of the state's largest power plants are gas-fired, which contributes to 50-60% of its electricity generation. Additionally, the Hoover Dam, one of the country's major federal hydroelectric projects, is located on the Nevada-Arizona border and provides nearly 4% of Nevada's electricity. In 2022, Nevada was responsible for 24% of the state's geothermal electricity production, emphasizing its commitment to a sustainable power grid. 15. District Of Columbia Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 16.61 The District of Columbia is part of the PJM Interconnection and meets its power needs through a combination of imports and local generation. In 2019, DC enhanced its Renewable Portfolio Standard to mandate that 100% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2032, with at least 5.5% from solar energy. The high density of governmental buildings, monuments, and residential areas ensures a steady demand for electricity. Due to its entirely urban nature and the many federal structures, living costs are high, correlating with elevated electricity prices. 14. Wisconsin Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 16.94 The 14th on our list of states with the highest cost of electricity is Wisconsin. Wisconsin's power grid primarily operates under MISO, relying mostly on coal, though renewables are becoming more prevalent. The states nuclear power plants contribute to a shrinking 16% of its total electricity generation, down from 22% a decade ago. Unlike many states with expensive electricity, Wisconsin's industrial sector is the largest consumer, using 31% of the states total electricity. 13. Pennsylvania Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 17.97 Traditionally, coal has been a major power source in Pennsylvania, the third-largest coal-producing state. However, there's a growing shift towards natural gas and renewables. Seasonal demands influenced by its humid continental climate determine consumption patterns. Cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh contribute to the state's higher living costs, which in turn impact electricity prices. The EIA states that Pennsylvania is the second-largest energy supplier to other states, only behind Texas. 12. New Jersey Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 18.54 Located within the PJM Interconnection, New Jersey boasts a balanced energy profile comprising nuclear, natural gas, and expanding renewable sources. Approximately 16% of households use electricity for heating, thereby increasing demand. Summers, with their air conditioning needs, strain the power grid. Notably, NJ's transportation sector consumes the most energy, closely followed by residential and commercial sectors. NJ is also among the top states with the most electric vehicles and continues its shift towards renewables. 11. Michigan Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 19.32 Michigan is 11th on our list of the states with costly electric power. Michigan's grid largely functions under MISO and is transitioning from coal to natural gas and renewables. According to the EIA, the state's electricity generation from natural gas increased from 11% in 2010 to 34% in 2022. Cold winters create substantial heating demands, with 27.9% of the state's electricity consumption powering the residential sector. 10. Vermont Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 20.46 Vermont's electricity infrastructure is managed by the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO). The state is a leader in renewable energy, emphasizing hydroelectric, solar, and wind sources. Even with a smaller population, electricity demand surges in colder months due to heating requirements and use of furnaces. In 2021, Vermont generated nearly 100% of its electricity from renewables, which constituted about 33% of the state's total consumption. Around 50% of Vermont's utility-scale electricity generation, and 46% of its overall generation, originates from hydroelectric power. With its commitment to green energy and relatively high living costs, these elements factor into Vermont's electricity pricing. 9. New York Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 22.27 Historically, New York's energy grid has relied on nuclear energy, but now there's a growing emphasis on renewables, especially wind and solar. The shift is evident as the state, similar to the District of Columbia, revised its Clean Energy Standard in 2019 to require 100% carbon-free electricity from renewable sources and nuclear energy by 2040. The state's diverse landscapes range from the bustling metropolis of New York City to the serene landscapes of upstate, leading to varied consumption patterns. Living costs in metropolitan areas are exceptionally high, which naturally results in residents paying more for utilities. 8. Alaska Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 24.88 Being one of the coldest places in the world, Alaska faces unique geographical challenges that fragment its power grid. Many isolated communities rely on microgrids, often powered by diesel generators. The state possesses vast energy resources, but tapping into them locally can be challenging. The extreme cold necessitates high energy consumption for heating, making Alaska the second-highest consumer of electricity per capita in the country. It's noteworthy that living costs in Alaska are the sixth highest in the country due to its challenging geography and extreme weather. 7. Rhode Island Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 25.95 Part of the New England power grid managed by ISO-NE, Rhode Island has actively increased its renewable energy portfolio. The state took a significant step by inaugurating the first US offshore wind farm off Block Island. With its coastal cities and industrial sectors, electricity consumption remains consistent. Especially in areas like Providence, the living costs are on the higher end, influencing the structure of its electricity costs. 6. Connecticut Electricity Cost in Cents per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 26.78 On the sixth spot on the list of states with highest prices of electricity is Connecticut. Also under the ISO-NE jurisdiction, Connecticut sources its electricity from a balanced mix of energy sources, with natural gas playing a pivotal role. Data reveals that in 2021, natural gas fueled 55% of Connecticut's total electricity net generation. While the state sees peak demands mainly during summer and winter, Connecticut remains one of the least energy-intensive economies in the US. Click to continue reading 5 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 States With Most Expensive Electricity In The US is originally published at Insider Monkey. In fact . . . A TKC FACT CHECK is in order . . . Kansas is ACTUALLY one of the most friendly places in all of the world. Some might even call the politics of the Sunflower State progressive given the success of politicos like Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids. However . . . Old fashioned working-class mutual respect and the Christian golden rule ethic that is ingrained in most with Heartland values doesn't exactly make for good movie-making. Like it or not . . . Slandering a whole state as "haters" is much more entertaining. As always, the bad guys are those who don't vote our way. And so . . . It's no surprise that the ruffian politicos of a former local scribe and longtime TKC hater is featured in this opus. Here's a preview for a movie that is eagerly awaited by an audience of tens . . . "We talk to Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott and author C.J. Janovy about their documentary "No Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas". "The film offers unique perspectives on what it's like to be gay, lesbian and transgender in Kansas today. Kevin and C.J. talk about the wave of legislation that is coming from Topeka against gay and trans rights. " Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com embed/link . . . It's worth considering that pro-Palestine & Anti-Israel sentiment has drawn support from the NextGen. Check GOP blogging attempting to call out the trend: Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita), strongly condemned the letter. Its disturbing and heartbreaking to see this sort of radicalism and antisemitism at one of our Kansas universities, he said in an emailed statement. Support of terrorism should have no place at our public universities. In light of the recent terror attacks on Israel, its increasingly important that we stand strong in support of our democratic allies in Israel and reject all forms of terrorism and antisemitism. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Q Im worried about my son whos 19 and dating a girl whos always trying to change him. For example, she argued with him about his choice of universities, told him hes unlikely to get accepted, and besides, its not a cool school so she wont visit him there. Since Ive previously raised two daughters now in their mid- 20s, and totally different from my sons girlfriend, Im surprised he puts up with her constant critiques. Most recently, shes complained his clothes are totally uncool and make him look like a loser. I could hardly hold my tongue because I was so hurt for him. But I walked away when I heard him tell his close buddy what shed said and then asked him what he should do about it. After they messaged back and forth, my son told me he was going shopping with his pal for a big event coming up to which hed be taking his girlfriend. When he returned, he quickly closed the door to his room. Though I was curious to see what hed bought, I didnt ask. But when he returned home early from the event, anyone could surmise what happened, as he rushed into his room. My daughters and I were very concerned but there was no conversation about the evenings event. The next day, the evidence was in the garbage can, and the hurt visible on my sons face. Though his sisters and I, who love this fine young man, were pained at how very embarrassed and hurt he appeared that day, we simply hugged him and carried on with our work day. None of us asked him what happened. Do you think we shouldve helped him unload his pain and embarrassment by asking about that evening? Since Id heard him tell his friend about needing to go to the bank before shopping for his suit, should I have offered some money toward the purchase? Son devastated by controlling girlfriend A The loser in this account is the girlfriend, while you and your daughters were supportive in the best possible way. No one voiced criticism of the girlfriend, letting the young man experience his own awareness of what transpired. The result was his realization that hed allowed someone to belittle him, accepted her dictates without question and believed she truly cared deeply for him. That suit in the garbage tells it all: What was demanded by the girlfriend is as worthless as what she brought to the relationship. Q My daughter recently announced she has chosen the location for her summer wedding: Her mothers new boyfriends cottage. I told her Id be very uncomfortable as no one has ever treated me worse than my ex-wifes boyfriend. He bullied and threatened me, and even tried to negotiate with me over our divorce settlement. And hes been sending me threatening texts. His relationship with my ex-wife started prior to our separation. As her father, Ive given my princess everything she ever wanted. Some people say you have to do anything a bride wants. Another said I should go for the ceremony, then invite my family to a party elsewhere. Ive said Id go anywhere for my daughter. However, I still questioned the location. Should I object, or just go and shut up? Awkward wedding A This is about your daughter whom youve designated a Princess. She knows the locale is awkward for you and likely others, too. But you helped raise her to get what she wants so, itll be the cottage. Hopefully, the wedding will focus on a new marriage, not a past divorce. Q: My oldest sister, now in her eighties, confided that she witnessed our parents fighting when she was very young. Our mother was pregnant at the time. The babys father wasnt her husband (our father), and he had found out. The baby, now in her late-70s, was never told. My oldest sister said that shed take the family secret to her grave, but finally told me. She didnt ask me to not say anything. Ive done my DNA test on Ancestry and I definitely have both parents families in my matches. If it were me, Id want to know and would confirm with a DNA test. Should I just leave this alone? Family secret A: Yes. Stay quiet. Dont start a conversation that can end your sibling relationship by possibly devastating your baby sister. Its unnecessary mental distress after all these years, unless there were/are facts related to your littlest sisters health issues. Ellies tip of the day: Even early dating still calls for respecting one another. 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. Toronto Police Service are looking to locate a 13-year-old who was last seen on Oct. 20. Police say Mikayla was last spotted in the Howard and Bleecker streets area. The teen is described as being five-foot three inches tall with a thin build, brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5100. York University is demanding the executive boards of three of its student unions resign in response to a joint statement the unions made about the Israel-Hamas war. The university says noncompliance could result in sanctions, including the university no longer recognizing the unions, in an Friday community update posted to the YorkU website. The universitys post asks the three student unions to retract their Oct. 12 statement titled Statement of Solidarity with Palestine, and issue new public statements to confirm that they do not endorse or support antisemitism or any form of discrimination or violence. On Oct. 12, York Federation of Students, York University Graduate Student Association, and the Glendon College Student Union issued a statement in solidarity with Palestinian people. Recently, in a strong act of resistance, the Palestinian people tore down and crossed the illegitimate border fence erected by the settler-colonial apartheid state of so-called Israel, reads the opening of the statement, which appears to be in reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, where militants stormed the blockaded Gaza-strip into nearby towns in Israel. These resistance efforts are a direct response to the ongoing and violent occupation of Palestine, reads the joint union statement. York Universitys Friday update says this statement has been widely interpreted as a justification for attacking civilians and a call to violence, and notes the university first condemned the statement last week, and called upon the unions to clarify that they reject any acts of violence or discrimination against Jewish students or other members of the community, and to reaffirm their commitment to non-violence and the safety of all of their members. Update: Despite multiple efforts by York urging the student unions leaders to address the serious and ongoing harms of their statement, they have yet to take any of the steps set out by the University. (1/2) York University (@YorkUniversity) October 20, 2023 The update says the unions have not taken the steps outlined by the university in its previous statement and says the situation remains urgent. The university says they have delivered written notices to union executives outlining their demands and has asked for compliance or proof that no breach of university regulations has occurred by 5 p.m. on Oct. 25. York University and the three student unions have not replied to the Stars requests for comment. Morgan Bocknek is Toronto-based investigative reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @mobocks. Technology wasnt initially very friendly to John Grisham and me as we sat down to talk by phone about his latest book, The Exchange. He was in among Manhattans skyscrapers for 24 hours: doing interviews (including ours), with more scheduled for the evening, followed by early morning TV and then hitting the road. It sounds exhausting a punishing schedule; one that interviewers fear: how can you possibly get a fresh answer after hes talked about the same book in so many interviews in so little time, likely being asked similar questions? Grisham, though, seemed energized by it, even after he had to head back down to street level to offset our crummy cellphone reception. The truth is, you spend six or eight months pretty much alone, writing a book on the farm in Virginia without a whole lot of human contact. When it comes down to it, its kind of fun to get out and enjoy the moment. I always get a kick out of it, he said in his smooth, Southern drawl as he finally settled onto a bench in Central Park on a sunny fall day. This latest book has caused some waves of excitement because it follows on from his second book, 1991s The Firm, and brings back the characters Mitch and Abby McDeere. That was one of the books, along with A Time to Kill and The Pelican Brief, that propelled Grishams career into the stratosphere. More than 30 years later, the author, now 68, has just published his 49th book and has sold more than 300 million copies around the world. Getting to see the McDeeres again is a rarity among Grisham characters; he isnt one to revive them. Not all of them could even take a sequel; theres not enough there in terms of character or potential next moves in the plot. Even so, he said, I prefer the stand-alones. Theyre just easier to write. You write a sequel, you have to go back and read the earlier books because you cant stand to make mistakes. He learned that the hard way with one of his exceptions, his YA series of books featuring Theodore Boone. After four or five books, I was getting letters from 10-year-old kids who were catching mistakes. There is another notable exception: in 2013, Grisham brought back Jake Brigance from his first novel, A Time to Kill, in a second book, Sycamore Row. We were really pleasantly surprised at the popularity of Jake and that story and the town and all the characters and it was motivational enough for me to do it again a few years ago, he said, with 2020s A Time for Mercy. Which got him to thinking, again, about Mitch McDeere. The character had never quite left Grishams mind and he entertained some thoughts of reviving him, but he needed the right story to come along. He knew he had it when he stumbled across a newspaper article a few years ago: There was a story about a case in Libya involving a Turkish construction company and some bodyguards who were captured by some ISIS types and they were executed beheaded almost immediately. He knew one of the lawyers involved in the case, who told him that you think youre dealing with a normal situation, like any lawsuit, then suddenly people are getting murdered and it really complicates things. That story formed the basis of most of the plot of The Exchange. Heres the gist: Mitch is now a lawyer in New York in one of the biggest law firms in the world. Hes part of a sort of law firm SWAT team that goes to places all over the world where its clients are in trouble. Its kind of romantic, kind of fun, and thats what he enjoys doing, said Grisham. The firms Italian office is run by Luca Sandroni, who has cancer; his daughter Giovanna, also a legal protege, is working in their London office. Luca has to let go of the case hes working on for his client, a Turkish construction firm, which wants to sue Libya for not paying the bills for a bridge they built, a folly of Gaddafis. Mitch agrees to take it on, but the daughter wants to go to Turkey with him. No spoilers here: thats when the thriller really takes off. Grisham, in the first chapter or so, allows Mitch, 15 years after he left Memphis, to head back to the Tennessee city to catch us up: as fans will recall, in The Firm he was a new lawyer in a small firm riddled with corruption and ended up bringing down the firm, with most of the lawyers ending up in jail. There was no question of returning in the book to that time and place. Mitch could not be the same, Grisham said. He barely got out of town with the mob chasing him. Although, there are a few echoes. Hes still with Abby, who now is a cookbook editor at a New York publishing house. And Mitch is still a bit of a one-man band, the ethical one against the rest of them. Indeed, there a few scenes in the new book in which a committee of some of the partners in his law firm meets to decide whether to support one of their kidnapped colleagues. Oh sure, thats the way big firms operate youve got the guys at the top, the partners who make big money. Its all about money and power. Those big law firms can be ruthless when they have to be, said Grisham. Its a compelling setting for me, the big law firms and how they operate. Theyre not always good, not always ethical. At the moment, he is famously involved in a lawsuit of his own. Hes signed his name, along with other writers including Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, as part of a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company illegally used their copyrighted work to train AI. The lawsuit has got so much attention, Grisham said, and thats good. But he wont say much more than that. Our lawyers have really asked us not to discuss it. Grisham, who worked as a lawyer in his early career, never worked in a big law firm, but has always been curious how you manage a firm with 2,000 lawyers in 40 cities. In researching the book, he spoke to many lawyer contacts, went and visited some of the firms. I didnt go too deep, he said, but its fascinating for a small-town lawyer from Mississippi to write about. While the law might always be interesting, theres a real thriller aspect to The Exchange. Theres only one small scene in court its less of the legal procedural fans might be used to from him. I love the pages to turn. I want people to stay up late and call in sick for work, skip lunch. I want people to devour books in one sitting, Grisham said. We all love to get into a book that you dont want to put down. I want the reader to just forget about life for a few days, a few hours. In the case of The Exchange, theres a fair amount of real bloody violence. Thats the fun part, Grisham laughed, then quickly corrected himself. Its not fun, but it may create the suspense. When the payoff could be something really vile and ugly, it turns the pages. But I try not to get too carried away with blood and gore. Itd be easy to do; most writers take the temptation and overdo it. I try to understate it, let the reader imagine. The one thing he always tries to do, he says, is keep the suspense going and the pages turning, probably because thats what he looks for in a book himself. I rarely finish a book. I love to start em. Im always looking for something great. The last five or so books he read to the end include Ann Patchetts Tom Lake, Stephen Kings Holly, Ron Rashs The Caretaker; The Escape Artist by British writer Jonathan Freedland about the first person to escape from Auschwitz He tried to warn everybody because nobody s knew what was going on (inside the camp) and Colson Whiteheads latest, Crook Manifesto. Im halfway through that one now and Ill finish that one. Hes really talented and his numbers are growing, too. Hes picking up readers. And, of course, theres the writing. Grisham is working on two books right now: another in the Camino series, which is set to come out in June, and a non-fiction book called Framed, a compilation of 10 wrongful conviction cases. Every wrongful conviction story deserves a book of its own, he said. He comes across the stories all the time with his work in the Innocence Project; he sits on the board of the organization dedicated to criminal justice reform. The stories are just so heartbreaking and miserable, but it makes for good reading. Grisham on the movies John Grishams career really took after The Firm was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise in 1993. Since then, about 10 of his books have been made into movies. Ive been very lucky with Hollywood, he said. The Rainmaker (1997, starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito) is probably my favourite because (it was directed by) Francis Ford Coppola. And he was really determined to stick to the original story, Grisham said. A Time to Kill (a 1996 movie starring Matthew McConaughey) was good. Runaway Jury (in 2003, starring Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman) was good. The Chamber (in 1996, starring Gene Hackman and Faye Dunaway) was not very good. It had a bad story, a bad script. They messed up the script from day one. I told them, but they wouldnt listen to me. It just wasnt a very good movie and nobody wanted to see it. The first three books, A Time to Kill, The Firm and The Pelican Brief really paved the way for everything else. And then The Client (the book was published in 1993, the movie made in 1994, starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones) really opened the doors. Looking back with 30 years of hindsight you realize how important those books were and theyre still on TV somewhere tonight. They were very popular movies, the books are still selling. What we really want to know: is Tom Cruise going to star as Mitch McDeere again? I have no idea. I dont get involved in that world. I write the books, I publish the books, the books are for sale everywhere. If somebody says, Hey, I want to do a movie, theyll give us a call and well have the next conversation. I would love to see all my books adapted to film because we all like good movies. Which is all another way of saying: watch this space. Deborah Dundas is the Stars Books editor. She is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @debdundas In a penetrating spring rain, I stand beneath an awning on a cobbled lane in central Dublin, staring at a shrine with images of Irish gods: Van Morrison, Sinead OConnor, Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, U2. The Wall of Fame transports me back to my youth, the faces evoking moments of joy, uncertainty, revelation and rebellion. This is the Irish Rock n Roll Museum Experience, the first stop on a nostalgia-steeped musical itinerary Ive planned for myself. When I was growing up in small town Nova Scotia, a friend turned his house into a rock refuge. The loss of his parents left him with a house to himself at a young age. A Rolling Stones fanatic, he played Jaggers yowlings from the latest, loudest speakers around. For many of us who hung out there, rock offered idols and escape. For me, it was a way to step outside my own life, thrown into turmoil after my fathers sudden death. I bounced from home to home, playing my records on a crappy stereo while reading about rock gods, blasting the tunes through headphones in a bid to inject a little joy into the moment. Those formative years led to a lifelong love of music, which has brought me here on this personal pilgrimage to Dublin. At the museums entrance, shaking off the cold and wet, I meet tour guide Christina Weis. Shell be showing off the legendary Temple Lane Recording Studios inside, where many a young Irish punk stepped up to a microphone to make some noise. Weis leads us into a narrow corridor made narrower by road cases, speakers, amplifiers, guitars and keyboards, as if U2 or the Pogues might be back soon to record a track or two. One walls albums document Dublins rock heritage: Van Morrisons Astral Weeks, the Boomtown Rats The Fine Art of Surfacing and U2s War. Inside the Temple Lane studio, Johnny Rottens tattered jacket hangs next to the Sex Pistols record Never Mind the Bollocks. Phil Lynotts guitars stand beside his personal jukebox. Rooms in the museum are dedicated to famous figures who transformed their rage and desires into anthems that reached into the aching hearts of kids like me. Deeper inside the rock n roll museum, a band is rehearsing, their raw, electrified energy leaking through the door. Another room is dedicated to U2, with memorabilia plastered on the walls like any teens bedroom. I read about All That You Cant Leave Behind, winner of seven Grammy Awards. Brian Eno and Canadian Daniel Lanois produced it at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, my next stop in Dublin. Outside, the rain has let up. The museum is just a block from the Temple Bar pub at the heart of the Temple Bar district, an incubator for Irish music. Its mid-afternoon, but in every pub, someone with a guitar is belting out a traditional tune, the beer-soaked crowd nearly drowning them out. The Windmill Lane facade says Greek temple, but the location in the quays hints at its original industrial function as the generating station to power the trams of Dublin. High energy and the suggestion of divinity seems a perfect match for such a renowned studio, which has hosted rocks greatest. Tour guide and company director Aidan Alcock drops name after name: Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga. U2s Larry Mullen Jr. laid down drum tracks for Boy in the reception area. Kid Rock used the stairwell. The rock film The Commitments was shot in Windmill Lane. The Rolling Stones recorded here for six months. But beyond the stories of the rock elite, Alcock wants us to understand the importance of the equipment, engineers and producers to the creation process. At Studio One, a recording room so large, it could fit an orchestra, he shows us a photo from Windmill Lanes early days. This is the mixing console being craned into the top floor, he says. They punched a hole in the wall to bring it in. We grab selfies with the console as he tells us about Richard Biff Stannard, who brought the Spice Girls to fame, and about Stephen Street, who nurtured the talent of the Smiths. When the tour ends, I head for my hotel, Barberstown Castle, in the small village of Straffan, near Dublin. Its known for two things: its castle keep, built in 1288, and its previous owner, Eric Clapton. In 1979, the year I graduated high school, he bought the place. In the room where Clapton jammed with Bob Dylan, Phil Collins and the Rolling Stones, managing director Ted Robinson points out a glass case displaying one of Claptons guitars. He sent it to us, wishing us the best of luck when we opened. Even so far from teenagedom, I feel a thrill to stand in a room where Dylan jammed with Clapton. If my Nova Scotia friend were with me here in Dublin, he would surely feel the same. I picture the two of us, retracing the steps of our idols, injecting a little joy into the moment like we did so long ago as we stumbled, fatherless, toward adulthood. Darcy Rhyno travelled as a guest of Tourism Ireland, which did not review or approve this article. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in KMD Brands implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price A total of 9 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Insiders have been buying lately If you want to know who really controls KMD Brands Limited (NZSE:KMD), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 43% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of KMD Brands, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for KMD Brands What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About KMD Brands? 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. KMD Brands already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of KMD Brands, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. KMD Brands is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Orbis Investment Management Limited is the largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. New Zealand Superannuation Fund is the second largest shareholder owning 9.2% of common stock, and Harbour Asset Management Limited holds about 6.5% of the company stock. Story continues We did some more digging and found that 9 of the top shareholders account for roughly 51% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of KMD Brands While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of KMD Brands Limited. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. It has a market capitalization of just NZ$605m, and the board has only NZ$2.1m worth of shares in their own names. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 41% stake in KMD Brands. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 6.9%, of the KMD Brands stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand KMD Brands better, we need to consider many other factors. Be aware that KMD Brands is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about... If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Ocean Wilsons Holdings' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 3 shareholders own 50% of the company 12% of Ocean Wilsons Holdings is held by insiders A look at the shareholders of Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited (LON:OCN) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 46% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Ocean Wilsons Holdings. Check out our latest analysis for Ocean Wilsons Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Ocean Wilsons Holdings? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Ocean Wilsons Holdings. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Ocean Wilsons Holdings, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Ocean Wilsons Holdings. The company's largest shareholder is Hansa Capital Partners LLP, with ownership of 26%. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 13% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 11% by the third-largest shareholder. Christopher Townsend, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors. Story continues A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 3 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 50% stake. 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. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Ocean Wilsons Holdings The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited. Insiders have a UK42m stake in this UK345m business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 29% stake in Ocean Wilsons Holdings. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 13%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Ocean Wilsons Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Ocean Wilsons Holdings that you should be aware of. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Finned adventurers nosing into the Arctic Photo by Katrina Liebich Fisheries biologist Randy Brown of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fairbanks handles a net used for Dolly Varden trout in northern Alaska. A few years ago, Randy Brown wondered if he might lose $50,000 he had just won as part of the Rachel Carson Award for Exemplary Scientific Accomplishment. The problem: He earned the award in March 2020, when the workflow of the world suddenly stopped for the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fairbanks, knew the nature of his agency meant he had to use the money or lose it within a year. At the same time, most fieldwork was cancelled. Brown then decided to donate the money to a few University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists who would explore a question he had pondered many times during his career. Browns funding enabled UAFs Peter Westley, Andy Seitz and others to study whether Pacific salmon are colonizing rivers of Alaskas Arctic or whether fish seen there are just adventurous strays whose offspring have never survived because its just too cold up there. Many years before Brown started his career as a professional biologist, he finished high school in New Mexico and then drove up to Alaska. At the town of Eagle, he slipped his canoe into the Yukon River. For the next couple of decades, he lived in large part off what the land gave him. As part of that life, he, and later his wife and two sons, lived on the Kandik River. Every July, they floated down that clear tributary to the Yukon for fish camp. On the big river, they netted salmon that made up a good portion of their and their dogs food. About 30 years ago, Brown and his family moved to Fairbanks, where he finished his graduate studies and became a fisheries biologist. He followed his interests to learn more about many species, including the Chinook and chum salmon that people along the Yukon River are no longer able to harvest due to declining numbers. Photo courtesy of Peter Westley The Itkillik River spills out beneath a helicopter that biologists employed for surveys of the river for the presence of salmon in September 2023. The finger of water at the bottom left is a spot where the biologists found spawning chum salmon. Brown, who can no longer set his own gill net on the Yukon due to the low fish numbers, was also fascinated with the rivers north of the Brooks Range. There, Natives, biologists and others have seen Pacific salmon dating back to more than a century. Could these rivers in a warming climate begin to host populations of salmon? Browns donation of his $50,000 award allowed Westley and Seitz to contract a helicopter pilot in September 2023 to hover over two Arctic rivers, the Itkillik and the Anaktuvuk. There, they searched for spawning chum salmon they suspected were there. During what Westley called the most satisfying field work of my life, the biologists found seemingly dead-end channels entering both braided rivers. At the heads of those fingers were dark torpedoes: Chum salmon that had laid eggs in the gravel. The scientists landed and noticed fresh springwater was flowing upward from the gravel. They captured a few of the spawned-out fish and collected their otoliths bones in the head that can tell them a fishs age and what waters it has lived in. They also collected tissue samples that might tell what stock a salmon had come from, for example if its ancestors had lived in the Yukon River drainage. And most important they pounded conduit into the gravel where salmon had laid their eggs and inserted temperature loggers into the pipes. They will return next fall to retrieve the sensors. If the spring water stayed above freezing despite the minus 40 air temperatures just above, the biologists will know that the survival of eggs was feasible. Photo courtesy of Peter Westley Peter Westley holds a mostly spawned out female chum salmon he captured in the Anaktuvuk River, just behind him, in September 2023. Even if it was, the young salmon would have to emerge early enough for food to be available for them. Then they would need to exit the rivers before sea ice formed on the northern ocean. Seitz noted that tiny salmon freeze at a temperature of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, well above the minus 1.7 degrees C temperature of salt water beneath sea ice that often hugs the Arctic Ocean coast off Alaska in fall, winter and spring. Even if all those conditions favored the fish born in Arctic rivers, a chum salmon that spends several years in the ocean to mature would have to upon exiting the river head immediately for warmer water, possibly down the west coast of Alaska to the Chukchi and Bering seas. It would take about three months for a little inch-long fish to swim all the way down the coast, Seitz said. Brown thinks all those precisely timed events make Arctic salmon survival unlikely right now. Theres a lot of things stacked against them, but it doesnt mean theyre not going to try, he said. Illustration by UAF Geophysical Institute A map shows the area of Alaska's North Slope where biologists are studying salmon. I think there will be a time but not in our lifetimes when salmon will start colonizing (the Arctic). If theyve got a place (to spawn), at some point they will make it. Westley thinks a massive change might be occurring right now in northern Alaska. I think (chum salmon) might be right on the cusp of exploding (in Arctic rivers), he said. The scientists will know more next fall, when Westley, Seitz and others return to download the temperature sensors deep in the gravel of the Arctic rivers and perhaps set up a camp near the spawning chum salmon to learn more. Its a fascinating research program, Brown said. Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. Academician Volodymyr Horbulin and Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Army Center for Research, Conversion and Disarmament, not only focus on future challenges, but also offer solutions It is hardly an exaggeration that the year 2024 brings a number of new challenges, riddles, and paradigms. And most likely, the year 2024 will turn out to be more difficult and turbulent for the modern world, and it will be more perilous, hazardous and exhausting for Ukraine. The year 2024 makes new demands -- both in global geopolitics and directly on the battlefield. Much sought after are not just new solutions but swift and synchronous, multi-level work of planetary leaders in many areas. A series of bloody wars has already broken out, in which the atrocities of the Russians in Ukraine were repeated and cloned. There is no doubt that the war in Israel and the pre-war situation in the Balkans are Putin's new fronts, which the Kremlin is trying to "open" against the West, assisted by political forces and terrorist organizations concerned. The likelihood of escalation of the war into a full-scale worldwide disaster has sharply increased. And this probability does not fall within the Middle East alone. It may involve, for instance, Azerbaijan-Armenia, North-South Korea. Generally, any new world war or the escalation of existing ones falls within the zone of interests of the Putin regime, as it mitigates his responsibility, dilutes and partially absorbs the general destructive policy of the Kremlin, creates extraordinary conditions for the whole world and, accordingly, new conditions for the destroyer of the international security system. ON THE WAY TO THE FORMATION OF A NEW MODEL OF THE WORLD The radical reformatting of the world is indeed a big, perhaps the biggest enigma of the future, and Ukraine, surprisingly, is in its pivot. The European countries rushed into revising their attitude not only to Putin, but also to his de facto patron from the PRC. In September 2023, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock called Xi Jinping a dictator live on Fox News: If Putin wins this war, what kind of sign will that be for other dictators in the world, like Xi, the president of China? Ukraine must win this war." It seems this is not the first time that the word "victory" has sounded so clearly from the lips of a high-level European official. In October 2023, the State Department also issued the "Integrated Strategy for the Development of Ukraine", which officially states that the US wants to help Ukraine achieve victory in the war, and also to hold Russia accountable for crimes in Ukraine. Another very important change in 2023 was the significant increase in Ukraine's own production of weapons, mainly missiles and various types of drones. The possibilities of further build-up of combat capabilities and the participation of partner countries in this process through the military-technical cooperation becomes a new fundamental opportunity for the Ukrainian nation. These events had taken place against the background of certain military achievements of Ukraine. In early October, Moscow announced its plans to build a naval base on the Black Sea coast of occupied Georgian Abkhazia. It looked symptomatic and was a sign of a reaction to the impossibility of the Russian Black Sea Fleet staying in Sevastopol, and the simultaneous intention to strengthen its positions in the Caucasus due to the loss of control over Armenia and the prospect of new challenges in the region. But the main thing in the history of the redeployment of ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation from Sevastopol is the actual admission of the lack of an opportunity to ensure the safety of the fleet on the Crimean Peninsula. In other words, in the fall of 2023, Russia started losing control over Crimea. A DISTRESS SIGNAL FROM MOSCOW, OR HAVE RUSSIAN PROSPECTS CHANGED IN 2024? If there is a view that the Russian fascist regime has got exhausted, then this is definitely an erroneous impression. Russia was predicted to drop oil production by 30%, GDP by 15%, imports by up to 50%. But none of these predictions came true. Exports of the Russian Federation in 2022 did not decrease, but increased by 20%, reaching 591 billion dollars -- a record figure for the entire history of the country. Components for the production of weapons, including microchips, got into the country without restrictions in 2023 through Turkey, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. Western countries bought platinum, nickel, copper, aluminum, diamonds, and some steel products from the Russian Federation allowing the country to earn at least 20 billion dollars annually. The Russian Federation increased exports of liquefied gas from 14.22 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 19.2 billion in 2022. The Russian Federation could buy everything necessary for the production of weapons, even from the USA. Thus, the machines of the American corporation NSH got into the Russian Federation. In a promotional video, the Russians unobtrusively demonstrated that they produced dangerous Lancet kamikaze drones using lathes from Japan and South Korea. And the German SPINNER machines used for the implementation of the program on raising the production of high-explosive projectiles for tanks got to the Russian Federation through Turkey. The unfortunate picture with sanctions is complemented by a generally deplorable fact: in September 2023, it turned out that the new Iranian kamikaze drones used by the Russian Federation for attacking Ukrainian cities (more than 600 such attacks were carried out in three summer months) have European components. Such state of affairs allowed the Kremlin to plan a huge rise in military spending in 2024. The draft budget in September 2023 envisaged the allocation of an unprecedented amount for the maintenance of the invading army and the production of weapons -- as much as 10.8 trillion rubles, or 112 billion dollars (by the same token, almost twice as much as the 2023 expenditure of 6.4 trillion). Analysts took the notice of the fact that for the first time in history, defense spending on war became the largest item of the budget. The Kremlin also uses the advantage of the fact that the aid to Ukraine in October was suspended due to the internal political crisis in the US, caused by disagreement over the amount of aid to be approved. In this context, the attack on Israel became a joint asymmetric weapon of Russia and Iran against the West (against the background of the growing influence of China and the participation of the DPRK as a member of the bloc and at least a supplier of weapons to the terrorist regime). On the whole, it is significant that the Russian terrorist tactics were demonstrated by Hamas militants during the attack on Israel: mass killings of civilians, unarmed people for the purpose of intimidation, taking hostages, including children, destruction of civilian infrastructure have become the hallmarks of modern warfare, along with the widespread use of simple, cheap means of preparation and conduct of war -- paragliders, motorcycles, civilian drones for dropping ammunition. In addition, experts noted that none of Hamas's allies, with the exception of Russia, has experience using bomber drones against modern battle tanks. Conclusions came in sight to the effect that only the Russians could teach this strategy to the militants. Of course, this fact is not easy to be proven, but the assumption is worthy of attention as it fully corresponds to the handwriting and the spirit of waging war by the servants of the Kremlin. We cannot fail to be conscious of the fact that the implementation of an extremely complex military operation by a terrorist organization, involving air, sea and land hostilities, also gives rise to the conclusion that players of another level had taken part in the preparation and provision of the attack with weapons. And a careful study of the connections will immediately lead to the understanding that the "ears" visible behind the scenes belong to Moscow and Tehran. In September 2023, information came into prominence that reconnaissance-and-assault brigades are being formed in the Russian Armed Forces, designed to storm fortifications and conduct reconnaissance in the enemy's immediate rear. The new brigades are established taking into account the experience of Russia's war against Ukraine, and they will be part of the armies and corps1. Thus, Moscow expects to seize the offensive initiative in 2024, as was the case in early 2023 after choosing the city of Bakhmut to attack. And yet, despite almost colossal, almost unlimited resources, Russia is still exhausted by the war against Ukraine. The Russian elite did not plan a long war, and the war also became a powerful challenge. That is why the Kremlin is forced to turn to rogue countries for weapons and political support. THE UKRAINIAN ARMY AS THE BASIC ARGUMENT Regrettably, despite the activities initiated by the Ukrainian authorities to increase domestic production of weapons and ammunition, the Defense Forces in 2023 remained completely dependent on external support. Western restrictions on Ukraine's offensive capabilities greatly contributed to the protraction of the European war: they gave Russia time to prepare large defensive fortifications, continue quite effective fighting in the trenches, and continuously replenish losses. In addition, the enemy continually attempted to find vulnerable spots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in order to launch a series of counterattacks and seize the initiative. Avdiyivka became such a difficult node in October, where the groupings of the Russian forces tried to carry out an operational encirclement of Ukrainian troops. However, the successful leveling of the strategic reserves of the Russian Federation introduced in the fall of 2023, and even better, the ability to multiply the 18th and 25th armies by zero, would allow the Forces not only to consolidate success and develop the initiative, but to ensure a significant increase in military capabilities in 2024 -- against the background of the final demoralization of the enemy groups present in the occupied territories. The regrettable shortcomings of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the fall of 2023 included the insufficient range of weapons to isolate the occupied Crimean Peninsula and the insufficient power of kamikaze drones to attack large-scale enemy facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, like production lines of drones, missiles and guided bombs. Significant successes were displayed in 2023 by missile developers and manufacturers, as in October, Ukraine began testing missiles with a range of 1,000 km. During the large-scale war, a certain leap was made in the field of development and production of naval drones, in the same October, the developers showed the Morok strike drone with a warhead weight of 30 kilograms and a range of 800 kilometers. In a year, the production of drones increased 100 times, which is an indicator of progress in this area. In the fall, some reasons came in sight to talk about certain achievements in military-technical cooperation: the Ukrainian military can receive new Turkish Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle, capable of carrying cruise missiles with a range of 250 kilometers. This issue is "already in the process". In addition, Antonov State Enterprise and the French company Turgis & Gaillard signed an agreement on the production at the Ukrainian company's facilities of the latest Aarok MALE6 combat drone. This unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of carrying 1.5 tons of weapons. These systems may become the "first swallows" that will be harbingers of the appearance of very powerful modern weapons in the Defense Forces. WHAT WILL THE YEAR 2024 BRING IN? The first and foremost of the riddles, undoubtedly, concerns the level and quality of comprehensive assistance from the West. It is the level of military-technical assistance to Ukraine that will determine the real capabilities of the State Defense Forces in 2024. The issue of increasing or decreasing military-technical assistance to Ukraine has several different aspects. The key one is geopolitical. On the one hand, the fantastic investment in Ukraine since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, Ukraine's ability to contain and weaken nuclear Russia (and partly in this way to contain China) made supporting Ukraine an attractive and promising business for the West. Will the war in Israel contribute to increasing aid to Ukraine as a true ally of the US and NATO, will it improve the quality of support, i.e. increase the level of supplies of not only aircraft, but also missiles, operational-strategic level drones and fire support helicopters? Analysis of all baseline data and possibilities may indicate that, even under the worst-case scenario, by April 2024, Ukraine can count on at least the current level of aid or a similar one, with a slight downward trend. Among other things, combat aircraft with modern air armament will begin arriving in Ukraine. It is also possible to predict that Ukraine will be fully supplied with ammunition and air defense equipment. In order to provide the Armed Forces with weapons coming not from foreign aid but to supply them in a single-handed way, Ukraine has to solve another riddle. The second most important puzzle is related to the possibility of Ukraine achieving technological advantages through independent efforts. Since those advantages, alongside the technological separation from hostile Russia as a long-term goal, are the exclusive guarantee of the state's security. The central problem in 2023 remained the administration of the defense-industrial complex, or rather, the choice of the optimal model. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the year 2023 became a year of high level of attention of the authorities to the defense-industrial complex, and the French Turgis & Gaillard Groupe followed the previously announced German Rheinmetall AG, British BAE Systems, and Turkish Baykar Makinas arrival at the Ukrainian market. The first jointly-implemented work with American partners also came in sight. In particular, the USA, as part of the Franken SAM project, helped Ukraine modernize two types of SAM systems capable of launching Western missiles. This experience comes in support of the high technical level of domestic developers. Finally, the third important paradigm is the actual success on the battlefield. The solutions of the first two riddles are just subordinate to this, the main third one. Ironically, it is the tactical military successes of 2023 that can offer a strategic advantage in 2024. And no matter how fantastic it sounds, it is the military-industrial successes of Ukraine in 2024, the effective military-technical cooperation taken into account, that can ensure the strategic victory of the future. The authorities of Ukraine should resolve a number of issues regarding the strengthening of the Armed Forces. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that the key problem of 2023 remained the issue of service motivation. While the state maintains a consistently high level of trust in the army (that is, in the Defense Forces), the issue of motivation to serve is not so simple. In mid-October 2023, the Ministry of Defense reported that hundreds of thousands of citizens were trying to avoid mobilization, and the military department intended to settle this issue. However, it is unlikely that any regulatory efforts will be effective without radical measures, such as the equality of duties of all citizens with a clear, transparent definition of limits, conditions and responsibilities. This should refer to well-off citizens, former deputies and officials, and especially to their relatives. For, if in the first days of the Russian large-scale attack Ukrainians demonstrated a fabulous level of motivation, then during the 18 months of intense, bloody war, it appreciably went down. Major improvements are needed in the manning system -- a more clearly defined correlation between motivation for service and public administration, greater financial incentives, not only during service, but also for service veterans. This includes, among other things, the requirement to make the appointment to higher positions of state administration dependent on service in the Defense Forces. There is a need for efficient performance of work by all authorities as to reducing the opportunities for evasion and imposing tougher penalties for those who try to profit from it. If social networks openly attempt to sell "white tickets", offer assistance to those who shirk their military duty by fleeing abroad, this is a very clear signal to the authorities about the need to improve the system. Another uncertain point is the rights and powers of the mobilized servicemen. Besides, an independent oversight is also a must. Especially, legislative appointment of independent inspectors and the chief military inspector, who will not be subordinate to the Minister of Defense or the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It is essential to recognize that at the border of 2023-2024, a number of events may take place that can negatively affect Ukraine's prospects in 2024. First of all, if the war in Israel is prolonged and escalated, it can significantly affect the potential of Ukraine -- from the risks of the Hezbollah It is essential to recognize that at the border of 2023-2024, a number of events may take place that can negatively affect Ukraine's prospects in 2024. First of all, if the war in Israel is prolonged and escalated, it can significantly affect the potential of Ukraine -- from the risks of the Hezbollah movement entering the war to strikes by Iran or even to Irans direct participation in a regional war. Similarly, events in the USA can have a negative impact -- from the restrictions of the Pentagon and the presidential administration to the "return of Trumpism". A large-scale activation of the entire "axis of evil" cannot be excluded either. But we all have no right to forget even for a moment, our war is existential, that is, a war for the right to exist as a nation. Therefore, we must not only fight, but also quickly learn to successfully and comprehensively ensure this struggle with our own hands. Uncertainty about long-term military and technical assistance from the US may force the military command to review offensive approaches and be prepared for the worst-case scenario. However, what will happen around Ukraine after such a long road to victory over the enemy should make the nation even more determined. And, in particular, lead to the answer: what can we ourselves do to win in perhaps the most difficult times? We are convinced that the new conditions of the war should lead the authorities of Ukraine to accelerate the implementation of decisions regarding the continuous rise in the production of their own weapons. As well as strengthening the Armed Forces by improving the manning system. It will not be superfluous to prepare a number of defense lines and powerful fortifications (which has not been done before) -- on the territories already won back from the enemy. This will not be superfluous not only for 2024, but also for the next 5-10 years of coexistence with the enemy state, which will certainly strive for the complete destruction of the Ukrainian state. In general, for the survival and development of the Ukrainian nation, it is urgently necessary, like Israel, to put the issue of increasing the defense potential and scaling up military capabilities at the very center of society and the state. Volodymyr Horbulin, first vice-president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, academician Valentyn Badrak, director of the Army Center for Research, Conversion and Disarmament Germany has handed over a new security assistance package to Ukraine. The list of military assistance provided to Ukraine was updated on the website of the German Federal Government, Ukrinform reports. Read also: German Federal Minister for Environment and Nuclear Safety arrives in Kyiv In addition to the previously announced aid, Ukraine received: 3 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD; 3 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition; 1 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER; 20 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN; 20 reconnaissance drones VECTOR; 3 border protection vehicles; 3 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 3 semi-trailers. As reported by Ukrinform, Federal Chancellor of Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in phone conversation discussed the current military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Russian intelligence operatives posing as representatives of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), asked a Norway national to take pictures of military facilities near the cities of Alt and Tromse. Thats according to an investigation by Current Time and System Project, uploaded on YouTube, Ukrinform reports. The Russian-speaking citizen of Norway reported that Russian intelligence operatives, under the guise of employees of the Russian Geographical Society, tried to recruit him, proposing that he take pictures of a number of military facilities near the cities of Alt and Tromse in northern Norway. Another topic in which "RGS representatives" expressed interest was the situation in one of the Norwegian mosques, where "two guys from the former Soviet republics, Muslims, allegedly sealed a same-sex marriage." Read also: Investigation exposes Russian uni training industrial spies For performing the task, the Norwegian was promised over $1,000 per day, and also offered to travel to a "geographical conference" to Murmansk or Arkhangelsk. The man revealed the names of the two recruiters, their contact details, as well as an audio recording of his conversation confirming his story. Journalists have identified the persons in question without revealing their names in the report. Neither did they name the Norvegian, who exposed the recruiters all to make sure he and the perpetrators, as well as their families, do not get exposed to any threats. The recordings and correspondence were transferred to the Norwegian police, who are conducting an investigation. Espionage is a criminal offense in Norway, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The Russian Geographical Society is not subject to EU or US sanctions. Its chairman is Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Head of the Trustees is President Vladimir Putin. As reported by Ukrinform, a man holding a Brazilian ID in the name of Jose Jammaria was detained in Norway. It turned out that his real name is Mikhail Mikushin. The Norway Police Special Service PST believes that the person in question is actually a Russian citizen who was spying for Russia under cover. Germany will allocate an additional EUR 200 million for the recovery of Ukraine. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in Germanys Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, announced this in Kyiv on Friday, Ukrinform reports with reference to dpa. A productive discussion with @BMZ_Bund @JochenFlasbarth. We reviewed the main progress in our cooperation & discussed potential plans. Among the main topics: organization of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 #URC in Berlin, implementing more energy efficient & green pic.twitter.com/FCM8mNrq6F Oleksandr Kubrakov (@OlKubrakov) October 20, 2023 According to him, the funds are intended for education, healthcare and the supply of drinking water, as well as for the reconstruction of cities. He noted that since the start of Russias war of aggression in February 2022, the Ministry has already allocated about EUR 1 billion for civilian support. Vice Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Minister for Communities and Territories Development and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov posted on the social network X following the meeting: A productive discussion We reviewed the main progress in our cooperation and discussed potential plans. Among the main topics: organization of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, implementing more energy efficient and green technologies when rebuilding Ukraine, extending and strengthening our joint work through the Multidonor Coordination Platform. Germanys Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke also arrived in Kyiv on Friday for talks on environmental recovery. "Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke is in Kyiv today for talks on environmental recovery, for which the Federal Ministry offers support. Russias war of aggression is also destroying nature and the environment, which endangers the livelihoods of Ukrainians in the acute and long term, such as drinking water, the report says. 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. Drew Angerer/Getty Images The stock market just flashed a contrarian buy signal as investors turn extremely bearish. Bank of America highlighted that its proprietary Bull and Bear Indicator entered "Buy" territory this week. The stock market has historically seen a median gain of 5% after this buy indicator flashed. Another buy signal just flashed for the stock market as investor positioning turns overly bearish towards equities, according to a Thursday note from Bank of America. The bank highlighted that its Bull and Bear Indicator just entered "extreme bearish" territory, which represents a contrarian buy signal for the stock market. The last time this signal flashed was in May 2022. This signal flashed just a few days after another contrarian buy signal flashed in the form of investors boosting their cash allocation levels. The BofA Bull and Bear indicator is contrarian in the sense that it flashes a "buy" signal when stock market conditions are extremely bearish, and it flashes a "sell" signal when stock market conditions are extremely bullish. Factors that drove the signal into extremely bearish territory over the past week includes fund outflows from emerging market debt, high yield bonds, and global stocks, as well as a surge in cash allocations among professional investors on Wall Street. "Positioning [is] now 'extreme bearish' ...triggers contrarian 'buy signal' for risk assets," Bank of America investment strategist Michael Hartnett said. This contrarian indicator has been pretty reliable over time. Since 2002, there have been 20 buy signal occurrences, with the median three-month return after the signal flashed being 5.4% for US stocks and 7.6% for global stocks, according to the note. Bearish sentiment has grown in recent weeks as bond yields surged and stock prices fell. The CNN Fear and Greed index has been in "Fear" territory since the start of the month, and the AAII Investor Sentiment survey has seen bearish responses above its historical average over the past four weeks. Story continues "Investors [are] sufficiently bearish for 10-year yield at 5% ceiling," Hartnett said, adding that the S&P 500's key support level of 4,200 should hold in the short-term. And if that level doesn't hold, its a sign that economic conditions are deteriorating. "If S&P 500 [support level] 4,200 can't hold with this level of bearishness then there may be imminent risks of [a] credit event/hard landing," Hartnett said. Read the original article on Business Insider Finnish authorities are examining a heavy object recovered from the seabed amid their ongoing probe into the recent Balticconnector gas pipeline rupture. Thats according to ERR, Ukrinform reports. The investigation has confirmed that the damage has been caused by an external mechanical force, and based on current knowledge there is no reason to believe the damage has been caused by an explosion, said Risto Lohi, heading up the Finnish investigation, conducted by the NBI, Finland's National Bureau of Investigations. Read also: Zelensky has phone conversation with President of Finland A large portion of clay found on the seabed likely contains a "large and heavy" object, while samples had been taken for analysis to ascertain that. "Attempts will be made to lift the object from the sea for technical examination," Lohi added, while investigators tend to believe the damage to the pipe was caused by an external force, but have not apportioned culpability. Public broadcaster Yle says investigators found that a ship, the Newnew Polar Bear flying under the Hong Kong flag and owned by a Chinese firm, had been spotted close to the Balticconnector, which runs North-South under the Gulf of Finland, found to be leaking gas on October 9. According to Ukrinform, the incident on Balticconnector gas pipeline, which connects Estonia and Finland, occurred overnight Sunday, October 9. The gas flow was suspended over a reported leak. Subsequently came the reports of a damage sustained by an underwater cable laid between Estonia and Finland, which was also believed to have been caused by an external force. Read also: Finland approves EUR 95M military aid package to Ukraine The Finnish Foreign Ministry reported on Friday it had contacted Russia and China about the Balticconnector situation. Finland is investigating the causes of the incident in Finnish waters, and the Estonia authorities are probing the damage caused in Estonian waters. Photo: Siim Lthevi /ERR At a meeting in Canberra with Australias Governor-General David Hurley, Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the cooperation between the two countries, the partnership between Australia and NATO, as well as the support for Ukraine, in which Nauseda says the whole free world should unite. This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Lithuanian presidents press service. The entire free world has to stand together for Ukraines victory. Only such a victory will deter other potential aggressors in the world from being tempted to follow the precedent set by Russia, the president of Lithuania said. He invited Australia to join projects on Ukraines reconstruction, as well as to Lithuania's initiative to create a mine clearance coalition, which would mobilize efforts to clear the territories of Ukraine that have been liberated from Russian occupation. Read also: Lithuanian FM calls on intl community to keep focus on Ukraine despite situation in Israel During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on further efforts to isolate Russia in the international arena and continue the sanctions policy, which weakens the aggressors military potential. "The entire free world has to stand together for Ukraines victory. Only such a victory will deter other potential aggressors in the world from being tempted to follow the precedent set by Russia, the President of Lithuania underscored," the Lithuanian president said. The meeting discussed the partnership between NATO and the Indo-Pacific region, which was consolidated at the NATO Vilnius Summit, and which strengthens global security and the rules-based international order. The common interest of both regions in reducing their dependence on the Chinese market and the importance of cooperation in building resilient supply chains for key technologies and materials was also addressed. Nauseda also emphasized that Lithuanian-Australian cooperation, which is being strengthened, opens up large opportunities for investment and trade, primarily in the field of life sciences, financial technologies, and defense industries. The President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, paid an official visit to Australia on October 17-20. As part of the visit, he met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australian Governor-General David Hurley, chiefs of Australian regions, as well as representatives of the Lithuanian diaspora in the country. Ukraine is actively preparing for a new Peace Formula meeting, which is scheduled for next week and will take place in Malta. Significant world powers will be represented, and the list of participants is growing practically every day as over 50 participants are expected to attend. Thats according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who delivered another video address to the nation, Ukrinform reports. I wish good health to all Ukrainians, both men and women! Our active international work doesn't stop for a single day. Today, I spoke with President Erdogan of Turkiye, and this marks the ninth international conversation this week. I have already talked to the President of Finland, the Prime Minister of Canada, the President of South Africa, the Prime Minister of Norway, as well as the President of France, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the United States, the Chancellor of Germany. The main goal in all these discussions is to protect lives and people, peaceful people, and prevent destabilization from spreading to other regions of the world, not let our work in consolidating the global majority for international law go to waste. I am grateful to all the leaders for their support and understanding that it's time for maximum joint efforts. With President Erdogan, we discussed the situation in our Black Sea region, aggression against Ukraine, aggression against global security, and the situation in the Middle East. It is very important to protect peaceful people, it is very important to prevent the escalation of new large-scale humanitarian crises, and important to work together to quickly restore the full force of international law. We are actively preparing for a new Peace Formula meeting, which is scheduled for next week and will take place in Malta. Significant world powers will be represented, and the list of participants is growing practically every day. We expect over 50 participants. Today, President Erdogan confirmed that Turkiye will participate in the meeting. We are also getting ready for a new summit of our Crimea Platform, at the parliamentary level. The number of participants is substantial. The summit will be held in the Czech Republic. I am grateful to everyone around the world who has joined and is ready to work with us at the parliamentary diplomacy level for the sake of security and peace throughout Europe, without any exceptions for any parts of our continent. A very significant step by President Biden this week I am sincerely grateful for it. A new package of long-lasting and reliable support for Ukraine has been prepared defense and economic for our protection of people and freedom. I am thankful for this initiative by President Biden, and I believe that not only Ukrainians but all nations, all free nations in Europe, are expecting the preservation of American unity with our defense. American leadership is needed for the world, and I am grateful to both parties in Congress who understand this and support, in particular, our people's struggle for independence. And, of course, our warriors. Thank you to each and every one who is currently fighting, in combat positions, and at their posts! Avdiyivka direction, Maryinka. Bahmut direction. Kupiansk, Lyman directions. Our Zaporizhia. Our Kherson region. On the frontlines and deep within the occupied territory, our warriors have made this week very significant for Ukraine. Now, I want to express my gratitude to all our defense and security forces absolutely all of you! Every unit, every warrior, every commander who has achieved the necessary combat results for our state during this week. Glory to you, warriors! Glory to our entire nation! I thank everyone around the world who is helping! Glory to Ukraine! Canada has introduced a new temporary migration program that allows Ukrainians who are close relatives to Canadian nationals to obtain a permanent residence permit. Details of the program have been published on the website of the Ministry of Immigration, Ukrinform reports. It is noted that Ukrainians may apply for the program starting October 23. Citizens of Ukraine whose close relatives have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status will be eligible. According to the program, the circle of close relatives includes children, parents, grandparents, spouses, as well as brothers and sisters. The program also allows citizens of third countries to submit an application if their spouse has Ukrainian citizenship, but cannot leave Ukraine or has died or gone missing. Currently, there is no information on how long the applications will be processed and how much the submission will cost. As Ukrinform reported earlier, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Canada announced a temporary migration program that allowed Ukrainian refugees to obtain a three-year work and residence permit in Canada for free. Although more than a million applications were submitted for the program, only about 170,000 Ukrainians eventually arrived in Canada this way. In July 2023, the receipt of new applications for the program was suspended, but the government has promised to soon release details of a new program that would allow Ukrainians to move to Canada on a permanent, rather than temporary, basis. Photo: Andrew Fury/X (Twitter) BRUSSELS, October 21, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aviapartner, leading Airport Ground Services group in Europe, enters a Joint Venture with Colossal to serve airlines and passengers in South Africa. With this partnership, the Belgium headquartered company expands its territory outside Europe. Aviapartner will control 51% of the new Joint Venture. Colossal employs close to 2.400 people and operates at six South African airports, of which Johannesburg and Cape Town, respectively the first and third largest airport on the African continent. Its customer portfolio includes airlines such as Airlink, British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa and South African Airways. Aviapartner, with 73 years of experience in Airport Ground Services business, employs close to 12.000 people across Europe, operating at 64 airports in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands and soon Switzerland. With this acquisition, Aviapartner gains a presence in South Africa, supported by Colossal. This aligns with its ambition to extend operations beyond European borders. Aviapartner CEO Richard Prince states: "Aviapartner has tripled in size over the last 15 years. With this partnership we take the opportunity to expand our operating horizons. This Joint Venture allows us to enter the South African market and to offer the same Quality and Safety already provided to passengers and airliners at leading European airports. We welcome Colossal Africa Aviation Services to the Aviapartner portfolio and look forward to a fruitful partnership in the coming years." Earlier this month, Aviapartner already announced the addition of nine Spanish airports and the one of Munich to its operating portfolio. About Aviapartner Founded in 1949, Aviapartner is one of the leading independent providers of Airport Ground Services across 64 airports in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. With the dedication of nearly 12.000 staff members, Aviapartner serves over 100 million passengers per year. Aviapartner offers a wide range of Airport Ground Services to over 400 passenger and cargo airlines. Aviapartner has IT capabilities, which enables unparalleled service quality and flexibility according to the needs of each airline customer. Aviapartners services are supported by numerous quality certifications and airline awards, of which several ESG-related. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020552939/en/ Contacts Sarah Heuninck, +32 491 15 05 09, sh@gosselindewalque.com. (UroToday.com) The 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress held in Madrid, Spain between October 20th and 24th, 2023 was host to a prostate cancer abstracts poster session. Dr. Joanna Dodkins presented the results of an analysis evaluating the utilization rates of treatment intensification for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients in England. Treatment intensification with doublet therapy (ADT + androgen receptor pathway inhibitor [ARPI]) or triplet therapy (ADT + ARPI + docetaxel) are currently guideline-approved for the 1st line treatment of the majority of mHPSC patients following the publication of numerous trials in this disease space showing a clinically meaningful overall survival benefit. However, the dissemination and subsequent application of guideline-concordant care is often lagging in clinical practice, with a clinical implementation gap of at least several years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the national utilization trends of treatment intensification in England, UK and the determinants of variation. This was a national population-based study using data from the National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) of all patients with newly diagnosed mHSPC in the English National Health Service (NHS) between 2018 and 2021. Patients receiving docetaxel, enzalutamide, abiraterone, or apalutamide within 6 months of diagnosis were identified using the Systemic Anti-Cancer Dataset (SACT). Treatment patterns were studied in the overall population and additionally stratified by age, ethnicity, deprivation, and co-morbidity. Of the 13,820 men diagnosed with mHSPC in England between 2018 and 2021, 5,346 (39%) received treatment intensification with either docetaxel, enzalutamide, abiraterone or apalutamide. The most used agent was docetaxel (24.5%), followed by enzalutamide (12.6%), abiraterone (1.2%), and apalutamide (0.4%). The utilisation of docetaxel peaked in 2018, with the utilisation of enzalutamide steadily increasing from 0.2% in 2018 to 28.3% in 2020. Abiraterone and Apalutamide utilisation have also increased during the study period (Table below): Predictors of increased odds of treatment intensification were: Younger age Residence in least deprived areas Lesser comorbidity burden There was no evidence of variation in utilisation according to patient ethnicity. Dr. Dodkins concluded that this study demonstrates the underutilisation of treatment intensification for mHSPC in England, particularly amongst certain patient groups. Further studies are needed to understand the reasons for underutilisation of intensified treatments in this setting. Presented by: Joanna Dodkins, MBChB, MRCP, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Written by: Rashid K. Sayyid, MD, MSc Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Madrid, Spain, Fri, Oct 20 Tues, Oct 24, 2023. (UroToday.com) The 2023 ESMO annual meeting included a session on prostate cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. David Goode discussing molecular features of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) associated with response to 177LuPSMA + pembrolizumab for mCRPC. The phase I PRINCE trial is evaluating the efficacy of 177Lu-PSMA-617 + pembrolizumab for mCRPC: Importantly, genomic and clinical features at baseline of patients who respond best to this combination are not yet known. A total of 37 patients were enrolled and PSA levels were assessed three times weekly. CTCs (CK+, CD45-, and DAPI+) were enumerated from 3 mL of blood, immunoassayed for PSMA expression, and single CTCs profiled with low-pass whole-genome sequencing. Baseline PSMA-PET metabolic tumour volume and PSMA expression (SUV) were measured. Patients were split into response groups based on the best percentage change in PSA from baseline: Good: drop in PSA >90%, n=17 Intermediate: drop in PSA <90%, n=16 Poor: no decrease in PSA, n=4 Metabolic tumor volume was lower in the good (median: 218 mL) than in both intermediate (median: 328 mL) and poor (median: 538 mL) response groups, but pairwise comparison of good versus intermediate-poor responders combined was not significant (Wilcoxon p=0.286). The strongest image-based association was mean PSMA-PET SUV, which increased from poor (median: 7.8), to intermediate (median: 8.5) and good (median: 11) responders, achieving a Wilcoxon p-value of 0.079 for the good versus the intermediate-poor groups: In contrast, stronger associations with PSA response were based on features of baseline CTCs: Baseline PSMA+ CTC counts were higher in good (mean: 23.7) than intermediate (mean: 4.3) and poor (mean: 6) responders (p = 0.022). A number of Large-scale State Transitions, a measure of genome instability, was lowest for CTCs in good (mean: 10.2), higher in intermediate (mean: 15.1), and highest in poor responders group (mean: 24.4), a highly significant trend (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.0004): One limitation of the study is the limited sample size (n = 37). Dr. Goode concluded his presentation discussing molecular features of CTCs associated with response to 177LuPSMA + pembrolizumab for mCRPC with the following concluding statements: Patients with lower PSMA expressing PET tumor burden at baseline were more likely to have a deeper PSA drop Features of CTCs differ by PSA response group Fraction of PSMA positive CTCs and Large Scale Transition score were most informative of CTC metrics Presented by: David Goode, MD, PhD, 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. Paramount Pictures Steve Eisman of "The Big Short" fame told the Wall Street Journal his current investing outlook. He calls his thesis "revenge of the old school," noting he likes "old economy" stocks. Eisman, who was played by Steve Carell in the movie, also said there is no new housing crisis. Bond yields are hovering near 5%, stocks are under pressure, and the housing market has frozen over. Amid the tumult, investor Steve Eisman, known for his bet against collateralized debt obligations backed by soured mortgages ahead of the 2008 crisis, shared his market outlook with the The Wall Street Journal. Eisman, who was depicted by Steve Carell in "The Big Short," is now a managing director at Neuberger Berman. He was one of a handful of investors who famously profited via prescient bets that the housing market was in a bubble that was about to burst. But now, with low home inventory, mortgage rates at 8%, and borrowing costs climbing, he said there is no housing crisis looming on the horizon. He's instead turned his focus to the debt market, the Journal reported, and he's buying bonds for the first time in his career. To play the government's big spending spree, he's leaning into an investment thesis he calls "revenge of the old school." "This is the first industrial policy in the U.S. we've seen in several decades," Eisman told the Journal. "The money isn't spent yet it's the government, it doesn't take a week. There has been no revenue impact at this point and I don't think most of the spending has been embedded in any stocks." So-called "old economy" stocks, in his view, include names in construction, utilities, and materials. Meanwhile, he's not looking to buy bank stocks or hypergrowth stocks. He thinks that era of investing is over. "What does Vulcan Materials do?" Eisman said. "It makes rocks. This isn't the nitty-gritty technical aspects of AI. The fundamentals of these companies are not difficult to understand, and they will tend to have the wind at their backs." Read the original article on Business Insider China and the U.S. presented competing visions for development in Africa this week as several leaders from the continent attended Beijings Belt and Road Forum marking the 10-year anniversary of the global infrastructure initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect the world through trade by investing billions of dollars in land and sea infrastructure projects, has broadened over the last decade. Belt and Road cooperation has expanded from physical connectivity to institutional connectivity, said Chinas President Xi Jinping in a speech at the opening ceremony of the forum, which ended Wednesday. The Chinese president announced $100 billion in new funding and promised to work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships, usher this cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries. African leaders in attendance included Kenyan President William Ruto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso. They represented nations that have been recipients of BRI investments and were seeking new funding for various projects, analysts said. Paul Nantulya, research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, told VOA he saw signs of a strategic shift in Chinese lending after sharp cuts in the amounts allotted in recent years. I think were now going to see an uptick ... an upward trend that makes a sharp turn from the last two to three years, he said. I think this is Belt and Road 2.0. While analysts have noted a move toward smaller, greener initiatives along with smaller loans, Xis speech which boasted of brand-new airports and harbors, smooth roads and newly built industrial parks for business gave no indication the BRI was winding down. In addition to hard infrastructure, Nantulya said Xi's focus going forward would address calls from African leaders for projects that create added value, including industrialization, green energy and training. A Biden BRI? Green energy and value addition are also target areas for the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden as it attempts to increase engagement with Africa. African countries are home to many of the critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, needed for the transition to clean energy and China has had a head start in extracting and processing them. Now, its true that the United States is playing a bit of catch-up on the continent when it comes to critical minerals, and there are other players, like China, who have been here and have made significant investments in the mining sector in Africa for quite some time, said Joshua Volz, the deputy assistant secretary for Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy. Were here to offer an alternative, perhaps an alternative model, to developing Africas critical minerals, Volz said in an interview with VOA during his visit to South Africa this week for Africa Energy Week. That mode "is one thats based in partnership and has at its core the ability for African partners to climb the value chain of those resources instead of simply having them be extracted and taken overseas for processing, he said. What were looking to do is create some options for our African partners. You know, weve long been wary of some of the tactics and the methods that our counterparts in Beijing employ when it comes to development opportunities, throughout the world but especially here on the continent, he said. Last month, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, the U.S. and European Union pledged to develop the partially existing Lobito Corridor a railway connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congos cobalt belt to Zambias copper belt and on to Angolas port of Lobito, from where materials can be shipped to international markets. One of the areas where our African partners have historically struggled is with the infrastructure necessary to catalyze investments to develop those resources. The Lobito Corridor is a great example of that, Volz said. While China has been investing in African infrastructure for years, the White Houses announcement may signal the U.S.is also jumping into the infrastructure game on the continent. I think that this should be seen as a proof of conduct, as a first foray, but certainly not as the last, said Volz. African agenda Some African leaders have tried to capitalize on the power competition. Kenya's Ruto is seeking about $1 billion in new financing for stalled road construction projects. My coming to China this time around is a confirmation of our commitment to elevate this relationship for the mutual benefit of Kenya and China, Ruto said. He encouraged Beijing to use its leverage to reform international financial institutions so nations in the developing world can access more financing at below-market rates. China has a special place, no doubt, to have the ability to enhance the competitiveness of Africa, Ruto said during the Belt and Road Forum. Observers said the Kenyan leader has been taking advantage of that opportunity, especially recently. President Rutos administration took a more than semidetached approach to its relationship with China and pivoted back towards its established partners in the West ahead of this visit to China, said Aly-Khan Satchu, an economic analyst based in Nairobi. However, hardcore fiscal pressures have, I believe, forced him to temper his Western pivot. By all accounts he is looking for some relief from China. Cliff Mboya, an Africa-China analyst in Kenya, does not agree. He said Ruto was less concerned than in the past about securing Chinese investments and capital. China is well aware that he is leaning West and his international posture generally supports Western policies, Mboya said. One of the other African heavyweights who attended the Beijing forum, Ethiopias Abiy, said China continues to be a critical partner for Ethiopia. China has invested in Ethiopian projects including a railway and roads. During Abiys visit, Beijing upgraded its relationship with Addis Ababa to become what Xi described as all-weather friends and signed multiple bilateral agreements. While major leaders from East and West Africa descended on Beijing for the BRI anniversary celebrations, Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of Africa's most developed economy, South Africa, was absent. But analysts said one should not read too much into that. "It doesnt strike me as odd, because presidents would usually visit if they also get a one-on-one with Xi, and Ramaphosa had a big meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit" in August, said Cobus van Staden, a researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs. Xis meeting schedule is so dense at this kind of event that it probably had more to do with timing and logistics rather than reflecting a vote of no confidence from SA. BRICS is a coalition of the emerging economies of South Africa, China, Brazil, Russia and India. In 2024, Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will join the bloc. U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Saturday the movement of the first limited humanitarian convoy into the besieged Gaza Strip through the Egypt-controlled Rafah Crossing. "The United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas," Biden said in a statement. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. Dozens of aid trucks have been lined up near the Rafah crossing for several days, waiting for the border to open to bring aid to Gaza's more than 2 million residents. On Saturday morning the border opened briefly to allow the 20-truck convoy led by the Egyptian Red Crescent in with urgently needed food, water and medicine. "We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, and to continue working to protect civilians, consistent with obligations under international humanitarian law," Biden said. He thanked the leaders of Israel, Egypt and the United Nations for making it possible. First aid arrives Earlier Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a peace summit in Cairo that the trucks need to move quickly in "a massive, sustained and safe way" to Gaza. "The people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed," he said. "We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen." Israel has not allowed any food, water, medical supplies or fuel into Gaza since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. Some 1,400 people were killed and 200 more were kidnapped, triggering an Israeli bombing campaign and a total blockade of Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported on Saturday that 4,300 Palestinians have been killed. Gaza is now bracing for an Israeli ground invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also welcomed the aid convoy, saying its deployment was the result of "days of exhaustive U.S. diplomatic engagement in the region." He echoed the president's warning to Hamas not to interfere. "As President Biden stated, if Hamas steals or diverts this assistance it will have demonstrated once again that it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people and as a practical matter it will hinder the international community from being able to provide this aid," he said. "Civilian lives must be protected, and assistance must urgently reach those in need." A lifeline The World Food Program said three of its trucks were part of the convoy. They carried 60 tons of emergency food, including canned food, wheat flour and pasta. The WFP has another 930 tons of emergency food items at or near the Rafah crossing, ready to be brought into Gaza whenever access is allowed again. "This food is desperately needed as the conditions inside Gaza are truly catastrophic. These 20 trucks are an important first step, but this convoy has to be the first of many," WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a statement. The World Health Organization said four of its trucks were in the convoy carrying trauma kits, medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases, and basic medicine and health supplies. It says it has more supplies in Egypt and on the way there. "The supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs as hostilities continue to grow," the WHO said in a statement. "A scaled up and protected aid operation is desperately needed." The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, sent about 44,000 bottles of water enough for only 22,000 people for one day. As stockpiles began running out this week, aid agencies struggled to provide a single liter of water each day to Gazans. "This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense not just for water, but for food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods and services," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Unless we can provide humanitarian supplies consistently, we face the real threat of life-threatening disease outbreaks." Five U.N. aid agencies put out a joint statement saying Saturday's delivery was a lifeline, but far from adequate. Even before the October 7 hostilities erupted, nearly one-third of Gaza's residents were food insecure. "Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities," the U.N. agencies said. "It is now catastrophic. The world must do more." Egypt and Jordan harshly criticized Israel over its actions in Gaza during a summit on Saturday, a sign that the two Western allies that made peace with Israel decades ago are losing patience with its 2-week-old war against Hamas. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who hosted the summit, again rejected any talk of sending Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula and warned against the "liquidation of the Palestinian cause." Jordan's King Abdullah II called Israel's siege and bombardment of Gaza "a war crime." The speeches reflected growing anger in the region, even among those with close ties to Israel who have often worked as mediators, as the war sparked by a massive Hamas attack enters a third week with casualties mounting and no end in sight. Egypt is especially concerned about a massive influx of Palestinians crossing into its territory, something that it fears would, among other things, severely undermine hopes for a Palestinian state. Vague remarks by some Israeli politicians and military officials suggesting people leave Gaza have alarmed Israel's neighbors, as have Israeli orders for Palestinian civilians to evacuate to the south, toward Egypt. In his opening remarks, el-Sissi said Egypt vehemently rejected "the forced displacement of the Palestinians and their transfer to Egyptian lands in Sinai." "I want to state it clearly and unequivocally to the world that the liquidation of the Palestinian cause without a just solution is beyond the realm of possibility, and in any case, it will never happen at the expense of Egypt, absolutely not," he said. Jordan's king delivered the same message, expressing his "unequivocal rejection" of any displacement of Palestinians. Jordan hosts the largest number of displaced Palestinians from previous Mideast wars. "This is a war crime according to international law, and a red line for all of us," he told the summit. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads the Palestinian Authority, a government exercising semi-autonomous control in the occupied West Bank, called for Israel to stop "its barbaric aggression" in Gaza. He also warned against attempts to push Palestinians out of the coastal territory. "We will not leave, we will not leave, we will not leave, and we will remain in our land," he told the summit. Israel says it is determined to destroy Gaza's Hamas rulers but has said little about its endgame. Israel's three-stage plan On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan in which airstrikes and "maneuvering" a presumed reference to a ground attack would aim to root out Hamas before a period of lower intensity mop-up operations. Then, a new "security regime" would be created in Gaza along with "the removal of Israel's responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip," Gallant said. He did not say who would run Gaza after Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel has ordered more than half of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate from north to south within the territory it has completely sealed off, effectively pushing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians toward the Egyptian border. Amos Gilad, a former Israeli defense official, said Israel's ambiguity on the matter is endangering crucial ties with Egypt. "I think a peace treaty with Egypt is highly important, highly crucial for the national security of Israel and Egypt and the whole structure of peace in the world," he said. Gilad said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to speak directly with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan and say publicly that Palestinians will not be entering their countries. Two senior Egyptian officials said relations with Israel have reached a boiling point. They said Egypt has conveyed its frustration over Israeli comments about displacement to the United States, which brokered Camp David Accords in the 1970s. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Egypt worries that a mass exodus would risk bringing militants into Sinai, from where they might launch attacks on Israel, endangering the peace treaty. Arab countries also fear a repeat of the mass exodus of Palestinians from what is now Israel before and during the 1948 war surrounding its creation, when about 700,000 people fled or were driven out, an event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or catastrophe. Those refugees and their descendants, who now number nearly 6 million, were never allowed to return. 'It is a war crime' At Saturday's gathering, the anger extended beyond the fears of mass displacement. Both leaders condemned Israel's air campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, including many civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. Israel says it is only striking Hamas targets and is abiding by international law. The war was sparked by a wide-ranging Hamas incursion into southern Israel on October 7 in which more than 1,400 of Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians. Abdullah, who is among the closest Western allies in the region, accused Israel of "collective punishment of a besieged and helpless people." "It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It is a war crime," he said. He went on to accuse the international community of ignoring Palestinian suffering, saying it had sent a "loud and clear message" to the Arab world that "Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones." As an initial aid convoy of 20 trucks entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt Saturday, Arab and world leaders met in Cairo to discuss how to implement a cease-fire in the 14 day-old conflict between Israel and Hamas. Attending a peace conference hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who visited Egypt's Rafah Border Crossing with Gaza on Friday, expressed his frustration over the inability to get enough aid to civilians who need it. "We meet in a region that is in pain and that is one step from the precipice, a region where it is impossible not to be rocked to the core by heart-wrenching, soul-searing images of suffering," said Guterres. "Yesterday, I went to the Rafah Border Crossing. There I saw a paradox a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real time," he said. "On one hand, I saw hundreds of trucks, teeming with food and other essential supplies full trucks on one side, empty stomachs on the other." A U.N. aid official estimated that Saturday's 20-truck convoy into the Gaza Strip represents only 3% of the needs of its estimated 2.2 million residents. Marwan Jilani, a Palestinian Red Crescent official, told Qatar's al-Jazeera TV that aid supplies were being taken to U.N. facilities at Deir al-Balah, near the center of Gaza, for distribution. A Palestinian journalist sympathetic to Hamas told the TV network the convoy "contained no fuel," while noting Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital the largest in the strip "needs it urgently" to run its generators. Al-Shifa is controlled by Hamas. Meanwhile, at the Cairo conference on Saturday, Jordan's King Abdullah blasted Israel for its treatment of Palestinian civilians and excoriated world leaders for what he claimed was their indifference to Palestinian suffering and double standard regarding international humanitarian law. "I am outraged and grieved by those acts of violence waged against innocent civilians in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Israel," he said. "The relentless bombing campaign underway in Gaza, as we speak, is cruel and unconscionable on every level. It is collective punishment of a besieged and helpless people. It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law." Several European leaders, including Spain's Pedro Sanchez, said "Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks," referring to Hamas' October 7 attack in Israel, killing Israeli civilians including women and children and kidnapping others. "We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks perpetrated against Israel," said Sanchez "And we also recognize Israel's right to defend itself in strict compliance with international law and international humanitarian law." The Egyptian president called the conflict in Gaza "an unprecedented crisis that is threatening the peace of the region and the peace of the world." "We must begin," he said, "by sending aid into Gaza and then move immediately to a cease-fire and finally discuss the setting up of a Palestinian state, side-by-side with Israel." The Egyptian president insisted he would "not allow Palestinians from Gaza to be pushed into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula "to liquidate" as he put it "the 75-year-old Palestinian cause. This is not going to happen, and certainly not at the expense of Egypt." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his PLO movement's long-standing position that "violence is the result of the lack of" what he termed "a just solution," based on an Israeli and a Palestinian state, living side-by-side. Palestinians are "not going to leave their land," he said, adding that they "won't go away." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: No consensus at the Cairo Summit on the Israel-Palestinian violence. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened Saturday, allowing the transportation of humanitarian aid. Clashes between Israel and Hamas continue, with Israeli airstrikes killing 19 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian media. Israel issued a warning advising its citizens against traveling to Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, and if they are in those countries to leave as soon as possible. A Cairo summit hosted by Egypt Saturday failed to reach an agreement on how to contain the violence between Israel and Hamas. Arab leaders condemned the Israeli bombardment of Gaza while mostly Western countries said civilians should be shielded, but with Israel and senior U.S. officials absent there was no consensus on how to resolve the conflict. Amid international fears of a widening war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a call Saturday that the Lebanese people would be affected if his country were drawn into the war, the U.S. State Department said. Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel's military have been trading fire at the frontier almost daily, and Hezbollah said Saturday one of its fighters was killed on the border. In Iraq, a security source said two drones were shot down near the Ain al-Asad air base, where U.S. forces are stationed. U.S. troops have come under repeated attack in Syria and Iraq in recent days. Jordan's King Abdullah II decried what he called global silence about Israel's attacks, which have killed thousands in Hamas-ruled Gaza and made over 1 million homeless, urging an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The message the Arab world is hearing is that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones," he said, adding he was outraged and grieved by acts of violence waged against innocent civilians in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Israel. Mahmoud Abbas, who is the elected Palestinian president, said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land. "We won't leave, we won't leave," he told the summit. France called for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza that it said could lead to a cease-fire. Britain and Germany both urged Israel's military to show restraint and Italy said it was important to avoid escalation. The United States, Israel's closest ally and a vital player in all past peace efforts in the region, only sent its Cairo charge d'affaires, who did not address the meeting in public. Global protests Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched Saturday through London to demand Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza. Similar demonstrations took place in other cities around the world. In Tel Aviv, outside of the Israeli Defense Ministry headquarters, demonstrators protested Saturday, to "bring the hostages home." In the Jordanian capital of Aman, more than 6,000 people took part in a protest Friday, arranged by opposition parties and tribal groups. Chanting slogans urging Islamist Hamas militants to intensify their strikes on Israel, thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital and around the country, decrying Israel's strikes on Gaza. Israel-Hamas strikes Israeli airstrikes pounded the Gaza Strip early Saturday and Hamas fired fresh salvos of rockets into southern Israel as the bitter conflict between the foes entered its third week. There were no signs of a letup in the war that has killed more than 5,000 people. The Israel Defense Forces said its fighter jets struck multiple Hamas command centers in Gaza overnight into Saturday. Palestinian media reported airstrikes in northern Gaza hit six homes and killed at least 19 people. In Israeli cities near Gaza, warning sirens sounded, alerting residents of incoming rockets. The rocket attacks caused no reported injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday night that his country intends to "fight until victory" against Hamas and will attempt to recover the more than 200 hostages Hamas seized when its fighters invaded Israel during the opening days of the war. Netanyahu's remarks came hours after two Americans, a mother and daughter from the Chicago area who also hold Israeli citizenship, were released by Hamas. They were the first hostages held by the militant group in Gaza to be freed. Limited aid enters Gaza The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt opened Saturday morning for the first time since the deadly October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, allowing a convoy of about 20 trucks to deliver food, water, medicine, and other necessities to Gaza's residents. Palestinian officials expressed disappointment that Gaza did not receive fuel supplies. "Excluding the fuel from the humanitarian aid means the lives of patients and injured will remain at risk. Gaza hospitals are running out of the basic requirements to pursue medical interventions," the Gaza health ministry said, adding that the aid was only 3% of what it used to get in Gaza before the crisis. Some Gazans said the aid arriving Saturday was too little to make a difference. "This is a drop in the ocean. You are trying to show the world that you are bringing aid. This is throwing dust in the eyes," said Nabil El-Dhaba, a resident of the Shejaia district in Gaza City who has been displaced to Deir Al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. The United Nations has been pressing Israel and Egypt to allow aid to flow freely into Gaza, where hundreds of thousands need assistance after two weeks of Israeli bombing and a strict Israeli blockade of food and fuel. Martin Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said Saturday that he is "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." The United Nations said the life-saving supplies would be received and distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent with the consent of Hamas, which rules Gaza. Blinken hailed the opening of the Rafah crossing but echoed a warning from Israel that no aid should end up in Hamas hands. "We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance," Blinken said in a statement. "We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel issued a warning advising its citizens against traveling to Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, and if they are in those countries to leave as soon as possible. The warning advises Israelis to avoid traveling to any Middle Eastern countries. It also warned against traveling to Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Maldives, countries with large Muslim populations. Israel does not want its nationals to be targeted by people in those countries who may be angry about Israeli actions following the Hamas attack. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. U.S. state of California Governor Gavin Newsom begins his weeklong visit to China Monday, traveling to six Chinese cities and meeting national and provincial officials to talk about climate policies and potential partnerships. California and China hold the keys to solving the climate crisis, Newsom said in a statement released by his office on October 18. As two of the worlds largest economies, our partnership is essential to delivering climate action for our communities and beyond. Some analysts say Newsoms trip is a continuation of Californias longstanding tradition of collaborating on climate and environment with China. The trip is part of the [efforts] to push forward some agreements that have already been signed, sign some new agreements and see if there are things California can learn from China, said Alex Wang, faculty co-director at the Emmett Institute for Climate Change and Environment at the UCLA School of Law. Newsom is expected to exchange views about shared efforts to combat climate change with Chinese officials and academics, sign new agreements to deepen climate partnership, and visit Teslas factory in Shanghai. Wang said one thing California can learn from China is how it deploys renewable energy resources and products. One thing that China has done in areas like clean energy and electric vehicles is deployment, he told VOA by phone. What California and the rest of the world need to do is to deploy a lot of the things we already have as fast as possible. Newsoms efforts to resume exchanges with China are built on Californias 15-year-long close relationship with Beijing on trade and climate issues. Compared with his predecessors, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown, Newsom has limited experience in international affairs. The trip to China will be his second overseas trip since he became California governor in 2019. Despite his lack of experience in international affairs, Newsom has sought to revive a partnership with Chinas Ministry of Ecology and Environment, while signing a new climate-related deal with the Chinese province of Hainan last year. Subnational diplomacy with China Newsoms trip comes after a number of U.S. cabinet members, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, visited China and conducted high-level meetings with top Chinese officials in recent months. It also takes place as the U.S. and China try to pave the way for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend the APEC Leaders Summit in San Francisco next month. While tension between the U.S. and China remains high at the national level, some experts say the factors that cause the persistent tension wont be present when the meeting is between two unequal partners. When national-level partners in China meet with Newsom, there wont be the same fraught politics, and when Newsom meets with subnational governments in China, the interactions have always been friendlier even in the darkest moments of U.S.-China state-to-state interactions, Wang said. Other analysts say that in Beijings view, restarting cooperation and contact with the U.S. at the subnational level may be less risky than doing the same thing at the national level because the chances of those efforts being derailed by the broader tensions in the U.S.-China relationship are smaller. California has been much less hawkish on China than many states, and they have continued to engage in low-level cooperation [with China], Sara Newland, an expert on local politics in China at Smith College, told VOA by phone. My guess is that China hopes there will be a bit of lower-stake form of engagement during Newsoms visit. Criticism from human rights groups Prior to the trip, Newsoms team emphasized that the visit would be predominantly focused on climate, which raises skepticism that he will broach sensitive issues such as human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, Chinas aggression against Taiwan and provocation in the South China Sea, as well as Beijings intellectual property rights. Dozens of civil society groups and human rights organizations have criticized Newsoms attempt to avoid touching on sensitive issues that might irk Beijing and urged him to mention human rights violations when he visits Hong Kong and China. Family members of a 67-year-old Chinese-American pastor, who has been detained in China since 2006 under fraud-related charges, have urged Newsom to help free the Californian during his trip. Some observers say Newsoms strictly focused agenda may prove to be counterproductive. Climate and human rights are intimately linked as human rights [allows] civil society to protest, monitor the government and make sure they implement clean energy pledges, said Maya Wang, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. We don't know why the governor would think that the two things can be separated. Potential impact on other states Even though the COVID-19 pandemic and growing skepticism toward China in the U.S. have stalled bilateral engagement between the two countries in recent years, UCLAs Wang thinks Newsom could still achieve some positive outcomes through his trip to China. He is continuing to build the relationship and having face time, he said. A lot of these are simple elements of diplomacy and cooperation, such as sharing ideas, putting things on the agenda and trying to persuade each other of the things they should work on together. These are plausible outcomes of this trip. Newland of Smith College said that the outcome of Newsoms trip could have an impact on governors who may also be contemplating a visit to China. This trip will be closely watched by other states, and if the trip is seen as successful, it will give ammunition to people who do want to open more channels of communication with China again, she said. The Chinese government announced Friday that it would tighten export controls on graphite, a material essential to the construction of batteries used in electric cars and other green energy systems and of which China is the worlds preeminent supplier. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce described the new restrictions as "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 move came days after the Biden administration announced that the United States would widen the list of semiconductors that it prevents from being exported to China. The restrictions will now include certain chips made by Nvidia that are widely used in the development of artificial intelligence. U.S. officials had described the changes to the semiconductor export restrictions as relatively minor ones, meant to close loopholes in earlier policy statements. Careful dance Experts told VOA that the interaction between the U.S. and China on trade had shifted somewhat in recent months, as the two countries seek a new equilibrium. As the two largest economies in the world, the U.S. and China have trade ties that are both broad and deep, and despite sometimes acrimonious exchanges between their leaders, the total volume of trade between the two countries is as high today as it has ever been. Lily McElwee, who holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the way that the new measures were rolled out illustrated the changing way in which the U.S. and China communicate about trade policy. It is worth noting that both moves were somewhat expected, McElwee wrote in an email exchange. In this sense, the U.S. and China have moved into new terrain with this latest set of restrictions. Beijing knew the updated set of rules on the October 2022 AI chip controls was coming, because U.S. officials took steps to socialize the updates with Chinese counterparts. McElwee said the existence of joint working groups that evolved after visits to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo earlier this year might signal that advance warning about new restrictions may become the norm between Washington and Beijing. I see the graphite restrictions as a necessary reaction from Beijings perspective, and a carefully designed warning shot, given the use of graphite in EV batteries [relevant for Europes green transition, for example], McElwee wrote. But it remains to be seen how China will implement them, and I am skeptical they will end up as a major escalation in that regard. 'Protectionist footsie' Scott Lincicome, the vice president of general economics at the Cato Institutes Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, told VOA that despite frequent talk in the U.S. about decoupling from China or de-risking by reducing reliance on Beijing for certain goods, trade between the two countries is likely to remain robust. It's a lot of sound and fury, signifying little, Lincicome said of the announcements this week. Undoubtedly, the United States and China are playing protectionist footsie, in specific technologies: semiconductors, electric vehicles, rare earth minerals and that kind of stuff, Lincicome said. But that has to be understood in the broader context of a trade and investment relationship, which quite frankly is still going pretty darn strong. Trade policies focused on national security issues will continue to grab headlines, he said, but will remain a small fraction of total trade. There's going to be this one group of products that gets all the attention, both in terms of policy and rhetoric, Lincicome said. But there's going to be a whole host of stuff that is just private individuals and companies, and in China, some state-owned companies, doing commerce, quietly and hopefully without much attention. Chips and batteries The Biden administration has signaled seriousness about its desire to prevent China from purchasing some of the most advanced semiconductors and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment on the market. Because both are made with processes subject to U.S. export restrictions, the U.S. can require even third-country manufacturers that make them using licensed intellectual property to refuse to export them to China. The rules issued this week were designed to close loopholes that allowed certain kinds of restricted chips to get through the blockade. In June, for example, the news organization Reuters reported that chips specifically barred from export to China remained available on the open market in the Chinese city of Shenzen. For its part, China has been flexing its economic muscle by leveraging its dominance in the extraction and processing of rare earth metals and other raw materials necessary for the manufacture of modern electronics and rechargeable batteries. Graphite, a form of carbon, is used in an array of manufacturing processes and comes in many forms. Under its new rules, China will require special export permits for some forms of graphite, primarily those used in the creation of batteries. One notable difference in the most recent exchange of trade restrictions is that while the U.S. is explicitly targeting China with its semiconductor export ban, Chinas graphite restrictions like similar recent restrictions it placed on the export of metals gallium and germanium apply regardless of the country purchasing them. Hurricane Norma strengthened as it churned toward the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula Friday afternoon, threatening heavy rainfall beginning Saturday at the area's popular tourist resorts. After weakening slightly earlier in the day, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Norma was again at Category 3 strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 193 kph as it headed north. Norma is located some 314 kilometers south of Cabo San Lucas, a popular resort city known for its golden sand beaches, night life and whale watching. The "major hurricane," according to air force hurricane hunters, is advancing to the north at a speed of 13 kph the NHC said. "It's a very strong storm," state Governor Victor Manuel Castro told reporters at a news conference, describing it as "erratic." Castro called on all bars, clubs and other businesses to close Friday evening, and for people to stay indoors. He added that public transport will close from 9 p.m. to allow local hotel workers to get home. Shelters have been set up with a total capacity for 10,000 people, he added. The NHC warned of dangerous winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding across southern Baja California through Saturday. It forecast tropical storm conditions could extend as far as Sinaloa state on Mexico's mainland Pacific coast once Norma makes an expected turn to the west Sunday. Between 12 and 25 centimeters of rain are expected, and up to 38 centimeters in the hardest-hit areas around southern Baja through Sunday and then across parts of Sinaloa by Monday, according to the NHC. It warned of likely flooding and possible mudslides. "Life comes first, we don't want any surprises," added Castro. "Everything indicates this hurricane will come early morning, attacking like a bandit in the night." The latest: 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people. At the same time, we'll continue to fight until victory." Israel said Friday it plans to evacuate Kiryat Shmona residents to 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 on the lower end of 100-300 people. More than 1,400 Israelis, 4,100 Palestinians have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would "fight until victory" in Gaza, signaling there would be no pause in Israels bombing of the area or an expected invasion there despite Hamas release of two U.S. hostages. "Two of our abductees are at home. We are not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people," Netanyahu said in a statement released Friday night. "At the same time, we'll continue to fight until victory," he said. His remarks came hours after two Americans, a mother and daughter from the Chicago area who also hold Israel citizenship, were released by Hamas. They were the first of what Israel says is more than 200 hostages held by the militant group in Gaza to be freed. Reporters asked U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday as he was walking up the stairs to board Air Force One whether Israel should delay an invasion of Gaza until more hostages can be freed. Biden replied, Yes, but the White House said shortly afterward that Biden did not fully hear the question. White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt said Biden was far away when the question was asked. "The question sounded like 'Would you like to see more hostages released?' He wasn't commenting on anything else," LaBolt said. Earlier Friday, Biden said he believed Hamas was motivated to attack Israel partly because the militant group wants to stop Israel from normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. Biden told a campaign fundraiser in Washington on Friday that Hamas "knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis." The United States had been working toward bringing Israel and Saudi Arabia together to establish diplomatic relations following U.S. efforts in 2020 that succeeded in getting the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to recognize Israel. Meanwhile early Saturday, Israeli planes bombed six homes in Gaza, killing at least eight Palestinians and injuring 45, Palestinian media said. According to the United Nations, 140,000 homes in Gaza have been damaged, which amounts to nearly a third of all homes in the territory. It says nearly 13,000 homes have been destroyed. In Egypt, an official told The Associated Press that two trucks filled with aid entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing with Gaza early Saturday but said they have not passed through into the Gaza Strip. Israel said Wednesday that that aid would be allowed into Gaza from Egypt, but the border has remained closed. Egypt says the crossing has been damaged by Israeli air strikes. Israel pummeled the Gaza Strip on Friday night with airstrikes, amid warnings that Israeli forces could invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. The Israel Defense Forces posted Friday 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." In other developments, Israel is planning to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona. Authorities said Friday that the residents will 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 continues to grow. Sunak has already met with Israeli leaders and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sunak followed 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 cross-border Oct. 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. A human rights group covering Iran has identified 24 demonstrators among those detained Friday by authorities during protests in the countrys Zahedan region. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization posted an online report Saturday identifying the Baloch detainees. Among them are five teenagers: Mohammad Amin Mohammadzehi, 14; Yaser Ali-Zehi, 17; Balal Rakhshani, 15; Yasin Isa-Zehi-Rigi, 17; and Mohammad Oweis Naruii, 16. The organization said a substantial number of individuals were apprehended by security and military forces of the Islamic Republic during the protest. Earlier, the Hal-Vash website, which covers news in Sistan and Baluchistan province, had documented the detention of 500 people Friday, confirming the identities of 19 of them. Baloch tribes, an ethnic minority, mainly live in the Sistan and Baluchistan province in western Iran. According to Hal-Vash, security forces of the Islamic Republic used buses to transport the detainees to undisclosed destinations. The groups website reported that after Friday prayers at Zahedan's Makki Mosque, security and military forces launched an assault on the protesters and laid siege to the Makki Mosque. As per the report, security and military forces attempted to enter the Makki Mosque. Hengaw said some of the detainees in Zahedan had suffered injuries from physical assaults, raising "serious concerns regarding their well-being while in the custody of security authorities." During his sermon on October 13, Molavi Abdul Hamid, the Sunni Friday prayer imam in Zahedan, referred to the Israel-Hamas conflict and invited both sides to de-escalate. He stated that neither Muslims nor Jews can annihilate one another. Since October 2022, there have been weekly protests in Zahedan and some Baloch-populated cities in Iran. The gatherings followed the reported killing last year of demonstrators who were protesting the alleged "assault by a police commander on a Baloch girl" after Friday prayers. On September 30, 2022, officers in Zahedan opened fire in response to protesters and bystanders who were expressing their disapproval of how authorities handled the case of a local law enforcement commander accused of assaulting a Baloch girl. At least 100 people were killed in the incident, and hundreds more were wounded. The day has been dubbed "Bloody Friday in Zahedan," and the Friday protests in Zahedan have continued ever since. There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt. So should Blackbird (LON:BIRD) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn. View our latest analysis for Blackbird When Might Blackbird Run Out Of Money? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2023, Blackbird had cash of UK8.2m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was UK3.5m. Therefore, from June 2023 it had 2.3 years of cash runway. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Well Is Blackbird Growing? Notably, Blackbird actually ramped up its cash burn very hard and fast in the last year, by 104%, signifying heavy investment in the business. As if that's not bad enough, the operating revenue also dropped by 17%, making us very wary indeed. Taken together, we think these growth metrics are a little worrying. Of course, we've only taken a quick look at the stock's growth metrics, here. This graph of historic earnings and revenue shows how Blackbird is building its business over time. Can Blackbird Raise More Cash Easily? Even though it seems like Blackbird is developing its business nicely, we still like to consider how easily it could raise more money to accelerate growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Story continues Since it has a market capitalisation of UK27m, Blackbird's UK3.5m in cash burn equates to about 13% of its market value. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted. How Risky Is Blackbird's Cash Burn Situation? Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Blackbird's cash runway was relatively promising. While we're the kind of investors who are always a bit concerned about the risks involved with cash burning companies, the metrics we have discussed in this article leave us relatively comfortable about Blackbird's situation. On another note, Blackbird has 3 warning signs (and 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) we think you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Hundreds of people, mostly Thais and Muslims, demonstrated outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok Saturday, demanding an end to the bombing of the Gaza Strip amid chants denouncing both Israel and the United States for supporting it. "The people of Gaza are under attack. We are Muslim, and Palestinians are Muslim," Jamal Pataw told VOA. "We come from the south of Thailand, and we want to protect the Muslim people," he said, shoulders draped in the traditional Palestinian kufiya, a black-and-white scarf with a checkered fishnet pattern. Most Thais are Buddhist but many of the day's demonstrators came from the country's deep south, where ethnic Malay Muslims are the majority and where fighting between Islamist insurgents and security forces has killed more than 7,300 people over the past two decades. "I am sorry for the Gaza people," Pataw said. "We ask [Israel] to stop to attack Gaza and stop to attack the hospitals." The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians and many of them women and children, according to Israeli officials. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry on Saturday, more than 4,300 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed in the relentless bombing campaign Israel has carried out in Gaza since then. Many fear the civilian death toll in Gaza will rise if Israel launches a widely expected ground invasion. On Tuesday, a massive explosion and fire at the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed hundreds. Hamas has blamed Israel for the blast, while U.S. and European intelligence services have joined Israel in blaming it on an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants. 'Palestine you are not alone' At Saturday's rally in Bangkok, protesters waved Palestinian flags while being led from banks of loudspeakers in blistering chants of "Down with Israel! Down with America!" and "Free Palestine!" in Thai and occasionally English. Many waved homemade signs reading "Palestine you are not alone," "Israel your time is over" or "Bombing kids is not self-defense." These were written in English, though many others were in Thai. Some took turns trampling on an Israeli flag in front of the office tower housing the embassy. Local news reports say at least one Israeli flag was set on fire. 'We need peace' Others in the crowd held up images of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khameni, or wore T-shirts bearing the image of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020, an apparent nod to Iran's long-running support of Hamas. Dozens of police stood guard around the office tower and the protest remained peaceful. Amid the verbal vitriol, though, some denounced both sides for the bloodshed and came with a message of peace. "The first time, Hamas came to kill many people. But now in Palestine [Gaza], Israel has [fired] many bombs and many people have died," said Hasan Mahdy, who also hails from the south of Thailand and came to the protest with his extended family. "Not everyone [in Gaza] is Hamas, but many people there have died. Now I think it's enough," he told VOA. "We need peace. You know that song? What is it? Imagine," Mahdy said, referring to the iconic anti-war anthem by John Lennon. "People should live like this." Some in the crowd of protesters were Muslim but not Thai. Others were Thai but not Muslim. "I want the siege and the bombing to stop. I want the Palestinians to be free and have basic human rights," said Thanachanok, a Thai Buddhist who came out to show solidarity with her Muslim friends. She asked that only her given name be used for safety concerns. "I am not for Hamas, but I want the people of Palestine to be free," she said. "I feel sad for them because they don't have hospitals to help all the people; no water, no electricity. It is inhumane." "Killing children is not humanity," echoed Syad Abdul, an Indian Muslim who lives and works in Thailand. "It breaks my heart." Contacted after the rally, Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Orna Sagiv, said she was disappointed by some of the protesters' behavior. "It's really sad that in days like this, after Israel suffered from this brutal Hamas-ISIS [Islamic State] attack against our civilians, some people here in Bangkok, instead of ... showing support for ... innocent civilians in Israel that were slaughtered and murdered in cold blood babies children, old people instead of that, they are burning flags of Israel in front of our embassy," she told VOA by phone. The Islamic State terror group has not been implicated in the Hamas attack. Responding to the crowd's calls for Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza, Sagiv said Israel had no choice but to engage in a war that Hamas started. "Yes, Israel is bombing Gaza at the moment because we have to react, we were forced into this war," she said. "But ... we are doing everything possible to avoid harming civilians who are not involved." Sagiv said Israel has been urging civilians in Gaza to move to the south of the strip to avoid its bombardment, and she accused Hamas of blocking them in order to use their own people as human shields. According to numerous news reports from Gaza, though, bombing continues to pummel civilians trying to flee south. Thailand has remained neutral in the conflict and says it is working with all sides to free more than a dozen Thais who Hamas has taken hostage and to repatriate thousands of nationals who went to Israel for work. Officials say at least 30 Thais were killed in the initial attack by Hamas. Hurricane Norma made landfall near the resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula on Saturday afternoon. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Norma, once a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour) near el Pozo de Cota, west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas. Norma is expected to continue weakening over the weekend as it crosses into the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California. While in the Atlantic, Hurricane Tammy was near Antigua and threatened to batter the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Earlier on Saturday, businesses in Cabo San Lucas nailed sheets of plywood over their windows, and government personnel posted banners warning people not to try to cross gullies and stream beds after Norma again became a major storm on Friday. Norma had weakened early Saturday and was downgraded to Category 1 on the hurricane wind scale. By early afternoon Norma was located 24 kilometers (15 miles) west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The hurricane was expected to continue on that path through the evening before turning to the northeast and slowing down through Monday. The forecast track would take a weakened Norma toward the mainland of Mexico's western Pacific Coast as a tropical storm. Its languid pace raised the possibility of severe flooding. Norma was expected to dump 15 to 30 centimeters of rain with a maximum of 45 cm in places across southern Baja California and much of Sinaloa state. John Cangialosi, a senior specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said the area is vulnerable to rain because it's a dry region generally. He said 45 cm of rain "could result in flash and urban flooding and mudslides." There were early reports of downed trees and power poles, but no reported injuries or deaths. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. President Biden appeals to Americans to continue funding war efforts of Israel and Ukraine. A look at the painful reality of hostages taken by terorist organizations. Well examine the trauma doctors face treating patients in a war zone. 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 September 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 spokesperson said Faucette, of Frederick, Maryland, has been able to stand and physical therapists are helping him gain the 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 transplants, 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. Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched Saturday through a rainy London to demand Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza, and similar calls were heard in cities around the world as the Israel-Hamas war entered its third week. On the day a trickle of aid entered Gaza, where more than 1 million people have left their homes because of the conflict, protesters gathered in at Marble Arch near London's Hyde Park before marching to the government district, Whitehall. Police estimated the crowd that wound its way through the city for three hours at "up to 100,000." Waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Stop bombing Gaza," participants called for an end to Israel's blockade and airstrikes launched in the wake of a brutal incursion into southern Israel by the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza. Authorities in Gaza say more than 4,300 people have been killed in the territory since the latest war began. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, mostly civilians slain during Hamas' attack on October 7. Israel continued to bombard targets Saturday in Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive. A small measure of relief came when 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter Gaza across the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The war has raised tensions around the world, with both Jewish and Muslim communities feeling under threat. The British Transport Police force said it was investigating after footage was posted online that appears to show a London Underground driver leading passengers in a chant of "Free, free Palestine" over the subway intercom. British authorities urged demonstrators to be mindful of the pain and anxiety felt by the Jewish community. London's Metropolitan Police force says it has seen a 13-fold upsurge in reports of antisemitic offenses in October compared to last year. Reports of anti-Muslim crimes have more than doubled. Police said there had been "pockets of disorder and some instances of hate speech" during protests over the war, but "the majority of the protest activity has been lawful and has taken place without incident." Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered in Belfast and in Northern Ireland's second city, Londonderry, where speakers included lawmaker Colum Eastwood of the Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party. "The murder of children is wrong," he told the crowd, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict. "I don't know how that is so difficult for some of our world leaders to actually utter. It doesn't matter whether they are Israeli children or Palestinian children." Across the border in the Republic of Ireland, thousands marched through the capital, Dublin, calling for an end to Israel's bombardment. In France, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in several cities including Rennes, Montpellier, Dijon and Lyon, where thousands of people could be seen chanting "we all are Palestinians" in the central square. In Marseille, the country's second-largest city, some people took to the streets, waving Palestinians flags and shouting "Free Gaza," despite the protest being banned by local police. A pro-Palestinian gathering scheduled for Sunday in Paris has been allowed by police. German police said almost 7,000 people took part in a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration Saturday in Dusseldorf. The demonstrators carried Palestinian flags or banners calling for an end to "violence and aggression in Gaza." Police in Berlin banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration that was scheduled for Sunday in the center of the city, German news agency dpa reported. Police in the German capital have stopped several similar events in recent weeks, citing the potential of violence and antisemitic hate speech. Some pro-Palestinian demonstrators have taken to the streets anyway, resulting in clashes with police. Authorities allowed a pro-Israel demonstration scheduled for Sunday that was expected to draw together thousands of people in central Berlin. Elsewhere, several hundred people marched Saturday through Rome, some holding signs saying "Palestine, Rome is with you," and "No peace until we get freedom." "Israel carries out war crimes there, crimes against humanity there, and the international community has never acted," said Maya Issa, president of the Movement of Palestinian Students in Italy, which organized the demonstration. In Muslim-majority Kosovo, several hundred people walked from mosques to Pristina's Zahir Pajaziti square after lunchtime prayers to express support for Palestinians. In Australia, thousands marched Saturday through central Sydney, shouting "Shame, shame Israel" and "Palestine will never die." The war sparked protests across the Arab world and beyond Friday, including in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians burned tires and threw stones at Israeli military checkpoints. Israeli security forces responded firing tear gas and live rounds. Crowds gathered in Israel's northern neighbor Lebanon; in Iraq at the country's border crossing with Jordan; in Jordan itself; in cities and towns across Egypt; in Turkey's capital Ankara and its most populous city of Istanbul; and in Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Venezuela, and South Africa. In New York, hundreds of protesters from Muslim, Jewish and other groups marched to U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand's Manhattan office, many shouting "cease fire now." Police later arrested dozens of protesters who blocked Third Avenue outside Gillibrand's office by sitting in the road. Pro-Israel demonstrations and vigils have also been held around the world, many focused on securing the return of hostages captured by Hamas. Rome's Jewish community Friday remembered the more than 200 people believed held by Hamas by setting a long Shabbat table for them outside the capital's main synagogue and empty chairs for each of the hostages. On the back 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. A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a security post outside Somalias capital Saturday, killing at least six security personnel and injuring seven others, a security official and residents told VOA Somali. Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the early-morning attack, in which the bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a camp manned by Somali military police at Elasha Biyaha, about 20 kilometers west of Mogadishu. A security official who asked not to be identified because he is not allowed to speak to the media told VOA that the soldiers fired on the incoming car but said the windows were shielded with metal to deflect bullets, allowing it to hit the perimeter. The information about the car and casualties were confirmed to VOA by Mohamed Ibrahim Barre, the governor of the Lower Shabelle region, where Elasha Biyaha is located. The bombing targeted soldiers who were assigned to intercept al-Shabab car bombs, the official added. The Somali government deployed hundreds of newly trained personnel in and around Mogadishu earlier this year to beef up security and prevent retaliatory attacks as the national army, working with local militias, battles al-Shabab in central Somalia. Earlier this week, an explosion from al-Shabab suicide bomber at a Mogadishu restaurant killed a prominent Somali television journalist, Abdifatah Moalim Nur Qeys. The attack was strongly condemned by the Somali government and media rights groups. The following day, the United States announced a $5 million bounty for information on the location of al-Shabab deputy leader Abukar Ali Adan. "Adan spent several years as al-Shabaabs military chief after previously heading the Jabhat, al-Shabaabs armed wing," a statement by the U.S. State Departments Rewards for Justice program said. The U.S. originally sanctioned Adan as a global terrorist in January 2018. He joins other al-Shabab leaders on the U.S. wanted list, including the groups emir, Ahmed Diriye, or Abu Ubaidah; operations commander Mahad Karate and explosives expert Jehad Mostafa. For each, the U.S. has offered rewards of $10 million for information on their whereabouts. Meanwhile, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday returned to his temporary base in the central town of Dhusamareb, where he has been overseeing military and local community operations against al-Shabab. Mohamud has been working from Dhusamareb since early August. On Oct. 8, he traveled to Eritrea, where Somali soldiers have been training. When the sun rose Friday and the autumn heat baked the rotten debris on Gaza's streets, Mohammed Elian emerged from the zippered hole of his new canvas home. He and hundreds of other Palestinians displaced by the latest war between Israel and Hamas have crowded into a squalid tent camp in southern Gaza, an image that has brought back memories of their greatest trauma. Last week, after the Israeli military ordered Elian's family along with more than 1 million other Palestinians to evacuate the north, the smartly dressed 35-year-old graphic designer from Gaza City ended up homeless in the city of Khan Younis, with few comforts but thin mattresses, solar-powered phone chargers, and whatever clothes and pots he could squeeze into his friend's car. With nowhere else to go, Elian, his wife and four kids landed in the sprawling tent camp that cropped up this week as U.N. shelters overflowed in Gaza, where most people are already refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. "We have left behind everything, and we are not even safe," Elian said from a nearby hospital where he searched for water to take back to his children, ages 4 through 10. The distant roar of airstrikes could be heard over the phone. Anger, disbelief, sorrow Scores of Palestinians have lost or fled their homes during the intense Israeli bombardment prompted by a bloody cross-border attack by Hamas militants nearly two weeks ago. The impromptu construction of the tent city in Khan Younis to help shelter them has elicited anger, disbelief and sorrow across the Arab world. Row after row of white tents rise from the dusty parking lot. Children sit in the shade and play languidly with rocks. Men cut each other's hair. Newly acquainted neighbors wait outside to receive their shared meal from U.N. workers a couple loaves of bread and cans of tuna or beans. "These images are something that the Arab world cannot accept," said Daoud Kuttab, a Palestinian journalist in Jordan. Painful memories Scenes of Palestinians hastily setting up U.N. tents are dredging up painful memories of the mass exodus that Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or "catastrophe." In the months before and during the 1948 war, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from what is now Israel. Many expected to return when the war ended. Seventy-five years later, those temporary tents in the West Bank, Gaza and neighboring Arab countries have become permanent cinderblock homes. "1948 is immediately brought to mind when Palestinians in Gaza are told to flee; it's immediately brought to mind when you see those images [of tents]," said Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Arab studies at Columbia University. "Palestinian writers have etched this into the Arab consciousness." The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency said the camp is not permanent. It said that the agency distributed tents and blankets to dozens of displaced families in Khan Younis who couldn't fit in other U.N. facilities "to protect them from the rain and provide dignity and privacy." Gaza already is home to eight permanent camps, which over the years have turned into crowded rundown urban neighborhoods. But regional anxiety over the Khan Younis tents and Israeli evacuation warnings has grown, adding fuel to the huge, angry protests surging in Mideast capitals over the war in Gaza that began October 7, when Hamas mounted its raid that killed 1,400 Israelis. Since then, Israel's retaliatory bombing campaign has killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Many of the victims are women and children. "It's very worrisome for the government of Jordan," the journalist, Kuttab, said of the wave of displaced Palestinians. "They don't want to see even a hint of this idea." Protests in the typically sedate kingdom of Jordan, home to a large population of people descended from Palestinian refugees, have rocked the capital, drawing thousands of demonstrators with an intensity unseen in years. Elian has been so stressed about where to sleep and get food, he said he hasn't had time to fret over the symbolism. He and his family tried sheltering in one of the crowded U.N. schools, but the conditions were "horrific," he said no space to sleep, no privacy. At least here he can close his tent flap. "We are living from one moment to the next," he said. "We try not to think about what comes next how or when we'll go home." Tens of thousands of people in Muslim countries held demonstrations in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Friday, calling on Israel to stop its airstrikes on the territory in response to an attack by Hamas militants. Protesters gathered in Arab nations and beyond, including Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Morocco, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Egypt, where the military usually bans public gatherings, thousands took to the streets of Cairo and other cities in a public outpouring of anger. Demonstrators chanted, "The people want the fall of Israel," modifying a common chant from the Arab Spring: "The people want the fall of the regime." In Bahrain, which has normalized relations with Israel, several thousand people marched, chanting slogans such as, "No to normalization!" The protests came two weeks after Israel began its campaign in Gaza in response to a surprise Hamas attack on October 7 that killed at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians. The Hamas-run health ministry said the ongoing Israeli attacks have killed more than 4,100 Palestinians. Many Western governments have voiced support for Israel's military campaign, while most Muslim states have called for an immediate cease-fire. President Joe Biden has said the U.S. will provide unwavering support for Israel in its military response to the Hamas attack and pledged during a brief visit to Tel Aviv this week that the United States would ensure Israel's qualitative military edge as it has done for decades. In a prime-time speech Thursday night, Biden urged Congress to pass more than $100 billion in aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. He said it was a matter of national security for the U.S. to stand up to Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, each of whom is trying to "annihilate a neighboring democracy." Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah expressed frustration toward Biden and his administration's support for Israel. Hanin, a 29-year-old journalist who asked that his last name not be used, told VOA that Biden is "not even neutral about the war." "He can end everything with easy steps, but he doesn't want peace. [Biden] and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu are the head of everything that's happening here. They are responsible for everything happening here." Hamza, 20, who also did not want his last name used, said he believed Biden's words showed that the president thinks Palestinians are terrorists. "We are not terrorists. They are trying to distort the attack. All we are trying to do is to get our liberation from the occupation soldiers," he told VOA. Protests broke out in the main cities of the occupied West Bank on Friday following midday prayers. Protesters threw stones at Israeli troops and burned tires, while Israeli security forces responded by firing tear gas and live rounds. The mounting anger in Muslim countries is also being expressed by its leaders. On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel's attacks on Gaza amounted to genocide. "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. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, Turkey initially condemned the civilian deaths in Israel and called for restraint. But as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified, Ankara, which has diplomatic relations with Israel, has toughened its stance. Erdogan spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi by phone on Friday and said, "The savagery toward Palestinian lands was deepening," according to his office. 'Accumulated fury' Earlier this week, el-Sissi told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that while Egypt "unequivocally condemns" the Hamas attacks on Israeli, the militants were motivated by the dire conditions Palestinians face. "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," he said. Egypt is holding a summit on the Gaza crisis on Saturday amid growing fears of a wider war in the Middle East. The Cairo Peace Summit will bring together officials from Arab and European countries, but the fact that the U.S. and Israel will not send top officials has dampened expectations. Jordan's foreign minister said on Thursday that his country feared the worst was yet to come and said the war would have "catastrophic repercussions." In Jordan's capital, Amman, several thousand protesters marched in the center of the city while thousands more rallied near the Israeli Embassy to show their support for Palestinians. Yan Boechat, reporting for VOA from Ramallah, contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. Venezuela Receives First Group of Deported Migrants From US The U.S. has not carried out regular deportations to Venezuela since 2019, but at an airport in Harlingen, Texas, Venezuelan men and women arrived on buses in shackles, underwent pat-downs and were escorted onto a charter plane. The 135 Venezuelan migrants were deported from the United States on Wednesday to Caracas, Venezuela. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. Pilot Program Could Allow Some Work Visa Holders to Renew Them in US The U.S. State Department is working on a pilot program that would allow some work visa holders currently in the United States to renew their visas here, rather than traveling to their home country. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. US Advocates for Afghan Refugees Amid Pakistan's Threatened Expulsion The United States has engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions in Pakistan to address concerns related to Afghan refugees on the brink of mass deportation. The Pakistani government has pledged to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals who do not possess recognized refugee status. This includes Afghans who collaborated with the United States and its allies prior to 2021. Story by Akmal Dawi. Settlement Over Trump Family Separations at the Border Seeks to Limit Future Separations for 8 Years A settlement filed Monday in a long-running lawsuit over the Trump administration's separation of parents and their children at the border bars the government from similar separations for eight years while also providing benefits like the ability for their parents to come to America and work, according to the Biden administration. Story by The Associated Press. California to Give Some Mexican Residents Near Border In-State Community College Tuition California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law Friday to make low-income Mexican residents living near the border eligible for in-state tuition rates at certain community colleges. The legislation applies to low-income Mexicans who live within 72 kilometers (45 miles) of the California-Mexico border and want to attend a participating community college in Southern California. It is a pilot program that will launch next year and run until 2029. Story by The Associated Press. Ukrainian Family Returns Home After Long Rehabilitation in US As the war drags on, some severely injured Ukrainians who received medical help abroad are returning home. Yana Stepanenko and her mother have resettled in Lviv after a year of treatment and rehabilitation in the U.S. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story. Camera: Yuriy Dankevychs. Immigration around the world Six Months Into War, Sudanese Seek Refuge Outside Chaotic Capital Six months after tensions between rival Sudanese generals ignited a devastating war, thousands lie dead, millions are displaced and the once-thriving capital, Khartoum, is a shadow of its past glory. When the first bombs fell on April 15, the capital's residents looked on in terror as entire neighborhoods were razed and essential services were paralyzed, exacerbating their misery. Story by Agence France-Presse. Egypt Expresses Opposition to Allowing Palestinians From Gaza Into Sinai As Egypt faces the possibility of receiving an influx of Palestinian refugees from its northern border with Gaza, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has repeated his country's long-standing opposition to permitting Palestinians from Gaza to be resettled in the Sinai. Egypt and Israel reportedly agreed Saturday to open the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egyptian territory to allow U.S. citizens stranded in the Hamas-controlled territory to leave. Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Cairo, Egypt. Water Runs Out at UN Shelters in Gaza Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territory's largest hospital as a refuge of last resort from a looming Israeli ground offensive and overwhelmed doctors struggled to care for patients they fear will die once generators run out of fuel. The Associated Press reports. Italy to Charge Foreigners Over $2,100 a Year for Health Service Foreigners who live in Italy will be able to use the national health service after paying a $2,109 annual fee, the government said Monday. The charge, part of the 2024 budget adopted by the Cabinet, will apply only to citizens from outside the European Union, the economy ministry said in a statement. The ministry said there would be an unspecified discount for those with legal residency papers, as well as for foreign students and au pairs. Story by Reuters. Community Hostility in Chad Rising as Refugee and Displacement Crisis Grows U.N. officials warned Monday that community hostility in Chad is rising as thousands of refugees from conflict-ridden Sudan continue to arrive, putting pressure on limited resources Chadians depend on for their livelihoods and survival. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva. Why Egypt, Other Arab Countries Are Unwilling to Accept Refugees From Gaza As desperate Palestinians in sealed-off Gaza try to find refuge, some ask why neighboring Egypt and Jordan don't take them in. The two countries, which flank Israel on opposite sides and share borders with Gaza and the occupied West Bank, respectively, have replied with a staunch refusal. Story by The Associated Press. Fearing Rise of Radical Islamists, Greece Boosts Migrant Camp Security, Surveillance Greek intelligence has increased surveillance of refugee camps in the country amid radical Islamist calls for jihad in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. 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. Report by Anthee Carassava. News briefs The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced the start of visa-free travel for short-term visits to the United States for eligible Israeli citizens and nationals following Israels admission into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. DHS also announced a new family-reunification parole process for certain nationals of Ecuador, whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and who have received approval to join their family in the United States. Specifically, Ecuadorian nationals and their immediate family members can be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis for a period of up to three years while they wait to apply to become a lawful permanent resident. Key Insights The projected fair value for init innovation in traffic systems is 31.69 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of 26.20 suggests init innovation in traffic systems is potentially trading close to its fair value Does the October share price for init innovation in traffic systems SE (ETR:IXX) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for init innovation in traffic systems 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 start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 13.3m 10.2m 16.9m 17.3m 17.6m 17.8m 18.0m 18.1m 18.2m 18.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.61% Est @ 1.23% Est @ 0.97% Est @ 0.78% Est @ 0.65% Est @ 0.56% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.8% 12.6 9.1 14.3 13.8 13.3 12.7 12.1 11.5 11.0 10.4 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 121m 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 (0.4%) 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 5.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 18m (1 + 0.4%) (5.8% 0.4%) = 338m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 338m ( 1 + 5.8%)10= 192m 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 313m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 26.2, the company appears about fair value at a 17% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at init innovation in traffic systems as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.089. 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 init innovation in traffic systems Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Software market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat No apparent threats visible for IXX. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For init innovation in traffic systems, there are three additional elements you should look at: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for init innovation in traffic systems we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does IXX's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. In his daily address Friday, the president of Ukraine thanked military personnel in southern Ukraine who are holding their ground and destroying the occupier day after day. These days, Volodomyr Zelenskyy said, Russian losses are really impressive, and it is exactly the kind of losses of the occupier that Ukraine needs. Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putins recent announcement that Russia will begin conducting fighter patrols in the eastern Black Sea with interceptor aircraft armed with Kinzhal air-launched missiles is in reaction to an increased presence of the U.S. in the eastern Mediterranean. Putins announcement, the report said, is in line with typical Russian rhetoric aimed at its domestic audience, which calls the West aggressors, while framing Russian activity as necessary for protection of the state. The Kinzhal missile, the ministry said, is highly capable on paper, but its performance in Ukraine thus far has been poor. The British ministry said that on paper the Kinzhal is able to fly at hypersonic speeds and evade modern air defense systems, although there almost certainly needs to be significant improvement in how Russia uses it to achieve this potential. A 20-truck convoy of the Egyptian Red Crescent carrying humanitarian aid, including food, medicine and water, began entering the besieged Gaza Strip on Saturday through the Egypt-controlled Rafah Crossing. Those trucks need to move as quickly as possible in a massive, sustained and safe way from Egypt into Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a peace summit in Cairo Saturday. He thanked Egypt for its role in facilitating the convoy. But the people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he said. We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen. Dozens of trucks have been lined up near Rafah for several days waiting for the border to open to bring aid to Gazas more than 2 million residents. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement that the life-saving supplies in the convoy are provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the United Nations. He said they are approved to cross into Gaza and be received by the Palestinian Red Crescent, with the support of the United Nations. Saturdays convoy is the first time that aid has been allowed to enter Gaza since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel October 7 that killed some 1,400 people, triggering an Israeli bombing campaign and a total blockade of Gaza. More than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed. Gaza is now bracing for an Israeli ground invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the deal for limited aid to Gaza during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, but implementation was delayed as the United Nations worked with Egypt, Israel and the United States to clarify the conditions and limit the imposed restrictions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid convoy, saying its deployment was the result of days of exhaustive U.S. diplomatic engagement in the region. We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, Blinken said, adding that Hamas must not interfere with the aid distribution. As President Biden stated, if Hamas steals or diverts this assistance, it will have demonstrated once again that it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people and, as a practical matter, it will hinder the international community from being able to provide this aid, he said. Civilian lives must be protected, and assistance must urgently reach those in need. The World Food Program said three of its trucks were part of the convoy. They carried 60 tons of emergency food, including canned food, wheat flour and pasta. The WFP has another 930 tons of emergency food items at or near the Rafah crossing, ready to be brought into Gaza whenever access is allowed again. This food is desperately needed as the conditions inside Gaza are truly catastrophic. These 20 trucks are an important first step, but this convoy has to be the first of many, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a written statement. The World Health Organization said it had four trucks on their way to Gaza carrying trauma kits, medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases, and basic essential medicine and health supplies. It says it has more supplies in Egypt and on the way there. The supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs as hostilities continue to grow, the WHO said in a statement. A scaled up and protected aid operation is desperately needed. The U.S. Embassy in Israel warned that any foreign nationals attempting to leave Gaza while the border crossing is open "should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing. Secretary Blinken said Washington is working urgently with Israel and Egypt to facilitate the safe departure from Gaza of U.S. citizens and their families. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Islamist group Hamas released two U.S. hostages, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped in its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday. The women, who were taken from Nahal Oz kibbutz, near the Gaza border, were on their way to a military base in central Israel, a statement from Netanyahu's office said. Media reports in the United States said they were from Evanston, an Illinois suburb of Chicago. They were the first hostages to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel nearly two weeks ago, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and taking around 200 hostages. 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." A source briefed on the negotiations to release hostages being held by Hamas said the release of the two Americans was "a first step and discussions are ongoing for more releases." 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 Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. "We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas," Blinken told a briefing for reporters. President Joe Biden in a statement thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the pair's release. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said the release of the hostages took place "after many days of continuous communication" and dialog on the release of hostages would continue. The International Committee of the Red Cross says it helped facilitate the hostages' release by transporting them from Gaza to Israel. Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported the two women were dual Israeli-American nationals. Hamas has previously described captives with "foreign" nationalities as guests who would be released, without saying if this includes Israelis with dual nationality. An Israeli army statement earlier in the day said a majority of the hostages were alive. Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, relentlessly pounding the strip with air strikes, putting the enclave's 2.3 million people under a total siege and banning shipments of food, fuel and medical supplies. The secretary-general of the United Nations visited the crossing between the besieged Gaza Strip and Egypt on Friday, and said humanitarian aid must be allowed across as soon as possible. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, and 13,000 wounded in Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry said. The U.N. says more than a million have been made homeless. U.S. troops have come under increasing attacks in Syria and Iraq since Oct. 7, raising concerns about a possible escalation. A U.S. official told Reuters that a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four missiles and more than a dozen drones on Thursday near Yemen fired from Iran-aligned Houthis in the direction of Israel, more than the number announced previously. CHURCH HIT Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of Gaza for an expected ground invasion. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that achieving Israel's objectives would not be quick or easy. "We will topple the Hamas organization. We will destroy its military and governing infrastructure. It's a phase that will not be easy. It will have a price," he told a parliamentary committee. He added that the subsequent phase would be more drawn out, but was aimed at achieving "a completely different security situation" with no threat to Israel from Gaza. "It's not a day, it's not a week, and unfortunately it's not a month," he said. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said that overnight Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought sanctuary. It 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 wounded boy being carried from rubble at night. "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. The Israeli military said part of the church was damaged in a strike by fighter jets on a nearby Hamas command center involved in launching rockets and mortars towards Israel, and that it was reviewing the incident. "The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) can unequivocally state that the church was not the target of the strike," it said. '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. They received Israeli warning messages on their mobile phones at breakfast, followed 10 minutes later by a small drone strike. 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. 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, 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 neighbor Joumana Khreis. 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. Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, said he believed trucks carrying aid would get through in the next 24-48 hours. The White House said Biden and Netanyahu on Friday discussed plans to begin moving humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the checkpoint on Egypt's side and called for a meaningful number of trucks to enter Gaza every day and checks - which Israel insists on to stop aid reaching Hamas - to be quick and pragmatic. "We are engaging very actively with the Israelis, with the Egyptians, with the Americans to see if as soon as possible we are able to move the trucks, 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. Many Muslim states, however, have called for an immediate ceasefire, and protests demanding an end to the bombardment were held in cities across the Islamic world on Friday. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to end "its operations amounting to genocide." The conflict is spreading to two other fronts. Clashes at the border between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement have been the deadliest since a full-blown war in 2006, with Israel ordering the evacuation of more than 20,000 residents from the border town of Kiryat Shmona on Friday. The West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule under Israeli military occupation, has experienced the deadliest clashes since the second intifada uprising ended in 2005. 100,000 people demonstrated in London against the war in Gaza. The government had warned that any support for the crimes of Hamas crimes would be severely repressed. The procession marched peacefully. The Defense of the United Kingdom and that of Israel are linked by a Treaty, signed in 2020, the text of which has never been disclosed. You dont want Joe Budden to prove you wrong Photo: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for iHeartRadio Put this on the next Rumor Report: Cesar Pina, a business associate of Breakfast Club co-host DJ Envy, was arrested on October 18 for his alleged role in a real-estate Ponzi scheme. Pina had flipped houses with DJ Envy in New Jersey and often guested on the Breakfast Club as Flipping NJ. Now, federal prosecutors claim Pina defrauded dozens of people of millions of dollars, charging him with one count of wire fraud. The same day Pina was charged, NBC 4 New York reported that the New York office of iHeartRadio, where the Breakfast Club records, was raided by federal officials, who took electronics. DJ Envy, born RaaShaun Casey, has yet to face charges, but the federal complaint against Pina does mention a well-known disc jockey and radio personality who isnt too hard to identify. So whats going on here? What was the scheme? Prosecutors claim that beginning in 2017, Cesar Pina began taking investments to renovate and resell properties in New Jersey and elsewhere, promising a 20 to 45 percent return on investment in five months. But Pina allegedly siphoned some investments for his personal use and used new investments to pay back old investors. Days before Pina was charged, NBC 4 New York reported on multiple investors who hadnt received promised payments from the project. Pina reportedly sought investments in properties he didnt own, scammed multiple investors into paying for the same properties, and, in one case, offered to pay an investor back in jewelry. Pina and his wife, Jennifer, are now facing at least 20 lawsuits. Okay, but was DJ Envy involved? Prosecutors claim Pina built credibility by holding real-estate seminars with DJ Envy before he began the alleged flipping scheme. Envy often promoted the project on the Breakfast Club, claiming theyve helped so many people. And many of the spurned investors who spoke to NBC 4 said they got involved with the project because of Envys co-sign like Augie Rios, whos done auto wraps for multiple of Envys cars, and Anthony Martini, a producer who knew Envy. Billboard reported that Envy is a co-defendant in nine of the lawsuits against Pina. During an Instagram livestream, Pina said DJ Envy was never in the room with him during whatever allegedly went down. DJ Envy has nothing to do with any of these 20 lawsuits of these people who are suing me, Pina said (per Billboard). It fucking sucks, bro. It pisses me off that all these people are bashing DJ Envy. But then Pina said of Envy Hes not a victim. He was my partner, he was an investor. This is why you shouldnt do livestreams during the discovery phase of multiple lawsuits. So what has DJ Envy said about it? After the NBC 4 investigation, Envy claimed on the Breakfast Club that its totally not true that he was involved in the Ponzi scheme. Cesar, if he took money, I wasnt privy to it, nor did I even know, he said, prefacing that his attorneys dont want me to speak, but I think theres things that I need to clear up a little bit. (I think you need to listen to your attorneys, co-host Charlamagne tha God responded.) Envy additionally claimed that he also gave Pina money that he didnt get back. Envys attorney made a similar statement to NBC 4, saying Envy was a victim of Pina after investing $500,000 into a flip in Paterson, New Jersey. That attorney, Massimo DAngelo, has been seeking to dismiss him from the lawsuits, writing in a recent filing that being named caused significant damage to Mr. Caseys reputation and businesses. Envy is also suing TonytheCloser, an Instagram influencer who posted prolifically about the alleged Ponzi scheme earlier this year, for defamation and other claims. After Pinas arrest, DAngelo once again denied Envys involvement, telling NBC 4, Any reference to my clients involvement in the purported scheme is solely for purposes of sensationalizing the case because of his celebrity status. What happens next? Since his arrest, Pina has been released on a $1 million bond; he is currently not allowed to leave New Jersey. If convicted on the wire-fraud charge, he could face up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines. As for the money, two of Pinas companies have filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and his wife has also unsuccessfully attempted to do so. A judge has ruled to appoint a trustee in both bankruptcy cases to settle debts to investors. This will soon become the proverbial race to the courthouse to seize whatever assets remain of the Pinas and their entities, one attorney, representing two victims, told Billboard. Its unclear what will come of the iHeartRadio office raid. So no one told Envy this sounded shady? Actually, someone did: Joe Budden. On an episode of the Kitchen Talk podcast from October 2021, Envy says he called Budden for advice when he got into real estate, and the podcast host told me it was a Ponzi scheme and I was going to jail. Budden later recalled the conversation on his own podcast, saying Envys proposed project just sounded fishy. (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela has an opportunity to resuscitate the linchpin of its economy oil now that punishing US sanctions have been relaxed. The surprise move on Oct. 18 allows international companies to apply the full weight of their expertise and technology to crude fields and infrastructure that atrophied amid years or underinvestment, civil turmoil and international isolation. Most Read from Bloomberg Heres a snapshot of who stands to gain and who may be left out: Chevron Corp. The second-largest US explorer is best-positioned to benefit from the reopening. Chevron adopted a patient approach across the tenures of three CEOs by maintaining a presence in-country after late President Hugo Chavez nationalized oil assets during the first decade of this century. The California-based company got a head start on the rest of the sector late last year when the US government awarded it a special license to commence limited operations at four joint ventures and sell Venezuelan crude to American refiners. We are a constructive presence in Venezuela, where we have dedicated investments and a large workforce, Chevron said in an email. We remain committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, the integrity of our joint venture assets, and the companys social and humanitarian programs. Rosneft PJSC The Russian giant may have the most to lose because the US measure prohibits American companies from cooperating with or providing financing for Rosnefts assets in Venezuela. The companys trading arm, which accounted for half of Venezuelan crude exports as recently as 2020, has reduced operations in the country since it was hit with sanctions. Rosnefts Venezuelan oil joint ventures are run mostly by crews from state-controlled Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Story continues Rosneft didnt respond to a request for comment left outside of normal business hours. Repsol SA The Spanish oil explorer has a stake in one of Venezuelas biggest undeveloped fields with estimated potential output of more than 300,000 barrels a day. Repsol also is keen to recover money owed by PDVSA related to the offshore Cardon IV natural gas project. Repsol and partner Eni SpA are in talks with the Nicolas Maduro regime for a license to export liquefied natural gas to European markets. Repsol didnt respond to a request for comment. Eni The Italian oil company holds stakes in three joint ventures. Prior to the Oct. 18 announcement, it had been permitted to take PDVSA crude in lieu of Cardon IV gas sales but now it will be able to receive direct payments from Venezuela. Eni said the temporary easing of sanctions will increase the flexibility and effectiveness of debt collection activities. Maurel & Prom The French driller focused on Latin America and Africa has been expanding its footprint in Venezuela with an aim to boost oil production in Zulia state, Venezuelas oil cradle. The company, which is 24% owned by Indonesias Pertamina, is a participant in the $1.5 billion plan to capture PDVSAs methane emissions. Maurel & Prom didnt respond to a request for comment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Giambruno will retain editorial role in talk show. Italian television journalist Andrea Giambruno, former partner of Italy's premier Giorgia Meloni, has stood down as the host of talk show Diario del giorno in the wake of a scandal over his lewd off-air remarks, the Mediaset network announced on Tuesday night. In a statement, Mediaset - owned by the family of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi - said that Giambruno was "sorry for the embarrassment" created by his behaviour, and that he had agreed to step down as the presenter of Diario del giorno but would retain an editorial role in the programme. News agency ANSA underlines that, based on the contents of the short statement from Mediaset, it can be deduced that the company will not be taking any disciplinary proceedings against the journalist. Giambruno's departure as presenter of Diario del giorno comes after a series of sleazy off-air remarks were broadcast last week by satirical television programme Striscia la notizia. The tv host was recorded referring to "threesomes" and "foursomes" with female staff, apparently admitting to an affair, and flirting with a female colleague by asking "Why didn't I meet you sooner?" On Friday morning prime minister Meloni announced the end of her decade-long relationship with Giambruno, with whom she shares a seven-year-old daughter. Il giornalismo di Giambrunasca: la stagione degli amori. Sul sito di Striscia tutti i nuovi fuorionda. #striscialanotizia #AndreaGiambruno pic.twitter.com/BNMCGGjBQr Striscia la notizia (@Striscia) October 19, 2023 Meloni, the leader of the rightwing Fratelli d'Italia and a vocal exponent of traditional family values, said that the couple's paths had "diverged for some time" but thanked Giambruno for "giving me the most important thing in my life, which is our daughter Ginevra." "I will defend, at all costs, a seven-year-old girl who loves her mother and loves her father, as I could not love mine", Meloni wrote, concluding: "I have nothing else to say about this." In August Giambruno was at the centre of controversy over comments he made on his show when he appeared to suggest that young women could avoid rape by not getting drunk and ending up in a situation with "the wolf". He also caused an outcry last month by referring to flows of migrants from Africa to Italy as "transhumance", a term normally applied to the movement of livestock. Following the broadcasting of Giambruno's off-air outbursts on Striscia la notizia last week, the show's creator Antonio Ricci told ANSA: "One day Meloni will realise that I did her a favour." Staino was best known as the creator of Bobo. Italian figures from the world of politics and culture on Saturday paid tribute to Sergio Staino, the leftist cartoonist and journalist who died in a hospital in Florence at the age of 83. Staino, who had been ill for some time, was best known as the creator of Bobo, a semi-autobiographical left-wing character who featured in comic strips in Italian newspapers since 1979. Bobo is an average, middle-aged worker and family man whose struggles offered a glimpse into Italy's politics and institutions for almost 45 years. Staino was "an intellectual who left his mark on a significant part of the imagination of the left with his irony, intelligence and pen - the leader of centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) Elly Schlein said on Saturday - We all grew up with his cartoons, his characters, his piercing jokes." Staino was a former editor of l'Unita, once the official newspaper of the now-defunct Italian Communist Party (PCI) which was supportive of successor parties on the left until its closure in 2017, including the PD. "Dear Sergio, we thought you and Bobo were immortal!" - Florence mayor Dario Nardella (PD) wrote on X - "Florence loses a great professional who, through his pencil, made us reflect and dream." Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, posted on social media that Staino "was not only a great artist but also a good and profound person." 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. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the militant group Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes. Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the war began Oct. 7. Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israels military spokesman said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas. The war, which is in its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll has reached 4,385, while 13,561 people have been 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. Advertisement Currently: Heres whats happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced late Saturday he was sending additional air defense systems to the Middle East as well as putting more troops on prepare-to-deploy orders. Austin said the U.S. would be delivering a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, battery along with additional Patriot missile defense system batteries to locations throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. troops. Bases in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly targeted by drones in the days since hundreds were killed in a hospital blast in Gaza, and the destroyer USS Carney intercepted land attack cruise missiles in the Red Sea shot from Yemen on Thursday. Austin said he had also placed additional forces on prepare-to-deploy orders, part of prudent contingency planning as the U.S. and others brace for the potential of a wider regional conflict and as Israel prepares to launch a ground assault into Gaza. He said he gave the orders after detailed discussions with President Joe Biden on the recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the region. Advertisement Israeli Defense Forces said a military aircraft launched a strike early Sunday on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The IDF said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been using an underground terror route beneath the mosque. One Palestinian was killed in the shelling, Palestinian Red Crescent said. Tensions have risen in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. ROME Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has made a trip to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, her office said. The meeting Saturday came after Meloni participated in a summit in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Melonis office said that in her meeting she reiterated the right of Israel to defend itself under international law and to live in peace while also underlining the importance of guaranteeing humanitarian access to Gaza and a prospect of peace for the region. Her office said she brought a message of solidary and Italys closeness following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has spoken on the phone with two freed Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. It was the first such hostage release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. Video of Biden speaking with them by phone was posted Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He told the mother and daughter that he was glad they had been released. Advertisement Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said. Natalie thanked Biden for his services to Israel. Judith said they are in good health. Hamas said it released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Family members have said Judith and Natalie 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. ___ This item has been corrected to reflect that the video was posted Saturday, not that Biden spoke to them on Saturday. Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, Israels military spokesman says. Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand. Advertisement We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said. He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety. Share this article Share CAIRO United Nations aid agencies said a first 20-truck convoy of assistance that reached Gaza Saturday was only a small beginning and far from enough. The agencies, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Program and others, said in a joint statement that more than 1.6 million people are in critical need of humanitarian aid. Vulnerable people are at greatest risk and children are dying at an alarming rate and being denied their right to protection, food, water and health care, they said. The agencies, which also include the U.N. population fund and UNICEF, called for a humanitarian cease-fire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza. Advertisement Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more, they said. CAIRO Doctors Without Borders says Gazas health care system is facing collapse. The global medical group said Saturday that hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and lacking resources amid continued Israeli airstrikes and siege following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. The groups warning come after Medhat Abbas, an official with the Gaza health ministry, said early Saturday that five hospitals has stopped functioning and two others were partly out of service. We recently made a large donation of medical stock, including medicines, narcotics and medical equipment to Al Shifa hospital, the main surgical facility in the strip, the group, known by its French acronym MSF, wrote on X platform. Advertisement An nurse with the aid group in Gaza, Loay Harb, said that when the supplies were delivered to the hospital, she and others saw hundreds of people taking shelter and it was difficult to walk inside. CAIRO Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for an international peace summit to bring about the end of the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking at a conference in Cairo on Saturday, Abbas reiterated his complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides. He also urged the release of all civilians, prisoners, and detainees, likely alluding to some 210 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, a government exercising semi-autonomous control in the West Bank. The government is deeply loathed among Palestinians, who view it as corrupt and collaborationist with Israel. Advertisement Hamas seized control of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip in 2007 and enjoys a strong base of support in the West Bank. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip A barrage of Israeli airstrikes on Gazas southern city of Khan Younis near a U.N. school struck several residential buildings, prompting a frantic rescue effort as medics rushed several dead bodies and dozens of wounded Palestinians to the hospital. At the Hamouda family home seven people were killed and 40 others were wounded, survivors told The Associated Press at the scene of the attack. CAIRO At a summit of world leaders in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war, representatives from Arab and European nations called for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and appealed for protection of civilians in the strip. Several Arab leaders, including Egypt and Jordan, took the opportunity to castigate the international community over its inaction and a double standard they said that the world displayed on the devastating Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza. The response of the world, the office of President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi said, displayed a shortcoming in the values of the international community in addressing crises. While we see one place officials rushing and competing to promptly condemn the killing of innocent people, we find incomprehensible hesitation in denouncing the same act in another place, it said in reference to fierce Western condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel and a weaker reaction to Palestinian suffering. The summit did not immediately produce any statements about the prospects of a cease-fire JERUSALEM - A United Nations monitor says the 20 trucks of aid delivered to Gaza are just a tiny fraction of what is needed by some 1.4 Palestinians who have been displaced since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Normally, 500 trucks pass through crossings into Gaza every day. The 20 trucks that arrived Saturday were the first to arrive there in two weeks. Andrea De Domenico is the head of the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian Territories. He says UNWRA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is working the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization to direct the aid to those most in need. But he said it will be challenging to get aid into the hands of people who are not staying at U.N. facilities. The aid consists of canned food such as tuna, basic medical supplies, medicines, and water. He said the U.N. is pushing for an unimpeded flow of aid into the strip through the Rafah crossing, but that discussions of further aid are mired in deliberations between parties. If we dont stabilize the supply pipeline, Domenico said, we head toward catastrophe. RAFAH, Gaza Strip Palestinian Americans and other dual citizens rushed to southern Gazas Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday as 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered the besieged strip that has staggered under shortages of medicine and food. Even as embassies asked their citizens in Gaza to stand ready at the border, crowds of disappointed Palestinians holding American, Canadian, German and British passports waited hours in vain for at least fifth time this week. There is no opening of the crossing, and the suffering is the same, said U.S. citizen Dina al- Khatib. They communicate with us, but there is no change. With a humanitarian disaster brewing in Gaza, al-Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its is not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. JERUSALEM A senior Israel Defense Forces official says the military will try not to strike zones in Gaza where humanitarian aid is being distributed, unless rockets are fired from the area. Its a safe zone. We have a system which every time we decide that an area is a safe zone, we declare no attack in this area. We wont attack them, he told a group of foreign journalists. He added that the definition of what constitutes a legitimate target has changed, because the use of civilian infrastructure by Hamas turns a private home into a legitimate target. And anyone who supports that home is a legitimate target. He acknowledged that the IDF has attacked houses where there are civilians living among militants. Julia Frankel in Jerusalem. 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. 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. 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. Though he would not comment on the price, Jellis Craig Fitzroys David Sanguinedo said the inner-city market was showing signs of renewed confidence. In our marketplace its very much relative to the stock because people dont have anything to buy - thats keeping our prices buoyant, Sanguinedo said. Buyers looked through the property, but mostly remained silent during the auction. Credit: Jason South The Collingwood auction was one of 955 scheduled in Melbourne on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 63.8 per cent from 708 reported results, while 73 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. On the other side of the city, in Hampton, a four-bedroom house at 95 Willis Street sold under the hammer for $1.83 million. The home, which needed work, had been owned by the same family since 1949, and sold above the $1.7 million to $1.8 million guide. Belle Property Sandringhams Jenny Dwyer said three bidders raised their hands, and two women won. They plan to renovate the property and possibly lease it out, she said. They loved the history of the home because it had been in the family for so long, Dwyer said. Bidding opened on a vendor bid of $1.7 million, and cautious offers followed from the interested parties that included young families, Dwyer said. Bidders were more considered, so there was not that flurry [of bids] that we had at other auctions, she said. The family was emotional, giving up the property after more than 70 years. But they were really happy someone had bought it and was going to love it and look after it as well, Dwyer said. A double-fronted Victorian home in Armadale sold under the hammer for $5.1 million to a downsizer at auction on Saturday, who beat a young family for the keys. The auction for the four-bedroom home at 10 Auburn Grove was hotly contested, opening at $4 million, and parties made $50,000 bids. The home had price expectations of $4.5 million to $4.9 million, and was called on the market at $5 million. Once bidding reached $5.05 million, the buyer made a final $50,000 offer to secure the property. Jellis Craig Stonnington auctioneer Andrew McCann said bidding was spirited between multiple parties, as a crowd of about 150 people watched. There were six or seven families in the crowd who had expressed interest in the property, but only two parties had a chance to make a bid as the offers flew. Loading McCann said a tighter spring market meant properties were selling with greater competition. Buyers have accepted that theres not a lot of choice in the market at the moment, so they are well engaged at auctions, he said. McCann said listing numbers were down on what was expected for the rest of the year, as homeowners held onto their properties. In Northcote, a four-bedroom period home with an architecturally designed extension, sold for $2.95 million to a young family who did not make a bid during the formal auction. They were one of two expected bidders for the home, but neither raised their hand to make an offer when the auctioneer called for bids. Instead, the property at 61 Victoria Road passed in and sold in an auction after the auction when the two bidders negotiated a sale. The home sold above its $2.7 million to $2.9 million guide, despite not getting a bid during the auction. Nelson Alexander Northcotes Tom Alexiadis said bidding at the formal auction opened on a vendor bid of $2.7 million, at the bottom of the guide, but no offers followed. Loading The two buyers decided not to bid, even though the highest bid gets the vendors reserve and exclusive rights to negotiate, Alexiadis said. Though more homes have been listed for sale this spring, Alexiadis said there had not been a huge number of properties coming up for sale. The local market was still tight. Were not getting the stock everyone thought we would, he said. At the moment thats not the case. Not too far away in Thornbury, a two-bedroom home at 79 Raleigh Street sold under the hammer for $1.48 million, above the $1.3 million reserve. Five bidders, all professional couples looking to get into the area, fought it out for the keys, and the winning couple made a last $1000 bid. Bidding opened on a buyer bid of $1.2 million, followed by $20,000 offers. Bidding then dropped to increments of $10,000 and then $1000, Nelson Alexander Northcotes Luke Sacco said. The property, which had a modern extension, had sold well thanks to lots of interest from buyers. Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Citigroup's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions The top 25 shareholders own 44% of the company Insiders have been selling lately To get a sense of who is truly in control of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 70% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And institutional investors saw their holdings value drop by 4.2% last week. Needless to say, the recent loss which further adds to the one-year loss to shareholders of 6.3% might not go down well especially with this category of shareholders. Also referred to as "smart money", institutions have a lot of sway over how a stock's price moves. As a result, if the downtrend continues, institutions may face pressures to sell Citigroup, which might have negative implications on individual investors. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Citigroup, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for Citigroup What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Citigroup? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Citigroup. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Citigroup, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Story continues Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Citigroup. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 8.8%. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 8.5% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 4.4% of the company stock. Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Citigroup The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our information suggests that Citigroup Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$163m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 27% stake in Citigroup. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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. In a storefront window in Warsaw, Poland, stood at what first glance appeared to be a mannequin in a mustard-coloured sweatshirt. Only it was not a mannequin, but a 22-year-old man. He stood motionless with his arm outstretched holding a shopping bag, beside two real mannequins in jeans. Once the store closed, the man leapt into action, stealing jewellery, according to Warsaw police. In a separate incident, police said, after the shopping centre closed, he ate at one of the bars, changed into a new set of clothes and then escaped under the stores partly open gate. Later, he returned to the bar for a second meal. It will most likely be his last meal at the shopping centre for some time. Police have arrested the man and charged him with theft and burglary, they said in a statement. They did not specify when the incidents occurred. 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. 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. 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. The federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2023 was $1.695 trillion, up from $1.375 trillion the prior year, according to data released Friday by the Treasury Department. Receipts for the year came in just over $4.4 trillion, down more than 10% from nearly $4.9 trillion in fiscal year 2022. Outlays fell 2%, from almost $6.3 trillion to about $6.1 trillion. Net interest costs surged to $659 billion, up from $476 billion in 2022 and $352 billion in 2021. Most economists say these payments are economically wasteful, because the government could spend money in more productive ways than paying back bondholders, The Washington Posts Jeff Stein noted. Budget watchers warned again about the trajectory of U.S. debt. The federal government spent more on interest than children in 2023, and well spend more on interest than national defense by 2027, said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a non-partisan group that advocates for deficit reduction. In the face of legitimate emergency needs like natural disasters or foreign conflicts, these interest burdens mean we are not as nimble as we otherwise could be to respond. Big swings because of student debt plans: The deficit totals for both 2022 and 2023 were affected by the accounting for President Joe Bidens plan to cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans, though in opposite directions. The estimated long-term cost of the plan, nearly $400 billion, was added to federal outlays for fiscal year 2022, significantly raising the deficit that year. But the Supreme Court rejected the Biden plan in a June 2023 decision, preventing it from being implemented, so the administration recorded a similar, $333 billion reduction in outlays, reducing the deficit for 2023. (The difference between the cost one year and savings the next was primarily due to the Biden administrations new income-driven repayment plan, a replacement of sorts for the rejected program, which increased the governments cost of outstanding student loans.) Story continues Without the accounting effects of the student debt plan, the 2022 deficit would have been $900 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and the 2023 deficit would have been $2 trillion. In other words, the deficit would have more than doubled. The White House blames the Trump tax cuts: The rising deficit could pose a problem for Biden, who has frequently highlighted the $1.7 trillion in deficit reduction achieved during his first two years in office (though many analysts have called into question just how much credit Bided deserves for that reduction, given that it resulted largely from the expiration of emergency pandemic aid programs). As Biden tries to highlight the surprising strength of the economy, the White House has sought to deflect blame for the growing deficit, instead pointing to Republican tax cuts and decades of trickle-down economics. Asked about the deficit by a reporter last week, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited the effects of Republican tax cuts and trickle-down economics. This is what we believe is MAGA-nomics deficit, she said. The administration argues that, leaving aside the student loan effects, the primary reason the deficit rose from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023 was a sharp decline in revenues, which fell from 19.3% of GDP to 16.5%. This drop in revenues was the primary driver of the increase in the deficit as a share of GDP, the Treasury Department said in its statement. By contrast, non-interest spending did not meaningfully contribute to the increase in the deficit as a share of GDP. Non-interest spending rose only slightly as a share of the economy, climbing from 21.4% to 21.6% of GDP, the administration says, adding that spending on programs besides Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid actually fell slightly. The bottom line: The deficit effectively doubled from 2022 to 2023. While Republicans keep arguing that the government has a spending problem, the White House says that we have a revenue problem a problem that was only temporarily masked in 2022 by stock market gains that led to historically high capital gains tax revenues. The administration on Friday argued that the declining federal receipts highlight the importance of President Joe Bidens enacted and proposed tax changes and his plan to cut the deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. wbritten / Getty Images/iStockphoto Many of us have dreamed of owning a vacation home, but few of us can afford the investment. A study by Statista shows that only 6.02% of individuals between the ages of 30-49 own a second home, and only 4.13% of adults ages 50-64 do. Desirable homes along either coast can cost millions, putting them firmly out of reach for the average American. Im a Real Estate Agent: These Will Be the Best States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 To help more people achieve their dream of owning a vacation home, companies like Pacaso have begun offering fractional ownership in certain properties. Fractional ownership allows for multiple people to co-own a home that may otherwise be unaffordable. While the concept sounds great on paper, there are some common pitfalls that you may want to consider before you sign for your share. And if you decide sharing a vacation home is not for you, here are the best places to find one for under $200,000. What Is Fractional Ownership? Fractional ownership, according to the rental company Vacatia, allows owners to purchase an interest in a residence or pooling of residences, in partnership with other owners. Each co-owner is entitled to time at the residence but also shares in its cost and maintenance. Most fractional ownerships are broken into shares, allowing owners to purchase a slice of ownership of a home for example, one-half, one-quarter or one-eighth ownership. The owner is issued a deed for their share of their property, allowing them to profit from increases to the propertys value. Could You Afford a Vacation Home in Europe? Check Out the Prices in These 8 Cities Is Fractional Ownership a Timeshare? Fractional ownership and timeshares are different. With a timeshare, a purchaser is usually buying the right to use a property. Investing in a timeshare does not traditionally give you property rights or ownership. It merely allows you access to a property. There are different kinds of timeshares available, including those that require a fixed week commitment and those that allow you a floating week. Story continues Fractional ownership, on the other hand, is when a property is co-owned by multiple parties. A fractional owner purchases a stake in the property and receives deeded ownership. Fractional ownership is typically significantly more expensive than a timeshare but does give owners more access to the property. What to Consider Before Buying a Fractional Ownership of a Vacation Home Before you buy fractional ownership, you need to think about your lifestyle. Investing in a second home is not cheap, even if it is only investing in part of it. As with a timeshare, it can also be challenging to sell your investment. Fractional ownership is a limited market and may not have many buyers. Cities are also starting to crack down on fractional home ownership. Earlier this year, the Newport Beach City Council considered whether the trend was negatively impacting the city. Ultimately the council directed its planning commission to broaden the definition of timeshare to include fractional homeownership and ban it in residential zoning districts, as reported by Spectrum News 1. Are There Outside Fees to Consider with Fractional Ownership? Another thing to consider is that fractional ownership tends to come with substantial annual fees. The fees can fluctuate over time, meaning that it wont be a fixed cost. You will also want to make sure that you understand any tax liabilities associated with the property. Can I Sell My Interest in Fractional Ownership? If, down the road, you change your mind and hope to sell your interest in fractional ownership of a property, you are absolutely able to. The only downside is that it might not be easy. While fractional ownership has not yet obtained the stigma of timeshares, it may still be frowned upon. Not to mention that laws may eventually restrict the property from being sold to multiple owners. Fractional ownership is a unique industry with a specific target audience. Finding a buyer isnt going to be as straightforward as listing your home on Redfin or Zillow. You will need to find an agent or a company that specializes in these transactions and the right buyer, of course. But for now, the trend seems to be gaining momentum. It definitely broadens the landscape for people hoping to invest in a vacation home without having to give up their childs education fund. How to Decide If Fractional Ownership Is Right For You The best way to decide if fractional ownership is right for you is by doing your research. Companies like Pacaso have listings throughout the United States and abroad. You can also find ownership opportunities through private residence clubs, such as the Deer Valley Club in Park City, Utah. It is strongly recommended that you speak to current and former fractional owners to ensure that it will be the right fit for you and your family. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Is It a Good Idea To Buy Fractional Ownership of a Vacation Home? STROUDSBURG, Pa. - A Monroe County official is losing his locks to help "grow" hair for kids battling cancer. Prothonotary Clerk of Courts George Warden got a big trim Friday at Ken and Company Salon in Stroudsburg. He's donating his hair to "Wigs for Kids," a nonprofit that helps children who have lost their hair. Warden said he had been growing his hair for more than two years. "I'm donating to Wigs for Kids because I don't think a child should go through all that treatment and trauma of cancer and not have hair. That adds to their stress. If I can help one child at a time that's what I'm doing this for," Warden said. Warden said he chose Friday because it's also National Mammography Day, which is part of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. SCOTRUN, Pa. - Pocono Township police say two men have been arrested for stealing used oil from two local businesses early Tuesday morning. Police observed a white Ford van leaving the rear of a business in Scotrun, just after 1 a.m.. Police then stopped the vehicle being driven by 39-year-old Carlos J. Encarnacion Cueto from New Jersey, and carrying passenger Elmys A Ferreras, a 30-year-old male from Bronx, New York. Police observed two large containers consistent with the theft of cooking oil or grease in the vehicle. Video footage revealed the men took approximately 250 gallons of used oil from two local businesses, with a total value of approximately $1,125.00. The two men have been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and instruments of a crime. CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) Hurricane Norma gained strength and once again became a major storm Friday as it took aim at the twin resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in the Pacific. In the Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Tammy had grown into a hurricane, with winds of 80 mph (130 kph). Hurricane warnings were issued for the islands of Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The center said Norma had 120 mph (195 kph) maximum sustained winds and was centered about 145 miles (235 kilometers) south of Cabo San Lucas. The Category 3 storm was moving north-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), and the center said its outer bands of rain were already reaching the Baja peninsula. Hotels in Los Cabos, which are largely frequented by foreign tourists, remained about three-quarters full and there was no major move by visitors to leave, Baja California Sur state tourism secretary Maribel Collins said. With rain already falling in Los Cabos, some flights in and out were canceled Friday, and airports would close for at least part of Saturday, according to the local civil defense office. Norma was expected to start hitting Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo on Saturday, and the local port was closed to navigation as a precaution. Gov. Victor Manuel Castro urged people to stay at home. Nobody should leave their house after six, seven in the evening, Castro said. Nobody should go out. At the marina in Cabo San Lucas, Jose Cesena was hauling out of the water the boat he usually uses to ferry tourists around on tours. With the port closed and a hurricane coming, he said it wasnt worth risking his craft. Homero Blanco, the state commander of the National Guard, said beaches at the resort had been ordered closed and Guard troops were sent to clear people from the seashore. This morning there were a few people on the beach when we cleared it, Blanco said. We invited them to leave. The federal government posted 500 marines to the resort to help with storm preparations, and municipal officials said as many as 39 emergency shelters could be opened if needed. A hurricane warning was issued for the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and the forecast track would take a weakened Norma toward the mainland of Mexicos western Pacific coast. The Pacific coast port of Manzanillo was also closed to small craft as a precaution, and the government of Baja California Sur state canceled some classes. Norma was expected to weaken somewhat as it neared land, but not as much as originally forecast. National Hurricane Center specialist John Cangialosi said the storm was expected to continue moving north into Saturday but then slow to a crawl and should be just kind of hanging out near the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula. The concerns, especially if the storm slowed rather than passed quickly, were significant winds and heavy rain, he said. In the Atlantic, Hurricane Tammy was about 55 miles (85 kilometers) east of Martinique and 135 miles (220 kilometers) southeast of the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Tammy was expected to remain at hurricane strength and even strengthen slightly as it moved toward the Lesser Antilles through Saturday passing by Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda. Both Martinique and Guadeloupe are French overseas departments. Hurricane warnings were issued for the islands of Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, and St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy. Follow APs climate coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Ralph Lauren fair value estimate is US$185 Current share price of US$116 suggests Ralph Lauren is potentially 38% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 35% higher than Ralph Lauren's analyst price target of US$137 Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Ralph Lauren Step By Step Through The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$716.9m US$599.7m US$760.0m US$830.0m US$866.0m US$895.2m US$922.1m US$947.5m US$971.8m US$995.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x4 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 3.37% Est @ 3.01% Est @ 2.75% Est @ 2.57% Est @ 2.44% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.7% US$660 US$508 US$592 US$595 US$571 US$543 US$514 US$486 US$459 US$432 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$5.4b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$996m (1 + 2.2%) (8.7% 2.2%) = US$16b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$16b ( 1 + 8.7%)10= US$6.7b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$12b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$116, the company appears quite undervalued at a 38% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Ralph Lauren 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 8.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.310. 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 Ralph Lauren Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. 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 Luxury 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: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Ralph Lauren, there are three fundamental aspects you should further examine: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Ralph Lauren , and understanding this should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does RL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the 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. FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Co acquired a new position in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,398 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $208,000. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 1,272.7% during the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 151 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 262.0% during the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 181 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. CNB Bank acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $42,000. 66.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Insider Transactions at Extra Space Storage In other news, Director Joseph J. Bonner sold 956 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.64, for a total transaction of $120,111.84. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,504 shares of the companys stock, valued at $565,882.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.55% of the companys stock. Extra Space Storage Stock Down 2.6 % Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend Shares of NYSE EXR opened at $109.59 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $23.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.88, a PEG ratio of 13.27 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.16 and a 52-week high of $180.76. The businesss 50 day moving average is $123.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $139.79. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 39.80%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades EXR has been the topic of several recent research reports. Truist Financial lowered their target price 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. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $185.00 to $165.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $153.00 price objective on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $148.75. Read Our Latest Report on Extra Space Storage About Extra Space Storage (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. Further Reading 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. Ifrah Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in EnerSys (NYSE:ENS Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,996 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $217,000. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ENS. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new position in EnerSys in the 1st quarter worth about $264,000. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in EnerSys by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,670 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $812,000 after purchasing an additional 1,221 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in EnerSys by 35.1% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 47,723 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,559,000 after purchasing an additional 12,406 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in EnerSys by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 15,118 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,229 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in EnerSys by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,403,889 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $104,691,000 after purchasing an additional 101,062 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.56% of the companys stock. Get EnerSys alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades ENS has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on EnerSys in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on EnerSys from $119.00 to $117.00 in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Finally, CL King initiated coverage on EnerSys in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating and a $137.00 price objective for the company. EnerSys Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of NYSE ENS opened at $89.06 on Friday. EnerSys has a one year low of $58.48 and a one year high of $113.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.66 billion, a PE ratio of 17.43, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a current ratio of 2.76, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $97.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $96.72. EnerSys (NYSE:ENS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The industrial products company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $908.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $968.70 million. EnerSys had a return on equity of 16.17% and a net margin of 5.69%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.15 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that EnerSys will post 7.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. EnerSys Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.225 dividend. This is a boost from EnerSyss previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. EnerSyss payout ratio is presently 17.61%. EnerSys Profile (Free Report) EnerSys provides various stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in three segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The company offers uninterruptible power systems applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable, and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ENS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EnerSys (NYSE:ENS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EnerSys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EnerSys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp bought a new stake in shares of UGI Co. (NYSE:UGI Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 79,400 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $2,141,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in UGI by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 134,823 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,636,000 after purchasing an additional 6,052 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UGI by 10.1% during the 2nd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 16,041 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $433,000 after buying an additional 1,469 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in shares of UGI by 270.9% during the 2nd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 62,737 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,692,000 after buying an additional 45,820 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UGI by 89.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 24,375 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $657,000 after buying an additional 11,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of UGI by 13.3% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,756,013 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $47,360,000 after buying an additional 206,020 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.53% of the companys stock. Get UGI alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UGI shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded UGI from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $28.00 to $27.00 in a report on Monday, August 28th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. StockNews.com upgraded UGI from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. TheStreet cut UGI from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Friday, August 11th. Finally, Mizuho cut their target price on UGI from $33.00 to $29.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $33.50. UGI Price Performance Shares of NYSE:UGI opened at $20.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.98. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $23.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $26.92. UGI Co. has a 1-year low of $20.22 and a 1-year high of $43.19. UGI Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. UGIs dividend payout ratio is presently -22.52%. UGI Company Profile (Free Report) UGI Corporation, through its subsidiaries, distributes, stores, transports, and markets energy products and related services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: AmeriGas Propane, UGI International, Midstream & Marketing, and UGI Utilities. It distributes propane to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial/industrial, motor fuel, agricultural, and wholesale customers through 1,400 propane distribution locations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for UGI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UGI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. (Bloomberg) -- Italys top audit court didnt block a potential sale of Telecom Italia SpAs phone network to KKR & Co., according to a statement from the Treasury. Most Read from Bloomberg The court hasnt reviewed the financial sustainability and economic rationale of the deal as negotiations are still ongoing, the Treasury said. An earlier report in daily La Repubblica flagged the court known as Corte dei Conti found the terms of the transaction arent adequate. The courts opinion isnt binding, Repubblica says. The KKR bid which values the network at about 23 billion ($24 billion) including some earn-outs has the backing of the Italian government but needs to be reviewed by the audit court as the Finance Ministry would take up to a 20% stake in the grid unit for as much as 2.5 billion. Separately, Telecom Italias largest shareholder, Vivendi SE, denied reports in the local press that indicate there are different opinions amid the companys top executives over the KKR deal. Read More: Vivendi Seeks Telecom Italia Shareholder Vote on KKR Grid Offer We want to express our position officially at either a shareholders meeting or an extraordinary meeting, Vivendi Chief Financial Officer Francois Laroze said on an analyst call Thursday. --With assistance from Daniele Lepido and Chiara Albanese. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp purchased a new stake in Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund purchased 82,300 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $2,146,000. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Asset Dedication LLC boosted its holdings in Citizens Financial Group by 155.2% in the 1st quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 809 shares of the banks stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares during the period. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its holdings in Citizens Financial Group by 93.6% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 964 shares of the banks stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. 92.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Citizens Financial Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently weighed in on CFG. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $37.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Wedbush raised their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $28.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $34.40. Citizens Financial Group Price Performance CFG stock opened at $23.74 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $27.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.82. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $23.37 and a 12-month high of $44.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.91 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The bank reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by ($0.06). Citizens Financial Group had a net margin of 17.61% and a return on equity of 9.60%. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.69 earnings per share for the current year. Citizens Financial Group Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 31st. Citizens Financial Groups payout ratio is 41.79%. About Citizens Financial Group (Free Report) Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp acquired a new stake in Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:PB Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 36,466 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $2,060,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of PB. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 5,935 shares of the banks stock valued at $411,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 19,485 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,353,000 after purchasing an additional 2,102 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares in the 1st quarter valued at $274,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 33,779 shares of the banks stock worth $2,344,000 after acquiring an additional 3,222 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,212,796 shares of the banks stock worth $569,805,000 after acquiring an additional 244,440 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.70% of the companys stock. Get Prosperity Bancshares alerts: Prosperity Bancshares Stock Performance Shares of PB stock opened at $50.73 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $55.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.21. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. has a twelve month low of $50.72 and a twelve month high of $78.76. The company has a market capitalization of $4.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.55, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.95. Prosperity Bancshares Increases Dividend Prosperity Bancshares ( NYSE:PB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The bank reported $1.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $276.15 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $281.98 million. Prosperity Bancshares had a return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 34.03%. On average, analysts forecast that Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. will post 4.99 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a $0.56 dividend. This is an increase from Prosperity Bancsharess previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. Prosperity Bancsharess payout ratio is currently 41.43%. Analysts Set New Price Targets PB has been the subject of a number of research reports. Hovde Group upgraded Prosperity Bancshares from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $66.50 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, September 18th. StockNews.com upgraded Prosperity Bancshares to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $72.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong 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 $67.21. Get Our Latest Stock Report on PB Prosperity Bancshares Profile (Free Report) Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Prosperity Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prosperity Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG Free Report) by 4.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,276 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 3,104 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in PPG Industries were worth $9,977,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in PPG Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Harbour Investments Inc. grew its holdings in PPG Industries by 84.9% in the 1st quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 220 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new stake in PPG Industries in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its holdings in PPG Industries by 90.6% in the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 242 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. grew its holdings in PPG Industries by 149.0% in the 2nd quarter. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. now owns 254 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.18% of the companys stock. Get PPG Industries alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have issued reports on PPG. KeyCorp lowered their target price on PPG Industries from $172.00 to $166.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on PPG Industries from $143.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on PPG Industries in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on PPG Industries from $133.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on PPG Industries from $158.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, PPG Industries has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.44. Insider Activity at PPG Industries In related news, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 3,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.33, for a total transaction of $530,321.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 22,665 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,248,574.45. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Vincent J. Morales sold 3,700 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.33, for a total value of $530,321.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 22,665 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,248,574.45. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 58,378 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.46, for a total value of $8,491,663.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 195,706 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,467,394.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. PPG Industries Price Performance PPG Industries stock opened at $124.72 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $29.37 billion, a PE ratio of 20.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.19. PPG Industries, Inc. has a one year low of $107.42 and a one year high of $152.89. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $133.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $138.93. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.13. PPG Industries had a return on equity of 24.07% and a net margin of 7.84%. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that PPG Industries, Inc. will post 7.61 EPS for the current fiscal year. PPG Industries Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Investors of record on Friday, November 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.08%. PPG Industriess dividend payout ratio is 43.55%. PPG Industries Profile (Free Report) PPG Industries, Inc manufactures and distributes paints, coatings, and specialty materials worldwide. The company operates through Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings. The Performance Coatings segment offers coatings, solvents, adhesives, sealants, sundries, and software for automotive and commercial transport/fleet repair and refurbishing, light industrial coatings, and specialty coatings for signs; and coatings, sealants, transparencies, transparent armor, adhesives, engineered materials, and packaging and chemical management services for commercial, military, regional jet, and general aviation aircraft. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PPG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 7.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 297 shares of the companys stock after selling 23 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in AutoZone were worth $741,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of AutoZone by 5,037.7% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,392,892 shares of the companys stock worth $58,264,000 after buying an additional 1,365,781 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 107,977.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 699,260 shares of the companys stock worth $1,724,500,000 after acquiring an additional 698,613 shares during the period. Gateway Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 250,309.8% in the 1st quarter. Gateway Advisory LLC now owns 535,877 shares of the companys stock worth $536,000 after acquiring an additional 535,663 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 368.0% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 411,450 shares of the companys stock worth $841,242,000 after acquiring an additional 323,536 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter worth about $658,788,000. 90.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get AutoZone alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently weighed in on AZO shares. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $2,750.00 price objective on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,950.00 to $2,975.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Argus increased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,775.00 to $2,920.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of AutoZone from $2,740.00 to $2,750.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, DA Davidson raised their target price on shares of AutoZone from $2,425.00 to $2,500.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AutoZone has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,793.95. AutoZone Stock Down 0.2 % AZO stock opened at $2,490.28 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $2,533.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2,531.38. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12 month low of $2,250.33 and a 12 month high of $2,750.00. The company has a market capitalization of $45.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.66. AutoZone (NYSE:AZO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, September 19th. The company reported $46.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $44.51 by $1.95. AutoZone had a net margin of 14.48% and a negative return on equity of 60.66%. The business had revenue of $5.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $40.51 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that AutoZone, Inc. will post 147.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other AutoZone news, VP Domingo Hurtado sold 120 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,548.03, for a total transaction of $305,763.60. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 156 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $397,492.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other AutoZone news, VP Albert Saltiel sold 2,245 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,595.04, for a total transaction of $5,825,864.80. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 537 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,393,536.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Domingo Hurtado sold 120 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,548.03, for a total transaction of $305,763.60. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 156 shares in the company, valued at $397,492.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 5,315 shares of company stock valued at $13,922,106 in the last 90 days. 2.59% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. AutoZone Profile (Free Report) AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its position in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 25.9% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 906 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 316 shares during the quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $103,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aspire Private Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Digital Realty Trust in the first quarter valued at approximately $12,316,867,000. First Financial Corp IN raised its position in Digital Realty Trust by 93.9% in the second quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 221 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. City State Bank purchased a new stake in Digital Realty Trust in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its position in Digital Realty Trust by 4,560.0% in the second quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the period. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 156.1% during the first quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 274 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 167 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 Digital Realty Trust news, insider Cindy Fiedelman sold 2,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total value 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 currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets DLR has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an outperformer rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $80.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $130.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $132.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $122.36. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Digital Realty Trust Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance NYSE DLR opened at $115.78 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.58. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $86.33 and a 1 year high of $133.39. The company has a market capitalization of $35.05 billion, a PE ratio of 89.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a fifty day moving average of $124.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $111.92. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.21%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 378.30%. About Digital Realty Trust (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (NYSEARCA:IAT Free Report) by 43.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,301 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,006 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF were worth $112,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of IAT. Barry Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF during the 1st quarter worth $9,809,000. Bell Bank acquired a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF during the 1st quarter worth $7,977,000. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF by 215.2% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 289,386 shares of the companys stock worth $10,357,000 after buying an additional 197,573 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF by 266.9% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 235,856 shares of the companys stock worth $7,984,000 after buying an additional 171,572 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF by 276.9% during the 1st quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 200,443 shares of the companys stock worth $7,174,000 after buying an additional 147,263 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF Stock Performance iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF stock opened at $31.18 on Friday. iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF has a 52 week low of $28.80 and a 52 week high of $53.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $34.30 and a 200-day moving average of $34.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $631.40 million, a P/E ratio of 8.82 and a beta of 1.09. About iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF The iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (IAT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the DJ US Select \u002F Regional Banks index. The fund tracks the performance of an index of small- and mid-cap regional banks. IAT was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (NYSEARCA:IAT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 39.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 610 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 395 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $35,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 8.3% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 429,525 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $24,345,000 after acquiring an additional 32,883 shares during the period. First Interstate Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the second quarter worth $3,486,000. Athena Investment Management grew its position in Charles Schwab by 3.4% in the second quarter. Athena Investment Management now owns 7,708 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $437,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new position in Charles Schwab in the second quarter valued at $1,431,000. Finally, Opus Capital Group LLC bought a new position in Charles Schwab in the second quarter valued at $210,000. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently weighed in on SCHW. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $71.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $80.00 to $72.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.91. Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE SCHW opened at $50.88 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $56.38 and a 200-day moving average of $55.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. The stock has a market cap of $90.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52-week low of $45.00 and a 52-week high of $86.63. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.02. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 30.14% and a return on equity of 24.86%. The company had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. Charles Schwabs quarterly revenue was down 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.18 EPS for the current year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.33%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Charles Schwab news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $60.55 per share, for a total transaction of $50,438.15. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $60.55 per share, for a total transaction of $50,438.15. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,563,189.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469 in the last quarter. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. See Also 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. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 7.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,474 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 616 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $924,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 22,785 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,307,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. now owns 3,236 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,475 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $656,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 548 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital City Trust Co. FL lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 4,638 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $470,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently weighed in on ABT. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Thursday. Raymond James decreased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $116.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $115.00 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 eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $117.53. Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.9 % ABT stock opened at $96.33 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $89.67 and a twelve month high of $115.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $167.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.24 and a beta of 0.69. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $99.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $104.68. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $10.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.82 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 20.22%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.43 earnings per share for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.12%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 69.39%. Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total value of $1,092,312.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $6,829,785.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total transaction of $5,688,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,775,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $770,759,948.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $1,092,312.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,829,785.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHD Free Report) by 16.8% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 8,171 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,650 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund were worth $95,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 17.0% in the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 56,422 shares of the companys stock valued at $656,000 after purchasing an additional 8,195 shares during the period. Summit Trail Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund in the second quarter valued at approximately $182,000. Ackerman Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund in the second quarter valued at approximately $364,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund by 2.5% in the second 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 period. Finally, Moody National Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund in the second quarter valued at approximately $119,000. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund stock opened at $10.07 on Friday. BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. has a 52-week low of $10.06 and a 52-week high of $12.54. The company has a 50 day moving average of $10.83 and a 200 day moving average of $11.36. BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Announces Dividend BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of $0.0355 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.43 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.23%. (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. Boston Research & Management Inc. increased its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEARCA:RSP Free Report) by 27.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,797 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 384 shares during the quarter. Boston Research & Management Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF were worth $268,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. RiverFront Investment Group LLC raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 12,611.3% in the 2nd quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 424,176 shares of the companys stock worth $63,473,000 after acquiring an additional 420,839 shares during the period. Davis Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC now owns 150,697 shares of the companys stock worth $23,193,000 after acquiring an additional 1,431 shares during the period. Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $840,000. Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 18.5% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 7,702,229 shares of the companys stock worth $1,152,562,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200,101 shares during the period. Finally, Fiduciary Trust Co. grew its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co. now owns 1,010,765 shares of the companys stock worth $151,251,000 after purchasing an additional 52,262 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA RSP opened at $137.01 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.13 and a beta of 1.05. The companys fifty day moving average is $144.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $146.07. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has a 52-week low of $129.28 and a 52-week high of $155.77. About Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, formerly Rydex S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible, the daily performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (the Index). The Index is a capitalization-weighted index covering 500 industrial, utility, transportation and financial companies of the United States markets (mostly NYSE Euronext issues). Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Alumexx fair value estimate is 0.57 Current share price of 0.69 suggests Alumexx is potentially trading close to its fair value Does the October share price for Alumexx N.V. (AMS:ALX) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for Alumexx The Method 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. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last 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 (, Millions) 429.6k 399.9k 381.2k 369.3k 361.8k 357.2k 354.7k 353.4k 353.1k 353.5k Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -10.12% Est @ -6.92% Est @ -4.69% Est @ -3.12% Est @ -2.03% Est @ -1.26% Est @ -0.72% Est @ -0.35% Est @ -0.08% Est @ 0.10% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.1% 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 2.7m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. 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 (0.5%) 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 6.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 353k (1 + 0.5%) (6.1% 0.5%) = 6.4m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 6.4m ( 1 + 6.1%)10= 3.5m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 6.3m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 0.7, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Alumexx as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.115. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it 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. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Alumexx, there are three important items you should explore: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 4 warning signs for Alumexx (1 is significant!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Dutch 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. Boston Research & Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report) by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 17,438 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 2,225 shares during the quarter. Boston Research & Management Inc.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $709,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 108,287.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 296,468,035 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $11,556,324,000 after purchasing an additional 296,194,508 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 80,014,266 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,232,576,000 after acquiring an additional 4,112,351 shares during the last quarter. Betterment LLC raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 72,563,778 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,931,577,000 after acquiring an additional 787,088 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 55,415,031 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,556,296,000 after acquiring an additional 1,508,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 45,951,617 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,791,194,000 after acquiring an additional 3,566,685 shares during the last quarter. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance Shares of VWO stock opened at $37.90 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a fifty day moving average of $39.78 and a 200 day moving average of $40.41. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $34.88 and a 1 year high of $43.22. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 14.5% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,056 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 386 shares during the quarter. Brighton Jones LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $231,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 47,965,394 shares of the companys stock worth $3,820,923,000 after purchasing an additional 3,391,054 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,684,109 shares of the companys stock worth $1,090,076,000 after purchasing an additional 2,733,532 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 63,476.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 7,555,392 shares of the companys stock worth $570,885,000 after purchasing an additional 7,543,508 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,744,254 shares of the companys stock worth $626,204,000 after purchasing an additional 570,811 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 66.7% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 6,558,877 shares of the companys stock worth $522,480,000 after purchasing an additional 2,624,719 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.73% of the companys stock. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently commented on ADM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $85.00 to $77.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Argus increased their target price on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $96.70. Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock opened at $72.85 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 12-month low of $69.92 and a 12-month high of $98.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.83. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $77.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $77.82. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $25.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.82 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.14% and a return on equity of 17.52%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.15 EPS. Analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.18 EPS for the current year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.47%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is currently 24.03%. Insider Transactions at Archer-Daniels-Midland In other news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total value of $126,294.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 10,809 shares in the company, valued at $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:XLG Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 644 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $225,000. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in XLG. Fortune 45 LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 14.2% in the first quarter. Fortune 45 LLC now owns 16,546 shares of the companys stock worth $5,815,000 after purchasing an additional 2,056 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 210.0% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 14,215 shares of the companys stock worth $4,996,000 after purchasing an additional 9,629 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 4.6% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,631 shares of the companys stock worth $573,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 71.0% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 171 shares of the companys stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 2.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,683 shares of the companys stock worth $592,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF Stock Performance XLG stock opened at $33.78 on Friday. Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF has a one year low of $26.84 and a one year high of $36.22. The companys fifty day moving average price is $34.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.96. The company has a market capitalization of $2.32 billion, a PE ratio of 19.22 and a beta of 1.00. About Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF Guggenheim Russell Top 50 Mega Cap ETF (the Fund), formerly Rydex Russell Top 50 ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible the performance of the Russell Top 50 Index (the Index). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index consisting of the 50 largest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XLG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:XLG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 4,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $220,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CARR. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Carrier Global by 29.2% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 16,359 shares of the companys stock worth $750,000 after purchasing an additional 3,700 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Carrier Global by 40.1% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 36,481 shares of the companys stock worth $1,673,000 after purchasing an additional 10,445 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Carrier Global by 23.2% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,493 shares of the companys stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 1,412 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its stake in Carrier Global by 22.7% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 65,241 shares of the companys stock worth $2,992,000 after purchasing an additional 12,089 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Carrier Global by 10.6% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 786,543 shares of the companys stock worth $36,078,000 after purchasing an additional 75,622 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.47% of the companys stock. Get Carrier Global alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently weighed in on CARR shares. Bank of America downgraded shares of Carrier Global from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $62.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Carrier Global from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $53.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Carrier Global from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $56.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $47.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $55.53. Insider Activity In other news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,487.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,487.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction 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 NYSE CARR opened at $48.28 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $54.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.89. 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 Co. has a 12-month low of $33.96 and a 12-month high of $60.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.41. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.03. Carrier Global had a net margin of 9.87% and a return on equity of 25.42%. The business had revenue of $6 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.69 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. Carrier Global Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 27th will be issued a $0.185 dividend. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 26th. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is currently 29.37%. 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. See Also 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. BrightSphere Investment Group Inc. (NYSE:BSIG Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $16.94 and last traded at $16.96, with a volume of 59935 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $17.34. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on BSIG. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of BrightSphere Investment Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of BrightSphere Investment Group from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of BrightSphere Investment Group from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. Get BrightSphere Investment Group alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on BrightSphere Investment Group BrightSphere Investment Group Stock Down 2.7 % The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $19.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $21.08. The company has a market cap of $684.08 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.75 and a beta of 1.47. BrightSphere Investment Group (NYSE:BSIG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.28. BrightSphere Investment Group had a net margin of 18.01% and a negative return on equity of 316.77%. The company had revenue of $96.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $93.95 million. Sell-side analysts predict that BrightSphere Investment Group Inc. will post 1.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. BrightSphere Investment Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. BrightSphere Investment Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2.37%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BrightSphere Investment Group Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. North Reef Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of BrightSphere Investment Group by 12.6% during the first quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 1,206,187 shares of the companys stock worth $28,442,000 after acquiring an additional 134,849 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of BrightSphere Investment Group during the first quarter worth approximately $226,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd grew its position in shares of BrightSphere Investment Group by 37.8% during the first quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 22,447 shares of the companys stock worth $529,000 after acquiring an additional 6,160 shares during the last quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of BrightSphere Investment Group by 6.7% during the first quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC now owns 10,655 shares of the companys stock worth $251,000 after acquiring an additional 667 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of BrightSphere Investment Group during the first quarter worth approximately $885,000. 98.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About BrightSphere Investment Group (Get Free Report) BrightSphere Investment Group Inc is a publically owned asset management holding company. The firm provides its services to individuals and institutions. It manages separate client focused portfolios through its subsidiaries. The firm also launches equity mutual funds for its clients. It invests in public equity, fixed income, and alternative investment markets through its subsidiaries. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BrightSphere Investment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BrightSphere Investment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Choate Investment Advisors increased its position in shares of Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report) by 20.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,681 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 285 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $322,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in TT. Horan Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Trane Technologies by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 2,134 shares of the companys stock valued at $408,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. FRG Family Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Trane Technologies by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. FRG Family Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,094 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,122,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Trane Technologies by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Mitchell & Pahl Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,467 shares of the companys stock valued at $454,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Wahed Invest LLC raised its holdings in Trane Technologies by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Wahed Invest LLC now owns 3,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $553,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Trane Technologies by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,914 shares of the companys stock valued at $352,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. 80.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Trane Technologies alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Linda P. Hudson sold 3,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.70, for a total value of $634,570.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,332 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $886,760.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 6,108 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.21, for a total value of $1,253,422.68. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,035,659.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Linda P. Hudson sold 3,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.70, for a total value of $634,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,332 shares in the company, valued at $886,760.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Trane Technologies Trading Down 2.1 % NYSE TT opened at $187.27 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $202.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $190.21. Trane Technologies plc has a 12 month low of $139.60 and a 12 month high of $211.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.77 billion, a PE ratio of 23.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.12. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 31.22% and a net margin of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.16 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Trane Technologies plc will post 8.87 EPS for the current year. Trane Technologies Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 36.99%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Trane Technologies from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $191.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Trane Technologies from $218.00 to $237.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Trane Technologies from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the company from $187.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Trane Technologies from $194.00 to $204.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, HSBC began coverage on Trane Technologies in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $256.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $204.29. View Our Latest Stock Report on TT Trane Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Trane Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trane Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. cut its stake in Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Free Report) by 19.4% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 53,653 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,945 shares during the quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.s holdings in Carrier Global were worth $3,165,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in Carrier Global by 98,174.3% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,790,574,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,009,435,000 after buying an additional 1,788,752,009 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Carrier Global by 0.6% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,147,448 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,516,493,000 after purchasing an additional 206,839 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of Carrier Global by 712.1% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 17,482,866 shares of the companys stock valued at $799,843,000 after purchasing an additional 15,330,140 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Carrier Global by 2.0% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,377,066 shares of the companys stock valued at $793,207,000 after purchasing an additional 342,215 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Carrier Global by 109.6% in the first quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,892,166 shares of the companys stock valued at $498,317,000 after purchasing an additional 5,694,510 shares during the last quarter. 91.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Carrier Global alerts: Insider Activity In other news, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total value of $403,702.74. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,487.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $9,743,662.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 42 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,487.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently commented on CARR. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $47.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, September 8th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $60.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $54.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Mizuho lowered shares of Carrier Global from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $63.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.53. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CARR Carrier Global Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of CARR opened at $48.28 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $40.44 billion, a PE ratio of 19.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.41. The companys fifty day moving average is $54.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.89. Carrier Global Co. has a fifty-two week low of $33.96 and a fifty-two week high of $60.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.83 billion. Carrier Global had a net margin of 9.87% and a return on equity of 25.42%. Carrier Globals revenue for the quarter was up 15.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. Analysts forecast that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year. Carrier Global Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 27th will be paid a $0.185 dividend. This represents a $0.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 26th. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is presently 29.37%. Carrier Global Company Profile (Free Report) Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers. Read More 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. Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL Free Report) had its price objective cut by Bank of America from $175.00 to $148.00 in a research note released on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on EL. Raymond James reduced their price target on Estee Lauder Companies from $220.00 to $195.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Estee Lauder Companies from $191.00 to $173.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Estee Lauder Companies from $265.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Telsey Advisory Group reduced their price target on Estee Lauder Companies from $250.00 to $210.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price target on Estee Lauder Companies from $208.00 to $162.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $199.22. Get Estee Lauder Companies alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on EL Estee Lauder Companies Price Performance EL stock opened at $137.30 on Tuesday. Estee Lauder Companies has a 1 year low of $136.30 and a 1 year high of $283.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.46. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $149.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $184.17. The firm has a market cap of $49.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.39, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.05. Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 18th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.11. Estee Lauder Companies had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 6.32%. The firm had revenue of $3.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.42 EPS. Estee Lauder Companiess revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Estee Lauder Companies will post 3.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Estee Lauder Companies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.92%. Estee Lauder Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 94.96%. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total transaction of $1,933,967.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 55,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,523,450. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total transaction of $1,933,967.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 55,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,523,450. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total transaction of $272,866.28. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 48,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,421,020.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 12.77% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Estee Lauder Companies Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Estee Lauder Companies by 56.1% during the first quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 1,339 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares in the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp increased its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 38.6% in the first quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 3,186 shares of the companys stock valued at $785,000 after buying an additional 887 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 16.0% in the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 44,164 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,885,000 after buying an additional 6,098 shares in the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 21.8% in the first quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 3,485 shares of the companys stock valued at $859,000 after buying an additional 623 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 10.1% in the first quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 2,587 shares of the companys stock valued at $655,000 after buying an additional 237 shares in the last quarter. 55.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Estee Lauder Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Estee Lauder Companies Inc manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Estee Lauder Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Estee Lauder Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,787 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Deere & Company were worth $724,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Choate Investment Advisors grew its stake in Deere & Company by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 8,676 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,515,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Deere & Company by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 798 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $323,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 2.8% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 80,467 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,604,000 after buying an additional 2,177 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 9.2% in the second quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 1,490 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $603,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 9.7% in the second quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co. now owns 9,913 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,017,000 after buying an additional 876 shares during the last quarter. 66.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Deere & Company alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently commented on DE shares. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on Deere & Company from $560.00 to $551.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Deere & Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. DA Davidson increased their price target on Deere & Company from $492.00 to $510.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on Deere & Company from $467.00 to $458.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Deere & Company from $493.00 to $460.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 21st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $447.93. Insider Buying and Selling at Deere & Company In other Deere & Company news, insider Ryan D. Campbell sold 6,073 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $379.19, for a total value of $2,302,820.87. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 18,519 shares in the company, valued at $7,022,219.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 4,680 shares of Deere & Company stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $449.75, for a total transaction of $2,104,830.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 36,563 shares in the company, valued at $16,444,209.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Ryan D. Campbell sold 6,073 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $379.19, for a total value of $2,302,820.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 18,519 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,219.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders. Deere & Company Trading Down 1.7 % NYSE:DE opened at $375.07 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $108.02 billion, a PE ratio of 11.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $396.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $395.55. Deere & Company has a 12-month low of $345.55 and a 12-month high of $450.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, August 18th. The industrial products company reported $10.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.22 by $1.98. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 46.15% and a net margin of 16.36%. The firm had revenue of $14.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.14 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $6.16 earnings per share. Deere & Companys revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Deere & Company will post 33.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This is a boost from Deere & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.44%. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.96%. About Deere & Company (Free Report) Deere & Company manufactures and distributes various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Production and Precision Agriculture segment provides mid-size tractors, combines, cotton pickers and strippers, sugarcane harvesters, harvesting front-end equipment, sugarcane loaders, pull-behind scrapers, and tillage and seeding equipment, as well as application equipment, including sprayers and nutrient management, and soil preparation machinery for grain growers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lessened its stake in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 1.0% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 23,396 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 241 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Southern were worth $1,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Southern by 48.7% during the first quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 3,196 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $222,000 after buying an additional 1,047 shares in the last quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Southern by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,171 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $223,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL bought a new position in Southern in the 2nd quarter worth $306,000. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 14,463 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,006,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares during the period. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new position in Southern in the 1st quarter worth $76,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.85% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Southern Stock Performance Shares of SO stock opened at $65.73 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $67.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $70.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market cap of $71.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.23, a P/E/G ratio of 4.61 and a beta of 0.53. The Southern Company has a one year low of $58.85 and a one year high of $75.80. Southern Announces Dividend Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.47 billion. Southern had a net margin of 11.17% and a return on equity of 9.86%. Southerns quarterly revenue was down 20.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.07 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.6 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 20th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 17th. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 98.94%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.00, for a total transaction of $330,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 116,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,674,744. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.00, for a total transaction of $330,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 116,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,674,744. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,490 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.05, for a total transaction of $99,904.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,756 shares in the company, valued at $4,878,289.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 21,490 shares of company stock valued at $1,459,055. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently commented on SO. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Southern from $75.00 to $74.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Southern from $67.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH assumed coverage on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. They set a buy rating and a $72.00 price objective on the stock. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Southern from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $78.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Southern from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.20. Read Our Latest Analysis on Southern Southern Profile (Free Report) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mack Trucks rejected new demands from the striking United Auto Workers as unreasonable. Photo: Alan Adler/FreightWaves) Mack Trucks fired back at the striking United Auto Workers, saying it is not prepared to jeopardize the company to meet the unions new economic demands. Talks resumed Thursday in the 11-day-old strike by 3,900 workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. The unions new demands did not sit well with the company. Unfortunately, the new UAW economic demands are completely unrealistic, Mack President Stephen Roy said in a news release late Thursday. Weve already shown that were prepared to provide our employees with significantly improved wages. But we are not prepared to jeopardize the company. UAW-represented employees voted 73% against a tentative agreement endorsed by local bargainers and UAW International officials. Mack: UAW ignoring three months of good-faith bargaining The demands seemingly return to day one of negotiations and ignore three months of good-faith bargaining between the parties, Roy said. The strike began Oct. 8 at six Volvo Group facilities. They include the Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania, assembly plant that makes all Mack heavy-duty commercial trucks in North America. Mack is part of Volvo Group North America. An engine plant in Hagerstown, Maryland, and parts distribution centers in Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida, also are on strike. Knock-on strike effects at Volvo avoided so far Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) production in Dublin, Virginia, is so far unaffected. The assembly complex in New River Valley (NRV) makes heavy-duty Volvo VNL and VNR models. The plant also builds the battery-powered VNR Electric day cab. Thus far, weve managed to minimize the impact to our aftermarket parts support, Mack spokesperson Kimberly Pupillo said in an email. The strike has not affected NRV production, but could if it is prolonged. A 12-day UAW walkout at Mack in 2019 forced VTNA to halt production because of a lack of engines. The slowing state of Class 8 tractor demand may spare the plant from downtime this time. Story continues Current weak freight fundamentals and largely sated pent-up tractor market demand make the case for caution, said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research president and senior analyst. A nonunion Mack medium-duty truck plant in Roanoke, Virginia, is unaffected by the strike. The company builds Class 6 and 7 MD Series trucks there. Mack hoped to stay out of UAW skirmish with Detroit Three Mack wanted to fly below the radar in its union negotiations and stay clear of a UAW strike against the Detroit Three automakers that began Sept. 15. Now it appears the union, encouraged by defeated Mack worker and unsuccessful UAW International presidential candidate Will Lehman and a Socialist rank-and-file committee, has intertwined the Mack strike with brinkmanship in Detroit. There are 34,000 of 146,000 UAW members striking selected GM, Ford and Stellantis plants while other plants are operating. UAW International President Sean Fain visited Local 677 in Pennsylvania last weekend. Lehman, meanwhile, walked picket lines in the Detroit area. Mack said it looks forward to more realistic proposals from the union when the two sides resume talks on Monday. Related articles: Mack Trucks and striking UAW resume talks Thursday UAW employees will strike at Mack Trucks after rejecting contract Commentary: How Socialist agitating helped tank Mack-UAW deal Click for more FreightWaves articles by Alan Adler. The post Mack Trucks fires back at striking UAWs new demands appeared first on FreightWaves. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 49,485 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,203 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Novartis were worth $4,994,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in NVS. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 18.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,556,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $136,587,000 after buying an additional 240,710 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management increased its holdings in Novartis by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 4,869 shares of the companys stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Novartis by 42.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 10,996 shares of the companys stock worth $965,000 after acquiring an additional 3,272 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 95,477 shares of the companys stock worth $8,379,000 after buying an additional 4,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,528 shares of the companys stock worth $309,000 after buying an additional 655 shares during the last quarter. 7.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Novartis alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades NVS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Novartis from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, September 25th. HSBC began coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $82.33. Novartis Stock Performance NVS opened at $94.68 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $100.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $100.41. Novartis AG has a 1-year low of $75.49 and a 1-year high of $105.61. The firm has a market cap of $200.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.37, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.53. Novartis (NYSE:NVS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $13.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.32 million. Novartis had a net margin of 14.76% and a return on equity of 25.12%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 6.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Novartis Company Profile (Free Report) Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report) by 1.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,796 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 40 shares during the quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $1,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 681,679 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $392,899,000 after acquiring an additional 24,376 shares in the last quarter. American Trust lifted its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. American Trust now owns 6,743 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,886,000 after acquiring an additional 784 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,074,000. Alta Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 5.1% in the 2nd quarter. Alta Capital Management LLC now owns 88,286 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $46,064,000 after buying an additional 4,307 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan CO. LLC. increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 724,844 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $417,779,000 after buying an additional 72,792 shares during the last quarter. 87.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Down 1.1 % Thermo Fisher Scientific stock opened at $464.36 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $514.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $531.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $179.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 1-year low of $463.25 and a 1-year high of $609.85. Insider Activity Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $5.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.43 by ($0.28). The business had revenue of $10.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.99 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 18.59% and a net margin of 13.14%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.51 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 22.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total value of $7,755,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 27,393 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,066,150. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Stephen Williamson sold 14,100 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.00, for a total transaction of $7,755,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 27,393 shares in the company, valued at $15,066,150. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $557.77, for a total transaction of $1,673,310.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,792,210.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 28,700 shares of company stock worth $15,799,270. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets TMO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $620.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $585.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $630.00 to $580.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $621.13. Get Our Latest Analysis on TMO Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile (Free Report) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC cut its stake in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TLH Free Report) by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,722 shares of the companys stock after selling 211 shares during the period. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF were worth $855,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 67.4% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $420,000 after buying an additional 1,258 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 691.8% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 110,129 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,825,000 after acquiring an additional 96,221 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 104.8% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,816 shares of the companys stock worth $767,000 after purchasing an additional 2,976 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 86.9% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 271 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF by 76.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 856,128 shares of the companys stock worth $115,243,000 after purchasing an additional 371,613 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF alerts: iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSEARCA:TLH opened at $93.88 on Friday. iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $93.09 and a 12-month high of $116.93. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $107.24. About iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF The iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLH) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury 10-20 Year TR index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of debt issued by the U.S. Treasury TLH was launched on Jan 5, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TLH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TLH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First National Trust Co lowered its holdings in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Free Report) by 15.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,653 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 2,009 shares during the period. First National Trust Cos holdings in Devon Energy were worth $515,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wahed Invest LLC grew its position in Devon Energy by 2.1% during the first quarter. Wahed Invest LLC now owns 7,933 shares of the energy companys stock worth $469,000 after buying an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in Devon Energy by 5.6% during the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 3,573 shares of the energy companys stock worth $181,000 after buying an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC grew its position in Devon Energy by 8.5% during the second quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 2,459 shares of the energy companys stock worth $119,000 after buying an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. grew its position in Devon Energy by 13.2% during the second quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. now owns 1,715 shares of the energy companys stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Securian Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Devon Energy by 0.4% during the first quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 55,450 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,806,000 after buying an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Devon Energy alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently commented on DVN shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Devon Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. UBS Group cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $55.00 to $54.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $60.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $72.00 to $62.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $69.00 to $63.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.44. Devon Energy Trading Down 1.9 % NYSE DVN opened at $48.32 on Friday. Devon Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $42.59 and a 1-year high of $78.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $49.07 and a 200-day moving average of $49.97. The firm has a market cap of $30.96 billion, a PE ratio of 6.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.32. Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The energy company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.18. The company had revenue of $3.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 37.89% and a net margin of 28.10%. Devon Energys revenue for the quarter was down 38.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.59 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Devon Energy Co. will post 5.87 EPS for the current year. Devon Energy Cuts 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 $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.06%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is 10.94%. Insider Buying and Selling at Devon Energy In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 7,870 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.13, for a total transaction of $402,393.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 210,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,765,319.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Devon Energy (Free Report) Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DVN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First National Trust Co lessened its stake in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,276 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 125 shares during the period. First National Trust Cos holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $339,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Hourglass Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the second quarter valued at about $207,000. Abbrea Capital LLC lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 7.5% during the second quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC now owns 12,235 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 852 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 1.0% during the second quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 84,075 shares of the energy producers stock worth $8,711,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 6.5% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 814,194 shares of the energy producers stock worth $84,359,000 after purchasing an additional 49,751 shares during the period. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 5.2% during the second quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 132,140 shares of the energy producers stock worth $15,319,000 after purchasing an additional 6,575 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.36% of the companys stock. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes COP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $147.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $130.00 price target on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $153.00 to $152.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $120.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $136.45. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total transaction of $3,813,964.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $735,178.71. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total transaction of $3,813,964.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares in the company, valued at $735,178.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 602,049 shares of company stock valued at $73,591,956. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. ConocoPhillips Stock Performance Shares of ConocoPhillips stock opened at $124.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market cap of $148.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.95, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $120.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $110.62. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $91.53 and a fifty-two week high of $138.49. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 27.27% and a net margin of 18.66%. The business had revenue of $12.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.91 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 9.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is presently 19.65%. About ConocoPhillips (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Featured Stories 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. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 2.5% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 34,657 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 829 shares during the period. Chevron makes up about 1.2% of Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $5,453,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its stake in Chevron by 247.8% in the second quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 5,700 shares during the period. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its stake in Chevron by 52.3% in the first quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 195 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Chevron in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Chevron in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, HBC Financial Services PLLC acquired a new stake in Chevron in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Chevron alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Chevron from $163.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Mizuho lifted their target price on Chevron from $209.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $166.00 to $187.00 in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Bank of America lifted their target price on Chevron from $185.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Chevron from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $190.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $189.89. Chevron Stock Performance Shares of CVX opened at $166.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Chevron Co. has a 1 year low of $149.74 and a 1 year high of $189.68. The firm has a market cap of $311.51 billion, a PE ratio of 10.58, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.14. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $164.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $161.29. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.13. Chevron had a return on equity of 19.48% and a net margin of 13.54%. The company had revenue of $48.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.82 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 28.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Chevron Co. will post 13.76 EPS for the current year. Chevron Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. Chevrons payout ratio is 38.30%. Insider Activity at Chevron In related news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total transaction of $4,100,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $987,444. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Chevron news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total value of $4,100,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $987,444. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total value of $603,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,718 shares in the company, valued at $276,391.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Chevron (Free Report) Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Electric Co. trimmed its holdings in shares of AerCap Holdings (NYSE:AER Free Report) by 1.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 78,198,184 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,512,926 shares during the period. AerCap makes up 49.8% of General Electric Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. General Electric Co. owned about 32.92% of AerCap worth $4,967,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in AerCap by 15.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 19,343,396 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,087,679,000 after purchasing an additional 2,616,549 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of AerCap by 3.0% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 8,717,486 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $490,184,000 after buying an additional 255,513 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AerCap by 22.9% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,991,910 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $449,385,000 after buying an additional 1,487,363 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of AerCap by 9.1% during the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,070,515 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $125,707,000 after buying an additional 257,011 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of AerCap by 11.2% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,807,501 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $157,866,000 after buying an additional 283,101 shares during the last quarter. 92.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get AerCap alerts: AerCap Stock Performance NYSE AER opened at $58.14 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average is $61.17 and its 200-day moving average is $60.28. AerCap Holdings has a 12-month low of $49.42 and a 12-month high of $69.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.82. The firm has a market cap of $13.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.95. Analysts Set New Price Targets AerCap ( NYSE:AER Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The financial services provider reported $2.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.12 by $0.44. The company had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.83 billion. AerCap had a net margin of 25.33% and a return on equity of 14.57%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.91 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that AerCap Holdings will post 9.81 earnings per share for the current year. AER has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of AerCap from $75.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of AerCap from $75.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of AerCap in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of AerCap from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of AerCap from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AerCap has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $81.67. Read Our Latest Research Report on AER AerCap Profile (Free Report) AerCap Holdings N.V. engages in the lease, financing, sale, and management of commercial flight equipment in China, Hong Kong, Macau, the United States, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers aircraft asset management services, such as remarketing aircraft and engines; collecting rental and maintenance rent payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft and engines; and conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AerCap Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AerCap and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Griffin Asset Management Inc. decreased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 47.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 18,086 shares of the companys stock after selling 16,184 shares during the period. Griffin Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $819,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 9.9% in the first quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 21,535 shares of the companys stock worth $961,000 after acquiring an additional 1,941 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its stake in Altria Group by 4.3% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 510,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,128,000 after buying an additional 21,222 shares in the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Altria Group by 440.5% during the first quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $214,000 after buying an additional 3,903 shares in the last quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. now owns 9,136 shares of the companys stock worth $408,000 after purchasing an additional 601 shares during the period. Finally, Avion Wealth raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 17.7% during the 2nd quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 1,886 shares of the companys stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 283 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on MO shares. StockNews.com began coverage on Altria Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Bank of America decreased their price target on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.46. Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $42.71 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.91 and a one year high of $51.57. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $43.06 and a 200-day moving average of $44.48. The company has a market capitalization of $75.79 billion, a PE ratio of 11.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.31. 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 companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced 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 9.18%. This is a positive change from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 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. See Also 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. Madison Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report) by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 91,755 shares of the banks stock after selling 2,283 shares during the quarter. Madison Asset Management LLCs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $6,395,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Scotia Capital Inc. raised its stake in HDFC Bank by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 8,326 shares of the banks stock valued at $555,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its stake in HDFC Bank by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 11,946 shares of the banks stock valued at $796,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One SA PTY Ltd raised its stake in HDFC Bank by 65.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ninety One SA PTY Ltd now owns 79,593 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,560,000 after purchasing an additional 31,462 shares during the last quarter. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. raised its stake in HDFC Bank by 35.6% in the 1st quarter. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 39,650 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,643,000 after purchasing an additional 10,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Shelton Capital Management raised its stake in HDFC Bank by 39.9% in the 1st quarter. Shelton Capital Management now owns 83,655 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,577,000 after purchasing an additional 23,867 shares during the last quarter. 17.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get HDFC Bank alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently commented on HDB. StockNews.com initiated coverage on HDFC Bank in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised HDFC Bank from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. TheStreet downgraded HDFC Bank from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on HDFC Bank in a research note on Monday, July 17th. They issued a buy rating for the company. HDFC Bank Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of HDB opened at $57.28 on Friday. HDFC Bank Limited has a 52-week low of $56.91 and a 52-week high of $71.76. The company has a market capitalization of $106.54 billion, a PE ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.78. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $65.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. HDFC Bank Company Profile (Free Report) HDFC Bank Limited provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses in India, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Dubai. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking, and Treasury Services. It accepts savings, salary, current, rural, public provident fund, pension, and demat accounts; fixed and recurring deposits; and safe deposit lockers, as well as offshore accounts and deposits, and overdrafts against fixed deposits. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HDB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for HDFC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HDFC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ESAB (NYSE:ESAB Get Free Report) and IBC Advanced Alloys (OTCMKTS:IAALF Get Free Report) are both industrial products companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares ESAB and IBC Advanced Alloys top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get ESAB alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ESAB $2.59 billion 1.51 $223.75 million $3.45 18.86 IBC Advanced Alloys $26.91 million 0.16 -$1.13 million ($0.04) -1.00 ESAB has higher revenue and earnings than IBC Advanced Alloys. IBC Advanced Alloys is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ESAB, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership Profitability 91.6% of ESAB shares are held by institutional investors. 7.0% of ESAB shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares ESAB and IBC Advanced Alloys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ESAB 7.83% 18.25% 6.86% IBC Advanced Alloys -14.85% -65.40% -15.19% Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for ESAB and IBC Advanced Alloys, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ESAB 0 4 4 0 2.50 IBC Advanced Alloys 0 0 0 0 N/A ESAB presently has a consensus target price of $79.88, indicating a potential upside of 22.73%. Given ESABs higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe ESAB is more favorable than IBC Advanced Alloys. Risk and Volatility ESAB has a beta of 1.33, suggesting that its stock price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, IBC Advanced Alloys has a beta of 0.73, suggesting that its stock price is 27% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary ESAB beats IBC Advanced Alloys on 12 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About ESAB (Get Free Report) ESAB Corporation engages in the formulation, development, manufacture, and supply of consumable products and equipment for use in cutting, joining, and automated welding; and control equipment. Its comprehensive range of welding consumables includes electrodes, cored and solid wires, and fluxes using a range of specialty and other materials; and cutting consumables comprising electrodes, nozzles, shields, and tips. The company's equipment ranges from portable welding machines to large customized automated cutting and welding systems. It also offers a range of software and digital solutions to help its customers increase their productivity, remotely monitor their welding operations, and digitize their documentation. The company sells its products under the ESAB brand to various end markets, such as general industry, infrastructure, renewable energy, medical and life sciences, transportation, construction, and energy. It offers its products through independent distributors and direct salespeople. The company operates in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. ESAB Corporation was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland. About IBC Advanced Alloys (Get Free Report) IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. develops, produces, and sells specialty alloy products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Copper Alloys and Engineered Materials segments. It offers various copper alloys as castings and forgings, such as beryllium copper, chrome copper, oxygen-free high conductivity copper, and aluminum bronze in the form of plates, blocks, bars, and rings, as well as specialty copper alloy forgings for industrial welding, oil and gas, plastic mold, metal melting, marine defense, electronic, and industrial equipment markets. The company also provides tooling components for the automotive industry, consumer plastic tooling producers, oil and gas service industry, submarine and aircraft carrier producers and repair facilities, electronics industries, and general equipment manufacturers. In addition, it manufactures and supplies precision-cast beryllium-aluminum components to defense, aerospace, high-tech manufacturing, and other sectors. The company was formerly known as International Beryllium Corporation and changed its name to IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. in March 2009. IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Franklin, Indiana. Receive News & Ratings for ESAB Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ESAB and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gary Marcus testified before US Congress on AI but he has been conspicuously excluded from Britains impending summit - Nathan Posner/Shutterstock Its good to be back home in Vancouver, says Gary Marcus, after a typical 10 days criss-crossing the United States. As an AI startup entrepreneur, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University and a best-selling author, Marcuss work drags him across the continent and beyond. But one destination that is not on his itinerary is Bletchley Park. In a fortnight, the UKs AI Safety Summit will assemble the great and the good of artificial intelligence, in the hope of creating an international Bretton Woods-style agreement to regulate it. Although he was one of three experts invited to give testimony to the United States Congress on AI regulation, alongside OpenAI founder Sam Altman, Marcus hasnt been invited to Buckinghamshire. He isnt surprised that his views arent welcome. Generative AI cant live up to the current expectations, he says. Its simply not smart enough to do many of the things we think it will be able to do. The systems are not transparent, theyre not reliable, they dont really understand the world. These are very serious problems that are not being faced. Such talk makes him a heretic, and pointing out some very inconvenient truths is not universally welcome. Marcus explains these flaws very elegantly: for years he was The New Yorker magazines go-to guy to explain developments in neuroscience and data. Guitar Zero, his book explaining how the brain learns, based on his own initially hopeless quest to master a musical instrument, became a bestseller. But when so many hopes are pinned on the transformative power of AI, and with venture capitalists in the goldrush phase, a witty sceptic is not what people want to hear. Rather than being burned at the stake, he takes a roasting on social media and snubs such as Bletchley. Ive been treated badly, but most of it just rubs off. Some of it is genuinely irritating, though, he says. But hes noticing a pattern. Ridicule can be followed by bullying, but then some time later, his critics concede a vital point. Story continues A long-running spat with the distinguished AI pioneer and Meta executive Yann LeCun, a Turing Award winner, saw LeCun loftily quote-Tweet Marcus to dismiss his points. Then one day, LeCun simply adopted Marcus position. AI pioneer Yann LeCun has been a vocal critic of Gary Marcus - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images None of these people ever credit me, but I am often there first, he says. Yann LeCun misrepresented my credentials in order to undermine my arguments. He then adopted my arguments and didnt acknowledge me. These kinds of things just arent cool. The Baltimore native began computer programming when he was eight, and his interest in AI was piqued almost at once. Today his career has produced over a hundred academic papers, cited over 5,000 times, while his first AI startup, Geometric Intelligence, was acquired by Uber in 2016. He briefly led Ubers self-driving car initiative, and has since founded another startup, with the leading robot pioneer Rodney Brooks, founder of iRobot, the company that made the Roomba cleaner. His popular Humans v Machines podcast explores our fascination with AI, unsparingly highlighting how it fails. AI schism To understand his critique of todays AI, it helps to know a little about the historic schism in the field and his place in it. The first two waves of interest in AI, in the Sixties and again in the Eighties, attempted to reduce reasoning and understanding to symbols that a computer could then crunch, like algebra. Today thats called Classical AI, or symbolic AI. It was a failure for several reasons. Todays AI doesnt try to be clever at all, but uses brute force statistical prediction based on relations. These emerge if you feed big machines huge amounts of data. So connections are the basis of todays AI, giving it the name connectionist AI. Todays AI advocates paint Marcus as a throwback, but he has consistently argued that we need to combine both approaches: both symbolic and connectionist. He compares dogmatism to arguments over nature and nurture. The argument of whether something is learned or innate can be found in neuroscience, in developmental science, in linguistics, in policy, and nowadays in AI. Much more so than it was in AI some years ago, he explains. People always want it to be one or the other. In many fields its obvious that nature and nurture work together. Awkwardly for Marcuss critics, while todays AI has produced some extraordinary results, it also fails spectacularly, its evident that it has no understanding of the world. Its an AI without any real intelligence. For example, ask an AI image generator to draw a clock and the chances are it will only show one of two times: ten past ten, or ten to two. Thats because clock manufacturers almost exclusively show only these two very similar-looking times in their marketing material, as theyre the most visually appealing representation of the hands. The bigger problem that wont go away is when it makes stuff up, called hallucinations. I wrote about these in my 2001 book The Algebraic Brain, Marcus explains. Theyll generalise and you get a bleed-through, or spillover. An AI bot will tell you that Elon Musk died in a car crash because it doesnt understand the difference between owning a Tesla, and owning Tesla! AI industry leaders are increasingly preoccupied with AI's potential downsides ChatGPT creator Sam Altman has warned of an existential risk - PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Paranoid fantasies Recent news reporting has unearthed how in both Washington DC and Westminster, the artificial intelligence regulation agenda has been influenced by devotees of the cult-like intellectual movement called Effective Altruism. This is a motley collection of interests ranging from veganism, to animal rights for insects, but apocalyptic and far-distant scenarios of a Terminator AI destroying humanity is a favourite preoccupation. Marcus frets that today, the more immediate danger from deploying AI comes from connecting unreliable systems to power grids, or cars. Urgent issues such as the exploitation of intellectual property by AI companies and threat of a flood of images of child abuse also seem to be overlooked at Bletchley in favour of paranoid fantasies. Marcus declines to comment on the Effective Altruist flavour of the summit, but believes it lacks diversity of thought. I havent seen the final list of invitees, but the impression I get is that it has shifted from AI in general, and trying to figure out the best policy for humanity, to something that is taking a certain premise, and not allowing a lot of people who disagree with the premise to have a voice, he says. Marcus says he personally welcomes AI governance and regulation, and thinks its good for AI companies to have certainty, rather than fragmented national laws. But he questions the Governments goals of an international council for AI regulation, when so many multilateral institutions already exist. Anyone who understands how the real world works understands that technologies often have risks, often have dual uses, can get us places but can also explode many technologies need some kind of constraints to mitigate risk, he explains. And he worries that when things go wrong, todays God Kings of AI wont be found. The idea in the technology industry is that no matter what the externalities are, the public should bear them. Far from decrying AI, Marcus says, hes trying to improve it in its infancy, so it gains the publics trust. For now even the business models are in question. There are many problems with the economics of AI, and some of it is very bubble-like. In the long-term AI will do most of what people want, but it wont be able to do it in the next decade. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BFZ Get Free Report) major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 38,677 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.37 per share, with a total value of $401,080.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,638,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,097,356.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Saba Capital Management, L.P. also recently made the following trade(s): Get BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust alerts: On Thursday, October 12th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 17,703 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.43 per share, with a total value of $184,642.29. On Monday, October 9th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 16,763 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.20 per share, with a total value of $170,982.60. On Friday, October 6th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 510 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.08 per share, with a total value of $5,140.80. On Wednesday, October 4th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 500 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.16 per share, with a total value of $5,080.00. On Monday, October 2nd, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 22,053 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.21 per share, with a total value of $225,161.13. On Tuesday, September 26th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. acquired 90,004 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $10.41 per share, with a total value of $936,941.64. On Thursday, September 14th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 10,434 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $10.92 per share, for a total transaction of $113,939.28. On Tuesday, September 12th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 30,073 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $10.95 per share, for a total transaction of $329,299.35. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Price Performance Shares of NYSE BFZ opened at $10.03 on Friday. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust has a 12-month low of $10.03 and a 12-month high of $12.10. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $10.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.41. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Dividend Announcement Institutional Inflows and Outflows The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Monday, October 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.039 per share. This represents a $0.47 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.67%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 7.8% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 643,136 shares of the companys stock worth $7,525,000 after acquiring an additional 46,438 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 10.2% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 465,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,518,000 after buying an additional 42,987 shares in the last quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust in the second quarter valued at $5,298,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 12.2% in the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 414,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,846,000 after buying an additional 45,028 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 16.5% in the first quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 334,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,911,000 after buying an additional 47,294 shares in the last quarter. About BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (Get Free Report) BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in investment grade municipal bonds that are exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Entergy (NYSE:ETR Free Report) had its price target cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $124.00 to $117.00 in a research note published on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the utilities providers stock. ETR has been the topic of a number of other research reports. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Entergy from $120.00 to $114.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on shares of Entergy from $113.00 to $99.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Entergy from $94.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Barclays assumed coverage on Entergy in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. They set an equal weight rating and a $98.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Entergy in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $111.17. Get Entergy alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on ETR Entergy Price Performance ETR opened at $93.08 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. Entergy has a 52-week low of $87.10 and a 52-week high of $120.78. The company has a 50 day moving average of $94.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.72. The company has a market cap of $19.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.65. Entergy (NYSE:ETR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.26 billion. Entergy had a return on equity of 10.22% and a net margin of 10.22%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Entergy will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year. Entergy Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.60%. Entergys dividend payout ratio is currently 65.24%. Insider Activity at Entergy In related news, EVP Marcus V. Brown sold 13,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.40, for a total transaction of $1,287,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,251 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,545.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Entergy Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its position in Entergy by 1,019.0% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 235 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 214 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in shares of Entergy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 108.8% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Entergy during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in Entergy during the second quarter worth approximately $34,000. 86.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Entergy (Get Free Report) Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Utility and Entergy Wholesale Commodities. The Utility segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Entergy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Entergy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC increased its stake in shares of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL Free Report) by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 37,843 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 640 shares during the period. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLCs holdings in Shell were worth $2,285,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bleakley Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Shell by 8.6% during the first quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 96,492 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $5,552,000 after buying an additional 7,641 shares during the last quarter. PFG Advisors purchased a new stake in Shell during the second quarter valued at approximately $208,000. Element Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Shell by 3.5% during the first quarter. Element Wealth LLC now owns 6,657 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $383,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Shell by 8.6% during the first quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,467 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $373,000 after buying an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commerce Bank increased its stake in shares of Shell by 7.7% in the first quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 49,723 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,861,000 after purchasing an additional 3,563 shares in the last quarter. 9.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Shell alerts: Shell Price Performance Shares of NYSE:SHEL opened at $67.04 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $225.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $63.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.63. Shell plc has a fifty-two week low of $51.59 and a fifty-two week high of $68.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.46. Shell Increases Dividend Shell ( NYSE:SHEL Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The energy company reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $76.02 billion for the quarter. Shell had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 17.65%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.04 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Shell plc will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a dividend of $0.662 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. This is a boost from Shells previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.95%. Shells payout ratio is currently 32.40%. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Shell from 28.00 to 27.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,992.17. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SHEL Shell Profile (Free Report) Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHEL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Shell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Klingenstein Fields & Co. LP acquired a new position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 3,707 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $210,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 93,993.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 965,692,348 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,735,442,000 after purchasing an additional 964,666,040 shares during the period. Dodge & Cox lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 78,462,490 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,109,865,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033,760 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 41,880,424 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,193,697,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000,383 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,050,168 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,413,244,000 after purchasing an additional 391,238 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,853,005,000 after purchasing an additional 8,563,389 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE SCHW opened at $50.88 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $90.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $56.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $55.96. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.02. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.86% and a net margin of 30.14%. The business had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.10 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.18 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%. Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total transaction of $476,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 8,014 shares in the company, valued at $477,714.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a 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 stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Argus lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $81.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Barclays lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $77.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $69.91. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab About Charles Schwab (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Featured Articles 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. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Lennar (NYSE:LEN Free Report) in a report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $123.00 price target on the construction companys stock. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on LEN. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Lennar from $150.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Lennar from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Lennar from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Lennar from $161.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, JMP Securities upped their target price on shares of Lennar from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Lennar presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $133.41. Get Lennar alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Lennar Lennar Stock Performance Lennar stock opened at $103.77 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 6.66 and a quick ratio of 1.18. Lennar has a 1-year low of $69.90 and a 1-year high of $133.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.48. The companys 50-day moving average is $114.54 and its 200 day moving average is $116.19. Lennar (NYSE:LEN Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, September 15th. The construction company reported $3.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.52 by $0.39. Lennar had a net margin of 11.66% and a return on equity of 16.22%. The company had revenue of $8.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $5.18 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Lennar will post 13.59 EPS for the current year. Lennar Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.45%. Lennars payout ratio is 11.12%. Insider Activity at Lennar In related news, Director Amy Banse purchased 920 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $108.71 per share, with a total value of $100,013.20. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,038 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,091,230.98. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders bought 2,599 shares of company stock valued at $301,984 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lennar by 10.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,184 shares of the construction companys stock worth $989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,173 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lennar by 6.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,499 shares of the construction companys stock worth $771,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Lennar by 172.1% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 14,925 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,256,000 after purchasing an additional 9,440 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new position in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth $1,711,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth $200,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.87% of the companys stock. About Lennar (Get Free Report) Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mizuho upgraded shares of Lennox International (NYSE:LII Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has $460.00 target price on the construction companys stock, up from their prior target price of $340.00. Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Lennox International from a sell rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $332.00 to $455.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on Lennox International in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. They issued a sector perform rating and a $391.00 price target for the company. William Blair raised Lennox International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. KeyCorp raised their target price on Lennox International from $400.00 to $415.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on Lennox International from $370.00 to $410.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $366.00. Get Lennox International alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LII Lennox International Price Performance Shares of LII opened at $348.33 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $12.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.05, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $372.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $326.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.06, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.56. Lennox International has a 12 month low of $215.10 and a 12 month high of $393.02. Lennox International (NYSE:LII Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $6.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.21 by $0.94. Lennox International had a negative return on equity of 390.97% and a net margin of 11.49%. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.00 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Lennox International will post 16.82 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity In other news, CAO Chris Kosel sold 602 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $372.98, for a total transaction of $224,533.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,046 shares of the companys stock, valued at $763,117.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 2.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lennox International Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Lennox International by 9.2% in the 1st quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 662 shares of the construction companys stock worth $166,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Lennox International in the 2nd quarter worth about $750,000. Carmignac Gestion lifted its stake in Lennox International by 79.1% in the 1st quarter. Carmignac Gestion now owns 1,967 shares of the construction companys stock worth $494,000 after acquiring an additional 869 shares in the last quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. lifted its stake in Lennox International by 18.4% in the 2nd quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 79,283 shares of the construction companys stock worth $25,852,000 after acquiring an additional 12,341 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in Lennox International by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 636,200 shares of the construction companys stock worth $159,067,000 after acquiring an additional 24,536 shares in the last quarter. 67.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Lennox International (Get Free Report) Lennox International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets a range of products for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Residential Heating & Cooling, Commercial Heating & Cooling, and Refrigeration. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lennox International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennox International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA reduced its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 4.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,943 shares of the companys stock after selling 600 shares during the quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MAs holdings in Altria Group were worth $541,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Jacobi Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 19,984 shares of the companys stock worth $892,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 23.2% in the 1st quarter. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 21,586 shares of the companys stock worth $987,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. Trustco Bank Corp N Y grew its position in Altria Group by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Trustco Bank Corp N Y now owns 6,364 shares of the companys stock worth $284,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Independent Wealth Network Inc. increased its stake in Altria Group by 1.5% in the first quarter. Independent Wealth Network Inc. now owns 15,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $708,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MO has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group lowered their price target on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 6th. Bank of America cut their price target on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.46. Altria Group Stock Up 0.2 % NYSE:MO opened at $42.71 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $43.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.48. The stock has a market cap of $75.79 billion, a PE ratio of 11.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.91 and a fifty-two week high of $51.57. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.31. Altria Group had a net margin of 27.40% and a negative return on equity of 225.61%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.26 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.95 earnings per share for the current year. Altria Group Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.18%. This is an increase from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Altria Groups payout ratio is presently 102.89%. About Altria Group (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. See Also 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. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Free Report) (TSE:MG) had its target price upped by Evercore from $70.00 to $75.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Evercore currently has an outperform rating on the stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Magna International from $64.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Magna International in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Magna International from $63.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Magna International from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Magna International in a report on Thursday, August 24th. They issued a sector perform rating and a $61.00 price target for the company. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.47. Get Magna International alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on MGA Magna International Price Performance NYSE MGA opened at $50.93 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.12. The firms 50 day moving average price is $55.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $55.36. Magna International has a 52-week low of $48.18 and a 52-week high of $68.92. The company has a market cap of $14.58 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.65. Magna International (NYSE:MGA Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by $0.27. Magna International had a net margin of 2.30% and a return on equity of 11.63%. The company had revenue of $10.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.45 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.83 earnings per share. Magna Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Magna International will post 5.34 EPS for the current fiscal year. Magna International Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.61%. Magna Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.79%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Manning & Napier Group LLC grew its position in Magna International by 1.6% during the third quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLC now owns 42,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,294,000 after buying an additional 654 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Magna International by 15.3% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 33,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,885,000 after buying an additional 4,428 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Magna International during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV grew its position in Magna International by 323.5% during the second quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 847 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 647 shares during the period. Finally, State of Tennessee Treasury Department grew its position in Magna International by 0.5% during the second quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 153,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,673,000 after buying an additional 797 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.21% of the companys stock. Magna International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Magna International Inc designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. It operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Magna International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magna International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report) by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,796 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,557 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,631,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 102,675.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,860,147,936 shares of the companys stock worth $214,642,470,000 after buying an additional 1,858,338,022 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 103,159.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 39,327,490 shares of the companys stock worth $4,363,385,000 after buying an additional 39,289,404 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter worth about $2,736,293,000. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.2% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 35,734,925 shares of the companys stock worth $3,801,839,000 after buying an additional 8,281,942 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 68,563,817 shares of the companys stock worth $7,294,504,000 after buying an additional 6,546,946 shares during the period. 74.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc. In related news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.01, for a total transaction of $463,292.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,500,144.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a hold rating and a $123.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. UBS Group raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $117.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $115.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $124.55. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MRK Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance Shares of NYSE:MRK opened at $102.66 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $106.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $109.89. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $92.64 and a twelve month high of $119.65. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $260.50 billion, a PE ratio of 84.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.34. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported ($2.06) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($2.18) by $0.12. The business had revenue of $15.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 5.34% and a return on equity of 16.29%. The companys revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.87 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 3.03 EPS for the current year. Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.73 per share. This represents a $2.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is 239.34%. About Merck & Co., Inc. (Free Report) Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Patron Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 4,286 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $228,000. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $62,390,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 14.9% in the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,988,847 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $335,212,000 after buying an additional 1,033,135 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group in the first quarter valued at about $30,293,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Alaska Air Group during the 4th quarter worth about $30,980,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,425,916 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $147,109,000 after acquiring an additional 556,766 shares during the last quarter. 80.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Alaska Air Group alerts: Alaska Air Group Trading Down 0.4 % ALK opened at $32.02 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $38.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.29. The firm has a market cap of $4.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.55. Alaska Air Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $31.73 and a twelve month high of $57.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.72. Analysts Set New Price Targets Alaska Air Group ( NYSE:ALK Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The transportation company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.87 by ($0.04). Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 17.06% and a net margin of 2.50%. The business had revenue of $2.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.53 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group, Inc. will post 5.29 EPS for the current year. A number of brokerages have weighed in on ALK. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $41.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Barclays dropped their target price on Alaska Air Group from $62.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Alaska Air Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $53.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $60.13. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Alaska Air Group About Alaska Air Group (Free Report) Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operated airlines. The company operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the United States, and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States and Canada. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley Investment Management launched five new funds on Thursday under its Eaton Vance and Parametric brands, expanding the firms expansion into the exchange-traded fund business that started earlier this year. The three Eaton Vance ETFs invest in bonds, while the two Parametric funds write options on a stock portfolio to generate income or hedge downside loss. The three bond funds focus on municipal bonds, ultra-short-term bonds and high-yield bonds, respectively. All five of the new funds are actively managed. The new products are part of Morgan Stanleys return to the ETF space after having helped create some of the first funds in the 1990s, before exiting the business. Previous launches in 2023, along with the firms filing for mutual fund conversions earlier this month, show Morgan Stanley is expanding across the ETF market. Were in the initial steps of building out a multi-brand, multi-asset-class platform, Morgan Stanley's global head of ETFs Anthony Rochte said in an interview. Morgan Stanley Options ETFs Priced to Sell Both the options-based ETFs have expense ratios of 0.29%, making them cheaper than many of the dominant players in the options-ETF space. The income-focused Parametric Equity Premium Income ETF (PAPI) is six basis points cheaper than one of the leading funds in the options-ETF space, the $30 billion JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI). The Parametric Hedged Equity ETF (PHEQ) undercuts BlackRocks options-hedging ETFs by more than 20 basis points. Regarding the bond funds, Rochte emphasized the experience and infrastructure the firm has in bond investing. He also said many of the people involved in managing the Eaton Vance fixed-income ETFs are veterans of fixed-income management, and have been involved in managing some of the firms oldest mutual funds, such as the Income Fund of Boston, which was started in 1972. Investors will likely see considerably more activity from Morgan Stanley in the ETF world. Lauren Bellmare, executive director of corporate communications said in an interview that this will not be a one-year project and the company plans to expand globally. Story continues This is not just going to be a few more [funds], she said. Contact Gabe Alpert at gabriel.alpert@etf.com . Permalink | Copyright 2023 etf.com. All rights reserved Portside Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 524,790 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $33,560,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BMY. SevenBridge Financial Group LLC raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. SevenBridge Financial Group LLC now owns 49,112 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,141,000 after purchasing an additional 797 shares during the period. Plancorp LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the second quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 8,973 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $574,000 after buying an additional 275 shares during the period. Security Asset Management lifted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Security Asset Management now owns 9,230 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $640,000 after acquiring an additional 1,558 shares during the last quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc boosted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc now owns 22,040 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,409,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares during the period. Finally, Mcdaniel Terry & Co. grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 6,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $442,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity In related news, 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total value of $1,101,642.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at $1,706,915. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Down 0.0 % Shares of NYSE BMY opened at $56.46 on Friday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $55.69 and a 1 year high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $59.35 and a 200 day moving average of $63.38. The stock has a market cap of $117.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.62% and a return on equity of 50.51%. The business had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.93 earnings per share. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.37 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.04%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 60.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays lowered their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $87.00 to $79.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $84.00 target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target 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. Portside Wealth Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 1,016,120 shares of the natural resource companys stock, valued at approximately $40,646,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. America First Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, BDO Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 626.5% during the 2nd quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 741 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 639 shares in the last quarter. 77.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on FCX shares. StockNews.com upgraded Freeport-McMoRan from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reissued an initiates rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $44.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday. 3M reiterated an initiates rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $42.50. Freeport-McMoRan Stock Down 3.9 % Shares of NYSE:FCX opened at $33.87 on Friday. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.79 and a 1 year high of $46.73. The company has a market capitalization of $48.56 billion, a PE ratio of 22.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.93 and a beta of 2.06. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $38.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.90 and a quick ratio of 1.72. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The natural resource company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 9.50% and a return on equity of 9.98%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.26 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.58 earnings per share for the current year. Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.77%. Freeport-McMoRans payout ratio is 20.27%. Freeport-McMoRan Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) had its price objective increased by Raymond James from $72.00 to $76.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. Raymond James currently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock. SCHW has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $69.91. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Charles Schwab Charles Schwab Stock Down 2.0 % SCHW opened at $50.88 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. Charles Schwab has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The firms fifty day moving average is $56.38 and its 200 day moving average is $55.96. The stock has a market cap of $90.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.93. 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. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 30.14% and a return on equity of 24.86%. The company had revenue of $4.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.62 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was down 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Charles Schwab will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Investors of record on Friday, November 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 33.33%. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total transaction of $4,802,653.02. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,748,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,982,837,543.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 72,047 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.66, for a total transaction of $4,802,653.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 59,748,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,982,837,543.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 159,599 shares of company stock worth $10,542,469. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Charles Schwab Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 93,993.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 965,692,348 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,735,442,000 after purchasing an additional 964,666,040 shares during the period. Dodge & Cox lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 78,462,490 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,109,865,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033,760 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,391,016 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,422,963,000 after purchasing an additional 398,367 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 41,880,424 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,193,697,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000,383 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,050,168 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,413,244,000 after purchasing an additional 391,238 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Renasant Bank decreased its position in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,549 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 322 shares during the period. Renasant Banks holdings in Chevron were worth $558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CVX. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 34,657 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,453,000 after acquiring an additional 829 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 514,497 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $80,956,000 after purchasing an additional 12,929 shares in the last quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 12.4% in the 2nd quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,473 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $232,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 5,205 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $816,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tevis Investment Management grew its position in shares of Chevron by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 4,519 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $711,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.87% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Insider Transactions at Chevron In other news, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total transaction of $603,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,718 shares in the company, valued at $276,391.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Pierre R. Breber sold 25,000 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total transaction of $4,100,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,021 shares in the company, valued at $987,444. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Jeff B. Gustavson sold 3,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.88, for a total transaction of $603,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at $276,391.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. Chevron Stock Performance Shares of CVX opened at $166.83 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stock has a market cap of $311.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.58, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a 50-day moving average of $164.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of $161.29. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $149.74 and a 12-month high of $189.68. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $48.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $48 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 13.54% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 28.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $5.82 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Chevron Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th were issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.30%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CVX has been the topic of several research reports. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Chevron from $209.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Chevron from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Chevron from $203.00 to $201.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Chevron from $209.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $189.89. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Chevron Chevron Profile (Free Report) Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama decreased its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM Free Report) by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 130,819 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 2,358 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned approximately 0.20% of Williams-Sonoma worth $16,371,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 2.1% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,254,018 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $274,224,000 after buying an additional 46,383 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 24.1% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,408,911 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $204,292,000 after purchasing an additional 273,424 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 235.2% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,384,403 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $168,426,000 after purchasing an additional 971,370 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 2.6% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 941,826 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $114,572,000 after purchasing an additional 24,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Congress Asset Management Co. MA increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 0.9% in the first quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 891,205 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $108,424,000 after purchasing an additional 8,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.76% of the companys stock. Get Williams-Sonoma alerts: Williams-Sonoma Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of WSM stock opened at $157.13 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.86, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.55. The firms 50 day moving average is $146.85 and its 200 day moving average is $131.55. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.22 and a 12 month high of $164.47. Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend Williams-Sonoma ( NYSE:WSM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.41. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 11.68% and a return on equity of 64.43%. The business had revenue of $1.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.96 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.87 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 13.98 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 19th. Williams-Sonomas dividend payout ratio is presently 24.88%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $15,000,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 565,835 shares in the company, valued at approximately $84,875,250. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Marta Benson sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.68, for a total value of $1,406,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 54,238 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,630,201.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $15,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 565,835 shares in the company, valued at approximately $84,875,250. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 24th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $103.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $143.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group boosted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $146.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $141.11. Read Our Latest Stock Report on WSM Williams-Sonoma Profile (Free Report) Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Williams-Sonoma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams-Sonoma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its position in shares of Envista Holdings Co. (NYSE:NVST Free Report) by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 500,861 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,279 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned about 0.31% of Envista worth $16,949,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Envista in the 2nd quarter worth about $261,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in Envista by 289.0% during the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 21,132 shares of the companys stock valued at $715,000 after acquiring an additional 15,700 shares during the period. Corbyn Investment Management Inc. MD lifted its position in Envista by 27.2% during the 2nd quarter. Corbyn Investment Management Inc. MD now owns 38,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,286,000 after acquiring an additional 8,131 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Envista during the 2nd quarter valued at about $274,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Envista by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 54,884 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,857,000 after acquiring an additional 3,798 shares during the period. Get Envista alerts: Envista Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of NVST opened at $24.79 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $29.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.94. Envista Holdings Co. has a 1 year low of $23.94 and a 1 year high of $43.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Analysts Set New Price Targets Envista ( NYSE:NVST Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $662.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $655.81 million. Envista had a return on equity of 7.60% and a net margin of 8.40%. Envistas quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.48 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Envista Holdings Co. will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. NVST has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Envista from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Envista from $46.00 to $42.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Envista from $40.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $41.20. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on NVST Envista Profile (Free Report) Envista Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells dental products in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Specialty Products & Technologies, and Equipment & Consumables. The Specialty Products & Technologies segment offers dental implant systems, guided surgery systems, biomaterials, and prefabricated and custom-built prosthetics to oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and periodontists; and brackets and wires, tubes and bands, archwires, clear aligners, digital orthodontic treatments, retainers, and other orthodontic laboratory products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Envista Holdings Co. (NYSE:NVST Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Envista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Envista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lessened its position in shares of The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC Free Report) by 0.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 431,416 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 1,602 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned 0.29% of Chemours worth $15,915,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Chemours during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Chemours in the first quarter worth about $33,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC purchased a new stake in Chemours in the first quarter worth about $47,000. Dupont Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in Chemours in the second quarter worth about $64,000. Finally, Vigilant Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chemours in the first quarter worth about $54,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.46% of the companys stock. Get Chemours alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets CC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Chemours from $64.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. TheStreet cut Chemours from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Barclays cut their target price on Chemours from $40.00 to $31.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $33.00 target price on shares of Chemours in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Chemours in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $37.22. Chemours Price Performance Shares of Chemours stock opened at $24.99 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $30.38 and a 200 day moving average of $31.85. The Chemours Company has a 12 month low of $24.93 and a 12 month high of $39.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.45, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Chemours (NYSE:CC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.75 billion. Chemours had a positive return on equity of 46.14% and a negative net margin of 1.40%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.89 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that The Chemours Company will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Chemours Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. Chemourss payout ratio is -147.06%. Chemours Company Profile (Free Report) The Chemours Company provides performance chemicals in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials. The Titanium Technologies segment provides TiO2 pigment under the Ti-Pure brand for delivering whiteness, brightness, opacity, durability, efficiency, and protection in various of applications, such as architectural and industrial coatings, flexible and rigid plastic packaging, polyvinylchloride, laminate papers used for furniture and building materials, coated paper, and coated paperboard used for packaging. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chemours Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemours and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) by 23.1% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 64,550 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 19,364 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $17,042,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Accel Wealth Management lifted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 254.0% in the 1st quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 177 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.72% of the companys stock. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BDX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Barclays lifted their price target on 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 decreased their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $304.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $286.00. Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.5 % NYSE BDX opened at $258.64 on Friday. 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 has a twelve month low of $217.70 and a twelve month high of $287.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.03 billion, a PE ratio of 46.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.58. The stocks 50 day moving average is $267.82 and its 200 day moving average is $261.92. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.89 by $0.07. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.24% and a net margin of 8.73%. The company had revenue of $4.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.66 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast 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. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 66.06%. Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total value 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total value 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total value of $238,847.68. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 21,608 shares in the company, valued at $6,086,109.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 5,581 shares of company stock worth $1,551,429 over the last ninety days. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Becton, Dickinson and 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. Featured Articles 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. RFP Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR Free Report) (TSE:QSR) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 500 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $39,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. North Star Investment Management Corp. bought a new position in shares of Restaurant Brands International in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 1,234.1% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 587 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 543 shares in the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new position in Restaurant Brands International in the 1st quarter worth $43,000. Finally, SkyView Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 263.4% in the 1st quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 883 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 640 shares in the last quarter. Get Restaurant Brands International alerts: Restaurant Brands International Trading Down 0.7 % QSR opened at $65.49 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.80. The firm has a market cap of $20.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.91, a PEG ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.99. Restaurant Brands International Inc. has a 12 month low of $55.65 and a 12 month high of $78.30. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $67.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $71.22. Restaurant Brands International Dividend Announcement Restaurant Brands International ( NYSE:QSR Get Free Report ) (TSE:QSR) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The restaurant operator reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.09. Restaurant Brands International had a net margin of 15.03% and a return on equity of 34.44%. The business had revenue of $1.78 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.75 billion. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Restaurant Brands International Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 20th were given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 19th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. Restaurant Brands Internationals payout ratio is 66.87%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently commented on QSR. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Restaurant Brands International from $81.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $83.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Restaurant Brands International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.41. Get Our Latest Analysis on QSR Restaurant Brands International Profile (Free Report) Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QSR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR Free Report) (TSE:QSR). Receive News & Ratings for Restaurant Brands International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Restaurant Brands International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RFP Financial Group LLC raised its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 25.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 812 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 166 shares during the period. RFP Financial Group LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $89,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.7% in the second quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 24,422 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,662,000 after purchasing an additional 1,743 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 6.9% in the second quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 121,521 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $13,248,000 after purchasing an additional 7,801 shares during the period. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.8% in the second quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,474 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $924,000 after purchasing an additional 616 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.4% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 496,784 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $54,159,000 after purchasing an additional 20,713 shares during the period. Finally, Coston McIsaac & Partners grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 11.7% in the second quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 955 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total value of $5,688,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,775,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $770,759,948.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $1,092,312.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,829,785.81. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total transaction of $5,688,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,775,316 shares in the company, valued at $770,759,948.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets ABT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. TheStreet lowered shares of Abbott Laboratories from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $112.00 to $107.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $117.47. Check Out Our Latest Report on Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance NYSE:ABT opened at $96.77 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $99.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $167.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.92, a PEG ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.69. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $89.67 and a 1-year high of $115.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.16. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.82 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 20.22%. The businesss revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. Analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.39%. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Genel Energy plc's (LON:GENL ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for Genel Energy Genel Energy Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In fact, the recent purchase by Yetik Mert was the biggest purchase of Genel Energy shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That implies that an insider found the current price of UK0.89 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. 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. Happily, the Genel Energy insider decided to buy shares at close to current prices. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Yetik Mert. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Does Genel Energy Boast High Insider Ownership? Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Genel Energy insiders own 24% of the company, worth about UK60m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About Genel Energy Insiders? The recent insider purchase is heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. But on the other hand, the company made a loss during the last year, which makes us a little cautious. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Genel Energy insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Genel Energy that deserve your attention before buying any shares. 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. RiverFront Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 90,845 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after buying an additional 3,222 shares during the quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $10,396,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EOG. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Pinnacle Holdings LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Kalos Management Inc. bought a new stake in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. increased its position in EOG Resources by 1,136.4% in the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 272 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. 89.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Stock Performance NYSE EOG opened at $133.23 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $121.44. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $98.52 and a 12-month high of $150.88. The firm has a market cap of $77.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.98, a PEG ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 1.55. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.21. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.58% and a return on equity of 28.52%. The business had revenue of $5.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.74 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.74 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.41 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 16th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.48%. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is 22.24%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently commented on EOG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on EOG Resources from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered EOG Resources from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $155.00 to $146.00 in a report on Tuesday. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on EOG Resources from $165.00 to $164.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on EOG Resources from $150.00 to $145.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on EOG Resources from $138.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.54. Read Our Latest Stock Report on EOG Resources Insider Transactions at EOG Resources In other news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total transaction of $595,088.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 145,259 shares in the company, valued at $18,994,066.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. EOG Resources Profile (Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in shares of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB Free Report) by 9.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,448 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 374 shares during the quarter. Brighton Jones LLCs holdings in Schlumberger were worth $218,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SLB. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 38,158,939 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,873,604,000 after buying an additional 1,147,896 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 35,212,430 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,728,928,000 after buying an additional 2,280,503 shares in the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 28,317,520 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,390,390,000 after buying an additional 925,143 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Schlumberger by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,347,967 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,241,319,000 after purchasing an additional 401,606 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Schlumberger by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 19,604,360 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $962,574,000 after purchasing an additional 310,397 shares in the last quarter. 79.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Schlumberger alerts: Schlumberger Price Performance Shares of Schlumberger stock opened at $58.21 on Friday. Schlumberger Limited has a twelve month low of $42.73 and a twelve month high of $62.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.24, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $59.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $53.36. Schlumberger Announces Dividend Schlumberger ( NYSE:SLB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 20th. The oil and gas company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.32 billion. Schlumberger had a return on equity of 21.27% and a net margin of 12.63%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.63 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Schlumberger Limited will post 2.97 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.72%. Schlumbergers dividend payout ratio is presently 36.50%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup raised their price objective on Schlumberger from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. HSBC dropped their price target on Schlumberger from $75.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Raymond James raised their price target on Schlumberger from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Schlumberger in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $62.00 price objective on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Monday, July 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Schlumberger has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.19. Get Our Latest Research Report on Schlumberger Insiders Place Their Bets In other Schlumberger news, CAO Howard Guild sold 17,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.97, for a total transaction of $1,014,475.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,181 shares in the company, valued at $1,285,832.57. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Stephane Biguet sold 6,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.93, for a total value of $368,312.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 182,265 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,740,876.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Howard Guild sold 17,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.97, for a total value of $1,014,475.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 22,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,285,832.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 158,805 shares of company stock worth $9,297,298 over the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Schlumberger Company Profile (Free Report) Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Schlumberger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schlumberger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 28.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,997 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,395 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $585,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PM. Fairfield Bush & CO. raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 26,141 shares of the companys stock worth $2,456,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 35.6% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,939 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the period. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its position in Philip Morris International by 24.7% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 3,065 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Philip Morris International by 54.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 525 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 8,987 shares of the companys stock worth $844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have weighed in on PM shares. Barclays cut their price target on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 13th. 22nd Century Group restated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.42. Philip Morris International Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of NYSE PM opened at $92.56 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $143.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.97, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.71. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $84.44 and a 52-week high of $105.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $93.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $95.50. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.62 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 129.48% and a net margin of 11.41%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.53 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.05 EPS for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 27th were given a $1.30 dividend. This is a positive change from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 26th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.62%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 100.97%. About Philip Morris International (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC grew its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 32.9% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,131 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 528 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $657,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ACN. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Accenture in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new position in Accenture during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Sageworth Trust Co lifted its position in Accenture by 872.7% during the first quarter. Sageworth Trust Co now owns 107 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Accenture during the first quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, First Command Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in Accenture by 131.6% during the first quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 132 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently commented on ACN. Societe Generale lifted their price objective on Accenture from $314.00 to $373.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Piper Jaffray Companies reduced their target price on Accenture from $314.00 to $312.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $340.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com downgraded Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Wedbush restated an outperform rating and issued a $330.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $333.24. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total value of $1,887,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 161,622 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $48,816,308.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Leonardo Framil sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.52, for a total transaction of $934,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,264,064.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total value of $1,887,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 161,622 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,816,308.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 16,250 shares of company stock valued at $5,066,510. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Accenture Stock Performance NYSE:ACN opened at $297.00 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $313.42 and a 200-day simple moving average of $303.69. The stock has a market cap of $186.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.22. Accenture plc has a 1 year low of $242.80 and a 1 year high of $330.43. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $15.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.07 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 10.72%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.60 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.1 EPS for the current year. Accenture Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a $1.29 dividend. This is an increase from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. Accentures payout ratio is presently 47.91%. Accenture declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, September 28th that allows the company to buyback $4.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the information technology services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Accenture Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Global Energy ETF (NYSEARCA:IXC Free Report) by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 19,723 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 371 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Global Energy ETF were worth $734,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of IXC. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 23.7% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 18,417 shares of the companys stock worth $665,000 after purchasing an additional 3,523 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 9.1% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 172,815 shares of the companys stock worth $6,334,000 after purchasing an additional 14,483 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 78.2% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 30,290 shares of the companys stock worth $1,095,000 after purchasing an additional 13,294 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $406,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Global Energy ETF by 3.3% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 125,994 shares of the companys stock worth $4,555,000 after purchasing an additional 4,007 shares during the period. Get iShares Global Energy ETF alerts: iShares Global Energy ETF Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IXC opened at $41.35 on Friday. iShares Global Energy ETF has a twelve month low of $34.19 and a twelve month high of $42.38. The stocks 50 day moving average is $40.70 and its 200-day moving average is $38.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.37 and a beta of 1.13. About iShares Global Energy ETF iShares Global Energy ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Energy Sector Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global Energy Sector Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the S&P Global 1200 Index, and measures the performance of companies that S&P deems to be part of the energy sector of the economy. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Global Energy ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Global Energy ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 297 shares of the companys stock after selling 23 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in AutoZone were worth $741,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Independence Bank of Kentucky acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of AutoZone by 600.0% in the 1st quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 14 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp raised its stake in shares of AutoZone by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.34% of the companys stock. Get AutoZone alerts: Insider Transactions at AutoZone In related news, VP Domingo Hurtado sold 2,950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,640.84, for a total value of $7,790,478.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 156 shares of the companys stock, valued at $411,971.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, VP Albert Saltiel sold 2,245 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,595.04, for a total value of $5,825,864.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 537 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,393,536.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Domingo Hurtado sold 2,950 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,640.84, for a total value of $7,790,478.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 156 shares in the company, valued at approximately $411,971.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 5,315 shares of company stock valued at $13,922,106. 2.59% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. AutoZone Stock Performance AZO opened at $2,490.28 on Friday. AutoZone, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $2,250.33 and a fifty-two week high of $2,750.00. The company has a market capitalization of $45.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2,533.56 and a 200-day moving average of $2,531.38. AutoZone (NYSE:AZO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, September 19th. The company reported $46.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $44.51 by $1.95. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 60.66% and a net margin of 14.48%. The company had revenue of $5.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $40.51 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 147.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently weighed in on AZO. Northcoast Research began coverage on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of AutoZone from $2,425.00 to $2,500.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of AutoZone from $2,835.00 to $2,750.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of AutoZone in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. They set an outperform rating and a $2,975.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,740.00 to $2,750.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoZone has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,793.95. View Our Latest Research Report on AZO AutoZone Profile (Free Report) AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC raised its stake in McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,777 shares of the fast-food giants stock after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Choate Investment Advisors grew its stake in shares of McDonalds by 45.5% in the 2nd quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 22,582 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $6,739,000 after purchasing an additional 7,064 shares during the last quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in McDonalds by 3.2% during the second quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,484 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,338,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in McDonalds by 4.3% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 208,676 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $62,271,000 after purchasing an additional 8,692 shares during the last quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners raised its holdings in McDonalds by 0.3% during the second quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 21,904 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $6,536,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Semus Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in McDonalds by 5.2% during the second quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,738 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $817,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. 67.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: Insider Transactions at McDonalds In other news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total transaction of $1,569,680.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 29,031 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,128,680. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total transaction of $1,569,680.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 29,031 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,128,680. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 4,487 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.02, for a total value of $1,265,423.74. Following the sale, the insider now owns 10,786 shares in the company, valued at $3,041,867.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 19,956 shares of company stock worth $5,580,451. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on MCD shares. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on McDonalds from $340.00 to $335.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Bank of America boosted their price target on McDonalds from $319.00 to $343.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on McDonalds from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Guggenheim cut their price target on McDonalds from $330.00 to $285.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on McDonalds from $325.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $319.67. Read Our Latest Report on McDonalds McDonalds Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $258.11 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $270.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $284.21. McDonalds Co. has a 52-week low of $245.73 and a 52-week high of $299.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $188.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.75, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.65. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The fast-food giant reported $3.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.40. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 139.57% and a net margin of 33.06%. The firm had revenue of $6.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. McDonaldss revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that McDonalds Co. will post 11.52 EPS for the current year. McDonalds Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $6.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.59%. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is presently 55.93%. McDonalds Company Profile (Free Report) McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises McDonald's restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company's restaurants offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and nuggets, fries, salads, shakes, frozen desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, bakery items, soft drinks, coffee, and beverages and other beverages, as well as breakfast menu, including muffins, Sausages, biscuit and bagel sandwiches, oatmeal, hash browns, breakfast burritos and hotcakes. Read More Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report) by 11.7% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,076 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,332 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $1,163,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Choate Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 19.8% in the second quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 67,883 shares of the companys stock worth $7,833,000 after buying an additional 11,214 shares in the last quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 19.4% in the second quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 28,658 shares of the companys stock worth $3,307,000 after buying an additional 4,663 shares in the last quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 5.2% in the second quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 84,543 shares of the companys stock worth $9,755,000 after buying an additional 4,177 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.8% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 725,389 shares of the companys stock worth $83,703,000 after buying an additional 33,118 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Adams Diversified Equity Fund Inc. raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 165.8% in the second quarter. Adams Diversified Equity Fund Inc. now owns 223,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,767,000 after purchasing an additional 139,300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.59% of the companys stock. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MRK. UBS Group raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $117.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $115.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a hold rating and a $123.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $122.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $124.55. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.01, for a total transaction of $463,292.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,935 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,500,144.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance Shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $102.66 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $260.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 84.15, a P/E/G ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 0.34. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $109.89. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $92.64 and a 12 month high of $119.65. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported ($2.06) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.18) by $0.12. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 16.29% and a net margin of 5.34%. The business had revenue of $15.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.87 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.73 per share. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is currently 239.34%. Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile (Free Report) Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR Get Free Report) Director Amir Rosenthal sold 500 shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total transaction of $27,500.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,652 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $915,860. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Stock Performance Shares of RGR opened at $54.67 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $52.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.48. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $49.45 and a fifty-two week high of $63.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $968.75 million, a PE ratio of 14.35 and a beta of 0.48. Get Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. alerts: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $142.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $137.91 million. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. had a net margin of 11.69% and a return on equity of 19.81%. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.s revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.17 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. will post 3.66 EPS for the current year. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th were paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. This is a boost from Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.s dividend payout ratio is 37.80%. RGR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 13th. Aegis restated a hold rating on shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on RGR Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Spire Wealth Management grew its holdings in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 148.4% in the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 996 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 595 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 44.7% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,139 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. during the 1st quarter valued at $86,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.23% of the companys stock. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells firearms under the Ruger name and trademark in the United States. It operates through two segments, Firearms and Castings. The company provides single-shot, autoloading, bolt-action, and sporting rifles; rimfire and centerfire autoloading pistols; single-action and double-action revolvers; and firearms accessories and replacement parts, as well as manufactures lever-action rifles under the Marlin name and trademark. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The semiconductor company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.13, Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $17.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.90 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 28.71% and a net margin of 41.42%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.79 EPS. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing updated its Q4 2023 guidance to EPS. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 1.7 % Shares of TSM opened at $91.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.42 and a quick ratio of 2.13. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a 1 year low of $59.43 and a 1 year high of $110.69. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $90.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $93.58. The firm has a market cap of $473.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.07. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend The firm 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 $0.4724 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $1.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.07%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is presently 26.44%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Analyst Ratings Changes A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TSM. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC purchased a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the first quarter valued at about $34,000. Retirement Group LLC grew its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 82.5% during the second quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 334 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the first quarter valued at about $44,000. 16.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on TSM shares. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $115.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com raised shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $122.50. View Our Latest Stock Report on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile (Get 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. See Also 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. andresr / Getty Images Nearly all rental property owners or management companies require that tenants pay a security deposit. Typically set as one months rent (or more), the deposit is meant to cover a landlords expenses related to any property damage or unpaid rent. The trouble is, getting your rental security deposit back can sometimes be a challenge. Check Out: The Average American Spends This Much on Rent See How You Stack Up Read More: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases To ensure a smooth and hassle-free return of your funds, this guide on how rental deposits work and how to get your security deposit back provides some essential tips. What Is a Security Deposit? Landlords typically require that new tenants pay some rent in advance (such as first and last months rent) plus a security deposit before move-in. The security deposit is meant to be set aside for when you move out, in case you didnt pay parts of your rent, left trash or debris in the unit or caused damages to the rental. Once the rental agreement ends and you move out, landlords have a set number of days (which varies by state) to return the security deposit, minus any amount they spent in repairs, cleaning or past-due rent to return the rental to its original state. Its in the Lease Agreement Understanding your lease agreement is crucial to knowing your responsibilities. Pay close attention to terms and conditions related to the security deposit. Some terms may include: How much notice to give before moving out (for example, 30 days notice) Cleaning requirements upon moving out (broom clean is often mentioned) Any nonrefundable charges such as pet cleaning fees Other potential deductions for situations such as leaving furniture or personal goods behind after moving out or not returning keys Im a Real Estate Agent: Dont Rent an Apartment If It Has Any of These 10 Problems Know Your Legal Rights Its a good idea to familiarize yourself with your state or local laws regarding security deposits. Most have regulations governing how property managers and landlords must handle security deposits, including: Story continues The maximum deposit they can require The time frame for return The maximum allowable deductions If your landlord is uncooperative or you believe your deposit has been unfairly withheld, you may need to consult your local tenants rights association or with an attorney. Here is more on security deposit requirements by state. General Security Deposit Requirements by State for Leases One Year or Longer States Security Deposit Amount Limit Deadline for Return AK 2 months rent 14-30 days AL 1 month rent 60 days AR 2 months rent 60 days AZ 1 1/2 months rent 14 days CA 2 months rent (3 months if furnished) 21 days CO No limits 30 days or 60 days if specified in lease CT, IA, ME, MO, PA 2 months rent 30 days DC 1 month rent 45 days DE, RI 1 month rent 20 days FL No limits 15-30 days GA, LA, MN, MT, OH, SC, TX, UT, WY No limits 30 days HI, NE, NY, SD 1 month rent 14 days ID No limits 21-30 days IL No limits 30-45 days IN, MS No limits 45 days KS, MA, ND, NH, NM 1 month rent 30 days KY No limits 30-60 days MI, NJ 1 1/2 months rent 30 days MD, VA 2 months rent 45 days MN No limits 3 weeks after providing forwarding address NC 2 months rent 30-60 days NH 1 month rent 20-30 days NV 3 months rent for private landlords, 1 month for public rentals 30 days OK No limits 45 days OR No limits 31 days TN No limits No limits VT No limits 14-60 days WA, WI No limits 21 days WV No limits 45-60 days What Can Legally Be Deducted? Knowing what a landlord can and cant withhold is helpful when youre preparing to move out. The term normal wear and tear is often used to describe non-negligent use of a rental. Some examples include: Scuffs on the wall or doors Faded paint Worn carpet from regular use A reasonable number of pin or nail holes on walls from hanging art I Grew Up Poor: Here Are 8 Things I Never Waste Money On 9 Tips on How To Get Your Security Deposit Back Now that you have an idea of how deposits work and what your rights are, here are tips on how to get your security deposit back. 1. Document the Move-In Before moving in, document the propertys condition by taking photographs or videos, and make a written inventory of any existing damages. Make sure you receive and save a receipt showing you paid the security deposit. This documentation is vital evidence if there are disputes over damages when youre trying to get your security deposit back. Date and store these records safely. 2. Maintain the Property Taking care of the rental property during your tenancy is essential for a hassle-free security deposit return. Keep the premises clean and in good condition, and promptly report any maintenance issues to your landlord or property manager. Remember that reasonable wear and tear (such as a dent on the wall from where a door hits) is typically not subject to deductions from your deposit, but excessive damage or neglect (such as a large hole in the drywall) may be. 3. Give Proper Notice Most lease agreements require tenants to give notice before moving out, typically at least 30 days. Be sure to provide notice as per the lease terms, and do so in writing. This not only ensures that youre following the contract but helps you avoid any potential disputes related to notice periods. 4. Clean and Repair To increase your chances of getting your full security deposit back, thoroughly clean the property and make any necessary repairs before you vacate. Pay attention to areas that commonly gather dirt and grime, like the kitchen, bathroom and floors. Repair any minor damages you caused during your tenancy, such as holes in walls or broken fixtures. This proactive approach can help reduce deductions from your deposit for cleaning and repairs. 5. Document the Move-Out Be sure to do a walkthrough of the property and record video or take photos of the condition of the home before you move out. It could come in handy if the landlord or management company claims there were damages. 6. Attend the Final Inspection Request a final walkthrough with your landlord or property manager. During this inspection, you can address any concerns and ensure that both parties agree on the propertys condition; having an open conversation can help avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. If its not specified in your lease, asking the landlord during this final walkthrough for when you can expect the return of your security deposit will help you follow up later. 7. Return Keys After moving out, be sure to return all keys and access devices to the landlord or property manager or follow the instructions provided, such as leaving the keys in the apartment or with the buildings reception, for example. Request a receipt of the key return and keep it for your records. 8. Leave a Forwarding Address Leaving a forwarding address is essential for the return of your security deposit. Landlords typically have a legal cushion of 15 to 60 days to return your deposit and its likely theyll send you a check in the mail, along with an itemization of any money withheld. 9. Follow Up If you dont receive your security deposit within the time frame specified in your lease or by local laws, follow up with your landlord or property management company. Politely request information about the status of your deposit return and if there are any deductions. What To Do If You Dont Get Your Security Deposit Back If you dont receive your security deposit back according to local laws or what was stated in your lease, consider the following steps. 1. Get Help Most areas have tenants rights associations that provide free help and advice to tenants who are having trouble with their landlords. You may receive guidance on what steps to take next or what your rights are. 2. Send a Certified Notice Send a signed and dated letter to the management company or landlord, stating that you havent received your deposit back, with a demand for action. Be sure to send it certified should you need to go to small claims court in the future, youll need proof that the demand letter was delivered. A sample letter should include the following: Date Your name Your new address Dear [Landlord], Explanation of when you vacated the property, including the address and that you havent received your security deposit back yet. Be sure to cite the time frame for return stated in your lease or what your states regulations are. Conclude that if the issue isnt addressed in a reasonable amount of time, you will take them to small claims court to recover your security deposit. 3. Go To Small Claims Court If you dont receive your deposit back or at the very least, an explanation, you could take the matter to small claims court. Its during this step when all the documents and images you collected and saved come in handy as evidence that you did your best, as required. Be sure to have ready: A copy of the signed lease A copy of the certified demand letter and proof it was received Photos or videos of the rentals condition during move-in and move-out Anything else that supports your case Takeaway Knowing how to get your security deposit back after renting a home takes diligence, communication and knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. By following these steps and maintaining open communication with your landlord or property manager, you can increase the likelihood of getting your full security deposit back. FAQs What are security deposit laws? Most states have laws about how much a landlord can collect as a deposit and how much time they have to return it. In general, deposits are calculated as one or two months worth of rent and must be returned between 15 and 45 days after moving out. Refer to the chart above for security deposit laws in your area. When will my security deposit be returned? The return of your deposit depends on your lease agreement or local laws. In general, the security deposit (minus any itemized deductions for cleaning, repairs or unpaid rent) is returned in 15 to 45 days after moving out or providing your forwarding address. What if my landlord doesnt return my security deposit? If your landlord doesnt return your security deposit within the time frame stated in your lease (or according to your states laws), you could send a certified demand letter requesting the return within a certain number of days or youll take them to small claims court. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Renting? Get Your Security Deposit Back With These 9 Tips Telia Company AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:TLSNY Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The technology company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.08, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Telia Company AB (publ) had a negative return on equity of 23.17% and a negative net margin of 16.73%. The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter. Telia Company AB (publ) Price Performance Shares of TLSNY stock opened at $4.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.81. Telia Company AB has a twelve month low of $3.78 and a twelve month high of $5.64. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.48. Get Telia Company AB (publ) alerts: Telia Company AB (publ) Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 26th will be given a dividend of $0.0899 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 25th. Telia Company AB (publ)s dividend payout ratio is currently -34.25%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have commented on TLSNY shares. Berenberg Bank lowered Telia Company AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Barclays lowered Telia Company AB (publ) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, September 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Telia Company AB (publ) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have issued a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Telia Company AB (publ) has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $33.25. Read Our Latest Report on TLSNY About Telia Company AB (publ) (Get Free Report) Telia Company AB (publ) provides communication services to businesses, individuals, families, and communities in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. It offers mobile, broadband, television, and fixed-line services; and networking, cloud and security, mobility, enterprise mobile network, contact center, managed mobility services, collaboration solutions, enterprise telephony, Internet of Things (IoT), carrier ethernet, dedicated internet access, wavelengths, IP Transit, dark fiber, and colocation solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report) by 10.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 72,684 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,780 shares during the quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLCs holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $5,234,000 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 stock. Diversified Trust Co bought a new position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group during the second quarter worth about $785,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 482,904 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $33,654,000 after purchasing an additional 20,579 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.3% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 642,986 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $44,810,000 after purchasing an additional 8,514 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.4% during the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 38,013 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,649,000 after buying an additional 1,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 51.6% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 225,954 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $15,747,000 after buying an additional 76,931 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HIG has been the topic of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $85.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $87.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $75.00 to $77.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.00. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Stephanie C. Bush sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.40, for a total transaction of $253,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 15,063 shares in the company, valued at $1,090,561.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 4,508 shares of company stock worth $325,737 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock. The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 2.2 % NYSE HIG opened at $70.39 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $71.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $71.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $64.25 and a twelve month high of $79.44. The stock has a market cap of $21.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.32, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.85. The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.03. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 17.54% and a net margin of 8.53%. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.09 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 7.81 EPS for the current year. The Hartford Financial Services Group Profile (Free Report) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 4.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 903,384 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 37,627 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp owned about 0.12% of Duke Energy worth $81,070,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DUK. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 10,018,171 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,031,772,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037,012 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 100,433.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,846,616 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $808,123,000 after acquiring an additional 7,838,811 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Duke Energy by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 7,647,858 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $853,961,000 after acquiring an additional 318,102 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,511,024 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $705,786,000 after purchasing an additional 22,557 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 27.7% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 6,271,751 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $605,036,000 after purchasing an additional 1,361,658 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.68% of the companys stock. Get Duke Energy alerts: Duke Energy Trading Down 0.9 % NYSE DUK opened at $87.03 on Friday. Duke Energy Co. has a one year low of $83.06 and a one year high of $106.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $90.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.43. Analyst Ratings Changes Duke Energy ( NYSE:DUK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.98 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $6.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.16 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 5.06% and a return on equity of 8.05%. Duke Energys revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.14 EPS. Research analysts expect that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current year. A number of research analysts recently issued reports on DUK shares. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $104.00 to $101.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Duke Energy from $102.00 to $93.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Duke Energy from $105.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price target on Duke Energy from $109.00 to $96.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $98.82. View Our Latest Analysis on Duke Energy Duke Energy Company Profile (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT Free Report) by 19.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,244 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,269 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLCs holdings in Vertiv were worth $650,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Vertiv during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,128,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Vertiv during the 2nd quarter worth about $106,000. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in Vertiv by 2.8% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 92,924 shares of the companys stock worth $1,330,000 after buying an additional 2,492 shares during the period. Numerai GP LLC acquired a new position in Vertiv during the first quarter worth approximately $5,021,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Vertiv by 5.5% during the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 45,882 shares of the companys stock worth $657,000 after buying an additional 2,403 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.37% of the companys stock. Get Vertiv alerts: Insider Transactions at Vertiv In other news, Director Doherty Philip O sold 1,916,824 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.17, for a total transaction of $63,581,052.08. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,324,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $408,793,083.77. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Vpe Holdings, Llc sold 20,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.91, for a total transaction of $698,200,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,955,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $626,816,555.65. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Doherty Philip O sold 1,916,824 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.17, for a total value of $63,581,052.08. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 12,324,181 shares in the company, valued at $408,793,083.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 31,952,832 shares of company stock worth $1,138,166,280. 5.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Vertiv Stock Down 1.8 % VRT opened at $36.75 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $37.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.64. The company has a market cap of $13.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 78.19 and a beta of 1.41. Vertiv Holdings Co has a one year low of $11.95 and a one year high of $43.13. Vertiv (NYSE:VRT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.17. Vertiv had a return on equity of 31.02% and a net margin of 2.84%. The company had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.10 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 23.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Vertiv Holdings Co will post 1.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VRT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on Vertiv from $40.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 9th. TheStreet upgraded Vertiv from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Vertiv from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 11th. Bank of America upgraded Vertiv from an underperform rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $14.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Vertiv from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $34.64. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Vertiv About Vertiv (Free Report) Vertiv Holdings Co, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and life cycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whitecap Resources Inc. (OTCMKTS:SPGYF Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Friday, October 20th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 31st will be given a dividend of 0.0446 per share on Wednesday, November 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 30th. This is an increase from Whitecap Resourcess previous dividend of $0.04. Whitecap Resources Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of OTCMKTS SPGYF opened at $8.17 on Friday. Whitecap Resources has a 12-month low of $6.63 and a 12-month high of $8.98. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $8.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.77. Get Whitecap Resources alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$13.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$14.00 to C$13.00 in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$14.00 to C$13.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Whitecap Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Whitecap Resources Inc, an oil and gas company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and gas assets in Western Canada. The company's primary areas of focus of its development programs are in Northern Alberta and British Columbia, Central Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Whitecap Resources Inc was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Whitecap Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whitecap Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets 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/Zhai Jianlan] BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira in Beijing. Xi said that China and Brazil are the two largest developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres, respectively, and are emerging major countries with global influence. Faced with a tumultuous world, the two countries should firmly support each other. The Belt and Road Initiative is highly compatible with Brazil's reindustrialization and New Growth Acceleration Program, Xi said, adding the two sides should synergize them to facilitate their respective modernization process. Xi said China supports Brazil in hosting the G20 summit next year as well as the United Nations climate change conference in 2025, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Brazil. Xi expressed the hope that Lira and his fellow members of the chamber will actively promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Brazil, and contribute to the better development of bilateral ties. Lira said that cooperation with China has effectively promoted Brazil's economic and social development and increased Brazil's employment and production capacity. China's success is of great significance to the world, and China has always been an important partner for Brazil's development. As the rotating chair of the G20 next year, Brazil is willing to closely communicate and coordinate with China, and looks forward to President Xi's visit then, said Lira. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets 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/Liu Weibing] (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, 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. 20, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting that China and Vietnam have developed a deep friendship of "camaraderie and brotherhood," Xi said the two countries are both advancing their own socialist modernization cause, both regard the bilateral relationship as a priority in their respective foreign policy, and both see each other's development as opportunities for their own development. Facing a rapidly changing international landscape, the two countries should work together in following the path of socialism and building a community of a shared future with strategic significance, Xi said. He called on China and Vietnam to pursue a path to prosperity and strength in line with their own national conditions, and strengthen cooperation in advancing the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan. The countries should also strengthen cooperation in emerging fields such as e-commerce, and should continue to make the bond between the people of China and Vietnam, particularly younger generations, even closer, Xi said. Thuong said over the past decade, the Belt and Road has become a key high-quality international cooperation platform featuring openness and inclusiveness, and has boosted relevant countries' development and promoted the friendship between their peoples. President Xi's speech at the opening ceremony of the forum expounded on strategic plans and concrete measures, which will greatly influence future international cooperation and global development, the Vietnamese president said. Thuong said Vietnam always regards China's development as an opportunity and supports socialist China in further developing and realizing the goal of building itself into a great modern socialist country on schedule. Vietnam believes that China will make greater contributions to promoting world peace and development, he added. The Vietnamese side is willing to intensify high-level strategic communication with China and continuously enrich the contents of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under new circumstances, Thuong said. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, 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. 20, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Weibin] (Source: Xinhua) Click the photo and watch the video. * As the Belt and Road Initiative is embracing its next golden decade, this pivotal consensus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by participating countries bears high significance. Through joint efforts, the initiative is poised to generate fresh opportunities for the global economy and bestow greater benefits. * As the initiator of the BRI, China has been actively promoting small-scale yet impactful projects through. The construction of roads, railways, schools, hospitals and agricultural facilities has helped alleviate poverty and improve people's well-being in the world's most needed places. * The BRI's success during the last decade is based on its core principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits that promote multilateralism as well as equitable and just global governance. * The BRI has created a cooperation platform for common development and helped many developing countries speed up their march toward modernization. BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) The just-concluded forum here in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) signifies a landmark milestone in the Belt and Road cooperation. In a keynote speech at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged that China will work with all parties involved to usher Belt and Road cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries. As the initiative is embracing its next golden decade, this pivotal consensus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by participating countries bears high significance. Through joint efforts, the initiative is poised to generate fresh opportunities for the global economy and bestow greater benefits. Chance for Global South The BRI has created favorable development conditions for Global South countries, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The initiative has improved infrastructure, attracted foreign direct investment, driven economic growth, accelerated regional and global integration, and boosted people-to-people exchanges, Hun Manet noted. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 13, 2019 shows a 50 MW solar power farm in Garissa, Kenya. [Xinhua/Xie Han] As the initiator of the BRI, China has been actively promoting small-scale yet impactful projects through. The construction of roads, railways, schools, hospitals and agricultural facilities has helped alleviate poverty and improve people's well-being in the world's most needed places. Statistics show that the BRI has helped lift about 40 million people out of poverty in participating countries. It has also galvanized up to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs over the past decade. A report by global economic consultants Cebr estimated that the BRI is likely to boost world GDP by 7.1 trillion dollars per annum by 2040. As an observer, Damilola Ogunbiyi, special representative of the UN secretary-general for sustainable energy for all, said the BRI can advance renewable energy adoption across the Global South countries in the next decade. "As the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles, China is well-placed to help enable the adoption of low-carbon technologies at scale in emerging economies and developing nations through the BRI," Ogunbiyi told Xinhua. "The BRI has opened new paths for all humanity," she said, "and we have seen its significant impacts on emerging economies and developing nations." Fairer Global Governance The BRI's success during the last decade is based on its core principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits that promote multilateralism as well as equitable and just global governance. The initiative has gradually formed a new vision of global development and governance, with development-oriented, open cooperation, multilateral consultation and harmonious coexistence as the underlying principles, said a research report issued by Xinhua. "The BRI commits itself to a more balanced development approach," said the report entitled "The Belt and Road Development Studies -- A Synergy Approach to Global Development." "It does not engage in geopolitical ploys or ideological wrangling but focuses on development which is the priority of every country." Passengers take selfies in a carriage of a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train running on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, Oct. 17, 2023. [Xinhua/Xu Qin] The BRI has achieved great success and has become an important international public good widely recognized by the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the forum. Putin expressed his confidence in the greater achievements of this great cause. He said that Russia is willing to strengthen communication and collaboration with China within multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS, uphold the international system based on international law, and promote the establishment of a more just and reasonable global governance system. "What has happened over the last decade then is a profound shift from a unipolar world to a multipolar one," said Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences. "In this China has been a major contributor, for its influence in the world through building new channels of communication has grown enormously." According to Albrow's observation, the Belt and Road cooperation extends to nearly 75 percent of the countries in the world. "Let us call it relational power, the ease with which you can communicate with another, initiate contact, find what is in your mutual interests, exchange goods and services, and discover what you have in common." "We see the outcomes of China's relational philosophy not just for other countries but also for global governance generally," he added. Sustainable Modernization The great vision of the forum held this week is to jointly modernize the world, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "The BRI has created a cooperation platform for common development and helped many developing countries speed up their march toward modernization," said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. So far, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements, with the initiative extending from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America. Engineering vehicles are seen at a construction site of Hungary-Serbia railway project in Delegyhaza, Hungary, Feb. 22, 2023. [Xinhua/Zheng Huansong] In the eyes of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the joint construction of the Belt and Road has drawn global participation and become a new model of international cooperation. The BRI, he said, has become an open and inclusive platform to promote international mutual trust, which is particularly important in the current complex geopolitical situation. Uzbekistan is ready to further deepen green cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries to create a green future for mankind, he added. Currently, BRI projects have been largely focusing on local environmental protection to achieve a harmonious existence between humans and nature. "It has contributed very important green rail corridors in Kenya, Ethiopia, Laos and most recently in Indonesia," said Erik Solheim, president of the Green Belt and Road Institute and former under-secretary-general of the United Nations. "The BRI is progressively greener, with a massive focus on solar, wind, hydro and green transport. In the future, it will be the world's number one vehicle for green investments," Solheim said. Innovation has further empowered the BRI. "Now, we have a digital silk road, an important tool for new partnerships, especially for those countries that are far from China, such as Brazil and other Latin American countries," said Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil. Although the Belt and Road has the Asian continent as a focus, the BRI is open and serves a circle of friends, a big circle in which all interested countries can participate, said the Brazilian expert. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Xinhua that Serbia is improving its digital agenda, innovation, and artificial intelligence to achieve high-quality development. "I believe that will continue with the same pace on the same path with the very best results and for the benefit of our people," he said. During the past 10 years, China supported infrastructure development and connectivity projects across the world, providing an opportunity for countries to improve the trade network and expand the economic potential, said Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia. While sharing his expectations for the BRI's prospect, Phea said, "The BRI has become a new engine for global economic growth," and will inject new momentum into building a community with a shared future for mankind. Video reporters: Zhou Yang, Liu Yutian, Mei Yuanlong, Shi Peng, Liu Xiaorui, Zhao Xiaoqing, Zheng Xin, Zheng Qingbin and Hong Ling Video editors: Zhou Yang, Li Qin, Hui Peipei, Lin Lin and Liu Yutian (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Sri Lankan 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, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing] BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting that Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and push for new progress in developing China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and lasting friendship. China is willing to import more quality and specialty products from Sri Lanka, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, so as to help Sri Lanka transform and upgrade its economy and achieve sustainable development, Xi said. China will continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without any political strings attached and help the country cope with difficulties concerning its society and people's livelihood, he said, adding that China is glad to see Sri Lanka becoming a commercial center in the Indian Ocean. The two sides should strengthen collaboration on international and regional affairs, oppose politicization of the human rights issue and bloc confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries, Xi said. Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka has attached great importance to and actively participated in the Belt and Road cooperation from the very beginning and has faith in its potential and prospects. Noting the openness of the Indian Ocean, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is willing to enhance communication with China in regional affairs and promote solidarity and cooperation among developing countries. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Sri Lankan 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, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. ([Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] (Source: Xinhua) An apartment building in San Francisco has reportedly experienced a large decrease in its value compared to where it stood in 2018. The San Francisco Chronicle, citing data from Trepp, reported Thursday that the building, the Crescent Heights-owned NEMA, had its value decline by $264.6 million, hitting $279 million, more than a 48% drop from 2018, when it was worth $543.6 million. Trepp had also tweeted about it Wednesday. The company, which tracks structured finance, commercial real estate and banking markets, said the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loan connected to it was $384 million. The Mid-Market area of San Francisco, where the headquarters of X (previously known as Twitter) and other office buildings are located, houses NEMA. The roughly 10-year-old building has 37 floors and 754 rental units, according to the Crescent Heights website. SAN FRANCISCO FIRE SALE: DOWNTOWN HIGH RISE SELLING AT A 73% DISCOUNT The change comes just a couple months after another Trepp report indicated the NEMA could potentially have to contend with foreclosure from a mortgage default, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Business Times. Special servicing reportedly received the loan. READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP An aerial view of the San Francisco skyline on May 30, 2023. FOX Business reached out to Crescent Heights for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. San Francisco and its real estate markets have been working to recover from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has a large presence of companies in the tech sector, many of which let their employees start working remotely. SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK FACE URBAN DOOM LOOP Data published by the San Francisco Office of Economic Workforce & Development showed that weekly office attendance in San Francisco for the week of September 27 averaged 44%, a level it has been hovering around for some time. The city posted a 26% office space vacancy rate for the quarter ending in March. Story continues The western span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge and San Francisco skyline. This year, a slew of companies indicated that they would exit locations in San Franciscos downtown area. Reasons have varied, with some citing changing consumer habits, local business conditions and safety concerns, FOX Business has previously reported. AT&T, WESTFIELD MALL, NORDSTROM LEAD SAN FRANCISCO DOWNTOWN EXODUS The city had an estimated population of roughly 808,400 in 2022, significantly down from 881,500 in 2019, according to the San Francisco Office of Economic Workforce & Development data. Original article source: San Francisco apartment building facing foreclosure, significant decline in value Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. Thongloun is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and a working visit to China. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing] BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao president, in Beijing on Friday. The two leaders inked a 2024-2028 action plan between the CPC and the LPRP on building a China-Laos community with a shared future after their meeting. During the meeting, Xi said the two sides should leverage the new five-year action plan to enrich the relations between the two parties and the two countries, and inject new impetus into regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. He called on the CPC and the LPRP to continuously deepen political mutual trust, enhance governance capability, and strengthen communication and cooperation. The two sides should tap deeper into the potential of the China-Laos Railway, steadily advance the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and create a template for Belt and Road cooperation in the region, Xi said. China stands ready to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos, import more quality farm produce from Laos, and expand cooperation in energy and mining, he noted. He also said China supports Laos, which will assume the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs. Thongloun, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and a working visit to China, expressed appreciation for China's long-time and valuable assistance for the economic and social development of Laos. He noted that the new five-year action plan will further consolidate the friendly cooperation between the two parties and the two countries. Laos is ready to strengthen high-level interaction with China, advance practical cooperation on the Laos-China Economic Corridor and other projects, and enhance coordination and cooperation on ASEAN-China relations and regional issues to push for new development of bilateral relations, Thongloun said. After the meeting, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation, digital economy, media, culture, tourism, public health, and customs inspection and quarantine. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the event. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2023. Thongloun is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and a working visit to China. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Western Returned Scholars Association to rally talent from around the world and pool strengths of creativity for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the association, which is celebrating its 110th founding anniversary. (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) Around 1,800 delegates to China's 13th National Women's Congress, along with 90 specially invited delegates, will attend the congress to be held from Oct. 23 to 26 in Beijing, according to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF). During the congress, delegates will hear and review a report of the 12th ACWF Executive Committee, amend the federation's constitution and elect its new leadership. The congress will pool the strength and wisdom of Chinese women to strive for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. (Source: Xinhua) Sydney Powell, Donald Trump and Kenneth Chesebro are pictured in a split image. Two stalwart allies of former President Donald Trump flipped against him in the past 36 hours, a staggering turn of events that could now pose a grave threat to his ability to fend off criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Spirit Airlines said it is canceling flights so it can inspect 25 of its planes, which will be out of service for several days. In a statement, the budget airline said it was going to "perform a necessary inspection of a small section of 25 of our aircraft." Spirit said it was taking that step "out of an abundance of caution" but did not provide further details. The airline said it would take several days for its network to get back to normal. The Florida-based airline said it had 202 planes as of Oct. 1. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, Spirit canceled 98 flights on Friday, or 11% of its scheduled total. Spirit said people with scheduled flights should monitor their email and the company's website and app before heading to the airport. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com What is the Rafah crossing, Gazans last hope to escape the war, and how does it work? The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia South Korea: Seoul Metro workers strike over job cuts Unions representing 14,000 workers from Seoul Metro announced on Monday that 81 percent of members who participated in a ballot approved strike action against Metros plan to cut 13.5 percent of its workforce by 2026. Metro management claims it has suffered massive deficits for years and must cut at least 2,211 jobs to reduce costs. The collective negotiation team, comprising representatives of the Korean Public Service and the Transport Workers Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Public Trade Unions, said discussions had collapsed after 10 rounds of negotiations since July 11. The unions alleged that the cost-cutting plan includes outsourcing safety-related duties and will directly jeopardise safety. They said that, out of 383 outsourcing duties, 75 percent are related to personnel at the subways general control centre, which is crucial for maintaining safe operations. After mediation talks with the Seoul National Labor Relations Commission on Tuesday, the unions announced on Wednesday that they will go out on strike next month. The strike will affect Seoul Subway Lines 1 to 8 and a portion of Line 9. This is not the first time these workers have taken strike action over the job cuts. In November last year, the unions shut down a strike by Metro workers after 14 hours, claiming to have secured a promise from management that it would not proceed with its downsizing plan. Pakistan: Punjab teachers strike against privatisation and cuts to entitlements Public school teachers in Punjab province have been on strike since October 13 with several demands relating to cuts to entitlements and privatisation. Educational activities have been totally stopped. Strikers are protesting outside their schools, chanting slogans and demanding the release of 200 teachers arrested at a protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Lahore on October 13. A Punjab Teachers Union spokesperson told the media that the strike would continue until all arrested teachers were released and all demands accepted. Teachers are demanding restoration of leave encashment, reversal of amendments to pension regulations, reduction of retirement benefits by 70 percent, and the cancellation of plans to privatise 10,000 schools. The teachers are part of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance comprising government employees of various sectors. The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association announced their solidarity with the striking teachers and decided to boycott the upcoming examinations. Bangladesh: Khulna Agricultural University teachers on indefinite strike over appointments Teachers from the Khulna Agricultural University (KAU) have been on strike since October 8, demanding immediate solutions to problems related to the appointment and promotion of teachers. Teachers said they will continue the strike until their demands are met, while academic activities are severely disrupted. Demands of the KAU Teachers Association include the promotion of 39 teachers, which has been delayed since the government cancelled the recruitment process in August last year, and financial compensation for these teachers. They are also seeking the appointment of 73 teachers whose qualifications have been verified by a re-evaluation committee. The Association claims the committees report has remained stuck in the education ministry for two months. India: Tamil Nadu taxi drivers end two-day strike without resolution Nearly 2,500 taxi drivers from Ola, Uber, Red Taxi, Porter and FastTrack called off a two-day strike on Wednesday afternoon. They were calling for the government to regulate the cab aggregators. The Tamil Nadu Road Transport Workers Federation said the companies are currently collecting a commission of 30 percent, which drivers want reduced to 10 percent. Other demands included fixed meter charges, provision of meters for autos, banning of bike-taxis, increased penalties for renting private vehicles and government-issue license badges for commercial vehicles, including those used for apps like Ola and Uber. The workers also protested against alleged illegal toll booths. A union spokesman urged the government to ensure that drivers are not victimised, or delisted haphazardly. A memorandum of demands was issued to the transport minister. Drivers plan to hold demonstrations in Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Chennai in the next two days. Haryana sanitation workers strike in Gurugram city enters fifth week Contract sanitation workers from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) have been on strike since September 18 to demand cancellation of contract tenders and for the corporation to directly employ sanitation workers hired by existing agencies. The corporation has hired contractors in an attempt to remove garbage that is piling up in the streets, without success. The MCG terminated contracts with current sanitation agencies, alleging non-performance and regular union strikes. It hired six new agencies, but their employees have joined the union and are on strike over the non-payment of salaries. Tirunelveli municipal sanitation workers protest privatisation Workers from the Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation (TMC) in Tamil Nadu have been protesting against the state governments decision to privatise sanitation and related operations. They submitted a petition at the Tirunelveli Collectorate on Tuesday demanding the government let them remain affiliated with self-help groups (SHGs). Police arrested 450 workers on Monday, when they entered the corporations administrative building to stage a sit-in protest. Of the 1,600 sanitation workers at TMC, only 290 are permanent, while 753 are affiliated to SHGs. The newly inducted Chennai-based contractor employs 530 workers. SHG workers complained that if they are transferred to the governments hand-picked contractors, their wages will drop due to the contractors taking a commission and they will lose benefits. TMC has refused to make the workers permanent and urged the SHGs to register themselves as a company through the government portal and retain benefits under the Employees State Insurance and Employees Provident Fund schemes. The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) announced more protests were planned. National Health Mission contract doctors in Maharashtra strike for permanent jobs About 42,000 contract doctors and Class IV health workers from the National Health Mission (NHM) in Maharashtra held a state-wide strike on October 16 to demand permanent jobs. Many workers have been working on a contract basis for over a decade. Workers said with the health department currently grappling with a substantial number of vacant positions, the burden of patient care falls heavily on the shoulders of contractual staffers. The government has decided to begin filling vacancies and NHM workers are demanding preference in the process. Bihar government teachers protest holding residential training during Navaratri festival Government school teachers in Bihar observed a daylong fast on Monday to oppose the state education departments residential training program, which runs from October 16 to 21. They demanded that the program be rescheduled after Navaratri, an annual Hindu festival. The training program, aimed at improving teaching skills, faced criticism from several teacher associations. The TET Primary Teachers Association said protests will resume if their demand is not met within 48 hours. Telangana road transport workers protest after suicide of female colleague Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) workers demonstrated at the Bandlaguda bus depot in Hyderabad on Wednesday, following the suicide of a conductor, Ganji Srividya (48), after she received a suspension letter on October 12. Srividya had worked as an RTC conductor for 12 years. Her son, Shiva, filed a complaint at the LB Nagar police station, stating that the suspension caused her to suffer depression and led to her suicide. She died on October 16 at the Kamineni Hospital. This was not the first time a worker from TSRTC has committed suicide due to pressure from the corporation. Two conductors and a driver at the company took their own lives during an indefinite strike in 2019. Sri Lankan public sector workers demand pay rise The Association of Public Service Trade Unions organised lunch-hour protests by public sector workers across the island on Monday to oppose the rising cost of living and demand a pay rise. Hundreds of workers protested in front of the Divisional Secretariat in Colombo, displaying placards calling for a wage increase of 20,000 rupees ($US61) and to stop the misuse of pension funds, along with other demands. Similar protests were held in front of Divisional Secretariats in Kegalle, Central Province and Ampara, Eastern Province. Australia Infrabuild steel fabrication workers in New South Wales hold second strike Australian Workers Union (AWU) members at Infrabuilds rod-mill in Newcastle, 140 kilometres north of Sydney, walked off the job for 21 hours on October 16, in opposition to the wage offer contained in a proposed enterprise agreement from the company. Around 30 workers rallied outside the mill with signs saying, Profits up. Wages down, and Infrabuild rolling down wages On September 14, they participated in a 48-hour strike involving around 200 workers in the complex. Strikers included members of the Electrical Trades Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the AWU. A union spokesman said workers want a pay rise that meets the cost of living plus maintenance of superannuation co-contributions. Pacific National extends lockout of cargo movement planners in New South Wales Freight rail operator Pacific National has extended a lockout of 100 union members at its Integrated Planning Services (IPS) division in New South Wales until October 25. Twenty non-union workers remain on the job, and management has redeployed former IPS staff to maintain operations. Members of the Rail Tram and Bus Union were locked out on October 6, after implementing limited work bans as part of a bid to replace existing contracts with a union-brokered enterprise agreement. The workers have been employed on common law contracts since 2016, when Pacific National closed planning centres in Parramatta, Newcastle and Dulwich and then moved staff out of their enterprise agreement, employing them under new work categories in the new IPS entity. According to the union, PN has refused to offer a wage rise to bring workers in line with the industry standard. It has also refused to include basic workplace rights in the agreement, such as arbitration and redundancy clauses. Metro Tasmania bus maintenance workers strike over low pay Bus mechanics at government-owned Metro Tasmania walked off the job on October 12 to protest wages that are well below industry standard. Metro Tasmania operates commuter services in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) said half of Metros mechanics have left in the past 18 months and one-third of positions remain vacant due to low wages. Training has also been reduced. The union claimed that wages are $10 per hour less than elsewhere in the industry. In his famous 1916 pamphlet Imperialism and the Split in Socialism, Lenin described imperialism as political reaction all down the line. In both foreign and domestic policy, finance capital does not want freedom, but domination. At the same time, the difference between the republican-democratic and the monarchist-reactionary imperialist bourgeoisie... is blurred precisely because both are rotting alive. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber] Lenins analysis aptly describes the reactionary spectacle that took place yesterday in the Bundestag, Germanys federal parliament. Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a government statement in which he once again fully supported Israels genocidal destruction of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, he threatened Hezbollah and Iran and announced further arms deliveries to Kiev for the expansion of the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. His speech culminated in a massive attack on democratic rights and a veritable declaration of war against refugees and migrants. For this, representatives of all parliamentary partiesfrom the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Left Partyrepeatedly applauded him. After his return from the Middle East, Scholz began his speech with a renewed declaration of support for Israel. After the terrible attack by Hamas on Israel, he said, it was very important for him to underline on the ground in Israel what many of us expressed here in the Bundestag last week: In this difficult time, Germanys place is firmly at Israels side. According to the German government, standing firmly on Israels side means 100 percent solidarity with the far-right Netanyahu government and its brutal onslaught against the Palestinians. These include horrific war crimes such as the targeted bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday night, which killed close to 500 people alone, and the air strike on a Greek Orthodox church which killed more than a dozen people taking shelter there. Scholz and the federal government are directly involved in these acts of terror. Immediately before the attack on the hospital, Scholz gave Prime Minister Netanyahu his full backing at a joint press conference. Behind the backs of the population, the Bundeswehr (German army) is also preparing to intervene. On Thursday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Israel. According to media reports, the talks with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant focused, among other things, on supporting the Israeli army with Bundeswehr material. German warships and soldiers are also being mobilised. Pistorius announced that, in addition to the frigate Baden-Wurttemberg, the troop supply ship Frankfurt am Main would take a position off the Lebanese coast as part of the UNs UNIFIL mission. In addition, soldiers from the Bundeswehrs Special Forces Command (KSK) and the elite police unit GSG 9 were transferred to Cyprus. It is becoming increasingly clear that Israel and its imperialist backers are not only concerned with the Gaza Strip, but with control over the entire Middle East. The US has already deployed two aircraft carriers, fighter jets and soldiers to the region, and there are many indications that war preparations against Iran and its allies in the regionespecially the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syriaare well advanced. Such a war would turn the entire region into a battlefield and threaten millions of lives. At the same time, the NATO powers are escalating the war against Russia in Ukraine. Germany is also playing a leading role here. We will discuss in the European Council what we have to do, how we can continue to support Ukraine, Scholz said. Germany is already doing this by putting together a winter package that includes many elements. Specifically, Scholz announced the delivery of an additional Patriot unit, new IRIS-T missile defense systems, new Cheetah anti-aircraft guns, and the ammunition required for them. We will not let up in our support for Ukraine, he added. The very fact that German imperialism is once again waging war against Russia after the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union in World War II and is relying on far-right forces in Kiev shows what criminal traditions the ruling class is reestablishing. The same applies to the rhetoric and methods of the war offensive against the Palestinians: brutal collective punishment, the systematic bombing and murder of civilians and the degradation of an entire people to human animals (Gallant) are in line with the policies of the Nazis. The height of cynicism and criminality lies in the fact that this essentially fascist approach and the suppression of the growing opposition to it is being promoted in the name of the fight against antisemitism. A firm stand is required here, and we are showing it together in Germany, Scholz threatened, demanding: The authorities must be clear and must not allow gatherings where such crimes are likely and there is a fear that antisemitic slogans will be shouted. In fact, the German ruling classwhich murdered six million Jews under the Nazis and is today building another fascist party with the AfDis not concerned with the fate of the Jews. German imperialism is also pursuing geostrategic and economic interests in the Middle East and is prepared to risk an all-out war. At home, the argument of antisemitism serves to establish a dictatorship. Anyone who speaks out against Israels genocide of the Palestinians is considered an antisemite and terroristJewish war opponents are also persecuted. Under these auspices, even Hitler would support the official campaign against antisemitism. The fact that the fascist AfD, whose leaders have described the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as a monument of shame and the Nazi era as bird shit in history, enthusiastically celebrate the actions of Israel and the German government also speaks volumes. Scholz and the parties in his coalition, the Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats, for their part, are implementing the racist and inhuman refugee policy of the extreme right. In addition to strengthening Europes external and internal borders, Scholz announced in his government statement a large repatriation package, which the Federal Government is now considering and will bring to the Bundestag for a vote before the end of the year. The name of the package sums up its programme. The federal government is planning the mass deportation of refugees. The measures would make it easier to carry out deportations, Scholz announced. It will make it easier to establish identities. It will make it easier to deal with those who keep coming back and trying to make new requests. It will make deportations easier to enforce, including by extending custody. There is a direct link between the war offensive and the attack on refugees. The more aggressively the ruling class pushes its criminal war policy and the associated social spending cuts, the more it closes ranks and relies on dictatorship and fascism to suppress the growing social and political opposition at home. The ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the outright war on refugees are directed against all workers. The ruling class is alarmed by the worldwide mass protests and fears the explosion of the class struggle in Germany as well. The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) and the World Socialist Web Site support the antiwar protest movement in Germany and internationally. It must be developed and expanded on the basis of a revolutionary socialist programme. In a recent statement from the WSWS editorial board, we write: Workers must demand an immediate halt to the Israeli bombing of Gaza and the demobilization of all Israeli troops and their withdrawal from the border with Gaza. The siege on Gaza must be ended, and food, water, electricity, medical care and all other necessities must be made available immediately. The International Criminal Court must initiate proceedings against Netanyahu, Scholz, Biden and all the leading figures in the US-NATO axis who are supporting the Israeli genocide against Gaza. It is only through the intervention of masses of workers and youth throughout the world that this unfolding genocide can be stopped and those responsible be held to account. Following the Labour Party governments historic defeat in New Zealands October 14 election, the corporate media quickly declared that voters had moved sharply to the right (Washington Post) delivering what the UK Guardian called a surge in support for the conservative National Party and its allies. The New Zealand media is full of references to a blue wave of support for National. National Party leader Christopher Luxon addressing National members the day before the election, October 13, 2023 [Photo: Christopher Luxon] A New Zealand Herald editorial states that Labour lost because it had no clear messaging, and Right-wing populists tend to be better at cutting through to people and forming a connection than centre-left communicators. Pro-Labour Party columnist Josie Pagani posted on X: Labour must avoid the trap of thinking it failed because it wasnt left wing enough. Sobering factthe majority of voters just voted for parties on the right. Only a third for parties on the left. This is a gross distortion of reality. While the vast majority of voters rejected the Labour governmentwhose support plummeted from 50 percent in the 2020 election to 26.9 percentthere is no mass support for the right. The preliminary results reflect opposition to the entire political establishment. (About one in four votesmainly cast by people outside their electoratesare still being counted and the final results will be known on November 3.) National received only 39 percent of the votes. As the WSWS noted, if one adjusts for one in four eligible peoplemore than 1 millionwho did not vote in the election, National received just over 22 percent and the far-right New Zealand First and ACT parties got less than 10 percent combined. The three parties are in negotiations to form what will be a highly unstable and unpopular coalition government. Millions of working people rejected Labour because of its thoroughly right-wing record. The party ditched any adherence to limited, socially progressive policies four decades ago. It represents the interests of big business and sections of the upper middle class, no less than National. Doctors and supporters protest outside Wellington Hospital, September 13, 2023. The Labour Party governed in coalition with the Greens and the right-wing nationalist NZ First from 20172020, and then with the Greens from 20202023. Throughout this period, its policies produced a catastrophic increase in social inequality, poverty and homelessness. Public services were starved of funds, provoking repeated strikes by tens of thousands of teachers and healthcare workers. The media commentary on Labours collapse ignores the partys enthusiastic support for wars fomented by US imperialism. Labour sent NZ troops to Britain to train Ukrainian conscripts for the US proxy war against Russia, and signalled its commitment to the US build-up to war against China. There was virtually no discussion of foreign policy during the election campaign because Labour and National, and their allies, agree with New Zealands alliance with the United States. In the final days of the campaign, Labour and National both supported Israels right to defend itself, which provided the fraudulent pretext for unleashing a genocidal assault against the population of Gaza. On election day, thousands of people in New Zealand joined the worldwide protests against Israels bombing of the city and in support of Palestinians fight for freedom. Palestinians stand by the building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, October 14, 2023. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali] The governments stance likely contributed to the humiliating defeat of Labours foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta, who lost the Maori electorate of Hauraki-Waikato to 21-year-old Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pati Maori. Mahuta was one of Labours most senior MPs who had been in parliament for 27 years. The most significant factor in Labours crushing defeat is the cost-of-living crisis. During the election campaign Prime Minister Chris Hipkins sought to cover up the crisis by repeating the dubious claim that the government had lifted 77,000 children out of poverty. This is based on official figures showing the proportion of children living in households making less than 50 percent of the median income after housing costs fell from 22.8 percent in 2018 to 15.4 percent in mid-2022a decrease from 253,800 to 176,800 children living below the poverty line. These figures are more than a year out of date and do not account for the recent dramatic surge in living costs, especially for food and rent. According to the New Zealand Food Network, in the last six months alone, the number of people relying on food banks at least once a month increased 20 percent, from 450,000 to 600,000, which is 11 percent of the population. The housing crisis has pushed 25,000 people onto the waiting list for public housing, up from 5,000 in 2017. Approximately 100,000 people are estimated to be homeless. Meanwhile, the banks have repeatedly announced record profits, and property investors have expanded their wealth thanks to the Reserve Banks quantitative easing, as well as tens of billions of dollars in government subsidies for big business during 2020 and 2021. To divert attention from the social crisis, Labour has sought to blame its defeat, especially in Auckland, on alleged opposition to public health measures taken during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hipkins told Radio NZ on Wednesday: Its clear that from the end of 2021 we saw our support numbers drop quite significantly we lost a lot of support in Auckland during that last lockdown period and we havent regained it back. Senior Labour MP Andrew Little, who announced his retirement this week, similarly told Radio NZ that the partys loss of support in Auckland was a consequence of the COVID response and just the extraordinary level of disruption, compounded by tough economic conditions. Labours supporters in the media are echoing this theme. The Daily Blogs Martyn Bradbury declared: That voters didnt care National, ACT and NZ First would unleash madness highlights how much voters were burnt by Covid lockdowns and Labours grotesque incrementalism. Labour leader Chris Hipkins in Wellington on October 6, 2023 [Photo: Chris Hipkins MP] These claims are false. Labour was re-elected with an absolute majority in parliament in 2020, despite growing social inequality, based on its initial response to the pandemic, which the government described as an elimination strategy. Fearful of opposition among health workers and the broader working class, from March 2020 prime minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a series of lockdowns and border controls which initially kept New Zealand largely free from COVID. Under pressure from the financial elite in New Zealand and internationally, on October 3, 2021 Ardern announced an end to the elimination policy. A lockdown that had been imposed in Auckland in August to suppress a COVID outbreak was eased in September, allowing the virus to spread, and then completely lifted in December, with the government falsely claiming it was impossible to stop the Delta variant. The New Zealand Herald, in its analysis of the election result, cites a Taxpayers Union Curia poll showing that the share of voters who believed the country was going in the wrong direction rose sharply from 26 percent in September 2021 to 36 per cent in October, and 45 per cent in November, as the lockdown was repeatedly extended. The Herald does not mention Arderns announcement at the start of October that the overwhelmingly popular elimination strategy would be scrapped. Labours support in opinion polls plummeted from around 45 percent for most of 2021 to the low 30s in 2022 not because of lockdownswhich the government never reintroducedbut because of the worsening social crisis and the public health catastrophe that it knowingly unleashed on the population. New Zealand went from near-zero transmission of COVID and just 30 total deaths, as of October 2021, to having among the highest weekly COVID deaths per capita of any country in mid-2022. The pandemic death toll now stands at more than 3,400, with hundreds being hospitalised and about 20 people dying each week. Impoverished areas such as South Auckland have been worst affected, with frequent reports of overcrowded hospitals, driven by COVID combined with chronic underfunding of the health system. Long waiting times at emergency departments and for vital surgeries have led to several avoidable deaths. In these working-class areas, Labours support dropped primarily due to low turnoutnot support for National. The Electoral Commission estimates that nationwide turnout among enrolled voters was 78.4 percent3.8 points lower than 2020. But in Manurewa, a South Auckland electorate often described as a safe Labour seat, turnout collapsed by about one third from 30,468 in 2020 to 20,215 three years later, according to the preliminary figures. Labour still gained the biggest share of the party votes in Manurewa, with 10,409 votes, but this is less than half the 22,137 it gained in 2020. Meanwhile National only increased its vote from 3,904 to 5,807. The same pattern is repeated in other impoverished Auckland electorates including Mangere and Panmure-Otahuhu. Even allowing for the turnout to increase slightly once special votes are counted on November 3, the drop in all these areas is dramatic. In the electorate of Hutt South, north of Wellington, total votes cast fell from 45,625 to 33,035. This produced a victory for the National Party and its candidate Chris Bishop, even though Nationals party vote only increased from 10,033 to 11,338. Labours party vote collapsed from 25,159 to 10,806. The WSWS interviewed workers in Hutt South in the lead-up to the election, many of whom had supported Labour in the past but were deeply disillusioned and angered by rising living costs and homelessness, which some had personally experienced. Several people said they had decided not to vote for anyone. In the lead-up to the election the Daily Blog accused those planning to vote for National and its allies of racism. This ignores Labours anti-immigrant policies, which undoubtedly contributed to the swing against the party in areas with significant migrant populations. Migrants protest outside Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns Mount Albert electorate office against the governments discriminatory policies, April 2, 2021 [Photo: 2021 Resident Visa Impacted (Facebook)] Senior Labour MP Michael Wood lost his Auckland electorate of Mount Roskill, previously considered a safe Labour seat, where 48.5 percent of the population identifies as Asian. Nationals Carlos Cheung, a Chinese New Zealander, won the seat. In New Lynn, with a 36 percent Asian population, Labours Deborah Russell lost to Nationals Paulo Garcia, who is of Filipino descent. From 20172020 Labour governed in a coalition with NZ First, a party notorious for demonising Muslims, Chinese and Indian migrants. From 20202022 the Ardern government operated one of the most restrictive border regimes in the world, with a limited number of hotel quarantine places reserved for residents returning to New Zealand. While border quarantine was necessary to stop the spread of COVID, the government limited the number of places available. Thousands of work visa holders were shut out of the country, including many who had homes, jobs and families in New Zealand, while people applying for residency faced interminable delays. Thousands of migrants protested against these measures. Outside the urban centres, Labour suffered heavy losses in the East Coast and Hawkes Bay, where thousands of homes and farms were destroyed or damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle in February. Hundreds of families are embroiled in disputes with insurance companies over repairs, while others have received buyout offers from the government and local councils that will likely leave them worse-off. Flooding on Venables Avenue, Napier. [Photo: Corena] One of Labours most significant defeats was the South Island seat of West Coast-Tasman. The region is often called the birthplace of the Labour Party and New Zealands trade unions because of the role played by party founders in the major 1908 Blackball coal miners strike. Labour has held the electorate almost continuously since 1928, except for 19901993. In last weeks election, Labours agriculture and trade minister Damien OConnor lost the seat after holding it since 1993. Labours party vote in the electorate more than halved from 20,521 in 2020 to 8,732, but Nationals only increased slightly from 10,934 to 12,224. Turnout was down slightly and ACT, NZ First and the Greens all increased their support. The large, sparsely-populated electorate includes the site of the Pike River mine disaster in 2010, where 29 workers were killed because Pike River Coal placed profits and production ahead of safety. The company was assisted by the trade union bureaucracy, which knew about the extremely unsafe conditions in the mine but said nothing and allowed production to continue. Families of the Pike River 29 and supporters picket on the road to the mine on July 9, 2021 [Photo: Kath Monk] Labour, the Greens and NZ First all promised in 2017 to re-enter the mine to recover evidence, as well as human remains, in order to finally hold those responsible to account. Six years later, however, no one has been brought to justice. The mine was only partially re-entered, and in 2022 the Labour government permanently sealed it, preventing vital evidence from being recovered. This action triggered protests by families of the victims, supported by thousands of workers throughout New Zealand and internationally. Anger over the Ardern-Hipkins governments betrayal of the Pike River families, and the ongoing cover-up of the disaster, has certainly contributed to Labours defeat. In the absence of a genuine socialist alternative to all the capitalist parties, the main beneficiaries of Labours bloodbath in the short term are National and its far-right allies. Labours support parties also increased their votes at Labours expense, with Te Pati Maori (TPM) going from 1.2 to 2.6 percent and the Greens from 7.9 to 10.77 percent. The Greens gained ground particularly in central Wellington, where both Labour and National pledged to slash tens of thousands of public sector jobs. Notwithstanding their populist rhetoric, including calls for a wealth tax and other minor reforms, TPMwhich was a coalition partner in the 20082017 National-led governmentand the Greens have both been part of governments which carried out attacks on workers living standards. Neither represents a genuine alternative. The election demonstrates that the working class in New Zealand is politically disenfranchised by a parliamentary system which is lurching to the right. Large numbers of workers abstained, and many of those who voted did so negatively, casting a protest vote against Labour, or voting reluctantly for Labour or one of its allies as a lesser evil against National and its allies. The result is a far-right government that is preparing major attacks on workers at home, and will accelerate the militarisation of society in preparation to join new imperialist wars. The National-ACT-NZ First coalitions agendaexpected to include initial cuts of at least 6.5 percent to 24 government agencieswill provoke intensified opposition from the working class. What is urgently required is a revolutionary socialist perspective and party, capable of uniting workers across New Zealand and internationally against austerity and war. We call on workers and young people who are seeking a way forward in the fight against capitalism, and the parliamentary parties which all uphold it, to contact the Socialist Equality Group and join the fight to build the New Zealand section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a police-state raid, arresting a Palestinian migrant in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest Arab American population in the United States. In recent weeks, thousands have taken to the streets in Dearborn to protest against Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and the arrest took place as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the population and suppress broad support for the struggle of the people of Palestine. ICE agents conducting an arrest in Philadelphia on February 18, 2020 [Photo: ice.gov] I am an immigration attorney based in the Detroit area and a member of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE). Last week I received an urgent request for pro bono legal support for a Palestinian who had been arrested by ICE. The arrest raid had the character of an operation that would take place under a dictatorship. The manner in which the arrest took place also indicates it was part of a high-level decision to intimidate and block opposition to US support for Israeli war crimes. Efforts to intimidate Palestinian people in the US have been reported by various non-profits and include reports that agents from the national security apparatus are surveilling mosques in an attempt to intimidate opposition to Israel. What happened in Dearborn is as follows: ICE agents staked out the individuals home for many hours, intimidating the entire neighborhood with their presence. When the individual left home, ICE followed them and carried out a high-visibility arrest involving over a half dozen vehicles and many agents. Such operations are not conducted on the whim of local officers, they are are directed from Homeland Security headquarters in Washington D.C. When I was informed of this, I began attempting to reach my client. Agents at the detention center acknowledged the individual was there, but refused to let me speak to them. I called dozens of timesliterallyand was not put through. It took me almost five days to get through to them. I have never had such difficulty reaching a detainee, even when clients are detained at rural jails along the US-Mexico border. This was not a result of incompetence by ICE or prison authorities, it was a decision to essentially hold the detainee incommunicado for nearly a week. When I finally was able to speak to my client, a court date had been set days earlier without anyone having informed me, leaving little time to prepare. Agents had already conducted interviews without me present in flagrant violation of the Fifth Amendment right to due process. This cannot be allowed to happen! These types of police-state methods will be used against the entire population, immigrant and non-immigrant alike. It is urgently necessary that the working class mobilize to stop the attacks on Palestinians and Arab Americans. This is the first part of a lecture of that David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party (US), gave at the University of Michigan in November 1993 as part of the celebration by the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Workers League, the forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party (US), of the 70th anniversary of the Left Opposition. The lecture reviews the political origins of the Left Opposition, which was founded in October 1923, in the context of the objective situation confronting the Bolsheviks after the 1917 revolution and the different political tendencies within the Bolshevik Party. The second part was posted on October 23, 2023. The publication of this lecture in the International Workers Bulletin issue of January 10, 1994. Why should we study the Left Opposition? This evening we begin the first in a series of three lectures devoted to the origins of the Left Opposition, founded by Leon Trotsky and other leading figures in the Russian Communist Party 70 years ago. Some of you may be attending this lecture in the hope that you will learn more about the Russian Revolution. That is a perfectly valid reason for being here tonight; and I hope that you will find this and the next two lectures informative. However, I must say that the founding of the Left Opposition is an event of more than merely historical interest. The world in which we live has been shaped, to a far greater extent than most of you can even imagine, by the outcome of the political struggle that began some 70 years ago in Soviet Russia; and it is not possible to understand the present world political situation without understanding the issues that were raised by the Left Opposition. To justify this evaluation of the contemporary significance of the Left Opposition we need only to point to the events that have transpired in what is now known as the former USSR. In the fall of 1987, I delivered four lectures here at the University of Michigan on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the October Revolution. At that time, I explained the view held by the International Committee of the Fourth International, with which the Workers League is affiliated, that the policies of Gorbachev would result in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses a group of 150 business executives in San Francisco, Monday, June 5, 1990. [AP Photo/David Longstreath] At that time, I should point out, Gorbachev was considered one of the titans of our time, acclaimed as the architect of a spectacular program of social, political and economic reform. Perestroika and Glasnost were terms that had obtained international currency, even if very few peopleincluding Gorbachev himselfknew exactly what they meant. Gorbachevs popularity was then at its peak, not only in bourgeois circles, but alsoI should say, especiallywithin the milieu of the middle-class radical left. The Workers League and the International Committee maintained that Gorbachev represented the most powerful sections of the Soviet Stalinist bureaucracy; that he was attempting to deflect the growing opposition within the working class to the Stalinist regime while protecting the interests of the bureaucracy; that the economic content of his reforms were essentially pro-capitalist, and, as such, represented the climax of the decades-long Stalinist betrayal of the program, ideals and aspirations of the October Revolution. David North lecturing at the Moscow Historical Institute in 1989 All that has happened over the past six years has vindicated that assessment. Gorbachev was named Man of the Decade by Time Magazine, and, soon thereafter, was swept from the political scene. Gorbachev was replaced by Boris Yeltsin, who was himself a Stalinist bureaucrat who had spent some 30 years inside the Communist Party, and it was under his auspices that the Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991. The collapse of the Soviet Union is, it goes without saying, an event of enormous significance. But it is remarkable how poorly understood it really is. The breakdown was hardly foreseen, certainly not by the imperialist regimes who were supposedly the most irreconcilable enemies of the Soviet Union. To the extent that any explanation at all is offered for this spectacular collapse, it is that the fall of the USSR represents the failure of socialism in general, and of Marxism in particular. But these declarations hardly rise to the level of a genuine explanation. They simply assume what remains to be proved. But here we come to the basic fallacy that has for decades served as the fundamental premise of that exercise in political propaganda that is known in the universities as Sovietology. The starting point of Sovietology is the crude identification of Stalinism with Marxism. Upon this foundation, the policies pursued by Soviet governments over a period of seven and a half decades are generally presented as if they formed a seamless whole. The history of Bolshevism supposedly begins with Lenin and ends with those who are referred in the capitalist media, even to this day, as Communist hardliners. Not too long ago the memoirs of [the high ranking Soviet official] Yegor Ligachev appeared under the titleno doubt recommended to him by his American publishersThe Last Bolshevik. One has only to glance through Mr. Ligachevs book to convince oneself that this old bureaucratic timeserver has about as much in common with Bolshevism as a veteran official of the Internal Revenue Service. Ironically, the line of Cold War Sovietology coincides completely with that of the Stalinists themselves, who, until fairly recently, claimed to be the defenders of Leninism and what they claimed to be Marxist orthodoxy. Indeed, before 1985, Yeltsin, too, would have described himself as an irreconcilable Marxist. There are, it must be noted, a considerable number of works by serious scholars which do not accept this view, but it is not their work that formed the basis of what passed for public discussion on the nature of the USSR. Those views that conflict with the virulent anti-Communism of the political establishment have been kept, for the most part, from the attention of the public, and its very difficult for a correct and scientific assessment of the Soviet Union and its leadership to be made known. A letter that was not published Ill just give you an example from our own experience. In July 1990, in response to an article in The New York Times, I wrote the following letter: Recently, your editorial board belatedly condemned the dispatches of Walter Duranty, the Soviet correspondent of the Times during the hey-day of the Stalin era, as among the worst that ever appeared in your newspaper. That may well be true (that is, that Duranty was the worst reporter they ever had), but it could be legitimately argued that the reports of your present-day correspondent, Bill Keller, hardly represent an improvement. For example, Mr. Keller writes in the Times of July 13, 1990 that Gorbachev could revel in the knowledge that he had neutralized the orthodox Marxists as a power within the party... It seems that Mr. Keller is poorly informed about the history of the Soviet Communist Party. The orthodox Marxists within iti.e., the Left Opposition led by Leon Trotskywere neutralized by the Stalinist apparatus, through mass expulsions carried out at the Fifteenth Party Congress of December 1927 and then through exile and imprisonment. Later, in the course of the Moscow show trials and accompanying blood purge of 1936-39, the orthodox Marxists were systematically murdered. Leon Trotsky, the co-founder of the Soviet Union, was assassinated by a Stalinist agent in Mexico in 1940. Mr. Kellers identification of the Ligachev faction as orthodox Marxists and of Ligachev himself as a doctrinaire Marxist-Leninist is as politically ludicrous and intellectually dishonest as the late Durantys depiction of the Moscow Trials as beyond legal reproach. Since the late 1920s, Marxism has played no role whatsoever in the formulation of Soviet policy. The Communist Party has been for more than 60 years the political instrument of the ruling Stalinist bureaucracy. Gorbachev, Ligachev and, for that matter, Yeltsin have served the Soviet bureaucracy for decades. The disputes between them are not over the finer points of Marxist theory, but over how to defend the privileges of different strata of the bureaucracy as the Stalinist regime movesas Leon Trotsky foresaw long agotoward the restoration of capitalism. In the 1930s, the Times, through the dispatches of Duranty, helped mobilize American liberal opinion in support of Stalins liquidation of his Marxist adversaries. Today, while excluding from its columns the views of those who oppose Stalinism from the Left, the Times persists in identifying Marxism with a bureaucracy which historically has been its most vicious enemy. This may serve the political agenda of the Times' publishers but it has little to do with objective truth. This letter was not publishednot merely because I had insulted the Times editors, but rather because the letter raised issues of fact which simply cannot be reconciled with the ideological interests of the capitalist class. What becomes of the theory of the seamless continuity of Bolshevism, from Lenin to Gorbachev, or at least to Chernenko, if, in fact, the consolidation of power by Stalin and the bureaucracy he led was achieved not only by the murder of virtually every significant political figure in the Revolution and the Civil War, but also the physical annihilation of hundreds of thousands of writers, scientists and artists whose intellectual and cultural work was somehow linked to the heroic early years of the Bolshevik regime? If it is true that the Stalinist regime emerged not as the necessary and inevitable product of the October Revolution, but rather as its antithesis, then this fact must have the most profound implications, not only for our understanding of the past, but also of the present. In the aftermath of the collapse of the Stalinist regimes in Eastern Europe and the dissolution of the USSR, a mood of triumphalism prevailed within the bourgeoisie. The end of the USSR, we were told, signified the end of socialism and Marxism. A book called The End of History reflected the prevailing mood: mankind had, it was claimed, arrived at its final destinationthe unfettered and unrestrained triumph of capitalism. This was given political meaning with the proclamation of a New World Order, where the United States would impose, without serious challenge, its will all over the globe. This madness, however, did not last all that long. It was easier for the editorial writers, media pundits and university think tanks to declare Marxism and socialism dead than to abolish the tendency of the rate of profit to fall, peacefully dissolve the antagonism between world economy and the nation state, and ban the class struggle. With or without the approval of the propagandists and ideologists of the ruling class, both the laws of world history and those of the capitalist mode of production operate much as they were analyzed by Karl Marx. Little more than two years since the collapse of the USSR, world capitalism is mired in its greatest systemic crisis since the 1930s. The economies of all the major capitalist countries stagnate. The relations among the leading imperialist states are at their worst since the years before the Second World War. In fact, the internal coherence of these states has never been so fragile. It is a debatable whether Belgium, Italy, Britain, Spain or Canada will even exist in their present nation-state form by the end of the decade. Other nations, by the way, could be added to the list. Within the framework of the severe political and economic crisis, the social questions are posed with an intensity not known throughout the entire post-war period. In the major European countries, the number of unemployed is approaching 20 million; and this is even before the full impact of the massive industrial closures that are now being announced on a daily basis is actually felt. The entire social welfare-state system, hailed for decades as the great peaceful alternative to violent social revolution, is in the process of being dismantled throughout Europe. And, in what is the most bitter commentary on the state of capitalist society, fascism is once again a significant political force in Europe. Within the United States, the steady deterioration of social conditionsrising unemployment, rotting cities, mounting povertyis taken for granted; and the capitalist parties do not even pretend that they have credible solutions. Neither in the United States nor in Europe do the existing organizations that claim to represent the working class even attempt to defend the basic interests of their traditional constituencies. Indeed, it is becoming apparent that these organizationstrade unions, social democratic partiesare the principal political mechanisms through which the capitalist state seeks to prevent, or at least obstruct, organized mass expression of dissent. Nevertheless, the class struggle remains the motor force of history. It was not invented by Marx; he only laid bare its fundamental role in the historical process. The editorial writers can compose their obituaries for Marx and the university professors can, from the comfort of their studies and with slippers on their feet, churn out their conformist refutations of the historical dialectic. But that did not stop French airline workers from defying the government and setting in motion during the past week the most serious political crisis since 1968. There have appeared reports in the French and international press that Prime Minister Balladur, sensing the social anger created by mass unemployment, has been talking obsessively to his closest associates of his fear that France is on the eve of a working class revolution. Mr. Balladurs fears are, at least at this moment, somewhat exaggerated, for the crucial intellectual and moral impulse for socialist revolution comes not from anger alone but from the reasoned confidence of the masses that their struggle against the existing social system will give rise to a better and more just society. It is precisely this expectation that is presently lacking despite all the indignation and disgust provoked by the social conditions produced by capitalism. In other words, what the working class lacks is a historical perspective. To the extent that the collapse of the Soviet Union is seen as the collapse of socialism itself, the working class is unable to find a way out of its present dilemma. This brings us back to the place of the October Revolution in world history. Did this revolution, as its leaders believed, inaugurate a new epoch in the social development of man? Or was it a tragic and utopian exercise, a doomed project that led inevitably to Stalinism and all the horrors that followed? How is one to answer these questions? On what basis can one argue that the Soviet Union might have developed quite differently than it actually did? Are such alternatives merely speculative exercises unrelated to historical and political realities? Fortunately, the answer to these questions is to be found within history itself. We are not merely looking back over decades of Soviet history and saying, Alas, it should have been different. Rather, we are able to show that there did exist an alternative to Stalinism; that this alternative was advanced on the basis of Marxism by Leon Trotsky, who, next to Lenin himself, played the greatest role in the leadership of the October Revolution and the defense of the Soviet state during the Civil War; and that this alternative found expression in a program that was supported by most of the leading figures of the Bolshevik Revolution. Moreover, an objective study of the programmatic legacy of the Left Opposition demonstrates the astonishing prescience of its analysis of Stalinism, all the way down to Trotsky's insistence that the totalitarian regime of the bureaucracy would, unless overthrown by the working class, result in the downfall of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism. The Russian Revolution as an event of world history What event are we recalling this evening? On October 8, 1923, Lev Davidovich Trotsky, the commissar of war of the Soviet Union, whose gifts as a political strategist, military leader, organizer, administrator, writer and orator where acknowledged even by irreconcilable opponents of the revolutionary government, addressed a letter to the Central Committee and the Central Control Commission of the Russian Communist Party. He outlined his major differences with the manner in which the Party leadership was handling economic policy and the internal life of the Russian Communist Party.[ 1 ] The publication of the October 8, 1923 letter by Trotsky in the International Workers Bulletin issue of October 18, 1993. This letter provoked an explosive reaction. Its criticisms of the growing bureaucracy and its effect upon the life of the party provided the political inspiration for the founding of the Left Opposition. At the same time, it provoked a vicious counterattack from those who were, directly or indirectly, the object of its criticisms. Trotskys warning of the danger of a political degeneration of the Bolshevik Party was soon substantiated. In the years that followed, the Left Opposition waged, under increasingly difficult conditions, a struggle against the growing social and political influence of the new Soviet bureaucracy, whose suffocating control over the state and the party was finally to find such a monstrous expression in the totalitarian dictatorship of Stalin. In order to understand the origins of the Left Opposition and the issues which it raised, it is necessary to begin with an examination of the Russian Revolution and the first six years of the Soviet state. Let us begin with 1917. Never in human history had such a staggering political transformation been witnessed in just one year as the change that was wrought by the events of 1917 in Russia. Until the end of February 1917, Russia was ruled by an autocratic monarchical regime whose ruling dynasty went back to the year 1613. The Tsarist autocracy embodied the backward political and social relations of Russia, a vast land in which peasants, living in age-old ignorance, comprised some 90 percent of the population. The institution of serfdom had not been abolished until the year 1861, and, despite this reform, the vast majority of the peasantry continued to live in poverty. Russia was, on the eve of 1917, the most backward country of the great European powers. But within this Empire, which was in so many ways still mired in semi-feudal conditions, there had also developed a highly developed industryfinanced by British, French and German capitalin which there labored an extremely concentrated industrial working class. The concentration of masses of workers in gigantic industrial enterprises was greater in Russia than in the far more advanced United States. In 1914, enterprises employing one thousand or more workers comprised 17.8 percent of the total workforce. But in Russia, such businesses employed 41.1 percent. It was this highly concentrated proletariat that asserted itself as the dominant oppositional force to Tsarism and which provided the social base for the rapid development of Marxism. Thus, in the 1905 Revolution, which shook Tsarism to its foundation but which failed to overthrow it, the principal role was played, not by the bourgeoisie, but by the working class. And at the head of the working class stood the socialists, of whom one of the most outstanding was Leon Trotsky, the chairman of the St. Petersburg Soviet. The autocracy weathered the storms of 1905. But 12 years later, the mass demonstrations which erupted in February 1917 rapidly forced the abdication of the Tsar and formal power passed into the hands of the Provisional Government. However, as in 1905, the bourgeoisie could not assert its leadership over the democratic revolution. The independent role and interests of the working class found expression in the emergence of mass workers councils, or soviets, throughout Russia. For a brief time, the Mensheviksthe conservative social democratsdominated these soviets. But the Mensheviks refused to break with the bourgeois Provisional Government, and, therefore, would not end Russia's involvement in the hated imperialist world war or implement a revolutionary democratic transformation of social relations in the countryside. The Mensheviks were discredited by their policies. By the autumn of 1917, the Bolsheviks under Lenin and Trotsky had established overwhelming support within the working class of the major industrial centers; and ever larger sections of the peasantry had come to view the Bolsheviks as the only party prepared to eradicate the remnants of serfdom and give them land. The Bolsheviks won a majority in the soviets, and it was with the support of these soviets that they seized power in October 1917. October 1917: Coup or mass uprising? It has long been an article of faith among anti-Communist historians that the October Revolution was merely a coup detat, a putsch, that was without popular support. The old Cold-War propagandist from Harvard University, Richard Pipes, has written: Lenin, Trotsky, and their associates seized power by force, overthrowing an ineffective but democratic government. The government they founded, in other words, derives from a violent act carried out by a tiny minority.[ 2 ] October Revolution of 1917 This version cannot withstand objective analysis, and it has been largely dismissed with contempt by more serious scholars. For example, Professor Suny of the University of Michigan has written: The Bolsheviks came to power, not because they were superior manipulators or cynical opportunists, but because their policies, as formulated by Lenin in April and shaped by the events of the following months, placed them at the head of a genuinely popular movement. [ 3 ] A British historian has written: To be sure, Bolshevik agitation and organization played a crucial role in radicalizing the masses. But the Bolsheviks themselves did not create popular discontent or revolutionary feeling. This grew out of the masses' own experience of complex economic and social upheavals and political events. The contribution of the Bolsheviks was rather to shape workers understanding of the social dynamics of the revolution and to foster an awareness of how the urgent problems of daily life related to the broader social and political order. The Bolsheviks won support because their analysis and proposed solutions seemed to make sense... When in October the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government of Kerensky, it appeared to the suffering masses to be less a lethal deathblow to the body politic than an act of euthanasia.[ 4 ] A session of the Petrograd Soviet of soldiers during the 1917 revolution But perhaps the most significant testimony to the popularity of Bolshevik ideas comes from the writings of Lenin's most determined political opponent, Martov, who wrote in a letter dated November 19, 1917, just one month after the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks: This is the situation. It is tragic. Try to understand that what we face, after all, is a victorious uprising of the proletariat, that is to say that almost the entire proletariat is behind Lenin and expects social liberation from the coup. It has challenged all antiproletarian forces. In such conditions not to be in the ranks of the proletariat, at least in the role of opposition, is almost unendurable.[ 5 ] Martov was, at the very least, an honest man, and despite his opposition to the policies of Lenin, he had to acknowledge that the revolution led by the Bolsheviks had been carried out with the support of the working class. Yulii Martov, a leader of the Russian Mensheviks The theory of the Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution of 1917 had been preceded by a long theoretical debate over its political and social dynamic. Among Marxists of all types it had been generally accepted that the coming revolution, given the social, economic and political backwardness of Russia, would be a democratic revolution. But it was here that agreement ended. The Mensheviks maintained that in keeping with the democratic tasks of the revolution, the overthrow of the Tsar would be followed by the establishment of a democratic bourgeois government. The political beneficiaries of the revolution into whose hands power would necessarily pass would be the representatives of the liberal bourgeoisie. Lenin advanced another theory: that of the democratic dictatorship of the proletariat and peasantry. The revolution, he maintained, would be of an essentially democratic character and put an end to the principal political and social legacies of feudalism; but Lenin denied that the leadership of the revolution would, or could, be left to the bourgeoisie. Rather, he insisted that the leadership would be in the hands of the proletariat and advanced strata of the peasantry; and that the state power based on this alliance of the two exploited classes would be the democratic dictatorship of the proletariat and peasantry. This was an intermediate position between that advanced by the Mensheviks and, finally, the theory of Trotsky, that of the revolution in permanence. Lenin at his desk, 1918 Trotsky argued that in the 20th centurywhose economic and social environment was, considered from the standpoint of the overall development of capitalism and the social power of the industrial proletariat, qualitatively different from that of the late 18th and 19th centuriesthe democratic revolution in Russia would not simply reproduce the historical experiences of Western Europe and North America. He insisted that the proletariat, in assuming the leadership of the democratic revolution, would be compelled by the logic of its position to take political power and initiate socialist measures directed against the foundations of capitalist property. Thus Trotsky, as early as 1906-07, predicted that the democratic revolution would unfold in Russia in the form of a socialist revolution, ending in the conquest of political power by the working class. In the super-charged atmosphere of pre-1917 Russian factionalism, Trotsky occupied a distinct position that separated him from both the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. Lenin directed many of his most glancing blows in the direction of Trotsky. On those issues which concerned matters of political organization, Lenins criticisms were justified. Trotskys efforts to reconcile the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks were misguided. But Trotskys evaluation of the dynamics of the Russian revolution was vindicated. It is a measure of Lenins political objectivity that he did not permit old factional disputes to cloud his judgment. In this crucial attribute, Lenin was a far greater man than many of those who stood closest to him in the leadership of the Bolshevik Party. Thus, upon his return to Russia in April 1917, Lenin, to the amazement of his old associates in the Bolshevik PartyZinoviev, Kamenev and, for that matter, Stalinembraced the central postulates of Trotsky's theory of Permanent Revolution, and set before the Bolsheviks the task of overthrowing the bourgeois Provisional Government and establishing a proletarian regime. The change in Lenins thinking was undoubtedly the product of his analysis of the origins and historical significance of the First World War, which found its finished expression in his masterful pamphlet, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (1916). For Lenin, the World War marked the beginning of a new stage in world history. The war represented an historical crisis of the entire world capitalist order, and that, he insisted, had to form the starting point of an understanding of the nature and tasks of the Russian Revolution. Therefore, when the Revolution erupted in Russia in February 1917, it signified for Lenin not the start of the bourgeois democratic transformation of Russia, but, rather, the start of the world socialist revolution. Contradictions of the Russian Revolution Neither Lenin nor Trotsky believed that Russia, judged solely from the standpoint of its own level of economic development, was ripe for socialism. Indeed, it lagged far behind the capitalist states of Europe and North America. A socialist revolution was necessary in Russia because world conditions left no other possibilities for progressive national development. Had the Bolsheviks abstained from the seizure of power, on the grounds of the insufficient economic development of Russia, the outcome of 1917 would not have been the emergence of a liberal democracy based on a thriving capitalism. Rather, Russia would have suffered the fate of other backward countries in the imperialist epoch: that is, the perpetuation of backwardness and semi-colonial dependency. The astuteness of this judgment was to be demonstrated, not only by the attempted coup of General Kornilov in August 1917, but by the entire course of the Civil War that followed the Bolshevik seizure of power. Leon Trotsky addressing Red Army troops What then was the perspective and strategy of the Bolsheviks? World conditions compelled them to seize power and initiate a socialist revolution in a backward country. But given the fact that Russia was far below the level of economic and cultural development necessary for the attainment of socialism, the survival of the proletarian dictatorship and the eventual realization of socialism depended upon the conquest of power by the working class in one or more of the advanced capitalist countries. Only then would Soviet Russia obtain access to the economic resources necessary for the socialist transformation of its economy. Was the Bolshevik strategy valid? The Bolshevik strategy implied great confidence in the political maturity of the working class and also in the advanced development of the social contradictions within European and world capitalism. One might ask today: To what extent was this justified? To answer this question, it is necessary to review the strategy of the Bolsheviks within its proper historical context. Rosa Luxemburg, who was by no means uncritical in her attitude toward the Bolshevik seizure of power, was unstinting in her praise of precisely this aspect of the policies of Lenin and Trotsky. From her prison cell in Germany she wrote: The fate of the revolution in Russia depended fully on international events. That the Bolsheviks have based their policy entirely upon the world proletarian revolution is the clearest proof of their political farsightedness and firmness of principle and of the bold scope of their policies.[ 7 ] Rosa Luxemburg Indeed, the October Revolution was an expression and catalyst of the greatest revolutionary movement in world history. Throughout Europe and even in the United States, bourgeois regimes felt themselves to be extraordinarily vulnerable to the passions that had been unleashed by the world war. Within one year of the October Revolution, Germany and much of Central Europe was in the throes of revolutionary upheaval, and it appeared as if the Bolshevik strategy was being vindicated. If these revolutions did not succeedthe revolutions in Germany, the revolution in Hungary, the upheavals which took place throughout Central Europeit demonstrated not the utopian character of the Bolshevik strategy, but the weakness of the political leadership of the working class outside Russia. There did not exist in Europe any party remotely comparable to the Bolsheviks in terms of its political quality and the capacity of its leadership. The causes of that are to be found in the opportunist degeneration of the European socialist parties, which had betrayed the working class at the very outbreak of the imperialist war in 1914. The defeat of the German working class in 1918-19 and the murder of Luxemburg and Liebknecht had a devastating effect on the development of the German revolution, and was to have profound significance for the future fate of the Soviet Union. The Bolsheviks had hoped that the revolution in Russia would be soon followed by revolutionary movements of the working class throughout Europe, and they based their policies on this. The Civil War and War Communism From the first moment, the government had to fight for its life. The Bolsheviks inherited, among other things, the First World War, in which Russia was still involved. The strategy pursued by the Bolsheviks in the negotiations with the German High Command to bring that war to a conclusion demonstrated very clearly their strategical orientation. In the winter of 1917-1918, Trotsky, at Brest Litovsk, engaged in a type of negotiations which had never been seen before in world history. He addressed himself not to the German government, nor to the German General Staff, but to the German and international proletariat. He hoped that the public exposures of the war, such as the publication of the secret treaties between the old Russian government and other imperialist governments, would demonstrate to the masses the utterly reactionary character of the war, and would serve to accelerate the revolutionary sentiments that were developing at the front. Trotsky, in his calculations, was not really far off. The agitation conducted by the Bolsheviks demoralized the German army. Mass demonstrations erupted in Germany, but the revolution which the Bolsheviks were hoping for did not break out. That was to happen some eight or nine months later. In the meantime, the Bolsheviks were compelled to sign a difficult peace in order to buy the revolutionary regime time until international events would provide support from the international working class to the embattled Soviet republic. German troops marching in Kiev in March 1918 But the signing of the peace agreement at Brest-Litovsk in March 1918 hardly ended the Bolsheviks troubles. The decision to leave the war provoked the anger of all the imperialist governments which had been aligned with Tsarist Russia. Britain and France, now joined by the United States, arrogantly expected that the Russian government, even under the Bolsheviks, would meet the old obligations of the Tsar and continue to provide cannon fodder for the war. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk came as a shock. But as soon as they had recovered from this unwelcome surprise, the allies encouraged and provided direct military and financial support to a collection of old Tsarist officers for the purpose of overthrowing the Bolsheviks. Without this backing, the Civil War would never have assumed such tragic dimensions. In the end, the Bolsheviks were fighting a Civil War on 14 different fronts across a field of battle which extended some 5,000 miles. The international working class was not able to overthrow its own bourgeoisie, but its sympathy for Soviet Russiaand this is especially true of the workers of France and Englandwas the decisive factor in the failure of the imperialist intervention on the side of the Whites. This also accounts for the weakness of the American intervention. President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to fight the Bolsheviks. The United States landed an expeditionary force in Archangel, north of Moscow. In fact, across the street from Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit there is a small exhibit dedicated to the memory of the ill-fated Polar Bear expedition, which was launched by Wilson against the Bolshevik government in 1918. Its one of the aspects of American history about which not very much is known, but the U.S. government played a major role in the attempt to overthrow the regime of Lenin and Trotsky in 1918. But the troops somehow got lost, had to be rescued, and the whole adventure ended as ignominiously as it had begun. Victims of the "White Terror" by the counter-revolutionary forces during the civil war in 1919 in Siberia Although the Bolsheviks were able to persevere against the intervention of the imperialists, the Civil War devastated Soviet Russia. Moreover, it profoundly affected the course of revolutionary policy. To save the revolutionary government, the Bolsheviks centralized economic and political power. In June 1918, the first decree was issued nationalizing every major branch of industry. It had not been the intention of the Bolsheviks to carry out such sweeping measures of a quasi-socialist character, for which the economy was hardly prepared, but they were imposed upon them by the necessity of supplying the Red Army, which was being built into a fighting force of some five million peasants under the leadership of Leon Trotsky. Not only did it have to build weapons and provide clothing for the Red Army, the Soviet government also had to feed the soldiers; and this was achieved to no small extent through the forced requisitioning of grain from the peasantry. This policy was certainly not popular, but it was sustainable as long as the peasantry understood that if the Bolsheviks were overthrown, the landlords would come back. So the peasants were prepared to tolerate this policy as long as the Bolsheviks were seen as that force which defended them from the tyranny of the landlords. Victims of the famine in Russia, December 1921 By 1920, the Red Army had defeated virtually all the counter-revolutionary forces, but the economy of Soviet Russia was in a state of virtual collapse. The scale of the devastation was staggering. It is estimated that by the end of the Civil War, in 1920-21, some 20 million people had died of starvation. Moreover, between 1917 and 1920, Moscow lost 44.5 percent of its population; Petrograd, the greatest industrial center, lost 57.5 percent. These figures are particularly significant in that they shed some light on the fate of the working class itself in the aftermath of the revolution. Many of the problems which would later confront the Bolshevik government stemmed from the social disintegration of the Russian working class in the aftermath of the revolution. By 1923-24, vast changes had taken place in the social structure of Russia. The revolutionary proletariat that supported the October Revolution had been shattered by the Civil War imposed upon the Russian masses by world imperialism. It is within this framework that one must begin to understand the chain of events which led to the formation of the Left Opposition in 1923. To be continued. Gabor Steingart is one of the best-connected journalists in the German capital. The former editor-in-chief and publisher of finance daily Handelsblatt has built up the online platform The Pioneer, in which leading representatives of politics and business regularly have their say. He likes to present himself as a political free spirit and is often the first and most outspoken to say what others from his milieu think. Gabor Steingart [Photo by Superbass via Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0 Steingarts latest newsletter, The Pioneer Briefing of October 19, gives an insight into the state of mind among Germanys tone-setting circles following the resurgence of the Middle East conflict. It makes clear why the establishment political parties and media are united in their support for the Netanyahu regimes genocidal war in Gaza and persecute anyone who shows the slightest empathy for the Palestinians as terrorists and antisemites. They are not concerned with protecting Jewswhether in Israel or in Germany. That would also be astonishing in the case of a ruling class that left those responsible in the highest offices after the murder of 6 million Jews, did not expropriate a single profiteer from Hitlers Aryanisation programme and mass forced labour, took decades until it finally brought a few mass murderers to justice, and today gives the fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is teeming with antisemites, a prominent place in politics. Steingart and the ruling class he speaks for see the Palestinian resistance and the support it meets with in the Middle East and worldwide among the oppressed masses as an attack on their imperialist interests, as a threat to their right to plunder the whole world. That is why they support the terror of the Israeli army in Gaza and suppress any opposition to it. In his briefing, Steingart establishes a direct link between Islamist organisations in the Middle East and Germanys main geopolitical rivals. The actors behind Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, he claims, are not terrorists in a rage, but coolly calculating states. He counts the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China, in addition to Iran, Kuwait and Yemen, among these states. He does not cite any evidence for this, because there is none. Both Russia and China have so far kept a low profile in the Gaza conflict and called for de-escalation. Russia even maintained good relations with Israel for a long time. Netanyahu was still campaigning in the elections a year ago with posters showing him shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Steingart does not care. He speaks for a ruling class that feels threatened from two sidesfrom the international working class, which is rebelling against exploitation and oppression, and from its global rivals in the struggle for raw materials, sales markets and cheap labour. Steingart accuses his opponents of being united by one goal: They first want to destabilise the West, then relativise it in its world political importance, finally minimise it, in order to then possibly be able to liquidate it. To defend the West he relies on unrestrained violence. He literally writes: Aircraft carriers, armoured divisions and the Iron Dome are currently not the last but the first hope for millions of people in the West. The military and its skillfullness in spotting, protecting and tracking down and then destroying enemies as precisely as possible is the core competence of this age. Aircraft carriers and armoured divisions as hope for millions of people and the destruction of enemies as the core competence of this ageAdolf Hitler could not have said it better. This is how someone writes who has lost all moral inhibitions. Steingart speaks for a ruling class that has its back to the wall, lashes out violently and is once again capable of any crime. His briefing ends with the sentence, This much can be said: possibly the 21st century feels a frivolous desire to emulate the 20th century with its two world wars. It may be that Steingart and his friends in Berlin and Washington feel this frivolous desire. But the working class and the youth are not prepared to be used as cannon fodder once again in an imperialist war that calls into question the survival of humanity. In his national address Thursday, US President Joe Biden demanded Congress allocate an additional $105 billion to fund the US military, escalate the US/NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and arm the Israeli military with bullets, bombs and shells for its genocidal campaign against the people of occupied Palestine. This massive tranche of money is greater than the GDP of two-thirds of the countries on Earth and would cause unimaginable levels of death and destruction in the months ahead. The latest demand includes $14 billion for Israel on top of the $260 billion the US has provided in military aid since 1948, and $61 billion for Ukraine, nearly doubling the $75 billion spent on the war against nuclear-armed Russia so far. Biden is also demanding $3 billion for military submarines, $2 billion for the military encirclement of China, and $14 billion to further militarize the US-Mexico border and criminalize immigration, as a sop to Trump and the far-right wing of the political establishment. Biden said the $105 billion is necessary to make sure those who cause chaos and death and destruction are made to pay a price for their aggression. Over 20 years ago, then-president George W. Bush used the same language to justify launching imperialist wars in Afghanistan and Iraq which were to last 20 years, kill more than one million people, and cost more than $8 trillion, according to Brown Universitys Costs of War project. A 2022 report published by the Pentagon admitted that each taxpayer paid $8,278 for the wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, though the true figure is likely an order of magnitude higher. In concluding his speech, Biden called for shared sacrifice to fund the escalation of war on a global scale: 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. Make no mistake, the US population will not pay for these wars together. The cost will be borne entirely by the working class, while the spoils will go to the rich. Bidens demand is a declaration of war against the working class, and all talk about shared sacrifice to defend democracy is nothing but lies. In reality, the US-led wars for which this money has been earmarked are wars of imperialist conquest, fought to enrich the ruling elite and secure the worlds resources and markets for Wall Street and corporate America, no matter the cost in lives or dollars. The allocation of $105 billion for war comes at the direct expense of the working class, the vast majority of whom live paycheck to paycheck and nearly half of whom could not cover a $400 expense with cash on hand. Every dollar spent on the wars will come at the expense of social programs and entitlements like Medicare and Social Security. According to a 2023 study from the National Priorities Project, $100 billion is more than the federal government will spend all year on education ($84 billion), transportation ($67 billion), or energy and the environment ($94 billion). It equals the total budget for healthcare ($100 billion). Total military-related spending this year will exceed $1.1 trillion. The Biden administrations demand comes as workers have been told there is no money to address the world populations most urgent needs. For $100 billion, Biden could house every homeless person in America ($20 billion, per Globalgiving.org), feed every person facing starvation or acute malnutrition across the world ($23 billion, per Oxfam), forgive $30,000 in student loans for two million people ($60 billion), and still have almost $10 billion left over. The same corporations braying for war and profiting from it will not be asked to share in the sacrifice. Earlier this year, a report from the Congressional Budget Office explained that tax revenue fell 9 percent in 2022 alone as a result of decades of tax cuts for the wealthy. According to the CBO, revenue on corporate taxes fell $5 billion from 2022 to 2023. A 2023 study from the Government Accountability Office reported that 34 percent of large corporations now pay zero in federal taxes. As a result of the systematic slashing of corporate taxes, endless Wall Street bailouts and record military spending, the US budget deficit doubled in 2023, jumping from $1 trillion to $2 trillion, the New York Times reported Friday. Bidens demand exposes the totally anti-democratic character of the political system, where popular pro-Palestinian and anti-war sentiment finds no reflection whatsoever. On Friday, CBS released a poll showing that 57 percent of Americans support sending humanitarian aid to Palestine versus only 48 percent who support sending weapons to Israel. Regardless, the Senate passed a resolution supporting Israel on Thursday by a 97-0 margin. Pseudo-left figures like Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are enthusiastic supporters of the Biden administration and have openly endorsed arming Israel even as it engages in horrific war crimes. Bidens demand for $105 billion will be deeply unpopular, and his incoherent speech will convince no one. Substantial demonstrations have taken place in almost every major American city denouncing Israeli war crimes, and protests have only grown in the aftermath of the horrific bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City by Israeli forces, which killed nearly 500 people. Given the barrage of pro-war propaganda in the corporate media, such opposition marks a significant breakdown of the media-military-industrial complex. In the face of growing opposition from below, Biden is demanding the total subordination of the economy to the needs of US imperialism. In his speech, he called for a transition to war production, saying that just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. His demand for replenishing our stockpiles with an endless flow of weapons will require the suppression of the class struggle, dangerous speed-ups and the illegalization of strikes. In this effort, Biden has a willing partner in the trade union bureaucracies, which have become inseparable from the Democratic Party and the imperialist state and have worked for decades to prevent strikes, maintain production and enable record corporate profits. Earlier this month, UAW President Shawn Fain appeared with Biden at the Willow Run plant in Michigan, noted that the plant formerly produced bombers, and referred to the unions membership as part of the arsenal of democracy. This is a direct signal that the bureaucracy is collaborating with the Biden administration to keep the flow of deadly weapons moving to all of US imperialisms expanding theaters of war. War against American imperialisms rivals and targets abroad means war against the working class at home. Already the bureaucracies are struggling to contain the growing strike movement in the US, which has spread in recent days from Big Three workers and Mack Trucks workers to casino workers in Detroit. In all cases, workers are told by the corporations that wage increases are unaffordable. In reality, it would cost only $15 billion to pay all 150,000 Big Three workers $100,000 per year, and this represents just 15 percent of what Biden claims is urgently needed for war. The stage is set for the next phase of the development of the global class struggle, in which strikes and protests are increasingly coinciding with a growing political awakening of workers and young people across the world. This raises the decisive need for political leadership, to prevent the imperialist governments and their pseudo-left cheerleaders from diverting and suppressing opposition as they have done in the past, and to fight for the development of an independent revolutionary movement against imperialist war and the capitalist system. That is the perspective of the Socialist Equality Party. Sri Lankan journalists protest against war on Gaza, in front of UN office on October 18 Dozens of Sri Lankan journalists held a protest march in Colombo on Wednesday against Israels genocidal war, backed by the US, against Palestinians in Gaza. The Colombo protest was called by the Sri Lanka Journalists for Global Justice (SLJGJ). Outrage against Israels invasion has intensified after Israeli forces bombed the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, killing at least 500 people including medical staff and patients. The SLJGJ members had planned to march to the UN mission in Sri Lanka from the Palestine embassy located some two kilometers away. As journalists and activists gathered within the embassy, a large number of police, including the riot squad and water cannon were waiting outside to block them. When the journalists started their march, police stopped them, declaring they could not allow the march. Soldiers had also been kept on standby. When organisers asked whether a court had issued an order, police arrogantly declared that a court order was not necessary and they had orders not to allow any march. Police and water cannon mobilized against journalists picket opposing the war on Gaza on October 18 The blocking of the march is in line with the governments pro-Israel stand. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among the first leaders to denounce Hamas unprecedented attack on Israel and the killing of large numbers of civilians while remaining totally silent on Israels bloody siege of Gaza. Wickremesinghe has a notorious history of attacking democratic rights and is strengthening security forces in anticipation of a renewed popular upsurge against the governments scorched-earth IMF austerity policies. Protesters reached the UN office by vehicle and handed over the SLJGJ appeal. In front of the UN office, they waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans, including Free Palestine. A banner demanded End the occupation now, Implement the US resolution on Palestine now, and Create the Independent and Sovereign State of Palestine now. Other placards declared: Bring the war criminals to justice and End Israels Apartheid rule. The SLJGJ appeal expressed disappointment at the UNs failure to deescalate the tension and call for an immediate ceasefire It demanded the UN establish a mechanism to implement a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This appeal to the UNa body dominated by the imperialist powersis futile. The US and its allies have thrown their full support behind Israels murderous assault on the Palestinian people that is threatening a wider war in the Middle East. It is to the international working class that those outraged by Israels action need to turn for support. The World Socialist Web Site spoke to a number of the protesters and also to workers and youth about Israels war on the Palestinian people. Ameen Izzadeen Ameen Izzadeen, general secretary of the SLJGJ, said the organisation was formed not only for the rights of Palestinian people, but wherever oppression takes place, wherever persecution takes place Genocide is taking place in Gaza and ethnic cleansing is taking place in Gaza; land grabbing is taking place in Gaza. Colonialism is being established as the very norm of the United Nations Unfortunately, Western countries, the US, UK, they have taken the side of the oppressor rather than the oppressed. We need to raise our voice. People will understand the Palestinian side of the issue. Palestinians are the victims. Some people think that Palestinians are terrorists. They are not. You cannot call resistance terrorism. Calling resistance terrorism is itself terrorism. Minaza Minaza, a freelance journalist, said: Some people would see this as a Muslim issue. I find it is problematic. Also, some people show this as a war or conflict when it is actually [Israel carrying out] outright genocide. Truly, if you are supporting Israel, you are anti-humanity, you are pro-apartheid, pro-baby-killing, pro-massacre and that is disgusting. Ummul Mustafa, a social worker, condemned police for intervening to stop the march. What our government is doing here is unfair. We all gathered here peacefully but they [police] are not allowing [us to march]. Ummul Mustafa What is happening in Gaza cannot be expressed in words. What happened yesterday to a hospital in Gaza. It was bombed and about 500 people were killed! This is really disheartening... There in Gaza people are suffering. Israel bombings must be stopped. There is no reason to bomb innocent people... I am also not accepting what has happened to Israeli people. Palestinians are not occupying someone elses lands; they live in their own land. You just go back to the history which shows those lands belonged to Palestinians. Others are just trying to acquire that land... You cant allow them to massacre the Palestinian people silently. We have to raise our voice. It is everyones duty. Ashik, an unemployed youth, said: I have heard and seen through television and YouTube videos of the looming tragedy inside Gaza. This is terrible. I have heard medical drugs that can be used for a month during normal times, now being finished because of a large number of patients. There is no place for Palestinian people whose homes have been destroyed by Israels bombardment to live. Today, a group of Muslim people went to the UN regional office to hand over a letter demanding a ceasefire. But I am not sure that it is going to work as Israel has been carrying out this violence against Palestinian people for decades. Appealing to the leading countries is also useless. Only working people inside Israel and other parts of the world can effectively end this disaster. Chaturanga, a health worker, told the WSWS: I was shocked to watch the humanitarian crisis inside Gaza. Nobody wants to see such crimes. I was particularly shocked when Israel forces attacked a hospital The bombardment of hospitals is a war crime and I wonder why world governments still support Israel to carry out such crimes. He recalled the protracted communal war in Sri Lanka against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam which resulted in the killing of more than one hundred thousand people. We have had the terrible experience of war here in Sri Lanka and we have witnessed endless sufferings. The Israeli war on Gaza is a thousand times more dangerous than the three-decade war in Sri Lanka. Over two million people in a tiny strip of strip that is encircled by the enemy state are completely desperate This [war] should be stopped immediately. Herath, a nurse, said: In my opinion all wars should be stopped. Wars always are disastrous and killing millions of people. I saw a number of YouTube videos of shocking stories inside Gaza. In this Israeli attack on Gaza, we see the disaster with our own eyes. Children and women are mostly suffering. How can anybody imagine a situation without even basic necessities like water, medicine and electricity? I learnt that the hospital was being attacked. Nobody who is human should endorse such crimes. Sumith, a retired railway worker, told the WSWS: It is Hamas and Palestine people who have been victimised by Israel. For Hamas to engage with Israel is a life and death struggle. One can imagine how they have been under repression. Still, they keep on fighting even after a week, and to fight as such they must have undergone unjust treatment. (Bloomberg) -- Paddy Cosgrave has stepped down from his role as chief executive officer of Web Summit after his remarks following attacks on Israel earlier this month caused high-profile attendees, including Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., to pull out of the show. Most Read from Bloomberg Web Summit will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible and the show, due to start on Nov. 13 in Lisbon, will go ahead as planned, the organizers said in an emailed statement on Saturday. Unfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend, Cosgrave said in the statement. I sincerely apologize again for any hurt I have caused. Cosgrave had sent a post on X, formerly Twitter Inc., that said war crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, directed at Israels response to Hamas. The remarks caused a backlash from a number of venture capitalists and tech founders. Read More: Google, Meta Pull Out of Web Summit After Israel Controversy Cosgrave posted an apology on Web Summits blog days later, and said he was sorry for causing profound hurt with the timing and content of his statement. But it wasnt enough to stop a campaign calling for speakers and sponsors to pull out of the show, which had more than 70,000 attendees last year. In addition to Alphabets Google and Meta, Amazon.com Inc., Intel Corp., Siemens AG, Stripe Inc. and a raft of venture capitalists said theyd canceled plans to come to the show. A group of Israeli investors issued a joint statement calling for a boycott of the event, according to a report from Israeli news site Calcalist. Story continues Still, the resignation was a surprise after Cosgrave indicated as recently as last week that hed stay on and reassured employees that the show had enough money in the bank to continue for at least two years, according to a report earlier on Saturday from Irish newspaper the Business Post, citing Web Summit employees it didnt identify. Cosgrave founded Web Summit in Dublin in 2009 with David Kelly, and Daire Hickey before it moved the main conference to Portugal in 2016. While the show became Europes largest tech gathering, and attracted tech companies and celebrities from all over the world, Cosgrave has courted controversy before. Last year, the summit was forced to withdraw invitations for speakers from the Grayzone after a backlash against the websites anti-Ukrainian government narratives. Grayzone had published posts since the start of the Russian invasion that accused senior members of the Ukraine government and military of being sympathetic to Nazis. (Updates with additional background from seventh paragraph. An earlier version corrected the full name of Meta in the first paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. On Tuesday, October 24, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor will host a lecture by David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, to mark the centenary of the founding of the Left Opposition, led by Leon Trotsky in 1923. The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Pendleton Room in the Michigan Union. David North has been active in the Trotskyist movement for over 50 years and has written and lectured widely on Marxist theory, the political legacy of Leon Trotsky, and the strategy of world socialism in the 21st century. David North The Left Opposition, from which the Fourth International emerged, was established in October 1923 in a struggle against the bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet Union, the destruction of workers democracy, and the Stalinist regimes repudiation of the socialist and internationalist principles upon which the October 1917 revolution had been based. The lessons of this struggle are not only of historical interest, but carry immense significance at a time of war, economic crisis and a new upsurge of militant class struggle. David North will address these themes in great depth on October 24, and we urge all WSWS readers who live in the area to attend. Invite your family, friends and co-workers, and share information about this event as widely as possible. Due to the continuing widespread transmission of COVID-19, and in the interest of maintaining a health conscious environment, members of the audience are requested to wear masks while inside the lecture hall. Over the past two weeks, tens of millions of people around the world have participated in mass demonstrations, protests and marches against the US and NATO-backed Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The international and mass character of the protests is a reflection of the broad sympathy workers and youth around the world have for the Palestinian people. Millions of workers and youth of all religions and ethnicities are horrified by and outraged at the terror-bombing campaign being conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDFs campaign, with the support of the Biden administration and all the imperialist powers, is in preparation for an expected ground invasion that will cost thousands of lives. As of this writing, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported more than 4,100 people killed since October 7, including over 1,600 children. Nearly 13,000 people have been injured, including 3,983 children and 3,300 women. While the mainstream press has largely ignored or tried to downplay the protests as only occurring in a few countries that have large Muslim populations, in reality they have taken place on every continent, except for Antarctica, in hundreds of cities nearly every day. On Friday, as they have for over a week, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seoul, South Korea where they chanted in Korean and English to Free, free Palestine. A group of Palestinian supporters march during a rally to urge Israel to suspend attacks on the Gaza Strip in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. [AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon] In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over 1,000 people rallied in the capital demanding a stop to Israels war crimes. Protesters chanted, in English, Free, Free, Palestine and Down, down, Israel while marching towards the US embassy. Outside the embassy, protesters denounced Bidens backing of the Netanyahu regime, without which the IDF would be incapable of carrying out their ethnic cleansing campaign. Protests continued to take place in the United States, including among students. On Friday in Dearborn, Michigan, home of the largest Muslim population in the US per capita, hundreds of students walked out of class to protest the war. Detroit Free Press reporter Niraj Warikoo reported that all three high schools in Dearborn had walk-outs this week in support of Palestine, with hundreds of students walking out at Dearborn and Edsed Ford High on Friday, and at Fordson High on Thursday. Crestwood High in Dearborn Heights also had walkout. On Wednesday, an estimated 1,500 Bay Area students in California walked out of class in support of Palestinians. Student-led walkouts occurred in San Francisco, Oakland, and the surrounding suburbs encompassing dozens of schools. In New York City, thousands of people took to the streets Friday night chanting Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go. Many were carrying signs accusing President Joe Biden of carrying out a genocide of the Palestinian people. Significantly on Friday, thousands of Egyptians, in the face of the El-Sisi dictatorship, took to Tahir Square in Cairo, Egypt where the denounced not only the Zionist government of Israel, but the former general turned-dictators attempt to corral the mass movement behind his administration. Prior to the demonstrations, government-friendly media outlets had circulated information on public areas where protests, which are illegal, would be allowed. Tahir Square, the site of massive protests in 2011 that eventually toppled the dictatorship of Hosni Mubark, was not one of the approved protest sites. Were not here to give a new mandate to anybody, France 24 reported the crowd chanting. Its a genuine demonstration. In Jakarta, Indonesia, well over a thousand demonstrators marched from several different mosques to the militarized US embassy where they denounced US support for Israeli war crimes. AP reported that protests also occurred outside the United Nations mission, which is located a few miles from the embassy. Waving the red, green and black flag of Palestine, protesters chanted Save Palestinians. Thousands protest in Sanaa, Yemen, October 20, 2023. [Photo: QudsNewsNetwork] Major protests also took place throughout the Middle East including in Doha, Qatar; Driaz, Bahrain; and Samaa, Yemen, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets. In Ankara, Turkey, where the government has called for three days of mourning following the intentional bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital by the IDF, thousands of protesters flooded the streets demanding a stop to the genocide. On Thursday, Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey over security concerns. Outside the US embassy in Tunis, Tunisia on Friday, thousands of Tunisians refuted the US and Israels lies justifying the slaughter. Protesters held signs pointing to US lies that justified invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya while pointing out that None of us is free until Palestine is. Tunisians demonstrate during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, outside the U.S embassy in the Berges du Lac, outside Tunis, Friday, October 20, 2023. [AP Photo/Hassene Dridi] Since the IDF assault on Gaza, Al-Jazeera has documented protests in support of Palestinians taking place in Adelaide, Australia; Algiers, Algeria; Amman, Jordan; Athens, Greece; Auckland, New Zealand; Baghdad, Iraq; Barcelona, Spain; Beirut, Lebanon; Berlin, Germany; Brasilia, Brazil; Calgary, Canada; Cape Town, South Africa; Damascus, Syria; Dublin, Ireland; Geneva, Switzerland; Glasgow, Scotland; Islamabad, Pakistan; Kargil, India; Mumbai, India; London, England; Manama, Bahrain; Mexico City, Mexico; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Tehran, Iran; The Hauge; and in Tokyo, Japan, among dozens of other cities. Dozens of protests are scheduled to be held throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East over the weekend. A Palestinian boy walks by the buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, October 20, 2023. [AP Photo/Ali Mahmoud] Israels genocide of the Palestinian people, carried out with the support of the US, UK, French and German governments, continued Friday with the murder of another 352 Palestinians. Since October 7, Israel has launched a systematic campaign to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza and systematically demolish the areas housing, hospitals and schools, while starving and dehydrating its population. Over the past week, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have all visited Israel to give their unequivocal endorsement of the genocidal policies of the Netanyahu regime, which is widely despised within Israel and by Jewish people around the world. The death toll in Gaza has reached 4,137, with 70 percent of these killed being women and children, according to figures cited by the United Nations. Another 1,000 people are missing or trapped beneath the rubble, many fighting for life amid heroic rescue efforts by volunteers and humanitarian organizations. International humanitarian organizations fighting to save lives are themselves being targeted by the Netanyahu government. Two more United Nations personnel were murdered in airstrikes in the past 24 hours. We are devastated to confirm that two more @UNRWA colleagues have been killed in #Gaza. The entire Agency is grieving, wrote the UN agency for Palestine refugees on Twitter. At least 16 UN personnel have been killed in airstrikes and the actual number is likely to be much higher, it wrote. There have been 33 separate Israeli airstrikes against UN installations. The UN estimated that there are 1.4 million refugees within Gaza, including half a million sheltering in UN-designated emergency shelters. Amid the relentless bombings, Israel is blocking all food, fuel and water from entering Gaza, threatening famine and mass dehydration. The complete siege of Gaza continues for the tenth consecutive day, the United Nations wrote. The Rafah, Kerem Shalom, and Erez crossings remained closed, preventing the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicines, and fuel. At least 30 percent of all housing units inside the Gaza Strip have been either destroyed or damaged over the past two weeks, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing in Gaza cited by the UN. In one striking example of the systematic destruction of Gazas housing, 24 multi-story residential towers were destroyed on Friday, displacing up to 8,000 people. The UN noted, Entire neighborhoods have been largely destroyed, including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Shujaiyeh, and Abbassan Kabeera. On Thursday, Israel bombed Gazas oldest operating Christian church, which was sheltering approximately 400 refugees. At least 18 people have been killed in the attack, with another 18 people trapped under the rubble. Former US Representative Justin Amash revealed Friday that members of his family were killed in the bombing. Gazas educational infrastructure is being systematically dismantled. Nearly 200 educational institutions have been damaged, including 29 schools operated by the UN. The UN noted, Hospitals are on the brink of collapse due to the shortage of power, medicine, equipment, and specialized personnel. Yet, the number of patients treated or awaiting treatment is at 150 percent of their capacity; many lay on the floors and corridors. To keep emergency rooms operational, vital procedures such as sterilization and dialysis may soon be halted. On Tuesday, Israel bombed a Christian hospital in northern Gaza where thousands of people were sheltering, killing nearly 500 people. On Friday, Al-Quds hospital, serving 12,000 people, was ordered to evacuate by Israeli authorities, raising the prospect that it, too, will be targeted. Evacuation is not possible, said Nebal Farsakh of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The intensive care unit is full of children, and we cannot disconnect their life support. World Health Organization Secretary General Tedros Adhanom wrote on Twitter of Disturbing reports about evacuation order to Al-Quds Hospital. He continued, It is impossible for these overcrowded hospitals to safely evacuate patients. They must be allowed to perform their lifesaving functions. They must be protected. In an initial report on Israeli war crimes in Gaza over the past week, Amnesty International wrote that there is Damning evidence of war crimes as Israeli attacks wipe out entire families in Gaza. Amnesty International has documented unlawful Israeli attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, which caused mass civilian casualties and must be investigated as war crimes. It notes, 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. The report calls on 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. While all of the imperialist governments are united in their support of Israels genocide against the Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in mass demonstrations against the genocide in nearly every country in the world. As the Biden administration is backing the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and preparing for a much wider war in the Middle East, the Ukrainian governments much publicized four-month-long counteroffensive has effectively ended with minimal gains in territory. Ukrainian forces are now on the defensive against advancing Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine. In recent weeks, fighting has centered on the city of Avdiivka, currently held by Ukraine and located north of the major city of Donetsk. Over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are currently stationed in Avdiivka, a strategically important city due to its proximity to Donetsk. Over 31,000 civilians resided in the city prior to the war, while just 2,000 now remain. Control by Kiev grants Ukrainian forces the ability to hit the heavily populated Donetsk with artillery and potentially attempt to retake the city, which had been under Russian-backed separatist control following the NATO-backed coup of elected President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Ukraines General Staff of the Armed Forces previously warned of at least 15 or more daily Russian attacks on Avdiivka in their attempts to encircle the city but reported a weakening of attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. However, Avdiivkas military administration chief Vitaly Barbash acknowledged the precarious situation on the front, stating, Shelling and small arms fire continue around the clock, so the situation remains very hot. According to Barbash, I can say for sure that this is the largest offensive that has ever been launched against Avdiivka since the war began in 2014. Whatever the outcome of the battle for Avdiivka, it is clear that the Ukrainian military is now quickly moving its forces into defensive positions to prevent further Russian gains before winter. With billions spent and reported casualties of over 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers, even the New York Times was recently forced to acknowledge that the counteroffensive was a debacle, stating that while Ukraine made small gains in the south, Russia took slightly more land overall, mostly in the northeast. Amid severe manpower shortages, the potential loss of Avdiivka would further consolidate Russian control of the Donbas region and end even the most delusional hopes of the right-wing government of President Volodymyr Zelensky of ever retaking the territory it has lost since the start of the disastrous imperialist-backed war in February 2022. With the end of the counteroffensive now obvious, officials within the Zelensky government are attempting to cast blame for their own massive failures. In an interview last week with news outlet Ukrainska Pravda, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, admitted the counteroffensive was out of schedule. When pressed for details, Budanov stated, There are objective and subjective reasonseverything is complex. But, sorry, most of the explanations for this are state secrets, and its just not for public discussion. Over time, all of this will become clear. Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak responded to Budanovs comments in an interview with Channel 24 by admitting the counteroffensive was over and blamed Western failures to provide even faster military aid. If Ukraine had received weapons faster, we could have defended ourselves better and launched a counterattack. Only after all these events did the weapons finally arrive, Podolyak said. We are 6-9 months behind. Everything is very stretched in time. Budanov is right here. If we had received everything we needed in a month, it would be one story. But getting it in 8 months is a different story, he stated. Oleksiy Arestovych, a former Zelensky adviser, further underlined the massive failure of the counteroffensive on his Telegram channel and called for the end of the Zelensky government as he attempts to build his own political brand within the country. After previously predicting that Kievs forces would quickly be in Crimea, Arestovych now called the counteroffensive a disaster and admitted, They are not telling the truth. There will be no return to the borders of 1991, and there will be no Crimea in the near future. Despite the counteroffensives obvious failure, both the Zelensky government and the Biden administration have signaled they will continue the war with the proposal of sending a massive $100 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Following the declaration of war by Israel against Gaza, aid to Israel may be included as well in order to gain support from Republicans opposed to further funding of the proxy war against Russia. Unfortunately for both the United States and the corrupt, right-wing oligarchic Zelensky regime, Ukrainians are not so eager to die in a fratricidal war for minimal exchanges of land. As the Deputy Minister of Defense Natalia Kalmykova recently admitted in a television interview, hundreds of thousands of citizens are currently trying to avoid mobilization. As the Zelensky regime attempts to restock its forces following the mass slaughter of the counteroffensive, Kalmykova warned the Ukrainian government was preparing to deal with so-called refuseniks. Proposals have already been prepared for changes to the draft law regarding the registration of conscripts who later become military personnel in order for people to be able to pass the VLK, as well as all procedures related to mobilization at the place of residence. Final agreements on conceptual issues are currently underway, in order to be able to introduce amendments to the Law of Ukraine and normalize the issue of military servicemens records, she said. Unfortunately, we see a lot of situations, and this is also not news, when people do not want to, they try to avoid mobilization in any way. Lets not say mobilization, but avoid the need to defend our country. Here [we face] such a complex ethical dilemma, because the state really needs protection. Protection of the state is the responsibility of every citizen. Unfortunately, there are many, measured in hundreds of thousands, who create conditions for themselves to avoid mobilization, Kalmykova added. Citigroup (C) is stripping out five layers of management. US Bancorp (USB) is pledging to shrink its balance sheet so it can sidestep stricter banking regulations. Truist (TFC) is trying to save hundreds of millions by completing what it called "sizable reductions in force." The new mantra in banking is: get smaller. Financial institutions are shedding rank-and-file workers, managers, loans, investments, and business lines as a way of stabilizing their earnings during one of the toughest operating environments for the industry since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The shrinking began in the spring when the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic in March and May triggered panic about the strength of many banks across the US. As that chaos stabilized, banks looked to sell investments and loans as a way of preserving capital. New proposed rules from US regulators that would force banks to set aside bigger buffers to cover potential losses on risky assets served as another motivator to shrink balance sheets. Head counts are now falling, as well, as banks brace for even more economic uncertainty from geopolitical unrest, rising bond yields, and an extended period of high interest rates from the Federal Reserve. Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams via Getty Images) "If you put it all together, the financial incentive to grow is not there," Sean McGlynn, a credit adviser to small and mid-sized banks, told Yahoo Finance. "Youre not being rewarded in the market for it. Banks don't trade at big premiums to book value so, why do it right now?" Big banks are leading the way. Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup, and Wells Fargo (WFC) trimmed their workforce by 11,265 employees in the third quarter, according to filings from the companies and earnings calls. Citigroup, which eliminated 2,000 people in the third quarter and has reduced its workforce by 7,000 so far this year, began a dramatic restructuring as CEO Jane Fraser unveiled what she called the "most consequential" change to how Citi operates in nearly two decades. She made it clear that would mean fewer people. Story continues Citigroup is embarking on its most dramatic restructuring in decades. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama via Getty Images) The bank said in a presentation attached to the release of its third quarter earnings that the restructuring will take the bank from 13 to eight layers of management. Fraser told analysts a reduction of roughly 60 management committees thus far "frees up over tens of thousands of people-hours annually." "The changes will eliminate layers, duplication, and complexity, allowing us to operate the bank more agilely and freeing our people up to focus on clients and execution," Fraser said. Bank of America trimmed its head count by 2,794 in the third quarter by relying on employee attrition and selective hiring, the bank said, while continuing to hire new people. "Even with hiring 2,500 college graduates this fall, our head count is down 6,000 from its January peak," said CFO Alastair Borthwick. Wells Fargo's head count dropped by more than 6,000 in the third quarter. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan via Getty Images) Wells Fargo recorded the biggest drop among the big banks in the third quarter, ending with 6,471 fewer workers. "We're in the middle of going through the exercise for next year as most other companies are," Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf told analysts. Smaller regional lenders that face even more profitability pressures are pulling back, too. In some cases, they are getting rewarded by investors for dramatic action. When US Bancorp announced that it had agreed to a cap on its assets and a shrinking of its balance sheet as a way of avoiding tougher regulations from the Federal Reserve, its stock moved higher by 7% in one day. "If we elect to grow or want to grow, and we do want to grow in a capital-efficient manner, we will do so," said US Bancorp CEO Andrew Cecere. But "demand for loans is quite low" and "that gives us kind of the confidence that we have more time and flexibility here." Several other regionals talked about head count reductions as they released third quarter results. PNC is eliminating 4% of its workforce. (Ashraf Fahim/REUTERS) (Ashraf Fahim / reuters) PNC (PNC) said it would be eliminating another 4% of its workforce after getting smaller by 2,578 employees through the third quarter. Ally Financial (ALLY) said it would be cutting roughly 5% and estimated that would save $80 million per year. Truist, a regional bank based in Charlotte, N.C., is in the middle of a cost-cutting plan that it hopes will save $750 million over the next 12-18 months. In September it said that would include $300 million of personnel adjustments that it referred to as "sizable reductions in force." In a presentation to investors this week it referred to those reductions as "spans and layers," "consolidation of redundant/similar functions," "select business restructuring," and "geographic simplification." CEO Bill Rogers said in recent weeks "we've streamlined our commercial and community banking regions from 21 to 14." The company had 621 fewer employees at the end of the third quarter than it had in the second. William Rogers, CEO of Truist. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) (SAUL LOEB via Getty Images) Rogers declined to address a media report that the bank is looking to sell its insurance business, which would certainly make the bank even smaller, but acknowledged Truist wants "to retain that strategic and financial flexibility." "We're obviously in a market that's got a lot of uncertainty to it," he said. 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 African Rainbow Capital Investments Limited (JSE:AIL) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 12% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been pleasing. To wit, the share price did better than an index fund, climbing 98% during that period. Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns. View our latest analysis for African Rainbow Capital Investments In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During three years of share price growth, African Rainbow Capital Investments achieved compound earnings per share growth of 132% per year. The average annual share price increase of 26% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 3.79. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on African Rainbow Capital Investments' earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective It's nice to see that African Rainbow Capital Investments shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 7.9% over the last year. There's no doubt those recent returns are much better than the TSR loss of 0.6% per year over five years. We generally put more weight on the long term performance over the short term, but the recent improvement could hint at a (positive) inflection point within the business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for African Rainbow Capital Investments you should know about. Story continues Of course African Rainbow Capital Investments may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on South African 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. Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed. So should Tungsten Mining (ASX:TGN) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. See our latest analysis for Tungsten Mining Does Tungsten Mining Have A Long Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. When Tungsten Mining last reported its balance sheet in June 2023, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$12m. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$1.9m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of about 6.4 years as of June 2023. While this is only one measure of its cash burn situation, it certainly gives us the impression that holders have nothing to worry about. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Tungsten Mining's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Because Tungsten Mining isn't currently generating revenue, we consider it an early-stage business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. Notably, its cash burn was actually down by 61% in the last year, which is a real positive in terms of resilience, but uninspiring when it comes to investment for growth. Tungsten Mining makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth. Story continues How Easily Can Tungsten Mining Raise Cash? While we're comforted by the recent reduction evident from our analysis of Tungsten Mining's cash burn, it is still worth considering how easily the company could raise more funds, if it wanted to accelerate spending to drive growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Tungsten Mining's cash burn of AU$1.9m is about 3.1% of its AU$62m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Tungsten Mining's Cash Burn? It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Tungsten Mining is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. And even its cash burn reduction was very encouraging. After considering a range of factors in this article, we're pretty relaxed about its cash burn, since the company seems to be in a good position to continue to fund its growth. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Tungsten Mining you should be aware of, and 2 of them are significant. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The United Nations and the Egyptian Red Crescent provided civilians with food, water, medicine and medical supplies on Saturday CNN Aid trucks enter the Gaza Strip on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Twenty United Nations aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, marking the first time humanitarian aid was provided in the two weeks since Hamas militants surprise attack killed more than 1,000 civilians in Israel. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Food Program (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) issued a joint statement on Saturday regarding a first, but limited, shipment of life-saving humanitarian supplies from the United Nations and the Egyptian Red Crescent. It will provide an urgently needed lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, who have been cut off from water, food, medicine, fuel and other essentials. But it is only a small beginning and far from enough, the organizations said in the statement, adding that more than 1.6 million people in Gaza are in critical need of humanitarian aid. Related: State Department Issues Worldwide Caution Alert Amid Middle East Tensions UNICEF noted in a separate statement on Saturday that the organization provided roughly 22,000 people with enough drinking water (44,000 bottles) for a day. CNN reported that the aid vehicles entered through the Rafah crossing located on the border of Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the brief time it was open for the first time since the attack on Oct. 7. According to the outlet, 13 aid trucks carried medicine and medical supplies, five carried food, and the remaining two carried water. However, none carried fuel. UNICEF wrote in its sole statement that unless we can provide humanitarian supplies consistently, we face the real threat of life-threatening disease outbreaks. CNN 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. The joint statement from the five humanitarian aid organizations echoed the sentiment: With so much civilian infrastructure in Gaza damaged or destroyed in nearly two weeks of constant bombings, including shelters, health facilities, water, sanitation, and electrical systems, time is running out before mortality rates could skyrocket due to disease outbreaks and lack of health-care capacity. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement from the White House on Saturday, in which he shared that the opening of this essential supply route was the result of days of diplomatic engagement at the highest levels." Related: Joe Biden Delivers Primetime Address on Israel and Ukraine to Earn Support for War Aid According to the statement, Biden "made it clear from the outset of this crisis in both my public statements and private conversations that humanitarian assistance was a critical and urgent need that had to get moving, and I express my deep personal appreciation for the leadership of President Al-Sisi of Egypt, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, and the United Nations to allow the resumption of this assistance. The United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas, Biden's statement continued. We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, and to continue working to protect civilians, consistent with obligations under international humanitarian law." The statement concluded, We also continue to work around the clock, in partnership with Egypt and Israel, to facilitate the ability of U.S. citizens and their immediate family members to exit Gaza safely and travel via Egypt to their final destinations. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. 7-Year-Old Thanks Bus Driver Who Saved His Life When He Started Choking on Coin: 'My Hero' "I think she's my hero because she saved my life," Preston Bell told ' Good Morning America ' ABC News Preston Bell and his mom speak with 'GMA' A boy in Texas has found a hero in his local bus driver. Preston Bell, a seven-year-old student in Dallas, faced a harrowing experience after he accidentally swallowed a quarter on his way to school on the morning of Sept. 29. Related: Missing Hiker Found Dead After 1,000-Foot Fall from Mt. Whitney in California's Sequoia National Park After he realized what had happened, he quickly alerted his bus driver, Raquel Radford Baker. It first looked like Bell "appeared to be sick, as if he needed to throw up," Radford Baker told Good Morning America. When it appeared that Bell was having trouble breathing, she jumped into action by carrying Bell off the school bus and towards a sidewalk to perform multiple rounds of the Heimlich maneuver. She told the talk show that all she was thinking about was that "he can't die in my arms" and that he had to save his life. Radford Baker has worked for Dallas ISDs Transportation Services for 17 years. She shared in a conversation with the district's news site that she is grateful to have gotten CPR and first aid training as part of her job. The experience is also something that has made her even more proud of her job. Related: Firefighter Dies, 4 Others Injured While Battling Blaze in Baltimore: 'Our Citys Heart Is Broken' "I always say, Good morning, how is your day going? I just love to see these kids smile and make sure they get to school safely and get picked up from school and transported home in a safe manner to their parents, she told the news site. "They are the most precious gift ever to me, and I am grateful and feel privileged to transport such precious cargo," Radford Baker added. As for Bell, he and his mom Gia were recently able to reunite with Radford Baker for the first time. ABC News 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. "I was able to look at her in her eyes and tell her how much I thanked her for saving my son's life that day," Gia told Good Morning America. Preston added of Radford Baker, "I think she's my hero because she saved my life." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Artist Keith Francis received an unexpected email recently from a stranger in Italy. It came from Stefano Reia, director and curator of KR8TE, an organization in Italy devoted to establishing a collection of varied artworks that focuses on a particular topic of global significance. One of his artworks, a screen printed and hand sewn corrupted version of an American flag, titled Welcome! had been included in an exhibition called American Beauty at the Centro Culturale Altinate in Padova, Italy, much to his surprise. Francis, who lives in New Bedford and teaches graphic design at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, had sold the work, which he had completed in 2016, to an anonymous collector in Monfalcone, Italy. Welcome! features 16 American flags stitched together into a 44-inch-by-66-inch rectangle. In the lower half of each flag is bold text that targets a demonized group with an angry message that is part of our collective history. NO MUSLIMS. NO IRISH. NO COLORED. NO CHINESE. NO MEXICANS. NO JEWS. NO SLAVS. NO CATHOLICS. And so on and so on. Artist Keith Francis Francis is certainly not an advocate of any of those positions. But he bravely refuses to pretend that those ugly sentiments were not (and still are not) part of the social, cultural and political fabric of our nation. In a statement displayed with his work it is noted that it uncovers aspects of immigration marginalization that remained largely unknown to the mainstream publicthe Statue of Liberty text reads: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore This is a myth: the United States has always placed limits and marginalized or banned those ruled inadmissible based on race and religion. Or as Lou Reed sang on Dirty Blvd. on his 1989 album New York:" Give me your hungry, your tired, your poor- Ill piss on em. Thats what the Statue of Bigotry says. Your poor huddled masses, lets club em to death and get it over with and just dump em on the dirty boulevard. "Welcome," by Keith Francis. A statement displayed with his work notes that it uncovers aspects of immigration marginalization that remained largely unknown to the mainstream publicthe Statue of Liberty text reads: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore This is a myth: the United States has always placed limits and marginalized or banned those ruled inadmissible based on race and religion. When Francis displayed Welcome! at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston when he was working on a graduate degree, he was ordered to take it down because it was divisive. That was a small-minded response. What is divisive is congressmen that refuse to reunite children with the parents that they were separated from at the border. What is divisive is a southern governor and candidate for president that seeks to rewrite history. What is divisive is an Illinois landlord that stabs a 6-year-old Pakistani-American boy to death. Francis knows that art is just not pretty flowers in a vase or a glowing sunset or the perfect nude. Its also Manets 1867 Execution of Maximilian. Its also Picassos 1937 Guernica. Its also Rockwells 1964 The Problem We All Live With. Art has to encompass all of life, not just the pretty and the safe. To only acknowledge the beautiful is to embrace a comforting lie. A short list of some of Franciss co-exhibitors in American Beauty includes Diane Arbus, Robert Longo, Keith Haring, Dorothea Lange, Annie Liebovitz, Vito Acconci, Henri Cartier Bresson, Andre Serrano, Andy Warhol, George Maciunas, Vik Muniz and Banksy. None of them pulled their punches. And theyre all fine company. And there is a black-and-white image by photojournalist Stanley Forman from 1976. He was working for the Boston Herald-American at the time and he won the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography when he captured the image of a white teenager attempting to impale a Black man with a flagpole, on which the red, white and blue were still attached. It was at Boston City Hall during the time of the desegregation busing crisis. I was 15 then. Im almost 50 years older now. Nothing much has changed. I applaud Francis and all the artists, dead and alive who speak to truth, no matter how ugly it may be. And the fact that hes a local boy surprised to find himself on a global platform makes it even sweeter. Don Wilkinson is a columnist and reviewer for Coastin. His weekly Art Beat column gives his opinion on local art exhibits, artists and arts projects in the Fall River and New Bedford areas. He is a graduate of the Swain School of Design. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Keith Francis artwork at Centro Culturale Altinate in Padova, Italy Bill Maher was angry that certain messages get attention and certain others do not on his Friday Real Time show on HBO. He led off with a prime example of that in an interview with Alexandra Pelosi (daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ), the director and producer of the HBO Original documentary The Insurrectionist Next Door, which debuted October 15. More from Deadline The film talks to several people who stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6 about what brought them to Washington, D.C. on that fateful day, and whether their views have shifted since. Maher noted that the people in the film are remarkably relatable and likable. Its the forgotten man, Pelosi said. They fell behind this great American dream, theyre feeling left behind. Maher tried to get Pelosi who blamed social media feeds for the divide in political views to say what the Democrats are doing so wrong to engender these feelings of being left out when they are the ones that are trying to help the working class. Pelosi dodged, but Maher wouldnt let her off the hook, noting, You made a whole movie about it. Finally, Pelosi allowed that the bubble of social media brainwashed people to be programmed to hate on both sides. Maher ultimately showed which side hes on by bidding her farewell with a quick, Say hello to your mother for me. In the panel discussion, Maher talked with Paul Begala , Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens. They attacked those whose opinions did not match theirs on the current situation in the Middle East. Begala summed it up: There are not two sides here. The most thorny issue tackled was which side fired the missile that hit the Gazan Al-Alhi hospital. Maher brought up a New York Times headline that accused Israel, ending in the equivocation, Palestinians Say. Stephens, a former editor of the Jerusalem Post, noted how journalists should not take what the Palestinians say at face value, since its an authoritarian society. Everything that comes out of it has to be double-checked and triple-checked, he said. Its Hamas. It goes to the basic difference. In an open democratic society (like Israel), journalists do not live in fear that theyll be hurt. It has to be treated with skepticism, and Israel has to be believed. Begala also brought up social media, noting, Too many people are prisoners of the algorithm of their social media. Stephens agreed, noting that school indoctrinates children into one value tolerance. That leads to a problem in situations that have two sides. The tolerance brigade couldnt bring themselves (to acknowledge things) without equivocation. Stephens called for Hamas to be wiped out to its fifth level, while Maher noted that such extreme actions are a trap to get us to overreact. Maher noted that level of retaliation would escalate the conflict, perhaps opening other fronts that could overwhelm Israel. Mahers New Rules editorial advised students, dont go to college, particularly to the Ivy Leagues. As recent events have shown, it just makes you stupid, and noted how higher education has become a stew of bad ideas. Both comments referred to the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Although the students have no knowledge of history, Maher opined, It doesnt deter them from having an opinion. College, Maher claimed, is a day care center with a meal plan. He noted that if ignorance is a disease, Harvard is the Wuhan wet market. Noting some famous Harvard grads, Maher said they all have punchable faces in common, and some, I assume, are good people. He closed by telling the older folks in his audience that college today is not the college you remember, and told students, You dont need four years to hate America when you can watch five minutes of Selling Sunset. 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 famous offspring dined at the celebrity hotspot Craigs on Friday evening jfizzy/Star Max/GC Images Deacon Phillippe and Magnus Ferrell step out together at Craig's in Los Angeles Deacon Phillippe and Magnus Ferrell are stepping out on the town! Phillippe, 19, who is the son of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, and Magnus, also 19, who is the oldest son of Will Ferrell and wife Viveca Paulin, were photographed arriving at celebrity hotspot Craigs in Los Angeles, California, on Friday evening. For the night out, Philippe wore a dark green dress shirt, which he left unbuttoned at the top, and oversized, ripped jeans. He accessorized his look with a brown hat. Magnus, meanwhile, complimented his friend in a green sweater, which he paired with gray pants and a set of black shoes. Joe Scarnici/WireImage Deacon Phillipe and Magnus Ferrell The duo's outing took place after they celebrated the release of Magnus' new single, "Drinks on Me," during a show at The Vermont Hollywood the night prior. (Phillippe served as the opening act during the event.) The show was hosted in tandem with and to benefit Smile Train, an international charitable organization that fundraises and advocates for clefts. On Instagram, Magnus posted a response to the evenings success, sharing two photos and a video as he sang Sweet Caroline. "That was SO. MUCH. FUN, he captioned his post. Related: Will Ferrell's Three Sons Look All Grown Up in Rare Appearance at 'Barbie' Premiere See the Photos! Music is not a new venture for either the Barbie actors son or the Never Have I Ever actor. Magnus, a student at his dads alma mater, the University of Southern California, has been releasing music since 2022. Last year, he performed as an opening act for rock band Psychedelic Furs in San Diego and was even joined by Will, 56, onstage. The Elf star made a surprise appearance at the show and rang a cowbell in a move reminiscent of his memorable Saturday Night Live sketches about the instrument, the first of which aired in 2000. Wil Roberts / SplashNews.com Magnus Ferrell enjoys a night out at Craig's in LA with pal Deacon Phillippe Earlier this month, the father-son duo made headlines when Will joined Magnus at a USC tailgate and hopped behind the DJ turntables. Several hilarious videos of the actor circulated online as he clapped to Eye of the Tiger alongside students. Related: Reese Witherspoon's 3 Kids: Everything to Know As for Phillippe, hes also no stranger to the music world. He released his first single, Long Run, in 2020, and has since been steadily pursuing music as a career. Speaking to Interview magazine about what initially drew him to music production, he shared that he was influenced by his dad's own knack for making music. "When I was listening to the radio in the car with my dad, something just clicked. I realized there's more to making music than just being a vocalist, and that a lot of times it's the production that makes me feel something," Phillipe said. "I asked my dad about how it works, and he taught me all the stuff he knew, and then I started watching YouTube videos." Related: Ryan Phillippe Is 'So Proud' of Son Deacon's Acting Debut on 'Never Have I Ever' In April, Philippe released his debut album, A New Earth, and was celebrated by his superstar parents and other loved ones. "Awesome night w family & friends celebrating the release of, 'A New Earth' by @deaconphillippe !!" his dad wrote on Instagram after the release party. "Thank you so much to everyone who attended and to our sponsors Stream, download, and listen to the album.." As for his mom, Witherspoon, 47, shared a snap to her Instagram Story praising her son as one of his songs Virus" was featured on Spotifys New Pop Picks playlist. Lets goooo @deaconphillippe, she wrote. 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. Last year, Phillippe enrolled in school at New York University, and Witherspoon told PEOPLE that she is so proud of him. It means you did your job right, the actress said of seeing her son flee the coop. And Im so proud of my kids. Theyre thriving in the world and Im so happy for them. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Serafini, who played for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in the late '90s, was arrested after a two-year investigation Placer County Sheriffs Office/Facebook Danny Serafini, Samantha Scott are arrested in connection with the 2021 murder and attempted murder of Robert Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood An ex-MLB pitcher was arrested this week in Nevada following a two-year investigation into the 2021 murder and attempted murder of his reported father-in-law and mother-in-law. Danny Serafini, a former first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins, was arrested by authorities Friday in Winnemucca, Nevada, in connection with the June 2021 murder of 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr and the attempted murder of 68-year-old Wendy Wood, the Placer County Sheriffs Office in California shared to Facebook. Serafini, 49, was arrested the same day as suspect Samantha Scott, 33, who was apprehended in Las Vegas. The Placer County Sheriffs Office noted in its post that the arrests come two years and four months after Spohr was found shot dead in his North Lake Tahoe home, while his wife Wood "was taken to a nearby hospital where she recovered from her injuries." She died a year later. Related: Mom Found Dead After Police Uncover Alleged Plot to Murder Husband with Daughter Brian Bahr /Allsport Danny Serafini of the Minnesota Twins poses for a photo at 1999 spring training As police note, the "early stages" of the investigation had authorities looking at the home's "video surveillance," leaving them with footage of "a hooded male wearing a face-covering and a backpack walking to the residence several hours before the homicide occurred." "Since then, PCSO detectives have worked tirelessly over the course of the past two years, devoting countless hours of follow up by detectives, along with the DAs Office," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. "The information and evidence detectives gathered led them to identify Serafini and Scott as the suspects; both suspects are known to each other and to the victims." As the office noted, Serafini and Scotts will next be extradited from Nevada to California. "Today, justice was served," Sheriff Wayne Woo shared 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," Woo added. Related: Maryland Judge Shot Dead on Driveway of His Home, Say Police: 'Horrible News' Citing Sgt. David Smith of the sheriff's office, NBC News reports that Serafini is the son-in-law of both victims. The Placer County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday. It is not clear if Serafini or Scott have secured attorneys. Scott is listed on Clark County Detention Center records as being charged as a fugitive from another state. NBC notes that Serafini is listed as an inmate at the Humboldt County Detention Center and is being charged as a fugitive from justice. The former MLB relief pitcher spent seven seasons in the league, where he played for the Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies, according to the outlet. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. As the air cools off and the countdown to Halloween gets shorter, we've been looking for things to do around Naples. From kid-friendly daytime events to nighttime movies, we compiled a list of our top five events you can attend in Naples leading up to Halloween. 1. Psycho II Outdoor Film Screening Join Naples Cinematheque CEO David Garonzik for a one-night only screening of Psycho II in new 4K restoration. Not only can you see the movie, but you'll be able to partake in an exclusive virtual Q and A with the screenwriter Tom Holland. Come out to the Burrow at 1780 Commercial Drive, Naples, on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. for the showing. 2. Fall Fest at Paradise Sports Complex Families are welcome to come out to the Paradise Sports Complex at 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples, on Oct. 28 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for this free event. Fall Fest is filled with candy, games, bounce houses, face painting, costume contests, and more. Call (239) 252-4386 with any questions. 3. Halloween on 5th Spooktacular This family-friendly event takes place on Oct. 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Park Street at Fifth Ave. S. in downtown Naples. You can expect games, live music, street dancing, and a costume contest. Call (239) 692-8436 with any questions. 4. Hallowine at Mercato Come out to Mercato on Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for an adult-only Mercato wine walk. Come out to Mercato on Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for an adult-only Mercato wine walk. Buy tickets in advance for $65 per ticket, or four for $220. At the event, tickets will be $80. The night consists of food and wine from certain Mercato restaurants, a costume contest, photo booth, raffle drawings, and a commemorative wine glass. mercatowinewalk.com/ 5. Trunk or Treat at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Last but not least on our list is the annual trunk-or-treat at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park boat ramp parking lot. Kids can get candy from spooky-decorated car trunks and also make crafts and play games on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Honorable Mentions There are many options for Halloween events in Southwest Florida in 2023. Walk the Talk: Paws and Pumpkins - a Halloween Howl: Enjoy a community Halloween dog-walk in Baker Park on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in support of the Epilepsy Alliance of Florida. Register at walkthetalkfl.org/naples/ Non-Alcoholic Halloween Party at Kava Luv Social Lounge: Not a drinker? Not a problem. Kava Luv Social Lounge is hosting its annual Halloween party on Oct. 28 from 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Enjoy botanical tea mocktails, giveaways, and a costume contest. 7550 Mission Hills Drive, www.kavaluv.com/events-here/halloween-party-2023 Trunk or Treat and Haunted House at Fleischmann Park: On Oct. 28, join Naples city staff and police at Fleischmann Park for trick-or-treating and a spooky haunted house. Join in on the Halloween festivities from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in costume. And there's more! FULL-LIST: Here's everything happening for Halloween in Collier County! This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What Halloween events are happening in Naples Go Inside Gia Giudice's Recent Trip to Visit Joe Giudice in the Bahamas (PHOTOS) After graduating from Rutgers University in May, Gia Giudice packed her bags for a celebratory trip to see her dad, Joe Giudice, in the Bahamas, where he currently lives. After Joe surprised his daughter at the airport with flowers and balloons, the duo went to dinner for a delicious dinner, wine, and a candlelit dessert with Congratulations written on the plate. More recently, Gia headed back to the Bahamas to visit Joe, and the father-daughter duo enjoyed some scrumptious-looking bites and plenty of sun. Scroll down below to take a full inside look at their trip! Inside Gia Giudice's trip to the Bahamas to visit her father, Joe Giudice On October 18, Joe took to his Instagram Stories to share several photos of himself and Gia taking in the beach and some nighttime festivities on the Caribbean island. In one selfie, Joe and Teresa Giudice's eldest daughter taking in some rays by the beach. In the snapshot, Gia rocked a light pink strapless bikini top and matching bottoms while Joe wore dark aviator-style sunglasses. In another photo, the father-daughter duo appeared to be enjoying a night out together, as Gia wore a strapless black maxi dress paired with a small white quilted purse as Joe donned a black t-shirt and also wore a sly smirk with a huge cigar in his mouth. Another night out saw the pair in casual-cool styles, with Joe wearing a black polo and jeans while Gia shimmered in a blue strapless top and jeans. A split of Joe Giudice and Gia Giudice at the beach and at dinner together. Joe posts photos of himself and Gia together on Instagram Stories. Photo: Joe Giudice/Instagram Gia also shared a look inside the trip via her Instagram Stories, showing a delicious setup of numerous dips and grilled pita bread. In addition to tagging her father in the Story, Gia also tagged her beau, Christian Carmichael, indicating he was also present for the trip. Additionally, Joe went on to share a video of his daughter as they worked up a sweat in the gym. A split of Joe Giudice and Gia Giudice exercising together and of their food. Photos of Gia's visit with Joe in the Bahamas on Instagram Stories. Photo: Joe Giudice/Instagram; Gia Giudice/Instagram Gia also shared a behind-the-scenes look at her getaway with her dad via her TikTok. "[D]addy's little girl," Gia captioned the video of herself with Joe as the pair adorably clinked glasses of wine. Luis "Louie" Ruelas shows some love to Joe Giudice and Gia Giudice With all the adorable photos and videos that Joe and Gia shared, you can imagine they garnered lots of love from their followers, and among the people who liked an October 19 Instagram post was Luis "Louie" Ruelas. The photo in question? Well, it was a picture of Joe standing alongside two young women, one of whom was his daughter Gia. In the snapshot, Gia looked stunning in a strapless brown dress with a cutout on the side, while her dad opted for a semi-casual look consisting of a black polo shirt and dark-washed jeans. Milania Giudice's visit to Joe Giudice's Bahamas House Joe and Milania pose together in t-shirts outdoors during a sunset. Milania posts a photo of herself and Joe on May 22, 2023 to Instagram. Photo: Milania Giudice/Instagram Gia's not the only one who has been hitting up the Bahamas lately to be with her father. Her younger sister Milania has also taken a recent trip. Joe Giudice and Gia Giudice in the Bahamas. Gia Giudice Had the Sweetest Graduation Celebration in the Bahamas with Joe Giudice In her Instagram Stories in August, Milania showed off Joe's Bahamas house, including how they were setting up for a beautiful Sunday dinner. The table was covered in huge dishes of food, including ravioli in sauce topped with fresh basil, grilled meats, salad with feta cheese, a plate of olives, and more. "All righty, Sunday dinner," Joe said. "A little [mix] of Italian, Greek." Zooming in on his daughter Milania, Joe said affectionately: "Hi, sweetie." Originally appeared on E! Online When news first broke on April 29, 2022, that an Alabama prisoner named Casey Cole White had gone missing from custodyand that corrections officer Vicky White, last seen picking him up for a purported courthouse meeting, was also nowhere to be foundall signs pointed to a story that wouldn't end well for anyone involved. "Knowing the inmate, I think she's in danger, whatever the circumstances," Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton told reporters that night. "He was in jail for capital murder, and he had nothing to lose." (Casey White, no relation to Vicky, was serving a 75-year prison sentence for other crimes and was awaiting trial on capital murder charges, to which he'd pleaded not guilty.) According to investigators, Vicky, whom Singleton called an "exemplary employee" and whom colleagues thought of as a "mother figure," had checked Casey out of county jail that morning. She had said that the inmate was due for a mental health evaluation at the Lauderdale County Courthouse and she was going to drop him off on her way to seek medical attention because she wasn't feeling well. No such evaluation was on the court schedule, nor would they find any record of Vicky having a medical appointment. True Crime Documentaries Worth Watching This Spring More from E! Online Furthermore, according to Singleton, at least two deputies were supposed to escort Casey at all times, including during transportsever since authorities learned in 2020 that the inmate was allegedly hatching an escape plan involving a hostage. On May 2, 2022, Singleton confirmed at a news conference that authorities believed Vicky had "participated" in Casey's escape and a warrant was out for her arrest. "Whether she did that willingly or was coerced or threatened, we're not really sure, but we know for sure she did participate," the sheriff said. Whatever the circumstances were, he added, "This is not the Vicky White we know by any stretch of the imagination. Everybody thought she was going to retire. Nobody saw this coming." Lauderdale County Sheriff's Offi/UPI/Shutterstock A week later, Casey, now 40, was back behind bars"He will stay in handcuffs and shackles while he is in that cell...He is not getting out of this jail again," Singleton said on TODAY May 10, 2022and Vicky was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was 56. But many questions remained about what happenedand whyduring the 11 days the pair were on the run. The investigation into the nature of Vicky's relationship with Casey continued, with detectives ultimately concluding that she masterminded his escape because she had fallen for the inmate. "In total, there were approximately 1,100 phone calls between the two of them that we've discovered," Lauderdale County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Burbank said on 20/20's Oct. 6 episode. Moreover, he explained, "Vicky was the supervisor of the jail. Vicky, she managed manpower. She was able to pull guards away. And she had the authority to make that happen." Lifetime (A&E Networks) What ultimately set her down this road is also the subject of the new Lifetime movie Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story, starring Wendi McLendon-Covey as the law enforcement veteran whose baffling last act sent her community reeling. "I feel like the most hated man in the world," Casey told the court in June, per WHNT, when he was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree escape, in exchange for prosecutors dropping a felony murder charge for Vicky's death. "I loved Vicky and I wouldn't drag her name through the mud for anyone in this courtroom. Vicky took me out because she said, 'Right was right, wrong is wrong.' First person to show me affection. First person to give me a hug in six years." But this is the picture that took shape after their foiled escape came to its disturbing conclusion: Who Was Vicky White? Vicky had put in her retirement papers after 17 years as a corrections officer, most recently serving as an assistant director with the department. But the paperwork was never finalized, according to the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, which on May 4, 2022, relayed that April 29 had been Vicky's last day on the job and she was no longer a county employee. Lauderdale County Sheriff's Offi/UPI/Shutterstock Documents showed that she had finalized the sale of her home on April 18, 2022, for $95,550more than $140,000 less than the estimated value of the four-acre property, according to public records. "She would come home after work, eat supper at my house, and pick up her dog. She'd walk her dog and that was her routine every day," Pat Davis, Vicky's mother, told CNN. Vicky had been staying with her mom since selling her house and last talked to her the day she went missing with Casey. Investigators later found surveillance footage showing Vicky checking out of a Quality Inn the morning she disappeared. Vicky had talked about moving to the beach, Singleton said during the May 2 news conference announcing her arrest warrant. Her colleagues had been planning to throw her a retirement party on the day she disappeared. Celebrity Deaths: 2023's Fallen Stars "They're just devastated," Singleton told Al.com on May 5, 2022, referring to Vicky's stunned co-workers. "We brought counselors in for the employees. Corrections officers are the real unsung heroes of the criminal justice system with what they have to put up with day in and day out. And it's a very tough job. And it's not just anybody can do that job. To find one as good as Vicky White was just rare someone who could make a career out of it." Why Was Casey White in Jail? According to investigators, Vicky seemingly first came into contact with Casey Cole White in 2020, when he was brought to the Lauderdale County jail for his arraignment on capital murder charges at the nearby courthouse. Afterward, he was taken back to prison, but he and Vicky kept in touch by phone. Since 2019 he had been serving a 75-year sentence at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Ala., after being convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, breaking and entering a vehicle, animal cruelty and attempting to elude policeall stemming from a one-night, multistate crime spree. According to the charges against him, on Dec. 1, 2015, Casey committed a home invasion and two carjackings, and was involved in multiple shootings that left a dog dead and a woman injured. He tried to kill his ex-girlfriend and took her two roommates hostage, authorities said. Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock Prosecutors announced Sept. 1, 2020, that Casey had admitted to authorities in a prison interview over the summer that he was paid to kill 59-year-old Connie Ridgeway, a mother of two who had been found stabbed to death in her Rogersville, Ala., living room on Oct. 23, 2015. He seemed to have knowledge of the crime that was not previously reported. "This was a horrible case," Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly told reporters at the time. "Certainly, the longer a case remains unsolved, the dimmer the hope is that you may be able to solve it." Casey was transported back to the Lauderdale County jail in February to await trial, which was set to begin in June. He had since recanted his confession and pleaded not guilty to counts of committing murder for hire and murder during the commission of a burglary. Early on in the search for him and Vicky, Sheriff Singleton advised the public and his fellow law enforcement officers that the 6-foot-9, 260-pound prisoner was "extremely dangerous." If they should encounter him, "don't take any chances," he said. "He has nothing to lose." As for Vicky, Singleton said, "Whether she assisted him or not we don't know, and we won't address that until we have absolute proof that that's what happened. We are assuming at this point that she was taken against her will unless we can absolutely prove otherwise. But regardless, even if she did assist him, we think she's in danger." Casey White and Vicky White's "Special Relationship" On May 3, the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office confirmed that investigators had uncovered a "special relationship" between the missing duo. Singleton told CNN that they had learned from myriad sources, including through tips from Casey's fellow inmates, that the prisoner and Vicky's relationship was "of a different nature" and extended "outside of her normal working hours." "We were told Casey White got special privileges and was treated differently while in the facility than the other inmates," the sheriff said. "Obviously there was a side to Vicky White that we weren't aware of," he continued. "She has coordinated this and taken advantage of her knowledge of the system and played it to her advantage and, you know, it's made it very difficult." Vicky's responsibilities had included coordinating all inmate transport from the county lockup to the courthouse. TV's Most Killer True Crime Transformations In a later interview, Singleton concluded to CNN that Vicky was "basically the mastermind behind the whole plan...[Casey] really couldn't plan too much behind bars. Personally, I think she was the one to put the plan together." D.A. Connolly, who'd known Vicky for 17 years, called her "the most solid person at the jail," telling CNN that he "never would have thought that in a million years" she'd be mixed up in this sort of trouble. Pat Davis, Vicky's mom, told CNN affiliate WAAY, "As a mother, I didn't know how to act because I thought at first it was a mistake. And then when I found out for sure... It was just disbelief." "The whole thing has been a nightmare," Davis said. "I just want my daughter to come home. And to come home alive." What Happened During the 11 Days Casey and Vicky Were on the Run? According to authorities, Vicky left the jail with Casey at 9:41 a.m. on April 29, 2022, a Friday. Shortly after 11 a.m., her 2013 Ford Taurus patrol car was spotted parked at a nearby shopping center in Florence, Ala. A 2007 rust-colored Ford Edge that Vicky had recently purchased was also found later that day by sheriff's deputies in Tennessee, about 85 miles away from the Alabama state line, but there was no identifying information on the SUV and it was towed without being immediately connected to the fugitives. (Nor did investigators yet know about the Edge.) Lauderdale County Sheriff's Offi/UPI/Shutterstock A booking officer at the county jail told another corrections official at 3:30 p.m. that Vicky couldn't be reached. Calls were going straight to voicemail. After it was confirmed Casey had never returned to the jail since leaving with Vicky that morning, the state issued a Blue Alert, a notice of a violent attack on a law enforcement officer and an active search for the suspect. "She scheduled the van transport that morning, made sure all the other armed deputies were out of the building and tied up in court," Singleton later told CNN. "Knew the booking officer wouldn't question her, the assistant director, when she told her she was going to take him to court and drop him off with other employees." Moreover, he said, she "purchased the getaway car, she sold her house, got her hands on cash, she went shopping, bought clothes for him." Authorities uncovered her purchase of the Ford Edge on May 1, their first significant lead. They later learned that, after ditching the Edge in Tennessee on April 29, the duo paid $6,000 cash for a black Ford F-150 pickup truck that same day. A police officer in Evansville, Ind., saw the truck parked in the area on May 2 while doing a routine check for stolen vehicles and ran the license platebut it hadn't been stolen, so nothing came up. 25 Bizarre Facts About the O.J. Simpson Murder Trial James Stinson, the manager of a carwash in Evansville, later recalled to Al.com that he "got a weird feeling" about the F-150 when he spotted it sitting for hours in one of the business' self-washing bays. Taking a closer look on the afternoon of May 3, he realized the doors were unlocked, the windows were open and the keys were in the ignition. He called police and they ran the license platebut again, since the truck wasn't reported stolen no further action was taken and law enforcement didn't consider the vehicle abandoned until it had been left for 48 hours. After having police out to run the plates a second time, getting the same result, Stinson had the vehicle towed from the carwash May 4, Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin later told reporters. WAAY-TV Lauderdale County Sheriff Singleton told Al.com on May 5, "They've had six days now. We're having to do a nationwide search. And we've got boots on the ground across the country, following up on tips and leads for us through the U.S. Marshal's fugitive task force. So it's just a matter of time. We'll get them. Obviously, the sooner the better." He said he didn't think the fugitives were in Alabama anymore, but, he added, "We don't really have a clue where they're at." "I don't know what their game plan was," Singleton said. "It's obvious this was very well planned out. It could be they're just holed up somewhere waiting for things to die down." Why Bonnie Hunt Returned to TV for Escape at Dannemora Chad Hunt, commander of the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, told CNN on May 5 that they'd received more than 200 tips in two days. "We're seeing stuff coming in from the Northwest down to the Southwest to the Northeast and everything in between...and we have to look at every single one," he said. On May 6, authorities announced they'd found the Ford Edge at a tow lot in Williamson County, Tenn. The driver who'd towed it a week prior, on April 29, had seen a TV report about the escape and remembered the vehicle. He told his boss, who called police. "It really doesn't leave us a lot, we just know what direction they were headed, they headed north from here," Singleton said of the development. "After Friday afternoon, when they abandoned that car, which direction they went from there, we don't know." The Search Ends Quickly but Violently Local, state and federal law enforcement eventually caught up with Casey and Vicky in Evansville, about 270 miles away from where they started in Florence, Ala. Authorities learned about the purchase of the F-150 and U.S. marshals tracked the vehicle to its pre-tow perch at the carwash on Monday, May 9. As Stinson, the manager, recalled to Al.com, security footage from May 3 showed a man matching Casey's description near the truck, then getting into a gray Cadillac eight minutes later. A woman was behind the wheel. Timothy D Easley/AP/Shutterstock Hours later on May 9, an Evansville cop on patrol spotted the Cadillacalso purchased, not stolenparked in the lot of Motel 41, an establishment sitting in plain sight on U.S. Route 41, a major highway. "After six days, it was just hard to believe they were here," Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding later told reporters on May 10. "I wouldn't think somebody on the run would stay in a community like Evansville for six days." Casey told authorities "that he was just trying to find a place to hide out, and lay low," Wedding shared. "They thought they had driven long enough. They wanted to stop for a while, get their bearings straight until they figured out the next place to travel." He and Vicky had arrived at the motel on May 2 and paid for 14 days, paying a transient man to check in for them. Wedding said the unidentified third person was not considered an accomplice and wasn't facing charges. A motel employee told NBC News that those infamous names were not registered at the front desk and "nobody knew they were escaped or fugitives or none of that stuff until yesterday, when they got caught." The Staircase Actors Compared to the Real-Life People On May 9, according to Wedding, once the Cadillac was spotted, members of the fugitive task force set up surveillance outside the motel, which is located barely a mile from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office. They weren't there long when the pair got into their car and headed north on the highway with at least six law enforcement cars in pursuit. They passed the Evansville Regional Airport, cut through the parking lot of an awning supply company and headed across a field. One of the pursuing vehicles saw an opportunity and purposefully rammed into the Cadillac, which rolled into a ditch at the edge of the road. And that's where the minutes-long chase ended, hardly two miles from the motel. Vanderburgh County Sherrif's Office An audio recording of a 911 call that began seconds before the crash, released by Evansville police and obtained by NBC News and CNN, caught Vicky saying, "Air bags going off. Let's get out and run. Should have stayed at the...hotel." Several unintelligible noises could be heard, as well as what sounded like a woman's shriek, followed by another, all of it within the first minute of tape. At one minute and 40 seconds in, someone says, "She is breathing" and "got a gun in her hand." According to USA Today, body cam footage showed first responders removing a gun from Vicky's hand before extracting her from the car. Timothy D Easley/AP/Shutterstock Casey was treated for minor injuries and taken into custody, but Vicky had a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Deaconess Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 7:06 p.m. CT. "Casey quickly surrendered, and his immediate words to our team was, 'Please help my wife. She just shot herself in the head and I didn't do it,'" Hunt, from the U.S. Marshal's regional fugitive task force, told CBS News. (No evidence has been found that they were married.) The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office has since said that Vicky's fatal wound was self-inflicted and determined the manner of death to be suicide. Vanderburgh County Sherrif's Office Vanderburgh Sheriff Wedding said at a May 10 press conference that they found roughly $29,000 in the car, presumably left over from Vicky's home sale, as well as camping and survival gear, several ladies' wigs, four loaded handguns, a loaded AR-15 style-rifle, extra ammunition for each weapon, and Vicky's duty belt with her Taser and handcuffs. Casey has told authorities that he was "probably going to have a shootout at the stake of both of them losing their lives," Wedding said. Asked if Casey had shown any sign of remorse for Vicky's death, the sheriff replied, "No." Timothy D Easley/AP/Shutterstock Where Is Casey White Now? Casey was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on May 9, 2022, but waived extradition to Alabama and was arraigned in Lauderdale County Court on the night of May 10 on an additional charge of escape in the first degree. He was then taken back to maximum-security prison in Bessemer. "The daily or hourly activities of this fugitive couple might take weeks or months to sort through, but the critical part of this case for the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office has been settled," Wedding's incident report concluded. "Two dangerous criminals have been captured and no innocent civilians or law enforcement personnel were seriously injured during the process." Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock At the May 10 press conference, Wedding called the investigation into what was really going on between Casey and Vicky ongoing. But from what authorities had gleaned so far, he said, Casey "was not forcing her. It was a mutual relationship." In a May 11 letter to media outlets obtained by E! News, Lauderdale County Sheriff Singleton compared the search to "looking for a needle in a haystack" and expressed his appreciation for the multi-agency teamwork and thanks for all the coverage of the manhunt. As far as he was concerned, the attention "forced [the fugitives] to settle in and lay low which gave us the time we needed to develop leads and receive information that, in fact, eventually led us to them." Craziest True Crime TV Moments Reflecting on the fraught 11 days just passed, Singleton also told NBC News, "This is probably the most bizarre thing I've ever been involved in. I've seen a lot of stuff over my career. This is not the first escape that I've been involved in. But I've never seen anything that was calculated and planned and executed the way this escape was." When Casey was given a life sentence for the escape, his attorney Mark McDaniel said this was a case unlike any he'd ever seen. "As good as Vicky was, as kind as she might've been," McDaniel said in court, per WHNT, "she had a key to get [Casey] out. He didn't have it. She did." The capital murder case that was pending against Casey was suspended in July, prosecutors hitting pause since they already had him where they intended for him to stay. Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story premieres Saturday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. on Lifetime. (Originally published May 15, 2022, at 5 a.m. PT) For more true crime updates on your need-to-know cases, head to Oxygen.com. Dozens of Arab citizens of Israel have been arrested in connection with social media posts about the war in Gaza. Among them is a well-known singer and influencer from Nazareth, Dalal Abu Amneh, who was held in police custody for two days before being released on Wednesday on bail. She's now under house arrest until Monday. According to her lawyer, Abeer Baker, she was accused of "disruptive behaviour" by police officers, who said her posts could incite violence among her followers. The post that attracted police attention was an image of the Palestinian flag with the Arabic motto: "There is no victor but God." Ms Baker says the singer, who is well known across the Arab world for her songs about Palestinian heritage, was expressing a religious sentiment. Israeli authorities interpreted the singer's post as a call to arms for Palestinians. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, police in Israel have adopted what they call a "zero tolerance policy" towards social media activity deemed to express support for Hamas, an Islamist group which is committed to the destruction of Israel and designated as a terrorist group by Israel, as well as the US, UK, and many other countries. Ms Abu Amneh is one of dozens of Arab citizens of Israel arrested in connection with social media posts about the war. Many others have been suspended or sacked from their jobs or face disciplinary action from their universities. Israeli Arabs - many of whom prefer to be called Palestinian citizens of Israel - make up a fifth of the country's population. Since Hamas's attack, police say they have investigated and detained more than 100 people for their social media activity. Sixty-three have been arrested and questioned in Jerusalem alone. "Anyone inciting against the State of Israel, its government symbols, elected officials, military personnel and police, should be aware that the Israel Police will respond firmly and without leniency," said Israel's Police Commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai, at a meeting with senior leaders this week. Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, believes the number of detained is higher as more arrests have been made recently. By comparison, during the Israel-Gaza conflict in May 2021, only 16 people - 15 of whom were Arab - were charged with inciting violence, according to a report released by Adalah. Human rights activists worry this spike in detentions is due to the police adopting a wider interpretation of what constitutes incitement to violence. In the Bedouin city of Rahat, for example, police have detained a former mayoral candidate, Dr Amer al-Huzail, who shared on social media a map of the Gaza Strip with an analysis of possible scenarios for an expected ground operation by Israeli forces. This has led him to be accused of aiding the enemy in a time of war. More on Israel-Gaza war But even when no criminal charges are filed, some people in Israel are still facing heavy consequences for their social media activity. Lawyers working for Adalah say they have received more than 40 cases of Israeli Arab workers suspended or fired from their workplaces overnight. "People are getting their livelihood threatened sometimes just for liking a post," says Salam Irsheid, a lawyer at the organisation. "We even have a case of a worker who is at risk of being fired for liking a news report on the situation in Gaza on social media." Arab students in Israel are also facing disciplinary actions from their universities. Last week, Ariel Porat, the president of Tel Aviv University, said that a few students had been flagged for expressing "support for the atrocities of Hamas". "We will be very strict with this handful of students," he wrote in a statement on the university's website, "and when we feel the offence is criminal in nature, we shall report them to the police. We will act swiftly, as required in this sensitive situation, but will not deny any student the right to a fair investigation." Lawyers from Adalah say they have received complaints from 83 students who have been suspended from schools across the country and, in some cases, told to leave their accommodation at short notice. "None of the cases are about actions, demonstrations or participating in illegal things. They're all about posts on social media," says Dr Hassan Jabareen, the general director of Adalah. "More than 90% of the posts are clearly against the war, against Israel's actions in Gaza, supporting the victims of war in Gaza," he adds. "Ten percent of the posts fall in a vague area that may be interpreted as indirectly supporting the acts of Hamas against civilians. "In normal times, they wouldn't be interpreted like that, but these days Israel tends to give the harshest interpretation to these posts." Nazareth, in northern Israel, is a major centre of the country's Arab population Public outrage at the attack by Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in areas near the Gaza Strip, has also led to anger at Jewish Israeli voices calling for de-escalation. Last Sunday, a prominent left-wing ultra-Orthodox Jewish journalist, Israel Frey, had to be escorted by police away from his home in Tel Aviv for his own protection. Protesters had gathered outside the building and shot flares at his apartment after he posted on social media a video where he was praying for civilians in Gaza. And on Wednesday, Ofer Cassif, a Jewish lawmaker for the Arab-led Hadash-Taal alliance, was suspended from the Israeli parliament for 45 days after he strongly condemned the bombing of Gaza. In one of his most recent posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, he criticised the police who, he said, hadn't intervened promptly in Mr Frey's defence. "Armed police forces are sent to arrest anyone who shows a trace of empathy for the massacres in Gaza," he wrote. "But the police have no desire to protect a left-wing journalist whose life is in danger." MIAMI Most people in the U.S. see Mexico as an essential partner to stop drug trafficking and illegal border crossings, even as they express mixed views of Mexicos government, according to a new poll. The poll from the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about two-thirds of Americans see their southern neighbor as having at least a friendly relationship with the U.S. Relatively few within that group, or 16%, consider Mexico a close ally. Meanwhile, U.S. adults are more likely to have an unfavorable (38%) view of Mexicos leadership than a favorable (12%) one. The remaining responded they did not have an unfavorable or favorable view or were not sure. The poll captures the different perceptions Americans have of Mexico, its leadership and the estimated 10 million immigrants living in the U.S. Mexico is the largest trade partner of the U.S. and both countries have deep diplomatic and cultural ties. But both Washington and Mexico City are under immense pressure to reduce unauthorized migration at their shared border and to stop the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that killed around 75,000 people in the U.S. last year. For two countries that are such close neighbors, so intertwined in each others lives, and have been for so long, theres still room to grow, said Benjamin Lessing, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago and faculty affiliate of the Pearson Institute. Americans see a shared responsibility for the two countries to address their international problems, including illegal immigration and drug trafficking. About two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. government and Mexican government should both be responsible for preventing immigrants from Mexico or from other countries from getting into the U.S. illegally through Mexico. An even larger share, or about three-quarters of Americans, say the governments should both be responsible for preventing illegal drug trafficking from Mexico to the U.S. We need as best relations as possible, said Kris Bennefield, 41, of San Augustine, Texas. We should be working hand in hand with Mexico to take the cartels down. The results come as several of the Republican presidential candidates say they would use military force against Mexico in response to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. As the Israel-Hamas war rages on, some in the GOP field are suggesting without evidence that militants may be taking advantage of the mass arrivals of migrants to come through the U.S.-Mexico border. Americans place a high level of importance on preventing illegal immigration across the border between the U.S. and Mexico: 53% of U.S. adults call this an important foreign policy goal. Republicans (80%) are more likely than Independents (50%) and Democrats (35%) to call this important. Slightly fewer (43%) Americans say its important to create more opportunities for legal immigration from Mexico to the U.S., with Democrats (57%) being more likely than Republicans (25%) to prioritize this. Theres a big part of the population that recognizes the importance and the big effort that the two nations are making to work together, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University who specializes in U.S.-Mexico relations. Bennefield, a Democrat, said he feels the U.S. needs to create a better system for people to arrive in the U.S. legally. The last extensive package on immigration came under President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and a more limited effort was signed by President George H.W. Bush four years later. That emphasis on stopping illegal immigration is also reflected in how Americans view Mexican immigrants differently depending on whether they live in the U.S. legally or not. About two-thirds of Americans say they have a positive view of Mexican immigrants who are living in the United States legally, compared to just 20% who say that about those who reside in the U.S. illegally. Dan Allstun, a retired utility company worker who lives in Los Angeles, said he thinks it is a problem when people reside in the U.S. and do not pay taxes. Experts have said that immigrants who are in the country illegally pay sales taxes and that very significant numbers of them also have federal and state tax withholding in their paychecks. Hispanic Americans were more likely than Americans overall to say its important to create more opportunities for legal immigration from Mexico to the U.S. They were also more likely to have a favorable view of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The poll also reflected that about two-thirds of Americans (65%) say they have a positive view of Mexican culture. Three in five say they have personally engaged with Mexican culture within the United States such as through festivals or cultural events. "Mexico is part of the American culture, said Correa-Cabrera. The politicization of the issues of immigration and border security and how they are used to divide and conquer in elections differentiates from the realistic perspective of who Americans are in their day-to-day lives. Americas reeling as flow of migrants reaches historic levels When Pavit Randhawa said hed be taking a solo trip to Vietnam, many raised flags of concern. Both the stars of Real Housewives of New York and its fans suggested that something was amiss, especially since the stated reason for his trip was a sandwich. Even Jessel Taank was initially skeptical, but it would seem she came around without a problem. Her fellow RHONY stars on the other hand couldnt seem to drop it. They made a real point of getting involved in Jessels marriage throughout Season 14. Of course, as many fans came to understand, Jessels husband is a major foodie. Considering that food tourism is alive and well, Pavits stated missionsecuring a sandwichwasnt so far-fetched at all. Now, Pavit and Jessel have addressed the trip after its completion. Pavit ate an absurd amount of food in Vietnam Pavit spoke with Us Weekly on October 17, revealing that he ate an absurd amount of food. I think I was there for 30 hours and I had a lot of food. Pavit was also quick to address the rumors that he was heading to Vietnam to hook up with sex workers. Ive never in my life heard of people going to Vietnam for sexual tourism. He further stated, Associating any South Asian country for that is like, OK, thats weird. Vietnam is probably one of the most beautiful countries. The foods amazing. Weve been there a couple times. Its a beautiful country. The people are amazing. So to associate that with this is really weird. Jessel also spoke on Pavits travels and her cast members concerns. He travels a lot by himself, she said. She then suggested that her fellow RHONY stars voicing rumors and concerns were projection and insecurity on their part. If the first thing that goes to peoples minds is, Oh, well, theres something shady going on, its weird. The Real Housewives of New York City reunion airs Part 1 on Sunday, October 22 at 9/8c on Bravo. TELL US WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PAVITS TRIP? DID YOU SUSPECT ANYTHING WAS AMISS? Real Housewives of New York RHONY cast Whose rep changed in a New York minute? Features Kim Stempel 4 days ago Real Housewives of New York RHONY Season 14 reunion We are dying to know more about this topic! Features Nora Donnellan 6 days ago Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy Why is it okay to joke about Jessels marriage but not Erins? Reality News Debbie 7 days ago The post Jessel Taanks Husband Pavit Randhawa Took His Trip to Vietnam, Heres What Happened appeared first on Reality Tea. Law & Order creator Dick Wolf has called for the resignations of two key leaders at the University of Pennsylvania, following a Palestinian literature festival held at the school last month that featured antisemitic speakers. In a letter addressed to both president Liz Magill and Scott Bok, chair of the schools board of trustees, Wolf wrote, I implore you to step down from your UPenn positions before any more unnecessary damage to UPenn. There is no hope for unification in our community until you step aside. The notion that the Wolf Humanities Center contributed to this hate fest, otherwise known as the Palestine Writes Festival, is an abomination, he added. Wolf vowed to cease all donations to the school, of which he is an alum, unless Magill resigns. Wolf, namesake of the Wolf Humanities Center, previously voiced his support for fellow Penn alum and former trustee Marc Rowan, who wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian that donors should withhold contributions to the school until Magill and Bok step down. Wolf told the outlet, Sadly, their leadership has inadequately represented the ideals and values of our university and they should be held to account. At the heart of Wolfs objection to the Palestine Writes Literature Festival is the attendance of several people who have been credibly accused of antisemitism. This includes former CNN reporter Marc Lamont Hill, and Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters , among others. Hill was fired by CNN in 2018 when, during a speech ostensibly advocating for a Palestinian state, he said from the river to the sea a shortened version of from the river to the sea and from the south to the north, a phrase used by several extremist groups, especially by Hamas, that is understood to mean the elimination of Israel as a country. Waters meanwhile has been repeatedly accused of antisemitic sympathies due to imagery, derived from Pink Floyds The Wall, that he uses in live performances. He has denied all such accusations. The events primary organizer, author Susan Abulhawa, stoked controversy earlier this year when she described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a nazi-promoting zionist. She has also called for Israel to be wiped off the map. The festival was questioned by a number of media outlets; The Hill, for instance, which pointed out that participation the festival by Waters and Hill was confusing at best since neither of the men are Palestinian. Additional speakers included Salman Abusitta, who once said that Jews were hated in Europe because they played a role in the destruction of the economy in some of the countries. The festival also hosted a screening of the film Fahra, which the American Jewish Committee says contains a number of toxic antisemitic tropes. CNN was the first to report Wolfs letter to Magill and Bok. Representatives for Wolf and Magill have not replied to TheWraps request for comment. In response to complaints from prominent alumni, Magill said in a statement published Oct. 17, I hear their anger, pain, and frustration and am taking action to make clear that I stand, and Penn stands, emphatically against the terrorist attacks on Israel and against antisemitism. As a University, we support and encourage the free exchange of ideas, along with a commitment to the safety and security of our community and the values we share and work to advance. Penn has a moral responsibility to combat antisemitism and to educate our community to recognize and reject hate in all its forms. Ive said we should have communicated faster and more broadly about where we stand, but let there be no doubt that we are steadfast in our beliefs. Representatives for the University didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap. The post Law & Order Creator Dick Wolf Calls on UPenn President to Resign Over Palestinian Lit Fest With Antisemitic Speakers appeared first on TheWrap. The Enquirers 35th Annual Dress The Turkey contest, presented by Cincinnati Art Museum, has arrived! Now print out your bird and get creative! Its time to haul out the paint, crayons, pens, ink, beads, feathers, glitter, sequins and glue for The Enquirers 35th annual Dress the Turkey contest, presented by Cincinnati Art Museum. First things first, you can download and print out a high-res version of your blank bird at Cincinnati.com/contests and get right to work! How to enter Dress the Turkey 2023 To participate, when your masterpiece is complete, take a photo of your gobbler (or scan it) and submit the image online (again at Cincinnati.com/contests) by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12. Judges will pick a top bird in three age categories: 12 and under, 13-20 and 21 and up, as well as the best overall turkey winner. Winners take home $100 each from The Enquirer. To be considered valid for the contest, entries must include the following: name, age and specific Greater Cincinnati neighborhood (for example: Westwood, Loveland or Covington; not just Cincinnati). Look for winners and many more in The Enquirer on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, and online throughout the holiday week at Cincinnati.com. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Enquirer Dress the Turkey 2023, presented by Cincinnati Art Museum Marlon Wayans said a United Airlines employee discriminated against him in a new court filing. Wayans had been charged with disturbing the peace after a dispute over his luggage in June. At the time, Wayans spoke about the employee on social media. Prosecutors have dismissed charges against actor Marlon Wayans related to a June dispute with a United Airlines employee after the comedian said he was targeted because of his race. In June, an airline employee said Wayans would not be allowed on a flight because of how many personal items he tried to bring on the plane. As a result, Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, police said. Attorneys for the actor and comedian, who is Black, argued Thursday that racial profiling played a role in why he wasn't allowed on the plane, per a court filing Thursday. A day later, prosecutors moved to dismiss the case. Following the accusations of racial profiling, Denver prosecutors asked that the case be dismissed. His attorney, David M. Beller, told CBS Colorado the judge granted the prosecutor's request. "The City Of Denver finally did what United Airlines has been asking - dismiss this caseOur community does not need one more innocent Black man wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted," Beller told the publication. "I hope this inspires everyone to be more aware of their own implicit and explicit bias." According to the Thursday 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 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 leave 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 multiple oversized bags that violated the airline's policy. Following the incident, Wayans took to Instagram, airing out similar frustrations to the ones stated in the court filing. At the time, he did not mention racial profiling. "Bro claimed I had too many bags so I complied and consolidated them he was like "oh now you have to check that bag" Bye," he wrote in his caption. Wayans also asked, at the time, that the "rude and wrong" employee face disciplinary action for the incident. Wayans eventually got to his destination on an American Airlines flight. 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. 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. This year, other people have gone viral online for sharing baggage disputes and frustrations, with airlines providing contradictory views. In March, Dyana Villa complained about not being able to bring her carry-on luggage because Frontier Airlines employees said it would not fit. Villa said this was untrue but was not allowed to board the flight. A different woman, Amira Hamad, sued Frontier Airlines, claiming that the airline was not truthful in advertising what items could and could not be brought as baggage. Read the original article on Insider Meryl Streep and Don Gummer celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on Sept. 30 David M. Benett/Dave Benett/ Getty Meryl Streep and Don Gummer Meryl Streep and husband Don Gummer have separated after 45 years of marriage. On Saturday, PEOPLE confirmed that the three-time Oscar winner, 74, and Gummer, 76, quietly ended the romantic nature of their relationship six years ago. Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than 6 years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart, a representative for Streep said in a statement to PEOPLE. Page Six was the first to report the news. Steve Granitz/WireImage Meryl Streep and Don Gummer at 90th Annual Academy Awards Related: Meryl Streep and Don Gummer: Look Back at Their Relationship Through the Years Although the pair has not been seen publicly together since the 2018 Oscars, the Only Murders in the Building actress was seen wearing her wedding band as recently as Friday at the 2023 Princesa de Asturias Awards in Spain. On Sept. 30, she and Gummer celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Gummer, a sculptor from Louisville, Kentucky, met through Streep's brother in 1978. At the time, she was mourning the death of her boyfriend, fellow actor John Cazale, who died of lung cancer. Venturelli/WireImage Meryl Streep and husband Don Gummer at the 4th International Rome Film Festival Once Streep met Gummer, the two had an instant connection. They married just six months later at her parents home. Throughout the years, neither Streep nor Gummer have said much about their love life, but they have been photographed side-by-side on occasion. Related: Celebrities Whose Significant Others We Rarely See Although Streep began making a name for herself on the big screen, Gummer saw success within the world of art. As a student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, he later received an MFA from Yale University, and his work has been featured in exhibitions around the world since the early 1970s. During a 2002 Vogue interview, Streep gave a rare glimpse into her relationship with Gummer. According to The Devil Wears Prada star, the secret to their longevity was "goodwill and willingness to bend and to shut up every once in a while. "There's no road map on how to raise a family: It's always an enormous negotiation," she continued. "But I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life. I can't imagine eschewing one for the other." 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. Streep and Gummer share four children together: son Henry and daughters Mamie, Grace, and Louisa. In 1998, Streep told The Washington Post that the role of motherhood was her most challenging one yet! "Mothering. Definitely. Acting that's praise, money, fulfillment. Mothering they don't even say, 'Thank you.' They don't even clear the table unless you say, 'Excuuuse me.' Real life, there's no comparison to acting. I can't really call acting work, since it's secretly so fun. Even the difficult things; it's satisfying to do the difficult things well." Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Meryl Streep She added, "Acting isn't like real life. Life is about not being sure: Is this the right school for this kid? All those uncertainties." Though Streeps private life rarely plays out in front of the cameras, Gummer was the first person she thanked when she received the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Iron Lady in 2012. "First, I'm going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives, you've given me," she said. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Natalee Holloway's Mom Says Daughter "Fought Like Hell" Before Joran van der Sloot Killed Her After Joran van der Sloot confessed to murdering Natalee Holloway in 2005 as part of a plea deal this week, giving chilling details, the Alabama teens mother said she's "proud" that her daughter "fought like hell" against her killer. In a recorded October 3 confession that was released on Thursday, van der Sloot said that he had hoped to have sex with Holloway after meeting her during her Aruba vacation 18 years ago, and made a move on the beach. She turned him down, and when he persisted, she kneed him in the crotch, he said. RELATED: Audio of Joran van der Sloot Confessing to Natalee Holloway's Murder Released When she knees me in the crotch I get up on the beach and I kick her extremely hard in the face, he said. Van der Sloot went on to describe bashing Holloway's head in with a cinderblock, adding that, Even though its dark I can see her face is collapsed. Beth Holloway says she's proud of Natalee Holloway for fighting off Joran van der Sloot The victim's mom, Beth Holloway, said she recognized her daughters feistiness through van der Sloots vivid description of the struggle between Holloway and himself. "Yes, I said, 'That's her,'" Beth told CBS News. "She fought like hell. I think she fought like hell with her killer." She was killed just by standing her ground, Beth added. I was so proud of her. Beth Holloway Beth Holloway participates in the launch of the Natalee Holloway Resource Center on June 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, van der Sloot, a Dutch national, pleaded guilty to extortion and wire fraud charges related to a 2010 attempt to sell information about the location of Holloways remains to her mother in exchange for $250,000. The plea deal was contingent on van der Sloot providing details of Holloways disappearance. On Thursday, the audio of his confession was released, in which he recounted how he bludgeoned Holloway with a cinderblock after she refused his sexual advances, then pushed her body out to sea. RELATED: Joran van der Sloot Confesses to Natalee Holloway's Murder Its just blistering to your soul, and it hurts so deeply, Beth told CBS News of hearing van der Sloots confession. "A far as I'm concerned it's over, it's over," Beth told reporters outside court Wednesday. Today, I can tell you with certainty after eighteen years, that as far as Im concerned, Natalees case is solved, Beth added Wednesday. It is over. Joran van der Sloot is no longer the suspect in my daughters murder. He is the killer. On Wednesday, 36-year-old van der Sloot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which he's set to serve concurrently with his 28-year sentence in Peru for killing 21-year-old Stephany Flores in 2010. I feel like I have the power and the victory over him because all hes gonna hear is that jail cell door slam to remind him hes a double murderer, Beth told Birmingham station WVTM 13, referring to van der Sloot. Beth Holloway participates in the launch of the Natalee Holloway Beth Holloway participates in the launch of the Natalee Holloway Resource Center on June 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. Photo: Getty Images The Night Natalee Holloway Disappeared Holloway vanished on May 30, 2005, while on a trip to Aruba with her classmates. The 18-year-old was celebrating her graduation from high school. Her classmates said she was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot. Despite being a prime suspect in the case for years, he was never formally charged in her disappearance. Due to a 12-year statute of limitations for murder in Aruba, van der Sloot won't faces charges in Holloways killing. In court Wednesday, van der Sloot apologized to the Holloway family and his own family. "I am not the same kind of person today as I was then, I have given my heart to Jesus Christ," he said. RELATED: Prime Suspect in Natalee Holloway's Disappearance To Share Info on Her Death in Plea Deal, Lawyer Says Beth told WTVM that her daughter's killer's words did not seem genuine, saying, "I heard it, but I feel like it's a hollow apology because I don't feel like a double-murderer and someone who can extort money and make a mother of a child you murdered pay you money, so it felt scripted." Holloways father, Dave Holloway, called his daughters killer evil personified, WTVM reported. "We are living every parent's nightmare," he said in a statement. "Today and every day, please hug your children in honor and loving memory of our daughter, Natalee Ann Holloway." The model, 31, got engaged to NFL star McCaffrey in April Olivia Culpo/TikTok Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey Olivia Culpo is spilling details about her wedding! The model, 31, teased details of her wedding venue in a TikTok video posted Friday as she discussed the location, ahead of tying the knot with fiance Christian McCaffrey and revealed they will be marrying in Rhode Island where she grew up. "I'm not going to tell you where it is yet," Culpo who got engaged in April teased of the venue for her upcoming wedding at the beginning of her new video, as she sat in a bedroom applying her makeup. "But I'm very excited," she added. I got here at, like, two in the morning, Culpo shared in the clip. 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. Aside from being really excited to see my wedding venue, Ive been more excited to see whats in the backyard Ill show you guys, Culpo continued. She then inserted a clip of six puppies sitting in a pen on a grassy field outside. Although it wasn't clear where exactly the video was filmed, it appeared Culpo may have been at her parents' home in Rhode Island as she went on to explain that her uncle and parents golden retrievers accidentally made it leading to seven puppies, one of which had already found a home elsewhere. Culpo then discussed how she had decided on her wedding venue. It took us a really long time to figure out where we wanted to get married, she said. We were thinking Colorado for a while because thats where Chris is from. Later in the video, after changing into an all-white outfit, Culpo revealed that she and fiance McCaffrey are getting married in Rhode Island, where she grew up and where the couple held their engagement party in July. I have to say there is a lot of pride from our little state, she said. This is the smallest state in the country, for those of you who are maybe from the country and dont know that. Culpo added, It's the best state in the entire world andIm getting married here! Aaaah! as she jumped up and down. Olivia Culpo/TikTok Culpo revealed her wedding venue in a video on TikTok on Friday Related: Olivia Culpo Shares Behind-the-Scenes of Italy Trip with Fiance Christian McCaffrey Earlier in the clip, the TV personality opened up about her plans to start a family right after getting married. I feel like the day after my wedding Im just going to rip out my IUD and start trying immediately, Culpo revealed. For a while, I thought it was going to be a bachelorette, but here we are now, she also shared. Her make-up artist then made a brief cameo. Pray for your future husband, the model then jokingly said. Culpo then revealed how she manifested meeting her fiance. Thats what worked for me, she said. I got down on my hands and knees and I said, God, please show me a better way. I wrote down exactly what I wanted. I wrote down so many specific things. Olivia Culpo/TikTok The engaged star also shared that she is getting married in Rhode Island Related: Olivia Culpo Supported Sister Sophia Every Step of the Way Amidst Her Breakup from Braxton Berrios Everybody obviously knows Lisa, my mother-in-law, and how close we are. And I remember on my list was I wanted somebody that was really close with their mom. And like, hes so close with his mom. And just really random things, Culpo continued. In April, Culpo announced her engagement to McCaffrey after four years together in an Instagram post. At the time, she shared a photo of the San Fransisco 49ers star down on one knee proposing to her while she held her hands over her face in shock. "4.2.23," Culpo captioned the post. McCaffrey proposed with a ring designed by Ring Concierge during their vacation in Utah as the couple's pup Oliver Sprinkles watched on from the side. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. EXCLUSIVE: Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. rights to Bhutans official selection for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards, The Monk and the Gun , a spiritual fable written, directed, and co-produced by the Oscar-nominated director of 2019s Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorj. Contending for Best International Film, Lunana became the first Bhutanese film ever nominated for an Oscar. The Monk and the Gun premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and later the Toronto International Film Festival where it won critical and audience acclaim, currently holding a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In my Deadline review of the film after its Telluride premiere I said, If I were a betting man which I am I would venture to say that with his second film The Monk and the Gun, which just had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend and goes on to Toronto next week, will see the director back at the Dolby Theatre come next March. No sophomore jinx here, this one is even better than his first, and that is saying something. More from Deadline The Monk and the Gun captures the wonder and disruption as Bhutan becomes one of the worlds youngest democracies. Known throughout the world for its extraordinary beauty and its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan was the last nation to connect to the internet and television. And if that werent enough change, the King announced shortly afterwards that he would cede his power to the people via their vote and a new form of government: Democracy. An elderly lama (Kelsang Choejey), recognizing that extraordinary change is about to sweep through his country, is troubled by the possible outcomes. He instructs his young disciple Tashi (Tandin Wangchuk) to set forth into the kingdom and bring him two guns before the full moon to set it right. The young monk is perplexed by his gurus request, and his familiarity with guns is based solely on images from the only film available on television: James Bond. His quest brings him into contact with a scheming American gun collector Ron (Harry Einhorn), leading to a most unexpected outcome. Roadside Attractions Pawo Dorjis brilliant comedy is the movie we all need right now, said Co-Presidents Roadside Attractions Howard Cohen and Eric dArbeloff. We fell in love with the people of Bhutan through this charming film and American audiences will as well. The Monk and the Gun tells a unique story from a land and people the world knows very little about noted Dorji. It is a unique story, and it is one that celebrates the universal quality of innocence. Roadside Attractions has always showcased the best independent films, and I am excited that they will be bringing this film to the U.S. audiences. The ensemble cast stars Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Pema Zangmo Sherpa, Tandin Sonam, Harry Einhorn, Choeying Jatsho, Tandin Phubz, Yuphel Lhendup Selden and Kelsang Choejay. The film is produced by Jean-Christophe Simon (Mia Madre, Birds of Passage, Farewell to the Night, Verdict, Subtraction), Hsu Feng (Farewell My Concubine), Stephanie Lai (Lunana: A Yak in The Classroom), and Pawo Choyning Dorji . Zhang Xin (Ezra), BAFTA nominee and P.G.A. winner William Horberg (Kite Runner, Queens Gambit, Cold Mountain), Academy Award winner Lisa Henson (Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio), Kris Eiamsakulrat (Home for Rent), Chayamporn Taeratanachai (Home for Rent) and Janee Pennington (Chlorine, How to Ruin the Holidays) serve as Executive Producers. The Monk and the Gun is a Dangphu Dingphu: 3 Pigs Production, Journey to the East Films production, co-production with Films Boutique, Tomson Films, in association with Closer Media, Animandala, N8 Studios, Wooden Trailer Prods. Films Boutique will be handling International Sales. The acquisition was negotiated by Roadside Attractions Co-President Cohen and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Dorj is represented by UTA, Black Bear Management, and Fox Rothschild LLC. Roadside plans a 2024 U.S. theatrical release for The Monk and the Gun. CORRECTION: This story was amended to clarify Roadside had acquired U.S. rights. 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. Halloween is perfectly suited for watching movies at home its the time of year where, conceivably, things start getting cooler and a cozy night in with your favorite horror movie is at its most appealing. And thankfully there are plenty of new Blu-rays and 4K Ultra HD discs out there to fill every need, for the fans of the mega-scary, to those who just want to watch a semi-spooky romp with the family. Night of the Demons 4K (Shout Factory, $39.98) International Film Marketing One of the most beloved cult movies of the 1980s gets gussied up in 4K finery. If youve never seen Night of the Demons, its a hoot and one of the most Halloween-y movies of the era. Its about a bunch of kids who break into an abandoned funeral parlor to launch an epic Halloween party. (Shouldnt they know better?) Soon enough theyre unleashing a demonic evil and getting possessed (with camerawork clearly borrowed from The Evil Dead). Night of the Demons is extremely 80s but also extremely fun; about a decade ago Shout released the movie on Blu-ray but now its back with a features-backed 4K/Blu-ray set (including some features that werent on that original release). Whats more, Shout has released the two sequels 1994s Night of the Demons 2 (directed by Australian madman Brian Trenchard-Smith) and 1997s Night of the Demons 3 on special edition Blu-rays. While the follow-up films dont pack as much of a punch, we should feel very lucky to have these exemplary versions of them. The Mist 4K (Lionsgate, $34.99) Dimension/MGM/Lionsgate Frank Darabonts The Mist is one of the most underrated Stephen King adaptations of all time, a truly shocking extravaganza that still managed to very much reflect the time that it was made. (Its clearly a commentary on Bush-era politics and the culture of fear that surrounded the administration.) The log line is basically: a bunch of people in a small Maine town are trapped in a grocery store while giant, grotesque monsters emerge from an otherworldly mist. Need we say more? This four-disc (!) set includes both the theatrical version of the movie, as well as the black-and-white version created for home video in 4K (each on a separate disc), plus two more discs of the movie on Blu-ray, with all the special features included in the initial Blu-ray release (including a commentary track, deleted scenes and mini-documentaries about the making of the movie). If for some reason youve never seen The Mist, you really should, and if youve never watched the black-and-white version, its a great variation, lending it a spooky, Universal monster movie vibe. Talk to Me (Lionsgate, $39.99) A24 One of the years very best horror movies (and one of A24s most profitable movies, period), Talk to Me is proof that contemporary films can still be scary too. The brainchild of YouTubers-turned-really-for-real filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk to Me follows a group of Australian teenagers as they use a gnarled hand as a gateway to another, altogether ghostly dimension. The fact that they break it out at social gatherings, communing with the dead like its a party drug being passed around, makes the scenario even scarier (and funnier). And it looks like a million bucks on home video, particularly if you get the 4K release, with some nifty special features like a commentary by the brothers, deleted scenes, marketing materials and an EPK. Watch what could wind up being a future cult classic. And yes, theyve already green lit the sequel. The Wicker Man 4K (Lionsgate, $21.99) Lionsgate Long thought of as the Citizen Kane of horror movies, a status that has dimmed somewhat in recently years, thanks largely to the laughable, bee-heavy Nicolas Cage remake that came out in 2007. But if you havent seen it, or havent seen it recently, this tale of a British detective (Edward Woodward) who travels to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. There he finds a strange cult overseen by the mystical Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). As you can imagine, things go from bad to worse. One of the most influential films in modern cinema, having given way to everything from Midsommar to Apostle to Kill List (and so many things in between), this 50th anniversary of the film (presented here in its 100-minute-long directors cut), with a new 4K transfer, is everything that youd want. The new transfer, which briefly toured festivals like Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest, is eye-popping and the special features that appeared on earlier discs. This appears to be a Best Buy exclusive disc, so sacrifice whatever you have to in order to get your hands on a copy. Tod Browning s Sideshow Shockers (Criterion, $69.95) MGM This seasons must-have box set is this trilogy of weirdo masterpieces from Tod Browning, a former circus performer-turned-filmmaker best known for his chilling version of Dracula (featuring Bela Lugosi as the Count). This immaculately produced set includes his second most famous (but definitely most infamous) horror film Freaks, about a group of murderous sideshow performers (which was released the year after Dracula), in a newly restored transfer. (The box calls the movie most transgressive film produced by a major American studio in the 1930s.) But there are two more movies in the set too 1927s The Unknown, featuring frequent Browning collaborator Lon Chaney as a knife thrower who becomes obsessed with his assistant (Joan Crawford); and 1925s little-seen The Mystic, about a phony psychic who cons wealthy Americans. (Both also feature new restorations.) There are a ton of great special features in this set, including an episode of Ticklish Business by TheWraps very own Kristen Lopez. Theres also commentaries, documentaries, archival materials and deleted scenes. The only thing missing is the popcorn. Needful Things (Kino Lorber, $39.95) Columbia Pictures Yes, it is very nice that we have Needful Things, one of the more underrated Stephen King adaptations (up there with The Mist), on 4K Ultra HD. But the real reason to own this release is that it includes the 191-minute television cut of the film, which used to air on TBS a few years after its theatrical run. (Keep in mind this was the heyday of the Stephen King television adaptation, with The Stand, The Tommyknockers, The Shining, Rose Red and others bringing in big time ratings.) This cut adds much to the theatrical cut, giving the town of Castle Rock, Maine, much more scope and depth (W.D. Richters script is a winner). And its the kind of thing you can drift in and out of; it was perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon of basic cable bliss. While the television cut didnt get the 4K treatment, it was sourced from a standard definition master and upscaled to 1080p, and looks terrific. There are a smattering of special features, including a directors commentary and a new mini-doc featuring Richter, but the big draw here is obviously that long-cherished TV cut. Paramount Scares Vol. 1 4K (Paramount, $111.99) Paramount This box set is super fun and, strangely, reasonably priced. It includes a bunch of exemplary, previously released 4K Blu-rays Rosemarys Baby (which just came out as a standalone disc as well), recent hit Smile, the 1989 version of Stephen Kings Pet Sematary and the rampaging alligators masterpiece Crawl, plus a bonus mystery movie that is only available here, is making its 4K debut and is super exciting. (We are forbidden from saying anything, even though some overzealous sites have already broken the magic.) Also included is a reproduction of an issue of Fangoria Magazine, with articles about all of the movies included here; some nifty, movie-specific stickers; and a super cool Paramount Scares pin with the Paramount logo beset by a backsplash of blood. All of the movies are very much deserving to be a part of your collection (if you dont have them already) and that bonus movie is the gore-soaked cherry on top. Prey 4K (Disney, $39.99) Hulu One of last years best movies was Prey, a Predator prequel that premiered exclusively in Hulu. Its a testament to the films popularity that it has a physical home video release, the first Hulu original film to have that distinction. And thankfully the release is just as good as the movie itself. Prey is set in 1719 in the Great Plains, where a young Comanche warrior (played exceptionally by Amber Midthunder) encounters an earlier version of the Predator warrior. Inventively staged and breathlessly paced, Prey was directed by 10 Cloverfield Lane filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg and instantly revitalized the somewhat moribund franchise. This home video release includes a commentary with Trachtenberg, Midthunder, Jeff Cutter and Angela M. Catanzaro; deleted scenes; a brief making of featurette; and a FYC conversation moderated by Barry Jenkins of all people. Barry Jenkins! See, everybody loves Prey! The Exorcist 4K (Warner Bros., $29.99) Warner Bros. The original Exorcist is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, with a controversial new chapter in the saga released into theaters and an accompanying 4K release of the original film. While this collection is sadly short on extras (just an introduction by the late, great William Friedkin, some commentary tracks and both the initial and directors cut of the films), it does feature the best that the movie has looked (and sounded) in decades. And honestly isnt that the most important thing? Even if youve seen the movie dozens of times (as some of us have just purely hypothetical here), this feels like a new experience, in the best possible way. May the power of Christ compel you to pick up this disc. The Others 4K (Criterion, $49.95) Dimension This is one of the very best discs released this year. Alejandro Amenabars The Others, starring Nicole Kidman, was a huge smash when it was released back in 2001. The movie, set in 1945, is a stately ghost story about a woman (Nicole Kidman) and her young children who begin experiencing an otherworldly visitation while living in their manor. (In case you dont remember, The Others culminates in one of the greatest twist endings of all time.) In short: this movie rules. Its gorgeous and complex and intensely scary. And now it finally has the home video release that it deserves. Not only is the new 4K restoration exceptional but the special features are really outstanding theres a new commentary track by Amenabar; a new conversation between Amenabar and film critic Pau Gomez; a new documentary produced by Studiocanal UK; plus all of the archival special features from earlier releases; deleted scenes; audition tapes; and marketing materials. If, for some reason, you have never seen The Others, this is a great excuse to finally take the plunge; if you havent seen the movie in a while, its an excellent time to revisit. Like we said: one of the years best discs. Cujo 4K (Kino Lorber, $39.95) Warner Bros. Cujo is turning 40. In dog years thats 280. The movie, based on the 1981 novel of the same name, concerns a St. Bernard who is bit by a bat and overtaken by rabies, menacing a young family (the mom is played by Dee Wallace from E.T.). Thats really the long and short of Cujo and the movie runs on this kind of ruthless efficiency. While Cujo is rarely uttered in the list of greatest King adaptations, it really should be. Its tough as hell and super scary. And it was directed by Lewis Teague, who made the similarly elevated creature feature Alligator, and shot by Jan De Bont, one of the greatest cinematographers of his era (he shot The Hunt for Red October and the early films of Paul Verhoeven). It was also released just a few months before Christine, another under-the-radar king classic (this one from John Carpenter). This new disc features a new 4K restoration, plus a bunch of special features that had previously been released (including several Teague commentary tracks from different releases). Just remember to keep up to date with your dogs shots. Haunted Mansion (Disney, $34.95) Disney Boo! If youre looking for a movie thats both fun and spooky and can entertain the entire family, look no further. Haunted Mansion, released this past summer during the height of Barbenheimer, adapts the popular Disney theme park attraction that first opened in 1969, but updates it in fun ways. Rosario Dawson plays a young single mother who moves into a creepy old mansion outside of New Orleans, so she calls on a group of paranormal investigators, including LaKeith Stanfield (who hosts ghost tours), Danny DeVito (a history professor), Tiffany Haddish (a medium) and Owen Wilson (a priest). Are they able to rid the mansion of the 999 happy haunts (who include Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota and Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost)? The home video release has a small collection of extras, including some intriguing deleted scenes, but the video and audio quality are aces, especially if you chase down a 4K copy of the movie, which isnt widely available but exclusive to certain retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Hunt down a copy like the dogged ghostbuster you are. The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 3 (Universal, $69.99) Universal These Alfred Hitchcock 4K collections have been amazing. And this third volume is no different, especially because this set includes two films that are essential Halloween viewing 1948s Rope and 1972s Frenzy. (The other films included in the set: 1956s The Man Who Knew Too Much, 1966s Torn Curtain and 1969s Topaz listen, theyre not all winners.) Rope not only predated the all in a single shot craze by actual decades, but also tells a haunting story, based on the real life Leopold and Loeb crime, of a pair of college intellectuals hell bent on creating the perfect crime. (If youve never seen it, its one of Hitchcocks more unsung gems.) Frenzy, too, doesnt get the attention it deserves but is sort of a spiritual successor to Psycho, this time set in London and following a serial killer known as the necktie murderer. It was the only Hitchcock film to score an R-rating in its initially release and is much rougher than youd probably suspect. There are some who have labeled it Hitchcocks last masterpiece and after watching it (especially in this beautiful presentation), youre likely to agree. The post Scary Good Discs: 13 Blu-rays Worth Trick-or-Treating For appeared first on TheWrap. So the trailer to the highly anticipated romantic comedy Anyone but You dropped this week. Sony Pictures If you're unsure what I'm talking about, it's a new rom-com starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell . John Phillips / Getty Images, Emma Mcintyre / WireImage Do you remember Sydney? If you're Gen Z, you probably know her from Euphoria. If you're a millennial (or older), you probably know her from The White Lotus. Eddy Chen / HBO, Mario Perez / HBO Do you remember Glen? If you're Gen Z, you probably know him from Scream Queens. If you're a millennial (or older), you probably know him as the guy who made us watch Top Gun: Maverick more times than we're willing to admit. 20thcentfox / 20thCentFox / Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Well, the actors are starring in a new romantic comedy directed by Will Gluck (Easy A, Friends With Benefits), about two people who can't stand each other but pretend to be a couple. According to the Sony Pictures website, "In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice old until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple." Sony Pictures Months before the teaser dropped, the film received attention after photos of Sydney and Glen together went viral and had people wondering if they would ever date. This came amid Glen's then-girlfriend, Gigi Paris, reportedly breaking things off with the 34-year-old actor earlier this year. During this time, Sydney was engaged, and still is, to restaurateur Jonathan Davino. Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sydney laughed off the rumors earlier this year, saying, 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 ... We talk all the time, like, Thats really funny. But she left off the conversation with a playful, "They want it. It's fun to give it to 'em." Gabe Ginsberg / WireImage I'll just leave this slightly unrelated photo here of Sydney accepting the Best Fight Award, for Euphoria, from Glen and Jay Ellis at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards. Kevin Winter / Getty Images Now the teaser has dropped for the movie that sparked a dozen scandalous rumors, and the fans are not having it. Here's what the fans are saying about the Anyone but You teaser: why is there no context for why theyre pretending to be in a relationship, like whats the hook here https://t.co/M66Dqkp9nx Zoe Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) October 19, 2023 @ZoeRoseBryant / Sony Pictures / Via Twitter: @ZoeRoseBryant is this supposed to be a romcom coz where is the rom and com and what in the 50 shades music choice pic.twitter.com/bZLwspsqGQ allure (@allurequinn) October 19, 2023 Twitter: @allurequinn all the no chemistry allegations, well let me just say its not bc of him zara (@bvckleybegins) October 13, 2023 Twitter: @bvckleybegins what is this euphoria ass music let her leave that goddamn show behind sierra (@sierraskyexo) October 19, 2023 Twitter: @sierraskyexo The music is throwing me off This is supposed to be a rom com like where is the comedy????? (jjk era) (@en0va516) October 13, 2023 Twitter: @en0va516 They chose the music like is some kind of highly sexual movie but the trailer is built like a regular romcom. It's confusing pic.twitter.com/2tLiiU2MvK the girl who lives in delusion (@mynameisnotlynn) October 13, 2023 Twitter: @mynameisnotlynn WHERE ARE THE JOKES WHERE IS THE FUN???? (@idrawtwinks) October 20, 2023 Twitter: @idrawtwinks Of course, a trailer doesn't determine whether a full movie is good or not, so we'll have to wait until Dec. 22 to see what the real reception is to the film. Still, did you watch the trailer? If so, LMK in the comments what you thought. UPDATE: An earlier version of this post misspelled Sydney's name. Oct. 20, 2023, at 23:52 PM 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 Branham. "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. The interior of family-owned Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana, which hopes to open by the end of October at 2665 Park St. at the intersection of King Street in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood. A family-owned Mexican restaurant group known for offering authentic freshly made cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails is days away from launch of its newest venture in historic Riverside. Offering an upscale menu, Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana plans to open Wednesday at 2665 Park St. on the corner at King Street, restauranteurs Rodolfo Torres Gonzalez and Maria E Leon told the Times-Union via a message relayed by Sam Middlekauff, an associate at Colliers in Jacksonville, the leasing team for the building. The new restaurant is an easy stroll away from Lola's Burrito and Burger Joint, Carmine's Pie House, Pie95 Pizza, Primi Piatti and European Street Cafe. Don Eduardo will be the newest addition to the Mexican restaurant scene in Riverside, joining Taqueria CINco, 904 Taco and Anejo Cocina Mexicana Riverside. Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana, 2665 Park St. in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood. Gonzalez and Leon also own and operate several Cinco de Mayo Mexican restaurants in the Jacksonville area. Their company bought the former Olio Restaurant storefront at 301 E. Bay St. Unit 1 in downtown Jacksonville for $1,337,500 in a sale recorded Sept. 28, Duval County property and court records show. The Bay Street space approximately 4,141 square feet is slated to become another Cinco de Mayo location, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. Cinco de Mayo debuted at The Jacksonville Landing in 2009, according to the restaurant's website. The Landing restaurant closed in 2019, state Department of Business and Professional Regulation records show. Authentic Mexican fare featured: Taqueria CINco opens in Five Points On the menu at Don Eduardo The family traces its roots to Jalisco, Mexico. The Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana menu is designed to reflect the rich heritage and cuisine of that Mexican state, according to the restaurant's website. "Today, our family is an integral part of this community, and we take great pride in our father, who introduced us to the restaurant business. He has left us with the promise of treasured recipes and the atmosphere to establish our own legacy," they say on the website. Among the signature offerings will be "Pescado a la Veracruzana, which is seared Snapper with tomatoes, olives, onion, peppers, capers, chilies, mango, garlic, and Mexican oregano," they said in the message relayed by Middlekauff. Another will be Brochetas de Marigcos, which is "skewered shrimp, mango, red onion, peppers, grilled and glazed with hot honey ancho," they said. They also noted that their chef has more than 20 years of experience and "all our menu items will be made fresh daily including tortillas." The restaurant also plans to have a full bar. 'Thrilled to have been a part of it': After 10 years, popular Five Points taco spot closing Historic location Don Eduardo will be the most recent restaurant at the Park and King building which was constructed in 1904, Duval County Property Appraiser Office records show. It served as the second location of Carter's Pharmacy from 1986 until 2009 when it closed. The site subsequently hosted a series of restaurants including Peles Wood Fire from 2012 to 2015, Il Desco Italian (2015-2018), Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant (2018-2020), and most recently, One Bar & Lounge, which closed earlier this year. Gonzalez and Leon said Don Eduardo seeks to attract "families and individuals who want to experience authentic upscale Mexican cuisine." They also said they chose the Park and King location because "there is a great sense of community with a lot of support in the Riverside area, which is something we wanted to be a part of." Don Eduardo will have approximately 4,200 square feet of seating and bar space. It will have about 150 seats, they said. The planned hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana: fresh seafood, daily-made tortillas and more When we pick our phones up and scroll through social media, we typically press the like button, send a message to our loved ones or even post comments about our deepest thoughts on the latest headlines. For Vivian Tarn, paying attention to an ad while on a late-night scroll through Instagram landed her a trip to the capital city. Tarn is a film and television studio production financer. Tarn, a California native who now lives in New York City, won a free trip for four to Topeka. More than 2,000 residents of the Big Apple entered the contest giveaway provided by Visit Topeka. Kate Garren, Visit Topeka executive coordinator, left, leads Vivian Tarn to talk with local media Friday about what she had been looking forward to during her free trip to Topeka from New York. "I'd actually forgotten that I had entered it." Tarn said. "It was very late, and I was very bored on Instagram." Itinerary includes historic and iconic spots in Topeka Kate Garren, Visit Topeka executive coordinator, said she personally built the itinerary for Tarn's weekend trip. "We first started with a survey that I built to push out to her and her travel companions to see what exactly was a no-go or something is that is a must-see or a must-do," Garren said. "And things seem to just be clicking and they're very excited about their itinerary and it's very diverse. They're going to be able to see a whole lot of Topeka." Alongside Tarn on the trip are her friends Shvonne Hasan and Allie Scott. Vivian Tarn, from left, Allie Scott and Shvonne Hasan look over the menu at The Pennant shortly after arriving in Topeka on Friday afternoon from New York. Tarn won a free trip to the city through the NYC2Topeka contest. Over the weekend Tarn, Hasan and Scott will visit the Stormont Vail Events Center for the Dierks Bentley Gravel & Gold Tour, dine at a few local breweries and partake in festivities at Gary's Berries. The friends will also visit the Kansas Statehouse and the historic Brown v. Board of Education. "Something for Topeka that I think is extremely important but can sometimes be forgotten is just some of the history that is within our community," Garren said. "With the Brown v. Board 70th anniversary coming up next year, we just really think it's important to push that historical side out there for outsiders, so they can just see how extremely important that is as a footprint in our history." More: This new Topeka restaurant vows to stick to 1990s menu pricing to help community Tarn arrived in Topeka on Friday. She said her first impression so of Topeka is that the city is cute, and she appreciates its speed limits. She said she is mostly excited about the fall weather in the Midwest but was shocked to find the temperatures are in the low 70s. "I was so excited about having a cute little fall week and I was like 'Oh, we're going to go to this fall festival at a farm. I guess I'm going to wear shorts," Tarn said. "It's been very cold and rainy in New York, so my friends are all very, very excited about this weather and I'm less excited because I don't like the sun very much. I like the rain. "I like the clouds, but it'll be a fun weekend. I'm excited." New York resident Vivian Tarn talks about what she'll be doing in Topeka after winning a free trip from Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism. The organizations held the contest after New York City Mayor Eric Adams disparaged Topeka. Why did a New-York resident get a free trip to Topeka? New York City Mayor Eric Adams made jokes at Topeka's expense on Feb. 28 during an interfaith prayer breakfast in New York City. He said that he strongly believed God decided to take "the most broken person" and elevate him to a place as the mayor of the "most powerful city on the globe." "He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas," Adams said. On Sept. 27, 2022, he insulted Kansas by saying that New York City has a brand that's recognizable around the world, unlike Kansas. "Kansas doesn't have a brand," Adams said. Many Kansans responded quickly to Adams' comments along with Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. The Capital-Journal reported in early March that Gov. Laura Kelly said Adams owed Kansas an apology. More: Another rural Kansas hospital closes as Gov. Laura Kelly campaigns for Medicaid expansion Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism responded by announcing March 3 they would hold a drawing to give away a trip for four to Topeka for New York City residents. Residents of New York City including the five boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island were eligible for the chance to win the all-inclusive, three-day, two-night stay in Topeka. Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: New York resident won a free trip to Topeka. Here's what she'll do Housing advocates forecasted the 2008 financial crisis, they said they were ignored Four years before Lehman Brothers collapsed and set off the worst U.S. financial disaster since the Great Depression, Ruhi Maker warned top officials at the Federal Reserve that the nation's housing bubble could wreak "enormous" economic damage. Maker, a housing attorney in Rochester, New York, told Fed officials that a flood of faulty home loans could imperil the soundness of major investment banks, even naming Lehman Brothers, according to a transcript of the meeting. The testimony drew on experience at the frontlines of a foreclosure crisis fueled by subprime loans thrust upon borrowers who couldn't afford them, Maker told ABC News. "I remember one woman, a widow, sitting across from me and crying. She said she was so happy her husband had died, so he couldn't see what a mess she had made of the house," Maker said. This fall marks the 15th anniversary of the onset of the 2008 financial crisis, which quickly spiraled into the Great Recession. In short order, millions lost their homes and the U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 10%. MORE: A look back at the Lehman Brothers collapse, and the global crisis that followed: Reporter's notebook Over the years since, a group of Wall Street traders became famous for anticipating the downturn and parlaying that insight into a massive payoff, as depicted in the book from best-selling author Michael Lewis, "The Big Short," which was later adapted into a star-studded film. But a lesser-known group of housing attorneys, consumer advocates and academics for years warned that the housing market stood a severe risk of going belly up and would bring economic catastrophe if it did. "When it started to be this story that a bunch of smart people on Wall Street realized that investors were making money off of poor people and the structures were going to collapse, it felt like we had been singing a song that they had been listening to," Kathleen Engel, a professor at Suffolk University Law School who authored research about the housing crisis in the early 2000s, told ABC News. "They didn't go out and meet with people and the Fed and say, 'Look, this is about to crash," Engel added. Lewis did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. As attorneys defending tenants and academics examining real estate trends, a small group of experts examining the housing market at the turn of the century noticed an uptick in loans made to low-income borrowers, or subprime loans. The share of mortgages made up by subprime loans rose dramatically at the start of the 2000s, from about 7% in 2001 to 23% in 2006, Inside Mortgage Finance data shows. Many of the loans were adjustable-rate mortgages, meaning that the interest payments started low in the initial years but later spiked, leaving low-income borrowers unable to afford their homes and triggering widespread defaults, Michael Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, told ABC News "Those who were working with people at the street level knew there was this foreclosure crisis bubbling," Calhoun said. "We knew the subprime market would totally collapse. We saw a tidal wave out there." At meetings with Fed officials in the early and mid 2000s, housing experts warned of an impending downturn and urged the Fed to take action, meeting transcripts show. Among the Fed officials in attendance was Ben Bernanke, who went on to lead the Fed through the financial crisis. At a meeting with Fed officials in 2004, Maker warned of a potential housing market collapse with "enormous economic impact," tracing the lending to investment banks like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. "Right now there's money to be made in not doing due diligence," Maker said, calling for bolstered government regulation of the banks. Two years later, Alan White, then the supervising attorney at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, warned Fed officials of a "huge increase in foreclosures" posing a risk that "isn't well understood, I don't think, by consumer or capital markets," according to a meeting transcript. At the same meeting, in 2006, Carolyn Carter urged the Fed to "prohibit abuses in the mortgage market," the transcript shows. PHOTO: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Sept. 15, 2008, in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Over the months leading up to the financial crisis, the warnings became more dire. In 2007, Stella Adams, then the executive director of the North Carolina Fair Housing Center, raised an alarm on behalf of attorneys and advocates who worked with at-risk tenants. "For some of us on the consumer side, we feel like we are canaries in a coal mine, and that we said to the folks, this was going on and the canary has died. But the miners were sent in anyway," Adams told Fed officials, according to a meeting transcript. The critics felt ignored by the Fed and fearful of where the U.S. economy was headed, according to several who appeared at the meetings and spoke with ABC News. But they drew support from each other, they added. "It was like witnessing a lie that all was well," Hattie Dorsey, then the president and CEO of Atlanta Neighborhood Development, told ABC News. "There were a lot of feelings: anger, frustration, feelings of being stepped on," Engel said. "We realized we were very lonely. Everybody was having their own experiences in different parts of the country." Maker, the Rochester housing attorney, said: "We were seeing the patterns in different states and knew it was coming from somewhere at the top." In September 2008, Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy, setting off a cascade of bank failures. A month later, Congress passed a $700 billion bailout program for major banks, including Bear Stearns. MORE: Is this a banking crisis? What to know about the Silicon Valley Bank collapse The following year, the net worth of U.S. households stood $16.4 trillion lower than it did before the crisis, largely due to lost home value and damaged retirement accounts, Federal Reserve data showed. Lewis's book, "The Big Short," mentions housing advocates on the frontlines of the foreclosure crisis but largely focuses on Wall Street traders who anticipated the real estate collapse. Calhoun, of the Center for Responsible Lending, said he spoke with Lewis for the book. "We're in a footnote," Calhoun said. The alarms raised by housing advocates are detailed, however, in the 532-page report that was ordered by Congress in the aftermath of the collapse. At an event announcing the release of the report, in 2010, Phil Angelides, the chairman of the commission behind it, emphasized the importance of remembering those who warned government officials of the impending collapse. "The greatest tragedy would be to accept the idea that no one could have seen this crisis coming and thus, nothing could have been done," Angelides said. "If we accept this notion, it will happen again." Housing advocates forecasted the 2008 financial crisis, they said they were ignored originally appeared on abcnews.go.com From the oldest Sicilian restaurant in town to classic taverns, here are 22 famous New York City restaurants. Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure New York City is a cultural melting pot, and many of those cultures are represented somewhere in the city's 25,000-plus restaurants. Given this, it's little surprise that the Big Apple is one of the best food cities in the U.S. and in the world. While there are dozens of decades- and even century-old mainstays in New York City, the metropolis is also teeming with new restaurants, and these kitchens are making waves in their own way, be it in the form of a Michelin star, an innovative chef, or an eclectic menu. With so many choices, it's hard to decide where to go for breakfast or a midnight snack or any meal in between. So with the help of players in New York's culinary scene and travel experts, we rounded up 22 famous New York City restaurants that both locals and visitors should have on their lists, plus what to order at each one. Weve also included a handful of lesser-known, chef-approved picks throughout all five boroughs. The Odeon mark peterson/Corbis via Getty Images The Odeon in Tribeca is a quintessential NYC restaurant, says Caroline Schiff, executive pastry chef at Gage & Tollner in Brooklyn. Schiff, who is also a member of the Food & Wine Best New Chef Class of 2022 as well as a James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef finalist tells Travel + Leisure, You just feel fabulous sitting at the Odeon; perched at the bar enjoying an order of profiteroles blanketed in glossy chocolate sauce is my idea of heaven. To beat the crowds, Schiff recommends ducking in for a weekday lunch, which "feels particularly luxurious. Must order: Steak tartare Ferdinando's Focacceria Founded in 1904, Ferdinando's Focacceria is about as close to old Sicily as you can get before hopping on a plane," says Schiff. The low-key Cobble Hill haunt is the oldest Sicilian restaurant in the city, and folks flock here from all over to feast on classics like rice balls and vastedda, or Sicilian-style sandwiches. Per Schiff, "The panelle are so delicious and not to be missed crispy chickpea fritters, hot out of the oil, with the milkiest ricotta around." Must order: Panelle The Grill Gabriela Herman/Bloomberg via Getty Images I love The Grill because it brings you back to what it was like eating in New York City in the 60s, with big band music playing while your captain flambes a baked Alaska tableside, says Chris Caliso, executive chef at Rosemary's West Village. A few of his favorite must-have menu items at this Midtown Manhattan spot include caviar served with a plethora of accouterments, like Jidori egg and small potato pancakes, plus littleneck crabs, avocado crab Louis, and steak tartare. Must order: New York strip Le Coucou Ditte Isager Those craving upscale French fare in the heart of The Big Apple need not look further than this haute eatery. Helmed by chef Daniel Rose, Le Coucou is a great place to celebrate a special occasion, because the atmosphere and service do not miss, says Caliso. My favorite dish there is sweetbreads with maitake mushrooms such a rich and satisfying dish that you would probably find in France. Must order: Gratin de fruits de mer au Champagne (sweet shrimp, urchin, mussels and lobster, Champagne sabayon) Wu's Wonton King According to Caliso, this BYOB Chinese eatery in Manhattans Lower East Side neighborhood is especially popular amongst people in the restaurant industry. Caliso-approved picks include the roast suckling pig, the razor clams with black bean sauce, or the wonton soup. Its called Wonton King for a reason, he says. Must order: Roast suckling pig JG Melon Eric Medsker/Bloomberg via Getty Images JG Melon on Manhattans Upper East Side offers a delicious taste of old-school New York. Open since 1972, the cash-only tavern serves classic cheeseburgers that Caliso describes as simple, straightforward, and always solid. His other tips? Put on your favorite song at the jukebox, order a cheeseburger, a side of cottage fries, and a bloody bull or martini. Must order: Cheeseburger and cottage fries Balthazar Paul Frangipane/Bloomberg via Getty Images For prime people-watching opportunities paired with mouthwatering cuisine, Chef TJ Steele, owner of Brooklyns Michelin-starred Claro restaurant, recommends Balthazar. Set in SoHo, this swanky eatery is a favorite amongst trend-forward travelers and locals, including many a celebrity. I love sitting at the bar and having a martini, steak tartare, and fries, Steele tells T+L. Must order: Steak frites Russ & Daughters Cafe Courtesy of Russ & Daughters This family-owned, New York City establishment has been serving up traditional Jewish comfort food for over a century. While there are now four locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, we recommend visiting the original one on Houston Street in the Lower East Side. When Steeles here, he orders an Aquavit Bloody Mary with a platter of assorted fish and spreads. While [the shop is] obviously known for bagels, I am gluten-free, and they are always very accommodating, he adds. Must order: Classic bagel sandwich with smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel or bialy Raos "When I hear 'famous restaurant in New York,' without fail, I think Rao's," says Fora travel advisor Karen Hart. "There is truly nowhere as cozy and as classic feeling." Snagging a reservation at this ten-table haunt is next to impossible; visitors should attempt to book a table six or more months out to increase their chances. However, if you're a local, Hart recommends trying to get a spot last minute. "That's what works for me," she says. Must order: Lasagna Indochine Courtesy of Indochine Dating back to the 80s, Indochine is an iconic cornerstone of the New York City dining scene, says Fora travel advisor Julia Flood, who notes that the restaurant was once the stomping grounds of Warhol and Basquiat." According to the travel pro, this restaurant is not only the epitome of timeless New York cool," it serves some seriously delicious food, too. Dont skip the fried spring rolls or the gorgeous cocktail menu. Must order: Fried spring rolls Rubirosa Courtesy of Rubirosa New York is renowned for its pizza, and according to Fora travel advisor Michelle Zelena, Rubirosa serves some of the best and most Instagrammable in the city. (The tie dye pizza, which features vodka sauce, tomato sauce, pesto, and fresh mozzarella, is just as photogenic as it is delicious). Located in the heart of Manhattans Nolita neighborhood, the Italian eatery has a quaint ambiance that makes it perfect for date night or a small group of friends. The shop just began taking a limited number of reservations for parties up to seven; however, if you cant seem to snag one, consider popping in right when they open. Alternatively, put your name down and stroll around the area before returning a few hours later for your meal. Must order: Tie dye pizza Katz's Delicatessen Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure You may recognize this traditional Jewish deli from "When Harry Met Sally" and the very famous "I'll-have-what-she's-having" scene. This nostalgia-inducing, old-school deli is renowned for its thick-cut pastrami and corned beef, best enjoyed piled high on rye. Place your order at the counter before sitting down to dig into the deliciousness. And don't forget to try one of the crunchy pickles, which come in half- and full-sour options. Must order: Katz's pastrami sandwich Keens Steakhouse Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure This iconic NYC steakhouse has the atmosphere of old school New York, says Caliso. Its legendary pipe display helps in fact, Keens has the largest collection of churchwarden tobacco pipes in the world. Prepare to drool over the dry-aged porterhouse steaks, which, per the chef, come sizzling to the table with melted butter. Caliso also recommends ordering the thick-cut smoked bacon to start, as well as a side of creamed spinach. Must order: Prime porterhouse for two Mario's For some of the best Italian eats in the city, look no further than Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Marios has been a mainstay here since its 1919 debut. Owned and operated by the same family for five generations and counting, the restaurant is beloved today for delicious dishes like stuffed artichokes, homemade gnocchi, Margherita pizza, sausage and peppers, and heaping portions of chicken and eggplant parmigiana. Entering the restaurant, with its long banquette tables, white tablecloths, and dim lighting, feels like a glorious step back in time. Must order: Chicken Francese Le Bernardin Daniel Kreiger Helmed by chef Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin is one of just a handful of New York City restaurants to receive three Michelin stars. Also a James Beard Award-winning establishment, Le Bernardin is conveniently located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and is a must-visit for any culinary connoisseur. Its seafood-forward menu features everything from charred octopus and crispy black sea bass to poached lobster. The multi-course chefs tasting menu is the true star of the show here, and theres even a vegetarian option. Must order: Tuna carpaccio (layers of thinly pounded yellowfin tuna, foie gras, toasted baguette, chives) Joe's Shanghai Rob Kim/Getty Images Diners feast on Shanghainese cuisine at this Chinatown hotspot. The expansive menu includes dozens of time-honored classics like Kung Pao chicken, soup dumplings, crispy shredded beef, lo mein, and whole Peking duck. There's also braised sea cucumber, smoked fish noodle soup, and fish head casserole. Must order: Soup dumplings Semma Courtesy of Semma Expect authentic Southern Indian cuisine at Semma in the West Village. The Michelin-starred restaurant serves flavorful dishes like paniyaram (a rice and lentil dumpling), dosas, and banana leaf-wrapped whole sea bass (meen pollichathu) in a colorful and stylish setting. Wash down your meal with a signature cocktail or mocktail. Must order: Gunpowder dosa (rice and lentil crepe, potato masala, sambar) Union Square Cafe Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure The first restaurant from restauranteur Danny Meyer, Union Square Cafe serves elevated American fare or comfort food with a slightly fancy twist in a casual setting. Tuck into appetizers like caviar tater tots and mains like roasted duck while sipping cheeky drinks; options include the dirty appletini and the gin and green juice. The eaterys bustling ambiance is a bonus. Must order: USC Seafood Platter (Island Creek oysters, shrimp cocktail, daily crudo) Juniors Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure Head straight to Junior's for classic diner fare plus a selection of incredible cheesecakes. While there are two locations in Manhattan, consider trekking to the original Brooklyn diner on Flatbush Avenue for its old-school retro vibes. The menu truly offers something for everyone, be it disco fries and deli sandwiches or steaks or seafood entrees. And since the place is famous for its New York-style cheesecakes, youll definitely want to save room for dessert. Must order: Plain cheesecake Nathan's Famous Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Whats a trip to New York City without at least one hot dog? The original Nathans Famous location in Coney Island which dates back more than 100 years is arguably the best place to have one. Don't forget to snap a photo of your beef frank or corn dog below the trademark signage. Must order: Hot dog with a side of plain or cheese crinkle-cut fries Enoteca Maria Johannes Schmitt-Tegge/picture alliance via Getty Images Next time you find yourself on Staten Island, be sure to dine at Enoteca Maria, where the kitchen is run by grandmas from all over the world Japan, Italy, Argentina, Hong Kong, you name it. The menu is ever-changing depending on "Nonnas Calendar. No matter who's cooking, you can expect fresh, flavorful, and made-from-scratch fare prepared with lots of love. SriPraPhai SriPraPhai is an all-time favorite," says Steele. Set in Woodside, Queens, "the backyard is charming, the southern-style Thai food is crazy spicy, and they have terrific vegetarian options. Steele's menu picks include the fried watercress salad and the spicy tom-zap soup made with beef, tripe, and liver. Get sauteed pork with long beans and a whole fish to finish. Must order: Tom-zap soup For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The beauty of bourbon is that the stringent laws around its production enforced to guarantee a minimum level of quality mean it's fairly hard to find a bad one. With plenty of excellent budget bourbons available, it can seem pointless to spend extra on a bottle that's claimed to be "top-shelf." At least, that's what people think until they've tried a true, premium bourbon. The good news is that while the best bourbons do cost more, there's not a strict rule that the more you spend, the better it gets. If you've got thousands of dollars to spare on a super rare limited-release bourbon, then, by all means, go for it. It's also possible to experience top-shelf bourbons for as little as $50. More important than price or rarity is taste. There are a few things that most topshelf bourbons have in common: While bourbons don't age as gracefully as other types of whiskey, older bourbons normally have a greater depth of character with woodier characteristics and a smoothness that comes from having time to develop. Small-batch bourbons are blended from a small selection of the best barrels in a distillery, while single-barrel bourbons are hand-picked from just one barrel from which to draw the final product. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most notable top-shelf bourbons worth having on your radar. Read more: The 25 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked Wild Turkey Rare Breed Wild turkey rare breed bourbon - Bugsy's Whisky Bar & Cigar Lounge / Facebook Rare Breed is an exemplary example of bourbon craftsmanship. This top-shelf whiskey is blended from barrels of 6-, 8-, and 12-year-old bourbons that are hand-selected by Wild Turkey's world-renowned master distiller, Eddie Russell. Undiluted and bottled at a robust 58.4% ABV, Rare Breed has a powerful vanilla-forward flavor profile with strong notes of caramel and a spicy kick. Without chill filtration, the whiskey retains all of its rich characteristics, making it a must-try for those who love bold and unapologetic bourbons. Maker's Mark 101 makers mark 101 bourbon - Maker's Mark Even the most casual bourbon drinkers have likely heard of Maker's Mark, a whiskey known for its approachability and versatility. Still bulking up the corn-dominant malt bill with red winter wheat for a smoother profile, Maker's Mark 101 is a more intense and complex variant of the classic expression. At 50.5% ABV, Maker's Mark 101 has become a favorite among bourbon drinkers who value reliability alongside quality. Although 101 was originally only available overseas, the limited edition bourbon is easy to source in the US at an extremely reasonable price. Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel henry mckenna bourbon - South Sturgis Liquor / Facebook Named for an Irish immigrant who was famed for bringing his family's whiskey-making expertise across the pond to Kentucky, Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel is a testament to the history of American distilling. While not the only whiskey in the Henry McKenna range, the 10-Year Single Barrel stands out as a top-shelf pick. The skill of the distiller and the extended aging allow the bourbon's rich caramel and vanilla notes to develop to perfection, offering a smooth, oaky drinking experience with a spicy finish. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon - Russell's Reserve Another offering from the Wild Turkey distillery, Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is named in honor of the company's two iconic master distillers. Jimmy Russell joined the company in 1954 and his son, Eddie, followed in his father's footsteps this single-barrel expression is an homage to generations of bourbon craftsmanship. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is a true connoisseur's bourbon, with the barrels handpicked by the Russells themselves, boasting a rich and full-bodied flavor profile of toffee and vanilla. Four Roses Single Barrel four roses single barrel bourbon - toweratl / Instagram Four Roses Single Barrel is an award-winning bourbon that offers a much more rewarding experience than the distillery's core expression. Each bottle is drawn from a unique barrel, aged between 7 and 9 years, showcasing an array of flavors from stone fruit and spice to cocoa and maple syrup. At 50% ABV, it's a whiskey with a little bite but that's still smooth enough to sip neat, and it's surprisingly affordable given its superior quality. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked woodford reserve double oaked bourbon - True BBQ Munster / Facebook Taking barrel aging to another level, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a premium expression of classic Woodford, using a unique process to elevate the bourbon's flavor. After being matured in new charred oak barrels, the whiskey is then transferred to a second barrel with a heavily toasted interior. The result is a complex bourbon with deep layers of dark cocoa, toasted oak, and rich caramel the perfect tipple for drinkers who appreciate innovation within the industry. Michter's US*1 Small Batch Michter's small batch bourbon - Michter's Crafted in small batches, Michter's US*1 Small Batch is a testament to precision and high standards. Each batch is made in a holding tank that only fits twenty barrels of bourbon, so there's no margin for error. Fortunately, Michter's are expert distillers, so while the exact characteristics of their bourbon change over time, the superb quality remains consistent. Their US*1 Small Batch offers a harmonious blend of refined flavors, including butterscotch, honey, and toasted oak. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof elijah craig bourbon bottles - Protagonist Beer / Facebook While Elijah Craig's Barrel Proof bourbon varies with each batch, it never fails to deliver a bottle packed with flavor. The age of the whiskey tends to be around 12 years, giving it plenty of time to develop and smooth out, and off-setting some of the kick from its high ABV. The nose is extremely rich and powerful and is followed by a delightfully viscous palate of rye, chocolate, oak, and roasted vanilla bean. Old Forester President's Choice Old Forester President's Choice bourbon - Old Forester Old Forester President's Choice is not a whiskey that's easy to get hold of, being a limited yearly release; however, it's worth entering the sweepstakes for the chance to buy a bottle. A single-barrel bourbon, President's Choice gets its name from the fact each barrel is hand-picked by the company's president. The result is a fruity, toasty top-shelf whiskey that never fails to impress with its bold taste and spicy, tannic finish. Remus Repeal Reserve Series Remus Repeal Reserve bottles - The Hammer & Quill / Facebook The Remus Repeal Reserve Series from the Ross & Squire Distillery in Indiana was originally created to commemorate the repeal of the U.S. prohibition laws that decimated the bourbon-making industry at the start of the 20th century. Now on its sixth edition, each release differs in character but never fails to impress the judges on the international award panels. Despite small variances, the Series traditionally offers a spicy, leathery aroma with delicious tasting notes of fig, oak, toffee, and honey. Calumet Farm 16-Year-Old Single Rack Black Calumet Farm 16 Year Old Single Rack Black - Calumet Farm Calumet Farm 16-Year-Old Single Rack Black is a rare gem in the bourbon world it takes no small amount of patience and craftsmanship to age a bourbon this long while keeping its profile well-balanced. A limited release, Calumet Farm's 16-Year-Old delivers an unparalleled depth of flavor. The prolonged barrel-aging imparts this bourbon with lots of woody character, a touch of smoke, and dark fruit and toffee flavors. Although it's not a cheap bottle, Calumet Farm's 16-Year-Old is worth the higher price it demands. Booker's Bourbon Booker's Bourbon leaning on glass - The Whiskey Library / Facebook It's not uncommon for distilleries to name bourbons after key figures in their history; however, some names are reserved for true icons. This is the case with Booker's, named after Booker Noe, a master distiller at Jim Beam who was the grandson of the man himself. Each batch of Booker's uncut, unfiltered bourbon is unique yet consistently robust with powerful elements of caramel, nuts, and spices. It should be no surprise that it exemplifies small-batch bourbon, given the very concept was created by Noe himself. Blanton's Gold Edition Blanton's Gold Edition bottle - Blanton's While Booker Noe may have invented small-batch bourbon, it was Elmer T Lee who created the first single-barrel bourbon with Blanton's. Named for Colonel Albert B. Blanton, former president of what would eventually become known as the Buffalo Trace distillery, the entire Blanton's range can be considered top-shelf whiskey that's worth exploring. However, Blanton's award-winning Gold Edition is arguably the brand's best expression, as the higher proof intensifies the flavors of honey, citrus, and oak, creating an unforgettable sipping experience. Knob Creek 12 Year Knob Creek 12 Year bourbon - Jackalope Liquors / Facebook While there are many expressions of Knob Creek, their core bourbon being 9 years old, it's their 12 Year that really stands out. Not only are you much more likely to be able to source a bottle compared to their limited edition 18-year release, but it's the perfect example of a well-aged bourbon. With a depth of flavor that balances caramelized woody tones with leathered fruit and bold vanilla, Knob Creek 12 Year is an excellent top-shelf bourbon with a reasonable, mid-shelf price. Elmer T Lee Single Barrel Elmer T Lee Single Barrel bourbon - Milk Room Chicago / Facebook A tribute to Buffalo Trace's legendary master distiller, the same Elmer T Lee who created Blanton's and the single-barrel concept, this bourbon has a unique yet comfortingly familiar flavor profile. While Lee wasn't behind this particular whiskey, the idea is that the chosen barrels are ones he himself would have picked. There's a balance of sweetness and spice that makes it universally appealing, with a nose of old leather and clove, and an elegant, complex palate of honey, vanilla, and dried fruits. Old Elk Straight Wheat Old Elk Straight Wheat bourbon - The Bourbon Central / Facebook Based out of Colorado, Old Elk is known for an exemplary American whiskey range that isn't afraid to experiment with the mash bill. Technically, not all of the whiskeys can be considered bourbon because some don't contain over 51% corn; however, the wheated bourbon does, and it strikes an incredible balance with the liberal use of the grain. The Old Elk Straight Wheat delivers an incredibly smooth and mellow character with notes of baking spice and honey, while the distillery's unique "slow cut" dilution process helps the bourbon maintain its more nuanced flavors. Eagle Rare 10 Year Eagle Rare 10 Year bourbon - The Bourbon Enthusiast / Facebook Eagle Rare is an exceptional top-shelf bourbon, not just because of how it tastes but because it's also relatively easy to find and comes with an incredibly reasonable price tag. While their 17-Year and Double Eagle Very Rare are more premium whiskeys, the cost of Buffalo Trace Eagle Rare Bourbon makes bottles closer to being collector's items at this point. With a decade of aging, Eagle Rare is an exciting bourbon with heaps of barrel character: molasses and maple syrup on the nose and plenty of full-bodied toffee and vanilla on the palate. Redemption Bourbon three redemption whiskey bottles - South Sturgis Liquor / Facebook Redemption has a penchant for making high-rye whiskeys in the pre-Prohibition style. The brand's classic bourbon is one of the cheapest top-shelf bourbons around. You could try and track down one of the 36-year bottles but you'll need around $40,000 to spare, as only 18 were ever bottled. Redemption Bourbon's subtle rye spice shines through perfectly among notes of caramel and vanilla, and it's versatile enough to be used in cocktails or sipped neat. WhistlePig PiggyBack 100 Proof Bourbon whistlepig bourbon by fireplace - WhistlePig Whiskey / Facebook WhistlePig is known more for the excellent rye whiskeys that make up the bulk of its range, but it turns out the brand is more than capable of turning out a superior small batch of bourbon too. Aged for six years, PiggyBack is a rich, full-bodied bourbon that still showcases its maker's skillful use of rye.With plenty of brown sugar, maple syrup, and baking spice throughout, PiggyBack is incredibly smooth for its strength, and makes a stellar Old Fashioned. Basil Hayden Basil Hayden bourbon bottle - The Bottle Shop Gibraltar / Facebook Crafted by Booker Noe himself while working for the Jim Beam distillery, Basil Hayden bourbon is an homage to an early whiskey pioneer known for his high-rye mash bills. Despite the high-rye recipe, Basil Hayden is a beautifully subtle bourbon, as Noe intended for it to be approachable to new bourbon drinkers. It showcases rye's best characteristics, such as honey and citrus, that are balanced with charred oak and dried oak from start to finish. W.L. Weller Special Reserve five bottles of weller bourbon - Liquor Stache / Facebook Named after William Larue Weller, supposedly the first distiller to swap out rye for wheat in their mash bill, W.L. Weller Special Reserve is one of the finest examples of a wheated bourbon on the market. It embodies both elegance and depth, reflecting its long and storied heritage. W.L. Weller Special Reserve is smooth and delicate, as a great wheated bourbon should be, with soft caramel, honey, and butterscotch notes, and a subtle oak presence. 1792 Single Barrel 1792 Single Barrel bourbon - Protagonist Beer / Facebook With each bottle drawn from only the finest barrels in the warehouse, 1792 Single Barrel releases have rarely failed to impress. While the bourbon is technically a limited release, expressions are released annually with no plans to stop any time soon. 1792 Single Barrel deserves its countless accolades thanks to its massive caramel aroma and palate of fruits, chocolate, and pastry. It's a bourbon that keeps on giving with a long, layered finish of fudge and baking spice. John J Bowman Single Barrel John J Bowman Single Barrel bourbon - John J. Bowman Produced in Virginia, John J Bowman Single Barrel is somewhat of a hidden gem in the world of bourbon. Despite its low profile, this particular expression has won its fair share of international awards over the years, as each bottle is drawn from only the oldest and tastiest barrels in the distillery. There's no age statement, but the maturity is evident in the form of fig, leather, toffee, and almond, and in the bourbon's rich, smooth character. Bardstown Discovery Series Bardstown Discovery Series bourbon - thebourbonnews / Instagram Each annual release of the Bardstown Discovery Series has so far earned its reputation as a top-shelf bourbon from one of the best distillers in the business. It's a series that embodies collaboration, with employees throughout the distillery having a say in which bourbons make it into the final blend. The result is a rich, well-aged whiskey with spicy rye notes among the classic caramel and vanilla that's a worthy addition to any bourbon collection. Bib & Tucker 10 Year Bib & Tucker 10 Year bourbon - Bib & Tucker Bib & Tucker's 10-Year expression is an older, small-batch bourbon known for its bold yet refined profile. It's also notable for employing the Lincoln County Process something purists may argue makes it a Tennessee whiskey as opposed to a true bourbon where the liquid is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before filling the barrel. Dark and complex, the oak in Bib & Tucker 10 Year is surprisingly subtle, but it still boasts a mature flavor profile of fried fruit, toffee, and dark chocolate. Noah's Mill Small Batch Noah's Mill Small Batch bourbon - marioandjohns / Instagram Noah's Mill is a small batch bourbon from the Willett Distillery known for its complexity. The result of blending bourbons between four and 20 years old is a harmonious balance of rich flavors. While all the classic bourbon characteristics are there, Noah's Mill has a unique floral quality to it that compliments dark fruits, burnt caramel, and earthy tobacco. At 57% ABV, Noah's Mill has a chewy, nutty mouthfeel that ends with a long and memorable finish. Stagg Stagg bourbon bottles - The Well of OKC / Facebook Formerly known as Stagg Jr., Stagg is effectively the younger sibling of George T. Stagg, a premium, limited edition bourbon from the Buffalo Trace distillery that's not the easiest to get hold of. Despite being a younger expression, Stagg boasts many of the characteristics that make its older brother so good. Small batch and uncut, Stagg is almost syrupy in its mouthfeel, with countless flavors present ranging from roasted wood and burnt toffee to spicy citrus and a whole range of fruits. Woodinville Port Finished Woodinville Port Finished bourbon - ferryplazawine / Instagram A limited release from the Woodinville Whiskey Company, the Port Finished expression takes an innovative approach to barrel aging. After maturing in the usual new charred oak barrels for five years, the bourbon is then aged in port wine casks for six months to turn up the spicy fruit notes. The finishing process adds touches of plum, cherry, and chocolate that would otherwise be absent, while also producing a more velvety mouthfeel across the palate. Barrell Bourbon Barrell Bourbon bottles - Mcfarland Wine Spirits / Facebook Barrell Bourbon is a craft bourbon released in ever-changing batches, each with its own unique flavor profile. Currently on Batch 35, few years have gone by without Barrell Bourbon garnering international acclaim for their barrel-strength, small batch whiskey. While the specifics profiles vary, Barrell is typically a high-corn mash whiskey and the youngest bourbon blended into Barrell is usually 10 years old, so you can expect mature characteristics like pipe tobacco, cinnamon, grilled corn, and toasted nuts. Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year Pappy Van Winkle bourbon bottles - bourbonfinds / Instagram No list of top-shelf bourbons would be complete without an entry from the royal family of bourbon, the Van Winkles. The name is synonymous with quality, exclusivity, and eye-watering prices. While many would argue that paying thousands of dollars for a bottle of rare bourbon isn't money well spent -- in most cases, they'd be right -- the jury's out when it comes to Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year. Aside from being a legendary bottle in the whiskey world, few bourbons age this well, and it's rare in that it effectively tastes exactly how it smells. Almost every element of its powerful and complex aroma transfers directly to the palate before a seemingly neverending finish. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Russian model Tanya Mityushina posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2016, when she traveled to Malta with photographer Ben Watts. While in the European country for the feature, Mityushina donned a number of incredible string bikinis and fun swimwear looks that really stood out against the breathtaking coastal backdrop. Shooting with SI was the best experience ever, they are such nice, kind people and we had so much fun! she told Frankies Bikinis that fall. The magazine really changed my career. In addition to her SI Swimsuit feature seven years ago, Mityushina, who was discovered at the age of 17, has also worked with notable brands like Victorias Secret and Intimissimi. And in an interview with Sports Illustrated Now, Mityushina reiterated what a great time she had while on location with the SI Swimsuit team. It was an incredible experience, she stated. I didnt sleep the whole night before [the photoshoot] I didnt know what to expect from the shoot, and when I arrived, everyone was so supporting. I really love working with that team. I think it was the best shoot Ive ever had. The 30-year-old was clearly over the moon about her rookie feature in the magazine, and took the time to not only thank her supporters when she announced her feature on Instagram in February 2016, but also her detractors: Thanks to everyone who believed in me and who didnt believe in me, you all took me where I am now, she wrote at the time. Below are a few of our favorite SI Swimsuit snapshots of Mityushina in Malta. Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Now through Nov. 1, 100% of SI Swimsuits portion of proceeds from cover prints purchased here will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund, which is helping to support the people and places of Maui affected by the recent wildfires. Shop Now and Make a Difference Originally a sandwich made with tomatoes, anchovies, and olive oil (the pan bagnat), the nicoise salad has evolved over the years to become a classic summertime salad. Although the assembly of the nicoise salad has been debated, nearly everyone will agree that olives are a critical component: according to The New Yorker, "the (more-or-less) accepted version of the salad" contains 11 ingredients, including olives; for the Cercle de la Capelina d'Or, defenders of culinary traditions from the Nice region (where the namesake salad originated), the modern nicoise salad has seven ingredients, including nicoise olives (via Times of Malta). Similar to the salad, nicoise olives also take their name from the city of Nice, so it's not surprising that they would be the olive of choice for the nicoise salad. However, nicoise olives are not always easy to find, especially if you don't live near a major city or specialty food markets. Luckily, you can replace nicoise olives with a popular and easy-to-find cultivar kalamata olives. With similar flavor profiles, kalamata olives are an ideal substitute when you can't find nicoise olives. Read more: The 20 Best Olive Oils For Cooking How The Two Olives Compare Top down assortment of olives - Anna_Pustynnikova/Shutterstock Grown in southeastern France, nicoise olives are small and dark, with a large pit and a firm texture. They have a fairly strong, though not overpowering, flavor for their size. Typically sun-dried before being brine-cured, they have a bitter, earthy, and nutty flavor, with hints of licorice and wine. Kalamata olives are the most popular Greek olive, and one of the most popular olives in the world. Grown near their namesake city of Kalamata, they're large and meaty, and known for their almond shape and deep purple color. Brine-cured and typically preserved in red wine, red wine vinegar, or olive oil, they have a rich, tangy, and somewhat fruity flavor. A key ingredient of the Greek salad, kalamata olives also work well in a nicoise salad in fact, many recipes will explicitly list kalamata olives as a substitute for nicoise olives. Similar in texture, both are brined cured and offer a rich, tangy, and slightly bitter flavor, though kalamata olives tend to be somewhat sweeter and fruitier than nicoise olives. Given their larger size, you won't need as many kalamata olives as you would nicoise olives. Also, kalamata olives can be much saltier, so you may want to rinse them before using them in a nicoise salad. Read the original article on Tasting Table. As any parent knows, childcare prices have been on a meteoric rise in the U.S. in recent years. Thats even more true in New York, where the average annual cost of care for an infant just topped $45,000 for the first time. And with federal funding that helped childcare providers stay afloat during the pandemic about to end, costs are likely to rise even more sharply soon. According to an analysis by Bank of America Institute, average monthly childcare payments for September were 32% higher than in 2019. And since 1990, childcare prices have risen much faster than the cost of other essentials, including housing, transportation, and groceries. In New York City, the average annual cost for infant care is now $45,490, according to Care.com 16% higher than the national average of $39,270. And things are about to get even worse. During the pandemic, the federal government provided $24 billion in aid for childcare providers. That funding is now gone, and industry experts say costs are likely to rise even more, and an estimated 70,000 childcare centers could close without the extra support. This has wide-ranging impacts on the economy and gender equality. When childcare isnt available or affordable, it prevents parents from being able to work after having children. And too often, childcare responsibilities fall to women, preventing them from returning to the workforce. At a time when more women are working than ever before in the U.S.s history, childcare affordability could threaten the gains that women have made in the labor market. So what can be done? Other countries around the world have shown that its possible to provide quality, affordable childcare if you invest in it. We need to elect politicians who believe in supporting women and children and will fight to fund infrastructure that supports families. When you think of a cup of coffee, you most likely think of waking up in the morning, turning on the coffee maker, and brewing up a nice cup of joe to start your day. But coffee isn't so one-dimensional; there are many different ways of drinking it around the world that give this beverage all kinds of flavors and purposes. A Cuban coffee, for example, is perhaps best enjoyed after lunch or dinner rather than in the morning. A Cuban coffee, often referred to as a cafe Cubano or a cafecito in its most straightforward form, is much sweeter than traditional coffee, making it the perfect way to end a meal. It's not so easily found in the United States (though Miamians know it well), but if you happen to dine at a Cuban restaurant, it's a can't-miss postprandial treat. There are a few elements that set this type of coffee apart from the rest; it's made with espresso, for one thing, but it's also enhanced with a good amount of sugar while it's brewed. The sweet stuff is incorporated using a special method that lends the drink the smoothness of dalgona coffee, but hot and far more intensely coffee-flavored. Read more: The Absolute Best Energy Drinks, Ranked Cuba's Coffee Industry And The Cafecito Person pouring Cuban coffee - Juanmonino/Getty Images A cafe Cubano has just two ingredients: espresso and sugar. A small amount of the brewed espresso is whipped with the sugar and then added to the finished brew; it sometimes takes a few minutes to get the right consistency, but it results in a sweet, bold, perfectly foamy beverage. With the noticeable presence of the sugar, this Cuban coffee becomes more of a dessert sipper than a morning drink, but there's no harm in enjoying one at any point in the day. Coffee has a lengthy history, and Cuba got its first whiff of the stuff back in the mid-1700s after the first coffee plants were brought to the island. Around 50 years later, the industry was thriving, and by the mid-1900s, Cuba was one of the world's leading coffee exporters. However, things declined quickly by the early 1960s, when the country's economy was heavily damaged after the Cuban revolution and U.S. sanctions. Even so, Cuba is where you'll find the first UNESCO heritage site dedicated to the crop, and there have been efforts made to revitalize the industry through organic production. While today's cafe Cubanos enjoyed in the U.S. aren't typically made with Cuban-grown beans, they still are brewed the same way. The Cafe Cubano Relies On Technique Moka pot on a table - Paladin12/Shutterstock You can't just pour some sugar into the brewing espresso and hope for the best. Aside from the flavors of the cafe Cubano, the appearance of the drink matters as well. There's no need to use an espresso machine here; cafe Cubanos are traditionally made in moka pots, or basically a stovetop espresso maker. As it starts to brew, the trick is to pour just a small amount of the coffee into a bowl or cup with the sugar and whisk it by hand (or mix it with a spoon) into the espresso, taking as much time as needed for the concoction to foam. That frothy, luxurious topping, known as espuma or espumita, is an integral part of creating the drink. So, in its simplest form, a cafe Cubano is just an espresso shot with sugary foam. But it's the technique of using the moka pot and creating the frothy topping by hand that make this style of coffee taste so unique, and which are essential to building the most traditional version of the drink. Read the original article on Daily Meal. Getty On Thursday, October 19, the US State Department issued a worldwide travel advisory urging American citizens to exercise increased caution while overseas, due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, [and] demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests. The alert comes as the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas escalates in the Middle East. According to the New York Times, the advisory is also in response to protests worldwide that have, in some cases, led to violent clashes at U.S. diplomatic compounds. Throughout this week, protesters all over the world have held demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to Israels airstrikes and blockade of the territory, according to the AP. There are also protests in New York City calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and in Washington, DC calling for President Biden to press for an Israel-Hamas war cease-fire. But what does the State Department's warning mean for anyone currently traveling, or with an upcoming trip? And does it actually suggest that you shouldn't travel at all? The short answer is no. But the advisory is a fair reminder to do exactly as it instructs, which is, for the time being, to be cautious while in environments unfamiliar to you. I dont think the advisory is asking people to cancel their planned travel, but it is asking us all to be more alert when we are traveling, says Mei Zhang, founder of the travel company WildChina and a member of Conde Nast Travelers Global Advisory Board. To me, that means being more alert in airports, avoiding super crowded iconic tourist places, not having your eyes glued to your phone while traveling. Look around. As a precaution, Zhang recommends signing up for the State Departments STEP program, as well as keeping your friends and family informed of your travel plans. Just take a little extra caution, she says. This is a good idea regardless of the warning. As for changing travel plans, Catherine Heald, the co-founder and CEO of the travel company Remote Lands, says that many of her clients have canceled their upcoming travel plans to Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, among others, and pivoted their trips toward destinations geographically far away from active conflict zones. (Read more about navigating upcoming travel to countries bordering Israel and Gaza here.) While reconsidering itineraries, Heald advises all travelers to not panic: Look at the facts, Heald says. Study a map and avoid the danger zones. Buy travel insurance so if the situation spreads or escalatesand we all sincerely hope it wontyou are covered. Luis Vargas, CEO and founder of travel operator Modern Adventure, recommends equipping yourself with information. Read up on the local news in the area of your intended destination to get a better sense of whats actually happening on the ground. In many cases, major eventsboth political and naturalare locally or regionally concentrated, meaning nearby areas can be unaffected, Vargas says. For example, during and in the aftermath of the earthquake in Morocco in September, some communities experienced the worst of it, while Marrakech and other parts of the country were largely unaffected. An event in one part of a country or region does not mean it is happening everywhere in that country or region. The last time the State Department issued a similar worldwide travel advisory was on August 2, 2022, due to a "higher potential for anti-American violence given the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda leader killed on July 31 in a US drone strike in Afghanistan. The US State Departments travel advisories are most often specified by country. This month, the State Department has raised the travel advisory for Lebanon to the highest level, Level 4: Do not travel; the travel advisory for Israel and the West Bank has been raised to Level 3: Reconsider travel. Jordan and Egypt, which share borders with Israel, are at Level 2 and Level 3, respectively. Wherever you are headed, take stock of a number of factors before you cancel or reschedule any travel plans: Consider your destinations relative risk and your own personal risk toleranceand that of your travel companions. Evaluate the level of access you will have to consulate services and information, as well as to your own personal safety network; if you have friends and family in the area of your destination, ask them for tips on how to stay safe and up-to-date on local news developments. From there, make an informed decision about your travel plans that youand your travel companions, if you have themwill be comfortable with. Traveling is an exercise in preparedness. As with all trips, make sure you feel ready to navigate whatever may come your way, no matter where you go. And of course, follow the worldwide travel advisorys directive, brief and broad as it may be, to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas. Taking a long-term view, Vargas offers a reminder that tourism is an integral part of many economiesin the Middle East and all over the world. "When travel advisories are adopted, more broadly than intended, the effects can also be devastating over time, says Vargas. If you aren't comfortable traveling now, consider postponing your trip rather than canceling it; and, if you must cancel, see if you can redirect some of your financial resources to organizations offering aid to people who need it most. At the end of the day, trust your gut, Vargas says. If you are feeling uneasy to the point where enjoyment of the trip is compromised, postponing may be the right choice for you. This is a developing story and will be updated with more information. Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler Egypt's border crossing opens to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into besieged Gaza The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has opened to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory A Massachusetts dog mom is mourning the loss of her pup. The dog was shot, seemingly at random, in the womans apartment building in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Boston police called to scene where dog was shot According to Boston.com, police received a call on Thursday afternoon about shots fired at 279 Centre Street. While en route to the apartment building, dispatch informed the officers that a dog had been shot as a result. Officers arrived on the scene around 4:17 p.m. On the fifth floor of the building, they found ballistic evidence in the hallway. Specifically, they recovered two ballistic fragments and three 380-caliber shell casings. While police surveyed the scene, a woman summoned the officers into her apartment. She showed them her dog, who was unresponsive. The dog had multiple gunshot wounds. According to a police report, the woman said she and her dog exited the elevator. Then, they were descending the stairs toward her apartment. Suddenly, the woman heard a loud bang. The dog took off running down the stairs. Two more bangs ensued. The dog mom grabbed her fur baby and rushed back to her apartment. Then, she realized the dog was wounded. According to NBC 10 Boston, the dog has since died due to the injuries. Surprisingly, during this whole ordeal, the woman never saw a shooter. However, there were three juveniles at home at the time of the shooting. Police are investigating. Why gunshot wounds are often fatal to dogs Gunshot wounds, like the ones that befell this dog shot in Boston, can be fatal to dogs for several critical reasons. Firstly, bullets cause immediate tissue damage and bleeding upon impact. Bullets can also disrupt vital organs and blood vessels. This can lead to rapid blood loss, shock, and compromised oxygen supply. When this happens, death often results within minutes. Secondly, the high-velocity impact of bullets can shatter bones and cause severe internal injuries. Infection risk is also significant, as bullets carry contaminants into the body, increasing the chances of sepsis. Prompt veterinary care is crucial. But even with intervention, the extent of damage and potential complications often makes gunshot wounds a life-threatening emergency for dogs. Dog at a boarding facility. News 1 hour ago Cane Corso dog sleeping on grass in back yard News 6 hours ago sad dog in a cage at animal shelter News 15 hours ago Close-up of world's oldest dog Bobi News 19 hours ago Shih Tzu dog sticking head out car window News 1 day ago The post Dog Shot in Boston Apartment Building Dies appeared first on DogTime. While the Garifuna people only make up four percent of Belizes population, the culture plays a huge role in the countrys history. When a ship of enslaved Africans sank, the survivors reached St. Vincent in the Caribbean. The descendants of the Caribbean locals and the Africans became the Garifuna people. Rich in culture, music, and creativity, the Garifuna people came to Belize after receiving threats from British and French colonial militaries. Today, the heritage of their ancestors lives on through those who live in Belize now. A strong people, the Garifuna add color and flavor to Belizean culture. Next time you visit Belize, here are a few ways to experience the authenticity and freshness of Garifuna culture. Take A Garifuna Cooking Class Photo credit: Karen Brodie Garifuna cuisine is a true Caribbean delicacy. The flavors are bold and unique with coconuts and fresh fish at the forefront of most dishes. There are a few Garifuna dishes worth trying. This includes the coconut-based fish stew sere, cassava bread, and darasa, a traditional Garifuna tamale. Taking a Garifuna cooking class is a great way to deep dive into the local cuisine. Cooking classes not only provide details on the history of the food but also give travelers a chance to get hands-on with fresh ingredients and dishes before tasting. Wander The New Garifuna Trail Travelers can dive into Garifuna culture by wandering down a new trail dedicated to the peoples history. Garifuna Trail was launched by the Belizean Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations in 2022. The trail is a venture between the ministry and Garifuna communities Dangriga and Hopkins. Visitors can learn about Garifuna food, music, history, and dance all in one place. A celebration of the Afro-indigenous people, Garifuna Trail showcases the sheer beauty of the people who reached Belizean shores over 100 years ago. Visit Hopkins Village Photo credit: Rob Rector Hopkins Village is the center of Garifuna culture in Belize. There is an array of beautiful beaches, exquisite resorts, and excursions surrounding the village. True Garifuna culture lives in Hopkins. Youll find the Battle of The Drums happening here each year. Theres a ton of traditional foods to try, markets to explore, and vendors to shop with. The largest concentration of Garifuna people is located in southern Belize near Hopkins Village. This is a wonderful place to interact with the locals and get an authentic glimpse of Garifuna living. Come To Town For Garifuna Settlement Day Every year on November 19, Garifuna Settlement Day is celebrated across the country. The first to arrive in Belize landed in Dangriga and the citys beaches come alive to commemorate the first Garifuna to reach its shores. There are plenty of ceremonial dances, drum performances, and festivities happening all day long. Explore The Gulisi Garifuna Museum Photo credit: Scott Webb/Pexels The Gulisi Garifuna Museum pays homage to the people who fled St. Vincent Island and found refuge on Belizean shores. Its named after the woman whose 13 children settled in the Punta Negra region. Travelers can visit the museum to learn the history of the Garifuna and their journey from Africa to Belize. 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 Adventurous foodies: Meet the next addition to your global gastronomic bucket list. Have you ever visited an aquarium with a walk-through tank? At the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, dinner takes place within one of these tunnels in a clear, arched hallway five meters (or around 16 feet) below the surface of the Indian Ocean. The word "ithaa" translates to "mother of pearl" in the local Maldivian Dhivehi language -- a nod to the restaurant's unique position as a pearl in the ocean. It's the world's first undersea restaurant, and, in addition to being a one-of-a-kind dining establishment, Ithaa's building is also technically the largest aquarium tunnel in the world. Ithaa first opened in 2005, but the restaurant was actually built off-site in 2004 and transported via barge to the Maldives over the course of a 16-day voyage. Today, it sits atop an underground wine cellar packed with roughly 20,000 bottles of 1,400 different labels and a dedicated cheese bar. To enter Ithaa, guests must traverse down a spiral staircase beneath a thatched-roofed hut. As diners sit beneath the glass ceiling and walls, sea life swims in crystal clear waters overhead. The dining room offers a 270-degree panoramic view of the surrounding coral reef and accommodates just 14 diners at a time. (Reservations are necessary, ostensibly well in advance.) This high-class, high-exclusivity establishment has a high price tag to match. According to reviews from former guests on Tripadvisor, dinner runs in the ballpark of $400+ per person, or $200+ per person for lunch. Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home Seafood-Centric Menu In Topical Digs Ithaa plated artichoke and roasted garlic veloute dish - Ithaa Undersea Restaurant/Instagram Dinner at the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is six courses long, with set menus featuring contemporary fusion fare and a fine wine to match each course. European and Asian influences marry local flavors and have a special focus on seafood. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ithaa preserves an element of mystery around its menu, creating further intrigue by not providing the public with a specific list of meals offered. But, the restaurant's Instagram account does tease a few must-try dishes. To start, guests can expect small plates like artichoke and roasted garlic veloute with caviar, five-spiced foam, and toasted brioche, or a more understated white peach salad with sliced Maldivian dried tuna. The kitchen pulls out all the stops for the main event, crafting entrees like a whole lobster gratinated with saffron and Espelette chili hollandaise, served with smoked avocado mash, corn tiles, and beetroot tortellini. For dessert, it's elevated fare like honey-roasted pumpkin cheesecake with almond milk and thyme gel and honeycomb foam. According to reviews from past guests on Tripadvisor, Ithaa offers vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options. One review also mentions that the chef personally introduces each course to the dining room. Ithaa is open for lunch, dinner, and mid-morning cocktails for an unforgettable under-the-sea brunch. For optimal ocean views, swing by while the sun is still out. A meal at Ithaa is at least as much about the experience as the food itself -- and for food tourists looking to sip Dom Perignon next to a shark, look no further than this Maldivian pearl. Read the original article on Tasting Table. 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. Photographs: Getty Images, Apple; Collage: Gabe Conte Killers of the Flower Moon is an indisputable Martin Scorsese masterpiece. As the legendary director grapples with his own mortality, hes put out one of the finest films of his career, one that characteristically muses on similarly heavy themes: greed, corruption, betrayal, colonialism, violence. Based on the 2017 David Grann book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon tells the little-known story of the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma and the formation of the FBI. See, the Osage Nation had the foresight to maintain mineral rights on their land so, when oil was discovered, it made them fabulously wealthy. It also made them the target of a vast murder plot by their white neighbors. I had eagerly been anticipating this movie since it was announced, an anticipation that only grew stronger when presented with the one single still that was available and then, each subsequent trailer. Something else I instantly clocked in the trailer? A cavalcade of hats, each bigger and more beautiful than the last. This was not false advertising, but merely a small sampling of the reality: I can confirm that all three hours and 26 minutes of Killers of the Flower Moon are absolutely teeming with hats. This film was costume designer Jacqueline Wests first time working with Scorcese (who, it must be noted, is no stranger to wild hats). Few directors are as conversant about clothes, she told me. He really has incredible taste in clothing, and a wonderful Italian eye. Its in his blood. She floated two Westerns to the director when explaining what her influences would be: 1926s The Winning of Barbara Worth and 1948s Blood On The Moon. Of course, hats were a practical necessity in 1920s Oklahoma, to protect from the sunthese guys didnt have any Supergoop SPFand rain when working outdoors. But, more than that, West said, the hats were meant to be there to tell a story. More than 300 hats were created for the movie. The principal actors hats Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart and Robert DeNiro as his uncle, William Hale, for instancewere made by Jack Scholl at Weather Hats in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. (West had a connection to them through her husband, who is a Bullock, as featured in HBOs Deadwood.) Scholl, who grew up a rancher but became a self-taught hatmaker about two decades ago, had a previous brush with Hollywood when he made some hats for Brad Pitt to wear in The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonbut those scenes were cut. I've never really been a big movie guy, he told me. My wife, she told me all about Martin Scorsese because she had followed him. Scholl made 17 hats for the film, each of which took six days from start to finish. He also made one for Scorsese to wear while filming, protecting him from the incessant plains sun. JackScholl.jpeg Jennifer Scholl The other hats were made by Stetson, or sourced cheaply from international wholesalers and then bent and covered with dirt to look authentic and weatherbeaten. We were always running out of hats, assistant costume designer Joseph Cigliano told me. No matter how many hats we had, we always ran out. All of the hat styles, though meant for utility, were also deeply intentional. They also had pretty sick names: the Gus, the Cattlemans Crease, the Tycoon, the Boss of the Plains. (The most popular hat of the period is the simple bowler, Cigliano added. And even though Martin didn't respond well to those, that was the most popular hat of the period. Probably five in 10 people wore those, but it's not reflected in our image of the West.) The hats that the Osage men wore were notably different from the rest: black, rounded, without any dents. Because it wasn't a classic American, white cowboy hat, it became the hat of the Osage, West explained. It was fabulous on him with the braids, and it became this wonderful silhouette that you see in all the research. Killers of the Flower Moon Courtesy of Apple As William Hale, the mastermind of the conspiracy against the Osage, Robert DeNiro wore a hat called The Open Road. West called it a very classic rancher's hat, as opposed to a cowboy. It was like a cut above, it was almost like a fedora, but it was much more western. Leonardo DiCaprio plays his slippery nephew Ernest Burkhart, who marries the Osage woman Mollie Kyle, played by an outstanding Lily Gladstone. Burkhart first comes to these parts after serving in World War I, wearing a little newsboy capnot unlike what you might see off-duty Leo wear as hes cruising around Tribeca in a CitiBike. As he courts Mollie, she presents him with a hat, one meant to make him more respectable and esteemed. Killers of the Flower Moon Melinda Sue Gordon Someone once called me a method costume designer, West told me. In this case, the method meant getting in tune with what Mollie would want when she was picking out a hat to give to Ernest. Stetsons were status symbols among the Osage, West continued. She would've been very careful to pick him something that she liked. I had to get into her head of how she wanted him to get out of that flat cap and make him somebody more husband-worthy. So she gave him the Cattlemans Crease, which is a classic silhouette, with a personalized Osage headband. As Ernest becomes more and more enmeshed in the plot against the Osage, West also uses his hats to communicate his change of character. Ernest starts off with a white hat, says West, and "you notice his hat gets darker as it goes on. Dark hats also show up to signify other characters' shifty, less-than-honorable intentions. Take Louis Cancelmi as Kelsie Morrison. It suits him. Something about his whole character is something slick about him, and it has that almost Spanish dancer kind of look, West said. And black, because he's sinister. Killers of the Flower Moon Courtesy of Apple The one hat I distinctly remember from Granns book was the cowboy hat always worn by Tom White, played by Jesse Plemons. At one point in the film, Mollie has a vision of a man with a hat and I thought that could be anyoneuntil, that is, White shows up at the door wearing an absolutely massive 10 gallon hat. You need that silhouette through the window, that big, real cowboy hat silhouette, West said. He was a real Texas Ranger and he was the only FBI agent allowed to wear a cowboy hat. Killers of the Flower Moon Courtesy of Apple Beyond the utility, the storytelling purposes, and the way that they made the film feel truly lived-in and authentic, the hats were also a personal milestone for Westshe was finally able to feature hats to her hearts content. Directors are often hat-phobic, because you don't want to cover your actor. I had a director who once said, At 10 million an eyeball, don't cover up either one of them with a hat, she shared. But Marty really understood the hats, and loved the hats. I never had him tell me to take off any hats. Originally Appeared on GQ More Great Stories from GQ Though many entrepreneurs come on "Shark Tank" to pitch a product, the Sharks are no strangers to restaurant concepts being floated their way. In the past, eateries such as Custard Stand, a West Virginia-based chili dog and frozen custard restaurant; Cousins Maine Lobster, a seafood-centric food truck line; and Chi'lantro, a Korean-Mexican fusion chain from Texas, have showcased their ideas in hope of capital, mentorship, or both from the pool of investors. Though they haven't all been successful in getting a bite, many have seen bumps in sales due to the exposure. That may be just what Raleigh, North Carolina, restaurant Buena Papa Fry Bar is after, though cash is always king. Founded by Johanna and James Windon in 2021, Buena Papa -- Spanish for "good potato" -- takes loaded fries to a whole new level. Having seen a disruption in their cleaning business during the pandemic, the couple was searching for a new outlet for their entrepreneurial energies. Johanna, who was born in Bogota, Colombia, and immigrated to the U.S. at age six, decided to tap into her roots. More specifically, she honed in on a popular Colombian meal called Bandeja Paisa, which can include beans, rice, chorizo, and crispy pork belly. Without rice at the ready, the couple decided to see how the various elements would work over fries. It was an instant hit -- at least with the Windons, who further refined the idea in their home kitchen. Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home What Does Buena Papa Serve? fries from buena papa - Buena Papa/Instagram It wasn't long before the couple realized that while the original lineup of toppings was a home run, they could go global when topping fries. The Windons created a veritable U.N. of loaded fry variations that reflect a diverse array of flavors. Mexicano features carne asada, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream, while Parmesan, meatballs, mozzarella, and pomodoro sauce crown the Italiano. Puerto Rican pernil, guacamole, and pico de gallo, all come atop the Boricua. American-born flavor combos are featured too, such as the Carolina with pulled pork, coleslaw, and house barbecue sauce over vinegar fries, and the Americano, with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, thick-cut bacon, and chives. The restaurant also offers signature fruit juices and an array of sauces, including the popular Latin-American option MayoKetchup, Carolina-style barbecue sauce, garlic-cilantro sauce, and a creamy hot sauce. The first iteration of Buena Papa opened in Raleigh's Morgan Street Food Hall across from the couple's future "Shark Tank'' compatriots, Cousins Maine Lobster. Salsa music and the chance to win free fries for a year helped the Windons launch the venture, which quickly caught on with hungry Raleighites. That popularity helped Buena Papa grow from a stand in a food hall to a second location in Raleigh's sister city, Durham. The Windons also opened a stall in PNC Arena, home of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, who named Buena Papa their "Official Loaded Fry." Franchising Frontier miami buena papa fries - Buena Papa In addition to Buena Papa's Raleigh and Durham locations, the company operates a franchising arm that has helped spread the footprint to include the North Carolina cities of Wilmington, Chapel Hill, and Jacksonville, as well as Atlanta, Georgia, and Miami, Florida. The Miami location of Buena Papa, which is inside Wynwood Miami's The Dirty Rabbit bar, also marks the company's first foray into a regional menu creation with three all-new offerings. El Miami comes with pulled pork, guava BBQ sauce, queso fresco, and crispy fried yuca strips. El Cubano has spiced mojo fries, pernil, jamon, pickles, and house-made Cubano sauce. Finally, El Japones is topped with a choice of teriyaki beef or pork katsu, eel sauce, pickled carrots, and chopped scallions. If you want to chart your own course, Buena Papa has you covered with its Crea lo Tu Yo, or "Create Your Own" option. Choose from regular or sweet potato fries; proteins like hot dogs, pernil, pulled pork, bacon bits, pork belly, and more; seasonings, including garlic mojo, BP signature seasoning, Italian spices, and Greek spices; extras like guacamole, cheddar, and salmon; refried beans, pico de gallo, parmesan, coleslaw, and other toppings; and sauces, like chipotle mayo, Buena sauce, MayoKetchup, and others. For those with a sweet tooth, take heart; Buena Papa sells more than just savory food. Pick up an order of churros with whipped cream or sweet potato fries tossed in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with pumpkin-spiced marshmallow fluff. Reviews Are In satisfied buena papa customers - Buena Papa Digging into the Yelp reviews for the flagship location at the Morgan Street Food Hall, you notice that out of over 30 reviews, the majority are five stars. Reviewer Rachel H. states that the service was expeditious and courteous and the food exceeded expectations, noting, "everything tasted fresh and had great flavorings, more than I expected from a fry bar." That sentiment was echoed by Jillian S. who writes, "they certainly don't skimp on the fries or toppings." But it's not all sunshine for Buena Papa. Yelper Yanni H. complained about the heavy hand with which the establishment seasoned both the fries and meat for their dish. Additionally, Amber F. complained that while the portion was generous, the flavors quickly became tired and the coleslaw served on the Carolina fries was "soupy." The reviews for the Durham location of Buena Papa paint a less rosy picture, but it is worth mentioning that there are far fewer reviews to date. Still, Andrew M. lays out a meal that was lacking composition, describing a large piece of salmon on his El Healthy fries that was hard to eat with the other toppings and not well mixed into the overall dish. Lanae M. reports that the cheese, beans, and other toppings looked as though they may have been sitting in the steam tray a little too long. On the flip side, Tiff T. glows over the "delicious" fruit juices and the overall shareability of the portions. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Potatoes might all seem similar at first but, once you start digging deeper into them, you'll find a fascinating array of varieties, each with unique purposes in the kitchen. Some types are great for boiling, others shine in the frying pan, and a few are perfect for making mashed potatoes, just to name a few uses. Two of the most famous potato types are Kennebec and russet potatoes. Here's how these two spuds differ. Kennebec potatoes, often referred to as "all-purpose potatoes," were crossbred in association with the USDA and introduced in Maine around 1948. When it comes to frying, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better choice than these. Kennebecs have thin and light skin, unlike russets, which have dry, thick, and dark skin. The medium starch level and low water content of Kennebec potatoes make them perfect for frying in oil. On the flip side, russet potatoes (sometimes referred to as Idaho potatoes) have a rich history dating back to the 1870s. This potato type started out as the russet Burbank before being diversified into many sub-types. Rather than frying, russets are known for their exceptional performance in the oven. The combination of their high starch content and thick, moisture-trapping skin results in a beautifully crispy outer layer and a soft, fluffy interior when baked. If you're aiming to whip up some delicious baked or mashed potatoes tonight, you can't go wrong with russets! Read more: 17 Types Of Potatoes And When To Use Them Can Kennebec And Russet Potatoes Be Used Interchangeably? French fries and dipping cups - gowithstock/Shutterstock One question that'll naturally come up when comparing Kennebec and russet potatoes is whether or not they can be used interchangeably. After all, potatoes are potatoes, right? The short answer is: Yes, but with some caveats. If you're making French fries, Kennebec potatoes are usually the top choice, but that doesn't mean you can't use russets, too. Russets actually make for crispier fries due to their dryness and high starch content. The reason why Kennebecs are typically preferred for fries is because they result in crispy exteriors with creamier, softer insides. Ultimately, your choice depends on whether you prefer classic crispy fries (russets) or thicker, more flavorful fries (Kennebecs). When it comes to baking, you can use both Kennebecs and russets. But, keep in mind that the thicker skin of russets will give you baked potatoes that have crispier outer layers and softer interiors than those that are made from Kennebecs. When we say "potatoes are potatoes," it's not entirely wrong. Even though Kennebecs excel at making fries, you can still make a mean baked potato with them. Similarly, russets can be used to make some delicious fries. Each type outdoes the other in certain ways and has preferred uses. So, unless you're up for some experimenting, the guideline (not rule!) is: Kennebecs are for frying and russets are for baking. Read the original article on Tasting Table. A pale, lumpen pile of flesh which washed up on the shores of Papua New Guinea has experts baffled. The rotting mass has been dubbed a mermaid globster due to its distinctive shape. A globster is defined as an unidentified organic mass that washes ashore, and it is indeed unidentifiable. Its origins are anyones guess, according to environmental scientist Helene Marsh. The remains washed up on September 20 on the shore of Simberi Island, a small volcanic isle in the New Ireland Province with just 1,000 occupants. Locals, disgusted and mystified in equal measure, photographed the putrid mound of meat and promptly buried it. While that may be good for them, it means that identifying the mermaid globsters actual identity will be next to impossible. According to a Facebook post by New Irelanders Only, locals did not properly measure the corpse before burying it, nor did anyone collect DNA samples. This leaves experts hoping to identify the phenomenon through photographs, but even they are hopelessly divided. "It looks like a very decomposed cetacean to me," marine mammal expert Sascha Hooker told Live Science. Cetaceans, otherwise known as whales and dolphins, are known to turn the same ghostly white shade as their skin peels away. According to a 2021 study, short-finned pilot whales, spinner dolphins, and spotted dolphins are particularly common in this part of the Bismarck Sea. Erich Hoyt, a researcher with Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the U.K., agrees that the globster could be a small whale, or possibly a sea cow. Also known as dugongs, theyre known to graze in shallow waters off Papua New Guinea. Related: 'Zombie Catfish' Found in U.S. Waterways, Scientists Have Gross Explanation "My best estimate is that it might be a dugong," Jens Currie, chief scientist of the Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii, told Live Science. Currie believes that, from whats left of the creatures head, its too small to be a whale or dolphin. The amount of blubber also indicates a marine mammal and not a shark," Currie said. Florida-based marine biologist Gavin Naylor believes the corpse could belong to a shark, though even he concedes that "it is a little weird that all of the skin appears to have rotted off. But Gregory Skomal, a marine biologist at the University of Boston, was fairly willing to bet its a cetacean. "At first, I was leaning toward a large shark, but now that I've spent a bunch of time looking at this, I am more confident it is a cetacean," he told the outlet. He deduced this based on the shape of its tail and the location of its flippers, as well as the corpse's vertebrae, which looks closer to a whales spine than a sharks. Its unlikely well ever know for sure what exactly the mermaid globster is, but hopefully, another will wash ashore and give us the opportunity to dig deeper into its secrets. Officers with the Walnut Creek Police Department in northern California arrested four suspects in an organized retail crime ring after they were tipped off by neighboring Bay Area authorities. On Wednesday, the officer responsible for patrolling Walnut Creeks popular Broadway Plaza shopping district, where Nordstrom previously retained its own dedicated police resources, received information about two thefts at Lululemon stores in nearby Napa and Santa Rosa. The intel suggested the suspects were headed to Walnut Creek to try to return the stolen merchandise at the Broadway Plaza Lululemon location, about 25 miles northwest of San Francisco. More from Sourcing Journal The Broadway Plaza officer worked in concert with loss prevention staff to identify the suspects based on photos of them and their vehicles. Police observed the four suspects inside the Lululemon store and detained them without incident. Law enforcement recovered nearly $10,000 worth of stolen Lululemon merchandise from the suspects vehicles. Suspects were charged with organized retail theft, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of burglary tools, probation violation and fugitive from justice. We are thankful for the relationships WCPD has formed with our retail partners and allied law enforcement agencies, Walnut Creek police said in a statement dated Oct. 20. This has led to an enhanced response to organized retail crime, which often involves groups committing crimes in multiple jurisdictions. Thieves commonly target Lululemon goods they can quickly resell on secondary markets. A recent bust recovered merchandise stolen from the popular yogawear brand while employees at a Lululemon store in Atlanta were terminated after trying to stop a robbery in progress. The Walnut Creek operation came after San Francisco authorities arrested two suspects in connection to a smash-and-grab robbery caught on camera at the Union Square Christian Dior store last week. The San Francisco District Attorneys office charged two suspects with multiple counts including second-degree commercial burglary, grand theft, organized retail theft, conspiracy and resisting arrest after crashing a vehicle into the Dior store and stealing merchandise including luxury handbags. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) said the suspects arraigned Monday arrived on Oct. 12 in three vehicles before the store opened. Witnesses told SFPD that the suspects rammed their vehicle into stores exterior windows and security gate. The suspects were apprehended after attempting to flee in their vehicles. In a statement on Tuesday, SFPD said that the suspects had also attempted to break into the nearby Fendi store just minutes earlier. The early morning smash and grab at Christian Dior is one more example of how brazen some thieves have become, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. This conduct is completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted vigorously. The Christian Dior logo seen in San Francisco. I would also like to thank the San Francisco Police Department for their swift action in responding to this incident and arresting these suspects, she added. We will not let up on our efforts to improve public safety and demonstrate our resolve to those who choose to engage in criminal activity in our community. The robbery is the latest blow to Union Square, where popular department stores have pulled up stakes and even the San Francisco Centre mall is calling it quits due to factors including crime. Down in Los Angeles, police arrested a suspect on Wednesday on suspicion of beating a store employee at a boutique in Chinatown on Sept. 14. Video footage showed the suspect repeatedly hitting and shoving the employee to the ground before fleeing with stolen merchandise. As the employee attempted to stop him, the suspect assaulted the employee, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in a statement this week. The employee was hospitalized for her injuries. The suspect was apprehended while trying to evade capture in the backyard of a home in Hawthorne, Calif., LAPD said. The L.A. Organized Retail Crime Task Force has made notable progress since it launched in August. It announced the capture and arrest of three L.A. area suspects in connection with an Oct. 5 smash and grab at a jewelry store in the El Paseo neighborhood of Palm Desert, Calif. The task force made the announcement alongside the Riverside Sheriffs Dept. in Palm Desert, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Office of Correctional Safety Fugitive Team. Suspects wearing hoodies and masks smashed a jewelry display case with a hammer and stole high-value product, the Riverside County Sheriffs Dept. said. During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered evidence that helped them identify the suspects, who they believed were linked to two residential burglaries. Three suspects were arrested in conjunction with the crimes after serving four residential search warrants. They were booked on charges of robbery and burglary at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, Calif. The task force has arrested 42, filed 25 criminal cases, and recovered about $125,000 in property and case as of earlier this month. The City of Los Angeles and the LAPD received a $15.6 million grant in September as a part of statewide campaign to crack down on retail crime. Click here to read the full article. A former director of the National Reconnaissance Office and former president and CEO of Mitre, Martin "Marty" Faga died this week. Faga, a resident of Virginia, led the National Reconnaissance Office at the end the Cold War from 1989 to 1993, when some leaders in Washington were interested in downsizing defense and intelligence efforts, said Jeff Grant, who worked with Faga at the NRO. Faga made a strong case for intelligence at the time. "He was a great advocate for the mission of space-based reconnaissance," said Grant, who is now the chairman of the board for the Colorado Springs-based Space Foundation. Faga also led the spy agency through its declassification in 1992. The office in charge of building, launching, and maintaining intelligence satellites started as a national secret in 1961. It maintains locations at Buckley and Schriever Space Force Bases in Colorado. Before his work with the NRO, he was a staff member for the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he mastered the details of hundreds of intelligence activities, according to a retirement tribute published at the time. After working in government for 30 years, including time as an engineer at the CIA and a research and development officer in the Air Force, he left for Mitre. The nonprofit operates federally funded research and development centers, including locations in Colorado Springs. In 1993, he started as the vice president and senior vice president of intelligence programs at Mitre before taking on the role of president and CEO in 2000, a statement from the company said. After his 2006 retirement, he worked as a consultant and a member of the board of trustees for the company until 2012. As CEO during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Faga encouraged support for rescue and recovery efforts, and then "the monumental investigative work to make sense of that tragic day," the statement 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. Working in industry, the executive branch and as a staff member in Congress made him an effective leader, Grant said. "I never saw anybody unhappy with him; he was a gentleman," Grant said explaining that was true even with people disagreed with Faga's decisions. His wife, Barbara Faga, described him as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. She didn't highlight a portion of career, saying instead: "He just did the things he thought were right, and they most often were." In a news release, the Space Foundation remembered Faga as a pioneer in the intelligence community and industry innovator. He served as a board member for the nonprofit from 2007 to 2014. In 2016, the foundation established the annual Faga Forum on Space Intelligence held in Washington, D.C., to honor his contributions. "His work built relationships between service branches, intelligence agencies, American allies, and industry; secured American interests abroad and liberties at home; and served as a model and legacy to follow," the foundation said in a statement. A member of the generation that grew up worried every day about the Cold War, Grant said Faga committed to winning the conflict. "With people like Marty at the helm, we won the Cold War, and Martys contribution to the mission of the United States of America and our allies is long lasting, and he should be remembered for that," he said. Faga is survived by his wife, two sons and six grandchildren. If you've ever questioned why your nonna's classic Italian meatballs or your mom's meatloaf recipe calls for breadcrumbs and milk, it's to make a moist interior. Breadcrumbs or bread get soaked in a liquid, usually milk, before being mixed into the meat. This is called a panade, and the extra moisture from the milk mixing with the starchy breadcrumbs goes a long way to preventing the meat from drying out. When it comes to cooking with leaner ground turkey, which is notoriously difficult to keep tender, making a panade is a step you shouldn't skip. Some cooks prefer a panade made of equal parts breadcrumbs (or torn bread) and milk, which are incorporated and left to sit together for at least 10 minutes to ensure the mixture is moistened before adding to the ground turkey. Others favor a denser paste, using a tablespoon of milk for every cup of crumbs. While panko is a possibility for panade, because it is larger than Italian-style breadcrumbs, it requires slightly more liquid (around two extra spoonfuls). In meatballs or meatloaf, aim to zuzh up each pound of ground turkey with about cup of panade. Without fail, you'll find that this starchy concoction is the key to triumphant ground turkey dishes. Read more: 15 Tips For Making The Best Meatloaf A Panade Works Because Of How Starches React To Heat Turkey meatloaf - Timolina/Shutterstock Think of the last time you made a burger. What looked like a nice sized patty shrunk so much during cooking it might have only filled half the bun. When exposed to heat, meat proteins shrink as moisture evaporates. A panade helps to counteract this by blocking the shrinkage due to gelatinization. As the carbohydrates in a slice of bread or cup of breadcrumbs heat up in a liquid -- be it milk, buttermilk, broth or stock, or water -- they soak up the liquid and gelatinize; this keeps ground meat moist. It's not a foolproof solution, though; a panade won't rescue an overworked meatball, meatloaf, or burger from being dense and rubbery. Take care in how you handle the meat and don't squeeze or pack the meat too much. You might not need a panade if you're grilling up turkey burgers that actually taste good because the cook time won't be long enough for the starch proteins in the breadcrumbs to gelatinize due to the grill's high heat. Instead of tender inside, the burger could be loose and squidgy from the extra liquid. If you do go the panade route with your classic (not dry) turkey burgers, try searing them in a hot cast iron pan first, then finishing them off in the oven. This will ensure that the starches have time to work their magic, leaving you with a juicy turkey burger. If A Panade Isn't For You, There Are Different Ways To Ensure A Moist Turkey Burger Turkey burger with an egg - Timolina/Shutterstock Besides using a panade to prevent dry ground turkey, there are other ways to show some love to the lean meat. For starters, minced mushrooms or grated butter are a few of the ways to add moisture to ground turkey. Mushrooms are full of water -- around 90% -- and will keep the meat tender, while a tablespoon of unsalted butter contains about 12 grams of fat. Both options will add much-needed richness and texture to replace what gets cooked out, elevate the mouthfeel, and add plenty of extra flavor. When it comes to cooking ground turkey, you should aim for temperature instead of time or color. The USDA advises that your dish should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent foodborne illnesses. If you have an instant-read probe thermometer, insert it horizontally into the middle of the meat from the side to get the most accurate reading. When your burger or meatloaf hits 165 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll want to make sure to pull it from the heat as quickly as possible to prevent overcooking and dry, crumbly turkey. Read the original article on Daily Meal. If you've been paying attention to celebrity style lately, you've probably noticed that a lot of the biggest starsfrom Taylor Swift to Selena Gomez to Kylie Jenner have been carrying various structural, asymmetrical bags. It turns out that they're all from the same up-and-coming brand, and the pieces are surprisingly affordable, making it easy to get the look for yourself. We took a deep dive into this handbag trend so you don't have tokeep reading to learn all about Aupen, from the brand philosophy to standout celeb sightings to our favorite products to shop. About the Brand Founded in 2022 by Skye Tan, Aupen is a vegan, ethical handbag brand with studios in Brooklyn and Singapore. The label prioritizes both sustainability and craftsmanship, creating statement-making yet sophisticated designs that empower the wearer to make conscious choices without sacrificing style or a luxury feel. Each bag is made of circular, primarily recycled materials, which has earned the brand stamps of approval from several environmental organizations and EU certification bodies. Aupen has quickly become iconic for its signature asymmetrical designs, which come in a wide variety of colors and variations. The overall aesthetic feels seasonless but intentional, which is ideal if you're looking to invest in a bag you'll love for years to come. Most of the pieces have uplifting namesPurpose, Fearless, and Nirvana, to name a fewand there are options for every taste, whether you prefer classic black, a statement shade, or luxe details like chains and crystal fringe. The Trend Aupen has gotten a lot of recent attention after Taylor Swift carried the brand's Nirvana bag to the "SNL" season premiere afterparty (hand-in-hand with Travis Kelce, no less). It actually wasn't even the first time she stepped out with the style, as she paired it with a Hill House matching set back in August while attending Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley's rehearsal dinner. With its classic black shade and braided handle, it's easy to see why the pop megastar has quickly made this bag a staple in her collection. Getty Images Despite being one of the biggest stars to carry one of the bags so far, Swift is far from the first. For one, Karlie Kloss attended the "Eras Tour" in early August with a black Aupen bag in townone other than the Fearless Re-Edition (a choice if we've ever seen one). Gabrielle Union embraced a statement olive take on the same style in mid-September as well as the now-sold-out original Fearless in white late last November, while Zaya Wade made a statement in a light blue version of the Nirvana this past May. Getty Images Still, no one was earlier to welcome the trend with Aupen arms than Kylie Jenner, who wore the original Fearless Noir in early November 2022, shortly after the brand launched. We've certainly said it before, and we'll say it again: no one works harder than Kris Jenner. Getty Images Aupen's Purpose bagone of the most affordable at $180has proven to be the most widespread celebrity favorite so far. Hailey Bieber showcased her impressive ability to set a trend when she tried the style in April, while Olivia Rodrigo wore the same bag in Tokyo in September, proving that the asymmetrical silhouette and classic black finish work well whether your style leans more minimalist or you love a modern Y2K statement. Selena Gomez and Ashley Park have both embraced a sparkly variation (the Purpose Ice), which features crystal fringe and a bedazzled exterior. Getty Images With the sheer amount of major stars who have worn the bags over the course of just a year, it's clear that Aupen is skyrocketing to a fame all its ownand we're so here for it, given the bags' accessibility and timeless statement designs. Scroll on to see seven of our favorite styles to shop now. The Best Aupen Handbags to Shop Purpose Aupen Purpose ($180) SHOP This celeb-favorite style is made to be an intentional everyday bag, with a comfortable shoulder strap and minimalist design that creates interest with its modern, asymmetrical shape. The classic version comes in two timeless neutral shades (noir black and snow white), either of which will pair effortlessly with almost any look. Nirvana Aupen Nirvana ($340) SHOP Taylor Swift's go-to bag of the moment, the Nirvana style is a bit roomier and slouchier, with a braided handle, a flat bottom, and an asymmetrical profile at the top. It features a small gold charm and comes in nine colors at the momentwe love the idea of hopping on fall's scarlet trend by opting for Rouge. Fearless Re-Edition Aupen Fearless Re-Edition ($340) SHOP The original Fearless bag was such an early favorite that it's sold out in almost every shade, but luckily the re-edition is just as stunning. It's similar to the Nirvana, but with more minimalist, structured design that feels perfect for complementing a quiet luxury look. It comes in six colors, ensuring there's an option for you whether you feel more powerful in a classic neutral or a vivid statement shade. Purpose with Chain Aupen Purpose with Chain ($200) SHOP If you love Aupen's ever-popular Purpose silhouette but want to take a road less traveled, the brand offers a version with a gold chain strap, available in several statement shades plus an earthy brown. We imagine it isn't long before a celebrity steps out with one of these, and wouldn't it be fun to say you beat the stars to the trend? Lover Aupen Lover ($260) SHOP The second bag on this list to have a name that coincides with a Taylor Swift album (go figure), Lover is roomier than most Aupen bags and features a subtly sensual top opening that looks a bit like a pair of lips. Paired with its neutral hues and adjustable shoulder-to-crossbody strap, this is an ideal day-to-night bag that feels equally appropriate in the boardroom as at a romantic dinner. Purpose Ice Aupen Purpose Ice ($340) SHOP Another take on Aupen's most iconic silhouette so far, the Purpose Ice has major party potential with its crystal fringe and bedazzled exterior. We're already imagining all the luxe coats we could pair it with for all our winter night-out needs, but the versatile statement bag is primed to complement looks year-round. Precious Aupen Precious ($120) SHOP If mini bags are more your speed or you prefer something more symmetrical, this one's for you. Precious features structured sides and an embossed finish (or not, depending on your preference), and if it looks sort of like a makeup bag to you, it can absolutely serve that purpose as it comes with a pocket mirror on the inside lid. Take it with you on a busy evening with your lipstick, phone, and other essentials in tow, and you certainly won't be disappointed. Up Next: Ree Projects Is The Handbag Brand Youre About to See Everywhere Read the original article on Byrdie. Woman sitting up in bed blowing her nose. she's surrounded by used tissues and a cup of tea can be seen on a bedside table beside her. The common cold can leave you with a stuffy nose, sore throat and phlegmy cough, but along with these main symptoms, you may also struggle to hear properly. So why does your sense of hearing falter when you have a cold or another respiratory infection? The answer lies in the Eustachian tube, a narrow canal that connects your ear with the back of your nose, Dr. John Fornadley , a Pennsylvania-based ear, nose and throat specialist and a clinical associate professor of surgery at Penn State, told Live Science by email. The hollow Eustachian tube is typically closed, but it opens when we swallow or yawn, according to Stanford Medicine . It helps to drain excess mucus made by the lining of the middle ear into the nose and throat, and it's also critical to our sense of hearing. Related: How long do cold symptoms last? Labeled diagram of the structures of the external and internal ear; the Eustachian tube can be seen on the far right, extending at a slant from the middle ear "Our eardrums vibrate in response to sound, and they transmit this vibration to the inner ear," Fornadley said. "To do this effectively, the eardrum, like the musical instrument drum, requires air behind the drum to have the same air pressure as air on the outside of the eardrum for normal vibration." The Eustachian tube connects the space behind the eardrum, known as the middle ear, to the nose in order to equalize the air pressure in the middle ear with that of the outside world, he explained. When there is a significant difference in air pressure, the Eustachian tube opens rapidly this is the sensation often referred to as "popping" the ears. And if the tube doesn't pop open on its own, you can force it to by pinching your nose and then blowing air into the ear. "We are more aware of the ears popping when traveling by air, or going up a mountain quickly in a vehicle," Fornadley said. "The process of opening the Eustachian tube remains important, just more subtle, when living at sea level." When cold or other respiratory viruses infect you, they trigger an immune response. To combat the infection, the nose and sinuses rapidly increase their production of mucus and swell as the tissues become inflamed , creating the sensation of a stuffy nose. This extra fluid can then spread to the ear through the Eustachian tube and blunt the vibration of the eardrum as a result. Related: How does water get stuck in your ear and how do you get it out? "For this reason, nasal congestion will temporarily decrease hearing," Fornadley said. In addition, the resulting buildup of mucus in the Eustachian tube can sometimes cause a middle-ear infection, worsening the hearing problems. This common complication of colds is particularly prevalent in babies and toddlers. An estimated 5 in 6 children will get at least one ear infection by their third birthday, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders . Compared with those of adults, children's Eustachian tubes are smaller and more horizontal, rather than set on a steep angle, making it more difficult for them to drain fluids out of the ear. RELATED STORIES Can you get two colds at once? Leading ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants doesn't work, FDA panel rules Do humidifiers help with congestion? Middle-ear infections can temporarily decrease the perceived volume of sounds by up to 40 decibels, producing a similar sensation to wearing a pair of ear plugs, according to a 2022 review published in the journal Cureus . Recurring or untreated infections of the middle ear can eventually cause a perforation of the eardrum and, in the most severe cases, permanent hearing loss, the review notes. But thankfully, the mild hearing loss that people experience during a cold usually goes away on its own once the illness resolves. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice. Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. They transition from trail to gravel effortlessly, and they're so dang comfortable. Travel + Leisure / Reese Herrington This past summer, I had the chance to travel to Chamonix France for the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB) sporting event. If you are a trail runner or even just follow the sport from the comfort of your living room you know that the UTMB is a grueling 100-mile race that many passionate runners consider to be the Super Bowl of trail running. And let me tell you, just being in Chamonix surrounded by almost 11,000 ultra-athletes was an incredible experience. While I was there, I was also able to run some sections of the UTMB course with Run the Alps, an outfitter that guides runners of all experience levels along various trails in the mountains. My footwear of choice for this epic Alps run? The Hoka Stinson 7 Running Shoes, of course. Hoka Stinson 7 Running Shoes Zappos $170 Buy on Zappos After spending a week in these shoes, both on and off the trails, I think I have found my new favorite, all-outdoor-activity footwear. A few things really stood out right off the bat (or box in this case), starting with their stack height. The Hoka Stinson 7s have 42-millimeter heels and their soles gradually drop down to 37 millimeters towards the front for high-level cushioning. If you are fairly new to trail running, the lofty elevation will help protect your feet from all of the rocks and debris on the trail while also guaranteeing a more forgiving landing with less impact and strain. I almost felt like I was floating a few inches above the ground while running, and I wasn't really worried about what I was stepping on a feeling that I appreciated on some of the steeper sections of the trail. The high walls also kept trail debris from entering my shoes and helped create a smoother transition from trail to gravel, in my opinion. Travel + Leisure / Karthika Gupta Coupled with multidirectional 4-millimeter lugs that offer increased traction and grip, the Hoka Stinson 7 Running Shoes offer impressive stability. They also have deep active foot frames that are designed with wraparound sidewalls, which help keep you centered as you run up and down inclines like the ones in UTMB. As if these weren't enough to win me over, the sticky rubber outsoles also boost their tread, even if the path is a little wet or muddy. The uppers have a jacquard mesh fabric, which adds breathable comfort to keep your feet dry no matter the temperature outside. As a trail runner who regularly reviews outdoor footwear, I noticed two differences in the Hoka Stinson 7s compared to some other trail running shoes: the moderately stiff heel counters and the durable toe caps. I quite enjoyed the extra cushioning on the heel collars thanks to the sneakers' rounded shape. It was almost a relief knowing that my heels were just as protected as the rest of my foot against any accidental bumps and kicks on the trail. And the toe caps nicely padded the front of my feet just as securely against any stubs on small rocks or boulders. Hoka Stinson 7 Running Shoes Zappos $170 Buy on Zappos From the moment I put on the Hoka Stinson 7 Shoes, I knew that I was in good hands and they even gave me more confidence on the trek. When our guides Marion Giraud and Giles Ruck suggested not to constantly look down at your feet while going downhill on a technical park of the trail, I was a bit skeptical and unsure of how to navigate the run without vigilantly scanning for rocks. But once I learned to trust the shoes (and their high stacks and multidirectional lugs), I was much more comfortable in doing just that and was able to enjoy the scenery around it's not every day that you get to play outside against the backdrop of the majestic Alps. Travel + Leisure / Nick Cusseneers And I know that I am not the only one who loves running with these shoes. Many Zappos customers agreed that the Hoka Stinson 7s performed exceptionally well on different terrains. One reviewer said they offered instant comfort" and did not take any time at all to break in." They also added, "These are perfect for on and off-road walking and trails. Another shopper commented on the versatility of these shoes: I have to run a few miles to my closest trailhead and it's so nice to know I'm covered on all terrain. It performs incredibly well on both I was always pleasantly surprised when switching. As a pretty bad overpronator, I feel like the Stinson was made for me. Related: Ive Tested Hundreds of REI Products, and These Are the 16 I Recommend to Any Hiker or Camper And, if you plan on using your shoes for extended periods of time, then you will appreciate the comfort of the Hoka Stinson 7s, just like this third reviewer did. They called the sneakers a very constructive, comfortable, all-terrain shoe that takes the load off your back, knees for 16 hours or more. Hoka calls the Stinson 7s the Swiss Army knife of trail shoes" and after logging many miles with them, both in Chamonix and back home in Chicago, it really did feel like an appropriate nickname for the running shoes. While they might not be the lightest trail running shoes out there, they bring a lot of versatility to the table. So if you are going to do a mix of walking and running on gravel and trails and only want one shoe for all these activities. then the Hoka Stinson 7 Running Shoes are perfect for all-day comfort. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. Travel + Leisure / Karthika Gupta If the price point is holding you back, then check out these other top-rated options for more affordable running shoes. More Trail Running Shoes at Amazon: Saucony Women's Peregrine 12 Trail Running Shoes Amazon $70 Buy on Amazon Altra Women's Superior 5 Trail Running Shoes Amazon $130 $65 Buy on Amazon Asics Women's Gel-Kayano 29 Running Shoes Amazon $160 $95 Buy on Amazon Brooks Women's Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Amazon $130 $77 Buy on Amazon Salomon Women's Outpulse Gore-Tex Trail Running Shoes Amazon $135 $95 Buy on Amazon At the time of publishing, the price started at $170. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. A group of international pharmaceutical and genetics companies announced Wednesday they will invest $80 million to create a scholarship and major genetics research program at Meharry Medical College to address the severe shortage of minorities involved in medical science. The New York-based Regeneron Genetics Center, United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk and Switzerland-based Roche are launching an initiative called "Together for CHANGE" (Changing Healthcare for People of African Ancestry through InterNational Genomics & Equity) to address such inequities. Their investment at Meharry will include the creation of a genetics research center The Diaspora Human Genomics Institute and new educational programs to encourage Nashville-area students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (so-called STEM subjects). Meharry Medical College President Dr. James Hildreth This is not merely about minority representation in the fields. Research shows that minorities are under-represented in clinical drug trials, a fact that may affect the efficacy of certain pharmaceuticals and limit the development of new drugs. Meharry Medical College, a historically Black college, was the first medical school that accepted African Americans in the South. "This initiative and this institute are historic, both in their intent and their ambition to right past and present wrongs in Black health and to deliver better health outcomes and better lives," Dr. James Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry Medical College, told an audience of dozens on Wednesday. Encouraging students to study science The companies are spending $30 million to fund a K-12 program to encourage children to pursue STEM fields. The initiative will also fund internships for students at historically Black colleges and universities in the area, such as Meharry. A staffer at the newly created institute, which will be independent of Meharry but will collaborate with it, will oversee the program, Hildreth said. "Currently, in the STEM fields only 5 or 6 percent of the people who do that work are from minority backgrounds," Hildreth said. "To a large extent, it's true that people tend to work on those problems that are more germane to themselves, their families or their communities. And because we don't have a lot of (minorities) in those STEM fields there are decisions being made and research projects being chosen, research questions being studied that are relevant to all of us but not necessarily relevant to minority communities in eliminating health disparities." Lyndon Mitnaul, a senior director in the Regeneron Genetics Center at Regeneron, said he benefited from federally funded minority-related academic programs, including the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, that allowed him to go to college, get internships and develop a successful career. He said this new program at Meharry fostering internships will be invaluable to minority students seeking to work in STEM fields. They expose students to important research and help students cultivate mentors and other professional relationships, Mitnaul said. Regeneron on Wednesday also announced a separate $5 million grant to bolster STEM education in Nashville. "These students will be able to build those critical professional relationships that can change their lives like it did for me," he said. A new $50 million genetics center The remaining $50 million will fund The Diaspora Human Genomics Institute. The center is seeking at least 500,000 samples of genetic materials from minority volunteers that will be added to a larger genetic database. Identifiable information on the donors will be kept locally, in case testing determines the donor has a medical condition that needs to be treated. The institute will also pay for any such needed medical treatment, Hildreth said. The identity of donors will be stripped from samples that are sent to larger genetic databases, he added. The institute will also establish an ethics committee that includes members of the local Black community to create policies to help ensure the security of the data, Hildreth said. Researchers say it's important to enjoy increased minority representation in genetic sampling because only 2% of genetic information studied today includes people of African descent. That leaves out a lot of potential genetic diversity that can be studied and used to develop new drugs, they say. "It's been widely known, the vast majority of (studied) genetics information in the world comes from people of European descent, said George Yancopoulos, president and chief scientific officer for Regeneron. "That causes two problems. One is, the lack of diversity hinders the science. Two is, these people who are not represented represent a huge disproportionate issue in terms of their health care burden. That is, they historically have much poorer health care outcomes. So, we have less information about the people who are suffering more." Frank Gluck is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at fgluck@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FrankGluck. Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest political news, plus newsletters, a personalized mobile experience, and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's daily sites. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meharry and Big Pharma announce $80 million deal for genetics project 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. ST. LOUIS (KTVI) The Humane Society of Missouri recently rescued 43 hungry dogs and retrieved the bodies of nine dead dogs from a property in Douglas County, Missouri. These dogs are Shiba Inus of varying ages and health conditions, and they are currently receiving emergency medical care and health assessments. The dogs came from a property where the owner was a commercial breeder. Those still alive were found to be starving and suffering from various injuries and health issues. The Douglas County Sheriff issued an order to remove the dogs from the property and temporarily place them under the care of HSMO, leading to their rescue. These are the scariest non-horror movies, according to Reddit A formal custody hearing will be conducted at the Douglas County Court in Ava, Missouri, on Nov. 9. HSMOs Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) responded to the situation after the Douglas County Sheriffs Department intervened. Shortly after, at least one of the dogs captured on Oct. 16 died, and ACT was able to recover its remains along with those of eight other dogs. An on-site veterinarian from the Missouri Department of Agriculture joined the ACT team to assess the dogs health before they were transported to HSMO offices. At the Nov. 9 hearing, HSMO will seek custody of the dogs. Once in their custody, the dogs will be prepared for adoption after receiving a clean bill of health from the veterinarians and assessments from the animal behavior team. CVS is pulling these common cold medicines from its shelves You can visit the HSMO website at hsmo.org/rescue to make a donation to support the care of these animals. HSMO is also asking for donations of blankets, newspapers, dog toys, dog beds, or any items that can facilitate the dogs recovery. For updates on when these dogs will become available for adoption, please check the HSMO website at hsmo.org/adopt. There is currently no set date for their readiness to find forever homes. If you encounter an animal in danger or suffering from neglect or abuse, please report it to the authorities or contact the Humane Society of Missouris Animal Cruelty Hotline at (314) 647-4400. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. (The Hill) 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 added. The warning comes as 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 that 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 cell phones 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com HOLDEN An electricity project in Holden touted to supply green energy and create millions of dollars in cost savings for customers has the potential to be replicated in Worcester and throughout New England, according to some industry experts. The battery storage project will likely look like a row of shipping containers connected to Holden's rebuilt Chaffins substation, and it's expected to save more than $10 million in energy costs over the 20-year life of the project. Holden owns its electricity system through the Holden Municipal Light Department, and the battery project introduces the question of whether Worcester should control its own electricity utility or continue to have its power supplied by National Grid, the citys sole electricity supplier. The city declined a request to interview City Manager Eric Batista and Chief Sustainability Officer John Odell for this story, because a city spokesman said Worcester doesnt own its electricity system and isn't considering a change at this time. Holden Light Department General Manager Barry Tupper at the refurbished Chaffins substation. What is going on in Holden? Holden is where Virginia-based Delorean Power LLC is building its first battery storage unit in Massachusetts, and the work is expected to wrap up next October. The goal is big reductions in electricity bills for Holden residents and businesses while delivering more energy-efficient power that benefits the environment. Cost savings in Holden, a town of roughly 20,000 that owns and operates its electric utility, are expected to: Top $10 million over the 20-year life of the project, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. The $10 million figure will likely run higher, said Rory Jones, Deloreans managing partner and co-founder. Holden Light Department refurbished Chaffins substation. Jones declined to disclose how much it will cost Delorean to build the battery system that his company will own and manage. Also, Delorean's revenues over the 20 years are based on a percentage split with Holden on the resulting energy savings. Jones declined to share any details on the split. The company won a competitive bid to get an exclusive partnership with the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., which serves 40 municipal utilities in Massachusetts. That means more Delorean battery storage projects in some of the 40 municipal utilities are expected to wrap up construction by the end of next year. "Holden is the first, and we expect to build more over the coming months and years," said Jones. 'Extremely important' Barry Tupper, general manager of the Holden Municipal Light Department, described the battery system as "extremely important." Heres how it works: Delorean pays for, builds and manages the battery storage system. Holden covers the cost of connecting the system to the town's substation. The battery takes in power during off-peak hours when energy costs are lower and power is traditionally less carbon-intensive. Discharge of the power to customers happens during peak-demand hours so customers aren't paying higher rates. Examples of peak periods can be a heat wave or when homeowners collectively fire up their lights and appliances at night. Revenues to Holden and Delorean are calculated by the parties sharing the energy cost savings through a percentage split. Holden Light Department refurbished Chaffins substation. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of Holdens electricity grid, Tupper explained the town buys its energy from a variety of generation sources, including nuclear, hydroelectric power and wind. Getting that electricity to Holden is done through transmission wires owned and operated by National Grid, and Holden pays the investor-owned utility a transmission fee. Expert: Battery storage will work in Worcester Jones believes Deloreans battery storage system will work in Worcester, because his company is developing projects across New England, not just in communities that own and control their electricity. We would be interested in working with Worcester, he said. Benefits to Worcester, according to Jones, would come from the Massachusetts Clean Peak Energy Standard. It provides incentives to clean energy technologies that can supply electricity or reduce demand during seasonal peak demand periods established by the state Department of Energy Resources. As a result, ratepayers in Worcester would save money, said Jones. There is also a scenario where National Grid could supply Worcester with battery storage, said Amy Boyd Rabin, vice president of policy at the Environmental League of Massachusetts. The result would be less transmission expenses for the utility. "You could theoretically bring cheaper power and have savings for everyone involved," including for Worcester and National Grid, said Rabin. Why doesn't Worcester follow Holden's lead? If Worcester could take advantage of battery storage savings, some questions arise: Why doesnt Worcester operate like Holden and own its electric utility? Why not save customers money and use greener energy? Rabin called such a possibility incredibly complex and vastly unlikely politically for two reasons. One is the massive cost for Worcester to buy National Grids delivery system that includes utility poles, wires and underground infrastructure. The second is the likelihood of lawsuits from National Grid, even if a contract was signed by the parties for transfer of grid control. Lawsuits could come from multiple fronts, said Rabin, including who controls maintenance and operation of a Worcester-owned electric system. Would it be Worcester or subcontracted back to National Grid? Simply put, the cost savings for Worcester would be uncertain, while the expense of doing it would be fairly high, said Rabin. She believes it would take a statewide ballot question like the one next month in Maine for Worcester to potentially become the master of its electric utility. Maine voters head to the polls Nov. 7 to decide if a nonprofit, consumer-owned utility called Pine Tree Power will replace Central Maine Power, the states largest utility. If voters transfer control to Pine Tree Power, Rabin said it would take a thumbs-up vote for a similar ballot question in Massachusetts for Worcester to negotiate the purchase of National Grids assets so the city can control its electricity. Even if Massachusetts voters took control away from utilities like National Grid, the result would likely be challenged in court on the grounds that the state cant seize a utilitys property, said Rabin. Good and bad for National Grid Rabin said battery storage systems like Deloreans could hurt and help National Grids financial bottom line. She explained National Grid receives a lower transmission fee when a battery is charging because it cost less to transmit power during off-peak hours. Meanwhile, National Grid will save money because it's cheaper to deliver power during off-peak hours. If all towns (owned their municipal electricity operations), then National Grid would not have to build extra transmission towers and have extra contracts for super-peak days in the summer. There are savings for National Grid, too," said Rabin. National Grid said in a email that new technologies like battery storage must be part of the equation for Massachusetts to reach its electrification goals and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The utility said it has interconnected power from batteries, expects to do more in the future, and noted that battery storage defers or avoids transmission investments and helps customers save money on bills. Meanwhile, National Grid believes it must manage "distributed energy resources," including batteries, into the grid. If that doesn't happen, customers will face increased costs. "Without direct utility management to integrate these DER facilities into the grid, utilities confront managing unpredictable DER activity, and DER customers are left with grid expansion costs to accommodate all operating conditions," said an email from the utility. "National Grid is actively investing in data capabilities and control system centralization and developing flexible connections solutions to improve the ability to operate and manage the network." Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Holden launched battery storage project to save costs for customers After nearly 12 years of employment with the city, Colorado Springs' Chief Human Resources and Risk Officer Mike Sullivan announced Friday he is retiring. His last day with the city is Nov. 15. Prior to his hiring in February 2012 by former Mayor Steve Bach, Sullivan served in various human resource and leadership roles, including 34 years in the defense industry at Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, city officials said in a Friday news release. Sullivan said in the release he was "honored and privileged" to have served his role with Colorado Springs. "This was a time of significant change in terms of both fiscal challenges and the form of governance for our municipal entity. We have accomplished much as a team, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have served Colorado Springs," he 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 Yemi Mobolade highlighted Sullivan's "compassionate leadership," including on various organizational changes he said "positively impacted the work culture for city employees." "As a service organization whose primary asset is our employees, his contributions have impacted the broader community of Colorado Springs. We wish Mike the very best in his retirement," the mayor said. Sullivan also serves as a board member for Community Partnership for Child Development. He previously served on the boards of Pikes Peak United Way and TESSA. Colorado Springs' Risk Division Manager Myra Romero will fill Sullivan's role while the city begins a national search for a new chief human resources and risk officer, officials said. 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. Almost every vessel 65 feet in length or greater sped in the zones meant to protect the critical endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, an international ocean conservation group found after studying three years worth of vessel tracking data. There are 10 seasonal management zones, mostly located near the entrance of the busy East Coast ports, where vessels 65 feet or greater must obey a 10-knot speed limit. The zones were established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2008. The zones are in effect during the known times of year the North Atlantic Right Whale migrates through an area. Off the New Jersey coast, that is Nov. 1 to April 30. The nonprofit Oceana, which released its findings Thursday, found that vessels are not always obeying the speed limit, and in once case, one vessel blew through at 37 knots It tracked 99,992 trips made by 8,690 vessels through the zones between 2020 and 2022 using tracking data from the Automatic Identification System, or AIS which it collects through its own app called Ship Speed Watch. Of those vessels, 84%, or roughly 7,300 of them, sped at least once while transiting the zones. Forty percent of the vessels were cargo ships, making them the worst offenders of the speed zones. Whale death: Minke whale dies after twice stranding in Barnegat Bay, despite rescue efforts The most violators 85% of them were found to be those vessels accessing the ports of New York/New Jersey and Delaware Bay. "We continue to have a lot of big boats speeding through important areas for North Atlantic Right Whales. One of the primary threats to the continuation of the species is being struck by boats. We are concerned that the protections in place right now are not enough to allow the species to one stop declining and recover," Gib Brogan, a fisheries campaign director for Oceana, told the Asbury Park Press. NOAA is proposing to increase the size of the lower-speed zones to stretch from the coast out to 100 miles, and include boats down to 35 feet. Oceana is urging NOAA to adopt the rules. Boat 10-knot speed limit? NOAA says it saves right whales, critics say it kills industry Boaters are asked to voluntarily slow their speed in zones marked in yellow, in order to protect right whales. Vessels 65 feet or longer are required to slow to 10 knots or less in zones marked in red. They are currently fewer than 350 North Atlantic Right Whales left in the ocean. In the last seven years, 36 were killed, with 21 of those deaths caused by vessel strike or entanglement in fishing gear. NOAA said the deaths are a signicant setback to the recovery of this endangered species, which was hunted to near extinction by whalers. There was once an estimated 9,000 to 21,000 North Atlantic Right Whales. But due to their proximity to the coast and slow speeds they were an easy target for whalers. Roughly only 100 remained at the start of the 20th century. Hunting bans were first begun in 1935, but the whale has been slow to rebound. It reached a peak population of 483 in 2010. In 2017, NOAA declared an Unusual Mortality Event for right whales due to an increase in strandings. Along with the 36 reported dead, another 85 were observed with serious injuries or illnesses. A big part of the issue is an alleged lack of enforcement in the special management zones. The fines, if they're handed out at all, are a "slap on the wrist," said Brogan of Oceana, and often worth the ticket to cargo ships racing to get to port in time or face even heavier fines for being late. "The zones need to be effectively enforced. We need the fisheries service (National Marine Fisheries Service) to put more resources into this and cooperate with the Coast Guard and the state agencies," Brogan said, adding that it will take near 100% compliance to provide the necessary protection for the right whales. The Asbury Park Press has inquired to NOAA about the number of vessels that have been fined. NOAA did not provide that information, but the federal agency said compliance with the rules has increased from 50% in 2008 and 2009 to 80% between last year and this year. Oceana's figures did not include data from 2023. NOAA and its partners monitor vessel speed using AIS. Most commercial vessels are required by the U.S. Coast Guard to have AIS on board. The technology is often used to find the location of a boat in distress, but also to track who is coming into port and when. A North Atlantic right whale with prop scars NOAA's proposed stricter seasonal management zones have not gone over well with the for-hire fishing industry, made of charter and party boats who are already grappling with having to give up some aquatic turf to the wind turbines, and would have to reduce their speed, thus limiting what fishing grounds they could reach during a scheduled fishing trip. Wind power fight: Federal agency says no evidence offshore wind activity responsible for whale deaths Furthermore, many of the smaller boats have planing hulls which are designed to rise up and glide on top of the water. However, that requires them to go faster than 10 knots. Fishing captains say they are cautious to avoid whales without the need for stricter speed rules. The last thing we want to do is a hit a whale. We want them in the water, theyre a sign of a healthy environment, Capt. Bob Bogan, owner of the Gambler party boat in Point Pleasant Beach, previously told the Asbury Park Press. Those potential wind turbines have become more controversial as critics have argued seafloor mapping was responsible for several whale deaths along the Jersey Shore earlier this year. However, NOAA has said there is no evidence the offshore wind activity is to blame for the deaths. When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Oceana: Right whales in danger of getting run over by speeding ships 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 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 CENTERVILLE, Ind. Centerville-Abington Community Schools found itself in elite company at Wednesday night's school board meeting. On Oct. 18, Dr. Jennifer Horvath, the regional director for Cognia (formerly NCA Accreditation) presented a plaque to the board recognizing it as a Cognia School System of Distinction, a highly coveted and competitive award for countries across the world. CACS became one of just eight school districts that were selected, with 25 schools also being selected for a total of 33, out of 1,100 that were considered worldwide. At the Oct. 18 school board meeting, Centerville-Abington Community Schools was awarded a plaque that recognized it as a Cognia School System of Distinction, one of 25 schools and eight districts in the world out of 1,100 that were considered. Pictured from left to right are Superintendent Dr. Mike McCoy, Vice President of the Board Brad Lambright, Regional Director for Cognia Accreditation Agency Dr. Jennifer Horvath, Educational Consultant for Centerville-Abington Schools Dr. Vicki DeMao, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board Renee Westover, Board President Todd Duke and Board member Todd Dooley. "When I received a phone call internally that we had in Indiana a few organizations that had received this, I knew you were at the top of my list," Horvath told the board. "That who you are and that was very evident when we were here as a review team." Horvath was impressed by the transparency and consistency of performance that CACS performed at back when the review team visited the schools from Feb. 20-Feb. 23. "Thinking back through the years and even the previous superintendents, there's no secret to what they do," she said. "You don't have some sort of hidden magic want that Mike [McCoy] walks around the district and swings around. You have so many consistent practices, a strong vision and mission." She continued, "So many schools I go to, they'll try to impose high expectations for students. Maybe this is a secret, but you all set high expectations for staff and staff impose those high expectations on themselves ... To say you look at what's best for students, that's part of it, but you look for that sustainability and those consistent protocols and processes, and you just don't stop there. You keep going and you monitor those outcomes and you continue to tweak that." Dr. Jennifer Horvath, regional director for Cognia (formerly NCA Accreditation), presents a plaque to Centerville-Abington Community Schools Board President Todd Duke at the school board meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Two others from Indiana were awarded: Duneland School Corporation based in Chesterton and Penn High School in Mishawaka. 25 from the United States were selected, with an additional four from Saudi Arabia, two from Egypt and one each from China and Mexico. Cognia serves 40,000 institutions across 90 countries and all 50 states. The following is the complete press release from CACS on Oct. 1 when the district first received notice of its accreditation: Cognia, a world-wide accreditation agency, including North Central Association (NCA) Accreditation Commission, names Centerville-Abington Community Schools a 2023 Cognia System of Distinction for excellence in education. This year Cognia recognized 33 schools and school systems in the United States and in four other countries across the globe as 2023 Cognia Schools or Systems of Distinction. I am pleased to congratulate Centerville-Abington Community Schools (CACS) for their designation as a 2023 Cognia System of Distinction, a program which recognizes public and non-public institutions that exemplify excellence in education and service to learners, said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. The accrediting agency selected CACS as one of the 25 schools and eight systems out of more than 1,100 eligible institutions that hosted a Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review during the 2022-2023 school year. Cognia serves approximately 40,000 institutions across 90 countries, including all 50 states. It is truly an honor to receive such a prestigious award from an organization known around the world for its rigorous and detail-oriented accreditation process. A lot of hard work and dedication went into the preparation for the visit and it is great to know that others can see what we know we are proudly accomplishing at CACS, said Dr. Mike McCoy, superintendent, Centerville-Abington Community Schools. Centerville-Abington Community Schools first earned Cognia Accreditation in1968 at Centerville High School and in 2007 the entire school district of all four school received District accreditation. The latest distinction was awarded in February, 2023 during an on-site review for reaccreditation by a professor from Eastern Kentucky University and a Regional Director from Cognia. During the 2022-2023 school year, all four Centerville schools participated in Cognias rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process, which is grounded in research-based performance standards. The process includes a third-party review of evidence by education experts, interviews, and classroom observations over a four-day period. The review evaluates institutions and seeks evidence of growth in learning, a healthy culture for learning, engaging and high-quality instructional environments, and effective leadership for learningall characteristics Cognia expects to see in quality schools that also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement. Centerville-Abington Community School District is to be commended for earning the designation as a System of Distinction, said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. Cognia Accreditation is already a mark of school quality recognized around the world. Being named a School or System of Distinction further acknowledges the demonstrated commitment to education quality and a mindset of continuous improvement CACS has for its learners, Elgart added. Cognias Global Network member institutions offer an opportunity to earn designation as a school or system of distinction in the year in which an accreditation engagement review is held. Unlike the typical six-year accreditation cycle, this program recognizes institutions that host a Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review within the recognition year and winners carry the designation for one year. Learn more about Cognia Accreditation at Cognia.org. The full report on the accreditation engagement review can be found here and a summary of it can be found here. Also at the meeting was unanimous approval by the board on several new policies to either replace old ones or to be put in place, the signing of the 2023-24 CACS Teacher Contract by secretary Renee Westover, vice president Brad Lambright, board member Todd Dolley, Centerville Education Association president Brad Ream and chief negotiator of CEA Damon Anderson and a discussion on several building projects. Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him at 260-564-0196 or email at eweaver@richmond.gannett.com or eweaver@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Centerville-Abington Schools one of 33 in world to receive Cognia School System of Distinction 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. 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. 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. ___ Energy could be the spark the EUs democratic future needs We risk an extension of the anti-EU, populist fog polluting the eastern European member states. The nucleus of this cloud remains, of course, the regime of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. But recent developments in Hungarys neighbouring countries show that we should be very wary of exceptionalism. The Slovakian election put the pro-Russian SMER in the drivers seat of their new government, and the Polish PiS party although not entirely successfully firmly pulled the EU-is-the-villain card in its bets to secure continuation in power. It is of course not just the east. In most EU member states, extreme right and populist parties have been creeping closer to power. In some, most recently Italy, that move crescendoed into delivering the head of state. In the run-up to June 2024, when Europeans will cast their votes, EU actors must go full speed ahead attempting to nip this trend in the bud and swing back the pendulum. The clock is ticking. Fresh European energy is needed One critical channel to (re)build and maintain sustainable democracies that would be able to resist populism is the European Energy Project. It is with energy that we light our streets, universities, and hospitals; that we produce and fuel our means of transport; and that we simply power our stoves with to eat, our tablets to work, and our lamps to read, talk or unwind. The way the EU designs energy policy also has far-reaching consequences on its energy security and security more broadly, on its democracy, environmental sustainability, and social justice. In fact, the whole European project is rooted in energy policy, starting with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community. Now, in high need of a fresh European breath, energy again can emerge as the foundation for the EUs future. Energy policy in the EU ... is often guided by the energy trilemma: equity, energy security, and sustainability. The current EU mandates track record on these dimensions is a mixed and at the same time very full bag. European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson speaks during a press conference in Beijing, October 2023 - AP Photo/Ng Han Guan Energy policy in the EU and internationally is often guided by the energy trilemma: equity, energy security, and sustainability. The current EU mandates track record on these dimensions is a mixed and at the same time very full bag. On the sustainability dimension, we of course have seen the European Climate Law, the Green Deal and Fit for 55. On energy security, we had the REPowerEU-response to the effects of Putins war in Ukraine. On the equity dimension, finally, there was the further development of the Just Transition Mechanism, the Social Climate Fund and some EU guidance on Member States policies to shield households from bearing the brunt of the energy crisis. Involving citizens, a solution to existing obstacles This overview clearly exposes the two main obstacles for the EU Energy Project to become a lever of EU cohesion and well-being in the member states. Firstly, the three dimensions are managed and deployed separately, resulting frequently in unexpected and undesirable effects on the other two dimensions. The design of the Green Deal package, for example, is essential for sustainability but left quite some gaps in the equity dimension of energy. It didnt propose a fully-fledged script to put people including the most vulnerable ones central to the green transition and thereby kept the doors to social backlash open. Citizen involvement in energy planning and decision-making can turn consumers depending strongly on big energy corporations into prosumers with access to data and knowledge, granting them much higher levels of autonomy. People carrying EU flags in Birmingham, September 2018 - AP Photo/Rui Vieira Secondly, the link between the EU energy project and democracy is completely underlit. Energy policy carries enormous potential to strengthen the participation and ownership of citizens in the EU and member states political processes. Citizen involvement in energy planning and decision-making can turn consumers depending strongly on big energy corporations into prosumers with access to data and knowledge, granting them much higher levels of autonomy. It gives them ownership over their energy, strengthens their negotiating positions and ultimately the resilience and well-being of European societies. Most EU governments have missed this link. Citizen consultation processes in both the National Energy and Climate Plans and the Just Transition Plans havent been conducted properly, with studies showing poor information flows to local communities, as well as insufficient time for citizens to engage if they were informed of that possibility. A convincing energy plan could take the wind out of populists' sails This fragmentation of the different energy trilemma pillars, as well as the energy-democracy blind spot, are in themselves problematic. But in the face of (geo)political turmoil, fluctuating energy costs and a general cost-of-living crisis, they become bread and butter to populists. If it addresses these stumbling blocks however, the EU can create a huge opportunity to turn its energy project from an arena for divisive politics to a common European flagship that strengthens the cohesion and resilience of the EU both within and among its member states. If they want to take the wind out of the sails of their populist competitors, democratic parties will have to be very clear on their offer in the upcoming European electoral campaign. Supporters of right-wing populist Fratelli d'Italia attend a rally in central Rome, September 2022 - AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia This approach must not remain a solely theoretical proposal to inform narratives and politics but has to find its way into practice. The easiest way to kickstart this process is to adopt what we have called a "Four Dimensions of Energy Check" to policymaking, as discussed at last weeks Budapest Forum on Building Sustainable Democracies, which gathered EU and CEE decision-makers and experts. Such a check should be applied to new energy proposals and used to evaluate the current policy framework. It should prevent new and adapt existing measures that neglect or even harm one or more of the four dimensions. If they want to take the wind out of the sails of their populist competitors, democratic parties will have to be very clear on their offer in the upcoming European electoral campaign. They can do so by proposing a future European energy project that convinces citizens. The Four Dimensions of Energy Check, tackling the current energy blind spots, can be their starting point. Benedek Javor serves as Head of the Representation of Budapest to the European Union, and Taube Van Melkebeke is Policy Manager at the Green European Foundation (GEF). At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation. A South Carolina appeals court has granted Alex Murdaugh the ability to ask a trial judge to dismiss his murder convictions and life sentence in exchange for a retrial on the grounds of alleged jury tampering. On Tuesday, the South Carolina Court of Appeals granted Murdaugh's petition to request a new murder trial from a lower court over accusations that a court clerk influenced the jury in the high-profile trial over the murders of the disgraced legal scions wife and son, the Associated Press reported. RELATED: What Were Some of the Key Pieces of Evidence at the Alex Murdaugh Crime Scene? Expert Witness Weighs In Why is Alex Murdaugh requesting a new murder trial? Murdaughs lawyers had previously accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of sowing mistrust of Murdaugh amongst jurors, forcing jurors to come to a verdict quickly, and having private exchanges with the jury foreperson. "After careful consideration, we grant Appellant's motion," the courts decision said, Fox News reported. RELATED: "I Want to Take Responsibility": Alex Murdaugh Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Fraud and Money Laundering Its unclear if the petition will produce a full-fledged trial hearing, which with it, could bring possible testimony from Hill, as well as jurors, and Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the case. Newman is expected to rule on the case at a later date. Alex Murdaugh Arrives In Court smiling wearing an orange jumpsuit Alex Murdaugh arrives in court in Beaufort, S.C. Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. Murdaugh appeared publicly as a convicted murderer for the first time at the state court hearing regarding the slew of financial crimes allegedly committed by the disbarred South Carolina attorney. Photo: James Pollard/AP In September, Murdaughs lawyers accused Hill of pressuring the jury and the cases foreperson during the course of the six-week trial. RELATED: Alex Murdaugh's Lawyers Request New Trial, Accusing Court Clerk of Tampering with the Jury She asked jurors about their opinions about Mr. Murdaughs guilt or innocence, defense attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian said in court filings. She instructed them not to believe evidence presented in Mr. Murdaughs defense, including his own testimony. She lied to the judge to remove a juror she believed might not vote guilty. And she pressured jurors to reach a guilty verdict quickly so she could profit from it. Alex Murdaugh's Lawyers Say Rebecca Hill Benefited From Murder Trial Muurdaughs attorneys allege Hill influenced jurors in order to gain fame through media interviews and a book deal. Earlier this year, Hill released her self-published memoir, Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders. Hill was also interviewed in Fox Nation's documentary series The Fall of the House of Murdaugh. "Ms. Hill did these things to secure for herself a book deal and media appearances that would not happen in the event of a mistrial," Griffin and Harpootlian added in last months petition. "Ms. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame." Alex Murdaugh stands in the courtroom Alex Murdaugh stands in the courtroom at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Thursday, March 2, 2023. Photo: Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool In a sworn statement, one juror described feeling pressure to find Murdaugh guilty and also accused Hill of pushing jurors to speak with reporters shed become chummy with. I had questions about Mr. Murdaughs guilt but voted guilty because I felt pressured by other jurors, Juror 630 said. Murdaughs attorneys celebrated Tuesdays legal ruling. We intend to proceed expeditiously and will seek a full blown evidentiary hearing, they said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. The South Carolina State Attorney General who was in charge of leading prosecutorial efforts in the case declined to comment following the latest ruling in the case. "We will respond through the legal process at the appropriate time," a spokesperson for the office said, per Fox News. Hill denies the allegations. RELATED: Alex Murdaugh's Phone and Tablet Privileges Suspended After Lawyer Records Prison Call for Documentary In March, Murdaugh was found guilty and given two consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility for parole for the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh. Last month, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to a plethora of financial crimes for his role in defrauding millions of dollars from unsuspecting clients during his time as a personal injury lawyer. In total, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 14 counts of money laundering, five counts of wire fraud, and a count each of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said Murdaugh killed his wife and son, in part, to draw attention away from his spiraling financial crimes, as well as to generate sympathy for himself. United States border authorities arrested more than 2 million people who attempted to enter the country unlawfully from Mexico or Canada over the past 12 months, marking the second time ever that that figure has topped the 1986 record of 1.692 million, according to data published Saturday. The historically high 2.06 million in fiscal 2023, which ended Sept. 30, is another blow to the Biden administration after surpassing 2.2 million in 2022, particularly after the administration's claims for more than 30 months that its changes to border and immigration policies would reduce illegal crossings. DEMOCRATS PILE ON DEAN PHILLIPS AS WHISPERS OF BIDEN PRIMARY CHALLENGE SWIRL Of the 2.06 million illegal crossing arrests in 2023, which does not include people who crossed but got away, 624,000 people arrived as part of a family unit; 1.3 million were single adults; and 131,000 were unaccompanied children, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Ninety-nine percent of illegal crossers arrested came across the Mexico border, and the remainder came across the northern border. In total, 3.2 million non-U.S. citizens attempted to enter the country illegally or through means established by the Biden administration, such as being paroled into the country at ports of entry. Of the 3.2 million, 1.1 million came through ports, and 2.06 million entered illegally around the ports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green lambasted the final numbers for 2023. "This fiscal year may have ended, but the historic crisis at our Southwest border sparked by Secretary Mayorkas' policies rages on. These numbers demonstrate beyond a doubt that Secretary Mayorkas' refusal to enforce the law and secure our border is jeopardizing our safety and security," Green said in a statement Saturday afternoon. "We also can't forget about the 1.7 million known gotaways, some of whom may be seeking to cause the same type of devastation we saw in Israel on October 7. Secretary Mayorkas' policies have failed, but he has only doubled down on them. He must be held accountable." Under the Biden administration, the number of arrests in any two given months has been as many people as were arrested in entire years over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2020, arrests in all but one year held between 300,000 and 500,000 per year. In 2019, agents arrested 850,000 in what was considered a crisis year, even by Democrats. Migration throughout the Western Hemisphere surged as a result of economic instability brought on, in part, by the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans have blamed President Joe Biden's walking back a slew of Trump administration policies as sending a message beyond the borders that communicated it would not deport illegal immigrants. In the first year and a half of Biden's tenure, Border Patrol agents nationwide arrested more people who came across the border unlawfully than in President Barack Obama's two terms. The biggest change over the past year was the reversal of the Title 42 pandemic policy. Since March 2020, immigrants who arrived at the southern border were not allowed to seek asylum at land ports of entry. In response, those desperate for help walked around the port and illegally entered. When Title 42 ended in May, Border Patrol agents lost the ability to turn away illegal immigrants immediately, and despite its efforts to impose lawful pathways for non-U.S. citizens to enter the country, the Biden administration was unable to decrease illegal crossings. Republicans have hammered Biden with claims his immigration promises enticed people from around the world to travel to the U.S. Upon taking office, the Biden administration stopped turning away unaccompanied child migrants, attempted to halt deportations for 100 days, and suspended border wall construction. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, the policy director at the American Immigration Council, which opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies as too harsh, said last fall that Border Patrol had gotten better through the years at apprehending a greater percentage of people who cross illegally one reason for the numbers to have increased. 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. But Reichlin-Melnick also said Biden's rhetoric, a softening of tone from Trump's hard-line talk, was seen as a green light in other countries. "Perception matters a lot more than policy. When President Biden took office, people perceived that he would be a more generous president, and that led to more people coming to the border, even though he didn't actually do anything that would cause that," Reichlin-Melnick said. Despite the Biden administration's initiatives to overhaul the immigration system to the extent it can, absent congressional action, it has seen virtually no progress, as evidenced by the rising arrests. To deal with the surge in numbers, the Biden administration has focused its efforts on improving conditions within federal immigration facilities and quickly releasing people. It has opened numerous tent facilities where thousands of immigrants are detained each day as they are processed and either removed from the country or released with a future immigration court date. The more than 1 million people released into the interior is more than the populations of Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle, or Washington, based on 2021 Census Bureau data. The effects of immigrant releases on bus, airline, and other transportation networks in border cities are what prompted Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) to offer free bus rides to cities that immigrants would otherwise have had to pay to fly to. More than 50,000 immigrants have voluntarily boarded Abbott's buses to Chicago, New York City, Washington, and three other cities since spring 2022, a small fraction compared to the more than 2 million total immigrants who have been released into the country since January 2021. In July 2022, House Republicans debuted a plan to regain control of the southern border. The plan pulled from previous initiatives used by the Trump administration and was meant to address the state of the border before conceding to the Democrats' demands to provide solutions for the estimated 11 million people already living in the country illegally. The proposal touted the need for a physical barrier, infrastructure, and technology on the 2,000-mile southern border. Although the Trump administration funded 800 miles of border wall projects, it completed just more than 450 miles, and many replaced rotted pieces of fence. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Republicans planned to bolster staffing levels at Customs and Border Protection, the 60,000-person federal agency tasked with inspecting vehicles and apprehending people attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. Asylum-seekers would be required to remain in Mexico for the duration of their court proceedings; families would not be released into the U.S. after being apprehended but detained together through court proceedings; and unaccompanied children would not be automatically admitted. The House passed the bill in mid-2023, but it has yet to be taken up in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Original Location: CBP reports 2 million arrested for illegally crossing US border in fiscal 2023 Washington Examiner Videos 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 A Michigan nursing student was allegedly abducted and fatally shot by a man family members described as her abusive ex-boyfriend, who later admitted to his parents that he killed her before taking his own life. Gina Bryant, a 25-year-old from Macomb Township, was shot and killed by her ex, Justin Wendling, a 26-year-old doctor from the village of Holly, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday. Wendling was a medical resident at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township, according to The Detroit News. RELATED: Audio of Joran van der Sloot Confessing to Natalee Holloway's Murder Released Bryant left her medical assistant job on October 12 to go home for lunch but never returned, prompting her boss to notify authorities, her sister Angelica Gintner told The Detroit News. "Coworkers became concerned when she did not return to work following her lunch break and they began receiving odd text messages from her phone," the Macomb County Sheriffs Office said of the call that came in for a missing person. Justin Wendling was Waiting at Gina Bryant's Home The sheriff's office added that it was suspected that Bryant was with Wendling. Their investigation "revealed that the suspect had been waiting at the victims home when she returned for lunch," the Macomb County Sheriffs Office stated, adding that "a neighbors surveillance video showed the suspect leading the victim to his vehicle" at around 1:42 p.m. on October 12. The next day, on October 13, Wendling's parents got a phone call from him and told law enforcement officials that their son and the victim were in LaSalle, Illinois, at the time. "The suspect also stated he had killed the victim and was going to kill himself," the sheriff's office stated. RELATED: Suspected 9th Victim of Indiana Serial Killer Who Targeted Gay Men Identified Surveillance video and witnesses at a truck stop in LaSalle "confirmed that the suspect had shot and killed the victim" at around midnight on October 13, authorities said. Wendling then fled to Bettendorf, Iowa, and as police there approached his car, he fatally shot himself, according to law enforcement. An Alleged History of Domestic Violence Bryant's family said that Wendling had been abusing her for months before the murder. The ex-couple began dating a little less than a year ago, her sister Gintner told The Detroit News. Gintner added that Bryant lived with Wendling in Grand Blanc Township until late September. Gintner and Bryant's mom moved her out of the apartment after she revealed to them that Wendling had been abusing her, the grieving sibling said. "She was very beautiful, down-to-earth, giving woman," Gintner told the local newspaper of her younger sister. "She could brighten up a day with just her smile. She'd give you the shirt off your back. She was caring and compassionate." Gabriella Kovalcik, who described Bryant as her "dearest friend whose presence is already deeply missed" in a Facebook post, added that "Gina Bryant was a one of a kind soul with a heart of gold." RELATED: After Indiana Teacher Goes Missing in Puerto Rico, a Body Is Found Floating in River Bryant was studying at the University of Michigan-Flint, where she was enrolled in the school's accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. "Gina was an extraordinary young woman with much ahead of her," Cynthia McCurren, dean of the School of Nursing, wrote in an email sent to faculty and Bryant's colleagues. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office encouraged anyone in an unsafe situation, or who knows someone who is, to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Unfortunately, the MCSO is seeing an uptick of domestic violence cases," Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham stated. "These incidents are tragic not only to the victims & 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. After filing for bankruptcy last week, Rite Aid is expected to shutter more than 150 stores across the U.S. including dozens in Pennsylvania. The company, which operated more than 2,000 stores in 17 states as of early September, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 15. According to documents filed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, Rite Aid will begin part of its restructuring process by closing at least 154 locations in the coming weeks, and more may be on the way. No state is expected to see more stores close in this first wave than Pennsylvania with nearly 40 locations slated to shutter, though none are situated in Centre County. More than 30 stores are expected to close in California, and at least 19 will close in both Michigan and New York. Heres what you need to know about Rite Aids upcoming closures in Pennsylvania and across the country. Which Rite Aid locations will close in Pennsylvania? The following Rite Aid locations in Pennsylvania are expected to close this fall, according to court documents: 2715 Parade St. in Erie 5612 N. Fifth St. in Philadelphia 350 Main St. in Pennsburg 4011 Cottman Ave. in Philadelphia 1441 Old York Road in Abington 300 Market St. in Johnstown 8716 New Falls Road in Levittown 11750 Bustleton Ave. in Philadelphia 169 West Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore 1315 E. Washington Lane in Philadelphia 801 Wyoming Ave., Suite 9 in West Pittston 657 Heacock Road in Yardley 2801 W. Dauphin St. in Philadelphia 1709 Liberty St. in Erie 674 Route 196, Suite 14 in Tobyhanna 2722 W. 9th St. in Chester 950 E. Baltimore Pike in Yeadown 8235 Stenton Ave. in Philadelphia 7941 Oxford Ave. in Philadelphia 136 N. 63rd St. in Philadelphia 5440 Lansdowne Ave. in Philadelphia 208 E. Central Ave. in Titusville 1080 S. West End Blvd. in Quakertown 700 Stevenson Blvd. in New Kensington 351 Brighton Ave. in Rochester 5235 Library Road in Bethel Park 5990 University Blvd., Suite 30 in Moon Township 2501 Saw Mill Run Blvd. in Pittsburgh 5410 Keeport Drive in Pittsburgh 6090 Route 30 in Greensburg 4830 William Penn Highway in Export 1730 Wilmington Road in New Castle 2178 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem 1628 S. Fourth St. in Allentown 2401 E. Venango St. in Philadelphia 6327-43 Torresdale Ave. in Philadelphia 200 W. Ridge Ave., Suite 112 in Conshohocken 301 Eisenhower Drive in Hanover 7036 Wertzville Road in Mechanicsburg Many stores included in Octobers court filings have already closed and received ample notice of the closure, a Rite Aid spokesperson said. Other locations are expected to close in coming weeks. Whats next for Rite Aid? After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Rite Aid said it will receive $3.45 billion in new financing to help the company keep remaining stores open and employees paid while it undergoes a restructuring process. With the support of certain of our lenders and the majority of our bondholders, we look forward to moving through this process and emerging as a stronger company, well-positioned for long-term success. Rite Aid CEO Jeffrey Stein wrote in a company statement. Rite Aids bankruptcy comes as the company faces mounting debt and more than 1,000 lawsuits accusing it of filling illegal prescriptions for painkillers, according to The New York Times. As of June, the company had saddled roughly $3.3 billion in debt while its stock had fallen nearly 80% since the year began. Rite Aid launched a new website, riteaidrestructuring.com, that is expected to house relevant information for customers and employees as the company shifts in the coming weeks and months. House progressive Reps. Cori Bush , Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley on Friday repeated their calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Omar -- who has faced scrutiny in recent days for initially accusing the Israel Defense Forces of being responsible for the blast at a Gaza hospital and later saying that U.S. intelligence indicating that Israel was not at fault served as "a reminder that information is often unreliable and disputed in the fog of war" -- gave an unapologetic defense of her pro-Palestinian viewpoint. Her voice was straining and she was at times screaming as she called for humanity and freedom for Palestinians. "How do you look at one atrocity and say, 'This is wrong,' but you watch as bodies pile up as neighborhoods are leveled? Israel has dropped more bombs in the last 10 days then we dropped in a whole year in Afghanistan. Where is your humanity? Where is your outrage? Where is your care for people?" Omar said at a press conference the three held Friday afternoon. MORE: Protesters on Capitol Hill call for Gaza ceasefire Omar is Muslim, and her family fled civil war in Somalia when she was young. She spoke candidly of her personal experiences with war, and she addressed increasing threats she says she's received as a Muslim since the recent escalation of conflict in Israel and Gaza. MORE: Rep. Rashida Tlaib draws fire for not apologizing for saying Israel caused Gaza hospital blast "You can harass me, you can threaten me, you can follow me around, but I am never going to stop saying, 'Palestinians deserve freedom that we need to free Palestine,' and I am never going to stop saying that there is no way that we should allow in sending more bombardments to kill Palestinians," Omar said. Pressley said it was essential to demonstrate humanity toward both Israeli and Palestinian children and families. "We cannot continue to stand idly by numb as we watch this death toll rise. Nor can we be complicit in this bloodshed. Vengeance is not a foreign policy doctrine," Pressley said. PHOTO: Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence, June 8, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Pool via Getty Images) Bush, who ran for Congress following the police shooting of Michael Brown in her home state of Missouri, said it was essential for oppressed communities to stand with one another. "Our Israeli brothers and sisters' little babies and little kids and elders as well as our Palestinian brothers and sisters' little kids and babies and elders, they deserve the freedom the self-determination," Bush said. "They deserve wholeness they deseve peace and they deserve our support to stand up and speak out and not allow anyone not even our administration to okay the bombing of a land of people." Israel has suffered at least 1,400 deaths since Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. There have been at least 3,785 deaths in Gaza during the same period, per the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Progressives call for ceasefire: 'Vengeance is not a foreign policy doctrine' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com 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 WREG.com. After nine days of chaos sparked by the sudden downfall of Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans have finally nominated a successor for the Speakers gavel: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), McCarthys longtime number two. In a secret ballot vote held behind closed doors on Wednesday morning, 113 lawmakers chose Scalise, with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) earning 99 votes, a source familiar with the proceeding told The Daily Beast. For the bitterly divided House GOP, however, a resolution to their leadership crisis is still far off. To win the partys nomination, Scalise simply needed a majority of votes. To survive the upcoming roll call vote in the full House of Representatives, he will need near-unanimous support from the GOP conference to secure the Speakers gavel and return the House to normal function. A floor vote could take place as soon as Wednesday afternoon, though that appears unlikely. Already, however, Scalises ability to marshal enough support is in serious doubt. His margin of victory on Wednesday was closer than expected, for one. Beyond that, allies of Jordan have expressed their willingness to vote for the Ohio Republican on the floor, even though Scalise is the nominee. Exiting Wednesdays private vote, both Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Max Miller (R-OH) told reporters they planned to vote for Jordan on the floor. Notably, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who orchestrated McCarthys ouster, said that he was fully behind Scalise. Jordan himself pointedly declined to endorse Scalise, according to Punchbowl News, saying he would do so only if the Louisiana Republican picked up the 217 votes needed to win the speakership. Just a few anti-Scalise holdouts could now have the power to deny Scalise a victory, just as a squad of holdouts did to McCarthy back in January, when it took 15 votes and four days for the California Republican to win the speakership. House GOP Realizes Ditching McCarthy Didnt Solve Its Problems McCarthys ultimate path to victory last year was tortured despite his overwhelming victory in the preceding private conference nominating vote. Though Scalise won on Wednesday, there are a number of powers that, if determined enough, could put him through an ordeal far worse than what McCarthy endured. The lawmakers who booted McCarthy from the speakership are nearly all members of the hard-right faction, which prefers Jordan. Former President Donald Trump, who holds tremendous sway in the party, has publicly endorsed Jordan. A pro-Jordan faction that refuses to accept defeat could easily spark a drawn-out floor battle. The biggest wildcard may be the former speaker himself. Though he has said he would not seek the gavel again, he hasnt ruled out the idea of returning to the office. Some McCarthy loyalists have continued to express their determination to get him back in power. Privately, McCarthys team has pushed Jordan hard, as The Daily Beast and other outlets have reported. Though they have worked side by side for years, McCarthy and Scalise have long had bad blood stemming from their competition for the House GOPs top leadership spot. On Tuesday night, McCarthy told reporters he would endorse whoever the party nominated. 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. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said Friday that she has been receiving death threats in the wake of Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, which left approximately 2,000 Israelis dead. Ms Omar is a Muslim; her family fled Somalia's civil war before they emigrated to the US. She condemned Hamas's attack on Israel, but has no less become a target for hate, potentially due to her longstanding criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians and Washington's ongoing support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. She and other progressive lawmakers critical of Israel were briefed by the US Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms last week, warning them of potential threats, according to a Democratic aide speaking to NBC News. Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American, was among those briefed on the potential threat to their safety. Angry voicemails shared with NBC News show the intensity of hate directed at Ms Omar; in one a caller describes her as a "terrorist Muslim," and another claims a vigilante group has been watching her and her children and has given her address "to rapists." Im from a militant group, a male caller of a third threat 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. Ms Omar released a statement saying that she and other Muslim Americans had been the victims of a "dishonest smear" that takes any criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians as support for Hamas. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said she has been receiving numerous death threats in the wake of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) 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, Ms Omar said. More importantly, it threatens the millions of American Muslims. She said the "toxic language and imagery has real-world consequences." House Republican leaders stay silent as their party unleashes these toxic attacks and refuse to hold extremists in their ranks accountable," she said. "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. Right-wing extremist Republican lawmakers have only added fuel to the first. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert once called "The Squad" a group of progressive lawmakers including Ms Omar, Ms Tlaib, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others the "Jihad Squad," and joked about Ms Omar having a bomb in her backpack. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green called the "Squad" the "Hamas caucus," and the official campaign entity of the House Republicans referred to Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib as "Hamas spox," with spox being an abbreviation for spokespeople. Democrats across the ideological spectrum have also added suspicion to the lawmakers; Senator John Fetterman, a progressive, said that it was "truly disturbing" that some members of Congress would question Israel's account of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called their insistence on a ceasefire in Gaza "repugnant." More than 3,400 Palestinians have been killed since the 7 October attack. Since then, Ms Omar has received voicemails calling her a "traitor," a "terrorist," telling her to "drop dead," wishing that "someone would kill you and put you in hell," calling her a "piece of s***" and claiming vigilantes would poison her. There have already been attacks against Muslims in the US since 7 October that are believed to be bias-motivated. A 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois was stabbed 26 times and died when his family's landlord allegedly attacked him due to his heritage. Another man, a Sihk, was attacked in New York by a man demanding he remove his turban. Jewish organisations have also charted an increase in threats to their communities. The Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League found that at least 141 antisemitic incidents including vandalism, harassment, or attacks occurred in the 10-day period between 7 October and 17 October, a 48 per cent increase in attacks over the same period last year. Oil and gas was expected to provide about 53 percent of New Mexicos state budget in the next year, and despite the industrys outsized role in public revenue, officials in the oil-rich Permian Basin maintained the areas economy was diverse. New Mexico is the second-highest producer of crude oil in the U.S. after only Texas with which the state shares the Permian Basin. That shale region, the U.S. busiest, produces about 5.8 million barrels per day (bpd), almost half of the about 12 million bpd pumped nationally. More: Dallas-based LM Energy shifts focus to Permian Basin natural gas amid regional growth As oil boomed in the past year, New Mexico reaped billions in revenue but in Carlsbad, in southeast New Mexicos share of the Permian Basin, local industry leaders acknowledged it would take more than fossil fuels to support their community. A recent report from the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) estimated oil demand would peak in about 2033, then gradually decline until state revenue from that industry was cut in half by 2050. That left state lawmakers scrambling during recent legislative session to prop up new industries like film, cannabis and tourism, in preparation for the impending decline in fossil fuels. Permian Realization Manage for ExxonMobil Unconventional Dr. Stefanie Asher on Oct. 20, 2023 at the Carlsbad Mayor's Energy Summit in Carlsbad, New Mexico. More: $1.2 billion in Permian Basin oil and gas assets sold to Vital Energy as region leads US During the Carlsbad Mayors Energy Summit held Thursday at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center in Carlsbad, leaders from industries outside fossil fuels described their role in the region and purported ability to insulate the regions economy from future oil busts. One of the regions key industries, nuclear waste management, was centered at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant repository about 30 miles east of Carlsbad. Mark Bollinger, with the U.S. Department of Energys Carlsbad Field Office said the agency remained focused on disposing of the nations nuclear waste in New Mexico. More: Work is beginning on SunZia wind power project in New Mexico. Here's what to know. He said Thursday the WIPP facility was about 42 percent full toward its statutory capacity. By some estimates, the facility could continue operations until 2080, based on the capacity and the availability of waste from DOE sites across the country. Were looking for a number of opportunities to expand our mission for the nation and state of New Mexico, Bollinger said. More: Lujan Grisham calls for $20M in state funds as feds say no to hydrogen power grant. He said the DOE would invest more than $1 billion in WIPP in the next 10 years. That includes the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), an about $470 million rebuild of WIPPs ventilation system intended to allow underground operations like mining and maintenance to occur simultaneously and allow more workers in the underground to emplace more waste. It was planned to be ready by about 2025 and will work in conjunction with a $100 million air intake shaft also being built at WIPP to more than triple the airflow in the underground for workers to breathe. The future is bright for WIPP, Bollinger said. Weve invested massively out at the site. Pictured center is Director of Production, Facilities, Infrastructure and Construction for Devon Energy Peter McDonald on Oct. 19, 2023 at the Carlsbad Mayor's Energy Summit in Carlsbad, New Mexico. More: In $64B deal Exxon Mobil buy Pioneer Natural Resources to ramp up Permian Basin operations The Carlsbad area is also home to two potash mines, owned by the Mosaic Company and Intrepid Potash. The city was the first place in the U.S. where the mineral was discovered and since was used to produce myriad products like crop fertilizers, gun powder and makeup. Mosaic Mine Operations Manager Nicolette Bernadin said the company was in the area for 85 years and will continue to be for decades to come. More: Global report warns of climate crisis from oil, gas pollution. What is New Mexico's role? And as oil and gas grew, and increased its water needs, Bernadin said Mosaic adapted to the boom and also began pumping and selling water to fossil fuel companies. Whitney Tremmell, vice president of Beneficial Reuse at Aris, Oct. 19, 2023 at the Carlsbad Mayor's Energy Summit in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Tremmell spoke on a panel about the "path forward for produced water" at the summit. Potash is a very stable industry, she said. Market fundamentals are good. Jeff Witte, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture pointed to the states position as the U.S. second-highest producer of pecans and fifth-highest producer of onions. He said the state was a leader in farming and ranching but could also soon struggle to meet growing food demands and adapt to new technologies. Weve got a lot of challenges ahead of us, Witte said. More: New Mexico public land offered for oil drilling amid calls for federal energy reforms Another one of those concerns was providing enough electricity to the growing industries in southeast New Mexico, said Brooke Trammell, regional vice president with Xcel Energy. The company recently reported the electrical grid in eastern New Mexico would need another 5,000 to 10,000 gigawatts by the end of the decade, in response to higher demand. Trammell said Xcel had about 7,500 megawatts of power capacity installed, meaning the added facilities could double Xcels power capacity, meeting a demand Trammell said was largely driven by growth in oil and gas. The Carlsbad Mayor's Energy Summit was held Oct. 19, 2023 at Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The 11th annual event refocused the conversation on the growth of Carlsbad amid the booming oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin. More: New Mexico could try again to challenge nuclear waste storage project in court She said the growth in Xcels power facilities would generate local jobs, and lead the company to do more business with local companies through contracting and material needs. Thats a huge amount of generation, Trammell said. Its a huge economic opportunity for our state. We are not going to conservatively plan our load forecasts. Growing power capacity in the region means added transmission lines, substations and other infrastructure to distribute power throughout the region, Trammell said, as the company responds to environmental concerns associated with carbon-based energy like oil and gas. Xcel planned to provide 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2050, read a company reported. Customers have no tolerance for our services when theyre not there but needed, she said. We have a very strong transmission and distribution network. This is an area that is growing for our company. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Industry leaders call for economic diversity amid New Mexico oil boom The Israeli military has bolstered its northern defences as tension with the militant group Hezbollah grow on the Lebanese border, with mounting concerns of a wider war in the Middle East. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been locked in an increasingly fierce exchange of fire on the Lebanese border since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza after Hamas bloody attack nearly two weeks ago. Both Iran and Hezbollah have warned of pre-emptive action if Israel pushes ahead with a ground invasion, which is the anticipated next step. Rishi Sunak and US president Joe Biden have travelled to the Middle East in the last few days, mounting a frantic effort to rein in a widening conflict. But as the violence continued, the UK, the US and Germany issued travel warnings urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. Now, Israel says it has shored up its northern defences and is ready to respond to any attack from its neighbours. [Israel] has zero tolerance for Iran-backed organisations trying us at this time, Major Marcus Sheff, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, told The Independent. I think Lebanon needs to ask whether it wants to risk its future for the Hamas terror organisation. We will deal with Hezbollah as necessary. The [Israeli military] is ready, ready to respond to any attack. Israeli soldiers near the Lebanon border earlier this week (AFP) Jordan, which has been a historic broker of peace, called for an immediate ceasefire and warned that continued bombardment of Gaza would only see the conflict widen. The growing perception on the street, as they see the unequivocal iron clad support for Israel in this war, is that this is a Western-Arab Muslim war, said foreign minister Ayman Safadi. Unless we are able to stop this catastrophe [in Gaza] that anger is going to mount. All of us will pay a price. There has been growing fury at the worsening humanitarian crisis for the 2 million people in the Strip, which is running out of food, water, fuel and power under a crippling Israeli siege. Gazas health ministry has begged petrol stations and citizens to donate diesel supplies for hospital generators. 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 US brokered a deal between Israel and Egypt where 20 trucks of aid would be allowed into the south of the tiny strip. But rights groups say this is only a scratch on the surface of the needs on the ground. Hospitals are collapsing, lacking even basic supplies like painkillers and bandages. Disease outbreaks are inevitable in overflowing and unsanitary shelters. People are drinking seawater to try to stay alive, said Melanie Ward, head of Medical Aid to Palestine that runs clinics in Gaza. 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. Protesters wave Palestinian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags in Beirut (EPA) Many fear a ground invasion of Gaza will be the final touchpaper in the conflict. Israel has repeatedly signalled an invasion was imminent but has backtracked in recent days amid growing concerns it could trigger a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon on a second front. The Israeli military would not confirm or deny to The Independent whether they had shelved the plans. However, on Thursday Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told infantry troops gathered at Gazas border that they will soon see Gaza from the inside, suggesting a ground invasion could be nearing. You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City man accused of shooting and killing two men just blocks apart has entered an Alford plea and been sentenced to prison. Matthew Harris was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action back in 2020. Missouri mans disappearance stretches to six months Court documents said the first shooting happened at a Kansas City gas station near Winner Road and Hardesty Avenue. Surveillance cameras captured the shooting on video, court records say. As police were watching the video, officers noticed that the victim, later identified as 36-year-old Cleveland Fuller III running away from the shooting. Based on the direction Fuller ran, police followed that path and found Fuller dead. Shortly after, police were called to a nearby apartment for another shooting. There, they found a man wearing the same outfit of the suspect in the gas station shooting, charging documents say. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android While searching the apartment, officers found 42-year-old Michael Groves dead. On Friday, Harris entered an Alford plea to all charges. An Alford plea is when a defendant pleads guilty but does not admit to the crime only that there is enough evidence that they would be found guilty in a jury trial. Harris was then sentenced to 24 years in prison. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Hamas is trying to "earn favor" with the US by returning hostages as the conflict between Hamas and Israel intensifies. "This is what they do," Haley said on Fox News, telling President Joe Biden not to "fall for it." DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED 200 REPORTS OF UFO SIGHTINGS IN EIGHT-MONTH SPAN Biden announced on Friday the release of two American hostages taken by Hamas during the attack on Israel on Oct. 7. "Two prayers have been answered and we've got 200 more to go," said Haley. The Republican candidate, however, said that the safe return of Judith and Natalie Raanan should not be used to "weaken us." "What they're doing is 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 and two, because they want to see if they can get something out of it," Haley said. Haley also said Iran is concerned that Hamas will lose the war if Israel launches a successful ground invasion into Gaza. 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. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "We've got 200 more hostages in there and don't forget what happened on Oct. 7," Haley said. As of Friday, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported 4,137 Palestinian deaths. More than 1,400 have been killed in Israel. Original Location: Haley says Hamas is trying to 'earn favor' with US by returning American hostages Washington Examiner Videos As President Joe Biden declared unwavering support for Israel in the days after Hamas terror attack in Israel, Ahmad Ramadan, a former Biden adviser now leading coalition efforts for the Michigan Democratic Party, called the state party chair to raise the alarm about what he was hearing. Michigan has one of the largest Muslim and Arab American populations in the country, and they say their support for Biden was instrumental to putting him over the top in the critical swing state in 2020. But now, Ramadan and other Democratic leaders in the state were hearing nothing but frustration with Biden and threats to not vote for him again. In a series of more than a dozen roundtable discussions with Muslim community leaders in the two weeks since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Ramadan said the main takeaway is that people are very disappointed. They say they will not forget what President Biden did and why he lied to them, he added. President Biden won with historic numbers in 2020. And I was proud to represent that, but the last two weeks have really shifted things, Ramadan said. Ive also been getting calls from people saying, I have blood on my hands because I got people out to support him during that campaign.' Follow live coverage from NBC News here. While Muslim Americans remain a small minority of the U.S. population, their numbers are growing rapidly, and both parties are increasingly vying for their support. Democrats have mostly succeeded so far, as former President Donald Trump and other Republicans turned them off with policies like a travel ban that affected predominantly Muslim countries (something Trump is promising to implement again if he is re-elected). Now, though, Muslim leaders are warning that Democrats risk losing their support, too, if Biden and the party do not do more to combat Islamophobia and address the pain many are feeling about the war in Gaza. Joe Biden has single-handedly alienated almost every Arab-American and Muslim American voter in Michigan, said state Rep. Alabas Farhat, a Democrat whose district includes Dearborn, which is home to one of the largest Muslim and Arab American communities in the country. Farhat said he has constituents and neighbors who have family members trapped in Gaza including some who are American citizens and they feel completely abandoned by the U.S. government for not doing more to help get them out, get aid in and pressure Israel for a cease-fire. The Biden administration and Democrats as a whole are going to have to do a lot of work to rebuild some level of trust with my community, he said. Its never too late to do the right thing. In rolling conversations in Michigan and beyond over the past two weeks, Muslim elected officials, activists and community leaders have coalesced around a plan to mobilize their constituents to vote next year but also to encourage them to leave the top of the ticket blank in protest, according to multiple people involved in the discussions. Thats the plan right now, Farhat said. I think theres going to be a lot of people that remember when you won Michigan years ago by a razor-thin margin, when you won Georgia with a razor-thin margin, when you won Arizona by a razor-thin margin do not be surprised if there are consequences for your actions. Others have heard from constituents who are planning to vote Republican because they feel that at least Republicans were honest with them about their carte-blanche support for Israel, while they feel duped and used by Democrats. President Biden, not all of America is with you on this one and you need to wake up and understand that, Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said at a rally calling for a cease-fire Wednesday. We will remember this. The White House and Bidens campaign say they are aware of the concerns and working to address them, pointing to Bidens comments in his Oval Office address on Thursday night pushing for aid to Palestinian civilians, urging Israel not to be blinded by rage and directly telling Muslim Americans: I see you. You belong. The President and this administration have been unequivocal: there is no place for Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any of the vile racism we have seen in recent weeks, Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said. As MAGA Republicans continue to run on an openly Islamaphobic platform including renewed support for Donald Trumps Muslim ban the stakes of next years election could not be more consequential. President Biden continues to work closely and proudly with leaders in the Muslim and Palestinian communities in America, to listen to them, stand up for them, and fight back against hate. Immediately after his Oval Office address Thursday night, Biden called the family of Wadea Al-Fayoume, the 6-year-old Palestinian American boy slain in Illinois in what prosecutors say was an anti-Muslim hate crime. Top officials like national security adviser Jake Sullivan have held meetings with Arab and Muslim American community leaders to discuss ways to combat Islamophobia. The White House also sent Dilawar Syed, the highest-ranking Muslim American official in the Biden administration, to speak at a memorial for Al-Fayoume. In a moment that went viral, the crowd booed him when he started to speak, but he was later applauded when he finished his remarks by emphasizing that Biden will do "everything in his power to fight Islamophobia." "That work, we commit to you, will not end until every American has the freedom to live their lives in safety and without fear," said Syed, the deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration. Before the attack, Biden reinstated the White Houses Eid celebration for the end of Ramadan and took official actions to better coordinate federal efforts to combat Islamophobia. Still, while appreciated, some Muslim American leaders say Bidens comments in the address were not enough. I believe he made a good case for what he believes in, but in no way did he come close to addressing the human disaster, Dr. Mahmoud Hadidi, the chairman of the Michigan Muslim Community Council, said. Theres a lot more that President Biden, who had a lot of support from the community here, could have said or done to show concern for the civilians trapped in this unfortunate situation" in Gaza. Muslims make up only 1.3% of the U.S., about half the size of the Jewish population, but advocates argue their votes are critical in battleground states that may be won or lost on narrow margins, including Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia and Arizona. There are an estimated 240,000 Muslims in Michigan, a state Biden won in 2020 by 150,000 votes. Trump won Michigan in 2016 by a little more than 10,700 votes. The president cannot win without the Muslim vote, point blank, said Nada Al-Hanooti, the executive director of Emgage Michigan, the state chapter of a national nonprofit that works to engage Muslims politically. Al-Hanooti, who is Palestinian American, said shes heard many people say they either wont vote for president in 2024 or theyll vote third party. The margins in states like Michigan in recent elections have been so thin that many groups can and do claim credit for swinging an election, with representatives of each competing for precious resources and pushing to get their agenda moved up the White Houses priority ladder. And some of the demands from Muslim Americans are likely nonstarters for Biden and would have been even before the attack as well. But everyone agrees Biden will need every vote he can get in states like Michigan. Michigan is a competitive state and its purple to begin with. With these complicated dynamics, its going to make it one of the most challenging states in the country, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who lived in Dearborn for 40 years. That anger has been especially felt in Dearborn, where the citys mayor has been excoriating Biden and other officials on social media for being silently complicit in some of the most horrific war crimes our eyes have witnessed, funded by our tax dollars. Sami Khaldi, the president of Dearborn Democratic Club, said she will still vote Democratic, but added: I would like to advise my president to rethink about his strategy, his policies, foreign policies. What Im hearing now is people feeling completely betrayed by Joe Biden, said Amer Zahr, president of New Generation for Palestine, a Dearborn-based network of mostly young Palestinian Americans. People are feeling that the Democratic Party is unequivocally, with a few exceptions, supporting Israel and not humanizing Palestinians and looking at the humanity of Palestinians. That frustration is also widely felt on the political left beyond Muslims, especially among younger voters. A new Quinnipiac University poll found that while a large majority 68% of Democrats overall approve of Bidens handling of Israel, and 42% of all registered voters do, only 21% of voters aged 18-34 approve, while 50% disapprove. Osama Siblani, the publisher of The Arab American News, which is based in Dearborn, said at a protest there this week supporting Palestinians: Let it be known that come [next] November, we will remember, Mr. President. Siblani is a registered independent who supported Biden, he said, despite formerly being active in Republican politics and launching George W. Bushs presidential campaign in Dearborn. He said he grew increasingly uncomfortable with the GOP and critical of Trump and "his hate mongering." Last year, he defended Michigans openly gay Democratic attorney general from sick, crazy and homophobic people. Asked in an interview what Bidens team could do to win back his vote, Siblani said it was too late. I will never vote Biden again, if he stands on his head, he said. We will not meet with anyone who represents the Biden or Kamala Harris campaign because they lied to us. They lied to us. When they came in 2020, they said, You will have a seat at the table. Jasmine Rivera, the co-executive director of Rising Voices, a progressive nonprofit that works to engage Asian American women and young voters, said concerns about rising Islamophobia may hamper organizing efforts. Many of our canvassers are Muslim American. And now there is fear, because of the possibility of anti-Muslim hate crimes, to have people who are going door to door wearing hijabs, she said. That also dampens the ability for voting advocacy organizations like ours to actually work in these communities. Many Muslim and Arab Americans voted for Republicans like Bush, who visited a mosque six days after 9/11 to speak out against anti-Muslim bigotry in the wake of the terror attacks and declare: The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. ... Islam is peace. But Muslim and Arab Americans shifted Democratic as Islamophobic rhetoric became more mainstream in the GOP, culminating in Trumps proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. But Republicans have tried to make new alliances with culturally conservative Muslim voters. In the 2022 campaign, Michigan's GOP nominee for governor, Tudor Dixon, embraced a push by some Muslim officials in Dearborn and other towns to remove LGBTQ-themed books from public libraries. Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster who runs Democratic Majority for Israel, said he sees more political upside for Biden on his stance on Israel than danger, especially in a likely Biden-Trump rematch. Were in the white heat of this moment, but I think as we get closer to the election, its going to be clear that if you might otherwise be a Biden voter, staying home is going to be a vote for Donald Trump, he said. It would be strange to see people lend any support to a racist, Islamophobic candidate like Donald Trump because they differ, perhaps very strongly, on this one issue. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com 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. 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. Wadea's 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. Tonight is to celebrate the life of this child and make sure that this does not happen again, Mohammed Faheem, the group's president, told the crowd. This is to express our solidarity as one community. Plainfield is a very welcoming community, and we want to make sure that people understand that. The venue was swept by security guards before the vigil, an unfortunate but necessary precaution to prevent further violence against Muslim Americans. Security officials scanned the venue's rooftops and patrolled the perimeter with trained dogs. Wadea was killed on Saturday morning when his family's landlord, Joseph Czuba, 71, allegedly stabbed him and his mother multiple times with a knife at their home. Prosecutors believe the alleged crime was driven by hate stoked by the conflict in Israel and Gaza. They said in court filing that he had been listening to conservative talk radio shows discussing the conflict prior to the attack. The stabbing echoes the uptick in violence and harassment aimed at Muslim Americans following the 9/11 terror attacks. Wadea was stabbed 26 times and died at the hospital, according to authorities. His 32-year-old mother, Hanan Shaheen, could not attend her son's funeral because she was still recovering in the hospital. Attendees at the vigil carried flowers and signs, including one that insisted that "this is what happens when you spread hate and dehumanise Palestinians." At the same time that mourners grieved the loss of Wadea, some US lawmakers were calling for the total destruction of Gaza, and waiving off civilian casualties by Israel as the fault of Hamas. Florida Governor and GOP presidential primary candidate Ron DeSantis said he would not allow any Palestinian refugees into the US, claiming while theyre not all supporters of Hamas, they were "all antisemitic." Republican US Senator Tom Cotton called for Israel to "bounce rubble" in Gaza, essentially calling for the enclave's complete and utter destruction. More than 50 per cent of the population in Gaza is under the age of 18, meaning that more than half of those experiencing Israel's retaliation to Hamas's 7 October attack which killed approximately 2,000 Israelis were too young to vote or not even born when the militant group was elected to lead Gaza in 2006. More than 3,700 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October, according to Gaza's health ministry. Dilwar Syed, the deputy administrator of the US Small Business Administration, offered condolences from the White House, but his words were given a mixed reception. Some attendees left as he began to speak. One called out that Joe Biden "has blood on his hands," likely a reference to the US's historic and continued support of Israel, even as it continues to pummel Gaza and displace more than a million people living in what has been referred to as the "world's largest open air prison." Downtown Sacramentos Main Jail opened in 1989 and was built to hold over 2,000 people. It was state-of-the-art, likened to a small city with all its amenities, and designed to house low-level inmates sentenced to a year or less in county jail or those awaiting trial. Then, 22 years later, came Assembly Bill 109, which transferred the responsibility of housing some prison inmates to counties throughout California. Fast forward to 2023, where Im now Sacramento County Sheriff, inheriting a nearly 35-year-old building that houses state prison inmates and some of the most prolific and sophisticated criminals these walls have ever held, all while under a new Federal Consent Decree. The jail population changed when lawmakers decided to lessen penalties on serious crimes, sending criminals to jail rather than prison, and shifting this burden to sheriffs without providing needed resources or staff to fulfill these mandates. Opinion This facilitys conversion to being both a jail and prison for inmates doing sentences is posing an unprecedented security challenge unseen in 1989. These challenges are exacerbated since these inmates can now spend upwards of three to five years in jail sometimes even longer. Our jails were not built to serve this population long-term; rather, that was the role of our state prisons: to provide inmates with needed services and programs, including health care and other programs designed to reduce recidivism and encourage rehabilitation. The Main Jail has been overwhelmed by a far more sophisticated and violent inmate population as well as inmates with acute medical needs. Recent deaths at the Main Jail have garnered headlines, but none have mentioned the root causes of the deaths. While inmate-on-inmate assaults have been responsible for two significant cases this year, the spotlight needs to be placed on the sheer ineptitude of the county department providing the jail health services, Adult Correctional Health (ACH). It is not a coincidence that most of the deaths at the jail have been medically related. In the past, the sheriff had control of medical care in the facility, but that control was removed before I got here and transferred to ACH, a separate county agency that I have no control over. ACH provides all health care within the jail to the entire inmate population 24/7. Notably, ACH is one of the top problems cited in the Consent Decree, and I dont have the authority to fix it. I dont make this incompetency allegation lightly. There are numerous examples of poor, substandard medical care. ACH has extensive staffing shortages at all levels, from nurses to physicians, causing ongoing physician staffing issues during nights and weekends. There is also a significant lack of supervision and managerial oversight of staffing. In addition, ACHs medical director has been on administrative leave since July. Id be remiss not to speak about contraband in the facility, including dangerous narcotics, cell phones and tools to manufacture weapons. After taking office and learning of all these issues, I pulled an entire investigative unit from our Centralized Investigations Division to look into it. After the investigation was already underway, lawyers representing inmates demanded a physical search of deputies, which is not standard practice at any jail or prison facility in the state, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Our investigation quickly and clearly determined that a civilian employee from ACH was responsible for bringing contraband into the jail. My department is not allowed any involvement in the hiring process of this employee or the process of disciplining or firing the employee. As the investigation continued, detectives discovered yet another individual trying to bring 40 grams of methamphetamine into the jail. He was scheduled to be remanded in court after being released from jail just days earlier and attempted to smuggle it in before detectives caught wind of it. The problem is multi-faceted, but it does not involve my employees. Criticism of my department by the Prison Law Office has been knee-jerk and not based on reality. Its time for a change. I want the inmates to be healthy and get the help they need to get out of jail and become productive members of society, but I need the authority to move high-risk inmates out of our jail to a different, more appropriate facility. If not, there needs to be a better solution to correctional health such as the privatization of health care services in our jails. Jim Cooper is the sheriff of Sacramento County. Following the outbreak of war in Israel, anxieties in bordering countries have been rising amid fears the fighting will spread to neighbouring territories. Lebanon shares a border with Israel to the south, and the historic tensions between the two are threatening to flare up again, with Hezbollah a Lebanese militant group an important component in the potential escalation of the conflict. On 18 October, AP reported that militants were killed on the Israeli-Lebanese border, while the US later warned citizens not to travel to Lebanon after the US embassy in Beirut was set on fire by protesters in the wake of President Bidens visit to Israel. Here is the latest information on whether the country remains safe for foreign travellers. Where is Lebanon? Lebanon sits on the Mediterranean Sea, sharing the border with Israel to the south (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Lebanon sits to the north of Israel, bordering Syria to the north and the east. The capital, Beirut, sits along the Mediterranean Sea, and was a target of Israeli bombings during the Lebanon War in 2006. Skirmishes between Israel and militant groups have so far been limited to areas around the border in the south, with an anti-tank missile shot from Lebanon landing in the northern Israeli town of Metula on the morning of 17 October. What does the Foreign Office say? The latest update from the Foreign Office (FCDO), dated 18 October, states that You are advised against all travel to the whole of Lebanon. If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available. British nationals in Lebanon should register their presence with the FCDO through the link in Travel Advice. The website also states that if your passport contains an Israeli stamp, you may be refused entry to Lebanon even if you hold a valid Lebanese visa. If you are a British national currently in Lebanon, the FCDO urges you to register your presence in the country in order to provide updates. As recently as 18 October, the official advice had been to avoid all but essential travel to much of the country, but this has changed in the wake of intensifying clashes and unrest. The FCDO states that events in Lebanon are fast moving. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and with no warning. Commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice and roads across the country could be closed. Regarding the conflict in Israel specifically, it says: [The] FCDO advises against all travel to Lebanon due to risks associated with the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There are ongoing mortar, artillery exchanges and airstrikes in South Lebanon, on the border with Israel. Tensions are high and events could escalate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon. There is also a risk of civil unrest. There have been large protests outside embassies, including outside the US and French embassies on 17 October. Further protests are expected. British Nationals should exercise caution and avoid areas where demonstrations may be held. Additional security risks are present in Lebanon due to the threat of terrorism and kidnapping, with groups mainly operating in Tripoli, areas close to the Syrian border (such as around Hermel and Aarsal), Palestinian refugee camps and the southern suburbs of Beirut. The FCDO states that terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Lebanon, adding that violence may occur between security forces, protesters and supporters of political groups. What about flights to and from Lebanon? Flights from the UK to Lebanon are currently operating as normal. Will my insurance be invalid if I travel to Lebanon? Anyone who chooses to travel to Lebanon will immediately have their travel insurance invalidated unless they have a specialist policy, as the FCDO advises against all travel to the country. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your provider, though if you have a trip already booked to Lebanon, you should be able to cancel and make an insurance claim as the Foreign Office is now advising against all travel there. If already in Lebanon, contact your airline and insurance provider to find out the conditions of travelling home early. Sam Bankman-Fried's defense attorneys have argued that FTX's collapse is complicated and he didn't know everything. They've argued his ex-friends who pleaded guilty just want a lighter sentence. But all of Bankman-Fried's lieutenants and former friends have implicated him in the scheme to take customer funds. During opening statements at Sam Bankman-Fried's trial, it quickly became clear that prosecutors and his defense attorneys had very different approaches. Prosecutors told a simple story of straightforward theft. Bankman-Fried, they alleged, stole funds deposited by customers of his cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, by moving it to his hedge fund, Alameda Research, and took out loans for his own benefit. Three of his close friends and associates Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh had already pleaded guilty to conspiring with Bankman-Fried and would testify in the trial. The mechanics, involving financial concepts like cryptocurrency, highly leveraged loans, and market-makers, could be esoteric. But in a federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan, Assistant US Attorney Thane Rehn put it in plain terms. "He spent the money on lavish houses for himself, his parents, and his friends," Rehn said. "He spent it so he could get introduced to celebrities. He spent millions more on political donations to gain influence in Washington. He poured money other people's money into his own investments to try to make himself even richer." Bankman-Fried's attorneys say it was a little more complicated. According to his lawyer Mark Cohen, the whole case is in the mechanics. Alameda took legitimate loans from FTX for legitimate business purposes, including for market-making purposes, he said. "Some things got overlooked" in the details at FTX, and Ellison made irresponsible decisions as the CEO of Alameda, Cohen said, leaving FTX exposed to disaster if cryptocurrency prices fell. Crypto prices did fall in 2022, Cohen said, which led to the mess where customers couldn't withdraw money from their FTX accounts. But, he suggested, the losses could also be attributed to risky margin trading from customers. Very unfortunate? Sure. Criminal? Absolutely not, Cohen argued. As the trial has gone on, it's become clear that Bankman-Fried's lawyers have a problem. According to testimony from Bankman-Fried's former friends and business associates, the excuses about Alameda's market-making capabilities and spot margin trading are red herrings. They just took the money, they've all said. It's complicated, SBF's lawyers say In their opening statement and cross-examination of witnesses, Bankman-Fried's lawyers have tried to complicate the story in two particular ways. One, FTX allowed users to engage in spot margin trading. That allowed users to put up collateral in order to make particularly risky trades on the exchange. In certain circumstances where they were on the wrong side of a trade, they could lose money from their accounts. Two, Bankman-Fried's lawyers have stressed Alameda's role as not just a trading firm on FTX, but as a market maker. Alameda had special privileges that allowed it to hold a negative balance on FTX ultimately, negative $65 billion. Ellison, the now-former CEO of Alameda, testified that meant Alameda had an essentially unlimited line of credit from FTX, without any regard for whether the money belonged to customers. To secure an acquittal in a criminal trial, defense attorneys need to convince just one juror to have reasonable doubt of their client's guilt. Prosecutors have accused Bankman-Fried of fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with a potential sentence of over a century. If any juror doubts even one count, it could help Bankman-Fried, who is 31 years old, spend less time in prison. Sam Bankman Fried leaves Manhattan federal court following a pre-trial hearing. Craig Ruttle/AP It's a high bar to clear, according to Sarah Krissoff, an attorney at Cozen O'Connor and former federal prosecutor in New York. But Bankman-Fried's attorneys may convince jurors that Bankman-Fried genuinely believed his actions were acceptable in the wild-west cryptocurrency industry. "He thought this was okay in this world where crypto wasn't regulated, and so he had sort of no concept that this was a fraud," Krissoff said. "Now, the issue is that if all of the other insider witnesses have said, 'I knew this was wrong, and I pled guilty to crimes related to it.'" Ellison, Singh, and Wang were all in Bankman-Fried's inner circle. Ellison led Alameda Research for much of 2021 and 2022. Wang co-founded Alameda and FTX with Bankman-Fried and led the latter as its chief technology officer. Singh knew Bankman-Fried since he was in high school and was the top developer at FTX, having intimate knowledge of its code. All of them lived together in a $35 million penthouse that Bankman-Fried purchased in the Bahamas with Alameda's funds. And all of them pleaded guilty to conspiring with Bankman-Fried to take customer money. The challenge for Bankman-Fried's attorneys is to convince jurors that he didn't know about any wrongdoing. They've suggested that Bankman-Fried's former lieutenants and close friends are motivated to testify against him in hopes of getting lighter sentences for themselves. "The question isn't so much necessarily, 'Is all of that wrong, or is that stuff criminal?'" said Paul Tuchmann, an attorney at Wiggin and Dana, and a former federal prosecutor in New York. "It's 'Did SBF know about it? Did he direct them to do it?'" Everyone has pointed fingers at SBF But while the defense attorneys have tried to obfuscate each witnesses' relationship with Bankman-Fried and his knowledge of wrongdoing, those witnesses have been forthright on the witness stand. "The government has flipped everybody else in order to prosecute Sam Bankman-Fried," Krissoff said. "And by doing that, the fact that multiple other individuals have agreed 'I knew I was doing something wrong, I was committing a crime, I did something wrong, I knew it was illegal at the time' it doesn't help his intent argument." Bankman-Fried does have some points in his favor. In one memo shown to jurors, circulated in the fall of 2022 before FTX and Alameda collapsed Bankman-Fried lamented Ellison's skills running Alameda while he focused on FTX. He said the trading firm would have done better if he were at the wheel, which bolsters the defense attorneys' argument that Ellison, but not Bankman-Fried, is to blame. But Ellison has held Bankman-Fried firmly responsible. It was Bankman-Fried, she testified, who directed her to spent "in the ballpark of $10 billion" in customer deposits to repay loans as Alameda was collapsing. "He was the one who set up the systems that allowed Alameda to take the money, and he was the one who directed us to take customer money to repay our loans," she said. Who told Ellison to come up with a bunch of alternative balance sheets to give a rosy portrait of Alameda's finances to lenders? "Sam directed me to," Ellison testified. Caroline Ellison testified for two days at the criminal trial of SBF. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez Who was responsible for the margin trading system that Bankman-Fried's lawyers suggested was to blame for lost customer deposits? "Sam directed a lot of these specifics of how the code should run and what it should be doing," Singh testified. "As an example, Sam designed all the rules for the margin system and the liquidation engine, and Gary implemented them." Every witness who developed FTX's software also pointed out that the spot margin trading program which actually did introduce the possibility of customers losing funds was something that individual customers needed to opt into. And FTX often bragged that its liquidation engine was so well-designed that losing funds would be extremely rare. In order to lose those segregated funds, customers would need to have their collateral liquidated, for market makers to reject those positions, and for a separate insurance fund to be completely drained, according to Can Sun, FTX's former top lawyer. "It has been FTX's consistent position that they have never depleted the insurance fund, we have never clawed back users, and we have no intention of clawing back users as well," Sun testified in the trial. "It was one of FTX's main marketing and selling points." Bankman-Fried's lawyers will have a tough time changing the narrative in front of the jury. One way to do it would be if Bankman-Fried took the witness stand himself and testified about his version of the story. Doing so would be incredibly risky, particularly because Bankman-Fried has given so many interviews about his experience already. If prosecutors catch him in a lie during cross-examination, his potential sentence could be much harsher. "He's challenged here," said Krissoff, the former federal prosecutor. "He would be in a much better position if he had not spoken out publicly so much about this before and he could just craft his testimony fresh." The trial is expected to wrap up in the next week or two, depending on whether or not Bankman-Fried decides to testify. Read the original article on Business Insider 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. Some years ago, scientists in Switzerland found a way to make people hallucinate. They didnt use LSD or sensory deprivation chambers. Instead, they sat people in a chair and asked them to push a button that, a fraction of a second later, caused a rod to gently press their back. After a few rounds, the volunteers got the creeping sense of someone behind them. Faced with a disconnect between their actions and their sensations, their minds conjured another explanation: a separate presence in the room. In a new study published in the journal Psychological Medicine, researchers from the same lab used the ghostly finger setup to probe another kind of hallucination: hearing voices. They found that volunteers were more likely to report hearing a voice when there was a lag between the push of the button and the rods touch than when there was no delay. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The findings suggest that the neurological roots of hallucinations lie in how the brain processes contradictory signals from the environment, the researchers said. Hearing voices is more common than you might think, said Pavo Orepic, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva and an author of the new paper. In surveys, scientists have discovered that many people without a psychiatric diagnosis perhaps 5% to 10% of the general population report having heard a disembodied voice at some point in their lives. There is actually a continuum of these experiences, Orepic said. So all of us hallucinate at certain times, like if youre tired, youll hallucinate more, for instance and some people are more prone to do so. In the new study, as in earlier work, Orepic and his collaborators had volunteers sit in a chair and push the button that caused the rod to touch their backs. During some sessions, there was no delay between the push and the touch, while others had a half-second delay enough time to give volunteers that feeling that someone was nearby. During all trials, the volunteers listened to recordings of pink noise, a softer version of white noise. Some recordings contained recorded bits of their own voice, while others had fragments of someone elses voice or no voice at all. In each trial, the volunteers were asked if they had heard anyone speaking. The study found that when people were already experiencing the peculiar feeling of a ghostly presence, they were more likely to say they had heard a voice when there was none. Whats more, hearing a nonexistent voice was more likely if, earlier in the experiment, they had heard bursts of noise with someone elses voice in them. That suggests the brain was linking the hallucinated presence and the voice, Orepic said. Intriguingly, volunteers with no lag between the button-pressing and the rod sometimes reported hearing a nonexistent voice as well, and they were more likely to do so if they had recently been hearing clips of their own voice. If volunteers unconsciously decided they were responsible for the feeling of the finger on their backs, they may have been primed to hear their own voice, the researchers said. Together, the findings support the idea that hallucinations may arise from difficulty in recognizing ones own actions, as well as being primed to expect a particular outcome, Orepic said. As time went on, people experiencing a ghostly presence in the trial were increasingly likely to hear voices, implying that the brain was somehow drawing on past experience to build up the impression of someone speaking. Delving more into how the brain builds the impression of a voice when none is there, Orepic said, may rely on help from healthy people who regularly hear voices for instance, mediums who feel they can communicate with the dead. He points to ongoing studies at Yale with such people who hear voices as a pathway to understanding how these beliefs arise and how they may be controlled. For mediums, hearing voices is not necessarily unwelcome. But perhaps, with their aid, people whose hallucinations are distressing and disruptive may find some peace. c.2023 The New York Times Company Woodmont Industrial Partners announced a long-term lease with R.A.S. Logistics for its recently completed industrial building in Woodbridge. The property brings 54,113 square feet of industrial space where Mayor John E. McCormac and key executives from Woodmont including CEO Eric Witmondt, Principal Marc Lebovitz and Executive Vice President and General Counsel Stephen Santola marked the deal earlier this month. The facility at 51 New Brunswick Ave., perched on the border Hopelawn and Fords, provides easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Route 9, and Route 440. Construction began in October 2022 after Woodmont acquired the site in April 2022. Key stakeholders cut the ribbon at the grand opening of R.A.S. Logistics' new space in Woodbridge. Established three decades ago and headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, R.A.S. Logistics is a full-service logistics provider that employs innovative technologies and has more than 200 employee resources. Woodbridge mayoral election 2023: Meet the candidates and where they stand on the issues With the addition of 51 New Brunswick Ave., the company celebrates its 28th establishment, facilitating operations across 22 states. The milestone marks the company's foray into New Jersey. Woodmont has executed several key transactions in the most active industrial growth markets in the country over the past year. In addition to 51 New Brunswick Ave., construction is underway for a 152,000-square-foot property at 111 Main St. in South Amboy, in partnership with Joseph A. Jingoli & Son, Inc. At South Brunswicks 461 Ridge Road, Woodmont and its partner EverWest Real Estate Investors have also begun the complete renovation and 65,000-square-foot expansion of an existing 145,000-square-foot industrial facility. Woodmont has more than 7.5 million square feet of industrial space in its active pipeline for development and renovation across the Northeast and the South. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: RAS Logistics signs Woodbridge NJ lease You are the owner of this article. President Joe Biden said Hamas attacked Israel partly in order to sabotage Israeli-Saudi normalization talks. Biden made the remarks on Friday at a campaign fundraiser event, according to Bloomberg. Speculating as to why Hamas launched its deadly surprise attack when it did, the president said it was partially in order to derail normalization talks that his administration was championing. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED 200 REPORTS OF UFO SIGHTINGS IN EIGHT-MONTH SPAN President Joe Biden answers questions as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, to travel to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Andrew Harnik/AP "One of the reasons why they acted like they did, why Hamas moved on Israel, is because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis," he said. "Because the Saudis wanted to recognize Israel, and that would, in fact, unite the Middle East." The logic was previously used by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking with CNN the day following Hamas's 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. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER He said that "it wouldn't be a surprise that part of the motivation [for the attack] may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." If delaying talks was truly one of the reasons why Hamas attacked, the attack may have worked the Saudis froze the talks soon after the start of the war. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also took the unprecedented move of talking with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, formerly Saudi Arabia's and Israel's longtime rival. Saudi statements regarding the call appeared to paint Israel as the primary offender regarding atrocities toward civilians. Original Location: Israel war: Biden says part of reason for Hamas attack was to interrupt talks with Saudi Arabia Washington Examiner Videos Decision made in return of Tri-City mother to Florida to face murder of Microsoft exec President Joe Biden has surged military resources to Israel as it prepares for the next phase of its war with Hamas. The United States will have two aircraft carrier strike groups in the region: the USS Gerald R. Ford, which was already in the area and whose stay Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended, and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which Austin instructed to move to the Eastern Mediterranean, though it's still in transit. The U.S. Air Force also deployed squadrons of F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft to the region. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED 200 REPORTS OF UFO SIGHTINGS IN EIGHT-MONTH SPAN The USS Gerald R. Ford consists of eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The Eisenhower strike group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, and Carrier Air Wing Three, with nine aircraft squadrons. Biden has said their presence in the region is supposed to deter other enemies of Israel from joining in the conflict and broadening its scope. On Thursday, Houthi forces in Yemen, which are backed by Iran, launched three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones that the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney, which is a part of the Ford Carrier Strike Group, was able to shoot down from the Red Sea. The Department of Defense said the missiles and drones were heading north along the Red Sea in the direction of 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," Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said during Thursday's briefing. "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 Oct. 7. The crew of the Carney did just that." The Department of Defense has selected roughly 2,000 troops to prepare for a deployment, though the order to deploy has not come yet and may not. "Secretary Austin placed approximately 2,000 personnel and a range of units on a heightened state of readiness through a prepare to deploy order, which 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," deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Secretary will continue to assess our force posture and remain in close contact with allies and partners." 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. Israel has requested air defense support, precision-guided munitions, artillery, and medical supplies. The first shipment of military aid from the U.S. has already arrived. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "We're surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome," Biden said last week. "We're going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens." Biden's White House on Friday sent a supplemental funding request to Congress that includes $16 billion for aid to Israel. It was included in a spending request that exceeds $100 billion, more than half of which would go to Ukraine. It will not be voted on immediately because the House is without a speaker and Republicans cannot come to an agreement on who should succeed ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was removed from the speakership on Oct. 3. Original Location: Israel war: What military support has the US sent to the region Washington Examiner Videos 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. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - O criza umanitara se desfasoara rapid in Gaza, in timp ce locuitorii blocati, multi dintre ei lipsiti de hrana si electricitate, se confrunta cu o a patra zi de atacuri aeriene israeliene ca raspuns la atacul mortal al Hamas asupra Israelului, care a ucis cel putin 1.200 de persoane, potrivit postului - The Ministry of Finance drew on Tuesday 90 million lei from banks, in addition to Monday's auction, when it borrowed 347.3 million lei through a benchmark government bond issue with a residual maturity of 37 months and an average yield of 6.62% per annum. The nominal value of the additional issue - President Iohannis: No drone or part of such device has reached RomaniaThere has been no drone or any other part of such device that reached Romania, President Klaus Iohannis said in Cincu on Tuesday, told Agerpres. If the president of the country says that, I believe it, said Luxembourg's - Ukraine said on Monday that Russian drones had detonated on the territory of NATO member Romania during an overnight air strike on a Ukrainian port across the Danube River, but Bucharest denied its territory had been hit, according to Reuters. Reuters could not independently verify either account, - More than 1,000 athletes from 33 countries on six continents will, between September 1 and October 22, 2023, be the protagonists of the competitions in artistic gymnastics, aerobic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all as part of a "a gymnastics feast", Carmencita announced on Tuesday - Senate's Ciuca: Trade between Romania and Italy is at record levelSenate President Nicolae Ciuca said on Tuesday that trade between Romania and Italy is at a record level, but there is room for growth created by Romania's economic development, which has an increased regional relevance in the energy - Air France has suspended flights to and from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Bamako in Mali until August 11, the company said on Monday, after Nigers junta closed its airspace on Sunday, with longer flight times expected in the west African region, according to Reuters. The disruption adds to a band In Romania s-a infiintat o biblioteca de seminte Biblioteca Judeteana din Miercurea-Ciuc a lansat un nou serviciu prin care oamenii sunt incurajati sa imprumute ... seminte, pe care trebuie sa le returneze ulterior, conform Agerpres.Potrivit informatiilor postate pe site-ul institutiei, acest tip de serviciu de biblioteca, de educatie ecologica, [citeste mai departe] The week started off with a sense of optimism as Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) signaled Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) would rally enough Republicans to become the next speaker of the House. But by Friday, Jordan suffered the same fate as McCarthy failing to secure the necessary votes to lead the fractured House GOP. HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE VOTES TO ABANDON JORDAN AS SPEAKER NOMINEE The House is now heading into a third week of paralysis without a speaker. McCarthy's ouster as speaker on Oct. 3 gave way to the first closed-door internal election for the gavel with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) prevailing with the majority of the conference's vote. But he bowed out of the race when he realized he didn't have the 217 votes required to win. Republicans then turned to Jordan, who wanted a floor vote to create a level of public pressure on the holdouts. Twenty Republicans voted against him on Tuesday in the first ballot. By Wednesday, the number of defectors grew to 22. Jordan considered an off-ramp by backing the expansion of powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) through January so the House can get back to regular order. But the GOP caucus rejected the move, and Jordan became the third Republican this month to fall short of the near-unanimous Republican support needed to lead the House. On his third and final floor vote Friday his no votes ticked up to 25. Also this week, President Joe Biden traveled to the war zone of Israel to show support for the Jewish state after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Meanwhile, about 300 protesters were arrested on Capitol Hill for illegally demonstrating inside a House office building as they demanded a cease-fire in Gaza. Biden is asking Congress for additional aid to Israel and Ukraine, but the House is unable to pass anything as the speaker fight drags on for an 18th day. House Republicans will regroup on Monday with another forum to hear from a growing list of new candidates trying to become the speaker. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Here's a look at Capitol scenes from the week of Oct. 16 captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings. House has been at a standstill since Oct. 3 and unable to elect a speaker Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the Republican speaker nominee, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill early Friday morning, on Oct. 20, 2023. Jordan failed to secure enough votes for the third time on Friday. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) holds a list of Congressional members as the House of Representatives votes for a third time to elevate Jim Jordan (R-OH) to speaker on Capitol Hill, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy laughs following a second round of voting where Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to secure enough votes to become House speaker, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) speaks with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as the House of Representatives meets to elect a new speaker of the House on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings 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. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) holds her son as the House of Representatives meets to elect a new speaker of the House on Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy huddles with Rep. Jim Jordan, his chief of staff Kevin Eichinger, and other lawmakers after Jordan failed to secure enough votes to be elected speaker, after the first round of voting, at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner /Graeme Jennings Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) talks with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as the House of Representatives meets to elect a new speaker of the House on Capitol Hill, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) walks past the media on his way to a House Republican conference meeting, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Republicans spent hours discussing whether to consider empowering McHenry until January. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Demonstrators demanding ceasefire in Gaza descend on the Capitol, with arrests Protesters gather during a demonstration outside the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. President Joe Biden cited US intelligence to support claims that Palestinian militants were to blame for a deadly hospital blast during his visit to the region on Wednesday. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Protesters gather during a demonstration outside the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. President Joe Biden cited U.S. intelligence to support claims that Palestinian militants were to blame for a deadly hospital blast. Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings Original Location: Third House speaker hopeful goes out on third vote: Washington Photos of the Week Washington Examiner Videos POLK On Tuesday students from High Plains Community School in Polk harvested corn for their annual corn yield trial. In the spring of this year students planted 14 different seed varieties donated by seven different companies, including LG, Dekalb, Prairie Valley, Channel, Pioneer, Becks and Golden Harvest. Tom Hoffmann, who teaches vocational agriculture at HPCS, said that students participating in the trial ranged in age from seventh grade to 12th grade. Junior high kids did the fertilizing in the spring with fertilizer donated by Central Valley Ag, according to Hoffman. Hoffman said that they did their first trial with students in 2013. Back then local farmers volunteered their land under a crop sharing agreement. The land for the corn yield trial this year was provided by Jeff Lindburg, a parent of one of the students participating in trial. Its nice that we have farmers who let us do this and use their land, Allie Howell, a junior at HPCS, said. Students in Hoffmans agronomy class and in HPCS FFA chapter participated in the harvesting on Tuesday. But according to Hoffman, it basically depends on who is available. It is sometimes hard finding a time when the students are available. On Tuesday, for instance, they had to get back for volleyball at 3 Hoffman said. But the students were excited to be there. Raoul Marino, a junior, said he was excited to learn the basics of planting. Neddy Lesiak, a freshman, meanwhile, said that he was learning the foundation of where this food comes from and how it feeds America. Hoffman shared unofficial results from the corn yield trial with the News-Times. A variety of LG came in on top with a yield of approximately 233 bushels/acre, followed by a Dekalb variety at about 228 and a Prairie Valley variety at about 226. Hoffman cautioned that the trial was affected by drought, wind and hail. Later on in the week students from HPCS harvested corn from another trial, sponsored by Orthman, comparing two different strip till machines. There were differences between the two machines, Hoffman said, but the results are not yet available. YORK York County Assessor Kurt Bulgrin reported to the commissioners this past week some of the highlights from a recent legislative conference hosted by the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO). He represented York County during the session during which NACO officials talked about state legislative issues they will be watching/monitoring/addressing in the future. Some of the potential legislation NACO will be monitoring includes some charges in the way the pink postcards are distributed and how that new law is implemented; they will also be looking at how veteran service offices can expand services for veterans who didnt serve during wartime; they would like to require the state to reimburse counties for courtroom security, as just a few. Granted, their priorities might change over the course of time. Bulgrin made his report during the regular commissioners meeting. The purpose of NACO is to serve as an association for all Nebraska county officials. To stimulate and contribute to continuing improvement of county government throughout the state, including specifically increased efficiency and economy, and an even higher standard of public service through the medium of county government for the ultimate benefit, common good and general welfare of Nebraska county residents. NACO is a non-profit organization intended to represent the interests of all elected and appointed county officials in the state. New Delhi: On a fateful day of June 5, 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced the order banning the popular Noodles brand Maggi owned by Nestle India in the country for containing excessive lead and mislabeling related to harmful monosodium glutamate content in its packets. It was a big blow to Nestle India as Maggi was the top cash-making brand with a market around Rs 2000 crore annual sales in the Noodles segment in the country. It had a market share over 80%. The company suffered extreme losses worth over Rs 500 crores as they were forced to remove Maggi from the shelves. Return Of Maggi The Bomaby HC struck down the national wide ban on August 13, 2015 and ordered the fresh tests within six weeks. Then, Chairman and Managing director Suresh Narayanan came as a saviour of Maggi, bringing back Noodles brand its crowning position and building the trust among customers once again. Maggi was relaunched in the market after a five-year embargo. In the second quarter of financial year 2023-24, Nestle India reported its net profit up by 36.9% at Rs 698.34, with prepared dishes and cooking aids witnessed double-digit growth driven by Maggi Noodles and aided through distribution expansion and impactful consumer activites. Lets dive deep into this intriguing but learning tale in a crisis management and how a persons ingenuity and presence of mind had offset the biggest nightmare for the company and regained the brands image. Suresh Narayanan is the current chairman and managing director of Nestle India, a position he's held since August 2015. He's known for turning things around when the company faced a tough time. Suresh joined the company Nestle India as MD in 2008 and went to the post of the chairman and managing director. He completed his graduation and masters in Economics from SRCC and Delhi school of economics, respectively. So, how did he steer the company through its worst crisis? To overcome this challenging period, he began running campaigns that touched people's hearts. These campaigns aimed to rebuild trust and faith in the brand, especially targeting mothers and young adults. Some of the well-known campaigns included 'We miss you Maggi' and 'Midnight Cooking was back.' They emphasized that Maggi was back and safe to eat, having passed all safety tests. These efforts paid off, and Maggi's sales started to climb as people began to trust the brand again. In less than a year, they had recaptured 60% of the market. But Suresh didn't stop there. Over the past eight years, Nestle India introduced various new products and innovations. They expanded the Maggi range with different flavors and introduced products like Oat Flakes, Nescafe Black Roast, and Chicken65 Masala Noodles. Suresh also brought in technology and data-led decision-making, moving away from traditional hierarchy-based decision-making. In 2019, they initiated Project Midas, focusing on innovation and distribution based on data from specific regions. With data analysis, they could target different demographics in cities, localities, households, and outlets more effectively. Under Suresh's leadership, Nestle India also improved its supply chain. Inside the company, he's known as a leader who values people and their well-being. So, Suresh Narayanan not only navigated the company through its toughest times but also helped it grow and adapt to the changing market. New Delhi: If you're a fan of a good drink in Maharashtra's bars and lounges, get ready to shell out more cash. The state government has just announced a 5 percent hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) for permit room liquor services, starting from November 1. This move will push the total VAT rate on such services to 10 percent. However, if you're planning to grab your favorite bottle from the local wine shop, you're in luck - the price there won't be affected by the VAT hike. (Also Read: Crafting Profits: Invest Rs 50,000 In This Business Idea And Earn Rs 3 Lakh Per Month - Check) According to a recent Times of India report, the government issued a resolution on Friday detailing the VAT increase. Notably, this won't impact star hotels, as they already pay a higher VAT rate of 20 percent for their liquor services. (Also Read: Invest Once In THIS LIC Scheme, And Reap A Whopping Return Of Rs 93 Lakh) Hoteliers have expressed concerns about the VAT increase, stating that recent hikes in license fees have already burdened them, leading to increased costs for customers. The recent decision to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor in Maharashtra has raised concerns among industry leaders, who fear that this move could drive up prices and deter customers from dining out. Pradeep Shetty, president of hotels and restaurants of western India (HRAWI), highlighted that this hike, coupled with the annual increase in excise fees, might lead to a decline in business. According to sources within the industry, this VAT increase could steer consumers toward more budget-friendly options, like consuming alcohol in off-premise locations such as terraces, parks, beaches, or even parked vehicles. Moreover, media reports have suggested that the state government is contemplating a new excise policy. This policy might entail linking the pricing of alcoholic beverages to their alcohol content and allowing the sale of bottled liquors in bars and permit rooms. South Delhi's Maidan Garhi police station has arrested a lawyer on the charges of grabbing land and demanding extortion. The police had registered a case on the complaint of a woman and the arrest came after several months of investigation. The accused has been identified as Sikander Behl. The complaint of fraud was lodged against him by a woman named Meena Chawla. The police registered an FIR under 406/34 and had started an investigation. Apart from this, the woman had filed another case against Sikandar under sections 379/42/43 IPC and 120B/406. Sikandar is accused of extorting money by taking property on rent or lease and then falsifying documents. A case was registered against him under sections like breach of trust and cheating and the police arrested him after further investigation in that case. According to the FIR lodged by the police, documents related to the contract between Players Builder Pvt Ltd and Best Electronics Pvt Ltd and another case of extortion by the family came to light in which the accused had embezzled crores of rupees by cheating a landlord. During the investigation, the police also discovered a shell company named Sub Dream India Private Limited which was created only for the purpose of making lease deeds. Even in the bank records of the company, it is clearly visible that an amount has been paid to the complainant for the lease by the Shell company. Police found evidence of fraud in this case during the preliminary investigation. After this, the investigation of the case was started. In which it came to light that without showing any necessary documents and evidence, he claimed the property as his own. There is a possibility of some more people being involved in this case. Carrying Palestine flags, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti along with party workers and leaders held a pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests in Srinagar. Chanting 'Israel go back' and 'Leave Palestine' slogans, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti took out a protest rally outside her party headquarters in Srinagar along with dozens of party workers. Jammu and Kashmir Police cops didn't allow Mufti and her supporters to proceed towards the city centre of Lal Chowk and Stopped them half a kilometre ahead of the PDP office near Polo View. Carrying a picture of Children killed in the Israel airstrike in Gaza, Mehbooba Mufti climbed atop a Police Vehicle which was trying to block her way towards Lal Chowk Srinagar. Speaking to reporters, Mufti said, "There is grave injustice happening in Palestine and the war needs to end. The world needs to stand up and stop the war." She said, "We are here against the atrocities faced by the people of Gaza, and we appeal to the UN to solve this issue on humanitarian grounds." She also urged world nations to interfere in the issue to bring a ceasefire in Gaza. Jammu and Kashmir, which has been in the grip of terrorism for the last several decades, is gradually returning to normalcy with people shedding fear. If the latest trends are to be believed, terrorism is breathing its last in the Union Territory with only 10 local youth joining the terror ranks this year in comparison to 110 last year. The number is the lowest in Jammu Kashmir since terrorism broke out in the late 1980s. On the Police commemoration day, Jammu and Kashmir Police's DGP Dilbagh Singh today said that the terrorism in the Union Territory is breathing its last and that Jammu and Kashmir police will make sure to finish it completely. He added that the dream of making Kashmir Valley fully peaceful is finally coming true. The DGP also said that Pakistan is still trying to derail the peace process in the Kashmir valley, but Jammu and Kashmir Police will make sure that such attempts are not successful. ''More than 1,600 security forces have sacrificed their lives in the last three decades while fighting terrorism in the Valley. Pakistan has been pushing and promoting terror here and the sacrifice of our forces has shown the results and that's why terrorism is breathing its last in the valley. Jammu and Kashmir will soon be terror-free, and we salute each and every martyr who laid down their lives for the country and peace, '' said Dilbagh Singh. While speaking about the terror launchpads across the border in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and infiltration bids, the DGP said that many camps have been pushed down while many are still active in Sialkot at the International border and also near LoC across the Gurez sector. He said that Pakistan, time and again, try to push the terrorists into Kashmir territory, but we have managed to foil more than 90 per cent of these bids and security forces posted along the LoC are always on high alert. ''We are alert and have foiled around 90% infiltration bids. Most of the infiltrators who were trying to cross over were killed near the LoC only. The Youth of Jammu and Kashmir has realised the plans of Pakistan. In 2022, around 110 local youth joined outfits while the number this year has been drastically low with around 10 youths joining the terror ranks. Out of these 10, six have already been killed. I appeal to the youth to shun the path of violence and those four local active terrorists should also shun the violence and come to the mainstream,'' said Singh. He also added that Narco terrorism is being dealt with strictly by various investigative agencies like NIA and SIA. ''We have had big success in the Ramban area where we recovered around 30kgs of drugs. The network was broken, and it has now come to our knowledge that it is connected from North Kashmir's Kupwara district to Punjab. And some links have been found in Uttarakhand as well," said the DGP. New Delhi: In the recent advertisement for a leading clothing brand, global star Ram Charan left audiences spellbound with his striking and charismatic presence. Dressed in two distinct outfits, Ram showcased his versatility and charm, receiving overwhelming admiration from fans and netizens alike. The ad campaign begins with Ram Charan donning a mesmerizing flamingo pink kurta set. This traditional attire featured a harmonious blend of Chikankari embroidery and mystic harlequin patterns with intricate sequin work. The transition from the vibrant pink ensemble to the ultimate groom's attire was a sight to behold. Both looks exuded elegance and timeless appeal, perfectly capturing the essence of Indian heritage with a contemporary twist. Netizens couldn't contain their excitement as they witnessed this new avatar of their beloved actor. Social media platforms were flooded with heart and love-struck emojis, which spoke volumes about their adoration for Ram Charan. They expressed their appreciation with comments like, "Pink is looking so good on you, sir," "You handsome hunk," and "Anna's classic look." It was evident that Ram Charan's style and pleasant appearance had struck a chord with his die-hard fan following. This ad campaign is a testament to Ram Charan's brand power. His charisma and appeal transcend beyond the silver screen, making him a fashion icon and a role model for many. His association with Manyavar only solidifies his status as a fashion inspiration and trendsetter. Over a month after accusingiIndian hand behind the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau is now feeling the heat of India's counter-actions. It all started with Canada accusing India and firing one of the top diplomats of the country in September. India was quick to deny the allegation and took a series of countermeasures by firing Canada's top diplomat in Delhi. Weeks later, the Ministry of External Affairs of India asked Canada to pull out 41 diplomats to achieve diplomatic parity between the two nations saying that if the same was not done, New Delhi would unilaterally revoke their diplomatic immunity. Following India's warning, Canada shifted its 41 diplomats to different countries. Very Concerned: Trudeau Now, PM Trudeau reacted to the whole saga once again yesterday saying that the Indian government's crackdown on Canadian diplomats was making normal life difficult for millions of people in both countries. He also said that New Delhi is contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy. He added that the Canadian diplomats' expulsion would hamper travel and trade and pose difficulties for Indians studying in Canada. "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...It is something that all countries in the world should be 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...The Indian govt 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," said Trudeau. Violation Of International Law: Joy His statement comes days after Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented but also contrary to international law. She also announced to cease operations of their three consulates in India. Action As Per Vienna Convention: MEA However, India again rejected Canada's statement saying that New Delhi's decision related to diplomatic parity is as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR). "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. US Expresses Concern Meanwhile, the US has expressed concerns over the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from India and urged the Indian government not to insist on reducing Canada's diplomatic presence. During a press briefing yesterday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Washington is concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India in response to the Indian government's demand and urged the Indian government to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation. New Delhi: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed on Saturday to have killed two senior leaders of military wing of Hamas in its strikes. This is yet another setback for the terror group which already has lost around 10 of its top leaders. Additionally, the IDF reported that approximately one-fifth of the rockets launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the past 24 hours misfired, landing inside Gaza and causing harm to civilians. This misfire incident involved more than 550 rockets. IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that these misfires led to casualties among the local population This information comes shortly after Hamas accused Israel of firing a rocket that struck Gaza's Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, leading to multiple casualties. The IDF, however, denied these accusations, with independent international investigators determining that the rocket in question came from a misfire by PIJ. The IDF has been targeting Hamas military objectives in the northern Gaza Strip as part of preparations for a potential ground invasion. Originally planned for the previous week, the invasion was delayed due to weather conditions and a reported request from the United States to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the southern part of the Gaza Strip. 1 in 5 Hamas & Islamic Jihad rockets hit Gaza in the last 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/sfOv02NMuU Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 21, 2023 On Saturday, humanitarian aid, including medicine, food, and supplies, entered Gaza, but fuel was not permitted. The IDF encouraged Gaza residents to move to the southern part of the region to receive humanitarian assistance, as they continue their operations against Hamas in the north. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the arrival of humanitarian aid into Gaza and thanked Egypt, Israel, and the United Nations for facilitating its safe passage. Additionally, Daniel Hagari provided updates on the number of Israeli soldiers killed and hostages taken. Israel has been in contact with the families of 307 fallen soldiers and raised the number of hostages to 210. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined the primary objective of an expected invasion of the Gaza Strip, which is the destruction of Hamas. Following the elimination of Hamas, a new "security reality" is envisioned for the Gaza Strip. Gallant also detailed the war's objectives, including the destruction of both the military and government structures of Hamas. Israel aims to create a new "security regime" for the Gaza Strip, ultimately relinquishing its responsibility for day-to-day life in the region. Gallant described a three-phase plan for the war, with the first phase involving military campaigns, airstrikes, and ground maneuvers to target operatives and infrastructure. The second phase would focus on eliminating pockets of resistance with lower-intensity fighting, and the third phase would establish a new security regime and a different security reality for the area. Former President Donald Trump has plans to be in Florida on the night of the third Republican debate, but he will attend a rally instead. Trump made the announcement Friday on his social media platform Truth Social. The rally will happen hours before the debate on Nov. 8, but it will likely run through its end. This debate is scheduled a little less than a year before the 2024 general election date. WHY THE REPUBLICANS CAN'T JUST GET ALONG Despite being the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president, Trump did not attend either of the first two debates. During the first debate, he had an interview with Tucker Carlson air at the same time. Carlson had recently been fired from Fox News at the time. A Messenger-Harris poll was taken last month immediately following the second Republican primary debate hosted by the Republican National Committee and Fox News. Trump was again a no-show, which 51% of his supporters did not approve of, while 49% said it was the right decision. Out of those polled, 43% of respondents said they were more likely to vote for Trump after the debate. At that second debate, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were joined on the debate stage by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND). There are 13 candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not qualify for the second debate despite appearing for the first one. Only DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy have qualified for the third debate. 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. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Republican National Committee has set the qualifications for the candidates, which include two polls that show at least 4% support and a higher threshold for individual contributions. There are two other candidates who have not dropped out from the race: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and political commentator Larry Elder. Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd dropped out and offered his endorsement to Haley. Original Location: Trump to appear at Florida rally on night of third GOP debate Washington Examiner Videos Israel Defense Forces (IDF) International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner has emphasized that they are currently awaiting the "green light" from the government for a ground offensive in Gaza. Since the October 7th terror attack by Hamas, which claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis and led to numerous hostages, Israel has remained on high alert. Speaking to diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Tel Aviv, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner explained, "If the ground offensive is instructed and approved by the government, we will be prepared to mobilize. The reservists are now being equipped, trained, and given specific tasks in anticipation of that ground offensive." In response to the situation in the Gaza Strip resulting from what Israel says are actions to deal with Hamas hideouts, Lerner noted, "We've instructed much of the population in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate and move towards the south. I'm happy to report that we have seen a massive number of people who have followed our instructions, despite Hamas's efforts to prevent them." The continuous Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have raised significant concerns about the humanitarian situation, with the United Nations and other world leaders expressing their worries. The IDF spokesperson also pointed out that Hamas is currently in a "state of disarray" adding, "They will definitely be in shock when we get to them." Sidhant Sibal: We know there is a buildup at Gaza so can we expect a ground offensive very soon? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: The IDF is now on its 14th day of its offensive to destroy Hamas, to dismantle its capabilities to seek out and pursue its leaders and terrorists. Indeed in the course of the last 14 days, the IDF has recruited some 300,000 reservists. Their role if instructed will be across the various services of the IDF and also including the ground offensive. If the ground offensive is instructed and approved by the government, we will be prepared to mobilize. The reservists are now being equipped and trained and given specific tasks in anticipation for that ground offensive and that is what they are preparing for. Indeed, it does appear that that is the way forward. But we are as I said, waiting for the green light from the government in order to mobilize. Currently, we are striking Hamas in its entirety, seeking out its leaders, and destroying its operational capabilities, its command and control positions. And of course, hunting down its leaders in the perpetrators of the atrocities of the seventh of October. Sidhant Sibal: Sir, it has been over a week since the terror attack happened. How much have you been able to neutralise Hamas in the Gaza Strip? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: We have struck and targeted hundreds of different targets, including leaders, terrorists, planners, operators including the cabinet of the Hamas's terrorist government. Indeed, we understand that they are in a state of disarray as an organization, as a governing body. But they are hiding they're hiding behind the people of Gaza. They are willing to sacrifice the people of Gaza because they have no regard for human life, Israeli or Palestinian. So our understanding is that they are in a state of disarray. They haven't got a clue what is going on above ground. They will definitely be in shock when we get to them. But we will, we are determined to defeat them. We did not open this war, but we will win it. Sidhant Sibal: Right now, the Southern Front is open but we see Activities on the Northern Front as well with Hezbollah planning some kind of offensive or attack. How do you plan to deal with Hezbollah if it plans to open the Northern Front as well? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: Absolutely, we've seen over the last 14 days, a constant increase in hostilities by Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon. We've seen anti-tank guided missiles fired and as we've seen mortars, we've seen rockets, we've seen sniper fire and we've seen machine gun fire at our forces. We have taken the necessary precautions some of those reservists that have been called up have been sent to reinforce the northern border in order to be prepared for a potential flare-up with Hezbollah as well. Their attacks still appear to be on a low scale, which indicates that they are trying to divert our attention from the South to the North. And we understand that Iran is actually behind this effort. We are a strong military. We have great capabilities. We have a professional military, and I would say we can fight on two fronts or multiple fronts if required. We don't want to but we are prepared to if we if we are needed. Sidhant Sibal: Coming back to your previous reply, IDF has been targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip and you talked about the Palestinians as well. What would you say about humanitarian aspects given that there's is an increased pounding of Hamas hideouts by the Israeli side that can lead to collateral damage as well? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: So we operate basically, like the Indian military based on three core principles, 1) the principle of distinction between civilians, non combatants and terrorists, 2) the principle of military necessity what is the advantage of the specific strike? What abilities does it take from the enemy? 3) And thirdly, proportionality. And we're constantly balancing out those three components in order to be effective in our efforts in order to try and minimize and keep civilians out of harm's way. We've instructed much of the population in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate and go towards the south. I'm happy to report that we have seen a huge massive amount of people who have actually listened to us. And that is despite Hamas's efforts to prevent them. Hamas put out public announcements telling people not to evacuate. When people went, when they saw that people weren't listening to them, they erected checkpoints, physical checkpoints with terrorists that are trying to prevent them. Even that wasn't successful. So I'm happy to say that people listen to us because they understand that what happened on the seventh of October is unacceptable to any decent human being's understanding. So the people, the decent people of Gaza, have listened to Israel and have headed South. Indeed Hamas have no regard for human life, and they will jeopardize the civilian population of Gaza. And our job is to differentiate between that analysis, specifically what we're doing. We've designated a humanitarian zone in the southwest of the Gaza Strip in the Al-Mawasi area. And our operations, when we need to strike in the Gaza Strip are much more precision intelligence based against specific targets in order to eliminate specific threats. So I would say that when we look at the operation, and when we look at what we're doing, to defeat and destroy us, we are doing it in a way that sends a clear message to the people of Gaza. You are not our enemy. Hamas is our enemy. And that is what we're doing. Sidhant Sibal: How many IDF causalities have been there since the attacks? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: We have the last number 304 as IDF fatalities in this attack. Of course, there are 203 hostages being held by Hamas. We still have over 100 people that are unaccounted for. So that number might go up and of course, Hamas butchered, murdered and massacred over 1,400 people, Israelis, men, women, children, the elderly, they have no regard for anybody. And they just came on the mass mass mass murder of anybody that they found. In that time, they have also fired some 7000 rockets at Israel and jeopardized Israeli security, safety and the safety of the people from Haifa although in the north all the way down to the south. And they're continuing their attacks against us, and we are continuing our strikes against them. We have I can say that we are every time we meet a terrorist on the grounds, the terrorist is killed in the exchange. That is what we are doing. We are restoring safety and security. I can say even yesterday we still found a Palestinian terrorist in Israel's territory 13 days after the initial attack. So we are constantly securing the border, closing the breaches that they penetrated through, preventing terrorists from escaping back to the Gaza Strip, and preventing further infiltration from the Gaza Strip into Israeli communities. Sidhant Sibal: One thing we have noticed is that Hamas is attacking even though the Iron Dome is working well. How come Hamas still has the capability to attack? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: The Iron Dome isn't foolproof, but it is a very effective mechanism in order to safeguard and save civilians. Hamas has accumulated a huge amount of rockets, and they are continuing to do so and I think the basic working assumption is even when a ground offensive takes place. They will continue to try and launch rockets. What we have seen as a decline in the amount of rockets that they're firing daily, which suggests that they are being pursued and have not got the comfort to launch them as freely as before. But yes, indeed they still have this arsenal. They will try and challenge us at each age period. This is the reason or one of the reasons or another part of the equation, why we need to change the paradigm so that this organization cannot fire rockets on us and not butcher our babies, can never adopt us again, and this is why we need to change the entire system. Sidhant Sibal: When do you see hostages being released.....? Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: Unfortunately, I have nothing to report on this issue as I said the number of 203 is the number that could actually go up. The working assumption is that they're alive. And I would add that we expect Hamas to take care of their well-being, they need to be released and be released now. Prime Minister Netanyahu has demanded that they have the International Committee of the Red Cross have access to the hostages. But I don't want to comment beyond that because I don't want to jeopardize them or the families of 203 people who are in despair and whose life has been torn to pieces in the aftermath of this attack for the last 14 days. So I don't want to comment on that. And jeopardize anything we can actually bring them home. Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif today returned to the country four years after a self-imposed exile in London. Sharif reached Islamabad in a chartered flight and will later address a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan at 5pm today. Before leaving for Islamabad from Dubai airport today, Sharif lamented the 'very chaotic' situation in his country. Talking to the media at the airport, Sharif said that sadly the country is in a much worse situation rather than being in a good position. "The situation in Pakistan is very chaotic and that is very worrying, said Nawaz. Nawaz Sharif, three-time former Prime Minister, returned to Pakistan today after a four-year-long self-imposed exile in London. Nawaz Sharif's final term, following a resounding victory in 2013, was marked by turbulence. It commenced with a prolonged opposition-led blockade of Islamabad and culminated in his disqualification by the Supreme Court in 2017 due to his failure to cease receiving a salary from his son's company, as reported by Geo News. Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in jail upon conviction in the Avenfield reference along with a fine of 8 million Euros (Pakistani Rupees 1.3 billion) on July 6, 2018. Sharif was in London at that time. After approaching the Islamabad High Court, Sharif got major relief as the IHC ordered the release of Nawaz, Maryam and Captain Muhammad Safdar while temporarily suspending the sentences awarded to them. However, in December 2018, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) awarded Nawaz a seven-year jail term and a fine of PKR 1.5 billion in the Al-Azizia sugar mills reference. He was arrested from the courtroom after the accountability court judge announced the verdict in the graft case filed in light of the Supreme Court's 2016 Panamagate verdict. With the verdict came Nawaz's disqualification to hold any public office for a period of 10 years. In October 2019, Nawaz Sharif was diagnosed with an immune system disorder while serving his sentence in the Al-Azizia case. Following this, medical professionals recommended that he seek treatment abroad. The former Prime Minister managed to secure interim bail on medical grounds in the sugar mills reference. Subsequently, the Islamabad High Court granted Nawaz an eight-week bail in the Al-Azizia case due to his worsening health. In November 2019, the Lahore High Court permitted Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for a four-week period and ordered the government led by Imran Khan to remove his name from the no-fly list without imposing any conditions. This decision came after the former PM provided the court with a court-approved undertaking assuring his return within the stipulated time, as reported by Geo News. The court also granted Nawaz Sharif the option to extend his stay abroad based on medical reports, initially allowing him to leave the country for four weeks. Later, Nawaz Sharif was granted protective bail in two graft cases, while an accountability court suspended his arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case, removing all the legal hurdles in his smooth return to the country. The PML-N party is preparing for a grand welcome for the former PM on October 21. Several party leaders and workers are converging in Lahore from all across Pakistan for the party's grand power show. It has also booked multiple special trains to ensure that its supporters are able to attend the Minar-e-Pakistan rally, Geo News reported. (With ageny inputs) After a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, Israel pledged to retaliate against the terrorist group for the attack on the country. The Israel Defense Forces are currently conducting operations to target Hamas in Gaza. The conflict between Hamas and Israel is escalating, and Israel has devised a three-pronged strategy to completely eliminate the Palestinian militant organization. Israel is determined to eradicate Hamas and will do so through coordinated action by its military, air force, and navy. The Israeli Defense Forces are actively carrying out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip as part of their ongoing efforts to target terrorists hiding within residential areas. Israeli forces are fully prepared to confront Hamas in Gaza. According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the operation will unfold in three phases. In the first phase, the IDF will launch an invasion of Gaza to root out Hamas terrorists from their hideouts. The second phase will involve targeted operations to eliminate Hamas militants in residential areas, with the aim of minimizing civilian casualties. In the third and final phase, Israel will establish a new security framework for its citizens. In the meantime, Israel is closely monitoring Lebanon due to its expressed support for Hamas, as this support could potentially pose challenges to the execution of Israel's plan to eliminate the terrorist organization. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are ready to carry out their "Hamas elimination operation," pending approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. New Delhi: This morning Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri announced his next film in Bangalore. The film titled 'Parva' will be based on a Book named Parva, written by S. L. Bhyrappa. It will be 3 parts big franchise. As the director brought this big announcement to the audience, the team of the film was present at the event. At the event, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, producer and actress Pallavi Joshi, co-writer, Prakash Belawadi, and author of the novel Parva, S. L. Bhyrappa were present. While announcing his next project, 'Parva', Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri said, "We, at I am Buddha Production are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr. SL Bhyrappas modern classic: PARVA - AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA." Moreover, the actress and producer, Pallavi Joshi said, "It is a great honor to be sitting next to living legend, S. L. Bhyrappa, I never dreamt of ever this day, and happy as I am to be making 'Parva' into a film. I want to understand the mammoth responsibility that we have on our shoulders. It is not easy handling a subject like Parva, handling the vision of the author. Do you know a trip of self-exploration to our films? Parva as a film that will be made in 3 parts, but will also be making this film in two languages, Kannada and English. It is great to have our friend, Prakash Belawadi as co-writer for our project." BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Is Mahabharat HISTORY or MYTHOLOGY? We, at @i_ambuddha are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr. SL Bhyrappas modern classic: PARVA - AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA. There is a reason why PARVA is called Masterpiece of masterpieces. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/BiRyClhT5c Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) October 21, 2023 Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's Parva will be based on a book named Parva that is written by S. L. Bhyrappa in the Kannada language. It is a retelling of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata that is narrated through the personal reflections of the principal characters. The novel is widely praised and acclaimed as a modern classic. Thiruvananthapuram: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan on Saturday said that the accomplishment of 'TV-D1' (Test Vehicle Development Flight 1) is a great success for the first step in the Gaganyaan Mission. "This is a great success, in the sense that this is the first step for the Gaganyaan project. This launch proves the ability of the ISRO team to check, qualify or validate their design of the escape modules," Nambi Narayanan told ANI. Speaking further, the scientist said, "This is an important module because, in the entire process, we are playing with life, so that these astronauts will come back alive without any issue whatsoever. They are conducting double-checks on this." Hundreds of parameters were monitored, of course, there was an initial blip but it was due to a very small error in the monitoring system, but it has come out successfully. This is just the first step, they still have a long way to go, he added. "We must be extremely careful in doing these things because these kind of projects have multiple applications. So we must make sure that things are done properly. I feel this is a great success," said Narayanan further. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for completing an important test in India's first manned spaced flight program Gaganyaan. Earlier today, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said that the successful launch of the Indian space agency's unmanned test flight of 'Mission Gaganyaan' was a "significant milestone" for India's programme to put humans in space in the near future. "I am really happy to learn that the TV-D1 mission of ISRO has been successfully completed today..." Nair told ANI today. Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer also congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists for the successful accomplishment of 'TV-D1' in the Gaganyaan Mission. The mission objectives of the TV-D1 launch were flight demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle subsystems; flight demonstration and evaluation of Crew Escape System including various separation systems; crew module characteristics; and deceleration system demonstration at higher altitudes and its recovery. The Gaganyaan project envisages a human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian waters. This programme will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China. Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on October 17 delivered the verdict on the same-sex marriage where it stated that the right to marriage is not a fundamental rule and It is with the legislature to decied the fate of legalising same-sex marriages in India. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha refused to tweak the provisions of the Special Marriage Act even as the apex court declared that queer couples have a right to cohabit without any threat of violence, coercion of interference. Following the Supreme Court's verdict on the recognition of same-sex marriage, 22 former judges wrote a letter of appreciation for the apex court's decision on the matter. "The judgment is a blend of interpretation of statutory provisions, culture and morality. It is relevant in the context of Indian culture, ethos, and heritage," stated the letter. The former judges in the released statement asserted that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the long-established principle of the separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of India. It emphasized that the court's role is to interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and it should refrain from intruding into the legislative sphere, which is the exclusive domain of the competent legislature. Appreciating the refusal to recognise queers' right to adoption the statement added, "Queers right to adoption has also not been recognised by the Apex Court and rightly so. Even existing statutory provisions also restrict the rights of a single person to adopt e.g. under section 57 of The Juvenile Justice(care and protection of children ) Act 2015, a single male is prohibited from adopting a female child. Similarly, section 11 of The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,1956 prescribes an age difference of 21 years, if a male is to adopt a female child or if a female is to adopt a male child." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon the people of the country to hold the hands of the poor and unprivileged to bring them out of poverty and contribute to the development of the nation. Speaking at the 125th Founder's Day of The Scindia School PM Modi asserted that India will eliminate poverty and progress by ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries benefit from comprehensive welfare programs. "The government will not stop until every unprivileged person in the country gets benefits under various welfare schemes including Ayushman Bharat card, a cooking gas connection, a functional bank account and a pukka house. PM Modi asserted that by working with these welfare schemes the government brought nearly 13.5 crore poor people above the poverty line. #WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | On the 125th Founders Day of The Scindia School in Gwalior, PM Modi says, "... India will remove poverty and also become developed. Whatever India is doing today is doing it on a mega scale Your dreams and resolutions should both be big Your dream pic.twitter.com/mVcAJOCh9R ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023 "India is determined to eradicate poverty and achieve development on a grand scale. Aspiration and determination should both be of substantial magnitude. Your dreams are my commitment," said PM Modi. PM Modi further emphasized the importance of working for the welfare of future generations rather than seeking short-term gains. He highlighted that the BJP-led government at the Center is nearing its 10-year anniversary and has made several long-term decisions, liberating the nation from a range of pending issues. These include actions such as the abrogation of Article 370, the introduction of GST, the implementation of One Rank One Pension, the ban on Triple Talaq, and the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill. PM Modi stressed that these unresolved matters could have burdened future generations, and his government is dedicated to creating a favorable environment for young individuals, offering them abundant opportunities. He encouraged students to dream big and strive for significant accomplishments. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the Scindia School's approaching 150th anniversary, closely aligning with India's centenary of independence. He expressed confidence in the youth's ability to transform India into a developed nation within the next 25 years, emphasizing that he trusts in their capabilities. PM Modi reiterated that the next 25 years are crucial for the students and for India as a whole. He urged every student of the Scindia School to contribute to India's development, whether in the professional world or any other sphere. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission at 10 am after putting it on hold earlier this morning due to technical glitch. The crew module successfully detached from the launch rocket and landed safely using parachutes in the Bay of Bengal. The crew module landed 10km distance from the launch site, marking another feat for ISRO. The Indian Navy will recover the module and bring it back to the space agency. It took 8 minutes for the crew module to land at sea in the Bay of Bengal. Addressing the media after the successful launch, ISRO Chairman S Somnath said that the launch was rescheduled at 8.30 am from 8 am due to weather issue and was later put on hold due to technical issue by the ground computer. "We initially wanted the launch to happen at 8am. But there was some weather related issues. We rescheduled the launch at 8.45am. But after going through the nominal lift-off process, there was a hold issued by the ground computer which is called the automatic launch sequence computer which detected a non-confirmance for allowing the engine to continue the thursting to go up. This was due to a monitoring anomaly system. We identified it very fast and corrected," said Somnath. #WATCH | Gaganyaan Mission: After the successful touch down of the crew escape module, ISRO chief S Somanath congratulates scientists pic.twitter.com/YQp6FZWXec ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023 "I am very happy to announce the successful accomplishment of the TV-D1 mission. The purpose of this mission was to demonstrate the crew escape system for the Gaganyaan program through a test vehicle demonstration in which the vehicle went up to a Mach number, which is slightly above the speed of sound and initiated an abort condition for the crew escape system to function. The crew escape system took the crew module away from the vehicle and subsequent operations including the touch-down at the sea have been very well accomplished," said Somnath annoucing the successful launch. The ISRO chief further said that the time between 8.45 and 10 am was used for not only correcting the glitch but also for refilling gases. ISRO today informed that it has identified and corrected the reason for the launch hold. "Kudos ISRO for successfully accomplishing maiden Test Vehicle Flight TV-D1. This is the first step in the last leg of journey towards Indias Crewed Human Spacecraft mission Gaganyaan. In the enabling milieu provided by PM Narendra Modi, ISRO achieving one success after the other," said Union Minister of State Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh. Gaganyaan Abort Mission Video Here #WATCH | Sriharikota: ISRO launches test flight for Gaganyaan mission after first test flight was aborted pic.twitter.com/pIbmjyJj3W ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023 After the mission was put on hold, Somnath said, "The lift-off attempt could not happen today...engine ignition has not happened in the nominal course, we need to find out what went wrong. The vehicle is safe, we need to look at what happened...we will come back soon...the computer which is doing function has withheld the launch...we will correct it and schedule launch soon." #WATCH | Gaganyaans First Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) launch on hold ISRO chief S Somnath says, The lift-off attempt could not happen today...engine ignition has not happened in the nominal course, we need to find out what went wrong. The vehicle is safe, we pic.twitter.com/wIosu113oT ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023 Mission Definition Defining the mission, ISRO said, "In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System (CES) at Mach number 1.2 with the newly developed Test Vehicle followed by Crew Module separation & safe recovery." Mission Objective Defining the mission object, ISRO said that three key things will be achieved with this test. The objectives are - Flight demonstration and evaluation of Test Vehicle sub-systems, Flight demonstration and evaluation of Crew Escape System including various separation systems and Crew Module characteristics & deceleration systems demonstration at higher altitude & recovery. Abort Scenario Testing The test flight is designed to replicate an abort scenario that occurs during the ascent phase. At an altitude of approximately 17 kilometres, the crew escape systems, including crude modules, will be detached from the test vehicle. Following this, the autonomous abort sequence will initiate, starting with the separation of the crew escape systems and the deployment of a series of parachutes. Ultimately, the crew module will touch down safely in the sea, approximately 10 kilometres off the coast of Sriharikota. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earlier chaired a high-level meeting to assess the progress of India's Gaganyaan mission and to outline the future of India's space exploration programs, the PMO said. It was noted that around 20 major tests, including 3 uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) are planned. The first demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle is scheduled today. The prime minister's review meeting evaluated the mission's readiness, affirming its launch in 2025. The Gaganyaan mission comes after ISRO's back-to-back success of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 sun mission. The Israel-Hamas has entered the 14th day with the Israeli Defence Forces all poised for ground invasion in Gaza. Hundreds of tanks and thousands of Israeli soldiers have lined up at the Gaza border waiting for an official order to start their ground offensive. Zee News reporter Vishal Pandey reported from ground zero that humanitarian aid of 20 trucks has reached Gaza, a first since the October 8 counter-offensive launched by Israel. Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that the 20 trucks of aid is very little for the affected populations in Gaza. Vishal Pandey said that while the war has entered the 14th day, the firing of rockets has continued from the Hamas side and the Israeli Air Force is also carrying out the airstrikes at the Hamas sites. Reports indicate that there is a discreet push from the United States and Europe for Israel to delay its mission. The concern behind this request is the potential detrimental impact it may have on future efforts to secure the release of additional hostages. According to the reports, both the US and the UK governments acknowledge the high probability of a ground invasion but are not advocating against it entirely. Instead, they are advising Israel to temporarily postpone it, in hopes that further diplomatic initiatives may yield success. The US and the UK are pushing for the release of hostages by Hamas through negotiators led by Qatar. As per the IDF, Hamas has kept captive over 200 Israelis including foreign citizens. Earlier yesterday, Hamas released two US nationals following negotiations with Qatar. Republican U.S. Rep Ken Buck said Thursday that he received four death threats and has been evicted from a congressional office in his district for opposing U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan's bid for House speaker as the GOP-controlled chamber went another day without electing a leader. 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: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. 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. 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: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. 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. Jessica McDonald was standing in a spot on a large expanse of land on a Friday afternoon in October. Next to her, a small portion had been dug up in small narrow ridges, the beginning stages of what will become a vernal pool for wet prairie habitat. The piece of land, called Oak Creek Preserve, had been on the radar of Greenbelt Land Trust the conservation nonprofit where she is executive director for more than three decades before it was purchased in May. 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. Four months after that acquisition, the organization acquired its largest property to datea 1,600-acre parcel in Coburg Hills. Greenbelt is calling the parcel CBow Ridge. The purchase had been three years in the making. The acquisition brings the size of properties the nonprofit has acquired for conservation within a six-month period this year to more than 1,800 acres. A lot of restoration efforts lie ahead. CBow Ridges acquisition is crucial for various reasons, McDonald said. An intact conserved portion of land the size of the parcel in the Willamette Valley is becoming rare. But more importantly, the property rises from the valley floor about 1800 feet in elevation before reaching the ridgeline of the Coburg Hills. This elevation gain, combined with the propertys diverse topography and habitats, creates microclimates across the property that make it more resilient to the effects of climate change, McDonald said. These habitats, including prairies, forests and oak savannas, house animal and such plant life as the Kincaids lupine, host plant for Fenders blue butterfly, which recently exited the endangered species list. According to McDonald, the property was purchased with a grant held by the Bonneville Power Administration and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife through the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program. "Essentially, that is a settlement agreement for the effects of the dams in the Willamette basin," McDonald said, adding that the funding helps conservation and restoration efforts to mitigate the impact of dams in the Willamette basin. Restoration and conservation Following the acquisition, McDonald said the organization was developing a management plan outlining the goals for stewardship and restoration, as it does with every acquisition. According to McDonald, restoration processes in CBow Ridge will entail adapting and enhancing a mixture of different types of forests, riparian areas, creeks and tributaries as well as upland prairies. There is also an opportunity to sync up with habitat restoration that is happening within that larger region, she said. A stones throw away sits The Nature Conservancys Coburg Ridge Preserve, and north of CBow Ridge, Greenbelt owns a protected property called Courtney Creek. a 200-acre property it acquired in 2017. Nearby are also Bureau of Land Management parcels that have been designated as "areas of critical environmental concern." McDonald said her organization is not thinking of its parcels as isolated properties but as stepping stones along a corridor of restoration and conservation. Already at Oak Creek Preserve, the process has begun to create five vernal pools by plugging some drainage ditches to ensure that water is restored and preserved within the landscape. "It will look very different in a few short years," McDonald said. Heart of the Valley campaign Alongside the recent acquisition, the organization recently brought its $7 million Heart of the Valley fundraising campaign to a close. McDonald said she was feeling great about the results. "We have spent the better part of the last 2 years deep in the work of building the funds and finalizing that $7 million goal, and were so excited to be here, thanks to the incredibly generous community that we have across the Willamette Valley that supported us in meeting this goal," she said. Part of the reason for the campaign was to make the organization financially resilient in the face of its growing conservation goals, as well as educational endeavors. It also aided in the acquisition of Oak Creek Preserve, which will now connect 100 miles of trails around Bald Hills, McDonald Forest, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Fitton Green, and 14,000-plus acres combined of different properties. "When we launched the Heart of the Valley campaign two years ago, we honestly could not have known the increase in demand and interest that wed be seeing today in 2023 from landowners, funders, partners across the Willamette Valley," McDonald said. She added there is now an increased sense of urgency from various parties to think about and devise creative collaborations for conservation and to meet climate goals. 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. Owing to its past successes in navigating these conversations, the organization is increasingly becoming the first port of call for insights and how to act, she said. In the immediate future, McDonald said the organization will acquire more parcels to add to its footprint in the Coburg Hills area, to continue extending its corridor of conservation. They are also working on a grant to fund a lightning-speed acquisition of the Luckiamute Confluence, a 110-acre parcel of land connecting the north and south plots of the Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area. "Were looking at an increased pace and scale of conservation like no other time before," McDonald said. Related stories: 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: 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. The Danville School Board touted stories of success including improved attendance this year at Thursday nights meeting. It all started with recognizing the three fully accredited schools in Danville: Galileo Magnet High School and Forest Hill and Schoolfield elementary schools. Even though the results were made public last month, representatives from each school received a banner marking the achievement. Its never too late to say thank you to the schools and the administrative team, Danville Public Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston said Thursday evening before presenting the banner to the individual schools. Schoolfield is the newest addition to the fully accredited list in Danville. And we have more to come next year, Hairston said, offering a positive vibe for the other eight Danville schools that are still accredited with conditions, a tier below full accreditation. Hairston, citing Gov. Glenn Youngkins ALL IN VA initiative a plan to address chronic absenteeism in state schools thanked students and parents for stepping up this year to address the problem. I can tell you our students are getting to school, she said, without citing specific figures, but noted she meets each week with an attendance task force. Last school year, 1-in-4 Danville students were considered chronically absent, meaning they missed more than 18 days. That equals about a month of school. Continuing the praise theme, the superintendent highlighted that businesses are stepping up as well. For example, there was a situtation where five pizzas were needed for students Thursday. DellAnnos Pizza Kitchen provided those pizzas free. I dont care what you hear, I dont care what you see, Hairston said a clear reference to social media chatter it generally doesnt represent what is going on. Charles McWilliams III, a member of the school board, echoed that sentiment, explaining sometimes they get wrapped up in the things that are messed up in the system, they dont fully appreciate the positive actions. Its so wonderful to see that we have improved attendance, he said. Its just a pleasure to see good things happening in DPS. Tyrell Payne, vice chair of the school board, said a few years ago it would have been unheard of to have three schools recognized as fully accredited. Thank you to DPS for all of their hard work, he said. Today it shows that it is paying off. As climate change intensifies extreme heat, farms are becoming less hospitable to nesting birds, a new study found. That could be another barrier to maintaining rapidly eroding biodiversity that also provides benefits to humans, including farmers who get free pest control when birds eat agricultural pests. Researchers who examined data on over 150,000 nesting attempts found that birds in agricultural lands were 46% less likely to successfully raise at least one chick when it got really hot than birds in other areas. I dont think we expected it to be as extreme as it was, said Katherine Lauck, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Davis, and lead author of the study published Thursday in the journal Science. Bird scientists have been tracking the decline of avian wildlife for years. In 2019, a comprehensive study showed that there were three billion fewer wild birds than in 1970. The new study represents a closer look at what might be behind the dramatic decline. Intense commercial farming is known to harm birds fields completely clear of trees and other natural barriers lack shelter for wildlife, and pesticides and other agricultural chemicals can hurt birds. The study concluded that species of higher conservation concern in the U.S. those closer to being listed as federally threatened or endangered were more vulnerable to extreme heat events in agricultural settings. But across the board, birds in forests were 14% more likely to achieve reproductive success in times of extreme heat. The studys findings were not surprising to Ken Rosenberg, a biologist with the Road to Recovery initiative who formerly worked as a conservation biologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and was lead author on what he calls the three billion birds study. The idea that forest birds could benefit slightly from warmer temperatures makes sense, he said, since shade from trees provides a buffer from extreme heat that agricultural areas dont have. Rosenberg, who was not affiliated with this study, said he was pleased to see a paper in a prestigious journal using large datasets built from citizen science data. In this case, the observations came from NestWatch, a nationwide nest-monitoring program that anyone can participate in. However, Rosenberg cautioned that more data might be needed to confirm that species of higher conservation concern were more vulnerable, since the overwhelming majority of the data involved species of low conservation concern. The researchers predicted how different bird species might fare in each landscape during extreme heat events. They concluded that in agricultural areas, species of greater conservation concern, like the oak titmouse, would see worse outcomes than species of lower concern, like the house sparrow. Rosenberg and David Bird, a professor emeritus of wildlife biology at McGill University, said the study contributes to the understanding of the negative effects of intensive single crop farming. Bird said the study sings the praises of the need for preserving our forests, which not only protect birds from hot weather but also help protect ecosystems from global warming by absorbing carbon. The study suggests that if farmers purposefully left just a little more natural space around farms with a few trees or native plants not necessarily changing everything about their operations birds could better coexist with humans, Rosenberg said. Some of these open country birds dont really need a lot of habitat or a lot of space, he said. They just need some. Lead author Lauck is now working to better understand exactly why birds experience such large differences in nesting success between farmed and forested areas, hoping that would point toward useful interventions. New solutions that are neutral for farmers but helpful for biodiversity in the long term will create a more resilient biosphere for all of us, they said. 25 endangered animals that live only in America Salt marsh harvest mouse Utah prairie dog Red wolf Kauai cave wolf spider Laysan duck Yosemite toad Gunnison sage-grouse Devils Hole pupfish Fanshell Giant kangaroo rat Delta green ground beetle Jollyville Plateau salamander California condor American burying beetle Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp Crested honeycreeper (Akohekohe) Red Hills salamander Louisiana pine snake Woundfin Alabama red-bellied turtle Bruneau Hot springsnail Mountain yellow-legged frog Flattened musk turtle Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard Northern Idaho ground squirrel Two honored for military service Gov. Greg Gianforte recently honored U.S Air Force veteran Jamie Buck and U.S. Army and Montana Army National Guard veteran Larry Westfall with his 2022 Montana Governors Veteran Commendation. In a ceremony earlier this month at Townsends Veterans Memorial, the governor presented Buck, a master sergeant, and Westfall, a state command sergeant major, each with a Montana state flag flown over the state Capitol and a letter thanking them for their service. Buck served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He now serves as a senior deputy for Broadwater County Sheriffs Office. Westfall served in the U.S. Army and Montana Army National Guard for 38 years. Westfall now serves as chaplain for American Legion Post 42 in Townsend. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month The Montana VA Health Care System encourages veterans and others to be proactive with breast health during Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women after skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Statistically, 1 in 8 Montana women will develop breast cancer. In Montana, with a population of 1.1 million people, this represents around 62,500 women. One in 100 men can develop breast cancer, or about 5,500 Montana men. One key health component in addressing breast cancer is that veterans be familiar with their bodies. Monthly self-exams can detect many of the symptoms of early breast cancer that can be seen on or felt in the breast. Breast care resources available through the VA include screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasound and MRI, genetic counseling and testing, cancer treatment, and more. VA recommends regular breast cancer screening for women who are 45 and older or who have a family history of breast cancer. Veterans should talk with their VA primary care provider team about what is best for them and schedule their mammogram. They can also contact Sue Calentine, Women Veteran Program Manager, at 406- 447-7343 with questions. Montana VA serves over 47,000 enrolled veteran with a staff of 1,400 at 18 sites. Ambassadors to speak at Carroll The Montana World Affairs Council will host Ambassadors Kathleen Stephens and Richard Boucher in a community discussion Wednesday on the connection between Montana and the global economy, with a special view on Asia. The event will be from noon to 1 p.m. in Simperman Hall, Wiegand Auditorium, Carroll College. The public may attend. Both diplomats have long, distinguished careers in the U.S. State Department and are known as Asia and economics experts, event organizers said. Montana is intrinsically connected to the global economy. Recent global dynamics have increased market volatility and shaken U.S. preeminence. Stephens and Boucher will discuss key elements of international trade, Asia economies and Montanas future in both. Gala to aid science center ExplorationWorks' 16th annual Nightmare Affair Gala will be from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Great Northern Best Western Hotel, with music and dancing to follow until 11 p.m. This adult-only Halloween party is a night of fun in support of science education. There will be a silent and live auction, music, a plated dinner, wine, science themed cocktails and a costume contest. Tickets are on sale for $100 per person, or $900 for a table of 10. Tickets for the event are limited and sales end on Oct. 17. For more information, and to purchase tickets online, visit https://bit.ly/nightmareaffair. Free math contests at MSU High school students can now register for free mathematics contests set for Nov. 8 and 14 at Montana State University. Exams are administered in person on the MSU campus in Bozeman, and results are submitted online and measured against a national competition pool. The American Mathematics Competition 10/12 contests, hosted by MSUs College of Education, Health and Human Development's Science Math Resource Center, are part of the American Mathematics Competition series developed by the Mathematical Association of America. The series aims to help students develop positive attitudes toward analytical thinking, problem solving and advanced mathematics, and the competitions are designed to be friendly and supportive and to foster a love for mathematics. The AMC 10 exam covers the high school mathematics curriculum through grade 10. AMC 12 covers the high school math curriculum, including trigonometry, advanced algebra and advanced geometry, but not calculus. Both are 25-question, 75-minute tests, and both are offered on Nov. 8 and 14. The AMC 10 and 12 tests to be given on Nov. 8 (called Test A) and Nov. 14 (called Test B) have the same number of questions, scoring and rules of administration. Test A and Test B examinations are designed to be equal in difficulty and distribution of topics. Students may register for either contest, or both. Registration is free for Montana students. Students through 10th grade and under 17 1/2 years old are eligible to participate in AMC 10; students through 12th grade and under 19 1/2 years old may participate in AMC 12. Students who score among the top national participants will be invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. Top scorers will also receive gift cards. The registration deadline is Wednesday. For more information, visit montana.edu/smrc and look for American Mathematics Contest or follow the Science Math Resource Center at facebook.com/msusmrc. An encampment of unsheltered people in Oro Fino Gulch has been asked by the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office to disband and vacate the camp by Wednesday after a bid to buy the land fell through. About 25 people, including the camp's founder who goes by Rad, are currently living just off the side of Oro Fino Gulch Road a couple of miles south of downtown Helena. Some of them said they have been banned from Helena homeless shelter God's Love for various offenses and have nowhere to go. "We're going to take this camp, and we're going to have to park it on the front lawn in Women's Park," Rad said during an interview at his camp Friday afternoon. "If not here, where?" Though he said he has been sober aside from marijuana use for 3,210 days as of Friday, Rad still is quick to cop to his checkered past. "I'm not the nicest guy," he said. "I've left a lot of mayhem, wreckage and destruction in my wake, but that's not who I am anymore. Look at this camp. This is who I am." Rad has built two bridges spanning particularly craggy ravines in the camp because some of the residents were having trouble physically accessing the campsite. An American flag is flown from a pole in the camp's center. There is a communal kitchen tent and space set aside for anyone who needs a moment to themselves. Two large logs form a cross atop the camp's highpoint. Bicycles are stored in one area. Trash is stored in another. The group has also helped raise a half-dozen pitbull puppies, now weighing about 30 pounds each with disproportionately large paws. "Our rap sheets may come to represent us, but they by no means have to define us," Rad said. The "sobriety camp," as Rad refers to it, has managed to exist in the gulch for about eight months. The group has survived three evictions by moving back and forth across a U.S. Forest Service boundary that runs through the strip of land then negotiating a temporary agreement with the private owner of the land bordering the road. Rad said a wooden fence was erected on the border "in about 20 minutes while I was away from the camp last week." Rad's plan up until this week was to purchase the privately owned land and build upward of 40 100-square-foot cottages to rent to unsheltered people. He said the owners have been pressured not to sell. He also said he was told offers 10 times the land's market value have been made. He said he feels a responsibility to the people in his camp. "All these people look to me for leadership. They're all asking where they can go," he said. "I'm asking myself that same question." Good Samaritan Ministries Executive Director Theresa Ortega said Friday her organization has offered to help move the camp out by the Wednesday deadline, but that Rad has it handled. "I do not know where they're going to go," Ortega said. The Helena City Commission at the behest of Commissioner Melinda Reed set aside $100,000 to fund a potential solution to at least a portion of the unsheltered crisis in Helena. A working group was quickly established to determine those potential solutions. Reed said Friday "based on the current trajectory," she is not hopeful a solution will be presented before winter settles in. "I think the working group has come up with good medium- to long-term solutions to consider further, but it's going to snow next week," she said. Ortega said the working group requested Tuesday that Our Place, a daytime drop-in center in Helena for people in need of peer-run support programming, be converted to an overnight emergency shelter this winter. "It's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to happen next week. But we're trying," she said. Reed said the city commission will hear an update from the working group during its Wednesday administrative meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Both Ortega and Reed said there is momentum behind the issue. Reed said a recent series of lectures on the topics of housing and homelessness "generated good discussion, but more importantly made connections between people who want to help and the people in the community looking for help." Ortega said in her time at Good Samaritan, "this is the furthest we've ever gotten." "It's come together to the point where we're looking for a place to establish a shelter, and that's never happened before," she said. Rad posed a challenge to community members. He said if every person in the city, the valley and the surrounding towns gave a dollar to the Helena City Commission, they could match the city's $100,000 contribution. "A lot of good, good people have conveyed to me their disappointment in their community," Rad said. "But I don't see that. I want to prove there is more love here than hate." When asked if the city is prepared to accept the donations, Reed said she could not comment on behalf of the city. "But if people feel so inclined, we can definitely make it work," she said. Rad said he has been overwhelmed by the amount of support his camp has received over the past eight months. He said two teenagers in East Helena, Abigail Eckerson and Noah Cole Lohof, organized a clothing drive and delivered boxes of new coats, gloves and hats to the camp. He said Murdoch's offers them half-off discounts on winter clothes. He said portable toilet rental company Lil' Johns provided a toilet at the camp until threats from nearby residents prompted the owner to remove the toilet. "I am so grateful to the community for their help," Rad said. He said he expects to break camp over the weekend. "I told my people to keep their heads up, and when we walk down this road here back into town, we're going to pick up every cigarette butt, can, piece of garbage that's been thrown at us the last eight months." "I hope they all take something special from this place," he said. "We were doing something here much bigger than all of us." President Joe Bidens requested aid package for Israel and Ukraine faces a tough path through Congress, but its must-pass legislation both for the war-torn countries and the United States role as an economic and military leader, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Friday. The Montana Democrat is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, an early stop for U.S. defense spending of any kind. Both of them I think are important for a number of reasons. Number one, Israel has been a longtime ally in a tough neighborhood. . . And by the way it was attacked by Hamas, that did horrific things. They have a right to defend themselves, but they also need to follow international law, Tester said during a Billings stop. On Ukraine, Putin went in unprovoked, wanted to take them out, wanted to reunite the USSR. And he said that. I think we have to learn from World War II. Weve got to learn from what happened there and Neville Chamberlin and all that stuff. And I think if we dont act appropriately, and by the way, the money weve spent hasnt cost us one American life. And I support that democracy. I think Putin will do what he said hes going to do and reunite the USSR. Chamberlin was British prime minister in the early days of the World War II. He cemented his place in history by formally accepting Germanys forceful taking of 2,500 square miles of Czechoslovakia in exchange for Hitlers assurance that Germany would go no further. Republican congressional support for Ukraine is withering as the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches. A last-hour continuing resolution to keep the government fully funded only passed the House Sept. 30 after Ukraine aid was stripped from the measure. There are now GOP members of the House balking at including Ukraine aid in the bill providing aid to Israel. Western Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke has said he needs to see a plan from Ukraine before supporting more aid. Eastern District Rep. Matt Rosendale has opposed U.S. aid for Ukraine from the beginning, likening the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. In September Rosendale proposed withholding all Ukraine aid until a wall is constructed across the 2,000-mile boundary where about 450 miles of wall currently exists. Military aid for either country cannot move the U.S. House currently because the Republican majority has been unable to elect a speaker since California Republican Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the position Oct. 3. No potential replacement has been able to muster the 217 votes needed to win the job. Its been a disruptive couple of months for the Department of Defense, which has also seen its annual budget stalled because House chaos. Funding necessary to restock munitions is in crisis according to Pentagon Comptroller Michael McCord, who wrote congressional leaders Sept. 29. McCord told Congress that failure to replenish our military services on a timely basis could harm our militarys readiness, the Associated Press reported. The military has been drawing down munitions from its own supply to feed Ukraine under the assumption that Congress would deliver funding the replace whats been sent, McCord advised. It makes the country less safe, continuing resolutions make this country less safe, because you don't have the predictability that the builder, the ship builder, sub builders, munitions manufacturers don't have the certainty that they need. Certainty in business it's important, Tester said. And so, we've got a defense bill done, hopefully, we'll take it up on the floor and get it out, that meets the needs of this country. Tester said Congress needs to solve the border crisis, but that doesnt mean the United States must abandon Israel and Ukraine. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. I think the southern border needs attention. There's no doubt about that. And we need to get after that. I haven't heard whether there's money for the southern border in this (Israel/Ukraine) package or not, Tester said. I've been focused on the defense stuff. But we can walk, and chew gum. And I think that the border is truly important. I don't want us not to think it's not important. We need to know who's coming across that line. We need to have a comprehensive immigration program so that people can come into this country if they follow the laws and learn the language. But to say one or the other I think is short sighted. 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 most common cause of fatal crashes in each state 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. 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. 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. Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair 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. 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 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 Burke deputies they received information that Foster was at a home in Morganton. Burke 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 a firearm that had been reported 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. Authorities have arrested another student in connection with a series threats made against Lexington high school and middle schools earlier this month. The 15-year-old Lexington Senior High School student is charged with two counts of felony communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, Lexington police said Friday. The threats were made Oct. 3 and Oct. 5, police said. Last week, Lexington police arrested two other students in connection with threats made against Lexington senior high and middle schools. A 15-year-old student is charged with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property in connection with a Oct. 9 threat at Lexington Senior High School, police said. A 14-year-old student is charged with misdemeanor communicating threats to people related to a threat made Oct. 10 toward Lexington Middle School and two staff members, police said. These cases followed arrest of another 14-year-old student who attends Lexington High School. That student was charged with felony communication of a threat of mass violence on educational property, police said. That threat made on Oct. 4 resulted in a delay in the opening of school on Oct. 5. Earlier in October, four threats of violence at the school were posted on social media. The first threat was made Oct. 3, resulting in early dismissal of school, police said. A second threat on Oct. 4 was handled in a way that kept students safe without having to dismiss school, police said. But another threat made the same day resulted in a school delay on Oct. 5. A fourth threat was made Monday against the school, resulting in the early dismissal at Lexington High, police said. This year, Nebraskans are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of Memorial Stadium. But what about the years before? Where did thousands of devoted fans cheer on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers? David Bristow, editor of Nebraska History Magazine, published by History Nebraska (formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society), will answer this and many other questions at a Brown Bag lecture, Memorial Stadium and its Predecessors, at noon Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the LNKTV studio in the County/City Building, 555 S. 10th St. Admission is free and open to the public. Bring a brown bag lunch if you like. Free parking is available in the County/City lot directly north of the building on K Street. The lecture is sponsored by the Preservation Association of Lincoln. For those who cant attend in person, the lecture will be livestreamed at www.preservelincoln.org and afterward posted on YouTube. Bristows presentation will include many historical photographs of the pre-Stadium years, as well as the construction and evolution of Memorial Stadium. Bristow is the author of numerous history-related articles and five books, including Nebraska History Moments and A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) reminds residents that flu vaccine plays a key role in staying healthy this fall and winter when flu and other respiratory viruses will be circulating at the same time. Flu is here, and weve seen a handful of cases in Lincoln and Lancaster County, said Pat Lopez, health director. Now is a good time to get your flu vaccine so your body can build protection before flu season really ramps up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend flu vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older every year. It is especially important for those at greater risk for serious complications to receive flu vaccine. They include: Adults 65 and older; Adults with certain chronic health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease; Pregnant women; and Children younger than age 5, but especially those younger than 2 years old. Vaccination is the best way to protect against flu. Flu is a highly contagious disease of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness and can lead to hospitalization and death. Vaccination can reduce flu-related illnesses, visits to the doctor, missed work and school, and flu-related hospitalizations. Flu vaccine is widely available in the community. Residents are encouraged to contact a health care provider or find a flu vaccine location at vaccines.gov. LLCHD provides flu vaccine to uninsured and underinsured adults. Children between ages 6 months through 18 years are also eligible and must meet one or more of these criteria: Have Medicaid coverage; Uninsured; American Indian and/or Alaskan Native; or Underinsured. For more information, call 402-441-8065 or visit health.lincoln.ne.gov and select Vaccine Clinic under Community Health Services. Updated COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. Flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time. For more information about seasonal flu, visit cdc.gov/flu. (We are occasionally rerunning Jim McKee columns from the past. This one was published Nov. 10, 2013) When Ernie Chambers was forced out of the Legislature by term limits in 2009, it was noted by The Associated Press that he was Nebraskas longest-serving state senator, having served for more than 35 years. With his re-election, Chambers now easily has eclipsed his earlier contender for the honor in Sen. Jerome Warner, who served just more than 34 years. But often overlooked is the family record of Warner and his father, Charles, who together amassed 60 years in the Legislature and held the office of lieutenant governor four times. As a group, the Swedish were the last major nationality to arrive in Rock Creek Precinct, Lancaster County. Brothers C.V. John and S.G. Warner, all born in Sweden in the 1840s, immigrated to the United States, first to Alton, Ill. From Illinois they traveled first by rail to Omaha, then into Lancaster County, a three-day trip in all.Between them, it was said, they had three horses, a cow, one pig and an old wagon, some lumber and a few tools. In March 1871, they pitched a tent on Section 25 in Rock Creek Precinct and built a 12-by-18-foot cabin. The closest town was Waverly, about six miles away, and seven miles distant were Havelock and Greenwood, all on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. Johns son Charles Joseph Warner was born on the family farm March 29, 1875. After high school, Charles studied at Luther College in Wahoo from 1891 to 1893, at Lincoln Normal College and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska in 1899. In 1901, Charles was elected to the Nebraska House of Representatives. While in the lower legislative chamber, he entered Columbia Law School in Washington, D.C., and worked at the U.S. Treasury; he then was re-elected to the Legislature in 1903 and 1905.After being elected president of the Lancaster County Bank in 1918, he was elected to the Nebraska Senate the following year. Although a lifelong Republican, when Nebraska became a one-house legislature, Charles not only was elected as its first speaker but unanimously, not a feat easily accomplished or perhaps even possible today. Although not elected, Charles ran for governor in 1938 and 1940. During his second campaign for governor, it was noted he had the longest service record of any man in the Nebraska Legislature and, though defeated by Robert Cochran, Warner did become lieutenant governor in 1949. Known as President of the Legislature and Grand Old Man of Nebraska Politics, he felt two of his greatest achievements were the establishment of Kearney State Teachers College and the Nebraska Tractor Testing Laboratory. Charles Joseph Warner died Sept. 24, 1955, while still lieutenant governor and overseeing the farming of 1,600 acres. Warner had many elected offices through the years, from Waverlys school board to 10 terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives, three terms in the Nebraska Senate, as senator in the unicameral and four terms as lieutenant governor. Charles son Phillip Jerome Warner was born on the familys farm near Waverly on Nov. 23, 1927. One of Jeromes earliest political memories undoubtedly was at the age of 9 when his father was elected speaker of the first unicameral. After graduating from Waverly High School, Jerome received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska. In 1952, he married political reporter Betty Pearson, and 11 years later was elected to the Legislature, becoming speaker in 1969. When Jerome Warner died of cancer on April 22, 1997, he was still a member of the Legislature, and an Omaha World-Herald editorial noted that at that time, he had served in the Legislature 35 years longer than any other person, including 13 years on the Appropriations Committee. Known as the Dean of the Legislature, Jerome perhaps was best known as an indefatigable friend and supporter of the University of Nebraska as well as Nebraskas roads and highways and its fair system of taxation. Outside the Legislature, he continued to operate the family farm, raised Hereford cattle, was in the Nebraska Air National Guard and on several boards, including Lincoln Mutual Life Insurance Co. He and his wife also are credited with reading and vetting Professor Robert Knolls The Prairie University: The History of the University of Nebraska. After Betty Warner died March 21, 1994, at age 70, the eastern segment of Nebraska 2 from Lincoln to Nebraska City was named the Jerome and Betty Warner Highway. Following the death of a Nebraska Department of Transportation employee who was killed on the job Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen ordered that all U.S. and Nebraska flags be flown at half-staff to honor first responders across the state, according to a press release. David Schwartz, 62, was killed in an accident on U.S. 34 near Giltner, just southeast of Grand Island at around 12:30 pm on Tuesday. While assisting in a clean up of corn mash, the driver of a GMC Yukon lost control of the vehicle and struck Schwartz. He died at the scene, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. Schwartz was a 42-year employee of the department. The governor ordered that flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday, which was the day of Schwartz's funeral, to honor all who keep Nebraska roadways safe. Schwartz grew up in Wayne and graduated from Wayne High School in 1979. Throughout his career with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, he worked his way up to supervisor and through many towns, according to his obituary. Finally, he settled in Aurora, where he lived for more than three decades. He married Terri Jones in 1989, with whom he had two children Matt and Shelbi. In October 2012, he married Liz (Kube) Kohout, according to his obituary. Most dangerous states to drive in Most dangerous states to drive in #51. Massachusetts #50. Minnesota #49. New Hampshire #48. New Jersey #47. Utah #46. Hawaii #45. Rhode Island #44. Connecticut #43. New York #42. Vermont #41. Washington #40. Wisconsin #39. Maryland #38. Virginia #37. Iowa #36. North Dakota #35. Indiana #34. Washington D.C. #33. Ohio #32. Nebraska #31. Alaska #30. Idaho #29. Michigan #28. Maine #27. Nevada #26. Illinois #25. Colorado #24. California #23. Pennsylvania #22. Wyoming #21. Missouri #20. Alabama #19. Delaware #18. Georgia #17. North Carolina #16. South Dakota #15. Texas #14. Kansas #13. Oklahoma #12. Oregon #11. Tennessee #10. Florida #9. Arizona #8. West Virginia #7. New Mexico #6. Kentucky #5. Louisiana #4. Montana #3. Arkansas #2. Mississippi #1. South Carolina NEAR VALENTINE Their low, rumbling bellow first cuts through the silence of the Sandhills. Next comes the crunch of pointed hooves, trudging their way through tall prairie grasses. Then, the oohs of the out-of-towners watching people up close and personal with the majestic thousand-pound mammals for the first time. This is Golden Prairie Bison, a ranch nestled in the Sandhills where Carl and Vicki Simmons raise a herd of 50 bison. Theirs is one of the dozens of bison ranches in Nebraska, one piece of an ongoing effort to rebuild North Americas once-decimated bison population. The Simmons herd is small compared to large-scale operations like Turner Ranches the driving force behind Nebraskas No. 2 ranking for most bison. But to Carl and Vicki, this isnt about size or money. Its about the bisons bond to Nebraskas oft-forgotten and important grasslands. And as one of the growing number of ranchers integrating tourism into their operation, its a story theyre telling one visitor at a time. (The bison and the prairie) belong together, Carl said. There have been droughts and catastrophes that have caused their numbers to go up and down. But the one constant has been the native prairie. *** Carl, a third-generation cattle rancher, started with five bison calves he bought from Custer State Park in 1997. Dont call them buffalo, he says bison have bigger humps and shorter horns. The two species live on different continents, too. He thought the burly animals were fun. They had personalities, running at groups of unexpecting cattle, scaring them, then seeming to look at each other and laugh. There was no business plan for these bison, Carl said. It was, initially, just a hobby. Carl bought five more calves from North Dakota. He bought a bull from the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge up the road from his ranch. One year, Vicki learned from a radio announcement that Carl was the top bison buyer at the refuges auction that day. She didnt mind. We were just as infatuated with them as Carl, she said. I think they kind of get under your skin and grow on you. They started to share that fascination with family and friends, driving them out to see the massive animals. Then, they thought, what if we shared this with strangers? During a Zoom call during the pandemics early days, Carl and Vicki floated the idea by their four kids: What if we turned our bison hobby into a tourism business? The kids, scattered across different states, were on board. They built a website and wrote the text. One filmed a video, while another helped them complete legal forms. Now, a few times a week, Carl and Vicki pile small groups of Sandhills tourists into a 23-year-old Ford Excursion. Vicki dons heavy gloves to undo the barbed wire fence. Carl lurches the SUV over the hilly prairie. But before visitors can see the main attraction, they have to listen to Carl tell a story. A story about grass. He plucks tall stalks and flowering forbs, naming them, describing their root patterns. Yellow sunflower and goldenrod. Purple dotted gayfeather. Velvety white sagebrush, feathery switchgrass. The grasses and rich soil have the power to sequester carbon, he tells visitors, affecting the atmosphere and weather. Grazing bison help the prairie flourish. Their hooves till the soil, and their dust baths create wallows, that collect water and offer new habitat for plants and bugs. The Nebraska Sandhills are the worlds most intact prairie, Carl says, improving air and water quality, protecting species from extinction and mitigating wildfires and floods. And theyre disappearing, being replaced by farmland and development. ...this story of the prairie, and how its an integral part of us it needs to be out there that the prairie is important, Carl says. We charge money, but thats not the purpose. The purpose is to tell the story. Then, its time to find the herd. Sometimes, Carl pulls out a drone to find where theyre gathered. Sometimes, the bison big, brown splotches on the golden prairie come lumbering up on their own, their furry humps popping out from the grass. The hulking masses of deep brown curls poke their shiny noses toward the windows of the Ford, sticking out their long tongues to receive snack pellets. The fluffy, red-furred calves stick close to their mothers. They sniff around the car of newcomers. They nuzzle the ground for the tastiest pieces of grass. Carl and Vicki have shared this tour with fellow ranchers who want to compare bison to raising cattle. With campers from Colorado escaping the crowds of Rocky Mountain National Park. There were the doctors from Chicago, taking a break and camping at one of the four sites on the Simmons ranch listed on the website HipCamp. Ive read about the healing aspect of nature, one of them told Vicki. But Ive never experienced it until now. There was a family pulled out of international work because of the pandemic, whose kids went from being miserable while camping to being fascinated by the bison and not wanting to leave. And the group of middle school girls from a nearby reservation, on a trip with their science club. They knew their tribes history with bison. But the girls had never seen one in real life. They looked at me, and they said, Do you think they can tell were Native? Can they tell that we have this deep connection? Vicki said. *** Millions of bison once roamed North America, according to the National Park Service. Uncontrolled hunting started pushing their numbers down during the 19th century. By the 1860s, the U.S. government was encouraging the slaughter of bison to intentionally harm the Native tribes of the Plains. It worked: By 1884, there were only 325 left in the country. Conservation efforts have helped rebuild their numbers. Bison herds now roam national parks and wildlife refuges, like Fort Niobrara in the Sandhills and Crane Trust in Hall County. Theres a push to restore bison on tribal lands. Ranchers like Carl have also leaned into bison. From 2012 to 2017, the number of bison in Nebraska grew from 23,152 to 28,047. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2022 census has yet to be released. But experts and monthly USDA reports suggest the number of Nebraska bison continues to increase. Im confident that the bison numbers are up, said Jim Matheson, executive director of the National Bison Association. Were processing about 10% more bison than we were a year ago in 2022. 2022 was up 8% compared to the year before ... we think there are more animals out there on the ground. It might not make sense for increased bison consumption to tie to efforts to grow bison numbers. But with about 90% of bison living on private land as livestock, ranchers are a key part of conservation, Matheson said. We call it commerce by conservation, Matheson said. Through selling the end product the meat, the fiber we are in turn creating an economic incentive for property owners to have bison on their land. For Carl and Vicki, financial stability comes from cattle ranching. Theyre selling bison meat on a small scale. Their tours are small, too. This summer, they started averaging two a week. On Labor Day weekend, they had four in a day. They recently started having to turn people away for the first time. Theyve heard of ranches that pile dozens of people into open air buses and talk about bison on a loudspeaker. Carls family has ranched this land since 1914. A bus tour is the last thing he wants. What we want is something thats personal, where we can meet each person that comes, he said. There are lots of special places. But this is really a special flyover place. Even though its not these great grandeur mountains and lakes (grasslands) are a unique thing. People start to understand that there are unique things everywhere. And its worth our attention. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Photos: Nations only Buffalo Roundup draws crowd to South Dakotas Custer State Park A lucky pup up for adoption at the Nebraska Humane Society will get to live the rockstar life after superstar Bret Michaels whom the dog is named after announced that he will be adopting the husky mix. Earlier this week, the Nebraska Humane Society shared the heartwarming story of 6-year-old husky mix Bret Michaels who donated blood to a kitten with flea anemia, likely saving the felines life. That story caught the attention of the Poison frontman Bret Michaels, a self-proclaimed dog lover who was grieving the recent death of his beloved German Shepard. Michaels shared the Nebraska Humane Societys post on Facebook Thursday, and his team also left a comment: What an absolutely amazing story, Michaels team said on Facebook. We sent you a private message as well Bret would like to explore adopting Bret Michaels (the dog). Twenty-four hours and one phone call later, it was official: Bret Michaels (the human) will be adopting Bret Michaels (the dog). We cant wait to see how he thrives in his new home, a Friday morning post from the humane society reads. We just hope it doesnt get too confusing when someone tells Bret Michaels to fetch! Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 KEARNEY The Buffalo County Sheriffs Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Oct. 5 structure fire and death of an adult at a rural Amherst residence. At approximately 3:57 p.m. Oct. 5, firefighters and law enforcement were called to a fire at 13015 Amherst Road near Amherst. The Amherst Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue and EMS responded to a trailer home fire and found the body of a dead adult inside the trailer home. The investigation into the cause of the fire and death of the individual is ongoing. The trailer home was fully engulfed and a total loss. Foul play is not suspected in the death. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed and the investigation continues. The Buffalo County Attorneys Office has ordered an autopsy. The Amherst Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and deputies were assisted by members of the Kearney Police Department, Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office, and Buffalo County Attorneys Office. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 The majority of the federal stimulus money appropriated to help Lincoln secure a second source of drinking water will be used to expand and improve the city's existing water system. On Friday, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott told the Legislature's Appropriations Committee that enhancing the existing capacity will help the Capital City and other surrounding communities transition to a new system in the decades to come. The Legislature approved $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for Lincoln to begin work securing a second source of reliable drinking water in 2022, and followed that up with another $177.5 million appropriation this year. Lincoln's plan is among four that are being administered by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources on a reimbursement-based contract, meaning the city incurs the costs and is later reimbursed by the state. Guidelines attached to the funds by the federal government mean they must be obligated by October 2024 and spent by the end of October 2026. Friday's interim hearing allowed lawmakers to receive updates from more than a dozen state agencies regarding which ARPA projects are on schedule to be completed before the deadline. Elliott said Lincoln has always included improvements to its existing water system as part of its "Water 2.0" project, which will locate a new wellfield near the Missouri River north of Nebraska City. "Expanding the Ashland wellfield will buy us time to get that Missouri River wellfield built and operational," she said. "Every alternative we looked at included an expansion of the current wellfield." By bringing two new collector wells online in the city's existing wellfield on the Platte River and expanding the capacity of the water treatment near Ashland, Elliott said Lincoln will buy itself time to get the new source up and running in the decades to come. Several phases of the project improving the existing system, preparing to connect to a new source, and building out a new wellfield and treatment are progressing simultaneously, according to Elliott. The design of the wellfield expansion is near completion and the city anticipates soon asking for proposals for a construction manager at-risk method of bringing the two new collector wells to fruition. That will allow the design and construction "to work in tandem," which will expedite procurement of materials and equipment in order to alleviate any supply chain issues, Elliott said. The total cost of expanding the current capacity for water collection will be nearly $90 million, while upgrades to the treatment plant are estimated at $95 million, according to information shared with the Appropriations Committee. Lincoln will also use ARPA funds to build a new water transmission main along the 98th Street corridor between Holdrege Street and U.S. 6, where the Missouri River water source will eventually connect into the existing system. A spreadsheet outlining costs that was shared with the committee puts the cost of that project at $32.3 million, with work concluding by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, hydrogeological testing, which includes installing a small pump to study the movement and pressure of the water, is wrapping up on two potential sites for a new wellfield. Elliott said the study is also examining the quality of the water to ensure it is a good source of drinking water. After a location is selected, LTU and its engineer partners will be able to finish design on the wellfield, work to secure a site for a water treatment plant, and plan the route for a pipeline that would carry clean drinking water to Lincoln. The city will negotiate with landowners for easements on their property for the pipeline Elliott said those talks have not yet started and aims to reach mutually beneficial agreements with each. "We're hoping after the first of the year we'll be able to put an 'X' on the map," Elliott said. "Once we have that, the dominos will fall." In all, Lincoln will spend $268 million on its water systems both existing and planned through 2026, which is about one-third of the total cost anticipated to complete the project. The money in excess of the roughly $197 million in ARPA appropriated by the Legislature will come through rates charged to customers and other dollars set aside for that purpose, Elliott said. Lincoln is also looking at federal loan programs and other funding mechanisms to pay for the remainder the project, she added. "There's still a long way to go, but this is a really good start," Elliott said. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 Lincolns Symphony Orchestra will participate in "Link Up: The Orchestra Sings," a music education program provided by Carnegie Halls Weill Music Institute (WMI). "Over the years, LSO has had an excellent working relationship with the music teachers at Lincoln Public Schools, as we have explored a variety of educational programs for our Young People's Concerts, says LSO Executive Director Barbara Zach Lee. It is especially exciting this year to bring this nationally recognized program again to Lincoln. Our advisory group of teachers worked with the Link Up materials to create customized lesson plans to prepare the students. We're excited to hear how the students learn from this special participatory program, unique from anything we've done in the past." Students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend LSOs Young Peoples Concerts on Monday, Oct. 23, at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, where they will sing and play the recorder with the orchestra from their seats. This experience often serves as students' first concert and provides them with the opportunity to apply the musical concepts they have studied. The concert will also be presented as part of LSOs Family Series today, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. at ODonnell Auditorium at Nebraska Wesleyan University. For more than 35 years, Link Up has paired orchestras with students in grades 3-5 at schools in their local communities to explore orchestral repertoire and fundamental musical skills, including creative work and composition, through a hands-on music curriculum. Link Up addresses the urgent need for music instruction and resources by providing a free, high quality, year-long curriculum that teachers can implement, along with classroom materials, online video and audio resources, and the professional development and support necessary to make the program engaging for students. Since 2003, Carnegie Hall has partnered with professional, community and university orchestras across the U.S. and around the world to support their existing education programs and strengthen their partnerships with local schools. In the 2023-24 season, Link Up will partner with sites in the U.S. and China, Canada, Colombia, Spain, Kenya, New Zealand, Poland and Japan to serve approximately 450,000 students and teachers globally. Visit carnegiehall.org/LinkUp for a complete list of participants and more details. Tickets can be ordered online at www.lincolnsymphony.com or by calling LSO at 402-476-2211. To stay current with LSO events, follow Lincolns Symphony Orchestra on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. MONDAY Al-Anon: 8 p.m., Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3350 Lathrop Ave. Retired Involved Nurses Group: 11:30 a.m., Crystal Bay, 3900 N. Main St. Lunch is at noon. The cost of membership is $15 and lunch is $15. A business meeting will follow. For more information or reservations, call Marge Orth, secretary, 262-884-0742. WEDNESDAY Caledonia Senior Card Club: Sheepshead, for ages 55 and older, noon to 3 p.m., Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave., Franksville. For more information, call 414-856-9550. Kiwanis Club of West of Racine: 7:30 a.m., in-person at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave. Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to serving the children of the world. To attend a meeting, contact Shirley Meyer, membership chair, at 262-260-8101 or email aquashirl4@yahoo.com. FRIDAY Racine Founders Rotary Club: 7 a.m., Racine Country Club, 2401 Northwestern Ave. DAILY/OTHERS Caledonia Historical Society Meeting: 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Franksville Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave. The meeting is open to the public. There will be no meetings December through March. https://caledoniahistoricalsociety.org Overeaters Anonymous: 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday, Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., a free fellowship group for all eating disorders using the 12 steps and 12 traditions. For more information call 262-652-5635. Racine Duplicate Bridge Club: Each week two ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games are played in Racine at 12:15 p.m. Monday and Friday at The Lanes, 6501 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant. People must have proof of COVID-19 vaccination to play. Call Henry Kensler, club manager, at 262-652-6173 for reservations. Recent winners are: Oct 6: Donald Urquhart and Dee Becker, first place; George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, second place; Maryjoy Madrigrano and Paul Dorsey, third place. Oct 9: Lee Petzold and Paul Dorsey, first place; Dee Becker and Maryjoy Madrigrano, second place; Donald Urquhart and Mark Langer, third place. Oct 13: Richard Arneson and Gloria Arneson, first place; George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, second place; Mary Matthews and Henry Kensler, third place. Oct 16: Donald Urquhart and Mark Langer, first place; Mary Matthews and Henry Kensler, second place; Maryjoy Madrigrano and Dennis Dragan, third place. Lighthouse Quilters Guild: Open to quilters of all skill levels, 7 p.m., on the last Monday of each month at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St. For more information, lighthousequiltersguild.com. Racine Catholic Womans Club: The Racine Catholic Womans Club opens its 121st year with a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at Infusinos Banquet Hall, 3201 Rapids Drive. The speaker will be Robert N. Miller, chair of Siena Catholic Schools Board of Directors, and former principal and teacher at St. Catherines High School. Millers topic will be St. Catherines High School: Evolving and Adapting for 158 Years. The club is open to all Catholic women and meets monthly for lunch, October through May. For information, call 262-758-6187 or 262-632-8960. Racine Welcome Club: Drop in coffee 9-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Panera Bread, 5304 Washington Ave. The group is open to women interested in making new friends, learning about community resources, and being involved in philanthropic and social activities. Call 262-994-0957 for more information. Racine NAACP: Monthly membership meetings are scheduled for Oct. 28, Nov. 18 and Dec. 23. Meetings begin at 10 a.m. at the Dr. John Bryant Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive, Racine. Racine Art Guild: The Racine Art Guild will meet from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 9 and Dec. 14 at Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave. The guild has invited several gallery owners to the November meeting to share information about their collections and mission. The December meeting is a pot luck dinner and will include a special presentation by artist Sue Horton, the winner of this year's Juried Show. AURORA OFFERS CLASSES BURLINGTON Aurora Health Care is offering these classes: Free Blood Pressure Clinic 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday. To make an appointment, call 262-767-8000. Exercise class 3:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 24, 31; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28; Dec. 5, 12 19, 26. Wisconsin Parkinson Association Movement and Music Exercise Classes are free and held in Classroom C at Aurora Wellness Center, 300 McCanna Parkway, Burlington. The classes incorporate stretches, strength training, posture, balance and walking drills, as well as vocal exercises. Modifications will be provided to ensure a safe and effective setting for all participants. Caregivers also are welcome. To register, email maryw@wiparkinson.org or call 414-430-3561. Infant CPR & Safety 6-7:15 p.m. Oct. 25, Nov. 29 and Dec. 27 via Zoom. This non-certification class is recommended for families with infants and small children to learn rescue breathing, CPR, safe sleep guidelines, SIDS reduction strategies and infant/child safety. To register visit aurora.org/events. Stepping On Workshop 1-3 p.m. Mondays, through Oct. 30 at Aurora Wellness Center, Classroom C, 300 McCanna Parkway, Burlington. This free workshop is for those age 60-plus who live independently and can help participants avoid dangerous and costly falls. Attendees will learn to identify and remove or avoid fall hazards both inside and outside their homes; how vision, hearing, medication and footwear affect their risk of falling; strength and balance exercises they can adapt to their individual level; and how to get back on their feet the right way if they do fall. To register, visit aurora.org/events or call 800-499-5736 for more information. Bringing Baby Home Nov. 2 via Zoom. This class helps families prepare for their baby by covering the essentials of caring for baby during the first few months, including feeding, diapering, comforting, sleep schedules, signs of illness and when to call the pediatrician. To register visit aurora.org/events. Breastfeeding Basics 7:30-9 p.m. Nov. 2 and 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 via Zoom. This course will help expectant mothers have a better breastfeeding experience by learning how to establish a healthy supply of milk; how to help baby latch; how to know if baby is getting enough milk; different breastfeeding positions and who to call if help is needed. To register visit aurora.org/events. Preparing for Labor and Birth 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15, and Dec. 13 and 20 via Zoom. This two-session class will teach expectant parents what they need to prepare for the childbirth experience, including anatomy, the process of labor and delivery, and medical and non-medical care options. Relaxation techniques for coping with contractions will be briefly practiced. To register, visit aurora.org/events. Memory Cafe 9:30-10:30 a.m., Nov. 17 at Aurora Wellness Center, Classroom C. The free Memory Cafe is a comfortable social gathering that allows people experiencing memory loss and a loved one to connect, socialize and build new support networks. For information, or first-time attendees, contact Chad at 262-212-3596 or csutkay@touchinghearts.com. Walk with a Doc 8:30-9:30 a.m., Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. The topic for October is Whats in with Skin? (Sarah Kaldem N.P.), the topic for November is foot health and longevity (Kevin Liberty DPM) and the topic for December is fitness and low back pain connection (Dr. Mark Dull, chiropractor). Walk with a Doc is free and no registration is required. Participants should meet in the front entrance vestibule by the flagpole at Burlington High School. Nonprofit organizations can submit class/workshop press releases to to community@journaltimes.com. A smart water dispenser that offers on-demand filtered, flavored and sparkling water and aims to reduce consumption of single-use plastic bottles was named Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Thursday in a contest sponsored by the state business lobby and Johnson Financial Group. The Bevi Bottleless Water Dispenser, made by Plexus Corp. in Appleton, was crowned during Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerces annual Business Day event in Madison. The Bevi combines sustainability and innovation to vastly reduce the carbon footprint of its end users, embodying our vision to help create the products that build a better world, Plexus CEO Todd Kelsey said in a WMC statement announcing its win. WMC President and CEO Kurt R. Bauer said the contest continues to showcase the best of Wisconsin manufacturing. Not only do our manufacturers produce a wide variety of products used all over the world, he said, they provide high-paying jobs, invest in their communities and bolster our states economy. The other three finalists were: Applewood smoked bacon: Slices come from hand-trimmed slabs smoked over applewood logs for up to 24 hours. From Nueskies Applewood Smoked Meats in Wittenberg. American Heritage 6-inch safety toe work boot: Made with tobacco oil-tanned leather, theyre slip-resistant. From Thorogood in Merrill. Limited-edition Sno-Thro snow blower: A 24-inch snow blower that throws snow up to 55 feet and has auto-turn steering and heated grips. From AriensCo in Brillion. This was the eighth year for the contest, in which winners are chosen via online voting. More than 100 products were nominated this year and more than 187,000 votes were cast, according to WMC. Wisconsins manufacturing industry contributes roughly $70 billion to the states economy and employs nearly 1 in 6 Wisconsin workers, WMC says. Photos: 2019 Ashley for the Arts draws thousands to Arcadia Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 Ashley for the Arts 2019 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. Justices Roberts and Barrett joined the liberals to uphold federal regulations on so-called "ghost guns." Astrid Riecken/Getty Images The Supreme Court signaled again this week that it would allow the federal government to regulate so-called "ghost guns," despite legal challenges. In an unsigned order on Tuesday, the justices blocked a lower court ruling that had prevented a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives targeting prefabricated gun-building kits from going into effect. The move cements a significant setback for gun rights advocates who hoped the high court might be more favorable toward the kits. Court watchers have closely monitored how the justices will tackle gun-related cases in general in recent years. Unlike most areas of the law, the court is often breaking new ground when it involves itself in gun-related cases. Thanks to the court's rightward shiftas well as a recent ruling that created a new test for Second Amendment challengesfew legal issues are in as much flux before the court as this one. Unlike most gun cases that reach the court, however, Vanderstok v. Garland is not a Second Amendment case. The plaintiffs instead asked the court to examine whether the ATF had correctly interpreted the Gun Control Act of 1968, or GCA, for its ghost-gun rule. The ATF issued a rule in 2022 that the GCA's definition of a firearm "shall include a weapon parts kit that is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, restored, or otherwise converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive." The Biden administration hailed the change as a step in cracking down on ghost guns. "Ghost guns" is the colloquial name for homemade guns built from prefabricated kits. In the modern era, firearms are typically manufactured by commercial gunmakers and then sold intact to consumers. Federal law requires that every gun sold in the United States, with the exception of certain antique firearms, includes a serial number so that its ownership history can be tracked. ..... 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 When Jerry Marlatt answered the phone earlier this fall and a voice said, This is AARP, he nearly hung up. He thought it was a sales call. Its a good thing he stayed on the line. That voice told him he would be receiving the 2023 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service in Nebraska. The award AARPs most prestigious volunteer award recognizes individuals who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich their communities, and who inspire others to volunteer. Thursday morning, AARP officials, friends and family crowded around Marlatt as he received the award from Suzan DeCamp, volunteer state president of AARP Nebraska. It was presented, appropriately, in a just-finished home in the Marlatt Addition, the Habitat for Humanity international neighborhood in southeast Kearney that is named for Marlatt. It was so named in recognition of the dedication Marlatt has given to Kearneys Habitat for Humanity affiliate since he and three other men Bill Ballou, Jim McKenzie and Joe Methe founded it in 1992. We decided we wanted to help people, he said. During DeCamps presentation, when she noted that the Andrus Award is given annually to a person over 50, the crowd laughed. Marlatt just celebrated his 90th birthday. DeCamp called him an ageless volunteer who has made a positive impact with his endless dedication. Everyone knows Jerrys face. He typifies what it means to make a difference. Marlatt is still serving as building supervisor for Habitat, a volunteer position he has held since Kearneys Habitat was founded 31 years ago. Working from April through December, he makes sure supplies are ordered and that the plans are correct for the three houses that go up each year. Habitat will finish its 97th home this fall. Marlatt, the retired founder of Marlatt Machine Shop, is also a major Habitat donor. He has traveled to overseas Habitat builds, as they are called, and has worked with former President Jimmy Carter, a renowned Habitat booster, at sites in Vietnam and South Dakota. He was chosen for the award from a good number of nominations from over the state, according to Todd Stubbendieck, state AARP director, who was also at the ceremony. Marlatts nomination was written by Habitat volunteers Bonnie Mumm, local Habitat hospitality chair, and Beth Forbess, the Habitat secretary. When Mumm read in the AARP bulletin that nominations for the award were being accepted, she believed Marlatt would be a shoo-in for the prize. He still drives a tractor around here and hes 90 years old, she said. Until recently, Jerry climbed up on top of framed houses to put up the rafters. Then Mumm looked at the application deadline. It was that day. She called Beth Forbess, Habitats secretary, then sat down at her computer and wrote a two-and-a-half-page nomination. Jerry is an inspiration to others just by being the person he is. Other retirees and younger volunteers say, If Jerry can be here at age 80, 85 or 90, I can surely be here when I retire, she wrote. She and Forbess then turned the nomination over to Pat Waltemath, Habitats board president, and the board. They submitted it in time to beat the deadline. We nominated him because he is a great example of a man in his 90s who is still physically active and contributing to his community. Hes an example for retirees to keep busy and to give back and thus live a fulfilling life, Mumm said. Along with a pin, AARP presented a $2,500 check to Marlatt that he could designate to any non-profit he chose. Not surprisingly, he chose Habitat. In accepting the award, Marlatt humbly thanked others who devote time to Habitat. This wouldnt have happened without people at Habitat who supported me. They make me look good, he said. He also paid tribute to Edith, his wife of 70 years, Shes the one who helps me do it all, he said. Edith beamed. Im very proud of him, she said. Three of their five adult children Jeff and wife Kristine Marlatt of Waconia, Minnesota, Deb and husband Bill Ritter of Omaha, and Janell Stobaugh of Omaha, were on hand, too, along with a grandson, Josh Marlatt of St. Louis. The couple has 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Marlatt also volunteers at the Buffalo County Historical Societys Trails & Rails Museum, where he built the blacksmith shop in the village behind the museum. He helps at the First United Methodist Church food pantry, too. After the ceremony, DeCamp, of St. Paul, said, What Jerry has done in Kearney has been amazing. Hes helped 97 (Habitat) homeowners achieve their dreams. The other day I barely caught sight of a green dinosaur whizzing by on a scooter. Could have been last nights spicy food or an early touch of old timers, I thought. Then I remembered, ah, Halloween! Samhain, as Halloween was originally called, always had deep-seated ties to the spirit world. Not until the Enlightenment did academics start to doubt the body-spirit connection. But in the 1960s, researcher Elizabeth Kubler-Ross found clinical evidence of the spirit world through the out-of-body experiences of her near-death patients. Since then, with the help of advanced medical care, more people on the verge of dying have been revived along with an uptick of near-death experiences. In an interview with the New York Post several years ago, Dr. Bruce Greyson, professor emeritus of Neurobehavioral Science at the University of Virginia said near-death experiences are common. He estimated 10% to 20% percent of people who came close to death shared similar experiences. There seems to be something that is able to continue after the body dies, he told the paper. I dont know what to make of it. And many researchers echo his sentiment. Not long ago, however, engineer-turned-pastor John Burke published a New York Times best seller called Imagine Heaven that lifted the fog of speculation. He interpreted near-death experiences through the lens of the Bible. Burke points out several examples of possible out-of-body experiences recorded in the Bible, most notable being the Apostle Paul in Chapter 12 of Second Corinthians. The Apostle testifies that he was caught up to the third heaven. Paul goes on to write that he was caught up into Paradise and heard things that cannot be told. Burkes book contains over 100 stories culled from nearly 1,000 people who had near-death experiences and shared similar glimpses of heaven and sometimes hell. Some relate stories of meeting Jesus. A doctor who had been revived stated, Jesus is more beautiful, wonderful and glorious than I can explain. Another individual who had been blind his entire life, described Jesus physical appearance, then added, He enveloped me with so much warmth and love with his actual physical presence. Don Piper, who wrote the books forward, had his own near-death experience after being crushed by an 18-wheeler, Experiencing heaven is the most real thing thats ever happened to me. I did not want to come back. So, like my green dinosaur, the afterlife is more than just an illusion. But unlike dinos that are a thing of the past, the afterlife lies just ahead. 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. Here is a list of the Walworth Countys weekly criminal complaints from Oct. 4 Oct. 9. The cases still need to make their way through the Walworth County Court System. All information is from criminal complaints filed in Walworth County Circuit Court. To follow the cases, go to wcca.wicourts.gov Michael J Behenna, 19, of 1000 block Mallard La., Genoa City, has been charged with felony domestic disorderly conduct, domestic abuse assessments, domestic abuse repeater; disorderly conduct, domestic abuse assessments, use of a dangerous weapon (threat with knife). Genero Pena, 40, of 5900 block Island Rd., Harvard, Ill., has been charged with possession of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinols) second and subsequent offense. Taylor J.T. Weber, 27, of 1000 block S 47th St., West Milwaukee, has been charged with possession of GHB, GB, Ketamine, Flunitrazepam, possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places; possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places. Stevan P Kalous, of 6800 block Hy 36., Lake Geneva, has been charged with attempting to flee or elude an officer. In 24 states, using a false address to get into a better school is a crime In 24 states, using a false address to get into a better school is a crime Data for sale 'Safe and educated' A push for open enrollment American high school students scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than 30 years. The average score of students who completed high school in 2023 was 19.5 out of a possible 36. Last year, students averaged 19.8. The average score dropped for the sixth straight year. Scores were already falling before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the scores fell faster during and after the pandemic period. The students who took the test in 2023 were in their first year of high school when COVID-19 reached the United States. Janet Godwin leads ACT, the nonprofit organization that administers the test. She said that high schools are not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career. The average scores in reading, math and science were all below the level that ACT says demonstrates a good chance of succeeding in first-year college courses. The average score in English was just above the benchmark level, but it was still lower than in 2022. The falling scores come at the same time many colleges and universities established admissions policies that do not require the test. However, students are welcome to provide the scores if they wish. Some universities do not look at test scores even if students send them in. College admission tests have been criticized for favoring students who come from wealthier families and schools. Godwin, however, said the test scores from her organization still help universities place students in the proper classes. Even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important, she said. Some current high school students wonder why the tests are necessary. Denise Cabrera is a 17-year-old in Hawaii. She said all of her classmates had to take the test in 11th grade. Cabrera said she believed taking it and getting a good score would help her get into a good college. But she thinks colleges and universities can learn more about a student by looking at different qualities outside of just a one-time test score. Godwin said about 1.4 million high school students took the test this year. That was an increase over 2022 but still below the numbers recorded before the pandemic. Only 21 percent of students reached the levels the ACT organization believes are necessary to predict good success in college. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. Quiz - American Scores on College Admissions Test Drop to 30-year Low Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________ Words in This Story postsecondary adj. school or work that comes after high school bechmark n. a score or result that is of a certain (often high) standard academic adj. having to do with school or education incredibly adv. used to amplify the importance of the word coming next, hard to believe grade n. the year a person is in school We want to hear from you. How are students doing on college tests where you live? United Airlines will start boarding passengers in economy class with window seats first starting next week, a move designed to reduce the time planes spend sitting on the ground. The airline said in an internal memo that it will implement the plan on Oct. 26. 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, said Jason Steffen, an associate professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who designed his own boarding model a decade ago. 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 travelers with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, 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. 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. Any time you have to wrestle with luggage up over your head, it's going to slow things down, Steffen said. 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 think about the Northeast, or between the Hawaiian islands 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 last passengers to board face the risk that there won't be room for their carry-on bag in the overhead bins. That leads passengers in late boarding groups to crowd the gate area so they can jump in line ahead of others. Gate agents and seasoned travelers call the line jumpers gate lice. MANUFACTURING | LABOR SHORTAGE 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 Madison's Far West Side. But last week, Gonzalez was at Madison Area Technical College's new "Invitation to Manufacturing" night course, seeking a better life as a welder. Gonzalez's 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 sky's 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 Wisconsin's 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. MATC's 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 MATC's School of Technology and Trades, said workers often don't know how modern manufacturing facilities work, which can limit the number of people who pursue that career. "For some people, there's a stigma that we need to erase, that manufacturing is a dark, dirty environment. It's completely opposite of that ... it's clean, it's bright, it's full of technology and opportunity," Olson said. "It's about exposing them to what those opportunities are. And that's 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 don't tap into a worker's skill set. It's 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, it's 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 it's 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 MATC's 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 onsite 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. Wisconsin's 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 we're teaching manufacturing, and they're 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." 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 Quinns side of her years-long 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 Rices 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 Quinns 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 thats 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 dont say that lightly, Rolf added. Rolfs co-counsel, Richard Jones, added that Quinn didnt trust anyone and would not share with anyone the truth about what was going on, including police, and later her own attorneys. She didnt 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 werent 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 Quinns 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 cant say that if the door opened today, Ms. Quinn would return to the community safe for everyone else, Hyland said. WATERTOWN As can be common with adolescent girls, my 12-year-old daughter struggled with a poor self-image. She also experienced feelings of anxiety and depression. In Autumns words, I loathed myself. I hated my personality, how I looked, everything about me. These feelings of despair were exacerbated for my extroverted girl in 2020 when COVID-19 shut down her world and deprived her of the social connections she relied on. Suddenly, a new feeling emerged for Autumn: She felt like she might have been born in the wrong body. The euphoric idea that she could change into someone else appealed to her as she deeply struggled with her sense of worth. She requested to be admitted into a mental health facility to get some help, and I obliged. Waukesha judge rules schools need parental consent to use students' chosen pronouns A Waukesha County judge ruled Tuesday the Kettle Moraine School District policy violates the rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children. Though I felt this new issue likely stemmed from Autumns underlying mental health struggles, the treatment facility said no. Your daughter is a boy. And if you want to save her life, youll now refer to her by her preferred name and male pronouns. Or you can go against her wishes and, if she kills herself, thats on you. How dare they. They didnt know my daughter. When I asked if they had discussed Autumns anxiety, depression or feelings of low self-worth, they said they hadnt. They had no idea who this girl was or what she was going through, yet they were quick to affirm her new identity and blindly push my vulnerable, adolescent daughter down a recklessly dangerous path. And our school district readily jumped on board. When it was time for Autumn to go back to school, I approached Kettle Moraine Middle School officials to tell them I wanted to choose the best approach for my daughter and her specific situation. I asked the school to use my daughters birth name and female pronouns, but the school refused. School officials said they are an advocate of the child, not the parent. They said theyll welcome her back to school with whatever name and pronoun she chooses, regardless of what I believed was best for my 12-year-old. Somehow, school officials felt like they had a right to infringe on my rights. Thankfully, I have the law on my side. The Wisconsin Constitution recognizes the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their child. Parents, not the government, get to make decisions about their childs health care and wellbeing. This is my baby, and Im not asking your permission. So with the legal help of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and the Alliance Defending Freedom, my husband and I sued Kettle Moraine School District over its policy of changing students names and pronouns at school without parental consent and over their objection. Another family, who realized the same thing could happen to them, joined the lawsuit. I pulled Autumn out of school to give her the space and time she needed to process who she was and what she was experiencing. Shes doing well. Shes now a teenager, so there are ups and downs. But overall she is healthy, mentally stable, accepting of herself and looking forward to her future. Were closer now than ever before. And in a huge victory for our legal battle, the Waukesha County Circuit Court ruled on Oct. 3 that the school district had in fact violated parental rights. The court wrote that the social transition of a child is a powerful psychotherapeutic intervention and undisputedly a medical and health care issue . As such, the school district went against the parents wishes on how to medically treat their child. This directly implicates an infringement against the parental autonomy right to direct the care for their child. Yes, parents know their children best and know whats best for them. No other parent should have to go through what my husband and I did. Schools must respect our concerns and wishes and enact policies that support parents rights and benefit every child. Photo: The Canadian Press A cardiology clinic in Saskatchewan has opted out of the publicly funded heath-care system. Dr. Jeffrey Wilkinson, who runs the South Saskatchewan Heart Clinic in Moose Jaw, says he believes it is the first clinic to do so since universal health care was introduced in 1962. A stethoscope is shown in Gaza City on Sept.7, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Khalil Hamra A cardiology clinic in Saskatchewan, the birthplace of medicare, has opted out of the publicly funded health-care system after it struggled to meet its costs under the province's fee structure. Dr. Jeffrey Wilkinson, who runs the South Saskatchewan Heart Clinic in Moose Jaw, said Friday in a statement that he believes it is the first clinic in the province to go private since universal health care was introduced in 1962. "Over the last five years, being a specialist clinic in Moose Jaw has been operationally and financially difficult," he wrote in the statement. "In early January 2023, these mounting difficulties became a crisis." Wilkinson said the clinic had a number of resignations due to its inability to pay competitive salaries and provide benefits. It also found it difficult to pay overhead expenses because it operates in a smaller city, about 70 kilometres west of Regina. The clinic, he said, reached out to its local members of the legislature and the Saskatchewan Medical Association, and met with Premier Scott Moe and former health minister Paul Merriman. "The rates the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health pays for common cardiac procedures are 20 to 45 per cent lower than both Alberta or Manitoba which essentially explains why so few specialists call Saskatchewan home," said the statement. As an example, the clinic said an electrocardiogram is paid at $34.33 per test in Alberta, while Saskatchewan pays $18.90 per test. Wilkinson said his clinic's advocacy on improvements to fee-for-service rates hasn't received any response from the government or the Saskatchewan Medical Association. No one from the Saskatchewan Medical Association immediately returned a request for comment. Saskatchewan Health said in a statement that physicians are legally able to opt out of the publicly funded system and charge patients for services. "However, this is the first time that a physician has chosen to opt-out," it said. Wilkinson said he only had three paths forward: close the clinic and leave the province, see more patients and provide inferior care, or opt out of the public health-care system and charge patients. "As of Oct. 2, 2023, our clinic is now private," said the statement. "We charge patients directly for their health care. Our consultation rate is $350. Some patients have third-party health insurance which helps reduce or eliminate the cost paid out-of-pocket." Wilkinson said many patients have chosen to continue using the clinic, which it said on its website has much lower waits than many other cardiologists in the province. "If a patient is unable to pay, we offer a referral to another cardiologist or followup with their primary care provider if they choose," said the statement. Saskatchewan Health said there is another cardiologist in Moose Jaw and 13 in Regina who practice within the public system, where payment is not required. It added that rates for insured physician services are negotiated between its ministry and the Saskatchewan Medical Association, which includes "fair compensation for cardiologists while maintaining our competitiveness across Canada." Although the Moose Jaw clinic is the first to opt out of the public system in Saskatchewan, there are several private clinics operating in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. The Canadian Medical Association website notes that the vast majority of physicians practise within the public system, but that the Saskatoon Agreement of 1962 permitted doctors to opt out. It says physicians across the country, with the exception of Ontario, can do so. Some provinces, adds the association, do have barriers in place to limit private practice. Saskatchewan, for example, only permits opting out when it does not compromise patient access to insured services. WASHINGTON | WAR FUNDING 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 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 Thursday night. The Democratic president's 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 the measure also could get bogged down in a divided Senate where some Republicans want to add additional border policies to it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he would advance Biden's 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 weeks to write the bill and negotiate its contents. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., and the panel's 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. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters Friday that Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas' attack on Israel represent a "global inflection point." The biggest line item in the supplemental funding request is $61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Israel would receive $14.3 billion in assistance, most of it to help with air and missile defense systems, the White House said. TWIN FALLS A Kimberly man was found guilty Thursday of six felony charges that he disseminated nude photos of an ex-girlfriend without her permission, records say. A jury deliberated two hours before rendering its verdict that Scott Howard Holmes, 55, was guilty of all charges. The trial began Monday. Holmes' sentencing is set for Jan. 8. The case revolves around two relatives of the woman who testified that they received images in the early morning hours of June 3, 2021, from Holmes Facebook Messenger account. The topless photos were images the woman agreed to have taken for Holmes but she didnt authorize him to send them to anyone else. Holmes might have sent the photos as a way to retaliate against the woman for alerting law enforcement officers that he was using marijuana, records say. The photos were later found on Homes phone after police secured a search warrant. Defense attorney Lisa OBrien argued that the woman sent the photos to herself with another phone as a way to set up her ex-boyfriend. She had the knowledge of how to do it, OBrien said. Much of closing arguments for deputy prosecuting attorney Kiel Willmore centered around wording of multiple crude messages Holmes is alleged to have texted to the women. I think evidence shows he is a very angry, retaliatory man, Willmore said. OBrien told the jury, however, that wording of the messages was not illegal. Please separate the two, she implored. Holmes also faces four additional felony charges, including burglary, video voyeurism and possession of sexually exploitive material involving children that are scheduled to be heard Nov. 14. That case involves incidents dating to spring of 2022. Police allege Holmes hid a video camera in a bedroom and multiple videos of the woman were taken without her knowledge, records say, and other videos showed juveniles who appeared to be engaged in sexual relations, court records say, which brought a charge of possessing sexually explicit material involving children. Violation of the state's video voyeurism laws carry penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and $50,000 in fines. A Kimberly man will travel in November to Ukraine for the fifth time to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-torn country. This time, he is putting an emphasis on distributing medical supplies and is asking for donations. Rob Sturgill will leave for the war-torn country on Nov. 7, and check on the efforts of his Type of Wood Charities, which through the help of partners has been rendering aid to Ukraine since shortly after the war between Russia and Ukraine began 21 months ago. Sturgills efforts continue to grow. He organized a large donation drive in Twin Falls in November, and through donations has brought wood-fired stoves that have been churning out more than 30,000 loaves of bread per week to Ukrainians. Mobile kitchens provide hot meals to people living near the front lines. A latest effort is rebuilding damaged homes in Ukraine, where over 100 volunteers assist using materials paid for with donations. Two hundred homes have been rebuilt so far. And southern Idahoans can help with the efforts. Sturgill said that his partners in Ukraine are emphasizing the need for medical supplies, including tourniquets. He and his group hope to take 40 large boxes full of medical supplies with them. For the price of a lunch or dinner you basically will be saving a couple lives, he said. Sturgill points to a minute-long video that was taken at a military hospital to illustrate his point. The video shows a Ukraine soldier describing how he was seriously wounded by shrapnel while fighting in the war. He badly needed a tourniquet for his arm. The first two broke, but fortunately, there was a third, a high-quality tourniquet that was donated by Idahoans. This one worked properly and saved his life, he said. Sturgills website, typeofwood.org, offers other ways to help, from donating a bread mixer for $900 or a semi-load of wood for $750. When he lands in Warsaw, Poland, next month, Sturgill expects to see friends that have become like family to him. There are a couple of Ukrainians who live in Germany with their families and they drive to Ukraine to take supplies, he told the Times-News. These guys have become like brothers to me. They are great people who risk their lives on a regular basis. One hundred percent of donations to his charity go toward the effort, as Sturgill and others pay for their own transportation and living costs out of their own pockets, he said. Sturgills organization, among others, partners with the Full Gospel Slavic Church in Meridian and the Grace Evangelical Church in Columbus, Ohio, sending hundreds of tons of aid to the war-torn country. KIMBERLY Greg Griggs has played a lot of keys and pushed a lot of buttons during his years of playing the accordion. Hes been holding tight to this underappreciated instrument for 66 years, entertaining audiences along the way. The talent came with the encouragement and perhaps insistence of his mother, who demanded practice. But Griggs was the one who, as a youngster, wanted to play the accordion in the first place, his mother told Griggs when he was older. She said I always wanted to play the squeezebox, Griggs said, but I dont remember that. Maybe that desire got a start as he regularly watched Lawrence Welk with his grandparents. You never know what a kid picks up on, Griggs said. But this much is clear: Practicing for two hours a day when he was a child didnt always come easy. Before I could go out and play cowboys, before I could play in the dirt, or play marbles and play with my cars, Griggs, who was born in Hood River, Oregon, explained. I had to be the kid who would have to go to the bedroom and play the accordion. But now, more than 60 years later, he loves the instrument, to the point of having an accordion museum of sorts in his basement. Accordions produce a sweet, sweet sound, Griggs said. You can tell he enjoys the music. When he gets into his groove, he often closes his eyes and lets the music flow. And its not just country and polka medleys. Griggs will try any genre. For performances, puts on prerecorded music and plays along with it. Whether it be a George Strait country tune, Latino music, or even a Bon Jovi rock song, he said 99% of the time he can pick up the chords and key to keep along with the music. Ive been playing long enough to be able to figure the songs out, he said. Now if only he could get other people to appreciate the accordion as much as he does. Its not the most popular of musical instruments, Griggs admits, and thats an obstacle he faces when he approaches restaurant owners about the possibility of playing in their businesses. People say its a dying art, he said. Thats what I have against me. As a single artist, you really have to hustle for restaurants to take a chance on you. His wife joked that her husband should stand out on a street corner while she held the cup for tips. Griggs also plays the piano but accordions offer one distinct advantage they are much easier to pack around. Hes performed at various eateries, veterans dinners and arts festivals, sometimes just for tips. He also plays for no cost at local nursing homes, some of it with members of a musical group whose members play four guitars, a couple of fiddles, and a piano. Accordions can provide magical moments, one such occasion came earlier this month during Oktoberfest on Main Avenue in Twin Falls. Griggs hasnt practiced a lot of Latino music, but it all turned out well when a girl wanted to sing Griggs leaves an open microphone in case someone wants to play their guitar or sing with him and it ended up with a Latino crowd dancing in front of his public address system while he played the accordion, and listeners put the music on Griggs iPad. I didnt understand a word they said but I was having fun enjoying them having fun, he said. And they were appreciative of his efforts, generously tipping both Griggs and his 8-year-old grandson who was helping with the public address system. That is the type of magic that sometimes happens when you play, Griggs said. The moment caused his grandson to think about getting into music, to which Griggs replied that if the boy would learn to play the guitar, the pair could put on a great act. You would not believe how many would come and listen, he said. Griggs has had many memorable experiences over the years and enjoys mingling with the crowd with the accordion strapped onto his chest. He cares about the southern Idaho music scene and said its important that younger musicians also have those moments. If they dont have regular chances to play, they will likely quit, he said. And while Griggs works to get gigs of his own, he has found that a lot of people dont know him by his true name. Instead, hes known as the The Hoagie Street Guy. Theres a reason for that. In the mid-1990s he was working as a food manager at a large retail store in Twin Falls, after moving to southern Idaho from Reno, Nevada, when he and his wife, Darla, decided to start a business of their own. They opened the tiny Hoagie Street Country Store in Murtaugh that sold large, flavorful hoagie sandwiches, in addition to offering a produce and meat department. Griggs has good memories of the store, recalling feeding bicyclists and kayakers who hailed from around the globe, and, at Christmastime, he and a daughter would play Christmas music in front of the store as hayrides drove by. Hard times hit during the 2008 financial crisis, when farm income plummeted, and he lost many of his regular customers, forcing him to shut his doors. Another opportunity came in Kimberly and he opened Hoagie Street Deli, right there on a bend on U.S. Highway 30, where hoagies again were the spotlight. In addition to the pair serving sandwiches at the store, Darla helped with delivering premade sandwiches to convenience stores and vending machines in Kimberly, Hansen, Murtaugh and Twin Falls. Griggs first thought it was a bad location but, being on the main highway, it had good visibility. He is just glad that nobody crashed where all the cars were parked. The store closed in 2014 when business slowed, and Griggs said the couple grew tired. Griggs said that is the date he retired, but he has stayed plenty busy. In addition to music, he works two part-time jobs. Ive been doing odd jobs around here because I need to keep moving, Griggs said. And people who missed out on the tasty sandwiches he once served might have another chance, as he and his daughter are in the planning stages of opening a food truck this summer. I call it a God thing, Griggs said. If it is meant to happen, it will. After all, he said there are people in the community who are demanding that the sandwiches be brought back. And maybe Griggs can play his accordion while they chow down on his famous grub. Oct. 12 was a day filled with hope. I tagged along on the tour organized by the Chamber of Commerce for our state legislators. One comment I heard more than once was, I wish wed had this in school. The educators we met were enthusiastic about the way they were finding the best ways to help each child in the school learn to enjoy learning. What a change! When I was experiencing K-12 from 1947 to 1960, anyone who couldnt learn or was disruptive was suspended. I believe that it was assumed that they could become manual laborers, or they were admitted, with their parents consent, to a home where, presumably, they would be cared for the rest of their lives. When George H. Bush proposed the No Child Left Behind Act, he aimed to end the soft bigotry of low expectations. We know the legislation wasnt perfect, but the goal has persisted. Thanks to cognitive psychology and neuroscience, educators have practical, solid research, leading to more engaging and effective lesson planning and delivery. From now on, I am confident that todays students will have more desirable ways of adapting to the changes the world brings to them. The soapbox I presented to the legislators is the need to help the adults who were not exposed to the current standards in education. Clearly, many adults are resentful of their academic experiences. They are reluctant to approach the continuing learning necessary for applicability in todays world. Twin Falls will graduate a group of students fluent in Spanish and English in 12 years. Oregon Trail Elementary has begun a dual immersion program. The classes have half Spanish as a first language and half English-speaking students in kindergarten and first grade. The school will add a new grade each year. When they reach middle school, they will jump ahead of English-only students in proficiency. When they graduate, they will be fluent in both languages and specialized fields vocabularies. All parents should want this for their children. How about special education and discipline problems? Corporal punishment and shame have been replaced with skill. Educators are teaching kids how to regulate their behavior themselves. They are finding the curriculum design that reaches each student. Other students are learning from those who require medical support. They develop empathy for physically challenged people. An example is the student who worried about other kids on the playground. His mother knew how to organize a project because she learned the skills with her senior project in high school. The result was a $260K accessible playground at Sawtooth Elementary. Then there are the arts. Visual art, music, and drama all fuel creativity, but they are more important to developing minds than that. Neuroscience has proved that our intelligence can grow throughout our lives. The mechanism is neural pathways; we gain them by learning more stuff! Art education builds neural pathways that pertain to mathematics and innovative thinking. No one needs to be Picasso, Beethoven, or Mckenna Grace to benefit from the arts. Outstanding accomplishment is not required, but exposure and understanding are. After all, every artist needs an audience. The tour experienced the high schools exceptional arts program. Skeptics always ask, Should education replace parents in raising a child? The answer is yes, and it is also that parents are irreplaceable. A parent or a committed parent figure cannot be replaced. No one else can give a growing child the sense of worth and security a parent can. Schools do a great job developing the neuro-wiring human brains need to function. Parents love and protect. Parents demonstrate moral behavior and expand on what formal education presents. However, even with my degrees and reading on child development, I could not keep up with the more current information my children learned. They have experienced the same situation. Consider this. I believe education can be exciting and improve our lives. How can we accomplish the task of making valuable life-long learning available to every person in the United States? Education is a need, not a want. Our lives today benefit from the education given to past generations, but there was a flaw. Too many were victims of the soft bigotry of low expectations. The Board of Investments, led by executive director Maria Veronica Magsino, signed a memorandum of agreement with the officials of Security Bank Corp., accrediting the latter as one of the depository banks for the BOIs Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV) program. A program to attract foreign investments in the Philippines, the BOIs SIRV program aims to increase the countrys foreign currency reserves by providing a residence visa with multiple-entry privileges in exchange for a minimum investment of $75,000 in an eligible type of business (service or manufacturing industry) under Book V of E.O. 226, as amended. We at the Board of Investments are optimistic that this collaboration with the Security Bank Corporation will further strengthen the synergy of government and the private sector, and, hopefully, lead to a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties, Magsino said. Foreign investors can send their money to the Philippines through Security Bank to qualify for SIRV. Aside from Security Bank, the BOI-accredited depository banks for the SIRV program are the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and East West Banking Corp. Sanofi Philippines, an innovative global healthcare company and the first company in its industry to become a member of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), has received outstanding recognition for its commitment to gender pay equity. In the recent Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies (GEARS) diagnostic tool conducted by PBCWE, Sanofi Philippines achieved the leading practice level or a perfect score of 100 percent. At Sanofi, we want to reflect the diversity of our communities, unleashing our best selves every day to transform the practice of medicine. We are proud to have achieved outstanding scores in the GEARS diagnostic tool, which mirrors our commitment to providing equal opportunities and an inclusive environment for our employees, said country lead and general manager for General Medicines Foundation Janet Yap. As part of its proactive initiatives, Sanofi Philippines conducts annual pay gap analysis while effectively communicating its compensation practices. The company places a strong emphasis on promoting diversity in recruitment and advancement by implementing policies, tools, and using inclusive language. In a promising display of international diplomacy and cultural exchange, Namsuk Hu, the President of the Korea-Philippines Association, recently paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Albee Benitez at the Mayors Office. The meeting marked a significant step forward in fostering stronger ties between South Korea and the Philippines through the Daegu Gyeongbuk International Exchange Associations (DGIEA) efforts. The meeting, held in the heart of the city, showcased the importance of people-to-people connections and their roles in strengthening relations between nations. Namsuk Hu brought a sense of enthusiasm and commitment to enhancing cultural understanding and cooperation. It sets the stage for exciting cultural exchanges, partnerships, and opportunities to look forward to. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the country needs stronger parliament-to-parliament cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK). Zubiri recently led a Senate delegation on a parliamentary visit to the UK, culminating in meetings with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Lord John McFall, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords. We need stronger parliament-to-parliament cooperation to go along with the robust people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, he further said. Senator Grace Poe and Senator Christopher Go were also invited to the meeting initiated by the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU). During the meeting on Tuesday, Zubiri and Speaker Hoyle are in agreement that the Philippines and the UK are well-positioned to build stronger partnerships rooted in shared democratic principles. The Senate chief emphasized the Philippines need to build defense partnerships with the UK as part of the modernization efforts for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Zubiri also stressed that with measures like the Ease of Doing Business Act, the Public Service Act, and the Foreign Investments Act, the Philippines is poised to expand its trade partnerships and agreements with more nations, including the UK. We look forward to bringing more UK investors in, to help us become a stronger and more competitive force in Southeast Asia, he said. On people-to-people exchanges, the Senate delegation advocated for better wages and more relaxed requirements for Filipino healthcare workers in the UK. At present, there are over 40,000 healthcare workers in the UK, comprising about 20% of the more than 200,000 overseas Filipino workers working in the European nation. Speaker Hoyle agreed that Filipino healthcare workers should get better compensation, as they are reliable partners of the UK National Health Service. On Wednesday, the meeting with Lord Speaker McFall was equally productive as it focused on defense and security partnerships and on cooperation in the peace process, as the peace initiatives in the Bangsamoro region were modeled partly after the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. The Lord Speaker welcomed the Senate delegations visit as an affirmation of the strong ties between the Philippines and the UK. Alongside partnerships in defense, trade and people-to-people exchanges, Zubiri also thanked the UK for their support in the Philippines climate action efforts, which includes overseas development assistance for clean energy projects. We have been able to really reestablish our ties with the UK Parliament, said Zubiri of the meetings. Apart from meeting with parliament leaders, the delegation also met with committees and other members of Parliament to discuss economic security, science and technology, trade, foreign affairs, and international development. And we now look forward to working with them to see our discussions through, and make them concrete through trade agreements, through actual investments, through defense procurement, and through government protections for our OFWs. US President Joe Biden will host the first summit of a group of nations from the Americas in November, the White House said, as he tries to curb migration ahead of elections in 2024. Biden will welcome leaders of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, which groups Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay. During the summit, president Biden will reaffirm the United States commitment to work together with our partners to deepen economic integration in our hemisphere, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The summit would also tackle the underlying economic drivers of irregular migration in our hemisphere. Illegal immigration has become a major political headache for Democrat Biden, with opposition Republicans accusing him of lax border policies. On Friday he requested $14 billion in border funds from Congress as part of a huge national security package that also includes military aid for Israel and Ukraine. The United States has been working with a number of countries in the region to curb the flow of migrants. Earlier this month his administration announced plans to extend the border wall with Mexico, a policy introduced by his Republican predecessor and likely 2024 rival Donald Trump. But Biden insisted that funds for the extension were already earmarked by law and had to be used, adding that he thought border walls didnt work. Photo: The Canadian Press A couple tourists take a drink in a bar still open at the harbor of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Hurricane Norma is heading for the resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, while Tammy grew into a hurricane in the Atlantic. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Hurricane Norma made landfall near the resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexicos Baja California Peninsula on Saturday afternoon. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Norma, once a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph (130 kph) near el Pozo de Cota, west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas. Norma is expected to continue weakening over the weekend as it crosses into the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California. While in the Atlantic, Hurricane Tammy was very near Antigua and threatened to batter the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Earlier on Saturday, businesses in Cabo San Lucas nailed up sheets of plywood over their windows, and government personnel hung up banners warning people not to try to cross gullies and stream beds after Norma regained strength and once again became a major storm Friday. Norma had weakened early Saturday and was downgraded to Category 1 on the hurricane wind scale. By early afternoon Norma was located 15 miles west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. It was moving north-northeast at 7 mph (11 kmh). The hurricane was expected to continue on that path through the evening before turning to the northeast and slowing down through Monday. The forecast track would take a weakened Norma toward the mainland of Mexicos western Pacific coast as a tropical storm. Its languid pace raised the possibility of severe flooding. Norma was expected to dump six to 12 inches of rain with a maximum of 18 inches in places across southern Baja California and much of Sinaloa state. John Cangialosi, a senior specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said the area is vulnerable to rain because its a dry region generally. "Six to 12 inches of rain is what is generally forecast, but there could be pockets of up to 18 inches of rain and we do think that will be the most significant impact that could result in flash and urban flooding and mudslides, he said. Authorities in San Jose del Cabo helped two families of tourist one Mexico and one from the United States who had been stranded at the closed airport. Authorities took them to one of the 24 open shelters that by the afternoon held about 1,700 people. There were early reports of downed trees and power poles, but no reported injuries or deaths. The Los Cabos Civil Defense agency urged residents to stay indoors all day as winds and rain increased. Emergency workers rushed around the area evacuating people from low-lying areas and moving them to shelters. Police in San Jose del Cabo rescued two people from their truck when a surging stream swept it away early Saturday. Some informal settlements, away from the hotels that serve tourists, were already isolated by rising water. Some neighborhoods lost electricity and internet service. By late morning, the area's streets were littered with palm fronds and other debris, and essentially deserted except for occasional military patrols. Strong winds whipped traffic signs, trees and power lines. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said hurricane conditions were already occurring over southern parts of the peninsula. Hotels in Los Cabos, which are largely frequented by foreign tourists, remained about three-quarters full and visitors made no major moves to leave en masse, Baja California Sur state tourism secretary Maribel Collins said. There was no way out anyway: Airports were closed Saturday, according to the local civil defense office. The local hotel association estimated there were about 40,000 tourists still in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo on Friday. At the marina in Cabo San Lucas, Jose Cesena was hauling out of the water the boat he usually uses to ferry tourists around on tours. With the port closed to navigation and a hurricane coming, he said it wasnt worth risking his craft. Homero Blanco, the state commander of the National Guard, said beaches at the resort had been ordered closed and Guard troops were sent to clear people from the seashore. The federal government posted 500 marines to the resort to help with storm preparations, and municipal officials said as many as 39 emergency shelters could be opened, if needed. In the Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Tammy had winds of 85 mph (140 kph), and hurricane warnings were issued for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Barthelmy. Tammy was moving north-northwest at 10 mph (17 kmh). In the Atlantic, Hurricane Tammy was about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Guadeloupe and 35 miles (55 kilometers) east-southeast of the Caribbean island of Antigua. Tammy was expected to remain at hurricane strength and even strengthen slightly as it moved toward the Lesser Antilles through Saturday passing by Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda. Both Martinique and Guadeloupe are French overseas departments. The hurricane center said in a report that heavy rainfall and flooding (are) likely over much of the Lesser Antilles. Two weeks after Tropical Storm Phillippe rolled through Antigua and Barbuda dumping six to eight inches of rain and plunging both islands into darkness, residents of the islands braced for Tammy's arrival. The slow-moving system was forecast to bring up to 12 inches over a twin island nation where the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and recent wind damage and flooding from Philippe are still fresh memories. This means therefore, that the earth is still somewhat saturated and with additional rainfall, the potential for flooding is elevated, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said in a nationwide broadcast on Friday afternoon. He urged residents to take all necessary steps to secure life and property. Government offices, banks, and most non-retail businesses closed early on Friday to allow staff to prepare. Residents rush to stock up on necessities caused gridlock throughout St Johns and near popular shopping centers and supermarkets. Local disaster management officials announced plans to open an estimated 40 shelters in communities throughout the country. John Michael Ayers created a community Facebook page in 2017 to feature what is right with Martinsville and Henry County. Ayers grew up in Bassett and graduated from Bassett High School in the class of 1999. He went to Campbell University, John Wesley College and Guilford College before settling down at Liberty University. He was a voice major at Campbell University, is a lyrical tenor and had always been in some type of choir up until the pandemic. He said one day hed like to get back into singing, but right now it just cant fit into his schedule. He lived in North Carolina for 14 years before he moved to Danville for two years and then eventually moved back to the area to settle down in Martinsville where he has lived for eight years with his wife. The couple have two children. His mother and stepfather still live in Bassett and his brother and sister-in-law live in Figsboro. Both he and his wife work remotely for Bankers Insurance out of Danville, but when Ayers moved back to the area he decided to take on another role in the community by starting a Facebook group. The group, Whats Right With Martinsville/Henry County, was created to promote and celebrate everything that is right about Martinsville and Henry County, Ayers said. When I moved back, I heard and saw a lot of negativity in the area, Ayers said. A lot of people that said theres nothing to do, nowhere to go, this was a ghost town, its a relic of the past. I was amazed that I was able to find so much to do and so many places to go and never a dull moment, he added. What I found thought was that there was nowhere that this information was being published. So, he started the Facebook group originally by inviting 400 to 500 of his local Facebook friends and the group has since grown to having just under 5,900 members. It started growing exponentially, he said. The group has members from 26 different states, 17 different local communities and three different countries. Friends of friends started inviting their friends and thats how it grew, he added. The group was originally invite only, but now people can request to join through approval by Ayers. Ayers and his less than 10 moderators share post and approve posts shared by group members to create a central hub of positive information for those who have joined. He has also pre-approved some posters within the group and encourages any organization that would like that status to reach out to him through Facebook Messenger. The groups private status keeps the posts relative and in line with the purpose of the group. Though Ayers wants group members to see posts from different groups, the intention was never to replace the organizations promoting their events. We are just a tool to help them promote their activity, he said. He added that he encourages people to visit the original poster and share from their and not his group page so that the original group gets more attention. So that people learn about that organization, he said. So they see more about that group. Ayers said the idea for the group came to him in a dream after seeing the climate of the area upon his return and the very next day he told his wife he was going to do make it a reality. We needed to have some way to promote positivity in the area and a way for people to share their events, Ayers said. Especially one that is free of charge, he added. Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) welcomed Dr. Ivana Baumgarten, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician, to the WNCCHSMcDowell Health Center team in Marion this week. Dr. Baumgartens appointment underscores WNCCHSs commitment to providing comprehensive health care services to the community, said Kim Wagenaar, CEO of WNCCHS. She will extend her expertise across three WNCCHS locations, offering a broad spectrum of care to children of all ages. In her role, Baumgarten will provide regular health and wellness checkups to young patients, as well as physical exams, medications, vaccines, referrals to specialists and more. Additionally, Baumgarten aims to serve as a vital resource for parents, offering guidance and addressing their queries throughout the various stages of a childs development, according to a news release. I find it very special to help children grow up into healthy and happy adults, she said. I also enjoy interacting with their parents and getting to know their families. Born and raised in Slovenia, Baumgarten completed her medical school and pediatric residency with a focus on infectious diseases. Her health care journey took her to Africa, where she worked in various local health care settings. She and her husband later moved to the United States, where she completed her second pediatric residency at East Carolina University. According to Baumgarten, she is passionate about equality and believes that providing preventative medicine is a basic need for raising happy children who will one day become happy and healthy adults. I really am passionate about the WNCCHS mission providing equal care for everyone, she said. I believe, with this, we are providing a great example to children. WNCCHSMcDowell Health Center, located at 136 Creekview Court in Marion, provides primary care and behavioral health services to patients. WNCCHS is a federally qualified health center dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible health care services to the community, including a sliding fee program for both insured and uninsured patients. For appointments and more information, contact McDowell Health Center at 828-583-6733 or visit www.wncchs.org/mcdowell. 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: Mayo Clinic News Network Ultrasounda technology that uses sound waves to produce an imageis commonly used to monitor the development of a baby as it grows inside its mother. But ultrasound imaging also can be used to investigate suspicious masses of tissue and nodules that may be cancerous. Tumors consist not only of cancer cells but also a matrix of small blood vessels, or microvessels, that cannot be seen in the images produced by conventional ultrasound machines. To solve this problem, physician-scientist Azra Alizad, M.D., and biomedical engineering scientist Mostafa Fatemi, Ph.D., teamed up at Mayo Clinic to design and study a tool that may improve the resolution of ultrasound imaging. As demonstrated in research findings published last April in European Radiology, they developed high-resolution ultrasound imaging software, compatible with many ultrasound machines, that could exponentially improve both the detail and quality of images. The investigational software, which they've named quantitative high-definition microvessel imaging (q-HDMI), has been evaluated to capture high-resolution 2D and 3D images of microvessels as small as 150 microns, roughly twice the width of a human hair. "If we can visualize and capture the microvessel in the earliest stages of cancer, we can better diagnose and treat it earlier, which improves the outcome for the patient," says Dr. Alizad, who specializes in ultrasound technology for cancer imaging. Artificial intelligence helps detect what we cannot see In addition, the researchers identified a series of biomarkers representing specific characteristics of tiny vessels, such as shape, pattern, irregularity and complexity, and packaged them into an algorithm that can sort the image data into benign or malignant masses. "This technology provides a quantitative value that shows the probability of malignancy," Dr. Fatemi says. "It's a tool to extract information in a way that can be useful to clinicians." Credit: Mayo Clinic News Network Applying it in practice In a clinical study published last November in Breast Cancer Research, the researchers showed that their new q-HDMI tool combined with artificial intelligence (AI) was able to detect a very small, 3-millimeter-wide, malignant breast cancer mass comprised of miniscule vessels in a 40-year-old woman. Finding and treating cancer lesions when they are this size before they spread, or metastasize, can be lifesaving. "The questions in radiology really are: benign or malignant? And if it's suspicious, how concerned should we be?" Dr. Fatemi says. To help radiologists answer these questions, the researchers applied their software and algorithm to further analyze suspicious breast masses from 521 patients who already had received conventional ultrasound imaging. The results were astounding. The new technology yielded a nearly 100% rate of accuracy in determining malignant versus benign masses, regardless of the tumor size. More recently, the researchers analyzed thyroid nodules from 92 patients. Thyroid nodules are common and it is often hard to differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous ones through imaging. Yet the prevalence of thyroid cancer has increased over the last few decades. "With conventional ultrasound images, physicians can diagnose whether a thyroid nodule is benign or malignant with only about 35%75% accuracy," Dr. Alizad says. That's why physicians often opt to perform thyroid biopsies, which enable them to more definitively determine if a thyroid nodule is a cause for concern. The researchers identified 12 biomarkers that can differentiate benign from malignant thyroid tissues. They programmed the AI-powered algorithm with these biomarkers, which sorted the images and had an 84% rate of accuracy. These results were published in the journal Cancers and highlighted by the National Institutes of Health. "If it is cancer, we definitely want to know that. But if we can determine if a thyroid nodule is benign without even having to do a biopsy, that is even better as it spares the patient from the financial and physical burdens associated with an unnecessary benign biopsy," Dr. Alizad says. The researchers see that their quantitative tool could be particularly useful in parts of the world where there is limited expertise and resources, such as rural areas and developing countries. They also are collaborating with oncologists to enable them to use the q-HDMI tool to better monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatments and help them adjust therapies for individual patients in real time. More information: Melisa Kurti et al, Quantitative Biomarkers Derived from a Novel Contrast-Free Ultrasound High-Definition Microvessel Imaging for Distinguishing Thyroid Nodules, Cancers (2023). DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061888 Journal information: Cancers , Breast Cancer Research For the past two weeks the world has again been shaken by horrendous acts of terrorism and violence, this time by the inhumane attacks of Hamas patriots and by the continued acts of violence by both Israel and Hamas fighters, and by the tragic deaths of innocent humans that have followed. We know that many lives and families have been shattered already in Israel and Gaza as well as friends, relatives and loved ones around the world. These acts of violence are devastating to the global Jewish and Palestinian communities as well as to many allies and friends. While the history of this conflict and its solutions may be complex, we in Montana need to step up and offer support, allyship and prayers for all our Jewish, Palestinian and Muslim neighbors in the days ahead. We can also advocate for solutions to peace. On Oct. 12, a consortium of 27 Christian denominations and agencies, including the United Church of Christ and ELCA Lutherans, both with whom I affiliate, wrote to members of Congress. Here is part of that letter: Our commitment remains to a future in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, with security and human rights protected for all. We unequivocally condemn Hamas attacks and violent treatment of civilians and call for the immediate release of all hostages in captivity. We also condemn the indiscriminate and violent Israeli response that has already claimed hundreds of civilian lives. The Israeli governments decision to shut off power, water and fuel will have a disastrous impact on millions of civilians in Gaza, including over a million children, especially those who need immediate medical attention. At this critical time it is incumbent upon Congress to act in ways that will help de-escalate the violence and stop further loss of life. Specifically, we call on Congress to: Publicly call for ceasefire, de-escalation and restraint by all sides Call on all parties to abide by the laws of war, including the Geneva conventions and customary international law Prioritize steps to secure immediate release of hostages and ensure international protection for civilians During this time of heightened tension, we implore Congress to refrain from steps that only exacerbate the violence and increase the risk of expanding war into the broader region. Any congressional effort that is one-sided, and rushes to send new weapons to Israel, will only intensify the conflict leading to further deaths and destruction. Congress must work to prevent the spread of more violence, including against Palestinian civilians in Israel and the West Bank. Year after year, we have seen that increasing violence begets more violence. Our past responses have failed to end the bloodshed. As these horrific events unfold, we are reminded once again that only by addressing core systemic issues, including decades of institutionalized oppression and collective punishment of Palestinians through brutal military occupation and a 16-year Gaza blockade, will Israelis and Palestinians live in peace. We all have the capacity to dehumanize the other, and the impacts are always horrific. As I write this, I sit on land that was ceded only by deceit and threats of violence from the Salish people who were deemed uncivilized and savage in the founding documents of this country, and who were nothing of the sort. The impact of those labels and actions have been devastating to the Salish and to millions of Indigenous people across this country and continues to this day. Today, what we can do is dig deep into our spiritual path and find our own humanity, and to ground ourselves in Divine love for all people and all of life and find our own capacity to love our neighbor. As members of the dominant religion here, Christians have extra responsibility to be open-hearted and supportive of Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous and any other perspectives in our communities. We know that antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions are on the rise in our country. We must remember the humanity, dignity and kinship of all people in our community and world. Today, let's extend extra love and support to our Jewish and Palestinian neighbors who are in deep pain, and let us all pray for peace in our hearts and in our world. A woman has been officially charged with homicide in connection to the death of Mika J. Westwolf, a young Indigenous woman who was hit and killed near Arlee in March. Sunny K. White, 28, is charged with five felonies: vehicular homicide while under the influence, accidents involving another person or deceased person, two counts of criminal child endangerment and one charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, Lake County court documents show. White was brought into custody on a warrant over the weekend, but bonded out on Monday, Flathead County jail records show. There has been little in the way of developments in Westwolfs case in the past seven months, but the affidavit filed on Monday details what investigators believe led to Westwolfs death. At about 4:15 a.m. on March 31, a tribal officer on patrol saw a body and vehicle debris while he was driving on Highway 93, just north of Arlee. The victim was identified as Westwolf. The same morning, at 5:23 a.m., a Lake County deputy saw a gold 2008 Cadillac Escalade with front-end damage and missing a passenger side rearview mirror, which matched the description provided by the tribal officer. The Escalade was parked outside of Polson, according to the affidavit. The deputy saw a woman, identified as White, moving items from the Escalade to another car. White reportedly said the car was overheating and she called a friend to help her. The defendant stated she had hit a deer and not stopped, the affidavit states. Whites two children, ages 2 and 4, are suspected to have been in the car when the crash happened. The childrens names are Aryan and Nation. White reportedly had the two children in her car when the deputy located her. White told authorities she was passing a bottle to her baby and didnt see the deer, the affidavit states. In an official statement to a Montana Highway Patrol trooper, White said she was driving with her two children from Butte to Kalispell for the weekend. She denied using alcohol, and said she hadnt used fentanyl or methamphetamine in the last week. The defendant told Trooper Dager that she assumed it was a deer and swerved to the left on the highway, court documents state. The Cadillac was seized and towed. Evidence collected from the crash site indicates Westwolf was walking in the northbound lane of traffic when she was struck by the suspect SUV. Officials suspect Westwolf was hit head-on by the cars passenger side, and it propelled her body forward, the affidavit states. She died on scene from multiple blunt-force injuries. Troopers learned Mika and her brother drove to a Ravalli bar earlier that evening. On the way back to Arlee, the two stopped near North Valley Creek, roughly 5 miles north of the crash scene. Westwolf walked away from the car, leaving her phone behind, according to the affidavit. Her brother tried to find Westwolf. He left her a voicemail at 1:13 a.m. and drove home. Cellphone data showed investigators that White left Butte around midnight and passed through Missoula at 2:45 a.m. Data puts her near the crash scene at about 3 a.m., the affidavit alleges. A search warrant on Whites car returned methamphetamine, five syringes and two unopened packs of Narcan. Whites blood sample came back positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine. After Whites arrest, Westwolfs family said the news felt bittersweet. I was glad to hear (the news), you know, but Im still kind of in shock because it really seemed like this day was unreachable, Carissa Heavy Runner, Westwolfs mother, said. Westwolfs family led a statewide campaign, with awareness walks, rallies and other events, calling for justice and awareness in her case as well as other cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The case is being prosecuted by Lake County Attorney James Lapotka, who confirmed in May that White was the suspect. I would like to thank the Montana State Highway Patrol, Flathead Tribal Police, and Lake County Sheriff's Office for their hard work investigating this case, Lapotka said on Monday. An exact date for Whites arraignment, where shell enter a plea to the charges, hasnt been scheduled yet. A large, adult male grizzly bear was hit and killed by a vehicle near Bonner on Wednesday night the southernmost known roadkill death of a grizzly from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. According to Jamie Jonkel, a bear management specialist for Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2, a game warden from the agency responded around 11 p.m. Wednesday night to a report from 911 dispatch that a motorist hit a bear near mile-marker 3 on Highway 200, just north of Bonner. He said the incident occurred along curves in the road in the Blue Slide area about 2.25 miles northeast of Bonner. The responding warden came upon the driver of a truck towing a horse trailer as the driver was inspecting the damaged front of his vehicle after the bear impact, Jonkel said. According to the warden, he said, the driver reported coming around a bend in the highway to find the bear "right there," walking along the road, and it tried to cross the road in front of him. The bear, a 582-pound male about 20 years old, was dead on the side of the road. The bear was known to biologists as Dick, he said, after Dick Creek near Ovando, where it was captured and tagged in 2009. Dick will be taxidermied and used for educational purposes, Jonkel said. The incident was the southernmost known instance of a grizzly bear being killed by a vehicle outside the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, one of six recovery zones for the federally protected grizzly bear. But the area around Bonner and Clinton has long been fraught for bears. "From Bonner to Clinton is one of our highest mortality sites on Interstate 90," he said. "This year we picked up eight black bears already. Its a major crossing area between Bonner and roughly Rock Creek. And thats because of all the berries there along the river, and also because its a good linkage zone" between habitat. As grizzlies expand their range outside the core of designated zones like the NCDE, they are increasingly caught in the vehicular crossfire. An estimated 1,000 grizzlies inhabit the NCDE between Glacier National Park and the southern Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. "Were seeing a lot of grizzly bear expansion out of the Seeley Lake area and the Blackfoot area," Jonkel said, "and they definitely seem to want to come into the Missoula area and Bitterroot area." 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. The future of the state of Montana is in your hands and those of your family, friends and neighbors who vote in Montana. We must all come together to protect the integrity, independence and effectiveness of Montanas Supreme Court and Montanas judicial branch. A historic election will take place in 2024. Culminating a brilliant career in public service, Chief Justice Mike McGrath recently announced his retirement after 16 years leading Montanas judicial branch. As a result, Montana voters will have the opportunity to elect a new Chief Justice to lead our judicial branch. If the past is prologue and no doubt it will be Montana voters should expect to be pummeled with negative advertising in support of extremists candidates who act like politicians, not judges. These candidates likely carry personal agendas or are motivated by the influence of dark-money lobbyists and corporations. Already, these extremists have tried to take over Montanas highest court. Over the past nine years, they have spent more than $8 million on negative and misleading ads, in most cases attacking well-qualified, impartial justices on the Montana Supreme Court. My motivating purpose is to protect the 1972 Montana State Constitution. It has withstood the test of time, having been written in a truly non-partisan manner and approved overwhelmingly by Montana voters. The Montana State Constitution protects our rights to privacy, individual dignity, a clean and healthful environment, our agricultural way of life, a no-cost public education and many, many more rights. These constitutional rights are the result of ordinary citizens banding together to reject a long heritage of puppet politicians and corporate control our state and our resources, and to instead embrace a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We need to do the same again. I am a candidate for the Montana Supreme Court because I have the experience, independence, demeanor, and dedication to protect Montanas Constitution and people. My candidacy is not inspired by personal ambition, nor is it fueled by out-of-state corporate lobbyists and political extremists seeking to control Montanas future and to undermine our constitutional rights. I grew up and worked in Butte. My family, friends and neighbors know in their bones what unfettered corporate exploitation of Montanas natural resources does to a community, and ultimately to a government. I fought against that exploitation the best way I knew how: public service. My family and I are proud of my more than 30 years of public service as a Federal Magistrate Judge in the Montana District of the U.S. District Court (2006-2023) and as a law clerk for the Honorable Paul Hatfield. Prior to my public service, I served for 10 years as an attorney in private practice in Great Falls, Montana, where my wife Teri a public school educator and I raised our children. My children are grown now, but my grandchildren arent. I couldnt sit this one out when their futures and the futures of all Montanas children and grandchildren are at stake. In this campaign, I am focused on grassroots outreach to individual voters and community leaders throughout Montana. I hope to meet you on the campaign trial and earn your vote. I know that together we can ensure Montana remains the Last Best Place. Governor Gianforte's 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. Montana's 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. Montana's 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. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge who 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "Moneyball," "Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon" and "The Big Short" by author Michael Lewis. (W.W. Norton & Company) There was a time when I wouldve told you there was no writer who I trusted more than Michael Lewis, author of more bestselling nonfiction books than I can count, including Moneyball, The Blind Side, Flash Boys and The Big Short. Lewis has been particularly insightful when it comes to matters of finance. The Big Short manages to unpack the origins of the 2008 meltdown in a way that brings both the characters who saw the disaster coming to life, and makes the financial ins and outs explicable. Advertisement One of the hallmarks of Lewis method is to base the narrative around a central figure, an iconoclast who simply sees the world differently, and in those differences gains a special advantage. In Moneyball, it was Oakland As general manager Billy Beane. In The Big Short, it was Michael Burry, a neurodivergent genius who shorted the entire U.S. housing market in advance of the implosion of the market for mortgage-backed securities. Lewis is back in the world of finance with Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, the very inside story of Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who is currently on trial for one of the largest alleged frauds in financial history. Advertisement In Lewis telling, Bankman-Fried is yet another oddball with few feelings, who thinks any question can be boiled down to a rational analysis, including whether or not Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of all time. (Bankman-Fried thinks not.) Lewis was embedded with Bankman-Fried before a run on the exchange revealed an essential insolvency and a hinky relationship between FTX and Alameda, a hedge fund controlled by FTX that allegedly used customer deposits in FTX to do its own investing, the focus of the current fraud trial. I went into the book expecting to glean insights from Lewis as to how Bankman-Frieds machinations went so wrong, but the deeper one gets into the story, the more it dawns on the reader that Lewis intends the book as a kind of exoneration, another one of Lewis stories about a misunderstood genius. Now, its important to remember that as of this writing, Bankman-Fried has not been convicted of any crime yet, but its also notable that several of his former FTX/Alameda colleagues have already confessed to various illegalities, and the early days of testimony at the trial paint a picture, at the very least, of someone who, if they arent a crook, is nothing like a tycoon either. In fact, it appears that whatever success that FTX enjoyed celebrity endorsements, Super Bowl Ads was entirely illusory, not a good idea gone bad, but a non-idea that was destined to collapse. The story seems more like Theranos, memorably exposed by John Carreyrou in Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, than one of Lewis typical underdog/iconoclast tales. I wish I knew what went wrong, if Lewis simply got too close to his subject, or maybe hubris has caught up to him over the years, but Going Infinite is deeply strange when juxtaposed against the public record of the trial. Sure, its possible Lewis is right and Bankman-Frieds own colleagues and government prosecutors and the rest of the financial world observers are wrong, that he was simply a maverick inventing something new that might have run afoul of the old ways of doing things, rather than a form of fraud updated for the digital age. But the more likely conclusion is that Bankman-Fried is exactly what he appears to be, and Lewis has written a tale that is a poor reflection of reality. Advertisement John Warner is the author of Why They Cant Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities. Twitter @biblioracle Book recommendations from the Biblioracle John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books youve read. 1. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 2. Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov Advertisement 3. Old Gods Time by Sebastian Barry 4. Happiness Falls by Angie Kim 5. The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard Sari K., Riverwoods, IL I think Tana Frenchs The Searcher offers the story and atmosphere that Sari is looking for in a good read. 1. Annals of the Former World by John McPhee Advertisement 2. The Lion Trackers Guide to Life by Boyd Varty 3. Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny by Ann Marks 4. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger 5. The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin Dave L., Chicago For Dave, Im recommending a novel with great warmth and sly humor at the center that also has some tremendous recipes in it, Search by Michelle Huneven. Advertisement 1. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann 2. The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy 3. Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond 4. South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami 5. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Bill F., Chicago Advertisement For Bill, Im recommending a book I think of as both intimate and epic, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Get a reading from the Biblioracle Send a list of the last five books youve read and your hometown to biblioracle@gmail.com. A Durant firefighter is suing a Walcott man who was driving a farm implement while drinking and struck a fire truck last year, injuring the firefighter. Matthew Fisher's suit alleges negligence, willful misconduct and liability on the part of Kent Reimers. In addition to suing Reimers, Fisher is also suing Liquigrow Trioak, Progressive Insurance Company and Employers Mutual Casualty Company in the May 2, 2022, crash. He is suing for medical expenses, loss of full body and mind, physical and mental pain, and lost wages. A jury trial is set to begin Oct. 28 in Muscatine County court. The trial is expected to last five days and the amount being asked for exceeds $10,000. Durant firefighters were heading to a call when Reimers crashed into one of two Durant firetrucks shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2022, in the 1200 block of Vail Avenue south of Durant, according to the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office. Reimers was driving a TerraGator, a farming vehicle used for spraying fields, according to the sheriff's office. All five firefighters riding in the firetruck were injured, with the driver needing to be extracted from the mangled fire engine by fellow first responders using hydraulic equipment to cut and pry open the wrecked vehicle. Four were treated and released with relatively minor injuries, while Fisher, who was sitting behind the driver, was taken by ambulance to Genesis Medical Center in Davenport and was later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. After the crash, Reimers fled the scene while the crew of the second Durant firetruck stopped in order to tend to their fellow firefighters' injuries. The Wilton Fire Department gave its assistance with both the crash and the call that Durants crew had been heading to. Durant Police Department, Durant Ambulance, Walcott Police Department, Scott County Sheriffs Office, Muscatine County Sheriffs Office and Iowa State Patrol also offered their assistance at the scene. Reimers pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. His sentence of incarceration was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years and fined $2,275. The arrest report says Reimers admitted to consuming whiskey prior to driving his vehicle and was charged with first-offense driving while intoxicated after failing two out of three field sobriety tests. Wildfire vulnerability: Lack of backup power imperils firefighting efforts across US Several community members asked the Muscatine City Council to not approve code ordinance changes that would allow a snake merchant within city limits. During its regular meeting, the council postponed the second reading of an ordinance that would amend city code Title 6, Chapter 8 governing animal control. If the second and third readings are approved, the ordinance would change the definition of irresponsible owner and vicious dog; change the regulations on dangerous animals regarding snakes to match the state code; and remove penalties for late registration. The first reading was approved unanimously. During the June 15 meeting, the council listened to a dangerous animal appeal regarding an in-home snake breeding facility run by Thomas Phillips and Cynthia Cortez. During the appeal, the council recommended the Muscatine Police Department consider changes to the animal ordinance. After research, the city staff recommends the council change the code to reflect the Iowa State code, as well as a few changes recommended by the police department to assist in code enforcement. Several neighbors of the facility spoke against allowing it in the community. According to the Department of Agriculture, neither Thomas Phillips nor Cynthia Cortez who reside at this address and are doing business as the Python Foundry have applied for or been issued a license, community member Geri Robison said. The Department further stated that licenses arent transferrable but are site specific. She further said if a business sells more than $1,000 of merchandise per year it is considered a pet store and must be licensed by the department. She asked if the city would have to rezone the residence because it would be considered a pet store. She asked who would be contacted if snakes or rats got out and about the procedure for handling the situation. Its about precedent, community member Kevin Madsen said. We have a city code that clearly states they are illegal to possess in the city. He commented it is the responsibility of the owners to understand the laws before investing money into starting a business. Facility co-owner Cortez responded to several of the concerns, saying the facility has been there for a year and none of the neighbors even know the animals were there. She said the animals are secure and well taken care of. Phillips presented the council a petition from 35 signors who supported the business. The second reading of the motion was approved unanimously. On Oct. 6, the council unanimously voted to grant the appeal of a dangerous animal citation against the snake merchant. The business had been cited as the city code considers ball pythons to be dangerous animals. The facility hopes to have ball pythons, some of which grow over 6 feet long. Snakes over 6 feet are not allowed under city code. During the June 15 meeting, Phillips told the council he does not believe the snakes are dangerous animals. He had moved to Muscatine about six months earlier and said he was unaware of the ordinance at the time until the police and animal control visited his residence on June 1. At the time it was reported there were about 1,000 rats and about 120 snakes in the facility. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Authorities found the vehicle used by the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge but asked the public to remain vigilant Saturday as they continued searching for the man. Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of gunning down the judge in his driveway hours after he ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that the silver Mercedes SUV that Argote was believed to be driving was located in Williamsport, about 8 miles southwest of Hagerstown where the judge was shot outside his home. "Anyone with information on Argote's location should immediately notify law enforcement," the sheriff's office said. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot Thursday night just hours after he awarded custody of Argote's children to his wife. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said it was a "targeted attack." During a news conference Saturday, Albert said local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are participating in the search for Argote. We're going to catch this guy, its just a matter of time, Albert added. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to Argote's arrest. In a news release issued late Friday, the Marshals Service said Argote has ties to multiple areas outside of Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island, New York; Tampa and Clearwater, Florida; Columbus, Indiana; and unknown cities in North Carolina. Albert said Argote is considered "armed and dangerous." Wilkinson presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but Argote was not present at the hearing, Albert said. The judge gave custody of Argote's children to his wife at the hearing and that was the motive for the killing, the sheriff said. The judge also ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support. Hagerstown, a city of nearly 44,000, is about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. A men's 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 was not injured. In August, a Texas woman was charged 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. Todays growing desire for new wine country regions never stops. Virtually every state in the union has at least one winery. Even Alaska has 24. In California, there 139 geographical group growing areas with official Appellation status with over 4,000 wineries. One underappreciated American Viticulture Area, AVA, is Suisun Valley just east of Napa Valley. Established in 1982, just one year after Napa Valley, it has been slowly gaining recognition as a formidable wine producing area. As of October 2023, the valley had maybe 10 wineries growing 23 different wine grape varieties as well as countless fruit and vegetable stands. One could easily compare this valley to Napa or Alexander 75 years ago with surrounding mountain ranges. Most of the wineries are small scale Mom & Pops, waiting for an explosion of appreciation. This has changed with the recent opening of Caymus-Suisun, a classic International Style pavilion that would make Mies van der Rohe smile. (https://magazine.artland.com/mies-van-der-rohe-modernist-master/) The bold step into this long-ignored valley is the inspiration of Chuck Wagner of Caymus Winery, Rutherford, who has been a longtime critic of Napa Countys strict rules on what a winery can produce or whom it can host. The Wagner family has had a long history of farming prunes in Napa Valley. Chuck started Caymus in 1972, using the original Mexican land grant name Rancho Caymus that was given to George Yount in 1836. They now own 600 acres of land in Suisun Valley. Interestingly, Caymus does not have a wine club. Thats a real rarity today. (caymus-suisun.com) Boykin Cywinski Jackson designed the winery using engineer timber creating mammoth cantilevered roofs for a very contemporary weightless pavilion, to become a very upscale architectural vision for the region. Cello Madru was the general contractor who has worked on many Wagner projects. The complex consists of two buildings: a greeting/retail and a grand tasting pavilion. The tasting pavilion is remarkably clean and simple, with little to distract from the expansive exterior views. The design relies on maintaining as much natural light and ventilation year-round while giving the visitors a firsthand experience of the rugged mountain range very much like Napa. Thirty-foot-wide sliding glass doors allow the indoor, outdoor experience to flow throughout the building. The wine shop is spacious and casual. The exterior patios provide very unpretentious seating arrangements among the palm trees. If I had any uneasiness, its the massive Gordian Knot suspended in the main room. The orderly crisp lines of the building contrast with the clumsily hung art. But it does attract attention, doesnt it? I will be the first to admit that this does not look like a winery but more like a modern airport with 360 degrees of floor to ceiling glass. The Camus-Suisun Winery is to Suisun Valley as Robert Mondavis 1966 noble experiment when he built his remarkable at the time over-the-top winery incorporating California architectural themes. That set the standards in Napa and this complex will now be the standard for Suisun Valley. The unemployment rate in the Napa County was 3.5% in September, down from a revised 3.6% in August, and above the year-ago estimate of 2.7%. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.9% for California and 3.6% for the U.S. during the same period, the California Employment Development Department reported. Year over year, Napa County industries with increased hiring included health care and leisure and hospitality. At the same time, beverage manufacturing and wholesale trade jobs declined. Also year over year, Napa Countys labor force declined slightly, from 73,200 to 72,200 workers. An estimated 1,900 local workers were unemployed one year ago. That number now totals 2,500. Napa County tied with Sonoma County for the sixth lowest jobless rate in the state in September. To compare, Solano County ranked 28th and Lake County 41st, out of 58 counties. Employers with the most job ads in September included: Providence, the Napa Valley Unified School District, Hyatt, Treasury Wine Estates, the state of California, Auberge Resorts, Pacific Hospitality Group, the county of Napa and Thomas Keller. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, October 21, 2023 The city of Napa has approved a housing plan designed to create more units for lower-income tenants months after a deadline for state approval. Tuesday night, the City Council approved Napas housing element, which California law requires as an element of a citys general plan. The new housing element calls for building 2,669 housing units over the next eight years including 770 units for extremely low-income residents and 444 for those with low incomes. The vote came nearly 10 months past a January deadline for cities to gain state certification of their housing plans. City senior planner Michael Walker explained at Septembers Planning Commission meeting that this was largely due to changes in the state Housing and Community Development Departments housing element review timeline, which is now much longer. He said that many other cities around the state are in a similar situation, as they believed due to the policy changes, there would be a grace period to come into compliance, which is not the case. Walker added that state certification of the housing element is a requirement for many forms of state and federal funding, increasing the pressure on local governments to comply. Napa planners endorse housing plan for Vintage Farm site; City Council vote next The subdivision will include 53 new single-family homes, and the Napa school district will seek a new site for Vintage's student farm. Meanwhile, Napas work on its housing element has taken longer due to the larger number of new dwellings it is required to account for in the latest eight-year cycle, which began this year. Walker explained that in the past, the number of necessary units, which is determined by the regional housing needs allocation California issues for the Bay Area and other regions every eight years, only accounted for additional housing needs based on projected population growth. However, that number now includes the units necessary to meet already unmet housing needs in a community. The new requirements also aim to concentrate housing growth in cities rather than spread it to unincorporated county areas in order to promote denser, more sustainable communities. Because of this, the city of Napa has also absorbed much of Napa Countys share of the regional requirements for more housing. The city is actively looking at being able to provide the needed housing for the county here in the city and not expanding out into the countryside, Walker said. Developing housing projects within cities instead of the unincorporated county can slow the extension of Napas public utilities and preserve farmland and open space, slowing the expansion of the city footprint. The housing element itself contains a long-term plan to guide housing growth by describing the citys projected housing needs based on the regional allocation laid out by the state, and a list of sites available for housing projects to meet those needs. However, the housing element does not provide a clear path to actually building the extra housing. According to Walker, while Napa is responsible for showing that there are enough sites remaining in the city to meet the regional requirements, city officials are not in the business of building. Whether the needed homes get built is up to private developers, which can make it especially difficult to complete affordable housing projects, since those are often less profitable. Currently, Napa has more than 1,900 housing units that are in the development process, but of those, only 372 fall into extremely low or low-income brackets. More than 1,300 would be attainable only to households with above moderate incomes. According to Walker, the city is able to offer some incentives to developers who include affordable housing in their projects, including a density bonus that allows them to build more units on a parcel of land if a certain percentage of the dwellings are deemed affordable. Housing projects without affordable units also carry a cost: a city fee of around $4.75 per square foot. The fees enrich Napas affordable housing trust fund to support the creation of affordable units elsewhere in the city. But it remains difficult to get affordable homes built. For example, the city Planning Commission on Oct. 5 approved a subdivision with 52 single-family homes at the site of the former Vintage Farm in north Napa. As Commissioner Bob Massaro pointed out, though, none of the homes will be required to be affordable to lower-income residents. Up to 13 will have an option to add an accessory dwelling unit a smaller home commonly called a mother-in-law unit or granny flat but it will be up to future homeowners to decide if they wish to add them. Because the Vintage Farm project includes no affordable units, its developer, Davidon Homes, must pay the city a fee in lieu of lower-priced homes. But the fee isnt steep enough to sway a developer away from leaving out affordable housing, according to Massaro. Its a flaw in our system that 53 units that I would say are going to sell upwards of, on average, one million dollars only generate enough money to build three-quarters of an affordable housing unit, he said. Theres something wrong with that ratio. Photos: What does it cost to buy a house in Napa? 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa 2221 Adrian St. in Napa Napa is a special place. Millions come here each year for the world-class wine, Michelin-starred restaurants and unparalleled natural beauty a tourism engine that drives our economy. It is a privilege to be part of this community, and I have an immense feeling of gratitude to be a part of it. Thats why I had to take action when my community was marred by hate speech. As a healthcare professional, the signs on Browns Valley Road that spread vaccine disinformation were bothersome, especially as we see a rise in childhood measles and polio. However, the resident who posts them, Mr. Snyder, has a First Amendment right to free speech. When they veered into hate speech, using words like fa**ot and ni**er and a slew of anti-Semitic tropes, I had to do something. Hate is not a Napa value. It does not reflect our community, and I wanted to ensure that the world coming to our valley knows that. My goal was simple: provide a positive message to counter the hate speech. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Each day, as I park the truck, Im met by people honking and giving a thumbs up, or stopping to say thank you. I was inundated with scores of requests to donate to support the effort, and though I hadnt originally intended to, I set up GoFundMe account. I never expected 165-plus people would donate more than $9,000 to keep the effort going! But there has also been a dark response. When I first parked the truck, within a minute someone tore the sign down (I have since replaced it with removable decals). When someone else parked a truck with a positive sign, their tires were slashed the third tire slashing that I, and the Napa police, are aware of. Another Napa anti-hate group with a similar name wrote me, asking me to change Hate is Not a Napa Value because: Weve been met with a lot of harassment and threats from conservative extremists in the community, and we dont want there to be any bad overlap. Doris Gentry, a former politician whose social media accounts advocate for families, locals and safety, wrote a letter opposing the message. Ms. Gentry, do you want children walking to Browns Valley Elementary to see the words ni**er and fa**ot, and anti-Semitic slurs? Do you support vandalism and intimidation? If so, your values are inconsistent with those of the greater Napa community, as well as the conservative community for whom safety, law and order are genuine values. I have three requests of the people of Napa: 1. Tone down the rhetoric. This is not a battle or a war. This is two Napa citizens exercising their free speech rights. Mr. Snyder and I each support the others right to post signs, even if we oppose each others messages. 2. Help the Napa police find and bring to justice the criminals who vandalize, threaten and intimidate those with whom they disagree. Here Ms. Gentry and I agree; we should all feel safe in our community. Mr. Evans was right, these actions are not balanced on both sides. They are undertaken by those on the far right. To this end, I am offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can help identify and bring these criminals to justice. To Mr. Snyder, I have a specific request: you have multiple video cameras that must have recorded the tire slashings. Work with the Napa police to identify the perpetrator(s). Its what a true conservative, supporting law and order, would do. 3. Find common ground. As I mentioned, while we disagree, Mr. Snyder and I both support the right to free speech. I personally support some of his messages, e.g., Child sex trafficking is the new slavery. We should all work to fight against it. But wouldnt the community be better served with messages that uplift? Why not unite around signs that tell the world what Napa really is, a place that welcomes and accepts everyone, and that accommodates opposing views? I would rather post that kind of message than to have to make explicit: Hate is not a Napa value. Tracy J. Mayne Napa 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 criminal community is operating 24/7: LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva closeVideo LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva shares his insight on hundreds of CA criminal cases being dismissed on Fox News @ Night. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva accepted defeat in his pursuit for a second four-year term in the top law enforcement spot to Robert Luna on Tuesday. Villanueva, who had a reputation for defying police defunders and vaccine mandates, conceded to his opponent during a press conference where he faulted the county for its negotiation methodology before thanking his staff. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says deputies making arrests, but cases fall apart when they reach DA Gascon. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Couynty supervisors voters to draft a proposal to give them the power to remove him from office. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews) Whenever there was an executive meeting where decisions were made, he said, they would decide what the right thing to do was, and then figure out how to make it happen. CALIFORNIA ELECTION RESULTS: LA SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, WHO DEFIED DEFUNDERS, HEADS TO NOVEMBER RUNOFF "You can negotiate on practices, but you cant negotiate on principles," Villanueva said. "I realize the political environment here in LA has it exactly opposite, but thats the way it should be." The now former sheriff also had a message for the media, thanking them for their patience and encouraging them to continue to speak the truth and be the voice of democracy. LOS ANGELES-CA-MAY 31, 2022: Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks during a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles to announce the results of a recent marijuana eradication operation in the Antelope Valley. ((Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)) "You cant survive if all you can do is pair it with the political narrative of the establishment," he said. "That is democracy in decline. So, get back to reporting everything, both sides, passionately, and then well be better off because of it." LA COUNTY SHERIFF VILLANUEVA REFUSES TO ENFORCE VACCINE MANDATE AT HIS AGENCY: SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED The LA County Registrar-Recorder website posted live results from the election, and as of Tuesday, Luna had received 60 percent of the vote and Villanueva had 40 percent. There was also an amendment to the County charter that voters approved with 70.6 percent of the vote. The amendment gives the County Board of Supervisors the authority to remove an elected sheriff from office for cause, including a violation of the law, neglect of duties, misappropriation of funds, willful falsification of documents, or obstructing an investigation, by a four-fifths vote of the Board of Supervisors. Los Angeles, CA - February 15: Sheriff Alex Villanueva gives details surrounding a weeklong, statewide operation aimed at combatting human trafficking, at a press conference held in Hall of Justice on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. A Palestinian girl reacts as a baby is carried from the rubble of a building after an airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) (Fatima Shbair/AP) RAFAH, Gaza Strip The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off and began pounding it with airstrikes following Hamas bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tons of aid have been waiting nearby for days. Advertisement Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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. Five hospitals have stopped functioning because of fuel shortages and bombing damage, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas. Israel said Friday that it doesnt plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet late Saturday to discuss the expected invasion, Israeli media reported. Israels military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the country planned to step up its airstrikes starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of the war. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said, repeating his call for Gaza City residents to head south for their safety. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas but has given few details about what it envisions for Gaza if it succeeds. Yifat Shasha-Biton, a Cabinet minister, said there was broad consensus in the government that there will have to be a buffer zone in Gaza to keep Palestinians away from the border. We need to create a distance between the border and our communities, she told Channel 13 TV, adding that no decisions had been made on its size or other specifics. The opening of Rafah came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy, including visits to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all the captives from its Oct. 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. Late Friday, Hamas freed its first captives an American woman and her teenage daughter. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between the release and the aid deliveries. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 hostages, though their conditions and if they are even alive remains unknown. Advertisement On Saturday morning, an Associated Press reporter saw the 20 trucks heading north from Rafah to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave. American citizen Dina al- Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. The trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organization said four of the trucks were carrying medical supplies, including trauma medicine and portable trauma bags for first responders. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, 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. Gazas Hamas-run government called for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Advertisement Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter. Biden said the United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas. The U.S. government would work to keep Rafah open and let U.S. citizens leave Gaza, he said in a statement. Guterres gave voice to international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Two Egyptian officials and a European diplomat said extensive negotiations with Israel and the U.N. to allow fuel deliveries for hospitals had yielded little progress. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information on the sensitive deliberations. One Egyptian official said they were discussing the release of dual-national hostages in return for the fuel, but that Israel was insisting on the release of all hostages. Advertisement The release of Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday brought some hope to the families of others believed held hostage. Rachel Goldberg, whose son is thought to have been badly wounded before he was taken hostage, said she was very relieved by the news. We are hopeful that the people who were behind this wonderful release of Judith and Natalie will keep working night and day. But quickly, she said. I think he could be dying. So we dont have time. Representatives of the Raanan family thanked the Biden administration for their release, but said they were still working to free eight other family remembers still captive in Gaza. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah fighters, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Advertisement Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border. Israel ordered its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israels actions in Gaza have erupted across the region. An Israeli ground assault would likely 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 attack. More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion. At the summit Saturday, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. King Abdullah II of Jordan said Israels attacks on Gaza were a war crime and slammed the international communitys response. Advertisement Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned, he said. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza . A senior Israeli military official said the air force will not hit the area where aid is being distributed unless rockets, which fighters are relentlessly launching at Israel, are fired from there. Its a safe zone, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to reveal military information. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press journalists Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Ravi Nessman in Jerusalem, Sam Magdy in Cairo, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. 10 people were arrested on suspicion of disturbances in front of the [Artsakh] Nagorno-Karabakh representation building. Criminal proceedings have been initiated, RA Investigative Committee informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. An inquiry is underway in the Investigative Division of Arabkir administrative district of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee to find out the circumstances of the apparent hooliganism, violence and robbery that took place in front of the Nagorno Karabakh representation building in Yerevan on October 20 with the participation of a group of people. On October 20, a report was received of people gathered in the courtyard of the Nagorno Karabakh representation building in Yerevan city, who were involved in a scuffle, causing injuries to various parts of a person's body, damaging a nearby Toyota car, the disappearance of a large amount of money from the safe of the car salon under unknown circumstances, and the taking of a mobile phone and license plate. An investigation has been launched in the Investigative Division of Arabkir administrative district regarding the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia: Article 195, Part 2, Clause 1 - Attacking or committing other violent acts against a person, or their close relative, or relative, in connection with their state, political, service, professional, or public activity, or the performance of duty by that person. Article 297, Part 2, Clause 1 - Hooliganism committed by a group of individuals. Article 254, Part 2, Clauses 2 and 4 - Committing hooliganism by causing significant damage to property using various objects or means. Article 456, Part 1 - Misappropriation, damage, defacement, theft, or seizure of official documents, stamps, or transport identification marks, as well as tearing, destroying, hiding, or stealing them. An investigative team was formed. Police officers took a group of people from the scene of the incident to the police department, and then presented them to the body conducting the proceedings. A decision was made regarding the arrest of 10 persons on the basis of reasonable suspicion of committing criminal acts. The investigation is ongoing. Within the framework of the full clarification of the circumstances of the incident, the police were given an assignment to carry out operative-investigative measures. Notice: A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven by a legally binding court verdict in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code. The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, Ambassador Mher Margaryan, made a statement at the UN Security Council open debate Peace through dialogue: the contribution of regional, sub-regional and bilateral arrangements to the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes. Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting and I want to express my appreciation to the distinguished briefers for their contribution to today's debate. The regional arrangements could play an essential role in the maintenance of international peace and security as prescribed by chapter 6 and chapter 8 of the UN Charter by acting in support of peaceful resolution of disputes and addressing and preventing conflict situations. Often such arrangements have a better understanding of the historical context, root causes and complexities of the conflicts within their respective regions, whereby their access and proximity can offer more immediate and customized tools for dialogue and mediation. It was precisely in line with these principles that back in 1992 the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (later OSCE) formed a specific initiative aimed at resolving the [Artsakh] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the endorsement of the UN Security Council co-chaired by France, the Russian Federation and the United States. The OSCE Minsk Group was established with an international mandate for conducting mediation and negotiations as regional arrangement prescribed by the UN Charter. Since its Inception, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship has been essential in mobilizing diplomacy, skills and expertise for the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This internationally mandated arrangement came under a major attack when Azerbaijan chose to launch a destructive war amidst a global pandemic in September 2020 in grave violation of the existing ceasefire arrangements, agreements of 1994 and 1995, and the UN Charter. Despite Azerbaijans effort to offer justifications for the military aggression it unleashed, it was in reality the product of an intentional decision to walk away from the negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, opting instead for unprovoked large-scale violence with multiple verified reports of atrocities, including against the civilians. Mr. President, In his policy brief on the New Agenda for Peace, the Secretary General stresses that some states have embraced the uncertainties of the moment as an opportunity to reassert their influence or to address longstanding disputes through coercive means. That is indeed what happened in our region. We have been consistently alerting the United Nations and this very Council that emboldened by the results of the use of force in the past, Azerbaijan has been seeking to normalize violence and aggression in order to impose unilateral solutions and to finalize policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. In December 2022, Azerbaijan deliberately disrupted the movement of people, goods and vehicles along the [Berdzor] Lachin Corridor, effectively imposing conditions of a medieval siege on the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh with the use of starvation as a method of warfare. In manifest violation of its obligations under the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including the provisional measure to ensure unimpeded movement along the Lachin Corridor, as well as the preeminent obligation not to aggravate dispute, Azerbaijan carried out a premeditated ethnic cleansing, which involved the imposition of a 10 month-long blockade targeting a population of 120,000 people with the subsequent use of large scale military force, which took lives of innocent civilians, including children, and which eventually drove the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh into mass displacement. Notably, Mr. President, it was only after the area became completely depopulated that Azerbaijan allowed the United Nations to conduct its first visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, obviously with the sole purpose to manipulate the work of the UN mission in an effort to whitewash the massive violations of the rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been starved, bombed and forcibly displaced. Mr. President, The major representative bodies of Europe, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, have all adopted resolutions strongly condemning the recent military aggression by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, while referring to the use of coercive practices to remove civilian population from their territory as amounting to crime against humanity. In the face of a situation, where regional and bilateral security arrangements have regrettably failed to prevent military aggression and to protect the lives of Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh from devastation, the United Nations and the Security Council have a particular responsibility to live up to their mandate to uphold justice and accountability and to establish an effective international framework for the safe and dignified return of the displaced population in line with the norms and principles of the international law. Thank you, said the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, Mher Margaryan. Shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday, a volley of rockets lit up the darkened sky over Gaza. Videos analyzed by The Associated Press show one veering off course, breaking up in the air before crashing to the ground. Seconds later, the videos show a large explosion in the same area the site of Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Advertisement Who is to blame for the fiery explosion has set off intense debate and finger pointing between the Israeli government and Palestinian fighters, further escalating tensions in their two week-long war. The AP analyzed more than a dozen videos from the moments before, during and after the hospital explosion, as well as satellite imagery and photos. APs analysis shows that the rocket that broke up in the air was fired from within Palestinian territory, and that the hospital explosion was most likely caused when part of that rocket crashed to the ground. Advertisement A lack of forensic evidence and the difficulty of gathering that material on the ground in the middle of a war means there is no definitive proof the break-up of the rocket and the explosion at the hospital are linked. However, APs assessment is supported by a range of experts with specialties in open-source intelligence, geolocation and rocketry. In the absence of additional evidence, the most likely scenario would be that it was a rocket launched from Gaza that failed mid-flight and that it mistakenly hit the hospital, said Henry Schlottman, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and open-source intelligence expert. What AP found The AP reached its conclusion by reviewing more than a dozen videos from news broadcasts, security cameras and social media posts, and matching the locations to satellite imagery and photos from before the explosion. A key video in the analysis came shortly before 7 p.m. local time, when the Arabic-language news channel Al Jazeera was airing live coverage of the Gaza City skyline. As a correspondent speaks, the camera pans to zoom in on a volley of rockets being fired from the ground nearby. One of the rockets appears to veer from the others, away from the distant lights of Israel and back toward a darkened Gaza City, where electricity has largely been cut. The camera follows the light from the rockets tail as it arches in the sky upwards and toward the left. Suddenly, the rocket seems to fragment, and a piece appears to break off and fall. Another fragment shoots sharply up and to the right, blazing before it explodes in a fireworks-like flash, leaving a brief trail of sparks. A small explosion is then seen on the ground in the distance, followed two seconds later by a much larger blast closer to the camera. The corner of the scroll at the bottom of the live broadcast reads 6:59 p.m. Gaza time. Using maps and satellite imagery, the AP was able to match the view of the explosion from Al Jazeeras live camera feed to an upper floor of the building that houses Al Jazeeras Gaza bureau, which is less than a mile (1.5 kilometers) from the al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Using other buildings visible in the frame, the AP was able to confirm that the larger explosion seen at 6:59 p.m. was in the precise direction of the hospital. A second video, taken from a camera inside Israel at the exact time as the Al Jazeera footage and obtained by the AP, shows a barrage of at least 17 rockets being launched from inside Gaza before a large explosion lights up the horizon on the Palestinian side of the border. The camera is on a building in Netiv Haasara, an Israeli community footsteps from the border wall, and faces southwest, confirming that the rocket launches and explosion were in the direction of Gaza City. Advertisement A third video by Israeli news station Channel 12 taken from a camera on the upper floor of its building in Netivot, a town about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of the hospital in Gaza City also captured the barrage of rockets fired at 6:59 p.m. Seen together, the three videos show multiple rockets were launched from inside Gaza before one appears to have come apart in midair about three seconds before the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital. At 7 p.m., one minute after the explosion, Hamas military wing al-Qassam Brigades said in a post to its Telegram channel that it fired at occupied Ashdod with a barrage of rockets. Ashdod is an Israeli coastal city about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Gaza. Minutes later, Islamic Jihad, a group that works with Hamas, also posted on Telegram that it had launched a rocket strike on Tel Aviv in response to massacre against civilians. Over the next hour, there were five more posts from the groups announcing rocket attacks against Israel. Israels military has repeatedly said it did not strike the hospital and blamed an errant rocket fired from within Gaza by the Islamic Jihad. Israels assessment, backed by U.S. intelligence and President Joe Biden, also cited the lack of both a large crater and extensive structural damage that would be consistent with a bomb dropped by Israeli aircraft. Hamas calls Israels narrative fabricated and accuses it of punishing the hospital for ignoring a warning to evacuate two days earlier, though it has not released any evidence to support its claims. Advertisement Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the AP the group would welcome a United Nations investigation into the cause of the blast. Look at the stupid position that was taken by the President of the United States of America who said, I agree with Israels version without any investigation, Hamad said. Unfortunately, the Western world is full of hypocrisy. What the experts say AP ran its visual analysis by a half-dozen experts who all agreed the most likely scenario was a rocket from within Gaza that veered off and came apart seconds before the explosion. Andrea Richardson, an expert in analyzing open-source intelligence who is a consultant with the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, said specific landmarks visible in the videos show where the rockets were launched. From the video evidence that I have seen, its very clear that the rockets came from within Gaza, said Richardson, a human rights lawyer and experienced war crimes investigator who has worked in the Middle East. She added that the timing of the rocket launches, the explosion and the first reports that the hospital had been hit also seemed to confirm the sequence of events. While still potentially lethal, the explosive warheads carried by the homemade rockets used by fighters in Gaza can be relatively small when compared with the munitions used by large militaries like those of the U.S. and Russia. With Gazas borders and ports blockaded for the past decade, fighters often build rockets and launch tubes inside Gaza using whatever parts and materials they can scavenge, including underground water pipes. Advertisement Justin Crump, a former British Army officer and intelligence consultant, said the failure rate of such homemade rockets is high. You can see obviously it fails in flight, it spins out and disintegrates, and the impacts on the ground follow that, said Crump, CEO of Sibylline, a London-based strategic advisory firm. The most likely explanation is this was a tragic accident. Such a scenario unfolded last year, when Islamic Jihad-fired rockets malfunctioned and killed at least a dozen Gaza residents. The AP reported at the time that live TV footage showed the rockets falling short in densely packed residential neighborhoods. Three-second gap Some of the questions about who is to blame focus on the three-second gap between the rockets explosive breakup in the sky and the explosion on the ground at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, and whether those two events are linked, especially because the videos analyzed by AP dont appear to show a trace of light that follows the rocket to the ground. Outside experts said its not possible to rule out with absolute certainty that the rocket launches occurring near the hospital and the timing of the explosion seconds later are just a coincidence. However, they also noted there is no evidence to support that scenario. Richardson said the timestamps on videos showing the rocket launches from within Gaza, the midair malfunction and the large explosion striking the hospital below within seconds of each other provided a logical chain of events. Advertisement An incredibly small timeframe, she said. Intelligence analyst Schlottman said the most likely scenario remains that it was a rocket that somehow had some kind of malfunction mid-flight and then landed on the hospital. We have video of when the explosion happened and the only rocket visible in that video was the one that kind of had that diverging trajectory, he said. We cannot possibly exclude other scenarios. ... Just what we have right now points to that. Evidence on the ground About 10 minutes after the multiple rocket launches from Gaza were captured on video Tuesday night, posts began to appear on social media. The AP verified a video taken from a balcony near the hospital that shows the moment of impact, with the loud whizzing sound followed by a huge fireball and the clap of a massive explosion. AP could find no visual evidence to support speculation that the blast was triggered by a car bomb or other such device. Oh God! Oh God! a mans voice exclaims in Arabic. The hospital! says a second male voice. Other videos and photos reviewed by AP appear to show the explosion in the hospitals central parking lot and courtyard, where civilians had taken refuge after orders to evacuate the city. Some footage shows burning cars and more than a dozen dead bodies, including those of children. Advertisement AP photos taken the morning after Tuesdays explosion showed no evidence of a large crater at the impact site that would be consistent with a bomb like those dropped by Israeli aircraft in other recent strikes. The hospital buildings surrounding the outdoor area at the center of the explosion were still standing and did not appear to suffer significant structural damage. A small crater photographed in the hospitals parking lot appeared to be about a meter across, suggesting a device with a much smaller explosive payload than a bomb. While Israels extensive arsenal includes smaller missiles that can be fired from helicopters and drones, there has been no public evidence of such missile strikes in the area around the al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday night. David Shank, a retired U.S. Army colonel and expert on military rockets and missiles, said the large fireball captured on video at the hospital could potentially be explained by the fact the malfunctioning rocket impacted prematurely and was still full of propellant. That highly volatile fuel then ignited when it hit the ground, setting off a large explosion but leaving a relatively small crater. After Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel that killed 1,400, with another 200 people taken hostage, Israels military said it dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza in the first week of the war alone, and Gaza officials say that campaign has so far resulted in more than 4,100 deaths. Hamas spokesman Hamad said that Israeli officials had threatened al-Ahli Arab hospital and other medical facilities, and ordered their evacuation before the deadly blast. He argued that the missiles belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad would not have been capable of inflicting such damage. Al-Ahli Arab Hospitals operators posted on its website that the facilitys cancer center was struck by Israel three days before the deadly blast, leaving a hole in an exterior wall and an unexploded artillery shell next to an ultrasound machine. Advertisement Iron Dome theory Speculation has circulated on social media in the days since the explosion that the breakup of the rocket and the explosion on the ground was caused by Israels Iron Dome defense system, which is designed to shoot such rockets out of the sky. Israel has said it does not use its Iron Dome system within Gaza, but to intercept and destroy rockets coming into Israeli airspace. Experts also noted multiple videos from around the time of the hospital explosion showed no visible evidence of Iron Dome missiles being fired from Israel into the airspace over Gaza. John Erath, the senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and an expert on missile defense, said that while it might be technically possible for Iron Dome to intercept a missile over Gaza, it would be unlikely in this case because the projectile was very early in its flight path still on the way up and the system is designed to only intercept projectiles it determines are on a flight path to a populated part of Israel. Im not saying that its impossible, Erath said. But based on my understanding of how the system works, it is unlikely. Added missile expert Shank: They dont engage a target unless its going to impact a critical asset such as a population area, maybe a power grid, maybe a military base. Advertisement Its technically designed to take the best shot that gives it the highest probability of kill, he said. And for Iron Dome ... that is not over Gaza. ___ AP Global Investigative Reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington. Reporter Danica Kirka in London contributed. NewsVoir New Delhi [India], October 21: The highly anticipated Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race, a thrilling motorsport extravaganza, took place at the prestigious Galgotias University campus and the iconic Buddha International Circuit. Organized in collaboration with JK Tyre Co., ISIE, and Galgotias University, the event showcased exhilarating racing action featuring 20 electric karts and 12 vehicles from across the country. The final race of this adrenaline-fueled event was officially flagged off by Dheerendra Singh, MLA of Jewar, and Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University. The event witnessed participants from 18 states, all vying for victory in this fiercely competitive competition. Sanjay Sharma, Head of JK Tyre Motorsports, had the honor of flagging off the Formula Imperial segment of the race, setting the stage for a breathtaking display of speed, skill, and sportsmanship. The winners were celebrated during the award distribution ceremony held at the Buddha International Circuit. In a heart-pounding finish, the title of JK Tyre Formula Imperial champion was claimed by "Team Screwdrivers" from Dhole Patil College of Engineering, Maharashtra. Their remarkable performance and determination secured their victory in this prestigious category, earning them accolades from motorsport enthusiasts and experts alike. In the electric vehicle category, "Team Luftwaffe" from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Maharashtra, emerged as the champions, showcasing outstanding expertise and teamwork throughout the competition. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University, expressed his excitement about the event, saying, "We are thrilled to host such an exhilarating event that brings together talented racers from different parts of the country. The Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race not only highlights the spirit of competition but also highlights the importance of innovation and sustainable practices in motorsports. We congratulate all the participants and winners for their exceptional performance and sportsmanship." The Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race served as a platform for young racing enthusiasts to showcase their skills and passion for motorsports. With high-octane action and a display of exceptional talent, the event left an indelible mark on the racing community, promising an even more exciting edition in the future. Galgotias University, located in Uttar Pradesh and sponsored by Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society began operations in the 2011-2012 academic session and welcomed its first batch of students in July 2011. Since then, it has grown to have more than 30,000 students. Today, with 17 schools offering over 200 programs, including Polytechnic, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD courses, Galgotias University ranks among India's top universities. Galgotias University's recognition in the ARIIA Ranking 2021 as an "Excellent" institution and its fifth position in India for Patent Filing attests to its innovative and research-focused approach. Galgotias University's contributions include 10,000+ publications and 1700+ patents. At the forefront of the education sector, Galgotias University is unwavering in its dedication to the UN's sustainable development goals. (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) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 21: The Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivals in the world with Intangible Cultural Heritage tag of Humanity by UNESCO, has started in Bengal this year with a bang. Chaltabagan Durga Puja, one of the most popular pujas in Kolkata, started the Durga Puja festivities with a gala function at the ITC Royal Bengal that was attended by eminent citizens Kolkata and members from the foreign diplomatic corps. Guests were treated to mesmerizing dance performance by Mimi Chakraborty, actress and Member of Parliament, to the beats of tabla by maestro Bickram Ghosh. Renowned actor, Arindam Sil, lent his captivating narration while culturist, Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman of Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee, conceptualised the whole function and also chipped in with his own soulful recitations. Among others who attend the function were percussionist Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, fashion designer Abhishek Dutta along with Astrid Wege, Director of Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata, and Alexey Idamkin, Consul General, Federation of Russia, in Kolkata. The evening was truly a celebration of art, culture, and talent, and it would be remembered as a remarkable showcase of the richness of our cultural heritage. Chaltabagan Durga Puja is one of the most prominent Pujas in West Bengal known not only for the uniqueness of their pandals and themes but also for passionately engaging in social initiatives and organising cultural extravaganzas showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bengal. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC) New Delhi [India], October 21: Producer-Director Vikram Sandhu held a grand mahurat of his upcoming film "Production No. 2" along with the photo shoot at Empire Studio in Mumbai. "The uniqueness of my film is that 50 per cent of its shooting will be executed at the finest and unexplored locations of London and Europe," announced Vikram Sandhu who has not yet finalized the title of this film that will go on the floors the next month beginning with its inaugural stint spread across Jammu, Pathankot, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Ahmedabad, Kanpur and Delhi. Vikram Sandhu's other ongoing projects are a multi-lingual film MALTA 1996 in 7 languages that is expected to release in December 2025, and the under production film HARI SINGH NALUA. Producer-director Vikram Sandhu has several films and music videos to his credit that have been received well critically as well with the viewers. The co-producer of the film is Jagtar Singh (Mickey Sandhu), its project head is Gautam Sharma, while Janet is the Casting Director and it's production manager is Bhavesh. Speaking to the media, Vikram Sandhu who is the producer as well as the director of this prestigious project further revealed, "The script of this film is very different that is sure to entertain and keep the audience spellbound. Its story has been kept quite engaging that is bound to keep the audience hooked. No expense is being spared for this film that is planned to be shot on such a grand scale and that too at spectacular locations, for which the pre-production works and its preparations are in its final stage." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC). ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], October 21: Silicon Valley techpreneur and renowned Co-founder of Hotmail, Sabeer Bhatia announced the launch of ShowReel - an AI driven entrepreneurship course, in partnership with Jamia Millia Islamia, on October 20. An inquiry based learning platform, ShowReel is an all cloud based virtual accelerator app to develop an ecosystem of entrepreneurship for young minds to share and test their ideas. ShowReel serves as a key to unlocking the path to success through the development of critical thinking skills crucial for the entrepreneurial journey. The AI-driven application is designed to nurture entrepreneurial acumen among the younger generation, offering them a valuable resource in the form of concise and insightful videos. In addition, ShowReel creates an inclusive platform that caters to the aspirations of both urban and rural youth who are eager to embark on the entrepreneurial path. Commenting on the launch of ShowReel, Sabeer Bhatia, Co-founder, ShowReel said, "Entrepreneurship represents a transformative avenue for addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment, offering a pathway toward meaningful solutions and opportunities." He further said, "Entrepreneurship is about solving societal problems using technology and other human resources. In order to make people great entrepreneurs, we have to teach them people skills, problem solving skills, leadership skills, motivational skills, pitching skills, fundraising skills, digital marketing skills and most importantly teach them to be empathetic individuals. If all the aforementioned skills are taught from an early age, they will develop naturally in individuals." "Jamia Millia Islamia's pioneering partnership with ShowReel introduces the first-ever cloud-based AI entrepreneurship course, setting us on a path to global prominence. Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, our pursuit of internationalization is reshaping the Indian education system. This collaboration is a game-changer, with our pilot project in entrepreneurship poised for rapid success. The curriculum, designed by industry-leading experts, paves the way for faculty participation in future programs hosted on the ShowReel platform," added Najma Akhtar, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jamia Millia Islamia. Immediately after launch, Primus Partners organized an exclusive discussion and demonstration of ShowReel by the entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia - ReelTalk. The event attracted a notable gathering of educators hailing from prestigious institutions, including Heritage, Pathways (Noida), Sanskriti, DPS (Patna, Pune, Coimbatore, Ludhiana), College of Vocational Studies and Ashoka University. "Sabeer has decoded critical thinking patterns that can create pathways for an entrepreneur's journey, and ShowReel aligns this discovery with an AI application. We are excited to see how this all pans out in the current climate of startups in India," commented Charu Malhotra, Co-founder and Managing Director of Primus Partners. Sanjiv Kumar, Founder, Takshila Educational Society and promoter of several Delhi Public Schools said, "Entrepreneurship involves critical thinking and problem-solving and should be taught in junior classes. However, it should not be forced upon everyone. Students should be made aware of these curricula and allowed to choose to study them." "Our schools are known for experiential learning pedagogy. To me, entrepreneurship is more of an attitude to take charge and take ownership. So, in schools, the only way to teach them this is to give students the agency to do the same," added Manit Jain, Co-founder and Director of Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurgaon. A survey report by NASSCOM, in partnership with TiE Delhi-NCR and Grant Thornton Bharat, found that access to mentorship (13%) is among the biggest hurdles faced by entrepreneurs, based on a detailed survey of the start-up ecosystem in India comprising founders, investors, incubators, etc. The finding underscores the need for targeted efforts to bridge these gaps and empower entrepreneurs in India, and hence the curriculum of ShowReel has been designed by top-notch professionals, who have made a mark in the domain of entrepreneurship. The programs will also see participation from faculty members towards the creation of curriculum that would be hosted on the ShowReel platform. (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) NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 21: Dr Bhagyashree Patil was honored with the esteemed "Shakti Award" in a spectacular ceremony at the Pune Police Commissioner's Excellence Center. This recognition in the field of healthcare and medicine was presented to her by the Pune Police Commissioner, Retesh Kumaarr, and Chief Guest Anu Aga, ex MP and chairperson of Thermax. On the occasion of Navratri, 94.3 Fever FM Pune has taken the initiative to highlight the Extra Ordi-Naaris of Pune with the Shakti Award. The event also celebrated our brave Women Police Officers. In partnership with Pune Police, 94.3 Fever FM Pune felicitated these extraordinary women who stand as the protective shield of our society. Dr Bhagyashree Patil, a renowned educationist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Pro-Chancellor of Dr D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University). She is also the visionary Founder Chairperson of Rise n' Shine Biotech Pvt. Ltd. Under her astute leadership, The Yashoda Human Milk Bank has made significant strides in healthcare, establishing itself as a beacon of hope in mother and child care. Furthermore, her commendable work with the Rise N Shine Biotech Park and a myriad of initiatives focusing on women's empowerment are a testament to her unwavering commitment. Noteworthy are her initiatives at D. Y. Patil Private Super Specialty Hospital, which include providing complimentary meals to patients and enhancing the hospital's infrastructure, both of which underscore her holistic vision for healthcare. Upon receiving the award, Dr Bhagyashree Patil expressed, "I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition. My work, whether in medicine or empowerment, is a testament to the strength and potential of every woman. I believe in creating a society where every woman has the opportunity to shine and contribute positively. This award is not just for me but for every woman who dreams and works hard to make it a reality." The Yashoda Milk Bank stands as a pioneering initiative in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Area, marking itself as the first Human Milk Bank in a Private Medical College and the 12th in India. It is the only Human Milk Bank in India that operates round the clock, 24x7. The Yashoda - Advanced Milk Bank, Comprehensive Lactation Management, and Training & Research Centre, an initiative by D. Y. Patil Private Super Specialty Hospital, is dedicated to reducing infant mortality by ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious donor human milk. This center, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, guarantees utmost comfort for mothers during the donation process and assures the highest standards for preserving the donated milk. It stands as the first holistic healthcare service of its kind in PCMC. Rise n' Shine Biotech Pvt. Ltd., established in 2004, stands as a pioneer in Plant Biotechnology. Situated in Theur, Pune, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, Hi-tech Green Houses and a dedicated team of experts, Rise n' Shine has been at the forefront of advancements in Biotechnology, Floriculture and Horticulture. Central to Rise n' Shine's success is its unwavering commitment to globally training and empowering farmers. The company employs over 2000 women, empowering them through meaningful work and opportunities. This dedication to women's empowerment is mirrored in their workforce, where a remarkable 80 per cent are women. Infused with a deep-seated passion for flora and a core principle of women's empowerment, Rise n' Shine has cultivated an environment where aspirations are achieved and dreams come to fruition. Rise n' Shine is not just a company but a cohesive family, united by mutual objectives and a shared vision of excellence. The Shakti Award, which began in 2022, have consistently celebrated outstanding women in various sectors. Originating from a humble yet impactful initiative in 2021, where self-defense classes were organized across Pune for numerous women in collaboration with the Pune Police, it has grown in prominence. These classes were led by Taekwondo gold medalists and super cops, promoting safety and empowerment among women. Reflecting on the journey of the Shakti Award, it is evident that these honors are not just awards; they are a manifestation of merit, genuine effort and a commitment to excellence. (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) Chicago police sent out an alert Saturday warning Northwest Side commercial business about recent burglaries in October. Police said the thieves broke into the businesses in the early morning hours and removed cash from the cash registers before fleeing the scene. Advertisement At least four commercial businesses were robbed October 18: Around 5:45 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Peterson Avenue Around 6:06 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Irving Park Road Around 6:18 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Pulaski Road Around 8:38 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Western Avenue Police describe the robbers as between 18 to 25 years of age. Anyone with information on the robberies should contact police. Jio Cinema unveiled the show's promo in which Mouni is seen telling the audience what they can expect from the show. "Relationships ka hoga ab ultimate test. Aa raha hai Temptation Island. Yahaan couples aur paas aayenge ya kisi aur ke pyaar mein dub jaayenge?" Mouni said in the clip. https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1715377601915891853 As per a statement, 'Temptation Island' will provide a unique opportunity for viewers to witness the ultimate relationship test, as per a statement. The format sees couples put their relationship to the test in an enchanting tropical paradise. As in other versions, they'll be tempted to sever their ties and explore new romances as they willfully separate and immerse themselves in an environment filled with allure. The first season of the show aired in 2001. This is the first time that the show is being hosted and presented in India. The Indian version of the show will be out on November 3. Contestants' names have not been revealed yet. (ANI) Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Saturday unveiled his next feature, 'Parva,' which is based on the book of the same name. "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Is Mahabharat HISTORY or MYTHOLOGY? We, at @i_ambuddha are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr SL Bhyrappa's 'modern classic': PARVA - AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA. There is a reason why PARVA is called 'Masterpiece of masterpieces'," he wrote on X. https://twitter.com/vivekagnihotri/status/1715601188295671813 The film will be a three-part franchise. Announcing his next project, Agnihotri expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. "We, at I am Buddha Production are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr. SL Bhyrappa's 'modern classic'," he said in a statement. Actor and producer of the film, Pallavi Joshi, said it is a great honour to be sitting next to living legend, S. L. Bhyrappa. "I never dreamt of this day, and happy as I am to be making 'Parva' into a film. I want to understand the mammoth responsibility that we have on our shoulders. It is not easy handling a subject like Parva, handling the vision of the author. Do you know a trip of self-exploration to our films? Parva is a film that will be made in 3 parts, but will also be making this film in two languages, Kannada and English. It is great to have our friend, Prakash Belawadi as co-writer for our project." 'Parva' will be based on S. L. Bhyrappa's Kannada-language novel of the same name. It is a retelling of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata told through the main characters' personal perspectives. (ANI) Helmed by Koratala Siva the film stars Janhvi Kapoor, Jr NTR, and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. As per a source, "Janhvi will be starting the second shoot schedule for Devara with NTR JR on October 24. The actress shot the first schedule for only 3 days. Ahead of this, she will be busy shooting for the project in Goa from October and the shoot schedule will be approximately extended till January for 3 to 4 months." 'Devara' will be released in two parts. The first part of the film will be released on April 5, 2024. 'Devara' marks the first collaboration of Janhvi with the 'RRR' actor. The film's music is done by Anirudh Ravichander with R Rathnavelu being the cinematographer. The official release date of the second part of the film is still awaited. Meanwhile, Janhvi will also be seen in 'Mr and Mrs Mahi' opposite RajKummar Rao and in 'Ulajh' alongside Gulshan Devaiah. Jr NTR, on the other hand, will also be seen in 'KGF' director Prashant Neel's upcoming Pan-India film. (ANI) Kajol looked stunning in her pink saree. Rani, on the other hand, wore a golden Saree. Bollywood couple Vatsal Sheth and Ishita Dutta also attended the Puja. The couple can be seen twinning in traditional attires. Kajol was accompanied by her son Yug and sister Tanishaa Mukerji. Tanisha can be seen donning a yellow lehenga while Yug wore a white kurta. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kajol recently made her OTT debut with the courtroom drama series 'The Trial' which streamed on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar. On Friday, she also celebrated 28 years of her iconic romantic drama film 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'. She took a trip down memory lane and recalled working in 'DDLJ' and shared glimpses and fond memories from the set as she celebrates its 28th anniversary. Kajol took to Instagram and wrote, "Still wearing green but maybe not the same shade.. 28 years later #DDLJ belongs to you guys. All our fans and people who have made it a legacy that lives on far beyond what we could have ever imagined. Big shoutout to all of you." Rani, on the other hand, completed 27 years in the Hindi film industry on October 18. The actor had made her Bollywood debut in the film 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat.' Rani was last seen in 'Mrs. Chatterjee VS Norway' and was lauded for her performance. Directed by Ashima Chibber, 'Mrs. Chatterjee VS Norway' talks about the life of an immigrant mother who fights against all odds to win back the custody of her children. (ANI) She chose a green suit for the ceremony. She left her curly hair untied and opted for a minimal makeup look. Kiara can be seen posing with Rani Mukerji. Rani opted for a golden saree with statement jewellery. Earlier, Veteran actor turned politician Hema Malini along with her daughter and actor Esha Deol visited the Durga Puja pandal. Hema Malini looked beautiful as she donned a purple saree. Esha, on the other hand, opted for a light pink saree. Kajol was also spotted in Juhu at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in a pink Saree. The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur. Meanwhile, Kiara recently walked the ramp in a black and golden bodycon gown at Lakme Fashion Week 2023 in New Delhi. Kiara walked the ramp for Falguni Shane Peacock and caught the attention of everyone present there. She worked in movies such as 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story', 'Lust Stories', 'Shershaah', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', 'Jugjugg Jeeyo', 'Satyaprem Ki Katha', among others. She was last seen in 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' alongside Kartik Aaryan. Kiara will be seen in the upcoming 'Game Changer' alongside 'RRR' actor Ram Charan and an action thriller film 'War 2' alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. (ANI) The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) finalised the names of 84 candidates ahead of the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections, during a meeting held in the national capital on Friday, sources said. According to a source, "The committee has finalised the names of candidates for 84 seats. The list of candidates will be released on Saturday. Discussion and decision on the remaining 75 seats will be done in another round of meetings." Regarding the Chief Minister candidate, the source said that whoever is contesting the election is eligible for the CM position in Rajasthan. The legislative assembly of Rajasthan consists of 200 members. The party had on October 1 released its first list of candidates for 41 seats in Rajasthan. The CEC meeting convened on Friday at the party headquarters office to finalise the names for the remaining seats. PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with CEC members and former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje attended the meeting. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of the 41 candidates for the elections. The names of the candidates were finalized at a meeting of its CEC that was chaired by the BJP President JP Nadda on October 1. The BJP has fielded Rajyavardhan Rathore, an MP from Jhotwara, while another MP Diya Kumari has been fielded from Vidhyadhar Nagar. Baba Balaknath has been fielded from Tijara and Kirodi Lal Meena from Sawai Madhopur. Elections will be held in the five crucial states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram between November 7 and 30, and the results will be declared on December 3, the Election Commission said. All 200 seats in Rajasthan will see voting on November 23. (ANI) The launch of the uncrewed flight test in the Gaganyaan Mission has been rescheduled for a lift-off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, an official statement said. Earlier, the first unmanned flight test, designated as the Test Vehicle Development Flight Mission-1 (TV-D1 Flight Test), was scheduled to be launched from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota by ISRO today at 8 a.m. In a post on X (former Twitter), ISRO said, "The lift-off is rescheduled at 08:30 IST. Live streaming starts at 08:00 Hrs. IST." This flight test vehicle abort mission will demonstrate the performance of the Crew Escape system as part of the Gaganyaan mission. It will also test the safe landing in the Bay of Bengal after the rocket launch. This mission represents a significant milestone in India's effort to demonstrate that it is possible to send humans into space. The test flight project aims to prove India's capacity to send humans into a 400-kilometre orbit and safely bring them back to earth with a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal Sea. Visuals of the Sriharikota entrance establishment show model rockets being placed at the entrance. It's noteworthy that around 20 major tests, including three uncrewed missions of the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), are planned. The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian sea waters. This programme will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China. Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the confidence of industrialists to invest in the state has increased due to the availability of basic facilities in the state and a positive investment-friendly environment. The Chief Minister said that all the people of the state are ready to welcome investors from all over the world to the Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023 to be held in December, a statement from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office (CMO) office said. Dhami said that MOUs worth Rs 55 thousand crores were signed before the summit. He held a meeting with representatives of various industry groups on Tuesday in Dubai for the summit. Uttarakhand Minister Dhan Singh Rawat was also present on the occasion. Investment agreements were signed with groups related to tourism, education, infrastructure, 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 invited all the investors present in the programme to the summit to be held in Dehradun, according to the official statement. He also invited all the industrial houses to the summit to be organised on the 8th and 9th of December. On Thursday morning, CM Dhami reached the Delhi airport after concluding his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). His three-day visit to the UAE was part of the 'Invest in Uttarakhand' campaign. Under the 'Invest in Uttarakhand' campaign, the Chief Minister met industrialists and NRIs in the UAE and participated in meetings organised on investment possibilities in Uttarakhand. According to an earlier official press release, CM Dhami mentioned during the event that, due to the efforts of the state government, a favourable environment for investors has been created in Uttarakhand by making the investment process simple and transparent. (ANI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, during his visit to West Bengal's Durgapur to innagurate community Durga Pujas said that the State is not progressing the way it should. "Bengal is not progressing the way it should, I pray to Goddess Durga that the State witnesses good governance (Surajya) in future and development happens uniformly accross the state as currently only some people are getting the beneifts," Sawant said while speaking to reporters on Friday. The Goa Chief Minister said he prayed for a shift of power in the State in favour of the BJP and conveyed his best wishes to people in the State on the occasion of Durga Puja. "I wish that the double-engine government (BJP) comes to West Bengal as well so that the way the development is visible across the country, the same development can be seen here as well," he said. The BJP has invited several union ministers such as Dharmendra Pradhan and Amit Shah to innagurate community pujas in the state. Last week Shah inaugurated a pandal, crafted by the Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee, known for organizing grand puja pandals annually is modelled, after the under-construction Ram Temple in Ayodhya. BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda will also be on a one-day visit to West Bengal Saturday according to a press release from the BJP. Nadda is scheduled to arrive at Kolkata Airport this morning where he will receive a warm and grand welcome from senior party leaders. Following this he will proceed to the puja pandal located at Howrah Ground. The Durga Puja festival is primarily celebrated in West Bengal, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Assam. Hindu mythology holds that the goddess arrives at 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. (ANI) A former MLA of the Congress party from Mhow constituency in Indore, Antar Singh Darbar on Saturday staged a protest along with his supporters after he was not given a ticket to contest forthcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. The Congress party fielded Ram Kishore Shukla from the seat, who recently joined the Congress party after leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its second list of candidates released on Thursday late night. Speaking to ANI, former MLA Darbar said, "This protest demonstration in Mhow is to demand an answer from the party as to what parameters the party has given to ticket to him (Ram Kishore Shukla) and on what parameters my ticket has been cancelled. He (Shukla) joined the Congress just 27 days ago and the party has given a ticket to him. This is an insult to the Congress workers. He (Shukla) was in the BJP for 20 years, Darbar said. When asked about the contesting elections, he said, "If the public says, then I will contest the elections. I am not contacting anyone. The BJP has not contacted me." On the other hand, Congress candidate Ram Kishore Shukla says that Congress has been his mother organisation. Earlier, he had a discussion with Antar Singh Darbar and decided that whoever would get the ticket would work together to make the party win. "Congress has been my mother, that is why I have come back. A few days ago I had a discussion with Antar Singh Darbar. At that time he had said that whoever gets the ticket will work together and make the party win. Right now every seat is important to form the Kamal Nath government in the state. If he (Darbar) can't understand this, then it is a form of protest against the party. Congress party is united," Shukla said. Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to undergo assembly polls on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. (ANI) Uri Raanan, father of Natalie Raanan and ex-husband of Judith Raanan, speaks outside his home in Bannockburn to express his emotions after Natalie and Judith were released by Hamas in Gaza on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) After 14 dark days, Uri Raanan expects the best day of his life to be about a week away. Raanans daughter Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith Raanan, Uris ex-wife, were released into Israel Friday after two weeks spent as hostages of the terrorist group Hamas. Advertisement Natalie and Judith plan to fly back to Chicago in about a week, Uri Raanan told reporters from his home in Bannockburn, near Deerfield, Friday evening, hours after the first news reports of their release. Ive been waiting for this moment for a long time, Uri said. I havent been sleeping for two weeks. Advertisement Hamas operatives kidnapped Judith and Natalie at gunpoint from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel, where they were visiting family, on Oct. 7. While they were held at an undisclosed location in Gaza, their family received no proof of life. The Raanan family will celebrate Natalies birthday as soon as she is able to travel from Israel to Chicago, Uri said. Natalie turns 18 on Tuesday. Im going to hug her and kiss her and its going to be the best day of my life, Raanan said. Natalie told family in Israel that she was not physically harmed by Hamas, a family friend close to the situation told the Tribune Saturday. Hamas operatives confiscated Natalies phone, but she was provided with food, water, fresh clothes and access to a shower, according to the family friend. Uri did not speak to Judith directly Friday, spending a minute or two on the phone with his daughter. Natalie told him Judith had a small scratch on her hand but seemed mostly unharmed, he said. She was very happy, and shes waiting to come home, Uri said. [ Israel, US confirm Hamas release of Evanston hostages: Im going to sleep tonight, says father of held teen ] As of Saturday, the Raanan family has raised $10,000 to help care for Natalie and Judith when they return to the Chicago area. Advertisement Uri said the two may have been together while held hostage. Natalie told me they treat(ed) her nice, Uri said. I told her I love you and I miss you very much she knows how I feel. President Joe Biden, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, were in touch with Uri and the Raanan family throughout the afternoon, as U.S. embassy officials connected with Judith and Natalie. Biden spoke with Natalie and Judith by phone Friday evening, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem wrote on X, formerly Twitter. .@POTUS spoke this evening with the two American citizens who had been held hostage by Hamas. We are so grateful that they are safe. We will continue to do everything we can to unite all hostages with their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/rp1YDtB8Zu U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) October 20, 2023 As U.S. and Israeli media scrambled to confirm details, Israeli Defense Forces officers sent Uri pictures of the mother and daughters release, he said Friday. Later, IDF officers called Raanan to let him know they were on their way to collect his daughter and ex-wife. Advertisement For the nearly two weeks Judith and Natalie were held hostage, Uri Raanan could not sleep, he said. He divided his time between praying, following the news and speaking with family. Ive been glued to the TV for two weeks hoping for good news, Uri Raanan said. My head always was in Israel. Frida Alonso, 19, addressed Natalie, her stepsister, Friday: Im so happy youre finally coming home. Weve all missed you so much. We hoped you were alive and safe, and we know youre so brave, and strong, and thats how you and your mom made it through this, Alonso said. Though Natalie and Judith have been released, the familys prayers for safety are far from over, Sigal Zamir, Natalies aunt, said Friday evening. This is a small joy in our family, Zamir said. For all the other hostages, and all the other families, just keep praying, and hopefully good news will come. Advertisement Chicago natives Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, who now live in Jerusalem, hope the Raanans release provides further motivation for Illinois politicians to keep hostage release efforts a top priority. Polin and Goldbergs 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was kidnapped from the Tribe of Nova music festival in the Negev desert in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, pictured shortly before he was taken hostage by Hamas. Goldberg-Polin lost his left arm below the elbow when Hamas operatives attacked the bomb shelter he was hiding in on Oct. 7. It is unknown where he is or if he is alive. Photo courtesy of Jon Polin. - Original Credit: Courtesy of Jon Polin (Ilana Arougheti/HANDOUT) Do not stop reaching out to elected officials to make sure they are screaming at the top of their lungs, Polin said. Two Chicagoans were released last night. We need another one released. According to eyewitness accounts and video, Goldberg-Polin evacuated into a bomb shelter, which came under heavy gunfire. Hamas operatives threw more than 11 grenades into the shelter before moving Hersh and three other survivors into a pickup truck. His cellphone signal was last detected around 10:20 a.m. Israel time, in Gaza, Polin said. Polin grew up in Skokie and West Rogers Park. Goldberg grew up in Gold Coast. Advertisement The pair lived in Chicago after college before moving to Berkeley, Calif., where Hersh was born, relocating to Jerusalem in 2008. Were really trying to get as much support as possible from our elected officials in Illinois, Polin said. Thats kind of the state that weve been leaning on the most. Hersh loves travel, and had planned a trip around the world starting later this month, Polin said. He is a fun-loving guy. Hes smart, curious and funny, with a dark sense of humor, Polin said. From the time he was a little kid, he could tell you every country of the world and its capital. Polin believes that Judith and Natalies status as full-time United States residents contributed to Hamas decision to release them first. Residents of more than 30 countries are currently among the hostages. Im happy for them. Im not surprised, Polin said. Advertisement Judith and Natalie were released partially on humanitarian grounds, according to Hamas spokespeople. The same request is a matter of urgency for injured hostages like Goldberg-Polin, whose left arm was blown off below the elbow during his kidnapping. We dont know his whereabouts, Polin said. We dont know if hes alive. What we do know is hes critically wounded Doctors have told us that by two weeks in, if he has not gotten medical treatment, the risk is dire. As the Raanans prepare to welcome Natalie and Judith back to Chicago, Polin said he and Goldberg pray for their own quiet homecoming. Id bring Hersh in the house, Id close the door to the outside, Polin said. We would spend time as a family and just hug and embrace and have quiet and have each other. That would be a dream. For friends and family in Evanston and Deerfield, Friday was a day of joy and relief, tempered by an understanding of the long healing process ahead. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > I have faith in the world, I have faith in peace, and I want to thank everybody who was involved in bringing them back safe, Natalies stepmother Paola Raanan said Friday, at her Bannockburn home. I cannot express how happy we are. Advertisement [ Brother of Evanston teen held hostage by Hamas speaks on hope for a safe return: We are a peaceful family ] Were thrilled there was a Natalie to come home, said Deerfield resident Gale Gand. I never knew whether to talk in past tense. Id correct myself and talk in present tense to kind of signal the universe that we were not giving up. Gands daughter Ruby is a close friend of Natalie, and had planned to meet her in Israel while on a Birthright trip in December. Deerfield residents know Natalie as a little bit shy, but beautiful inside and out, Gand said. Gand says she struggled to find the best way to talk to her family about the Raanans ordeal. Though Natalie and Judith seem safe, Gand said, friends and family know their lives have been permanently transformed. I fear that she will never be the same, Gand said. Im wondering who is the Natalie coming back to us . How do you heal? Do you heal from this kind of thing? Will she always be the girl who got released from Hamas? I dont know how you get on the other side of it. IArougheti@chicagotribune.com Visuals showed Nadda offering the aarti to the goddess along with party leaders Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendhu Adhikari and Agnimitra Paul. The BJP National president also addressed a gathering in Howarah and said, "People of West Bengal are at the forefront in giving the world a point of view. I pray that the demonic powers in this land perish and the good powers get more strength so that the society gets auspicious. So that 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' (collective development) takes place." Nadda arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning and he was received by senior party leaders at the Kolkata International Airport upon his arrival. The visuals showed the BJP president being received by senior BJP leaders at the airport with flowers and gifts. According to an official statement released by BJP earlier, Nadda will also be visiting the community puja pandal situated at Shobhabazar Rajbari in Kolkata to seek blessings from Maa Durga. After that, he will visit the community puja pandal located in New Market, Kolkata, said the official statement. (ANI) A student of Ghaziabad's ABES Engineering College in Uttar Pradesh was asked to leave the stage by a faculty member after he chanted 'Jai Shree Ram' ahead of his performance during a cultural fest. The action has sparked an uproar on social media after the video of the incident went viral on Friday. As per the viral video, a student was seen chanting 'Jai Shree Ram' on stage as a response to chants by the audience. A faculty member was then seen asking the student to get off the stage. "We are here for some cultural event. We are here to have a good time so why are there slogans? There is no logic in these," Shweta Sharma, the faculty member who asked the student to leave the stage was seen saying to students in the viral clip. Following the uproar, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director of ABES Engineering College said that an enquiry committee has been constituted against the teacher while assuring that no action would be taken against the students. "I came across a video. A conversation between a faculty member and a student has sparked controversy. An enquiry committee has been constituted to look into the same. As soon as the committee submits a report, action will be taken based on its findings. Also, no action will be taken against any student by any faculty. No one will demoralize any student over the incident," Director Singh said while speaking to ANI. Saloni Agarwal, ACP Wave City, Ghaziabad said that the police are also investigating the matter. "The police are investigating the matter based on the video. The college has constituted an enquiry committee against the teacher. Further proceedings will be done based on the fact-finding of the committee. The college management has assured that no action will be taken against any student," ACP Saloni Agarwal told ANI. Mamta Gautham, Associate Professor, ABES Engineering College and one of the faculty members in the viral video in a video statement said that there was no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments. She asserted herself as a "Sanatani" and "Brahmin" and said that neither she nor her colleague or any other faculty member has any problem with chanting "Jai Shree Ram". "The student was arguing with my colleague, so I went there and the student was asked to leave the stage. Neither I, my colleague nor any other faculty member has or will have any problem with "Jai Shree Ram" chanting. I am also a Hindu. I am a born Sanatani, a Brahmin. I don't mean to hurt anyone's sentiments," said the professor. Hindu Raksha Dal workers staged a protest at the college gate raising the slogan of Jai Shri Ram following the incident. They said that the protest would continue until the faculty members responsible for this were expelled from the college. Further details on the incident are awaited. (ANI) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has started advising fishermen operating off the Andhra and Tamil Nadu coast to return to harbour in view of a developing low-pressure area in the southeast and east central Bay of Bengal, said an official release. According to an official release from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Chennai Defence, "Taking cognizance of a developing low-pressure area in the southeast and east central Bay of Bengal, ICG ships and aircraft have started advising fishermen operating off the Andhra and Tamil Nadu coast to return to harbour to ensure safety during adverse sea conditions." According to the latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked Low Pressure is likely to develop into a depression by 22 Oct 2023 and move North Westwards, intensifying further in the subsequent 3 days.Headquarters, Indian Coast Guard Region East based at Chennai has deployed multiple ships in waters adjacent to the Andhra and Tamil Nadu coast to ensure the safety of fishermen during rough sea conditions and prevent loss of life, said the release. Coast Guard aircraft flying from Chennai are also issuing broadcasts to fishing boats operating deep at sea on radio frequencies. The advisory to the fishing community is being issued well in advance so that small boats and crafts can safely return to the harbour before the low pressure intensifies further, it added. ICG has already advised the State Governments to inform fishermen on the Andhra and TN coasts about not venturing into the sea during this time. Further, merchant traffic transiting through the area has also been advised to take adequate precautions against adverse sea conditions. Proactive efforts of the Indian Coast Guard have ensured nil incidences of loss of life due to cyclones or adverse sea conditions in recent times, said the release.Indian Coast Guard being the nodal agency for Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) is committed to its Motto "Vayam Rakshamah" meaning "We Protect" and is prepared to deal with any eventuality, including cyclonic storms, to assist mariners in distress at sea, it further said. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet in connection with the Mahadev online betting app case, the agency statement said on Saturday. According to the officials, 14 accused have been named in the charge sheet, namely Sourabh Chandrakar, Ravi Uppal, Vikas Chhapariya, Chandrabhushan Verma, Satish Chandrakar, Anil Dammani, Sunil Dammani, Vishal Ahuja, Dheeraj Ahuja, Srijan Assiciates through Punaram Verma, Shiv Kumar Verma, Punaram Verma Shiv Kumar Verma, Yashoda Verma and Pawan Nathani. "ED has filed a charge sheet in the Mahadev app case at PMLA court Raipur on October 20, 2023. 14 accused has been named in the prosecution complaint," the ED statement said. The next hearing in the case is posted on November 25, 2023. The statement further said that no celebrity has been accused in the prosecution complaint. Notably, this comes a day after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel lashed out at the Centre questioning whether the government had accepted election funds for not banning the betting application. Speaking exclusively with ANI in Raipur on Friday, the CM said, "The central government has the authority to put a ban on the betting app, not the state government. My allegation is that if you (referring to the BJP-led government at the centre) are not imposing a ban on the application, so have you accepted the fund for elections." The Mahadev Online Book Betting app is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs, and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts. The ED in mid-September this year released details of its investigation into the online money laundering case linked with the Mahadev Online Book Betting app. Wedding planners, dancers, decorators etc, were hired from Mumbai and hawala channels were used to make payments in cash, the agency had said. The agency said Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh are the two main promoters of the Mahadev betting platform and ran their operations from Dubai. They had created an empire for themselves in that country. The agency had recently conducted searches at 39 locations across Raipur, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kolkata and seized illegal assets worth Rs 417 crore. ED has also earnestly taken up investigation abroad. A Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) special court at Raipur has also issued non-bailable warrants against the suspects. The ED which is investigating money laundering charges in connection with the Mahadev Online Book app had last month conducted searches in Chhattisgarh and arrested four accused including the chief liaisoner of the betting syndicate, which the probe agency alleged was organizing payment of bribes to senior government functionaries as 'protection money'. ED had stated that it has successfully identified other major players involved in the money laundering operations of the app. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness on Saturday that several people undertook extensive research on his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' and shared their insightful findings with the masses. Taking to his social media account on X, the PM mentioned a book titled 'Igniting Collective Goodness', which chronicles how 'Mann Ki Baat' became a means for societal change, as per a press release from the Prime Minister's office. "I am happy that several people over the years have undertaken extensive research on Mann Ki Baat and shared their insightful findings with people. Another such effort is the book 'Igniting Collective Goodness' by BlueKraft Digital Foundation, which chronicles how this programme has become a means for societal change. Congratulations to them for this work. Mkb100book.in," the PM said in a post on X. 'Mann Ki Baat' programme is a platform where the Prime Minister communicates directly with the people of the country. Through this programme, the Prime Minister informs and inspires the people of the country on various topics. Meanwhile, as BlueKraft Digital Foundation launched a book titled 'Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @100' on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the new book sheds new light on how PM Modi with the sheer power of his words rallied the nation behind common goals of greater goodness. Shah on the social media platform 'X', shared his views about the book and said it tells the story of a unique journey undertaken by India under the leadership of PM Modi. "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 greater goodness," Shah posted on 'X'. The popular program on All India Radio, Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat was started on October 3, 2014. The 30-minute program completed 100 episodes on April 30 this year. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) against Kasim Syed Mohd Ibrahim, accused in a money laundering case related to the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). The prosecution complaint has been filed before Special Judge Sachin Gupta, who has kept the matter for consideration on October 26. The charge sheet was filed on October 20 by ED through Advocates Naveen Kumar Matta and Mohd Faizan. According to the ED, the investigation revealed that the Tamil Nadu Development Foundation Trust (TNDFT), one of the frontal organisations of PFI, which was founded in 1993 by the core committee members of PFI, runs Arivagam, an Islamic Conversion Centre that carries out Da'wah orientation camps to convert people into Islam for men at Muthudevanpatty Village, Theni District, and for women at Eruvadi town, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Likewise, Puthiya Vidiyal is an Islamic magazine that was a mouthpiece of PFI. Investigations revealed that apart from propagating the agenda of PFI, this magazine was also a vehicle for raising funds for later, under the guise of subscription money and advertisement revenues that were not reflected in the books and were transferred to PFI through underground/ Hawala channels, as stated by ED in court. Investigation revealed that KSM Ibrahim is the key person both in TNDFT/Arivagam and Puthiya Vidiyal. During the course of recording statements under Section 50 of PMLA, 2002, KSM Ibrahim throughout did not cooperate with the investigating officer, gave vague replies to the questions asked, his behaviour remained evasive and adamant, and he made deliberate attempts to conceal the facts to frustrate the ongoing investigation, said the ED in court earlier. Accordingly, in the interest of investigation and in view of the role of KSM Ibrahim in the offence of money laundering, the Investigating Officer complied with the provisions of Section 19 of PMLA, 2002, and put him under arrest on August 23, 2023, in New Delhi, stated ED. Recently, the Popular Front of India (PFI) has approached the Supreme Court challenging an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal confirming the five-year ban imposed on it by the Centre. Earlier, the Centre had declared as "unlawful association" the PFI and its associates, affiliates, or fronts, including 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. (ANI) The supporters of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's nephew and former minister Anoop Mishra staged a protest after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not give a ticket to their leader from Gwalior South assembly constituency in the district. The supporters gathered outside the house of former minister Mishra and protested against the BJP on Saturday soon after the party announced the fifth list of 92 candidates for the forthcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. The party has fielded Narayan Singh Kushwaha from the seat. The supporter said, "The party gave ticket to Narayan Singh Kushwaha from Gwalior South Assembly seat whereas Mishra is a senior leader and comes from a long background of BJP politics. We were full of hope that Mishra ji would get a ticket from the seat. We all oppose CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bharatiya Janata Party and its impact will be seen in the result of elections." During this, the supporters also raised slogans against CM Chouhan and the BJP government. On the other hand, Mishra said that it was the decision of the party and he was with the party. Though the anger among the supporters is natural. "It is the party's decision. The anger among the supporters is natural. I am also sad but the party's decision is acceptable. I am a very old worker of Bharatiya Janata Party. I come from a long background of BJP politics. Whenever the party has given me any work, I have always done it. Even today I am with the party," Misra said. Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, BJP candidate from the seat Narayan Singh Kushwaha said, "Earlier also I was MLA from Gwalior South seat and continuous development work was done. During the 2018 assembly polls, I lost only by 121 votes for some reason but the work of development was not stopped and would not stop in future as well." When asked about Anoop Mishra being upset after ticket denial from the same seat, the BJP candidate said, "Anoop Mishra is our senior leader. Certainly every person has hope but he is with the party and will be with us in the elections. It is natural that there will be resentment for some time but after some time we will all become united." Madhya Pradesh will go to the assembly polls on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. (ANI) BJP workers on Saturday held a 'Chappal Maro' protest against the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) and then Congress Chief Ministers - Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, who ran the Maharashtra government during the 15-year rule of the Democratic Front (DF) coalition (1999-2014) on the issue of contractual recruitment policy. BJP workers thrashed posters of Uddhav Thackeray and MVA leaders for recruiting staff on a contract basis by nine private agencies, saying that it was the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation that had taken a decision to hire workforce on a short-term basis. Amid huge furore over recruitment policy in Maharashtra, Bhartiya Janata Party workers in Nagpur staged a 'Chappal Maro' protest against the then-ruling Congress Chief Minister of Maharashtra on his decision over the contractual recruitment policy. Eknath Shinde led the Maharashtra Government on Saturday to put an end to contract hiring via outsourcing. Amid huge uproar and protests, the Maharashtra Government scrapped the Government resolution (GR) for contractual recruitments in various Government departments. Earlier this month, Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar targeted the Maharashtra Government over the 'contractual hiring' of personnel in Mumbai police and said that the recruitment should be done on a permanent basis. "The state government has decided to make government recruitment on a contract basis. The delegation that met me raised some issues with me. The government has decided to recruit in the police force on a contract basis. Since this recruitment is only for 11 months, what next?", he asked. Sharad Pawar also said, "Since the tenure of the contract system is 11 months, how will the responsibilities given be fulfilled? Therefore, he demanded that "the recruitment should be done on a permanent basis instead of a contract system". Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar asserted that recruitment in govt departments on a contract basis was the decision of the previous government. He said, "More than 1.5 lakh recruitments are currently underway in various government departments, including police, health education and various others. The opposition seems to be spreading the news with different motives."Pawar said, "I can provide evidence of the individuals who endorsed this decision during the previous government's term. Today, when they are no longer in power, they are shifting blame onto us, causing unwarranted damage to our reputation." (ANI) Amid the controversy over his 'cash for query' charge against Mahua Moitra, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday said he has lodged a complaint with the anti-corruption body watchdog, Lokpal, against the Trinamool Congress leader. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Dubey posted in Hindi, "(I am) tired of hearing CBI, CBI. I filed a complaint (against Mahua Moitra) with the Lokpal today. The Lokpal is the only authority, which is mandated to look into complaints of corruption or impropriety against MPs, ministers or other people's representatives. The CBI is an agency through which it carries forward its investigation into such complaints." The move by the BJP Lok Sabha MP to move the anti-corruption watchdog against Moitra comes at a time when the Ethics Committee of the Lower House is already looking into the allegations against her. Earlier, in his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, under the head "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament", the BJP MP accused the TMC member of "serious Breach of Privilege", "Contempt of the House" and a "criminal offence under Section 120A of IPC". In his complaint with the Lokpal, Dubey alleged that Moitra received Rs 2 crores in cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani both in Indian and foreign currencies in lieu of posing questions in Parliament. He alleged further the businessman used the Lok Sabha logging credentials of the TMC MP while she was travelling abroad. "The complainant is in receipt of a letter dated October 14, 2023, from one Jai Anant Dehadrai, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, wherein several serious and disturbing facts along with detailed proof have been mentioned against Mahua Moitra. In the letter, Dehadrai provides in great detail how, when and where Moitra received bribes from a businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The said letter clearly mentions how Mahua Moitra has received Rs two crores in cash from the said Darshan Hiranandani both in Indian currency and in foreign currency for asking questions in Parliament. The content of the said letter is self-explanatory. It also mentions that the said Darshan Hiraanandani had direct access to Mahua Moitra's Lok Sabha logging credentials and the same has been used by the said Darshan Hiraanandani while Mahua Moitra was travelling abroad," Dubey said in his complaint with the anti-graft watchdog. Meanwhile, on Friday, Hiranandani submitted a "sworn" and notarised affidavit to the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha. The accused Dubai-based businessman, who later turned approver in the matter, alleged that the TMC MP provided him with her "Parliament login and password" so that he "could post questions directly on her behalf when required". In her response to the affidavit, Moitra said earlier that it was "on white paper and not an official letterhead". "The affidavit is on white paper and not an official letterhead or notarized. Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put on his head to do it?" she posted on X. (ANI) Charing a review meeting of the state Higher Education Department on Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday directed officials to fill Kalyana Karnataka and other backlog posts on priority. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, CM Siddaramaiah said, "The recruitment of teachers is very important to ensuring the desired standards and quality of learning at educational institutions. Hence, I have directed the officers concerned to fill all Kalyana Karnataka and other backlog (teaching) posts on priority." The CM also sought a uniform calendar of events so that the activities of different universities are not held at different periods, causing inconvenience to candidates seeking admission. The officials informed the CM that the Higher Education Council was already undertaking efforts in this direction. The chief minister also reviewed the activities of the Kannada Study Chair at the Jawahar Nehru University (JNU), which was founded during his previous tenure, and passed on further instructions for taking its activities forward. The discussions also focused on distributing laptops and tablets to varsity students and a stipend to the Ph.D students. He also directed officials concerned to expedite the construction of a hostel to accommodate one thousand female students each of Arts and Science at the Mysore Maharani Arts College hostel premises. The hostel, according to officials, is estimated to come up at a cost of Rs 99 crore. Informing that Rs 47 crore was available for use by the department, the CM said he directed officials of the Finance department to set aside funds for additional grants to be provided in next year's budget. He also sought a proposal with regard to the renovation and construction of Maharani Science College, Mysuru, at the earliest. The institution is currently in a dilapidated state, crying out for repairs. He said he would visit the institution on the occasion of Dussehra and inspect the progress of work in this direction. "Most of the children (Maharani Science College, Mysuru) belong to poor and lower-middle-class families. A well-equipped hostel needs to be constructed for their convenience," he said. He said he had announced a grant in the budget presented in his previous term for the construction of this hostel. The CM also gave instructions to prioritise the improvement of 16 government engineering colleges in the state. He also directed officials to take steps to improve financial discipline, transparency in recruitment, and other issues in the higher education sector. The CM was briefed that the Backward Classes Welfare Department was ready to take control of 224 hostels with a combined capacity of 13,169 students that were constructed by the Higher Education Department. He directed officials to bring this matter before the cabinet. He suggested that officers of the Finance Department should hold regular meetings with Higher Education and School Education departments to identify steps that could be taken to improve the educational infrastructure and the quality of learning, adding that proposals in this regard should be submitted in advance. (ANI) In this screenshot, Emilee Rauschenberger, a former Elgin resident trapped in Gaza with her family because of the Israeli/Hamas war, speaks to "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt about the difficulties with which they are coping as they wait for a chance to return home to England. (Courier-News staff/The Courier-News) When Emilee Rauschenbergers face appeared on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt Thursday night, it was the first time her father had seen it in more than a week. The former Elgin woman was interviewed by the news anchor about life in Gaza, where she, her husband and their five children have been trapped since bombing between Hamas and Israel began Oct. 7. They live in England and were visiting her husbands family in southern Gaza. Advertisement John Rauschenberger, who lives in Elgin, last saw his daughter when they spoke via FaceTime so to see her on the news was heartening. Elgin resident John Rauschenberger said his daughter, Emilee, sent this photo of her husband and son walking near a bombed-out building in Gaza. Emilee and her family were visiting her husband's family in Gaza when the fighting between Hamas and Israel began. (John Rauschenberger/HANDOUT) But he also noted that you can start to see how the situation is beginning to wear on her. But shes very focused, steadfast, pragmatic and positive they are going to get out. Advertisement In speaking with Holt, Rauschenberger said daily life there is hard. There is no water in the building where theyve been living so they must go find it. Bread is in short supply, she said. Whenever it gets dark, you stay inside completely, and you hear bombing near and far, so its just been kind of a fight to survive, she said. We saw five apartments targeted and bombed in the neighborhood we live in, and we dont know who might be next. Her message to both Israel and Hamas is there needs to be a ceasefire. This is just a humanitarian disaster, she said. Aid must be provided to those suffering most under this bombardment, she said. This photo of Elgin native Emilee Rauschenberger, her husband and four of their five children, was shown on an NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt report Thursday in which Emilee spoke about life in war-torn Gaza as the family waits to return home to England. (Courier-News staff/HANDOUT) They are not getting a lot of news because they are not getting regular internet service, she said, but they very much want to leave the country. John Rauschenberger, who has been trying to keep attention focused on Americans living or visiting Gaza, was told by the U.S. State Department that there are no plans to evacuate Americans. The current government position is visitors will have to leave on their own when its safe to travel, he said. His daughter is staying in an apartment with 30 others, not far from the Egyptian border, Rauschenberger said. The holdup, he said, is Israel and Egypt need to reach an agreement so that people can exit through Egypt. They are ready to move to the border instantly as soon as they hear the border is open, he said. Its very frustrating, John said. Advertisement In a recent call, Emilee told him that food is starting to be in short supply. His granddaughter spent two hours in line one day, only to get elbowed and pushed out. When she returned to the bakery later, it had closed. The next day, she went back. She said, Pops, I went back, and nobody pushed me out. I brought back bread. I told her it was a life lesson. You have to hold your ground, he said. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Following the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the release of two US citizens who were being held hostage by Hamas, and that the duo is now in Israeli troops' hands, as reported by The Times of Israel. However, the IDF strongly criticized the Hamas terror group for continuing to hold approximately 200 other hostages. "Hamas presents itself to the world at this hour as one who releases hostages for humanitarian reasons, but in reality, we are talking about a murderous terror group, which at this hour is holding babies, children, women, and the elderly captive," IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. The two Americans who were released have been identified as Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, both from Chicago, according to CNN. According to their family, they had been visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, a farming community in southern Israel, and they were released on "humanitarian grounds" due to the mother's poor health. Furthermore, the release took place as part of negotiations involving Qatar and Hamas, as reported by CNN. During a press briefing on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed gratitude to the Qatar government for their assistance. "I wanna thank the government of Qatar for their very important assistance. When I was in Israel last week, I met with the families of US citizens that Hamas has taken hostage," Blinken said. He also mentioned that US President Joe Biden had the opportunity to meet the family, stating, "...The entire United States government will work every minute of every day to secure their release to bring their loved ones home. They have my solemn pledge, those who continue to have loved ones held hostage by Hamas, that will continue to do that." The White House also issued a statement on Friday, confirming the release of the Americans who were 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 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," the White House statement said. Moreover, it added that the US has been working around the clock since the beginning of the attack to free American citizens who were taken hostage by the Hamas terror group. "I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. 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 week--we will not stop until we get their loved ones home," the White House added. The statement further stated, "As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world." They were handed over at the Gaza border and sent back to be reunited with family, according to Israel's Prime Minister's office. Following their release, they were handed over to the Red Cross, according to CNN. IDF Spokesperson in a post on social media on Friday 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." The IDF added that they are still trying to return the other hostages to Israel. "IDF is still preparing for the next stages of the fighting, which is expected to include a major ground offensive. The fighting is likely to last many more weeks," IDF Spokesperson Hagari added. (ANI) The Palestine Red Crescent Society (RCS) on Friday made an urgent appeal for the evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital in northern Gaza to prevent another tragic incident like Al-Ahli Hospital, reported The Times of Israel. According to the Palestine RCS, the hospital houses more than 400 patients and approximately 12,000 displaced civilians. Taking to their social media 'X', Palestine Red Crescent Society stated, "Urgent Appeal PRCS faces an imminent threat. The IOF demands the evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital, a sanctuary for over 400 patients and around 12,000 displaced civilians. We call the international community to act urgently, averting another catastrophe like Al-Ahli Hospital." https://twitter.com/palestinercs/status/1715415685096931626?s=46&t=xoj8hJ0g84K6ljMuB3uJVg An explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday claimed the lives of hundreds of people, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. However, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released what they claimed was technical evidence to prove that the explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital was due to a rocket misfired by the Islamic Jihad terror group. IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari released an audio that claimed to be a conversation between two terrorists who admitted that the rocket fired on the Hospital belonged to their group. In a press conference, an Israeli military spokesperson asserted that the preliminary investigation suggested that the rocket fired at the Hospital was from the barrage of rockets fired towards Israel which was launched nearer to the Hospital. However, recently, the French military stated that there was no evidence that an Israeli strike caused the explosion at the hospital in Gaza, according to The Times of Israel. "The most probable hypothesis is that a Palestinian rocket exploded with a charge of about five kilos," on Tuesday, the Directorate of Military Intelligence said, adding there was "nothing to indicate... an Israeli strike." Moreover, according to the latest updates, as many as 4,834 people in Israel have been hospitalized since the terror group Hamas's attack in southern Israel, in which some 1,400 were murdered and at least 203 were kidnapped to Gaza, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised on Friday that facilitating the movement of aid into Gaza was among his top priorities over the past week. He noted that they worked diligently with the governments of Israel and Egypt. Regarding the Rafah crossing, Blinken said, "When some of us were travelling together in the region over the past week, getting assistance moving was among my top priorities, and we worked very hard with the governments of Israel and Egypt to do just that." US State Secretary Blinken addressed a press briefing on Friday, stating that the US now has the understanding to develop a plan for the movement of assistance to Gaza. "We secured an understanding that we would develop a plan to move assistance. That understanding was cemented by President Biden when he was in Israel and also speaking to President Al Sisi of Egypt," he said. Moreover, Blinken said that the US has been working relentlessly with the Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, Ambassador David Satterfield, along with the United Nations, Egypt and Israel. "In the time since, we've been working relentlessly with Ambassador David Satterfield on the ground, working with the United Nations, Egypt and Israel, to put that into motion and my expectation is that you'll see that moving soon," he added. President Biden on Wednesday announced humanitarian assistance for both Gaza and the West Bank worth USD 100 million following the deadly airstrike in Gaza, Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. He further said that the aid will further help over one million affected Palestinians. On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in northern Sinai in Egypt, CNN reported. This came as the UN focused on efforts to push humanitarian aid across the Egyptian border into Gaza. Meanwhile, several trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent and the World Food Programme (WFP) arrived at Rafah crossing on Friday morning, CNN reported. The repair work is ongoing at the Rafah crossing to pave the way for humanitarian assistance 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. "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. The Israel Defence Ministry said that around 1,000 tons of armaments have arrived in Israel, which are "designed to bolster the IDF's offensive plans." Moreover, Blinken during the briefing also spoke on the American duo who were released by the Hamas terror group on Friday. He said, "About an hour ago, two American citizens held by Hamas since October 7 were released. These two Americans are now safely in the hands of Israeli authorities in Israel...We welcome their release..." He further noted that there are still over 200 hostages held in Gaza. "But there are still ten 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 held in Gaza," he added. (ANI) Following the release of two Americans from the captivity of the Hamas terror group, US President Joe Biden on Saturday assured that the US government would fully support them in their recovery. Taking to his official social media 'X', Biden stated, "I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal." "Jill and I will continue holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans," he added. https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1715489606722801704 Joe Biden's statement came after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the release of two US citizens. "The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed the release of two US citizens who were being held hostage by Hamas and that the duo is now in Israeli troops' hands, as reported by The Times of Israel," The Times of Israel reported on Friday. The two Americans who were released have been identified as Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, both from Chicago, according to CNN. Furthermore, the release took place as part of negotiations involving Qatar and Hamas, as reported by CNN. During a press briefing on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed gratitude to the Qatar government for their assistance. "I wanna thank the government of Qatar for their very important assistance. When I was in Israel last week, I met with the families of US citizens that Hamas has taken hostage," Blinken said. The White House also issued a statement on Friday, confirming the release of the Americans who were 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 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," the White House statement said. Moreover, it added that the US has been working around the clock since the beginning of the attack to free American citizens who were taken hostage by the Hamas terror group. Following their release, they were handed over to the Red Cross, according to CNN. (ANI) US President Joe Biden has requested over USD 105 billion from Congress as part of a package to provide security assistance for the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, as reported by CNN. US President made his request a primetime Oval Office address to the nation and called the moment "an inflection point" in American history. The request will help mitigate "the global humanitarian impacts of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and of Hamas' horrific attacks on Israel, including by extending humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza," he said. The request will further seek additional funding for the US-Mexico border and priorities in the Indo-Pacific region, reported CNN citing sources. In a letter to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, US Office of Management and Budget director, Shalanda Young, outlined the funding request, stating USD 14.3 billion in aid for Israel, USD 61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine, including USD 9.15 billion in aid for humanitarian aid, USD 7.4 billion in aid for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region and USD 13.6 billion to address security at the US-Mexico border. "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," Young said. In response to Biden's request, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the package and said he would move quickly to pass it. "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," he said. To further bifurcate the aid amount USD 105 billion, Biden has asked USD 61.4 billion for Ukraine, detailing that more than half of that money would be allocated for providing weapons and ammunition vis defence contracts and US stockpiles, which the funds would then replenish, reported The New York Times. Additionally, the rest would pay for economic and operational assistance, intelligence and military logistical support, nuclear security programs and resettling Ukrainian refugees. He further added that USD 14.3 billion will be allocated for Israel, noting that the package would almost be used for defence contracts and facilitating the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel from US stockpiles. According to the White House, ammunition for the missile defence systems known as Iron Dome and David's Sling, as well as Iron Beam, Israel's ground-based laser air defence system, would be covered in the package. Moreover, congressional leaders have said the package will also include precision-guided munitions, kits that turn regular bombs into precision weapons and artillery shells, The New York Times reported. Adding to this, he highlighted that USD 13.6 billion will be used for border security, precisely, for more border patrol officers, immigration judges, shelters and detention centres. It also included over USD 1 billion for battling fentanyl trafficking. However, according to The New York Times, it does not include two key initiatives that Republicans want; funding to construct a border wall and changes to the way migrants seeking asylum are allowed into the country. Moreover, USD 9.15 billion aid will be allocated for humanitarian aid, stating that it will include assistance for Palestinian, Israeli and Ukrainian civilians who have suffered the impact of the conflict. However, the White House did not say how much assistance each group could expect to receive. Biden administration further asked USD 7.4 billion for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, highlighting that the funds which include military financing for Taiwan are meant to help counter the rising influence of China in the region, reported The New York Times. Meanwhile, over USD 3 billion would go toward financing US submarine construction, while an additional USD 2 billion would be for development assistance. Another USD 2 billion is for foreign military financing, although it is not clear yet whether that money is exclusively for Taiwan or if it will be shared with other countries in the region. (ANI) The United States Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a 'security alert' for its citizens ahead of the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The US Embassy has warned of a "potentially chaotic and disorderly environment" and asked its citizens to respond to the message with their current location. "We have received information that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open on Saturday, 21 October at 10:00 AM local time," the Embassy stated. Stating that it is not certain for how long it will the border remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, it stated, "We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open, and U.S. citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing". The Embassy also assured of sending updated information on US government assistance in Egypt via the email address. It further urged the citizens to assess their personal safety and security before moving towards the border or crossing it. "The situation remains dynamic and fluid and the security environment is unpredictable. You should assess your personal safety and security before choosing to move toward the border or trying to cross," the Embassy added. It further asked the citizens who have departed Gaza or are not located there to respond to the message with their current location. Meanwhile, the UN is focussing on efforts to push humanitarian aid across the Egyptian border into Gaza. Earlier on Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in northern Sinai in Egypt, CNN reported. 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. "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. (ANI) The United States has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, the State Department said on Friday. The three firms namely; General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd have engaged in activities that pose risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by Pakistan. According to the statement, General Technology Limited has worked to supply brazing materials, which are used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines, and in the production of combustion chambers. Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd. has worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid-propellant rocket motors and can be controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. has worked since 2019 to supply D-glass glass fiber, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth, all of which have applications in missile systems, the state department stated. "Today, we are designating three entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These three entities, based in the People's Republic of China (PRC), have worked to supply missile-applicable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program," the State Department said. It added, "The Department of State is designating General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan". (ANI) The democratically elected leader of Tibet's government-in-exile, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, has said that China is "striking at the very root" of Tibetan culture, as per The National Press Club. Tsering made the remarks at the National Press Club Headliners Newsmaker event attended by actor Richard Gere on Wednesday. The National Press Club is a professional and social club for working journalists and communications professionals in Washington, D.C., as per the club's official website. Tsering said: "China rules Tibet with an iron hand." He accused the Chinese Communist authorities of phasing out Tibetan language programs in local schools, changing the names of small towns to create Chinese influence and placing increased restrictions on Tibetan Buddhist clergy. Through these changes, China is "striking at the very root" of Tibetan identity, he said. He said his biggest concern regarding Tibet's future is that "our identity will be completely exterminated." He said that from 2009 to last year, 157 Tibetans have committed self-immolation due to the oppression they face in their land. "It's not as if Tibetans can't kill Chinese people, but they burn themselves to death, hoping against hope that the Chinese government will pay some attention to their plight or hoping against hope that the international community will come to their rescue. The freedom that the free world takes for granted does not exist in Tibet," he said as per The National Press Club's website. He spoke of Tibet's rich cultural heritage, referring to its reputation as "the root of the world" and citing its repository of ancient Indian Buddhist wisdom. But he added: "Religious freedom does not exist." Tibetans are afraid to express their opinions due to increased Chinese government surveillance within their communities, Tsering said. "There is an atmosphere of fear. You can't trust anybody," he said, noting that many people fear informers and compared Tibet's situation to Stasi surveillance in former East Germany. Tsering was in Washington to rally support for the advance of the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act, also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, legislation that would recognize a state of existing conflict between China and Tibet and boost US support for a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, Voice Against Autocracy reported that the repression in Tibet has intensified over the decades and China's constant attacks have constantly deteriorated the lives of Tibetan people. Ever since China attacked the sovereignty of Tibetans in 1951, Tibetan's lives constantly deteriorated. And ever since the protest in 2008, over 150 people have self-immolated as a form of protest. Even after 150 people self-immolated, the relatives of protesters were tortured. They are routinely harassed, thrown into prison for "re-education", denied political and medical rights, and even killed outright if deemed a threat. (ANI) The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has demanded the 'bat' symbol to be allotted to the party "without delay" ahead of the upcoming general elections, Dawn reported on Saturday. PTI alleged the lack of a "level playing field" and called the delay in issuance of the symbol "unjustifiable" and "intolerable". "The ECP should immediately issue its detailed written order pertaining to the party election symbol because the inordinate delay and non-issuance of the oral decision made on August 30 [has] raised many eyebrows," Dawn quoted a PTI spokesman from a press release. The spokesman urged the watchdog to promptly release a detailed decision in line with the verbal order given on August 30, as it had no legal and constitutional justification to withhold the party's electoral symbol. The spokesman made it clear that the concept of free, fair and transparent polls "without the largest and most formidable political force of the country was a farce". "The conspiracy to keep PTI out of the electoral arena on the state-mandated and unknown technical grounds was akin to an attack on the Constitution and political system of the country," he said. The PTI spokesperson claimed that the party's intra-party elections were held on June 9, 2022, in pursuance of the party's 2019 constitution, which the watchdog had accepted as correct, and confirmed in its August 30 oral order, Dawn reported. He said the unjustified and unnecessary delay in the issuance of a written decision by ECP had strengthened a perception that the original decision might be changed to put the party in a constant state of uncertainty before the elections. The PTI spokesperson urged the ECP to avoid unconstitutional and illegal political engineering and issue a written decision regarding the 'bat' as PTI's election symbol without delay. He cautioned that people would never accept if the ECP deviated from its constitutional mandate and tried to "steal" the PTI's election symbol unlawfully, Dawn reported. (ANI) School District U-46 buses line up outside South Elgin High School. Officials for the district and the transportation union say they hope a more competitive contract will help bring in more bus driver applicants. (Dave Gathman / The Courier-News) School District U-46s contract with its transportation union doesnt expire until June 2025, but negotiations will be starting early in effort to draft a deal that might be more attractive to bus driver applicants, officials said. Drivers are working under a contract signed in April 2021 but both sides agreed in September that collective bargaining for a new package would begin this year, district spokewoman Tara Burghart said. Advertisement This would be an earlier start to contract negotiations than in the past, she said. Bus drivers speaking at recent school board meetings have said they are being paid less than drivers in other districts, a situation thats contributing to a driver shortage and resulting in drivers being overworked. Advertisement Starting U-46 bus driver pay is $19.50 an hour, significantly less than the $22.68 paid by St. Charles School District 303 and the $25 rate at Palatine School District 15, union officials said. Its been at least two years that we have been struggling with transportation, said Heather Weiss, president of the District U45 Transportation Union. The district employs 265 school bus drivers and has about a dozen drivers on call on an as-needed basis, Burghart said. Thats 11 fewer driver than they had last year. Of the 48 job openings in the transportation department, 34 are for bus drivers, Burghart said. Because of the shortage, some students are arriving late to school, which impacts instruction time, Weiss said. Our special education students need consistency, and that is definitely taking a hit with the shortage because we have to double up routes. This causes drivers to be overloaded and students to be late to school and even home, Weiss said. Burghart acknowledged this has been a problem. We do have routes that run late to school because of the driver shortage, which is why we are working hard to bring more qualified drivers and assistants onto our team, she said. Advertisement Since the COVID-19 pandemic, U-46 and many other school districts have not been able to hire enough drivers, Burghart said. The district has been holding job fairs, offering referral bonuses and using other recruitment efforts to close the gap, she said. We are working diligently to resolve the staffing challenges that school districts across the state are facing so that our transportation services run smoothly and (we) work closely with our schools to ensure that our routes are not overloaded, Burghart said. Weiss said the union has been told that U-46 officials recognize the need to offer more competitive wages. Our school bus drivers and assistants play a vital role in our school district, ensuring that more than 22,000 students travel safely between their schools and homes each day. We appreciate their dedication and service, Burghart said. We are committed to finding a resolution that recognizes their valuable contributions to our school community. Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Officials said the Israeli soldiers came under attack by anti-tank fire near the border. Bello was a platoon commander in the Alexandroni Brigade. Two of the injured soldiers were reported to have been moderately injured, while another suffered more serious injuries. In recent days, the Lebanese border has seen increased incidents involving Hezbollah terrorists. Along the border, Israeli soldiers have been repeatedly fired upon using anti-tank missiles. Also, the IDF has prevented numerous infiltrations by terrorists from Lebanon. Further, daily missile fire from Lebanon has resulted in a number of northern Israel communities being evacuated. On Friday, four groups of Hezbollah infiltrators were killed by Israeli soldiers along the Lebanon border. Additionally, a terrorist was killed after entering the country and attacking Israeli soldiers near Moshav Margaliot. A soldier was seriously wounded in the exchange. The IDF continued attacking Hezbollah targets throughout Friday night. In a statement by the IDF issued at 04:15 on Saturday morning, an IDF spokesman said, "IDF aircraft have recently attacked a series of military targets of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in response to the firing of anti-tank missiles and missile launches into Israeli territory last night. Among the targets attacked were a series of military compounds used by the organization for operational needs and terrorist infrastructure. In addition, the IDF attacked an anti-tank launcher located in the border area and aimed at Israel. The IDF is prepared and ready for all scenarios in the various sectors and will continue to act for the security of the citizens of Israel," noted the statement. (ANI/TPS) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the "reprehensible assault" by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, UN news reported on Saturday. He made the remarks at the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt, which was convened by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to de-escalate hostilities following the deadly Hamas attack. "The grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long, but nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorized Israeli civilians. At the same time, these abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," UN News quoted Guterres as saying. Guterres stated that hundreds of trucks "teeming with food and other essential supplies" were on the Egyptian side while across the border, two million people were going without water, food, fuel, electricity and medicine. "Those trucks need to move as quickly as possible in a massive, sustained and safe way from Egypt into Gaza," he said, adding that the UN is working nonstop with all parties towards a continuous delivery of aid at the scale that is needed, UN News reported. The UN Chief further stressed that the near-term goals must be clear, repeating his call for immediate, "unrestricted and sustained humanitarian aid to Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages by Hamas, and a humanitarian ceasefire now. Guterres stressed the need to uphold international humanitarian law, which includes protecting civilians and not attacking hospitals, schools and UN premises that are currently sheltering half a million people, UN News reported. He also emphasized the need not to lose sight of "the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability", namely a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. "The time has come for action...action to end this godawful nightmare. Action to build a future worthy of the dreams of the children of Palestine, Israel, the region and our world," UN News quoted him as saying. The UN chief arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza in northern Sinai in Egypt on Friday to oversee the UN efforts to pass humanitarian aid into Gaza. Earlier in the day, over 3000 tonnes of humanitarian aid started entering Gaza, as the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday for the first time since the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas, Times of Israel reported. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. The Egyptian state television also showed several trucks entering the gate, Times of Israel reported. (ANI) A spokesperson from the US State Department emphasised the need for Afghanistan's neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, to facilitate the entry of Afghans seeking international protection and to collaborate with international humanitarian organisations to provide essential assistance. "We strongly encourage Afghanistan's neighbours, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and to coordinate with international humanitarian organisations... to provide humanitarian assistance," a US State Department spokesperson stated on Thursday, according to Daily Times, an English-language Pakistani newspaper. Pakistan has set a November 1 deadline for all undocumented immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Afghans, to leave the country or face forced deportation. Pakistan has stated that the deportation process will be organised and conducted in phases, with a potential start involving individuals with criminal records. The move to expel illegal Afghan migrants has been deemed "unacceptable" by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated over the past few years, primarily due to allegations that terrorists operating against the Pakistani state are based in Afghan territory. The Taliban have denied these allegations. A group of former senior US officials and resettlement organisations has called on Pakistan to exempt thousands of Afghan applicants for special US visas or refugee relocation to the United States from deportation to Afghanistan. Approximately 1.73 million Afghans in Pakistan lack legal documentation. Islamabad has accused Afghan nationals of carrying out more than a dozen suicide bombings this year. Pakistan has been hosting the largest number of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979, with the total number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan estimated at 4.4 million, Daily Times reported. (ANI) According to Pakistani authorities, more than 51,000 Afghans have been deported since the deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants was announced. Jan Achakzai, the Minister of Information for Balochistan Province, highlighted Pakistan's intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration. He emphasised that these actions extend beyond Afghan refugees, as the November 1st expulsion deadline applies to all undocumented immigrants in the province, underscoring the government's commitment to maintaining order and security, according to Khaama Press, which provides news from Afghanistan and around the globe. Additionally, a specialised branch has been tasked with identifying and addressing the presence of illegal immigrants throughout Balochistan, Khaama Press reported, citing the Express Tribune. Earlier, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minister of Interior for the interim government of Pakistan, had issued a warning that the country would not compromise on the decision to expel undocumented Afghan migrants once the deadline expires. Pakistani authorities have reported the successful repatriation of over a thousand Afghan families to Afghanistan through the Chaman border crossing. Despite international appeals, including those from the United Nations and the current Taliban administration, urging Pakistani authorities to halt the expulsion of Afghan migrants, the Pakistani government remains resolute in its warning to refugees. They have until November 1st to leave the country voluntarily, with the looming threat of forced expulsion for non-compliance, Khaama Press reported. (ANI) "The 765 victims represent 74 per cent of civilians killed in the fighting whose bodies have been brought for identification," the police statement said. Around 300 soldiers were also killed defending Israel's southern communities. "Thousands of police have been working shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are taking part in the tough work of identification," police said. The bodies have been brought to, a military base in central Israel, where the police have been working with volunteers from ZAKA, an emergency response organisation that aids in the identification of victims of terrorism, road accidents, and other disasters. So far, 668 bodies have been transferred to families for burial. At least 1,400 people were massacred in Israel, and more than 4,800 were wounded in the attack. Over 200 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip. (ANI/TPS) These days, you practically need a bank loan to enjoy more than one cocktail in an evening around Tampa Bay. We dont love the $17 price point of current cocktail lists, but we do love lots of the drinks on them. Here are some we have tried recently and would recommend. As menus are constantly evolving, its best to check in before you go to see if they still feature the drink. Windward Punch at Mandarin Hide: This bar has been open for over a decade on Central Avenue, but it remains one of the hippest ones around with some of the best drinks in town. Lots of trendy folks will walk in and order espresso martinis, but look beyond that menu item for an interesting list of complex cocktails. One even includes a green onion garnish. My current favorite is the Windward Punch, which doesnt look like much but packs a, well, you know. The batched cocktail containing several different liquors and liqueurs is served over a large ice cube, just a couple of ounces of a relatively clear concoction that is at once sweet, tangy and strong. Sip it slowly. 231 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Paper Crane at True Food Kitchen: For a spot that boasts healthy fare, they sure do have a solid cocktail list. On a recent visit for brunch, we tried one drink from the brunch cocktail menu, the Cinnamon Toastini, and two from the regular cocktail menu: the Cowboy Jam and the Paper Crane. The Cinnamon Toastini is a sweet and creamy drink served in a coupe, made with cinnamon cereal milk and Woodford Reserve bourbon, pear liqueur and maple syrup. The Cowboy Jam was nicely balanced, pairing rye whiskey with Concord grape reduction and grapefruit. My favorite was the Paper Crane, a spin on a Paper Plane cocktail that featured Makers Mark whiskey, Nonino Amaro, Luxardo maraschino cherry liqueur and lemon. 3645 Midtown Drive, Tampa. 813-327-4455. The Basic Witch at Noble Crust: Get whimsical at Noble Crust, which is offering some Halloween-themed cocktails for the month of October. There were three on the menu on our recent visit: the Basic Witch, the Autumn Crisp and the Last Reviver. The Basic Witch is your best sweet and boozy bet, made with two types of alcohol (Old St. Pete Rum and vanilla vodka), a dash of heavy cream and spices. Graham cracker crumbles and cinnamon garnish the dessert-in-a-glass. The Autumn Crisp, made with bourbon, apple cider and cardamom bitters, and the Last Reviver, with gin, cherry liqueur and lemon, are also tempting. Locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg. noble-crust.com. El Duque at Dirty Laundry: This spot from Hunger + Thirst Group is a cafe on one side and a sultry Cuban-inspired speakeasy on the other. Theyve got beer, wine, a small food menu and an interesting cocktail list heavy on the rum and tequila. One caught our eye recently for its autumnal vibes. The El Duque is made with Dickel Rye Whiskey, Amaro Montenegro, cacao and orange bitters, cinnamon and fresh nutmeg, and tastes like a more complex (and slightly sweeter) Old Fashioned. 1742 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-493-0040. Corpse Reviver at Union New American: It was after our first round of drinks at a recent dinner here that the server suggested my next drink be a Corpse Reviver. (I had started with the New American Old Fashioned, with Makers Mark, butter-washed Lairds Apple Brandy and cherry-vanilla bitters.) The Corpse Reviver wasnt on the cocktail menu, which is vast and varied, but it sounded intriguing. Its a classic sour cocktail that usually features gin, a liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier, vermouth and, crucially, a touch of absinthe. Garnished with a lemon peel and edible flowers, it was my favorite sip of the night. 1111 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa. 813-768-9989. Mood Ring at Wild Child: The culinary innovation at St. Petersburgs Wild Child extends to the cocktail menu. Its hard to choose just one (I have this problem when I order, too), but my current fave is the Mood Ring, a lovely combination of gin, Italicus, grapefruit, lime and orgeat. Italicus is a liqueur made from Italian citrus like bergamot, and the sharp citrus flavors really come through on this one. 2710 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-954-7425. The Ohhh Mai at Eskape at JW Marriott Clearwater Beach: I recently crashed a family members staycation in Clearwater Beach, and we got lunch at the newish JW Marriott hotel. Their beachside restaurant Eskape (psst, its open to the public) has a solid cocktail lineup, many of which are served in actual coconuts. Theyd be good without that novelty, but it sure is fun to sip a strong rum drink out of the hollowed-out husk. Our favorite cocktail was a play on a Mai Tai called the Ohhh Mai. Made with coconut rum, fresh lime juice, almond orgeat, dry orange curacao and a Myers dark rum float, it was a strong yet balanced drink perfect for the tropical setting. 691 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach. 727-677-6000. The Modern Negroni at Ponte: The upscale Midtown Tampa restaurant from celebrated local chef Chris Ponte has a lovely bar space, and a playful cocktail list. There are two side-by-side lists: a Classic selection and a Modern selection. On the Classic side are, well, all the classics: a Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Gimlet, Margarita solid versions of the drinks people love. On the other side, though, is where the fun happens. These are all modern twists on the classic drinks, called the same thing but made with different ingredients and presentations. The Paper Plane and Mai Tai are really solid, but my favorite so far is the Negroni, made with Hennessy VS, St. Germain, Carpano bitters, orange and grapefruit. 1010 Gramercy Lane, Tampa. 813-582-7755. Pistachio Mai Tai at Trophy Fish: Speaking of mai tais, I could not write a cocktail list without mentioning my favorite drink in all of Tampa Bay: the Pistachio Mai Tai at this outdoor bar in downtown St. Pete. It fits the vibes perfectly, a tropical drink with just enough of a spin to be interesting. Mai tais typically contain orgeat, a sweet syrup made from almonds, so pistachio is an inspired pairing here. Dont be fooled by the bright green color and the pretty flower garnish, though; this is a hearty beverage ideal for sipping. 2060 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-258-7883. Two in the Chamber at Boulon: The cocktail menu at Boulon changes frequently, and the bourbon/amaro sipper I had a few months ago is no longer available. But in its place is another bourbon/bitter liqueur combo that is perfect for fall. The Two in the Chamber features bourbon and scotch plus not one but two types of liqueurs in the amaro family: Averna and Montenegro. Its finished off with vermouth and flavors of fig and black walnut. 1001 Water St., Tampa. 813-768-9988. 1. Jim Jordan's bid to become speaker ends after secret vote Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) saw his bid to become the next speaker of the House ended on Friday after a secret vote ousted him as the party's candidate. Jordan lost the Republican conference ballot by a vote of 112-86, bringing the Republicans back to square one following the removal of Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) two weeks ago. The secret ballot was held after Jordan lost three consecutive votes to become speaker, garnering fewer "yes" votes from Republicans each time. The controversial Ohio congressman is known for his far-right views and staunch support of former President Donald Trump . House Republicans are expected to hold a forum Monday to search for a new speaker candidate, and Jordan told reporters the GOP should unite around someone. NPR, Politico 2. Hamas frees 2 American hostages Two American hostages kidnapped by Hamas were released Friday, Israeli officials said. Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, were taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group in their attack on Israel on Oct. 7, along with a number of other Americans. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said the pair had been released by Hamas into the care of the Red Cross and are currently on track to return to the United States. The duo lives in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, and Hamas said in a statement that they released the Raanans "for humanitarian reasons" while chastising the Biden administration. President Biden spoke with the pair following their release. NBC News, ABC News 3. First humanitarian aid trucks enter Gaza The first convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid arrived in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. The vehicles made their way into the war-torn region from Egypt, with the 20 trucks carrying food, water, medicine and other necessities for Palestinian civilians remaining in Gaza. The United Nations welcomed the aid but said that more would be required in the coming days, and that closer to 100 trucks of aid per day are needed to contain the crisis. Israel had previously blocked aid from reaching Gaza, but allowed assistance to be given following pressure from the United States. However, Israel noted that the aid would be halted if any of the supplies made their way into the hands of Hamas. Reuters, The Wall Street Journal 4. Ex-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleads guilty in Georgia Kenneth Chesebro, a one-time attorney for former President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday as part of an alleged racketeering conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Chesebro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to file false documents in a deal that spared him jail time. He will instead serve three to five years of probation and was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution while agreeing to testify against his indicted co-conspirators in future cases. Chesebro was initially charged with conspiracy to interfere with the election and install false Trump electors in Georgia. Chesebro's guilty plea comes one day after another former lawyer for Trump, Sidney Powell, pleaded guilty in the same case. The Washington Post, USA Today 5. Alex Jones cant use bankruptcy to avoid Sandy Hook payouts, judge rules Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones can't use his pending bankruptcy to get out of paying the families of the Sandy Hook massacre victims, a Texas judge ruled Friday. Jones, known for his inflammatory broadcasts as the host of the far-right radio show Infowars, can't use bankruptcy court to discharge the money he was ordered to pay the families because the payment is a result of "willful and malicious injury by the debtor," the judge wrote. Jones was previously ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook victims after he spread the baseless conspiracy theory that the 2012 mass shooting was a false-flag operation. Jones has yet to pay any of this money out. Forbes, CNN 6. India conducts spaceflight test ahead of planned astronaut missions India's space agency on Saturday conducted the first of a series of spaceflight tests ahead of its plan to launch astronauts into space in 2025. The Gaganyaan spacecraft was launched and then brought back to Earth in order to test the vessel's crew escape system, the Indian Space Research Organization said. Though the test was delayed by inclement weather and engine issues, the Gaganyaan eventually launched successfully and touched down in the Bay of Bengal. The test flight was the first leg of India's expansion into space, including the planned Indian-led manned mission and the creation of an Indian space station in the 2030s. The Associated Press, BBC 7. Baltimore to pay $48 million to trio of wrongfully convicted men The city of Baltimore agreed this past week to pay $48 million to three men who were wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 36 years in prison as a result. The Baltimore Board of Estimates approved the payout to settle a lawsuit from Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart, who were arrested in 1983 and charged with fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy. The trio was convicted and sentenced to life in prison based on eyewitness testimony, and were behind bars until the discovery of new evidence led to their exoneration and release in 2019. The three men had previously received $2.9 each from the state of Maryland before filing a federal lawsuit. The Baltimore Sun, The New York Times 8. Ex-Florida lawmaker who sponsored Dont Say Gay bill sentenced to prison A federal judge on Thursday handed down four months in prison for the former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill that generated nationwide controversy. Former State Rep. Joe Harding (R) was sentenced after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in relation to a Covid-19 fraud scheme. Harding was also sentenced to two years of supervision following his release. The former lawmaker is known for sponsoring the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, that highlighted the ongoing culture wars between Florida corporations and the state's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. Politico 9. Spirit Airlines cancels dozens of flights for plane inspections Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines canceled about 100 flights on Friday after removing some of its planes from service for inspection. Spirit did not specify why the planes were being inspected, but the Federal Aviation Administration said it was related to their airframes, calling it a "mandatory maintenance inspection." At least 11% of the carrier's nationwide itinerary was canceled on Friday as 25 of Spirit's 198 planes were removed from service, the company said in a statement. Spirit added that the delays to their schedule were "expected to last several days as we complete the inspections and work to return to normal operations." The Associated Press 10. Italian prime minister splits from partner following sexist comments Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Friday that she was splitting from her TV journalist partner after he made a number of sexually charged comments on television. "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here," Meloni wrote on social media. "I thank him for the splendid years we spent together." Meloni's announcement came after Giambruno, who shares a 7-year-old daughter with Meloni, was seen on video during a television commercial break making a number of lewd comments. This included asking his co-hosts if they were interested in having sex, and he was also seen grabbing his genitals. CNN LONDON (Reuters) -About 100,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London on Saturday, marching through the British capital to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago. Chanting "Free Palestine", holding banners and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters moved through London before massing at Downing Street, the official residence and office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak . Police estimated 100,000 people had taken part in the "National March for Palestine" demonstration, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. "As a Palestinian who'd like to return home one day, as a Palestinian who has brothers and sisters in Gaza, and family, I wish we can do more but protest is what we can do at the minute," one woman, who declined to give her name, told Reuters. Many of the chants and banners contained strong anti-Israeli slogans, and one protester held a banner with pictures of Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the message "Wanted For War crimes". Police had cautioned before the march that anyone showing support for Hamas, banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain, would face arrest, and any incident of hate crime would not be tolerated. The protest was mostly peaceful, and police said they had made 10 arrests. Figures on Friday showed there had been a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140%. "This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities, how divisive and polarising the current situation has become," British foreign minister James Cleverly said at a peace summit in Cairo. (Reporting by Michael Holden and Yann Tessier; Editing by Ros Russell and Daniel Wallis) MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) Police are looking for two men who broke into a South Memphis hair store and stole $13,000 worth of merchandise. Memphis Police Department says officers responded to a burglary at Angel Beauty Supply on East E.H. Crump Boulevard a little after 2 a.m. 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. Leavenworth police investigate suspicious death of 1-year-old 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. CHICAGO - A teen boy was shot in Englewood Friday afternoon. At about 4:30 p.m., a 14-year-old boy was in the 5600 block of South Elizabeth when he was struck in the armpit by gunfire, police said. The teen was transported to an area hospital, but his condition is currently unknown. No offenders are in custody. Area detectives are investigating. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Naperville more than $1.1 million to boost the capacity, efficiency and resilience of its energy grid. Over the next few years, Napervilles energy grid will see strides in efficiency and resiliency thanks to a $1.1 million federal grant announced this week. The funding is expected to boost the capacity of Napervilles power delivery system by more effectively using energy generated and stored within the city. In doing so, Naperville hopes to augment its power supply, facilitate an energy portfolio that makes the best use of clean resources available and respond faster to real-time electricity needs, officials said. Advertisement The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Energys Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program. A $10.5 billion venture, GRIP was established by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allotted $550 billion in federal funding towards roads, bridges, mass transit, broadband and grid resilience. The Department of Energy announced the initial wave of GRIP grants this week. First round funds an investment of up to $3.46 billion will finance 58 projects across 44 states. Of those, two are in Illinois: Naperville and Chicago-based ComEd, which received $50 million in federal funding. Advertisement Napervilles grant is $1,116,174. In a statement Friday, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, hailed Illinois inclusion in the GRIP program. Im proud to see that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to deliver results for Illinois, Foster said in the statement. Napervilles slice of GRIP dollars will go to creating a system that can hone in on small-scale sources of electricity, officials said. These assets fall under an approach to energy supply known as distributed generation. Distributed generation refers to a variety of technologies, often renewable sources like solar panels or batteries in electric vehicles, which generate electricity near the point of use, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This approach differs from the standard, large-scale generation that happens at a power plant, for example, where a centralized energy supply is transported over a distance to consumers. Smaller, distributed energy resources can be managed separately, or they can be pulled together in a microgrid. The latter is what Naperville is looking to do. Through its GRIP grant, the city will implement whats called a distributed energy resource management system. Essentially, its a software program that will help the city manage distributed resources together rather than individually a more efficient process. It allows us to see everything as its happening, instead of taking one system at a time that has data thats an hour old, said Brian Groth, Napervilles electric utility director. It brings all the information to use in one pane of glass. Advertisement Naperville stands to reap several benefits from the technology, Groth says. The first is a diversified energy portfolio. Once manageable as a whole, distributed resources can be folded into a larger electric grid, which, in Napervilles case, is currently reliant on coal. By integrating distribution generation, however, the city would have a larger variety of resources at its disposal. [ Naperville has a coal problem. Local advocates say nows the time to figure it out ] Distributed generation assets are also more resilient to severe weather, experts say. Because they independently supplement the central power grid, these smaller scale resources can serve as a backup during major outages. They likewise come in handy when consumers demand for electricity is particularly steep, by storing energy when renewable sources are generating lots of electricity solar panels on a hot day, for instance and discharging it during peak demand, according to the International Energy Agency. As for consumers, a more efficient grid means lower electricity bills, Groth said. Naperville plans to deploy federal funds awarded this week over the next three to four years. Groth said the city is already working on several upgrades to its electric utility separate from the work made possible by the grant. As soon as those improvements are completed, the city will turn its focus to resource management. Advertisement Though the venture will take some time to see through, Groth said, Its exciting. I would say that this is very cutting edge, he said. This is something thats going to bring together technology and field work that weve been working on for a long time. tkenny@chicagotribune.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man has been charged with attempted murder in a double shooting that caused two teens to crash their car into a wall near Whitehaven High School last month. The driver was also hit in the head by a bullet but was not seriously hurt. Police said Kyler Jones, 21, was driving the two-door green Jeep used in the shooting but have not said he fired any shots. A day after the shooting, a teen was also taken into custody, and police said surveillance video from Whitehaven High School showed one of the victims arguing with a teen inside Joness vehicle right before the shooting. The driver of the white Mercedes Benz that was riddled with bullets on Elvis Presley Boulevard said he had just picked up a friend at Whitehaven High when he saw the green Jeep pass by him, someone in a red jacket reach out of the passenger side window with a rifle and open fire. Investigators said Jones had just picked up a relative from the school and was the only person with the keys and access to the green Jeep at the time of the shooting. Court records show Jones was arrested in March after he allegedly ran from police and crashed a black Infiniti into someones yard off Graceland Drive. Jones was facing a slew of charges, including reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, disregarding a traffic signal, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was released from jail on his own recognizance, and all the charges against him were dropped in June. Jones is now facing two counts of attempted second-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. No word if the teen who was also taken into custody will be charged in the shooting. When he was arrested on September 28 for the shooting, police said the teen also had an active carjacking warrant out of DeSoto County, Mississippi. Jones is being held on a $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Two juveniles are facing felony charges in connection with a June incident at Bliss Park in Longmeadow, Mass., where police were called about acid being poured onto slides and causing "burn-like injuries" to some children. Photo courtesy City of Longmeadow Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Two children are facing multiple felony charges in connection with a June incident at a Massachusetts playground in which four youths were burned by acid poured onto slides. The suspects face four counts each of assault and battery on a child with injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as vandalism, Hampden County, Mass., District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced Thursday. "Our collective effort to charge those we believe are responsible should make clear that protecting this community's children is among our highest priorities," Gulluni said. "Whether the threat and harm caused were intended as pranks or malicious acts, it will not be tolerated." The incident occurred June 11 at Bliss Park in Longmeadow, Mass., a suburb of Springfield, Mass., located about 95 miles west of Boston. Police were called to the scene after call about a caustic substance found on the recreational equipment that caused "burn-like injuries" to some children. The youngest victim was a 1-year-old boy, whose skin was burned while coming down the slide, according to his mother, Ashley Thielen, who told MassLive that her daughter was also injured after the substance burned through her clothing. Emergency crews who arrived on the scene tested the exposed children with electrocardiograms, while pH tests showed high levels of acidity in their bodies. Firefighters soon determined that three slides had been poured down with muriatic acid, which was later discovered missing from a nearby pool supply storage that was burglarized. The Massachusetts State Police assisted local authorities in tracking down the juvenile suspects. The switch to electric vehicles is still hampered by the high cost compared to gas cars. The higher upfront costs don't consider several less obvious costs that can hit after buying an EV. Things like repairs and insurance are also more expensive for EVs. The price of electric vehicles is still the biggest hurdle to most consumers considering a switch from gas-powered cars, and they might not even be factoring in some of the hidden costs associated with them. A man in Scotland was recently shocked by a 17,374 ($21,000) bill to fix his Tesla after rain damaged the battery. "I thought we would get a bill for 500 or 1,000," Johnny Bacigalupo told Edinburgh Live. "When they said over 17 grand it's absolutely obscene. My heart missed a beat, honestly." While government tax credits can help with the initial vehicle purchase, EVs are still more expensive than gas cars, mainly because it costs a lot to make them. While there have been price cuts, automakers ramped up production, causing the demand and prices for parts to skyrocket, especially batteries. The cost of the parts leads to issues that could make the cars much more expensive than the sales tag in the long run. EV batteries are costly to repair and replace Recurrent, a firm that studies battery health, surveyed 15,000 EV drivers in March and found that 1.5% needed battery replacements, which range between $5,000 and $20,000. The cars surveyed go back to 2011, but a vast majority were six years old or younger. However, in some cases, it can cost even more. Last year, a Tesla owner in Canada shared on TikTok that the company told him that a replacement battery would cost $26,000 when it died. Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Washington Post/Getty Images The batteries are easy to damage, difficult to repair, or even assess. Tesla's Model Y battery has "zero repairability" after a collision, according to auto expert Sandy Munro. Replacing a battery is so costly, that it can often be more than the car is worth, forcing insurance companies to write them off. Insurance is more expensive for EVs Easy write-offs from insurance companies lead to higher premiums. According to Bankrate, the average cost to insure a Tesla ranges from $2,503 annually to $4,066, depending on the model. Meanwhile, the US average for all cars is about $2,148. Those premiums are driven by higher repair costs. While EVs need to be fixed less often than gas cars, those repairs are more expensive. According to Mitchell, a collision repair software company, the average repair cost for a non-Tesla EV is $269 higher than the average for all vehicles. For Teslas, each repair is $1,347 more than average. A Chevy Bolt. Mark Matousek / Business Insider There is also specialized labor required. "Those parts can be pricey," according to insurance provider Progressive. "If the battery pack is damaged, certain safety protocols are often necessary, adding more to the repair bill. Plus, there aren't as many shops with technicians trained to fix electric vehicles versus traditional vehicles." Charging may require more than just a plug Electricity prices can fluctuate greatly by state and time of year, but there are other less obvious costs associated with charging EVs. According to a study from Anderson Economic Group, if other factors are considered, such as installing a charger and EV registration fees, most cars cost more to charge than to fuel with gas. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Most EV owners charge their cars at home and most vehicles come with a charger that can plug into a standard 110-volt home outlet. However, a long charge with this type of outlet may not be enough for some journeys: One driver of a Ford Mustang Mach-E told Insider they only got about 36 miles of range from an overnight charge. To up the charging capacity, an owner needs access to a 240-volt outlet for a Level 2 charger, or can install one at home. They can purchase a Level 2 charger for between $200 to $1,000, depending on the features included. The installation adds about $1,000 to the total, according to Edmunds. "If you don't have a Level 2, it's almost impossible," Bloomberg automotive analyst Kevin Tynan, who researches EVs, told Insider when asked about getting sufficient charge into an EV. And if you do have a Level 2 charger at home, you might have to declare it on your home insurance policy, which could increase that premium. Other factors to consider Another issue with EV batteries is that nobody knows their lifespan. If people interested in used EVs are worried about replacing an expensive battery, the resale value will take a big hit. Lifespan is also a factor with tires. Because the batteries on EVs are so heavy, the cars are heavier than comparable gas vehicles. As a result, the cars require more expensive tires and those tires have to be replaced sooner than traditional car tires. There are also indirect costs, such as time. There is a good chance an owner will be forced to go to a dealer for repairs due to the complexity. This has led to long wait times, a lack of competitive pricing, and poor replacement parts inventory. The cost differences between EVs and other cars will improve. The sticker prices will continue to come down, and smaller EVs are expected to have the same initial cost as their gas equivalents by 2025. Toyota dealership Toyota In the meantime, many EV owners are switching back to gas-powered cars. According to a University of California-Davis study of 4,167 people, about 20% of EV owners purchased a gas car the next time, with most citing charging headaches. Of those who switched, 70% did not have a Level 2 charger at home. As of February, the EV market share has risen to 8.5%, up from 2.6% in 2020. However, according to JD Power, the number of people they surveyed earlier this year who are "very likely" to buy an EV has remained steady since 2022, while the percentage of those who say they won't switch to electric cars has grown. Read the original article on Business Insider Some 20.3 million people watched US President Joe Biden 's prime-time speech on Thursday night, in which he spoke about aid for Israel and Ukraine during the war. Source: Reuters with reference to data from Nielsen Details: This is a larger audience than Biden was able to attract in June 2023 when he gave a prime-time speech in the Oval Office announcing a bipartisan deal to end the debt ceiling crisis. Nielsen stated that the speech attracted only 6.2 million viewers and was picked up by only the two largest US TV broadcasters. Thursday's audience figures were calculated for 10 US television and cable networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC. Two-thirds of viewers watched Biden's 15-minute speech on TV networks, while 35% were tuned in on cable. Nielsen stated that more than three-quarters of the TV audience was over 55 years old. Background: In his address on Thursday, US President Joe Biden called this moment in history an "inflection point", a battle between the world's democracies and autocracies. Biden also condemned the actions of Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that the attacks on Israel and the invasion of Ukraine have common motives. On Friday, 20 October, US President Joe Biden sent an "urgent budget request" to Congress to support Israel and Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Three suspects were arrested following an investigation into the theft of farm equipment, valued at over $100,000, the Tulare County Sheriffs Office said on Friday. Deputies say they were called to Bee Sweet Citrus in Seville for a burglary on Wednesday. Upon arrival, deputies say they learned the suspects stole a forklift, trailer and several hand tools. At the same time, deputies took a report of an attempted theft of another forklift at Sun Valley Packing near Kingsburg, where the trailer from Bee Sweet Citrus was found. A short time later, detectives say they found the forklift at a home in Reedley. Fresno County deputies and their H.E.A.T team helped Tulare County deputies in a search warrant at the property, where the forklift was recovered, along with numerous other stolen vehicles. During a traffic stop, detectives say they tracked down the suspects: 38-year-old Pedro Berumen Coronado, 35-year-old Pedro Milan Chavez and 29-year-old Carlos Pena Diaz. All were arrested. According to detectives, evidence inside the stolen truck they were in linked all suspects to the burglaries and tied them to both cases as well as the theft of a dump truck and backhoe from Alta Irrigation in Dinuba the previous day. Sheriffs Office officials say more than $100,000 worth of farm equipment was recovered from the two-day crime spree. Courtesy: The Tulare County Sheriffs Office. Courtesy: The Tulare County Sheriffs Office. Courtesy: The Tulare County Sheriffs Office. The Tulare County Sheriffs Office says Coronado, Chavez, and Diaz were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, burglary, vandalism, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Detectives say Coronado was previously arrested by the Tulare County Sheriffs Office Ag Crimes Detectives for similar crimes in June 2022. He was released after serving about eight months in Tulare County. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Ag Detective Steve Boertje, Detective Corey Sailer, or Sgt. Gunderman with the Tulare County Sheriffs Office at (559) 733-6218. Or, they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559) 725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Three children have been rescued from Russian captivity as part of the Bring Kids Back UA action plan initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Oct. 21. The mission was carried out in cooperation with the Orphans Feeding Foundation and with the support of the NGO Heroiam Slava and the Charitable Foundation Smile USA, Lubinets added. "The work on returning children to their homeland will continue, so once again, I sincerely thank everyone who helps to do this. It is necessary for the state, it is necessary for our future," the official wrote on his Telegram channel. More than 19,500 children have been identified by the Ukrainian government as having been deported. Almost 400 of them have been brought back to Ukraine. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A prisoner in the Leavenworth United States Penitentiary was found dead Thursday evening. According to U.S. Department of Justice, inmate Juan Pablo Perez-Gomez was found lifeless just after 7 p.m. Thursday. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Responders attempted saving his life before EMS arrived. The 31-year-old was pronounced dead after EMS made it. Perez-Gomez was serving a three year and five month sentence for assaulting a federal officer, according to the report. He had been in custody at the Leavenworth prison snice Nov. 2022. No employees or other inmates were injured and there was never any danger to the public regarding this incident. The FBI is aware and the official cause of death will be decided by the medical examiner on the case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Lexington Police have charged four students with felonies in connection with six threats of mass violence made over social media this month against schools and school staff members. Police on Friday announced the latest arrest, of a 15-year-old Lexington High student, and urged parents to monitor their teens social media use and report concerns to school administrators and school resource officers. We take all circumstances of threats on our educational campuses very seriously, Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage said in a statement on Facebook. Our students dont deserve to live in fear or continue to have their school days disrupted. In early October, separate threats of violence were posted on various social media platforms, according to a Lexington Police Department news release. Police havent disclosed what the threats involved but said they were made against Lexington High School, Lexington Middle School and two middle school staff members. Police previously announced charges against two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old. All four attend Lexington High and were charged with felony communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, police said. One of the 14-year-olds also was charged with two counts of misdemeanor communicating threats against middle school staff members. Rummage also said anyone with information about the threats can call 911 or the Lexington Area Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 336-243-2400. Jehad Adwan holds a hand-written list of the names and ages of his wife's relatives with the word "killed" or "K" next to five of the names, and the word "injured" or "I" beside another five inside his home in Blaine, Minn., on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. With every news report, social media post and conversation with a relative, he's keeping track of the toll the Israel-Hamas war is taking on his family, and his wife's family, in Gaza. (AP Photo/Trisha Ahmed) BLAINE, Minn. (AP) In blue ink on a scrap of white paper that sits on his desk, Jehad Adwan scribbles the names and ages of his wife's relatives. Next to five names, he writes killed or simply, K." Beside another five, he marks injured or I." With every news report, social media post and conversation with a relative, he's keeping track from his suburban Minneapolis home of the toll the Israel-Hamas war is taking on his family, and his wife's family, in Gaza. What is preoccupying my brain, my everything, is just the fear of whats going to happen next, he said in an interview. The familys plight reflects the far reach of the war for Palestinian and Israeli families around the world. For Adwan, even the blast at a hospital in Gaza had a personal connection. It was the place where he trained to become a nurse before moving to the U.S. and becoming a nursing professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Adwan and his wife, Fatma Abumousa, found out Sunday that five of her relatives were killed, and another five were injured, after a bomb hit her family's multigenerational home in Khan Younis, a southern city and decades-old refugee camp in Gaza. Abumousa said she first saw on the instant messaging app Telegram in channels that Gaza journalists have been posting to that her hometown was hit, then that it was her neighborhood. Finally, she saw her familys address. She woke me up. She was very upset and distraught. Very scared and crying, said Adwan, 54, while helping Abumousa, 41, translate from Arabic to English. Abumousa confirmed with surviving family in Gaza that three of her nephews ages 6, 7 and 18 were killed and have been buried, along with her sister-in-law, 42, and cousin, 40. Little by little, through the morning, we learned all the details," Adwan said. Hmaid, the 18-year-old nephew, was a brilliant student who loved calligraphy and building computers, Adwan said. The family had hoped he could study engineering in Germany. Yusuf and Abdelrahman, the 6- and 7-year-olds, loved going to school and spending time with family. Hiba, their mother and Abumousa's sister-in-law, was an architect and novelist. And Hani, Abumousas cousin, had just moved from northern Gaza to the southern city to avoid danger after Israel ordered about 1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate. Unfortunately, that didn't help him, Adwan said. Among the five injured were Abumousa's other nieces and nephews, and the sister of her sister-in-law. Some have injuries to their backs, legs and shoulders from shrapnel, Adwan said. Another is in a coma. Abumousa said through tears that she wants to stop losing people. She had planned to visit her parents in Gaza this month so they could meet her nearly 2-year-old son, Yaman. But now, she said, everything has changed. Adwan said he wishes media reports would humanize Palestinians as much as they humanize Israelis. The Israeli side is being covered excessively. Their stories are told, their names are mentioned, their hobbies are listed, Adwan said. We are not just numbers," he said of Palestinians. Above all else, Adwan said he wants others to know this: The Palestinian people want, demand and deserve freedom and equal human rights, like everyone in the world. Period." Praying for the best and preparing for the worst, he tucks away the family's list. On Friday afternoon, five days after learning of the bombing that killed Abumousa's relatives, Adwan said in a message to The Associated Press that 18 people including nephews, nieces and neighbors are thought to have been injured from the same bombing. We learn more every day, he said. He hasn't added their names to the list yet. ___ Trisha Ahmed 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 under-covered issues. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15 Israel faces immense risks as it prepares for a massive ground invasion of Gaza. A sweeping operation from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into the coastal enclave will almost certainly intensify the humanitarian crisis there, along with civilian casualties. It also risks costing the lives of Israels soldiers, turning global and domestic sentiment against Israel as well as opening a second front in the war. But Israeli leaders have pledged to conduct the operation, known as Operation Swords of Iron, to destroy the Palestinian militant group Hamas for a deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that claimed the lives of 1,400 people. Our maneuvers are going to take the war into their territory, Israels Southern Command officer, Yaron Finkelman, told soldiers this week. Were going to defeat them in their own territory. Increasing civilian deaths Any ground operation could be long, bloody and involve house-to-house urban fighting, posing an immense risk to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Air strikes alone have already killed more than 3,000 Palestinian civilians more than 1,500 of whom were children, according to Hamas officials. And more than one million people who have been forced to flee their homes have nowhere to go, trapped in southern Gaza without a corridor out. David Cortright, professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dames global affairs school, said fighting in Gaza carries an immense risk for Israels standing, suggesting they should instead convene an international tribunal to bring to justice those responsible in Hamas for attacking Israel, while seeking a political solution with the Palestinian people. It is understandable that Israelis are outraged and vengeful after the heinous terrorist attacks of Hamas, but the continued siege of Gaza will only cause more death and destruction and will widen the war, and could end up benefiting Hamas, Cortright said in an emailed statement. Already, public sympathy and attention around the world are shifting from the innocent Israelis who were butchered by Hamas gunmen to the children of Gaza who are dying under Israeli bombs, he added. It is a trap that Israel must avoid. Top Stories from The Hill In the 2014 Gaza War, Israeli infantry battalions fought in a northern neighborhood of Gaza City, a battle that killed more than 1,600 innocent bystanders and wounded more than 10,000 in a little more than a month with Israel eventually retreating with no significant strategic victories. The upcoming military operation is threatening to be even more deadly, with Israels leaders vowing to eliminate Hamas outright. Every Hamas member is a dead man, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the attack in Israel. Netanyahu, however, said in a meeting with President Biden this week that Israel seeks to minimize civilian casualties. Israel will do everything it can to keep civilians out of harms way, he pledged. Cost to the Israeli military In 2014, Israel lost 66 soldiers in the fighting with Hamas. Troops struggled at the time to battle in urban jungles, tunnels and booby traps across Gaza, getting picked off by mines, ambushes and snipers. That was a conflict of just a few weeks, and Israeli forces only entered parts of the territory held by Hamas. This time, Israel is promising a full-fledged operation to destroy Hamas, calling up a record 360,000 reservists to report for duty. The larger operation will likely require significantly more time and resources, risking more lives. Hamas also has an extensive underground tunnel network, an advantage that can be used to attack Israeli troops. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Alp Sevimlisoy, a millennium fellow at the Atlantic Council, said Israeli forces must designate small success parameters district-by-district if they want to overcome the many traps and obstacles within Gaza. Stage one has to be gaining district by district control until they at least attain 75 to 80 percent of geographical control, he said, predicting that could take a few months. In terms of stage two administering they need to make sure that theyve eliminated the entire top brass of Hamas, Sevimlisoy added. Waning public support The Israeli public is enraged over the deaths of nearly 1,400 people at the hands of Hamas, and the roughly 200 hostages taken by the group, driving widespread support for efforts to defeat the militants in Gaza. But if the Israeli military suffers severe losses in a prolonged conflict with no end in sight, that could change. A poll by Israeli daily newspaper Maariv published Friday found 65 percent of citizens support a ground invasion, while 21 percent are opposed. Bilal Saab, an associate fellow for the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, also cautioned that U.S. support could change over time. 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 Saab said Israel is more than capable of destroying Hamas. But an offensive will not take place in isolation: the military must account for the opinion of its allies, the threats of its enemies and wavering public opinion at home, he wrote in an analysis. All are significant, and highly unpredictable. Israel has also already fought four wars with Hamas, with every attempt to wipe out the group failing. But Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a video message that by the end of this conflict, Hamas will not hold the ability to threaten or kill Israeli civilians anymore. Opening a second front Since the deadly Hamas attacks, Israel has been trading daily fire with Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon on the northern border. The exchange of attacks on the Lebanon-Israel border has been the deadliest in years and likely would have sparked an all-out war already if Israeli forces were not focused on Hamas. Hezbollah leaders have recently met with Iran, which backs their military as well as Hamas, as the fighting takes place. And Iranian officials have repeatedly warned they may have to take action if the attacks on Gaza continue. Tehran considers Israels attacks on the Palestinian people an act of genocide. Time is running out and if the warmongers think that they can remove the resistance and Hamas from Gaza, they are mistaken, said Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to state-run media. Imad Harb, director of research and analysis at the Arab Center in Washington, D.C., told the Hill he was skeptical of Hezbollah invading Israel during a period of economic unrest in Lebanon, but it also depended on Irans wishes and how the operation in Gaza unfolds. If Hamas is defeated, he said, its a threat against [Hezbollah] because Hamas is no longer there. Weaker relations with the Arab world The Arab world has already erupted in anger over the crisis in Gaza and has stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid an intense Israeli bombing campaign on the coastal strip. Arab anger was only amplified after a deadly explosion near a hospital in Gaza City this week killed hundreds of people, though U.S. officials say the evidence points to a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. But a prolonged campaign in Gaza presents a major risk of sparking more anger in the Middle East and North Africa, which has long sympathized with the Palestinian cause. And that could set back diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as further isolating Israel in the region. Harb, of the Arab Center, said Israel has already lost political support among the Arab population and was risking a groundswell of anger by invading Gaza. Its definitely going to be very bloody for Hamas and for the population, he said. The people around the Arab world are going to be pressuring their governments. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After a surprise attack this month, Israel declared war on Hamas and began strikes in the Gaza Strip. This comes 50 years after another surprise attack on Israel by Egypt, Syria, and other Arab forces. Against Hamas today, Israel faces a different kind of opponent on a different kind of battlefield. It was a Saturday in October 1973 when Arab armies launched a massive surprise attack that came perilously close to defeating Israel. And it was Saturday in October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise assault across the Gaza border that killed more than 1,300 Israelis. The wars of 1973 and 2023 have more in common than timing. Both are textbook examples of strategic surprise and the devastating cost of overconfidence, complacency, and wishful thinking. In both cases, Israel appeared convinced that it could easily defeat any enemy invasion and that its enemies knew this and therefore wouldn't attack. In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the price of that miscalculation was almost 3,000 soldiers killed from an Israeli force of about 400,000. The toll of Hamas' attack on Israel this month was about 1,300, most of whom were civilians, and casualties combatants and civilians will only increase once Israel launches an invasion of Gaza. An Israeli tank in the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. Henri Bureau/Sygma/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images The Yom Kippur War ended after nearly three weeks of fighting. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, satisfied that Egypt's humiliation in the 1967 Six-Day War had been redeemed, eventually signed the Camp David Accords with Israel in 1978. Egypt got back the Sinai, and Israel made peace with its most powerful enemy. Even if the peace is frigid, it's been a half-century since Israelis and Egyptians met in battle. With the specter of another regional war now hovering over the Middle East, that outcome may be comforting to those struggling with the horrors of the Gaza war. If Israel and Egypt could make peace, why not Israel and Hamas? Unfortunately, that hope is largely misplaced. The Yom Kippur War was a war between nations employing regular armies that fought intense mechanized battles like those of World War II. The goals of the combatants were limited: Egypt wanted Sinai, Syria wanted the Golan, and Israel wanted to restore its military reputation and establish deterrence with its enemies. Israeli troops and artillery in the Golan Heights on October 17, 1973. Fred Ihrt/LightRocket via Getty Images Israelis in 1973 did believe they were fighting for their survival. In the early days of the war, it seemed as if Syrian tanks would break out of the Golan and advance on Haifa. In a panic over heavy Israeli losses, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan urged Prime Minister Golda Meir to consider using nuclear weapons. Even after the war ended, some Israelis were convinced the Arabs would rearm with Soviet weapons and attack again. So why did the Yom Kippur War ultimately result in Israel signing a peace treaty which included returning the Sinai buffer zone and achieving a mostly stable ceasefire with Syria? Because the stakes were not so high that there wasn't room for negotiation and compromise. This is not the case with Hamas and Israel. Hamas has refused to recognize the state of Israel, which it says occupies what it deems Islamic lands. At most, it seems willing to offer a "hudna," a truce with the implication that violence could resume at any moment. With such maximalist goals, there seems little room for compromise. The irony is that Israel is safer than it was in 1973. Hamas or Hezbollah might briefly seize some border territory and take hostages, but there is little chance of Arab armies conquering Israel. However, Hamas does have the capability to use rockets and terror attacks to wage a low-level war and disrupt everyday life in Israel, a Western-style nation with an advanced economy. Israeli troops with artillery shells labeled D528, the US military code for "white phosphorus-based munitions," in Sderot on October 9. Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images In 1973, Israel could use its military to achieve tangible goals. After a grueling 19-day war, the IDF advanced to within striking range of Cairo and Damascus, inducing their enemies to accept a ceasefire. That's not an option in Gaza. Israel can't force Hamas militants to engage in open battle nor can it send in its police to arrest them. Like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas is threaded through political and social life in Gaza, functioning as a government, an army, and a terror group. This leaves no good long-term options. Israel can't use aerial bombardment to destroy Hamas' military capabilities without also inflicting civilian casualties that would inflame world opinion. Reoccupying Gaza would require a counterinsurgency that would be a nightmare for Israeli forces. Establishing a buffer zone inside Gaza is an option to preclude another Hamas ground invasion, but it would require a considerable troop presence and is unlikely to stop Hamas from launching rockets that have hit as far away as northern Israel. Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, left, and Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat in Jerusalem in November 1977. AFP via Getty Images Though Israeli leaders vow there will no return to the status quo prior to the Hamas invasion, the status quo ante seems the most likely outcome. Israel will tighten its blockade and perhaps establish a Korean-style DMZ, studded with thick minefields and guard posts. Hamas will continue to fire whatever rockets it can build or can smuggle in from Iran. Netanyahu will almost certainly go, just as Golda Meir resigned in 1974. Voters do not forgive leaders for failing the most basic duty of a government to defend its citizens and many Israelis have already turned on Netanyahu. But a new Israeli prime minister will inherit the same old mess. On the other hand, who in 1973 could have imagined Golda Meir sharing a laugh with Anwar Sadat in 1977 or Israeli tourists visiting the Pyramids in the decades that followed? The Middle East may yet surprise us again. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities urged residents in a certain part of La Vergne to shelter in place for hours while they searched for an armed and extremely dangerous suspect following a shooting that sent two officers to the hospital Saturday afternoon. The La Vergne Police Department (LVPD) said the two officers were called to the Dollar General in the 600 block of Stones River Road shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 to investigate a stolen vehicle picked up by the citys license plate reader software. According to authorities, the officers ended up in a struggle with an individual, who pulled out a handgun and fired at the officers. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) Officials said one of the officers, who has been with the LVPD for nearly three years, suffered a gunshot wound to the rear left shoulder while the other, who has been with the LVPD for about 18 months, was shot in the right groin and right forearm. Both officers were reportedly transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As of 7:50 p.m., one officer has been released while the other, who is in stable condition, is still being evaluated by hospital staff, according to the City of La Vergne. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The department posted about an active police incident shortly after 3 p.m. at Stones River Road and Lake Forest Drive. Community members were advised to stay away from that area and seek alternate routes. Then, at 3:38 p.m., police instructed residents in the Stones River Road area near Lake Forest Drive to shelter in place and lock their doors due to an active threat. According to authorities, the suspect in the shooting who is still at large was described as a man between 35 and 40 years old who is 5-feet 11-inches tall with a muscular build, dreadlocks, and facial hair. He was reportedly last seen heading north on Stones River Road from the Dollar General, wearing a hat, a black t-shirt with a white hockey mask emblem on the front and red lettering, and gray pants. WATCH: Officials hold briefing after active threat reported in La Vergne, 2 officers brought to hospital Shortly after Saturday afternoons news conference, the LVPD posted a photo of the suspect identified as 38-year-old John C. Drake Jr. at the scene, as well as a mugshot: John C. Drake Jr. (Source: La Vergne Police Department) John C. Drake Jr. (Source: La Vergne Police Department) Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake released the following statement about the suspect, who he identified as his son: I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn that my estranged son, with whom I have had very minimal contact over many years, is the suspect in this afternoons shooting of the two La Vergne police officers. My thoughts and prayers are with the two officers, who I understand are now in stable condition at Vanderbilt. Despite my efforts and guidance in the early and teenage years, my son, John Drake Jr., now 38-years-old, resorted to years of criminal activity and is a convicted felon. He has not been a part of my life for quite some time. He now needs to be found and held accountable for his actions today. I hope that anyone who sees him or has information about him will contact law enforcement immediately. Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell also shared a statement in the aftermath of the shooting, saying, My heart goes out to Chief Drake, his family, and the two wounded LaVergne police officers. I know that despite our best efforts including in their early years we cant be responsible for the choices of family members. I support Chief Drake and stand by him at this difficult time. He is the right Chief of Police for Nashville. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee Residents in the Lake Forest area responded to the Nashville police chiefs announcement with sympathy. He is a father, and I know he loves his child, so that just breaks my heart. I cant imagine what hes going through, but also he has brothers and sisters in the force that he needs to take care of and he has done that, one neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous, told News 2. Officials have confirmed multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting with the search effort for this armed and dangerous suspect in La Vergne, including the Nolensville Police Department, the Metro Nashville Police Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. As Saturdays manhunt continued into the night, community members remained behind locked doors, but they said they were comforted based on the response they could see right outside their windows. What was a scary situation and could be, like, seriously frighteningbut instead, we were comforted to know that they were out there and doing their job, doing the very best that they could, and we were able to get that anxiety level down, the neighbor explained. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Meanwhile, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), which is investigating the shooting, issued a Blue Alert late Saturday night for John Drake Jr., who is wanted for two counts of attempted first-degree murder. The agency said he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Just after 11:15 p.m., the LVPD announced the shelter-in-place order has been lifted in the area around Stones River Road and Lake Forest Drive, saying, There is no immediate threat to the public. We are continuing our search efforts but ask everyone to remain vigilant. If you see something, say something. John C. Drake Jr. (Source: TBI) If you see anyone matching the suspects description, you are asked to call 911. If you have any information about Saturdays shooting or John Drake Jr.s whereabouts, you are asked to call the LVPD at 615-793-7744 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Police have not shared any additional details about Saturdays incident. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Andrei Shalayev, the founder of Immortal Barracks, a Russian project to remember victims of political repression, has disappeared after being detained in Tver on 19 October. Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza, citing Immortal Barracks and OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights media project Details: On 19 October, Shalayev told OVD-Info he had been detained at a railway station in Tver while waiting in a cafe for a train. He said a detention report was being drawn up on him for appearing in public in a state of intoxication (Articles 20 and 21 of Russia's Code of Administrative Offences). The last contact anyone had with him was on the evening of that same day. On the afternoon of 19 October, Shalayev had been showing some French journalists around firing ranges in Tver where mass executions took place. Quote from the Immortal Barracks project: "We do not know Andrei's whereabouts at the moment. His phone number is unavailable. All the police departments, temporary detention centres, the special reception centre, the FSB, the Investigative Committee and others have told Andrei's lawyer and father that no such man has been brought there. We have been unable to get through to any medical institutions; no one answers the phone." Update: Novaya Gazeta Europe later reported, citing RusNews and the Sova (Owl) search and rescue unit, that Shalayev has been found. RusNews says that Shalayev was released two days after he was detained and that he is no longer in Tver. No information was given about where Shalayev was and how he was found. Note: Immortal Barracks is a community project, set up in 2015, that collects documents, photographs and memories of victims of political repressions in the USSR. Support UP or become our patron! Panasonic has starting filling in details about hiring plans and how it will use tax incentives to build a $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in De Soto. On Thursday, the De Soto City Council approved a development agreement with Panasonic Energy of North America that outlines tax incentives for the companys EV battery manufacturing plant. Panasonic makes De Soto footprint even bigger The agreement details the scope of the project and the companys commitment to support community infrastructure needs and future employment quotas. This is a hugely complex, impactful and important document for our city. Its had our top priority and attention for the past several months, City Administrator Mike Brungardt told the City Council. Panasonic plans to begin operations at the new EV plant in the first quarter of 2025. See a full break down of the agreement in the Kansas City Business Journal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. (Bloomberg) -- A small amount of vital aid moved into Gaza from Egypt for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago, fulfilling a key demand of US, European and Arab leaders as the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory worsens. Most Read from Bloomberg Around 20 trucks began crossing the Rafah border point on Saturday morning, Egyptian TV channel Extra News reported. Palestinian officials said they carried medicines and limited amounts of food such as canned tuna and pasta. This is an important first step that will alleviate the suffering of innocent people, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. My thanks go to all those involved who made this possible. The World Food Program said the convoy carried 60 tons of food. The United Nations body said it had another 930 metric tons of emergency food items at or near Rafah, ready to be taken into Gaza whenever access is allowed again. The aid came hours before Israel said it will step up aerial strikes over Gaza in preparation for the next stage of its military operation, likely a ground invasion that would complicate the building humanitarian crisis. Some critics said the amount of aid was vastly insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza residents after two weeks of warfare. But Martin Griffiths, the UNs head of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said he was confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies. President Joe Biden said the US remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas. In Cairo, Egypt opened a crisis summit with the leaders of Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and South Africa, as well as senior officials from the European Union, Turkey and China. Many of the Arab officials reiterated calls for de-escalation as Israel continues its airstrikes on Gaza and prepares for a ground offensive. No senior officials from Israel or the US were expected to attend. Neither were any from Hamas, which is backed by Iran and designated a terrorist group by the US and EU. Israel has made clear it wont agree to a cease-fire, a stance backed by major allies such as the US and the UK. Egypt has emerged as a key player as world powers seek to ensure Gaza gets provisions of water, food and power. Israel put the enclave under a total siege after Hamas, which rules Gaza, sent militants rampaging through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,400 people. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has pushed back against the idea of taking in Palestinian refugees on the grounds that doing so might allow Hamas fighters into Egypt. He and other Arab leaders have also said displacing people from Gaza would end hopes for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Egypts Leader Says Israel Should Take In People Fleeing Gaza On Saturday at the summit, he said the warring sides should negotiate and urged Israel to move toward a peace deal with the Palestinians. His comments follow frenetic diplomacy from the US and Europe in the past week. Theyve sent several officials to Arab countries to rally support for Israel and stop the violence from spreading beyond Gaza. The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones, Jordans King Abdullah II said in Cairo. That is a very, very dangerous message. And the consequences of continued international apathy and inaction will be catastrophic on us all. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, which rules Palestinians in the West Bank, made similar comments. Trading Blame The opening of Rafah, Gazas only non-Israeli border crossing, has been complicated by the need for Egypt, Israel and Hamas to all agree for it to happen. Egypt and Israel have blamed each other and Hamas for Rafah staying shut until now. US and Israel Weigh a Future for the Gaza Strip Without Hamas Its unclear how long the crossing will be open and whether foreigners will be allowed out. The US embassy in Israel said American citizens may get a chance to leave on Saturday. Still, it warned the situation was fluid and chaotic. We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza, the embassy said while the Rafah crossing was still shut. We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open, and U.S. citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment. More than 2 million people live in Gaza, which has been suffering shortages of food, electricity and water since Israel implemented its blockade. Hundreds of aid workers and volunteers have been waiting on the Egyptian side of the border in anticipation of being allowed into Gaza. Some, dressed in black t-shirts, have staged sit-ins to mourn the Palestinians who have lost their lives. --With assistance from Jessica Loudis, Adrian Leung, Mirette Magdy, Ben Sills, Agnieszka de Sousa and Fadwa Hodali. (Updates with UN officials comment in sixth paragraph, Bidens in seventh.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Authorities conducted a helicopter search for missing Air France pilot Tom Gerbier along the hiking trail leading to Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 United States. Gerbier's body was found and identified on Friday. Photo courtesy of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The body of an Air France pilot has been found on Mt. Whitney in California after he was apparently involved in a hiking accident, National Park Service officials say. Tom Gerbier was reported missing in Paris when he failed to show up for work following a day-trip to the United States. He vanished on Tuesday during a hike on the trail leading up to the summit of the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Officials with the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks confirmed Friday that the remains of Gerbier, of Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, were discovered near the trail. Shortly after he was reported missing, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office investigated, sending a helicopter to the region around Mt. Whitney, but didn't see any signs of Gerbier from the air. On Thursday, deputies launched a ground search, where they found evidence that someone had fallen off a cliff along the "Mountaineering Route." Later, a helicopter crew circling above spotted the man's motionless body at the bottom of a steep embankment. Gerbier's remains were airlifted from the scene and transported to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, which confirmed his identity. Investigators estimated that Gerbier fell about 1,000 feet to his death in the second such incident at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks this year after another climber fell fatally in June. A staff member for Republican Sen. Katie Britt was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday night, Washington D.C. Police confirmed. According to FOX 5 D.C., Amanda Peper, a scheduler for the senator, was robbed at gunpoint at 8:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of E Street, Northeast on Thursday. Police said that the Peper was walking to her building when she was approached by a man who pointed a gun in her face and said "Give me your purse and keys." Ms. Su doesnt even have adequate support from members of her own party in the Senate to be confirmed as Secretary of Labor," Alabama GOP Sen. Katie Britt told Fox News Digital. Peper complied with the carjacker and gave him her belongings, police said. Alabama Sen. Britt thanked officers who responded to the scene, but said it is "infuriating and completely unacceptable" that her staff member was attacked. The Republican senator blamed "out-of-control" crime in Washington D.C. for the incident. KENTUCKY SEN. RAND PAUL SAYS STAFF MEMBER WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We thank God that she is safe and sound after this terrifying incident, and we're grateful to the Capitol Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and professionally responded to the scene," Sen. Britt's office said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "It is infuriating and completely unacceptable that an American who is on Capitol Hill to serve her country cannot safely walk the streets of Washington, D.C. at 8:30 at night because of the out-of-control crime in this city." "Just look at the police departments own numbers this year, robberies are up 68% and motor vehicle thefts are up 102%. Local elected officials in the District of Columbia have the responsibility not just to their citizens, but to the country, to step up and get a hold of the crime crisis ravaging the streets of our nations capital," Sen. Britt added. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Sen. Britt's staff member joins a growing list of Capitol Hill workers who have been attacked in recent months. Earlier this month, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked at gunpoint by three men. "DCs Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that happened around 9:30 p.m. in DC's Navy Yard neighborhood," Capitol police said. "The victim has been identified as a Member of Congress, so the USCP has investigators working with MPD on this case. Injuries were not reported. Detectives are working to track down the suspect." DC POLICE ARREST MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT REP. ANGIE CRAIG In March, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said that a member of his staff was "brutally attacked." "This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C.," Paul said in a statement. "I ask you to join Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions." "We are relieved to hear the suspect has been arrested. At this time we would ask for privacy, so everyone can focus on healing and recovery," he added. A photo of a law enforcement vehicle for the DC Police Department. In February, Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig was attacked in an elevator at her apartment building before fighting off her attacker. The Democrat senator credited her morning coffee after she was unexpectedly attacked in the elevator of her Washington D.C. apartment. Fox News' Brandon Gillespie, Landon Mion and Tyler Olson contributed to this report. Original article source: Alabama Sen. Katie Britt's staffer robbed at gunpoint in Washington D.C. Alice Marie Johnson was granted clemency from a life in prison sentence in 2018 over a nonviolent drug offense, and has since used her incarceration experience to advocate for criminal justice reforms and be "a light" to those behind bars who want a second chance. "My time in prison was a mission, was purposeful. I know that I spread a lot of light, a lot of hope even as a prisoner when people knew I had a life sentence," Johnson told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. Johnson spent 21 years, seven months and six days behind bars for before she was granted clemency by former President Donald Trump in 2018. Since her release, Johnson has become a well-known criminal justice reform advocate who, for the first time last week, revisited the prison in Alabama where she was held to spread her message of hope and second chances. "My message is never give up hope. Never give up hope," she told Fox News Digital in a message to women across the nation who are incarcerated. "The only one who's responsible for your hope is you." WHO IS ALICE MARIE JOHNSON, THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER TRUMP GRANTED CLEMENCY TO? Johnson walked back through the doors of FCI Aliceville last Tuesday to deliver the keynote speech for the prisons first-ever graduation for its Life Corrections Program, an intensive 18-month, faith-based program that helps prepare prisoners to successfully reenter society. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The great-grandmother, who spent five years of her nearly 22 years in prison at FCI Aliceville, said going back into the prison filled her with a "joy" similar to reconnecting with family. "It was complete joy. I feel exhilarated. My heart was beating so fast as I saw them, not out of fear, but out of excitement. It was like going away to another country almost and coming back home to your family that I hadn't seen for five years," Johnson told Fox News Digital in a Zoom this month. ALICE MARIE JOHNSON CALLS FOR TRUMP TO PARDON NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS, PRAISES 'UNSUNG HERO' IVANKA Johnson said she met some of the inmates when she first started her sentence, and she stressed to everyone at the graduation they must "live life" and embrace the gift of life. "Don't allow yourself to be robbed of the gift of life," she recounted of what she told the women. "I know that you're in prison, but prison don't have to get inside of you. You can still do things, you can still be connected to your family. And no matter what, you're still a mama, you're still a sister, you're still family to someone, youre still a friend. We haven't forgotten about you." The prisons chaplain, Rachel Floyd, said she has known Johnson since 2009, when she was serving time at a federal prison in Texas, and has seen firsthand Johnsons commitment to her faith and others. "Over these 14 years, I have seen a woman that loves the Lord, serves others with passion and committed her life to live every day as if it were her last. She was my first thought for a graduation speaker for my first graduation of the Life Connections Program because she has always exemplified hope. I wanted our graduates to hear and see that hope so that they too can carry it with them in this next season of life," Floyd said. ALICE MARIE JOHNSON SPEAKS OUT AGAINST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' MOVEMENT: 'I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA' She called on everyday Americans to not turn their backs on those who are behind bars and working to embrace life and earn a second chance. "Please don't forget about those who you don't see," Johnson told Fox News Digital of her message to everyday Americans of those behind bars. "They're still there. And as I say, I've become their voice for them. And I would really give a strong message to families: Don't stop fighting for your loved ones. Don't forget about them. And out of sight so often in society is out of mind. They're there. And I'm going to continue to use my voice and my platform to lift up those that they may never see." Johnson was convicted in 1996 of eight criminal counts from a Memphis-based cocaine trafficking operation and was sentenced to mandatory life without parole the following year. She had no previous arrests. Johnson said shes never been one to give up. Even as her cell slammed shut for the first time in 1996, she turned to God and asked for guidance on her lifes purpose. "In 1996 after the trial, when I was taken into custody, I literally fell on my knees in my cell as those iron doors slammed behind me," she said. "And I prayed and asked God to show me my purpose in this. Show me meaning in this, and if you can use me, I'm available. I think becoming a yielded vessel that the Lord can use opens up those opportunities." Johnson said she had a choice of "being very bitter" or to "live life." Alice Marie Johnson, who had her sentence commuted by U.S. President Donald Trump after serving 21 years in prison for cocaine trafficking, thanks the press during a celebration in the East Room of the White House April 1, 2019. She chose to embrace life, grow in her faith and be a light to others, all while studying the criminal justice system. "My faith in God," she said of what got her through those years in prison. "He knew where I was. When I first entered prison, someone said to me, Alice, bloom where you're planted. God knows where you are. And that word became life to me, knowing that God is with me that he knows where I am." ALICE JOHNSON, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD SENTENCE COMMUTED BY TRUMP, 'KNEW THAT GOD WAS GOING TO GET ME OUT' In 2018, Trump granted her clemency, an effort aided by Kim Kardashians lobbying for her release, and he granted her a full pardon in 2020. Alice Marie Johnson and Kim Kardashian attend an event celebrating Johnson's five years of freedom and honoring Kim Kardashian June 8, 2023, in Los Angeles. Johnson said, after her release, she "had to hit the ground running" on advocating for criminal justice reforms. "I promised the women that I would never forget about them. I'd never stopped fighting for them. There was already fire in my belly literally to fight for them. So, as soon as I hit the ground, I was speaking all over the place about the First Step Act. Trying to get it pushed," she saids She explained how billboards of her story were plastered around Washington, D.C., to advocate for a criminal justice reform bill called the First Step Act. KIM KARDASHIAN WEST ADVOCATES FOR ALICE JOHNSON, OTHERS WHO ARE JAILED The First Step Act received bipartisan support in Congress, and Trump signed the bill into law in December 2018. "This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community," Trump explained in 2018. "The First Step Act gives nonviolent offenders the chance to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now, states across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption." Johnson has since launched Taking Action For Good, which has advocated for clemency and pardons for over 100 people, published a book, partnered with philanthropic organization Stand Together to help tackle criminal justice reforms and other issues and is resolute in her mission to help others. "One thing that I told the women, that the only way someone can take your life, no matter what your sentence is, is if you surrender it to them. Choose to live life. Choose to be light wherever you are. Because if there is even one pinpoint of light in a dark place, there's no longer darkness. They'll say there's light in that room," she said. Original article source: Woman pardoned by Donald Trump gets second chance as advocate for prisoners The city of Abilene experienced its sixth homicide this year Oct. 14. According to Taylor County court documents, police were dispatched in the early morning hours to Buffalo Gap Road in south Abilene. At the scene, officers found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest. A justice of the peace later pronounced that man dead at the scene. The deceased was identified by police as Mackenzie Chastang, 29, of Abilene. According to allegations in court documents, Matthew Steven Haynes, told officers on the scene that he shot Chastang. Haynes was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. A woman at the scene told officers that she was in on-and-off-again" relationships with each of the men at different times. According to the court documents, earlier that day Haynes arrived at the woman's apartment to pick up his belongings while Chastang was gone. Chastang returned to the apartment and he began kicking the door. The woman told officers she was lying in bed with Haynes when Chastang arrived. As she got out of bed to open the door she heard Haynes say that he was going to shoot Chastang. As the woman opened the door, Chastang asked if Haynes was there. The woman said he was in the bedroom. According to court documents, as Chastang entered the bedroom, he remarked that, it was time for Haynes to leave, at which point the woman heard two gunshots ring out. After the sound of the gunshots, both men exited the bedroom as Haynes told the woman that "Chastang had charged him. Taylor County Assistant District Attorney Dan Joiner said if convicted Haynes could face five to 99 years or life in prison. Haynes remains in the Taylor County Jail on a $500,000 bond, according to jail records. Suspects are presumed innocent unless determined to be guilty in a court of law. This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Alleged love triangle ends in death in Abilene after shots fired By Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -When Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet during his visit to Israel, the U.S. president assured them: "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist." The politicians and generals gathered in the ballroom of the Tel Aviv hotel nodded in approval, according to a U.S. official knowledgeable of the closed-door remarks, even as Israel bombarded Gaza in retaliation for a devastating attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and with a ground invasion looming. Biden, who is of Irish Catholic descent, has used similar words in the past to profess his affinity for Israel. But the moment, which has not been previously reported, illustrates how Biden's decades as one of the leading "Friends of Israel" in American politics seem to be guiding him during a defining crisis of his presidency. It also underscores the challenges he faces balancing unwavering support for Israel with persuading Netanyahu - with whom he has a long history - to avoid worsening the civilian death toll and humanitarian meltdown in Gaza as well as complicating further releases of American hostages. "Biden's connection to Israel is deeply engrained in his political DNA," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator who served six secretaries of state in both Democratic and Republican administrations. "Whether he likes it or not, he's in the midst of a crisis he'll have to manage." Reuters interviewed a dozen current and former aides, lawmakers and analysts, some of whom said Biden's current wartime embrace of Netanyahu could afford the U.S. leverage to try to moderate Israel's response in Gaza. In their private session with aides on Wednesday, the two leaders displayed none of the tensions that have sometimes characterized their meetings, according to a second U.S. official familiar with the talks. But Biden did pose hard questions to Netanyahu about the coming offensive, including "have you thought through what comes the day after and the day after that?" the official said. U.S. and regional sources have expressed doubt that Israel, which vows to destroy Hamas, has yet crafted an endgame. Biden's alignment with the right-wing leader risks alienating some progressives in his Democratic Party as he seeks re-election in 2024, with a growing international outcry against Israel's tactics also casting some blame on the U.S. It also has prompted many Palestinians and others in the Arab world to regard Biden as too biased in favor of Israel to act as an even-handed peace broker. FORGED OVER DECADES Biden has partly credited his pro-Israel world view to his father, who insisted following World War Two and the Nazi Holocaust there was no doubt of the justness of establishing Israel as a Jewish homeland in 1948. Biden's awareness of the persecution of Jews over the centuries and a record high in the number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. last year could also help explain why Hamas atrocities committed in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel were so disturbing for the 80-year-old president, according to a former U.S. official. Entering national politics in 1973, Biden spent the next five decades forging his policy positions - iron-clad support for Israel's security coupled with backing for steps toward Palestinian statehood - as he served as U.S. senator, Barack Obama's vice president and finally president. His career was marked by deep engagement with the Israeli-Arab conflict, including an oft-retold encounter with Prime Minister Golda Meir who told the young lawmaker in 1973 on the cusp of the Yom Kippur War that Israel's secret weapon was "we have no place else to go." During his 36 years in the Senate, Biden was the chamber's biggest recipient in history of donations from pro-Israeli groups, taking in $4.2 million, according to the Open Secrets database. As vice president, Biden often mediated the testy relationship between Obama and Netanyahu. Dennis Ross, a Middle East adviser during Obama's first term, recalled Biden intervening to prevent retribution against Netanyahu for a diplomatic snub during a 2010 visit. Obama, Ross said, had wanted to come down hard over Israel's announcement of a major expansion of housing for Jews in East Jerusalem, the mostly Arab half of the city captured in the 1967 war. "Whenever things were getting out of hand with Israel, Biden was the bridge," said Ross, now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "His commitment to Israel was that strong ... And it's the instinct we're seeing now." While Biden and Netanyahu profess to be longtime friends, their relationship was frayed in recent months with the White House echoing Israeli opponents of Netanyahu's plan to curb the powers of the Supreme Court of Israel. PROGRESSIVE DISSENT The two now find themselves in an uneasy alliance that could be tested by an Israeli ground offensive. Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, in an interview with Reuters, expressed confidence that the "arc of time" in Biden and Netanyahu's relationship would enable them to work together. But in a veiled swipe, Graham, who spent years as Biden's Senate colleague, said it was "imperative" he set "red lines" to keep Iran, Hamas's benefactor, out of the conflict. Biden has warned Iran not to get involved but has not spelled out consequences. Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took around 200 hostages, including Americans, when they rampaged through Israeli towns. Israel has since put Gaza under siege. At least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza officials said. While Republicans have shown near-unanimity in endorsing whatever action Israel takes, Biden faces dissent from a faction of progressives pushing for Israeli restraint and a ceasefire. "President Biden, not all America is with you on this one, and you need to wake up and understand," Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, told supporters. "We are literally watching people commit genocide." But experts say Biden could gain ground among independent voters who share his affinity for Israel. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed stronger U.S. public sympathy for Israel than in the past, with support for Israel highest among Republicans at 54%, compared to 37% of Democrats. Younger Americans showed less support for Israel than older Americans. Biden, facing low approval ratings, and some fellow Democrats are also expected to be wary of running afoul of the main U.S. pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, a powerful force in U.S. elections. But the crisis has also stirred criticism of Biden for not devoting enough attention to the plight of Palestinians, whose hopes for statehood have grown ever dimmer under Israeli occupation. U.S. officials had said the time was not right to resume long-suspended Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, largely because of intransigence on both sides. "The administration's neglect of the issue is a key factor in where we are today," Khaled Elgindy, a former Palestinian negotiations adviser, said. Biden's "blank check" for Israel's assault on Gaza has "shattered, perhaps irreversibly, what little credibility the U.S. had left," said Elgindy, now at the Middle East Institute in Washington. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Suzanne Goldenberg) Foreign visitors view exhibits at the 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo in Jingdezhen City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Ma Ning) 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. FILE - Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, House Judiciary chairman and staunch ally of Donald Trump, meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Republican dysfunction that has ground business in the U.S. House to a halt as two wars rage abroad and a budget crisis looms at home is contributing to a deep loss of faith in American institutions. The pessimism extends beyond Congress, with recent polling showing a widespread mistrust in everything from the courts to organized religion. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) For many Americans, the Republican dysfunction that has ground business in the U.S. House to a halt as two wars rage abroad and a budget crisis looms at home is feeding into a longer-term pessimism about the country's core institutions. The lack of faith extends beyond Congress, with recent polling conducted both before and after the leadership meltdown finding a mistrust in everything from the courts to organized religion. The GOP internal bickering that for nearly three weeks has left open the speaker's position second in line to the presidency is widely seen as the latest indication of deep problems with the nation's bedrock institutions. Theyre holding up the peoples business because theyre so dysfunctional, said Christopher Lauff, 57, of Fargo, North Dakota. Part of that business, he said, is approving money for Ukraine to continue its fight against Russia's invasion, something he says ultimately helps the U.S. a point President Joe Biden stressed Thursday during an Oval Office address. Were usually the knight in shining armor, but we cant be that now, said Lauff, a Democrat. The disdain for Congress is just one area where Americans say they are losing faith. Various polls say the negative feelings include a loss of confidence or interest in institutions such as organized religion, policing, the Supreme Court, even banking. Trust in institutions has deteriorated substantially, said Kay Schlozman, professor of political science at Boston College. Schlozman said she believes in government and the things it provides, such as national defense and access to health care, but "I also can very much understand why the American people can be cynical about government." The turmoil in the House and the federal case against Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who is facing charges for bribery, show that both major parties are contributing to the dour outlook. The House has been without a permanent leader since early October after a small cadre of right-wing Republicans pushed out a member of their own party, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Subsequent attempts to replace him have failed. That is an example of exactly the kind of thing that I would say cant foster trust of government among the American people the multiple votes, the fractiousness within parties, of people being personally ambitious and not being willing to compromise Schlozman said. About half of adults (53%) say they have hardly any confidence at all in the people running Congress, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research that was conducted in October. Thats in line with 49% who said that in March. Just 3% have a great deal of confidence in Congress, virtually unchanged from March. About 4 in 10 adults (39%) have hardly any confidence in the executive branch of the federal government, compared with 44% in March. Most Republicans (56%) have low levels of confidence in the executive branch which is overseen by a member of the opposing party, Democrat Joe Biden compared with just 20% of Democrats. About a third of adults (36%) say they have hardly any confidence in the conservative-majority Supreme Court, a figure that has remained steady in recent months. The polling reinforces that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say their confidence in the Supreme Court is low. Black Americans are more likely than Americans overall, as well as more likely than white or Hispanic adults, to have hardly any confidence in the nation's highest court. One-third of U.S. adults (33%) continue to have low levels of confidence in the Justice Department, with Republicans having less confidence than Democrats. This comes as former President Donald Trump rails against the department after being charged with mishandling classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Rick Cartelli, 63, a health care worker in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, who identifies as an independent, said he is happy with his local and state government but the current environment, especially the chaos on Capitol Hill, has wiped out what little confidence he had in that institution. What is happening now is not good for the country at all, he said. Cartelli also said he has little confidence in the executive branch, citing what he says are mental lapses by Biden that are only probably going to become more and more pronounced. Multiple AP-NORC polls from earlier this year find that the dearth of confidence is pervasive, spreading to organized religion, the governments intelligence gathering and diplomatic agencies, as well as financial institutions. Slightly fewer than half (45%) in a study from AP-NORC and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights said they have little or no confidence that the news media is reporting news fully, accurately and fairly. Views on the military were best, with just 17% saying they have hardly any confidence in it. Kathleen Kersey, a 32-year-old health care worker in Brunswick, Georgia, who is a Republican, said she has little confidence in any of the federal entities, including Congress, but has more for the institutions closer to home. She also is a fan of Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, who she said is a moral man. Theres only so much one person can do, and just with all the evil, its hard to have confidence in anything really, even the churches because everything works together as one," she said. Confidence in the country's foundational institutions has ebbed and flowed historically, though theres been a long-term downward trend since at least the 1970s. Trust in government waned in the era of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers before making a slight recovery during Ronald Reagan's presidency in the 1980s despite Reagans famous declaration that the nine most terrifying words in the English language were: Im from the government, and Im here to help. David Bateman, an associate professor of government at Cornell University, said the tea party movement during former President Barack Obamas term was the beginning of a steadier decline in confidence, as noted in polling from Gallup. But Bateman believes the most acute problem in recent years has been Trumps lies about the 2020 election, despite dozens of courts rejecting his claims and multiple audits and reviews in the swing states where he disputed his loss. The biggest threat to trust in institutions was the Trump campaigns refusal to concede the election and insistence that they had won, along with a large segment of the Republicans in Congress going along with the claim in the certification process, Bateman said. "That validated the idea that the whole institutional system is rigged, which it isnt, he said. He said an example of the fallout is the Republican attack on the Justice Department, including the FBI. The "weaponization of the FBI has been a battle cry for Republicans who maintain it has targeted conservatives and who are incensed at the various investigations of Trump. Candidates vying against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination have said they would fire FBI Director Chris Wray. Distrust of the FBI had long been the purview of Democrats, especially those aware of civil rights-era monitoring. If you told me in 2000 that Republicans are going to be saying you can't trust the FBI, I would have been shocked, Bateman said. "Going after the FBI has been a real ratcheting up of distrust. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. More than 80 percent of Americans are siding with Israel amid an ongoing war against Hamas in a new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll shared with The Hill. The survey found that 84 percent of respondents sided more with Israel in the Israel-Hamas war, compared to 16 percent who sided with Hamas. Broken down by age, 52 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds said they sided more with Israel, while 48 percent said they sided more with Hamas. In contrast, 95 percent of respondents 65 years and older said they sided with Israel while 5 percent sided with Hamas. The survey also found that roughly three-fourths of respondents 76 percent said Hamass killing of 1,200 Israeli civilians could not be justified by the grievances of Palestinians, while 24 percent said it could be justified. (Figures for the number of Israeli civilians killed during the war have risen from 1,200.) The only age demographic to show a majority of its respondents saying that Hamass killings could be justified were respondents aged 18-to-24 years old. Fifty-one percent of that demographic said Hamas killing could be justified by the grievances of Palestinians while 49 percent said they were not justified. Fifty-eight percent of those polled said that college students who blamed Israel for the violence killing 1,200 of their civilians were condoning violence and terrorism while 42 percent said those college students were not condoning violence and terrorism. Just over half of respondents (55 percent), however, said that prospective employers should hire students who supported Hamas and the attacks on Israeli civilians, while 45 percent said those employers should refuse to hire those students. There is strong support for Israel across all parties and against Hamas. They think Israel should not cease hostilities until they have weakened Hamas, said Mark Penn, the co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll. However, those of college age are split on the Israel-Hamas issue [and] many of them do not believe Hamas committed any atrocities and that Israel was responsible for the hospital bombing. Seniors in contrast provide universal support for Israel, he added. The Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll was conducted between Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 with 2,116 registered voters. It is a collaboration of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll. The survey is an online sample drawn from the Harris Poll and weighted to reflect known demographics. As a representative online sample, it does not report a probability confidence interval. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hours after Broward Schools Superintendent Peter Licata praised the contributions of the school districts volunteers, his police department arrested a former Volunteer of the Year in the middle of a raucous meeting and charged her with a felony. The Tuesday arrest of Debbie Espinoza on a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer has stunned many in the district, including some School Board members. They questioned whether the charge was warranted, and why the districts police force, known as the Special Investigative Unit, was unable to de-escalate tensions before a longtime volunteer with no history of issues was handcuffed. Licata has directed Jaime Alberti, chief of safety and security for the district, to review the matter, district spokesman John Sullivan told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The arrest followed a heated exchange Tuesday between Espinoza and conservative activist Deidre Ruth over a new sex education policy the School Board was approving. In addition to the battery charge, a third-degree felony, she was charged with disrupting a School Board meeting, a misdemeanor. Ruth was not charged. Some School Board members say they dont believe any physical contact Espinoza had with Police Detective John Mastrianni was intentional, and they would like to see the charges dropped. But since theres already been an arrest, that decision will be up to the State Attorneys Office, officials said. Prosecutors will review all of the facts, circumstances, and evidence (when that is presented to our office) before making any formal charging decision, Paula McMahon, a spokeswoman for the State Attorneys Office, said in an email to the Sun Sentinel. Espinoza, 61, is a Cooper City parent of three grown children and a longtime volunteer. Shes been a fixture both at her childrens former schools and on the District Advisory Council, an influential group that makes recommendations to the School Board. She chaired the council during 2020-21 and was named the districts Volunteer of the Year in 2020. Ive only ever known Debbie Espinoza to be a really incredible volunteer and advocate for students, and I have real concerns about the message this sends to our volunteers, Board member Sarah Leonardi said. Board member Nora Rupert said she was aghast when she heard about the arrest. There was a lot of drama going on that day, but to be clear: It would not have been my call, she said. Chuck Harper, a Parkland parent who chairs the District Advisory Council, said, To put her in handcuffs, that whole dynamic is a little excessive. I know Debbie can be boisterous. Thats pretty much where it ends. The incident happened at the same School Board meeting where Licata had earlier thanked volunteers who serve on district advisory groups. Time is something we never get back in this life, and they spend a lot of time working to make sure we have checks and balances, and I appreciate everything they do, Licata said at the meeting. But before the meeting was over, Espinoza was sitting in jail, where she stayed for more than 24 hours before being released on her own recognizance Wednesday night. The officer involved, Mastrianni, 63, is a veteran police officer who has worked as a detective for the districts Special Investigations Unit since 2016. He has led some of the districts school safety training, appearing in a 2021 active assailant training video. A probable cause affidavit Mastrianni prepared misspells Espinozas name and includes details of the meeting that conflict with videos shared, such as an assertion that Espinoza refused to leave the boardroom when asked. As for what Espinoza did that may have constituted a battery, thats unclear, and different district officials have offered varying accounts. Mastriannis affidavit said she lunged her body into this officer, creating body contact and causing this officer to backpedal. Alberti, chief of safety and security, told the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday afternoon Espinoza pushed the officer; and a police detective told a Sun Sentinel reporter Tuesday night that she elbowed him. School police officers dont wear body cameras, and while one meeting attendee got a video of her being handcuffed, theres no public video showing the alleged battery. The school district declined a Sun Sentinel request for surveillance video, saying its exempt under Florida law, unless ordered by a subpoena. Espinoza declined to comment when reached by the Sun Sentinel, saying she was seeking legal counsel. Her close friend, Carolyn Krohn, who was at the meeting but didnt witness the incident, said Espinoza told her she lost her balance after reaching for her sandals in a tote bag. She said, I fell backwards. I didnt even know he was there,' Krohn said. Related Articles Krohn and Espinoza were both part of a District Advisory Council subcommittee that helped rewrite the districts sex education policy to become compliant with new state laws. They attended the meeting to speak in favor of the new curriculum. During her comments, Espinoza refuted claims by some previous speakers that the sex ed curriculum teaches anal sex to students. The secondary curriculum mentions anal sex, as well as oral and vaginal sex, but mostly in the context of how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Audio and video of the meeting reveal that Ruth, a parent and conservative activist who was waiting in line to speak, made several remarks challenging Espinozas public comments, leading Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff to warn, Quiet in the audience. After Espinoza finished, Ruth and Espinoza had an inaudible exchange. After a security officer instructed them to stop talking, Espinoza replied, Shes accosting me and telling me I wasnt on the subcommittee that drafted the sex ed policy. Alhadeff recessed the meeting due to the interruptions, and after an officer told Ruth she would have to leave, she made a series of loud outbursts. Espinoza was also asked to leave and appeared to comply. The video shows one police officer following Ruth out and Mastrianni shadowing Espinoza, who can be heard telling him in an angry voice, Dont push me! Dont push me! While attempting to escort the arrestee out of the building, she became agitated and resistant, Mastrianni wrote. Board member Torey Alston told the Sun Sentinel the whole incident troubled him. While I strongly support advocacy and public comments, I remain concerned about the decorum during our meetings, he said. Passion is good, but inappropriate comments and physically touching others is out of bounds and cant be the norm. We must promote our views but in a civil manner. Board member Debbi Hixon said a lot of meetings have become heated, but none have led to district police arresting anyone. She said the incident shows a need for better training of school district police officers. I dont understand how we got to that level, Hixon said. We need to make sure that were de-escalating conflicts and not feeding into them. I do not agree she should have been arrested. The fact that she spent the day in jail breaks my heart. School Board meetings in Broward have become increasingly heated in recent years, first over masks and COVID-19 protections and more recently over sex ed, book challenges and resolutions in support of Muslim and LGBTQ students. Ruth has been ordered to leave at least three previous School Board meetings due to outbursts over such topics. But while Espinoza was being arrested, Alhadeff allowed Ruth, who hadnt yet made her public comments, to come back in and speak to the board, angering Espinozas friends and supporters. I was unaware of the arrest when I determined Ms. Ruth could return if she calmed down, Alhadeff told the Sun Sentinel. Staff stated that she was calm. Ms. Espinoza had already spoken on the item. Alhadeff and other School Board members say the district needs to take steps to avoid these kind of issues in the future. I have asked the Superintendent to review our safety and public participation protocols for School Board meetings and workshops to ensure we are providing a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all, Ahadeff said. Kevin McCarthy s (R-California) fall as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has been especially sudden and dramatic but is only the latest example of intense, internal Republican Party warfare. McCarthy himself opened the door to ouster when he agreed in the long, grueling battle for the speakership in January to allow a rule change whereby only one member of his party could call a vote for his removal. Right-wing attention-seeker Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) did just that on Oct. 2, filing a resolution to remove the speaker. The motion passed 216-210, with Democrats piling through the door a member of the other party had opened. Arthur I. Cyr Speakers John Boehner (R-Ohioa) 2011-l5, and Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) 2015-17, had relatively turbulent terms in office. By contrast, the first woman speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-California), was able to maintain relatively strong party discipline during her two stints from 2007-11 and 2019-23. A small group of House Republicans are fundamentally opposed to government, period. A shutdown is, for them, welcome, no matter how inconvenient for working people in government, and in the wider economy. Right-wing Republicans threatened to oust Boehner if he permitted a federal budget to be passed that included funding for Planned Parenthood. Controversial videos that allege a callous attitude by that organization regarding the use of fetuses greatly stoked the always emotional debate over abortion. In 2013, Republicans managed to shut down the government for 16 days as part of the effort to derail the Affordable Care Act. Then, as later, Democrats led by President Barack Obama used the Republican effort for partisan political advantage. Boehner retired under this pressure, thereby he headed off another shutdown. The practice of holding the federal budget hostage to controversial partisan party maneuvers has now gone on for many years. In 1994, Republicans took control of the U.S. House of Representatives after 40 years in minority status. Their majority was led by new speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia), who dramatically accelerated the trend of shifting that office from a relatively nonpartisan to highly partisan pulpit. Then, as now, White House Democrats and congressional Republicans played an escalating game of budgetary chicken. The federal government was shut down briefly. In the political and public media maneuvering, President Bill Clinton was able to put the onus squarely on the Gingrich Republicans. Publicly cool and politically cunning, Clinton moved ahead in the public opinion polls. He was helped by emphasizing fiscal restraint. In the 1996 presidential election, he defeated Republican nominee Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kansas). Democrat Sam Rayburn of Texas remains distinctive as a remarkably durable speaker of the House. From the 1940s into the 1960s, he successfully practiced bipartisanship, despite the difficult politics of that era. Rayburn holds the record for longest service as speaker of the House, seventeen years. He accumulated this tenure during three separate terms in the post, 1940-47, 1949-53, and 1955-61. Rayburn possessed exceptional political skills. That was not a less partisan time than today, but the divisions between the two major parties were not so stark in ideological terms. The southern states were overwhelmingly Democratic, but also conservative outside of economic populism, while the Northeast was the anchor of the relatively moderate to liberal wing of the Republican Party. Todays Democrats and Republicans are separated emotionally and ideologically, which makes leadership even harder. Speaker Pelosis relatively lengthy, stable tenure may directly benefit the Democrats in the presidential race next year. Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War (Palgrave/Macmillan and NYU Press). Contact him at acyr@carthage.edu. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Arthur Cyr: House Speaker McCarthys fall underscores intense partisanship Guest Opinion. Last weekend, as news channels and social media were inundated with tragic reports out of Gaza, Australias electorate voted down a key referendum of vital concern to Indigenous Peoples the world over. The referendum would have created a national advisory board to counsel parliament on Indigenous issues, but 60 percent of the Australian electorate rejected what could have been an important advancement for Indigenous representation at the highest levels of government. The board was proposed to include Indigenous representatives from Australias six states and two territories. Each would have been voted in by local Indigenous community member-electors. A majority of Indigenous voters polled supported the proposal, and although the board would have non-binding advice on issues affecting Indigenous Australians, many saw it as a step in the right direction toward reconciliation. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. The referendum, supported by the Prime Minister and Indigenous leaders, nevertheless faced opposition from both sides. Some Indigenous Australians and allies saw its goals as insufficient. Grassroots Indigenous sovereignty activists have said they want more significant reconciliation efforts, such as a formal treaty. On the conservative side of the fence, many Australians no votes seem to indicate they care little about following a path of truth, justice, and healing in regards to the nations Indigenous citizens, who comprise nearly 4 percent of the country's population of 26 million. Let me be clear with you: Aboriginal Peoples of Australia and Indigenous Peoples of the Americas share a collective experience of genocide and exploitation at the hands of settler-colonial interests. We both have resisted, gradually carving out a space to practice our cultures and exercise sovereignty. On Turtle Island, we at least have had the benefit of treaties (though, as you probably know, the U.S. government has never been known for honoring them). British settlers never even gave lip service to the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia, which is one reason any advancement in their status (the Australian Constitution fails to even recognize their existence) would have been welcome. Indigenous Australians werent even allowed to vote until 1962, and the Australian states genocidal policies have repeatedly targeted them. Throughout the 1800s, they faced an onslaught of settler violence and dispossession of their homelands a period parallel to the manifest destiny era here on Turtle Island. Continuing through the 1900s, Christian and white supremacist institutions such as boarding schools, missions, reservations, and corrupt child welfare systems abused Aboriginal children and families. I urge you to read more about the Stolen Generations, Indigenous children removed from their homes by the Australian government and other institutions in an attempt to eliminate the nations Indigenous population. I may hail from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, but I have spent my life advocating for the rights and humanity of Indigenous Peoples on the international stage. While one failed referendum might seem insignificant when placed along the Australian states lengthy timeline of violence and dispossession of Indigenous Peoples, it is nevertheless a crucial marker of a settler-colonial societys inability to take accountability and respectfully listen to Indigenous voices. I stand with my Indigenous relatives on the Australian continent, and I call on you to join me. Lets show solidarity with all Indigenous people in their various struggles against settler-colonialism and genocide. Wopila tanka my gratitude to you. Phyllis Young is the Standing Rock organizer for the Lakota People's Law Project. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net An industrial infrastructure facility has been damaged as a result of a Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih on the evening of 20 October and the night of 20-21 October, the head of Kryvyi Rih City Military Administration, Oleksandr Vilkul , has said. Source: Vilkul on Telegram Quote: "Unfortunately, there were strikes. As a result of an evening missile attack on a dacha cooperative in the suburbs, a 60-year old man was killed, while his wife, 56, was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Three houses were damaged. The fire caused by the strike was quickly extinguished. Late in the evening, there was another attack with missiles and UAVs. An industrial infrastructure facility was damaged. The resulting fire was also promptly extinguished." Details: Vilkul specified that there were no casualties as a result of the second strike. Support UP or become our patron! DALLAS - The autonomous vehicle company planning to soon launch its driverless cars onto Dallas streets is now facing a second federal investigation. NHTSA's Office of Defects investigation opened the investigation into Cruise LLC this week after receiving reports of two pedestrian injuries, as well as two "relevant" videos posted to social media. According to the NHTSA investigation, the vehicles operated by Cruise LLC could increase the risk of collision with a pedestrian which may result in severe injury or death. Cruise has been running tests on the vehicles since June, the final stage before the fully-automated rideshare service allows public passengers. Just last week, Dallas City Council members heard a presentation from Cruise LLC about the company's planned rollout on city streets. "These cars cannot be remotely driven for safety purposes, we want to make sure no one can take the remote of these vehicles," Yariel Diaz, Cruise LLC's Senior Manager of Government Affairs told the council. Just days later, the federal safety agency NHTSA opened its second investigation of Cruise, which is already operating in Austin, Phoenix and San Francisco. The summary says "The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received reports of incidents in which Automated Driving System (ADS) equipped vehicles operated by Cruise LLC (Cruise) may not have exercised appropriate caution around pedestrians in the roadway." We asked Cruise for a response. Here is what they sent us: Cruise's safety record over 5 million miles continues to outperform comparable human drivers at a time when pedestrian injuries and deaths are at an all-time high. Cruise communicates regularly with NHTSA and has consistently cooperated with each of NHTSAs requests for information Hannah Lindow, Cruise spokesperson The NHTSA report says the total number of relevant pedestrian incidents is "unknown." Despite concerns like these, Cruise does not need City Council's approval to launch its driverless Chevy Bolts on Dallas streets. Diaz explained a new state law prevents cities from regulating autonomous vehicles. "[Autonomous vehicles are] regulated at the state level, doesn't mean we don't engage cities, because you will get the call if something happens," he said. READ MORE: Self driving cars in Houston stop, block intersection after thunderstorm turned all traffic lights red Diaz told council members that its autonomous vehicles have a better safety record than human drivers, with 65% fewer collisions overall. When councilwoman Cara Mendlesohn asked about how many collisions Cruise has been involved in, Diaz said there have been 20 incidents in Texas since November. There are now 125 vehicles operating in Austin. Mendelsohn asked to see collision data for their entire fleet. When they launch, the vehicles will operate between 30 and 35 miles per hour. The company has not yet released a map of where they will be operating. The latest guilty pleas from two key allies in Donald Trump 's high-profile Georgia election interference case put new pressure on the former president and raise questions about whether his once-loyal associates may one day flip on him. Two attorneys, Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, pleaded guilty to related crimes this week and agreed to testify against other defendants. They had been charged with playing separate roles in an alleged multi-pronged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Coming after a third defendant, Scott Hall, pleaded guilty in September, their deals bolster the weapons in prosecutors' toolbox, and may pressure other defendants to flip -- a move that would raise the legal stakes for Trump. ''Once you get a couple people pleading, it starts sort of an avalanche of pleas," said Chandelle Summer, a Georgia attorney who previously worked as both a prosecutor and public defender in the state. These handout booking photos provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office show the 18 co-defendants who surrendered and were booked along with former President Donald Trump after they were indicted on charges related to their efforts to overturn the 2020 US Presidential election in Georgia. Top row (l-r): Rudolph William Louis Giuliani, John Charles Eastman,Mark Randall Meadows, Kenneth John Chesebro, Jeffrey Bossert Clark,Jenna Lynn Ellis Middle row (l-r): Ray Stallings Smith III, Robert David Cheeley, Michael A. Roman, David James Shafer, Shawn Micah Tresher Still, Stephen Cliffgard Lee Bottom row (l-r): Harrison William Prescott Floyd, Trevian C. Kutti, Sidney Katherine Powell, Cathleen Alston Latham, Scott Graham Hall, Misty Hampton In addition to agreeing to testify, Chesebro, Powell, and Hall will turn over relevant documents to the state of Georgia, and are prohibited from communicating with witnesses or defendants in the case. Norman Eisen, a Brookings Institution senior fellow who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2020, said information from the three former Trump associates, could bolster the government's evidence in another pending Trump trial -- federal election meddling case, which is scheduled to start in March in Washington. "Both Powell and Chesebro were unindicted co-conspirators in the federal case, so they're central to it," Eisen said. "It is ominous for the other defendants in the state or federal cases, above all Donald Trump." Kenneth Chesebro provides inside account about fake electors Chesebro, an election lawyer, pleaded guilty Friday in the Fulton County Superior Court to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Chesebro offers an inside view of the development of the scheme to recruit fake presidential electors to vote for Trump in states that President Joe Biden won. Chesebro created and distributed false documents in Georgia and other states for people to submit to the National Archives and Congress posing as presidential electors, according to Daysha Young, the executive district attorney in Fulton County. "The defendant provided detailed instructions to co-conspirators in Georgia and other states for creating and distributing these false documents," she said. Kenneth Chesebro, lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, appears before Judge Scott McAfee in a case management court hearing related to the Fulton County 2020 election interference case in Atlanta on Oct. 20, 2023. Chesebro's deal gets the prosecution closer to John Eastman, who around that time appears to have been in "constant communication" with Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump, said Melissa Redmon, a former Fulton County prosecutor who directs the University of Georgia School of Law's Prosecutorial Justice Program. Those connections will help the state paint a picture for the jury of the false elector activity being ultimately motivated by a desire to make sure Trump retained the presidency "by any means necessary," Redmon said. Sixteen co-defendants in the Georgia case, including Trump, Eastman and Giuliani, have pleaded not guilty. Sidney Powell raised baseless claims of election fraud in Oval Office meeting with Trump Powell, an election lawyer who spread baseless claims of voter fraud, pleaded guilty Thursday to a half-dozen misdemeanors associated with tampering with election equipment in Coffee County, Georgia. Legal experts said Powell's agreement to provide testimony could have a weighty impact on the wider case because she had significant dealings with Trump, Giuliani, and others. Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, left, listens to Sidney Powell, during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. Powell can also describe how co-defendants tried to overturn the 2020 election. She and Giuliani attended a raucous meeting at the White House with Trump, where they discussed having the military seize voting machines. Trump never acted on the proposal. Scott Hall chatted for an hour with co-defendant who drafted spurious DOJ letter Hall, a bail bondsman who served as a go-between for several of the co-defendants, pleaded guilty in September to five misdemeanors dealing with interfering with election duties. Donald Trump co-defendant, Scott Hall, pleads guilty in GA racketeering case Hall helped SullivanStrickler employees tamper with the Coffee County equipment. Hall also made multiple calls to co-defendants in the case. For example, Hall spoke with Jeffrey Clark, a former assistant attorney general, for more than an hour Jan. 2, 2021, according to the indictment. Clark, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with drafting a letter of false statements about Justice Department concerns with the 2020 election, to be sent to Georgia officials. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen refused to sign or send the letter. Hall also spoke repeatedly with co-defendants accused of trying to intimidate election workers to change their stories about what happened with ballot counting at State Farm Arena on election night 2020. Georgia court calendar opens, but Trump trial date uncertain Although the pleas open up several months on McAfee's calendar that had been reserved for Powell and Chesebro's trial, Redmon said typically in Fulton County there are several steps involving pre-trial deadlines before a trial date is set in a case, and she doesn't expect to see a trial date for Trump soon. Summer said McAfee would have to take the schedules for Trump's other criminal trials into account, as well as his attorneys' scheduling conflicts. "Assuming he's acquitted in the DC case, I think then they'll probably specially set a trial for sometime after that, maybe the fall of 2024," she said. Eisen suggested McAfee might aim to hold Trump's Georgia trial sooner. "If Chesebro and Powell could get ready for trial on an accelerated basis, surely it's not too unreasonable for Trump and possibly other defendants to prepare themselves to face a jury in Atlanta at some point in the coming months," Eisen said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump in new peril after Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro plead guilty Mark Stiehl and nephew Rhett Stiehl meet in one of the lecture classrooms used by the Jacksonville University aviation program. Mark was the first graduate of the program and his nephew is now a student in aviation student there. The JU aviation program is turning 40 years old. Before an interview at Jacksonville University, Mark Stiehl, graduate number one in the school's 40-year-old aviation program for undergrads, briefly doubted his decision to wear a flowered Hawaiian-style shirt that afternoon. He hadn't been expecting a photographer to show up. But what the heck, he figured: He's retired, happily, after a long, lucrative and globetrotting career as a pilot for FedEx, and he's frequently turning down offers to return to the cockpit in an industry that needs more pilots. Flying was great, really great, he said. But these days he'd rather be fishing. So the shirt is just fine. Stiehl entered JU's School of Aviation in its first year, 1983, already possessing a four-year degree from Florida State, which gave him a head start on other students. In 1985 he was the fledgling program's first and only graduate. Since then, 857 other people have graduated from the aviation school: 512 on a track that leads to becoming a pilot, and 345 on a track that leads to other positions in the industry, said Matt Tuohy, a retired Navy pilot and director of the School of Aviation. The school said this year there were 108 new students, double the year before growth caused, at least in part, by a much-publicized need for new pilots and managers in the industry, which still hasn't recovered from layoffs and retirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The flow-through now is insane, said Stiehl, 63. Its like theyre sucking pilots up, when back then you had to climb through the ranks. That's something most definitely on the mind of his nephew, Rhett Stiehl, 22, a current student in the program who has already accumulated 170 hours of flying time and several piloting licenses. He went to Massachusetts Maritime Academy his freshman year, where he had an eye on becoming a sea captain. But then his uncle, and his FedEx plane, landed in Tampa, where Rhett grew up. That gave him a chance to sit in the cockpit and run through the pre-flight routines. His plans changed quickly. He enrolled in JU and its flight school, just as his uncle had almost 40 years ago. "The future is bright for him, compared to when I did it," Mark Stiehl said. A shortage of airplane pilots had been building for several years but was made worse during the pandemic as air travel collapsed and airlines encouraged pilots to take early retirement, The Associated Press noted. Travel has rebounded, but a lack of pilots, especially at smaller regional airlines, has led to numerous canceled or delayed flights. The government estimates that there will be about 18,000 openings per year for airline and commercial pilots this decade, with many of those replacing pilots who reach 65, the federal mandatory retirement age. Asked where he sees himself in five or 10 years, Rhett Stiehl said he's aiming for FedEx too, or one of the major passenger lines, Flying, at least right [co-pilot] seat," he said. "I still have to get there. I still have to put in the work. Given the pilot shortage, that's a strong possibility, said Tuohy, though nothing is handed to anyone. The opportunitys easier, but the work required to get there is the same, or harder," he said. 'You get to fly' Mark Stiehl, who grew up, as he says, "on the mean streets of Neptune Beach," had been looking for direction in his life as a young man and found it in the aviation program. It was suggested to him by his mother Ruth Stiehl, founding dean of JU's nursing school. He looked into the possibilities of the new school and loved it from his first flight out at Craig Airport. "You get to fly! You go to the airport for school," he said. "So Ive never had a real job since. I mean I was a lifeguard, I mowed lawns, cleaned toilets, waited tables at Bono's. Then airline pilot. Which isnt a real job. Its a little-boy job. Aviation students Grant Nichols and Mohammed Alamri are at the controls of Jacksonville University's commercial aircraft simulator. He smiled: You'd better believe the responsibilities and requirements are rigorous. But he was able to commute to work from Jacksonville, and work took him all across the U.S. and on many trips overseas. I flew everywhere in the world," he said. "FedEx goes everywhere. Sydney, Honolulu, Alaska, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan, India, everywhere. And you get to really see the places. Sometimes you get five days," he said. "Five days in Sydney! There were sacrifices, the biggest of which was spending long periods away from his family. But he got to see so much, and it was often challenging, such as flying over a hurricane or typhoon, landing in ice and snow, and dealing with crosswinds, he said, that you just wouldn't believe. Then there's the joy he gets in flying. I miss the flying itself, because I cant rent a 767 and go fly it to Hawaii for fun," he said. He explains the appeal: So, you take something thats going zero miles an hour, weighs 490,000 pounds, or whatever the airplane weighs, and you take off on this 2-mile runway. You go up to 7 miles above the Earth going 600 miles an hour, and you put it on a piece of strip two miles long, in Hawaii, and make it go to a full stop again. That's pretty cool." And the best thing, he says, about flying cargo? "Theres no complaints from the back. Investing in your flying future? It isn't cheap going to JU's School of Aviation: For those on the pilot track, figure on spending up to $80,000 for flight fees, on top of regular tuition, Tuohy said. "We euphemistically call those non-tuition costs," he said wryly. That cost can be a challenge for many. "The number one barrier to entry, for many young people, to get into piloting, is the cost," Tuohy said. Change in latitude: The late Jimmy Buffett's seaplane pilot from Atlantic Beach recalls adventures with legend Rhett Stiehl was asked: Is this an investment in yourself? He gave a shy smile. Uh, I would say more of an investment for my parents. Tuohy noted, however, that many of the bigger aviation programs delay the start of actual flying for their students in favor of classroom studies only. Not at JU. Even this early, freshmen who've met all the requirements have already been flying with instructors at Craig. In addition, they have access to several realistic flight simulators to train on, at no extra per-use cost. Jacksonville University: Celebrating life of 'mother Fran Kinne' He said the program has students from as far away as Alaska and Saudi Arabia, and that about 20% of students are women. With the current pilot shortage, competition among airlines for qualified aviators is intense. Tuohy said new first officers at regional airlines are getting paid $90,000 a year, and it only goes up. To be sure, the $80,000 in-flight fees to get experience and the necessary variety of licenses is daunting for students such as Rhett Stiehl, Tuohy acknowledged, but the future should be bright for them. "That's a big investment, but today the return on that investment is huge," he said. "Thats about $40,000 less than it cost my daughter to go to law school, and hes getting there three years faster. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Pilot shortage a draw for Jacksonville University aviation school In an email sent to families of Ballard High School students Friday, Principal Abby Hunt brought up safety concerns surrounding recent armed muggings of students. Hunt mentioned that several incidents involved students walking in the neighborhood and are attacked and robbed in the last month. A suspect has not been caught. I share this information not to evoke fear or panic, but rather to help you consider how you and your family can stay safe when you are out in the community, Hunt said. Hunt said she is working with regional school leaders and the districts Safety and Security team on ways to keep their campus safe. While the incidents are being investigated by the Seattle Police Department, Hunt suggested parents talk to their children about personal safety. Hunt says students should stay alert to their surroundings and always plan their route. They should avoid uninhabited areas and stick to well-lit areas. Other tips include putting your phone away while youre walking and crossing the street or going into a store to avoid potentially bad situations. If you notice a car following you, do not approach it. Turn and quickly walk away from the car. Finally, if you see or experience a crime, call 911 immediately. Students can also call the Seattle Public Schools Hotline at 206-252-0510 to report any threats. China will step up the development of artificial intelligence chips as part of its efforts to promote fundamental technological breakthroughs in AI and introduce the applications of the cutting-edge technology in more sectors, the country's top industry regulator said on Friday. Tao Qing, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said at a news conference that the development of AI, represented by large language models or LLMs, features rapid technological innovation, strong application potential and fierce international competition. "Through major scientific and technological innovation projects, we will focus on promoting fundamental and original technological breakthroughs in large language model algorithms, frameworks and other fields, improving the computing power level of intelligent chips and unleashing data value," Tao said. The ministry will encourage enterprises even more to accelerate their efforts for the intelligent transformation of the country's vast manufacturing sector. More efforts will be made to deepen the application of AI in the entire manufacturing process, including research and development, production, service, management and other links, Tao said. "We will give full display of the strong cognitive, interactive and generative characteristics of large language models to promote the upgrading of high-end equipment, key software and intelligent terminals," Tao said. China's equipment manufacturing industry grew 6 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this year. Meanwhile, investment in high-tech industries grew 11.4 percent year-on-year in the same period, encouraging the manufacturing sector to develop steadily toward high-end and green ventures, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. The manufacturing activity is showing signs of a pickup as the continuing positive effects of supportive policies have spurred overall economic activity, said Zhang Wenlang, chief macroeconomic analyst with investment bank China International Capital Corp. China's industrial output, an important economic indicator, rose 4 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, accelerating by 0.2 percentage point over the first half of the year, NBS data showed. Efforts to accelerate the development of homegrown AI chips coincide with sustained restrictions by the United States on exports of AI chips to China. Chinese AI company iFlytek Co Ltd said on Thursday night that Washington's tightening of export controls on cutting-edge AI chips will have a significant impact on Chinese companies that build LLMs on processors made by US chipmaker Nvidia. But iFlytek also said it launched a special research project with Huawei Technologies Co earlier this year to jointly build a new AI base in China. The performance of Huawei's AI processor Ascend 910B can roughly compete with Nvidia's A100 chip. iFlytek said it and Huawei will jointly release their new AI computing solutions next week. For their part, local governments, like those of Beijing and Shenzhen, a metropolis in Guangdong province, announced favorable policies in June to support the development of domestically developed AI chips. Li Xianjun, a researcher at the Institute of Industrial Economics, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China should take the initiative to promote the re-globalization of the semiconductor industry, given that the country is the world's largest chip market with a growing presence in semiconductor manufacturing. To break the US' containment in chips, China needs to rely on long-term input in R&D to achieve self-reliance in key chip technologies, Li said. Paul ends the letter to the Ephesians, and hands it over to Tychicus. Wood engraving, published in 1886. Credit - Getty Images When I was working as a bishop, interviewing clergy for parish jobs, one of the questions I would sometimes ask was, If you could take one chapter of the Bible to a desert island, which would it be? To make it more interesting, I would often add, Let's say youve already got Romans 8. Otherwise nearly everyone would choose it; it's one of the great summaries of the message of the whole Bible, full of challenge as well as comfort. One verse in Romans 8 is particularly well knownbut usually in a misleading translation. In the pantheon of classic verses many Christians learn in childhood, not far behind John 3:16 (God so loved the world...) comes Romans 8:28: All things work together for good to them that love God. A text to cling to, many people think, when things go wrong. A kind of spiritual version of Every cloud has a silver lining, or Experience is what you get when you dont get what you want. Fellow Christians might remind each other of the verse as a way of offering comfort, consolation, and reassurance that things will all work in the end. Except it isnt what St Paul wrote. More From TIME The King James version, which I just quoted and which we all learned, made it sound as though everything, all events in the world, had a kind of inner dynamic which would guarantee a happy outcome. But if you know the way Pauls mind worked it feels very odd to speak of all things running themselves in that way. That idea belongs to the world of ancient Stoicism, not to Pauls very Jewish way of thinking. The verb Paul used doesnt mean "works to", as in the King James. It means works with. (The 1952 Revised Standard Version got this right, but changed some other bits of the verse, and the idea didnt catch on.) Paul was saying two things which the King James Version missed. First, he was saying that it's God who works "all things together for good," not that all things were doing it under their own steam. Second, he was explaining how God does this. Specifically, he does it in collaboration with certain people. He recruits human beings to share in his purposes in the world. This idea sends shivers down some theological spines. Weve often been warned against any idea that humans can co-operate in the work of salvation. But salvation isn't the focus of this part of Romans 8. Salvation, to be sure, remains the ultimate horizon, but this particular passage is about vocation. Its about how we repay the debt of gratitude we owe to God (verse 12). Those who have been grasped by the gospel of Jesus, those in whose hearts the Holy Spirit has been at work, now have a specific role, a task, within Gods ongoing purposes. This makes excellent sense within the larger biblical thought-patterns. Back in Genesisto which Paul refers frequently in Romanshumans were made to work as Gods partners in his creation-project. They were, specifically, image-bearers: Gods agents in reflecting His wise purposes into the world, and reflecting the praises and prayers of the world back to God. Now, in Romans 8, Paul explains how this works in practice. God knows that the present creation is groaning together, like a woman going into labour. These labour pains are the birth-pangs of Gods new creation. And people who have been grasped by the gospel, people who are led by the Spirit, are called to share in that groaning, in prayers of lament. (The Hebrew scriptures, as Paul knew well, offer plenty of guidance in how to pray that kind of prayer.) When that Spirit-led lament is happening, as Paul explains in verses 26 and 27, God himself, who searches the hearts, will hear that groaning from the dark places of creations pain. And those who pray that way, even whenprecisely when!they dont even know what to pray for, will thereby be formed, shaped, into the Jesus-pattern, the pattern of the cross, sharing the pain of the world so that the world may be redeemed. Paul says exactly that in verse 29. And they will thereby be co-operating, not indeed in the work of their own salvation, but in the larger purposes of God for his battered and bleeding creation. So what we might have met in Sunday School, as an apparently comforting proverb about how everything is going to pan out all right somehow, is in fact a challengingbut still also comforting statement about Christian vocation. At the very moment when we are caught up in the unspeakable groaning of all creation, the Spirit is working in our hearts to bring us in tune with Gods loving and healing purposes. God made humans to share in his work. We are to be people of prayer at the places where the world is in pain. And in the present time this kind of lament is what prayer looks like. When we take up that calling, we are caught up in the love of God; and God is working all things together for good with those who love him. Thats why, in the new edition of the New Testament for Everyone, I have translated Romans 8:28 this way: We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. It's partly also why I wrote a whole book, Into the Heart of Romans about just that one chapter of the Bible. So, teachers and preachers and Sunday School leaders, do please continue to get young people to learn Romans 8:28. But please get it right. We need a new generation of people prepared to collaborate with the God of creation and new creation. We need people who learn the art, and the struggle, of prayer. Especially the prayer of puzzled lament. Not least at a time like this. Contact us at letters@time.com. In a prime-time address from the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was going to send Congress an "urgent" funding request for aid to Ukraine and Israel on Oct. 20. The administration will attempt to push for $105 billion in assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as the Congress remains blocked by the Republican party's inability to appoint the Speaker of the House of Representatives, where they maintain an obstructionist majority. "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," Biden said. "If we walk away and let (Russia's Vladimir) Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same." Biden pointed out that the continuation of support for Ukraine and Israel remains vital to the West, and the U.S. in particular. "These conflicts can seem far away," Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, said a day after the speech. "But the outcome of these fights for democracy against terrorism and tyranny are vital to the safety and security of the American people," he added, announcing the proposed aid. The Biden administration's massive aid package to multiple actors is aimed to warm the hearts of the Republican party, which has been unable to elect a speaker since ousting Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3. Part of the party had also expressed doubt about the need to continue to support Ukraine. Besides the $14 billion requested to improve Israeli air defense and provide the country with ammunition, the package is also set to provide $7.4 billion to Taiwan and countries in the Indo-Pacific. The package will also potentially include over $13 billion for border security, a nod to the hard-right Republicans who pushed the House into chaos by ousting McCarthy. However, without a speaker in sight, the passing of a landmark aid package remains in peril while both Ukraine and Israel desperately await the decision. Read also: Biden: Were not withdrawing support for Ukraine Broken House As Republican members of Congress are set to negotiate the approval of funding bills and attempt once again to appoint a speaker sometime next week, withholding or voting for aid fo Ukraine has become a potential opportunity for dealmaking. The most recent republican nominee to fail the vote was Representative Jim Jordan. He received an F on the Republicans for Ukraine "report card," as he voted against all proposed aid packages for Ukraine. The hard-right Republican known for obstructionism, anti-government views, and a penchant for conspiracy theories, Jordan struggled to gain support from his own party. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) arrives for a House Republican members meeting as the conference continues to debate the race for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Oct. 19, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) With each new vote, three in total, Jordan was losing supporters rather than gaining, leaving the House without a leader for the foreseeable future. With no clear candidate for a speaker in sight, the Biden administration's $105 billion spending bill will most likely depend on whether the current interim speaker, Republican Patrick T. McHenry, gets empowered by the House, resuming the passing of key legislation. A short-term measure to grant McHenry added powers recently received bipartisan support. The unlikely protagonist, McHenry, supported previous aid packages for Ukraine. He will most likely bring the proposed spending bill to the floor. However, even ardent Ukraine supporter Republican Senator Lindsey Graham suggested he would be open to supporting a bill for expanded aid to Ukraine in exchange for new restrictions on immigration, which Democrats would likely balk at. With both parties unlikely to budge, it is difficult to see a path forward that does not put aid for Ukraine at risk. Read also: Kuleba: ATACMS deliveries to increase, optimistic that F-16s will arrive beginning of 2024 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. I never thought the day would come when I, a die-hard Reagan Republican, would credit a Democratic president for being Reaganesque. Amazingly, it has. Dont look now, but Joe Biden has been leading with moral authority in the struggle against violent authoritarianism and illiberalism at home and abroad. While Donald Trump criticized the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden met with Bibi and declared Americas support for Israel to be rock solid and unwavering. And while Republican support for providing U.S. aid to Ukraine has eroded, Biden has steadfastly supported them in their plight against a brutal Russian invasion. This trend continued during his speech on Thursday night, where Biden sought to unite these two crises. The assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy, and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukrainepeople that were very badly hurt since Vladimir Putin launched his all-out invasion, he said. The House GOP Didnt Just Reject Jim Jordan, They Made Him Squirm 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. Its sick. While Biden tapped into compelling emotions, he also made the case for what might be called peace through strength and against appeasement, arguing that if we dont stop Putins appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he wont limit himself just to Ukraine. For most of my life, these kinds of warnings were issued by Republican leaders like Reagan, who largely avoided direct confrontations, while consistently providing moral as well as tangible support for freedom fighters. During that era, Republicans had all but cornered the market on patriotism and strong national defense as a national brand. As he built up Americas military might, Reagan also contrasted the Soviet Union with Americas values. Sharpening this contrast required characterizing the Soviet Union as an evil empire and America as a force for goodbeing liberators, not conquerors. Just as Reagan saw America as a shining city on a hill, Biden embraced American exceptionalism, calling America indispensable and declaring, America is a beacon to the world still. Reagan also understood that the people of the Soviet Union were not necessarily synonymous with their government. Biden walked a similar line on Thursday by clearly condemning Hamas, but not innocent Palestinian people (whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or in America). Some on the right may see this distinction as squishy, but stressing humanitarian concerns is the right thing to do morally and strategically. Referring to the recent murder of a Palestinian boy outside of Chicago, Biden said, We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia. (In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush tapped into a similar theme by insisting that America was at war with terroristsinstead of innocent Muslims.) Im a Rabbi. Heres Why I Went to a Murdered Palestinian Boys Funeral. And to all of you who are hurting, Biden continued. I want you to know: I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you: Youre all America. Youre all America. It sounds Reaganesque to me. And I wasnt the only one who thought Biden struck the right tone. I think it may be remembered as one of the best, if not the best speeches of his presidency, Fox News Brit Hume said. He was firm, he was unequivocal, he was strong Hume also praised Biden for linking financial support for Ukraine with support for Israel. Bidens support for Israel and Ukraine may not be primarily about domestic politics, but I suspect it doesnt hurt, particularly at a time when the Republican Party is increasingly associated with illiberal tendencies, election denial, and chaos. Rather than being an ad-hoc policy choice to support Israel, lumping Israel and Ukraine together is indicative of a consistent worldview or doctrine, a development that could serve as a warning to other nations. It might also help Biden reinforce an image that is bound to be popular with a lot of Americans who previously supported Republicans. The GOP was once the default home for Americans who wanted a strong national defense, moral clarity, and support for embattled democracies instead of autocracies. But the political reordering initiated by Trump in 2016 has created an opening for Democrats to rebrand themselves as the adult party with an internationalist outlook. To be sure, Bidens leadership is far from perfect. The Afghanistan withdrawal was a disaster (albeit one that was arguably started by Trump). Bidens Israel Trip Was a Gamble Thats Already Paying Off And Bidens party has prominent voices like Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who was quick to blame Israel for a deadly hospital explosion and has refused to apologize (despite the emergence of evidence leading Biden to tell Netanyahu that Based on what Ive seen, it appears it was done by the other team, and not you.) Behavior like Tlaibs, coupled with left-wing campus protests that are sure to increase once Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza, will open the door for Republicans to paint Democrats with a broad brush. But based on Bidens recent rhetoric and actions, this stereotype about Democrats being weak is an increasingly hard sell. We are still very early in what eerily looks to be a mounting struggle pitting the free world against terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah and the partnership of nations like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. For now, at least, it is a Democrat who is standing up to the bad guys. 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. President Biden confirmed on Saturday that humanitarian aid had arrived in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian military group Hamas. In a statement, Biden thanked Egyptian President Al-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the United Nations (U.N.) for their coordination in moving the aid through the Rafah border. Today, the first convoy of humanitarian assistance since Hamass October 7 terrorist attack on Israel crossed the border into Gaza and reached Palestinians in need, he said. The opening of this essential supply route was the result of days of diplomatic engagement at the highest levels. According to the U.N. 20 trucks crossed into Gaza to begin delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza after nearly a full day of delays. Biden traveled to Israel this past week to meet with Israeli officials. While in Tel Aviv, he announced a deal that would provide $100 million in aid to the Gaza Strip. The United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas, Bidens wrote Saturday. We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, and to continue working to protect civilians, consistent with obligations under international humanitarian law. Humanitarian aid had been stuck at Egypts border with Gaza in recent days, with Israel sealing off the area following the initial attacks. Bidens aid announcement came amid heightened pressure from world leaders about a rising humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been hit with many retaliatory strikes from Israel and had been largely cut off from access to food, water and medicine. The president said he will continue to work with Egypt and Israel to help U.S. citizens and their immediate family exit Gaza, travel through Egypt and head to their final destinations. On Friday, the Biden administration also announced that the U.S. had secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas. Biden said Qatar and Israel helped secure the release of the Americans, a mother and daughter from Illinois. The White House said Biden spoke with Judith Raanan and her daughter, 18-year-old Natalie Raanan. He also spoke by phone with their family. 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. Biden said Saturday that the U.S. will work around the clock with Egypt and Israel to secure the return of other Americans from Gaza. Since Hamas entered Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7 approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed and more than 200 people taken hostage. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes from Israel have killed nearly 4,300 Palestinians. Netanyahu has vowed to continue airstrikes until all hostages are returned. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - 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, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is trying to sweeten his pitch for more money for Ukraine by mixing in billions of dollars for securing the U.S.-Mexico border in the hope that it will bring more Republicans on board. The idea came up late last month, after Ukraine assistance was stripped out of a stopgap measure to keep the government running due to growing Republican resistance to financing the war effort. A lot has changed since Sept. 30: The House has lost its speaker and Republicans are in disarray over selecting a new one, and the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel has prompted a much bigger funding request by the White House. It's not at all clear that including roughly $14 billion in border money included as part of the the $106 billion spending package the White House sent to Congress on Friday will placate those who are resisting. The border has never been a money issue, said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It has always been a policy issue. So we need to get in a room, go to the White House and sort that out. The conflict in the Mideast may have pulled some of the spotlight away from the U.S.-Mexico border for now, but the migration challenges facing the U.S. are growing increasingly intractable. Democratic leaders at both the state and local level are begging for federal assistance to help care for migrant families living in squalid shelters and sleeping in police stations. Republicans are loudly critical of Bidens border policies as too lax. And Congress has not passed an immigration overhaul in decades. There are rising numbers of migrants at the border; arrests for illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico line were up 21% to 218,763 last month, and Biden has repeatedly said Congress should act to fix outdated immigration laws. But in the meantime, his administration has developed policies that aim to deter migrants from making a dangerous and often deadly journey while also opening up new legal immigration pathways. The funding request is an attempt not only to manage people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, but also to deal with the growing numbers of migrants who are already here, waiting for their cases to play out. The White House proposal includes $1.6 billion to hire 1,600 new asylum officers and processing personnel, which could double the number of people working on asylum cases. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. There is $4.4 billion for Homeland Security efforts, including increased funding for holding facilities as the administration works to quickly deport those who do not qualify for asylum. Thats a real effort and acknowledgement of the backlog that exists, said Colleen Putzel, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration think tank. There's also $1.3 billion requested for regional migration centers outside the U.S., a new effort brokered by the Biden administration to encourage would-be migrants to stay where they are and apply for asylum before crossing the deadly Darien gap between South and Central America. The request also includes $1.4 billion to help state and local governments provide shelter and services for migrants, following pleas from Democratic mayors and governors who want more assistance in caring for newly arriving migrants. But New York City alone is expecting to spend more than $5 billion on the issue by the end of the budget year. More than 130,600 asylum seekers have come through the city's intake system since 2022 and there's been criticism over the conditions under which they are living. New York Mayor Eric Adams went to Mexico to implore would-be migrants not to come. He has accused the Biden administration of not providing enough money or resources for the city to process migrants, telling reporters in the summer: The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue. In Chicago, OHare International Airport is now housing hundreds of migrants from babies to the elderly at a shuttle bus center. They sleep on cardboard pads on the floor and share airport bathrooms. The governor has been clear about the states urgent need for additional federal resources to address this crisis," said Alex Gough, speaking for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat. "While we are hopeful the Biden administration will be able to take further action soon, allocating any new funding would require the GOP members in the House to get their act together and do their jobs. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the money was urgently needed for states like Massachusetts that are experiencing historic surges in migrant arrivals, and we appreciate the Biden administrations acknowledgement that these funds need to be distributed more equitably." It's unclear how any spending package can pass. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by fellow Republicans and there's no leader in sight. Republicans are already pushing back on using funds to help people who are already in the country, rather than for limiting those at the border. A group of Republican senators met Thursday to discuss proposals that they would support. After a classified briefing with administration officials on Wednesday, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said hed be inclined to support the money for Israel and Ukraine as long as there was a strong border security component. But its got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border, he said. Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn posted online Friday that he supported aid to Israel and Ukraine. But without meaningful and substantive policy changes that will address the #BidenBorderCrisis such aid is in serious jeopardy, he posted on the platform X. No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy. It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who leads a Senate panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security, was wary of mixing any effort to overhaul border policy into a debate over spending. How are we going to settle our differences over immigration in the next two weeks? Murphy asked. This is a supplemental funding bill. The minute you start loading it up with policies, that sounds like a plan to fail. Crenshaw, the Texas Republican, said he agreed with the three priorities of the presidents proposal: Ukraine, Israel and the border. Conceptually, were on the right track here. But he added: The sticking point is going to be in the details. The border is not about money; theres some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy. And so were going to outline very clearly that the policy needs to be effective. When I say that, I mean asylum reform. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking in Washington, Claire Savage in Chicago, Mike Casey in Boston, Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vt., and Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden reminded American citizens on Oct. 21 that the continuation of support for Ukraine and Israel remains vital to the U.S. in particular, calling it a matter of "national security." "History has taught us that when terrorists and dictators dont pay a price, they cause more death and destruction," Biden said. In an address from the White House on Oct. 20, Biden said he was going to send Congress an urgent funding request for aid to Ukraine and Israel. The administration will attempt to push for $105 billion in assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as the Congress remains blocked by the Republican party's inability to appoint the Speaker of the House of Representatives, where they maintain an obstructionist majority. Reuters earlier reported that the White House package would entail $60 billion in funds for Ukraine and $10 billion for Israel. Biden dismissed Russian dictator Vladimir Putin 's claims that Ukraine wouldn't survive a week without Western military aid. "We're not withdrawing," Biden said. "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," he said. "If we walk away and let (Russia's Vladimir) Putin erase Ukraine's independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same." Read also: Biden: Were not withdrawing support for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The US is allowing Israel to make its own calls on timing and strategy in its war with Hamas, but US President Joe Biden did weigh in on the matter during his visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet in Tel Aviv earlier this week, according to a senior administration official. He asked some hard questions about what was being planned and what the effects would be, the official told CNN, adding: Were not directing the Israelis, the timeline is theirs their thinking, their planning. The White House late Friday sought to clarify a brief comment made by Biden after he was asked by a reporter whether Israel should delay a ground invasion in Gaza until more hostages can get out. As he climbed the stairs to Air Force One, the president responded, Yes. The White House immediately moved to explain the presidents comments which could be seen as the US staking out a role in the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted on October 7. The president was far away. He didnt hear the full question. The question sounded like Would you like to see more hostages released? He wasnt commenting on anything else, White House communications director Ben LaBolt said less than an hour after the presidents comment, according to the press pool. Earlier Friday, Hamas released two American hostages in a deal brokered by the Qatari government. A number of foreign nationals were among those kidnapped by Hamas, but information about the status, location and identity of all the hostages remains scarce. As CNN has reported, the US and its allies have been urging Israel to be strategic and clear about its goals if and when it launches a ground invasion of Gaza, warning against a prolonged occupation and placing a particular emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties, according to US and Western officials. During the October 7 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, sparking a humanitarian crisis. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed more than 4,100 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Biden suggested earlier Friday that Hamas attack on Israel was in part to derail US-backed efforts to normalize Israel-Saudi relations. One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden told supporters at a campaign fundraiser in Washington, according to a pool report. Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel, Biden said at the event, which was hosted at the home of a Democratic National Committee official in Washington. The president added that the Saudis were about to recognize Israel. The president has maintained in recent weeks that the effort to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still alive and remains crucial amid the ongoing conflict, though he has said its going to take time to get done. The Saudis, and the Emiratis and other Arab nations understand that their security and stability is enhanced if theres normalization of relations with Israel, Biden told CBS News in an interview that aired Sunday, adding that the direction of moving into the normalization makes sense for the Arab nations as well as Israel. The war between Israel and Hamas has raised concerns that it could widen into a regional conflict that could snowball into an even greater geopolitical crisis. With US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trips to multiple Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, and Bidens visit to Israel this week, the administration has attempted to make clear that they remain hopeful and committed to a normalization deal. A senior US official told CNN last month that Biden and Netanyahu discussed normalization efforts in some depth during a September meeting. Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed optimism that they were close to reaching a deal with Netanyahu telling CNN last month that the agreement would change the Middle East forever and would be a quantum leap in the region. However, when repeatedly asked by CNNs Kaitlan Collins at the time what kind of concessions he would make to get the deal across the line, Netanyahu refused to answer. MBS had previously said a deal to recognize Israel would have to ease the life of the Palestinians though he stopped short of calling for an independent Palestinian state to be established, which has been the kingdoms official position for decades. CNNs Alex Marquardt, Oren Liebermann, Michael Conte, Sana Noor Haq, Nadeen Ebrahim and Eva Rothenberg contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Joe Biden is making a new case to the American public for shipping arms, ammunition and other military supplies to the wars in Ukraine and Israel. His argument: many of those supplies are made in America and that's good for American jobs. In an Oval Office address Thursday seeking more than $106 billion in aid for Israel, Ukraine and other priorities, Biden linked the fight against Russias invasion to the attacks by Hamas. But he also underscored that much of the Ukraine funding hes seeking would never leave the United States. That argument which namechecked 2024 battleground states Pennsylvania and Arizona comes as Biden makes a reelection pitch centered on his efforts to create jobs and revitalize domestic manufacturing in sectors such as clean energy and semiconductor fabrication. The agenda, known as "Bidenomics," has been met with skepticism from voters, according to polls, but the president appears set on putting it at the core of his reelection campaign. And now that message includes arms manufacturing. The administration is pushing to ramp up the defense industrial base to pump out more artillery shells, missiles and other weapons for the U.S. and allies. The newest aid proposal, released Friday, includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, of which $30 billion is for direct Ukrainian military aid. 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. 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 said. You know, just as in World War II, today patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom. For Democrats who have been eager to see Biden more actively selling the war supply effort to weary voters, the made-in-America angle is a welcome sign of political vigor. They acknowledge, though, that it is not a sure-thing political wager. "To anybody that actually wants to, in good faith, make the decision, it's certainly a really important and, I think, persuasive argument that this is about American jobs. It's about helping actually bolster our entire defense manufacturing enterprise, said Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.). But I fear, and past behavior has shown, the MAGA extremists aren't actually making this decision in good faith. They're making it based on Russian propaganda that's been propagated by Trump and everybody else. So I don't know that it sways, unfortunately, the people who you'd want to sway, he lamented. While Biden's message might resonate with some voters, it's not getting much traction with House Republicans who oppose more aid, at least not yet. Interviews with House GOP lawmakers on Friday showed that even those who feel Ukraine aid is justified arent buying Bidens argument. Obviously the supply chain is important, but the president and people in his Cabinet need to sit down with members and lay down the strategy in Ukraine and thats the problem, said House Defense Appropriations Chair Ken Calvert (D-Calif.), an ally of Ukraine aid. One thing Ive learned here is going to war, once it starts, its hard to end. We learned that in Iraq, we learned that in Afghanistan, and so whats the strategy? How does this end? Bipartisan majorities in both chambers still support arming Ukraine, but a smaller $24 billion package Biden proposed has languished on Capitol Hill since August. House Republicans are increasingly opposed to new funding, and many GOP lawmakers argue Biden hasnt properly justified the funding and laid out an endgame for the war. "I'm glad somebody finally told Biden to talk about what the hell Ukraine aid is doing, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a Ukraine aid supporter, said of noting that much of the funding is spent in the U.S. That's helpful and it's absolutely a requirement for some people. It's also not true of some kinds of aid, especially humanitarian aid." Ukraine funding remains a politically toxic issue for House Republicans. Further aid is unpopular with the GOP base and opposed by figures such as former President Donald Trump, making it difficult for many lawmakers to support. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a Ukraine aid supporter, said Bidens argument might reach some voters, but there are Republican lawmakers who hell never reach on Ukraine. Two months after the invasion when Biden [said] weve got to go all in and help we have a certain group of people that whatever Biden says theyve got to do the opposite, Bacon said. You could tell that was the turning point. Biden came out and said we want to do this and they were like, not any more. Ohio Republican Rep. Warren Davidson sponsored legislation that failed in July, which would have required the administration to define its mission in Ukraine. Wherever the aid is manufactured, he said, the administration needs to be more transparent about where the aid is going and the strategy in supporting Ukraines fight. What's the objective? You don't have to commit to achieving it, you just have to tell me what you're trying to achieve? Davidson said. And then I think we do need some more accountability. The American people are very suspect of where it's going. They want a little more accountability. Ukraine has been striking Russian logistics hubs using Lockheed Martins Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, that are partially made in Lufkin, Texas a city of 34,000 people that saw its paper mill and foundry close over the last two decades. Its represented by Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, a Ukraine aid supporter, who said Friday that the U.S. has an obligation to protect Ukraine under its post-Cold War security commitments. He was turned off by Bidens economic appeal. Thats the politics, but the reality is we need to do it because its the right thing, Sessions said. Hes stuck, and I dont fault him for trying to take a middle road. The U.S. has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers that fire GMLRS and are made in Camden, Ark., a town of about 10,000 people thats 100 miles south of Little Rock. Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman, who represents Camden, said critics of government spending can be surprised to know some of that spending is going back to communities like his. I actually had some constituents text me last night and say $100 billion is a lot of money to give away, and I made the point that a lot of that equipment is made in my district, Westerman said. Something that even gets missed on foreign food aid is that its a lot of money coming back to American producers and manufacturers. You cant divorce it from the fact that its government spending that wouldnt otherwise be happening, but it is government spending going back into local communities that are making this equipment. A bigger driver for House Republicans to back Ukraine aid may ultimately be whether they can extract border security concessions from Biden and Senate Democrats. Bidens supplemental request includes $13.6 billion for security efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans are also seeking border policy changes from the administration, and see a Ukraine funding request as an opportunity for leverage. "I'd be really surprised if Republicans wanted to let Russia win more than they wanted our own border secure, Crenshaw said. So I think that is the grand bargain that needs to happen." US President Joe Biden has said that Ukraines and Israels success is vital to US national security. Source: Joe Biden on Twitter (X) Quote: "I know these conflicts can seem far away. Its natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? Israel and Ukraines success is vital to our national security. History has taught us that when terrorists and dictators dont pay a price, they cause more death and destruction." Background: In his address on Thursday, US President Joe Biden called this moment in history an "inflection point", a battle between the world's democracies and autocracies. Biden also condemned the actions of Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin , saying that the attacks on Israel and the invasion of Ukraine have common motives. Some 20.3 million people watched US President Joe Biden's prime-time speech on Thursday night, in which he spoke about aid for Israel and Ukraine during the war. Support UP or become our patron! 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 on Thursday. Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP via Getty Images 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: The situation is so awful, but I still would hope for an Israeli response which is in accordance with the laws of wara war fought that way would at least maintain the possibility of some progress afterwards, of some better aftermath. But this is a terrible time, and Ive never found it so difficult to think about what ought to be done Its a situation where every decision is agonizing. Australian gov't rules out canceling Chinese firm's lease of Port of Darwin Xinhua) 16:20, October 20, 2023 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. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) 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. President Biden suggested Friday evening that the Hamas attack on Israel earlier this month that sparked the recent violent conflict was related to increased diplomacy between Israel and Saudi Arabia. One of the reasonswhy Hamas moved on Israel, is because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden said during remarks at a campaign fundraiser. Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel, the former president continued. Israel and Saudi Arabia have been coming closer to normalization in recent times, and Biden has been working to foster a relationship between the two. I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a [historic] peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told Biden last month, according to The Associated Press. As a portion of any larger deal with Israel, Saudi Arabia was pressing for expanded Palestinian rights. However, in the wake of the Hamas attacks, talks stalled between the two countries. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was in Saudi Arabia the weekend of the Hamas attack on Israel. She was meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a possible peace agreement with Israel. We had left the meeting the night before with such optimism, and then when we found out about the attacks on Israel, it really struck us that this has just made our task that much harder, Ernst told The Hill. Obviously we were very sad about what was happening in Israel, the dynamics in the Middle East are very difficult, very difficultit just really was difficult for us to face that next day knowing that, where we thought we were making advances, now its probably going to be on hold for just a bit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You may have heard of queer Black author Leah Johnson from her debut young adult (YA) novel You Should See Me in a Crown, which won a Stonewall Book Award, and was named one of the 100 best YA books of all time by TIME Magazine. But last month, Johnson started a new chapter in her career as a bookstore owner, when she opened Loudmouth Books, an Indianapolis-based indie bookstore dedicated to banned books and marginalized authors. Loudmouth is, at its core, a product of rage, says Johnson, whose books have been the subject of bans. In 2022, for example, You Should See Me in a Crown was one of more than 50 books that were classified as "obscene" and placed under investigation by the Attorney General's office in Oklahoma. There is a certain powerlessness to being an author who is being made to watch your book get banned time and time again for the simple crime of featuring queer characters, but Loudmouth felt like my attempt to reclaim that power, says Johnson. Loudmouth is a declarationno matter how hard they try to silence us, no matter how hard they try to push us further into the margins, we will always be here. And we're only getting louder and prouder. Book bans are on the rise across the country not just at the school level, but also at the state level. For example, this year, Indiana legislators passed a bill to allow educators to be punished for sharing harmful reading materials, which, according to the ACLU, is defined vaguely enough to include materials about LGBTQ+ issues. Related: There's Been a 33% Increase In Book Bans Across the U.S., Says PEN America One of the scariest [bills] for me as a writer . . . [is Indianas] book banning [law], which makes it easier for books about queer and BIPOC folks to not only be challenged, but also makes it easier to criminalize teachers and librarians for keeping those books available to young people, says Johnson. This bookstore, this space, felt so urgent that I knew if ever there was a time to open it, it would be now. In June of this year, Johnson began fundraising for the bookstore via GoFundMe, and she has already surpassed her $10,000 goal with more than $17,000 in donations from over 300 people. The money raised from the GoFundMe has been used to open the store, but will also support the bookstores Clear the Shelves initiative, which allows young people across Indianapolis to come in and grab a diverse title for free. As of publication, the GoFundMe is still open for donations, as well as an online storefront at Bookshop.org. Above all, Johnson encourages folks to visit the store in person if they are able. The thing about independent bookstores that's so incredible is that we can do for readers what no algorithm can, says Johnson. We can meet and interact with readers and help steer them in the direction of titles that they may not have heard about on TikTok or seen a targeted ad for on Instagram. And as an added benefit, all of the money you spend at an indie goes back into your community and not towards sending billionaires to space, she jokes. Despite Johnsons new chapter as a bookstore owner, her writing career is far from over. Earlier this year, she debuted her first middle school novel, Elliot Engle Saves Herself, which follows a Black, queer 12-year-old girl who loves comic books. In addition, Johnson is currently working on a YA rom-com with non-binary author and advocate George M. Johnson, whose book All Boys Arent Blue was the second most banned book of the 2021-2022 school year. Leah describes the book as being full of small town hijinx with a queer BIPOC cast of characters set against the backdrop of New Year's Day. As books like these continued to be attacked by extremist politicians as a means of control, Johnson is excited to be a source of knowledge and support for young children and adults. To those politicians, she says: If you care about children, support their journeys to understand their identities with the help of life-affirming stories. Don't use them as pawns in a political quest for power. TINLEY PARK, Ill. - In the early morning hours of Friday, the Tinley Park Fire Department received a call for a building fire at the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center grounds. The site is located at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the south side of the recreational building in the residential area of the campus on fire. Officials say several factors, including poor lighting, a lack of functioning fire hydrants, dense overgrowth, and the deteriorating state of the abandoned structure, made it that much harder to fight the blaze. It took crews over an hour to gain control of the situation. Village Manager Pat Carr expressed serious concerns about the situation. "This is the second significant fire that the Fire Department has responded to on this property within the last six months, with the last one back on April 28," Carr said. "This property has become a homeless encampment and poses an extremely high danger for these people and our firefighters due to the poor condition of the property." Several nearby fire departments helped in fighting the blaze. "Immediate action is required to secure the entire campus, or we may see more fires, potentially endangering our firefighters and local residents due to smoke and other hazards." Ensuring the safety of both residents and emergency responders remains a top priority, prompting the need for swift intervention to address the ongoing challenges on the property," Fire Chief Steve Klotz said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said U.S. efforts to secure the release of further hostages were ongoing after Hamas freed two Americans kidnapped in the groups surprise attack on Israel. The two hostages, identified as Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a small village near the Israeli border with Gaza that Hamas militants attacked in the initial wave of Oct. 7 violence. After being held in Gaza for nearly two weeks, the two hostages were released and met by Israeli military personnel at the territorys border, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Ministers Office. 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 that are trapped there, Blinken said in a State Department briefing. Ten additional Americans remain unaccounted for, Blinken said, some of whom are held hostage alongside another 200 people from a variety of countries. He thanked the Qatari government for assisting in the release of the hostage but declined to comment on the nature of its involvement. 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, President Joe Biden said in a statement, further echoing Blinkens praise for Qatar. A Hamas spokesperson said the hostages were released for humanitarian reasons, according to an Associated Press report, but Blinken emphasized he would not take anything Hamas says at face value. Originally from the northern Chicago suburbs, the Raanans were visiting Israel for a relatives birthday. Natalie Raanans father told the AP on Friday that shes doing very good. 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. Their representative in Congress, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), released a statement on Friday welcoming the news. The past two weeks have been absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking, but today, we got a message of hope, she said. The State Department on Thursday said 32 Americans have been killed in the conflict. Biden on Friday asked Congress to approve a $106 billion package that would include emergency aid to Israel as well as money for Ukraine and the southern U.S. border. But as the House speakership stalemate continues, the fate of any aid remains in the balance. The EU will start consulting with member countries on the next sanctions package against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in the coming days, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 20, citing undisclosed sources. The bloc's 12th sanctions package could include a ban on Russian diamonds, a further crackdown on Russia's ability to circumvent sanctions, and listing companies in third-party countries that help Moscow to do so, Bloomberg said. Despite Western sanctions, Russia's diamond sales keep filling the Kremlin's coffers amid the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia's main diamond producer, Alrosa, sells its product to Western brands through intermediaries in third-party countries, an investigation by the Kyiv Independent revealed. Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war Brussels also reportedly seeks to expand the list of restricted dual-use goods with military applications, yet another product that Moscow manages to obtain via third-party states. The European Commission warned earlier that if diplomatic channels are insufficient to prevent third-party countries from re-exporting sanctioned products, the European bloc can ban exports to those states as well. According to Rikard Jozwiak, a journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, discussions between the European Commission and the EU ambassadors on the new package are to begin between Oct. 21-22. European leaders hope to reach an agreement in November through December, he added. The EU imposed its previous 11th sanctions package in June, aimed at countering sanctions circumvention, mainly in dual-use products and in Russian oil trade. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said he thinks the release of two American hostages by Hamas on Friday was a delay tactic. Well obviously we should be very happy that at least two people have been let go, Bolton said in an interview with Newsmax. But given the way Hamas put it, and given what we know about Hamas and how it operates, what the character of its leadership is, I have to say for those concerned with the other hostages, I think this is an entirely cynical move by them. Bolton, the security advisor to former President Trump, said the release of the two hostages was an effort by Hamas to delay the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from going into Gaza. The delay will allow Hamas to create more booby traps for them, he said. And it puts the lives of the remaining 200 plus hostages in even further jeopardy, but this is hard logic to talk about it this way, Bolton said. Wed hope that a civilized group would leave everybody, let everybody go. That isnt going to happen. Theyre trying to play for time here, thats what this is about. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley echoed similar sentiments, saying she thinks the hostage release is Hamas trying to earn favor with the U.S. Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned Biden to not let it weaken the U.S. response to Hamas. President Biden announced Friday that two American hostages taken by Hamas into Gaza during the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 were going to be returned to their families soon. The joint effort with Qatar and Israel was to secure Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie Raanan. Biden said officials have been working around the clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas. Biden spoke on the phone after the hostages were freed, relaying that they have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from being held, hostage. There are 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for after Hamass initial attack. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the first two weeks of the conflict in the Middle East, officials said. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes have killed nearly 4,300 Palestinians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bonfire night fireworks display will return to the Manx capital next month, the local authority has confirmed. The spectacle, which is organised by Douglas Council, will see the sky light up from 19:00 GMT on 3 November. The display returned to the capital last year after a two-year break caused by the promenade works. Andrew Bentley of Douglas Council's regeneration and community committee said the event had "become one of the highlights in the community calendar". The council was "again looking forward to welcoming locals in their thousands from all over the Island to enjoy a spectacular display in a safe and secure setting", Mr Bentley said. The Douglas show will be lit from a barge based opposite the War Memorial on the promenade, and people have been urged not to bring pets or their own fireworks, including sparklers. Displays are also set to be let off from on Peel breakwater on 27 October at 19:00, and in Ramsey's Mooragh Park on 4 November from 18:30. Port Erin Commissioners confirmed there were no plans for a display to return to the village after the authority held the first low noise event in the town two years ago amid concerns about the impact of the display on pets and people affected by loud noises. Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk Ukraine's largest airport, Kyiv's Boryspil International, is prepared to resume flights within one month after the end of the war, the airport's director general Oleksiy Dubrevskyy said in an interview with Politico on Oct. 18. "We're doing all the necessary activities to get flights as soon as possible," Dubrevskyy said. "Were ready to start operations at short notice." Boryspil has kept paying its staff two-thirds of their pre-war salary and keeps them working "to make sure that all certifications are up-to-date," after learning from the Covid-19 pandemic that rehiring employees at short notice is a challenge. Dubrevskyy said he expects a post-war boom in flights to Ukraine, due to pent-up demand for tourism, cargo flights for reconstruction, and "a new market niche" of friends and relatives visiting each other from abroad. With 8 million Ukrainians living abroad, the post-war air travel situation will resemble "Poland in 2004 when it joined the EU," with people traveling back and forth between Ukraine and Europe much more frequently, the leadership of Boryspil believes. Their prognosis matches that of Ryanair, one of Europe's largest low cost airlines. Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary came to Boryspil in July and announced plans to return to the Ukrainian market within eight weeks of the country's air space reopening. "Ukraine is a country of 40 million people, many of whom have been dispersed across Europe over the past year. We look forward to being able to reunite these families," O'Leary said. However, while Boryspil managed to repair the damage resulting from the Russian invasion, some airports will have to be rebuilt "from scratch," Dubrevskyy said. These include Kherson, Mariupol, and Dnipro airports. Only Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa airports are in good condition, according to Dubrevskyy. Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civilian aircraft since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukraine's state-run air traffic enterprise, Ukraerorukh, has stated that it will reopen after the war ends. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Boston police are looking into a report of a suspicious man who reportedly chased after a juvenile in West Roxbury Friday, Officers responded to the area of Broadlawn Park Friday morning where a juvenile girl reported that a man attempted to wave her over to her car and when she refused, began to chase after her. Officers were unable to locate the suspect, described as an older Black man driving a grey SUV or minivan. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston police at (617) 343-4566 or text CRIME (27463) Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Boston police are seeking the publics help in identifying the suspect and vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused an injury in Brighton. According to police, on Friday, October 13 around 9:05 p.m. in the area of 60 Guest Street in Brighton, a vehicle was involved in an accident that caused personal injury. The motor vehicle is described as a 2016 Subaru Impreza 4-door hatchback, either black or dark blue, with distinctive damage to the passenger side door, police say. The crash is under investigation and police are asking anyone with information to contact detectives at (617) 343-4256. 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 Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Western Returned Scholars Association to rally talent from around the world and pool strengths of creativity for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the association, which is celebrating its 110th founding anniversary. In his letter, Xi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, expressed warm congratulations to the association and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese students and scholars and workers providing services for relevant personnel. Xi expressed appreciation for the association's contribution in uniting overseas Chinese students, calling on the association to continue to play its role as a talent pool in serving the country, a think tank of good ideas and proposals and a vital force in people-to-people diplomacy. He also expressed hope that overseas Chinese students and scholars would carry forward their patriotic tradition, serve the people, stay confident, break new ground and forge ahead, and maintain an open and inclusive mind to promote the exchanges and mutual learning between China and other countries. A gathering to celebrate the association's 110th anniversary of establishment was held in Beijing on Saturday. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, attended the event and made a speech. Wang called on overseas Chinese students and scholars to keep Xi's requirements in mind, calling on the association to better rally overseas students and scholars around the Party. Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi's letter at the gathering. When a teen-aged Emma Mannion was arrested in November 2016 and accused of falsifying a rape story, news organizations including our sister paper, the Tuscaloosa News published a story. That was the first that most readers had heard of Mannion. There was no prior coverage of rape allegations. And the charge against her was a nonviolent misdemeanor. Her mugshot ran under the headline, "Police: University of Alabama student lied about sexual assault." In interviews with reporter Keith Sharon, Mannion said articles like those cost her friends and jobs. Her telling of the story is now part of the Netflix documentary, "Victim/Suspect," which examines a pattern of women who report sexual assaults, only to be lied to by police and ultimately charged with crimes themselves. More: Police said she lied about being raped. Now Emma Mannion is fighting to clear her name When it comes to local journalism, few things are more important than how a news organization covers crime and public safety. Few subjects have as much interest among readers, and few things have the potential to cause as much harm to a community. As recently as 2018, the Advertiser changed its policy to stop running arrest mugshots and photo galleries, which were among our most-viewed pages for years. Too often these mugshots weren't representative of everyone facing charges at a given time. In some communities, a mugshot is removed from the law enforcement website once that individual posts bail and is released. Any mugshot gallery would primarily feature those without the means to post bail. New standards about what crimes we cover, how we cover them and how we treat victims, suspects and even law enforcement have been adopted across the USA TODAY Network, which includes both the Advertiser and the Tuscaloosa News, after extensive discussions about the legal, ethical, social and privacy issues involved. At the heart of these changes was an understanding of the sizable perception gap about nonwhite communities and the people charged with crimes. It's also a frank acknowledgment that the justice system is far from perfect. Today, we steer our reporters away from writing about misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies (though we are more willing to publish news about lesser charges if the individual is a public figure in a position of trust.) We also acknowledge that official statements from law enforcement and others are not the same as a conclusive account of events. They have to be presented with proper context, along with coverage that provides a wider understanding of issues, events and crime in our neighborhoods, schools and businesses. We value our relationship with law enforcement and respect the job they do every day. However, our job as journalists is to go beyond the official releases and dig deeper. We do continue to use booking photos in some stories, including those about condemned prisoners or when police have launched a manhunt for a suspect believed to be a danger to the public. But in most cases we avoid using names of juveniles charged with crimes, even when they're named by law enforcement. When we do use the name of a juvenile, we explain that decision to readers. Under the new standards, Emma Mannion's story would not be treated the same way today. The charge itself likely would not warrant coverage unless it followed news of a rape investigation. We wouldn't publish a mugshot of Mannion, or even pursue a one-off story about an alleged false accusation. Any reporting would involve reaching out to multiple sources including attorneys and, if possible, Mannion herself. Even then, it would mean continuing to follow the case and give readers more context. Our policies continue to evolve, but the goal remains the same: to fairly and accurately portray the people and events of our community while considering the outsized effect that coverage can have on people's lives. We must continue to do that, and we will. Brad Harper is the executive editor of the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at bharper1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Brad Harper: Crime coverage must benefit the community A mountain guide in the Cholita climbers group passes in front of a no trespassing sign. REUTERS/Claudia Morales In 2015, a group of 11 Aymara Indigenous women set out to climb the mountains of Bolivia. The group, known as Cholita Climbers, make their ascent in traditional Aymaran clothes. They teamed up with UNiTE to help spread awareness of gender equality and gender-based violence. Dressed in bright clothing, a group of Indigenous Aymara women climb the peaks of the Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia. The group of 11 women, all between 40 and 50 years old, are thought to be the first Aymara women to ascend the peaks of the Cordillera Real mountain ranges. Traditionally working in roles as porters and cooks at base camp for visiting mountaineers, the Aymara women have traded their cooking utensils for climbing tools. Making their first ascent in 2015, the climbers have since made it to the top of five Bolivian peaks the Acotango, Parinacota, Pomarapi, and Huayna Potosi, as well as Illimani, which has a 5-mile long series of four peaks. All peaks are higher than 19,500 feet above sea level. In January 2019, the Cholita climbers achieved their long-term goal of summiting Aconcagua, the tallest mountain outside of Asia, with its peak at 22,841 feet. The Cholita Climbers are a group of Indigenous Aymara women from Bolivia. Aymara women in the Altiplano. Julio Etchart/ullstein bild via Getty Images. Aymara women are recognizable by the way they dress, with colorful skirts and wool bowler hats as part of their traditional clothing. The traditional clothing of the Cholitas originates from Spanish colonizers in the 17th century. Aymara mothers carry their children on their backs. In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images When Spain came to the Americas, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo banned Inca clothing and instead ordered people to wear clothing seen in the mountains of Spain. Over the centuries, the components of the outfits have changed in material but have largely remained the same style, including petticoats and shawls in the 17th century and, relatively recently, adding "derbies" or bowler hats and replacing boots with slippers. Recently, the Cholita Climbers have swapped out their hats for helmets as they climb the mountains of Bolivia. Aymara women at the Huayna Potosi mountain. REUTERS/David Mercado The Cholita Climbers have the advantage of working and living in the mountains, which has acclimated them to high altitudes and the thin air. Two Aymara women get some rest on the way up the mountain. REUTERS/David Mercado Most of the Cholita Climbers have been cooking, cleaning, and carrying equipment for other mountain climbers in the area for 20 years. The Cholita Climbers chose to experience the thrill of the climb for themselves instead of cooking and cleaning for others. Aymara women practice on a glacier of the Huayna Potosi mountain. REUTERS/David Mercado When climber Lydia Huayllas asked her husband what he feels when he goes to the top of the mountains, he proposed that she make the climb to experience it herself, she told Reuters. Starting in 2015, the Cholitas set out to dispel the stereotype that women can't or shouldn't climb, one peak at a time. Aymara women walk toward Huayna Potosi mountain. REUTERS/David Mercado "We wanted to show that women are strong and brave, that we can do it with our clothing," Cecilia Llusco, daughter of a mountain guide, told Radio France Internationale. So far, the Cholita Climbers have ascended nearly a dozen peaks in Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina, including the Aconcagua, the tallest mountain outside of Asia. Senobia Llusco and Cecilia Llusco, members of the Cholita Climbers, smile after making a summit at the Huayna Potosi mountain. MARTIN SILVA/AFP via Getty Images With one of their most recent climbs, the Cholita Climbers made a statement. The Cholita Climbers unfurl their flag at the summit of Huayna Potosi mountain. MARTIN SILVA/AFP via Getty Images In 2020, some of the Cholita Climbers ascended the Huayna Potosi peak and planted a flag in support of the United Nations Secretary-General's UNiTE campaign, a global effort to end violence against women and girls. The group of four Cholita Climbers, Cecilia and Rufina Llusco, Teodora Magueno, and Ana Lia Gonzales, hiked for an uninterrupted 18 hours in -20C temperatures to plant the flag at the summit. The activism of the Cholitas doesn't stop there. A Cholita Climber poses with an ice pick. MARTIN SILVA/AFP via Getty Images Working together with the UNiTE campaign, the Cholitas are aiming to bring awareness to gender-based violence with each climb. "I made that ascent with a purpose to put an end to gender-based violence," Rufina Llusco told UN Women. "The victims' families have been seeking justice for so many years, and their pain moved me." According to UN data, eight out of 10 Bolivian women suffer some type of violence in their lifetime. What started as climbing to experience the joy of the summit has turned into spreading the message of gender equality and violence prevention. Aymara women raise their hands towards the mountain after climbing the Nevado Sajama. MARCELO PEREZ DEL CARPIO/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The Cholita Climbers are breaking stereotypes and proving that women are just as capable as men in Bolivia. "The first time I climbed, I felt like I was flying," Ana Lia Gonzales told UN Women. Analia "Aliita" Gonzales, poses for a portrait after climbing the Nevado Sajama. MARCELO PEREZ DEL CARPIO/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images "I felt free, and it was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced," she added. Read the original article on Insider The first aid convoy entered Gaza from Egypt on Saturday Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai peninsula as the first aid convoy entered Gaza after two weeks of war. Speaking at a summit in Cairo, Mr Sisi said the only solution was an independent state for Palestinians. The summit began as 20 trucks carrying aid crossed the Rafah border. However humanitarian organisations have warned it will not be enough to address the need. About 500 trucks a day had been entering Gaza before the war started. Some 1.2 million people living in the territory already relied on food aid, the UN says. The UN will be responsible for distributing the aid, with much of it likely to be sent to UN schools where thousands have been sheltering and hospitals. One of the trucks was loaded with coffins, a BBC reporter watching the trucks enter Gaza reports. Afterwards US President Joe Biden expressed his "deep personal appreciation" to Egypt, Israel and the UN for allowing the aid to get through. "We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza," his statement said. Israel's military said the aid was for southern Gaza only and repeated calls for residents in the northern Gaza Strip to leave their homes. They should move south of Wadi Gaza in the centre of the territory, it said. It has vowed to wipe the Hamas "off the face of the earth". However in his speech at the Cairo-hosted "Summit for Peace", Mr Sisi said his country would not allow Palestinians to be displaced across the Rafah crossing into Egypt. His comments were backed by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. Mahmoud Abbas , who is head of the Palestinian Authority which has control over areas of the occupied West Bank but not the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, also said Palestinians could not be forced to leave. "We will never accept relocation, we will remain on our land whatever the challenges," he said. The summit broke up without a joint statement. No Israeli or senior US officials were present, and differences between Arab and European countries were stark. According to Arab diplomats quoted by AFP on condition of anonymity, European delegates demanded "a clear condemnation placing responsibility for the escalation on Hamas" but Arab leaders refused. At the end, Egypt released a statement approved by Arab delegations, criticising world leaders for seeking to "manage the conflict and not end it permanently". Egypt and other Arab states have previously said an influx of Palestinian refugees fleeing the war would be unacceptable because it would amount to the expulsion of Palestinians from their land. Meanwhile King Abdullah of Jordan denounced what he called "global silence about Israel's attacks on Gaza". "The message the Arab world is hearing is that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones," he said. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the leaders in the summit that he had spoken to the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law and to preserve civilian lives in Gaza. "Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military," he added. Mr Cleverly added that the international community needed to work to prevent the situation in Gaza provoking a regional conflict. During his address to the summit, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war, demanding global "action to end this godawful nightmare". The Palestinians need "a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed", he said. Israel began retaliatory air strikes on Gaza after an attack by Hamas's military wing on Israel on 7 October killed 1,400 people, many in their homes in kibbutzes near Gaza and at a music festival that was happening nearby. Israel says more than 300 soldiers were also killed in the attack and Hamas took more than 200 hostages into Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes, more than half of them women and children. More on Israel-Gaza war California Gov. Gavin Newsom is far from the Golden State this weekend, as he travels from the Mideast to the Far East on a high-stakes overseas trip that could fuel future presidential speculation. The two-term California governor with a rising national profile made a quick stop in Israel on Friday, amid the Jewish State's war with Hamas. Then it was on to China, where Newsom aims to discuss climate change with the world's most populous nation. But it's a delicate dance for the governor, who as a top surrogate on behalf of President Bidens 2024 re-election campaign, needs to make sure he doesn't disrupt fragile relations between the administration in Washington and the communist regime in Beijing. NEWSOM'S POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS FRONT AND CENTER AS HE TOUTS BIDEN FOR 2024 And the trip, only his second international tour in his official capacity as California governor, carries plenty of risks and rewards for Newsom, who's viewed by many pundits as a likely future presidential contender. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This trip builds up his credentials," seasoned Democratic communicator and strategist Chris Moyer, a veteran of multiple presidential campaigns, noted. "It could pay dividends for him later." While in Israel, the governor huddled with Californians and others who survived the horrific assault by Hamas militants nearly two weeks ago, which was the deadliest attack on Israel in half a century. "Today, I met with a Californian 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 wrote in a social media posting, as he described his visit to a hospital in Tel Aviv. Newsom also described meeting a mother whose son, a Californian, is being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. He also spotlighted that he "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." "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," Newsom said. The governor's office noted in a released that "the State of California is working to ship medical supplies to support humanitarian relief efforts in Israel and Gaza." California is home to the largest population of Arab Americans in the United States, according to the Arab American Institute. It also has the second-largest populations of Jews in the U.S., according to the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University. Newsom wasn't the only American governor to visit Israel. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York stopped in the Jewish State earlier in the week. GAVIN NEWSOM IS MAKING SOME BIG MOVES IN CALIFORNIA In China, Newsom will target areas where California and China can team up to reduce global warming emissions including a focus on electric vehicles, high-speed rail, and offshore wind energy. While Newsom's immediate predecessors in Sacramento former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown both negotiated with China on climate and trade, relations have dramatically worsened between the two superpowers. That raises the stakes for Newsom's trip and could invite plenty of criticism from Republicans. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING AND OPINION ON GAVIN NEWSOM But the trip also brings business benefits. Mike Trujillo, a veteran California based Democratic strategist, noted that "California, if it were its own country, would be the fifth-largest economy in the world." Governors of the Golden State view it their duty to ensure California remains an economic powerhouse. "That means making sure other countries, importers, exporters, everything we do in this state, has a good relationship with our supply line." "Whether or not the trip burnishes his credentials for a future presidential race really doesn't matter. I just think it's good government by the governor of California," Trujillo said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with Fox News Digital in the spin room at the second GOP presidential debate, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on Sept. 27, 2023 Even though he repeatedly shoots it down, speculation still runs rampant that Newsoms secretly mulling a White House run in 2024 should something happen to Biden, thanks in part to the governors six trips this year to red states and an upcoming primetime debate in Georgia with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News "Hannity." He also has a burgeoning political operation thats distributing millions to Democratic causes and candidates. Newsoms moves have positioned him as a leading voice in the Democratic Party at a time of rising concerns among Democrats over the 80-year-old presidents political durability, his negative approval ratings. Recent polls indicate former President Donald Trump the commanding front-runner right now for the GOP nomination is either ahead or tied with Biden in 2024 general election matchups. But Newsom has repeatedly emphasized his support for Bidens re-election and has stressed it is time Democrats rally around the president. "President Biden is going to run, and [Im] looking forward to getting him re-elected. I think theres been so much wallowing in the last few months, and hand-wringing in this respect. But were gearing up for the campaign," Newsom said last month in an NBC News interview. Days later, the governor said that "the answer is no" when asked during a CNN interview if he was considering a 2024 White House run. "No ambiguity." "Lets get on the train. This train has left the proverbial station," he added. The telegenic 55-year-old Newsom has also spotlighted his support for Vice President Kamala Harris, a fellow Californian whose approval ratings are deeper underwater than Bidens numbers. Newsoms reassuring support for Biden has appeared to put the presidents re-election campaign at ease. "He's been a tremendous asset to the campaign, and we're really grateful to have him as part of our national advisory board," Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez told reporters on the eve of the second Republican presidential nomination debate, where Newsom served as the top surrogate for the Biden campaign in the post-debate spin room. While Newsoms political moves may set him up for a potential White House run in 2028, Republicans arent ready to drop speculation the term-limited governor is still angling for a possible 2024 bid. "He's trying to tell the world that he's the number one guy and that he's going to be running for this seat for whatever reasons Joe Biden ends up not being their nominee," California GOP chair Jessica Milan Patterson argued in a Fox News interview last month. Associated Press material was used in this report Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: California Gov. Newsom, a top Biden 2024 surrogate, makes high-profile trips to Israel, China A superior court judge temporarily halted a California school district from implementing a policy requiring teachers and staff to inform parents about a students gender identity. San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs on Thursday found Chino Valley Unified School District's new policy outing trans students violated the states constitution because it discriminated on the basis of the students sexual identity. The policy required the school to notify parents in writing within three days of learning of changes to or questions surrounding a student's gender identity. Sach reportedly took a hard line against the school board, according to local ABC affiliate KABC-TV. Before voting to enact the policy, board members described students who are transgender or gender non-conforming as suffering from a mental illness, Sachs said in court. That same board member further likened the issues related to gender identity to a death culture and claimed that the policy was needed because women are being erased. Sachs wrote in his ruling that some trans students are able to come out while others are not, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, and that his job as a judge is to have their backs. Last month California Superior Court Judge Thomas Garza issued a temporary restraining order halting implementation of the policy until further review by the courts. The suit was filed in August by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The policy, adopted in July, requires schools to inform parents, with minimal exceptions, whenever a student requests to use a name or pronoun different from that on their birth certificate or official records, even without the students permission, Bonta said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. The policy also requires notification if a student requests to use facilities or participates in programs that don't align with their sex on official records. The school district is represented by the Liberty Justice Center. LJC President Jacob Huebert said the ruling defied existing law and precedent. The Fourteenth Amendment and over a century of legal precedent guarantee parents the right to direct their childrens upbringing, and nothing in California law requires schools to keep secrets about children from their parents, Huebert said in a statement after the ruling. We are confident that as litigation continues, the Court will find that the Attorney Generals case has no legal basis and will rule in Chino Valleys favor. A Placer Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced a Yuba County man who targeted a retirement community last year in Lincoln before robbing an elderly woman at knifepoint after using a ruse to enter her home, prosecutors said. Judge Eugene Gini sentenced Joshua Daniel Allen King, 36, of Marysville to 17 years in prison, the Placer County District Attorneys Office announced in a news release. King was convicted of first-degree residential robbery and theft from an elder adult. Prosecutors said his charges included enhancements for committing a violent crime on a victim older than 65 years old, using a deadly and dangerous weapon in the crime, and being previously convicted of a serious or violent felony. Senior Deputy District Attorney Shannon Quigley, who prosecuted the case, said King targeted the retirement community, knocking on several doors before he exploited a vulnerable elderly woman living alone. She was terrorized in her own home an impact that reverberates throughout the entire retirement community, taking away the residents sense of security, Quigley said in the news release. Our seniors deserve to feel safe and protected, not targeted or exploited. On the evening of Oct. 29, 2022, King entered the home of an 89-year-old woman on Lariat Loop. The Lincoln Police Department has said King showed up at her front door under the pretense of asking to retrieve his childs ball from her backyard. Once the woman allowed King inside, he pulled out a knife and demanded money, then left with the womans cash, checks, credit cards, cellphone and drivers license, police said. He also cut the victims landline phone line. The woman was not harmed. King tried the same ruse a few minutes earlier at a nearby home, but was not allowed inside, according to the Police Department. Prosecutors said King went to an ATM at Thunder Valley Casino, where he withdrew cash from the womans bank account. Police said detectives identified King as the robbery suspect after he used the womans credit card at a local business. Five days after the woman was robbed in her home, police arrested King at his Marysville home. Rep. Young Kim onstage during the Concordia annual summit on Sept. 18 in New York City. (John Lamparski / Getty Images) He built his brand on being a roaring archconservative unafraid to take on liberals. He was a pioneer of this new right-wing faction that has become the face of the Republican Party. He was former President Trumps pick to lead the U.S. House of Representatives. And now, hes put California Republicans in a tough spot. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan ended his bid to lead the lower chamber Friday after facing stiff opposition from moderates and other lawmakers in key districts. But all five California Republicans from districts President Biden won in 2020 Young Kim of La Habra, David Valadao of Hanford, Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita, Michelle Steel of Seal Beach and John Duarte of Modesto stood firmly behind Jordan throughout his three failed attempts to secure the gavel. The five Californians decision to back the Ohioan could come back to haunt them. Jordans deep ties to Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election may not sit well with key voters in swing districts, Democratic strategist and pollster Cornell Belcher told The Times on Friday. You have someone in Jim Jordan that encapsulates all that they dislike about MAGA and the Trump era, Belcher said. Jordan is the Donald Trump of the House of Representatives. And those swing voters have rejected Donald Trump. House Republicans have struggled to pick a leader since eight Republicans on Oct. 3 led a vote, joined by Democrats, to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield from the speakers chair. McCarthys historic ouster has left the lower chamber in chaos. Republicans have proven unable to secure a simple majority to elect a speaker who can call floor votes on critical legislation, including bills to respond to the conflicts engulfing Israel and Ukraine and to avert a government shutdown by mid-November. Polling indicates voters are annoyed by the chaos. Forty-nine percent of GOP respondents disapprove of how congressional Republicans are handling their jobs, according to a Thursday poll conducted by Global Strategy Group and released by Navigator Research, a Democratic firm. Sixty-nine percent of all voters said they disapproved of the way congressional Republicans handle their jobs. Republican voters have become more likely to hold their own party accountable for the chaos in Washington. On Sept. 11, 32% of Republicans polled said they would blame their party most if the government were to shut down. By Oct. 16, that share had grown to 36%. The fact that Jim Jordan has gotten up to 200 votes is a reflection: He and Trump represent the GOP, Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist, told The Times. They are symptoms of the same problem. The party has moved hard into the MAGA direction. Its not right, its not left, Longwell said. Its just Trump. Duarte and Garcias races are considered toss-ups, Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, noted on Friday. Cook rates Valadao and Steels races as leaning Republican, and Kims as likely to go Republican. Spokespeople for Garcia, Steel and Duarte did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, Kim told The Times that McCarthys removal had kneecapped the chamber from responding to pertinent issues. I have worked in good faith to be part of the solution and support our conferences nominees, but its clear no candidate has the votes to be Speaker at this time, she told The Times in a statement Friday. Kim said her conference should empower North Carolinas Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, who is serving as speaker pro tempore, to pass critical legislation until a leader is elected. Valadao has said in statements that he backed Jordan because we need to get back to work and that he would support a plan to empower McHenry. Spokespeople for Kim and Valadao would not say who the lawmakers would back after Jordan dropped out and at least five Republicans Reps. Austin Scott of Georgia, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Pete Sessions of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida and Jack Bergman of Michigan said they would run for speaker. McHenry has said he will not run to stay in the chair. But giving him more speakership powers could still be on the table if his caucus cant agree on a leader. The proposal to grant him more power, which would probably need buy-in from Democrats, fell flat Thursday when it became clear Republicans were overwhelmingly against it, leaving the lower chamber foundering as its set to enter its fourth week without a permanent leader. California Republicans pragmatic explanations for backing Jordan have not stopped anti-Trump groups from going after them. Before Jordan dropped out on Friday, Congressional Integrity Project, a Democratic-aligned nonprofit, released ads highlighting the Ohioans ties to the right wing of his party. The digital ad noted that Jordan founded the arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus, denied the results of the 2020 presidential election and is arguably the member of Congress most involved in Donald Trumps attempted coup. Anyone who endorses Jordan and any member who votes for him is affirmatively voting for a coup plotter, an election denier and a foe of American democracy, the ad said. Jordan, who voted not to certify many election results, was a significant player in President Trumps efforts to stay in power, the House Jan. 6 committee noted in its final report on Trump supporters 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol during the certification of Bidens victory. Garcia is the only one of the five Californians in question who voted against certifying some election results. Denying the outcome of the 2020 presidential election remains deeply unpopular among key voters, Belcher said. In 2022, many Democratic candidates ran on a platform saying their party would save American democracy. This argument resonated with voters as Democrats blunted what should have been a massive red wave for the GOP, Belcher said. The protracted infighting among House Republicans is an absolute gift to Democrats, he added. He predicts that progressives competing in tight California districts will run attack ads featuring their opponents support for Jordan, as advocacy groups have. Other experts, though, say all hope is not lost for the five California Republicans. Their chances to stay in office will heavily depend on their messaging, said Whit Ayers, a longtime GOP pollster. If they can show they backed Jordan for practical reasons, voters may excuse their support for him. Voters who are paying very close attention may recall that the GOP refused to empower McHenry to get business done while the speakership race continues. But Ayres doubted most voters are following that closely. Its so much of an inside game, he said, most people are simply not aware of it. Logan reported from Washington and Pinho from Santa Barbara. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A new pact between California State Parks and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is being touted as a plan to ensure parks on the bands ancestral lands are preserved and protected. State Parks and Miwok leaders signed the five-year agreement Monday in West Sacramento, at what will soon be the states California Indian Center. With the signing, California State Parks and the Shingle Springs band formalized how the two will work together to protect, preserve and interpret parks on ancestral Miwok homelands. Our story is like many here in California, said Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Chairwoman Regina Cuellar, in a statement announcing the accord. It makes the importance of the (agreement) we are signing here today all the more critical to not only securing the future well-being of the ancestral lands we are engaged in stewarding and the revitalization of sacred practices, but to us as a people and our identity as a tribe. Among other things, that means applying traditional methods of native plant landscaping into its land management practices, said California State Parks director Armando Quintero, in a way that illuminates the past as present and reveals California as a world of many rich cultures. The pact also commits the two to blend traditional ecological knowledge into efforts to protect cultural and natural resources; work together on art projects; and monitor and protect cultural resources. The new pact is the latest in a growing list of collaborations between the state agency and tribe, including the new Sutters Fort interpretation master plan and Folsom Auburn Road Bridge Mural Project. Authorities on Saturday recovered the vehicle believed to have been driven by a suspect after the shooting death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson in Hagerstown, Md., this week. Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Department Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Authorities said Saturday they have found the car driven by the man considered to be the prime suspect in the shooting death of a Maryland judge this week. Deputies recovered the vehicle believed to have been driven by Pedro Argote but did not elaborate on where they found the silver 2009 Mercedes GL 450, the Washington County, Md., Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. Argote, 49, is wanted in connection with the killing of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Wilkinson, 52, was shot and killed Thursday evening inside his home in Hagerstown, Md. Deputies responding to a 911 call found him suffering from gunshot wounds in his driveway. Police have not said whether they now have Argote in custody. Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the manhunt for the suspect, who is considered to be armed and dangerous. Civilians were advised not to approach Argote if they see him. Pedro Argote (pictured) is wanted in connection for Thursday's shooting death Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Photo courtesy of U.S. Marshals Service There was "a significant police presence" in Williamsport, Md., on Saturday afternoon, the sheriff's office said, while again urging the public to be "vigilant as the search continues for homicide suspect Pedro Argote." A news conference is scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. ET, which will be livestreamed on the department's Facebook page. Police confirmed Saturday they have found the car driven by the man considered the prime suspect in the shooting death of a Maryland judge this week. Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Department Authorities believe the motive behind Wilkinson's death stemmed from a ruling he made earlier against Argote. Wilkinson was presiding over a divorce hearing that resulted in Argote losing custody of his children to his ex-wife. The judge at the time signed an order stripping Argote of all contact and visitation with the children. Argote has ties to Brooklyn and Long Island, N.Y., Columbus, Ohio, Tampa and Clearwater, Fla., and Indiana, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release Friday while offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to his arrest. An Israeli soldier escorts journalists on a tour of the battered Lebanese border area (YURI CORTEZ) Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border Saturday as the army traded fire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas. In south Lebanon, Hezbollah said four of its fighters were killed. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said one of its fighters was also killed. In northern Israel, a strike in the Margaliot area of the border wounded two Thai farm workers, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said. One was wounded in the chest and the other sustained a limb injury, the service said of the workers, who are among the 30,000 Thai labourers in Israel. Israel's army said Hezbollah anti-tank fire towards the village of Baram had wounded three of its soldiers, one of them seriously. The army said it hit a Hezbollah position Saturday evening that had been targeting the border town of Shlomi with anti-tank missiles. Israel already ordered the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a border town which is home to some 25,000 people, as the area has come under fire from Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions. Hezbollah said it targeted several Israeli positions along the border on Saturday including in the contested Shebaa Farms area. A senior Hezbollah official warned that the movement stood ready to step up its involvement as Israel masses troops on the Gaza border vowing to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas in response to its shock cross-border attacks on October 7. "Let's be clear, as events unfold, if something comes up that calls for greater intervention by us, we will do so," said Hezbollah number two Naim Qassem. Saturday's exchanges came as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant visited the northern border, where he called on troops to remain "vigilant". "Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and is paying a price for it. We must be vigilant and prepare for every possible (scenario). Great challenges await us," Gallant said. - 'Growing concern' - In the evening, Lebanon's National News Agency reported Israel air strikes along the western section of the border, including near Alma al-Shaab, Yarin and Dhayra. It also reported a "heavy bombardment on the outskirts of Yarun" near Bint Jbeil. Since October 7, exchanges of fire across the border have killed at least four people in Israel -- three soldiers and one civilian. In southern Lebanon, at least 27 people have been killed, according to an AFP tally. Most have been combatants but at least four civilians, including a Reuters journalist, have also been killed. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted "growing concern over rising tensions" on the border in a telephone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday, a statement said. Blinken "underscored continued US support" for Lebanon's security forces, spokesperson Matthew Miller said in the Saturday statement. Shiite military group Hezbollah is the only Lebanese faction to have kept its weapons after the 1975-1990 civil war, and now has an arsenal more powerful than the army's. Hezbollah fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006 that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 dead in Israel, mostly soldiers. burs/kir/jj/acb Restaurant Lola chef John Hall with partner Anna Bressi and their newborn son Luka on Thursday. Restaurant Lola is planning to open at the end of October in a renovated space in Bremerton's Sheridan Park neighborhood, just off Lebo Boulevard. Auntie Lola was a small woman in stature but not in heart. She owned a dry cleaning business and a botanist company and was known for her fierce and fiery demeanor. Lola's portrait, trimmed with gold against a background of deep red, hung in her living room while she was alive. Now, it sits above the bar in the restaurant being opened by her great nephew, chef John Hall, that bears her name. She watches over as the small dining room at Restaurant Lola transforms in preparation for opening day. Naming a restaurant, it's like naming a kid you say this like a million times in conversation and in passing, Hall said, looking up at the image of his grandmothers last living sister before she passed. That name may be said with joy and enthusiasm, that name may be mentioned with bitterness and anger. It feels easier to sometimes name projects after family members, because you're used to saying the name. When Hall and his partner Anna Bressi saw the storefront that would become Restaurant Lola, they noted its limited size but also a sense of its personality they wanted the room to embody Auntie Lolas fierce and fiery entrepreneurial spirit. Guests will find Lola's atmosphere homey and cozy, curated by Bressi's interior design, which she hopes will make diners feel as welcome for special occasions as for a random Thursday dinner. The couple is gearing up to open the refined and intimate 20-seat restaurant for lunch service on Oct. 31 and then for dinners in November or December. But the interior is just part of the story. The menu of Lola and an accompanying lunch spot in the same business complex is that of a renowned chef combining his past and present with dishes curated from locally grown Pacific Northwest ingredients and composed with inspiration from Halls Southern heritage and training in New York City kitchens. A collage of culinary expertise When Hall was a senior in high school, he didnt know what he wanted to major in, though he always knew he enjoyed cooking. He was driving with his father one day when they passed a billboard for culinary school. For Hall, that was it -- he realized his passion had always been there in front of him. Working his way up from his first job as a dishwasher in Atlanta, Georgia, Hall has worked with Michelin-starred chefs at establishments like New York Citys Per Se, Gramercy Tavern and Momofuku Ssam Bar, Restaurant Lea Linster in Luxembourg and Post Office Pies in Birmingham, Alabama, a chain that Hall opened himself. Staying within food industry hubs like Los Angeles and New York City is the status quo for many seasoned chefs, but Hall harkened back to a question from chef Thomas Keller of Per Se: It's important for us to hone and develop our skills at good institutions, but if those talents only stay concentrated in one area, does the industry as a whole get better? For Hall, there is value in dispersing the high-quality dining experiences of big cities across the country. Hall began dating Bressi, who grew up in Gorst, in 2020. So he asked himself, Why not Bremerton? This means a lot to me and it means a lot to her as well and our family because she was literally just born right up the street, Hall said. To bring and give something back to the communities, that to some degree made us, has been part of our story. Restaurant Lola, as a result, is not only an homage to Hall's late great aunt, but also to the establishments that raised him professionally. Hall pulls the thoughtfulness of cooking from Gramercy Tavern, the attention to detail, cleanliness and organization from Per Se and the entrepreneurial spirit, culture, music and ambience from Momofuku Ssam Bar. Just as he did at Gramercy Tavern and his own Post Office Pies, Hall also intends to be a part of a sustainable ecosystem of local food, supporting local farmers and showcasing cuisine that is recognizable and approachable for local restaurant-goers. Hall began to feel confident about restaurant life in Bremerton, worlds away from the big city, after doing a menu takeover at Hama Hama Oyster Saloon in Lilliwaup and connecting with Deborah Taylor, who also cooked at Per Se, and her husband, Scott, who together own Finistere in Port Townsend. It really gave us a bit of confidence, Hall said. It's truly that we needed to see that you can come to a smaller town on the Sound, give the community a good restaurant, be supported, and have a good quality of life for your family. But, the restaurant world had changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, so starting a new business by the traditional route wasnt Halls goal. Reimagining a restaurant In 2020, about 72,700 more restaurants and bars closed than normal, estimated the Washington Post, 95% more than the average annual rate. Many people in our business now, they've gone right back to business as usual, like it never happened, Hall said. But for the amount of places that closed and people that have died, to not try to reimagine or rethink the model of doing business, I think it would be an opportunity lost. Issues that werent discussed often pre-pandemic were brought to the forefront during that time, Hall observed. People began to talk about the cost of doing business more critically, citing extremely high rents, predatory landlords and financial help, or lack thereof, from municipalities to stay afloat. Ultimately, Hall began to question if the juice was worth the squeeze to open a restaurant in Seattle just for the allure and accolades. Entrepreneurship became a mission of intentionality, stripping away the fluff. And now, Hall knows hes paying a fraction of the cost of rent in Seattle. Restaurant Lola is about the size of a one-bedroom apartment, but the size requires a smaller staff and generates a smaller carbon footprint, Hall said. Restaurant Lola aims to do more with less. We do want this space to feel special for folks, Hall said. Often what you would hear is that weve got to get on the boat to go into the city for certain types of amenities and experiences, but why cant those things be here as well? Restaurant Lola will feature a rotating seasonal menu with an extensive wine list and a full-service cocktail bar complete with fresh squeezed juices. Diners will see dishes like hama oysters, shaved country ham, hand rolled seafood pastas, variations of grilled or pan roasted local fish, seasonal vegetables, steak and a selection of southern subtleties like a personal baked cast iron of cornbread served with whipped lardo and seasonal butter. As the restaurant will open for dinner service in winter, customers can expect some slow cooked, multi-hour braised dishes as part of a heartier cold-weather menu. As Hall and Bressi work tirelessly to prep for Restaurant Lola's opening, the couple are raising their newborn son and opening a second restaurant, the Larder, two doors down from their location on Lebo Boulevard in Bremerton. The Larder will open on October 31 as well, serving as a casual lunch and dinner joint with an offering of refined take-home dinners. Customers will see handmade pastas, soups, sandwiches, braised chicken, clam chowder, mac and cheese, and seasonal vegetables and chicken bakes. Restaurant Lola is set to open for full service in December but will have ticketed dinner dates available for reservation in November, Bressi said. The gradual start will allow Hall and Bressi to meet some of their community while giving the staff an easier introduction to business. We're excited to be here and just excited to be bringing a new addition to this area, Hall said. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Chef John Hall's Restaurant Lola opening in Bremerton this fall Kenneth Chesebro, one of former President Trumps 18 co-defendants in the George election fraud case, didnt truly believe the 2020 election was stolen, according to his attorney. First of all, Mr. Chesebro never believed in the Big Lie, attorney Scott Grubman said Saturday in an interview on MSNBC. If you ask Mr. Chesebro today who won the 2020 presidential election, he would say Joe Biden. Chesebro became the second of Trumps former lawyers to accept a plea agreement in the case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. He pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to file false documents relating to his attempts to set up a regime of fake electoral college votes in Georgia. His trial was scheduled to start Monday. Prosecutors claimed the former lawyer wrote legal memos on behalf of the Trump campaign creating a false legal backing for the fake elector scheme. As part of the plea, the former lawyer agreed to testify in future cases if called upon. That would include the trial of former President Trump, scheduled for early next year. Top Stories from The Hill Grubman said Chesebros guilty plea doesnt implicate any other defendants, and that Trump should not be worried. He did not implicate anyone else. He implicated himself in that particular charge, he said. He is required to testify truthfully if he is called by the state, and Mr. Chesebro is a man of his word. At the same time I will say, if he is called by a defendant he will testify and testify truthfully, Grubman added. The attorney also said he doesnt believe his client would have much to add for the prosecution in any further case, predicting that he wont be asked to testify in the future. Its not that Mr. Chesebro is wanting to protect Donald Trump. Hes not. Hes ready to move on with his life, Grubman said. While Mr. Chesebro was ready for trial, we were ready for trial, this was the best outcome. He is now home with his family and he can put this behind him. Chesebros plea comes a day after another former Trump attorney, Sidney Powell, also pleaded guilty. Both defendants filed speedy trial requests pushing their trial dates up to next week, months before the cases other defendants. However, an attempt to separate their cases was denied by a judge early last month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Chevy Chase Community Center in Indiana County received hundreds of donations after a mass shooting left the facility unusable. PHOTOS: Pennsylvania State Police investigate mass shooting in Indiana County The Stuff a Bus event was held on Thursday to help get the center back on its feet. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Volunteers continue community centers mission to feed neighbors following mass shooting Food, cleaning supplies, water and personal hygiene items were donated to the center. 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 CHICAGO - Three teens were shot while inside a vehicle in Uptown Friday morning. At about 10:31 a.m., two 18-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy were in a parked vehicle in the 4400 block of North Sheridan Road when a vehicle with unknown offenders approached, police said. The offenders then opened fire on the three victims. One 18-year-old was shot in the foot. The other 18-year-old suffered a graze wound to the head. The 16-year-old was shot in both of his thighs. The victims self-transported to an area hospital in stable condition. The offenders then fled the scene. No one is in custody. Area Three detectives are investigating. CHICAGO - A Chicago man has been sentenced for shooting at city police officers in 2020. Latrell Allen, 24, received 60 years in prison for attempted murder. In 2020, the Chicago cops responded to a 911 call of a man in Moran Park with a gun. When they arrived at the scene, they chased Allen into an alley where he opened fire. Bullets ricocheted around the officers, but they were not struck. At the same time, officers returned fire. Allen was struck in the back. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability found that the two officers who shot Allen were justified in their use of deadly force. Allen fired at least eight shots, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. "I am pleased with this sentence, which holds the defendant accountable for willfully endangering the lives of police officers who were doing their jobs to protect our communities," Raoul said. "I remain committed to working with law enforcement agencies across the state to stem the tide of gun violence in Illinois and help keep officers safe." CHICAGO - Two young men were wounded in a shooting on Chicago Lower West Side Friday night. Both men, ages 18 and 20, were in the 2100 block of South Leavitt Street just before 11 p.m. when they heard gunfire and were struck. Police say both men were shot in the abdomen and self-transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital. The 18-year-old was listed in fair condition while the 20-year-old was in critical. There is no one in custody as Chicago police investigate. FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) The only man so far to be charged in federal court following the illegal lab discovered in Reedley was in court for his arraignment on charges of misbranding of medical devices and false statements. According to the Department of Justice, the 62-year-old defendant, a citizen of China, has multiple names: Jia Bei Zhu, aka Jesse Zhu, aka Qiang He. He identified himself in court as David He. Federal prosecutors say 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). Chinese citizen arrested in illegal Reedley lab investigation, DOJ announces He was present via Zoom in Federal Court from the Fresno County Jail in an orange suit and bandages all over his face. A public defender represented him only for the arraignment but told the judge that he was not representing He for future court appearances. The charges listed by Judge Sheila K. Oberto for He included misbranding of medical devices and false statements to federal officials leading up to a potential eight years in custody. As the charges were listed to He, Judge Oberto asked him if he understood and knew what he was being charged for, and responded, I just know it by you telling me now. Before the arraignment ended, He added, Can I ask you two questions. Judge Oberto allowed the questions to be asked however, told him his words could or may be used against him. He then changed his mind about wanting to ask. He also added Can you ask the attorney to speak with me, as he requested the public defender to speak with him after the arraignment. The public defender then stated he was then going to speak to He via Zoom. Zhu is expected to be back in court on October 24. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. The Chinese resident arrested Thursday by federal agents for allegedly manufacturing and distributing COVID-19 test kits illegally, and then lying to investigators about it, will remain in the Fresno County Jail until at least Tuesday, when he is next scheduled to appear in court. Jia Bei Zhu, who investigators said is also known as David He, is believed to have been the operator of a biological lab that operated illegally in Reedley after his company, Universal Meditech Inc., abruptly moved out of its industrial site in south Fresno in late 2022. In a brief video appearance Friday afternoon in a U.S. District courtroom in Fresno, the 62-year-old Zhu wore a red jail jumpsuit and answered questions from Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto with help from a Chinese-language interpreter. He identified himself as David He one of several aliases that investigators with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration said he has used. Eric Kersten, an attorney with the Federal Public Defenders office, said he had spoken with Zhu earlier on Friday to generally advise him of the charges. He told Oberto that he was not representing Zhu, but said that Zhu had contacted his own out-of-town attorney who was trying to connect him with a criminal defense lawyer in the Fresno area. Oberto briefly summarized the charges confronting Zhu: Distributing or receiving misbranded medical devices, and making false statements to federal investigators. She also noted the maximum potential penalties he faces if convicted: On the medical devices, up to three years in prison, a $10,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. On lying to investigators, up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Oberto also told Zhu that he had the right to ask federal authorities to notify representatives of his native China of his arrest. Through the interpreter, Zhu said he understood what she told him. Because Zhu does not yet have an attorney, Oberto postponed his arraignment until Tuesday afternoon to give him enough time to arrange for representation. She also ordered that he remain in custody at the Fresno County Jail, where he has been since he was booked Thursday afternoon. Federal criminal investigators with the U.S. FDA arrested Zhu as he met with Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba and city code enforcement officer Jessalyn Harper outside the warehouse at 850 I St. in downtown Reedley, where Universal Meditech and an associated company, Prestige Biotech Inc., were discovered operating without a city business license in December 2022. Officials closed down this warehouse location which Chinese company Prestige Biotech had illegally used for storage of hazardous materials. Photographed Monday, July 31, 2023 in Reedley. City code inspectors shut down the lab and deemed the building unsafe to occupy in March 2023, based on joint inspections with Fresno County health inspectors and state and federal agencies that discovered hundreds of cases of test kits for a range of uses, including COVID-19 and pregnancy tests. The inspections also uncovered dozens of freezers and refrigerators packed with various bacterial, viral and parasitic agents including COVID-19, chlamydia, E. coli, streptococcus, Hepatitis B and C, human herpes, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), rubella and malaria. Also found in the warehouse were about 1,000 experimental laboratory mice that were later euthanized because they were found in neglected and crowded conditions. Over three days in July, Fresno County carried out an abatement warrant at the warehouse to clear out the various biological materials and medical waste, as well as containers and equipment that had been contaminated, according to court records. A total of of 127 containers of biological material and medical waste each holding about 44 gallons were removed. State health officials also embargoed hundreds of boxes of medical test kits or parts to make test kits, including thousands of COVID-19 test kits that were manufactured by Universal Meditech despite never receiving approval from the FDA to make or distribute them. Prior to its move to Reedley in late 2022, Universal Meditech operated legally in the central San Joaquin Valley, first in Tulare and later in Fresno. The company manufactured and distributed COVID-19 rapid tests while it was in Fresno, but it did so without the required FDA authorization. Universal Meditech issued at least two recalls for its rapid antigen test kits for COVID-19 marketed under the brand names Skippack Medical Lab and DiagnosUs, according to information from the FDA one covering more than 209,000 kits in April 2022, and another in late December for more than 56,000 COVID-19 test kits. The recalled kits were manufactured between October and December 2021 and distributed nationwide in January 2022, when the company was operating in Fresno and after the FDA had rejected the companys application for authorization to manufacture COVID-19 tests. California Food and Drug Branch embargo tape is wrapped around cardboard boxes of medical test kits labeled for Prestige Biotech as cleanup continues at the closed warehouse location which had been illegally operated by Chinese company Prestige Biotech, seen Tuesday, August 1, 2023 in Reedley. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the Seminario SUD Americano 2023 conference in Florianopolis, Brazil on Friday, October 20, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints At a sustainability conference in Florianopolis, Brazil, on Friday, leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke of efforts to care for the Earth and its inhabitants. Elder D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse spoke at the Seminario SUD Americano 2023, which was hosted by the non-profit Roble del Sur Foundation, per a church release. The four-day conferences theme was Our Stewardship of Gods Creations. In all aspects of our earthly stewardships, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ will be a sure guide, and surely, we will do real good in the world, said Elder Christofferson. May each of you be an instrument in the hand of God, and may your life be a blessing to past, present and future generations. Related What is the churchs position on environmental stewardship and conservation? The church has published a topics page on Environmental Stewardship and Conservation, calling humans stewards over the earth who should gratefully use what God has given by avoiding wastefulness and helping the poor. The statement said, Making the earth ugly offends God. Bishop Causse focused on why the Earth was created. The creation of this marvelous world in which we live is not an end in itself; it is the means by which our Heavenly Fathers eternal designs can be accomplished, Bishop Causse said. This earth and everything in it the towering mountains; the vast oceans; the fertile plains; the green valleys; the meandering rivers; the arid deserts; the innumerable variety of plants, insects, birds and animals everything, absolutely everything, was created for one purpose: to enable His sons and daughters to inherit exaltation and immorality in eternal family units. Elder Christofferson said that caring for our bodies, protecting the sacredness of life, and promoting political and religious participation are all elements of our stewardship of Gods creations. His greatest creation is, of course, His children you and I and all our brothers and sisters in the family of our Heavenly Father. He quoted Doctrine and Covenants 2:3 by saying that without the formation of eternal families through all their generations, the earths creation would be utterly wasted. We do not worship Gods creations; we worship God, the Creator. Therefore, we use what He has given us to honor Him and accomplish His will. Related What is the churchs response to environmental issues? Bishop Causse noted six specific ways the church as an organization is working to reduce waste, including: Using more energy-efficient materials and renewable resources, including solar energy. Conserving drinking water through waterwise landscaping with temples and other church buildings, smart technology use and water management projects. Sacrament cups will now be made with 100% recyclable material at the beginning of 2024, reducing waste and the churchs carbon footprint. Updating and improving fuel efficiency of the churchs vehicles to work towards cleaner air. Encourage and use sustainable farming and ranching techniques, including the use of cover crops, crop rotation, no-till farming, grazing management etc. Practicing sustainable building techniques and being mindful of resources, site selection and long-term support. He concluded with a sincere invitation to consider ways that you can bless your family, your community, the country in which you live and ultimately the people in need all around the world. I hope you will care for your natural environment and adopt personal lifestyles and behaviors that respect, preserve and beautify Gods wonderful creations, said Bishop Causse. Related At least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials have reported. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Oleksandr Vilkul , the head of the Ukrainian Military Administration of Kryvyi Rih. Vilkul added that the man's wife was hospitalised with serious shrapnel wounds. Early on Saturday, Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Vilkul did not elaborate on the site's nature or whether it was linked to Ukraine's war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. Hours later, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian military's fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rih's local airport. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials to Konashenkov's claim. In Ukraine's front-line Kherson region in the south, one civilian was killed and another suffered wounds as Russian forces launched mass shelling attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Saturday. In a Telegram post, Prokudin said that Russian troops used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the province, striking some residential areas. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the front-line city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local Governor Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off waves of Russian attacks. Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the province. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was hospitalised with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, local Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Saturday. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. Local Ukrainian authorities also reported Russian attacks on Friday and overnight on the northern Sumy and southern Zaporizhzhia provinces but made no mention of casualties. The governor of Russia's southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces over the previous day shelled two of the province's districts, using mortars and grenade launchers. According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, civilians were not hurt. Editors Note: This story includes analysis of a video of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital blast, which was cited by Israel and the US as evidence that a rocket fired from Gaza failed and crashed into the hospital complex. Since this article was first published, CNN reviewed several more videos and determined that the projectile pictured in the footage was launched from Israel and is unlikely to be connected to the hospital explosion. However, that revelation does not alter CNNs ultimate findings that while no evidence can be conclusive, the balance of evidence suggests the explosion was not the result of an Israeli airstrike and was likely caused by a malfunctioning rocket. Read our new analysis here. The story below has been updated. In the days since a blast ripped through the packed Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, killing hundreds of Palestinians, dueling claims between Palestinian militants and the Israeli government over culpability are still raging. But forensic analysis of publicly available imagery and footage has begun to offer some clues as to what caused the explosion. CNN has reviewed dozens of videos posted on social media, aired on live broadcasts and filmed by a freelance journalist working for CNN in Gaza, as well as satellite imagery, to piece together what happened in as much detail as possible. Without the ability to access the site and gather evidence from the ground, no conclusion can be definitive. But CNNs analysis suggests that a rocket launched from within Gaza broke up midair, and that the blast at the hospital was the result of part of the rocket landing at the hospital complex. Weapons and explosive experts with decades of experience assessing bomb damage, who reviewed the visual evidence, told CNN they believe this to be the most likely scenario although they caution the absence of munition remnants or shrapnel from the scene made it difficult to be sure. All agreed that the available evidence of the damage at the site was not consistent with an Israeli airstrike. Israel says that a misfired rocket by militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast, a claim that US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday is backed up by US intelligence. A spokesperson for the National Security Council later said that analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information suggested that Israel is not responsible. Palestinian officials and several Arab leaders nevertheless accuse Israel of hitting the hospital amid its ongoing airstrikes in Gaza. Islamic Jihad (or PIJ) a rival group to Hamas has denied responsibility. Wounded women and children sit on the floor at the Al-Shifa Hospital after being transported from the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital following a blast there on Tuesday, October 17. - Abed Khaled/AP The Israel-Hamas war has triggered a wave of misleading content and false claims online. That misinformation, coupled with the polarizing nature of the conflict, has made it difficult to sort fact from fiction. In the past few days, a number of outlets have published investigations into the Al-Ahli Hospital blast. Some have reached diametrically different conclusions, reflecting the challenges of doing such analysis remotely. But as more information surfaces, CNNs investigation which includes a review of nighttime video of the explosion, and horrifying images of those injured and killed inside the hospital complex is an effort to shed light on details of the blast beyond what Israel and the US have produced publicly. A flash of light in the dark On the evening of October 17, a barrage of rocket fire illuminated the night sky over Gaza before the deadly blast, according to videos analyzed by CNN. An Al Jazeera camera, located in western Gaza and facing east, was broadcasting live on the channel at 6:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday night, according to the timestamp. The footage shows a projectile traveling in an upwards trajectory before reversing direction and exploding, leaving a brief, bright streak of light in the night sky above Gaza City. Just moments later, two blasts are visible on the ground, including one at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. The Israeli and US governments cited the Al Jazeera footage as part of their assessments of the explosion at Al-Ahli, suggesting that it showed the moment a rocket fired from Gaza failed mid-air and crashed into the hospital grounds. A previous version of this story had drawn a similar conclusion, that the video seemed to capture an errant rocket likely fired from Gaza, but CNN could not independently confirm whether the projectile was linked to the hospital blast. But after analyzing additional videos, CNN has been able to construct a more complete picture. Multiple camera angles show that the projectile captured in the Al Jazeera broadcast was likely fired from inside Israel, not from Gaza, and unlikely to have any connection to the explosion at Al-Ahli, miles away. Open-source researchers @ArchieIrving2 and @OAlexanderDK on X, formerly known as Twitter, were the first to triangulate the footage and geolocate the likely launch site to Israel. The New York Times and The Washington Post also reached the same conclusion in recent reports. Responding to a request for comment on the analysis of the Al Jazeera footage, both the IDF and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which produced the US governments assessment of the hospital blast, told CNN that they had drawn on multiple sources to reach their determination that a failed rocket launched by Palestinian militants caused the hospital blast. Several weapons experts originally told CNN that the Al Jazeera video appeared to show a rocket burning out in the sky before crashing into the hospital grounds, but that they could not say with certainty that the two incidents were linked due to the challenges of calculating the trajectory of a rocket that had failed or changed course mid-flight. By triangulating several videos, CNN was able to determine the rocket was likely fired near the Israeli town of Nahal Oz within proximity of an Israeli military site, which is known to have an Iron Dome defense system. CNN could not independently assess whether what is visible in the video is in fact an Iron Dome interceptor missile. The IDF did not respond to CNNs request for comment about whether the Iron Dome was used to intercept a rocket fired from Gaza on the evening of October 17, but told The Washington Post that Israel did not make any interceptions around that time. At 7 p.m., Hamas military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, posted on its Telegram channel that it had bombarded Ashdod, a coastal Israeli city north of Gaza, with a barrage of rockets. A few minutes later, PIJ said on Telegram that its armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, had launched strikes on Tel Aviv in response to the enemys massacre of civilians. Another nighttime video of the blast, which appears to have been filmed on a mobile phone from a balcony and was also geolocated by CNN, captures a whooshing sound before the sky lights up and a large explosion erupts. Two weapons experts who reviewed the footage for CNN said that the sound in the video was not consistent with that of a high-grade military explosive, such as a bomb or shell. Both said that it was not possible to form any definitive conclusions from the audio in the clip, caveating that the mobile phone could have affected the reliability of the sound. A leading US acoustic expert, who did not have permission to speak publicly from their university, analyzed the sound waveform from the video and concluded that, while there were changes in the sound frequency, indicating that the object was in motion, there was no directional information that could be gleaned from it. Panic and carnage Inside the hospital, the sound was deafening. Dr. Fadel Naeem, head of the orthopedic department, said he was performing surgery when the blast sounded through the hospital. He said panic ensued as staff members ran into the operating room screaming for help and reporting multiple casualties. I just finished one surgery and suddenly we heard a big explosion, Dr. Naeem told CNN in a recorded video. We thought its outside the hospital because we never thought that they would bomb the hospital. After he left the operating theater, Dr. Naeem said he found an overwhelming scene. The medical team scrambled to tend to the wounded and dying, but the magnitude of the devastation was overwhelming. Dr. Naeem said that it wasnt the first time the hospital had been hit. On October 14, three days earlier, he said that two missiles had struck the building, and that the Israeli military had not called to warn them. We thought it was by mistake. And the day after [the Israelis] called the medical director of the hospital and told them, We warned you yesterday, why are you still working? You have to evacuate the hospital, Dr. Naeem said, adding that many people and patients had fled before the blast, afraid that the hospital would be hit again. CNN could not independently verify the details of the October 14 attack described by Dr. Naeem and has reached out to the IDF for comment. The IDF has said it does not target hospitals, though the UN and Doctors Without Borders say Israeli airstrikes have hit medical facilities, including hospitals and ambulances. While it is difficult to independently confirm how many people died in the blast, the bloodshed could be seen in images from the aftermath shared on social media. In photos and videos, young children covered in dust are rushed to be treated for their wounds. Other bodies are seen lifeless on the ground. One local volunteer who did not give his name described the gruesome aftermath of the blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, saying that he arrived at 8 a.m. and helped to gather the remains of people killed there. We gathered six bags filled with pieces of the dead bodies pieces, he said. The eldest we gathered remains for was maybe eight or nine years old. Hands, feet, fingers, I have here half a body in the bag. What were they doing, what did they do. None of them even had a toothbrush let alone a weapon. Bodies of those killed in a blast at Al-Ahli Hospital are laid out in the front yard of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, October 17. - Abed Khaled/AP A freelance journalist working for CNN in Gaza went to the scene the following day, interviewing eyewitnesses and filming the blast radius in detail, capturing the impact crater, which was about 3x3 feet wide and one foot deep. Some debris and damage were visible in the wider area, including burned out cars, pockmarked buildings and blown out windows. Analyzing the aftermath Eight weapons and explosive experts who reviewed CNNs footage of the scene agreed that the small crater size and widespread surface damage were inconsistent with an aircraft bomb, which would have destroyed most things at the point of impact. Many said that the evidence pointed to the possibility that a rocket was responsible for the explosion. Marc Garlasco, a former defense intelligence analyst and UN war crimes investigator with decades of experience assessing bomb damage, said that whatever hit the hospital in Gaza was not an airstrike. Even the smallest JDAM [joint direct attack munition] leaves a 3m crater, he told CNN, referring to a guided air-to-ground system that is part of the Israeli weapons stockpile provided by the US. Chris Cobb-Smith, a British weapons expert who was part of an Amnesty International team investigating weapons used by Israel during the Gaza War in 2009, told CNN the size of the crater led him to rule out a heavy, air-dropped bomb. The type of crater that Ive seen on the imagery so far, isnt large enough to be the type of bomb that weve that weve seen dropped in, in the region on many occasions, he said. An arms investigator said the impact was more characteristic of a rocket strike with burn marks from leftover rocket fuel or propellant, and not something you would see from a typical artillery projectile. Cobb-Smith said that the conflagration following the blast was inconsistent with an artillery strike, but that it could not be entirely ruled out. Others said the damage seen at the site specifically to the burned-out cars did not seem to suggest that the explosion was the result of an airburst fuze, which is when a shell explodes in the air before hitting the ground, or artillery fire. Patrick Senft, a research coordinator at Armament Research Services (ARES), said that he would have expected the roofs of the cars to show significant fragmentation damage and the impact site to be deeper, in that case. For a 152 / 155 mm artillery projectile with a point detonation fuze (one that initiates the explosion upon hitting the ground) I would expect a crater of about 1.5m deep and 5m wide. The crater here seems substantially smaller, Senft said. An explosives specialist, who is currently working in law enforcement and was not authorized to speak to the press, said its likely that the shrapnel from the projectile ignited the fuel and flammable liquid in the cars, which is why the fireball was so big. These kinds of explosions generate a shockwave that is particularly deadly to children and the frail. The same specialist, who has spent decades conducting forensic investigations in conflict zones around the world, also said the damage at the crater site, and at the scene, was not congruent with damage normally seen at an artillery shelling site. Without knowing what kind of projectile produced the crater, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the direction that it came from. However, the debris and ground markings point to a few possibilities. There are dark patches on the ground fanning out in a southwesterly direction from the crater. The trees behind it are scorched and a lamppost is entirely knocked over. In contrast, the trees on the other side of the crater are still intact, even with green leaves. This would be consistent with a rocket approaching from the southwest, as rockets scorch and damage the earth on approach to the ground. If the munition was artillery, however, these markings could indicate it came in from the northeast, spewing debris to the southwest. But if the projectile malfunctioned and broke apart in the air, as CNNs analysis suggests, the direction of impact reflected by the crater would not be a reliable finding. Contrasting narratives Israel has presented two contrasting narratives on which direction the alleged Hamas rocket flew in from. In an audio recording released by Israeli officials, which they say is Hamas militants discussing the blast and attributing it to a rocket launched by Islamic Jihad (or PIJ), a cemetery behind the hospital is referenced as the launch site. CNN analyzed satellite imagery for the days prior to the attack and found no apparent evidence of a rocket launch site there. CNN could not verify the authenticity of the audio intercept. The IDF also published a map indicating the rocket had been launched several kilometers away, from a southwesterly direction, showing the trajectory towards the hospital. The map is not detailed but it indicates a rocket launch site that matches a location CNN has previously identified as a Hamas training site. Satellite imagery from this site indicates some activity in the days prior to the hospital blast but CNN cannot determine whether a rocket was launched from there and has also asked the IDF for more details about its map. Until an independent investigation is allowed on the ground and evidence collected from the site the prospect of determining who was behind the blast is remote. Palestinians assess the aftermath of the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital on Wednesday, October 18. - Abed Khaled/AP An awful lot will depend on what remnants are found in the wreckage, Chris Cobb-Smith told CNN. We can analyze footage, we can listen to audio, but the definitive answer will come from the person or the team that go in and rummage around the rubble and come up with remnants of the munition itself. Getting independent experts there will prove challenging given the war still raging, and Israels looming ground offensive in Gaza. Marc Garlasco, the former defense intelligence analyst and UN war crimes investigator, says there are signs of a lack of evidence at the Al-Ahli hospital site. When I investigate a site of a potential war crime the first thing I do is locate and identify parts of the weapon. The weapon tells you who did it and how. Ive never seen such a lack of physical evidence for a weapon at a site. Ever. Theres always a piece of a bomb after the fact. In 20 years of investigating war crimes this is the first time I havent seen any weapon remnants. And Ive worked three wars in Gaza. Footage CNN collected the day after the blast shows a large number of people traversing the site. The risk that amid the chaos and panic of war, the evidence will be lost or tampered with, is high. Even before this conflict, accessing sites was challenging for independent investigators. Cobb-Smith has investigated in Gaza before. The local authorities did not give me free access to the area or were very unhappy that I was trying to investigate something that had clearly gone wrong from their point of view. CNNs Teele Rebane, Eve Brennan, Yong Xiong and Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. Visual editing by Henrik Pettersson, Marco Chacon, Carlotta Dotto, Emmalee Reed and Victoria Fleischer. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former President Trumps ex-lawyer Michael Cohen announced Friday he would return to New York next week to testify in the civil fraud trial after a medical delay. Cohen confirmed the move in a post on Metas Threads including a picture generated by artificial intelligence (AI), of him and the Trump with Lets get you back to your cell. His initial court appearance was delayed last week after it was reported that he had a medical issue. It appears that I will be reunited with my old client @realDonaldTrump when I testify this Tuesday, October 24th at the @NewYorkStateAG civil fraud trial, Cohen wrote in the post. See you there! A judge late last month ruled Trump and his businesses committed fraud by falsely inflating and deflating the value of its assets in order to lower taxes and receive better insurance coverage. A key witness in the case, Cohen has argued the fraud trial would likely spell the end of Trumps business empire in the sate. In an interview earlier this month, Cohen claimed that everything that happened at the Trump Organization was with the direction of, and ultimately signed off by, Donald J. Trump. He previously testified in 2019, alleging his former boss artificially inflated his wealth. In September, Cohen said that he was concerned to testify in Trumps case, citing fears of online attacks from the 2024 presidential candidates supporters. If it werent for the subpoena, he said he considered not even showing up. I dont have to put my life on the line simply because Donald Trump cannot control himself and the courts are not controlling him, he said at the time. Cohen, who at one time was one of Trumps closest allies, famously said that he would take a bullet for his then-boss. Their relationship deteriorated after Cohen provided a testimony to a House committee about Trumps involvement in a hush-money scheme. New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess office said it opened its investigation into Trump after that testimony. Trumps ongoing trial began on Oct. 2 with both the former president and James present in the courtroom. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Higher academic institutions in the United States present the worlds greatest opportunity to cultivate the democratic values of free speech and the open exchange of ideas. After all, intellect and creativity drive innovation and social progress. The United States of America and its democracy have attracted millions of immigrants over hundreds of years, given the freedoms that allow people to hone their talents and pursue their dreams. However, democracys free speech also has its downside: it provides an open forum for expressing all opinions and perspectives, and college and university campuses are ground zero for such expressions. Over the last several decades, Palestinian human rights and advocacy for self-determination and statehood have been promoted with the obliteration of Israel, and this cause has had tremendous traction on American college campuses in the last three decades. College campus activism for this cause has been intimidating and, at times, violent, towards Jewish students, faculty, and administrators. Faculty, administrators and alumni (many with influence and high profiles in Ivy League and state university institutions) are also fueling hostility towards Israel and world Jewry. These passive activists have the financial and social influence that is able to spread the propaganda and institutionalize the cause in the Western world. Protesters march on campus in response to the Palestine and Israel conflict, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Jews are rightfully frightened and alarmed: they have seen this before with the Nazi Partys rise to power. Today they are similarly harassed, ostracized, and physically attacked by both neo-Nazis on the far right, and Palestinian activists and their supporters (now including the Black Lives Matter Movement) on the far left of American politics. Non-Jewish faculty and administrators, while not violent, have participated in passive acts of aggression, such as sitting on the sidelines in silence, or if they speak out publicly, they avoid condemnation of the violent behaviors imposed on Jewish people. Hamas and Hezbollah are representatives and soldiers of Islamic extremists who have sabotaged the humanitarian crisis of the Palestinians and planted their representatives on college campuses nationwide and around the world in democratic nations. They have strategically leveraged the freedom of speech afforded by Western democracy to create an illusion. American academia has scholars who have bought into this illusion. Rather than take a moderate position that sees the goodwill of Israel and the rational reasons for why Israel has been forced to vacillate between diplomacy and military force to deal with terrorism, they have inspired young American students to see Israel (and in most cases implied the Jewish people as well) as evil doers. Hamas promotion of the Palestinian humanitarian cause is a sham: they and their Islamic leaders put the Palestinians in harms way to further their hegemony. There is a well-documented track record of how Islamic extremists and financiers have undermined Palestinian self-determination and Middle East peace. The 1979 Camp David Peace Accords between Egypts Anwar Sadat, Israels Menachem Begin and President Carter were undermined when Sadat was assassinated by the Muslim Brotherhood and he was replaced by an Islamic extremist Hosni Mubarak. Since that time there were other diplomatic attempts for peace and two-state resolution: the Oslo Accords of the 1990s were a highlight during President Clintons term in office, and this was derailed by the rise of Hamas and their takeover of Gaza. Many political analysts see the Hamas attack of this past week as another deliberate measure by Islamic extremists to upset the Abraham Accords progress made with Israel normalizing relations with several Arab nations (including Saudi Arabia, an arch-enemy of Iran). Arab-Israelis have also had representation in Israels parliament (the Knesset), and the Israeli military retreated from the West Bank and Gaza in goodwill to give the Palestinians a chance at self-rule. Israels litany of diplomatic attempts and actions is not one of an oppressive regime. Conversely, extremist rule by Hamas in Gaza and its agenda has moved the Israeli government to the far right. They are fed up trying to negotiate with terrorists and their posing as diplomats. Hamas has eliminated all democratic processes in Gaza - they have deliberately not held elections since 2006 to keep their authoritative power intact. They torture and kill Palestinians who oppose them. Now, the world can see Hamas's barbaric hold on the Palestinians as the Gazan War progresses. Free Palestine also calls for the boycott, sanction, and divestiture (BDS) of Israel and its destruction. To truly free the Palestinian people, they must be freed from Islamic terrorists, their Iranian leadership, and dark money financiers who profit from this terror. American academia must lead the cry against Islamic terrorism, protect their Jews against violence and harassment, and defend Israels right to exist in peace. Otherwise, they, too, have become a proxy for Islamic Jihad, which will take down Western democracy. Allison Siegelman is a York County resident who has a masters in public policy and administration. She has been a lobby leader for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and a policy advocate for Holocaust education. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Colleges incubators for Palestinian freedom at Israels peril Editor's note: This is the first in a series of columns about the Mainspring social services hub coming to Kittery, Maine. As the Seacoast region on both sides of the Piscataqua River continues to grow in affluence, were hopeful that none of us lose sight of the poverty, hunger, and homelessness (nor the related challenges) that continue to plague our neighbors and our greater community. In just Kittery, Eliot, Portsmouth, York, South Berwick and Berwick, there are over 4,500 households living at or below the poverty line struggling with food insecurity, spiraling housing costs, and access to quality healthcare. Those whore struggling are also often times living above the poverty line. Working class individuals, middle-class families, older residents, and veterans, among others, often find themselves besieged by these same problems regardless of income. A job loss, an injury, a cancer diagnosis, or even an unexpected car repair can tip an individual or family from getting by to crisis. Megan Shapiro-Ross, left, Emily Flinkstrom and John Shea. A single parent in New Hampshire would have to work 166 hours/week at minimum wage to afford a basic two-bedroom rental somewhere in the Portsmouth-Rochester corridor, National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach report. A working couple would each have to work 84 hours/week. Debate about the minimum wage aside, we can all agree we have a housing crisis. Most families living in poverty in the United States pay more than half their income toward rent. One in four spend more than 70%, Matthew Desmond's book "Poverty, by America." At a time when buying a house is completely out of reach for most of us, average rental rates are spiraling higher at more than three times the rate of average income growth. A growing number of households teeter on the brink of homelessness. The problem is national and local. The same goes for food insecurity. The lack of consistent access to the basic nutritious food necessary for overall health is both a national and a local Seacoast problem. More than nine million children in the U.S. are currently food insecure, living in hunger, and developmentally impacted in numerous ways. Almost 9% of York County residents of all ages are food insecure, according to Feeding America. In Rockingham County, its close to 6%. That grocery costs are up about 15% over the past two years is making a bad situation worse. Research studies (and common-sense thinking) make clear that income issues, housing costs, homelessness, and food insecurity are intertwined along with physical health, mental health, addiction, educational outcomes, and gainful employment. Everything can quickly spiral in the wrong direction when things go wrong in one or two areas. And even when services and assistance are available, accessing this help is often complicated by paperwork, travel to various locations, hours of availability along with an individuals work schedule, transportation access and childcare needs. Fair Tide, a nonprofit based in Kittery, has focused on affordable housing and related case management services in the Seacoast region for close to 25 years. Its popular thrift shop both supports its mission and helps out families in need. Fair Tide works closely with Portsmouths Cross Roads House to assist individuals and families in securing permanent housing (regardless of which side of the Piscataqua they happen to be on). Footprints Food Pantry is also a Kittery-based nonprofit serving the greater Seacoast region and has focused on reducing food insecurity for over 30 years. Footprints has seen a 67% increase in households served in just the past year. Individuals and families seeking support come from both sides of the Piscataqua. We, among others, believe it is time to think differently, innovatively, and creatively. More of the same will simply not be enough. The problems have grown to be both chronic and systemic and will have increasingly negative impacts on the health of our community. We have to do better. We believe the new Mainspring initiative (based in Kittery but serving the greater Seacoast region) will prove to be a critical step in the right direction. Our vision is for a strategic and comprehensive approach producing greater impact, increased efficiencies, and a consistent focus on human dignity. Not us and them but everyone together. We are currently in the middle of a $5.45 million capital campaign to launch Mainspring next year hopefully opening in the fall of 2024. We do hope youll keep reading as the second column in this series (a week or so from now) will detail the vision for Mainspring. If youre impatient, you can also visit mainspringcollective.org. We hope to not only better meet the pressing needs of our neighbors and our greater Seacoast community but maybe, if we all work together, we can eradicate poverty, homelessness, and hunger entirely here in Southern Maine and the New Hampshire Seacoast region. Megan Shapiro-Ross, an Eliot resident, is the executive director of Footprints. Emily Flinkstrom, a Kittery resident, is the executive director of Fair Tide. They are the co-founders of Mainspring. John Shea, a Kittery resident, is serving as the chair of the Mainspring capital campaign. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Mainspring will help people right here in Seacoast To get a sense of how progressive ideals dont always reflect actual practice, try burying a dead relative in Southern California. Youll find that even in this land where people talk about sustainability, saying farewell in an environmentally responsible manner is, for most people, nearly impossible. I came to grips with that reality in August, when my mother died from an unexpected illness. Making the final arrangements was my job, and I valued the experience as much as one can while gripped by grief. My mother, a nurse and devout Lutheran, spent her life caring for the world around her and the people whom Jesus called the least of these brothers and sisters. I felt strongly that her remains should be handled in a way that reflected her values and, to some extent, mine. As funeral director and poet Thomas Lynch wrote, By getting the dead where they need to go, the living get where they need to be. And where are the living? On a planet in serious peril, where resource- and land-intensive burial practices reflect the overconsumption that put us in this mess. So, in the days just before my moms death, and with the clock ticking fast, I explored green burial options in Southern California that minimize environmental impacts. That involved ditching the local (and very expensive) mortuary giant Forest Lawn where seemingly everyone in Glendale, my moms hometown, goes to spend eternity and calling smaller funeral homes that advertise eco-friendly options. I settled on a small business in Hollywood that partners with a natural burial cemetery where the land is minimally disturbed and traditional embalming isnt allowed and even offers an intriguing human composting option. Crucially, prices for the most common services are listed prominently on the funeral homes website (note to other mortuaries: Please do this). But the eco-friendly options had serious drawbacks. The natural burial cemetery is near Joshua Tree (gorgeous, but 120 miles away), and human composting a process that accelerates decomposition and, within a month, turns a body into nutrient-dense soil isnt yet legal in California and would have required shipping my dead mother to Washington state. Burial options that require two-hour flights or three-hour car drives dont strike me as green. Even in this era of heightened environmental consciousness, the most accessible disposal options are not the sustainable ones. Our final choice: local cremation. Still, the future for handling the dead in an environmentally sound way isnt totally dim. Last year, California passed a law to allow human composting starting in 2027. And, although there are only two fully natural burial grounds certified by the Green Burial Council in all of California (none of them near Los Angeles), more traditional cemeteries are offering some environmentally friendly options. Sarah Chavez, executive director of the L.A.-based advocacy group the Order of the Good Death, told me these cemeteries and California lawmakers are responding to an increasing demand for burials that not only conserve resources, but are also more meaningful to the people seeking them. She said the $20-billion U.S. funeral industry has commodified death in a way that has made people scared of their dead loved ones, convinced that only trained, very expensive professionals must take over the moment a relative dies. I told Chavez my family resisted this routine, even if we didnt get a green burial. The funeral home accommodated our request to sit with my mom for several hours before it sent workers to pick her up. In that time, the few of us there had a mini-funeral. We alternated between tears, laughter and prayers, all while my mom was there with us. Her body was not hazardous waste to be swiftly disposed of. Chavez said our experience reflects a grassroots change in death services. Her group supports families taking a more active role in burials. She said many people entering the funeral industry now are women who recognize the need for change, which I noticed in making my arrangements as well. From this desire for more control, well get more green burial options in the future. Just not in time for my mom. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. When the Oct. 7 Hamas attack happened in Israel, Audrey Sasson, executive director of New Yorks Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), said she was in a fog. When Israel retaliated with bombs and blockades days later, emotions of grief and fear and anger swirled in her mind as Sasson, who works with a group that in recent weeks has tried to bring Palestinians and Jews in America together, realized the cycle of violence would lead to more deaths and hatred not only in the Middle East but in this country. Its like one of these things where you feel kind of like an out-of-body experience because theres so many conflicting feelings and all the feelings are valid, said Sasson. Just a week after Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israeli farms and villages and Israel responded with the bombardment of Gaza, six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother were attacked by their landlord in what police said was an anti-Muslim hate crime. Al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times in the shocking attack. His mother, who was stabbed 12 times, survived but is in critical condition. Top Stories from The Hill Palestinian-American advocacy groups have since grown more worried. The last two weeks have certainly driven home how many Americans are deeply connected to Israelis and Palestinians and to events in the region, said Simone Zimmerman, communications director for the Diaspora Alliance, an international organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism. Its an absolutely heartbreaking and devastating moment, and genuine safety for all Israelis and Palestinians feels very far away at the moment. In the United States, President Biden and most lawmakers in both parties have voiced support for the Israeli governments right to defend itself after the attack by Hamas, which is recognized by the U.S. and European Union as a terrorist group. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), wrote on X following the Hamas attack that there is no diplomatic solution or measured response available. He called on Israel to disproportionately respond to eradicate Hamas. This tragically necessary effort will come at a horrifying price. But the price of failing to permanently eliminate this group of sadistic savages is even more horrifying, Rubio posted. Were in a religious war here. I am with Israel, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Hannity. Do whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourself. Level the place. 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 Fears of antisemitism are also growing amid the warfare. At a Pro-Palestinian event in New York City, a protestor held up a phone with an image of a swastika on it, while Graffiti has been sprayed on synagogues. Were also seeing in really devastating ways the ripple effects abroad of the violence over there and of the political climate in this country that has very quickly whipped up a pretty terrifying anti-Palestinian environment in the media and politicians conflating their support for the Israeli government and its military operations with support for all Jewish people, Zimmerman said. That kind of flattening of the context is also going to endanger Jews around the world. Its too early to tell if the events overseas or political rhetoric has caused an increase in anti-Arab racism, said Jessica Winegar, a professor of anthropology at Northwestern University. When people see violence in the Middle East, Muslims tend to be blamed as a whole and then it can turn into the targeting of Muslims in this country or Arabs, Winegar said. It can turn into basically an outlet of individual hatred that might be coming from a position of economic disenfranchisement or a position of being rallied up by the right to think that immigrants are the problem. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Winegar noted that there are Palestinian Jews, Christians and those who dont identify with a religion in addition to Muslims. Instances of anti-Arab racism is similar to what was seen after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, she said, something magnified by the fact that most political leaders are backing Israel. To hear their leaders almost erase their perspective, erase their fears, concerns of the death of their loved ones, it increases the feeling of isolation, fear of ones personal safety, and I have no doubt that it is also contributing to the general atmosphere of anti-Muslim racism in the United States, Winegar said. Winegar also added that because the conflict is coming at a time of increased racial tensions in the U.S., it sets up the possibility for racist violence. We have seen the real intensification of extreme right-wing nationalism and white supremacy in this country in the past eight years and this conflict is very much fitting into that. Those parts of the U.S. population that have taken those positions are now primed to expand or act upon their hatred for groups that they feel are other, whether those are Arabs and Muslims or Jews, she said. Sasson, of JFREJ, has been working on the ground in New York to hold training seminars and meetings on unity and protection. Part of that also means educating as many as possible on the history of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. We dont address the root causes of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and as long as were not addressing those root causes, then people are going to continue to inflict harm on one another, said Sasson. We need to focus on and demonstrate and embody and demand that we see each others humanity and that we embody solidarity all day, every day, even and especially when its harder, especially when it feels like were being pitted against each other. Zimmerman, of the Diaspora Alliance, said there must also be a message of compassion for all those who are impacted by the violence in Gaza and in America. I see your grief and your agony and your fear and and our grief cannot be a weapon to justify more massacres and atrocities, she said. We believe your lives matter and are of equal value. Updated on Oct. 23 at 5:40 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Parents have a right to know whats happening at their childs school. From curriculum to teachers to logistics and safety concerns, transparency is vital, and protocols for emergencies are a must. Public schools are not an island; they must function together with the community, This became apparent Oct, 11 following the deadly shooting of Yolanda Gibbs, a cafeteria employee at David K. Sellars Elementary School. Sellars is in the Fort Worth school district and the city of Forest Hill, whose police responded to a call before school started and found a woman with gunshot wounds in the schools back parking lot. Gibbs, 56, was killed by a man she was dating, police said, and he was later found dead. She loved kids and had worked at the school for 30 years. At a vigil Thursday night, friends and family shared what they loved about her, saying she was cheerful, smiled often and had a generous spirit. Her death is tragic. What unfolded next demonstrates that districts and police need firm protocols for violence on or near campuses that include guidelines for canceling classes and sending clear information for families to know whats happening and how schools are responding. Parents complained that they received conflicting communications from teachers and the schools principal, Delain Sandifer. Teachers told parents via Class Dojo, the app the district uses to facilitate communication, that classes would be canceled that day. But district officials say that Sandifer never canceled school. Parents in the district received word at 7:29 am that The school is open today and we will observe regular school hours. More details will be provided when they are available to me. Sandifer then released another, lengthier message to parents one hour later that read: Safety is the top priority on our campus, and it is our commitment to communicate with you when a situation impacting our students and staff takes place at our school. After explaining that a staff member died, the message continued. Emergency personnel may be on site, but there is no threat or danger to our school community, it read. We always collaborate with our safety and security team and the local police department to ensure the safety of our campus. Finally, at 3:31 pm that day, the school released another message that explained the situation again, in a bit more detail, and it emphasized that the incident did not pose a threat to our school community. Parents expressed to the Star-Telegram in original reports that they were frustrated with the lack of coherent messaging. In a statement to the Editorial Board, district officials said that we promptly communicated in both English and Spanish via email and phone calls as soon as we received confirmed information from the Forest Hill police chief. We ensured that our front office staff and District office personnel were equipped with the necessary information to share with parents early in the morning of October 11. They added: Its important to note that some details cannot be shared during an active investigation and some information is not the Districts to share, but the police departments. Sometimes, we have to wait on police or other parties to gather what information we can share. Their statement goes on to explain that keeping the school open ensured students would have a safe place to stay, especially considering the number of students who walk to school. Its worth noting that Forest Hill recently canceled a contract to provide school resource officers to Fort Worth schools. The district noted that it has asked the City Council to reconsider. We understand that in emergencies, especially issues that occur just before a school day begins, are complicated and there are many moving parts that need to communicate together and also to parents and the community. But this is why there must be firm protocols and procedures in place for administrations to rely on, so that when emergencies arise, communications can be clear. Its also important that teachers, while trying to communicate to students and parents, dont overstep their boundaries and communicate on behalf of their school. Since the Uvalde school shooting, we have seen firsthand the importance of safety, communication and vigilance. Parents deserve to know whats happening at their kids schools when it happens and to see a streamlined process of communications when emergencies arise. The tragedy at Sellars Elementary shows just how fluid emergencies can be and how important it is for everyone to communicate effectively. Detectives on Saturday released surveillance images of a group of men who shot a 31-year-old Queens man during a bizarre early-morning raid on the victims home, police said. Cops said six men tried to get into a second floor apartment of a 62nd Ave. address near 138th St. just two blocks from Cedar Grove Cemetery in Flushing about 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The suspects were caught on the homes Ring doorbell surveillance camera, which they destroyed, as they approached the front door, cops said. Some of the thieves tried to climb through a window, but the victim began shoving them back out, police said. As he did so, one of the suspects pulled a gun and opened fire, hitting him in the chest and left elbow. EMS rushed the victim to NY Presbyterian-Queens, where he was expected to recover. The victim was trying to protect his roommates, a young couple who lived in the same apartment told the Daily News. One guy broke the window to let the other guys in the apartment, a roommate said. The woman, fearing reprisals from the thieves, didnt want to be identified. Our friend tried to push out the guy when he was shot. He just tried to protect us. He was bleeding. We were shouting Call the cops! The suspects fled the scene with $800 that they stole from a downstairs apartment where they confronted and threatened a family with a small child, cops and neighbors said. Several of the suspects fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV. The thieves dressed in dark-colored clothing with hoods and either wore surgical masks or had their shirts pulled up above their noses, the surveillance video shows. It was not immediately disclosed why the home was targeted. Cops released the surveillance images in the hopes that someone recognizes the thieves. Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. County Engineer Ed Meixner explained to the Ashland County commissioners the process of submitting and prioritizing Public Works Commission funding. One of the things that has historically been done is that the city and the county take turns determining which one is the highest priority for the county, said Meixner. This year it is the citys turn and the importance of that is the higher the priority of the project within the specific county, that allows them to score more points at the district level and increases your chances of being funded. Meixner presented the three projects that were submitted. The highest priority is a traffic signal replacement on U.S. 42 and Mifflin Road. The second project is a bridge on Township Road 1600 and the third was a culvert on County Road 995. The last two projects were submitted by Meixner. The Ashland County Office Building at the intersection of West Main and Cottage Streets is seen here Tuesday, April 6, 2021. TOM E. PUSKAR/TIMES-GAZETTE.COM Those are the three projects submitted, he said. We need your approval on those priorities. The priority list was approved. Other actions Authorized Jim Skora, Solid Waste District Coordinator, to file a grant application with the Ohio EPA for the purchase of special collection and event signs. Approved and entered into a contract for $13,100 with Quality Masonry Company for exterior masonry maintenance to the south elevation parapet wall at the courthouse. Approved and entered into a contract with Lucas Coroners Office in the amount of $1,750 for each autopsy performed from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2024. Accepted 3 rd Quarter donations to the Dog Shelter in the amount of $3,676. Authorized a check for $15 to Holland & Muirden, Attorneys at Law toward the prosecution of one pending case dealing with the Humane Society. Made appropriations to Health Dept., Health Dept. Food Service, Sheriff, Capital Projects and CSEA. Made one transfer to Buildings & Grounds. Accepted the resignation of Caitlyn Byron, Kennel Worker, effective Oct. 31. Authorized Amendment #2 to the administration contract with Great Lakes Community Action Partnership for the Cinnamon Lake CDBG Residential Infrastructure Grant Program which extends the contract end date to Dec. 31, 2024. Ashland County Extension employee Jackie Wasilewski gave a program update and budget request for the local 4-H Program. The current budget is $85,000 and Wasilewski asked for an additional $30,000, for a total request of $115,000. Commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at in the Commissioners Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public, but also live-streamed on the Ashland County Government Facebook page. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Commissioners discuss Public Works Commission funding for 3 projects A cyclist aged in her 70s has died following a crash near Monaghan town in the Irish Republic. The collision, involving a car and a bicycle, happened at approximately 13:20 local time on the Cootehill Road on Saturday. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardai (Irish police) were still at the scene on Saturday evening and the road remained closed. Her body was taken to Monaghan Hospital for post-mortem examination. Gardai are appealing for information about the incident. Flash This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks in Tel Aviv, Israel. [Photo/Xinhua] Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said Friday in a statement that it has released two American hostages for "humanitarian reasons," in response to Qatari efforts. The brigades said it made the move to prove that the U.S. allegations were "false and baseless." This is the first time that the Gaza-ruling group released hostages since the conflict began almost two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the release of the two hostages in a statement. "This evening two hostages were released from the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization," the office said in a statement, identifying the two released as Judith Raanan and Natalie Raanan. The statement added that the two released were "received on the border with Gaza and are on the way to a military base where they will meet their families." Israeli media Channel 2 reported earlier that the two are a mother and daughter who are U.S. citizens. It is unclear whether they are also Israeli citizens. In a press release, U.S. President Joe Biden also confirmed his administration secured the release of two American hostages and thanked Qatar and Israel for their partnership in this work. Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, where it seized a large number of hostages. The brigades previously stated they were holding 200 to 250 captives in Gaza. An Israeli army statement earlier in the day said a majority of the hostages were alive. The judge overseeing the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump put a temporary hold on the gag order she issued against him earlier this week, giving time for an appeals court to determine its necessity. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on Friday granted the request of Trump lawyer John Lauro that a stay be put on the gag order after he argued in a filing that it constituted a violation of the First Amendment and is by nature breathtakingly overbroad. In essence, the gag order handed down by Judge Chutkan on Monday prohibits Trump from targeting prosecutors, witnesses and court staff. This is not about whether I like the language Mr. Trump uses, Chutkan said at the time. This is about language that presents a danger to the administration of justice. Judge Fines Trump, Threatens Prison Time for Blatantly Violating Gag Order Just hours later Trump went on a tirade against the Judge, telling a crowd in Iowa that her whole life is not liking melikely violating the gag order. Lauro argued on Friday that the order violates virtually every fundamental principle of our First Amendment jurisprudence, an infringement he characterized as egregious and intolerable. The order eviscerates not only Trumps rights, Lauro argued, but those of hundreds of millions of American citizens who would be forbidden from listening to Trumps thoughts on various issues. Just hours after the filing, Judge Chutkan agreed to put a hold on the gag order for at least eight days while The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia hears the matter. A date is yet to be set for the appeals court review of the matter, which is expected to occur by the end of next week. Earlier on Friday, the judge overseeing Trumps bank fraud trial excoriated him for violating a gag order in that case, hitting him with a $5,000 fine and threatening him with jail time should violations continue. In the current overheated climate, incendiary comments can and in some cases already has, led to serious physical harm and worse, Justice Arthur F. Engoron said during his reprimanding of Trump and his lawyers on Friday, a rare instance of fury from the typically easygoing judge. 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. Dallas police are investigating a homicide after a man was fatally shot and another man was seriously injured Friday night. At about 9:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a call about a shooting in the 13000 block of Esperanza Road. When the police arrived, they found 27-year-old Thomas Tycion Burns, shot, laying in the street. He died at the scene, according to a news release. Another adult male victim was shot and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, according to the release. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joshua Conklin at at 214-671-3584 or at joshua.conklin@dallaspolice.gov. SAN DIEGO The hotline is blinging to give San Diegans the down low on a deal involving free spiced-to-order sliders from Daves Hot Chicken. In celebration of his birthday, rapper Drake, one of several celebrity investors for the chicken chain, is hooking everyone up with a slider or tender on him. The celebration is set for Tuesday, Oct. 24 at every Daves Hot Chicken location. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., chicken lovers can head to one of the following San Diego County storefronts to snag and savor their freebie: Mexican life, culture, and cuisine to be celebrated at Day of the Dead Festival El Cajon: 1100 Fletcher Parkway Escondido: 1268 E. Auto Parkway Oceanside: 4201 Oceanside Blvd., Suite A San Diego: Mira Mesa: 10728 Westview Parkway San Diego: Pacific Beach: 1001 Garnet Ave. Will you be out of town on this date? All participating Daves Hot Chicken locations can be found here. This San Diego hotel is one of the best budget stays in the US: study To get in on the action, guests simply need to head to a storefront and scan their Daves Hot Chicken app at the register. No coupon or code is needed. In return, theyll get a slider or tender of their heat level preference. This celebration is only available when visiting the restaurant, and not online or through third-party delivery services. Happy Birthday Drake! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. A woman holds a painting representing Kateri Tekakwitha in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City on October 21, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI canonized Tekakwitha as the first Native American saint. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI Oct. 21 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1805, in one of history's greatest naval battles, the British fleet under Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated the combined French-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar off the coast of Spain. In 1879, after 14 months of experiments, Thomas Edison invented the first practical electric incandescent lamp. In 1948, Western Allies decided to withdraw their condemnation of Russia as a threat to peace on the condition that the Berlin blockade was lifted, accepting a small-nation formula as a "hopeful basis" for solving the Berlin crisis. In 1959, rocket designer Wernher von Braun and his team were transferred from the U.S. Army to the newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration. On October 21, 1966, an avalanche of coal slag cascaded down a Welsh mountainside, burying a school and killing 148 people, mostly young students, whose graves are marked with a series of arches. File Photo by Llywelyn2000/Wikimedia UPI File Photo In 1959, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opened in New York City. The building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright , is considered one of the finest examples of architecture in the 20th century. A work of art entitled "Flying Carpets 2011" by Nadia Kaabi-Linke is on display at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on April 28, 2016. The museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened October 21, 1959. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1966, an avalanche of coal slag cascaded down a Welsh mountainside, burying a school in the town of Aberfan and killing 148 people, mostly young students. In 1983, Grenada's newly installed military rulers sought to consolidate control as 1,900 Marines steamed toward the Cuban-backed island following a week-old coup that left as many as 15 people dead. Thomas Edison poses in his laboratory in Orange, N.J., on June 16, 1888, with his first gramophone invention. On October 21, 1879, after 14 months of experiments, Edison invented the first practical electric incandescent lamp. UPI File Photo In 1991, Beirut University professor Jesse Turner, a hostage since January 1987, was released by his captors in Lebanon. In 1994, Rosario Ames, wife of confessed spy Aldrich Ames, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for collaborating with him. In 1999, the National Park Service redesignated the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument as a national park in Colorado. In 2004, the most senior soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick, was sentenced to eight years in prison. He was released on parole in 2007. File photo by Hugo Infante/UPI In 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the United States would withdraw all troops from Iraq at the end of the year and engage in a "normal relationship" with the nation. "After nearly nine years," Obama said, "America's war in Iraq will be over." In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Kateri Tekakwitha as the first Native American to become a saint. In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died after a prop gun handled by actor Alec Baldwin went off on the set of the movie Rust in New Mexico. File Photo by Halyna Hutchins/Instagram SAN DIEGO The deadline to register to vote is around the corner for the Fourth Supervisorial District, water separation and City of Chula Vista special elections on Nov. 7. Residents who would like to vote in the elections must register by Monday, Oct. 23 to receive a ballot in the mail. All registration forms must be postmarked or delivered by the deadline. Voters can also register online up until midnight. After the deadline, prospective voters looking to cast a ballot in the elections otherwise need to make a trip in person to the Registrars office in Kearny Mesa or a vote center starting on Oct. 28 to conditionally register. California bill to simplify language for ballot referendums signed into law Those who conditionally register will be able to submit a provisional ballot in their respective election though Nov. 7. Once the conditional registration is verified, the voters provisional ballot will be counted. More about conditional voter registration can be found here. Depending on your place of residence, San Diego County residents will be able to participate in one of the following elections: Fourth Supervisorial District special runoff to fill the seat vacated by Nathan Fletcher for the remainder of the current term ending in January 2027. The city attorney special election for the City of Chula Vista for the remainder of the current term ending in December 2026. Voters who live in the Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District will vote on a ballot measure. Only the voters who live in each of those districts can vote in their respective elections. Residents can check if theyre eligible to participate in the special elections here. Those who live within the boundaries of the districts can check their registration or register to vote online at the Registrar of Voters website. According to county officials, registration will be required if you are not registered in San Diego County, recently moved or changed your name. The election for the District 4 seat will be the second held following Fletchers resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations. San Diego City Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe and Reopen San Diego founder Amy Reichert were the top vote-getters in Augusts primary election. Voters will get to pick between the two for the seat. Meanwhile, the special election for the Chula Vista city attorney will be to fill a seat that was left empty after residents elected a candidate that died before the final day to vote in the race. Voters who live in the jurisdictions of the Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District will be voting on a ballot measure to decide if the water districts will separate from the San Diego Water Authority. Official ballots began arriving in the mail during the week of Sunday, Oct. 8, according to the county. Early voting started on Oct. 9 at the Registrar of Voters Office in Kearny Mesa. Ballot drop boxes were also made available throughout the county shortly after. Meet the candidates in the runoff for District 4 Supervisor Starting on Saturday, Oct. 28, select vote centers will open throughout the county to expand early voting options. The vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To find an official ballot drop box or vote center nearby, voters can go to the Registrar of Voters website. Election officials encourage voters to take advantage of early voting opportunities ahead of the primary, using the convenience of mail or ballot drop-offs. Early voters can track the status of their ballot through the U.S. Postal Services Wheres My Ballot? program. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Tourists take selfies on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem on June 12. Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images As fighting between Hamas and Israel continues, the country's tourism industry braces for a slowdown. Local businesses and tour guides told Insider they've already experienced mass cancellations. Experts and locals say the industry is prepared to bounce back when the conflict cools off. To celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, Atlanta residents Jessica and David Goldberg booked an Oceania Cruise. The voyage started in Greece and dropped them off in Israel on October 4, where they planned to spend the next week exploring. The pair were in Israel for three days before they awoke to the sound of sirens and the booming of rockets overhead, they told Insider. The rockets, launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, were a part of terrorist attacks on Israel that killed more than 1,300 Israelis. The next day, Israel declared war on Hamas, and more than 4,000 Israelis and Palestinians have died in the days following as the war intensifies. According to data collected by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 16,000 people have been injured so far. But unlike many travelers, the Goldbergs decided not to cut their trip short and stayed until October 11 five days after the initial attack by Hamas. They ultimately departed on El Al, one of the few airlines still servicing Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. "We are, essentially, just inconvenienced American tourists trying to get a flight home," David Goldberg told Insider. "But compared to the horror that's been unfolding around Gaza, our plight is fairly minor in the scheme of things, and we're not trying to make a big deal about it. We're just trying to get home and support Israel however we can." Like the Goldbergs, thousands of other tourists have departed and their abrupt exits from Israel will mark a massive slowdown for the country's tourism industry one that local business owners and tourism professionals say they're dreading but are nonetheless prepared to withstand. As tourists leave or reconsider visiting, local businesses and guides say they've experienced mass cancellations Crowds at Jerusalem's Western Wall, on October 4, left, dissipated after Hamas' attack on Israel. Chen Junqing/Xinhua via Getty Images, Ziv Cohen Wassim Razzouk, who spoke to Insider on the phone from his tattoo shop in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, described a scene reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: By October 9, the ancient city's labyrinthine alleys, typically bustling with visitors and locals alike, had cleared out. Razzouk, who owns Razzouk Tattoo, a centuries-old tattoo parlor, said that tourists' departures had an immediate effect on his business, with people canceling their reservations for the next few weeks and into November. Two days after Hamas' attack, Razzouk said about 50 people had already canceled their appointments. He said the shop typically gets a few hundred visitors a month. While he expects a few walk-ins, he predicts many more missed appointments and cancellations, especially as the US State Department has issued a "level three" travel advisory, warning tourists to reconsider travel to Israel. The State Department advises to avoid travel to Gaza altogether. "This will be a big hit in a time that should have been the peak season, probably of the year," Razzouk told Insider. "October and November, we were expecting to be one of the best times of business." "This is a big blow for the business not only for my business but for the whole tourism industry," he continued. Ziv Cohen, a tour guide from Mazkeret Batya, a small town about 24 miles from Gaza, said his tours for the rest of the month and early November have also been canceled. He told Insider he booked 20 days of tours in October. Cohen said he has one tour scheduled in December, but it seems unlikely any new tour requests will come soon. "I don't see that a new request will come until the war is over," Cohen said. "So I can only take care of the reservation that exists, and try and convince them to not to cancel immediately, because maybe it's a small chance but maybe it will be short," he said, referring to the war. Cohen and Razzouk said that while they are concerned for their businesses and their welfare, they have bigger things on their mind: their families' physical and financial safety and the people more directly caught in the violence at the Gaza border. "My survival challenges are small," Cohen said. "Because people lost their world, their families." The experience is like 'deja vu' but the industry is equipped to bounce back, business owners say The empty Mount of Olives tourist site overlooking Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images Israel remains far from a sense of normalcy. In the wake of the shocking terror attacks, Israelis have repeatedly faced rocket attacks from Gaza while its military trades blows with Hezbollah militants in the country's north. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the fight against Hamas will be "a long war." Razzouk said the mood of the city felt somewhat like the doldrums of the pandemic but also said that Israel has gotten used to periods of turmoil and has learned to recover quickly. "We've been hit really bad a few times in our lives, with this country going into conflicts and wars," Razzouk said. "Right away, the first thing that will be affected is the tourism industry, and the last one that will recover is the tourism industry. Now, it's deja vu." In 2020, 831,000 tourists visited Israel, down from more than 4.5 million the year before, according to Statista. Visitor numbers were trending closer to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with 2.5 million tourists entering the country so far this year. Ben Julius, the founder of Tourist Israel, one of the country's largest tourism organizations, said sporadic slowdowns in tourism aren't uncommon in Israel and the industry is accustomed to bouncing back. While he doesn't think it will take years for the industry to recover from the current conflict, it's a drain on businesses for the time being. "I think from a tourism perspective is something that we've seen before," Julius said. "The industry knows how to handle these situations. So I think the long-term issue is going to be showing people again, that Israel is safe and it's a good time to come, which is something that we've encountered in the past." As Israelis cope with the fallout from Hamas' attack, Palestinians face a humanitarian crisis Last week, Israeli's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, declared the "complete siege" of Gaza, cutting off its electricity, food, water, and fuel. In the days that followed, the Israel Defense Forces told the UN that the more than 1 million people living in northern Gaza should evacuate within 24 hours a demand the UN deemed "impossible." According to the US State Department, there are 600 American citizens still in Gaza who have struggled to get out, NBC News reported on October 16. The border between Egypt and Gaza has remained closed, despite diplomatic talks and trapping those inside. In an October 17 statement, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said "there are daily indications of violations of the laws of war and international human rights law" as Israel's military operations are affecting Gaza's food, water, and medical supplies. As Insider previously reported, Doctors Without Borders in Gaza where people under 18 make up nearly half the population said that many of their patients have been children. "This is because the majority of the injured in Gaza are women and children since they are the ones who are most often in the houses that get destroyed in the airstrikes," said Ayman Al-Djaroucha, the deputy project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza. Read the original article on Insider In this March 5, 2020 file photo, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel addresses the media during a news conference in Lansing, Mich. AP Photo/David Eggert, File Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Saturday said the head of a Detroit synagogue was murdered. Samantha Woll was president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue. Woll was found dead outside her home Saturday morning, police said. The president of a Detroit synagogue who was found dead in front of her home Saturday morning was the victim of a "brutal murder," according to Michigan's top prosecutor. Samantha Woll, 40, had been president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue since last year, according to the Detroit Free Press. She was found outside her home at 6:30 a.m. in the Lafayette Park neighborhood, the newspaper reported, citing a police spokesperson. Police have not reported a cause of death. The department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. But Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, in a statement issued Saturday afternoon, said Woll was the victim of a murder. "I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sam's brutal murder," Nessel said. "Sam was as kind a person as I've ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone." A spokesperson for Nessel's office declined to provide more details "at this time." Though the attorney general did not indicate a possible motive, Woll's death comes during a time of heightened concern for members of the Jewish community. In 2022, the FBI reported a record number of hate crimes in the United, including a 37% increase in incidents targeting Jews. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has also increased fears that Jews and Muslims alike will be targeted over ostensibly political grievances. Earlier this week, an Illinois man was charged with fatally stabbing a 6-year-old boy of Palestinian descent. Read the original article on Insider Executions at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections became more difficult after the supply of a drug used in lethal injections was cut off When the supply of drugs used for lethal injections began to run out, a couple of prison guards in the US had to go out and find another source. For over 20 years, Randy Workman was the man who walked people to their death. As a senior corrections officer in the state of Oklahoma, he personally participated in 32 executions in various roles, including escorting prisoners, selecting executioners and sourcing lethal injection drugs. "You could tell the moment they expired. You watch enough of them, you can just tell immediately they were gone," he told the BBC. But his job took an unexpected turn in 2010, when Hospira, the maker of the drug sodium thiopental, stopped production in the US due to an unspecified issue with obtaining raw materials. The drug, which renders a person unconscious and suppresses the nervous system, was one of three drugs in a cocktail widely used in executions, and the oldest drug to be approved for capital punishment. The company tried to move production to Italy in 2011, where capital punishment is illegal, but the country refused to allow it unless Hospira could guarantee it wouldn't be used in executions. So it became Mr Workman's job to find the drug from alternative sources. It wasn't easy. "You felt isolated because you felt like the world was mad at you," he said. "It made you feel like you're doing something wrong. If you believe in the death penalty, we're really not." At one point, Mr Workman was able to make connections with a drug company in India that looked like it would be able to deliver a supply unimpeded, but he abandoned the idea when he found the company didn't have the approval process used in the US. It meant he couldn't guarantee what the drugs would do, if used. "That was a scary thought. You don't really know what you're getting into and really can't take chances on the process," he said. In the state of Arizona, prison boss Carson McWilliams was also on the search for lethal dugs. Carson McWilliams said he was involved in 29 executions while working for the Arizona Department of Corrections He had been calling around US based pharmaceutical companies asking if they had any drugs left over from previous shipments. "I probably contacted every drug company there was that I knew of. Most of them wouldn't even talk to me." When none did, he too turned to the India supplier. In his case, he did order a few shipments, as did the Texas Correctional Department. It was vital to procure the drugs, Mr McWilliams said, because in Arizona when a warrant for execution is issued, a penitentiary has 31 days to fulfil it before the warrant expired, at which point they would have to start the process again. "That clock starts ticking. You're under the gun to make it happen. So you have to be creative and do what you got to do to make it happen," he said. But when the drugs arrived in the US, federal officials confiscated them, putting Mr McWilliams back at square one. 'A secret and important mission' That's when he made a connection with a pharmacist in England who could supply sodium thiopental. At that time, supply of the chemical was legal. "It felt good because we know what these drugs are and we've used them before. And so we feel really confident that these drugs are fine," he said. But the supplier wasn't a big drug company. In fact, Medhi Alawi operated out of an address which apparently also operated as a driving school in Acton, London. Hundreds of vials of white powder had been parcelled into a cardboard box and sent off to Carson McWilliam's office in Florence, Arizona, making him one of the last suppliers in the US. Word got round with prison authorities across the country, and soon emails were flying around between correctional officers, requesting access to the drugs ordered from the UK. "May have a secret and important mission for you," read one email between Scott, the boss of San Quentin Correctional Department, and his officer, Tony. "I might need one of your SoCal guys to go to Florence, AZ and pick up a quantity of the drug and drive it to SQ." The exchange happened in McWilliams's office. The men who came, he says, "might have been in a rock band as opposed to being a couple of people coming over from California department of Corrections they had real big beards". Afterward he received an email from the California team: "You guys in Arizona are life savers - Buy you a beer next time I get that way." Mr McWilliams thought they had cracked their hunt for life-ending drugs but most of the shipment from London was confiscated by the US Food and Drug Administration because of licensing issues. Some vials of the drugs, however, had already been used to carry out executions in Arizona and Georgia. Testing the untested In 2011, the UK made it illegal to export drugs for use in capital punishment. Without a steady supply of sodium thiopental coming from the UK, the search continued for years. Controversially, some states even tried different drug combinations in executions. Joel Zivot, an associate professor at the Emory University School of Medicine who has campaigned against lethal injection procedures for the past decade, said drugs and other medical tools should not be used in executions. "No serious pharmaceutical company is producing medicines with execution in mind. When the Department of Corrections uses medicine to kill, it is a misuse of that product," he told the BBC. He said that rather than end production of drugs that have other therapeutic purposes, governments ought to step in and pass regulations that restrict how these drugs are used. Some, including Mr McWilliams, who supports the death penalty, thought that the new drug combinations had different effects than the original formula. "The original drug cocktail that people use - everyone knew it worked well and there was no issues with it. Some of the other drugs weren't quite as effective, so that did cause executions to last longer," he said. Many Americans oppose the death penalty Lawyers for convicted murderer Joseph Wood sued to halt his execution over concerns about the supply of the drugs used in Arizona. The Supreme Court eventually allowed his execution to go ahead in 2014, but the procedure took almost two hours and resulted in him being injected 15 times. That led Arizona to temporarily halt executions to review the state's procedures. Capital punishment only restarted in the state in 2022. Charles Ryan, director of Arizona's department of corrections, said in a statement after Wood's execution: "Once the inmate was sedated, he did not grimace or make any further movement." He said he "was assured unequivocally that the inmate was comatose and never in pain or distress". Also in 2014, the execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma failed and he died shortly after of a heart attack. Some blamed a previously-unused drug cocktail that was used, while reports also suggested a problem with the IV used to administer the drug. The failure was condemned by the UN and President Barack Obama, and helped shine a harsh light on capital punishment in the US - the only democracy in the western world to still carry out executions. Many have argued the use of newer drugs and combinations of drugs violated the US constitution's prohibition against "cruel and unusual" punishment. But despite concerns, the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the legality of the death penalty - and the use of lethal injection drugs. Decline in death penalty Today, the death penalty continues, but it has declined steadily, and concerns about the methods used remain. Oklahoma is one of just five US states to have actually carried out an execution in 2023. Right now, there are approximately 2,400 prisoners in US penitentiaries on death row. At the time of writing, 20 prisoners had been put to death in 2023, down from its modern-era peak in 1999 when there were 98 executions carried out by 20 states across the US. More than 60 global pharmaceutical companies won't allow their drugs to be used in capital punishment. Without reliable access, five states - Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina - have passed laws to allow prisoners to choose to die by firing squad as an alternative. Deborah Denno, a professor of law from the Fordham Law School in New York City, says the difficulty of obtaining lethal injection drugs is one of the reasons for the decline in the number of executions. She said executions have always had an "element of secrecy associated with them. But that secrecy became more pronounced" after drug shortages became widespread. Some states even brought in laws to keep information about what drugs were being used a secret, like Georgia's Lethal Injection Secrecy Act in 2013. This raised concerns, she said. Although she does not oppose the death penalty, she is critical of the methods currently being used. "They will say that they have secrecy as security issues to protect what goes on inside a prison. But there's absolutely no reason why we can't know what kinds of drugs are being used." Paul Cassell, a Professor of Law at University of Utah who supports the death penalty, said the drug issue has been seized upon by campaigners. He believes the shortage of lethal injection drugs is "used as a kind of choke point to block the death penalty". Randy Workman was a corrections officer for over 20 years Both Randy Workman and Carson McWilliams are now retired. Mr McWilliams was involved in 29 executions while working for the corrections department. "I didn't grow up thinking, hey, this is what I want to do for a living. It's just what happened to my job." Mr Workman still lives near the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on a small farm, about two hours outside Oklahoma city. It's a quiet spot, and a world away from the high security jail filled with 1,200 inmates where he spent his working life. He is happy in retirement, relaxed and cheerful. He loves his wife and his goats, but he's also held onto some memorabilia from his time working in corrections, including a knife confiscated as prison contraband. Reflecting on his years spent hunting down life-ending drugs, Mr Workman said "it was a horrible problem. It was like dealing with a dope dealer". He supports the death penalty, but was "ready to get out of it" and now does pastoral outreach in prison. "I don't like watching people die. I don't care what they've done. They're still people," he said. Banner for Killing Death Row podcast It used to be just a long list. JoVonna Dodge and other classroom advisers would print a list of all Smyrna High School students, placing it in binders as they set up to sell tickets in the cafeteria. Students could have been denied if they tried to buy tickets for non-students without guest forms, she said, or if they had significant disciplinary issues at the time. Otherwise, Dodge and others would simply etch ticket numbers next to names as they sold. It was rare that students couldnt go to a dance, as she recalled it in the early 2000s. Back then, she said educators didnt even have to limit attendance to homecoming. It was just a comprehensive list of anyone who was a student, and you know, I learned this from the class adviser from the year before, said the former teacher in Smyrna from 1996 to 2012. Nobody ever said anything to us about outstanding obligations. Today, theres a different story in Smyrna. And it concerns debt. Don Shifflett and Audrey Comm serve more than 450 school lunches at the Rehoboth Beach Elementary School in Rehoboth Beach in 2014. At or above $20, a student's lunch debt will block their inclusion in certain school-sanctioned social events in the Smyrna School District. Any such "obligation," according to the Kent County system, recently denied students at Smyrna High School the chance to buy homecoming tickets. One parent started a fundraiser in early October. With the dance this weekend, funds now ebb just above $4,200. Social posts, news stories and other concerned parents brought the issue to a higher pitch, even seeing Superintendent Susan Brown meeting with school leadership, the Smyrna school board and Delaware Department of Education last week. District leaders said it remains in review, as of late Thursday. Meal debt at the high school tends to hover around $16,000, according to the district, while districtwide books show some $32,000 in the red, built over years. School leaders say this practice has been largely followed for nearly two decades considered an extension of policy concerning lost or damaged school property, approved in '96, though not mentioned explicitly there or in school board meal policy. This school property rules state: "All obligations must be met before students may be eligible to participate in school-sanctioned, extracurricular events and activities. High school seniors must clear all obligations in order to receive a diploma." At mealtime, the district says no children are denied food allowed to select a meal of their choosing, without restriction, per board policy. But similar to how academic performance plays a role in participating in extracurricular activities, it says, maintaining "debt-free" meal accounts is required. Not everyone supports that thinking. On the rise: Smyrna plans new 4th-5th grade school, other school additions and 1,100 homes 'Quid pro quo on that is disgusting to me' Smyrna students and guests arrive at Modern Maturity Center for prom Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Dover, DE. Parents have seen this, too. Mom Melissa Scott said shes seen approaches like this since her boys were in school, some seven years ago. Another father, Kevin Christensen, has been concerned about student lunch debt's potential to block graduates from walking for the past four years. The Smyrna resident has started similar GoFundMes since 2019, after hearing that seniors could be denied the chance to attend their graduation ceremony. Homecoming, prom, other dances are just more milestones. Putting some type of quid pro quo on that is disgusting to me, said the father of three, his oldest a senior. I understand why they're doing it. I'm a businessman; I collect money from customers; I get it. That doesn't make it right. And it's the child being punished for the parent. Reactions have been mixed. Where one comment in a sea of social reactions begged for the fundraiser link, another would decry the assumption of handouts. Some taxpayers couldn't believe so much meal debt had built up, others called for a bigger venue so no students could be denied dance night. Christensen isnt sure where he falls on the practice with dances, but he plans to keep raising money for graduates to walk each spring. He wonders if better communication with outstanding lunch debt, from calls or letters sent home, to earlier notification ahead of dances, would help. Embarrassing high school students, he said, should always be avoided. Graduating seniors stand for the National Anthem at the start of Smyrna High School's commencement ceremony on Saturday June 3, 2023. Students with unpaid debts are allowed to graduate, a district spokesperson said. However, that outstanding debt may impact a student's participation in the graduation ceremony. School leaders have "worked closely with students and their families to collect cafeteria debt," he said, in aims to see each senior walk. Emails are sent to parents every Monday morning concerning any overdue balances, the district said, and school meal prices have not increased. Smyrna does not meet criteria for a systemwide free or reduced lunch program, so local families have to apply on their own. Forms should have been sent out as the school year began, but this and details on other resources are available online. Kent County real estate: See inside top homes for sale in Smyrna from $400K to $665K and what's attracting buyers Going forward in Smyrna People watch the Smyrna homecoming parade at halftime against Dover. Homecoming tickets are sold out. Whatever money raised by this months GoFundMe, according to parent organizer Roo Parag, will head to the Child Nutrition Program for Smyrna High. Students specific account information cannot be released, however, so the donation would likely be blanket. A district spokesperson said any donor funds received by the program "are distributed per the donor's instructions." "Those kids may have missed out on the opportunity altogether," Parag said. "But even if they have, even if we don't come up with the money, they will not be able to attend the next social event either." The district has made no indication of losing the practice as it relates to these school events. In a statement, leaders were "sincerely grateful for the support of our community members who have contributed funds to alleviate meal debt, either presently or in the past." Delaware sports: No. 1 Saint Mark's remains undefeated with thrilling, five-set volleyball win over Smyrna Smyrna School District is planning a new school and additions to two others as the community continues to grow expecting two housing developments with a combined 1,135 lots as previously reported by Delaware Online/The News Journal. The new fourth- and fifth-grade school will hold 600 students, planted across from Sunnyside Elementary. JoVonna Dodge doesnt really have a horse in this race anymore. Maybe there was an expected practice years back that she and other advisers she worked with had never heard about. The former educator taught in private school for eight years after leaving Smyrna, now still living in the area. She's confident this hasnt been the only way. The failsafe: That's how we've always done it, doesn't truly apply in this situation. Court documents: Shocking images, racist chats fill evidence against ex-Smyrna detective facing child porn charges Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Smyrna district reviews rule barring students with lunch debt from dance FILE - Marlon Wayans attends the "Marlon" FYC Event at UCB Theatre, June 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. In a court filing Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, Denver prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss a case against Marlon Wayans stemming from a luggage dispute with an airline employee that the actor and comedian said targeted him because of his race. The city attorneys office made the request in a court filing Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) DENVER (AP) Denver prosecutors asked a judge on Friday to dismiss a case against Marlon Wayans stemming from a luggage dispute with an airline employee who the actor and comedian said targeted him because of his race. The city attorney's office's request comes a day after Wayans, who is Black, asked for the case to be dismissed and accused prosecutors of perpetuating the discrimination he faced by continuing with the case. Assistant City Attorney Katie Conner did not directly explain why prosecutors wanted the case dismissed, but she suggested that information gathered by Wayans' lawyers about white passengers being allowed to violate United Airlines' luggage limit played a role. One of Wayans' lawyers, David M. Beller, said a judge has granted the request. He applauded the city's decision. Our community does not need one more innocent Black man wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted," Beller said. "I hope this inspires everyone to be more aware of their own implicit and explicit bias." A spokesperson for the city attorney's office did not return an email seeking comment. Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June, police said. According to Wayans motion to dismiss the case, a United Airlines gate agent told him he could not get on a flight to Kansas City with three bags. The gate agent tried to physically block Wayans from getting on the flight after he consolidated his luggage into two bags to conform with airline policy, according to the filing. Wayans boarded anyway and was later asked to get off the plane before it departed. While Wayans was working 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 from surveillance video of white passengers with yellow arrows pointing to each of their bags. About 140 people boarded the flight, the filing said, many with three bags and oversized bags that violated the airlines policy. 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 said was a lie. They say Wayans may have brushed shoulders with the agent as he boarded. In the filing to dismiss the case, Conner said Wayans brushed past the gate agent to get on the plane. The police officers who investigated were doubtful that any crime had been committed, according to Wayans' filing, but the gate agent asked that charges be pursued. In the city's motion to dismiss the case, Conner noted that she had reviewed the information gathered by Wayans' lawyers and met with the gate agent on Thursday to go over each photo included in Wayans' filing. As a result of information gathered during that interview, it is the undersigned city attorneys determination that, while probable cause existed at the time of the issuance of the complaint against Mr. Wayans, it is not in the interests of justice to proceed in this case, Conner said. Flash UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (2nd R) speaks while visiting the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, ahead of the anticipated opening of the crossing to bring needed aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave. At the Rafah crossing, the only crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Guterres said the large convoy loaded with food and medicine was "the difference between life and death for the (Palestinian) people." "We absolutely need to have these trucks moving as quickly as possible and as many as necessary," the UN chief said, adding there needed to be trucks entering "every day into Gaza to provide enough support for the Gazan people." Before the press conference, the UN chief inspected the aid convoy waiting to enter Gaza at the Rafah crossing for days. Some 175 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, medical supplies, food, and blankets were lined up near the crossing, waiting for entry into Gaza but blocked by Israeli bombardments. Earlier in the day, Jens Laerke, spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said relevant parties are nearing an agreement on the modalities of the aid operation and that the first delivery is due to start in the next day or so, according to a UN press release. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden have recently held a phone talk and agreed on the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing "in a sustainable manner." 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 and left many others in an acute humanitarian crisis. A prominent Detroit synagogue board president was found stabbed to death early Saturday outside her home. Police have yet to identify a motive or a suspect in her killing. Samantha Woll, 40, was found outside her home in a neighborhood east of downtown Detroit. She was the board president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, worked for Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and was on the reelection campaign of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel , also a Democrat. Religious leaders and public officials decried the killing. The American Jewish Committee said it was "heartbroken" at the news, calling her a "ray of sunlight to all who knew her" and "a passionate Muslim-Jewish bridge builder." Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan recalled meeting with Woll during a dedication of a renovated synagogue, a project he said she led "with great pride and enthusiasm." U.S. Rep Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who is Palestinian American and Muslim and represents Detroit, posted on Facebook: "My friend, and a member of our organizing community, Sam Woll, was murdered. I have no words. She always had a sweet smile to offer and the warmest eyes to greet you. Our community is devastated and we are shocked. Please keep her family and our community in your prayers." Detroit Police offered no clarity about the motive behind the killing by the end of the day, but Chief James White said Saturday night the department was continuing to investigate. "Understandably, this crime leaves many unanswered questions," he said in a statement. "This matter is under investigation, and I am asking that everyone remain patient while investigators carefully examine every aspect of the available evidence. It is important that no conclusions be drawn until all of the available facts are reviewed." Earlier, Detroit police said they were investigating a report that a woman had been found unresponsive, with multiple stab wounds, in the 1300 block of Joliet Place in the city's Lafayette Park neighborhood. A trail of blood led back to the victim's home, where police said they believe the crime occurred. Officials pronounced Woll dead at the scene. The FBI was aware of the case and has been assisting Detroit police as requested, said Gabrielle Szlenkier, a spokesperson for the FBI's Detroit field office, in an email. The FBI referred all questions to local police. Well-connected leader, attended wedding night before Woll led the synagogue's board since 2022 and was involved in other local Jewish organizations. A statement sent by Rabbi Ariana Silverman said the synagogue was "shocked and saddened," by Woll's "unexpected death." "At this point, we do not have more information," the statement said, "but will share more when it becomes available. May her memory be a blessing." Woll spent much of her career in state and local politics, working on or managing campaigns of Nessel, state Sen. Stephanie Chang, and Denzel McCampbell, who ran for Detroit City Clerk and others. Chang and Woll attended a wedding together the night before Woll's body was found, and was photographed smiling alongside the bride and groom. Chang and Woll met as students at the University of Michigan more than 15 years ago and remained friends. "A lot of good" things were happening in Woll's life, Chang said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. In addition to leading the reopening and renovation of the downtown synagogue, she was poised to get a new job. "She was endlessly positive, just a wonderful person who was doing so much good and could bring so much happiness and joy," Chang said. Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit posted on Facebook he was "broken and unable to move" at the news of Woll's murder. He said she was the kindest and most beautiful soul taken away in "the most evil, brutal way. "Sam was committed to justice and equality. In her name we will never give up. Baruch Dayan Emet, Sam. You were so loved and cherished." Woll remembered for her compassion, activism Sloktin posted a tribute on her official Facebook page saying Woll sought to bring people together and cared deeply about helping others. "Separately, in politics & in the Jewish community, she dedicated her short life to building understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness," the congresswoman wrote. Woll will be missed, Sloktin wrote, for her desire to serve and the bright smile she brought across the Detroit area. I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sams brutal murder, Nessel said in a statement posted on X. Sam was as kind a person as Ive ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone. Police tape blocks the sidewalk in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, near where a woman was found stabbed to death. Woll, who previously worked in constituent relations for Chang, was selected as one of The Detroit Jewish News' "36 under 36" in 2017. According to the outlet, Woll helped lead the American Jewish Committees ACCESS Detroit Young Leadership Program and founded the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit, a grassroots organization aimed to build relationships between young adults of those faiths. "By extending her hand and creating space for connection between Muslims and Jews, she has exemplified the values of healing the world," The Detroit Jewish News article said. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Synagogue leader fatally stabbed in Detroit, police investigate motive A general view of the Detroit skyline is seen from Windsor, Onatario, Canada (This Oct. 21 story has been corrected to attribute a quote to White in paragraph 7) By Sharon Bernstein (Reuters) - The president of a Detroit synagogue was found stabbed to death on Saturday outside her home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood, police said. The death of Samantha Woll, 40, an adviser to Democratic politicians and president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was also confirmed by the synagogue on Facebook. "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President," the synagogue said. "At this point we do not have more information, but will share more when it becomes available." The Detroit Police Department said Woll's body was found in the 1300 block of Joliet Place in Detroit, where a trail of blood led to her home. By Saturday evening, police had still not determined a possible motive for the crime. But Detroit Police Chief James E. White said the department had mobilized numerous resources in its investigation. "Understandably, this crime leaves many unanswered questions," White said in a statement emailed to Reuters. He asked the public to be patient and not jump to conclusions before authorities are able to piece together what happened. "It is important that no conclusions be drawn until all of the available facts are reviewed," White said, adding that an update would be issued on Sunday. Woll's death sparked an outpouring of grief in Jewish and Democratic circles. "Sam was as kind a person as I've ever known," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote on X, formerly called Twitter. "She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country." Elissa Slotkin, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for whom Woll had worked, said she was "heartbroken" at the news. "Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term." (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis) Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will, by Kevin J. Mitchell, Princeton University Press, 352 pages, $29.95 What is free will? Can a being whose brain is made up of physical stuff actually make undetermined choices? In Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will, the Trinity College Dublin neuroscientist Kevin J. Mitchell argues that evolution has shaped living creatures such that we can push back when the physical world impinges upon us. The motions of nonliving thingsair, rocks, planets, starsare entirely governed by physical forces; they move where they are pushed. Our ability to push back, Mitchell argues, allows increasingly complex creatures to function as agents that can make real choices, not "choices" that are predetermined by the flux of atoms. How can that be? After all, just like air and rocks, bacteria and sharks and aardvarks and people are made of physical stuff. Determinism holds that, per the causal laws of nature, the unfolding of the universe is inexorable and unbranching, such that it can have only one past and one future. Human beings do not escape the laws of nature, so any and all of our "choices" have been predetermined from the beginning of the universe. This view poses a moral problem: How can people be held accountable for their actions if they had no choice but to behave the way they did? Some determinist philosophers, known as compatibilists, hold that causal determinism is compatible with free will. Daniel Dennett, for example, argues that you are exercising your free will if, in the absence of external coercion, you are acting in accordance with your desires. As the 19th century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer put it, "Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills." Mitchell is unconvinced. "I cannot escape feeling that some sleight of hand is part of this argument," he writes. "The primary problem has been circumvented or even denied, rather than confronted. We start on the terrain of particle physics but shift to arguments at the level of human psychology, all aimed not at whether organisms can choose their actions but at the different question of whether we can ascribe moral responsibility." *** Determinists argue that all causes come from the bottom up. They say the interactions of particles and forces are "causally comprehensive," ultimately accounting for everything that happens in the realm of weather, rocks, amoebas, planets, and brains. Against that view, physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff suggest the locus of free will can be situated in the randomness of quantum mechanics. Many philosophers say this argument does not work, since random quantum wave fluctuations decohere into particles that then grind deterministically on in accordance with the laws of classical physics. Physicists Nicolas Gisin and Flavio Del Santo have offered a controversial challenge to fully causal determinism, arguing against the assumption of infinite precision in the measurement of classical physical systems. They contend it is impossible to cram an infinite amount of information into a finite space, that the state of any physical system is therefore indefinite, and that indeterminacy is thus not confined to the quantum realm. Barbara Drossel, a theoretical physicist at the Technical University of Darmstadt, takes a similar position. "While physics underlies everything that happens in nature, it does not determine everything," she writes. "Physics is not causally closed and does not encompass everything that happens in our world." Mitchell builds on those arguments, suggesting that indeterminacy is resolved as physical systems interact over time; the past becomes fixed while the future remains open. The future, he writes, is characterized "by indefiniteness at both the quantum and classical levels," and the present is "the time during which this indefiniteness becomes definite." Mitchell's aim is to trace how living organisms, from microbes to humans, evolved into agents able to make choices that resolve the universe's inherent indeterminacy. Organisms, Mitchell says, are patterns of processes that detect and react to internal and external stimuli as they seek to persist. As a microbe actively explores its environment, impinging molecules are processed internally as information about sustenance or danger, thereby providing the organism as a whole with "reasons" to initiate approach or avoidance. "In reality," he explains, "these organisms integrate multiple signals at once, along with information about their current state and its recent history, to produce a genuinely holistic response that cannot be deconstructed into isolated parts." If microorganisms can act as agents, then much more complex organisms, such as humans, must have an even greater scope for agency in the world. Mitchell describes the structure of human brains in great detail, showing how patterns of neurons instantiate meaning as they respond to sensory stimuli and to each other. Thus emerges top-down causationwhat happens when patterns at a higher hierarchical level exert causal influence over a lower level by changing the context within which the lower-level actions take place. "The choices the organism makes based on parameters set at high level filter down," Mitchell writes, "to change the criteria at lower levels, thereby allowing the organism to adapt to current circumstances, execute current plans, and achieve current goals. In this way, abstract entities like thoughts and beliefs and desires can have causal influence in a physical system." *** To be clear, Mitchell does not believe our choices are absolutely free from any prior causes. We are all constrained by our genes, our histories, our psychological traits, and our developed characters. Instead of radical metaphysical freedom, Mitchell persuasively develops a more modest conception of free will that entails the evolved ability to make real choices in the service of our goalsthat is, to act for our own reasons. This carefully argued, information-dense book will put a dent in any intellectual predilection toward determinism that some readers may have. It certainly did mine. But perhaps it was inevitable that it would do so. The post Did Evolution Give Us Free Will? appeared first on Reason.com. PROVIDENCE Providence police officers abided by the law last year when they engaged in a gun battle with a heavily armed Providence man who ended the firefight by shooting himself in the head, according to a report by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office. The man, Scott Maclean, refused to talk with a negotiator and he shot at police with rifles and pistols from an apartment in a house on Denison Street, says the report, which Neronha's office released on Friday. "Based on this review, we conclude that the actions of the police officers were legally justified," says the report, which is signed by Deputy Attorney General Adi Goldstein. "The deadly force used by the police officers who responded to the scene was objectively reasonable and necessary under the circumstances," the report says. State troopers and Providence police converge near Denison Street in Providence's Charles neighborhood on Feb. 10, 2022. Gunfight in Providence in 2022 triggers probe The standoff and shooting with Maclean early in the morning on Feb. 22, 2022, was investigated by the Providence police, the Rhode Island State Police and Neronha's office. Eight Providence police officers, all members of the tactical unit, opened fire during the exchange. Twice, car-carrying ships have burned en route to RI. Fire officials say they're prepared Almost all of them shot their rifles, which were either M4s or an M4 variant. One detective fired his .40-caliber pistol, says the report. Maclean fired 116 rounds at police. The police seized 14 guns, including five pistols, a 12-gauge shotgun from the home and eight rifles. Among the rifles was a Russian-made Molot-Orvzhie assault rifle, says the report. Weapons seized by police in 2022 following a gun battle at a house in the city's Charles neighborhood. Gunman not cooperative with negotiator At one point, the report says, police tossed a Throw-Bot camera into the second-floor apartment, allowing them to make some observations. After that, says the report, Sgt. Charles Viera saw Maclean try to disable the device by shooting at it. Officer Shane Romano, the crisis negotiator, told investigators he had tried to make contact with Maclean on his cellphone and via a loudspeaker, calling out to the man as he fired at police. Son of man who died in shootout with Providence police charged with assaulting TV reporter "Scott, it's Shane," Romano said. "This is it. You gotta make contact with me. OK? Just talk with me. We can end this peacefully. This doesn't have to be bad at all. Alright? Just talk with me. " Maclean's daughter Christina Maclean told investigators that before the event her father had told her he would commit "suicide by cop" and "go out guns blazing." The tactical officers tried to compel Maclean's compliance by leveraging other tools, including less-lethal rounds, smoke and other means, without success. Jason Lopes, of Providence, took video Thursday morning when police exchanged heavy gunfire with a man on Denison Street in the Charles neighborhood. Examiner: Man found dead, with single gunshot wound, in scorched apartment Maclean was found in a room that was completely "destroyed by fire," says the medical examiner's autopsy report. His body was face down and when the body was turned over, a pistol was in his right hand. It's possible the use of a Spede-Heat round to deliver a type of tear gas used as a riot control agent, might have "contributed to the outbreak of a fire at the residence." But this was not "conclusively determined," says the report. Fire investigators could not determine the cause of the fire. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence police tactics in 2022 gun fight scrutinized in AG's report Catching many travelers off guard is a new practice being stealthily carried out by drug agents dressed as plainclothes passengers at the Atlanta airport who are randomly searching people they suspect are transporting drug money. Atlanta News First Investigates reporters tailed Drug and Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force officers at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as they worked to track down potential drug mules making their way through various terminals. Atlanta Black Star also covered the claim of comedians Eric Andre and Clayton English, who alleged they were racially profiled by police and questioned about drugs at the airport on separate occasions in 2021 and 2020. Unsuspecting travelers never realized these were federal drug agents until they were approached by one at their gates. DEA task force officers blend in as regular travelers in plainclothes at the Atlanta airport, but theyre scouting out potential drug mules and conducting random searches on passengers at their boarding gates. (Photo: Twitter/Brendan Keefe, Atlanta News First) He just approached me, and he asked me for my ID, film director Tabari Sturdivant told Atlanta News First. He didnt state who he was. He just asked me for ID, and I thought he was a Delta agent. He had airport credentials on, and so I gave it to him immediately. Trending Today: Sturdivant, an Atlanta-based film director, was heading to L.A. for a film project when a group of task force officers walked up to him and requested to search his carry-on luggage in front of other passengers at his gate. The officers didnt find anything illegal, but during the search, they asked if he was high or if he was carrying drugs and cash. Its not just the DEA thats walking around Hartsfield-Jackson in plain clothes. Clayton County narcotics officers are also in on the action because some are reportedly cross-sworn as DEA task force officers. Hollywood actors and comedians Jean Elie, Andre, and English were stopped by the agents on a jet bridge of separate ATL to LAX flights and searched their belongings in front of other passengers in 2021 and 2020. Flights from Atlanta to Los Angeles are routinely monitored by these officers, who call them known drug trafficking routes. The suit was filed by Andre and English, who not only claimed the searches were neither random nor consensual, they also included Clayton County data that revealed 56 percent of jet bridge stops involved Black passengers, and 68 percent were people of color. The DEA stopped collecting race data 20 years ago. A federal judge dismissed their lawsuit last month, arguing in part that the two men should have realized they were free to walk away and not engage with the officers in the jetway. The men are appealing the dismissal. While the searches may not be popular, theyre certainly profitable. Clayton County records and federal documents show that drug agents find large amounts of cash on passengers at departing gates rather than drugs. Agents have seized millions of dollars, and while travelers arent arrested, their money is often administratively forfeited. Like most civil forfeiture cases, people who have their money taken must prove in court that their money isnt connected to drug trafficking or other illegal activity. Seizures like these dont just happen at the Atlanta airport. Theyve taken place at airports across the country. Civil asset forfeiture run amok. John Simpson (@jsimpsonDC) October 19, 2023 Most travelers are unclear of their rights when it comes to airport searches. In order to be admitted entry to the airports gated areas, passengers must submit themselves to TSA security screenings. Thats a fact. However, the random searches by DEA agents at the Atlanta airport give passengers pause, but it should be noted that theyre not mandated. The DEA officially calls its stops and searches at airport gates cold consent encounters, and passengers are free to end the encounter and walk away if theyd like. However, others who have been searched at their boarding gates said they felt coerced, pressured, or gave consent under duress. One passenger recorded one of these encounters that showed a DEA agent using some coercive tactics. 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. Youre either going to sign a consent form saying that youre allowing us to search [your bags], the drug agent is heard telling the passenger on the recording, or Im going to detain them, run my dog on it, and get a search warrant. The passenger immediately agreed to sign the consent form. No drugs were found, but the agents did discover money, which they seized, Atlanta News First reported. The passenger was allowed to board his flight, and the federal government kept the money. The passenger has since filed a claim with the federal court in Atlanta. Read the original story here. A former Pueblo attorney accused of two separate crimes was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay nearly $25,000 in restitution during a plea and sentencing hearing in Pueblo County District Court Thursday. Douglas Gradisar, 50, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and felony criminal mischief as part of a plea agreement. He was a member of the Gradisar, Trechter, Ripperger and Roth Law Firm, which was started by his father Nick Gradisar, who today is Pueblo's mayor. Earlier this year, the Chieftain reported on a 2022 lawsuit filed against Pueblo attorneys Anthony Perko, Nick Gradisar, Douglas Gradisar, Charles Trechter, James Ripperger and David Roth, which accused Perko of attorney misconduct as he represented Crowley County Improvement Company partners during his time working for the Gradisar firm. In covering that case, which resulted in a sealed settlement, the Chieftain reported that Douglas Gradisar was disbarred by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel July 10. As part of that proceeding, he was ordered to pay $22,500 as restitution to his clients or reimburse the Attorneys' Fund for Client Protection. The disbarment order indicates Douglas Gradisars restitution was linked to taking retainers from clients but "did not perform legal services," in exchange for those payments. The disbarment order also indicates Douglas Gradisar initially was suspended from practicing law July 1, 2021, but performed some legal work during his suspension. In pleading guilty to theft charge, Douglas Gradisar admitted to receiving attorney fees from clients Tony and Linda Nicholson of Trinidad. "As a direct result of his actions, our case ended in a judgment against us," when a $130,000 civil suit case was dismissed and "we had a rock solid case," Nicholson told Judge William Alexander during sentencing Thursday. "We knew nothing about him having lost his license." The disbarment order also indicates Douglas Gradisar was charged with felony criminal mischief in June 2022 in Pueblo County District Court. In connection with that case, he pleaded guilty to the criminal mischief in exchange for a four-year deferred sentence that will run at the same time as his four-year probation in the theft case. The victim in the criminal mischief case, who will not be named by the Chieftain because of domestic violence allegations, told Alexander she has been living in fear, has been "left grappling with self worth" and hopes to shine a light on the urgency of addressing domestic violence. Douglas Gradisar's attorney, Adam Shultz, told the judge the couple had a "toxic relationship and she in no way has clean hands," stating his client also was a victim of abuse from her. Before Douglas Gradisar was sentenced, Shultz said his client "made some mistakes for which he is genuinely sorry." Douglas Gradisar did not make a statement except to tell the judge there was money he "was not able to account for," in connection with the theft case. In addition to the four-year probation term, Douglas Gradisar was ordered to undergo a domestic violence evaluation and comply with any recommendations as a result of that evaluation. He also was ordered to maintain full-time employment; refrain from using alcohol, controlled substances or marijuana; relinquish any firearms he owns within 24 hours; and is prohibited from owning firearms or weapons during the probation. In connection with the criminal mischief case, he was ordered to pay $6,902 in restitution. In connection with the theft case he was ordered to pay $8,075 in restitution as well as a $10,000 restitution payment to the Supreme Court Client Protection Fund. Alexander said it is rare that victims show up to court hearings and he thanked all three victims for taking the time to attend and give statements. More law news: Pueblo attorney who worked for mayor's former law firm accused of malpractice Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Disbarred Pueblo attorney sentenced in connection with two crimes The occupiers are trying to surround Avdiyivka Russia is trying and repeatedly failing to surround Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, with Ukrainian troops doggedly defending the key front-line town in the Donbas, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a Facebook post on Oct. 21. Ukrainian troops in the area are inflicting heavy losses on the Russian attackers, the General Staff said. Read also: Ukrainian SOFs destroy Russian tanks, personnel in newly released video Russian offensives in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Stepove, and Pervomaiske, towns close to Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, were unsuccessful. Elsewhere, in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational-strategic troop grouping near Kupyansk, Ukrainian forces repelled more than 20 enemy attacks in the areas of Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as about five attacks near Nadiya in Luhansk Oblast. In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian forces prevented the loss of positions near Nevelske in Luhansk Oblast. Read also: Russian propaganda retreats as its Avdiyivka offensive stalls, ISW speculates on what comes next In the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian troops repelled all enemy attacks in the vicinity of Bohdanivka and Khromove. The invading Russian forces also tried unsuccessfully to regain ground they lost earlier near Klishchiyivka in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces are continuing assault operations south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy, and consolidating their positions, the Ukrainian General Staff said. In the Maryinka sector, the enemy conducted unsuccessful assault operations with the support of aviation in the vicinity of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian defenders repelled about 20 enemy attacks there. In the Shakhtarsk sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled militants' attacks in the areas of Zolota Nyva, Staromayorske, and Rivne in Donetsk Oblast. In the Zaporizhzhya sector, the enemy conducted unsuccessful assault operations near Poltavka, Zaporizhzhya Oblast. Read also: Aftermath of Ukrainian ATACMS strike on Berdyansk airfield video The enemy also unsuccessfully tried to regain a lost position near Robotyne, Zaporizhzhya Oblast. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine An anti-LGBTQ+ pastor in South Carolina described as Trumps top pastor has announced plans to open a K-12 Christian military academy free from LGBTQ+ and other woke agenda teachings. Pastor Mark Burns of the Harvest Praise & Worship Center in Easley announced the creation of the new Burns Military Christian Academy in a post to Facebook this month. Burns, who was featured by Time as one of Trumps top pastors and has a history of transphobic and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, said the new military academy will use curricula based on Abeka Curriculum, a Christian homeschooling company, and will open its doors for the 2024-25 academic school year. Our mission is to provide an affordable, pro-American education with a strong emphasis on biblical teachings, and to create an environment where children can learn and grow without the need for discipline or court-ordered attendance, Burns announced in a post to Facebook, adding, Our school aims to instill good morals and a love for our country in our students while ensuring that they are not exposed to LGBTQ, CRT, or woke teachings. I believe it is the obligation for the Body of Christ to protect our children from such liberal unbiblical ideologies, which is why I've founded the Burns Military Christian Academy, Burns told Newsweek. Our focus is not to wish harm on any LGBTQ persons but to pray for them and show them the love of Jesus Christ while teaching against that and other sinful lifestyles that the Bible warns us against. Burns regularly attacks the LGBTQ+ community and the transgender community in particular. Related: Pro-Trump Candidate Calls for Executing Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids Transgenderism [sic] is a mental disorder, Burns said in a video posted to Facebook. And it needs to be dealt with by medical professionals, not encouraged by woke-ism or liberal left parents or liberal left psychiatrists or even liberal left doctors who are trying to challenge biology. Burns added that transgenderism needed to be solved by those who understand it is a mental disorder. He has called for the arrest of parents of trans kids and has compared the LGBTQ+ agenda to the techniques used by the Nazis to indoctrinate children. According to Right Wing Watch, he described LGBTQ+ studies as indoctrination and akin to the practices used by the Nazis to train future stormtroopers while they were young. That is 1922 Nazi Germany all over again, Burns said before later correcting himself on the rise of Hitler. Hitler was imprisoned in 1923 for a failed coup, and he and the Nazis did not seize power until 10 years later in 1933. Hello and welcome to a late edition of Uphill. Between nonstop news developments and my toddlers fun case of hand, foot, and mouth disease, its been a bit of a rough week. Its also been rough for House Republicans, who still show no signs of being capable of governing. Some of them arent interested in governing at all, which is nothing new. Over the past decade, the conference has overseen multiple government shutdowns, several debt ceiling near-misses, frequent leadership turnover, and an attempt to reject lawful election results to keep their party in power. Not a stellar track record. But the GOP conferences current dysfunction is soaring to new heights. Rep. Jim Jordan, a far-right Fox News fixture and ally of former President Donald Trump, failed his third attempt to win the speakership on Friday morning, securing just 194 voteswell short of what he needed and his worst showing yet. After giving the Ohio Republican a week to make his case, most of the GOP conference decided theyd had enough, reportedly voting 112-86 in an internal conference meeting to remove Jordan as the partys candidate for speaker. We need to come together and figure out who our speaker is going to be, Jordan said after the conference vote. Im going to work as hard as I can to help that individual so that we can go help the American people. The House now ends its third consecutive week without a speaker, leaving floor action effectively paralyzed. Lawmakers will head home over the weekend, and the GOP conference plans to start the selection process anew with a candidate forum on Monday night where members can pitch themselves for the job. With former Speaker Kevin McCarthy deposed, Majority Leader Steve Scalise already rejected, and Jordan set aside, the race has a bit of a Mad Max, free-for-all vibe. Majority Whip Tom Emmer is already running, and hes secured McCarthys endorsement. Emmer understands the dynamics of the conference, McCarthy said Friday afternoon of his colleague from Minnesota. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority. As one of the few GOP leaders who didnt try to overturn the 2020 presidential electionwho has also distanced himself from Donald Trump and feuded with right-wing commentator Tucker CarlsonEmmer likely faces an uphill climb. On Friday night, Politico reported Trump had already conveyed to allies that he opposes Emmers bid. Hes set to face a varied slate of challengers. Reps. Kevin Hern, Jack Bergman, Austin Scott, Byron Donalds, Mike Johnson, and Pete Sessions all launched bids for the gavel after Jordan flamed out Friday. Theyand anyone else who announces by the deadline on Sunday at noonwill be making calls to colleagues over the weekend to try to shore up support. We wont attempt to make any predictions; if anything has been clear throughout the House GOPs chaos this month, its that no one really knows how this will play out. At this point, every outcome is as likely as any other, former Rep. Peter Meijer, a Michigan Republican whos considering a Senate bid, told The Dispatch on Friday. Might as well just start throwing a 222-sided die and keep holding votes round and round until January 3, 2025. Were in uncharted territory here; this procedural no-mans land is the event of a lifetime for Congress wonks who love watching precedent be set in real time. But the gridlock comes at a particularly dangerous moment. Members havent been able to pass spending bills during the stalemate, and a government shutdown deadline is now just four weeks away. Until the speakership mess is resolved, lawmakers also wont be able to consider President Joe Bidens new $105 billion funding request, including roughly $61 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $14 billion for securing the southern border, $9 billion for humanitarian aid, and $7 billion for Taiwan. Given many House Republicans aversion to additional Ukraine funding, passing that package would be a difficult task even in a functioning House. Without a speaker, its not happening anytime soon. Jordan and his allies briefly considered a move on Thursday to give more power to acting Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, so the House could consider legislation over the next few months while Jordan worked to win more support from GOP lawmakers. The idea fell apart quickly, however, as it managed to upset almost everyone involved. Conservatives argued it amounted to giving Democrats more power during spending negotiations. Jordans opponents, meanwhile, didnt like that he would remain the conferences speaker-designee and would run for the job again in a few months. After it became obvious there was minimal support for the idea and GOP leaders would need to get Democrats on boardlikely with some concessionsthey ditched it. But if Republicans cant decide among their new slate of candidates, a temporary patch like that could always return to the discussion. Most members desperately want to put this embarrassing saga behind them, but the anger and animosity within the conference thats built over the last few weeks will make that difficult. Rep. Dusty Johnson, a South Dakota Republican, emerged from Fridays meeting and slammed the eight Republicans who set this whole situation off by ousting McCarthy earlier this month. He singled out Rep. Nancy Mace, telling reporters its been a long time since shes done anything productive to move forward this broader team. Americas got real problems, Johnson continued. And this is a time where we need people who are interested in problem solving, not self-aggrandizement. Similar frustrations bubbled up during an hours-long House GOP conference meeting on Thursday, where enemies shouted each other down and personal grudges continued to grow like weeds. At least one GOP lawmaker, Rep. Mike Gallagher, apparently sensed something unholy was afoot and left to pray the rosary. Rep. Drew Ferguson told the room he had to have law enforcement stationed at his daughters school amid a barrage of threats from supporters of Jordan. And Ferguson wasnt the only one: No fewer than four of Jordans opponents reported receiving death threats this week, and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said his wife had been sleeping with a loaded gun after receiving ugly anonymous messages about his votes. Jordan himself condemned the threatening rhetoric, but as my colleague Mike Warren presciently wrote earlier this week, the pressure campaign from Jordans allies only backfired. When the Ohio Republicans bid was on life support, some of those Jordan allies were looking to place the blame elsewhere: on Steve Scalise, who initially won the conferences nomination for the speakership earlier this month but stepped back after realizing he didnt have enough support to win on the House floor. Scalise could bring the conference together if he would give Jordans nominating speech, Massie told The Dispatch Thursday night, wondering why the Louisiana Republican hadnt done so yet. Instead, Jordan was nominated by House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Rules Committee Chair Tom Cole, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy instead. Although Scalise voted for Jordan in all three rounds, Massie argued he didnt do enough to convince some of his allies to flip their support to Jordan. Scalise is withholding votes, Massie claimed. Hes keeping people back. Lauren Fine, a spokeswoman for Scalise, denied that. Not true, she told The Dispatch. Leader Scalise has been the only candidate throughout this process who has publicly declared he will be supportive of whomever the conference nominates for Speaker, and his position has not changed. But its far from clear if Scaliseor anyoneactually has enough power to rally the conference around any of the new speaker candidates. Sen. Bill Cassidys Trip to China I interviewed GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on Wednesday about his trip to China last week as part of a bipartisan group of six senators that met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The full interview with Cassidy is on the site today, but the portion about fentanyl, trade relations, and human rights stood out to me. We were very frank with Xi and his foreign minister, Cassidy told The Dispatch. 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. Of Note Pro-Israel progressives begin to crack down on growing far-left extremism toward Israel Biden is expected to request $100 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other crises Muslim members of Congress face spikes in death threats Rep. Derrick Van Orden leaves D.C. for fact-finding mission in Israel as House remains paralyzed Amid House speaker chaos, Georgias Mike Collins finds comedic relief 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. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is in agreement with fans who are confused by a new wax figure of him on display at a museum in Paris, and he vows to have the statue updated. Some fans on social media had said the statue, which was recently unveiled at Musee Grevin, features the Moana star with a skin tone lighter than his actual complexion and with a face resembling that of Mr. Clean or Vin Diesel . The wrestler-turned-actor responded to the criticism Oct. 22 by posting to Instagram a video of comedian James Andre Jefferson Jr. detailing all the reasons why he thinks the figure misses the mark. "I knew my boy @jamesjeffersonj had this Rock wax statue in his roasting crosshairs," the former WWE star captioned the post. "For the record, Im going to have my team reach out to our friends at Grevin Museum, in Paris France so we can work at 'updating' my wax figure here with some important details and improvements- starting with my skin color," he added. He'll visit the museum during his next trip to Paris and "have a drink with myself," he joked. Dwayne Johnson wax figure unveiled in Paris museum (Marc Piasecki / Getty Images) The museum said in a statement to TODAY.com that "Dwayne Johnson is right." "We noticed it and will obviously remedy it as quickly as possible and send him new photos once completed," a spokesperson for the museum said. "We are waiting for him when he will come to Paris and the Grevin Wax Museum to celebrate that with a cup of champagne." Its website says the sculptor, Stephane Barret, used photos and videos of Johnson to design a realistic figure. The team used a stand-in model that had a similar build to Johnson's. They found the model by visiting gyms, the website says. The tattoos took the painters 10 days and the eyes were redone three times, the website says. Barret provided a statement for an article posted to the website that reads: "What was a little harder for me was the sample photo that was chosen, where he just had a very slight smile on his face, an expression that's quite difficult to achieve. It was very subtle. We worked on his face and eyes several times, because the most complicated thing about realism is getting the statue to come alive from the visitors perspective. The figure's arms are crossed and it is wearing blue slacks, a black belt, sneakers and a blue golf shirt, with something between a smile and smirk splashed across its face. After the wax figure's debut, many people felt the statue doesnt properly capture Johnson, with some pointing out on the museum's Instagram page that it looks like Mr. Clean or Diesel, who has starred alongside Johnson in the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Yikes! That is not the Rock, maybe his stuntman lol, one person commented. "Dwayne Vin Diesel Johnson," another person wrote. "Mr Clean," quipped someone else. Some also questioned the statues skin tone, which appears lighter than Johnsons. "Who is this because uhhhh... You do know hes Samoan and black right lol?" someone else chimed in. Why would you white wax (wash) him? another person asked. The museum had teased the unveiling of the wax figure earlier this month on social media. One post featured a video of how Johnson's tattoos were incorporated into the wax figure. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Flash Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil on Friday thanked international support for the progress made in Venezuela's national conciliation talks and the temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions against the South American nation. "We welcome the message of support that comes to us from ... Russia in reference to the resumption of dialogue and the right of our country to live free of foreign interference, blackmail and unilateral sanctions," Gil wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Responding to Mexico's congratulation on the progress, Gil highlighted in another post the "important role of Mexico as guarantor of the dialogue process" between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. Thanking Argentina for its message of support, Gil said the Venezuelan government is "firmly committed to maintaining political stability." Gil also expressed gratitude to Bolivia and Cuba. The Venezuelan official had already written posts of thanks on Thursday to Brazil and Colombia regarding their separate messages of support. On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government and a sector of the opposition signed two partial agreements in Barbados to guarantee the well-being of the people, elections and political coexistence. Subsequently, the U.S. government officially announced it would suspend several unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, including sanctions impacting companies in oil, gas and gold mining industries. East Hampshire District Council is using money from the government and developers to pay for the housing Eight homes have been bought by a council for refugees fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan. East Hampshire District Council said the accommodation was funded by money from the government and developers. Five of the homes are in Bordon, with two in Petersfield and one in Horndean. Seven homes will be used by Ukrainian refugees and one by an Afghan family. Cllr Adeel Shah said: "One of our guests wept with emotion when she saw her new home." He added: "Thousands of selfless people agreed to share their homes with Ukrainian refugees when the conflict first broke and now we can find them a home to call their own. "No one should have to flee their home in fear, but it is a great credit to this country that we are so ready to welcome people in great need and offer them security and comfort." Mr Shah also made clear that the buildings would be added back to the social housing stock when available again. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities asked councils to buy homes to help with the refugee crisis resulting from conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. Ukraine has already documented 2,500 war crimes committed by Russia against the environment since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said during an event on Oct. 21. Each day of war causes an estimated 120 million euros ($127 million) in damages per day, she said. "(Russians) brutally kill Ukrainians, they destroy our cities and villages, they destroy our forests, our great natural resources, fields and lakes," Svyrydenko said. 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. One million Ukrainians lost access to drinking water, the flood impacted 100,000 residents in 80 settlements, and 140,000 were left without electricity as a result of Russia blowing up the dam, Svyrydenko said. 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. 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. Read also: Prosecutor General: Ukraine investigating 15 cases of ecocide 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. He said Russia should pay for the damage it caused to the Ukrainian environment during the war while admitting it would be difficult. Kostin said that Ukrainian law enforcement officers were working on establishing the standards of investigation and prosecution against those responsible for war crimes against the environment and ecocide. "And we believe that this crime (ecocide - ed.) will be one of the recorded international crimes. We believe that it will be included in the Rome Statute," Kostin said, referring to the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. 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 EXETER, N.H. GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is leaning on one major message in his pitch to New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary voters: the need to revive a common U.S. national identity. We dont have to be a nation in decline, Ramaswamy said at a Republican presidential town hall hosted by the USA TODAY Network, comparing the U.S. to a teenager. We are just a little young, going through our own version of adolescence, figuring out who were really going to be when we grow up. Ramaswamy, who officially filed Wednesday to appear on the Granite States Republican primary ballot, argued that half the job of the next U.S. president is to lead the the country out of its ongoing culture wars. The other half, he suggested, will be to steer the policy agenda in Washington. So what is the 38-year-old political newcomers vision for America's future? During the Exeter, New Hampshire town hall, Ramaswamy laid out his policy priorities to reduce the federal deficit, support Israel and counter China. Here's how his pitch impacts Americans across the country. Eliminating federal agencies If elected, Ramaswamy told voters that he plans to shut down some major U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Education. Ramaswamy emphasizes national debt crisis "There are certain people, good people, in this race, that will favor incremental reform of the federal government and the bureaucracy," he said. "I'm not in that camp. I favor quantum leap change. I don't believe it is possible to incrementally reform agencies that have existed for a long time." Echoing a common Republican talking point, Ramaswamy argued that education decisions should be put in the hands of parents. He said hed opt to send the department's $80 billion in funding back to taxpayers to economically empower them to choose a school for their children. My view is we have a fourth branch of government that is unconstitutional, Ramaswamy told voters. The correct answer is shut it down and give the power and the money back to the people. Balancing the budget To reduce the $33 trillion in U.S. debt, Ramaswamy floated a zero-based budgeting approach. When drafting the annual federal budget, Ramaswamy said hed start with zero as the baseline and then ask whats actually necessary, rather than referring to the previous years budget as a jumping-off point. The same tactic was adopted by former President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s but was not found to reduce costs and was later abandoned by former President Ronald Reagan. Defending Israel With tensions rising in the war between Israel and Hamas, Ramaswamy last week defended Israels right to protect its homeland but cautioned that, as president, he would put American interests at the center of his foreign policy agenda. We have to provide Israel with diplomatic support, munitions support as needed and further even provide them with intelligence sharing, Ramaswamy told voters gathered at the Exeter town hall. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy 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. Ramaswamy called for providing the support in a way that avoids broader regional conflict in the Middle East. The perspective is largely shaped by his views on prior U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Taliban is still in charge in Afghanistan 20 years later and frankly (there is) a hostile anti-American regime in Iraq that's vulnerable to Iranian incursion, Ramaswamy said. That didn't advance American interests and we have to own up to that." Reopening Russian relations On Ukraines war front with Russia, Ramaswamy expressed support for a reasonable path to peace, but did not define his views on what that might entail. Previously, the biotech entrepreneur has proposed allowing Russia to keep the Donbas region and requiring Ukraine to concede its attempts to join NATO. Describing Vladimir Putin as a craven dictator, Ramaswamy told voters in New Hampshire that just because Russia is bad doesnt mean Ukraine is good or perfect. He called for reopening relations between the U.S. and Russia and said that such an alliance would help counter China. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy 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. The entrepreneur spoke to prospective New Hampshire voters about issues during the hour-long forum. Ramaswamy spoke on the difference between him and his opponents using donors to fund their campaigns. Do I trust Putin? No. But I do trust him to follow his self-interest, Ramaswamy told voters. Chinas top bet right now is that the U.S. wont want to go to war with two allied superpowers at the same time. But if Russias no longer in Chinas camp then Xi Jinping is going to actually have to think twice. Other Republican presidential candidates have fiercely criticized Ramaswamys foreign policy stances. During a confrontation at the first GOP debate, for instance, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley admonished Ramaswamy for his inexperience. You want to go and defund Israel, you want to give Taiwan to China. You want to go and give Ukraine to Russia, she said. Under your watch, you will make America less safe. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Vivek Ramaswamy discusses China, education in NH campaign stop The butcher's shop in Sedbury is now under new ownership and locals say they are shocked at what was going on in plain sight Eight men have been jailed for a total of more than 50 years for using a village butcher's shop to sell and store class A drugs. The men were involved in trafficking 1m worth of cocaine from the West Midlands to Monmouthshire. Part of the supply chain was in a butcher's shop in Sedbury, Gloucestershire, that stored and sold cocaine and other drugs. The defendants all pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday. Dec Insp Matt Phillips said the drugs were "hiding in plain sight" Det Insp Matt Phillips, from the serious and organised crime unit at Gloucestershire Constabulary, said the drugs found in the butcher's were "hiding in plain sight". More than 5kg of cocaine was seized, 4kg of amphetamine and 10kg of cutting agents, along with 108,600 cash. Judge Ian Lawrie KC said the figures were "just the tip of the iceberg" because the drug operation had been going on for some time. Prosecutor Christine Hart explained that butcher Shane Tyrrell, 48, of Cliff View, Sedbury, and Richard Lawrence, 34, of Smithy Road, Llandogo, Monmouthshire, were involved in the illicit operation from February 2020. Drugs seized are estimated to have a street value of around 1m In October 2020 the upstream supply of cocaine was being brought from the West Midlands down to the Forest of Dean and the Monmouth area. "The conspiracy involved two separate, but linked, organised crime groups," said Ms Hart. The court was told the group in the West Midlands was headed by Brett Anslow, 39, of Four Winds Road, Dudley, Trevor Cook, 48 of Wheelwright Close, Darlaston, Wednesbury, and Michael Chand, 54, of Old Bridge Walk, Rowley Regis. The Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire group was headed up by Lawrence, with Tyrell working for them. Paul Johnson, 35, of Queens Acre, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire, and Jason Grindle, 36, of Market Place, Coleford, Gloucestershire, were also part of the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire group. Tyrell and Lawrence were arrested at their home addresses on 6 July 2021. On 15 September, warrants were executed simultaneously at the addresses of Anslow, Cook, Chand and Grindle. Another man, Alan Ballinger, 28, formerly of Coleford and also of Coniston Road, Cheltenham, was seen to have taken Lawrence's role after his arrest in July 2021 and continued to be supplied by the West Midlands group. Ballinger was arrested on 10 December at his address in Coleford. Tyrell pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to supply cocaine between 1 February 2020 and 7 July 2021 and has been jailed for five years and seven months. His long-term acquaintance and the local leader of the drugs gang Lawrence was sentenced to nine years. The six other men were jailed after they all admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. Det Insp Phillips said: "Like many organised crime groups involved in drugs, the people at the top don't want to get their hands dirty and Richard Lawrence used Shane Tyrrell." Judge Lawrie concluded: "The primary roles were heading by Anslow in the West Midlands and Lawrence in Gloucestershire and had the others working for them. "They were the puppeteers and were directing the illicit operation." The judge sentenced Lawrence and Anslow to a prison term of nine years and told them that they had leading roles in their relevant areas of the country. Cook and Chand were each sentenced to six years. Johnson was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison. Tyrell was sentenced to the same term and was told that all the monies found in his possession would be confiscated. Ballinger was sentenced to 42 months, but was released having served this term whilst in custody. The judge ordered the seizure of 45,000 found in his possession. 'Untouchable' Dec Insp Phillips said the force was "really pleased" that the men all pleaded guilty. "The leader of this organised crime group was Mr Lawrence and he thought he was untouchable." Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk PRISTINA (Reuters) -The European Union Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak urged Serbia and Kosovo to return to dialogue on normalising ties to avoid a repeat of last month's violence in northern Kosovo. Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina have run high since Sept. 24, when around 30 armed Serbs stormed the village of Banjska in Kosovo's predominantly Serb north and barricaded themselves into a Serbian Orthodox monastery. Police recaptured the monastery after a shootout in which three attackers and a Kosovo police officer were killed. "The attacks in Banjska have changed many things and they need to be properly investigated...At the same time the dialogue must continue," Lajcak said after meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. "If there is not dialogue there might be a repetition of escalation." Last month's gunbattle prompted new international concern over stability in Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority and declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and a 1999 NATO intervention. Lajcak visited the region with the United States Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and representatives of France, Germany and Italy. On Saturday afternoon the delegation met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. "There is no European future for Serbia and for Kosovo without normalisation of relations," Lajcak said after meeting Vucic. He said the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be on the agenda of EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday. Some 50,000 Serbs who live in north Kosovo do not recognise Pristina's institutions and see Belgrade as their capital. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers, but last month's violence was the worst in years. Lajcak urged Pristina to start working on establishing an association of Serb municipalities to allow greater autonomy for Serb majority areas. Kurti has rejected the proposal, arguing that autonomy could lead to the secession of the Serb-majority area and its unification with Serbia. Pristina authorities have accused Belgrade of arming and supporting the Serb fighters in Banjska, something Serbian authorities have denied. Lajcak urged Belgrade to investigate the events and punish any perpetrators in its territory. Serbia refuses to recognise independence of Kosovo and considers it still part of its territory. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci in Pristina and Ivana Sekularac in Belgrade; Editing by Ros Russell) Flags of the European Union The European Union is preparing to include restrictions on trade in Russian diamonds as a key component of its 12th package of sanctions against Russia, according to a report from Euobserver, citing an anonymous European diplomat. G7 member nations are reportedly ready to announce a ban on Russian diamonds in the coming days, with the final declaration of the G7 expected to confirm this measure. Read also: US expands sanctions against Russian industry The restrictions, along with tracking protocols, have been developed in collaboration with Belgium, which hosts the worlds largest diamond trading center, and the European Commission. Collectively, the G7 countries account for 70% of the global demand for diamonds. An anonymous European diplomat revealed that Belgium has agreed to extend the G7s diamond ban to include 27 EU member states as part of the upcoming sanctions against Russia. Read also: RussiaNorth Korea talks prove Western sanctions work White House The European Commission is set to initiate closed-door negotiations with individual EU representatives regarding forthcoming restrictions early next week. The report notes that Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland have put forward detailed proposals for the sanctions package. Lithuania and Poland propose that the EU should prohibit new agreements with the Russian company Rosatom, cease the purchase of Russian uranium, liquefied gas, and steel. Additionally, the proposal includes blocking IT services for Russian firms and halting the export of laser technologies. Estonia is pressing for a complete trade embargo on Russia to prevent sanctions circumvention. Exporting diamonds reportedly costs the Kremlin EUR 4 billion ($4.2 billion) annually and holds symbolic value for Russia. However, Euobserver reports that Lithuania has identified 77 other critically important components used by Russian military forces to which Russia has unrestricted access, as these goods and technologies do not fall under EU sanctions. Notably, UAVs like the Mohajer-6, Shahed-136, and Orlan, used by Russia for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, are made from components manufactured in Western countries. Furthermore, Russia has unlimited access to cloud computing technologies provided by companies located in the EU and its allies jurisdictions, allowing the aggressor country to utilize its European computing infrastructure for cyberattacks on thousands of cloud storages with assistance for Ukrainians. Read also: UN assures Russia sanctions will not be lifted Lithuania insists that the package should also include a ban on exporting radiator units for non-electric central heating to Russia and their components, which were valued at EUR 49 million ($52 million) last year. The proposal also includes a ban on the sale of nails, clasps, pins, and sewing needles, knitting needles. Earlier, Reuters reported that G7 countries intended to discuss plans to ban Russian diamond access to their markets from Jan. 1, 2024. In an investigation by Kyiv Independent, it was revealed that major luxury brands, including Tiffany and Cartier, claimed to have ceased purchasing Russian diamonds after Russias invasion of Ukraine. However, they cannot guarantee this and likely continue to make purchases through intermediaries. 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 Members of the US-EU summit in Washington released a statement on Oct. 20 calling on China to pressure Russia to stop its aggression in Ukraine as well as to enter into direct contact with the authorities of Ukraine in order to maintain a long and sustainable post-war peace. "We call on China to press Russia to stop its war of aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine," the statement reads. "We encourage China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine." According to the statement, the U.S. and the European Union "are convening our experts to explore options to compensate Ukraine in a timely manner for the loss, injury, and damage resulting from Russias aggression." A meeting between U.S. officials and the European Union took place on Oct. 20 in Washington focusing on a number of issues, including aid to Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine war latest: White House requests $61 billion for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Dan Serafini was one of two suspects arrested in connection to a homicide in 2021. Serafini, along with Samantha Scott, were arrested in Nevada Friday for their alleged involvement in the 2021 murder of a 70-year-old man and the attempted murder of his 68-year-old wife. On June 5, 2021 deputies got a 911 call from a home in North Lake Tahoe, California and arrived to find Robert Gary Sopher dead from a single gunshot wound. Roberts wife Wendy was also shot and taken to a nearby hospital where she recovered from her injuries. She died a year later. >> It was frightening; Local mother accuses school bus driver of choking son Surveillance video showed a hooded male wearing a face covering and a backpack walking to the home several hours before the homicide. Detectives worked for two years to identify this person and said evidence led them to believe it was Serafini. Serafini and Scott were known to each other and the victim, the sheriffs office said. They are expected to be extradited back to California to face murder charges. Serafini spent one season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2003. The ex-wife of a man suspected of gunning down a Maryland judge after he gave her custody of their children accused her ex-husband last year of physically abusing one the kids, according to a court filing obtained Friday by NBC News. The petition for a protection order, filed June 12, 2022 in Washington County District Court, also accused Pedro Argote, 49, of harassment via text messages, constant monitoring through security cameras and threats to take custody of their children, ages 12, 11, 5, and 3, over false claims of neglect. In the petition, the ex-wife wrote there was no longer physical violence against the 11-year-old because during the most recent episode, she got in between the two and said that for him to get to her he needed to hit me or kill me, the petition says, adding that he tried to push her away. Pedro Argote. (Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland) I am not taking this anymore, she wrote. I will protect my child. The petition accused Argote of mistreating the 11-year-old for years. The ex-wife had sought help from a domestic violence advocacy center in 2012, petition says, adding that she didnt get the assistance she needed. She had also sought help from relatives, the petition says, but Argote asked them to leave their home. The petition was dismissed two weeks after it was filed. It isnt clear why. A lawyer for the ex-wife did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In response to an interview request, the lawyer, Erika Johnson, said in an earlier email that she was unable to comment given the ongoing nature of the investigation. Johnson said she had no information about the fatal shooting of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, who was found dead in the driveway of his Hagerstown home hours after he granted the woman a divorce. Wilkinson gave the ex-wife custody of their children and banned Argote from contacting or visiting them, according to a copy of the partial divorce judgment obtained by NBC News. The judge ordered Argote to pay $1,120 a month in child support and banned him from entering the familys home, according to the judgment. maryland judge killed murdered (WRC) The judgment attributed the decision to a finding of cruelty of treatment and irreconcilable differences. The document does not provide additional details about the finding. Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert said earlier Friday that the shooting was in response to the judges custody decision. Argote was not in custody and should be considered armed and dangerous, Albert said. Johnson said she had no information about Argote's whereabouts. "Our hearts ache for Judge Wilkinsons family, and we are praying for them and for those searching for the suspect," she said. "Judge Wilkinson was a kind, caring, and compassionate individual. He will be truly missed." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Malaysian counterpart, Zambry Abdul Kadir, discussed on Friday China-Malaysia relations and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Congratulating China on the successful holding of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in a telephone conversation with Wang, Zambry said 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. As one of the first countries to join the initiative, Malaysia has always supported this important initiative and will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, he said. Malaysia looks forward to working with China to mark the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations next year so as to push for further growth of bilateral relations, Zambry said. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, applauded Malaysia's contribution to the successful holding of the forum. Noting this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership and the two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, he said that China is ready to jointly carry out a series of friendly celebrations, strengthen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Malaysia and make solid progress in building the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. On the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Zambry said that Malaysia applauds China's efforts to promote ceasefire, protect innocent civilians and promote dialogue and peace talks, and supports China's position on ensuring the smooth arrival of humanitarian relief, implementing the "two-state solution" as soon as possible and realizing lasting peace in the Middle East. He expects China to play an important role in bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Wang said that we are enjoying peace here today, but the world is neither peaceful nor fair, and many innocent people are now overshadowed by death and suffering. China, he said, has always stood on the side of peace, international law and the legitimate aspirations of Arab and Islamic countries and China opposes all acts harming innocent civilians and violating international law. China supports the statement just issued by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit on the situation in the Gaza Strip, he said. In the face of war and peace, all parties should abandon all geopolitical calculations, uphold human conscience, build international consensus and cease fire as soon as possible so as to prevent a wider humanitarian disaster, Wang said. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in essence, stems from 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 conflict is to implement the "two-state solution" and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel. He said that China supports the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation and looks forward to bringing the Palestine issue back to the track of political settlement, and implementing the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on this issue. 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. The ex-wife of a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge this week accused him of physically abusing one of their four kids, court documents show. Pedro Argote is being actively sought by state and federal authorities in connection with the killing of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson Thursday night. The 49-year-old allegedly shot and killed Wilkinson hours after the judge gave Argotes ex-wife custody of their kids, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said, calling the incident a targeted attack. Argote, who shared four children ages 12, 11, 5 and 3 with his ex-wife, is also accused of physically abusing one of the kids, according to court documents obtained on Friday by NBC News. In a petition for a protective order filed in Washington County District Court on June 12, 2022, the ex-wife accused Argote of having abused the 11-year-old. The abuse went on for a very long time, the ex-wife said. She says she sought help from a domestic violence advocacy center a decade earlier but didnt get the help she needed. However, according to the June 2022 document, the physical abuse had stopped after she confronted Argote and told him if he wanted to get to [the child], he needed to hit me or kill me. I am not taking this anymore, she wrote. I will protect my child. According to the petition, Argote also harassed his ex-wife via text messages and monitored her constantly through security cameras. She also accused him of threatening to take custody of their kids over neglect claims, which she said were unfounded. Argote, whos considered armed and dangerous, is still on the run. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Authorities say he has ties to multiple locations outside Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island in New York, Tampa and Clearwater in Florida; Columbus, Indiana, and unnamed cities in North Carolina Police say Argote is 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 license plates 4EH0408. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A brand new exhibit is open at the Oklahoma History Center that presents items and information from the reign of terror on Osage Native Americans back in the 1920s. The best thing that can happen from it is conversations, said the centers director of collections Jeff Briley. What are we going to say to each other? What is going to be the end result of this? LOCAL NEWS: Archived Reign of Terror documents on Osage Natives available online The exhibit is called Trust and Betrayal in Osage Country. "Reign of Terror" exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center. Image KFOR. We wanted to give visitors to the museum a little bit of an overview and an opportunity to discover other resources, but also see some material culture items from the Osage of the last century, Briley said. The pocket exhibit as its called gives a glimpse into the story of dozens of horrific murders of Osage Native Americans in the 1920s. Some research suggests hundreds may have been killed as local authorities didnt investigate most of the crimes. But the exhibit also discusses the paradox of the state at the time of the murders. Specifically, it details that with the creation of our state flag by a young artist from Ponca City named Louise Flukes. She entered into a statewide contest to design it. She ended up using Osage leader Black Dog II shield on it in what we see today as Oklahomas state flag. The original from well over 100 years ago is also on display. LOCAL NEWS: Horror story: Adoption dream becomes nightmare for former foster parents So the idea that, on the one hand, were cherishing the indigenous peoples of Oklahoma and across the county line, the FBI is just into their first year of this investigation of what is horrible on a truly monumental scale, Briley said. Other items and narratives are also on display. However, Briley said the goal isnt to retell the whole reign of terror story over again. As he originally said, its only to start conversations and keep them going. It will open these pathways to good conversation and a more realistic understanding is everything we want, he said. The exhibit will be on display in the ONEOK Inc. gallery until March 1, 2024. For more information, visit okhistory.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Wedding bells have been ringing ever less frequently in America. This may seem like a personal problem to some, but marriage has always had political implications in addition to romantic and cultural ones. Lower fertility rates pose serious fiscal and social risks. Single parenthood exacerbates inequality and stifles opportunity. And detachment from personal bonds has correlated with an ongoing increase in lonelinessnow a recognized public health crisis. The downstream consequences of decreased marriage will be felt for a long time to come. Yet warnings about infrequent nuptials have for years been downplayed. Its not always clear what politicians can do about it, some say. Others question why wed want to do something in the first place. Rebecca Traister, writer-at-large for New York magazine, reflected this more left-wing approach to the conversation around marriage, lamenting how policymakers have routinely imposed marriage as if it were a smooth, indistinct entity as a cure for the inequity, dissatisfaction, and loneliness that plague this nation. Policymakers may not be able to easily put any of the various genies keeping people from tying the knot back into their various bottles. Moreover, marriage inevitably touches on personal questions of purpose and identity that can make it an awkward fit for a technocratic policy agenda. But the role and function of marriage is too important for politics to treat with a mere benign agnosticism. Understanding why marriage has become less commonplace can help us avoid wrong turns in trying to shore it up. Arguments about what marriage is or should be are nothing new. As the historian Stephanie Coontz argued in her book Marriage, A History, the idea of marriage being in crisis stretches back as far as the institution. The ancient Greeks complained bitterly about the declining morals of wives. The Romans bemoaned their high divorce rates [while] settlers in America began lamenting the decline of the family shortly after Plymouth Rock. Most of the pre-Obergefell political oxygen around marriage focused on its definition (or redefinition). Those debates hinged on the purpose of the institution: Should marriage be something oriented toward fidelity, permanence, and procreation? Or something that celebrates romantic affection, identity, and companionship? But with the benefit of hindsight, its somewhat odd that the United States exerted so much time and energy on the definition of marriage at the moment fewer people than ever were walking down the aisle. In the 2000s and 2010s, as the idea of marriage was undergoing a legal metamorphosis, marriage rates continued their long, downward slide. In the 1970s, America saw about 11 weddings for every 1,000 people. Last year, it was 6 per 1,000. Some of this is a function of increased life expectancies, some of an aging population. But something has changed culturally as well. What was it? In short: Marriage ceased to offer goods that were once exclusive to it. Men became less appealing as mates relative to the economic purchasing power of single-mother households. Perhaps more speculatively, the culture demoted marriage from being the sole normative path for adults to simply being one option among many. First, some numbers. Over roughly the past decade and a half, the U.S. population grew by 30 million people, but the number of weddings has not grown apace. In 2007, nearly 2.2 million couples married; in 2021, the tally stood at 1,985,072. A dip in annual marriages might be expected in the wake of the Great Recession. Certainly, many couples postponed tying the knotvoluntarily or involuntarilyduring the height of COVID (resulting in an apparent post-pandemic bump). But note that on this graph, the U.S. hit peak wedding in 2016. Both 2018 and 2019 saw 100,000 fewer weddings than the year prior. Before anyone in the U.S. had ever uttered the word coronavirus, and while the economy was delivering strong results to workers across the income spectrum, marriage continued its long, downward trajectory. Marriage was once necessary for financial stability, social advancement, sex, and procreation. Now, its clear that cultural, legal, and economic changes have made it less central in all four of those areas of life. The average age at first marriage continues to increase. Many couples can and do cohabitate for long periods of time, even permanently, without finalizing their bond with a trip to the county courthouse. And as Johns Hopkins University sociologist Andrew Cherlin wrote nearly a decade ago, marriage has become a highly regarded marker of a successful personal life. He went on: Today, marriage is more discretionary than ever, and also more distinctive. It is something young adults do after they and their live-in partners have good jobs and a nice apartment. It has become the capstone experience of personal life the last brick put in place after everything else is set. People marry to show their family and friends how well their lives are going, even if deep down they are unsure whether their partnership will last a lifetime. If having a wedding is a status symbol, no wonder its become what economists call a luxury good, something you consume as your income rises. College-educated Americans are still benefiting from the stability and privilege offered by married family life. Those without a college degree, by contrast, are not. Men with a high school degree divorce at a rate twice as high as men with an advanced degree. And fewer working-class Americans are getting married in the first place. More than three-quarters of young adults with only a high school degree married in 1970, compared with about one-third last year. A recently released paper by Jeanne Lafortune and Corinne Low illustrates that the introduction of no-fault divorce and similar policies that erode the marriage contract in other ways will make wealth a more important determinant of marriage. The authors find that for working-class couples, making it easier to leave a marriage has meant that tying the knot leads to fewer economic benefits. For wealthier couples, on the other hand, having assets [like owning a home] allows marriage to retain valuethrough increased commitment and protection for the lower earning spouseeven in the presence of one-sided divorce. As these divides in marriage have grown, some academics and policy practitioners have sought to both sound the alarm and search for causes. The most recent case is Melissa Kearneys The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind, in which she asks an essential question to understand the marriage decline puzzle. Kearney points out that among mothers without a college degree, about 70 percent of children are born to unmarried parents: Dad may be cohabiting but is not legally committed to Mom. Can it really be the case, she asks, that some or even many of these children are being fathered by men with no positive resources to contribute to a family environment? This is a fundamental problem to reckon with: Why are so many men not fit to be marriage partners or engaged fathers? Shifts in the U.S. labor market explain part of the story. Men without college degrees now bring less to the table than they may have in prior generations. Kearney writes that, The gains to marriage will depend not just on how much he would bring, but on how much she could make on her own. As womens labor force participation increased and labor market outcomes for blue-collar men stagnated, women became more willing to go it alone. This is not a question about whether male wages have declined, but rather what they have done relative to wages for female workers. AEIs Scott Winship suggests that men may have once received a breadwinner premium that eroded as women entered the labor market. Kearney doesnt want to turn back the clock on the ability of women to earn a living (nor do Winship or I). But the knock-on effects of the economic changes between the sexes are reala vicious cycle, in Kearneys words: The forces that have eroded the economic position of non-college-educated men are now having widespread, multifaceted effects on families and how children are raised. These affected children are straddled with disadvantages that make it harder for them to flourish. The changes in family structure lead to further inequality and cement class gaps across generations. More than 25 years ago, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Dan Quayle were pilloried for their concern about the stability of black families. They and their critics, however, had no way of knowing the same trendsjoblessness, fatherlessness, and nonmarital birthswould no longer be exclusively a problem of minority households in inner cities just a few years later. Over the first two decades of the 21st century, previously high marriage rates in the South converged with much of the rest of the country. In Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, rates fell by roughly a third. In addition to the economic trends weakening marriage, our popular understanding of what marriage is and what its for has shifted as well. In 1962, the share of American mothers who felt that all married couples who can, ought to have children stood at 84 percent; two decades later, that share stood at 43 percent. A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center found only 5 percent of Americans say a husband and wife choosing not to have children is somewhat or completely unacceptable. Rather than being a social default, marriage now requires an affirmative choice, raising the stakes of what it can mean for an individual. Divorced from an orientation toward permanence and a capacity for procreation, this self-expressive emphasis helps explain how the hot-button marriage debates of the 2000s and 2010s unfolded. It also helps make sense of why some might be putting off marriage. Why formalize a casual union if doing so forecloses other possibilities that could lead to even greater happiness? Marriage as a capstone reflects a passage through young adulthood into a time for settling down (partly reflected in todays low divorce rates). Surely part of the decline in marriage could be attributed to some people holding marriage in such high esteem that they feel reluctant to commit themselves to it until they feel financially secure, their wild oats sown, and open to trading off some optionality for stability in their relationships. But turning marriage into merely a certificate for a successfully completed young adulthood, with no internal logic, leaves it open to any manner of interpretations. Half of Americans aged 18-29 told Pew they see open marriages as an acceptable arrangement for people to have. Three-quarters of those under 50 said an unmarried man and woman raising children is an acceptable arrangement, compared to two-thirds of those 50 and over. If marriages form and structure has no inherent link to the way we raise our children or the bonds we form with our spouse, of what use is the institution? Progressives tend to argue the institution should have no inherent privileges at all, beyond that which the two (or more) consenting participants want to imbue it with. Conservatives tend to want to bring back higher marriage rates without necessarily having a vision for making the family more necessary and less replaceable. Economics may not be the only factor determining marriage, but expecting a renaissance without better prospects for men without college degrees and more affordable pathways to household formation (like housing) is wishful thinking. Marriage is not a cure-all, but it is a vital source of stability for children and of meaning for adults. Married adults are more likely to thrive along a number of dimensions. As Kearneys book covers in extensive detail, children who grow up in a two-parent household experience better outcomes. And they are not the only ones who benefit: Harvards Opportunity Insights lab has found that the share of married parents in a neighborhood is one of the characteristics most strongly associated with economic mobility for low-income youth. No one will get married because a politician tells them to. But making marriage more economically viable and socially vital requires treating marriage as a political problem and thinking about what purpose it ultimately serves. Reviving marriage must include a focus on its benefits, yes, but also some frank talk about its purpose as an institution and a clear-eyed assessment of the economic, legal, and cultural trends that have contributed to its decline. Only then can we start to rebuild. 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. Roman Mrochko, Head of the Kherson City Military Administration, reported that powerful explosions rocked areas near the banks of the River Dnipro in the city of Kherson. Source: Roman Mrochko on Telegram Quote: "The Russian army is attacking Kherson! Powerful explosions were heard in areas near [the Dnipros] banks!" Details: The city government urged the residents of Kherson to rush to shelters and to avoid being outside when possible. Mrochko said that Russian forces are attacking Kherson from temporarily occupied areas on Dnipros left bank, targeting the city centre and the neighbourhoods closest to the river bank. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon this week released its annual report on China's military, which touches on wide-ranging issues related to some of the most important developments in China's national security over the past year. Here are some key highlights: NUCLEAR WEAPONS: China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and will probably have over 1,000 warheads by 2030, the report said. In a previous report, the Pentagon estimated that Beijing had more than 400 operational nuclear warheads in 2021. MISSILES: The report said China probably completed the construction of its three new silo fields in 2022, which has at least 300 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. The report said China may be exploring developing conventionally armed intercontinental-range missile systems, which, if developed, could allow Beijing to threaten the United States. OVERSEAS BASING: China has been expanding its global military footprint, though it is still much smaller than the United States' network of bases. The report says China has also probably considered having military logistics facilities in countries like Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tajikistan. SHIPS China already has the world's largest navy-- and it is growing further the report said. China's navy had more than 370 ships and submarines, up from the 340 ships they had in last year's report. The expectation, the report added, is for the number to increase to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030. U.S. ASSISTANCE While the report said China has generally ignored or denied the United States' efforts to have military-to-military talks, it described an occasion when Beijing required U.S. assistance. In April 2023, the Chinese military requested U.S. assistance in evacuating Chinese diplomats from Khartoum, Sudan. The U.S. military, the report said, provided evacuation routes. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Michael Martina; Editing by Leslie Adler) Vulnerable people are being called by fraudsters pretending to be police officers Fraudsters posing as police and couriers have stolen more than 150,000 from vulnerable victims in a "despicable" scam. Detectives say bogus officers with fake names and collar numbers are phoning their targets in east Lancashire and demanding they withdraw funds for safekeeping. The crooks then send "couriers" to pick up cash or valuables. Two women have been arrested over a spate of deceptions, police said. Thefts have been reported in Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington and Oswaldtwistle over the last month. All victims said they were phoned by someone claiming to be a police officer, detectives said. They said the caller told them their bank card had been used fraudulently and that they needed to withdraw substantial amounts of cash and have it changed into euros. 'Devious actions' Victims have had 156,000 worth of cash or other items taken. Fake names being used by the fraudsters include Det Martin Rose, Det Con Brian Gosling , Det Con Hama Long and Det Con John Matthews. Lancashire Police said a dozen cases had been confirmed but officers believed there were other victims who may not even know that they have been scammed. A 26-year-old woman from West Bromwich and a 25-year-old woman from Hull were held on suspicion of fraud by false representation and have since been bailed. Det Ch Insp John Roy urged people to protect themselves from the "despicable" scammers and "talk to loved ones" about how the scams work. He added: "This is a dedicated and detailed investigation into the devious actions of those willing to steal from some of the most vulnerable members of our community." Anyone who thinks they may be a victim or may have information about the latest crimes is urged to call 101 or Action Fraud UK. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest. Uri Raanan of Illinois, the father and ex-husband of the American hostages released Friday, said they are doing very well and that he prays for more hostages to be released. In a message to the other families of the hostages, Uri Raanan said, I say pray. And hopefully for good news. I pray for all the hostages to come back home. This is the best day of my life, Uri Raanan said in an interview with guest host Brian Entin that aired on Cuomo on NewsNation on Friday night. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. President Biden said Friday that the U.S. has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas in its attack against Israel on Oct. 7. The Israeli government confirmed them as Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie Raanan. Uri Raanan said he spoke with his daughter Natalie after her release and she is doing well. She sounds like herself. And she did not talk about how they treat her but she looked like, she looked very good, he said. Top Stories from The Hill Natalie and Judith are expected to return home next week, he said. Uri Raanan said he hopes she will be home before her upcoming 18th birthday. He said Natalie did not provide much information about the conditions in which they were kept and any information about the other hostages. He said the Israel Defense Forces called him and told him the news that his family members were the hostages being released. He said he spoke with Biden on the phone, who was also very happy about the release. 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 Hamas is believed to be holding 200 people hostage after it entered Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7. Hamas has said it seeks to use hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and has said that it is treating the hostages as esteemed guests. Since fighting began, 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. This story was updated at 12:12 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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's Poultry, had no comment when asked about minors working at the plant on Friday. She told NBC News, We dont have any comment at this time. We are cooperating, we just cant talk about it. On Monday, the company said in a statement, "[W]e were surprised to learn that our Kidron, Ohio plant is the subject of inquiry from federal law enforcement regarding the composition of our employees and some third-party contract employees. We are fully cooperating with that investigation. While we have confidence in our process to ensure we comply with all federal regulations to verify eligibility for employment, we are actively reviewing our policies to ensure compliance at every level and will continue to review our relationships with third party vendors and their policies in similar fashion." 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. In its statement on Monday, Gerbers Poultry said, [W]e take the legal employment and safety of all individuals who work for and with our company very seriously. We have formal identity verification procedures in place and dedicate significant resources to ensure that Gerbers Poultry employees and contractors are legally authorized to work. We also have strict policies against hiring minors in accordance with industry guidelines, rules and laws. 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (Bloomberg) -- House Republicans have dispensed with Jim Jordan as their nominee for the US speakership and now several more representatives are preparing to enter the fray. Most Read from Bloomberg The new field began to take shape minutes after the party voted by secret ballot to rescind the nomination of Jordan, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, to the leadership post. Republicans plan to hold another candidate forum on Monday, allowing candidates time over the weekend to mount their campaigns, interim Speaker Patrick McHenry said. Another nomination vote could be held as early as Tuesday. Candidates have until midday Sunday to state their intentions. Here are some of the lawmakers expected to try to claim the nomination: Tom Emmer Emmer, a Minnesota Republican and the partys third-ranking official, has begun making calls regarding a speaker bid, according to person familiar with the calls. He has had a tense relations with some Trump supporters, in part because he voted to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. There also had been some criticism of him for leading the House GOP political arm in 2022, when the party picked up the majority, but a narrower one than anticipated. As whip, he has the often thankless task of counting votes and building support among feuding colleagues. On Friday afternoon, he received the endorsement of Representative Kevin McCarthy , whose ouster as speaker on Oct. 3, paralyzed the House. He is the right person for the job, McCarthy said. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority. Trump opposes Emmers candidacy, according to a person familiar with the matter. Kevin Hern The Oklahoma Republican has been waiting in the wings since former speaker Kevin McCarthys Oct. 3 ouster. He said Friday that he would seek the speakership. Hern, who chairs the 176-member Republican Study Committee, could win over some moderates as a more centrist alternative to Jordan, whose strong-arm tactics backfired with moderates and more traditional Republicans. Byron Donalds The Florida Republican is a Trump acolyte and member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus who has served as a surrogate for the former president on the campaign trail. He has described himself as a Trump supporting, liberty loving, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Black man, and a person who will bring the fight to the swamp creatures. Donalds forged a plan to keep the government open while cutting domestic spending, which more conservative members rejected. A spokesman confirmed Friday he is running for speaker. Jodey Arrington The House Budget chairman says hes seriously considering a run next week. Even before Jordans nomination was pulled, Arrington already was calling colleagues to gauge his support in the fractious party, a Republican official said. Arrington, who first came to Congress in 2017, has advocated deep cuts in federal spending to bring down budget deficits by $16 trillion over 10 years. Moderates have opposed his proposal and may be reluctant to back him as speaker. Pete Sessions Sessions lost his Dallas-based seat to a Democrat in 2018 and mounted a comeback in 2020 by shifting to an open seat in a district that includes his hometown of Waco. He is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee who has previously chaired the powerful Rules Committee and led the House GOPs campaign arm. Mike Johnson Johnson, a former RSC chairman and a current member of the House GOP leadership team, is making calls to lawmakers about a potential run, a spokeswoman confirmed. The Louisiana Republican is a stalwart social conservative and member of Republican leadership team with a reputation for collegiality. He authored a Commitment to Civility pledge when he arrived at the Capitol in 2017 that was also signed by other incoming lawmakers. Austin Scott The Georgia Republican surprised lawmakers last week when he challenged Jordan for the nomination, ultimately receiving 81 votes. Scott, who served as class president for the Tea Party wave of Republicans elected in 2010, has moderated his approach during his career. He defied Trump when he voted to certify the results of the 2020 election. Scott challenged Jordan for the Republican nomination and said immediately after Jordans nomination was rescinded that he would run again. Dan Meuser The Pennsylvania Republican, who first came to Congress in 2019, told reporters hes weighing a run. Meuser has styled himself as a small-government lawmaker with the interest of taxpayers first and foremost, and hes used his experience overseeing Pennsylvanias tax system to push for reduced spending. Jack Bergman The Michigan Republican is a former Marine Corps three-star general and the highest-ranking combat veteran ever elected to Congress. Bergman, who first came to Congress in 2017, announced his interest in the speakers job earlier this week. --With assistance from Mackenzie Hawkins, Jonathan Tamari and Maeve Sheehey. (Updates with deadline for candidates, in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Flash China strongly condemns and resolutely rejects the groundless accusations made by Britain, in collusion with the United States and a small group of countries, at the third committee of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly against China about human rights issues in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said Chinese ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang in a statement. The British side, in disregard of China's strong opposition, went ahead to deliver a so-called joint statement on Xinjiang at the third committee, making groundless accusations against China and interfering in China's internal affairs, he said on Thursday. China strongly condemns and resolutely rejects this, and has made solemn representations to the British side, he said. "The UK side, by hyping up the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang and spreading lies and disinformation at the third committee, is trying to disrupt China's Xinjiang region and tarnish China's image," said the ambassador. "However, the UK's lies have long been exposed and its attempt is doomed to fail." At the committee, a total of over 100 countries have voiced strong opposition to the politicization of human rights issues and interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, Zheng said, adding this "fully shows who has the support of the international community and proves that the UK's sinister move is utterly unpopular." The ambassador urged the British side to follow the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, so as to promote the China-Britain ties to develop soundly and steadily. China urges the British side to get a clear understanding of the situation, correct its wrongdoings, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and avoid going further down the path of mistake and failure, he said. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid wait to unload on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday. Twenty trucks entered the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip in the first delivery of aid since the start of conflict on Oct. 7. Photo by Ismail Muhammad/UPI Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A small convoy of 20 trucks carrying aid to besieged Palestinian civilians in Gaza passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday, marking the first such relief since the start of the conflict. The trucks carrying humanitarian aid such as food, water and medical supplies, passed into Gaza through the border crossing and will be distributed within the Palestinian enclave, the Palestinian Red Crescent announced. The initial delivery came as the border crossing has opened to allow for modest levels of desperately needed aid to flow into Gaza as Palestinians faced severe shortages of food, medicine and water in the territory in the wake of Israeli military action taken in retaliation for a deadly assault by the militant group Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 Israelis. Palestinian health officials said Saturday 4,385 people in Gaza have died in the resulting Israeli bombardment campaign, including 1,756 children and 967 women. The Red Crescent and the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency coordinated the first delivery through the crossing. Workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent and the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency arrive to unload trucks carrying humanitarian aid after they entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on Saturday. Photo by Ismail Muhammad/UPI "Today's entry of 20 trucks is a welcomed glimpse of hope, but this miniscule aid represents a drop in the ocean," the Red Crescent said in a statement. "We call on the international community to secure the continued flow humanitarian aid into Gaza including through the Israeli-controlled crossings." "We welcome today's announcement that an aid convoy has entered Gaza, the first since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7," added Martin Griffiths, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent and the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency arrive to unload trucks carrying humanitarian aid after they entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on Saturday. Photo by Ismail Muhammad/UPI "The delivery follows days of deep and intense negotiations with all relevant sides to make sure that aid operation into Gaza resumes as quickly as possible and with the right conditions," he said in an issued statement. "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," Griffiths said. Workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent and the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency arrive to unload trucks carrying humanitarian aid after they entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on Saturday. Photo by Ismail Muhammad/UPI U.S. President Joe Biden announced during his visit to Israel this week he had struck a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver aid into Gaza, but arguments over the logistics and conditions of the deliveries hampered the effort for days. The first convoy finally passed into Gaza following the latest holdup at Rafah on Friday when the trucks were stuck on the Egyptian side of the crossing in a chaotic scene as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the site hoping to announce a breakthrough in aid relief efforts. Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israel-Hamas conflict, please see our live updates file here. As the first humanitarian aid since the war began between Israel and Hamas reached the Gaza Strip through a key border crossing on Saturday, Israel said it was preparing to step up attacks on the besieged territory. A 20-truck convoy entered Gaza carrying desperately needed supplies two weeks after the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel and the country responded by sealing off and shelling the Gaza Strip where Hamas rules. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, international groups have warned, as Palestinians are rationing food, drinking dirty water and hospitals are overwhelmed with injured and running low on supplies. Two trucks that entered Gaza from Egypt are carrying more than 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the U.N. children's agency a day's supply for 22,000 people, according to UNICEF. Israel continues to launch strikes that have leveled neighborhoods in Gaza, and has warned of a coming ground invasion. About half of the territory's 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes. Gaza officials say Israel's strikes have killed more than 4,000 people. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have died mostly civilians who died during the Hamas incursion. Faith traditions: In Israel-Hamas war, a struggle to bury the dead U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the first aid delivery but said more is needed. He said Hamas must not steal the aid or prevent it from getting to civilians who need it. With this convoy, the international community is beginning to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has left residents of Gaza without access to sufficient food, water, medical care, and safe shelter," Blinken said in a statement. "We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza." Aid groups said the supplies let in Saturday are not nearly enough, and more than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days. The amount of resources entering Gaza Saturday paled in comparison to the supplies that were sent into the occupied territory on a daily basis before the war started, Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program, told The Associated Press. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid," she said, noting about 400 trucks used to enter Gaza daily. Israeli officials previously said nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released more than 200 hostages taken during the group's rampage two weeks ago. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, the region to which the army has ordered that people relocate. He added that no fuel would enter the territory. The opening of the border came hours after officials announced Hamas had released an American woman and her teenage daughter, who were taken captive while visiting Israel. It wasn't clear if the release of the hostages and the delivery of aid to Gaza were related. Egyptian aid workers celebrate as an aid truck crosses back into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on October 21, 2023. Latest developments: When the Rafah crossing opened Saturday morning to allow aid into Gaza from Egypt, dual citizens rushed to the border in the hopes they'd be permitted to enter Egypt, but crowds of disappointed Palestinians holding American, Canadian, German and British passports waited hours in vain, unable to cross. The explosion at Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday that U.S. officials estimate killed between 100 and 300 people was likely caused by the breaking up of a rocket that was fired from within Palestinian territory, an analysis by the Associated Press concluded. Fighting has intensified along Israel's border with Lebanon, with Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters exchanging fire Saturday in several areas along the border. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a child of Palestinian and Syrian immigrants, said Friday that several of his relatives died at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church where they were sheltering when an Israeli airstrike hit late Thursday. Israel acknowledged the blast and said the church was not the military's intended target. Biden speaks with American mother and daughter released by Hamas: 'Glad youre out' The White House on Saturday released a video clip of President Joe Biden greeting two American hostages released by Hamas after nearly two weeks. Im so ... glad youre out, Biden told Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie. The pair were the first hostages released by Hamas since militants took more than 200 people captive on Oct. 7. The Chicago-area family had been visiting Israel for the High Holidays when the militants' attack began. Natalie Shoshana Raanan and Judith Tai Raanan speaking on the phone with U.S. President Joe Biden on Oct. 20, 2023, after being held hostage by Hamas. Hamas said it set the Raanans free for humanitarian reasons after an agreement was struck with the Qatari government. Both Judith Raanan and her daughter are healthy and well, she told the president during their brief call. I just want to say thank you for your services to Israel, she said to Biden. Im just delighted that we were able to get you out. Weve been working on it for a long time, Biden said from the Oval Office. Were going to get them all out, God willing. 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. -Karissa Waddick Israel says it will increase attacks on Gaza Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, Israel's military spokesman said. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions before its potential ground invasion into Gaza. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said. He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety. -The Associated Press World leaders call for more aid to Gaza, discuss how to de-escalate war World leaders called for more aid in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians at a summit in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the Israel-Hamas war on Saturday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked for an international peace summit and for the release of hostages and prisoners. He reiterated his complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Guterres said a two-state solution to the conflict is the only realistic solution. He said the U.N. is working to increase help to Gaza after the first convoy of aid was allowed in Saturday. "The people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he said. The office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said there was a double standard when it came to the world's reactions to Israel's bombing of Gaza. "While we see one place officials rushing and competing to promptly condemn the killing of innocent people, we find incomprehensible hesitation in denouncing the same act in another place, the office said. 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 countries 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-Hamas war live updates: Aid enters Gaza; hostages released It was late afternoon in the South African bush and before us lay a moment of exquisite possibilities. From our vantage point on the open safari vehicle, we could see a giraffe grazing on an acacia tree, unaware of the danger lurking. Five lions a huge male and four females lay downwind in the long grass, snoozing in the setting sun. We waited. They flicked their tales and rolled over. But night was coming and with it the possibility of the hunt. I felt awed, expectant. One lioness sniffed the air, then she was up. The others rose silently and began to follow. By now the giraffe had melted away but Doc Themba, our game ranger, nursed our vehicle along, keeping us in the front row of this unscripted drama. Suddenly, not three metres from the lead lion, a rabbit hiding in the grass leapt up. The lion lurched forward to kill it but then decided it was too much effort for too little reward. Thats the magic of the bush you never know where the drama will come from. We trailed the lions for 45 thrilling minutes, then reluctantly headed back to camp, where preparations for dinner were underway. Spotted: Cheetahs during a game drive (David Cohen) My wife and I had booked in that afternoon to Little Bush Camp, one of four exclusive lodges owned by Sabi Sabi, situated in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. Our lodge was intimate, with just six rooms, each embedded into the bush and furnished with an understated yet luxurious design and an outdoor hot tub on a balcony that overlooked a dry river bed. Read more on safari travel: These days, high-end private lodges with their eye-watering prices attract mostly international visitors who want to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and enjoy a superbly curated experience with sumptuous rooms, exquisite cuisine and every need anticipated. Its a competitive market and, to differentiate themselves, lodges often make claims to give them an edge with tour operators about community support or environmental sustainability that can be hard to verify. In Sabi Sabis case, it was their chef mentorship programme and financial support of three villages just outside the reserve that attracted my attention. Game ranger Doc Themba guides guests to the best animal sightings (David Cohen) Group executive chef Wilfred Mtshali oversees all 45 chefs employed by Sabi Sabi, but eight years ago, he went to the owners with a proposition. Wilfred, 53, had been dismayed by the rampant unemployment he saw in Huntington, a village of 14,000 people where 60 per cent of residents were out of work. I saw a lot of youths doing nothing, some with alcohol in hand, Wilfred said. I remembered my grandmother who woke me every day at 5am to cook sour porridge before school and every day after school she would teach me new dishes. I looked at these youths who looked lost and remembered how hard it had been for me even with such an inspirational grandmother and I thought, can I help them start a career? That was the beginning of the Sabi Sabi one-year chef mentorship programme which now takes 10 trainees annually and has so far had 75 graduates. Trainees get free food, accommodation, chef outfits, training, mentoring and free travel to Johannesburg where they attend a South African Chefs Association course on the basics of cooking. The vast majority have gone on to get jobs as chefs or in hospitality at Sabi Sabi, other high-end game lodges or at big city hotels. I looked at these youths who looked lost and remembered how hard it had been for me even with such an inspirational grandmother and I thought, can I help them start a career? Wilfred Mtshali, Sabi Sabi executive chef Dzunisani Lubisi, 25, trainee chef at Little Bush Camp, said she joined after working in a local mortuary and being desperate to leave. I love to cook and am always googling recipes so I applied, she said. I have learned to cook different soups, risotto, chocolate fondant and malva pudding. This is a big opportunity for me. One day I want to open my own restaurant. Freedom Masinga, 33, a 2016 trainee who is now chef de partie at Little Bush Camp, said the scheme changed his life. I have been fully employed both here and at other lodges since I trained here, he said. Wilfred said Dzunisani was passionate and earmarked to become a top chef and that Freedom was the coolest guy and very focused. But what I am most proud of, he added, is that for each of these trainees who now has a career, they are supporting up to 10 family members, so our programme is lifting the whole community. Guests track lions on their evening hunt (David Cohen) The food, international-style cuisine with a South African twist, is inventive and delicious, especially when eaten around a fire under the stars. Particularly memorable was the tasty barramundi (Asian sea bass), cooked with rice, pea puree, garlic, coriander and Romesco sauce, and the morish watermelon conserve which accompanied the cheese and biscuits before the afternoon game drive. Over two days we saw the magnificent Big Five and more. Rangers are in touch with each other by radio and can go off-road, which you cant do in Kruger, so visitors are more likely to get close to big cats. A highlight was when we tracked down a herd of buffalo; suddenly our tracker, Patrick Nyalungu, heard impala alarm-calling, the signal that they had spotted a predator. We headed off in hot pursuit and came upon a cheetah catching its breath. A rare sighting and one that had Doc punching the air, exclaiming to Patrick, Still the A team!, before radioing in the sighting. For a change of pace, we did a morning walking safari where Doc showed us some medicinal and alternative uses of local flora, such as Devils Claw, which lavers like soap when you add water and rub it softly into your hands. This is a big opportunity for me. One day I want to open my own restaurant Dzunisani Lubisi, trainee chef We also took the community tour along dirt roads to Huntington village and saw the difference the Sabi Sabi Foundation has made, donating, they said, around 200,000 to help fund a digital learning centre for schoolchildren and a project supporting HIV orphans, as well as 65,000 to build a well last year that has provided clean water to every street in Huntington. A village elder told us: The government gave us electricity but until last year we had never had clean water. Its been a game changer. The bush is all-encompassing you leave the outside world behind and enter its simple rhythm of game drives, eating, waking early, sleeping early. Its intensely relaxing and gut-wrenchingly exciting. Just walking to your room at night, escorted by a guide with a gun, is an adventure. Group executive chef Wilfred Mtshali set up the mentorship programme (David Cohen) Theres a resident leopard born under room one that was recently seen strolling through reception, our guide said. We had seen a leopard on our game drive that morning, but in the middle of the night, I found myself on the deck, sweeping the river bed with my torch beams, expectant. I wanted to see that leopard. I never did; but the hope was reward enough. Travel essentials Getting there To get there: Fly 11 hours to Johannesburg (BA from 630), then Airlink 55 minutes to Skukuza (250) followed by a one-hour transfer (31pp) through the Kruger National Park in an open vehicle. Alternatively, hire a car from Johannesburg and drive for six hours. Staying there Little Bush Camp costs 800 per person per night sharing, including a morning and evening game drive, an environmental awareness walking safari and three meals a day including alcohol. A tour of a nearby village can be arranged for 80pp. Children under four stay free and children under 13 pay up to 350 each. Read our best Cape Town hotel reviews Some 4,000 people have fled south Lebanon to shelter in Tyre, with many packing into repurposed public schools (Mahmoud ZAYYAT) Shocked by images of dead children in Gaza, Mustafa al-Sayyid quickly whisked his family to the closest shelter when Israeli strikes began near his village in southern Lebanon this week. "What we are seeing on television -- the massacres happening in Gaza, the children -- it cuts your heart to pieces," said the 53-year-old from Beit Lif, barely six kilometres (3.7 miles) from the Israeli border. "If I wasn't afraid this would happen to us, I wouldn't have left my home," said Sayyid, who has two wives and 11 children, around half of whom are under 10. The family is among nearly 4,000 people who have fled flashpoint areas near the Israeli frontier and flocked to the southern city of Tyre, according to local officials. Around half are staying in three public schools that have been converted into makeshift shelters, while the rest hunker down with relatives or friends. The scale of displacement has gradually swelled since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive October 7 assault on southern Israel, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping more than 200 in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Since then, some 4,385 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. The tensions have spread to the Lebanese-Israeli border, where near-daily tit-for-tat attacks have emptied out entire villages. At least 22 people, including four civilians, have been killed on the Lebanese side, according to an AFP tally. And at least three soldiers and one civilian have died in Israel. Sayyid, whose brother was killed in the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, said he wants to avoid any more family deaths. "All my children are young. If the apocalypse comes, how will I get them all out in one go?" he wondered inside a classroom stripped of desks and dotted with thin mattresses. "So I thought, better to leave now." - 'Shelters at full capacity' - Fears of a spillover loom large in Lebanon's border villages, which were occupied by Israeli forces for 22 years before their withdrawal in 2000. A steady stream of families, mostly from the pummelled village of Aita al-Shaab, queued at the Tyre municipality this week to secure a spot in one of the classrooms. "We have reached full capacity in all of our shelters," said Tyre mayor Hassan Dbouk. "Now we are looking for a place to open a fourth centre." In the border village of Dhayra, farms and olive groves have been abandoned at the height of the harvest season. Farmers already crushed by a four-year-long economic crisis in Lebanon are bracing for an uncertain fate -- even if the fighting abruptly stops. "Everyone in Dhayra relies on farming. We have nothing but God and agriculture," said Mussa Suwaid, 47, speaking outside the Tyre shelter where he has been staying for a week. "I have five sheep, each worth around $500. I left them without food and ran away," he added. He also was forced to leave behind his 88-year-old father and his cow. "He told me he would rather die than abandon the cow and his home," Suwaid said. - 'Sadness underneath' - Ravaged by an economic crisis that has been widely blamed on official corruption and ineptitude, Lebanon has not implemented an evacuation plan. Instead, the villagers have left under their own steam, strapping bags to motorcycles or hitching rides with neighbours. Yulla Suwaid, unrelated to Mussa, said she waited for two hours in a pool of her own blood before her brother came to save her during an Israeli bombardment that destroyed their Dhayra home last Wednesday. The 43-year-old school teacher was running down the stairs when the strike sent part of the wall crashing down on her legs, leaving her badly wounded. "If I had completely lost my legs, what would I have done? Who would have taken care of me?" she asked at a shelter in Tyre, both legs fully bandaged after surgery. In a nearby school, Ahmad from Beit Lif said he had planned to get married this month. Instead, the 26-year-old buried his father, who died of cancer, as the Israelis shelled nearby. He then fled to Tyre with his fiancee's family. Declining to provide his surname due to security concerns, Ahmad fought back tears as he recalled one of his father's last actions. "I made him go to my fiancee's family to ask for her hand in marriage," he told AFP. "I smile, but there is a lot of sadness underneath." ho/lg/hmw Editors note: The Focus on Research column highlights different research projects and topics being explored at Penn State. The following originally appeared on The Conversation. Telling people who have donated blood when and where the blood was used makes them more likely to do it again, according to our new study. Donors who got details like the date and the hospital were 10% more likely to donate again than people who were just thanked. Together with University of Hamburg marketing scholars Besarta Veseli and Michel Clement, we conducted real-world studies, backed by an online experiment. Working with the Austrian Red Cross, we looked at whether nearly 75,000 people who had donated in the prior two years would return to give blood. They were either simply thanked or they also were given specific information about the date their blood was used and the name of the hospital where that happened. Those receiving specific information were 10% more likely to donate again than the thanks-only group. The Austrian Red Cross also helped us see the role of timing in another study. The organization sent people a short text message, including the date when a donation was used and the hospital name, either three weeks after their donation or 10 days before they could donate again roughly one month apart. Getting those details 10 days before they could donate again made them 63% less likely to give blood again compared to people who received the same message three weeks after their last donation. In an additional study, we worked with the German Red Cross, which sent information to over 16,000 people who had not donated blood for over two years. They were either thanked for their previous donation, thanked and told how their blood was used, or thanked and told how their next donation would be used. These former blood donors were 11% more likely to donate again when they were told how their blood was used in the past compared to those who were just thanked or told how their future donation could be used. To understand what drives this effect, we conducted an online experiment with nearly 500 people who had previously donated blood through the German Red Cross. When these people were prompted to imagine they had received a text message with details about the use of blood they had donated in the past, they felt like the organization cared about them more. Consequently, they said theyd be more likely to donate again. Why it matters Based on our initial findings, the Austrian Red Cross replaced its traditional thank-you message with information about when and where the blood was used. While we did not work with the American Red Cross, its app notifies people of the hospital where their blood is used. If giving donors more information about how their blood was used boosts blood donations, it can save lives. Although nearly half of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, less than 10% donate at least once a year. Among those who give blood, there are some restrictions in place, such as requiring that donors wait at least 56 days before they do it again. And blood is in constant demand. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, platelets or both, according to the American Red Cross, a nonprofit that collects 40% of the countrys blood donations. Because not everyone who is eligible to give blood ever donates, there are periodic shortages, which have become more frequent. The Red Cross declared one on Sept. 11, 2023, which it attributed to back-to-back months of almost constant climate-driven disasters that made it harder for people who might otherwise have donated blood to be able to do so. Chronic shortfalls can lead hospitals to postpone transfusions and surgeries. Whats next Unfortunately, some donated blood is discarded rather than used in transfusions and other medical procedures. We plan to discover whether and how organizations that collect donated blood should tell donors when that happens with their blood. We also aim to analyze whether telling regular donors repeatedly about their bloods use will make more or less of a difference over time. Edlira Shehu is a professor of digital marketing at the University of Groningen and Karen Winterich is the Susman Professor in Sustainability and professor of marketing at Penn State. Hamas gunmen broke through Israel's heavily fortified Gaza border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, and taking 203 people hostage, according to Israel. A video spreading on social media, however, does not show members of the militant group "arresting Israeli generals". The footage, which Facebook posts have falsely linked to the conflict, shows Azerbaijan's state security service detaining leaders from the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Israeli army told AFP on October 17 there were no generals held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. "Breaking news: Several Israel top IDF (Israel Defense Forces) generals have been arrested by Hamas during clashes with Israel in Gaza," reads a Burmese-language Facebook post shared on October 8. A video, which has more than 7,600 views, shows masked men in military uniform marked with the letters "DTX" leading away three men in handcuffs. A screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on October 11, 2023 Israel has been carrying out air and artillery strikes on Gaza since Hamas gunmen unleashed a massive attack on communities in southern Israel on October 7 that Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people, mainly civilians. The health ministry in Gaza says the Israeli strikes have killed 3,785 people in the besieged Palestinian enclave, also mostly civilians. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Hamas "for the immediate and unconditional release" of the hostages taken in the attack, which Israel says number 203. He also urged Israel to allow "immediate, unrestricted access of humanitarian aid" after its siege and bombardment campaign led to an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. The video was shared in similar Facebook posts falsely linking it to the Israel-Hamas conflict, including in Burmese, Bengali and Spanish. However, the men in the clip are not Israeli generals, but separatist leaders in the Nagorno-Karabakh region -- a breakaway region that Azerbaijan regained control of in September. Separatist leaders Reverse image searches on Google found a longer version of the video posted on October 5 by the official YouTube channel of the Azerbaijan State Security Service (archived here). The security service is known as DTX -- the same letters displayed on the uniforms of the masked men in the clip. The video in the false posts matches the part of the YouTube starting from the 2:27 mark. The YouTube video was also embedded in a statement from the Azerbaijan State Security Service on the arrest of the men published on the same day (archived here). The statement said they were accused of forming illegal armed groups and supplying them with weapons and ammunition. Two of the men were identified as Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan and Bako Sahaki Sahakyan -- both self-styled ex-presidents of the breakaway region. The third man was Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, a former speaker of the region's separatist legislature. The men's arrests came after Azerbaijan took control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September after a lightning 24-hour military operation that ended three decades of separatist rule by ethnic Armenians (archived link). Below are three screenshot comparisons between the footage shared in the false Facebook posts (left) and the YouTube video from the Azerbaijan State Security Service (right): A screenshot comparison between the footage shared in the false Facebook posts (left) and the YouTube video from the Azerbaijan State Security Service (right). The man shown is Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan This comparison between the two videos shows Bako Sahaki Sahakyan A third comparison shows Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan AFP has published photos of the arrest of two of the three men here, and here, where they are seen wearing the same clothes. Azerbaijan's flag can also be seen on one of the DTX officer's uniform at the misleading video's 25-second mark, as seen in the screengrab below highlighted in red. Azerbaijan can be seen at 25-second mark. The Israeli army told AFP on October 17 there were no generals held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. AFP has debunked a wave of misinformation on the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Relatives of Hamas hostages Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed campaigning for their release in 2018 The anguish over some 200 people kidnapped by Hamas in its brutal attack on Israel is in the spotlight - but Hamas has been holding at least two Israelis for years. Very little has been heard about Ethiopian-Israeli Avera Mengistu and Bedouin Arab Israeli Hisham al-Sayed, seized in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The relatives of two dead Israeli soldiers are also tormented by the fact that Hamas has been holding their remains in Gaza since 2014. Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul were killed during a war between Israel and Hamas that year. Hamas - backed by Iran and regarded by Western nations as a terrorist group - has previously demanded a high price for releasing captive Israelis. They are used as Hamas bargaining chips. Aviram Shaul, brother of Oron, says that for nearly 10 years his family has had no news from Hamas about where it is keeping Oron's body, no sign that Oron will be returned. In 2014 the army found Oron's helmet and bulletproof vest in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza. But since then, Aviram told the BBC, "I feel Israelis forgot about them [the two dead soldiers]". "Now is a good chance to bring my brother back, because we're talking about 200 families with relatives held hostage in Gaza. The government did not do enough to bring my brother back, but now they have to make a big effort." He said now "Israel needs to do a humanitarian deal to get the hostages out". "If Hamas wants electricity, water, they must give us the hostages and soldiers' bodies and Israel does nothing if they don't want to." Israeli campaigners urge the release of Avera and the bodies of dead soldiers Oron Shaul (C) and Hadar Goldin (R) - August 2022 After secret negotiations in 2011 Israel got the abducted soldier Gilad Shalit back - but in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners held in its jails. Israel is now determined to wipe out Hamas and is inflicting huge casualties and damage on Gaza with air strikes. So any new prisoner swap would be both difficult and controversial. As the Gaza death toll mounts, Palestinian fury at Israel intensifies. More on Israel-Gaza war Hagai Hadas, formerly an Israeli military commander and Mossad intelligence officer, played a key role in negotiating Shalit's release. He told the BBC that such prisoner deals with Palestinian kidnappers were "a political issue" and in the current emergency, with so much Israeli anger directed at Hamas, "it's not going to happen, it's impossible". He stressed that the controversial Shalit swap was possible politically for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time - he felt secure enough - and the deal had been finalised two years before Shalit's release. In October 2011 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd from left) greeted soldier Gilad Shalit on his release by Hamas "Now I think the price won't be Hamas prisoners - it's to be paid using different tools," Mr Hadas said. He stressed that Israel now had various options: direct military rescues if the intelligence on the captives' locations was precise; use of "economic assets" - that is, payment; humanitarian options; or "to let Hamas leaders escape from Gaza, say to Qatar". On the latter option, he said, "you have to put them under stress, give them the idea that to save their lives they can make such a deal". "I believe the majority [of hostages] are in Hamas hands, but several are not. I'm almost sure that Israel is making every effort to locate them and try to bring them out by military means." He said that "even in a full-scale war in Gaza, Israel will push for a deal to get the hostages released, it will try to the last second to find a solution". "We value life and are willing to pay for life." The two Israeli civilian hostages held by Hamas since 2014 "were not kidnapped", Mr Hadas said, but "they went to Gaza, they were not mentally fit". "It's a big difference - we've had nothing similar to what we experienced on 7 October," he said, referring to the massacre by Hamas. Avera Mengistu's mother and brother have been highlighting his plight for years Hamas claims that Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed are soldiers, but official Israeli documents seen by Human Rights Watch show that both are civilians who were exempted from military service. Tila Fenta has led a campaign to get Avera released and feels let down by the Israeli state - though she says the international spotlight on Gaza hostages now might help her cause. "I want to believe that the chances for Avera have improved, but I say that in all sorrow," she told the BBC. She stressed that "we are still in shock - all Israelis are" since the Hamas attack and mass hostage-taking that killed about 1,400 Israelis. She said the campaigners felt "devastated" by Israel's failure for all these years to secure the return of Avera and Hisham. "They're not soldiers, both are sick - they have mental issues - and Hamas captured them against all humanity," she said. She linked the lack of progress over Avera and Hisham to their disadvantaged background and discrimination in Israeli society towards Ethiopian Jews and Bedouin Arabs. "I think Avera is a man who society doesn't like so much, because of his colour, mental illness problem and having grown up in a poor area of Ashkelon. "I think all this made him not wanted in society. If he was a bit brighter, or from a good area the treatment would be different. I know this isn't the time to say something wrong about my country, but the truth must be told." She said big human rights organisations should also have done more. "The same goes for the Bedouin - both are disadvantaged." More on Israel-Gaza war A third young Israeli citizen, Jumaa Abu Ghanima, is believed to have crossed into Gaza in 2016 and is still missing. A Bedouin Arab, like Hisham, he may be in Hamas hands, but there is no confirmation. Before illegally entering the Gaza Strip, both Avera and Hisham had gone missing repeatedly, and had had psychiatric treatment, Human Rights Watch research shows. In January Hamas released a short undated video clip of a man who mumbled in Hebrew: "I am the captive Avera Mengistu. For how much longer will I remain in captivity with my friends." The Mengistu family confirmed his identity, the Free Avera campaign told the BBC. A screenshot from the Avera hostage video (January 2023) Prime Minister Netanyahu told Avera's mother Agurnesh that the government had "confirmation" that her son was still alive. He said Israel "does not stop its efforts to return Avera Mengistu and the rest of our captives and missing persons". In June 2022 Hamas released a video showing Hisham al-Sayed in captivity. Hisham's father Shaaban al-Sayed confirmed his identity. Hamas said only that Hisham's health had deteriorated - no more details were given. He could be seen lying attached to a ventilator beside what appeared to be his Israeli-issued ID card. Tzur Goldin, brother of the late Hadar Goldin, whose remains are still in Gaza, has urged Israel to adopt a clear policy to tackle Hamas kidnapping. "Kidnapping is directed against families and is designed to break up societies. We have become accustomed to a certain security situation, to a certain conduct. We have become accustomed to it being convenient for the captives and the missing to be on the sidelines," he said, quoted by Israel National News - Arutz Sheva. "There is a round of fighting, followed by silence, followed by another round and more silence." Freeing any of the Hamas hostages looks likely to be a messy, controversial affair. "It's a dilemma everywhere in doing deals with terrorists," Hagai Hadas told the BBC. "You have contradictory options, they can be good or bad." According to Yevhen Dykyi, the Ukrainian military is exploring the possibility of a large-scale landing on the left bank of the Dnieper At the beginning of the Ukraines counter-offensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were planning to bypass the Surovikin line from the rear, but Russia made this impossible by blowing up the Kakhovka dam, a Ukrainian army officer has said. Read also: Zelenskyy meets with military leaders in Kherson to address ongoing frontline challenges Former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi said in an interview with Radio NV on Oct. 21 that according to the original plan, large forces, including mechanized units, were to be transferred from the west to the east bank of the Dnipro River. "The Russians assessed their forces, realized that they simply could not stop it, and then they found a really, unfortunately, from a military point of view, a brilliant way out, although this is the worst environmental disaster in Ukraine after Chornobyl the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant," Dykyi said. Read also: Zelenskyy visits Kherson Oblast, meets with border guards From a military point of view, the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant gave them what they needed: it made it impossible for us to land on the left (east) bank with mechanized forces. However, now the water has receded and the soil has dried up, so "technically speaking" such a landing is possible again, Dykyi argued. "What is happening now, we can definitely say one thing: we are definitely testing the possibility or impossibility of returning to plan A." Landing on the bridgehead means landing under enemy fire, under enemy artillery. Its possible to land on the shore, but whether it is possible to deploy further and break through is a big question. He drew attention to the fact that now the operation on the east bank of the Dnipro involves marine units that were not involved before. After the liberation of Kherson city, only the Defense Intelligence and the Special Operations Forces were raiding the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro. Read also: Former Aidar Battalion company commander discusses raids on occupied territory and counter-offensive in the south "It may be just an extended raid, it may be a serious enough probing of their defense to understand whether it is possible to land there at all," concluded the former Aidar battalion company commander. Or it may be the first attempt, it will be clear enough in a few days at the earliest. According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, the new operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the east bank of the Dnipro River, in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, surpasses the scale of previous raids. ISW analysts suggest that Ukrainian forces are likely to maintain a "limited presence" in some areas on the east bank near the Dnipro shoreline and the Antonivskyi railway bridge. The first reports from Russian milbloggers about the breakthrough of some Ukrainian Armed Forces units across the Dnipro appeared on Oct. 17-18. On Oct. 19, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia had launched an airstrike on the occupied village of Pishchanivka in Kherson Oblast, which could indicate the presence of Ukrainian troops there. Read also: Ukrainian forces make strategic advances in Kherson Oblast, ISW reports On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the military command in Kherson to discuss the situation on the front line. The meeting was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Shaptala, Commander of the Marine Corps of the Ukrainian Navy Yuriy Sodol, and Commander of the Odesa Operational and Strategic Group of Forces Andriy Hnatov. 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 FILE - Sali Berisha, the leader of the Albanian opposition center-right Democratic Party, injured, speaks after he has been attacked during an anti-government protest held near a summit of European Union leaders and their counterparts from the Western Balkans in the capital Tirana, Albania , on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Albanias former prime minister Sali Berisha said Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 that prosecutors charged him with corruption and money laundering in connection with a land deal involving a Tirana property. (AP Photo/Franc Zhurda, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albanias former prime minister Sali Berisha said Saturday that prosecutors charged him with corruption and money laundering in connection with a land deal involving a Tirana property. Berisha, 79, said the prosecutor's office in charge of cases against senior officials or major cases, ordered him not to leave the country. Berisha also said his son-in-law, 50-year-old Jamarber Malltezi, was arrested on the same charges at the Tirana International airport. Berisha said both he and Malltezi are innocent. On these charges I declare that they are absolutely without any basis and purely and fully political accusations from (current prime minister) Edi Rama , he said at a news conference late Saturday. Rama did not immediately respond to Berisha's claim. The Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime office alleges that Berisha's son-in-law exploited Berisha's position as prime minister to privatize land in Tirana owned by the country's Defense Ministry and return it to its previous owners, who immediately sold it at a low price to Malltezi, who built apartments on the land. The charges come three years after Interior Minister Taulant Balla, then head of the governing Socialist Partys parliamentary grouping, sent a file with allegations against Malltezi and Berisha to the prosecutors office. Berisha served as Albanias prime minister from 2005-2013 and as president from 1992-1997. He was reelected as a lawmaker for the Democratic Party in an April 2021 parliamentary election. In May 2021 the U.S. government barred Berisha and his close family from entering the country because of alleged involvement in corruption. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that during Berishas 2005-2013 tenure as prime minister, the politician was involved in corrupt acts and had used his power for his own benefit and to enrich his political allies and his family members. Blinken also accused Berisha of interfering in independent investigations, anticorruption efforts, and accountability measures. He said Berishas corrupt acts undermined democracy in Albania. Since then, Berishas main opposition Democratic Party is in turmoil with different factions fighting for the partys leadership and legal registration. Fighting corruption has been post-communist Albanias Achilles heel, strongly affecting the countrys democratic, economic and social development. Berisha was the fourth top Albanian official to be barred from entering the United States because of alleged involvement in corruption. ___ Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini Gerhard Schroder, former German Social Democrat Chancellor, known for his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin , has claimed that the US supposedly disrupted "peace talks" between Ukraine and Russia at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and that Kyiv invited him to mediate. Source: Schroder during a lengthy interview with the left-wing Berliner Zeitung Quote: "I received a request from Ukraine in 2022 to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. The question was whether I would be able to convey a message to Putin," the former German Chancellor said. Details: The former chancellor also mentioned the five points of what was supposedly a "peace plan" being discussed at the time: Ukraine's rejection of NATO membership, "two official languages" in Ukraine, Donbas "autonomy", "security guarantees" for Ukraine, and negotiations on the status of Crimea. "The only people who could resolve the war over Ukraine are the Americans. During the peace talks in March 2022 in Istanbul with Rustem Umierov [incumbent Ukraines Defence Minister ed.], Ukrainians did not agree to peace because they were not allowed to. They had to coordinate everything they talked about with the Americans first," Schroder said. The former chancellor then claimed that he had spoken to Umierov and "tete-a-tete with Putin", failing to specify when, where or in what role. "However, nothing eventually happened. My impression is that nothing could happen because everything else was decided in Washington. It was fatal. Because the result now is that Russia will be more closely tied to China, which the West should not want," concludes Schroder, who is close to Putin. Answering the question of whether any agreements with Russia, which has grossly violated international law and attacked Ukraine despite its own promises, are credible, the former chancellor said Western Europe is "not in danger" as Russia cannot defeat NATO. "Regardless of who is in power, there is a belief in Russia that the West wants to expand further with NATO, namely into the post-Soviet area. Keywords: Georgia and Ukraine. No one at the head of Russia will allow this to happen. This danger analysis may be emotional, but it is real for Russia. The West must understand this and compromise accordingly; otherwise, peace will be tough to achieve," Schroder added. Gerhard Schroder's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his work for Russian energy companies have drawn criticism, including from his home Social Democratic Party of Germany. Nevertheless, Schroder remains a member of the SPD. Last year, the former German leader condemned the invasion as unjustified but did not criticise Putin. This position drew sharp criticism from across the German political spectrum. Support UP or become our patron! CHICAGO After 14 dark days, Uri Raanan expects the best day of his life to be about a week away. Raanans daughter Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith Raanan, Uris ex-wife, were released into Israel Friday after two weeks spent as hostages of the terrorist group Hamas. Natalie and Judith plan to fly back to Chicago in about a week, Uri Raanan told reporters from his home in Bannockburn, near Deerfield, Friday evening, hours after the first news reports of their release. Ive been waiting for this moment for a long time, Uri said. I havent been sleeping for two weeks. Hamas operatives kidnapped Judith and Natalie at gunpoint from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel, where they were visiting family, on Oct. 7. While they were held at an undisclosed location in Gaza, their family received no proof of life. The Raanan family will celebrate Natalies birthday as soon as she is able to travel from Israel to Chicago, Uri said. Natalie turns 18 on Tuesday. Im going to hug her and kiss her and its going to be the best day of my life, Raanan said. Natalie told family in Israel that she was not physically harmed by Hamas, a family friend close to the situation told the Tribune Saturday. Hamas operatives confiscated Natalies phone, but she was provided with food, water, fresh clothes and access to a shower, according to the family friend. Uri did not speak to Judith directly Friday, spending a minute or two on the phone with his daughter. Natalie told him Judith had a small scratch on her hand but seemed mostly unharmed, he said. She was very happy, and shes waiting to come home, Uri said. As of Saturday, the Raanan family has raised $10,000 to help care for Natalie and Judith when they return to the Chicago area. Uri said the two may have been together while held hostage. Natalie told me they treat(ed) her nice, Uri said. I told her I love you and I miss you very much she knows how I feel. President Joe Biden, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, were in touch with Uri and the Raanan family throughout the afternoon, as U.S. embassy officials connected with Judith and Natalie. Biden spoke with Natalie and Judith by phone Friday evening, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem wrote on X, formerly Twitter. As U.S. and Israeli media scrambled to confirm details, Israeli Defense Forces officers sent Uri pictures of the mother and daughters release, he said Friday. Later, IDF officers called Raanan to let him know they were on their way to collect his daughter and ex-wife. For the nearly two weeks Judith and Natalie were held hostage, Uri Raanan could not sleep, he said. He divided his time between praying, following the news and speaking with family. Ive been glued to the TV for two weeks hoping for good news, Uri Raanan said. My head always was in Israel. Frida Alonso, 19, addressed Natalie, her stepsister, Friday: Im so happy youre finally coming home. Weve all missed you so much. We hoped you were alive and safe, and we know youre so brave, and strong, and thats how you and your mom made it through this, Alonso said. Though Natalie and Judith have been released, the familys prayers for safety are far from over, Sigal Zamir, Natalies aunt, said Friday evening. This is a small joy in our family, Zamir said. For all the other hostages, and all the other families, just keep praying, and hopefully good news will come. Chicago natives Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, who now live in Jerusalem, hope the Raanans release provides further motivation for Illinois politicians to keep hostage release efforts a top priority. Polin and Goldbergs 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was kidnapped from the Tribe of Nova music festival in the Negev desert in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Do not stop reaching out to elected officials to make sure they are screaming at the top of their lungs, Polin said. Two Chicagoans were released last night. We need another one released. According to eyewitness accounts and video, Goldberg-Polin evacuated into a bomb shelter, which came under heavy gunfire. Hamas operatives threw more than 11 grenades into the shelter before moving Hersh and three other survivors into a pickup truck. His cellphone signal was last detected around 10:20 a.m. Israel time, in Gaza, Polin said. Polin grew up in Skokie and West Rogers Park. Goldberg grew up in Gold Coast. The pair lived in Chicago after college before moving to Berkeley, California, where Hersh was born, relocating to Jerusalem in 2008. Were really trying to get as much support as possible from our elected officials in Illinois, Polin said. Thats kind of the state that weve been leaning on the most. Hersh loves travel, and had planned a trip around the world starting later this month, Polin said. He is a fun-loving guy. Hes smart, curious and funny, with a dark sense of humor, Polin said. From the time he was a little kid, he could tell you every country of the world and its capital. Polin believes that Judith and Natalies status as full-time United States residents contributed to Hamas decision to release them first. Residents of more than 30 countries are currently among the hostages. Im happy for them. Im not surprised, Polin said. Judith and Natalie were released partially on humanitarian grounds, according to Hamas spokespeople. The same request is a matter of urgency for injured hostages like Goldberg-Polin, whose left arm was blown off below the elbow during his kidnapping. We dont know his whereabouts, Polin said. We dont know if hes alive. What we do know is hes critically wounded Doctors have told us that by two weeks in, if he has not gotten medical treatment, the risk is dire. As the Raanans prepare to welcome Natalie and Judith back to Chicago, Polin said he and Goldberg pray for their own quiet homecoming. Id bring Hersh in the house, Id close the door to the outside, Polin said. We would spend time as a family and just hug and embrace and have quiet and have each other. That would be a dream. For friends and family in Evanston and Deerfield, Friday was a day of joy and relief, tempered by an understanding of the long healing process ahead. I have faith in the world, I have faith in peace, and I want to thank everybody who was involved in bringing them back safe, Natalies stepmother Paola Raanan said Friday, at the Raanans Bannockburn home. I cannot express how happy we are. Were thrilled there was a Natalie to come home, said Deerfield resident Gale Gand. I never knew whether to talk in past tense. Id correct myself and talk in present tense to kind of signal the universe that we were not giving up. Gands daughter Ruby is a close friend of Natalie, and had planned to meet her in Israel while on a Birthright trip in December. Deerfield residents know Natalie as a little bit shy, but beautiful inside and out, Gand said. Gand says she struggled to find the best way to talk to her family about the Raanans ordeal. Though Natalie and Judith seem safe, Gand said, friends and family know their lives have been permanently transformed. I fear that she will never be the same, Gand said. Im wondering who is the Natalie coming back to us . How do you heal? Do you heal from this kind of thing? Will she always be the girl who got released from Hamas? I dont know how you get on the other side of it. Federal prosecutors say that a former Hells Angels boss disposed of the bodies of up to four of the groups members at a central California funeral home, known to the gang as the pizza oven. US prosecutors set out in gruesome detail last week how they believe members of the gang used the Yost and Webb funeral home in Fresno, California, to cremate four men. Related: More than 14,000 asylum seekers were sent to San Diego. Local support systems were overwhelmed The allegations came in the sentencing of Merl Hefferman, a 54-year-old former member of the Fresno county Hells Angels chapter, who in December had pleaded guilty to disposing of the body of Joel Silva. Silva, a member of the Sonoma county Hells Angels, had been killed by another member in 2014. Crematory manager Levi Phipps had testified at trial he had received a call from Hefferman on 16 July 2014, instructing him to be at the funeral home and leave the hangar door open, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. There, Phipps said, he was threatened at gunpoint by two men while they loaded a body into the incinerator. Shortly after, prosecutors said, Phipps received another call from Hefferman, this time telling him to keep quiet. According to prosecutors, Phippss testimony is corroborated by cellphone records. The only reason Hefferman wanted that access was to make bodies disappear without a trace, prosecutors wrote. Merl Hefferman arranged to have Joel Silvas body illegally cremated. But prosecutors last week also said Silvas was just one of four bodies Hefferman appears to have helped disappear. Prosecutors allege Phipps told a federal grand jury that several months after the disposal of Silvas body, Hefferman contacted him again to arrange yet another cremation. Prosecutors believe that the second body was that of Robbie Huff, a Hells Angels member who went missing in 2015 and, according to prosecutors, colluded in Silvas murder and cover up. The pattern repeated itself on a third occasion, prosecutors say, this time to dispose of a body they believe to be of Art Carasis, a Hells Angels member who went missing in 2016. Phone records between Hefferman and Phipps corroborate Phippss testimony, prosecutors say. The prosecution did not name the fourth alleged victim, though Heffermans attorney, James Bustamante, identified him as Hells Angels member Juan Guevara. Hefferman has not been charged in connection with the cases of Huff, Carasis and the fourth alleged victim. In his sentencing memorandum, Bustamante wrote that despite ample opportunities to do so, it is clear that the government did not find Phipps credible enough to seek additional charges. When reached for comment, Bustamante referred to his memo. Yost and Webb funeral home did not return a request for comment. Heffermans case is part of a larger racketeering investigation into the Sonoma and Fresno Hells Angels. The murder of Joel Silva occurred on 15 July 2014. Prosecutors say he was lured to the biker gangs Fresno club headquarters and shot by Brian Wayne Wendt after running afoul of other Hells Angels. A jury in June 2022 found three members of the gang responsible for the murder: Wendt, Jonathan Nelson and Russell Taylor Ott. Hefferman was accused of disposing of the body, not of killing Silva. Silvas family said in a victims statement last week that not having a body to mourn over had impacted their grieving process. Not knowing where our son was for years was difficult and extremely emotional, they wrote. The Hells Angels are all cowards. They took Joels life over somebodys ego and no one has a right to take anyones life. Hefferman was sentenced to four years in prison on 19 October on the obstruction of justice charges relating to Silva, according to the Fresno Bee . Former Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), the first Palestinian-American to serve in Congress, posted online that his family members were killed in Gaza amid the ongoing airstrikes between Israel and militant group Hamas. 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 the result of an Israeli airstrike, Amash posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The explosion struck the Greek Orthodox church that was housing hundreds of displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in a wall toppling down. Aby Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, initially said dozens were hurt at the church but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were buried under the rubble, the Associated Press reported. Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, which has not been able to be independently verified. The Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George confirmed the bombing of the church. The bombs hit the two church halls where the refugees, including children and babies, were sleeping, the order said in a statement. Our source at the scene says that they estimate that 150-200 people are dead, and that number is expected to rise as more people are found in the wreckage. According to Al Jazeera, the church has traditionally served as a sanctuary for both Christians and Muslims during Israels periodic wars against Gaza. Several members of Congress responded to Amash online, sharing their condolences for his loss. Justin, I am so incredibly sorry, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. This is devastating. Rep. Pramila Jayapal sent a broken heart emoji, saying I am so sorry for this profound loss, Justin. The former lawmaker expressed that his family is hurting, and he wished comfort on others in the same situation. Give rest, O Lord, to their souls, and may their memories be eternal, he wrote, adding, May God watch over all Christians in Gazaand all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed. Amash represented Michigans third congressional district until 2021. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the first two weeks of the conflict in the Middle East, officials said. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A former Major League Baseball pitcher was arrested Friday in the 2021 shooting that left his father-in-law dead and his mother-in-law hospitalized in northern California, authorities said. Danny Serafini, 49, who played for the Minnesota Twins and five other teams for seven seasons before retiring in 2007, was arrested in Winnemucca, Nevada, according to a news release from the Placer County Sheriffs Office. Samantha Scott, 33, also was arrested, in Las Vegas, the release said. Danny Serafini - Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Serafini was a son-in-law of the victims, a spokesman for the sheriffs office said Friday at a news conference. Scott also knew them, possibly as a nanny for the family, the spokesman said. Serafini and Scott, who each face a murder charge and an attempted murder charge, were awaiting extradition to Placer County, the sheriffs office said. CNN has reached out to an attorney for Serafini. It is unclear if Scott has an attorney. On June 5, 2021, police responded to a call at a home in the North Lake Tahoe, California, area, near the border with Nevada, where they found Robert Gary Spohr, 70, dead with a single gunshot wound, according to the sheriffs office. His wife, Wendy Wood Spohr, 68, also was shot and taken to the hospital, where she later recovered. She died a year later, the sheriffs office said in the news release. Video surveillance of the home showed a hooded man wearing a face covering and a backpack prior to the killing, the sheriffs said. Detectives continued working on the case and were eventually led to Serafini and Scott, according to the sheriffs office. CNNs Jacob Lev contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (The Hill) 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. Supreme Court wont reinstate Missouri gun law as Thomas dissents 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. 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. Spirit Airlines canceling flights for plane inspections 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. 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. Trump co-defendant Nauta to keep attorney despite conflict of interest concerns 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. (Reuters) - Former U.S. Representative Justin Amash said on Friday that several of his relatives had been killed when a Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip was hit overnight by an Israeli air strike. "Our family is hurting badly," Amash wrote on X. "May God watch over all Christians in Gaza and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed." Palestinian officials said at least 500 Muslims and Christians had taken shelter from Israeli bombardments in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius, and the Hamas-run government's health ministry said 16 were killed. The Israeli military said part of the church was damaged in a strike on a nearby militant command center, and that it was reviewing the incident. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the strike in a statement. Amash, a Palestinian-American, represented Michigan as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2021. A vocal critic of former Republican President Donald Trump, Amash left the party in 2019 and later joined the Libertarian Party. Israel has besieged Gaza since Hamas killed 1,400 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health officials, and more than 1 million Palestinians have been left homeless, according to the United Nations. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Former US Representative Justin Amash, the first Palestinian-American member of Congress, said several of his family members were killed in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike at a Greek Orthodox church that was housing displaced Palestinians during the ongoing crisis. Mr Amash, who represented parts of west Michigan in the House from 2011 to 2021, said his relatives were among hundreds of people seeking shelter in St Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza City. Bombs struck two halls where people were sleeping and killed at least 18 people overnight, according to the Order of St George, an associated order of the church. Among the dead were Viola Al-Amash and Yara Al-Amash. The former congressman shared their photographs in a post on social media on Friday. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much, he wrote. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gaza and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed. Several members of Congress shared their condolences. Justin, I am so incredibly sorry. This is devastating, replied US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. May God ease the pain you and your relatives are experiencing. Sending my condolences and love to you all, wrote US Rep Ilhan Omar. Hundreds of Muslims and Christians have been sheltering at the church, among the oldest in Gaza, during Israels ongoing bombardments in the wake of Hamas attacks on 7 October that killed approximately 1,400 Israelis. Former US Representative Justin Amash (REUTERS) More than 4,000 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced following Israels siege, according to Gazas health ministry. 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 Gazas 2.3 million population includes roughly 1,000 Christians, most of whom are Greek Orthodox. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, among the oldest jurisdictions in Christendom, has condemned the church bombing. 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 organisation shared in a statement. 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, the organisation added. A statement from the Israel Defense Forces said the strike targeted a nearby Hamas control centre and damaged the wall of a church in the area. We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review, the statement added. The original structure of the Church of St Porphyrius dates to the 5th century. Its current structure was built in the 12th century. A French pilot was found dead hiking in California after a two-day search in Mount Whitney, the National Park Service said Friday. Tom Gerbier, 38, reportedly fell 1,000 feet during a hike at California's Sequoia National Park this week, according to a parks service representative. The Air France pilot began his hike early Tuesday morning up the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. He was reported missing Wednesday when he didn't show up for his return flight. Ground teams for the Inyo County Sheriffs Office began searching for the Fontenay-sous-Bois, France native Wednesday with no result, the representative said. By Thursday, park and police authorities searched through Whitney's mountaineering route and found clues that the hiker may have fallen off a cliff named "The Notch." More: University of Georgia student dies after falling 90 feet while mountain climbing The parks service helicopter found a motionless hiker wearing clothing that matched Gerbier's description. His body was transferred to Tulare County Sheriffs Office via helicopter where authorities confirmed his identity. Air France said in a statement that their former employee had been on a stopover in Los Angeles, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The company offers its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, the airline said in the statement. Gerbier's death is the second fatality for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in 2023. Mount Whitney stands more than 14,500 feet tall and its most popular route, the Mount Whitney Trail, is a 22 miles round-trip. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: French pilot falls 1,000 feet to his death during Mount Whitney hike Are you terrified of spiders? Do enclosed spaces send chills down your spine? Does the thought of leaving your house fill your soul with dread? You're not alone. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, about 19 million Americans suffer from one or more phobias an anxiety disorder that causes uncontrollable, irrational, lasting fears for a specific object, situation or activity with strong mental, physical and emotional reactions ranging from compulsive avoidance to severe panic attacks. A study in 2014 suggested that one in ten Americans may suffer from severe weather phobia. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in 2018 that he had a jewelry phobia (kosmemophobia), which he turned into a business opportunity by partnering with QALO, a company that sells silicon rings. This is not to say that every fear is irrational. A fear of and respect for heights, for example, or snakes, is probably a good idea, evolutionarily speaking. But when the very thought of heights or seeing a snake in a movie triggers an increase in your heart rate, sweating, shaking, nausea, tightness in the chest, a desperate need to flee or panic attacks, when the fear disrupts your life, you may have a phobia. And if you're in Florida, your phobia might cause you problems if you get a scratch. Lighting site e-conolight took a look at what people in different states were Googling about phobias over the past 12 months, and Florida's was biological. Top searched phobia in Florida? Blood. Floridians have been searching for information about hemophobia, the study showed, which is the fear of blood. (So were people in Maryland.) Hemophobia is a fairly common phobia, affecting about 3-4% of the general population according to a 2014 study. While it may seem like it's only a problem at Halloween it can cause real problems that might endanger your life. "This phobia can have a serious impact on a person, as they may avoid doctors visits or medical care for fear of seeing blood.," said MedicalNewsToday.com. And unlike most other phobias, hemophobia can cause you to faint. Up to 80% of people with hemophobia experience a sudden blood pressure drop at the sight of their own blood or the blood of others, according to a 2018 study, abruptly reducing the amount of blood to the brain and causing unconsciousness. What is emetophobia? And why is it getting so much attention on TikTok? What is the most commonly searched-for phobia in the U.S.? Ten different states all had claustrophobia as their number one searched-for phobia. Info about the fear of confined spaces was popular in Alabama, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. Obesophobia, the fear of gaining weight or being fat, was the most-searched phobia in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Rhode Island, even though those states have some of the least obese populations in the U.S. Other phobias with two states each included: Agoraphobia (fear of leaving a safe space) : Alaska and Montana, two of the states with the most wide-open areas of land. Entomophobia (fear of insects): Arizona and Wisconsin. Gynophobia (fear of women): Pennsylvania, South Carolina. Megalophobia (fear of large objects): Oklahoma and Tennessee. Philophobia (fear of love): Kentucky and Texas. Thanatophobia (fear of dying): Louisiana and Maine. Trypophobia (fear of holes): New Mexico and Wyoming. Nebraska has a fear of clowns (coulrophobia), apparently. Vermont's nyctophobia (fear of the dark or night) is a fairly common one, especially among young people. Necrophobia, the fear of dead bodies, is a top search in Minnesota and another big problem in the Halloween season. For people of Connecticut, dentist visits may be their worst nightmare (dentophobia). And the most-searched phobia in Utah is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, the fear of long words, which is a particularly cruel name to use for it. Trypanophobia: 9 expert tips to help your child overcome their fear of shots What causes phobias? Good question. Experts are still studying the source of phobias and how to treat them. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes seem to be: Traumatic experiences: Getting terrified by a spider once, for example, might be enough to give you a lifelong terror of them. Even hearing about a bad experience someone else had might do it. Genetics or learned behavior: "There may be a link between your specific phobia and the phobia or anxiety of your parents," the Mayo Clinic said, either from a genetic cause or because parents who constantly avoid or warn about things they are phobic about might pass on those fears to their children. Brain function and structure: Phobias can trigger certain parts of the brain for sufferers when people without the phobia are unaffected. "Also, a person with a specific phobia can have a different brain structure than a person without that specific phobia," the Mayo Clinic said. Can phobias be treated? Phobias with mild effects, or for things or situations you rarely encounter, can be left alone as something to deal with, experts say. But when they cause problems with work, school or social interactions, if they trigger depression, if they lead to misuse of drugs or alcohol for the stress, or if there is a risk of suicide, treatment through exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you desensitize yourself and learn how to cope. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Phobias in the U.S.: Fears of enclosed places, getting fat and blood rank high Gaston County Police are conducting a criminal investigation after a person was killed near Stanley. At 2:13 a.m., Gaston County Police responded to the area of Brentwood Lane near Stanley in reference to a request for assistance from the Gaston County Sheriffs Office. This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no known danger to the community, a press release from police said Saturday morning. As of Saturday afternoon, police have not released the name of the person killed or how they died, though the subject of the email sent to media said, "Gaston County Police Investigate Fire and Shooting." Investigators ask that anyone with information contact the Gaston County Police Department at 704-866-3320 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000. This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston Police investigating Saturday morning death Number of Palestinian fatalities exceed 3,785 with over 13,000 injuries Xinhua) 10:17, October 21, 2023 A man stands inside a dwelling destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A boy stands on ruins of dwellings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Women mourn for their relatives at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People stand on ruins of dwellings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Boys mourn for their relatives at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People are seen at a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People mourn the death of their relatives at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People are seen at a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People are seen at a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People mourn the death of their relatives at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 20, 2023. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) San Luis Obispo County could reap the benefits of several new pieces of housing legislation. A total of 56 new housing bills cleared California Gov. Gavin Newsom s desk over the past two months, with standouts targeting affordable housing, security deposits and housing for middle-class residents. Krista Jeffries, lead organizer of pro-housing group SLO County YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard), said some of these bills have a chance to strengthen and expand existing housing laws into San Luis Obispo County for the first time. The direction that the state is taking is primarily taking the laws that have been proven to work in a lot of the inland areas ... and applying them to more projects and more areas, Jeffries said. Here are four housing bills with the greatest chance to impact San Luis Obispo Countys tight housing market. The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors hope a new housing policy could raise $1 million per year for affordable developments leaders first step toward addressing a sizable funding gap for such projects. Denser housing could be on the horizon Jeffries said Assembly Bill 1287 is the new law shes most excited about. AB 1287 supports more housing for Californias so-called missing middle by making changes to the states density bonus laws. Those allow developers to exceed the number of housing units allowed by zoning laws as long as some of the units are affordable. AB 1287 permits developers to apply for a moderate-income density bonuses in cases in which the developer has already included the maximum allowable number of low- or very low-income units in the project. The new law changes the definition of maximum allowable residential density the metric used to calculate how many units can be added using a density bonus by defining it as the greatest number of units allowed under the zoning ordinance, specific plan, or land use element of the general plan. Previously, existing density bonus laws defined this metric as the density increase over the otherwise maximum allowable gross residential density. AB 1287 also requires local governments to grant additional bonuses when developers promise to make 24% of the total units affordable to lower income households, 15% of the total units affordable to very low-income households or 44% of the total units affordable to moderate-income households. Under the law, local governments must grant four incentives or concessions to projects that include at least 16% of the units for very low-income households or at least 45% for people and families of moderate income. Theres a significant problem with creating housing that the people who make too much to qualify for low-income housing, but dont make enough to cover market rents, Jeffries said. AB 1287 will encourage both market-rate and tax-credit developers to produce homes for these households who are otherwise doomed to ever-increasing commutes. Artist Krista Jeffries stands in front of the painting she did for the selfie wall on the back of the First Class Seconds building located at 141 N. 6th St. in Grover Beach, in January 2020. New law could bring affordable housing to SLO County Coastal Zone Senate Bill 423 is less of a new law than expansion to an existing law, Senate Bill 35. Passed in 2017, SB 35 provides a streamlined approval process for multifamily infill housing projects in jurisdictions that are not on track to meet their Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals. In an Aug. 3 analysis, the Terner Center estimated that 156 projects were approved between 2018 and 2021 using the law, comprising more than 18,000 new housing units. That report called the law the streamlining method of choice for affordable housing developers, and now, it can apply to more parts of San Luis Obispo County than before. SB 423 moves the 2026 sunset date that was would have invalidated SB 35 a decade down the line until 2036, and makes several adjustments to the original law. Most importantly for San Luis Obispo County, SB 423 removes language in the earlier law that prevented these streamlined approvals for affordable housing projects from applying to developments in the Coastal Zone. Many of San Luis Obispos populated areas along the coast fall within the Coastal Zone, which extends three miles into the ocean and a few hundred feet to five miles deep inland. According to San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building maps of the Coastal Zone, Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and Oceano all fall fully or partly within the Coastal Zone boundaries. SB 35 has been almost solely responsible for tens of thousands of new homes, most of which are low-income apartments, Jeffries said. Theres no reason it shouldnt apply in the Coastal Zone, where our hospitality workers need places to live. Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and Oceano all fall fully or partly within Coastal Zone boundaries in San Luis Obispo County. Law rezones land occupied by religious organizations, schools Jeffries said local YIMBY members were particularly excited about Senate Bill 4, also known as the Yes In Gods Back Yard law. Authored by California State Sen. Scott Weiner, SB 4 expands the amount of land available for affordable housing construction in California by re-zoning land occupied by religious organizations and nonprofit higher education for residential use. Under SB 4, religious institutions and nonprofits can build affordable housing on their land without going through rezoning and discretionary approval. With the exception of manager units, all homes built using SB 4 must be affordable, though 20% of the units may be for moderate-income households and 5% of the units may be for the staff of the independent institution of higher education or the religious institution that owns the land. It also ensures the California Environmental Quality Act, a stumbling point for many housing projects in California, cannot stop these affordable housing projects on religious and nonprofit college property, according to the bill. About 171,000 acres of land could become available for affordable housing development through SB 4, according to an analysis of the law by UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation. As churches see declines in attendance across the board, SB 4 opens up thousands of acres of parking lots and vacant land so that faith communities can live out part of their missions in a very practical way, Jeffries said. No more high security deposits? Another new law has the potential to help tenants across California, including San Luis Obispo County. Starting July 1, 2024, California landlords are prohibited from asking for security deposits worth more than one months rent under Assembly Bill 12. Previously, landlords were permitted to charge as much as two months rent for an unfurnished unit or three months rent for a furnished unit as a security deposit. A full list of all 56 housing laws signed by Gov. Newsom can be found at the Office of the Governor of the State of Californias website. Germany is allocating an additional 200 million euros ($210 million) for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the German Press Agency (DPA) reported on Oct. 21, citing Germany's State Secretary for Development Jochen Flasbarth. These funds will be used for the restoration of Ukraine's healthcare, education, drinking water supply, and for urban reconstruction, the German official said. He also stressed the importance of maintaining key economic sectors, such as agriculture, to ensure enough job opportunities for the population. Flasbarth arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 20, meeting Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov to discuss the cooperation of the two countries in reconstruction efforts. The two officials addressed the upcoming "Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, implementing more energy-efficient and green technologies when rebuilding Ukraine, and extending and strengthening joint work through the Multi-Donor Coordination Platform," Kubrakov said. The German Development Ministry said that it had allocated around $1 billion in civil support for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Read also: Ukrenergo: Germany to provide $80-million grant to protect critical infrastructure Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, announced during a visit to Kyiv on Friday, 20 October, that Germany will allocate an additional 200 million for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Source: DPA, as reported by European Pravda Details: Flasbarth, who is also the German Federal Governments Commissioner for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, said the funds will be used for education, healthcare, drinking water supply, and urban rebuilding projects. While in Kyiv, Flasbarth also stressed the importance of supporting key sectors of Ukraines economy, such as agriculture, "because people need prospects and jobs". All in all, Germany has allocated a total of about 1 billion to supporting Ukraines civilian population since the beginning of full-scale Russian aggression in February 2022. Heute Morgen Ankunft in Kyiv. Habe mich sehr uber das Wiedersehen mit meinem Vorganger Botschafter @MJaegerT gefreut. Unsere UMin @SteffiLemke ist auf dem Weg zur wichtigen internationalen Umweltkonferenz und bei mir stehen Gesprache zum Wiederaufbau der #Ukraine an. pic.twitter.com/h0ZeGIewDx Jochen Flasbarth (@JochenFlasbarth) October 20, 2023 Background: In April, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) announced it would invest an additional 111 million into Ukraine. Flasbarth said that in its efforts to restore Ukraines destroyed infrastructure, Germany will proceed from the premise that this infrastructure will eventually become a common European infrastructure. Support UP or become our patron! Explaining Nevada's dueling 2024 primary system and why it matters In February, Nevada Republican voters are expected to be able to choose from two entirely different ballots for the 2024 presidential nomination. On one -- for the caucus held by the Nevada Republican Party on Feb. 8 -- will be former President Donald Trump , Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman and commentator Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and pastor and entrepreneur Ryan Binkley. And on the other -- for the state-run primary on Feb. 6 -- will be former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Vice President Mike Pence, along with some long shot candidates. While Nevada voters can cast ballots in both the caucus and primary, the latter slate of hopefuls are competing for a symbolic victory. The 26 Nevada delegates that will help determine who wins the Republican nomination will be awarded only through the caucus, not the primary. MORE: Nevada primary moves expose intraparty strife, concerns of a Trump-friendly process The unprecedented parallel contests -- which some local experts worry could turn off voters, given all of the intricacies -- were the result of a conflict between the state GOP and a 2021 state law that mandated a primary must also be held. The crowded field of 2024 Republican candidates has divided between the two races. PHOTO: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, 2022. (Wade Vandervort/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) How did these competing contests come about? Nevada has long been a caucus state for both the Republican and Democratic parties, but the state law enacted two years ago mandated a primary if more than one candidate files -- as happened in the 2024 race. The Democratic Party has since adopted the primary for 2024, with President Joe Biden and author and speaker Marianne Williamson both filing to compete. But the Nevada Republican Party decided to hold a caucus anyway, declaring that the caucus would be the only way for candidates to win delegates regardless of the outcome of the required primary. (State Republicans also unsuccessfully sought to stop the primary entirely, but the courts allowed them to restrict delegates only to the separate caucus.) MORE: Calls mount for DeSantis to visit New Hampshire more amid wavering support The Nevada Republican Party leadership's push to continue with the caucus has been a hotly contested topic over the past few months, with critics of the move claiming that the caucus -- which includes in-person gatherings where voters publicly disclose their preferred candidate in tidy groups, versus traditional voting -- was championed by allies of Trump, who already has a deep network of vocal supporters and organizational power across Nevada. Others have dismissed the idea, contending that the caucus is a more transparent nominating process and that the former president has a strong hold on Nevada Republicans either way. Earlier this summer, when it became apparent that Nevada was inching toward dueling Republican nominating contests, the state GOP tried to direct candidates to the caucus ballot, penalizing those who chose to participate in the primary by making them ineligible to receive delegates. But to some Nevada Republicans' surprise, that didn't stop several major presidential candidates -- Haley, Scott and Pence -- from filing for the primary, effectively giving up on Nevada's delegates. All three of those hopefuls trail distantly in state polling, according to 538, compared with Trump's yawning lead. Come February, Nevada voters will be able to cast ballots in two separate contests for the Republican presidential nominating process, resulting in two separate winners, though only the winner of the caucus will get closer to being the 2024 nominee. "We're gonna continue our voter education program to let people know where caucuses are, where the delegates are assigned, so I think we'll be able to get the word out to everybody," Nevada Republican Party National Committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid said. PHOTO: Republican presidential hopeful and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 30, 2023, in Clive, Iowa. (Meg Kinnard/AP) Why some candidates opted out of Nevada's caucus and its delegates The filing fee to get on the ballot for the party-run caucus is $55,000, but candidates have the option of getting a reduced rate of $35,000 by doing a fundraiser with the Nevada Republican Party. The state GOP has told ABC News that all six of the candidates that filed for the caucus have opted to do a fundraiser for a reduced filing fee. Pence, who in his most recent campaign disclosure filing reported having just over $1 million in the bank entering October -- significantly lower than many of his 2024 rivals -- pointed to his campaign's limited resources when asked about his decision to file for the primary over the caucus. "But it's not about money. It's about votes," he said last week in New Hampshire. "And so we want people of Nevada to know that we look forward to carrying our message in Nevada, continuing to tell our story." MORE: Are there any signs of life for Trump's challengers in the latest fundraising numbers? Scott, asked about his choice of the primary over the caucus, said the primary gives more people the opportunity to see him. Scott denied that he's avoiding a direct contest with Trump in the caucus. "The bottom line is: You make the decision that you think gives the most people the most opportunities to take a look at each candidate and come to a conclusion," Scott said earlier this month in New Hampshire. Haley has not commented on her decision to forgo delegates by participating in the state-run primary. Her campaign did not immediately respond to questions. PHOTO: Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the second Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Sept. 27, 2023. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Nikki Haley nabs fundraiser from GOP donor who previously supported DeSantis: Sources DeGraffenreid, with the state party, told ABC News that the state party was in communication with most of the campaigns leading up to the filing deadline for the caucus and that he was "very surprised" about Haley's choice. "I felt like she was still planning to be competitive," DeGraffenreid said, adding, "Of the three of them, I think I was most surprised that she chose to forego delegates here." "It remains to be seen how voters will react to that," he continued. "Anybody that understands the process understands that delegates is the goal of every primary or caucus in the nation, so I certainly am perplexed as to why any serious candidate would file for a contest that doesn't allow them any delegates." Why this matters to Nevada voters and the 2024 race Some political experts said choosing to compete in the primary versus the caucus was a strategic decision for those candidates who saw a path to winning something valuable other than delegates, especially in light of Trump's continued popularity with the base. "If I'm running for president and I'm trailing in the polls, and my thought is, I might not even pull enough votes to get a delegate anyway, why spend that $55,000?" Jill Douglas, a Nevada Republican Party Central Committee member, told ABC News. "But I could participate in the primary and garner some national momentum from being able to say, 'Well, I won the primary in Nevada.'" Some others argue that candidates who skipping the caucus risk leaving a bad impression on Nevada voters who may expect more attention given their early spot in the 2024 nominating calendar. "For the longest time, Nevada didn't matter because by the time candidates got around to Nevada, pretty much all the delegates had already been decided," Washoe County Republican Party Chairman Bruce Parks told ABC News. "But now we're the first in the West," he said. PHOTO: Former President and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at a Republican volunteer recruitment event at Fervent, a Calvary Chapel, in Las Vegas, July 8, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Nonetheless, so far this year, Trump, DeSantis and Ramaswamy are the only GOP candidates that have visited Nevada. "Is that because they feel like Trump has such a lead that it doesn't make sense to spend the money? Do they feel like the nature of the caucus isn't helpful to their campaign?" wondered Douglas, a member of the state party. "In a normal presidential year, we'd have candidates coming into town and a lot of excitement about people just getting out to see presidential candidates, and that hasn't happened." MORE: DeSantis and Scott sound off on Israel, and more campaign trail tidbits Jesus Marquez, a former leader of Latinos for Trump and now a political consultant in Nevada, said the current lack of campaign activities in the state is understandable given that Iowa and New Hampshire, which vote before Nevada, continue to attract much more candidate and media attention. Later this month, the Republican Jewish Coalition is hosting its annual summit featuring Trump, DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, Pence, Christie, Scott and Burgum in Las Vegas, expected to be the first opportunity for many Republican voters in Nevada to see the candidates. "I anticipate that in the coming months, we will start seeing more and more candidates," Marquez said. ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Libby Cathey and Isabella Murray contributed to this report. Explaining Nevada's dueling 2024 primary system and why it matters originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Google will have to pay over $1 million to an executive who alleged the company discriminated against her based on her gender and later retaliated when she spoke up about it. Ulku Rowe, a Google Cloud engineering director, accused the company of hiring her at a lower level, lower paid position than men with less experience who were hired for similar roles at the same time, according to Bloomberg Law. She also claimed she was passed over for a promotion in favor of a less qualified male colleague. A New York jury on Friday decided that Google did commit gender-based discrimination, and now owes Rowe a combined $1.15 million for punitive damages and the pain and suffering it caused. But, according to Bloomberg Law, it also determined that Rowe did not prove Google violated the New York equal pay law. Rowe had 23 years of experience when she started at Google in 2017, and the lawsuit claims she was lowballed at hiring to place her at a level that paid significantly less than what men were being offered. This unanimous verdict not only validates Ms. Rowe's allegations of mistreatment by Google, but it also sends a resounding message that discrimination and retaliation will not be tolerated in the workplace, said Rowe's lead attorney, Cara Greene, in a statement provided to Engadget. It comes nearly five years after some 20,000 Google employees organized a walkout to demand changes around the companys handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination. While the company pledged to do better on sexual harassment, its response still left a lot to be desired on the topics of bias. According to Bloomberg Law, the Rowe lawsuit is the first such case Google has faced since the protests. Greene called the jury's decision historic, and credited the 2018 demonstrations for making it possible. In a statement, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said that fairness is absolutely critical to us and we strongly believe in the equity of our leveling and compensation processes. Mencini said the jury's finding that Google didn't violate New York law supports this, but went on to dispute its decision that Google did discriminate against Rowe. We disagree with the jurys finding that Ms. Rowe was discriminated against on account of her gender or that she was retaliated against for raising concerns about her pay, level, and gender, Mencini said. We prohibit retaliation in the workplace and publicly share our very clear policy. We take employee concerns seriously, and we thoroughly investigated Ms. Rowes concerns when she raised them and found there was no discrimination or retaliation. Update, October 22 2023, 9:57AM ET: This story was updated to include a statement from Google and clarify that the jury found Rowe did not prove the company violated New York's equal pay laws. Update, October 22 2023, 2:45PM ET: This story was updated to include a statement from Rowe's attorney. It's never easy to get everyone looking just right when taking a group photograph The camera never lies. Except, of course, it does - and seemingly more often with each passing day. In the age of the smartphone, digital edits on the fly to improve photos have become commonplace, from boosting colours to tweaking light levels. Now, a new breed of smartphone tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are adding to the debate about what it means to photograph reality. Google's latest smartphones released last week, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, go a step further than devices from other companies. They are using AI to help alter people's expressions in photographs. It's an experience we've all had: one person in a group shot looks away from the camera or fails to smile. Google's phones can now look through your photos to mix and match from past expressions, using machine learning to put a smile from a different photo of them into the picture. Google calls it Best Take. The devices also let users erase, move and resize unwanted elements in a photo - from people to buildings - "filling in" the space left behind with what's called Magic Editor. This uses what's known as deep learning, effectively an artificial intelligence algorithm working out what textures should fill the gap by analysing the surrounding pixels it can see, using knowledge it has gleaned from millions of other photos. It doesn't have to be pictures taken on the device. Using the Pixel 8 Pro you can apply the so-called Magic Editor or Best Take to any pictures in your Google Photos library. 'Icky and creepy' For some observers this raises fresh questions about how we take photographs. Google's new AI technology has been described variously by tech commentators and reviewers as potentially "icky" (The Verge), "creepy" (Tech Radar) and having the potential to "pose serious threats to people's (already fragile) trust of online content" (Cnet). Andrew Pearsall, a professional photographer, and senior lecturer in Journalism at the University of South Wales, agreed that AI manipulation held dangers. "One simple manipulation, even for aesthetic reasons, can lead us down a dark path," he said. He said the risks were greater for those who used AI in professional contexts but there were implications to for everyone to consider. "You've got to be very careful about 'When do you step over the line?'. "It's quite worrying now you can take a picture and remove something instantly on your phone. I think we are moving into this realm of a kind of fake world." Speaking to the BBC, Google's Isaac Reynolds, who leads the team developing the camera systems on the firm's smartphones, said the company takes the ethical consideration of its consumer technology seriously. He was quick to point out that features like Best Take were not "faking" anything. This photograph has been edited using Googles AI Magic Editor to shift the position and size of the people in the foreground Camera quality and software are key to the company competing with Samsung, Apple and others - and these AI features are seen as a unique selling point. And all of the reviewers who raised concerns about the tech praised the quality of the camera system's photos. "You can finally get that shot where everyone's how you want them to look- and that's something you have not been able to do on any smartphone camera, or on any camera, period," Reynolds said. "If there was a version [of the photo you've taken] where that person was smiling, it will show it to you. But if there was no version where they smiled, yeah, you won't see that," he explained. For Mr Reynolds, the final image becomes a "representation of a moment". In other words, that specific moment may not have happened but it's the picture you wanted to happen created from multiple real moments. 'People don't want reality' Professor Rafal Mantiuk, an expert in graphics and displays at the University of Cambridge, said it was important to remember that the use of AI in smartphones was not to make the photographs look like real life. "People don't want to capture reality," he said. "They want to capture beautiful images. The whole image processing pipeline in smartphones is meant to produce good-looking images - not real ones." The physical limitations of smartphones mean they rely on machine learning to "fill in" information that doesn't exist in the photo. This helps improve zoom, improve low light photographs, and - in the case of Google's Magic Editor feature - add elements to photographs that were either never there or swapping in elements from other photos, such as replacing a frown with a smile. Manipulation of photographs is not new - it's as old as the art form itself. But never has it been easier to augment the real thanks to artificial intelligence. Earlier this year Samsung came in for criticism for the way it used deep learning algorithms to improve the quality of photos taken of the Moon with its smartphones. Tests found it didn't matter how poor an image you took to begin with, it always gave you a useable image. In other words - your Moon photo was not necessarily a photo of the Moon you were looking at. The company acknowledged the criticism, saying it was working to "reduce any potential confusion that may occur between the act of taking a picture of the real Moon and an image of the Moon". On Google's new tech, Reynolds says the company adds metadata to its photos - the digital footprint of an image - using an industry standard to flag when AI is used. "It is a question that we talk about internally. And we've talked at length. Because we've been working on these things for years. It's a conversation, and we listen to what our users are saying," he says. Google is clearly confident users will agree - the AI features of its new phones are at the heart of its advertising campaign. So, is there a line Google would not cross when it comes to image manipulation? Mr Reynolds said the debate about the use of artificial intelligence was too nuanced to simply point to a line in the sand and say it was too far. "As you get deeper into building features, you start to realise that a line is sort of an oversimplification of what ends up being a very tricky feature-by-feature decision," he says. Even as these new technologies raise ethical considerations about what is and what isn't reality, Professor Mantiuk said we must also consider the limitations of our own eyes. He said: "The fact that we see sharp colourful images is because our brain can reconstruct information and infer even missing information. "So, you may complain cameras do 'fake stuff', but the human brain actually does the same thing in a different way." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drilled Joe Biden and looked to put space between the presidents woke agenda and his own brand of hard line conservatism that needs to occupy the White House over the next generation. He is the second GOP presidential nominee to host a public appearance in the region this year. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley held a rally at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in March. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C., sat down with Fox News pundit Sean Hannity on June 20 for a network town hall, though the event was closed to media. GOP presidential candidates who have yet to visit the Grand Strand during the 2024 election cycle include: Doug Bugrum, North Dakota governor Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor Larry Elder, conservative talk show host Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas governor Mike Pence , former vice president Vivek Ramaswamy, tech entrepreneur Donald Trump , former president In 2020, Horry County delivered 120,000 Republican votes for Trump, second only to Greenville County. Horry County is a powerful voting bloc that most GOP candidates are not going to ignore. The math alone makes it a compelling place to campaign, Horry County Republican Party chairman Reese Boyd said. Campaigning in Myrtle Beach Oct. 20 during a swing across South Carolina to roll out his veterans coalition, the 45-year-old GOP presidential hopeful backed efforts by a local Moms for Liberty chapter to ban materials in Horry Countys public schools they deem to be sexually explicit. Parents have a right to know the curriculum thats being used in their kids schools, DeSantis said during a nearly hour-long speech. You can get whatever book you want. Heck, you can go and view Hunter Bidens laptop, I dont care. But dont bring it into the classroom with these young kids. The governors appearance in South Carolinas fastest growing county comes as its Republican Party recovers from months of infighting over who actually is running it. In April, Boyd was tapped to chair the party at a convention that featured a cameo by Donald Trump. Boyd was in attendance for DeSantis appearance, and he expects other potential top ticket Republicans to court Horry County voters. Mike Pence already planned an event here once, but had to cancel at the last minute due to the birth of a grandchild on that day; former Gov. Nikki Haley has been here and Gov. DeSantis visited with us today. I am hopeful that before the campaign is done well see all the major candidates come to Horry County, Boyd said. Although DeSantis didnt directly reference the local partys tumultuous year, he pointed to the U.S. Houses inability to pick a speaker as an example of why a strong Republican president is necessary. Its just like the gang that cant shoot straight. Theyre running around like chickens with their heads cut off, DeSantis said. And its kind of a synopsis of whats wrong with Washington. The sense that its all about drama. Its all about the theater of politics. DeSantis several times pulled from Donald Trumps playbook to attack journalists and lampoon Bidens physical fitness to an overwhelmingly white crowd of more than 200 at Ground Zero, a downtown Christian youth organization. Political tracking site FiveThirtyEight.com shows DeSantis lagging in South Carolina among likely GOP presidential contenders. As of Oct. 18, DeSantis was polling at 12.7% ahead of Scott but trailing Haley. Trump remains the favorite among Republican voters statewide, sitting at 46.6%. DeSantis also vowed to authorize lethal force against people with known ties to drug cartels, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border. We cant succeed as a country if every area is a crime-ridden hellhole, DeSantis said. He spent an earlier part of Oct. 20 meeting with hundreds at a Murrells Inlet VFW. Alyssa Bradley, a spokeswoman for the S.C. Democratic Party, said DeSantis has a record of hampering access to healthcare for veterans, including his refusal to expand Medicaid in his home state. DeSantis has spent his political career opposing support for veterans voting against federal funding for the VA, blocking affordable health care for Florida veterans, and putting MAGA culture wars above national security. South Carolina veterans see right through DeSantis for the failure he truly is, Bradley said. He departed the Oct. 20 event without fielding questions from reporters. A campaign staffer said he was behind schedule to make a flight. Wearing a Ron DeSantis T-shirt and ball cap, Joe Testa of Myrtle Beach said the governors focus on deregulation and border security made him the best choice for president among a crowded Republican field. Everything he stands for, the United States needs something like that now, Testa said. Hell win if he keeps standing behind saying what hes going to do. Vasily Golubev, Governor of Russias Rostov Oblast, has said that an "air target" was intercepted in Rostov Oblast on the afternoon of Saturday, 21 October, adding that Russian air defence later shot down targets outside of the oblast. Source: TASS, a Russian news outlet, citing Vasily Golubev Details: Golubev first said that Russian air defence shot down a target in Rostov Oblast. He later claimed that air defence systems were activated again, striking targets outside of the oblast. Golubev called on the residents of Rostov Oblast to remain calm. Support UP or become our patron! Martin Scorseses long-awaited new picture, Killers of the Flower Moon, is finally out in cinemas. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as World War One veteran Ernest Burkhart alongside Native American actor Lily Gladstone , whose performance has been singled out by critics, as his wife, Mollie Kyle. Robert De Niro plays Burkharts uncle, William K Hale. The Western true-crime thriller is an adaption of David Grann s 2017 non-fiction book of the same name, which documented the murders that plagued the Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s after oil was found on their land. The case was deemed the FBIs first homicide investigation. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Scorsese admitted to overhauling the script for the film after realising he was making a movie about all the white guys. DiCaprio was originally set to play FBI agent Tom White, who investigated the murders; however, the role was recast (given to Jesse Plemons) after the pair realised that Burkhart and Kyles relationship should be the core of the movie. The movies faithful to the history, Grann told The Independent in a new interview. Scorsese did a masterful job. I could not be happier with the way this all worked out. (From left) Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+) The Osage Indian murders In 1897, oil was discovered on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. At the time, each tribal member had been granted 657 acres of land, what would come to be called a headright, and profited enormously from royalties in oil production, becoming some of the richest people in America. As Grann wrote, In 1923 alone, the tribe took in more than thirty million dollars, the equivalent today of more than four hundred million dollars. The Osage were considered the wealthiest people per capita in the world. Lo and behold! the New York Weekly Outlook exclaimed. The Indian, instead of starving to death enjoys a steady income that turns bankers green with envy. In 1906, a bill was passed that directed the inheritance of headrights to the deceaseds legal heir, even if they were not Osage. As a result, many white opportunists such as Burkhart arrived in what is modern-day Osage County seeking to ingratiate themselves in Osage families and separate them from their wealth. Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+) In the early 1920s, 18 Osage were reported murdered within a short period of time, sparking what is now known by the tribe as the Reign of Terror. By 1925, at least 60 affluent Osage had died and their land had been inherited or deeded to their guardians, who were predominantly local white lawyers and businessmen. Hale and Burkhart were arrested in January 1926 for the murders of Rita Smith, Bill Smith and Nellie White. Ernest ended up confessing to his role in the crimes and identified Hale as the mastermind of the plot. They were both sentenced to life imprisonment, but later received parole despite protests from the Osage. Lily Gladstone and Martin Scorsese (Apple TV+) To prevent more deaths, Congress passed a law in 1925 prohibiting non-Osage from inheriting headrights from Osage who had half or more Native American ancestry. The majority of homicides involving Osage individuals in the early 1920s remained unresolved. In a five-star review in The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey wrote: Killers of the Flower Moon, despite the weighty presence of DiCaprio and De Niro, is ultimately framed around the perspective of the Osage Nation, who worked extensively on the production as consultants, craftsmen and actors (Gladstone herself, to clarify, is not Osage but of Blackfeet and Nimiipuu heritage). [...] In this quietly apocalyptic retelling of history, white Americas destruction will not end at its own borders eventually, it will consume itself, too. Killers of the Flower Moon is in cinemas now, with a release on Apple TV+ to follow. Elected officials in Charlottesville, the Virginia city that was the scene of the infamous Unite the Right rally in 2017, have decided to suspend virtual public comments during City Council meetings. The decision comes after white supremacists and anti-Semites crashed the Zoom stream used for the public meeting and called for a race war. Now, if anyone wants to voice a concern or opinion during such meetings, they will have to attend in person. Charlottesville City Hall (Photo: Facebook/ City of Charlottesville) Mayor Lloyd Snook said that officials struggled to come up with constitutionally viable solutions to stop the offensive commentary, including some remarks espousing conspiracy theories. However, unanimously the council voted 4-0 (with one member, Leah Puryear, being absent) to mute the remote comment options. Trending Today: We struggled for a while in trying to figure out what we could constitutionally do and concluded there was not really a good answer, Snook said to the Daily Progress. The issue at the core of their discussion was whether suspending remote users ability to comment virtually violates anyones First Amendment speech rights. Do we listen to everybody as theyre ranting, knowing that if they were there in person, they probably wouldnt do it but feel free to do it anonymously online, while still having a distinct impact on the people listening? Snook added. Council member Brian Pinkston said he and his colleagues made a judgment call that considered what was best for the care of the community, blocking language in the public square that could be deeply hurtful. The gross insult to community members was unacceptable, even under the broadest interpretation of the First Amendment, City attorney Jacob StromanStroman told Snook. The elected official noted that while the council wanted to show it clearly values the publics input and their desire to participate remotely, it had a responsibility to safeguard the community from behavior that is not only offensive but harms other attendees. The decision was prompted by an incident at a Monday, Oct. 2, council meeting when white supremacists disrupted the public meeting by celebrating Adolf Hitler, using racist slurs, and advocating for genocide while hiding themselves on Zoom by using fake names and profile pictures. One of the voices with the vile commentary asserted that his constitutional right to freedom of speech was being challenged. The city attorney Jacob Stroman stepped in and said that their comments were a gross insult to those gathered and were unacceptable even under the broadest interpretation of the First Amendment. Charlottesville made headlines six years ago an epicenter of racial tension. In August 2017, white nationalists stormed the citys streets with the intention to terrorize people by walking on a college campus with flaming tiki torches and chanting white nationalist slogans. The demonstrators included neo-Nazis, alt-right, and white supremacists, who all marched on the campus of the University of Virginia and chanted things like Jews will not replace us, You will not replace us and Blood and soil, a phrase used by Nazis. The rally had been organized in response to city officials announcing plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a city park. There are so many people in our community who were there on August 11 who were terrorized by torch-wielding terrorists, said James Hingeley, the commonwealth attorney for Albemarle County, according to CNN, Theres a law, a burning objects law, that says they can be prosecuted but our prosecutors not doing that. 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. In April 2023, three people were indicted on charges of burning an object with the intent to intimidate, and one person was charged with the malicious release of a chemical irritant such as tear gas on that day. The rally was followed the next day by the Unite the Right rally in the citys downtown area. During a counter-protest against the gathering of white nationalist and right-wing groups, a car drove into the crowd, killing Heather Heyer, one of the counter-protestors. Additionally, 19 other individuals sustained injuries as driver James Alex Fields Jr. plowing into the crowd. The Ohio man subsequently pleaded guilty to murder and federal hate crime charges. Read the original story here. Tal and Zak have no idea how long theyll be deployed in what the Israelis call the Gaza envelope, the area in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas terrorists two weeks ago. It could be weeks, it could be months, they said. Its the same for everyone. No one knows, Zak told CNN at a military camp not far from the Gaza border. The two young soldiers, whose surnames CNN isnt revealing for security reasons, serve in an artillery unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that was moved into the area after Hamas militants killed 1,400 people and kidnapped about 200 on October 7. Their unit is part of a massive buildup of Israeli troops and military material on the Gaza border. On top of its regular force, the IDF has also called up 300,000 reservists who reported to their bases within hours. Across Israel, highways in the vicinity of major bases are lined with thousands and thousands of cars, abandoned by reservists rushing to take up arms. A ground incursion by Israel into Gaza now seems inevitable. On Thursday, the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, told troops gathered near the border that they would soon see the enclave from the inside and said Gaza will never be the same. He later pledged that the expected incursion will be the last manoeuvring inside Gaza due to the simple reason that Hamas will cease to exist. It might take a month, two but eventually there will be no Hamas. But what that operation might look like remains unknown. The IDF could launch a full-scale invasion, or conduct more precise incursions aimed at recovering the hostages and targeting Hamas operatives. The hostage situation could complicate any potential incursion into Gaza. According to two sources briefed on the discussions, the United States has pressed Israel to delay its invasion to allow for the release of more hostages. The release on Friday of two Americans held by Hamas signaled the possibility of freeing more hostages, but Israel has not indicated it is considering a ceasefire. What will happen after that is an even bigger question. While the Israeli leadership speaks about the need to get rid of Hamas, the plan for the future of Gaza and its more than 2 million people people remains unknown. There is a consensus that any other option than to totally eliminate Hamas would be terrible, not just for Israel, but for the entire area, and then even globally, said Harel Chorev, senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at the Tel Aviv University. What it means is basically to destroy the infrastructure there, the city under the city what we call the Gaza City Metro, Chorev told CNN, referring to the vast labyrinth of tunnels used to transport people and goods, store rockets and ammunition and house Hamas command and control centers. It means breaking their backbone through any measure, and, of course, destroying the leadership, in Gaza and elsewhere, he added. An Israeli Merkava tank drives past a fence near Kibbutz Beeri, close to the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023. - Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images But Hasan Alhasan, a research fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the plan to annihilate Hamas could be dangerous and complicated and may have unforeseen consequences. Because Hamas is deeply rooted and embedded within Gaza, its society and geography, in order to defeat them, Israel would have to carry out permanent topographic and demographic change of the Gaza Strip and that has already been happening, he told CNN. Humanitarian disaster The IDF has told all civilians in north Gaza to evacuate to the south as it continues pounding the enclave with airstrikes. That order has created a humanitarian disaster of epic proportions. The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Saturday that about 1.4 million people had been displaced in Gaza more than 60% of the entire strips population. Gaza has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt for years, but after the Hamas attack, Israel also cut off its electricity, food, water and fuel supplies. Israel said it restored water supply on October 15, but without electricity to run pumping station, water authorities in Gaza say they cannot even tell if water has been restored, let alone pump it. The concern, within Egypt especially, is that Israels strategy of making the humanitarian situation very difficult in Gaza is ultimately meant to force a mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza into the Egyptian Sinai, Alhasan said, adding that Egypt has the backing of all of the Arab states in that it would not allow this. The Jordanians are also concerned that if we see a mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, that this would create a precedent and that Israels right wing government would attempt to solve the Palestinian issue once and for all by expelling them en masse from Gaza into Egypt and from the West Bank into Jordan, he added. Israel has so far maintained it is waging a war on Hamas, not the civilians of Gaza. But a spokesman for the IDF told CNN on Saturday that while they try to avoid civilian casualties, they are inevitable in urban warfare. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told CNNs Lynda Kinkade with the prospect of ground operation, the IDF remained focused on defeating Hamas. It is our role to make sure Hamas can never hold the power of government, of terrorism, that they did, he said. A formation of Israeli tanks and other military is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 20, 2023. - Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters The most just war The huge military buildup around the Gaza Strip border is clearly visible as is the high morale among the troops. Just down the road from the camp where Tal and Zak are staying, volunteers from across Israel have set up a makeshift pit stop for the soldiers passing by, serving food and handing out soft drinks, religious items, cigarettes and most importantly, according to some of the soldiers good coffee. Rabbi Yitzhak, a military rabbi, has been traveling around the Gaza border, visiting troops and offering his encouragement. I am here to make the soldiers stronger, so they can focus on their job as time goes by, they can get tired, I want to make sure they know we love them and appreciate them. They are nervous, but they are strong, he said, adding that his main purpose is to boost the soldiers morale so that they can finish the job. Not that he needs to do much. The brutality of the terror attack by Hamas has shaken Israel to its core and the large number of its victims has made it personal to most. I dont think theres one person in this country who doesnt know someone who was killed, Tal, the artillery unit soldier, told CNN. One young reservist, who was called back just a year after finishing his compulsory military service, said the war Israel was waging on Hamas was the most just war one can imagine. There is nothing more just than this they murdered innocent civilians. Thats why we are here, he said, asking for his name to remain private as he is not officially allowed to speak to media. He and the other young men he served with have been reunited near the Gaza border, training for whats to come next whatever that may be. We are ready, but we hope it will end soon, he added. Rabbi Yitzhak, a military rabbi, has visited troops and offering his encouragement. - Ivana Kottasova/CNN Tight grip What is clear is that for people in Gaza, it will not end soon. What happens to them after the operation ends is anyones guess. Most Israeli politicians have remained vague on their plans for the enclave, hinting it could look more like the West Bank in the future. Hamas, an Islamist organization with a military wing, has been in control of Gaza since it won a landslide victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections the last vote to be held in Gaza and then violently expelled Fatah, the faction that makes up the backbone of the Palestinian Authority, in 2007. Unlike some other Palestinian factions, Hamas refuses to engage with Israel. It is also in a political war with the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank and engages in security coordination and talks with Israel. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel, but it also runs religious and social welfare programs in Gaza, which is partially how it maintains a tight grip on the population. So if Israel succeeds in removing Hamas, it will need to replace the group with an alternative government. Avi Dichter, a former head of the Israeli Security agency, or Shin Bet, and the current minister of agriculture, said that what Israel wants to achieve in Gaza is the same level of security control it currently has in the West Bank, where it maintains complete access on its own terms. Today, whenever we have a military problem in every single place in the West Bank. We are there, Dichter told CNN. Remember in Gaza there is no administration, it has to be built - another administration, Dichter said. Harel Chorev, the Middle East expert, told CNN that the only way to rebuild Gaza is by implementing a long-term plan, something like the Marshal Plan that helped rebuild the economy in post-war Europe with the goal of containing the spread of Communism. It will be a post-Second World War like situation in the Gaza Strip in terms of destruction, so it will need to be taken care of, he said. He said he believed there would be international cooperation on the rebuilding of Gaza, because international aid worth tens of millions of dollars has been flowing into the enclave for years but much of it has been misused by Hamas, he said. You have to understand how much damage is inflicted on all of the Palestinians by Hamas. I was talking to a Palestinian Authority official and their message is clear: destroy them, destroy them, this time, Israel must destroy Hamas, otherwise were done, he said. Of course, publicly, they condemn Israel, he added. The Palestinian Authority is controlled by Fatah, Hamas political rival. A makeshift food fair has been created by volunteers from across Israel for soldiers deployed in the area. - Ivana Kottasova/CNN However, Alhasan said securing international help could be difficult if Israel proceeds with its plan to invade Gaza. I think it would be very difficult to secure cooperation from the Arab states on the post-Israeli incursion-scenario, because they werent on board with it from the get go I think it will hinge on whether Israel goes for a total annexation of Gaza, or whether it opts for for something else, he said. He said the biggest risk is that Israels heavy-handed approach which could lead to a high number of civilian casualties will only lead to Hamas being replaced by another extremist group. This is what militant groups do. They provoke an overreaction, and that overreaction helps further radicalization, and essentially allows them to continue recruiting people to continue to receive support because the further down we go the path of violence, the more it seems that the only answer is violence, he said. The IDF campaign has so far left more than 4,000 people in Gaza dead. I think this is why the mass expulsion scenario becomes suddenly not inconceivable in Israel, if the objective is to eliminate Hamas, but also to prevent Hamas from regenerating or some other potentially even more radical group from emerging, Alhasan added. But Chorev said an international effort to rebuild Gaza economically could break this cycle of violence. If all that international money that was invested into the (Hamas) projects could go to education, to welfare, to industry you know, there are great people there (in Gaza) and the prospects would be better, he said. As they help their unit fire more missiles towards Gaza, with the goal of taking out Hamas targets one by one, Tal and Zak are not thinking about the future, not beyond the next day or so. In fact, Zak told CNN, they try not to think much at all. We try hard not to have off times. Because if you dont do anything, your mind goes to places you dont want to be. All of the friends weve lost, the family, many of us lost their close relatives and friends, some even their boyfriends and girlfriends, he said. CNNs Adi Kopelwitz, Nic Robertson, Muhammad Darwish and Mike Whelan contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In the summer of 2015, the UN Department of Safety and Security reassigned me from Mogadiscio to the Palestinian Territories, Occupied. Back then, United Nations reassignment letters adhered to the International Civil Service Commissions Editorial Manual, hence the outdated spelling and reference to long-ignored resolutions of international law. Id done well in Mogadishu, Somalia, and this was an intimidatingly bigger job that included security oversight for East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, as well as the organizations oldest peacekeeping missionthe UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). Mogadishu had been my second non-family postingUN parlance for an assignment where spouse and dependents cannot join you at the duty stationand both were great for my career, but not so much for my marriage. After three years of ferrying between Somalia and Kenya (four weeks in, one week out), my wife Iryna and I looked forward to a more stable family situation in Jerusalem. Every Option for Israel in Gaza Is Bad We found an apartment in the citys North Talpiot neighborhood, within walking distance of UNTSO headquarters. The apartments modern facade did little to mask the shoddy workmanship (from loose doorknobs to bizarrely inaccessible light switches) of a building thrown up in a hurry. But you couldnt beat the location. Sandwiched between Israeli and Palestinian neighborhoods on Haas Promenade and close enough to the Old City to witness firsthand how Jerusalems terrestrial realities jar with her celestial mystique. Revered by the three Abrahamic faiths, the capital of two warring tribes, and a singular archeological curiosity without one uncontested stone, its hard not to wax poetic about a neighborhood that somehow exists in both heaven and earth. On a clear day, the view from our apartment stretched from Al Aqsas golden domes all the way to Jordaneerie in its brilliance. After a few weeks, our Kenyan mutt Sunny joined us in Jerusalem, and we began dragging our ten-year-old daughter and four-year-old son on long walks along the promenade. Despite the name, Haas Promenade is one place that neither side can completely claim. A park where we were just as likely to encounter a Palestinian family picnicking, as an Israeli youth group hosting a field day. Either way, Sunnywith her Rottweilers build and Labradors dispositionlapped up attention from the kids, and I earned grins with enthusiastically butchered greetings in Hebrew and Arabic. Israels War Isnt Against HamasIts on the Palestinian People But the same faces that smiled in our direction scorned each other as if national injuries had been inflicted yesterday. Our expatriate bubble may have shielded us from the citys injustice, but it didnt obscure it. During our 15 months in Jerusalem, the muezzins call melded into the background of our days, while the hiss of teargas canisters foregrounded the worst nights. That autumn, we witnessed many bad nights. Id expected some. My Palestinian national stafftrained to forecast clashes like inclement weatherwarned me that the period of the Jewish autumn holidays was consistently tense. Still, the spate of stabbings of Israeli cops and settlers in the autumn of 2015dubbed the Knife Intifada by the Facebook generationtook everyone by surprise. Characterized by their uncoordinated nature, the latter half of 2015 saw on average three such lone wolf attacks per daymostly carried out by young Palestinian men unaffiliated with any political or religious faction. MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images Occasionally during this ten-month blip in the decades-long occupation, one of the attackers would fatally slash a cop or settler in an inspired first swipe. Then, the Palestinian got shot. Around the office, my staff took to calling the attacks suicide stabbings. In preparation for my weekly briefings to the UN Security Management Team, I poured over reports detailing the attacks and grilled my staff for details. I began to recognize the type behind the stabbings. The type who could explain the precise combination of fuel, saltpeter, and machine oil for the best Molotov cocktail; the type who knew the inside of room #4 in the Russian Compounda prison dating back to the British Mandate, now used for harsh interrogation of Palestinians by Israeli forcesbetter than their school library; the type whose hearts had no more room for fear and so led lives of near-death experiences: stoning armored personnel carriers, fucking, and smoking hash on the weekends. The type of Palestinian boys that tended not to live long. Most of the stabbings remained allegedthe Israeli government rarely released CCTV footage of the eventsbut a Palestinian always ended up getting shot, often under circumstances that amounted to summary executions. The increased Israeli security force patrols through Haas Promenade did not make me feel safer. Just after Sukkot, my sister-in-law came to visit. On the evening of Natashas arrival, we took her for a stroll on the rain dampened promenade. A fireteam of Israeli Border Guards in full battle rattle approached us on the lawn and Sunnywho, by this time, considered the promenade her backyardreacted aggressively. The lead cop stutter-stepped and slipped onto the grass. His buddies laughed. From his ass, the cop lifted his rifle and addressed me in English. Ill shoot your dog. Calm down, son. Sunny sat next to my foot, the ruddy streak between her ears raised. Thenmy daughter burst into tears, and the cop lowered his weapon. He was a good-looking young man, with thick, dark hair and brooding eyes that reflected real shame when they met mine. He was tired, frustrated, and might have lost friends to the attacks that held little more than academic interest for me. Nonviolence Is the Missing Path to Israeli-Palestinian Peace Lately, Ive found myself thinking of that young man quite a bit. I imagine thousands like himvengeful, tired, and afraidentering Gaza City. A densely populated open-air prison where the house-to-house fighting will resemble the worst of Fallujah and Hue City, only exacerbated by an elaborate network of tunnels. The sort of fighting where troops spread out in pockets, often without officer or non-commissioned officer supervision. Situations where only the thinnest threads of humanity restrain young men from horror. For troops seeking revenge, civilians replace the enemy. I wont pretend to be unbiased, but endeavor to be clear: a ground invasion of Gaza does not make the state of Israel more secure. Very much the opposite. When a powerful community subjugates a powerless one, terrible things are revealed. 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. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she thinks Hamas releasing two hostages Friday means the group is trying to earn favor with the United States and warned the Biden administration to be smart and not weaken its response. First Ill say, two prayers have been answered and weve got 200 more to go, Haley said on Fox News. The second thing Ill say to the Biden administration is dont fall for it. President Biden said Friday that the U.S. has secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its attack against Israel on Oct. 7. Biden said Qatar and Israel secured the release of the Americans, named by the Israeli government as Judith Raanan and her 18-year-old daughter Natalie Raanan. This is what they do, said Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Theyre trying to earn favor with the United States. Top Stories from The Hill She added that Hamas is likely fearful of a ground attack from Israel, and Iran is worried that Hamas could lose the war. And so what theyre doing is theyre going to throw two hostages out there for one, to see if they can weaken us to keep Israel from going into Gaza and two, because they want to see if they can get something out of it, Haley said. Haley warned Biden that this is a crucial time: This is a time to be smart. Dont let this weaken us, she said. Weve got 200 more hostages in there and dont forget what happened on Oct. 7. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the first two weeks of the conflict in the Middle East, officials said, which began when Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes have killed nearly 3,800 Palestinians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia sought by Riyadh, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. Biden suggested Saudi wanted to recognize Israel in the comments he made at a campaign fundraiser. Saudi Arabia, a Middle East powerhouse and home to Islam's two holiest shrines, gave its blessing to Gulf neighbors United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing relations with Israel in 2020 under the previous U.S. administration of Donald Trump . Riyadh has not followed suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first. "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said. "Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel." The potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states was a top priority for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his June trip to Riyadh, although he acknowledged no progress should be expected imminently. Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8 that "it wouldnt be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." Biden told CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time." Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing more than 4,000 people, and has said it will act to free hostages taken by Hamas militants while wiping out the group. (Reporting by Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas; editing by Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.) Residents of Tel Aviv show solidarity with the families of hostages and missing people JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel on Saturday described as "propaganda" a claim by Hamas that the militant group had wanted to release two more hostages on humanitarian grounds but that Israel declined to receive them. Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, said it informed Qatar of the group's intention to release the two additional people on Friday, the same day it freed Americans Judith Tai Ranaan and her daughter Natalie. In a later statement, Abu Ubaida said Hamas was ready to free the two people on Sunday "using the same procedures" involved in the release of Judith and Natalie. The Palestinian group captured around 210 people during its deadly assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Qatar, which helped mediate Friday's release, had no immediate comment. In a brief statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: "We will not refer to false propaganda by Hamas." The statement added: "We will continue to act in every way to return all the kidnapped and missing people home." (Reporting by Emily Rose, Hatem Maher in Dubai and Andrew Mills in Doha; Editing by Alison Williams and Daniel Wallis) The crime struck a chord of hate throughout the nation. And the ensuing play about it has been trying to help America understand its consequences for nearly two and a half decades. On the month of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard 's brutal beating and death in Laramie, Wyoming, lawyers, prosecutors and theatre groups across the nation are aiming to minimize hate against the LGBTQ+ community by hosting performances of The Laramie Project, a play highlighting the intense emotions around the case. Shepard, a 21-year-old openly gay student from the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked, tied to a remote fence and left to die on Oct. 7, 1998, by two roofing workers in one of the nation's most grueling anti-gay hate crimes. Days later, he died in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. The case inspired Venezuelan theatre director and filmmaker Moises Kaufman and his New York City-based stage and theater group The Tectonic Project to create The Laramie Project. The documentary play portrays the community's response to the crime and the media frenzy at the time. More than two decades later, the play is getting another tour of sorts, as communities throughout the nation put on their own productions, from South Carolina to Wisconsin to Wyoming. Several involved with the performances and other activists for LGBTQ+ rights told USA TODAY they are painfully aware of the play's relevance years later. "This production serves as a tribute to Matthew Shepard's memory and begs us to ask the question of what more can we do to prevent acts of hate against the LGBTQ+ in our community," said Abigail Lee McNeely, the director of the reading of The Laramie Project presented by the United States Attorneys Office for the District of South Carolina, University of South Carolina School of Law and the Richland County Bar Association. The notable anniversary of the hate crime aligns with a surge of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S., new data released on Oct. 16. from the Federal Bureau of Investigations shows. Discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people in the U.S. is on the rise. Some school boards are banning readings of the play. And two states Wyoming and South Carolina do not have local laws criminalizing hate crimes. In an interview with USA TODAY, Kaufman said he never expected it to be as pertinent to today's culture. "On one hand, there is pride in that (The Laramie Project) still continues to be done. But I wish we were in a world where it ceased to be relevant. Unfortunately, it's more relevant now in our community. They're specifically targeting the transgender community," he said. What is the Laramie Project? On Oct 7, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard met two men who claimed to be gay at Fireside Bar in Laramie. The events that transpired after they left the bar led to his death. "Two men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, abducted Matt and drove him to a remote area east of Laramie, Wyoming," reads an account of the case from the Matthew Shepard Foundation's website. "He was tied to a split-rail fence where the two men severely assaulted him with the butt of a pistol. He was beaten and left to die in the cold of the night. Almost 18 hours later, he was found by a bicyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow," it continues. Shepard died from the wounds of his injuries at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado on Oct. 12, 1998. After the crime rose to national headlines, Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, to interview people in Laramie, including the bartender who was at the Fireside on the night of Shepard's murder, the Wyoming state governor, Detective Sergeant Hing of the Laramie Police Department. "Little did we know that we would devote two years to the project," wrote Kaufman in an introduction to the script of the play. "We returned to Laramie many times over the course of the next year and conducted more than two hundred interviews." The play compiles their accounts of the crime and the media storm surrounding Shepard's death and is meant to be performed on a stage with few tables and chairs and simple costumes. Some of the accounts from actual people include the man who discovered Shepard tied to a fence and a local Catholic priest. The Laramie Project has heightened human consciousness about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and awareness about Shepard's case since its first show in Denver on Feb. 26, 2000. It has been performed in at least 20 countries around the world and the play was made into a movie in 2002. Kaufman writes: "There are moments in history when a particular event brings the various ideologies and beliefs prevailing in a culture into sharp focus. ... By paying careful attention in moments like this to people's words, one is able to hear the way these prevailing ideas affect not only individual lives but also the culture at large." When The Laramie Project premiered, acts and sentiments of hate and discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community were primarily geared toward people who were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. In recent years, transgender and nonbinary communities have been the target of right-wing groups and politicians. "I think the play elicits conversation not only about homophobia but about religion and masculinity and fault lines that are still dividing us culturally," Kaufman said in an interview with USA TODAY. "It's very very very much at the forefront of people who want to stage it." "I worry that the troupes being used against the trans and nonbinary community are the same that were used against the gay community," Kaufman continued. "It's painful to see the same troupes come back unquestioned." Wisconsin director: 'I feel like we're going backward' In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, it's the first time Wayne Marek's Eau Claire Childrens Theatre will stage the show. The play will be performed for adults by adults at the theatre, he said. "If there was ever a time to do it it would be now," said Marek, who is the executive director of the theatre. "The biggest takeaway is from an interview early last week with Judy Shepard who said she was feeling like this should not be relevant anymore." "That is certainly not the case with (several) anti-LGBTQ bills passed in the legislature passed," said Marek. "It feels like we're going backward." Ahead of the Thursday debut of the show, Marek said he expected the audience to be captured by scenes in the play showing medical updates on Shepard's injuries and his father's court testimony offering mercy and sparing the death penalty to his assailants 25 years later: Wyoming, South Carolina go without additional penalties for hate crimes National lawyers and prosecutors from South Carolina held staged readings of The Laramie Project in hopes of increasing the reporting of hate crimes in the state. South Carolina and Wyoming, where Shepard was killed, are the only two states without a state law allowing prosecutors to charge for hate crimes. (Some advocates for hate crime laws have critiqued other state laws for being too broad.) "State hate crime laws are still important, because not all crimes may fall under federal jurisdiction," reads the Movement Advancement Project's website. The independent, nonprofit think tank is tracking state hate crime laws across the nation. U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice South Carolina Adair Ford Boroughs said her department held readings of The Laramie Project to inform South Carolina residents that they can report hate crimes under a federal law created in part in response to Shepard's case. Despite not having a state law that outlaws hate crimes in the state, the DOJ and FBI can prosecute those crimes under federal law. "A lot of the public doesnt realize there is a federal one, and that there are options to report hate crimes to federal law enforcement and have them prosecuted," said Boroughs. She said her office in January charged two South Carolina men with the federal hate crime law for shooting and killing Dime Doe, a 24-year-old transgender woman in Allendale County, as one example. The men who kidnapped, tortured and killed Shepard Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were ultimately convicted and charged with life sentences in prison. They were not charged with hate crimes because Wyoming did not have a state law outlawing those offenses at the time. Prosecutors in South Carolina and Wyoming can use the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law created by U.S. Congress in response in part to Shepard's death that criminalizes those offenses, to criminalize anyone who commits or attempts to commit bodily harm because of who they are, including on the basis of race, gender identity and sexual orientation. Former President Barack Obama signed the act into law on Oct. 22, 2009. (In the same year Shepard was killed, James Byrd, a Black man who lived in Jasper, Texas, was brutally tortured and murdered by three white men, two of whom were avowed white supremacists before they left the remains of his body outside of an African American church.) "Enforcing this hate crimes law and other civil rights protections is central to the mission of the Department of Justice," reads the DOJ's news release. LGBTQ+ advocates track hate against trans communities The FBI's latest "Crime in the Nation" report shows of all hate crimes, "11,288 single-bias incidents involved 13,278 victims." More than half of the crimes were based on race or ethnicity, 17.2% were based on sexual orientation and 4% were based on gender identity. The Human Rights Council estimates the data shows a "13.8% increase in reports based on sexual orientation and a shocking 32.9% jump in reported hate crimes based on gender identity" compared to 2021, the national nonprofit group wrote in a news release. The Human Rights Campaign, a national nonprofit organization, in June declared a state of emergency over the onslaught of laws in recent years targeting LGBTQ+ people in America. The organization is tracking anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country. They estimate more than 520 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been introduced, more than 220 bills target transgender and nonbinary people and 70 of those laws have been passed and enacted in 2023. "Twenty-five years after Matthew Shepard was murdered I cant help but think about who he was when he was on earth. He was someone who lived a life of passion, lived a life full of joy and lived a life full of love," said Wolf. "Unfortunately, like so many others, he had that life stolen from him. It's infuriating and heartbreaking 25 years later that too many others had their lives stolen from them." Heather Redding, left, and Elizabeth Waugh, of Orange County, North Carolina, rally for transgender rights outside the state Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. North Carolina Republicans will attempt Wednesday to override the Democratic governor's veto of legislation banning gender-affirming health care for minors. Casey Pick, a director of law and policy for The Trevor Project, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth, said Shepard's tragic death inspires the organization to continue to advocate for those who are harmed. Today, as we continue to see record-breaking anti-LGBTQ legislative attacks, threats, and violence targeting our communities, we recognize that this critical work is far from over," said Pick. "It is going to take all of us working together to increase protections against LGBTQ attacks and hate crimes across the country and helping educate and raise awareness to foster a more accepting, safer, and loving world for us all. Results of a national survey conducted by The Trevor Project show that many LGBTQ+ youth have been harmed, and even more are anxious about being harmed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. "Nearly one in four LGBTQ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year due to their sexual orientation or gender identity," the results of their survey read. The group surveyed more than 28,500 LGBTQ people between the ages of 13 and 24 this year. School book bans hit The Laramie Project The 25th anniversary of Shepard's death also comes at a time when schools are banning books on content that addresses racial, social and LGBTQ+ issues. For the first 20 years of The Laramie Project's existence, Kaufman said there would be one to two school boards across the nation each year that would block students from performing the play on their campuses. That escalated last year when Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly known as the "Don't Say Gay Bill." The bill prohibits educators from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in some Florida classrooms. Earlier this year, the Lansing Board of Education in Lansing, Kansas voted to ban the book containing the script of the play from Lansing High School's curriculum. The ban came after the mother of an English student at the school complained, according to Fox4 News. In response, Kaufman said The Tectonic Project sent free scripts of The Laramie Project to any student at the school who wanted one. 'Welcome home': Matthew Shepard interred at Washington National Cathedral Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @kaylajjimenez This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mathew Sheppard, 'The Laramie Project' and 25 years of hate (KRON) A San Rafael, California Home Depot employee was arrested after the home improvement retail store alleged she embezzled approximately $1.2 million over the past year, according to the San Rafael Police Department. Home Depot reported the incident to police on Oct. 17 after an internal investigation revealed the female employee allegedly started taking cash from the retail store starting in August 2022. At the time of arrest, police said the employee had over $8,000 in her possession. How to protect yourself from student loan scams as bills resume A search warrant served at the employees residence uncovered a small amount of cash and a high volume of designer merchandise, which police investigators believe was purchased with the embezzled funds. Police said the employee admitted to taking cash from the business since last year. The employee was booked into Marin County Jail on felony embezzlement charges. Detectives added a bail enhancement due to the amount of cash allegedly taken and concern of the suspect being a flight risk. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. New standards in the fight against light pollution are helping bring darker skies to Chile not only will this protect our view of the stars, but also human health and biodiversity. Chile is an attractive location for astronomers because its skies are great for stargazing, particularly in the Atacama Desert where tall peaks, a stable atmosphere and over 300 clear nights per year on average provide excellent observing conditions. As such, Chile is home to a large number of the worlds most powerful optical telescopes. The European Southern Observatory is based there, with observatories at La Silla, Cerro Paranal (home to the Very Large Telescope ) and Cerro Armazones, where the huge 39-meter Extremely Large Telescope is presently under construction. Plus, the National Science Foundations NOIRLab also has the 8-meter Gemini South Telescope, the 4.1-meter SOAR (Southern Astrophysical Research) telescope and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, while the 25.4-meter aperture Giant Magellan Telescope is being built at the Las Campanas Observatory. The Chilean regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo, which play host to these observatories, have thus had special lighting regulations for years to protect their dark-sky status for astronomers. Now, a New National Lighting Standard established by the Chilean Ministry of the Environment is being rolled out across the rest of Chile to emulate the dark-sky success of these science locations. Related: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it However, the new lighting standards are not just about preserving the night sky for astronomy . Studies in many countries have shown that light pollution has a detrimental effect on both human health and wildlife. "There is increasing scientific evidence of the effects of light pollution exposure on people," Daniela Gonzalez, the executive director of the non-profit Fundacion Cielos de Chile that works to protect the dark sky, said in a statement. "Numerous investigations demonstrate its incidence in pathologies such as obesity, depression, as well as breast cancer and prostate cancer." The new standards call for the improvement of outdoor lighting, such as street-lamps and floodlights, by moving away from intense blue light to softer amber hues. Illuminated advertising must also remain switched off between midnight and 7am per the ruling imagine shutting down all advertising in New York City's Time Square or London's Piccadilly Circus for seven hours every day. "By establishing intensity, color temperature and time limits, the New National Lighting Standard will allow a rational, efficient and sustainable use of artificial lighting, making the protection of people and the environment compatible with the good use of light," said Gonzalez. For the first time in Chile, biodiversity has also been officially recognized as under threat from light pollution; wildlife endangered by artificial light will get extra protection. For example, insect pollinators, which play a vital role in maintaining crops, are often active at night while navigating by moonlight or bright starlight. Artificial light can confuse them, and has actually played a part in their decline. Similarly, a seabird native to the coasts of Chile, Ecuador and Peru called the Markham storm petrel has become endangered as a consequence of light pollution as well. The storm petrels have evolved to use the light of the moon and stars to guide them on flights from their nests to the desert where they breed. Urban lighting disorientates them. They often confuse it for the light of the stars and food sources, meaning many of them never even make it to the place they're headed: The Atacama Desert. Related Stories: Satellite megaconstellations are threatening astronomy. What can be done? SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites 'leak' so much radiation that it's hurting radio astronomy, scientists say Light pollution is erasing stars from the night sky at a breakneck pace. It's only going to get worse. "Various research evidence that light pollution reduces biodiversity because it alters the feeding, reproduction and migration patterns of some species," said Gonzalez. "This New National Lighting Standard seeks to reverse these negative impacts in those places that are strategic for conservation efforts." And, of course, the new regulations also protect the dark sky sanctuary that is home to the many observatories in Chile. In a statement earlier this year, Guillermo Blanc, the president of Fundacion Cielos de Chile and an associate director at Carnegie Observatories and Las Campanas, spoke of the threat to astronomy in Chile from light pollution. "The Atacama Desert has always been an extremely dark place, which has unique conditions for astronomical observations, but the advance of this pollution, at the rapid and accelerated rate we are currently seeing, puts at risk the viability of the operation of astronomical observatories in the next 30 years," he said. "We risk losing the best, if not the only, place from which many observations can be made to understand and learn about the universe ." It is therefore particularly fitting that astronomy has been able to influence how people use lighting more responsibly in the rest of Chile, and that astronomys standards for light pollution are now becoming the countrys standards. HOUSTON - Louis Malik Santee, 25, involved in a months-long crime spree that resulted in the deaths of five people in 2019 has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. Santee will serve three 60-year sentences concurrently for three counts of murder he pleaded guilty to before the start of his capital murder trial. The cases in which Santee was convicted resulted in the deaths of five people. SUGGESTED: Houston crime: Suspects sought following robbery by force at Houston drug store District Attorney Kim Ogg said "We echo the families sentiments that this man has no respect for human life and is a danger to the community," Ogg said. "We sincerely hope that he serves every single day of the 60-year prison sentence." DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 HOUSTON APP BY CLICKING HERE In the first case, Santee pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity. He received a 60-year sentence for assisting in the killing of 19-year-old Ryan McGowan. McGowan was shot in the back seat of a car on Sept. 6, 2019. MORE CRIME: Houston Crime: Police express concerns over retaliation after man shot multiple times DAs office said, "Santee was facing life without parole for a capital murder charge for killing two people in a single incident. He pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a 60-year sentence. In that case, he followed Ramiro Reyes, 65, and his wife, Rosalva Reyes, 63, and killed them in front of their home in northwest Houston on September 25, 2019". DA's office say the couple left the hospital after Rosalva's mother died. Santee mistakenly thought their purple Dodge Charger belonged to another gang member. He shot them as they got out their car, while coming home. FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! In addition to pleading guilty to murder, Santee also admitted to shooting two people in a drive-by shooting on Dec. 27, 2019, while filming a music video. Videographer Gonzalo Andrew Gonzalez, 22, and Jonathan Jimenez, 20, were shot to death, and seven other people were injured, according to the DA's office. Assistant District Attorney Napoleon Stewart, a chief in the District Attorneys Organized Crime Division, prosecuted the case with ADA Rachel Guffy. "Louis Santee caused terror throughout 2019, so it is good that the victims families were able to get justice today," Stewart said. "And we appreciate all of the hard work done by the FBI and the Harris County Sheriffs Office." Authorities say Santee will be eligible for parole after 30 years, but he will not be able to appeal his sentencing. Humanitarian aid began crossing into the Gaza Strip Saturday morning after nearly a full day of delays. According to the United Nations (U.N.), a 20-truck convoy went through the territorys border with Egypt. The aid comes amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leaving it cut off from necessities like food and water as the territory lies in the crosshairs of exchanged fire between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. 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, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said in a statement posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Palestinian militant group Hamas also acknowledged that a 20-truck convoy had come into Gaza with medicine and food supplies in a statement, according to Al Jazeera. A convoy carrying much-needed humanitarian assistance crossed the Rafah border this morning into Gaza to address the growing humanitarian crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. We thank our partners in Egypt and Israel, and the United Nations, for facilitating the safe passage of these life-saving shipments. Top Stories from The Hill An Israeli ground invasion into the territory, which could bring along with it a further loss of life of those in Gaza, is expected soon. The allowance of aid into Gaza comes after a Friday AP report that 55 trucks with aid were stuck at the Gaza-Egypt border, also known as the Rafah crossing. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the border to advocate for the transfer of humanitarian aid. 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. 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 The entry of the trucks also seems to make good on a promise President Biden spoke of that trucks with aid would come into Gaza within 48 hours on Friday. 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Norma weakened to a Category 2 storm on Saturday as it approached the south of Mexico's Baja California peninsula where it was expected to make landfall later in the day, bringing with it a "dangerous storm surge." The center of Norma was located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) west-southwest of the popular tourist destination of Cabo San Lucas, moving northwards at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour, and packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour, the U.S National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report. Mexican authorities called on residents of the state of Baja California Sur to take precautions and stay in their homes, while shelters were set up. "Norma is expected to remain a hurricane while it moves over the southern portion of Baja California Sur," the NHC said, noting nonetheless that further weakening was expected over the weekend. Local authorities maintained a "prevention zone" between the towns of Todos Santos and Los Barriles, in the state of Baja California Sur. They also called on tourists and maritime navigation to take extreme precautions. "Precipitation could come with electric shocks and generate landslides, increased levels of rivers and streams, overflows and floods," a government meteorological report indicated on Saturday. Norma had reached Category 4 status earlier in the week as it clambered over the Mexican Pacific. (Reporting by Marion Giraldo and Isabel Woodford; editing by Diane Craft) Israel Defense Force spokesperson Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the country is concerned that the war with Hamas will become a larger regional conflict. We are concerned, and we urge the state of Lebanon to think twice or maybe 200 times if they really want to jeopardize whats left of Lebanese sovereignty and prosperity for the sake of a bunch of terrorists in Gaza, Conricus said in an interview Saturday with CNNs Wolf Blitzer. The United States State Department urged Americans to make plans to leave Lebanon as soon as possible after demonstrations and violent confrontations erupted in the country amid the war between Israel and Hamas. Fighting has broken out along the border between Lebanon and Israel, where IDF forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah have battled for years. Top Stories from The Hill Conricuss message pointed to the battles between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, warning Lebanon to not do the same. Because as of now, thats what Hezbollah is doing, and we strongly urge against it, he said. Exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border have picked up over the last two weeks since Hamas entered Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7. There are concerns that Hezbollah might try to open a new front in the Israel-Hamas war with a large-scale attack on northern Israel. On Friday, the IDF announced the evacuation of a border city where three residents were wounded in the crossfire. 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 Hezbollahs deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem told Lebanese officials, we are part of the battle. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the first two weeks of the conflict in the Middle East, officials said. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said responding strikes have killed nearly 4,300 Palestinians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Shawn Still, now a Georgia Republican state senator, leans over to sign electoral certificates voting for Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the Georgia Capitol, Dec. 14, 2020, in Atlanta, during a meeting of Republican electors. The meeting of the electors has become a key element in the prosecution of Trump and 18 others in Georgia. Smith is one of the four people present that day who was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August 2023 on charges that he conspired to illegally overturn Democrat Joe Biden's win in Georgia. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File) ATLANTA (AP) It was a bad place to keep a secret. When Republicans gathered on Dec. 14, 2020, claiming to be legitimate electors casting the state's 16 electoral votes for Donald Trump , they met at the Georgia Capitol in a room just upstairs from the building's public entrance. A Trump campaign official asked for the electors' complete discretion, telling them to say only that they were meeting with two state senators who were there. Your duties are imperative to ensure the end result a win in Georgia for President Trump but will be hampered unless we have complete secrecy and discretion," Robert Sinners wrote in an email uncovered by investigators. But reporters for The Associated Press and other news organizations noticed the Republicans entering the building and were eventually admitted into the room, where they photographed and recorded video of the proceeding. In the chaotic weeks after the 2020 election, the gathering's significance wasn't immediately clear. But it has emerged as a critical element to the prosecution of Trump and 18 others who were indicted by a Georgia grand jury in August for efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden 's narrow win in the state. The meeting was cited as a central element in court proceedings Friday as part of a last-minute deal with attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Chesebro, who prosecutors have said helped originate the plan for Republican electors to meet in states where Biden was certified as the winner, is now one of three people who have pleaded guilty in the case. Attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty Thursday to six misdemeanors accusing her of intentionally interfering with the performance of election duties as part of a broader conspiracy prosecutors say violated Georgia's anti-racketeering law. While Democrats met in the ornate state Senate chamber to cast electoral votes for Biden, the Republicans sat around three worn and nicked wooden conference tables to consider options for keeping Trump in the White House. In the words of the case laid out by prosecutors, these were fake" or false or fraudulent electors. At least eight Georgia Republican electors present that day have agreed to testify in exchange for immunity from state charges. The meeting was led by David Shafer, then chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. Lending it the air of an official proceeding, a court reporter was present, something Shafer denied during questioning by Fulton County prosecutors in April 2022. That denial contributed to a charge of false statements and writings against Shafer. More improvised elements of the meeting became clear as the group considered its officers. Shawn Still, who is now a state senator, wasn't initially elected as secretary, for instance. But halfway through the meeting, Shafer noted that Stills name was printed as the secretary on documents. I would like to avoid reprinting the documents, Shafer said, asking the electors to replace another Republican with Still. One of only three people the grand jury indicted for participating in the vote, Still may have been dragged into legal jeopardy when he was elected secretary. The third indicted elector, Cathy Latham, was also charged for helping outsiders access state voting equipment in south Georgia's Coffee County. As the meeting unfolded, the Republicans sought to replace four electors who were previously lined up to support Trump. One had registered to vote in Alabama and was no longer eligible. State Sen. Burt Jones, later elected lieutenant governor with Trumps backing, took his spot. Three other electors didnt show up, including John Isakson Jr., son of late Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson . Isakson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2022 that he stayed away because the meeting seemed like political gamesmanship. Prosecutors allege Shafer and Still committed yet more felonies by creating a document claiming to fill those vacancies. State law says that action needed Gov. Brian Kemps consent. The Republican governor had days earlier certified Biden as Georgia's winner for a second time after a recount. Sinners, the Trump official, printed new elector certificates on a noisy portable printer. The racket of the machine gave the meeting a mundane, bureaucratic feel in an unadorned space usually set aside for state lawmakers to host constituents. One by one, the 16 Republicans were called. Each rose and walked to the table, signing certificates pronouncing Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence as the preferred choice of Georgia voters. Thats the moment, grand jurors allege, when they committed the felonies for which theyve been charged: impersonating a public officer, first degree forgery and making false statements in writing. They were fake electors; they were impersonating electors. They were no electors," Fulton County prosecutor Anna Cross told a federal judge in September, adding there was no evidence that Shafer, Still, Latham or other Republicans believed Trump had actually won. Their defenders call them alternate or contingent electors, saying they were just trying to keep Trump's legal options open as a lawsuit challenged Georgia's election results. Some Republicans argue Trump never got a fair shake in Georgia because that lawsuit was never tried, despite a state law calling for election challenges to be heard within 20 days. A Georgia Republican Party website raising money to defend electors calls them patriots who served." If we did not hold this meeting, then our election contest would effectively be abandoned, Shafer said during the December meeting, talking to attorney Ray Smith, who was there advising the electors and was also indicted. And so the only way for us to have any judge consider the merits of our complaint, the thousands of people who we allege voted unlawfully, is for us to have this meeting. Shafer defended his actions then and now by citing an episode that played out in Hawaii in 1960. Democrats met that year after Republican Richard Nixon was certified as the states winner and sent three electoral votes to the U.S. Senate backing John F. Kennedy. Todd Zywicki, a law professor at George Mason University in Virginia, signed a July 11 declaration concluding actions by Shafer and other Georgia Republican electors were lawful, reasonable, proper and necessary considering the election contest and the Hawaii precedent. Lawyers for the indicted electors argue it was up to Congress to determine which slates should be counted. But Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis office, in a court filing, disputed Shafers claim that the actions of Georgia Republicans in 2020 bore any similarity to those of Hawaii Democrats in 1960. Her staff cites a major distinction Democrats eventually won a recount in Hawaii that a court affirmed and the governor certified, sending official documents to the Senate. The factual situations are so readily distinguishable as to make the comparison meaningless, Willis team wrote, arguing against Shafers attempt to remove his case to federal court. Willis office wrote that the Republican meeting was used to further a clumsy but relentless pressure campaign on the vice president and state legislatures, and as a means to publicly undermine the legitimate results of the presidential election. Sinners, the Trump campaign staffer who helped arrange the meeting, now rejects its purpose. He denies the notion that Trump won Georgia and now works for Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who came to national attention for rebuffing pressure from the then-president to find enough votes to ensure his win. Sinners cooperated with the U.S. House committee that investigated the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. He hasn't said whether he's cooperating with Willis. In an interview, he made his regrets clear about what unfolded in the Georgia Capitol during one of the most turbulent periods in American politics. This was an ill-advised attempt by the former presidents campaign to create a false reality a victory, Sinners said. The moon rises up over the Wasatch Front on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News NASA is doing its best to get everyone outside and gazing at the moon this weekend Its declared Saturday, Oct. 21, to be International Observe the Moon Night. Heres everything you need to know about the unofficial holiday and how you can participate. What is International Observe the Moon Night? Lunar celebrations are nothing new. Holidays like Lunar New Year, Holi and Easter are all celebrated on days determined by the lunar cycle, and lunar deities like Artemis and Thoth are found throughout world mythology. International Observe the Moon Night was created by NASA and is observed in September or October each year. According to NASA, the night is a time for budding astronomers and fans of the moon to unite and learn together. The purpose of the holiday, as stated on NASAs website, is to encourage the public to observe the moon, learn about astronomy and honor cultural and personal connections to the moon. What is the best way to observe the moon? This weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter, also called a half moon. According to NASA, this is a great time to observe the moon because the moons craters are enhanced by shadow and therefore more visible to observers. NASA reports that the best way to view the moon is to simply look up. However, there are a few ways to enhance the experience. For instance, if you have a telescope or binoculars, those tools will allow you to look more closely at the moon and observe its landscape. You will also have a better view of the moon if you avoid areas with cloudy skies or light pollution. Check your local weather for updates and consider driving out of the city for a better view, although a road trip is typically not necessary. You might also see some shooting stars according to NASA, the Orionid meteor shower, caused by detritus from Halleys comet, will peak this weekend. Related Other ways to celebrate NASA has created a whole host of activities to help people get in the lunar spirit. If youll be in or near Greenbelt, Maryland, on Oct. 21, NASAs Goddard Visitor Center is hosting a free public event. Attendees can make lunar-themed art, decorate cookies to recreate the phases of the moon, attend presentations and view the moon through telescopes. NASA is also hosting several livestreams, including views of the moon from around the world and a TV broadcast on NASAs recent and future lunar exploration. A list of activity ideas, including a lunar photography guide and moon-inspired crafts, is available on NASAs website. PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. A 60-year-old Iowa man has been convicted this week in the 2021 killing of a 70-year-old Prairie Village man. A Johnson County jury found Michael Balance guilty of second-degree murder in the death of John Hoffman. Balance was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder. Hoffman was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in May 2021 in his apartment near 75th Street and Mission Road. Court records say Balance had been living with Hoffman temporarily for about two years before Balance shot and killed him. Kansas City man enters plea, sentenced for 2 shootings blocks apart Neighbors said they heard gunshots and tried to reach Hoffman by phone to check on him. Some saw Balance leaving the apartment but said he didnt react and sped away in his car, court records say. According to charging documents, Balance said he was going through a mental health crisis before he showed up at Hoffmans apartment. Balance is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 15 in Johnson County court. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The Irish government is set to investigate a digital surveillance alliance that has been accused of letting its smartphone spyware "run wild across the world", BBC News NI understands. It comes after Intellexa Limited and its parent company Thalestris were named in a damning report by a leading human rights body. The firms are registered at a building in north Dublin and are part of a wider Israeli group that sells Predator intelligence software. According to Amnesty International, Predator is "invasive sypyware" that has been used in "brazen" attempted hacking attacks against politicians and journalists. It can be used to turn a smartphone into a surveillance tool and has serious human rights implications", Amnesty said. The report has called on the Irish government, and others, to investigate and increase regulation on spyware firms. The alliance, Amnesty said, was a complex and often changing group of companies, which advertised itself as EU-based and regulated, but had "done nothing to limit who is able to use this spyware and for what purpose". In July, US officials placed Intellexa on a blacklist after determining its surveillance tools posed a threat to national security and foreign policy. The Dublin-registered Intellexa office was set up in 2019, according to a European Parliament briefing paper. Amnestys report called on Irish and other European governments to "immediately revoke all marketing and export licences issued to the Intellexa alliance. The report also called for governments to transparently investigate the alliance's practices and to enforce legislation "that requires all corporate actors to respect human rights". 'Robust' system in place It is understood the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) justice committee will hold a hearing into the issue in January 2024. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said investigations were "a matter for the relevant competent authority" - the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) - and it would "not be appropriate" to comment on a possible hearing. DETE said "while the company in question is an Irish registered company", it has not applied for a license for export authorisation. The department also insisted that the Republic of Ireland has a "robust" export control licensing and compliance system in place. Neither government department would respond to direct claims or further recommendations found in the report, citing the nature of any such investigation would be deemed sensitive. It is claimed that Predator software can give unfettered access to a device's microphone, camera and data What is Predator? Amnesty has said that once a device was infiltrated with Predator software, the user had unfettered access to its microphone and camera and all its data, while the target was entirely unaware. This sort of spyware is typically sold to governments for legitimate intelligence operations, however there are concerns it has been abused, as is claimed to have happened in the case of the Greek Watergate scandal. A new report from the human rights body, in partnership with European Investigative Collaborations (EIC), claims the software has been used in "zero-click attacks" - meaning it can infiltrate a device without the user having clicked on a link. It said those targeted included President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-Wen, French MEP Pierre Karleskind and several United States politicians. The report claims President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola was targeted by the spyware 'Undermine human rights' Amnesty has accused several EU governments of failing to thoroughly regulate Intellexa-linked companies. "Instead, they are lining their pockets and ignoring the serious human rights implications at stake, the report added. "Intellexa alliance's products have been found in at least 25 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and have been used to undermine human rights, press freedom, and social movements across the globe. Multiple companies linked to Intellexa have been asked by the BBC for comment on the report's findings, but none of them have responded. Intellexa Ltd is part of a complex international web of companies either fully or partly controlled by the Israeli businessman Tal Dilian. On his website, Mr Dilian said Intellexa "developed and integrated technologies empowering law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies to collect and analyse data in the most advanced methods. Intellexa has also been criticised in Ireland by European Parliament member Barry Andrews, who asked the Oireachtas Justice Committee in August to investigate the firm. "I completely agree with the report by Amnesty International and applaud the work that they have done here - and, of course, I agree completely with the report, especially when it says that spyware is fundamentally incompatible with human rights," Mr Andrews told BBC News NI. 2/5 Watch video here pic.twitter.com/8pcv0dDvqe Barry Andrews MEP (@BarryAndrewsMEP) June 29, 2023 The Fianna Fail politican added: "I believe that the Irish government are beginning to take this seriously... I look forward to engaging with the justice committee on this as soon as it is on their agenda and I feel it should be much sooner rather than any later." Amnesty International said it had also reached out to the entities involved, but received no response, while the European Investigative Collaborations network did hear from the main shareholders of the Nexa Group part of the Intellexa Alliance. It said the alliance no longer existed and its entities had scrupulously respected export regulations. Residents are being asked to look out for the elderly and vulnerable A consumer watchdog has issued a warning over rogue traders making cold calls on the Isle of Man, after a number of recent reports. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued a reminder that such actions are illegal on the island and anyone approached has been urged to report it. An OFT spokesman said many who called "not only carry out poor quality work, but also use sub-standard materials". Any guarantees provided were "likely to be worthless", he said. Friends, neighbours and relatives of elderly and vulnerable people have been asked to look out for any suspicious behaviour by traders. Chairman John Wannenburgh said the public were the watchdog's "eyes and ears", and urged people to "contact either the OFT or the police before posting on social media if you suspect that a trader is cold calling". He said: "When we are made aware of these cases we take them very seriously, as do the police and other enforcement agencies. "We will not hesitate to take positive enforcement action in such circumstances, in particular where the elderly or vulnerable are obviously being targeted." Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it has killed a senior engineer from the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas who was developing weapons, including drones. Source: The Times of Israel Details: Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip continued to fire missiles into southern Israel, and the Israeli Air Force attacked Hamas targets on Friday evening. The Israel Defence Forces said it attacked numerous Hamas command centres and underground infrastructure during the day, and killed Mahmoud Sabih, a senior Hamas engineer. He led a unit that developed weapons for Hamas, drones, and "exchanged knowledge with other terror groups throughout the Middle East." Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant paid an evening visit to an area where the IDF was gathered near the Gaza border and "closely monitored the readiness of the forces for the expansion of the campaign," his office said. Tens of thousands of military personnel are gathered near the border with the Gaza Strip and are waiting for an Israeli ground offensive on the Gaza Strip. At the same time, missiles launched from the Gaza Strip on the southern coastal city of Ashkelon caused damage, local authorities said. One missile hit a house directly, and another hit several cars. There were no casualties. The terrorists also shelled Sderot, Ashdod and several nearby towns. The municipality of Sderot said a missile that fell in the southern city damaged a street and a bus stop, but no one was injured. The missile attack occurred when Hamas released two hostages captured during the 7 October invasion and mass killings in Israeli communities. American citizens Judith and Natalie Raanan returned to Israel and were supposed to be reunited with their relatives at a military base. Background: The US and European governments have asked Israel to postpone the start of a ground operation in the Gaza Strip and give time for secret negotiations mediated by Qatar to release hostages held by Hamas. Support UP or become our patron! UN agencies say children, women and the elderly "remain the most vulnerable" in Gaza A group of UN agencies have called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as conditions worsen in the territory. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) were among five agencies who described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" in a joint statement. The UN's plea for a de-escalation of the conflict comes as Israel warns of intensified strikes on Gaza. On Saturday, 20 aid trucks crossed from Egypt for the first time in two weeks. But campaigners said the aid that flowed through the Rafah crossing represented a "drop in the ocean" of what was needed. Prior to the war, about 500 aid trucks a day were entering Gaza, said a spokesman from ActionAid Palestine. A significant proportion of those living in the territory - some 1.2 million people - already relied on aid before the recent conflict erupted, according to the UN. Israel began retaliatory air strikes on Gaza after an unprecedented assault on 7 October by Hamas's military wing on Israel. About 1,400 people were killed in that attack - many of whom were in their homes near Gaza or at a music festival in southern Israel. More than 4,300 Palestinians have been killed in the last two weeks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel is widely expected to launch a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, but the timing remains unknown. In the meantime, it has put Gaza under siege, cutting off essential supplies. Saturday's aid delivery included medicines, food, water and coffins, but not fuel. The UN agencies highlighted that children, pregnant women and the elderly were the most vulnerable - and that nearly half of the population of the Gaza Strip were children. The UN's Development Programme (UNDP), its Population Fund (UNFPA) and its International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) put forward the statement alongside the WFP and the WHO. As well as calling for a ceasefire, they said "immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza" was necessary to "allow humanitarian actors to reach civilians in need". They added that "more than 1.6 million people in Gaza are in critical need of humanitarian aid". A chart showing the population of Gaza by age group. Gaza has a young population with almost 60% of the population under the age of 25 The Gaza Strip is a densely-populated enclave bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and fenced off from Israel and Egypt. Home to 2.2 million people, the region is 41km (25 miles) long and 10km wide. "Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities," the UN agencies said. "It is now catastrophic". Also on Saturday, leaders of the Arab world rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai peninsula. Speaking at a summit in Cairo, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the only solution was an independent state for Palestinians. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel and Egypt to allow the Rafah crossing from Egypt to remain open to allow sustained supply of aid. More on Israel-Gaza war DALLAS - Federal agents in North Texas and across the country are on high alert as threats against Jews, Muslims and Palestinians are spiking with the start of Israel's war with Hamas. "Here in North Texas we're definitely seeing an uptick in threat reporting. A lot of that reporting is primarily targeting the Jewish community, Arabs and Muslims," said Chad Yarbrough, the Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI. Yarbrough talked with FOX 4's Shaun Rabb about the efforts to keep those communities safe. "A lot of that relates to hoax bomb threats, social media postings, targeting those particular religions or ethnicities," he said. Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed all U.S. Attorney and FBI divisions to step up work with local law enforcement. "We're really leveraging our North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force lead here at the FBI," arbrough said. "And members of the intelligence community. We have agents, task force officers from all across the Metroplex and our intelligence analysts to comb through all of that intelligence, make assessments, or mitigate threats and plots here in North Texas." The battle lines may be seven thousand miles away, but it is leading to bubbling emotions and many raising voices here. "We've seen a lot of protests both pro-Israeli and anti-Israel and pro-Hamas and anti-Hamas, and they've all been very peaceful and everyone has demonstrated their First Amendment right to have their say," Yarbrough noted. Police are watching for what we can't see, in ways we can't see. In some places like New York, police presence was more visible. "You know one of our biggest concerns right now is a lone offender attack," Yarbrough revealed. The head of FBI Dallas says the climate is right for someone like the Allen mall shooter, who had racial bias and a fascination for active shooters. "We want people like that to be reported. So I think the message is, it's not just about the Hamas-Israeli conflict. We want anyone who is showing any hatred or bias," Yarbrough said. The message is not to live with angst, but to be aware. "You need to be aware of your surroundings when you're in public. You need to have an egress and know your exits, but also you have to report suspicious activity," Yarbrough said. If you know of any kind of hate crime being planned, aware of hate threats or you've received threats, the FBI wants you to contact them or call 911. The European benchmark for natural gas was up by a third in mid-October compared to before the October 7 attack (Mark Felix) The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas could further strain global oil and gas supplies, already disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, experts have warned. Increases in oil prices in response to the conflict, triggered by the bloody attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, have so far been relatively mild. Brent, the European benchmark, has gained around 10 percent, while its American equivalent has gained around 9 percent. Prices are around $90 per barrel, still far from their historical highs. "Israel is not an oil producer and no major international oil infrastructure runs close to the Gaza Strip or southern Israel," Edoardo Campanella, analyst at UniCredit, told AFP. However, investors are conscious of the "Middle East tinder box's inherent risk to global oil supply. Hence they have been diving into contracts compounding matters," explained Stephen Innes, analyst at SPI AM. The prospect of Iran, a supporter of Hamas and sworn enemy of Israel, being drawn into the conflict presents one of the main risks for the energy market. The OPEC member has seen its production and exports damaged by years of international sanctions, but has nevertheless increased its production over the last year and is suspected of smuggling barrels onto the market. This has helped contain global prices despite rising demand and tight supply, leading the Biden administration in the US to "turn a blind eye," according to Helge Andre Martinsen, analyst at DNB. Even if Tehran stays out of the conflict, "the West might decide to tighten sanctions on Iran or simply to enforce existing sanctions more effectively," said Campanella. Iran could respond by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil transit zone in the world, with a daily flow of more than 17 million barrels -- 30 percent of all oil traded by sea --, according to Seb Research. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz when shipping crude oil outside of the Gulf, explained Campanella. - Gas threat - The worst-case scenario, unlikely but not impossible according to analysts, would be stronger sanctions leading Iran to retaliate by attacking oil installations in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's main producers and exporters. Attacks on its infrastructure in September 2019, claimed by Yemeni Houthi rebels supported by Tehran, caused Saudi to temporarily halve production, leading the price of Brent to jump by almost 20 percent in one day. Experts recall previous oil shocks, such as the OPEC embargo against Israel's allies in the midst of the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, and then in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979. The shocks led to crude prices jumping within a few months, bringing developed economies to their knees. But they are less exposed this time around given the rise of the US as a producer and an OPEC that claims to be less political. On the gas side, the effects are more immediate. The price of TTF, the European benchmark for natural gas, was up by a third in mid-October compared to before the October 7 attack. The war "seriously threatens the regional natural gas market and could impact Europe's LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply as winter approaches," warned Innes. "While European gas inventories are almost full, they are not sufficiently high to get through the winter in case all imports stop," said Giovanni Staunovo, of UBS. US giant Chevron has suspended activities at its Tamar platform, off the Israeli coast, on instructions from the country's authorities. This gas field represents "around 1.5 percent of global LNG supply", said Innes, mainly supplying the domestic market, then Egypt and Jordan. If Leviathan, Israel's largest gas field, were to close, the consequences would be much more worrying, say analysts, who recall prices surging to a historic high of 345 euros per MWh at the start of the war in Ukraine. emb/ved/jwp/giv After the tragedy, the farce. While Israelis and Palestinians are burying their dead, pundits and activists in America are busy contradicting their principles to further their political claims. Take Americas self-styled free speech warriors on the Right and the so-called intellectual dark webyou know, the ones who rail against cancel culture and woke censorship, making millions of dollars while complaining that theyve been shut out of the institutions of journalism. Ben Shapiro Is Helping Elon Musk Fight a War on Freedom of Speech All of a sudden, now that its far-left voices being canceled, the response has been mixed. Meanwhile, the tactics and rhetoric of the left have contradicted everything progressives say they stand for in terms of solidarity and safety, at times spilling over into overt antisemitism. Case in point: Harvard University, where a bunch of left-wing students issued (to my mind) an outrageous, shortsighted, and offensive statement holding Israel entirely responsible for Hamas massacre of more than 1,400 Israeli civilians, including the elderly, babies, and, as it happens, numerous peace activists as well. There is much about this statement that is repellant: conflating legitimate resistance with kidnapping toddlers and grandmothers, denying moral agency to Hamas (after all, they cant be expected to engage in moral reasoning), and not even mentioning the slaughtering innocent civilians part. But even if the statement is wrong-headed, offensive, and even, in its gross insensitivity to the mass slaughter of Jews, borderline antisemitic, it is political speech, after all. Colleges Should Defend Students Free Speech Against Billionaire Donors Yet in response, students have had job offers withdrawn, been doxxed by hard-right trolls (which has exposed them to death threats and harassment), and have faced calls from CEOs to have them blacklisted. Meanwhile, Harvard, for the sin of not condemning the students (the president of Harvard did condemn the attacks and rightly noted that student organizations do not speak for the university), has itself been widely condemned, with donors and at least one Jewish foundation withdrawing their support. (Remarkably, in my online cohort of mostly liberal American Jews, there has been widespread support for this BDS-in-reverse decision.) A pro-Palestinian protest of Harvard students. Pat Greenhouse / Getty This is cancel culture writ large: unpopular political opinions being met with reprisals, firings, harassment, and worse. And its not just Harvardsimilar controversies are also brewing at Columbia, Penn, and elsewhere. And yet, classical liberal YouTube host Dave Rubin has called for pro-Palestine protesters to be deported, retweeting an asinine post analogizing the Jewish Voice for Peace protest this week at the Capitol to the Jan. 6 insurrection. (Another supposed free speech absolutist, Ben Shapiro, retweeted Rubins remark.) Newsweek senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer tweeted a video of a protest outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., with the text, Every single person here who is seen supporting Hamas and who is not a U.S. citizen should be deported posthaste. (Meghan McCain gave it a retweet.) To be fair, there have also been voices applying free speech principles even to objectionable speech acts. Let the Activists Have Their Loathsome Rallies, advised Thomas Chatterton Williams in The Atlantic. FIRE, the civil libertarian, heavily-Koch-funded free speech organization, has defended the right to free speech for pro-Palestinian voices and recommended a pause to the businesses seeking to punish students for exercising their free speech rights. What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival And Bari Weiss Free Press site ran a piece by Nadine Strossen (formerly of the ACLU) and Pamela Paresky entitled, Even Antisemites Deserve Free Speech. (Weiss herself seized on the latest extreme remark by Columbia professor Joseph Massad to continue her 20-year-long feud with him, and does not appear to have condemned the widespread canceling of left-wing voices.) And because irony is truly not dead, the Center/Right has even tried to take a rhetorical trope from the Left, complaining that pro-Palestinian professors create a hostile, unsafe environment for Jewish students. To be sure, this is sometimes true, as when a Stanford University instructor reportedly made Jewish students stand in a corner, alleging that this is what Israel does to Palestinians. Meanwhile, leftist students, who last month were focused on making sure every campus is a safe space for all, have harassed and targeted Jewish students in hideous ways. So much for your opinions make me feel unsafe. A pro-Palestinian protest of Harvard students and their supporters. Pat Greenhouse / Getty Its also true that some statements are not mere political speech, but are (potentially criminal) incitements to violence. For example, one UC Davis professor called for harassment or violence against zionist journalists, saying they have houses w addresses, kids in school. They can fear their bosses, but they should fear us more. That is chilling, and well outside the bounds of civil discourse. But it is not the case that a professors support of Palestine is ipso facto hostile to Jewish students, who are depicted as snowflakes that melt at any exposure to anti-Israel opinions. Part of the problem is the efforts by some Jewish organizations (often catering to their right-wing donors) to define any speech that demonizes or delegitimizes Israel as antisemitic. But that is simply not true, no matter how often it is repeated. Jewish Voice for Peace is an anti-Zionist Jewish organization. Are they all self-haters, trapped in some neurosis of internalized antisemitism? Or are they, in fact, sincere Jewish people with a hard-left political opinion? Im a Rabbi. Heres Why I Went to a Murdered Palestinian Boys Funeral. To repeat, I found the Harvard student letter not only wrong-headed but personally painful to read, especially as it came out as I was doomscrolling through videos of murder and kidnapping at a festival site I attended a few years ago. But should all those students be canceled? Doxxed? Pilloried? And conversely, is it not possible for left-wing activists to express solidarity with Palestine without equating all Jews with right-wing Zionists, harassing us, and taunting us while we are still reeling from the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust? The Left has done more to alienate progressive Jews in the last two weeks than in the last 20 years. To be sure, neither left-wing activists nor American Jews are the real victims here. The victims are thousands of dead, kidnapped, orphaned, or traumatized Palestinians and Israelis who are caught between two extremist governments who reject the very notion of coexistence, and do everything to undermine it. Seems like a lot of Americans are acting the same way. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. (Bloomberg) -- Israel said it will step up aerial strikes over Gaza in preparation for the next stage of its military operation, likely a ground invasion. Most Read from Bloomberg Food and medical supplies began crossing into Gaza from Egypt for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago, addressing a key demand of US, European and Arab leaders as the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory worsens. Dozens of leaders and senior officials from the Middle East, Europe and Africa converged on Cairo, searching for ways to prevent the Israel-Hamas war becoming a wider conflict and airing mostly entrenched viewpoints. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said hed agreed with US President Joe Biden that the Rafah crossing should be open sustainably. (All time stamps are Israeli time) US Strengthens Mideast Defense Posture (5:20 a.m.) US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had taken steps to strengthen the departments posture in the Middle East after talks with President Joe Biden. The government will add more Patriot battalions to locations in the region and activate a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to increase protection for US forces. Additional staff have been placed on prepare to deploy orders to increase readiness, Austin said in a statement. The US will continue to assess our force posture requirements in the region and consider deploying additional capabilities as necessary, Austin said. Biden Says Hes Talking to Israelis (11:54 p.m.) Biden said Saturday hes in touch with Israeli leaders when asked whether hes encouraging Israel to delay a military move into Gaza. Im talking to the Israelis, Biden told reporters in his home state of Delaware, where hes spending the weekend. Bidens national security team briefed him on latest developments in Israel and Gaza earlier Saturday, according to the White House. Israeli Army to Step Up Air Strikes in Gaza (9:20 p.m.) Israel said it will step up air strikes over Gaza in preparation for the next stage of its military operation. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, in televised comments, didnt specify the exact aims of the stepped-up strikes but suggested a ground invasion of Gaza is nearing. We need to enter under the best possible conditions and this is what we are doing now, as the next stage of war approaches, he said. We will narrow the risks to our forces over the next stages. This is why we have once again urged residents of Gaza to keep moving south. Qatar Optimistic Hostages to Be Freed Very Soon, Welt Reports (7:17 p.m.) Qatar, which was key to the release of two US citizens abducted by Hamas, is optimistic that talks with the group will very soon result in the release of all civilian hostages, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported. Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel captured more than 200 people. Massive Turnout for Pro-Palestinian Rally in London (6:50 p.m.) As many as 100,000 people marched through central London to demand a cease-fire in Israels war with Hamas and in support of the Palestinian cause. It was likely the largest of a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations held around the world that coincided with a summit meeting in Cairo to try to bring an end to the violence. Smaller demonstrations were also held in Sydney, Rome and New York. Hezbollah Says It Struck Israel After Member Killed (6:15pm) Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired guided missiles at an Israeli site and launched missiles at other targets near the border with Lebanon following the death of one of its members, the militant groups Al Manar TV reported. The Israeli military said that an anti-tank missile was launched toward northern Israel and that the army responded with live fire. Israel said earlier that its aircraft hit targets in Lebanon after incoming fire. AP Analysis Backs White House on Gaza Rocket Origin (5 p.m.) Analysis of video footage and satellite imagery suggests that a rocket that struck the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, killing hundreds, was fired from within Palestinian territory, the Associated Press reported. Thats consistent with conclusions reached by the White House and Congress, as well as Israel. In contrast, the UKs Channel 4 reported on Friday that an analysis by UK-based Forensic Architecture and others cast doubt on the rockets origin. Israel Says It Plans to Disentangle From Gaza After War on Hamas Blinken Credits US Diplomacy for Aid Delivery (4:17 p.m.) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken credited days of US diplomatic engagement in the region for the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow aid to Gaza. The convoy shows that the international community is beginning to address the humanitarian crisis there, he said in a statement that also cited efforts by Egypt, Israel and the UN. German Citizen Found Dead in Israel, Bild Reports (4 p.m.) A 68-year-old German woman who was at the Nir Oz Kibbutz on the day of the Hamas attack was found dead in Israel, Bild-Zeitung reported, without saying where it got the information. Efrat Katz had been missing since the attacks and relatives feared that she was among the hostages taken to the Gaza Strip. The newspaper provided no details on where she was found or who discovered the body. Her daughter, two grandchildren, partner and his seriously ill ex-wife are all still missing, Bild reported. Germanys Foreign Office referred to an earlier statement that a low one-digit number German nationals had been killed in Israel. Israeli Army Drops Leaflets Urging Gaza City Evacuation (3:40 pm) Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on Gaza City on Saturday, reiterating previous requests that all civilian residents there evacuate to the southern area of the Gaza Strip. Residents said the wording of the leaflets carried a stricter tone than before, saying that whoever chooses not to evacuate would likely be designated as a member of a terrorist organization. Swiss Probe Recent Alleged Payments to Hamas (2 p.m.) Switzerlands top prosecutor announced the start of a criminal investigation into alleged payments made to Hamas weeks before the attacks on Israel, the Swiss public broadcaster reported on Saturday. Attorney General Stefan Blaettler said the accusation centers on financial support to a terrorist organization, while declining to say who the proceedings are directed against. Arab Leaders Repeat Calls for De-Escalation at Summit (1 p.m.) Egypt opened its crisis summit in Cairo with the leaders of Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and South Africa among those on hand, as well as senior officials from the EU, Turkey, Russia and China. Many of the Arab officials reiterated calls for de-escalation as Israel continues airstrikes on Gaza and prepares for an expected ground offensive. No senior officials from Israel or the US were expected to attend. Neither were any from Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the US and EU. Israel Arrests More Palestinians in the West Bank (11 a.m.) Israeli security forces arrested about 110 people in the West Bank overnight, according to Palestinian officials, as tensions in the territory rise. Israel has imprisoned about 1,000 people from the West Bank since Oct. 7, amid an increase in protests in support of Gazans. Unlike Gaza, which is run by Hamas, the Palestinian Authority has control over Palestinians in the larger West Bank. Aid Flows Into Gaza for First Time Since War Began (10:18 a.m.) About 20 trucks carrying aid for Gaza began crossing the Rafah border point, the only non-Israeli border crossing that Gaza has, the Egyptian TV channel Extra News reported on Saturday. The head of the UNs World Health Organization said supplies would include trauma and chronic disease medicines, and basic essential medicines. The UNs World Food Program said the convoy also included 60 tons of emergency food supplies, including canned tuna, wheat flour, pasta, canned beans and canned tomato paste. US Says Unclear How Long Border Would Stay Open (8:40 a.m.) The US embassy in Israel said it was unclear how long the Rafah crossing would remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza. Egypts Leader Says Israel Should Take In People Fleeing Gaza We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open, and US citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing, the embassy said. Israels Iron Dome Is Outstanding But Not Enough: Tobin Harshaw Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have targeted Hamas and Hezbollah on the night of 20-21 October. Source: IDF Details: The IDF said that its fighter jets carried out strikes against "a large number of Hamas terror targets" throughout the Gaza Strip overnight. These included operational command centres, anti-tank missile launchers and strategic infrastructure facilities used by Hamas for terrorist purposes. In addition, the IDF struck anti-tank missile launchers, sniper and observation posts of Hamas located in high-rise buildings. Furthermore, Israel struck Hezbollah targets in response to rocket attacks and anti-tank missiles directed against Israel. The report specified that these targets included military facilities and "Hezbollah terror infrastructure". Besides, the IDF reports successful strikes on anti-tank missile launchers located along the border and directed towards Israel. Support UP or become our patron! On a tour of southern Israel Thursday aimed at boosting morale among troops preparing for a likely ground operation inside Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised to lead Israel to a decisive victory against Hamas. "We will be precise and forceful, and we will keep going until we fulfill our mission," Gallant stated. What exactly that mission is has been clearly echoed throughout Israels military ranks up to its political leadership over the last two weeks since an elite unit of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. After the murder of 1,400 people, civilians and soldiers and the kidnapping of 210 people, Israel has said it will not stop this war until Hamas, its people and its infrastructure are wiped out. ISRAELS HUNT FOR HAMAS TERROR GROUP LEADER YAHYA SINWAR: 'DEAD MAN WALKING' Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets with Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border as the clash between the Israeli army and Palestinian factions continues in Israel Oct. 19, 2023. Voices around the world have begun questioning whether Israels response is "proportionate," calling for restraint as the civilian death toll in Gaza rises and demanding a cease-fire before this conflict drags in other, more nefarious, regional players READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP But Israelis remain steadfast, believing there is no choice "Its either them or us." There is no room in the region for both. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Eylon Levy, an Israeli government spokesman, reiterated Israels goal to destroy Hamas. "Demanding a ceasefire from Israel is saying that Hamas should get away with what it did and should keep its ability to do it again," Levy said. VIDEO SHOWS CARGO PLANES DELIVERING ARMORED VEHICLES TO ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES "Until we complete our mission of dismantling Hamas, urging a ceasefire is the pro-Hamas position. "Were talking about whole families cremated alive, burned until there was nothing left of the children but fragments of bone and ash," Levy said, describing the sprawling attack on multiple communities and towns throughout southern Israel. "These images reminded us not only of ISIS but of the worst horrors of the Holocaust. Israel cannot allow this satanic terror organization to threaten its citizens any longer." On Friday night, two of the hostages U.S. nationals Judith and Natalie Raanan were released by Hamas, and on Saturday morning the United Nations confirmed that several truckloads of aid had crossed into the Gaza Strip from Egypt. Despite this, Israel continued its airstrikes in the Palestinian enclave, hitting key infrastructure sites used by Hamas terrorists. Miri Eisen, a retired IDF colonel and director of the International Institute for Counterterrorism at Reichman University near Tel Aviv, said, "Israel has no choice in doing this because, on Oct. 7, 2023, all of us who have been following Hamas our entire adult lives were caught by surprise. "In its 16 years ruling Gaza, Hamas has built a subterranean system of tunnels, it has tons of operatives and the leaders of this terror group planned, trained and invested down to the tiniest of details a terror attack that is incomparable to anything that has ever happened anywhere else. This is not about revenge. This is just like what the world faced with ISIS. We must erase every part of their operation." 'PAY FOR SLAY': PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MAY HAVE TO COMPENSATE FAMILIES OF HAMAS TERRORISTS, REPORT SAYS Describing the horrific brutality of Hamas attack, which included members of its armed Nukhba force killing, brutalizing, decapitating, raping and even burning people alive, as well as kidnapping hundreds, Eisen said, "The world cannot allow any terror organization not Hamas, not ISIS and not Hezbollah to replicate and execute another attack of this kind in the heart of civilian communities. "Anyway, who would be willing to go back to live in an area with that kind of threat?" According to information shared by the IDF, some 22 communities and two towns were attacked by up to 3,000 Palestinian terrorists, including some from other extremist organizations in Gaza. Smoke rises Israel's border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel Oct. 18, 2023. In at least a dozen of the communities, most of which are agricultural villages (kibbutzim), homes and infrastructure were destroyed. All Israeli civilians that survived have now been evacuated from the area around the Gaza Strip, and many who survived the attack have nowhere left to return. This is the first time in Israels 75-year history there are internally displaced citizens. Estimates say the number is higher than 50,000 people. UN SAYS PALESTINIANS IN GAZA HEADING BACK NORTH AFTER EVACUATING: 'I MIGHT AS WELL DIE IN MY OWN HOME' "The whole concept that Israel lived with for decades regarding the security and safety of its civilian population around the Gaza Strip has collapsed," Shaul Shay, also a retired IDF colonel and former deputy head of Israels National Security Council, told Fox News Digital. "If, in the past, Israel thought it could contain Hamas through rounds of violence, rocket fire tunnels, and other efforts, the recent attack showed us in a painful way that the concept no longer works," he said. He added that, during the previous rounds, there had been debates over removing Hamas and retaking control of Gaza. Israel controlled the Strip until it unilaterally withdrew in 2005, but the cost was always considered to be too high. Terrorists from Hamas during an anti-Israel military march in Gaza City. "There is no other option but to totally change the paradigm in the Gaza Strip," Shay said. "It is impossible to return to what happened before." Since Hamas surprise attack, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against what it calls "terror infrastructure" in the Palestinian enclave and assassinated a growing number of top-ranking leaders from the various terror groups operating there. The army has said its main goal is reaching Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who the IDF spokesman has described as a "dead man walking." Yet with much of Hamas so-called fighting infrastructure buried deep beneath the ground in residential areas, including beneath hospitals, schools and houses of worship, according to the Israeli military, civilian deaths are unavoidable. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims at least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far. Hamas terror leader Yahya Sinwar is believed to be in hiding, fearing an Israeli attack. Here he appears during a ceremony for terrorists killed by Israeli airstrikes at Yarmouk Stadium May 24, 2021, in Gaza City, Gaza. As the death toll in Gaza rises and the humanitarian situation worsens, the delivery of essential aid from Egypt, which also shares a border with Gaza, had still not arrived Friday. Tensions in other parts of the region are also rising. On Friday morning, Israel began evacuating the civilian population from its largest town in the north, Kiryat Shmona, as rocket fire and artillery continued to rain down from the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah. MAKE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM LIKE IRAN PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES LITERALLY "Unfortunately, this is not just a local problem," said Shay. "It is part of a regional conflict that on a geo-strategic level was initiated by Iran. Hamas, Hezbollah and other Shiite militia groups are all part of the Iranian infrastructure. "Iran was concerned with the growing regional alliance that the U.S. was trying to build in the Middle East, including the possible peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords. They saw the regional balance shifting in favor of Israel and the U.S., and they wanted to stop it." Lt. Col. (res) Shaul Bartal, a senior researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, said over the past few months he noticed an increase in meetings between senior Hamas leaders based outside of Gaza such as Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Mashal and Saleh al-Arouri meeting with top Iranian officials. "If you followed the Arabic news, then you saw that these leaders were meeting or speaking to each other nearly every week," noted Bartal, also a research fellow at Institutio do Oriente at the University of Lisbon. "As a researcher, I noticed something bad was happening and saw their courage increasing." In addition to being emboldened by Iran, Bartal said, Hamas has long been "antisemitic ideologues, describing Jews as animals in a way that is similar to the Nazis." A huge mural of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, painted next to a smaller one of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, right, on Motahari Street March 8, 2020, in Tehran, Iran. "We knew this. That is why we built a fence to protect ourselves from them, and we spent millions of dollars to stop them reaching our territory, to stop their rockets and their attack tunnels," he said. "The problem is, no matter what we do, they will always find a way around it and try to kill us in the same way ISIS killed non-believers and infidels," Bartal said. "If we want to live in security and peace, the only way is to topple Hamas." Original article source: Israel remains focused on destroying Hamas despite ceasefire calls: 'No other option' RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off and began pounding it with airstrikes following Hamas' bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tons of aid have been waiting nearby for days. Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, 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. Five hospitals have stopped functioning because of fuel shortages and bombing damage, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Doctors reported using sewing needles to stitch wounds, and using vinegar as a disinfectant until the shops ran out. With anesthesia running low, the screams of patients could be heard during surgery. Doctors Without Borders said Gazas health care system is facing collapse. Meantime, Gazas Hamas-run Interior Ministry reported heavy Israeli airstrikes across the territory overnight into Sunday, including southern areas where Israel had told Palestinians to seek refuge. The ministry said that among the sites hit were homes and a cafe in the evacuation zone where dozens of displaced residents had sought shelter. Israels military has said it is striking Hamas members and installations, but does not target civilians. In a statement posted early Sunday on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, the Israeli military said it had launched a strike on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas. Israel said Friday that it doesn't plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet late Saturday to discuss the expected invasion, Israeli media reported. Israels military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the country planned to step up its airstrikes starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of the war. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said, repeating his call for Gaza City residents to head south for their safety. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas but has given few details about what it envisions for Gaza if it succeeds. Yifat Shasha-Biton, a Cabinet minister, said there was broad consensus in the government that there will have to be a buffer zone in Gaza to keep Palestinians away from the border. We need to create a distance between the border and our communities, she told Channel 13 TV, adding that no decisions had been made on its size or other specifics. Tensions have risen in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. Israeli forces have held the West Bank under a tight grip, closing crossings into the territory and checkpoints between cities, measures they say are aimed at preventing attacks. The opening of Rafah came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy, including visits to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all the captives from its Oct. 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. Late Friday, Hamas freed its first captives an American woman and her teenage daughter. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between the release and the aid deliveries. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 hostages, though their conditions and if they are even alive remains unknown. On Saturday morning, an Associated Press reporter saw the 20 trucks heading north from Rafah to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave. American citizen Dina al- Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. The trucks carried 44,000 bottles of drinking water enough for 22,000 people for a single day, according to UNICEF. This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The World Health Organization said four of the trucks were carrying medical supplies, including trauma medicine and portable trauma bags for first responders. We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid," said, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, Cindy McCain. Gaza's Hamas-run government called for a secure corridor operating around the clock. Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control. He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter. Biden said the United States remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance, without diversion by Hamas. The U.S. government would work to keep Rafah open and let U.S. citizens leave Gaza, he said in a statement. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday he was sending additional air defense systems to the Middle East and putting more troops on "prepare to deploy" orders. Guterres emphasized international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas reprehensible assault on Israel can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Two Egyptian officials and a European diplomat said extensive negotiations with Israel and the U.N. to allow fuel deliveries for hospitals had yielded little progress. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information on the sensitive deliberations. One Egyptian official said they were discussing the release of dual-national hostages in return for fuel, but that Israel was insisting on the release of all hostages. The release of Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday brought some hope to the families of others believed held hostage. Rachel Goldberg, whose son is thought to have been badly wounded before he was taken hostage, said she was very relieved by the news but urged quick work to save others, including her son. I think he could be dying," she said. "So we dont have time. Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators to close the case of hostages if security circumstances permit. Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militants, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border. Hezbollah said six of its fighters were killed Saturday, and the groups deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, warned that Israel would pay a high price if it starts a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israel ordered its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan which made peace with it decades ago and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomalarge demonstrationstic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israel's actions in Gaza have erupted across the region, and large demonstrations were held Saturday in several European and U.S. cities. An Israeli ground assault would likely 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 attack. More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion. At the summit Saturday, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved at the expense of Egypt, referring to fears Israel may try to push Gazas population into the Sinai Peninsula. King Abdullah II of Jordan said Israel's attacks on Gaza were a war crime and slammed the international community's response. Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned, he said. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israels orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza . A senior Israeli military official said the air force will not hit the area where aid is being distributed unless rockets, which militants are relentlessly launching at Israel, are fired from there. Its a safe zone, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to reveal military information. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press journalists Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Ravi Nessman in Jerusalem, Sam Magdy in Cairo, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Twenty trucks carrying aid crossed into Gaza on Saturday, the first convoy of humanitarian supplies since Israel began a devastating siege 12 days ago and after further heavy Israeli bombardment overnight that killed dozens of Palestinians. U.S. President Joe Biden had said earlier this week that agreement had been reached for the aid trucks to enter via southern Gaza Strip's Rafah border point with Egypt. The flatbed trucks, flying white flags and honking their horns, exited the crossing after checks and headed into Gaza's southern area which includes the major towns of Rafah and Khan Younis where hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by Israel's unrelenting air war are sheltering. However, Palestinian officials were disappointed that fuel supplies were not included in the consignment of food, water and medical supplies and added that the aid was only three percent of what used to get into Gaza before the crisis. "Excluding the fuel from the humanitarian aid means the lives of patients and injured will remain at risk. Gaza hospitals are running out of the basic requirements to pursue medical interventions," the Gaza health ministry said. Israel's "total siege" of Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7 cross-border attack on southern Israel by militants of the Islamist movement Hamas, has left the enclave's 2.3 million people running out of food, water, medicines and fuel. The United Nations said the convoy included life-saving supplies would be received and distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent, with the consent of Hamas, which rules Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the opening but echoed a warning from Israel that no aid should end up in Hamas hands. "We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza," Blinken said in a statement. "We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance." U.N. officials say at least 100 trucks daily are needed and that any aid operation must be sustainable at scale - a tall order now with Israel carrying out bombardments day and night that have wrecked entire populated districts. Before the outbreak of conflict, an average of about 450 aid trucks were arriving daily in Gaza. NO BREAKTHROUGH IN CAIRO Diplomacy to secure a ceasefire has been fruitless so far. Arab leaders at a hastily convened Cairo summit on Saturday condemned Israeli bombardment of Gaza as Europeans said civilians should be shielded, but with Israel and senior U.S. officials absent there was no agreement on containing the violence. Israel had kept up air strikes on targets around Gaza in Saturday's early hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "fight until victory" following the release of the first two hostages by Hamas. Hamas on Friday freed Americans Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, who were among around 210 kidnapped in the assault on southern Israel by Hamas this month. Hamas said it acted in part "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation. However, Hamas said on Saturday it would not discuss the fate of Israeli army captives until Israel ends its "aggression" on the Gaza Strip, one of the world's most densely populated places. Hamas gunmen seized the hostages when they burst out of the blockaded enclave into Israel and killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, in a shock rampage, the deadliest single attack on Israelis since the country's founding 75 years ago. Gaza's Health Ministry said on Saturday Israel's air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while over a million of the territory's people have been displaced. Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the fenced border around the narrow coastal enclave for a planned ground invasion with the objective of annihilating Hamas, after several inconclusive wars dating to its seizure of power there in 2007. Israeli troops have carried out live fire drills "in preparations for the next stage of war", footage released by the Israeli army on Saturday showed. "SOME WAY TO GO" Overnight, Israeli fighter jets struck a "large number of Hamas terror targets throughout" Gaza including command centres and combat positions inside multi-storey buildings, the military said in a statement. Gaza's health ministry and Hamas media said Israeli aircraft had overnight targeted several family houses across Gaza, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens. Hamas said it fired rockets towards Israeli's biggest city Tel Aviv on Saturday in response to those deaths. The Israeli military reported a fresh salvo of rockets from Gaza against southern Israeli border communities before dawn. A senior Israeli military official who declined to be named said Israel had killed "a few thousand" Hamas militants in the war. "It is not enough. We need to take more ... We are looking at a long campaign. They are already hurting, but there is still some way to go," he said. He also said the air force had targeted some militants in their own homes, including overnight, and acknowledged that civilians living nearby might have been hurt. 'DROP IN THE OCEAN' Most of Gaza's inhabitants depend on humanitarian aid. The heavily urbanised and widely impoverished territory has been under Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the enclave in 2005. Israel has told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of Gaza, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go given that southern areas have also been bombarded. Some said the aid arriving on Saturday was too little to make a difference. "This is a drop in the ocean. You are trying to show the world that you are bringing aid. This is throwing dust in the eyes," said Nabil El-Dhaba, a resident of the Shejaia district in Gaza City who has been displaced to Deir Al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Lucia Mutikani in Washington and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, and the Washington and Jerusalem Bureaus; Writing by Idrees Ali, Stephen Coates and Keith Weir; editing by Lincoln Feast, Mark Heinrich and Diane Craft) Arab nations are publicly isolating Israel as it responds to Hamass unprecedented terrorist attack, testing the boundaries of the U.S. led-Abraham Accords that was meant to usher in a new era of peace in the region. But American lawmakers argue the accords brokered during the Trump administration that established ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020 are still an important step toward Israels integration in the region. And they still think the ultimate goal, a breakthrough on ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, is possible. Democrats and Republicans are pointing to Iran the financial and military backer of Hamas as the overarching threat, the glue binding the countries that signed the accords, and potentially motivation for more countries to join. Every single country said, Please dont leave us, we are worried about the threat from Iran, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) told The Hill, about her experience leading the first-ever Abraham Accords caucus trip to Morocco, Bahrain, UAE, and Israel. I believe as we move on a little bit further, we will be able to work together because everyone is worried about that terrorist threat. Top Stories from The Hill Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was in Saudi Arabia on the weekend of Oct. 7, the day Hamas launched its attack on Israel, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the future of a ground-breaking peace agreement with Israel. We had left the meeting the night before with such optimism, and then when we found out about the attacks on Israel, it really struck us that this has just made our task that much harder, she told The Hill. Obviously we were very sad about what was happening in Israel, the dynamics in the Middle East are very difficult, very difficult it just really was difficult for us to face that next day knowing that, where we thought we were making advances, now its probably going to be on hold for just a bit. U.S. officials have said there is no direct evidence of Irans involvement in the terrorist attack against Israel. But some experts and lawmakers theorize that Hamas and its patron Iran are seeking to rupture rapidly advancing agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Literally, we have the Abraham Accords moving with Morocco, with UAE and Bahrain, continued engagement, normalization in the region, and Hamas determines this is against their self-interest, and they literally slaughter 1,400 individuals to try and deter all of that dialogue, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) 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 Defense and National Security newsletter Hamass attack was months in the planning, reportedly consisting of detailed intelligence of secret Israeli army installations along the Gaza Strip and that culminated in the brutal killing of civilians at a music festival and in the communities in the area. Hamas is holding more than 200 people it took from Israel as hostages in the Gaza Strip. And Israel estimates 1,400 were killed with bodies still being identified, some burned or mutilated beyond identification. Condemnations surrounding Hamass assault quickly came out from the U.S. and other Western and democratic countries. And in a sign that the Abraham Accords had shifted things slightly in the region, the UAE condemned Hamas publicly as launching attacks against Israel. To me it is actually quite remarkable, said Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow with The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. If you look at the statements of Abraham Accord countries, UAE and Bahrain specifically condemn Hamas. Morocco made a less explicit statement but a quick statement that was also quite strong, and that was a really marked difference from some of the other Arab countries. But al-Omari, speaking to The Hill Wednesday morning, warned that quickly changing developments on the ground often frustrate the best efforts at diplomacy. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Later that day, an explosion occurred at a hospital in Gaza, killing and wounding hundreds. Arab nations surrounding Israel quickly and unequivocally blamed the Israel for carrying out an attack. Israel rejected blame and released intelligence assessments which have since been supported by the U.S. saying a misfired rocket launched from the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad landed on the hospital. Everybody here believes that Israel is responsible for it. The Israeli army says it is not. But to be honest, try and find anybody thats going to believe it in this part of the world, Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in an interview with CNN. Protests against Israel have intensified in the Middle East and worldwide as Palestinian civilian casualties from Israeli airstrikes increase, giving fuel to the entrenched, historical view in the region of Israel as an occupier and aggressor. After the Gaza hospital explosion, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, along with the leaders of Jordan and Egypt, called off a summit with President Biden the day before he was set to leave for the region, saying they could not participate in a meeting they didnt believe would end the war. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a member of the Abraham Accords caucus, said the reaction from the Arab world was not unexpected. But he said the utility of the accords should not necessarily be viewed in terms of Arab support for Israel, but in Arab efforts to prevent Israels war against Hamas from expanding into a wider conflict, in particular with Iran. Everythings relative here, right? So far, this hasnt expanded to a bigger conflict. And one of our goals here is to make sure that it doesnt, make sure that Iran doesnt get involved, that Hezbollah [in Lebanon], that this doesnt expand to a conflict in the north of Israel. And so far thats the case. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) speaks to reporters on his recent trip to Ukraine on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. In his prime-time address Thursday night, Biden made the case for U.S. leadership in supporting Israel and supporting Ukraine in its defensive war against Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of limiting the spread of a bigger war. 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, he said. 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. Biden has directed two U.S. carrier strike groups to the Mediterranean as a show of force to deter Iran and its proxies in the region from instigating a larger war with Israel as it focuses on eliminating the threat from Hamas. The Pentagon said Thursday that a U.S. navy destroyer had intercepted missiles and several drones shot by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. The U.S. has also thwarted drone and missile attacks on its bases in Iraq, without assigning responsibility. But theres concern that Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are working to attack the U.S. for its support of Israel. Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he believes that rapprochement between Israel and its Arab neighbors struck the match for the Hamas attack on Israel. Risch, along with other GOP lawmakers, have called out Iran as the party overall responsible for Hamass terrorism. The Iranians are using Arab allies, namely Hamas and [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] and Hezbollah as their agents to foment this, theres no question about it, he said. Risch had met with Crown Prince Mohammed earlier this year and said he has plans to meet with the Saudis again to talk about establishing relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia holds massive military, financial and spiritual influence in the region as custodian to Islams most holy city, Mecca. Establishing relations with Israel would lead to a tectonic shift in attitudes in the region. If there is, and I think there will be eventually, normality between Israel and Saudi Arabia, this is going to put Iran on an island, and they cant stand that, Risch said For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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. An Israeli reserve soldier with dual American citizenship was killed Thursday by an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon, according to Israel Defense Forces. The soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Omer Balva, 22, from Herzliya, Israeli media reported. He was a commander in the 9203rd Battalion of the Alexandroni Brigade. Balva was born to Israeli parents but grew up in Rockville, Maryland, where he attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish day school, the Times of Israel reported. He was one of some 360,000 Israeli reservists called into action after the Islamic group Hamas infiltrated Israel on October 7, brutally murdering at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and taking an estimated 210 people captive back to Gaza. LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES TRADE FIRE WITH HEZBOLLAH AS ISRAEL FACES ROCKETS FROM HAMAS Israeli-American reservist Omer Balva, 22, was killed Thursday by an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon, according to Israel Defense Forces. Balva was in the United States last week when he was called into reserve service. He promptly flew back to Israel to report for duty, the report said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Skirmishes along the Israeli-Lebanon border between Israeli troops and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have become more frequent in recent days as concerns are escalating of a second front emerging in Israels war with Hamas. Israel Defense Forces traded fire with Hezbollah terrorists on Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Saturday, after terrorists fired anti-tank missiles into Israeli territory overnight. The Israeli military said an anti-tank guided missile was fired from Lebanon into the Margaliot area in northern Israel. IDF responded with a drone strike against the terrorist squad. ISRAEL ELIMINATES TERRORISTS IN GAZA, LEBANON, WHILE STRIKING HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH TARGETS Additionally, another missile was launched from Lebanon targeting the Hanita area, IDF said. Israeli troops responded with artillery fire that struck missile launchers on the Lebanese side of the border, according to IDF. "The IDF is ready for all scenarios in the various sectors and will continue to act for the security of Israeli citizens," a military spokesperson said. ISRAEL REMAINS FOCUSED ON DESTROYING HAMAS DESPITE CEEASEFIRE CALLS: NO OTHER OPTION Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Saturday that Hezbollah terrorists have been paying a "heavy price" for their attacks on Israeli military outposts since the war with Hamas began on Oct. 7. "Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, we are exacting a heavy price from it," Gallant told troops with the 91st territorial division base, at the Biranit camp on the Lebanon border, according to the Times of Israel. "I assume that the challenges will be greater [than they are now], and you have to take this into account, to be ready like a [coiled] spring for any situation," he added. At least 5,700 people have been killed in the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, including at least 32 American civilians. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims at least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank and more than 13,561 wounded by Israeli retaliatory strikes. At least 10 Americans are feared to be held captive by Hamas. Original article source: Israeli-American reservist killed by Hezbollah missile in Israel, IDF says Ukrainian forces had established a presence in the Krynky settlement on the Russian-held Dnipro River's left bank in Kherson Oblast, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its latest assessment on Oct. 20. Geolocated footage published on Oct. 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced into the northeastern part of Krynky, a village 35 kilometers east of Kherson and two kilometers southeast of the Dnipro River, the ISW reported. Russian military bloggers also claimed that Ukraine is trying to establish a foothold near Krynky and continues to maintain a presence near the Antonivsky bridges, only a few kilometers east of Kherson. The Ukrainian military reported on Oct. 18 and 19 that Russian forces launched air strikes against the village of Pishchanivka around 15 kilometers east of Kherson on the Dnipro's left bank, implying Ukrainian presence in the settlement. Around the same time, Russian Telegram channels claimed that Ukraine had taken territory in the area. Read also: Ukrainian troops regularly cross Dnipro River, probing Russian defenses in Kherson Oblast The U.K. Defense Ministry said in July that Ukrainian forces are maintaining a beachhead near the Antonivsky Bridge. A month later, The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukrainian troops were conducting small overnight raids into the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast for months. Ukrainian forces reportedly gained a foothold near the village of Kozachi Laheri, some 27 kilometers northeast of Kherson, on Aug. 8. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the Dnipro River's west bank in November 2022. Russian forces were pushed to the east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan speaks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni prior to the Cairo Summit for Peace, at the St. Regis in Cairo CAIRO (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that the international community must avoid an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas and set a roadmap towards the two states solution. Meloni made the remarks while speaking in Egypt at the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas attack that killed 1,400 people. "Although our starting points are far apart, our interests overlap perfectly: that what is happening in Gaza does not become a much wider conflict, a religious war, a clash of civilisations," Meloni said speaking in Italian. "I have the impression that this was the real aim of the Hamas attack, not to defend the rights of the Palestinian people, but an attack that would create an unbridgeable gap between the Palestinians and the Israelis, meaning that the target is all of us, and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid." The Italian premier met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo before travelling to Tel Aviv to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meloni and Abbas discussed the need to work hard for a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas war and for a two-state solution, the Italian leader told journalists, referring to the idea of establishing two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians. "I hope that there is a responsibility on the part of whole international community, and it seems to me that there is, to speed up this process and provide a structural solution to the conflict," Meloni said. She stressed that a two-state solution must have a clear timeframe. (Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Alison Williams) The Jackson Police Department introduced a new technology Friday identified as a Guardian-HX Handheld GPS Launcher designed by StarChaser. The new tech provides law enforcement with the ability to tag and track a suspects vehicle without the need to engage in a high-speed pursuit. The electronic-based launcher comes equipped with a foregrip laser sight pressure switch calibrated to shoot 30 feet on-target, a 54mm GPS loaded round, a removable and rechargeable battery mag, and a green laser sight. There have been 25 launchers delivered to the JPD. Deputy Chief Vincent Grizzell said he hopes within the next month to complete certification training for the new device. Deputy Chief Vincent Grizzell said the tool is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the police force in combating crime and ensuring the safety of the community. We see a lot of people injured in car chases. And at the end of the day, we lost a life, Deputy Grizzell said Friday at the Jackson Police Department Training Academy press conference. We are here to save lives. Car chase leaves two dead: A police chase began after JPD responded to reports of a stolen vehicle. Two suspects dead Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba during a Monday press conference announces 25 new cameras to fight crime in the city. Grizzell emphasized that the implementation of this new technology is a significant step forward for the Jackson Police Department in their ongoing efforts to ensure public safety. Police chases have been a hotbed issue in Jackson for the past few years. After a police chase that started in Richland crossed into Jackson in 2019, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said he wanted to work with other municipalities to find a "diplomatic approach" to ensure police chases would not pose a threat to residents in the future, according to a press statement by the mayor's officer released on Feb. 13, 2019. But in July 2022, a police chase that started in Pearl resulted in a U.S. postal worker being killed in Jackson after the suspect involved crashed into the mail carrier's truck. This renewed the mayor's call to end police chases over small crimes. A second Pearl police chase crossed into Jackson in less than a month, killing a motorcyclist. "We are anti-pursuit for minor violations which often spillover into tragic consequences for our community. With the advent of new technology, such as a growing camera surveillance network and tag readers, we can apprehend suspects without endangering the public," Lumumba said at the time. Friday's announcement was made after the promotion of JPD officers and swearing-in ceremony for both new and returning officers. "Thank you for believing in my leadership and believing in the direction of the Jackson Police Department," Wade said addressing the promoted officers and sworn-in officers. "I'm very excited for you and very excited for the citizens of Jackson." Detective Shannon Doyle, a sworn-in officer, stated she did not plan to become a police officer but instead a lawyer. Doyle stated she did not choose law enforcement, but the career chose her. Im excited to be here, and Im looking forward to JPD moving forward, Doyle said. Melissa Faith Payne, the mayor's office communications director spoke on behalf of Lumumba, stating Lumumba wanted to extend his thank you to the returning officers and congratulations to the new ones. "Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your dedication to the city," Payne continued. "And thank you for pouring into the City of Jackson." This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson Police receive new technology to make car chases safer HOUSTON - Actress and former Red Table Talk show host, Jada Pinkett Smith, has exciting news to share with Houstonians. Jada Pinkett Smith and Nedra Tawwab Glover will be discussing her memoir, Worthy, today at 3 p.m. in the WeServ Theater at St. John's Church. SUGGESTED: Beyonce in Houston with mother Tina Knowles to attend Knowles-Rowland House celebration Tickets were available for $40 on Eventbrite and a copy of Jada Pinkett Smith's memoir was included in the sale. The tickets have sold out on the site. DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 HOUSTON APP BY CLICKING HERE According to Smith's website, the event is presented by Kindred Stories, a Black-owned and women-owned bookstore located in Third Ward. Smith said"I open my story at age forty, desperate for help and on the brink of taking my own life. For years, I thought Id checked all the right boxes needed for happinesscareer, family, marriage, fame and fortune. All the while I had been running from the wounds within that prevented me from feeling the love and well-being I so wanted. Having come to a point where there was nowhere else to run, I set out on a journey towards curing my urges of self-destruction which required me to confront the truths of the pastfrom my birth to two teenaged parents, both struggling with addiction, to the haven created by my grandmother who taught me the power of familial love; from my deep friendship with Tupac Shakur that began in high school to my early career breaks and refusal to play the Hollywood game; from my joyful embrace of motherhood to the complicated journey Ive shared with my husband Will Smith, to lessons learned in the best and worst of timesincluding "the Slap". FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! According to Kindred Stories, During the event, Smith will engage in a deep conversation, sharing insights and personal experiences from her memoir. Jane Seymour shared a rare photo of herself with her 27-year-old twin sons, Kristopher and John. Quality time with Kris and Johnny! Seymour, 72, captioned her Instagram post. In the photo, the former Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star, 72, is posing in a floral dress, with her hair in loose waves. Kris, who is on his moms left, is clean-shaven, while Johnny, a musician, sports a scruffy beard. Kristopher is named after Seymour's late friend and "Superman" actor, Christopher Reeve , who died in 2004. Jane Seymour shared a rare photo with her twin sons Kristopher and John. (@janeseymour via Instagram) They both have your eyes, one fan commented. Another person remarked that the trio could be triplets. Seymour was 44 when she and her former husband, filmmaker James Keach , welcomed Kris and Johnny with the help of IVF. The Emmy winner, who has been married four times, is also mom of Katherine, 41, and Sean, 38. In 2020, Seymour paid tribute to the twins on their 25th birthday. Johnny and I have spent a lot of time this year getting to know each other as adults. Weve been in Spain filming, on mini road trips, painting together, enjoying the music hes been creating, and having philosophical discussions almost every day, Seymour wrote. Im so proud of Kris for studying hard and pursuing his MBA, for marrying his beautiful wife Miso, and for working with me as an assistant, she continued. Hes been doing a brilliant job cataloging and archiving moments from our lives. During a conversation with About.com in 2009, Seymour revealed that Kris and Johnny loved to sleep together in the same crib when they were babies. In fact to this day, although now they are almost 14 and they will fight, they only really have had their own bedrooms, separate bedrooms, in the last year, she said at the time. There is a bond that twins have that is unspoken and quite formidable, she added. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Jim Jordan of Ohio was forced out of the House speakership race on Friday after his Republican colleagues voted against his continued bid for the seat in a secret ballot after his third failed attempt to corral enough support to win the gavel. Jordans lost bid followed a contentious week on Capitol Hill, during which he and his allies attempted to cajole more moderate Republicans into backing Jordan. Related: Jim Jordan loses third House speaker vote as Republican holdouts reach 25 After his loss, Jordan told reporters he was going to go back to work and that it was time to unite. It is not clear who Republicans could elevate as a next nominee. There is a deadline of Sunday at noon for candidates to announce interest in the speakership. The conference is expected to return on Monday evening to hear from candidates for the speakership, with voting set for Tuesday. By that time, the House will have been without a speaker for three weeks, hamstrung on conducting the work they were elected to do. Some moderates want to see a consensus candidate, while the far-right flank that ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy previously said they would be prepared to accept censure, suspension or removal from the conference to get Jordan the speakership. A handful of Republican House members have either said they would seek the speakership or are considering the idea. Most prominent among them is Minnesotas Tom Emmer, currently the majority whip, the No 3 Republican in the chamber, who has McCarthys backing. Others in the mix include Oklahomas Kevin Hern, Georgias Austin Scott, Floridas Byron Donalds, Louisianas Mike Johnson and Michigans Jack Bergman. In the first floor vote of the speakership election, on Tuesday, 20 House Republicans opposed Jordan, leaving him far short of the 217 votes needed to capture the top job. Because of Republicans razor-thin majority in the House, Jordan could only afford four defections within his conference and still ascend to the speakership. Even as Jordan tried to assuage moderates concerns, a second floor vote held on Wednesday revealed that opposition had only grown, as 22 Republicans opposed Jordans candidacy. By the third vote, on Friday, Jordan lost more support, with 25 House Republicans voting against him. As long as the House remains without a speaker, the chamber cannot advance any legislation, leaving members unable to pass critical bills like a stopgap government funding measure or an aid package for Israel and Ukraine. Government funding is set to run out in less than a month, raising the threat of a federal shutdown next month. Jordans announcement came two weeks after the historic ouster of McCarthy, after eight House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting a motion to vacate the chair. Following McCarthys removal, the House majority leader, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, initially won his conferences nomination for speaker, but he dropped out of the race last week due to entrenched opposition among hard-right lawmakers. As of Friday, it remained unclear how Republicans could end the standoff and resume the business of the House. One idea floated by centrist Democrats and embraced by some of Jordans critics involved expanding the powers of the acting speaker, the Republican Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, but the plan fizzled. Such a solution would raise serious constitutional questions, as the powers of an acting speaker are murky. With Republicans embroiled in conflict, the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, has repeatedly called for the creation of a bipartisan governing coalition between Democrats and more moderate Republicans. Even Jordans staunchest opponents have rejected the idea of teaming up with Democrats, although that could change if the House remains at a standstill. On Friday, Jeffries, who has received the most votes in the speakership votes but would not be able to get enough support to take the spot since Democrats are in the minority, called on his Republican colleagues to get to work. Embrace bipartisanship and abandon extremism, Jeffries said. CAIRO (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah said in his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday that the forced or internal displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime. The summit is being held as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis. (Reporting by Nafisa El Tahir, Writing by Adam Makary) In what kind of case do you think it would be appropriate for a criminal defendant to call the prosecutor a thug and stay on the streets? U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan asked Donald Trump 's attorney John Lauro on Monday during a hearing on whether the former presidents speech should be restricted. Lauro didnt provide the correct answer, which is this: all of them. Although it doesnt appear to be a common occurrence theres only one published instance where a defendant allegedly admitted to calling the U.S. attorney assigned to his case names this happens often enough. Criminal defendants have just as much disdain for prosecutors as the prosecutors have for them. Their displeasure is expressed outside of court. The only difference with Trumps calling special counsel Jack Smith a thug is that no one was listening when these other defendants insulted their prosecutors. Talking smack is part of the game. To suggest that it doesnt happen is not only disingenuous on Judge Chutkans part, its also a misunderstanding of the importance of the defendants voice in criminal cases one that could prove unconstitutional. Its almost like the former public defender doesnt understand defense. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, former President Donald Trump and special counsel Jack Smith. Does the partial gag order violate Trump's rights? A defendants rights may be in tension with the First Amendment rights of the news media, but thats not whats happening with the former president. This isnt even a situation where a lawyers speech is restrained. That has happened in the past on occasion, such as the gag order in the trial of the Los Angeles police officers accused of beating Rodney King. Those are the two situations that courts have reviewed in the past, but telling a defendant he cant speak is unprecedented. In the federal election conspiracy case against Trump he could be facing 55 years in prison if convicted and sentenced to the maximum on each of the four conspiracy and obstruction charges what Chutkan did was the inverse of a Fifth Amendment violation. If the judge had compelled Trump to speak somehow, that would be a clear violation of his right not to incriminate himself namely, to keep himself un-convicted and free. Yet, when he wants to say something that he thinks would keep himself un-convicted and free, shes stepping on that right. Judge issues partial gag order: Trump, who never shuts up, now has a gag order to whine about. And you know he will. While for some it might be wise not to testify in ones own defense, some studies suggest an acquittal is more likely when a defendant tells their story. Even if taking the witness stand in ones own criminal case is ill-advised, defendants can't legally be stopped from speaking to protect themselves. The Supreme Court has held that preventing someone from testifying in court in a case against themselves violates the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and the compulsory process clause of the Sixth Amendment. Gag order played a role in O.J. Simpson trials There have been very few studies of the First Amendments role in criminal courtrooms. One, authored by George Washington University Law School professor Daniel Solove, examines the ways that the First Amendment operates with the Fourth and Fifth Amendments and how government searches of suspects intellectual property deserves more attention. In the article, Solove argued that the First Amendment doesnt get enough consideration in criminal courtrooms but, notably, doesnt even mention a case of a court telling a defendant not to speak. Its practically unthinkable. 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. Because criminal cases threaten an individuals freedom and possibly life, courts have to give a defendant more leeway in speech. Thats why in People v. O.J. Simpson, there were no gag orders in the criminal case under former Superior Court Judge Lance Ito Ito floated the idea but never followed through on it. However, the judge assigned to the subsequent civil case filed by Ron Goldmans family restricted speech of the parties in what has been called a sweeping order. All that was at stake in those civil proceedings was civil liability i.e., money. Chutkans and the publics inability to equalize the First and Fifth Amendments as they pertain to criminal defendants shows just how hard it is to convince people that every accused person is innocent until theyre convicted and they may be actually innocent after that, too. If theres a defense to be made, theres no reason why the defendant shouldnt be able to speak it. In fact, for people whose freedom is jeopardized, the right to speak becomes even more important. Don't obstruct sentencing reform: First Step Act advanced prison reform, but hundreds are still serving unjust sentences The judge was correct when she said that the former president does not have the right to say and do exactly what he pleases. He doesnt. He cant threaten people. And laws exist to cover that. Theyre in the criminal code of every state and the federal government, and if law enforcement thinks Trump violated those statutes then he should be charged as anyone else would be. Chandra Bozelko is a 2023 Harry Frank Guggenheim Criminal Justice Reporting Fellow at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The constitutional fallout of Chutkans partial gag order is yet to be seen; Trump has said that hell appeal it before the case is over. Stopping him from speaking is stopping him from defending himself, and thats something no judge presiding over a criminal case should ever be allowed to do. Chandra Bozelko is a 2023 Harry Frank Guggenheim Criminal Justice Reporting Fellow at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. 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: Trump's partial gag order may violate his right to defend himself A Cook County judge issued an oral ruling Friday afternoon allowing three therapeutic day schools previously ordered closed to remain open come Monday. Menta offices located on Wabash Ave. Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Circuit Court Judge Celia Gamrath granted a temporary restraining order following a 90-minute hearing and permitted students already attending the facilities to continue doing so. Parents wishing to withdraw their students from the school still can through the order. Last week, the Illinois State Board of Education ordered that three schools owned and operated by the Menta Group close their doors after operating without state approval. The schools in Centralia, LaSalle, and Springfield serving students with mental and emotional disabilities were to cease operations by the end of day Friday. More: Ten days after withdrawing from ICC, Navigator cancels CO2 pipeline The prior ISBE order affected 125 students in 41 school districts. In response, Springfield Public Schools District 186 said it would transition about 20 students to Menta facilities in Taylorville and Nokomis. Attorneys representing Menta, which has 24 facilities in the state in addition to schools in Arizona and Texas, contended they had met the ISBE criteria to open its facilities earlier this school year. Menta has said the board had approved academic calendars and had provided unique state-assigned codes for parents to find private facilities. However, Assistant Attorney General Alex Moe argued that the facilities still lacked written approval from the state and therefore should not be allowed to operate. Another hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 27. Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield school to remain open following temporary restraining order A New Jersey judge ordered a Delaware man accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl he met through online gaming to remain detained following his initial appearance in 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 Wayne, New Jersey, 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 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 took 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." DELAWARE CRIME: Family can't forgive 20-year-old man sentenced for Knollwood shoot-out that left 2 dead 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. 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." 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 whom 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 to 10 to 30 years in prison if convicted of kidnapping. The child endangerment charge carries an additional sentence of three to five years. DELAWARE CRIME: He wore a mask when he shot a 16-year-old boy, police say. Officers still ID'd him This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Delaware man accused of kidnapping New Jersey girl to remain in jail PROVIDENCE A jury last week acquitted a 51-year-old city man of the 2014 shooting death of an East Providence barber. Derek Winslow was found not guilty last Thursday after a four-day jury trial before Superior Court Judge Kristin E. Rodgers, according to Stefanie Murphy, who represented Winslow with Kensley Barrett. A Providence County Grand Jury returned a secret indictment in August charging Winslow with murder and discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence that ended in death in the murder of 42-year-old Yusef AVant on April 13, 2014, at his Krazy Kuts barbershop on Pawtucket Avenue in East Providence. Two others already serving time for murder of Yusef A'Vant Winslows indictment came six years after those of his alleged co-conspirators, Thomas Mosley and Evan Watson. Mosley, 41, is serving two consecutive life sentences, plus 15 years, at the Adult Correctional Institutions after being tried twice in the slaying of AVant, a beloved family man and mentor to youths in East Providence. Watson, 34, pleaded guilty to the murder of AVant and awaits sentencing. Watson is serving 50 years, with 20 of those years non-parolable, after pleading guilty to shooting and wounding two people in a home invasion in Providence in July 2014, court records show. AVant, who left behind a teenage son, was related to retired Rhode Island State Police Detective Lt. John AVant and Providence Detective Angelo AVant, head of the departments cold-case unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson and Special Assistant Attorney General Robert E. Johnson IV. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Derek Winslow found not guilty of murder of Yusef A'Vant A jury Friday convicted an Ocean Springs man of five counts of child exploitation for possessing thousands of images of children being sexually abused. Judge Kathy King Jackson sentenced Raymond Scott Tracy, 45, to 40 years in prison, with 18 years to serve day-for-day without the possibility of parole or early release for the crimes. He also has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Assistant District Attorney Justin Lovorn prosecuted the case. The investigation began after the Mississippi Internet Crime Against Children Task Force forwarded tips about the images from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to the Jackson County Sheriffs Department to investigate. Jackson County sheriffs deputies and FBI agents interviewed a tipster about the case, who confirmed that Tracey possessed the child pornography. An arrest followed a short time later. Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said. 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. McIlrath said he hopes the sentence sends a strong message about that the DAs Office will purse lengthy prison sentences for those who commit such crimes. Lovorn commended the work of all agencies involved in the case. UPDATE: Police said James Morgan has been located and is safe. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City police are searching for a missing 32-year-old man who hasnt been seen since Thursday. James Morgan is described as 6-foot-2, weighing 210 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android He was last known to be at his home near 99th Street and James A. Reed Road around 2 p.m. Thursday. Kansas City police said hes believed to be on foot. Family are concerned due to Morgans mental state when he left home, according to police. Anyone who sees the 32-year-old is asked to call 911 immediately. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Update: Police said Friday night that 32-year-old James Morgan was found safe. Police were asking for help Friday in locating a possibly endangered 32-year-old man reported missing from south Kansas City. The missing man, James Morgan, was last known to be at his home near 99th Street and James A. Reed Road on Thursday afternoon, police said in a written statement. He walked away around 2 p.m. and did not return, according to police. His family is concerned about his welfare due to his mental state at the time he left home, police said. Morgan is described as a white man with blond hair and blue eyes. He is 6-foot-2 and weighs about 210 pounds, police said. Kansas City police were asking that anyone who sees Morgan to call 911 immediately. Kedleston Hall was built from 1759 to 1765 by the Curzon family A Derbyshire stately home is to host its largest ever celebration of Diwali - the festival of light. Kedleston Hall's Dressing Room and Library will be lit with projections of Rangoli patterns and other traditional decorations. Local artists and school children have helped make yard marigolds and diya lamps, both associated with Diwali. The celebration will run from 3-19 November and also include performances of classical Indian dancing. Meanwhile, the Museum of Kedleston will also display the collection of the Curzon family, who built the hall, and their close ties to south Asia. Simran Sandhu, senior programming and partnerships officer at Kedleston Hall said: "Diwali is the most widely celebrated festival across India, and it is the time of the year when everything looks magical. "Kedleston is working with the local Indian community, volunteers, and staff to fashion marigolds - often used for festive occasions in India - out of vivid coloured yarn and paper. "We will be decorating the Library, Kedleston's room of enlightenment, with hundreds of diyas made by local artist Sheena Holland. "Local community groups and primary schools have also been involved in the effort to paint some of these diyas traditional colours of turquoise, pink, yellow and gold." Jennie Lloyd, Kedleston's interim general manager said: "It is particularly relevant for Kedleston to include a programme in celebration of Diwali due to the links of Lord Curzon's time as Viceroy of India and the extensive South Asian collection in our care. "Diwali, provides the perfect opportunity for us to share in those festivities and welcome everyone by bringing light and celebration to the Hall." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Kelly Clarkson teams up with Alanis Morissette on hauntingly beautiful version of 'You Oughta Know' Kelly Clarkson and Alanis Morissette joined forces to perform a stirring duet of Morissette's classic breakup anthem "You Oughta Know." The two Grammy winners performed the 1995 hit Oct. 19 on The Kelly Clarkson Show, turning the furious rock song into a hauntingly gentle anti-ballad. Dressed in a hot pink jacket and blouse, Morissette, 49, sang the song's first verse accompanied by two musicians to her right playing acoustic guitars. Clarkson, 41, then joined in to add a delicate high harmony to the song's pre-chorus. "'Cause the love that you gave that we made wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide, no," the pair sang. "And every time you speak her name, does she know how you told me you'd hold me until you died? 'Til you died?/ But you're still alive," they continued. The duo's voices soared together on the song's searingly angry chorus, during which Morissette's scorned-lover narrator admonishes her ex. "I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away/ It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me/ You, you, you oughta know," she and Clarkson sang. Afterward, Clarkson fell to her knees in joyful disbelief. "That just happened!" she gushed of singing with the Canadian pop star. "I love you so much," she told Morissette moments later as the two embraced. Just prior to the pair's duet, Morissette told Clarkson that she still enjoys singing You Oughta Know" nearly 30 years after recording it because she knows how much the song means to listeners. Morissette relayed a story about her former landlord discussing "You Oughta Know" with her after the song became a hit. She ran into me and she said, I just have to tell you that I didnt like your music when it first came out, and then I got divorced, Morissette said, as Clarkson began laughing. 'And now I love you,' Morissette recalled her landlord telling her. During her appearance on the show, Morissette shared more stories and insights from her long career and also collaborated with Clarkson on more of her songs, including her 1996 hit "Ironic" and her 2019 single "Reasons I Drink." This article was originally published on TODAY.com Ted Owens, left, is running against incumbent Jim Millbauer in the Kennewick City Council Pos. 7 - At Large seat in the Nov. 7 election. Kennewick City Council only has one competitive race on the ballot this November, but its a key one. Position 7 incumbent Jim Millbauer has found himself increasingly at odds with the rest of the city council on certain issues, and now hes facing a challenger who would likely make that 5-2 majority a 6-1 block. Kennewicks council seats are at-large, meaning they represent the city as a whole, rather than a specific area or neighborhood. Some issues he has found himself at odds with others on the council were starting meetings with a prayer and zoning changes to allow development on Thompson Hill. What I offer is discussion, we have sometimes robust discussions ... I think its about building those relationships, Millbauer said. His opponent Ted Owens said he prefers to describe himself as a civil libertarian, and that while he may share some of the council majoritys conservative views, that does not mean he will be a rubber stamp vote. Kennewick Councilmembers Chuck Torrelli, Pos. 5, and Brad Beauchamp, Pos. 6, also are up for reelection, but did not draw challengers. Owens had initially filed against Torrelli, who is often the councils other dissenting voice, but later shifted to the Pos. 7 race against Millbauer. About the candidates Owens is the former general manager of Fiesta Foods in Pasco. In the Voters Pamphlet, he described his governing philosophy as based on judeo-christian values. Owens is a 20-year resident of Kennewick and a former prison chaplain in Multnomah County and volunteers his time with Union Gospel Mission. He is endorsed by the Benton County Republican Party. Millbauer has lived in Kennewick for 37 years. He is a retired pipefitter and project steward at the Hanford site. He volunteers his time with the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties. He was first elected to the council in 2019. Millbauer is not endorsed by the Benton County Democrat Party, but they have given his campaign access to their voter information database, which was listed as an in-kind donation. I think its about communication and collaboration, working with others, Millbauer said of this time on the council. Millbauer said that the council has been able to work together for the business of the city, but its issues that may be based on personal beliefs that have been contentious. He said he has worked with Mayor Pro Tem Gretl Crawford on the councils ethics committee to help mediate those issues when they arise. On the issues Owens said he would apply his experience as a business administrator to fiscal policy. We need to respect our citizens dollars we receive from them and use them the best we can, he said. Some of Owens priorities include responsibly supporting growth, finding solutions to homelessness issues the city is facing and working together to ensure diverse perspectives are included. Owens is against wind farms, which he said do not produce reliable energy. Millbauer said he has spoken to the land and farm owners involved and supports their decision to use their land to produce energy. Owens has said he is for expanded services for mental health care, but he also suggested the city or state should consider finding a way to involuntarily commit people. My experience is about half of the folks experiencing homelessness are seeking help, and as a community we should do what we can to provide that help to integrate back into society, Owens said. Weve got about half that dont, or cant, and so when I say cant much of it is because of drug abuse and what leads to that is mental illness. So I think one of those things our community needs to have a conversation about is how do we handle those 50 percent that dont want the help? We used to have involuntary commitment, which is something we dont have in the state today. I think if thats brought to the council and the public we need to have some real civil liberties policies to make sure were not incarcerating .... Someone who has mental illness or has drug addiction, they cannot make a good decision in that state about their health, their safety and the safety of the community, Owens said. Millbauer said he supports the citys current approach to homelessness, with stronger services for helping people with mental illness and addiction. He also suggested forming a community-wide taskforce to address the issue of homelessness. He noted that the council has been pro-active in discussing the issue. If elected to another term, Millbauer hopes to focus on supporting sustainable development, improving infrastructure and growing the quality of life for residents. On the hot-button subject of book bans, Millbauer said what a child reads is a decision their parent needs to make. Owens is not in favor of banning books, but he is in favor of stronger separation of topics in libraries so that adult subjects arent mixed with childrens books. He didnt specify what material he believed should be separated out, beyond pornography. Both candidates support renewing the countys Public Safety Sales Tax. Millbauer said that most residents hes spoken to have been supportive of the tax continuing and the need for strong police funding. Owens agreed, but added that he is concerned about the lack of a sunset clause and hopes to see more transparency in the spending. I wont sit here and say that Im better than Mr. Millbauer. He has a different set of experiences than I have, so its up to the community to decide which set of experience they prefer, Owens said. We each bring a different perspective to the table that may or may not be what the citizens want. I just believe in giving back and doing the right thing, and I believe my experience has shown that, Millbauer said. Ballots for the Nov. 7 election are already in the mail and must be postmarked by Nov. 7. A volunteer of the Zaka emergency response team searches through the debris in Kibbutz Beeri near the border with Gaza on October 20, 2023 (RONALDO SCHEMIDT) Two weeks after Kibbutz Beeri lost 10 percent of its population in the bloody Hamas attack, Israeli soldiers are stationed within sight, primed for a looming ground invasion of Gaza. The small community -- traumatised by the bloodshed, grieving its dead and fearful for friends taken hostage -- has become a symbol of the horrors Israel suffered in the October 7 onslaught. Residents say some of the Hamas militants' guns still lie amid the rubble of Beeri, where one third of houses were destroyed and the survivors are wracked by doubts about the future. In all, 108 of Beeri's 1,100 residents died when Hamas launched its attack from the Palestinian territory of Gaza, just four kilometres (2.5 miles) away, said resident Romy Gold. More than 1,400 died in Israel in the deadliest attack in the country's history, according to Israeli officials, which prompted it to launch a withering bombardment of Gaza, where more than 4,300 have died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. There are burials for nine Beeri residents on Sunday and Gold, 70, who served as a paratrooper in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, said he would attend at least a ceremony for four members of one family who were killed. "I am not sure that any of us is in a condition that we can absorb, understand what happened," said Gold, who was carrying an M16 assault rifle. The kibbutz is now in a closed military zone as Israel builds up to the expected invasion that seeks to uproot Hamas. But the army briefly opened up parts of Beeri for journalists. Gold said a machine gun and other weapons carried by the Hamas militants remained scattered around some of the houses that reporters were not allowed into. - 'Shot, butchered, burned' - The horrific scenes of October 7 are seared in his mind. The community was jolted when an alarm sounded, sparked by Hamas gunmen who cut a hole in Beeri's perimeter fence, recalled the army veteran. "I had a rifle and a few magazines," said Gold who rushed to join the community's 10-member emergency squad. "There were 150 Hamas in front of us, hitting us with machine guns and hand grenades. "For some reason some of us survived," he marvelled. "Around us whole families were shot or butchered or burned alive." The gruelling gun battle lasted for most of the day. "The squad is supposed to survive for between half an hour and an hour before the army is supposed to take control," Gold said. "We were here for 10 hours and actually ran out of bullets." Five of the squad were killed, others badly wounded. The army said that dozens of Hamas gunmen were killed or taken prisoner at Beeri. Gold estimated the small defence squad he was with killed or wounded at least 14 of the intruders. As Beeri residents mourned their dead, Israeli soldiers nearby were loading shells into tanks. Gold said the Gaza ground invasion "cannot come fast enough. Something needs to be done". "Whoever did this to us should never go free. They should be punished." Some other residents, now living with relatives or staying in hotels, feel the same way. - 'Surviving and in grief' - Yossi Landau, a leading member in volunteer emergency responders group Zaka, said he no longer wants "any relationship" with Gaza. "I hope that the terrorists will not be alive anymore," he told AFP. It is a view shared by the majority of Israelis, but not all, according to a new survey. A poll of 510 people by the Maariv newspaper this week found that 65 percent of Israelis support a ground offensive, while 21 percent oppose it. One kibbutz resident who was kidnapped, Vivian Silver, 74, is a leading activist in the Women Wage Peace group. It has long helped Gaza Palestinians get hospital treatment outside the besieged territory. Other women in the group were also killed or abducted, said Gold. Silver's son, Yonatan Ziegen, said his mother would not want an invasion of Gaza. "You can't cure killed babies with more dead babies," he said in one media interview. "We need peace." A invasion and its aftermath will delay any return to devastated Beeri, and Gold acknowledged that some families are reluctant. "We need some kind of assurance that it will not happen again," he said. "That is not the feeling we have got. "I don't know what will happen, but the best thing is to look forward and be positive. This is too early. Now we are just surviving and in grief." tw/jd/ds/fz/kir/jsa Although the Korean War (1950-1953) is often called the Forgotten War, Paul Vasquez, 91, remembers vividly his combat at the front. On Christmas Day 1951, he and his Army unit exchanged gunfire from atop a hill with entrenched North Koreans on a nearby hill. The enemys rifle and machine gun fire raked the Americans position. The 5-foot-2 Vazquez took the vanguard with a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) mounted on a tripod while his comrades shot from behind during the four-hour firefight in sub-zero temperatures. Vazquez recalled that before the war, he never imagined he could kill anyone. But in the heat of battle, bullets whizzing above, in front, and to his sides, he decided he or they would perish. A close look at his painting of the firefight shows a wounded American soldier. Two tanks that had transported the soldiers were both destroyed, killing the crews. In letters to his Fort Worth family, he lied about his Korean experience, writing that his unit was training and in no real danger. The memory of a fallen soldier shot in the leg and calling for his mother and father before he died brought him to tears. The illustrated battle was one of many that Vasquez engaged in during his one-year Korean front combat. Born Jan. 25, 1932, in Fort Worths Southside, he attended local schools until the seventh grade. Like many Latino men from impoverished households, he went to work at an early age with his father picking cotton in Britton, close to Mansfield. He was drafted at 18 and mobilized along with thousands of young men to repel the North Korean invasion of South Korea. According to Latino Advocates for Latino Education, 180,000 Latino soldiers, mostly Mexican and Mexican Americans, fought in the war. Paul Vasquez poses in Korea with his Browning Automatic Rifle. The Pentagon tallied 54,246 American soldiers who died in the Korean War. According to the United States National Archives, Latino soldiers accounted for 3,734 deaths. Mexican American soldiers comprised 10 percent of the troops in Korea; however, they were less than 3.5 percent of the US population at the time. Of the 135 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients for valor in the Korean conflict, Latino men received 15 with 10 Mexican and Mexican-American awardees. In 1942, the Mexican and United States governments signed an agreement, allowing Mexican nationals to enlist in the United States Army without losing their Mexican nationality. Mexicans joined the United States military during World War II and the Korean War. They hoped their service would result in their naturalization as US citizens at the end of their three-year military duty. Enlistees included Mexicans who had entered the United States without legal documentation. Raul Morin, author of Among the Valiant, said, Even with the constant discrimination and continued denial of equal opportunities, when war came to the United States, no one could accuse us of draft dodging or fleeing to Mexico to avoid military service as charged in War World I. Richard Cavazos, born on Jan. 31, 1929, in Kingsville, heard the call to military service. After graduating from Texas Technological University (Texas Tech) and ROTC, he served as a first lieutenant in the 65th Infantry Regiment in the Korean hostilities. The regiment was called the Borinqueneers for their mostly Puerto Rican soldier makeup. Cavazos distinguished himself by leading an attack and rescuing soldiers on Hill 142. For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. He later led an infantry battalion as a lieutenant colonel in the Vietnam War, earning his second Distinguished Service Cross. In 1982, he was promoted to four-star general, the Armys first Latino person at that rank. On May 9, 2023, the Army formally changed Fort Hoods name from a Confederate general to Fort Cavazos, a Mexican American military hero. After Vasquez returned to Fort Worth and to his wife Betty Rosales, he suffered for several years from nightmares. He eventually stopped repeatedly recalling his units attempt to bring food to dug-in GIs during the battle for Old Baldy. As he and his men returned to the supply depot, the enemy fired on them. He surmised the Chinese were toying with them since no one was shot. He also remembered the time his unit entered a South Korean-occupied village. They had decapitated a North Korean prisoner and displayed the head in a crate to villagers. An American captain confiscated the US soldiers cameras. Today, Vazquez has episodic but less intense war memory flashes. Paul Vasquez stands in front of his Korean War medals. He worked for an airplane parts manufacturer in Kennedale. When he approached his supervisor for a raise from the $1.35 an hour wage never receiving an increase in his 25-year employment he was told the company was losing money. He never recovered any retirement benefit withholdings from the business. At first hesitant to apply for another job because of his limited education, he submitted his resume to General Dynamics. At the job interview, the hiring supervisor asked him to start the next day at $7 an hour. After 20 years at the F16 jet manufacturer, he retired at $30 an hour. General Dynamics remembered to reward US combat veterans with honor, respect, and well-earned pay. Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history. A great white shark carcass that washing up on an Australian beach and was likely attacked by a killer whale. Portland Bait and Tackle A great white shark that washed up on a beach in Australia appeared to be half-eaten. Scientists said the shark was likely attacked by an orca that just wanted to eat its liver. Orcas have been documented eating the livers of white sharks in other places, like South Africa. A great white shark that appeared half-eaten when it washed up on an Australian beach had probably been attacked by a killer whale that just wanted its liver, wildlife scientists said. Portland Bait and Tackle in Victoria, Australia, posted photos of the white shark carcass to their Facebook page on Tuesday, calling it "equal parts cool and terrifying." The bait shop manager, Ben Johnstone, told Insider the shark was about 3 meters long, or nearly 10 feet. Johnstone said they believed killer whales had attacked the shark because they had been spotted in the area a couple days prior to the shark carcass appearing on the beach. He also noted that killer whales have been documented attacking white sharks. Killer whales off the coast of South Africa have been documented on several occasions attacking great white sharks specifically to eat their livers. Rare footage captured for Discovery Channel's Shark Week in 2022 showed three orcas killing a great white shark in order to eat its liver. The video supported a study published last year that suggested killer whale attacks had forced white sharks to flee from waters near South Africa. The study also found some of the whales had removed the shark's hearts as well. A great white shark carcass that washing up on an Australian beach and was likely attacked by a killer whale. Portland Bait and Tackle Orcas hunting white sharks has also been documented near Australia, Lauren Meyer, a trophic ecologist at Flinders University, told the Australian outlet ABC News. Meyer said she could not say for sure that the shark carcass had been attacked by a killer whale. But she said that it was likely an orca attacked the shark to "slurp out" its liver. "We see this with things like humpback whales, where [killer whales] come in and actually eat the tongue and leave the rest of the whale," Meyer told ABC. "We certainly see that they prefer the liver of white sharks, mako sharks, bronze whalers and sevengills, and even tiger sharks." Meyer added there have been at least nine documented interactions between white sharks and orcas near Australia and New Zealand. She added she was not surprised to see the carcass wash up in the area, noting its a corridor for white sharks and that orcas are known to hunt there. A great white shark carcass that washing up on an Australian beach and was likely attacked by a killer whale. Portland Bait and Tackle Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist in Australia, also said the shark was likely targeted by an orca for its liver, the Australian outlet 9News reported. Pirotta said orcas are "very strategic and clever" and that scientists are still trying to understand why then can also be such "picky eaters." As for the white sharks that likely fled waters in South Africa over the orca attacks, they've recently been found a study published this month indicated the sharks had actually migrated east. Read the original article on Business Insider Journalist David Grann took a trip out to the Osage Nation in Oklahoma in 2012 after hearing about what happened in the early 1900s. Following the discovery of oil on their land, dozens of Osage were either murdered or died under mysterious circumstances. Inside the Osage Nation Museum in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Grann saw a sweeping panoramic photo of members of the Osage Nation along with white settlers taken in 1924. He then noticed a panel of the photograph had been cut out, and he asked the museum's director why it had been removed. "She said it contained a figure so frightening she had decided to remove it," Grann tells TODAY.com. "And I'll never forget this she then pointed to the missing panel and she said, 'The devil was standing right there.'" The director, Kathryn Red Corn, went to the basement of the museum and pulled the missing panel out for Grann, which depicted a photo of William Hale, a white settler who was later convicted of murder. Mollie Burkhart, played by Lily Gladstone in "I was so haunted by that moment and by that photograph, because the Osage have removed it not to forget what had happened, but because they can't forget," he said. "And yet there were so many people, including myself, who had never been taught this history." Grann then started writing a book, which would later become "Killers of the Flower Moon," about the so-called Reign of Terror, the period that encompasses dozens of murders of Osage and how the investigation into their deaths helped found the modern-day Federal Bureau of Investigation. Grann's book has been adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro as Hale, Leonardo DiCaprio as his nephew Ernest Burkhart and Lily Gladstone as his wife Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman. Killers of The Flower Moon (Melinda Sue Gordon / Apple TV+) The film follows Ernest as he moves to Oklahoma to work for his uncle. He's one of many white settlers who flocked to the area after oil was discovered underneath the Osage reservation. Ernest later meets Mollie, a wealthy member of the Osage Nation, while he's working as her chauffeur. Hale, a beloved member of the community with contacts throughout every aspect of the town including law enforcement, proposes a plan to Ernest if he married Mollie, he would inherit her headrights when she dies, and therefore her oil money. Killers of The Flower Moon (Melinda Sue Gordon / Apple TV+) And so begins a tragic trail of murder and death, as Hale executes the plan to gain oil headrights through the systematic killing of Mollie's family members and other members of the tribe, though he never killed any of them himself. Hale and Ernest would enlist their contacts throughout the town to do the dirty work, and over the course of several years, Mollie's mother and sisters died in horrific ways including a bombing, an execution-style killing and poisoning. Tom White, a Texan investigator with the then-Bureau of Investigation, was directed by the bureaus head, J. Edgar Hoover, to report to the Osage Nation to investigate the deaths. He assembled a group of undercover agents and garnered enough evidence to arrest Hale, Ernest and several of their accomplices. Killers of The Flower Moon (Apple TV+) As depicted in the film, even Mollie, a diabetic, was being poisoned by local doctors through her insulin shots and her husband Ernest administered the tainted vials to his own wife in their home. Once she was taken out of their care, she regained her health and watched her husband and his uncle's trials, according to Grann's book. Hale was later convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Henry Roan, Mollie's cousin, while Ernest pleaded guilty to ordering the bombing that killed Mollie's sister Rita and her husband Bill Smith, according to Granns book. Ernest Burkhart, depicted in Both Hale and Burkhart were sentenced to life in prison, though Burkhart was paroled in 1937 and Hale was released in 1947 after serving 20 years in prison, according to Grann's book. Hale died in 1962 in an Arizona nursing home, and Ernest lived out his days back in Osage County, Oklahoma after he was pardoned. Ernest died in 1986, in a "mice-infested trailer just outside of Osage County," Grann wrote. Margie Burkhart, Ernest and Mollie's granddaughter, said in an interview with Grann that after Ernest's death, his ashes were given to her father and Ernest's son, Cowboy Burkhart, with the instructions to spread them around the Osage Hills. "Those ashes were in the house for days, just sitting there," she told Grann. "Finally, one night my dad got real mad and took the box and just chucked it over a bridge." The true number of victims of the Reign of Terror is unknown, and Hale was not the single conspirator according to his book, Grann discovered what he called a "culture of killing," dozens of deaths occurred from at least 1918 to at least 1931 far further from the range of 1921 to 1926 cited by most historical accounts. As Louis F. Burns, an Osage historian, said in the documentary "Osage Tribal Murders:" "I don't know of a single Osage family which didn't lose at least one family member because of the head rights." This article was originally published on TODAY.com London's King's Cross station has closed due to overcrowding during Storm Babet disruption, Network Rail said. LNER, Avanti West Coast and Northern Rail said their lines were widely flooded, with passengers advised to avoid travelling on Saturday. Network Rail said crowd control measures were in place as it worked to manage passenger numbers on platforms. The company said on X: "Our teams are working hard to get passengers safely on the move." LNER said there was "an extremely limited service" in place due to flooding between Doncaster and Wakefield. The service has also been affected by speed restrictions in Scotland and trains and crews being out of position after extensive disruption on Friday. There were no LNER services north of Edinburgh on Saturday and rail replacement services were not available because of road closures. The train operator said remaining services may be subject to short-notice cancellations. Northern Rail said all lines between Cheadle Hulme in Greater Manchester and Wilmslow, Cheshire, were blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires. Services were also not running from Sheffield to Nottingham or Lincoln due to flooding. Trains were unable to travel between Leeds and Doncaster, Harrogate and Bradford. The line between Newcastle and Morpeth was also closed due to viaduct damage, Northern Rail added. Avanti West Coast said its services were severely disrupted and asked customers not to travel between Crewe and North Wales. It said people should only travel between Preston and Glasgow or Edinburgh if absolutely necessary. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk Speakers of the forum The Kyiv Security Forum on Oct. 23 will feature a presentation of the Atlantic Council's appeal to U.S. President Joe Biden to back Ukraine's accession to NATO. The presentation will be made at a forum special event titled "Bold Agenda for the NATO Summit in Washington in 2024." Read also: Ukraine to finalize detailed plan for pursuing NATO membership by year-end, ambassador says The position of the leading U.S. think tank and Ukraine's American partners will be presented by: John Herbst, Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2003-2006; Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO in 2012-2016, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO in 1998-2001; Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO in 2013-2017. Read also: At security forum, Zelenskyy invites countries to participate in his 10-point plan to stop Russias war Ukraine's position on joining NATO will be discussed by: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016; Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the European Union; Danylo Lubkivskyi, Director of the Kyiv Security Forum. The event will be broadcast live on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by Arseniy Yatsenyuks Open Ukraine Foundation, is the main platform of the state for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security. The next NATO Summit will be held in Washington, DC on July 9-11, 2024. It will be dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the alliance. Read also: Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option After the summer 2023 summit in Vilnius, President Biden said he agreed with the proposed wording of Ukraine's future NATO membership prospects position. Prior to the Vilnius Summit, Ukraine stressed that it expected clear decisions on future membership, the shortest path to it, and a transparent algorithm for joining NATO. For months, Kyiv had been making extraordinary diplomatic efforts to convince NATO members to decide on Ukraine's early accession to the alliance. Against the backdrop of the Vilnius summit, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President's Office, said that Ukraine would receive an invitation to join NATO at the next summit in Washington. 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 Los Angeles City Councilmembers are taking action to create special street vending zones across parts of Los Angeles. On Friday, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion at the City Council meeting to eliminate the no-vending zone on Hollywood Boulevard that has been in place for five years. The no-vending zones were established by the City Council in 2018, prohibiting street vending in those areas. If the motion passes, street vendors, advocacy organizations and community members will work with the city to create a special vending zone on Hollywood Boulevard as part of a first of its kind pilot project. The Hollywood-based project would then expand to a citywide initiative to help improve street vending policies across L.A., Soto-Martinez said. As the son of street vendors, Ive seen firsthand how street vendors are the ultimate entrepreneurs, contributing so much cultural vibrancy to Los Angeles, Soto-Martinez said. The no-vending zone on Hollywood Boulevard targets immigrant street vendors who work so hard to provide for their families. These are the exact people we should be trying to support. The initial phase to create a process to establish the first special vending zone on Hollywood Boulevard is expected to take about 18 to 24 months once the motion is approved. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will host counterparts from around the region in a summit on immigration Sunday (Javier TORRES) When a dozen Latin American presidents and foreign ministers meet on Sunday in Mexico, they'll face a huge task: finding a solution to migration flows roiling two continents as people make their way to the United States. This year alone, 1.7 million migrants arrived at the Mexican-US border. Immigration is becoming a huge political issue in both nations, which each have presidential elections next year. September alone saw 60,000 migrants arrive in Mexico from Venezuela, along with 35,000 Guatemalans and 27,000 Hondurans, according to the Mexican government. "It is very difficult to be able to manage these numbers if we do not have a policy where migration is not only handled between Mexico and the United States, but also from the northern part of South America to the United States," Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said this week before congress. "We need to agree" on migration policy "because we can do many things ourselves" within Latin America, said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He added that Latin American countries, in a united front, should then "seek the cooperation of the US government." In tow at the Chiapas conference will be the presidents of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Venezuela. The Prime Minister of Haiti, Airel Henry, will also attend. Barcena said that the summit aims to discourage migration via economic programs, address Washington's sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba and discuss "labor mobility pathways" to the United States. The Mexican summit is a welcome beginning for "dialogue with the countries of the south," but might not accomplish much, said Dolores Paris Pombo, a migration researcher. Mexico's objective, she told AFP, will be to relieve the migration pressure felt there by pursuing a broader, regional approach. - US deals with Mexico, Venezuela - Amid US economic sanctions and a political and economic crisis, some 7.1 million Venezuelans have fled the country in recent years, creating challenges for its South American neighbors. Additionally, inconsistent US immigration policy -- swinging vastly from former president Donald Trump to current leader Joe Biden -- compound the problem in Latin America, said Paris Pombo. "They give certain priorities to certain countries, but then abruptly close the door and change programs." Biden has pursued several policies to stem the amount of undocumented immigrants coming to the US, including by reaching a deal with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Some 130 Venezuelan migrants arrived back home Wednesday on a chartered plane from the United States on the first such deportation flight following an agreement between the two countries, despite the fact that Washington does not recognize Maduro's 2018 reelection. The United States sends migrants back home, mainly to Central and South America, on about 70 flights every week, authorities said recently. At the same time, the Biden administration also recently offered protection from deportation to 472,000 Venezuelans to allow them to obtain residence and work permits within 18 months -- although this would apply only to those who arrived before July 31 this year. In September, Mexican and US authorities reached a deal for Mexico to deport some migrants expelled there from the United States. sem/axm/nro/tjj Dick Wolf speaks at the TCA WINTER PRESS TOUR 2020 on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, CA. Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images Dick Wolf threatened to stop funding UPenn amid backlash over the school's Israel-Hamas response. Wolf, an alumnus, is calling on the school's president and chair of the board of trustees to resign. His main criticism stems from a Palestinian literature festival held at the school before the war began. Dick Wolf, the creator of the "Law & Order" television franchise and a University of Pennsylvania alumnus, is imploring the school's president to step down over the university's hosting of a controversial Palestinian literature festival that preceded the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, according to a letter obtained by CNN. The television creator is the latest in a list of prominent investors who are vowing to pull their funding from the Ivy League institution after UPenn leaders acknowledged ahead of the Palestine Writes Literature event last month that some of the speakers had made antisemitic comments in the past. In a September 12 statement, university leaders addressed "deep concerns" about several speakers' history of "engaging in antisemitism by speaking and acting in ways that denigrate Jewish people." Coordinators of the event which the university did not organize rejected the narrative that the festival embraced antisemitism, the college's newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, reported. The literary festival occurred weeks before Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month. CNN reported that Wolf, a prominent donor and namesake for the university's Wolf Humanities Center, said he would forgo financial support and "end all donations" to his alma mater unless President Liz Magill resigns her role. "President Magill, I implore you and [chair of the board of trustees] Scott Bok to step down from your UPenn positions before any more unnecessary damage to UPenn," Wolf wrote in a letter obtained by the outlet. "There is no hope for unification in our community until you step aside." Wolf also expressed dismay at the notion that the Wolf Humanities Center "contributed to this hate fest," CNN reported. Wolf told The Daily Pennsylvanian last week that Magill and Bok's leadership "inadequately represented" the UPenn community. Representatives for Wolf and the Palestine Writes Literature Festival did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. A spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania declined to make a copy of Wolf's letter available and instead pointed Insider to a series of recent statements made by university leaders as backlash grew. In a Tuesday statement, Magill acknowledged the growing cohort of angry alumnus, which include hedge fund manager Clifford Asness and Apollo Global Management's Marc Rowan, and said the university stands "emphatically against the terrorist attacks on Israel and against antisemitism." "I've said we should have communicated faster and more broadly about where we stand, but let there be no doubt that we are steadfast in our beliefs," Magill wrote this week. The University of Pennsylvania is not the only higher education institution losing donors and facing intense backlash over its stances amid the war between Israel and Hamas. On Harvard's campus, a collection of student-led groups released an open letter blaming Israel for the October 7 attacks by Hamas. In response, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman called on the school to release the names of students who signed the letter so he and other CEOs don't "inadvertently hire" them. Les Wexner, the billionaire retailer known for brands including Victoria's Secret, also pulled funding from Harvard over the school's response to the Israel-Hamas war. Idan Ofer, one of Israel's wealthiest people, left the board of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, saying his faith in the school's leadership had been "broken" over its response to the attacks. Read the original article on Business Insider Lebanon City Police are asking for residents' help in identifying a vehicle involved with in a shots fired incident on the 300 block of N. 8th Street Thursday night. On Oct. 19, police were dispatched to the area of 8th and Church Streets for a report of shots fired. Police located a white BMW parked on the west side of N. 8th Street north of Church Street, which had numerous bullet holes. "Numerous spent cartridges were located at the Northeast corner of 8th and Church Sts," police said in a press release. Police said a witness described the suspect vehicle as a white Chrysler 300. A single shooter appeared to shoot multiple shots at the unoccupied white BMW. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sgt. Keith Uhrich in the Lebanon City Police Department at (717) 272-6611 or submit a tip through Crimewatch. Lebanon City Police are asking for residents help in identifying a white Chrysler 300 involved with in a shots fired incident on the 300 block of N. 8th Street Thursday night. Triple homicide: Three suspects held for trial in triple homicide of teen, 2 boys in N. 5th St. shooting Regionalized police: N. Lebanon Twp. officials share details about a potential regionalized police department This investigation is ongoing. Please check back with the Lebanon Daily News for updates. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon police looking for info. in shots fired incident on N. 8th St. Three of the founders of the Led By Donkeys activist group, Oliver Knowles, Ben Stewart and James Sadri (HENRY NICHOLLS) A persistent irritant to Britain's ruling Conservatives since its creation after Brexit, campaign group Led by Donkeys has built a big online audience with its largely humour-led attempts at political accountability. Founded by four friends in a pub in 2018, the collective's campaigns and stunts skewering politicians and spotlighting issues get millions of views online -- and often generate mainstream media coverage. They remain best known for their light-hearted early efforts, like plastering ex-prime minister Boris Johnson's optimistic tweets about the joys of life after Brexit to contrast them with the reality. More recent ploys, involving stings by fake companies and covert filming, have had a more serious undertone. After five years and hundreds of initiatives, the group said it still has "plenty of ideas" before the next general election, expected next year. "It's more than just an anti-Tory campaign," Oliver Knowles, one of its four founding fathers, told AFP. He said there is "a bigger mission" for "accountability" across the political spectrum while pushing "more progressive ideas". "For me, the broader mission is: counter the populist narrative of the country," said 44-year-old fellow co-founder James Sadri. - 'Cathartic' satire - Led By Donkeys takes its name from a World War I expression used to describe the incompetent leaders who led British soldiers to their deaths. The four friends formed the collective while they all worked for environmental pressure group Greenpeace, in shared frustration at Britain's dysfunctional politics in the aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum. "We were having a pint in a pub. We started looking at some of the tweets that the Brexiteers have made," recalled another of the quartet, Ben Stewart, 49. "We just burst out laughing, (at) how chaotic the situation was." Stewart was referring to a now-infamous 2015 post by then-prime minister David Cameron as he campaigned for re-election against Labour leader Ed Miliband . "Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice -- stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband," he had posted. Little over a year later, Cameron lost the referendum he had ordered on Britain's European Union membership, and the country tilted into several years of political crises. "There was a six-metre by three-metre billboard outside the window. And we said, 'That's the shape of a tweet, why don't we print it out and just put it up there?'" They soon pasted other tweets on other billboards before photographing them and posting the images online. The campaign quickly went viral. They then launched a crowd-funding operation, which exceeded expectations and allowed them to rent more and more billboard spaces. "For us it was deeply cathartic because we spent so long moaning," said Knowles. - 'Power' - The group's last stunt in September targeted the British government's controversial deal with Rwanda to take migrants who arrive in the UK "illegally" without prior authorisation. Interior minister Suella Braverman insists Rwanda is "a safe country" for asylum seekers, but the policy has been stalled by court challenges. Using undercover cameras, Led By Donkeys captured Rwanda's ambassador in London trivialising the previous killing of refugees there, allegedly by police. "Yes, it might have happened, but so what?" the Rwandan diplomat said on camera. He also branded Braverman as "absolutely wrong" about migration. The video has been viewed nearly six million times on X, formerly Twitter. Another sting in March caught MPs -- including former finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng -- accepting lucrative second job offers from bogus companies, and amassed nearly 30 million views on X. Led by Donkeys has also tackled numerous other serious subjects, including the handling of Covid, typically with their signature brand of satire. Sadri said they specialise in "making an intervention that is not just heavy, political, angry commentary". The old friends still laugh when reminiscing about their various campaigns. "If you're laughing at the donkeys, you're taking away their power," added Sadri. For Knowles, their message to the ruling Conservatives is clear: "You need to be accountable for the mess you made." They have been accused of engaging in anti-Tory activism, but note the group has targeted the main Labour opposition too. Labour appears poised to win the next election after leading in the polls for over a year. Led by Donkeys recently plastered Labour's London headquarters with a large poster to remind leader Keir Starmer of his promise to reform the electoral system. ctx/jwp/jj/fg A Palestinian woman mourns over the bodies of her relatives who were killed in airstrikes that hit a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on Friday. (Abed Khaled / Associated Press) To the editor: How do you teach about the genocide unfolding in the Gaza Strip when your country aids, abets and funds it? ("Israel pounds Gaza but says no plan to control life there after destroying Hamas," Oct. 20) This is the challenge facing anyone seeing the apparently white phosphorus bombs, the bombs so huge that childrens bodies fly out windows, the headlines that note only Israeli deaths and not those of Palestinians (now above 5,000, according to Palestinian officials), and the body count of a half-century of military occupation. Words are banned, their usage unleashing a barrage of hate mail, sanctions and threats. Dont say occupation, cease-fire, genocide, Palestinian, Palestine. Palestinians cannot be a people under a brutal military occupation by a state that has never hidden its goal to eliminate Palestinians from their lands. What to say when to state any of these things is to be accused of antisemitism and, significantly, to face sanctions for saying it? Sherene H. Razack, Los Angeles .. To the editor: As a Muslim, I certainly condemn Hamas. Its actions do not in any way represent Islam. To enact terror in the most brutal form is wrong, and I mourn the loss of Jewish lives. Israel has a right to self-defense, but not an indiscriminate response amounting to genocide, which is what is unfolding. Also, years of Palestinian subjugation and continued loss of land, and basic human rights, is also inhumane and contrary to international law. The Israeli-Palestinian issue is certainly complex. To venture into the discussion is to risk being mocked, vilified and even targeted. But there is a moral common denominator that hopefully all can agree on: We cannot let the innocent die. The images on social media and television of dead children are horrifying. They evoke a universally visceral angst that does not come from religious affiliation or political persuasion, but from basic human decency. I pray that the conflict resolves in the short term, and peace is finally established in the long term. Ahsan M. Khan, Fullerton .. To the editor: If we cannot understand the root cause of the conflict in Israel is the societal sanctioning of violence, we are blind. There is only one choice to avert war: Initiate a process of finding peace. In a place where two peoples who have experienced immeasurable harms are in conflict, peace will only begin with a dual commitment to reconciliation and immediately ending violence. There must be a mutual commitment to establish trust and admit fault. There must be a willingness to sanction those who have chosen violence. Because Israel threatens Gaza with a military force capable of producing total annihilation, Israel must lead in making this commitment. Our leaders must demand this and must acknowledge the humanity and suffering of the Palestinian people. Robert Morrison, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Send letters to the editor (up to 300 words) to editor@tricountyindependent.com. Election-related submissions are due by Oct. 27 in order to be considered for publication by Election Day. As a resident of Pike County, Pennsylvania, for over 40 years I am excited to vote for Christa Caceres for Commissioner. I have spoken with her at length, and I'm impressed with her command of key issues facing the Countyprotecting our water, women's health services, for example. Along with a willingness to listen and work without partisanship, as a woman and mother, Christa will bring a much-needed perspective on our priorities. I vote (across party lines, if necessary) for the person I believe is the best candidate for the job, based on over 30 years of talent acquisition experience, including for important leadership roles. More than ever, I believe we need new talent and a new voice in order to deliver the right results for all citizens of Pike County. Time for Christa! Celeste O'Neil, Milford Borough More letters: Letters: Christa Caceres opposes mega-warehouse in Pike County I am writing in support of Christa Caceress election campaign for Pike County Commissioner, in particular her articulate, non-partisan advocacy for the women and girls who make up almost half of the countys residents. Christa proposed the creation of the Pike County Womens Commission, of which she is the founding member and chairwoman, working with the current commissioners to formulate a resolution that was passed in August 2022. The resolution states that the Pike County Women's Commission will work towards the advancement of women and girls "of all backgrounds in Pike County. It will serve as an advisory group to the Pike County Commissioners for the purpose of evaluating the concerns and needs of the female population of the county and to make recommendations on how to address them. It will also seek to acknowledge women's local history and to "give boys and men a fuller understanding of womens abilities and rights. Regardless of your political affiliation, I urge you to cast your vote for Christa: either by mail, or in person on Election Day, November 7th. Nancy Schoenleber, Milford Borough More letters: Pike voters discuss county commissioner race Im writing in support of Christa Caceres campaign for Pike County Commissioner. Christa is a 20-year Lehman Township resident with an extraordinary record of community service. Shes on the board of the Greater Pike Community Foundation, Poconos United Way, Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce and is Vice President of the Saw Creek Estates Community Association, helping to oversee an $8 million budget, 150 employees and 40+ miles of roads. She worked for Congressman Matt Cartwright for five years, helping seniors, veterans and others navigate governmental bureaucracies. Shes been endorsed by Congressman Cartwright, as well as former Governor Ed Rendell (who considers her one of the best-prepared Commissioner candidates hes ever seen), Republican Lehman Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Rohner (who welcomes her record of bi-partisanship), the Pike County Democratic Committee, Delaware Valley Action, Planned Parenthood, PA Conservation Voters and others. Governor Shapiro appointed her as Vice Chair of the Governors Commission on African-American Affairs and the Pike County Commissioners appointed her the founding chair of the Pike County Commission on Women. Impressive background, right? Yet, one of her opponents says she isnt qualified to be Commissioner and considers her an entry level candidate. Would anyone suggest that a man with such an impressive background as Christas was unqualified? A few months ago, when she was thinking about running, one of the incumbent Commissioners told her it wasnt her turn. That might have been the moment when she decided definitively to run. Please vote for Christa Caceres for Pike County Commissioner on November 7. Mayor Sean Strub, Milford Borough With the upcoming elections a little over 3 weeks away, I am writing to urge voters considering the candidates for Pike County Commissioner, to continue to support and re-elect Matt Osterberg and Ron Schmalzle. With all of the turmoil swirling around us in the Middle East and among our leaders in Washington, who it would seem have forgotten the importance of stability to the collective well being of their constituents and meaningful progress for the people they are elected to represent. Thankfully, that is not the case in Pike County where these two current commissioners continue to provide focused, dedicated leadership on issues that matter to the people of the county, despite the distractions at all levels that could easily prevent success for our county. Matt and Ron continue to lead the fight for improved delivery of Fire and Emergency Medical Services in the county as well working diligently to bring enhanced levels of Healthcare services to the county. Their efforts in these areas has garnered statewide recognition as models for outside the box thinking. They stand for responsible development of new businesses, both to broaden the employment opportunities for local residents and expand the tax base. They have re- engaged with representatives of the National Park Service regarding the impacts of policies and practices within the DWGNRA on the residents of the communities in the county that border the park and have worked to develop improved partnerships to this end. As the county has continued to grow through the pandemic and succeeding years they have steadfastly fought for more commitment from the Commonwealth for improvements to infrastructure that are sorely needed in our growing county. Reelecting Commissioners Osterberg and Schmalzle will insure that our county leaders will continue to seek and find balance in the needs of our population and the established character of Pike County. And that all decisions will be based in the integrity of leaders who say what they mean and mean what they say for the benefit of all constituents. Please don't be distracted by the storms on state, national and international fronts stay the course and vote for Matt and Ron for a continued bright future in Pike County. George F. Beodeker, Delaware Township Tony Waldron has my vote for Pike County Commissioner! My volunteer positions, interests, and work have intersected with Tony Waldron over 20+ years. Consistently Tonys breadth of experience, knowledge base, and commitment to progress have been evident and impactful. Tonys law practice has focused on land use and local government law. As attorney for several Pike County Townships over the years Tony knows the authority of municipalities for zoning & subdivision regulations and how the County Commissioners can best support that role. Tony and I worked in the early 2000s to implement Pike Countys Visioning Plan -an effort to assist municipalities and the county plan for the next 20 years, particularly for land use. With partner organizations, county, and local governments and as a member of The Alliance to Keep Pike Green, Tony was instrumental in passing the Scenic Rural Character Preservation (SRCP) Bond in 2005. Tony later served on the SRCP Board, implementing the funds for protecting drinking water, wildlife habitat, open space, rivers and lakes and for improved county and municipal planning. Tony Waldron is known throughout Pennsylvania as an expert attorney for land conservation and the protection of natural resources. Hes had a hand in protecting over 8000 acres in Pike County and in promoting municipal regulations and zoning to enhance protection of our natural resources. Other candidates talk about protecting water but Tony knows Pennsylvanias system of government and has literally worked with decision makers from municipal, county, state and federal government to procure results. Tony Waldron has shown us that he has the experience necessary to be an effective County Commissioner. I am confident that Tony will continue to work on behalf of the needs and concerns of all the citizens of Pike County. Vote for Tony Waldron! Cindy Wildermuth, Tafton If you are undecided on who to vote for on the Democratic side of the Pike County commissioners election, ask yourself these questions: Which candidate has worked with 11 of the 13 Pike County municipalities as solicitor, advising the local supervisors or zoning boards on the legal aspects of land use regulations and applications and other issues that arise at the township and borough level? Ask those townships their opinion of the two Democratic candidates. Which candidate has over 42 years of experience and education on land use, conservation, and local government management issues? Which candidate has spent the last 22 months doing the job of county commissioner, significantly contributing to issues involving the Public Defenders office, the development of a community hospital, the funding for public sewer projects, and opportunities to continue land preservation? The fact is, Pike County voter registration is approximately 50% Republican, 29% Democrat, and 21% other. The likelihood of those registered voters electing 2 Democrats and just 1 Republican is slim to none. Which candidate brings the knowledge and experience that will guide informed decision-making for the benefit of Pike County residents? Vote to Keep Anthony Waldron Commissioner. Molly Rodgers, Palmyra Township (Pike County) This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Letters: Caceres, Osterberg, Schmalzle, Waldron voters make cases Ryan Quarles has worn many hats in Kentucky: a farmer, a state Representative, agriculture commissioner and a Republican candidate for governor. Starting on Jan. 1, Quarles will take on a new role as president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. I would hate to be defined by a single genre, Quarles said. Throughout my life, Ive farmed, Ive practiced law, Ive taught in the classroom, Ive been a legislator and policymaker, and Commissioner of Agriculture. Im thrilled to continue my passion for public service towards the Commonwealth in a new role. Quarles has two degrees in higher education: a doctorate in higher education administration from Vanderbilt University and a masters degree in higher education from Harvard University. (He has seven college degrees in total, five from the University of Kentucky, including a juris doctor.) Quarles was named one of three finalists for the position in September, and was eventually selected as the president. He ran as a Republican candidate for governor in 2023 and finished second in the primary behind Attorney General Daniel Cameron. A native of Georgetown, Quarles grew up on his familys farm. He has served two terms as the states agriculture commissioner, and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016. While in college at UK, he was a student representative on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, which he said was foundational for his career in higher education. His mother was a professor at Kentucky State University and got a PhD as an adult. Quarles said she inspired him to never stop learning and emphasized the importance of education. When I applied for the KCTCS presidency, this was an extension of a lifelong dream of mine to help better Kentucky with better educational outcomes, he said. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles speaks during the Fancy Farm picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Quarles will complete his term as agriculture commissioner, with the candidate elected in November taking over on Jan. 1 as he moves into the KCTCS presidency. The president leads KCTCS, overseeing Kentuckys 16 community and technical colleges. Paul Czarapata left the position in February. Larry Ferguson, president of Ashland Community and Technical College, has been serving as acting president. Dr. Quarles proven statewide leadership, his relationships across Kentucky and in Washington, D.C., as well as his outstanding educational background in higher education administration, make him the clear choice to move our system forward, said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair Barry Martin. Long-term, Quarles said he hopes to focus on workforce development and making KCTCS accessible to Kentuckians. But in the first weeks as president, Quarles said he will be preparing for the 2024 legislative session, which convenes on Jan. 2, and begin looking for opportunities to work with businesses across the state, learning about what employers need and are looking for. I believe KCTCS is the most influential asset Kentucky has for solving our workforce needs across the Commonwealth, Quarles said. More than 100,000 students were enrolled at KCTCS colleges last year, with the largest schools in Louisville and Lexington, according to the systems data. The type of students at KCTCS can vary widely, from high school students taking dual enrollment courses, to adult learners studying for their second career, to technical training. Quarles, who himself was considered an adult learner while getting his degree from Vanderbilt, said he views the number of different learning opportunities as a strength of the system. But its also an opportunity to make education more accessible, he said. Our community and technical college system should be a school for anybody and everybody that wants to improve themselves, whether theyre in high school or an adult learner, or somebody that just always wanted to complete a degree, even in their retirement, Quarles said. Though some may have questions about how his previous roles relate to higher education, Quarles said he hopes people will consider how his time as a legislator and working in state government could be an advantage for KCTCS. For those who are just getting to know me, my background as a legislator and a statewide office holder should be looked at not as a defining attribute, but as an asset that I can use to help navigate and better KCTCS, Quarles said. I shouldnt be typecast into the positions Ive held previously because at the end of the day, Im just a farm kid that worked hard on a tobacco farm. Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles was among several GOP gubernatorial candidates who spoke at the Warren County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. A Lincoln High School Student faces charges after shooting a classmate on campus with an airsoft gun. The 16-year-old boy was arrested Oct. 20, on scene, and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. A Lincoln High School student was arrested for bringing an airsoft gun onto campus and shooting a classmate. An investigation was launched Friday morning after a "distressed student" told staff members they had been shot, according to a Leon County Sheriff's Office news release. "The student was identified as a 16-year-old male," LCSO said of the suspect, who was not named. "An administrative search of his vehicle lead to the discovery of the airsoft rifle in the back seat." The school resource officer arrested the boy on campus and transported him to the Juvenile Assessment Center. He is facing charges of felony possession of a dangerous weapon on campus. He confessed to shooting the other student, and no other injuries were reported. "Parents and guardians are urged to have open and candid discussions with their children regarding the importance of adhering to the district's zero tolerance policy for weapons on campus," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee student arrested for shooting classmate with airsoft gun Fire chief Mark Baxter said 30 to 40 people in Wainfleet had been evacuated Residents in Lincolnshire have told of their heartache after homes were flooded by Storm Babet. The Environment Agency (EA) said more than a month's rain fell in the county in 24 hours, while 23 flood warnings remain in place. Lincolnshire's chief fire officer Mark Baxter said more than 150 properties across the county had been flooded. One resident of Wainfleet, where dozens of people were told to evacuate their homes, said: "Everyone is worried." Follow live updates: Storm Babet According to the EA, "multiple" homes in Horncastle have also been affected. Mark Baxter, chief fire officer of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), said "30 to 40 people" in Wainfleet had been evacuated, with about 10 properties affected. A rest centre had been established in the town, he added. In total, he said more than 150 properties across Lincolnshire had flooded. Christine Webb, one of those evacuated in Wainfleet, said: "It has flooded up the drive. It's not far off the front door. It's worrying but everyone is in the same situation. " Also in Wainfleet, the BBC spoke to Colin Blackburn as he was packing bags after being advised to evacuate. He said: "We're packing everything away in boxes, loading the van and getting everything taken away." LFRS said it had taken 500 flood-related calls in the past 24 hours. Elsewhere, BBC Radio Lincolnshire reported the River Bain had burst its banks at Tattershall. Properties and nearby RAF Coningsby were so far unaffected. Across the UK, three people have died in the storm. The BBC is not aware of any flood-related casualties in Lincolnshire. Richard Fenwick, head of highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said 13 roads remained closed. Mr Fenwick said the focus would turn to what happened as the flood water receded after what he described as "an interesting night". He added: "As all that water goes away from the roads, and unfortunately, where it has got into properties, it will naturally get into water courses and then there is a risk that this water could cause overtopping. That's the phase we're moving into." The peak, from the highways team's perspective, came on Friday afternoon and evening, he said. "Since the rain has died down a bit in the early hours we have caught up with reports that have come in." Mr Fenwick said his team had responded to 264 flood-related incidents on Lincolnshire's roads. "We have crews all over the county trying to keep up with all the issues that there are. "We expect there will be flood water across Lincolnshire for the remainder of the day," he said. "People should be careful." Helen Tooley, divisional commander at LFRS, said crews were checking on residents whose homes had been flooded but added: "It's really difficult because we have had so much rain. We need somewhere to pump water to so unfortunately we are really limited to what we can do." Ben Thornely, the Environment Agency's area flood risk manager, said "between a month and two months of rain" fell in 24 hours. Teams were working with residents to deal with the impact of the "devastating" downpour, he said. He urged people to ensure they had signed up for flood alerts by entering details on the agency's website. On Friday, the council said flooding had been recorded across swathes of the county, with Woodhall Spa, Horncastle ands Kirkby on Bain particularly badly affected. The BBC is aware areas around Market Rasen were also badly hit. BBC Look North weather presenter Keeley Donovan said by midday on Friday 63mm (2.5in) of rain had fallen in Waddington - more than double the average monthly amount. Analysis By Paul Murphy, BBC Look North environment correspondent These are some of the worst floods in living memory in Lincolnshire. They have been especially damaging because exceptionally heavy rainfall has been so widespread across the county. The network of drains, pumps and flood gates used to regulate water simply cannot cope with this volume of water. The fire service is working around the clock to pump out flooded properties. The challenge they face is where to pump the flood water when all the streams, rivers and lakes are full to capacity or overflowing. Mild temperatures mean a warmer atmosphere capable of holding more water vapour. Like many other parts of the UK, Lincolnshire has suffered more than a month's worth of rain over the last 24 hours. Extensive road flooding means a largely rural county of high car dependency is facing paralysis. Some communities are even cut off and surrounded by water. The advice is only make essential trips. Numerous vehicles have been abandoned in the flood water. Tens of thousands of acres of some of the best farmland in the country are now under water. Brown streams run down country lanes as valuable soils are being washed away. Newly sown crops are carried with them - the wheat that farmers had hoped to harvest next year. Some communities have only just recovered from the last series of devastating floods. In 2019 dozens of properties in Wainfleet were inundated after the banks of the Steeping River collapsed. Parts of Wainfleet are once again under water and homes are again being evacuated. The river bank is being overtopped - this is bad enough - but should the bank breach again the swollen river will cause extensive misery. Even places where special flood protection has been put in place have suffered. In recent years more than 8m was invested in flood storage ponds above Horncastle. These may have played a role in reducing the impact of Storm Babet but many properties in the town were still under water today. This is a county where huge efforts have been made to adapt to the new realities of flood risk. But rain events like those of the last 48 hours are becoming more potent and more frequent as our climate changes. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Palestinians carry an injured person on a stretcher after an airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Aid deliveries have begun moving into the besieged Gaza Strip, two weeks after the militant group Hamas rampaged through southern Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes. Israel says Hamas has freed two American hostages who had been held in Gaza since the war began Oct. 7. Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Gaza, an area swollen by civilians who fled there from the north on Israeli instructions. Israels military spokesman said the country planned to step up its attacks starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas. The war, which is in its 15th day on Saturday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that the death toll has reached 4,385, while 13,561 people have been 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: U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY ORDERS MORE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN MIDDLE EAST U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced late Saturday he was sending additional air defense systems to the Middle East as well as putting more troops on prepare-to-deploy orders. Austin said the U.S. would be delivering a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, battery along with additional Patriot missile defense system batteries to locations throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. troops. Bases in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly targeted by drones in the days since hundreds were killed in a hospital blast in Gaza, and the destroyer USS Carney intercepted land attack cruise missiles in the Red Sea shot from Yemen on Thursday. Austin said he had also placed additional forces on prepare-to-deploy orders, part of prudent contingency planning as the U.S. and others brace for the potential of a wider regional conflict and as Israel prepares to launch a ground assault into Gaza. He said he gave the orders after detailed discussions with President Joe Biden on the recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the region. ISRAEL STRIKES UNDERGROUND COMPOUND AT WEST BANK MOSQUE, MILITARY SAYS Israeli Defense Forces said a military aircraft launched a strike early Sunday on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The IDF said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been using an underground terror route beneath the mosque. One Palestinian was killed in the shelling, Palestinian Red Crescent said. Tensions have risen in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. ITALIAN PREMIER GOES TO ISRAEL ROME Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has made a trip to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, her office said. The meeting Saturday came after Meloni participated in a summit in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war. Meloni's office said that in her meeting she reiterated the right of Israel to defend itself under international law and to live in peace while also underlining "the importance of guaranteeing humanitarian access to Gaza and a prospect of peace for the region. Her office said she brought a message of solidary and Italy's closeness following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAKS WITH 2 FREED HOSTAGES WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has spoken on the phone with two freed Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. It was the first such hostage release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage. Video of Biden speaking with them by phone was posted Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He told the mother and daughter that he was glad they had been released. Were going to get them all out, God willing, he said. Natalie thanked Biden for his services to Israel. Judith said they are in good health. Hamas said it released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government. Family members have said Judith and Natalie 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. ___ This item has been corrected to reflect that the video was posted Saturday, not that Biden spoke to them on Saturday. ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL INCREASE ATTACKS ON GAZA Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, Israel's military spokesman says. Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand. We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today, Hagari said. He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety. UN AGENCIES SAY MORE AID IS NEEDED CAIRO United Nations aid agencies said a first 20-truck convoy of assistance that reached Gaza Saturday was only a small beginning and far from enough. The agencies, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Program and others, said in a joint statement that more than 1.6 million people are in critical need of humanitarian aid. Vulnerable people are at greatest risk and children are dying at an alarming rate and being denied their right to protection, food, water and health care, they said. The agencies, which also include the U.N. population fund and UNICEF, called for a humanitarian cease-fire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza. Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent hostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more, they said. DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS SAYS GAZA HOSPITALS ARE OVERWHELMED CAIRO Doctors Without Borders says Gazas health care system is facing collapse. The global medical group said Saturday that hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and lacking resources amid continued Israeli airstrikes and siege following Hamas unprecedented attack on Oct. 7. The groups warning come after Medhat Abbas, an official with the Gaza health ministry, said early Saturday that five hospitals has stopped functioning and two others were partly out of service. We recently made a large donation of medical stock, including medicines, narcotics and medical equipment to Al Shifa hospital, the main surgical facility in the strip, the group, known by its French acronym MSF, wrote on X platform. An nurse with the aid group in Gaza, Loay Harb, said that when the supplies were delivered to the hospital, she and others saw hundreds of people taking shelter and it was difficult to walk inside. PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE SUMMIT CAIRO Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for an international peace summit to bring about the end of the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking at a conference in Cairo on Saturday, Abbas reiterated his complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides. He also urged the release of all civilians, prisoners, and detainees, likely alluding to some 210 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, a government exercising semi-autonomous control in the West Bank. The government is deeply loathed among Palestinians, who view it as corrupt and collaborationist with Israel. Hamas seized control of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip in 2007 and enjoys a strong base of support in the West Bank. ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HIT SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip A barrage of Israeli airstrikes on Gazas southern city of Khan Younis near a U.N. school struck several residential buildings, prompting a frantic rescue effort as medics rushed several dead bodies and dozens of wounded Palestinians to the hospital. At the Hamouda family home seven people were killed and 40 others were wounded, survivors told The Associated Press at the scene of the attack. CAIRO SUMMIT CAIRO At a summit of world leaders in Cairo focused on ways to de-escalate the raging Israel-Hamas war, representatives from Arab and European nations called for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and appealed for protection of civilians in the strip. Several Arab leaders, including Egypt and Jordan, took the opportunity to castigate the international community over its inaction and a double standard they said that the world displayed on the devastating Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza. The response of the world, the office of President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi said, displayed a shortcoming in the values of the international community in addressing crises. While we see one place officials rushing and competing to promptly condemn the killing of innocent people, we find incomprehensible hesitation in denouncing the same act in another place, it said in reference to fierce Western condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel and a weaker reaction to Palestinian suffering. The summit did not immediately produce any statements about the prospects of a cease-fire UN MONITOR SAYS MORE AID IS NEEDED JERUSALEM - A United Nations monitor says the 20 trucks of aid delivered to Gaza are just a tiny fraction of what is needed by some 1.4 Palestinians who have been displaced since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Normally, 500 trucks pass through crossings into Gaza every day. The 20 trucks that arrived Saturday were the first to arrive there in two weeks. Andrea De Domenico is the head of the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian Territories. He says UNWRA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is working the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization to direct the aid to those most in need. But he said it will be challenging to get aid into the hands of people who are not staying at U.N. facilities. The aid consists of canned food such as tuna, basic medical supplies, medicines, and water. He said the U.N. is pushing for an unimpeded flow of aid into the strip through the Rafah crossing, but that discussions of further aid are mired in deliberations between parties. If we dont stabilize the supply pipeline, Domenico said, we head toward catastrophe. DUAL CITIZENS CAN'T GET OUT OF GAZA RAFAH, Gaza Strip Palestinian Americans and other dual citizens rushed to southern Gazas Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday as 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered the besieged strip that has staggered under shortages of medicine and food. Even as embassies asked their citizens in Gaza to stand ready at the border, crowds of disappointed Palestinians holding American, Canadian, German and British passports waited hours in vain for at least fifth time this week. There is no opening of the crossing, and the suffering is the same, said U.S. citizen Dina al- Khatib. They communicate with us, but there is no change. With a humanitarian disaster brewing in Gaza, al-Khatib said she and her family were desperate to get out. Its is not like previous wars, she said. There is no electricity, no water, no internet, nothing. IDF OFFICIAL: PRIVATE HOMES CAN BE LEGITIMATE TARGETS IF HAMAS MILITANTS ARE IN THEM JERUSALEM A senior Israel Defense Forces official says the military will try not to strike zones in Gaza where humanitarian aid is being distributed, unless rockets are fired from the area. Its a safe zone. We have a system which every time we decide that an area is a safe zone, we declare no attack in this area. We wont attack them, he told a group of foreign journalists. He added that the definition of what constitutes a legitimate target has changed, because the use of civilian infrastructure by Hamas turns a private home into a legitimate target. And anyone who supports that home is a legitimate target. He acknowledged that the IDF has attacked houses where there are civilians living among militants. Julia Frankel in Jerusalem. Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, has told Mrs Soulsby the victims bill will recognise the work she has done - GEOFF PUGH/GEOFF PUGH Alex Chalk has promised to do everything he can to help a mother in her battle to keep the sadistic killer of her daughter behind bars. In a face-to-face meeting with Doreen Soulsby, the Justice Secretary told her that legislation in next months Kings speech would answer many of her demands for reforms to the way victims are treated by the criminal justice system. Mrs Soulsby has been fighting for 26 years to hold Stephen Ling to account for the rape and murder of her 29-year-old daughter Joanne Tulip on Christmas Day 1997. Ling, who is now 48, raped Joanne before stabbing her 60 times after luring the hairdresser to his home in Stamfordham, Northumberland. He carved images on her body including swastikas and crosses. Mrs Soulsby successfully persuaded Mr Chalks predecessor Dominic Raab to block Lings attempt to move to an open prison the first time such powers had been used. But she now faces a further parole attempt by Ling on Nov 14 and 15. Ling had sought to have his parole application held in secret but, again, Mrs Soulsby persuaded a judge to require it to be heard in public. Stephen Ling, who raped and murdered Doreen Soulsby's daughter Joanne - JOE PINKSTONE To her fury, Ling has refused to appear on camera, which even Mr Chalk cannot overturn, and will instead be heard but not seen when the parole board convenes at the Royal Courts of Justice. Mr Ling has chosen not to appear on camera, therefore this is not a public parole board hearing. He is not facing up to what he has done, Mrs Soulsby told Mr Chalk. Lings parole application is possible only because, although he was jailed for life, the minimum term he has to serve was set at 18 years, meaning he can apply for parole every two years from that point. If the Governments forthcoming Victim and Prisoners Bill had been in force on the day Joanne died, Ling would have been subject to a whole life term under Mr Chalks plans for sadistic or sexual killers never to be released. The legislation cannot apply retrospectively, which is why Mrs Soulsby will do all she can to lobby whoever she can and publicise her plight to keep a man she describes as a monster caged. We dont want him to come out, she told The Telegraph after her meeting with Chalk. She believes the killers sexual deviancy means he will remain a threat and that justice was never done for the pain he caused her and her family. He has never been tried for the rape, as it was ruled by the judge a secondary, less serious offence. I screamed and screamed and screamed, she recalled of the Christmas Day morning she was told of her daughters murder. All the little kids, all my grandchildren were wondering what was wrong with Granny. Memories of the murder She remembers switching off the oven with the turkey in it and the dismal, dark journey through the rolling Northumberland countryside to the nearby police station at Hexham. Thats why we dont have Christmas, she said. She and her second husband Wayne, 72, leave Britain every December to visit a country that doesnt celebrate Christmas to avoid the painful memories of the murder of her bubbly, party-loving, never-think-ill-of-anyone daughter whose innocence and naivete was brutally exploited by Ling, a big, abrasive, surly farmworker. They return only on Christmas Eve to be with her daughter at her grave. I think of her all the time, said Mrs Soulsby. I cant stand Christmas. I cant stand the hype. Its too much. We go away most of December to somewhere that doesnt celebrate Christmas. Mrs Soulsby said Mr Chalk told her the severity of the crime could not have been worse. Mr Chalk said: He said he would do everything he could to help. He said the victims Bill in the Kings Speech will recognise the work you have done. It will have my name on it. Joanne Tulip was brutally murdered in a truly horrifying attack and it was humbling to meet Ms Soulsby who has campaigned tirelessly for her daughter for 26 years. Public protection is my top priority, which is why we are changing the law to ensure sadistic killers can spend the rest of their lives in prison and introducing a check on the release of the most dangerous offenders. For 26 years, Mrs Soulsby has campaigned for victims to have more information about offenders progress and status, which will be set in legal stone by the Bill. It will give ministers a veto over the release of the most dangerous criminals and beef up the parole board with ex-police and prison officers to take a more robust approach to justice. Reading from a sheet typed neatly in block capitals as she made her final appeal to Mr Chalk in their meeting, she said: I would ask you to take on board everything we have discussed and block any parole board recommendation to open prison or into the community. Its our family serving a life sentence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. by Xinhua writer Yin Xiaosheng BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- "On the ten years anniversary we can declare the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) an amazingly successful initiative," said Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations. Commending the pioneering role of the initiative in promoting employment and alleviating poverty, Solheim said, "Nearly 150 countries take part in the BRI and benefit from the investments, trade, technology transfer and people to people contact with China." Solheim, also former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, highly appreciated the accomplishments of the initiative in advancing sustainable development. "China has defeated air and water pollution much faster than any other nation," he said, referring to China's Zhejiang province as a world leader in river conservation, and the cities of Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shenzhen as among the world's greenest cities. "This gives China enormous strength in sharing experiences with other nations." The BRI, he said, has contributed very important green rail corridors in Kenya, Ethiopia, Laos and most recently in Indonesia. Overseas BRI projects have been paying much emphasis on local environmental protection, fostering harmonious development of human and nature. Solheim also spoke positively of China's decision to stop building coal plants overseas, which "coincide with similar developments in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya and many other nations along the BRI." "The BRI is progressively greener, with a massive focus on solar, wind, hydro and green transport. In the future, it will be the world's number one vehicle for green investments," he said. Solheim emphasized the need for increased cooperation between Europe and China, which is "critical for environment protection, global economic development and world peace." He criticized the "de-risking" narrative as "decoupling" in essence, which is "a stupid and dangerous way of scoring own goals." Both de-risking and decoupling will lead to impoverishment and escalate the likelihood of conflict, he said. "We need to find the right balance between competition and cooperation. This demands a strong and open dialogue between Europe and China," said the environmental protection expert. Enditem (Li Ruojia contributed to the story.) An area emergency medical service (EMS) employee is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing drugs from an EMS branch. Ashlee Heinl-Botkin, 29, of Coldwater, was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on 20 counts, including several felony counts of theft of drugs, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, and tampering with records. She was also charged with misdemeanor counts of theft and possession of drugs, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced Saturday. >>Felony Lane Gang: Area police arrest 2 people believed to be part of nationwide crime ring The charges stem from an investigation that started in July after a routine inventory at the Coldwater EMA facility found that medication was missing from a secured medication box. Heinl-Botkin is a member of Coldwater EMS, according to Grey. The investigation was reported to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration and included assistance from the Ohio Board of Nursing. Heinl-Botkin was arrested Saturday morning and is being held in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility without bond until further order of the court. Twice-impeached former president Donald Trump was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after he violated a gag order by attacking a court clerk on social media. Reports show that Trump was issued the fine for a blatant violation of the gag order imposed on the ex-president during the early days of his civil fraud trial. Former President Donald Trump after being arrested in the Georgia RICO election interference case after they allegedly worked to overturn the election results in Georgia. (Photo: Fulton County Sheriffs Office) Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron also warned the wayward former president that future violations would result in Trump being held for contempt and possible jail time. Trending Today: Make no mistake, wrote Engoron. 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. Trump was issued the gag order after he wrote on Truth Social that Justice Engorons clerk, Allison Greenfield, was running this case against me on Oct. 3. Trump deleted the post from Truth Social but left the post on his website for weeks. Are we sure this is not a CULT? I hate using the word CULT to describe a political ideology but as a judge threatens to literally lock him up, this is what Trump just posted on his TruthSocial account moments ago. What does Jesus Christ have to do with Trumps court battles? pic.twitter.com/1CKwhhLDbn Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 20, 2023 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. The $250 million fraud trial was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against The Trump Organization, Trump, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. for exaggerating their assets to secure loans and obtain tax benefits. Trump also attacked James online, revealing her address and claiming she was ranting and raving like a lunatic. He also referred to her as Letitia Peekaboo James and accused her of being racist. The fine was issued on Oct. 20 and marks the first time the former president has been punished for his gag-order violations. Trumps attorney, Christopher Kise, apologized to the court and claimed that the 77-year-old did not mean to violate the gag order. 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. After news broke of Engorons order, Trump critics took to social media, calling for an expedition in his arrest, leading the phrase, lock him up to trend on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Lock him up! pic.twitter.com/l9eDmPI3V4 Gale Turner Strong (@GaleTStrong) October 20, 2023 The judge also noted the danger of Trumps rhetoric. In the current overheated climate, incendiary untruths can, and in some cases already have, led to serious physical harm, and worse. Trump was impeached and later criminally indicted for inciting the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., where five people lost their lives and 140 officers were injured. According to ABC News, the riot lasted seven hours, with at least 10,000 people storming the Capitol grounds. At least 2,000 rioters forced their way inside the building. Read the original story here. London Kings Cross train station has been forced to close as Storm Babet brings severe disruption to Britains rail network. Train operators around the UK advised customers not to travel on Saturday due to widespread flooding caused by the storm, which has killed three people and seen trapped residents airlifted from their homes. With a second rare red weather alert for rain having been put in place and hundreds of flood warnings in force across England and Scotland, flights from Leeds Bradford airport finally began to resume some 24 hours after a plane skidded off the runway in high winds while carrying 195 passengers and crew, none of whom were injured. Emergency services attended the scene after a passenger plane came off the runway at Leeds Bradford airport (Danny Lawson/PA) But with train lines widely inoperable, Kings Cross was forced to shut in order to manage passenger numbers on the concourse and on platforms, due to disruption to LNER services with footage posted on social media showing huge crowds amassed both inside and outside the station. At 5:30pm, Network Rail said it had removed the temporary crowd control measures, some five hours after they were announced. There is an extremely limited service in place due to flooding between Doncaster and Wakefield, LNER said, while there are no LNER services north of Edinburgh on Saturday, with rail replacement services also unavailable because of road closures. Remaining services may be subject to short-notice cancellations, the train operator said, while Avanti West Coast and Northern Rail have also warned against travelling. There are no services from Sheffield to Nottingham or Lincoln due to flooding, while trains are also unable to travel between Leeds and Doncaster, Harrogate and Bradford. Residents were rescued from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk (PA) All lines between Cheadle Hulme in Greater Manchester and Wilmslow, in Cheshire, are blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires. The line between Newcastle and Morpeth is also closed due to viaduct damage, Northern Rail added. Avanti West Coast said its services are severely disrupted and has asked customers to not travel between Crewe and North Wales. It said people should only travel between Preston and Glasgow or Edinburgh if absolutely necessary. At Leeds Bradford airport, the first flight out on Saturday was a Jet2 flight to Heraklion, which had been due to depart at 6am. It took off at 2.17pm. Tui customers who were due to travel from Leeds Bradford on Saturday were being directed to Manchester airport instead, the airline said. Experts say Babet is an extraordinary storm which has been fuelled by several factors, including the impact of a typhoon on the jet stream and rising temperatures. The two red weather alerts for rain in eastern Scotland are the first issued by the Met Office since Storm Dennis in 2020, which left at least three people dead. Several flood warnings were issued along the length of the River Don as heavy rain continues in Kintore, Scotland (Getty Images) People in up to 100 homes across Angus have been rescued from their flooded homes, with some airlifted out, according to the councils resilience, risk and safety chief Jacqui Semple, who added: Were not out of the woods by a long shot. In England, more than 300 flood warnings and three severe warnings around the River Derwent in Derbyshire have been issued by the Environment Agency since Thursday, with the greatest numbers in Yorkshire, and the East and West Midlands. Ongoing flooding is probable on some larger rivers including the Severn, Ouse and Trent through to Tuesday, said the agencys flood duty manager Katharine Smith. Additional reporting by PA Lost bones, dreams and water: Life and death at the foot of one of the worlds biggest coal mines "Where there is water, there is life. Without it, where are we going to live?" asks Leobardo Sierra, a 48-year-old Wayuu Indigenous leader from Colombia. He lives at the foot of Cerrejon in La Guajira, one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines. Sierra built his house in line with traditional Bahareque techniques, using sticks and mud. At his wood-burning kitchen stove, he boils water to make his daily tinto, plain coffee with water. He leads a humble lifestyle, far removed from consumerism, which comforts him. "I don't need millions of euros to live well," he says. The Cerrejon mine hit the region like a black hole in 1984, causing damage to the water supply, health, spirituality and culture of the communities from La Guajira. Pregnant women fear that their children will be born sick. Bed sheets left to dry outside turn black from the mine particles. And speaking out against the mine comes with retaliation, threats and forced evacuations. Leobardo Sierra in his house made with the ancestral technique of Bahareque. - Juan Amaru Rodriguez. Sierra grew up without the mine, and his childhood memories are vivid. "Before, we used to go fishing, hunting, collecting and gathering medicinal plants. Now it's almost impossible because they send people to watch over us. If the mine had never come, things would be better off," he says. A few metres from his house is one of the few water sources that the community managed to save: the Bruno Creek. In 2016, the Cerrejon mining company was granted permission to divert the creek three kilometres from its natural course, but the local communities challenged this in court. The Colombian Constitutional Court ruled in their favour, stating that there was uncertainty regarding the social and environmental impacts of the diversion. But six years on, the monitoring body on this ruling found that Cerrejon had not complied with it. Locals say the coal arrives in Europe tainted with blood Where Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities saw their home and sacred trees, mining giants saw a million-dollar opportunity to extract tonnes of coal. Cerrejon exports most of its coal abroad and is owned by the Swiss multinational Glencore - a source of grievance among the Guajiros who feel they live in poverty while others prosper. According to Cerrejon's 2020 annual report, 43 per cent of the coal was exported to the Mediterranean region and 15 per cent to other countries in non-Mediterranean Europe. Cerrejon is the second most profitable mining company in Colombia. In 2022, its revenues increased by 149 per cent. But these corporate success figures contrast sharply with the living conditions of the population. "They say we are rich because there is a company that generates a lot of profit, but in reality, the people are poor. We used to be the rich ones," says Sierra. The Cerrejon coal mine in northern Colombia is one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines. - Juan Amaru Rodriguez "It's not fair that we have to die intoxicated and forced to uproot with sadness and pain while a multinational takes the money to another country," says Afro leader Samuel Arregoces. He claims that the coal arrives in Europe "tainted with blood." The data confirms the devastation in this region without drinking water, from which 25 Indigenous communities have been displaced. La Guajira has the highest rates of child malnutrition in the country, and more than 40 per cent of the population lives in conditions of extreme poverty. Sierra claims that when the mine arrived, they deceived the people by promising them a better life and imposing an idea of progress that he rejects. "I learned that progress is something very different from what we have today. Progress isnt about destroying the environment; it's about protecting life. This is a setback because without water, we die," he says. We don't know where our family's bones are Arregoces belongs to the Afro-descendant community of Tabaco, displaced in 2001 to make way for the mega mining project. "Some of us were kicked out [after being deceived], and others by force and threats," he alleges. In 2002, a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia ordered the Tabaco Community to be rebuilt in a suitable location, something that to this day has not been fulfilled. "My grandparents passed away while waiting," he adds. Arregoces still gets emotional when remembering what his life was like prior to the mine. His grandfather raised the animals they would eat, and they had access to clean drinking water almost all day thanks to a water supply system they built themselves. "We went from having those amenities to losing them and right into unemployment and cultural displacement. Our youth didn't even get to know our community," he laments. Indigenous communities feel that life would be better if the coal mine had never been built. - Juan Amaru Rodriguez There has also been a spiritual dispossession, he says, with the desecration of his communities cemeteries. "We don't know where our family's bones are. It has caused us emotional trauma; I have stopped being a happy person," he says. Being a social leader is not an easy task in the country with the highest number of environmental activists murdered on the planet. That's why Arregoces doesn't leave home without his bulletproof vest. "For a while, there were people watching me 24/7, and we were afraid they would kidnap or harm my two-year-old nephew," the leader says. Despite this, there is a ray of hope. This Afro authority finds comfort in the broad social support it receives, such as through a change.org campaign, supported by more than 222,000 people from 166 countries, demanding the return of the Bruno Creek to its natural course. "This shows that it's not just us; there is an organised citizenry in Colombia and around the world fighting to defend water," he says. The dream of the Wayuu women Monica Lopez, Wayuu leader, collecting drinking water from a tank in La Guajira. - Juan Amaru Rodriguez. Monica Lopez lives with her partner, Misael Socarra, in the 4 de noviembre Reservation in La Guajira. For her, understanding the role of women in this process is essential. "Our essence as Indigenous peoples is our spirituality, and us, women, are the ones who master it," she says. The mayoras, usually the grandmothers of the family, are the spiritual guides for the Wayuu people. According to their worldview, they can avoid future misfortunes through dreams. "When they dream that something bad is going to happen to someone, we perform a ritual with clothes in the river to prevent it," she explains. But this changed forever when more than 150 kilometres of railroad tracks were built across Wayuu territory to transport millions of tonnes of coal each day. "The noise of the train has robbed our mayoras of their sleep. That connection they had with their spiritual journeys no longer exists," Lopez says. Wayuu women transmit spirituality to their children. However, they are often forced to migrate to cities in search of support and education for them, which can lead to the loss of their cultural essence. "One maintains one's culture through practices. No matter how Wayuu you are, if you don't practice it, you forget it," she emphasises. Likewise, Lopez explains that having children brings a lot of uncertainty. "When you're pregnant, it's not the same because you're afraid that the baby will be born sick due to the mine," she says. Her daughter's face is covered in spots and rashes, and no matter how many times they consult specialists, she hasn't recovered. "In the past, these kids didn't have these illnesses, but nowadays they do. Today, children constantly suffer from the flu because the air we breathe is contaminated," she says. An expert from the UN called for an end to certain activities at Cerrejon, highlighting the health impacts on the population, which have been the subject of numerous studies. The death shift: Mine workers are suffering too Mine workers are fighting for recognition of the diseases they are particularly susceptible to. - Juan Amaru Rodriguez. The mine workers are also fighting against alleged abuses by Cerrejon. Igor Diaz, president of the Sintracarbon union, recalls episodes of labour repression and claims that their jobs are constantly at risk. "They fired 226 workers, most of whom were affiliated with the union, after a 92-day strike demanding an end to what we call the death shift, which forced us to work nearly 60 hours more per week," he says. According to the union, this meant a greater exposure to lethal workplace accidents due to mental and physical exhaustion. Their main battle is for recognition of the diseases they are susceptible to. "Working in the mine can lead to musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases. Our struggle is to demand that Colombia's social security system recognises these occupational diseases and proves that they result from mining exploitation," he stresses. The union leader sees the struggles of Indigenous people, Afro-descendants and farmers in the region as inseparable from the struggles of the workers. "We raise our voices when the company turns a deaf ear to the demands of the communities because that's where our families are," he states. Will the EUs new due diligence law help? While the struggles in northern Colombia continue, the European Union is negotiating a due diligence law to hold companies accountable for their impacts on human rights and the environment throughout their supply chains. Yukpa Indigenous leader Juan Pablo Gutierrez, exiled in Paris after facing murder attempts for opposing the Cerrejon mine, criticises the law as a way to keep colonialism going. "It's a distraction measure because it maintains the logic of exploiting Mother Earth and doesn't question Europe's unrestrained consumption model," he says. More than 8,000 kilometres from Brussels, Leobardo watches the black mountains of the mine with unease but never loses hope. "My ancestors fought for my future, now I fight for those who will come. This place is no longer mine but belongs to those who come after us; that's what my grandparents told me, and it's what keeps us alive," he concludes. What does Cerrejon say? In response to a request for comment concerning the impact of its activities on Indigenous and Afro communities, Cerrejon said it deeply regrets the humanitarian crisis in La Guajira, which is part of a complex context, where the efforts of local and national governments have been insufficient to address the structural situation. Cerrejon rejects accusations of connection between this dramatic situation and the company. On the contrary, Cerrejon has strengthened its social investment, both mandatory and voluntary, to achieve greater scope and impact on dispersed communities in a territory with challenging climatic and geographic conditions. Fans of the Up & Adam in the Morning radio show were surprised this week to find the popular program was suddenly off the air after the host, Adam Montiel, was laid off. Montiel is no longer with The Krush 92.5 or Coast 104.5 after he lost his job in a downsizing by parent company American General Media this week. Program director Suzanne Schonig confirmed Montiels departure to The Tribune via email Thursday, saying it was a part of a company-wide layoff. In a statement Friday, Montiel said the news of his departure brings a mix of emotions. Ill never forget those four words: Youre being laid off, Montiel said. Of course, Im shocked. You endure a lot in this business, but when you do what you love, and love what you do, you endure. Beside Up & Adam, Montiel also hosted The Cork Dorks, a wine appreciation show on 92.5, as well as Afternoons on Coast 104.5 the former home of his morning segment. Montiel first joined American General Media in 2003. After a brief departure, he returned to AGMs airwaves in 2010 to launch Up & Adam, according to a news release. For well over 13 years, AGM was a home for me and a partner as we worked to build wine and community-themed programming like The Cork Dorks and Liquid Lunch that has been more than renowned, but built real relationships, Montiel said. AGM allowed me the freedom to leave commonplace morning show stereotypes behind and reinvent the morning drive with community in mind with Up & Adam in the Morning. He continued: I leave that building as the last 6-10 a.m. morning drive host that was all live and all local, he said. During his time with the local stations, Montiel also became known for his charitable work, including his annual Breaking & Entering Christmas where volunteers covertly transformed a local familys home for the holidays. Montiel said he is excited to carry on that tradition, which is celebrating its 10th year this year, independently. Beyond that, Montiel said fans can expect him to be behind a mic again soon. I gave my heart to build and bring entertaining and enlightening content and to tell the stories of our hardworking neighbors, Montiel said. I will always be thankful for my time at AGM, and I look forward to continuing to build great relationships, entertain and promote the community. What happens with programming at The Krush 92.5? With Montiel no longer covering the morning show, there have been some changes to the lineup at The Krush 92.5, including the return of at least one familiar voice. Schonig said she has returned to the 6 to 10 a.m. morning hours, after two years covering midday programming. Mornings is an air shift I held on The Krush 92.5 for numerous years in the past, Schonig said. Meanwhile, Jeremy West will continue as afternoon host from 2-7 p.m. West has been a key part of the stations wine-focused content over the years, as co-host of The Cork Dorks with Montiel, Schonig said. Schonig said the station will also welcome back Pepper Daniels to take over the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. midday time slot. Daniels was the original program director for The Krush at its inception and was a part of the first air staff line-up, Schonig said. We continue that core mission and remain focused on learning through and with our abundant and engaging producers spanning wine, beer and spirits alongside the food and hospitality industries, she wrote. The Krush is also a great friend to our thriving local music scene and will keep our connection there as well. Were very proud of the work our staff has done over the last 14 years. Within 24 hours this week, two of the lawyers most closely identified with Donald Trumps attack on the 2020 election officially jumped off the MAGA train. On Friday, Kenneth Chesebro pled guilty in a Georgia courtroom. The plea is momentous because Chesebro was the main architect of Donald Trump's coup in search of a legal theory, as a federal judge has called Trumps attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Chesebros admission of guilt and promise of cooperation send a stark message to Trump: the erroneous legal theory central to his coming prosecutions was part of a criminal scheme. Taken with Sidney Powells surprise guilty plea the day before, this means two of the main actors in the 2020 election conspiracy have just become witnesses against Trump, who now faces an enhanced prospect of conviction as a result. Though Chesebro kept a lower profile than Trumps other collaborators, he provided the legal bedrock of the coup attempt. Chesebro began his involvement in the 2020 election scheme in Wisconsin, where he provided the Trump campaigns attorney there with legal advice in recount litigation. After those measures failed, Chesebro zeroed in on the presidential electors. While another of Trumps outside lawyers, John Eastman, has become the face of the alternate electors dimension of the overarching scheme, Eastmans ideas were in fact originally developed by Chesebro. He contended that the presiding officer in Congress on Jan 6 - either the vice president or, if Pence were to step aside, the President pro tempore of the Senate, could refuse to count legitimate and certified electoral votes with the goal of perpetuating Trump as president. That theory might seem far-fetched, but Chesebro and Trump by extension appeared poised to defend it until Chesebro pled guilty. His court filings suggested that he planned to rely on a dispute in Hawaii during the presidential election of 1960 to establish a precedent and justify his conduct. In that case, electors for the dueling candidates both provided certificates to Congress. Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate but also the vice president at the time, chose between them as the presiding Senate officer. But Chesebro distorted the Hawaii example, and with his plea it is now an even more unsustainable defense for Trump. That is because Hawaiis 1960 election was an exceedingly close race decided by fewer than 200 votes. In 2020, however, there was no real question about the outcome when the Electoral College met on December 14: Joe Bidens margin in the closest stateGeorgiawas more than 11,000 votes. Moreover, there was good-faith post-election litigation in Hawaii as of December 14, 1960, whereas in 2020 the litigation was frivolous or already concluded. Finally, in Hawaii the then-governor issued a certificate for the alternate slate when Kennedy moved ahead in the recount. In 2020, the alternate slates had no such official certification. Taken together with the relevant law, it is painfully clear that the vice president does not have the unilateral power to use defective electoral certificates to crown an elections loser as its winner. The problem for Trump is that Chesebro has just in effect turned into a witness against that theoryand thus against Trump. The former president was already in trouble because his White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, his deputy Pat Philbin, their senior colleague Eric Herschmann, the acting attorney general and his deputies, and Trump campaign lawyers had all rejected the theory. Now the principal proponent of that theory may also testify that it was baloney. That is ominous for Trump in the Georgia case, where Chesebro has pledged to appear. But it is also likely damaging in the federal case against Trump. That is because federal prosecutors have named Chesebro as an unindicted co-conspirator, and todays state plea deal means a federal one is more likely. Even if Chesebro refuses to cooperate with federal prosecutors, they can utilize his agreement in Georgia and his statements on the record on Friday to help establish Trumps culpability. Chesebros lawyer reportedly stated on Friday that Trump should not fear what Chesebro had to say. But that is likely more a reflection of Chesebros own fear of offending the former president. There is no universe in which the chief architect of the legal theory that Trump relied upon pleading guilty in connection with that theory is good for the former president. Quite the opposite. Trumps lawyers may try to cross-examine Chesebro, but they will have a difficult time doing so because his testimony is bolstered by his own words. For example, in recently published emails, Chesebro in December 2020 admitted that his gambit had less than a 1 percent chance of success but that his machinations could offer a political payoff that would push the American people to come away from this believing that the election in Wisconsin was likely rigged, and stolen by Biden and [Kamala] Harris, who were not legitimately elected. Earlier in the post-election period, he called his strategy "dicey," conceded that "we will probably lose," and cast other aspersions on his own theories, which shifted over time and drifted further from the law with each iteration. For his part, Trump has already indicated that he will advance an advice of counsel defense in the D.C. case and surely in Georgia as well. But that defense pivots in part on the validity of Chesebros legal theory, meaning the plea will significantly hamper Trump here as well. Then there is the one-two punch represented by Sidney Powells guilty plea that will also harm Trump in the state and federal cases. For starters, Trump was alleged to have committed the same overt act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy as Powell: Act 90, the infamous December 18, 2020 Oval Office meeting once referred to as the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency. In it, Trump, Powell, Giuliani and others discussed certain strategies and theories intended to influence the outcome of the presidential election, including seizing voting equipment and appointing Powell as special counsel with broad authority to investigate allegations of voter fraud in Georgia and elsewhere. Her testimony regarding this overt act will help prove Trumps involvement in the conspiracy. And beyond that, Powells admission to her participation in the Coffee County voting machine breach, which is the focus of 10 of the 12 overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy alleged against her, will bolster the RICO charge against Trump and all other 17 defendants by helping to demonstrate the requisite elements of a RICO crime, which boil down to two things: showings of the existence of an enterprise and of a pattern of racketeering activity. That just got a whole lot easier for the DA to prove. Thats not to mention the impact of the Powell plea on the federal Jan. 6 case, where she has been identified as unindicted co-conspirator 3 in the special counsels indictment against Trump for the same scheme nationally. Now that shes pleaded guilty to charges for her conduct in Georgia and agreed to testify against Trump and others there, little stands in the way of her agreeing to do the same in the special counsels prosecution of Trump to avoid possible federal charges in that prosecution. Whatever she does in that regard, federal prosecutors have a variety of ways to utilize evidence and testimony from Powell given in the Georgia courtroom. Of course, all of that does not mean that Trump will fail to put up a fight in the state case or the federal one. But his defense stood on the factual proposition that he had actually won the 2020 election, and that he therefore had a legal right to press his vice president to use these alternate and false electoral certificates to refuse to recognize Joseph R. Biden as the winner of the election in the January 6 meeting of Congress. With the plea of Powell on Thursday, the first leg has wobbled under Trump, and with Chesebros plea on Friday, Trump can no longer rest on the second. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. These plea deals raise another prospect that is quite negative for Trump and the remaining defendants in the Georgia case: the pleas open up the judges trial calendar for the next five months, potentially allowing him to schedule the trials of others in that window, including possibly the former president. The first Trump trial on these issues in federal court is not set until March. If Chesebro and Powell could get ready for trial on an accelerated basis, surely its not unreasonable for Trump and other possible defendants to prepare themselves to face a jury in Atlanta at some point in the coming months. The impact of the pleas will not only be legal but political as well. The twin admissions by Chesebro and Powell will now color the looming GOP presidential primary. That matters because the D.C. case will not be resolved until the primaries are over. Substantial polling suggests that Republican and even more so independent voters would waver on Trump if he were convicted. Because Trump's defense has been undermined by this weeks pair of pleas, these developments allow voters and opposing primary candidates to more directly consider the hypothetical of Trumps guilt. Beyond those near-term legal and political ramifications, the pleas bear on a more fundamental issue for our democracy: whether lawyers and their candidate clients can breach the law to attack election outcomes. An acquittal would have threatened our elections and the rule of law in 2024. Indeed, the playbook employed by Trump, Chesebro, and Powell was deployed in the 2022 midterms in Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and beyond. While ultimately unsuccessful, their strategy created substantial litigation ferment and offered a preview of what might ensue in the coming election cycle. Conversely, Chesebros and Powells guilty pleas have just sent a warning to lawyers and their candidate clientsabove all Trumpnot to engage in these kinds of criminal behaviors. With the 2024 election looming, that sends a positive and badly needed message about the rule of law and accountability. That is good news for our democracy, and very bad news, indeed, for Trump and his ilk. A Southeast Georgia high school was the center of a brief police chase between a man on a bicycle and a school resource officer. According to the Kingsland Police Department, an SRO made contact with a man on Friday but he would not respond. Police said the man was later identified as 17-year-old Nicholas U. Petiote, and that an SRO had never made contact with him on the Camden County High School campus before. When the SRO tried to speak with him and ask why he was on campus, he took off on his bicycle, according to police, setting off a brief chase. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Despite putting his pedal to the metal, the SRO was able to catch up to Petiote quickly in his vehicle. While this was happening, school was letting out for the day and Petiote tried to lose the officer while heading toward the crowd of students, police said. The actions of Petiote extremely concerned the SRO, which led to their actions, Police Chief Rick Evans said in a statement. What happened next was a shock to Petiote and students nearby, but not the officer. The SRO gave more verbal commands for Petiote to stop, but he did not, so the SRO warned him he would be Tased, and the officer pulled the department-issued Taser. Petiote was Tased by the SRO and arrested for criminal trespass and obstructing an officer. Then he was taken to Camden Medical Center for treatment, per department policy, Kingsland police said. TRENDING STORIES: After being medically cleared, Petiote was taken to the Camden County Sheriffs Office jail. The SRO involved in the brief chase and Tasing incident, as well as students and faculty at Camden County High, were not injured. Chief Evans said he was extremely proud of the SRO for the actions that they displayed in this incident, and said he was proud that SROs do their jobs and prioritize childrens safety. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Memphis Police Department raided a chop shop in North Memphis where they recovered stolen vehicles, a large amount of illegal drugs and placed five people in custody. According to police, a tow truck driver was arrested in the University of Memphis area and said the man who ran the chop shop hired him to steal vehicles for side money. Armed robber hits two Cordova banks minutes apart I been here nine years and theres been trouble over there ever since, said Cora Featherson, Memphis resident. Featherson says on Wednesday morning she watched from her porch as Memphis Police and ATF Agents raided the property, which is the base of operations for a major chop shop ring, on Farmville Road. (Photo by: WREGs Mike Suriani) (Photo by: WREGs Mike Suriani) (Photo by: WREGs Mike Suriani) (Photo by: WREGs Mike Suriani) Just saw a bunch of police cars and I saw them with the pistols pulled out and stuff like that, Featherson said. 21 people charged in Memphis violent crime bust Memphis Police say they arrested a total of five people. Among those arrested was Arguess Baker who is charged with numerous felonies for theft, drugs, and violation of the chop shop law. Clarissa Brim was also arrested for theft, drugs, and violation of the chop shop law. In the backyard, officers say they found several tools and auto parts and recovered numerous stolen vehicles. I cant count how many they hauled off but I do know some of the people came and got their cars, Featherson said. Tennessee police officer arrested for strong-arm robbery in Mississippi Police were led to the operation after a local tow truck driver, employed by DTS towing, was apprehended trying to steal two vehicles on Brower Street in the University of Memphis area. A neighbor says the driver managed to get away with an older model Ford Bronco. The same guy that come in early take one car that was parked over there and he take it and drop it somewhere else and come back to take another one, said Rolando Vargas, a witness. The tow truck driver was caught after he came back to steal a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria. Police say that he had no paperwork for the tows and stated he was hired by Arguess Baker to steal two vehicles. 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 owner of the Bronco was able to recover his vehicle, which was a family heirloom. Its more like a feeling, not like how much you can pay for this car because it belonged to his grandfather, his father, said Vargas. So its something very sentimental. Arguess Baker is being held on a $206, 500 bond, and Clarissa Brim is on a $90,000 bond. WREG has reached out to DTS Towing for a comment but has yet to hear back. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Malaysian counterpart, Zambry Abdul Kadir, discussed on Friday China-Malaysia relations and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Congratulating China on the successful holding of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in a telephone conversation with Wang, Zambry said 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. As one of the first countries to join the initiative, Malaysia has always supported this important initiative and will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, he said. Malaysia looks forward to working with China to mark the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations next year so as to push for further growth of bilateral relations, Zambry said. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, applauded Malaysia's contribution to the successful holding of the forum. Noting this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership and the two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, he said that China is ready to jointly carry out a series of friendly celebrations, strengthen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Malaysia and make solid progress in building the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. On the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Zambry said that Malaysia applauds China's efforts to promote ceasefire, protect innocent civilians and promote dialogue and peace talks, and supports China's position on ensuring the smooth arrival of humanitarian relief, implementing the "two-state solution" as soon as possible and realizing lasting peace in the Middle East. He expects China to play an important role in bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Wang said that we are enjoying peace here today, but the world is neither peaceful nor fair, and many innocent people are now overshadowed by death and suffering. China, he said, has always stood on the side of peace, international law and the legitimate aspirations of Arab and Islamic countries and China opposes all acts harming innocent civilians and violating international law. China supports the statement just issued by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit on the situation in the Gaza Strip, he said. In the face of war and peace, all parties should abandon all geopolitical calculations, uphold human conscience, build international consensus and cease fire as soon as possible so as to prevent a wider humanitarian disaster, Wang said. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in essence, stems from 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 conflict is to implement the "two-state solution" and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel. He said that China supports the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation and looks forward to bringing the Palestine issue back to the track of political settlement, and implementing the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on this issue. 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. Akron police call for 33-year-old William Mozingo to come out of an unattached garage on Monday. Mozingo is accused of kidnapping and assaulting a 23-year-old woman from Chardon. A 23-year-old woman from Chardon wearing torn, dirty clothes carefully stepped down a ladder from a cold overhead space in an unattached garage in Kenmore. An Akron police officer led her to a stool and briefly shined a flashlight on her face, illuminating a swollen, blackened eye looking back at him. The other eye was swelled shut. Yellow and purple bruises tinged her puffy face. "Do you guys have water or anything?" she asked the officers, her arms crossed against her chest before covering her swollen lips. "We'll get you some here soon," an officer responded. Akron Police Department body camera footage captured the moment Monday morning when officers rescued a woman they said was being held against her will for four days. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. That morning, police arrested 33-year-old William Mozingo, who has a two previous Stark County convictions for kidnapping, in connection with the case. Akron in the Crossfire: Data shows grim picture of growing gun violence Mozingo is charged with felonious assault, unlawful restraint, kidnapping, abduction, parole violation and escape, according to Akron Municipal Court. He remained in the Summit County Jail on $100,000 bond Friday. The case remains under investigation, police said. Found in the middle of the night Mozingo and the woman were found by a man who lives at the residence roughly nine hours earlier at 1 a.m. Monday. Captured by body camera footage while talking to police, the resident explained the situation began when he went to replace their washing machine with a newer model. Living with his wife's elderly parents, who are often up at night, he decided to install the appliance at night, so he left the house and went to the unattached garage for a moving dolly. "I was in there grabbing the dolly when I heard, 'Bro,'" the man recounted to police. It was Mozingo. The resident and his wife individually told officers they were once friendly with Mozingo but cut off all contact with him a few months ago. They did not know he had been in the garage. While talking outside with Mozingo, the man recalled hearing a voice from the garage ask, "Can I come down now?" About 30 seconds later, the resident heard the woman again. That's when he went into the garage and saw her in an attic-like space, so he climbed up and saw her face. "I'm so scared, I don't know what to do," he recalled her telling him. "So, I just started bear-hugging her," he said to police. "I told her, 'We'll get you home; I won't drop you.'" After talking to her in the garage, he went back into the house and spoke to his wife. Out of concern for their own child's safety and making the immediate situation any worse, he decided to wait until the morning to call the police. "I didn't know how to handle this while keeping her safe and without getting anyone else [hurt]," he told police. "He wasn't in his right state of mind. I wanted to make it look like I wasn't doing anything so he wouldn't get panicky." The residents of the property said Mozingo likely found the garage unlocked, as the wife's 80-year-old father often uses it and forgets the key. As for how Mozingo and the woman were there for four days without anyone realizing, the residents didn't know. "He couldn't have been in there unless he got there late at night and left really early in the morning," the husband speculated. A pattern of abductions When police arrived at the scene at about 9:15 a.m., they found the garage closed and locked up. They called for Mozingo to come out. No response could be heard on the body camera footage. After a few minutes, more police gathered around the side door entrance as one officer positioned himself with a long wooden tool to pry the door open. "William, last chance," an officer yelled. "Come out with your hands up." 2019 incident: Man imprisoned twice for kidnapping is accused again of kidnapping At that moment, the officer pried the door open as a canine unit walked onto the scene, and a barking dog lunged at the doorway. With their handguns drawn, police walked toward the opened door before Mozingo stepped out with his hands behind his back. This is not Mozingo's first kidnapping charge. He was imprisoned three times for kidnapping in the last decade. The first incident occurred in 2014 in Adams County. The second was three years later in 2017 in Stark County. The third time was again in Stark County in 2019, less than four months after he was released from prison for the second incident. This time, he was accused of abducting a woman, beating her and holding her against her will for several days until she escaped, the Canton Repository reported. He was found guilty of kidnapping and aggravated assault in 2020 and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to Stark County Common Pleas Court documents. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police rescue kidnapped woman after 4 days in Kenmore garage MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man is in critical condition after a shooting in the French Fort area Friday, according to Memphis Police. Officers responded to the shooting in the 300 block of Metal Museum Drive at 5:10 p.m. A man was located on the scene and transported to Regional One Hospital in critical condition, police say. Top Regional Stories: There is no suspect information at this time. If you have any information about this incident, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A man died after he was run over by a car in a fatal hit-and-run while suffering a medical incident on Friday morning in Los Angeles. According to the L.A. Police Department, around 2:58 a.m., a 37-year-old-man was in medical distress and lost consciousness in the westbound number two lane of traffic on Temple Street, west of Fremont Street. The man was run over by a driver in a blue metallic Toyota Camry traveling westbound on Temple. The driver fled the scene without stopping to help the pedestrian or identify him or herself. When officers arrived at the scene, the man who was run over was pronounced dead. Police are now seeking the publics help for any information about the fatal hit-and-run. Anyone who has information regarding the vehicle is urged to contact Investigator G. Diaz, Central Traffic Detectives, at 213-486-0767 or by e-mail at 36160@lapd.online. Through the City Councils Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund, community members who provide information leading to the suspects identification, apprehension, and conviction can receive a reward of up to $50,000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Marijuana legalization in Illinois has come with increased pot-involved deadly crashes, a rise in accidental ingestion among children, an association with psychotic disorders, and increases in preterm births by mothers using cannabis, a new study has found. Reported benefits include decreases in marijuana-related arrests and in opioid and benzodiazepine-related fatalities. Contrary to fears, there appears to be little to no increase so far in cannabis use among minors. The findings come from the states annual cannabis report for 2023, conducted for the state by the University of Illinois at Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work. The rate of fatal crash drivers who tested positive for marijuana rose from 25% in the two years before legalization to 37% in 2020, the first year of legal recreational sales in Illinois. Michigan, the other Midwestern state to legalize general adult use at about the same time, saw a similar increase, while other neighboring states remained below 24%. The fatal crash rate for weed in Illinois exceeded that for alcohol, which remained at about 35%. Drivers under 45 were much more likely to test positive in fatal crashes, while drivers whod taken other drugs were also significantly more likely to be involved in a deadly crash. The rate of self-reported driving under the influence of cannabis also doubled to 5.4% for those 26 and older between 2018-19 and 2019-20. As the Tribune previously reported, the number of calls to the Illinois Poison Control Center for nonfatal marijuana overdoses by children 17 and under also rose dramatically since legalization, from fewer than 100 in 2016 to about 500 in each of the past two years. Calls about children typically were caused by kids eating their parents gummies. Adults saw a doubling of overdose calls in that time. About 20% of persons using cannabis in the past year said they experienced one or more adverse effects, most commonly with panic reactions, feeling faint or dizzy, and nausea or vomiting. The rate of cannabis use disorder for Illinois residents 12 and older was estimated to have risen to 2.6% in 2019-20, from 2% in 2018-19. As with some other measurements, researchers said, its unclear how much of that may have been attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that also showed increases in alcohol use disorder in the Midwest. The head of the research effort, James A. Swartz, professor and interim associate dean for research at the school, said those results were concerning, but otherwise, some of the fears about marijuana legalization had so far not panned out. Tentatively, I think the state is doing a reasonable job, he said. Most noticeably, data have not shown an increase in use among children in Illinois. First use among those 12 to 17 increased from 2015 to 2018, but decreased through 2021, with no increase in frequent use in that age group. However, Illinois and Michigan both had higher rates of past-month use across all age groups, particularly young adults. Frequent cannabis use, 20 days or more a month, increased from 4.8% to 6.4% in Illinois, with a tripling to 11% among Blacks in 2020. There was a similar overall increase in Michigan, while neighboring states again saw no change. Of particular concern was that between 2017 to 2020, there was a 6% increase in past-month cannabis use among pregnant women. Medical experts warn against using marijuana during pregnancy, because it can harm the baby. People with a serious mental illness and people in poverty also had much higher rates of both any and frequent cannabis use. Among medical users, chronic pain was the most commonly cited reason for use. But 86% of medical users, and almost two-thirds of recreational users, had used it to manage mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD/trauma. One area researchers would like to delve into more is the effect of high-potency marijuana, with concentrates now reaching more than 80% THC, the main component that gets users high. People hospitalized for cannabis use disorder had a higher prevalence of manic episodes or psychotic disorders. Studies elsewhere have shown a strong association between frequent use and high-potency pot and psychosis, including schizophrenia. Swartz would also like to research to what extent the use of cannabis may decrease the use of opioids. But state regulators so far have not given him access to data from the states program that uses cannabis as an alternative to opioids, citing privacy concerns. Swartz noted that cannabis taxes in Illinois remain high, and retail stores remain scarce in Black neighborhoods on the South and West sides of Chicago, which discourages people from the legal market. As more stores opened and use became more common, the percentage of cannabis bought legally in Illinois more than doubled from 2018-19 to 2021, to 59%. The most common reason cited for buying illicit pot was the high cost of the legal market. The report also cited a small increase in cannabis poisoning as a contributing cause of death in Illinois, to 27 fatalities in 2022. Meanwhile, the number of cannabis arrests in the state continued to plummet, from more than 45,000 in 2015 to less than 3,000 in 2021. Many of the statistics came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The report was submitted to the Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, which may use the information to make recommendations to the Department of Human Services about public health awareness campaigns. Lance Cpl. Eduardo Galicia was standing duty on the midnight shift at the U.S. embassy in Georgetown, Guyana. It was approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 1. The Marine security guard got a call from the embassys front control center: A local guard was having a medical emergency. Galicia came running. Galicia, 21, ended up saving the local guard from dying of an apparent heart attack, thanks to muscle memory that the Marine attributed to his military training. 3 Marine embassy security guards prevent stabbing, break knife at Virginia Chick-fil-A A native of Southern Californias Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel, Galicia grew up not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, but no one in his family was in the military, he said in an interview Oct. 13 with Marine Corps Times. When he was about 12 years old, he was sitting close to the TV when a commercial for the Marines came on, featuring a Marine in the color guard. I told myself, I want to do that. I want to be just like him, Galicia recalled. He joined the Marine Corps in March 2021, on an infantry contract that guaranteed him a job in embassy security for two years, he said. Galicia said he signed that particular contract to see the world, learn more about the Defense Departments role overseas and make connections in embassies. Through boot camp and training for infantry and embassy jobs, he gained a variety of medical skills, he said. He spent 10 months at the U.S. embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, before coming to Georgetown, the capital of the South American nation of Guyana. On that eventful midnight shift in July, Galicia saw a group of local guards who were clearly distressed. One local guard was holding her heart, her breathing labored. Everything was chaotic, but thats when my training kicked in, Galicia said. The Marine approached her and tried to get her to communicate, but she was unresponsive. The Marine Corps has declined to release that local guards name, citing privacy reasons. Galicia performed a basic triage method and determined the guard was having a heart attack, he recounted. Once she started foaming at the mouth, he laid her on the ground. He told the local guards to get him a medical bag, call the emergency service vehicle and help him with the patient. Meanwhile, the patient stopped breathing. Galicia provided rescue breaths and CPR until she was able to breathe on her own and her pulse had returned. When the emergency vehicle showed up, Galicia helped put her into it, and he sent other local guards with her to look after her, he said. With the local guard being rushed to a nearby hospital, Galicia called his detachment commander, who relieved him for the night. But though Galicia headed home, he made a point of staying up for several more hours, until he heard the news that the local guard had fully recovered, he said. Galicias actions had saved the local guards life, according to a Marine news release in September. When he called his family members to tell them about his eventful morning, they were shocked, and they peppered him with questions about what had happened. His father, who had been a nurse, especially wanted to hear the details of how the Marine had treated the local guard, Galicia recalled. Then his father said, Good job, son. Im proud of you. It was a proud moment for the young Marine. Another proud moment: receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on July 19 from Capt. Richard Piazza, the Marine security guard officer responsible for Galicias detachment. At that point, Galicia said, it felt like that chaotic 10-minute period a few weeks prior had happened just yesterday. He is a true professional, something we hope for in all our Marines, said Lt. Col. Chad Bonecutter, the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group region that includes Guyana, in a statement to Marine Corps Times. When Bonecutter called Galicia to tell him what a great job he had done, the officer was struck by the lance corporals humility, Bonecutter said. Galicia immediately praised his leadership for providing him with the appropriate training so he was able to respond confidently to the situation, Bonecutter said in the emailed statement. As well, he was genuinely happy that the (local guard) was in stable condition and getting the medical care she needed. As the interview with Marine Corps Times was about to wrap up, Galicia had one more thing to say: He was grateful to his friends, co-workers and leaders. I couldnt have done nearly what I accomplished to this day without the Marine Corps, he said. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Friday said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is to blame for the bad position Republicans are in amid a struggle to elect someone to the top role. McCarthy, speaking to members of the press after House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost his third Speaker vote, said Gaetz, and the other seven GOP hard-liners that supported his historic ouster earlier this month, were responsible for the chaos. His comments come as the lower chamber has been without an elected Speaker for more than two weeks. What history will look at is the Crazy Eight Led by Gaetz,' the California Republican said. The amount of damage they have to this party and to this country is insurmountable. Ive never seen this amount of damage done to just a few people for their own personalities for their own fear of whats going through, he added. McCarthy and Gaetz have been arguing for weeks after Gaetz introduced the motion to remove the former Speaker from his leadership position. Really, its astonishing to me, and we are in a very bad position as a party, one that has won the majority, one that America has trusted us with, that a simple eight people have put us in this place, McCarthy said. His remarks also came before a closed-door meeting Friday afternoon. The conference ultimately voted in a secret ballot to no longer back Jordan as the nominee, sending the GOP scrambling to find another contender. The field for Speaker is now becoming crowded, with at least nine members considering throwing their hat in the ring or officially announcing a bid. Before Jordan, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) narrowly won the nomination, but withdrew his name a day later when it became clear he couldnt garner the 217 votes needed to be elected. House Republicans will meet again on Monday evening to choose their next nominee. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The next package of European Union sanctions against Russia is set to include a long-awaited ban on Russian diamonds, Brussels-based media outlet EUobserver reported on Oct. 20, citing an unnamed European diplomat. The EU is now awaiting a Group of 7 (G7) statement on the diamond ban before announcing its 12th round of sanctions against Russia. The G7 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and U.S. "account for 70 percent of world diamond end-user demand," EUobserver reported. The G7 announcement will be made "in the very coming days," according to the source, as a system that will ban the diamonds "has been ready for a few weeks." The week before, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said that western countries had developed a "full traceability system" that will "cut off Russian dominance completely from our retail markets." The system will mean that "Russian blood diamonds will not be able to finance the war," de Croo said in Brussels on Oct. 11. Diamond exports are worth 4 billion euros ($4.24 billion) a year to the Russian economy "and have symbolic value as a luxury icon," EUobserver noted. According to de Croo, the goal for the start of the ban is Jan. 1, 2024. The Belgian government has led much of the efforts to sanction Russian diamonds as its second-largest city, Antwerp, is one of the world's centers of diamond trade. Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Airbus delivers China-assembled aircraft to Tibet Airlines Xinhua) 11:09, October 21, 2023 TIANJIN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Airbus delivered on Friday an aircraft assembled in north China's Tianjin Municipality to a Chinese airline. Tibet Airlines received its first A319neo aircraft assembled in Airbus' Final Assembly Line (FAL Asia) in Tianjin, which will be deployed on the airline's plateau routes. The A319neo aircraft is the shortened-fuselage member of Airbus' game-changing A320neo product line. This aircraft can seat as many as 160 passengers in a high-density layout, with a range of up to 3,750 nautical miles. Inaugurated in 2008, the FAL Asia in Tianjin was the first Airbus commercial aircraft assembly line outside Europe. Over the past 15 years, Airbus has delivered more than 630 A320 family aircraft assembled at the FAL Asia. As of September this year, the A320neo family has received over 9,700 orders from more than 130 customers worldwide. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) CARACAS, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil on Friday thanked international support for the progress made in Venezuela's national conciliation talks and the temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions against the South American nation. "We welcome the message of support that comes to us from ... Russia in reference to the resumption of dialogue and the right of our country to live free of foreign interference, blackmail and unilateral sanctions," Gil wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Responding to Mexico's congratulation on the progress, Gil highlighted in another post the "important role of Mexico as guarantor of the dialogue process" between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. Thanking Argentina for its message of support, Gil said the Venezuelan government is "firmly committed to maintaining political stability." Gil also expressed gratitude to Bolivia and Cuba. The Venezuelan official had already written posts of thanks on Thursday to Brazil and Colombia regarding their separate messages of support. On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government and a sector of the opposition signed two partial agreements in Barbados to guarantee the well-being of the people, elections and political coexistence. Subsequently, the U.S. government officially announced it would suspend several unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, including sanctions impacting companies in oil, gas and gold mining industries. Through open source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 34, 857 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The media organizations carry out a name-by-name count of the dead. The journalists specify that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information they have verified so far comes from public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, news in regional media and reports by local authorities. Since the media's latest update on October 6, nearly 1,000 names have been added to the list of casualties. Over 1,000 of the total 34,857 died since June 2023 when Ukraine began its counteroffensive. The publication expects to find increasing numbers of recorded deaths near Avdiivka in the coming months where the heaviest fighting is concentrated. Bakhmut is currently the leading casualties location. Since the last October update, the journalists added four names to the list of officers in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and higher. One of the four names, Alexander Gridnev, reportedly died in the summer of 2022, when Ukraine received the first HIMARS rockets from the United States. In total, the news outlet was able to confirm the deaths of over 2,600 officers, with 307 holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or above. Read also: Ukraine war latest: White House requests $61 billion for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - Menomonee Falls High School has removed 33 books from its school library after the school district banned the titles, including Kurt Vonnegut 's "Slaughterhouse-Five" and Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye." "Some of them are pretty significant in literary history," said William Gottemoller, a 2023 graduate and current Harvard University freshman. "Those are very influential and significant books in the American canon, and yet they are being removed from our library." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The district cites two reasons to pull the books: profanity and/or sexually explicit content. FOX6 News wanted to know exactly what the complaints were for each book, but the superintendent did not share. Gregory Maguire 's "Wicked" does have some sexual content, including an animal having intercourse with a human. Patricia McCormick's book "Sold" is about a 13-year-old girl forced into sexual slavery; it uses explicit language to describe her assaults and trauma. Menomonee Falls High School "If we are to allow that generation to become the leaders of the future, they need to have access to every single book that is in the Western canon," Gottemoller said. "I think Nina [Nina Christensen, the school board president] and our superintendent are missing the point of literature in the first place, especially literature thats meant to serve some sort of political or emotional cause. "Its not meant to be all sugar and spice and clear and very nice. Its meant to be evocative, its meant to provoke you, to challenge what you believe about the world. And that is the premise of an education in the first place: You dont learn what to think you learn how to think." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. The Menomonee Falls School District's current policy allows a parent or person living there to make a complaint about a book. That triggers several levels of review, including a reconsideration committee. There are questions about what process was used for these 33 books. The district said it was using an older policy because that's when the complaints came in. However, activist group Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area said the older policy still required three levels of review. "While we acknowledge the School District's concern for age-appropriate and content guidelines, we emphasize the importance of adhering to established policies and procedures," the group wrote in a statement. "The failure to adhere to this established policy raises concerns about transparency and accountability." Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area said the process should hear from students, parents, educators and community members. In addition, the group urged, "The potential educational benefits of these books should be weighed against concerns raised by the guidelines." FOX6 asked the superintendent for an interview, but he pointed to the district's statement. FOX6 also asked each school board member for an interview, but did not immediately hear back. Here's the complete list of 33 books now removed from the Menomonee Falls High School library: "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" "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 A nine-year-old boy has donated 12in (30cm) of his hair for a wig-making charity after losing his own to cancer five years ago. Noah Moran-Wilshire, from Merthyr Tydfil, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2018 and finally rang the bell in 2021. He decided to part with his long locks after seeing the effect a wig had on one of his friends from the ward. "Noah was very protective of his hair after loosing it so I am very proud of him," said his mum. Noah's parents first noticed something was wrong when he started showing symptoms of fatigue and leg pain. "One day he looked dreadful. He didn't want to do anything, he was just lying on the sofa," said Kiera Moran. "It just wasn't normal for a four-year-old to be like that." Thinking it was anaemia, she took her son to the local out of hours service and, after tests, he was rushed to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff. "It was such a whirlwind of 24 hours," she said. "One minute he had nothing wrong and the next I was told he had severe cancer and needed treatment straight away." Ms Moran lived in the hospital with Noah for the first four weeks after being told he would need six months of intense chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, she said Noah chose not to wear a wig as he thought it would be itchy. "When his hair started growing back he was very protective of it, he did not want to part with it again," she said. But when one of his friends from the oncology ward received a wig, Noah watched the difference it made and wanted to give someone else the opportunity to feel confident. His hair was 22 inches (56cm) before he had the big chop. Noah had his haircut in a local hairdressers where he was given a head massage, hot chocolate and marshmallows to make him feel like a "prince". "We were really nervous about how he would react but he smiled the entire time, he was just amazing," said Mrs Moran. It costs the Little Princess Trust on average 700 to provide one wig to a child or young person. Mrs Moran said Noah would love to raise enough for one person to receive a wig. Wendy Tarplee-Morris, founder of the charity said: "We are so grateful to Noah to think of us and other children, especially after everything he has been through in his young life. "We send our thanks to this brilliant and inspirational young boy." Aiming to bring Angelenos back to a public transportation system that has struggled with safety concerns and declining ridership, Metro officials say they have a success story with so-called transit ambassadors, who have spent the last year riding trains and buses in bright green shirts to offer a helping hand. Metro's public safety committee voted unanimously Thursday for the ambassador pilot program to become a permanent part of the transit system. The full Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors will vote on the proposal Oct. 26. Since Metro launched the pilot program in September 2022, about 350 transit ambassadors have had more than 500,000 interactions with riders, according to a staff report presented to a Metro committee Thursday. The unarmed ambassadors ride the transit system and help riders on train platforms or Metro hubs, pointing them in the right direction during major disruptions or helping elderly people navigate when an escalator is broken. They do not issue citations, but they report problems to law enforcement and document vandalism or other crimes. Read more: Women's ridership down on L.A. Metro, and satisfaction with buses, trains falls Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell , who chairs Metro's Operations, Safety and Customer Experience Committee, championed the program's success. At the committee meeting Thursday, she said the ambassadors not only provide operational help to riders but are also a means to make public transportation more personal. "They're the human touch," Mitchell said. "They are also the ambassadors of our culture, of how we want to be perceived as a transit agency and how we want people to experience riding public transit. I am glad that the statistics are bearing the fruit that we anticipated and hoped for." Over the last six months, ambassadors used naloxone to reverse 52 opioid overdoses, Metro said. During that same time period, ambassadors helped 20 people by performing CPR, intervening during a suicide attempt and other events, according to the staff report. One of the most critical roles the ambassadors play, chief customer experience officer Jennifer Vides said, is making riders feel safer. Last year, a survey of more than 12,000 bus and train riders showed a decline in ridership among women compared with 2019 ridership numbers. Women made up 53% of bus riders pre-pandemic, and just 49% in 2022. Women were more likely to cite safety as the top issue on which they wanted Metro to make improvements. Recent attempts to increase safety on the transit system included a proposal by the Los Angeles Police Department to arm officers with lasso-like weapons to subdue citizens, but the Metro board said that plan was premature. Metro's own attempts have focused on the ambassador program and other measures. Metro announced Thursday that ridership jumped 10% over the last year, marking a steady increase over the previous 10 months, climbing back to nearly 80% of its 2019 pre-pandemic level. In a recent rider survey, 63% of people polled felt ambassadors made their ride on a Metro train feel safer; among low income communities, women and people of color, that rate was even higher. And 61% of those surveyed said they would want to see more ambassadors on Metro. Some riders surveyed said they were unclear on what the ambassadors could do, and others were unsure why ambassadors often appeared to be looking down at their phones on the job. That doesn't mean they're distracted using the phone is part of reporting necessary maintenance and other services needed, Vides said. Read more: LAPD transit officers won't get lasso-like weapons. 'Wonder Woman will not be on Metro' If the ambassadors were a permanent part of Metro, they would receive better employee benefits, according to the staff report. Retention, administration, training and collaboration among other Metro departments would improve, according to the staff report. Los Angeles City Councilman and Metro board member Paul Krekorian asked if the Metro staff looked into any alternatives to bringing the program in-house. If approved by the full board, the ambassador program could stay under its $20 million annual budget, according to Metro staff. "Instinctively, I feel like it would be better, just because of command and control and efficiency," Krekorian said at Thursday's meeting. "This is a big program. This is a big, very expensive program that we're making it permanent after a trial period." The initial goal was to start the program as a pilot, outsource it and then bring it in-house if it proved successful, Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said. Currently, the program is managed by third-party vendors. There's also concern about a high turnover rate among those employees compared with others in the Metro transit system, Wiggins said. The ambassador program was first proposed as L.A. County reevaluated its approach to public safety and how Black and brown riders felt when approached by law enforcement. Integrating the program into Metro would signal to the police agencies that patrol the trains and buses that the ambassadors are not just a temporary strategy but part of a "reimagined public safety network," Wiggins 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. The Michigan Legislature held its first vote Thursday on legislation to modify the state's 2019 no-fault auto insurance overhaul that aimed to lower costs for drivers but led some medical providers to close their doors to car crash victims. Lawmakers in the state Senate passed legislation to increase reimbursement rates for medical providers treating car crash victims in Michigan. It takes courage for lawmakers to revisit laws that need improving, said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids. State Sen. Mary Cavanagh, D-Redford Township, who sponsored the primary bill in the package has characterized her effort as a way to fix what she calls the unintended consequences of Michigan's 2019 no-fault auto insurance changes. That overhaul imposed a 45% payment cut to providers of services frequently used by catastrophic accident survivors. Providers have characterized the change as devastating for their businesses and the patients they serve. However, earlier this summer, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the cuts don't apply to those injured in car crashes before June 2019, when the no-fault overhaul was signed into law. The legislation passed 23-14 Thursday. Four GOP lawmakers joined most Democrats to support the bills: state Sens. Jon Bumstead, of North Muskegon, John Damoose, of Harbor Springs, Ruth Johnson, of Holly, and Rick Outman, of Six Lakes. State Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, was the lone Democrat to vote against the package. State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, abstained from voting. Sen. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, who represents most of Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties, voted against the legislation, as did Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Allen, who represents the western-most townships in Hillsdale County. Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, voted for the bills. He represents northeastern Lenawee County and the city of Milan as well as a large part of Washtenaw County. One lawmaker described changes as overdue and conceded that they might arrive too late for some. "Even if we fix this today, some of the damage is permanent and cannot be undone," said state Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, in a speech in which he recounted the providers shuttered in the wake of the 2019 auto insurance overhaul. Cavanagh said Michigan lawmakers can address the state's "crisis of care" without impacting the cost-saving features of the current law. But other Republican lawmakers worried about the bills' impact on insurance costs for drivers. State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, blasted the bill package, calling it a "pile of junk." In heated remarks, he said his constituents sent him to Lansing with one demand on car insurance: lower costs. "It's ridiculously expensive in this state. Insanely expensive in this state," he yelled. Together, Senate Bills 530, 531 and 575 would raise the reimbursement rates for providers who treat those in more recent auto accidents. Lawmakers amended the legislation, which originally proposed a 250% reimbursement rate of whatever Medicare pays to medical providers. It now no longer includes an across-the-board rate increase for providers. Instead, it preserves a tiered system with smaller rate reimbursement increases for different types of providers. The head of the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) came out against the bill package, predicting it would raise insurance costs. "Simply put, the broad-brush reimbursement rate increases proposed in these bills would substantially impact auto insurance affordability across the state," department director Anita Fox wrote in a letter to lawmakers Wednesday. While Fox submitted that written testimony before lawmakers made changes to the legislation, the revisions did not sway the department to support the bills, according to a spokesperson. School sports: Michigan House passes bill to allow NIL deals for high school athletes "Now I don't say this often but I agree with the Whitmer administration," said Minority Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township. State Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, pointed to DIFS's concerns in a floor speech ahead of the vote Thursday and expressed concerns that the legislation would increase the share of Michigan drivers without insurance traveling on the state's roads. Lawmakers rejected an amendment from Theis that would have ensured that none of the changes in the legislation would take effect if DIFS found that insurance costs would go up. State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, said that the 2019 auto insurance overhaul did not deliver the promised rate relief for drivers and countered that Theis' amendment wouldn't either. "The heart of the bill is to restore access to health care," he said. Groups advocating for catastrophic crash survivors who heralded the summer state Supreme Court decision now want lawmakers to send the legislation changing reimbursement rates to Whitmer's desk. State Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, said she does not want lawmakers to go another year hearing the same demands from families of survivors of catastrophic car crashes who have lined the halls of Lansing demanding changes. The legislation passed by the state Senate on Thursday will next head to the state House for consideration. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan lawmakers vote on auto insurance bills Mike Lindell, the election fraud conspiracy theorist and ardent Trump supporter, is selling Wi-Fi monitoring devices after claiming that the signals at polling stations are creating voter tampering. Election officials in Northern Kentucky have said that Lindells devices are illegal, likely a felony, and voted that poll workers will be instructed to not allow the devices. Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, is banned from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, for spouting election fraud conspiracies. He reportedly collected donations from the Election Crime Bureau Summit back in August for the devices, which he said would be sold for less than $500. Kenton County Clerk Gabrielle Summe said that Lindells devices are particularly dangerous because they are small enough to sneak into the polls and could illegally identify voters. These are the kinds of things that keep me up at night, Summe said. Read it at The nquirer Read more at The Daily Beast. MILLE LACS COUNTY, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Friday that his office has intervened in two cases where a Mille Lacs County judge prevented felons from voting. Mille Lacs County District Court Judge Matthew M. Quinn, in at least six recent cases, has sentenced people convicted of felonies to probation. He then issued an order declaring Minnesotas new Restore the Vote law unconstitutional, effectively barring the felons from voting, according to a release sent by the Attorney Generals office. The new voting law lets convicted felons vote as long as they are not currently incarcerated for their offense. Two individuals affected by this have filed a writ of prohibition at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, according to the release. A writ of prohibition is filed when a district court exceeds its authority and is meant to check the power of district courts. "Judicial restraint and respect for the separation of powers are essential principles of our justice system. When either of those principles is violated, Minnesotans lose trust in the system and Judge Quinn has violated both principles," Ellison said in a statement. "It took two decades to pass a law to restore the right to vote to people who are longer incarcerated, and the new law that restores that right is fully constitutional. Minnesotans should know Judge Quinns illegal orders have no effect on their voting rights." Ellisons office says it has filed notices to intervene in two cases, filing memorandums in support of the two individuals. Secretary of State Steve Simon also provided a statement in support of Ellison for these legal efforts. "We cannot allow for any distortion of the rules for voter eligibility in Minnesota. Local elections in communities across Minnesota will take place in just 18 days on November 7. And voting in Minnesotas 2024 presidential nominating primary starts just 13 weeks from today on January 19," Simon said in the statement. "Minnesota has a proud tradition of showing up at the polls in nation-leading numbers, and I know that will continue." MILWAUKEE - With the 2023 sailing season nearly over, some big boats needed to come out of the water Friday at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. "Big Boat Day" is an annual event for the sailing center. They call in a 20-ton crane to get large boats out of the water for winter. This year, 35 boats were pulled. "That kind of starts the beginning of our weekend, closing up for the season," said Holly Church, the organization's director. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News It signals the end of the Milwaukee sailing season, and Church said Lake Michigan was booming this year. "I think since COVID people have really begun to start to pay attention to outdoor activities, getting out, getting fresh air. It's been a really busy couple of years for us," Church said. "One of the top community sailing programs in the country right here in our backyard." Sailboats pulled from Lake Michigan for the season during Milwaukee Community Sailing Centers "Big Boat Day" The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center aims to steer all ages, abilities and incomes toward maritime activities. "My dad's 80 years old and sailing this boat," said sailor Katie Sullivan. "Its a wonderful program. Anybody should try it." "People here are so helpful, and they really are dedicated to helping people learn about sailing. Very nice community group," said sailor Lilly Sullivan. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. That community is stepping up to get the vessels pulled out of water and power washed for next spring. Church leaves sailors with one last piece of advice for their last weekend on the water: "Just have fun! Winter is coming, snow is gonna fly." Saturday and Sunday are the last days for open sailing. Members can take out the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center boats, and then all of their boats will be pulled out of the docks Monday. If Robert Kaplans The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China had not been released earlier this year, one could imagine him scrambling to rewrite the introduction of his wide-ranging treatise on political order in the Middle East in light of recent events. After all, the merciless Hamas terrorists responsible for the attacks in Israel had once been the unexpected beneficiaries of elections that U.S. officials had hoped would produce a moderate Palestinian government. Yet following their victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative polls, Hamas promptly executed political rivals, extended an iron grip over the Gaza Strip, and began building the terrorist command-and-control capabilities gruesomely displayed on October 7. The 2006 elections were Gazas last. Kaplana longtime foreign affairs reporter for The Atlantic and a researcher at the Foreign Policy Research Instituteargues in his latest book that stability in the Middle East is elusive. Chaos, in his view, always lurks beneath the surface, and elections fail to produce peace in a region with such acute fault lines. The past few weeks sadly seem to bolster his pessimistic claims. Kaplan has made some essential contributions in his timehis work recentering the primacy of geography in international relations stands outas well as a few alarmist dispatches that dont hold up as well. This latest book seems principally concerned with atoning for Kaplans initial support for the Iraq War, which he now considers his greatest failure as a writer. If Kaplans self-professed hatred for Saddam Husseins totalitarianism blinded him to the risks of an intervention in 2003, The Loom of Time warns against similar involvement in the Middle East. Kaplans latest work is a characteristically informative and enjoyable mix of travelog, history, and geopolitical analysis. Its refreshingly provocative in some important regards, but also repetitive and simplistic in places. Yet few authors are in the position to write such a book as Kaplan, one that blends decades of first-person reporting in the region with a broad familiarity with Middle Eastern history and societies. The Loom of Time begins with two epigraphs. In the first, the Hellenistic-era historian Polybius claims that comparative studies of history are more useful than specialist accounts of any particular figure or region. In the second, the British philosopher Edmund Burke asserts that, Rage and phrensy will pull down more in half an hour, than prudence, deliberation, and foresight can build up in a hundred years. In a way, those are the two principal arguments of Kaplans book. He feels that a narrow conceptualization of the Middle Easts geography has resulted in siloed and incomplete analysis. He regards the region as an interconnected social, political, and cultural system not limited to the Arab worldor the Arab world plus Turkey and Iranbut rather which stretches from the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean in the west toward the steppes of present-day China in the east. Absent such an expansive view of the Middle Easts geography and history, Kaplan claims, we risk being blind to historic changes in the political-economic order in the region that are set to upend Western influence. Kaplans second, more forceful argument is that the root causes of the Middle Easts fractious politics necessitate a realist foreign policy toward the region, one that prioritizes order over liberty. The alternative, he argueswith no shortage of historical evidenceis anarchy. Kaplan is strongest in writing sweeping overviews a la Polybius. He interweaves historical narratives of the Greater Middle East with descriptions of the regions landscapes and cultures in a way that shows an appreciation for the likes of Herodotus and Ibn Khaldun. He notes in his introduction that he began traveling in Chinas remote western provinces as early as 1994, long before the plight of the Uyghurs made headlines in the West. Early on he appreciated that these peripheral regions would be the locus of Chinas neoimperialist and mercantilist efforts to acquire global hegemony. The Greater Middle East is the fight zone for these ghost empires: the vast puzzle piece that China needs to command, if it can link its budding commercial outposts in Europe with those in East Asia, Kaplan writes. His penultimate chapter on Afghanistan and Pakistan likewise contrasts Chinas Belt and Road Initiative with American alliance-building among littoral states in the Indo-Pacific. The former evinces a Heartland strategy, as conceived by the late-Victorian geographer Halford Mackinder, in which global power is determined by whoever can unite and harness the potential of the Eurasian landmass. The latter a reflection of political scientist Nicholas Spykmans rimland theory, which places primacy on control of the Indo-Pacific coasts over the Eurasian interior. Kaplan is not the first to draw this comparison, but his years of writing on geopoliticslong before it was fashionable in Western foreign policy circlesgives greater weight to his prognosis that the Rimland and the Heartland are about to fuse in the coming years with China clearly eyeing the prize. In contrast, Kaplans arguments for a sort of realist approach to the Middle East, though seemingly prudent on the surface, become repetitive and somewhat reductionist as the book progresses. Kaplan surveys, with understandable disappointment, years of American missteps in the Middle East and a decade of fallouts from the Arab Spring. He concludes that pragmatism and moral compromise are preconditions for any successful foreign policy toward the region. Rather than pine exclusively for democracy in the Greater Middle East, we should desire instead consultative regimes in place of arbitrary ones, he writes. That is, regimes that canvass public opinion even if they do not hold elections. This is a reasonable approach to take to some of the more tranquil hereditary monarchies of the region, to a point. But not only does Kaplans argument come off as a bit of a straw manthere is not, to my knowledge, a strong lobby in Washington for regime change in Morocco or Omanthe proscription is also not of much help in guiding U.S. policy. Take a country like Egypt as an example, where the regime is simultaneously violent and uninspired. (Authoritarians can typically get away with being one, but both is a tough sell.) Any semblance of a social contract in Egypt exists at the mercy of the Gulf petrodollars that prop up the economy, and the increasingly repressed civil society is unable to produce viable political alternatives. Since it is not clear what pushing for a consultative authoritarian in Egypt would entail, short of resurrecting the corpse of Anwar al-Sadat, Washington is stuck dealing with a regime eerily similar to the former one of Hosni Mubarak, whose listlessness helped generate the Arab Spring in the first place. Shortcomings of the so-called realist approach are also seen clearly in the case of Ethiopia, which Kaplan describes in the book as an outpost of Middle Eastern and Semitic civilization on the continent of Africa. At the time that Kaplan traveled to Ethiopia in 2021, the country was in the midst of a brutal civil war. Only three years earlier, the young Abiy Ahmed had become prime minister and promptly won the Nobel Peace Prize for a slew of political reforms and lofty rhetoric about national reconciliation, a decision that the Nobel committee no doubt began to regret the following year when Ethiopia descended into war. Kaplan notes that the battlefield changed dramatically over the weeks and months following his visit in mid-2021. Well-trained ethnic Tigrayan fighters (led by those who had dominated the countrys politics and security forces for 27 years prior to Abiys ascent) nearly reached the capital city of Addis Ababa in a stunning offensive before being pushed back by Ethiopian troops with the support of Turkish and Emirati drones that Abiy had managed to secure at the eleventh hour. The war continued for another year and then, to the surprise of most observers, abruptly came to an end at the start of November 2022. Ethiopian forces dealt a decisive blow to Tigrayan forces in a massive, multifront assault in the countrys north. Reports I heard from Ethiopian sources suggest tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides may have died in the last six weeks of fighting alone. Needless to say, the naive hopes that many American policymakers had held for Abiy the peacemaker upon his appointment in 2018 had dissipated by November 2022, after two years of massacres, mass rapes, and the targeted starvation of Tigrays civilian population. The realist strategy from the U.S. and other Western powers has since been to accept the fait accompli of a decisive, if destructive, Ethiopian military victory, paying lip service to the need for transitional justice, reconciliation and the like, while working with Abiy to resume some of the development aid that had been suspended during the war. It is hard to imagine the U.S. doing anything differently, given its limited understanding of the facts on the ground during the war, let alone any ability to influence outcomes one way or another. But if Abiy and his advisers looked for a moment to have been master strategists who triumphed over the effete protests of the Western human rights complexi.e., the sorts of strong-armed statesmen whom Kaplan seems to not-so-secretly admirethey now look nearly as vulnerable and clueless as they did when they stumbled into war with the Tigrayans three years ago. Since the start of 2023, Ethiopias military has been drawn into an escalating set of counterinsurgency operations that by now arguably constitute a second civil war, this one an entirely predictable clash that pits Abiys government against its erstwhile allies from the last civil war. Abiy remains in power but with a reduced support base. It is not too far-fetched to think that he may eventually face a new rebel assault on Addis Ababa like the one he narrowly averted in 2021. And therein lies the challenge of positing a dichotomy between realism and, for lack of a better word, idealism in American foreign policy. Stable authoritarian regimes may be preferable to ill-conceived democratic experiments in the Middle East. But how many authoritarian regimes in that region are truly stable? If a country like Ethiopia can experience two civil wars (one-and-a-half, if were being generous) in the span of as many years, how much stock should Washington put into cozying up to any one particular regime? After all, no autocrat in the Middle East is immortal, however shrewd he may be. (Just ask the Yemenis.) There arent any slam-dunk answers in The Loom of Time, but its not a mark against Kaplans book that he cannot offer a silver bullet for the Middle East. He seems to desire a return of enlightened, quasi-imperial rule to the region, akin to the Ottoman Empire, yet he concedes that any imperial competition between the likely contenders for suzerainty today (e.g. China, Russia, or India) could be quite intense. Perhaps the principal takeaway from his book, though buried deep in the text, is that we should not assume that any scenario is off the table when it comes to the future of the Greater Middle East. As he notes in his chapter on Ethiopia, when considering the prospects of state collapse: Mistakes occur in analysis often not by a failure of reason, but by a failure of imagination. 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. MOGADISHU, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including four Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers, were killed and several others wounded on Saturday in a suicide bombing attack near Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, the police said. A car laden with explosives exploded at a security checkpoint at Elasha Biyaha area, about 20 km north of Mogadishu, Police Force Spokesperson Sadiq Aden Ali said. The suicide bomber who was heading to Mogadishu where he planned to stage the attack was shot by the soldiers who tried to prevent him from passing through the checkpoint at around 5:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), Ali said. "Al-Shabab terrorists carried out the suicide attack this morning which inflicted casualties on both soldiers and civilians around and destroyed properties and residences," he said. Videos and pictures from the scene show mass destruction of houses near the checkpoint. Al-Shabab militants have claimed the responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters killed 49 SNA soldiers. The government has been waging a war against al-Shabab militants since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came into power in May 2022. However, the terrorist group still controls some parts of rural areas in southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere despite crackdowns by government forces. Tom Gerbier, an Air France pilot reported missing Wednesday, was found Thursday after falling 1,000 feet to his death at Californias Sequoia National Park. The 38-year-old was hiking Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, when he died. The National Park Service said Gerbier set off early Tuesday morning from Whitney Portal, the gateway to Mt. Whitney. He was reported missing after failing to appear Wednesday at work to pilot a commercial flight and was ultimately found by deployed ground teams. This rescue was made possible through the assistance and collaboration of Inyo County Sheriffs Office, Tulare County Sheriffs Office, Inyo Search and Rescue Team, and the climbing community, the National Park Service wrote in their statement. A French national from Fontenay-sous-Bois was located in an area known as The Notch. During a helicopter search, the park service spotted the motionless hiker and recovered Gerbier to transfer him to the Tulare County Sheriffs Office for identification. Gerbiers death marked the second fatality this year for the park, which is administered jointly by the service as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Gerbier was scheduled only briefly to be in California and had been on a stopover for his airline. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States. [Air France] regrets to confirm the accidental death of one of its pilots while he was on a stopover in Los Angeles (California), they told the San Francisco Chronicle in a statement Friday. The company offers its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Mt. Whitney has fascinated mountain climbers for decades and reportedly stands unparalleled on the continent at about 14,494 feet. In 2011, 7-year-old California native Tyler Armstrong became the youngest ever to summit it. The park service claimed on its website that Mt. Whitney is the most frequently climbed mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada. They also claimed that technical climbing equipment is not usually necessary between mid-July and early October. It currently remains unclear if Gerbier used any climbing equipment during his trek. CORRECTION: This article initially stated Mt. Whitney was the tallest mountain in the continental U.S.; it is the tallest in the contiguous U.S., which excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Related... ST. LOUIS A jury awarded $1.25 million to a St. Louis man who suffered non-Hodgkins lymphoma after using Bayer-Monsantos Roundup herbicide. Twelve jurors in the Missouri 22nd Judicial Circuit Court unanimously found Bayer-Monsanto liable for John Durnells cancer, granting him damages. Former Greenwood police chief sentenced to prison for domestic assault The trial resulted in the first verdict against Bayer-Monsanto outside of California and the first loss for the chemical giant in St. Louis. Since last year, there have been several trials involving Roundup in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Plaintiffs have argued that longtime exposure to Roundup specifically the chemical glyphosate -gave them lymphoma and that Monsanto neglected to warn the public of its dangers. OnderLaw, a St. Louis-area law firm that represented Durnell, said he began using the weed killer in 1996 while maintaining his neighborhood grounds for the Soulard Restoration Project. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma several years later after discovering a painful knot. We are proud that John Durnell had the courage to stand up to Monsanto, said James G. Onder, founder and managing partner of OnderLaw in a statement to FOX 2. Reuters reports that Bayer plans to appeal the ruling. Chiefs Travis Kelce breaks out Iowa State mascot head; heres why There remains some scientific debate over glyphosate as a cancer-causing agent. The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015 identified glyphosate as a possible carcinogen. However, a WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) joint committee on pesticides announced in 2016 that glyphosate did not pose a significant health risk to humans. Findings from the Environmental Protection Agency state that glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogen. Durnell was represented by Wylie Blair, Greg Pals, and Scott Sifton from St. Louis-based OnderLaw; Roe Frazer, Trey Frazer, and Grant LaBar from Nashville-based Frazer Law Firm; and Isaac Conner from Manson, Johnson, Conner PLLC of Nashville. Bayer-Monsanto was represented by Shayna Cook of Chicagos Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum, and Mike Brown of Baltimore-based Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. New agreement with De Soto details hiring, incentives for Panasonic plant Monsanto was founded in St. Louis in 1901 and named for founder John Francis Queenys wifes maiden name. The company initially manufactured food additives before expanding to industrial chemicals. Over the next several decades, Monsanto would produce the insecticide DDT, the infamous herbicide Agent Orange, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), bovine growth hormone, and genetically engineered crop seeds. Monsanto stopped producing PCBs in 1977 amid concerns of contamination of land and water sources. The companys Sauget plant along Dead Creek had been the countrys biggest producer of PCBs in the years prior. That plant was eventually designated a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency. Congress banned the production of PCBs in 1979. In 1984, Monsanto settled a class-action lawsuit by Vietnam veterans for injuries suffered due to Agent Orange exposure. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Monsanto moved its headquarters from Downtown St. Louis to Creve Coeur in 1957 and launched its agricultural division in 1961. Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2016 for $66 billion. In June 2020, Bayer agreed to pay $10.9 billion to settle approximately three-quarters of existing Roundup claims against its subsidiaryboth filed and unfiled claimsat the time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The bereaved mother of an Israeli festival-goer gunned down by Hamas militants earlier this month is urging Americans to "wake up" about the terrorists' support and told Fox News Digital she will "shout . . . until they start listening." "I turned New York into my home. I made a lot of Americans my friends. Now, I worry for them," Hannie Ricardo told Fox News Digital amid anti-Israeli demonstrations across the city and other parts of the U.S. Ricardo, a former lecturer at New York's Yeshiva University pursuing a master's degree at Hunter College, said she was slated to move into a new apartment last Sunday. Her youngest daughter, Oriya, had plans to visit. "But instead of that, I buried my kid on Sunday," the 58-year-old said. SON OF ELDERLY HOSTAGE DEMANDS ISRAEL CORRECT ITS 'FIRST FAILURE' AND SAVE HOSTAGES BEFORE ATTACKING GAZA Ricardo quit her job and halted her studies after receiving word that 26-year-old Oriya was missing in the wake of Hamas' brutal assault in Israel that began October 7 and killed more than 1,400 people. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The moment I heard there was an attack, I took my phone and saw her message," Ricardo told Fox News Digital. "Mom, I love you so much," Oriya's final correspondence said. "I tried to call back, but, of course, it was too late. She never answered my calls," Ricardo recalled. "I thought she was hiding, and she put [her phone] on silent mode." Oriya, who "loved dancing," was an unsuspecting attendee at the Supernova music festival in the Negev desert. Haunting footage, since broadcast worldwide, showed festival-goers dancing at dawn before recognizing the sounds of gunfire as they were under siege by militants shooting from motorized paragliders, trucks and black vans. "She could conquer anything, especially the hearts of people," mother Hannie Ricardo told Fox News Digital of her daughter Oriya Ricardo. The 26-year-old was reported missing October 7 and found dead of a gunshot wound three days later. The lives of at least 260 civilian revelers were claimed, making the event among the worst civilian mass casualty incidents in Israeli history. A complete count has yet to be announced. Ricardo said that "the human vocabulary doesn't have a word yet to describe this kind of massacre." On October 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that "Israel [was] at war." That afternoon, Ricardo boarded a flight to her war-torn home country, where she reported Oriya missing and provided authorities with a sample of her DNA. GRETA THUNBERG POSTS THEN DELETES 'FREE PALESTINE' POST AFTER PUSHBACK: 'I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE' She stayed with the family of Oriya's boyfriend, a "wonderful family" Ricardo said she should have met "when [the couple] decided to get married." Days before her daughter was found, Ricardo recalled, she told a news outlet she was "waiting for [Oriya] to come back so [she] could hug her." "I spoke about her courage. She was a courageous girl, an amazing girl," Ricardo told Fox News Digital. "I said, 'She's probably hiding,' and I expected her to come out when things [were] quiet." Beside himself with worry after days of no news, Ricardo said, Oriya's boyfriend "took his car and drove down there himself" October 10. "He was about to find my daughter's body, hiding and pretty much dead," she said. "She was murdered. She was shot in the head." Oriya was "the most loyal friend you could ask for," and a "cheerful girl with a charming smile who had to hug" who could "conquer anything especially the hearts of people," her mother said. COLUMBIA PROFESSOR CALLS UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT A 'COWARD' IN FIERY SPEECH ABOUT CAMPUS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISM "She was this chic person," Ricardo recalled. "She's like a model going to the runway always always. Very well-dressed. She was extremely beautiful. Really beautiful. It's not only her beauty outside, she was a beautiful person inside and out. Kind and loving and considerate and the best listener ever. "She was my heart now it's dead," the mother added. "I don't know how you live without a heart. I know that I speak out of grief, and losing her is beyond words. I don't have words to describe this." Ricardo criticized anti-Israel protesters, saying many Americans "don't hesitate to take a side without thinking." Now, Ricardo is unsure whether she will return to the states to finish her degree. She said she worries about Americans who "don't hesitate to take a side without thinking. It's very easy, you know. They don't know what Hamas is like. . . . They equal ISIS and al Qaeda and those who caused American 9/11. They might be even worse than that. "[In America], you have your freedom of speech. I know it's a very strong thing in America. I lived there," Ricardo added. "But the interpretation of freedom of speech needs to be discussed, because when freedom of speech becomes freedom of hate, it becomes a whole different thing." Destroyed cars and personal effects are still scattered around the Supernova Music Festival site, where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas militants near the border with Gaza October 13, 2023, in Kibbutz Re'im, Israel. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ricardo, who has a master's degree in Jewish studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, called this month's attack on Israel the "Holocaust of 2023." "My mom was a Holocaust survivor. She passed away a year ago. My father came over before [the creation of the] state of Israel. . . . Now, I'm a mother of one girl that didn't survive the Holocaust of 2023," Ricardo said. "I have a lot of history with Holocausts. Now, I have my own personal one." Ricardo's message to people opposing Israel? "Wake up and start doubting." "Americans, a lot of Americans, especially in the law schools [like] Harvard, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Georgetown . . . they are rewriting history," she said. "Anti-Israel is simply the modern antisemitic thing, it's no different." Original article source: Mom of Israeli woman killed by Hamas worries for American friends amid antisemitic demonstrations NASA's Lucy probe will fly by the space rock Dinkinesh on Nov. 1, and an agency video gives us a preview of the encounter. Dinkinesh is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and will be the first asteroid in Lucy's record-breaking tour, which will see the spacecraft visit nine other space rocks. These future destinations for Lucy are Trojan asteroids , which share the orbit of the solar system 's largest planet, Jupiter . The Lucy mission , which launched in October 2021, was not originally set to visit the 0.5-mile-wide (0.8 kilometers) Dinkinesh, previously known by the designation 1999 VD57; the decision to add it to the spacecraft's itinerary was made in January 2023. This will be more than a sightseeing jaunt, however. While at Dinkinesh, Lucy will test its innovative Terminal Tracking System, which is designed to keep its instruments pointed at asteroids during flybys. Related: Meet the 10 asteroids that NASA's Lucy spacecraft will visit An illustration of NASA's Lucy spacecraft as it approaches the asteroid Dinkinesh. That's not as easy or straightforward as it may sound. During its final approach to Dinkinesh, Lucy will be racing toward the space rock at 10,000 mph (16,000 kph) about six times faster than a bullet fired by a rifle. The NASA video explains that the Dinkinesh encounter presents the perfect opportunity to test this system. The geometry of the flyby in particular, the angle at which Lucy will approach Dinkinesh in relation to the sun is very similar to the mission's planned Trojan asteroid encounters. That means that the encounter between Lucy and Dinkinesh acts essentially as a "dress rehearsal" for the probe's encounters with its main scientific targets. This will be a more challenging test, as Dinkinesh is smaller than the other Lucy targets in fact, it will be the smallest main belt asteroid ever imaged up close by a spacecraft. Following its encounter with Dinkinesh, Lucy will move away from the edge of the main asteroid belt, where the space rock is located, and head back to Earth for a gravity assist in December 2024 that will send it hurtling toward the Trojan asteroids. It will fly by another main belt asteroid in 2025, then arrive at one set of Jupiter Trojan asteroids in 2027. RELATED STORIES: NASA's Lucy mission snaps its asteroid targets for the 1st time Asteroid sharing Earth's orbit discovered could it help future space missions? Metal asteroid Psyche has a ridiculously high 'value.' But what does that even mean? "This is really a tiny little asteroid," Lucy principal investigator Hal Levison said in a statement in February of this year, when Dinkinesh was given its name. ("Dinkinesh" is the Ethiopian name for the famous human-ancestor fossil Lucy, which was found in that nation.) "Some of the team affectionately refer to it as 'Dinky,'" Levison added. "But, for a small asteroid, we expect it to be a big help for the Lucy mission." Engineers devoted to NASAs Voyager missions have successfully installed software upgrades that they believe could keep the two spacecraft operating for decades to come. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were both launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 1977 on a mission to study Jupiter, Saturn and faraway moons. VOYAGER 1 AND 2 CONTINUE OFFERING NEW MYSTERIES FROM INTERSTELLAR SPACE Efforts have resulted in numerous findings that still continue today, well past the expected expiration date of both voyagers. Over the decades, NASA says propellant buildup and occasional electronic problems have caused concerns that the voyagers may be reaching the end of their lifecycles, but due to advancements on Earth, there may be new life for the missions. The sheer size of the patch and billions of miles traveled by each spacecraft means it could take 18 hours for data to travel to the voyagers. SEE THE OBJECTS HUMANS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON "Because of the spacecrafts age and the communication lag time, theres some risk the patch could overwrite essential code or have other unintended effects on the spacecraft," NASA stated. "To reduce those risks, the team has spent months writing, reviewing, and checking the code. As an added safety precaution, Voyager 2 will receive the patch first and serve as a testbed for its twin. Voyager 1 is farther from Earth than any other spacecraft, making its data more valuable." Garbled data in 2022 from Voyager 1 gave engineers a scare that the spacecraft was no longer correctly transmitting data, but they were able to pinpoint the issue several months later. "This patch is like an insurance policy that will protect us in the future and help us keep these probes going as long as possible," said Suzanne Dodd, NASA's Voyager project manager. "These are the only spacecraft to ever operate in interstellar space, so the data theyre sending back is uniquely valuable to our understanding of our local universe." NASA REESTABLISHES CONTACT WITH VOYAGER 2 LOCATED MORE THAN 12 BILLION MILES FROM EARTH Over the decades, scientists have gradually turned off instruments in order to prolong battery power. NASA engineers expect each spacecraft to continue operating at least one instrument for only the next couple of years but continue to transmit signals through 2036. SPACECRAFT CAPTURES PHOTOS OF NEW CRATER ON MOON LIKELY CREATED BY FAILED RUSSIAN MISSION Voyager 1 is traveling about 320 million miles a year and is on a path to leave the solar system and end up near the constellation Ophiuchus. Voyager 2 is traveling at a rate of about 290 million miles a year and, in about 40,000 years, will be in the vicinity of the constellation Andromeda. Original article source: NASA's Voyagers get software upgrades to prolong lives of 1970s spacecraft The NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led organization based in Rapid City, S.D., is calling for a cesase in Gaza, where over 4,200 Palestinians have been killed in the past two weeks when Hammas brutally attacked innocent people in Israel. Since the surprise attack by Hammas on October 7, 2023, Israel has called up over 300,000 national guard troops in preparation for a ground attack. In response, NDN Collective released the following statement: In every Indigenous language in the world, there is a word meaning we are all related. We are in a critical moment where we need to call upon our Indigenous knowledge and act upon that worldview, treating everyone as relatives. This moment requires us to act upon our values, so that a history of genocide does not continue to be repeated. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. We firmly believe that we all deserve to live and die in peace, whenever death comes for us. We mourn the lives already lost and feel dread knowing that many more will die. This is why we must rise up now and hold the U.S. government accountable in the funding of and profiteering from this war. We are horrified, enraged, and grief-stricken at the reality of Israeli and Palestinian lives lost so quickly and with such force. We decry the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, including 2.3 million in Gaza who have lived under Israeli blockade and siege for 16 years. We pray for the safe return of the Israeli people held hostage by Hamas. We stand in solidarity with those including many Jewish people who have been protesting the occupation of Palestine for years, and who are now on the streets demanding for Israel to stop their attacks. The immediate solution to stopping the genocide is a ceasefire. Both Palestinian and Israeli people deserve leaders who prioritize their safety and human rights. We recognize that Palestinians are a diverse people. Hamas, a right-wing religious fundamentalist group which suppresses dissent within Gaza, is only one faction. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people any more than the Netanyahu government represents Israelis. The Israel governments response to trap, starve, and kill the people of Gaza, nearly half of whom are children is monstrous. As Indigenous peoples who carry hundreds of years of state-sponsored genocide on our backs and who have been dispossessed of our lands, languages, cultures, and identities by nation-states, we know that settlers fight with both weapons and words. They spread insidious narratives to trick people into believing that state violence is both necessary and justified. We must reject these lies at every turn. We must center humanity and harness the moral strength to hold multiple truths at one time. Settler colonialism is at the root of the violence in Gaza. A ceasefire, an end to the U.S. funding Israels military, and true Palestinian land rights and liberation are the path to peace. 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 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. 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 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. ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 8,500 people have entered Ethiopia's western Gambella region, fleeing conflict in neighboring South Sudan, local officials said on Friday evening. In a press statement, the Gambella Regional Government Press Secretariat Office reported that the refugees arrived in the western Ethiopia region in recent days, escaping conflict in the Pochalla county of South Sudan. More than 200 temporary shelters have already been constructed in the Gambella region to accommodate the South Sudanese refugees, with an additional 500 temporary shelters planned for construction in the coming days, according to the statement. Additionally, the statement said that the majority of the South Sudanese refugees are women and children. Gambella region has hosted tens of thousands of South Sudanese refugees in recent years. In recent months, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area in eastern South Sudan, bordering Ethiopia, has experienced intercommunal violence, particularly between Murle, Dinka and Nuer tribes. The violence often involves cattle looting, revenge killings and the abduction of women and children. Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, has once again stressed that Ukraine will not negotiate with Russia while Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian lands. Source: Danilov, in an interview with Kyodo News, a Japanese media outlet Quote from Danilov: "There are no negotiations worth having as long as Russia continues to occupy (Ukrainian) territory, including Crimea." Details: Danilov said he was certain that the "situation will fundamentally change" once F-16 fighter jets arrive from the West but admitted it was difficult to predict how long it would take to regain all of Ukraines territory. Though Ukraine has entered an informal agreement not to use weapons supplied by the West in attacks on the Russian mainland, Danilov stated that facilities around Moscow could become targets for arms manufactured in Ukraine. "He dispelled concerns that international attention and support would wane amid the escalating situation between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Middle East", Kyodo News reported. Danilov said: "There has been no decrease in communication with the United States and Europe. Cooperation continues, and we get help every day." Danilov also commented on the strengthening ties between Russia and China, saying that Moscow has "lost its independence and now has to rely on countries like China, North Korea and Iran". He "brushed off" the likelihood of a ceasefire brokered by Beijing. Danilov also said that a "modern Hitler by the name of Putin killed 500 of our children." Background: On 18 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine was supposedly thinking about negotiations with Russia. Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, said on Sunday, 10 September, that peace talks with Russia are not currently available because "it takes two to tango", but if Russian President Vladimir Putin shows interest, Ukrainians will join in. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said now is a "bad moment" for negotiations with Russia, as the counteroffensive continues and Russia sees Ukraine's difficulties on the battlefield. In his opinion, Putin seeks to exhaust Ukraine, but instead, he "will lose in the long war." Support UP or become our patron! Americas most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains, saw more visitors last year than the next two parks combined, the Grand Canyon and Zion. Part of the reason is the location. Many people drive through the park on the way to another destination. But the parks appeal cant be underestimated. The Smokies are truly, well, great. I've been here almost 24 years, and I truly understand why it's not called the So So Smoky Mountains, chuckled park ranger Brad Free. Really, I think it should be called the Awesome Smoky Mountains. Heres why and what travelers should know about the Great Smoky Mountains, the latest national park in USA TODAYs yearlong series: Signage shows how drastically an area once used for logging has changed at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. What is special about Great Smoky Mountains National Park? It's just so diverse in so many different ways, Free said, citing the array of plants, animals, geology and human history within the park. Its just a beautiful place. Along with that beauty is a sense of belonging that many visitors and rangers experience at the park. It's like going home to your grandparents, he said. This is a great place to come and just say Ah, I want to hug my mountains. These are my people: How Dolly Parton stays true to her Smokies roots at Dollywood Where are the Great Smoky Mountains located? The park stretches across more than 522,000 acres of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Its two visitor centers are located near Cherokee, North Carolina, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The closest airport to the parks Gatlinburg entrance is McGhee-Tyson Airport, which is about 45 miles away, near Knoxville. The closest airport to the Cherokee entrance is Asheville Regional Airport, which is about 60 miles away. Lush green trees frame a stream at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Why are the Smokies called the Smokies? The name stems from the Cherokee term for the area, which translates to place of the blue smoke, according to Free and the Tennessee State Museum. Sevier County Tennessees tourism website, Visit My Smokies, explains that signature smoke is actually fog that comes from the areas vegetation. Did the Cherokee live in the Smoky Mountains? The Cherokee have been here for thousands of years, Free said. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians still share their rich culture with visitors in Cherokee, North Carolina, a destination unto itself just outside the park. Free noted there doesnt appear to have been any permanent Cherokee villages within the park proper, but they hunted and gathered there, as evidenced by 9,000-year-old arrowheads found in the park. The early European explorers and settlers that came through here learned so much about how to survive in these mountains from the Cherokee that were here, he said. What is the entrance fee for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? There are no fees to enter the park. However, parking fees are required for any vehicle parking in the park for longer than 15 minutes. Parking passes cost $5 for one day, $15 for seven days and $40 for annual parking. A paid parking pass is required for vehicles parking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for longer than 15 minutes. Can you just drive through Smoky Mountains National Park? Yes. A lot of people find us by accident. They dont even know a national park is here. Theyre just driving through, Free said. Other visitors come just for a scenic drive, but Free said to really know the park, visitors need to get out and hit the trails. It's not just the Smokies: Visiting the not-so-hidden gems of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge Which entrance is best for Great Smoky Mountains National Park? It really depends on what youre looking for, Free said. The busy Gatlinburg entrance is popular among visitors coupling park time with vacationing in Gatlinburg or nearby Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, home of Dollywood. The Cherokee entrance is less crowded and very scenic, with numerous streams. It actually takes you over the mountain and back over to this side over here, which is I think a very pretty drive, Free said. A third option is a park entrance near Townsend, Tennessee. It really only takes you into our Cades Cove area of the park, which is probably one of the busiest places in the park, Free said. An entrance sign greets visitors entering Great Smoky Mountain National Park, near Cherokee, North Carolina. What is the best month to visit Great Smoky Mountains? The busiest months in the park are May through October, but Free said, Each season has something, really a gift for everybody. He cited wildflowers in the spring, greenery in the summer and the rainbow of colors in the fall. He loves the wintertime in the park when crowds fade and the mountains really come into view. Its kind of like if I shave my beard, you see my face. Thats kind of what happens when the leaves fall off, he said. You can see the faces of the mountains, you see the heartbeat of the mountains through the wintertime. And walking through the woods with a little fresh fallen snow and nothing else around, there is nothing else like that. What should you not miss in the Smoky Mountains? From Cades Cove to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park, there is so much to see at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. No one corner covers it all, but Free said the Alum Cave trail comes close. It's a 5-mile round trip, but that trail there has pretty much everything the park offers on the trail, except for a waterfall, he said. It's got streams, got geology, got elevation, got views, got old growth forest If you do one trail, do that trail. How many days do you need at Great Smoky Mountains? Free recommends at least two days in the park, with one day spent in the higher elevations and another day in the lower elevations. But all that's going to do is just get your taste buds ready for something else, he smiled, adding that five days would provide a better foundation. Ive been here a long time, and I still haven't done everything. The Mountain Farm Museum beside Great Smoky Mountain National Park's Oconaluftee Visitor Center shows visitors what it would have been like to live in the area before the park was established. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger shares his tips for trips Giorgia Meloni at the European Political Community summit in Spain on October 5 (Thomas COEX) From fringe far-right leader to a "friend" of Joe Biden, Italy's Giorgia Meloni marks one year in office this weekend having confounded expectations. Many feared Meloni would take Italy down a radical new path but instead her first 12 months have been marked by a conventional foreign policy and a right-wing but not revolutionary domestic programme, analysts say. Despite her past euroscepticism, the 46-year-old has sought a largely constructive role with the European Union, aside from a few spats with Paris and Berlin on migration. She has strongly backed Ukraine in its defence against Russia, and is expected to pull Italy out of China's Belt and Road investment scheme, four years after Rome became the only G7 country to join. Her support for Kyiv saw her feted in Washington this summer, with US President Biden declaring in the Oval Office that "we have become friends". At the same time, she has kept her voters onside with tax cuts, tough talk on migration, law and order, and a focus on family values -- and her party is more popular than ever. Luigi Scazzieri, a senior research fellow at London's Centre for European Reform, says her success so far lies in a "balancing act". "She's been able to pull off being both a moderate, being seen as a partner, and also being seen as a radical," he told AFP -- although he questioned how long this would last. - Berlusconi 2.0 - Meloni's post-Fascist Brothers of Italy, founded in 2012, spent a decade on the fringes before bursting through in the September 2022 general election. It came out on top, with 26 percent of the vote. With Matteo Salvini 's far-right, anti-immigration League party and the late Silvio Berlusconi's conservative Forza Italia, they formed Italy's most right-wing government since World War II. Her party remains popular, currently polling at more than 28 percent, according to YouTrend -- something experts attribute to her having delivered on promises. The government has moved to ease the tax burden, particularly for families -- a traditional priority of conservative voters, noted Lorenzo De Sio, professor of political science at Rome's Luiss university. Alongside a more relaxed attitude to tax evasion, much of its economic policy is in line with previous right-wing governments, a sort of "Berlusconi 2.0", De Sio told AFP. When combined with a more conventional foreign policy than was initially forecast, he said, the government "is decidedly less radical than what we would have expected". Yet Meloni has also sought to speak to the many voters who were drawn to her strong stance on immigration, on security and her defence of Italy's "Judeo-Christian" roots. After highlighting family values in the election campaign, the government blocked local authorities from registering the children of gay couples, who in Italy are not allowed to adopt or use surrogates. Meloni herself insists children need a mother and father, although she is relaxed about marriage. On Friday, she announced the end of her decade-long relationship with the father of her seven-year-old daughter. - Migration woes - Coalition members routinely spout far-right rhetoric, from the Senate speaker saying he would be disappointed if his son was gay, to one of Meloni's allies talking about the "ethnic replacement" of Italians by migrants. Migration was another major campaign issue. Meloni and Salvini both promised to stop migrant boats from North Africa landing on Italy's shores. But despite a raft of decree laws, the number of arrivals has more than doubled compared to last year. Meloni has turned to the European Union for help, supporting a new deal with Tunisia aimed at stemming irregular migration from that country. And she has hailed an EU pact for sharing responsibility for asylum cases across the 27-nation bloc. But the results of these efforts have yet to be seen, and a new YouTrend poll Friday for SkyTG24 puts immigration at the top of voters' list of complaints about the government. Meloni has admitted she hoped to do "better" on migration. She showed her frustration when she lashed out at a Sicilian judge who refused to apply one of her decrees. The judge said the decree violated both EU and Italian law. The economy, meanwhile, is not doing as well as Meloni had hoped, with Rome last month lowering its growth forecasts and warning of a higher-than-expected deficit. Adding to the pressure on Meloni is Salvini, who has upped his anti-EU, anti-migrant rhetoric ahead of European Parliament elections next year. Scazzieri said if Meloni cannot show her approach to the EU is serving Italy's interests, she may feel obliged to change course. "I worry slightly going ahead that Meloni's more constructive tone will be eroded because she doesn't actually have that much to show for it," he said. ar/ams/gil 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. 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. As cities sprout up in native ecosystems, keeping track of how our urban cohabitants are adapting to them has been a work in progress for scientists. An initiative from The Daily Telegraph and other crowdsourced efforts have been underway in the UK to count the foxes spotted in urban areas , for example. And Microsoft has been using AI to gather information about the growing population of urban monkeys in India. And in the biggest city in the United States, residents know that the true New Yorkers are the rats . Rats, with their complex community dynamics and resourcefulness, have taken over the town , and forced the city to come up with creative ways to fight back against them, including recently anointing a rat czar to head off the problem. As much as people hate to admit it, rats, though jarring whenever they appear, are a part of the urban ecosystem . Like other city dwellers, theyve learned the ins and outs of city life, and have made the most of it. In its efforts to understand its rat residents, the city of New York has taken measures to collect rat stats. One project to come out of this data-gathering effort is the rat map , which indicates hot spot gatherings for rodent group hangs. Another app called Transit is taking a more citizen science approach to see where the most popular rat hubs are. Transit uses open transit data provided by city agencies to help riders visualize train and bus times in their area (it works in cities like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles). It aims to help commuters find the best and fastest way to get to their destination. Beyond ingesting schedules, the app also relies on crowdsourced information about alerts or other unexpected events. https://www.tiktok.com/@smokulani/video/7291055071805181226?embed_source=121355058%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_name\u0026refer=embed\u0026referer_url=www.dailydot.com%2Firl%2Ftransit-app-rats-update%2F\u0026referer_video_id=7291055071805181226 [Related: Open data is a blessing for sciencebut it comes with its own curses ] Recently, the app launched a new feature called the NYC Subway Rat Detector , which tells users how busy a certain subway station is in terms of recorded rat activity. By asking users to report rat levels at a given subway station through an in-app questionnaire called Rate-my-ride, Transit can garner real-time insights at the station from its 1.2 million New York users, as the developers explained in a newsletter they sent out earlier this month . This data doesnt just get shared with fellow riders and app users, but with the apps transit agency partners, too. Will it lead to change? Maybe. The last time Transit riders were asked to tattle on the state of their stations, some of the dirtiest Big Blue Bus stops in Santa Monica, California got a much needed clean-up . The rat dashboard addition certainly did not go unnoticed. Many TikTok users have since highlighted this update. One such video posted by user @smokulani received more than 1 million views. The results are in. And the rats? Theyre everywhere, Transit noted on a web post explaining the feature. Through their research, they found that Manhattan boasts the most rat sightings out of all the boroughs, and the rattiest station in New York is the Grant Av A stop, followed by the Harlem 1 2 3 stop, and the Woodhaven Blvd E F M R stop. Theyve also ranked stops with the highest frequency or number of rat occurrences. When Sister Anna Koop blessed a same-sex couple 15 years ago, it seemed natural to do so. The couple one a friend of Koop's were very much in love, and "Jesus did not say love was confined," said Koop, now 85. The Roman Catholic nun knew she might face consequences from the church, but went ahead with the private blessing not a sacramental marriage, she noted regardless. She just "blessed the love they celebrate." With Pope Francis 's statement earlier this month there could be ways to bless same-sex couples, she feels her decision 15 years ago has been affirmed. His remarks were published in a letter in July in response to five retired cardinals who published "dubia," or doubts, about what would happen at the synod, a three-week meeting that draws bishops, cardinals, priests, religious and lay people, from around the world attend to discuss hot-button issues. Topics include whether priests should get married, women should be able to become deacons and how the church will handle LGBTQ matters. A general view shows St. Peter's Square during the Holy Mass with the College of Cardinals for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on October 04, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. / Credit: / Getty Images The five conservative cardinals feared that Pope Francis would change doctrine or discipline in the church. Pope Francis released his response more broadly at the beginning of the synod at the Vatican, in Rome. The pope's remarks came with caveats: Same-sex blessings shouldn't be seen as elevating same-sex unions to the sacred place of heterosexual marriage, he said. While Pope Francis has previously endorsed same-sex civil unions, but same-sex couples can't undergo the sacrament of marriage, which is reserved for heterosexual couples. The landscape for LGBTQ members of the Catholic church is confusing, said Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, a nonprofit that advocates for Catholics in the LGBTQ community. She told CBS News that much depends on where the congregation is located and the bishop's interpretation of Catholic doctrine. The pope's comments seem to be the start of a process, Duddy-Burke said, and many LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters are excited for further advancement. The church has to go through a huge culture change to survive in the modern world and "we have to decide as a church how to move forward," she said. Pope Francis during the General Audience in St. Peter's Square. Vatican City / Credit: Grzegorz Galazka via Getty Images Some priests and nuns are moving forward on their own. Last month, several Catholic priests in Germany held a ceremony blessing around 30 same-sex couples, reported the Associated Press. In America, the landscape is complicated. In the 2023 National Survey of Religious Leaders, 40% of U.S. Catholic priests answered "yes" to the question: "Would you perform the wedding of a same-sex couple if your religious group allowed it?" And that "suggests that a large minority of U.S. Catholic priests personally support same-sex marriages," said Marc Chaves, a professor at Duke University specializing in the sociology of religion. However, there are few public blessings of same-sex couples by priests and pastoral workers. More than 200 priests and pastoral workers were contacted by New Ways Ministry, which ministers to the LGBTQ Catholic community, about performing same-sex blessings, but most wouldn't talk publicly to CBS News. The pope met with the organization's co-founder, Sister Jeannine Gramnick, on Tuesday. The pope met with New Ways Ministry co-founder, Sister Jeannine Gramnick. / Credit: New Ways Ministry And while the pope "opened the possibility of priests blessing one or more persons when asked" and "priests and pastoral workers will feel more comfortable responding to requests," Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, told CBS News, the pope "has not actually given that permission yet but rather is encouraging its study and discussion at the synod which is underway." As it stands, priests can still be excommunicated from the church for performing these blessings the worst possible punishment or can be barred from performing the sacraments. The pope has been consistently open to the LGBTQ community to show them "they are loved by the church and not rejected outright, Stowe said. The pope "wants to keep the lines of communication open and he encourages their participation in the life of the church," said Stowe. Some conservative bishops have not supported the pope's outreach or positions. In a pastoral letter issued on September 26 Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas said while " such a blessing would not be licit" it "would undoubtedly cause confusion" and "cannot honor God who is truth by attempting to offer blessings which run counter to His truth." Koop, who became a nun in the late '60s, spent almost her entire career in Denver focusing on housing and homelessness issues while ministering to the poor. She keeps in touch with the same-sex couple, who are still together and have two children. Koop said she never experienced consequences from the church for her actions. Sister Anna Koop in 1983 after she returned from European peace marches. / Credit: Lyn Alweis from Getty Images She said she doesn't regret performing the secret blessing. "I did it once and I would do it again," said Koop. . Why Hamas released 2 American hostages, and how it unfolded More than 270 UFO sightings reported over 8 months, Pentagon says Suspect's SUV found after shooting death of Maryland judge NYACK Two police officers and a security guard who were murdered during the infamous 1981 Brinks robbery were honored on Friday. Despite the rain and gray sky, residents and officials gathered at Village Hall to first rename Lydecker Street after Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown. Two hours later, hundreds of police officers, residents and family lined Mountainview Avenue for the annual memorial to the officers and Brinks guard Peter Paige. More: Murdered police officers from Brinks robbery to receive memorial honor before anniversary The new sign renaming Lydecker Street in Nyack, after slain Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown is pictured Oct.. 20, 2023. At a roadblock on Mountainview Avenue 42 years ago, six heavily armed men jumped from the rear of a red U-Haul. The gunmen killed O'Grady and Brown, wounded Det. Arthur Keenan, and injured Officer Brian Lennon. What happened that day The bloodshed came less than an hour after the gunmen killed Paige and wounded guard Joseph Trombino while robbing $1.6 million from a bank at the Nanuet Mall. Memorial wreaths from the Police Chief's Association of Rockland County and the Rockland County P.B.A. are placed during the 42nd annual Brinks robbery memorial service for slain Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O'Grady, Police Officer Waverly L. Brown and Brinks guard Peter Paige, during the ceremony on Mountainview Avenue in Nyack, Oct. 20, 2023. The shooters were seen jumping into a U-Haul at the former parking lot of E.J. Korvette on Route 59. They were stopped at the roadblock and later escaped the Mountainview Avenue scene in getaway cars and a stolen vehicle. The 1981 Brinks robbers, called the Family, included members of the Black Liberation Army and anti-Vietnam war and civil rights activists from the 1960s and 1970s. More: Brinks case: 40 years later, where are those involved? Police, elected officials and friends line the street during the 42nd annual Brinks robbery memorial service for slain Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O'Grady, Police Officer Waverly L. Brown and Brinks guard Peter Paige, during the ceremony on Mountainview Avenue in Nyack, Oct. 20, 2023. Kathy Boudin, a fugitive from the 1960s Weather Underground protests, bombings, and other violence, got captured by an off-duty officer while running down the New York State Thruway toward the Tappan Zee Bridge. She had been a passenger in the U-Haul driven by David Gilbert, the father of their newborn son whom Boudin left that day with a babysitter. The Nyack officers put down their shotguns after she supposedly pleaded she feared the weaponry moments before the gunmen opened fire. Gilbert and one of the gunmen, Samuel Brown, jumped into a getaway car driven by Judith Clark, another 1960s radical. They were captured on Broadway in Nyack after Clark crashed the car into a wall. Then South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Alan Colsey chased them from Mountainview Avenue. Three spent decades in prison Gilbert was recently paroled after 40 years in the Attica Correctional Facility, following in the footsteps of Boudin and Clark. Clark was paroled in 2019 after nearly 38 years in the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Boudin was released in 2003 after 23 years in Bedford. Boudin died in May.. A federal task force with local law enforcement arrested more than a dozen members of the radical gang, whose members robbed dozens of financial institutions in the region. Members of the gang also helped convicted cop killer Joanne Chesimard, aka Assata Shakur, escape. She's believed to still be living in Cuba. Police officers, elected officials, guests and neighbors gather along North Broadway and Lydecker Street in Nyack, Oct. 20, 2023, as they rename Lydecker Street after slain Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown. The convicted ringleader, Mutulu Shakur, was released in 2022 from federal prison in California after 38 years. He died eight months after his release. On Friday, hundreds of people, including officers, family, and friends, lined the Thruway entrance off Route 59 to honor the officers and security guards killed and wounded. The ceremony is held at the pocket park with a stone memorial, flags and granite bench. Don Hammond, third from left, the mayor of the Village of Nyack along with others, observe a moment of silence after unveiling a street sign renaming Lydecker Street after slain Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown, Oct. 20, 2023. Orangetown Lt. Terrance Hutmacher gave the keynote speech. The ceremony featured a police honor guard, a wreath-laying, the playing of "Taps," a rifle salute, pipe and drums, and singing of the national anthem and God Bless America. 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: Nyack street named for officers, guard murdered during Brinks robbery NEW YORK -- Dozens of people were taken into custody Friday after police say they blocked traffic in Midtown during a rally and march calling for more aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Through the streets of Manhattan, from Bryant Park to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand 's office, demonstrators called on Congress to stop military aid to Israel. Watch Alecia Reid's report "Senators are responsible for funding, and so we have to defund Israel and the IDF because we cannot let a genocide happen on our hands," demonstrator Leah Ali said. Related story: Resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza creates division among Tri-State Area Democrats Demonstrators say there is a significant humanitarian need in Gaza. Watch Christine Sloan's report "These people are so egregiously victimized. Gaza has been under blockade without access to water," demonstrator Jordan Lan said. "I don't see how bombing Gaza is preventing more people from joining Hamas," demonstrator Zoe O'Brien said. Police say 139 people were taken into custody and placed on buses after blocking traffic outside of Gillibrand's office on the East Side. The NYPD says they were given summons for disorderly conduct. Demonstrators say a quarter of Gaza residents are being displaced, and they're using their voices here to help in any way they can. Why Hamas released 2 American hostages, and how it unfolded More than 270 UFO sightings reported over 8 months, Pentagon says Suspect's SUV found after shooting death of Maryland judge Civil rights attorneys John Burris (left) and Jim Chanin (right) hold a news conference on the OPD sex scandal on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 in Oakland, Calif. (Photo By Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) OAKLAND, Calif. - Civil rights attorney Jim Chanin has been replaced from the Oakland Police Commissions Selection Panel after serving on an at-will basis for nearly a year-and-a-half. Chanins term on the Selection Panel officially ended in May 2022, but he agreed to stay on while City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas worked to find a replacement, "to help ensure the Selection Panel could continue its important work," Bas told KTVU via email. Bas said she interviewed three candidates for the position and ultimately decided to appoint David Kakishiba to fill the District 2 seat on October 19. Bas thanked Chanin for his service and said she appreciates Kakishibas "willingness to serve Oakland." Panelists interview applicants to serve on the Police Commission and the position is a hard one, Chanin told KTVU, because at the heart of it selection panelists are denying people positions. "It's not a great job," Chanin said. "Youre interviewing people, and you're going to say no to most of them. It's not a stepping stone politically." Chanin served two five-year terms on the Selection Panel and his time there has caused quite a kerfuffle in recent months. In a lawsuit, former commission chair Tyfahra Milele, current commission vice chair David Jordan and former commissioner Brenda Harbin-Forte all accused Chanin of having a conflict of interest in his role on the panel. Chanin, alongside civil rights attorney John Burris, sued the City of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department 20 years ago to ensure police reforms during the Riders scandal. Chanins lawsuit led to OPD being put under federal monitoring, which it is still operating under. The trios lawsuit alleges that Chanin has a vested interest in keeping federal oversight of the police department because he earns between $80,000 to $100,000 in legal fees. Harbin-Forte, alongside attorney Ann Kariuki who filed the lawsuit against Chanin, sent a press release to KTVU stating they were "pleased to announce" that Milele, Jordan, and former vice chair Ginale Harris "scored a significant victory" by forcing Chanin out of his seat. Chanin greatly disputes this, saying that he was not removed or ousted, but simply replaced once a new panelist was appointed. "My time was up, and I wanted to get out," Chanin told KTVU. "They've completely manipulated the facts. I was not removed." Center of Kyiv A multi-level air defense system has been built around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Serhiy Popko said in an interview with Ukraines TSN news channel on Oct. 21. It consists of mobile fire groups, and anti-aircraft missile systems of various ranges, Popko said. Read also: Spain to send 6 Hawk air defense missile systems, much needed ammunition as part of aid package to Ukraine The mobile groups are armed with Osa and Avenger anti-aircraft missile systems; Piorun, Igla, Strela, Stinger, Martlet, RBS-70 man-portable air defense systems; Gepard, Shilka, ZU-23 anti-aircraft weapons systems, and so on. Popko noted that the anti-aircraft missile systems include: S-300, Buk, S-125, NASAMS, IRIS-T, Crotale, and Patriot. Read also: This year, Ukraines energy system will be better protected Kyiv official "We are systematically improving the effectiveness of Kyiv's air defenses, according to our plan," Popko said. In particular, we are increasing the number of mobile fire groups that protect the skies as part of the air defense forces. Were also working to improve their technical equipment. At the same time, the official stressed that no air defense system in the world guarantees 100% security even the Iron Dome in Israel. 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 NAIROBI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and Angola signed 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Saturday aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, according to a press release. The MoUs, which were witnessed by Kenyan President William Ruto and his Angolan counterpart, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lorenco, in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, were signed to enhance cooperation in areas such as wildlife management and conservation, shipping and maritime cooperation, youth development and agriculture. "We have also directed our respective ministers responsible for transport to expedite and conclude discussions on the resumption of direct flights between Kenya and Angola," Ruto said during a joint press conference in Nairobi on Saturday. Ruto also waived visa requirements for all nationals from Angola with immediate effect to boost trade and the movement of people between Kenya and Angola. "Angolans coming to Kenya will not require a visa. Angola will equally consider the same for Kenyans," Ruto said. He noted that Kenya-Angola trade has been on the rise in the past four years but stressed that more needs to be done to unlock the underlying potential. For his part, Lourenco said the MoUs provide a solid foundation for the growth of Kenya-Angola relations. The two leaders pledged to support Angola's candidature for membership in the African Union Peace and Security Council. They also committed to promoting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region while opposing unconstitutional changes of governments and external interference in the political processes of African nations. MALIBU, Calif. - City and county officials in Southern California are looking to improve safety measures along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu following a devastating crash that left four Pepperdine students dead. The tragedy occurred on a stretch of the highway often referred to by locals as "Dead Mans Curve." On Tuesday Oct. 17, investigators believe the driver of a BMW was speeding on PCH when Fraser Michael Bohm lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle then slammed into three parked cars before ricocheting and fatally striking the young women who were standing nearby. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said Bohm was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, but jail records show he was released from custody the following morning. The reasoning cites California Penal Code Section 849(b)-1, which states that a suspect can be released from custody if there are insufficient grounds for making a criminal complaint against the person arrested. Sheriff's officials said the investigation into the crash is ongoing. The 22-year-old suspect was re-arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 24 and charged with four counts of murder, according to the LA County Sheriff's Department. He is being held on $8 million. The victims were identified by authorities as Asha Weir, Niamh Rolston, Deslyn Williams, and Peyton Stewart. Rolston grew up in the Los Angeles area, while Weir, Stewart and Williams were from out of state. They were sorority sisters and were in their senior year as undergraduates. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: "I am heartbroken by the loss of life and have been in contact with Caltrans District 7 to ask them to expedite planned safety upgrades to PCH in portions of Malibu I represent that have safety vulnerabilities," Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell posted on X. A portion of the incorporated Malibu area sits on the Ventura County line. Pacific Coast Highway. (KTTV SkyFOX) Also on Wednesday, sheriffs officials said speeding is an ongoing issue on PCH. "Some come to Malibu for the beautiful beaches," said LA Sheriff's Department Captain Jennifer Seetoo, "But then never make it home." Seetoo urged officials to adopt speed cameras along the highway, to more effectively combat speeding drivers in Malibu. The captain noted that the PCH stretches 21 miles and that officers can't be "everywhere at once." For Seetoo, speeding cameras are a start in the right direction. "People slow down when they see a patrol car, you drive by the rules of the road. We've got to do something different," said. She added reckless driving has made a devastating impact on PCH over the years. The dangerous stretch of highway was also highlighted in the documentary "21 Miles in Malibu," which was released earlier this year. The documentary was released by film producer Michel Shane, whose credits include "I, Robot," and "Catch Me if You Can." For Shane, he knows the heartache the families of Tuesdays tragedy are experiencing all too well. In 2010, he lost his 13-year-old daughter on the same stretch of the highway. LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath also spoke with Seetoo and Malibu's Mayor Steve Uhring, and said they are "unified" in their call to action. "At their request, I have asked Governor Newsom to include Malibu in the speed camera pilot being explored by the state and will work with our legislators to ensure necessary steps are taken to improve safety on our state highways in the area, including PCH," said Horvath. "I am devastated for the families of the four young female students killed last night in Malibu, and for the entire Pepperdine University community." Editor's Note: While the families of Asha Weir, Niamh Rolston, and Peyton Stewart have granted FOX 11 permission to use their photos, the family of Deslyn Williams did not give us permission to use her image at this time. An Ohio jeweler has paid back thousands of dollars in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) after a recent conviction. Ashwin Naran, of Cleveland, reimbursed $42,760 to the BWC. This came after he pleaded guilty to workers compensation fraud in September. >> Local EMS worker facing charges for allegedly stealing drugs The BWC Special Investigations Department began investigating Naran after he was identified as possibly working as a sales associate for a jeweler while collecting BWC disability benefits. The investigation found that he was working and underreporting his income for multiple periods from 2019 through 2021. During that time, he was also collecting working wage loss disability benefits that he was not entitled, according to the BWC. On Thursday, Oklahomas Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments in a tax case that challenges whether tribal citizens must pay state taxes on reestablished tribal lands. Arguments for Alicia Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission are set for January 17, 2024, and there is intense interest on the issue, as Oklahomas highest court will hear if the state can tax tribal citizens who live and work in Indian Country. The case challenges whether or not Stroble, a Muscogee Nation tribal citizen, must pay state income taxes to Oklahoma, when she works for her tribe and lives on the Muscogee Creek Nation lands re established after the 2010 McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling. The ruling recognized that the Muscogee reservation still exists and Oklahomas criminal. With the decision civil jurisdiction on tribal lands has shifted. 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. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt , an enrolled Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma citizen, has challenged the case saying that if the court sides with Stroble it will overwhelm the state with tax waiver requests from tribal citizens after the 2020 McGirt ruling. The Oklahoma Tax Commission denied Strobles tribal income exemptions in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and used Gov. Stitts instructions to state agencies that the McGirt ruling only applied to matters of criminal jurisdiction, and not civil. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma argue that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma applies beyond criminal jurisdiction and to elements of civil law. They say that the McGirt decision applies to state taxation matters. Since the McGirt ruling, tribal citizens from Muscogee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, Quapaw, Ottawa, and Peoria nations say that their reservations are now Indian Country and exempt from paying state income tax. Tribal and non-tribal businesses operating in Indian Country are not required to collect sales taxes on purchases made by tribal members. Stitt has tried to prevent all eight Indian reservations from tax exemptions. Last month, Stitt asked the state legislature to pass a trigger law that would eliminate state income tax for everyone if the supreme court ruled in favor of Stroble. The effort wasn't taken seriously and no official action has been taken. Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court refused to hear a case brought on by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) challenging tribal compacts. The OCPA challenged House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, and whether or not they violated state law when they voted to extend tribal tobacco compacts. Gov. Stitt also filed suit against McCall and Treat, alleging that only he has the authority to negotiate compacts with Indian tribes, and not lawmakers. The Oklahoma Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for Stitt's case against the lawmakers for December 7, 2023. Earlier this summer, in July, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sent a letter to Gov. Stitt, saying he would take over compact negotiations with Oklahomas tribal nations. In his letter, Drummond wrote, Oklahoma's relationship with our tribal partners has suffered greatly as a result of your divisive rhetoric and refusal to follow the law. The citizens you were elected to serve are the ones who suffer from this irresponsible approach. In his response to Drummonds attempt to take over negotiations, Stitt maitained the attorney general doesn't have authority to take over lawsuit or compact negotiations with tribal governments. Compacts with tribes determine the payments tribal nations make to the state from Indian gaming operations in Oklahoma. About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. " Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net Oldest daughter of Utah parenting blogger accused of child abuse speaks out for 1st time since mom's arrest The oldest daughter of Utah parenting blogger Ruby Franke, who was arrested and charged with child abuse last month, has spoken out for the first time since her mother was apprehended. Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, who together ran a parenting and lifestyle YouTube channel, were both charged with six counts of child abuse after police rescued two of Franke's six children from Hildebrandt's home Aug. 30. Authorities said the children appeared malnourished and neglected. "Theres literally not even words to describe how upside down my life has become," Shari Franke, Ruby's oldest daughter, wrote in an Instagram post this week. "Ive cried, had an infinite number of panic attacks, had way too much ice-cream, and yet life goes on. Therapy has literally saved me, but God has too. My life is somehow becoming more beautiful and fulfilling, despite all the terrible things going on." RUBY FRANKE'S HUSBAND WANTED OLDEST DAUGHTER CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AFTER MOTHER'S ARREST Most families in the area were aware Franke had a YouTube channel called 8Passengers, her neighbor told Fox News Digital. When she started another vlog called "Moms of Truth"/ ConneXions on Facebook with Hildebrandt, "a few" neighbors became "very concerned" with the content, the neighbor said. Shari added that she has tried to live "life to the fullest the last few weeks" despite wanting to "hide away." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Tomorrow is another big court day, and Id appreciate your prayers and thoughts for my family and myself," she wrote ahead of a hearing in her family's child welfare case, which has been sealed from the public. "Words cant express the gratitude I feel for you all, and I feel your love." 911 CALL REVEALS SHOCK OF UTAH MOMMY BLOGGERS' ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE: SHES A BAD LADY' Immediately after her mother's arrest, Shari uploaded an Instagram story with a photo of a police vehicle outside their home with the caption, "Finally." One of Franke's daughters, Shari Franke, posted a photo to her Instagram story showing a police car parked on a suburban street with the word "Finally." After rescuing Franke's youngest children from Hildebrandt's home Aug. 30, police began to search for her other four kids, who were not at Hildebrandt's home at the time. When police arrived at Franke's address, officers had to force the front door open while serving a search warrant, according to Springville Police records. UTAH MOMMY BLOGGER ACCUSED OF CHILD ABUSE HOSPITALIZED AFTER LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE IN JAIL: COURT DOCS Two days later, Ruby's husband, Kevin Franke, apparently told police the front door of his home had been "kicked in and damaged" and some of his electronics were missing. He also named his oldest daughter, Shari, as a suspect in what he thought was a burglary. Ruby Franke, right, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested and charged Aug. 30 after Santa Clara Police received a dispatch call around 10:50 p.m. asking for help. "Kevin stated that Shari is not allowed in the home, and that he believes she entered unlawfully and he wants her charged with burglary," the officer wrote. The officer then told Kevin Franke that his door had been broken in after the Springville Police Department served a search warrant at the home, and his daughter was not responsible for the damage, the report said. Kevin Franke "wanted to have his daughter charged with theft for taking some hard drives out of the house," but the responding officer informed him that "his daughter wasn't aware" she wasn't allowed to have them and offered to bring them back, the report states. Utah authorities found two malnourished and emaciated children at a home in Utah prior to arresting Franke and Hildebrandt. Shari reportedly returned the electronics, which included three tablets, three cellphones, three cameras, in addition to a stack of written journals and three passports, to police , and the responding officer "gave them to the complainant who arrived a short time later." YOUTUBE MOMMY BLOGGERS ARRESTED ON ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE: FINALLY Police informed Kevin Franke they would not be charging his daughter "as her intent was not to deprive him of any items, she had previously been allowed in the home, and he had not been in the home admittedly for 13 months," the police report states. In earlier videos without Hildebrandt, Franke complains about her children's school using TikTok to teach dances, the dangers of sleepovers, bullying and other topics. Kevin Franke then allegedly threatened to sue the police department, according to the report. MOMMY BLOGGER SUSPECTED OF CHILD ABUSE MADE VIDEO ABOUT WITHHOLDING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS Kevin Franke's attorney, Randy Kester, told 2KUTV the police reports alleging Kevin wanted his daughter arrested were not true. Ruby Franke ran a popular video blog, or "vlog," called 8Passengers in reference to herself, her husband and their six children, for years before she stopped posting on the page amid backlash about some of her controversial videos. In one such video, Franke told her followers about the couple's decision to withhold Christmas presents from their two youngest children as punishment for what she described as selfish behavior. Jodi Hildebrandt, left, and Ruby Franke ran a joint lifestyle and parenting YouTube page called ConneXions Classrooms. In an August 2021 Instagram post, Ruby Franke described herself as a "nurturing mother." CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "When the world accuses you of being the one thing you know you arent, please know you are not alone. I look around me at the fruits of being a nurturing mother and my heart is full of gratitude and joy," she wrote. "The world creates chaos by labeling things that dont reflect Truth. If you are misunderstood, labeled, or accused- remember The Truth." Original article source: Oldest daughter of Utah parenting blogger accused of child abuse speaks out for 1st time since mom's arrest The owner of a DJ and emcee company based in Olympia has again been charged with rape in Thurston County. Trevor Scott Altman, 31, attended his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on Oct. 13. Deputies arrested him the day prior after they received a report for a sex offense. Prosecutors charged Altman on Tuesday with third-degree rape as well as second degree assault and fourth degree assault with sexual motivation. The charges are connected to an Oct. 12 incident that occurred at this home. The details of the alleged crimes resemble a 2019 case that was filed in Thurston County Superior Court. In that case, prosecutors charged Altman with second-degree rape, third degree assault with sexual motivation and unlawful imprisonment following a 2018 incident at his home. A jury acquitted Altman of the rape and unlawful imprisonment charges, but found him guilty of third-degree assault with sexual motivation in 2021, according to court records. Judge Erik D. Price sentenced him to 15 months in prison and 36 months of community custody. However, Altman was credited with 15 months for time served in pretrial detention. An appellate court vacated the 2021 conviction in 2022 based on insufficient evidence and directed the charge to be dismissed with prejudice, according to court records. Judge Mary Sue Wilson set bail at $100,000 in Altmans new case on Oct. 13. In doing so, she found there existed a substantial danger Altman may commit a violent crime and he may seek to intimidate witnesses or otherwise interfere in the case. Court records show he posted bail the next day. Altman was previously convicted of cyberstalking with sexual motivation in 2010 case and fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, in a 2016 case. Both incidents occurred in Thurston County. Altman owned Altman Audio, a DJ and emcee company, that has worked weddings, corporate parties and dances, The Olympian previously reported. He is still listed as the sole proprietor of the company on its business license which is on file with the Washington State Department of Revenue. The investigation A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the alleged crimes from the perspective of law enforcement. A Thurston County deputy responded to a sex offense call on Oct. 12. He contacted a 28-year-old woman who said she and Altman connected on a dating site and met at a bar on Oct. 3 near Steamboat Island Road. He reportedly invited her to his home on Forest Park Northwest to play pool. The woman alleged Altman pressured her to strip naked, forcefully grabbed her by the throat and forced her to perform oral sex on him the night of Oct. 3, according to the statement. She stayed at Altmans home until the morning because she said she had a couple of drinks and did not feel safe to drive, per the statement. That morning, Altman allegedly repeated his actions from the previous night and recorded her without her knowledge. She said she saw him review the footage afterwards, the statement says, and she asked him to delete the recording. He reportedly agreed to delete it but the woman never saw him do it. The deputy visited Altman at his home on Oct. 12 and arrested him. When asked if he wanted to talk, Altman reportedly said he doesnt talk to police. The deputy later returned to the home with a search warrant to recover Altmans phone. Notably, Altman was also accused of inviting a woman to his home, grabbing her by the throat and forcing her to perform oral sex on him in the 2019 case. HARRAH, Okla. (KFOR) Officials say they are actively searching for a 59-year-old Harrah man who is considered missing and endangered and are looking for tips that can help find him. | UPDATE: Two in critical condition after three-alarm fire in NW OKC > The information was shared in a post that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation put on their Facebook page Saturday. They say 59-year-old Terry Len Hause has been missing for quite some time but did not give details on where he was last seen. OSBI and Harrah Police have started searching for him. Terry Hause They are asking for anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine Ukraines international partners have provided more than EUR 4 billion ($4.2 billion) in support to Ukrainian entrepreneurs under various programs, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Oct. 20. "Our allies also support Ukrainian businesses and economy," Shmyhal said, according to a report of the meeting by news agency Interfax-Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine to supply graphite to United States for battery production Under various programs, international partners have provided Ukrainian entrepreneurs with more than EUR 4 billion ($4.2 billion) in support, the prime minister said. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the German government state bank KfW, and the United States Agency for International Development provided the most funds to Ukrainian businesses. Read also: Ukraine enters Top 10 list of most unemployed nations, still performs better than expected In 2023, the EBRD has already provided Ukraine with financial support worth $1.2 billion. In total, the bank has promised to allocate at least $3 billion to help Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Overland Park police were asking for help Friday to locate a dog that bit a person in the Bel-Air Heights neighborhood. The dog, a Boston Terrier, was being walked by two men in the 9300 block of Outlook Drive when the person was bit around 12:30 p.m., said officer John Lacy, a department spokesman. The person suffered a minor injury and wanted to make sure the animal was up-to-date with its vaccinations, Lacy said. Police said the dog has a brown-and-white coat and had a tan harness on. The dogs walkers were described as white men. One appeared to be between 25 and 30 years old; the other appeared to be about 50 years old, wore a hat and spoke with a heavy accent, according to police. Both continued walking north on Outlook Drive without providing any information to the bite victim, Lacy said. Overland Park police were asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the department by phone at 913-895-6420. Police are looking for two people wanted for snatching purses from elderly women, according to the Federal Way Police Department. At about 9:56 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to the report of a purse snatching in the parking lot of Fred Meyer in the 33600 block of 21st Avenue Southwest. A 76-year-old woman told officers she was putting groceries into her car when a thin Black female approached her and began to tug on her purse. The woman attempted to fight off the female, but she was assaulted and fell to the ground, suffering injuries that required medical attention. The female then ran with the purse into a small blue sedan. The female was described as possibly in her teens and wearing a blue-hooded sweater. The driver was described as a Black male, also believed to be in his mid to late teens. At about 11:20 a.m., officers responded to the report of another purse snatching in the parking lot of Winco Foods in the 100 block of Southwest Campus Drive. An 86-year-old woman told officers she was walking to her vehicle when the driver of a small blue sedan came up behind her. The passenger got out of the car and tore her purse off her shoulder with enough force to break the strap. The passenger was described as a Black female with a blue-hooded sweater. Officers were able to find the car -- with Washington license plate BVV0447 -- but the car evaded capture and fled. If you can identify these suspects, contact the Federal Way Police Department at 253-835-2121. ISLAMABAD Pakistan has test-fired an Ababeel missile capable of carrying multiple warheads that can attack different targets. Pakistan last tested the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles-capable weapon on Jan. 24, 2017. The militarys media branch, Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan, stated Wednesdays test was meant to revalidate various design, technical parameters, and performance evaluation of different sub-systems and was aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region. The Strategic Plans Division, which handles Pakistans nuclear deterrent, did not respond to Defense News request for information about the latest test. In 2017, the public relations organization stated the Ababeel had a 2,200-kilometer (1,367-mile) range and was developed to ensure the survivability of Pakistans ballistic missiles in a region in which state actors are bolstering countermeasures. An expert on Pakistans nuclear program, Mansoor Ahmed, said the long time between tests was likely due to efforts to improve technical and performance parameters. Ahmed, now in academia at the Australian National University, told Defense News that the Ababeel missile is the most important engineering milestone for Pakistans nuclear triad in almost two decades and a major breakthrough in improving the survivability of land-based strategic forces against a preemptive Indian counterforce strike. Former Pakistan Army officer Naeem Salik, who served with the Strategic Plans Division and is now executive director at the Islamabad-based Strategic Vision Institute think tank, said the Ababeel enhances Pakistans targeting choices. Ababeel gives the advantage of engaging several targets at a time, with each delivery vector providing a cost-effective solution while complicating the job of Indias [ballistic missile defense], he told Defense News. In this context, it also fits well into [full-spectrum deterrence] by affording the ability to hit from amongst a wide variety of targets. Atia Ali Kazmi, a research director at the Islamabad-based Center for International Strategic Studies think tank, said the nuclear imbalance between India and Pakistan is pronounced, citing the expansion and technological leaps in Indias missile programs over the last two decades. Its the Ababeel, she told Defense News, that maintains deterrence vis-a-vis India. KAMPALA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced Saturday that the country's military helicopters launched an attack on a camp of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, located 60 km from the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "The attack was devastating because it was a clear target, and the reconnaissance plane was monitoring from the air," Museveni said in a statement posted on X, a social media platform previously known as Twitter. This air raid occurred less than a week after suspected ADF rebels attacked a safari vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two tourists and their guide in a national park area in western Uganda. A week earlier, ADF terrorists also attacked a cargo truck transporting onions, killing one civilian and set ablaze the vehicle. "The group of five people responsible for burning the lorry, the tourist van, and killing the two tourists with their driver is being pursued," Museveni said. In a previous statement, Museveni had warned that ADF rebels might attempt to infiltrate the border to enter Uganda due to the mounting pressure they were facing from the joint forces of Ugandan and DRC soldiers. Ugandan troops, in collaboration with their DRC counterparts, have been jointly combating the rebel group since 2022. The ADF, also a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is held responsible for causing chaos and launching attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in eastern DRC. The parents rights movement found its way to California Gov. Gavin Newsom s sleepy Fair Oaks neighborhood on Saturday morning, where dozens of demonstrators stood outside his home to protest a slate of bills and what they call the War on Children. Hey, Newsom, the protesters chanted to the tune of Pink Floyds Another Brick in the Wall. Leave our kids alone. Newsom is currently traveling to China after a brief visit to Israel. Taylor Hart and Brian Smith, two residents of the neighborhood out for a walk between college football games, shrugged off the white noise. This started a few years ago when a new neighbor moved in, Hart said of the Newsom familys arrival in 2019. LGBTQ activists counter-protested a parents rights War on Children rally near Gov. Gavin Newsoms home in Fair Oaks on Saturday. The rally was organized by several parents rights groups, including Freedom Angels and Mom Army, as well as Gays Against Groomers and Our Duty, groups that advocate for an end to gender-affirming health care for trans or non-binary minors. A handful of demonstrators wearing black and yellow outfits, and shirts that read, Kill your local pedophile both staples of the far-right Proud Boys movement also attended. Speakers at the rally insisted they are part of a non-partisan, apolitical movement not Republican or right-wing and that they are not anti-trans or anti-LGBTQ. This is not about being anti-trans, said Denise Aguilar, co-founder of the Freedom Angels. Its about children not being able to consent to these types of long-term medical procedures. I dont care what adults do with their lives. You want to be trans? I love you anyways. This is about children being put in a position thats too age-inappropriate for them. Her fellow co-founder, Tara Thornton, said there should be a line at age 18 for medical intervention, even for trans children whose parents affirm their identity. She cited the science that shows the prefrontal cortex isnt even fully developed until after 25. Protests took place nationwide, but the Sacramento demonstration was specifically in response to Newsom signing three bills into law after the legislative session. One will allow children ages 12 and older who are enrolled in Medi-Cal to receive outpatient mental health services without the consent of their parents (as is already the case for those private insured). The same bill would also remove the additional requirement that, in order to consent to mental health treatment or counseling on an outpatient basis, or to residential shelter services, the minor must present a danger of serious physical or mental harm to themselves or to others, or be the alleged victim of incest or child abuse. This ostensibly gives minors more autonomy in leaving abusive homes. Thornton said her group opposes the law, AB 665, sponsored by Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo, D-Los Angeles, not because of the equitable mental health care aspect, but because it removes the parent from being involved in important mental health care and safety decisions. Another bill bars school boards from banning instructional materials or curricula that are deemed inclusive and diverse. A third makes California a sanctuary state for non-resident parents who come to California for their kids gender-affirming health care. He has turned California into a chop shop, Thornton said, With our children on the butchers table. LGBTQ activists counter-protested a parents rights War on Children rally near Gov. Gavin Newsoms home in Fair Oaks on Saturday. Parents, grandparents and parents rights movement allies booed outside the gates of Newsoms home, carrying such signs as Transitioning Kids is Child Abuse. Members of Gays Against Groomers, Freedom Angels and Mom Army are frequent fixtures at school board meetings, pressuring school board members to take books out of circulation that they deem pornographic or inappropriate for kids. Some people thought we went too far going to Gavin Newsoms house because he has kids, Aguilar said. We have kids. Do we feel safe in this state? Do we feel safe sending our children to school? The crowd responded with a resounding no to both questions. We have to take a stand, and that starts now, no matter what kinds of unjust laws are put into place by Gavin. I know he knows were here ... were not going to go away, were not doing to let him take our children. A small group of counter-protesters, activists who support LGBTQ and abortion rights, marched to the rally, chanting yards away from the demonstrators. Were here today as a counter-protest to drown out the noise, said Salem Sparrow of Sacramento. Sparrow specifically cited parental notification laws, a handful of which have passed or come up in Sacramento-area school board meetings, which would require school staff to tell a students parents if they request to go by a different name or pronoun, or otherwise indicate a gender transition. If I had been outed as a trans kid when I was younger, I dont think I would have survived, Sparrow said. My family was very violent, and I dont think I would be alive today if that had happened to me. So Im here to counter-protest, and make a better future for the next generation, something better than what I got. An hour after the rally ended, a caravan of trucks, sedans, Jeeps and motorcycles drove laps around Newsoms neighborhood, flying full-sized Trump 2024 flags, as demonstrators hooted and hollered in support. Signs that read Women for Trump, Lets Go Brandon, and FJB (for F--- Joe Biden) decorated many of the cars. This isnt about political party, Thornton had said an hour earlier. Tara Thornton, left, co-founder of Freedom Angels, stands with parents rights activists who rallied outside Gov. Newsoms home to protest trans bills and what they call the War on Children on Saturday in Fair Oaks. May want to grab your reading glasses. It will take you some time to parse through the New England Patriots injury report the team released Friday. The Patriots officially ruled out three players and listed a further 16 players as questionable for Sundays matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Offensive lineman Riley Reiff, outside linebacker Josh Uche and edge rusher Keion White will not take the field Sunday. Uche and White (Foot, Concussion) both suffered their injuries during New Englands Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Reiff missed Sundays loss with a knee injury, a new ailment than the one that saw him land on injured reserve after the preseason finale. Here is the full list of players listed as questionable: C David Andrews (ankle) WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) OT Trent Brown (chest) WR DeMario Douglas (concussion) TE Hunter Henry (ankle) OL Mike Onwenu (ankle) WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) G Cole Strange (knee) DL Christian Barmore (knee) DB Cody Davis (knee) DB Kyle Dugger (foot) DL Trey Flowers (foot) DL Davon Godchaux (ankle) DB Jack Jones (hamstring) CB Jonathan Jones (knee) CB Shaun Wade (shoulder) Although their gameday status is up in the air, Hunter and Brown both returned to practice as limited participants. While it may seem to be an intimidating list, its actually a lighter injury report than the beginning of the week. Safety Jabrill Peppers and runningback Rhamondre Stevenson were removed from the injury report after appearing on it earlier this week. The Patriots and Bills will kickoff at 1:00 p.m at Gillette Stadium this Sunday. 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 SANGER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man has been hospitalized after a drive-by shooting, the Sanger Police Department said on Friday. The Sanger Police Department says they responded to a shooting call on the intersection between I Street and Almond Avenue on Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, officers say they found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his upper body. The victim was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive. The victim said the suspect shot from a vehicle that was driving in the area. As of now, there is no information regarding the suspects identity. This is an ongoing investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Former Vice President Mike Pence said he would put boots on the ground in Gaza if he were president Friday. Were talking about Americans now, Pence, a 2024 GOP presidential primary candidate, told CNN anchor Jake Tapper . Jake, were talking about Americans that have been captured and taken hostage, by the brutal Hamas terrorists. Pence said he welcomed the release of two Americans taken as hostages by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during its attack on Israel earlier this month. I said the better part of two weeks ago, Jake, that if I was president, I would have already been on the phone with the Joint Special Operations Command, I would have given orders for Delta Force and the Navy SEALs to be prepared to work with Israeli Defense Forces to engage in hostage rescue and then I woulda told Hamas that you have you got 12 hours to turn loose every American, every Israeli hostage or were gonna come and get em, Pence said. Biden said he was overjoyed at the release of the two American hostages yesterday 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. Pence isnt the only GOP presidential primary candidate who has said he would want American military force involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said Thursday he would ask Congress to authorize the use of military force against 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., cries during a demonstration calling for a cease-fire in Gaza near the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, Associated Press A certain brand of conservative likes to see liberals cry. Madison Cawthorns first tweet after being elected to Congress in 2020 was Cry more, lib. Almost every conservative online shop has some variation of a Liberal tears mug or drinking glass. And Donald Trump Jr. and his father had a reliable applause line on the campaign trail in 2020 when they urged supporters to Make liberals cry again. All this came to mind Wednesday when U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib sobbed during a Washington, D.C., rally calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The Michigan Democrat said she is distressed by the videos coming out of the Middle East in which people are telling children not to cry. They can cry, I can cry, we all can cry if were not crying something is wrong, Tlaib said, while crying herself. Despite it being proven wrong that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza, Rep. @RashidaTlaib breaks down in tears at a pro-Hamas rally outside the Capitol repeating the claim Israel bombed a hospital. pic.twitter.com/7POVh8uaBv Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 18, 2023 Most of the response on social media to the moment focused on the fact that Tlaib, a member of the informal progressive caucus known as The Squad, said Israel was responsible for the bombing of a hospital in Gaza a claim that Israel and the White House has denied. But she was widely ridiculed for crying, and some commenters even claimed her tears were contrived. (The three-term congresswoman, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, has cried previously in public, including during a hearing on Capitol Hill.) Regardless of the reaction, the video is a contender for the TikTok account CryinginDC, begun by a Senate staffer who lost her job and spent the next several months crying at various landmarks around our nations capitol. As explained in The Washington Post, the creator of the TikTok account, Kiara McGowan, wants to normalize crying in public spaces. I definitely feel like we should all do it more. It should be just as normal as someone sneezing, she said. Her most recent videos extol the virtues of crying in the produce aisle of Trader Joes and the back seat of an Uber. One can be genuinely sorry that McGowan lost her job and understand her need to weep without wanting all of us to be crying more, especially in public spaces. In fact, it should be a common goal of Americans that we both cry less and sneeze less. But hers is the sort of sob story that has turned crying into an effective political weapon for Republicans, and social media is full of conservatives making fun of liberals wailing and screaming about various issues on TikTok. The answer to bad speech may be more speech, but the answer to bad things should not always be tears. Sometimes, the answer to bad things should be strength and resolve, neither of which are communicated through uncontrollable weeping. Proponents of crying, like McGowan, cite research that says repressing tears can be harmful and shedding them is good for us. Eating kale is good for us, too, but theres no need to do that in public either. That said, there are times when tears are appropriate, even when shed by our leaders. Former President Barack Obama memorably had to wipe his eyes during a news conference on gun control when he was talking about the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. And Politico has recounted the times Republican presidents have cried, too, including when Gerald Ford cried during a tribute to his wife at the Republican National Convention in 2000, George H.W. Bush spoke to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999 and George W. Bush participated in a Medal of Honor ceremony in 2007. Id argue there was a quiet dignity to those presidents tears that was missing in Tlaibs outburst this week. But Tlaib can find solidarity with Winston Churchill, who cried so often during World War II that some called him cry baby. Churchills copious tears were both public and private. According to an article entitled Winston Wept, published on the website of the International Churchill Society, Churchills last private secretary, Sir Anthony Montague Browne, once listed some of the things that triggered tears from his boss. These included everything from tales of heroism to a noble dog struggling through the snow to his master. And the title of that article, of course, recalls another instance of weeping in public, recounted in chapter 11, verse 35, of the Gospel of John. So those of us who instinctively recoil at the sight of Tlaib or any other person weeping in public have to be careful in our criticism. Judge not, that ye not be judged. But also, maybe weep not, that ye not be judged. Or as the kids would say, cry less, lib. A man was killed Friday night in a shooting in a West End apartment. Cincinnati police were dispatched just before 9 p.m. to the 700 block of David Street after a 911 caller reported a person had been shot, officials said in a news release. Officers arrived to find a 39-year-old man, whose identity hadn't been released, inside the apartment suffering from gunshot wounds. Cincinnati Fire Department personnel also responded to the scene and pronounced the man dead. An investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit is ongoing. Anyone with information should call 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man killed in West End shooting, police say Around 100,000 people travelled to central London to show solidarity with Palestinian civilians Police and Transport for London (TfL) are investigating after a London Tube driver appeared to chant pro-Palestinian slogans on a train. An unverified video circulating online appears to show a Central line driver chanting "free Palestine" over the train's public address system. Passengers en-route to a pro-Palestinian march joined in chanting. British Transport Police (BTP) and TfL said they were urgently investigating the incident. On Saturday, an estimated 100,000 gathered in central London to show solidarity with Palestinian civilians. In the video being investigated, the driver can be heard saying "hope you all have a pleasant day today" and "keep all those people in your prayers". It comes as the first aid deliveries have reached Gaza since Israel imposed a blockade after a Hamas attack on 7 October killed 1,400 people in Israel. Israel cut off supplies of fuel, electricity and water to Gaza after the attack. Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 people have died in Gaza since then. The UN says about 1.4 million Gazans have been displaced with more than half a million people in 147 UN shelters. The Met Police this week issued updated guidance around certain pro-Palestinian chants because of the strength of feeling they can evoke. 'Open to everyone' BTP assistant chief constable Sean O'Callaghan said: "BTP are aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by driver of a train in London earlier. "BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter." TfL said it was "committed to providing a safe network for everyone". "We want to make it clear that London is open to everyone," a spokesperson said."We are aware of footage circulating on social media that suggests political comments may have been made by one of our Tube drivers. We are working to scrutinise the footage and ensure the circumstances are urgently investigated." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk Phoenix police said a man died after he was shot by an unknown person in north Phoenix early Friday morning. At around 3 a.m., police responded to a shooting call north of 19th Avenue and Bell Road at an apartment complex, where they found an adult male shot. Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene, but the unidentified man was pronounced dead. Police did not identify a suspect. Police have investigated the death as a homicide. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police investigation north Phoenix shooting as homicide Charges have been filed in a Lawrence County shooting last month that killed a woman and badly injured her husband. Yohance Mercer-Huffman, 28, is facing charges in connection to the shooting that happened in the River Road area of Perry Township on Sept. 30. Troopers were initially called to the area around 3:30 a.m. for a report of a vehicle that had crashed over a hillside. When they reached the car they found Julie Anne Wegmiller, 39, dead. Her husband, Edwin Wegmiller was found shot outside the car. He was flown to a hospital in Cranberry Township. Mercer-Huffman is facing a list of charges in connection to the shooting, including criminal homicide and criminal attempted homicide. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle at 724-598-2211. 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 Oklahoma voters prefer removing the state sales tax on groceries over cutting the state income tax, according to a new poll. A majority of Oklahoma voters are concerned that cutting taxes could leave state services vulnerable if the economy weakens, according to a new poll that again shows state voters would prefer a cut in the sales tax on groceries over other options. The poll, by Amber Integrated of Oklahoma City, also shows deep dissatisfaction across political parties and independent voters with the education being provided in their local schools. Only 31% of those polled said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of education being provided to students in their communities. The poll was taken Oct. 6-8 of 500 likely voters in Oklahoma, weighted based on party affiliation, age, gender and level of education. The margin of error is 4.4%. The survey was taken just days after the state Senate adjourned a special session called by Gov. Kevin Stitt to address tax cuts. Stitt did not present a specific tax-cutting plan, but he has for years called for cutting the state income tax and the state portion of the sales tax on groceries. House Speaker Charles McCall III was ready to cut the state income tax at the special session before the Senate adjourned. In the new poll, 54% of the voters surveyed said they were concerned that a tax cut might lead to reductions in state services if the economy takes a downturn. Republicans were far less likely to have that concern: Only 41% of GOP voters said they were concerned about state services, while 58% were not concerned. But 77% of Democratic voters and 59% of independents said they were concerned state services could suffer during an economic downturn. The state had to slash education, public safety and other services after a revenue failure in 2015 and experienced more budget shortfalls in the years after. That led to the biggest tax increase in state history in 2018, which stabilized the states budget situation and helped create record surpluses. Stitt has argued that the state is now taking more money than needed from taxpayers and that the surpluses shouldnt be used to build a bigger government, since that is more likely to lead to cuts when the economy softens. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, wanted Stitt to appear before a Senate committee during the special session to answer questions about the impact of tax cuts on annual revenue. When Stitt declined to appear, Treat moved to shut down the special session. Treat supports eliminating the state sales tax on groceries and sponsored legislation last year to do so. There is broad support among lawmakers for cutting the state portion of the sales tax on groceries. And for the second time in a year, an Amber Integrated survey shows that is the preference of Oklahoma voters surveyed by the firm. In the new poll, voters were given two options for a tax cut the income tax and the state sales on groceries. Nearly two-thirds 64% chose the sales on groceries, while 35% chose the income tax; 1% were undecided or didnt know, according to the poll. Cutting the sales tax was preferred most by Democrats 75% but a strong majority of Republicans and independents also favored that option over cutting the income tax. In October 2022, the firm gave voters four options for tax cuts: the sales tax on groceries, the sales on all items, the income tax and the gasoline/diesel tax. The sales tax on groceries garnered support from 41%, followed by the sales tax on all items, 21%. Sales taxes have a disproportionate impact on low-income people, and, because of that, many states do not impose that tax on food. Oklahoma is one of only 13 states that has a sales tax on groceries, according to Treats office. Stitt and the Legislature agreed this year to put an additional $600 million into common education, a huge boost of recurring funds. That boost comes as Oklahoma voters are dissatisfied with their local schools. The Amber Integrated poll shows 64% of the voters surveyed are dissatisfied with the quality of education being provided to students in their communities, with 38% very unsatisfied. Only 10% said they were very satisfied and 21% said they were somewhat satisfied. The dissatisfaction crossed partisan boundaries: 61% of Republican voters said they were dissatisfied, while 63% of Democrats and 76% of independents expressed that sentiment. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Poll shows concern for state tax cuts, dissatisfaction with schools ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Some 7.6 million children are out of school across Ethiopia due to different man-made and natural disasters, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in its latest education cluster update. According to the quarterly publication issued Friday, a total of 8,552 schools reported either partially or severely damaged in Ethiopia, representing almost 20 percent of schools. "Education cluster data reveals that 7.6 million children remain out of school due to various shocks and hazards across Ethiopia. The ongoing conflicts in Amhara, Oromia and other regions has increased the out of school children rate drastically," the report said. It warned that the longer the period the children remain out of school, the less likely they are to return to formal learning. It further warned that the education cluster continues to be one of the most underfunded clusters, with current funds allowing only for 22 percent coverage, accounting only 851,000 children, against the humanitarian response plan for Ethiopia. The education cluster targets 3.8 million children, which is only 30 percent of the children in need as per 2023 calculations and planning. Against this backdrop, it said teaching and learning materials were distributed to 357,948 children, and back-to-school campaigns have been held in all regions, including Amhara and Tigray, where children's access to learning has been disrupted. Pope Francis met this week with the cofounder and other representatives of LGBTQ-supportive Catholic group New Ways Ministry, an event described by the group as a moment once unimaginable. The meeting, held Tuesday at the popes residence, came during the Synod on Synodality, a major conference of church hierarchy taking place at the Vatican. The pope hosted Sister Jeannine Gramick , who founded New Ways in 1977 with the late Father Robert Nugent, and New Ways staffers Matthew Myers, Francis DeBernardo, and Robert Shine, according to a press release from the organization. The group advocates for full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the Roman Catholic Church. It was denounced by Pope Franciss predecessors for differing with the churchs teachings on gender and sexuality including that gay sex is a sin and gender is fixed at birth. The meeting was very emotional for me, Gramick said in the release. From the day he was elected, I have loved and admired Pope Francis because of his humility, his love for the poor and for those shunned by society. He is the human face of Jesus in our era. Pope Francis looks into your heart and his eyes say that God loves you. Meeting with Pope Francis is a great encouragement for Sister Jeannine and New Ways Ministry to continue our work in the Catholic Church, added DeBernardo, the groups executive director. This meeting was an affirmation not only of Sister Jeannine and New Ways Ministry but of the thousands upon thousands of LGBTQ+ people, parishes, schools, pastoral ministers, and religious communities who have been tirelessly working for equality, and who often experienced the great disapproval and ostracization that New Ways Ministry had experienced. The meeting lasted 50 minutes. It came after a friendly correspondence between the pope, Gramick, and other representatives of New Ways over the past two years. She recently asked if Pope Francis could meet with her and the others during the synod, and he eagerly welcomed her and the group, according to the release. New Ways did not elaborate on what was discussed. The Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith investigated New Ways in 1998 and asserted that its positions regarding the intrinsic evil of homosexual acts and the objective disorder of the homosexual inclination are doctrinally unacceptable because they do not faithfully convey the clear and constant teaching of the Catholic Church in this area. The statement was signed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Franciss immediate predecessor. Pope Francis has demonstrated more openness to LGBTQ+ people than any pope who preceded him, while continuing to adhere to official church doctrine. Ahead of the synod, in response to questions from conservative cardinals, he hinted he might be open to blessing same-sex relationships, although he said they should not be considered the norm or equal to marriages. Gramick thanked him for his statement on this issue, although some Catholic theologians have claimed the mainstream media has read too much into it. The Vatican itself downplayed how much LGBTQ+ issues figured into the synod, with spokesman Paolo Ruffini saying, the blessing of homosexual couples is not the theme of the synod, the Catholic News Agency reports. But the Vaticans media department did publicize the meeting with New Ways. The possibility that women could be ordained as deacons or even priests came under discussion during the synod as well. However, there were assurances from synod organizers that changes to doctrine were not on the agenda, according to the Catholic News agency. Ahead of the synod, also in response to the conservative cardinals, Francis had said the ordination of women can be the object of study, as is the case with the validity of ordinations in the Anglican Communion. Pictured: Pope Francis and Sister Jeannine Gramick PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A suspect has been arrested after causing a school lockdown in Bartlett Middle School and Belleview Elementary School, the Porterville Police Department said on Friday. According to the Porterville Police Department, they responded to the area of Morton Avenue and Plam Street on Friday afternoon. Bartlett Middle School and Belleview Elementary were locked down for student safety. After working with the school administration, the Porterville Police Department said around 5:30 p.m. the suspect had been located and put into custody. There is no information regarding the suspects identity. The Porterville Police Department says no shots have been fired. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A registered sex offender packed sweets and toys to give to young girls he planned to meet and sexually abuse at an airport hotel. Mark Hemus, 37, from Portishead, North Somerset, was caught by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after discussing his sexual interest in children online. The IT engineer was arrested in October last year after checking into the Premier Inn at Heathrow. He was sentenced on Friday at Isleworth Crown Court to two years in jail. The NCA said that Hemus had been speaking with other paedophiles on several online chat platforms. Using a pseudonym, he arranged to meet two girls, aged eight and 11, who another user said he had access to. Rucksack of toys He then spoke openly with his contact about what sexual acts could be carried out on them. After he was arrested at the hotel at Heathrow Terminal 4, officers recovered a rucksack which contained Fruit Shoot drinks, sweets and toys. Hemus initially told officers he had travelled to London for a medical appointment which was then cancelled, but later admitted he had planned to carry out the sexual abuse. He claimed he would not have gone through with it as he was scared. Hemus has previous convictions for indecent images of children offences in 2005 and 2020, and is currently subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning him from using false IP addresses, names or aliases online. Hemus pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on 31 October last year to one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of sexual assault of a child, one count of breaching his SHPO and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. 'Real threat to children' On Friday he was sentenced to four years in prison - two served in jail and two on licence. The National Crime Agency's senior manager, Adam Priestley, said Hemus had "a clear intention to sexually abuse young girls". "He is a persistent sexual offender who poses a real threat to children, so this investigation was vital in ensuring he is unable to carry out his intended crimes." Follow BBC West on Facebook, X [formerly Twitter] and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk California and Nevada's Lake Tahoe is known for its pristine waters, ski resorts, casinos and a few urban legends. The lake has its own Loch Ness-style monster, "Tahoe Tessie." But another legend has grown over the years: Because bodies in Lake Tahoe supposedly dont decompose, people who either drown in the lake or are killed and thrown in look just like they did on the surface. (Spoilers for The Godfather Part II incoming: Fredo Corleones body isnt being found anytime soon.) First things first: Local authorities have repeatedly confirmed that it's incredibly difficult to recover any kind of body from Lake Tahoe, and that the bodies of many drowning victims still lay under the water. To make matters worse, the lake's frigid temperature means that bodies dont float back to the surface like they do in warmer waters. As an unconscious or dying person's lungs fill with water, the body naturally sinks. But then, as a body begins to decompose, bacteria in the gut release gasses, causing the now-bloated corpse to resurface. In Lake Tahoe, where the water's temperature beneath the surface sits in the chilly mid-50s even in summer, the cold temperatures slow the decomposition process significantly. With less gas being produced, bodies in the lake almost never resurface, which does lend a bit of credence to the theory. And because the cold waters slow the decomposition in the same way that a freezer in a morgue would, bodies do indeed remain preserved for longer. For instance, a Reno man, Donald Christopher Windecker, was quite preserved when his body was recovered in 2011, some 17 years after he drowned while scuba diving. But Windeckers scuba gear also helped protect him from non-bacteria scavengers that would have otherwise fed on the body. It's widely assumed that most other bodies mobsters or not will eventually decompose regardless of scuba gear, although how long that process takes is unknown. Lake Tahoe's geography makes it even more difficult for a diver to search for a drowning victim or a dead mafioso. The high altitude of the Sierra Nevada Mountains means divers must spend more time re-acclimating themselves as they resurface from the water to help prevent decompression sickness, commonly called "the bends." The lake is also the second deepest in the United States, with an average depth of 1,000 feet (305 meters), right about the deepest any human has ever dived. But 1,000 feet is just Tahoe's average depththe U.S. Geological Survey lists the lakes deepest point at 1,645 feet (501 meters). Back to the legend around mobsters, despite numerous searches, no evidence has been found of any such criminals hiding in the water's depths. Another common myth about a massacre of Chinese railroad workers also has no historical support. A 2016 effort using both divers and remotely operated vehicles working like drones in the water from the Undersea Voyager Project discovered no new bodies. Divers cleaning the lake of trash in 2022 also told USA Today that they found nothing. Indeed, its not particularly uncommon for search-and-recovery experts to come up empty-handed. In a San Francisco Chronicle article, a retired sergeant at the Placer County Sheriff's Office reported that finding a body in Lake Tahoe was like finding a needle in a haystack. The article profiled one such search-and-recovery expert, Keith Cormican, and how he used a remotely operated vehicle to recover bodies, not always with success. As an example, while searching for the body of a 1996 drowning victim, David Ward, Cormican used his tools to scour a small, alpine lake just south of Lake Tahoe called Fallen Leaf Lake. The article reported Cormican traversed the lake, which is tiny compared to Tahoe, over 100 times in three separate trips. He discovered two other bodies, but not Wards. At the end of the day, at least one or two murder victims likely lay at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Whether they would be recognized as mobsters is an entirely different question. Sources: At Lake Tahoe, a Scuba Divers Body Is Recovered after 17 Years. Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2011, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-aug-09-la-me-missing-diver-20110809-story.html. Do Preserved Bodies Dwell in Lake Tahoes Depths?! The Truth Behind Tahoes Myths. KQED, 3 Oct. 2019, https://www.kqed.org/news/11777857/do-preserved-bodies-dwell-in-lake-tahoes-depths-the-truth-behind-tahoes-myths. Ferchland, William. Lakes Depths Hold Many Dead Bodies: Officials Report Most Corpses Dont Surface If Lost in Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Daily Tribune, 6 Feb. 2006, https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/lakes-depths-hold-many-dead-bodies-officials-report-most-corpses-dont-surface-if-lost-in-lake-tahoe/. Register, Orange County. Lake Tahoe Underwater Explorers Find Old Boats and Ancient Trees, but No Mobster Bodies. Orange County Register, 10 Dec. 2016, https://www.ocregister.com/2016/12/10/lake-tahoe-underwater-explorers-find-old-boats-and-ancient-trees-but-no-mobster-bodies/. Robison, Mark. Fact Checker: Is Lake Tahoe Filled with Hundreds of Preserved Bodies? Reno Gazette Journal, https://www.rgj.com/story/news/crime/2015/06/02/fact-checker-is-lake-tahoe-filled-with-hundreds-of-preserved-bodies/28330081/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023. Sonner, Scott. Lake Tahoes Popularity May Be Its Downfall, but Scientists Think Tons of Junk Could Save It. USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/15/lake-tahoe-trash-divers-gold/9785630002/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023. Thomas, Gregory. Raising the Dead from Lake Tahoe. San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2021/raising-dead-bodies-lake-tahoe/. WebCite Query Result. https://webcitation.org/5yfL00HSt?url=http://tahoe.usgs.gov/facts.html. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023. The president of a Detroit synagogue was found stabbed to death outside of her home on Saturday, police said. Detroit Police said Samantha Woll was found dead outside of her home by a passerby at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Officers found a trail of blood leading to the inside of Wolls home, where they said they believe the crime occurred. Woll, who led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was a former staffer for Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and senior staffer for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel s campaign last year. Police have not identified a potential motive for the killing, they said. I and all of Team Slotkin is heartbroken at this news, Slotkin said in a Facebook post on Saturday. Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term. My heart aches that we have lost someone so dedicated to serving others in such a senseless act, she continued. Ill miss her relentless desire to serve & her bright smile seemingly everywhere across the Detroit area. Team Slotkin shares in the deep grief of her family & her greater community. Nessel also shared grief over Wolls death in a social media post. I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sams brutal murder, Nessel said. Sam was as kind a person as Ive ever known. She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) responded to the news, calling it heartbreaking. She was a source of light, a beacon in her community who worked hard to make Michigan a better place, she said in a statement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PROVIDENCE A pro-Palestine rally cosponsored by the Rhode Island chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America drew several hundred people to the Rhode Island State House on Saturday, in the pounding rain, to demand "an end to the Israeli occupation" and "an immediate end to U.S. military aid to Israel." From the peaceful but impassioned crowd waving "Free Palestine" signs came the chant: "Stop the killing. Stop the crime. Israel out of Palestine." "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," they chanted, to the dismay of the president of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. "They're essentially calling for the end of Israel, the end of the Jewish state and really calling for Jews to be excised from the land as well," said Adam Greenman, the president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance. "We understand people are passionate and our community also mourns the innocent Palestinian lives that have been lost, but also believe that Israel has a right to defend itself," he said. And "our community is still mourning the 1,400 Israelis who were brutally murdered a couple of weeks ago ... so to hear those kinds of chants, that's really disturbing." Demonstrators at Saturday's State House rally hold signs expressing support for Palestinians affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. RI rally mirrors similar demonstrations around the U.S. and the world The rally and the reaction to it mirror what's been happening in cities across the globe, as people take sides in the decades-old conflict in the Middle East. A rally in New York nearly two weeks ago drew more than 1,000 pro-Palestine backers, who chanted Resistance is justified when people are occupied." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, condemned the pro-Palestinian rally in advance, calling it abhorrent and morally repugnant. Other political leaders in New York issued similar statements. Reaction to the protest from RI officials Rhode Island state Rep. Mia Ackerman on Saturday wrote "Despicable!!" on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. But there was little else said about the "All Out for Palestine" rally in Providence. Gov. Dan McKee's office did not initially respond, but McKee, a Democrat, issued this statement on Monday: Let me be very clear I unequivocally condemn the despicable acts of war and terror perpetrated by Hamas against the people of Israel." McKee thanked President Joe Biden "for securing an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinians civilians in Gaza,'' commended him for "his swift response in providing increased military assistance to Israel and urge[d] Congress to come together and pass the Presidents request." The stated reason for the Providence rally to demand "an immediate end to U.S. military aid to Israel, and an end to the occupation and genocide in Palestine." 'We feel a century of struggle screaming in our bones' Amid conflicting accounts of who was actually responsible for the Oct. 17 bombing of a hospital in the Gaza strip, organizers of Saturday's demonstration alleged that in the last two weeks alone, "Israel has killed over 3,000 Palestinians, including over 1,000 children ... bombed hospitals; shut off power and water to 2 million people; attempted a forcible relocation of 1 million people." "We are witnessing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people greenlit and funded by our federal government after nearly a century of violent occupation and displacement," said Anusha Alles, executive director of Direct Action for Rights and Equality. "We will not tolerate any further support by the American government for the state of Israel." More: Providence City Council to hear dueling resolutions on Israeli-Palestinian violence Speaking as a Palestinian who made it to Brown University "against all odds," Sherena Razek said: "American news media and politicians will have us believe that violence began on Oct. 7, when it is a century old for the Palestinian people. "We feel a century of struggle screaming in our bones and bear the wounds of generations of trauma that [the] empire has imposed on us. We appear intact ... [but] we are aching because [a] U.S.-backed genocide [is] taking place ... right now and it must be stopped. ... It is the latest iteration of ... [the] colonial ethnic cleansing project called Israel." Joel Reinstein of Jewish Voice for Peace stated: "Jewish grief and historical trauma must not be weaponized to justify the genocide [it] is carrying out right now against Palestinians. ... We must call it what it is. Israel locking over 2 million Palestinians off in an open-air prison, shutting off all food and water, relentlessly carpet bombing them is genocide." There is, however, more than one view of what is happening in the Middle East and conflicting accounts. Hundreds of people were feared dead after an explosion at a hospital on Oct. 17 on the Gaza strip, a little more than a week after the Palestinian group Hamas staged a terrorist attack on Israel that reportedly killed 1,400 people and led Israel to declare war and begin bombing the territory. Hamas, which controls Gaza, blamed the hospital blast on an Israeli airstrike. Israel said it was caused by an errant rocket fired by another armed group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied the assertion. President Biden backed Israels position, according to The New York Times. Senators Reed and Whitehouse: 'We must recognize Israels right to defend itself' In a joint statement on Thursday night, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said: After the briefing we received, it is clear that the United States is standing fully with Israel. We must recognize Israels right to defend itself from murderous terrorists. We are also assured that President Biden has negotiated the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazans. ... We must minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, even as Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields. Of the hospital bombing, they said: The intelligence community has concluded that the tragic explosion at the hospital in Gaza was the result of an errant rocket launched by terrorists and not an Israeli airstrike. " Mark Patinkin: His parents survived the Holocaust, now this RIer watches as a friend is attacked in Israel Reed's office announced that he had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday, en route to Israel later as part of a group of senators who went to the Middle East to show their support for Israel. The explanation for the trip: "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. Saudi Arabia has an important role to play in working toward a peaceful and prosperous future for the region." The groups organizing Saturday's rally at the State House included the Party for Socialism and Liberation Rhode Island; ANSWER Coalition; Direct Action for Rights and Equality; Jewish Voice For Peace Rhode Island; Rhode Island Club Communist Party USA; Providence Democratic Socialists of America; Brown Students for Justice in Palestine; RISD Students for Justice in Palestine; RI Antiwar Coalition; No Endless War or Excessive Militarism; Providence Youth Student Movement; Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance; SISTA Fire; and the Reform Solitary Coalition. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pro-Palestine rally in Providence seeks end to U.S. military aid to Israel Thousands of people have taken part in a pro-Palestinian protest in London for the second consecutive weekend. The Met Police estimated up to 100,000 people had joined the march, which ended in a rally near Downing Street. More than 1,000 officers were involved in policing the demonstration, and 10 people were arrested. Smaller demonstrations also took place on Saturday in Birmingham, Belfast, Cardiff and Salford. After Saturday's march in London, the Metropolitan Police said arrests were linked to possession of fireworks, public order and assaulting an emergency service worker. The Met said on Sunday it was taking no further action after footage appeared online of a man at a smaller rally close to the main march chanting "jihad, jihad". A statement from the force said it "had not identified any offences arising from the specific clip". It also said no further action would be taken after it reviewed photographs of protesters holding banners referring to "Muslim armies". The government intends to hold talks with the Met over the decisions after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said "a lot of people" would find the Met's analysis "surprising". "That's something that we intend to raise with them and to discuss this incident with them," he said. Protesters on the London march were heard chanting a slogan that some use to call for Palestinian control of all land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, including Israel. A pro-Palestinian protest in London A protest also took place in Birmingham on Saturday Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" calls for the destruction of Israel. She has previously urged police chief constables to "consider... whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated" offence, although the Met has said the chant alone does not constitute a criminal act. In Belfast, protesters held a demonstration outside BBC Northern Ireland headquarters. People Before Profit assembly member Gerry Carroll said they aimed to "challenge" how the BBC had covered the conflict in the Middle East. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation had provided audiences around the world with coverage and first-hand testimony "of the atrocities committed by Hamas, and the suffering in Gaza". "We have made clear the devastating human cost to civilians living in Israel and Gaza, and the unprecedented nature of what has happened," the spokesperson added. The demonstration in Salford was held outside the Media City complex, where the BBC has its offices - with protesters there also criticising the corporation for its reporting of the conflict. In Cardiff, around 1,000 protesters waving Palestinian flags and supportive placards took part in a march towards the Welsh Parliament. The demonstration was organised by several groups who are calling on the British and Welsh governments to insist on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for "full humanitarian aid" to be sent in. Maggie Morgan, from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Cardiff, said: "We are taking to the streets as a show of solidarity to the people of Gaza, to show our support for them, but also to make the government listen, and say 'not in our name, we're not having this.'" The central London march attracted up to 100,000 people, police said All crossings between Israel and Gaza have been closed since the Hamas attack on Israel. The Rafah crossing, which is controlled by Egypt, has also been largely closed, but an aid convoy was permitted to enter on Saturday. Hamas - a proscribed terror organisation in the UK, US and European Union - launched a deadly attack against Israeli civilians on 7 October. More than 1,400 people were killed when gunmen breached security at the Gaza barrier and raided communities in southern Israel, with survivors reporting widespread atrocities including torture and bodies being burnt. More than 200 people were taken to Gaza as hostages. Officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say more than 4,600 people have been killed over the last two weeks after Israel began retaliatory air strikes. On Saturday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said it would "deepen" and "increase" the strikes, in order to allow Israel to "minimise the risks to our forces in the next stages of the war". The UN says strikes on Gaza, a densely-populated enclave bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and fenced off from Israel and Egypt, have displaced around 1.4 million people, with more than half a million staying in shelters. About 200,000 Israelis have been displaced, according to the Israeli government. Demonstrators gathered outside the BBC's headquarters in Belfast on Saturday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there should be increased humanitarian access to Gaza. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Sunak - who this week visited Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt - said the UK supported Israel's right to defend itself against a "murderous enemy" but the area faced an "acute humanitarian crisis". He said people in Gaza were suffering and he wanted to see a "stream of trucks" passing through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, and the restoration of water supplies to Gaza "where physically possible". Earlier on Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned the conflict is threatening to engulf the Middle East. Mr Cleverly has visited Israel, Turkey and Qatar as part of diplomatic efforts around the worsening crisis in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Speaking at the Cairo Peace Summit, he said: "This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities how divisive and polarising the current situation has become. "So we have a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region and claiming yet more lives." More on Israel-Gaza war People participate during a pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney in one of the many rallies held around the world on Friday opposing Israel's campaign against the militant group Hamas in Gaza. More than 4,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed since October 7 in the conflict. Photo by Brent Lewin/EPA-EFE Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Supporters of Palestinians under siege by Israel in their Gaza Strip enclave took to the streets around the world on Friday with many flying the Palestinian flag and calling for a cease-fire in the conflict. The protests, held from Australia to Jordan and beyond, came as Israel prepared for a ground assault against Gaza's rulers, the Islamist militant group Hamas, in retaliation for the deaths 1,400 Israelis in a deadly and coordinated strike on Oct. 7. Palestinian health officials said Saturday 4,385 people in Gaza have died in the resulting Israeli bombardment campaign, including 1,756 children and 967 women. In the Australian cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, crowds of people took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with New South Wales police estimating up to 15,000 people marched through Sydney's downtown area. The march's organizers, Palestine Action Group Sydney, hailed a "massive turnout" for the turnout for the event, which stretched for blocks from the steps of Town Hall as protesters chanted "free free Palestine" and "shame shame Albanese ," a reference to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's decision to not visit Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. In Malaysia and Indonesia, thousands came out in support of Palestinian civilians on Friday after prayers, crowding the streets of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and other cities across the country. Some marchers carried signs reading "Stop Israel's genocide in Palestine," while others trod on the Israeli flag in demonstrations that reached the United States Embassy in Kuala Lampur. The Malaysian protesters denounced the deaths of hundreds of people at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza this week, echoing Hamas in blaming Israel for the blast. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed the explosion was caused by the errant rocket launched by the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In Egypt, thousands of protesters gathered in universities and public spaces across the country to voice their opposition Israeli's retaliatory actions against Hamas as well as talk of relocating displaced Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian media reported many of the demonstrators shouted support for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in "taking measures to protect national security," including his refusal to accept masses of Palestinian refugees from Gaza through its border. In Jordan on Friday, thousands of people took part in a pair demonstrations in the country, including one staged near the Israeli Embassy in the capital Amman. They came in the wake of riots in the same area on Wednesday following the Al-Ahli hospital blast, in which several police officers were reportedly injured. Friday's marches were peaceful as protesters declared they are both unified in backing the Palestinian cause and in denouncing the "individual acts" of violence witnessed earlier in the week, the Jordan Times reported. Mackenzie was acquitted on charges of radicalisation in 2017 for illegally providing school teaching (SIMON MAINA) An inquiry into a suspected cult leader accused of inciting at least 428 of his followers to starve themselves to death, has pointed to "failures" in Kenya's security and criminal justice systems, according to a report seen by AFP on Saturday. Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie has been in police custody since mid-April after the discovery of human remains in the Shakahola forest near the Indian Ocean coast. The former taxi driver and founder of the Good News International Church is accused of preaching to his followers to starve to death "to meet Jesus". While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims -- including children -- were strangled, beaten or suffocated, according to autopsies carried out by the government. "Kenya has experienced deaths linked to religious extremism in the past, however, the Shakahola tragedy has registered the highest number of fatalities in Kenya's recorded history," the Senate commission of inquiry said in its report. It added that the self-proclaimed pastor had faced charges back in 2017 for his extreme preaching, but "the criminal justice system failed to deter the heinous activities of Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola". Mackenzie was acquitted on charges of radicalisation in 2017 for illegally providing school teaching -- he rejected the formal educational system which he claimed was not in line with the Bible. In 2019, he was also accused of being linked to the death of two children "who had succumbed to starvation and suffocation and buried in a shallow grave in Shakahola Forest". He had been released on bail, pending trial. - 'Recurring complaints' - The commission of inquiry also pointed to failings in the local police force, which had received "recurring complaints by religious leaders and the local community against his activities from as early as 2017". The complaints related to Mackenzie's opposition to formal education and medical treatment, as well as "radicalising adults to resign from their jobs and join the church" and "holding people hostage". The report also blamed "inaction" by the local county's security committee, which had "summoned Paul Mackenzie and warned him against his radical teachings and subjecting followers to inhumane conditions". A largely Christian nation, Kenya has struggled to regulate unscrupulous churches and cults that dabble in criminality. There are more than 4,000 churches registered in the East African country of 53 million people, according to government figures. The commission decried current legislation as "inadequate" and called on the country's parliament to pass a "Religious Organisations Bill" to provide a legislative framework for the regulation of religious institutions. The investigation and search for bodies in Shakahola forest are still ongoing. Once completed, Mackenzie and his 29 co-defenants will be formally charged, with prosecutors announcing in May that the self-proclaimed pastor would face terrorism charges. sva/def/acc/gw KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's central bank said on Saturday that it will continue to support priority segments of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to obtain financing at competitive rates. This includes 600 million ringgit (125.85 million U.S. dollars) being earmarked for four target segments, Bank Negara Malaysia said in a statement. "The four target segments are a 200 million ringgit increase in allocation for micro-enterprises facility, 200 ringgit million under all economic sectors facility, and 100 million ringgit each under agro-food facility and low carbon transition facility, respectively," the statement said. It also said overall, about 8.4 billion ringgit is still available for MSMEs across all financing facilities to support their involvement in key national initiatives including New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and National Energy Transition Roadmap. (1 ringgit equals 0.21 U.S. dollars) A Colorado murder suspect has a new attorney after attempting to backtrack on a plea deal made with the 10th Judicial District Attorney's office. In the midst of the withdrawal attempt, Adam Schultz, a private attorney, was appointed by the court to represent Raymond Apodaca, 38, at the state's expense on Oct. 12, replacing public defender Aaron Gutierrez. A court order filed by Judge Thomas Flesher explains that alternate counsel was appointed because Gutierrez represented a witness to the alleged murder in another case. Apodaca had originally pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the plea agreement. In exchange for his plea of guilty, the plea agreement stipulated that Apodaca would face no more than 34 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, as well as five years of parole upon his release. In September, Apodaca filed a handwritten motion to withdraw his plea of guilty to second-degree murder, which he had entered in July. The September motion by Apodaca asked Flesher to allow him to withdraw his plea of guilty based on a "good faith change of heart." Flesher stated during a September hearing that Apodaca did not seem to have sufficient legal grounds and was inclined to rule against it. "(Schultz) has not yet indicated whether the defendant is going to proceed with asking the Judge to allow him to withdraw his plea," 10th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Chostner told the Chieftain in an email Friday morning. "At this time, the previous plea agreement is still in place, and we are waiting to hear how the defense wants to proceed." When contacted by the Chieftain, Schultz stated that he needed time to "get up to speed" on the case before commenting further. Charges against Apodaca stem from the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Victor Trujillo, the boyfriend of Apodaca's sister, shortly before 7 p.m. on April 15, 2022. Apodaca was the first of two attempted plea withdrawals heard by Flesher in a one-week period the las week of September. In an unrelated case, Mohamed Henry, 48, similarly attempted to withdraw a plea of guilty to second-degree murder in the death of David Robert Scott Tilley. In a motion filed on Sept. 8. Henry argued that he was "under the influence of psychotropic drugs," because he was administered the drug Seroquel before the advisement hearing. He argued the dictionary defines Seroquel as "having an effect on how the mind works." "Henry was proven to be incompetent for over a year by officials at the Colorado State Hospital and does not understand the elements of the crime or the difference between first-degree murder and second-degree murder, but believes it (shooting) was self-defense," Henry wrote in the motion. Apodaca is next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 6, and Henry on Dec. 11. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime. Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo murder suspect who sought to withdraw guilty plea gets new attorney I was born in a country that weathered two dictatorships and underwent five name changes throughout the 20th century. Our enemies have occupied us. Our allies have as well. We Czechs are imbued with many flaws, but holding illusions about international politics is not among them. Its been merely three decades since weve gained the chance to shape our own destiny, to experience what Americans take for granted. Yet, for a certain circle of U.S. elites, it appears centuries of foreign rule still dont warrant us the luxury of freedom. It's one thing to read outrageous comments spread by anonymous trolls on social networks. It's quite different to face similar rhetoric from renowned figures like John Mearsheimer, Noam Chomsky, Glenn Greenwald, or Cornel West . One of the biggest names in this group is economist Jeffrey Sachs , who has recently doubled down on his prior assertions that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was provoked by the grave misstep of extending NATO membership to Eastern European countries. If the West had respected Moscow's sphere of influence, goes the narrative, and hadn't welcomed Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and others into the alliance, Russia would not have felt threatened, and all would have been fine. These opinions may not reflect mainstream thought. Still, they are treated as an acceptable part of the public discourse. Most Americans probably don't even understand what makes them problematic. In a time when Western colonialism is universally condemned as an era of injustice and exploitation, Eastern colonialism often remains overlooked, ignored, or understated. The Czech lands have always been the prize for any apex predator lurking in the neighborhood: Austrians, Germans, and the Soviet Union. Between 1526 and 1990, Czechs enjoyed a mere 22 years of sovereignty. The German and, later, Russian occupations in the 20th century rank among the worst periods of my nation's history. The former was bloodier, the latter, much longer. Both stripped away our freedom, destroyed the lives of our people, and crippled our economy. Both left an indelible scar on my homeland. However, despite these similarities, there is one major difference. Each German chancellor who has visited the Czech Republic has apologized for the horrors committed by their country. We've lost count of how many times have German representatives bowed their heads before the victims of their predecessors. They approach us with genuine humility and remorse. The Russians, less so. No apologies, no flowers adorning the graves. Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin did, indeed, pen a memorandum in 1993, branding the invasion into Czechoslovakia "unacceptable." However, since Vladimir Putin's rise to power, not a shred of remorse has been heard from the Kremlin. On the contrary, Moscow has time and again proclaimed Eastern Europe as its own backyard. Trouble is we dont like that. Our nations have been exploited, abused, and controlled by Moscow long enough. Colonization at its worst. Living under the shadow of the Iron Curtain has crushed the souls of entire generations. We have had enough. For us, inclusion in NATO isn't a geopolitical game. It's an assurance against reliving the fates of Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014, and the rest of Ukraine at present. We want to forge our own destiny. People like Jeffrey Sachs believe we shouldn't have the right to make such a choice. For these individuals, small nations are mere accessories to regional powers, deemed unworthy of their own foreign policy and national interests. They are meant to be neatly packaged and surrendered to the Russian bear as sacrificial lambs, serving as buffers against the West to make the Kremlin's autocrats feel safe. Sachs, Mearsheimer, and their ilk contend that present-day Russia is not the Soviet Union. True, it is not. Yet the Soviet Union was fundamentally Russia at its core, with other nations relegated to peripheral roles. And those who argue that Russia wouldnt like to become the USSR again are simply not paying attention. Putin has repeatedly declared the Soviet Union's collapse as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century." Former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev aptly calls Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia "our Baltic provinces." While a majority of Americans have chosen a president who abolished slavery as their most esteemed historical figure, the favorite of most Russians was a Communist dictator who enslaved and murdered millions of his own people. Russia remains an emperor stripped of his empire. The final dissolution of the USSR in 1990 produced a whole lot of winners. Lithuanians, Estonians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks and Moldavians all reveled in their newfound independence. Only the Russians felt like losers, a sentiment from which they have yet to recover. Stalin enjoys greater popularity now than he did during Khrushchev's rule in the 1950s. Advocates for Russia assert that Putin's latest war is motivated by security. They turn a deaf ear when the Russian leader dismisses Ukraine as a fake nation without a real identity. Putin's supporters at home do listen and understand, because that's what they believe as well. In their view, it is the Russian leaders who should decide the future of Ukraineand indeed any other nation within their reach. The root of this problem is not an inherent malevolence within the Russian populace. Its a mirror reflecting decades of relentless indoctrination from a state-controlled media and education system, both imbued with a level of bias that is inconceivable to most Western minds. As admirable as the courage of Russian citizens opposing the regime is, even the most hopeful liberal in St. Petersburg would admit that their ranks are too thin to make a difference. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. How could anyone with a modicum of reason expect Eastern Europeans to remain under the sway of such a state? True, Americans no longer know how it feels to be occupied; its been nearly 250 years since they were last governed by a foreign power. Nonetheless, it's hard to imagine that the U.S. public would tolerate assertions that African or Asian nations should relinquish their autonomy and obediently return to the sphere of influence of their erstwhile colonizers. Yet, astonishingly, there is no public outcry when renowned intellectuals propose the same fate for Eastern Europe, as though we are not people but mere pawns on a global chessboard. Some might argue this is simply realpolitikpragmatic, unfair, occasionally ruthless. If so, realpolitik is precisely what has engulfed Russia, a once-powerful country whose firmest allies today are Belarus and North Korea. Putin's Western fan club can't have it both ways. We are either talking about realpolitik and pragmatism, which makes NATOs eastward enlargement perfectly legitimate, or we're in the realm of idealism, where every nation is free to carve its own destiny. To force Eastern Europe into the Russian bearhug makes no sense in any of these scenarios. The truth is that people like Jeffrey Sachs are, in fact, enemies of freedom. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. These words should be sacred to every true American. Saying that Eastern Europe should have been left under Russia's influence makes liberty a privilege of the powerful and the mighty. What's alarming is the lack of response to their words. Briah Freeman is a candidate for the Thompson School District Board of Education District C seat in the November 2023 election in Larimer County, Colo. Name: Briah Freeman Race: Thompson School District Board of Education District C Q: Why are you interested in running for a seat on the Board of Education and what are your qualifications? A: I can make a positive impact in our district. I'm passionate about education and want to ensure all students receive the best possible education. I bring a fresh perspective to the board and can help create innovative solutions for the challenges we face. I worked for 14 years in education prior to moving into organization development 10 years ago. I understand the system were working in and can bring sociotechnical system thinking to that work. Q: What is the biggest issue facing the school district, and, if elected, how would you address it? A: There's a lot of noise around education; we need to stay focused on issues instead of political agendas. Parents can make decisions for their child, and I will protect those rights, but no one has the right to impose their beliefs on another child. I welcome varied opinions and rely on subject matter experts. TSD math scores, while growing, are still below state levels. Data-driven decision-making and ongoing assessment of progress are key in any successful effort to close achievement gaps. Q: How do you define parental rights as it pertains to public education? What level of input should parents/guardians have in curriculum selection and content? A: Rights of parents to be involved in their child's education access information about progress, participate in decision-making and be informed of child's rights. The ideal level of parental input should strike a balance between recognizing parents' roles as primary caregivers and respecting the expertise of educators and curriculum designers. TSD has policies in place to ensure parents have a pathway to make decisions they feel are appropriate for their child; Ill protect those rights. Q: Learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools switched to remote and hybrid instruction, is significant across the nation. What should the school district be doing to close that gap? A: Data-driven decision-making and ongoing assessment of progress are key components of any successful effort to close an achievement gap. Efforts should include assessment of current state, targeted interventions, prioritization of mental health and well-being, parent and community engagement and long-term planning and collaboration with stakeholders. Q: As our average temperatures in Colorado continue to rise, should all schools have central air-conditioning? If not why? If so, how should adding it to those without be funded? A: Air conditioning can help create a more conducive learning environment and ensuring equitable access to a comfortable learning environment should be a priority. Funding can be sought through a combination of government support, public-private partnerships and energy efficiency initiatives. Additionally, TSD needs to consider energy-efficient units, explore renewable energy sources to power these systems, ensure proper insulation and investigate passive cooling techniques. Q: We are in a high-growth area that will continue to require the building of new schools. What steps should the school district take to ensure equity among students in both old and new facilities? A: Complete an equity assessment, then once the current state is identified, complete a needs assessment. A plan should be developed based on those results. Funding and resources should be allocated equitably, including money for older facilities to be upgraded and new facilities to maintain equity. Resources like teachers, technology, textbooks, programs, etc., should be distributed amongst schools, no matter the age of the facility, to ensure all students have an equitable educational experience. Q: Given the rising cost of living in Northern Colorado, what steps should be taken to ensure the district is able to attract and retain the best teachers, administrators and district leaders? A: Competitive compensation packages including regular reviews and cost-of-living adjustments, are essential. Continue professional development, mentoring programs and stretch assignments. Consider discounts or benefits for local businesses, affordable housing options or in-district housing incentives, and student loan forgiveness or repayment assistance. Emphasize work-life-balance and quality-of-life benefits of living in Northern Colorado. Culture must value diversity and foster belonging. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Q&A with Briah Freeman, running for Thompson school board District C Qatar played a central role in securing the surprise release Friday of an American mother and daughter held hostage by Hamas. Now that Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, are free, the hope is that the release of more captives by Hamas could lead to wider dialogue or mediation, aimed at averting a full-scale war, a diplomat with knowledge of the talks told NBC News on Saturday. There were ups and downs during the discussions, said the diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly. Ultimately the American mother and daughter walked free because negotiators were able to convince Hamas that the unconditional release of two hostages could serve as a confidence building measure. After the release of the two women, President Joe Biden thanked the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work, in a statement. Mamoun Fandy, the president of the London Global Strategy Institute, a think tank based in the British capital, said the successful hostage negotiation with Hamas allowed Qatar to show it is the hub of diplomacy in this crisis. Follow live coverage from NBC News here. The freeing of the two Americans is the latest in a series of diplomatic initiatives by the small, oil-rich Persian Gulf state. Qatar recently helped negotiate a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran, as well the release of four Ukrainian children from Russia. It also hosted peace talks with the Taliban before the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. But Qatars history of sheltering Hamas political leaders could complicate its effort to present itself to Israel as a mediator. Natalie Shoshana Raanan (L) and Judith Tai Raanan speak with President Joe Biden via cellphone (US Embassy in Jerusalem via AFP - Getty Images) Judith and Natalie Raanan had been staying on a kibbutz called Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, before they were captured by Hamas in its massive terrorist attack on Oct. 7. After 13 days in captivity, the pair were greeted at the Gaza border on Friday by Israeli Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch and taken to a military base where they were reunited with relatives. There are now hopes that if more hostages are freed, it could clear a path to wider talks about getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. The diplomat said that Qatar has been urging Hamas to free its hostages. The Israelis have been clear they are not willing to talk until all the hostages are released. So it may be better for Hamas to release them faster because that may lead to wider dialogue or mediation." But Eldad Shavit, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, cautioned that the release of the two hostages was probably a manipulation by Hamas. My assumption is that Hamas is conducting a military operation and also a political campaign, said Shavit, who has served senior roles in Israeli defense intelligence and the prime ministers office. He added that he thought Hamas was hoping to put pressure on both the international community and Israel "not to proceed with plans, military plans. Whether that will be possible is doubtful, according to Michael Horowitz, the head of intelligence at Le Beck International, a security and risk management consultancy. Many Israelis, given the killing of more than 1,000 civilians by Hamas in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, will argue that a full-scale ground invasion that ends with the complete destruction of Hamas is the only acceptable outcome. While Qatar was proving to be a key ally of the U.S. and fending off criticism related to their decision to keep hosting senior Hamas leaders, Horowitz said the images and testimonies of the attack were too fresh in the memories of Israelis. The best shot everyone has to lower the flames is to push for two parallel tracks, namely the release of hostages on one hand, and on the other the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid in Gaza, Horowitz said. This is a sensible strategy, though I would say the chances of avoiding some form of Israeli incursion are still low. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Dettori, who is moving to America, described the statue as a "humbling tribute" Queen Camilla has unveiled a sculpture of Frankie Dettori at Ascot Racecourse to mark his farewell to Britain. She attended a ceremony at the Berkshire track at QIPCO British Champions Day, on Saturday. The bronze sculpture of the veteran Italian jockey came on the day he raced for the final time in the UK, riding two winners in the process. Dettori, 52, who is moving to the US, described it as a "humbling tribute" and an "impactful artwork". Ascot said the sculpture, located by the Grandstand Lawn, would be a permanent reminder of the jockey's "unparalleled contribution" to racing there. Camilla was wearing a brooch that belonged to the late Queen Dettori said: "Ascot has been everything to me - my first Group 1 winner when I was 19 - it is where it all started and concludes with nine Gold Cups, seven King Georges, 81 winners at Royal Ascot and hopefully some victories today. "It's wonderful to be immortalised at such a great track, and to have your own statue while you are still alive, wow." The statue was designed by Tristram Lewis, who said it had been "a real pleasure to be able to work on this project and bring it to life." He described the jockey as an "incredibly professional model". Sir Francis Brooke, His Majesty's representative and chairman at Ascot, said Dettori had been a "huge part of racing at Ascot over the last 35 years". He said the "unique sculpture" would ensure a "lasting tribute to his success is permanently in place at the racecourse". Sculptor Tristram Lewis said Dettori had been an "incredibly professional model" Camilla, who was wearing a brooch that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth, was assisted by members of the Greencoats, who have formed the ceremonial guard for royalty at Ascot since 1744. Dettori first competed at Royal Ascot in 1987, before going on to ride 229 winners there overall. In 1996, he claimed his "Magnificent Seven", riding all seven winners, at odds of 25,000-1. He began his final day of UK racing with a victory aboard Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot, then winning the Champion Stakes with King of Steel on the final ride of his British career. Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. This still image from body-worn camera video, provided by the Office of Connecticut Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, shows the Wallingford, Conn. Police Department officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Donald Passmore, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Office of Connecticut Inspector General via AP) 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. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday suggested the U.S. should not provide more military aid to Israel until the government can outline what happens after invading Gaza. The U.S. should be clear with Israel that further U.S. support is contingent on Israel identifying clear objectives for success in Gaza and a coherent plan for what comes after toppling Hamas even if Israel is successful in doing so. As of now, these critical questions remain unanswered, he said. That message was part of a broader statement provided to POLITICO, where the entrepreneur restated his strong opposition to President Joe Bidens $106 billion funding request to support Israel against Hamas and Ukraine against Russia. Ramaswamy said the United States is too deep in debt to keep supplying those two countries with weapons, adding that America wasted trillions of dollars during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ramaswamy said that assisting Ukraine increases the risk of major conflict with a nuclear power and backing an Israeli ground invasion of Hamas would lead Hezbollah to enter the fray, which would almost surely draw the U.S. into a prolonged all-out regional war in the Middle East. I call on lawmakers in both parties to vote NO on this disastrous proposal, the candidate said on Fox News Friday night. The administrations 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, the enclave of 2.3 million people. There are also asks to boost military support for Taiwan and enhance security at the southern border. Biden and his team have repeatedly said that Israel has a right to defend itself and go after Hamas. But U.S. officials are warning against an all-out assault, pushing Israeli forces to prioritize a reduction in civilian harm and more targeted operations against Hamas. It is still unclear what Israel will do after significantly degrading Hamas capabilities. The statements by Ramaswamy, polling fourth nationally and in Iowa, are consistent with others hes made. He often expresses skepticism of further entanglements by the United States in foreign conflicts, regardless of the country the U.S. is assisting. Ramaswamy has, however, promoted military strikes on Mexican drug cartels to curb the spread of fentanyl and warned other countries, namely China, that if they wade deeper into the Western Hemisphere, they will have hell to pay. Ramaswamy has faced intense pushback from fellow Republican candidates on his foreign policy views, especially from former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. During the partys first presidential debate of the cycle, she accused him of being a neophyte on global affairs. The two have also tussled over Israel policy, with Ramaswamy arguing the U.S. should find ways to wind down military aid to the U.S. ally. On Thursday, Ramaswamy accused his competitors of being too afraid to recommend that Israel not invade Gaza, calling such a move so disastrous that it would advance neither Israels interests nor ours. Both Ramaswamy and Haley are two of three candidates to qualify for the next GOP presidential debate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will join them, while faraway frontrunner Donald Trump, the former president, is unlikely to appear. GOP presidential primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said Saturday that U.S. assistance to Israel should be contingent on the nations action plan for Gaza amid its war on Hamas militants. Israel is barreling toward a potentially catastrophic ground invasion of Gaza without clear objectives, Ramaswamy said in a statement shared with The Hill. Destroy Hamas is not on its own a viable or coherent strategy. Instead, Israel is likely to invite attacks from Hezbollah in the north, which would almost surely draw the U.S. into a prolonged all-out regional war in the Middle East that does not advance American interests, he argued. The conservative entrepreneur added that the U.S. needs to push Israel to define its objectives before agreeing to fund its ongoing strikes. The U.S. should be clear with Israel that further U.S. support is contingent on Israel identifying clear objectives for success in Gaza and a coherent plan for what comes after toppling Hamas, even if Israel is successful in doing so, Ramaswamy said. As of now, these critical questions remain unanswered. Top Stories from The Hill On Friday, Ramaswamy also criticized the comparison of the Israel-Hamas conflict with the Russia-Ukraine war. The entrepreneur was responding to President Bidens Oval Office speech on Thursday evening, where he tied the two conflicts together. Biden also said he would deliver a request to Congress for new aid to both Ukraine and Israel. I think its a mistake to bundle the Israel discussion with the Ukraine discussion, Ramaswamy said in an interview on Fox News. It is a gambit to avoid debate on the merits of either one. He said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle should vote no on the disastrous proposal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The city of Rancho Cordova announced Friday a new police chief has been appointed once the person currently occupying the post retires next month. Matthew Tamayo, who has served more than 20 years with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, will take the reins after current chief Brandon Luke retires. Tamayo will also serve as a commander of the Sheriffs Office east division out of the Kilgore Police Station in Rancho Cordova, a news release said. The city contracts with the Sheriffs Office for policing services. I am honored to once again be serving the tight-knit community of Rancho Cordova and to continue fostering community relationships and partnerships to keep all residents safe, said Tamayo in a statement. Tamayo worked as a patrol supervisor, patrol watch commander, operations commander and assistant police chief in Rancho Cordova. He started his law enforcement career with the Sheriffs Office and served in numerous roles in the departments corrections division, problem-oriented policing and internal affairs. He was also a gang detective. The city of Rancho Cordova is delighted to welcome Matthew Tamayo as our new chief of police, said Rancho Cordova City Manager Micah Runner. His previous experience at RCPD, extensive law enforcement background and commitment to the city of Rancho Cordova make him an outstanding choice to serve our community. Tamayo graduated from the Union Institute & University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice management, the news release said. According to state payroll records, Tamayo made more than $162,000 as a base salary last year. With benefits, his total pay was more than $393,000. The current chief, Brandon Luke, began his role two years ago in October. He was appointed to the position after Kate Adams retired amid an investigation into her allegedly sharing a racist meme and using homophobic slurs, according to previous Bee reporting. Adams voluntarily retired after 18 months before the Sheriffs Office could issue any formal disciplinary actions. 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. While yard signs are a common sight during campaign season, one sign in Salina this year is a bit different, featuring only a scannable QR. Invented in 1994 as a way to label car parts at a manufacturer in Japan, quick-response, or QR codes, are used in today's society as a quick way for a scanner, phone or other optical device to process encoded information. Signs that feature a QR code, instead of the traditional candidate's name, are popping up in yards around Salina this election cycle. When scanned by a phone's camera, this sign leads to a survey paid by one of the Salina City Commission candidates. For current City Commissioner Trent Davis, who's also running for re-election this year, this QR code on a sign is being used to gather information from the public that could inform him of the views of the electorate. When someone looks at the code with something like a smartphone, it directs the scanner to a link to a survey paid for by the Davis campaign, asking the voter to rank five issues in the City of Salina by order of importance. Why is a Salina City Commission candidate putting up QR signs? Phil Black, who himself has run for and been elected to various local political offices in Salina, has been helping Davis with his campaign and said this idea came from a discussion with a University of Kansas student from Salina, Luke Stanford. "(He previously) worked on my campaign," Black said. "The three of us were just meeting and having dinner and Luke...said (we) ought to do a QR code." Davis and Black decided to run with the idea, saying it was something new and unique that people in Salina hadn't seen before. "I've had people on Facebook (tell) me that's it brilliant," Black said. Davis also has traditional campaign signs, with his name on it, but Black said by having another sign it offers more ways for voters to engage with the campaign. "(Obviously), if you're in a car, you're not going to be able to scan the code," Davis said. But the code certainly draws attention to eyes as people drive by or as they walk or bike by, offering them the opportunity to stop and scan it. Davis said this also speaks to how people are receptive to newer and different ways to engage with a candidate. "It just goes to show that in central Kansas...there are people daring to take a chance (on technological advancements)," Davis said. More: Former Oakdale Park pool, skating rink to be demolished What is Davis hoping to learn from the QR survey? As a current commissioner and as a candidate for the upcoming commission, Davis said he always wants to hear from people who are not like him. "It took me a while to learn that (listening is) much more valuable than (talking)," Davis said. He said he likes to listen to people from all backgrounds and walks of life, because it may give him information or a viewpoint he hadn't thought of. "Everybody's opinion is valuable," Davis said. Looking at what is happening in Salina, Davis said he has ideas about what is important, but he doesn't assume to know everything that is going on. Using this QR survey, he hopes to better understand what others in the community might think is important. This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina City Commission candidate using QR technology to reach voters The solid body of 12P/Pons-Brooks is hidden underneath all the dust and gas in the central blob in the center of the image, taken at the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope. T expanding ejecta from the late-July outburst can be seen as a faint two-tailed or two-horned structure at larger distances from the blob. Dr. Teddy Kareta/Lowell Observatory The 12P/Pons-Brooks comet is passing by Earth for the first time in the 21st century. It is larger than typical comets and has been dubbed the "Devil Comet" for appearing to have horns. "We know it's big. We know it's an outlier. We know it's rare," a researcher told Insider. The so-called "Devil Comet" is barreling past Earth and exploding on its way around the sun, but a researcher who studies such phenomenon told Insider that while the comet is large and unusual, its menacing name a reference to the appearance of horns does not mean it poses any threat to the third planet from the sun. Known to scientists as 12P/Pons-Brooks, the comet last made an appearance in Earth's skies more than 70 years ago. Judging by its brightness, astronomers have estimated that the solid part of the comet, or its nucleus, is about 12.4 miles across roughly twice the size of Mount Everest. Typically, comets are between 0.6 and 1.8 miles wide, according to Teddy Kareta, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. "We know it's big. We know it's an outlier. We know it's rare," Kareta told Insider. We also know it is likely to be most visible next spring, but not because it's barreling toward Earth in another extinction-level event. In fact, Kareta said, at its closest the comet will still be about one-and-half astronomical units away, or put another away: even further from Earth than the sun. "It might be bright enough that you can see with your naked eye or with binoculars, but that's not because it's going to be super close," Kareta said. "It's because it's just generally very bright." Indeed, the comet is both bright and highly unusual. Its "horns" are actually tails of gas and dust formed by an odd series of explosive outbursts that scientists still do not understand. Two such outbursts have been witnessed this year: first in July, then earlier this month. An "outburst," according to Kareta, is "where comets suddenly get much more active," throwing off tons of gas and dust in a short period of time. When this happens, "the comet brightens really rapidly and then sort of fades back to the brightness it had before," he said. "And in Pons-Brooks, these are really, really bright really, really large outbursts. And this is what makes this comet so interesting to scientists." These outbursts have been particularly interesting due to their frequency and where they occurred. One theory is that comets contain forms of ice that, when exposed for the first time to heat from the sun, cause volatile explosions. But those explosions have typically been observed closer to the sun, and not often. According to Kareta, "it might happen twice in five years." The Pons-Brooks comet, by contrast, is exploding relatively often and, confoundingly, far away from the sun. Right now, it's further off than Mars, Kareta noted, where "it's just not that warm." That raises the question: "Where's the energy coming from that powers these kinds of large outbursts? And the fact that it can apparently do so many, so often?" The comet is expected to reach peak brightness in mid-April 2024 as it continues on its 71.2-year journey around the sun. Astronomers, professional or otherwise, are looking forward to it. "I think a lot of people are really excited about it," Kareta said. Read the original article on Business Insider MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Red Cross is sounding the alarm about fire safety by providing free smoke detectors to families in Memphis. One by one Memphis Firefighters and Red Cross volunteers knocked on the doors of people living in the Hyde Park Community Saturday. The goal of the campaign is to teach residents about fire safety while installing a free smoke alarm in their homes. Body found on barge traveling the Mississippi River: SCSO Every day, seven lives are lost because of home fires, but a working smoke detector can cut that risk in half, said Red Cross Mid-South Executive Director Sarah Breazeale. This is all a part of the Red Cross Sound the Alarm event. The Mid-South chapter teams up with the Memphis Fire Department to share vital fire safety information in various neighborhoods each year. Volunteers gathered at St. Theresa The Little Flower Catholic Church to kick off the event. A lot of the homes in this area are very old. The wiring is very old. So perhaps things that modern homes would have as safety features, these older homes do not have. So, its important to be more prepared for fire safety, said Father Yoelvis Gonzalez. Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat says the Hyde Park neighborhood was chosen based on need and how often they respond to fires in the area. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid South. A working smoke alarm is the one thing that has proven to save lives, said sweat. She says improper use of electric cords and leaving food unattended while cooking are some of the reasons behind house fires. Sweat also says fire calls increase as the temperatures drop and people start to look for alternative ways to stay warm. It gives the people in your home an early notification that theres an emergency going on. If its small, maybe its something they can mitigate but it also gives them time to escape if its a larger fire, said Sweat. If you would like a free smoke alarm, you can reach out to the Red Cross or the Memphis Fire Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Smoke rises from destroyed buildings, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. | Mohammed Dahman, Associated Press Family members of former U.S. representative Justin Amash were among those killed Thursday when an Israeli bomb hit a historic church compound in Gaza, Amash announced Friday on X, the site formerly called Twitter. The former Michigan congressman shared that several of his relatives passed away during the airstrike. They had been sheltering at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius along with other Palestinian Christians. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gaza and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed, Amash said on X. St. Porphyrius Church bombed Eighteen people died and at least 20 people were injured when parts of St. Porphyrius in Gaza were destroyed, one Palestinian Christian told The Washington Post. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Friday that at least 16 Christians were killed during the airstrike that affected the church, per The Washington Post. Related St. Porphyrius, which is the oldest active church in Gaza, has been serving as a temporary shelter for hundreds during the Israel-Hamas war. Rescuers were still digging through the rubble early Friday. Later in the day, services were held to mourn the dead. The Washington Post reported. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem criticized the Israeli military for hitting the church in a statement. The Patriarchate emphasizes that targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens ... constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored the statement said. In a statement to The Washington Post, the Israel Defense Forces acknowledged that an airstrike on a Hamas command center had caused damage in the area of St. Porphyrius and that it was reviewing the incident. The I.D.F. can unequivocally state that the church was not the target of the strike, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement to The New York Times. A Christian Orthodox worshipper attends Palm Sunday Mass at St. Porphyrius Church, named after Gazas 5th century bishop, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 8, 2012. | Hatem Moussa, Associated Press Christians in Palestine today In an interview with The Washington Post, Maher Ayyad, a 72-year-old member of the St. Porphyrius community, estimated that about 1,000 Palestinian Christians remain in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. Around half of them are now sheltering together at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate School in Gaza City, he said. We pray all the time for a cease-fire, Ayyad told The Washington Post. Its too much for Gazans. Before the war, Gazas population was around 2 million, according to Reuters. Most residents identify as Muslim, while fewer than 1% identify as Christian. According to various estimates, 50,000 Christian Palestinians reside in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and according to media reports and religious communities, there are at most 1,000 Christians residing in Gaza, the U.S. State Department reported in 2019. Most of these Palestinian Christians are Greek Orthodox, the State Department said. Church of Saint Porphyrius history The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius is famous in the region and around the world. Its original structure was built in the 5th century, but its current buildings were constructed in the 12th century, according to The Washington Post. It is named for a former bishop of Gaza, Saint Porphyrius, and placed where he is believed to have died in A.D. 420, the article said. Today, the church compound is comprised of a chapel, seven buildings and a courtyard, according to The New York Times. The Palace of Versailles normally hosts 15,000 people per day at this time of year (Daniel LEAL) Another day, another evacuation at the Palace of Versailles. "For security reasons, the Palace of Versailles is evacuating visitors and will reopen as soon as the checks have been completed. Thank you for your understanding," the great former royal residence outside Paris said Saturday in a now all-too-familiar message. Saturday's evacuation after a bomb threat which turned out to be false was the sixth such one in a week. The situation is now starting to agitate not just tourists but also local officials and tourism sector players, who see the risk of a key income source dwindling. France upped its attack alert level in the wake of a fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher earlier this month by a man who claimed the act in the name of the Islamic State extremist group. The attack in the northern city of Arras also came amid heightened concern over security after the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel which has been followed by retaliatory air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Against this background, France has over the last days been plagued by false bomb threats not just against the Palace of Versailles but also the Louvre museum and a host of regional airports just as autumn holidays are under way. - 'One thing I wanted to do' - After being banished from the palace due to the security alert, tourists had to content themselves with selfies in the rain with the statue of the sun king Louis XIV in the vast outer courtyard. There were some 5,000 people inside the palace at the time of Saturday's evacuation, said a police source. The palace reopened later in the day following checks. "I'm from California. It's the one thing I wanted to do in Paris. It's frustrating," said Juliette Harris, who was visiting with her husband and two children. Preferring not to stay in Versailles, which is half an hour's train ride west of Paris, her family then headed to the Louvre museum in the centre, in the hope that it would not be shut down too. Most of the false bomb threats, which are posted on French police website moncommissariat.fr are hard to track down. "I was worried that there would be an alert, but thought it might come in the afternoon," said Camille Froment from the Tarn region of southern France who is visiting for two weeks with her son. "I am leaving on Monday and it will be tough" to reschedule with a visit to Versailles, she added. - 'Serious offenders' - Even at this time of year, up to 15,000 people can visit the palace every day, a spokeswoman said, adding that "for now, we have not observed any trend of cancellations by visitors." Each cancelled visit can be refunded. But the mayor of Versailles, Francois de Mazieres (LR), on Friday told Franceinfo radio that visitors "are hesitant to come now", and that if the alerts continue to multiply, "it could have consequences on attendance". In the city, businesses are already seeing sales decline. "The turnover is starting to fall," said Ahmed Imran, manager of a souvenir store a few hundred metres (yards) from the palace, where staff have already been reduced in recent days. Shortly after the alert, restaurant tables were full of disappointed tourists, who had come to take refuge while waiting for the reopening. "Afterwards, it dries up, and quickly" once the alert has passed. "In the longer term we see fewer and fewer tourists," said Enzo Aracil, a waiter in a cafe. The frustration is also beginning to be felt in the police, who must deploy considerable resources at each alert to secure the area. "It takes time, and during that time colleagues are not doing their daily tasks," said Tony Vallee, of the Yvelines region police. At least 11 airports nationwide carried out evacuations on Thursday after receiving threats. Ten were evacuated Friday, among 18 targeted by bomb threats. Only one airport on Saturday -- Tours in the Loire region -- was evacuated. The two main airports in Paris have so far not been affected on any day. "I want to say it very clearly, the smart guys or the little jokers who play these games are in fact big fools, even serious offenders," Transport Minister Clement Beaune said Friday. js-sjw/kjm Rishi Sunak has called on world leaders to work together to defeat the evil of terrorism and do everything possible to stop a contagion of conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. Following his visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the prime minister said containing the conflict was the overwhelming priority of leaders he spoke to in the region. And he spoke of the need to keep our aspirations for a more peaceful and stable future firmly in our sights. Two weeks after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack in Israel, killing more than 1,400 civilians, the prime minister said Britain stands in solidarity with the Middle East against terrorism. He said his visit to the region was a chance to accelerate diplomatic efforts with other world leaders, citing the reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza to allow aid trucks in on Saturday as testament to the power of diplomacy. But, as Israels retaliatory bombardment of Gaza continues, having claimed more than 4,300 lives, Mr Sunak said he was working closely with Egypt to ensure that the UK plays our part in ensuring those Palestinians get the food, water and medicine they so desperately need. Having returned to his constituency in North Yorkshire, Mr Sunak said: Last week I visited Israel and other countries in the Middle East to demonstrate that the UK stands in solidarity with them against terrorism. That we too know that there can be no justification for the kind of atrocities visited on innocent people by Hamas two weeks ago. Crowds gather as the first aid trucks crossed the Rafah border into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday (Reuters) I wanted to sit down with other leaders and talk face to face. Because in times of tension and division, its more important than ever to accelerate diplomatic efforts. The reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza is testament to the power of diplomacy, with the US, Israel and Egypt brokering an agreement to ensure vital aid reaches the Palestinian people. Were working closely with Egypt to ensure that the UK plays our part in ensuring those Palestinians get the food, water and medicine they so desperately need. The overwhelming view I got from everyone I spoke to this week was that we need to do everything possible to stop a contagion of conflict in the region. We need to keep our aspirations for a more peaceful and stable future firmly in our sights as we work together to defeat the evil of terrorism. His comments came after the first trucks carrying aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. Hundreds of foreign passport holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict The number of dead in Gaza rose to 4,385 on Saturday, with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated two weeks ago, the Palestinian health ministry said. It added the dead included 1,756 children and 976 women. James Cleverly addressed the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday (AFP/Getty) Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians have been rationing food and drinking filthy water, while hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. On Saturday, foreign secretary James Cleverly said he had reminded the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law. The foreign secretary repeated his support for the countrys right to defend itself against Hamas and to secure the release of those kidnapped by the terror group. But, speaking at the Cairo Peace Summit, Mr Cleverly added: We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. CORALVILLE, Iowa Republican presidential candidates tried to one-up each other on foreign policy Friday as they took turns denouncing Hamas and President Joe Biden at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Speaking from the bed of a bright red pickup truck at Miller-Meeks annual Triple MMM fundraiser in Iowa City, GOP candidates criticized the militant groups recent attack on Israel and proposed a range of policy prescriptions they said would make America and its allies safer across the globe. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, speaks during her annual Triple MMM Tailgate event in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The event featured remarks from several candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for President. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Bidens plan to send billions in humanitarian aid to Gaza that he said would be commandeered by Hamas. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley called for Israel to finish them and said Biden should do whatever it takes to bring home American hostages. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson criticized those who do not clearly side with Israel. And U.S. Sen. Tim Scott accused Biden of abdicating his responsibilities as commander in chief. For those who do evil, the wrath of God should be the consequence, Scott said, quoting scripture. And I hope it comes with some Israeli and American hardware. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was the exception to the aggressive rhetoric, warning that the United States could be on the brink of making the same mistakes that he said followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks and resulted in war in Afghanistan. Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks', R-Iowa, Triple MMM Tailgate event in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The event featured remarks from several candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for President. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP) I am deeply worried about the wisdom of this ongoing potentially imminent ground invasion to Gaza, which I do not believe is going to be good for Israel and do not believe its going to be good for the United States, he said, arguing the position is pro-Israel. Texas businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum kept the bulk of their remarks focused on other issues. The two longshot candidates spent more time highlighting their biographies in an effort to introduce themselves to potential caucusgoers. Iowa caucus calendar: See where the GOP presidential candidates are campaigning Event puts candidates Israel messages in close contrast Conversation about Israel has dominated the Iowa campaign trail in recent days, but this was the first time candidates appeared on the same stage since the Oct. 7 attacks, putting their remarks in close contrast. The event comes as the candidates increase their investments and presence in the first-in-the-nation caucus state as the race enters its final 100 days. But so far, only Trump, DeSantis, Haley and Ramaswamy have qualified for the November debate stage, and polling has remained stubbornly steady for Trumps challengers who continue to trail him by large margins. Though Trump was invited, he did not attend. The crowd grew restless as the night wore on and Burgum and Hutchinson closed out the night, but the audience of a couple hundred continued to give polite applause, standing for each candidate as they finished speaking. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, center, speaks with attendees during U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks', R-Iowa, Triple MMM Tailgate event in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The event featured remarks from several candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for President. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP) Businessman Perry Johnson had previously been slated to attend, but he suspended his presidential campaign earlier in the day. Speaking to reporters after the event, Miller-Meeks praised Iowans for seriously considering all presidential candidates. Iowans take their job as electing the next president very seriously, Miller-Meeks said. They show up, they turn out. Ashley Streb, whose family runs Streb Construction where the event was hosted, said she appreciated the chance to see the candidates side by side. Right now, she says Scott, Haley and Ramaswamy are her top three contenders for the caucuses. For me, personally, it's going to come down to security of the nation and, obviously, the economy, she said. Everyone's in the same boat and grocery shopping is, you know, horrendous right now. The way that it affects my home is what's important to me. But then the grand scheme of things, national security, is also very important as well. She said the war in Gaza is a key piece of national security, but shes also deeply concerned about the border and immigration policy. I feel a little stronger about that, she said. But I do think the Israel situation is very important as well. Democrats were critical as the parade of GOP contenders arrived in the state. While Iowans are getting ready to watch their Hawkeyes beat Minnesota, MAGA Republicans are visiting to tout the same extreme agenda that would undermine our national security, put our allies at risk, strip fundamental rights from millions of women, and rig the economy for big corporations while leaving working Iowans behind, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. DeSantis, Haley, Miller-Meeks call out Washington, DC, 'drama' DeSantis and Haley also took time to address the ongoing drama among Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has been without a permanent speaker for more than two weeks after hardline Republicans ousted U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy. After three failed floor votes, House Republicans rescinded their endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker Friday. Miller-Meeks said she faced death threats following her high-profile break with a majority of House Republicans to vote against Jordan in the second and third round of balloting. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, walks from a closed door Republican conference meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Miller-Meeks, who voted against Jordan on the second ballot, said she received "credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls." I am never going to quit fighting for Iowa, and I am never going to quit fighting for this country, Miller-Meeks said in a passionate defense of her vote to kick off the event. So if you think you can intimidate me, go suck it up, buttercup! DeSantis said hes been watching what's going on in D.C., and contrasted that with his administration in Florida. In Florida, we don't do the theater, he said. We don't do the drama. We don't do the palace intrigue. We just deliver results. And that's ultimately what it's all about. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks', R-Iowa, Triple MMM Tailgate event in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The event featured remarks from several candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for President. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP) Haley, who is also the former governor of South Carolina, said, You don't fix Democrat chaos with Republican chaos. They need to get in a room and figure it out and get us a speaker and get on with their job, she said to applause. Haley said that when she was governor, Republicans controlled both chambers of the state Legislature and they butted heads all the time. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley waves to audience members during U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks', R-Iowa, Triple MMM Tailgate event in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The event featured remarks from several candidates for the Republican Party's nomination for President. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP) What I would do is I'd bring them in a room and I'd say, We're not leaving until you figure this out, she said. And I never let South Carolinians see how the sausage was made. We need to start getting focused. Des Moines Register reporters Michaela Ramm and Katie Akin contributed to this report. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis call out House speaker 'drama' at Iowa event The River Coquet was still high on Saturday but water levels were falling Water levels have fallen after homes had to be evacuated when a river burst its banks during Storm Babet. Heavy rain caused flooding by the River Coquet in Rothbury, Northumberland, and some residents had to spend the night away from their homes. The Environment Agency (EA) said river levels remained high but no further flooding was expected. The town's county councillor Steven Bridgett said many residents had a "lucky escape". Mr Bridgett, who represents Rothbury on Northumberland County Council, said the mountain rescue teams, police, fire service and county council "did everything right". But he said the EA needed to have "a good look" at its data. Councillor Steven Bridgett said the water came within millimetres of homes "Yesterday morning they were predicting a peak of about 2.4m. The last time I checked it was about 3.35m," Mr Bridgett said. "So that's nearly a metre higher than what they were predicting." EA flood risk operations manager Andrew Turner said the river levels had been the highest since 2012 and closing the flood gates early had prevented 25 properties being flooded. "We almost had a month's worth of rainfall here in 24 hours but it didn't meet our trigger for issuing a flood warning and we'll be looking at that," he said. "We'll have a look at where the river got to, where the levels were at their highest, when that happened and, if we can make those improvements to our flood warning service to give people as much notice as possible, then we'll absolutely do that." Mr Bridgett said sandbags had prevented the worst damage Rothbury had experienced major floods over the past 15 years so residents knew what to do, Mr Bridgett said. "We come together as a community," he said. "The water was millimetres off entering a number of properties and the deployment of sandbags and the fire service pumping the water out has really helped it stop getting in." In 2008, about 50 homes in the town were damaged and cars were washed away when water levels rose dramatically. Emergency services, including firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers and the coastguard, were called to the town on Friday and some roads in the town were cut off by flood water. Weather warnings have now been lifted across northern England but there are a number of flood warnings - where less dangerous flooding is expected - in place. The EA said expected showers on Saturday should ease overnight and no further flooding of properties was expected. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, EA director of flood strategy Julie Foley urged anyone receiving a flood warning to "take action right now". She said it was also "really important" that people stayed away from swollen rivers. "It's very, very important that people don't drive through flood waters, all it takes is up to 30 centimetres of fast-flowing water to actually move a car," she said. June Gibson has lived in her home in Rothbury for seven years June Gibson, who has lived in her home in The Maltings in Rothbury for seven years, said the water had "come flying in like a river", right up to her front door. "I was evacuated with a fireman - he got me on his back," she said. She thanked the "fantastic" people who brought sandbags and put them round her house. "I was expecting devastation," she said. "I was expecting the whole house to be flooded and it's just the garage. "I didn't get flooded, I can't believe it." Flood gates closed at lunchtime on Friday as heavy rain hit Rothbury Train operators around the UK have advised customers not to travel on Saturday due to widespread disruption. London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Avanti West Coast and Northern Rail have all warned lines are widely flooded. The storm caused damage in other parts of the region such as Whitley Bay in North Tyneside Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. An east London hospital has said the Elizabeth line puts increased pressure on its emergency services. A growing number of patients are coming from neighbouring boroughs, leading to a drop in its performance, the Royal London Hospital said. The number of people being seen for non-urgent treatment has increased by 80% compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2109, its A&E saw 75% of patients within four hours compared with 58% so far in 2023. Tom Cornwell, the director of operations, said the new Whitechapel station was a "massive factor". Its urgent treatment centres (UTC) for non-life threatening treatment saw 98% of patients inside four hours in April 2019. That dropped to 77% as of August 2023, it was revealed during a meeting with Tower Hamlets Council's health and adults scrutiny sub-committee on Tuesday. A recent Transport for London report showed 738,000 journeys were recorded on the Elizabeth line on 28 September, the highest number the line has experienced. In May, it celebrated its first anniversary with the introduction of a full peak timetable. The frequency of trains each hour between Paddington and Whitechapel was upped from 22 to 24, with 16 trains an hour running off-peak with the line's overall capacity increasing by about 10%. When the meeting opened up for questions, Labour councillor Amina Ali asked Royal London staff whether they were in contact with nearby east London hospitals about the "sudden surge" in patients. Kathriona Davison, chief operating officer at the Royal London, said Homerton, Newham and Whipps Cross hospitals had not seen a reduction in their activity but that "it just happens to come to us as a result of the Elizabeth line and that's the indication from the data that we have at the moment". Ms Davison explained: "It's very difficult to stop people coming to us by the Elizabeth line," adding that the number of patients they were seeing also probably reflected how they perceived the hospital's UTC and A&E departments. "We are working on it and it's part of the plans on how we address some of those increased demands." Barts Health NHS Trust, the body responsible for the Royal London, has been contacted for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk WASHINGTON After House Republicans voted to drop Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as their speaker nominee, a mad dash for the top job has started within the deeply divided House Republican conference. After voting to abandon Jordan as their nominee by a vote of 112-86, GOP lawmakers headed home for the weekend to recuperate after a chaotic series of events on Capitol Hill. In the meantime, some Republicans immediately declared their candidacy. House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik , R-N.Y. on Sunday confirmed that nine Republicans will make their pitch to serve as leader in the lower chamber. House Republicans will hear from prospective speakers when they return to Washington for a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The earliest the House could elect a new speaker is Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about who is running for speaker. Tom Emmer House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., began making calls to run for speaker after Jordan's exit from the race, according to a source familiar. As whip, Emmer is the No. 3 ranking House Republican. Ousted former speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., endorsed the Minnesota Republican for the speakership in a huge boost for Emmer's candidacy. McCarthy still commands the respect of the vast majority of the House Republican conference. "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 said to Punchbowl News. U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., watches as the House of Representatives votes for a third time on whether to elevate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to Speaker of the House in the U.S. Capitol on October 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. Kevin Hern Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., was one of the first candidates who jumped into the speaker's race, immediately announcing his candidacy to reporters after House Republicans dropped Jordan as their nominee. "We need a different type of leader who has a proven track record of success, which is why I'm running for Speaker of the House," Hern said in a statement. The Oklahoma Republican is chair of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of around 170 GOP lawmakers making it the largest group of House Republicans. Earlier this month, Hern made calls to every single House Republican to gauge support for an earlier run but ultimately decided against it, declining to run against previous speaker nominees Jordan and House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., speaks to reporters as House Republicans hold a caucus meeting at the Longworth House Office Building on October 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Austin Scott Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., was a little-known lawmaker until earlier this month when he launched a surprise challenge to Jordan's speakership bid as a protest candidate against the conservative firebrand. Scott ran against Jordan in an internal vote within the House Republican conference to select a nominee. Scott lost the nomination by a vote of 124-81. The Georgia Republican rallied behind Jordan after his loss but Jordan's exit, Scott immediately jumped back in the race. "There's a lot of people that appreciated what we did," Scott told USA TODAY about his first speaker campaign. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., and Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., depart meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Byron Donalds Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, is running for speaker, according to a spokesperson from his office. Donalds has played a large role in key negotiations between moderate and ultraconservative GOP lawmakers. During Jordan's failed speaker elections, some GOP holdouts voted for Donalds as a protest candidate. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks to reporters as House Republicans meet to hold an internal House speaker election on Oct. 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Jack Bergman As it slowly became clear Jordan could not earn the support he needed in his quest for the speakership before he was dropped as the nominee, Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., considered issuing a challenge to the Ohio Republican but did not follow through. With Jordan out however, Bergman immediately jumped in the race announcing his candidacy. "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. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., speaks to reporters as he arrives to a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Mike Johnson Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., vice chair of the House Republican conference, is also seeking the speakership. The Louisiana Republican on Saturday released a letter confirming his bid and saying any leader must work to restore trust in Congress, work to grow a Republican majority and more. "It is my greatest honor to serve with all of you in this decisive time, and I would be humbled to earn your support and, and by God's grace, lead our historic cause as your Speaker," he wrote, signing off the letter to his colleagues "for freedom." Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 09, 2023 in Washington, DC. Pete Sessions Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, also launched a bid for speaker immediately following Jordan's exit. "Congressman Sessions believes he can forge a positive path as a conservative leader who can unite the Conference," Sessions' office said in a statement. U.S. Rep Pete Sessions, R-Texas, opens a meeting of the House Rules Committee at the Capitol in Washington. Dan Meuser Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., also entered the race by Sunday's deadline for Republican candidates, Stefanik confirmed. Before his official bid, Meuser shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, "Should I decide to run for Speaker, my message will be focused on politics of inclusion." "Every Member of the Republican Conference needs to be a part of policy making, legislation, and communications. That feeling of ownership builds a team culture, which is needed as we move our party forward," he added. Gary Palmer Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., currently serves as the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, which makes him the No. 5 Republican in the House. He also formally entered the speakership race by Sunday's deadline for lawmakers, according to Stefanik. Palmer previously supported Jordan to serve as speaker, but in the wake of McCarthy's ouster, he also immediately called on Republicans as a whole to come together. At the time, he shared in a post on X "We have a job to do for the American people, and they deserve a unified majority focused on what's best for the nation." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are the Republicans running for House speaker: What to know Russia has committed a total of 2,500 environmental crimes in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, during the United for Justice.United for Nature conference Quote from Svyrydenko: "The war continues, and Russia continues to commit crimes, inflicting damage [on Ukraine] every single day [...] A total of 2,500 environmental crimes have been documented." Details: Svyrydenko stressed that each day of the war costs Ukraine approximately 120 million in losses. Meanwhile, Ukraines Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said that Russia has to pay for the damage it has inflicted on the Ukrainian environment. Quote from Kostin: "We all agree that the Russian Federation as a state has to pay for the damage and losses this war has inflicted on Ukraines natural environment." Details: Kostin stressed that it will be very difficult for Ukraine to guarantee that these losses will be adequately compensated without confiscating Russian assets. He said Ukrainian law enforcement agencies were establishing standards for investigating and prosecuting those responsible for environmental crimes as war crimes and those responsible for the crime of ecocide. "We hope that this crime (ecocide ed.) will be considered an international crime. We hope it will be included in the Rome Statute. We know that this is important," the Prosecutor General said. Support UP or become our patron! Jake Sullivan Russias invasion of Ukraine and Hamass attack on Israel represent a global inflection point, National Security Advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden Jake Sullivan has said, the Associated Press reported on Oct. 21. Sullivan said that the White Houses budget request to the U.S. Congress holds crucial significance for strengthening Americas national security and ensuring the safety of the American people. Read also: US plans to bundle aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in one bill report He added that the world is closely monitoring the U.S. Congresss further actions. The White House requested nearly $106 billion from Congress, earmarked for Ukraine, Israel, and other priority areas on Oct. 20. The request for Ukraine includes $61.4 billion, with $44.4 billion specifically allocated for Pentagon equipment, replenishing arms supplies, and other military support. Read also: Biden delivers historic national address from Oval Office, outlines plan to support Ukraine Israels request totals $14.3 billion. Additionally, the U.S. State Department is set to receive $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and the Gaza sector. Biden addressed the American people on Oct. 20 in a rare speech from Oval Office, announcing an emergency budget request for funding assistance to both Ukraine and Israel, and calling for support in this endeavor. Read also: Zelenskyy praises Bidens speech on defending global freedom against terrorism 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 Consequences of the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih Russia launched missiles and drones at the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in a heavy air attack in the early hours of Oct. 21, resulting in significant damage to an industrial facility in the area. Serhiy Lysak, the head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, confirmed the attack, reporting that a fire had broken out at the targeted industrial site but that the blaze had been quickly extinguished. Read also: Russia attacks civilian infrastructure in overnight attack on Zelenskyys hometown of Kryvyi Rih There were no reports of casualties or injuries stemming from the overnight Russian attack. In other areas of the region, the night passed without any incidents. However, Lysak noted that a separate attack the previous evening, on Oct. 20, had resulted in damage to three houses within a local private housing cooperative. Unfortunately, the evening attack on the private housing cooperative in Kryvyi Rih resulted in the loss of a 60-year-old mans life, while his 57-year-old wife sustained shrapnel wounds. Tensions in the region was palpable, as air raid alarms were sounded in several Ukrainian oblasts on the evening of Oct. 20, due to the threat of Russian missile attacks. Dmytro Neveselyi, the head of the Zelenodolska municipal territorial community, also reported the activation of air defense systems in Kryvorizhskyi District, the area around the city of Kryvyi Rih. Read also: 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 forces carried out attacks on at least eight oblasts over the past day, killing one person and injuring at least three, local officials reported early on Oct. 21. In Donetsk Oblast, one person was wounded in Russian attacks on Avdiivka, the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported. In Kharkiv Oblast, a 39-year-old man suffered injuries in a Russian strike on the village of Kucherivka in the Kupiansk district, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. One person was killed and another injured in Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. An 80-year-old woman died in a Russian air strike on the city of Beryslav on Oct. 20, the governor said earlier. Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts also came under attack, but local officials reported no casualties. Read also: The writing is on the wall: Ukrainian archivists collect Russian graffiti as evidence of war crimes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russians have killed 1 more civilian in the city of Nikopol on 21 October, said Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration. Source: Lysak on Telegram Quote from Lysak: "Another loss... The enemy attacked Nikopol with heavy artillery. A man was killed". Details: The authorities say the Russians fired seven projectiles on the city. Details will be provided later. Support UP or become our patron! A Russian missile struck a post office in Kharkiv on Oct. 21, killing six people and injuring at least 14, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. First responders are reportedly on site, and there is a rescue operation ongoing. According to Syniehubov, several victims are in serious condition. "This is an exclusively civilian object, the Russians committed yet another terror against the civilian population of Kharkiv region!" Syniehubov said. Russian forces struck the city of Kharkiv with S-300 missiles on the evening of Oct. 21, Syniehubov reported earlier in the evening, urging residents to take shelter. 0:00 / 1 Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that the city was under attack. "Kharkiv hears explosions. The city is attacked by enemy missiles," Terekhov said. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, lies only around 30 kilometers south of the Russian border. Both the city and the surrounding oblast suffer regularly from Russian strikes. 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. Magomed Musaev , a Kremlin-connected tycoon and owner of Forbes Russia, told partners that he was behind the purchase of the Forbes Media Group. Source: The Washington Post, citing sources, plus five audio recordings and one video recording in which Musaev discusses the deal; Russian business media outlet RBC, citing Forbes Russia Development Director Dmitry Ozman Details: The Washington Post reported that Musaev told his partners in June that he was behind the purchase of the Forbes Media Group, saying it was the deal of a lifetime. "I just bought global Forbes," Musaev reportedly told one of his associates, referring to the Forbes Media Group, which includes the US edition of the magazine. "You understand when you have in your hands the key to the most authoritative global brand, this key will give me access to anyone," he said. The recordings suggest that Musaev repeated this over and over. In the video recording obtained by the Washington Post, Muasev calls tech founder Austin Russell the "face" of the deal and insists that his own involvement be kept quiet. In a statement to The Post, Russell denied any involvement by Musaev or any Russian individuals in the deal. "Musaev has no involvement whatsoever in the Forbes transaction. Any suggestion to the contrary is false. There is not a single dollar of capital from any Chinese or Russian citizen or entity, including Musaev," said a spokesperson for Russell. Musaev initially told The Post that any suggestion he had control of the deal was "absolute nonsense" and a "monstrous myth" and that "in the [deal] documents, in any written form, my participation is not there." "He denied he could have told his associates he had bought Forbes, but he did not respond to subsequent requests for comment about the tapes," The Post added. The media outlet Axios reported in May, citing two unnamed individuals, that Musaev had brought Russell into the process of acquiring Forbes, although it did not refer to Musaev as an investor or buyer. Two executives familiar with the situation repeated this in interviews with The Post. Forbes Russia Development Director Dmitry Ozman told RBC that Forbes Russia has no information that Musaev has acquired Forbes Media Group. "Among other things, Im in charge of PR for Forbes Russia, and we know nothing about the deal. He [Musaev] has not commented on this in personal conversations," Ozman said. Support UP or become our patron! Russian troops resumed their offensive near Avdiivka on 20 October and made minor advances. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: According to military analysts, the first Russian offensive operation in Avdiivka on 10 October resulted in significant losses of Russian equipment, and the fact that Russian troops regrouped and re-launched an offensive indicates that either Russian forces believe that they can actually take Avdiivka, or that the Russian military command is not prioritising offensive operations well and is not taking significant losses of equipment and personnel into account. Geolocation footage released on 20 October shows that Russian troops have made minor advances west of Krasnohorivka (5 km north of Avdiivka). Russian military bloggers and a Ukrainian military observer claimed that Russian troops had captured a Ukrainian strong point near a waste heap just northeast of Avdiivka, advanced to a railway station north of Avdiivka, and advanced near the Tsarska Okhota restaurant south of Avdiivka. Another well-known Russian military blogger claimed that Russian troops had unsuccessfully attacked near Sieverne (6 km west of Avdiivka), south of Avdiivka, near Stepove (8 km northwest of Avdiivka), and near Novokalynove (11 km northwest of Avdiivka). Other military bloggers claimed that Russian troops had advanced by up to one kilometre on the Stepove-Berdychi line (8-10 km northwest of Avdiivka) on 19 October, and fighting was continuing near Berdychi on 20 October. The Ukrainian General Staff said that Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks near Avdiivka, Novokalynove, Stepnoye, Pervomaiske (11km southwest of Avdiivka) and Sieverne. On 20 October, the General Staff of Ukraine reported that over the past day near Avdiivka, Ukrainian troops had damaged and destroyed nearly 50 Russian tanks and more than 100 armoured vehicles. The Ukrainian military operating in Avdiivka reported on 20 October that over the past four days, Ukrainian forces had destroyed 200 Russian armoured vehicles. Vitaliy Barabash, Head of Avdiivka City Military Administration, said that Russian troops were trying to repair damaged equipment in the field. Footage released on 20 October shows Ukrainian forces striking a Russian TOS-1 thermobaric artillery system near Avdiivka. A Russian military blogger complained that the effectiveness of Russian counter-battery fire near Avdiivka is declining due to poor communication and the inability to accumulate ammunition before the offensive. To quote ISWs Takeaways for 20 October: Russian forces launched a renewed offensive push near Avdiivka on 20 October and marginally advanced, indicating that the Russian military command remains committed to offensive operations in the area despite heavy materiel and personnel losses. Ukrainian forces continued larger-than-usual ground operations on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast on 20 October and established a confirmed presence in a settlement on the east bank. Russian and Ukrainian sources continue to indicate that the Russian units defending the east bank of Kherson Oblast are relatively less combat effective than other Russian forces elsewhere on the front. Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast but did not make confirmed advances. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Southern Military District (SMD) headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, on 19 October to discuss the battlefield situation in Ukraine with Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff. Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, around Avdiivka, west of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and made limited advances in some areas. Alexander Bastrykin, Russian Investigative Committee Head, argued on 20 October that Russian authorities should strip migrants of acquired Russian citizenship if they are unwilling to fight in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the joint press centre of the Tavriia front Defence Forces, has said that the intensity of Russian troops attacks near Avdiivka has somewhat decreased, although they continue to "move forward". Source: Shtupun on air during the national 24/7 joint newscast Quote from Shtupun: "The enemy has somewhat... well, you can tell by the losses, its activity has somewhat decreased, but it continues to move forward." Details: Shtupun said that Russia had launched 1 missile strike and 24 airstrikes on the entire Tavriia front [during the day of 20 October ed.], and most of them were aerial guided bombs dropped on the Avdiivka front. Background: Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War noted that on 20 October, Russian troops resumed their offensive on the Avdiivka front and made little progress. Support UP or become our patron! Is it safe for Americans to travel right now amid worldwide advisory? 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait will be lifted after he met with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In his arrival speech on Saturday, Marcos said he had a meeting with the Kuwaiti leader on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit in Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, both leaders vowed to continue discussions on addressing labor issues, according to Marcos. In February, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) halted the processing of contracts of first-time household workers bound for Kuwait after overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara was brutally murdered by the son of her Kuwaiti employers. Marcos thumbed down a total deployment ban. After a few months, Kuwait decided to suspend the issuance of entry and work visas for Filipinos. He was very effusive, saying that we should remove all of those and continue as what we have done before, Marcos said, referring to the Kuwaiti leader's remarks. The president described the meeting as a very important development. Because for a few months now, we have had to ban the deployment of Philippine workers in Kuwait. That will end and we will now return to the normal state of affairs with the Kuwaiti government, he said. Marcos did not specify when the ban would be lifted. He said the Kuwaiti government has moved very quickly as discussions on resolving the issues have already begun. SAN DIEGO A woman suspected of violating her restraining order was arrested Friday after a police chase that went through several San Diego neighborhoods, authorities said. Police say the woman was not allowed to be at a home nearby the 6600 block of Vista Del Mar in La Jolla due to her domestic violence restraining order violation, the San Diego Police Department confirmed with FOX 5. Around 4:05 p.m., the cops arrived at the home, prompting the woman to get into a Jeep and drive away, police said. SkyFOX was over the scene, where the suspect led police on a chase on the Interstate 5 freeway, through downtown San Diego and along state Route 94. City of San Diego increases distance parked cars must move every three days While on SR-94 eastbound in Lemon Grove, the suspect was seen getting out of her vehicle and crossing the westbound lanes of the highway before police took her down. She is in police custody at this time. Check back for updates on this developing story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative wants you to know that power blackouts may become a routine part of your life if you live in South Carolina. State co-op leaders have been ringing alarm bells for a few months, but their messages havent resulted in the action they want: more power generation and natural gas plants Now, theyre urging South Carolina leaders and Congress to do something. However, to understand the full extent of the issue, some warn to look deeper than what the electric cooperatives are saying and understand its more than just a Republican versus Democratic battle on energy. This week, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative CEO Bob Paulling spoke before South Carolina lawmakers urging them to understand the need to increase the natural gas capacity to supply new power plants. S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, was also at the meeting, where he touted South Carolinas growth and development. More people and businesses mean more electricity demands. Smith encouraged the conversation Paulling was bringing to the table. However, some South Carolina environmental and energy experts warn that the calls for change are not as urgent as the cooperatives are making them out to be. Paulling and state electric cooperative leaders concerns are about reliability. South Carolina has had an influx of population growth the past few years, and the state has been pushing for increased economic development as well. As the state becomes busier and fuller, more electric generation is needed to keep everything running. The state does have renewable energy sources, such as solar energy. However, those types of energy arent necessarily always reliable, Paulling said. A prime example, he said, of why reliability is a concern: Christmas 2022. Dominion Energys South Carolina customers almost had rolling power blackouts over Christmas 2022 due to high demand from cold weather and diminished production from the states solar power facilities, officials have said. About 500,000 Duke Energy customers did lose power in North Carolina on Christmas Eve. On a normal spring day, its not a big deal, Paulling said. Its critical days, like what happened in December, that we need to worry about. We havent built (new major power plants) in nearly two decades. Were way behind, and we need to catch up, quickly. The Christmas blackouts coincided with a planned, or rolling blackout of some back-up facilitators. Because Duke Energy and Santee Cooper had already shut down plants for regularly scheduled maintenance and due to unprecedented levels of cold weather taking them by surprise, the ones that were working became too overloaded. This is why Paulling has specifically requested approval for more electric generation, or base-load generation, thats available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Paulling said the only fuel looking into the future that can power base-load generation is natural gas, and hes pushing for the expansion of natural gas pipelines within South Carolina. Its a pretty simple problem to lay out but a complex solution to solve, Paulling said. Not everyone agrees. Some South Carolina environmental and energy experts argue that the state is not facing an energy emergency. While Paulling and other co-op leaders arent necessarily wrong to be concerned, some say, the situation may not be as dire as the co-ops claim. Those critics argue that more than the power-generating source whether it be solar or natural gas or coal or otherwise much of the reliability of our electricity actually depends on the distribution channels. Look at it this way: Most the time, when the power goes out at your house, its because of interrupted distribution line that goes to your house. This has to do with storms, trucks backing into things, trees falling over, not a problem at the power plant itself. Eddy Moore, senior energy program director of the S.C. Coastal Conservation League, said the system provides reliability as a whole; its not necessarily one energy source that provides it by itself. Moore said he believes there needs to be more regional coordination. We dont have any one entity that can dispatch a distant power plant if the near power plant isnt working, Moore said. And thats within the states power to make that happen. People should know, yes, there are state officials that are responsible for this and utility companies that are responsible for reliability, and they are vetting the long-term plans right now, Moore said. But they should also know that we can do a better job if we enhance regional coordination. Environmental experts say energy companies need to be better about planning ahead to make sure, if a system failure occurred, there would be a backup. By Jennifer Rigby (Reuters) - Researchers in the United States have shown for the first time they can safely and effectively infect human volunteers with Zika virus, a step towards learning more about the disease and developing vaccines and treatments. The study known as a "controlled human infection model" has previously been controversial for Zika because of the risks to participants and lack of treatments. But U.S. regulators and the World Health Organization ruled the new model, developed by a team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was safe and scientifically important. Zika is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes, which is usually mild or asymptomatic. But a major outbreak in the Americas in 2015 and 2016 showed it can be dangerous for pregnant women and foetuses, causing devastating birth defects such as microcephaly, a disorder in which a child is born with an abnormally small head and brain. There are no vaccines or treatments, and the outbreak in the Americas ended before new ones could be fully tested. Infections have dwindled worldwide since, with about 40,000 reported last year from that region. But the WHO has warned that surveillance can be patchy, and transmission patterns for Zika are not well understood. Climate change is also likely to boost the spread, which is already established in 91 countries. Anna Durbin, the Johns Hopkins professor who led the study, said developing countermeasures was essential because infections could re-surge. Also significant, she added, was the mental health burden on pregnant women in endemic regions, who worry about the virus and their babies but have limited protection options. Durbin and her colleagues used two strains of Zika to infect 20 female volunteers who were not pregnant or lactating. All developed laboratory confirmed infections, with mild illness. Eight others got a placebo. To minimize the risks, the patients were admitted to an inpatient unit and monitored until they were free of the virus. They agreed to use birth control methods for two months. The next step is evaluating the strains in male volunteers, in part to assess how long the virus, which can be sexually transmitted, stays infectious in semen. Durbin said several vaccine manufacturers have already asked to use the strains to test experimental products. The data was presented as an abstract at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Chicago. (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Over the last week, a secret delivery of American weapons and a cross-river raid have injected much-needed energy into Ukraines largely stalled counteroffensive. In the east, Ukrainians claim to have inflicted massive losses on Russian forces trying to encircle an embattled city. Meanwhile in the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian parliamentarians are looking to expunge Russian influence from the church. Here is what you need to know. Surprise arrival of US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) A secret US delivery of long-range ATACMS missiles pounded airfields in occupied Berdiansk on the coast of the Azov Sea and in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, destroying Russian helicopters and a munitions depot. A video posted by commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, showed the powerful missile batteries firing, with a caption thanking Ukrainian soldiers for their service and partners for their support. At a time when US funding for Ukraine remains precarious, the arrival of the ATACMS was a welcome development both on the battlefield and for public morale. Ukraine has been asking for the missile system for months. Its still unclear when the weapons were delivered or when the decision to supply them was made. An early version of an Army Tactical Missile System is tested December 14, 2021, at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. - John Hamilton/US Army With a 100-mile range, the powerful missiles are likely to disrupt Russian positioning, with most analysts predicting Moscow will be forced to station aerial assets further afield, limiting operational capacity. For Ukrainians, the move was seen as a strong message of support from the US. Ukrainians are greatly encouraged by the delivery of ATACMS, and our warriors are putting them to good use on the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tweet after a call with US President Joe Biden. Battles in the east Fierce fighting has been raging in Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, as Russia continues to encircle the city and Ukraine claims it has delivered massive blows to Russian military personnel and equipment. Russian forces have launched waves of attacks repelled by the Ukrainian troops who are heavily entrenched in the area. According to the Ukrainian military, more Russian personnel and tanks were destroyed in a single day on Thursday than any other day since the start of the war. CNN cannot independently verify Ukrainian claims of Russian losses but video shared by unofficial Ukrainian military accounts show intense fighting and destroyed hardware. Zelensky called Russian losses in Avdiivka catastrophic. Analysts say the Russian aim is to encircle the city and take over an area of high ground near an industrial facility which would give Russia effective fire control over Ukrainian supply routes. Smoke rises above the area of the front line town of Avdiivka on October 18, 2023, amid the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images Avdiivka is no stranger to Russian assaults and has been on the front line of the conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014. More than 1,600 civilians remain in the embattled city, according to local officials. Cross-river operation in Kherson Official details of Ukraines latest cross-river operation are scant. But Ukrainian troops appeared to have crossed the Dnipro River into the Russian-occupied Kherson region, according to pro-Kremlin military bloggers. Popular Russian military blogger WarGonzo said Friday that fighting on the eastern bank of the Dnipro had continued near the coastal village of Krynky, speculating, Ukrainian troops are trying to gain a foothold and pull up reserves to develop their initiative on the Dnipro bank controlled by the Russian army. Earlier in the week, Russian bloggers claimed Ukrainian military units had crossed the river, breaking through some Russian defenses and pushing into the villages of Poyma and Pishchanivka on the eastern bank. Kyiv has not officially commented on cross-river operations in the region. Ukraine has previously carried out raids on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson. Ukrainian forces first established a bridgehead on the Russian-controlled bank of the river near the Antonivsky Bridge in June and have carried out other raids over the summer. Men stand outside a house destroyed in the Russian rocket attack that took place Wednesday morning, October 18, Obukhivka, Dnipropetrovsk Region, central Ukraine. - Mykola Miakshykov/Ukrinform/Sipa USA Church matters Ukrainian lawmakers have given the initial green light for a bill that seeks to eliminate Russian influence on religion. The aim of the proposed law is to prevent religious organizations from operating in Ukraine whose governing center is located outside Ukraine in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine. The bill passed its first reading with 267 votes for and 15 votes against. While the bill does not specifically name the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), the implications are clear. Kyiv considers the UOC to be an extension of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and of Moscows influence in Ukraine. UOC claims to have cut ties with the Moscow-based church since the full-scale invasion. But a Ukrainian government panel of experts did not find any documents or actions that would indicate the transformation of the UOC into a religious organization independent of the ROC. A UOC cleric called the draft bill scandalous and accused lawmakers of exploiting religion for political intrigues. The Ukrainian parliament did not ban anyone today. It adopted a truly scandalous bill that contains many provocative provisions that contradict the Constitution, a UOC representative, Metropolitan Klyment, said in a statement. For the draft to become law, it will need to be voted on a second time in parliament and signed by Zelensky. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LANSING Michigan experts are encouraging the public to squash the invasive spotted lanternfly as the destructive insect rapidly spreads throughout the Great Lakes region. The states invasive species program has launched a See it. Squish it. Report it. campaign advocating not only killing the pest, but also reporting the deed. They are doing it with public-service videos, social media and billboards along freeways to battle a pest that has already taken over the East Coast. Ultimately, the insect will spread. But the goal is containment, said Michael Philip, the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Developments Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. A smashed spotted lanternfly sits on the ground Aug. 24, 2022, in New York. Michigan's invasive species program has launched a See it. Squish it. Report it. campaign advocating not only killing the pest, but also reporting the deed. The insect targets more than 70 kinds of plants, including fruit and hardwood trees, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its particularly fond of fruit orchards, hardwoods and grapevines. The insect doesnt eat fruit, but does eat sap in the wood and stems of trees and plants. Spotted lanternflies first made their way from Asia into the U.S. in Pennsylvania. They have since spread through the Great Lakes region and are now in New York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The spread has been quick and difficult to control, as the pests presence has been confirmed by state agencies in 15 states since 2014. The See it. Squish it. Report it. campaign was launched one year after the only detection of the pest in Michigan, in Pontiac, in August 2022. The population was confirmed to be isolated to a single tree/area in Oakland County and since disposed of by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. According to the campaign, spotted lanternfly egg sacs look like gray, palm-sized clumps of chewed bubblegum and can be found on hard, outdoor surfaces. The adult is a brown bug with bright red, polka-dotted wings beneath its brown outer shell. Spotted lanternflies seen Sept. 21 near Center Township, Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spotted lanternflies can fly but its not their strong suit. They prefer to jump for short distances and hitchhike otherwise. They cross state lines by laying their eggs on train cars and other vehicles with hard surfaces. Damage to plants arises from the way the adult spotted lanternflies feed they target the sap of the host plant and excrete a byproduct called honeydew, according to the Michigan Invasive Species Program. The honeydew attracts other insects such as yellow jackets, flies and ants. Its also a colonizer for a fungus called sooty mold that grows on honeydew. The fungus can foul surfaces and kill plants in extreme cases, according to state agriculture officials. Itll turn your car black, or your house, Philip said. Itll get so bad in some cases that the leaves get so covered in sooty mold that they cant photosynthesize properly anymore, and they can get sick or even die. While they can be found on any plant, lanternflies strongly prefer the tree of heaven, an invasive species also originating from Asia. That makes tracking and control of the insect slightly easier because infested trees can be treated or removed. The invasive Tree of Heaven is the primary host for spotted lanternfly. First, were going to look for their preferred host, the tree of heaven, because it is so very attractive to the spotted lanternfly, Philip said. If theres a lanternfly infestation, and theres a tree of heaven there, it will almost definitely be on that tree. Wildlife and pest agencies in the Great Lakes region have ramped up control efforts. Wisconsin and Minnesota are the only states in the Great Lakes region without a confirmed presence. Shealyn Paulis reports for Great Lakes Echo. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Michigan residents urged to squish spotted lanternfly Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is concerned President Joe Biden's supplemental request to Congress, which includes humanitarian aid for Gaza, will further fund terrorism in the region. "Even last week, we got a report that Hamas was intersecting aid that was going and whether it is money, food, fuel even first aid kits and medical supplies they're taking it all and it is not even Gazans," Blackburn told Fox News Digital in an interview Friday. "So, we've got to move to a position where humanitarian aid is going to make it to people that are suffering, and not terrorists." Last week, the United Nations agency that delivers aid to Palestinians, announced Hamas leaders in Gaza had stolen medical supplies and fuel that was meant for civilians. They later deleted the post on X and claimed nothing had been stolen. BIDEN ADMIN URGES MAJOR FUNDING INCREASES FOR AID TO UKRAINE, ISRAEL AND GAZA CIVILIANS Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., questions Internal Revenue Service Commisioner Daniel Werfel during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on "The Presidents Fiscal Year 2024 IRS Budget and the IRSs 2023 Filing Season" on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. In Biden's $105 billion emergency supplemental request, he outlined $9 billion for Ukraine, Gaza and Israel. "The majority of the American people support Israel, and they want to make certain that aid is going to make it to people who need that aid," Blackburn said. "You now have this progressive group that conducts themselves as if they are Hamas sympathizers, and that is incredibly disappointing to see." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Blackburn's jab was aimed at progressive "Squad" members like Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar who have called for a ceasefire in Gaza and oppose more funding for Israel's military. SENATE PREPARES FOR BIDEN TO SEND SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST WITH ISRAEL, UKRAINE AID A smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. Blackburn who has been a leading lawmaker in calling on the administration to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets was part of a group of GOP lawmakers who penned a letter to Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. on Friday calling for the supplemental request to be split up in separate packages. WHITE HOUSE NEGOTIATES COMBINED AID TO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE WITH SENATE Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and a bipartisan delegation of Sens. Bill Cassidy, Mitt Romney, Jacky Rosen and Mark Kelly met with Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, pictured above. "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. Furthermore, it would be irresponsible and we should not risk a government shutdown by bundling these priorities together and thus complicating the process and lessening the likelihood of a funding package," the lawmakers wrote. Congress will have to convene next week to begun negotiations on the supplemental request and pass a final package and send it for final approval to the White House. Original article source: Sen. Blackburn concerned over Biden supplemental request to aid Gaza after Hamas reportedly stole aid Several Ukrainian children who were taken from Ukraine to Russia and occupied territories have been brought back home. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentarian Human Rights Commissioner; Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Lubinets said that three children were brought back to Ukraine, and the Office of the President stated that four children were brought back: a 17-year-old girl and three boys aged 6, 3 and 9. "They are already at home with their families. Each of them has their own story. They need to be heard in different countries of the world to have a true understanding of Russia's crimes," Andrii Yermak says. Several Ukrainian children who were taken from Ukraine to Russia and occupied territories have been brought back home Yermak also recounted the stories of the families to which the boys were brought back. The family lived in Kherson Oblast. The child's mother was a soldier who went to defend Ukraine. Her son stayed at home with his grandparents. When Russia occupied part of Kherson Oblast, the mother could not evacuate her son and was taken captive by the Russians. Later, after the woman was freed, she started looking for her son and finally managed to bring the child back to his relatives. The second boy had congenital health problems. He was in an institution in Kherson Oblast, where he was being prepared for surgery at Okhmatdyt, the biggest childrens hospital in Ukraine that is located in Kyiv. Because of the war, his parents evacuated, and the boy ended up under occupation. Together with other children, he was forcibly taken to Crimea. And now, after a long separation, the family is together. Another boy ended up in an orphanage in Bryansk Oblast of Russia. His grandmother was looking for him, and now they are together. Background: The Human Rights Commissioner's Office and the President's Office brought back a boy deported from Ukraine to Russia. Read more on the topic: "Help me." Story of deportation of teenager who managed to return to Ukraine Support UP or become our patron! Shasta County Sheriff's Office logo A man will face numerous charges after he allegedly assaulted a woman during a domestic violence incident at a home in Shingletown and then fired shots near the woman and her friend as they tried to leave that house, according to the Shasta County Sheriffs Office. Deputies received calls from people who heard shots fired at the home, in the 7400 block of Brett Road, sometime before 5:46 p.m. on Oct. 19, according to the Sheriff's Public Information Officer Tim Mapes. The friend told deputies the woman had accused Kenneth Duane Berg, 60, of assault, according to a report issued by Mapes on Friday afternoon. When the friend came to pick up the woman at the Brett Road home, Berg began arguing with them both, the report said. After they left the home, Berg followed them outside and "fired a shot from a firearm," the report said. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. When Sheriff's deputies tried to talk to Berg outside the home on Brett Road, he "challenged" them "to a fight," according to the report. A police dog helped deputies stop and arrest Berg. Deputies took Berg into custody, the report said. When deputies searched Berg's home, the report said they found "numerous firearms... including an assault rifle and high-capacity magazines." First responders took Berg to a local hospital where he was treated for injuries he received during his arrest. Berg will be booked into the Shasta County Jail on charges of corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant; criminal threats of death or great bodily injury; resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer; possession of a large-capacity magazine; and possession of an assault weapon. The California Highway Patrol's Northern Division Air Operations helped with the arrest, the report said. Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Sheriff: man arrested in Shingletown owned numerous firearms Last year, Christina Mackey, then 33, was in her shower performing a breast examination when she felt a gumball sized lump. She underwent a diagnostic mammogram and learned some shocking news. She was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 33. A clinical trail saved her (Courtesy Christina Mackey) The nurse practitioner said, Im so sorry, but you do have cancer, Mackey, 34, of Houston, tells TODAY.com. I blinked once and I said, Whats the plan? Mackey had stage 3 triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of cancer that does not have as many targeted therapies to address it. She was able to participate in a clinical trial for an experimental treatment, an offer that many Black women do not receive. It transformed Mackeys outcome. That trial saved my life, she says. A lump and a diagnosis Mackey was adopted so she is unaware of any family history of breast cancer. But she was mindful of performing self-breast examinations so she would understand when something changed in her breast. One day she sat on a bench in the shower when she felt the lump. At first, she felt stunned by the discovery and didnt do anything. Then her friend called her, and Mackey felt inspired to make an appointment. If it was not for my good friend Shukura I probably would have stayed in my bed until it metastasized, she says. She worked on the back end with someone in her network who was connected to MD Anderson (Center Center). Mackey's first ever mammogram, led to a biopsy that diagnosed her with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. The mom of two daughters, 3 and 6 at the time, felt ready to act. I didnt cry about cancer until I was maybe three chemo treatments in, she says. Mackey met with her care team to understand treatments and thats when she heard about the clinical trial. Immediately, she agreed to participate. I wanted to do anything that would save my life and my oncologist said, We have one big swing at this thing, and this is the best, literally the best bat to use, Mackey recalls. I wasnt scared of the trial. I was just scared of not surviving. While her tumor responded well to the experimental treatment, she also underwent more traditional therapies, including 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and 30 rounds of radiation. I had such a great pathological response that I went in for a lumpectomy and a week out of my lumpectomy, I got a phone call that I was cancer-free, she says. She was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 33. A clinical trail saved her (Courtesy Christina Mackey) Mackey did experience negative side effects from the chemotherapy and struggled to walk at one point. She had developed neuropathy in her spine, which impacted her mobility. Because she had such bad side effects, she stopped chemotherapy early. With some rest, she was able to walk again. Around the same time, her father died, and Mackey grappled with trauma coupled with trauma. But being finished with active treatment felt like a relief. I was so grateful to be done, she says. Ironically, I rang the bell in breast cancer awareness month. I rang it October, 18, 2022. Black women and breast cancer When it comes to breast cancer, Black women are more likely to develop aggressive types of cancer. There are specifically higher rates of what we call the triple negative breast cancers, also the HER2 positives, Dr. Bridget Oppong, a surgical oncologist and deputy director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (who was not involved in Mackey's care) tells TODAY.com. Depending on the studies that you look at, it is three to four times the rate of white women. Triple negative breast cancer, in particular, has a worse prognosis and can be difficult to treat. There are few targeted therapies like there are for estrogen positive breast cancers, she says. The types of cancer Black women have impact whether they survive, but its more complicated than that. Black women overall have 40% higher mortality from breast cancer compared to other American women, Oppong says. As far as the why, we still dont know. One contributing factor may be that black women often have a later stage of breast cancer when theyre diagnosed. Studies do confirm that Black women tend to present with more advanced stages, she says. Historically, Black women do have lower rates of mammography utilization. So, theyre less likely to get mammograms as recommended. But also, Black women are getting breast cancers at a younger age. Younger Black women dont even have the option for their cancers to be seen during routine screening. Treatment options vary too, but its unclear whether patients choose not to undergo mastectomies or receive all the treatment options or if doctors are not offering them. I suspect its a combination of all of the above, but the data is not very clear, Oppong explains. Educating Black women on the benefits of clinical trials Black women also do not participate in clinical trials as much as other women, she adds. There are several reasons for this. Doctors offer participation in clinical trials less frequently to Black women. And, Black women worry about participating in such research as historically the medical system has taken advantage of Black people, such as the Tuskegee syphilis study or in the case of Henrietta Lacks. I spend time to educate patients on clinical trials, Oppong says. Its something that I have them understand that it can be beneficial to allow them to have access to newer drugs. Whats more, Oppong says researchers need to help patients overcome challenges they face in participating in trials. Patients might struggle to find transportation or childcare, for example, making it harder for them to join research. Seventeen years ago, Maimah Karmo found a lump in her breast when she was 31. She had to advocate for herself to receive a proper diagnosis of stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. At the time, doctors dismissed her as being too young to have cancer, but she kept pushing, thanks in part to the support of her mom, who was a nurse. Since then, she started the Tigerlily Foundation to educate and empower women about their health, including highlighting the importance of clinical trials. We are training patients to understand clinical trials at Tigerlily, the CEO and founder of the organization tells TODAY.com. We have people who are going to be supporting patients as clinical trial navigators. Were involved with different industry groups that are pretty relevant and lead trial development. Were taking part in different summits and sessions, and we also partner with biotech companies that get patients involved. Tigerlily launched My Living Legacy, with the support of the pharmaceutical company GSK. It's a program to educate the Black community about the importance of clinical trials. Its about knowing, yes, there is a past. These things happened, Karmo says. How do you now change the future for your family, for yourself and for the generation to come? Karmo says Tigerlily fosters relationships with drug companies to make sure that clinical trials include Black women and the studies also work for the participants and not just the researchers. So, they might ask the researchers what theyre doing to help people overcome barriers to participation. She encourages participants to continue giving feedback after the research is over. When you create (a trial) with the community that youre accountable to theres more responsibility and its more oversight into whats coming out in the final product, she says. She was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 33. A clinical trail saved her (Courtesy Christina Mackey) Helping others Mackey is cancer free, but still has some lingering side effects from cancer treatment, including a damaged pituitary gland, which has led to hypothyroidism, and adrenal cortisol insufficiency. She takes medications to treat both. Throughout cancer treatment, she tried to find something to be grateful for each day. I find gratitude, she says. I refuse to literally let my feet hit the ground without saying thank you for something. As she navigates survivorship, she looked for something to do to help her find meaning, and she found Tigerlily. It aligned with her experience of being an educator and her experience participating in a clinical trial. I was so attracted to the Tigerlily advocacy program because its literally educating women, especially BIPOC women, on what available clinical trials are, disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and how to get support and advocate for yourself, she says. It is life- preserving work. To Mackey, mentoring other women gives her purpose as a cancer survivor. I feel very honored to help empower people to find their voice in their treatment, she says. This article was originally published on TODAY.com TAYLOR BAYOU, Texas A combination of smoke and fog caused a massive 20-vehicle accident on Highway 73 in Texas early Saturday morning, according to storm reports from the National Weather Service. Multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting those trapped after an unknown number of injuries were reported, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies said Saturday morning the highway would remain closed west of Taylor Bayou as law enforcement agencies were on the scene to help the injured. "If you are trapped in your vehicle due to no visibility, please stay in your vehicle and turn on your flashers," deputies warned. "First responders are getting to the injured as quick as they can, so please avoid the area." Both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway were closed for hours from West Port Arthur Road to Labelle Road. Crews were working to reopen lanes around midday Saturday. This is a developing story. FOX Weather will update with more information once it is confirmed. Original article source: Smoke, fog cause massive 20-vehicle wreck on Texas highway (BRF2023) Interview: Belt and Road Forum highlights partner countries' commitment to cooperation, says Thai PM Xinhua) 11:14, October 21, 2023 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government of Saudi Arabia has already ironed out a list of claimants and is processing the wages it committed to shoulder for the 10,000 overseas Filipino workers who were left jobless after their companies went bankrupt in 2015 and 2016. "Napo-process na ngayon 'yun (It is being processed now)," Marcos told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "We are already coming to the point na 'yung detalye na lang ang pinag-uusapan (when only the details will be discussed). 'Yung listahan ng mga claimant ay nalinis na, maayos na (The list of claimants has been ironed out, it's already fixed). And we are just waiting for the details to be worked out between the Saudi side," he added. Marcos, however, emphasized that no other details may be disclosed about the settlement. The chief executive said the timing of the distribution still depends on the internal process of the Middle Eastern country. RELATED: DFA: Settlement of unpaid wages of over 10,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia not expected this year In 2022, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised the settlement of the salaries following a bilateral meeting with Marcos on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok, Thailand. The Saudi government set aside two billion riyals for the unpaid salaries from a number of companies, including Saudi OGer, MMG, the Bin Laden group, and "other construction companies that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016." Leftist commentator Hasan Piker raised more than $1 million for Palestinian medical relief in a matter of days through a Twitch campaign. "I'm incredibly proud of you guys," Piker told his fans as the donations poured in. "It's incredible, it's unimaginable, it is ridiculous. This is where this community thrives." INSIDE THE CHAOS ON CAPITOL HILL AS HUNDREDS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN JEWS ARRESTED: 'A MORAL CATASTROPHE' More than 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers have died since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7. Retaliatory strikes from Israel have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians and injured thousands more, according to the Gaza health ministry. Piker launched the fundraiser about a week ago. Fans raised $180,000 in the first 40 minutes and surpassed $1 million as of Wednesday afternoon. Piker kicked in at least $50,000, according to the Tiltify page. The funds will be split between ANERA, Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, Palestine Red Crescent Society and Medical Aid for Palestinians, according to Piker. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Smoke rises and a ball of fire is seen over buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Oct. 9, 2023. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed and injured in Israel's war against Hamas. DESANTIS BLASTS BIDEN FOR PRIORITIZING GAZA AID THAT WILL BE 'COMMANDEERED' BY HAMAS OVER RESCUING HOSTAGES Piker did not respond to an interview request from Fox News about the fundraiser. A self-described socialist, Piker is one of the most-watched streamers on Twitch. The live-streaming service is often used by gamers, but Piker has amassed millions of followers for his political commentary. He previously contributed to the left-leaning news and commentary outlet The Young Turks, which his uncle co-founded. He has been a vocal critic of the "colonial apartheid" and accuses Israel of imposing on Palestinians. In a recent stream, he unleashed a profanity-laden tirade justifying Hamas' invasion. "If they f---ing subjugated you to a open-air prison your whole f---ing life, you're going to break out eventually when you realize that there is no other way to get out of it," Piker said. "Do you think that this happened out of nowhere? Do you think this happened out of thin air? Are you f---ing stupid? Do you think that the Israeli state was just, like, peacefully co-existing and then these guys came in with f---ing gliders out of nowhere?" Tents are set up for Palestinians seeking refuge along the Gaza Strip on Oct. 20, 2023. OHIO MAN ARRESTED AFTER MAKING ANTISEMITIC SLURS AT JEWISH FAMILY THROUGH DOORBELL CAMERA Thursday, Piker took a dig at President Biden, who announced $100 million in new U.S. funding for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. Speaking in Israel, Biden said the money would help "1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians." In response, Piker posted on X, "damn, we raised a million for palestine, step your game up brandon." Humanitarian funds for Palestinians have been a hot-button issue for years, with critics arguing aid will fall into the hands of Hamas. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP State Department officials previously warned that sending U.S. aid to the Gaza Strip could risk benefiting terrorist groups, while also arguing that such a trade-off is necessary for national security. "We assess there is a high risk Hamas could potentially derive indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza," the State Department wrote in a March 2021 draft sanctions exemption request obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. It is unclear if the warning made it into the final request. On one of his hours-long livestreams, Piker acknowledged the "great difficulty in getting money into Gaza for obvious reasons" and said the four charities he selected are "heavily scrutinized." Original article source: Socialist Twitch star Hasan Piker raises $1 million for Palestinian aid With a photo of Emmisha S. featured nearby, Imani Townsell looks at a photo of her best friend at the "Poetic Justice: Voices From the Inside" exhibit at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center in Oklahoma City. A furnished dollhouse with an accompanying poem called "Mind Palace" and a photo of a smiling woman with a huge afro were displayed, along with a painting of a boxer whose gloves glowed with the words "strong," "worthy" and "fierce." The gallery was full of striking artwork and poetry, but Lexi Weber, of Oklahoma City, was particularly captivated by a photo of a blonde woman with her palms outstretched toward the camera. Weber, 22, stared at the image of her mother, Brooke S., before reading her mom's poem titled "Evolution" during the friends and family tour of "Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside" exhibit. On display through Nov. 30 at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center, the exhibit features self portraits, artwork, poetry and photos of 21 women incarcerated at Oklahoma prisons. A panel discussion is set for Nov. 9 at the art center. "My mom has always been a writer, but this is the first time I actually got to read anything she wrote, other than one other time," Weber said. Ellen Stackable, Poetic Justice founder and executive director, heard similar remarks from other visitors during the friends and family sneak peak of the new exhibit. The way attendees seemed to gain inspiration and insight from the mixed media displays was just one bonus from the Poetic Justice nonprofit program she founded in 2014. The Tulsa resident said she started the program after tagging along with a friend in charge of a spoken word project for women incarcerated at the Tulsa County jail. As an English teacher, Stackable said she knew the power of the written word. She thought the women might benefit from writing so she began Poetic Justice by offering creative arts and restorative writing programs to women at the Tulsa jail. Ellen Stackable, founder of Oklahoma-based Poetic Justice, talks with visitors at the "Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside" exhibit at the Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26, on the Oklahoma City University campus. "To be disconnected from someone who is incarcerated is hard," Weber said. "This doesn't solve that, by any means, but it helps a lot." The program became popular as more and more women began asking to join in. Poetic Justice programs are offered at five correctional facilities, as well as prisons in California, Oregon and Tijuana, Mexico. Poetic Justice leaders said more than 4,000 incarcerated women have been through the program with the help of more than 600 volunteers. Stackable has won many awards for Poetic Justice, including being named a CNN Hero in 2018. Through Poetic Justice, participants often find meaningful ways to process trauma and confront feelings of worthlessness and despair to find hope and a sense of worth. Poetic Justice leaders said the women also discover a talent for writing and art along the way. In addition to their writing and art, Stackable said the new exhibit at OCU features something new for Poetic Justice participants their photographs. She and photographer Lisa Loftus thought it would be great to get photos of the women in informal settings because many of them don't have any recent photos of themselves beyond the photos taken when they entered the criminal justice system. People view portraits, poetry and art of incarcerated Oklahoma women on display at the "Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside" exhibit at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center in Oklahoma City. 'It was cathartic' Lisa Black, a former inmate and current Poetic Justice board member, said she was introduced to the nonprofit program when it first began at an Oklahoma women's prison. With a chuckle, she said she was an "OG," part of the "original crew at Mabel Bassett." "It was cathartic," Black said. "It helped me deal with some of the things that I hadn't dealt with, and it was just a place where I felt safe a safe space." Black said things didn't start out so positive, but Stackable and Poetic Justice won over the first Mabel Bassett participants because the Tulsan was a woman of her word. Lisa Black, a former inmate and current Poetic Justice board member, views artwork and poetry featured at the "Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside" exhibit at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26. "When it first came in, we didn't trust it. Really, we have a lot of people that come in and say, 'I'm going to be here and here and here. I'm going to do this for you' and it doesn't happen," Black said. "The first thing we noticed is she was true to everything said. Ellen Stackable was honest, and we found out really quick we could trust her." The women also found that being able to express themselves through writing and art work gave them a sense of freedom even though they were behind bars. "I think the way it works is because they are able to work through the past harm through writing, creativity and art," Black said. "This is an outlet one of the only outlets that we have inside corrections." Black said her Poetic Justice poetry and artwork helped her stay connected to her two children while she was incarcerated for eight and a half years. She was released from prison in August 2022, and she's using the love of writing that was nurtured through Poetic Justice to write a book for children whose mothers are incarcerated. 'Something sacred happened' Cyndi Lamb, 71, didn't know what to expect when she became a volunteer writing partner for inmates at the now defunct Kate Barnard Correctional Center. "When I came out, I remember walking down the steps and saying to the group (of volunteers), 'Something sacred happened in there today,' she said. "I was blown away the talent they had." She said Stackable had talked to the volunteers about treating the inmates simply as women and that is what she has done for the past eight years working with the program. Cyndi Lamb, Poetic Justice volunteer distance-learning writing partner, attends the "Poetic Justice" Voices on the Inside" exhibit at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center in Oklahoma City. "She says 'Let's just go in and be fellow human beings. Don't criticize, don't judge, don't interrupt when people are talking just common human courtesies," Lamb said. "It was such a learning experience for me, and they were most grateful." For Weber, Poetic Justice deserves praise because it gives her mother and other inmates a way to express themselves in a world where many of them have faced similar challenging life circumstances. "I just think it's absolutely beautiful that these girls get to share their stories because, in my opinion, they don't belong in the spot they're in they need help." Stackable said she stresses to volunteers that there is no hierarchy in Poetic Justice, and one of the reasons for this is that many of the incarcerated women have high levels of childhood trauma and have spent their lives at the bottom of every hierarchy. Portraits, poetry and art of incarcerated Oklahoma women are displayed at the "Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside" exhibit at Oklahoma City University's Norick Art Center. "So, I think we have to be so deliberate," she said "Everything we do when we walk in, from the moment we walk in says, 'You are a person of worth, you matter, your life matters, your words matter.'" Poetic Justice: Voices on the Inside When : panel discussion, 6 p.m. Nov. 9.; exhibit open through Nov. 30. Where : Oklahoma City University Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26. Cost : Free. Information: To learn more about Poetic Justice, the Voices on the Inside panel discussion and exhibit, go to http://www.poeticjustice.org. To volunteer as a distance learning writing partner or an in-person class volunteer, go to https://www.poeticjustice.org/volunteer. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's incarcerated women find freedom in 'Poetic Justice' art Kyrylo Budanov , Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has explained that he has taken part in the fighting to encourage Ukrainian soldiers. Source: Budanov in an interview with journalist Dmytro Komarov Quote from Budanov: "Sometimes it's necessary (to participate in battles ed.). We are all human beings. And sometimes everybody feels scared. Sometimes I find ways to do it (to encourage the soldiers ed.)." Details: Budanov was asked whether the risk of losing the head of intelligence during the fighting was justified, and he described the question as "purely rhetorical". Quote from Budanov: "If it gives a positive result, it means it was the correct thing to do. If there is no positive result, then it was a mistake. The winners are not judged." Background: Budanov participated in a special operation to liberate the village of Ruska Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast in late April 2022. Support UP or become our patron! Sorry, New York City. The best bagels are north of the border. Montreal and New York City are both known for their bagels. I've lived in New York since 2021, and have eaten plenty. I also recently tried them in Montreal. I found Montreal's sweet, dense bagels to be better than New York City's large, doughy ones. Since moving to New York City in 2021, I've learned that the city takes its bagels very seriously. I've had my fair share of New York's large, chewy bagels in the past two years. I'm not a huge breakfast sandwich fan; I typically opt for a cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese. Even though I can understand the appeal of New York's bagels there's even an annual festival dedicated to the food I've never much cared for them myself. But on a trip to Montreal this spring, I found that I'm not anti-bagel; I'm just not into New York's bagels, specifically. Montreal has its famous take on the food, and I much prefer its version to New York's an opinion that's not exactly popular among foodies. The Great Montreal-New York Bagel debate has been going on for years. In 2011, Anthony Bourdain made his allegiance clear in an interview with Delish when he said he prefers New York's bagels. Bethenny Frankel, a former " Real Housewives of New York " star, gave Montreal's bagels a "thumbs up," but ultimately said New York's bagels reign supreme. Still, I'd take a Montreal bagel over a New York bagel any day. Here's why. I liked that Montreal's bagels were light and sweet even without cream cheese A cinnamon raison bagel from St-Viateur Bagel in Montreal. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider There are a few key differences between Montreal's and New York's bagels. For starters, Montreal's bagels are smaller and thinner, with a larger hole in the center. They're also baked in a wood-fired oven, whereas New York's bagels go in a conventional oven, according to Delish. Then there's the matter of toppings. When I got my first Montreal bagel from St-Viateur Bagel, one of the city's most popular shops, I was surprised that it didn't have cream cheese on it. In New York, you typically have your pick of several different cream cheese flavors. My tour guide, who took me to different restaurants around Montreal's Mile End neighborhood, told me they're typically eaten without cream cheese because they're sweet enough without it. That's because the bagels are boiled in honey water, which gives them a lightly sweet taste whereas New York-style bagels are boiled in plain water. Fresh bagels being made at St-Viateur Bagel, one of the stops on the food tour. Jordan Parker Erb/Insider While you can buy a small container of cream cheese to dip your bagel in, I opted against it, keeping with Montreal tradition by ordering a plain sesame seed bagel. It was certainly sweeter than a typical New York bagel, and as someone with a sweet tooth, I'd much rather choose a sweet sesame seed bagel. I returned to St-Viateur the next day and got my go-to cinnamon raisin bagel. That time, I picked up a small side of cream cheese, which I spread over the bagel myself. I found that with or without cream cheese, I loved the density and sweetness of Montreal's bagels and to me, it spoke volumes that they were tasty enough to eat without toppings. Read the original article on Insider SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol left for Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to discuss business cooperation as well as to discuss security conditions amid the crisis in the Middle East, his office said. Yoon, in what would be the first state visit by a South Korean leader, will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, and will travel to Qatar on Oct. 24-25 for a summit and to attend a business forum. The state visit takes place roughly a year after the Saudi crown prince visited South Korea and discussed cooperation in the areas of energy, defence and infrastructure construction, signing investment pacts worth $30 billion with Korean firms. Business leaders accompanying President Yoon include Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair E.S. Chung and the heads of Hanwha, GS, and HD Hyundai conglomerates, according to Yoon's office. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) CHICAGO - A 23-year-old man was gunned down Friday afternoon on Chicago's South Side. Around 3:53 p.m., police say the male victim was in the 2200 block of E. 68th St. when he was shot in the chest. Police pronounced him dead at the scene. Nobody was reported in custody. The investigation is ongoing. BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Border Report) A delegation from the Chicago mayors office visited this South Texas border city on Friday to get tips on how to deal with the migrant surge that is plaguing the Windy City. Chicago delegation tours Texas border to view federal disaster first-hand Several members, including a deputy mayor who is in charge of immigration issues, visited with Brownsville city officials, as well as nonprofit volunteers who assist asylum-seekers who are legally released by the Department of Homeland Security after crossing into the United States. The director of a nonprofit who met with them said afterwards she thinks the visit was helpful to them. A delegation from the Chicago mayors office, including a deputy mayor, visited Brownsville, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023, to learn more about how to handle an influx of migrants in the Windy City. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) The Chicago delegation came to really see what the operation looks like here in Brownsville. I think, you know, it is very different challenges. Of course, migrants arriving in Chicago are there for long-term shelter versus here were just a quick stop. So I think their challenges are very different. But it was, I believe, very helpful for them to see the operation that happens here, and the steps that we take so we can help them move onward, Astrid Dominguez, executive director of the nonprofit Good Neighbor Settlement House, told Border Report after their morning meeting. The delegation visited the Welcome Center, which is run by the nonprofits Good Neighbor and Team Brownsville, which offer migrants food, snacks, toiletries and travel information. A migrant family enters the Welcome Center in Brownsville, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) The Welcome Center is currently receiving 300 to 500 asylum-seekers per day, Dominguez said. Thats down from the 1,000-plus migrants who received help daily in the weeks leading up to the lifting of Title 42 in May. Most of the migrants crossing here from Mexico are Venezuelans. On Friday, Border Report saw several busloads of adult men being dropped off at the Border Patrol processing facility and then walking across the street to the Welcome Center. When they left, they had bags in their hands loaded with free goodies, and some had new shoes and clothes. Many were shaking their hands in the air and yelling out the towns to which they were heading. Venezuelan migrant Jesus Manuel Recelvado, 30, was headed to Los Angeles after being legally released by federal officials in Brownsville, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2023. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) Jesus Manuel Recelvado, 30, is heading to Los Angeles. He and a buddy were taking a bus but were waiting for a fellow Venezuelan friend to be processed and released. He says it took them over a month to get to Brownsville and he said they were extorted by the drug cartel in Mexico and forced to pay thousands of dollars to cross the Rio Grande. In Spanish, he repeatedly said how grateful to God and the folks of South Texas for helping here in this new country. Its an opportunity I dont take lightly. And I want to immigrate correctly. I want to do everything right and legally, he told Border Report. Reynosa city councilwoman admits to smuggling cocaine He says he has family in Los Angeles who are waiting for him, and he hopes to get a construction job there, when he is allowed to work. City of Brownsville Emergency Management Administrator Rene Tabarez Jr., says every migrant who boards a state bus headed to Chicago is checked out prior, and the city makes calls and ensures that every migrant has a relative or support network there. City of Brownsville Emergency Management Administrator Rene Tabarez Jr. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) We vet those individuals. Its a process that we do to make sure theyre not going to any other shelters, theyre not going to any police stations anywhere you have designated as a shelter. The last thing we want is for them to go there. We want to make sure theyre going to a sponsor or going somewhere or if they might be going to a surrounding city around there that theyre going to have someone thats going to facilitate that process for them right, Tabarez told Border Report. A couple miles away, dozens of charter buses were holed up in the parking lot of a motel, waiting to be filled with migrants heading to Chicago and other cities. Over 16,500 migrants have been bused to Chicago from the Texas border in the past 14 months through the states Operation Lone Star border security initiative, Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office said Friday. Other cities migrants have been sent to include: Over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022. Over 21,100 migrants to New York City since August 2022. Over 3,200 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022. Over 4,600 migrants to Denver since May 18. Over 1,000 migrants to Los Angeles since June 14. But New York and Chicago have struggled to house the migrants. Migrants are sleeping outside on concrete sidewalks in Chicago, on police station floors and in an airport, according to reports. And as colder weather sets in, city officials are worried what will happen to them if they dont find safe and warm housing Thats why the mayoral delegation toured the Texas border this week, starting in El Paso and visiting San Antonio before working their way to this Gulf Coast city across from Matamoros, Mexico. Migrant men are dropped off by law enforcement at a Border Patrol processing center in downtown Brownsville, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2023. The City of Brownsville assists state and federal officials to help asylum-seekers who are legally released to find travel, and ensure they have housing and support. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report Photos) Three aldermen had been on the trip but returned to Chicago before making it to Brownsville, were told, after reports of an incident involving another alderperson and an unruly crowd angry over the migrant situation. Dominguez said after meeting with city officials she feels for their predicament and thats why its so important that migrants are fully aware and prepared to go to these cities. Astrid Dominguez is executive director of the nonprofit Good Neighbor Settlement House, which helps to run the Welcome Center in Brownsville, Texas, for migrants. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) Its education for us and for migrants, right? she said. Right now people are sleeping on the streets. You go just because you heard theres housing that might not be the case, right? So make sure you have a sponsor. And if youre going there that you really have a place to stay. She said her organization is always looking for volunteers to help at the Welcome Center along with Team Brownsville volunteers. They also need supplies and donations to continue passing out items to those headed elsewhere. More information can be found on the Good Neighbor Settlement House website; as well as the Team Brownsville website. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. IRVINE, Calif. - Following the FDA's newly released guidance regarding the blood donor screening process, Southern California Blood Bank welcomes newly eligible donors, including gay and bisexual men, as of Friday, Oct. 20. Earlier this year, the FDA stated that the blood donor screening process must be the same for every prospective donor, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Now, donors must be screened with a questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors, rather than a blanket screening only for sexual orientation or gender. "Southern California Blood Bank has always prioritized the safety of our blood supply, and this change will surely contribute to an even more robust inventory for patients locally and throughout the country," said CEO Doug Morton. "Our systems are now updated, and we are excited to welcome new donors into our family." The new policy mirrors those adopted in both Canada and the UK. It is a major step forward in the ongoing work of increasing the number of available donors, according to officials. LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 23: The Red Cross and L.A. Care Health Plan hold a blood drive in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. The Red Cross is experiencing a shortage of blood donations during the pandemic as blood drives have been canceled. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) RELATED: The U.S. and many other countries began blocking blood donations from gay and bisexual men during the early 1980s AIDS epidemic; an aim to prevent the spread of HIV through the blood supply. In 2015, the FDA replaced the lifetime ban with a one-year abstinence requirement. But in 2020, the FDA shortened the abstinence period to three months, after donations plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic. For decades, gay rights organizations have long opposed these blanket restrictions on blood donations, saying that such screening procedures discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. Officials confirmed that there has not been a negative impact on the blood supply as a result of these changes. Spirit Airlines announced on Friday that it canceled around 100 flights in order to complete inspections, and the disruption could last several days. The budget airline gave little information on why or how the planes would be inspected, but said in a statement that they were necessary out of an abundance of caution. Weve cancelled a portion of our scheduled flights to perform a necessary inspection of a small section of 25 of our aircraft, the Florida-based airline said in a statement. 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. As of Oct. 1, the airline said it had 202 planes. Top Stories from The Hill Spirit canceled 98 flights Friday making up only 11 percent of the scheduled flights for the day according to FlightAwares tracking website. Most were at Floridas Orlando International Airport. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to take care of affected Guests, their statement said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was aware of Spirits decision and will ensure that the matter is addressed before the airplanes are returned to service, the Associated Press reported. Spirit has canceled more than 3,600 flights this year, according to the AP. People with scheduled flights should monitor their email and the companys website and app before heading to the airport, the airline advised. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Spirit Airlines is dealing with day two of flight cancellations across the country. Saturday at the Orlando International Airport, more than a dozen departure flights were canceled. There were 33 arrival and departure Spirit flights canceled throughout the day. But travelers must have checked their flight status before heading to the airport Saturday because lines were short and not many people were standing around dealing with the headache. Saturday morning, the Jared family was traveling home to Indianapolis after a 9-day cruise out of Port Canaveral and were on the lucky side of the travel woes. They were not facing a cancellation. Read: Necessary inspection: Spirit cancels multiple Orlando flights, impacts could last several days Not that were aware of, Kerry Jared, an OIA traveler, said. I just told my son to go check. We havent received any sort of notification or anything. Jared tells us the family has had issues with Spirit Airlines in the past, but that wasnt the case for their flight home. I hope were all good, Jared said. So far so good today. Video: Necessary inspection: Spirit cancels multiple Orlando flights, impacts could last several days It was a different story at OIA Friday. Nearly two dozen Spirit departure flights were canceled. Spirit told Eyewitness News the cancellations resulted from a necessary inspection of 25 planes. Read: Orlandos Pride festival expects record-breaking crowds despite controversies against drag shows Spirit said the cancellations were out of an abundance of caution but indicated that customers could see more of them in the days ahead. If you have a Spirit flight booked soon, the airline recommends you check your email or their website before heading to the airport. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. (CNN) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nearly a month ago, with one member traveling overseas, the Springfield school board was split on adding "gender identity and sexual orientation" to the anti-discrimination policy regarding school lunches. The 3-3 vote meant policy AC which prohibits illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation remained the way it has been since its last revision in August 2021. Board president Danielle Kincaid, who recently returned from Nepal, said the proposed policy change will be back on the agenda for the Tuesday meeting. "All seven of us are elected officials. We all have an equal voice," she said. "Something as important as this, I think we all deserve a vote. That is why it is going back on the agenda." The change was required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for districts that participate in the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. Fourth graders go through the lunch line at Fremont Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. It was not immediately clear if rejecting the required changes means the district is out of compliance with the USDA and at risk of losing the more than $7 million in Title I funds it receives annually, an amount generated based on its free and reduced-price meal rate. In early October, more than 53% of SPS students qualified for free or reduced price meals. Kelly Byrne, Steve Makoski and Maryam Mohammadkhani voted against the update in September. Judy Brunner, Scott Crise and Shurita Thomas-Tate voted for the update. Kincaid, speaking as a board member not the president, said she was "surprised" by the final tally. "We have to follow the federal rules, federal law, if we're going to be receiving federal funds so it was unexpected," she said. "If that is what the federal government is requiring in order for us to receive millions of dollars in nutrition aid for our students, it seems like a no-brainer that we would add that in there in order to receive those federal funds. We are talking about food for our students." Kindergarteners and fourth graders go through the lunch line at Fremont Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. The USDA is the first governmental agency to require that the "gender identity and sexual orientation" language be added to non-discrimination polices. Several board members, including Kincaid, said it is unlikely to be the last. A year ago, Republican attorneys general from more than 20 states including Missouri filed a lawsuit to try and block the USDA and administration of President Joe Biden from requiring that language. The existing policy prohibits discrimination on the "basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA." At the September meeting, Mohammadkhani said the current definition of "sex" includes gender identity and sexual orientation. More: Facing opposition, MO school board will not adopt social-emotional learning standards Three months ago, Thomas-Tate called for the board to issue a statement of support for LGBTQ students and staff a largely symbolic gesture that advocates had requested in meetings for nearly a year but the motion failed to get a second. Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS board to revisit school lunch anti-discrimination policy Tuesday The St. Johns County School District is looking for your help to get more students to school, as theyre looking to hire bus drivers during ongoing district shortages. On Saturday, the district held a hiring event in St. Augustine which aimed to raise awareness to open positions, while also giving those interested practice behind the wheel before applying. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< We do this anytime of the year. This is our event to raise awareness. And we tried to get as many people here as possible, said Phil Rizzo, Assistant Director of Transportation for St. Johns County Schools. And these are very sophisticated electronics on the bus to make them safe and easy to drive I like to say try it before you apply it. This all comes during ongoing bus driver shortages across Northeast Florida, with St. Johns County having issues of its own finding new drivers. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] I would say the difference in 2023 has been the application flow has been a little slower than what weve seen in the past couple of years, Rizzo told Action News Jax at Saturdays event. I dont know if thats due to the housing slowing down in the county as far as people moving here. Obviously, [Action News Jax] report[s] on cost of living and things. So theres a lot of things that influence why people would apply. Now, the district is looking to fix that issue of applications beyond just Saturdays hands-on hiring event. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Call our number off the posters or the banners at the schools or the number. Its [904]-547-8814, added Rizzo. 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. This article was originally published in Virginia Mercury. Child care is unaffordable for the majority of Virginia families with young children and nearly all low-income families with young children, a study by the states legislative watchdog found. According to the report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, child care is unaffordable for 85% of Virginia families with infants, 82% of families with toddlers and 74% of families with preschoolers. Those percentages are even higher among low-income Virginians, with child care being unaffordable for 98% of families with infants, 98% of families with toddlers and 97% of families with preschoolers. Tell us what you think about The 74. Take our survey. Infants are generally defined as children ages 0 to 15 months, with toddlers ages 16 to 23 months and preschoolers ages 2 to 4 years. Recent literature indicates that without child care, parents are often forced to reduce their work hours, take lower-level or lower-paying jobs or drop out of the workforce altogether, said Stefanie Papps, a JLARC staffer who led the study, during a presentation Monday. Although this can be a significant barrier to self-sufficiency for lower-income families, lack of affordable child care can be a significant barrier to employment for any family. Child care affordability in Virginia. (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission) In arriving at those figures, JLARC relied on the federal governments definition that child care is unaffordable if it costs more than 7% of household income. In some areas of the country, including the Northeast and South, child care can be a familys largest household expense more expensive than even their rent or mortgage, the commission wrote. Statewide, researchers found Virginia families spend $100 to $440 per week, per child on care, with the highest expenses found in Northern Virginia. Care is generally most expensive when children are youngest, both because parents tend to be younger and earning less pay and because required staffing ratios at licensed facilities are higher for younger children, who need more intensive care and supervision. Annual incomes need to be approximately 13 to 38 percent higher to afford care for infants and toddlers in child care centers, depending on the region of the state, JLARC wrote. These incomes would be necessary to afford care for one child; higher incomes would be needed to afford care for more than one child. Percentage of median income Virginians spend on child care. (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission) The situation could worsen. Pandemic-era expansions to a federal child care subsidy program expired this Sept. 30, and an additional $15 billion in child care grants to states that target low-income families is set to end Sept. 30, 2024. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, has previously warned the end of the expanded subsidies could cause 80,000 children in the commonwealth to lose their child care slots, in line with estimates by the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank. JLARC on Monday put the figure at 25,000 children. The commission concluded it would cost the state almost $320 million annually to extend all of the pandemic-era expansions. Theres a significant gap between available funding and funding thats needed to continue to meet family demand for child care, said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, during Mondays meeting. So it falls to the General Assembly to meet this demand. Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach and chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said lawmakers knew it wasnt going to last and noted that Virginias Democratic Sens. Kaine and Mark Warner understand this is a problem. Theyre the ones who kind of put a mandate on the state of Virginia, because they, Congress, gave us this money to help us in a time when we needed help, he said. Sometimes its hard to fund the problem and pull the plug on it. In an Oct. 10 letter in response to JLARCs findings, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services John Littel wrote that the impending drop in child care subsidy funding should receive a disproportionate share of attention. Littel further said it was imperative that Virginia analyze the full ecosystem of child care programming and facilitate a more extensive dialogue around solutions that address the full spectrum of cost-driving factors. This review must include reducing regulatory burdens that impede flexibility and fostering discussions about private sector innovation to build sustainable capacity, he wrote. Additionally, increasing home-based care options and expanding opportunities provided by houses of worship and other community partners will be critical to expanding choices for families. While JLARC found that regulations do influence child care costs, it concluded that most of Virginias regulations appear appropriate. On Monday, Papps said that staffing ratios the number of children a child care worker is allowed to oversee are the most significant regulation impacting costs. However, when compared to staffing ratios in other states, Virginias ratios were relatively similar to ratios in other states, she said. Currently, Virginia requires licensed providers to have one staff member for every four infants, every five toddlers or every eight to 10 preschoolers. Amendments to the state budget temporarily relaxed those ratios for centers that participate in the federal subsidy program through June 30, 2024 in an effort to help with staffing shortages. A JLARC survey of child care providers found that most do not believe that regulations seem too stringent or not stringent enough. Just one-third of providers reported at least some regulations are too stringent, the commission wrote. Further, most child care providers and other relevant stakeholders interviewed reported that the states regulations seem appropriate to maintain childrens health and safety, and the staffing ratios create manageable working conditions. However, the commission noted that Virginias background check requirements are stricter than those in other states and federal guidance, and that materials included in required staff training arent always relevant. Papps pointed to staffing challenges as the root of the child care access and affordability issue. Child care workers are generally earning relatively low wages wages that would put many of these workers below the self-sufficiency standard, she said. JLARC found that on average, lead teachers in child care centers earned $16 per hour in fall 2022, while assistants earned $13 per hour. Higher compensation leads to more staff, increasing the availability of care but increasing the cost and decreasing the affordability of care, Papps said. Lower compensation decreases operating costs, lowering the cost of care paid by parents, but can lead to staffing shortages that limit providers capacity. Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Spotsylvania, called the situation a catch-22. In order to have more availability, youre going to have to increase the cost, ergo making it less affordable, he said. So yalls recommendation is: Good luck. Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter. Is Utah bat crazy? It turns out that this species, along with others, helps us and keeps some creepy critters away. | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources A new survey shows that Utah is not the friendliest state for bats, but its not the worst. With Halloween just around the corner, here is a look at these mysterious mammals that are simultaneously scary and important to the ecosystem. Pest Gnome has published a ranking of the best and worst states for bats. Utah sits close to the middle at 29. The organization took into consideration the number of bat species in a state as well as the protective practices, public interest, responsiveness by wildlife agencies and other factors in coming up with the rankings. Kim Hersey, mammal conservation manager with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said it is a love and hate relationship with bats because people do not understand how important they are. There are numerous ways to learn more about them. There are even bat watching parties hosted by the agency. Bats can carry rabies, but they kill tons of insects. They fly silently and can take up roost in places like schools and homes. People can be pretty freaked out by bats. You know? Theyre active at night. Theyre so fast. And seemingly disappear during the day, Hersey said. And, you know, they just sort of give people the heebie jeebies. I like to think thats changing as people learn more about what amazing and important animals they are. Bats live around us, but are not aggressive. They just want to eat the insects that bite us and carry on with their journey. They are also play an important roll in pollinating trees and flowers. Here is what you should know about bats in Utah: The Mexican free tailed bats hang out in the millions in caves in Texas. They summer in Utah and move around. You will often find them in old concrete buildings like schools. Bats are a protected species. Dont shoot them or try to kill them. That will get you in trouble with state and federal officials. According to the U.S. Forest Service, a nursing mamma bat can consume 4,000 insects in an hour. Another interesting tidbit about bats? They hang upside down to conserve energy. Utah has a variety of ways to learn about bats. Check out this website for more information. Almost five years after Lubbock County voters overwhelmingly supported a proposal to build a large exposition center in the county, project organizers are continuing to ask for the public's patience and money as they work to make the Lubbock County Expo Center a reality. The project was spurred by a 2018 voter-approved increase to the county's hotel/motel and short-term rental car taxes and has yet to officially break ground five years later, although some work has been done at the site. As a public-private partnership, a steering committee was formed to oversee private fundraising efforts. Randy Jordan, chair of that committee, said Tuesday that although the committee has secured several substantial contributions, $17 million are still needed to fully fund the project. "We're getting closer to our fundraising goals, but folks, we've still got a lot of work to do," Jordan said. Renderings released Tuesday show what the future Lubbock County Expo Center is expected to look like once complete. Renderings released Tuesday show what the future Lubbock County Expo Center is expected to look like once complete. Jordan said the tax revenue toward the project is now projected to be around $40 million, with about $30 million already raised on the private side. The cost of the project has ballooned from the originally estimated $50 million to $87 million. Lubbock County voters OKed the ballot item in November 2018 to use hotel/motel tax to fund an Expo Center to replace the now-razed Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. At the time, that was estimated to raise upward of $30 million, with the private steering committee responsible for raising funds to cover the rest, according to Avalanche-Journal reports from the time. At least three businesses have made significant contributions to the Expo Center so far, though the committee has not released the details of those sponsorship deals. The Helen Jones Foundation committed $10 million to the project in 2022 and Jordan said the committee received another "substantial" foundation contribution last week, though he declined to name the foundation or reveal the amount of the donation. More: Terry County Tractor sponsors Expo Center Jordan said architectural and construction plans for the facility are already completed, but construction on the 500,000-square-foot center at North Loop 289 and University Avenue will not begin until the committee is confident they have the funding to complete it. "The county nor our board is going to break ground until we know that we've got the funding in place to be able to do that, to be able to support that budget," Jordan said. Some work has been done at the site to date. Workers dug an elevator pit earlier this year to prevent the City of Lubbock construction permit from expiring in mid-May. The steering committee released final renderings and a virtual tour of the Expo Center Tuesday, and Jordan stressed that while little has been done at the 133-acre site so far, progress continues slowly. "It's a challenge, not a roadblock," Jordan said. "What we've had to do is pray every day that God would give us the wisdom and the knowledge to be able to find that pathway so that we can get there." This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 years later, Lubbock County Expo Center still needs $17M for project A severe flood warning meaning a "danger to life" has been issued for villages on the banks of two rivers. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issued the severe warning for Llandrinio in Powys where the Severn and Vyrnwy meet. Storm Babet caused flooding on Friday in parts of mid and north Wales, and disruption continues with several roads still closed. NRW's severe flood warning advises people to "stay in a safe place with a means of escape". It covers the village of Llandrinio, as well as isolated properties in the Severn-Vyrnwy confluence area including Hendre Lane, Haughton and Haimwood. There are also seven flood warnings and 14 alerts in place elsewhere in Wales on Saturday. Flooding near Boat House Farm campsite in Llandrinio, Powys Flood waters left three ewes stranded on a farm in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Conwy, where a sheep dog swam to the rescue. Llandrinio councillor Lucy Roberts told BBC Wales she had been out to check on flooding on Saturday morning and it was "not as bad as previous years". "There is some water coming over the flood defence, but I don't think any properties are at risk at this stage," she said. "The community is quite resilient and deal with the flooding amazing well." Ioan Williams, from NRW, said it could take a day for water from upper catchment areas to reach flood plains. "We've heard already of people being stranded in their cars," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. "So just be really careful when you are out and about." He said the situation was improving in some place but NRW still had "concerns" in communities around the River Dee and River Severn. Farmer Llyr Jones said his sheepdog Patsy dove into flooded fields to rescue part of his flock. "She had no fear", he said, adding she had earned herself an extra biscuit for her efforts. Elsewhere, a second red "danger to life" weather alert in a week has taken effect in eastern parts of Scotland, with torrential rain and high winds forecast across parts of the UK. In Wales, a Met Office weather warning for rain was lifted on Saturday morning. The River Clwyd remained high at Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, on Saturday morning Transport for Wales warned passengers to check before travelling on the Wales and Borders network with "disruption expected to continue". Avanti West Coast services are unable to run between Crewe and Holyhead. Some cancellations on Great Western Railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway due to flooding are affecting journeys to south Wales. People had to be evacuated from flooded homes and many schools were forced to close, 52 in Flintshire alone. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there had been more than 60 flood reports. Some were in Flintshire, in places like Mold, and in Denbighshire towns including Denbigh, Prestatyn, St Asaph and Rhyl. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the floods kept staff "extremely busy" on Friday. Bronwen Hughes, head teacher at Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold, told Radio Wales Breakfast it had to close due to the severity of Friday's flooding. "It was wasn't an easy decision but the waters were rising," she said. The traffic and travel agency Inrix reported the main Wrexham to Mold road remained closed due to flooding on the A541 at Pontblyddyn on Saturday. The A5 was also closed between Llangollen and Froncysyllte. Fishing boats were left stranded or about to sink in the town of Rodvig (Nils Meilvang) Deadly Storm Babet unleashed extensive flooding and damaged towns in Denmark and Norway into Saturday, while continuing to sweep across the UK. Three people died in Scotland and England and families were trapped in flooded homes on Friday as the storm battered Britain and Ireland. A woman also died in northern Germany on Friday evening after a falling tree landed on her car, the fire department said. As the storm made landfall in Scandinavia, it triggered a sharp rise in water levels in towns in southern Denmark, flooding the first floor of homes which were left without power for several hours. Water levels in several Danish towns exceeded their normal height by more than two metres (seven feet), levels normally only reached once every hundred years, according to Denmark's DMI weather service. "We are having to clear large quantities of water from the towns, especially in southern Jutland," Martin Vendelbo of the Danish Emergency Management Agency told the Ritzau news agency. Fishing boats were left stranded or about to sink in the port town of Rodvig, according to photos from Danish media. In southern Norway, up to 20,000 residents were without power early Saturday after strong winds blew roofs off buildings and downed trees and power masts, but the Norwegian news agency NTB said the situation was improving. - 'Danger to life' - The storm continued to wreak havoc in the UK, with London's King's Cross station forced to close on Saturday afternoon to prevent passengers massing on platforms after the cancellation or delay of numerous trains. Network Rail said on X, formerly Twitter, that London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which runs services between London and the north-east of England and Scotland, was still severely disrupted due to the storm. Leeds Bradford airport in northern England, which was closed on Friday after a passenger plane skidded off the runway in strong winds, reopened late Saturday morning. The UK's Environment Agency has issued three severe flood warnings posing "a danger to life" in the area around the River Derwent in the city of Derby, central England. Flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, Katharine Smith, said "ongoing flooding is probable on some larger rivers including the Severn, Ouse and Trent through to Tuesday." Interviewed on BBC One on Saturday morning, Labour MP Toby Perkins said that around 400 homes in his constituency of Chesterfield in central England had been flooded, and that many people now had "no idea where they're going to be living from now". Scotland was left reeling after two people died in the county of Angus, with First Minister Humza Yousaf warning on X for people to exercise caution in light of a red severe weather warning in the coastal county and parts of Aberdeenshire. Germany's Baltic Sea coast was also battered by strong winds and rain which triggered flooding and the evacuation of around 2,000 people, according to the emergency services in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The highest water levels were recorded around midnight on Friday in the northern town of Flensburg, reaching almost 2.3 metres above normal -- a level unseen for almost 120 years. The situation appeared to be improving throughout Saturday. ef-cla/acc/gw Pavement slabs affected by the storm during the night on the beach promenade in Sassnitz, Germany, Saturday Oct. 21, 2023. A storm continued to batter Britain, northern Germany and southern Scandinavia early Saturday with powerful winds, heavy rain and storm surges that caused floods, power outages, evacuations, traffic disruptions. (Georg Moritz/dpa via AP) COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) A storm battered Britain, northern Germany and southern Scandinavia early Saturday, for a third day, with powerful winds, heavy rain and storm surges that caused floods, power outages, evacuations and disrupted flights, railway service and ferry lines. Since Thursday, at least four people have died in the storm, named Babet by the UK Meteorological Office. The latest victim was a 33-year-old woman who was killed when a tree fell on her car on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn on Friday afternoon, German news agency dpa reported. Three storm-related deaths were reported in England and Scotland on Thursday and Friday. Gale-force winds whipped up storm surges on the southern shores of the Baltic Sea, breaking through flood defenses in coastal areas in Denmark and northern Germany. In Flensburg, a German city just south of the border with Denmark, water levels rose more than 2 meters to the highest level recorded in a century, dpa said. Power was cut to flooded parts of the city for safety reasons. Ferry lines and railway service were temporarily suspended in affected areas in Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden. Copenhagens airport canceled 142 flights due to the storm on Friday but resumed operations on Saturday morning. People were evacuated from homes and campgrounds in severely hit areas in Denmark and dozens of people were without power. The municipality of Haderslev in southern Denmark decided to evacuate the entire coastline. The situation on the coast is now so serious that it is too dangerous to stay there. All affected areas are evacuated and the emergency response is pulling out its crews, the municipality said in a Facebook post late Friday. It wasn't immediately clear how many people were affected. The Danish Meteorological Institute warned of strong winds and elevated water levels throughout the weekend. In Scotland, as much as 4 inches (100 mm) of rain was forecast Saturday, and several towns remained under a red weather alert, the highest level, which means there is a danger to life. Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said parts of eastern and northern Scotland had already had a month and a halfs worth of rain during the storm, with more downpours coming that could push those areas close towards two months of rain in the span of three days. In the worst-hit town of Brechin, residents of more than 300 homes were told to leave before the River South Esk breached its banks Friday, surging almost 4 meters (13 feet) above its usual level and sending water pouring into the streets. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency warned a second major river, the Don, could breach on Saturday. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said, unfortunately, it is clear we have not seen the last of this storm. The storm brought disruption across the U.K., with several main roads and rail lines shut by flooding. Leeds-Bradford Airport in northern England remained closed Saturday. Irish entrepreneur and Web Summit co-founder Paddy Cosgrave photographed at Web Summit Rio 2023 on May 1, 2023 (MAURO PIMENTEL) The organiser of the Web Summit, one of the tech sector's leading events, announced his resignation Saturday following a backlash over his online posts following the Hamas attacks on Israel. "Unfortunately, my personal comments have become a distraction from the event," Paddy Cosgrave of Ireland explained in a brief statement sent to AFP. "I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused," added the co-founder of the tech mega gathering created in 2009 in Dublin but held in Lisbon since 2016. A spokesperson for the organisation said: "Web Summit will appoint a new CEO as soon as possible, and Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon will go ahead as planned." This year's edition from November 13 to 16, is set to bring together some 2,300 startups and more than 70,000 participants, say organisers. Several companies, including tech giants Google and Meta, which is behind Facebook and Instagram, as well as event headliners have announced they are boycotting the gathering since Cosgrave's remarks. He had written on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments" in support of Israel. "War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are," he wrote on October 13. Since shock Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, which left 1,400 dead, Israel has launched devastating air and ground bombardments of Gaza. The Hamas authorities say 4,385 people have died. The boycott by Meta and Google followed other exits by companies and tech figures, including Intel, Siemens and US comedian Amy Poehler and X-Files actor Gillian Anderson. cst/gw/jj (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was hoping his AI summit next month would bring heads of the most powerful nations face-to-face with executives to guard against the technologys catastrophic potential. With less than two weeks to go, the guest list is thin on world leaders. Most Read from Bloomberg German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join US President Joe Biden in skipping the Nov. 1-2 gathering at Bletchley Park, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because plans arent finalized. With French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese premier Fumio Kishida yet to decide that makes Italian premier Giorgia Meloni the sole Group of Seven leader other than the host to sign up so far. Although theres still time for late additions, a lack of top state leaders dents the profile of the event as Britain works to forge an international approach to artificial intelligence. Sunak is trying to position the UK at the forefront of development and regulation of a technology that hes said could be paradigm-shifting while at the same time posing risks that require guardrails. Even so, nations are making progress on a joint approach on AI Britains main objective for holding the summit. A draft communique seen by Bloomberg this week shows delegates homing in on language to describe the technology as capable of causing catastrophic harm. The document also outlines particular concerns for AIs impact on cyber-security and biotechnology. Officials aim to hammer out final wording by Oct. 25. Despite the absentees, all invited nations are sending senior representatives, according to the people. US Vice President Kamala Harris and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo are slated to attend, and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will send delegates in his place. Canada is sending Industry minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Germany will be represented by Digital Minister Volker Wissing. International representation will vary by country, the British government said in a statement. As is entirely normal for summits of this nature, we do not confirm attendees this far in advance but we are confident the right people will be there. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been due to attend, but that now looks unlikely due to the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, the people said. European Union President Ursula von der Leyens attendance is now also in doubt due to the conflict. Some 100 people from 28 nations are expected to attend the summit, which will feature companies and industry experts on Nov. 1, hosted by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, and a small group of major companies and governments convened by Sunak the following day. This summit is about Sunak appearing as a world leader and the UK setting the agenda, so it does matter who turns up, said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. It will be in the meetings with the US and EU where global approaches to AI will be taken. The UK is simply not a big enough market to have the global clout to make these kinds of decisions on its own. Altman, Clegg Sunak also hopes to welcome a slew of senior Big Tech executives. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and Adobe Inc. CEO Shantanu Narayen have been invited but neither has confirmed attendance. Microsoft Corp.s Brad Smith is likely to attend. Former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, now president of global affairs at Meta Platforms Inc., and James Manyika and Demis Hassabis, from Alphabet Inc.s Google and DeepMind Technologies Ltd., are also expected to join, people familiar with the matter said. Anthropics Dario Amodei, Inflection AIs Mustafa Suleyman and Coheres Aidan Gomez all confirmed their attendance. It feels like a real moment for me personally and just for our field to have these issues taken seriously and get everybody around the table, Suleyman, who grew up in Britain but now lives in Silicon Valley, said in an interview. Britain aims for further inter-governmental and technology summits to be held twice a year to allow regulation to keep pace with developments. A draft document accompanying the communique sets out proposals to assemble an expert panel of academics from different countries to compile an annual state of the science report on AI safety. Deepfakes Delegates are expected to discuss risks to cyber-security, biotechnology and election disruption. Members of the British Cabinet told Bloomberg privately that they are concerned so-called deepfake AI could be used during national elections expected next year. Securing agreement at the summit is an ambitious target for Sunak, with competing views from around the world. One senior minister expressed concerns US technology companies might lean on Biden to limit regulation to light-touch measures to avoid scuppering the potential to create future trillion-dollar AI businesses. While the US has been supportive of Britains efforts, the minister said, its prepared to let the UK navigate the tricky task of bringing nations together. By contrast, another senior British minister predicted China would push for stronger state regulation of AI, in line with their philosophy for control of critical national infrastructure. In the past theres been this adversarial relationship between the industry and regulators, and today its got to be a much more joint effort working together from day one, Suleyman said. --With assistance from Brian Platt, Michael Nienaber, Alberto Nardelli, Thomas Seal, Jillian Deutsch, Isabel Reynolds, Chiara Albanese, Ania Nussbaum, Rachel Metz and Mackenzie Hawkins. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (CNN) 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. 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, sparking a humanitarian crisis. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 3,785 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. President Joe Biden said he is overjoyed that the two US 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. Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans, he said. 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. 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 US President Joe 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. 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. Humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens An Israeli blockade of food, water, fuel and electricity is going to kill many, many people in Gaza, a senior aid official warned Friday, as Israels siege and bombardment of the enclave approached the two-week mark. Relentless airstrikes have killed at least 3,785 Palestinians, including 1,524 children, 1,000 women and 120 elderly people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Almost 12,500 have been injured and there are growing fears that millions of Palestinians could be permanently displaced. 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. Amnesty International has said Israels collective punishment of Palestinian civilians for Hamas attack amounts to a war crime. Meanwhile, 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. Deputy United Nations spokesperson Farhan Haq said Friday that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants sustained delivery operations to Gaza. Haq said the Secretary-General wants to make sure that UNRWA, the relief and works agency, has fuel on its side so it can distribute humanitarian aid to the population. It is no use dropping off aid on the other side and then leaving it there because the trucks simply do not have enough fuel on that side to give it to the people who need it, he added. 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. 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. The developing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the House GOPs attempts to pick a third Speaker candidate will likely take the spotlight in Sunday news shows this weekend. Israel has increased its continuous bombardment of Gaza in recent days amid preparations for an expected ground invasion of the enclave. The conflict escalated earlier this month following a Hamas surprise attack that killed over 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. Responding airstrikes have killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, including more than 1,700 children, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry. President Biden visited Israel on Wednesday to reiterate U.S. support for the country amid the conflict. Biden also announced a $100 million humanitarian aid deal for Gaza civilians, which has become a critical concern among international aid groups as the territory lacks power, fuel and food supplies. Secretary of State Antony Blinken , who will headline NBCs Meet the Press and CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, was in Israel on Monday, just before Bidens visit. We unequivocally condemn the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, Blinken said at the outset of the conflict. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be on ABCs This Week. In response to the Hamas attacks, the U.S. mobilized military assets in the region including moving a carrier group near Israel last week. The first humanitarian aid convoy entered Gaza on Saturday morning, after days of negotiations between Israel, the U.S. and Egypt. Israel has bombed Gazas only border crossing with Egypt, preventing aid from entering the territory. Humanitarian group leaders have described the situation in Gaza as dire, with hospitals lacking medical supplies, water and power. Over a million people in Gaza, about half of the territorys population, have been displaced in the conflict so far. In fact, Gaza is being strangled and it seems the world right now has lost its humanity, said Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the East on Monday. If we look at the issue of water, we all know water is life. Gaza is running out of water and Gaza is running out of life. Soon, I believe, with this there will be no food or medicine either, continued Lazzarini, who will be on Face the Nation on Sunday. But aid leaders have also said the convoys entering Gaza now arent enough. The situation is catastrophic in Gaza, the head of the U.N.s World Food Program, 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. McCain will be on This Week. Biden unveiled a sweeping $100 billion budget request on Friday, including $14 billion in aid for Israel. That package also included supplements for the war effort in Ukraine, defense for Taiwan and border security. But that package faces hurdles to get through Congress, where the House remains without a Speaker. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who will appear on Face the Nation and Fox News Sunday said this week that hes open to passing the deal. Above and beyond the demands of our work on full-year appropriations, a number of serious challenges to the U.S. national security require the Senates urgent attention, McConnell said in a statement on Friday. The moment demands American leadership, which will require the Senates decisive action, he said. After reviewing the presidents request, we must produce our own supplemental legislation that meets the demonstrated needs of our national security. In the House, Republicans will meet Monday evening to pick another Speaker-designee after the previous two Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to garner 217 votes of support. Jordan failed three votes in the previous week, with 25 Republicans voting against him in the third and final attempt Friday. After that vote, Jordan lost a closed-door secret ballot officially ending his candidacy. Nine congressmen have launched campaigns for the Speakership or have signaled they may, creating a chaotic field a job which has laid vacant for nearly three weeks. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will feature on Meet the Press. He gave Jordans nominating speech before the Friday vote, but later said the GOP caucus is in a very bad place with no clear leading candidate for the job. Prominent Jordan critic former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) will appear on both Face the Nation and State of the Union on Sunday. She predicted that Jordans candidacy would fail before the first vote. If Rs nominate Jordan to be Speaker, they will be abandoning the Constitution. Theyll lose the House majority and theyll deserve to, Cheney wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last week. The deadlocked Congress has led Democrats to call on moderate Republicans to work with them on a bipartisan leadership agreement. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) signaled that such an agreement may be necessary in an interview last week before Jordans votes. I think Jim Jordan will be an excellent Speaker. I think hell be able to get to 217. If not, we have other leaders in the House, he said. And certainly, if there is a need if the radical, you know, almost just handful of people in the Republican side, make it unable to be able to return to general work on the House, then I think obviously, there will be a deal [that] will have to be done. Turner will be back on the Sunday shows this week, appearing on State of the Union. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), who also faced a fractured GOP caucus while he was in office in the 1990s, will be on Fox News Sunday. A pair of 2024 GOP presidential candidates will also feature on the Sunday shows, with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) taking on This Week and former Vice President Mike Pence on Meet the Press. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.); Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas); Cindy McCain, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program. NBCs Meet the Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); former Vice President Mike Pence. CBS Face the Nation Blinken; Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.); Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. CNNs State of the Union Cheney; Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). Fox News Sunday McConnell; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga). Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence; Retired U.S. Army Gen. Anthony Tata. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HOUSTON - A 35-year manhunt for a suspected rapist is now over. FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV! The U.S. Marshals Service in the Southern District of Texas arrested 62-year-old Ismael Guerra Osorio on October 16. Guerra Osorio had been wanted in California since 1988 for multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, and lewd and lascivious acts with a child. He was taken into custody at a mechanic shop in Kemah, Texas, where he was working as a mechanic. Driver who killed Dickinson HS senior in hit-and-run shocks victim's mom in court Huntington Park (California) police obtained an arrest warrant in February 1996 for Guerra Osorio for lewd and lascivious acts with a child after it was learned he had assaulted his underage stepdaughter for nearly four years. Detectives also learned that Guerra Osorio was wanted for a 1988 forcible rape in Los Angeles County. After the Huntington Park Police, working with the USMS in Central District of California, developed information that Guerra Osorio was possibly living in Houston under an assumed name, a collateral lead was sent on October 6 to the USMS in the Southern District of Texas to locate and apprehend him. USMS investigators in Houston developed information that Guerra Osorio was working as a mechanic in a shop in Galveston County and contacted the Galveston Division, which sent task force officers to the Kemah shop to arrest Guerra Osario. Galveston County man who escaped to Minnesota, sentenced for roommates murder The task force members located Guerra Osario working in an inspection bay of the mechanic shop and arrested him without incident. He was booked into the Galveston County jail for processing on the warrants. The Huntington Park PD was notified of the arrest. Authorities wrapped up their search in the Williamsport area shortly after noon Sunday for Pedro Argote, the suspect in the murder of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson, according to a Facebook post by the county sheriff's office. "No further information indicates that Argote is still in the immediate area," the post states. Authorities were searching a former tannery site and other vacant properties near Williamsport after Argote's Mercedes SUV was found in a remote area north of town late Saturday morning. County Sheriff Brian Albert said the silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 was found on the property of the former GST AutoLeather tannery, also formerly known as Byron Leather. Tactical units were seen searching a vacant facility on Clear Spring Road, also known as Md. 68, shortly before Albert spoke at a 5 p.m. news conference Saturday. Frederick County Sheriff's SWAT Team members prepare to search a vacant building at the former Garden State Tannery plant near Williamsport on Saturday after murder suspect Pedro Argote's SUV was found in the area. Argote is the suspect in the murder of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Frederick County Sheriff's SWAT Team members check vacant buildings Saturday at the former Garden State Tannery near Williamsport for Pedro Argote, the suspect in the killing of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Albert said the tannery and other vacant structures in the region, including some on the former Cushwa Brick site, were being cleared methodically in the hunt for Pedro Manuel Argote, 49, of Frederick, Md. Authorities said Argote shot and killed Wilkinson in the judge's driveway north of Hagerstown on Thursday night. Albert, who on Friday noted Argote had a permit to carry a firearm, is considered armed and dangerous. However, Albert added that he did not feel the community was at risk. "We're going to catch this guy," Albert said during Saturday's news conference at Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. "It's just a matter of time." 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. 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. 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. Anyone with information about Argote, 49, is asked to notify law enforcement immediately, Albert said. C&O Canal towpath reopens Sunday afternoon The Washington County Sheriff's Office had asked people on Saturday to avoid the search area, which included the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath, River Bottom Park, Bottom Road and nearby. The National Park Service, late Saturday morning, closed the towpath from the Cushwa Basin in Williamsport west to Dam No. 5. That stretch of the towpath was reopened around noon Sunday, according to the park service's website. Sgt. Carly Hose said Saturday that people in the area should have situational awareness and call 911 if they see something suspicious. "We just want our community to be vigilant," she said, adding it was unrealistic to shut the whole area down. Officers with the Frederick County Sheriff's Department SWAT Team search for suspect Pedro Argote at the former Garden State Tannery plant northwest of Williamsport on Saturday. Argote is the suspect in the killing of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Argote's Mercedes was found in a wooded area off Bottom Road. Bottom Road is northwest of Williamsport, along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and Potomac River before turning north to Clear Spring Road (Md. 68). Bottom Road is about 10.5 miles southwest of Olde Waterford Road where the judge was shot outside his home. The U.S. Marshal's Service, which is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to Argote's capture, said that Argote "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." Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert holds a press conference at a Byron Memorial Park pavilion in Williamsport on Saturday after authorities found fugitive Pedro Argote's SUV near the town. Argote is the suspect in the killing of Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson on Oct. 19, 2023. Asked Saturday, Albert said it was possible that Argote was no longer in the area, giving the proximity of the towpath and railroads. But authorities were not taking any chances and were securing the area, he said. The sheriff's office was getting assistance from Hagerstown Police Department, Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Maryland Natural Resources Police, National Park Service, and the U.S Marshals Service's Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. Suspect's vehicle found near Williamsport The Mercedes SUV that authorities believe Argote was driving was found by a property owner in the area around 11 a.m. Saturday. Albert noted that it is muzzle-loader deer hunting season, though he was unsure if the property owner was hunting when he discovered the vehicle. It was not immediately clear how long the vehicle had been parked in the area, Albert said. Authorities did a preliminary "safety search" of the vehicle and had obtained a search warrant. However, as of the news 5 p.m. conference, they had not done a more detailed search of the vehicle. Asked why the delay in searching the vehicle further, Albert said the vehicle was in an active search zone. A mockup of a silver Mercedes SUV authorities have been looking for in the search of fugitive Pedro Argote, a suspect in the murder of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. "We want to make sure we have an ironclad case so we can bring him to justice," Albert said in regards to obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle. Once they enter the vehicle, police will pull the Mercedes' computer and other evidence, he said. More about murder of Maryland judge: Reward offered for info leading to man wanted in shooting of Washington County judge What do police believe led to the shooting? Wilkinson on Thursday issued a ruling in Argote's divorce case that Argote could have no contact with his children or wife. Albert said Friday that Argote was not at the hearing in person on Thursday. Wilkinson was found shot around 8 p.m. in the driveway of his home on Olde Waterford Road, which is off Long Meadow Road north of Hagerstown. He was taken to Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown where he was later pronounced dead. Albert said at the Friday 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. Asked about Argote's wife and children Saturday, Albert said they were under protection. "Theyre well protected, he said. Background: Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson dies in fatal shooting: Updates This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Pedro Argote's Mercedes found; suspect in judge's murder still missing A Teaneck man is facing vehicular homicide charges after two passengers in his car died when he veered off Teaneck Road early Saturday morning and crashed into a tree. Teddy Mejia, 32, is expected to appear before a state Superior Court Judge on Friday, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said on Monday. Mejia was arrested on Saturday morning following an investigation under the direction of Chief Jason Love and Teaneck Police Chief Andrew McGurr, Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement over the weekend. Musella said police responded at 2:08 a.m. after a report of a single motor vehicle crash on Teaneck Road near Bilton Street and discovered Mejia and two unidentified male passengers in the wreckage of a 2021 BMW M850i. The passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names were withheld pending notification of their families. The scene where two people were reportedly killed after a vehicle crashed into a tree on Teaneck Road near Hamilton Road in Teaneck, NJ around 2:45 a.m. on October 21, 2023. Mejia was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment. He also was placed under arrest, suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. A search conducted during his arrest revealed he possessed a controlled dangerous substance, Musella said. After the overnight investigation, Mejia was charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide while in violation of driving while intoxicated, and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He also received summonses for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain a lane. The scene where two people were reportedly killed after a vehicle crashed into a tree on Teaneck Road near Hamilton Road in Teaneck, NJ around 2:45 a.m. on October 21, 2023. Musella's statement described him as a restaurateur. Mejia was served with his charges at the hospital and will be remanded after release to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Teaneck NJ driver charged with homicide after passengers die in crash Hudson Reynolds had a summer adventure that few can compete with. The 16-year-old climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It took six days to reach the summit. At some times, Reynolds was climbing in near-freezing temperatures. It was all for a good cause, though: Reynolds was climbing to raise awareness and research money for PKU, a rare disease that affects just 16,000 Americans. One of those affected people is Reynolds' older sister Tia. "What (Tia has had) to go through her whole life just doesn't compare to climbing Kilimanjaro, no matter how hard it was," Reynolds said. Reynolds' climb raised $200,000 dollars to battle PKU, which makes food protein toxic to the brain. Tia Reynolds told CBS News that she was "inspired" watching her brother climb the mountain in her name. Battling the disease is a family affair. The children's mother skied across Norway to raise money. Their grandfather biked across America, and their grandmother skied the North and South Poles. These efforts have raised millions which led to a medical breakthrough: A daily shot that can manage PKU. However, it's an expensive medication that isn't always covered by insurance. The family is still working to do more to treat PKU. The next mountain Reynolds hopes they climb is the one that leads to a cure. "I love that we are working on this together," Tia Reynolds said. 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 MEMPHIS, Tenn. Police say a drug team responding to a drug complaint at a strip mall in Fox Meadows found a teen with an illegal device used to turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon. MPD said Kenyatta Walker, 18, was arrested late Thursday night in the 3100 block of Mendenhall after detectives found a handgun with a gold Glock switch on the end of it inside his vehicle. MPD: Officers recover part that turns handguns into machine guns A Glock switch, about the size of a nickel, is also called a machine gun conversion device. It fits right into a Glock handgun, allowing the weapon to fire off an entire magazine in just seconds. In July, Members of the ATF, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the DAs Office, the Memphis Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriffs said the Glock switches are being used by more criminals in Memphis and rural West Tennessee and making the streets even more dangerous Glock switches used by more criminals in Memphis, West Tennessee The various law enforcement agencies gathered at the SCSO Training Academy for a demonstration. We are making this a priority. These Glock switches are highly dangerous, and they are highly illegal, said Kevin Ritz, U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Tennessee. In May, the U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee announced convictions and sentencings for 26 people found in possession of these devices. According to the ATF, the number of guns with switches seized has increased more than five times, from about 300 in 2020 to 1,500 in 2021. Police said the gun they found in Walkers car had a serial number too damaged to be immediately visible. Walker is also charged with the alteration of serial numbers. He is scheduled to go before a judge on Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of central London on Saturday afternoon to show their support for Palestinians caught up in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. Demonstrators sang pro-Palestine songs and waved placards calling for an end to Israels bombing of Gaza in response to Hamass terror attack earlier this month. Some of those present sang from the river to sea, Palestine will be free a chant that Jewish community leaders have described as antisemitic. Those who defend the slogan describe it as a long-standing protest chant that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people. Others called for an end to Israels occupation of territories in the West Bank, holding signs saying Freedom for Palestine. People were also heard singing Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go, and 5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state. Ahead of the protest, James Cleverly , the foreign secretary, reiterated the UKs support of Israels right to defend itself. He also called on Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and urged the countrys defence forces to act with discipline in its response to the Hamas attack. (AFP/Getty) He warned that failure to show restraint could spark wider instability in the Middle East at a time of heightened political tensions around the globe. The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on 7 October, he told an international peace summit in Cairo, Egypt. And we are also clear that we must work, and they must work, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. His comments came as the first of a convoy of aid was finally allowed into besieged Gaza through the border with Egypt, known as the Rafah crossing. The frontier was opened on Saturday morning to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians running short of food, medicine and water in the territory. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days before heading into Gaza, but only a handful have so far been let through. On the Gaza side of the border, hundreds of foreign passport holders have been trying to leave the besieged territory. Protesters in central London (AFP/Getty) Back in London, the Metropolitan Police said that, as of 2pm, up to 100,000 people had joined the protest, which was organised by the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held a separate demonstration in central London on Saturday calling for Muslim armies to rescue the people of Palestine. The group of around 100 people stood on Balfour Mews, just off the street from the path of the main protest. Speakers addressed the crowd in Arabic. A large banner read Muslim armies, rescue the people of Palestine. The number of dead in Gaza rose to 4,385 on Saturday, with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated two weeks ago, the Palestinian health ministry said. The dead included 1,756 children and 976 women. Stream FOX 35 News: SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. - A Texas woman was arrested for two DUIs in two consecutive days during her drive to West Palm Beach this week, according to officials. Mery Lefler was arrested and charged with DUI in Escambia County on Monday, followed by a second DUI charge in Sumter County on Tuesday, according to an arrest report from Florida Highway Patrol. Lefler told officials she was on her way to West Palm Beach. On Tuesday, the 55-year-old woman from Sherman, Texas, was passing through Bushnell when she was stopped by a trooper, the arrest report said. Lefler allegedly almost crashed into the trooper and his patrol car, the report added. The trooper conducted a traffic stop on Interstate-75 around 1:40 p.m., which revealed several BOLOs were active for the car as it continued to swerve down the highway, the arrest report said. Mary Lefler was arrested in Sumter County on Tuesday, Oct. 17. (Photo: Sumter County Sheriffs Office) There was an odor of alcohol coming from Lefler's mouth, and the trooper said he noticed she had constricted pupils and spoke with slurred speech, the report continued. The trooper conducted several field sobriety tests and ultimately arrested Lefler for driving under the influence. On the arrest report, the trooper noted that Lefler was arrested in Escambia County for a DUI the morning before her arrest in Sumter County. Mary Lefler was arrested in Escambia County on Monday, Oct. 16. (Photo: Escambia County Sheriffs Office) MORE CRIME NEWS : FOX 35 News has requested Lefler's affidavit from Escambia County. At least since the publication of Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics," belief in conspiracy theories has been seen as an aberrational, fringe phenomenon. But what if is isn't? A 2014 study by Eric Oliver and Thomas Wood of the University of Chicago found that half of the American public consistently endorses at least one conspiracy theory. So such belief isn't just found on the fringe. Now a new paper by a team at the University of Antwerp, led by Sander Van de Cruys, argues that its not so aberrational either. The motto of the conspiracist, Do your own research, may seem ludicrous to scientists, they write. But a close look at the information-seeking process itself finds that its not fundamentally different from what scientists themselves do in making discoveries especially when it comes to the importance of aha moments. This isnt to say theres no flawed thinking involved in embracing conspiracy theory but flawed thinking is itself normal among human beings, including scientists. So the question isnt whether conspiracy theorists thinking is sound, but rather to what extent it isn't, and how it differ from the thinking of people who dont embrace conspiracy theories. This entire approach offers some good news by opening the door to better and more open-minded ways of engaging with conspiracy theories and their followers. To learn more about this paper which is titled Insight in the conspiracists mind I interviewed Van de Cruys, a postdoctoral researcher at the Antwerp Social Lab. Our email exchange has been edited for clarity and length. The conventional view is that conspiracy theories and those who embrace them are aberrational. Your paper argues that they're not, and offers a specific model for why. But first you go into some of the problems with that conventional view that recent research has brought to light. What are those problems? The key problem is both moral and scientific. These "aberrational accounts" paint a picture of some humans (those with conspiracy theories) that is not supported by psychological science, namely that they are mere passive recipients of whatever (mis)information they are bombarded with. The metaphor of (mis)information as viruses in an infodemic reinforces this view of passive, gullible people who are powerless against "infection" by "contagious" misinformation. The epidemiological analysis of the spread of misinformation that flows from this and the efforts to come up with "misinformation vaccines" (so-called prebunking) are not without value. But psychologically speaking, it is a simplification that hampers us in understanding unusual beliefs that people actively (re)construct, and that generally hang together in networks of beliefs (like conspiracy theories) rather than being built from a pile of isolated, debunkable pieces of misinformation. The immediate impetus was that I talked to and read about conspiracy believers who were smarter than conventional theories, which presented conspiracists as flawed cognitive beings, made it look. Their search for alternative answers is genuine, and is born from the fact that their experiences are excluded from official knowledge-gathering in society. One could say they are very empiricist in this: They conclude that bedrock facts are denied by policy makers and intellectual elites. It is easy to ridicule the theories they come up with to explain this denial, but what drives them is this curious discrepancy and the sense of insight that comes from discovering subjectively plausible patterns behind it. So the moral problem that flows from the aberrational view is that it reinforces the sense of exclusion that is at the very root of people's autonomic search for alternative answers in conspiracy theories. You write that "The motto of the conspiracist, 'Do your own research,' may seem ludicrous to scientists." But your paper explores "the information-seeking activities ('research') that conspiracists do engage in," focusing on the role of "aha" moments specifically. So what are "aha" moments? If the "viral" social transfer view of how people adopt misbeliefs is incomplete, we wondered: What other model do we have of how beliefs are formed? The classical competing view is that of normative reason, namely that we adopt beliefs when they are justified and true. But this is equally implausible psychologically. What this view does right is to acknowledge that humans are epistemic agents, meaning they actively search for information and construct their own mental models of the world. But we are limited creatures, limited in our experiences, in what we can do to explore the world and in the resources we use to build our models of the world. There is no way we can live up to the tall order, or indeed afford the luxury, of only forming justified, true beliefs. We'd all be dead before we could make the fully resolved judgments and actions. So while ultimate-ground truth is unavailable for us mortals, we do have experiences that guide us in our search toward uncovering the structure of our world. We have curiosity that urges us to actively seek out particular pieces of information, and such epistemic quests are often marked by "aha" experiences, when we suddenly get an insight that "clicks" together pieces of already existing beliefs and new information. When this happens, beliefs seem to be reinforced and they take on new confidence, as empirical research on "aha" experiences shows. Can you give me an example of how that works? In the lab, we create "aha" experiences in by presenting people with a puzzle, usually visual (think of the Dalmatian dog hidden figure) or verbal, for example: "Breakfast was excellent because the thread was sticky." These puzzles create uncertainty, leading to an active search for a solution. Eventually, people will suddenly discover a restructuring of the input that provides a satisfying explanation for the puzzle and resolves the uncertainty experienced (they see the Dalmatian, or they understand that spiderweb is the key concept to "reorganize" the puzzle sentence above). In the best cases, this comes with an intense positive feeling, and a sense of truth that cannot be unseen: The Dalmatian will be one's experience now, rather than the disorganized black-and-white patches one experienced before finding the solution. Why are "aha" moments" epistemically important? Both the seeking out of information, experienced as curiosity and the "aha" experience are limited by our particular mental models and the evidence we can gather, so they are not foolproof. The "aha" experience will depend on a so-called top-down hypothesis one has learned and can apply to the perceptual inputs. If I have experienced Dalmatian dogs before, I will be more likely to get to the solution in those distorted images. Even though they are often reliable indicators of actual states of affairs, they remain subjective. False insights are possible and can be elicited in the lab as well. We all, scientists included, know those instances of an "aha" experience that later turned out to be wrong. These may be rare, precisely because it is pretty hard to backtrack once you've had this sense that you have a clear picture of the situation. "Aha" experiences feel like a distinct endpoint. One could say that science is characterized not by more frequent insight experiences, but by counterintuitively taking "aha" experiences as starting points rather than endpoints. So why are "aha" moments useful in helping us understanding conspiracist thinking as normal or at least as normal-ish? Because this shows that part of what drives the scientist and the conspiracy builder is the same. It is not that the conspiracy believer "falls for" a conspiracy theory, while the rest of us (notably scientists) "discover" our beliefs through insights and evidence. We both discover our beliefs. We usually reserve the word "discovery" for tech breakthroughs or Nobel Prize-worthy scientific work. But especially for infovores like ourselves, who need to explore and get insight in the structure of our world, before we can get what we need (whether that is food, social status, sex or something else entirely), the sense of discovery or insight is as vital as those other biological needs. If conspiracists are driven by insights, theyre not so strange. Or as I like to put it: Scientists are not so strange. They are far from the only ones with a need for epistemic agency and discovery. This is all based on the underlying theory of the Bayesian brain, which says that were all proto-scientists, continually trying to capture and predict the structure of our environment, but with a strong bias towards our pre-existing models. Our "aha" experiences are the only thing we can rely on in our individual quests for knowledge. They are metacognitive signs that our model-building is going well, that we have succeeded in resolving uncertainty about the world using our own thinking and actions. So the normal cycle is to experience curiosity when we come across uncertainty we feel can be resolved (as in the puzzles described above), to forage new information, search our models when this happens and, when we are lucky, to find cognitive closure or uncertainty-reduction in the insight experience, when we manage to restructure our impressions of the world. The models that conspiracy thinkers start out with will differ from other people's models, but within this thinking-frame particular information-seeking and restructuring can lead to "aha" experiences, meaning that they suddenly reduce uncertainty relative to a prior state of uncertainty. You note that "aha" moments "have properties that can be exploited by conspiracy theories, such as the potential for false but seemingly grounded conclusions." What are some examples of how those moments can lead us astray? We already mentioned that "aha" experiences do not necessarily imply complete truth, but empirical research shows that they come with a confidence-boost for that content. Interestingly, recent research suggests this can carry over to co-occurring content. They used sentences like "ithlium is the lightest of all metals," where the anagram was used to create an "aha" experience. People subsequently tend to judge the whole statement as more accurate when they experience an "aha" for it, even though the "aha" is strictly unrelated to the truth of the sentence. We also mentioned that "aha" experiences provide a sense of clarity or understanding that works as an endpoint in one's information search. They have what philosopher C. Thi Nguyen has called a thought-terminating effect. They mark the moment when uncertainty is resolved, relieving you from the need for further thinking, such as trying another hypothesis or collecting additional information. Another interesting property is that an "aha" experience depends on something the individual has inferred or generated themselves. I might have told you that there is a Dalmatian dog in the image, but you have to reconstruct it yourself to really experience the "aha." We know from experimental psychology that people remember things better when they have contributed to it or generated it themselves, and also value such things more. It creates ownership of ideas, and that is of course important in conspiracy beliefs as well. The "aha" experience also projects into the world what was clearly a construction of your own mind. You might say the Dalmatian is the truth of the image, because the image is created from an actual distorted photograph of a Dalmatian but the image wasn't sufficient evidence of that until you constructed the Dalmatian. We see that people sometimes, with great confidence, will discover things in these kinds of images that are not there, in the sense that they weren't in the photograph that the image is derived from. All these properties help explain the "stickiness" of conspiracy beliefs that are formed by insight experiences. How do conspiracy theories and those who spread them exploit this? Anytime conspiracy believers use questions, partial cues or "mysteries," like the Q-drops we see in QAnon, to recruit people instead of mere statements of "fact," they rely on people's curiosity and invite people to do their own searching for "truth," collecting clues and generating the "plot" behind them. These challenges present information in a subtle, non-directive way that does not feel patronizing or manipulative (compare this to the "fact checks" that are often used, with limited effect, to debunk conspiracy theories). These tactics arent specific to conspiracy theories: As a student, I was encouraged to generate questions myself which had the central pieces of information as part of the to-be-constructed answers, instead of making summaries or regular notes. Knowledge acquisition is (re)constructive in this way, so it is no wonder that conspiracy circles have also evolved to use these techniques for reliable belief change. Conspiracy theorists seem to go a step further, however, by prepackaging the insight (or answer) into the question. The prototypical form is the internet meme, often used in modern conspiracy milieus. They often rely on some kind of expectation-violation that attracts attention (curiosity) it poses a question, but also has a pre-engineered resolution, a conclusion to be drawn by the meme consumer. It requires a cognitive contribution, albeit with minimal effort, from this consumer. So an idea is planted, but the individual does most of the planting themselves. We can only truly convince ourselves. While the phenomenon of the "aha" moment is relatively easy to grasp, you write that "At the core of our account is the role of epistemic arcs to explain the pull of conspiracy thinking," and that's a less obvious concept. So what is an epistemic arc? The epistemic arc is a concept we use to emphasize that "aha" moments don't stand on their own, but start with a level of curiosity which creates the urge to act and seek more information to reduce uncertainty, which in turn can result in an "aha" experience, understood as a sudden, unexpected resolution of uncertainty. This is rooted in computational, mechanistic theories of what causes curiosity and "aha" experiences on the subpersonal level, that are the subject of active empirical study in psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. What's a specific example? Epistemic arcs can be short, as in the example of the memes discussed above. Little effort is necessary here to resolve uncertainty. But they can also be longer, which means more effort, more information seeking and hypothesizing is needed, so uncertainty persists longer. There is more risk that people will prematurely break off such arcs. Think of a detective novel, or better yet a literary novel. While the detective novel will often gradually resolve uncertainty and give you clear frames of thinking that lead to limited, well-defined regions of uncertainty, for a literary novel you might not know whether you'll be able to comprehend and resolve uncertainty. Here, curiosity becomes crucial: If the author can sustain the feeling that the uncertainty created will also be resolved one can read this as building trust by enabling the reader to close other arcs the reader will continue to "work" to resolve uncertainty. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Our impression is that conspiracy theories tend to shape people's beliefs through shorter epistemic arcs, always requiring some epistemic agency, but the challenges remain low-threshold so the insights are accessible to many. Again, everything depends on already existing mental models of reality: They will make uncertainty manageable or not. The information-seeking that conspiracy thinkers conduct is often belittled: It's just internet searches to dredge up supposed evidence that supports already fully-formed beliefs. But we know very little about these acts and the epistemic arcs in which they feature, because much of this takes place in the secluded context of home internet use, using proprietary systems. There is interesting scientific research to be done on the methods and effects of online search in conspiracy believers. You have some suggestions about how to test this explanation of conspiracist thinking. One route is the exploratory one: Looking at conspiracy thinkers' information-seeking strategies, either in natural settings or in controlled lab settings where we give people semi-structured search tasks and look at how they go about it. A second route is to do more ethnographic studies into what role information-seeking practices and epistemic emotions like curiosity and "aha" moments play in the development of conspiracy views. This research can rely on in-depth interviews, but also on content analysis of social media conversations in conspiracy channels. Experimental research will also be necessary to establish our explanation of how conspiracy beliefs are formed. Were working on integrating challenges or puzzles in stories that contain conspiracy accounts of an event, versus control stories that present official accounts. Participants can solve these challenges on their own, leading to an "aha" moment that will reveal crucial information on the conspiracy or control story. We examine whether such embedded puzzle-solving and "aha" experiences will lead to higher judged plausibility of the stories both kinds of stories, or only the conspiracy version. In a correlational study, we recruit people who are high or low in conspiracy beliefs and look at whether conspiracy believers tend to have stronger "aha" experiences, even with materials not linked to conspiracy theories. The goal is to characterize conspiracy theorists' epistemic sensitivities and how they might differ from nonbelievers. How does your account connect with the broader observation that conspiracy theories tend to be embraced by people who feel socially excluded? We propose to look at the epistemic dimension of this social exclusion or injustice. A common core in social exclusion is the sense that one's actual lived experiences have no place in society, while one's autonomous knowledge-building based on those experiences is disparaged. Conventional wisdom holds that this should be left to epistemic authorities like doctors, scientists, lawyers, politicians, engineers, etc. Social, existential lack of autonomy is hence mirrored in epistemic lack of autonomy. People deprived of epistemic agency and subjective insight in their own life will reassert it, in ways that of course also explain the exclusion. This doesnt mean people will correctly discover the specific causes for their exclusion. As journalist Sebastian Milbank recently wrote: The specifics of conspiracy theories are nonsense, but they flourish because the generalities that were governed by unaccountable elites, whose interests are served by global rules and organizations seem unassailably true. So we make a distinction when it comes to the peddlers of conspiracy theories in media or politics. They generally don't do so from a sense of exclusion: A dominant group can sometimes claim the underdog position as a way to attract adherence from actually disadvantaged groups. As a psychologist, my focus is on the formation rather than the instrumentalization of conspiracy theories. Your paper takes on a number of possible objections. The fourth one seems most central to me: How we "reconcile the ubiquitous idea that conspiracists have a fixed, closed mind, with the dynamic practices of world-building and discovering" that you identify as a "core feature and attraction of conspiracy thinking." Look at how dynamic conspiracy theories actually are. Because conspiracy theorists come across as extremely stubborn, it is often assumed that their thinking is maximally rigid, and there is little actual research that follows conspiracy thinkers or their theories for a longer time to see if this holds true. So we don't really know. Another way to respond is to emphasize that discoveries require new observations, but not necessarily a lot of change in one's prior beliefs. Such new evidence can create a new sense of insight, showing the goodness of an explanation. Note that what counts as relevant evidence is in itself dependent on your models of the world. Without denying the differences between scientists and conspiracy theorists, philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn has argued that so-called puzzle-solving is the default activity of scientists: Fitting new evidence within known frameworks and working out the details of a more or less fixed paradigm. Paradigm shifts are comparatively rare, and only induced by repeated, persistent violations of the paradigmatic assumptions. It's possible to see conspiracy theories as a "pirate science" that's stuck in the puzzle-solving phase. We see that conspiracy circles have their own conferences, their own publications, their own channels for evidence evaluation. We tend to see an elaborate ploy in this these are things they set up to give themselves more respectability than is warranted but our analysis suggests there's an authenticity to this social puzzle-solving. Let's not forget that science has also had periods of stagnation, where dead ends were pursued that later turned out to be pseudoscientific or proto-scientific. In your conclusion, you discuss some implications for how conspiracism can be dealt with as a social challenge. What would you suggest? First, if conspiracists do not engage in harmful behavior, we should let them be. Theres already a strong sense among conspiracy theorists that theres a well-organized thought police, so organized efforts to fight these ideas have little chance to succeed. Also, given that the label of "conspiracy theory" is sometimes used by politicians to dismiss legitimate concerns, as scientists we should avoid getting drawn into this. We can use our expertise in doing research to counter the inaccurate claims of conspiracy theorists when they risk getting adopted more broadly in society, but we should maintain clear independence from ruling parties, whether in industry or politics. For example, we can investigate the roots of epistemic and social exclusion in society, and we can be more receptive and inclusive to experiences of people who have little voice in society. A well-functioning democratic society can deal with minority dissent, even if it gets a bit weird. Research has shown that conspiracy theories become more than a small minority view in dysfunctional societies with higher corruption. This evidence is merely correlational, so its theoretically possible that higher conspiracy beliefs cause corruption, but most scholars agree that the other way around is much more plausible. The COVID pandemic illustrated this: Urgency led policy makers to skimp on some civic freedoms, creating a surge of conspiracy theories. The way governments try to regain trust is by an emphasis on transparency, but these efforts are often quite shallow. Making information available is not the same as giving people insight. We have an abundance of information in modern society but its not disclosed in accessible ways or adapted to the models of listeners. In our increasingly scientifically and technologically advanced society, more and more aspects of our lives are governed by processes opaque to most citizens. This reduces our epistemic autonomy and creates a democratic deficit. Note that modern conspiracy theories often center on new technologies such as 5G or microchips or vaccines. There is no doubt these technologies have brought us great advances in health, safety and comfort. But when we fail to get people on board in our knowledge-creating system, and allow them to get insights within this system, they will search for it elsewhere. This is an immense task for science communicators, educators and any other expert in society, as the complexity of our knowledge only increases as we compete against low-threshold, readymade but flawed insights. If we succeed in building epistemic arcs in our science communication, like the best YouTube explainer videos do, we may be able to rebuild trust in our common knowledge-creation system of science and society. Not that all expertise needs to be disclosed in this way that would entail actually becoming an expert but just to rebuild trust and the sense that this knowledge has been responsibly built up by showing that it is in principle accessible and comprehensible. Finally, we can try to use the "aha" experiences that conspiracists exploit to draw people in, to instead invite people out. We can use non-directive communication, such as curiosity-evoking questions and surmountable challenges, instead of simple statements of fact, to debunk false information. This approach may be more effective with people who are already suspicious of knowledge "passed down from above," such as conspiracy thinkers. More fundamentally, there is a worry that "one just can't talk to conspiracists." But a more Socratic approach of asking questions, thinking along further saying, "Let's suppose this is true ..." as well as discussing information-seeking methods instead of the particular contents of beliefs, might give both sides a better idea of the concerns at play. Over the past 10 months, the New York Adult Survivors Act has allowed hundreds of accusers to file lawsuits against alleged sexual abusers even after the statute of limitations on their claims had run out. But the groundbreaking legislation is set to expire at midnight on Nov. 23and lawyers are now scrambling to file as many complaints as possible before then. I have cleared my schedule for the week of Thanksgiving and am on call for anyone who wants to discuss filing an [Adult Survivors Act] claim before the window closes, Megan Goddard, who has at least three lawsuits under the act, told The Daily Beast. Abusers have been hiding behind statutes of limitations, arbitration clauses, and threats of retribution forever. The [Adult Survivors Act] flipped the script. The state law signed last May granted survivors a one-year window to sue alleged abusers or their estates for incidents that occurred when they were over the age of 18. The act, which mirrored the 2019 Child Victims Act for those abused as minors, also allowed New Yorkers to sue businesses, institutions, hospitals, or even jails that they allege enabled the conduct, regardless of when it happened. New York State Office of Court Administration data obtained by The Daily Beast shows that, as of Oct. 18, more than 697 cases were filed after the act came into effect on Nov. 24, 2022. More than 270 of those cases had been filed in the last two weeks. Several attorneys told The Daily Beast they also expect the case total to skyrocket as they rush to file suits before the Thanksgiving deadline. We have a number of things percolating," Valdi Licul, an attorney who filed a lawsuit under the act against the New York State attorney general on behalf of a former aide, told The Daily Beast. We still have a few weeks left, and if any victim out there has any potential claim, go get the advice of [legal] counsel before the window closes. People can reach out to lawyers until the last day. The law has already spurred high-profile lawsuits. Among the first survivors to file a claim under it was writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged former President Donald Trump raped her inside a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s and defamed her when he crudely denied it. In May, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. (A second defamation trial is slated for January because Trump called Carroll a whack job after the verdict.) E. Jean Carroll, middle, sports a broad smile as she and her legal team depart court. Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty The act has also yielded lawsuits against billionaire Leon Black, who is accused of raping a woman over two decades ago in Jeffrey Epsteins Manhattan mansion, and actor Kevin Spacey, who allegedly sexually assaulted a massage therapist during a 2016 appointment at a New York hotel. This week, actress Julia Ormond used the ASA to sue Harvey Weinstein over an alleged 1995 assault. E. Jean Carroll successfully holding Donald Trump accountable under the ASA for sexual assault was a watershed moment, as much for abusers and the institutions that have protected them as for survivors, Goddard said. Can you imagine the fear that abusers must be experiencing this year, wondering if they will be the next named defendant in an Adult Survivors Act case before Thanksgiving? Thomas P. Giuffra, an attorney who has filed dozens of cases under the ASA, noted that the legislation exposed years-long abuse in the New York medical community. Obstetrician Robert Hadden has been accused by hundreds of patients who claim the former Columbia University of sexually abusing them for decades. Among his accusers is Evelyn Yang, the wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who alleges Hadden assaulted her in 2012 while she was seven months pregnant. Hadden was sentenced in July to 20 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting female patients. Dozens of victims have also filed legal claims against disgraced urologist Dr. Darius Paduch for sexually assaulting male patients, including boys, under the guise of medical treatment. Paduch was indicted in April on federal charges for allegedly abusing patients during urology examinations between 2015 and 2019. Before Dr. Hadden, when you get calls on these doctors, you know, abusing patients under the guise of a medical body, nobody would believe them, right? Giuffra, who has filed litigation against Paduch, told The Daily Beast. And since everything has come out, and then the ASA, I have started cases against three different doctors. It really changed. Giuffra said that he and other lawyers are warning the public that the clock is running out. To drum up business, some attorneys have launched social media campaigns and promoted the ASA on their websites. Time is on our side. But its not unlimited. The Adult Survivors' Act expires November 23rd. Check your eligibility to file a claim against Columbia University and Robert Hadden, the Petrio Law Firm, which has filed lawsuits against Paduch and Hadden, urged in a tweet. In other tweets, the firm stressed that victims can contact them anonymously and that whistleblowers are protected. Lawyers believe some survivors need more time to speak out. It really is such a challenge for people to recognize that they were abused. Its a really hard thing to put a label on yourself, and I think that holds people back a lot. There is a lot of shame attached to this, Giuffra added. And sometimes, when people do come to terms with what happened, it may be too late. 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. (CNN) 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. 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. 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. As tensions heighten in the Middle East, U.S. forces in the region are facing hostile threats and an array of attacks as the Biden administration increases its support for Israel. A U.S. naval warship shot down 15 drones and four cruise missiles Thursday during a nine-hour span near the Yemeni coast, a larger barrage than was previously thought. The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, was heading south through the Suez Canal in Egypt on Wednesday and was in the northern Red Sea when incidents occurred on Thursday. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, there have been a handful of attacks on U.S. positions in the Middle East. The Pentagon has moved warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with assistance. BIDEN PUTS CONDITION ON HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA AS ISRAEL ALLOWS EGYPT TO DELIVER SUPPLIES In addition, 2,000 U.S. troops were put on heightened alert and are ready to be deployed if needed. The troops are likely Army and Air Force personnel and would be able to respond quickly, particularly to provide intelligence and surveillance, transportation and medical assistance. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The aggression against American military personnel coincides with protests and riots near U.S. embassies in the Middle East. Below is a rundown of attacks on U.S. forces in recent days. In Iraq, the U.S. intercepted three one-way attack drones, targeting two different military bases, U.S. Central Command confirmed. U.S. forces intercepted two one-way attack drones targeting Iraq's al-Asad air base just west of Baghdad where American troops are located. One drone was destroyed, and the other was damaged, U.S. Central Command said. Coalition forces sustained minor injuries and there was some damage to the base. In another part of Iraq, U.S. forces at the al-Harir air base destroyed a drone. No injuries were reported. "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 Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia, said in a statement. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, took out three missiles Thursday that had been fired from Yemen and were heading north, according to U.S. officials, who later said the ship shot down a total of 15 drones and four cruise missiles during a nine-hour span. The USS Carney was in the Northern Red Sea when it shot down the four cruise missiles and 15 drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. No injuries or damage were reported. The Defense Department initially said the warship shot down three land attack cruise missiles and "several" drones before the full scale of the attack was known. A defense official said the cruise missiles and drones were shot down with the SM-2 surface-to-air missiles and that the rockets were clearly headed for Israel. A U.S. official said they don't believe the missiles which were shot down over the water were aimed at the U.S. warship. On the same day, the Al Tanf Garrison military base in southern Syria where American troops are present was targeted by two drones. U.S. and coalition forces engaged and destroyed one drone while the other impacted the base. U.S. troops have maintained a presence at the base for a number of years to train Syrian allies and monitor Islamic State militant activity. Two rockets were fired toward the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Iraq, near the Baghdad International Airport around 2:50 a.m. One rocket was intercepted by a counter-rocket system and the other impacted an empty storage facility. No casualties were reported. Fox News' Liz Friden, Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Timeline of attacks on US forces as threats increase in Middle East Tripadvisor has released its ranking of the best "hidden gem" restaurants in the US. The list is topped by a Tennessee restaurant serving burgers, cookie dough, and dozens of milkshakes. Florida and New York restaurants also performed well in the ranking. See the top 10 here. A Tennessee restaurant serving up burgers, cookie dough, and dozens of milkshakes is America's top "hidden gem," according to Tripadvisor reviewers. The site releases its Travellers' Choice Best of the Best lists every year, covering tourist spots including restaurants, hotels, and beaches. The entrants are ranked based on the quality and quantity of their reviews and ratings. The restaurant rankings are divided into a number of categories, like hidden gems, vegetarian spots, and fine-dining establishments. Tripadvisor told Insider that its "hidden gem" tag was given to restaurants based on a combination of user reviews and feedback. These are the top 10 hidden restaurant gems, per Tripadvisor's ranking. 10. Spice Symphony, New York City Spice Symphony, which opened in 2012, focuses on Indian cuisine, serving a "wide range of dishes featuring unique and seductive spices and unusual ingredients." It sells a range of appetizers, curries, and tandoori dishes, as well as Chinese-Indian fusion food. The palak paneer from Spice Symphony. Courtesy of Spice Symphony The restaurant told Insider that it had never done any paid advertising "so people are not aware of our existence," but that its customer-driven nature meant it ranked highly on Tripadvisor. 9. Cru Cafe, Charleston, South Carolina Cru Cafe, which is open for lunch and dinner five days a week, describes its menu as "gourmet comfort food." Dishes include macaroni cheese, seafood risotto, salads, and sandwiches. Its owner also operates a catering company in the city. 8. Express Cafe, Kissimmee, Florida Express Cafe, Kissimmee's top-rated restaurant on Tripadvisor, serves Latin and Caribbean food including arepas, empanadas, gallo pinto, and sandwiches. Located in a hotel complex, it's only a 10-minute drive from Disney World, too. Pancakes from Express Cafe. Courtesy of Express Cafe The cafe told Insider its success was down to a fusion menu, the customer service given by staff, and the quality of its ingredients. "We like to think that our small restaurant is a place to unite people where people from around the world can share what we have in common and not what makes us different," owner Julio Conde said. 7. Piccola Cucina Osteria, New York City Piccola Cucina Osteria opened in SoHo in 2013. As well as a selection of antipasti like arancini, burrata, and stuffed calamari, the Sicilian restaurant has pasta dishes, salads, and entrees including grilled sea bass and steak. Its owners have two other Piccola Cucina restaurants in New York, as well as one in Montana and one in Ibiza, Spain. "Despite the group having many locations, Piccola Cucina Osteria is a quite small restaurant but, once you get in, you immediately feel the Sicilian warmth and you feel at home," a restaurant representative told Insider. A selection of Piccola Cucina dishes. Courtesy of Piccola Cucina 6. Katherine Meets Toni, New York City Katherine Meets Toni serves Italian cuisine including pasta, pizza, and focaccia, alongside some Korean-inspired pizzas think a pizza topped with bulgogi, truffles, and Buffalo mozzarella, or one with stir-fried kimchi and speck. Some 84% of Tripadvisor reviewers gave it a five-star rating, making it New York City's 15th-top rated restaurant of the nearly 7,000 listed. Reviewers praised its atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff. 5. Happy Fish Peruvian Fusion Restaurant, Tampa, Florida As the name suggests, Happy Fish's menu focuses on Peruvian and Latin seafood, including rice dishes, stews, and fried fish. Many of the reviews compliment the ceviche, a Peruvian dish of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice and seasoned. The restaurant also serves meat dishes and pasta, as well as a limited vegetarian menu. 4. Rendezvous Bar & Grill, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Rendezvous is a waterfront bar and seafood restaurant right next to Fort Lauderdale's marina. Seafood on offer includes amberjack, mahi-mahi, lobster, conch, and scallops. Reviews praise the quality of the service and the restaurant says it sources it seafood, meat, and vegetables locally. 3. Kaya Island Eats, Key West, Florida Kaya Island Eats, located in the Florida Keys, has a menu full of Pacific and Caribbean dishes that it describes as "island fusion cuisine." Offerings include "rasta pasta" made with a macadamia nut jerk pesto, mahi-mahi tacos with key lime slaw, and shrimp skewers served with a passionfruit butter sauce. Kaya Island Eats describes its menu as "island fusion cuisine." Kaya Island Eats The restaurant celebrated its ranking by hosting a Polynesian-style luau and raising money for the victims of the fires on Maui, Scott Taylor, the restaurant's owner and chef, told Insider. "We have always embraced being a 'hidden gem' and to be recognized as one of the best in the country was exhilarating," he said. 2. Riverfront Seafood Company, Kingsport, Tennessee Riverfront Seafood Company in northeast Tennessee came second in Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice awards. Of the 2,050 ratings, more than three-quarters gave it a five-star rating. Grilled seafood on the menu includes catfish, tilapia, swordfish, and sea scallops, while other seafood dishes include clam chowder, shrimp and sausage gumbo, oysters, and crab cakes. As well as some classic American sides, like macaroni cheese, baked potatoes, fried pickles, and hush puppies, you can also get your hands on frogs legs and alligator. Riverfront Seafood Company's shrimp creole. Jerome Cloninger 1. Cookie Dough Monster, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Despite only being the second-best rated restaurant on Tripadvisor in Pigeon Forge, near Knoxville in central Tennessee, Cookie Dough Monster was ranked as the top hidden gem in the site's Travellers' Choice Best of the Best awards this year. Its online menu features a choice of various flavors of cookie dough, available in bite-sized portions, as well as 40 milkshakes that cost $7 for a 16-ounce portion. But, aware that its name may suggest it only sells desserts, the restaurant's tagline is "Yes, we sell food, too!." It serves an extensive range of burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mac and cheese. In a Facebook post, Cookie Dough Monster's owner said he was "thrilled" with the win and credited the restaurant's success to its staff. Read the original article on Insider Top American diplomat Antony Blinken said in a letter to State Department employees that the US mourns the loss of "every innocent life" in the Israel-Hamas conflict (Jacquelyn Martin) Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged the emotional toll that the war between Israel and Hamas has taken on US diplomats amid media reports of internal dissent over Washington's handling of the conflict. Blinken sent a letter to all State Department employees Thursday night noting the "challenging" circumstances affecting the US diplomatic corps, some of whom feel the "ripples of fear and bigotry" the conflict has generated. US leaders including President Joe Biden and Blinken have pledged unwavering support for Israel, publicly blessing the country's reprisals for Hamas' shock raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, which have included a relentless bombing campaign of the crowded enclave. At least one State Department official has quit over the Biden administration's approach to the conflict. The official, Josh Paul, said on LinkedIn he left over "policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel." Blinken's letter was not a response to the reports of frustrations within the department, a source familiar with the matter said. In his letter, Blinken described his recent trip to the Middle East, which saw him bounce between Israel and several Arab countries, visiting some several times. "I know that, for many of you, this time has not only been challenging professionally, but personally," he wrote in the letter, which AFP obtained. The United States, he said, mourns the loss of "every innocent life in this conflict." "That is why President Biden has made clear ... that while we fully support Israel's right to defend itself, how it does so matters," he added, referring to the need to respect "the rule of law and international humanitarian standards." "Let us also be sure to sustain and expand the space for debate and dissent that makes our policies and our institution better," Blinken wrote. "We have a difficult stretch ahead. The risk of greater turmoil and strife is real." This week, the Huffington Post claimed that State Department employees were unhappy with US policy towards the conflict, with one telling the publication that there was "a mutiny" in the works. lb-iba/tjj/acb After a few years off the American market, Toyota is bringing the Land Cruiser back with a vengeance with the Prado-based, J250-generation truck coming in the 2024 model year. That car joins nine other Toyotas and seven more Lexus models in a robust lineup of Toyota-built crossovers, trucks, and SUVs sold in America, but just one of those gets the Land Cruiser name. If an EV being shown at the Japan Mobility Show is any indication, that could change soon. This is the Land Cruiser Se, a three-row electric SUV that looks nothing like anything sold with the Land Cruiser badge today. Details are scarce, but the press release emphasizes the car's monocoque construction and the quietness that comes with an EV. Past that, everything else left to know about the EV is up to you to figure out from photos. While the side mirror-free Land Cruiser Se certainly appears to be a concept, the limited information provided by Toyota in its global press release does not actually use the phrase "concept." While it seems unlikely that Toyota has debuted a production models in a press release about five different products ranging from full-fledged truck concepts to a steering wheel concept, it is entirely possible that a final Land Cruiser Se could be on the way sooner than we think. While the Land Cruiser branding may be at odds with where the flagship Land Cruiser is aimed in America, a Toyota luxury EV would make for a natural rival to the Rivian R1S, Mercedes EQS SUV, and Lucid Gravity. You Might Also Like House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is a natural front-runner to be the next speaker-designee for the GOP, though theres a Donald Trump-shaped obstacle standing in his way. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is a natural front-runner to be the next speaker-designee for the GOP, though theres a Donald Trump-shaped obstacle standing in his way. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is the natural front-runner to be the next man up in the GOPs three-week-long search for a new speaker, except for one glaring problem: former President Donald Trump . Trump allies in the media started blitzing Emmer with attacks Friday, hoping to derail his House speakership bid before it can truly begin, all while boasting that the ex-president agrees with them. Tom Emmer is Nancy Pelosi in a Suit, one far-right news outlet declared, referring to the former Democratic speaker. After the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the Houses top job and the subsequent failures of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) to unite the bickering GOP conference, Emmer is the only Republican left who has previously won an internal party contest giving him an obvious advantage over the mostly little-known representatives tossing their hats in the ring ahead of a new internal party vote scheduled for Tuesday. He also has the backing of McCarthy. With the margin of error in the speakership fight so small Emmer or another candidate can only lose five GOP votes on the floor those advantages may prove moot in the face of Trumps opposition. Trumps dislike of Emmer is rooted in both the Minnesotans decision on Jan. 6, 2021, not to vote to overturn the 2020 presidential election even though he signed on to an earlier petition asking the Supreme Court to do so and for reportedly giving midterm candidates the wholly sensible advice that they should avoid focusing on Trump, who remains deeply unpopular with the American public, while running for office in 2022. Trump has yet to play a serious role in the speakership fight. He made little effort to save my Kevin, as he called McCarthy, and his endorsement of Jordan for the job did not significantly move the needle for the Ohioan, who was bleeding votes before dropping his bid Friday. Trump has yet to personally weigh in on Emmers run, though allies have told a hostofoutlets that he opposes the Minnesotans bid for leadership. A spokesperson for Emmers leadership office was conciliatory in a statement to Politico. Whip Emmer worked hand in hand with President Trump to help House Republicans fire Nancy Pelosi and retake the majority, Casey Nelson said. If he becomes Speaker, Whip Emmer looks forward to continuing that productive relationship. For now, Trump-aligned commentators, including former White House strategist Steve Bannon, are using social media and podcasts to suggest that Emmer is a swamp creature unaligned with the Make America Great Again movement. (Emmer voted with Trump roughly 90% of the time during the latters presidency.) Bannon devoted most of the Friday edition of his War Room podcast to bashing Emmer. Tom Emmer, the biggest never-Trumper in the House, a guy who hates Donald Trump, Bannon declared, while also slamming McCarthy for backing Emmer. Heres the probability Tom Emmer is going to be speaker: zero, he added. Tom Emmer is Nancy Pelosi in a Suit@CarolineWren, senior advisor for @KariLake, tells Steve Bannon that a vote for GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer as speaker of the House is a vote for Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation of President Trump. Emmer had a hand in raising the pic.twitter.com/rzg7UKoedB Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 20, 2023 Laura Loomer, the Islamophobic right-wing influencer who has allied herself with Trump, similarly insisted that the long-time Republican is a closet liberal. Tom Emmer is one of the worst members of Congress, she wrote on social media. Hes essentially a Democrat. Emmer has served in the House since winning a seat in the 2014 GOP wave. Before that, he narrowly lost the Minnesota governors race in 2010, served as a state legislator for six years and worked as a lawyer. Emmers major competition for the speakership looks to be Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who chairs the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservatives covering roughly three-quarters of the 221-member GOP conference. The other potential and announced candidates for speaker have far less power within the House. Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and Mike Johnson (R-La.) are among the other Republicans either considering or actively running for the speakership. 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 Walt Nauta , former President Trumps co-defendant in the Mar-a-Lago case, will be permitted to keep his attorney despite conflict of interest concerns raised by prosecutors. In a Friday hearing in Florida, Nauta said he understood and accepted the risks with keeping his Trump-paid attorney who previously represented a Mar-a-Lago employee now expected to testify against him. Nautas attorney, Stanley Woodward, has represented at least seven other individuals who have been questioned in connection with the investigation, including those who have testified about Nauta, DOJ disclosed in August. During the hearing, Judge Aileen Cannon reportedly warned Nauta that by keeping Woodward as his attorney, he would likely be unable to raise that issue in the future, should he be convicted and launch an appeal. Woodward previously represented Yuscil Taveras, a Mar-a-Lago IT worker who flipped in the case after he was offered the chance to speak with an outside attorney during another so-called Garcia hearing to examine the potential conflicts. Shortly after the meeting, Taveras disclosed to prosecutors the information that supported a superseding indictment in the case that spurred additional charges for Trump and Nauta, along with a third co-defendant. Taveras has since signed a cooperation agreement, pushing Woodward to later complain that the Justice Department only made such an offer after the IT worker switched representation. Nauta is facing multiple charges in connection with Trumps mishandling of records, including obstruction of justice. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump is leading President Biden and Democrat-turned-independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a three-way race, a new poll found. The Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey, shared with The Hill, showed Trump receiving 39 percent support, Biden receiving 33 percent support and Kennedy receiving 19 percent support in a three-way race. A separate 9 percent of voters said they did not know or were unsure. When those who were unsure were asked who they would vote for if they had to choose, Trump received 42 percent support, Biden received 36 percent and Kennedy received 22 percent. In a two-way race, Trump holds a 5 percentage point lead over Biden, with the former president receiving 46 percent and Biden receiving 41 percent. Fourteen percent of respondents said they were unsure or didnt know. The survey noted that Biden gained 1 percentage point since a similar survey was conducted in September, while Trump gained 2 percentage points. Biden still leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in separate head-to-head match-ups. Between Biden and DeSantis, Biden received 44 percent support while DeSantis received 40 percent. Between Biden and Haley, the president sat at 42 percent while Haley received 38 percent support. The survey also indicated that Trump received the highest percentage of support when GOP voters were asked who they would vote for if the 2024 Republican primary were held today. Trump received 60 percent while DeSantis received 11 percent; all others received less than 10 percent, according to the poll. Trumps polling continues to defy gravity both in the primary and the general election. Kennedy right now doesnt change the result an election held today would elect Donald Trump, Mark Penn, the co-director of the Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, said. There is a lot of time and events to go, but Trump has a significant edge at the starting line. The Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll was conducted Oct. 18-19 with 2,116 registered voters. It is a collaboration of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll. The survey is an online sample drawn from the Harris Poll and weighted to reflect known demographics. As a representative online sample, it does not report a probability confidence interval. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two people were arrested Thursday, their vehicles seized and a large amount of drugs found, according to the Tulalip Tribal Police. On Thursday, detectives with the Tulalip Tribal Police-Drug Task Force contacted two people with arrest warrants at the Tulalip Indian Reservation. After they were detained, detectives saw drugs inside their car, and, with assistance from the Lake Stevens Police Department, a K9 unit alerted to more drugs in the car. On Friday, a search warrant was obtained and executed on the car. Detectives then found over 1.3 pounds of methamphetamine, over 2,100 counterfeit Oxycodone Fentanyl pills, and over 19 grams of heroin. Detectives also found digital scales, baggies, and cash. Charges are pending for the two suspects. TAMPA, Fla. - Two suspects were arrested after stealing $30,000 worth of construction materials from a Tampa business on three different occasions, deputies said. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to Tampa Pavement Constructors on North 56th Street on Monday about an incident at the business. Supervisors with the business told deputies that they saw an employee, 52-year-old Antonio Vargas Bravo, loading a truck with about $1,600 worth of paving materials. After he finished loading the materials, he left the property, authorities said. READ: 6 charged in 'Operation Gangs & Guns' after 38 cars burglarized, 7 firearms stolen in Lakeland Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Deputies later stopped the vehicle while 54-year-old Roberto Zaldivar Dominguez was driving the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office. Soon after the traffic stop, investigators said Bravo confessed to stealing the materials and admitted to stealing other construction materials from the business on October 11 and 12. In total, HCSO officials said about $30,000 worth of materials were stolen from the company. Vargas Bravo and Zaldivar Dominguez were arrested for dealing in stolen property, deputies said. The investigation into the thefts remains active. (CNN) 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. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Donald Trump fined $5,000 for violating gag order in New York fraud trial and warned twice about imprisonment" A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. With the frightening Israel-Hamas war and a major spoke of the US government the House of Representatives unsolvably speakerless and in a state of paralysis, a pair of guilty pleas in a Georgia courtroom almost feels like Page 2 news. But these particular guilty pleas this week come from two of former President Donald Trump s co-defendants, the second and third such admissions of guilt in the criminal case brought against him for trying to overturn Georgias 2020 presidential election result. Sidney Powell, a public face of Trumps attempts to challenge the election results in 2020 and 2021, pleaded guilty Thursday. The former Trump attorney will avoid jail time but agreed to testify as a witness and pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors for conspiracy to commit intentional interference, downgraded from felony charges she had faced. Kenneth Chesebro, a less public face of the effort, was an attorney who helped engineer the fake electors plot. He pleaded guilty Friday to a single felony, conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Hes also likely to avoid jail time. Scott Hall, a bail bondsman, pleaded guilty last month after being accused of conspiring to unlawfully access voter data and ballot-counting machines at the Coffee County election office on January 7, 2021. That leaves Trump and 15 other co-defendants awaiting trial in the case. Trial dates have not been set, and Trump has pleaded not guilty. Along with the three other upcoming criminal trials in New York, Washington, DC, and Florida and the ongoing civil trial in New York, the Georgia proceedings are part of a complicated web of legal problems percolating beneath the 2024 election. Trump may be sweating the Chesebro plea more than Powells Chesebro admitted to entering into a conspiracy specifically with Trump to create a slate of fake electors in Georgia, along with two other attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams noted that the Georgia case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, has had its detractors, because it included 18 co-defendants along with Trump, which could make it seem politically motivated. But guilty pleas, Williams said, are now evidence that crimes were committed as Trump tried to make Joe Bidens 2020 victory disappear. This ought to pour cold water on the notion that this was just a partisan witch hunt to target the president and his allies, Williams told Jim Sciutto on CNN Max. Chesebros admission extends beyond Georgia CNNs report on his guilty plea notes 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. All but one charge against Chesebro was dropped, and he has agreed to testify at trial. Powell was in key meetings with Trump Just because Powells plea agreement did not mention Trump does not mean she might not be asked about him under oath, as CNNs Marshall Cohen notes: Most notably, Powell attended a White House meeting on December 18, 2020, where some of Trumps most extreme supporters encouraged him to name her as a special counsel to investigate supposed voter fraud, to consider declaring martial law and to sign executive orders that would direct the military to seize voting machines. Cohen adds that whatever Powell tells Georgia prosecutors could be used in the federal election subversion case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump faces gag orders in other cases One gag order was issued by Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the federal 2020 election subversion case in Washington, DC. Trump is appealing, arguing she took away my right to speak, and on Friday Chutkan put a temporary freeze on the order. Chutkan has been insistent that the federal case get underway on schedule, in March, at the pinnacle of primary season. Trump made those comments about his freedom of speech as he entered a courtroom in New York, where he faces a civil fraud trial brought by the state attorney general. He is also under a gag order in that case, and that judge, Arthur Engoron, fined Trump $5,000 on Friday for violating the gag order after a social media post targeting a court employee was left up on Trumps campaign website. Engoron said future violations could even ultimately lead him to imprison Trump. I am willing to go to jail The court developments are an important reminder that as Trump cruises toward the Republican presidential nomination, at least according to public opinion polls, he is also in very real legal peril something Trump acknowledged, before the gag-order-related threat from Engoron in New York, when the former president talked about the prospect of prison during an event in Clive, Iowa. What they dont understand is that I am willing to go to jail if thats what it takes for our country to win and become a democracy again, Trump said at the rally. There is some bizarre irony in the comments since hes charged in connection with trying to subvert an election, one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. What about the Trump opposition? Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is among those challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, said on CNN that he doesnt believe Trump is willing to go to jail. The last place he wants to spend five minutes is in jail, Christie said. He complained that Trump has failed to appear at Republican presidential debates. Donald Trump doesnt want any legitimate debate or discussion about his conduct, Christie said. Republicans like Christie are running out of time and opportunity to challenge Trump. Another debate is scheduled for November 8 in Miami, but Christie has not yet qualified. NBC is sponsoring the debate, along with the right-wing outlets Salem Radio Network and Rumble. Oliver Darcy, CNNs senior media reporter, argues the arrangement creates strange bedfellows. Its no surprise that the GOP, which veered sharply to the right during Donald Trumps presidency, would select Salem and Rumble as partners, Darcy writes, but it is striking that NBC News would agree to link arms with such organizations. Anti-Trump Republicans want some of the candidates challenging him to drop out of the race so that the opposition can coalesce around an individual alternative. The debate stage November 8 is expected to be much smaller, perhaps with only a few people. But dont expect the former president to show. Trump is planning a rally nearby to draw attention away from his rivals. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Russian President Vladimir Putin 's recent announcement of Kinzhal missiles-armed jet patrols over the Black Sea was mainly for strategic messaging purposes, as Kinzhals' actual performance has been lackluster, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its report on Oct. 21. The Russian leader said during his visit to China that the Russian Air Force will start patrolling the Black Sea with MiG-31 aircraft armed with "hypersonic" ballistic Kinzhal missiles. He linked this announcement to the recent uptick in the U.S. military presence in the eastern Mediterranean over the Israel-Hamas War. The Kremlin's leader was likely implying that Kinzhals, with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, can hold American warships at risk, the U.K. ministry said. The report noted that this corresponds with the Kremlin's usual messaging for domestic audiences, portraying the West as an aggressor while Russia's hostile moves are justified as necessary self-defense. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us The specific mention of Kinzhal missiles is intended to demonstrate the capability to produce and operate newly developed weapons, the report said. Kinzhals have long played an important role in Russia's military propaganda, emphasizing the country's supposed advances in military technology. The U.K. report, however, stressed that the actual performance of Kinzhals during the invasion of Ukraine has been quite poor despite their impressive abilities "on paper." "It remains highly capable on paper, able to fly at hypersonic speeds and evade modern air defense systems, although there almost certainly needs to be significant improvement in how Russia uses it to achieve this potential," the analysis said. Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, with a speed of up to 12,000 kilometers per hour, have been used in the past in strikes against Ukraine. Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down several of these missiles using U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense. Read also: Russias Kinzhal missile is not hypersonic. Nor is it invincible Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greets British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly during the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East in Cairo LONDON (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday he had spoken to the Israeli government about its duty to respect international law and to preserve civilian lives in Gaza, and for its military to show restraint. "The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self defence and the right to secure the release of those who are kidnapped on Oct. 7," Cleverly told the Cairo Peace Summit hosted by Egypt. "We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law. "Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military," he added. Cleverly said the international community needed to work to prevent the situation in Gaza provoking a regional conflict, saying it was what Hamas wanted. "We have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives," Cleverly said. "We must, therefore, ensure that Hamas does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful coexistence wins." (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Toby Chopra) UK Defence Intelligence considers Russian President Vladimir Putin s statement about the patrolling of the Black Sea by carriers of Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles as an attempt to show Russian military power. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review on Twitter (X) on 21 October, as reported by European Pravda. Details: UK intelligence noted that Putin, while on his visit to China on 18 October, announced that Russian MiG-31I fighter jets with Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles would begin patrolling the airspace over the Black Sea. At that time, the Russian president said such actions would be taken due to the strengthening of the US naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, where they have deployed ships with weapons systems with a declared range of up to 2,000 kilometres. Quote: "This announcement is in line with typical Russian rhetoric aimed at its domestic audience, calling the West aggressors whilst framing Russian activity as necessary for protection of the state," UK intelligence noted. UK intelligence indicated that Putin separately emphasised the presence of MiG-31 jets with Kinzhal missiles and their declared capabilities. This was "almost certainly" done for "strategic messaging purposes" to show that Russia can continue to produce and operate new weapons despite the war against Ukraine, while Kinzhal missiles are actually still being tested, and their effectiveness in Ukraine has so far been low. "It [Kinzhal missiles ed.] remains highly capable on paper, able to fly at hypersonic speeds and evade modern air defence systems, although there almost certainly needs to be significant improvement in how Russia uses it to achieve this potential," UK intelligence concluded. Background: Ukraines Air Force previously reported that President Vladimir Putins threats about Russian MiG-31K fighter jets patrolling the airspace over the Black Sea may be aimed at increasing tension, but they do not radically change anything for the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Malta will host the Ukraine Peace Formula meeting from Oct. 28 to 29, the Maltese Foreign Ministry announced on Oct. 20. "Next week's hosting of the peace formula talks in Malta is the most concrete support that a country like Malta can provide for keeping the Ukrainian cause high on the international agenda," Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg said. The discussions set for Malta follow those that took place in Copenhagen in June and Jeddah in August, and will involve international foreign leaders, excluding those from Russia. Malta supports the Ukrainian cause by taking a principled position at various multilateral fora and also by providing humanitarian aid and assistance. Next week's hosting of the peace formula talks in Malta is the most concrete support that a country like Malta can provide for keeping the Ukrainian cause high on the international agenda," Maltese Foreign Minister Borg said. The Peace Formula was announced in November 2022, when Zelensky presented a 10-point peace plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine at the G20 summit. Ukraine's peace formula, supported by many Western allies, includes the restoration of the country's territorial integrity, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and judging those responsible for war crimes. Read also: Biden all in on aid to Ukraine, yet House remains an issue Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine says it took out almost 50 Russian tanks in one day as Russia made failed attempt to capture eastern city A Ukrainian tank opens fire on targets to support infantry units on the frontlines amid the Russia-Ukraine war in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 17, 2023. Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Russia has been conducting offensive operations to capture Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine claims Russia lost nearly 50 tanks and 900 men in one day of fighting. Since Russia began the offensive, its forces have suffered high losses but continued to launch assaults. Ukraine claimed that its forces destroyed nearly 50 Russian tanks in one day, as Russia tried to capture Avdiivka, a small city in the east of the country. The Ukrainian General Staff said that in one day of fighting, nearly 900 Russians were killed and 100 units of their armored equipment were also destroyed. A video shared by Ukraine's military on Friday appeared to show Russian tanks and armor being destroyed as they headed towards the eastern Ukrainian city. Russia made marginal gains in its renewed push near Avdiivka on Friday, which suggests it is committed to the operation despite high personnel and equipment losses, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said on Friday. The reasons for Russia's focus on Avdiivka are unclear White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters last week that Russia had launched a "renewed offensive" in eastern Ukraine, including around Avdiivka. Kirby noted that it was unsurprising Russia had begun offensive actions, considering their ultimate goal is to take more Ukrainian territory. However, the reasons for its focus on Avdiivka are unclear, as the ISW previously noted, that capturing the city will not open new routes of advance to the rest of Donetsk. Since Russia began its push into Avdiivka on October 10, its forces have suffered high losses of tanks and armor but continued to launch assaults on the city, according to the ISW. It suggests either that Russian forces believe they can take the city, or might indicate that Russian military command is poorly prioritizing offensive operations regardless of their cost, the think tank said. Read the original article on Business Insider This embedded content is not available in your region. Six postal workers have been killed and a further 16 injured after a missile hit a distribution centre in eastern Ukraine late on Saturday night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram the Nova Poshta sorting office was struck in Kharkiv. Pictures from the scene posted on President Zelensky's account showed the building with windows blown out. Kharkiv's regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said the victims all worked for the postal company. Police said 22 people were inside when the suspected S-300 rocket hit the building just before 22:30 local time (20:30 BST). Investigators, together with criminologists and forensic experts, are conducting an examination of the bodies of the dead, police added on social media. Writing on Telegram himself, Mr Syniehubov said the victims were aged between 19 and 42, with some suffering shrapnel wounds from the blast. He said the private delivery company in the western Kharkiv suburb of Korotych was "strictly a civilian site". "The Russians have inflicted more terror on Kharkiv's peaceful population," he added. Kharkiv's regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said the youngest victim was 19 years old President Zelensky said a rescue operation was continuing, with emergency services working at the scene. Russia has not yet commented on the alleged strike, but has previously denied targeting civilians during its invasion of Ukraine. Mr Syniehubov said seven people were in hospital in a "moderate condition" and seven men were in a "serious condition". Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city, is located only 30km (19 miles) from the Russian border. Specialists of the explosive management removed the fragments of the S-300 rocket, Kharkiv police said in a Telegram post The north-eastern city was heavily bombed during the first weeks of the war in February 2022. Earlier this month, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said Ukraine's first underground school would be built in the city to allow children to continue in-person education safely. Meanwhile in the south, Ukraine has been waging a counter-offensive campaign since June. The war-torn country aims to sever Russia's land corridor to the Crimean peninsula - which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. But the counter-offensive has so far proven slow, bringing only limited territorial gains. Key developments on Oct. 20: White House requests $61 billion for Ukraine Zelensky visits southern oblasts, meets military, local officials Russian media: Putin visits military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don after China trip PM Shmyhal: Russia's damage to Ukrainian environment amounts to nearly $60 billion U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve $61.4 billion in assistance for Ukraine, including $44.4 billion in defense aid. The Ukraine funding is part of a massive $105 billion request to provide Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with emergency support, reinforce the U.S. border with Mexico, and for other humanitarian needs, according to the White House. The White House asked for $14.3 billion for Israel and $9.15 billion for the State Department to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza. The request is addressed to acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry. The majority of legislative action in the U.S. Congress, including the approval of new aid packages for Ukraine, has ground to a halt after the ouster of the previous speaker, Republican Kevin McCarthy. Biden delivered a national address on Oct. 19, announcing an "urgent" funding request for aid to Ukraine and U.S. long-standing ally Israel, embroiled in the ongoing war with Gaza. In his address, Biden made the case that supporting Ukraine was a "smart investment." He said maintaining military aid to Ukraine was vital for both U.S. security and global stability. Read also: Biden all in on aid to Ukraine, yet House remains an issue Zelensky visits southern oblasts, meets military, local officials President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts and met with the military, local officials, and Ukrainian soldiers, 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 weapons 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 front-line regions with Serhii Deineko, the head of Ukraine's State Border Service. After that, the 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. Russian media: Putin visits military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don after China trip 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: Belarus Weekly: Post-Soviet strongmen gather in Bishkek, say West tearing them apart PM Shmyhal: Russia's damage to Ukrainian environment amounts to nearly $60 billion 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. Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has thanked US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for providing Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles. Source: Rustem Umierov on Twitter (X); US Department of Defense Details: Umierov said that he had a "substantive call" with Austin. Quote from Umierov: "I updated my American colleague on the battlefield situation. I thanked the US leadership and Secretary Austin himself for providing ATACMS to Ukraine. This is having a major impact on the battlefield." Details: The US Department of Defense said Austin had confirmed that the White House is prepared to ask Congress "for the resources needed to ensure Ukraine can continue to defend its people". Austin and Umierov also discussed the "successful outcomes of last weeks Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in Brussels, Belgium and recent developments on the ground in Ukraine", the Defense Departments statement said. Background: On the night of 17 October, Ukrainian troops attacked helicopters and equipment belonging to the Russian occupying forces at air bases near the occupied cities of Berdiansk and Luhansk. Two helicopters were hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine had deployed ATACMS missiles successfully. The Wall Street Journal said that the US had "secretly" sent ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the United States would continue supplying Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles on an ongoing basis. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian forces continued larger-than-usual ground operations on the left (eastern) bank of Kherson Oblast on 20 October and consolidated their positions in the village of Krynky. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: Geolocation footage published on 19 October showed Ukrainian forces advancing to northeastern Krynky (27 kilometres east of the city of Kherson and 2 kilometres from the Dnipro River). Russian military bloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops were gaining ground near the village of Krynky and continued to maintain a presence near the Antonivka road and railway bridges. A popular Russian military blogger stated that Ukrainian forces had temporarily advanced further into Krynky as far as the Kozachi Laheri-Krynky-Korsunka road before Russian airstrikes pushed Ukrainian forces back to the northern outskirts of the settlement. Another Russian military blogger claimed that battles were ongoing near Pishchanivka (14 kilometres east of Kherson and 4 kilometres from the Dnipro River) and that a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group was operating on the southern outskirts of the settlement. A well-known Russian military blogger suggested that as of midday on 18 October, Russian forces were only holding positions on the southern outskirts of Pishchanivka, while the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on 19 October that Russian aircraft had struck Pishchanivka, implying that Ukrainian forces were still operating in the town. However, ISW has not observed any other visual evidence that Ukrainian forces hold any other positions in settlements on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast other than Krynky. Support UP or become our patron! (CNN) The US and its allies have been urging Israel to be strategic and clear about its goals if and when it launches a ground invasion of Gaza, warning against a prolonged occupation and placing a particular emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties, US and Western officials told CNN. In private discussions with their Israeli counterparts, Western defense officials have not tried to dissuade Israel from moving into Gaza with ground forces, the sources said. But they have emphasized that Israel should have clear objectives when it comes to degrading Hamas and seeking to avoid a long-term occupation of the Gaza Strip. Our advice to them isnt Dont do it, because we completely respect their right to go after Hamas and that means going after them wherever they are, a NATO defense minister told CNN. So its not Dont do it, but it is Think about what happens and have a strategy, not just a tactical maneuver. We expect Israel to act within international humanitarian law, but we understand that theyre dealing with an enemy here. President Joe Biden expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with 60 Minutes last week. While he said that taking out the extremists is a necessary requirement for Israel, Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas dont represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again. And on Wednesday, while in Tel Aviv, Biden warned in public remarks that wartime leadership requires clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path youre on will achieve those objectives. An Israeli official confirmed that these discussions with the US and other allies are taking place. A separate senior Israeli official said Friday that Israel is well aware of the humanitarian issues and is taking steps to address it in cooperation with the US government. Its Hamas who has turned the 2 million people of Gaza into a human shield. Earlier this week, Israels ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, told CNN that Israel has no interest in occupying Gaza, although Israeli officials have warned the operation there will be lengthy. Hamas is also believed to be holding over 200 hostages, who could be endangered if Israel invades. The group released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, on Friday. US officials dont yet have a clear sense for Israels intentions in Gaza and believe it will be difficult for Hamas to be eradicated entirely. At least publicly, Israeli officials have articulated their plans only in broad strokes, saying that the goal is to eliminate Hamas and its infrastructure. Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, go to the places where Hamas organizes, operates, plans and launches, Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said Sunday, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. To hit them severely everywhere, every commander, every operative, and to destroy infrastructure. In one word to win. In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out to debilitate Hamas with the last ground invasion into Gaza. While that war dealt Hamas a significant blow, it was a huge challenge, and Israel hasnt attempted another incursion since. Concerns about further inflaming tensions There is also a rising concern that a ground invasion could further inflame tensions in the region, officials explained, which heightened after a hospital blast in Gaza that Israel and Hamas have blamed on each other. The US has assessed that Israel was not responsible but has yet to conclusively identify a culprit. Protests have erupted across the Arab world in the wake of the hospital explosion, and a large-scale and seemingly indiscriminate Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could fuel further unrest, US and Middle Eastern officials told CNN. US troops have already been attacked multiple times in recent days in Iraq and Syria, with drones and rockets targeting coalition bases there. And Hezbollah the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon has threatened further action if Israeli boots step into Gaza. I think we all understand the importance of the information warfare spare, said one source familiar with US intelligence. Whatever they do, it needs to be thoughtful and deliberate. US officials also fear that a particularly bloody assault on Gaza could risk drawing Hezbollah, to the north, or even Iran into the conflict. Right now, multiple officials familiar with US and Western intelligence say, it appears that neither Tehran nor Hezbollah are particularly keen to intervene directly. But if there is a parade of images of Palestinians suffering under an Israeli assault, their domestic politics could shift. A senior US official told CNN that among the benefits of Bidens trip to Israel this week was that it buys us some time when it comes to a potential Israeli ground incursion. It was generally understood before the trip that Israel would not escalate in Gaza while Biden was visiting, the official said. The official added that the longer the Israelis hold off on this kind of military operation the better, because it allows Israel to plan more strategically and not respond as emotionally to the horrors of October 7. Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior intelligence analyst specializing in the region, told CNN that the good news is they (Israel forces) have taken the time. They didnt go immediately and launch a ground operation the next day. I think the president deserves some credit for buying time. But Panikoff added that any kind of ground operation wont be quick or easy, because urban warfare in such a densely populated area is a unique challenge especially in a place where Hamas is embedded with the civilian population. I dont think that necessarily the goal (of Bidens trip) was to prevent a full-scale invasion, he said. I think the goal was to show clear support (and) to understand Israels strategy of what comes after an invasion if Israel is successful in decimating Hamas. Whats the plan for governance in the Gaza Strip? Avdiyivka After around three weeks of attacks, activity of Russian forces has diminished somewhat on the Avdiyivka frontline, Oleksandr Shtupun, Tavria defense forces spokesperson, said on Oct. 21. The enemys activity has somewhat decreased, but it continues to (attempt to) advance, Shtupun said on Ukrainian national television. Read also: Russian onslaught persists in Avdiivka, city stands strong, says official He said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are steadfastly holding their defense in that area. Shtupun also reported that Russia conducted one missile strike and 24 airstrikes in the Tavria area of battle, with the majority of them being precision air strikes on the Avdiyivka frontline. Vitaliy Barabash, the Avdiyivka military administration chief, announced on Oct. 20 that Russian forces had initiated a new wave of assaults, describing the situation as complex. Read also: 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 Armed Forces of Ukraine Ukrainian forces are carrying out more extensive than usual ground operations on the left bank of Kherson Oblast and have advanced to the village of Krynky, U.S-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War or ISW has said in its latest report on the situation in Ukraine. Geolocation images published on Oct. 19 confirm the Ukrainian forces move towards the village, which is located approximately two kilometers inland from the Dnipro River. Read also: Russian propaganda retreats as its Avdiyivka offensive stalls, ISW speculates on what comes next Russian war correspondents have reported that Ukrainian forces were fortifying their positions near Krynky and maintaining a presence around the Antonivskiy Bridge area. They suggested that Ukrainian troops temporarily advanced into the village but were pushed back to the northern outskirts by Russian forces using airstrikes. Clashes were also reported near the village of Pishchanivka, located 14 kilometers east of Kherson and four kilometers inland from the Dnipro. There, a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group is believed to be operating on the southern outskirts of the village, according to one source. Read also: Ukraine knocks out two critical bridges used by Russia to supply southern troops from Crimea ISW ISW has yet to find visual confirmation that Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain positions in other settlements on the left bank of the region besides Krynky. Both Russian and Ukrainian sources indicate that the Russian units in Kherson Oblast are less combat-ready compared to other fronts. The Ukrainian General Staff reported Russian airstrikes in the Pishchanivka area, indicating Ukrainian forces continued presence, but the situation remains unclear. Russian forces on the left bank of Kherson Oblast consist mainly of units from the 49th Combined Arms Army and elements from the newly created 18th Combined Arms Army. A significant portion of the 49th Combined Arms Army was deployed in the area after Russian occupiers fled the right bank, resulting in significant losses, ISW said. The UK Ministry of Defense Intelligence has reported that the Russian military is likely forming the new 18th Combined Arms Army in Kherson Oblast by repurposing units from the region. However, its uncertain whether these units have the necessary personnel, equipment, and training for the task. Read also: Russia launching heaviest eastern Ukraine offensive in 9 months, UK intel says Analysts liken the deployment of the 18th Combined Arms Army in Kherson Oblast to the hasty creation of the 25th Combined Arms Army in Kupyansk and Lyman sectors, facing similar challenges, ISW said. Russian war correspondents have reported units from the 26th Motorized Rifle Regiment defending against the Ukrainian advance near Krynky, and units from the 1st Battalion of the 177th Marine Infantry Regiment operating near the Antonivskiy Bridge, both of which have experienced significant losses. Read also: Ukraine gains foothold across Dnipro River in autumn advance on Kherson front ISW had previously reported a breakthrough by certain units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces across the Dnipro River into the occupied part of Kherson Oblast. This operation, based on the reaction of Russian correspondents, is deemed significant and continues to evolve. 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 boy plays on a tank installed as a monument in Kyiv, Ukraine, in front of the Motherland monument, just reopened for public viewing on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) At least three civilians were killed and others wounded in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday, as Russian forces continued to shell areas across the country and pushed forward near an embattled eastern city, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. A man died as Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol from their stronghold at Ukraine's largest nuclear plant, according to Ukrainian local Gov. Serhii Lysak. Lysak said that emergency services in Nikopol were working to assess the damage. Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early in the war, sparking intermittent fears of a radiation incident as shelling persisted near the site, often targeting Ukrainian-controlled settlements across the Dnieper River. In Kryvyi Rih, the central Ukraine hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, , a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul . The man's wife was hospitalized with serious shrapnel wounds, Vilkul said. The mayor reported that Russian missiles and drones hit the same place again overnight, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Vilkul did not elaborate on the site's nature or whether it was linked to Ukraine's war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian military's fuel and ammunition depots near Kryvyi Rih's local airport. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials to Konashenkov's claim. In southern Ukraine's front-line Kherson region, one civilian was killed and another wounded during mass shelling attacks by Russian troops, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Saturday. The Russians used mortars, artillery, tanks, drones, and multiple-rocket launchers to target the region, striking some residential areas, Prokudin wrote in a Telegram post. Russian shelling over the past day also wounded one civilian in the front-line city of Avdiivka, in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, acting local Gov. Ihor Moroz reported on Saturday. Avdiivka has been fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces in recent weeks as Kyivs forces try to hold off a renewed Russian assault. Moroz said that exploding drones, missiles, mortars and artillery shells fired by Russian troops also struck other parts of the region. Russian troops on Friday launched a fresh offensive north of Avdiivka that has secured minor gains, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. The Washington-based think tank cited geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin military bloggers on the ground to support its assessment. Moscow's renewed push near Avdiivka reflects the Russian military command's commitment to offensive operations in the area "despite heavy materiel and personnel losses, the institute said. The Ukrainian General Staff on Friday claimed that Ukrainian forces had damaged and destroyed almost 50 Russian tanks and over 100 armored vehicles in the fighting near Avdiivka during the previous day. The claim that could not be independently verified. Oleksandr Shputun, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army unit fighting near Avdiivka, said in televised remarks Saturdays that Russian military activity in the area had "decreased slightly," possibly due to heavy losses. However, Shputun acknowledged that Russian units continued to advance. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a 39-year-old civilian man was hospitalized with wounds as Russian shelling hit two village homes near the embattled town of Kupiansk, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Saturday. Russian forces have for weeks been pressing an offensive to retake territory near Kupiansk and the nearby town of Lyman. The governor of Russia's southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said Saturday that Ukrainian forces shelled two of the province's districts with mortars and grenade launchers the previous day. According to Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov, no civilians were hurt. Elsewhere, a top Ukrainian presidential adviser reported that four Ukrainian children who were released from Russian captivity on Monday have been reunited with their families. According to the Telegram post by Andriy Yermak, a 17-year-old girl and three boys ages 9, 6 and 3, were captured by occupying Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. Yermak said one of the boys was transferred to an orphanage in southern Russia, while another was forcibly taken to Russian-annexed Crimea. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Moscow when it issued arrest warrants in March for President Vladimir Putin and Russia's childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. State media in Kremlin-allied Belarus have also published reports on children arriving in the country from Ukraine's occupied territories, ostensibly to join health recuperation programs. Over 100 combat clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces have taken place in the past 24 hours. The Russians maliciously launched a missile strike on a school in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast. The building of the educational institution was almost completely destroyed. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 21 October Details: In total, the Russians launched 9 missile strikes and 39 airstrikes, and fired multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements 50 times. As a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties among the civilian population. A school, apartment and private residential buildings, as well as other civil infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Last night, the Russian occupiers launched another missile and air attack on Ukraine, using Kh-59 guided air missiles, Iskander-K cruise missiles and Shahed-136/131 type UAVs. Information regarding the aftermath of this terrorist attack is currently being established. Luhansk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Kherson Oblast were hit by airstrikes. About 110 settlements of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts came under Russian artillery fire. 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. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled over 20 Russian attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast, and over 5 attacks near Nadiia in Luhansk Oblast. On the Lyman front, Ukraines Defence Forces prevented the loss of their positions near Nevelske in Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian troops repelled all Russian attacks near Bohdanivka and Khromove. Also, Russian forces attempted to regain their lost ground near Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast but failed. 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 keep trying to encircle Avdiivka, but Ukraines defenders are steadfastly holding the defence, inflicting significant losses on the Russian forces. Russian offensive actions near Novokalynove, Stepove, and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast proved unsuccessful. On the Marinka front, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault actions with air support in the area of Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukraines Defence Forces repelled 20 attacks. On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled the attacks of the Russian invaders near Zolota Nyva, Staromaiorske and Rivnopil in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault actions near the settlement of Poltavka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Also, the Russians unsuccessfully tried to regain their lost position in the area of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 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. Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted eight strikes on areas where Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated and four strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck one command post, one ammunition storage point, three clusters of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment, and an electronic warfare station. Support UP or become our patron! Defense Minister Rustem Umerov thanked the U.S. leadership for delivering the long-range Army Tactical Missiles Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine during a call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Oct. 21. "This is having a major impact on the battlefield," Umerov said. Ukrainian forces used U.S.-supplied 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. 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. The U.S. has provided around 20 ATACMS to Ukraine, the New York Times reported on Oct. 18, citing two Western officials. The delivery "was carried out in secrecy, out of concern that they could be attacked by Russia as they were shipped," the New York Times reported. The news about the delivery of ATACMS was also not made public as "Ukraine wanted to try to catch the Russians off guard." Read also: Kuleba: ATACMS deliveries to increase, optimistic that F-16s will arrive beginning of 2024 President Volodymyr Zelensky had long campaigned for the donation of these weapons due to their range, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets deep behind the front line. However, the delivery was agreed on the condition that Ukraine would not use them to strike targets on Russian territory, one source said. The U.S. will keep delivering ATACMS to Ukraine on a consistent basis, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on the 1+1 TV channel on Oct. 19. He also expressed hope that future deliveries would include the newer ATACMS variations that have a range of up to 300 kilometers. The ATACMS sent by the U.S. so far have a range of up to 165 kilometers. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to double down on efforts to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza on Saturday, amid Israels war with Hamas. The first aid convoys entered Gaza early Saturday after days of negotiations between Egypt, the U.S. and Israel. Israeli strikes had previously kept Gazas only border with Egypt closed. Yesterday I went to the Rafah border crossing. There I saw a paradox a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real time, Guterres said at a Cairo summit advocating for an end of the war. Full trucks on one side, empty stomachs on the other. Those trucks need to move as quickly as possible in a massive, sustained and safe way from Egypt into Gaza, he said. Top Stories from The Hill The conflict started earlier this month after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns near Gaza, killing over 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Responding Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed over 4,100 people, including over 1,700 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Biden administration has strongly backed Israel in the conflict. President Biden announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package for Gaza civilians earlier this week, but Guterres said that should only be the beginning. The people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, he said. We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen. Gaza is running out of food, fuel and power, making life difficult for the over 2 million people who live in the territory amid continuous airstrikes from the Israeli military. On Friday, Guterres said the aid convoys are the difference between life and death for the people. 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 In the speech Saturday, Guterres denounced the violence of Hamas, but stuck by the rights of civilians in Gaza and advocated for independent Palestinian governance in the region. The grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long, Guterres said. We cannot and must not ignore the wider context for these tragic events: the long-standing conflict and 56 years of occupation with no end in sight. But nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorized Israeli civilians, he continued. And those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The U.N. chief said international humanity law must be upheld. That includes protecting civilians and not attacking hospitals, schools and UN premises that are currently sheltering half a million people, Guterres added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The UN's Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has documented several cases of war crimes committed by Russian troops, including rape and torture, according to the report made public on Oct. 20. The latest inquiry was centered on violations that occurred in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and followed previous investigations, which focused on abuses in nine Ukrainian oblasts and in Russia. The investigation documented several cases of rape that occurred between March 2022 and July 2022 in villages of Kherson Oblast, some of them taking place in the same unspecified settlement. In the cases investigated, the victims included a 16-year-old pregnant girl and women aged from 19 to 83 years. Most of them were in vulnerable situations being of advanced age or taking care of children or relatives with disabilities. The rape was often accompanied by torture, threats, and psychological abuse of the victims and their relatives, the commission said. One of the victims and her husband were reportedly shot dead by Russian soldiers after they reported the crime to the occupation authorities. Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine The commission also gathered evidence on a number of cases of torture carried out in Russian detention facilities. Russian soldiers reportedly targeted people accused of supporting or aiding Ukraine. In the document cases, men and women aged 29 to 57 were subjected to torture primarily during interrogation sessions. "Every time I answered that I didn't know or didn't remember something, they gave me electric shocks... I don't know how long it lasted. It felt like an eternity," one of the victims recounted. The commission also mentioned one case in the now-liberated Biliaiivka village in Kherson Oblast, where a detainee died following a torture session after being denied medical care. The majority of detainees were held in inhumane conditions and often subjected to psychological abuse and humiliation. The commission also gathered testimony on sexual violence taking place in these detention facilities. Cases of torture and sexual violence committed by Russian forces on Ukrainian territory have been reported by human rights organizations since 2014. Ukrainian authorities said in August that the police are investigating more than 93,000 reports of sexual violence committed by Russian troops. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian soldiers raped a 16-year-old pregnant girl and numerous women aged 19 to 83 during their occupation of Kherson Oblast. The victims were beaten, and some of them had broken ribs and knocked-out teeth. Source: Ukrinform with reference to a report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, presented to the UN General Assembly and published on Friday Details: The document states that the Commission has focused its recent investigations on Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The documented cases of rape by the Russian military occurred between March 2022 and July 2022 in small villages in Kherson Oblast. In the cases investigated, the rape victims were a 16-year-old girl and women aged 19 to 83. Most of them were in a vulnerable condition. One of the victims was a 16-year-old pregnant girl, three were elderly women, some lived alone or with their children, or with a family member with a disability. The victims were among the women who had remained in their villages after the occupation of the territory by Russian forces to care for the elderly or relatives with disabilities, to look after their property, or because they were unable to escape. The documented cases of rape were committed with the use of force or psychological coercion. Most incidents occurred after the perpetrators broke into the victims' homes and threatened them with weapons or the intention to kill their relatives. In some cases, the same perpetrator raped the victim two or more times. In two cases, several perpetrators raped the victims at once. One of the victims and her husband were shot dead by Russian soldiers after they reported the rape. Moreover, the Russian military committed additional acts of violence against the victims of rape, including brutal beatings, suffocation, strangulation, cuts and shooting close to the victim's head. In a number of cases, family members were witnesses of the rape. One witness reported that when a soldier raped her pregnant daughter, he said: "It's not scary, everyone does it". The document describes in detail several cases of rape and sexual violence committed by the Russian military in Kherson Oblast. "In March 2022, a Russian soldier came to the house of an 83-year-old woman and forced her to open the door. He questioned her on whether she knew persons who cooperated with the Ukrainian armed forces and beat her with his rifle. The soldier ordered her to undress, raped her, and continued to rape and beat her for several hours. He threatened to rape the womans husband, who lived with a disability and was present in the house. The soldier stole some belongings," the report says. In another case that took place in March and April 2022, several groups of Russian soldiers repeatedly visited a married couple's home and shop. The victim reported that the soldiers "looted, forced her to cook for them, took showers and slept in her house. During one visit in April 2022, Russian soldiers locked the husband in a room." After that, one of the soldiers threatened to kill the 59-year-old woman and sexually harassed her, while repeatedly reloading his rifle. Later, in April 2022, three Russian soldiers broke into the house at night and shot at the man, but missed. Two soldiers beat the woman with pistols, kicked her, threatened to shoot her, tore off her clothes and raped her. She tried to escape, but they grabbed her, dragged her into the house and raped her again. In May 2022, three Russian soldiers came to the home of a married couple who had stayed to look after their grandmother. They beat the 52-year-old man, and the 50-year-old woman was raped by all three of them in turn. The couple reported the rape to a Russian military commander. Their neighbours said that afterwards, three different soldiers "were looking for a woman who reported the rape", came to the couple's house and shot them both dead. In July 2022, a Russian soldier came to the home of a 75-year-old woman, where she stayed to protect her property. The soldier attacked her, hit her in the face, chest and ribs, and choked her while interrogating her. He ordered her to undress, and when she refused, he tore off her clothes, cut her stomach with a small sharp object and raped her several times. The next morning, he raped her again and beat her. As a result, the victim had several broken ribs and knocked-out teeth. Support UP or become our patron! The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine released a report on on Oct. 20 investigating on rape and torture in occupied Ukrainian territories. The Commission found new evidence that Russian authorities committed a number of war crimes, including willful killing, torture, rape and other sexual violence, and the deportation of children to the Russian Federation. The Commission emphasized that new research further demonstrates that Russian authorities use torture "in a widespread and systematic way in various types of detention facilities which they maintained." Additionally, the report documented a number of instances in which "Russian soldiers burst into houses of villages they occupied, raped women and a girl, and committed additional war crimes against the victims and their family members." Previous reports on sexual and gender-based violence focused on nine provinces in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This most recent report investigated Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and discovered multiple cases of rapes and sexual violence in a district of Kherson province. Among the cases investigated, victims of rape ranged from a 16-year-old girl and women aged from 19 to 83 years. One of the victims was a 16-year-old pregnant girl, three were older women, some living alone, or with young children, or with family members living with a disability. Sexual violence cases were perpetrated with use of force or psychological coercion. Most of the incidents occurred after Russian soldiers broke into the victims homes. Read also: Ukraine war latest: White House requests $61 billion for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (CNN) Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have descended on the south of the Gaza Strip as a potential Israeli ground operation looms. But where they will go from there is anyones guess. The coastal enclave is blockaded by land, air and sea by Israel, which has declared war on its Hamas rulers for a brazen attack on October 7 that killed 1,400 people. Israel has also shut off the supply of water, electricity, food and fuel, leaving the impoverished territorys 2 million residents helpless. A border crossing with Egypt in the south has been touted as the last hope for Gazans to escape as Israels bombs rain down, and many Palestinians have begun moving in its direction in anticipation. That crossing at Rafah however is shut. Heres what we know about it. What is the situation at Rafah now? The crossing is presently closed. It was briefly opened on Saturday morning to allow the first convoy of 20 trucks, laden with vital supplies, to cross into Gaza. According to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah crossing, 13 trucks were carrying medicine and medical supplies, five were carrying food and two trucks had water. While many international organizations welcomed the short reopening, aid workers said the supplies are a fraction of whats required for the 2.2 million people crammed into Gaza under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. The World Food Programme (WFP) described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic due to the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and called for more aid to be allowed into the territory. WFP executive director Cindy McCain told CNN Saturday that starvation is rampant in the besieged enclave, adding that the organization needs to continue sending more trucks into the strip to get to the millions of people who are literally going to starve to death. She added: This cannot be the last convoy there are too many lives at stake. The United States has been pressuring Egypt to establish a humanitarian corridor for civilians in Gaza, as well as for foreigners. Egypt has said it wont allow refugees to flood its territory and has instead insisted that Israel allow it to deliver aid to Gazans. Opening of the border is a complicated matter given the number of parties involved. It requires the approval of Egypt and Hamas, which directly control the crossing, as well as an okay from Israel, which has been bombing Gaza, including Rafahs vicinity. Egypt has demanded assurances that Israel wont bomb aid convoys. There are around 200 trucks at the border waiting to get into Gaza and negotiations are ongoing between Israel and the US for an agreement that could allow more aid to get in. The 20 trucks which crossed from Egypt through the Rafah border to deliver aid to Gaza on Saturday were carrying food, water and medical supplies, but no fuel. Head of communications for the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, Wael Abu Mohsen, told Saudi state media Al Hadath TV in an interview Saturday that fuel was not delivered, despite fuel supplies running dangerously low at hospitals and schools in Gaza. Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also told reporters on Saturday that no fuel entered Gaza in the aid convoy. A Palestinian spokesperson for the Rafah border crossing claimed on Saturday that the aid trucks do not have enough supplies for even one school in Gaza. CNN could not immediately verify this claim. Why is the crossing so important right now? Located in Egypts north Sinai, the Rafah crossing is the sole border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. It falls along an 8-mile (12.8-kilometer) fence that separates Gaza from the Sinai desert. Gaza has changed hands several times over the past 70 years. It fell under Egyptian control in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, and was captured by Israel in the 1967 war, after which Israel began settling Jews there and significantly curtailed the movement of its Palestinian residents. In 2005, Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the territory, and two years later the strip was seized by Hamas. Since then, Egypt and Israel have imposed tight controls on their respective borders with the territory and Israel blockades it further by restricting travel by sea or air. Israel has also enclosed the territory with a heavily fortified border fence. Before the war that started this month, Israel had two crossings with Gaza: Erez, which is for the movement of people, and Kerem Shalom, for goods. Both were heavily restricted and have been shut since the war began. That has left the Rafah crossing with Egypt as the territorys only entrypoint to the outside world. According to United Nations figures, an average of 27,000 people crossed the border each month as of July this year. The border was open for 138 days and closed for 74 this year until that month. Closures often depend on the security and political situation on the ground. While Israel has no direct control over the crossing, Egypts closures often coincide with Israels own tightening of restrictions on Gaza. How has Rafah crossing access changed over time? Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1982, which saw the Jewish state withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula that it had captured from Egypt in 1967. Israel then opened the Rafah crossing, which it controlled until it withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Between then and Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, the crossing was controlled by the European Union, which worked closely with Egyptian officials. Between 2005 and 2007, some 450,000 passengers used the crossing with an average of about 1,500 people per day. Following Hamas takeover, Egypt and Israel significantly tightened restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory. But in 2008, militants blew up fortifications on the border with Egypt near Rafah, prompting at least 50,000 Gazans to flood into Egypt to buy food, fuel and other supplies. Shortly after the breach, Egypt sealed its barrier with barbed wire and metal barricades. The Rafah crossing has since been tightly controlled, with limited access and lengthy bureaucratic and security processes required of Palestinians wishing to cross into Egypt. What is it usually like to cross the Rafah border? Movement through Rafah on normal days is extremely limited; only Gazans with permits as well as foreign nationals can use it to travel between Gaza and Egypt. Gazans wishing to cross the border often have long waits. Jason Shawa, a Palestinian American from Seattle who lives in Gaza, says the process has taken him a minimum of 30 days but wait times could last up to three months. Travelers require an exit permit from Hamas and an entry permit from Egypt, he said. The process requires him to submit his documents to a Hamas government office for a permit to exit the territory. A few days later, he would receive a text message telling him which day he can leave, which could be up to three months later. On the day of departure, a bus would take travelers from the Palestinian side of the border to the Egyptian one, where they would wait hours for Egyptian authorities to receive and process visa applications. Many travelers are turned away there, Shawa said, adding that Palestinians are regularly mistreated there. Why is Egypt reluctant to open the crossing for Gazans? Egypt, which already hosts millions of migrants, is uneasy about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees crossing into its territory. More than 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi last week said his country is trying to help within limits. Of course, we sympathize. But be careful, while we sympathize, we must always be using our minds in order to reach peace and safety in a manner that doesnt cost us much, he said. Many have also fumed at the idea of turning the Gazan population into refugees once again by displacing them from Gaza. Most Gazans are registered by the UN as refugees, whose ancestors came from areas that are now part of Israel. I think that is a plan of the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground. No refugees in Jordan. No refugees in Egypt, Jordans King Abdullah said on Tuesday. Egypt has called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter via Rafah, but is yet to give in to US calls to establish a safe corridor for civilians inside Egyptian territory. If you're renting, how much does it cost in Rhode Island? A lot, as rents keep rising. According to the HousingWorksRI's 2023 Fact Book, released on Friday, the statewide average for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,996, making at least one-third of Rhode Island households cost-burdened, defined as spending more than 30% of their income on rent. That is just one of the findings about how expensive housing has become in the Ocean State, as few new homes are built, most communities still ban multi-family housing and the cheapest place to buy a house in Rhode Island, Central Falls (median single-family home price $273,000), population 22,464, saw only 13 sales in 2022. Compare that to the next cheapest place to buy a house in 2022, Woonsocket ($325,000), population 43,118, with 241 sales. What does it mean to be housing cost-burdened, and why is it important? Being cost-burdened, or housing cost-burdened, means a household spends more than 30% of its income on housing costs. More than a third of Rhode Island households are cost-burdened, according to the Fact Book. Being cost-burdened means households often do not have enough money left over to pay for all their other needs, aside from housing, like food, clothes, health care and transportation. It also leaves households vulnerable to displacement through foreclosure or eviction, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More: Are you in the middle class in Rhode Island? Here's the minimum income for a family in RI. Households that owned their own homes had a median income of $100,000 in 2022, putting them, with utilities included, at a max monthly spend of $2,500, an amount that has been "historically" enough to own a home in many Rhode Island communities. With the precipitous rise in prices since the pandemic, that is not enough to buy a house anywhere but Central Falls, a city that has almost no single-family housing stock. Although the Fact Book does not account for the rise in interest rates, combined with higher mortgage rates, they have put a major squeeze on would-be homebuyers. A $450,000 mortgage at 7.5% would cost $3,146 a month, requiring a yearly income of $125,840 to not be cost-burdened, a calculation that excludes utility costs, private mortgage insurance and taxes. Rents keep rising With the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment reaching nearly $2,000, according to the RI Housing's annual rent survey, a household needs to make $80,000 to not be cost-burdened. The cost estimates vary depending on the organization doing the calculations. Page 1 of 2023HFB Page 1 of 2023HFB Contributed to DocumentCloud by Wheeler Cowperthwaite (The Providence Journal) View document or read text The website rentcafe.com puts Rhode Island's average rent at $2,489 for a 843-square-foot apartment, requiring $99,560 a year in income to not be rent-burdened. RI Housing's annual rent survey put rent in 2021 for a 2-bedroom apartment at $1,771 ($70,840 a year in income), the year rents started to rise markedly. In 2020, the average rent was $1,660 ($66,400 a year in income), a slight incline from 2015, when it was $1,612 ($64,480 a year in income). The housing unaffordability-homelessness connection The rapid rise in the cost of housing across all housing types is the reason for the rapid growth in the number of unhoused people in the state, according to the Fact Book. The number of unsheltered people has risen from 71 in 2019 to 334 in 2023, according to point-in-time count data, while the total number of people experiencing homelessness, including those using emergency shelter, has increased 72% since 2019, from 1,055 to 1,810. Those who are totally unsheltered has increased from 71 to 334, a 370% increase. Calls to the United Way's 211 Resource Line, evictions and foreclosures have all increased since the pandemic. Most calls to the United Way's resource line, 52%, are about housing. Evictions are up 43% through August 2023, and foreclosures are up 76% since 2021, according to the Fact Book. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer. Material from USA Today was used in this report. Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Housing costs in Rhode Island continue to rise The West Bank city of Ramallah, a city of 60,000, feels like a ghost-town. The typical hustle and bustle here has descended into an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional garbage truck or the wailing ambulance sirens. Thuds from Israels Iron Dome rocket system puncture the silence at intervals too, when rockets from Gaza fall near Jerusalem or its environs. The uncharacteristically empty streets are reflective of how people in the West Bank feel: Even as the death toll in the West Bank and Gaza rises to more than 3,500 people, they know that the worst is yet to come. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the besieged Gaza Strip, its fighters blowing holes in the fence that separates the two territories, using drones to take out Israeli communication towers, killing soldiers at the Erez border crossing then proceeding mostly by foot to the towns nearby. There they killed close to 1,400 people and took captive some 200 others, while thousands of their rockets rained down on Israel. Almost immediately, Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip, which has been under blockade since 2007 and has seen enough wars to last it a lifetime. Entire families have reportedly been killed in airstrikes on apartment towers. In the West Bank, many people who have families in Gaza mourned. Yara, says she lost her aunt and uncle a judge and a human rights lawyer her two cousins, and their wives and children, including an unborn baby, as they sought shelter inside their house. They say the bodies of only 8 out of 20 killed have so far been recovered. Theres also Tahreer who tells me she lost five of her family members her sister-in-law and cousins wife, as well as their five children. Many more are grieving, unable to get to the Gaza Strip with the borders sealed. Nour Odeh, a Ramallah-based political analyst and mother of two boys, who lived in Gaza City for many years, puts it this way: Palestinians in the West Bank see themselves in the victims in Gaza, and they have loved ones, family, friends and colleagues in Gaza, she says. They feel that pain. They feel that aloneness that people in Gaza feel. Its a very punishing feeling. The helplessness of it all. The fact that theres nothing they can do. They cant even collect medicine and food and water and try to send it off to Gaza because the border is sealed. Residents of the West Bank are now afraid that with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahus government, the most right-wing in history, the radical Israeli settler movement will use the war as a chance to drive them from their homes and seize more territory. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Israeli human rights group BTselem warned that Israel has also ramped up efforts to drive Palestinian communities and single-family farms out of their homes and land, cynically exploiting the war to promote its political agenda of taking over more land in the West Bank. Over the past week, eight communities home to 87 families numbering 472 people, 136 of them children were forced to leave their homes because of settler violence, BTselem said in a press release. The risk of violence here is ever present. In the West Bank, at least 75 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7 nine of them were killed on Oct. 19 alone. In one of the bloodiest periods for the territory since 2005, at least 120 West Bank Palestinians were killed this year, long before the Hamas assault in Israel, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, said in February that out of more than 1,500 investigations of violence, seizure and damage of property, and other crimes that had been perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, a little more than 100 resulted in an indictment. Most of the victims were shot by Israeli soldiers, during raids into refugee camps in places like Tulkarem, Jenin and Nablus, while the rest were shot or stabbed to death by settlers. In one incident, a man, Ibrahim al-Wadi, and his son, Ahmed, were killed by settlers as they attended a funeral for four Palestineans who had been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers a day prior. Just days before his death, on Oct. 11, I had spoken to Ibrahim, who told me he had been witnessing an uptick in Israeli settler violence in his village of Qusra in the West Bank. The attacks were relentless, he said, and they were concentrated on the southeastern part of the small village, which is encircled by illegal settlements south of the city of Nablus. That day, four Palestinians were killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers. The next day, a funeral procession took place in Qusra for the men who had been killed. Ibrahim and his son, Ahmed, attended as did many others from the village. But the procession came to a halt when settlers arrived and started throwing rocks. An ambulance driver for the Palestinian Red Crescent told Haaretz that the settlers were waiting there. They blocked the gate, started firing on us and other people who had come for the funeral. Ibrahim and Ahmed were both shot dead. Before he was killed, Ibrahim had told me he was worried that the settlers would use the Gaza war as cover to carry out more attacks. Indeed, many in the West Bank feel the same. The takeover of the West Bank is on steroids because now nobody is looking here, says Nour Odeh. Nobody has the time to notice this [Israeli] governments agenda of dispossessing Palestinians and getting rid of them and its inseparable from whats happening in Gaza. In the West Bank anger has also been aimed at the weakened state of leadership the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the ruling Fatah party all of which are presided over by Mahmoud Abbas . While the PLO is mostly looked upon as the fossilized remains of the past, the PA is very much seen today as a functional subcontractor for Israel, especially its police and security services. While Fatah dominates most of these structures, it is by no means monolithic. The party has been subject to multiple splinter groups of its political party and armed factions, who are still ostensibly Fatah, but do not take orders from its leadership. For example, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Jenin, the armed wing of Fatah, has coordinated their operations with other armed factions under an umbrella group. This would be unthinkable in the past; however, the younger generations that comprise the rank and file of these factions see this as pragmatism, and resist being caught up in the internal political strife between parties of the previous generation. The rhetoric on the Israeli side has become dehumanizing and frightening as a ground war in Gaza grows more and more likely. Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant,announced that the Israeli army were fighting human animals. Diana Buttu, a lawyer and former legal counsel to the Palestinian negotiating team, tells me that the labeling of Palestinians as human animals or children of darkness, provides another layer of impunity with which Israel can continue to kill civilians in the Strip and also in the West Bank. Chris McGreal, a Guardian correspondent who covered the Rwandan genocide, said the language he sees coming from Israeli politicians is eerily familiar. For years, Israeli leaders have advocated ethnic cleansing, euphemistically called transfer, with a discourse that portrays Palestinians as a fake people with no history that matters, wrote McGreal. Those who led and carried out the Rwandan genocide often cast it in the language of Tutsis as outsiders and interlopers, and the killing as an act of self-defense, like in Israel. When al-Ahli Arab hospital was hit in north Gaza on Tuesday, Palestinians in Ramallah started pouring into the streets. Haunted by images of the dead, many of them children, some aired their grievances the only way they could: by grabbing their flags and marching downtown. There, they chanted against Abbas, throwing rocks, chairs and whatever else they could get their hands on at Palestinian security forces, who, in turn, hurled flash bombs and teargas at demonstrators. Abbas was in Amman at the time, meeting with the Jordanian monarch. He was also slated to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden the next day, along with King Abdullah II, and Egyptian President AbdelFattah el-Sisi. The blast at the hospital prompted him to go back to the West Bank, and for the first time since Oct. 7, address people directly. Abbas said that the Palestinians would not accept another Nakba, or Palestinian Catastrophe, in the 21st century and that they will not move, or surrender. We will not leave our homeland nor allow anyone to expel us from there, Abbas said. But it was too little, too late. Abbass reaction has been very weak, Diana Buttu told me. We know that he doesnt have an army, a navy, or an air force, but he does have the ability to speak out and his words have rung hollow. This is because hes worried about his own position, where he stands with the international community. The sentiment permeating in the West Bank is one of loneliness and isolation and also vulnerability. They know that no one will protect them and see all of the weaknesses in their leadership aloof, too dependent on major international players. The people here feel they have no one to speak up for their humanity, and their right to security, life, and dignity. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. A University of Georgia freshman student tragically fell to her death while rock climbing in northeast Alabama. Yutong "Faye" Zhang, 18, was rock climbing in Alabama Oct. 14, when she fell, the Cherokee County Coroners Office confirmed to Fox News Digital. A rock climber ponders his next move. A University of Georgia student tragically fell to her death while rock climbing in Alabama late last week. The 18-year-old died after falling approximately 90 feet from a rock face when her rope became unhooked. NYC CROSSING GUARD DEAD AFTER BEING HIT BY DUMP TRUCK Zhang, of Michigan, was climbing at "Misty," a popular climbing route at Cherokee Rock Village in Leesburg, which features 200-foot boulders. Yutong "Faye" Zhang was a freshman at the University of Georgia at the time of her death. Zhang was an active member of Athens' Active Climbing gym. Following her tragic death, the gym released a statement saying they were "deeply saddened." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Our thoughts are with Faye's family, friends and the University of Georgia community at this difficult time. We join them in mourning this profound loss and honoring the vibrancy, passion and kindness that she brought into our lives." "Faye, your spirit will forever be a part of our community. Rest in peace," the gym added. A spokesperson for the university told FOX 5 Atlanta that their "sympathies go out to the students family," and they are providing student with counseling and support. Original article source: University of Georgia student tragically dies in rock climbing fall Huntington National Bank will move its newly formed fund finance team into a nearly 11,000-square-foot uptown Charlotte office early next year. About 40 employees will move into the space in January. The Columbus, Ohio-based financial institution signed the lease earlier this summer for 10,834 square feet on the 18th floor of One South, at 101 S. Tryon St. RELATED: Ally Financial becomes latest bank to slash its workforce Huntington formed the fund finance team in June. It is made up of former Signature Bank employees. Signature Bank was shut down by federal regulators in March, just two days after Silicon Valley Banks collapse. Additionally, employees from the commercial bank segment will work from the One South office, including asset finance, capital markets, and specialty and corporate banking. Read more here. (WATCH: Wells Fargo wants to put name on top of iconic Uptown Charlotte building) The spotted lanternfly is wreaking havoc on crops in several US states (Michael M. Santiago) At first glance, the spotted lanternfly looks like an elegant butterfly, speckled with black spots on white wings with a splash of bright red. But the insect native to parts of Asia (Lycorma delicatula) is attacking plants and trees in the United States, and officials are moving quickly to try to contain its spread. "The only good spotted lanternfly is a dead one," said Amy Korman, an entomologist at Penn State Extension, a part of the university that provides training and education in everything from farming to food safety to landscaping. The insect was first detected in the United States in 2014, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. An egg mass was found in a shipment of stone from China, according to experts who have tracked its progress. The SLF -- as experts call it -- poses no threat to humans or animals, but it has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in the US agricultural sector, even though it has only been found in 14 states. In 2020, a Penn State study indicated that in Pennsylvania alone, the insect was responsible for $554 million in annual losses, and the disappearance of nearly 5,000 jobs a year. Despite huge efforts including quarantines, state officials could not contain the insect population. "The spotted lanternfly is a very good hitchhiker," explained Korman. Despite its spectacular wings, the bug is not known to fly long distances. "These insects are very sneaky. They spread thanks to us. We are taking them across the country, especially their eggs," the expert added. Those clusters -- which look like clumpy smears of mud -- end up on tree bark, outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers or grills, and have even "survived some very harsh winters," Korman said. Once the lanternfly reaches adulthood, it feeds on dozens of crops, ornamental and fruit trees, timber and plants. Once a number of insects feed from the same plant, it dies. - Grape lover - Spotted lanternflies have a particular affinity for grape vines. Scientists have observed dozens, even hundreds of them on a single vine. Just ask Michael Fiore, who owns a winery and distillery in Maryland that was infested with SLFs last year. "We have lost 1,000 vines," Fiore told AFP. "The energy has been sucked out -- it's like a vampire," he explained, predicting he will lose half of his harvest this year, and rebuilding will take time. "2022 was bad, 2023 is just as bad," he lamented. Fiore is not alone -- winemakers across Pennsylvania and Maryland have suffered, between the loss of vines and lesser output from those that survived the infestation. The insects also leave a buildup of sticky fluid (known as honeydew) on plants, which creates what the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls "sooty mold." When that mold fully covers a plant's leaves, it prevents photosynthesis -- the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy -- from taking place, and the plant dies. Several US states have tasked scientists with finding a way to eradicate the SLF -- a true race against the clock, as entomologists predict the pest will reach the US West Coast -- and its storied vineyards -- by 2027-2030. American orchards would also be affected, and Canada is worried too. California's wine industry generates $170.5 billion in annual economic activity and employs 1.1 million people, according to the Wine Institute, an advocacy group. In June, the USDA unveiled a five-year plan to study and combat the SLF phenomenon. "We don't understand the full picture," said Matthew Travis, the USDA's point man on the crisis. "It's very challenging for us." "There are so many things we don't know, especially in the population dynamics year after year and their uneven distribution," Travis noted, adding that experts have traveled to Asia to study the insect, but those visits were inconclusive. "It's been a little difficult because they never saw the same big phenomena as we have here," he said. Those obstacles have made it difficult to calculate the long-term financial consequences of the SLF's emergence in the United States. On the grassroots level, residents have organized makeshift patrols to kill the bugs -- because they don't fly far, they are relatively easy to smash, but their relatively large size makes the task rather unappetizing. In Westchester County, in the northern suburbs of New York City, sniffer dogs are being deployed to find SLF egg masses -- and giant vacuums are being used to suck up older specimens. Some have gone so far as to poison the sap of the tree of heaven, one of the insect's favorite trees that also comes from Asia. But the spotted lanternfly does not have a natural predator in North America. elm/sst/tjj The release of two American hostages held by Hamas has magnified a race against the clock to secure the release of others,and evacuate Americans in Gaza ahead of Israels likely ground invasion that could complicate those efforts. Two weeks after Israel launched a total siege of Gaza following Hamas attacks, the first aid trucks carrying food, water and medicine began entering the region on 21 October. The convoy came one day after President Joe Bidens administration confirmed the release of two US-Israeli dual citizens kidnapped by Hamas earlier this month. The release of Judith Ranaan, 59, and her daughter Natalie Raanan, 17, signified a breakthrough in the crisis as US officials seek the release of roughly 200 other hostages from 40 countries including ten Americans who remain unaccounted for, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr Biden spoke with the newly-freed hostages and their family members on Friday and offered the US governments full support as they recover from this terrible ordeal, according to the White House. As Israels defence officials prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza, a joint US-European statement warned of a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza as regional partners underscore the urgent 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. The aid trucks that arrived on Saturday are expected to begin a train of relief into the occupied Palestinian region of more than two million people, including hundreds of thousands displaced after Israels assault. The Biden administration has announced $100m in humanitarian aid. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the trucks arrival an important first step that will alleviate the suffering of innocent people as global aid groups warned that more help is needed. The Biden administration said that its top priority remains the release of American hostages. The president has previously spoken with families of Americans believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas after the groups attacks that killed hundreds. Mr Biden also spent several hours speaking with families of Israeli hostages and families of victims during his visit to Israel on Wednesday. We will not stop until we get their loved ones home, Mr Biden said in a statement this week. I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. Natalie Shoshana Raanan, left, and Judith Tai Raanan speak with President Joe Biden on 20 October after being held hostage and later released by Hamas (US Embassy in Jerusalem/AFP via) Secretary Blinken said on Friday that 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. A number of factors could complicate those international efforts including Israels continued airstrikes in Gaza, the impending ground invasion, and an evolving understanding of the number of hostages and which groups are holding them. Several militant groups are involved, according to The Washington Post, citing three people briefed on the negotiations. Many hostages may be trapped along with other Gaza residents in the densely-populated enclave with food, water and fuel scarce or nonexistent under Israels ongoing blockade and aerial bombings. Among the mediators working to secure hostages release is the International Committee of the Red Cross. Fabrizio Carboni, the organizations regional director for the Near and Middle East, told The New York Times they had met with Hamas officials over the past week but considering the level of violence in Gaza, I see it as extremely complicated for us to do our work. The Biden administration deployed longtime state department official Steven Gillen to lead hostage recovery efforts from Israel. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to streets across the US, Europe and Middle East to demand an immediate ceasefire. Several Democratic members of Congress have also introduced a resolution supporting an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. Longtime state department official Josh Paul, who resigned this week in protest, told The Independent that officials have consistently ignored mounting concerns about the Biden administrations response to the Gaza crisis. More than 4,300 people in Gaza have died with more than 13,000 injured within two weeks, according to Gazas health ministry. Among the dead are reportedly 1,765 children. Israels military personnel and tanks have amassed at its border, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant instructed service members this week to get organized, be ready for deployment. Israels military also plans to increase strikes on Gaza starting on Saturday, according to a spokesperson. While the US has supported evacuation efforts for Americans in Israel through Ben Gurion Airport as many as 600 Americans remain trapped in Gaza without a way out. The state department anticipates that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt where aid is currently passing through will remain fluid and unpredictable as people try to flee. If you assess it to be safe, you 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, according to the State Department. Advocacy groups and legal teams across the US told The Independent this week that they are working to free those Americans, who have reported frantic attempts for assistance through embassies across the region to no avail. The Independent has requested comment from the US State Department. The engagement of Houthi cruise missiles and drones by the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Carney on Thursday in the Red Sea took place for far longer than initially reported, with more targets destroyed than first indicated. You can read our initial reporting on the incident here . The Carney shot down four land attack cruise missiles and 19 drones, a U.S. official told The War Zone Friday. The engagements took place over a nine-hour period, CNN reported Friday . As we reported Thursday, the Pentagons top spokesman said that the Carney shot down three cruise missiles and several drones. However, as Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder took to the podium yesterday, he also mentioned that the aerial targets intercepted by the Carney could have still been ongoing. USS Carney underway. (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Ordoqui Those weapons were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel, Ryder said. The new information about the incident builds upon the understanding of how long it lasted and the number of weapons launched by the Houhis. It further highlights the growing concern that the Israel-Hamas war could expand beyond Israel and potentially involve the U.S. The Houthis are an Iranian-backed and supplied group in Yemen and recently directly threatened to join the fight against Israel. A sustained barrage toward Israel, intercepted by a U.S. warship in the Red Sea, is an ominous development. It's also a reminder how the air defense situation over and around Israel, as well as in the region overall, is very tense. You can read all about Israel's unique integrated air defense system and how threats emanating from the Red Sea have been a fear for years now, in this recent feature of ours. Another Iranian-backed group, Hezbollah, is already routinely trading fire with Israel from Lebanon, sparking concern about the northern front opening up. The IDF published some videos Friday showing attacks it carried out against Hezbollah in Lebanon. https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1715444553442804002 Against this backdrop, U.S. forces in Iraq came under attack again on Friday. "Over the past 48 hours, there were two separate potential unmanned aerial vehicle attacks directed at the military base near Erbil International Airport," U.S. Central Command spokesman Mike Lawhorn told The War Zone. "There were no reported injures or equipment damaged." The drones crashed without detonating and air defenses were not activated. Lawhorn could not immediately attribute who carried out that attempted attack. A military base near Erbil International Airport has come under possible drone attack, U.S. Central Command told The War Zone Friday. (Google Earth image) There were also two rocket attacks targeting a base with U.S. troops near Baghdads international airport early Friday morning, a U.S. official told The War Zone. Two of the rockets landed on the base, and two off base. There were no injuries. Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria are nothing new, but Ryder on Thursday said there has been an uptick in terms of the types of drone activity we've seen in Iraq and Syria, especially since the Oct. 17 explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Hamas blamed that on Israel, a claim disputed by Israel and by U.S. President Joe Biden . While the U.S. normally attributes attacks in Iraq and Syria to Iranian-backed militias, the Pentagon so far has shied away from blaming any party. However, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an attack on the U.S. garrison at at-Tanf Syria on Thursday was carried out by Iranian-backed militias in response to the situation in Gaza. Iranian-backed militias started their attacks on bases of the US-led International Coalition in Syrian territory as part of revenge campaign for Gaza, SOHR reported Thursday. That came after instructions by the command of the militias which executed their first two operations in the early hours of Thursday morning. At-Tanf garrison was also attacked Wednesday, Ryder says, 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. Soldiers deployed to At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, fire an 81 mm mortar weapon system during a readiness exercise on April 22, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. William Howard) That same morning in Iraq, early warning systems indicated a possible threat approaching the airbase at Ain Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which hosts U.S. forces . 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. As we previously reported , there were also drone attacks Oct. 17 on bases in Iraq with U.S. personnel. While the U.S. is not saying who is behind these attacks, it is clear that fears of the Israel-Hamas war spreading throughout the region, and dragging the U.S. in with it, are well founded. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Bloodsuckers or bloated corpses? How science has tried to explain vampire myths. Nosferatu creeps up the stairs at the exhibition "Vampires: Art, History, Myths And Realities." Francisco Morales/DAMMPHOTO/Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images Lore about vampires and other blood-drinking beings has existed for centuries. For hundreds of years, people have been coming up with scientific explanations. Some link diseases to vampire-like characteristics like pale skin and light sensitivity. In the early 1700s, a series of unusual events kicked off a "media sensation" about vampires. One physician described a "magical plague" in Serbia where "perfectly normal buried dead are arising from their undisturbed graves to kill the living." Articles and books on these vampire attacks soon appeared in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London. There was skepticism, but some observers treated the phenomenon of vampires almost scientifically. They noted eye-witness accounts of how the bodies looked and the evidence that the deceased had been harassing or murdering others. Was this a magical plague or a more typical one? Vampires were very real to people in the past, but there are many ways science can explain their characteristics, whether they come from folklore or fiction. What is a vampire? There are blood-drinking creatures hailing from many countries' folklore, dating back thousands of years. But many modern notions of vampires started with the 1700s media frenzy and continued with "Dracula" and other tales. According to many Slavic traditions, a vampire is an undead being that rises from the grave to drink blood and take its life force from the living. The vampire's victims might then become undead themselves. There were also many other ways to make a vampire. A page from the early 1800s penny dreadful "Varney the Vampire or the Feast of Blood." Hulton Archive/Getty Images People who were murdered or died by suicide or of the plague might become vampires. Supernatural beings, like witches and werewolves, were also candidates. Those who misused alcohol or were seen as disreputable could come back from the grave. Someone could also be born a vampire. In Romania, the seventh child was susceptible to vampirism. Babies who were born with teeth or were covered in a caul or amniotic membrane were suspicious, too. In many countries, it was important to watch over the body of a loved one before burial. Anything from a cat to a human leaping over a body could cause it to turn into a revenant. According to an early 19th-century Serbian anthropologist, "An honest man cannot vampirize, unless some bird or other living creature flies or jumps across his dead body." Was vampirism based on a real disease? Pale skin, fear of sunlight, pointy fangs, and a taste for blood all the tropes of fictional vampires have long caused people to connect the characteristics to symptoms of real diseases, from rabies to leukemia to tuberculosis. Pediatrician Michael Hefferon favors porphyria, a group of rare disorders caused by a buildup of a chemical called porphyrin. They're needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to tissues. An excess causes a range of symptoms. "People might present firstly with illness and fatigue," Hefferon told Insider. They may also have sensitivity to light that causes blistered skin, and their urine may appear red or brown. A 2016 article in JAMA Dermatology called it a "dubious link" between the disorder and folkloric vampires. A neurologist suggested rabies, which animals can transmit to humans through a bite, as another potential disease people may have mistaken for vampirism. The disease can cause light sensitivity and affect sleep-wake cycles, leading to insomnia a potential reason for vampires' nocturnal activities. Researchers who looked at early vampire novels thought leukemia might have been an inspiration. While people with leukemia can look pale, Hefferon said patients either recovered or died. "It's not like a vampire disease where people are wandering the earth for years and years getting to look more and more like vampires," he said. Folklorist Michael Bell attributes US cases of suspected vampirism in the 1700s and 1800s to tuberculosis. Those sick with TB grew fatigued, lost weight, and coughed up blood. Pellagra, caused by vitamin deficiency and which causes light sensitivity, has also been cited as a vampire-like condition. Did Bram Stoker base Dracula on a cholera outbreak? Bram Stoker published "Dracula" in 1897. Arguably the world's most famous fictional vampire, Dracula embodied many of the hallmarks of vampires that now seem cliche: He was pale, charming, and dressed in black, "with peculiarly sharp white teeth." While sunlight sapped the count's powers, it was not until the 1922 film "Nosferatu" that the sun's rays killed vampires. To create his immortal being, Stoker drew on a number of influences, including tales of Vlad the Impaler. He may have partially based Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, on his brother, a physician who performed some of the earliest modern brain surgeries. Portrait of Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, partially inspired Bram Stoker's book Dracula. Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images Originally, Stoker set the story in Austria. Later, he moved it further east and took names and bits of folklore from "Transylvanian Superstitions," an article written by Emily Gerard. "Every person killed by a nosferatu becomes likewise a vampire after death, and will continue to suck the blood of other innocent people until the spirit has been exorcised," she wrote. Cures included staking the corpse or firing a bullet into the coffin. Historian Marion McGarry has suggested Stoker also took inspiration from his mother, Charlotte. She wrote about a cholera epidemic she lived through as a girl. The disease spreads through contaminated water, but when Stoker's mother was a child, its means of transmission were unknown. In Charlotte Stoker's reminiscences, people with the disease were accidentally buried alive, a fear echoed in her son's novel. "Count Dracula treads a path very similar to cholera: a devastating contagion traveling from the East by ship that people initially do not know how to fight," according to McGarry. In 2014, an anthropologist posited that 17th-century bodies buried in Poland with sickles and rocks presumably to prevent them from rising as vampires may have died during a cholera epidemic. Vampire fiction versus folklore As a body decomposes, cells burst, leaking enzymes and chemicals. Blood pools in capillaries and veins, altering the skin's color. Bacteria digest tissue. The body bloats with methane, ammonia, and other gasses. The buildup of liquefied tissue and gas can either leak out of orifices or cause the stomach to burst. Much of this deterioration takes place within the first year, but it can take a decade or longer until only bones remain. Several conditions like extreme temperature and soil acidity can affect the rate of decomposition. In 1892, residents of Exeter, Rhode Island, exhumed the bodies of three women, all members of the same family who had died of consumption. Two had died nearly a decade earlier. One woman, Mercy Bell, had recently died. When her brother became sick, too, the villagers decided to examine the bodies. The older corpses had decomposed as expected. But Mercy Bell looked very fresh, seemingly still full of blood. The villagers burned her heart and mixed the ashes in with her brother's medicine in an attempt to cure him. He died several weeks later. Throughout history, many people have found or exhumed extraordinarily well-preserved bodies. Tightly sealed coffins or freezing temperatures can delay decomposition. In the case of Mercy Bell, she'd been buried for only a couple of months in the coldest months of winter. For centuries, people employed protection against vampires. Many involved ways of treating a dead body. Piercing various body parts with sharp objects; including candles, coins, alcohol, and other objects in the coffin; rubbing garlic on the body; and consuming blood from the corpse were all ways to prevent someone from rising from the grave. One folklorist saw vampires as scapegoats, accused because of "a need to determine the cause of misfortunes." To make sense of what was happening perhaps the deceased's friends and family becoming ill, too villagers might blame the first person to die from the plague or another epidemic. If they exhumed a body, some signs of decomposition could be misattributed to markers of life: a reddened face from pooling blood, a shifted position caused by bloating and escaping gas, and liquified tissue that resembled fresh blood. Dracula and other fictional vampires look very different from those described in Slavic folklore. Bettmann via Getty Images A corpse's beard and fingernails may appear longer, though it was an illusion created by shriveling skin. Driving a stake into the body, decapitating it, and cremation were all methods of trying to stop a vampire from killing others. As scientists began to learn and understand more about the body and death, stories about vampires started to evolve. In 1819, a physician named John Polidori revamped the supernatural beings' image, basing his wealthy, debonair Lord Ruthven in "The Vampyre" on the romantic poet Lord Byron. A suave monster, Ruthven was by turns alluring and appalling. That vampiric ability to transform makes them enduring, with an appeal that seems unlikely to die anytime soon. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelans voted on Sunday to pick the opposition candidate wholl try to end a quarter century of socialist rule in 2024 elections. Most Read from Bloomberg Former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado is the clear favorite among the ten candidates, even though shes banned from holding public office. Large crowds overwhelmed voting centers across Caracas during an independently organized primary in which voters struggled to identify their polling centers. Despite efforts to publicize the vote, President Nicolas Maduros government had blocked a website that informs citizens where to cast their ballot. I want my grandchildren to have a future and not have to leave the country, Nestor Gomez, a 63-year-old handyman, said outside his voting center near the main square of notorious Caracas slum Petare. This is our say to change the current situation. Residents in a middle class part of the capital brought their own tables and chairs to set up nine polling stations on the sidewalk, where thousands have been lining up to vote since early morning, said local coordinator Mirna Azancote. Near the end of an approximately three-hour-long line, 20-year-old Luis Moya waited to vote for the first time. This government wants young people not to take politics seriously. I have friends who arent even registered to vote because they think: for what? But this is the only right we have left, Moya said. The primary is being held days after Maduro signed an agreement for fairer conditions in next years vote in return for an easing of US economic sanctions. Whoever wins is expected to face Maduro, 60, when he runs for a third six-year term next year, and could also be a new unifying force for the fragmented opposition. Heres what to expect: Machados Leadership Machado, 56, who describes herself as a centrist, is the frontrunner. One recent poll found she had 87% of voting intention among those with a high probability of casting their ballots. Still, she faces serious obstacles to becoming president. Maduros government prohibits her from leaving the country and, in June, ruled that shes ineligible to hold public office. Machado says the disqualification is meaningless and hopes that a victory this weekend will force Maduro to lift the ban. Read More: Venezuela Opposition Leader Machado Barred From Elections Machado wants to revive Venezuelas battered economy through market-friendly policies and widespread privatization, including of the key oil sector. She would also seek to roll Venezuelas massive debt pile into a single bond. None of the other candidates is anywhere close, according to local pollster Delphos. Democratic Action party candidate, Carlos Prosperi, also a former lawmaker, is in second place with 2.1% support among those with a high probability of casting their ballots, according to Delphos. Today we honor Venezuelans abroad, persecuted, expelled from the country, others in prison and even dead, Machado said before casting her vote. Today is just one step, our duty isnt accomplished yet. Maduro Ally The opposition decided to fund and run the primaries on its own once the government announced changes inside the electoral body. These included naming Elvis Amoroso, a close Maduro ally, as the bodys president. Amoroso was responsible for barring key opposition leaders from running, including Machado. The decision to organize the primaries independently has raised doubts about the process and its results. The vote will not use machines or traditional voting centers, relying instead on paper ballots and unfamiliar spaces for voters, ranging from town squares, to parking lots and private homes volunteered by Venezuelans. The organizers stuck to their decision after rejecting a late offer of support by the electoral authority this month, for fear of political interference. They say they have secured more than 3,000 spaces with approximately 5,000 voting tables. The committee says it has trained tens of thousands of volunteers. Low Turnout Recent surveys estimate as few as 1.5 million people will vote on Sunday, nearly half the number who participated in the 2012 opposition primaries after the government blocked the website on voting centers. Relying on public spaces might also discourage voters in poorer neighborhoods where government supporters use their control of food and financial subsidies to reward loyalists and punish opponents. Voting centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until there are no more voters in line. A group of national organizations will be observing the process. Partial results will be published on Sunday evening, according to the organizing committee. Negotiations This week, the government and a coalition of opposition groups restarted talks intended to ensure a more competitive presidential race next year. As a goodwill gesture, the US Treasury issued a six-month license authorizing transactions involving Venezuelan oil and gas. It also lifted a ban on secondary trading of some Venezuelan sovereign bonds and debt and equity issued by the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Read more: Defaulted Venezuelan Bonds Soar After US Lifts Trading Ban Theres still a question over whether Maduro will accede to demands for deep electoral reforms that would allow the opposition to compete fairly, Teneo analyst Nicholas Watson wrote in a note. He may be reluctant to do this at a time when the economy is weak, he himself is unpopular, and Machado is galvanizing support, Watson said. Read More: Venezuelas Government Resumes Talks With Maduros Opposition --With assistance from Fabiola Zerpa and Nicolle Yapur. (Updates with details from Sundays vote starting on the third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Rae adds adult beverages to her growing repertoire of products and partnerships with the debut of Viarae prosecco. Feeling hella thirsty for a buzzy new adult beverage? Say no more, Fam Issa Rae is ready to fill your glass. The HOORAE CEO has added another sector to her ever-expanding portfolio of product lines and revenue streams, partnering with E. & J. Gallo Winery to launch a new prosecco brand, Viarae. Creator and Executive Producer Issa Rae attends the HOORAE Sweet Life season 2 premiere on Aug. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images) Fans of both Rae and her HBO hit Insecure might recognize prosecco as both the drink of choice for the actress-creator and her onscreen alter-ego, Issa Dee. According to Wine Enthusiast, her affinity for the beverage was sparked by none other than her friend and frequent collaborator, director-producer Melina Matsoukas, who ordered the Champagne-like varietal during one of their early meet-ups. I was like, Whats that? Rae recalled. She said, Youll see. Now, Rae is an avowed connoisseur, and fans can enjoy her sparkling signature drink for themselves. I am thrilled to share my love of Prosecco with everyone through Viarae. Its carefully crafted, deliciously crisp, and the perfect beverage to celebrate La Dolce Vita, said Rae in a press release. According to wine-focused media outlet VinePair, Vintage-dated Viarae Prosecco D.O.C. is made from 100 percent [Glera] grapes grown by the La Marca cooperative in Treviso, Italy. As Rae told Wine Enthusiast, her blend is on the drier side; a bit more elevated in taste. This has more citrus notes; theres a little bit of green apple in there. Its a bit on the fruitier but crisp side. Wine Enthusiast further notes, Rae was adamant about making real-deal Prosecco from Italy with 100% Glera grapes. As she told the outlet, Because thats what means the most for me and is authentic to me. Like its founder, the formulation is also versatile, intended to shine alone, in cocktails, or paired with other liquors. As for partnering with legacy brand E. & J. Gallo, Rae explained, Ive been [crafting] this for three years, working with different companies and trying to find the right match. That undoubtedly included finding a partner that would help Rae highlight Black women winemakers. Viarae Proseccos 70s-inspired gold and brown packaging, which instantly evokes iconic Black female film characters like Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones, was designed to reflect that affinity and mission, notes Wine Enthusiast. With Viarae Prosecco, Rae is helping create representation for herself and the vibrant Black female community in a category where it didnt previously exist, the release explains. The labels splashy design unapologetically represents the freedom to let loose and be authentic. Is this the beginning of a Viarae empire? For now, Rae is focused on her debut varietal, though she teased that a President Barbie-appropriate rose or other spirits might not be far off. I think if people fk with this, then absolutely, I would love to expand! she told Wine Enthusiast, proclaiming proseccos bubbly nature a lifestyle. I want to tell stories around that lifestyle. The post With Viarae, Issa Rae declares prosecco a lifestyle appeared first on TheGrio. ZANESVILLE Earlier this month, Victoria Barrientos pleaded guilty to one second-degree felony count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, one third-degree felony count of money laundering, one fourth-degree count of attempted money laundering, one second-degree felony count of corrupting another with drugs and one third-degree felony count of trafficking drugs. It was the second time the 26-year-old Zanesville woman pleaded guilty to charges related to her role in a local drug-dealing conspiracy, according to a press release from the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office. She has not been sentenced yet for her most recent convictions. Woman accused of trafficking, planting drugs on a child; prosecutor requests $1M bond Two years ago, Barrientos was convicted of money laundering and permitting drug abuse, related to her boyfriend Deangelo D-Lo Tellis dealing drugs in Zanesville. She served an 18-month sentence in that case, and was released early into a halfway house. Vada McQueary sentenced for role in regional drug ring Barrientos was arrested again in August. She in possession of a bag containing suboxone strips packaged for distribution and concealed in a baby wipe dispenser. She hid the bag with the drugs on her children when they were taken by childrens services. Misty Barrientos sentenced for role in drug ring The Columbus-based dealers began trafficking drugs and recruiting members in Zanesville in 2017, following the murder of one of their criminal associates in Columbus. Local law enforcement conducted an extensive investigation over a lengthy period of time, according to the press release. Deangelo Tellis sentenced in regional drug operation The investigations involving Tellis crew spanned the Southeastern Ohio region including Zanesville, South Zanesville, Newark, Crooksville, New Lexington, Coshocton County and Guernsey County. It also resulted in charges as far away as Washington and Allen counties and into West Virginia, including Parkersburg and Charleston. As a result, a dozen individuals were arrested and convicted on drug-related charges. Victoria Barrientos sentenced for her role in narcotics operation Drug recoveries involving the Tellis group resulted in some of the largest drug busts in county history and more than 100 combined years of imprisonment was handed down. Two year drug investigation ends with seizure of 32 pounds of drugs and 13 firearms The people convicted and their prison sentences include: Trece Trey-8 Reynolds of Columbus, serving 14 to 19-and-a-half years out of Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Kazion Zon Coleman of Columbus, serving six to nine years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Naomi Becker of Columbus, served 30 months out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court James D-Rose Johnson of Columbus, serving six to nine years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Kascal CT Armour of Columbus, serving 22-31 years out of Allen County Common Pleas Court Kyrel Rel Coleman of Columbus, served one year out of Franklin County Common Pleas Court Carmencita Sims of Zanesville, served 10 months out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Vada Missy McQueary of Zanesville, serving four to six years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Tyler Kinchen, Zanesville, serving 21 to 26-and-a-half years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Raymone Bang Jackson, Zanesville, serving 16 to 21-and-a-half years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Benjamin Nash of Zanesville, serving two years of probation out of US District Court in West Virginia Victoria Vic Barrientos of Zanesville, served 18 months out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Timothy Thomas of Zanesville, serving 10 to 14 years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Amber Bice of Zanesville, serving eight to 12 years out of Muskingum Common Pleas Court Investigations into related cases are ongoing. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Victoria Barrientos enters guilty plea to more drug-related crimes Local, state and federal politicians will attend an informational session next month to discuss plans for a massive offshore wind energy development off Californias Central Coast, along with industry representatives and academics. The session is scheduled to be held on Nov. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, 1055 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. The event, which is free and open to the public, is aimed at people curious about the hundreds of wind turbines that could be floating in the Pacific Ocean off San Luis Obispos coast by the end of the next decade. The proposed Morro Bay wind energy area is to encompass 376 square miles about 20 miles west of San Simeon and Cambria. If fully developed, it could generate up to 6 gigawatts of electricity. U.S Representative Salud Carbajal is scheduled to give welcome and opening remarks during the event, according to an agenda released Thursday. His remarks will be followed by three 45-minute panels. The first will be moderated by state Sen. John Laird and feature a discussion on what offshore wind implementation may look like, including the next steps, a timeline and how the public can stay engaged. California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild, California Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge, State Lands Commission California Sea Grant fellow Matthew Koller and Doug Boren, Pacific Regional Office director for the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, will sit on Lairds panel. Up next is a panel moderated by California State Assembly member Dawn Addis. She will discuss the roles that the city of Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County and Cal Poly will play in navigating offshore wind development. On her panel will be San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Morro Bay Mayor Carla Wixom and Ben Ruttenberg, director of Cal Polys Center for Coastal Marine Sciences. SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson will then moderate a panel discussing the industry perspective. Molly Croll, American Clean Powers Pacific Offshore Wind director, will be answering questions from Gibson along with Offshore Wind California Director Adam Stern. Additionally, representatives from the three companies who won leases to potentially develop wind turbines in the Morro Bay wind energy area will be on Gibsons panel. Those representatives are Invenergy Executive Vice President Erin Lieberman, Golden State Wind CEO Tyler Studds and Equinor Director of Operations Martin Goff. Following the three panels, there will be 60 minutes for public comment. During this time, people are encouraged to make statements regarding their questions, concerns or opinions on offshore wind on the Central Coast. U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta is scheduled to give closing remarks after public comment. Those planning to attend in person do not need to register for the event. If you cannot make it to the in-person event, you can attend virtually via Zoom. To do so, you must register at this link: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WmGXsJ4HRgm-DY0qMhY7XQ. Robert Len Hamman, 54, listens as witness testifies Friday during his murder trial in Richland County Common Pleas Court. The first people believed to have seen Robert Len Hamman after he left his father's house last Christmas Eve told jurors the man gave them a bad feeling. Hamman, 54, is accused of shooting his father to death on Dec. 23, 2022, and has been charged with six felonies, including murder. Terrence L. Hamman was found dead that afternoon in his Shiloh home at the age of 76. Prosecutors say the victim's son stole the man's truck and drove it from the village in northern Richland County to a remote portion of Wyandot County near the village of Nevada. Home that day were Anna Swartz and Ken Stewart, a couple who have lived together on Crawford-Wyandot Road for two decades. Both testified Friday morning in the courtroom of Richland County Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson. 'Another idiot stuck in the snowdrift' The day was memorable for the couple from the start because of a 3-foot snowdrift that had formed over the road in front of their house. "It was a Level 3 snow emergency," Stewart said. "The roads were closed." One of their neighbors, though, had bucked the rules and tried driving. Their black truck got stuck in front of the couple's home. They pulled it out themselves. A few minutes later, another truck drove down the road. It, too, lost control. "I told Ken there was another idiot stuck in the snowdrift," Swartz said, drawing a laugh from the defendant. "It was so bad. They shouldn't have been out." 'My senses just went off' The couple watched the red Dodge 1500 from their window. After a half hour, there was still no movement from inside. Stewart said he finally decided to go check on the driver. While Stewart was getting dressed to go outside, Robert Hamman got out of his father's truck and knocked on the couple's door. "I usually don't let people in the house," Swartz said. "But I did that day and as soon as I did I yelled for Ken because my senses just went off." The woman's longtime boyfriend told the defendant to wait for him outside. Both identified Hamman in court Friday as the man who was stuck in front of their house. 'He just wanted out of there. He wanted gone.' Because of the snowdrifts that form in front of their home, the couple told jurors that people get stuck there every winter. Stewart said he pulls at least three vehicles out himself each year. He always makes stranded drivers attach the tow hooks themselves so that he can avoid any liability if their vehicle is damaged. The man said Hamman first wrapped the tow strap around the truck's front wheel, then the step bar that ran beneath the door. Stewart said he refused to pull the truck with either configuration because he feared both would cause significant damage. It was during that conversation that a snow plow came down the road and encountered the two men and their parked trucks. The defendant approached that driver. "He wanted the township snow plow to push this truck with the blade," Stewart said. "That would have destroyed the truck." The plow driver refused. "I knew darn well it wasn't his truck," Stewart said. "Nobody would want to destroy a new Dodge truck." With no way to get the truck out of the snow, Hamman offered money for a ride to either the nearest town or one of the neighbor's houses any neighbor. "He didn't know any of my neighbors," Stewart said. "He didn't even know where he was at. He just wanted out of there. He wanted gone. I knew something was fishy." 'I figured it was a stolen truck.' Stewart agreed to drive Hamman to La Fragua, a Mexican restaurant north of Nevada in rural Wyandot County, because he wanted the man away from his house. He then told his girlfriend to call 911 and report the man to police. "Nothing added up," Stewart said. "I figured it was a stolen truck." Listening over the radio that morning was Austin Tschanen, a deputy with the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office. He had been tuned in to the Ohio Highway Patrol radio channel earlier that day and heard a "be on the lookout" call about a 2021 red Dodge 1500 wanted in connection with a murder. The deputy knew it was a longshot, but he decided to treat this call as though it was connected, just in case. He stopped by La Fragua. Waitresses told him nobody matching his description had been inside, so he drove to the marooned truck. "When I got to the vehicle, it matched the description," Tschanen said. He reported the truck, then guarded it until deputies from Richland County could recover it as evidence. It took four more days for Hamman to resurface outside La Fragua, according to testimony from Trent Shoemaker, who was deputy with Wyandot County. Shoemaker pulled into the restaurant's parking lot on Dec. 28 and noticed Hamman standing between two cars. He arrested the man without incident. "He was starting to experience pain in his feet," Shoemaker said. "I was advised later it may have been frostbite." By the end of testimonies Friday afternoon, the judge told jurors they could go home for the weekend. The trial will resume 9 a.m. Monday. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508 This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Witnesses say murder suspect Hamman tried to ditch his father's truck When 20-year-old Aya Najame, an Arab Muslim, was a little girl growing up in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, she would go on cultural exchange trips to Jewish schools to learn about the Jewish way of life. Jewish children would do the same, visiting Najames school to learn about her life. Arab citizens and permanent residents in Israel make up just over 20% of the countrys population. The roughly 2 million people are distinct from Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza but they are far from a uniform group. Most are Muslims, but there is also a large Christian Arab minority. And while around 1.5 million hold Israeli citizenship, many of those living in Jerusalem have only permanent residency status and are not full citizens. Some identify as Arabs, some as Palestinians, some as Druze, a religious sect spread throughout Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Some speak fluent Hebrew and live in mixed communities such as Haifa, while others reside in segregated towns and say they feel like second-class citizens due to discrimination from Israeli authorities. Several hundred chose to serve in the Israeli military each year, even though they are exempt from compulsory service. Many have family in the West Bank and Gaza. Haifa is not like the rest of Israel, Najame says. We live together here, Arab people and Jewish people. We work together, we go to the same places, she told CNN. Haifa is the most comfortable place, Najame said. As soon as you leave Haifa you start feeling more uncomfortable, its (a) little hard to describe it, its just an uncomfortable feeling. Ashraf Ashkar, a 35-year-old Arab Israeli, works in a restaurant in Haifas Arab Wadi Nisnas neighborhood. He said he has friends who serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and friends who were in the areas of Israel that the Palestinian militant group Hamas brutally attacked earlier this month. I speak to them all the time, I have a friend, an Arab, who joined the reserves last week, Ashkar said, adding that Israel is his home. But he is also acutely aware of his own family history. His ancestors were evacuated from Iqrit, a village north of Haifa, by Israeli forces during the 1948 war. They were told they would be able to come back in a few weeks, but ultimately were not allowed to, Ashkar said. Israels Supreme Court later ruled the eviction was illegal and said the families of Igrit should be allowed to return to their land but before they were able to do so, the IDF razed the village to the ground in the 1950s. Its complicated when you are not sure where you belong. I try to avoid thinking about it too much, Ashkar said. The Hamas terror attacks, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people in Israel on October 7, and the subsequent heavy Israeli bombardment of Gaza, which Palestinian officials say has killed more than 4,100 in the enclave so far, have significantly ramped up tensions at a time when relationships between some groups were already fraught. Since December, Israel has been governed by the most right-wing government in its history. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some opposition leaders joined an emergency war cabinet to manage the war. The governments national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir is an extremist who has been convicted for supporting terrorism and inciting anti-Arab racism. The finance minister is Bezalel Smotrich, who supports abolishing the Palestinian Authority and annexing the West Bank - neither are part of the war cabinet, although they are maintaining their ministerial roles. BTselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, said that the rhetoric from Gvir and Smotrich has emboldened extremists and led to an increase in attacks on Palestinians, especially by right-wing groups and Israeli settlers. As of mid-September, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported 216 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank that resulted in injuries, and 582 incidents that resulted in property damage. CNN has asked the IDF for comment on the rise in the violence, but has not received an answer. The settlers have been making it clear that they want to go after us. The general environment is one in which were always made to feel as though were the next target. And to be honest, we are the next target, said Diane Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer who lives in Haifa and has previously served as a legal adviser to the Palestinian side in peace negotiations. She said that after the Hamas attacks, hate speech towards Palestinians reached new levels. You hear statements like people are human animals and they should be finished off, she told CNN. Buttu said that as a Palestinian in Israel, she feels like she is by default considered a threat. The only way that Im not part of the human animal group is if I denounce (terrorism) first. I have to prove my humanity to them but I never ask Jewish people to denounce the settlers violence, to denounce those attacks, she said. I never ask them to prove that they are not settlers. Naim Khoury, a lawyer who lives in Haifa, said the city is normally an oasis of coexistence. - Ivana Kottasova/CNN Naim Khoury can relate to a feeling of being watched with mistrust. The 39-year-old lawyer, who lives in Haifa, said the fallout from the brutality of October is being felt even there, in a city usually considered a case study of successful coexistence. Some people look at us with suspicion now because we are Arabs. And being an Arab means being a terrorist, he told CNN. But we condemn terrorists, we condemn everything they have done and we (mourn) every life lost. Khoury said that he has many friends who serve in the military and the police, and yet even they sometimes face similar suspicion. In Haifa, we always try to preserve the good relations and to have this coexistence and so its very sad that every time anything to do with security happens, Jews are automatically asking me, What do you think about it as an Arab, are you okay with this? he said. What rights? Abu Nader has been running a small cafe in Jerusalems Old City for 49 years, in the same building where he was born and has lived his entire life. Like many Palestinians here, he is a permanent resident of Israel, but not a citizen. He told CNN he was never interested in getting citizenship. What for? Rights? What rights? he told CNN. Nader has seven children five daughters and two sons and 24 grandchildren, some of whom live in other parts of the city, which means they are sometimes not allowed to come and visit him. When tensions rise, as they often do in Jerusalem, Israeli police sometimes restrict access to the Old City, only allowing in Palestinians who have a permanent address there or are over a certain age. Buttu said that the restrictions on the movements of permanent residents are just one example of discrimination adding that even those who hold citizenship can be targeted. Abu Nader was born in the Old City of Jerusalem. He has spent his whole life in the city. Pictured in his coffee shop in the Muslim Quarter. - Ivana Kottasova/CNN There are all these laws that either directly or indirectly discriminate against Palestinians who hold Israeli citizenship, including laws that prevent me and others from moving into certain towns, she said, referring to an Israeli law that allows villages and towns in certain regions to operate admission committees. They have the power to bar people from moving in if they are deemed to be not suitable to the communitys social-cultural fabric. The law was expanded this year and now applies to settlements of 700 households, up from 400 previously. Adalah, an NGO that focuses on the rights of the Arab minority in Israel, said the expanded version of the law covers 41% of all localities and 80% of the states territory. As a Palestinian living in this country, your whole existence is either carving out a safe space where you live and work in an area that you know, where youre safe, where you can speak Arabic, where your political views are known and where you dont have to measure your words, or you totally assimilate to the other side. Anywhere in between is the space of total discomfort, Buttu said. But even when you totally assimilate, theres still a question mark. The coffee Nader serves in his cafe is strong and very sweet, made in cezve, traditional long-necked copper pots. Some people call it Turkish coffee, some call it Jerusalem coffee or Palestinian coffee or Israeli coffee when I am in the mood, I call it Palestinian coffee, he said, watching a spoonful of sugar bubble up from the bottom of the pot. When I am not in the mood, I call it Jerusalem coffee to avoid the politics For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Israeli bombardment in the central Gaza town of Al-Zahra razed more than 20 buildings, reducing them to rubble (Belal ALSABBAGH) Omar Ashur became a refugee during the "Nakba" or "catastrophe" experienced by Palestinians following Israel's creation 75 years ago and now fears the ongoing bombardment of Gaza will again force him into exile. A retired general from the Palestinian Authority security forces, 83-year-old Ashur lives in Al-Zahra in central Gaza where Israeli missiles flattened an area of more than 20 buildings late on Thursday. Residents had been warned to flee before the strikes, but many of them raced into the street with no idea of where to go. When they returned in the early hours of Friday morning, they found a scene of devastation, with several blocks of buildings reduced to smoking ruins and rubble, an AFP journalist said. The area lies about 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Gaza City where Israeli warplanes have focused their fierce bombardments since Hamas militants stormed into Israel on October 7, beginning an attack that has killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, Israeli officials say. Although Israel urged Palestinians living in northern Gaza to head south ahead of an expected ground operation, Ashur decided to stay. Beyond the ongoing bombardment, he also worries about the future, fearing the war will push Gaza's residents -- two-thirds of whom are refugees -- to flee again. - 'Destruction with a clear aim' - "What's happening is dangerous," Ashur told AFP. "I fear that the ongoing destruction has a clear aim, so people don't have a place to live which will spark a new Nakba," he said, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. Gaza's population of 2.4 million is largely made up of descendants of those refugees. Ashur was just eight when he and his family fled in 1948 from Majdal -- what is today the Israeli town of Ashkelon -- to Gaza. And for him, the ongoing war brings back painful memories. "What's happening today is much worse. At the time, Israel would shoot to kill and force people to flee but the current situation is more horrific," he said. The October 7 attack was the most deadly attack on Israeli soil since the state was founded, with most of the victims shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day, according to Israeli officials. Since then, more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza's health ministry. - 'A hellish night' - At least a million Gazans have been displaced by the ongoing bombing campaign, the UN says, with Israel also cutting off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food to the impoverished enclave. Gazing at the destruction in Al-Zahra is Rami Abu Wazna, his haggard face struggling to take it in. At least 24 buildings were razed, an AFP journalist said. "Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible," he whispers. Thousands of residents who had fled the neighbourhood spent the night trying to find shelter from dozens of Israeli strikes. "Why bomb us, we're civilians! Where will we go? Everything is gone," Abu Wazna said. "We heard our grandparents speak of the Nakba and today we're the ones living it," he continued. "But we won't leave our land." Among the ruins, Umm Ahmad and her two sons are trying to salvage a few of their belongings. "We've had a hellish night. The sky was red, everything was destroyed," she says, her robes covered in dust. "We didn't take anything with us. I'm trying to find clothes for the children so they don't get cold," she says. "They want to make us homeless." my/cgo/hme/hmw/jsa Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., broke down in a fit of rage Friday aimed at President Biden and Democrat leadership over their support for Israel amid the war with Hamas. Her angry comments came during a press conference held outside the U.S. Capitol alongside a few fellow members of the far-left "Squad" calling for a ceasefire in the war. "How is it that we have a president who is talking about releasing hostages, who is talking about getting American citizens out of Israel, but could not get himself to say, I want to save and work to save the hundreds, thousands of Americans stuck in Gaza. What is wrong with you?" Omar said after claiming Israel had dropped more bombs on Gaza in the last 10 days than the U.S. did across an entire year in Afghanistan. SQUAD DEMOCRAT DECLARES ALL LIVES DO MATTER WHILE CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR President Biden, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. "How is this possible? Wait, so [are] certain Americans' lives [more] important than another? Is the American that is living in Gaza less important than the one living in Israel? How is it that you're telling American citizens to go to the south of Gaza, but you can't tell Netanyahu not to bomb the south because there are Americans there?" she said. Omar claimed it was "painful and scary" to work alongside other Democrats who she said were blaming all Muslims for the violence. It was unclear who she was referencing, but progressive Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., had taken aim at members of the "Squad" last week over what he called a "reprehensible and repulsive" response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP TLAIB FACES CALLS TO BE BARRED FROM ISRAEL BRIEFINGS AFTER MISINFORMATION ABOUT GAZA HOSPITAL EXPLOSION Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York, speaks during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. "And not a single condemnation comes from our caucus leadership or any member of Congress," she said. "How is it how is it that we are serving in a body, serving in a body where there are members who condemn us for asking for a peace, for cease fire, the most simplest thing?" Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for comment. Prior to her appearance at the press conference, Omar was pressed by Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn over her support for a ceasefire against terrorists whose aim is to wipe out the existence of Jews. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ADMITS DOXXED US SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS IN ISRAEL, APOLOGIZES House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks to the media during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 01, 2023 in Washington, DC. Omar ignored the questions before saying, "Ignore this crazy lady, dont worry about her," as she boarded an elevator. On Thursday, Omar was forced to walk back comments blaming Israel for the Gaza hospital explosion that U.S. intelligence determined was not from a projectile launched by the Israeli Defense Forces. However, she failed to offer an apology. Original article source: WATCH: Ilhan Omar breaks down in fit of rage aimed at Biden, Democrat leadership over support for Israel Keeping up with an industry as fast-moving as AI is a tall order. So until an AI can do it for you, heres a handy roundup of recent stories in the world of machine learning, along with notable research and experiments we didnt cover on their own. This week in AI, DeepMind, the Google-owned AI R&D lab, released a paper proposing a framework for evaluating the societal and ethical risks of AI systems. The timing of the paper -- which calls for varying levels of involvement from AI developers, app developers and "broader public stakeholders" in evaluating and auditing AI -- isn't accidental. Next week is the AI Safety Summit, a U.K.-government-sponsored event that'll bring together international governments, leading AI companies, civil society groups and experts in research to focus on how best to manage risks from the most recent advances in AI, including generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion and so on). There, the U.K. is planning to introduce a global advisory group on AI loosely modeled on the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, comprising a rotating cast of academics who will write regular reports on cutting-edge developments in AI -- and their associated dangers. DeepMind is airing its perspective, very visibly, ahead of on-the-ground policy talks at the two-day summit. And, to give credit where it's due, the research lab makes a few reasonable (if obvious) points, such as calling for approaches to examine AI systems at the "point of human interaction" and the ways in which these systems might be used and embedded in society. Chart showing which people would be best at evaluating which aspects of AI. Image Credits: Google DeepMind But in weighing DeepMind's proposals, it's informative to look at how the lab's parent company, Google, scores in a recent study released by Stanford researchers that ranks 10 major AI models on how openly they operate. Rated on 100 criteria, including whether its maker disclosed the sources of its training data, information about the hardware it used, the labor involved in training and other details, PaLM 2, one of Google's flagship text-analyzing AI models, scores a measly 40%. Now, DeepMind didn't develop PaLM 2 -- at least not directly. But the lab hasn't historically been consistently transparent about its own models, and the fact that its parent company falls short on key transparency measures suggests that there's not much top-down pressure for DeepMind to do better. On the other hand, in addition to its public musings about policy, DeepMind appears to be taking steps to change the perception that it's tight-lipped about its models' architectures and inner workings. The lab, along with OpenAI and Anthropic, committed several months ago to providing the U.K. government "early or priority access" to its AI models to support research into evaluation and safety. The question is, is this merely performative? No one would accuse DeepMind of philanthropy, after all -- the lab rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year, mainly by licensing its work internally to Google teams. Perhaps the lab's next big ethics test is Gemini, its forthcoming AI chatbot, which DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis has repeatedly promised will rival OpenAI's ChatGPT in its capabilities. Should DeepMind wish to be taken seriously on the AI ethics front, it'll have to fully and thoroughly detail Gemini's weaknesses and limitations -- not just its strengths. We'll certainly be watching closely to see how things play out over the coming months. Here are some other AI stories of note from the past few days: More machine learnings Machine learning models are constantly leading to advances in the biological sciences. AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold were examples of how a stubborn problem (protein folding) could be, in effect, trivialized by the right AI model. Now David Baker (creator of the latter model) and his labmates have expanded the prediction process to include more than just the structure of the relevant chains of amino acids. After all, proteins exist in a soup of other molecules and atoms, and predicting how they'll interact with stray compounds or elements in the body is essential to understanding their actual shape and activity. RoseTTAFold All-Atom is a big step forward for simulating biological systems. Image Credits: MIT/Harvard University Having a visual AI enhance lab work or act as a learning tool is also a great opportunity. The SmartEM project from MIT and Harvard put a computer vision system and ML control system inside a scanning electron microscope, which together drive the device to examine a specimen intelligently. It can avoid areas of low importance, focus on interesting or clear ones, and do smart labeling of the resulting image as well. Using AI and other high tech tools for archaeological purposes never gets old (if you will) for me. Whether it's lidar revealing Mayan cities and highways or filling in the gaps of incomplete ancient Greek texts, it's always cool to see. And this reconstruction of a scroll thought destroyed in the volcanic eruption that leveled Pompeii is one of the most impressive yet. ML-interpreted CT scan of a burned, rolled-up papyrus. The visible word reads "Purple." Image Credits: UK Photo University of Nebraska-Lincoln CS student Luke Farritor trained a machine learning model to amplify the subtle patterns on scans of the charred, rolled-up papyrus that are invisible to the naked eye. His was one of many methods being attempted in an international challenge to read the scrolls, and it could be refined to perform valuable academic work. Lots more info at Nature here. What was in the scroll, you ask? So far, just the word "purple" but even that has the papyrologists losing their minds. Another academic victory for AI is in this system for vetting and suggesting citations on Wikipedia. Of course, the AI doesn't know what is true or factual, but it can gather from context what a high-quality Wikipedia article and citation looks like, and scrape the site and web for alternatives. No one is suggesting we let the robots run the famously user-driven online encyclopedia, but it could help shore up articles for which citations are lacking or editors are unsure. Example of a mathematical problem being solved by Llemma. Image Credits: Eleuther AI Language models can be fine-tuned on many topics, and higher math is surprisingly one of them. Llemma is a new open model trained on mathematical proofs and papers that can solve fairly complex problems. It's not the first Google Research's Minerva is working on similar capabilities but its success on similar problem sets and improved efficiency show that "open" models (for whatever the term is worth) are competitive in this space. It's not desirable that certain types of AI should be dominated by private models, so replication of their capabilities in the open is valuable even if it doesn't break new ground. Troublingly, Meta is progressing in its own academic work toward reading minds but as with most studies in this area, the way it's presented rather oversells the process. In a paper called "Brain decoding: Toward real-time reconstruction of visual perception," it may seem a bit like they're straight up reading minds. Images shown to people, left, and generative AI guesses at what the person is perceiving, right. Image Credits: Meta But it's a little more indirect than that. By studying what a high-frequency brain scan looks like when people are looking at images of certain things, like horses or airplanes, the researchers are able to then perform reconstructions in near real time of what they think the person is thinking of or looking at. Still, it seems likely that generative AI has a part to play here in how it can create a visual expression of something even if it doesn't correspond directly to scans. Should we be using AI to read people's minds, though, if it ever becomes possible? Ask DeepMind see above. Last up, a project at LAION that's more aspirational than concrete right now, but laudable all the same. Multilingual Contrastive Learning for Audio Representation Acquisition, or CLARA, aims to give language models a better understanding of the nuances of human speech. You know how you can pick up on sarcasm or a fib from sub-verbal signals like tone or pronunciation? Machines are pretty bad at that, which is bad news for any human-AI interaction. CLARA uses a library of audio and text in multiple languages to identify some emotional states and other non-verbal "speech understanding" cues. St. Louis The students come together at the crack of dawn from all directions, converging on this tiny house in St. Louis, Missouri, for their weekly, Wednesday visit with 66-year-old Peggy Winckowski. "Grandma Peggy brings everyone together," Aaron Venneman, one of those students, told CBS News. The students who visit Grandma Peggy attend Bishop DuBourg High School and are part of what they call the Wednesday Breakfast Club. Seeing the extraordinary spread, it's understandable why kids come here. But what isn't so clear is how Winckowski got roped into hosting. The club used to meet at a diner until one day in 2021 when a student named Sam Crowe said, "You know, my grandma could cook better than this." So the next Wednesday, they all showed up at Winckowski's doorstep. "I'm like, OK, and they came all school year every Wednesday," Winckowski said. The breakfasts continued merrily until July 2022 when all joy was lost. Peggy's grandson, Sam Crowe, a sophomore at Bishop DuBourg, was killed in a hit-and-run. The boy was beloved, so of course, breakfast was the last thing on anyone's mind. And yet, the very next Wednesday, and virtually every Wednesday since, the kids have returned to Grandma Peggy's, and in numbers far greater than before. "Sam would be so proud," Winckowski said. "Look at what he started." Everyone has come together for a heaping helping of healing. "It melts my heart," Winckowski said. "It's really not about the food, it's just about being together," Brendan Crowe said. "We benefit from her, she benefits from us," Mya Dozier added. "It's like we feed off each other." Everyone grieves differently, but those who manage it best always seem to blanket themselves with kindred spirits, sharing the burden and teaching each other to laugh again. And in the process, they are building a tradition to ensure the memories are as stable and sustaining as a warm meal at grandma's. 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 WEST ALLIS, Wis. - West Allis police have arrested a 24-year-old Port Washington man in connection to a Wednesday, Oct. 18 homicide. The fatal shooting happened next to an apartment building near 64th and Lincoln around 11:15 a.m. that morning. The suspect was arrested late Thursday night. West Allis police also identified the victim as 24-year-old Noah Phillips of Racine. Phillips and the suspect had a "known association," police added. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Police stopped short of calling it a carjacking, but said a car that was at the scene during the crime is now missing. "We dont have any reason to fear for the safety of the residents in this area," Police Chief Patrick Mitchell said at the time of the homicide. Police reiterated that stance Friday, announcing the suspect's arrest on Facebook. The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to call West Allis police at 414-302-8000. According to the experts, there is no way for the average person to differentiate a natural from a lab-grown diamond. According to the experts, there is no way for the average person to differentiate a natural from a lab-grown diamond. If youve bought a piece of fine jewelry containing a diamond in recent years, youve likely encountered a more affordable option in a lab-grown diamond especially if you were in the market for an engagement ring. While you may shell out around $23,000 for a 2-carat halo ring of natural diamonds, the lab-grown version of the same ring might cost $6,000 a staggering difference for two options that are visually, chemically and physically the same. Laboratory-grown, or synthetic, diamonds are more popular than ever as consumers are drawn to their affordability compared to mined, or natural, diamonds. Plus, sustainability and ethics are now top of mind for many diamond shoppers, even more so since the 2006 film Blood Diamond shed light on many of the inhumane practices in traditional diamond mining. But when you ask the experts, the differences between mined and lab-grown diamonds arent so cut and dry especially where ethics and sustainability are concerned. We talked to four industry experts to break it down. Synthetic diamonds are created in a laboratory, and they sometimes begin as a tiny piece of a natural diamond. As the name implies, lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory, rather than harvested from nature. Technically speaking, there are two ways of producing lab-grown diamonds, explained Avi Levy, the president of North America for theInternational Gemological Institute. The first is the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method, where heavy mechanical presses and intense heat are combined to replicate the conditions under which natural diamonds formed. The second is chemical vapor deposition (CVD), a process that superheats gas into plasma, releasing carbon atoms to build a diamond crystal at the atomic level. Both methods actually start with a tiny piece of a mined diamond. A sliver of a natural diamond seed [is] placed in a chamber, said Anna Bario, co-founder of Bario Neal, which sells both lab-grown and natural diamonds. The lab then adds carbon and heat, mimicking the way that diamonds form naturally in the Earth. The seed then grows and grows into a high-quality diamond. And while both of these methods grow real diamonds, said Levy, one process (CVD) assembles the diamond in vertical layers and the other (HPHT) uses a metal catalyst to dissolve component carbon. These different approaches may produce microscopic inclusions (internal characteristics) which differ from those seen in natural diamonds, but not always. Once polished, both HPHT and CVD produce gemstones that look identical to natural diamonds. To the naked eye, there is no difference between a mined and lab-grown diamond. According to the experts, there is no way for the average person to differentiate a natural from a lab-grown diamond. There are no differences to the naked eye, Levy said. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, scientifically, chemically, physically and optically. You can only separate natural and lab-grown diamonds with sophisticated testing. Theyre also identical when it comes to hardness, both scoring a 10 (the highest value) on the Mohs scale, which is used to define hardness of materials. There are two ways that trained experts can spot a synthetic diamond. There are small but significant differences in inclusions and growth structure that allow a trained gemologist to distinguish between natural and lab-created diamonds. These differences may only be identified under extreme magnification, said George Leifheit, vice president of global strategic sourcing for Signet, the parent company ofKay, which sells both lab-grown and natural diamonds. Another method is by a tiny inscription, which is required in a lab-grown diamond. Per the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, all lab-created diamonds are required to carry the label lab-created or lab-grown so the consumer can have confidence in the diamond they are buying, added Leifheit. Lab-grown diamonds are much cheaper than natural diamonds, even of the same quality. Since visually and chemically, the two vareities are the same, the biggest discernible difference is the price point and its a substantial one. When picking a lab-grown diamond over a natural one, you can frequently double the carat weight for the same budget, Levy said. Diamonds are graded based on their clarity, cut, carat and color (known as the four Cs). If a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond rank equally in all four categories, the lab-created version will be significantly cheaper about 20-30% cheaper on average, estimated Leifheit, adding, The price difference will increase as the carat size goes up. At the DDI Foundation German Diamond Institute, a natural diamond with 3.53 carats is placed in a diamond tester. The device is used to test whether the diamonds are synthetic or natural. At the DDI Foundation German Diamond Institute, a natural diamond with 3.53 carats is placed in a diamond tester. The device is used to test whether the diamonds are synthetic or natural. Simply put, with lab-created diamonds, you get more for your money. They offer large finger coverage for a more affordable price, Bario said. The reason for the financial variation is based on the rarity and the history of a mined diamond. Materials from the Earth, like mined diamonds and gemstones, are cosmic-level pieces of planetary history, Bario explained. They formed into existence over centuries, long before we held them, and those ancient elements cant be replicated in a lab. One day, the Earth will run out of economic diamond mines, but synthetic diamond manufacturing offers an inexhaustible supply, said Jessica Cadzow-Collins, a qualified gemologist, former heritage director of Garrard (which made many of the U.K.s crown jewels over 140 years) and founder of Jessica May Jewels. Natural diamonds are being depleted, and in time access to natural diamonds will almost certainly run out. The cost of natural diamonds has risen slowly but steadily over the last 30 years and continues to do so. Theres also a major disparity when it comes to resale value. Synthetic diamonds are cheap and plentiful and are made by a widely replicated process compared to natural diamonds, so there is absolutely no resale value, Cadzow-Collins added. Natural diamonds retain their value indefinitely. Both lab-grown and mined diamonds can be more and less sustainable, depending on a companys process. Though many people assume that purchasing a lab-grown diamond will be a more sustainable and ethical choice than purchasing a mined diamond, thats not always the case. Part of that is due to the recent positive changes in the diamond mining industry. When it comes to natural diamonds, no other industry has done more to oppose conflict minerals (including gold, tin, tungsten, coltan, etc.) than the modern diamond industry, Levy said. The worlds largest miners have put programs in place partnering with Indigenous people and communities where their diamonds are extracted. There are still geopolitical issues impacting supply in places but since the end of the last century sweeping changes have taken place in the interest of environmental, social and governance (ESG) the framework used to assess an organizations business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues. Moreover, many consumers might also think that an advantage of cultivated diamonds is zero impact on the environment, however, that claim is not possible for lab-grown or mined diamonds (or really any inorganic object thats human-made), Bario said. Both require water and nonrenewable energies like oil, gas or coal to fuel them. In fact, depending on exactly how its done and who is doing the growing, diamond creation in a laboratory setting may not be sustainable at all due to the vast amount of electricity that is required to power six weeks of unimaginable amount of heat and pressure required in the advanced technological processes that replicate the dense carbon crystal lattices of diamond, Cadzow-Collins noted. Still, there are ways to create a diamond more responsibly than others. Some lab-grown diamond producers have emerged using hydro and solar power, and they can provide third-party scientific proof of sustainability from organizations such as SCS Global, Levy said. If sustainability is important to you when purchasing a lab-grown diamond, its imperative to research your retailer. If you are choosing a lab diamond from a jeweler, its important to question where they are sourcing the lab diamonds. Are they produced in the USA? Are there any carbon offsets made during the manufacturing? Where are the diamonds faceted and polished? Bario said. A moissanite engagement ring sits atop a stack of rings. A moissanite engagement ring sits atop a stack of rings. Moissanite is another affordable alternative, but you can see the difference. For people looking for affordable alternatives to mined diamonds, moissanite presents another good option although this colorless stone can be discerned from a diamond with the naked eye. A 2-carat moissanite stone might be around $3,500, Bario noted, where a lab-grown diamond of the same carat weight might be around $6,000. Similar to cultivated [lab-grown] diamonds, [moissanite] is more accessibly priced than mined natural diamonds. Moissanite is nearly as hard as diamonds, so stones can be worn every day and in a variety of sizes. The only visible difference might be the sparkle. If youre really paying attention, a large moissanite will cast a rainbow shine, while a natural diamond has a truer white sparkle, Bario said. Although moissanite is most commonly created in a lab due to its rarity in the Earth, its much easier to manufacture than diamond, Cadzow-Collins noted. Other alternatives, such as white topaz and cubic zirconia, are softer with rounded facet edges and are generally less sparkly, she added. Still, despite alternatives like lab-grown diamonds being more prevalent than ever, they still only account for 2% of the total diamond jewelry market, estimated Cadzow-Collins, though synthetic diamonds are expected to grow to about 5% over the next decade. And in the engagement ring industry, Leifheit noted, natural diamonds are still the leading gemstone. CORRECTION: A prior subheadline of this story incorrectly referred to lab-grown diamonds as simulated. Related... FOND DU LAC As fall begins, there typically is an increase in respiratory illnesses including flu, RSV and COVID-19. Vaccines that combat these illnesses are available in Fond du Lac County. Lower your chance of catching or spreading a respiratory virus with handwashing/cleaning, staying home if you are feeling ill, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, covering your coughs/sneezes and getting vaccinated. Most insurance plans cover the cost of flu and COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost if you are uninsured or your health insurance plan does not cover it. To locate a flu or COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov or contact your pharmacy or health care provider. The Fond du Lac County Health Department, in partnership with the Fond du Lac Family YMCA and Childrens Museum of Fond du Lac, is offering a youth flu vaccination clinic for ages 6 months to 18 years. The clinic will be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Fond Du Lac County Health Department City/County Building, third floor, 160 S. Macy St. Appointments are required. To schedule, call 920-929-3085. Drury Place shooting: Fond du Lac comes together after Drury Place shooting; police dog Iro is recovering Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County. DAR thanks veterans at 'Share Night' Oct. 23 at Culver's The Daughters of the American Revolution and Oshkosh Culvers will host a Share Night 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Fond du Lac Culvers, 969 E. Johnson St. Veterans will receive two free shakes one a sweet treat or shake along with a handshake from a DAR member. Food proceeds will benefit the Wisconsin Societys state-owned historic properties, Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters and the Garrison one-room schoolhouse in Portage, as well as a Service to Veterans Fund established to support veteran activities in Wisconsin. The National Society also appoints teams of DAR volunteers to assist in programs and support of Veterans Administration hospitals and facilities. For more about DAR, contact State Regent Sandra Snow at snow4wsdar@gmail.com. Ripon library hosts session on using Libby and a pizza party Ripon Public Library will offer a chance to learn about Libby and a family Halloween event in the coming week. Learn to Love Libby will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 24. Use the Libby app to borrow electronic books, audiobooks and magazines from the library. Take your device and library card. From 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27, families can enjoy the Slightly Spooky Special. Librarian Linda DeCramer will perform stories and sing-along songs. A pizza and ice cream party will follow. Costumes encouraged for all ages. The library is at 120 Jefferson St. For more information, visit riponlibrary.org. Drop-in escape room at Fond du Lac library open Oct. 26-27 The Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St., will offer a drop-in Candyland Escape Room Oct. 26 and 27. It will be open while the library is open both days. The escape room is best for school-age children who are able to read and do simple math (with their family). A Monster Party will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28. It includes a story time, simple crafts and a scavenger hunt. Registration is not required for either of these activities. For more information, visit fdlpl.org. Chili supper set at St. Stephen's in Rosendale St. Stephens Lutheran Church, N5680 Towne Road, Rosendale, will host its annual Chili Supper from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26. The all-you-care-to-eat dinner includes chili, cheese, crackers, bread and dessert. The cost is a free-will donation. Full moon walk at Eldorado Marsh open to public Enjoy a full moon walk with members of the Fond du Lac Audubon Society, beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 26. Meet at the end of Dike Road on the east side of Eldorado Marsh. Participants should dress for the weather and wear good hiking shoes. Walks will be canceled if raining or totally overcast. For more information, contact 920-922-7931 or dianahbeck@gmail.com. Benjamin D. Rinehart 'Commonalities' exhibit features work of Benjamin D. Rinehart Commonalities, an exhibit of work by Lawrence University artist Benjamin D. Rinehart, will run Oct. 27 through Dec. 8 in Caestecker Gallery, C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts, at Ripon College. An opening reception will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 27, in Demmer Recital Hall. The reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public. In a news release, Rinehart said of his work: The two series that are showcased, 7 Hopes for Humanity and The Boys & Bubs, speak to universal truths and challenge notions of what constitutes a family. I ask the viewer to be open and place themselves into an alternate perspective as they interact with the work. Rinehart is a professor of printmaking and artist books at Lawrence. His work is included in more than 60 public collections and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. He received a bachelor of fine arts from Herron School of Art in Indianapolis and a master of fine arts from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He lectures and teaches as a visiting artist at various institutions around the country. Examples of his work can be viewed at benrinehart.com. Local ATV/UTV traffic to increase ahead of charity ride The Kettle Moraine ATV Association, the Lakeshore ATV/UTV Club and the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association will host the 16th Annual ATV/UTV Charity Ride Oct. 28 at the Washington County Fair Park in West Bend. Funds raised will benefit Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. Organizers want local residents and motorist to be aware there will be a larger than normal number of these vehicles traveling authorized road routes throughout Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington counties. Registration for the event runs 7:30 to 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at the Washington County Fair Park. It is open to the public; passenger vehicles may participate and are welcome. After the ride, there will be raffles, a silent auction and prizes. For more information or to register, visit wish.org/wisconsin/wisconsin-atvutv-charity-ride. Quad Care expands Lomira center, hosts open house Quad Care has enhanced its Lomira center and has immediate openings for school-age programs. The center is open to all families in the community. An open house will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26 at N11896 Highway 175, Lomira. Those attending will have the $75 enrollment fee waived if they sign up at the open house. During the open house, guests can tour the newly expanded center, meet the teachers and participate in a raffle and giveaways. The program provides before- and after-school care for ages 5 to 12 with busing to and from Lomira School District, including morning and afternoon 4K. For more information, visit Quad.com/quadcare or call 920-269-5500. Trick or treat times: What time is trick-or-treating in your area? Check here for Fond du Lac, Dodge counties Get your dose stay connected Get your dose of local community news here each week. For updates throughout the week, visit fdlreporter.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. News tips Send tips to news@fdlreporter.com. See our contact page. Our impact The Fond du Lac Reporter part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2022 Community Impact Report online. Award-winning content The Fond du Lac Reporter won four total awards in the 2022 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation Better Newspaper Contest. Read more about the awards and follow links to the award-winning content by clicking here. Thanks for reading! We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing. Find details online or call 1-877-424-5048 and give offer code W-C4 to subscribe. Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241. This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Where to get COVID vaccines, flu shots in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin LAS VEGAS (KLAS) While the era of exotic animals entertaining Las Vegas audiences has pounced, the last performer on the Las Vegas Strip to utilize big cats in their show has died, survived by his tigers, leopards, and bobcat left with an uncertain future. THE MAGICIAN Dirk Arthur whose legal name is Dirk Gingell is from a different time of Las Vegas magicians. From the Jubilee show of the 90s to The Silverton, The Tropicana, and The Riviera: fans remember the 63-year-old for providing their first sight of a levitating car vanishing from stage or a helicopter appearing out of thin air. But, the glamor faded this week as close friends, like fellow magician Jay Owenhouse, learned of his untimely death just a couple weeks before his 64th birthday. The late Dirk Arthur speaking with an 8 News Now reporter in 2008 during a visit to his south valley compound where the magicians cats resided. (KLAS) I used to always tease him and call him the smiling magician because he was always very happy when he was performing, Owenhouse said next to a striped tent across the street from The Mandalay Bay Resort Friday morning. He was a staple in Las Vegas for over 30 years. Arthurs last show with his cats began at The Westgate Resort in 2015, Owenhouse says, considered the last Las Vegas act to utilize exotic animals. A representative of the resort told 8 News Now that he worked as an usher at its International Theater and Cabaret in recent years. Owenhouse says he purchased Arthurs south-valley property while establishing a magic show of his own. Arthur, in turn, had his eyes set on opening a new show in Branson, Missouri that would include his 10 cats, Owenhouse said. But, that vision never became reality as his body was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom by a roommate on Sunday, Owenhouse says. The Clark County Coroner is still investigating his death as of Friday morning, just one week after Owenhouse says he saw the 63-year-old for the last time while landscaping his backyard. He was happy. He was joking. I think he was excited about the opportunity in Branston, Owenhouse said. The ambulance had said it had been a couple of days before he was discovered. Now, the future of these same animals that dazzled audiences for years is unclear, along with the potential for them to see stage lights again. THE CATS Clark County confirmed to 8 News Now that six tigers, two clouded leopards, one snow leopard, and one bobcat were retrieved from Arthurs property by animal protection services this week. Linda Faso knows each by name. One of Dirk Arthurs tigers emerging from a pool in the backyard of the magicians south valley compound in 2008. (KLAS) The self-proclaimed independent animal rights activist has a folder three inches thick in her Southwest Valley home filled with USDA complaints, animal inventory storage recordings, and inspection reports of Arthurs home, where his cats resided. She says shes kept tabs on all Lav Vegas performers that utilized exotic animals in their acts for decades. They didnt get the best of care, Faso said, referencing one report where USDA reported not enough shade during heat over 100 degrees for the cats kept in cages in Arthurs backyard. Despite her animosity for the cats captivity, she describes the late magician as a pleasant guy while reminiscing on a drop-in visit to his property. I said, Dirk, I dont understand. Youve made a living off these animals all these years, and yet, they live in the minimal, standard cement cage, Faso said. I think he just looked at them as a way to make a living, and they were commodities, and he fed them, and thought, hey, thats good enough, as most do. She and Animal Protection Attorney Carney Anne Nasser point to federal law, which narrows who is allowed to take in these cats: The Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 and The Endangered Species Act of 1973. Nasser says they prevent most of the 10 cats from reentering the American exotic pet trade, though the bobcat is not protected by either. What this means is that Dirk Arthurs cats cannot be transferred to a private owner, Nasser said during a virtual interview Friday afternoon. Its really critically important for the welfare of these animals that have been used as stage props for so long to go to accredited sanctuaries where they will finally be able to be cats. However, she acknowledges getting the necessary licensing to be allowed to intake the cats is somewhat simple and accessible to most people. Having a USDA license is a bare minimum requirement to exhibit animals, like these cats, Nasser said, speaking of other sanctuaries that are not accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. These people are, for all intents and purposes, just private owners who have no intention of exhibiting the animals to the public, who have no intention of becoming a reputable sanctuary, who literally have just submitted to a periodic inspection about once a year for purposes of circumventing some other state law. THE FUTURE Owenhouse would not reveal the itineraries for each cat, though he said worked alongside Clark County Animal Protection Services and the USDA to find them new homes. Four out of the ten have already been exported, he confirmed. Before then, he says he became the primary caretaker of the cats, spending four to six hours every day feeding them and cleaning their enclosures. Its pushed the opening night of his new magic show across from Mandalay Bay Resort without animals back a week in the meantime. Do you think performings in their future ever again? 8 News Now Reporter Ryan Matthey asked. You know, I dont think so, Owenhouse replied. Its a relationship (between the owner and cat) that has to be established over time, so I dont think that theyll perform again. I think that theyll still have a great life, in the sense of having the space they need, having the quality of food theyd need and, hopefully, the attention they need too. Until those locations become public, those like Faso say an uproar against Clark County Animal Protection Services may pounce if they believe the 10 cats end up in the wrong hands. Anybody can say theyre a sanctuary, Faso said. They deserve to just be free and lay down and sleep all day if they choose to do so. Theyve paid their dues. Clark County Animal Protection Services has declined to comment on any logistical questions 8 News Now has asked, including how they decide where the cats go. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. In a press conference Friday President Biden responded yes to a question about Israel delaying a ground invasion until more hostages taken by Hamas are released, the White House later retracted the statement, saying Biden didnt hear the question. A reporter asked Biden if Israel should delay the ground invasion until you can get more hostages out? Biden responded yes. The reporter asked the question from the ground as Biden was boarding Air Force One as the planes engines were on. White House Communication Director Ben LaBolt later said it was a miscommunication. The president was far away. He didnt hear the full question, LaBolt said. The question sounded like Would you like to see more hostages released? He wasnt commenting on anything else. The White House said Biden was responding yes to the second part of the question, that he does want more hostages released. The Hill has reached out to the White House for further comment. Two American hostages, a mother and daughter, were released from Hamas control on Friday, a joint effort between the United States, Qatar and Israel. Biden traveled to Israel last week to speak with high-ranking officials of the Israeli government and to announce a $100 million humanitarian aid package intended for the civilians of Gaza. On Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Biden cautioned Israel not to make the same mistakes the United States made after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Still, Biden pledged U.S. support for Israel in its mission in remarks from the Oval Office Thursday. Biden has vowed U.S. support for Israel in its counterattack against Hamas since the start of the conflict, declared a war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 7 after the group entered the country in a surprise attack. On Friday, the White House sent a roughly $100 billion emergency aid request to Congress that will send money to the border, allies in the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and Israel. Israel would receive $14 billion to fund its defense against Hamas. 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. 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. Updated at 1:11 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bill sponsored by a state representative who covers parts of Monroe and Lenawee counties was among a package signed into law Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer . Whitmer signed bills to place in state law the key health care protections secured by the federal Affordable Care Act, including Rep. Reggie Miller's bill to prohibit insurance providers from placing caps on annual or lifetime insurance benefits. State Rep. Reggie Miller Prior to the implementation of the federal ACA, insurance providers had every right to implement annual and lifetime caps on health care coverage," Miller, D-Van Buren Township, said in an emailed statement. "These providers had the freedom to decide that coverage for things like cancer or Crohns disease were too expensive, and people could be hit with an annual cap on their coverage. This is yet another wrong we have corrected, and Im proud to see this package signed into law. Miller represents Macon Township in Lenawee County as well as the northeastern part of Monroe County, including Dundee and Milan, and part of southern Wayne County. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Whitmer called it one of her top priorities in a speech laying out her legislative agenda before lawmakers returned to Lansing from their break. "This fall, let's codify the commonsense cost-saving measures of the ACA, including protections for pre-existing conditions, so you can't be charged more for having cancer, diabetes or being pregnant," she said then, prompting applause. Lawmakers heeded Whitmer's call and sent the legislation to her desk before the end of the year. The package of bills passed with bipartisan support and would essentially add to state law the key pieces of former President Barack Obama's signature health care law. One bill bars insurers from denying insurance to individuals based on their gender; gender identity or expression; or sexual orientation. It would expand the current prohibition on insurers from charging different rates for the same coverage. Others ban insurers from denying coverage to someone with a preexisting condition, allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until they're 26 years old, and require coverage for certain services such as hospitalization. The legislative package approved by Whitmer also mandates insurers provide a summary of their coverage, bar insurers from rescinding coverage and specify the level of coverage an insurer would have to offer in Michigan. Israel-Gaza War: Michigan House stalls on addressing war in Gaza, drawing criticism from lawmakers Whitmer's office described the legislation as a way to ensure Michigan residents can continue to count on the federal health care protections in the event Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court repeals or guts portions of the ACA. The bulk of the package is slated to take effect after the Legislature adjourns for the year. "Today, I am proud to sign bipartisan bills putting the cost-saving provisions of the ACA into Michigan state law and protect health care for millions of Michiganders," Whitmer said in a statement. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Whitmer signs Miller bill on health insurance caps NEW YORK A Cornell University professor called the Hamas attacks "exhilarating and energizing. A Yale professor dubbed Israel a "murderous, genocidal settler state. Meanwhile, top donors at the University of Pennsylvania including former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. have pulled their financial support over charges that the institution doesn't do enough to fight antisemitism on campus. Similar battles are becoming commonplace on college campuses across the country amid the Israel-Hamas war, often pitting wealthy donors against college presidents and students versus staff. It has created a volatile mix that is causing indecision among administrators and highlighting long-brewing ideological splits at some of the nation's most respected institutions. What has happened is we are so afraid of engaging in picking sides and it becomes too passive, said Jim Malatras, former chancellor of the State University of New York. What we end up with is echo chambers, which only fuels the hate. It fuels the vitriol, and you were experiencing this even before the situation that we're dealing with. Some students have talked about fearing for their safety on campuses, while others including Harvard and Columbia law students who have criticized Israels policies are losing job offers. American University Professor Lara Schwartz described efforts to limit students speech surrounding the war as enormously troubling. Sometimes students are going to say things that shock other community members, that disgust other community members, Schwartz said in an interview. Making space for that dialogue, including people countering them saying, Heres why these students are wrong, thats all part of protected expression and dialogues that were looking for. Others think the heated rhetoric on campus has turned into straight antisemitic views, saying colleges need to fire staff that celebrate the Hamas attacks in Israel. As a person of authority at an educational institution, to celebrate murder, rape and abducting children and slaughtering children, I think he should be fired," Gillibrand told a Syracuse TV station about the comments of Cornell Professor Russell Rickford. Rickford described the Hamas attacks as "exhilarating" and "energizing at a rally. He has since apologized for his remarks, admitting some of the language he used was reprehensible. Rickford did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Following days of backlash, Cornell President Martha Pollack this week maintained that Rickfords comments speak in direct opposition to all we stand for at Cornell. The university, she said, is reviewing the incident. Suzanne Nossel, the CEO of PEN America, an advocacy group for free expression on college campuses, said institutions are in an incredibly challenging moment. Collegiate leadership, she said, needs to distinguish between free speech and actions such as vandalism, assaults and the targeting of students in their response to the political climate. A lot of what people are experiencing as hostile and creating a hostile environment is protected speech and protected expression, Nossel said in an interview. That is bumping up against the obligation to make the campus a place that offers an equal education. As alumni and powerful donors lean on institutions to crack down, many presidents are facing pressure to take a stance, resulting in political clashes on campuses with students on either side of the conflict. Following backlash from alumni, Penn President Liz Magill said in a statement she hears their anger, pain, and frustration and is taking action to make clear that the institution stands emphatically against the attacks. The school supports the free exchange of ideas but has a moral responsibility to combat antisemitism, she added. Her words came after the damage was done. Huntsman, the former governor of Utah and U.S. ambassador, said he and his family, after donating hundreds of millions of dollars to the college over decades, will close its checkbook on future giving. The Universitys silence in the face of reprehensible and historic Hamas evil against the people of Israel (when the only response should be outright condemnation) is a new low," Huntsman wrote. "Silence is antisemitism, and antisemitism is hate, the very thing higher ed was built to obviate he wrote in a letter to Magill first published by the school newspaper. The strife on campuses has roiled state and local politics. Universities in Florida are fielding calls to punish students and groups who participated in pro-Palestine rallies since the war broke out. Floridas only Jewish GOP lawmaker, state Rep. Randy Fine, called for punishment including expulsion of students and faculty who spout antisemitic views. The most notable example in the Sunshine State came at Florida Atlantic University last week when a march supporting Palestinians resulted in three arrests after a clash broke out between counter-protesters. Last week, Columbia shut down for a day amid dueling protests. Jews, not just in Israel, but right here in Florida, do not feel safe today, Fine said Wednesday. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, a Republican, said hes been disgusted by some of the responses from leaders across the country. He signaled his committee may look to revoke some universities tax-exempt statuses. He pointed out how 34 Harvard student organizations last week issued a statement holding Israel at fault for the attacks and a student group at the University of Virginia expressed support for the right of colonized people everywhere to resist the occupation of their land by whatever means they deem necessary. In addition, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Thursday called on the Department of Homeland Security to deport any foreign national including students here on visas who have expressed support for Hamas and its attack. While American citizens may have a First Amendment right to speak disgusting vitriol if they so choose, no foreign national has a right to advocate for terrorism in the United States, Cotton wrote in a letter. Campus presidents have reacted differently: some backing Israel while others have been more neutral. Columbia President Minouche Shafik last week said she was devastated by the attack and the ensuing violence that is affecting so many people. A Columbia spokesperson referred to messages Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell sent to students and staff. Mitchell said freedom of expression is a core University value but also urged individuals to treat each other with civility and respect. Meanwhile, state leaders and students are talking increasingly about ensuring safety on campuses. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday told reporters campus safety is a priority for state law enforcement given that schools are ripe for protests. NYPD late Wednesday said the city is at high alert and remains at an all-out deployment. In addition to more counseling on campuses, colleges have increased security measures to address the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia especially following the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois. Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students accused universities of not offering them the same assistance and resources that they have to Jewish students. At Columbia University where pro-Palestine and pro-Israel rallies took place concurrently, prompting the university to close its campus to the public members of the Muslim Students Association have faced doxxing attacks. Anum, the Muslim Students Association president, blasted Columbia officials for failing to issue a statement denouncing Islamophobia on campus and urged them to do so swiftly. She also suggested the university develop an escort system for Muslim students who dont feel safe walking alone on campus. She asked to be identified by her first name for safety reasons. I personally did go home this weekend and I know other students who also went home because they didnt feel safe on campus and unfortunately not everybody has the luxury to go home during times like these, said Anum. But Jenna Citron Schwab, executive director of Queens Hillel a Jewish organization at Queens College praised the institution for boosting security on campus. The school has 4,000 Jewish students. The campus environment is very fragile particularly at this moment and this is definitely the first time in my 12 years here that Ive had students come to me and say theyre scared and concerned about antisemitism, Schwab said. Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report. The Iowa State Capitol is seen lit up blue on Thursday ahead of "Blue Ribbon Week," a move to signify solidarity with Israel. The Iowa State Capitol looked a bit different in recent days, as blue lights illuminate the building in support of Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation Wednesday declaring the week of Oct. 22 through Oct. 29 "Blue Ribbon Week." She called upon Iowans to observe this moment of solidarity by wearing blue ribbons to show "the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them" In the proclamation Reynolds wrote that "Iowa stands in solidarity with the Israeli people and Jewish communities everywhere and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Israel's sovereignty and security." More: In Oval Office address, Biden makes the case for more aid to Israel, Ukraine Ahead of the week, the Iowa Capitol lights will turn blue each night from Oct. 18 to Oct. 22. The capitol joins other Des Moines buildings and landmarks in going blue in support of Israel. Recent displays have included downtown's Women of Achievement bridge and the Polk County Courthouse. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her atvreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter@VictoriaReynaR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Capitol building illuminated blue in solidarity with Israel House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was pulled as the GOP nominee for speaker on Friday after three failed ballots. Jordan's downfall had several factors in play, but a few of them drove the Ohio Republican down the exit ramp after 25 Republicans voted for other speaker candidates over him. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., who did not vote for Jordan to be speaker, told Fox News Digital on Friday that he thinks the large number of people who voted to pull Jordan from the nomination was due to the conference's secret ballot. JORDAN OUSTED BY HOUSE GOP AS SPEAKER NOMINEE AFTER FAILED THIRD VOTE Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican speaker designee, holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The House Republican Conference on Friday convened after the third speaker vote where Jordan was removed as the nominee via secret ballot. "There was no reason for this suspense," Kelly said. "There was no reason for any of this going on." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP One major factor that reared its ugly head was likely the death threats made against several of Jordan's holdouts. GOP Reps. Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Nick LaLota of New York said this week that they received death threats after not voting for Jordan's speakership bid. GOP Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa said this week that she received death threats after not voting for Jim Jordan's speakership bid. Miller-Meeks released a statement on Wednesday night about the "credible death threats" she has received after voting for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, for speaker over Jordan in the second round of voting. Meanwhile, LaLota posted a picture on X of an email he said he received, telling him to 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," the person wrote. Jordan's office has denounced the death threats, with spokesperson Russell Dye calling the words "abhorrent" that have "no place in a civil discourse." Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., posted on X a picture of an email he said he had received, telling him to go "f--- yourself and die." Nebraska GOP Rep. Don Bacon's wife also received anonymous messages threatening to remove the congressman from his job unless he voted for Jordan. Kelly said there "is no reason for people getting threatening phone calls" and that the total votes against Jordan in the secret ballot were "overwhelming." Jordan's stances on issues like the 2020 election also played a part in him losing the nomination. The last presidential election became a key talking point among House Democrats as they backed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., against Jordan for the gavel. However, the 2020 election became a contention point in the GOP conference as well, and was a major factor in Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., not voting for Jordan. The 2020 election became a contention point in the GOP conference and was a major factor in Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., not voting for Jordan. Additionally, while Jordan managed to secure the majority of the House GOP behind him, the Ohio Republican is a polarizing figure among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. That polarization likely played a part in pushing moderates away from voting for him, as several represent districts won by President Biden in 2020. The House GOP conference on Friday voted to drop Jordan as its speaker nominee after a third defeat in floor-wide votes earlier in the day. Sources told Fox News Digital that the conference had voted to remove Jordan as the nominee in a closed-door meeting. In the final round, 25 Republicans voted against Jordan, giving him just 194 votes far short of the approximately 217 he would need to win the speaker's race. It was his lowest total out of the three ballots. Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw and Chad Pergram contributed to this report. Original article source: Why Jordan couldn't grab the speaker gavel after three failed ballots This embedded content is not available in your region. Whales enjoy throwing seaweed on their heads and holding it in their mouths as makeshift toothbrushes, new research from Australia suggests. Scientists examined the behaviour - called kelping - by analysing aerial footage and social media posts of more than 160 whale interactions. They found kelping may also be used as a welcomed body scrub and as a way of strengthening social bonds. The study has labelled the findings a "global phenomenon". Whales have a cluster of nerve endings on their heads, and seaweed can provide sensory stimulation Dr Olaf Meynecke, research fellow at Griffith University in Queensland, co-authored the study and used aerial observations, drone shots and social media footage to analyse the newly found behaviour. Speaking to the BBC's The Happy Pod, Dr Meynecke said: "We've seen it in the northern and the southern hemispheres, while before there has only ever been one study that looked at a case study in Australia." Dr Meynecke examined kelping in whales off the coasts of Alaska, mainland USA, Canada, Australia and French Polynesia. Some individuals kept kelp and seaweed on their heads for more than 30 minutes at a time While the marine mammals enjoyed rolling around in the seaweed, there was one spot in particular that the whales targeted. "We have evidence of four different species and it seems all have a preference to place it on their heads," explains Dr Meynecke. The observed species are classified as baleen whales, which have a large bristly whalebone at the front of their mouth to filter feed, instead of teeth. Whales were seen using their pectoral fins to launch marine plants over their heads and bodies Dr Meynecke says the whales enjoy throwing patches of seaweed up in the air and "using their heads to swim through it". Baleen whales have a sensory system on their head and it is thought that touching the seaweed gives a nice sensation. Because baleens do not bite, Dr Meynecke was surprised to see the whales plunging downwards with seaweed clasped in their mouths. "One good reason for this could be that it's actually like a toothbrush, because that part of their mouths is extremely difficult to clean." Whale friends Seaweed can also help remove parasites and dead skin However, Dr Meynecke says it could be a lot simpler: "Kelping can actually happen as a social activity." The team observed three whales sharing kelp with each other before "another two whales came by to check out the scene". "It was clear that this kind of interaction with the seaweed was a positive one that was shared with others." The team noted the issue of large areas of seaweed and kelp dying in the areas where the whales roam, and how highlighting the positive impact of seaweed on the whales' wellbeing can help with conservation efforts. BBC Sounds Listen to The Happy Pod on BBC Sounds for a weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world. If you have a story, contact us on X @globalnewspod or email us globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk BBC Sounds News Daily banner Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. In just the latest clashes that threaten to propel the Israel-Hamas war into a wider conflict, the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah launched anti-tank missiles across the Lebanese-Israeli border throughout the day on Friday, prompting Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to launch strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure. Earlier this week, two anti-tank missiles reportedly flew into the area adjacent to Kibbutz Yiftah in northern Israel. Israeli forces said they carried out counterattacks targeting the locations from which militants are believed to be launching missiles. The latest fighting between Israeli and Hezbollah forces come after days of escalating confrontations, raising concern that Israel may soon be facing war on multiple frontswith both Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The prospect has raised alarm bells around the world that Israel and its allies, including the United States, could eventually face off in a broader war. Sporadic armed operations along Israels border with Lebanon have been going on for decades. The last time Israel and Lebanon were at war was in 2006a conflict that lasted a little over a month. Israel Evacuates Border as Deadly Clashes Raise Fear of Second War Erupting Although Israeli and U.S. officials have assessed that Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, does not want to engage in all-out war with Israel, the current level of engagement between Israel and Hezbollah lends itself to miscalculation and misinterpretationand possible escalation by accident. With clashes ongoing for the last several weeks, its possible that one partys interpretation of what is one step too far is different than the other, warned Daniel Byman, who previously served as a staff member with the 9/11 Commission and the Joint 9/11 Inquiry Staff of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Palestinian militants fire rockets towards Israel from Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on October 11, 2023. Said Khatib / Getty Another fear is that Israel or Hezbollah might anticipate the other side escalating, and take preemptive action. Its easy for both sides to guess wrong about where the others red lines are. So they can think theyre doing an attack that they think is limited, but the other side could interpret it another way, Byman told The Daily Beast. Its also quite possible that both sides will see the other as determined to attack them and decide to launch a preemptive strike. And while Israel continues to take steps to try to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, Hamas and Hezbollah have reportedly been working together closely behind the scenes. A senior leader of Hamas, the militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, has said the group was coordinating the wars next steps with Hezbollah. We have very strong relations with Hezbollah. We were cooperating with Hezbollah before the attack on Israel and after and now we are in full cooperation, Ahmed Abdul-Hadi, Hamas chief political officer in Beirut, told Politico in an article published Tuesday. They are saying they are geared for a major war. An Israeli soldier rests his head on the gun barrel of a self-propelled artillery howitzer as Israeli soldiers take positions near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 9, 2023. Jack Guez / Getty Iran, which has long financed Hezbollah and provided weapons, training, and diplomatic aid to Hezbollah, has been actively working with Hezbollah in recent days as well. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Hezbollahs leader, Nasrallah, in Beirut to discuss the unfolding war in the region. Iran warned Tuesday that preemptive action against Israel might be coming as Israel has made preparations for a ground invasion into Gaza to try to eliminate Hamas. Risk Assessment U.S. officials, from President Joe Biden to Secretary of State Tony Blinken have been trying to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spilling over into neighboring countries. So far, there is some political willpower in place in the region to keep the conflict from spreading, Blinken has said. Theres a determination in every country I went to to make sure that this conflict doesnt spread. President Biden has been very clear about this, and youve heard him repeatedly say to anyone, state or non-state, that is thinking of taking advantage of this situation: dont do it, Blinken said earlier this week. The Biden administration is sending two large aircraft carriersthe Gerald R. Ford and the Dwight D. Eisenhowerto the eastern Mediterranean to try to deter any state or non-state aggressors from expanding the war. Bidens Big Middle East Summit Nixed After Hospital Massacre Hezbollah is almost certainly receiving the message, said Emily Harding, a former National Security Council director for Iran. But they have other factors to consider in deciding whether to not to get involved more heavily, Harding warned. The bar for Hezbollah and Iran to get involved in this conflict is pretty low, and the bar for the United States is pretty high and they know that, Harding told The Daily Beast. I think theyre going to have a moment of pause before they just assume the United States will want to jump into another Middle East conflict, and thats going to play into their calculation on whether they will be deterred. The Biden administrations efforts to send signals to enemies may actually have some effect, particularly on Iran, said Byman. A Palestinian youth reacts as he sits on the rubble of a destroyed home following an Israeli military strike on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip on Octobers 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. MOHAMMED ABED Iran has always been leery of a direct clash with the United States. Iran prefers to use proxies, Byman said. So having the United States make credible threats, use aircraft carriers to back that up, I think it does matter its part of the decision-making calculus of Iran. But even so, the prospect of another front in the war continues to alarm officials. Harding warned against underestimating Hezbollah even given Hezbollahs potential political calculus. As Americans we tend to underestimate the ideological piece of what they do and I think we tend to underestimate their eagerness to get involved in a violent situation, Harding said. From their perspective, its much more: This is the causepushing back against Israel is the cause. Hezbollah may prove to be a more formidable force than Hamas has been, in part because its ranks have been gaining experience through fighting in Syria, Byman warned. Theyre well armed, theyre experienced, theyre well trained, theyre well led They have Iranian support, Byman said, adding they have significant rocket and missile arsenals. As dangerous as Hamas has proven, I amand I think most others arefar more concerned about Hezbollah. Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Mahmud Hams / Getty One concern that is bubbling beneath the surface is that Hezbollah maintains the ability to conduct international terror attacks around the world. The U.S. intelligence community assessed earlier this year that Hezbollah is committed to conducting terrorist attacks and that it could do so on U.S. soil. Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah remain committed to conducting terrorist attacks and could seek to do so on U.S. soil, a U.S. intelligence community worldwide threat assessment from earlier this year said, adding that Hezbollah is continue to develop its terrorist capabilities as well as its conventional military capabilities. Even as Biden has been urging Iran to not escalate tensions and expand the conflict, the White House has been discussing potential use of military force if Hezbollah attacks Israel and expands the war, according to an Axios report. Publicly, the White House and foreign officials around the globe have cautioned that Iran may still get involved. There is a risk of an escalation of this conflict, the opening of a second front in the north and, of course, Iran's involvement, Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, said earlier this week. Prep Work Israel appears to have been making preparations as well for a possible wider war. The country's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) of the Ministry of Defense and the IDF announced this week that residents living up to 2 kilometers from the Lebanese border should evacuate. Israel turned the territory near its border with Lebanon into a closed military zone, evacuating residents. On Friday, the Ministry of Defense announced that 20,000 residents of the Kiryat Shmona near the border should evacuate as well. Some hope remains that Hezbollah has reasons to not engage further in the conflict. There are a host of things that are in play that are incentives for Hezbollah to actit sees itself as an anti-Israel organization, Byman said. At the same time, the last war Israel fought with Hezbollah in 2006 Lebanon in particular was hit hard. Theres no eagerness among ordinary Lebanese to have this massive conflict that would occur on their soil. Its not the only thing that matters, but it does matter to Hezbollah, Byman said. U.S. Targeted Across the Mideast in Spate of Revenge for Gaza Attacks Lebanese officials say they want Israel to initiate a ceasefire in order to simmer tensions. We have been very afraid, very worried that the war could spread to Lebanon. This is the last thing we want, we have had wars and we're trying have peace in the north and southern Lebanon, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on CNN This Morning Friday. Really, we don't want war, the government does not want war. We are dialoguing with the various groups Even so, signals are coming from Hamas that Hezbollahs next steps are tied to whether Israel takes broader action in Gaza. Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades hold a Palestinian flag as they destroy a tank of Israeli forces in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Hani Alshaer / Getty Hezbollah will likely not pay attention to warnings to not enter into a conflict with Israel, said the senior Hamas leader in Lebanon, Abdul-Hadi. Instead, he said Hezbollah will likely make a decision about fighting Israel more forcefully based on whether Israel launched a ground invasion. Hezbollah will pay no attention to threats from anyone against it entering the war; it will ignore warnings to stay out of it, Abdul-Hadi said. 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. Israel has not yet launched a ground invasion of Gaza, but has vowed to eliminate Hamas, which governs Gaza. Some reporting suggests that Israel may have delayed a ground invasion while Biden conducts a visit in the region to try to keep the Israel-Hamas war from spilling over into multiple fronts. But on Thursday, Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, told troops near Gaza to prepare to see it from the inside. 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. Writers, actors, nurses, auto workers, baristas, pharmacists, graduate students ever since 2023s hot labor summer began, it seems like workers all over the country have been walking off the job to demand more of their bosses. But are we really seeing a resurgence of the strike weapon? By several measures, yes, we are. More U.S. workers are going on strike now than have in years, and many are winning big raises and other gains from their employers, which helps fuel strikes elsewhere. But the numbers need to be put in the broader context of a long-term decline in U.S. work stoppages following decades of de-unionization. One eye-popping statistic making the rounds suggests workers are striking in levels not seen in decades: the number of days idle due to work stoppages. That figure accounts for both how many workers have gone on strike and for how long. Through September, there were 11.2 million lost days of work due to strikes involving at least a thousand workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even with three months to go, that is the most lost days of work in a single year since 2000. But the bulk of 2023s strike days roughly 80% come courtesy of the SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood, which is both huge (involving 160,000 actors) and long-running (now at more than three months). Still, even excluding this one massive work stoppage, there have been more strike days already in 2023 than any year since 2018 and 2019, when public-school teachers were walking off the job in massive numbers. This years lost work days are also already greater than most years going back to the 1990s, according to BLS figures. The last time you saw this number of workers on strike was 2018 and 2019, and that was largely driven by red-state teacher strikes.Johnnie Kallas, Ph.D. candidate and project director for Cornells Labor Action Tracker Another, more detailed data set shows a recent surge in strike activity. Unlike the federal government, the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations has been tracking strikes of all sizes, including those involving just a handful of workers, like those at Starbucks cafes, since 2021. The schools data from Jan. 1 through Oct. 11 shows a marked increase in the number of workers involved in strikes: from 47,700 workers during that period in 2021, to 126,800 in 2022, all the way up to 468,500 this year. The 325 strikes during that period this year is a slight decrease from the 345 last year, but this years work stoppages overall are much larger. Along with the actors strike, some of the biggest recent strikes include hotel workers in Los Angeles (20,000), health care workers at hospital giant Kaiser Permanente (75,000) and auto workers at Ford, General Motors and Jeep parent company Stellantis (34,000). Johnnie Kallas, a Ph.D. candidate and project director for Cornells Labor Action Tracker, said this considerable uptick was particularly notable because of what parts of the economy were affected. The last time you saw this number of workers on strike was 2018 and 2019, and that was largely driven by red-state teacher strikes, Kallas said, alluding to the Red for Ed strikes in states like West Virginia and Oklahoma. The difference here is this is really rooted in the private sector and certain industries. Thats certainly a major change weve seen this year compared to the last several years. The Cornell data is valuable not only because its more expansive than that of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but because it also includes more details on each strike, including workers stated demands. Last years strikes were driven predominantly by no surprise pay. But many also stemmed from health and safety concerns as well as a frustration with staffing levels, according to Cornells annual report. Kaiser health care workers carried out one of the major strikes this year. Kaiser health care workers carried out one of the major strikes this year. Margaret Poydock, a senior policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute think tank, said striking workers are buoyed right now by a persistently tight labor market that gives them more leverage at the bargaining table. She also said public support for unions and strikers is giving workers more confidence to walk out and demand more. Its easier for workers to go on strike when theres low unemployment, Poydock said. And [right now] theres solidarity from the public. The publics approval of unions has generally been rising over the past decade and now sits at 67%, and an increasing share of people tend to believe that unions are good for the economy, according to Gallup. Those findings dovetail with other recent surveys showing that consumers largely back strikers right now. One recent poll from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that just 9% of respondents supported the auto companies over the workers. Another poll showed even more lopsided backing for the writers and actors on strike in Hollywood. Even just the threat of strikes shows to be powerful as seen by the Teamsters this summer, Poydock said, alluding to the unions contract fight at shipping giant UPS, which resulted in sizable raises but no strike. But Poydock noted that current strike levels arent anywhere close to what they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Back then it was not uncommon for more than 2 million workers to go on strike in a single year. But only four of the past 10 years have seen more than 100,000 go on strike, according to the BLS data. Even just the threat of strikes shows to be powerful as seen by the Teamsters this summer.Margaret Poydock, Economic Policy Institute The overall decline in strikes has mirrored a long-term drop in union density in the U.S. Roughly a third of workers belonged to unions in the peak years following World War II, but the BLS data suggests now only 1 in 10 is a union member. Most strikes involve unionized workers because unions provide the organizational structure needed to plan and execute one, including a strike fund that can at least partially replace workers lost wages. In the most common scenario, unionized workers declare a strike when their most recent contract has expired and they havent reached a satisfactory deal on a new one. (These days most contracts have a no-strike clause barring work stoppages while the contract is in effect.) Strikes can be risky propositions even for workers with union protections. Although employers cant legally fire strikers in most situations, they generally do have a right to permanently replace workers when they are striking for economic reasons. And for many public-sector workers, strikes are illegal, so they might risk their livelihoods by striking without adequate public and political support. Poydock said all of these factors have contributed to the long-term decline of strikes. Putting more workers back in unions would not only make the strike weapon more potent, she said, but it would make for a fairer economy. The decline of unionization has caused a growth in inequality, she said. Unions are a tool to help rebalance a power thats kind of lopsided right now. KING COUNTY, Wash. - A driver traveling through King County received a traffic violation for driving in the HOV lane, and the price of the ticket might be scarier than the clown dummy used as a fake passenger. According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson, this particular incident took place on I-405 near 30th St. Photo: WSP Trooper Rick Johnson The driver had fastened a clown dummy in the passenger seat, apparently in the spirit of Halloween. However, Trooper Johnson clarified that this does not meet the criteria for a legitimate High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) passenger. "Love the #HalloweenVibe but #Still doesnt count!" WSP Trooper Rick Johnson Whats more frightening is how the use of a dummy added more money to the infraction. The exact price of this particular ticket is unknown, but according to the Washington State Department of Transportation, first-time HOV violators receive a fine of $186. If that same driver receives another HOV violation within a two-year period, that ticket increases to $336. Anyone who uses a doll or a dummy in the car will automatically have $200 added to the ticket. Its safe to say its possible this driver received a ticket anywhere between $386 and $536 for the HOV violation alone. It looks like they were also cited for driving with expired tabs. While unconventional attempts to bring humor to the road may evoke curiosity and amusement, FOX 13 can confirm that only one person was left with an ear-to-ear grin on their face: the clown. So this was a stop today by an @wastatepatrol trooper on 405 and 30th. Love the #HalloweenVibe but #Still doesnt count!!! Dummy added $$$$$ to the infraction !!! pic.twitter.com/RLo5JKDyaJ Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) October 21, 2023 Xavier Barreda (left) listens to Cassi Lacaze, an Oak Hill High School 11th grader, explain a healthy living plan she and her group came up with to implement at the school. Lacaze and about 200 other students attended The 12th annual Rapides Founations Youth Summit held in Pineville. The 12th annual Youth Summit on Healthy Behaviors made an impact on students attending the three-day event sponsored by The Rapides Foundation, particularly Cassi LaCaze. The two of the three classes Ive taken so far have been really great, said the 11th grader from Oak Hill High School. The Youth Summit on Healthy Behaviors is for students and teachers who participate in The Rapides Foundation Healthy Behavior School Districts Partnership Grant, said Dallas Russell, program officer for The Rapides Foundations Healthy Behaviors Initiative. More than 200 junior high and high school students from 55 schools in an eight-parish area attended each day at the Country Inn & Suites by Raddison in Pineville. Most of the students are involved in their Youth Health Advocate clubs at schools," Russell said. "Part of their responsibilities of being in a club is to implement three events during the school year. Part of each session is action planning to go back and implement those events. So, for example, Take Down Tobacco Day, they might be planning activities for the whole school. They also might plan activities for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, set in 2024 for March 18-24. The keynote speaker was K-Lynn McKey, from the School of Kinesiology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Then the students attended sessions focused on Healthy Eating and Active Living, Tabacco Prevention and Control and Substance and Alcohol Misuse Prevention. Lacaze said the session on Substance and Alcohol Misuse Prevention was very well put together and helped students understand the topic. Dominque Teasley and Jarvis Fountaine shared stories about their experiences with substance abuse and the dangers that come with it. They felt students were receptive to their message. We talked to them about the dangers of substance abuse," Teasley said. "We told them our stories, our experience with substance use and ways to prevent substance use. They also talked about stigma associated with substance use and how they have certain settings and safe places where they can have healthy conversations about prevention, substance use or mental health, Fountaine said. We talked to them about what led and started our substance misuse, he said. A lot of times kids dont see themselves as becoming an addict, but theyll use that information or education you give them to try and help someone else, Teasley said. This is especially true for those who have substance use in their family or community. Theyll be focused on figuring out ways to help. They also spoke about the causes and effects of substance use and, in the end, they faced some consequences, Fountaine said. But they also spoke about what can lead someone to substance abuse, which can include abandonment, trauma and certain family dynamics, he said. On the lighter note, Lacaze found the Healthy Eating and Active Living session with Xavier Barrreda and LaDonte Lots, the team from JiggAerobics, to be lots of fun and interactive. They made healthy living plans for their schools and shared them in front of the whole class. The healthy living plan Lacaze and her group from Oak Hill came up with was an all-day field day. I think thats going to make a huge impact on our school," she said. "Our school is a very active school. Were little, were a small school, so most everybody plays sports. So I feel like its going to be very competitive and fun. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Youth Summit on Healthy Behaviors teaches students lifestyle choices KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy talked with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, Zelenskiy said, in a call where the two men discussed Ukraine's peace formula, food security, and situation in the Middle East. "We discussed the next round of negotiations on the Peace Formula, which will take place in Malta. Turkey will participate, adding its authoritative voice and position," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. "We also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law," he added. (Reporting by Max Hunder) President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Oct. 21 to express his gratitude for Turkey's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two presidents discussed the next round of discussions on the peace formula proposed by Zelensky, which will take place in Malta at the end of October. Zelensky said Turkey will participate in the talks. Zelensky presented the 10-point peace formula, supported by many Western allies, in November last year. It includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and the release of all prisoners of war and deportees. The proposals also call for punishing those responsible for war crimes, preventing ecocide in Ukraine, and ensuring energy and food security as well as nuclear safety. Read also: Zelensky: Ukraines peace plan can help end other wars According to Zelensky, he and Erdogan also discussed food security amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. "Despite Russia's disruption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraine remains committed to its vital role as a guarantor of global food security and ensures the operation of the Black Sea Grain Corridor," Zelensky said. The corridor was set up weeks after Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal. The Russian military has blocked trade routes through the Black Sea since the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July. At the same time, Russia has targeted Ukraine's port and grain infrastructure with repeated attacks. The UN repeatedly appealed to Moscow to unblock the shipments of Ukrainian foodstuffs to curb rising prices worldwide. Despite the Russian-imposed blockade, all three of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in and around Odesa have resumed receiving cargo vessels for grain export earlier this month. Russian forces may use sea mines to strike civilian shipping targets in the Black Sea, a United Kingdom intelligence report published Oct. 4 said. According to U.K. intelligence, Russia intends to blame Ukraine for any successful attacks. "Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea," the report said. Russia's aggression in the Black Sea poses a major risk to global food security. According to the U.K. intelligence report, Russia has "already destroyed enough grain to feed more than one million people for a year." Read also: Bloomberg: All Odesa ports receive cargo ships through temporary corridor Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, 21 October. Source: Republic of Turkiye Directorate of Communications, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy and Erdogan discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and the "conflicts between Israel and Palestine and the humanitarian crisis in the region". "Stating that it is possible to resolve through peaceful means the regional conflicts, particularly the Israel-Palestine dispute, President Erdogan noted that Turkiye will continue to make every effort to that end," the message shared by the Turkish Directorate of Communications said. Zelenskyy and Erdogan last spoke in July, after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Ukraine has not yet released any details about todays conversation between the two leaders. Turkiye has provided Ukraine with political and diplomatic support since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion, but has refused to impose sanctions against Russia, claiming its role as a mediator between the warring parties. More on this: Whose Ally Is Erdogan: Why Is Turkiye Increasing Aid to Ukraine but Not Giving up Friendship with Russia? Support UP or become our patron! Zelenskyy and Erdogan had a telephone conversation Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the press service of the President's Office reported on Oct. 21. After the call, Zelenskyy announced Turkey's participation in the implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula and Ankaras readiness to send its representatives to the next meeting on this issue in Malta. Read also: Turkeys Erdogan reaffirms stance against Russian annexation of Ukraines Crimea The Ukrainian leader also noted the participation of Turkish experts in the Defense Industries Forum in Kyiv and the preparation of a conference on Ukraine's recovery to be held in Turkey in November. The two presidents also discussed the further development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Turkey. Read also: Turkey begins construction of second corvette for Ukrainian Navy During the conversation, Erdogan and Zelenskyy discussed the grain deal and the situation in the Middle East. "We agreed on the need to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law," Zelenskyys statement following the conversation said. "Unfortunately, Ukraine is well aware of what war and civilian casualties are," Zelenskyy said. That is why we categorically condemn any terrorist methods and violence and advocate for the prevention of further escalation. 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 Bedford and Campbell counties and the City of Lynchburg are now one Virginia Senate District as of 2021 redistricting, and two candidates will be on the ballot Nov. 7. Republican incumbent Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, was first elected to the Senate in 2017 in a special election, and won a full term in the 22nd District in 2019. Democratic candidate Donna StClair is a former co-chair of the Bedford County Democratic Committee and a veteran of the Womens Army Corps. The new Senate District 8 leans strong Republican, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, with an estimated 72% of voters supporting Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the 2021 election. As of Oct. 20, Peake has raised $523,864 for his campaign; StClair has raised $19,570, according to VPAP. More information about both candidates is available on their campaign websites, peakeforsenate.com and donnastclair.com. Election day is Nov. 7 and early voting is ongoing. Peake and StClair responded to emailed questions about their platforms from The News & Advance. What are your legislative priorities for this community? Peake: Fully support law enforcement to make sure our streets are safer. Fight tax rates, return hard-earned money to citizens. Modernize tax structure. Cut burdensome regulations. Decouple Virginia from California energy policies. Defend the Constitution. StClair: My legislative priorities for my local district will be affordable housing, child care and health care. Young, working families will not be able to thrive in our communities without that basis of support, and our communities will slowly die without them. Attractive jobs alone will not be enough to attract young people to stay or relocate to our area. They will go to places that offer the kinds of services that they need to build their futures. And a shout out to the Bedford Area Resource Council and the Bedford Area YMCA for their work in addressing critical child care shortages with the construction of a new daycare center. We need more of this. We also need more affordable homes for purchase. Too much property in our area has become rental. This creates two major problems: the eventual proliferation of crime, and the inability of working families to build equity through home ownership. Over time, this will have disastrous consequences. What are your thoughts on protecting gun ownership or on gun safety legislation? StClair: As a U.S. Army veteran and a gun owner myself, I am a gun advocate. As long as they are the right guns in the right hands for the right reasons. There is no reason for any American civilian to own or use a firearm such as the AR-15, which is intended to inflict maximum harm upon the human body with their high-velocity ammunition. I support the abolishment of these weapons for future purchase, along with a buy-back program and required insurance for those already in service. The weapons that the framers endorsed in the Second Amendment were single-round muskets and flintlock pistols, capable of firing, perhaps, three rounds in a minute, with sketchy accuracy. Our forefathers would be appalled to see what killing machines our guns have morphed into today. That wasnt what they ever imagined. And whose hands are the right hands? Certainly not those of an extremist who has published hate speech on social media. Certainly not those of an estranged husband who has threatened his wife and kids. Certainly not those of the troubled teenager who sees no purpose to his future. I support extensive background checks to weed out people who are too unstable to own firearms. I support red flag laws to temporarily remove firearms from someone who is deemed to be a threat to himself or others. I support one-handgun-per-month laws to stop the pipeline of black market guns to other states. What about the right reasons? What are those? Hunting. Sport shooting. Self-protection. All of these are acceptable reasons for owning a gun. All of us must understand, however, that the guns we have in our homes are much more likely to be used for suicide than for protection against an intruder. The person who puts the gun to his temple and fires is much more likely to be a teenager or a veteran. Two of my favorite students committed suicide with guns. I carry them in my heart even today. So, in memory of Adam and Allen, I support expanded mental health screening and therapists in our schools and veterans clinics. These emotionally fragile populations need and deserve our full support. While the horrific mass shootings command media attention all too often, it is the daily drip-drip-drip of suicide that stacks the numbers of gun deaths. Weve got to turn that faucet off. Peake: I fully support the 2nd Amendment. I believe the right to bear arms is a fundamental right in this country. The founders put the right to bear arms as the second amendment for a reason. It showed the importance of being able to defend yourself as a cornerstone of our freedom. What are your priorities for improving or supporting education in the district? Peake: I believe that one of the fundamental problems in our education system today is a lack of involvement of parents and a lack of discipline and respect from both students and parents toward our hard-working teachers. We need to give our teachers the respect and support they have earned. I am proud of the pay raises we have been able to give to our teachers over the past two years. My focus is on putting more teachers in the classroom and fewer administrators in the central office. We need to support our parents and their participation in their childs education. StClair: As a retired educator, I am always sad to hear of my colleagues working second jobs to make ends meet. We need much higher salaries, plus funding for training and professional support. At the college level, we need mentorship programs to encourage those who seek to enter the teaching field. Nationally and statewide, reading and math proficiency scores have dropped. While COVID is a likely culprit, we still must identify ways to ameliorate this decline. Black students in particular are negatively impacted. Successful schools have experienced success with team teaching, data-driven models and extensive school/home involvement all of which require well-paid professionals and paraprofessionals. Top-notch salaries and working conditions could make all the difference. Virginians must once again collectively buy into the fact that an educated populace is our most valuable asset. Democracy is not possible without that. Those who disparage government schools have served to tear at the very fabric of our public education system. We must invest in adequate infrastructure and well-paid, top-notch professionals. Until we can get as excited about high school scholastics as we are about high school sports, we have a long way to go. Describe your attitudes toward local law enforcement. StClair: Our law enforcement officers have a tough job, made all the harder by a criminal justice system that is generally broken from top-to-bottom. We have the highest incarceration rate in the world, with Black men disproportionately impacted. We also have the highest rate of recidivism. And lets not forget the school-to-prison pipeline. Guns. Drugs. Gangs. Poverty. There are so many holes in the fabric of our society that it is difficult to see how it holds together. One thing is certain: Law enforcement officers must develop trust among all of their communities, especially communities of color. As long as Black parents feel the need to have the Talk with their children, we know that such trust does not exist. The numbers dont help: Black children are six times more likely than others to be shot. Our law enforcement officers need to be trained in communication skills and other techniques to reduce the need for violent interventions. Mental health therapists on staff would be a great boon, both for tense situations and for the needs of the officers themselves. They work high-stress jobs, without much in the way of emotional support. They need that minus the stigma. Peake: I fully support our local law enforcement. We have some of the hardest-working law enforcement officers around. They risk their lives to protect us and our communities. Describe your stance on abortion. Peake: I believe that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. I do not believe that our Constitution contains a provision to allow a woman to terminate the life of an unborn baby. Therefore, I agree with the Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Now, the issue is up to the 50 state legislatures. The Constitutional amendments submitted by the Democrats in the 2022 General Assembly allowed for the termination of the baby up until the time of birth. Most Americans believe we should not have late-term abortions. I support the Governors plan to limit abortions after 15 weeks, except in cases of rape, incest and life of the mother. StClair: I support bodily autonomy for every American citizen. You choose if you want to donate blood. You choose if you want to donate an organ. You choose if you want to be sterilized. And you choose if you want to abort a pregnancy with a non-viable fetus. Similarly, it is your right to carry a pregnancy to term, no matter what the predicted outcome. You are in charge of your body. Is there anything else youd want voters to know about you? StClair: I believe that we are lucky enough to live in the best state in the best county in the world. With that luck comes the responsibility of making the right decisions about the climate crisis that faces us. Every week, we witness the destructive impact of what is happening in our world. We can either stand by and wring our hands ... or roll up our sleeves and do something about it. I know what my choice is. Our children deserve a future. Peake: My wife and I have worked and raised our five children in Central Virginia. I have done my best to represent my constituents for the last 7 years. If given the opportunity to go back to Richmond, I would be honored to continue to work hard to represent the great people of our 8th District. The 19th annual Anime NebrasKon is inviting fans of Japanese animation to flock to the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs to meet voice actors from their favorite shows, buy lots of cool merch and show off elaborate costumes. By midday Friday, about 3,500 passes had been either purchased or picked up by fans who had registered in advance. Last year, the convention saw 7,856 attendees, said convention chair Jesse Smith. This year, organizers are hoping to break that magical 10,000 attendees mark. Even though the convention opened Friday, theres plenty of activities in which to participate this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is our biggest day. If youre choosing to come down and take a look at our show, Saturday is the day to choose, Smith said. The highlight of the day is a costume contest, known as cosplay short for costume play. We have our cosplay contest, which is one of the largest cosplay contests, where people really get to show the quality of what they made, really strut how they can perform on stage," Smith said. "We also have our laser light show dance. Its an (electronic dance music) concert. It is really high quality, something weve put a lot of effort into. The convention also has a creative space for kids called Little Ninjas, where children ages 12 and under can create anime-inspired arts and crafts. Exhibitors and vendors will also be on hand both Saturday and Sunday, selling art, T-shirts, toys, games and a lot more. Adult passes are $45 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday, while passes for children ages 6 to 10 age $15 and $10, respectively. Children ages 5 and under are free. For more information, including a full schedule of events, check out animenebraskon.com. Here's a look at some of the Anime NebrasKon's schedule highlights: Saturday, Oct. 21 1 p.m. Charity auction in support of Extra Life, a video game-themed charity that raises funds to help sick and injured children at local Childrens Miracle Network hospitals. 5 to 7 p.m. Cosplay contest, where attendees get to flaunt their sometimes extravagant costume creations. 9 p.m. EDM dance party. Sunday, Oct. 22 Noon Q&A session with voice actors Bryn Apprill, Chris Hackney and Alejandro Saab. Noon to 2 p.m. Anime music video contest, which features attendee-created music videos that feature Japanese animation. One of the best parts of my role at Nebraska Community Foundation is listening to our NCF volunteers speak about their communities with pride. These local leaders invest so much time, treasure and talent into their hometowns and often go unsung. So, when an opportunity arises to showcase the As he completes a companion piece to his book on one of Americas Founding Fathers, a Northeast Community College history and political science instructor had the opportunity recently to discuss his work and fascination with the establishment of the United States.